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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 3259 ..
Mrs Dunne: Yes, it was done under the previous government.
MR CORBELL: The answer is yes. I am pleased to hear that, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Corbell, resume your seat for the moment. Members of the opposition come to order, Mrs Dunne in particular.
MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, last month, the ACT government gave in-principle agreement to the direct sale of land in Bruce to the Little Company of Mary for 65 nursing home/hostel funded beds. I heard the interjection from Mrs Dunne in which she claimed, "We had already given in-principle support."
MR SPEAKER: The chair does not hear interjections.
MR CORBELL: Indeed, Mr Speaker. However, Mr Smyth is also on the record as claiming that he gave in-principle support when he was the minister in 2001. He has made this claim throughout the media and apparently claimed that we have deliberately delayed the application. This is rather puzzling, I must say, because Mr Smyth knows, or he should know, that a direct sale of land can only be approved by cabinet. And guess what, Mr Speaker? There is no record of a cabinet decision that approved a direct sale of land to the Little Company of Mary.
Interestingly, further, I found some correspondence. On 12 September 2001, Mr Smyth wrote to the chief executive officer of Calvary Hospital. I just want to read it out for members so that they can see whether or not they think this letter indicates in-principle support for a direct grant of land. It says:
Dear Mr Cusack,
I refer to your application for the direct sale of Blocks 1 and 4 Section 4 Bruce for the development of older persons' accommodation.
I understand that Calvary Hospital is also applying to the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care for funding approval for the High and Low Care places that are proposed to be provided as part of the development of Blocks 1 and 4 Bruce.
I am writing to advise you that the government supports your application to the Commonwealth for funding of the High and Low Care places. The proximity of Calvary Hospital to the proposed site offers the opportunity for a range of benefits in the provision of older persons' accommodation.
The Government has identified this land as suitable for older persons' accommodation and I am pleased to inform you that my Department has been asked to progress your application for the direct sale of land. As you may be aware, before a final decision can be made on your application it will be necessary to undertake a range of studies.
I wish you well with your project. Should you need any assistance...
And so on.
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