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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 01 Hansard (Wednesday, 11 February 2004) . . Page.. 237 ..

presence of a prison next door to a privately owned town centre might receive some opposition from the owners of that town centre.

I want to talk about the correspondence that has been exchanged between the ACT government and the Commonwealth government and give members a flavour as to exactly what are the motives behind all of this. On 4 November last year, the Chief Minister received a letter from Senator Robert Hill, Minister for Defence, about the sale of that block of land to the ACT government. Senator Hill said that he understood that the ACT government was prepared to address the concerns of current leaseholders, grant leases to Defence, if needed, address the issues of the Australian Defence Force golf club, which is a handy thing to have next to a privately owned town centre, and, importantly, to address the current and future requirements of the Capital Airport Group under Commonwealth direction.

That is an interesting partnership. I understand that the Commonwealth government has some sort of say over what happens at airports, and quite rightly, but we have to understand that this airport is privately owned. Senator Hill went on to say:

If we can come to agreement on these matters and on an agreed value for land, I am prepared to provide my support “in-principle” to a priority sale to the ACT Government. The priority sale is subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance and Administration…

He went on to say:

Following the completion of the required studies—

how about this for obfuscation; how about putting it off indefinitely?—

including a Development Control Plan to be prepared by the National Capital Authority to establish what land should be retained as National Land to secure the future development and operation of Canberra Airport—

Mr Smyth: He’s the minister for transport.

MR HARGREAVES: Oh, yes. I will say it again—should be retained to secure the future development and operation of Canberra airport. Talk about assistance to your mates!

Mr Smyth: That’s an allegation that should be withdrawn, Mr Deputy Speaker.

MR HARGREAVES: No, it is not.

Mr Smyth: He is accusing the Deputy Prime Minister of doing deals for his mates. He should either substantiate it or withdraw it.

MR HARGREAVES: I am doing it here, Mr Deputy Speaker. Furthermore, Mr Smyth should have been in the chamber to listen. I was not talking about the Deputy Prime Minister. I had not got to the Deputy Prime Minister. I am about to do so.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: About whom were you talking?

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