Page 2279 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 28 August 2007
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Environment, Water and Climate Change, Minister for the Arts) (9.49): For the edification of Mr Seselja, I will read a brief to me prepared by the deputy chief executive of the Chief Minister’s Department, Ms Pam Davoren, in relation to Kama. Mr Seselja might choose, as he does, not to believe me: in fact, to suggest that I have made all sorts of outrageous declarations that documents were fraudulent—which I never did—that I have been embarrassed, that I am seeking to cover things up and that I have refused to release documents. You might not want to believe me; politics is a tough business. But I hesitate to suggest that you are prepared to sit there and think that the deputy chief executive of the Chief Minister’s Department would mislead me in her briefs to me—
Mr Seselja: You are telling me I cannot believe these documents.
MR STANHOPE: Just wait and listen to what she has to say—that she would mislead me. I have relied on the advice of my deputy chief executive, Ms Pam Davoren, who I am sure you know. This is her brief to me:
The Opposition raised issues surrounding Kama at the recent Estimates hearings, suggesting that you acted against official advice in using Kama as the site of an Indigenous-specific Drug Rehabilitation Facility.
That is the brief heading. I will quote from the document:
• There was detailed discussion on Kama during Estimates in which some Questions on Notice were taken. You have answered those Questions.
• One of the Questions asked: “What advice was received regarding the Bush Healing Farm (Kama)?”
• Your reply stated that no specific advice has … been received regarding the site’s suitability as a drug rehabilitation facility. Your reply went on to say that a cabinet submission is being prepared in relation to establishment of an Indigenous-specific drug rehabilitation facility in the ACT, including an appropriate location for any such facility.
• ACT Health is currently preparing this cabinet submission. Advice from Health is that they are still in discussion with DHCS on a draft submission.
• At Estimates, you were also asked if the property had been valued—the answer is “no”. The documents released under the Freedom of Information Act did show that in August 2006 the Land Development Agency sought written proposals from its panel of real estate agents to run an auction, indicatively scheduled for … October …. As part of this, the LDA also asked for an indicative price range. This information was sought as part of LDA’s pre-sale arrangements to inform setting the agent’s commission in the event a percentage fee was charged and also to display the agents’ market knowledge. It is not a formal valuation, which would be sought separately ...
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