Page 1895 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 25 June 2008
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There is much to be said here. And it is deeply disappointing that what should have been a wonderful announcement for the ACT, for our economy and for our future has turned into an absolute debacle. And let us look at the debacle. Two months ago, this was a $2 billion process and a 210-megawatt power station. Not even a month ago, it was downsized, downsized to a billion-dollar development with 28, 42 or 56 megawatts generated. Suddenly today we have got another backflip where it actually is now a $2.4 billion development, and we have got 500 megawatts.
What this shows is the Chief Minister in his haste to look like he had addressed the concerns of the business community on the lack of economic diversity and tax base in this city, in one fell blow. This is the big-legacy project. “This proves that I have looked after business.” And he grabbed it and he ran it, and he ran it into the ground on a process that does not fly.
You, Chief Minister, as outlined in the second section of this motion, have put at jeopardy an important project for the ACT and, as a consequence, until this morning, had cost potentially a billion dollars in development. But now we have got a process that has found a site 15 or 20 kilometres south, on a block of land that we do not own, that we are going to develop jointly with TransGrid, half in the ACT, half in New South Wales, as a proposal, a kite flown to protect the ailing Chief Minister’s popularity. And that is all it is. It is a stunt. There is no substance in this.
If I were the farmer that owned that block of land I would be sitting there reading this morning’s Canberra Times and thinking, “Gee, I’ve got the whip hand here. I can negotiate now because the government needs my block of land to save the Chief Minister’s reputation.” We know, when it comes to his reputation, he will spend whatever he can to save it.
The documents are unlimited; the documents are all there. But there are 3,000 pages that no-one can see. The Deputy Chief Minister said it when the Chief Minister was away. “Read the documents; it will clear the government.” Give us that opportunity. Table the documents. Open yourself to the scrutiny of the community. Be the man you said you were going to be when you said you would be more honest, more open, more accountable. Instead, you have become more arrogant, more distant and more out of touch as your chief ministership has progressed. And that is the problem today.
In his speech, the Leader of the Opposition was considered. He very slowly unveiled and peeled the onion that is the debacle that the Chief Minister has presided over. He tabled the documents one after another, detailing the chronology of failure and interference from this Chief Minister. And the Chief Minister could not address any of it. The Chief Minister sat there and all he can do is what he always does—he attacks the man. When you cannot play the ball—
Members interjecting—
MR SMYTH: We had these crocodile tears on Alex Sloane’s program the other day. When he was asked did he peddle to the media the rumours of where Mr Seselja lived, he said, “Oh, no, the Canberra Times approached me.” Answer that as well, Mr Chief Minister. (Extension of time not granted.) Again, they do not want to hear the rest of the story against the Chief Minister, and this motion should be passed.
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