Page 3464 - Week 09 - Thursday, 20 August 2009
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MR HANSON: Chief Minister, were you or any of your staff or your representatives involved at any level in influencing or directing the sale or withdrawal of sale of the Canberra Labor Club Group? If so, who and in what manner were they involved?
MR SPEAKER: That is directly relating to issues on your conduct as a minister.
MR STANHOPE: It does not, Mr Speaker. I am happy to answer the question. At no stage have I or any member of my office breached the ministerial code of conduct or any law of the territory. As I have explained previously, I have answered this question fully. I have answered it previously. I have answered it both in this place and in interviews with the media in relation to my ministerial responsibilities.
I would actually welcome your ruling, Mr Speaker, on what part of that supplementary question relates to what part of my ministerial duties.
MR SPEAKER: I think I was clear, Chief Minister, that, as Chief Minister, you have overarching responsibility for a range of other ministers.
MR STANHOPE: I do not understand—
MR SPEAKER: To be even handed—the Chief Minister sought clarification—I gave it to Mr Seselja earlier.
MR STANHOPE: Have I or any member of my staff—which ministerial responsibility are we talking about here?
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I am suggesting that, as Chief Minister, you have overarching responsibility. That is the understanding of the role of the Chief Minister and that is the basis on which I have ruled the question in order. You can choose to answer it in whatever form you see fit.
MR STANHOPE: Thank you. I accept your ruling, Mr Speaker, but I do concede that I do not understand it.
Each of my colleagues has answered in relation to those areas of their ministerial—
Mr Smyth: They have just said no.
MR STANHOPE: This is where I am getting to, Mr Smyth. Each of my colleagues has answered this question. To the extent that you say I have overarching responsibility—this is a new notion to me—for the responsibilities of my colleagues, I presume, Mr Speaker, you are suggesting that I now need to answer the question in relation to whether or not they have satisfied the ministerial code of conduct.
I am completely satisfied that they have, just as I am completely satisfied that I have satisfied every single aspect of the ministerial code of conduct and I have not breached any law of the territory and I have not brought, for instance, any pressure, on the Labor club board that would have breached any of their obligations or mine; nor did any member of my staff.
I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
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