Page 3956 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 15 Sept 2009
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has not been accepted. The reason for not accepting it was twofold: one, that it simply was not enough to meet the significant costs of conversion and, two, that there was not a market for barn eggs to justify that.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter?
MS HUNTER: It is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services on the issue of caged hens. Can you explain why Pace has a lease at Parkwood for $486 per annum for 41 hectares?
MR STANHOPE: I do not know the basis of the contractual arrangements that apply to the Parkwood lease. I am not sure it is something that I have ever been directly involved in or that I have information on. If I have, I must say that I do not recall it. I am more than happy, Ms Hunter, to—
Mr Hanson: Do you go walking out there, Jon?
MR STANHOPE: I walk everywhere, Mr Hanson. I am happy to take advice on the contractual arrangements that apply to the Parkwood lease and provide you with that information.
Cotter Dam—cost
MR COE: My question is to the Treasurer and it relates to the cost blow-out to $363 million for the Cotter Dam enlargement. On ABC radio on 3 September 2009 the Managing Director of Actew Corporation is reported as follows:
“I’m putting a lot at stake,” he said. “I’ve been asked directly by my board and by the Government, ‘are you putting your name to this cost’ and I am.”
He said, “I’ve never had to do that before in terms of a cost estimate.”
Treasurer, since receiving a cabinet briefing on the cost blow-out, what have you done to satisfy yourself as to the accuracy and reliability of the detail of this estimate?
MS GALLAGHER: I am not sure how that related to the first bit of the question. We had the opportunity to discuss the final costs with Actew, with both the managing director and the chair of the board, and we were able to question them on the costs and the reasons for the increase in those costs. We have also written to the board, as shareholders, asking to be kept informed at regular intervals around the progress of the enlarged Cotter Dam, and indeed all of their future water options projects. I have taken advice from my own Department of Treasury around the work that has been done to review the costings that the Actew board have accepted, and I am satisfied that those costs hold up. I have certainly done my job in terms of reviewing the evidence that Actew have put forward and taking advice from my own agency about their views on those costings and indeed taking into consideration the independent review of those costings as done by an independent reviewer.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Coe, a supplementary question?
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