Page 4045 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 16 Sept 2009
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Calvary Hospital, re Clare Holland House. Mr Hanson is recorded in Hansard as interjecting, “A sweetener for a secret deal.”
Standing orders require members not to use offensive words against any member or the judiciary. Standing orders also stipulate that imputations of improper motives and all personal reflections on members should be considered highly disorderly. I do not believe that the interjection made by Mr Hanson contravenes either of these standing orders.
Mr Seselja also raised a point of order that, in making his point of order, the Chief Minister had made a very serious claim against Mr Hanson: that he made an allegation of bribery which was, in Mr Seselja’s opinion, a very serious allegation. I am not sure what Mr Hanson meant by his interjection, and to rule on Mr Seselja’s point of order would require me to decide whether or not an allegation of corruption was made by Mr Hanson. Therefore, I do not intend to take any further action on the matter.
However, I would remind members of continuing resolution No 7, which draws members’ attention to the need to exercise their valued right of freedom of speech in a responsible manner.
Questions without notice
Cotter Dam—cost
MR SESELJA: My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, Actew Corporation’s managing director told the estimates committee on 18 May 2009 that the cost of Cotter Dam could be 30 per cent higher than the 2008 estimate of $145 million. That would take it to $188 million. He said in the Canberra Times on 30 May 2009 that the cost would be higher by between 50 per cent and 70 per cent. That would take it up to $246 million. Treasurer, what changed in the 12 days between 18 and 30 May 2009 to bring about that cost increase?
MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I will take that question, as the minister responsible for water. Actew has outlined in its documentation previously the range of factors—
Mr Seselja: Why don’t—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Corbell is answering the question.
Mr Smyth: Point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Stop the clock.
Mr Smyth: Under the AAs, the Treasurer is the responsible minister for Actew, and this is a question about Actew and things that its CEO said. I would be curious to know how the minister is responsible for this answer.
MR CORBELL: I am responsible for water policy and for—
Mr Smyth: Are you responsible for Actew?
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