Page 43 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 February 2010
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Minister, what changed from the time you stated that compulsory acquisition was something you were going to seriously look at to when you later referred to it as a crazy option?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The comments I made around looking at all the options are correct. I think governments have to look at all options, even if a number of those options are not ones that we want to pursue.
Mr Hanson: Including crazy options.
MS GALLAGHER: Well, unlike the opposition, we do not just dig a hole, hop in it and cannot get out of it. What we do—
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Hanson is still down that hole—and you are still trying to scrabble out of it. But you cannot get out because you did not give yourself a lifeline to get out. But governments—and unlike this Assembly, which seems incapable of making tough decisions—this government will examine all options—
Mr Hanson: Except for the crazy ones.
MS GALLAGHER: in terms of the next step forward—
Mr Seselja: What about the crazy ones?
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MS GALLAGHER: including those that we do not think have any merit—and compulsory acquisition, we do not think, has any merit. But it is at one end of the spectrum. The other end of the spectrum is the status quo, and then there will be a number of options in between. This government will examine all of them, and we will look, now that this proposal is not going to proceed, at what is the next best way we can proceed.
This government maintain the view that the proposal we were out consulting on is the best way forward. Financially, it is the best way forward. That has now been supported by independent peer review of Treasury’s analysis.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Well, Mr Hanson, you find a mistake, mate, because that is something that you have not been able to do. Nobody has been able to dispute the financial analysis of this sale, of the proposed sale.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order!
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