Page 5184 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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make sure that we maintain a good relationship so that we get the best possible outcome. I think that is what anyone in the community would expect me to do.
The government will not be supporting Mr Rattenbury’s amendments. I think that the tone of the resolution is important as we move forward. It is important to have a calm and rational debate about what can become very quickly a very emotive issue. Yes, there are serious issues of concern for the territory. I have outlined those in detail in my earlier comments. I will not reiterate them now. We will advance those issues.
I have written to Minister Burke and I have written to the MDBA already signalling our concerns. There will be further opportunities to pursue these issues. The government will be making a submission to the House of Representatives inquiry. We will be engaging in the consultation process being undertaken by the MDBA. We will be raising these issues at the ministerial council meeting when it occurs later this year. There are a range of opportunities for these issues to be canvassed and discussed. I will be taking every one of those opportunities to make sure that they are.
The government’s approach, I think, is an informed one and a considered one. In the discussions that have been had around the margins in relation to this motion, Mrs Dunne has raised the view that it would be desirable if there were a whole-of-Assembly position. I welcome that offer. I think it would be desirable if there were a whole-of-Assembly position.
I think we are a bit early in the process in terms of properly understanding all of the assumptions and all of the technical data that underpins the decisions that the MDBA has outlined in its guide. I have indicated to Mrs Dunne and to Mr Rattenbury that the government would welcome a further discussion about an appropriate resolution at a future point indicating what the collective view of the Assembly was on this issue. I agree that that would lend weight. I agree that that would lend weight to further representations the territory will make, and I will discuss that issue further.
I have undertaken to discuss that issue further with both the Liberal opposition and with the Greens, and I will do so. I will take up that offer, Mrs Dunne, and we will have a further discussion about a collective position at a future point once we fully understand all of the assumptions underpinning the MDBA’s decision and once we have clarification on the broad range of questions which I have outlined and raised and which other members have raised as well. We simply do not have that level of definitive advice yet from the MDBA to be able to do that at this point.
I also note that Mr Rattenbury is keen to see reporting requirements. As I undertook to him during the luncheon break, I have amended my motion to have regard to that. Mr Rattenbury has pointed out that I was in error in the revised amendment that I circulated in that that other element was not included. Mr Assistant Speaker, I will need to seek the leave of the Assembly again. I seek leave to table and circulate my new revised amendments that omitted two key elements that members have since drawn to my attention. I apologise to members and seek leave to do that.
Leave granted.
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