Page 1433 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 April 2013
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In relation to issues of corporate hospitality, the shareholders have sought advice and review on the extent of the hospitality and an assurance that that hospitality is in line with industry benchmarks and industry practice.
You added that this review has not yet been completed. Minister, what issues led to the shareholders asking for a review of ACTEW’s corporate hospitality?
MS GALLAGHER: I asked that it be done to assure the shareholders. There was not any particular issue that led to it. There was not any evidence before me or any complaint before me that led to my asking that that review occur. But in a discussion with the chair I asked that the board do it. I had not seen that work done before. The shareholders wanted to make sure that it was all in order and the chair agreed. Indeed, the review is underway. But in terms of any formal complaint or evidence for me to question the practice, it certainly was not instigated by that.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Seselja.
MR SESELJA: Will this review be ready before the special general meeting next week? If not, when will this review be completed?
MS GALLAGHER: My understanding is that it will be complete in May.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, a supplementary question.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, will you or the Treasurer table the review?
MS GALLAGHER: It is not a review that I own in that sense. The shareholders cannot, and we looked at this in terms of what we can and can’t—
Mr Hanson: They are going to give it to you, aren’t they?
MS GALLAGHER: If you just let me finish, this is work that the shareholders asked to occur in December, before all of you over there got excited about ACTEW. This is some work that we asked to be done. We have led it. But we have also been mindful that ACTEW operates under the Corporations Act and that there are certain limited powers for shareholders to get involved in the day-to-day running of the business. The review had to be commissioned by the board. The board have commissioned that review. In that sense ACTEW will own that review. We would expect that they would share that review with shareholders, but we would also have to take some advice, I imagine, about whether or not we are in a position to release it. I do not see any reason why we would not share that information publicly. I think we have been pretty up-front and open about some of the concerns that we have had and the steps that we have taken, and I think there is a level of public interest in this. So I use that as my guiding principles, but I do acknowledge that it is not the government’s review to release.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
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