Page 173 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 26 February 2014
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MR WALL: The question was: minister, did you intend to purchase the land for the purpose of living there personally?
Ms Gallagher: Madam Speaker, I ask for your ruling on whether this relates to Minister Corbell’s portfolio responsibilities?
MADAM SPEAKER: I think you are right and that it does not relate to Mr Corbell’s portfolio responsibilities. I have to rule the question out of order.
Mr Coe, have you got a supplementary question?
Mr Coe: If I may, as to your ruling, is there not relevance in asking the minister for environment whether he has an interest in an area which is subject to a reasonable degree of debate in this place?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe, I think the first question Mr Wall asked was in that space and that Mr Corbell answered that. He said it was subject to his recollection, and I think he answered that question.
The second question was about whether he intended to live there personally, and I cannot see a connection between whether or not the minister intended to live at a place that he does not live at is relevant to the minister’s ministerial responsibility.
Do you have a supplementary question, Mr Coe?
MR COE: Yes. Minister, on what date did you place a deposit and on what date did you relinquish that deposit?
Mr Corbell: It is not relevant to my ministerial responsibilities, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: If it relates to the first question, the first question was about whether you as a minister ever had an interest in that property. I allowed that question, and I will allow this question.
Mr Corbell: Am I allowed to be asked next when I opened a particular bank account, Madam Speaker?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, I have ruled on this. If somebody asked that question, you would be entitled to take a point of order, and on the basis of the circumstances at the time, I would rule whether or not it was in order.
MR CORBELL: Madam Speaker, I will accept your ruling only to put this question completely beyond doubt, because I am aware that some people are asserting that I had an interest in land at Uriarra Village and I sold that land or did not proceed with that purchase because of the solar auction. That claim is false. It is absolutely false. Yes, I entered into a contract, with my now wife, to purchase a block of land at Uriarra Village. I did so in approximately 2008. As to the exact dates, I will have to check the record. I declared that interest at the time I entered into that contract, and it
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