Page 180 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 26 February 2014
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Planning—Canberra Raiders lease variation
MRS JONES: My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. Minister, Minister Rattenbury was quoted in the Canberra Times of 18 February as characterising the Canberra Raiders lease change case currently before ACAT, by saying, “I think the proposal is really absurd.” Is the Raiders lease change proposal really absurd?
MR CORBELL: This matter is currently before the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. It is the subject of litigation at the moment in that tribunal with a number of groups seeking to have the decision of the Planning and Land Authority overturned by the tribunal. Cognisant of the importance of not commenting on matters that are before courts and tribunals, I do not propose to make further comment on it.
Mr Rattenbury: Madam Speaker, before—
MADAM SPEAKER: Do you have a point of order, Mr Rattenbury?
Mr Rattenbury: Yes, under standing order 46, I am actually being misquoted by Mrs Jones.
MADAM SPEAKER: Do you claim to be misrepresented?
Mr Rattenbury: I do.
MADAM SPEAKER: You have leave to make a brief explanation.
Mr Rattenbury: Thank you. The comments I did make were of a personal nature. They were not made under my portfolio responsibilities, further to the earlier discussion. But the thing that I said was absurd was the construction of a new surface car park in the inner north and the Braddon area. I did not refer to the deconcessionalisation as absurd.
MADAM SPEAKER: Your personal explanation is noted. Supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, what representations have you received from Minister Rattenbury on this issue?
MR CORBELL: I cannot recall any, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, given your response to the substantial question, would it be appropriate to comment on the case before ACAT to a newspaper?
MR CORBELL: When matters are before courts or tribunals, it is always preferable not to comment on those matters in any substantive detail.
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