Page 4459 - Week 12 - Thursday, 26 October 2017
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MR COE: Chief Minister, what qualification should the people of Canberra put on promises when you say that they will be delivered in the fullness of time? What does that actually mean?
MR BARR: It means that the government will endeavour to meet the requests of the Assembly in as speedy a manner as possible but I will not seek to make commitments in relation to time frames that I cannot meet.
Land Development Agency—Mr Spokes bike hire
MRS KIKKERT: My question is the Chief Minister. I refer to a report in the Canberra Times of 20 October 2017 that claimed that a member of your staff spoke to the owner of Mr Spokes in early 2015 saying, “If you don’t agree to sit down and meet with the LDA, things are going to get a lot tougher for you.” Did this advisor discuss this issue with you or other members of your staff before speaking with the owner of Mr Spokes?
MR BARR: I do not believe so, but I will check the record.
MRS KIKKERT: Did the member of your staff advise you or other members of your staff after he made the phone call to the owner of Mr Spokes about what had happened?
MR BARR: I believe there will be some, at least, verbal briefing in relation to that matter. I think it is important to note that the context of the contact was from the Mr Spokes business to my office; it was not that my office contacted Mr Spokes; it was the other way around, is my understanding. As for the advice that was provided, I am not aware of the exact words that were used but it certainly would be entirely appropriate for my office to not become involved in commercial negotiations and refer the business back to the Land Development Agency. That is entirely appropriate.
MR COE: Chief Minister, how common was it for members of your staff to be briefed by the Land Development Agency regarding the negotiations for acquisitions?
MR BARR: On an exception basis, I imagine, but I will need to seek some further advice in relation to that. I do not think it would have been a minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour or even day-by-day process. But obviously ministers and ministerial staff receive briefings on specific matters or routine weekly or monthly briefs in relation to certain items. Again, I will have a look at what the historical record shows in that regard.
Crime—anti-consorting laws
MR HANSON: My question is to the Chief Minister and relates to Unions ACT opposition to anti-consorting laws. Chief Minister, on 9 June last year the Canberra Times reported:
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