Page 2404 - Week 11 - Thursday, 2 November 1989
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professionalism of the office been attacked or brought into doubt.
Mr Collaery has stated that the format of the valuation provided in the Revlon matter was not the same as that which he would receive from private valuers. The practice of the Australian Valuation Office has been to provide advice of the valuation and not the analysis supporting the decision.
Mr Collaery: Why not?
MR WHALAN: Mr Collaery has said, "Why not?". It has been the practice and it has been part of the process that has been in existence for many years in the relationship between the Commonwealth and the Australian Valuation Office. That has been the procedure, and if there is to be any change in that procedure it no doubt will increase the costs. But, in this respect, the valuation in the Revlon case was exactly in accordance with this practice.
In the Revlon case, a staged development was considered. The valuers advised that, as separate blocks sold individually, the value was to be $350,000 and $400,000, respectively, and a total of $700,000 if both blocks were sold as a staged package. The $700,000 figure is the value adopted in the final negotiations and lease documents.
I must say, Mr Speaker, that I find it particularly intriguing that Mr Collaery should raise doubts about the valuation processes in this matter, as he has already been given a full briefing in my office by me and officers of the Department of Industry and Development, at which meeting, in the presence of witnesses, he stated that he had inspected the blocks in question and he said, "I would not pay anything like $700,000 for blocks of that size".
Vietnam Memorial
MR JENSEN: My question is directed to the Minister for Industry, Employment and Education. I refer him to a letter from Mr Trent Keary, the secretary of the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial Committee, which was printed in the Canberra Times of 15 October. That letter stated that they expect approximately 20,000 Australians to come to Canberra for the dedication of the memorial in October 1992, on the fifth anniversary of the welcome home march. Can the Minister advise what action, if any, has been taken by officers within his department to commence planning for this event, especially as I believe a large number of United States veterans and their families are expected to come as well?
MR WHALAN: It is a question which I will have to take on notice. I will give full details at the next sitting, but I can assure you that the Canberra Tourist Bureau is very
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