Page 401 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 2 March 1994
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ACTTAB - Contract with VITAB Ltd
MR WESTENDE: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Sport. Deputy Chief Minister, you mentioned just a moment ago that there were amendments to the VITAB contract. What were the amendments to the VITAB contract that were recommended by the ACT Government Solicitor?
MR BERRY: They were amendments to strengthen the deal between - - -
Mrs Carnell: Wasn't the first one all right?
Mr Humphries: In what way?
MR BERRY: You are grasping at straws, boys and girls. Of course it was carefully checked by the Law Office. I do not have the amendments.
Mr Humphries: Will you table them?
MR BERRY: Hang on a minute. They form part of the contract, which so far has been treated as commercial-in-confidence, because that is the understanding that we have with VITAB. It was closely examined by the ACT Government Solicitor and - - -
Mrs Carnell: Is the contract with the Northern Territory commercial-in-confidence?
MR BERRY: Mrs Carnell mutters something about the Northern Territory agreement. I have already said that it is similar to the arrangement with the Northern Territory TAB. It is fair enough that people who have commercial contracts with the ACT would expect them to be kept in confidence. None of the Liberals' friends would be too happy if their contracts with the ACT Government were all exposed to the community and to their commercial competitors; neither would they be satisfied if any of their tendering arrangements with the ACT Government were exposed. At any time the Liberals could leap to their feet and say that there is a big question mark about the tendering arrangements in relation to such and such. The people who support them would scream their heads off if those tendering arrangements were released and exposed commercial advantage for one group over the other. They are treated very carefully. I do not have the amendments with me.
Mrs Carnell: You do not have anything with you.
Ms Follett: Neither have you, so far. It has been a fruitless search so far, has it not?
MR BERRY: It is barren ground. You people keep sticking your head up and you scream when you get nothing. You have got nothing.
Mr De Domenico: Because you have given us nothing.
Mr Humphries: You have the contract. You are the Minister. Tell us what is going on.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
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