Page 490 - Week 02 - Thursday, 3 March 1994
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Mrs Carnell: But that is not the question. How can ACTTAB be responsible and not the Government?
MR BERRY: Are you asking the question or is Mr Kaine? Are you writing them for him, or is he misreading them, or what? I can answer only one person at a time, and I am doing my very best, in adverse conditions, to answer the question asked by Mr Kaine. Mr Kaine, if you read on in the advice - if you have it there - you will find that there is mention of the protection that ACTTAB would provide in those circumstances.
MR KAINE: He has not done too well so far, Madam Speaker, but I will ask him a supplementary question. At recommendation No. 3 of the briefing note dated 19 October 1993, which he might like to read, reference is made to liability for amounts in excess of $250,000. In other words, on this insurance policy that ACTTAB has taken out there is an excess. Can the Minister give an absolute assurance that under no circumstances would the ACT Government have to stand behind a pay-out, having regard to this insurance policy, if it gets beyond the ability of ACTTAB to pay it?
MR BERRY: My advice from Treasury and the Law Office was clear that the ACT Government was safe.
Mrs Carnell: But your briefing note does not say that.
MR BERRY: I am afraid the briefing note does say that.
Mr Humphries: No, it does not say it.
MR BERRY: You are not prepared to read the parts that do say that. If you look at the briefing note - - -
Mr De Domenico: Where is it? Give us a look at the briefing note.
MR BERRY: I tabled it yesterday. Did you not pick up your copy?
Mr Kaine: The Minister may be in for a rude shock and he may have to take some of that money out of the bag.
MR BERRY: Oh, go away! The money is safe. Treasury and the Law Office made it very clear that the contract left the - - -
Mr De Domenico: Table their advice.
MR BERRY: I tabled it yesterday. I tabled the advice that I had on the matter.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Mr De Domenico, you have had your question.
MR BERRY: It was generously provided by an open and consultative government. If you do not want that - - -
Mr De Domenico: Table the contract.
MR BERRY: What about if we table all of the contracts for all of the other business deals that are done in the ACT? Would you like that?
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