Page 1178 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 April 1994
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we could for Mr Berry within the accommodation that was available to us, and that is what we have done. I do not know how long the Liberal Party wants to keep up this campaign. My guess is that the next thing they will be doing is measuring the capacity of Mr Berry's car and comparing it with everybody else's. I assure you that yours are bigger.
Mr Lamont: Measuring the dunnies.
MS FOLLETT: Yes, measuring the capacity of everybody's toilets, measuring the tread on the tyres, Madam Speaker, doing a quick review of the quality of pens and pencils issued to Mr Berry, and so on. It is just so petty as to be quite pathetic, and that is the way I intend to treat it.
State Bank of New South Wales
MR STEVENSON: My question of the Chief Minister concerns the ACT Government's bankers. I have raised two matters of public importance - the first mainly to do with the State Bank and the second entirely to do with the State Bank - as well as questions in this house of both the Chief Minister and the Attorney-General, both of whom indicated that the matter would be followed up. On the last occasion, the Attorney-General indicated that one of the matters that I raised was before the New South Wales Supreme Court and was sub judice. That case has long finished. I note that the bankers of the ACT Government are the State Bank of New South Wales. We note that the bankers formed a $2 company, Fouron Pty Ltd, with senior members of the bank as its directors; and we note that this $2 company had, over a period of 15 months, in excess of $115m to on-lend. We also know that at this time it has loaned some $3m to dubious characters to conduct a company, Halbear Pty Ltd, involved in the operations - - -
Mr Connolly: Madam Speaker, I have to take a point of order on the grounds of brevity of a question and the relevance of this question to the Chief Minister's portfolio responsibilities. We are getting into the private dealings of bank directors and matters that have been raised in New South Wales courts.
MADAM SPEAKER: I remind members that standing orders are quite curious. Questions have to be brief; answers have to be concise. There is an interesting difference.
Mr Kaine: Answers are supposed to be brief too.
MADAM SPEAKER: No, concise. It is quite different, Mr Kaine. Your idea of brief is awfully long, Mr Stevenson; so will you please wind up your question. Of course, it must also relate to something that the Chief Minister has actual responsibility for. Would you focus and finish your question, please.
MR STEVENSON: As Treasurer, one would think that the Chief Minister has certain responsibilities for banking in the ACT. That company was involved in actions - running a brothel and whatever - in Goulburn Street, Sydney. What I ask is on behalf of - - -
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