Page 2179 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994

CHIEF MINISTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

Question No. 1285

ACTTAB-VITAB Ltd Contract - Inquiry Expenses

MRS CARNELL - Asked the Chief Minister upon notice on 17 May 1994:

In relation to legal representation at the VITAB Inquiry:

(1) Does the Government provide or fund any legal representation for (a)

Ministers or staff members of the Executive; (b) Members or their Staff;

and (c) Government agencies?

(2) If any representation is provided under (1), who represents whom?

(3) Is the Government or any of its agencies paying for any of these

representatives. If so, (a) why; (b) what indemnity has been given in respect

of each and under whose authority has it been given; (c) what limits have

been imposed on legal and other expenses in respect of any individual

and/or agency; (d) what is the estimated cost of legal and other expenses in

respect of each individual or agency represented and for which the

Government or agencies are responsible?

(4) What fee or other expenses are being paid to Professor Pearce to conduct the

inquiry and what is the expected cost?

(5) What administrative or other support is being provided by the Government

or its agencies in support of the inquiry and what is the estimated cost?

MS FOLLETT - The answer to the Member's question is as follows:

(1) (a) No.

(b) Yes. Independent legal advice, funded by the Territory, has been made

available to Mr Berry, the former Minister for Sport on issues relating to

the Inquiry. This was initially arranged through the Government Solicitor,

but in view of the need for the Government Solicitor to give advice to the

Department of the Environment, Land and Planning on matters involved

in the Inquiry and on issues related to it, arrangements were made for an

independent solicitor to take over responsibility for briefing counsel.

Planning and the Chief Ministers Department has been provided by

the Government Solicitor in accordance with ordinary arrangements.

ACTTAB arranged its own private legal advice.

(2) Mr Berry's legal advice has been provided by Mr G James QC instructed

by Mr W Redpath of Messrs Garry Robb and Associates.

ACTTAB's legal advice has been provided by Mr Russell Miller

of Sly and Weigall and by Mr Ron Williams QC.

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