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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 7 Hansard (19 October) . . Page.. 1876 ..

MR WOOD: Thank you. I have that answer. In that case, could you spell out what procedures are to be followed? That is the question I asked. I know that it was not what you read out. You did not have a brief for that. What procedures are to be followed when disposing of government property? Will you confirm today, or will you go into your records to confirm, that those procedures have been followed in every case, including that case when a company bearing the name of Liberal MLA Harold Hird disposed of ACT government property previously owned by the Department of Health?

MR DE DOMENICO: As I said, Mr Wood, I do not know what procedures were followed when - - -

Ms Follett: You are the Minister.

Ms McRae: You are the Minister.

MR DE DOMENICO: Just sit down and listen. Do not get carried away. If you want a Valium tablet, Mrs Carnell is available to provide one. As for what procedures were followed for disposals in the Department of Health, Mr Wood, I do not know, but I will find out and let you know. In terms of the questions you asked about the taxi plates, I am advised by the Department of Urban Services that the proper procedures were followed.

Mr Wood: Will you find out what they are?

MR DE DOMENICO: You have a copy of the tender documents there in front of you. Perhaps Mr Berry would like to help you along.

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, my question without notice is to Mrs Carnell. Chief Minister, in your code of conduct for Ministers you state that a Minister should not engage in activities where he or she, or their immediate family, will gain personal advantage by dealings with the Government. Are we to take it that this code of conduct, this standard of conduct, does not apply to backbench members of your Government and that they are allowed to gain personal advantage through dealings with the Government?

MRS CARNELL: My understanding is that Mr Hird does not own the company Harold Hird and Associates; that in fact he has no shares in the company.

Mr Berry: Who does?

MRS CARNELL: I honestly do not know, but I am assured that Mr Hird has no shares in the company. I am also assured, therefore, that there can be no financial gain. I understand that the reality of the situation is that the company that is doing the work for which it is being paid, the company that is not owned by Harold Hird and in which Harold Hird has no shares whatsoever, is donating the money that it is making via a valid auctioneering process to a charity in the ACT. I find it interesting that you have a problem with that.

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