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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 5 Hansard (14 May) . . Page.. 1204 ..

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, the issue of contamination on Kingston obviously is an issue that takes an awful lot of the time and effort of those opposite. The reality is that we have wanted to get on with it, with a survey of contamination on Kingston, for 12 months. Who has delayed it, Mr Speaker? We have wanted to go ahead and get some real knowledge of what the contamination is, but what happened? We could not go ahead because the committee that was going to report quickly got an undertaking from me, an appropriate undertaking from me - - -

Ms McRae: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is completely irrelevant. We are not talking about anything except: What offer did the Commonwealth make? I will table both Hansards if Mrs Carnell would like. I have asked a specific question. Please ask her to answer it.

Mr Kaine: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. What is Ms McRae doing? How many times is she going to jump up and ask a question? I suggest that you should call her to order and tell her to sit down.

MR SPEAKER: Do you want to table those statements?

Ms McRae: Yes, sir. There is my press release, Hansard of 1 May - - -

Mr De Domenico: Your press release! It did not get a run in the newspaper.

MR SPEAKER: If you want to table the papers, it is a matter of asking for leave; that is all. Apart from that, the Chief Minister is answering the question - or have you finished, Chief Minister?

Ms McRae: Mr Speaker, the point of order had nothing to do with my tabling bits of paper. My point of order was purely and simply that you have come in today and said, "Answers shall be relevant and answers shall be given". Neither is being done.

MR SPEAKER: I said that they should be concise. I must admit that some of the answers are not concise, but at the same time Ministers have a great number of interjections to deal with simultaneously.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, as I have just been saying, we are very keen to get on with a survey of what contamination actually exists on Kingston.

Mr Berry: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question clearly was: When did the Commonwealth indicate its commitment and what offer was made? That is the question. Why do we not get an answer?

MR SPEAKER: The Chief Minister is trying to explain at least my understanding of the second part of the question - that what is not being conducted is a site contamination examination. Is that correct, Chief Minister? Therefore, I fail to see how a costing can be placed on it. That is my understanding - - -

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