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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 3969 ..

Totalcare Industries Ltd - Buses

MS FOLLETT: I have a question for the Minister for Urban Services, Mr De Domenico. Minister, during the Estimates Committee hearings it was revealed by a senior official from Totalcare, in fact Mr Spottiswood, that the Totalcare bus fleet is - and I will quote his exact words - "making a profit". I ask how that statement reconciles with the answer that you gave to a question without notice asked by Ms Reilly on 3 September 1996 in regard to the profitability of the Totalcare bus fleet in which you said - and again I will quote; in fact, I will table the Hansard, as the Chief Minister just did, if it will help:

I can confirm that it does not realise a profit.

How do you reconcile those two statements?

MR DE DOMENICO: I will check both the Hansard that Ms Follett refers to and the Hansard of the Estimates Committee. I will read them in full, and I will get back to Ms Follett.

MS FOLLETT: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. In light of the evidence that was given to the Estimates Committee by senior officials, not just from Totalcare but also from your own Department of Urban Services, that the Totalcare bus service is not operating at a loss, was your previous answer in the Assembly - and I would ask you to consider this very carefully - a deliberate attempt to mislead this Assembly - - -

Mrs Carnell: Mr Speaker - - -

MS FOLLETT: I will change that to "misinform" - - -

Mrs Carnell: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. That question would be unparliamentary.

MR SPEAKER: Yes.

MS FOLLETT: I have asked a question, Mr Speaker, not made the allegation.

Mrs Carnell: If you want to move a motion, move a motion.

MR SPEAKER: You will have to - - -

MS FOLLETT: I will change it to "misinform".

Ms McRae: Who is in charge, Mr Speaker?

MS FOLLETT: We know who is in charge.

MR SPEAKER: Would you mind withdrawing "mislead"?

MS FOLLETT: I have withdrawn it and replaced it with "misinform".

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