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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2822 ..

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, my question without notice is to Mr Humphries, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, you have just told the house that you were aware of this issue as long ago as the Estimates Committee hearings.

Mr Moore: When Mr Osborne was asking these questions.

MR WHITECROSS: Yes, Mr Osborne was asking - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Whitecross is asking a question of the Minister for Police. If you two want to have a chat you can go outside, Mr Moore.

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Minister, at one stage in the evidence given to the Estimates Committee Mr Osborne asked Assistant Commissioner Stoll, "So basically we are paying more than we are getting". Mr Stoll answered, "No, not entirely". Given that you, Minister, in this place today and yesterday, have agreed that we are paying for more than we are getting, are you concerned that the evidence given to the Estimates Committee was less than full and less than frank? Are you concerned, too, that your officials' idea of monitoring a contract and ensuring that a contract is being enforced is to believe what the providers say when they say that they are fulfilling the contract? Do you believe that that is appropriate monitoring?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, whereas I am certainly concerned about the issues that Mr Whitecross and the other members have raised today, this is hardly a matter which has suddenly emerged on the scene for the first time. It is not a new issue which we have suddenly had to grapple with and which has not previously faced somebody. This has been around for at least four years, and probably longer than that.

Mr Moore: You mean under Labor.

MR HUMPHRIES: Probably longer than that, including under the Labor Government. The point where the deficiency was greatest, the point where you might say that the need to ask some questions based on evidence of some problem was greatest, was during the period that your party was in office, so do not get too cocky. You people are amazing. You are quite amazing.

Mr Whitecross: Let us talk about the Estimates Committee, when it came to your attention.

MR SPEAKER: Order! You have asked your question, Mr Whitecross. Be quiet while you are getting the answer.

Mr Whitecross: He is not answering it.

MR SPEAKER: It does not matter. He is entitled to respond.

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