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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 326 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, in Mr Hird's question, he referred to the prison. He asked that in the first question. I am happy to comment on the prison as well. We have heard today the Labor Party - Mr Stanhope, I think - say, "How dare the Government put money aside in this capital works program for the prison. How dare it refer to the prison in the capital works program. The Justice Committee of the Assembly has not yet decided whether it believes that there should be a prison, let alone whether it should be publicly or privately operated". Indeed, the Justice Committee of the Assembly is considering this question. I look forward to its recommendations. Mr Speaker, if it happens to be the case that the Justice Committee recommends that we have a prison in the ACT and creates an environment in which it is possible at least for the Government to proceed with a privately operated prison, how are we going to go about producing that option if we have not put aside and properly described money in the capital works program for that project?

Mr Stanhope: How much money did you put aside for the prison?

MR SPEAKER: Order! We seem to have come full circle. I seem to remember that the first question was about this.

Mr Stanhope: How much money do you put aside for the prison?

MR HUMPHRIES: The money put aside, the money referred to in our capital works program, is $12m, which is to be funded by the private sector, for the creation of an ACT gaol. If members opposite have a problem with that, that is fine.

Mr Stanhope: No, we do not have a problem with that.

MR HUMPHRIES: You do not have a problem with it? What are you complaining about then?

Mr Stanhope: It is your money, is it?

MR HUMPHRIES: You do not have a problem with it?

Mr Stanhope: What is this money? What is the money you have put aside for - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order, members! Come to order! Mr Hird asked a question.

MR HUMPHRIES: I think they have been drinking paraffin or something, Mr Speaker. Either we should not put it in the capital works program or we should. Which is it? Should we have it there or should we not? Which is it? In or out?

Mr Quinlan: Out.

MR HUMPHRIES: It should be outside the capital works program?

Ms Carnell: You guys have ruled the opposite in the past and told us we need to put it in.

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