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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (2 February) . . Page.. 36 ..

MR QUINLAN: Thank you for your assistance, Mr Speaker. Mr Moore, I have to say that Harold actually did write his report unaided, because he told us so. He wrote it on Friday night with Emma. I do not think you have the right to steal his moment by even suggesting that he had external assistance. By agreement, the committee included all of Mr Hird's comment, unedited - at least by us - for the world to read and digest. What could be fairer than that?

Again I want to thank all those who assisted in the preparation of this report and its delivery to this Assembly on schedule, despite some difficulties along the way. I commend the motion to the Assembly.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

ACTEW CORPORATION LIMITED - PROPOSED DISPOSAL

[COGNATE BILL:

ACTEW (TRANSFER SCHEME) BILL 1998]

MR SPEAKER: Is it the wish of the Assembly to debate this motion concurrently with order of the day No. 1, Executive business, relating to the ACTEW (Transfer Scheme) Bill 1998? There being no objection, that course will be followed. I remind members that in debating notice No. 1 they may also address their remarks to order of the day No. 2. Members who have previously spoken to order of the day No. 1 will be able to address the Assembly again.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (2.53): I move:

That this Assembly approves:

(1) the disposal of ACTEW Corporation Limited, its subsidiaries and major undertakings with the exception of the water, dams and water and sewerage treatment plants which are to remain in public ownership; and

(2) that the Government may enter into long term contracts for the operation, maintenance and management of the dams and water and sewerage treatment plants.

Mr Speaker, in considering the ACTEW (Transfer Scheme) Bill and the motion that I have just moved, members should remember why we are here. That is to make decisions that are in the best interests of the ACT community. Avoiding these decisions is a gross neglect of our duties. Today members will be asked to decide whether to take a decision to ensure that the value of one of the Territory's most valuable assets is secured and thereby put the Territory into a position to meet its future financial commitments or whether to put our heads in the sand and do nothing. We have heard a lot of that this morning.

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