Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 2 Hansard (29 February) . . Page.. 363 ..

MR SPEAKER: I would think that was an opinion, to be perfectly honest. The other two parts of the question I will leave for you to answer if you wish, Minister.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, the Government's record, compared with the Opposition's record when in government, speaks for itself. People have only to read what we have been prepared to disclose, what we are prepared to put on the table, what we are prepared to reveal to the public of this Territory, to see what our approach is on these issues. Mr Berry has the gall to stand up and say, "If you had moved a motion on the floor of the Assembly, we would have tabled the VITAB documents". That is so mealy-mouthed as to defy description. The fact is that those documents are still secret . You still have the power, Mr Berry, to reveal those documents. Why do you not do that? Prove what a champion of open government you are and table the documents for the world to see.

Mr Speaker, we have been prepared to conform to the Assembly's process to be able to deal with the proposed joint venture between AGL and ACTEW. We have not defied any of the Assembly's demands of us on that issue. Nothing the Assembly has required of us has not been done.

Mr Corbell: Huh!

MR HUMPHRIES: You go, "Huh". What have we been required to provide which we have not provided, Mr Corbell?

Mr Stanhope: Answer the last question for a start. What guarantees will you give about jobs?

MR HUMPHRIES: That was not the last question at all.

Mr Stanhope: You were asked to guarantee the jobs of the people at ACTEW. You will not answer the question.

MR HUMPHRIES: It was not the last question. The Government knows it cannot secure a new arrangement for ACTEW without the support of the Assembly. We will work with the Assembly to achieve it, because we believe it is important to position ACTEW better in the future than it is today. I remind members that in the near future there will be a deregulation of the domestic power market in this country.

Mr Stanhope: And gas.

MR HUMPHRIES: And gas. When that comes about, ACTEW's position is going to be considerably weaker than it is today. We are prepared to do something about that. We are prepared to try to get a position for ACTEW which will make it capable of reducing its exposure to risk. That is our position. I invite those opposite, if they are satisfied with that process, to require other things of the Government if they wish that and we will do our best to comply. We believe it is important to take a step of this kind. If we do not have the right formula as far as the Assembly is concerned, then let us hear from the Opposition what it wants us to do in its place.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .