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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 333 ..


MR MOORE (continuing):

probably less than that, probably until the end of this week, I would be quite happy to provide that kind of briefing.

We do take it as very important that Gugan Gulwan can do its work and have an appropriate range of premises. I know that this matter has been raised by a number of members of the Assembly. We were aware of it. We took seriously what was being raised with us and we are in the process of making sure that we can find suitable premises. I have to say that I am quite excited about it. I think that we have found a very good location for Gugan Gulwan, but we will have to work through a series of ramifications of that decision. I will be happy to brief anybody on that should I be asked.

MR WOOD: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. I thank Mr Moore for that change of attitude, because late last year a spokesman for Mr Moore was saying that the location was irrelevant. I take it that you have been talking to Gugan Gulwan about new sites, Mr Moore.

MR MOORE: People from my department have been talking to Gugan Gulwan and we will follow that through and make sure that they do understand which site we are talking about. My understanding is that they are quite excited about the possibility. It is not a fait accompli because we have to go through the rest of the process. I think that will be very effective.

I have to say to Mr Wood that I am not quite sure what he was referring to in talking about a change of heart. I am very pleased to be able to deliver on this matter, but there are times when it is appropriate to recognise, a decision having been made in the past, that new factors can come into it. It is important, therefore, to be prepared to change one's mind. Mr Wood and I have been in this place for a long time and we have both seen changes of heart. It has been very interesting to see the significant change of heart of the Labor Party on planning issues, for example.

Mr Stanhope: Like the independent planner?

MR MOORE: Like 100 per cent betterment, Mr Stanhope, and a whole range of other things. Each of us will recognise that there are times when new information comes in and, if we were to ignore that, we could be as ignorant as Mr Berry.

Insurance levy

MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, my question, through you, is to the Treasurer. I noticed in the Canberra Times of the 21st of this month that a well-known government supporter, the chief executive of the ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is pretty unhappy with the emergency services levy on insurance policies. In fact, he is so unhappy about it that he says that scrapping it will be a key goal of his new term as chief executive. He says:

The elimination of the ACT's fire services levy will be one of the key aims of the ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry ...

It was an interesting statement, because on the very same day the Treasurer put out a media release in which he affirmed what he had already said in May of last year-that this levy would be scrapped from 1 July this year. For this statement to have appeared in


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