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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 3609 ..


MR KAINE (continuing):

this matter so that we can all be informed, and will you undertake to abide by the authority's advice on this matter?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, you clearly should not believe everything you read in the Canberra Times. The government certainly does not. We operate on fact, not on stories that are written up in the local daily paper. As I pointed out in the answer to Mr Hird's excellent question, this is all subject to variation 41 of the National Capital Plan.

In regard to Mr Kaine's question, the government believes that, the Assembly having not approved Mr Corbell's motion, we have the approval of the Assembly to continue with the Gungahlin Drive extension. As we have always said-as we have said for almost five years now-it is the road we would build. Some of those opposite are trying to dupe the public into believing that they can actually magically build this, having conducted-

Mr Quinlan: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: "trying to dupe the public", would that be an unparliamentary reflection?

MR SMYTH: We already have from the opposition planning spokesman an assurance that he can continue the process and that he can meet the government's time lines. The reality is that he cannot. He will be known, as he has been known before, for trying to dupe the public on planning matters by putting out misinformation.

MR SPEAKER: That I will uphold, thank you.

Mr Corbell: Mr Speaker, I ask that you invite the minister to withdraw.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, I happily withdraw. But I remind this place that Mr Corbell said-

Mr Quinlan: No, you withdraw and that is it.

MR SPEAKER: He did withdraw.

MR SMYTH: Mr Quinlan, I said that I happily withdraw. If you did not hear me the first time, I will say it again. But I will remind the Assembly-

MR SPEAKER: Get on with your answer, please.

Mr Quinlan: Thank you. I have the call.

MR SMYTH: I am not finished.

MR SPEAKER: The minister has not finished answering Mr Kaine's question. Mr Kaine might have a supplementary.

MR SMYTH: Mr Kaine might like to ask a supplementary. I will wait for the supplementary.


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