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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 70 ..

MR SPEAKER: Supplementary, Mrs Dunne?

MRS DUNNE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to reiterate: were you, Mr Corbell, advised by your department that there would be a commitment of at least $75 million? Can you supply that advice to the chamber?

MR CORBELL: Yes, I have been advised that there are a range of issues that need to be addressed. I have been advised on the average cost of land development in the territory. I have not been advised that the cost would be $75 million if we proceeded in the way that has been proposed. I have not been advised of that figure. I have been advised that there are costs that the government will need to take into account, and the government will take those costs into account in looking at the models for the territory resuming land development responsibility.

Members staff-contracts

MR PRATT: Mr Speaker, my question is to you as the person responsible for the administration of the Assembly. Will you seek to phase out contracts between non-executive members of the Assembly and the staff that they employ and replace these with contracts negotiated between unions supposedly representing the interests of the staff and officials representing the Assembly? If so, which union does Mr Berry consider best represents Assembly staff? What input will individual members have in the negotiations?

MR SPEAKER: I would be most delighted to answer that question if it was within my bailiwick, but it is a question properly directed to the Chief Minister. I am afraid I can't answer the question.

Mr Humphries: Can the Chief Minister answer the question?

MR SPEAKER: Mr Pratt has asked it of me. and that's it.

MR STANHOPE: I will pass that to the Minister for Industrial Relations.

MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Pratt for the question.

MR SPEAKER: I am envious of Mr Corbell, I have to tell you.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, the key issue that Mr Pratt raises here is the issue of common law contracts versus collective agreements between staff and management within the ACT government service, taking it at its broadest extent to include the Assembly.

Mr Speaker, the government went to the election with a very clear commitment, and that commitment was to phase out arrangements for common law contracts and individual agreements such as Australian workplace agreements.

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