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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 06 Hansard (Wednesday, 23 June 2004) . . Page.. 2497 ..

took a long time. Then there was traffic backwards and forwards and eventually the National Capital Authority gave approval.

Mr Cornwell mentioned a footnote. I can check the details for clear accuracy but I am not sure that their final sign-on approval was till some time later than that. Certainly, there was approval in principle that, yes, if we needed to come out into the square they would agree with that, and I think there was a bit more detail to come. So the approval in principle was given to that.

Reference was made to an overrun on budget. It was more a planning issue. There was $1 million or so rolled over for the planning and I think a little more was provided—a figure of $300,000 comes to mind somewhere there. It was all just rolling on. It was a lengthy process—as simple as that.

Bushfires—coronial inquest

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, have you been invited to provide evidence to the coroner’s inquest into the 2003 bushfires? If so, when? Have you provided a written statement to the coroner’s inquest about your involvement in the fight against the bushfires?

MR WOOD: At this stage, no.

Executive—additional staff

MS DUNDAS: Mr Speaker, through you, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, on 19 May 2004 I asked, in estimates, the following questions, which still have not been answered some 36 days later. So I shall ask again. They related to the budget papers indication that there is an extra $299,000 for additional staff for the ACT executive. My questions were:

1. How many additional staff are to be engaged with this money?

2. What level are those staff to be appointed at?

3. What work are they being engaged to perform?

MR STANHOPE: I will pursue the answer to that question, Mr Speaker. I apologise for the delay in responding.

MS DUNDAS: I would also like to know, Minister, whether or not an explanation could be provided about why this question was not answered during the estimates process.

MR STANHOPE: I have just answered the question.

Vardon report

MRS BURKE: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. On the 19th of May this year, it was reported in the Canberra Times by Emma Macdonald that you would have your department investigate who was responsible for the leaking of the Vardon report

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