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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Tuesday, 24 August 2004) . . Page.. 4036 ..

Chief Minister, why did you pose with AFP uniformed officers for ALP election advertising, thereby compromising the neutrality of the AFP? Did you or your office play any role in arranging for the AFP officers to appear in this advertising? If so, what role was played?

Mr Wood: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Pratt has raised a matter that is not relevant to members of the cabinet. It is a matter beyond our influence. It is a matter between the AFP and a party organisation.

MR SPEAKER: It is said that the Chief Minister was in a photograph with police officers. I think that members are entitled to ask questions about that.

MR STANHOPE: I attend a significant number of events in my capacity as an elected representative of the people of Canberra. I meet with government agencies, government organisations, private sector organisations and individuals constantly, essentially on every day of the week throughout the year. At almost all of those functions, on almost all of those occasions of visit, I have my photograph taken by a range of people. That happened on this occasion.

MR PRATT: I have a supplementary question. Chief Minister, will you ensure that these advertisements are no longer broadcast and will you publicly apologise to the AFP for compromising its neutrality?

MR STANHOPE: No.

Rehabilitation Independent Living Unit

MR CORNWELL: My question is directed to the Minister for Health. In response to a question about consultation regarding the future of RILU with the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust, you said, “I understand that, in my absence, the acting minister, Mr Wood, met with the chairman of the road safety trust and spoke with him,”—as I suppose you would if you met.

You had been developing a proposal to shut down RILU for months before the Assembly passed a motion defending it. Yet it seems you did not bother to consult with the organisation that provided funding to establish this important health facility. Minister, why did you wait so long before consulting the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust about the future of RILU?

MR CORBELL: When it was drawn to my attention that the NRMA had an interest in RILU, we ensured that consultation took place.

MR CORNWELL: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. When will the minister receive advice about RILU? Will you guarantee that it will still be in place if Labor, unfortunately, wins the election?

MR CORBELL: I am currently considering that matter. Obviously I have to take account of the Assembly’s resolution on the matter. I take that very seriously, as indeed I take a range of advice on the issue of RILU. We will make sure that all those issues are

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