Page 2448 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 22 August 2006

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Mrs Burke: Oh, right, was she?

MR STANHOPE: Yes. You know that she was forced to return to Australia, Mrs Burke. Do not be inane.

Mrs Burke: This is getting ridiculous.

MR STANHOPE: It is ridiculous. It is appalling, it is puerile, it is petty and it reflects incredibly badly on you. I do not know why you all feel so chuffed that you cost Ms MacDonald, a member of the government, $1,000. What is it that amuses you about that?

Mrs Burke: Why did she go? The estimates were on.

MR STANHOPE: What is it that amuses you about the fact that Ms MacDonald is $1,000 out of pocket because of your behaviour? What is so funny about that? Why are you pumping out your chests at what you have done to one of your colleagues?

Opposition members interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Order! Members of the opposition will cease interjecting.

Mr Pratt: It is a disgrace.

MR STANHOPE: It is a disgrace, Mr Pratt. I rest my case.

Planning—EpiCentre lease

MR SESELJA: My question is to the Minister for Planning. It relates to the sale of EpiCentre. Minister, documents released by the planning and environment committee contained a file note written by the chief planning executive which referenced concerns over pre auction advice and expressed the intention of discussing this issue with you. You confirmed recently in the press that the chief planning executive met with you to discuss concerns raised by bidders over the EpiCentre auction. On 9 August you stated on ABC news:

… obviously Mr Savery brought to my attention the fact that bidders were making inquiries and that’s quite a reasonable thing for Mr Savery to do.

Minister, did the chief planning executive raise his concerns over pre auction advice, as noted in his meeting notes? If so, what was the nature of those concerns?

MR CORBELL: Mr Seselja, I think, takes out of context the advice from Mr Savery, but that is not unusual in this whole episode. The opposition seek to construe comments in a particular context that is quite misleading. I cannot recall what occurred at a meeting some three or four—actually I think it was probably last year. I would have to check the records. To that extent, I will take the question on notice.


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