Page 4219 - Week 13 - Thursday, 14 December 2006
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extent of job losses and the wider adverse consequences for the ACT economy predicted by the association will be realised, I am convinced that this sale will be bad for ACT government finances in the medium to long term, as well as for the ACT economy. That is why I oppose the bill.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for the Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Housing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (5.33): On behalf of the government I thank opposition members for their support for this bill. I do not thank the Greens for their opposition to the bill, as Dr Foskey’s contribution was a complete waste of time.
DR FOSKEY: We could have had a robust debate.
MR HARGREAVES: We could have had a robust debate but that does not tend to occur with the Greens. This bill provides for the removal of Rhodium Asset Solutions Ltd from schedule 1 to the Territory-Owned Corporations Act 1990, enabling the government to sell its shares in Rhodium without being subject to the Territory-Owned Corporations Act 1990. The Chief Minister recently announced the government’s intention to sell Rhodium following consideration of the results of a scoping study completed by Horwath Pty Ltd.
The main finding of the scoping study was that an outright sale of the company, including the ACT government fleet management contract, would maximise potential sale value while minimising any potential disruption to the business operations. The information we have is that the car industry in the ACT will not be terribly adversely affected by this sale. As indicated in the Chief Minister’s presentation speech, the sale is expected to provide an optimum financial return to the community. Subjecting the fleet management contract to a competitive process will also realise savings for the government. I again thank those opposite for their support for the bill and for their encouraging remarks.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Corbell) agreed to:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Valedictory
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (5.35): Mr Speaker, merry Christmas to you and to all in this place. As this is the last opportunity for speeches this year I have been asked by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bill Stefaniak, to send his regards. Unfortunately, he
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