Page 3036 - Week 08 - Thursday, 7 August 2008

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Mr Pratt: Which you will improperly splash up against the wall.

MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Pratt!

MR STANHOPE: and expenditure out of the infrastructure fund of $250 million on transport and transport-related issues. Of the $250 million provided through the infrastructure fund for transport and transport-related initiatives there is a capacity for an additional $83 million of expenditure. (Time expired.)

MR SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Stefaniak?

MR STEFANIAK: Yes, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Chief Minister, but isn’t it simply the case that the GDE duplication was not a priority for your government, that you were simply caught out on 23 July and that the rushed announcement was to cover up for your own incompetence?

MR STANHOPE: I must say that I think this is the sixth question in three days on the GDE. They are questions which are really very much about, “Goodness me; you kicked sand in my face in the preschool playground.” It is very much about: “Oh, how dare you have anything to say about the GDE? We wanted to do that,” or “That was my story.” Poor Mr Seselja! Somebody stole his little sand bucket and his little sand shovel. Oh, poor Mr Seselja!

MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, have you finished?

Mr Stanhope: Yes.

Rhodium Asset Solutions Ltd

MR MULCAHY: My question is to the Chief Minister and Treasurer. Can you explain in more detail the actual factors behind the collapse of negotiations for the sale of Rhodium, including whether concerns about the management of Rhodium, including the state of company records during its life as an ACT government entity, played a role in the collapse of negotiations?

MR STANHOPE: In relation to the negotiations, it is similar to the question asked by Mr Smyth; it has some similarity or some connection in that at least they are both about Rhodium. In relation to the detailed reasons as Mr Mulcahy expresses them, it would be best to take the question on notice.

Mrs Dunne: I think I would too if you are this embarrassed. I would take it on notice too.

MR STANHOPE: I am not a bit embarrassed. And ask for a detailed statement from Treasury in relation to what the sticking points in the negotiations were and what it was about—

Opposition members interjecting—


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