Page 4057 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 16 Sept 2009
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MS GALLAGHER: As I said yesterday, we were updated on a number of occasions. I don’t know what you don’t understand about the fact that the final figure was arrived at towards the end of August. We were given that figure. It was bigger than the last figure we received—
Mr Stanhope: Surprisingly bigger.
MS GALLAGHER: and we were surprised.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary question?
MR SMYTH: Yes, Mr Speaker. Treasurer, why did the Chief Minister claim that the shareholders, which include you of course, greeted the news with “surprise and concern” when you claimed yesterday that the shareholders received the board minutes and you were kept “updated at regular intervals”?
MS GALLAGHER: This is getting silly.
Mr Stanhope: Because from the last regular interval there was a surprising change in the number.
MS GALLAGHER: Maybe I have not been as clear and concise as the Chief Minister then, but the updates were these: “We are finalising the cost; we are finalising the cost; we are going through some processes; there are a number of caveats on this; the costs are increasing.” They are the updates. The final figure which gave the shareholders, Mr Stanhope and me, some cause for surprise were determined in late August, several days before that information became public.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, a supplementary question?
MRS DUNNE: Treasurer, why, following Actew’s announcement of the cost blow-out, was it reported that the government would keep a keen eye on costs in relation to the Cotter Dam? Treasurer, should not governments keep a keen eye on the costs of all major projects all the time?
MS GALLAGHER: Yes, and we do.
Mrs Dunne: But you were surprised.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth.
Ms Gallagher: Sorry, could I just respond?
Mr Smyth: No, you sat down.
Ms Gallagher: No, I probably should not. I should not respond to interjections.
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