Page 1525 - Week 04 - Thursday, 25 March 2010
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have for other licensed clubs as well. If those questions are in order, it naturally follows that to ask questions about a conflict of interest in the minister’s office would be in order. Mr Smyth’s questions were definitely about ACT taxation matters.
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Speaker, if I could assist, it is the principle here that is being established. I welcome all members to now come in and advise the Assembly of all relationships all of their staff have in their private time, because it would be most interesting, including any relationships with Facebook, perhaps, where people sit there and participate.
I have nothing to hide here. Mr Garrett Purtill is on the ACT branch of the Australian Labor Party’s administrative committee. He plays a very active role in his political organisation. I am very comfortable with that. There is no conflict of interest in my office. But it is the principle that is being established here that is dangerous. If it is going to apply to me, it is going to apply to all of you, and you can all come in here and start explaining all of your staff’s private movements.
Mr Coe: Because we’re all ministers, aren’t we?
MR SPEAKER: Order, members!
Mr Stanhope: Which clubs do you belong to?
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Coe: In my—
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Coe!
Mr Stanhope: What clubs do you belong to?
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Coe, Mr Stanhope, do not make me warn either of you. Members, given that the Treasurer has now just answered the question, and in light of the earlier debate in this chamber today which will lead to the establishment this afternoon of a process to try and resolve this issue, I propose we simply proceed with questions without notice.
Capital works—health
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to the Minister for Health and relates to underspends on capital works in the ACT. Minister, yesterday you stated that there are underspends in health. What is the likely extent of the underspend in the health capital works projects this financial year?
MS GALLAGHER: I do not have that detail on me. It has not been finalised, as I advised the house a number of times in relation to questions around capital works. That information will be provided as part of the budget, which is when that information will be finalised.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, a supplementary?
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