Page 314 - Week 01 - Thursday, 16 February 2012
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Let us look at the financials. This was a $432 million proposed project and it was conducted and justified on the shoddiest of bases. There was over $5.7 million for consultants, resulting in 16 reports. We had the ministerial wing valued at $10.91 million, a proposed ministerial sky bridge valued at $2 million and of course the savings—
It being 45 minutes after the commencement of Assembly business, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 77. Ordered that the time allotted to Assembly business be extended by 30 minutes.
MR SESELJA: We had the now infamous, I think, A4 sheet which was the basis of their claimed savings of $34.5 million, savings which we know not to have been true. The community were completely deceived. The Assembly was misled by this government, by Katy Gallagher, by Andrew Barr, and by Jon Stanhope before them, in claiming this $34.5 million in savings which we now know to be completely fictitious. They were invented.
We had the alleged $15.2 million from efficiencies and workforce productivity, the $19.3 million operational savings that they claimed, which forgot to take into account depreciation, and the partial refurbishment costs at $112 million. Of course we can compare that to the cost of recently completed office buildings in Canberra: the ATO, 60,000 square metres, at $230 million; Health, 46,000 square metres, at $190 million; and DEEWR, 39,000 square metres, at $170 million.
We have seen inconsistencies in what has been presented. Claimed savings were exclusive of interest payments on borrowings. The budget impact analysis did not include interest paid on borrowing to fund this building. We had contradictory statements between Stanhope and Gallagher on how the office building would be financed. On 5 May 2011 Stanhope issued a media release, stating:
… by financing the building itself, and taking advantage of the Government's AAA credit rating, the Government could access finance at rates significantly below those available to the private sector.
However, in response to a QWON, Katy Gallagher as Treasurer stated, “The government has not indicated its preference to borrow funds for the proposed government office building and the budget estimates indicate sufficient cash will be available to fund its construction.” Really? That was not true. That was another falsehood peddled by the Chief Minister, where she claimed they were going to have the cash. Apparently now they do not have the cash. They never had the cash.
Mr Hargreaves: Point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Resume your seat—
MR SESELJA: Stop the clock, Madam Deputy Speaker.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock, thank you.
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