Page 261 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
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MR BARR: My recollection of this matter is that, in the context of the Auditor-General’s report, when the draft was made available, I was advised at that time. Exactly which official of ACT government it was, I cannot be certain. I do not recall which official it was, but it was in that context. As the Leader of the Opposition would be aware, ministers have no involvement whatsoever in the FOI process. Sometimes ministers are the last to know when FOIs are even released. We find out from the website. So those who actually submit the FOIs find out before ministers do, in many instances. Obviously I am concerned that anyone who is charged with responsibilities under the FOI Act would not discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the act.
MS LEE: Chief Minister, when was that draft report provided to you and, further, why has the LDA not corrected the record?
MR BARR: I do not recall the exact date. The Auditor-General has a process around the public release of her reports. In relation to a correction of the record, as I understand it from reading the Auditor-General’s report and from the subsequent briefing, one word was changed. That is not to say that any word should be changed because that would be entirely inappropriate. But one word was changed. Given that it is a matter of such import to the Leader of the Opposition in particular—that one word, as it would be—it would be appropriate, given the line of questioning that we have received in this place, that the LDA may wish to consider providing the original document if they have not already.
Canberra Airport
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, can you update the Assembly on the success of the government and the Canberra Airport in attracting additional airlines to fly directly to the ACT?
MR BARR: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question. There is no doubt we can say that international aviation into Canberra is really taking off. When Singapore Airlines announced the first services between Canberra and Wellington and Canberra and Singapore in January of this year there was obviously a huge amount of excitement in Canberra as we had been working on this in partnership with the airport group for some years.
Since the announcement of Singapore Airlines’ services we have continued to undertake research and develop business cases in conjunction with the airport group to attract further domestic and international airlines to the city. I am pleased to say that feedback from Singapore Airlines, the airport group and overwhelmingly from the Canberra community is that these flights are very popular with both inbound and outbound passengers.
Members may be aware that Tigerair has recently started new low cost daily services between Canberra and Melbourne with incredibly strong bookings over the summer period. Tigerair has advised us that the route is proving to be incredibly popular. We continue to work with them on targeted campaigns to attract Melbourne visitors to
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