Page 4324 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 25 October 2017
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Casino Canberra—development proposal
MR HANSON: My question is to the Chief Minister. In question time yesterday you admitted to being confused about a brief you signed on 7 November 2015 regarding the Aquis casino redevelopment. Chief Minister, what further advice have you received from your directorate about the briefing and the rights of Aquis in relation to the land surrounding Glebe Park since you signed the briefing on 7 November 2015?
MR BARR: Aquis has no rights in relation to that block. It was an error in the brief.
MR HANSON: Chief Minister, why did you not seek clarification prior to signing the briefing on 7 November 2015?
MR BARR: Because, as I said, I assumed that, as the section number was the same, the block referred to the adjacent block—
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, can you let the Chief Minister answer the question without an interruption, please.
MR BARR: But, in the end, Aquis have no rights in relation to that block; none whatsoever.
MS LAWDER: Did you receive written advice that Aquis have no rights? Who provided that advice and when?
MR BARR: No rights were ever given.
Casino Canberra—development proposal
MS LEE: My question is to the Chief Minister. You are popular today, Chief Minister. In August 2016 you said you were “not aware of any proposals” by Aquis regarding the development of the Glebe Park site. It has since come to light that Aquis briefed you and senior public servants on 21 May 2015 about their plans to expand the casino, which included the acquisition of land at Glebe Park. Chief Minister, why did you say you were not aware of any proposals relating to Glebe Park after you were specifically briefed by Aquis about their expansion plans well over a year prior to that?
MR BARR: As I think is very clear, there are two blocks in Glebe Park. Aquis has rights over one of them, as did the previous casino owner. Aquis has no rights over the other block. But they do have rights over the block that is adjacent, at the back of the convention centre. They purchased those rights when they purchased the casino from the previous owner. But in the end the government is continuing a process of assessing the unsolicited proposal from the casino. This place will consider legislation in due course.
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