Page 4913 - Week 13 - Thursday, 2 November 2017

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I am not against boys having dreams, and most of the time I hope most boys’ dreams come true. But, unfortunately, Mr Coe’s dreams of corruption are not coming true, no matter how much Mr Hanson dreams of corruption and no matter how much Mr Parton dreams of corruption. If they are going to teach their boy to believe in something that does not exist, I suggest that unicorns, mermaids or hobbits would be a better option. At least they bring joy to people rather than just the boring misery that seems to be the universe the Leader of the Opposition is stuck in.

I have confidence in Mr Barr and I believe that this Assembly should have confidence in Mr Barr, because I know that the people of the Australian Capital Territory have confidence in Mr Barr. I will not be voting for this motion of no consequence.

Sitting suspended from 12.31 to 2.30 pm.

Chief Minister

Motion of no confidence

Debate resumed.

MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (2.30), in reply: The motion that we have moved today is, of course, a very serious motion, and we do not do it lightly. We do it because we are standing for integrity. We do it because we have had enough of corruption in the ACT and somebody has to take a stand. If those opposite are not going to take a stand, the opposition will continue to do absolutely everything in our power to expose the dodgy deals and to shed light on what is a bad government.

In my earlier speech I made mention of the valuation of the section 72 block in Dickson. There are a few things to note about this valuation. The valuation had two scenarios in it. Scenario 1 was vacant possession. Scenario 2 was an 18-month rent-back, a net rent-free rent-back. Scenario 1, vacant possession, had a value of $3.55 million. With the rent-back, it had a value of $3.25 million, meaning that in effect the 18-month rent-back was worth $300,000. Instead, what the government did was to pay for vacant possession and then give them 42 months rent free. In actual fact, the 42-month rent-free period that the Tradies received is probably worth around $700,000. So while you have community groups all across Canberra fundraising to pay for an old classroom in a disused school site for offices for their charity or community group, the Tradies and the CFMEU benefit to the tune of $700,000 over the course of 42 months.

The arrangements that the labour movement have set up are interesting. The Labor Party and the union movement deal in smoke and mirrors. They have complex structures to mask their operations. If we look at the Labor Club and the Tradies-CFMEU, the following companies are engaged: the Canberra Tradesmen’s Union Club Ltd; the Canberra Tradesmen’s Union Club Community Fund Ltd; Hadwon Pty Ltd; Raymel Holdings Pty Ltd; Nedow Ltd; Two Peas In A Pod Pty Ltd; The Garden Unit Trust; Woden Tradesmen’s Union Club; Construction Charitable Works Ltd; Creative Safety Initiatives Trust; Construction Employment Training & Welfare Ltd; Canberra Labour Club Ltd; 1973 Foundation Pty Ltd; 2,200 Nominees Pty Ltd; and S48 Investments Pty Ltd.


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