Mr EDE - 1994-08-23
My question follows on from the minister's failure to answer the question directed to him by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. It is a very simple question, and it requires an answer. What are the arrangements in relation to the couple of floors of NT House that are occupied currently by ministers? I understand that they include some AAA-rated and very substantial kitchens that we pay for but have never used. If those floors are not leased immediately by another group when the government vacates them, who will pay for them until they are leased? Will the government pay for them in the period during which they remain vacant? Alternatively, will the TIO pay for them? If it is the latter, it will cost a very substantial part of the TIO's income, and Territorians who insure with the TIO will want to know whether the level of their premiums is at risk. I ask the honourable minister to answer a question for a change.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, there must be something wrong with the hearing of the Leader of the Opposition. As all members know, presently we have a rental contract with the TIO for that space and, as I said, if the space is not taken up, we will have to pay for it.
Mr Ede: You did not say that.
Mr MANZIE: I did say that! The Leader of the Opposition should listen instead of interjecting.
Mr Ede: You would not say it, you idiot!
Mr MANZIE: That is very nice!
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Leader of the Opposition referred to my colleague as an 'idiot', and I ask that he be required to withdraw the comment.
Mr EDE: I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, if the Leader of the Opposition wants to continue interjecting when questions are being answered and, as a result, does not hear what is being said ...
Mr Ede: We will check Hansard.
Page 50
Mr MANZIE: ... be it on his head! However, I thought that I had made it very plain that, if other tenants take up the space, then they will pay for it.
Mr Ede: Of course!
Mr MANZIE: The Leader of the Opposition says 'Of course!'. Why did he ask the question if he knew the answer?
Mr Ede: Because there is a gap!
Mr MANZIE: Come on! He is simply grandstanding! The simple fact is that there is a list of people who want to take up the space and there will be no problem about leasing it.
Mr Ede: There will be no gap?
Mr MANZIE: If there is a period of vacancy, obviously we will pay because we are the current lessees.
Mr Ede: Thank you!
Mr MANZIE: However, if the Leader of the Opposition had listened very carefully, I pointed out that there is a queue of tenants who want that space. Our advice is that there will be no requirement for us to pay. That is the end of the story. If the Leader of the Opposition had been prepared to listen to the answer to the question, instead of grandstanding for the radio broadcast, he would have heard the answer. He would not have needed to ask the question a second time, thereby making an even bigger fool of himself. I suggest that, next time, he listens ...
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: ... instead of doing what he is doing now, which is continuing with his interjections.
Page 51
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, there must be something wrong with the hearing of the Leader of the Opposition. As all members know, presently we have a rental contract with the TIO for that space and, as I said, if the space is not taken up, we will have to pay for it.
Mr Ede: You did not say that.
Mr MANZIE: I did say that! The Leader of the Opposition should listen instead of interjecting.
Mr Ede: You would not say it, you idiot!
Mr MANZIE: That is very nice!
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Leader of the Opposition referred to my colleague as an 'idiot', and I ask that he be required to withdraw the comment.
Mr EDE: I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, if the Leader of the Opposition wants to continue interjecting when questions are being answered and, as a result, does not hear what is being said ...
Mr Ede: We will check Hansard.
Page 50
Mr MANZIE: ... be it on his head! However, I thought that I had made it very plain that, if other tenants take up the space, then they will pay for it.
Mr Ede: Of course!
Mr MANZIE: The Leader of the Opposition says 'Of course!'. Why did he ask the question if he knew the answer?
Mr Ede: Because there is a gap!
Mr MANZIE: Come on! He is simply grandstanding! The simple fact is that there is a list of people who want to take up the space and there will be no problem about leasing it.
Mr Ede: There will be no gap?
Mr MANZIE: If there is a period of vacancy, obviously we will pay because we are the current lessees.
Mr Ede: Thank you!
Mr MANZIE: However, if the Leader of the Opposition had listened very carefully, I pointed out that there is a queue of tenants who want that space. Our advice is that there will be no requirement for us to pay. That is the end of the story. If the Leader of the Opposition had been prepared to listen to the answer to the question, instead of grandstanding for the radio broadcast, he would have heard the answer. He would not have needed to ask the question a second time, thereby making an even bigger fool of himself. I suggest that, next time, he listens ...
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: ... instead of doing what he is doing now, which is continuing with his interjections.
Page 51
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016