Mr EDE - 1994-11-24
I seek leave to table a copy of the press release from the former Minister for Transport and Works, dated 31 October 1988.
Leave granted.
Mr EDE: In that press release, the minister stated that a 2-part document, the State Square deal, had been signed. In answer to a question, he put the date of that signing as 28 October 1988. Mr Speaker, 28 October 1988 is the date of the signing of the agreement with Tipperary Developments. The only document that has ever been made public is an agreement dated 23 November 1988. Giventhat the commitment to a fixed price and the commitment to Tipperary Developments bearing the full risk of overruns on the price all emanated from the period between the 2 contracts, will the Attorney-General advise why that secret agreement was overturned and what were the substantial changes between the secret agreement and the one that was signed eventually and made public?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is becoming unbearably boring. For 6 years, we have been hearing this nonsense, and it is clear that he has run out of legs from the very fact that obviously he has asked all the questions he can of the minister responsible for the project, the Minister for Transport and Works. I know nothing about the secret deals that he refers to. However, I inform him that, although the matter may very well have been in my carriage in 1988, it is not a matter for me at the moment.
Mr Ede: If the minister does not want to answer, I will refer the question to the Minister for Transport and Works.
Mr FINCH: Sit down! You have been around this place long enough to be aware of the processes in here. You do know the processes?
Mr Ede: Yes.
Mr FINCH: Then, why don't you sit down and shut up.
Mr Speaker, if the Leader of the Opposition expects yet another answer as a result of this long, boring tactic that the opposition has adopted, he should refer the question to the Minister for Transport and Works.
Page 310
Leave granted.
Mr EDE: In that press release, the minister stated that a 2-part document, the State Square deal, had been signed. In answer to a question, he put the date of that signing as 28 October 1988. Mr Speaker, 28 October 1988 is the date of the signing of the agreement with Tipperary Developments. The only document that has ever been made public is an agreement dated 23 November 1988. Giventhat the commitment to a fixed price and the commitment to Tipperary Developments bearing the full risk of overruns on the price all emanated from the period between the 2 contracts, will the Attorney-General advise why that secret agreement was overturned and what were the substantial changes between the secret agreement and the one that was signed eventually and made public?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is becoming unbearably boring. For 6 years, we have been hearing this nonsense, and it is clear that he has run out of legs from the very fact that obviously he has asked all the questions he can of the minister responsible for the project, the Minister for Transport and Works. I know nothing about the secret deals that he refers to. However, I inform him that, although the matter may very well have been in my carriage in 1988, it is not a matter for me at the moment.
Mr Ede: If the minister does not want to answer, I will refer the question to the Minister for Transport and Works.
Mr FINCH: Sit down! You have been around this place long enough to be aware of the processes in here. You do know the processes?
Mr Ede: Yes.
Mr FINCH: Then, why don't you sit down and shut up.
Mr Speaker, if the Leader of the Opposition expects yet another answer as a result of this long, boring tactic that the opposition has adopted, he should refer the question to the Minister for Transport and Works.
Page 310
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016