Mr BAILEY - 1995-08-17
Will the minister table the report on the extent of repairs or remedial work required to the Supreme Court building? Will the minister guarantee that taxpayers will not carry any of the costs of these repairs or remedial work?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the answer to the first part of the question is no and the answer to the second part of the question is no.
Mr Bailey: Including the tap that was installed there yesterday to enable them to wash down the outside of the building?
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr PALMER: Members will be aware that there have been some problems with the sodium level in the Supreme Court building, with efflorescence appearing on the side of the building. That is as a result of water penetrating the mortar bed beneath the tiles. My department commissioned a consultant's report into this. It recommends certain actions, and we will examine those recommendations. However, it is unclear as to whose fault it is - whether it is a design fault, whether it was the contractor's or the builder's fault, or whether in fact fault can be attributed at all. We have referred the report to the Northern Territory Attorney-General's Department for an opinion as to whether an actionable case can be made out against the contractor. Until I have that opinion, I cannot say whether indeed there is any action that we can take. Such being the situation, I can give no guarantees that taxpayers' money will not be used to remedy the problem.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the answer to the first part of the question is no and the answer to the second part of the question is no.
Mr Bailey: Including the tap that was installed there yesterday to enable them to wash down the outside of the building?
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr PALMER: Members will be aware that there have been some problems with the sodium level in the Supreme Court building, with efflorescence appearing on the side of the building. That is as a result of water penetrating the mortar bed beneath the tiles. My department commissioned a consultant's report into this. It recommends certain actions, and we will examine those recommendations. However, it is unclear as to whose fault it is - whether it is a design fault, whether it was the contractor's or the builder's fault, or whether in fact fault can be attributed at all. We have referred the report to the Northern Territory Attorney-General's Department for an opinion as to whether an actionable case can be made out against the contractor. Until I have that opinion, I cannot say whether indeed there is any action that we can take. Such being the situation, I can give no guarantees that taxpayers' money will not be used to remedy the problem.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016