Ms CARNEY - 2005-06-30
On 14 June, you refuted the CLP’s claims that there were problems with the trans-Territory pipeline deal, and you told the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce election lunch that gas will come onshore from the second field at Blacktip. Two days ago, after the election, you told ABC radio that you had spoken to Woodside and Alcan before the collapse of the deal and that they had told you that there were difficulties with negotiations over this project. It is clear that you were not being honest about everything you knew. Is this yet another example of you doing and saying anything to get elected?
ANSWER
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order, members of the opposition!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is not good to be verballed by the Leader of the Opposition. Again, I say, before the election, the opposition said: ‘We think this is not going to happen’, in terms of the Blacktip joint venture with Alcan.
The companies came out and said.they were in final negotiations. I believe my words were that ‘they are complex, they are difficult and they were robust’. That was the state as given to me by the companies. I do not know what else the opposition would expect me to say, but we believed, and we hoped, that this complex and costly project would actually come about. Yet, before the election, we had the opposition trying to bring it down, not saying what their source was, but believing, because of their iconic trans-Australian powerline, that they could bring gas down.
The fact is that these negotiations are done commercially and in confidence. They are not done to election timetables. Woodside and Alcan are just as disappointed that this did not reach conclusion. I congratulate Alcan on keeping their commitment to gas and moving, with what I believe is amazing haste and a first degree of success, to start negotiations with PNG Gas. They believe in gas. This side of the House believes in gas. We would like to have it shared by the opposition.
ANSWER
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order, members of the opposition!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is not good to be verballed by the Leader of the Opposition. Again, I say, before the election, the opposition said: ‘We think this is not going to happen’, in terms of the Blacktip joint venture with Alcan.
The companies came out and said.they were in final negotiations. I believe my words were that ‘they are complex, they are difficult and they were robust’. That was the state as given to me by the companies. I do not know what else the opposition would expect me to say, but we believed, and we hoped, that this complex and costly project would actually come about. Yet, before the election, we had the opposition trying to bring it down, not saying what their source was, but believing, because of their iconic trans-Australian powerline, that they could bring gas down.
The fact is that these negotiations are done commercially and in confidence. They are not done to election timetables. Woodside and Alcan are just as disappointed that this did not reach conclusion. I congratulate Alcan on keeping their commitment to gas and moving, with what I believe is amazing haste and a first degree of success, to start negotiations with PNG Gas. They believe in gas. This side of the House believes in gas. We would like to have it shared by the opposition.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016