Mr REED (Lands, Planning and Environment): - 1997-04-23
Mr REED (Lands, Planning and Environment): Mr Speaker, as is the custom following Question Time, in my capacity as a minister, I provide some further information in relation to a question that was asked of me during Question Time. The question was asked by the member for Fannie Bay who made certain references to a family, the Cavanaghs, and a
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subdivision in Howard Springs. As I indicated, the allegations she made were a touch suspicious.
I am able to advise the member for Fannie Bay that, from a very quick search of documents that we have been able to complete in the 15 minutes since she asked her question, the subdivision was undertaken by one Mrs Kathleen Yates. In fact, Mrs Yates is the mum of Peter Cavanagh. Peter Cavanagh, for the benefit of the member for Fannie Bay, was a former Labor Party candidate in Territory elections and he stood against the Chief Minister in the seat of Port Darwin. I suspect that, if we had rejected the subdivision application at the time when it was made, this naughty CLP government would have been accused of putting down someone who was a Labor Party supporter. How can you win? They create and take political advantage of these issues. They should learn to approach these issues on the value that they have, rather than trying to make a big story out of them simply for political gain.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr REED: The fact is that you got it wrong again.
Ms Martin: I have not. It is the family of Suzanne Cavanagh, absolutely spot-on, and you assumed the liability.
Mr REED: Treat it on the basis of the value of the issue. Do not try to build bigger things into it.
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subdivision in Howard Springs. As I indicated, the allegations she made were a touch suspicious.
I am able to advise the member for Fannie Bay that, from a very quick search of documents that we have been able to complete in the 15 minutes since she asked her question, the subdivision was undertaken by one Mrs Kathleen Yates. In fact, Mrs Yates is the mum of Peter Cavanagh. Peter Cavanagh, for the benefit of the member for Fannie Bay, was a former Labor Party candidate in Territory elections and he stood against the Chief Minister in the seat of Port Darwin. I suspect that, if we had rejected the subdivision application at the time when it was made, this naughty CLP government would have been accused of putting down someone who was a Labor Party supporter. How can you win? They create and take political advantage of these issues. They should learn to approach these issues on the value that they have, rather than trying to make a big story out of them simply for political gain.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr REED: The fact is that you got it wrong again.
Ms Martin: I have not. It is the family of Suzanne Cavanagh, absolutely spot-on, and you assumed the liability.
Mr REED: Treat it on the basis of the value of the issue. Do not try to build bigger things into it.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016