PLANNING IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): I have a supplementary question: given the panel is still considering this matter and the minister has confirmed that he has received an interim report to advise on the urban renewal legislation in the parliament, when will he release that report of the panel?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:30): I seek some guidance from you, Mr Speaker. I have no fear of answering the question other than offending the rules about a matter which is in another place. The question appertains to a bill formerly in this place and now in another place and relates to—

The SPEAKER: I can't believe that the deputy leader would do that.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It was a matter raised in the conversation around that bill and, in fact, it has been referred to in the question. I am happy to answer the question.

The SPEAKER: Would you answer the question, yes.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am pleased I can, thank you. I didn't want to fall foul of you, Mr Speaker, by inappropriately answering a question. The situation as far as this is concerned—and I will explain it again for the member for Bragg—is that the timing of this is such that the work in relation to the urban renewal bill (which is now in another place) was well advanced before the planning improvement project and the panel were selected and placed in their jobs.

I thought it polite to say to the panel before introducing the bill into this place that, 'By the way, this is a piece that we have been engaged in for a period of time. I don't want you to feel as if I am in any way being disrespectful of you folks, but I want to get this into this parliament and I would invite you to have a look at it and if you have any suggestions you might make about it, then we would obviously be interested in those suggestions.'

Ms Chapman: And so, where's their report?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Is that your bookmaker?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that there is no 'report' as such.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Hang on, calm down. You haven't discovered the 11 herbs and spices here; this is not a big secret. What has happened, as I said before, is they looked at the bill and they commented on the bill—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: They commented on the bill, and I will speak to the department to find out whether their comment was in the form of a scribbled note from Mr Hayes, whether it was in the form of a bill with annotations, or whether it was in the form of a conversation with one of my departmental officers. My point is—

Ms Chapman: But it's in writing on your table.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: No, I am not going to say anything of the sort. I will find out what the position is. But I can tell you this, that there is no 'report' as such. I am not sitting on a document entitled 'Report on Urban Renewal Bill' marked 'Top Secret' with pink string tied around it. I haven't got one of those. What I can tell you is that as a matter of absolute fact—

An honourable member: It's on microfilm.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It's not even on microfilm. But there was a conversation with Mr Hayes where I said to him, 'Look, this thing is coming and we are preparing to take this matter to cabinet. I would like you, as a matter of courtesy, to look at what we are doing, to cast your eye over it, to consider whether you think there is anything there that needs some improvement'—I think is the euphemism that is used—and Mr Hayes did make some suggestions. I can't bring to mind exactly what those suggestions were now; they were of a modest nature. Those suggestions were incorporated and that bill is now, as I said, in another place. If you want me to ascertain whether one of the departmental officers has a piece of paper resembling the one that I hold up now, I will make those inquiries.