Gillman Land Sale

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:19): Now that the Attorney has read the contract and has had advice on it and advice on what he can release on it, but is yet to identify whether what he has given us today is the contract or a redacted final copy of the deed, can he tell the house whether there is a condition in the contract that requires the construction of an oil or gas hub?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform) (17:20): The member for Bragg asks a very interesting question, and one of the elements about it that is quite interesting is that she has added in a couple of little words that I have never actually said, which include, 'I've read and considered the whole contract'.

Ms Chapman: What, you've never read the contract? That would be good.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It has been said by wiser people than me that sometimes it is wise not to get yourself into that when you do not know what you are doing.

Ms Chapman: Are you seriously telling us you haven't read the contract?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Slow down. I am not warrantying to you or anybody else—if I just let that bit go through and not comment on it, later on you will say, 'Yes, but you've read the contract.' I just want to make it clear, in answering that question, I am not saying I have sat down and read that contract from one end to the other. I make that perfectly clear.

Ms Chapman: It's only 10 pages according to what you've given us.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Well, I'm a slow reader.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Sorry, that was meant to be funny. The contract has a number of annexures to it or addenda (if that is the plural) that are quite significant in size and they have terms of art contained within them, terms which have a particular meaning in the context of that contract. I do not profess to be an expert on those things and I have asked crown law to advise me and the people who are actually experts in this commercial area to tell me. That is the overview of the thing, but I specifically did ask this question of them a while ago because it is a matter that was raised.

What I think I can say to the honourable member for Bragg and other members of the house is that there is, within the body of the full documentation, a reference to the establishment of an industrial precinct with focus on potential oil and gas development, but I am advised that I cannot get into any more particulars than that other than to say to you that I am assured that is in there. I have every belief that the officers of the Crown who told me that are telling me what they know to be the truth, and I have asked them, 'Am I able to go out and give any more detail about this?' Unfortunately—and frustratingly, from my point of view—they have told me, at this point in time, no.

They have told me that and the reason they have told me that is that at this point in time, because this contract has a number of elements to it and critical dates, some of which we have yet to reach, it is not possible at this point in time for us to release particulars in relation to that without bringing me back to the problem about us potentially breaching the terms of the agreement. I find that frustrating quite frankly, because—

Ms Chapman: Or convenient.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Well, it's not convenient in the sense that none of us here believe we have anything that is of concern about this matter and if that could be demonstrated with absolute proof for the purposes of the member for Bragg by simply giving her something, why wouldn't we just do that, if we could do it without being in trouble under the contract? It does not make sense. Of course we would give it over, but I am advised we cannot.

Ms CHAPMAN: Final supplementary if I may, sir, to the Attorney.

The SPEAKER: Deputy leader.