Two Independents are considering a censure motion against the Chief Minister, Rosemary Follett, after questioning yesterday whether she also knew about Victoria giving notice to end its TAB arrangements with the ACT while the then Minister for Sport, Wayne Berry, was telling the Assembly that all was well with the TAB.
Mr Berry was forced to resign after a successful no-confidence motion asserted he had misled the Assembly.
Independent Helen Szuty asked at Question Time whether Ms Follett had known before the public announcement. Ms Follett said she had discussed it with Mr Berry and had received a document, but was uncertain of dates.
Independent Michael Moore then read from a submission to the Vitab inquiry by the Department of Environment Land and Planning saying: “”On 17 February, 1994 [DELP officer John] Meyer forwarded a brief to the Chief Minister, through the Minister for Sport, advising of the cancellation of the linked pool arrangement [with Victoria].”
He asked when did she receive it and would she table it.
Ms Follett said she did not have the document with her. She would look for it and consider whether to table it.
The Assembly sittings were February 22-24 and March 1-3 and the no-confidence motion was at the mid-April sitting.
The Speaker, Roberta McRae, had earlier cautioned about debating the TAB matter in the middle of an inquiry.
Professor Dennis Pearce is inquiring into the contract with the Vanuatu-based Vitab and ACTTAB under which ACTTAB gave computer access to the multi-state super-pool and other services in return for a percentage of turnover, enabling Vitab to run phone and other betting on Australian races. He is also inquiring into why the Victorian TAB terminated it super-pool arrangements with the ACT.