Ms O’CONNOR (HOBART) question to MINISTER for PARKS, Mr DUIGAN
Minister –
Ms Forrest – A beautiful smile she gives as she asks.
Ms O’CONNOR – Ah, well, it is a pleasure and a privilege to be here to be able to ask you questions, minister.
Minister, in your answer to our questions yesterday, you referred in relation to the lease between Wild Drake Pty Ltd and the Parks and Wildlife Service on behalf of the Crown. You referred to advice from state counsel.
Are you able to provide this Council with a summary of that advice as it pertains to your department, presumably at your direction, re-signing a lease, but with a company that is in the hands of a liquidator?
Did that legal advice point to any risks that would be taken on by the Crown, and if so, what were they?
ANSWER
Mr President, I will seek some advice.
I thank the member for the question and in terms of advice I have received I may have said ‘state counsel’, or words to that effect and believe I misspoke in that instance.
I have received advice from Crown Law, amongst other entities and formed a view.
Ms O’Connor – Oh no, but the question was – did that advice point to any risks that the Crown might be taking on by signing on with a company that was under liquidation?
Mr DUIGAN – Mr President, the government is not going to be talking about the legal advice that it receives. As I am sure you are aware, that would be privileged.
Ms O’Connor – It is perfectly reasonable for a minister of the Crown to point to legal advice.
Mr PRESIDENT -Do you have another question, member of Hobart?
