Government Conflict With Quarry Head Over Sale Talks

Wayne Berry - Opposition Spokesperson on Employment

Media Statement - 18 June 2001

The ACT Chief Minister Gary Humphries is in conflict with the Chair of the 50% owned Williamsdale Quarry over its future, Labor MLA Wayne Berry said today.

Responding to a question in the ACT Legislative Assembly from Mr Berry, Mr Humphries denied that the Government was considering the sale of the quarry. Mr Berry's question was the latest in a series of questions over the Williamsdale quarry operation.

The Chairman of Williamsdale Quarry John Turner, when asked about moves towards Totalcare by industry giant CSR and Boral said, "the quarry has ongoing discussions with key players in the industry and these discussions are commercial in confidence."

"Obviously there is ongoing discussion about the future of the quarry, which is 50% ACT Government owned through its wholly owned corporation Totalcare."

"Already Totalcare has been forced in a direction signed by Mr Humphries to sell 50% of its holding in Williamsdale Quarry operations. The sale has attracted an angry reaction from unions and the owners of the quarry site, the McDonald family."

"This government has a track record of Totalcare and ACT Electricity and Water (ACTEW) asset sales as well as an attempt to sell all of ACTEW. Given their move to sell 50% of the quarry already it comes as no surprise that talks with industry are underway."

"On top of this we have to put up with being kept in the dark with the quarry hiding the negotiations behind a "commercial in confidence" veil of secrecy.

"This asset has the potential to provide cheaper high quality aggregate for ACT government capital works and to Government coffers by way of dividends from profits. Against the background of the commercial in confidence discussions the denial by the Chief Minister will give no comfort to the community," Mr Berry concluded.