❓ Question concerns the Minister's meetings with Macquarie Bank regarding a proposed taxi plate buyback program and potential influence of Brian Burke. The Minister confirms past discussions but denies recent contact and Burke's involvement.
AnsweredQoN 499Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to her recent statements in the media that the State Government is considering a taxi plate buyback program, financed by a $200 million loan from Macquarie Bank Ltd. (1) Has the minister met with the Macquarie Bank to discuss this proposal; and, if so, when did she last meet with the bank? (2) Will the minister confirm that negotiations with the Macquarie Bank are still at a very early stage? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I can see that the Opposition has been ploughing through The Australian Financial Review to find a few questions. I think I can guess what the supplementary question will be. It will be: and what has Brian Burke had to do with it? The journalist who is currently acting as the research officer - obviously unofficially - for members opposite has a particular obsession, and he believes that Brian Burke is influencing decisions. Interestingly, even with airline regulation, he made the accusation that Brian Burke was behind that, even though Brian Burke was arguing for deregulation. I will explain the situation on the taxi plate buyback program to the member for Carine. In 1999, under the previous Government, a report was commissioned, as required by the National Competition Council. That report recommended very strongly that there be a taxi plate buyback. The previous Government decided that it would not do anything about it and would simply put it on hold. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Have you met with the Macquarie Bank? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
(1) Has the minister met with the Macquarie Bank to discuss this proposal; and, if so, when did she last meet with the bank? (2) Will the minister confirm that negotiations with the Macquarie Bank are still at a very early stage? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) I can see that the Opposition has been ploughing through The Australian Financial Review to find a few questions. I think I can guess what the supplementary question will be. It will be: and what has Brian Burke had to do with it? The journalist who is currently acting as the research officer - obviously unofficially - for members opposite has a particular obsession, and he believes that Brian Burke is influencing decisions. Interestingly, even with airline regulation, he made the accusation that Brian Burke was behind that, even though Brian Burke was arguing for deregulation. I will explain the situation on the taxi plate buyback program to the member for Carine. In 1999, under the previous Government, a report was commissioned, as required by the National Competition Council. That report recommended very strongly that there be a taxi plate buyback. The previous Government decided that it would not do anything about it and would simply put it on hold. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Have you met with the Macquarie Bank? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
(2) Will the minister confirm that negotiations with the Macquarie Bank are still at a very early stage? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) I can see that the Opposition has been ploughing through The Australian Financial Review to find a few questions. I think I can guess what the supplementary question will be. It will be: and what has Brian Burke had to do with it? The journalist who is currently acting as the research officer - obviously unofficially - for members opposite has a particular obsession, and he believes that Brian Burke is influencing decisions. Interestingly, even with airline regulation, he made the accusation that Brian Burke was behind that, even though Brian Burke was arguing for deregulation. I will explain the situation on the taxi plate buyback program to the member for Carine. In 1999, under the previous Government, a report was commissioned, as required by the National Competition Council. That report recommended very strongly that there be a taxi plate buyback. The previous Government decided that it would not do anything about it and would simply put it on hold. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Have you met with the Macquarie Bank? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) I can see that the Opposition has been ploughing through The Australian Financial Review to find a few questions. I think I can guess what the supplementary question will be. It will be: and what has Brian Burke had to do with it? The journalist who is currently acting as the research officer - obviously unofficially - for members opposite has a particular obsession, and he believes that Brian Burke is influencing decisions. Interestingly, even with airline regulation, he made the accusation that Brian Burke was behind that, even though Brian Burke was arguing for deregulation. I will explain the situation on the taxi plate buyback program to the member for Carine. In 1999, under the previous Government, a report was commissioned, as required by the National Competition Council. That report recommended very strongly that there be a taxi plate buyback. The previous Government decided that it would not do anything about it and would simply put it on hold. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Have you met with the Macquarie Bank? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
(1)-(2) I can see that the Opposition has been ploughing through The Australian Financial Review to find a few questions. I think I can guess what the supplementary question will be. It will be: and what has Brian Burke had to do with it? The journalist who is currently acting as the research officer - obviously unofficially - for members opposite has a particular obsession, and he believes that Brian Burke is influencing decisions. Interestingly, even with airline regulation, he made the accusation that Brian Burke was behind that, even though Brian Burke was arguing for deregulation. I will explain the situation on the taxi plate buyback program to the member for Carine. In 1999, under the previous Government, a report was commissioned, as required by the National Competition Council. That report recommended very strongly that there be a taxi plate buyback. The previous Government decided that it would not do anything about it and would simply put it on hold. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Have you met with the Macquarie Bank? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
(1) Has the minister met with the Macquarie Bank to discuss this proposal; and, if so, when did she last meet with the bank? (2) Will the minister confirm that negotiations with the Macquarie Bank are still at a very early stage? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) I can see that the Opposition has been ploughing through The Australian Financial Review to find a few questions. I think I can guess what the supplementary question will be. It will be: and what has Brian Burke had to do with it? The journalist who is currently acting as the research officer - obviously unofficially - for members opposite has a particular obsession, and he believes that Brian Burke is influencing decisions. Interestingly, even with airline regulation, he made the accusation that Brian Burke was behind that, even though Brian Burke was arguing for deregulation. I will explain the situation on the taxi plate buyback program to the member for Carine. In 1999, under the previous Government, a report was commissioned, as required by the National Competition Council. That report recommended very strongly that there be a taxi plate buyback. The previous Government decided that it would not do anything about it and would simply put it on hold. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Have you met with the Macquarie Bank? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
(2) Will the minister confirm that negotiations with the Macquarie Bank are still at a very early stage? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) I can see that the Opposition has been ploughing through The Australian Financial Review to find a few questions. I think I can guess what the supplementary question will be. It will be: and what has Brian Burke had to do with it? The journalist who is currently acting as the research officer - obviously unofficially - for members opposite has a particular obsession, and he believes that Brian Burke is influencing decisions. Interestingly, even with airline regulation, he made the accusation that Brian Burke was behind that, even though Brian Burke was arguing for deregulation. I will explain the situation on the taxi plate buyback program to the member for Carine. In 1999, under the previous Government, a report was commissioned, as required by the National Competition Council. That report recommended very strongly that there be a taxi plate buyback. The previous Government decided that it would not do anything about it and would simply put it on hold. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Have you met with the Macquarie Bank? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) I can see that the Opposition has been ploughing through The Australian Financial Review to find a few questions. I think I can guess what the supplementary question will be. It will be: and what has Brian Burke had to do with it? The journalist who is currently acting as the research officer - obviously unofficially - for members opposite has a particular obsession, and he believes that Brian Burke is influencing decisions. Interestingly, even with airline regulation, he made the accusation that Brian Burke was behind that, even though Brian Burke was arguing for deregulation. I will explain the situation on the taxi plate buyback program to the member for Carine. In 1999, under the previous Government, a report was commissioned, as required by the National Competition Council. That report recommended very strongly that there be a taxi plate buyback. The previous Government decided that it would not do anything about it and would simply put it on hold. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Have you met with the Macquarie Bank? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
(1)-(2) I can see that the Opposition has been ploughing through The Australian Financial Review to find a few questions. I think I can guess what the supplementary question will be. It will be: and what has Brian Burke had to do with it? The journalist who is currently acting as the research officer - obviously unofficially - for members opposite has a particular obsession, and he believes that Brian Burke is influencing decisions. Interestingly, even with airline regulation, he made the accusation that Brian Burke was behind that, even though Brian Burke was arguing for deregulation. I will explain the situation on the taxi plate buyback program to the member for Carine. In 1999, under the previous Government, a report was commissioned, as required by the National Competition Council. That report recommended very strongly that there be a taxi plate buyback. The previous Government decided that it would not do anything about it and would simply put it on hold. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Have you met with the Macquarie Bank? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I am giving the member a bit of history about this. Buyback was being contemplated around Australia in response to the national competition requirements. At that stage the Macquarie Bank put up its hand and went to the previous Government with a package. At the same time it also came to us in opposition, because we had flagged some support for the notion of buyback as we were very concerned about what the speculative value of taxi plates was doing to the industry. We had been on record as supporting the notion of buyback. Therefore, when the Macquarie Bank was doing the rounds of the previous Government, it also came to us in opposition to discuss it. After we got into government, I think in about March or April 2001 the Macquarie Bank had a further discussion with us. It said to us that if we were to go down this path, it was still interested in the notion of providing private financing. Of course, if we were to go down the path of buyback, we would require private financing. It would simply be beyond the capacity of the State to allocate the $200 million that would be required for buyback. I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
I can assure the member for Carine that I certainly have not had any discussions on this issue with the Macquarie Bank for over a year. If the Government goes down the buyback path, it would be its intention to invite all sorts of finance houses to put forward packages on that matter. I inform the House that I have never spoken to Brian Burke or Julian Grill on this matter.
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