Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
Wednesday, 1 June 2011 COUNCIL 1653
has introduced more flexibility, at the discretion of the
managing director, to lower the storage level in
response to Bureau of Meteorology weather forecasts
when there is a low risk of not being able to fill the
storage at the end of the filling season.
Blue Rock is a relatively large storage on a relatively
small stream. It has a fixed spillway and limited outlet
capacity to control spills. It has not spilled much in
recent history, because the private hydro-electric
company can release water through the outlet at its
discretion from the top 5 metres of storage. As this
arrangement with the company ends on 30 June 2011,
Southern Rural Water is considering the need for a new
target filling rule, which would reduce spills after 1 July
2011. This work is in progress.
Melton Reservoir is a small storage on a stream that
generates large flows so there is little opportunity to
mitigate flood flows in the Werribee River. Southern
Rural Water does not see a need to consider changing
the existing rules.
Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (GWMWater) has
recently extended its existing target filling curve for
Lake Wartook to cater for unusually wet years like
2011 when the storage is full in autumn. GWMWater
will review the existing rules for other Grampians
storages as part of its arrangements to develop storage
management rules following the completion of the
Wimmera–Mallee pipeline.
In conclusion I reaffirm that there is a parliamentary
review in progress. The water authorities already have
operating rules for the water storages for which they are
responsible. On that basis the government will oppose
the motion.
Debate adjourned on motion of Mr LENDERS
(Southern Metropolitan).
Debate adjourned until next day.
PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
Ms PENNICUIK (Southern Metropolitan) — I
move:
That this house —
(1) notes that the documents ordered by the resolution of the
Council on 2 March 2011 to be tabled in the Council by
12 noon on 22 March 2011 have not been received by
the Council;
(2) affirms the privileges, immunities and powers conferred
on the Council pursuant to section 19 of the Constitution
Act 1975 and the power to make standing orders under
section 43 of that act;
(3) affirms the need to protect the high standing of
Parliament and to ensure that the Council may properly
discharge its duties and responsibilities; and
(4) again requires the Leader of the Government
representing the Premier to table by 12 noon on
Tuesday, 14 June 2011, a copy of —
(a) the financial arrangement/current contract between
the government of Victoria and the Australian
Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) regarding the
staging of the 2010 Formula One Grand Prix event
and, if not included in the above document, the rent
paid by the AGPC to Parks Victoria for the use of
Albert Park Reserve for the 2010 event, any
subsidies in the form of sponsorships, advertising
or corporate entertainment or for other services
relating to the 2010 event, paid by government
departments or agencies to the AGPC, any services
provided to the AGPC by other government
departments (e.g. Victoria Police) relating to the
2010 event;
(b) the economic study performed as the basis of the
five-year contract extension to 2015; and
(c) the most recent cost-benefit analysis of the
Australian Grand Prix.
In brief, this motion asks the house to note that the
documents I called for on 2 March and 22 March
relating to the costs of the Australian Formula One
Grand Prix 2010 as listed in the motion have not been
received. The Clerk has received two letters regarding
the Council’s call for these documents, and the first of
those said the house was not able to be furnished with
the documents because the grand prix was occurring at
the time and it would interrupt the ability of Major
Projects Victoria, I presume, to locate the documents I
was asking for.
On 24 May, in the last week of sitting, the Clerk
received from the Attorney-General another letter,
which said:
I refer to the Legislative Council’s order of 2 March 2011,
seeking the production of certain documents relating to the
Australian Grand Prix by 22 March 2011.
I also refer to my letter of 21 March 2011, in which I advised
that the government would not be able to respond within the
Council’s deadline.
The government is continuing to process its response to this
order and is currently assessing relevant documents. The
government will endeavour to respond shortly.
The date of that letter is two months after the first
deadline, which was 22 March, and almost three
months after the date the motion was moved, which is
2 March. I have moved this motion to require the