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Egan v Willis And Cahill

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Speakers - Pezzutti The Hon Dr Brian
Business - Questions Without Notice

EGAN v WILLIS and CAHILL

The Hon. Dr B. P. V. PEZZUTTI: My question without notice is directed to you, Mr President. Could you advise the cost to The Legislature of the litigation in the matter Egan v Willis and Cahill arising from the Government’s response to the House’s demand to table in the House documents relating to the showground redevelopment? Secondly, following Mr Egan’s announcement yesterday that the Government had appealed the case to the High Court, can you estimate the additional cost to The Legislature of the High Court appeal? Thirdly, has there been any supplementation to the Legislative Council’s budget for the legal costs already incurred? Finally, do you expect supplementation to cover the High Court appeal costs?

The PRESIDENT: I am sure that the Hon. Dr B. P. V. Pezzutti would be aware that his question contravenes a ruling that I have given previously that questions relating to the domestic affairs of the Parliament should be placed on notice. This question should have been asked in the relevant estimates committee, but as the committee has not yet reported to the House I will make an exception to my ruling and answer the question as best I can. Legal costs incurred to date amount to $125,000. Those costs have been met from The Legislature’s vote, that is, other than the Legislative Council vote, which would not have those funds.

It is estimated that the cost to the Legislative Council of the High Court appeal will be in the vicinity of $80,000, which will be incurred in the financial year 1997-98. I do not anticipate there will be a sufficient surplus in the Legislative Council budget to meet those costs. In relation to supplementation, to date no supplementation has been sought by the Treasurer for the costs incurred by The Legislature. Whilst the Legislative Council will not have, in my estimation, sufficient funds to meet the estimated $80,000 costs of the High Court appeal, it would not be practical to seek supplementation unless there were insufficient funds at the end of the financial year in the overall budget of The Legislature to meet those costs. In summary, the total cost to The Legislature to date and estimated will be in excess of $205,000.




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