Stanhope backs away from blame.

(From Canberra Times)

ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has refused to repeat his promise to resign if an independent authority found any individual should accept responsibility for the January 2003 bushfires and leave their own position.

Mr Stanhope said he did not wish to pre-empt the findings of the coronial inquiry into the fires but he believed ''the people involved did their best'' and he would ''accept responsibilities that are sheeted home to me as a result of the coronial''.''But I'm not inclined to accept blame,'' he said.

Mr Stanhope added: ''If the Coroner comes out and insists that it was all my fault, then, of course, I'll consider my position seriously.'' The Chief Minister also said it was appropriate the inquiry be thorough and vigorous but the intensity of the process was still causing disquiet among prospective witnesses.

Mr Stanhope said the Government had spent $2.4million on the inquiry to date. Another $2million would be appropriated within four weeks.

The cost of providing individual legal representation to employees such as Chief Fire Control Officer Peter Lucas- Smith, former Emergency Services Bureau executive director Mike Castle and others had been estimated at $1.25million.

That put the total cost of the inquiry at about $5.6million. The Government estimated before the start of the inquiry that it would cost $7million.