Speaking in Singapore on the first day of a trade mission, the Chief Minister said there was nothing problematic about the February 18 meeting, which included Ms Fitzharris' husband, Pierre Huetter. Mr Huetter works for Dowse Projects, which has been employed by the GWS Giants to work on its bid with Grocon to redevelop the oval and build up to 1000 apartments, a hotel, shops and commercial space.

Mr Huetter is also a former staffer for Mr Barr.

On Friday, Ms Fitzharris admitted he had taken part in a briefing to her office and representatives of the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate. The confirmation came a day after Ms Fitzharris said she had gone to some lengths to avoid a conflict of interest and would remove herself from any government discussions or deliberations about Manuka.

"There wasn't anything unusual about that briefing," Mr Barr said on Monday. "Nearly every member of the Assembly I understand has had that background briefing or had the opportunity to have one, so it wasn't anything special for Minister Fitzharris.

"She has been very clear about where her husband works and how that will be handled in the context of any issues coming before the cabinet. I think it is unreasonable to expect partners, family members of politicians to have to completely abandon their careers."

Mr Barr said Canberra was "just simply too small for any of these conflicts, or perceptions of conflicts, to be completely overcome".

Ms Fitzharris said the meeting was in her capacity as a local member, but acknowledged a representative of the director general of Territory and Municipal Services also attended.

Mr Barr said no changes to Manuka could proceed without a vote in the Legislative Assembly to change the Territory Plan or without approval from the National Capital Authority. He believes any work, if it proceeds, is years away.

"No decisions were required in that meeting and Minister Fitzharris does not have any direct portfolio oversight of this proposal.

"It comes to government through the unsolicited proposals framework, there is a committee of senior ACT government officials who do the assessment."

Manuka Oval falls within the Chief Minister's portfolio as a territory venue while planning issues are the responsibility of Minister Mick Gentleman.

"Minister Fitzharris doesn't have any direct portfolio responsibilities in relation to the project, however, she and all the MLAs on both sides of the aisle obviously have an interest and the project is in Minister Fitzharris' current electorate of Molonglo," Mr Barr said.

Ms Fitzharris wrote to Mr Barr about her husband's work when she was appointed to the ministry and said last week she would take "any necessary action to avoid a real or perceived conflict of interest", including removing herself from discussions.

The admission came after revelations that Mr Huetter and long-time Labor figure David Lamont are involved in the controversial Manuka bid. Mr Lamont also works for Dowse.

Neither man is on the ACT Lobbyist Register, which says anyone who communicates with a politician, a staffer or a public servant on behalf of a third party should be registered.

Mr Lamont, who has worked on a range of projects around Canberra in recent years, has also met with the Liberal opposition about the Manuka bid.

The journalist is travelling to Singapore as a guest of Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board.