Page 2041 - Week 07 - Thursday, 24 June 2021
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with businesses in the area to make sure that we have the services that they need into the future.
That is the work that we have been doing. I appreciate that the planning work has not aligned with the closure of the site. That is why we provided an extension. It is a very pragmatic approach. If that is my style, I am very happy with it.
Municipal services—Canberra Cemeteries
MS LAWDER: My question is for the Minister for Transport and City Services. Minister, the Canberra Cemeteries online grave search has been unavailable for approximately a year and the website states that it will return as soon as possible. A constituent of mine was informed yesterday that the service was back online, only to be told later that afternoon that it will hopefully be available by the end of September. Minister, are you able to provide a definite timeframe of when it will be available for Canberra residents?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. I am very happy to come back to the Assembly about when the online grave search might be available. I did, personally, go onto the website and noticed that certain parts of the website were down. I raised that with the ACT cemeteries and crematoria authority to rectify. That did not include just that function; it included information about basic burial and interment services in Gungahlin cemetery in particular. I will certainly raise that particular issue and come back to the Assembly via a question taken on notice.
MS LAWDER: I have a supplementary question. Minister, why is it that Canberrans usually have to chase these issues up themselves, rather than getting the basics right with these types of services?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. I just said that I actually chased it up myself, to address the issue. I appreciate that the ACT cemeteries and crematoria authority is an arm of government, of course, and has its own board. I raise these issues with them when they come up and when they are drawn to my attention. Of course, that information should be available in a timely way to Canberrans so that they can make the best decisions about end-of-life matters.
MRS JONES: Minister, why has this important service been unavailable for a year?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. I will come back to the Assembly with further information about that particular service and when it can be made available.
Trees—urban canopy
MR BRADDOCK: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services: I welcome your announcement this week on the street forestry program and the inclusion of the suburb of Ngunnawal, in my electorate. My question is actually on behalf of a constituent, Lynette from Bonner, who laments the lack of tree cover in her suburb and asks that Bonner can be included in this program.
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