Page 3196 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 October 2022
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It is really, really important to make sure we get high-quality contracts and high-quality procurement outcomes right across the public service, but particularly in major projects, as it is so important for trusting government and for good environmental and social outcomes to make sure that we are getting good value for money for the people who live in the ACT. That is just another really important reason for Major Projects Canberra to be well resourced. So I am pleased to see that they have got extra funding. The ACT Greens are happy to support this part of the budget.
I want to talk about some amendments I moved last week. We have not moved amendments to the budget before, since being in our current arrangement, so we took some advice from the Legislative Assembly staff. We have had our debate on whether JACS funding should be reduced to remove some of the funding from the horse racing. I have been advised that I am able to not move the consequent amendments. We have had that debate. We have resolved that debate. Everyone has had their chance to say what they needed to say. It has had a good public airing.
Given that, I do not have any desire to bring the consequential amendments that would be rolling in parts all of this week. The Assembly has informed me that I can inform the Assembly that I will remove those amendments and that I will not be moving the remainder of my amendments this week.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 12.12 to 2.00 pm.
Questions without notice
Suburban Land Agency—sales
MS LEE: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. Minister, in the Suburban Land Agency’s annual report for 2021-22 it states that 517 single blocks were released to market, a shortfall of 114 against a target of 631 in the indicative land release program. Canberra is experiencing a housing affordability crisis, and the SLA cannot meet its own targets for land release. Why didn’t the SLA meet its target for the release of single residential blocks in the 2021-22 financial year?
MS BERRY: I thank the opposition leader for her question. We have been over this question a number of times during estimates hearings in the past. The indicative land release program is a target that is set which the ACT government aims to meet through its delivery agency, the Suburban Land Agency. In the last two years it has been within two per cent of the target, for a range of reasons. I will bring the detail back to the chamber, for members’ interest. There can be a range of reasons why development cannot occur across—
Ms Lee: Point of order, Madam Speaker.
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