Page 1278 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 23 August 1989
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because the ACT Supreme Court has refused to approve the redevelopment of a key commercial site in Civic.
May I say, Mr Speaker, at this time, like Mr Kaine, I see that as no reflection on either the judge or the court. It should never have been in the court system in the first place. This is the type of situation that must be avoided if the private sector is going to assume the leading edge in the Canberra economy.
I would like to discuss the ramifications that this decision will have on the ACT economy. I would also like to take this opportunity to stress, as has been done already by Mr Kaine, that the ACT Government must remove lease purpose clause changes from the jurisdiction of the court.
The decision not to allow the Canberra Times site redevelopment to go ahead is the first time a major building project in Canberra has been vetoed by the court. This places any future development in Canberra's central business district and elsewhere in Canberra in jeopardy. The decision has given the private sector an environment of uncertainty at a time when it is essential that the private sector be given every encouragement through a stable economic environment. The ramifications of this decision for the ACT economy are enormous.
This decision does have a series of consequences for the ACT economy which will go well beyond the corporate interests of the company seeking the Canberra Times site redevelopment, Concrete Constructions. It will affect many areas of the Canberra community. This decision will affect the ACT building industry and its work force by not allowing that major development project at a time when the industry is experiencing quite a downturn. The decision will affect Canberra retailers, especially when the almost completed section 38 is coming on line.
The decision will affect office space in the city, and rent increases could be quite large because there will be much less office space available. Taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the increases because the ACT Government may well not have as much revenue raised as a result of the decision, as private industry investment will be hesitant in Canberra in the future. The decision will also affect the ACT economy as a whole because investors, as I have just mentioned, will from now on be reluctant to commit themselves to Canberra. The decision may well prevent investors from outside the ACT being attracted to Canberra.
The denial of the Canberra Times redevelopment will mean hundreds of building workers will miss the opportunity for work, which will place increasing pressure on the Canberra job market to come up with alternatives. It will also mean that Canberra will lose skilled building tradesmen. Canberra's planning authority should be committed to a strong and viable private sector in the ACT.
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