Page 1713 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 17 October 1989
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am prepared to give an undertaking that I will have prepared, by the end of October this year, the draft legislation that is required". In view of her comments to the Estimates Committee on Thursday, 12 October, will she advise now whether that timetable can be met?
MS FOLLETT: I think this matter has been fully aired by the Estimates Committee. As I explained to Mr Jensen in that committee hearing, the Government has taken the course of action of releasing a discussion paper on the draft planning, environment and heritage legislation in order to obtain full public consultation on the matter. That consultation process on this very important new legislation will shortly be getting under way.
The decision to release the discussion paper in many ways was taken in advance of the original timetable which I announced on 26 July and to which Mr Jensen has referred. I think the point that Mr Jensen is trying to make here is that I used the words "draft legislation" when the words I should have used - this is your big moment, Mr Jensen, so I would listen if I were you - were "drafting instructions".
Nevertheless, I believe that the Government's intention with regard to new planning, environment and heritage legislation is quite clear. It is contained in that discussion paper and is available there for comment by Mr Jensen or indeed anybody else who is interested in reading the document and making comments upon it.
It is still my intention, Mr Speaker, to move ahead with the drafting of the legislation as quickly as that can be done because I think it is very important that there be a degree of certainty and a degree of streamlining in the arrangements for development and redevelopment in the ACT and that both developers and the people of Canberra can be assured that the rules are clear and that they have adequate recourse for inquiry and for appeal. That is what we have sought to do in the discussion paper that has been released, and we will be following that up with the legislation as quickly as possible.
MR JENSEN: I wish to ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Is the Chief Minister prepared to give us an indication as to when that draft legislation might be on the table?
MS FOLLETT: It is very complex legislation, as is indicated by the discussion paper that has been released. Now that the paper is in the public arena it is my intention to undertake public consultation on it as it contains all of the elements of the legislation that will follow. I do not believe in hasty consultation. I do not believe in not waiting to get the views of people who are interested in these matters. As I am sure Mr Jensen is aware, just about everybody in Canberra has an opinion on the future of planning, environment protection and heritage matters in this Territory. I do not believe that it will
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