Page 494 - Week 02 - Thursday, 22 February 1990
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how the unearned increment from overall development could be returned to the community.
While to some extent the Commonwealth Government action to abolish land rent in 1970 diminished the ability of the community to reap the benefits of the increased increment, the new betterment proposals go some way to redressing that balance. It is important to note that in a leasehold system the title to land is also a binding contract between the Government and the leaseholder. This aspect of the system is seen as an advantage to the parties to the agreement.
The Government, and through it the community, benefits from the ability to provide specific planning across the whole of the ACT by use of the purpose clause. With this method of land tenure the Territory plan can be a more general document addressed to the major principles of planning and development. The inclusion and use of the development covenants have meant that areas are developed in a uniform time scale and the most economic use is made of infrastructure developments. The leaseholder also benefits from the system as the major land tenure arrangements are contained within the lease document. The other areas of the law affecting leases will, through our new legislation, be consolidated into one Act and a much more simplified system will prevail.
In summary, there were advantages and disadvantages from the leasehold system. However, in the main it has served the ACT well. We acknowledge the validity of some of the criticisms made by Mr Moore. The aim of the Alliance Government is to make the system work to the greatest advantage to the ACT residents and we have already acted to implement that aim. The new legislation is the first concrete evidence of the Government's commitment to this goal.
MR WHALAN (3.44): Mr Speaker, I would like to comment on the second part of the matter of public importance of the potential advantages of the leasehold system and the parlous state of its administration. I am particularly concerned about the wording of this particular part. In fact, I am sick and tired of non-specific criticisms of the administration of this Territory. I am quite happy to have debate in this Assembly which relates to specific items, then let us examine the facts as they relate to those specific items.
Rather unfortunately, this matter of public importance continues a debate which commenced more than 18 months ago, a debate initiated by Mr Bernard Collaery in his assault on the administration of the ACT leasehold system. Before, during and after the election for the Legislative Assembly in March of last year, Mr Collaery conducted a campaign of innuendo, allegation and misrepresentation in relation to the administration of our leasehold system. Press clippings of that time demonstrate the basis upon which this man operated.
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