Page 4178 - Week 14 - Thursday, 25 October 1990
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In regard to Rivett, the ITPA recommended the closure of an alternative school within the district. The Government made its judgment on that matter and decided that Rivett was the preferable closure. The ITPA recommended against the total closure of Hackett and Weetangera schools, suggesting that a kindergarten to year 3 facility should be retained. This advice was based on a concern that children aged five to eight could not be expected to cross major roads with the current traffic arrangements. These issues will be given due consideration in the review that is being undertaken by Dr Hudson. His brief clearly covers these matters. It is my understanding that he has all the necessary material from the Interim Territory Planning Authority and has met with my officers to discuss those matters.
But, Mr Deputy Speaker, as I said before, schools are only one aspect of life, albeit of major interest to some. Government has a responsibility to the wider community to take into account the needs and aspirations of the whole community. This Government is doing that. It is giving due regard to the needs of the disadvantaged, the ageing, the disabled, youth, traumatised women and children, people confined to corrective institutions and the homeless. The list goes on.
To argue that we are obsessed with schools, as the Opposition pretends, is clearly nonsense. The needs of all of those people and all of the elements of our society must be considered when government makes decisions concerning society's infrastructure. We are doing that. We will continue to do so, despite the narrow, ideological approach taken by those in opposition.
In short, Mr Deputy Speaker, my Government is proud of its record on planning matters. Once again, we have not been afraid to take the hard decisions, despite the legacy of financial and administrative dithering left by our predecessors, people who claim much but who did little.
MR MOORE (4.54): Mr Deputy Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to speak on this topic. In the introduction to the Metropolitan Canberra Policy Plan and Development Plan in July 1984 the then Commissioner Tony Powell said:
In the final analysis the crucial judgments to be made about planning are whether or not Canberra provides a large measure of satisfaction as an environment for living so far as its residents are concerned, and as an effective seat of government so far as the Parliament and the executive government are concerned.
He was concerned about the National Capital Plan. Since then we have divided those two issues. The one that applies most to this Government, the Interim Territory Planning Authority and the Chief Minister, the Minister for
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