Page 338 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 1991
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my refusal to categorically deny them in this place; and I have seen such things cause considerable damage and harm to people out in the community - people who have suffered because of the Opposition's muckraking on those sorts of issues. I gratefully accept that assurance that Mr Berry does not have any intention of doing it in this case, and I can assure Mr Berry that I will bring back to this house at the earliest opportunity any intentions the Government might have to deal with any important facilities in Canberra, for complete discussion in this place as is appropriate.
Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee
MR MOORE (4.53): Mr Speaker, in the adjournment debate this evening I would like to raise a different issue, and that is an issue to do with the committees. On Tuesday I asked a question of Mr Jensen - in fact, my first question for this session - about a reference that had been given to the planning committee. The significance of Mr Jensen's response is that the planning committee simply is not working very well at all; in fact, it is working very badly.
There were indications from the Chief Minister, just prior to Christmas, that our committee system would see some rearrangements, particularly that the problem of having Executive Deputies as chairpersons of committees would be resolved. Because of an indication from the Chief Minister, I drew back from an intention on my part to make a great deal of fuss about that particular situation. But clearly that still has not happened. I use this opportunity to call on Mr Jensen to accept that he has a conflict of interest in that regard, that it is inappropriate for him to chair that committee, and that he has failed to take on that reference and deal with it in an appropriate way. I now call on him to resign as chair of that committee.
Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee
MR JENSEN (4.54): Clearly, Mr Speaker, I have to respond to that comment by Mr Moore. I think it is important to remember that the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee currently has six inquiries on the books. Seven reports, in fact, have been presented to this Assembly.
Planning legislation, as I indicated in my reply yesterday, is a very important part of the process of the committee. In one particular inquiry, which is in the process of being completed, we received over 50-odd submissions; and it was appropriate that we clear that and get it out of the way, and that is what we are attempting to do.
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