Page 4695 - Week 15 - Thursday, 21 November 1991
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Mr Speaker, for this Assembly to pass this legislation and then see the enactment actually take place immediately could abrogate its significance, even though many urge it to be done fairly quickly. The draft Territory Plan should be finalised, in my view, at approximately the same time. I must also, at this juncture, commend the Minister for allowing a longer consultative period regarding the draft Territory Plan, and I am sure many in the community are also appreciative of the longer timeframe. I will return to the discussion regarding the plan a little later. Mr Speaker, I recall during the committees' deliberations much discussion regarding the size of a planning advisory committee and requests for minutes of meetings, among other issues. I must say that the removal of that body is a laudable move.
Balanced legislation ensuring the interests of all in our community is no easy task. The new legislation will be a huge improvement on the array of comparable legislation currently here in the ACT, in the States and in the Northern Territory; but, of course, the States and the Northern Territory also have the third or council tier of government to contend with.
Mr Speaker, most of us in this Assembly have already had fairly close involvement with the legislation. It has been looked at by the present and the two previous Cabinets and by a committee which consisted of, I think, seven members. A quick addition of numbers would indicate that that does not exclude too many in a chamber of only 17.
I continue to support the views I expressed in the committees' report. In particular, I must mention the section of the report on the renewal of residential and commercial leases. But I am also a realist and recognise the numbers in this chamber. I support the statement made by CARD - or the Business Council, as it is now known - to the committees that the matter of revenue should be addressed by betterment, land taxes, rates and stamp duty and not by the expropriation of property.
I would now like to refer to the draft Territory Plan, particularly those areas identified as investigation areas. I would urge the Minister to address these areas. Much has been said; but, with the Territory Plan finally in place, much more certainly would be established. It appears to me, however, that the reverse has happened, particularly regarding the investigation areas. The Canberra community feels very strongly about the removal of green space, and rightly so. More and more resident groups are forming to fight for their green space. I am surprised that many in this chamber are just not listening to the community. The community want to retain their green space. That is really what stands our city head and shoulders over many other cities in Australia and the world. What does the community have to do to get that view across?
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