Page 3566 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 19 October 1993
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MR WESTENDE: I ask a supplementary question. Minister, if my information is correct, and I have good reason to believe that it is, will you undertake to have the process streamlined to avoid such delays, which are very costly to business?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, I take the point that it is important to get things done efficiently. I believe that in the Territory Plan there are very good arrangements to see that things are done efficiently. As members would know, there are time constraints built into that plan to determine that things happen within a given framework of time. I think there will be very good response to applications that are made, bearing in mind, of course, that it is also important that appropriate time be given for people to be aware of what is happening and for the necessary consultation to take place. I think we would all agree that that is very important. I do believe that the Territory Plan will see to it that matters are handled expeditiously. I would also point out that in the early days of my appointment to the ministry I did get numbers of comments from the community about the time that was taken. I have not been getting those in recent times, so I think the Planning Authority has been working very well. I think this interim period before the plan comes into effect may have aroused the questions that you asked.
Self-Government Legislation
MR STEVENSON: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. On 27 May this year Senator Faulkner, in his second reading speech on the Arts, Environment and Territories Legislation (Amendment) Bill 1993, in representing the Minister in the Senate, said that the Bill had resulted from a review by "the ACT administration and my department". He went on to say:
Possible more important changes are being examined and would be included in a separate Bill at a later date.
My question is: What are these important changes? Are they being examined by the ACT administration, or the department, or both, or not?
MS FOLLETT: Without being able to read Senator Faulkner's mind, Madam Speaker, I really do not see how I can answer Mr Stevenson's question, except to reiterate the answer that I gave to almost precisely the same question last week, which is that the amendments that Mr Stevenson refers to arose as a result of an Assembly inquiry during the course of the First Assembly. That inquiry was chaired by Mr Kaine and Mr Norm Jensen respectively. The results of that inquiry were responded to on behalf of the Government by Mr Kaine, because he was then Chief Minister, and quite correctly were conveyed to the Federal Parliament for the necessary amendments to the Act. Madam Speaker, that is an entirely proper process. If Mr Stevenson ever deigned to take part in committee procedures he might have been a bit more aware of these matters. As I said last week in answer to precisely the same question, Madam Speaker, I know of no other review and I am unable to answer the entirely hypothetical part of Mr Stevenson's question.
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