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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 9 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 2164 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

In relation to the administration of Canberra's leasehold, we will be appointing an experienced manager to oversight the Land Division and assist with necessary changes on an interim basis while the Government considers further arrangements. This will include responsibility for fast-tracking the implementation of recommendations of last year's "process review" to streamline land development-related application and approval processes. Mr Ken Horsham will act in this position in the interim.

Given the criticism of the Government's management of joint ventures, it has been decided as an interim measure to move the management of such ventures out of the Department of Business, the Arts, Sport and Tourism. In the short term, while the Government is considering its detailed response to the inquiry recommendations, the Department of Urban Services will be given responsibility for managing the Land Development Branch. This will help ensure that issues of past management practices can be looked at from a fresh perspective.

I would like to emphasise the point that, while the report says much about the skills of public servants in the various areas covered, it is the Government's wish to look to the future, particularly in relation to people on the front line of service delivery. The administrative system the Territory inherited from the Commonwealth had a focus on recruitment of generalists. Canberra's leasehold system is unique in Australia and as such requires some specific skills. We are committed to ensuring that management takes a thoroughly professional approach to land planning and development, including making sure that appropriate training and development opportunities are available to all staff to assist in the process of developing more customer-oriented, more efficient and more effective service. I hope that consideration of the board of inquiry's report will lead to the end of the controversy that has surrounded Canberra's planning and leasehold system. I hope that it signals the start of a new, more professional, more efficient and more effective approach to the administration of the planning and management of the Territory's land.

Debate (on motion by Mr Wood) adjourned.

MS McRAE (10.49): Mr Speaker, I ask for leave to present the report of the Select Committee on Estimates 1995-96 and Budget Review and move a motion in relation to the report.

Leave granted.

MS McRAE: Mr Speaker, pursuant to order, I present the Report of the Select Committee on Estimates 1995-96 and Budget Review, together with the minutes of proceedings. This report was provided to the Speaker for circulation on Tuesday, 31 October 1995, pursuant to the resolution of the Assembly of 21 June 1995. I move:

That the report be noted.

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