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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1278 ..

Truck Parking - Residential Areas

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, since I am on my feet, I seek to ask a question.

MR SPEAKER: Do you wish to ask a question?

MR MOORE: Thank you, Mr Speaker; yes.

MR SPEAKER: Very well; you may.

Ms McRae: But it is our turn.

Mr Berry: Come on! You did not even sit down when you were ordered to.

MR SPEAKER: Sit down, Mr Berry. You will get the call next.

MR MOORE: I believe, Mr Speaker, that the standing orders require you to call the person who is on their feet first, and I appreciate that. Mr Berry, of course, does not understand that. My question is to Ms Horodny. The reason my question is to Ms Horodny, Mr Speaker, is that it is regarding her motion on the notice paper on trucks. Under your previous ruling on standing order 116, that would be in order. Ms Horodny, I am hoping that you will give a full answer, unlike the ones I have become used to and expect from the Government. Why was it necessary for you to put a motion on trucks onto the notice paper, and what did you hope to achieve in terms of protecting residents from this industrial activity?

MS HORODNY: I thank the member very much for his question. We have put forward this motion because we have rejected the Government's proposed rules for the parking of trucks in residential areas and we have put forward our own plan. Clearly, the Government's rules are not going to solve anything, and it is up to the Greens to take the lead. The residents' concerns also are not being addressed. Our proposal covers some very key issues and includes existing trucks over 20 tonnes being banned in residential areas within six months; trucks over 12 tonnes being banned within a year; operating hours of trucks being reduced to between 6.00 am and 10.00 pm for all trucks; and home truck parking becoming a controlled activity under the Territory Plan, requiring truck operators to seek formal permission of neighbours to operate their trucks from home. We will also be putting forward amendments to the Noise Control Act to cover vehicles entering and leaving private land.

Mr De Domenico: You cannot do that. Federal legislation covers it already.

MS HORODNY: Our proposal will meet residents' amenities and will still provide truck operators with flexibility and time to adjust to the new controls.

Mr De Domenico: You are still away with the fairies, Lucy. You have a couple under your hat, probably.

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