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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 6 Hansard (22 May) . . Page.. 1595 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

A Liberal Government will establish an independent inquiry into the ACT retail trades industry to advise on:

. what are the key factors affecting the viability of small suburban and group shopping centres.

. whether these centres can continue to survive.

. the social impact that any centre closures would have upon the community, particularly the effect upon access for people with disabilities, elderly persons and single parents.

. the future retail needs of the ACT, particularly in Belconnen and the Tuggeranong Valley.

. whether amendments to the planning laws impacting upon Canberra shopping centres are required.

... ... ...

A Liberal Government will also:

. implement any necessary reforms that may emerge from the findings of this inquiry.

It does go on, Mr Speaker, but I would be happy to table that. That is exactly what this Government has done. We have had a series of inquiries looking at the social impact and the retailing impact of such things as the expansion of major centres and retail trading hours, and we will be ready, next week hopefully, to table our retail strategy for community input. That retail strategy attempts to create the balance that I believe is important and that my Government believes is important.

Unfortunately, those opposite, who believe in 24-hour trading and letting centres expand as much as they like, obviously do not believe in that sort of balance. We do not believe that we should allow 24-hour trading and centres to expand as much as they like without at the same time having a proper policy and approach in place to ensure that local shopping centres at least have a fair go. Local shopping centres are not after protection; they are not after the Government coming in and looking after them. What they are after is a situation where they have some sort of a show of providing the services that the people of Canberra want. Ms McRae is saying that this is silly.

Ms McRae: It is.

MRS CARNELL: I am afraid, Ms McRae, that it is not silly.

Ms McRae: You are a member of the Liberal Party, Mrs Carnell, remember. Free enterprise, remember.

MR SPEAKER: Order! You have already spoken, Ms McRae.

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