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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2212 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

(b) the inter-generational equity principle, namely, that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations;

(c) conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity;

(d) improved valuation and pricing of environmental resources.".

The first of these amendments is basically to add the words "including community facilities" just to make sure that the use of the word "facilities" at that point is quite clear. The other amendments are basically about including social and environmental responsibility in the basic work of this authority. We have made similar amendments in relation to various other authorities and boards. I am sure that members are all quite familiar with the reasons. I will not go on at length about them. I hope that we do get the support of members for these amendments because it is very important that, if we are to avoid a focus that is overly commercial, we must have these things written down quite clearly so that we can hold to account such a board. Mr Moore is hoping that we will all regret what we have done tonight, but I sincerely hope that we do not because this is something that people have done with the best intentions for the people of Gungahlin. If we do make the amendments which the Greens have suggested and which Mr Wood is suggesting, there is a greater likelihood that the work of this authority will be accountable and responsible. I do ask members to support these amendments.

MR WOOD (5.57): Mr Speaker, the Opposition agrees generally with the amendments moved by the Greens. There is one area of dispute which we differ on and which we do not agree with, but it may be wrapped up here collectively; that is, that one of the members of the board be nominated by the Gungahlin Community Council. We believe that is restrictive. It is no criticism of the community council, which we respect, but if the someone nominated by that council is not from Gungahlin it means that an awful lot of people in Gungahlin may not have access to that representation.

MR SPEAKER: Excuse me, Mr Wood, we are discussing another amendment.

MR WOOD: Is that right?

MR SPEAKER: Yes; we are discussing amendments Nos 1 to 3 only.

MR WOOD: Okay; but I will not repeat myself shortly. I make that point in general terms.

MR DE DOMENICO (Minister for Urban Services) (5.58): Mr Speaker, the Government will be supporting the amendments. The Government has previously agreed to the principles of ecologically sustainable development being incorporated into the Territory Owned Corporations Act 1991 and agrees, for consistency, to include this provision in the Gungahlin Act.

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