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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3401 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

I think the weakness of the amendment you have put forward, Ms Horodny, is that you say that we should consider only new uses that will contribute to the economy in an ecologically sustainable and socially equitable manner. Might I say that I think that is a poor choice of words. It may be that some proposals do not contribute actively but are not harmful in that respect. It may be that there are some proposals that are slightly ecologically harmful, such as a car rally.

Ms Horodny: Slightly?

MR HUMPHRIES: All right; I do not know where we put it on a scale of one to 100, but we have lots of cars in the Territory. I do not think this rally should be seen as something which devastates the environment. It might not be good for it, but it does not devastate it either. This motion would say, "If it has some downside from the ecological point of view, we should not even consider it". That would be very unwise, I think. Let me say on behalf of the Government, Ms Horodny, that we will be very active in considering, and even encouraging, people with ecologically sustainable and socially equitable proposals for the ACT's foreshores and lakes, but I do not believe that we should close our minds to things that do not fall into that category as well.

MR BERRY (4.22): Mr Speaker, the general principle enunciated in the amendment moved by Ms Horodny is endorsed, but I think we can take it a step further. Ms Horodny might agree to these terms and, by leave, the Assembly might include them. Instead of reading, "Further, that the Government only consider new uses that will contribute to the ACT's economy" and so on, it should read "That the Government should give an emphasis to new uses that will contribute to the ACT's economy in an ecologically sustainable and socially equitable manner". In that way, it will encourage the Government to do new things and to focus in on nice green uses of the lakes. That makes it a little more flexible for everybody and gives the Government a nice clear statement of what they should be emphasising when they come to considering those issues.

I am happy to write out a quick amendment. Without trying to steal anybody's thunder, I seek leave to omit the words "only consider", and substitute the words "should give an emphasis to".

Leave granted.

MR BERRY: Are you happy with that?

Ms Horodny: Yes.

MR BERRY: As long as Ms Horodny is happy, I am happy, and when I am happy everybody is happy.

Mr Moore: You did it by leave, and it is included.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I will take your advice.

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