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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 4811 ..

MR SPEAKER: Do you have a supplementary question, Ms Reilly?

MS REILLY: Thank you, Mr Speaker. It was obvious that the Minister did not have a briefing on the Ministerial Advisory Committee. I will ask again. When was the last time that you met with the Ministerial Advisory Committee, or do you not think that you need a formal advisory committee to assist you at this time?

MR STEFANIAK: At this time, Ms Reilly, I think it is highly desirable, and that is why I have told Housing to organise it as soon as possible. In terms of advisory committees, there have been a number of changes over recent years because of changes within housing programs at a Commonwealth and State level. Ms Reilly, if you ever become Housing Minister, or Minister for anything, I will give you a little pointer.

Ms Reilly: When.

MR STEFANIAK: When. I like to see that confidence, Mr Speaker. If and when. How is that?

Mrs Carnell: She is now the senior member for Molonglo.

MR STEFANIAK: She is now. Congratulations. If and when, Ms Reilly, you become Housing Minister, I hope you see as many groups as I do. I like seeing groups. I think it is important to get feedback from the sector, and that is something I have been trying to do. Since I am Minister, I am keen to see the new advisory committee get up and running as soon as possible so that we can have formal meetings. Apart from that, Ms Reilly, I still want to see other people involved in the sector to get their input, to get their views, so that I can take all those into account and so that the Government can take all those into account.

MS HORODNY: My question is directed to the Minister for Urban Services. I gave him some notice of this question. I recently noticed that some three-quarters of the native shrubs in the median strip of Ginninderra Drive between Southern Cross Drive and Kaleen had been removed, for no apparent reason. I found this quite shocking as this row of shrubs was quite healthy and contributed greatly to softening the harsh appearance of that major road and also provided some habitat for small birds. Can you explain why these shrubs were removed and why Urban Services staff have not put the same amount of effort into removing the woody weeds along the edge of Ginninderra Drive near Lake Ginninderra and the naval base?

MR DE DOMENICO: I thank Ms Horodny for her question, Mr Speaker. She might have asked the question of Mr Berry because I think Mr Berry had a recent experience with the same area of vegetation. He tried to get his picture taken there but was told not to because they were too dangerous. City Services recently carried out maintenance work on the shrubs on Ginninderra Drive, as Ms Horodny said, to remove vegetation that was overhanging onto the road and causing an obstruction to traffic and knocking cyclists off their bikes. Some old unhealthy shrubs were also removed at this time. The department, I am advised, is currently looking at options for replacing the shrubs that were removed.

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