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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 4858 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

I think the Assembly ought to bite the bullet on these issues. We ought to deal with a number of problems, problems such as the Land and Planning Appeals Board. It is most unfortunate that we have been forced into the position, because of the comments made in this debate, of saying that the process used by the Land and Planning Appeals Board was undesirable and was in some respects a failure.

I did not want to have to say that about people who have served the Territory, people who have worked very hard on behalf of the citizens of this Territory on that board; but I have to concede, since the issue has been put to me and the argument has been raised, that I do not think that the Land and Planning Appeals Board has been a success. Moreover, Mr Speaker, I have not met many people who have come in contact with the board who think that it was a success.

Mr Moore, in my recollection, used to concede that that was the case as well. I seem to recall support from Mr Moore for the idea of establishing the AAT as the body which replaces the Land and Planning Appeals Board. Perhaps I have forgotten what Mr Moore said to me, but I think that is what he did say to me at one stage much earlier in this debate. Mr Speaker, it is important that we move ahead on this matter. These changes have been extensively well canvassed. The Stein report cost this Territory hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Mr Moore: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. It appears that the Leader of the Opposition is consulting someone on the floor of the Assembly when he does not want to have people on the floor of the Assembly. I find it most extraordinary, Mr Speaker. I think you should keep him in his seat.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

MR HUMPHRIES: I wish this sort of obsession with people getting information - - -

Mr Moore: He just voted against it. It is all right for him. The hypocrisy is not to be missed. He is just a hypocrite.

MR HUMPHRIES: You can have access as well if you want, Mr Moore. Be my guest.

Mr Speaker, I simply urge the Assembly to move as quickly as possible on this legislation. I know that it is not going to be possible to complete this debate in a short period, but I do encourage members to see that the community as a whole accepts that some of the problems in our planning legislation need to be fixed, and the changes today go some way towards doing that. It is timely, it is appropriate, and members should proceed to do that tonight in this debate.

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