Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 4866 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

put it through tonight. It does not matter how long we have to stay here. It is going to go through and that is all there is to it. Too bad if any other ideas come up in debate. They have taken that position and will maintain that position while they sign their Christmas cards.

The third issue is the whole concept of whether the department should carry out preliminary assessments or not. In our round table meeting at lunchtime today - an arrangement that was made yesterday to facilitate the process and to develop an understanding - we talked about the legislation. The Government's response, which I am sure we will get to in the detail stage, was basically that they need more time. I think I am being fair to Mr Humphries. I am sure he will get the opportunity to correct me if I am not. By and large, the Government believes that it is not such a bad idea but it really needs more time to consider it. Quite right. Let us consider it in the appropriate way that this Assembly considers things. Let us refer it to the Planning and Environment Committee. That is the logical move. It is not too late to change your mind. We can refer this Bill to the Planning and Environment Committee, we can have our adjournment debate and we can all have a nice evening at home or with our friends.

The limitation of leasehold renewals is another issue. As far as I am concerned, this is an issue that really ought to be considered by the Planning and Environment Committee. This legislation, in the way it provides for renewal of leasehold, effectively provides for leasehold in perpetuity just by automatic renewal. It is an incremental step. I warn Labor that, when you stand back and get a conceptual view of it, you will see that everything that is important in our planning, everything for the protection of the ordinary resident and everything for the protection of our leasehold system is being whittled away by the Government.

Mr Whitecross: You want to resume everybody's lease when it expires, do you? That is the intellectual rigour of your position. You are a nonsense.

MR MOORE: I hear Mr Whitecross interjecting that I want to resume people's leases when they expire. If he had time to read my legislation and understand it, and if he also read my drafting instructions, he would realise that I am saying that they should be renewed once. In fact, to clarify it, I will read exactly what my drafting instruction said:

It is not intended to block the automatic/administrative-cost-only lease renewal process where the lease is approaching its end (30 years is an acceptable definition here). However, the renewal should NOT be an automatic right at any other time during the lease. In addition, the legislation should at this stage state that a lease can be renewed only once. (This leaves it to future generations to reconsider the issue.)

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .