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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (13 May) . . Page.. 1274 ..
MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Planning, Mr Humphries. Minister, I refer to your recent decision to withdraw a number of commercial properties from the forthcoming auction scheduled for 14 May, that is, tomorrow. Can you inform the Assembly why you failed to withdraw the site at Chisholm, a site which exceeds 3,000 square metres and which has been approved for development as a takeaway food restaurant outlet? Are you concerned that the existing fast food restaurant traders at the Chisholm centre will be forced out of business by a food outlet big enough to occupy a site which is over 3,000 square metres? What study, if any, was conducted to appraise the effect of such a development on the existing businesses?
MR HUMPHRIES: I think the phrase is "Come in, spinner", Mr Speaker. First of all, may I congratulate Mr Whitecross. Finally, somebody in Tuggeranong has noticed that he exists and has sent him a petition. I congratulate him on that major milestone.-
Mr Speaker, I have no hesitation in being able to commend the Government's decision to proceed with the auctioning of a site at Chisholm for a fast food outlet. Members will be aware that a number of sites were available in the 1997 release until a few weeks ago and many of those were withdrawn. However, a decision was made that the one at Chisholm needed to proceed. First of all, Mr Speaker, there is a very significant job implication in this proposal. The establishment of a McDonald's or a Pizza Hut, to name two outlets which we understand are interested in this site, will create, on my advice, something in the order of 100 full-time, part-time and casual jobs. Here is a member for Brindabella telling us he opposes the creation of jobs in his own electorate, principally for young people. It is not older people who work in those places; it is principally younger people, Mr Speaker. So, 100 jobs would be created in his own electorate.
Mr Whitecross: Talk about CFM Kitchens if you want to talk about jobs.
MR HUMPHRIES: I know you are upset about the fact that there is some competition going on there, Mr Whitecross. I am tremendously pleased to see that the man who thought that small, local centres in Canberra could go by the wayside when it came to trading hours, the man who thought that they could fend for themselves - - -
Mr Whitecross: Not so.
MR HUMPHRIES: They did not matter. They did not have the votes. The votes were with the major shoppers. They were dispensable. They were dispensable last week, but now you are chasing their votes. Clearly, Mr Speaker, Mr Whitecross - - -
Mr Whitecross: If you go around misrepresenting people, Gary, all you - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order!
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