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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (2 December) . . Page.. 4247 ..

MR WHITECROSS (continuing):

blocks of land where they have one set of assumptions which is different from the actual facts in relation to those land grants. I would hope that these sorts of issues could be resolved in the interests of ensuring that we make the most effective use of assistance provided under the business incentive scheme.

Of perhaps even more concern, one of the recipients of a land grant had not actually applied for a land grant and in his business plan had no way of actually making use of the block of land. There are some differences of opinion on the conditions under which that land grant was given, the recipient claiming that he had always assumed that he could sell the block of land, which members of the committee found hard to believe. Equally, he had a business plan which meant that he had no capital on which to construct a factory; in fact, his business plan provided for his leasing a factory. It seems a bit curious, under those circumstances, that a decision was made to offer this recipient a block of land when the business plan specifically provided for leasing a factory, not building a factory. We believe that more attention needs to be paid to making sure that all parties understand the conditions applying to land grants and that, in making the decision to grant land, proper scrutiny needs to be done of business plans to ensure that they can make use of land that is provided.

Recommendation 9 deals with new forms of assistance that were proposed by some witnesses before the inquiry. Mr Speaker, the committee saw some merit in some of the suggestions about new forms of assistance and has recommended that the Government look at some of these options and report back. Recommendation 5 deals with representations made by business organisations about better promoting the business incentive scheme within the business community so that they can more clearly understand its objectives and its processes. The existence of an industry plan or an industry strategy would certainly help in that regard.

Finally, Mr Speaker, recommendation 7 deals with coordination between government departments and mentoring and, once again, responds to specific representations from particular witnesses before the inquiry that some process of mentoring which helped people to move between departments within the government service, and even between Commonwealth and Territory departments, would assist those people in better achieving their objectives and better advancing the interests of the Territory. (Extension of time granted) I think that is a sensible recommendation. I note that the Government has recently introduced a partners in progress scheme which aims to achieve some of those objectives. Mr Speaker, the committee was not able, in the short time that that has been operating, to evaluate its effectiveness in achieving these kinds of outcomes, but the recommendation is certainly aimed at ensuring that that issue stays on the agenda.

Mr Speaker, industry assistance is an important part of ensuring that we achieve the kind of growth and diversification of the employment base in the ACT to which I think everybody in the community aspires. It is essential to ensure that we take our place with other States and Territories in providing an appropriate environment for businesses to locate and to flourish. The existence of an industry plan will certainly assist in ensuring that we can present a coherent front to prospective businesses so that the business

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