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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (4 December) . . Page.. 4545 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

It is easy to say, "Of course we need a regional approach, provided it is understood that we are the biggest community in the region and, therefore, we gain some benefit". The real test of our sense of region is when something we are doing has a negative impact on others in our region. Are we prepared to stand up and say that we are prepared to provide for them exactly the same protection as we are giving to all our citizens? How do we do that? The committee made it very clear with its recommendation that we ensure that the level is five decibels above background.

Ms McRae: I wonder what the noise reading is in here now. You have a big voice, Michael Moore.

MR MOORE: Ms McRae wonders what the noise level is in here. I will make it very clear to her. It depends on exactly where you measure it.

MR SPEAKER: Whatever it is, it is too loud.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, the regulation was drawn up to ensure that the level does not exceed 50 decibels. In my motion, as members will see, I have simply modified that 50 decibels to 45 decibels. That is consistent with recommendation 35 at page 92 of the Planning and Environment Committee's report - the report in respect of which four members sat in a press conference and said, "We will stick by it. This is what must be done. This is our unanimous report".

There were some modifications to our report when we sat down at a round table conference with the Government and said, "What can we do? Can we modify it? Are we prepared to negotiate?". We did that in a spirit of cooperation on a number of issues until we got a very sensible piece of legislation that passed through this Assembly unanimously. There have been no further round table discussions on this. I would be happy to participate in a round table conference. I am still happy to adjourn this debate and participate in a round table conference in order to resolve this issue, if there is a compromise to be made. I have always been willing to do that. Nobody has suggested that to me at this stage. The Government came out with a suggestion. The committee, in turn, responded with a proposal for five decibels above background. We went into a round table conference. Mr Stefaniak was there for this part of it. We said, "No, we still have not found a compromise position".

We did that in round table discussions with a whole series of issues. Mr Stefaniak had to leave because he had a further commitment at the time. Nobody has come back and said, "Perhaps there is a compromise to make. Perhaps there is another position". The first time I see one is a few minutes before it is to be tabled today. If there is the ability to make a compromise, I have an open mind. In fact, I said that to Mr Hoyle of the motor sports clubs the other day. Nobody has come to me about a compromise. Of course I am open-minded. I have always been open-minded on such issues. If there is a compromise to be made, then let us adjourn the debate. Let us sit down and deal with it. Let us bring it back to this Assembly next week, having dealt with the issue in a sensible and rational way.

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