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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4930 ..

Mr Kaine: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can you explain to me why the Leader of the Opposition keeps jumping to his feet? He is not taking points of order. When are you going to call him or order?

MR SPEAKER: There must be something wrong with the chair, Mr Kaine, I suspect.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, "Meet the Minister", as I have said, has been part of the Government's community consultation approach since the last election. In the run-up to the last election we promised we would do it and we have delivered, as we have delivered on so many of our election promises. If those opposite believe that consulting with the community is electioneering, then heaven help us if they get into government because it will mean that community consultation is right out the window until possibly a couple of weeks before the next election when they might then choose to do it.

Mr Speaker, the Electoral Commissioner is happy with the ads. The community has been very responsive to "Meet the Minister". If Mr Berry is right with this it means that we have been in blatant electioneering mode since straight after the last election, because that is how long we have been doing this. I believe very strongly that it is appropriate. I hope, if those opposite get elected - heaven help us - they take the same approach because it has been very successful.

MR HIRD: My question is to the Chief Minister. I recall reading in the media some time ago a story about the Australian National University owing the ACT Government a considerable sum in unpaid rates. Can you tell the parliament whether the ANU is paying its way in Canberra, as the rest of us have to?

MRS CARNELL: Thank you very much, Mr Hird, for the question. Mr Speaker, it is with some concern that I must inform members that, with regard to the Australian National University, the Commonwealth is not paying its way in Canberra. I say that again: The Commonwealth is not paying its way in Canberra. This has been the subject of long negotiations and disputes between ourselves and the Commonwealth. Indeed, those negotiations even predate this Government. They go back, I think, to 1994. The total amount now owing to the ACT in unpaid rates and land taxes is approximately $1.8m. The ANU does not pay rates or land taxes on its on-campus properties and so on, and that is fine; but it has not been paying rates and land taxes on its off-campus properties. In total, these numbered some 130 properties in 1994-95. That number has been reduced over the past two years to 93 properties. These 93 properties consist of 77 individual houses, plus a number of multiunit complexes containing 256 units and flats - a not insignificant land holding or property holding. The ANU properties are situated in many inner suburbs, both north and south, and compete directly with other rental properties that are subject to all ACT taxes and charges. One would have to ask questions about national competition policy.

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