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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (1 July) . . Page.. 1975 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

I am pleased to see that Mr Osborne has said he will support this motion. I think it shows that he recognises the way the Government did hijack that other Labor motion, turning it into seeking approval from the Assembly for rural residential generally, with no real prior notice given, no opportunity for members on the crossbench to actually look at the issue. It was an absolutely scandalous process. Now I am glad to see Mr Osborne at least supporting a process which will, through the committee, allow a decent look at this issue. It is not good enough for the Liberal Party just to say, "We said we would go for rural residential in the election". Some people in the community still think public policy should be supported with information, and enough people in this Assembly obviously think it matters.

MR RUGENDYKE (11.40): Mr Speaker, I support the motion to have the Urban Services Committee look at rural residential. There have been problems in the past. I see these provisions in subparagraphs (a) to (f), and even (g), of paragraph (1) as important things to look at. I do, however, express concern that it might be seen to be a backdoor method of regurgitating the Kinlyside affair. I strongly object to Kinlyside being dragged through the mud once again through this committee, and I will endeavour to ensure that that does not happen.

MR OSBORNE (11.41): My ears pricked when I thought I heard Ms Tucker - - -

Ms Tucker: Commending you.

MR OSBORNE: Yes, commending me.

Ms Tucker: Commending you, yes.

MR OSBORNE: I think she was. Mr Speaker, I will be supporting this motion. Obviously I think all of us in this place have learnt lessons on how this thing should be handled. I have no problem with the concept of rural residential in principle. I hope to be able to support it at some stage. I am certainly aware now that there is a lot of information out there in relation to the downsides. I think the only right thing for us in the Assembly to do is for one of our committees to have a good look at it. If the committee were to come back and recommend against rural residential, then I would support that recommendation. I think we do need a thorough look at it. Obviously there is a lot of information out there.

I recall reading recently issues about costs to the Territory of each block, and it is of concern to me. I, in principle, support a lot of things, but I think I am mature enough to understand that there is a lot of information that I do not understand, and I think the committee process is the best way to deal with it. I think it is a worthwhile exercise that we are going through and I look forward to the report.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Community Safety and Minister Assisting the Treasurer) (11.42): I want to put on record my concern about this motion and about the inquiry, most especially from the point of view of simple democratic process here. This issue has been around for quite a long time. It is not a new issue. The prospect of rural residential development has been on the table in the ACT for at least two years now. We are coming back to this issue two years after it was

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