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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (28 March) . . Page.. 951 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

purchaser, to put on public record the fact that the ownership of that particular land has transferred from one party to another. That is a public document. It can be searched by any person at any stage, and I understand that a number of private companies do in fact search the record regularly to be able to approach people who have purchased new homes to offer them a variety of services.

It is in the interests of the community that we know who are the owners of land at any given time, not just in records held by the department but in records available for public scrutiny. These days those records may even be accessible electronically by firms. That is part of the process of making it easier to do business with the Government in electronic ways. Mr Smyth can speak for himself in respect of inquiries to his office.

MR SMYTH: I will get the details from the member after question time. I would be disappointed that my office had undertaken to research something and had not contacted the constituent. I will make sure that we answer the questions as quickly as we can.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, my question is also to the Minister for Urban Services. Can the Minister explain to the Assembly why the Government is not pursuing a strategy to provide for a diversified employment base for the Gungahlin Town Centre?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, this Government has done an immense amount for the people of Gungahlin. This year we have continued to provide the essential infrastructure which government should provide to the residents of Gungahlin. We are duplicating sections of Gungahlin Drive to make sure that it copes with the traffic flows. Adequate sites are being released for housing. The Gungahlin Development Authority, which Mr Humphries is responsible for, is making sure the development of the town centre goes ahead. Mr Stefaniak and I, in conjunction, are building a combined community and library facility this year.

As is appropriate, the Government is continuing planning for Gungahlin. There is some unmet demand for office space in Gungahlin, and we need to ensure that opportunities that should be presented out there are. This Government is doing what it can to ensure that the adequate infrastructure to support not only the community but also business is available in Gungahlin Town Centre.

MR CORBELL: I did not hear "employment base" mentioned once, Mr Speaker. My supplementary question is: Will the Government pursue similar incentives for the Gungahlin Town Centre as are contained within the Our City program, such as discounts on stamp duty and other measures to encourage investment and, if not, why not?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, when the report from the Urban Services Committee on the draft budget is released later today, it will be interesting to see whether we find Mr Corbell's suggestions there. We have had a process whereby those opposite have had an opportunity to have their say in the budget, and I look forward to the report from the Urban Services Committee to see whether Mr Corbell took his opportunities to do so.

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