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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (10 May) . . Page.. 1371 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

outline of the government's proposed expenditure over the next six years. Some $41 million in roadworks is projected in the forward estimates for Gungahlin, to look after the people of Gungahlin, because we understand their needs and we have forward planning to accommodate those needs. It is a lot of money, $41 million.

If Mr Corbell had bothered to attend the Gungahlin Community Council meeting he could have been part of the discussion that went for almost two hours on future road planning for Gungahlin. He would have heard with others how the sequencing for the planning of Gungahlin is dependent upon the very nature of Gungahlin itself, which is broken up into three watersheds. The current development is in the central catchment and this is what predicates the development sequence.

Mr Corbell: I rise to a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked specifically in relation to two roads, Majura Road and Horse Park Drive. Could the minister address that in his answer, please?

MR SPEAKER: Only in the past tense, if he can. I do not know; it is up to the minister.

Mr Corbell: Can you instruct him to?

MR SPEAKER: It may not be possible.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, the future sequencing of the roads, of course, was dependent upon the construction of the Barton Highway. We are very pleased with the lobbying by the ACT government. The Chief Minister, Mr Humphries and I have been out there lobbying the federal government, as have Senator Reid and the Gungahlin Community Council. In fact, probably the only people who have not lobbied the federal government on this matter are those opposite. They are not interested in the people of Gungahlin; it is as simple as that.

Mr Speaker, I cannot announce future funding for Horse Park Drive or the Majura upgrade simply because it is in the future and, as you have directed, I cannot announce future government policy; but we will have a budget coming forward soon and people should wait and listen.

MR CORBELL: I will not hold my breath. I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. This morning the minister conducted a media sideshow at the intersection of the Barton Highway and Gungahlin Drive, claiming credit for the $2.8 million duplication of the Barton Highway. I draw the minister's attention again to the words of the Deputy Prime Minister, who is quoted today as saying that the Commonwealth would address growing delays and safety concerns caused by the decision to link Gungahlin Drive to the Barton Highway; so the Commonwealth is going to fix the ACT government's mess. Will the minister also take credit for the growing delays and safety concerns highlighted by his federal colleague via a press conference?

MR SMYTH: It is a shame that the planning spokesperson for the Labor Party does not understand that the Barton Highway is, in fact, a federal responsibility. We have been pushing very hard for it, the same as the Chief Minister and her colleagues lobbied hard and pushed very hard before the last election to get the Federal Highway funding.

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