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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (6 September) . . Page.. 2894 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

My motion calls for this Assembly to recognise these failings; to recognise that we have a minister who is incapable of properly and effectively administering planning in the ACT. But my motion asks for more than that: it asks for this Assembly to recognise that every Canberran has a right to participate as an equal in the development and planning debate in our city. Can every Canberran participate as an equal in planning debates in this city at the moment? No, they cannot, because of the way development and planning works, and because of the structures this government puts in place.

Let me give you a very good example. Again, I come back to the Federal Golf Club decision in this place. This government responded to community pressure before the last election and said, "No, we are not going to proceed with this because of community opposition," and of course there were only six months to go before an election. But they said no. The community were happy, they voted on that basis. And what happened straight after the election? This government and this minister came straight back into this place and said, "We are going to build it now." You can imagine the community's concern.

The problem we have with planning and development in this city at the moment is that it is influenced by whoever has the minister's ear, whoever is able to get in the minister's door. They say, "Brendan, I think this is a really good project. I think it should go ahead. I just need you to change the Territory Plan to make sure it happens." And then, once the minister says, "Yes, that looks like a good idea," the government and PALM go and talk to the community and say, "We are proposing this and we are going to consult with you, but really the decision has already been made because the minister has given it the tick."

That is not the way to encourage a democratic and open process when it comes to the planning debate in this city, and it is not the way to ensure that every Canberran can participate as an equal. In fact, it is the way to play favourites; it is the way that powerful and privileged individuals can have the minister's ear, but not for the everyday person in the street to have an equal say. So minister and members, what we need is a better process. What we need is a fairer process. What we need is a more democratic process.

This minister's record on planning is appalling. It is littered with mistakes, errors and rejected proposals. This minister attempts to gag LAPACs. This minister attempts to reduce betterment tax to give away $3 million a year in revenue, which would otherwise go to the ACT community. This minister tries to introduce inappropriate development into heritage areas. This minister attempts to influence independent consultants' reports.

This is not the approach we want from the minister for planning. This is why we need to say, "This minister's approach cannot be accepted any more by this Assembly." We need to reassert every Canberran's right to engage as an equal in the planning debate. I urge members to support the motion.

MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (11.09): On many occasions I have risen in this place to support Mr Corbell on planning issues. On many occasions I have stood here and lambasted Mr Smyth on my right and Mr Humphries on my left about the way they deal with planning, and it has been great fun. Let me say though, through you, Mr Speaker, to Mr Corbell that there is something missing in this debate, and I think it is historical understanding.

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