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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (28 March) . . Page.. 1029 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

to make sure that our consultation processes always work better. When areas of concern like this are brought to the government we will make sure that we take into account the lessons that have been learnt here.

MS TUCKER: I have a supplementary question. As you know well, I have tabled legislation in this place to deal with defined land. Will you give a commitment to this place to hold off from any decision until a democratic decision has been made about this very issue which you see as the nub of the question? I think the nub is about the community being sled, but we will pick that up. It is the defined land, in your view, that is the nub of the question. Will you wait until this place has democratically made a decision about the use of that concept before you make a decision on this Amaroo site?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, I do not think in this case that we can hold off until that decision is taken. I believe that a tender has been let for some of the preliminary earthworks. Organisations like the Catholic Education Office are keen to proceed with the building of a school to meet the needs of the residents of that part of Amaroo and Gungahlin, and I think it is appropriate to continue. The process has gone according to what is defined currently under law. I think people have a reasonable expectation that the law should be followed, and it is being followed in this case. I think it is reasonable for the development as is to go ahead, but, as I have said, we need to learn the lessons from this process. If Ms Tucker is successful, we may even change the process.

Mr Domenic Mico

MR WOOD: My question is to the minister for the arts. Minister, you keep saying that Dominic Mico has not been sacked. If he has not been sacked, will you return his car, which was part of a salary package, and let him back into his office?

MR SMYTH: As I said yesterday, Mr Speaker, the contract, which would expire on 30 June, will expire on 30 June. Mr Mico will be paid until that day. If the car issue which Mr Wood raises is part of his package and it has been removed from him, I will seek advice from CETEC on what they will do about that situation.

MR WOOD: I think that is rather the terms of the contract, minister, rather than some pedantry about not being sacked. Let me take it further. Given the Chief Minister's praise for Mr Mico and the National Multicultural Festival, and given Mr Mico's acknowledged experience and competence in this area, what role would you see Mr Mico playing in future reviews of festivals?

MR SMYTH: Mr Mico, like all citizens, will have an opportunity to comment on the future of all festivals in the ACT, which is the purpose of setting up the Festivals ACT office.

Dog control-complaints

MR RUGENDYKE: My question to Mr Smyth, the Minister for Urban Services, concerns complaints about dogs. Minister, I am aware of two situations in Evatt where dog complaints are being handled in totally different ways and inconsistently by the department.

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