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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 13 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 3746 ..

Planning and Environment-Standing Committee

Report No 9-government response

MR CORBELL (Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, Minister for Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations) (4.04): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the following paper:

I move

In presenting this paper, I wish to extend my thanks and the thanks of the government to the committee members and secretariat for their efforts in producing this report. The report and the government's response, I am sure, will assist members in their deliberations on these very important issues.

I also extend my appreciation to those who contributed to the committee's proceedings and deliberations. Submissions to the committee covered many aspects of the legislative package of bills. The committee's work has brought out issues requiring further clarification, identified some misunderstanding and flagged matters for further consideration and debate. It has contributed significantly to the consideration of a legislative package.

Members will recall that this matter was referred to the committee to enable more time for people in the broader community to participate, through an Assembly inquiry, in the consideration of the package of legislation. In its report, the committee has made 15 recommendations and presented seven further conclusions.

In response to the recommendations, the government agrees with nine, notes two and does not agree with four. In other words, a clear majority of the recommendations are agreed to by the government.

In particular, the government has given considerable thought to the first recommendation, which relates to the timing of debate on this legislation. The committee is concerned that we, as an Assembly, should not rush the passage of the bills. It is concerned that more time is needed to examine issues such as the manner of implementation of the new structures.

The government does not believe that it is rushing debate. This legislation was developed through almost six months of extensive consultation and also consideration by an expert advisory group. The government is most concerned that implementation of this legislation should not be rushed, because that is where, having set up an effective governance structure, the most damage can be done to the ability of the Planning and Land Authority and the Land Development Agency to perform effectively.

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