Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (1 April) . . Page.. 1139 ..

MS GALLAGHER (continuing):

have the Dangerous Goods Act amended in time for the June long weekend. The specifics of that I will take on notice.

I guess the issue for this year's June long weekend is to make sure that the distribution and use of fireworks operate in the safest possible way to ensure that people can access and purchase fireworks legally and that they will be used in a way that will not inflict safety concerns on people and animals particularly. It is about a balance between meeting the needs of the industry and ensuring that the community is safe. I think that that is something that we need to acknowledge and we need to work on. I will take on notice the specifics of the question and get back to you as soon as I can.

MRS CROSS: I have a supplementary question. Minister, are you confident that WorkCover will act in good faith in the lead-up to and during this year's fireworks season? Can you indicate whether your office has received any briefings from WorkCover on what improvements it intends to make in the administration of this year's fireworks season? If so, will you be informing the Assembly of those measures?

MS GALLAGHER: Yes, I can assure you that WorkCover will work as it should. Sorry, I missed the second part of your question.

Mrs Cross: Have you been briefed by WorkCover on what improvements it intends to make in the administration of this year's fireworks season?

MS GALLAGHER: I think that it will be work as normal for WorkCover. I can say that I have had some meetings with members of the fireworks industry. I think we can have more discussions with them and look at how we can cooperate. I think that some of that work is being done in terms of looking at the drafting of this legislation. I can assure you, Mrs Cross, that WorkCover has to make sure that it administers the legislation that it is responsible for and that it will be doing that on the June long weekend.

Land development

MRS DUNNE: My question to the Minister for Planning refers to last week's land sales, which brought a bonanza to the government in excess of $40 million, not including stamp duty, which is yet to be paid. In that sale, blocks in Gungahlin of between 250 and 400 square metres brought a price tag of $80,000 for the raw land component, before services, let alone a house on the land. We see from the Rawlinson report, released today, that the anticipated government retail sale price for land is in the order of $110,000.

My question is: Minister, is it not a fact that your land release policy is driving the cost of housing beyond the reach of the average wage and salary earner? Can you inform the Assembly how people on average earnings can contemplate entering the housing market at these prices, or is it the wish of ACT Labor to put an end to home ownership, as in John Dedman's cruel gibe about creating a race of little capitalists?

MR CORBELL: The answer to the first part of Mrs Dunne's question is no. In relation to the second part, the recent land release conducted by the ACT government highlights a very strong interest in land sales. A number of bidders made significant bids for the Horse Park 2 estate. That parcel of land sold for approximately $25 million. That was

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .