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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 6 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 2020 ..
Kippax library
MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the Minister for Planning and concerns the Kippax library. Minister, you will be aware that for quite some time residents of Kippax have been actively lobbying for a permanent library. At a public meeting on May 15 they overwhelmingly endorsed their preference for the present temporary site. However, according to a report in the Chronicle on 10 June, a letter circulated to traders by the management of Kippax Fair said that the existing temporary site "will now be dedicated to parking to service the new second supermarket".
According to the letter, PALM did not consult with residents, the public or the West Belconnen LAPAC before agreeing with traders on the new supermarket site. Can the minister confirm that this is the case? If it is, why has a decision been taken that is so obviously in conflict with local public opinion?
MR CORBELL
: It is interesting that Mr Stefaniak raises this question. In the six years he was a member for Ginninderra and a minister in this place, he abysmally failed-Mrs Dunne
: I rise on a point of order-118 (a). This is not to the point; this is talking about the past when we are asking about what is happening now.MR SPEAKER
: I am not going to prohibit ministers from putting things in context when they answer questions.Mrs Dunne
: This is not putting things into context.MR SPEAKER
: Order, Mrs Dunne! As long as the minister confines himself to the subject matter, it is in order.Mr Wood
: It's about Kippax library; that's what it's about. You're just embarrassed, that's all!MR CORBELL
: And they should be embarrassed because in the six years that Mr Stefaniak was a member for Ginninderra in this place he abysmally failed to deliver the $21/2 million this government has delivered for permanent library facilities in Kippax.Mr Smyth
: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Standing order 118 (b) does not allow the minister to debate the subject. That is clearly what he is doing. The question was concise: it referred to Mr Corbell's consultation technique and it did not mention the opposition. If he continues to debate it, he is clearly in breach of the standing orders.MR SPEAKER
: Mr Smyth, I won't refer to the opposition in government; that is not my role. Mr Corbell will confine himself to the subject matter. I have already ruled on a point of order that was raised by Mrs Dunne. I am not going to order ministers to ignore comparisons with other governments. I am not going to order ministers to do that.MR CORBELL
: Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is interesting how touchy they are on this issue. In the six years Mr Stefaniak was a member for Ginninderra in this place and a minister in the government, he failed absolutely to deliver any decent library facility for the Kippax community he now so righteously claims to represent. In contrast-
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