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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 12 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 4357 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

broadened the contribution made by Phil Cheney to not just the ACT but to Australia and, indeed, the world. This man is an international figure in what he does.

I think it is part of the special fabric that is Canberra that people like Alan MacArthur, who came up with the fire index, invented the fabulous wheel and did some of the fundamental work on this issue, have tutored and trained foresters like the then young Phil Cheney. You can see the value that places like the ANU Forestry School and the CSIRO have in the culture of forestry in this country. If they are turning out products like Phil Cheney, the profession is secure into the future.

It is important, as Ms Dundas said, that we go beyond recognising just sporting teams. Sporting teams are a really important part of the social fabric within the city. So are some of the institutions. I was pleased some months ago when the Assembly supported me in calling on the government to run a function to honour the War Memorial when it was included three times in the hall of fame in the national tourism awards. I think we need to broaden our approach and include scientists, authors, poets, artists, volunteers and social workers in the praise that we give out here. It is often easy to get caught up in the hype of acknowledging sporting teams. Everybody loves their sport and we will acknowledge another great sporting team on Saturday night when the Australians whop the English.

But I would like to see us broaden what we do and that is why I have brought on this motion today-to thank Phil Cheney for his contribution to our society; to acknowledge and praise his efforts in raising the professionalism and the knowledge that is needed for his industry and for his co-workers.

On a personal note, I thank him for the occasional bit of advice that he has offered to the ACT government over the years. I say thanks for the work that he has done. Having said that, I thank the Assembly for their support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Affordable housing for low-income earners

MS DUNDAS (5.30): I seek leave to amend the motion I placed on the notice paper by removing part 3, which related specifically to solar hot water systems. I understand that some members are concerned about how that part would impact on the work being done by the Planning and Environment Committee. I apologise for pre-empting that process and I am happy to remove part 3 to deal with those concerns.

Leave granted.

MS DUNDAS: I move:

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