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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 14 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 5067 ..

MRS BURKE (continuing):

spreadsheet, and it took a bit of reading. I sent that to everyone because I wanted people to know what was done.

That was what the minister did when he was first in government. In addition, it is envisaged that this mechanism will reduce, perhaps quite significantly-I say this based upon personal experiences on behalf of people this year-the large amount of time which so many of the staff of numerous agencies involved with the present system spend dealing with issues arising from these types of cases, including the preparation of cases for tribunal or other legal administrative proceedings, not to mention the time actually spent and largely wasted awaiting cases to be heard and the like.

Indeed, following some information on this subject coming my way recently, I have sought further details in a question on notice on such matters. Of course, were this bill to be passed, I suspect that there would be many other positive consequences, perhaps presently hard to see, not the least of which would be the human benefit which may emerge, including issues relating to other causes of conflict and crisis not just within our housing sector and residences, but more broadly in the community.

Mr Speaker, this bill is a potential win/win for all stakeholders. I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Quinlan ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Government services in suburban Canberra

MR HARGREAVES (11.03): I move:

That the Assembly notes the importance of government services in suburban Canberra.

I will speak into the television cameras for those members who are sitting in their offices listening. Mr Speaker, government services are crucial in suburban Canberra and only the Labor Party will deliver them. Labor campaigned hard in 2001 on service delivery in the suburbs and achieved the highest vote ever for a political party in an ACT election in the suburban electorates of Brindabella and Ginninderra.

We took a detailed program to the electorate, a program based around decent services for all Canberrans, and won a sweeping victory. I think that that was, in part, a reaction from the voting public to the tendency of the previous government to be Molonglocentric. Under the previous government, you could be forgiven for thinking that Canberra stopped once it got to Sulwood Drive in the south and Ginninderra Drive to the north.

That can be partly explained by the fact that former chief ministers Carnell and Humphries were from that electorate. They were dominant figures in that Liberal government and everything revolved around them. Mr Smyth and Mr Stefaniak were simply overshadowed. Sadly, Mr Speaker, they do not seem to have achieved much since they took over the leadership positions in the opposition.

Nonetheless, I am satisfied that, while the Liberal Party squabbles, the government is getting on with delivering services to suburban Canberra. We have the Chief Minister

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