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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Wednesday, 3 March 2004) . . Page.. 625 ..

framework for the city. They had a bit of a go at an economic one, as you would expect. They did not even bother about trying to have a spatial one that looked at how we use land in this city.

But this government has delivered. This government, for the first time in the history of self-government, has put together a comprehensive strategy that looks at our economic growth, that looks at meeting our social needs, that looks at how we use land to address those issues, and that, in an overarching way, applies the sustainability principle to those decisions. That is the sign of a government with a long-term vision for the future growth and development of our city; that is the sign of a government that is prepared to take the long-term view.

You would think that Mr Smyth almost sees it as a sin to take a long-term view on the future growth and development of Canberra—that it is unacceptable for governments to take a long-term perspective, to look beyond the electoral cycle, to look beyond the immediate prospects of whether or not a government will be re-elected, and to aim for and set in place strategies that will inform not just this government but future governments.

That will be the real test of these documents, and that is why the government has made such an investment in them. It is not just about informing our initiatives and our proposals in our electoral cycle, it is about informing future government decision-making now and into the future, regardless of who holds office. That is how these documents will really be tested, and I am increasingly confident that they will stand that test.

Mr Speaker, the social plan is just one part of a three-part plan the government has developed for the future of Canberra. This is the first time in the history of self-government that a government has sought to put together a long-term vision for the future of Canberra and the future for Canberrans.

The social plan itself is not just the assertion of some broad wide ranging aspirations that our community has. It does do that, it needs to do that, and any good policy document must be based on that. But it goes further than that. It does have the implementation that Mr Smyth quite misleadingly laments. For example, the establishment of child and youth centres in Gungahlin and Tuggeranong is a practical demonstration of providing the support and the—

Mr Smyth: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Corbell said “quite misleadingly” in reference to things that I have said. I understand that if you want to use the word “misleading” it must be done in a substantive motion and I would ask that he withdraw it.

MR SPEAKER: I think Mr Corbell was referring to comments made out in the community.

Mr Smyth: No, Mr Corbell was referring to my speech here, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Well, Mr Corbell, if you imputed that Mr Smyth misled, I would ask you to withdraw it.

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