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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Wednesday, 3 March 2004) . . Page.. 660 ..

My planning adviser subsequently confirmed with the agent for the lessee that they did discuss the matter with the lessee, who was of the same opinion as that expressed by the agent, namely, that the development was too far progressed to consider a land swap.

Ms Tucker asked me whether there was any documentation. There is no documentation in my office as to these actions, but I refer members to Hansard of 23 October last year of the answer I gave when Mrs Dunne asked me what I had done to put this motion into effect. I shall repeat my answer for the benefit of members. I said:

Mr Speaker, my office and I have sought to get in contact with the agent representing the lessee of the site on Nettlefold Street. My office has had a number of discussions with the agent of the lessee and the agent has indicated that they do not believe the lessee is interested in any way in a land swap and is currently preparing to commence construction activity very shortly. My office has also been seeking to get in touch with the lessee directly but to date we have not been successful in being able to do so.

Mrs Dunne went on to say:

Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. I commend the minister for his actions so far. Will he undertake to keep this Assembly informed of progress?

I advised the Assembly:

If there are any new developments in the matter, I am happy to keep the Assembly informed.

Aged persons accommodation

Debate resumed.

MR CORNWELL (3.27): Mr Speaker, we welcome the government’s agreement to provide the information sought by this side of the house in Mrs Dunne’s motion. May I say that it has been a time coming. For some time, I have been putting out media releases, as has Mrs Dunne, asking the government about where it is going to allow various aged care facilities to be built.

If the promises that this government has been making in relation to these facilities being provided had been met, we would have had all of these beds taken up and occupied a great time ago. It is, I believe, unfortunate that the current situation has arisen. It is a matter of great concern not only to aged people’s groups in the ACT and, of course, the individuals who are suffering, but also to the Commonwealth. Senator Humphries commented recently on radio that the Commonwealth is very concerned about the tardiness of the ACT government in picking up on these matters. It is obviously a concern that we share.

Mr Corbell in his response to Mrs Dunne made mention of various facilities. He mentioned Calvary, he mentioned Southern Cross Homes at Garran and he mentioned, I think, one at Hughes. If it is at St Andrew’s Village, I would naturally welcome the fact that something is being done about that because, along with Calvary and Southern Cross

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