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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Thursday, 11 March 2004) . . Page.. 1050 ..

If it is the case that the minister has problems with the proposal, it does seem that he is undermining the independence of the Planning Authority on this case. Much more can be said about this. It goes to the heart of the private sector being able to provide aged care facilities in the ACT. This is a very important issue. There seems to be a lot of intransigence by this government, an unwillingness to communicate openly and effectively with members of the public about providing these very important services. We have had considerable debate on the need for these services. I consider the reference to the Planning and Environment Committee may help to ease the way for one important facility for which, as we have all attended public meetings relating to this, there does seem to be considerable public support.

I notice that Ms Dundas has circulated an amendment to my motion to refer this proposal to the Planning and Environment Committee, adding to it the planning proposals that relate to section 87 Belconnen, with particular reference to the social and environmental impacts on the Belconnen lakeshore. I am quite happy to support this amendment, because it helps to highlight the great problems that we have with planning for aged care in the ACT. I hope by reference to these two projects we may find a way clear to address these issues and also find what are the general impediments, what are the general problems, and perhaps address general issues that will facilitate the approval of aged care in the future so that proponents who come after Madison Lifestyle Constructions do not go up so many arid gullies before they actually get any answers to their questions.

I commend the motion to the Assembly. I think that it is well within the purview of the Planning and Environment Committee to look at these issues. I understand as well as anyone else just how busy the Planning the Environment Committee is, but we are a hardworking committee. I gave notice of this motion before it went on the notice paper to all parties. It went to all parties before it went on the notice paper. The Planning and Environment Committee has not met since it was determined that we should do this. But Ms Dundas has an amendment and I will be happy to support it.

MR CORBELL (Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (11.27): The government is quite comfortable supporting the motion of Mrs Dunne, but not for the reasons that she outlines in her speech. I need to set the record straight on some issues. The argument from Mrs Dunne is that there seems to be some problem with the process, and that we need the committee inquiry to look at that process.

That shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how the planning process in the territory works. Decisions about variations to the Territory Plan —what we are discussing here; a request for the government to initiate a draft variation to the Territory Plan —are policy decisions of government. It is not the role of the planning authority to say, “These are the draft variations that need to occur.” They can advise government of what they believe are the appropriate variations to occur, but at the end of the day it is the decision of the government whether a variation should be prepared in a particular area.

That is where Mrs Dunne’s argument on this matter falls down. The government’s policy is quite clear. We do not support the redevelopment of golf courses for housing. In fact, any astute observer of ACT politics would have seen that battles out in this place over the past three to four years. I need only draw members’ attention to the debate in this place under the previous government relating to the proposal to provide housing on the Federal Golf Course, which this place, in a previous Assembly, rejected.

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