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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Wednesday, 10 March 2004) . . Page.. 997 ..

there are three key lessons we can draw from the Conder 4A story. Firstly, local groups of scientists and activists are an incredible resource in our community. It would advantage all of us if government were more prepared to recognise their value and expertise. The ACT government at the time was proclaiming that its own expertise and judgment were sufficient. Over the past few years, a number of very strong campaigns have been conducted by such coalitions of local groups and expert scientists at East O’Malley, Forde, Bonner, Throsby in Gungahlin, North Watson, Nettlefold Street in Belconnen and at various sites around Canberra during bushfire protection clearing; and at Bruce, O’Connor Ridge and Black Mountain regarding the Gungahlin Drive extension. I do not see the evidence yet of any real acknowledgement of that expertise.

Secondly, the role and the status of an Independent Commissioner for the Environment are crucial to our progressive and constructive management of the natural environment. The environment commissioner’s annual report raised some significant questions as to the seriousness with which his concerns have been treated by this government. He made the point in the last annual report that, on some matters he has raised, he has now given up waiting for a response from government. Nonetheless, the independent voice of the Commissioner for the Environment remains a really significant force in asserting the environmental values of land in line for development. Simply requiring government to slow down and consider another view can at times have a concrete result. Of course there is also a significant body of more general work, such as the state of the environment report—a rich and invaluable resource for us as a community to use in our planning and decision making. I would say that it is an underused resource. I have argued that there must be an expanded role for the Commissioner for the Environment, given that the ACT now has an Office of Sustainability that is taking a whole-of-government approach to the issues.

Thirdly, in a small Assembly—with only one house—minority government is a crucial factor in ensuring accountability. I think there is little evidence that the present government or past governments would have shown the responsiveness that the Conder 4A decisions demonstrate if they had a majority in the Assembly. It is important that there is the capacity for government intentions and decisions to be explored and challenged through Assembly inquiry and through community action. The fact that government requires support from the opposition or cross-bench is important in ensuring that there is such capacity. Obviously that doesn’t mean that government cannot get on and do what in general it plans to do. In fact, I would say that in my time here government has only rarely been constrained. The combination of expert and community advocacy, statutory oversight and minority government does, however, ensure that some change and adjustments are possible. I think the expansion of the Canberra Nature Park with the incorporation of Conder 4A is a good example of that process.

MR SMYTH (Leader of the Opposition) (4.32): I thank Mr Hargreaves for moving this motion. Conder 4A was a good experience for the people of the community and, ultimately, that is what counts. Mr Hargreaves extended enormous thanks to all, including Ms Tucker. In case she did not hear it earlier, he did acknowledge the role of her office and the part that she had played. I think it is important, where it is possible and appropriate, that we acknowledge when we work together.

The previous government had some concerns about the precedent this set. The advice we got at the time of the value of the land led us to believe that it wasn’t appropriate to put

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