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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Thursday, 13 May 2004) . . Page.. 1908 ..

down but Mr Downer has softened his approach and has published press releases on his website, which I have circulated to members in the Assembly today for their information, stating that indeed he understands and respects the Greek Cypriot decision and he accepts it. Well, one would think that in an election year a foreign minister would be more prone to accepting the decisions of a larger number of Greek Cypriots given that they represent a high number of votes. But I do appreciate the fact that Mr Downer has found a more sensible approach to this.

Again, I wanted to thank Mrs Georgia Alexandrou, who has done an exceptional job in representing her community. To those who were cynical, particularly in the media, as to why I was bringing this motion forward, I state that I did have a number of constituents come to me to complain about this. This matter caused me great concern, and it was very important that the people of the ACT and in fact Australia understand that the Greek Cypriots did not vote against the reunification; they voted against this particular plan.

I thank members for allowing me to make this statement, particularly at such a late hour, and I commend the statement to the Assembly.

Adjournment

Motion (by Mr Wood) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Urban land

Mental health expenditure

MR CORBELL (Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (11.37): I would just like to correct some information that I previously provided to the Assembly. It has been brought to my attention that on 1 April 2004 during question time, in response to a question from Ms MacDonald on the transfer of residential land to the then Goorooyarroo Nature Park, I initially advised Ms MacDonald that over 1,000 hectares of an area previously designated as residential land had been incorporated into the Canberra Nature Park.

I have subsequently been advised that the 1,000 hectares was not all residential land and that the amended figures should read 399 hectares in total set aside for residential development. This represents approximately $399 million in today’s terms of revenue forgone by the territory for environment protection and equates to approximately 5,985 dwelling sites.

I would also like to advise the Assembly that in a debate in the Assembly on 11 March I brought to the attention of the Assembly that per capita expenditure on mental health in the ACT had increased to $117 per capita under the Labor government. This is correct. However, I am advised by my department that the level of expenditure at the time of the change of government was $82.50 per capita, not $67 per capita. This error was included in the speech prepared for me by ACT Health, and I wish to correct the record so there is no misunderstanding.

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