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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 07 Hansard (Thursday, 1 July 2004) . . Page.. 3133 ..

MRS BURKE: Thank you, Chief Minister. Will you tell the Assembly who had access to the Vardon report before its publication?

MR STANHOPE: No.

Mawson shops

MRS CROSS: Mr Speaker, my question is to the acting planning minister, Mr Quinlan. Minister, when people with businesses in Mawson Place, Southlands, went to work on the morning of Friday the 25th last week, they were surprised to find that an area of the footpath about 7 metres by 15 metres had been fenced off by a low barrier which had been concreted in place overnight in front of a newly opened bakery/coffee shop, Bruno’s Truffles, at unit 2, block 2, section 47, Mawson Place. Also, a metal park bench and a metal bin, both of which had been set in the footpath as part of the recent refurbishment of Southlands, had been removed to make way for the fenced area. It seems that none of the neighbouring businesses had foreknowledge of this development.

Given that the original development application for this development was approved in October 2003, despite exhaustive objections from the owners corporation and, given that in December 2003 ACTPLA approved an amendment to the original development application without the knowledge of the owners corporation, the manner in which this latest action has been taken seems to indicate some sort of serial arbitrariness and disregard for the interests of others.

Minister, could you explain to or advise the Assembly whether ACTPLA had knowledge of this most recent action by the owner of the newly opened bakery/coffee shop and, if so, what was the scope of consultation undertaken with the owners corporation and/or other businesses affected?

MR QUINLAN: Thank you, Mrs Cross, for the question. It is an obvious candidate for questions on notice rather than questions without notice, so I will take it on notice.

MRS CROSS: Mr Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. Minister, given the present anger, even fury, among the neighbouring businesses in Mawson Place as a result of this sudden development, would you be able to get back to me with an answer next week?

MR QUINLAN: I will get back to you within the prescribed time limits and as soon as is practicable. But it may take time—I would have to find out what the damned problem is. I love the colourful words “anger” and “fury” and that sort of stuff but I imagine there is some concern in it.

Public interest disclosure

MS TUCKER: Mr Speaker, my question is to Mr Stanhope. Chief Minister, with regard to the review of the Public Interest Disclosure Act, which is now open for written and oral submissions—I am assuming you are aware of the process—will there be privilege, or some kind of protection, given to people who may want to make a submission in response to this review document? There is concern among some members of the

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