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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Thursday, 26 August 2004) . . Page.. 4381 ..

Those are just a few things that could be addressed. We will wait to see how the issue of health care flows through to the election. I believe health care will always be an election issue and will always be an issue for debate in this Assembly. But if we can all focus on the idea of helping the people of the ACT live the healthiest lives they can and supporting them when they are in pain or when they are in need of health care services, then hopefully we can move this debate away from just words and take action so that we see both the health care and the health of Canberrans improve.

MR SPEAKER: This discussion is concluded.

Suspension of standing and temporary orders

Motion (by Mrs Dunne) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:

That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent notice No 17, Private Members’ business, relating to negotiations with the Coonan and Tully families, being called on forthwith.

Rural properties

MRS DUNNE (6.09): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) recognises that the A.C.T. Government has been in negotiations since November 2003 with the Coonan and Tully families in relation to purchasing their rural properties and that no formal offer has yet been made; and

(2) calls on the Government to provide a fair and equitable offer to the families before the Government’s caretaker period commences in September 2004 and that this offer should:

(a) provide the opportunity for these property owners to obtain reinstatement to another location and cover the full value of the lessee’s interest in the property under their existing lease conditions as per the agreement in November 2003; and

(b) ensure that the families can resume the lives as per their current conditions and so that they can maintain their current lifestyle and business opportunities.

I appreciate the indulgence of the Assembly and also the calling on of this matter at this time. This is a simple motion and I hope the discussion on it will be brief. The motion recognises that, back in October and November last year, this Assembly debated the future of the leases that belonged to these families. That was done in the form of the disallowance of a government proposal to change the lease to a 20-year lease. I sought the support of this place to prevent the government from doing this but, after negotiations, some members agreed to support the government in their proposal to change the lease on the condition that the government entered into negotiations with the families to allow them an orderly surrender of their lease and the capacity to move somewhere else and continue their businesses.

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