Page 2482 - Week 08 - Thursday, 30 August 2007
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MR BARR: Dr Foskey criticised me for certain things. Clearly she criticised the government from a perspective to the left of the government and it is very much the case that the Liberals come at us from a position way to the right. So I feel quite comfortable sitting in the middle of these two squabbling views. Sitting back and observing the sniping that goes on between the Greens and the Liberals over planning and development matters is always quite amusing.
In response I take this opportunity to highlight a claim that Dr Foskey made about there being no provision for additional information technology use within the ACT Planning and Land Authority. I draw her attention to my budget media release entitled “IT upgrade boosts access to planning information”. The government is investing just over $2 million to improve IT systems that are used to help the community and industry access information about planning development and individual blocks of land.
Budget funding will allow the ACT Planning and Land Authority to upgrade technology to meet the needs of customers who are increasingly doing business online. The funding will help rebuild supporting information systems to enhance and extend the extensive online services already being developed by ACTPLA. ACTPLA’s electronic services include those for searches of block and development information, online lodgement of a number of applications, conveyancing for the purchase of homes, and payment of fees. These systems are aimed at saving the community time and money, as many Canberrans no longer have to visit a customer service centre.
So, yes, we are engaging in a significant upgrade of information technology at ACTPLA, but I acknowledge the point Dr Foskey makes that the organisation is already at the cutting edge of the use of information technology within the planning and development system in the ACT and we intend to continue that good work. I know that team members at ACTPLA are very excited about where they can take this additional money and what they can do with the use of additional information technology to make things simpler, faster and more effective for Canberrans.
Whilst I am on the theme of simpler, faster and more effective, these are the key benefits. These are the key things that the planning system reform will deliver for the people of the ACT. We have struck a balance in this new legislation and we will see through the adoption of the new territory plan and, in the first quarter of 2008, the establishment of the new planning system. It is a major reform for the territory and it is important that we are able to move ahead with it. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to be involved in the project but I want in particular to pay tribute to the work of my predecessor who did three years of development work leading up to the passage of the legislation through the Assembly last week.
In an exercise of this proportion, a range of minor issues and technicalities will always have to be addressed. Yes, there were a number of amendments to the legislation but we got through it and we had constructive debate in the Assembly. I acknowledge the contribution of the shadow minister and of the Greens in that debate and I look forward to a continuing and strong working relationship with all the parties in this chamber to ensure that we get the best possible planning system for the territory.
There is something about which I am very conscious when striking a balance between the needs of this city to grow, the importance of addressing housing affordability, the
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