Page 2484 - Week 08 - Thursday, 30 August 2007
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either back to the law of the jungle—which is what it was before; you could have development anywhere and it did not matter—or it means no development at all.
Those are the two options. I note the additional comments that were made as part of the recommendation that we were to stop inappropriate development. That might give an indication that the Liberal Party might be suggesting there be no further redevelopment within Canberra and that all new development—
Members interjecting—
MR BARR: I put the question to you. There are two options. It is one or the other. It came as a surprise to the shadow minister. The shadow minister for planning was not aware that this would be in the report. It is interesting that staff members in his office were frantically running around when this was brought to their attention. Unfortunately, it appears as though Mr Seselja was rolled by his leader and his deputy leader on this policy issue. We look forward with keen interest to establishing where the Liberal Party will go on this issue because it is a substantive debate. It is not something that they can walk away from. Having made the announcement that they no longer support A10, or that they never supported it at all—
Mrs Burke: That is all you have got. If that is all you have got that is sad.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mrs Burke!
MR BARR: Would you like to tell people living in 90 per cent of the streets and suburbs in the ACT that they are now subject to unfettered redevelopment? Is that what the Liberal Party is suggesting? Alternatively, would you like to go to the Property Council and tell it that you are not supporting any further development? (Second speaking period taken.) Will they go to the property council, the MBA and the HIA and say, “Sorry—
Mrs Burke: You shouldn’t say that word. The Chief Minister doesn’t like you saying that.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mrs Burke.
MR BARR: Will they go to the property council, the MBA and the HIA and say, “Sorry, we have decided that we no longer support any urban infill, any intensification of development anywhere in the ACT, so the only option for new housing development will be in greenfields areas.” Is that the policy position that they will put? Well, we will be watching this with interest; we will be watching very closely. Every week we will be asking the Liberal Party what its policy is now. It will have to come clean to the people of Canberra on where it stands and it will have to do it soon. As long as there is uncertainty about the Liberal Party’s position that will have an impact on future development in the territory. As we get closer to the ACT election, which is just over 12 months away—
Mr Mulcahy: Mr Speaker, I know that there is some latitude, but could we get back onto the appropriations? We can have a debate about Liberal Party policy at any time.
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