Page 2487 - Week 08 - Thursday, 30 August 2007
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MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Smyth!
MR BARR: In fact, there will be an enhancement of facilities in Gungahlin and in the Molonglo Valley. However, facilities have currently been turned off for some. I point, for example, to Montgomery oval, which not far from Manuka, which is used as an excess overflow car park for Manuka oval. I do not believe that that will ever be restored to a fully-fledged oval. I think some facilities have degraded and are beyond the point that they could ever be restored to a full neighbourhood oval. However, there are others that we would seek to enhance, working in partnership with sports.
I would like to highlight the partnership we have with ACT Cricket at Harrison. We will continue to work in partnership with sports to ensure that facilities are provided, in particular, in growing areas where there is very high demand. There is no doubt that that is in Gungahlin. That is why we are providing additional facilities at Harrison. I look forward in the future to making further announcements on sporting facilities in those growing areas.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (6.29): I am disturbed that the minister has been talking about housing affordability with Kevin Rudd. The minister is dead right: the people of Canberra will demand answers. We have only to go back to the minister’s inaugural speech in this place to know the sorts of solutions that he was putting to Kevin Rudd. I am pleased to hear him refer to supply-side because he talked about that in his maiden speech when he said:
The major factor contributing to the decline in housing affordability in Canberra has been the increase in land prices.
But what is his policy? What is his answer to it? He said:
I believe that the exemptions for home owners from capital gains and land taxes need to be looked at because they too are damaging affordability. I think it is fair to say that the price of a house in Canberra these days is a reflection of its tax-free haven status than its inherent value as a home.
The minister needs to stand up in this chamber and rule that out. Did he tell Kevin Rudd that he should introduce a capital gains tax on homes?
Sitting suspended from 6.30 to 8.00 pm.
MR SMYTH: We are on part 1.12, ACT Planning and Land Authority. It is quite important that people understand the importance of getting the planning right and having the land authority right. It is interesting that at page 66 the recently published report of the Urban Development Institute of Australia comment is made on the ACT and on the ACT’s housing affordability. It lists two reasons as to why housing in the ACT is now approaching an affordability crisis. It says, “This is being driven by demand through population growth,” which, whilst it is picked up, is not overly large. It goes on to say the most important part, “… and from limited supply through protected planning processes and, until recently, a monopoly land development situation.” That is a neat summary: lousy planning, lousy land release. It is good to see we have a new minister, and the new minister is under the pump here. The
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