Page 38 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2008
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apology—of course illustrates the paucity of leadership, of understanding, of political acumen or capacity represented within the opposition. Of course, the government always regrets any confusion that is caused to anybody. Go back and look at the public records.
Ms Gallagher: My position is clear: it’s in the paper; it’s in the Hansard. I’m getting it for them.
MR STANHOPE: We are getting them for you; we will table them. We will table for your edification, understanding and education the public position stated in this place by the minister. Mr Seselja, when you receive the minister’s explicit position, you might want to apologise and say sorry. I table the statement made by the then minister for education of the government’s position in relation to this matter, and I ask the Leader of the Opposition to say sorry.
Canberra International Airport
DR FOSKEY: My question is to the Chief Minister. It is in regard to the expansion plans of Canberra International Airport. It has been said by airport proponents and quoted by MLA Mick Gentleman at a forum last week that 99.5 per cent of the Canberra population will not be affected by airport noise, yet I have not been able to find any objective research or information to back up that figure. Could the Chief Minister please advise the Assembly how the ACT government is compiling objective information on the future noise development and greenhouse gas emission impacts of the airport?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank Dr Foskey for the question. The question of the expansion of the airport and issues in relation to noise and indeed other implications of the airport’s master plan and vision for the future are certainly issues worthy of exploration within this place, and certainly within the community.
It was in the context, of course, of public consultation on the Canberra International Airport 2008 draft master plan that a meeting of interested and affected residents, primarily, as I understand it, residents of Jerrabomberra, Queanbeyan and Wamboin—I think that is a fair summation of the makeup—was held. I understand—and I say this by way of information and it does, perhaps, reflect the level of interest or concern that is at the heart of the question that Dr Foskey asks—that there were four Canberrans at the meeting. The rest, less four—and the four do not include Dr Foskey and Mr Gentleman—the entire other membership at the meeting in relation to the master plan on aircraft noise were residents of Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra and Wamboin. Nevertheless, this is an important issue—
Dr Foskey: May I interrupt?
MR SPEAKER: Do you have a point of order?
Dr Foskey: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That is a misrepresentation.
MR SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
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