Page 3187 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 19 August 2008
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We see pressure, pressure, pressure. That is not working with the community. That is not consulting with people. That is riding roughshod. There was a severe breakdown in any proper consultation and dialogue from what I can see. There was huge disappointment with the planning minister in the community to not properly connect and step through the process. His actions and involvements have been found wanting. That does not come from me. Government members should take this on board. You can smirk and laugh all you want but this has come back from the community.
Thankfully, there was some vocal lobbying because if people had not have stood up, this variation would have just gone through as it was. As I have said, I think it is the most significant planning project that we have probably seen. Yet it has been one of the worst processes that we have seen. I think the Canberra community deserve much better.
Mr Speaker, I will leave my comments at that but I think that this government are clearly on notice about the appalling and arrogant way in which they treat this community in relation particularly to planning. Thank you.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Industrial Relations) (11.22): I was not going to speak in this debate but Mrs Burke’s arrogant, ill-informed and vicious comments about my behaviour relating to this particular variation have prompted a response, Mr Speaker.
Mrs Burke: But the chair of the Weston Creek Community Council—
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mrs Burke!
MR BARR: I would have to say, Mr Speaker, that the allegation from Mrs Burke that I have arrogantly dismissed all of the individuals who have raised issues is offensive. I have spent more time walking around the sites meeting with the individual groups than Mrs Burke has in her entire political career.
Mrs Burke: Late in the piece. Be up front.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Burke!
MR BARR: I have only been planning minister for part of this process, Mrs Burke; so you should get your facts right before launching into another one of your B-grade efforts. Jacqui B, the B-grade candidate from the Liberal Party, the one who is not even put up in any of their ads. Jacqui with a B—B-grade Jacqui who comes in here and fires off another one of her cliche-laden speeches about playing with people’s lives—
Mrs Dunne: Point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Do you have a point of order, Mrs Dunne?
MR BARR: making a series of unfounded allegations, Mr Speaker.
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