Page 3345 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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MR BARR: Yes, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: It did not sound like it.
MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. There is a lesson, Mr Speaker. In listening to community views, those opposite, the new members of this place, should never—never—take the black hand of Mr Smyth. Listen to the community, listen to the MBA, listen to the P&C association. They have got a more valuable contribution to make than the black hand of the deputy leader of the opposition.
Gaming—sale of Labor clubs
MR COE: My question is to Minister Corbell and relates to the potential breach of the gaming act over the sale of the Canberra Labor Club Group. The ministerial code of conduct applies to the conduct of both ministers and their staff. It states:
Ministers will uphold the laws of the Australian Capital Territory and Australia, and will not be a party to their breach, evasion or subversion.
Minister, were you and your staff or your representatives involved at any level in influencing or directing the sale or withdrawal of sale of the Canberra Labor Club Group? If so, who and in what manner were they involved?
MR CORBELL: I draw members’ attention to the comments the Chief Minister made earlier in answering his question about the distinction that needs to be drawn between the role of ministers as ministers and the role of ministers and others as members of political organisations. With that said, I can quite succinctly answer Mr Coe’s question. The answer is no.
Planning—inspection fees
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Planning. Minister, ACTPLA has recently changed the fees payable for electrical inspections such that general residential inspections are a flat rate of $180 but that inspections for installations of solar systems could cost up to three times that because of the requirement to install and inspect inverters. Minister, can you explain why the inspection of an inverter should cost an extra $180 on top of the flat rate when the process of inspection may only take a few more minutes to complete?
MR BARR: Obviously I will have to take some further technical advice from the Planning and Land Authority in relation to the fees charged there, but one would imagine that, given the complexity of the task, fees would be charged according to that complexity and the time taken. I will seek some further advice from the Planning and Land Authority on the detail of that question.
It is, of course, worth noting that perhaps the greatest impact on the total cost in terms of delivering an outcome for the householder and for industry is the speed at which inspections can be undertaken. That will ultimately lead to more affordable housing and will ensure greater certainty. By providing additional resources in this year’s
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