Page 3346 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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budget and strengthening this area of inspectorate within the Planning and Land Authority, the government has signalled its intention to ensure that these inspections are undertaken more quickly. But there must be a recognition from all concerned that there is a cost associated with the delivery of that sort of service. If you want to expedite the service and have it delivered, say, within a 48-hour time frame, then there are costs associated with that. It is only fair and reasonable that the planning authority seek to recoup some of the costs associated with providing service at that level.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Le Couteur, a supplementary question?
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, given that the government has strongly advocated for the uptake of solar panels and hot water, will you consider changing the fee scale for electrical inspections so as to bring the rates for solar inspections into line with the rates for general electrical inspections rather than persisting with this financial disincentive?
MR BARR: I am happy to seek advice, as I said, from the Planning and Land Authority and to consider the matter. I am sure there is an entirely legitimate reason why there would be a fee differential. I do not believe it would be appropriate to jack the fees up in other areas to cross-subsidise in this case. I think we need to ensure that there is an appropriate fee level. I am sure that is what the Planning and Land Authority do in undertaking this work.
Gaming—sale of Labor clubs
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to Minister Hargreaves 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, any of your staff or representatives of you 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 HARGREAVES: I was feeling dreadfully left out on this subject yesterday and even today I was wondering whether or not I was going to get the slash. I am really grateful to you, Mr Doszpot, for including me in the high-quality colleague group in which I feel a bit too—
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MR HARGREAVES: However, I can assure the Assembly and I can assure the people of Canberra, that I, like the Chief Minister, am a member of a sub-branch of the Labor Party and I, as a member of the Labor Party, like to involve myself in Labor Party affairs. Have I said or done anything to influence anybody over the sale of the club of which I am a very proud member? No, no, no and definitely no.
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