Page 3676 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
work as successfully as the Friends of Mount Majura. Having said that, as with almost all organisations, one should acknowledge the particular effort of those most deeply involved, their passion and the energy that they put in, including in representations to the government.
The community forums, in summary, are about ensuring that we provide affordable and well-targeted quality services to meet the community’s needs. This may mean looking at trading off services to meet the community’s needs and expectations. It may mean developing partnerships for innovative ways to provide services. It may mean adjusting the way in which we charge the revenues that we collect.
It is in the context of the commitment that I have made following recommendations made in the strategic review that I have established these forums. I have made a public commitment that the government, through TAMS, is not afraid to look at any issue in relation to the myriad services delivered by TAMS. It is in that context that I am not going to enter into a rather tedious exercise of ruling things in or out to allow the Liberal Party to make minor, fleeting political advantage out of me saying, “Well, I’m not going to rule out a discussion at these forums on waste or garbage collection.” Why would I? Why would I establish eight community forums with the stated, publicly explained purpose of discussing with the community every single aspect of service delivery from TAMS and before I get there answer Mr Coe’s puerile question that he asks on each successive day, “Will you rule out a discussion on garbage”? Well, no, I am not going to rule it out. I am not going to actually say it is off the table. I am not going to say: “You can discuss anything you want, but don’t discuss garbage. Just accept that everything that is done in the ACT in relation to waste collection is appropriate and leave it to the government to make decisions in relation to waste and garbage. Don’t you worry about it, community. We don’t want to talk to you about waste collection. We don’t want to talk to you about recycling. We don’t want to talk to you about garbage. Just leave that up to the government.”
Mr Coe: What about Revolve? Did you speak to them? Did you speak to Revolve?
MR STANHOPE: Yes; do not talk about Revolve. You would have to take that off the table too. “Are you going to talk about the cost of garbage collection?” “No, no, can’t talk about that, out of bounds.” “Are you going to talk about any aspect of waste collection? Which part?” “No, no, no. Can’t talk about that. Can’t talk about Revolve. Can’t talk about recycling. Can’t talk about anything to do with waste.”
Mr Coe: What about school closures, Jon?
MR STANHOPE: Well, here we go.
Mr Coe: What about school closures?
MR STANHOPE: Precisely, Mr Coe. So, “Will you rule out any discussion of school closures in relation to efficiencies in education? Rule out any school closures.” “Okay, let’s not talk about that. Leave that to government.” The extension of the Liberal Party’s determination to ban community consultation on garbage or waste takes us back to those days. You do not want to engage on the difficult issues. The Liberal
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .