Page 4943 - Week 13 - Thursday, 12 November 2009
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compliance with the lease. This clause is intended to ensure that land and buildings—which are in limited supply—are not left completely unused for several years.
This requirement to actively use the lease is not a new concept. For some time now, leases have been issued with a standard clause requiring active use. This provision is to apply to leases, existing and new, in the absence of such a clause.
Clause 60 in the bill is to permit the Planning and Land Authority to obtain updates of lessee contact addresses from the ACT Revenue Office. This information will ensure ACTPLA has an up-to-date database of lessee contact details. Such a database will enable the authority to take action such as notifying development applications more effectively and quickly. I emphasise that this information will consist only of lessee contact addresses, will be used only for the exercise of ACTPLA’s functions under the Planning and Development Act and will be protected by existing provisions already in that act.
Clause 65 is a transitional provision to extend the power to make temporary modifications of the transitional chapter of the Planning and Development Act by regulation. This power will, under this clause, persist for a five-year period from the commencement of the original act; that is, it will expire on 31 March 2013.
The extension of this ability to make quick modifications is an important aspect of the new planning legislation. It ensures that the government has the flexibility to respond quickly to any new issues that may arise as a result of continuing industry and community consultation, new government initiatives or the residual effects of the global financial crisis.
These amendments involve a number of incremental but important clarifications and improvements to the planning legislation. In pursuing these further amendments in the Planning and Development Amendment Bill (No 2) the government reaffirms its ongoing commitment to planning reform. As I indicated earlier, the exposure draft of this bill is available for public comment until 26 November and briefings will be provided for Assembly members, industry groups and community groups. The industry monitoring group has already been briefed on the exposure draft.
At this stage it is my intention to present this bill in December this year, including any necessary revisions as a result of the public consultation. I will provide a further update on the bill and the results of the public consultation when I present the bill later in the year.
Long Service Leave (Community Sector) Amendment Bill 2009
Debate resumed from 15 October 2009, on motion by Mr Hargreaves:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): Mr Hargreaves has the call; he clearly is not present. I call Mrs Dunne.
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