Page 5520 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 9 December 2009
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support for the government at the last election, with their only minister based in Tuggeranong just managing to get re-elected in fourth place in Brindabella in the 2008 elections, compared to our Liberal deputy leader, Brendan Smyth, getting the top spot in Tuggeranong. Obviously these results in Tuggeranong, the loss of a Labor seat and the poor performance of former minister Hargreaves in the last election emphatically underline the strong feeling of long-term neglect felt by the residents of Tuggeranong. Mr Hargreaves, this is something that they have been saying for a long time and you have not listened until now. Hopefully, that last election result will make you see how important it is to listen to our electors.
Having said all of that, we support Ms Bresnan’s motion and Mr Smyth’s and Mr Barr’s amendments. The need for a Tuggeranong master plan is well overdue, at least eight years overdue. We support these initiatives—the park and ride options. As I mentioned, I obviously support the amendments put forward by my colleague Mr Smyth and agree that it is necessary to take into account opportunities for business development and appropriate policy governing infill proposals, the existing road structure around Erindale centre and transport links to and from Erindale centre.
The need to redevelop the area around Gartside Street to enhance this as a restaurant precinct has been mentioned. I was there only yesterday. The problem one has in trying to reach a restaurant or one of the shops is that it is a bottleneck for every single person who wants to get in there. It has been like that for a while. Again, Mr Hargreaves, I would be interested in your point of view as to how that area can be improved, let alone the major improvements that we are talking about. I too applaud the collegiate approach with regard to the Tuggeranong Valley. Hopefully, we can agree on some things. It is important to get this right and listen to the community. I applaud Ms Bresnan.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella) (11.44): I recall a conversation only this morning suggesting that Mr Doszpot did not have any mongrel in him. Well, we found that not to be true, didn’t we? He had a crack at me and, dear me, that hurt! It really hurt; it got me right in the ticker. It was pretty shocking. I will have to watch myself from now on.
I have to say that this new-found zeal about the welfare of the valley is heartening. I exclude Mr Smyth from these remarks because not only has he been a long-term servant of the valley in this place; I also acknowledge his 12 months in the House of Representatives doing the same thing. I have heard of the phrase “furious agreement” and when it comes to the Tuggeranong Valley Mr Smyth and I have been in furious agreement on more than one occasion. I also acknowledge the length of service that he has had as a member of the Tuggeranong Community Council. We could have a bit of a fight about how long we have each been a member, as my service goes back to about 1989, but not by much, I will admit.
I welcome the motion from Ms Bresnan. I was critical in this place at one point of Ms Bresnan for not living in the electorate. However, I pay credit to a member for Brindabella for bringing a motion like this to the chamber. That needs to be said. I am particularly heartened to see the response from my colleague Mr Barr, recognising that it has been a neglected part of the world from governments of both sides, notwithstanding advocacy on the part of their members, whether they were inside or
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