Page 3884 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 25 August 2010
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I really do regret the fact that the Greens here are stirring up this dispute that is going on between the National Parks Association and Conservation Volunteers Australia. The government has genuinely sought not to play favourites between the National Parks Association and Conservation Volunteers Australia. I think it is a matter of regret that the Greens have decided to back the National Parks Association to the hilt in relation to this disagreement that has occurred between two fantastic voluntary community organisations. They are both fantastic organisations. They have a fundamental disagreement on this particular issue. I think it is a pity that the Greens feel the need to try and take sides and to pick winners in these issues.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Thank you. Minister, what other government agencies, commercial organisations, community groups and volunteer organisations have been approached to promote and develop tourism opportunities at Tidbinbilla?
MR STANHOPE: I will take the question on notice. Certainly, the National Parks Association may have been approached, but they do not support any activity, it seems, almost anywhere. I am more than happy to provide a full answer to the question.
Capital works—program
MR COE: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. Minister, given the volume of capital works currently underway in the ACT, are you concerned about the disruptions to Canberrans and the increased workload on the ACT public service?
MR STANHOPE: Mr Speaker, could Mr Coe repeat the question?
MR COE: No problem. Minister, given the volume of capital works currently underway in the ACT, are you concerned about the disruptions to Canberrans and the increased workload on the ACT public service?
MR STANHOPE: As the Treasurer has just outlined, there has been over this last year an unprecedented level of capital works initiated and pursued by the ACT government. We have delivered over $500 million just through ACT government programs. Accepting that, I think that that is just one-sixth of the total of capital works that have been delivered throughout the ACT this year.
I will check those numbers, but my memory is that somewhere in the order of $2 billion to $3 billion worth of work has been pursued over this last year. I think we need to put that into some context. Some of the ACT government’s capital works are, of course, the most visible, most particularly those on roads, because we are responsible for roads.
But our memories, it seems to me, are short in relation to some of these issues. There has been some community commentary about the amount and level of roadworks
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