Page 5295 - Week 12 - Thursday, 28 October 2010
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MS GALLAGHER: I will check. It may be around decisions that were made prior to May 2010 that money has been received. I will check. But my understanding is there are a number of change of use charge applications which are currently before ACAT. I will check the advice the Minister for Planning is getting and the advice from Treasury, and I will come back.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Seselja?
MR SESELJA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. How has the uncertainty you have created in the residential development market by the delayed codification, the rectification and now the Quinlan review, impacted the collection of the charge?
MS GALLAGHER: The opposition are saying that we have delayed codification. I certainly got the distinct impression you do not support codification. In terms of rectification, I think there are a number of change of use charge applications which are currently before ACAT, and I do believe that is due to rectification, to people questioning valuations. But what is the alternative, Mr Seselja—that we just charge them the flat fee again; that we charge them $1,750 or $2½ thousand for a dual occupancy in Forrest? Do you think that is fair? Do you think that is the right return on that block of land?
The reason we moved to rectify is because the law sets out a view, passed by this place, about how change of use charge could be collected. So, yes, we could have allowed the system to remain in place, but that, I think, would have meant the government was not doing their job and ensuring that the community gets an appropriate return for the development rights granted to developers for change of lease that is granted for a particular block. We are merely applying the law. The law says we should get an appropriate return. The developers are questioning that return. And those matters will be decided by ACAT.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Ms Seselja?
MR SESELJA: Minister, could you advise the Assembly, if the minister’s answer is incorrect, how much change of use charge has been paid since May 2010?
MS GALLAGHER: I will certainly check and come back to the Assembly.
Children’s Week
MS PORTER: My question is to the Minister for Children and Young People. Minister, could you please inform the Assembly about Children’s Week and the support the ACT government provides for children, such as through the child and family centres?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Porter for her interest in Children’s Week. This is Children’s Week, and I think that was noted yesterday with a motion from Ms Hunter where we spoke on quite confronting matters. A whole range of events and activities have been organised in the ACT for Children’s Week. This year’s theme is “A caring
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