Page 5532 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 November 2010
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MR BARR: I would have to acknowledge that there is a different Planning and Development Act in place now. But, importantly, one of the elements that this Assembly discussed and supported at the time of the unanimous passage of the Planning and Development Act was to try and eliminate some of the red tape that was slowing the delivery of affordable housing. All members at the time seemed to be quite generally supportive of this position.
It is interesting now that the Liberal Party are specifically opposed, it would appear, to this particular variation and this particular technical amendment. One could only begin to speculate on the reasons for that. Given the sort of misinformation that the shadow treasurer has been peddling around about there being no open space or no ovals when, in fact, 25 per cent of the suburb of Crace will be open space and that that compares with seven per cent in Palmerston and six per cent in Torrens, or thereabouts, I think the suburb of Crace will be well served in terms of its open space and its recreation facilities.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Seselja?
MR SESELJA: Thank you. Minister, has ACTPLA taken legal advice that this variation is considered technical in nature?
MR BARR: I understand that elements of this are being appealed through various legal processes, so you would anticipate—and I can acknowledge—that, yes, of course the Planning and Land Authority will defend its position in relation to this matter and has its own legal counsel in-house. So, yes, legal advice is always taken.
ACT Public Cemeteries Authority—proposed southern cemetery site
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the minister for TAMS and concerns the proposed southern cemetery site. I refer to the budget pressures affecting the ACT Public Cemeteries Authority as reported in the Canberra Times and heard about in the annual report hearings. These revealed that the cemeteries authority is struggling to pay long-term costs and that it has concerns about its long-term viability without raising extra funds. Can you tell the Assembly how these cost pressures are impacting on the decision as to the type of cemetery to build at the proposed southern cemetery site?
Members interjecting—
MR STANHOPE: I beg your pardon—
Mr Hargreaves: You have got to declare self-interest here.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Hargreaves! Thank you.
MR STANHOPE: I am sorry, Mr Speaker. I could not hear Ms Le Couteur over the interjections.
MS LE COUTEUR: I am sorry. I could hardly hear myself.
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