Page 5028 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 26 October 2011
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MR SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr Doszpot, I am giving you a chance to frame the question or you can sit down.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, what are the pressing issues that are preventing you from consenting to an extended deadline that the community is asking you to undertake?
MR CORBELL: I have had one request for an extension of the deadline from one organisation. I have had no other requests to date from other organisations. As I said, 11 weeks I think is a very generous period of time for consultation. It is important to stress that this draft has not emerged out of the blue. This draft has been framed in the context of a very exhaustive time to talk consultation process that occurred throughout last year where hundreds of Canberrans participated in giving their views about what they believed the future form and structure of our city should be.
We have taken that into account in devising the draft strategy. We have now released this draft strategy for a further round of consultation. The period that has been provided for is 11 weeks—two months. It is an extensive period of time for public consultation. As I have said, I will keep this matter under review, but at this point in time I do not see any reason to extend that consultation. But that is a matter we will continue, as a government, to keep under review.
MR SMYTH: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, I understand the community group you spoke of is the Tuggeranong Community Council and they have asked for an extension of time. Will you now consider that extension to allow them to also consult with their members as they only have meetings monthly?
MR CORBELL: We will be working with all community organisations to provide them with full details and briefings, make officials available to provide advice and answer questions at public meetings and so on. Members should also be aware that we are pursuing a whole range of other avenues to get community feedback. I would draw members’ attention to the fact that in this very building there is a public display that has been running for the past week, throughout the week, with officials present, to answer questions and to explain the context of the planning strategy. Those officials will also be going out into the community, not just sitting here in this place, and talking with community organisations, talking with resident groups, talking with business organisations, explaining the context of the strategy and getting feedback on it. So at this point in time I think a two-month period for consultation is a very reasonable period for consultation. But, as I have just said and as I will reiterate, we will keep these issues under review.
MR COE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.
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