Page 5029 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 26 October 2011
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MR COE: Minister, what genuine consultation will be taking place away from the Assembly building, like in local and group centres in my electorate in Belconnen, or down in Tuggeranong or Weston Creek?
MR CORBELL: Planning officials are presenting at all of the relevant community councils, which is all of them. They are also presenting at any other community-based organisations that are seeking representation and advice from the relevant officials. So we are working very hard to do that. We are also maintaining a very strong online community consultation presence.
I would draw members’ attention to the provision of all this documentation through the Time to Talk website, which provides direct and specific opportunities for people to make their comments, to raise questions and concerns and to make their suggestions. The Time to Talk website has proven to be a very effective forum for giving all Canberrans direct access on these important issues. So we will be pursuing all of these avenues over the next two months.
As I have said before, and I will say it again, two months exceeds the required consultation time frame in the best practice guidelines issued by the Chief Minister’s directorate. I think that a two-month period is a very reasonable period of time but, as I said in reply to previous answers and as I will say again, we will keep the period of consultation under review, taking account of comments received during the consultation period.
Office of Multicultural Affairs—work experience and support program
MR HARGREAVES: My question is to the Minister for Community Services—some would say the best minister for community services in recent times.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, members. Mr Hargreaves has the floor.
MR HARGREAVES: You love it, don’t you? Could the minister—
Members interjecting—
MR HARGREAVES: For the benefit of those opposite who have not enrolled in economics 101 yet, the ACT government provided an additional $40,000 a year to expand the work experience and support program—
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR HARGREAVES: And there is room on that program for you, Mr Smyth.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, thank you. The question.
MR HARGREAVES: It provided an additional $40,000 a year to expand the work experience and support program delivered to migrants through the Office of
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