Page 725 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 8 April 2014
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I recall a conversation with the shadow treasurer—I think he was probably still the shadow treasurer way back then—when he advocated very strongly for what he coined “an Assembly call-in power” that would ensure that, where there were projects of territorial significance, rather than the planning minister, through the call-in powers, undertaking the necessary action for the territory economy, what should happen was a process as outlined in this bill where the Assembly would in fact have powers of disallowance and would have the capacity to be engaged in the decision-making process.
It is interesting to see the journey of the Liberal Party on these matters. It is not the first time that these issues, or similar ones, have been brought before this chamber, as you would be well aware, Madam Speaker. You very passionately spoke in favour of the Projects of Territorial Significance Bill at the time, and it has come back periodically over the last decade.
The proposals that Minister Corbell has put forward, I believe, strike that balance and ensure that there is a greater level of transparency and scrutiny in relation to projects. I think they are timely in the context of what the territory economy will experience in the coming years. I find it just a little ironic that, at the national level, Joe Hockey, federal Treasurer, is imploring states and territories to recycle assets and get major infrastructure projects underway over the next five years.
It is interesting, and I am sure it will not escape the attention of Liberal Party members—Senator Seselja, for example, and others who have been encouraging the ACT government to take up the opportunities that the commonwealth government have put forward, particularly through the asset recycling initiative, to ensure that we are putting forward significant infrastructure projects for the territory in the coming years—that what we are seeing is the Canberra Liberals wanting to stand in the way of that. They want to stand in the way of an improved process to ensure that the territory is able to deliver a range of significant projects, not least of which is the secure mental health unit. This Assembly unanimously resolved for this project to be supported and to be fast-tracked.
The hypocrisy of those opposite is interesting. The long march into the wilderness we see from those opposite continues. Gary Humphries was right: you are the nation’s longest-serving opposition. You are opportunists. And, as you said, Mrs Dunne, back in 2004—
MADAM SPEAKER: Under standing order 42, do not address the opposition as “you”. Address the chair.
MR BARR: Madam Speaker, as you said in this place in 2004:
I suppose it is fair to say that the first instinct of the Liberal opposition was to sit back and gloat …
Ten years on, it is still the Liberal opposition. And still the first temptation is to sit back and gloat—not to contribute in any way to the positive economic direction of the territory, but to stand in the way of a sensible reform.
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