Page 1062 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 5 April 2016

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Those opposite seem to use words like ageing in place, diversity of housing, solar access, active street fronts, urban intensification, compact, livable and sustainable for every single development under the sun. They seem to be catch-alls that they apply to every single development when they are arguing for it. The truth is that whenever they talk in generalities like this, they are not talking about the substance of the variation. They are not talking about the substance of the planning and built form outcome.

When you hear these jingles, what they are really doing is escaping discussion about the actual facts. If Mr Rattenbury really cares about the constituents he represents, if he really wants to show respect to the people that have put so many hours work into researching this issue, if he really wants to keep members of this place informed and hold ACTPLA to account, he would support them in their quest to have this variation disallowed. The best course of action would be to disallow 334 and to start again with reasonable and honourable intentions as opposed to the sham we see here today. In closing, I commend Mr Doszpot for his sterling work on this issue.

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

A division being called and the bells being rung—

Mr Doszpot interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, interjections during the calling of a division, even when the bells are ringing, are disorderly.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 7

Noes 8

Mr Coe

Ms Lawder

Mr Barr

Ms Fitzharris

Mr Doszpot

Mr Smyth

Ms Berry

Mr Gentleman

Mrs Dunne

Mr Wall

Dr Bourke

Mr Hinder

Mr Hanson

Mr Corbell

Mr Rattenbury

Question so resolved in the negative.

School improvement

Ministerial statement

MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo—Minister for Corrections, Minister for Education, Minister for Justice and Consumer Affairs and Minister for Road Safety) (10.50): Today I rise to speak about school performance and accountability in ACT public schools. We all know the importance of education to each individual student and to the community at large. The Education Directorate’s strategic plan 2014-17 states:

The value of education to learners is beyond question; the value of education to the learner’s community is beyond price.

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