Page 1650 - Week 05 - Thursday, 5 May 2016
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The opposition has supported and will support sensible and affordable improvements to Manuka Oval at the right time. Manuka Oval is iconic for Canberra and we support its continual improvement. Of course, the detail of any upgrade, the cost and how it is to be paid for are all questions that need answering.
Manuka green has proposed residential and commercial development around parts of the oval. Parts of the proposal have been controversial whilst others have been welcomed. One way or another, there are certainly ideas on the table that need assessment.
One of the key issues has been the silence of the government. Whilst commentary on the proposal may not be consistent with the framework, the government could at least give Canberrans a clearer picture of the way forward. The lack of confidence about the path forward or even the options for paths forward is regrettable. Whilst the government may say that commentary is not part of the process, why did the Chief Minister, on 21 April, give a rolling commentary on the height of the buildings on 666 AM radio? In that interview he flagged that a height limit of about three to five storeys would be appropriate. Why has he also not given a rolling commentary on the number of car parks, the traffic, the seating capacity, the procurement method or any other issue? Why did he simply choose the height?
There are issues with this process that are of the government’s making. It is well known that this government has its problems at the moment. It is a government that goes from announcement to announcement with no long-term plan. It is a government that no longer operates like a cabinet government but operates as a one-man, one-directorate show. We all know how the Chief Minister’s directorate meddles in everything and is a big vacuum where policies, initiatives and information from other agencies and other directorates go in and quite often nothing comes out.
The problems are not limited just to the internal systems. What about underlying integrity issues with the government? We all know about the Ms Fitzharris issues. We all know about this government’s very cosy relationship with certain lobbyists and consultants, as they are seen as the only way to get things done. We all know that this government is embroiled in various issues surrounding the Brumbies. And, of course, we all know about the dodgy deal with UnionsACT. Of course, there is much more to come.
This is a government that has integrity issues. The commonality for all these issues is a government which is complacent, a government with integrity issues, a government which is conducive to lobbyists and lobbying, a government which has had its day.
The Manuka green proposal depends on an unsolicited proposal framework which is administered properly and features impartial adjudication. Labor is not capable of this. Unfortunately, there is little to no confidence in the community that this Greens-backed Labor government can actually run this process through. Therefore, regardless of the merits or attributes of the Manuka green proposal, I have grave doubts that this government can fairly assess it.
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