Page 603 - Week 02 - Thursday, 16 February 2017
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words, a change in the title of the document. This is a very serious issue and one that needs to be dealt with at the agency level.
On discovering this had occurred in December 2015, two actions were urgently commenced. There was an investigation of the matter by the senior executive responsible for business integrity risk and, of course, the original document was released to the member in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
Following the investigation it was determined that the document supplied by a third party was altered and an LDA official was aware of the alteration having been made but was unaware of the implications of the alteration. The investigation found that the officer should undertake counselling and FOI training, and both of these recommendations have been implemented.
The LDA board was formally advised through a report to the LDA audit and risk committee, which occurred at its meeting on 17 March 2016, being the first meeting of the committee after the incident in question.
MS LE COUTEUR: Chief Minister, why have you not used your power under the Public Sector Management Act to request the Public Sector Standards Commission investigate the LDA chief executive’s apparent misconduct under the Public Sector Management Act given that the Auditor-General’s report into certain Land Development Agency acquisitions substantiates that the LDA chief executive appears to have misled the Standing Committee on Planning, Environment, Territory and Municipal Services on 5 November 2015 when he indicated that the Glebe Park acquisitions had received board approval prior to purchase when the Auditor-General’s report indicated otherwise?
MR BARR: The government has responded to those issues formally in the response Minister Berry tabled. Of course, the chief executive of the LDA responded in the audit report. Those issues have been extensively canvassed.
MS CHEYNE: Chief Minister, can you advise what wider action the government is taking to improve the performance of the LDA and land development outcomes for Canberra?
MR BARR: The LDA has undertaken a wideranging internal review of its business systems and processes. This has been informed by the review undertaken by the former commonwealth auditor-general, Ian McPhee. Members would be aware that we are well into the process of creating two separate bodies to undertake the tasks currently performed by the LDA—I outlined this during the election campaign some months ago—to improve transparency and to ensure a focus on strong land development outcomes for Canberrans.
The new urban renewal body will have clear responsibility for the city-defining projects that include the re-invigoration of the CBD, the Northbourne Avenue corridor and the city to the lake project. This new body will establish clear development objectives and act in the long-term public interest of the territory. The authority will make sure these projects are developed effectively and engage with the community
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