Page 1488 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 9 May 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
A-G issues and it reeks of political subterfuge. The concerns about the LDA are not addressed in this bill. They have a high probability of continuing into the future if this bill does not make significant changes to the accountability framework for these two agencies.
With that in mind, the opposition will put forward a number of amendments on Thursday that go to the heart of these matters, so that the people of Canberra can be assured that the bodies that represent them have their best interests absolutely in mind. I also wonder whether a committee inquiry to look at these matters will provide better consideration, deliberation and transparency on the splitting up of the LDA.
In conclusion, I feel there is no clarity in this bill. There is certainly no understanding of the budget and budget impacts. The concerns about the LDA raised by the Auditor-General are not addressed in this split. It is an overreach that the LDA works in additional policy areas. That could be a cultural issue. Again, I am quoting Ms Le Couteur in her earlier speech: she believes it is a cultural issue. How is that going to change in these two new agencies with the same staff? The government should be focusing on improving the accountability of its agencies, not hiding from scrutiny by splitting them up.
It is in stark contrast to the calls in this Assembly over a number of years for the establishment of a single nature conservation agency, something that all sides of the Assembly agreed was necessary, good, worthwhile and valuable. Everyone was clamouring for it, and it took years to achieve. This is like the polar opposite of that. It has been done with undue haste, it has an undeclared need or benefit and it has been rushed through without suitable and adequate scrutiny.
In conclusion, the Canberra Liberals have always said that we support transparency, accountability and, above all, integrity in every area of government. In its current form, this bill does not encompass those values. Therefore, the Canberra Liberals cannot support this bill without amendment.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Women and Minister for Sport and Recreation) (4.55): The government is committed to delivering an expanded and contemporary city renewal and suburban land development program, which I believe will make significant and transformational changes to our beautiful city to meet our needs now and which will prepare us for the future.
The City Renewal Authority and the Suburban Land Agency Bill 2017 establishes two new entities, the City Renewal Authority, the CRA, and the Suburban Land Agency, the SLA. The bill includes robust governance arrangements and clear roles for both entities, with significant government oversight and direction.
The bill encourages greater public and private sector investment for our city, and, importantly, will ensure that social policy around inclusion and building better neighbourhoods is reflected in our ongoing development. The bill supports the
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video