Page 3204 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 23 August 2017
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MR COE: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. You have a situation whereby if you do a dual occupancy development in Kambah, you have to pay $60,000. But if you are doing a 35-apartment development in Braddon, you do not pay a cent. Developers in Canberra have never had a better friend than Andrew Barr and the Labor Party. That is the truth. But it is not just any developer; it is particular developers in Canberra. We all know that there are particular developers in Canberra that are doing very well because of specific decisions by this government. We all know that.
It is not every developer. It is not like anyone in Canberra can go and take risks and create opportunities—take a punt. It is only certain developers in Canberra. That is what is outrageous. Of course, one of those developers is the CFMEU through the Tradies club. Another one is the Labor Party through the Labor Club. Of course, there are a few others as well.
You need look only at the Auditor-General’s report into certain land acquisitions by the LDA to get a picture of the preferential deals that this government is willing to make. This government is treating taxpayers’ money with contempt. They are treating the resources of our territory with contempt. That is why they are willing to do special land deals right across the territory. That is why a situation was allowed to prevail whereby the ACT government bought a block of land in Dickson for $3.9 million a week after Mr Barr came to power. A week after he came to power, the cheque is signed; three days after, contracts are exchanged. The tenant that was once the owner is still there paying $1 a year. One dollar a year!
How many community groups are there in former school sites right across Canberra that are paying thousands of dollars a year for their rent? Meanwhile, the intrinsic part of the Labor Party gets their rent for $1 a year after pocketing $3.9 million.
Mr Parton: It goes a bit quiet here, doesn’t it?
MR COE: It is outrageous. For Mr Pettersson to say that the union movement is an intrinsic part of the Labor Party is to say that the Labor Party has pocketed $3.9 million through the sale of the Dickson block. Of course, you also have the outrageous circumstances with regard to the Labor Club’s development in Braddon.
This government is conflicted and individual members on the other side are conflicted as well. That is why Canberrans can have no trust whatsoever in the current arrangements, let alone if the MOU is enshrined in legislation.
MS CODY (Murrumbidgee) (11.25): I would like to thank Mr Wall for the opportunity to yet again spruik this government’s commitment to making sure the people of Canberra are treated fairly at work. Whilst the frequency of the opposition’s highlighting of the government’s achievements in this area is surprising, I must say it is very welcome.
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