Page 701 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 March 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
has got a bit complicated directorate-wise—the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate; the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate; the City Renewal Authority; and the Suburban Land Agency.
We had one public hearing and heard from many witnesses. Fourteen questions were taken on notice. I thank all my fellow committee members and, in particular, our committee secretary, Annemieke, and the agency officials who appeared. We made 13 recommendations. I will not read them all out, but I will summarise them, insofar as the majority of the recommendations could be boiled down to being about one thing: much better community consultation in the planning sphere.
First, the recommendations talk about telling a particular part of the community, the community housing sector, about the selection criteria they will need. The next point is that the government must do something about urgent issues raised by stakeholders and then update this. It goes all the way through to the need in the planning sphere, in particular, for much better communication between the government and the community, and communication that is effective and two way. There is a difference between consultation and information provision, and sometimes that is not always made clear. I commend the report to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Public Accounts—Standing Committee
Report 5
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (11.10): I present the following report:
Public Accounts—Standing Committee—Report 5—Report on Annual and Financial Reports 2017-2018, dated 19 March 2019, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.
I move:
That the report be noted.
I take this opportunity to speak about the report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts into the annual and financial reports of 2017-18. In total, the committee made 12 recommendations. Three of these recommendations concern rates deferrals. As members would know, the issue of rates is one that continues to cause much anxiety among some sections of the community. The committee believes that some of this anxiety may be relieved through simple measures to ensure that ratepayers in financial stress know how they can request a deferral of their rates repayments.
The committee recommends that the government provide better information on rates deferrals, including clear statements on the revenue office’s website and on all rates notices on the criteria for deferrals. It also recommends better staff training for front-line directorate staff in providing the public with guidance on rates deferrals.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video