Page 3356 - Week 09 - Thursday, 22 August 2019
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to provide housing for the ACT. These towers are built to a national code across Australia. Approval would sit with us and also with the commonwealth in regard to the placement of those particular towers. All of that work needs to go forward to ensure that they are constructed appropriately. Then, in regard to the design for residential areas around or amongst the towers, that goes through an environmental process with our directorates as well, and the community is involved in that process.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, is the ACT government going against the national code when TransGrid guidelines state that fences within 20 metres pose a safety risk? Minister, have you warned residents in Ginninderra Estate about the safety risk created by having a 330,000-volt transmission line so close to their homes and fences? If not, why not?
MR GENTLEMAN: I have not been briefed on any of this by residents in regard to high voltage power lines across the ACT. I will take the detail of the question on notice, though, and come back if I have any more information.
MR PARTON: Minister, did you warn those who purchased blocks in the Ginninderra Estate of the high risk of visual pollution identified in this project’s environmental impact statement; if not, why not?
MR GENTLEMAN: I do not recall providing any advice to residents purchasing in that estate. It might have been prior to my time. However, I will have a look at the record and ask the directorate if they have provided any advice to residents, and come back to the chamber with more detail.
Australian National University—legal practice course
MR PARTON: My question is to the Attorney-General. Attorney, recently it was announced that the ANU will disband the school of legal practice and cease the course that permits graduating lawyers to become qualified to practise, the GDLP. This decision has been criticised by the profession, including the ACT Law Society, by legal academics and by the National Tertiary Education Union. Attorney, was the government consulted on or informed of this decision, and what is the government’s position on the announcement?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Mr Parton for the important question and for his interest in the importance of our strong legal profession here in the ACT being well educated, well trained and well equipped for the work that they do. The decision that was made by the ANU was entirely a decision for the ANU, and I understand that it was simply an internal decision of the ANU. There was no consultation with the government in relation to that. We look forward to continuing to work with the ANU, with other institutions and with the legal profession here to ensure the ongoing high quality of the legal profession that we have here in the ACT.
MR PARTON: Attorney, is the government consulting with other institutions for replacement courses to allow graduating lawyers within the ACT to become eligible to practise?
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