Page 3446 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 September 2019
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Now, if there was any doubt before, this bill makes it blindingly clear that the Barr government do not trust ordinary Canberrans because, instead of community groups deciding for themselves what their needs are, this bill will completely replace the grassroots approach with a characteristically heavy-handed, top-down decree from this government. As clause 253D of the bill clearly states, the Planning and Land Authority will now be “setting out the government’s priorities in relation to community use for land”. If one were to summarise this bill in a single statement, that might be it. I repeat: “setting out the government’s priorities in relation to community use for land”.
Community land in this territory is no longer about the community’s priorities. The Barr government clearly does not trust communities to know what their priorities should be. No, that is a task that this government wants to take entirely to itself. Assured that the handful of them are somehow the brightest, most aware people in this entire territory, they will determine what the government’s priorities are and then they will decree that their priorities are now the community’s priorities too, whether of course they really are or not.
The message could not be clearer. In this territory the Barr government tells people what is important and, if a community organisation wants to come begging for a parcel of land on which to build a community facility, that facility had better line up exactly with this government’s priorities because, if it does not, that expression of interest will be promptly screened out. Never mind if a community group has the numbers, never mind if they have raised funds for years to build their community facility, if that facility is not on the government’s list of priorities it will be a hard blow for our community groups. In this territory community groups must get with the Barr agenda or go looking elsewhere. It is not really community land anymore, anyway. This bill makes it clear that it is the Barr government’s land.
Of course, passing muster on the first cut does not mean that a community group will secure a parcel of land either. No, the total mismanagement of planning in this territory has resulted in a completely predictable and therefore clearly intentional scarcity of community land, and this in the face of a swelling population. Community groups are now to be pitted against each other in the Barr government’s version of the Hunger Games, each trying to outcompete the other in demonstrating whose priorities most align with what this government has told them is important. What an ugly situation! What a slap in the face to every single community organisation in this territory!
But wait, it gets better. In a briefing arranged by Minister Ramsay and Minister Steel the question was asked: what kind of consultation had this government engaged in with community groups before tabling this bill? The answer is none. I genuinely want to be surprised by this but I am not. The Barr government does not need to stoop to consulting community groups before completely altering the process by which such groups can access community land at concessional rates. That would require trusting such groups to have sensible opinions and important input. No. In this territory Mr Barr and his government know best. That is the unescapable message in this piece of proposed rubbish—excuse me, legislation—and I assure those opposite that our community organisations are hearing that message.
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