Page 4518 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 26 November 2019
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chamber that both Labor and the Greens voted our motion down. They went, instead, with a meaningless amended version from the Greens which did not achieve anything.
Most disappointing and hypocritical—I cannot use any other word—was Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur, who sponsored a petition that eventually, granted, did lead to this issue coming to the education, employment and youth affairs committee but had no intention of ever supporting this course being reinstated. The petition attracted 1,814 signatures. It was tabled in November last year.
The inquiry received 26 submissions. We had two public hearings in July this year. The evidence was overwhelmingly in favour of restoration of the course. The majority findings reflect the wishes of the petitioners and the majority of those who made submissions. It is disappointing that the committee could not deliver a unanimous report, but the outcome serves to highlight clearly the values that the Canberra Liberals place on listening to the community and serving their needs rather than the Labor-Greens approach, which is to tell the electorate that the government knows best and dismiss community opinion. We have seen this same approach in planning decisions and in legislation affecting the greyhound industry. It is a hallmark of this tin-ear government.
I thank the many passionate students, parents and former students who canvassed so hard for this government to see reason. This report provides that reason. It calls on the government to do the fair, sensible and appropriate thing, and restore the H course so that future music students who have a talent and a passion for their chosen career can get the very best opportunity for success. To deny them that opportunity is shameful.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Planning and Urban Renewal—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (10.22): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Renewal. At a private meeting on 14 March 2018, the committee resolved to undertake an inquiry into development application processes in the ACT. At that time the committee set a reporting date of the last sitting day in November 2018 and this was later extended to November 2019. In light of the breadth of the terms of reference and in order to give the evidence received due consideration, the committee has now resolved that it intends to report before the end of the Ninth Assembly in 2020.
Housing strategy and implementation plan—annual review
Ministerial statement
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 Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (10.22): I am happy to update the Assembly today on the work that the government has undertaken in the first year since the release of the ACT housing strategy. In addition to this ministerial statement, the
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