Page 1078 - Week 04 - Thursday, 22 April 2021

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Some of the things that people talk about in relation to the environmental amenity of our—

Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker, on a point of order, the supplementary was very much about the issues with people going from Canberra to Goulburn and the effect on the environment from that, not about people living in Canberra.

MADAM SPEAKER: The question was broadly about people moving into the surrounding region. I think Ms Vassarotti is on track. The question was: how do you encourage people to stay here? Ms Vassarotti is absolutely on track.

MS VASSAROTTI: I am absolutely responding to Ms Castley’s question, which was about the benefits of living in Canberra and looking at the environmental benefits.

The other thing that we know is that Canberrans are really proud of the work the government is doing particularly around taking strong climate action. They are very, very proud of decisions that have been made around things like renewable energy.

There is a whole range of things that we are doing to encourage people to live in Canberra.

Government—community engagement

MR BRADDOCK: My question is to the minister for planning. Minister, thank you for having your representatives attend the last meeting of the Gungahlin Community Council. The council actually invited you personally to attend so that you can hear their concerns in person. Will you attend in person to hear their concerns?

MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Braddock for the question and his interest in the Gungahlin community. I regularly engage with community representatives in a range of different ways.

Opposition members interjecting

MADAM SPEAKER: Members, that is enough.

MR GENTLEMAN: We should also remember that we have 25 members in this place who were elected to represent their communities. I know that Ms Orr and Mr Pettersson regularly talk to me about planning matters in Gungahlin. I feel that they are strong elected advocates for the Gungahlin community. It is often more important, I think, for officials to attend some of these meetings, particularly when it comes to technical matters. In the past I have attended many Gungahlin meetings, and many meetings of other community councils right across the territory. I will use the colloquialism that I have probably had more community council meetings than Mr Braddock has had hot dinners. But I will continue to engage with the community—

Mr Braddock: A point of order, Madam Speaker.


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