Page 1333 - Week 04 - Thursday, 5 May 2022
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Overwhelmingly, the community told the government that it highly values the Murrumbidgee River corridor, both for its environmental significance as well as its role as a hub for community recreation. Strong opposition has been expressed to any development that compromises these two important values.
I think it is incredibly telling that neither Ms Lee, Ms Lawder nor Mr Parton saw fit to reference this report of their own constituents only a few years ago on the very question that they have brought to the Assembly today to debate. No reference—
Ms Lee: I literally referenced it in my speech. Do you want to listen?
MR DAVIS: I will take that interjection, Ms Lee, because if you referenced it you clearly did not read it—
Ms Lee interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Lee. Ms Lee. Ms Lee.
MR DAVIS: because the executive summary is very clear that there is overwhelming opposition in my community in Brindabella.
MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Lee, you are now warned. Mr Davis.
MR DAVIS: There is overwhelming opposition in my electorate of Brindabella to residential development west of the Murrumbidgee River. I know that from the last 18 months of serving in this place. I know that from my almost 30 years of living in Tuggeranong. I know that from doing my homework in preparation for today’s motion and reading the report commissioned by the government in 2016. And I know that from actively engaging with my constituents as recently as today on social media.
I can guarantee to my constituents that I am opposed today, and will continue to remain opposed, to the destruction of the bush capital and the beautiful nature that the people of Brindabella have come to know and love west of the Murrumbidgee River. I am encouraged that other members of the government who have spoken today share those same concerns. There is a lot that I disagree on with my fellow members for Brindabella Ms Lawder and Mr Parton, but I am shocked and disappointed that this is it.
There is one more thing that I think it is really important to mention in the context of this debate and that is the undermining of the choice that Canberrans make when they choose to live in apartments. We have seen this done subtly by some members of the Canberra Liberals opposition and we have seen it done offensively by some members of the Canberra Liberals opposition.
I would like to draw to the Assembly’s attention some recent comments by Mrs Kikkert in this Assembly on the question of housing affordability, when she was talking about apartments. She said on 7 April:
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