Page 1984 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2022
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had nothing to do with these motions that have been presented in the Assembly. The Canberra Liberals said, “Build more houses on this site.” I put in an amendment and said, “Thanks for that, Ms Lee.”
Mr Cain interjecting—
Ms Clay: On a point of order. I am finding it really hard to hear the minister and I am finding it very difficult to have to sit here and listen to somebody constantly interrupting the minister. Could we have silence?
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Ms Clay. Mr Cain, you and I have spoken, and if we could keep it down, that would be beneficial.
MS BERRY: I just wanted to put that on the record to make sure that the facts were clear and that Mr Cain had heard exactly what has been talked about today. We support the intent of Ms Lee’s motion. We have just clarified in my amendment what we will do as far as making sure that we can, if possible, through this really important consultation, deal with that CSIRO site.
There is the work that we have been doing in the meantime with CSIRO on the possible development of that site well into the future. As Ms Clay rightly points out, there is a lot of work to be done in a greenfields area, particularly on a site like that site in Ginninderra, on whether it is suitable for a site and how many houses could be put on that site, as well as making sure that we take into very careful account the environmental considerations. I thank the Assembly for the indulgence of having a second turn at speaking to this motion.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Ms Berry. As Deputy Speaker, I hope that members, in the context of motions like this, do not make a habit of having a second bite of the cherry. I understand that you sought leave and leave was given, but I am not sure that there was an extraordinary reason for the debate to continue. I guess what I am saying is that Mr Cain could seek leave to have a second bite of the cherry as well. I hope that members do not make a habit of standing to have a second bite of the cherry in the context of a debate like this.
MS LEE (Kurrajong—Leader of the Opposition) (4.23): It is interesting that when Ms Berry was speaking she was trying to have it both ways. On the one hand, she said, “The ACT government has been working on it for eight years.” On the other hand, she said, “Don’t you know that it takes time to get residential developments ready?” On the one hand, she said, “It is not as easy as saying, ‘Release more blocks’,” and, on the other, “We were working on this for years before Senator Seselja had an epiphany.”
Ms Berry: It is not our land.
MS LEE: This is the thing. You keep saying, “We’ve been working on this for years.” Then you say, “Now that they have come to the party and we’re calling for it, it’s not that easy.” Sometimes I think that Ms Berry, and certainly Ms Clay, think that I am an idiot. Every time it is about: “It’s not that easy, Ms Lee. This is what needs to happen.” This is a given, Mr Deputy Speaker.
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