Page 2023 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 28 May 1991
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Commercial Leases
MR MOORE: I am delighted that the Chief Minister has gone on about taking advice when it is needed, because my question starts with just that point. Chief Minister, what advice did you take into consideration when making a decision to renew commercial leases automatically and without charge? Can you indicate whether you took into account the recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on the ACT in its 1988 report on the Canberra leasehold system - the one that was chaired by John Langmore? Can the Chief Minister inform the house what that committee recommended, and why he either accepted or ignored those recommendations?
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, Mr Moore would be well aware that a Minister in any government takes advice and information from many sources. He does not accept one alone as the ultimate source. Any Minister that took advice from one person or one institution would, quite frankly, be stupid, because nobody can be the fount of all knowledge on an issue such as this. There are many facets to the problem, as with all issues connected with the planning legislation. This particular decision is incorporated as one clause in this legislation which will come before the house before this week is out. When you see it, you will find that it is very comprehensive and that it is trendsetting and landmark legislation for Australia on such a subject.
It came about as a result of three rounds of public consultation over a period of well over a year, with inputs from many organisations, many individuals and many groups - not only Mr Langmore and his particular group - community, business and other. I also took the advice of my ministry. I took the advice of specialist officers in the ACT Government Service. All in all, I think I got a great deal of advice - most of it good. As a result of that advice, which I then distilled and made into a decision, there is now a clause in a Bill. Your interpretation of it is quite wrong, to start with. When you see it, you will realise that you are wrong again. We will debate it on the floor of the house when you have the Bill before you.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker, because, in fact, the Chief Minister failed to answer my question about what that committee recommended and why he either accepted or ignored those recommendations. Clearly, Chief Minister, the advice provided by, not only Professor Neutze to that committee, but also that committee to the Federal Parliament, after long and detailed research specifically - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Moore, you are debating the issue.
MR MOORE: Not at all, Mr Speaker; I am just clarifying it. I am just leading specifically to the question.
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