Page 44 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 22 February 1994
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MS SZUTY (4.44): Madam Speaker, it is with regret that I speak to this motion, which if passed by the Assembly will mean that Mr Kaine will no longer be a member of the Assembly's Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Infrastructure - and no longer Opposition spokesperson on planning matters, something which perhaps we have overlooked. It is probably unusual that a change in the membership of an Assembly committee would attract Assembly notice and comment. However, I believe in this instance that it is appropriate to say a few words about Mr Kaine's contribution to the working of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee and about the circumstances which have led to the change.
Madam Speaker, I first heard of the proposed change in the membership of the Planning Committee when I was on holidays in Western Australia early in the new year. I was surprised and puzzled about the decision at the time and, in my own mind, put it down to Mr Kaine's support of my dissenting report with regard to the draft variation for Kingston, section 25, blocks 4, 5 and 6, which will be - - -
Mr Lamont: No. There is only one dissenting report.
MS SZUTY: I know that. That draft variation will be discussed in the Assembly later this afternoon or early this evening - early this evening, I expect. The Planning Committee finalised its position on the draft variation close to Christmas in 1993. Whatever the reasons for the decision of the Leader of the Opposition, Mrs Carnell, to change the membership of the Planning Committee, Mr Kaine's contribution to discussion and debate on planning matters needs to be acknowledged. There is no question that Mr Kaine's experience and expertise in understanding planning issues are profound.
As Assembly members will be aware, Mr Kaine was a member of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee of the First Assembly. When Mr Kaine was Chief Minister, Norm Jensen reported to him in his capacity as executive deputy assisting the Chief Minister on planning, environment, heritage and leasehold management. When Ms Follett was re-elected as Chief Minister towards the end of the First Legislative Assembly, Mr Kaine resumed his earlier role as a member of the Assembly's Planning Committee and assumed the chair of the committee. Mr Kaine has been a member of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee of the Second ACT Legislative Assembly since its establishment on 27 March 1992 - for almost two years. Thus it can be seen that Mr Kaine has acquired five years of considerable experience and expertise with regard to planning matters since his election as a member of the Legislative Assembly in 1989.
I have appreciated Mr Kaine's input to Planning Committee deliberations on a wide range of matters, including consideration of the $19m casino premium, the Territory Plan and two of the Government's capital works programs, along with many draft variations to the Territory Plan that the committee has also considered. I will miss his contribution to future inquiries of the Planning Committee, most particularly the inquiry into planning legislation and the inquiry into the Kingston foreshores. This is not to say that Mr Kaine will not have plenty to say about planning matters in the ACT. I am sure that he will continue to comment about planning issues from time to time.
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