Page 793 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 13 April 1994

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MR CORNWELL: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Firstly, the Chief Minister has not answered the third part of my question about why we were not advised. Also, Chief Minister, if there was a problem in relation to the ANU Council but not the University of Canberra Council, why did you delay the appointments to the University of Canberra for two-and-a-half years as well? It is some embarrassment to this Assembly.

MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, the delay was because I had hoped to make all appointments from a full range of Canberra citizens, and that meant that members of this Assembly would be capable, at least legislatively, of serving on any of those bodies. As I have explained, that is not the case, and I still regret that it is not the case. Mr Cornwell has asked why I did not consult on the matter. I am not required to, but I do take his point that in public appointments such as that it could be advantageous. Certainly, had the appointments been amongst members of this Assembly, there would have been a clear need to consult; but that is not the case.

Jerrabomberra Development

MR BERRY: Madam Speaker, I ask Mr Wood a question in relation to Jerrabomberra. Will the Minister tell the Assembly when the Government decided to develop a new town in Jerrabomberra and what consultations will occur with the community on this issue?

MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, at this stage the Government has not decided to develop Jerrabomberra. It has decided, in association with the National Capital Planning Authority, to look at concepts for Jerrabomberra to establish a model for an environmentally sensitive city. The aim at this stage is to work out the best schemes possible for what might happen there at some stage in the future. I certainly cannot give any dates. There are no dates as to when work might start there. For some considerable time it has been known that into the future Jerrabomberra would be developed, and it has always been a fairly long timeline.

It is important that we run through this exercise so that we can put principles into practice. We have been doing this in all our new subdivisions, all our new suburbs. There is an international aspect to this and we want to draw on the best possible models we can get. The big advantage I see is that what emerges from this exercise will be able to be applied on top of what we are doing elsewhere in the ACT. To answer Mr Berry, I think that beginning this week there will be workshops about the way in which the community will be involved in this.

MR BERRY: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Minister, that is a significant matter you have raised. Have you told Ms Szuty about this? Have you told Mrs Carnell about this? If not, do you fear a vote of no confidence?

MR WOOD: I take your point, Mr Berry. Would those named please take note of what has transpired.

Ms Follett: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper, Madam Speaker.


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