Page 4252 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 29 November 1994
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Mr Berry: I will apologise for that, Tony. I was talking about your gutter politics.
MR DE DOMENICO: But it was to be expected, because you have no logic to argue with.
So, this amendment is all about making commonsense and allowing a sensible, good development. It is about showing the community that there are good developments to be had in the ACT after all the controversy of recent times and also that Assembly members are flexible enough to recognise a good compromise and a commonsense proposal and to change their minds if they have to. That is why I am pleased to move my amendment. I am pleased to say that I have had a change of mind since Friday - if that is the way you want to put it - because it makes good sense. It is a good development. I urge members to think carefully and put their money where their mouth is. If we are concerned about future job prospects in the ACT, if we are concerned about making sure that good developments are allowed to continue, let us now change our minds and support the amendment.
MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (9.05): Madam Speaker, I find it amazing that twice in one day the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has had the audacity to stand up and say to this Assembly and its committees that he has no faith in what they do. Before dinner we heard Mr De Domenico deriding - in fact, casting aspersions upon - members of this Assembly and the processes adopted by this Assembly as far as the committee chaired by Ms Szuty is concerned. Since we returned from dinner, and particularly on this matter, Mr De Domenico has once again said, basically, that the committees of this Assembly are unable appropriately to assess the issues placed before them. That may be a valid assessment at some stage, as far as he is concerned; but I find it somewhat surprising that Mr De Domenico would stand here this evening and propose amendments to the report on a matter that he was involved in. He was involved in that process. When I read the report I find - lo and behold! - that there was no dissent.
So, what has happened since last Friday, when the PDI Committee reported, having sat, discussed this issue and determined its position? Mr De Domenico has changed his mind. Why? Has Mr De Domenico had some sudden revelation which has escaped the other members of the committee? Have the heavens opened and has a light appeared? Has Mr De Domenico been pontificating, "O Lord, I have a new vision, and the new vision is different from that which we received last Friday."? Is there, in fact, some greater knowledge now provided to Mr De Domenico? Madam Speaker, it is all political opportunism.
Mr De Domenico: Did you not promise, with a wink, to fix this, Mr Lamont?
MR LAMONT: No, Mr De Domenico. What we said quite clearly was that issues needed to be addressed. This Assembly determines the process by which they are addressed, and it determines that each of the tests that need to be met is met. What we have is the sudden conversion of Mr De Domenico. This afternoon Mr De Domenico was saying, "No, we cannot have $40m worth of investment in Tuggeranong"; but - lo and behold, Lord! - tonight we can have $5m worth of investment
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