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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 4892 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

My feeling is that most people find out about these things during the periods that are presently provided for. There is not a need to adjust those periods. My assessment is that those periods are adequate. Since becoming Minister I cannot recall ever having anyone come to me and say, "The period of consultation was too short. I did not know about it until it was over". I recall a couple of cases where people have been overseas. You cannot cater for people in that category. They might be overseas for six months. I have not heard anybody in the Territory say, "I did not notice it in the period prescribed. I wish I had had longer".

If Ms Horodny does not have people coming to her making those claims, I suggest that her amendment is not based on anything which is really a problem in the Territory Plan but on her perception of what might in theory be a problem. In that case, there is no reason to support this amendment.

MR MOORE (9.57): Mr Speaker, I think the bit that Mr Humphries missed was the point that Ms Horodny was putting. There can be problems, particularly for community groups, because it is a quite common thing for community groups to meet monthly. Sometimes, of course, they meet more frequently than that. This has not been a problem up to now, in the sense that this is how long it has normally taken. I think that has shown goodwill on the part of the Minister and on the part of the department. But when we are talking about something as serious as a variation of the Territory Plan - and everybody here takes a variation of the Territory Plan very seriously - it is appropriate that adequate time be given. What Ms Horodny is arguing is that the time is inadequate to allow that. Since we are amending this part of the legislation, it is an appropriate time to correct that minor anomaly. That is why I will be supporting this change.

MS McRAE (9.58): Mr Speaker, we will not be supporting this amendment. This is a minimum time that is specified, not a maximum. Nobody has ever complained to us. I think we are dealing with a problem that does not exist and, therefore, we will not support this amendment.

Question put:

That the amendment (Ms Horodny's) be agreed to.

The Assembly voted -

AYES, 4	 		NOES, 11

Ms Horodny	Mr Berry	Ms McRae
Mr Moore	Mrs Carnell	Ms Reilly
Mr Osborne	Mr Cornwell	Mr Stefaniak
Ms Tucker	Mr De Domenico	Mr Whitecross
		Mr Humphries	Mr Wood
		Mr Kaine

Clause agreed to.

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