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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 3391 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

Of course, Labor have said we have to have a road. That is Labor's position. I notice that Mr Corbell pointed out that Mr Langmore's report said, "Before you look at the need for a road, you do this work." That is what the Greens are saying. We are saying what Mr Langmore's committee said. But no-one did it.

Mr Moore talked about there being so many years of consultation. Do we want more consultation? No, we want action. Ten years ago governments were being told, "Do something creative about transport. Don't just build roads. Do something creative about transport and then look at the need for roads." That has not happened.

I could go on but I will have to conclude my speech. I hope that Mr Smyth, in his response, will speak in some detail about the ecological value of the area that has been documented. If he does not do that he will have failed as the minister for the environment-and I believe he has demonstrated such a failure on several occasions in this Assembly.

We have an opportunity in October to elect a government-I hope Labor will reconsider its position on this, but I do not suppose it will-that shows leadership and that moves into this century in a way that demonstrates wisdom and courage. We have an opportunity to turn Canberra into a place that continues to be a good place to live in. We have the opportunity to make the national capital a role model. We do not want to just sit here with a 1960s mindset and continue on this destructive planning course.

At 5.00 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.

MR HIRD (5.01): Mr Deputy Speaker, my committee took over the brief on the Gungahlin Drive extension-the brief which Mr Moore's committee had in the Third Assembly. My committee examined in detail the evidence that was given on the issues that are in front of us today. My committee put forward 25 recommendations, and Mr Corbell dissented from recommendation 24, which we are debating today.

What I do find interesting, Mr Deputy Speaker, are the arguments that some members on the crossbenches are putting. They are saying that the government is sitting on its hands and is doing nothing for the citizens of Gungahlin. That is exactly what our recommendations, which with one exception were endorsed unanimously by my committee, address. It is blatantly obvious to me that they have not read, or taken the time to read, this very informative report from my committee. Our report No 67 touches on the-

Mr Kaine: The corruption of the democratic process-is that what you're talking about?

MR HIRD: Mr Kaine was heard in silence, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I would appreciate the same courtesy.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is a fair point. The debate has been heard in silence.

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