Page 1560 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2007

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Planning and Environment—Standing Committee

Amendment to resolution

MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (12.10): I seek leave to move a motion concerning the reporting date for the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment’s inquiry into ACTION buses and the sustainable transport plan.

Leave granted.

MR GENTLEMAN: I move:

That the resolution of the Assembly of 15 March 2007 which referred the matter of ACTION buses and the sustainable transport plan to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment for inquiry and report be amended by omitting the words “30 June 2007” and substituting “30 August 2007”.

I have moved this motion this morning in my capacity as Chair of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment. The committee seeks this extension because it is yet to receive several significant submissions which it has been advised will be forthcoming. The ACT government, the National Capital Authority and the ACT Human Rights Commission have each advised the committee that submissions are being prepared, but these have not yet been received by the committee.

Most members of this Assembly will be fully committed during June and part of July to review of the government’s 2007-08 budget. This means that the committee’s deliberation meetings for its inquiry into ACTION buses and the sustainable transport plan have to be postponed. The committee has already received and is considering 64 submissions and the committee is particularly grateful for the work done by organisations, peak bodies and community councils in submitting their analysis of the views of their members and associates.

The committee also welcomes the interest taken in the issues underpinning this inquiry by the media, particularly the Canberra Times, the Chronicle and City News. The committee will be holding more public hearings next week for the inquiry and looks forward to hearing from the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services on the morning of Friday, 15 June 2007. The committee will also be meeting with community groups and a sustainable transport behavioural change expert next week. Of course, everyone is most welcome to attend these hearings.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Leave of absence

Motion (by Mr Corbell) agreed to:

That leave of absence be given to all members from 8 June to 20 August 2007.


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