Page 1804 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 21 August 2007
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MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Planning, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Minister for Industrial Relations) (9.05): I move amendment No 6 circulated in my name which inserts a new clause 7A [see schedule 2 at page 1811].
This amendment inserts in the bill a new definition of “use land”, or a building, or a structure on the land, which includes beginning, continuing or changing a use. The new definition ensures consistency of approach in the bill to the concept of use and enables other provisions to be simplified. This clause needs to be read in conjunction with new clause 132A which exempts some use from requiring development approval.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo) (9.06): We will be opposing this clause largely because of the debate we have just had relating to use development. We do not agree with the government going down this path. We will be opposing this clause for all the reasons that have been canvassed over the past hour or so.
Proposed new clause 7A agreed to.
Clauses 8 to 14, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Debate (on motion by Mr Seselja) adjourned to the next sitting.
Adjournment
Motion by (Mr Corbell) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Battle of Long Tan—anniversary
MR PRATT (Brindabella) (9.09): I wish to speak briefly about the commemoration on the weekend of the anniversary of the battle of Long Tan. I want not only to talk about it; more importantly, I want to refer to a number of Canberrans who were part of a commemoration that more broadly remembered all Vietnam veterans, those who died, those who were wounded, and their families and kids. As we now know, some interesting studies reveal that five times as many children of Vietnam veterans seem to suffer and complain about stress.
Against that background I refer to the debate about Long Tan medals. On 18 August we commemorated the battle of Long Tan which occurred in 1966 involving the Delta company from the Sixth Battalion of the Australian Task Force. I refer to an article in the Canberra Times about Battle of Long Tan medals. That article refers to Harry Smith, company commander of 100 brave men who fought against 2,500 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong colleagues. They fought over a period of four hours in the most atrocious conditions and managed to hold their line.
Sadly, 18 men were killed in action and, from memory, 16 or 17 more were wounded, though I might have to amend that figure. However, 30 per cent of that rifle company were shot in this battle. Harry Smith has been vigorously campaigning the Federal
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