Page 3783 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR SPEAKER: Supplementary, Mr Hargreaves?
MR HARGREAVES: Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. My supplementary to the Treasurer is this: which is the more appropriate criterion for the selection of someone to lead such a review—being the former Treasurer in this place and a former accountant of the year or being the manager of a souvenir shop and a paperboy for the Weston newsagent?
MS GALLAGHER: We believe, as I said in answer to my first question, that Ted Quinlan is an excellent appointment. We believe that he brings with him a range of skills and experience. Indeed, I think that on the first morning after the tax review was announced even Mr Seselja had some nice words to say about Mr Quinlan—words which have since evaporated.
Mr Quinlan’s commitment to Canberra is unparalleled. He has given years of dedication to this community. He is very happy to come in and chair this review panel for us and move forward in an area of his own interest but on a very significant piece of work. After 20 years, it is time that we had a look at it. Ted Quinlan is an excellent chair of this panel.
Planning—parking
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Planning and concerns restrictions on innovation in the planning system. Minister, the territory plan currently provides for a parking contribution scheme which allows developers to pay a fee to the government in lieu of building parking spaces, which the government can then use to fund public parking areas. Minister, why is the scheme limited to only three centres in the ACT and why cannot the funds be used for sustainable transport initiatives?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. This is indeed an interesting matter of some contention. I do recognise that the current policy settings may require some refinement in the future. I am certainly looking at the possibility of both expanding the current arrangements to incorporate larger areas of the city and expanding the capacity for money to be hypothecated towards more sustainable transport initiatives in addition to additional car parking spaces.
As in everything in this policy area, it is a case of finding the appropriate balance. There are a series of tradeoffs that are necessary as this city adjusts to a different way of operating over the next 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 years. The government have, of course, undertaken some policy decisions and taken some steps in this area and we will continue to examine the matter in the months and years ahead.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Ms Le Couteur?
MS LE COUTEUR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, why are there minimum parking requirements for dwellings which are located within easy walking distance of bus interchanges?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video