Page 5429 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 16 November 2010
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explain the obviously incorrect answer that you provided in the response to the question on notice?
MR BARR: In fact, I have provided more information than was requested in the question. The question simply asked for information on change of use charge paid on units. I have now provided, to ensure that the information is there for all to see, information on all change of use charge paid. I accept that in interpreting Mr Seselja’s question—
Mr Seselja: It is as clear as day.
MR BARR: No, it is not as clear as day. But, in order to ensure that there can be no issue on any questions raised about any matter of change of use charge, both commercial and residential, I have provided a full table and a full reconciliation of all of the change of use charge paid in the period.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Seselja?
MR SESELJA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, when you provided your first written answer, were you advised by your department that no fees had been paid, or was this incorrect answer generated in your office?
MR BARR: As my office has no role in the collection of the change of use charge, all of the information came from the Planning and Land Authority.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, a supplementary?
MR SESELJA: Minister, will you now accept that your written answer was incorrect and, therefore, misleading and will you apologise to this Assembly as required by the rules and practices of this place?
MR BARR: I did seek, in the previous sitting, to provide further clarity. I have now gone even further and provided a full list of the information. If it would help members opposite, I apologise for the confusion in relation to Mr Seselja’s question. I have taken steps to provide the Assembly with all the information.
Waste—management
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the minister for the environment and it concerns waste management in the ACT. Last Friday, two experts on waste management and soil spoke at the Assembly about recycling organic and green waste, explaining why and how the ACT can do it. Does the government accept—as the experts said—that providing organic recycling in the ACT is achievable and that it would bring enormous environmental, economic and social benefits to the ACT?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. The government does indeed recognise that the next step in achieving further reductions of waste to landfill is to target organic or wet wastes in the domestic waste stream. This is a very important part of our future planning for waste here in the territory.
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