Page 3510 - Week 08 - Thursday, 18 August 2011

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Mr Hargreaves: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, the original question and the supplementary from Ms Le Couteur related to a specific variation, 307. Therefore, any questions relating to another draft variation are not consistent with the original question.

Ms Bresnan: On the point of order, Ms Le Couteur’s original question actually concerned the Brumbies’ plans for Griffith and lease variations and draft variations to the territory plan. My question was about draft variations to the territory plan.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, the question is in order.

MR CORBELL: I will have to confess that I am not familiar with the exact process that the planning authority use for determining what sequence of numbers they append to a territory plan. I would simply make the observation that some territory plan variations progress more quickly, and others progress more slowly. That may be an explanation as to why some territory plan variations with higher numbers are in the public arena ahead of territory plan variations with lower numbers. But I am glad the Greens are focusing on the big issues.

MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Ms Hunter?

MS HUNTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, what is the government doing to provide more information to the public on development application notice signs and advertisements when a lease variation is proposed?

MR CORBELL: As members would be aware—should be aware—my colleague and predecessor Mr Barr, as the responsible minister, made a series of changes to public notification requirements to ensure that notification of proposed changes to a lease or indeed a development application proposal was much clearer to the public. This included such straightforward but important steps as making signs larger so that they can be more clearly identified and seen and improved public notification requirements in relation to advertisements in papers and so on.

These are all issues which the government keeps under review. As the Greens would be aware, there is agreement to further strengthen pre-assessment processes in terms of notification. The government will be bringing forward a range of proposals in relation to those matters later this year.

Auditor-General—appointment

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, on 31 May this year you put out a media release headed “New Auditor-General for ACT”. This media release related to a proposed appointment to a senior statutory position within the ACT government. Chief Minister, why did you put out this media release before the public accounts committee had time to consider the nomination and make a recommendation to you?

MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mr Smyth for the question. I made that decision in the interests of openness and transparency. It is a very important senior position across


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