Page 4739 - Week 11 - Thursday, 20 October 2011
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MR CORBELL: It is the case that draft variation 306 is all about facilitating and managing change in the suburban environment when it comes to new development activity. It would be fair to say that many of the elements of variation 306 do not have a direct impact on the issues of densification that are outlined in the draft planning strategy because they do not deal with land use zoning categories that relate to suburban areas, in that higher density development will occur in other land use zoning which is not suburban, although some suburban development areas may be impacted. I think those issues are well understood in the consultation that has occurred to date, and I would be happy to provide a further briefing to Ms Hunter in relation to those questions should she be interested.
MS BRESNAN: Supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, have you considered publishing better explanatory material on the proposed changes before the variation goes to the next public consultation phase so that the general public can clearly and fully understand what the proposals are?
MR CORBELL: The government has been working to provide as much information, advice and explanation as possible to a whole range of community organisations. That will continue to be our approach.
Community Services Directorate—intervention by Chief Minister
MR COE: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, it has been reported in the media today that you intervened and directed the Community Services Directorate to keep Minister Burch better informed. Is this true? When did you intervene, and what exactly did you say to the department?
MS GALLAGHER: I must say that when I read the Canberra Times today—and you do not always believe everything you read in the Canberra Times or indeed the way it is written—I thought those comments came from yesterday at a press conference where I was asked questions. I do not think it is any secret in here—I have told members here over a number of days—that I have looked at this issue very closely.
I have sought to read the briefings that have been provided and, indeed, in the censure motion I referred to the fact that I did not think information had been provided in the way it should. And I have let the directorate know that. Those are the comments that I made in this place on Tuesday. It should be no surprise to anybody. They are consistently the comments I made yesterday.
I have spoken to the Director-General around the information being provided to ministers and about my belief that that information was not provided in that way. I am fulfilling my job as the Chief Minister, letting directors-general know exactly what I expect from them. I have done that and I have had a very good discussion about that with the Director-General who, I believe, shares my views. These discussions were in line with conversations that the minister herself had with her directorate.
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