Page 993 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 2012
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been the ham-fisted approach of this government over the last two years. This is a small sop and a small means of improving the lot of liquor licensees. For that reason and that reason alone—because we cannot get the government to do this without legislating in this place—we will support this bill.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (11.32), in reply: I thank members for their support for what I described when I introduced the legislation as a very simple amendment. It is a very short one; it seeks to serve a very specific purpose. It is about making a practical business for small business holders across the city. The late notice of fees in the last two years has been a source of frustration for licence holders, and I am pleased the Assembly has agreed to remedy that situation. Mrs Dunne made reference to the fact this should be unnecessary. Whilst I agree with her to some extent, I think the situation has been such that, whilst this should be common sense, we have reached a point where the Assembly being explicit about its expectations is a necessary step.
I found that Mrs Dunne’s comments about over-prescription did not quite follow the debate in the sense that this is being prescriptive on government to act in a certain way. This is not about putting an extra burden in place for licence holders. It is actually all about making it clearer and simpler for licence holders and having a degree of certainty. I think that is a positive. This is exactly the sort of practical step that the last motion was all about—it is about making it simpler, making it clearer, making it more certain.
I thank members for their support and I look forward to this taking effect and having the desired effect.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Water—Cotter Dam
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (11.34): I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) notes:
(a) that the enlarged Cotter Dam project has experienced significant delays in its completion;
(b) that the final cost to the point of commissioning into service will be significantly over the budget of $363 million; and
(c) that ACTEW Corporation has been working on a new estimate of the final cost of the dam to the point of commissioning into service; and
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