Page 756 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 26 February 2013

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Legislation Act, pursuant to section 64—

Environment Protection Act—Environment Protection Amendment Regulation 2013 (No 1)—Subordinate Law SL2013-2 (LR, 7 February 2013).

Public Place Names Act—Public Place Names (Casey) Determination 2013 (No 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2013-8 (LR, 14 February 2013).

Road Transport (General) Act—Road Transport (General) Application of Road Transport Legislation Declaration 2013 (No 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2013-9 (LR, 15 February 2013).

Parking—availability

Discussion of matter of public importance

MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Doszpot): Madam Speaker has received letters from Ms Berry, Dr Bourke, Mr Coe, Mr Doszpot, Mr Gentleman, Mr Hanson, Mrs Jones, Ms Porter, Mr Seselja, Mr Smyth and Mr Wall proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, Madam Speaker has determined that the matter proposed by Mr Hanson be submitted to the Assembly, namely:

Car parking in the ACT.

MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (4.11): This is a very important issue to discuss, because it has become apparent to me in the course of the last four years in this place that there is a clear difference of opinion, in ideology, between those on this side of the chamber and those on the other side of the chamber. It could be put that we are pro car, pro parking, whereas those on the other side have an ideological distaste for parking and for motor vehicles.

We just saw that in question time today with a question asked by Mr Doszpot about the government’s proposed car sharing policy. The question was about “introducing a car sharing policy by the end of 2013 and complementary changes to planning and parking regulation”. We know that that does not mean more parking. You can guarantee that is not going to be putting the price of parking down. This is a government that wants us all to be sharing our vehicles. We know that the impact on parking will only be a negative one for the people of Canberra.

It makes me recall when Mr Smyth and I were on the estimates committee of 2011-12 and we were discussing the issue of Manuka. Mr Assistant Speaker, you moved an excellent motion in the previous sitting week about the problems associated with Manuka. Mr Smyth and I wanted to introduce a parking plan for Manuka at that point. We made the point in estimates and as we were going through the report. The Greens committee members at that point—Ms Hunter and Ms Bresnan—refused to allow the word “parking” to appear in our recommendation.

We said, “If there is a problem with parking at Manuka Oval, let us come up with a plan to fix the parking.” They refused to put the word “parking” in. I think we came up with some Sir Humphrey sort of term. It was all multi-modal transport options or something like that. But it became very clear to me then in the course of those


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