Page 821 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 27 February 2013
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What happened in the election quite clearly was that the Lanyon valley responded to the initiatives and the policies from the Canberra Liberals, led by Zed Seselja. What they responded to was the fact that we had listened to them. They were telling us that they were suffering from cost of living pressures. We had policies to address those cost of living pressures. You only have to look at the gouging, I guess you could almost call it, that has been going on in respect of water and sewerage prices that was outlined in the ICRC report yesterday. It shows that people in the ACT have been paying too much for too long for basic services under this government.
What they told us was that they wanted to help with the environmental effort. They thought that the best way they could contribute to that was to give them a green bin. They want to be part of that effort. It is odd. The government in 2001 had a commitment through Ms MacDonald, who of course is no longer with us, to give us a green bin. Here we are, 11 years later, and we still have not got that green bin. We promised that. The people of Lanyon enjoyed that promise. They want it. They want that green bin.
They told us that they thought a pool, as the basis of a community facility that might also have some meeting rooms, is what they want. They want to have a sense of community. Lanyon is distinct. It is discrete from the rest of the Tuggeranong valley. They enjoy their status as the Lanyon valley. But they wanted places for themselves. They have not even got a scout hall because this government is not interested in the far reaches of the electorate.
You only need to look at the outcomes. Lanyon voted for the Liberal Party because we listened, we heard, and we promised to meet their needs. This is a reasonable motion. It is quite a simple motion. If you look at facilities around the country, there are a number of facilities along this model of smaller local pools. Wangaratta city council built an aquatic centre that has a pool; it has got a gym; it has got childminding centres; it has got meeting rooms.
These things allow people to exercise in their local area without having to travel great distances. The Greens and the Labor Party will have you believe that we all should get out of our cars, but if you want to access the facilities that currently exist in Tuggeranong, for most families after school it is a car trip. It is very hard to do on a bus—get the kids, then get down to Lanyon, get a bus up to Tuggeranong. If you are learning at Erindale it is a different trip altogether.
What this is about is better local services. This is a good motion. The amendment will not be agreed to by the Canberra Liberals. Good try. Yes, we hear what you are saying. Good luck to you on that. But we have listened to the people. We promised them the things that they want where they are, and that they want now. This motion sets out to help them achieve their aspirations to have a pool in their part of their world. (Time expired.)
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (12.23): My colleague has stated that the government will not be supporting this motion, as this government is fully committed to the assessment of community needs in south Tuggeranong, including Lanyon, in
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