Page 256 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 February 2016

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MR BARR: I refer the member to Ms Fitzharris’s contributions to this debate in private members’ business yesterday.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.

MS LAWDER: Chief Minister, why is it taking so long for the EPA inspectors to work out the cause of the odour?

MR BARR: I think the member in fact answered her own question live on radio this morning when she indicated that she could not smell anything, but when she went to the tip, yes, it smelt like a tip. She then went on to make a series of assertions but said that, ultimately, it would be difficult to determine the outcome or the source. It is difficult, but the government is making efforts, as Ms Fitzharris outlined in some detail yesterday.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Wall.

MR WALL: Chief Minister, given your open and transparent government, why has not the ACT government been communicating openly with Tuggeranong residents about the foul smell, and what is being done to address it?

MR BARR: The government has, Madam Speaker.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.

MR WALL: Chief Minister, aside from the Environment Protection Authority’s investigation into the smell, what is the ACT government doing for Tuggeranong residents to address and resolve this problem?

MR BARR: Other areas of government, including NOWaste, have been investigating. This was canvassed extensively in a private member’s motion yesterday and in Ms Fitzharris’s response.

Planning—building certifiers

MR DOSZPOT: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Planning and Land Management. An article in the Canberra Times on 1 February reported that some buildings in Canberra are “so shoddy they would be cheaper to demolish and rebuild than to repair”. The article went on to quote from Ross Taylor, a waterproofing expert, who said:

The primary cause of defects, particularly leaks and facade defects, is poor design.

Minister, is it correct that certifiers submit documents to ACTPLA which state that buildings have been constructed in line with building regulations and a certificate of occupancy is then issued?


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