Page 1746 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 May 2017

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


Amendment agreed to.

Schedule 1, amendment 1.9, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule 1, amendments 1.10 to 1.16, by leave, taken together and agreed to.

Remainder of bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (5.57), by leave: I move amendments Nos 12 to 14 circulated in my name together [see schedule 3 at page 1776]. All these amendments do is add to the dictionary some of the new concepts which we have identified in the previous amendments. You can regard them as consequential amendments.

MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (5.57): I thank Ms Le Couteur for moving these amendments. The government will support them and, as I think it will be my last chance to speak on the bill, can I thank members for engaging in the detail stage. We have obviously considered a significant number of amendments and, I think, arrived at a piece of legislation that will serve the territory well. I thank Ms Le Couteur, Mr Rattenbury and their teams for their hard work in working with the Labor Party to deliver this legislation and I thank Mr Coe and his colleagues for their engagement. That we were able to support a few of their amendments is a sign that members in this place can work constructively together for the benefit of the territory.

Amendments agreed to.

MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (5.59): In conclusion, the Canberra Liberals are not at all happy with where we have arrived at. Whilst the bill has been marginally improved, I am not confident that the CRA or the SLA has governance arrangements in place that will actually fix the problems that have troubled the LDA. I am very concerned there are still going to be significant procurement problems, there are still going to be transparency issues, there are still going to be conflicts with board members and staff, and I think there are going to be more questionable deals. The Labor Party and the Greens had an opportunity to tighten up this legislation, but they chose to give the LDA’s successors free rein as to how they operate. Therefore, the inevitable problems with these agencies will be their responsibility.

MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (6.00): I think this has been an example of the Assembly working well together. All parties have contributed to the result, which I think is better than the first. I guess, as Mr Coe says, it is not perfect. I imagine that in the future we will come back to fix some of its imperfections, but I am very pleased that it will be better than its predecessor and that it is addressing affordable housing, public housing and environmental issues and that the governance arrangements have been improved.

Remainder of bill as a whole, as amended, agreed to.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video