Page 3237 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 23 August 2017

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MR BARR: The planning system would require additional measures associated with environmental impact statements and the like. We have a three-track development assessment system—either code, merit or impact—and in this context this proposal certainly would not be a code-compliant development application and would automatically trigger further levels of community engagement and various additional levels of oversight.

I think, to the credit of the proponents, they are holding a series of pre-DA consultations. In the context of this debate in this city, I do not think that they can do much more than consult prior to lodging a development application. I guess they could consult on the consultation to the consultation to the consultation prior to considering consulting with the community in relation to whether they would lodge a development application. But I think they are doing pretty well; they have been very public, in the first instance, about intending to lodge a development application, consulting prior to lodging the development application and then consulting during the development application assessment process—some of which is statutory, required by the government, and otherwise what the proponents themselves would do in order to ensure that the full range of views were heard.

But, as I said, I do not think that this is a project that will achieve a consensus. There will remain people who will be opposed until they draw their last breath. There are also people who are very supportive of waste to energy technologies.

Higher education—economic benefits

MS CODY: My question is to the Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research. Minister, how do international education exports benefit the territory’s economy?

MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Ms Cody for her question and for her excellent ongoing interest in this area. I am very pleased to inform the Assembly that of the nearly $3 billion per annum in the higher education and research sector value added into Canberra’s economy, $579 million last year came from international education exports—

Mr Hanson interjecting—

Mr Barr interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Could the conversation stop across the chamber. That would be you, Chief Minister and Mr Hanson. Ms Fitzharris, you have the floor.

MS FITZHARRIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I welcome your assistance. This was an increase of 21 per cent from last year’s international education exports. There are 14,000 international students currently studying in Canberra and growth in international numbers has ranged between seven and 13 per cent in recent years.


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