Page 4085 - Week 11 - Thursday, 21 September 2017
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The amendment that I have moved to Minister Rattenbury’s motion calls on the federal government to guarantee that any change of use of these significant assets will ensure that the heritage values of the East and West Block buildings are protected and maintained into the future, to protect and promote public access, in keeping with the spirit and intention of the parliamentary precinct, and, importantly, to deliver value for money for Australian taxpayers and avoid repeating past experiences with the sale and leaseback of commonwealth building assets.
My amendment notes that the ACT government will seek more clarity from the federal government on the processes and safeguards associated with the sale process; that we will seek to take an active role in discussions about the future use of these heritage buildings to the full extent of the ACT’s powers and jurisdiction; and that we will work with the federal government to explore alternatives to the outright sale of these assets, including long-term leasing arrangements. I think this amendment reflects a sensible and practical way forward. I note the commonwealth’s clear intent in relation to the buildings, but I believe that there is a way forward here that can achieve the outcomes that I have outlined this morning.
I particularly acknowledge and thank Minister Rattenbury for bringing this matter to the Assembly today. I think it is something that this place should debate and should have a view on, and I will be interested in hearing from other members in this debate their views on how the ACT government should approach our discussions with the commonwealth on this matter. I have heard very clearly from Minister Rattenbury about the Greens’ approach. I have now outlined ACT Labor’s approach. I look forward to hearing from those opposite their views on this particular matter. I commend my amendment to the Assembly.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (11.56): It is another sitting week and therefore we see another federal issue brought up by the Labor-Greens government, by Minister Rattenbury. We firmly believe that this is an issue for the commonwealth parliament. It is another example of a minister in this Greens-Labor government attempting to use their position in the executive for their personal political gain. This motion is not about the welfare or the rights of Canberrans. Like numerous other motions by the Labor-Greens MLAs, it is about grandstanding on federal issues rather than actually progressing a cause for the benefit of ACT people.
Every sitting week we seem to have another motion on issues outside the control of the ACT government or the ACT Assembly, while ignoring so many problems facing Canberrans every day. The proof of this is simple and stark. Yesterday we had private members’ day, and we had motions including the plight of Mitchell traders and the potential lack of a light rail station in Mitchell, an issue that is going to affect hundreds of local businesses. We had one about cladding at the Centenary Hospital, another issue that can affect many Canberra families.
We had a motion on the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm, which will affect the health and livelihood of many of our Indigenous Canberrans. And we had one on municipal services, and another on inclusion from those opposite. These are all very valid
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