Page 4703 - Week 12 - Thursday, 1 November 2018
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While the opposition is largely in support of the new 6A making the definitions of “land” and “land acquisition” more precise, we are putting forward this amendment that seeks to include easements as reportable acquisitions under the act. We have proposed for the type and nature of easements to be reported under the act to be determined through regulation so as not to capture those which are relatively minor or inconsequential. This ties in with our previous amendment allowing the reportable quarter for easements to commence on 1 July 2019.
This means that not every single easement will need to be reported but only ones that the minister determines by regulation are significant. For instance, if there were a massive easement through a rural block that went for a considerable distance, very large, or one that went through a very valuable block that was very extensive, those ones would be reported if the regulation were such that it was met. But for very minor easements there would be no need to report.
Amendment agreed to.
New part 6 (incorporating new clause 15) agreed to.
Remainder of bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Advanced Technology and Space Industries) (5.36), by leave: I move amendments Nos 22 to 26 circulated in my name together [see schedule 1 at page 4717].
Amendments agreed to.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (5.36): This bill was one of the six integrity measures I outlined in my budget reply speech last year and I am very pleased that this is now going to be passed. We introduced the bill in its first iteration, the Lands Acquisition (Reporting Requirements) Amendment Bill 2018, during the first sitting week of 2018 and after discussions we brought forward the Government Agencies (Land Acquisition Reporting) Bill 2018. Since then it has been the subject of much discussion and negotiation behind the scenes, particularly over the past few weeks. We delayed debate in September and again last week but we are happy that all parties have worked together to come to an agreement on this important piece of legislation.
While the end result looks somewhat different from the original bill I believe it still achieves its aims and fulfils the commitment I made in my speech last year about bringing greater integrity to and comprehensive reporting on government land acquisitions. We believe that transparency, accountability and rigour are necessary for all government acquisitions, and this bill has enshrined these principles in legislation for the first time in the ACT. We have seen too many secret deals where the purpose of the acquisition has been unclear, the compensation paid has been unknown or there has simply been a lack of documentation and due process. The Auditor-General has
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