Page 2230 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020

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four years, when I have been the planning minister, has been a better planning system and a future that Canberrans can be proud of as we look for opportunities for planning into the future. Of course, the planning review is in process now, and that will be completed next year.

MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, is the lack of real action, as distinct from a planning review or a statement of intent, due to the ALP not wishing to upset the development lobby?

MR GENTLEMAN: No.

MR COE: Minister, is the planning system in need of reform, according to the government?

MR GENTLEMAN: The planning system is being reviewed. It is a learning process as we go through. We understand that Canberrans want to live, and we want to provide choices for Canberrans into the future. That is why we have supported the current statement of intent for opportunities for people to live in single residential and multi-unit developments, close to parks and transport corridors. It is about choice. That is what the government has put forward, and Canberrans are enjoying those choices.

Land—valuations

Members interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Members, I will call for questions without notice, not comments from the floor.

MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. Minister, you have previously indicated that the basis for the high pricing and low sales rates of residential land is that it must be sold at or above valuation. Can the minister point to any SLA or other government documentation that directly and unambiguously says that sale prices achieved must be at or above valuation?

MS BERRY: It is actually the planning minister that is responsible for the pricing of land. It is in his portfolio area. The valuation process within the SLA is making sure that the price of land reflects the market that exists in the ACT before a piece of land can be sold. That is the case for all sales of land in the ACT, including private developers like Denman Prospect, to consider the market before they can put the land—

Mr Parton: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, I do not think the minister is being relevant to the question. The question was very, very clear: can the minister point to any SLA or other government documentation that directly and unambiguously says that sale prices achieved must be at or above valuation? That is the question.


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