Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

That opportunity was never made available to the committee. In light of the roundtable, the committee is left with the only process to recommend to the minister that those refinements be made, hence we are recommending that the minister move disallowance. That is quite specific. I believe the only way that we would support a disallowance is if the minister moved it. I say that because I do not believe it is in the interests of the ACT that as a party or as a Senate we start to arbitrate on issues of planning. Yes, it is always political. It should not be as political as it is. I am firmly of the view—and I know the government does not share this view—that these matters should be an issue more for the democratically elected ACT government and the ACT planning authorities. But, that said, I have never advocated the view that the Senate ought to be the arbitrator on the specificity of planning amendments and requirements for the ACT.

I am not a planner. It is not my profession. I am very comfortable with my position in advising the government on the suitability of these amendments, based on feedback we get from professionals and stakeholders in the community who have a view. That is why, as I said, we are asking the minister to move disallowance. In that way, he would be able to show good faith that he is prepared to take the constructive advice of this committee.

Let me restate our position. The committee broadly supports the Griffin Legacy amendments. They are supported by, obviously, the coalition government. They are supported by the democratically elected ACT government. But there are improvements that could be made. So I urge the minister to take this action. I will not be supporting a disallowance motion unless it does come from the minister, for the purposes of permitting the minister to make those refinements and hopefully get along with the process. I am gravely disappointed in the National Capital Authority for once again failing in their duty to do the best they possibly can with their consultation obligations under the National Capital Plan and act.

Question agreed to.