An inquiry into a North Canberra development was condemned by the Canberra Conservation Council yesterday after the inquirer rejected all of the submissions to it by the council.
The inquiry was set up by the ACT Legislative Assembly into difficulties identified with the redevelopment of Section 22, Torrens Street, Braddon.
The council put 21 points to the inquirer, former Administrative Appeals Tribunal member Robert Todd. He rejected them all saying they did not identify difficulties, but asked a wide range of questions.
The president of the council, Jacqui Rees, said the 21 points covered the major concerns put to her council.
The problem was “”the castration of the terms of reference in the Assembly by a combined Liberal-Labor ploy”.
“”What we have is an inquiry that is apparently not protected by privilege, that has very limited powers of investigation, virtually no powers of cross-examination, no powers to ensure Mr Todd has all relevant information placed before him and no power to subpoena,” she said.
The inquiry was being fast tracked with ridiculously short periods for submissions and reporting.
The council remained concerned “”there has been no favouritism in this matter” and about the lack of adequate procedures and due process, the adverse affect on adjoining householders and whether it was appropriate for Federal Better Cities funding to be spent.
“”We still hope that within the awful confines of his inquiry Mr Todd will be able to clear up some of these concerns,” she said.