The ACT Government agreed yesterday to an inquiry into what was described in the Legislative Assembly as a development with “”a smell” involving departmental and developer “”mates”.
The allegations about a proposed development in Torrens Street, Braddon, by Bobundra Pty Ltd and the ACT Housing Trust were put by Independent MLA Michael Moore. The Minister for Environment, Land and Planning, Bill Wood, said there had to be an inquiry to give an opportunity to those individuals named by Mr Moore to clear their names.
Mr Wood said he did not want to pre-empt the inquiry, but he was confident it would show the integrity of the system.
Mr Moore told the Assembly: “”Peter Phillips, the chair of the ACT Electricity and Water is one of the developers. Peter Phillips who worked as a staffer in the Hawke Ministry. His relationship with the Department sq(of Environment, Land and Planning) as a whole, his ability to move in government circles and to understand government processes, his close relationship with Jeff Townsend sq(the secretary of the department) and sq(lobbyist) Paul Whalan, who also workers as staffers in the Hawke ministry, can be clarified by visiting the drinking hole as Kingston on the appropriate evenings. . . .
“”Departmental representatives have to ensure that they are appropriately distanced from people who are representing the interests of big business.”
The issue was windfall gains from change in land use, as distinct from profit from building.
He attacked the methods of the department.
“”It is because of the “mates’ that there was an initial use of Section 7(3)(c) Part II of the Land, Planning and Environment Act which provided for consideration of the change of lease purpose to be done concurrently with the design and siting proposals without ever having the design and siting proposal put before this Assembly,” he said. “”. . . There is a need to remove the smell associated with this development.”
He attacked the methods of Mr Townsend and Mr Wood for what he said was marginalising and insulting community groups and abusing their power in doing so.
Mr Moore drew a strong response from both sides of the House.
Mr Wood said Mr Moore was attacking individuals with no evidence.
“”All his evidence is that three or four people who occasionally drink together,” Mr Wood said. “”That is the evidence he presents to this Assembly to malign people.”
Mr Moore had used concerns about design and siting of the development to disguise spurious aspersions on people. He said Mr Townsend had acted to ensure integrity in the department. Discussions were always on the basis of what was best for the people of Canberra.
Tony de Domenico (Lib) said Mr Moore should have gone to the Minister or the Government if he had any evidence. He was sure that Government would have dealt with it. Mr Moore could have gone to the police.
Mr Moore’s conduct would result in good people thinking twice about taking positions on government boards and their valuable services would be lost.
He was not so concerned about the named individuals who were big enough to look after themselves, but he was concerned about their families and the effect on their acquaintances.
Mr de Domenico said the members of the planning committee had all been aware of Mr Phillips’s involvement, and because of it had scrutinised it closer and had found it to fit the law and guidelines so had approved it.
Mr Wood said there was no connection between ACTEW and the development. There was no need for Mr Phillips to declare an interest, but he had none the less been quite open with his involvement.
Mr Moore said it was appropriate for a lobbyist like Mr Whalan to have good relationships with government and appropriate for him to engender a positive working relationship with government.
He said that the chair of the planning committee, David Lamont, should assess his role with the “”mates”. He later clarified that saying he did not want to suggest Mr Lamont had done anything wrong.
Mr Lamont said sarcastically, “”In relation to “mates’, I do apologise.”
He listed half a dozen people who “”I’ve had a few beers with at the Hotel Kingston”, including journalists from The Canberra Times, Mr de Domenico and Trevor Kaine.
“”If that’s an offence, then show me where,” he said. “”And I’ll stop. But it would be hard to give up my beers at the Kingo.”
He said Mr Moore had never raised the matter with him or other members of the planning committee, yet he had used privilege to make accusations about “”mates”.
“”I would suggest that you have not done your credibility one ounce of good today,” he said.
Trevor Kaine (Lib) said that Mr Moore had sought a level playing field with development ideas. That was silly. No developer would put up ideas if he had to compete with everyone else to execute his own idea.
The inquiry is to report by the first sitting day in June. Mr Wood will chose who heads it, but not someone from the ACT Administration.
It will examine “”difficulties identified with the development of Section 22, Braddon and consider how the consultation process for similar developments can be improved.