In the Assembly: Woden pools inquiry, Integrity Commission backed, Emerson goes tieless

Woden pools

The issue of swimming pools in the Woden district will be investigated by an Assembly committee after an amended motion from new Murrumbidgee MLA Fiona Carrick was carried unanimously on Tuesday.

The motion called on the government to provide the planning rationale for a smaller pool in Woden and explain why the 25-metre Batemans Bay pool was used as a benchmark when the population of the Woden Town Centre far exceeded that of the south coast town.

The government will also have to detail the funding and operating model for the proposed Geocon Aquatic Centre, including management and maintenance.

The comments period on the Geocon DA is set to be extended to four weeks after this information is received.

The government will also provide a list of other sites that have been identified in central Woden that are suitable for an aquatic centre, including a 50-metre pool.

Ms Carrick had originally called for the Geocon DA to be referred to a committee, but it will be independently assessed by the Territory Planning Authority.

The government will need to report back to the Assembly by the first sitting week in 2025.

Mr Carrick’s advocacy for community facilities in the Woden Town Centre, including a 50-metre pool, was a key part of her election campaign.

Integrity Commission funding

The ACT Integrity Commission can look forward to a possible boost in funding after the Legislative Assembly unanimously supported a motion from Opposition Leader Leanne Castley.

The motion, amended by Chief Minister Andrew Barr, called on the ACT Government to sufficiently fund the Integrity Commission so it can perform its work in a timely manner and for extra funding to defend legal actions brought against it as a result of its investigations and reports.

It called for the tabling of the government’s response to the Integrity Commission’s budget submission as part of the ACT Budget and for the government to omit tabling a formal response to any recommendations of the Integrity Commission, including those made in its annual report.

Ms Castley’s motion went to concerns about the slow pace of the Commission’s work due to a lack of resources and the drain on its budget when its work generates legal action from those it is investigating.

Mr Barr’s amendments were mainly procedural to reflect official budget processes.

Emerson won’t be tied down by Speaker

New Kurrajong MLA Thomas Emerson’s decision not to wear a tie in the chamber ruffled Speaker Mark Parton’s feathers, but not enough to prevent Mr Emerson from taking his seat.

Mr Parton raised the matter in the chamber, expressing his disappointment at Mr Emerson’s decision not to wear a tie.

He told members that convention and practice had meant every male member in the Assembly place since its inception in 1989 to wear a suit and tie, which he believed showed respect for the parliament and the constituents.

“I don’t wish to be the presiding officer of this place at a time when the dress standards dramatically decline,” he said.

“But I also don’t wish to make a ruling as a speaker that a member cannot participate in proceedings.”

In a clear swipe at Mr Emerson, Mr Parton asked members, “Are you bigger than the function, or is the function bigger than you?”

To which Mr Emerson replied at the end of the day in 90-second member statements, “Far from seeing myself as somehow bigger than this Assembly as implied earlier today, my hope is that this Assembly can be bigger than issues of attire”.

But Mr Emerson won’t be sitting in the Speaker’s chair any time soon as Mr Parton drew a line at anybody doing so without a tie.

The Assembly does not have a dress code and takes its cue from the Federal Parliament, which leaves it in the hands of individual members and senators, as well as the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate.

Mr Emerson’s former boss, Senator David Pocock, does not wear a tie.