Review of Supermarket Competition Policy

The ACT Government has appointed formed ACCC Commissioner John Martin to review supermaket competition policy in the ACT. The terms of references for the review are:

• the extent of competition in the ACT supermarket grocery sector in the light of the findings of the 2008 ACCC Inquiry into the competitiveness of retail prices for standard groceries;
• likely future trends in the structure of the ACT and Australian supermarket grocery sector;
• how the ACT Government can support effective and sustainable competition in the grocery sector;
• policies that might be applied on a site by site basis to ensure site allocation supports the ACT Government’s longer term policy objectives to promote competition and diversification; and
• any other additional measures that might be considered by the ACT Government to support a diverse and competitive retail grocery sector over the medium to longer term.

It’s critical we have healthy competition in the supermaket sector here in Canberra, with room for majors, independents and locally run stores.

There will be a series of community consultations on the review next week at the following locations:

• Tuggeranong
  Date: 13 July 2009
  Time: 12.30–2.30 pm
  Venue: The Vikings Town Centre
  Cnr Athlon Drive & Rowland Rees Crescent Greenway ACT 2900
• Woden
  Date: 13 July 2009
  Time: 6.30–8.30 pm
  Venue: Canberra Southern Cross Club
  92–96 Corinna Street Woden ACT 2606
• Gungahlin
  Date: 14 July 2009
  Time: 12.30–2.30 pm
  Venue: Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club
  Cnr Gungahlin Drive & Gundaroo Road Nicholls ACT 2913
  
• Belconnen
  Date: 14 July 2009
  Time: 6.30–8.30 pm
  Venue: West Belconnen Leagues Club
  Hardwick Crescent Kippax ACT 2615
• Civic
  Date: 16 July 2009
  Time: 5–7 pm
  Venue: The ACT Legislative Assembly Building
  London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601

Written submissions will also be accepted up to Friday 24 July. The email address for these and to RSVP for the public forums is supermarketreview@act.gov.au

Race for 12th A-League Team hots up

You’ve got to love the attitudinal arrogance of Sydney towards the 12th A-League team. “Unbackable choice” screamed the SMH last week of western Sydney’s chances of picking up the 12th spot from the 10/11 season on. But you get the sense they’re a little nervous of Canberra’s bid. And so they should be.

Ivan Slavich is leading the way in pushing hard for a Canberra A-League team:

“We’ve demonstrated to the FFA that there is support for football in the region, we’ve got the financial backing and we’ve got strong support from the local government, so we’ve got all the criteria covered,” he said

“Our distinct preference is to be included for the 2010-11 season, and the concern I have is that if we don’t get admitted, there will be a consolidation period and no more expansion for a few years.

“That would leave the 700,000 people in our area without a team to support. That would be a great opportunity lost for the sport and for Canberra. And let’s not forget there’s already a team in Sydney.”

The decision keeps being pushed back. Latest word in the CT today is that the decision will be made in July, only giving the 12th team 13 months to prepare.

The Canberra A-League bid site can he found at A-League4Canberra.com.au.

Local ICT Market gets the wobbles

It’s a tough time in the Canberra ICT market at the moment. Darwin-based CSG is one of many organisations to shed local jobs over the past couple of months. CSG acquired the Commander/Volante business a while back and have struggled to retain existing federal government contracts such as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF), which has been awarded to EDS.

This along with other “downsizing”, the euphemistically named “right-sizing”, and the Gershon Review into federal ICT spending, has meant the ICT jobs market has freed up remarkably over the past 6 months. Whereas before people were effectively able to name their salary, it’s now much tougher to get a good gig in a quality organisation.

In the private sector, it is those companies that have long term strategic plans, a focus on customer outcomes and the ability to provide flexible working conditions that are managing their way through the downturn and still attracting quality people. It’s something we should be encouraging across government and business alike.

Labor-Greens Agreement Signed

The Labor – Greens Agreement signed on Friday signals a number of fundamental changes to the governance of the ACT.

The tone of the document is positive in the main and it will be interesting to see how some of the proposals translate.

One of the most significant is the proposal to develop “oversight institutions as an emerging fourth branch of government”. The role of the Legislative Assembly Committees are to be expanded with the Committees having both a traditional scrutiny role and a new collaboration role with the Executive, engaging on “legislative reform, policy setting and service delivery”. Committees will meet in two modes – Collaborative Meetings and Scrutiny Meetings. The increased engagement of elected representatives across the party spectrum could have very positive outcomes, however the danger is that the responsiveness of government will be slowed by the increased need for meetings and dialogue.

Greens’ MLAs will become Chairs of the following Committees:

* Public Accounts
* Health, Community and Social Services
* Climate Change, Environment and Water
* Select Committee on Ecological Carrying Capacity for the ACT and region

So while the Greens have not become part of the Government by taking on a Ministry, they will have a say in the policy direction of the health and environment areas (given the addition of the collaborative modes of the Committees) and in public governance and probity through the Public Accounts Committee.

There has been criticism of the Greens that they have an “all care and no responsibility” approach and it will be fascinating to watch how they balance their input into policy outcomes with their desire to maintain and strengthen their electoral position in the future.

One other point to highlight is the introduction of Triple Bottom Line reporting. The “People, Planet, Profit” approach to accountability and sustainability will, I assume, attempt to measure social capital, natural capital and fiscal outcomes.

Will we be able to put Triple Bottom Line reporting into practice without it being merely lip service layered with bureaucracy? I’m not convinced anyone yet understands the implications of the approach. There are obvious benefits from understanding the social and environmental impacts of each piece of legislation or policy proposal, but as always, good outcomes are only achieved when lofty ideals are translated into crystal clear realities.

Thank you!

I would like to thank the people of Molonglo for their support at the election on Saturday.

The one clear thing that shone through the campaign was the people of Canberra. With diverse backgrounds, clever ideas, real concerns and genuine interest, they responded in ways that I found humbling, and at times astonishing.

And the bottom line is that people want to engaged. They care about their communities, their environment, their social and economic outcomes, and who represents them.

I look forward to continuing to work with the community, to getting things done for people, and to helping deliver on the promise held in our unique city-state.

Campaign Art

You’ve got to laugh. The winner of the 2008 Election Art competition is:

Support for Retirement Village Code of Conduct

Welcome news today from the Chief Minister Jon Stanhope that a re-elected ACT Labor Government will legislate a Code of Conduct for retirement villages in the ACT.

This announcement builds on the work done by ACT Labor MLA Mary Porter in consulting with the community on the needs of residents, owners and operators.

It’s crucial that with our ageing population, the financial and social interests of all those involved are well understood, clearly documented and observed.

The code of conduct will help build a legal platform for the future, and compliments the ACT Labor Government’s strategies for the provision of affordable housing options for older Canberrans.

Since ACT Labor came to Government in 2001, 900 aged care beds have either been delivered, or are under design or construction.

Responding to queries

I recently received a couple of queries from a Canberra Times journalist, asking my views on civil unions, public art funding and the arboretum. Here’s my response:

Civil Unions

I absolutely support the inherent equality within the Civil Unions legislation. I don’t believe we should discriminate on the basis of sexual preference. People in same sex relationships should have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples and I therefore fully support Civil Unions in the ACT.

Public Art Funding

Government has a responsibility to provide not only fundamental services such as health, education, housing and transport, but to also support the nurturing and awareness of art and culture. The funding of public art is one way of achieving this, and by taking art to places where people travel, shop, gather or live, I believe we are enhancing the “civility” of our city.

There will always be people who dislike a particular artwork, or even the concept of spending any funds on public art. But if we responsibly fund public art, I believe we are on the whole enhancing Canberrans’ quality of life.

Arboretum

As I campaign around Canberra, so many people say to me: “Please work to preserve our green spaces; our bush capital. Make sure we don’t become like any other concrete city”. I believe the arboretum helps fulfil this wish.

As with Lake Burley Griffin, our children will not say: “Why did they spend money on that?” They will say: “Thank goodness they had the foresight to create something that makes Canberra an even better place to live”.

Watson traffic issues

I was approached last week by a Watson resident about traffic issues in the Cullen Street area. She asked if I could investigate the development of traffic calming measures in Cullen Street as cars and bikes have been speeding, going to and from the foothills of Mt Majura.

I’ve since had further correspondence from residents saying trail bikes are a real issue in the area, with some bikes without mufflers or registration.

There are plenty of kids in the area, with toddlers using the footpaths in reserves to practice on their bicycles. Not a good mix with the trail bikes.

I’ve written to Territory and Municipal Services Minister John Hargreaves and he has Roads ACT looking into the traffic calming measures.

Meanwhile, I would urge all residents to contact Crime Stoppers to report illegal trail bike activity. Crime Stoppers compile a dossier and set traps for illegal trail bike riding and they rely on the information from the public to assist them.

Crime Stopper details are:

Ph: 1800 333 000
www.act.crimestoppers.com.au

Map of Cullen Street Watson and surrounding area

Gungahlin Planning Study

Planning Minister Andrew Barr has launched a study of Gungahlin’s future requirements for the supply of commercial and community land.

Calling for community input, Mr Barr said the ACT Government has invested $200,000 in the study which will “focus on the long-term commercial and community land supply for Gungahlin Town Centre, the character of future development in the town centre and its interpretation with existing development.”

Both the ACT Government and the Gungahlin Community Council (GCC) see the opportunity to increase employment opportunities as a key outcome from the study.

Initial general reaction has been positive. President of the Gungahlin Community Council, Alan Kerlin, posted the map above on the GCC website, providing the following comments:

• Our general impression is that it is great to see some planners working on this project who are as passionate about “saving the town centre” as we are.
• We feel that the more intense commercial use could extend into the areas shown as lighter blue (lower density) to th south, as there would be no residential impacts, and more intense equals more jobs.
• The “gateway” treatment of the top end of Hibberson Street will be critical to get right, as only “destination traffic” should proceed into the town centre. “Through traffic” should be diverted around the centre down either of the Valley Way or Anthony Rolfe Drive. Hibberson Street must be a “high friction” thoroughfare (something like Childers Street at ANU) to aid this discouragement of traffic.
• A similar gateway will be needed at the Ginn Street western end of the town centre to discourage morning commuters from going through the centre.
• There will need to be careful controls via the precinct plan on the development of the C5 zone “Mixed Use” development framing the town centre to prevent more of the Anthony Rolfe Drive kind of 3-storey-townhouse-with-shop effect.
• The business park areas should borrow design hints from Brindabella Park, with setbacks rather than built-to-boundary and greenspaces in order to ensure a highly attractive office environment.
• The transition from offices to the existing surrounding residential areas will have to be carefully controlled.

There is a strong general level of engagement between the ACT Government and the GCC, with genuine dialogue and comprehension of the complex issues that the community faces.

The Gungahlin Planning Study is another step in continuing that engagement and focusing on the achievement of positive outcomes for the residents of Gungahlin.