Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Lucy Bladen

Greens motion revives split in government parties on Gungahlin land sales

The Gungahlin town centre. Picture: ACTMapi

Labor and the Greens are still negotiating on the future of land sales in Gungahlin, ahead of a vote in the ACT parliament this week.

The Greens-backed motion, which revealed a split in the territory's coalition partnership, is due to be debated on Wednesday after it was adjourned during last sitting week.

The motion put forward by Greens backbencher Andrew Braddock called on the ACT government to halt all land sales in the Gungahlin town centre until a planning review is completed.

But Labor would not support the motion, as the party believed it went against the government's policy of urban infill and a commitment to build more affordable housing.

The Liberals were going to vote in favour of the motion, which meant it would have passed.

However, a vote on the motion was controversially deferred, after Planning Minister Mick Gentleman called for adjournment citing a possible conflict of interest with the Assembly's planning committee.

Labor and the Greens have been locked in discussions over the past three weeks about an amended motion. It is expected the motion will be finalised on Tuesday.

ACT Greens backbencher Andrew Braddock introduced a motion calling for land sales in Gungahlin to be halted. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Mr Braddock said he wanted the motion to deliver better social outcomes.

"The ACT Greens went to the election on a strong platform of building a better normal," he said.

"This motion is to ensure we have better planning planning for Gungahlin and are not continuing with business as usual.

"It's about delivering better planning outcomes, and therefore better social outcomes, for the community by listening to what they want for their town centre."

The motion's deferral caused a fiery debate on the Assembly floor after the Greens sided with Labor to defer the vote.

The Canberra Liberals accused Labor and the Greens of "making a mockery" of the territory's parliament.

"There is no reason that this matter should be adjourned with Labor and the Greens using numbers in the chamber to vote to protect their own political interests," ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said at the time.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.