By Michael Moore
SHOULD the people of Australia hand over the National Capital Planning interest to the ACT Government? 
With one planning body rather than two there are efficiencies to be made. However, it’s hard to imagine the National Capital Authority making such planning blunders with regard to proper access for the people of Gungahlin as the ACT Government has made:  Observe the ludicrous single-lane Gungahlin Drive Extension or the failure to upgrade Majura Lane past the airport.
On the other hand, the NCA has not had the influence to bring national departments to Gungahlin, as happened when Ros Kelly was a minister. At that time, what is now the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs went to Tuggeranong.  The more Federal Government workers that are based in a town centre, the better for the environment, traffic and the workers.
The Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories conducted an inquiry into the role of the NCA and has released its report called “The Way Forward”.  The report made 22 recommendations, primarily covering changes to administrative arrangements and the relationship with the ACT. However, the committee has not called on the Government to reverse the deep financial cuts that the new Federal Labor Government has inflicted – deeper than any other area of government.
Inquiry chair Senator Kate Lundy admits the Government’s funding cuts went too far. Considering her record of constant attacks on the NCA – especially in the lead up to the Federal election – it should have been no surprise to Lundy that the cuts did go so deep. She must wear some of the responsibility for severity of the slashing that has had such a significant impact on the ability of the NCA to carry out its vital functions. 
The chairman of the NCA, Michael Ball, says the report confirms the attack on the NCA was unnecessary. 
“The tragedy of what’s happened, that is the cart before the horse, that everybody now realises was a massive mistake, ... is two fold,” he said.  “First, there is the human tragedy of people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own and, secondly, from the nation’s point of view was the loss of decades of experience.”
Former NCA chief Annabelle Pegrum, who resigned in May, had the good grace to compliment the Parliamentary Report, which, she said, supported overarching role of the Federal Government in strategic planning.
In May this year, Senator Lundy was gloating on an audit report into the NCA when she told ABC Radio News that the audit confirms her previous criticisms of the NCA.
“Remember the political argument that has been pitched up by the NCA recently, it’s been the cuts that had prevented them from doing all those extras, but now we know that basics were never covered off,” she said.
“That’s really a grave indictment as much of the former minister for territories under the former Howard Government as it is of the NCA.”
Amongst the recommendations, the report calls for some of the NCA’s funding to be reinstated to ensure Canberra’s attractions are maintained. 
Contrary to a number of media reports, the committee did not make specific recommendations about the National Carillon and Blundell’s Cottage.  Instead it chose to “urge” the Government that the NCA receive appropriate funding for:
• The National Carillon
• Blundell’s Cottage
• The National Capital Exhibition; and
• The National Capital Authority’s contribution to Australia Day in the National Capital which includes Australia Day Live.
The committee also suggested the upgrade of Constitution Avenue go ahead.
This is a case of wanting it both ways.  On the one hand, go in with a slash and burn and, on the other hand, try to save face by appearing to back down on what might be seen as the politically sensitive issues.
It is vital that Canberra be planned, protected and nurtured on behalf of the entire country. As the National Capital, it provides the centre of national government and the home for national monuments. The danger of more control in the hands of any ACT Government is that the planning becomes more vulnerable to being swayed by vested interests. 
In wrestling with this issue, the approach recommended by the committee is to establish a consultative body chaired jointly by the Federal Territories Minister (currently Bob Debus) and the ACT Chief Minister (currently Jon Stanhope). 
The committee believes that this approach has the potential to provide better outcomes for the people of the ACT and for all Australians – but I would not hold my breath.

Michael Moore is a former independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and minister for health.