Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hanson-Young for the question, and I note she has asked me a series of questions on this at estimates as well. I undertook, following that exchange, to make further inquiries and to go and visit Lee Point, in the Northern Territory, which I have done. I understand that the shareholders have written to the chairperson of Defence Housing Australia, reminding the board about our expectations in relation to activities at the Lee Point development.

We understand and I am advised that it wasn't to do with conditions of the Commonwealth EPBC Act. They have complied with the EPBC Act at every stage of the development; however, there was an issue, I think, with the Northern Territory department's planning conditions for stage 3. That is the one where, whilst the contractor was asked not to start clearing that area, clearing commenced. Work was stopped, and DHA has appointed an external investigator to examine the shortfalls in its own processes and really how that happened on the approvals that were actually, I think, a matter for the Northern Territory government.

I did go out and visit the site, and I walked around the site. Obviously, there is a lot of housing development up to the point where DHA's development is going ahead, so it is an area where there is already housing development. I would also say that I asked a number of stakeholders in the Northern Territory about that development. There is also a lot of support for this development because of the housing shortage in the NT and the need to expand the supply of housing. So I accept that there's controversy in some areas, but there's also some significant support. (Time expired)