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1. What was proposedLaura NuttallGreens · Crossbench
   Read the original wording (510 words)

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) Richardson Shops has been left derelict since May 2019 and the last tenant vacated in 2022; (b) two petitions have previously been tabled in the Assembly collectively garnering 1,205 signatures—by Ms Lawder in November 2022, and in May 2024 by Ms Burch with Principal Petitioner and now Member Ms Tough MLA; (c) despite two petitions, the shops have remained vacant contrary to significant community interest and current government policy settings; and (d) under Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023, failing to use land for a continuous period of at least one year for the purpose for which the lease over the land is granted constitutes an offence; (2) further notes that: (a) a survey undertaken by the office of Miss Nuttall MLA with 203 respondents from the area found that 95 percent of respondents favoured the shops being redeveloped; and (b) the following percentage of respondents favoured the following uses for the site: (i) 82 percent: commercial property; (ii) 38 percent: community group centres; (iii) 37 percent: community services; and (iv) 35 percent: shop-top housing; (3) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) negotiate with the owner to ensure appropriate use of the Richardson Shops site aligned with community desires by 31 December 2025; (b) investigate why the shops were left empty for three years and how similar situations could be avoided; (c) review the process for offering crown leases and consider whether it be mandatory to include a withdrawal clause to safeguard against properties left vacant for a year or more; (d) investigate policy changes to effectively disincentivise leaving commercial properties vacant contrary to community interest, such as: (i) stronger enforcement of existing compliance mechanisms (such as Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023); (ii) an additional levy on vacant retail properties; (iii) provision to add withdrawal clauses to crown leases should they be left vacant for more than one year; (iv) provision of subsidised community space; and (v) other changes to the Planning Act to disincentivise shop squatting; (e) by the last sitting week of 2025 and quarterly thereafter until a tenant has been found, provide a report to the Assembly on the following elements: (i) identify which policy changes have been implemented and provide timelines for policy changes which are intended to take place; (ii) verify whether Richardson Shops has—or will shortly have—a tenant that meets community need; and (iii) if a tenant has not been found, action to enforce compliance with Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023; and (4) calls on the owners of the Richardson Shops site to: (a) proactively and constructively engage with the local Richardson community on the community need for the Richardson Shops site; (b) work collaboratively with the ACT Government to find a solution that prioritises the Richardson community’s vision for the site; and (c) comply with Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023 and arrange for the site to be used in line with the lease purpose clause and community expectations as soon as possible but by no later than 31 December 2025. Debate ensued.

2. Proposed changeCaitlin ToughLabor · Government backbench24 June 2025

   Grouped by key words as: rewrote the proposal, changed a date or deadline, added reporting or consultation, turned an action into a review.

   The exact wording of this change

   together: 1. After paragraph (1)(d), insert new paragraphs: “(e) the site is zoned CZ4 – Local Centre Zone in the Territory Plan 2023, permissible land use under the current Commercial Zones Policy within the CZ4 zone includes: an animal care facility, bulky good retailing, business agency, café, community activity centre, craft workshop, drink establishment, early childhood education and care, health facility, indoor entertainment facility, multi-unit housing, office, produce market, restaurant, shop, take- away food shop, veterinary clinic and veterinary hospital; (f) there are three undeveloped and unleased ACT Government sites adjacent to the Richardson Shops site; and (g) in 2020 the ACT Government opened a new playground next to the Richardson Shops;”. 2. Omit all text after paragraph (3)(b), substitute: “(c) review the process for issuing and renewing crown leases, including purpose and withdrawal clause requirements, to safeguard against properties left vacant for a year or more; (d) investigate tougher measures for property owners who leave their shop spaces vacant or unused, such as: (i) stronger enforcement of existing compliance mechanisms (such as Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023); (ii) an additional levy on vacant retail properties; (iii) provision to add withdrawal clauses to Crown Leases should they be left vacant for more than one year; (iv) provision of subsidised community space; and (v) other changes to the Planning Act to disincentivise shop squatting; (e) review planning controls around the Richardson local centre including opportunities to encourage mixed-use development such as shop-top housing; (f) release the undeveloped, unleased sites to the north of the Richardson Shops site to support the broader redevelopment of the local centre; (g) report back to the Assembly by the last sitting week of 2025, and every six months thereafter until a tenant has been found, on the above measures and: (i) verify whether Richardson Shops has – or will shortly have – a tenant that meets community need; and (ii) if a tenant has not been found, take action to enforce compliance with Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023; (4) calls on the owners of the Richardson Shops site to: (a) proactively and constructively engage with the local Richardson community on the community need for the Richardson Shops site; (b) work collaboratively with the ACT Government to find a solution that prioritises the Richardson community’s vision for the site; and (c) comply with Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023 and arrange for the site to be used in line with the lease purpose clause and community expectations as soon as possible but by no later than 31 December 2025.”. Debate continued.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

3. Change to Caitlin Tough's changeDeborah MorrisLiberal · Opposition24 June 2025

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point.

   The exact wording of this change

   to Ms Tough’s proposed amendments together: 1. Omit paragraph (3)(d)(ii). 2. After paragraph (3)(g), insert: “(h) review the cumulative effect of the large range of government charges and compliance on the viability of suburban businesses; and (i) acknowledge the effect of the Lease Variation Charge on any attempt to maximise the commercial viability of suburban shops by diversifying their use;”. Debate continued.

   Not agreed in a recorded vote, 9 to 11.

   Ayes 9

   • Chiaka Barry, Elizabeth Lee, Peter Cain, Deborah Morris, Mark Parton, Leanne Castley, Jeremy Hanson
   • Fiona Carrick, Thomas Emerson

   Noes 11

   • Andrew Barr, Marisa Paterson, Yvette Berry, Tara Cheyne, Rachel Stephen-Smith, Caitlin Tough, Taimus Werner-Gibbings, Suzanne Orr
   • Shane Rattenbury, Jo Clay, Laura Nuttall
4. What the Assembly decidedAgreed

   Decided on the voices: no individual votes were recorded, so this doesn’t show that every MLA agreed.

   Final agreed wording, with changes marked

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) Richardson Shops has been left derelict since May 2019 and the last tenant vacated in 2022; (b) two petitions have previously been tabled in the Assembly collectively garnering 1,205 signatures—by Ms Lawder in November 2022, and in May 2024 by Ms Burch with Principal Petitioner and now Member Ms Tough MLA; (c) despite two petitions, the shops have remained vacant contrary to significant community interest and current government policy settings; (d) under Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023, failing to use land for a continuous period of at least one year for the purpose for which the lease over the land is granted constitutes an offence; (e) the site is zoned CZ4 – Local Centre Zone in the Territory Plan 2023, permissible land use under the current Commercial Zones Policy within the CZ4 zone includes: an animal care facility, bulky good retailing, business agency, café, community activity centre, craft workshop, drink establishment, early childhood education and care, health facility, indoor entertainment facility, multi-unit housing, office, produce market, restaurant, shop, take- away food shop, veterinary clinic and veterinary hospital; (f) there are three, undeveloped and unleased ACT Government sites adjacent to the Richardson Shops site; and (g) in 2020 the ACT Government opened a new playground next to the Richardson Shops; (2) further notes that: (a) a survey undertaken by the office of Miss Nuttall MLA with 203 respondents from the area found that 95 percent of respondents favoured the shops being redeveloped; and (b) the following percentage of respondents favoured the following uses for the site: (i) 82 percent: commercial property; (ii) 38 percent: community group centres; (iii) 37 percent: community services; and (iv) 35 percent: shop-top housing; (3) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) negotiate with the owner to ensure appropriate use of the Richardson Shops site aligned with community desires by 31 December 2025; (b) investigate why the shops were left empty for three years and how similar situations could be avoided; (c) review the process for issuing and renewing crown leases, including purpose and withdrawal clause requirements, to safeguard against properties left vacant for a year or more; (d) investigate tougher measures for property owners who leave their shop spaces vacant or unused, such as: (i) stronger enforcement of existing compliance mechanisms (such as Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023); (ii) an additional levy on vacant retail properties; (iii) provision to add withdrawal clauses to Crown Leases should they be left vacant for more than one year; (iv) provision of subsidised community space; and (v) other changes to the Planning Act to disincentivise shop squatting; (e) review planning controls around the Richardson local centre including opportunities to encourage mixed-use development such as shop-top housing; (f) release the undeveloped, unleased sites to the north of the Richardson Shops site to support the broader redevelopment of the local centre; and (g) report back to the Assembly by the last sitting week of 2025, and every six months thereafter until a tenant has been found, on the above measures and: (i) verify whether Richardson Shops has – or will shortly have – a tenant that meets community need; and (ii) if a tenant has not been found, take action to enforce compliance with Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023; and (4) calls on the owners of the Richardson Shops site to: (a) proactively and constructively engage with the local Richardson community on the community need for the Richardson Shops site; (b) work collaboratively with the ACT Government to find a solution that prioritises the Richardson community’s vision for the site; and (c) comply with Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023 and arrange for the site to be used in line with the lease purpose clause and community expectations as soon as possible but by no later than 31 December 2025.

   Original and final wording compared

   taken out put in

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) Richardson Shops has been left derelict since May 2019 and the last tenant vacated in 2022; (b) two petitions have previously been tabled in the Assembly collectively garnering 1,205 signatures—by Ms Lawder in November 2022, and in May 2024 by Ms Burch with Principal Petitioner and now Member Ms Tough MLA; (c) despite two petitions, the shops have remained vacant contrary to significant community interest and current government policy settings; [taken out: and](d) under Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023, failing to use land for a continuous period of at least one year for the purpose for which the lease over the land is granted constitutes an offence; [put in: (e) the site is zoned CZ4 – Local Centre Zone in the Territory Plan 2023, permissible land use under the current Commercial Zones Policy within the CZ4 zone includes: an animal care facility, bulky good retailing, business agency, café, community activity centre, craft workshop, drink establishment, early childhood education and care, health facility, indoor entertainment facility, multi-unit housing, office, produce market, restaurant, shop, take- away food shop, veterinary clinic and veterinary hospital; (f) there are three, undeveloped and unleased ACT Government sites adjacent to the Richardson Shops site; and (g) in 2020 the ACT Government opened a new playground next to the Richardson Shops;](2) further notes that: (a) a survey undertaken by the office of Miss Nuttall MLA with 203 respondents from the area found that 95 percent of respondents favoured the shops being redeveloped; and (b) the following percentage of respondents favoured the following uses for the site: (i) 82 percent: commercial property; (ii) 38 percent: community group centres; (iii) 37 percent: community services; and (iv) 35 percent: shop-top housing; (3) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) negotiate with the owner to ensure appropriate use of the Richardson Shops site aligned with community desires by 31 December 2025; (b) investigate why the shops were left empty for three years and how similar situations could be avoided; (c) review the process for [taken out: offering][put in: issuing and renewing]crown leases, [put in: including purpose]and [taken out: consider whether it be mandatory to include a]withdrawal clause [put in: requirements,]to safeguard against properties left vacant for a year or more; (d) investigate [taken out: policy changes to effectively disincentivise leaving commercial properties][put in: tougher measures for property owners who leave their shop spaces]vacant [taken out: contrary to community interest,][put in: or unused,]such as: (i) stronger enforcement of existing compliance mechanisms (such as Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023); (ii) an additional levy on vacant retail properties; (iii) provision to add withdrawal clauses to Crown Leases should they be left vacant for more than one year; (iv) provision of subsidised community space; and (v) other changes to the Planning Act to disincentivise shop squatting; (e) [put in: review planning controls around the Richardson local centre including opportunities to encourage mixed-use development such as shop-top housing; (f) release the undeveloped, unleased sites to the north of the Richardson Shops site to support the broader redevelopment of the local centre; and (g) report back to the Assembly]by the last sitting week of 2025, and [taken out: quarterly][put in: every six months]thereafter until a tenant has been found, [taken out: provide a report to the Assembly]on the [taken out: following elements: (i) identify which policy changes have been implemented][put in: above measures]and: [taken out: provide timelines for policy changes which are intended to take place; (ii)][put in: (i)]verify whether Richardson Shops [taken out: has—or][put in: has – or]will shortly [taken out: have—a][put in: have – a]tenant that meets community need; and [taken out: (iii)][put in: (ii)]if a tenant has not been found, [put in: take]action to enforce compliance with Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023; and (4) calls on the owners of the Richardson Shops site to: (a) proactively and constructively engage with the local Richardson community on the community need for the Richardson Shops site; (b) work collaboratively with the ACT Government to find a solution that prioritises the Richardson community’s vision for the site; and (c) comply with Schedule 4(10) of the Planning Act 2023 and arrange for the site to be used in line with the lease purpose clause and community expectations as soon as possible but by no later than 31 December 2025. [taken out: Debate ensued.]

   Compared word by word by computer, ignoring punctuation. It shows what differs, not which change made each difference; the steps above show that.