Page 3948 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 1 December 2021
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR BARR: I am not sure that is an exact quote of what I said, but I did indicate when it was suggested that the government endeavour to provide some form of voucher scheme somewhat similar to New South Wales that we would not be pursuing that and that those states that had been offering those sorts of voucher schemes had largely been undertaking them on the basis of having their own internal domestic tourism market. So, for example, New South Wales can provide voucher schemes for Sydney residents, for example, to undertake tourism within the broader state of New South Wales.
I am not sure there is much value in the ACT pursuing that as it would mean people having to undertake all of their holidays inside the ACT. The staycation model just has not worked. We have done that with various programs and schemes and it is not really an effective way of stimulating the tourism and accommodation sector in the territory.
MR PARTON: Chief Minister, do you disagree with Minister Cheyne, who hailed ChooseCBR a great success despite less than 20 per cent of businesses participating?
MR BARR: The scheme was a trial and a pilot, and it did achieve an economic multiplier effect. It was never intended that every single business in the ACT would participate in it, but it was open to a number of different business types to participate. As a measure to stimulate the tourism sector, which was the context in which I had this discussion with the tourism industry forum, I do not believe it was the most effective way to stimulate economic activity in tourism.
MS CASTLEY: Chief Minister, do you agree with business owners that specialty supermarkets are essential and should have been excluded from the scheme?
MR BARR: There will be variety of views on what sorts of business types should be in or out of particular government stimulus schemes. I find it somewhat amusing in the context of all of the questions and approaches the Canberra Liberals have adopted to business support over the last six months that they nit-pick on a subset of an industry type involved in a pilot trial stimulus scheme. That this is the biggest issue confronting the Canberra Liberals today speaks volumes.
Light rail stage 2—London Circuit
MS ORR: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services. Minister, can you please provide an update on the raising of London Circuit?
MR STEEL: I thank Ms Orr for her question. Raising London Circuit is an ongoing project in the ongoing evolution of Canberra’s CBD, particularly the southern end of the CBD. It will improve connectivity between the city and the lake, activate unloved parts of city west and unlock opportunities for new precincts and public spaces. It is also an important enabling project for the delivery of light rail to Woden.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video