Page 155 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 May 1989
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we now go to a much fuller inquiry. In particular, I urge a much fuller inquiry into the economic data but, above all, I would ask that a very proper inquiry be undertaken on the question of the image of the national capital, and that was totally deficient in that report. I would like to support Mr Moore. I do not wish at this time to go into any detail about our range of arguments. That is our briefing kit on the casino; I do not propose to go right through it. I hope that that material can be given to the committee of inquiry that I hope this Assembly will now set up.
MR STEVENSON (11.15): Mr Speaker, I wish to speak to the motion by Mr Moore. I have received a number of letters and other expressions of interest regarding a casino in Canberra. These have included the potential for family and personal hardship brought about by gambling. It has also been indicated that a casino could well be used to launder money from criminal activities. I think it obvious that people in Canberra are certainly divided on this issue and many people want to have a say. We have the opportunity to give them a say and I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (11.16): Mr Speaker, this motion is opposed by the Government. We believe that it is part of a tactic not just to delay the concept of the redevelopment of the section 19 City Square area, but to defeat the development of that area. We believe that there is a clear mandate in relation to that development proposal. On many occasions during the election campaign we indicated our clear and unequivocal support for the development of that project. We believe that we have the support of the community in relation to that project.
On the other hand, the Residents Rally, in its position throughout the election campaign and as demonstrated in the debate today, is clearly anti-jobs, anti-lifestyle, and anti-development. Rally members have revealed themselves as the red-neck wowsers that they are in their support for this tactic in seeking to defeat the proposition.
What clearly is happening is that, by the end of this year, there will be close to 1,000 jobs lost in the building and construction industry as a result of the completion of projects currently under way. It is absolutely essential that there be a major project under way at the beginning of next year to take up the employment slack in that industry. The only major project on the horizon that can meet the urgency of this situation is the redevelopment of Civic Square.
We believe that our commitment is so strong and the need is so great that we intend to proceed with this project. If this resolution is carried, we hope that the inquiry will be conducted in a proper manner so as not to achieve the objectives, the hidden agenda, of the Residents Rally, which is to defeat this particular project.
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