Page 1030 - Week 06 - Thursday, 27 July 1989
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whether it does not. I would hope, Mr Speaker, that once the Assembly has voted on the issues all people in the community accept that the debate has concluded, that the opportunity has been given to make an input to the debate, that the inquiry has been conducted, and that this Assembly will decide the outcome.
If the outcome is in favour of adopting the recommendations of the report and if it is the will of this Assembly, based on the will of the people, that this project should go ahead, then it is up to the Government to determine how that decision is implemented. So the onus in the final analysis will be on the Government. If the decision of this Assembly is to adopt the recommendation of the committee that this casino should proceed, the onus is on the Government to ensure that the casino is provided in a manner that is acceptable to this community and that it is controlled in a manner that is acceptable to this community. I think, Mr Speaker, that is where the responsibility lies and we in opposition will be doing our best to make sure that what is ultimately provided is in the community's interest and that it satisfies the community.
Mr Speaker, I respect the view of those opposed to the casino. They have a right to put it. They have a right to hold it. They have a right to their conviction. I believe that their view has been adequately represented. I hope that when the debate is concluded, as it will be this morning, and the decision is made, whether the decision goes in favour of their view or not, they will accept that there has been a fair inquiry and that the result is in fact the will of the community. I hope that they, along with the rest of the community, will accept that decision.
MR COLLAERY (10.41): There are two issues in this debate: one is whether there should be a casino in the ACT, which is drawn out in the report of the select committee, and the other is where the casino should be. The Rally's view is, of course, and has been consistently throughout the election period - and individual supporters of the Rally have said it for years - that the question of where the casino should go is as vital as the question of whether we should have a casino, because the symbolism and the nature of the interaction between a casino and a community are inseparable elements of the base question, and base question it is, Mr Speaker.
The fact is that the select committee has taken the place of a full planning inquiry, which any enlightened major capital city in the world would have. The select committee's report is drawn in the face of the fact that the ACT Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects has encouraged a design competition for an overall city plan. That design competition was held. Various plans were put forward as possible future bases for the development of our great city. They have been swept aside in this headlong rush to the roulette wheel by the
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