Page 928 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 26 July 1989
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identified in the public mind with the advantages of a casino.
There has been some considerable element of exaggeration on both sides of this argument. I am sure that the level of destruction to be wreaked by a casino has been overstated by opponents of the same. However, I am equally confident that there has been a serious overstatement on the part of the proponents of a casino of the benefits it would bring and in particular of the extent to which the proceeds of the development of section 19 would fund the community facilities which have so often been linked with it.
It is clear to the committee, Mr Speaker, that the premium which can be obtained from the development of section 19 will not cover anything like the full costs of the community facilities which have been promised. I personally do not see that as an argument against accepting the not inconsiderable sum which will be provided by the premium towards those costs. However, I do believe it necessitates an early commitment on the part of this Government to indicate, if the casino proposal goes ahead, where the additional funds will come from that will pay for these facilities. It is unacceptable for the Government to say that the casino should come now and the community facilities later. The two have been promised together and must be provided together.
Mr Speaker, I have limited time available to expand on the other recommendations of the committee and I hope that my colleagues in this place might do that for me. I wish to indicate that chairing this committee has been a memorable experience and has provided a fascinating insight into the issues surrounding this complex debate. There must be few better ways of coming to a full understanding of an issue like this than to sit on such a committee.
I have nothing but praise for my colleagues, all of whom were unstinting in the efforts they put into ensuring that the committee did its job thoroughly and rigorously in the short time available to it. Nor can I overstate the enormous assistance provided by our staff. With the members of the committee being so inexperienced in these matters, it was very fortunate that we had John Cummins as the secretary of the committee, with his enormous experience over many years in the House of Representatives. He was ably assisted by Cameron Kent.
Mr Speaker, I approached this task as a person who would basically be described as opposed to casinos and one who was reluctant, notwithstanding the position of my party, to endorse the idea for Canberra. There is no doubt in my mind that, if I had had an unfettered opportunity to vote on this issue three months ago, I would have voted against a casino. My experience on the committee has changed that. I am now firmly of the belief that the casino proposed at section 19 will make a dramatic difference to the vitality of the ACT's economy and, in particular, to the life of the
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