Page 934 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 26 July 1989
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a contention I do not doubt. However, we must ask ourselves: Is that really the only option? What else can we do to provide the necessary money to rebuild our theatres and our square and revitalise the city centre? I did not see too many options put to the committee about this subject.
My impression was that no other real work had been done on the other options. A quick look at the site plus some number crunching was all that was done. All we saw was the idea that all was lost without the casino and that section 19 was the only viable option. However, as this report clearly shows, even this project will hardly build a lyric theatre, let alone a library and two other theatres and redevelop the square. (Extension of time granted)
A well-known Labor supporter in a now infamous TV advertising program asked the Liberals during at least one of the last few election campaigns, "Where is the money coming from, Mr Howard?". I ask the same question of the Chief Minister here.
The committee has clearly put the Government on notice on this matter, and I think that if this proposal does go ahead the Government should tell us where it is going to get the facilities to provide the requirements. The Deputy Chief Minister can rest assured that we in the Rally will be watching carefully if this proposal is allowed to begin.
In closing, I would like to make a few brief comments about an alternative proposal that I passed to the committee for consideration. It is one that came to me after submissions had closed, and there were some aspects about it that concerned me. Not the least of them was that, while the proposition removed the casino from section 19, it recommended one on the other side of City Hill. That did concern me and I said so in my report. Despite my concerns about this proposal because of the nature of two of the buildings in it, it at least provided the same amount of premium to start - note, I say "start" - our new cultural facility.
One of the key aspects of the proposal was its ability to open up the access to City Hill and to ensure that we could once again use it as a city park and link the two parts of the city via the park and a new city plaza; hence the name it was given. It is strongly recommended that this project be passed on for further consideration and assessment.
My final comments refer to a matter dear to my heart: ensuring that the Federal Government contribute to the provisions of what will be identified as the national entertainment centre. Its location in the national capital on the third corner of the Triangle and the nature of the site require the construction of a facility that will reflect both of these aspects. Like the promise to provide the Assembly with a new building, it is appropriate that the Federal Government ensure that it put in its share of
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