Page 4051 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 24 October 1990
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Current policies which permit the direct negotiation of a sale for national associations require the Liberal Party to pay full market value for this block if it goes ahead with the purchase. A number of options exist for disposal of the Liberal Party's existing site, that is, block 3 of section 13 in Barton. These include the surrender of the lease back to the Territory, in which case we would have to compensate them for improvements. We could approve a transfer of the lease to another approved national body or we could transfer it to an approved association with a 50 per cent commercial component, in which case betterment charges would apply. But since we still have a long way to go before the Liberal Party decides whether it wants to acquire a new site or not, it is a little presumptuous to consider what we might do with the old site.
The Australian Labor Party currently occupies block 12, section 6, Barton, known as John Curtin House, for the purpose of the ALP National Headquarters and offices. The purpose clause also provides for a bank, a kiosk and a restaurant of limited floor space.
In September last the ALP applied for a new site in Barton, located in section 22. This area is designated national land. The National Capital Planning Authority has declined to identify further sites in Barton until it has completed planning studies for York Park, which is section 22, and adjacent undeveloped land. The ACT Government is currently participating in a comprehensive review of the stormwater drainage system for that area, which is a bit of a problem, before any of it can be redeveloped. Again the ALP will pay full market value for the lease of that site.
Mr Humphries: At least.
MR KAINE: At least. Both these national associations will pay full commercial value. Significant buildings in the order of 6,000 square metres gross floor area and of an estimated total value of $30m will be constructed if they both go ahead with their plans. Both of them, I submit, have some value to the ACT in today's depressed world because these projects, if they proceed, will provide a substantial boost to the local construction industry. In summary, Mr Speaker, those two blocks, if they are sold to those organisations, will be sold at full market value.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question. I must say I am delighted to hear that, Chief Minister. One of the points that I drew attention to was that the ALP makes about $1m a year before tax by renting out offices in the bottom floor of its building. This is a special purpose lease. Is that rental carried out as part of the conditions of the lease or are they in contravention of the lease conditions? And if so, what are you going to do about it?
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