Page 369 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 1991
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no doubt that, if and when that space is required, suitable alternative accommodation will be found. At this stage there is no immediate requirement for that space, and as a result there is no urgency or pressing need to establish some alternative location or to negotiate some alternative amount. However, I can assure Mr Connolly and the Assembly that there will be plenty of notice of the need for that space, and the centre will have every opportunity to find a suitable alternative location in Canberra.
Tourism Commission
MS FOLLETT: My question is to Mr Duby, as the Minister for tourism. It is a question on which we failed to get an answer from Mr Kaine earlier. Mr Duby, is there any truth in the rumour that the Tourism Commission will be closing down its operation at the Jolimont Centre?
MR DUBY: I thank Ms Follett for the question. The question, of course, is: Is the Jolimont tourist information centre due to close? Mr Speaker, I am pleased to say that the ACT Tourism Commission, which has responsibility for the Jolimont tourist information centre, is currently undergoing a review of its structure and functions. The decision has been made to close the Jolimont information centre - and we are talking about the information centre within the Jolimont building - and that decision was based on a recommendation provided by the consultants engaged to undertake a review of the operations of the Tourism Commission, Price Waterhouse Urwick.
The commission decided that the resources required to operate the two information and travel services at the Jolimont and Dickson centres could not be justified in the light of current budgetary restraints, and would be better applied to the prime role of marketing and promoting the ACT and surrounding region. The information and travel services are to be consolidated at the commission's Northbourne Avenue, Dickson centre.
Whilst it is regrettable that both centres cannot continue to function, the commission will continue to provide a very high standard of service to visitors from the Dickson centre. I think it is also worthwhile to say that there will probably still be some access officers there at the Jolimont Centre from whom tourists can obtain information.
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