Page 1293 - Week 05 - Thursday, 25 June 1992
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MS FOLLETT: If that is a recent statement, no, I am not aware of it. It has not been conveyed to me. I presume that it is a recent statement. However, I would like to say that, prior to the release of the budget strategy statement, I had very valuable consultations with the Canberra Business Council, amongst many other groups. Indeed, I am aware of their general view. I am aware, in particular, of their view that the cost of government must be reduced, and I share that view. I have made it very clear in my budget strategy statement that we will be looking for efficiencies in all areas of government activity. I refer Mr De Domenico to that budget strategy statement to answer his question. If he is asking me for more detail of what steps I will take in the budget to be brought down in September this year, I will say yet again that I am not going to pre-empt that. It is clear to me and to most thinking people that the budget has to encompass review not just of revenue but of all areas of government activity in order to achieve efficiencies - and, as Mr Kaine is fond of saying, prudent borrowings. There is no great mystery to it.
Lease Purpose Breaches
MR MOORE: My question is directed to the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning. Last year, Mr Wood may recall, he was alerted to the fact that the National Convention Centre was operating in breach of the law by hosting leather sales, contrary to its lease purpose clause. Recently, Country Comfort did the same, and I have their lease purpose clause in front of me. It allows provision of restaurant services for travellers, guests and members of the public, and accommodation services. I was surprised yesterday morning to see the advertisement included in the Canberra Times suggesting that the Parkroyal was using the same sort of system. I must say that in their case I have not checked the lease purpose clause at this stage. There certainly is a repetition of this type of sale going on, against lease purpose clauses. When will the Minister act on blatant and public breaches of leases which undermine local businesses, particularly small businesses, who are operating within the law?
MR WOOD: Mr Moore quite well outlines the problems we are looking at. That is the case, and we are looking at them. The Department of the Environment, Land and Planning is investigating these issues. I am expecting from them shortly a document examining the options and what might be done to prevent the practice, if it is considered undesirable, or to change the various conditions, if that is considered desirable. The matter is receiving very earnest consideration, and I will be in a position to respond sometime soon.
MR MOORE: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. The pertinent question really is: Will the Minister be prepared to protect Canberra's small businesses where they are operating within the law?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, we have a great interest in Canberra's small businesses. I suppose that is a motherhood statement. However, these hotels and the like are also small businesses and we are no less interested in them. What we are interested in, above all else, is a fair and just system that is understood by all, accepted by all and obeyed by all.
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