Page 2252 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 15 September 1992
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MR BERRY: Are you deaf or something? I just asked whether you wanted a briefing about it. I am sure that you will be satisfied that everything is fine. You will probably shut up and not go on with all of this claptrap about some sort of secret deal. Everybody, apart from the Liberals, understands - the Liberals obviously do not - that the negotiations for a long-term hiring agreement of the Bruce Stadium have been punctuated by the financial difficulties of the Raiders. It was not in the interests of the ACT Government to do damage to the Raiders; neither was it in the interests of the Raiders to walk away from the Bruce Stadium. It was in both of our interests to pursue the matter in what I think would fairly be described as delicate economic circumstances for the Raiders.
We have concluded the long-term hiring agreement for Bruce Stadium. It will expire in the year 2009. The agreement is predicated on the basis that, as partners, both parties will maximise their return from the agreement. That is the nature of commercial agreements, as I am sure any member of the Liberal Party would understand. Under the agreement, both the Raiders and the Territory will receive a share of income received from ticket sales, including sponsorship boxes, advertising and signage, and catering for Raiders matches played at Bruce Stadium. These revenues are in addition to the match day costs which are paid by the Raiders. The agreement concluded is substantially the same as that contemplated last year immediately prior to the Raiders' temporary financial difficulties which I spoke about. The Government will be continuing to encourage as much other use of the stadium as possible, consistent with the agreement with the Raiders. Members will have noted from media reports that a temporary cricket pitch is being installed at the ground with a view to attracting high-class cricket to the ground as well.
I warn people like Mr De Domenico about the rank, political opportunism that we heard on ABC radio about strictly commercial-in-confidence negotiations conducted in relation to providing high-quality sport for the people of the ACT. If you want to take those sorts of approaches in the media, it will damage our chances of providing high-quality sport in the ACT. I thought that, as the opposition spokesperson on sport, you would have more sense.
Needle Exchange Program
MRS CARNELL: My question is to Mr Berry, the Minister for Health. You indicated in answer to my question on notice No. 123 that an estimated 100,000 disposable syringes are distributed each year under the ACT needle exchange program. On conservative estimates this would mean that heroin users are using, at most, one or two disposable syringes per week. This indicates that needles are being shared or, at the very least, reused. The Minister undoubtedly would be aware of the danger of this in terms of spreading HIV. What is the Minister doing about this problem? Does he accept that this is really causing a danger to health?
MR BERRY: Given the resolution suspending standing orders carried by the Assembly, I think it would be more appropriate if I gave that question the response that it deserves, in order that we can get on, within 60 seconds' time or just before that, with the budget.
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