Page 2678 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 October 1992
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The concept of the supply and tender agency is a way of encouraging local business while at the same time complying with the intergovernmental agreement which prevents us from having a conscious policy of preference in purchasing for local business. While we cannot give a conscious preference to local business, we can ensure that local business is fully aware, in advance, of the ACT Government's purchasing requirements for both goods and services, and that ACT government agencies are fully aware of the production possibilities of ACT business in relation to goods and services. Compiling the list of our needs and what the local business community can provide should, at least, put local business on a footing where they can compete equally or more than equally with interstate business and mean that, all things being equal, in most cases the local business would win the tender fairly, we hope.
Tourism Commission
MS SZUTY: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Chief Minister, Ms Follett, in her capacity as Minister for tourism. As the Chief Minister is no doubt aware, the ACT Tourism Commission comprises a number of commissioners representing various sectors of the tourism industry who meet together regularly to discuss matters of interest and concern regarding tourism in the ACT and the region. What is the future of the ACT Tourism Commission, and particularly the terms of office of current commissioners, as it is currently structured?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I think Ms Szuty, to an extent, is asking me to speculate on the future of the Tourism Commission. I can only say that I am pleased with the way it is currently operating. I do not have it in mind to change that. I realise that there are a couple of vacancies on the board of the commission. They will be filled as soon as is reasonably possible. I think the Tourism Commission has done a particularly fine job in streamlining its own operation, in living within its budget last year, which was a reduced budget, and in maintaining its effort on its prime task of marketing the ACT despite the fact that it was operating with a reduced budget.
As I say, Madam Speaker, I am satisfied - indeed, pleased - with the way the commission has been performing its function. The current budget adds to the Tourism Commission's functions a special new unit for events and the development of new events for the ACT. Other than that growth of the role and funding of the commission, I do not plan to make any changes to the structure.
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