Page 3775 - Week 14 - Thursday, 10 December 1992
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Most importantly, it will provide the Aboriginal people with a facility to share their culture and to pass on to future generations the value of their culture. Similar keeping places have been established in other States, and I, in particular, will be very proud when the ACT can claim to have also supported such an important facility.
Madam Speaker, I also wish to place on record at this time the extremely difficult task that this committee was confronted with. In a very short reporting period we were required to assess a previous inquiry conducted by this Assembly, which ranged over an 18-month period. We also undertook to hold further public consultations to assess whether or not those submissions were still current and still appropriate. Thanks to the diligence of committee members, but in particular to Rod Power, the secretary of this committee, and also Katrina Wilson, who ably assisted Mr Power, I think we have been successful in giving due and proper consideration to this issue. In addition to those two who assisted us in the committee hearing stages, Karen Pearce from the secretariat staff provided invaluable secretarial and other assistance. My heartfelt appreciation is extended to those three officers who, quite clearly, above and beyond the call of duty, ensured that this report was able to be produced and received here this morning.
Madam Speaker, if members turn to page ix, they will see the recommendations outlined quite clearly. For the record I will go through those. The committee recommends that:
$2.5m of the casino premium be allocated to assist in the provision of an Aboriginal Keeping Place/cultural centre in the ACT as proposed by the Ngunnawal aboriginal people and the Bogong Regional Council. The Committee understands that this project may attract some additional funding from the Commonwealth.
We recommend that:
a trust arrangement along the lines discussed in this report be established to hold $2.75m of the casino premium pending the development of appropriate plans for regional facilities. These plans should result from extensive community consultation and negotiation, and take account of the diverse range of community and school-based needs that are demonstrated in the submissions to this inquiry (including submissions from Calwell High School, Stromlo High School, Pearce Community Centre, Tuggeranong Community Arts Association, Woden Senior Citizens Club, and other submissions). In recommending the plans take account of the role of schools in the provision and servicing of cultural amenities throughout the ACT, the Committee recognises that, in the first instance, this would entail a reappraisal of existing policies relating to the community use of schools.
We recommend that:
$1.5m of the casino premium be devoted to the NATEX site to provide for essential maintenance and a basic refurbishment program.
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