Page 200 - Week 01 - Thursday, 18 February 1993
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So, Madam Speaker, I endorse the report. I believe that it takes a positive approach towards the use of facilities and it is realistic in its desire to achieve an upgrade of cultural facilities without going to the extent of the very ambitious plans which were announced some years ago when section 19 was first touted as the great saviour of the ACT's economic activity, and construction activity in particular. I hope that the Government acts swiftly on the recommendations and that we are in a position to see some of these important matters, particularly the Aboriginal keeping place, put into reality at the first opportunity.
MR CORNWELL (10.41): Madam Speaker, I rise to address this matter before the Assembly on the possible use of the $19m casino premium. I am very conscious that I could not have done any better than the committee that examined this matter and I think we would all share that view. Decisions have to be made and, although one may quibble about aspects of them, when it finally comes down to the recommendations I think we would all agree that the decisions that this committee have made are no worse or no better than any other committee would have come down with. I do, however, share some of the concerns of the Cultural Council on the question of recurrent or ongoing costs for some of these recommendations. These would include the $2.5m to go to the keeping place for the Aboriginals, although I note that there is possibly some Commonwealth assistance forthcoming. Mr Lamont may wish to comment on that when he closes the debate.
I would also like some sort of confirmation or perhaps just clarification on this question of Childers Street, where there is $250,000 going to the Childers Street theatre. I would have imagined that this should have been included in the Government's original estimate and allocation. Mr Wood shakes his head.
Mr Wood: We did not have enough for that.
MR CORNWELL: I see; we did not have enough for that, so we are going to dip into the casino premium, are we? That is an interesting approach. I am also concerned even further about Childers Street, Mr Wood, because I note that paragraph 3.35 of the committee's report states:
... the Committee is concerned to learn that the new theatre's size (250 seats) renders it "not commercially viable".
This was the evidence of the director of the Gorman House Arts Centre, Mr Ferguson. The report goes on to state:
In addition, the Committee was told that "if the theatre is to start on the right foot" it is essential to provide $250 000 -
which indeed has been recommended by the committee. The report states:
Further, the Committee was told that the theatre is likely to show "an operating deficit of half a million dollars for the first five years".
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