Page 2013 - Week 07 - Thursday, 17 June 1993
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funding levels to the South East Economic Development Council, to see whether or not those funds could be used more effectively for ACT and south-east region promotion if they were directed specifically to that end as opposed to being filtered through the South East Economic Development Council.
I had much pleasure in participating in a number of trips into the region with members of the committee. They were extremely informative. In general, there is a very positive view about the relationship between Canberra - the largest metropolitan area in the region - and the region; but it is something that we need to work hard to build on, not only within the region but also with regional centres right around Australia. That may very well be - and it is discussed, although very briefly, in this report - one of the activities we can become more involved in.
In marketing and promoting the ACT, we have suggested that a joint campaign be undertaken by the ACT Government and the National Capital Planning Authority, that organ of the Federal Government that has responsibility for promoting the ACT as the seat of government. There are some specific words that can be used, not necessarily very complimentary, about the success or otherwise of what the NCPA has been able to achieve to date, but I do not wish on this day to go into that debate at any length.
In order to promote the relationship between the rest of Australia and the ACT and to encourage people to visit and participate in this their national capital, we need to identify ourselves more clearly with all the regions around Australia. We do so through initiatives of the Chief Minister in relation to the Lightning Ridge area and the Walgett Shire Council, and through promotion of such a simple thing as a horserace in the ACT, the Black Opal Stakes. That relationship is growing. The Chief Minister has announced already that next year there will be a period of activity leading up to the Black Opal Stakes called Opal Week. That is a very positive move to identify in a regional context an activity here in the ACT which will attract people from that region and with an interest in that region into the Australian capital, both in a tourist sense and, hopefully, in the long term in a business sense. If we can expand those types of activities to identify other regional associations with this the national capital, we not only improve the perception of Canberra as Australians' national capital but also promote economic activity here in the ACT.
I was fortunate enough, along with the Chief Minister and a number of members of the Opposition, to be present at a reception for Gabby Kennard on the weekend. Gabby is an internationally renowned aviatrix who is raising funds around Australia for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Chief Minister, on behalf of the ACT Government, presented a contribution to that campaign last Saturday. The Royal Flying Doctor Service, as an example, is one area where I believe that we in the Australian Capital Territory can help promote a greater understanding of its operation. We can help promote the essential role it plays in rural Australia and, by the same token, gain an acceptance that Canberra is a place in which you can achieve focus for issues and focus for particular events. We may be able next year, in cooperation with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, to promote the RFDS here in the national capital in an attempt to expose the activities of the RFDS. Again, it is another tool that we believe can be used to promote Canberra as a destination for all Australians.
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