Page 1063 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 April 1994
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Already there are many examples of this Government's commitment to the development of a cultural identity. In relation to facilities, the development of the Childers Street theatre is an example of a positive contribution to fostering local performing arts. Further, this Government's plans for a cultural and heritage centre will enable us to focus on those elements and events which give us a sense of history and place. The office will be working closely with the community to give full expression to this concept.
The development of a cultural precinct in Civic is another important and tangible strategy in ensuring that our city has an identifiable focus for cultural activity. The Office of Culture and Heritage will be working closely with the ACT Planning Authority to bring this plan to fruition. It is not just Civic which will be the focus of cultural planning. Work is currently under way in Tuggeranong to ensure that strategies are put in place for the development of a strong cultural identity. Similarly, this strategic approach to cultural planning will extend to the other town centres, including Gungahlin.
As Mr Lamont has said in relation to sport, so too there are many exciting opportunities for our community in the development of our cultural identity. The 2020 vision, 2001 federation and the 2000 Olympics, for example, all offer enormous potential for our community. Similarly, the areas of cultural tourism, ACT cultural development in the context of the ACT region, strategic partnerships with national institutions, the development of a greater role in the ACT's cultural development for our Aboriginal community and our considerable multicultural population, and a more culturally focused festival and events program provide an exciting agenda which will need to be guided by the Office of Culture and Heritage.
In keeping with the development of our sense of local identity, the office will be actively progressing the identification and protection of our places and objects which have heritage significance. This will be coupled with a strengthened community education program. There is a great deal to be done. What is clear is that this Government has made considerable progress in realising its policy objectives for culture and heritage in our community. Today we have further strengthened this commitment by providing a dedicated administrative unit which will be focused on the challenges which lie ahead. I present a copy of this statement and move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
MR HUMPHRIES (3.22): Madam Speaker, I rise to support the motion and to commend the Government on these developments. As my colleagues have lauded the development of some cohesion in the sport, recreation and racing portfolio, I also welcome the cohesion in the culture and heritage portfolio in the way which has been described by Mr Wood this afternoon.
There has been a problem in past administration of the ACT in establishing the appropriate niche for cultural matters. Historically, when Ms Follett was the Minister and then I was the Minister for the Arts, there was always a problem with associating that necessarily very small area of government activity - in the sense of a small number of public servants working in a particular area - with much larger portfolio responsibilities.
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