Page 4174 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 29 November 1994
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Mrs Carnell: I would like the Chief Minister to answer this question.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, as it stands, I believe that this advanced technology park will be successful. It is the case that, at the moment, some of this work is going outside the ACT. For instance, some of the work done by Anutech is being done outside the ACT. With this kind of development, it could be done inside the ACT. I am aware that there is some opposition coming from just across the border because certain local government authorities believe that they may lose one of their advanced technology manufacturers to this park. There is always that kind of competition going on; nevertheless, it has not diminished the project, in my view, and I think that all members of this Assembly should join together in wishing it well. It is a good project; it is an advancement for an industry in which Canberra already excels; and I would call upon Mrs Carnell not to pull it apart, not to tear it down. Just on this one occasion it might be appropriate for Mrs Carnell to offer to assist. Miracles may happen. But, Madam Speaker, I can tell by the demeanour of those opposite that, obviously, there will be no miracle on this occasion.
MRS CARNELL: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. The Chief Minister actually said that the Symonston technology park would attract 25 manufacturers to the ACT - not rejig the ones in the ACT - and would generate up to 800 new jobs. In fact, in a dissenting statement included in the report of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee on the Symonston estate, prepared last week, Ms Szuty stated that the Coopers and Lybrand report would not be made available by the Government and was commercial-in-confidence. I ask the Chief Minister: Why would the PDI Committee not be able to make a more informed decision if they had actually had access to this information? Why did you not give it to them?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I am not aware of the issues surrounding the PDI Committee. I can certainly make inquiries about that and inform the Assembly. But I will stick by my statement, in announcing this advanced technology park, that it does have the potential and it does have the capacity to do exactly what I said that it could do. Madam Speaker, I think it is very regrettable that the Liberals opposite continue to talk down the ACT business community. That is all they are interested in doing. They are not interested at all in this kind of development, and I think that is a great shame.
Madam Speaker, I believe that this Symonston advanced technology estate will be a good project for the Territory. It will, indeed, create additional jobs. It is a staged development, as I have made clear. It is a development which will take place over some time. Mrs Carnell wants to pull that apart and wants to criticise the Government for having a little bit of foresight, a little bit of long-term planning, instead of just planning everything off the top of the head. Mrs Carnell constantly tells us that she works off the top of her head. Let me say that we are in government for the long term.
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