Page 4180 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 29 November 1994
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Assembly Building - Soundproofing of Offices
MR STEFANIAK: My question is directed to you, Madam Speaker. The windows in the office of the Chief Minister were recently soundproofed, at a not insignificant cost to the taxpayer of more than $18,000. This was to achieve, in the Government's words, "the level of acoustic isolation required in offices on London Circuit". Madam Speaker, your office also faces London Circuit and is a bit closer to traffic than the Chief Minister's. Can you advise the Assembly whether you have requested soundproofing of your windows to acoustically isolate yourself as well? If so, what is the likely cost of that soundproofing?
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you for the question, Mr Stefaniak. When we first put the building together, the question of soundproofing the windows for the entire building was not dealt with because it was too expensive and was thought to be unnecessary at that point. There are only two offices that actually face a major road - the Chief Minister's and mine. Since then, we have discovered that the non-treatment of windows has created problems. It rained soon after we moved into the building, and we have discovered that all the windows with the yellow sticky labels leak. So, there is a proposal to seal the windows that need treatment, which is pretty well for the entire building, and probably to proceed with the acoustic treatment for my office.
Mr Stefaniak: At what cost?
MADAM SPEAKER: I do not have the costing in front of me, but it is something that will be built into the budget process. We have the minor works and equipment budget; we have money for the actual movement into the building, which is for our own furniture and other requirements, including computer networking; and we have our own general maintenance money. Although I have not had a costing for the entire building, from memory, I believe that all of that can be contained within the budget that has been allocated to us. I do not have the costing for the entire building at my fingertips. I am happy to obtain that information and pass it on to you.
Licence Fees - Low-Alcohol Products
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister recently announced that the ACT Government would move to abolish franchise fees on low-alcohol products - that is, products with an alcohol content of 3.5 per cent or less - from 1 January. She claimed that this decision would bring the ACT into line with New South Wales. I ask the Chief Minister: Is it not true that New South Wales has also moved to abolish franchise fees on reduced-alcohol wines up to and including 6.5 per cent alcohol content? Why has the Chief Minister decided not to exempt reduced-alcohol wines from the ACT liquor licence fees, thus creating a taxation regime inconsistent with that of New South Wales and, more than likely, a loss of business across the Territory as consumers of those products buy in cheaper New South Wales?
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