Page 4262 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 29 November 1994
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The report goes on to make more detailed comment about the factors that might lead a company to relocate. It says, interestingly:
Incentives are of low importance in the decision making process.
It goes through what is of importance and the likely success of this park. The report is a pretty realistic look at the kind of success we might anticipate; but there are other aspects that ought to be considered, and in question time today the full picture was certainly not presented by the Opposition.
The Coopers and Lybrand survey did not take into account demand from inside the ACT, and this is very important. As I mentioned at question time, there are a number of existing technology manufacturing companies who wish to relocate to a better area for their industry. We anticipate that some 14 relocations from amongst members of the Canberra Region Advanced Technology Manufacturing Association will take place over a period of some years, probably about five years. In addition, there will be some companies starting up, estimated as being two to three sites a year, and that is dealt with in the Coopers and Lybrand report.
Based on all of that information, I believe that the Government's plans for this advanced technology manufacturing park are realistic and are going to be of great value to this segment of the advanced technology industry. As I said in question time, we would not have embarked on this plan if it had not been for the concerted efforts of CRATMA and their overt and well-stated interest in the development of such a specialised manufacturing estate. As I said, this is a staged development. There will be some companies who will relocate from within Canberra; there will be a smaller number of companies who will start up new businesses; and there will be probably a smaller number again who will relocate to Symonston from interstate. I think the information we have gives us the basis for a very successful estate.
MR HUMPHRIES (9.44): I would like to make some comments on what the Chief Minister has said about the Symonston development. It was very clear that the import of what the Chief Minister had said about the potential of this place was that it would have the capacity to attract new players to the ACT. Whether that is what she said in as many words or is the import of what was being said is a matter I cannot comment on. I can say that I think the expectation had been created that the name of the game - attracting people from interstate or even overseas - is a critically important part of any estate development like this, to some extent at least, and it was important to make sure that that was part of the development of this particular site.
The Chief Minister now says, "I was really talking about relocating some businesses within the ACT".
Ms Follett: No, it is not.
MR HUMPHRIES: All right, mostly about relocating some businesses in the ACT and only marginally about bringing people from outside the ACT. I think it is worth while that there be such developments, but the economic advantage to the ACT is much less from a relocation of a business from one site to another than it is from - - -
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