Page 4808 - Week 15 - Thursday, 8 December 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR CORNWELL: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I note that the Chief Minister talks about the very large rise in residential development. Chief Minister, is it your intention to increase betterment on residential properties to 100 per cent?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I would need to consult closely with Mr Wood on this matter, but my recollection of the Lansdown report is that that matter ought to be investigated, and we have adopted his recommendation.
International Hockey Festival
MR BERRY: My question is to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Sport. Would the Deputy Chief Minister please outline the value and outcomes of the International Hockey Festival recently held in Canberra?
Mr Humphries: Not VITAB? How many goals did you score, David?
MR LAMONT: Unlike you, Mr Humphries, you can rest assured that I and this Government will continue to kick goals when you are lost in obscurity. The International Hockey Festival, an initiative of the ACT Hockey Association, was designed to attract international hockey teams to train in Canberra in the lead-up to the World Cup, which was recently held in Sydney, Madam Speaker. Three international teams participated in the festival - teams from England, South Africa and Germany - together with an Australian B team and our own world famous Canberra Lakers. The festival, Madam Speaker, was an indication of the sorts of activities and spin-offs that Canberra can expect from the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In fact, all the international teams involved in the festival have expressed interest in returning to Canberra to train in the years leading up to the games. We understand that not only their senior men's and women's national teams but also their junior national teams, for training and development camps, would be interested in such a program.
Madam Speaker, the international festival provided a significant profile and reputation for Canberra as a hockey centre and a centre of excellence. This reputation will filter through to other international teams specifically involved in hockey. Having international teams here has provided high level competition for our own elite athletes. In this case the Canberra Lakers had the opportunity to play South Africa, England and the Australia B side. The international festival also provided a profile for hockey within our own community, and increased numbers of these types of festivals and activities will have a positive effect on community participation in sport, and, in particular, community participation in hockey. Each of the international teams that participated in the festival, as I have said, expressed their delight with the high standard of hockey facilities available in Canberra, and in particular the professionalism demonstrated by our hockey administration. That is a sentiment that I would take this opportunity to echo. In terms of hockey, we expect that the festival is just the start of many future international visits and training development opportunities. The 2000 Games will ensure that many other sports will have the same opportunities during this period. The ACT Government was proud to be a supporter of the festival.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .