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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1268 ..

MR BERRY (12.20): Mr Speaker, I would like to make a short contribution to this debate because I think it is important to draw attention to the failures of the Government on this matter. I interjected a moment ago, Mr Speaker, and drew attention to the fact that Mr De Domenico had tried to impute that $8m out of this year's expenditure had been lost because of the Acton Peninsula matter. Of course, that is not true. He knows it. I am now happy that he has admitted that he was wrong.

Mr De Domenico: I did not say anything of the sort.

Mrs Carnell: What happened to the Cultural Centre?

MR BERRY: The trouble with the Liberals opposite, Mr Speaker, is that they are fast and loose, and truth is nearly always a casualty. That is the approach that has been taken by this lot in most debates. Have a look at the list of issues which have been abandoned by the Liberals this year. The Cultural Centre - with breathtaking arrogance, shoved aside and forgotten about. The government office block at Gungahlin - these are people who offer themselves to represent the people of Gungahlin and they will not go ahead with something as important as an office block in Gungahlin, which was promised and planned by the previous Government. This Government backed off on that issue. This was mentioned in the report by Mr Moore's committee.

The people of Belconnen are entitled to be extremely disappointed with this mob opposite. Let us not forget the gaggle of them who were out at Belconnen Mall, I think it was, or Westfield Belconnen as it is now called, surveying the community about a pool and, as a result, they promised them one. In this term they promised them a pool at Belconnen.

Mr De Domenico: We did not say "in this term", Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: A little qualifier - "Not this term; maybe next term, or the one after". Mr Stefaniak was a little clearer than that. "As good or better", Mr Stefaniak said. "Yes, you will get your pool", Mr Stefaniak said. Well, they will, when Labor comes back to office. It is as simple as that. The party with the good record on the provision of indoor swimming facilities is Labor. Let us not forget who built the one at Tuggeranong for your constituents, Mr De Domenico. The people you claim to represent in Belconnen are now extremely disappointed; and they have a right to be, because they were misled.

The visual arts access facility is off the agenda. As for the extension of Ginninderra Drive, there has been some debate about that here today. That is before Mr Moore's committee now. That would be an area of expenditure which would be of use to the community. The duplication of Drakeford Avenue north of Isabella Drive - - -

Mr De Domenico: Drakeford Drive.

MR BERRY: I take your advice on that. The extension of the cyclepath network is a very important and environmentally sound move. It is something that the Liberals do not seem that interested in. There is the expansion of the Landcare and Parkcare programs, especially for weed control, and I would say especially so in relation to woody weeds; and there is the refurbishment of run-down local shopping centres.

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