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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1318 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

She then pointed out that some of the reports that were in the media were not necessarily completely accurate; but, in fact, my response was specifically to her press release.

I think that what we have brought down is a very sensible report which really hangs on two things; it hangs on two fundamental issues. The first one is getting Kingston cleaned up and, once that has been done, then being prepared to move. Secondly, as far as Acton Peninsula goes, we should determine its future use before we start bulldozing the buildings. At this stage we do not have a use. I do not mind putting on the public record a personal opinion - not a committee opinion, but a personal opinion - that, had the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia been going on Acton Peninsula, even should it now be the Federal Government's decision, then the current buildings on Acton Peninsula are inconsistent with that use and would have to go.

I think there would be very good community health reasons why, as part of a process of reconciliation, as part of a process of helping some of the weakest parts of our society, some of those most badly done by in the past should be given an appropriate site. I think there are good community health reasons, population health reasons, why one would certainly say that if, indeed, the indigenous people of Australia do want to establish a Gallery of Aboriginal Australia on Acton Peninsula they should be able to proceed. That is an issue that is pending, and that is why we have an interim report. Those are the sorts of issues that are pending - the contamination at Kingston and what possible use could we have for the site at Kingston. I think we are also concerned about the lack of control, on the completion of a land swap, that the people of the ACT would have over Acton Peninsula. Whilst that area is of national significance, it also is of particular concern to the people of the ACT who are that much closer to the planning issues associated with Canberra.

Having said that and having made the point about a Gallery of Aboriginal Australia going on Acton Peninsula, I should draw attention to recommendation 8 of the committee, which states:

... the ACT Assembly affirm their preference for the establishment of the National Museum ... at Yarramundi Reach ...

We also state that the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia should be a part of that National Museum. In some ways, I think the rocky road that this report travelled initially, which in some ways continues with my speech today, is actually unnecessary. I think there was a misreading of the report in the first place, and I think that was unnecessary.

Mrs Carnell: Read the preface.

MR MOORE: I do hear an interjection from the Chief Minister, "Read the preface". I will avail myself of that opportunity. Better still, I urge members to read it. (Extension of time granted) I shall be brief. Certainly, I think it is important to understand that, in writing a preface, the preface is the preface of the chair. Although other members of the committee were aware of the preface, it certainly was my role. My summary of the way that I perceived things was to tie the preface back to the committee's terms of reference for this inquiry. The preface states:

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