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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 3884 ..

MR STEFANIAK: In terms of what is happening with the Dillybag Cafe, where it is going and what has happened with the move, I think you might have to ask my colleague. The Woden Community Service has not come to me at all, Ms Reilly, in relation to this.

MS REILLY: The question was in relation to the grant for the Woden Community Service, which I thought was under the auspices of the Minister that I asked the question of.

Mr Stefaniak: Give us your brief.

MS REILLY: Oh, now he has a briefing!

Mr Stefaniak: What is your question, Ms Reilly?

MS REILLY: My question is: Will the Minister be providing an additional grant to the Dillybag Cafe to compensate them?

MR STEFANIAK: Ms Reilly, in my experience in government, if someone wants some extra money they are not backward in coming forward to you. No-one has come forward to me about this yet. So, I would just make that little point. Mr Speaker, the Dillybag Cafe is located in the glass-fronted area of the Woden library and, yes, it is operated by the Woden Community Service.

Ms Reilly: Come on! We did not ask for that.

MR STEFANIAK: Just shut up and you might learn something. This is in Mr De Domenico's area, too. The site has been identified as the most suitable potential site for a shopfront. The co-location of the library and a shopfront at Woden is aimed at improving government information services to the whole community. The Woden Community Service were shown preliminary drawings prepared by the architect in October this year. They were asked to comment on the proposals, to enable further design work to be undertaken. Those drawings provided three alternatives for including the cafe within the redevelopment, Ms Reilly. The area identified for the cafe in these initial designs included approximately 50 square metres inside the building with access to an area outside for additional tables.

The Woden Community Service chose not to proceed with negotiations concerning the relocation of the cafe. A letter notifying the department of its decision to cease trading and terminate its lease has been received. I understand, Mr Speaker, that a letter has been received from the Woden Community Service staff indicating that the Government has forced the closure of the cafe. This is not the case. The decision to cancel the Dillybag Cafe lease was made by the Woden Community Service. I am advised, Ms Reilly, that at all times we have endeavoured to meet their requirements and have offered to continue negotiations concerning the cafe site, despite the decision by the Woden Community Service to cease trading.

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