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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 13 Hansard (5 December) . . Page.. 4422 ..

MR DE DOMENICO (continuing):

Floriade management will be transferred to the new corporation as of 1 July 1997. The Floriade Festival is a major tourist drawcard. The next step which the corporation will facilitate is aligning the product to meet visitors' need, by integrating its promotion and marketing through effective packaging.

The Bill before the Assembly has the support of the Canberra Tourism Advisory Board and CanTrade, as it will have a positive impact on ACT business. It will provide a support service to the ACT tourism industry and not be in competition with it. Should the corporation wish to participate as a travel agent or other similar entity, it will have to do so on a competitively neutral basis, in accordance with the competition policy agreement, and pay tax equivalents, as does any other business. Not only does this issue confront the Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation but a similar tax equivalent regime faces all statutory bodies and their operations.

Mr Speaker, the new corporation will commence its operation on 1 July 1997, should this Bill pass. The Government intends to transfer the Canberra Visitor Information Centre lease to the corporation, as it is an integral part of the Government's asset base and tourism service. The transfer of this asset will take place in the same manner as a transfer of property between persons. All other formal contracts and non-land assets currently held by Canberra Tourism will be transferred to the new Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation.

Debate (on motion by Mr Wood) adjourned.

MR BERRY (10.37): I move:

That Determination No. 227 of 1996, made under the Health and Community Care Services Act 1996, be disallowed.

Mr Speaker, this motion underlines some sloppy management in Mrs Carnell's health portfolio. The community deserves to understand that Mrs Carnell is incapable of maintaining proper administrative control over issues which concern millions and millions of dollars for the ACT community.

Mr De Domenico: This is a cheap political exercise.

Mrs Carnell: Basically, it is a windfall for private health insurance.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

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