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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 606 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

Mr Speaker, it seems to me that we have before us the same sort of issue as the Romans had before them when they talked about crossing the Rubicon, that small creek - - -

Mr Humphries: It was actually the Carthaginians who crossed the Rubicon.

MR MOORE: The Romans had the notion that, when somebody crossed the Rubicon, that was the time when they believed they had actually lost - that Rome had effectively fallen. Indeed, Mr Humphries's interjection is absolutely correct. I must have put it back to front.

Mr Speaker, I believe that we have gone past the point of turning back, and we now have the opportunity for a National Museum of Australia to go there on Acton Peninsula. We have a commitment from the Federal Government to that effect. I now want to work as effectively and as quickly as I possibly can. For that reason, I will be opposing this motion, because I believe that it is appropriate for the action to be taken as quickly as possible. We have gone past the stage of having the Royal Canberra Hospital back on Acton Peninsula. We have gone past the stage of being able to reuse those buildings. We now have an opportunity for the National Museum of Australia to be there, in Canberra, on Acton Peninsula. I am very comfortable with that notion. I believe that it is time for us to get behind this project and let us see what we can do to get it up. That is why I will be opposing anything that will have any effect of delaying it.

MS HORODNY (5.40): Mr Speaker, I am concerned more than ever after hearing what Mr Humphries had to say. Indeed, I feel very worried about how this land swap will proceed. Mr Humphries made me feel quite insecure about the whole thing. We know that, in the past, successive Federal governments have reneged on various decisions to establish the National Museum, and it has never happened. This has been going on for 20 years.

Mr Humphries: That is what I am saying.

MS HORODNY: Yes. So, how do you know that it is going to happen now? Part of the PM's election promises in the Federal campaign was that he wanted a National Museum, and his preference was that it be placed at Yarramundi Reach.

Mr Humphries: That was not a promise, though.

MS HORODNY: He made it very clear that that was his preference. Whether it was a core promise or not a core promise, I do not know. I cannot distinguish between core and non-core promises, particularly with this Federal Government. But Mr Howard was not able to deliver on a National Museum on the Yarramundi site, which he very clearly stated in his election platform.

Mrs Carnell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: It is important that Ms Horodny gets her facts right.

Mr Berry: That is not a point of order. Mr Speaker, on a point of order - - -

MR SPEAKER: One at a time.

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