Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 875 ..

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, that is not the question I asked.

MR SPEAKER: No, but it is the answer that is being given by Mr Kaine. Continue, Mr Kaine.

MR KAINE: The Government is looking at the question of what the future of these facilities is to be. Since the private sector has expressed interest, expressions of interest have been called for - that was done last year, before Christmas - as to whether they would be interested, for example, in reopening Woden Cemetery and developing it further. That is an option. We will be, during the course of this year, examining the question of whether Woden should be opened up again and, if so, should it be operated as a private operation rather than a government-funded one?

The views of the Canberra Cemeteries Trust have been sought on all of these issues and, of course, their views will be considered, along with all of the other propositions that are being put to us.

Mr Berry: This is not a furphy. It is spot on.

Ms McRae: A terrible answer to a great question.

Ms Reilly: Do you think he does not know anything about it?

MR KAINE: If the members of the Opposition want to enter into some comedy show, they are welcome to do it.

Mr Hird: I do not think it would get very high ratings, Trevor.

Ms McRae: You are doing just fine, Trevor. You do not need our help.

MR SPEAKER: Order! If they are not prepared to listen, I suppose you could sit down, Minister.

MR KAINE: I took it that I was asked the question because they wanted to know the answer.

Before any change is made in the management arrangements for either the Woden Cemetery or the Norwood Park Cemetery, there will be a public consultation process, and one thing that will be ensured is that any changes we make will not disadvantage anyone. For example, if anybody has any fears about the plot they have reserved for the future, their reservation will not disappear because of anything the Government might decide this year in connection with the management of the cemeteries. The fact is that the views of the Cemeteries Trust have been sought and their views will be taken into account when the Government considers the future of the cemeteries.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .