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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2158 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Another opportunity is through franchises at the visitor information centre which is being constructed and which will go ahead whether or not this fee is in place. Franchises for the operation of a gift shop or coffee shop in the visitor information centre are another way in which the Government can raise revenue. Again, I understand that the Government are pursuing these options, and they should continue to do so.

When it comes down to it, this debate is about where the Government spends its money and where the Government raises its money. The Labor Party argues that if the Government had not spent its money on so many wrong priorities it would not need to implement this fee in the first place. I will give the Assembly just one example of this. The Government expects to raise $270,000 from this fee in the first year, if it is implemented. This is the same Government that spent $300,000 on a futsal slab beside Lake Burley Griffin which has been used three times. That is $30,000 more than what they expect to raise from this fee in the first year.

If the Government spent the money where it was needed and if the Government always knew that there was a requirement to improve Tidbinbilla, why did they waste their money on other priorities like that? It is about management; it is about where you spend the money most effectively. With this, the Government's mismanagement basically puts them in a position where they say, "We need to implement user charges for Tidbinbilla". The Labor Party does not accept that argument. There are many other examples of the Government's mismanagement of spending, but I will not go into those right now.

Ultimately, this motion seeks to ensure that Tidbinbilla remains an asset which is available to all Canberrans free of charge. I address some comments now to the Greens and to the Independent members, whose support we will need if this motion is to be successful today. I know that about two weeks ago the Greens indicated their support for the Government's proposal, but I understand that they have since put forward to the Government some conditions on that support.

We have to remember that families with children often are not the people who go on very long walks into national parks. They seek shorter walks with easier gradients. They seek more accessible car parking when they get out into the natural environment, and that is what Tidbinbilla provides. If the Greens want to make sure that people like that have access to the natural environment to learn about it, to experience it and to enjoy an asset that is theirs, then they should be prepared to stop this fee. I think that is very important.

I would also remind them that the Government's proposal for entrance charges does not provide any concession for families visiting Tidbinbilla. The Government's proposal does allow for concessions if you are unemployed, a pensioner, a holder of a health care card or a student in a school group on an organised school visit; but it does not provide a concession if mum and dad and the kids go down to Tidbinbilla on the weekend and pay to go in the gate. This, I believe, is simply inconsistent and a recognition from the Government that if they do allow a concession for that group they will not get enough revenue, because the majority of visitors to Tidbinbilla are family groups.

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