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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2870 ..

MR WHITECROSS (continuing):

But then there is more. The $500,000 has been allocated so that they can work in partnership with business people in order to come up with projects to promote our business, tourism, sporting and cultural strengths. That was the idea of the $500,000. What was the argument for having the Tourism and Events Corporation? It was so that they could establish partnerships with business operators in the community - exactly the same goals as this $500,000 had; a broad vision of promotion of Canberra, partnership with business. The goals are identical; but what does Mr Kaine's coordinated approach to marketing mean, the approach which he also described at one stage as logical? What does that involve? It involves putting the money in two completely different places and having an uncoordinated approach to the marketing of Canberra.

Mr Corbell's motion has a simple goal, and that is ensuring that all the resources, all the limited resources, that the ACT community can devote to the promotion of Canberra, whether we are talking about business, tourism, sporting or cultural strengths, are employed by the same corporation in a coordinated way so that we are not duplicating, so that we are not pursuing the same goals through different means, and so that we can be sure that the ACT taxpayers are getting the biggest bang for their buck. That is what this motion is about.

No wonder, as Mr Kaine said, that people are struggling to understand the Government's policy, because it does not make any sense. It is a farce. That is why they are struggling to understand it - because it does not make any sense. Of course, Mr Kaine knows why it does not make any sense, because he got rolled by his Chief Minister.

Mrs Littlewood: You know about getting rolled.

Mr Hird: You know about getting rolled; little roly-poly.

Mr Kaine: It hurts.

MR WHITECROSS: The reason why it does not make any sense is that he did not get his way. No wonder Mr Kaine is getting heartburn now, because he knows we are getting to the nub of the matter here.

Mr Corbell: I take a point of order. While everything that Mr Whitecross says is almost certainly true, I find it very difficult to hear him. I would ask you to direct members on the other side of the house not to interrupt.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: I do remember Mr Hird pointing out the requirements of standing order 39 several times during the course of the day. Perhaps you would like to remember it.

Mr Hird: On the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker: That is quite right. I am delighted to see that you are familiar with the standing orders, not like Mr Whitecross. But Mr Whitecross, of course, got rolled, and he will grow up.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hird, be seated.

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