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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 2963 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General and Minister for Arts and Heritage) (5.48): Mr Speaker, I move amendment No. 1 circulated in my name and present the supplementary explanatory memorandum.

Ms Tucker: Are you closing the debate?

MR SPEAKER: The debate is not being closed. Mr Humphries is moving amendment No. 1. You will then have the opportunity to speak to it. I would remind all members, however, that we are in the detail stage.

MR HUMPHRIES: Indeed, Mr Speaker, we are. I move:

Page 1, line 5, omit "Canberra Cultural Authority", substitute "Cultural Facilities Corporation".

Mr Speaker, amendment No. 1 is the change of name. Very briefly, there was concern by members of the arts community and members of this place about the connotations of the title "Authority" and about the concept of the authority having responsibility for cultural matters in Canberra. There was the view, echoed I think in an article in the Canberra Times, that this indicated some sort of Stalinist-type organisation. I have to say, Mr Speaker, that I wish that there were a few more Stalinists in my arts bureaucracy. I would like to see a little bit of strength in that respect - - -

Mr Wood: What does that mean?

MR HUMPHRIES: It means that I need people with resolve to move forward. However, we obviously have sensitivity about that phrase in this place - - -

Mr Wood: It is not one I used.

MR SPEAKER: If you keep interjecting, you will not be using any more either tonight.

MR HUMPHRIES: I have to say, Mr Speaker, that I still think that the title "Canberra Cultural Authority" is a better phrase than the one that is being suggested - that is, "Canberra Facilities Corporation" - for a variety of reasons. However, I want to get this legislation through. I want to get it through tonight. Therefore, I am prepared to compromise. I have moved that we replace the title "Canberra Cultural Authority", where it appears, with "Cultural Facilities Corporation".

MS TUCKER (5.50): I have been part of the round table discussions that have occurred on this piece of legislation. One of the very first concerns that came up from the arts community was the name of the Bill and its connotations. So, I will be supporting this amendment. I think it is very important that the arts community has had a voice in this whole discussion, and I would like to congratulate Mr Humphries on his approach to coming up with these agreed amendments with, particularly, Mr Wood, Mr Moore, me, himself and the arts community. I believe that we have ended up with something which has addressed a lot of the concerns of the community while probably still maintaining the essence of what the Government wanted. So, I hope that it is a good solution.

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