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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (6 November) . . Page.. 3725 ..

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Sport, Mr Stefaniak. Minister, in the last sittings Ms McRae asked you a question about what you intended to do to ensure that the Australian rules football team, the Rams, could continue to be based in Canberra, in much the same way as your Government has previously assisted the Canberra Cosmos soccer team and the Canberra Cannons men's basketball team. Minister, what steps have you taken in the last month to help the Rams stay in the ACT, given that they provide a valuable service to the region for Australian rules football?

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Whitecross, I refer you to my answer on the last occasion. I may or may not have indicated in that answer that it was specifically to assist the Rams that the general manager of the Bureau of Sport, Recreation and Racing, Mr Owens, had been tasked to assist them in whatever way he could in terms of obtaining money. There are two other points, though, Mr Whitecross. First, I do not think the ACT Government can be expected to bankroll every conceivable team. It is simply not feasible. Secondly, in the case of the Rams, they are under the auspices of the ACT Australian Football League, ACTAFL. Indeed, I think there was some concern in ACTAFL that they had not gone through them with that request. Because they are under the auspices of ACTAFL, it being their peak body, it should be the body which should be chasing up those types of requests. It is my understanding that ACTAFL has not done that.

That being said, Mr Whitecross, I indicated on the last occasion a number of avenues that could be pursued. I have offered the services of Mr Mark Owens to assist the Rams in relation to that.

Ms McRae: But he is overseas all the time. What chance has he got?

MR STEFANIAK: I think you might find he is here now, Ms McRae. I am not too sure whether they have taken that up in the last month or so, Mr Whitecross. As far as I am aware, they are aware that he is there to assist them. I could not think of a better person to assist them in terms of obtaining further finance. We would love to see them stay here.

MR WHITECROSS: I have a supplementary question. Minister, am I to take it from your answer that you are happy to sit on your hands and not do anything actively to assist the Rams to stay in the ACT? You do not really value their contribution to ACT sport seriously, otherwise you might do something active rather than sitting on your hands. Finally, what is the point of spending $8m upgrading a football field for Australian rules football if you are not going to do something to ensure that the Rams stay in the ACT?

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, in answer to Mr Whitecross's question, I hardly think making the services of the general manager of the Bureau of Sport, Recreation and Racing - a very experienced person - available to assist, and assist also across other government agencies, is sitting on my hands and doing nothing. I think that is a considerable assistance.

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