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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 1471 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

I am advised that contract negotiations with J. Walter Thompson were undertaken by ACT Government officers. No external persons acted for or on behalf of the Government in these negotiations. ACT Government officers were paid their normal salary. No fee for service above normal salaries was paid by the Government, so that means that nothing was paid. As I think I indicated at the end of question time on Tuesday, the amount of licence fee paid by the Government to date is $11,000.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, Mr Wood asked me a question with regard to a feasibility study into the wine industry. The answer to that question is that the Canberra district wine industry feasibility study was commissioned by ACT AusIndustry. The purpose of the study was to identify network business opportunities throughout the ACT and region to promote Canberra district wineries, and to identify markets and products to fill market needs and trends.

The recommendation of the wine industry feasibility study included the development of a strategic marketing and development plan for the Canberra district wine industry; the formation of a multisectorial wine industry marketing and networking organisation; the development of industry training packages; continued support and development of regional wine industry festivals and events; facilitation of sustainable investment and development in the region by identifying and creating an inventory of existing growers; addressing regulatory and legislative issues, including wholesale sales tax; and the issuing of irrigation licences by the New South Wales Government.

The feasibility study did not specifically recommend the formation of an ACT-wide wine industry network that would market wines from an inner city shopfront. However, it did recommend the formation of a multisectorial wine industry marketing and networking organisation. There was no proposal to establish a wine industry network in the feasibility study. However, the Canberra region wine industry was very supportive during the preparation of the feasibility study, and it provided significant input into the report. An executive summary was made available for contributors following completion of the study. I can advise the Assembly that the person who managed the feasibility study on behalf of ACT AusIndustry recently resigned his contract with the ACT Government, following his declaration of a financial interest in a new business called the ACT Wine Industry Network.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a short statement on comments made yesterday in the Assembly with regard to Cabinet documents.

Leave granted.

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