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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (30 June) . . Page.. 1900 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

Really, this is a simple problem. If there is a new lease for the dragway by the Commonwealth, it cannot be issued until the ACT Government has set rent payment levels and other conditions. The Minister, in reply, I think, to a question without notice, laid the blame at the feet of the Commonwealth, as he did earlier in this debate. He asserted it was a Commonwealth lease and the ACT Government has no responsibility, or that he has done what he can. He could have sorted it out with the dragway people and said, "No, you are not getting any more than a five-year lease". That is quite inappropriate, apparently, for the amount of money they need to invest in the development, so a five-year lease does not work. So we either have a 10-year lease or nothing. Tell them. But no; we keep flicking it and saying it is the Commonwealth's fault, and the Commonwealth say, "We can't do anything until the ACT Government does something". It is real "Yes, Minister" stuff, is it not?

Mr Smyth: No, the Commonwealth is not saying that. The Commonwealth has actually offered them a lease.

MR QUINLAN: For five years, after a meeting that they were not even invited to attend. Ripper consultation. But they have already advised you that they need at least a 10-year future for the money that they wish to put into the place. This is a sporting organisation that apparently draws visitors and their money to Canberra. I have a figure here of 19,000 interstate visitors per year. That represents $2m worth of spending. These figures come from CTEC, I understand, and I am sure the Government would not dispute those. The dragway people are caught in an administrative mess not of their own making. The Government has no sympathy for them. I think the Minister here has a responsibility to at least look at it for five minutes through their eyes.

Mr Smyth: We have done more to help them than you have. You haven't even written to the Commonwealth or rung the Minister.

MR QUINLAN: Yes, it is a Commonwealth lease, but the ACT Government has held up the sorting out of it. The result of the Government's inaction is that the Commonwealth has taken the position that the lease is unenforceable. That means the dragway is left in the lurch, does it not? They need 10 years or nothing. Give them an answer. It has been - - -

Mr Smyth: I cannot. It is outside my responsibility.

MR QUINLAN: Yes, Minister, it is.

Mr Moore: You do not want him to break the law, do you, Ted? Are you urging him to break the law?

MR QUINLAN: Shut up, Michael.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, Mr Quinlan! Address your remarks to the Chair.

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