Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 8 Hansard (25 August) . . Page.. 2387 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

the supercar race, the National Capital Authority, which has responsibility for the land on which that race will be held, has indicated its support for the concept. The ACT Government and the NCA are working together to make sure the race can occur on that location.

With respect to the dragway, the Commonwealth agency responsible for that land, which is the Department of Defence, has indicated that it is not prepared to see the raceway given security for continued operations on that site by way of a 10-year lease. Mr Speaker, we are quite happy to work with other government agencies, particularly at the Commonwealth level, but we do not have the power to force Commonwealth agencies to do something they do not want to do, much as we would like to on occasions.

So, Mr Speaker, our position remains the same. We are not opposed to the dragway, we are not opposed to the concept of having that kind of motoring activity take place in the ACT, but we have to accept the limitations of our capacity to act. We have worked together with the NCA and we would like to work together with the Department of Defence, but we have to recognise the bottom line that they have indicated to us, which is that they will not give a 10-year lease to the dragway.

MR BERRY: I have a supplementary question. Why is the Government so opposed to the extension of this lease for the dragway? Why is it standing in the way of this happening? Can the Treasurer explain to the Assembly why the Office of Asset Management has not responded to the management of the dragway following a meeting to discuss an alternative site for the dragway that occurred 13 weeks ago, again delaying an opportunity to return $2m per annum to the tourism industry in the ACT, to the Canberra economy, and the provision of jobs at no cost to the ACT taxpayer and the Government?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, this is a why won't you stop beating your wife type question. I have indicated very clearly that we are not opposed to the dragway continuing. We are prepared to work together with the people who wish to see that sort of activity continue in Canberra. We are quite willing to work on alternative locations if the dragway people wish to acknowledge that they have a limited capacity to continue on their present site and wish to find an alternative site in the ACT.

Mr Speaker, those opposite would be quick to tell us when some bright idea of theirs came along that was not accepted, and what limitations there were that prevented them being able to act on that should they come into government one day. Our view is that we will work together constructively with the necessary government agencies, but I am not able to work miracles, and I am sure that if Mr Berry was in government he would not be able to work any better miracles than we can.

Mr Berry: Want to bet?

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .