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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 9 Hansard (31 August) . . Page.. 2593 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Hosting major events might be a form of prostitution in Ms Tucker's eyes, but it does result in benefits to the community. The young people, in particular, who are given jobs by this sort of exercise are the sort of young people who are otherwise vulnerable, through unemployment, to all sorts of social ills. They would benefit therefore from having money invested in this kind of way. We are not being socially irresponsible by sponsoring a car race.

Mr Berry: It is just your infatuation for the - - -

MR HUMPHRIES: We know you are opposed to it, Mr Berry. You do not have to put yourself on the record any more. We know where you stand on this matter. You want to have a bob each way on this matter and say you are in favour of it, but you are really opposed to it. Be like Ms Tucker. At least be honest enough to say you are opposed to the race outright and not pretend that you are a bit one way and a bit the other way at the same time.

Ms Tucker: You can have the race, but let the private sector pay for it somewhere else, okay? If you really want car racing, the private sector can do it, not the Government though. Do it in Majura. Make a race track.

MR HUMPHRIES: I will come to that in a minute, Ms Tucker. You want to get the social benefits that flow from high levels - - -

Ms Tucker: I think it is going to be wonderful.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Settle down. You will have the chance to respond eventually.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, what Ms Tucker has to realise is that high levels of employment, particularly for younger Canberrans, is the best social benefit we can produce, the best antidote to social ills that we can produce, and that is why this Government is pursuing this event. It is not because we want car races in our streets; it is because of the economic benefits in terms of jobs. Ms Tucker said, "Don't hold it in the Parliamentary Triangle; hold it at Majura or somewhere like that". She said outside the chamber, elsewhere on the media, that she felt it was disrespectful to use national monuments - - -

Ms Tucker: I said that today in here.

MR HUMPHRIES: All right, you said it again today. She said it is disrespectful to use national monuments as a backdrop to a car race. I ask Ms Tucker how she would feel if there was a proposal to hold a major bicycle race around the same area of the Parliamentary Triangle. Would she believe it was disrespectful to use the national monuments as a backdrop to a bicycle race? I suspect not, Mr Speaker. Or a foot race, for that matter.

Ms Tucker: I would consult on that. I would get a sense of the community feeling.

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