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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 771 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

We expect, until 2003-2004, to be receiving top-up payments from the Commonwealth. The size of those payments is hard to actually identify - well, it is not hard to identify, but the difference between what the Commonwealth proposes to give us under the new arrangements and the amount that we would have received, had the old arrangements continued, is contained in the Grants Commission report, which was published last week.

That contains the difference that, hypothetically, would have to be topped up for the ACT and other jurisdictions over the next few years. The extent of that top up, Mr Speaker, will of course depend on the outcome of the meeting of state, federal and territory treasurers in Canberra next week. But, subject to a successful outcome of that meeting, I would expect that we will be topped up by approximately the order indicated in the Grants Commission report, and the ACT will receive that money until approximately 2003-2004.

MR RUGENDYKE: My question is to the Chief Minister. In regard to the cancelled Ultimate Rock Symphony the other weekend, I understand that you spoke with Andrew McManus of International Touring Co. prior to BOPL entering into a joint venture to stage the concert. Did you personally give Mr McManus the go-ahead for the proposal?

MS CARNELL: No, Mr Speaker, I did not. That is a matter for BOPL, but it is certainly true that Mr McManus did brief me on his intention to bring the Ultimate Rock Symphony to Canberra, if possible. I think that is a very appropriate approach. But, no, Mr Speaker, there were no negotiations, and no discussions about the details or possible ways that the concert could be put together.

Mr Stanhope: Did you tell BOPL that the guarantee was a good idea?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Will you be quiet, please. It is not your question.

MS CARNELL: It was very much just a discussion about Mr McManus's intention to attempt to bring the Ultimate Rock Symphony to Canberra. Remember that the Ultimate Rock Symphony also has gone to Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and, of course, Melbourne as well. So, it was good that Canberra was on the list and, as it turned out, it was potentially a very, very successful concert.

MR RUGENDYKE: Mr McManus says that he got the nod. But now that it has become clear that the ACT Government agreed to underwrite the Ultimate Rock Symphony, did BOPL also underwrite the cancelled John Farnham concert organised by Glen Wheatley last year?

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