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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1570 ..

MR QUINLAN: I saw the Brumbies on Saturday night. I am pretty sure they would have filled any ground. I thank Mr Hird for the introduction to my question, which is directed to the Treasurer. In September of last year, the Chief Minister revealed, in answer to a question on notice, that the government was involved in a legal dispute with the marketing consortium that won the right to market Bruce Stadium. The consortium was engaged on the basis that it would raise $13 million in sponsorship for the new Bruce Stadium, but it managed to raise only $195,237 in 12 months. The consortium was paid half of its $1.8 million contracted fee for this work. Can the Treasurer advise the Assembly the status of that legal action? Has it been resolved and, if so, what was the result?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I will take that question, as Bruce Stadium is within my responsibility. The legal action against the marketing company NVM is entering arbitration-mediation-in the very near future. It is very interesting that Mr Quinlan should ask this question, because Mr Quinlan was the person who, in the media, was talking about what a wonderful stadium Colonial was and how the ACT could not possibly have hoped to do such a wonderful job as they have done in Victoria. Who else is in conflict with NVM? Colonial Stadium is. NVM are the managers of Colonial Stadium and also had the marketing contract there.

As we will see, there are significant issues between Colonial Stadium and NVM over the stadium that Mr Quinlan raved on about and suggested that the ACT should emulate more closely. I am very surprised that Mr Quinlan would ask any questions at all relating to the marketing company or Colonial Stadium.

MR QUINLAN: I ask a supplementary question. While I was in Melbourne looking at Colonial Stadium, I did ask whether it was built legally or illegally. They assured me it was built legally, which is a minor distinction!

MR SPEAKER: No preamble, please, Mr Quinlan.

MR QUINLAN: I thought it would benefit the house, Mr Speaker, to have that point clarified. Can the Chief Minister bring us up to date on the sale of the naming rights of Bruce Stadium?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, that is hardly a supplementary question. I do not know what it has to do with a legal conflict.

MR SPEAKER: So you do not have to answer it if you do not wish.

MS CARNELL: I am happy to say that negotiations are continuing. There are a number of interested parties.

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