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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 9 Hansard (22 August) . . Page.. 3154 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

Australian government, interestingly though, has rejected the race as not being value for money because it will give only about a dollar for a dollar. It is interesting that they can get only a dollar for a dollar in Perth but we can get two to three here.

My question goes to the issue of drag racing in the territory and how it might compare. Has the government funded and received a report on drag racing in the territory which includes the financial impact of revenue lost because of the government's failure to take the necessary steps to ensure a continuing occupation of the drag strip at Fairbairn? Considering the fact that the returns from drag racing to the ACT economy come at no cost to the territory, what is the loss to the territory because of the government's failure to take the necessary steps to ensure a future for the sport at Fairbairn? Will the minister table the report today in the Assembly?

MR STEFANIAK: I thank the member for the question. Obviously the V8 car race would relate to Mr Humphries. However, I will make a couple of points in relation to drag racing. Firstly, as I think you are well aware, there is not a huge amount this government can do in respect of Fairbairn. I personally made representations to a number of federal parliamentarians, including Senator Margaret Reid, to see if the federal government and the Department of Defence could intervene to keep the drag strip at Fairbairn. But that was to no avail. Obviously, the matter then went to the court, and I am not going to reflect on that.

Mr Berry asked about a report. The Bureau of Sport and Recreation has given some assistance to, I think, the Motor Sport Council in relation to looking at the issue of drag racing and an alternative site, and that may well even include a business study and some work on the economic impact. I am not quite sure about that and I would have to check. But I am unaware whether there is a report available yet.

Certainly I am aware that work is being done at present. There are a number of likely sites. I think Mr Devlin has indicated a likely area and some work is occurring there through the auspices of the Motor Sport Council, which is the peak body for motor sport, with the assistance of the Bureau of Sport and Recreation. If there is a report available, it is news to me, Mr Berry.

Mr Berry: If you happen to look around and find that there is one, would you mind tabling it in the Assembly today or maybe even tomorrow?

MR STEFANIAK: My understanding is that work is in progress. I will have to check that out and see whether there is some report-unless there is some old report that I am unaware of.

Nurses

MRS BURKE: My question is to the Minister for Health, Housing and Community Services, Mr Moore. The government announced this morning that it was offering a 17.5 per cent pay rise to nurses. Minister, will that offer mean that the nurses at Calvary who accepted the offer to them will miss out?

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