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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 3295 ..

MR CORNWELL (continuing):

It seems to me that, in view of the immense interest in and support for a dragway here in the ACT, this government-and any other government, for that matter-would be well advised to follow the views of a substantial number of ACT citizens and, possibly, a substantial number of its own voters.

MRS DUNNE (5.03): I rise to speak in support of Mr Stefaniak's motion-that the Assembly calls on the ACT government to build a motor sport facility, including a dragway, in the Majura Valley-and against the amendment proposed by Mr Quinlan.

As Mr Cornwell said, Mr Quinlan's amendment would be fine, if it did not omit words with a view to substituting others, but was an addendum to the motion. It is worthy of note that there are negotiations going on. It is also worthy of note that there has been something of a sea change in the attitude of this government since the issue was raised by me in a question without notice in April last year. At that time, it was definitely: "No. We are not going to do anything to help the motor sport people."

There has been some sea change, but what we see today is no commitment from this government. It is all very well to note that they are negotiating to buy land, but that does not boil down to any sort of commitment. Mr Stefaniak's motion requires this Assembly to commit to the motor sport community.

I could be selfish and say that I could not stand here today and not support this motion. If I did, my mechanic would never service my car again! I do not know how many times, when I take the car to be serviced, I hear, "What are you going to do about motor sport? What is this useless government going to do about a motor sport facility for people like us?"

These are ordinary, everyday, working men and women who have an interest in cars, as Mr Pratt has pointed out, and also in motorcycles. My mechanic happens to race veteran motorcycles. These people are law-abiding citizens. They want a facility where they can enjoy their chosen recreational pastime without having to travel interstate.

Ms Dundas made the important point that governments provide a whole range of recreational facilities for people in and outside the urban area. Outside the urban area we already have a range. We have horse trails, equestrian trails, walking paths, bicycle paths, shooting ranges, mountain biking and paintballing. All these things are available to us-all these things are about people's chosen pastimes-but, when it come to motor sport, it is: "Oh no! We can't possibly do that!"

What we are asking here today is for this Assembly to pledge to commit to the motor sport community of the ACT. We can then make our way forward so that, in the end, there will be a motor sport facility which will meet the needs of the people of the ACT and, as Ms Dundas has pointed out, will meet a whole lot of other needs.

In talking about sustainability of a project, if Ms Tucker is concerned about the environmental impacts, I would welcome consideration of an amendment to look at whether this is sustainable. In looking at whether this is sustainable, we have to look at all three parameters-the economic, social and environmental sustainability of an issue.

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