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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Thursday, 4 March 2004) . . Page.. 752 ..

week. Taste—a festival that is beginning to grow—has enormous potential for the showcasing of wine, food, entertainment and the arts in the ACT.

That festival, which will be held in conjunction with the Canberra Balloon Fiesta and the Shannons Wheels event, is an opportunity to attract the people of Canberra to a real celebration—Canberra Day. We, as Canberrans, should be proud and pleased to celebrate such a wonderful city and community, which has a burgeoning spirit and confidence in itself. We need to celebrate that spirit. From time to time some things in this community divide us and there are divisive public debates on a number of issues. We are aware of those issues. It is important to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the things that bind us as a community and all those things that bring us together.

Over the past year or so we have seen examples of that. We know of the strength and resilience of this community and the extent to which members of the community are prepared to work together to meet their aspirations. Canberra is a place that we all love. It is a place that we love to call home and it is a place that is dear to us all. Taste is a great opportunity to showcase what Canberra has to offer. It is a regional celebration, a celebration of the food, wine and arts of the region and, as such, it has enormous potential. Fifteen months ago I attended the Taste festival in Tasmania.

Mr Cornwell: Point of order: The person who asked the question should be listening to the answer.

MR SPEAKER: It would be a very cruel set of standing orders that made everybody listen to everything that is said in this place.

MR STANHOPE: It is important for us to celebrate all those things that are so wonderful about Canberra—its people, the community spirit, and the things that unite us and make us love this place so much. Included in that community spirit is a willingness to celebrate and enjoy Canberra together. I urge all members to attend Taste 2004. Radio station FM104.7 has sponsored the Skyfire fireworks display—a Canberra icon that will form part and parcel of the Taste celebration.

I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Supplementary answers to questions without notice

Bushfires—warnings

MR WOOD: I can confirm, Mr Stefaniak, what I said in the answer to the earlier question about the evacuation of Uriarra. In respect of that issue there were at least two phone calls on the morning of Saturday. One call was from ESB indicating to ACT Housing that they were warning the residents of Uriarra. The second call came a bit later when they said they were proceeding to evacuate residents of Uriarra. It was ESB who were doing that.

Housing—debt review committee

MR WOOD: Ms Tucker asked me a question yesterday about the housing debt review committee and I can answer as follows: ACT Housing are currently finalising the terms

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