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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 1976 ..

of a lot more there. If you are the one who has restricted it, well, it is a nice try but I think it is doomed to failure because your boss, the Chief Minister, is going to need a hell of a lot more money than just that.

There are some good initiatives in the arts area. There is an increase in arts funding, and I think some important new programs need to be funded. Some existing programs need to be funded, too—some icon groups such as the Canberra City Band and the eisteddfod which, in fact, were de-funded. I think some work needs to be done on how the grants program is implemented. But, certainly, you would have to say that the arts community would be very happy to see that additional funding. We wait to see how in fact it is going to work.

I am pleased to see that the government has addressed something that I have been calling for since I have been the shadow minister, and that is to increase the number of groups getting multi-year funding. Currently you have only three. There seems to be a commitment and this will give a lot more certainty.

The saga of the powerhouse glass operating centre has probably been running for almost as long as the poor old Belconnen pool, and at least competition policy and all sorts of other extraneous issues came into play to delay the pool. But the powerhouse glass operating centre project is now being pushed out to about 2008. This good project, which was initiated by the previous government, was meant to be up and running by 2003. This has now been pushed out effectively another five years, which is an inordinate length of time.

There are a number of other projects in the arts which I am happy to see. Like Ms Dundas, I am happy to see some money for the Belconnen arts centre. Page 221 of BP3 shows that $200,000 has been allocated for some design and siting. But there is nothing after that. One has to ask one’s self, “Is this just another project with a view to the election; to make people, especially in Belconnen and, indeed, North Canberra, think that there is going to be another very good arts facility built there? Is there any real commitment to do so after the election? Is this going to be a bit like the dragway?” There are zero dollars for financing in the out years.

Mr Quinlan: As there were in your budget, Bill?

MR STEFANIAK: Well, Mr Quinlan, normally we would put in funding for the out years. Here we have $200,000 and nothing more. So you have to ask yourself the question, “Okay, what is going to happen in the out years? Nice start, good improvement on last year, but what is going to happen in the out years?” Is this promise going to be delivered? We just have to wait and see. I wonder about that.

I would like to refer to some other capital works. While I am on that page, I see that there is $70,000 for the Civic pool. The Civic pool is going to need a lot more funding very soon because the life of the dome, which has been up for over a decade—we took a decision about five years ago not to take it down each summer—is somewhat limited. But that is a future expense you are going to have, and there is nothing in the budget in relation to that. All you are doing relates to a permanent enclosure and refurbishment.

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