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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 2032 ..

funded assets do not wish to manage them, then the assets should be returned to the territory and not traded for profit.

Acting on the matter now will also avoid further deterioration of valuable territory-owned assets at Phillip oval. If ACTAFL and the territory agree to the terms of the surrender of the lease, the government will then consider the best option for future management, recognising any agreement with ACTAFL and the policy position of maintaining the oval as an enclosed oval.

Mr Speaker, the government sees an investment of $800,000 to accept surrender of the lease as a good investment for the people of the territory. The policy has the strong support of the Woden Valley Community Council. Members of this Assembly, I’m sure, will be aware that they have received correspondence from the community council seeking to keep the facility in community management. I commend the council for its advocacy, and clearly the government agrees with the position.

The council has advised that a meeting which discussed this matter, a public meeting attended by approximately 100 residents, strongly opposed trading of concessional leases and strongly encouraged the government to accept a lease surrender from ACTAFL. That is exactly what the government is intending to do if it wins the support of the Assembly tonight to include that $800,000 in the appropriation.

Mr Speaker, the government does not support the recommendations within the report that relate to Football Park, Phillip, and I urge members to support the appropriation with the $800,000 for Phillip oval so that this important community asset can be maintained for all Canberrans.

MRS CROSS (9.08): I never cease to be amazed in this place. Someone spoke—Mr Smyth, I think, but I’m not sure—on the estimates process. I referred earlier in a speech when we tabled our report, an interesting one—and I’m not going to go over that again—to some of the concerns that have been expressed in this report and to the recommendations. I’m not going to repeat them because they’re clearly stated.

In response to Mr Corbell’s response to the Phillip oval issue, I will quote some things that are in this report about what Mr Corbell said. This is one of the reasons why most of the members of this committee were concerned with what appeared to be the minister’s lack of—

Ms MacDonald: On a point of order Mr Speaker: I just seek your clarification. I believe Mrs Cross has already spoken in the debate on this issue. Is she seeking leave to speak again?

MRS CROSS: No, I have not spoken.

MR SPEAKER: No, I don’t think she’s spoken.

MRS CROSS: No, Mr Speaker. I have not spoken on this report. If Ms MacDonald were concentrating she would know that.

MR SPEAKER: This is a debate on the appropriation bill.

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