Page 3281 - Week 10 - Thursday, 25 August 2005
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Question so resolved in the negative.
Amendments negatived.
Bill, as a whole, agreed to.
Bill agreed to.
Hotel School (Repeal) Bill 2005
Debate resumed from 16 August 2005, on motion by Mr Quinlan:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella—Leader of the Opposition) (5.11): The opposition will be supporting the bill. I think we all understand that the Australian International Hotel School has had an interesting history since it was established in 1994. It culminated some years ago when the Treasurer told them that they had to find other means to support themselves and that the funding from the government purse would no longer continue. Since that time, the government has found a buyer for the school, the Blue Mountains International Hotel School, which will continue trading the facility that is currently situated in the Hotel Kurrajong operating as the Australian International Hotel School.
The opposition has been informed in a briefing that the Blue Mountains school will take over all operations of Hotel Kurrajong, the tertiary institution, the hotel and the restaurant. It is not certain that the Blue Mountains school will continue to operate the hotel and restaurant in the long term. That should not pose a problem as long as the territory is not lumbered with an ongoing bill.
The bill does not contain significant financial implications, except that it will take some of the pressure off the government purse. The sale price has not been disclosed. The main benefit is that there will now be no ongoing need for a cash subsidy. The opposition will be supporting the bill.
MR QUINLAN (Molonglo—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Business, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for Racing and Gaming) (5.13), in reply: I thank members for their support. I think the Assembly is fully aware that the government has entered into an agreement with the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Pty Ltd. The government itself will cease operation of the hotel school. We will also cease operation of a hotel in the Hotel Kurrajong and the associated restaurant. The date for the transfer of business to take place will be as soon as is practicable once the transfer documentation is finalised. We have lawyers involved, so I cannot give any precise guarantees as to the exact date. But there does need to be a specific date in order to satisfy some of the arrangements.
The key features of the transfer will be that existing students will have the opportunity to complete their degrees. All staff will have the opportunity to be employed by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School under the same terms and conditions as their existing employment. The Hotel Kurrajong, the building itself, will
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