Page 2959 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 20 September 2006
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The unfairness of the criticism, I think, goes to the lack of funding, particularly commonwealth funding, for the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. The Canberra Symphony Orchestra has been receiving $100,000. The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra receives $6 million. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra receives $8 million.
Mr Smyth: What have you done about it?
MR STANHOPE: Mr Smyth says, “What have you done about it?” In an environment where until this year the commonwealth funded the Canberra Symphony Orchestra to the tune of $100,000—it is now going to $200,000—and in an environment where the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra receives $6.8 million, I think, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra receives from the commonwealth somewhere between $8 million and $9 million, you have the temerity to ask me what I am doing about that. What are you doing about that? What are the Liberal Party and its confreres doing about the Canberra Symphony Orchestra?
Be that as it may, it is a bit rich to be damming the level of funding available for the Canberra Symphony Orchestra when the commonwealth funds other orchestras around Australia to the tune of $6 million, $8 million or $10 million while funding the Canberra Symphony Orchestra to the tune of $100,000.
The Canberra Symphony Orchestra is a part-time orchestra and it has received limited funds. I would have to be corrected, but I think that, to date, the Canberra Labor Club has provided the same level of funding to the Canberra Symphony Orchestra as the commonwealth government has. But for the Canberra Labor Club, a club that I know is very much in the hearts of members, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra would struggle far more than it does.
MR MULCAHY: I ask a supplementary question. Are there any specific redevelopment plans being contemplated to expand the Canberra theatre, other than hoping for a possible centenary gift from the commonwealth government for the 2013 celebrations?
MR STANHOPE: Not at this stage. But, as I indicated, I have asked for a briefing from the Cultural Facilities Corporation and artsACT on the issues around the technical requirements of the Australian Ballet and, of course, the likely or potential cost of meeting what the Australian Ballet would insist were its technical needs in relation to the Canberra theatre. So I have asked for an appropriate briefing on both the implications of changes and the cost. Of course, in the absence of that basic info, the government will not be making any decisions. But we are seeking to inform ourselves in the first instance of the technical requirements of the Australian Ballet and, in the second instance, I am interested in the implications for the Canberra theatre—whether it could be extended and, if it were able to be extended, how much it would cost.
Nevertheless, I think one of the quite worthy aims we should consider through the celebration of the centenary of Canberra is the possibility of perhaps pursuing a performing arts centre in a true sense, or at least a replacement Canberra theatre. We should not shy away from the possibility of what it is that we might achieve if we set our minds to it. But, in the first instance, I have sought advice and I have sought costings.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .