Page 1439 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2007

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I am advised by the department that there have been responses to the RFT, although I have not been told by the department, and nor should I, who the actual tenderers are. As members will appreciate and support, it would be inappropriate for me or anyone in the Assembly to interfere in a process that is governed by the procurement legislation and is required to be independent of government. Accordingly, the tenders received will be evaluated by a properly constituted tender panel, with members drawn from my department with support from ACT Procurement Solutions and overseen by a probity auditor.

When the tender panel has arrived at its conclusion, assuming that there is a successful tenderer, the department will then negotiate a contract with the successful tenderer which will put all the necessary safeguards in place. The contract will certainly include clauses that will not only require the hall to be managed in accordance with the Albert Hall precinct conservation management and landscape plan, but also meet the additional requirements that will arise if the hall is listed on the national heritage list.

The government will therefore move an amendment to Mr Pratt’s motion to take account of the community consultation that has already occurred, the ongoing cultural value and heritage of the hall, the fact that the hall has been managed by a private sector operator for the past 11 years, and the concerns expressed at the community meeting on 24 May 2007.

Mr Speaker, I have been criticised for not being at the meeting. I wish to advise the Assembly that I was at a ministerial council meeting discussing the water crisis facing the ACT. I have to say that that was where my priority was, and I am sorry but that will be my priority. I would like to formally move the amendment circulated in my name.

Mr Pratt: Typical of Mr Hargreaves—another napalm air strike amendment.

MR HARGREAVES: I move:

Omit all words after “Assembly”, substitute:

“(1) recognises the ongoing cultural value and the heritage of Albert Hall;

(2) acknowledges the importance of continued public ownership and community use of the Hall;

(3) acknowledges that the Hall has been managed by a private sector firm under Government supervision for the past 11 years;

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