Page 1449 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2007
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We cannot merely centre this debate on current user groups either. I say that because, as Mr Hargreaves would know, many groups and people who have lived in Canberra for much longer than I have and who have used the Albert Hall in the past have moved on. Why? They have done so because of the disrepair of the building. The toilets—and I note that Mr Hargreaves is nodding his head—
Mr Hargreaves: No, I am not. I am shaking it, Mrs Burke. I am not nodding it, I am shaking it.
MRS BURKE: So the toilets are working then? The toilets used by people in wheelchairs are all working? So people have gone because everything is working well? It does not quite add up, does it? If all these things were fixed, the horticultural society would gladly come back tomorrow, Mr Hargreaves.
Mr Hargreaves said this morning that we all want the same outcome. It was interesting to note that he also mentioned Mrs Carnell and the former Liberal government. So I would ask: if the Stanhope government, and particularly Mr Hargreaves, were so against Mrs Carnell’s move in a previous government to tender out the running and management of the Albert Hall, why has it taken the Stanhope government six years to do anything about it? That sounds a bit strange.
Mr Hargreaves: Because there was a contract.
MRS BURKE: This is serious and Mr Hargreaves might want to listen. He might also make some inquiries about rumours circulating regarding selected people talking to the government before the tender process began. I bring this to your attention because these concerns have been raised with me, minister. Perhaps you can move to quash such rumours today.
Mr Hargreaves: No, I can’t.
MRS BURKE: I hope you will look into it because it is a serious rumour. If you can, I want you to tell the Assembly by close of business today if any—
Mrs Dunne: We will give him leave to speak again.
MRS BURKE: We could do. I want him to tell the Assembly if any selected people were talking to the government prior to the tender, almost behind closed doors. It is a rumour but I am giving him the ability to find out if that is true or not.
It is really important that the future of the Albert Hall, as set out in the document I have tabled today, is closely looked at. It is not too late to stop the process. One of the issues set out in the tabled document is “the need for the ACT government to achieve far higher levels of affordable community access and guarantee the future of the Albert Hall as a public venue for civic and cultural purposes”.
On a final note, I would like to say that if we continue to allow our heritage in Australia to be moved into public or commercial hands, we are going to lose the essence of what Canberra is about.
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