Page 422 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 December 2008
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The other items for which we are seeking the Assembly’s support tonight include the first phase of the motorsport funding strategy. Members would be aware that $8 million was—
Mr Seselja: Is this for the dragway, Andrew?
MR BARR: I think we can safely say, following my re-election, the failure of the Motorist Party to achieve a particularly high vote and the failure of the Liberal Party, particularly in north Canberra, to receive a high vote, that the dragway issue is now resolved. The people have spoken. There is a very clear position now from the Canberra population in relation to the dragway. That issue is resolved. The government went to the election with a range of commitments around the future of motorsport—
Members interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr Barr has the floor.
MR BARR: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is interesting that throughout the afternoon the Liberal Party made a great deal about how we should listen to an independent umpire and accept their recommendations. It is fascinating that when it comes to listening to the electorate at an election, they are not interested in hearing what people had to say. It was very clear: the Liberal Party went to the last election supporting a dragway; they did not win the support.
Mrs Dunne: So did you.
MR BARR: Not the 2008 election, Mrs Dunne.
Members interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, members!
MR BARR: This is the point I am making, Madam Deputy Speaker, in relation to this appropriation. We went to the 2008 election with a clear position on the future of motorsport funding. This $200,000 appropriation delivers on the first part of that commitment, and I am very pleased to be able to deliver that first part of the motorsport funding commitment this evening.
I turn to domestic tourism marketing. I welcome Mr Smyth’s support. I am sure he would have noted at the tourism awards the other night the strong level of support for this particular initiative. I can advise, as he was seeking some further information in relation to it, that the campaign will largely occur during May and June of next year. The marketing will target those key sectors in the Sydney and regional New South Wales market. The intention will be to attract people to Canberra in what is traditionally a difficult time for our tourism sector, through June and July.
The funds will be spent on advertising, online and print, and PR activity. It includes a component, as previous speakers have referred to, around shopping locally, in
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