Page 1381 - Week 04 - Thursday, 26 March 2009
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I hope that members will support this bill which forms part of the introduction of the IGA and its new model of cooperative federalism. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth) adjourned to the next sitting.
Exhibition Park Corporation Repeal Bill 2009
Mr Barr, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Planning and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (10.19): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
This bill will repeal the Exhibition Park Corporation Act 1976 to transfer the roles and responsibilities of the corporation to the Department of Territory and Municipal Services.
The Exhibition Park Corporation was established to manage the national exhibition centre as well as to conduct events at the showgrounds. Under the administrative arrangements made in November last year, the Department of Territory and Municipal Services, through the Territory Venues and Events group, was given administrative oversight of the Exhibition Park Corporation.
This provides an excellent opportunity to merge the administration of the Exhibition Park Corporation with other territory venues operated by Territory and Municipal Services. This is the same process the government went through previously with Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval.
This move will see all of our major venues—Canberra Stadium, Manuka Oval and Stromlo Forest Park—managed by the same professional team. It will also allow for greater coordination of events and improved long-term strategy for the management of all venues.
As members will be aware, among this government’s high priorities are the strengthening of the territory’s economy and the delivery of high-quality services to the community. By integrating the management of EPIC with other venues we will reduce overheads by around $50,000 per year. It will also reduce duplicated administrative structures and therefore help us to achieve a much more efficient economic outcome for all territory-owned venues.
It is intended that the provisions of this bill, together with the consequential amendments to the Financial Management Act and subordinate legislation, will come into operation on 1 July 2009.
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