Page 1419 - Week 04 - Thursday, 26 March 2009
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from entertainment to other priorities. I have absolutely no doubt that there is no sector of our society or our community which will not be similarly affected by the impacts of the global financial crisis—increasing concern and anxiety, increasing unemployment and a redirection of available funding from what was regarded as a recreational aspect part of their budget.
I am more than happy to seek from artsACT a detailed briefing, which I am more than happy to share with you, in relation to the capacity which we have to quantify the likely impact and the extent to which, if an impact is identified, it can be attributed to the global circumstance. If artsACT has not begun the process of seeking to understand that, I am more than happy to discuss with them their capacity to pursue specific work of that order.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Le Couteur, a supplementary question?
MS LE COUTEUR: Thank you, minister. In that context, could you give the Assembly some assurance about employment in the new Belconnen arts centre? In particular, will there be a funding program for a creative arts director there?
Mr Stanhope: I beg your pardon?
MS LE COUTEUR: Do you have any idea about funding for people at the new Belconnen arts centre, as distinct from the facilities—in particular, a creative arts director?
MR STANHOPE: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. I do not have the staffing or administrative allocation retained in my memory. I may have it here within a briefing note but I do not have it retained. I am more than happy to find all the information.
Of course, the Belconnen arts centre is a significant development. Its recurrent administrative expenditure has been provided for and budgeted and I am more than happy to provide for you the staffing levels—the funding levels for both staff and administration—and provide that to you separately.
Health—general practitioners
MR HANSON: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, during yesterday’s motion on GP clinic closures, which was passed unanimously by the Assembly, you foreshadowed that ACT Health would be undertaking investigation and a report into GP shortages which will report back to the Assembly in September. Then today you announced a task force which will do precisely the same thing, by the same officers within your department and according to the same timetable. Minister, can you explain the logic in doing this, or have you just rebadged an Assembly inspired initiative as your own?
MS GALLAGHER: As I understand the debate yesterday, the Assembly is concurrently going to inquire into a whole range of matters quite separately to the work that I have agreed that ACT Health will proceed with and provide to the
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