Page 4068 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 16 Sept 2009
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project management and better financial management to that project. There is no doubt that there were mistakes made and problems with that project. Since that time we have acted, and I as minister have acted, to fix those problems. We now have detailed coordinating and oversight provisions and mechanisms in place to ensure that the project remains within budget and on time. And that is what is occurring.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary question?
MR SMYTH: Yes, thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, what will be the final cost of the ESA headquarters project given that the auditor concludes in paragraph 4.9 that the final costs of this project “will be much higher”?
MR CORBELL: It will be the amount as appropriated in the budget.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary question?
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, why will the new ESA headquarters now be located on three sites when the initial objective was to co-locate all headquarters functions on a single site?
MR CORBELL: Unfortunately, the previous Emergency Services Authority failed to take into account some fairly important factors. One of those was the need for hot-fire training for fire-fighting services. Of course, hot-fire training involves smoke, and it is simply not desirable for smoke and hot-fire training to occur close to an airport runway, for fairly obvious reasons.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Corbell has the floor.
Mr Hanson: The clear answer is—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson!
MR CORBELL: It was simply not feasible to locate those training elements on the existing site. The government has chosen an alternative site. But this does not in any way operate on the ability of the ESA to perform its functions as an integrated and coordinated agency. The functions that occur at the training centre are quite discrete and separate from the functions that occur at the headquarters area, and there is no need for those two functions to be co-located.
Mr Stanhope: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Mental health
Paper and statement by member
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella): I present the following paper:
My Life, My Community—Journeys to recovery through Community Services for mental health, prepared by Fiona Tito-Wheatland, Enduring Solutions Pty Ltd for the ACT Greens, dated July 2009.
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