Page 763 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 2010
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Since that time, there has been significant progress, including what we regard as a major coup in our centenary planning by securing the services of one of Australia’s pre-eminent special event organisers in Ms Robyn Archer AO as the creative director for the centenary of Canberra. Ms Archer took on her role only late last year and her enthusiasm for the centenary—and I am sure many of you who have met Ms Archer would agree with this—and I must say for the city of Canberra as well, is proving exceptionally infectious.
While the program is still being developed, Ms Archer and the government are determined that it will provide an exciting array of activities which encourages broad participation and, importantly, I think, is being planned with a view to providing a legacy for the future.
The ACT and the commonwealth governments continue to meet regularly via an intergovernmental working group to progress joint planning for the celebrations. In all of my discussions with the commonwealth, they remain 100 per cent committed to playing a significant role in helping to recognise the significance of this occasion for the nation.
The first major event we have secured for the centenary is the 2013 Australian Women’s Golf Open, which will be played at Royal Canberra and will attract the best players from across Australia and overseas.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, members! I am having trouble hearing the Chief Minister.
MR STANHOPE: We have had very positive discussions with many of the other major sporting codes, and I remain confident that we will have a smorgasbord of world-class sporting events in our centenary year. Both the ACT and federal governments are continuing to liaise with Cricket Australia, with the aim of securing a first test cricket match in Canberra in 2013.
Robyn Archer has met with all of the big national cultural institutions across the city and all are excited about delivering a 10-month calendar of events second to none in the history of our city. Ms Archer has also had very positive discussions with many of our nation’s leading artistic companies.
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR STANHOPE: Just to respond to Mr Smyth’s obvious interest in the centenary, we do wonder about, and I am sure we are looking forward with great interest to, Mr Smyth’s travel report on his trip to Florence, where he addressed an international meeting on Canberra’s centenary celebrations—
Ms Gallagher: On everything that he’s doing.
MR STANHOPE: on everything that he is doing for the centenary, to an audience in Florence. I am not quite sure; did you see any good public art, by any chance? Did
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