Page 488 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 8 March 2011
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Events—scheduling
MR SMYTH: My question is to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation. Minister, the annual Canberra Festival will be held between 11 and 20 March this year. As part of this festival the regular Skyfire event will be held on Saturday, 19 March. Also this year there is a new event called Enlighten which will be held over two weekends, on 11 and 12 March and 19 and 20 March. Minister, were you aware, when you were planning for Enlighten, that this event would clash with Skyfire on Saturday, 19 March? If you were aware of this clash, what consideration did you give to ameliorating any adverse outcomes?
MR BARR: Yes, we were aware. We are working very closely with the organisers of Skyfire to ensure that the events are indeed complementary. The Skyfire event is just after 9 pm and runs for 18 minutes. There is some lead-up activity. The Enlighten event, in fact, runs until midnight and the main performing artists will be on after the fireworks. We are working very closely together to create a fantastic evening for Canberrans and for visitors from interstate and overseas.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary?
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, are you aware of any additional burden that will be placed on the organisers of Skyfire as a consequence of this clash?
MR BARR: Actually, we are working very closely with the organisers of Skyfire to reduce the burden on them, particularly in relation to issues like traffic management, where the government will be providing additional support around that particular event. We are working closely with them, and have been for many months. Ever since Enlighten was announced, we have been working very closely with the organisers of Skyfire to ensure that the 19th, the finale of the first year of Enlighten and Skyfire, combine to create a fantastic event for Canberrans and visitors alike.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Seselja.
MR SESELJA: Minister, what additional costs would be incurred by ACT taxpayers as a consequence of the clash?
MR BARR: None. All costs are being met within the Enlighten budget to put on that event.
Education—Indigenous achievement gap
MS HUNTER: My question is to the Minister for Education and is in regard to the Indigenous achievement gap in the area of literacy and numeracy. Minister Barr, it has been a year since you made a commitment to reduce the Indigenous achievement gap. Can you update the Assembly on progress to reduce this gap?
MR BARR: Yes, we report, of course, twice a year formally to the Assembly on Indigenous education outcomes. I am pleased that a number of important programs
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