Page 4179 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 21 September 2011
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DR BOURKE: Can the minister provide details of any recent specific examples where the ACT Labor government has successfully encouraged or supported tourism events in the ACT?
MR BARR: The most obvious and successful examples in recent times have been the partnership with the National Gallery of Australia in relation to their summer blockbuster exhibitions. The Masterpieces from Paris exhibition that the ACT government supported set an Australian record for the greatest level of attendance at an exhibition in the history of the nation. It was indeed a significant period for tourism in the territory.
We are again partnering with the National Gallery in relation to the Renaissance exhibition that commences in December this year and runs through the summer and into the autumn period of 2012. We have also entered into a partnership with the National Library of Australia, and details in relation to that particular series of blockbuster events will be announced shortly.
MR HARGREAVES: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: Is the minister aware of community or other attitudes regarding the ACT Labor government’s programs he has spoken about which are aimed at encouraging and supporting tourism events in the ACT?
MR BARR: There has been very strong interest in applying for both the blockbuster event fund and the tourism event assistance program. We will obviously have some further announcements in relation to events that will be supported under both of those programs throughout this financial year and into the 2012-13 year. Community and industry support for the programs has indeed been very strong. In fact, I think the only organisation I am aware of that has not supported—and demonstrably not supported—these initiatives, by voting against them, is the Canberra Liberals.
Children and young people—care
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Community Services. Minister, yesterday in question time you admitted that you learned in July that the Children and Young People Act may have been breached. You said—and I quote:
… I sought assurances and guarantees that our standards were being met.
Later you said—and this is a direct quote; I hope it has not been mistranscribed:
… I have been seeking assurances that services meet our standards, that oversight is absolutely strong and that all things being equal are in place.
Minister, exactly what assurances did you seek, when did you seek them and what assurances were you given?
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