Page 5475 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video

that sort of behaviour should be rewarded in independent processes. That is why I do not believe—

Mr Coe: Do not use the Assembly to represent community interests. That is what he is saying.

MR BARR: No, to seek preferential outcome over other organisations, and I think it is a very poor precedent to set. I repeat the point I made earlier: if those opposite believe it should be a political process and it should be about who can get the ear of a member of the Assembly and get a motion up in this place and if that is how all funding should be allocated in this city, if that is the way you want to go, that is a very dangerous path, in my view. That is a very dangerous path and I look forward to hearing statements from further speakers in this debate to indicate that that is not the position that they are advocating.

In closing, I commend this amendment. It is a series of factual statements. I do not think anyone would disagree with anything that is contained within the amendment. There are no political assertions. It is just a series of statements of facts. So when we come to the usual test of amendments on private members’ day, statements of fact appear to be supported. Political assertions have less chance of being supported in this place. That has certainly been the practice in the past. So each part of this amendment is a pure statement of fact.

I close by saying that I would welcome a further application, and the government would welcome a further application, from those applicants who were unsuccessful in the first round to apply for funding in the second.

Amendment negatived.

MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (8.56): I will start by moving the amendment that has been circulated in my name:

Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:

“(1) notes:

(a) the Weston Creek Community festival is a regular community event, usually held each year since the 1970s;

(b) in July this year, the Weston Creek Community Council (WCCC) applied to the ACT Government for funding through the 2012 ACT Festival Fund;

(d) without some funding from the ACT Government the Weston Creek Community festival may not proceed;

(e) the Government has provided funding for other community festivals across Canberra;

(f) community festivals are an important way to build local communities;

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video