Page 38 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 14 February 2012
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to the process for that—that given the success of the Gungahlin process and the significant number of expressions of interest, we would adopt the same process for our CBD accommodation needs.
In relation to that announcement last month, I note media reports and statements issued by political parties and comments made even by Mrs Dunne—at the time she may have been acting spokesperson for the Canberra Liberals—that she endorsed that approach as it related to Gungahlin and called on us to adopt the same process for the Civic project.
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MR BARR: I heard you on WIN news or ABC news saying that you hoped the government would adopt the same process for Civic—welcoming the Gungahlin decision, in January this year.
I note that Ms Le Couteur on behalf of the ACT Greens has issued statements welcoming the fact that the government has indeed met its commitments in relation to the August motion that was passed in the Assembly and that we would continue that process. And that is exactly what we are doing.
I have made some other decisions in relation to government office accommodation across the city. Firstly, in relation to Gungahlin, I have just outlined that matter to the Assembly. Secondly, I have made decisions in relation to office accommodation for some staff within the Education and Training Directorate and the desire to locate more staff within the precinct at Stirling that accommodates the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning. In the last budget we commissioned some feasibility work into the relocation of the CCCares program from the Stirling campus of Canberra college to the Phillip campus of Canberra college, which will free up space within the Centre for Teaching and Learning precinct to enable more education staff who service schools to be located in that precinct rather than having a function serving the Assembly or the government. And of course, through the announcements that we have made this year, we have identified a way forward for accommodation in the CBD.
The main accusation from the Leader of the Opposition was that somehow we have abandoned the project. The projects will continue. We will be looking for new office accommodation for our staff within the CBD. The issues are very clear for everyone who has participated in this debate over the last 12 months. I am yet to hear anyone argue that there is not a need for an upgrade of ACT government office accommodation. There are a variety of options as to how the government may procure that.
I have indicated, in this speech and repeatedly since I have had portfolio responsibility for this project, the process that I would follow, and I have done exactly as I said I would. Firstly, I have said that the government would pursue the Gungahlin project as the number one priority. That has been the case. Secondly, the announcement last month was that we would utilise the same process that has successfully—
Members interjecting—
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