Page 1015 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 2012
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festival, won a gold award. The festival generated nearly $27 million worth of economic activity for the ACT economy and drew a record visitor attendance of just short of 472,000 people, 131,000 of those coming from interstate or overseas. The success of this event is due to the dedicated effort of all staff at Australian Capital Tourism, event sponsors and industry partners who work tirelessly to bring this major festival to life every year.
Whilst I am on the subject of those awards, and if the opposition would not mind, I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate the National Convention Centre for winning a gold award in the meetings and business tourism category. If it does not offend the opposition, congratulations to the National Convention Centre.
MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth, you have the floor.
MR SMYTH: Minister, how much did Enlighten cost, how many attended it and how many free tickets were given out? Have you conducted a review or study of the event, and will you table that review?
MR BARR: All of those matters will be reported on, as is customary for major event evaluation. I can certainly advise the member, as I did in my opening remarks, that there is very strong support for the event this year. In fact, the only person in Canberra who does not appear to like Enlighten is the shadow minister for tourism—and that is pretty sad—the sad sack of the ACT Assembly, the bloke who thinks it is no good to have this festival because it is at the wrong time. Poor old Brendan. He cannot cope with it and he is very upset about it.
Mr Seselja: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, going to direct relevance. The question asked some specific questions. If he cannot answer it, he should sit down.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Barr. If you have got further information we will take it; otherwise I think your answer is finished.
MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: One further point of order, Mrs Dunne.
Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, it is the general convention in this place to address people by their names and not by epithets like “sad sack”. I would ask you to ask Mr Barr to withdraw.
MR BARR: I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you. Do you wish to add anything further?
MR BARR: As I indicated, it is usual practice to evaluate all of these events. That process is, of course, underway. As I advised in my initial response, 22 of the events sold out and there were very high levels of attendance at those other events. It was a
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