Page 894 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 2012
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because of the role it will play in supporting tourism and businesses here. Indeed, the business community are already well behind the arboretum. The Liberals are trailing the pack, but I have no doubt—and I predict this—that in future the Liberal Party will support the arboretum. Let us just see whether that comes true. I am sure it will, Mr Hanson.
The centenary will be supported by the commonwealth and the ACT government, and now we have got private supporters with ActewAGL, Capital Chemist and Deloittes—it was great to have them—because we will require private sector support for this year to be as successful as it can. We also have some significant media partners with the SBS and the ABC and, of course, the Canberra Times will play an important role. The year 2013 will be an important one for our city. It will not be just about a day and a party. It will be around creating a lasting legacy for our city to build on the first 100 years and to move forward into our second, which will have, I have no doubt, the best years still to come.
MR SMYTH: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Given the Prime Minister’s speech on Canberra’s birthday this year, will you now ask her to reassess her financial commitment to the functions and activities of next year, not just the capital works for the arboretum, and match the rhetoric that she delivered with the dollars as well as matching the ACT’s contribution?
MS GALLAGHER: Indeed, I will table, for the interest of members, the Prime Minister’s speech, because I know that certainly the Liberal Party were not there to hear it. Maybe you could read that.
I must say that I welcome the question from Mr Smyth about whether the amount of about $26 million, I think, that has been put in by the commonwealth is enough, particularly when the only policy the Liberal Party, the Canberra Liberals, have about the centenary is to actually cut the funding. Mr Speaker, $26 million from the commonwealth, and the money that we have already put in, will actually fund a very exciting program for this city. And there are more funds going into that program than there would have been if you were in charge, Mr Smyth. Aside from your junket overseas to talk about the centenary, the only other commitment you have given is to cut the budget.
I table the following paper:
Statement of Commitment to Canberra and Launch of Centenary of Canberra—Copy of Prime Minister’s speech—Monday, 12 March 2012.
ACT Policing—use of force
MS BRESNAN: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and relates to use of force by police. Four years ago the JACS committee inquired into
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