Page 1387 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 March 2012
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The early indications are that the program for next year is looking tremendous. Mr Smyth has just spoken about some of the matters that are contained in the brochure. Unfortunately, I missed the presentation by Robyn Archer, the director for next year, a couple of weeks ago to coincide with the 99th anniversary of the city. All of the indications are that it is going to be a tremendous program. Certainly, community organisations that I have spoken to and individuals who are promoting events for next year are very excited about it. It is going to be a great year to be in Canberra and one to be truly celebrated.
It is an opportunity to highlight much more than just the parliamentary triangle. In some ways when people think about Canberra they tend to think about those buildings and that precinct—the parliament, the War Memorial, the National Library and the like. They are all tremendous attractions, but I think this city is much more than the parliamentary triangle, as those that live here from time to time know. Perhaps some of the visiting MPs do not know that—the ones that come to the federal parliament who get an apartment somewhere along Canberra Avenue, dine at Manuka and Kingston and never go much further.
There is, of course, much more to the city. I think there is an opportunity here for some of our rural villages—Tharwa, Hall and Pialligo—to be part of the story. Other historic sites across the city are often hidden gems. One of the privileges of being an MLA is that you end up discovering more of these things as you go along. People say: “Come and have a look at this,” “Come for a walk here,” or, “There’s an event on.” The history of this city is quite broad in that sense. Certainly, the natural history of this region is fascinating, both the Indigenous history and the pre-Canberra days of the Limestone Plains. The stories I have heard about Canberra’s natural history are very fascinating.
The centenary is an opportunity for our local artists and multicultural groups to again step into the limelight. I believe Robyn Archer has made a public statement that she hopes to use the centenary to create an ongoing cultural legacy for this city. That is an excellent vision to have. I am pleased that sporting events will feature as part of the program next year as part of that, I guess, rounded approach to the year. Certainly, sports fans across the city will enjoy visits by the British Lions and various other events that are being canvassed and are already scheduled. All in all, it is an excellent package which has the potential to draw a range of people from across Australia.
There are a series of amendments that have been put on the table. Let me touch briefly on some of those. I have flagged a couple. Mr Smyth has moved his and I understand Mr Barr has some further amendments. This is not to steal his thunder, but to explain the context. I have suggested to members that after these speeches we might adjourn the debate to a later hour this day. I think the intent is there for us all to get to a similar place. Perhaps we can tidy up our proposed amendments. If we work over the lunch break we can perhaps come up with a singular set. That will at least make it easier for the secretariat to keep track of all the amendments. I believe there is agreement from members to do that and I think that is a good approach.
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