Page 1445 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 March 2012
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MR SMYTH: No, on the east coast, not the southern. It is unfortunate that we are not looking to the future in this regard. I think Mr Rattenbury’s comments are unfortunate about the way you protect the amenity of residents. Zed Seselja as leader of the Canberra Liberals has said very clearly, “Let’s legislate to make sure that the planes fly the courses that they submit and that they do not end up taking shortcuts and flying over the community.” Particularly for the people of Tuggeranong, noise is of big interest.
So we are very much supportive of the airport and welcome the task force. Certainly time, and I think the size of the city, will ensure that we do get international flights. But let us certainly keep the options open into the future and not let the sentiments of the Greens be the death knell of something special on the eastern seaboard in our centenary year.
That said, I think the motion as amended and agreed to by all parties is now a very solid motion. I look forward to the responses that the Speaker will get from the political leaders on the hill and the independents; I am sure we will all read them with great interest. It is great that the Assembly stand up for Canberra; that we get the federal government to share a fair burden for what is a national event, in the Prime Minister’s own words. I commend the amendments to the Assembly.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (4.05): I thank Mr Smyth, Mr Rattenbury and the staff from their respective offices for working together on what I think is an important motion for the Assembly to support this afternoon. It is amazing what can be achieved when there is a little collaboration.
I do note, though, that the important element of the motion is to recognise that for this to be a truly successful national event it will require the support of all parties at a federal level as well. Whilst I understand and acknowledge the political point that Mr Smyth will want to make about the commonwealth government, it clearly requires the support of other parties to see appropriation bills passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. It is a fairly unique set of circumstances that we face in our national governance. So there are opportunities for other political parties to put their position on the record, noting that that will be more than just a symbolic position; it will be something that has the potential to actually deliver tangible outcomes for the city of Canberra.
It is worth acknowledging the commitments that the federal government have already made. They are welcome, and I think the people of Canberra greatly appreciate them, but we will always welcome further announcements. I know from my conversations with my federal counterparts that they are certainly keenly aware of the issues that the territory government are pursuing around the centenary, and they have been supportive to date, particularly in relation to the application of ongoing program budget funding that may be able to be made available for events in the ACT or indeed to support centenary activities.
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