Page 2909 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 August 2013
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think it is a fantastic project because not only does it enhance the university’s sports education facilities but it provides a new, purpose-built home for ACTSport, for the Special Olympics and for Brumbies Rugby. This first stage of the sports commons project at the University of Canberra is an important investment in the future of community sport through ACTSport and the Special Olympics. It supports one of the city’s most successful elite sporting teams, the Brumbies—and we certainly all shared in their success in this season and wish them all the best.
Mr Coe: Did you get a seat on the charter?
MR BARR: I did not go on the charter, no. I attended the Canberra Darters events over that weekend, as their number one ticket holder, Mr Coe.
Mr Smyth: How come we got so few tickets?
MR BARR: That is a matter for Super Rugby, ultimately, and for the hosts.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Barr—
MR BARR: I should not respond to interjections. I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker. In wrapping up my comments on the University of Canberra sports commons, it is an important project. I look forward to working with the university and the various community sporting organisations on subsequent stages of the project, stages 2 and 3, with a particular focus on bringing other community-based sports into the precinct.
If you look at that particular area of the city, the proximity to the Institute of Sport, the proximity to the Lyneham sports precinct that receives further funding in this budget, within a couple of kilometres, Madam Deputy Speaker, you will have some of the world’s best community and elite sporting facilities. It is a testimony to the leadership of Professor Stephen Parker at the University of Canberra that he has decided and determined to put sport front and centre in the university’s expansion plans. I think that is a very good thing. I wish them all the best in establishing that national and international leadership role in sports and related disciplines at the university. There are considerable economic, social and cultural benefits that will flow for the city of Canberra from the university taking that leading role. The university sector is very important to the territory’s economic development. The government intends to continue our support for the growth of Canberra’s own university, the University of Canberra, and we will continue to work in partnership with them to see that vision come to reality.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
Proposed expenditure—Part 1.9—Commerce and Works Directorate—$31,856,000 (net cost of outputs), $133,828,000 (capital injection) and $13,065,000 (payments on behalf of the territory) totalling $178,749,000.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (5.37): The Commerce and Works Directorate is quite a diverse directorate. It includes revenue and government business management. It has
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