Page 4010 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 30 October 2013
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attend a conference here. But we know that a large number of conferences cannot come to the ACT simply because the current convention centre is inadequate. Again, going back to the Australia forum scoping study, we need a venue of “scale, security, design and character”. The current facility does not have the scale, does not have the security, does not have the design and does not have the character that is appropriate to a nation’s capital. We should have such a facility, and that is why we have moved this motion today.
There is always a lot of conjecture about what should be built, what should come first. Often, even in the business community, there are varying views. But I have never seen the business community so united on a single project. I will read the list of all of the organisations—national institutions, and ACT and national organisations—that have said, “This is the number one priority if this city is to go ahead.” Let me read them: the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Catholic University, the Australian Institute of Sport, the Australian National University, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, the Australian War Memorial, the CSIRO, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Archives, the National Film and Sound Archive, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, Questacon—the National Science and Technology Centre, the Royal Australian Mint, the Australian Hotels Association, the ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the ACT Law Society, ACT Sport, ACT Computer Society, the Australian Information Industry Association, the Australian Hotels Association, the Australian Institute of Architects, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Institute of Management, the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, the Australian Medical Council, the Australian Property Institute, the Canberra Airport, the Canberra Business Council, the Canberra Convention Bureau, the Canberra Institute of Technology, the Chamber of Women in Business, ClubsACT, CollabIT, Consult Australia, Council on the Ageing, Engineers Australia, Family Business Australia, Institute of Public Accountants, the Master Builders ACT, Medicines Australia, the Motor Trades Association ACT, the National Capital Attractions Association, the Australian Electrical and Communications Association, NICTA, the Property Council of Australia, the Real Estate Institute of the ACT, the Safety Institute of Australia, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the University of Canberra, the University of New South Wales Canberra, Volunteering ACT and the YWCA.
That is an impressive list of organisations, and I am told that that combined list represents about half of the employment in the ACT. This is the business sector speaking with a united voice, as it has spoken on no other issue in such a way. Indeed, I welcome the press release from the Canberra Business Council this morning headed “Australia forum a priority for government and business”. The opening paragraph reads:
Canberra Business Council hopes a motion being moved today by the ACT Liberals to establish a Trust to drive the Australia Forum project will be unanimously supported and help fast-track this important project.
“The Australia Forum is vital for the future economic stability of the ACT and it must be urgently progressed,” Canberra Business Council CEO, Chris Faulks said. “This is a critical project for the city because it will drive business tourism,
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