Page 4018 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
whether Canberra could bid or not, but we simply did not have the venues. Some very good work was done to scoop up, if you like, the opportunities that were there for Canberra through the CHOGM process of hosting some of the side meetings and ancillary events, but it seems a great shame that the nation’s capital simply was never in the equation to host that event.
I should say that I am satisfied with the current process of and progress in liaising with key stakeholders. Although I think we all agree with the general intent of Mr Smyth’s motion, I do not believe it is helpful at this stage to be specifically proposing the establishment of a trust, as other options are now being looked at. In fact, on Monday of this week I received a letter from the Canberra Convention Bureau that was sent to me with a copy of their budget submission for 2014-15. I assume other members received a copy of this also because I know the Convention Bureau is absolutely even-handed in making sure they communicate with all of the members of this place equally and effectively.
Included in that letter was their joint plan with the Canberra Business Council to progress the Australian forum convention centre to the status of investment ready by 2016. I find it surprising then in that context that Mr Smyth proposed a trust, as the fairly detailed proposal put forward by the Business Council and the Convention Bureau includes a schedule of activity which they commissioned Ernst & Young to undertake and which clearly outlines the steps which need to be followed to enable the forum to be investment ready by 2016, including both the business case phase and the procurement phase. And neither of those phases includes establishing a trust.
I asked Robyn Hendry, the Chief Executive of the Canberra Convention Bureau, about the detailed set of steps necessary to be investment ready so we could all get a better understanding on how we could ensure the project gets off the ground in a timely manner. Whilst that clear intent was there in a conversation I had with Ms Hendry, I had the sense that someone spelling out those steps would be a very useful way forward.
The idea of a trust for a new convention centre was certainly an idea I understand was being discussed many years ago, but it certainly has not been talked about recently and not any more at this stage. The Ernst & Young schedule of activity included consideration of a PPP-style of procurement, and establishing a trust is not necessary for this option. Until we know which bodies are going to fund this important project, I do not see the point of establishing a trust. The proposal includes appointment of a project team to oversee the development and implementation of the plan and it would not be immediately attached to the ACT government.
As Mr Barr’s amendment says, the Chief Minister wrote to the current Prime Minister about this issue in the lead-up to the federal election this year, requesting that the commonwealth partner with the ACT government as well as the private sector to co-fund this project. I was pleased to hear there has been progress in discussions about the Australia forum with the new federal government, and I understand they are quite keen to support the proposal at this stage.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video