Page 1423 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 14 May 2014
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It is interesting that on a number of occasions this government have had a rebuff from Infrastructure Australia. Who could forget that capital metro did not get funded because they did not believe their numbers? So that is the hallmark of the government: don’t do the work; take extraordinary amounts of time not to do the work and then blame somebody else.
It is a very simple message in this motion. It says we know that there is broad community support. We know the government have failed; they should be condemned for that. And if they are serious about the convention centre going ahead, if they are serious about getting the benefits that are detailed in the Australia forum study, which says that a new facility could probably double the business events contribution to our economy, if not triple it in a very short time frame, if they are serious about getting those benefits, do not go off half-cocked. Actually do the work.
Why is it that capital metro, in a single year, got approximately 10 times what the convention centre has had spent on it in 10 years? I do not think there will be a reasonable answer. I look forward to the answer to that question. Why is it that capital metro has got so much money? If you are supportive of the convention centre, if you are supportive of the benefits that it brings, with all the soothing words you give to the business community about, “Yes, we want this to happen,” you should at least get it to shovel-ready stage. That is your job. That is actually your responsibility. I think you have been told that by the federal government.
Sitting on a letter for a month just for the timing effect is sad. Not having done the work is sad, and it is now time for you actually to stump up and put the money in the coming budget so that we can get this project to shovel-ready stage and so that you can reapproach the commonwealth government. Hopefully, we will then get a new facility in this city that will become a real hub for the meeting industry, for our higher education sector, for the business community, for the cultural and artistic facilities that we have so that we can showcase Canberra better, so that it can become Canberra by name and Canberra by nature—a meeting place by name and a meeting place by nature.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Community Services) (10.15): The Prime Minister’s decision to reject a request for seed funding to develop a new national meeting facility in Canberra, the Australia forum, to investment-ready stage will amplify the pain felt in the ACT as a result of the public sector job cuts announced in the federal budget. Canberra Business Council chief executive officer, Chris Faulks said today:
This is a missed opportunity for the Abbott government to invest in an infrastructure project that will drive jobs and economic growth, and help to counter the impact of federal public sector job cuts.
Ms Faulks is absolutely right, Madam Speaker. What an embarrassment for Mr Smyth and the Canberra Liberals to raise this issue 24 hours after their federal colleagues delivered a budget that will devastate our local community. What an embarrassment
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