Page 1580 - Week 05 - Thursday, 15 May 2014
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MS LAWDER: Minister, are the legal conditions arising from the Molonglo and north Gungahlin strategic environmental assessments being met?
MR BARR: I have not been advised that they are not being met.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, is the Molonglo Valley biodiversity offset site delivering the intended outcomes?
MR BARR: That is my understanding.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, could you please outline the funding arrangements for the delivery of the Molongo Valley and north Gungahlin biodiversity plans.
MR BARR: I refer the member to budget papers.
Infrastructure—proposed new convention centre
MR SMYTH: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, you have stated that you received a letter from the federal government on 12 April when you were advised of the commonwealth’s position to not support your request for seed funding for the new convention centre. What have you done subsequent to receiving this news to further the cause of the new convention centre?
MS GALLAGHER: I have sought advice from across the ACT government about what the next steps are, after the commonwealth’s refusal. I have raised it with the Prime Minister in a conversation and I have followed up with a letter.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Chief Minister, why has your government spent more in one year on light rail than it has in 10 years on a new convention centre?
MS GALLAGHER: It is easy for the shadow treasurer to continue to berate this government. When you reflect back on their commitment in the last election for this facility, it was in the order of $2 million. That is what you were going to spend on it, if you won, over the next four years, and now we are being berated for not spending $10 million and having the project shovel-ready. So there is one standard for us and one for you. We have done more than anyone to get this project to the point where it is being considered by the federal government. It is certainly a lot more than you have done, Mr Smyth, because I think what you have done includes having a couple of dinners to talk about how everyone else is not doing enough.
We have been working with the business community. We have provided the support. The Treasurer has provided the leadership to resolve the issue of land. And we have
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