Page 823 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 18 March 2015
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MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Chief Minister, how much is the Skywhale valued at in this sale? What will the territory get from the $300,000 that it paid for the balloon? How will it be ensured that any contractual arrangements are honoured by the new owner?
MR BARR: The government has no further contractual arrangements in relation to the Skywhale. The contractual arrangements related to commissioning of the work and a certain number of flights in the territory, and all of those contractual arrangements have concluded. The government did not take an equity stake in an asset that has a declining value, given it has a certain life.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: It is interesting that those opposite would pursue a line of questioning indicating that they wanted public ownership of a balloon. Let me say this, Madam Speaker: balloons and ballooning is an incredibly expensive activity.
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: The Skywhale always gets people going.
MR BARR: I find those interjections amusing, given the position of the shadow treasurer in the past. He wanted taxpayers to fund 100 balloons in the centenary year. When it comes to ballooning, we have a balloon spectacular that has a budget. That is the entirety of the money the territory government will spend on balloons. Let me repeat: it is an incredibly expensive activity, like fireworks displays—hundreds of thousands of dollars are associated with their delivery. I do not get that many questions about how much money is spent on fireworks displays.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Chief Minister, what discussions are you and/or the government having with Global Ballooning regarding its sale and the continuing links of the Skywhale to the ACT?
MR BARR: I am having none because it is a private company having a sale. So I am having no discussions. In relation to novelty balloons, there will be novelty balloons as part of the balloon spectacular each year.
Mr Smyth: But not Skywhale?
MR BARR: Skywhale may or may not be selected in the future. I will make this point, Madam Speaker—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members!
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