Page 1069 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2015
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I think it is something that those of us who have watched it grow can be proud of. I think it is a great testament to the staff who currently operate there. It is a great sign of hope for the future. I do congratulate the department and the government on their active participation. Although it took a long time to really get off the ground, it is now great to see the facilities that we saw open the other day, which are, as I said, a great step forward from where they were in 2004.
Just on a slightly sour note, I thought it was a little disappointing that the minister could not acknowledge the presence of other MLAs at the opening of CCCares. I also hope that it is not a sign of things to come that I am starting to notice, in relation to Minister Burch’s portfolios, that members on this side are not receiving invitations to events—for instance, the turning of the sod at the Aranda Emergency Services Agency headquarters last week. This was not the practice under the previous minister.
I hope that this was an oversight that Minister Burch failed to acknowledge other members who were present at the opening but, as the minister is wont to say, the dominos are in her court.
Economy—infrastructure
MR BARR (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Urban Renewal and Minister for Tourism and Events) (4.50): Over the past few years the territory has punched above its weight in attracting and securing new investment. I think one of the most visible examples of that is just down the road from this place at the airport. The new terminal, which I think every Canberran can be proud of, is the result of a $480 million investment. Soon we will all be able to see the results of the further investment of $50 million when a new 4.5-star hotel opens, providing around 600 direct and indirect jobs for our economy.
It takes a lot of trust to invest over half a billion dollars in our economy. We will see more results of the trust investors have in our economy and in the territory government when IKEA opens its doors here in Canberra in October. This $36 million investment will create an additional 280 jobs for Canberrans.
Even closer to us here, just down Constitution Avenue, is the Campbell 5 site. This is a parcel of land that sold for more than $63 million to a consortium made up of local and new international investors. This is an investment in Canberra that will see up to 520 residential apartments, commercial offices, hotels and parkland created. Even closer to us yet, at the end of last year we saw Aquis invest in Canberra with their $6 million purchase of the Canberra casino.
These investments from overseas have not come by accident. The government have been working hard to sell Canberra around the country and around the world. We have participated in numerous investment and bond meetings in Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Tokyo and Shenzhen.
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