Page 3029 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 October 2022
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I think getting behind the GWS for ACT campaign will help build the base of AFL support here. It will be good for football everywhere. GWS is giving Canberra an opportunity to play a meaningful role in the AFL. The success of this campaign will give junior players in the ACT better chances of playing competitive Aussie Rules. The success of the ACT for GWS campaign will also ensure that the ACT sees a meaningful presence of an AFL club and promote the sport more thoroughly in the region.
He even went on to say he had a pledge pad here and that people can come to his office and join the campaign, saying, “The more people we get the better, of course,” and he commended all of the people at AFL Canberra for the work they were doing to get the team here and asked all Canberrans to get behind the ACT for GWS campaign.
So, if Mr Milligan, in his comments, is signalling a change of policy, that the Canberra Liberals no longer support AFL in Canberra through the Giants arrangement, which is the only possible interpretation of what he said, it needs to be clarified today by either Mr Milligan or the opposition leader if what was a tripartisan consensus in this place 10 years ago to bring the team here is now no longer. AFL fans in Canberra need to know. So what is the position of the Canberra Liberals in relation to this matter? Do you or do you not support there being AFL games in Canberra through the Giants arrangement?
You will have the opportunity to clarify your position, but I will need to know this because, if this is going to become a partisan issue ahead of re-signing with the Giants, if the Liberal Party’s position has changed, I think it is important that the Giants and the AFL know this ahead of the signing of the next deal. We went into this with all parties agreeing. If that is no longer the case, we need to know.
A couple of Greens speakers spoke about tourism and about the sustainability of aviation. We have certainly had a debate on that matter in estimates. What I can advise Ms Clay, in particular is that, as I indicated in the estimates debate, there is quite a lot of work underway across the world and, indeed, in Australia on improving the sustainability of aviation and decarbonising the industry.
I had the opportunity to meet with the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative on Tuesday this week. I understand Minister Rattenbury has also been briefed by this industry group, which is representative of airlines, airports and biofuel producers. There is a pathway to more sustainability in aviation, and we will be playing an active role. Although we are not a jurisdiction that produces aviation fuel, we may well be able to contribute over time in research and development and in encouraging other states and territories to play a greater role here.
I am confident that there is a pathway to more sustainability in the aviation sector. So I will be redoubling my efforts to improve aviation access to Canberra, both domestically and internationally. It can and will be done sustainably. It is important for our tourism industry—and I have touched on why and the employment that it generates. Canberra has one of the best domestic networks it has ever had since COVID. I want to commend Canberra Airport for the work they have done in partnership with the government to have more airlines flying direct to Canberra from more locations than before.
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