Page 402 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 27 June 1989
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Bruce Stadium
MR WOOD: I direct a question to the Deputy Chief Minister and refer to an item in today's press which suggests that Victorian Football League matches are to be conducted next year at Bruce Stadium. Can he assure us that this is correct?
MR WHALAN: This has caught me quite by surprise! The article in the sporting section of today's paper is quite interesting and of course it is very important in the context of the current discussion about the redevelopment of Bruce Stadium as a multipurpose sporting venue. It confirms what the Government has been saying, that with the redevelopment of the stadium it will become an attractive proposition for a whole range of activities - not only sporting activities, but other events.
The article in today's paper was quoting the president of the ACT Australian Football League, Alan Hird, who announced that it was likely that the VFL would play one Panasonic Cup match and possibly two premiership games at Bruce Stadium next season. The ACTAFL has recognised the potential use of Bruce Stadium for Australian rules football and indeed, in conference with me, sought assistance in securing the use of the stadium during the 1990 season.
Following discussions with Mr Hird, I subsequently met with the VFL executive commissioner, Mr Alan Schwab, who confirmed that the Bruce Stadium facility would be an ideal venue for Australian rules football. He was particularly impressed to learn of the seating capacity of 28,000 spectators.
In response to an invitation from me when I met Mr Schwab in Melbourne, Mr Schwab is coming to Canberra on 21 July. We will be briefing him on the redevelopment of the stadium, and he will be visiting the site. I think it is a wonderful precursor to what I think so many of us hope will eventually happen, which is that the ACT will participate in the VFL competition.
Bruce Stadium
MR JENSEN: I have a related question and it is to the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Industry, Employment and Education. In view of the decision by the Commonwealth Government to pass responsibility for the Bruce Stadium to the ratepayers of the ACT, can the Minister assure the house and the people of Tuggeranong that the spending of $5.6m from the ACT budget, including loan funds, will not have any effect on the provision of support for the construction of much needed sporting facilities currently being proposed by sporting groups in the valley?
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