Page 2473 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 14 November 1989
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MR JENSEN: No, I do not believe they have. Mr Speaker, in the interests of carrying on, I am quite happy to withdraw the motion and bring it back on tomorrow.
MULTIFUNCTION POLIS CONCEPT
Ministerial Statement and Papers
Debate resumed from 18 October 1989, on motion by Mr Whalan:
That the Assembly takes note of the following papers:
Multifunction Polis Concept -
Canberra - A Multifunction Polis site - The ACT Vision.
Ministerial statement, 18 October, 1989.
MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition) (3.19): Mr Speaker, in the Minister's statement of 18 October on the Government's concept of the ACT's involvement in the multifunction polis and by the tabling of the proposal for the joint feasibility study entitled the ACT Vision he identifies an exciting potential major development for Canberra. Unfortunately, Mr Speaker, that is all that is identified.
Like so many so-called ministerial statements in this place, the statement and the report are pure window-dressing, another glossy paper of the kind to which we became accustomed in the days of the NCDC. Like the housing policy review, it has not been thought through. Like the ACT public hospital development, it has not been costed. While land has been set aside, there is no indication as to where the funds will come from to create the infrastructure to support this polis of 25,000 people.
In these respects, Mr Speaker, the statement and the glossy brochure are deficient. They are simply representing yet another example of this Government's preoccupation with the shadow rather than the substance of its stewardship of Canberra. This is a matter of great regret and concern because the idea with the multifunction polis is deserving of our united support, offering as it does the opportunity for unparalleled growth and development for the ACT in what I believe could be a made-to-order project.
Indeed, Mr Speaker, I raised the question of the multifunction polis with the Government in July, at which time it even seemed surprised to hear about it. However, in October it had become quite expert, it would seem. The ACT Vision brochure makes the case in support of Canberra's involvement in the MFP abundantly apparent. I will not dwell upon the many advantages, both natural and man-made, that we can offer its backers.
Rather, in the hope that the Government will take them up and really think about them beforehand, I will direct my
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