Page 1090 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 1990
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of months the Commonwealth has decided that it really does not need it and it is now going to see that site as a capital revenue generating mechanism. It is worth noting that section 27 of the Land Management Act says that the Commonwealth Minister:
... shall not declare an area to be national land unless the land is or is intended to be used by the Commonwealth.
I believe that there is a real question as to whether that was ever the Commonwealth Government's intent. Members will remember that only last week I tabled in the house a letter from Mr West replying to my representations to him on this matter. The Gowrie Hostel is a centre for accommodating young people who are visiting our national capital and could have a Territory use for the same purpose. It could be well used by the Housing Trust for low cost accommodation within easy reach of Civic for a lot of young people who need that kind of accommodation.
On the other hand, if it is auctioned off to the private sector I would guess that in the end the hostel is likely to increase its tariffs beyond the reach of the types of people to whom I have referred. Indeed, it would be putting itself in the market of adding further competition to the motels on Northbourne Avenue which are currently catering for that sector of the market of people coming to Canberra.
All in all, Mr Speaker, this is a matter of great concern. It ought to be regarded as a matter of great concern by every member of this Assembly and by the ACT community. Now that we know that the auction is to take place, the Government has to seriously consider what action, if any, it should take to circumvent that.
ACT Rugby League - Northbourne Oval
MR MOORE: My question is also to the Chief Minister as Minister for Planning. Considering the transfer of the lease on Northbourne Oval was unauthorised and consequently a simple case of preparation for blatant profiteering, which is totally inconsistent with the principles and spirt of the leasehold system, will you terminate the lease immediately and take responsibility for protecting the birthright, not only of Canberrans but of all Australians?
MR KAINE: I think that Mr Moore is going quite overboard on this issue. I heard what he had to say on ABC radio this morning, and I can understand that he has to appeal to the small electorate that supports him in that particular geographic area, but there are issues that go way beyond the purely local issue.
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