Page 1993 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 5 June 1990

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Melba Flats

MR STEVENSON: My question is to Mr Duby, and it concerns the proposed demolition of the Melba Flats and the problems this is causing for businesses in the Melba shopping centre. The complex originally housed about 1,000 people and is now down to 150 to 200; that is, during the last 12 months. Would Mr Duby mention when the demolition will begin and when it will be completed and also when redevelopment will start and be completed?

MR DUBY: I thank Mr Stevenson for trying to give me the honour of having dealings with this matter. This is a matter which can rightly be referred to the Minister for Housing and Community Services, Mr Collaery, as his department is in control of the recommission of the Melba Flats and the attendant problems which may well flow from that.

Liquor Licences

MS MAHER: My question is to Mr Collaery as Attorney-General. I refer Mr Collaery to a recent large advertisement in the Canberra Times calling upon liquor licensees to renew their licences and to pay up existing debts. Would the Attorney indicate whether there is currently any administrative problem in this area and what is the significance of the advertisement.

MR COLLAERY: I thank Ms Maher for the question. It is a matter of public interest that advertisements of that nature appeared and I do wish to inform the house that there were, as of the time of that advertisement last week, a number of licensees who had not paid their renewal fees and had not paid assessments due. I am advised by the authority that, as of 1 June 1990, 13 licences have lapsed due to a failure to pay the second yearly instalment. I would remind the house that when licensees get into that position they can only secure a licence back under the Liquor Act by fully paying all moneys due, not only those during the assessed period but those for the broken period that would normally be in the third instalment.

Notices were sent out to all of those people on 12 and 18 April 1990. In addition there were those advertisements that Ms Maher mentioned on Saturday, 26 May; Wednesday, 30 May; and Friday, 1 June 1990. These were expensive advertisements reminding licensees that the second instalment was due on or before 1 June 1990. I am satisfied after discussing the matter with the Gaming and Liquor Authority, or rather securing details from it, that the circumstances are that the licensees in question have apparently ignored or have been unable to settle the amounts outstanding. The amounts outstanding, I should inform the house, vary between a low of $103 and a high of


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