Page 951 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 17 June 1992
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The ACT Corrections Review Committtee report "Paying the Price" indicates that in the long term we will have to consider replacing the remand centre, and I think that is right. I think, in any event, that it is in the wrong place. It was an extraordinary planning decision in the 1970s, when Belconnen was obviously going to be a town centre and a substantial commercial and residential area, that that was the appropriate place to build a remand centre. One would have thought that the remand centre could have been built in an area other than a commercial and residential centre.
As I have said repeatedly, this Government will be addressing the long-term infrastructure needs of corrections later in this Assembly with a view to implementation in the next Assembly. At the moment this Government is committed to substantial capital works to upgrade the law and order infrastructure in relation to the courts, which are in a very run-down state - Mr Humphries knows of and I think shares my concerns in relation to that - and in relation to police accommodation in respect of which I am sure, again, Mr Humphries will share the Government's view that the police accommodation, particularly at Belconnen, which is being targeted first, where they are actually working out of demountables out the back of the police station, and in Civic, which is in a very run-down 1960s building, is inadequate.
This Government in due course will be addressing a long-term strategy for remand centres. The precise figure I do not have with me, but I would not dispute what Mr Humphries tells me about it being over $100,000. I will provide that figure to him in due course. Yes, the facility is less than appropriate. We will in due course be addressing that.
Paralympics
MRS GRASSBY: My question is to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity of Minister for Sport. The Liberal Party spokesman on sport stated last week that the ACT Government's support for the athletes going to the Paralympics in Barcelona was not good enough. Is this true?
MR BERRY: I read that article too, and I was agitated by it. It is another example of the Liberal misinformation campaign that is going on out there. I am very happy to have the opportunity to answer this question here today. I hope to clarify that campaign of misinformation which has been created by the Liberal Party. Shame on them, Madam Speaker!
To ensure that every member of the Australian Paralympic team is able to compete in Barcelona the Australian Paralympic Federation has launched a crisis appeal, and you are aware of that. The ACT Government assistance to the appeal has been by way of a sport and recreation development program grant of $5,000 to the ACT Paralympic fundraising committee. This assistance matches the per capita State contribution average. Of course, Mr De Domenico wanted to create a different impression. He wanted to create an impression that the ACT was treating Paralympic athletes differently, but he is wrong. He is wrong again. He wants to create misinformation, and create concern amongst those Paralympic athletes and those who support them. Shame on him!
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