Page 2461 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 18 August 1993
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MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, if Mr Moore had come and seen me I could have answered the question directly. There have been complaints about the Base recently. I have had some letters and I have asked the department to take action. There have been complaints from that area for some time. The name of the club changes over a period. To the best of my knowledge, there is a temporary solution. I understand that the Base Nightclub has closed down, but that does not guarantee that another will not start up in the near future. The department, over quite some period, has been monitoring and challenging what happens at that spot. At some stage there was extra soundproofing put in. On a number of occasions I think they have been told to stop, to desist, to get the noise levels down. At one point the particular group at the time had a fine of $5,000 for breaking the noise levels. So it is a question that has been constantly in front of the people responsible. They have been very active, I am told, in pursuing it, and they certainly have my support.
At present the department is working on a consolidation and update of environmental legislation to control pollution - sound and water and air - and some of those sound questions are a bit difficult to deal with. I am quite keen to get some measures that may protect neighbours in the case of dogs that bark. That is a quite persistent problem around Canberra. It is one that there has not been an answer to at this stage. You simply cannot walk out and tell a dog to be quiet; not even owners have great success at that. I am certainly sympathetic. I got the same letters that Mr Moore got. The inspectors have been quite active in this area and as the need arises there, or anywhere else in the future, they will continue to be so.
Ms Follett: Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Roads Funding : Education Budget
MS FOLLETT: I would like to give some information in relation to the question asked of me by Mr De Domenico relating to roads funding and the reduction in the Federal budget. Madam Speaker, it does appear that that is as a result of the general process of untying specific purpose payments. I believe that is the answer in the education case as well. Madam Speaker, these funds have been absorbed into the special purpose assistance grants.
Mr De Domenico: You are not going to get it. It means that we are going to get $8.2m less than we got last year.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Mr De Domenico, this is in answer to your question. Order, please!
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, really, members opposite simply want to talk, to shout and to behave like monkeys in a zoo, no matter what I say or do over here, and - - -
Mr Kaine: Madam Speaker, earlier today you drew attention to unseemly language and language with emotive content, and you asked people to tone it down. In the last hour both the Chief Minister and the Minister for Health have used terms like "rabble". Now the Chief Minister - - -
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