Page 4169 - Week 13 - Thursday, 25 November 1993
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MR CONNOLLY: I think it is correct, as I think I said in a letter to Mr Westende, that there is one person operating full time on the Supply and Tender Agency. It is a process of compiling information. We are in the process of going out to the business community. A series of brochures and other promotional material have been distributed recently to the business sector, which I will table in this place if Mr Westende has not seen copies already. In a sense we need the business community to come to the Government and say, "This is what we have". That person will compile the material and in due course we will have a database available.
I could do more if we were able to devote more resources to the problem, no doubt; but the issue in ACT Government is trying to deal with resource constraints. The Opposition, as always, wants us to spend more on particular pet projects and is very unhelpful when it comes to savings options. The information I gave to Mr Westende was correct. I am not sure whether I gave Mr Westende the promotional material that we have been distributing recently. If I have not, I will. The situation at the moment is that the business community is approaching us, saying, "This is what we have". The purpose of the Supply and Tender Agency is to enable us, on a single database, to match what the business community has with what we need.
Tourism Commission
MRS GRASSBY: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. Can the Chief Minister comment on the effectiveness of the ACT Tourism Commission's recent marketing activities?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Mrs Grassby for her question. Members know that I have outlined to them previously the marketing campaign known as the winter sizzlers campaign.
Mr Moore: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Under standing order 118(a), the answer to a question should be concise and should be confined to the subject matter. The subject matter of the question was, "Is she able to answer the question?". The answer is either yes or no.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you for pointing that out to me. However, it is entirely up to each Minister to determine how they will answer the question. Please proceed, Ms Follett.
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, the answer is obviously yes, and I am about to comment. As I said, Madam Speaker, the winter sizzlers campaign will not be news to members of this Assembly because I have outlined it to them previously. I am sure that all members will be delighted to know that during what always has been a seasonally slow period for Canberra, the September quarter, we have seen a real surge in our occupancy rates, up to 62 per cent. The official figures that have just been released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that this is a rise of nearly 8 per cent compared to the same quarter last year. It is a very hefty rise indeed, and I think it is attributable to that marketing campaign.
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