Page 3963 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 9 November 1994
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Together with the other Federal Government initiatives - and there were others in the cultural statement which, of course, members opposite have completely overlooked - like the proposed extension of the National Gallery of Australia and the refurbishment and extension of the National Film and Sound Archive, the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia will enhance the ACT's cultural life and our cultural tourism opportunities. These are very positive impacts on our Territory, and for that reason I welcome the Federal Government's decision.
Of course, this is not a vision that is shared by the Opposition. In fact, they have no vision at all. Instead, they have lost their way in some kind of a futile accounting exercise in relation to the cultural development of the Territory. I have made very clear my Government's position in relation to the question of compensation for Acton Peninsula. As I said in the Assembly during question time yesterday, the ACT Government will be seeking compensation from the Federal Government for the Acton Peninsula site. I have said this all along. Issues relating to the demolition of the existing hospital buildings, the location of the hospice, et cetera, will need to be taken into account in the course of those discussions.
I have also said that our Government would commit itself to undertaking the infrastructure for the National Museum and that our maximum commitment at that time - and it was a preliminary costing on infrastructure - was $13m over some years. Quite clearly, we have to look at the decision which the Federal Government has taken. I believe that discussions with the Federal Government need to focus on the exact nature of the further development of the gallery on the Acton Peninsula site and what role the ACT might have in that, as well as on that essential question of compensation to the Territory.
I maintain that the development of the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia is a very positive step for the ACT. It is a step which I welcome. It is not the development of the full National Museum. I would have welcomed that even more. I would have especially welcomed it had it been undertaken on the Yarramundi Reach site, which is clearly the preferred site for the full development of the museum. But I do not think that not having everything you want is any good reason to deride the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia. It is very significant. It is certainly significant to the Aboriginal community, as is its co-location with the Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. I believe that that is a positive step forward. Whilst Mr Humphries has not really addressed the issue at all, it is my clear view that the Federal Labor Government's decision to proceed with the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia on the Acton site will have a positive impact on the ACT.
MR STEFANIAK (4.08): I can sympathise with the Chief Minister for the squirming that has gone on over the National Museum of Australia. I fully recall the trumpeting that went on in March last year when the Prime Minister made his announcement and tried to beat the Opposition over the head with it. Certainly, I and my colleagues going for Federal election then were very keen to see the museum go ahead. I was quite happy with the Prime Minister's announcement, and it is quite sad that he has gone back on it.
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