Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

None . . Page.. 233 ..

Those contracts will be open to anyone to see. Whom we give those contracts to will be on the public record. It simply is not an issue. Which buildings will be retained? We have stated, categorically, that the buildings that we have an undertaking from the Commonwealth to retain until the end of their leases are the hospice, the cottage beside the hospice, and, of course, the child-care centre, in the medium term and, we hope, in the longer term, as I have stated many times, and I will say it again.

MR SPEAKER: Do you have a supplementary question, Mr Whitecross?

MR WHITECROSS: My question was about what buildings are being proposed for demolition, not when the contracts will be - - -

Mr Humphries: She just told you the answer to that, too.

MR WHITECROSS: No, she did not. I also asked what form of consultation with continuing occupants you propose, and you did not answer that either. The Chief Minister commented in answer to my question yesterday that buildings adjacent to other buildings are demolished all the time. Will the Chief Minister investigate what examples exist where buildings have been demolished adjacent to a hospice or a child-care centre, and report back to the Assembly with this information?

MRS CARNELL: This is really grabbing at straws - consultation with the groups that are still on Acton in buildings that are proposed to be demolished. We will get it straight again. It is proposed that all of the buildings on Acton be demolished, except the hospice, the cottage and, in the medium term, the child-care facility. That is very clear. We are having negotiations or discussions with all of the community associations, such as Home Help, Red Cross, Technical Aid for the Disabled - the list goes on - on their relocation to new sites and help for them in the areas on which they feel they need help.

The Commonwealth is not saying that by next week they will require a clean site. The basis of the negotiations that are going on at the moment is the setting of an achievable timeframe for when these sorts of demolitions and relocations will happen. We will ensure that that timeframe is appropriate and that it gives the organisations that are there at the moment adequate time to relocate. I certainly hope that the Federal Government will be interested in coming forward with funding for the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia, as they promised. My understanding is that the only two buildings that are planned to be built in the next financial year are the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Centre. That is the only land that is required in the short term. The demolition will happen in a structured manner, in a safe manner, with occupational health and safety standards adhered to in a sensible, planned manner over a period. That plan will be open for everybody to see. We will make sure that those organisations are properly relocated well before buildings start being demolished. It is only sensible, and it is a commonsense, rational approach.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .