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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 592 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

particularly in regard to the clean-up of contamination on Kingston, which is clearly not our responsibility. We should wait until the Assembly has seen the contract referred to in the letter from Warwick Smith, until the Assembly has had the chance to fully digest and debate the land swap agreement that Mrs Carnell presented to us yesterday, and also until the Commonwealth Government gives us a clear commitment through its budget to building the National Museum. We see no reason for rushing ahead with the demolition of the Acton buildings until we are certain that this is in the best interests of the ACT, because a decision to demolish the Acton buildings can never be reversed.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister) (4.55): You really have to sigh sometimes. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, what we have heard is what this motion is about. This debate is actually not about what the motion says; it is a debate on whether the museum should be on Acton or Yarramundi. That appears to be what Ms Tucker is trying to debate again. I would like to inform Ms Tucker that the Commonwealth Government has made a decision on this - a quite definite decision. I have just distributed a paper. It would be good if everyone just picked it up and had a quick look at it. It is page 5 of the Prime Minister's speech on rebuilding regional Australia, which he gave on 13 December. If you have a look at the fourth bottom paragraph you will see quite definitely what the Prime Minister said. I quote:

Funding has been provided for site and scoping studies for the National Museum of Australia including the Australian Institute of Aboriginal - - -

Ms Tucker: Prime Ministers have been known to change their mind.

MRS CARNELL: I am sorry; it is just the reality. I am sorry, but it is the reality. He then goes on to say that he has made $750,000 available, which he has. It is available. It is being used right now. In terms of a budget commitment, he made $750,000 available, and it is being used right now for the siting study as well. If you are looking for a commitment that the museum is going ahead on Acton, a budget commitment has been made. As you can see, the development brief will "commence in January", so it has already commenced. The money has already been made available for a development brief. This shows categorically that the Commonwealth Government is committed to Acton. It has made money available. A budget allocation has been made available. It is being used - - -

Mr Osborne: Let us trust the Federal Government.

MRS CARNELL: You do not have to trust them. It is actually there now. It is actually happening at this minute. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, the development brief has commenced. If people in this place want to hold up the museum, go for it. But make it clear. Say, "I do not want a museum in Canberra. I am really happy - - -

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