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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (30 March) . . Page.. 1184 ..

MR RUGENDYKE (continuing):

involvements at the grassroots level that are not as high profile. I was left in no doubt that they are totally committed to establishing a community involvement in the ACT. I am told that it would be at least equal to what they have achieved in Newcastle.

Canberra and Newcastle have similar population bases. When Impulse started out in Newcastle there were about 45,000 people flying out of there every year. The figure now is something like a quarter of a million. For Canberra, 1.9 million people are flying out and they are confined to the four direct flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. Impulse is seeking to plug the regional market into that network. After setting up a strong foothold in Newcastle, Impulse is ready to expand and its expertise has a lot to offer for Canberra. Last August, this Assembly voted 16:1 to spend $7m on the V8 supercar race, which is a one weekend event. Based on that, I find it hard to knock back the spending of an additional $8m on the Impulse proposal, which has $360m to offer to the Territory over the next 10 years.

Looking at the motion, it is an exciting thing for this Assembly to note that the Government is conducting negotiations with Impulse Airlines and that the Government is intending to offer Impulse an $8m capital injection. That will translate immediately into about $21m of infrastructure on the ground. The $2m of payroll tax exemption is a cheap way to entice a business as prominent as Impulse from Newcastle to the ACT. The establishment of a heavy maintenance and engineering base would present a great opportunity for apprentice engineers, builders and people who work with heavy engineering and maintenance industries. It is a fantastic thing for the ACT that Impulse wants to relocate its regional operational headquarters here. The second call centre will provide 150 jobs for Canberrans. Of course, there will be new regional air routes based on Canberra, with flights to Dubbo, Albury, Wagga, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne. What a fantastic thing! I want to be there when the first B717 lands in Canberra. I want to look at it and be part of it.

I am proud to support this motion. I think it presents a great opportunity for the ACT. I look forward to watching these flights out of Canberra to destinations far and wide. I look forward to seeing buildings going up and people getting jobs. I look forward to simulators being built here and having pilots coming from America to the ACT to train. What a fantastic proposal! What can I say, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker? This is a magnificent opportunity for the ACT and it should not be allowed to go through simply on the voices.

Mr Humphries: Are you in favour of it or against it, Dave?

MR RUGENDYKE: I love it. I am very pleased that this Government has agreed with my position on this matter.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Hird): I call Mr Berry.

Mr Smyth: Here comes Sad Sack.

MR BERRY (5.24): Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I just heard an imputation from across the chamber. Mr Smyth said, "Here comes Sad Sack". I would like that withdrawn.

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