Page 2849 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 5 August 2008
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Gas-fired power station
MR PRATT: My question is to the Chief Minister and Minister for Indigenous Affairs. Chief Minister, it was reported on ABC Online on Saturday, 19 July that, in relation to the discovery of Aboriginal artefacts on the potential site for the controversial power station and data centre at Hume, you were “confident that Aboriginal artefacts buried on a site at Hume have been properly removed”. Chief Minister, where are these artefacts now and when were they moved?
MR STANHOPE: I thank the member for the question. I do not recall the exact nature of the statement I made, but the sense of the statement I made, in terms of what I intended, was that I was fully confident, because I had been advised as such, that the artefacts had been appropriately dealt with. My understanding is that, as is consistent with normal practice in relation to this particular site, Heritage ACT engaged a heritage consultant with a specific task of assessing the Indigenous heritage values of the particular site. The consultant followed through, I believe in consultation with relevant Indigenous representative organisations, to assess the site, and appropriate action in relation to issues of Indigenous heritage significance was taken. That was my advice. I do not have any detail greater than that, but I am more than happy to take the question on notice and provide Mr Pratt with information as to exactly what steps were taken and exactly what the current continuing status is of any Indigenous artefacts relevant to the particular site.
MR SPEAKER: Is there a supplementary question?
MR PRATT: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Could I ask the Chief Minister, while he is taking that on notice, to also clarify exactly with whom the consultation was undertaken. Did the heritage consultant engage with all local Indigenous communities and, if so, with whom?
MR STANHOPE: I am happy to take that question on notice.
Policing—Gungahlin
MR GENTLEMAN: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, can you advise the Assembly of measures that the government is implementing to improve police services in Gungahlin?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Gentleman for the question. I was very pleased to join with the Chief Police Officer earlier today, at lunchtime, in announcing that from January next year the Gungahlin police station will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means an additional 24 police on duty in Gungahlin from January next year and an extra two dedicated patrol cars stationed in Gungahlin to meet the needs of Gungahlin residents.
This expansion has been made possible only because of this government’s commitment to increasing police numbers here in the ACT. It is the Labor Party and the Labor government that can hold its head high and say that we are committed to improving police services in our community. We are the government that has invested
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