Page 1011 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 2012
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MR HARGREAVES: Without revealing government policy, minister, what is planned for the Enlighten and Canberra festivals next year and how does one get a booking for a rock’n’roll band and a Bollywood dancing troupe?
MR BARR: Robyn Archer and the centenary team have indeed been working very hard to plan the year-long program, which includes a range of new and exciting projects. For those who took the opportunity to attend on Canberra Day this year, a sneak peek at the program was launched on Canberra Day.
The centenary program of events will showcase the very best of what goes on in our city every year. It will include Enlighten, linking our national galleries and museums with a great program of entertainment. And of course we will see the return of such popular favourites as the balloon spectacular and “Lights! Canberra! Action!”. Enlighten is a new and evolving festival but it will be bigger and better through each year and will really grow on the platform of success from this year’s program. The full details of the centenary program will be announced in September. A preview program is now on the centenary website and was distributed to the community through the Canberra Times last week.
In relation to booking bands, Mr Hargreaves, I am sure that there are still opportunities for auditions. If the Assembly would like to put together a performing troupe, I am sure that there will be ample opportunity during the centenary year to see the artistic talents of some of the members outside this debating chamber. On a serious note, I know that there are some within this chamber who fancy themselves as performers in other endeavours. Certainly through the community initiatives that are part of the centenary year there will be an opportunity to celebrate all that is great about Canberra, including the contributions that people can make outside their professional fields of expertise.
MS PORTER: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: How did Canberra fair at the recent national tourism awards?
MR BARR: I am very pleased that—
Mrs Dunne: Mr Speaker, could I seek your indulgence? The first question was about Enlighten. I am wondering what is the connection between Enlighten and the national tourism awards.
Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, the national tourism awards actually apply to all of the initiatives of the ACT and other jurisdictions which may be contenders for such awards. We would love to hear what the minister has to say about that.
MR SPEAKER: Members, I do not know what the answer to the question is, but, Minister Barr, I assume Enlighten will feature in your answer.
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