Page 508 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 13 February 2013
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socialise there. They meet there after work. If you talk to the traders at Manuka about the impact, for instance, of a large exhibition at the National Gallery, they will often tell you that you can see the impact of these exhibitions on Manuka because there is already limited parking there. Many people tell me they lose business because people cannot get a park and they go elsewhere.
People say, “Canberra lacks soul.” Manuka-Kingston is one of those lovely areas that have got character. It was built very early in the development of the ACT. We need to protect that. No-one is saying open slather on the car. We are saying: let us have a reasonable approach and ensure that we do not impede or hinder the growth of functions and events at Manuka and in the parliamentary triangle. Let us not hinder or impede the growth of the reputation of Canberra as a great place to visit, where the things that we value, the amenity and the ability to move quickly, which clearly major cities like Sydney and Melbourne have often lost, are not lost. Let us say to people that if they come to Canberra they can have an enjoyable experience, instead of leaving town with a little brown envelope tucked in their top pocket. It colours everyone’s experience, wherever they go, if they pick up a parking ticket. Let us make it easy. Let us make it hospitable. Let us continue to improve the public transport system, but at the same time let us recognise that people do use their cars and they have a right to do so.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Community Services) (4.20): I thank members for their contributions, and certainly those who have made positive comments in relation to the events themselves. I would like to take this opportunity to put on the record my thanks to the Economic Development Directorate, ActewAGL, Cricket ACT and, most particularly, Cricket Australia for their very strong support for the series of events in Canberra.
It is terrific to be able to have the Australian cricket team play in our city. As I said in my speech during the dinner break, it has been 100 years in the making. There is no doubt that the event itself was the best atmosphere of any of the one-day internationals across the summer, and that feedback was certainly almost universal across those who attended the match. From an administrator’s perspective, Cricket Australia, Cricket ACT and others welcomed that fantastic atmosphere at Manuka and the very strong support the people of Canberra showed, firstly, to the Prime Minister’s XI team and then also to our national team.
Now, of course, in staging events of this magnitude there will always be challenges and lessons that can be learned. I think from the perspective of the caterers, for example, they were somewhat surprised by what I understand was an all-time beer-drinking record for an event at Manuka Oval. I am advised that the previous record was 110 kegs for a cricket match. That was beaten with 140 kegs at the Prime Minister’s XI match and then absolutely smashed, hit over the fence, by 210 kegs consumed by the crowd at the one-day international.
I understand there were some questions raised about the 4, 2, 1 drinks policy that was in place in that up until, I understand, 6 pm an individual was allowed to purchase four beers; between 6 and 9 pm that was reduced to two and then after 9 pm it was
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