Page 3117 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 24 September 2014
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MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary.
MR SMYTH: Minister, what action was taken to consult with parents in the school communities concerned and what offers of counselling were made to the students affected?
MS BURCH: It is my understanding a letter went home to the school community and offers of support have been made.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, why did you not respond to a request for a briefing on these very serious issues?
MS BURCH: I respond to all requests from the directorate to keep me informed and up to date on all matters that are important in my role as minister for education.
Infrastructure—proposed new convention centre
MR SMYTH: My question is to the Minister for Tourism and Events. Minister, on budget day you released a media release titled “Transformative Infrastructure”. It stated:
$1.5 million will be invested to progress the Australia Forum to investment-ready status by June 2015. The Government has also included a future provision of up to $8 million to further progress this work in the out years, if funding partners come on board.
Minister, you then added:
The Australia Forum has the potential to provide a truly world class convention facility that will allow the ACT to attract more business tourism and grow our economy.
The government has now decided to defer the Australia Forum for a number of years. Minister what will happen to the provision for $8 million now that the government has decided to defer the Australia Forum project?
MR BARR: I have carriage of this matter as Minister for Economic Development, for the benefit of the member opposite. The point I made yesterday in response to the Leader of the Opposition’s question was that all work that was funded in this budget will continue and we will make decisions in relation to future expenditure in future budgets.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, what consultation did the government conduct with the tourism and events industry, as well as the business community, before it decided to defer the project?
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