Page 2490 - Week 07 - Thursday, 3 August 2017
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MR RAMSAY: I thank Ms Orr for the supplementary question. On the events side of the business, Access Canberra has been crunching the numbers and, on average, the events team are saving organisers around 10 hours per event. This translates to an annual saving to business of around $1 million, a huge gain for event organisers in the ACT. While it is still too early to quantify the savings from the liquor side of the team, early indications are that they are providing an equivalent level of service.
This new way of thinking has turned traditional government service delivery on its head, with the public service doing much of the running around and finding of information that we previously asked the public to do. This change frees up businesses to spend more time organising and planning events and less time looking through government websites to find what approvals and permits are needed. This is all part of the government’s push to be more facilitative in allowing innovative ideas to come to fruition in Canberra. We are working with businesses to help get their ideas over the line in a safe and lawful way, which helps the ACT economy to expand and diversify.
Greyhound racing—cruelty reports
MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Regulatory Services. Minister, on 13 July your ministerial colleague Mr Rattenbury asserted that he had confirmed reports of animal cruelty at the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club, despite there being no record of this on either Domestic Animal Services or RSPCA databases. Has Minister Rattenbury given you or your directorate a copy of these reports?
MR RAMSAY: I thank the member for his question. I am aware of a number of matters which have been alleged in relation to greyhounds and which have been and are under investigation. Certainly on 6 February there was a complaint which was made in relation to alleged race fixing and swab practices. That matter has been investigated and the matter has been closed.
In addition, on 28 February there was a new piece of information provided to my office about swabbing practices. My advice is that the matter is currently being investigated by Access Canberra.
Mr Parton: On a point of order, my question specifically pertained to information that has come from your ministerial colleague Mr Rattenbury.
MADAM SPEAKER: Attorney, you do have some time yet to be more relevant to the question.
MR RAMSAY: Thank you Madam Speaker. In relation to information, I note the comments that were made by Mr Rattenbury. Minister Rattenbury has, I understand, been in contact with members of the public and, as is always the case, I encourage people to pass matters straight on to Access Canberra. Mr Rattenbury has not passed anything in particular on to me. If it is in relation to the same matters—and I understand it may well be—I have received those and have passed those directly on to Access Canberra for investigation.
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