Mr ADAMSON - 1996-09-17
Members will be aware that the World Solar Car Challenge is a high-profile alternative-energy event that has been hosted in the Northern Territory for some years now.
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There is talk that, due to a decision taken by the previous federal Labor government, the event may move overseas. What is the status of this important event?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is an important event in the Territory. The status of the event is reflected in the level of support that has been given to it by the government. Over the last 10 years or so, the government has provided more than $0.5m in support, directly and indirectly. During that time, we have also provided a tremendous amount of support to the 2 Territory teams - one from the university and one from Dripstone High School. That support has been provided through the Department of Transport and Works. The Power and Water Authority and the Department of Mines and Energy have also provided cash support. The Department of Transport and Works has provided in-kind support such as registration, assistance with pre-race solar trials on the roads network, traffic coordination and work by police officers. This assistance cannot be quantified in monetary terms.
Let us look at what the previous federal Labor government did. It removed financial assistance for the challenge. It withdrew funding provided by the federal Department of Primary Industries and Energy for the race's technical report. Hans Tholstrop - the entrepreneur who was responsible for the original concept of the race and for building it up over the years - told me it will cost $70 000 to provide the technical report which is a very important part of the assessment of the benefits of the event.
It is interesting that the member for Wanguri, while talking on the radio about Dripstone High School's participation in the solar challenge, said that he could not see why the Northern Territory government, which had put considerable amounts of money into the Cannonball Run, could not provide full financial support for the solar challenge. He did not criticise his federal Labor colleagues, only the Northern Territory government. He is really a most misguided individual. He never looks at the truth of a matter, but takes every opportunity to belittle the works and efforts of Territorians. In fact, he knows of the support that Dripstone High School receives from Territorians, including the government. When the federal Labor government cut its support for this event, he should have been leading the push to say that that was not fair, that it was not on. What did he do? He got stuck into the Territory government and said that we should be funding it fully.
Our government has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support directly and indirectly. We have an interdepartmental committee comprised of representatives of the Chief Minister's Department, the Departments of Mines and Energy, Transport and Works, Sport and Recreation and Treasury and the NT Tourist Commission. We want to maintain the benefits that this race brings, both directly and indirectly, to the Territory in terms of innovative technology, tourism potential and overall publicity. We will ensure that our support is maintained and that the race continues to be based in the Territory.
Page 1595
Page 1594
There is talk that, due to a decision taken by the previous federal Labor government, the event may move overseas. What is the status of this important event?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is an important event in the Territory. The status of the event is reflected in the level of support that has been given to it by the government. Over the last 10 years or so, the government has provided more than $0.5m in support, directly and indirectly. During that time, we have also provided a tremendous amount of support to the 2 Territory teams - one from the university and one from Dripstone High School. That support has been provided through the Department of Transport and Works. The Power and Water Authority and the Department of Mines and Energy have also provided cash support. The Department of Transport and Works has provided in-kind support such as registration, assistance with pre-race solar trials on the roads network, traffic coordination and work by police officers. This assistance cannot be quantified in monetary terms.
Let us look at what the previous federal Labor government did. It removed financial assistance for the challenge. It withdrew funding provided by the federal Department of Primary Industries and Energy for the race's technical report. Hans Tholstrop - the entrepreneur who was responsible for the original concept of the race and for building it up over the years - told me it will cost $70 000 to provide the technical report which is a very important part of the assessment of the benefits of the event.
It is interesting that the member for Wanguri, while talking on the radio about Dripstone High School's participation in the solar challenge, said that he could not see why the Northern Territory government, which had put considerable amounts of money into the Cannonball Run, could not provide full financial support for the solar challenge. He did not criticise his federal Labor colleagues, only the Northern Territory government. He is really a most misguided individual. He never looks at the truth of a matter, but takes every opportunity to belittle the works and efforts of Territorians. In fact, he knows of the support that Dripstone High School receives from Territorians, including the government. When the federal Labor government cut its support for this event, he should have been leading the push to say that that was not fair, that it was not on. What did he do? He got stuck into the Territory government and said that we should be funding it fully.
Our government has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support directly and indirectly. We have an interdepartmental committee comprised of representatives of the Chief Minister's Department, the Departments of Mines and Energy, Transport and Works, Sport and Recreation and Treasury and the NT Tourist Commission. We want to maintain the benefits that this race brings, both directly and indirectly, to the Territory in terms of innovative technology, tourism potential and overall publicity. We will ensure that our support is maintained and that the race continues to be based in the Territory.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016