Mr BURKE - 2003-08-12
Territorians want a convention centre, but they want a convention centre given to them by a government that has made the right decision. Coming to that decision, I imagine that the first thing Territorians want to know is how much this convention centre will cost them. In briefings that your officers gave to business representatives yesterday, they said that the convention centre would not turn a profit for 12 years. Given the fact that it would take two years to construct from 2005, going well, 12 years from that takes us to nearly 2020. What is the recurrent cost per year to Territorians, given the fact that you have done a financial analysis of this convention centre?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the first point to make is the churlishness we are hearing from the Opposition Leader. You talked about it and we are doing it! Let us get this very clear. Who talked about it a lot for a long time, knocked down a Darwin icon, and then did nothing? Let us define what the difference is between a party of the past and a government that is moving the Territory forward, building for our future. Let us make it very clear and also understand that if any member of the opposition had asked for a briefing …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could I ask you to ask the Chief Minister to cut through the rhubarb, be quick and give us the detail of the answer to the question?
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, I would like shorter answers, Chief Minister, and shorter questions. We have said that once, so please get on with your answer.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I appreciate that, but I was tackling the different elements because he had a long question. So, Madam Speaker, fair enough, keep your questions short and you will have a short answer.
We were very clear in the $100m that we are putting into the convention centre, but also associated infrastructure works for the waterfront redevelopment. What we are doing is now going to the market and, of course, there will be negotiations. I am not going to stand here and pre-empt those negotiations with the private sector by saying what the numbers are in specific that the Opposition Leader seems to think are appropriate to deliver now.
Mr Burke: You have no idea.
Ms MARTIN: It is not appropriate. The Opposition Leader says that I have no idea. I do have good ideas. We are going to negotiate with the many developers who will form into consortia - and there will be local components of that - and who will lodge expressions of interest, because there is a lot of interest in this waterfront redevelopment.
We are going to be competitive in our negotiations, recognising that convention centres all around Australia do take a subsidy from government. The reasons that governments subsidise convention centres is for the economic benefits they bring widely to their communities and that, Madam Speaker, is a fact of life. These negotiations will take place. Again, I say to all members of the opposition: come and have a briefing.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the first point to make is the churlishness we are hearing from the Opposition Leader. You talked about it and we are doing it! Let us get this very clear. Who talked about it a lot for a long time, knocked down a Darwin icon, and then did nothing? Let us define what the difference is between a party of the past and a government that is moving the Territory forward, building for our future. Let us make it very clear and also understand that if any member of the opposition had asked for a briefing …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could I ask you to ask the Chief Minister to cut through the rhubarb, be quick and give us the detail of the answer to the question?
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, I would like shorter answers, Chief Minister, and shorter questions. We have said that once, so please get on with your answer.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I appreciate that, but I was tackling the different elements because he had a long question. So, Madam Speaker, fair enough, keep your questions short and you will have a short answer.
We were very clear in the $100m that we are putting into the convention centre, but also associated infrastructure works for the waterfront redevelopment. What we are doing is now going to the market and, of course, there will be negotiations. I am not going to stand here and pre-empt those negotiations with the private sector by saying what the numbers are in specific that the Opposition Leader seems to think are appropriate to deliver now.
Mr Burke: You have no idea.
Ms MARTIN: It is not appropriate. The Opposition Leader says that I have no idea. I do have good ideas. We are going to negotiate with the many developers who will form into consortia - and there will be local components of that - and who will lodge expressions of interest, because there is a lot of interest in this waterfront redevelopment.
We are going to be competitive in our negotiations, recognising that convention centres all around Australia do take a subsidy from government. The reasons that governments subsidise convention centres is for the economic benefits they bring widely to their communities and that, Madam Speaker, is a fact of life. These negotiations will take place. Again, I say to all members of the opposition: come and have a briefing.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016