Mr KIELY - 2003-08-13
Yesterday, I advised the House of the people of Sanderson’s joy at the waterfront project. Can the Chief Minister please advise the Assembly of further community support for the government’s announcement of the $600m Darwin City waterfront project and, particularly, the location of the convention and exhibition centre?
ANSWER
The member for Sanderson should be congratulated for a very timely question, because we know …
Mr Dunham: He knows how to open flower festivals, by golly.
Ms MARTIN: … we have heard so clearly in this House yesterday how the CLP opposition …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, would you cease for one moment. There is too much chatter going on. I am quite sure it is interrupting the broadcast.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we heard clearly yesterday in this House how the CLP opposition simply opposes development in Darwin. A very sad fact - the CLP opposing the construction of a convention and exhibition centre and the redevelopment of the waterfront. It was an extraordinary and incompetent performance.
Yesterday, we had the Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Territory Construction Association endorsing the project and the location of the convention centre. That support continues to grow, and I am delighted, because this is a bold and visionary project for the Territory. It is one that will really build the economic cake and provide real and sustainable opportunities for so many businesses.
There was support and endorsement for the location from the NT News. It says the preferred location case from the government is a strong one. We welcome the support of the NT Branch of the Australian Council of Building Design Professionals. They are supporting the convention centre on that site. The local chairman is Randal Jones. He described it as:
… an exciting project which will consolidate the current upward swing in confidence and activity in the NT.
He went on to say:
It is an excellent opportunity to involve the local construction industry and design professions in a project of national
and international significance that will provide a welcome boost to the NT economy and the tourism industry.
This is the project opposed by the opposition!
Steven Huntingford, also from design professionals, told Fred McCue on ABC radio this morning:
It’s a good announcement at this time and the Territory’s moving forward in activity and confidence is growing in the economy.
We see it as a very positive step.
In that same interview, he urged local involvement in design and construction. That is an absolute key element for us.
Penny Tastula, who is never short in coming forward, told Fred McCue this morning:
If I had to choose a location in Darwin, if somebody said to me you can build a convention centre anywhere you like in Darwin,
I have to tell you it would have been in the Wharf Precinct. It’s the logical, sensible place to build it …
She was questioned about the issue of the mall, and concerns over it being negatively affected by the development, and Penny said:
I reckon the flow through of traffic will regenerate, reinvigorate the mall.
Not all this support has happened in the last two days. If we go back to mid-July, again in an interview with Fred McCue with Braedon Earley from the Darwin Business Association supported, in loud and unequivocal terms, the Wharf Precinct as the location for the convention centre. A few quotes from Braeden:
Let’s put it there, let’s just get straight into it.
When asked by Fred McCue why he did not share council’s concern over the location and that it may harm business in the city centre, he said:
Well, look, they have to walk from the city centre. I mean, have a look at where convention centres are located in other city
centres. It is a case of putting it as close as you can to the centre of the city - take it from there.
Braedon Earley went on to say, when again questioned:
… you can create linkages, that’s not the issue. I mean, the issue is stop umming and aahing and let’s just get straight on to it.
He concluded to Fred McCue in that interview on 16 July:
… you don’t have to read the feasibility report; just get ahead and build it.
Thank you, Braedon Earley. It is very disconcerting hearing that quote - and they are the exact words from Braeden Earley, representing his business association three or four weeks ago - and the comments you hear now. Was he representing his business association in July or is he representing it now? What is his real opinion, because he was extraordinary forthright to Fred McCue on radio in July:
Get ahead and build it. It is a good location, get ahead and build it, it is not a problem.
It is interesting to hear the comments over the last few days. It is a challenge for Braedon Earley. Was he representing his association then, or is he representing it now?
I am delighted by the continuing growth and support for what is a very important project for our future. I listened to the very wise words this morning - again talking on ABC radio - of Pieter van der Hoeven, who is CEO of the Adelaide Convention Centre. He was endorsing the project and the flow-on benefits to our community. In these endorsement, let us give the last word to the NT News now that the decision has been made: ‘Territorians should get behind it’. And that includes the opposition.
ANSWER
The member for Sanderson should be congratulated for a very timely question, because we know …
Mr Dunham: He knows how to open flower festivals, by golly.
Ms MARTIN: … we have heard so clearly in this House yesterday how the CLP opposition …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, would you cease for one moment. There is too much chatter going on. I am quite sure it is interrupting the broadcast.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we heard clearly yesterday in this House how the CLP opposition simply opposes development in Darwin. A very sad fact - the CLP opposing the construction of a convention and exhibition centre and the redevelopment of the waterfront. It was an extraordinary and incompetent performance.
Yesterday, we had the Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Territory Construction Association endorsing the project and the location of the convention centre. That support continues to grow, and I am delighted, because this is a bold and visionary project for the Territory. It is one that will really build the economic cake and provide real and sustainable opportunities for so many businesses.
There was support and endorsement for the location from the NT News. It says the preferred location case from the government is a strong one. We welcome the support of the NT Branch of the Australian Council of Building Design Professionals. They are supporting the convention centre on that site. The local chairman is Randal Jones. He described it as:
… an exciting project which will consolidate the current upward swing in confidence and activity in the NT.
He went on to say:
It is an excellent opportunity to involve the local construction industry and design professions in a project of national
and international significance that will provide a welcome boost to the NT economy and the tourism industry.
This is the project opposed by the opposition!
Steven Huntingford, also from design professionals, told Fred McCue on ABC radio this morning:
It’s a good announcement at this time and the Territory’s moving forward in activity and confidence is growing in the economy.
We see it as a very positive step.
In that same interview, he urged local involvement in design and construction. That is an absolute key element for us.
Penny Tastula, who is never short in coming forward, told Fred McCue this morning:
If I had to choose a location in Darwin, if somebody said to me you can build a convention centre anywhere you like in Darwin,
I have to tell you it would have been in the Wharf Precinct. It’s the logical, sensible place to build it …
She was questioned about the issue of the mall, and concerns over it being negatively affected by the development, and Penny said:
I reckon the flow through of traffic will regenerate, reinvigorate the mall.
Not all this support has happened in the last two days. If we go back to mid-July, again in an interview with Fred McCue with Braedon Earley from the Darwin Business Association supported, in loud and unequivocal terms, the Wharf Precinct as the location for the convention centre. A few quotes from Braeden:
Let’s put it there, let’s just get straight into it.
When asked by Fred McCue why he did not share council’s concern over the location and that it may harm business in the city centre, he said:
Well, look, they have to walk from the city centre. I mean, have a look at where convention centres are located in other city
centres. It is a case of putting it as close as you can to the centre of the city - take it from there.
Braedon Earley went on to say, when again questioned:
… you can create linkages, that’s not the issue. I mean, the issue is stop umming and aahing and let’s just get straight on to it.
He concluded to Fred McCue in that interview on 16 July:
… you don’t have to read the feasibility report; just get ahead and build it.
Thank you, Braedon Earley. It is very disconcerting hearing that quote - and they are the exact words from Braeden Earley, representing his business association three or four weeks ago - and the comments you hear now. Was he representing his business association in July or is he representing it now? What is his real opinion, because he was extraordinary forthright to Fred McCue on radio in July:
Get ahead and build it. It is a good location, get ahead and build it, it is not a problem.
It is interesting to hear the comments over the last few days. It is a challenge for Braedon Earley. Was he representing his association then, or is he representing it now?
I am delighted by the continuing growth and support for what is a very important project for our future. I listened to the very wise words this morning - again talking on ABC radio - of Pieter van der Hoeven, who is CEO of the Adelaide Convention Centre. He was endorsing the project and the flow-on benefits to our community. In these endorsement, let us give the last word to the NT News now that the decision has been made: ‘Territorians should get behind it’. And that includes the opposition.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016