Mr BAYLEY question to MINISTER for VETERANS’ AFFAIRS, Mr BARNETT
On Friday, RSL Tasmania was finally provided with Macquarie Point Development Corporation images that model the impact of the Macquarie Point Stadium on important sightlines of the Cenotaph. These sightlines are explicitly named in planning rules and, until your stadium fast‑track process, were protected by provisions and a 15‑metre building height limit at Macquarie Point. The images show a 54‑metre high stadium will destroy three sightlines from the Cenotaph and others that were until now protected. You have consistently denied that there will be impacts on the Cenotaph – not true.
Your government also consistently claims that this stadium can be built for $715 million ‑ also clearly untrue. You and your government have deliberately misled the RSL, along with the Tasmanian people. When will you come clean about the ugly truth of the stadium and its impacts? When will you finally acknowledge that this is a project that Tasmanians do not want, do not need, and cannot afford?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for his question and special interest in this matter. I say two things up‑front. We will always honour and respect our veterans.
Members – Hear, hear.
Mr BARNETT – We will always honour and respect the 17,500 veterans in Tasmania. I add that, being the day after the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, it is a very important day for our veterans. Many of them are doing it tough as a result, as they read through that report. Their health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to me and the government and, I hope, all members of this Chamber.
The second thing to say about the member and the Greens is that you have been consistently opposed to the multipurpose stadium. Your recent legislation, which is being put forward and tabled in this place for public consultation, is designed to kill the stadium. The Greens have been consistent and they are continuing to be consistent in opposition to the development. This is another piece of the infrastructure that the Greens do not support.
Mr Bayley – You are being asked to put that forward to protect the Cenotaph.
The SPEAKER – Order, Deputy Leader of the Greens.
Mr BARNETT – They do not support upgrading our hospitals. They do not support upgrading our schools, bridges and roads. You are against the infrastructure –
Mr Bayley – You know that is not true, minister. You know that is completely false. We have called for that forever.
The SPEAKER – The Deputy Leader of the Greens can make a point of order if he chooses.
Mr BARNETT – Let me comment on the remarks that you have made. We have meaningful engagement with our veteran community on this side of the House and I hope all in this Chamber proactively do so. It is very important that I have engaged – as does the Premier ‑ with RSL Tasmania in recent weeks. I have ongoing engagement.
I called the acting President of RSL Tasmania on Monday morning to indicate my support for him and his members in light of the Royal Commission report coming out. Late last night I spoke to the national President of RSL Australia about how hard they are doing it at the moment.
We are expressing our support for our veterans. We will not step back from that and we will continue with meaningful engagement. Yes, RSL have received those renders. They have requested them, they are entitled to them, and they have been provided in good faith and in goodwill. We will continue to engage to ensure that we can honour our veterans regarding the progress of the Macquarie Point Precinct and the development thereof, and honouring in any way, shape or form to make it better for our veterans regarding the Cenotaph and this infrastructure project. We will do whatever we can to support our veterans.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Mr BAYLEY – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Mr BAYLEY – The minister acknowledged the images and they have been provided to the RSL. Two questions flow from that. One, do you acknowledge that they destroy three of the sightlines that are important from the Cenotaph? Two, will you work with the relevant minister to ensure that the Macquarie Point Development Corporation publishes them on the website alongside the ‘How will the stadium look from the Cenotaph?’ section in the website?
Mr Abetz – That is a new question.
Mr BAYLEY – The images exist.
The SPEAKER – I point out that I was not the one who determined how supplementary questions would work. Therefore, supplementary questions do allow the new question to come from the answer that has been given. Think about that next time you all go and negotiate changes to the Sessional Orders.
Mr BARNETT – Honourable Speaker, I acknowledge the many supplementary questions by the member. I indicate that we have a meaningful and honouring relationship with RSL Tasmania and our veteran community, noting that there are many views in the veterans’ community about this major project. I have put that on the record. People know that, I believe. I think you know that.
In terms of that render, that is a matter for the RSL. It has been provided to them in good faith. Macquarie Point Development Corporation and what else they want to do with it is clearly not a matter for me as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. That is a matter for the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and the relevant minister.
With respect to providing further information, I am sure the Macquarie Point Development Corporation – I know they are very firm in the view that they want to consult and to collaborate – and I am sure they will continue to do so.
The SPEAKER – The minister’s time for answering the question has expired. He was still on his feet, but I will take Ms Burnet because he was starting to move away. Jumping early does not necessarily get you the call, though.
