Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, Chair. Minister, I do acknowledge your ongoing strong support for veterans. I also acknowledge that you must be in a spot of bother in some ways because you are part of a government that plans a stadium which will significantly impact on the historic cultural heritage and the values of the cenotaph. How do you respond to statements by Chief Executive Officer John Hardy from the RSL when he says that the RSL has been disrespected and misled at every turn by government in relation to the stadium. Particularly in relation to its size and sightlines. As you’d know, minister, because the Visual Impacts Report was lodged with the planning commission, Tasmanians now have a very good – have you seen this report, minister – a very good understanding of the visual impacts. How do you respond to the RSLs very serious persistent concerns about this stadium and its impact on the cenotaph?
Mr BARNETT – Well my first comment in response, and I thank you for the question, is my respect for veterans and RSL Tasmania, and my ongoing engagement with them which I do appreciate, and I think they would likewise tell you that that is ongoing and very considered and thoughtful. I am aware of the concerns that you’ve shared and wanted to indicate, obviously, strong support for the government’s objectives but likewise strong support for our veterans to ensure that their interests are best represented.
That’s why I support ongoing meaningful engagement. That’s why I’m very pleased to advise that we have a working group of veterans that is soon to be established to work with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation, representing not just RSL Tasmania, but a range of veteran organisations and veteran interests who have that ongoing relationship with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation to look at options on how we can better honour and represent the interests of our veterans with respect to the multipurpose stadium and precinct at Macquarie Point.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, minister. To date the RSL was involved in a conversation with your government, with the Premier, with you, with the Department of State Growth, and every issue and concern that was raised by them has been ignored to the extent that now we have a stadium that’s 54 metres tall that will unarguably interrupt sightlines that were decided a century ago were important. What’s your response to the RSLs frustration? You might invite them to this group with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation, but the design is the design and the cenotaph’s impacts are significant, aren’t they?
Mr BARNETT – Can I just respond to say that I have had ongoing engagement with the RSL. Likewise, with the Premier and my government on this very important project for Tasmania. That engagement is ongoing, and I’ve mentioned the working group that is soon to be established. I do acknowledge in terms of the sightlines there will be some impact on the Cenotaph. You’ve made that point, and I acknowledge that. But it has been carefully designed and informed by the surrounding areas and in terms of –
Ms O’CONNOR – Has It? It doesn’t look like it.
Mr BARNETT – of the profile and to keep that as low as possible and I have indicated at all stages in terms of the development going forward how we can better represent the interests of our veterans within the multipurpose precinct. As it develops; and of course it’s going through the POS system which you’re aware, and then the opportunity for feedback and consultation once the TPC provides further feedback that’s in the public arena.
Ms O’CONNOR – Minister, the Heritage Report arbours, also part of the documents that was lodged with the planning commission, makes it clear that the impact on the heritage values and the sightlines of the cenotaph will be very high. It’s also part of the reason that the Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue, FOSMA, has expressed their disgust and disappointment in the actions of your government wanting to plonk a stadium so close to the sacred ground of the cenotaph and interfering with its sightlines. How do you reconcile your commitment to veterans to the government you’re part of ignoring their concerns over this stadium which you said you want to keep low but it’s actually going to be 54 metres tall?
Mr BARNETT – No, I think just to quickly say, in terms of your last point, I said to be as low profile as possible.
Ms O’CONNOR – Fifty-four metres tall?
Mr BARNETT – That’s what I’ve just said. I’m just noting that point. With respect to the soldier’s memorial walk, I’ve had an ongoing relationship with them. I respect and appreciate John Wadsley for his leadership and wonderful work that he’s done in terms of the soldier’s memorial walk which of course commences very high on the hill above the cenotaph and is beautifully presented right down through towards the cenotaph itself.
I’d like to think that options are available to extend that memorial walk, for example right through to the precinct so that the public can have a better understanding and consideration of the service and sacrifice of our veterans. I’d like to think there are opportunities in this development to better acknowledge the service and sacrifice of our veterans and that’s why this working group will be established to get their feedback on how that can best be done to honour and respect our veterans and the veteran community more generally.
Ms O’CONNOR – Well, thank you, Minister. Given that you’ve ignored all of the concerns of veterans expressed so far in relation to the stadium and its bulk and height; what do you propose to offer the RSL, Friends of Soldiers Memorial Walk, in order to try to secure some measure of support or at least not opposition from the RSL and FOSMA and veterans around the state to your stadium plan which would damage the values of the cenotaph?
Mr BARNETT – Thank you for the question, and I don’t agree with the first part of your question, which is again putting words in my mouth which I don’t concur with. I do take seriously the views or our veterans. Not just RSL Tasmania but all our veterans around the state. And I would like to make the point at this juncture that there are different views around the state with respect to the progress of the multi‑purpose precinct and the benefits for our veterans and the opportunities to best honour them. So I want to acknowledge that on the way through.
Ms O’CONNOR – You’re clutching at straws.
Mr BARNETT – No, it’s absolutely – I get a lot of feedback from a lot of different veterans and clearly the views of RSL Tasmania have been expressed through John Hardy, the CEO, and indeed others, the acting president who I met more recently.
Ms O’CONNOR – It comes up through the branches.
Mr BARNETT – It does come up through the branches, and there are members of the various sub‑branches around Tasmania who have different views. But notwithstanding that, I’m here to represent the views of our veterans. That’s why we’re going to have a working group, including RSL Tasmania but including other veterans as well, that will work with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and the government to –
Ms O’CONNOR – What can you offer them, which was the question?
Mr BARNETT – There’s a lot of things that we can offer them, and I don’t know all the things that we can offer them, but there are a lot of things to better honour and respect our veterans and their families. So that’s why we’ve established the working group. I’ve already mentioned the Soldiers Memorial Walk. I’ve already indicated there’s opportunities to better represent our veterans in the development. So it might, for example, be – there might be a Victoria Cross corner. There might be a veterans’ bar. If the convention centre is established, they might have a special convention centre room in honour of our veterans. There’s a whole range of ways to –
Ms O’CONNOR – It won’t replace a sightline to St George’s Church.
Mr BARNETT – There’s a whole range of opportunities before us, and I’m not going to leave any stone unturned to better represent the interests of our veterans in the development which will be a very significant opportunity obviously in terms of economic, social and other benefits for Tasmania, not to mention –
Ms O’CONNOR – Massive loss-making venture.
Mr BARNETT – the thousands of jobs that will flow from the development.
