Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, Madam Chair. Minister, as you’d be aware, the Greens have developed a cenotaph protection bill, which we’ve put out for public comment. It has the strong support of RSL Tasmania and the Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue, and it is designed to protect the cenotaph from all inappropriate development. It’s designed to protect the values of the cenotaph. Given your support for veterans and your recognition of the heritage and cultural values of the Hobart cenotaph, will your government be supporting the Greens bill to protect those sightlines and that sacred place?
Mr BARNETT – Thank you for the question. Through you, Chair. The answer is no, but for a good reason which I have mentioned publicly, and that is that the Greens’ view with respect to the multi‑purpose precinct at Macquarie Point has been consistently opposed. So that bill that has been drafted, in my view, is designed to kill the stadium and to kill the multi‑purpose precinct progressing.
Ms O’CONNOR – It’s designed to protect the cenotaph actually. So that’s it. There’s no support for cenotaph protection legislation like they have in Victoria, for example.
Mr BARNETT – The Greens’ bill is not supported. It’s designed to kill the progress of the Macquarie Point precinct.
Ms O’CONNOR – Have you conveyed to the RSL Tasmania that you don’t support the cenotaph protection bill?
Mr BARNETT – My views are on the public record.
Ms O’CONNOR – Have you had conversations with the RSL Tasmania about that legislation?
Mr BARNETT – Yes, I have.
Ms O’CONNOR – And they were hoping for your support, weren’t they?
Mr BARNETT – They have expressed a view which is similar to the Greens when it comes to that legislation. They would prefer that the legislation progress. But I’ve made it clear that my view on behalf of the government is that the Greens have always been opposed – and I’m saying consistently opposed and I just recognise the consistency of that as opposed to perhaps other political parties.
Ms O’CONNOR – I can’t imagine who you’re talking about, minister.
Mr BARNETT – Yes. So it’s been consistently opposed. So it’s designed to kill off the progress of the Macquarie Point precinct development, and we won’t be supporting it. On the other hand, we will be supporting measures to support our veterans, and not just with respect to the progress of the Macquarie Point precinct, but in any which way. I have ongoing discussions in recent months with the RSL regarding their health, mental health and wellbeing. We’ve just had the Royal Commission come out.
We’ve talked about housing measures, our housing strategy; 20-year housing strategy when I was the Housing Minister includes reference to veterans, for example. So I’m talking about practical, hands on measures that provide support to our veterans. Dago Point’s another one which was open to stage 2 of that. I think the honourable member – I’m not sure if you were there at that opening, through you, Chair, Dago Point at Lake Sorell. But there’s so many measures that we are undertaking as a government to promote and support our veterans and their families of which there’s 17 and a half thousand in Tasmania. But with respect to that Greens bill, we won’t be supporting it.
Ms O’CONNOR – Can I ask, minister, should the stadium go ahead, do you agree, do you accept that it will fundamentally change the heritage and cultural values and aspect of the cenotaph which was sited there in 1925, nearly a century ago, with an eye to those clear sightlines up and down the river and across the city? Do you accept that the stadium, should it be built, would just take a substantial part of those values away?
Mr BARNETT – Just to clarify for the committee, up and down the river and across the city, it’s the north-south and the east-west is not compromised. It’s the, I think you mentioned, through to Battery Point.
Ms O’CONNOR – St George’s Church.
Mr BARNETT – Yes, St George’s Church. So there –
Ms O’CONNOR – And it impedes on the river view.
Mr BARNETT – There is an impeding of that particular sightline. Those sightlines have been provided to the RSL Tasmania, which I support, and they appreciate the opportunity to have those sightlines and consider them.
Ms O’CONNOR – I’m sure they’re stoked.
Mr BARNETT – But my hope and desire is that, going forward and with the establishment of this working group with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation. As has occurred in the past, there will be not just meaningful consultation, but further meaningful engagement so that the design – we’ve got obviously concept plans, but the actual design and work and the development itself will recognise the importance of our veterans and their families.
Ms O’CONNOR – You going to take the roof off?
CHAIR – Thank you.
Ms O’CONNOR – Take the roof off because that might fix it.
