❓ Opposition questions the Treasurer about subsidies for Elizabeth Quay food and beverage outlets. The Treasurer initially deflects, then admits to providing assistance to attract tenants, defending it as a successful investment.
AnsweredQoN 845Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELIZABETH QUAY — FIT-OUT AND RENTAL COSTS
845. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Treasurer:
I refer to the fact that taxpayers
have contributed to the fit-out of the food and beverage outlets at Elizabeth
Quay while also giving the tenants a rent-free period.
(1) Can the
Treasurer explain the subsidising of the fit-out and rental costs for some food
and beverage outlets in the quay?
(2) What is the total amount of the
subsidy?
845. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Treasurer:
I refer to the fact that taxpayers
have contributed to the fit-out of the food and beverage outlets at Elizabeth
Quay while also giving the tenants a rent-free period.
(1) Can the
Treasurer explain the subsidising of the fit-out and rental costs for some food
and beverage outlets in the quay?
(2) What is the total amount of the
subsidy?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) For details the member really should ask this
question of the Minister for Transport; however, I will have a go at this
answer. As the member knows, before Elizabeth Quay existed there were, adjacent
to it, particularly on the wharf there, a range of businesses renting
facilities from the Department of Transport. The one I go to is the
Annalakshmi on the Swan restaurant. When EQ was being built, the throughput of
the businesses collapsed.
Point of Order
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I think the
Treasurer is confused. This question is about the new businesses that the
government has provided subsidies for in terms of fit-out and rental costs.
The
SPEAKER : I will give the Treasurer a little lead-in and then he can answer
that question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : You have to be specific when you ask questions, so tough it
out.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : That is enough!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Because they were tenants of the Department of Transport and
because the government was redeveloping the site and blocking access to them,
we gave them a rent-free period.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warnbro, I call you to order.
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Butler!
You are going into details about
existing tenancies that were there before. I understood this question was to do
with new tenancies that are being fitted out.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : She did not make that clear as usual. She mumbled a lot.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : It is very clear
in my mind that it is to do with new tenancies and fit-outs for new tenancies,
so let us go there.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Everyone gets it except you, Treasurer.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Yes, yes.
We developed the beautiful Elizabeth
Quay. I go there quite often. There is a very good exhibition called '' Mahatma in me''—some
sculptures there; take a look at them. We know that over three million people
have visited EQ since its opening in January. The Metropolitan Redevelopment
Authority, as the landlord for the facility, to encourage people to invest
there and take out leases, gave assistance —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : That is enough!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : It gave assistance in early times to draw in people. The
mumblers over there are obviously from the Labor Party; they know nothing about
business. When things are initially leased out, we make leases and other things
to encourage people to come in. I can assure members, as the Premier indicated,
we are way in front with the sale of land to fund EQ. More importantly, the
demand for facilities both at the EQ site and the adjacent wharf area are
booming. Annalakshmi says that —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Quick answer, so
we can move on.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Annalakshmi's business has increased tenfold due to EQ.
I know members opposite do not like EQ, but it is a rip-roaring success. It
indicates the leadership of this government in making a necessary investment to
get activity there over the screaming and whingeing of people opposite.
question of the Minister for Transport; however, I will have a go at this
answer. As the member knows, before Elizabeth Quay existed there were, adjacent
to it, particularly on the wharf there, a range of businesses renting
facilities from the Department of Transport. The one I go to is the
Annalakshmi on the Swan restaurant. When EQ was being built, the throughput of
the businesses collapsed.
Point of Order
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I think the
Treasurer is confused. This question is about the new businesses that the
government has provided subsidies for in terms of fit-out and rental costs.
The
SPEAKER : I will give the Treasurer a little lead-in and then he can answer
that question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : You have to be specific when you ask questions, so tough it
out.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : That is enough!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Because they were tenants of the Department of Transport and
because the government was redeveloping the site and blocking access to them,
we gave them a rent-free period.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warnbro, I call you to order.
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Butler!
You are going into details about
existing tenancies that were there before. I understood this question was to do
with new tenancies that are being fitted out.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : She did not make that clear as usual. She mumbled a lot.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : It is very clear
in my mind that it is to do with new tenancies and fit-outs for new tenancies,
so let us go there.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Everyone gets it except you, Treasurer.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Yes, yes.
We developed the beautiful Elizabeth
Quay. I go there quite often. There is a very good exhibition called '' Mahatma in me''—some
sculptures there; take a look at them. We know that over three million people
have visited EQ since its opening in January. The Metropolitan Redevelopment
Authority, as the landlord for the facility, to encourage people to invest
there and take out leases, gave assistance —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : That is enough!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : It gave assistance in early times to draw in people. The
mumblers over there are obviously from the Labor Party; they know nothing about
business. When things are initially leased out, we make leases and other things
to encourage people to come in. I can assure members, as the Premier indicated,
we are way in front with the sale of land to fund EQ. More importantly, the
demand for facilities both at the EQ site and the adjacent wharf area are
booming. Annalakshmi says that —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Quick answer, so
we can move on.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Annalakshmi's business has increased tenfold due to EQ.
I know members opposite do not like EQ, but it is a rip-roaring success. It
indicates the leadership of this government in making a necessary investment to
get activity there over the screaming and whingeing of people opposite.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.