❓ Question regarding the benefits of building a new museum in Perth, following criticism from the Leader of the Opposition. The Minister defends the project, highlighting its educational, scientific, and tourism value.
AnsweredQoN 270Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MUSEUM —
PERTH CULTURAL CENTRE
270. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Culture and the
Arts:
Can the minister please outline the benefits of building a
new Museum beyond it being a place to ''store woolly mammoths'',
as claimed yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition?
Several opposition members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Mandurah, perhaps it is just the tone of your voice; I formally call you to
order for the first time today. It is not the first time, member for Midland,
that I have reminded members in this place that no matter who is asking a
question and no matter what side of the house that person comes from, I expect
to hear that person in silence—and so should you.
PERTH CULTURAL CENTRE
270. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Culture and the
Arts:
Can the minister please outline the benefits of building a
new Museum beyond it being a place to ''store woolly mammoths'',
as claimed yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition?
Several opposition members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Mandurah, perhaps it is just the tone of your voice; I formally call you to
order for the first time today. It is not the first time, member for Midland,
that I have reminded members in this place that no matter who is asking a
question and no matter what side of the house that person comes from, I expect
to hear that person in silence—and so should you.
AnswerView source ↗
I am certainly happy to outline the benefits. It is in the
context of the quite bewildering and astounding announcement by the Leader of
the Opposition yesterday that the opposition, the Labor Party—the
alternative government of this state—opposes the government's
plans to build a new Museum in Perth, the capital of Western Australia, on the
timetable that we have laid out for, with completion in 2019–20. There
was also the ''woolly mammoth'' comment from the Leader of the
Opposition, which, amongst other things, is an insult to all those who work at
the Western Australian Museum—the many scientists, curators, design
professionals, the chief executive officer and all those who advocate for and
are involved with the Western Australian Museum. The comment and approach of
the Leader of the Opposition also demonstrates a lack of understanding of the
role of a modern museum in a modern society and a lack of understanding that it
is an important educational institution in its own right. It is an important
centre for intellectual stimulation and debate, it is an important tourism
attractor to Perth and Western Australia, and it is an important place for
scientific —
Mr J.N. Hyde :
Which is why you took $500 million away in 2008!
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
Come in, member for Perth! I was about to quote the member for Perth. In today's
media —
Mr J.N. Hyde : In
context.
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
Full context! An article in the Guardian
Express of 24 May 2012 reads —
Perth MLA John Hyde criticised the
project's exclusion from the 2012–13 budget, claiming $500 million
of ''real money'' left by the previous government for the museum
project had been spent elsewhere.
Yes, it is the case that the previous project, as announced
by the previous government, was deferred. This government decided to co-locate
the new Museum development in the Perth Cultural Centre on the existing site.
The member for Perth goes on —
Not a cent is allocated this year —
That is actually not correct. If he looks at the budget
papers, he will find that $2.5 million is rolled over from the current
financial year to 2012–13 so that planning can continue. He complains
that the government finds just $70.5 million in future years to build —
an undesigned, $428.3 million
museum in 2020
Clearly, the member for Perth, the opposition spokesperson on
arts, wants the project to go ahead; he has criticised the government for not
going ahead quickly enough. Then, yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition
essentially said that it would not do it at all. It is about time the
opposition got its act together, if it is able to do so.
The Western Australian Museum is, amongst other things, a
very substantial scientific research institution. It has some 52 researchers,
scientists, social scientists and curators. The Museum and its staff are very
much involved in the identification of new species in Western Australia. It is
very much involved through those activities and its scientific research in
environmental management. It is used as a consultant for major resource
development projects in Western Australia. There are many outstanding and
world-class scientists at the Western Australian Museum. On a later occasion I
might provide in more detail some of the scientific research activities of the
Museum.
It is also important to understand that the Museum, across
all its sites, had close to 820 000 visits in 2010–11, with 380 000
visits just on the Perth site, as substandard as the existing facilities are.
Nearly 94 000 people, young and old, have participated in public and school
programs and 64 000 children have participated in education programs. To
demonstrate some of the interest that Western Australians and visitors to
Western Australia have in visiting and using the Western Australian Museum, I
will hold up a photograph that was taken of the enormous queue extending from
the entrance of the Museum into the cultural centre two years ago on the last
day of the A Day in Pompeii exhibition at the Western Australian Museum. The Leader of the Opposition and
the Labor Party need to understand that this institution is much loved and
valued by Western Australians. If the project does not go ahead, there will be
a large amount of disappointment. This government is going to make sure,
subject to our being re-elected, that the project is completed. It has been
needed for 20 years, but has been put off on a number of occasions. It is now
going ahead as far as this government is concerned. If we are re-elected, it
will become a reality. If Labor happens to be elected, clearly it will not
happen.
I conclude with the comment of the chief executive officer of
the Western Australian Museum, Alec Coles, who said last week —
Great cities have great museums
A museum that really relates to and is owned by its people is the centre of a
great society. I think this is a really important statement about Perth being a
mature city.
The opposition just does not get it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the first and second
time today. Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first and
second time today.
context of the quite bewildering and astounding announcement by the Leader of
the Opposition yesterday that the opposition, the Labor Party—the
alternative government of this state—opposes the government's
plans to build a new Museum in Perth, the capital of Western Australia, on the
timetable that we have laid out for, with completion in 2019–20. There
was also the ''woolly mammoth'' comment from the Leader of the
Opposition, which, amongst other things, is an insult to all those who work at
the Western Australian Museum—the many scientists, curators, design
professionals, the chief executive officer and all those who advocate for and
are involved with the Western Australian Museum. The comment and approach of
the Leader of the Opposition also demonstrates a lack of understanding of the
role of a modern museum in a modern society and a lack of understanding that it
is an important educational institution in its own right. It is an important
centre for intellectual stimulation and debate, it is an important tourism
attractor to Perth and Western Australia, and it is an important place for
scientific —
Mr J.N. Hyde :
Which is why you took $500 million away in 2008!
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
Come in, member for Perth! I was about to quote the member for Perth. In today's
media —
Mr J.N. Hyde : In
context.
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
Full context! An article in the Guardian
Express of 24 May 2012 reads —
Perth MLA John Hyde criticised the
project's exclusion from the 2012–13 budget, claiming $500 million
of ''real money'' left by the previous government for the museum
project had been spent elsewhere.
Yes, it is the case that the previous project, as announced
by the previous government, was deferred. This government decided to co-locate
the new Museum development in the Perth Cultural Centre on the existing site.
The member for Perth goes on —
Not a cent is allocated this year —
That is actually not correct. If he looks at the budget
papers, he will find that $2.5 million is rolled over from the current
financial year to 2012–13 so that planning can continue. He complains
that the government finds just $70.5 million in future years to build —
an undesigned, $428.3 million
museum in 2020
Clearly, the member for Perth, the opposition spokesperson on
arts, wants the project to go ahead; he has criticised the government for not
going ahead quickly enough. Then, yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition
essentially said that it would not do it at all. It is about time the
opposition got its act together, if it is able to do so.
The Western Australian Museum is, amongst other things, a
very substantial scientific research institution. It has some 52 researchers,
scientists, social scientists and curators. The Museum and its staff are very
much involved in the identification of new species in Western Australia. It is
very much involved through those activities and its scientific research in
environmental management. It is used as a consultant for major resource
development projects in Western Australia. There are many outstanding and
world-class scientists at the Western Australian Museum. On a later occasion I
might provide in more detail some of the scientific research activities of the
Museum.
It is also important to understand that the Museum, across
all its sites, had close to 820 000 visits in 2010–11, with 380 000
visits just on the Perth site, as substandard as the existing facilities are.
Nearly 94 000 people, young and old, have participated in public and school
programs and 64 000 children have participated in education programs. To
demonstrate some of the interest that Western Australians and visitors to
Western Australia have in visiting and using the Western Australian Museum, I
will hold up a photograph that was taken of the enormous queue extending from
the entrance of the Museum into the cultural centre two years ago on the last
day of the A Day in Pompeii exhibition at the Western Australian Museum. The Leader of the Opposition and
the Labor Party need to understand that this institution is much loved and
valued by Western Australians. If the project does not go ahead, there will be
a large amount of disappointment. This government is going to make sure,
subject to our being re-elected, that the project is completed. It has been
needed for 20 years, but has been put off on a number of occasions. It is now
going ahead as far as this government is concerned. If we are re-elected, it
will become a reality. If Labor happens to be elected, clearly it will not
happen.
I conclude with the comment of the chief executive officer of
the Western Australian Museum, Alec Coles, who said last week —
Great cities have great museums
A museum that really relates to and is owned by its people is the centre of a
great society. I think this is a really important statement about Perth being a
mature city.
The opposition just does not get it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the first and second
time today. Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first and
second time today.
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