❓ The Minister for Culture and the Arts outlines the McGowan government's $150 million investment in redeveloping the Perth Concert Hall and other initiatives to support WA's arts and community industries.
AnsweredQoN 106Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH
CONCERT HALL
106. Ms L.L. BAKER to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's continued support for the Western Australian arts and
community industries. Can the minister please
advise the house how the government's investment in redeveloping the
Perth Concert Hall will benefit Western Australian performers, and can
the minister outline what other initiatives we are taking to support these
industries?
CONCERT HALL
106. Ms L.L. BAKER to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's continued support for the Western Australian arts and
community industries. Can the minister please
advise the house how the government's investment in redeveloping the
Perth Concert Hall will benefit Western Australian performers, and can
the minister outline what other initiatives we are taking to support these
industries?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Maylands for
her question. Her electorate is home, of course, to the West Australian Ballet
Company, which is a magnificent, iconic cultural institution.
Ms L.L. Baker : And the WA
Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Indeed;
she has a couple there. It was a great day for the arts last Friday. I was very
pleased to be with the Premier at the Perth Concert Hall last Friday night for
an ensemble presentation by the wonderful West Australian Symphony Orchestra,
conducted by the magnificent Asher Fisch, who of course is the conductor in
residence. There was a significant announcement for the Perth Concert Hall. The
50-year-old building was opened in 1973 by
the then Governor-General and, I think, the Prime Minister at the time. The
total commitment of $150 million will enhance, member for Maylands—look
at me, look at me!
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : If you
ask the question, you are going to get the answer now!
This was a magnificent and
significant announcement, because unfortunately the building has been
undermined as a result of some deterioration. The building was under the
control of the City of Perth, which had responsibility for maintaining it.
Although I acknowledge and thank the City of Perth for its $4 million
contribution to the $150 million commitment, it is important to acknowledge
that a lot of the maintenance work should have been done over time. That said,
it is the McGowan government that has recognised very clearly that this is a magnificent,
iconic institution. This commitment will do a number of things. First of all,
it will deliver once and for all a home for WASO, which vacated the old ABC
studios on St Georges Terrace just over 20 years ago and has been waiting for a
new home to be delivered. The McGowan government is going to deliver it. But it
is also going to deliver an enhanced Perth Concert Hall, with a range of
measures that will enhance this magnificent building into the future. The
world-renowned acoustic features will be preserved; essential structural
maintenance will be done to make sure that the building complies; working areas
used by WASO will be refurbished; venue access will be improved for users, including people with disability et cetera;
and the forecourt will be transformed. Those members who have gone to
the concert hall know that the forecourt is quite narrow. The forecourt will be
expanded to enhance the capacity for patrons and activities so that we can have
more gatherings and festivals.
The
second part of the member's question asked how this relates to our
investment in the arts over the last six years of the McGowan
government. Over $326 million of investment has been delivered or announced,
and projects completed. We saw the rooftop
of the Art Gallery of Western Australia enhanced; it is now a very
well-utilised and exciting place in
which to enjoy a rooftop experience. At His Majesty's Theatre, a beautiful
$15.3 million restoration was done of the balconies and the verandahs
were returned under the McGowan government, on top of about $6.5 million spent
on internal changes, including works to the orchestra pit. The Perth Cultural
Centre will be revamped and totally transformed with a $25 million commitment.
We already have the commitment to the Aboriginal cultural centre. The
government also has the commitment to the screen production facility in Malaga,
as well as the $20 million screen investment. The arts are doing magnificently
under the McGowan government because we recognise the importance of our
creative industries and our creative people to the story that is Western Australia.
We will keep on investing in our creatives—in our wonderful performers,
musicians, producers and screen industry workers—because we recognise
that the arts are an important part of our diverse economy. I am proud of that,
and I know the member for Maylands is very proud as well. The $150 million
restoration and transformation of the Perth Concert Hall will be a magnificent
achievement and a brilliant effort. I look forward to its opening in a couple
of years' time.
her question. Her electorate is home, of course, to the West Australian Ballet
Company, which is a magnificent, iconic cultural institution.
Ms L.L. Baker : And the WA
Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Indeed;
she has a couple there. It was a great day for the arts last Friday. I was very
pleased to be with the Premier at the Perth Concert Hall last Friday night for
an ensemble presentation by the wonderful West Australian Symphony Orchestra,
conducted by the magnificent Asher Fisch, who of course is the conductor in
residence. There was a significant announcement for the Perth Concert Hall. The
50-year-old building was opened in 1973 by
the then Governor-General and, I think, the Prime Minister at the time. The
total commitment of $150 million will enhance, member for Maylands—look
at me, look at me!
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : If you
ask the question, you are going to get the answer now!
This was a magnificent and
significant announcement, because unfortunately the building has been
undermined as a result of some deterioration. The building was under the
control of the City of Perth, which had responsibility for maintaining it.
Although I acknowledge and thank the City of Perth for its $4 million
contribution to the $150 million commitment, it is important to acknowledge
that a lot of the maintenance work should have been done over time. That said,
it is the McGowan government that has recognised very clearly that this is a magnificent,
iconic institution. This commitment will do a number of things. First of all,
it will deliver once and for all a home for WASO, which vacated the old ABC
studios on St Georges Terrace just over 20 years ago and has been waiting for a
new home to be delivered. The McGowan government is going to deliver it. But it
is also going to deliver an enhanced Perth Concert Hall, with a range of
measures that will enhance this magnificent building into the future. The
world-renowned acoustic features will be preserved; essential structural
maintenance will be done to make sure that the building complies; working areas
used by WASO will be refurbished; venue access will be improved for users, including people with disability et cetera;
and the forecourt will be transformed. Those members who have gone to
the concert hall know that the forecourt is quite narrow. The forecourt will be
expanded to enhance the capacity for patrons and activities so that we can have
more gatherings and festivals.
The
second part of the member's question asked how this relates to our
investment in the arts over the last six years of the McGowan
government. Over $326 million of investment has been delivered or announced,
and projects completed. We saw the rooftop
of the Art Gallery of Western Australia enhanced; it is now a very
well-utilised and exciting place in
which to enjoy a rooftop experience. At His Majesty's Theatre, a beautiful
$15.3 million restoration was done of the balconies and the verandahs
were returned under the McGowan government, on top of about $6.5 million spent
on internal changes, including works to the orchestra pit. The Perth Cultural
Centre will be revamped and totally transformed with a $25 million commitment.
We already have the commitment to the Aboriginal cultural centre. The
government also has the commitment to the screen production facility in Malaga,
as well as the $20 million screen investment. The arts are doing magnificently
under the McGowan government because we recognise the importance of our
creative industries and our creative people to the story that is Western Australia.
We will keep on investing in our creatives—in our wonderful performers,
musicians, producers and screen industry workers—because we recognise
that the arts are an important part of our diverse economy. I am proud of that,
and I know the member for Maylands is very proud as well. The $150 million
restoration and transformation of the Perth Concert Hall will be a magnificent
achievement and a brilliant effort. I look forward to its opening in a couple
of years' time.
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