Question regarding funding for the urgent restoration of the collapsed belltower at the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. The Minister's response is initially deflected with political point-scoring before providing a factual update on the Heritage Council's assessment.

AnsweredQoN 169Legislative Council
Asked
12 September 2000
Portfolio
Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

In response to the collapse of the heritage church belltower at Beagle Bay last Friday, what additional funding will be allocated for this urgent restoration project? Hon PETER FOSS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am overwhelmed by the suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition supports spending money on belltowers! I remember that in his first speech in this House as shadow Minister for the Arts he condemned expenditure on belltowers and anything artistic and stated that money should be spent only on health, education and the police. I think I have picked the reason that the member is interested in this belltower: It is the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. The member is prepared to make an exception for a Roman Catholic church. His seminary experience is starting to show. I support the proposition that the member makes. I support building belltowers, especially when they are to house heritage, historic bells which have been donated to the State by the English nation. We have an obligation to do something with them. I am pleased to see the change of heart on the part of the Leader of the Opposition. Hon N.F. Moore: Where did the bell come from? Hon PETER FOSS: I do not know whether the bell came from St Martin's in the Field, which is a very famous church. The PRESIDENT: Does the Attorney General have an answer for the question that was asked? Hon PETER FOSS: The Minister for Heritage informs me that the Heritage Council is aware of the collapse of the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. I am advised that the Heritage Council is seeking clarification of a number of issues, including the extent of damage and the condition of the rest of the building, before making a report to the minister.
Hon PETER FOSS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am overwhelmed by the suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition supports spending money on belltowers! I remember that in his first speech in this House as shadow Minister for the Arts he condemned expenditure on belltowers and anything artistic and stated that money should be spent only on health, education and the police. I think I have picked the reason that the member is interested in this belltower: It is the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. The member is prepared to make an exception for a Roman Catholic church. His seminary experience is starting to show. I support the proposition that the member makes. I support building belltowers, especially when they are to house heritage, historic bells which have been donated to the State by the English nation. We have an obligation to do something with them. I am pleased to see the change of heart on the part of the Leader of the Opposition. Hon N.F. Moore: Where did the bell come from? Hon PETER FOSS: I do not know whether the bell came from St Martin's in the Field, which is a very famous church. The PRESIDENT: Does the Attorney General have an answer for the question that was asked? Hon PETER FOSS: The Minister for Heritage informs me that the Heritage Council is aware of the collapse of the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. I am advised that the Heritage Council is seeking clarification of a number of issues, including the extent of damage and the condition of the rest of the building, before making a report to the minister.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am overwhelmed by the suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition supports spending money on belltowers! I remember that in his first speech in this House as shadow Minister for the Arts he condemned expenditure on belltowers and anything artistic and stated that money should be spent only on health, education and the police. I think I have picked the reason that the member is interested in this belltower: It is the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. The member is prepared to make an exception for a Roman Catholic church. His seminary experience is starting to show. I support the proposition that the member makes. I support building belltowers, especially when they are to house heritage, historic bells which have been donated to the State by the English nation. We have an obligation to do something with them. I am pleased to see the change of heart on the part of the Leader of the Opposition. Hon N.F. Moore: Where did the bell come from? Hon PETER FOSS: I do not know whether the bell came from St Martin's in the Field, which is a very famous church. The PRESIDENT: Does the Attorney General have an answer for the question that was asked? Hon PETER FOSS: The Minister for Heritage informs me that the Heritage Council is aware of the collapse of the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. I am advised that the Heritage Council is seeking clarification of a number of issues, including the extent of damage and the condition of the rest of the building, before making a report to the minister.
I am overwhelmed by the suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition supports spending money on belltowers! I remember that in his first speech in this House as shadow Minister for the Arts he condemned expenditure on belltowers and anything artistic and stated that money should be spent only on health, education and the police. I think I have picked the reason that the member is interested in this belltower: It is the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. The member is prepared to make an exception for a Roman Catholic church. His seminary experience is starting to show. I support the proposition that the member makes. I support building belltowers, especially when they are to house heritage, historic bells which have been donated to the State by the English nation. We have an obligation to do something with them. I am pleased to see the change of heart on the part of the Leader of the Opposition. Hon N.F. Moore: Where did the bell come from? Hon PETER FOSS: I do not know whether the bell came from St Martin's in the Field, which is a very famous church. The PRESIDENT: Does the Attorney General have an answer for the question that was asked? Hon PETER FOSS: The Minister for Heritage informs me that the Heritage Council is aware of the collapse of the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. I am advised that the Heritage Council is seeking clarification of a number of issues, including the extent of damage and the condition of the rest of the building, before making a report to the minister.
Hon N.F. Moore: Where did the bell come from? Hon PETER FOSS: I do not know whether the bell came from St Martin's in the Field, which is a very famous church. The PRESIDENT: Does the Attorney General have an answer for the question that was asked? Hon PETER FOSS: The Minister for Heritage informs me that the Heritage Council is aware of the collapse of the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. I am advised that the Heritage Council is seeking clarification of a number of issues, including the extent of damage and the condition of the rest of the building, before making a report to the minister.
Hon PETER FOSS: I do not know whether the bell came from St Martin's in the Field, which is a very famous church. The PRESIDENT: Does the Attorney General have an answer for the question that was asked? Hon PETER FOSS: The Minister for Heritage informs me that the Heritage Council is aware of the collapse of the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. I am advised that the Heritage Council is seeking clarification of a number of issues, including the extent of damage and the condition of the rest of the building, before making a report to the minister.
The PRESIDENT: Does the Attorney General have an answer for the question that was asked? Hon PETER FOSS: The Minister for Heritage informs me that the Heritage Council is aware of the collapse of the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. I am advised that the Heritage Council is seeking clarification of a number of issues, including the extent of damage and the condition of the rest of the building, before making a report to the minister.
Hon PETER FOSS: The Minister for Heritage informs me that the Heritage Council is aware of the collapse of the belltower of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. I am advised that the Heritage Council is seeking clarification of a number of issues, including the extent of damage and the condition of the rest of the building, before making a report to the minister.

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