❓ Mr. Paolino asks the Minister for Creative Industries for an update on the $150 million Perth Concert Hall refurbishment, including its impact on local jobs. The Minister provides a detailed response highlighting the project's significance and funding sources.
AnsweredQoN 206Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Perth Concert Hall refurbishment
206. Mr Frank Paolino to
the Minister for Creative Industries :
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying our economy to build and grow WA's
creative industries.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the $150 million—
Mr Liam Staltari interjected.
Mr Frank Paolino: You all good?
(1) Can the minister update the house on the $150 million
refurbishment of the iconic and historic Perth Concert Hall?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this project
will support local jobs during the construction phase and following its
completion?
206. Mr Frank Paolino to
the Minister for Creative Industries :
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying our economy to build and grow WA's
creative industries.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the $150 million—
Mr Liam Staltari interjected.
Mr Frank Paolino: You all good?
(1) Can the minister update the house on the $150 million
refurbishment of the iconic and historic Perth Concert Hall?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this project
will support local jobs during the construction phase and following its
completion?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) It gives me great pleasure to
answer this question. I thank the member for his support and interest in the
redevelopment and infrastructure building program, particularly in the creative
industries. I know he probably has great dreams of
perhaps performing at the Perth Concert Hall one day. Who knows; it may happen!
This is a fantastic project for
a number of reasons, but it is just one of many examples of how we are
supporting the creative industries in WA, which is particularly demonstrated by
our investment in infrastructure. I will go through that in a bit more detail.
Some interesting facts that members may not know about our beautiful concert
hall is that it was opened on Australia Day in 1973. It was built in the 1970s
and just preceded the opening of the Sydney Opera House. It is one of the
oldest modern concert halls in the country. Acoustically, it is considered to
be the best venue of its kind in Australia, so it is well worth investing in.
It won a national architectural award as recently as 2016, the Australian
Institute of Architects National Award for Enduring Architecture. It speaks to
the fantastic value we have in what is called brutalist architecture, which is
notable. I am sure that many members would be able to tell me when we talk
about brutalist architecture that it is white off-form concrete—fugly might
be another way of describing it! The concert hall was built in the 1970s, so a
lot of the fit-out fixtures were up for auction. That was one of the more
popular social media posts I did earlier this year when I let people know some
furniture from the 70s would be available. Who does not want curved leather-proof
seating and curtains and fabrics from the 70s in their house?
Mr David Michael: It sounds like Menzies House!
Ms Simone McGurk: That is right. It also had
audiovisual equipment and commercial kitchen equipment that was auctioned and made
good use of by the people who bid for it, but it is time for a refresh, which
is why we are spending over $150 million on the refurbishment. Of that amount,
$104 million is from the state government; $12 million is from the Commonwealth
government; $4 million is from the City of Perth, which we are grateful for; and
$30 million is from Woodside through the Resources Community Investment
Initiative. Part of the work will be an important internal refresh and also of the
forecourt of the concert hall to make better use of it and make it more
welcoming and connected to the city, which will be great to see. We are
grateful to ADCO, which has taken on the project to do this work. I was with
the Premier; the state member for Perth, John Carey; the Assistant Minister to
the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, the local federal member; and City of Perth
representatives to break ground on this important project recently.
As I said, this is
part of a range of infrastructure projects we are doing for creative
industries. That includes work on the new film studios, which we will see open
early in the new year, the cultural centre rejuvenation and work on the
Aboriginal cultural centre. We are supporting not only the infrastructure, but
also the arts that are part of that. Perhaps that is the subject of another
question in another question time.
The Speaker: The member for Murray–Wellington
with the last question.
answer this question. I thank the member for his support and interest in the
redevelopment and infrastructure building program, particularly in the creative
industries. I know he probably has great dreams of
perhaps performing at the Perth Concert Hall one day. Who knows; it may happen!
This is a fantastic project for
a number of reasons, but it is just one of many examples of how we are
supporting the creative industries in WA, which is particularly demonstrated by
our investment in infrastructure. I will go through that in a bit more detail.
Some interesting facts that members may not know about our beautiful concert
hall is that it was opened on Australia Day in 1973. It was built in the 1970s
and just preceded the opening of the Sydney Opera House. It is one of the
oldest modern concert halls in the country. Acoustically, it is considered to
be the best venue of its kind in Australia, so it is well worth investing in.
It won a national architectural award as recently as 2016, the Australian
Institute of Architects National Award for Enduring Architecture. It speaks to
the fantastic value we have in what is called brutalist architecture, which is
notable. I am sure that many members would be able to tell me when we talk
about brutalist architecture that it is white off-form concrete—fugly might
be another way of describing it! The concert hall was built in the 1970s, so a
lot of the fit-out fixtures were up for auction. That was one of the more
popular social media posts I did earlier this year when I let people know some
furniture from the 70s would be available. Who does not want curved leather-proof
seating and curtains and fabrics from the 70s in their house?
Mr David Michael: It sounds like Menzies House!
Ms Simone McGurk: That is right. It also had
audiovisual equipment and commercial kitchen equipment that was auctioned and made
good use of by the people who bid for it, but it is time for a refresh, which
is why we are spending over $150 million on the refurbishment. Of that amount,
$104 million is from the state government; $12 million is from the Commonwealth
government; $4 million is from the City of Perth, which we are grateful for; and
$30 million is from Woodside through the Resources Community Investment
Initiative. Part of the work will be an important internal refresh and also of the
forecourt of the concert hall to make better use of it and make it more
welcoming and connected to the city, which will be great to see. We are
grateful to ADCO, which has taken on the project to do this work. I was with
the Premier; the state member for Perth, John Carey; the Assistant Minister to
the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, the local federal member; and City of Perth
representatives to break ground on this important project recently.
As I said, this is
part of a range of infrastructure projects we are doing for creative
industries. That includes work on the new film studios, which we will see open
early in the new year, the cultural centre rejuvenation and work on the
Aboriginal cultural centre. We are supporting not only the infrastructure, but
also the arts that are part of that. Perhaps that is the subject of another
question in another question time.
The Speaker: The member for Murray–Wellington
with the last question.
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