❓ Question regarding the Swan Bells' income generation compared to initial projections. The Minister acknowledges the belltower is a drain on taxpayer funds due to poor planning by the previous government and outlines plans to improve its marketing.
AnsweredQoN 139Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SWAN BELLS, BELLTOWER
Has the Swan Bells generated the income that was anticipated? Ms McHALE
Has the Swan Bells generated the income that was anticipated? Ms McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question and her concern about what is appearing to be quite a large drain on taxpayers' moneys. An independent report, conducted by Ernst and Young and commissioned by the Court Government, on the commercial viability of the Swan Bells estimated that the profit from the belltower in its first year of operation would be about $250 000. The important point behind that estimate is that entry to the belltower was free for the first three months of its operation. Although it is pleasing that people have visited the belltower, the effect has been to diminish the whole market. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is difficult enough when interjections are directed to the minister, but when conversations are taking place across the Chamber with no reference to the minister who is answering the question, it makes it impossible to hear what the minister is saying. Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
Ms McHALE replied: I thank the member for her question and her concern about what is appearing to be quite a large drain on taxpayers' moneys. An independent report, conducted by Ernst and Young and commissioned by the Court Government, on the commercial viability of the Swan Bells estimated that the profit from the belltower in its first year of operation would be about $250 000. The important point behind that estimate is that entry to the belltower was free for the first three months of its operation. Although it is pleasing that people have visited the belltower, the effect has been to diminish the whole market. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is difficult enough when interjections are directed to the minister, but when conversations are taking place across the Chamber with no reference to the minister who is answering the question, it makes it impossible to hear what the minister is saying. Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
I thank the member for her question and her concern about what is appearing to be quite a large drain on taxpayers' moneys. An independent report, conducted by Ernst and Young and commissioned by the Court Government, on the commercial viability of the Swan Bells estimated that the profit from the belltower in its first year of operation would be about $250 000. The important point behind that estimate is that entry to the belltower was free for the first three months of its operation. Although it is pleasing that people have visited the belltower, the effect has been to diminish the whole market. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is difficult enough when interjections are directed to the minister, but when conversations are taking place across the Chamber with no reference to the minister who is answering the question, it makes it impossible to hear what the minister is saying. Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is difficult enough when interjections are directed to the minister, but when conversations are taking place across the Chamber with no reference to the minister who is answering the question, it makes it impossible to hear what the minister is saying. Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
The SPEAKER: Order! It is difficult enough when interjections are directed to the minister, but when conversations are taking place across the Chamber with no reference to the minister who is answering the question, it makes it impossible to hear what the minister is saying. Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
Ms McHALE replied: I thank the member for her question and her concern about what is appearing to be quite a large drain on taxpayers' moneys. An independent report, conducted by Ernst and Young and commissioned by the Court Government, on the commercial viability of the Swan Bells estimated that the profit from the belltower in its first year of operation would be about $250 000. The important point behind that estimate is that entry to the belltower was free for the first three months of its operation. Although it is pleasing that people have visited the belltower, the effect has been to diminish the whole market. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is difficult enough when interjections are directed to the minister, but when conversations are taking place across the Chamber with no reference to the minister who is answering the question, it makes it impossible to hear what the minister is saying. Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
I thank the member for her question and her concern about what is appearing to be quite a large drain on taxpayers' moneys. An independent report, conducted by Ernst and Young and commissioned by the Court Government, on the commercial viability of the Swan Bells estimated that the profit from the belltower in its first year of operation would be about $250 000. The important point behind that estimate is that entry to the belltower was free for the first three months of its operation. Although it is pleasing that people have visited the belltower, the effect has been to diminish the whole market. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is difficult enough when interjections are directed to the minister, but when conversations are taking place across the Chamber with no reference to the minister who is answering the question, it makes it impossible to hear what the minister is saying. Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is difficult enough when interjections are directed to the minister, but when conversations are taking place across the Chamber with no reference to the minister who is answering the question, it makes it impossible to hear what the minister is saying. Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
The SPEAKER: Order! It is difficult enough when interjections are directed to the minister, but when conversations are taking place across the Chamber with no reference to the minister who is answering the question, it makes it impossible to hear what the minister is saying. Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
Ms McHALE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is an important issue, because at the moment the belltower is a drain on taxpayers’ funds. The belltower was an icon to the previous Premier, and it is a disgraceful inheritance for us to pick up. I assure members that we will be dealing with the fact that absolutely no plan was put in place to operate the belltower effectively, and we hope that we will be able to market the belltower effectively.
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