Riverbank Precinct

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Will the minister guarantee that no decision will be made regarding the Walker Corporation proposal for the Festival Plaza area before the full board of the Riverbank Authority has been appointed and has assessed the proposal?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:21): I thank the honourable member very much for that question. The short answer to the question is no, because there is a fundamental difference between the role of the Riverbank Authority and the question as to how the development of the car park immediately behind this building is going to proceed. I would like to explain that for a moment if members are interested.

Mr Whetstone: Did you say car park tax?

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is called to order.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I think the honourable member has impaired hearing. The situation is that the role of the authority is ostensibly to curate and manage the public spaces which interconnect all the elements of the Riverbank immediately behind us, between the bridges in particular—that is its role. Its role is certainly going to be to have views about how various constructions and so on are occurring there and to help us manage those constructions so that they minimise the inconvenience to people wishing to use the Riverbank—yes, it will be involved in all of that. However, the question in respect of the development of the car park is one which will be determined by the cabinet in due course once we have received all the information we require in order to make that decision.