Opposition stand on Swan Brewery slated

Heritage Minister Jim McGinty says the Opposition has placed its own political agenda ahead of the livelihood of hundreds of Western Australian families who would benefit from the redevelopment of the Old Swan Brewery.

Mr McGinty said a censure motion moved against him by the Opposition in State Parliament today was a 'sham' and a waste of parliamentary time.

It was also evident that the Opposition had no credible reason to oppose the project.

Mr McGinty said the four accusations made in the motion were shallow and not supported by any evidence.

In responding to the motion in Parliament today, Mr McGinty said:

·         the project was awarded to Multiplex under an acceptable tender process used by Government agencies for special projects.  In fact, Multiplex had been placed at a disadvantage by other companies being invited to beat its offer;

·         when the offer was presented to Parliament in early June, not even Multiplex had firm details of the restoration project;

·         the financial arrangement with Multiplex would provide the State Government with a rental return, a percentage of any capital gain on the site and a fully restored heritage building at the end of the lease period.  Leading Perth business analysts had described the lease agreement as a 'good commercial arrangement for the Government';

The Opposition, on the other hand, would prefer the State Government to spend a further $3 million for demolition and landscaping the site with no return to the Government;

·         the suggestion that the Heritage Act had been misused was rejected in the Supreme Court yesterday.

Mr McGinty said the Opposition's determination to frustrate and obstruct a $40 million project which would create hundreds of jobs and give the local economy a real boost was another indication that it was just not 'good enough' to be in government.

"The Opposition's attitude to the project has been characterised by constant changes in position and confusion and conflict in its own ranks," he said.

"Mr Court and his deputy, Mr Barnett, are demonstrating at the start of an important parliamentary sitting that they have no substance and nothing to offer except negatives.

"Mr Barnett has even admitted publicly that he will use the brewery facilities when they are available.

"The Liberals have demonstrated again that they have no positive policies and no leadership or substance to offer the people of Western Australia.

"They are just negative knockers who would keep people out of work if they thought it would win them an election."