Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you again, Senator Tyrrell. I understand from my very good friend and north-west Tasmania's greatest champion Senator Urquhart—some in fact describe her as the minister for Braddon, that's how good an advocate she is for the north-west of Tasmania—that local governments in the region are working to find new premises to ensure those services can be made available, and that the movement from the Burnie Arts Centre is due to refurbishment needs of the existing premises. Obviously, that's not a satisfactory permanent solution.

It sounds to me like those premises probably needed refurbishment some time ago, and there are a few people from Tasmania sitting on the other side of the chamber who might have liked to take the opportunity to do that, but, yet again, we step up to the plate with the support of people like Senator Tyrrell. Action is being taken to find those new premises to ensure that people get the services they deserve.