Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I inform the chamber that Senator Dastyari will also sponsor general business notice of motion No. 489 for today. I seek leave to amend the motion standing in my name and the name of Senator Dastyari, relating to the Bondi Pavilion.

Leave granted.

I, and also on behalf of Senator Dastyari, move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the Liberal majority Waverley Council was defeated at the local government election held on 9 September 2017,

  (ii) Ms Sally Betts, an electorate officer for the Member for Wentworth (Mr Turnbull), will no longer be the Mayor of Waverley,

  (iii) the Labor and Greens councillors, who were elected to Waverley Council, stood on a platform of stopping the privatisation of Bondi Pavilion, retaining this iconic building for community and cultural activities, and genuinely consulting with the public on any planned upgrades, and

  (iv) in 1987, the then-Liberal Council that was pushing similar privatisation plans for Bondi Pavilion was defeated at the council elections, also after a broad-based community campaign;

(b) congratulates the 'Save Bondi Pavilion Campaign', and actor Mr Michael Caton, for all their work to save the Pavilion as a community and cultural centre, acknowledging that Mr Caton was involved in the current campaign and the 1987 campaign; and

(c) calls on the Turnbull Government to fast-track legislation to ensure that Bondi Pavilion will be protected for current and future generations as a publicly-owned community and cultural centre.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sally Betts has been a wonderful servant of the people of Waverley for over 20 years. I take this opportunity on behalf of the government to wish her well following her diagnosis of breast cancer and to wish her a speedy recovery.

Question agreed to.