Earth Exchange Museum Closure

Ms MACHIN (Port Macquarie) [11.16]: I move:

That this House:

(1) Expresses its concern at the closure of The Earth Exchange;

(2) Condemns the Government for the withdrawal of funding that has led to this closure;

(3) Calls on the Government to reconsider its decision to force the closure of The Earth Exchange;

(4) Calls on the Government to ensure the proper maintenance and display of the Chapman Collection;

(5) Calls on the Government to guarantee adequate funding for the collections currently held by The Earth Exchange wherever they may be relocated;

(6) Condemns the Government for the loss of an outstanding educational and tourist facility; and

(7) Condemns the lack of effort by the Minister for Mineral Resources to keep The Earth Exchange open.

This matter has been on the notice paper for some time. I moved a motion relating to this late last year, not long after the Opposition became aware that the Earth Exchange museum was to close. For the benefit of honourable members it is probably best if I explain what the Earth Exchange is, because it has an unusual name. Regrettably, many of us did not have an opportunity to visit the museum when it was in existence. Comments had been made to me by many people who had been involved in the establishment of the Earth Exchange and others who had subsequently visited it - including my colleague the Deputy Leader of the National Party, who will speak in this debate at a later stage - and I was looking forward to visiting the museum. The honourable member told me that during his visit to the museum he had experienced a simulated earthquake rated at 6.5 on the Richter scale, which is a significant earthquake. He told me it was a very interesting experience.

The Earth Exchange museum was established when Mr Neil Pickard was Minister for Mineral Resources. It is located in an old building in Sydney's Rocks area, a very popular tourist destination. The museum was largely assisted by industry and in this respect I mention in particular Mr Mark Bethwaite of a company called RGC who, in conjunction with the Government, encouraged industry to support the project and was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition. The museum attracted numerous tourists and groups of schoolchildren and it played an important role in promoting the benefits of the mining industry to New South Wales - something that the present Government does not seem to appreciate. The museum was an important educational resource for students, as well as being an interesting place for tourists to see something slightly different.

The Earth Exchange is well summed up in a brochure entitled "A Teacher's Guide" which the museum provided to teachers. It contains an
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overview of the sorts of things one could expect to see in the museum. The museum had discovery boxes and touch-screen computers called "infomines" - similar to one that I saw in the geological museum at Broken Hill. If one puts one's hand into it there is a blasting sound as if a charge had been detonated. It takes the visitor by surprise and certainly makes for a very entertaining and hands-on experience in every sense of the word. It is a little different from the traditional museum that we are all used to. That was what the Earth Exchange museum was all about.

The Earth Exchange encouraged students to read the messages that were hidden inside those discovery boxes - to touch, hear and experience things. It had a working coalmine shaft, complete with a coal cage full of miners. The lift used to travel between levels one and four, presenting lifelike mining scenes and featuring aspects of a working mine that could be seen from the stairwell. That was an exhibit which many government members should appreciate, especially those who represent coalmining areas. Had those honourable members realised what was to happen with the Earth Exchange - and I suspect they did not - I think they would have promoted the museum a little more strongly, pointing out the work that many of their constituents do in mining the very valuable coal resources of New South Wales. The museum had an exhibit on longwall mining, a continuous mining machine and so on.

The Earth Exchange had an energy information centre, dealing with an issue that is of increasing interest and importance to all citizens of New South Wales and all consumers of this energy conscious society in which we live. The museum also had Lava Land. Students and visitors entered the gallery through Lava Land, which recreated an active Hawaiian shield volcano. The dome-shaped volcano produced a thin stream of running lava that was capable of flowing for considerable distances, simulating the sorts of natural phenomena which we in Australia do not often see - fortunately so in the case of volcanoes.

Earlier I mentioned the earthquake exhibit. My colleague the honourable member for Upper Hunter has experienced an earthquake equivalent to a reading of 6.5 on the Richter scale, and I am sure the earth did move for him on that occasion, but the Earth Exchange earthquake simulated walls caving in and buildings crashing down. That mock experience enabled people to know what it is really like to be in an area having an earthquake. The Earth Exchange also had a collection of numerous rocks, minerals and so on. Those exhibits were of great assistance to students studying the history of the formation of the earth and subjects such as geology and geography. Some were unique exhibits, among which were the Chapman collection, which I shall refer to a little later on.

The museum also gave talks about local features, such as the Sydney sandstone landscapes. That attraction had a mining and processing tunnel, giving students the opportunity to experience what mineral processing is like. Many of us have had the chance to visit large mining operations and see the real thing, but the average Sydney person does not get the opportunity to go to the bush and see first hand where the paint used on our cars comes from, or the source of the material that goes into hip joint replacements, et cetera. Often, they do not realise the important connection between the processing of those natural resources and the items that we use in our everyday lives. It is an interesting exercise to cast an eye on the many items atop the table of this House that result from the mining industry in this State.

The Earth Exchange was a fascinating place to visit. I know from representations I have had that many people enjoyed going to the museum. Many schools benefited from its existence. A great number of people are most disappointed that they no longer will be able to experience the unusual sorts of displays that were part of the museum. Happily, in recent years, there has been a move away from the traditional museum in which fauna exhibits were literally stuffed, or exhibits were sitting on shelves or under glass in a case, and the visitor could only look at them. That can be dull and boring, certainly not particularly exciting, for visitors.

The development of a new philosophy in museums was very much encapsulated in the Earth Exchange. Real life experiences should be available for the people. Because those exhibits were so much fun, people went away not only having learned something but saying to their friends, "What a great experience! You should go there." In the past year I have had representations from a number of people expressing concern about the closure of the Earth Exchange. The mining industry is one group that is most disappointed. Now that the closure has occurred, we will have to accept that fact. But I hope the Minister will explain the events that led to that closure and where various exhibits of the museum are now located.

One letter I received summed up the feeling of many groups and citizens in our community. It is from the Parramatta-Holroyd Lapidary Club, a group of people who are most interested in this sort of museum. We sometimes forget about the many people who love to fossick for gemstones and precious minerals and who have friends and relatives working in the industry as miners or in processing mined materials. Many people have a genuine interest in minerals, gemstones and so on. The secretary of the Parramatta-Holroyd Lapidary Club, Mrs Val Guthrie, pointed that out in the letter that she had written to me and said that I was the only one courteous enough to acknowledge her letter. I hope that if she wrote to the Minister he will have now replied to her letter.

In her letter Val Guthrie expressed disappointment at the way in which the closure decision was made, because the Earth Exchange had been advised that funding for it would be continued. I have a letter from one of the former museum staff
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relating to the forward estimates. It indicates that the museum would receive about $3 million for the next three years. That advice was given on about 12 August. Within a few days the museum was advised that it was to close on 29 October and would receive only $1.5 million, basically as wind-up residual funding. That decision took everyone by surprise. I think one industry group had planned to have an annual meeting, dinner or other function at the Earth Exchange, and was unsure about the future of that function. The process was most peculiar. I take it that the Treasury, seeing the potential to save money, had a hand in the matter. I think it will be demonstrated that no such savings resulted. Perhaps the Minister could advise about that matter in reply.

I repeat, at one stage there was a letter advising the Earth Exchange that it would receive about $3.5 million over a three-year period, but within a few days that indication had been turned around and there was to be wind-up funding and closure of the museum. Part of the rationale for the closure, I am advised, is that the museum was costing the Government a lot of money, was not being well patronised, was just not working and that the industry should have put more into it. I would appreciate comment from the Minister on that matter. I am not familiar with the background to the closure, and I would be more than happy to hear the Minister speak about what figures he has. I have been advised by some interest groups closely associated with the museum that it had good bookings, from teachers and pupils alone, in the latter half of 1995. I am informed that some 30,000 students and teachers had made bookings over the subsequent year. If that information is accurate, the figures are impressive and would make the Australian Museum and Powerhouse Museum seem undervisited by comparison.

I think that on merit the Earth Exchange deserves to be still operating. Because I do not have statistics and I am genuinely seeking information, I do not know whether they support claims that the museum was not being well visited. I should like figures on some of the other museums in Sydney so that I can make comparisons of their level of funding, visitation figures and the consequent cost of their operations on government. I suspect that the Earth Exchange was not such a large drain on government resources. I suspect also that if the Government had gone to the industry and said, "Look, we have a problem. We may need more promotional programs and to review the cost of running the museum," the industry would have been more than happy to come to the party. So it was disappointing that the decision was made in the manner it was.

Part of the motion urges the Government to reconsider its decision to force the closure of the Earth Exchange. I suspect, now that so much time has elapsed between drafting of the motion and its debate today, that is not a possibility. I ask the Minister to advise whether there are any plans afoot for a similar sort of showcase for the State's mining industry, if that is a reasonable option. I should also like to know whether the existing building has been in use. I saw some media reports some six or eight months ago that a cultural group was likely to occupy the premises, but I have been unable to confirm those reports. I and many other people who have taken an interest in this matter would like to know what has happened with those premises and whether the Government continues to be involved in any funding for it. If that is the case, what is the overall saving to the Government?

My motion also refers to the Chapman collection, which I understand was probably the single-most valuable collection held by the museum. The collection was an expensive acquisition by the museum and there has been considerable concern about where it might be relocated. The Opposition and interested observers would appreciate knowing where the collection has gone. The motion is critical of the Minister - reluctant as I am to criticise him - for his lack of effort to keep the Earth Exchange open. As was revealed by my colleague Ian Causley, the former Minister for Natural Resources, the present Minister has not visited the museum. That is disappointing; the Minister would have enjoyed the museum, as it was very interesting.

Mr Martin: That is wrong.

Ms MACHIN: If I am wrong, I am happy to stand corrected. If I am wrong, the Minister is condemned in any case, because there has been no hint of an effort to head off the closure of the exchange. The Minister has made no effort to stand up for the mining industry on several issues that have been raised in the past year in this House, in the other Chamber and publicly. The issue boils down to whether there is a commitment on the part of the State Government to stand up for the mining industry and say that the industry is important to our State and our economy, that we want to encourage the industry to explore and invest here - as the department is doing through its Discovery 2000 program. The mining industry is given confused signals. The Premier basically says that he does not care what the information is on Lake Cowal; he does not like the idea of mining there so it will not happen. The Government has decided that it does not want the Earth Exchange because it costs too much money, so the museum will be closed without proper examination of the facts. The signals going out to the mining industry are very bad. This is important in terms not only of its economic impact on the State but of encouraging new people into the industry, and the museum did that.

Mr MARTIN (Port Stephens - Minister for Mineral Resources, and Minister for Fisheries) [11.31]: I am glad to have the opportunity to put on the public record some clear and concise facts about the Earth Exchange, which was closed on 29 September 1995 because of falling attendance figures and the museum's inability to attain its
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intended goal of becoming financially self-supporting. The Government was not prepared to subsidise, without the assistance of industry, the continued operation of what had become a costly business. I might point out that the previous Government agreed with not continuing to subsidise the operations of the exchange. On 10 March 1994 the former Treasurer, now the Leader of the Opposition, wrote to his Premier, Mr Fahey, saying that he was unconvinced that the museum should be funded indefinitely from Consolidated Fund, particularly if the museum continued to be financially unviable. Those presently on the Opposition benches realised that the future of the exchange could not be assured. It is surprising to now find the honourable member for Port Macquarie questioning what was being done by her side of the House and the rationale of her leader.

Another reason that loomed large in the Government's decision was that the museum's fine array of exhibits could be housed in an equally impressive manner in some of the city's other major galleries and museums without causing undue inconvenience to those interested in observing these matters of cultural significance. I am pleased to report that all of the exhibits have either been transferred to new locations or are in the final stages of being rehoused. Funding has been guaranteed for this financial year to complete the important task of transferring the remainder of the items. The public is able to enjoy the mining and mineral collections of the former museum, and that will continue to be the case. For instance, the spectacular Albert Chapman mineral collection has been lodged with the Australian Museum; and it has not been downgraded or depleted, as was the inference from my opponent on the other side. Rather, the collection is being showcased for public benefit in what is arguably Australia's most famous gallery of historic artefacts. The Australian Museum is a highly appropriate forum for such an important collection.

As another example of the way in which the exhibits of the former Earth Exchange have been carefully rearranged, the economic mineral collection has been returned to the New South Wales Geological Survey. Items of mining and historic interest have gone to the Powerhouse Museum - another appropriate forum for tourists, school children and citizens alike - and the Maitland bar gold nugget is on permanent loan to the Sydney Mint Museum for public display. I should have thought that it was patently obvious that the Government's action to rationalise the exchange's functions was well thought out and carefully considered. Further, the Government has taken much effort to ensure that the unique displays have been rehoused in venues in which they are able to blend with surrounding exhibits in a harmonious and fitting way.

Another feature of the Earth Exchange that bears attention is the way in which the Government acted to protect the welfare of staff. Action was taken in a prudent manner that took into account the trust's outstanding liabilities and assured that they were met. Indeed, $1 million was allocated to ensure that staff were given adequate compensation upon being made redundant. I might add that the Government, in taking this responsible course, was horrified to learn that the previous Government's uncaring approach had seen Earth Exchange workers employed in a position in which they would receive little or no redundancy upon a change of circumstances. This would have amounted to a sour outcome for that dedicated and enthusiastic group of people. This side is proud of the compassionate stance of the Carr Government, which resulted in satisfactory and appropriate settlements being reached for the 26 full-time and 22 part-time staff.

Expressions of interest for exchange contents deemed available for disposal closed on 21 November 1995 and major items were disposed of by tender. The remainder of the items were auctioned in early December. I wish to reflect on the state of affairs that persuaded the Government that remedial action was required. Taxpayers simply were not getting value for money; visitation numbers had fallen from 120,000 three years ago to 82,000 in the 1994-95 financial year; and it was unlikely, because the operating deficit for that financial year was $1.5 million, that the exchange could ever have extricated itself from its financial problems. Another factor in the decision to close the exchange, which was a necessary but unhappy decision, was that the facility was poorly located, as is probably reflected in the continued poor attendance figures. It is important to note that the Earth Exchange - its staff, its exhibits and its important cultural heritage - has not been forsaken. The Government has made sure that the museum's valuable items continue to be displayed prominently in other museums, at which public attendance and interest have traditionally been high. For that reason, I am sure that the exhibits will be showcased in no less an impressive manner than previously.

In the context of this motion it is important to point out the excellent work of the staff and those charged with winding up the premises at a particularly difficult time. The Government gave Mr Paul Crombie the delicate task of ensuring that the Earth Exchange was closed in an orderly fashion, bearing in mind the need to ensure that all stakeholders were properly catered for and that staff, those who had contractual obligations, and other interested parties were consulted. I am pleased to report that Mr Crombie and his assistants were most professional in fulfilling that considerable function. I take this opportunity to place on the record the Government's appreciation for the work done.

There is another matter that flows from the motion. As I said earlier, one of the prime reasons behind the closing of the Earth Exchange was that as an education facility it was not reaching its intended audience, or rather the intended audience
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was not visiting the facility. I am pleased to report to honourable members that only this week I launched a significant education package, "The New Miners", which is now available as a curriculum item for New South Wales schools. This is a reflection of the Government's commitment to take the vital message of what is happening in the mining industry to the community, especially to young people. This is a pleasing development. "The New Miners" education module, with its very informative video, will give students and teachers alike stimulation and information that can form a basis for developing their own views on mining and the environment. "The New Miners" video has been combined with an excellent series of student activities relating directly to aspects of the schools curriculum.

"The New Miners" module has two sponsors - the Minerals Council of New South Wales, of which honourable members have heard, and the State Minerals Advisory Council. I am the chairman of the latter, which is a group of industry leaders who seven years ago saw a need to establish a vehicle such as an award for environmental excellence. It has been useful in publicising the industry's environmental achievements, to encourage best practice within the industry, and to let the community know what the new generation of miners can, and indeed must, do to protect their environment. These important educational achievements with respect to the mining industry will continue. It is regrettable that the Earth Exchange had to close, but the Government is continuing to find ways of education and information being directly relayed to the people.

Mr Souris: When did you visit it?

Mr MARTIN: I visited it on a number of occasions. Its staff were dedicated. It is sad that the Earth Exchange has closed, but it had to close because the admittance fee was $27 a family against $14 at the Australian Museum. The Government will do all it can to educate people in mining. The building is owned by the Farm Cove Authority, and the Earth Exchange had a lease with that authority. Negotiations are continuing about its future, which I hope answers the question sought by the mover of the motion, the honourable member for Port Macquarie. The Government is dedicated to improving mining and mining education in this State and will continue to do that with pride.

Mr SOURIS (Upper Hunter - Deputy Leader of the National Party) [11.41]: It is very sad to hear a Minister talking about the destruction of a part of his portfolio for which he should have been the champion. It is depressing that the Minister has just blindly read through a file of bureaucratic exposition justifying the unjustifiable. He ought to be ashamed. He must have realised the dreadful thing he has done in closing the Earth Exchange and is now seeking to justify it. He said that the former Government had expressed a desire that the museum be self-funding. So what! Of course the former Government would have hade that goal and would have been striving to achieve it. However, that desire, in whatever form it was expressed, does not give the Government carte blanche to destroy the museum.

Indeed, the Minister does not even know what is going on in his own department. Four days before the Minister informed the Earth Exchange that it was going to be closed, the Department of Mineral Resources wrote a letter to the administration manager of the Earth Exchange stating that it had received confirmation from Mr M. Lambert, secretary to the Treasury, dated 15 August 1995 - this letter being dated 18 August - approving the following for the Earth Exchange.

Mr Martin: Seek leave, and table the document.

Mr SOURIS: I will table it; that is not the problem. The funding was $1.355 million per annum for the three financial years 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98. The Earth Exchange was told it was going to be funded until the end of 1998, yet four days later the Minister, who was supposed to be its champion, told it the grim news that he was going to put the knife clean through it. I seek leave to table the letter.

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Rogan): Order! Standing orders provide that only Ministers may table documents. The member must identify the letter and vouch for its authenticity.

Mr SOURIS: The Minister has destroyed a specialist museum, something of which Australia had been very proud. He seeks to justify that by saying that some of the priceless, world-class items had been moved from the Earth Exchange to other general purposes museums. That does not justify the closure of a specialist museum. If that is the argument, perhaps all specialist museums in Australia should be abolished and put into one big museum called the Australia museum. There would not then be any need for specialist museums, particularly an industry museum of this nature. The Minister is denying the importance of the coal industry in the history of New South Wales and the importance of the modern-day coal industry, especially the New South Wales industry, to Australia.

Does the Minister realise that 50 per cent of coal exports come from New South Wales? New South Wales should be the leader in preserving the heritage of the coal industry. In New South Wales 80 per cent of the revenue of the State Rail Authority comes from the coal industry. Does the Minister realise the extent of royalties that will be taken from the coal industry? He has an obligation to preserve the history and heritage of an industry that is virtually as long as the history of New South Wales itself. He does not take his responsibilities seriously and should be ashamed.

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The Minister's electorate is close to my electorate of Upper Hunter and therefore he should be more aware of the importance of the coal industry, particularly as the area exports most of New South Wales coal exports. In fact, 44 million tonnes are exported through the coal loader at Newcastle, which is almost half of Australia's coal exports. A further 12 million tonnes is produced locally in the Hunter Valley and consumed in the two power stations in the upper Hunter. A further amount is produced in the Hunter Valley and consumed in other power stations in the lower Hunter. This is a massive industry with a very proud history. This Labor Minister has betrayed the trust of many of his union colleagues in the coal industry who would have expected him to be their champion.

Mr THOMPSON (Rockdale) [11.46]: That was an amazing outburst from the Deputy Leader of the National Party, who was the finance Minister in the former coalition Government. The Minister said it was the former Premier and the Treasurer, Mr Collins, and the finance Minister who rang the warning bells about what was likely to happen at this facility. The Earth Exchange was under extraordinary pressure at the time the Government decided upon its closure. There was pressure because of the ongoing decline in the number of visitors and its unsustainable financial position, which ultimately required in a taxpayer-funded subsidy of $1.35 million a year.

People were simply not going there in sufficient numbers, and it was being propped up to the extent of $1.35 million per annum. The position was obviously untenable and something had to be done. The Government has acted in a responsible and professional manner. It has redistributed the exhibits on display and ensured that the entitlements and redundancy payments of staff who were employed at the facility were properly looked after. It is sad that the Earth Exchange had to close. No government enjoys taking this type of action, but it had to be done.

The exhibits of the Earth Exchange are being preserved for all time, many in venues where they will be viewed by a far greater number of people than was possible previously. This is preferable to what had been happening in previous years. What is the point of having a facility that people do not support? The redistribution of exhibits to other venues where people could, and would, see them was not only logical and sensible but was eminently proper. The Earth Exchange had failed to meet its expectations as an educational and tourist facility.

Mr Souris: When did you visit it?

Mr THOMPSON: I visited it about two years ago and that is why I can talk with even greater conviction about the foolhardiness of the location, which was quite poor. It was unable to capture the number of visitors that would make it viable. It was originally intended to function as an interactive museum with exhibits and public programs on mining, geology, energy and the Australian environment, but in its three years of operation it went only some of the way towards achieving that aim. Part of the reason for deciding to close the Earth Exchange was that it was not competing effectively with the vast number of other museums in Sydney. For example, the Australian Museum and the Powerhouse Museum, as the Minister noted, are recipients of the Exchange's former exhibits and will no doubt be better and more accessible showcases. When considering the operations of these other museums it is useful to look at the high cost of admission to the Exchange and how that was contributing, no doubt, to the falling number of visitors.

The cost of admission for a family of four was $27 at the Earth Exchange, compared with $14 at the Powerhouse and Australian museums. It is no wonder that the Exchange was decreasing in its attraction and importance on the tourist agenda - people were voting with their feet as fewer people visited the Exchange because of the cost of admission. The Government believes that the relocation of the Exchange's important exhibits overcomes the problems of both its poor location and high admission cost. It is hoped that this will mean that the exhibits will be seen and that their historical and cultural importance will be appreciated by a far broader and more diverse group of people. What is the point of having a facility if its position and cost of admission deter visitors?

Clearly, the Government never intended to play an ongoing role in the function of the Exchange, and it expected a greater contribution from industry. However, as this was not forthcoming it was left to the State's taxpayers to pick up the tab to the extent of $1.35 million a year. Obviously, that could not be allowed to continue and the Government acted in a responsible and proper fashion in taking the action it did. If any criticism is to be made in this matter, the former Government should wear the flak because the pricing policy of the Earth Exchange was ill-advised and its location was stupid. The Government simply found that the Earth Exchange was unsustainable. It was not paying its way and was not even covering its running costs. [Time expired.]

Ms MACHIN (Port Macquarie) [11.51], in reply: What a sorry performance by the Government. We hoped we might gain some information about this decision, and justification for it, but we heard little information and a pathetic argument. It was admitted that at least one member of the Government had visited the Earth Exchange before it closed, but we did not hear whether the Minister's visit was before the decision was made
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for its closure - I suspect that it was not. The museum's figures show that between 1994 and 1995, revenue increased by almost 30 per cent, as is indicated in its annual statements; it is easy to check. That blows away any Treasury criticism of the Exchange.

The coalition may have been considering visitation rates at the Exchange - it would have been derelict in its duty if it did not - but the former Government made absolutely no decision to close the Exchange. The closure was the decision of the Carr Government. The previous Government had a strong mining Minister and it is likely that the facility would have remained open under that Government. The Deputy Leader of the National Party referred to advice from the Department of Mineral Resources to the museum about its recurrent funding allocations for the 1995-96 financial year, which reads:

We have received written confirmation from Mr M. Lambert, secretary to the Treasurer, dated 15 August approving the following for the Earth Exchange:

It then indicated consolidated recurrent funds through to 1997-98 at a level of $1.355 million. But suddenly, within a week, the museum was closing. Everybody was out, bookings and functions were cancelled, and the doors were to close because the Exchange was costing too much money. If that rationale were applied elsewhere, perhaps we should charge for entry to the Art Gallery and the other museums. By this Government's criteria, we should close those facilities because they cost money.

Museums have a public benefit: they are a tourist attraction and provide educational benefit, and most members would accept that we have a responsibility to provide public resources to such facilities. The Government's argument in that respect was spurious. The location of the Earth Exchange was described as inappropriate; however, I would have thought that the middle of Sydney's Rocks region, perhaps the most visited part of the city, was an appropriate location because it was accessible for visitors.

Mr Thompson: You have not visited it as you clearly do not know where it is.

Ms MACHIN: Well, I was going to visit, but the Government closed it before I could get there. I hardly blinked and it was closed! The location argument is spurious. The Australian Museum is at the other end of Hyde Park, not part of the central business district. Why is the location suddenly a big issue, given that the visitation figures were quite good and were on the rise, which the Government knew? I touched on the Minister's role earlier. He has clearly changed his view. The report of the director of the museum states that on 8 August the chairman, Mr McDonald, met with the Minister, among others, to discuss a reduction in consolidated funding and the capital grant. The Minister said at the meeting that he recognised concerns about funding matters, and that he would raise them at a meeting with the Premier later in the day. He also said that he would make representations to the Treasurer. That was a big success! Within two weeks following the 8 August meeting the facility was closed.

Whatever the industry wants, at all costs it should not ask the Minister to make representations on its behalf. The Government conceded that it had an auction and some of the goods were relocated, which defeated the purpose of this specialist museum with special attraction. How does the Government relocate a simulated coal shaft or simulated earthquake? Where did they end up? The Government also had a fire sale and flogged off the items collected over the years. So much for promoting the industry! The Minister stands condemned. Members opposite claim that I and other coalition members did not visit the Exchange, but we did not have a chance; within a matter of months it was to be closed, and the Government changed its position within a week.

This Minister failed to stand up for that facility. He let down many people, including his colleagues in the union movement. As my colleague the Deputy Leader of the National Party mentioned, the school groups booked to visit the Exchange were let down. It is not good enough to simply claim that the number of visits to the Exchange was not enough and to then simply pack up and go home. Why did the Government not look at some alternative funding arrangement with more industry involvement? Why did it not look at a better marketing arrangement to ensure that this wonderful resource remained? [Time expired.]

Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.

The House divided.

Mr Armstrong Mr O'Farrell
Mr Beck Mr Peacocke
Mr Blackmore Mr Phillips
Mr Chappell Mr Photios
Mrs Chikarovski Mr Richardson
Mr Cochran Mr Rixon
Mr Collins Mr Rozzoli
Mr Cruickshank Mr Schipp
Mr Debnam Mr Schultz
Mr Ellis Mrs Skinner
Ms Ficarra Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Glachan Mr Small
Mr Hartcher Mr Smith
Mr Hazzard Mr Souris
Mr Kinross Mr Tink
Dr Macdonald Mr Turner
Ms Machin Mr Windsor
Mr Merton Tellers,
Ms Moore Mr Jeffery
Mr O'Doherty Mr Kerr

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Mr Amery Ms Meagher
Mr Anderson Mr Mills
Ms Andrews Mr Moss
Mr Aquilina Mr Nagle
Mrs Beamer Mr Neilly
Mr Clough Ms Nori
Mr Crittenden Mr E. T. Page
Mr Debus Mr Price
Mr Face Dr Refshauge
Mr Gaudry Mr Rogan
Mr Gibson Mr Rumble
Mrs Grusovin Mr Scully
Ms Hall Mr Shedden
Mr Harrison Mr Stewart
Ms Harrison Mr Sullivan
Mr Hunter Mr Tripodi
Mr Iemma Mr Watkins
Mr Langton Mr Whelan
Mrs Lo Po' Mr Yeadon
Mr Lynch
Mr McBride Tellers,
Mr McManus Mr Beckroge
Mr Martin Mr Thompson

Mr Downy Ms Allan
Mr Humpherson Mr Carr
Dr Kernohan Mr Knowles
Mr D. L. Page Mr Markham

Question so resolved in the negative.

Motion negatived.