Mr SLIPPER (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) (4:23 PM) —I move:

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation proposes to construct new office accommodation and studio facilities in East Perth. The ABC is seeking to consolidate and improve its Perth accommodation in a way that meets its organisational and strategic objectives. These objectives include: addressing the particular problems and inefficiencies relating to its existing accommodation in Perth; generating revenue for the ABC's digital conversion program; restructuring of the corporation into a content led organisation capable of meeting the challenges of a changing media environment; and maximising the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation. The proposed development will replace inadequate buildings and facilities at 191 Adelaide Terrace in Perth, with accommodation at East Perth that is up to date, functional, safe, compliant and designed to maximise efficiency, output and creativity.

Many of the buildings on the Adelaide Terrace site are in a poor state of repair and are inappropriate for the functions they contain. Analysis has shown that it would not be cost effective or practical to rehabilitate and maintain this inefficient and unserviceable accommodation to modern standards and, in property terms, the current ABC occupation represents a gross underutilisation of the development potential of this prime near-CBD site. This development proposal involves the purchase of a new site at East Perth from the East Perth Redevelopment Authority, the construction of new facilities and the sale of the existing ABC Adelaide Terrace site.

The broadcasting industry is currently undergoing a major transformation with the advent of digital broadcasting. This project will provide the ABC with the facilities required for digital production and transmission, including facilities suitable for both wide-screen standard definition television and high definition television production. This project will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the ABC in a number of ways, such as property rationalisation, which will generate revenue to support the digital conversion program of the ABC; production will become more efficient through appropriate building layout, physical proximity and custom-design facilities; enhanced opportunities for cross-media content development and program research will support the generation and re-versioning of content for new services; and integrated technical support and archives facilities that are easily accessible by staff will improve efficiency and contribute to the range and depth of output.

The estimated out-turn cost of the proposal is $28.5 million. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction will commence in March 2001, with completion and occupancy by December 2002. I commend the motion to the House.

Question resolved in the affirmative.