A brief update on our trip to Melbourne last week where we presented to the Commonwealth Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Works on the issue of the Australian Tax Office’s proposed move to Festival Plaza
Good afternoon all,
We had a 30-minute time slot. I covered Issues of the tower, and how we saw the ATO as a highly inappropriate tenant in view of the tower projects huge probity Issues.
Craig Pickering covered business issues including how the ATO’s own rental guidelines were being broken, and questionable assertions by the ATO, and
Geoff Hayter supplied a huge amount of detail and argued that the ATO would be much advantaged, cost wise, by remaining where it was, and forcefully questioned the move.
(photo, Geoff on the left, Craig on the right)
Here is a link to the recording of the session (which commences at 30:24- there is silence until that point) which includes the subsequent presentation from the ATO which we were able to attend as spectators only. There will be a transcript later.
Whilst we had a fair hearing by Tony Zappia as Chair, we were heavily criticised for taking too much time by Tasmanian Senator Josh Bolega, despite proceedings beginning with a question from Geoff which established our time allocation - which in fact we adhered to.
There was also curious comment about our making unsubstantiated claims when Geoff’s experience and expertise qualify him as an expert witness. We have subsequently submitted documents supporting our case.
Thank you for your donations. It was particularly special that we had use of the Melbourne apartment generously donated by two supporters!
We covered a fair proportion of our costs but would still very much welcome any further donations, if you missed your opportunity.
There are two very simple facts here that drive us onward
1. the city was promised a civic plaza but instead is receiving a massive
private office tower, and
2. the land, the most civic space in the city, was given to a private
developer for their own use
They demand investigative scrutiny. We're determined to achieve it.
Our second petition, No Plaza Tax Tower- objecting to the Tax Office proposal, still needs a major boost. Please sign as soon as you can, if you have not.
If you haven't downloaded it, the Stop the Chop hard copy petition which includes Festival Plaza, is linked here. Today it was announced at Town Hall that we had achieved 16,000 signatures, above the 10,000 needed for a parliamentary enquiry! An excellent result, but we intend to keep going so please continue to gather signatures.
Upcoming Stop the Chop events:
A walk at John E Brown Park Sunday next 19th July at 10.30am
Victoria Park Rally Saturday July 25th at 11.00am
Edmund Kemp Atrill and Janette Milera's legal challenge GoFundMe in relation to Possum Park is independent of us, but at
https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-possum-park-fighting-fund
Our account please:
805 007 CUSCAL
00331035 Save Festival Plaza Alliance Robert Fa
Very best, and again thank you,
Rob, for the Alliance
Robert Farnan
Convenor | Save Festival Plaza Alliance
O435007799
Savefestivalplaza@gmail.com
savefestivalplaza.net