Martin Daly: Who Will Run the Children's Science Centre?
Martin Daly addresses the committee report on the National Children's Science Centre, highlighting legal and financial uncertainties. He welcomes the report but says recommendation 4 requires urgent engagement at the highest level to protect the public and taxpayers.
Report welcomed: Martin Daly opens by welcoming the work of the committee and the publication of its report. He notes long-standing omissions dating back to 2003 and acknowledges the preparation done prior to his remarks.
Cost and business case concerns: Daly draws attention to the headline figure of 70 million and warns this is only part of the picture. Projected operating costs and any future need for executive support remain unestablished, and he questions whether a credible business case has ever been produced.
Legal and public-interest questions: The deputy raises the legal exposure of the state and asks why the National Children's Science Centre would pursue action that appears contrary to the public interest. He urges engagement at senior levels to resolve outstanding issues for taxpayers.
Operational accountability: Daly concludes by asking who would actually run the museum even if the shell and core were provided. He frames recommendation 4 as the central issue requiring immediate attention and clarity.
Report welcomed: Martin Daly opens by welcoming the work of the committee and the publication of its report. He notes long-standing omissions dating back to 2003 and acknowledges the preparation done prior to his remarks.
Cost and business case concerns: Daly draws attention to the headline figure of 70 million and warns this is only part of the picture. Projected operating costs and any future need for executive support remain unestablished, and he questions whether a credible business case has ever been produced.
Legal and public-interest questions: The deputy raises the legal exposure of the state and asks why the National Children's Science Centre would pursue action that appears contrary to the public interest. He urges engagement at senior levels to resolve outstanding issues for taxpayers.
Operational accountability: Daly concludes by asking who would actually run the museum even if the shell and core were provided. He frames recommendation 4 as the central issue requiring immediate attention and clarity.
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Transcript
I'd just like to welcome the report, and I suppose it is incomprehensible that in 2003 no conditional clause was included, and I'm not going to labour that because that's already been talked about. I think number four here in the recommendations, the committee calls on the National Children's Science Centre, in what interest is it for them to proceed against a public interest, and what do they hope to gain from it? It is engagement required at the highest level to try and resolve this issue in the public interest, and in the taxpayers' interest, because even going forward, the committee also notes that projected operating costs and any future requirement for executive support have yet to be established. So not only is the 70 million part of it, it would be future operating costs, and we're not sure the business case has never been made for it. So I welcome the report, I welcome the work that's been done obviously by the committee prior to me joining you this morning, but I think number four is where we're at, because if you go purely on a legal basis, we're on the hook as a state, but these can't be faced as people serving on this, it's not in the public interest to proceed, and who's going to run this museum, even if they are provided with the shell and core? Thank you.