Questions on Notice Veneto Project -Manufacturing
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QUESTIONS ON NOTICE Tuesday. 17 March 1992 ASSEMBLY 195 Tuesday, 17 March 1992 QUESTIONS ON NOTICE The following answers to questions on notice were circulated: VENETO PROJECT -MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT (Question No. 760) Mr PERTON (Doncaster) asked the Treasurer, for the Minister for Manufacturing and Industry Development: In respect of the Veneto project: 1. What was the total sum expended on the program? 2. On what date was a budget first set for the program, and what was the total sum allocated for the program? 3. On what dates was the budget altered, indicating in respect of each such alteration - (a) what was the total sum allocated for the program; and (b) who was the most senior officer who authorised the alteration to the budget? 4. What contributions, if any, were made by any other Victorian or Australian government department, instrumentality or agent? 5. What contributions, (if any), were made by any private company or individual? 6. What was the total cost of the gala dinner and fashion parade at Villa Trissino in Vicenza on Wednesday, 11 July 199O? 7. How many inquiries were generated as a result of the program, indicating the names of the parties to each inquiry, which has resulted in - (a) exchange of contracts; (b) joint ventures; (c) investment in Victoria; and (d) any identifiable economic advantage to Victoria? Mr ROPER (Treasurer) - The answer supplied by the Minister for Manufacturing and Industry Development is: 1. The total sum expended by the department on the program was $888 299.63. After allowing for contributions by other organisations (see paragraphs 4 and 5), the total net expenditure was $814 849.63. 2. A number of estimates for the project were established from August 1989, the first detailed budget for the project was prepared on 19 March 1990. This was for an amount of $374968. 3. The budget was subsequently revised as follows: Date Amount Delegate 19 June 1990 $494343 B. Ferguson, Deputy Director-General 4 July 1990 $650 000 B Ferguson, Deputy Director-General 4. Contributions by other Victorian and Australian government departments, instrumentalities and agents were: Ministry for the Arts $4 500 Ministry for Ethnic Affairs $15 000 Victorian Tourism Commission $20000 Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce $25 000 Melbourne City Council $3 950 The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission contributed the services of the Bwung-gul Aboriginal Culture Group of dancers. 5. Private contributions to the project were received from many sources; in particular the Italo-Australian community by way of their input to the steering committee and its planning for the week. Typical of this assistance was the cash contribution of $5000 by the Barro Group, while other individuals contributed in kind by absorbing their own costs while making arrangements for the project. QUESTIONS ON NOTICE 196 ASSEMBLY Tuesday. 17 March 1992 In addition the Veneto Region, particularly through the Vicenza Chamber of Commerce, also provided significant resources and assistance by way of: A planning visit by the President of the Vicenza Chamber of Commerce to Victoria in February 1990. Funding of a commercial secretariat in Vicenza to plan and coordinate the cultural and commercial requirements of the Victorians. Funding of all the cultural venues and supply of equipment required by the Victorian performers. The provision of venues for the commercial program. The provision of accommodation at no cost to all the cultural performers. The provision of transport to the cultural performers to and from their performances. The provision at no charge of business facilities for the administration of the week for the Victorian delegation. Funding of the significant publicity program in the Veneto which promoted both the cultural and commercial components of the project. 6. The cost of the fashion promotion was $61 167.21. The dinner attended by 500 senior industrialists and dignitaries from the Veneto Region cost $52 115.57. 7. During the course of the week approximately 100 appointments were arranged for the 38 business participants. These appointments were with their Italian counterparts to discuss both trade and investment projects. So far four of the mission members have made return visits to Italy to progress and in some cases conclude their negotiations and commercial contracts, while others are still in the progress of negotiation. In this regard the Agent-Genera1's office in London is providing a follow-up service on behalf of the Victorian firms to call on the Italian contacts that were made. So far two such visits have been made to Italy, during which calls were made on the Italian principals who are still in negotiation, as well as other Italian firms that have an interest in developing strategic partnerships in Victoria. Details of these visits, negotiations and calls have been provided "in confidence" to the department and must be protected to recognise the commercial sensitivities of the parties involved. SUPERANNUATION - GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS (Question No. 866) Mr GUDE (Hawthorn) asked the Treasurer: In respect of non-payment or deferred payments by the government to the State Superannuation Board: 1. Whether any agreement has been reached with the board's trustees, indicating - (a) the rate of interest to be paid on any outstanding amounts; (b) the time frame set for repayment; and (c) the amount outstanding as at 31 January 1991? 2. What is the estimated loss of interest to the State Superannuation Fund? Mr A. J. SHEEHAN (Treasurer) - The answer is: 1. Under the revised scheme (1988) the State Superannuation Board pays all lump sums and is reimbursed by the government for the employer's share of the pension as if no commutation of pension to lump sum had taken place. In respect of this deferred payment liability, which is included with other unfunded employee entitlements in the State balance sheet: (a) the rate of interest on such outstandings is set by legislation at CPI plus 6 per cent; (b) the time frame for repayment in the case of each deferral is the lifetime of the pensioner and/or spouse; (c) the net present value at 30.6.1991 of the stream of future payments in respect of lump sums taken was $1.2 billion. 2. Nil. For the year ended 30.6.1991 the following interest rates were recorded: CPI plus 6 per cent 9.4 per cent State Superannuation Fund investments 8.1 percent Average of major Victorian public sector superannuation funds investments 9.2 per cent QUESTIONS ON NOTICE Tuesday, 17 March 1992 ASSEMBLY 197 CROATIAN, SERBO-CROATIAN AND SERBIAN LANGUAGE CENTRE (Question No. 912) Mr PERRIN (Bulleen) asked the Minister for Finance, for the then Minister for Education and Training: As at 28 February 1991 which schools had language classes for Croatian, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian, respectively, indicating how many students were enrolled in each class in each school? Mr POPE (Minister for School Education) - The answer is: Croatian: Croatian is taught in two government primary schools and one Catholic primary school, in one government secondary college and in six centres of the Victorian School of Languages (VSL). Students enrolled in each class in each school are as follows: School Year level No .of Students Bell Park North Primary School Prep 5 1 23 2 20 3 25 4 31 5 25 6 9 Total 138 Norlane West Primary School Prep 3 1 5 2 42 3 49 4 49 5 32 6 5 Total 185 Holy Family, Bell Park Prep 14 1 13 2 16 3 14 4 15 5 14 6 11 Total 97 Victorian School of Languages: Altona North High School Centre 7-8 13 9-10 15 11-12 11 Dandenong High School Centre 7-8 13 9-10 17 11 12 12 20 QUESTIONS ON NOTICE 198 ASSEMBLY Tuesday, 17 March 1992 Kings Park Secondary College Centre 8 19 9 15 10 10 11-12 20 North Geelong High School Centre 7 25 8 17 9 15 10 18 11 29 12 25 Maribymong High School Centre 7 15 8 25 9 31 10 30 11 20 12 35 University High School Centre 7-8 21 9-10 26 11 15 12 21 Total 533 Serbian: Serbian is taught in two government primary schools and in four centres of the Victorian School of Languages. Students enrolled in each class in each school are as follows: School Year Level No .of Students Spotswood. Primary School Prep 28 1 28 2 26 3 30 4 17 5 18 6 29 Total 176 St Albans Primary School Prep 16 1 24 2 25 3 12 4 13 5 21 6 16 Total 127 QUESTIONS ON NOTICE Tuesday, 17 March 1992 ASSEMBLY 199 Victorian School of Languages: Dandenong High School Centre 4-6 22 7-10 28 11-12 22 North Geelong High School Centre 4-12 15 Maribymong High School Centre 7-10 15 11-12 7 University High School Centre 7-11 13 12 15 Total 147 Serbo-Croatian: One government secondary college offers Serbo-Croatian to a mixed class of Serbian Croatian, and Macedonian background students: Footscray Girls Secondary College 9-10 15 Total 15 R. FOWLER CONSULTANCY -MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT (Question No. 960) Mr PERTON (Doncaster) asked the Minister for Finance, for the Minister for Manufacturing and Industry Development: In respect of a consultancy conducted by Richard Fowler for the department to assist motel lessees experiencing financial and related difficulties operating their businesses and requiring specialist advice: 1. What was the commencement date of the consultancy? 2. What was the original planned duration of the consultancy? 3. Whether the duration of the consultancy has been extended, if so - (a) for how long; (b) why; and (c) which officer of the department approved the extension? 4.