AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

CANBERRA THEATRE TRUST ORDINANCE 1965

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

No. 7 of 1965

	A complex of buildings to be known as “the Canberra Theatre Centre” has been constructed adjacent to the western end of Civic Square.

	The Canberra Theatre Centre has been planned to meet some of the cultural needs of the rapidly expanding city and will comprise a theatre to be known as “the Canberra Theatre” seating 1,200 persons and a small theatre to be known as “the Playhouse” seating 350 persons.  There are also included in the complex meeting rooms and ancillary facilities.

	The theatre complex will be used for the staging of drama, ballet, concerts and as a place of assembly for the presentation of cultural and artistic entertainment generally and incidentally to promote and encourage interest in and participation in appreciation of the arts.  The Centre will also be available for public and other meetings, conventions, receptions and other gatherings.

	The Canberra Theatre Trust Ordinance will establish a Trust to manage the theatre complex and promote and encourage interest and participation in, and appreciation of, the arts.  The Trust will be a body corporate having a common seal and will consist of nine trustees appointed by the Minister for the Interior, each trustee holding office for such period, not exceeding five years, as the Minister specifies.  The Chairman of the Trust and his Deputy will be appointed by the Minister and all trustees will be eligible for reappointment.  The Minister may grant leave of absence to a trustee in which event a trustee may appoint a person to act in his place, but not for a period of more than three months or, with the consent of the Minister, six months.

	The Minister is empowered, by writing under his hand, to remove a trustee from office and a trustee may resign his office by writing under his hand to the Minister.

	The Ordinance provides for removal from office of trustees in the event of bankruptcy, absence without leave of the Minister from three consecutive meetings of the Trust or for failure to disclose interest in any contracts made or proposed to be made by the Trust.

	Provision is made for the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and other trustees to be paid such remuneration, by way of fees or otherwise, as the Minister determines.

	The powers of the Trust will include:-

(a)	the engagement of artists;
(b)	the purchase, installation and use of equipment in the Centre;
(c)	the granting of rights to use the Centre;
(c)	the granting of rights to use the Centre;
(d)	the fixing of admission charges;
(e)	the granting of television, radio, film or recording rights in respect of entertainments or other functions;
(f)	the carrying on of the business in the Centre of refreshment purveyors, caterers, tobacconists, confectioners and any like business or the authorising of other persons to carry on such business.

	The Trust will be able to delegate any of its powers and employ such persons as it considers necessary.

	Power will be given to the Trust to make by-laws, having the force of law, not inconsistent with the Ordinance, in connection with the management and control of the Centre.  An amendment is being made to the Liquor Ordinance in conjunction with the making of this Ordinance to exempt the Centre from the provisions of the Liquor Ordinance, and the Trust’s by-law making power will extend in particular to the regulation of the possession, supply and consumption of liquor at the Centre.

	A degree of financial autonomy will be accorded to the Trust involving the maintenance of its own bank account, the right to borrow moneys on overdraft, application of moneys for the management of the Centre and a right of investment in approved securities.

	The Trust will be required to keep proper accounts and records, in a form to be approved by the Treasurer, and to be audited by a person appointed by the Treasurer and a report of its operations for each year will be made by the Trust to the Minister as soon as practicable after each thirty first day of July.

J.D. ANTHONY