The Hon. M. R. EGAN: On 20 October the Hon. J. F. Ryan asked me a question without notice relating to the Powerhouse Museum Athenian Cup Exhibition. The Premier has provided the following response:

The honourable member has been poorly advised. The fifth-century kylix was purchased for $US90,000 ($137,299), not "more than $175,000". The purchase of the kylix is in no way contrary to the museum’s acquisitions policy (as s. 14 of its Act makes clear), and was approved by the trustees of the Powerhouse Museum on 22 April. The kylix is a rare and valuable acquisition and its purchase had nothing to do with the exhibition of Greek antiquities to be held at the Powerhouse in 2000. The details of that exhibition are being finalised by the director of the museum with the assistance of the Greek Government in accordance with the agreement the Premier signed with the Greek Minister for Culture in September 1997. The exhibition is not in jeopardy. The cost of the director’s recent overseas visit, which included museum business in the United States of America, was $8,452. The director spent five days in Athens, not "in excess of two weeks".

The decision to advertise the director’s position at the expiry of the incumbent’s current term was not taken by the trustees but by the department head, the Secretary of the Ministry for the Arts, after consultation with the director and the trust. Subsequently, the president of the trust invited the director to continue to assist the museum in 2000 in the planning of the Greek exhibition.

Questions without notice concluded.