Page 2440 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 6 August 1991
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Of course, we have a Federal Labor Government. Mr Day goes on to say:
Of the AIDEX exhibition, probably less than 10 per cent is taken up by front-line weaponry highlighted by those who seek to discredit the exhibition. Many of the other products, from paints to clothing to catering supplies, have little relevance to offensive capability.
While I strongly support the right of people to express different opinions, I am very concerned that some people have misrepresented the purpose of AIDEX to suit their own purposes.
Not all of these groups are the same - the Quaker Peace Committee has again this year accepted the provision of a free stand to present its view. We have no quarrel with these people and respect their right to voice their opinions.
AIDEX is not about gun-running or the supply of arms to dubious regimes.
It is about providing an international showcase for both foreign and local companies wanting to do business with the Australian Government Defence Forces, and increasing this country's self-reliance and security.
Mr Connolly's hysterical comments in some of the local media about the British selling mustard gas to Saddam Hussein are way off the point. They are total emotional furphies.
Mr Connolly: A good word.
MR STEFANIAK: Did you like that? Sir William Keys, the former national president of the RSL and a very well respected man on both sides of the political fence - very much a moderate - was also very concerned at the cancellation. He stated, in the same edition of the Canberra Times, that the cancellation would be a folly. He called it, in fact, "the highest order of irresponsibility". He went on to say that the goodwill generated by Aidex would be "terminated on some left wing whim". Unfortunately, that is exactly what appears to have happened. The article went on to state that the local Labor Party Government got advice that it would cost it $5m in compensation, which is about the tourist budget per annum, to compensate for cancelling Aidex this year. Practicality at least prevailed there.
Sir William agreed that the exhibition would bring at least $10m into our economy, with an estimated 5,000 people visiting the exhibition from interstate and overseas.
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