Page 2605 - Week 09 - Thursday, 8 August 1991
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MR STEVENSON: I ask a supplementary question. I am not quite sure what "recall reading in general terms" means. However, did the evidence I presented demonstrate that US Mafia figures, identified by the FBI as controlling a $4 billion pornography industry in America, visited Australia and helped, firstly, to establish and then have a long-term, ongoing involvement in a major X-rated video network in Australia?
MS FOLLETT: I think the answer is, quite simply, no. I am also aware that the slurs and innuendos Mr Stevenson made at that time were taken up by the then Attorney-General, Mr Collaery, and were investigated by the Australian Federal Police. It is my understanding, although I am not the Attorney-General and perhaps I should defer to him, that there was found to be no real basis for Mr Stevenson's repeated assertions and that that remains the case.
Equestrian Facilities
MRS NOLAN: My question is again to the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning. As more and more rural leases and agistment land in and around the city are being resumed for residential development, what steps is the Minister taking to ensure that horse and pony owners in the ACT are being provided with alternative agistment facilities for their animals so that the level of equestrian activity enjoyed in the ACT can be sustained? In particular, I refer the Minister to the problems being experienced at Hall.
MR WOOD: This Government, as former governments have, recognises the interest in matters equestrian. There are many people in the community who derive considerable pleasure from looking after their horses, and I believe that we all do what we can to accommodate those recreational and other interests. They do suffer a little as leases change, although I am not aware of any particular changes in recent times, certainly not in the last few months.
Let us go back to Hall. I looked at that problem. I had a thorough briefing about it and I know the area quite well. The lessee out there, who had then sublet or allowed horses onto his property, had clearly neglected the property. There is no question about that. Then we see media coverage to the effect that this or that tree has been covered. That is a terrific idea, but I wish we had more than one tree covered - and that on the day a photograph was taken.
While I have some responsibility in relation to land care of those leasehold areas - and this is not the only one - I will instruct the department that they should take a line that protects the environment. I am the Minister for the Environment and I will take that line. I think the
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