Page 5525 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 4 December 1991
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Arms Exhibitions
DR KINLOCH: Again, my question is addressed to the Attorney-General. There is some worry, in that I hear it said that there is some attempt to go to the Commonwealth to see whether the Commonwealth can support some kind of arms bazaar. Can we have the assurance of the Government that it will go to its Commonwealth colleagues and urge that no such exhibition take place in Canberra?
MR CONNOLLY: We have certainly said that it is the view of this Government that there should be no such future exhibitions in Canberra. We always acknowledged that, if the Commonwealth Government was determined to have an arms bazaar, it could no doubt do it on Defence land and there is little that we could do to prevent it. We have also said that, if the Commonwealth did want to get around our ban, we would expect the Commonwealth to pick up the full tab of providing perimeter security and keeping the peace.
While claims were made that we were missing and passing up a wonderful opportunity to make money for Canberra, I am not aware of any other States that have been particularly enthusiastic for this type of activity. If any other State wants to host Aidex, it can do it with our blessing. We do not want it.
DR KINLOCH: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. I am worried about the possibility of exhibitions getting in under the counter, so to speak. Can we be quite clear that there will be no such exhibition of which the sole or primary purpose is the displaying, whether for sale or otherwise, of arms, armaments and munitions?
MR CONNOLLY: Again, without having the text of the precise terms before me - and I will look at it - we consistently say that we do not want weapons fairs; we do not want arms bazaars in Canberra. That remains our position.
Health Centres - Private Practitioners
MR HUMPHRIES: My question is addressed to the Minister for Health. I ask the Minister what the Government's policy is with respect to the letting out of premises in health centres in the ACT to private medical practitioners - that is, non-salaried medical practitioners. In particular, why has the Minister's department refused to let out space to one doctor who retired from the City Health Centre earlier this year and who wishes to continue to practise within that general area of the ACT?
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