Page 2757 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 1993
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Mr Wright, through his activities with the Australian War Memorial, also has been able to involve this Territory much more closely in the events and functions that are generated by the War Memorial. I think that the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is coming up, is only one example. The Vietnam veterans dedication previously was another example.
Madam Speaker, Mr Wright and his board also will be exploring the opportunities in this Territory to develop ecotourism. This is a field of tourism which we have not previously been strong in, although, with our environment and with our assets in this Territory, it is a field that we ought to be strong in. So, again, there will be new initiatives coming out of this present tourism board under the chairmanship of Mr Wright.
MR HUMPHRIES: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I thank the Chief Minister for taking on notice that part of the question related to Mr Wright's companies; but I ask whether, in light of her comment yesterday that Mr Wright had an excellent record as a businessman - I assume that she was accurately quoted - she was aware of any of the difficulties that his companies, the companies that he was associated with, had been in when she made the appointment of him as head of the tourism advisory board.
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, of course I was generally aware of matters to do with business in this Territory, as I am aware of business difficulties that, say, Mr Westende has had also and which are not entirely irrelevant in this case, I suggest.
Mr Lamont: And not unrelated.
MS FOLLETT: And not unrelated. Madam Speaker, I am all too aware that a great many businesses have had difficulties in recent years. You would have to have had your eyes shut throughout the recession not to know that. Madam Speaker, as far as I am aware, it is not against the law, unless there is some specific law broken, for a company of any description to have a difficult time.
Mr Humphries: He is hardly an excellent businessman, is he?
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I repeat that I consider Mr Wright to be a businessman in good standing in this community. I believe that his company, the Wright corporate group, is a company in good standing.
Mr Berry: Good enough for Mr Westende to deal with.
MS FOLLETT: Exactly. I regard this continual slur as being detrimental not only to the operation of this Assembly but also to tourism in this Territory. I think it is regrettable that the Opposition have continued in this vein. Mr Wright is on the board of the Australian War Memorial and he is the national director of the RSPCA, in addition to the appointment which I have made. I repeat that his standing is high and I believe that he deserves the chance to get on with the good work that he is doing on behalf of this Territory's tourism industry.
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