Page 2639 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
When I was asked by the ACT Opposition to assist in blowing the whistle on VITAB's scam -
it was not a scam, as I demonstrated earlier -
I was happy to assist ...
It shows the political involvement of those people opposite.
I now turn, Madam Speaker, to the Financial Review and where they discussed the campaign which was developed by the Liberal Opposition opposite and their colleagues interstate. The Financial Review said that the campaign included leaking what appeared to be altered or incomplete police information about VITAB's chief executive. We recall the altered information that was tabled in this place and handed to the committee. We know that you were silly enough to hand over that information with the Victorian Minister's fax number on the top of it, so that everybody would know where it had come from. What dills! You passed it on to the Financial Review with Mr Reynolds's fax number on the top. The Financial Review then went on to discover a copy of a 1988 court record which involved one of the principals being involved in three minor charges relating to amusement machines in his Melbourne hotel. Two of the charges were withdrawn. The third matter was adjourned and not proceeded with. By collaboration between you and the Victorians, you very clearly made sure that that doctored information played an important role in the whole process.
I now come to another matter which is of interest. I have before me a study trip report. This study trip report was submitted by Mr Tony De Domenico and it was signed on 5 April 1994. The study trip involved a visit to Melbourne on 13 March, Launceston on 14 March, and Hobart on 15, 16 and 17 March. The organisations and individuals visited were the State Department of Land and Management, Mr Andrew Watson, Launceston; the Hon. John Cleary, MHA, Minister for the Environment, Land and Management; the Hydro-Electric Authority; the Tasmanian TAB; and Mr Derek Haigh, former campaign organiser for the Tasmanian Greens. The purpose of the visit was discussions regarding shadow portfolio responsibilities, discussion of field trips regarding committee responsibilities, and discussions regarding the Hare-Clark political system. But did we ever discover what happened while you were in Melbourne on the 13th? No, it was not put in the report. What were you doing in Melbourne? Did you drop in to see your mates?
There has been little interest in the political involvement between the local Liberals and the Victorian Liberals who, with their massive majority, can behave as they will, and I think further discovery needs to be made. There is no question that there have been lies told in the Victorian Parliament. There have been lies told by way of doctored police information to blacken principals of the VITAB organisation. I do not speak out to protect them; I raise the matter merely to demonstrate the lengths to which you people are prepared to go in your campaigns. Let there be no mistake about it; there is enough evidence there to show clearly that the Victorian Liberals and the ACT Liberals
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .