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Canberra Times . . Page.. 807 ..

What was happening at that time? The French Government was testing nuclear weapons in the South Pacific.

Mr De Domenico: Atmospherically too, I think.

MR HUMPHRIES: As my colleague Mr De Domenico says, atmospherically as well as underground. On what basis is it right to say that it is okay for a Labor government to have a sister city relationship while the French Government is nuclear testing but not all right for its successor to do the same thing? I look forward to Ms Follett's explanation of that little bit of tortured logic. The question of the relationship with France is one that goes not just to political relationship or relationship between particular communities; it is a question of relationship between businesses as well, and that was an important component of the original decision to twin Canberra and Versailles. I indicate, Mr Speaker, that I would like to table that letter from the then Chief Minister to the President of the Conseil General.

As members will know, there was last year a decision by the ACT government of the day, the Labor Government, to provide a package of assistance valued at $200,000 to Auspace to retain that company in the ACT. Auspace is a leading space technology company in Australia and it has a number of contracts with NASA. The parent company of Auspace is a company called Matra Marconi, which you can guess from my pronunciation is a French corporation. Members may also be aware that earlier this year there was a question of Thomson-CSF Pacific Holdings retaining its headquarters in Canberra, following a decision by the company to relocate its radar operations from Fyshwick to Melbourne. There was an article on that subject in the Canberra Times in April. (Extension of time granted) Thomson-CSF is a French electronics giant and has successfully tendered for the Civil Aviation Authority's Australian advanced air traffic system. Its presence in this country is worth at least $175m, and we were very keen to retain our role in its continuing operations in this country. Indeed, I think we have done so. What would Ms Follett and her colleagues have to say about that? Should we sever that relationship? Should we expel them, or ask them not to stay in Canberra? We probably could do that quite easily. What does she say about that?

I also want to correct a statement by Mr Connolly, which was quite inaccurate, when he suggested that people in Brisbane were very happy to see the sister city relationship between a French city and Brisbane ended. That is not the case. The leader of the Brisbane City Council Opposition, Mr Bob Mills, as reported in the Australian only a few days ago, called Mr Soorley a hypocrite, saying that Brisbane had a sister city relationship with Shenzhen in China. As members know, China is a country that also conducts nuclear tests. If we are concerned about the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the continued testing of those weapons in our region - and in case you are not aware, China is about the same distance away as is this region in the South Pacific - - -

Ms McRae: Yes, and how many sister city agreements have you signed last week with them? For heaven’s sake, be relevant.

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