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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 749 ..

MS FOLLETT (continuing):

To enable us to process payment approvals, we shall need your bank particulars including bank name and address, account number, telephone, fax/telex numbers. We have agreed that once the fund is remitted into your account, you will have 25%, thereof, 70% is for us, while 5% is for any expenses that may be incurred by both parties in the process of remitting this fund into your account.

Mr Osborne: Where do I sign?

MR SPEAKER: Order! Do not get excited yet.

MS FOLLETT: It may well be attractive to Mr Osborne, but I do want to sound a word of warning, Mr Speaker. The letter goes on:

On receipt of your positive response, we shall commence immediately.

It goes on:

Contact me immediately only on the above number ... You are required to keep this transaction absolutely confidential and seal of pact.

I do not know what that means. Mr Speaker, the letter also requests:

... we would need your personal assurance that your Government would not sit on the money when it goes into your account.

Mr Speaker, I think that this is a scam, and I hope that nobody has fallen for it. I cannot imagine anybody having fallen for it. I believe that the matter has been referred to the Federal Police for investigation. It appears on the surface to be an attempt to obtain banking details - for what purpose we do not know; but I am prepared to put money on the fact that the purpose would not be so that our Nigerian friends can, in fact, deposit money into our bank accounts for us. Mr Speaker, I would like to table the letter and also the envelope which, as members can see, is postmarked from Lagos, Nigeria.

Leave granted.

MR WOOD (5.16): Mr Speaker, I want to speak about something entirely different - the Canberra Festival. Sky Fire, balloons, good food and wine, a street parade and entertainment in Canberra's parks have long been the traditional hallmarks of the Canberra Festival, the celebration of Canberra's birthday. This year there were over 40 events, most of them using local talent and resources, but performing to a much larger audience than just Canberra residents. The Canberra Festival is developing as a major drawcard which brings tourists and their money into the region.

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