Mr EDE - 1994-10-11
Is the Chief Minister a director of the company, Dreyprey Pty Limited, which trades under the business name Aquascene and, if so, does he think it appropriate that Aquascene should benefit from Territory government-funded programs or does he accept that, in taking on the position of Chief Minister, he has forgone the right for his business to receive a particular benefit from the government he heads currently?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, as my pecuniary interest statement has indicated for many years, I am a director, along with my wife, of the company Dreyprey, which is the company which runs the tourism venture at Doctor's Gully. As far as the balance of the Leader of the Opposition's Question is concerned, including the implication that the company is somehow benefiting from government activities or policies, I am not quite sure how to respond inasmuch as that all companies in the Territory benefit from Territory government policies which, for example, promote tourism, keep taxes low in the Territory compared with elsewhere, promote other aspects of Territory industry, protect the environment and so on. Thus, unless the Leader of the Opposition cares to be a little more specific in his inference that my wife and I are benefiting unreasonably from government policy, I find it difficult to respond to him in any more precise terms.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, as my pecuniary interest statement has indicated for many years, I am a director, along with my wife, of the company Dreyprey, which is the company which runs the tourism venture at Doctor's Gully. As far as the balance of the Leader of the Opposition's Question is concerned, including the implication that the company is somehow benefiting from government activities or policies, I am not quite sure how to respond inasmuch as that all companies in the Territory benefit from Territory government policies which, for example, promote tourism, keep taxes low in the Territory compared with elsewhere, promote other aspects of Territory industry, protect the environment and so on. Thus, unless the Leader of the Opposition cares to be a little more specific in his inference that my wife and I are benefiting unreasonably from government policy, I find it difficult to respond to him in any more precise terms.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016