Mr EDE - 1994-10-11
I refer the minister to Tourist Commission advertising that has appeared in a number of different forms recently in a number of national publications. Honourable members will have seen these advertisements in The Australian and a number of other publications around Australia in recent weeks but, for the benefit of honourable members, I seek leave to table a copy of 2 of the variations in which those advertisements were published.
Leave granted.
Mr EDE: Why is the Chief Minister's own business, Aquascene, in fact the only privately-owned business singled out by name for promotion in these advertisements?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I do not know why it is the only private business named in those advertisements. If the Leader of the Opposition is suggesting that the government has promoted Aquascene to the exclusion of other private ventures, I am sure that he knows ...
Mr Ede: You are giving it a nice kick along.
Mr COULTER: It just happens to be true that over 200 000 and perhaps nearly 300 000 people a year visit Aquascene. It happens to be - how many, 200 000?
Members interjecting.
Mr COULTER: Is that all? 100 000.
Members interjecting.
Mr COULTER: It is fairly popular. Except for the Territory Wildlife Park, Litchfield National Park and perhaps the Jumping Crocodile tour, I cannot think of too many other tourist attractions that are as popular. Aquascene happens to be a very popular tourist destination. It is an attraction that people like to visit.
I know the background to the advertisements that the Leader of the Opposition is talking about. I am aware of some of the scuttlebutt in relation to the advertisements and, in particular, the mention of the Chief Minister and in fact who it was who elected to place Aquascene in those advertisements. If the Leader of the Opposition will give me a few minutes, I will obtain a briefing from my office that will detail the full history of how those advertisements came about and whose decision it was to mention Aquascene in them. I will have that answer for him by the close of business today.
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Leave granted.
Mr EDE: Why is the Chief Minister's own business, Aquascene, in fact the only privately-owned business singled out by name for promotion in these advertisements?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I do not know why it is the only private business named in those advertisements. If the Leader of the Opposition is suggesting that the government has promoted Aquascene to the exclusion of other private ventures, I am sure that he knows ...
Mr Ede: You are giving it a nice kick along.
Mr COULTER: It just happens to be true that over 200 000 and perhaps nearly 300 000 people a year visit Aquascene. It happens to be - how many, 200 000?
Members interjecting.
Mr COULTER: Is that all? 100 000.
Members interjecting.
Mr COULTER: It is fairly popular. Except for the Territory Wildlife Park, Litchfield National Park and perhaps the Jumping Crocodile tour, I cannot think of too many other tourist attractions that are as popular. Aquascene happens to be a very popular tourist destination. It is an attraction that people like to visit.
I know the background to the advertisements that the Leader of the Opposition is talking about. I am aware of some of the scuttlebutt in relation to the advertisements and, in particular, the mention of the Chief Minister and in fact who it was who elected to place Aquascene in those advertisements. If the Leader of the Opposition will give me a few minutes, I will obtain a briefing from my office that will detail the full history of how those advertisements came about and whose decision it was to mention Aquascene in them. I will have that answer for him by the close of business today.
Page 205
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016