Mr SETTER - 1994-10-12
The Chief Minister has now had 24 hours to consider his position in relation to government-funded advertisements featuring his own private company. Does he deny that he has received a personal benefit from this advertising? If he does not deny that, does he still believe it is appropriate that his company, a company of which he is a director and the co-owner, should receive such a benefit from the government?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, in reflecting on the matter raised by the Leader of the Opposition yesterday, I see nothing wrong in what the Tourist Commission, in association with the Darwin Region Tourism Association, has done of its own volition without any input or influence from myself or, I believe, from any of my colleagues in its attempt to promote Darwin as an attractive destination to tourists.
Mr Ede: Where would you draw the line?
Mr PERRON: I see no impropriety. To draw an inference of impropriety would mean that the Leader of the Opposition is suggesting that, irrespective of whether or not the tourist attraction referred to is popular, he would advocate that it not be mentioned in any government publication whatsoever at any time.
Mr Ede: You are the Chief Minister.
Mr PERRON: I believe that would be unreasonable and not necessarily in the Territory's interests. I am not sure that there are very many people in the tourism industry who would agree that this activity should never appear in any publication whatsoever.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, in reflecting on the matter raised by the Leader of the Opposition yesterday, I see nothing wrong in what the Tourist Commission, in association with the Darwin Region Tourism Association, has done of its own volition without any input or influence from myself or, I believe, from any of my colleagues in its attempt to promote Darwin as an attractive destination to tourists.
Mr Ede: Where would you draw the line?
Mr PERRON: I see no impropriety. To draw an inference of impropriety would mean that the Leader of the Opposition is suggesting that, irrespective of whether or not the tourist attraction referred to is popular, he would advocate that it not be mentioned in any government publication whatsoever at any time.
Mr Ede: You are the Chief Minister.
Mr PERRON: I believe that would be unreasonable and not necessarily in the Territory's interests. I am not sure that there are very many people in the tourism industry who would agree that this activity should never appear in any publication whatsoever.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016