Page 1628 - Week 08 - Thursday, 28 September 1989
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Deportation of Minor
DR KINLOCH: My question, Mr Speaker, is to the Chief Minister. I do not know to which portfolio it is designated. It has to do with Janice Thorpe. Will the Chief Minister contact the Federal Minister for Immigration, Senator Ray, and indicate to him the widespread public condemnation of his proposal to divide the Thorpe family by excluding the mother from Australia and leaving the daughter Janice, aged 16 years, here alone? I can assure the Minister there is a lot of distress at the college the girl is at. Does the Chief Minister agree that dividing a family is contrary to human rights, in particular Australia's adherence to the declaration of the rights of the child recently championed in the Burdekin report?
MS FOLLETT: This matter is not one which falls within my portfolio, nor is it one which falls within the jurisdiction of this Assembly. It is an immigration matter, as I understand it. In fact, it is therefore quite properly one which Senator Ray is dealing with in the Federal Parliament. But of course, Mr Speaker, I have sympathy for this young woman and indeed for her family. I myself have not received any representations on this matter, but if members wish me to pass on any representations that they have had to Senator Ray in the Federal Parliament I would be happy to do so.
High Technology Industry
MR JENSEN: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to Mr Whalan in his capacity as Minister responsible for industry and development. I refer the Minister to his media release of 18 August this year when he welcomed the undertaking by Blohm and Voss, designers of the new frigate project, that Canberra high-tech industry will benefit from the project. Can the Minister inform the house whether he has taken any steps to ensure that this commitment is carried out?
MR WHALAN: Mr Speaker, there have been some steps taken. Indeed, I have had discussions with one of the senior scientists from Blohm and Voss as recently as last evening.
MR JENSEN: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Is the Minister at liberty to indicate what sort of possible arrangements he may be looking at in this area?
MR WHALAN: No.
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