Page 2699 - Week 09 - Thursday, 25 August 1994
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Commonwealth Games - Aboriginal Flag
MS ELLIS: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Sport. Can the Minister advise the Assembly of the ACT Government's position in relation to the much publicised action by athlete Cathy Freeman at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada?
MR LAMONT: I thank the member for her question. Along with all right-thinking Australians, not only was I extremely proud, when watching the event, to see a representative of the cream of Australian youth being successful in international competition; but I was also proud, as an Australian, to see Ms Freeman exhibit the Aboriginal flag. I believe that that is a great testimonial to this country, a great testimonial to the tolerance of this country, and a great testimonial to the respect that we, as a country, rightfully pay to the original owners of this country. I believe that the sheer exuberance with which Ms Freeman has represented this country stands us in good stead for the future. I congratulate her for her win. I congratulate her for what she has been able to achieve on behalf of all Australians. I think that anybody who denigrates her achievements - whether they are in a position of authority or in a political position in this country - should be condemned by all 17 members of this Assembly.
Economic Priorities Advisory Committee Member
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Chief Minister. I draw the Chief Minister's attention to the sacking of the ACTTAB board by Mr Lamont in June for misbehaviour, pre-empting the release of the Pearce report on the VITAB affair. As the Chief Minister is aware, the Pearce report found that the ACTTAB board had acted with astonishing naivety. In the Chief Minister's own response to the report she noted that the dismissal of the board was needed to "ensure that the management of ACTTAB met the standard required of such an important public enterprise". As the Chief Minister is aware, one of the board members was Mr George Wason. I now ask the Chief Minister: In light of the damning findings of the Pearce report and her own remarks, why is Mr Wason still a member of the ACT's Economic Priorities Advisory Committee, a committee appointed by the Chief Minister herself? Does Mr Wason still have the Chief Minister's confidence with regard to the standard required by Ms Follett for managers of important public enterprises?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, it will probably come as news to Mr De Domenico, but it is a fact that the Economic Priorities Advisory Committee of the ACT does not run the TAB. They provide me with economic advice. I am sorry if his understanding of matters has not got that far; but that is very much the case. The action that was taken in regard to the ACTTAB board was taken against the board as a whole, and in eminently justified circumstances. By contrast, the advice that I have had from EPACT - and it is advice; it is not a body which is responsible for running a commercial-type entity, as is the TAB, which is another little distinction, Mr De Domenico - in my view, has always been well thought out, well considered and worth while putting before government.
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