Overseas Trade Offices

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:45): Supplementary arising from the answer: will the minister take that on notice and check whether anyone from the minister's office, or on behalf of the minister, has held such discussions, and will he guarantee that all of those placements will be based on a merit-based selection process?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:45): I will make inquiries, but, again, I don't believe anybody from the minister's office has had any discussions with anybody in relation to those positions. Certainly, we have gone out for an expression of interest. We want to see who is in the market in Shanghai. Of course, it will be a merit-based appointment.