Mr TOLLNER (9:51 AM) —The Northern Territory has produced its fair share of people who make the national and international limelight in the arenas of academia, business and sport. Today I would like to talk about a gentleman from the Northern Territory called Chris Benton. He has been living in the Northern Territory since 1960. Chris was born in 1958 and was educated in the Northern Territory and, shortly after leaving school, did an apprenticeship with the RAAF as an instrument fitter. He did several jobs after leaving the RAAF—with Kruger Trailers, ICI Amatil and at the East Point Military Museum for the Royal Australian Artillery Association. He took a trip to the United States and visited the Evergreen Aviation Museum and from there a few ideas started to germinate in his mind. He came back to Darwin and in 2000 formed a company called Pacific Aerospace Simulation, and started to transform his dream into reality.

One of the important developments that has set the course for the production of the company has been his developing liaison with the Boeing Aircraft Corporation. Boeing provided the Territory company with technical information, and Chris has put everything on the line to nurture and develop his business strategy, which will put Darwin on the world map. I believe that his ideas are sound and that the business needs to continually develop its strategy. His progress in the flight simulation business so far has been very dramatic, but the next steps need further development. With a little assistance I am sure we can produce another world renowned Territorian.