REMEMBER WHEN

FORMER Victorian Premier Sir Rupert Hamer was asked to attend a court hearing into the running of the Jojoba Group of companies.

This was disclosed following the release of correspondence between Southport National MP Doug Jennings and Justice Minister and Attorney-General Paul Clauson.

Sir Rupert was one of several leading businessmen who had been called on to attend the Brisbane District Court inquiry.

The inquiry was set out to determine allegations of a misuse of moneys from several companies involved in the growth of ‘wonder plant’ jojoba and an appropriation of funds by Land Bank Estate Pty Ltd from sales of land at Mudgeeraba.

The Jojoba group and Land Bank Estate had several of the same company directors.

Dozens of Gold Coast investors were reported to have lost money in the schemes.

Sir Rupert’s call to attend the inquiry followed an exchange of letters between Mr Jennings and Mr Clauson.

Mr Jennings, who first raised doubts about the authenticity of the Land Bank Estates company in State Parliament in 1984, wrote to Mr Clauson in late 1986 querying Sir Rupert’s involvement in the land scheme.

He told the Justice Minister he believed Sir Rupert, as Land Bank Estates chairman, was primarily responsible for the public promotion of the scheme.

He said Sir Rupert, a Gold Coast businessman and Brian Richard Goldsmith had even taken out a writ against him before he made his disclosures in State Parliament.