Legislative Assembly 4191 14 September 1993 TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 1993 Railway Services From Mr Burns (422 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will reverse the decision to close railway lines in central Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) and south-west Queensland. read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. A similar petition was received from Mr Hobbs (91 signatories). ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following Bills reported by Railway Services Mr Speaker— From Mr Burns (794 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will take Motor Vehicles Safety Amendment Bill; action to reverse the decision of the Minister Public Officers’ Superannuation Benefits for Transport to close the Biggenden to Recovery Amendment Bill; Taragoola railway line. Golden Casket Art Union Amendment Bill; Cairns Casino Agreement Bill; Southern Brisbane Bypass, Karawatha Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) From Mr Robertson (126 signatories) Amendment Bill; praying that the Parliament of Queensland will Grain Industry (Restructuring) Amendment Bill; take action to abandon any plans to build the southern Brisbane by-pass through Karawatha Magistrates Courts Jurisdiction Amendment Bill; and surrounding bushland, especially in the more sensitive areas south of Compton Road Trustee Companies Amendment Bill; to the Logan Motorway. Education (Capital Assistance) Bill. Railway Services PAPER TABLED DURING RECESS From Mr Burns (820 signatories) praying Mr SPEAKER: Order! I advise the House that the Parliament of Queensland will enact that a paper was tabled during the recess in legislation which secures the services provided accordance with the list circulated to members by 29 railway branch lines which are to be in the Chamber. closed. The Clerk of the Parliament— Traffic Lights, Caboolture Board of Trustees of the Brisbane Grammar School—Annual Report for From Mr J. H. Sullivan (430 signatories) 1992. praying that urgent action be taken to install traffic lights at the intersection of Bellmere Road and the D’Aguilar Highway at PETITIONS Caboolture. The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Crown Land, Bongaree From Mr J. H. Sullivan (1 359 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Crown Lease Rental Fees Queensland will ensure that Crown land From Mr Turner (14 signatories) praying adjacent to the recreation reserve in First for action to be taken to alleviate financial Avenue, Bongaree is made available for hardship caused by the proposed increase in community use together with all necessary Crown lease rental fees implemented on approvals for development in accordance with 1 July 1993. adopted plans. Petitions received. Education From Mr Slack (94 signatories) praying STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS that the status quo be maintained in current In accordance with the schedule school situations and that overall funding to circulated by the Clerk to members in the education be maintained or increased as Chamber, the following documents were needs demand. tabled— 14 September 1993 4192 Legislative Assembly Auctioneers and Agents Act— inappropriate development. The land in Auctioneers and Agents (Exemptions) question covers 225 126 hectares and Regulation 1993, No. 343 includes 24 464 hectares of freehold land, Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Act— 23 173 hectares of occupational licences—— Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Honourable members interjected. Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 1993, Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable No. 337 members, I would like to hear the statement, Dental Act— and I insist that I do. I give a general warning Dental Amendment By-law (No. 2) 1993, that I am not going to put up with inane and No. 344 irrelevant interjections. Fair Trading Act— Mr W. K. GOSS:—479 hectares of Fair Trading (Child Cot Restraints) Order special lease and 177 000 hectares of 1993, No. 338 pastoral lease, which has development conditions. Health Act— Health (Scientific Research and Studies) The Starcke Pastoral Holdings was Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 1993, purchased by George Quaid Holdings in 1972 No. 339 for $919,711. That part of the holdings, which Poisons Amendment Regulation (No. 3) is now freehold, was converted from leasehold 1993, No. 345 in 1989 at a cost to the lessee of $30,802. State Transport Act— Mr Stoneman interjected. State Transport Amendment Regulation Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for (No. 2) 1993, No. 336 Burnett! I am on my feet. This is not a debate; Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act it is a ministerial statement. I intend to listen to (No. 2)— it. I warn the member for Burnett under Standing Order 123A. Proclamation—amendments 2 and 3 of the Rural Training Schools Act 1965 Mr W. K. GOSS: The lessee was required commence 10 September 1993, No. 342 to carry out improvements prior to the Supreme Court Act— conversion. It is claimed that more than Barristers’ Admission Rules Amendment $800,000 was spent on improvements. The Order (No. 1) 1993, No. 341 land in question, which is an outstanding natural area yielding a host of new plant Solicitors’ Admission Rules Amendment species, including a number of unique Order (No. 1) 1993, No. 340 rainforest scrubs, was offered for sale in the Workplace Health and Safety Act— United States for US$18m. Within the Workplace Health and Safety Amendment freehold, there are particularly scenic coastal Regulation (No. 3) 1993, No. 346. dunes south of the Jeannie River and a mountain spine backdrop runs the full length of the holding. PAPER Advice from the Department of The following paper was laid on the Environment and Heritage is that the holding table— is within a distinct environmental province of Minister for Health (Mr Hayward)— Cape York, and it contains many ecosystems Mental Health Submission Queensland not represented within the State’s existing 1993. national park estate. The freehold area contains the distinctive parabolic high dune systems of white silica sand, which is poorly MINISTERIAL STATEMENT represented within Queensland’s parks. Also, Starcke Pastoral Holdings there is a unique palm woodland of livistona Hon. W. K. GOSS (Logan—Premier and muelleri, regarded as the best example of its Minister for Economic and Trade structural type known on the cape. Littoral Development) (10.05 a.m.), by leave: The rainforest scrubs also occur within the coastal Queensland Government will this week dune system. Of the total area, only two introduce special legislation to protect the sections have been substantially disturbed in environmental values of the Starcke Pastoral the past—4 000 hectares south of Hummock Holdings on the eastern coast of Cape York Creek to the Starcke River and an area of Peninsula. This legislation will ensure that this about 500 hectares near the homestead. important piece of coastal land will be Advice is that both areas will regenerate in protected from both overseas sale and time. Legislative Assembly 4193 14 September 1993 Of particular conservation interest is the Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for occupational lease which contains a very Southport! complex area of sand dunes, marine plains, Mr W. K. GOSS: The Government has salt flats, swamps and gallery riverine forests, also decided to appoint an independent as well as a spectacular headland at Barrow Queen’s Counsel to conduct a thorough Point. This area contains a newly identified administrative review of a range of issues eucalypt species. The Sandstone Ranges, related to Starcke Pastoral Holdings. These which run the length of the holding, house include the validity of the freehold tenure and ecosystems not seen in the parks on the leases, the owner's compliance with lease peninsula. There are small rainforest conditions, the propriety of the allocation of communities which are botanically significant. land tenure and the policy in force at the time For example, one 15 hectare patch has of the various transactions taking place. This yielded three new species. In other parts, review will consist of an examination of all of species occur as distinct populations with the relevant documents and papers related to affinities to species occurring in south-east Starcke Pastoral Holdings. The report of the Queensland. independent QC will be presented to Cabinet The land also encompasses the when a decision will be taken on what, if any, traditional clan estates of two separate further action might be necessary to alleviate Aboriginal language groups. These clans are public concern about these transactions. said to number almost 200 people, and some As I said before, the Government seeks elders are reported as remembering traditional to purchase the whole of the land in question. life on land currently within the holding. We took this decision based on the offer by The State Government has carried out the Federal Government, as stated by the some research and the advice is that any Commonwealth Environment Minister, Mrs claim to native title based on the High Court's Kelly, to enter into matching finance on any Mabo decision would not succeed because all purchase. However, this apparent willingness land within the Starcke Holding was formerly on the part of the Commonwealth now looks pastoral lease. Accordingly, any native title in less certain. We will continue to discuss this the entire area would have been extinguished. issue with the Commonwealth and, hopefully, All of these above factors make the future of such discussions will be fruitful. But our ability this land important, not just to Queensland but to purchase all of the land in question could to the nation. be problematic if the Federal Government is The major question facing the not able to maintain its offer of matching Government is whether to purchase just the finance for the purchase of this internationally significant coastal part of the holding or to significant land. This Government is proud of purchase the entire 225 000 hectares. The its environment record and we believe that the Government is committed to acquiring the purchase of this land will add significantly to relevant coastal section of the property.