Legislative Assembly Hansard 1987
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 25 AUGUST 1987 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Petitions 25 August 1987 1917 TUESDAY, 25 AUGUST 1987 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. K. R. Lingard, Fassifem) read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. ASSENT TO BILL Appropriation Bill (No. 1) Mr SPEAKER: I have to report that on Tuesday, 11 August 1987, I presented to His Excellency the Govemor Appropriation Bill 1987-1988 (No. 1) for the royal assent and that His Excellency was pleased, in my presence, to subscribe his assent thereto in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following Bills reported by Mr Speaker— Appropriation Bill (No. 1); Small Claims Tribunals Act Amendment Bill; Securities Industry (Application of Laws) Act Amendment Bill; Foresty Act Amendment Bill; Consumer Affairs Act Amendment Bill. PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Bayside Bus Company Licence From Mr Burns (77 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will take action to review the licence to the Bayside bus company if adequate services cannot be provided in the Tingalpa district. Patient Transit Scheme From Mr Campbell (20 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will ensure the reinstatement of the previous level of benefit to recipients under the Patient Transit Scheme. Support for Award System and Industrial Commission From Mr Campbell (78 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will support the existing award system and the Industrial Commission. Fire Levy Charges From Mr Campbell (763 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will declare a moratorium on fire levy charges and establish a fair system. Repeal of Integrated Resort Development Act From Mr Beanland (302 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will take action to repeal the Integrated Resort Development Act. Similar petitions were received from Mr Campbell (13 signatories) and Mr Prest (395 signatories). 1918 25 August 1987 Ministerial Statement Repeal of Section of Land Act Amendment Act From Mr Ardill (19 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will repeal that section of the Land Act Amendment Act 1987 which allows land to be leased in perpetuity for tourist development purposes. Distribution from Australian Capital Territory of X-rated Videos From Mr Casey (8 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will ensure control over distribution from the Australian Capital Territory of X-rated videos. Petitions received. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS OF PUBLIC TO PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, on the day on which Parliament last sat, there was a demonstration outside Parliament House which necessitated the Chief Parliamentary Attendant's having to close the gates to ensure security. The Chief Parliamentary Attendant acts through the authority of the Speaker. Several members of Parliament moved out of the House during the sitting and conducted members of the demonstrating group, with their placards, through the gates and into the gallery of the Legislative Assembly. I remind all honourable members of Standing Orders 328 and 329, which indicate that Mr Speaker only shall have the privilege of admitting strangers to the galleries of the House. There is no doubt that this power is necessary to ensure security for members in this Chamber and to ensure the dignity of the House. In future instances when the gates are closed by the Chief Parliamentary Attendant acting under my authority, entry through the gates will be at the discretion of the Chief Parliamentary Attendant. During these times, constituents who approach the annexe in the normal manner will have access to members of Parliament in the facilities which are provided. ADMISSION OF GUESTS TO MEMBERS' READING ROOM; READING OF NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES IN CHAMBER Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have recently made the decision that the reading room, B23, will be open at all times. This room is one of the most magnificent examples of the recent refurbishing and should be available for viewing by official guests. However, during a parliamentary sitting it is only available to members of Parliament for use as a reading room, and guests must not be taken into the room. Newspapers and magazines will be available for general reading in that room. Newspapers will also be available in the lobby outside this Chamber. Because these facilities are available so close to the Chamber, and for other reasons of etiquette, I am not prepared to allow the general reading of newspapers and magazines by members when they are sitting in this Chamber. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Coal Sales to Romania; Cape York Spaceport Hon. Sir JOH BJELKE-PETERSEN (Barambah—Premier and Treasurer) (10.06 a.m.), by leave: As honourable members would be aware, I recently travelled overseas, the main purpose of my trip being to initiate discussions in relation to future coal exports to Romania. I was accompanied by the Under Treasurer, Sir Leo Hielscher, and the Co-ordinator General of the Premier's Department, Sir Sydney Schubert. During the course of my discussions, preliminary arrangements were made for an initial 2 million tonnes of Queensland coking coal to be supplied through the Romanian Papers 25 August 1987 1919 port of Constanta. The Romanian Govemment will be sending a team of officials to Queensland in the next few weeks to complete the deal. It is hoped that these arrangements will lead very quickly to a long-term contract of up to 3 million tonnes and more per annum of Queensland coal, mainly for the Romanian steelworks. The Romanians have recently completed a 64-kilometre canal from the Danube to the Black Sea, an outstanding engineering achievement which shortens by 450 kilometres the distance which shipping would normally take through the Danube delta. The use of the canal will open up for easier trade access all the Balkan countries of Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Austria and Czechoslovakia. If successful, the concept could lead to the export of 10 mUlion tonnes and more per annum of Queensland coal into those countries. Together with my colleague the Honourable the Minister for Mines and Energy, I intend to hold discussions immediately with appropriate Queensland coal-producers to determine who are interested in the new orders. The proposal is for a barter arrangement, with Romania paying in part for the coal with oil, fertiliser, steel, machines, etc. These Romanian products can be sold anywhere in the world and need not necessarily be imported into (Queensland. Coal-exporters will need to set up a trading arrangement, probably with a third-party trading company. Overall, although it is still reasonably early days, I believe it is very clear that the trip has been a major success. We have taken advantage of the new Romanian canal, recognised markets that this project opens up and have been first in with the promotion of Queensland exports to the potential benefit of our whole State economy and the State generally. I am most excited about the future prospects in this new market for our State's huge coal resources. I would also mention that, whilst overseas, I took the opportunity to visit London and Geneva. In London I met with British Aerospace and the British National Space Centre for discussions on the latest developments in space technology. Both organisations were aware of the Cape York spaceport proposal and its potential for development and were very supportive and, indeed, very interested. On the matter of privatisation—Sir Sydney Schubert and Sir Leo Hielscher had discussions with officials of the British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, about areas and activities in which they have become involved relating to privatisation on the part of the Govemment. It is very interesting. Of course, this Govemment intends to pursue that direction also. In Geneva I held discussions with Swiss bankers. In addition to dealing with Queensland's overseas banking business for the coming year, discussions ranged widely over the Queensland economic scene. One of the largest Swiss banks will be holding a large financial conference in Queensland during Expo in 1988, and intends to bring a group of very important Swiss businessmen to Queensland for that conference for the purpose of seeing what investments they can make. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table— Proclamation under the Forestry Act 1959-1984 Orders in Council under— Explosives Act 1952-1981 Farm Water Supplies Assistance Act 1958-1984 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Water Act 1926-1987 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Water Act 1926-1987 1920 25 August 1987 Ministerial Statement Harbours Act 1955-1982 Forestry Act 1959-1984 Art Unions and Amusements Act 1976-1984 Regulations under— Coal Industry (Control) Act 1948-1978 Explosives Act 1952-1981 Gas Act 1965-1985 Mining Act 1968-1986 Mining Fossicking Act 1985 Petroleum Act 1923-1986 River Improvement Trast Act 1940-1985 Water Act 1926-1987 By-law under the Harbours Act 1955-1982. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Employment of Staff at Overlander Homestead Motel, Roma Hon. V. P. LESTER (Peak Downs—Minister for Employment, Small Business and Industrial Affairs) (10.13 a.m.), by leave: A great deal of publicity has been given to the employment conditions of staff at the Overlander Homestead Motel in Roma. I wish to inform the House of the current and trae position with regard to this matter. In