Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

TUESDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 1972

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Petition 583

TUESDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 1972

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. W. H. Lonergan, Flinders) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m.

OVERTIME PAID IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

RETURN TO ORDER The following paper was laid on the table:- Return to an Order made by the House. on 8 August last, on the motion of Mr. R. Jones, showing the amount of overtime paid in each Government department (all funds) in 1971-72.

PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed:- Reports- Operations of the Sub-Departments of the Department of Health-"Eventide" ( Sandgate), "Eventide" (Charters Towers), "Eventide" (Rockhampton), and Queensland Industrial Institution for the Blind (South Brisbane), for the year 1971-72. Agricultural Bank, for the year 1971-72. The following papers were laid on the table:- Orders in Council under- The Rural Training Schools Act of 1965. Industrial Development Act 1963-1978. The Irrigation Acts, 1922 to 1965. The State Electricity Commission Acts, 1937 to 1965. Regulations under the Irrigation Acts, 1922 to 1965. Report of the Totalisator Administration Board of Queensland for the year 1971-72.

PETITION MINERAL LEASES, FRASER AND MORETON ISLANDS Mr. SHERRINGTON (Salisbury) pre­ sented a petition signed by 387 electors and others in the State of Queensland, praying that the Parliament of Queensland will take immediate steps to prevent the granting of any further mineral leases on Fraser and Moreton Islands until an independent, com­ prehensive land-use survey of these areas has been carried out. Petition read and received. 584 Personal Explanation [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Law Reform, &c., Bill

PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS has been made to draw a veil of secrecy over proceedings, so far as that was possible Mr. F. P. MOORE (Mourilyan) (11.5 a.m.), without breaking the law. by leave: My personal explanation concerns an article that appeared in "The Courier-Mail" Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: I rise to a point of Friday, 15 September- of order. It is quite clear that the honour­ The report is headed, "Minister appalled at able member for Lytton is trying to make an school claim", and says- issue out of something that does not exist. "The Education Minister (Sir Alan Opposition Members interjected. Fletcher) has called for a special report on the condition of Innisfail State primary Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The Premier is school." taking a point of order. Later, it states- Mr. HOUSTON: I rise to a point of order. " ... Sir Alan said he was appalled at The Premier is trying to turn a personal the suggestion by Mr. Moore (A.L.P., explanation into a debate. Mourilyan) that three sets of steps had fallen out." Hononrable Members interjected. Today, I should like to place on record in this Mr. SPEAKER: Order! House the dates on which these steps at the State school did fall out. The first was on Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: I wish to reply the 15th of-- to the statement made by the honourable member for Lytton. There is no veil of Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: Mr. Speaker, secrecy whatever in this issue. The prac­ I rise to a point of order. Is the honourable tice of holding court hearings in the Old member in order in making the statement Treasury Building has been going on, I have that he is making? been informed, over a long period. They Mr. SPEAKER: Order! Has the honour­ have been held there in various circumstances able member finished his personal explanation? from time to time for some years because of the tape-recording facilities there. There was Mr. F. P. MOORE: I want to have no secret hearing. Press reporters were recorded here the dates on which these steps present on the particular occasion to which collapsed. The position is not as the the honourable member referred. Minister stated. Mr. BURNS: You denied that it happened. Mr. SPEAKER: Order! Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I will not permit Mr. BURNS (Lytton) (11.7 a.m.), by leave: any further discussion on this matter. If I During my Address-in-Reply speech I with­ were to allow it, whoever might raise the drew a reference to the fact that a court was matter would only be prosecuting an held in the Treasury Building in relation to argument. charges of conspiracy to defraud the State Government of funds provided by the Com­ monwealth Government for drought relief, ADOPTION OF CHILDREN ACT and that it was revealed in evidence that one AMENDMENT BILL of the defendants has said that "Joh" had INITIATION given him the green light. Hon. J. D. HERBERT (Sherwood-Min­ You will recall, Mr. Speaker, that at your ister for Tourism, Sport and Welfare Ser­ request I withdrew the statement after the vices): I move- Premier had raised an objection to it. On the following day, the Treasurer made a per­ "That the House will, at its present sonal statement. As these statements have sitting, resolve itself into a Committee of cast some doubt on the matter raised by me the Whole to consider introducing a Bill and as they reflect on my personal integ­ to amend the Adoption of Children Acts rity, I point out that committal proceedings 1964 to 1967 in certain particulars." were held on 13, 14 and 15 March, in Room Motion agreed to. 239, on the second floor of the Treasury Building. The prosecutor was Mr. Russell Hanson, the magistrate was Mr. Eric Martin, LAW REFORM COMMISSION ACT and the accused were Gaylord Norman Wolt­ AMENDMENT BILL mann, Allan Ranee Maguire, Keith J ames INITIATION McMurdy and John Perrett. Sir Gordon Chalk interjected. Hon. W. E. KNOX (Nundah-Minister for Justice): I move- Mr. BURNS: The Treasurer did not even "That the House will, at its present know what happened. sitting, resolve itself into a Committee of The holding of this important hearing, where the Whole to consider introducing a Bill the Premier of this State was mentioned, and to amend the Law Reform Commission the subsequent actions of the Premier and the Act 1968 in certain particulars." Treasurer, make me believe that an attempt Motion agreed to. Questions Upon Notice [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 585

COMMERCIAL CAUSES ACT SYLLABUS SUBJECTS FOR APPRENTICE AMENDMENT BILL CARPENTERS INITIATION Mr. Newton, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Development,- Hon. W. E. KNOX (Nundah-Minister for ( 1 ) What is the number of subjects laid Justice): I move- down in the syllabus for an apprentice "That the House will, at its present carpenter in each year of his apprentice­ sitting, resolve itself into a Committee of ship? the whole to consider introducing a Bill to amend the Commercial Causes Act of 1910 (2) What other apprentices in the build­ in certain particulars." ing trade are covered by the same syllabus? Motion agreed to. Answers:- QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE ( 1) 'The subjects laid down for study by apprentice carpenters in each of their JETTY FOR GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND three years of technical training are:­ Mr. Ahern for Mr. Hartwig, pursuant to Carpentry and joinery theory; Carpentry notice, asked The Minister for Conserva­ and joinery drawing; and Carpentry and tion,- joinery practice. Although there are only As many tourists who visit Great Keppel three separate subjects, these do, in fact, Island each day by means of tourist vessels cover all aspects of a carpenter's work have to transfer to an open boat, at some necessary to ensure that with adequate risk and great inconvenience, when will a on-the-job training an apprentice, on com­ jetty be constructed comparable with pletion of his apprenticeship, will be a those at other Queensland off-shore competent tradesman. The matter of islands? preparation and alteration of syllabi is Answer:- dealt with by co-operation between my Department of Industrial Affairs and that "Due to the exrstmg demand for such of my colleague, the Honourable the Mini­ facilities and funds available for the pur­ ster for Education. The Group Apprentice­ pose, it has not been possible to programme ship Committee for the Building Industry the construction of a jetty at Great Keppel comprising representatives of unions of Island this financial year, but I will arrange employers and unions of employees and for the matter to be reviewed when the 1973-74 programme is under consideration." a chairman, collaborate with officers of the Department of Education with a view to attempting to ensure that the syllabi PROPOSED CANCELLATION OF RAIL-MOTOR are suitable and satisfactory." SERVICE, ROCKHAMPTON-THANGOOL (2) "The only other apprentices in the Mr. Ahem for Mr. Hartwig, pursuant to building trade for whom these subjects notice, asked The Minister for Transport,- are prescribed are those indentured as Will he withhold the proposed cancella­ apprentice joiners. However, because of tion of the rail-motor service between the small number of apprentices indentured Rockhampton and Thangool until such as joinery machinists in the building indus­ time as the residents of Biloela and Than­ try outside Brisbane (two in the first year, gaol can be assured of a reasonable one in second, four in third and six in delivery of goods despatched? the fourth year) no prescribed course of instruction has been provided for these Answer:- apprentices. To provide them with some "The average number of passengers using appropriate technical training therefore, it this rail motor service weekly is 12, or has been arranged that they undertake the an average of six per return trip. The same technical training as apprentice revenue per week from passengers has carpenters and joiners." averaged $31 or $15.50 per return trip. The weekly average revenue from road­ side parcels is $169 or $84.50 per return TAXI-CAB FARES AND LICENCE VALUES, trip. The cost of operation per week is BRISBANE $345, representing an excess of expenditure over revenue of $145 per week, repre­ Mr. Newton, pursuant to notice, asked The senting a yearly loss of $7,540. There Minister for Transport,- are alternative services for the conveyance With regard to metered taxi-cabs in the of roadside parcels by a train service which metropolitan area, what was (a) the departs Rockhampton at 6.30 p.m. on Mon­ gazetted fare at the time of the ballot held days, Tuesdays and Thursdays and at 5 p.m. in 1964, (b) the price of a licence offered on Fridays. If the Honourable Member will for sale in the 1964 ballot, (c) the gazetted favour me with details of any delay on fare at September 1, 1972 and (d) the goods, the matter will be investigated and, value of the transfer of a licence at if necessary, remedial action will be taken." September 1, 1972? 586 Questions Upon Notice (19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

Answer:- Answer:- "( a) The ballot following advertisement "lt is not proposed to institute a public of 50 metropolitan taxi meter cab licenses enquiry. The position with respect to a was held on December 2, 1964, when the proposal to establish a wood-chip industry basic maximum fares were-Flagfall in the Cairns area was outlined by me in including the fare for the first one-fifth Answer to a Question by the Honourable of a mile-two shillings; and for every Member for South Brisbane on September additional one-fifth of a mile-three pence, 12, 1972. In examining the proposal, any as published in the Government Gazette of representations made by interested persons October 18, 1964. (b) £3,250. (c) On or organisations, particularly from the area September 1, 1972, the basic maximum in question, will be fully considered." fares were-Flagfall including the fare for the first one-sixth of a mile-twenty-five cents; and for every additional one-sixth DANGER OF PARASITES IN CATS TO of a mile-three cents as published in the UNBORN CHILDREN Government Gazette of January 23, 1971. Mr. Hughes, pursuant to notice, asked The (d) No metropolitan taxi meter cab license Minister for Health,- was transferred on September 1, 1972, (1) Is he or his Department aware of but the value of a license which was a statement made by a biologist, Professor approved for transfer on August 31, 1972, W. M. Hutchison, Strathclyde University, was stated as $17,000 including a goodwill when addressing the Annual Congress of value of $16,800." the British Veterinary Association, that cats could carry parasites which in some SALE OF PINEAPPLE HOTEL, KANGAROO cases could cause pregnant women to lose POINT their babies or damage unborn children? Mr. Ahern for Mr. Lane, pursuant to (2) Will he have his Department investi­ notice, asked The Minister for Justice,- gate these claims forthwith and make public the findings as expeditiously as ( 1) Has his attention been drawn to possible? reports in the Telegraph of December 7, 1971, and The Courier-Mail of December Answers:­ 12, 1971 and January 8, 1972, which indi­ cated that the Pineapple Hotel, Kangaroo (!) "Yes." Point, was sold for $410,000 on December (2) "The medical facts concerning this 7, 1971, by public auction conducted by condition are well known. The Queens­ A. V. Postle and Co., to a Brisbane solicitor land Health Education Council, in its whose name was not disclosed? publication, Pets and Children makes refer­ (2) In accordance with the provisions ence to this problem." of the Liquor Act, was the Licensing Com­ mission notified of the new ownership of SAFETY HELMETS FOR PEDAL-CYCLISTS the hotel following the reported sale? If so, what was the name of the purchaser? Mr. Aikens, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Transport,- (3) If the Commission was not so noti­ fied, who was the highest bidder at the Have representations been made by road auction and has the sale since fallen safety organisations, as reported in the news through? media, for the introduction of legislation to compel pedal-cyclists to wear safety Answers:- helmets of the type worn by motor-cyclists (!) "Yes." and, if so, will the viewpoint of the many pedal-cycling clubs and similar organisa­ (2 and 3) "No. The Licensing Com­ tions be sought before a decision is made? mission was not notified of the name of the new owner. As information received Answer:- by the Licensing Commission was to the "No. On June 23, 1972, I advised the effect that the sale had fallen through, Australian Cycling Council following a no application was required to be lodged similar inquiry that there was no present for change of ownership and the name intention to implement such legislation in of the highest bidder at the auction is not this State." known."

STUDENT QUOTAS FOR MEDICAL COURSE, WooD-CHIP INDUSTRY, CAIRNS AREA QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY Mr. B. Wood, pursuant to notice, asked Mr. Aikens, pursuant to notice, asked The The Minister for Lands,- Minister for Education,- In view of great concern in North ( 1) How many successful first-year Queensland about proposals for the estab· medical students were refused permission lishment of a wood-chip industry near to proceed to their degree because of the Cairns, will he institute a public inquiry alleged shortage of funds and facilities at so that all views may be considered? the Queensland University last year? Questions Upon Notice [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 587

(2) Were these frustrated students told (2) How many applications have been that they could use their first-year useful received since the Board commenced func­ medical-course pass to pursue courses in tioning and how many applicants have any useless humanities course of their received assistance to date? choice and, if so, why are abundant money and facilities available for useless, snob (3) Of the applications which have been courses and not for the useful medical refused and classed as non-viable, how course? many of the applicants reapplied for further consideration and of these how many have (3) How many students gained a subsequently received assistance? medical degree last year and how many could have been placed in Queensland ( 4) How many applicants who have been hospitals if they had graduated? refused once or twice have subsequently proved, by securing private finance and rehabilitating themselves, that the Board Answers:- was wrong? (! and 2) "The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland informs me that (5) What new criteria will be adopted the University of Queensland for many in an attempt to preclude such mistakes in years past has been unique among uni­ future, especially when the new Common· versities of the English speaking world wealth finance is being allocated? in that no matriculated Queensland student (6) How many properties in Queensland has ever been refused admission to the are currently to be auctioned because help first year of the medical course and in has been refused by the Board, what are that all who have passed the first year the names of these properties and what is of the course without failure have been the estimated market value of each? allowed to enter the second year of the course. This has been possible only by Answers:- a policy of rigid control on the admission (1) "The board is functioning within of students from outside the State. For the provisions of the agreement and is some years, the university has reserved the adhering to the principles and criteria right to restrict the number passing from contained therein." first to second year to 160; two years ago the number was raised to 185. (2) "2,341 applications have been Although the number of students who received and 963 have been approved." passed the first year examination exceeded (3) "No separate statistics are main· these numbers on several occasions, none tained of those who seek reconsideration was refused permission to continue. This after being declined on the ground of situation cannot continue at the end of non-viability. The board has changed its 1972. There are some 320 students decision in favour of a number of appli­ enrolled in the first year of the medical cants after a new factor is introduced or course. The number expected to pass the an amended proposal is submitted which examination will be considerably above indicates that viability can be achieved." 185 and there will be a number who will not be able to proceed with the medical ( 4) "The board is not aware of any course. Students entering Medicine I applicants who have been declined on the for some years past have been aware of basis of non-viability and who afterwards the second year quota (185)." have obtained alternative finance. There are, however, a number who would have (3) "I have been advised by the Dep­ received such finance after the board artment of Health that 104 of these declined their applications on the basis graduates were employed in Queensland that need has not been demonstrated within hospitals as first year resident medical the provisions of the scheme." officers. An additional 52 first year resident (5) "I am not aware of any mistakes medical officers were also employed. These made by the board but I do know that graduated from universities in other States. if any have been made, they have always The 104 graduates from Queensland and operated in the applicant's favour." the 52 from other States filled all the vacancies fm first year resident medical (6) "This information is not available." officers in hospitals in Queensland." LIMITATION ON ENROLMENTS, NORVILLE STATE SCHOOL OPERATIONS OF RURAL RECONSTRUCTION Mr. .Tensen, pursuant to notice, asked The BoARD Minister for Education,- Dr. Crawford, pursuant to notice, asked Will he consider limiting the intake of The Minister for Lands,- pupils to the Norville State School by enrolling only those pupils from the ( 1) Is the Rural Reconstruction Board immediate vicinity in order to obviate the functioning to its greatest efficiency and necessity to erect further demountable is maximum assistance being given to the buildings for the school until a new block greatest number of those in need? can be constructed? 588 Questions Upon Notice [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

Answer:- (2) On what basis are the levies "Enquiries have revealed that zoning charged? would not have the desired effect of limit­ ing future enrolments at the Norville State Answer:- school. The younger children now attend­ (1 and 2) "The New South Wales ing the school and the children who will T.A.B. does not act as an agent for the enrol next year live mainly in the adjacent Queensland T.A.B. for mid-week meetings developing areas. It would not be in Queensland. In 1968, following a appropriate to divert older children now request by the Premier of New South attending the school as it is confidently Wales, I approved an arrangement under expected that permanent accommodation which the New South Wales T.A.B. trans­ of the same high standard will be ready mits investments from its North Coast for 1974." region branches to the Queensland T.A.B. on certain mid-week race meetings in Queensland. I take the view that the INDUSTRIAL STRIKES financial arrangements between the T.A.B. authorities of Queensland and New South Mr. Armstrong, pursuant to notice, asked Wales are matters of a confidential nature." The Minister for Development,- How many industrial strikes have there been in Queensland for each of the last three financial years and how many man­ HANCOCK AND GORE PROPERTY AND days were lost as a result of such disputes? WoRKS DEPARTMENT WoRKSHOPS, IPSWICH ROAD Answer:- Mr. Bromley, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Works,- "In the August, 1972 Monthly Summary of Queensland Statistics, issued by the ( 1) Has the Government or his Depart­ Commonwealth Bureau of Census and ment recently finalised, or is it in the Statistics the following information is process of finalising, negotiations on the given:- property in Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, which was once the site of Hancock and Financial year ending 1970-Disputes, Gore? 303; Man days lost, 128,100. Financial year ending 1971-Disputes, 428; Man ( 2) If so, will this property be used days lost, 180,700. Final figures for the for extensions and additions to the Princess financial year 1971-72 are not yet available Alexandra Hospital and for what purposes but preliminary figures (which are subject will the new buildings be used? to revision) extracted from the bureau's (3) Is the Works Department in Ipswich bulletin on Industrial Disputes disclose­ Road to be shifted to a new site and, if so, Financial year ending 1972-Disputes, 440; what will be its new location? Man days lost, 296,200. Calculations made in my Department disclose that, for the period January to May, 1972, disputes Answers:- under Federal awards were responsible for (1 and 2) "My Department has no the majority of stoppages during the period proposal before it for the acquisition of and caused the loss of more than twice the site mentioned, and the Honourable as many man days as disputes under State Member might direct item (2) of his awards. This is despite the fact that in Question to the Honourable the Minister Queensland more employees are covered for Health." by State awards than by Federal awards. It must be borne in mind, however, that (3) "There is no proposal at this point all industrial disputes in major industries in time to relocate the Department's or essential services affect adversely Ipswich Road workshops." employment in other industries which are dependent upon the operation of the major industry or essential service concerned ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, CmLDREN'S which is directly involved in the industrial dispute. These indirect effects are not DENTAL HOSPITAL recorded." Mr. Bromley, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Health,- ( 1) What is the waiting list at the AGENCY LEVIES PAID TO NEW SOUTH Children's Dental Hospital for orthodontic WALES T.A.B. treatment? Mr. Davis, pursuant to notice, asked The­ (2) How many orthodontic appliances Treasurer,- are supplied per year at this hospital and (1) What charges are levied by the New what age groups are catered for? South Wales T.A.B. when it acts as an (3) How many (a) dentists and (b) agent for the Queensland T.A.B. for mid­ dental technicians are employed in the week meetings in Queensland? making of these appliances? Questions Upon Notice [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 589

Answers:- Gulf of Carpentaria, has any thought been (1) "For non-urgent cases, the majority given to establishing a hatchery for these of which are for cosmetic reasons, the fish in Queensland with the object of waiting time is approximately two years. restocking the rivers and the adjacent Urgent cases receive immediate attention." Barrier Reef waters? If not, will enquiries be made with the object of establishing (2) "In 1971-72, 734 orthodontic such a hatchery in order to preserve this appliances were provided. The age of fine fish which has the unique ability to patients treated ranges from one week to live in either fresh or salt water? 18 years." Answer:- ( 3) "During 1971-72 three dentists and four dental technicians were employed in "It must be doubted that the breeding the orthodontic department at the of barramundi in hatcheries would make Children's Dental Hospital." any significant contribution to population levels of this fish in coastal waters as it has a high spawning potential and DENTURES FOR CHILDREN spawns naturally in such areas. Some thought has been given to the movement Mr. Bromley, pursuant to notice, asked The of fingerlings into the upper river systems Minister for Health,- but the demand for this has not been Are children as young as 12 years of pressing. The Department has now age or thereabouts attending various dental appointed an experienced fisheries biologist, hospitals in Queensland to be fitted with one of whose main tasks will be to look full or partial dentures? If so, what is at this question." the average number fitted per year and what are the main reasons for the need of this treatment, apart from extractions? SERVICING OF RAILWAY WAGONS, GREENVALE NICKEL PROJECT Answer:- Mr. Tucker, pursuant to notice, asked The "! am informed that children as young Minister for Transport,- as 12 years attend dental hospitals and dental clinics in Queensland for the extrac­ In regard to the Railway Department's tion of permanent teeth or have had such role in the development of the Greenvale teeth extracted before attendance. A small nickel project, are the railway wagons proportion of those children require the being used to transport the ore to the provision of dentures. No separate statistics treatment plant at Yabulu to be serviced covering dentures provided for patients in and repaired in the railway workshops at this age group are maintained. Information Townsville or will this work be let out available indicates that the number of full on private contract? dentures provided is infinitesimal and while the number of partial dentures is greater, Answer:- it is still extremely small. As the practice "The wagons will be serviced at Yabulu throughout the State's Dental Services of and repairs performed in the Townsville Queensland is to conserve teeth and not railway workshops." to destroy them, loss of teeth, other than in association with trauma (due to accidents, sporting injuries, etc.), would NEW DIESEL SHED, TOWNSVILLE mainly be due to advanced dental disease, RAILWAY WoRKSHOPS the causes of which are multifactorial. Parent and patient apathy contribute sub­ Mr. Tucker, pursuant to notice, asked The stantially to this problem. The Queensland Minister for Transport,- Dental Health Education Council Com­ ( 1 ) When will the new diesel shed in mittee is well aware of the value of sound the north yard at the Townsville Railway dental health and is actively promoting Workshops be completed? dental health education. The Director of Dental Services, who has recently visited (2) Approximately how many diesel various overseas countries, advised me on locomotives will be serviced by this his return that he found that this State's installation? dental services are amongst the best in the world." (3) Has provision been made for the placing and storing of such locomotives whilst they are awaiting maintenance or minor repairs and, if so, what are the ESTABLISHMENT OF BARRAMUNDI details? HATCHERY Mr. Tucker, pursuant to notice, asked The Answer:- Minister for Primary Industries,- ( 1 to 3) "It is anticipated the extension ln view of the dwindling numbers of to the Townsville diesel shed will be barramundi to be found in northern rivers completed by mid-November, 1972. which flow into the Pacific Ocean and the Adequate provision has been made for the 590 Questions Upon Notice (19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

placing and storage of the 30 diesel electric suitable tobacco soils. (c) The only locomotives which will be required to be farms with inadequate areas of suitable serviced by the installation." tobacco soils are those held by individuals prior to development of the scheme, most of which have changed hands since its RAIL-MOTOR SERVICE, CAIRNS-CHILLAGOE implementation. (d) In opening new Mr. Wallis-Smith, pursuant to notice, asked farms in 1970 existing landholders whose holdings were considered unsuitable to pro­ The Minister for Transport,- vide more than 50 per cent. of a living As no Main Roads Department work is area were eligible to apply for the new planned for the Dimbulah-Chillagoe sec­ farms." tion of the Dimbulah-Normanton develop­ mental road for the present financial year and as there has been a big increase in the number of people viewing the Chillagoe COMPLAINT BY DARLING DOWNS HOUSE­ Caves, will he consider introducing a rail­ WIVES' ASSOCIATION AGAINST FIRM, motor service which would allow people to AMERICAN F ABLON DIAMOND RINGS travel in comfort, such service to run to a IMPORT suitable time-table to permit the viewing of Mr. Bousen, pursuant to notice, asked The the caves and other places of interest? Minister for Justice,- (1 ) Has he seen a letter from the Answer:- Darling Downs Housewives and Home­ "I would refer the Honourable Member makers' Association, Toowoomba, concern­ to the Reply furnished to him on a some­ ing a complaint from a person in Too­ what similar Question on October 6, 1971." woomba who sent $5 to a firm trading under the name of "American Fabian Diamond Rings Import", Box 613, G.P.O., TOBACCO BLOCKS, MAREEBA-DIMBULAH South Brisbane? IRRIGATION AREA (2) Will he investigate the bona-fides of Mr. WaUis-Smith, pursuant to notice, asked this firm with a view to having the ring The Minister for Conservation,- supplied or the $5 refunded and will he ( 1) How many tobacco-farm blocks are issue a public warning against the practice available within the Mareeba-Dimbulah of forwarding money to post-office box irrigation area? numbers in response to advertisements of this nature? (2) What is the total area of these blocks? Answers:- (3) How many blocks were opened in ( 1) "I received the letter referred to 1969, 1970 and 1971? last Thursday-September 14, 1972." ( 4) When is it expected that new (2) "The business name, American blocks will be made available? Fablon Diamond Rings Import, was (5) Has consideration been given to registered at the office of the Commissioner utilising these blocks to accommodate for Corporate Affairs on September 18, farmers who are on farms with soils unsuit­ 1972. The person carrying on business able for tobacco? under this business name is Malcolm McGregor-Lowndes and business is carried on at 991 Logan Road, Holland Park. The Answers:- business carried on is the sale of imitation ( 1) "Twenty-eight." diamond rings and dress rings by mail. Wben interviewed, Mr. McGregor-Lowndes (2) "Gross area, 4,405 acres; Area stated that he had been unable to trace suitable for tobacco, 2,580 acres." receipt of the order but had telegrammed (3) "Tobacco farms opened-1969, nil; the person concerned in Toowoomba, 1970, six; and 1971, nil." accepting responsibility for the loss of her order and requesting her to supply ( 4) "No indication can be given of particulars regarding the order. He also when new tobacco farms can be opened asked for instructions as to whether she as this will depend on availability of quotas still required the article or desired the which cannot be predicted." return of her money. I do urge members of the public to be extremely cautious (5) "Yes, but it is considered that new before sending money through the post farms should be reserved for allotment by to anonymous persons at box numbers in public competition when quotas become response to newspaper or other advertise­ available because-(a) There are many ments. I have received numerous com­ experienced share farmers in the area who plaints of this nature where members of should be given the opportunity to acquire rhe public have acted without any inquiry their own farms when possible. (b) No as to the persons or firms they are dealing farms opened for settlement by the Irriga­ with or their business reputation. In most tion Commission have· inadequate areas of cases the inevitable result is that they Questions Upon Notice [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Questions Without Notice 591

either lose their money or receive a product Answer:- which was far inferior to that which they ( 1 and 2) "The question of incentives thought they would receive." was discussed at the Tourist Ministers' Council meeting held at Kalgoorlie, and as a result, the chairman of the council for­ INCENTIVES FOR TOURIST INDUSTRY warded to the Right Honourable the Prime Minister on July 11, 1972, strong repre­ (a) Mr. R. Jones, pursuant to notice, asked sentations towards the introduction of The Minister for Tourism,- incentives for the development of the tourist ( 1) With reference to his Answer to my industry." Question on September 21, 1971 and the need to provide incentives and taxation QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE concessions for the tourist industry to TRADING HOURS, ART EXHIBITIONS enable it to compete with the adjacent countries of New Zealand, Fiji, Noumea Mr. BROMLEY: I ask the Minister for and Singapore, has the prospective building Education: As he is officially opening the of major international hotels and the fore­ third annual exhibition conducted by the shadowed large-scale construction of motel Crafts Association of Australia, Queensland rooms in Queensland over the last few Branch, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 20 Septem­ years reach a stalemate? ber, and as nearly all the works in the exhibition will be on sale, is he in fact (2) Is he aware that more than half of supporting the representations made to him them, including projects for Cairns, are and other Ministers for exemption from that now classified as having been cancelled, section of the Factories and Shops Act which deferred or likely not to be proceeded with relates to restricted trading hours as affecting because of the lack of encouragement private art galleries generally? under existing circumstances? Sir ALAN FLETCHER: Yes. (3) If so, is the future accommodation situation for tourist industry expansion in PREVENTION OF ACTS OF TERRORISM Queensland thereby threatened? Mr. AHERN: I ask the Premier: In view ( 4) What is his Government's intention of the recent bomb outrages in Sydney, what in relation to the urgent need within this action is this Government taking to prevent State for such incentives and concessions the spread of similar acts of terrorism to in order to stimulate tourist travel? Queensland? Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: The Govern­ Answers:- ment had made its attitude to political vio­ ( 1 ) "When this Government took office lence and extremism of any kind crystal in 1957 there were 16 motels only in this clear. As was shown by the swift action that State. The present number is 638. Motel was taken following the bombing of the Com­ development still occurs and no informa­ munist headquarters in Brisbane, we will not tion has come to me to indicate that a tolerate it. Those who may wish to resort stalemate has been reached." to terrorism in this State now know that they will not get away with it unpunished. (2 and 3) "Motel development still I fully agree with the Premier of Victoria occurs throughout Queensland, including that any migrant who takes part in terrorist Cairns and I have no evidence of can­ activities should be deported after serving cellation or deferment of building." his sentence. ( 4) "Following the meeting of the The shocking aspect of the upsurge in Tourist Ministers' Council of which I am these terrorist activities is that it is a direct a member, strong representations were result of the Labor Party's campaign to made to the Right Honourable the Prime spread the idea that if anyone does not like Minister for the introduction of incentives a law he can break it and go unpunished, for tourist development." and that demonstrations and political violence are nothing to take exception to. It is quite clear that these people have created this (b) Mr. R. Jones, pursuant to notice, asked atmosphere in Australia. The Minister for Tourism,- Mr. Houston: Rot! (!) Were the proposals to provide incen­ tives for the tourist industry and the need Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: There is no for taxation concessions discussed at the question, argument or doubt about it. Conference of the Tourist Ministers' Throughout Australia the Labor Party and Council held at Kalgoorlie, Western its organisation have created this attitude in Australia, on July 10 and 11 and, if so, the community. As a consequence, some what recommendations were made? people now feel that they can defy the law. We of the Government condemn extremism (2) In regard to incentives, what further of any kind and warn that we will take strong requests were made or decisions arrived at for legislative or administrative action by action to counteract it. the Commonwealth or States? Mr. Houston: You wouldn't know. 592 Questions Without Notice [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Notice of Question

Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I warn the Mr. HODGES: As Brigadier McK:inna has Leader of the Opposition under Standing been appointed on this occasion, a fortnight Order 123A. will be ample time for him to carry out the inspection required. Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: I invite the Leader of the Opposition to join me in con­ demning political extremism. CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUREAU ACTIVITIES; PRESS STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR K. W. RYAN WORKING TIME LOST BY EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Mr. WRIGHT: I ask the Minister for IN SPORTING ACTIVITIES Justice: With reference to the article on Mr. SHERRINGTON: I ask the Minister page 2 of "The Courier-Mail" of 14 Sep­ for Industrial Development: Relative to tember 1972, in which the deputy chairman the answer given to the honourable member of the Consumer Affairs Council, Professor for Mulgrave concerning the number of man­ K. W. Ryan, made public certain details and hours lost to industry because of industrial statistics concerning the activities of the stoppages during the past three years, what is Consumer Affairs Bureau over the past 19 the estimated number of man-hours lost to months, and as the Minister has refused to industry during the same period by executives, reveal similar information to honourable managers, assistant managers, representatives members 'in this Chamber, using as his ~nd others holding executive positions in excuse the fact that the annual report for ~ndustry because of their operations on bowl­ the year ended 30 June 1972 will soon be mg greens, golf courses, mid-week race meet­ presented to Parliament, will he advise what ings, etc.? right Professor Ryan has to make such information public, if similar information Sir Gordon Chalk: There is no such cannot be made available to parliamentary Minister. members. Mr. SPEAKER: Order! To whom is the Mr. KNOX: I have never said that the question directed? information would not be made available to Mr. SHERRINGTON: The Minister for parliamentary members. Indeed, it will be Development and Industrial Affairs. made available in the proper form. Mr. CAMPBELL: As the honourable Mr. Wright: You have refused to answer member for Salisbury addressed his question questions of this nature. incorrectly, I did not take note of it. Mr. KNOX: I have not refused to answer questions of this nature. The point is INSPECTION OF PoLICE FORCE BY that there is a proper form for this type BRIGADIER McKINNA of information, and it will be made avail­ Mr. NEWTON: I ask the Minister for able in the correct form for members to Works and Housing: In view of his state­ examine. ment in "The Courier-Mail" of 15 September 1972 concerning the return to Queensland of ALLEGED USTASHI TRAINING CAMP, MACKAY Brigadier McKinna, who is to check to see DISTRICT how hi~ ideas worked in practice (they were the basis of the reorganisation of the Police Mr. CASEY: I ask the Minister for Works Force in Queensland) for the years 1971 and and Housing: Is he aware that it has been 1972, what staff and equipment will be made consistently reported in the southern Press available to Brigadier McKinna to carry out that a Ustashi terrorist-training camp exists this check, will the check over aU the in the vicinity of Mackay? As there is no recommendations made by Brigadier local knowledge of such an establishment, McK!nna; and will a report on Brigadier and in fact not even a Yugoslavian com­ McKmna s check be made available to munity in the area, and in view of recent members of this Parliament? happenings in other parts of Australia sup­ posedly connected with such an organisation, ~r. HOJ?GES.: The appointment of Brig­ will he have the Police Department under­ adier McKmna m a consultative capacity is take a full inquiry into these allegations? a matter for the administration of the Queensland Police Force. Answering the Mr. HODGES: I am not aware of the ~ono~rable member's first question, no staff claim as made by the honourable member rs bemg made available. It is the prerogative for Mackay. If he has any information ~f the Co~missioner to engage whoever he in this regard, I should be pleased to receive likes to advrse him. 'it and to have an investigation carried out.

Mr: NEWTON: ~ ?irect a supplementary questiOn to the Mrmster. In view of the NOTICE OF QUESTION many problems confronting the Police Force Mr. TUCKER (Townsville West) having ~n this State at the present juncture, involv­ mg a _nul!lber of matters concerning the given notice of a question relating to the Greenvale nickel project- reorg.ams~tiOn of the force on Brigadier McKmna s recommendations, does he feel Sir Gordoo Chalk: You're a real that two weeks is ample time to carry out "knocker". You're a "knocker" of Green­ the check that is warranted? vale, and you have been all along. Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972) Address in Reply 593

Mr. TUCKER: On a point of order, Mr. Mr. LEE: The Lord Mayor-old Clem. Speaker, I take exception to the Treasurer's He was done like a dinner. remark, and I ask that it be withdrawn. I felt quite sorry for him when I learned Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The honourable that he was offering young people in the member for Townsville West has asked for electorate $15 to service {he A.L.P. booths a withdrawal. in Yeronga on election day. That is how popular he was! He went around all the Sir Gordon Chalk: I withdraw my sug­ banks in the electorate and offered young gestion that he is not a "knocker". people $15 to service the A.L.P. booths in the Yeronga electorate. On the other hand, Mr. TUCKER: I ask for a complete I was embarrassed by the number of people withdrawal. who offered to help me. That was their great A.L.P. vote catcher! That is the way Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer has he had to go about it. withdrawn. Mr. Aikens: He would have taken .the At 12 noon, "knock" on them if they had accepted. He In accordance with the provisions of Stand­ would not have paid. ing Order No. 17, the House proceeded with Government business. Mr. LEE: Very true. An absurd figure has been mentioned in the House for my expenditure in the Y eronga ADDRESS IN REPLY election. Let me say that I did Httle in 1972 that I did not do in 1969. RESUMPTION OF DEBATE--SIXTH ALLOTTED DAY Mr. Sherrington: You do little in any year. Debate resumed from 14 September (see p. 583) on Dr. Scott-Young's motion for the Mr. LEE: I did enough to .toss the hon­ adoption of the Address in Reply. ourable member's mate. I had signs erected and pamphlets pub­ Mr. LEE (Yeronga) (12 noon): Let me lished, and, in the closing period of the begin my contribution to the debate by campaign, I authorised scattered radio congratulating the honourable member for advertisements. All .this was done on the Townsville on his speech in moving the advice of my campaign committee-the motion for the adoption of the Address in same committee, under the same chairman, Reply and the honourable member for Surfers which has operated ever since I have been Paradise on his contribution in seconding it. the member for Y eronga. In speak·ing to the motion, I pledge my Mr. Sherrington: For about five years. loyalty and that of my constituents in Yeronga to Her Most Gracious Majesty, Mr. LEE: I have had the same chairman Queen Elizabeth II. I offer my sincere for four elections. I say quite definitely congratulations to His Excellency the Gov­ that without the loyal support of those people ernor, Sir Colin Hannah, on his appointment I could not have won the seat. I should as Governor of Queensland, and also to his like to make special mention of my secretary, wife, Lady Hannah. who assumed an enormous work-load. She I place on record my thanks to the people demonstrated a fantastic capacity for work. of Yeronga and other areas of Brisbane for the support that they gave me in so many Mr. Sherrington: For about a fortnight. ways during the recent election campaign in Y eronga. Virtually every electorate or Mr. LEE: That was more than the honour­ suburb of Brisbane was represented at the able member could command. He could Liberal Party booths in Y eronga on polling not get anyone to work for him. day. Literally hundreds of people phoned I should like to personally thank Mr. my campaign office for weeks before the Charlie Wombold, who is about 70 years of election to find out how they could assist age. He worked day and night for me. me. On election day it was embarrassing to I also ·thank Mr. Ron Blines, Mr. David me to try to find something for these people Catsoulis and Mr. Jack Bermingham, as to do. I believe that one of the reasons well as field officer, Norm Wright. Without for their offer of assistance was their hatred their assistance I certainly could not have for the Q.C.E. and rhe A.L.P. and thei·r won the election. I will be forever indebted Trades Hall policies. to them. It was probably because of their I wish to place on record in this House hatred of the A.L.P. and the Trades Hall, my appreciation to all who actually assisted and what they represent, that they worked so me, to all those who offered to assist me, hard. They realised that this great State and, of course, •to those who re-elected me. of ours needs something better than the May I say that it was a very wise decision. socialistic principles espoused by •the A.L.P. I felt quite sorry for my opponent. Mr. Hougbton: Employees of the Brisbane City Council would be sacked if the Lord Mr. Aikens: Who was he? Mayor found out that they worked for you. 594 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972) Address in Reply

Mr. LEE: Of course. I will explain later not let us have any rubbish from the hon­ how they are sacked. The Lord Mayor spent ourable member for Salisbury or the Opposi­ vastly more of ,the Brisbane taxpayers' tion about my election expenses in Y eronga. money on his campaign to win Y eronga than I was also upset when it was said-I think we spent altogether. From the time he was by the honourable member for Salisbury­ endorsed he had at least five minutes every that I wanted to get rid of Rocklea out of week on television, using Brisbane City Yeronga. I have always looked after the Council television time. He spent probably people of Rocklea. about $1,000 a week to promote himself, the Labor Party and the ambitions of the Mr. SHERRINGTON: I rise to a point Trades Hall. He had his big signs and his of order. I am afraid the honourable mem­ little signs; he wrote pamphlets and letters; ber will even be calling you a "Left-winger", he imported shadow Ministers and ex-Lord Mr. Deputy Speaker, judging by the way he Mayors from the South to help him. The is talking. I did not say that the honourable greatest shadow of all, however, was the member for Yeronga tried to get rid of shadow of the Trades Hall. Never mind Rocklea; I said he did get rid of it. about shadow Ministers from the South; the people of Queensland and Y eronga realised Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I that the greatest shadow was that of the think it is a very minor point. The hon­ Trades Hall. ourable member for Yeronga will proceed with his speech. Mr. Campbell: Did he have permits from the Brisbane City Council? Mr. LEE: The honourable member for Salisbury upset me. I am always upset when Mr. LEE: This no-one would ever know, things are said that I know are absolutely but I can assure the honourable member for incorrect. I have looked after the people of Aspley that he had many permits to speak. Rocklea during all the years I have been in On occasions when I turned up to speak at this House, and they have supported me in a certain place he would be there. I used growing numbers at each election. to say, "I am sorry, Mr. Jones, but I have a Mr. Sherrington: How many? permit to speak at this time". He would run away like a naughty boy because he realised Mr. LEE: In every election I have gained that he could not do the wrong thing. additional support, and my percentage of the vote increased from 23 to 43. Opposition Members interjected. Mr. K. J. Hooper: They gave me an Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. W. D. absolute majority. Hewitt): Order! The Chamber will come to order and the honourable member will Mr. LEE: I could not believe that in address the Chair. 1972 they would give Clem Jones greater support than they would give me. I can Mr. LEE: I reiterate that the Lord Mayor claim without undue modesty that the was on television at all times of the day and Rocklea overpass was built as a result of my night-sometimes free, but mostly, as I say, constant representations, and the people of at a cost of about $100 a minute. He used the area would well know that. I was sorry the council's open line radio programme to to lose the area, and it was my belief that further his interests and he had a faraway representations had been made by the A.L.P. look in his team picture covering a half-page to have it transferred to Salisbury. of a Southside suburban paper each week. Mr. Sherrington: No. And in the final few days of the campaign he boosted his hopes with the expenditure of Mr. LEE: Since the honourable member another $2,000 of foreign capital of a man for Salisbury has already denied this, I accept we all know as "Mr. Crabbe". How he his denial, but it is interesting to note that wished later that he had crabbed out of it! the honourable member for Archerfield did Mr. Low: He was a mud crab. not poll too well in Rocklea. Mr. K. J. Hooper: I got an absolute Mr. LEE: He was a mud crab all right; there is no doubt about that. majority. The Lord Mayor's over-all campaign Mr. LEE: Over all, yes. would have been the most extensive and the In April, May and June Brisbane lan­ most expensive ever conducted by any guished in suburban squalor. Because Clem candidate in any election in this State or, Jones had a team of his "very, very busy" for that matter, any part of Australia, yet aldermen contesting the State election, there he was done like a Christmas dinner. There were areas of long grass, worse roads than has been talk of a figure in the vicinity of usual and poor services in every electorate, $50,000, but this would represent the mini­ except those where the "civic quins" were mum limit of the Lord Mayor's expenditure trying to get themselves a second job. and a fraction of what the A.L.P. spent overall trying to win Y eronga. And, I Mr. Sherrington: Did you want the alder­ repeat, they were done like a dinner, so do men out mowing the grass? Address in Reply (19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 595

Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. W. D. New problems will face Australia on a Hewitt): Order! The honourable member national basis if the Hawke-Whitlam gang for Salisbury will cease persistent inter­ gets control of Canberra later this year. God jections. forbid! One thing the people of Queensland can be certain of is that any Federal A.L.P. Mr. LEE: At one time the Lord Mayor Government will eliminate the free-hospital had a shuttle service of 30 trucks working system of this State. That has been said and shifting soil to drain flooded sections by Mr. Hayden on many occasions. The of Y eronga, and he had three grass-slashers A.L.P. health scheme provides that every­ brought from outside the electorate to one will pay, and this means that all the "pretty-up" the footpaths. people in the State who use the free-hospital system will be paying for something they Incidentally, a monument to the operations now receive for nothing. In other words, caried out during the election campaign by at present they are being given something the Vice Mayor, Alderman Walsh-who is at no cost, whereas a Labor GovernmeDt well known to my colleague the honourable will ask them to pay for it. As the A.L.P. member for Windsor-is the new solid bitu­ will centralise health control in Canberra, men road through the Newmarket railway all the women and girls who work in the gates. For years that road has been a medical health offices in Queensland will be disgrace to the city. out of work. That is true. Mr. R. E. Moore: I had already made Mr. Sherrington: It is not. representations about it. Mr. LEE: You are so far behind, you Mr. LEE: Quite true. During the election would not know. campaign the Lord Mayor told us what a "snap" it would be for him to carry out Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. W. D. his duties of Lord Mayor and also represent Hewitt): Order! The honourable member for the people of Yeronga. How fickle he is! Y eronga will direct his remarks to the Chair, He made no bones about his intention to and the honourable member for Salisbury hold down two jobs. In fact he was even will cease interjecting. optimistic enough to suggest that he could be the Lord Mayor and, as well, the Minister Mr. LEE: A Federal A.L.P. Government for Local Government-and, at the same would take away the powers of the States time, represent the people of Y eronga. The and vest control, wherever possible, in Can­ stresses of the election must have told on berra. him, because nowadays he is quoted in the Brisbane Press as saying that it would not Mr. Kaus: Whitlam said that the other be possible for him to represent a ward of day. the city council and at the same time be Lord Mayor. He says that too much would Mr. LEE: That is true. be involved; that the lord mayoralty is a There will be restriction on State aid for full-time job. All I can say is that he independent schools. There will be a com­ speaks with forked tongue. plete broadening of official attitudes to the The election result will enable Queensland permissive society as the radical elements of to continue progressive development under the A.L.P. take over. This is very possible. the policies of this Government. Unem­ ployment figures issued each month in Can~ Mr. Sherrington interjected. berra-particularly those released today­ show what can be achieved with progressi..-e Mr. LEE: Like your mates Tom and policies. Not only are our unemployment "Gerry", figures very low, and the lowest of those of Many things must be weighed by the the mainland States, but also our wage and voters at the next Federal election before salary-earners in jobs are increasing by they consider mov•ing from the secure foot­ approximately 20,000 each year. That is hold they now enjoy to a probable world what I call progress, and it is typical of the of legalised marijuana, abortion on demand, State's progress under this Government for and the opening of the immigration flo?d­ the past 15 years. gates-all disguised by A.L.P. Federal election policy. A few years ago Western Australia was acclaimed as the nation's glamour State. Mr. Houghton: What about homosexuality? What a shocking mess a couple of years of Labor Government made there. That State Mr. LEE: That is another one. has the highest unemployment figure of all Everyone can be sure that ·beneath the the States, a record level of almost 3 per beautiful exterior of A.L.P. Federal election cent, and it is getting near the figure that policies and promises now being revealed the used to prevail in this State under a Labor heart of the old A.L.P. plum cake will still Government. The tragedy of Western Aust­ beat. ralia would certainly have been repeated in Queensland if the A.L.P.-Trades Hall com­ Mr. Sherrington: Are you going to support bination had won the election. Jim Killen? 596 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

Mr. LEE: Mr. Deputy Speaker, if you that if you did so you would get the light." would only stop the magpie over there, I She rang at 4 o'clock one day and explained would get on a lot quicker. the posit,ion. By 8 o'clock next morning Mr. R. E. Moore: He sounds more like a gang of men was there putting in not an a currawong to me. ordinary light, but a four-foot fluorescent light. That is the type of underhand happen­ Mr. LEE: J think they call him a butcher ing that took place in the Y eronga electorate. bird. School committees had been trying for years to get repairs done to bitumen foot­ Mr. SHERRINGTON: Mr. Deputy paths outside school-grounds. Even Alder­ Speaker-- man Roy Dent, in his day, said that they Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. W. D. would have a better chance of getting these Hewitt): Order! Is the honourable member things done through me, because he knew he taking a point of order? was off side with Clem Jones. I said, "You could not be much further off side than Mr. SHERRINGTON: Yes. Is the honour­ I am." As soon as the Lord Mayor able member in order in referring to the nominated for the Y eronga seat, I said to honourable member for Merthyr as a magpie? all my parents and citizens' associations, "This is your chance". I can assure the House that Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: If the honour­ all schools in that area now have new bitu­ able member for Merthyr is offended, he will men footpaths, something which they had take his own point of order. been trying to get for eight or nine years. Mr. LEE: I make it very clear that the And this work was done for political honourable member for Salisbury has been purposes. quick to criticise me for my actions during Mr. K. J. Hooper: You represent the area. the last State election campaign. Mr. LEE: In that connection it is the Mr. Sherrington: I did not say that at all. alderman's job 'to represent the area. Mr. LEE: The honourable member did. In State matters I have obtained good education facilities and everything else that Mr. Sherrington: I just asked you were has been asked for, which is more than the you going to support Jim KJllen. people of Y eronga will get now in council Mr. LEE: Of course, that was to be facilities. This money should have been expected, as he and many other Labor spent in the electorate during the 8t years men during the last election campaign spent that I have represented it, not in three months most of their time in my electorate-at for political purposes. These facilities were great risk to themselves because they could needed badly, but the money was not spent. very easily have been run down by the I hope that the Lord Mayor does not let many council machines brought in from this electorate fall into the state of neglect other electorates to cut grass, trim trees, and that existed prior to the election, but now fix lights and footpaths. Many thousands that he has been soundly defeated, I am sure of dollars of ratepayers' money was spent. that he will. On one occasion I noticed that the honour­ Let me now detail the snide, underhand able member for Salisbury was narrowly tactics that Lord Mayor Jones used. Two missed by a council truck. I said to the projects in my electorate which had not driver, "Do better next time." been attended to were subject to council consent. The Lord Mayor could not say Mr. Miller: Is any work being carried anything about education, as the Yeronga out in your electorate now? electorate has facilities equal to those any­ Mr. LEE: Nothing is happening there where else in Queensland, including the first now. multiple-area teaching centre and many other modern conveniences. He could not say Mr. Sherrington: It was not a council anything about the freeway or the Rocklea truck. It was one of Lee's trucks. fly-over, because over $4,000,000 had been spent on removing this traffic bottle-neck. He Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! For could not say that I have not given faithful the last time I ask the honourable member and good representation to the electorate. for Salisbury to cease his incessant inter­ jecting. He could not say that I had made political capital out of the resurfacing of the tram­ Mr. LEE: I should now like to tell lines, costing $100,000, because he had honourable members about a lady who rang agreed that that was a council responsibility me. She had been trying for about four and that the council had promised that all years to obtain a light at a very dangerous tramlines would be covered by the end of intersection. She said, "You know, Mr. Lee, 1969 or the beginning of 1970. I would not I have tried in Alderman Roy Dent's day, stand by and allow this road to be left in a and now in Alderman Coom's day to get dangerous condition simply because the Main the light." I said, "Madam, you would be Roads Department could not get Clem to pay very wise if you rang Alderman Jones's for the work. My motto was, "Get it done campaign room now, because I am sure to save lives and sort out the payment later," Address in Reply (19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 597 which was the attitude adopted by the "Your urgent investigation into this Minister for Mines and Main Roads to .this matter would be appreciated." project. As I said, that letter was written on 12 The Lord Mayor could not say anything August 1971. Yet on 27 May 1972 Clem about the Nyanda crossing, because I had, Jones said that he would co-operate with some months prior to the election, obtained an A.L.P. Government to provide these approval for the expenditure of $2,300,000 on facilities. I asked on 12 August 1971 for the overpass there, and work had already that to be done. started on it. Mr. Sherrington: Read the Minister's However, he did attack me on parking answer. facilities at the Y eronga Technical College and on the Fairfield Road-Yeerongpilly rail­ Mr. LEE: I shall. Just to keep the hon­ way crossing. I shall deal with each of his ourable member happy, I will dg most things. criticisms. This is what Alderman Clem On 12 November 1971 I wrote to the Jones had to say in a pamphlet circulated Minister for Education in these terms- by him- "1 refer to my previous representations "Parking facilities. An A.L.P. Govern­ on behalf of the Parochial Church Coun­ ment will co-operate immediately with the cil, Christ Church, Yeronga, concerning City Council in providing parking facilities parking facilities at the Yeronga Technical at the Y eronga Technical College. College and your reply of the 16th August, "These and all the important works 1971, informing me that enquiries were needed in the Yeronga electorate will be being made into the matter and you would completed by an A.L.P. Government." advise me further as soon as possible. As I said, there were only two projects not "As I have received no further informa­ attended to, and this was one of them. tion from you I would be grateful if you could let me know what progress has been On 12 August 1971, I wrote to the Minister made in this regard." for Education, and I shall read the letter to show that there are no "beg pardons" in it. On 16 November I received this reply from It reads- the Minister for Education- "Dear Mr. Fletcher, "! refer to your personal representations "I am in receipt of a letter from the on the question of inadequate parking Parochial Church Council of Christ facilities at the Yeronga Technical College. Church, Yeronga, requesting me to make "I wish to advise that under existing representations regarding the inadequate conditions, apprentices have no alterna­ parking faci!Lties at the Yeronga Technical tive but to park along the edge of the College and the resulting disabilities roadways in close proximity to the suffered by neighbouring property owners. college. "I cannot agree more with the statement "The number of buildings at present on that had this been a private college rather the small site of the Yeronga Technical than a Government institution the Brisbane College makes it impossible to allow City Council would have insisted on the student parking within the grounds. Also, provision of at least some off-street parking. even though the Yeronga Technical College "This is borne out by the lack of off­ is located such that it is well served by street parking at many Government owned public transport from most parts of Bris­ hospitals and it seems to me that there bane, it is obvious that quite a large is one law for private enterprise and one number of apprentices continue to use law of 'I don't care-we are the Govern­ their own transport either through necessity ment we do as we please regardless of or choice. the inconvenience it may place upon local "If my Department has to provide more residents'. I am in complete and utter ground for off-street parking, then the sympathy with the Church and other resi­ building program for Technical Colleges dents in this area who are denied the will be seriously impeded." privilege of parking between 9.00 a.m. On 24 November 1971 I wrote a further and 7.00 p.m. and also of conducting nor­ mal business between these hours. letter to the Minister. It reads- "Whilst I am not certain of the tenure "I acknowledge receipt of your letter of the park opposite the Technical College of the 16th instant regarding the inade­ in Villa Street, I am sure that by making quate parking facilities at the Yeronga an area of this park available for parking Technical College. much of this intolerable inconvenience "I am fully aware that under existing to residents would be relieved. I strongly conditions apprentices have no alternative urge that this action be taken and that but to park along the edge of roadways should any future Government buildings in close proximity to the College and I be erected causing conditions similar to also appreciate that the number of Tech­ those existing at Yeronga Technical Col­ nical College buildings makes it impossible lege, consideration should be given to to allow students to park within the including off-street parking. grounds. 598 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

"However, I believe that you have chosen Another matter that I wish to raise­ to ignore my request which was for unfortunately, I shall not have time to deal investigations to be made as to the pos­ with it fully in the five minutes remaining to sibility of a parking area being made avail­ me-is an overpass on Fairfield Road. The able from an unused part of the Y eronga Lord Mayor said that a Labor Government Park. A precedent has already been set would co-operate with the City Council in up in as much as the Yeronga Memorial financing the immediate building of an Swimming Pool has been allocated some overpass in Fairfield Road, Y eronga, to two acres or more for parking purposes. eliminate traffic hold-ups at the present rail­ If an area could be made available in the way crossing. I asked for such an overpass Yeronga Park opposite the Technical many years ago. The Government is quite College this would alleviate the ridiculous prepared to contribute its share of the money, position where parking is not allowed in but the Brisbane City Council is not. Cork and Dublin Streets between 9.00 Again one sees the same underhand, snide a.m. and 7.00 p.m. You can appreciate tactics in trying to fool the people. The that this restriction was placed there Lord Mayor has said, in effect, in two pam­ because of the congestion caused by the phlets, "I will co-operate if I am elected". cars owned by those attending the Tech­ nical College and this, of course is having Mr. Houston interjected. a serious effect on the proper functioning of the residents and in particular the Mr. LEE: You can fool the people some Church of Christ, Y eronga. of the time, but not all the time. "I have not forwarded your reply on to Mr. Houston: The next council election the Secretary of the Parochial Church will show you that. Council as I felt that it did not answer Mr. LEE: The honourable gentleman their queries. As it was on the 12th August must be joking. The Leader of the Opposi­ that I made representations on behalf of tion should say "Thank God" that Clem the Church I would be obliged if you Jones is not in this Chamber. Between that would give urgent attention to this matter." fellow up at the back, Tom of "Tom and The Lord Mayor gave the people a great Jerry", and the Lord Mayor, his throat would spiel about the way in which he would help have been cut long ago. them. Mr. TUCKER: I rise to a point of order. Mr. Sherrington: Read us the reply to This is about the third occasion on which the that letter. honourable member for Yeronga has referred to the honourable member for Lytton as Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. W. D. "Tom", and now he has referred to "Tom and Hewitt): Order! The honourable member Jerry". Honourable members have an obliga­ may make his own speech later, in his own tion to refer to other honourable members in way. a correct and proper fashion, and I ask that the honourable member for Yeronga do so. Mr. LEE: Clem Jones said that he would Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. W. D. improve parking facilities there if he was Hewitt): Order! Yes, the honourable mem­ elected. That was in spite of my request ber should refer to other honourable members for improved parking facilities as far back in proper terms. as August 1971. In fact, I have here a copy of a letter dated 1 December 1971 from the Mr. LEE: I have a cartoon here, Mr. Director-General of Education making basic­ Deputy Speaker, and I was reading the head­ ally the same request as I made. As at ing "Tom and Jerry". If the honourable 4 May this year the Lord Mayor had not member for Townsville West takes offence replied, yet he issued a pamphlet, which at my reading from a cartoon that says showed the people of Yeronga how ridicu­ "Tom and Jerry", I will certainly-- lous and untrue his statements are and how Mr. HOUSTON: I rise to a point of deceitful he is, saying that he would fix the order. I move- matters up. Although I had had all this "That the honourable member be previous correspondence on the matter, he ordered to lay upon the table of the tried to make political capital out of it. It House the document referred to." was entirely up to him to give his consent to the request for improved parking. Mr. LEE: I was reading from these car­ toons. Certainly I was referring to nobody Mr. Kaus interjected. in particular. Mr. LEE: As the honourable member for Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I will Mansfield said, it is typical of the Lord Mayor. put the question. It is now 19 September, but still no reply has Motion (Mr. Houston) negatived. been received. No doubt the Lord Mayor will make a big splash on the subject just before Mr. LEE: There are two .things that the the council elections are held and again try to Opposition does not like. One is truth and make political capital out of it. That is why the other is profit, which they regard as the I wish to bring the subject to the attention of dirtiest word in the dictionary. They cer­ the House today. tainly do not like those two words. Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972) Address in Reply 599

I have not time to deal with the Fairfield they been here they would have left with overpass. a very poor opinion of the honourable mem­ ber for Y eronga, and particularly of his Mr. TUCKER: I rise

Mr. O'DONNELL: Certainly I did not the new area, I had to look after the people win by many votes. in the areas that had been taken from Mr. Lee: I'll say you didn't. my former electorate. This proved to be rather difficult. I said good-bye three times Mr. O'DONNELL: There goes the hon­ to the people of Springsure and Barcaldine, ourable member again. If he were astute and twice to those of Blackall. I deplore in politics he would know that the redistri­ the elimination of the name "Barcoo", which bution left me with an electorate in which was one of the hardest blows dealt to the the majority in my favour was 310. That traditionalists in that part of Queensland. is what I received from the Electoral Com­ That name will not be forgotten, and I hope mission, and I feel that my victory by 210 that one day it will be restored to the area. votes was very good in the circumstances I am disappointed that the Minister for particularly as the names of hundreds of Main Roads is not ,in the Chamber. I do electors were omitted from the roll. That not desire to take him to task, but once in itself indicates that, in normal circum­ again I wish to refer to the Capricorn High­ stances, my victory would have been greater. way. Anyone who reads the Central Queens­ During the campaign, the D.L.P. candidate land newspapers, whether they be published set out to denigrate me. He was in Rockhampton or in any of the smaller defa_matory of me and, as a result, very soon towns, will note the continual references that received a letter from my solicitors. How­ are made to this important highway. In e":er, speaking facetiously, he got "even" 1961, when I was elected as the member With me by neglecting to submit his nomina­ for Barcoo, I had the doubtful privilege of tion on time. As a consequence, the 400-odd representing an electorate that contained five votes that he would otherwise have received highways, as well as other mads, such as would have come off the total received by those linking Aramac with Barcaldine and the Country Party candidate and given me Springsure with Emerald, which could be a lead of 600-odd. Although it was all called main roads, and some developmental rather amusing, electorally it did not suit roads. me at all. The D.L.P. candidate forgot the closing time for nominations and arrived No matter where I stood in my electorate, somebody had a "go" at me about the par­ two hours late. As I say, it was rather dis­ ticular highway nearby. In those days there ~PP?inting to me that he did not get there m time. was unanimity among the electors and the local authorities stretching from Rockhamp­ In contradistinction, I should like to ton to the western border that the Capricorn mention that throughout the campaign my Highway was of great importance to this Country Party opponent did not say one State. As time progressed, the Landsborough wor~ derogato:y to me. He proved that Highway was completed and the Capricorn electwn campaigns can be conducted with­ Highway was constructed as far as Jericho, out this type of behaviour. which now stands on the boundary of my Mr. Hinze: This is young Lester you are electorate, and beyond. In addition, some talking about? progress was made in the laying of bitumen on the Aramac-Barcaldine road; the Gregory . Mr. O'DONNELL: I would not be talk­ Highway was completed as far as Clermont; mg about Russell Hinze, would I. extensive work was carried out on the Peak I appreciate the fact that I was not Downs Highv.ay, with the result that only att~c.ked in ~he Press as being of doubtful 12 miles remains to be done; I was respon­ political habits or of being associated with sible for work being done on the Dawson the Communist Party. Of course over Highway, so that a stretch of 40 miles is previous years this has been a feature of all that remains to be done; and the road ~lection campaigns. However, the election from Springsure to Emerald was completed. IS over and I won, and I can say without In those early years, the sections of the equivocation tha~ my Co~ntry Party oppon­ Capricorn Highway east of Emerald received ent was a sportmg candidate. I think that more attention than did those to the West. w~e.n the nex~ election comes along, the This is a very long highway, extending mmmg towns m Belyando will have grown 360 miles from Rockhampton to Barcaldine, and settled down and it will become a safe and no doubt certain priorities govern the seat for Labor. This is my fervent hope. work to be done on it. If priority were to The election is now over, and it was a be determined by actual road conditions, I har?-f?ug~t battle; but amid the stress of should say that the Drummond Range section redistnbutwn the thing that hurt me more would have the highest priority because it t~an anything else was not only the elimina­ accounts for the greatest damage to motor tiOn of the electorate but also the elimination vehicles. Heavy vehicles cannot use the of _the n_am.e "Barcoo", which is of great his­ Drummond Range road. People are very toncal sigmficance to the Labor movement in vocal about the broken windscreens, broken this State. Right up to election day I repre­ axles, broken springs and flat tyres that sented an area that had been excised from my occur on this section. electorate, and, in a sense, I also had to However, there is more to the Capricorn represent a new area that had been given Highway than the Drummond Range section. to me. As well as fighting the campaign in West of the Drummond Range is the town Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 601

of Alpha, which is slightly closer to Barcal­ vehicles travelling to the Blackwater develop­ dine than it is to Emerald. It is a central ment, it has deteriorated into a dusty death­ town that suffers from disabilities caused trap. Both in the morning and in the evening, by isolation. Periodically it is without a depending on which way motorists are resident doctor, but we have been very travelling, the sun shines directly into their fortunate in that retired doctors have offered their services. We are indeed proud of the eyes. A large amount of money, which work done by them, but from time to time it was not expected would have to be spent, there has been a hiatus in this service to will now have to be allocated to the eastern the community. There is always a risk that, section of that road. at some time in the future, the town will be without a doctor. It is therefore essential The previous Minister for Main Roads (the late Ernie Evans) claimed that he would that the Capricorn Highway between Alpha develop the Capricorn Highway to the extent and Barcaldine be completed so that the of expenditure of $1,200,000 per annum. people of Alpha can get medical treatment However, unfortunately he died, and his at Barcaldine. The Alpha hospital is con­ ambitions have not reached fruition. I have trolled by the Barcaldine Hospitals Board, examined the situation thoroughly and do and people who are unable to get medical not blame the present Minister for the treatment at Alpha have to proceed to position as it now exists. Barcaldine, which is the closest town at which they can receive treatment. That is I shall detail certain facts which will a very sound argument for completing that surprise many people who, although they do section of the Capricorn Highway. not live in my electorate, have been vociferous In the days when potholes abounded on about the Drummond Range section of the this road it was a horror highway, and babies Capricorn Highway. Some of these people were born on the way to the Barcaldine hos­ amuse me at times. They would recoil in pital. That is to be deplored. It is essential to horror at the suggestion that they should have not only a road with a good surface but demonstrate their interest by approaching the also one that, within certain safety limits, Minister and requesting that the Main Roads permits of speed. allocations to their areas be diverted to Alpha is an industrial town, in that it this section. However, a good deal of is both a railway centre and a grazing centre. criticism does come from well-intentioned A major accident could occur at any time individuals and organisations. in the railway operations, on the properties, or in the town. No doubt honourable mem­ The following figures showing the amounts bers will recall the major rail disaster at spent on main roads east and west of Midway Creek, to the east of Alpha. I am Emerald indicate that my representations have very keen to have this section of road been pretty good. Commencing with 1961-62, attended to for the reasons I have outlined, and because it is the main access road to the year I entered Parliament, in round Alpha. The Minister for Main Roads pro­ figures they are-

mised me that he would expedite its com­ ~ pletion, and that construction work would East of West of then move east of Alpha to complete the Year Emerald Emerald I Total Emerald link. $ $ $ The Drummond Range lies between Alpha !961-62 .. 380,000 101,000 481,000 and Emerald. As I have said, following 1962-63 .. 724,000 266,000 990,000 the redistribution I was deprived of the Barcaldine-Jericho section of the Capricorn 1963-64 .. 668,000 206,000 874,000 Highway, which was completed, and given 1964-65 .. 336,000 150,000 486,000 another section, which was also completed, from Tolmies to Edungalba. It was com­ pleted-in a sense-as a single-lane highway. The year 1964-65 was an important year in Over the past few years it has become a this context. Work on the Capricorn High­ death-trap on which a number of my friends way was almost complete as far as Emerald. have either perished or have been seriously But then Ernie Evans died. injured to the extent of being incapacitated. In addition, their vehicles have been damaged [Sitting suspended from 1 to 2.15 p.m.] and they have had to suffer that loss. There is a big difference between being vocal Mr. O'DONNELL: As I have said, the about a broken spring and not being able year 1965 marked a change in the story that to be vocal about a broken neck. I have been relating to the House. The late I did not visualise that this problem would Ernie Evans completed his tasks in the arise in my electorate following the alloca­ portfolio of Main Roads, and the road to tion of money to this section of road. How­ Emerald had been completed. The expendi­ ever, because it is narrow and is used by heavy ture figures that I am now about to quote 602 Address in Reply (19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

illustrate the change in accent on road con- figures showing the annual expenditure on struction on the Capricorn Highway. They the Bruce Highway, one wonders how the are- need for it has arisen. The figures are- Year $ Year East of West of Total 1961-62 3,545,840 Emerald Emerald 1962-63 2,852,032 $ $ $ 1963-64 3,402,012 1965-66 1,600 178,000 180,000 1964-65 3,772,348 !966-67 2,000 368,000 370,000 1965-66 3,833,534 !967-68 199,000 587,000 786,000 1966-67 4,480,658 1967-68 5,434,589 1968-69 5,800 319,000 325,000 1968-69 4,680,294 1969-70 17,000 499,000 516,000 1969-70 5,047,431 1970-71 4,806,842 7,186,197 Honourable members will note from those 1971-72 figures the comparatively small amounts As honourable members will notice, the allocated for work east of Emerald. It will figures are reasonably even up till 1965-66. also be recalled that this was the period That money had to be expended on a road in which there was great acceleration of that it was hoped would have been com­ development east of Emerald, with con­ pleted under the administration of the late sequent damage to that section of the road. Ernie Evans-that was the advice given to In 1970-71, of a total expenditure of me by the present Minister-who thought $793,000 the expenditure east of Emerald that finality would be achieved and that it rose to $214,000, whilst west of Emerald would then be possible to concentrate on it was the goodly sum of $578,000. In the Capricorn Highway. However, Honour­ 1971-72 there was an increase to $967,000 able R. E. Camm has said that, during his in total expenditure. Expenditure east of period in office, he has had to spend tre­ Emerald, due, I reiterate, to the damage done mendously large sums of money on the in that area and the dangerous state to Bruce Highway. All honourable members which the road had deteriorated, was are aware, I think, of the volume of traffic $259,000, whilst expenditure west of Emerald on that highway, and, as I have pointed was $708,00. out already, in terms of distance the ratio of the Bruce Highway to the Capricorn In exact figures, the total amount spent Highway is 3 to I. Surely the heavy expendi­ during the time I have been the member ture I have quoted must indicate the wear for that area up till 30 June 1972 was and tear caused by the type of traffic that $6,766,547. The amount spent east of is now using roads in rural areas. Emerald was $2,803,212, and, west of Emerald, $3,963,335. That is considerable The people of Central Queensland do not expenditure. However, much still remains sit idly by in matters such as this. We want to be done. I point out that the accent more money spent on the Capricorn High­ it still on the road west of Emerald, because way. If possible, we would like to perform in the three months of the current financial a miracle and have the full length of the year $252,367 has been allocated for opera­ road completed immediately-if not sooner. tions in the Alpha area alone. That appears However, it must be borne in mind that to be a very considerable sum, but it there are other highways in the State. In illustrates the cost of improving this road as fact, there are three in my electorate, one it has been provided for 4.99 miles of road, of which, fortunately, has almost been corn• together with one bridge and its approaches. pleted. If one bears in mind the amount that has already been spent on the Bruce Through the years the definite statement Highway and the Capricorn Highway, has been made by one or other section of respectively, one realises how difficult the the community, either by a group or by department's job is. The Drummond Range individuals inside or outside my electorate, section of the Capricorn Highway is a that this was not enough. In fairness, I major contract in itself and will require the approached the Minister for Main Roads, expenditure of a tremendous sum of money. who explained to me that the Bruce High­ I am in sympathy with those people who way, instead of involving the Government have had to seek expenditure on the Bruce in lessening expenditure, had become a heavy Highway. I do not object to their obtaining burden indeed. In view of that statement, this money; they needed it and they got it. I carried out research which proved that his However, as I said before, there is competi­ statement was correct. tion for improved roads. People who support I point out that the length of the Capri­ a certain project one day may not support it corn Highway is about 360 miles, whereas the next day because in the meantime they the length of the Bruce Highway is about may have succeeded in their own particular 1,040 miles. I have taken rail mileages project. That is why I am concerned that rather than road mileages because they are the local government conference will not easier to obtain. The ratio, therefore, is consider the Capricorn Highway; it may about 3 to 1. However, if one looks at the regard it as a regional project. Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 603

At one time almost everybody agreed that difference between good and bad construction. the Capricorn Highway was a major State I do not blame the engineers for bad con­ project that should be brought to fruition struction; when they build roads they do so as soon as possible. You, Mr. Speaker, have under the conditions of the day. a similar problem with the Flinders Highway. Nowadays, heavy vehicles place a tremend­ I know of people who, after getting what they ous strain upon our roads, and broken road wanted, have very smartly said, "We aren't shoulders have reduced some of them from interested in the Capricorn Highway." They perfectly safe bitumen highways to death­ are more interested in some other highway traps. When approaching vehicles meet, one that has been almost completed. I remem­ of them has to give way by getting off the ber the honourable member for Mackenzie surfaced road. This causes dust to rise, disowning the Capricorn Highway after he and vehicles plunging into the dust haze often obtained the road right through his electorate collide with terrific force, resulting in to Emerald. At the time he was very vocal fatalities that should not occur. in the House and strongly attacked the Min­ ister for Main Roads, saying that too much Mr. Lee: For years when in Government, money was being spent on the Capricorn the A.L.P. built roads only 12 feet wide. Highway and that it should be spent on the road in his electorate down towards Biloela. Mr. O'DONNELL: I shall answer .that There was quite a scene in the Chamber on interjection. When the A.L.P. was putting that occasion. That is the type of problem down roads the Government suffered from a we face. People are strong about something, lack of finance. The aim at that time was but when it suits them they become weak to cover as much distance as possible, and on it. this the Labor Government tried to do. When the A.L.P. was in Government from Mr. N. T. E. Hewitt: I had some good 1932 to 1957 the heavy-transport problem reason to ask questions. had not arisen, and the fact that roads were being built apace was welcomed by .the Mr. O'DONNELL: I do not blame the people they served. honourable gentleman. What I am saying is that after he got what he wanted he found The honourable member's cnttcism is there was a good reason to allocate money unfair. If this Government went ahead with somewhere in the central division other than a similar plan and built roadways 12 feet to the Capricorn Highway. wide, it would be faced with the same prob­ lem. In any case, this Government has Mr. N. T. E. Hewitt: I had some reason built some 12-footers and they have deteriora­ to expect these highways to be accorded ted just as did the roads built by Labor, equal priority. Let there be no mistake about that. Roads built by this Government have had to be Mr. O'DONNELL: Yes, provided the redone within months-not years. If the Biloela area got its cut first. However, that honourable member wants a specific example, is by the way. I cite the Landsborough Highway. I am not worried so much about priorities Mr. Hughes: What about Fairfield Road, based on the state of the road as I am about in Brisbane? I could mention a number of what could happen if certain sections do not examples in this city. receive priority. That is my problem, and I have explained it to the Minister. It is a very Mr. O'DONNELL: I am not talking about worrying problem. I have pointed out the this city, but about the electorate of health problem west of Alpha, as well as Belyando. We are again encountering the problem east of Emerald that has devel­ political bias and bigotry. I rose today to oped because of the deterioration of the road. give certain people a "fair go", and I did I am aware that the completion of the Capri­ jus.t that. However, the honourable member corn Highway will take some time, but I for Y eronga wants .to bring in something that should like the Minister to realise that people happened in road construction more than 17 are reasonable. It would be in his interest, years ago. and in the interests of everyone concerned, (Time expired.) if a more forthright explanatory statement were made to appease certain people who Mr. KAUS (Mansfield) (2.33 p.m.): It is feel that their own specific section of the indeed a pleasure to be able to speak in this highway is the only one. Address-in-Reply debate. I should like to associate myself with the messages of loyalty I realise that as time goes on there will be deterioration of built-up roads. I know to the Crown so ably moved by the honour­ able member for Townsville and seconded of extensive mileages that have had to be by the honourable member for Surfers constructed on roads that were considered Paradise. As new members of this Assembly, to be completed. I will give an example of a road that was well built. I refer to the they both did a very good job. Landsborough Highway between Barcaldine I should like to congratulate Sir Colin and Longreach. It may interest honourable Hannah on his appointment as Governor of members to know that the Main Roads Queensland and wish both him and Lady Department has not spent one dollar on that Hannah a successful term of office. I should road in three years. That illustrates the also like to wish Sir Alan Mansfield and 604 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

Lady Mansfield good health and happiness in both Federal and State A.L.P. members and their retirement. I represent an area that left them quite unable to face the unpleasant no doubt was named after Sir Alan truth. Intellectual dishonesty is one of the Mansfield. He lived in the suburb. I again greatest allies of Communism. The bigger wish them good health and happiness in the lie, the more people will believe it. Like their retirement, which, no doubt, they are cancer, it cannot be treated adequately until enjoying since they now live in Surfers its malignancy is recognised. Paradise. I recall the time 15 years ago when the In this, the 40th Parliament, I should like Gair faction was expelled from the Labor to congratulate all new members on their Party by a power-hungry group that set it­ election and to wish them every success. I self above Parliament. A few days previ­ hope that they bring with them some original ously Mr. Gair had said of that group, "I thought and the ability to debate the various have faith in the Q.C.E., and I think they issues raised in this House, not only for the have a sense of justice." In recalling what benefit of their constituents but for that of occurred during recent months, when certain the whole of this great State of Queensland. State A.L.P. politicians were not re-endorsed, I cannot let this opportunity pass without I ask: Has the Labor Party changed since expressing the sorrow I felt at the passing that time? The answer is, "No." All hon­ of some former honourable members of this ourable members are aware of the nausea­ House, namely, the honourable member for ting campaign of vilification and abuse that Albert (Mr. Bill Heatley), the honourable was immediately commenced by both member for Callide (Mr. Vince Jones), the factions. honourable member for Maryborough (Mr. On 23 April 1956, when speaking about Horrie Davis) and the honourable member Mr. Gair, Mr. Morris, M.L.A., said- for Balonne (Mr. Harold Hungerford). It "His defeat at the Labor in Politics is a great shame to see such men depart Convention in Queensland was the indica­ from this life while making such a worthy tion that he will be cast aside in due contribution to Parliament. course, when he has served his purpose, Although this is the Address-in-Reply for a more militant Socialist leader to be debate, very few honourable members deal chosen by the Left Wing Socialist Central with the matters covered in the Governor's Executive which now dominates the Opening Speech, for example, rural produc­ Queensland Labor Party." tion, the sugar-cane crop, the Fitzroy Basin Mr. Morris then went on to say that a brigalow blocks, the development of Crown vote for Labor at that time would make estates, the development of recreational Queens,land a pawn in the faction fights. facilities within State forests, dams and The position remains unchanged after 15 irrigation works that are essential to pro­ years; they are still fighting. What Mr. gress, the Railway Department, works, a Morris forecast has come to pass. He warned metropolitan transport authority, freeways, that Labor's fight for the control of Queens­ education, and the subdepartment of sport. land would be a bitter page in the history However, these matters could be raised of this State. That is very true. It is clear during the Estimates debate. that, for many a year, the old Labor Party has been dead. At the Federal level, and As a Government we intend to continue in most of the States, the Left-wing socialists the high standard of services generally and have gained complete power, or are in the to introduce improvement to the fullest process of seizing power. over the party extent allowed by the finances. No doubt machine. the Treasurer will inform us of these during the presentation of his Budget. When Dr. Evatt was leader of the parlia­ mentary Labor party, he announced, "Labor Not one member of the Opposition had a is now a Left-wing party." It is indeed. great deal to say on the matters raised in Those who will not willingly follow the the Opening Speech. Instead, honourable dictates of the party bosses have been driven members opposite spoke on matters of out, purged or alienated. The men now general community interest in their elec­ in control have used the techniques of torates. Most of their attention was directed Communism in destroying their opponents. at the character assassination of the Under the misleading label of democratic Ministers as well as the Premier and the socialism, a ruthless attack is planned on Deputy Premier. our free and democratic institutions. Today, When a man's evidence cannot be dis­ they are trying to kill the goose that laid credited, the simplest alternative is to dis­ the golden egg, that is, free enterprise, and, credit the man himself. This is what hon­ when I say "they", I mean socialists in ourable members opposite are trying to do. the Labor Party. We have already had a In their midst they have members who taste of it in Queensland. We have seen think fire will not burn and that if a person the weapon of character assassination at work jumps off a 20-storey building he may go daily. It has been truly said that those who down but, on the other hand, he may go live by the sword shall perish by the sword. up. This is insanity. Of course, only So watch out boys; the swords are being recently the name has been changed to sharpened at present. If these birds of a "mental health". The malady of intellectual feather no longer flock together, they cannot dishonesty has affected large segments of disguise their sinister plumage. Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 605

In my role today I do not intend to that has always been regarded as over­ descend to the level of personalities that whelmingly labour as the best performance are disfiguring our political history. Opposi­ in all the seventy-eight electorates. Lt was tion members are condemned out of their a personal triumph for you and a tribute own mouths. They have forced upon from the electors of Hawthorne that us a great question of principle, namely, must have given you much pride and great that in this democracy we shaH not tolerate gratification. The results certainly gave me a dictatorship either from outside Parliament or inside; the principal that Governments a full measure of pleasure. are made by the people, and not the back­ "I sincerely hope that you will have a room boys pulling the strings from behind very happy and satisfying term of office the scenes. and .that when the next election is held in I ask if Labor has a sense of justice today. 1972 the electors of Hawthome will again It did not display it with Mr. Thackeray indicate that .they desire you as their and Mr. Bennett, but Mr. Casey beat the member. machine. And I congratulate him. After "Kind personal regards and very best 15 or 20 years Labor remains the same. wishes, Yours sincerely." I now turn to matters that are a little more parochial. Firstly, I wish to convey I will not disclose the name of the writer, thanks to my people ·in Hawthorne. As but he was an Opposition member. honourable members know, I won the Hawthorne seat on two occasions. As the member for Hawthorne, I did a oood deal of work for the people in that An Opposition Member: You were lucky. ~rea. I thank the Department of Education for the amount of money spent on the Mr. KAUS: I admit that I was very technical college at Seven Hills. It is not lucky. I was very fortunate that the sword complete yet, but I am hopeful of receiving was wielded at the time I stood for Haw­ an invitation to the official opening. In thorne, and Mr. Baxter was not re-endorsed. addition, I paid special attention to the ro~ls. He was probably doing a very good job in I used to send letters to newcomers tellmg that area. However, the Q.C.E. gave me them they were welcome to the electorate and the opportunity of being elected. I grasped that I would call on them in time, which I it with both hands, and thereafte.r cared for did. This helped me to get re-eleoted. the electors of Hawthorne. My final letter to my electors reads- I thank the Liberals and other people in "Please accept my sincere thanks for Hawthome for the wonderful assistance they the support you gave me since my election gave me in both elections. I had many in 1966. As you are aware, the old friends in that electorate, regardless of their electorate of Hawthorne has been abolished party affiliations. I look after constituents by the recent redistribution of the State irrespective of their politics, and I mix with electorates, largely because of the change most people. When I beat the sitting A.L.P. in the pattern of population growth in member, I did have trouble for a while. I Brisbane. was not invited anywhere for quite some time. I overcame that problem and, in the end, "It is with considerable sadness I accept was either a member or patron of 34 that I am forced to relinquish my position different associations. I venture to say ·that, as your representative. Over the years I had it not been for the redistribution, I would have got to know many of you personally, have been successful again in Hawthorne. and as a result formed friendships which l admit that I won it by only four votes have not only surpassed the bounds of on the last occasion, but I would have walked politics, but will undoubtedly endure the in at the recent election. I would have passage of time. increased my vote by at least 5 per cent­ "Since my election to office in 1966, we at a time when Opposition members were have seen well in excess of $2,000,000 claiming that there was a swing against the spent in the area by the Liberal State Government. Government, and the new Technical Col­ lege at Seven Hills would be the greatest Mr. Shenington: Why don't you do the standing monument .to this progress. right thing and thank the commissioners for Helping many of you with your own per­ putting Macgregor into your electorate? sonal problems has also been a great source of satisfaction. No matter what my own Mr. KAUS: I shall deal with that later. future may hold, may I state my wish I shall now read a letter which was sent that yours will be filled with health and to me on 20 June 1969, shortly after I happiness. Again my thanks." had won Hawthorne by four votes. It reads- Mr. Sherrington interjected. "Dear Bill, "Heartiest congratulations to you on Mr. KAUS: That is where the honourable your wonderful victory in Hawthorne at member for Salisbury is wrong, because it the recent elections. I regard your achieve­ is printed on Queensland Liberal Party ment in being re-elected in an electorate paper. 21 606 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

Mr. Lee: The honourable member for farms converted into holiday resorts for Salisbury is so far "left" that he cannot be children. As honourable members know, right. there are no parks in the developing areas. Any who dispute that statement are welcome Mr. KAUS: That could be so, too. to come to my area and see for themselves. I should like to thank the people of This is one of the things that people in my Mansfield for electing me. I was the last electorate are most upset about, and for­ Liberal member for Hawthorne and I am tunately it is a council problem. The resi­ the first for Mansfield, which is not a bad dents are very worried about it. There are record. I had to contest a completely new not sufficient parks anywhere in Mansfield. electorate. The main section of it was held by a Labor member, the rural area was held City children find a simple pleasure in by a Liberal member, and at the same time horse riding, swimming ·in a farm dam, it had been held by a Labor alderman for making contact with other children and 10 years. I had to overcome those sub­ learning to understand life on the farm, or stantial problems. just going for long walks on the farm. Over the years, with amalgamations under I did in Mansfield what I did in Haw­ the Marginal Dairy Farms Reconstruction thorne-I got organised and I did my "door Scheme, some old fa.rm houses will become knocks". In fact, I visited 4,000 houses available. They would be ideal for a personally, as I think this is the only way scheme of this type, and I suggest that it a politician should operate at all times. It would be a very excellent avenue of invest­ paid dividends, because I finished in ment for a person who has more capital front by 563 votes, gaining 52.04 per cent than he needs. It would take a lot of of a total vote of 14,083. planning and ingenuity on the part of During the election campaign the Brisbane someone with initiative to convert a farm City Council stated that if candidates did into a holiday cresort, perhaps converting not remove their signs within a stipulated barns into dormitories for boys and pro­ period, they would be fined. I wish the viding communal living for boys and girls. council would look at the position in my A holiday of this type is not merely electorate. A certain Independent or relaxation and fun for children. It provides Republican by the name of Kennedy or an added opportunity for children, especially Kenny still has his signs up. I am told that immigrant children, to learn the Australian the A.L.P. financed his campaign and, in way of life, customs and traditions. The addition, paid his helpers $12 a day for young visitors would have plenty of time their assistance. He was nominated in an to play and to get to know a variety of attempt to split the vote and defeat me. new and interesting things. As I said Going into a new electorate did not worry earlier, children could learn to ride horses, me. My political opponents forgot that I swim, and play games such as cricket, foot­ had been born in the area. They forgot ball and tennis. They could go on long that I had chased wild horses there, "lobbied" walks and learn about plants and animals in the creeks there, and gone to school there. in nature's classroom. What more important Those good people stuck by me. That was subject is there for young children today, one thing that the A.L.P. overlooked. I in this age of pollution and conservation? will go on trouncing them. At the next They could also learn about farming methods. election I will increase my vote not by 5 If a library service could be provided, book­ per cent but by 10 per cent. worms could while away their free time with a book of their choice. I am sure I should like to thank my campaign that this would be a wonderful thing for director, Mr. Greg Wightman, my committee, the children of the cities-the freedom of and all the branches in the area. I thank farm life not disturbed by over organisation, the area executive for endorsing me and with all activities taking place in a happy and enabling me to represent Mansfield in this informal manner. House. I turn now to another important subject I now wish to speak on another subject. -the intrusion of motor vehicles on beaches, What I have in mind is in effect the reverse forests, parks and other places. No doubt of the bush children's scheme. We all know honourable members ·have seen the television that urbanisation is a world-wide phenom­ programme "The Trail Riders". It has been enon, with the concentration of people in reported that the Victorian Government is towns and cities increasing daily. This has to cont·rol all off-road vehicles in an attempt been apparent in Australia since the Second to protect State forests and beaches and World War. Inhabitants of Australia's con­ that it wHl pass legislation forcing all trail crete jungles cannot deny, however, the call bikes mini-bikes and beach buggies to be of the wide outdoors, and excursions to registered. These should be places in which quiet places away from the city have become people can find peace from the problems a tradition. There are many havens where that beset them on the roads. the Queenslander can find fresh air and relaxation in this wonderful State of ours, Although machines such as t:hese are in but the younger generation seldom has the fact destroying the forests and beaches, caus­ opportunity to enjoy the freedom and spon­ ing erosion and retarding growth in some taneity of farm life. I should like to see areas because the noise scares much of the Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 607

wild life, my greatest concern is for the being driven without regard for the rights of safety of the community. The family man others. While it is right that we should and his children who visit these places on consider the environment, that we should picnics, as well as nature lovers such as the protect dunes as well as the great stretches honourable member for Salisbury, should be of our beaches and the peaceful pathways of protected from the activities of irresponsible our national parks, is it not more important drivers who are using these public places that we have greater concern for the protec­ in addition to the roads to demonstrate their tion of human life? In the coming summer reckless driving. children and their parents will be enjoying Surely it is not too much to expect that the beaches, playing in parks and enjoying a the roads which have been built for motor rest in quiet areas-we hope. Are they to be vehicles should be used by them. Is it deprived by the motor vehicle of these last reasonable to use parklands and beaches refuges? where all the traffic laws and signals and Mr. SPEAKER: Order! There is far too crossings that are appropriate to roadways do much audible conservation in the Chamber. not afford any protection for the community? Motor vehicles and these public areas are Mr. KAUS: Is it not urgent that we take not compatible. a stand now to prevent fatalities from motor­ The problem will grow with the apparent vehicle accidents in parks, State forests and increase in the sale of vehicles of these beaches? We are shocked with the road toll, types, not for use on the roads but for use and all efforts are being made to reduce it, in places in which they constitute a danger, but do we now have to pursue these efforts particularly to women and children. Pedes­ in public places where the motor vehicle has trians using declared roads on which motor intruded without the public's consent? vehicles are expected are being killed in Recently a child was injured by a mini­ increasing numbers; but the position will be bike whose rider was using the walking path much worse when these vehicles take over in a State forest as a racetrack. That sort parklands and beaches where the public of thing must not continue. Bushwalkers, who would not expect to encounter them. like to appreciate the beauty of parks, forests and beaches (our national heritage), should I have noticed advertisements extolling the not have this privilege denied to them by virtues of mini-bikes and beach buggies for drivers who could not care less about the off-road use. In my view this could well be environment. By all means let us have laws irresponsible advertising which engenders a to protect the environment, to protect our disregard for the purposes for which our beaches, dunes, trees, flora and fauna, but beaches, parks and forests should be used. If let us not forget to protect the people who motor vehicles are to be allowed in these use and appreciate them. Without people, places, they should be confined to clearly these areas would not have any significance: designated roads with proper signposting. it is only because of people that we recognise They should be prohibited from moving off the importance of the environment. these recognised roadways into areas where they can endanger life and limb. Usually these areas do have a parking area where vehicles can be safely parked, but If these types of vehicle are not registered on the beaches, on the walkways and on the and do not come under the present traffic tracks, the sunbather, the picnicker or the laws, there is no guarantee that the drivers bushwalker must surely be protected from have any proficiency or are of sufficiently physical assault by the mini-bike, the beach­ mature age to recognise their responsibilities. buggy, or other type of vehicle. At the present time there is apparently noth­ Another matter to which I should like to ing to stop a very young person from driving draw attention is the use of flashing-lamp these vehicles without passing any driving signalling devices on motor vehicles. Nowa­ test whatsoever, and, in the case of motor­ days there is a tendency for these devices to cyclists, without the protection of safety hel­ be used for purposes for which they were not mets, which have to be worn by licensed intended or, in fact, not to be used at all. drivers on roads. I know that motorists diverging or turning to It seems tragic to me that all the efforts the right or to the left are now required to that are being taken to protect the public use their flashing-lamp signalling devices. from motor vehicles being driven legitimately These signals are given to warn other road on the road could be nullified by these vehicles users of intended movements and, if prop­ leaving roads constructed for their use and erly used, are an indication to the driver of taking over areas which were, and should be, a following vehicle of what he can expect. the preserve of the people. I know that this But there is a growing tendency for these problem has become acute in the United legitimate devices to be misused. In some States of America, where it has become cases the signals are used by drivers as an necessary to prohibit the use of motor indication to the driver of a following vehicle vehicles, with their pollution, noise and that conditions are safe for an overtaking danger, in national parks. manoeuvre. This misuse of the signals is extremely dangerous. I feel that the respon­ Surely the people should retain the right sibility for ensuring that it is safe to over­ to some areas where they can walk in safety take another vehicle must rest entirely with and not have to contend with motor vehicles the driver who proposes to pass that vehicle. 608 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

The flashing of an offside indicator light appreciate the tremendous assistance which on the vehicle ahead should indicate only Main Roads officers have rendered to both that the driver of that vehicle intends to turn me and my electors. They, too, greatly to the right, and vice versa in the case of appreciate it. a nearside indicator. No attempt to pass should be made until the leading driver's Mr. K. J. HOOPER (Archerfield) (3.9 intentions are thoroughly understood and the p.m.): It is a tremendous honour to speak road ahead is clear. In addition, the driver here today as the first representative in this of t,he vehicle being overtaken should move Parliament of the new electorate of Archer­ as close to the left of the roadway as possible field. The area covered by my electorate has and should not, as often happens, increase a long history of A.L.P. representation. Before his speed to make it more difficult for the the recent redistribution, the greater portion overtaking vehicle to make the passing of the area was represented in this Padia­ manoeuvre. ment by the honourable member for Salisbury The proper use of flashing-lamp direction (Mr. Doug. Sherrington). The consistently signals as provided by the Traffic Regula­ high vote of support for the Labor Party tions should give to other road users a within the electorate is a clear indication message that will contribute to road safety. of the well-deserved personal respect that Improper use of these signals can only Doug. Sherrington has enjoyed among the produce additional hazards which can place citizens I now 'represent. an overtaking vehicle in a dangerous situa­ As a member of the A.L.P., I am proud tion and lead to a fatality. If necessary, of the great traditions that have been estab­ the Traffic Regulations should be amended lished over generations by trade-unionists to ensure that these indicators are used only and their political representatives. It has for the purposes for which the regulations been a never-ending struggle for social and provide. Any other use of them by any economic change and for that equality within driver should render him liable to prosecution our community that gives everyone, irrespec­ and a heavy penalty. The use of these tive of occupation, income or family tree, flashing signals should be unambiguous and a "fair go". should contribute to road safety. The signals The Labor Party was conceived and born should not be used to endanger the safety during the great struggles of the 1880's and of drivers of overtaking vehicles or that 1890's. At that time the shearers, the ,of other road users, particularly in oncoming seamen and the miners fought for a prin­ vehicles. ciple, and the symbol of that principle was I should like to take this opportunity of the right to organise and strike as a trade­ congratulating the Commissioner of Main union body. But the symbol that they sup­ Roads on the very timely pamphlet his ported and fought for represented something department has issued on freeway driving. much deeper and more valuable for those Some of the advice given is, in my opinion, men and for the future of this country. It equally applicable to driving on our steadily was the battle of the divided, separated and improving highways. Let me quote this defenceless worker against the entrenched piece of advice- power of capital. It was the ~trugg!e ~ga_inst "Avoid lane-chopping-Stay in the left­ inequality, lack of opportumty, dtscnmma­ hand lane unless overtaking and passing. tion and even heartless repressron. Workers Do not impede or block faster moving went to gaol to fight for this principle, and traffic by driving in the passing lane. Do some even died. It is incontestable that the not straddle two lanes." sacrifice of those men accelerated the social and economic development of this society One very frequently sees this breach on of ours towards becoming a much freer the Story Bridge. one. How often on a highway have we encount­ Ironically, many of the people who now ered two cars travelling abreast in two stand in opposition to Labor owe a debt parallel lanes, invariably below the maximum to the struggles and sacrifices of those permitted speed, thereby preventing faster earlier Labor men, who hammered out a traffic from passing safely? This, in my situation in which opportunity could be opinion, is not good highway manners. It made available to these people to break is an undisputed fact that many Queensland through what would otherwise have been drivers do not drive courteously. And speak­ insuperable social and economic barriers. ing of highway manners leads me to think It is sometimes said by those opponents of of the defensive-driving courses conducted by Labor, who are afflicted by some sense of the Queensland Road Safety Council. I guilt because they know only too well that commend these courses to anyone desirous of their affluence and success have been made improving his driving. possible by the sacrifices and struggles of Whilst on the subject of main roads, I the Labor movement in earlier years, that should like to thank Main Roads officers for the things that Labor stood for-its causes the assistance they have given me in my -and the battles that it had to fight are new electorate. In Hawthorne I had nu gone, and that there is no further cause main roads problems because the electorate for the Labor Party in the context of fighting contained no major roads. The electorate for social and economic change. That is of Mansfield has some main roads and I nonsense. Address in Reply (19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 609

When I l(){)k at the statistics on education of living standards that we in this com­ and see that four children out of five who munity are used to. On this basis, Queens­ enter the wealthy non-Catholic private land has special problems. secondary schools complete their full term The appalling conditions of Aborigines of secondary education, whereas four out of five of those who enter State secondarv throughout the Commonwealth-and more schools drop out before completing their full especially in this State-the total denial of course of education, I do not need a uni­ their land rights, their cultural repression, versity degree to realise that there is some­ and the overwhelming sense of paternalism thing radically wrong as between the two -and, in cases where they wish to strike systems. The former is gold-plated educa­ out independently, the displays of impatience tion, providing all the luxuries and benefits and intolerance towards them-stand as a that wealth is able to provide. By con­ monument to the selfishness and insensitivity trast, the inadequacies-! think it is fair of this so-called "businessman's Govern­ to go further and say the "very meanness" ment", which has been very successful in -of facilities provided at the State secondary selling out our natural resources-the schools, together with the seeming imper­ people's heritage-at rock-bottom, bargain­ ception of our State education authorities rate prices to overseas investors but has towards the cultural-enrichment needs of been a spectacular failure in the field of children from moderate-income homes human rights and civil liberties, and the guarantee that large numbers of childre~ development of a free, tolerant and demo­ will be squeezed out of the education system cratic society. well before they are given any opportunity I mention these matters briefly as some to develop intellectually to their full indication of the sense of anger I feel at a potential. system which can so calmly proceed as does As I move about the community and note ours in Queensland, under a coalition elected how gloriously attractive are the pre-school on a minority vote-I repeat, on a minority centres in the wealthier suburbs of Bris­ vote-while there is such glaring evidence bane and contrast them with the inferior of social and economic disadvantage which standard, and more often than not the total perpetuates itself generation after generation absence, of pre-school centres of acceptable solely because the decision-makers here in standards in the poorer areas, I realise that George Street in the Government are too today there is as much cause as ever to foolish, too lazy, too selfish, or too unintelli­ struggle against the social and economic gent-or all of these things together-to disadvantages that deprive so many of our take appropriate steps to attack the causes young folk of an adequate opportunity in and root them out of this unequal oppor­ life. tunity in society. I am mindful of the Government's pro­ Let us be clear on my fundamental posals on pre-school education, but I am philosophy. Summed up in a very few entirely suspicious of them, for they have words, it is this: The productive system is been poorly planned. I am aghast at the there to serve man, not to dominate him; sort of damage that can be done to our not to enrich a few at the expense of the young children if those from the poorer majority; not to create a destructive, repres­ and moderate-income-earning areas are to sive system which throws up an ugly, pol­ be crammed into rooms as ugly and unstimu­ luted neurosis-inducing environment. lati';lg, and indee? as depressing and as poorly Society, and the things about society and eqmpped, as pnmary-school classrooms. I that go with it, should be for people and a!ll ~!so horrified by the cheap political should always be there to serve them, not grmmrckry that has gone into this sort of to dominate them. But even those in the proposal. community who are not interested in quali­ I wish to give some more examples of tative things, who are not outraged by the the sort of social and economic discrimina­ way in which people's rights (including their tion t~at I find appalling in our society and right to an adequate opportunity in life in that .grve me every sense of justification for which they are able to reach their full reali­ wantmg to carry on in the tradition of sation) are beaten, battered and throttled by struggle-the tradition that has been set and a Government more interested in making maintained over the years by the Labcr quick money by selling out our natural Party. I cite, for instance, the fact that resources-the heirlooms of future genera­ poverty exists in our community. tions which we merely hold on trust-such As an illustration, let me quote some hard-headed people should surely at least figures from official sources. In 1966 the be alarmed at the poor economic perform­ Melbourne Institute of Applied Social and ance of this State. Economic Research pointed out that one I intend to spend a few minutes talking in every. four aged people was either poor about the unimpressive performance of this or margmally poor. The survey pointed so-called practical, businessman's Govern­ out that the poverty level was struck at an ment. I took the opportunity of checking austere line-a level that none of us would through the Commonwealth Grants Com­ want to live at. It represented fairly extreme mission 38th Report for 1971, which is the deprivation within the terms of the sort latest such report available. As a source for 610 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply statistical information it is beyond reproach, Imagine! Under this Country-Liberal and everything I am about to say is verifiable coalition-under the administration of the from official Government statistical sources. so-called practical businessmen-Queensland We hear ad nauseam from Ministers of has once again become a mendicant State. the great achievements of this State's econ­ Let us remember that the word "mendicant" omic development. That is utter nonsense. is a euphemism; it is a gentle word for this On all the figures I have been able to humiliating description of "beggar". Queens­ extract, Queensland has the least impressive land has become a "beggar" State under the economic record of any State in the Com­ administration of this so-called businessmen's monwealth, and I am appalled and alarmed Government. That is the level

that the Treasurer is not in the House, suggestion that not even the Commissio~er because this is of great importance today. for Railways could present a comprehen_si_ve The Grants Commission report, in pargraph listing of freight charges for commodities 24 on page 11, reads- between various points on rail links through­ 'The Commonwealth Treasury suggested out the State. That is the sort of mess _that that the value of mining output might give the railways are in at the present tnne. some indic&tion of capacity to raise For instance, it costs about $1.58 a ton mining royalties. This would suggest that to transport coal from Goonyella to Hay Queensland's capacity is above standards; Point. It costs four to five times that a!llount and as the royalties collected per head of to transport wheat about the same distance population in Queensland are below the on the Queensland railways. That is the average per capita for the standard States, peculiar sort of logic on which the Govern­ it would appear that Queensland makes a ment operates. relatively low effort in this field." Let us look at another aspect of the Grants Commission report. At page 12 What trenchant criticism by a Federal it is stated in relation to education- authority of a State Government. It asserts "The Commonwealth Treasury . clearly and unequivocally that this State would assess relative needs in education Government is selling out Queensland's by comparing the percentage of the eligi_ble resources at unreal prices. It indicts the population of the total State population State Government for plundering what is of the claimant State with the correspond­ really the heritage of future generations, ing percentage of the standard States. which we hold in trust. It points out even Applying this comparison to Queensland more. It says that the Country and Liberal would show a positive need (i.e. a need Parties are poor criminals; that they are not for a higher level of expenditure per head even getting a decent return from the pro­ of population than in. the s~andar~ ~tates), ceeds of their robberies. Indeed, I remind in contrast to the smgle negative need the House that at Goonyella, for instance, shown by the Commissioner's method of they arranged for coal to be sold by con­ comparing education expenditures on the tract at 5c a ton-a lousy pittance. The basis of actual school enrolments." contract is binding until the year 2010. By that time we will be lucky if the 5c of This is substantial and authoritative evidence today is worth 2c. Is that what the Liberals verifying the long-standing_ c~mpl~int of the have promised us in making a so-called prac­ Opposition, and of educatiOnists m Queen.s­ tical businessman's approach to the adminis­ Iand, that this State has a poor record m tration of the affairs of .this State? education expenditure. Let us have none of the nonsense so often At page 11 of the report, the Common­ heard that, because Queensland is ~ hot wealth Treasury slams the Queensland Gov­ State climatically, it does not have to mstall ernment for the confused, unreliable and central-heating systems as are installed, for uncertain way in which submissions were instance, in many of South Australi~'s ~chools, made relating to railway charges. I under­ and accordingly spends less. If It 1s good stand that the Government will not release enough for South Australia to put

This is the type of failure that I am The Government attempted to buy votes talking about, and the type of failure that by glamorising its pre-school proposals. As results in the perpetuation of socio-economic we have seen so often, Mr. Deputy Speaker, discrimination in our education system. The once the votes have been counted both the gaps have to be closed by fetes, raffles and glamour and the election enthusiasm vanish. door-knock appeals by hard-working parents Indeed, the general lack of stimulation and on parents and citizens' associations. Dollar­ incentive for Queensland children to con­ for-dollar subsidies are obtained under ce>f­ tinue through the school system is apparent tain conditions from the State Government, when one contrasts our standards of achieve­ but let us look quickly at the effect that ment with those of other States. About 78 this produces. High-income areas are able per cent of our school-age population­ to raise more money because financial that is, children between five and 18 years sacrifice is easier to make in such areas of age-are attending schools, compared with than it is in low-income areas. Accordingly, 84 per cent in the Commonwealth as a the lion's share of the money available from whole. the Government in subsidy of parents and citizens' activity is earmarked for high-income If this so-called practical businessmen's areas. The result is that schools in wealthier Government is so competent, I wonder why areas are much better set up than those it is, to take another tack, that Queensland in relatively poor or moderate-income-earning has fared so poorly at the hands of the areas. It is therefore seen why children from Federal Government in terms of Common­ higher-income areas are able to proceed wealth payments. In the five years to the further and, by and large, do better in end of June 1971-the latest years for which education than their confreres from moderate I have figures-if Queensland had received and lower-income areas. Those in wealthier Commonwealth payments on the same basis areas have more money spent on them, and as South Australia, it would have received most of it is coming from the State. an additional $123,500,000. What excuse I mentioned earlier the case for pre-school has the Government for the gross incom­ education. I also referred to the frantic petence that tolerates this shocking dis­ efforts of the Government to buy votes by crimination against Queensland? promising pre-school education in Queensland Professor Russell Matthews of the Aust­ as part of its election programme. The ralian National University, Canberra, in a Government is rather late in arriving at this paper that he presented in November 1971, decision. Until now, seven out of every made an analysis of the actual per capita eight children of pre-school age in Queens­ allocations to States and what he believed land had not attended, and could not have to be the warranted per capita allocations attended, an approved pre-school institution to them. He condemned the arbitrary way because the facilities just were not there. in which the payments had been made and I have mentioned the Government's election pointed out that Queensland had fared badly promises in pre-school education, and I accuse -and, I would add, solely because there it of deliberate deceit. The Government's was no protest or adequate submission from propaganda was designed to hoodwink people this Tory State Government. into believing that pre-school education on a wide scale could be introduced virtually Let me give Professor Matthews's figures. the day after voting. We now learn that In 1968-69, the per capita general revenue a comprehensive scheme is more than three grant to Queensland was $90.11. According years away. All that we will receive next to the professor, i! should have been another year will be a few pilot schemes in hand­ $14.94, making a total of $105.05. In the picked areas. aggregate, that would have meant another $26,000,000 for Queensland in 1968-69. The Leader of the Opposition was correct when he pointed out during the election cam­ I should like to take another dimension paign the falsity of the Government's pro­ of the economic problems of this State and mises. He was correct when he said that consider it, and this is probably the most the first priority in the provision of com­ important matter that I intend to raise. I plete pre-school training must be the training refer to unemployment. of adequate teachers. The Queensland Government seems to take I venture to predict that, at the pace some satisfaction from the unemployment followed by the Government in educational figures in the State. I do not, nor does any­ matters, comprehensive pre-school education one who is unemployed or who is associated is at least five, six or seven years away_ with those unfortunate enough to be unem­ Many of the four-year-olds of today will ployed. There is no room for any smugness be at secondary school before this Govern­ on the part of the Government; unemploy­ ment, if it is lucky enough-God forbid!­ ment in this State is showing signs of a to retain office through its rigged boundaries, long-term worsening. July figures over the provides adequate pre-school training. The past three years indicate that. In July Australian Capital Territory was further 1970, 1.01 per cent of the State's work-force advanced in pre-school education 10 years was unemployed; in July 1971, 1.15 per ago than Queensland will be in 10 years cent; and in July 1972, 1.39 per cent. from now. What a shocking indictment! Clearly the position is getting worse. Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972} Address in Reply 613

What is even more disturbing is the unskilled, we find ,that there is no job increasing degree to which hard-core unem­ vacancy for three out of every four who ployment exists. In 1970, one in three of register, and for those in the service indus­ those unemployed was on unemployment tries there is no job for two out of every benefits; in July 1972, two in five were three who register. drawing unemployment benefits. Those For those in clerical employment there is drawing unemployment benefits represent no job for four out of every five wh_o the hard core of unemployed-those who register, and for the rural employee the~e 1s have been unemployed for at least a fort­ no job for four out of every five who reg1ster. night. Country Party members please note. What I am alarmed at the degree to which a ,terrible indictment of the Country Party! young people are represented within the When we look at some of the areas in ranks of the unemployed. More than one Queensland we find what can be fairly des­ in every three unemployed is a junior. What cribed as "unemployment disaster areas". The a terrible outlook for young people in the State average for those receiving unemploy­ community! Early this year, Mr. Deputy ment benefits as a proportion of .the total Speaker, we found young people forced unemployment is about 40 per cent. I repeat back to school for a further 12 months that these are the hard-core unemployed, because of lack of job opportunities. Others and the greater the proportion of these the revised their career plans to meet the job worse is the long-standing problem of situation. These cold, hard facts of employ­ unemployment. ment do not reflect themselves in the statistics, but they are very real to those Compared with the 40 per cent figu~·e affected. for average in the State we find that m Atherton the proportion on unemployment This Tory Government takes pride in the benefits is 87 per cent, at Cairns 52 per cent, present unemployment figures in Queensland. and at Maryborough, 45 per cent. Anyone I heard an interjection about a statement in who cares to work his way through the this morning's "Courier-Mail", but what figures for various large centres in the State appears there means nothing. Let us remem­ will find other areas that give cause for ber that there are many who have left this considerable alarm. State in despair to look elsewhere for jobs. I repeat the point that I made earlier. Let us remember, too, that under the decen­ The Country-Liberal Government's record tralisation practised by this Government the in handling the economic affairs of this populations in many country centres are at State is pretty grim. It takes a gerrymander bedrock. Businesses have closed and, again, of electorates l!o preserve such a bungling and many people have departed. Our level of incompetent Tory Government. employment is >the result not of increased job opportunities but rather of an exodus from Let me now move on to social welfare in the State, or a return to school, by those who the community. It is indicative of the have sought jobs in vain. What do the prioritv that the Country-Liberal coalition people of Queensland have to look forward gives this important area of public adminis­ to-the aspect of the dole line! tration, which is directly associated with people's rights, when it tags it on the end of I repeat that the position in Queensland a list of "catch-em-all" portfolios for the is pretty grim. It is worsening, and that most long-standing junior member of the is what worries me. For insta~ce, in July Ministry. The portfolio is Tourism, Sport, 1970 vacancies as a proportiOn of the and as an afterthought the Government unemployed amounted to 30 per cent; by added "and Welfare Services". July 1972 this proportion had dropped to Let me make my position clear right from 23 per cent. To look a,t the matter in the outset. I believe that if the counterpart another way, unemployment in July 1970 of this coalition in Canberra was "fair increased 14 per cent on the same month in dinkum" and accepted its public respon­ the previous year. In July this year the sibilities, all social security payments should increase over the same month in the previous be paid from Canberra. In that way we year was 20 per cent. An analysis of the could end this terrible business of the Com­ unemployment figures shows why I feel monwealth avoiding its responsibility by alarmed. funding half the cost of social-security pay­ Those in the most vulnerable position are ments under the States Grants (Deserted the ones who are worse off in the present Wives) Act. This leaves the States with ~the unemployment situation. If we break up odium of applying tough means tests on unemployment figures between employment unfortunate women. classifications, and also job-vacancy notifica­ For about another $8,000,000 or tions between employment classifications, $10,000,000 the Commonwealth could fund what I mean can be quickly realised. For the whole of this programme, and do it much the professional and semi-professional job more generously and, certainly on the com­ registrant >there are nearly three jobs avail­ parative records of Queensland and the Com­ able for him to choose from. For the skilled monwealth so far, much more humanely than worker there are about nine vacancies for is currently the case, This would allow the every 10 who register as unemployed. But State Government to concentrate on suppor­ when we get to the semi-skilled and the tive or field welfare services. 614 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

Let me deal quickly with some of the I am alarmed that, according to reports financial arrangements •that operate in this I have received, as many as 15 per cent State. It seems crazy to me that the State of all children in institutions are Aborigines, Children's Services Department, at the direc­ yet they represent less than 2 per cent of tion of the Government, of course, will pay the population of the State. I should like $2.50 a week, after applying a tough means the Minister to explain this disproportion. test, to a mother for her dependent child. I do not want some airy-fairy, superficial If she fosters the child out, the foster parent explanation but one that bites into the would receive $8.50 a week, plus free medi­ reasons why there is cultural deprivation and cal care, books and so on, plus $1.50 child breakdowns amongst Aborigines in our endowment, and there would be no means society. These breakdowns occur because test. The present system has an inbuilt of obtuse administrators who do not really incentive to break up families instead of keep­ appreciate the serious disadvantages under ing them together. which these unfortunate people labour. I should like the Minister in charge of I have mentioned the need for support of these matters to explain rationally just how welfare services, and I think I should outline this peculiar situation has developed and briefly what I have in mind. I am thinking why it is allowed to persi~t. Again, is not of multi-service centres at which a range the obvious and rational way .to finance pro­ of social welfare services can be made avail­ grammes where needy dependent children are able at the one point. I am thinking not concerned to adequately finance the sup­ only of the social worker but also of some porting parent? I repeat that the supporting parent will get only $2.50 a week, thus sort of co-ordinator or adviser who can encouraging a break-up of families for the link a client with departments with whom reasons I have outlined. he wishes to have dealings or who can defend or represent his or her interests with Let me give another example. I estimate those departments. I am thinking of more that the cost to the State of supporting a than this again. I am thinking of a sort child in an institution is at least $16 a week. of "store-fr.ont" legal representation right in Therefore, all the priorities, incentives and thinking have been geared in a way that the suburbs where people live. We need is clearly designed to sever family ties, and this type of service as a part of free the ve·ry thing we ought to be working against legal aid for people on moderate or low is happening in our type of society. I urge incomes, and especially for the poor and much more generous payments to supporting for Aborigines. But we must have it right parents of dependent children who are in the suburbs, where the people who need entitled to State aid. it can reach it easily. Whilst I am on the matter of children and As things stand at the moment, the legal­ institutions, I should like to make another aid system in Queensland is just not good criticism of the orientation of child-care ser­ enough. Dr. Paul Wilson, I think it was, vices where institutions are involved. By has exposed its defects more than con­ and large, my impression is that these institu­ vincingly. It is disturbing that no public tions are too big. Even with the best will finance is going into the system of financial in the world and the best, most compassionate aid so that the types of services about and loving people in ch

Having mentioned Client Power, I should travelling time and cost experienced by like to say a few words in support of this thousands of people who seek to claim their organisation. If we are to have democracy right to free hospitalisation. I might add we must have consumer involvement. Social that such travel is undertaken at a time services should not be seen as some system when people are either sick or injured. And of charitable hand-outs from the forbearing, so I ask the Government to give Inala top compassionate givers to the "deserving poor", priority in its free-hospital plan. in inverted commas. If people do not have Under an A.L.P. Federal Government, enough to live on and do not have sufficient which almost certainly will be elected supporting services to get by in our society, within the next three months, an additional they suffer from a defect in the social $22,000,000 a year in Commonwealth finance system. Accordingly, the community has a would be available to Queensland's free responsibility to provide adequacy in these hospital system. In the allocation of this areas. finance, the outer suburbs of Brisbane should The programme ought to be aimed at rate highly in Government thinking. People getting people into a situation of self­ should not be penalised because they accept sufficiency, self-respect, independence, and the development of their city and establish so on. But in doing this, and in introducing their residences away from the tightly popu­ a democratic system based on the recogni­ lated inner suburbs. Hospitalisation is an tion of people's freedoms, we must ensure essential provision of society. People are that there is consumer representation. A few entitled to adequate services according to years ago Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada need, not according to whether they live financially supported and sponsored a two, three or seven miles from the Brisbane national Client Power conference at Ottawa. G.P.O. We in this State should be thinking in similar terms. Dr. CRAWFORD (Wave!!) (3.48 p.m.): I wish to conclude by making a special Each year during the Address-in-Reply appeal to the Government for the construc­ debate this House is subjected to a series of tion of a public hospital in Inala to serve speeches that are geared to the political the 60,000 people who live there and in the philosophy of the particular members who surrounding areas. This Government has a speak, and naturally the political philosophy deplorable record in the field of hospital reflects the party affiliation of each indi­ expansion in Brisbane. Outer suburbs such vidual speaker. However, there is more to this as Inala and Acacia Ridge have been allowed process than the practical functioning of to grow without any "George Street" plan­ democracy. From time to time a need exists ning in hospitalisation or the provision of to attempt to assess the actual meaning of rail-transport facilities. The south side of "democracy", and to make an analysis of Brisbane is experiencing an outer-suburban the term to ascertain whether we practise population explosion, and this trend will it in its original and best context. accelerate rather than slacken. Yet the During last year's Address-in-Reply debate entire south side-both inner and outer I made a rather detailed analysis of a new suburbs-has to rely on one public hospital, Act that had then been introduced into the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Papua-New Guinea and was geared to an We have heard talk of the provision of attempt to remove any temptation from a new hospital at Jindalee. Such a proposal those in the Territory associated with has emerged not to meet over-all community politics, either as politicians and Members requirements but only for shabby political of the House of Assembly or as employees reasons. In what was previously regarded of Government. From subsequent discus­ as a safe Liberal seat, the present Liberal sions with politicians and one or two Minis­ incumbent had his majority slashed at the ters from the Territory, I believe that this recent State election. Act has been successful to date. At that Jindalee is probably a whole decade away time, it will be recalled, the idea was that from full development, and it is separated every member of the House in the Territory from Inala, Acacia Ridge, Oxley, Darra and should produce full details of his financial the surrounding areas in the provision of and other dealings during the year and, if public transport. Inala has an indisputable necessary, they could be subjected to public case for the immediate construction of a scrutiny, so that temptation of every sort perimeter-type hospital, embodying both could be removed from his dealings. That out-patient and bed amenities. Surely this situation could apply until he ceased to be a Government is not going to limp through member for some years, either because of another three years ignoring the needs of resignation or defeat at an election. outer suburban areas such as Inala, and also There is great merit in this concept, par­ ignoring the lessons of international experi­ ticularly in the light of what has happened ence, which shows that there should be a in recent weeks when we have heard a great very real recognition of the amenities that deal of discussion about land dealings, land must be provided in expanding cities to holdings, and so on. It is not an irrational meet the suburban sprawl. thought to suggest that it would be worth A hospital at Inala would relieve the while in our community for those in politics tremendous pressure on the Princess Alex­ and those serving political parties to make andra Hospital. It would also reduce the public, if necessary, their land dealings and 616 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

land holdings over a five-year period. That are asking for Utopian proclivities in this would remove a great deal of the odium matter, but certainly his concept of democ­ from the situation in which we have found racy has never really reached fruition. ourselves in recent months when there have G. K. Chesterton once remarked that been charges and counter-charges. "progress is the maker of problems". Modern When we try to define democracy as such technological advances have posed a legion we meet very great difficulties. When think­ of problems, which make the mind recoil ing about this matter I found that the from the gross magnitude of them when description was best obtained by reverting to viewed with care and attention. The word the ancient Greeks, particularly during the "problem" in our modern context has itself time of Pericles, who lived in Greece between become ubiquitous, and because of the influ­ 490 and 429 B.C. His was the epitome ence of mass-media debate on the matters of of the initial attempt to establish a function­ concern, the word "problem" is served up in ing democracy on our planet. During the our homes with apocalyptic overtones, mainly Peloponnesian War in 430 B.C., when the because doomsday pronouncements provide Athenians-Pericles was the ruler of Athens another new thrill of a mass type. at the time-were being pressed by Sparta, I do not believe that the media are actu­ Pericles delivered what has become known ally interested in promoting solutions to as the "Funeral Oration". This was an how we can survive, perched precariously in attempt to cheer the Athenians in their fight a world of polluted air, contaminated water with Sparta. It embodied a very great and depleted natural resources. I feel that number of the concepts of democracy as all citizens, if our democracy is to reach he practised them, and every word that he fruition, must seek solutions as a co-ordinated used at that time is pertinent to our day. effort which will unite men of good will with­ He said- out hysterical overtones and promote dis­ "Our constitution is called a democracy semination of information of a factual nature because power resides in the hands not via the news media. of the few, but of the many. When it is a question of settling private disputes, The mass media have a very great respon­ everyone is equal before the law; when sibility in this respect. I urge them to accept one person is to be preferred to another their resposibility with enthusiasm and a true in an appointment to a position of public response to the needs of the public. One responsibility what counts is not member­ can but deprecate the tendency of modern shin of a particular class. but the actual journalism to seek the headline for its own ability which the man possesses. No-one. emphasis and not for the intrinsic value of a so long as he has it in him to be of message it could convey. Probably one service to the State, is kept in political would ask for a crusade of truth and honesty obscurity because of poverty. In our in vain, but at least I believe one should private lives we are free and tolerant; expect of the mass media no over-emphasis but in public affairs we keep to the on or eulogising of the macabre, the depraved law. This is because it commands our and the pornographic aspects of life. deep respect." Jn the Queensland context, it is important Pericles' concept was for· a soc;ety where for our democratic principles that we appoint, free and intelligent obedience is rendered at the earliest possible time, a correct type to an equitable code of laws, where merit of ombudsman. It is most important that is awarded per se and where military this occur so that justice to the individual citizen can always be guaranteed. Some basic efficiency is found along with free develop­ rules in this matter are also of great import­ ment of the State in other directions and ance. First of all, under no circumstances strangles neither commerce nor art. He must the ombudsman be responsible to any sought to educate by precept and example member of Parliament as an individual. He the whole community to political wisdom must not be responsible to the Premier, a and to parellel this with an active interest Minister, or a back-bencher. He must in promotion of aesthetic tastes by encour­ be responsible only to the Parliament. He aging the best in drama and music. must report only to the Parliament. He must A further quote from Pericles, which is also be in the situation where he can examine often used to epitomise the best type of all relevant files of government, and I com­ immortality for which man can hope, is pletely agree with the concept which, in relevant to this situation. It reads- recent years, has been brought forward by Ralph Nader, namely, that secrecy in govern­ '"The whole earth is the tomb of great ment, if not abolished, should be diminished men; nor is their story graven only on to the irreducible minimum. If we cannot stone that covers their clay but abideth govern with public scrutiny-and it is for everywhere without visible symbol wrought this reason that I raised the subject of the in the stuff of other men's lives." Rural Reconstruction Board in a question today-we will not be able to govern in the often wonder whether our modern democ­ best interests of the individual person. racy, 2,500 years after Pericles' death, can in any way compare with the ideal he sought Mr. Houston: What about the files in the to bring to fruition in his day. Perhaps we Special Branch of the Police Department? Address in Reply (19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 617

Dr. CRAWFORD: Certain aspects of see this inaugurated at Mt. Gravatt, because government must remain secret because of it could be established at approximately 20 public security. These are very few indeed. per cent of the capital cost of a con· Some of the activities of the Police Force are ventional university, and it could have very in that category, and I am sure the Leader of great benefits indeed for a State with the Opposition will agree with that. We must Queensland's geographic features. be constantly vigilant in this Assembly so that any unnecessary secrecy is abolished. In British experience during 1971 is that 90 my view, this is a basic concept of democ­ per cent of students of the open university racy. If we do not have an ombudsman gained, at their first year examinations, either who is above Public Service control and who credits or credits with distinctions. The is responsible to Parliament, we will not have system has been, and largely still is, elitist the type of person who can report to Par­ with a vengeance. Destruction of the con. liament without fear or favour, thus protect­ cept of an elite group attending the uni­ ing the individual citizen at all times. versity can be accomplished if higher educa­ tion is not limited by arbitrary decision but Mr. Houston: Who would appoint him? is based solely on the number of students who are able and willing to benefit from the Dr. CRAWFORD: That is a question that facilities provided. shall attempt to answer. I think that would be an extraordinarily difficult decision It is probable that in the United Kingdom to make. I should like to see the judiciary more than 1,000,000 additional people would involved, although I do not necessarily have been qualified for higher education had advocate the appointment of a judge. I should the Robbins proposal-that is the one that like to see citizens of merit in the community initiated the setting up of the university­ involved also, and I would not like to been applied 30 years earlier. That means, see the appointment of an ombudsman come of course, that over that period-in Aus­ under any form of Government control. tralia we can divide the approximate figures by about four to obtain comparable figures Mr. Honston: He would not be under here-very large numbers of youngsters the Public Service Board? have not been able to find university accommodation. An open university would Dr. CRAWFORD: I envisage him being enable that very gross anomaly to be beyond the control of the Public Service removed from society. Board. The appointment of an ombudsman could be a substitute for an Act of the type In the open university, written material brought down last year in the Papua and is programmed for self-instruction. It is New Guinea House of Assembly, the pur­ propagated by television ~.nd radio pro­ pose of which was to prevent corruption. grammes transmitted by the B.B.C. on Sun­ Such an appointment would mean that there clay mornings and between 5.30 and 7.30 would be more satisfactory protection for p.m. Student assignments, some of which the people of Queensland than there is for are graded by computer, others by a national those in Papua-New Guinea. network of part-time tutors, are used in a I should now like to mention projects that way exactly similar to that used in the are for the general benefit of the community. ordinary university set-up. Face-to-face I think it was an honourable member instruction, which, of course, is believed by opposite who previously discussed in this all educators to be important, is carried out House a project based on the open university by the setting up of summer schools within that is presently functioning in the United a traditional university setting for all the Kingdom. There would be many advantages students. In science, a $300 practical kit to Queensland in the institution of such a for laboratory experiments is provided by service for Queenslanders. The size of this the university and is used in the home. State is such that there is extraordinary diffic11lty in providing an adequate educa­ It is doubtful, really, whether any of the tional service for the whole of it. I mentioned individual components used in the United before that Queensland represents 22 per cent Kingdom in this experiment is in itself of the land area of Australia, and is four novel. What certainly is new is the corn· or five times the land area of the entire bination of all these components into an United Kingdom. This geographical fact over-all system and a completely new con­ presents very great difficulty in the provision cept. of adequate educational facilities for the The full-time academic staff in the open entire State. university is about 200 and is divided into After much discussion and much soul­ six faculties-science, humanities, social searching, the British established their open science, mathematics, education::! studies, university at the beginning of 1971. Avail· and technology. The new university at Mt. able reports therefore deal with one year Gravatt is adopting a similar principle. of that university's functioning. There is Instead of having degree courses in specific in Queensland an External Studies Depart. disciplines such as medicine and engineering, ment of the university, and this could well the faculties provided initially will be along become the nucleus of an open university. the same lines-science, humanities, and Even at this late stage, I should like to social science. 618 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

The United Kingdom is divided into 12 Dr. CRAWFORD: That is true enough. If regions, each of which has a small full-time you have been listening to my figures, Mr. academic and administrative staff whose Speaker, you would realise rthat we could functions are to organise the nation-wide actually obtain five of these universities for tutorial system and summer schools. Spread the sum we spend on one conventional univer­ among the 12 regions are more than 250 sity in Australia. We could cover the entire local study centres. The tutorial and coun­ country as a result. That is a figure .that selling functions are handled by more than should appeal to anybody who has any 3,000 part-time academics of three types. financial training or is worried about the The first of these is the institution of coun­ financial affairs of the State. sellors who offer professional and opera­ The next matter with which I should like tional advice on the learning system, the to deal is associated with medical services second class tutors who lecture and conduct in our State. I wish to draw attention to seminars, and the third correspondence the improvement which would be manifest tutors. in our community if we established coronary­ Summer schools, which, as I mentioned care ambulances. Compared with other parts earlier, involve face-to-face confrontation of the world where these have been estab­ with tutors and with the type of instruction lished-the first was established in Belfast that other universities offer, are compulsory several years ago-it could be said that we and all students must attend. are several years late in giving consideration to establishing units of this type. When I Each week's normal study-each unit that first entered this Chamber I was quite vocal the student carries out-nominally requires in urging for the es,tablishment of coronary­ about 10 hours' work, six hours of self­ care units in hospitals. We now have these instruction, a half-hour of television instruc­ units in our major hospitals, and they are tion, a half-hour of radio instruction, a half­ saving large numbers of lives. hour of self-assessment tests, and about a half-hour for "subjective" assignments to be Approximately 7,500 coronary attacks graded later by computer or one of the occur per annum in Brisbane. These occur tutors. In science there is also about one in a male age group which varies in the hour each week for home experiments. The early thirties-! recently heard of one gentle­ television programmes, incidentally, are man aged 29 who died-and extends into mostly documentaries, not the usual tele­ the sixties and seventies. They are mostly vised lectures. Under-use of study centres men who are good earners, with a high must be regarded as one of the least suc­ potential in earning capacity which, if cut cessful aspects of the university's work, and off in its prime, would be very much to the it is hoped that that particular difficulty detriment of their families. Of approxi­ will be overcome this year. Summer schools mately 7,500 persons who suffer coronary were an unqualified success. attacks each year in Brisbane, 2,300 die. Half of the people, that is, about 1,100 or 1,200, As I said, it is quite possible in this State die within a couple of hours of onset of and throughout the nation-of course, we the attack and before being admitted to already have the example of the School of hospital. With a coronary-care unit available the Air in Queensland-to institute univers­ immediately to the patient, about one-third ity education of this type, and I repeat for of these cases could be saved. Therefore, emphasis that the British have found that about 400 would be saved annually in to set it up costs 20 per cent of the capital Brisbane if coronary care in a mobile unit cost of establishing a conventional university. were available to the patient in his They have found that with those students home. Nothing at all can be done about who have persisted with their studies there the other 700 or 800; their deaths would is a 90 per cent success rate. never be prevented, whatever we did. I might add that there is no entry examina­ The parts of >the world that have provided tion or entry qualification. Any person who coronary-care ambulances, and where they considers that he is able to carry out the are functioning well, are widely scattered. course of instruction, or would like to give My first intimation that this service was the course of instruction a trial, can be provided came from a British journal, which enrolled as a student. This has removed in announced tha>t it had been set up in Belfast. the United Kingdom, and would remove in I understand that this service has also been Australia, a very great number of the dis­ instituted in Moscow and in many towns in advantages of ,the conventional university the United States. The only place in Aus­ system. It also means, of course, that tralia where I know such a service exists is students have to work hard, because they are Perth. Coronary-care ambulances have been part-time students. But if they are motivated equipped to deal with ,this urgent health with the necessary energy to carry out their problem, and in those parts of the world studies, they have been, and will continue to that have them they are working well and be very successful. saving lives. The purpose of rthe coronary­ care ambulances is to bring the necessary life­ Mr. Porter: Is it your proposition that the saving equipment, ,that is, the defibrillator, amount of money now being spent on tertiary the intravenous therapy, and a cardiac moni­ education could, in this way, cover a lot tor to the patient who has suffered the more students? sudden cardiac arrest. Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 619

In some centres, initially, medical officers nurses who have had no special training accompanied the ambulance. However, when previously can, with intensive training, be the ambulance personnel were trained in taught to carry out these services most ade­ coronary care, in the same way as nursing quately. In the ambulance services in the sisters are trained in coronary-care units in parts of the world I have mentioned, the Brisbane and elsewhere, it was no longer personnel have already been so trained. necessary to have medical personnel accom­ The organisation would need to be pub­ pany the ambulance. Either nursing sisters licised to general practitioners, through their or ambulance officers can function in this magazines, and to first-aid officers, industrial way. In Columbus, Ohio, where Dr. James health officers and other key personnel in Warren, Professor of Medicine, organised business and industry. Training courses in coronary-care ambulances, in the first year cardio-pulmonary resuscitation could be of operation there was an over-all saving organised through the St. John's Ambulance. of 10 per cent of apparently dead people If this over-all plan were put into effect, by immediate cardio-pulmonary resuscitation it would lead to the saving of at least 400 and defibrillation by the coronary-care lives in our community each year. Some ambulance. As I mentioned, this in time of the persons now suddenly dying of heart becomes an appreciable figure of life saved attacks are in the prime of their life and in the community. still have many years of productive activity The second value of the coronary-care ahead of them. The contribution that they ambulance is the transport to hospital of would make to the community could only patients who have had a myocardial infarc­ be guessed at, but still it cannot be under­ tion and who at that time are not in need estimated and it could only be a useful of resuscitation but have a sudden collapse contribution. in the ambulance. In Belfast, a patient being There are other general health problems transported to hospital is always attached which are perhaps worth mentioning briefly. to the monitor, which shows what his heart In Brisbane we are experiencing a very great is doing as the ambulance drives along, and, shortage of hospital beds for intermediate as the defibrillation equipment is available and private patients. The shortage is so in the ambulance, the ambulance driver can gross that the situation could be described as travel at normal speeds until he reaches being totally inadequate. This shortage has the coronary-care unit in hospital. occurred for various reasons. For example, These ideas are now generally accepted certain hospitals have closed down while, at throughout most of the world and are avail­ the same time, the population has continued able in many parts of the world where to expand. However, the situation is able medical services are really well organised. to be corrected, and could be corrected There seems to be some reluctance to intro­ quite rapidly if the State Health Department duce them in Brisbane where progressive declared certain public beds in certain cir­ ideas sometimes have to overcome a stulti­ cumstances to be intermediate beds. This fying, bureaucratic stubbornness. We need would help accommodate the demand. It is in Brisbane, four coronary-care ambulances: not tolerable to force people who wish to one to be sited in the inner-city area, one have the freedom of choice of their medical in the inner suburbs of South Brisbane and attendant into public beds simply because one in each of two outer suburbs, for insufficient intermediate beds are available. A example, Chermside and Mt. Gravatt. Maybe realistic view must be taken of the best use of the honourable member for Archerfield all beds for the good of the public. It is would like one sited at Inala. I would have simply not good enough to pay lip-service to no objection to that, since Inala and Mt. some form of parochial or political philosophy. Gravatt are geographically in the same area. A year or two ago St. Martin's Hospital These ambulances would need to be closed down with the result that an emergency equipped with battery-operated monitors arose. Unfortunately the Health Department (which, as I said, show the persons reading did not see fit to use the hospital either as a them the exact situation with regard to convalescent hospital for people who had been heart action), defibrillators, and the usual accommodated in public beds or as an inter­ intravenous drugs, Xylocaine, Atropine, mediate hospital run by a particular authority Sodium Bicarbonate and Calcium Lactate. while the whole situation relative to the num­ A programme should be undertaken to train ber of beds is being corrected. the ambulance personnel in the principles of Another matter of medical importance to coronary care, and this course would need South-east Queensland is the killing of beef in to last from eight weeks to 12 weeks, with the metropolitan abattoir area. Within it ade­ in-service training of the ambulance personnel quate inspection, chilling and transport of comparable to that of nurses who are event­ meat is carried out; however, the regulations ually used in the hospital coronary-care units. that apply to the abattoir area do not apply to Killarney and other near-country areas The suggestion that people who are where killing proceeds without supervision. virtually lay personnel should be given train­ On several occasions I have contacted the ing in a highly specialised branch of medicine appropriate authorities about this matter, and may sound revolutionary, but in practice it it is factual that at least 14 per cent of all has been shown throughout the world that cattle slaughtered contain offal that is unfit 620 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply for human consumption. In the abattoir area I mentioned in recent days, by medium of this is removed under supervision by a question, my worry about the over-all inspectors. difficulties that we are experiencing with Mr. Sherrington: This is not in the metro­ our children's services. It is true that our politan area? services are overtaxed, particularly at the Rogers Street clinic. I have attempted to Dr. CRAWFORD: No. The abattoir ascertain how we can correct the year's area is the metropolitan area, and it extends delay that exists at that clinic in order to as far south as Beenleigh and westwards to provide full services on an immediate basis. Ipswich and Toowoomba. In that area the I think the Minister said that urgent cases removal of offal is carried out properly and are treated immediately, but that is not correctly. I have produced coloured photo­ completely factual. There is no method graphs of some beasts that contain offal that by which a clerk. sitting in an office, can is unfit for human consumption, and these ascertain whether a child with minimal photographs have been forwarded to the mental defects, or specific learning defects, appropriate authorities. is an urgent case or otherwise. The only way to correct the whole situation is to In Killarney no inspections are carried out, have enough trained personnel so that a and the meat is transported to the Gold Coast particular child can be seen as soon as and other places for sale. There is no the parents or some other responsible person reason why that meat should not be inspected is aware that there are difficulties. in the same way as other meat. It poses a very real health hazard and should not be In this context, we have just held Handi­ tolerated, especially in view of the fact that capped Persons Week. It is important that in the metropolitan area meat is handled we should stop the fragmentation of services correctly. to children with various troubles and diffi­ culties. There are organisations in our It is interesting to note that, on each community that deal with the various sub­ occasion when new regulations are to be divisions of handicapped children. There introduced, the Americans allow Queensland is no need for me to delineate those sub­ abattoirs to complete a contract prior to con­ divisions-they all run well individually. The forming to new regulations. This seems to very big risk is that a child may be slotted me to be a peculiar situation. No doubt into the wrong place for treatment, with the Americans are being polite. However, if nobody to blame. He may have seen a there is a breakdown in the preparation of psychologist but may never have had a Queensland meat for export, we could find complete assessment by a psychiatrist. If ourselves in the situation where American a mistake is made with a three, four or consumers look upon Queensland meat with six-year-old child in this context, it is very disdain and suspicion. For example, a con­ likely that, by the time he is 14, 15 or .16, signment that did not conform to the new he will have given up the struggle agamst regulations as laid down in the United States unequal odds and become a juvenile could slip through. delinquent. Mr. O'Donnell: Do you see the new I am calling for some central authority, regulations as a means of clamping down which could be established under the auspices when the Americans do not want any further of the Health Department or the Department meat? of Education, and under which ~11 the ser­ Dr. CRAWFORD: I am aware of that vices for children who are handicapped or possibility. need remedial education or treatment could be co-ordinated. It would then be possible Mr. Sherrington: It arises from a bit of for a doctor a teacher, or a guidance person, political influence. to refer any problem to the authority so Dr. CRAWFORD: No, it is not even that. that it could be assessed at the outset. It is a peculiar situation, and the authorities I have a further comment to make on need to examine the regulations as they are Labor's health plan, and I will deal with promulgated in the United States. If poorly this matter again at a later time. I believe prepared meat can get through-and I believe it is important for any party that produces it does-it may be condemned by the United a health plan to have the specific welfare States. Our national pride and our wish to of the individual patient as its only criterion, protect our national export market should and as its only, and prime objective. If ensure that this does not occur. It is a diffi­ that is not carried out we will have the cult situation, but it is not necessarily a situation where for political purposes, the political one. wrong type of' health service is introduced Mr. Sherrington: By the same token, some into our community. American abattoirs do not meet the require­ ments that are imposed on Australia. Mr. HARVEY (Stafford) (4.29 p.m.): In speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate, I Dr. CRAWFORD: I agree with that. do so with humble gratitude to the people In the over-all situation, this is a health who have made possible my presence in problem. It could well be a matter that this, Her Majesty's Queensland Parliamen~. would bring us into disrepute overseas and I sincerely trust that I can live up to their therefore it should be looked into. expectations of me, discharge the obligations Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 621 reposed in me, and represent the people distance. We are much closer to England in a humane and understanding rather than and other countries than we were 10 years a machine-like manner. I am here despite ago. We can no longer rely on our isolation the re-arranged, gerrymandered electoral for our defence, because our neighbours and boundaries, boundaries that were changed enemies are virtually at our back door. after I was endorsed. And I point out that Decentralisation is often referred to. the particular area that was added to my electorate contained the only booth in the Regrettably, not only in Queensland and in whole electorate where I failed to gain a every other State, but also throughout the world, there is movement to the urban area majority. So may it be. and environment: so much so, that the I assure the House that I took my oath United Nations A~sembly appointed a session on the Bible for what it and the Bible solely to deal with it. In Queensland over symbolise. 60 per cent. of the State's population resides I congratulate the Governor, Sir Colin in one per cent. of its area. It is predicted Hannah, on his appointment, and Lady that by 1980 over 85 per cent. of the State's Hannah. I wish them a very happy and population will be confined within one per rewarding association with the people of cent of its area. This is cause for a great Queensland, to the benefit of themselves, the deal of concern, and I feel that in many people and the State. ways we are probably not doing all we I entered Parliament after serving 21 should to see that other parts of the State years in the largest local authority in Aus­ are developed. tralia. I was the longest-serving alderman. It is very regrettable indeed that the I served three years under Mr. Frank Snowy Mountains Authority, established by Roberts, six years in Opposition under the the Commonwealth Government to implement C.M.O. and 12 years under Clem Jones. the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme, Therefore I am able to assess the situation has been reduced to its present status. I from both the administrative and Opposition believe that that organisation of highly skilled points of view. My local authority experi­ personnel could have been used for the ence will stand me in good stead when I implementation of other projects throughout settle down in this aspect of government. Australia. During the 12 years that I was chairman When we look at rail freights, electricity of the Transport and Electricity Committee charges, and the like, we must realise that I had some trying times. Firstly, the Pad­ not enough is being done for the pioneers on dington fire was a considerable set-back to the land in this State and in other par,ts of public transport. At a later date, following Australia. I have found statistical evidence the Goverment's rationalisation of electricity, generation in the south-east corner of the to show quite definitely that the people of State was placed under one authority, as was the Outback receive less consideration than distribution in Brisbane, thus removing the people in many other areas. For example, uneconomic overlapping that previously many people on the land are paying for existed. Later again, following publication electricity as much as 32 times what is of the Wilbur Smith Report, Brisbane con­ being paid by overseas investors who are verted from trams to buses. If the decision speculating in this country for their own had depended on a report prepared by monetary gain. De Leuw Cather & Company attitudes may have been different. As a previous speaker suggested, freight charges require urgent consideration. Rail I pay the highest commendation to the freights were one of the matters considered council staff. Every council employee is a by the Commonwealth Grants Commission, dedicated officer. Quite often, council and they will no doubt be referred to in the employees are criticised and castigated annual report of the Commissioner for Rail­ unjustly by members of the community, and ways. They warrant consideration, and, to people in authority must speak in their be quite candid, I consider ,that financial defence when unjustifiable critici,;m is assistance for their reduction should be made levelled at them. When an injustice is being available by the Federal Government. Later done either to a member of the public or an I shall give examples of what is being done employee, it is incumbent on those in overseas in this matter. authority to defend him, because he does not have any right of redress or defence It is acknowledged tha't we are living in a on his own behalf. world of change. Changes are taking place in academic qualifications and levels of The vast scientific, industrial and social knowledge. Over 90 per cent of scientists changes taking place in our society today will who have ever lived are alive today. Tech­ affect our way of life not only now, but in nological advances are changing the pattern the future. Our attitudes towards those of life. Dr. Kenneth Boding of the Univer­ problems will determine the future. More si,ty of Michigan has pointed out that in advanced machinery, more powerful sources today's changing world technology in industry of energy and better means of education and was wiping out over 35,000 jobs every week travel have reduced the size of the universe. in America alone. He predicts that the Today, we speak in time rather than in world of the future will require only 10 622 Address in Reply (19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

per cent of the population to produce all the to

State Premiers' Conference in Canberra on to participate in sport. But what is happen­ Thursday of that same week. The Premier ing? Although the Government has appointed of New South Wales adopted a similar a Director of Sport, in 1969 it completely attitude and said that greater financial eliminated the 20 per cent subsidy payable assistance should be given to local govern­ to local authorities on recreation areas. The ment. result is that they do not receive le by In referring to the subsidies that the way of subsidy on the development of parks Brisbane City Council has received from and areas for recreational pursuits. Whereas this Gove;·nment, I wish to read from a prior to 1960 the Brisbane City Council letter to the council dated 23 June 1961 received a subsidy of 50 per cent on the in which the Under Treasurer says- ' reclamation of refuse tips for development "Since 1955-56, the amount of subsidy as park areas, in 1960-61 it was reduced payable under the scheme has increased to 20 per cent, and in 1969-70 it was by 66}% with the anticipated payment eliminated altogether. The sterling efforts of this year approaching $6 million. These local authorities throughout the State in pro­ payments are made from the State Loan viding sporting and recreational facilities Fund. Over the corresponding period, must be acknowledged, but they are today the new loan raisings available to the carrying out this work with no subsidy from State have increased by 29% only. The the Government, whereas formerly they did State thus finds itself in a position where receive some assistance. it must curtail the over-rapid increase in Mr. Miller: How do subsidies in Queens­ the growth of subsidy payments." land compare with those in the other States On 8 August I 969 the council received a of Australia? further letter from the under Treasurer, Mr. HARVEY: To be honest, I have not which stated that cut-backs would be made compared the subsidies and therefore cannot in subsidies payable on water supply, sewer­ speak about them. age, road works, swimming pools, and so on. Once again the Under Treasurer Whereas previously the Brisbane City repeated- Council received a subsidy of 20 per cent "Hence Cabinet has had no alternative on automatic water valves, service reser­ but to make the decision to contain the voirs and so on, today it does not get a rate of growth in subsidy commitment cent. Much has been said about sewerage. commensurate with its resources." Years ago the council received a 50 per cent subsidy for sewerage submains and have related these figures to Brisbane, branch lines. It was reduced to 40 per but I am sure that similar figures apply to cent in 1962-63 and eliminated in 1970-71. other local authorities. In 1969-70 the subsidy on roads was Mr. Hughes: You cannot deny that this reduced from 20 to 15 per cent, and the Government has given the council more subsidy on bridges and culverts was also money for roads than any other Government. cut back. Mr. HARVEY: In reply to the interjector :\'lr. Lee: \Vhat about the freeways we I point out that when we relate money to built? money values, or compare man-hours and i\Ir. HARVEY: I am talking about sub­ output, we see that today we are getting sidies to local authorities. Money for free­ less than ever before. ways comes from the Commonwealth and I acknowledge that the Government is from the registration of motor vehicles. Com­ carrying out freeway work in Brisbane, but monwealth allocations to roads is a different l remind honourable members that that n1att~r altogether. money is coming from the Commonwealth As for mosquito eradication, whereas Aid Roads Act allocation. Rather than be previously the Brisbane City Council received distracted at this stage, I will come to this a subsidy of 50 per cent, nowadays it does point in a couple of minutes and cite some not receive any subsidy at all. So much enlightening figures. for the Government's concern about mosquito In water reticulation, there was formerly eradication. In 1969-70 the subsidy payable a 50 per cent subsidy on six-inch mains, on street improvements decreased from 20 but today that subsidy does not apply. If to l5 per cent. and that payable on concrete this is the situation in Brisbane, it must water channelling was cut back from 25 to apply to local authorities throughout Queens­ 15 per cent. In 1968--69 the subsidy payable land. If it does, is it any wonder that local O'l sea and river retaining walls, about government is in its present plight, and which we have heard a good deal, was that the ratepayers are bearing such an reduced from 25 to 20 per cent. In addition enormous burden? the subsidy payable on sports grounds and I am glad that the matter of Common­ recreation areas was eliminated. wealth aid for road construction has been When Mr. Dewar represented the Wavell referred to. Today, motorists using diesel electorate, we heard a good deal about what fuel are paying more in tax than the actual the Government would do for our young cost of the fuel. For example, the Brisbane people. If they are to be kept healthy and City Council pays 17.5c per gallon in tax free from vice, they need to be encouraged while the actual cost of the fuel is 14.5c. Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 625

I will now deal with what has come to Mr. Camm: What about the $13,000,000 the State through this avenue. Between spent last year on arterial roads? 1950-51 and 1970-71 Queensland received Mr. HARVEY: I acknowledge that the $382,155,000, or 18.41 per cent of allocations Main Roads Department reviewed main roads under the Commonwealth Aid Roads Act. and major arterial roads recently, and roads I will now show how that $382,000,000 was which were, in the past, the responsibility dispersed, and what was done with it. Of that sum, $64,468,000 was allocated to local of the council, such as Sandgate Road, the authorities. From the latter amount the Bris­ Virginia overpass-- bane City Council received $3,203,311, or A Government Member: Ipswich Road, 4.96 per cent. the freeway-- Mr. Camm: What about the $15,000,000 :\1r. HARVEY: Yes, Ipswich Road and the Main Roads Department spent? the freeway. Mr. HARVEY: I will come to that. Mr. Camm: The Rocklea overpass and Shafston Avenue? Between the inauguration of the scheme on 1 July 1950 and 3 June 1971, Mr. HARVEY: As the Minister knows, $382,000,000 was allocated to Queensland. funds for those roads come from other All local authorities within the State were avenues. I appreciate what is being done allocated $64,468,000, or 18.86 per cent of in this regard, but it is the obligation of the total, but the Brisbane City Council the State to carry out that work. If the received only $3,203,311, or .83 per cent State did not do it, the council would not of the State total, and 4.96 per cent. of the have the financial resources to do it. allocation to local authorities. I had hoped to touch on transport and In reply to the Minister's interjection, the electricity, but time does not permit. Briefly, Brisbane City Council, between 1962 and I submit that the Commonwealth ,Govern­ 1967, received special grants totalling ment fails to realise and face up to its $260,300 for the Mt. Gravatt-Capalaba obligations to finance the capitalisation and (Market Access) Road, Mt. Cotton Road, operation of public transport in this country. Lytton Road, Scrubb Road, Cribb Road, and In the United States of America, a Bill was Gardiner Road. Between 1963 and 1967, passed by 327 to 16. vc:tes to grant . $_3.1 the council received $15,769 in matching billion for the capitalisatiOn and subsrdrsa­ grants. The Brisbane City Council did receive tion of the operation of public transport some money from the Main Roads Depart­ throughout the United States whether publicly ment. or privately owned. I point out that 703,000 or 39.07 per (Time expired.) cent of the people in this State reside in the Brisbane City Council area. Assuming Mr. HUGHES (Kurilpa) (5.10 p.m.): Mr. that, of the 661,271 vehicles registered in Speaker,-- Queensland, 257,895 are used in Brisbane, Opposition Members interjected. and that everybody uses 4 gallons of petrol a week, the petrol tax paid by them amounts Mr. HUGHES: I'll keep it nice and clean to $6,597,985. But the council does not and I won't say any nasty things about the receive that tax. In 1969-70, the council Lord Mayor until the end of my speech. paid $111,413 in petrol tax and $224,018 At the outset I offer my congratulations in diesel fuel tax, a total of $335,431-on to the mover of' the motion for the adoption fuel for its own vehicles used on its own of the Address in Reply, the honourable roads. In return. it received a Commonwealth member for Townsville. He did it very ably, grant of $600.000. and I believe in many of the things that he The council received no subsidy for State said. I will stand up and be counted among highways and suburban arterial roads, but those in the House who wili associate them­ its permanent works liability is as follows: selves with the sentiments that he expressed. Main Roads, 20 per cent over 30 years; I refer to the fact that in the main part of urban subarterial roads, 20 per cent over his speech the honourable member spoke 30 years; developmental roads, 10 per cent against probate and succession duties. I am over 30 years: and secondary roads, 25 per in support of what he said about this tax. cent over 30 years. I believe it is iniquitous and unjust, and stifles initiative and saving in those who Expenditure on main roads during the year have these laudable characteristics. I am 1969-70 was as follows:- not speaking for myself, but for the com­ For the whole State: munity at large. That is the way I always Permanent works $38,403,634 speak here. I am here to represent the people, and I put people before politics. Maintenance works $10,088,989 I also congratulate the seconder of the For Brisbane: motion, the honourable member for Surfers Permanent works $2,455,914 Paradise. I am looking forward to hearing or 6.39 per cent him discourse at great length from his know­ Maintenance works $345,525 ledge of tourism, meter maids, and other or 3.42 per cent things of interest to the people of this State. 626 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

Mr. Sherrington: He took sand from the Mr. SPEAKER: Order! Gold Coast out west. Mr. Sherrington: I want to call his bluff. Mr. HUGHES: I cannot always agree with what the honourable member may do Mr. SPEAKER: Order! When I call or say, but at least he has to account to his "Order", I expect the honourable member to people at election-time and so far he has observe my call. I warn him under Stand­ been successful. ing Order 123A. If he continues to interject I shall deal with him, however short the Mr. Sherrington: Eminently successful. remainder of the sitting may be. Mr. HUGHES: In more ways than one­ both administratively and in a business and Mr. HUGHES: I have nothing to hide. financial sense, no doubt. If the honourable member will show me all his personal and private financial affairs-- I think all honourable members are worthy of congratulation, particularly the Mr. Sherrington interjected. new members, because the last election was one of the most torrid that I can remember Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I do not propose in 15 years. The Labor Party, to its credit, to warn the honourable member for Salis­ ran a good campaign. It is a pity, from its bury again. I now ask him to leave the point of view, that it was not successful in Chamber. terms of numbers, but, in giving credit Mr. Sherrington: That's a bit tough. He where it is due, I will say that it ran a good challenged me. campaign. In fact, I was rather fearful in the closing stages of the campaign. I would Mr. SPEAKER: Order! have liked to see the election held two Mr. Sherrington: He challenged me and I weeks before the actual polling day, because accepted his challenge. from then on the Labor Party turned the issue of law and order to its political Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I ask the honour­ advantage, and it seemed to have unlimited able member for Salisbury to leave the funds for television advertising. Chamber. Mr. Sherrington: The people were turning Whereupon the honourable member for to us. Salisbury withdrew from the Chamber. Mr. HUGHES: It was not that they were Mr. HUGHES: I did not want to begin turning to the Labor Party at all. One has on a contentious note. only to look at the numbers in divisions in this Chamber to see how fallacious is the Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I suggest that honourable member's reasoning. The simple the honourable member should continue with fact of the matter is that the Labor Party his speech. had money to pour into the campaign. At a later stage I shall discourse on the source Mr. HUGHES: That is what I am doing, of those funds. Whilst the Labor Party Mr. Speaker. I reiterate that I did not want may have an argument for compulsory to begin on a contentious note because I have unionism, I am vehemently opposed to the many constructive things to say. It is forms of coercion exerted on the work-force unfortunate that the honourable member for today under which workers, whether they Salisbury is not with us. In deference to like it or not, have contributions deducted him, I shall not continue on that subject. I from their wages for political parties to shall return to where I was before I was so which they do not subscribe. Is that rudely interrupted and completely side­ democracy? tracked. Mr. Lane: So-called voluntary levies. I congratulate all honourable members on their election, and I think deservedly so. I Mr. HUGHES: Yes. They are no more wish all honourable members who sit on the voluntary than was anything done by any of benches on the opposite side of the Chamber us who served in the armed forces when many happy years in Opposition. told, "I want three volunteers-you, you and you." In this case, it is not a matter Mr. P. Wood: I don't want your good of "You, you and you"; rather is it, "I want wishes. Keep them to yourself. 20c from you whether you like it or not." Mr. HUGHES: If the honourable mem­ Mr. Sherrington: That's a lot of rot. ber thinks he does not need anyone's good will, he has a long way to go and a great Mr. HUGHES: It is not. I can produce deal to learn. Maturity does not come statutory declarations to prove it. If the easily. Perhaps his attitude will mellow and honourable member challenges me to debate he will become more mature after he has been this subject, either publicly or in the House, here a few years. At least I know I have I will have him on. the respect of many honourable members Mr. Sherrington: You are challenging me of this Chamber. In the many years now. I will show you the balance sheet from that I have been here, I have learnt that my election campaign if you will show me each of us is only a little fish in a big pool. yours. Another thing that I have learnt is that to be Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply 627 a successful politician one has to have a very One thing about the election that I could good memory and be sincere. There are comment upon unfavourably is the method people on this side of the House who have of the conduct of the election up to polling both those qualities and who will cut the day and thereafter. There was a great honourable member back to size. I suggest delay in the declaration of the result. This to him that he will earn more good will if he is always undesirable because it means that ceases being facetious. members cannot be sworn in, Parliament Let me now turn to the subject of His cannot meet and there is merely executive Excellency the Governor. Queensland has a government over this period of time. It is new Governor, and I join with other hon­ a travesty of justice that there should be ourable members in extending congratula­ a lengthy delay before declaring the result tions to him. He is a member of the armed of a poll. To a great extent, such a delay services who has known privation, has shown results from the fact that magistrates, top courage and initiative, and has served his public servants and school teachers are country well. I believe that he has the carrying out the job of returning officers attributes needed to do his job well, not only almost as a spare-time job. I cannot in a personal sense but also in an official speak for other electorates, but in capacity. I am sure that he will endear Kurilpa the last votes were not counted himself to the community and prove to be until 17 June, which was a considerable a very capable Governor who always acts time after polling day. Of course, I in the interests of the people of this State. personally knew the result a long time before that, as many others would, Mr. Murray: You will agree that the but that is not the point. The poll cannot Army would be the senior service? be declared, a date cannot be set for Parlia­ ment to sit, and members cannot be sworn Mr. HUGHES: The Navy really is the in and the machinery of legislation got under senior service, of course. Perhaps the way until such time as the result of the Army may be senior to the Air Force, but election is sufficiently clear and it is I think that the Minister for Lands, who gazetted. I know that you, Mr. Speaker, served in the Air Force, as I did, will agree had very grave problems in this regard. with me that although the Air Force may The honourable member for Gregory and be the youngest in terms of service it is the Labor people from Cairns also faced this greatest in deeds. I may be slightly biased, problem. But it is a problem that can of course. be overcome. I believe that the Minister Mr. SPEAKER: Order! There is far too for Justice will need to give in-depth con­ much audible conversation in the Chamber. sideration to all aspects of the conduct of future elections. It is just not good enough Mr. HUGHES: I express my appreciation that final votes are still being counted about to the many people who gave of their time three weeks after the election. and their talents, at some cost to themselves, I make the suggestion that, as a starting in assisting me in my campaign at the recent point, in the week before the taking of election. It needed to be a good campaign, the poll, as well as in the week following because it was hard fought and hard won. it, the returning officers apply themselves Redistribution did not assist me in Kurilpa; full time to their task, and be instructed so in fact, my supporters and I carried a cross. to do regardless of their normal vocations. The honourable member for Greenslopes, who is now Minister for Transport, no doubt Mr. Murray: Do you think it would be an was quite happy to shed some of the bottom advantage to be able to appoint your own portion of his electorate and see it included returning officer? in Kurilpa because the people in it voted Mr. HUGHES: That is such an inane Labor. I door-knocked every house and I interjection that it does not warrant my can assure honourable members that it was spending time in considering a reply. I a tough, hard campaign. The cross that I would expect better from the honourable had to bear was that I am a Liberal in a member for Clayfield. Labor area. However, I was returned, and the test is not how many votes one succeeded The week following the taking of the by but who actually won the election. That poll, the returning officers should dedicate is the name of the game. It does not matter themselves full time to the task of assembling whether a person wins by 300 or 500 votes, the votes. I know that under the Act the as I did, or by 3,000. It is the name of the returning officer cannot count certain votes one who wins that goes down in the book of in that week, nor can he do certain other records. things, but it could mean that he could clear up the marking of his roll and the Honourabie Members interjected. processing of the papers in connection with Mr. SPEAKER: Order! the taking of the count for the section votes, and thus would be able expeditiously to Mr. HUGHES: I want to have some bring to a conclusion the result of the poll. audience left! In the interests of efficiency and the demo­ I extend my thanks to the electors of cratic processes of representing people, this Kurilpa, and again give them my assurance matter will have to be given full considera­ of my dedication to duty and their welfare. tion. The returning officers work under 628 Address in Reply (19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply pressure-they have problems in the con­ are not given an opportunity to use the duct of the count-and they cannot do the facilities of Parliament to voice the com­ job efficiently as a spare-time occupation. munity's concern and views on it. This hap­ It is not only desirable to have an earlier pens simply because Parliament is not sitting, declaration of the poll; as well, it is undeni­ and also because too many of the legislative ably in the interests of justice and the aspects of policy have become the sole representation of people. preserve of the Cabinet. As to the representation of people, it I believe that back-benchers have too little is time that the Government took a good oppo!'tunity to make their views known, let look at the modus operandi of the workings alone to vote on matters of great public and sittings of Parliament. I am cognisant importance. Certainly in the matter of day­ of the fact that there can be an onerous light saving such an opportunity was given responsibility on country members. Frankly, to us, as it has also been in the subject of I do not think that country members get a legal abortion and one or two other con­ "fair go" as it is. They are entitled to troversial questions. But in the period that certain secretarial assistance and other r have been associated with government in facilities that metropolitan members enjoy. this State, these opportunities have been all Do not think, from the way I speak now, too few. I believe that much more could be that I am averse to honourable members done and a greater role played by back­ receiving consideration irrespective of their benchers if they were given the opportunity political ilk. Whether they be Labor, Inde­ to do so, not only through the usual com­ pendent, Liberal or Country Party, country mittees but also through parliamentary all­ members are deserving of greater consider­ party committees. I do not believe that all ation and assistance in secretarial and other the brains are on the Government side. services to enable them to carry out the work of representing their constituents more Mr. R. E. Moore: Most of them are. efficiently. Mr. HUGHES: The honourable member I also believe that it is net good enough may well be right. I said, "Not all the brains for this Parliament to remain in recess for a are on the Government side." I believe it is period of eight months. I should hope that worth our while to listen to the point of this will never again happen, and that con­ view of Opposition members who may have sidemtion will be given to a more even sound experience and skills in certain direc­ spread of sittings. tions. For this reason, I am all for ,the Mr. Jensen: I said that in 1969. implementation of all-party committees. Members of the Opposition must possess Mr. HUGHES: I said it in 1969, I said it some degree of intelligence, and in a personal before 1969, and I will continue to say it. way I believe that many of them have a I have some tenacity and sense of purpose degree of sincerity which probably entitles about the ,things that I believe in. I believe them, to some extent, to legitimately criticise this to be right, and I reiterate that greater something the Government may have done. consideration has to be given to country I believe this, and I hope that the future will members. see more rapport between Government and J\1r. Murray: Are there any vacancies in Opposition members, working together in the membership of the midnight club? interests of the community on all-party com­ mittees and investigating matters that could Mr. HUGHES: The honourable member well deserve the attention of Government. can have my place after midnight. At 5.30 p.m., VI/hen Parliament is not sitting, I am not Mr. SPEAKER: Order! Standing Order 17 opposed ,to Cabinet and the Executive Council provides that the debate on the Address in conducting the affairs of the State as a Reply shall cease at 5.30 p.m. However, board of directors charged with these respon­ the Speaker has a discretionary power sibilities, but I do take umbrage at this to allow the member who is speaking to practice being spread over a period of time complete this speech. I extend this con­ when Parliament is not sitting for months cession to the honourable member for on end and the Executive Council is policy­ Kurilpa. making and bringing in regulations and other things that impinge on the rights of people Mr. HUGHES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. and their way of life. While it is in recess, I appreciate the exercise of your discretion. Parliament has no opportunity of being Time will not permit me to discuss certain acquainted with these actions or to debate other aspects of the modus operandi of any of them. Parliament. However, I do claim that we I believe that more of these things should should examine the present method of intro­ be brought before Parliament and that private ducing Bills. Legislation by exhaustion members should have a greater say in what should be eliminated; members should not shall be Government policy. With all the be required to sit after midnight. A Bill respect I have for Cabinet members and should be introduced simply by laying it on their ability, I do not think it is good the table, and when it was printed its first enough when something that affects the reading could be moved so that members communi,ty can happen and private members could study it for a week or two before Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972) Address in Reply 629

being required to debate it. Introductory Honourable members know the feeling speeches and waffling-this "Around Aus­ engendered by the French bomb test in tralia in 20 minutes" procedure-should be the Pacific Ocean. People are terribly upset done away with. If they were, we could get by pollution. Why should the council want down to more constructive and efficient con­ to increase the atrocities of noise and pollu­ tributions to legislation. tion, or interfere with a riverside area that Further, bureaucracy should not be enjoys a quiet, peaceful village-like setting allowed to run riot. A rein could be kept and should be solely residential in nature? on it by allowing members of Parliament a These people were rightly incensed. The greater say in the affairs of State than they land should be designated for public use. have now. The proposed move is a travesty of proper Having dealt with the ramifications of planning. The council claims that the Parliament, I wish to turn now to a matter rezoning will allow drain pipes to be installed of tremendous importance to a section of at the subdivider's expense in return for the my electorate, namely, town planning. The industrial-zoned land. Brisbane City Council proposes to rezone Mr. Burns: Tell us about Brisbane Securi­ certain lands in Yeronga West from future­ ties. urban and open space to industrial use. In spite of protests by many people, the Mr. HUGHES: I would not know a thing council is persisting with this course, and about Brisbane Syndications, except that I do in doing so is riding roughshod over those know that a syndicate is in voluntary affected. It is not paying any regard what­ liquidation. ever to their fears, needs and demands. The council is wantonly implementing its town Mr. Burns: Aren't you a director of it? planning powers. Mr. HUGHES: No, I am not. In "The Courier-Mail" of 1 July, the council published its intention to rezone to Mr. Burns: Aren't you? industrial use certain land at Yeronga West, situated on the riverside drive overlooking Mr. HUGHES: No. The honourable mem­ the university. The citizens of the area were ber should try again. He is as misinformed incensed, and rightly so, because the indus­ on this as he is on most things. If the trialisation of this area would have a honourable member were properly informed, tremendous effect upon its environment, and at least his voice would be listened to its peace and quiet. This land is located on in this House. At the moment he gets a riverside drive and backs onto another himself "rubbished" because he does not road. People built homes in the area with have his facts straight. the full knowledge that, whilst some indus­ try was located some distance away, no Mr. Burns: You aren't a director of it? fmther industrialisation would be allowed to occur. I might point out that the indus­ Mr. HUGHES: Does the honourable mem­ trialisation that has occurred is in itself a ber want me to put it in writing? I will travesty of planning. However, it was there make a statutory declaration, if that would before anybody could do very much about help him. it-it was certainly there before I was an Mr. Burns: It would help. alderman-and it could not be removed. The people have learned to live with it but Mr. HUGHES: Very well; I will make that is no reason why another area should a statutory declaration. be rezoned for industrial use. While I was an alderman the whole of this I spoke previously about inane interjec­ area, from Fairfield to Y eronga, was planned tions, but the honourable member's inter­ to contain playing fields. At that time the jections are so completely misinformed they council had planned to fill the area and con­ do not warrant my spending any more time vert it into one containing 22 cricket pitches on them. and 22 football fields, as well as sporting The residents in the area to which I am facilities for women. In addition, a riverside referring have rebelled. At a public meeting drive was planned, and was in fact constructed. in the R.S.L. Hall on 31 July this year, The Brisbane City Council has done some the residents, in their hostility-they were excellent work, but now it wants to spoil all strongly up in arms-expressed their objec­ that has been done by establishing industry tion to this proposal. They were vociferous in the area. in doing so, and a petition, a copy of which Brisbane suffers from a shortage of open I have here and can show to the Chamber, space and parklands. Often they are was signed by 1,845 people. That number referred to as the "lungs" of a city. Once encompassed almost the whole of the popula­ parkland is built upon, it cannot be restored tion of the area. Almost to a man, the for the benefit of future generations. We people were so concerned that they formu­ must plan for our children and be deeply lated this petition and wrote hundreds of concerned about smog, pollution the letters to the council. I received over 100 environment, noise and many other 'things letters and innumerable phone calls, and which today are matters that deeply con­ the Minister for Local Government has also cern the people. received numerous complaints. 630 Address in Reply [19 SEPTEMBER 1972] Address in Reply

The grounds for the petition are fairly building foundations. He said this would straightforward and should have been heeded be a costly process. It is inevitable that by the council. Included in them were- property values would decrease. "The increase in smoke, noxious fume I pledged my support to a citizens' com­ and noise pollution resulting from the mittee because I believe that its case should establishment of as yet unspecified types be taken up. I believe that its plea is of industrial undertakings will be a hazard genuine and honest, and is in the interests to the health and happiness of the residents of the people and their families, and children of the area. yet unborn. We need these parks, playing "The increase in all types of traffic fields, open spaces and riverside drives now on the surrounding roads will be a hazard if we are to do anything for future genera­ to life and limb." tions. Not everything has a price on it That would be so, particularly with children. for the council or Lord Mayor J ones. It This is an area with many new houses built is not a case of what they can get back by young couples with children. The pro­ and rake in through the selling or rezoning posed industrial development would destroy of land. the village-community atmosphere of the In its proposal to rezone this land, the area. Many of these residents purchased council said that the developers would meet land and erected expensive homes after having the cost of any drainage that was necessary. been assured that the land referred to in The Works Department had two plans pre­ the council's rezoning proposals was to be pared, and the feasibility and costing have filled and developed as parkland and playing been refuted by engineers. It has been fields. In fact, the area was filled as a claimed that there is a demand for industrial controlled rubbish-tip. land in the Y eronga area. The demand The honourable member for Stafford is small, and rezoning will not affect it. acknowledged that in some respects this In fact the citizens' committee says that the is a charitable Government that has been demand is so small as to be minimal. The generous to the local authority of Brisbane rezoning proposal is contrary to State Gov­ in the amount it has paid out in subsidies. ernment industrial planning practice and will This Government has given the Brisbane concentrate industry in certain outlying areas. City Council more in subsidies than any The Minister for Development and Indus­ other Government has given any council in trial Affairs has done a good job in getting Australia. The fact that the Lord Mayor industries out of the inner-city area and may have misused some of the funds is locating them where people can be employed. a story for another day. The simple fact This State has the best employment record is that the honourable member said that in Australia. It is second to no other State. 20 per cent of the cost of filling playgrounds, Opposition members should take a good parks and open spaces was paid to the look at their expressed concern for the council in subsidy. The Government paid working man. They should look at this money by way of subsidy, but the the position in Tasmania:' Sou~h Aus­ council now wishes to prostitute its planning tralia and Western Austraha, which have principles by selling to a subdivider-a Labor Governments. Labor Governments rapacious land developer. could not care less about the working man. For political purposes, they take his money Mr. Burns interjected. by way of a supposedly voluntary k>:Y b?t, Mr. HUGHES: What for-the price of a to care for his welfare, and that of his Wife 72-inch pipe through the area. And the and family, they would tax him out of the council did not give a damn about the health scheme in Queensland. What an people there! atrocity! They want to tax Queensland people for something they now get free under Mr. Burns interjected. this Government. They want to keep the Mr. HUGHES: You should be at the worker out of employment. They have abattoir. That is where the goats are kept. no administrative or other ability to do You should do your bleating at the abattoir. anything about it. You are completely ineffectual so far as Mr. Burns: What have they done in the Lord Mayor is concerned. To the Lord Brisbane? Mayor, your voice is like a drop in the bucket. It does not mean a thing. Mr. HUGHES: That is what they want to do in Brisbane, too. Labor does not care Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The honourable about the worker's environment or his member for Kurilpa will address his remarks welfare. This is indicated by what the to the Chair. Brisbane City Council is doing in Yeronga. Mr. HUGHES: I apologise, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Burns interjected. The matters in which the community is Mr. HUGHES: The inane interjector is vitally concerned include the survey con­ bleating like an emasculated lamb. ducted by a qualified engineer which indica­ ted that the land was unsuitable for industrial Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I warn the hon­ development. He said that the refuse fill ourable member for Lytton under Standing would require rafting and piling to support Order 123A. We will adjourn in five minutes' Address in Reply [20 SEPTEMBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 631 time, but the way he is going I doubt whether he will make it. Mr. HUGHES: I do not think he will either, Mr. Speaker. If he spoke sense, I would listen to him. He should get out among the "emasculated lambs" in Lytton, who cannot understand him. He claims to be a champion of the worker. He is not. He is one of the greatest puppets of all time. He dances every time the strings are pulled by the Q.C.E. Mr. Bums interjected. Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Lytton will now leave the Chamber. Whereupon the honourable member for Lytton withdrew from the Chamber. Mr. HUGHES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad that I have your protection. I shall wind up my speech by simply say­ ing that in the matter of the Yeronga land the principles of town planning have been completely prostituted. The council received a petition and protest, and coldly, calculat­ ingly and perversely proceeded, at a meeting on 29 August, to say, "We are going to proceed regardless of the wishes of the people." They completely disregarded the objectors within the community. I made a plea to the Minister for Local Government, and I believe that he has the ability and the downright common-sense approach to problems to concern himself with this proposal and look at it in the way a matter concerning people should be con­ sidered. I believe that he will hear the protests following the ruthless use of power by the bureaucrats in "Frustration Castle" in Adelaide Street, the autocracy of the Brisbane City Council. I asked the Minister for Local Government to look into this matter. He not only made a promise to do so, but he made an inspection of the area with me and his officers, including the Director of Local Government. They are at least giving con­ sideration to a matter that the council could not care less about. Mr. Hanson: Did the Minister go in a taxi? Mr. HUGHES: No, he did not go in a taxi. What he did was a practical example of what Ministers of this Government do in meeting their obligations and responsi­ bilities where concern for the people is paramount. I am confident that at least the plea of these people will be given a fair and just hearing. If they did not get such a hearing from the council, they will certainly get it from the Government. I have made this plea to the Minister, and, from the interest that he has taken in the matter and his common-sense approach to the problems of people, their needs will be given every consideration. The House adjourned at 5.47 p.m.