Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

WEDNESDAY, 1 APRIL 1981

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

Adjournment [1 APRIL 1981] Address in Reply 675

WEDNESDAY, 1 APRIL 1981

Mr SPEAKER (Hon. S. J. Muller, Fassi­ fern) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m.

ADDRESS IN REPLY PRESENTATION AND ANSWER Mr SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that, accompanied by honourable members, I this day presented to His Excellency the Goveraor the Address of the Legislative Assembly, adopted by thb House on 31 March, in reply to His Excellency's Opening Speech, and that His Excellency has been pleased to make the following reply— "Goverament House, "Brisbane. "1st April. 1981. "Mr Speaker and Gentlemen, "As the Representative of Her Majesty the Queen, I tender to you and the Mem­ bers of the ParUament of Queensland, my sincere thanks for the Address-in-Reply to the Speech which I had the honour to deliver at the Opening of Parliament on March 4th last. "It wiU be my pleasant duty to convey to Her Majesty The Queen the expression of continued loyalty and affection to The Throne and Person of Her Majesty Queen EUzabeth II from the members of the Legislature of Queensland in Parliament assembled. "The Queen is the unifying centre for the peoples of the Commonwealth of Nations, and a sign to the world of our faith in freedom. "I trust that your labours to promote the advancement and prosperity of this great State wfll meet with success in full measure. "I pray that the blessings of Almighty God may rest upon your counseb. "JAMES RAMSAY, "Govemor." 676 Ministerial Statements [1 APRIL 1981] Ministerial Statements

PAPERS Several times during the speech by the honourable member for Rockhampton 1 The foUowing papers were laid on the took points of order which were not accepted table:— by Mr Deputy Speaker. While I can appreciate the difficulties which might be encountered Orders in CouncU under— by a member in thb position of great res­ Forestry Act 1959-1979 and the National ponsibility, especially one with limited experi­ Parks and WildUfe Act 1975-1976. ence, I nevertheless believe that Mr Deputy Speaker should have called the honourable Queensland Film Industry Development member for Rockhampton to order and Act 1977-1979. warned him .that hb imputations of improper Regulations under the Libraries Act 1943- motives on the part of my Government were highly disorderly. Such action would be in 1979. accordance with .the provbions of Standing Orders 120 and 123A. Mr Deputy Speaker did not adopt thb course, and as .the allegations MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS made by the honourable member for Rock­ hampton cast personal refledions on me as ALLEGED FAVOURED GOVERNMENT TREATMENT leader of the Govemment, I attempted ito OF CONTRIBUTORS TO BJELKE-PETERSEN correct the situation by taking a point of FOUNDATION order. Hon. J. BJELKE-PETERSEN (Barambah— Premier) (11.4 a.m.): Yesterday in thb House Mr Speaker, honourable members of the Opposition speak loudly and often in .this it was alleged that contributors to the place of tbe need for reform of Standing National Party's Bjelke-Petersen Foundation Orders. I suggest .that if such reform is received favoured treatment from my heeded, it is needed .to afford greater pro­ Govemment. The aUegations, made by the tection to those who are uinable to share member for Rockhampton under the cloak our privflege. Af.iJr yesterday, it must 'be of parUamentary privilege, deserve to be obvious tbat that view b not shared by the treated with scorn for what they are—nothing honourable member for Rockhampton. more than vicious, baseless innuendo. In fact, these latest allegations are nothing more than echoes of a familiar old line that BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN KESN has been peddled in this House for years by CORPORATION AND STATE GOVERNMENT an Opposition that could be described, at INSURANCE OFFICE best, as uninspired. These allegations, like every one before, are completely unsub­ Hon. L. R. EDWARDS (Ipswioh-^Deputy stantiated—and untrue. Mr Speaker, I say Premier and Treasurer) (11-7 a.m.): I make once again to this House and to the people the following statement in refutation of the of Queensland that any suggestion that statements made by the honourable member favour, honour, reward, commercial advant­ for Rockhampton relative to business trans­ age or anything else can be bought from my actions between Kem Corporation and the Goverament, by any means, b a lie. State Govemment Insurance Office. Essen­ tially, the honourable member's assertion My Government stands proudly on its was that, in so far as .the State Govemment record, not only of unmatched achievement Insurance Office b conceraed, it was for all Queenslanders but also of absolute suggested that Mr .B. 'E. Riding, when in integrity. It is on this record that the a 'decision-making role within the SGIO, people of Queensland have judged us every made determinations affecting a company three years since 1957 and they have sup­ An which he had a financial interest. I present ported us overwhelmingly at election after the facts. election. (i) Mr Riding retired as chairman of the SGIO on 31 December 1977 and has no However, Mr Speaker this latest outburst further connection with the office. proves once again .now seriously the privilege of parliament can be and is being abused. (ii) When chairman of the office he did Each of us, when .he or she is elected to not have a dedsion-making role in property this place, is granted the privflege of speech purchases. Such decisions are made by the that b uninhibited by legal constraints board of the office and are made solely on regarded as necessary for the protection of the commerdal merits of each case. the community at large. Thb privUege b (iii) What Mr Riding did in hb personal an .advantage that we alone command over capacity was not a matter for the SGIO. .{jeople outside .this Chamber. It b an advant­ It b understood that he was, in his personal age that carries with it a large degree of capadty only, a director of Kera from 13 responsibiUty. The honourable member January 1978 .to 4 December 1980, when he yesterday used his special privflege .to publicly resigned. Tbat was after he had been with denigrate certain people and organisations, the SGIO. The personal appointment to the fully aware 'that they have no such piro- Kern board was a matter of public record, teotion for reply or even any certainty .that announced .to .the stock exchange and the their unprotected replies wiU be given com­ media. He was not a member of .the SGIO parable media coverage. board during thb time. Personal Explanation [1 APRIL 1981] Personal Explanation 677

(iv) It b understood that in October 1977 Mr AKERS: I stand by the rulings that Mr Riding acquired 5 000 shares in Kern. I gave yesterday and I ask you, Mr Speaker, After he retired from .the SGIO, I am to stand by the ralings that I gave yester­ informed that he purchased a further 5 000 day in my position of Deputy Speaker or shares .to meet the directors shareholding to dismiss me from that position. qualification of 10000 shares to join the Kern board. He did, it is understood, sell Honourable Members interjected. aU Kem shares when he resigned from the Kem board. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The House will come to order. (v) During tbe period October 1977 to December 1977 (when Mr Riding held 5 000 Honourable Members interjected. shares in Kern) the office did not transact a.ny new business or have any discussiions Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have constantly with Kerns, and in fact declined an offer .to appealed to the House to come to order. purchase a shopping centre bdng buflt by It is not my desire on this last day of Kern at KawMia. sitting to have to ask members to retire from the Chamber. However, unless I (vi) The dealings which SGIO has with receive their full co-operation I shall have Kern are made in the normal course of that obligation, and I assure honourable business, and approved by the SGIO board, members that they will be asked to retire which b composed of people with wide from the Chamber. commerdal experience. Dealings which the office has had with Kem have been very Opposition Members interjected. satisfactory for the office and the policy­ holders and show sound commercial returns. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I warn the hon­ The office has been a shareholder in Kern ourable member for Archerfield under Stand­ since 1971. ing Order No. 123A. (vii) The only three shopping centres in which SGIO has been associated in any way Mr HOOPER: I rise to a point of order. with Kern are Gladstone, Bundaberg and With respect, Mr Speaker, I did not speak. Mackay. These were approved by the SGIO You have warned the wrong person. I think board in July 1975, February 1977 and you owe me an apology. March 1977 respectively. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Normally it is not the policy of the Chair to apologise to members. If I have mistaken the hon­ PERSONAL EXPLANATION ourable member's voice, which would be most unusual as I hear it very frequently Mr AKERS (Pine Rivers) (11.13 a.m.), in this Chamber, it may be that I would by leave: I rise rather reluctantly to com­ tender an apology on this occasion. Never­ ment on a matter that was referred to a theless the honourable member is still few moments ago by the Premier in his warned under Standing Order No. 123A. ministerial statement. I find it very dif­ I give him my complete and total assurance ficult standing in this position to make a that, if the warning is not warranted on statement supporting a ruling made by mc this occasion, I know from his past per­ yesterday as the occupant of the chair. As formance that it will be applicable in the Deputy Speaker yesterday, it was my job very near future. to make rulings. Yesterday the Premier had ample opportunity under Standing Order Mr HINZE: I rise to a point of order. 117 to take certain action. I refer you, Mr Speaker, to Standing Order No. 119. Yesterday, during the debate Standing Order 117 is headed "Dissent referred to by the honourable member for from Rulings of Speaker" and provides— Pine Rivers, the honourable member for "A ruling of Mr Speaker may only be Rockhampton referred to the Government dissented from by Motion: Provided that and to rackets and rorts. I took exception Mr Speaker shall be entitled to put the to his comments. Question when Debate on any such Motion shaU have exceeded sixty minutes, and Standing Order 119 provides— that no Member shall, without concur­ "A Member shaU not use unbecoming rence, speak to such Motion for more offensive words ..." than ten minutes." When I rose to my point of order, I was It then goes on to refer to notice of such referring to Standing Order No. 119. motion. The Premier had the opportunity to act under that Standing Order. To imply An Opposition Member: You didn't say that I was amateurish is wrong. that at the time. Honourable Members interjected. Mr HINZE: Mr Deputy Speaker should have had knowledge of that Standing Order. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The House will I beUeve that the words "rackets and rorts" come to order. used by the honourable member yesterday 678 Personal Explanation [1 APRIL 1981] Questions Upon Notice whilst I was the Minister occupying the Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of front bench were unbecoming and offensive. order. That is why I took exception to them. Mr AKERS: I rise to a point of order. I Mr JONES: I rise to a point of order. do not want that situation to arbe just now. I In relation to what the Minister just said, was on my feet before the honourable mem­ I draw attention to Standing Order 123 which ber for Cairns spoke. I should Uke to quote reads— the very important words that the Minister "Objection to be Taken at the Time. for Local Govemment, Main Roads and 123. Every such objection shall be taken Police omitted to read from Standing Order at the time when the words are used, 119. It concludes with the words— and not after another Member has "... in reference to another Member of spoken." the House." Certainly an objection cannot be taken the That is the ruling that was given yesterday next day. As the longest-serving member and that sort of ruling has been upheld in on this side of the House, I issue a warning this House for as long as I have been to this Assembly. Every honourable mem­ here and, from what I gather from previous ber has the right to say what was said rightly occupants of the chair, long before that. 1 or wrongly yesterday. If we lose that right, cannot see what the argument is about. The we might as well not come here. If it opportunity is there for any honourable mem­ is the intention of any honourable member, ber to take action under the Standing Orders or any person outside the Assembly, to try if he reads them and understands them. to gag a member of this House as a repre­ sentative of the people of Queensland, we are put in danger and we should start having a good look at ourselves. PETITION The Standing Orders Committee should get The Clerk announced the receipt of the together as soon as possible and sort these following petition— matters out in a proper manner. This House is the master of its own destiny and the DEVELOPMENT OF THE BROADWATER members, not people who are trying to dictate and determine what course of action the From Mr Jennings (7 226 signatories) pray­ House will take, should be looking after what ing that the Pariiament of Queensland will is going on in this House. I alert members to not allow the creation of islands within The what is happening here today. I suggest that Broadwater, or buildings or developments they watch very carefully and be very wary along the foreshore, but wUl ensure that the of any indication of what might transpire in present Southport Bar remains and is kept the future. navigable, and that environmental studies are carried out and made pubUc before any Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is becoming a other works are commenced. pointless debate. As honourable members know, I am bound by the Standing Orders. Petition read and received. As has been pointed out, the Standing Orders provide that if a member wishes to raise a point of order or take objection to a QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE comment made by another honourable mem­ ber, it must be done immediately the com­ Questions submitted on notice by members ment is made. As I understand it, that was were answered as foUows:— done. Although I was not in the chair at the time, I have certain obUgations. That point was recognised. 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF AMERICAN COMPANY The fact is that, under our Standing ON WILSONTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE Orders, if an honourable member consider Dr Lockwood asked the Minister for that he should take objection to a raUng Commerce and Industry— of the Chair, it is possible for him to move a motion of dissent from the Chairman's (1) Has a large American company raUng, and it must be debated at the time. sought help from the Commercial and I regard a continuation of this discussion as Industrial Development Department to a pointless debate and I think that the sub­ establish on the Wibonton Industrial ject be closed. Estate, Toowoomba? (2) If so, what stage has the planning Mr WRIGHT: I rise to a point of order. reached and what would the completed I do want to prosecute a quarrel but impor­ tant matters have been raised this morning. project entail? I think that you, Mr Speaker, as the cus­ todian of this House, ougbt to make a ruUng Answer i— as to whether or not the raUngs made yester­ (1 & 2) Discussions have been held by day by Mr Akers were in fact correct and officers of the Department of Commercial in Une with the Standing Orders. and Industrial Devdopment with a large Questions Upon Notice [1 APRIL 1981] Questions Upon Notice 679

American company which is examining (4) A ddafled costing of the total supply the possibility of estabUshing an operation of meals at the Gold Coast Hospital, which utilising natural gas in the general area includes both products from the facility between Toowoomba and Roma. However, at Wacol and conventional sources, is not I should inform the honourable mem'ber available at this time. In respect of costs that these discussions and investigations are to October 1980, information is not readily only at a preUminary stage. available to determine the exact cost at that time. Another American-based company with special technology in drilUng rigs has been allocated a site of 3.25 ha on the Wil- sonton Industrial Estate to establish a 3. GREGORY SOUTH COAL DEPOSITS driUing rig manufacturing and servicing operation. Mr Fouras asked the Minister for Mines and Energy— These are the only two com.panies with an American background interested in With reference to reports that a com­ locating on the Darling Downs or westward pany called Apex Oil owns both the free­ areas that have made contact with the hold and mineral rights to 35 per cent department in recent times. of the Gregory South coal deposit— (1) Is this report true? (2) Is it true that the company and 2. SUPPLY OF FROZEN FOOD TO HOSPITALS not the Government is entitled to the royalties from the section Apex Oil owns Dr Lockwood asked the Minister for and, if so, what action does the Govern­ Health— ment intend to take to amend this anomaly (1) Has Mr Rutherford, SM, Chairman to ensure that royalties which are the of the Southport Hospitals Board been sole right of a sovereign State, are paid misquoted when he was reported in the to the State, and not to some private "Gold Coast Bulletin" of 6 March as say­ company? ing "the new State Frozen Food Factory at Wacol had also created serious prob­ (3) If this law is not changed, does lems. The frozen food was costing as much this anomaly mean that Apex Ofl and its as 3 times more than food produced tender will be an offer the Government in the hospital's own kitchen before the cannot refuse, and like Winchester South change over in October 1980" or is he mean that many companies will simply misinformed or even misleading the public? be wasting their time and money in pre­ paring tenders for the Gregory South coal (2) How can his statement be reconciled deposit? with that of Sir WUUam Knox who indicated when he was Minister for Health Answer:— that "these measures were aimed at reduc­ tion in cost of meab per patient"? (1) The company concerned has between 30 and 35 per cent of the area in question (3) Has the provision of frozen meals under freehold title, which carries with the unqualified support of Government, it the royalty rights to any coal mined. hospitab and independent dietitians? (2) Yes, but no royalties are payable (4) What is the present cost per meal upon the grant of an authority to prospect. at Southport and the cost per meal before This foUows the grant of a mining lease October 1980 in the (a) Princess Alexandra and the commencement of production. Hospital, (b) Southport Hospital and (c) Toowoomba General Hospital? As land alienated generaUy from the Crown over the whole of Queensland before 1 March 1910 included royalty Answer:^ rights to the coal, it is not intended to (1 & 2) I am not in a position to advise repudiate any rights to royalty the free­ as to whether Mr Rutiierford has been mis­ holder may have. quoted. In answer to similar questions regarding costs, I have stated, and I state (3) The Govemment wUl consider all again, that when maximum production has applications for an authority to prospect been achieved at the facility and maximum over this area in terms of the conditions supply to hospitab and institutions is laid down in the relevant advertisement. attained, costs wiU be most comparable to the previous supply. (3) Dietitians and catering officers from 4. INTERPRETER SCHEME IN HOSPITALS hospitab, together with the departmental adviser in nutrition and dietetics, have Mr Fouras asked the Minister for Health— been involved in the examination of for­ (1) Has the Queensland Government mulations of the product and there is refused Commonwealth funds for the continual monitoring of such products by implementation of an interpreter scheme such personnd. at Queensland hospitals? 680 Questions Upon Notice [1 APRIL 1981] Questions Upon Notice

(2) If so, what was the amount offered Answer:— and what were the terms of the proposal? (1 & 2) The cost of "free" season tickets (3) Why did the (Jueensland Govern­ issued to students by the Railway Depart­ ment refuse to participate in such a ment is borne by the Education Depart­ positive initiative? ment. The tickets are issued on documenta­ tion supplied by school authorities and the regulations for issue are as prescribed by Answer:— the Education Department. (1) In response to an invitation by the Commonwealth Department of Health for the State Health Department to submit proposals for the appointment of addi­ 6. WINCHESTER SOUTH COAL DEPOSITS tional health interpreters/translators, the Commonwealth was advised that the Mr R. J. Gibbs asked the Minister for specific provision of interpreters/transla­ Mines and Energy— tors in health facilities in Queensland was Is it true that at the time of closing of not considered necessary. tenders for the Winchester South project (2) Spedfic amounts were not stated the Under Secretary for Mines, Mr Jack but it was indicated that the assistance Woods, was on holidays at a beach house which the Commonwealth might offer was of Sir Leslie Thiess with members of the to the order of 100 per cent in 1979-80 Thiess family? and 75 per cent for the two financial years thereafter. Answer:— (3) The Queensland decision was based The alleged whereabouts of any of my on a very extensive survey carried out officers on recreation leave has no relevance in metropolitan and near-metropolitan to any recommendation that I might con­ hospitals which revealed that overall none vey to Cabinet, in the past, at present, or of those hospitals has experienced any in the future. major difficulties with access to interpreter facilities in the clinical situation either with outpatients or inpatients. 7. SENIOR CITIZENS' CENTRE, BRIBIE ISLAND Mr Fouras: What about psychiatric hos­ pitals? Mr Frawley asked the Minister for Health— As he is no doubt aware that plans for Mr AUSTIN: I would also point out in a senior citizens' centre at Bribie Island are relation to funding that my department, as at present being perused by his depart­ weU as the Education Department and ment arid as building prices are escalating many other departments, finds itself at the at an alarming rate, will he give considera­ mercy of the Federal Government, whether tion to expediting approval of the plans it be Labor or Liberal. Commonwealth to enable the committee at Bribie Island Ministers tend to make big fellows of to call tenders as soon as possible? themselves and offer all sorts of proposals for 100 per cent funding on a block grant basis, but it is not long before the State Answer:—, finds itself in the position where those grants I have given approval for the invitation are reduced and reduced and reduced, and of tenders for the construction of a senior it ends up having to pick up the tab. I citizens' centre at Bribie Island. The ought to point out to the honourable mem­ acceptance of a tender will be contingent ber that the States have to be careful about upon the level of prices received in rela­ moneys they accept from the Federal Govern­ tion to finance available for the project. ment and how far they commit themselves. I point out to the House that this project has been got off the ground as a result of the splendid work done by the honourable 5. FREE RAIL TRANSPORT FOR HIGH SCHOOL member, who has made representations to STUDENTS me on behalf of the constituents in his electorate. I think it b also worthwhile Mr Fouras asked the Minister for Trans­ pointing out that the Lions Club in his port—. electorate made a donation of $30,000 towards the project, which totaUy refutes (1) Do all chfldren attending private any allegations made by the member for secondary schools in the Brisbane metro­ Archerfield against such a splendid organisa­ politan area receive free rail passes? tion that works in the community. I (2) If so, how can he justify the current think it ought to be put on the record in practice whereby children attending State thb place that $30,000 has been rabed by high schools receive free rail passes only the Lions Club in the honourable member's to the nearest high school or to other electorate to help provide thb senior schools on the basis of the unavaflability citizens' centre. I am pleased to announce of a specific subject at the schools nearest that approval has been given for the calling to their residence? of tenders for it. Questions Upon Notice [1 APRIL 1981] Questions Upon Notice 681

8. LIBRARY, CABOOLTURE EAST STATIE (b) and for the period 1 July 1979 to SCHOOL 31 December 1979 the numbers were as follows: Mr Frawley asked the Minister for Educa­ Brisbane—HeUdon 11265 tion— Helidon—Brisbane 11305 WiU a free standing library be con­ structed during 1981 at the Caboolture (2) Regarding the reasons for the use of East State School and, if not, when will locomotive-drawn trains instead of rail- it be built? motors, I am advised by the Commissioner for Railways that the number of rail-motors at the department's disposal for the work­ Answer:— ing of this and other services is limited. The provision of a free standing Ubrary When, because of the number undergoing at the Caboolture East State School is overhaul or repairs, a unit is not available included in the forward planning of my for the service under review, it is necessary department. Construction of this facility to substitute a locomotive and carriages. wfll depend upon the availabflity of capital works funds. It is not possible, therefore, ,to give any spedal date for the commence­ 11. STUDY ASSISTANCE FOR NURSES ment of this project. Mr Wilson asked the Minister for Health—• (1) Is he aware that Nurse Elizabeth Bafley of the Townsville General Hospital 9. POLICE STATION, CABOOLTURE had to go to Armidale College of Advanced Mr Frawley asked the Minister for Local Education at considerable expense to her­ Govemment, Main Roads and Police— self and the deduction of three weeks from her annual recreation leave account to Are there any plans to either build a obtain a diploma in teaching? new poUce station at Caboolture or upgrade the present station? (2) Is he aware that in the past nurses wishing to take part in an external study Answer:— program have received paid study assist­ ance? A new police station for Caboolture is included in the department's forward plan­ (3) Will he have Nurse Bafley ning loan works program. Pending finance reimbursed in full the expenses incurred being avaflable for this project, proposals by her and have her full annual leave have been prepared by the Department of entitlement restored to her? Works for upgrading of existing accom­ modation and these proposals will be pro­ ceeded with as soon as possible. Answer:— (1 to 3) I am aware that Nurse Elizabeth Bailey of the TownsvUle General Hospital elected to attend the Armidale CoUege of 10. Co-ORDlNATED RAIL SERVICE, HELffiON- Advanced Education as part of her study TOOWOOMBA program as an external student leading up to the diploma in nursing education. Mr Fitzgerald asked the Minbter for Transport- Miss Bailey has personally written to me (1) How many passengers, traveUing concerning the question of leave and has each way, used the co-ordinated rafl ser­ drawn to my attention the matters now raised by the honourable member. I have vice through HeUdon from (a) 1 July given Miss Bailey an assurance that I will 1980 to 31 Decem.ber 1980 and (b) 1 July approach the Public Service Board with a 1979 to 31 December 1979? view to having the Public Service Study Assistance Scheme extended to nursing (2) What are the reasons for the use staff employed by public hospitals boards. of the old locomotive drawn trains on This would overcome the difficulties out­ the Brisbane to Helidon rafl route on lined. services previously being serviced by rafl motors?

Answer:— 12 & 13. TOWNSVILLE HOSPFIAL (1) (a) The number of passengers who Mr Wilson asked the Minister for Health— travelled each way on the co-ordinated rail service through HeUdon for the period 1 Will the building and expansion of new July 1980 to 31 December 1980 were as and further amenities at the Townsville toUows: General Hospital include a Department of Physical Science with positions for a full- Brbbane^—HeUdon 10 971 time physical scientist to provide adequate Hdidon—Brisbane 11503 scientific support to existing and proposed 682 Questions Upon Notice [1 APRIL 1981] Questions Upon Notice

new medical services involving electro­ (g) Charge sisters are appointed by the medical, ultrasonic, nuclear medicine and board on the recommendation of the nur­ radiotherapy equipment? sing sui>erintendent.

A nswer:— (2) I am advised that for general surgery the waiting period for an dedive operation Constraction which is presently proceed­ is up to one month. AU referrals to the ing does include faciUties for physical sciences. There have been no approvals at eye chnic are assessed by the ophthal­ this stage for staff. The Division of Health mologist and classed as to the degree of and Medical Physics, within the Depart­ urgency. Urgent cases are seen within ment of Health, has for many years pro­ days, non urgent cases in up to six months. vided such a service to the TownsvUle Hospital. (3) I am satisfied that the administration and running of the Townsville General Hospital is carried out by very compdent officers and is maintained at a high stan­ dard. There is thus no indication to insti­ Mr Wilson asked the Minister for Health— tute an inquiry. (1) Is he aware of the low morale.of the whole of the staff in the TownsvUle General Hospital because of the (a) short­ 14. ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES age of nursing staff, (b) shortage of nursing staff in the wards which is further aggra­ Mrs Nebon asked the Minister for vated by nurses having to do more hours Commerce and Industry— in lecture rooms leaving the wards under­ (1) How many small businesses have staffed, (c) administration staff which has doubled under Matron Davies, (d) equip­ received assistance from the Small Business ment which is obsolete and insufficient Corporation? linen, (e) board's faUure to consult with (2) WiH he list the businesses and the the nursing staff, (f) position of assistant matron in the maternity section being amount of assistance made available to vacant for 14 months and (g) charge sisters each business? being appointed by the board? Answer:— (2) Why do patients have to wait nine to 12 months and more for operations (1 & 2) Since the Small Business Devel­ and six months to see the eye specialist? opment Corporation opened its office on 23 August 1980, approximately 1120 (3) WiU he instigate an inquiry into the representatives of smaU business com­ administration and the running of the prising dther individual traders, organisa­ TownsviUe General Hospital? tions or groups throughout the State have consulted with and recdved counselling Answer:— assistance and advice from the corporation. (1) I am not aware that the morale of All such discussion and counselling is on a the staff at Townsville hospital is low. confidential basb and must remain so. (a) I am advised that there are no Of those consultations which involved vacancies on the nursing staff establish­ requests for financial assistance, the great ment. majority have had their needs md within (b) The implementation of the new cur­ the general financial markd-place as a riculum has not affected at this stage the result of contacts and representations made staff of the wards. on behalf of the persons conceraed by the (c) There has been an increase in admini­ SmaU Business Development Corporation. strative staff for nursing administration which is in keeping with the development of the hospital. (d) Equipment and linen requirements 15. RECLASSIFICATION OF TAMPONS are reviewed at appropriate intervals to Mrs Nebon asked the Minister for Health— ensure adequate supply and replacement where necessary. (1) Which level of Goverament has the (e) The nursing superintendent attends responsibility for the advice and instruc­ board meetings and makes regular sub­ tions for use printed on the packets of missions as required. products known as tampons? (f) The position has been advertised on (2) Is his department having discussions a number of occasions. No suitable appli­ with the Federal Health Department con­ cant has applied. The position is filled on cerning the reclassification of tampons an acting basis by a person who has not and other associated products from the been an appUcant for the permanent cosmetic listing to that listing which applies position. to surgical dressings? Questions Without Notice [1 APRIL 1981] Questions Without Notice 683

(3) Is he aware that such a reclassifica­ Is the only reason for the confinement tion wiU ensure that such products wiU be of this ban to the Brisbane magistrates dis­ sterilised with gamma radiation after trict that it b the sole area of the State packaging thereby minimising the risk of in which the Licensing Commission has the toxic shock syndrome and that the re­ right of issue of sporting booth and unlicenced classification will also result in a significant club permits, these bdng issued in other areas by local magistrates? If so, is it abo reduction in the retail price of such now, as has been rumoured, the intention products? of the Minister and the Minister for Police on behalf of the Queensland Government to Answer:— initiate similar protests against beer can sales (1) Tampons as such are not covered by before local magbtrates in country and pro­ vincial areas so that the ban, which now the Health Act or its regulations. applies only in Brisbane, will apply right (2) Discussions have taken place with throughout the State? the Commonwealth Department of Health. (3) There is no known evidence that Mr DOUMANY: The Licensing Commis­ sion is an autonomous body, as the Leader treatment with gamma radiation or other of the Opposition well knows, and has the forms of sterilisation would lessen the risk power and authority to make decisions of of toxic shock syndrome. The National this sort. I have asked the Licensing Com­ HeaUh and Medical Research Council has mission to outline to me the implications been asked to investigate thb matter fur­ of the implementation of that decision. In ther. fact, certain of the items that have been raised by the Leader of the Opposition have been included in my request. At this stage 16. FLUORIDATION OF PUBLIC WATER I do not have a report from the commis­ sion. When I do, I will convey information SUPPLIES to the Leader of the Opposition. Mrs Nelson asked the Minister for Health— (1) What progress is his department making with proposals to fluoridate the SOUTHPORT BROADWATER DEVELOPMENT Brisbane water supply? Mr CASEY: I ask the Minister for North­ (2) What effects has fluoridation had on ern Development and Maritime Services: Is the incidence of dental caries in Towns­ he aware that the new plans for the South- ville? port Broadwater, including the breakwaters and the wave-break island, have been pub­ Answer:— licly released on the Gold Coast this week and indicate that the cost now estimated (1) Whfle the Department of Health sup­ is in excess of $25m, and that the Gold ports the principle of fluoridation of public Coast Waterways Authority says that the water supplies, the responsibUity lies with State Government will give it the money the Bristene City CouncH. for the project? What terms and conditions (2) The effect of fluoridation in Towns­ of financing the project have been arranged ville has been to reduce the incidence of between the State Government and the Gold decay by 60 per cent on pre-fluoridation Coast Waterways Authority? What arrange­ (1965) levels. As an example, an average ments will be made for repayment of any 13-year old now has 3.9 decay affected borrowings, on which the initial interest teeth compared with 9.9 in 1965. This is a rate would be something like $3m per year? reduction of 6 teeth per child. Percentage Finally, does the plan also show that major reductions of a similar order can be seen high-rise buildings will be constmcted in in all age groups and these are consistent and around that portion of The Spit on with the results of numerous overseas which the current development is owned studies. by the chairman of the Gold Coast Water­ ways Authority, Mr Keith Williams, a man who has already admitted to being one of the major individual contributors to the QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Bjelke-Petersen Foundation?

CANNED BEER SALES AT SPORTING EVENTS Mr BIRD: I would have thought that the Leader of the Opposition would know that Mr CASEY: I ask the Minbter for Justice the Gold Coast Waterways Authority is an and Attorney-General: Was the controversial autonomous body. oeer can ban at sporting events imposed by me Licensmg Commission in the Brisbane Mr Casey: Don't give me that—when it area at its meeting last Friday made on the reports through you to this Parliament. S cT'J^ received from the Commis- P„?nr 1 ^°'"=''' ^^"'O'' police officers and Mr BIRD: I am saying that it is an auto­ nn I u.^ ^^ *« Licensing Commission, nomous body, and the Leader of the Opposi­ no doubt supported by thdr Minister? • tion is obviously not aware of that. 684 Questions Without Notice [1 APRIL 1981] Questions Without Notice

Discussions have been held with the water­ regularly to process quantities of rotten ways authority and the Treasurer on the prawns; that the prawns have been greasy proposab. There will need to be further and smelly; that after they have been discussions about the financing of the train­ unpacked from the eskies in which they ing walls and the wave-break island. We are have been brought from the country, they not aware of any proposal for high-rise have had to be packed in brine after being buildings on The Spit. peeled; that they have been badly dbcoloured; Mr Casey: It is on the plan. It is clearly and that they have then been packed in shown. special packs of a different colour so that if they do go off it will at least be known Mr BIRD: There is no final plan. There before they leave the prembes? What is a suggested plan which has been shown inspections are carried out by health to us. ITiere is no final plan at this stage. inspectors of the material that leaves the floor, which in some cases is condemned by a health inspector on the floor when it goes SHOW HOLIDAY FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN through the processing plant at the Fish Market? Mr CASEY: In directing a question to the Minister for Education, I refer him to a recent statement in which he announced Mr AUSTIN: I am not aware of any such an additional public holiday to be granted aUegations. If problems have been to all children in the metropolitan and experienced there—and I assume that this near-metropolitan areas to allow them to is the first opportunity the honourable mem­ attend the Brisbane Exhibition. I ask: Is ber has had to bring the matter to my it his intention abo to revert to the original attention practice when school holidays did not neces­ sarily coincide with the exhibition period Mr Burns: That is right. to allow schoolchildren in country areas that have shows to have a holiday additional Mr AUSTIN: Perhaps a telephone call to the normal public holiday for the area? yesterday might have helped. Mr Burns: My name is not Dorothy Burns; Mr GUNN: It is the Minister's preroga­ I am Tom Burns. tive to give a holiday, which is a ministerial or school holiday. This will be done on a Mr AUSTIN: Yes. If these allegations trial basis to see how things work out. At present there b no intention to revert to the have been made, they are very serious indeed. old system. They have not been brought to my attention, and I would have thought that the honour­ able member had a grave responsibility to COMMERCIAL FRESHWATER FISH FARMS the community to bring them to the atten­ tion of the public health authorities. Now Mr ROW: I ask the Minister for Primary that he has done so, I am prepared to Industries: What are the statutory require­ investigate the allegations in association with ments for the establishment of a commercial my colleague the Minbter for Primary Indus­ freshwater fish farm in Queensland where the land proposed to be used is held under tries. We wiU look into the matter for the freehold title? honourable member. As the honourable member has made an Mr AHERN: I am anxious to promote aUegation in this Chamber, I would be commercial fish-farming of this type. If the honourable member knows of anyone inter­ pleased if he would put it in writing, giving ested in applying, we wiU be willing to cut me information as to where it b happening any of the comers that might be associated and who is supplying the prawns. The with such an application. Anybody who is honourable member has suggested that he interested should first apply to the local has all the information, so I ask him to put authority in order to clear his requirements. it in writing. I shall then be very happy to Once those are met, a permit wfll be issued investigate the matter for him. by the Queensland Fisheries Service. If there are any other requirements that the Mr BURNS: Mr Speaker, I wiU be happy developer might want, he wfll find the to table a copy of a memo from the process Queensland Fisheries Service most helpful manager of the production department at the and wishing to promote further aquaculture Colmslie Fbh Market, in which he says, in Queensland in this way. "The prawns would have been the worst 1 have ever received and processed, and if they had belonged to a prawner instead of PRAWN PROCESSING, COLMSLIE FISH MARKET the Fish Board I would have had no hesita­ tion in condemning them." I will table that, Mr BURNS: I ask the Minbter for Health: and I challenge the Minister to do something Is he aware of the concern expressed by about the rotten things. workers who process prawns at the Colmslie Fish Market that they have been instruded Mr SPEAKER: Orderi Questwns Without Notice [1 APRIL 1981] Questions Without Notice 685

ROAD TRANSPORT FEES happened in the way it has, and we are hoping that it will be redified before any Mr BURNS: As the Minbter for Transport severe rationing or anything ebe takes place. b not in the House, I wUl direct my question to the Treasurer. I refer to the National Party television advertisements in the election campaign that terminated on 29 November MISAPPROPRIATION OF PROPERTY BY QEGB in which a bus was portrayed on the tele­ EMPLOYEES vision screen while the announcer said, "No road and transport taxes in Queensland Mrs KYBURZ: I ask the Minister for under the National Party." I wiU quote from Mines and Energy: Is it true that two a Department of Transport memorandum— employees of QEGB were sacked for alleged and I will table it if anyone wishes to impropriety concerning property? What was chaUenge me to do so—of 24 November, the property involved? Has the Fraud Squad been called in to investigate a misappropria­ five days before the election, in which the tion of funds alleged to involve hundreds of acting secretary of the Department of Trans­ thousands of doUars? If the misappropriation port advbed that the fee payable under the was land, where was the land located? extended passenger permit tourbt conditions was .33c per passenger on 50 per cent of the seating capacity of the vehicle in respect of Mr I. J. GIBBS: It has been said in all tours opterated under the permit. That thb House previously that one or two .people obviously shows that the advertisement was are involved and that an investigation by wrong. the CIB has been going on for some weeks. I do not have that information. If the I ask the Treasurer: Will he make it right honourable member puts the question on by backdating a provision to remove the notice, I could bring the ParUament up to requirement that those tourbt operators pay date with the latest information. In the those fees? If he does that, at least the meantime I can point out that the QEGB advertisement wiU be right and the tourists has called in the CIB and has acted properly will get the benefit of not having to pay throughout the period. I suggest that the taxes in this State. honourable mem.ber put the question on notice, or I could convey the information privately to her. Dr EDWARDS: I will refer the honourable member's question to my colleague the Minister for Transport. As I understand it, Mrs KYBURZ: I put the question on the tax paid on bus passengers for charter notice. business and other activities is not a road maintenance tax; it is a tax paid per pas­ senger on the transport of passengers. SEQEB ELECTRICIANS' STRIKE Mr Davis interjected. Mr I. J. GIBBS: I have some further information on the first question the honour­ Dr EDWARDS: It is not related at all. able member for Salisbury asked me. The It is not a road maintenance tax. power dispute b settled for the time being. The men are back at work. An apprentice Mr Burns: The bus operator is paying it. has been allocated to those workmen for a trial period and the breakdown crews will Dr EDWARDS: The honourable member be on duty from thb afternoon. for Lytton has asked me a question and he ^ould wait for my answer. Road main­ tenance tax does not apply to such buses, and that is why this tax still applies. How­ WINCHESTER SOUTH COAL DEPOSITS ever, I shall refer the question to the Mini­ ster for Transport so that he can reply to Mr McLEAN: I ask .the Minbter for the honourable member. Mines and Energy: Is it trae that the only person who evaluated the tenders for the Winchester South Coal deposits and recom­ mended the successful tenderer to Cabinet SEQEB ELECTRICIANS' STRIKE was the Under Secretary of the Mines Department, Mr Jack Woods? If thb is true Mrs KYBURZ: I ask the Minbter for —and I believe it to be true—does it mean Mines and Energy: What is the present that no evaluation of those tenders was position regarding the strike by SEQEB undertaken by any other officers of the electricians? Mines Department and that he and Cabinet accepted, without question, the recommenda­ Mr I. J. GIBBS: I have not been brought tion of Mr Jack Woods? Because of the up to date on the situation that exists this close personal association that Mr Jack morning, but as at yesterday the position Woods has with the Thiess family, b he was that the board had requested the men not in a totally compromising position regard­ to go back to work. They did not turn ing a recommendation on those tenders and up for work yesterday and it is antidpated did he not obviously compromise himself that they wiU not go back to work until and the department by ensuring that he next Monday. It b a pity that this has was the only person to evaluate the tenders? 686 Questions Without Notice [1 APRIL 1981] Matters of Public Interest

Is not this matter serious enough to warrant this session. I hope they solve the problem not only a fuU departmental and ministerial of the new and old guards and get their investigation but also a royal commission? act together properly.

Mr I. J. GIBBS: The honourable member Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Ume allotted sounds like Little Sir Echo. Thb question for questions 'has now expired. has gone right round Opposition members one by one. They could not handle it, so they sent it to Canberra so that an attack could be launched there. The evaluation of MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST the applications was made quite properly, as I have said in this House before. The ap^ica- RENTAL CHARGES FOR TEACHERS' tion of the BP consortium was the best one ACCOMMODATION received. It was recommended to Cabinet and Mr YEWDALE (Rockhampton North) (12 Cabinet approved it. noon): The matter that I wish to raise I deplore the rather distasteful actions relates to rental charges for teachers' accom­ of the acting Leader of the Opposition while modation in Queensland and, in particular, the Leader of the Opposition was on a in country areas. In recent weeks the Queens­ very important Qantas trip to America— land Teachers Union has made genuine efforts a free ride—to visit Fantasyland. While to hold discussions with the Minbters of he was over there the acting Leader of the the Crown involved in this matter. I know Opposition was in "Fantasyland" here. He that it has approached the Premier, the made a number of accusations and then Treasurer, the Minister for Works and Hous­ spread a great big furphy that he intended ing, the Minister for Education and the to table the detafls of tenders by other Leader of the Opposition about the problem. companies. The document he tabled was in With the exception of the Leader of the fact the confidential Cabinet document that Opposition, none of those persons was pre­ was drculating freely within the Press at pared to meet and discuss the problem with that time. He said that the document he the official representatives of the Queensland intended to table showed that the other Teachers Union. tenders were better than the appUcation Mr Powell: Mr Yewdale made by the BP consortium. He finally tabled the Cabinet document that almost Mr YEWDALE: I do not intend to be everyone had in his possession. In fact, I interrupted in this speech. What I am saying beUeve he had to ask the Press for a copy. is factual, and I have the correspondence here. I have letters from the Treasurer He showed on television that he had and the Minister for Education indicating nothing to offer, although he attempted to that they did not wish to speak to the mislead the public into beUeving that he had Queensland Teachers Union about the something ^edal. I still challenge the matter, and referred the union to the Premier, Opposition to table the documents that it as the responsibility for pubUc servants is in has said on other occasions it intends to his hands. table. It has not yet done so and I do not beHeve it wiU, although I hope it does The Premier would not meet a delegation because that would be a good thing as far of teachers that was to be selected from as I am concerned. country areas. The teachers were to come and put their case about the environment As to the evaluation of the applications— in which they live. The Ministers will not that was done properly by officers of my talk to the Queensland Teachers Union. The department, as has always happened in the union is attempting to avoid confrontation past. Nothing was done differently from what and disputation within the teaching profes­ happened during the 15 years that Mr Camm sion, and .the way to do that is for the was the Minister. No matter who won the union to discuss the problem with the res­ authority to prospect the situation would ponsible people. If there is going to be have been no different. The Opposition would disputation, I would think that the Govern­ be trying to denigrate and personally attack ment would want to be able to say, "We people, just as occurred in the Federal House have discussed this matter, we have looked last week after things got too hot for the at the propositions, but we cannot concede." Opposition up here. The whole thing was transferred to the Federal boys, who later I think it is reasonable to suggest that the had to basicaUy pubUcly apologise to the Teachers Union has a reasonable case. Us people they tried to defame. Opposition case is more reasonable and justified when members ought to be ashamed of themselves we look at the position in the outback for dealing in personalities and trying to areas to which teachers are being transferred. defame people under privflege. I include the Do not misunderstand my purpose in raising honourable member for Archerfield (Mr this matter today. I am referring mainly Hooper) who tipped a great big bucket on to country areas. the Lions clubs. Opposition members have Mr Powell: Are you aware that it was come out of this whole affair smelling like the Queensland Teachers Union in the first an old smouldering rag, and I hope in the instance that wanted rent charged on these next session they do better than they have in houses? Matters of Public Interest [1 APRIL 1981] Matters of Public Interest 687

Mr YEWDALE: I am here to debate so the teachers must meet them on thdr the situation that applies in Queensland today. home ground out of school hours. The I wiU refer to the situation that exbts on teachers caU this unpaid service. They are some Aboriginal reserves in Queensland. Rent- called out when schools are broken and free accommodation b provided for public entered, which causes disturbance both day servants on those reserves but it is not pro­ and night to their famiUes. Because of their vided for teachers. That is total discrimina­ closeness to the community they must tion. The Premier refused to meet these respond to fire calls and bush-fire control. people, although I must be reasonable and DAIA officers receive time off in lieu of say that he did provide an alternative date overtime, but teachers do not claim any in April, which he would well know falls overtime. Teachers cannot live in school within the holiday period for teachers in buildings or grounds as the schools are situ­ thb State. ated in the middle of Aboriginal housing. I think that thb b a good example of Woorabinda has only one store so • the the double standards of this Government and, teachers have to pay the prices charged. in particular, of the Premier and the Treas­ The few supplies available are mainly tinned, urer. In July, during the Central Queensland and the stock is outdated. There is a lack miners strike over the Federal Government's of fresh goods including milk for babies and proposal to tax subsidised housing, the fruit and vegetables for children. There Premier addressed a meeting of miners. At are no sporting or cultural activities and the that meeting he said— settlement does not have the professional "People who are prepared to live and services of dentists, doctors, banks or solici­ work in this area are entitled to cheap tors. To obtain such services the teachers rental homes. It's about time we dropped have to drive long distances mostly over the matter"—-the tax on subsidised housing unmade roads. Because of the distance —"completely." involved they have to take time off. The Premier said that if people are prepared The settlement has no tradesmen to ser­ to live in country centres such as Moura, vice motor vehicles or household appliances Blackwater, Dysart and Moranbah, they are such as television sets, stereograms and entitled to cheap rental homes. Why shouldn't refrigerators. The water-supply comes from teachers in those areas be entitled to the a creek near the settlement, and at times it same privilege? I do not thuik that it is is very dirty and has a foul smell. Because unreasonable; it is totaUy justified. of dry conditions and mechanical breakdowns the water-supply b irregular. At times it During the housing tax dispute the Treas­ is turned off at night. urer (Dr Edwards) argued that $4.50 was an appropriate rental in mining areas. Now, The teachers do receive a special school of course, he passes the buck back to the allowance but, compared with the rental Premier and wiU not discuss the matter, but increases proposed by the Goverament, the indicates that rentab will be increased suh­ amount is small. The teachers living on stantiaUy in 1981. Prior to the election he settlements such as Woorabinda are totally promised there would be no rental increases disadvantaged. Although I do not beUeve in 1981, but now he states there wiU be that the teaching profession should be put automatic increases to take into account on a pedestal, and that it has reasonable con­ national wage case decisions for the previous ditions and facilities in Brisbane and the calendar year. So it is obvious that the Gov­ provincial cities, teachers in the Outback and ernment is reneging on its promise to teach­ country areas are totally disadvantaged. ers about rental. As I pointed out, the Premier refused to speak to the Queensland The back-bench National Party members Teachers Union at the time suggested. The and the country members on my side contin­ union offered the Premier a long period of ually speak of the need for teachers in coun­ time over which the matter could be dis­ try areas so that children there have the cussed in an effort to resolve it. If teach­ same opportunity as children in metropolitan ers are treated in this way, they wiU react areas. I do not think anybody would argue to it. with that. To my mind, Queensland dis­ criminates against country teachers in the The situation in country areas is far worse provision of housing, wages and rental than in provincial centres closer to the coast. charges. 1 intend to take as an example the Woora- binda Mission and point out the conditions The Treasurer intimated that in the next of teachers there. Teachers on Aboriginal 12 months teachers wfll have three rent settlements have no choice of accommoda­ increases imjKKed on them. That b unreason­ tion; they use the accommodation that is able. The Government should sit up and provided and the Government charges the take a bit of notice of what is 'being said rental it sees fit. Teachers at Woorabinda about teachers and their conditions, meet are on caU 24 hours a day. For various the Queensland Teachers Union and do reasons parents do not come to the school. something about improving those conditions. 688 Matters of Public Interest [1 APRIL 1981] Matters of Public Interest

PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE AND THE POWERS at a whim. It is because of the past actions OF PARLIAMENT of this Government that the public—and indeed aU members of thb House—are ques­ Mrs KYBURZ (Salbbury) (12.10 pm.): I tioning more and more. As we come back must protest—'Mid today is a good day to do year after year and see .things of thb sort it—^at .the recent Press releases by the Prem­ happening, it is obvious that we will be ier and statements on ABC radio about asking more questions about the manner in legislation which his Govemment is con­ which thb Government .transacts its business. sidering. The basb of my attack is concern The Winchester deal was a complete example for the powers of Parliament and, indeed, of that. the powers of members. A Press item yester­ day headed "PubUc Reply Right—Joh" I am amazed that the media—and par­ reads— ticularly the print media—^^have not been "The Queensland Government is con­ jumping up and down about the proposed sidering steps to provide redress for mem­ legislation. WiU it mean that, after a person bers of the public attacked by politicians outside this place has been "defamed", some­ under Parliamentary privUege." one wiU rise in thb House and read into "Hansard" a statement from that person It confirms that the Premier has gone to claiming that the whole lot was lies? Will see the Crown Law Office, and so on. that person outside then be able to defame a member of the House with allegations about That is .the most appalling statement I hb busiiness conduct, private Ufe or what­ have read in recent times about attempts to ever and, in so doing, conduct himself in usurp .the powers of Parliament and the a similar way and .thus start ;the whde thing privileges of members of Parlianient. One off .again? I think it b just a load' of hog- really wonders at times who indeed is running wash; I have never read such tripe. After this place. Does tbe Premier feel .that he I heard .the ABC news, I made the comment can legblate to change things when necessary? that this is .the beginning of the end for I could pick out the points in the article that thb Parliament and the beginning of the annoy me particulaxly, but the principal end for democracy. thing is .th.at he was considerimg "Legblation to force the media which carries initial allega­ It is indeed the beginning of the end for tions to dbplay . . . the person's .rebuttal." democracy when each member of Parliament I wish to make a few points about the pro­ cannot rise in thb Chamber and say what jected legislation and about the statement he or she thinks at the time is trae and introdudng the article, referring to .the correct. When that happens, the rot is sdting Queensland Government. I wonder if the in. I said, too, that it b the way that Right- other Mirabters knew about thb proposed wing dictatorships begin to control the Press. legislation, or if it 'b just a figment of the Obviously, it is also the way that Left-wing Premier's imagination. dictatorships begin, although often they are more heavy-handed. When I heard this item in the 11.55 p.m. ABC news on Monday, I was absolutely In my opinion, there are things behind and utterly appalled by remarks at the end the proposed legislation that honourable along the lines that the Premier was hoping members have not been told. I wish that that .the legblation would not .need to be "The Courier-Mail" had a bit more guts used, but he wanted it there in case it w'as and was a bit more questioning about the needed. As far 'as I am concerned, it is matter. There should really have been an just not on to use that sort of legblation to editorial about it, because it is extremely wave the .big stick at people. I remind 'the important. Premier that all members in .thb .House are equal; that, in the eyes of the Chair, Oppos­ As every honourable member b aware, ition members and aU back-bench Govern­ privUege in thb Chamber must be looked ment members .are just las equal as Min- upon as something sacred. We are elected to .bters. The faot .that a member may—or so this Assembly; we are paid to do a job; we it b daimed—abuse parUamentary privilege are responsible to the electorate. If our does not bear any relationship to the Goy­ constituents do not Uke what we say or do, ernment of the day. It bears a relationship in three years' time they have a chance to purely ito the person in the Chair and to throw us out. In fact, there is a great tum­ the Parliament. over of members. Very few of those who were first elected in 1974 are stfll in the What are the reasons behind the 'Premier's Chamber. apparent sudden concern? Everyone knows about hb statement that it was to proted, I do not know whether the public can or whatever one might choose to say, a judge whether or not statements made in knight of the realm. Whether or not that this place are tme. However, I do know man had been maligned, I do not know. I that in the past there have been abuses of am 'not in a position to judge. I do not know privilege on the part of the Premier and anything about the workings of .the Nat­ various other members that have not been ional Party organbation and I really would challenged from outside the Chamber. I not make any comment about .that. 'How­ recall some members of the Opposition ever, I do not believe that members of 'Par- accusing Ministers of being involved in drug Hament make such malicious aUegations just scandals. I recaU the Premier, in retaliation. Matters of Public Interest [1 APRIL 1981] Matters of Public Interest 689

accusing some members of the Opposition proposed legislation is just not on, and every of being involved in drag scandab. Quite member of ParUament should be making frankly, I do not believe that it is a very known his or her opposition to it. fair way of ranning thb Assembly to allow When I thought back, I could recall two people outside who happen to hold high instances of abuse of privUege. One was by positions in the community to whbper in the the former member for Toowong in running Premier's ear and demand protective legisla­ down the Conceraed Christians—the Premier tion. What b going on in this State? Don't did that, also—and the other related to the ordinary people count anymore? interreaction between the so-called drug- trafficking offences. Very few members of ParUament abuse privilege, and an interaal committee of the If they were abuses of privflege, the Pariiament deals with any breaches that do members involved were in the wrong. No- occur. It has dealt with them quite ade­ one from outside Parliament should have quately in the past; it wiU do so in the the right to have hb statements incorporated future. If the Premier b so conceraed about in "Hansard" under parliamentary privflege. privilege, why does he not ensure that a This Parliament is mad if it does not realise Sessional Order is introduced to enable the that any attempt to usurp the powers of Select Committee of PriUveges to conduct ParUament is just not on. its business during the parUamentary recesses? At the moment, when ParUament is prorogued the committee ceases to func­ RETAIL FUEL PRICE MARK-UPS tion, as do other committees. If there is such great concera about privflege, the com­ Mr McKECHNIE (Carnarvon) (12.21 mittee should be allowed to continue its p.m.): I rise to speak about retail fuel work. price margins. Much of the price of fuel is made up of Federal Government tax. I As I said, what incensed me particularly repeat: a Federal Govemment tax. The was that the Premier made a pubUc statement decision to impose that tax is not one of in order to protect a particular person. The dther the State Government or local gov­ utter hypocrisy of the Premier's statement ernment. The Federal Government tax has was made obvious this morning when he been thoroughly debated and, whether we chose to attack another member and to like it or not, it is a fad of Ufe. However, question the privilege that he usurped yester­ if we have to put up with this high taxa­ day. tion, more of the money obtained by way of it should be returned to the States and How is the rebuttal statement to be made? to the local authorities for expenditure on WiU the proposed legislation allow a person roads. If we do not get more money from outside ParUament to come onto the floor Canberra for roads, who knows what will of thb Chamber and read a statement, or happen to motor vehicle registration fees or wiU it provide that one of the officers of the other State taxes? Money for roads in Parhament shall read it? The Clerk of the Queensland has to come from somewhere. Parliament would be placed in an invidious position if he had to read a statement from The State Government can, if it so outside the Chamber rebutting the statement decides, control the retail price of fuel in of a member of Parliament. As I said eariier, Queensland. However, we must ask our­ wiU it mean that the person outside can make selves: Is it worth it? How has price control allegations about that member? worked in other countries? How has it worked in other States? Is it worth the cost On many occasions and in many situations of bureaucracy? members have cause to rbe in the Chamber, as I said in my Press statement, to dbcuss A system under which rdail service sta­ shonky car firms, shonky kitchen-makers, tion outlds ad in a fair and proper manner, and talk about aU manner of criminal and take reasonable but not excessive profits, habihty. Things of that type can be rabed is far superior to one of Goverament price only on the floor of ParUament. Members control. of the Opposition take that right, as do What is a fair retail margin? Some service ^jovernment members. For example, home stations in discount areas operate on as Ut­ wan funds cannot be dbcussed outside thb tle as 0.7c a litre retafl mark-up. Others thamber because the squib companies hide operate on 1.2c or 1.3 c. Those mark-ups behind the libel laws. WiU the proposed are quite common. However, the average egislation mean that those companies wiU be mark-up in discount areas b probably closer totally protected simply by writing out a to 1.7c, 1.8c or 1.9c a Utre. The service statement and forcing The Oerk of the stations that are operating on those mark-ups Parliament to read it into "Hansard"? WiU are surviving. those companies then have privilege? In non-discount areas, 4c a Utre is con­ fJi^^n.^'^^^ members of ParUament eleded sidered to provide the service station pro- h^ r\ ^° ^^ ^^^^ the poUtical abuse pridor with a reasonable living, provided ri<,eSr^v^'lSu*" r* "P ^'th if we cannot he has a reasonable turnover. No service we tWnl? 9"^^^ ^""^ "^y precisely what station proprietor who b operating on a we thmk? As far as I am concerned, the mark-up of 4c a litre should be complaining. 3185-—23 690 Matters of Public Interest [1 APRIL 1981] Matters of Public Interest

On 17 March 1981, Goondiwindi service Those service station proprietors would station proprietors were buying fuel for less benefit immensely if the new bridge in than 35c a litre. Two exact figures that I Goondiwindi was built adjacent to the present would quote are 34.62c and 34.51c. However, one. I am on record as saying that, because we must reaUse that one good thing the of the employment that may be lost in that Federal Govemment has done is introduce area if the town b bypassed, I supported the fuel equalisation, whereby the wholesale price idea that the new bridge should be built of fuel in country areas is no more than adjacent to the present one. I say publicly 0.44c a litre dearer than the maximum that I do not feel that I should be bound allowable price in city areas. by that statement because I made it in an effort .to help particularly the service stations In 1981 the Federal Government spent in Goondiwindi, and I do not think they $123m on bringing in price equalisation. have done the fair thing or played the game. But for that policy, wholesale fuel prices All the help and assistance that people would be higher than they are. However, have given them has not been appreciated. I ask: Is this subsidy being passed on to the The thanks that they have given to the people consumer? It is not in Goondiwindi service of Goondiwindi has been to rip them off with stations. On 17 March 1981 the bowser the price of petrol. price for super petrol was 41c. That repre­ sents a mark-up of over 6c a litre, and that No doubt the management consultant's b not justified. A reasonbale mark-up is report on the bridge will reach the Minister 4c. in about a month's time. When I read that report I wiU make up my mind which course I call on service station proprietors in of action I should recommend to the Gov­ Goondiwindi to drop their price to 39c or ernment. Once the bridge is buflt it will less. It would pay consumers to seek probably be there for 100 years, and the alteraative sources of supply of fuel if the people of Goondiwindi have to make up service station owners wUl not do that. One their mind whether they want heavy trans­ alteraative would be to encourage an enter­ ports roUing through the town of Goondiwindi prising businessman to set up a discount for the next 100 years. As I have said petrol outld in Goondiwindi. before, some of the service station proprietors were very vocal when the bridge met with An Opposition Member: There's no dis­ disaster last year. I told them that I would counting in Queensland. support their case, but the way in which they have treated the people of Goondiwindi Mr McKECHNIE: There is dbcounting. forces me to reconsider my position. I am particularly annoyed about the price of fuel in Goondiwindi, because when the bridge over the Maclntyre River was badly MINIMUM WAGE INADEQUACY damaged and traffic stoK>ed flowing into that Mr BURNS (Lytton) (12.30 p.m.): This town, many people rallied to try to get Government's continued talk of bfllions of the bridge reopened as quickly as possible. dollars to be made from the resources boom In particular, Waggamba Shire employees must be heartbreaking for many of the worked long hours to open an altemative thousands of Queensland housewives, pen­ access route to Goondiwindi, and everybody sioners and unemployed who have to live in the town knows just how hard those men on the minimum wage, the pension or on the worked. dole. They have a right to ask, "Whose boom? Who is really profiting from the What thanks have those men received from resources of thb State? Who b really making the service station proprietors in Goondi­ the money?" They must ask these questions windi? It was the service station proprietors when they see overseas companies getting more than anybody ebe in the town who fatter and fatter whfle theb kids mbs out on stood to benefit from traffic flowing through what their schoolmates regard as the norm. Goondiwindi again. Service station owners So when the media talk about the little can talk about percentage profit margins and Aussie battier I think they should talk about ofl company rentals, but the fact remains the worker on the dole or the minimum wage that some service station proprietors are raising two kids. surviving in other areas on similar turn­ overs on mark-ups of 1.7c, 1.8c and 1.9c. Let us talk about the average worker who works for the State Government, say, Mr Davb: That is too low. a labourer working for the Forestry Depart­ ment. Page 626 of the Queensland Govem­ Mr McKECHNIE: It is too low. ment Gazette of 13 December 1980 states that he should receive $134.10 a week. The I have checked with people who have a guaranteed minimum wage is $140.50. I knowledge of the industry and the fact really cannot work out how we have awards remains that 4c a litre mark-up, provided under which people receive less than the there is a reasonable turnover, is considered guaranteed weekly wage. The worker on to be a reasonable profit, but service stations $140.50 a week whose wife is not working in Goondiwindi are marking up over 6c. If pays $6.60 a week tax, so his nd weekly they cannot operate successfully on a 4c income is $133.90—that b for 40 hours mark-up they are inefficient. chipping and labouring for the Forestry Matters of Public Interest [1 APRIL 1981] Matters of Public Interest 691

Department. That same man would receive Of course, he would need a little bit of unemployment benefits of $126.80 a week. furniture in the house. He has to have If he also recdved the family allowance somewhere to sit and eat the magnificent of $8.51 that would take him up to food for the four of them he is going to $135.31. In fact, he would be better off buy with that $72 a week. I rang the on the dole than working for the Govern­ finance company Waltons regarding the repayment of loans on the hire-purchase of ment with the wages that it pays in this a medium-sized refrigerator, a washing State. No wonder Queensland is known as machine and a colour television set. I the continuing low-wage State. So we wfll included the television set because I think assume he continues to work and does not that would be the family's only form of go on the dole. His net weekly income entertainment. The repayments would be would be 5133.90. $15 a week. So now he is $50.24 a week in debt just for those very basic requirements. His weekly expenditure would include the rental of a Housing Commission home. When I rang SEQEB and asked, "What would I rang the Housing Commission and asked be his average electricity bill per quarter?" what he would have to pay, I was told that I was told, "$70." Obviously he cannot do his rent would be $30.65 a week. Like all without electricity. He needs it at least for of us, he probably has the dream of buying his fridge to keep his food fresh. Iset aside a bit of land, building a home, paying $5 a week for that. He is now $55.24 a it off and later leaving it to his kids. Let week in debt. At this stage he has not us assume he has a dei}osit account at the bought any clothes or done anything at aU MetropoUtan Permanent Building Society. for his kids. The society told me that to get a loan of $25,000—you don't buy a mansion today I then considered what he would have to for $25,000—he would have to pay a 5 buy by way of clothing and footwear. The per cent deposit of $1,300. On a 30-year figure is variable. It would depend on which term his monthly repayments would be $257, schools his children attended—whether they or $59 a week. So after his monthly repay­ were Slate or church schools. It could be ments he has $74.90 out of his wage of assumed that church schools would be beyond $133. the budget of the average low-income earner. There would be some school fees, which I Then he purchases a car. I am giving cannot allow for in this calculation. him an old car, a 1974 Holden. That is not flash. He pays a 10 per cent deposit Then there is the matter of whether the and borrows $2,700 on a four-year term. Hb children are required to wear school monthly repaynients would be $90.85 or uniforms, or whether the parents have to $20.97 a week. So now he has a car to visit jumble sales, or St Vincent de Paul, get to work, has paid hb rent, and nothing or the second-hand stalls in the market-place else but has only $53.93 left. Then he has o"f a week-end' ", or "th e ^Salvatio . - - n Arm» y out.­ fuel costs. Thb fellow could be working lets. I have not allowed any expenses for at Burpengary or somewhere else out of clothes. I worked on the basis that either town. The RACQ teUs me that the average the clothes would have to be given to him motonst uses 2400 litres of fud a year at or he would have to cadge them off some­ 35.9c a Utre. That amounts to $861.60 a body. Isn't that a terrible thing for a work­ year to buy fud, or $16,57 a week. That ing man to have to do? means he has only $37.36 left and all he tias .IS his house in which to live and a Mr Moore: You mean borrow, car m which to travd to and from work. •l'? ^* regbtration and compulsory Mr BURNS: Yes, borrow. Isn't that a tnird-party insurance of $2.52 a week, and terrible thing for a working man to have to mat l>rings him down even lower. I have do for his kids? The kids are growing up in not deducted that figure from his weekly this rich State of ours. We talk in terms of tfrt^ ^u^'',^^^™"^ °"^ of those unregis- milUon" s and millions of dollars, but thes" e kids cannot even get hand-me-downs from SiVabour ''^^ ^"" Hinze b always their brothers and sisters; they have to get them from somewhere else—from second­ pJB® Courier-Mafl" published figures hand stores and charitable organisations. h^yf i?^.j™?°*ly surveys for groceries and househol„,_ _.»d ItemJ s for- a- famflyJ o«f. XV.UJL—four—aa I have not even talked about medical vatc^ /u ^"^^ ^^^^- '^^ survey can- expenses. What would happen if a child sSc supermarkets and only the of this poor fellow was born with one of the Jani»rv 7i^f -.^^^^^^ account. On 5 many diseases that many children are born to hnv fiCn • ".Z^o"''^ 'lave cost him $72.60 with, and he had to face regular medical onlv thp en " I «• ^"^^'"^'•'^^ts, and then expenses? Again thb would be a variable cannot rnno,^ J ^, .® ^^^ "" '^ar and expenditure, depending on the health of the markets Tn.hr™n ^" ^^^ different super- family and the pharmaceutical and medical shepavsoU«7^^rt''4^ ?°^^' 1'"^ '^^ us say biUs. It b assumed that the famfly would 1,.hv, f,r.,r'"kii IA y•' */^-w'",'-^;"".- Thaiutti mamann ISis nonow iin debt have to attend the general hospital. Thb than B^ •fn^"'' ¥ ^^' ^"""^ iiothing more man would have to pay the fares to and his kid? ^'''^' ^y ^'* ^^"t and feed from the hospital. He could not afford to go to a GP. As medical insurance is no 692 Matters of Public Interest [1 APRIL 1981] Matters of Public Interest longer compubory, his family would not be Mr BURNS: That is probably right. We covered. He would just have to take a punt. have not allocated anything for a "Courier- His son or daughter or wife would have to Mail". Of course, if he buys a copy of that attend the general hospital and, as we know newspaper he is even further in debt. happens in many instances, have to wait in long queues in the out-patients department A man working 40 hours a week for the or wait for beds to become available. Government and receiving the minimum wage of $140.50, or $133.90 take-home pay, So it would appear that our family man can only end up bankrapt. It is time that who works 40 hours a week for the Govern­ this Government that meets in the Executive ment in the Forestry Department will be Building up the road started to talk about $55.24 in the red before we consider such the real little AustraUan battler, the man items as clothing, footwear, school requisites who is trying to rabe hb kids and family in this State. While others wax fat, his kids and car maintenance. This is assuming that grow poorer. he is purchasing his home. If we say to him, "You are too poor to purchase a home. You are just not going to be able to live up to the average AustraUan dream in this DOWNGRADING OF PARLIAMENT great rich State of ours. You can only rent Dr SCOTT-YOUNG (TownsvUle) (12.40 a home", he would be a little better off. He p.m.): Over the last 700 years there have would then be only $26.89 in the red each been many changes in the Westminster week. He would still have to pay for cloth­ system of Parliament, but recently in this ing, footwear, school fees and requisites, car House there have been actions and pro­ maintenance, and medical and pharmaceu­ cedures which, if persisted in, will do con­ siderable damage to the reputation of that tical expenses. system. What if he wanted a beer or a packet of cigarettes? I wonder how much interest he The main thrust of those changes has would show in a debate in this ParUament been to reduce the power of thb Parliament about a casino, or about the miUions of and reinforce the power of the Executive, doUars that we are going to give in grants or Cabinet. This House is verging on becom­ to the race clubs, or about all the other ing a place where the rabber stamp of matters that we talk about, which never give approval is given only to decisions made him the chance to get his head above the in the seclusion of the Cabinet room. poverty level. In Melbourne $156 a week is regarded as the poverty level. The position The reduction of the power of the House is even worse in Queensland. We talk about has been .planned firstly by the downgrading the rich, and we talk in miUions of dollars, of the status of Mr Speaker. AU honourable about people making massive donations to members would know that in the Westminster political parties and to people living off the fat system the position of Speaker b neither of the land—our land and his land. Yet the an office under the Crovm nor an appendage man I have been talking about has to say of the Cabinet. It stands upon its own pre­ to his kids when they ask for something that eminence as a parUamentary distinction their schoolmates are getting regularly from which raises the incumbent above the strife their fathers and mothers, "I can't afford of a party and makes him independent of it, kids." the Government of the day. A current move­ ment suggests the replacement of Mr Speaker by a chairman or presiding officer. That Mr Vaughan: It's hard on the kids. would reduce Parliament to a mere Legis­ lature and the Executive would be even Mr BURNS: It b hard on the kids all more firmly entrenched than it is under the right. How does he explain it? We have present system. allowed him a few bob to enable him to sit and watch TV at night. He sees all this The second method of lessening the power bumf that the pubUc relations department of the House has been to reduce the issues about how rich we are and how Joh speaking times aHowed for debates, par­ is saving him from paying tax. They say to ticularly for back-benchers. I rder honour­ him, "You don't have to pay any tax here. able mentbers to "Hansard" of 3 October The Government has done you a wonderful 1978, page 1918, where it b reported that thing: you won't have to pay death duties a motion moved by the Government reduced on what you have left after you have the time allowed for Budget speeches from Uved your life." But he wfll have nothing 60 mmutes to 30 minutes. I did not approve to leave, so it means nothing. If one of that but the motion was passed by 47 looks at the figure of $72.50 mentioned in votes to 22. That indicated an overwhelming "The Courier-Mafl", one sees that a man block vote in favour of the motion. Similar is not Uving in luxury when he has a wife rearrangements of procedure have occurred and two children to look after. He is not since then so that now we have a type ot able to go to the footbaU or to any other sausage-factory procedure. In my opmiwi functions in his area. time spent in the discussion of State affmrs and legblation is time well spent. A further reduction of the power of Pariiament « Mr Jones: He can't afford a "Courier- seen in the failure to implement a committee Mafl". Matters of Public Interest [1 APRIL 1981] Matters of Public Interest 693

system. Attempts to set up a public accounts but it did not have the moral courage to committee have failed, and the Standing maintain it and so save the lives of innocent Orders Committee has not met for years. babies doomed to be killed by abortion. To mention an allnparty committee in this State is considered to be heresy, not I wish to refer to Sir Robert Sparkes's role democracy. only to condemn 'him as a man willing to support the work of the "bloody butchers" The refusal to investigate the feasibUity of the abortion trade. Sparkes even lobbied of a Legislative Assembly Act or an Act and brought pressure to ;bear on certain mem­ simflar to the House of Commons Adminis­ bers to oppose that legislation. I refer tration Act of 1978 b another way of again to "The Courier-Mail" of 15 November reducing the power of Parliament. 1978, which reported— The financial control of Parliament by the "The instraction was contained in a Premier's Department is another method. 'pep' talk which Mem'bers were given at The amendment of section 35 of the Financial a special meeting with the Party's powerful Adminbtration and Audit Act of 1978 gave management committee. the financial control of Parliament to the "But on issues such as abortion, they Premier's Department. That has reduced the office of Mr Speaker to the role of a could have a conscience vote." presiding officer, and this Parliament is now So the National Party was given an out— a tool of the Executive. As far back as Cabinet solidarity broke for the first time— 1978 "The Courier-Mafl" quoted the Premier just to suit the Premier and Mr Sparkes. as telling a National Party meeting— "I'm running Parliament, not the Because of the present control by party Speaker." organisations, back-bench members of the parties in power vote as the Goverament Another method has been to deny members wishes. It is considered unethical to have certam rights and privUeges. An important, a mind of one's own and very definitely a basic and integral part of our parUamentary bar to Cabinet rank. One has to toe the system is freedom of speech. That dates line or ebe! One has to go cap in hand back to the Bill of Rights. The privUege of for improvements in areas outside the south- freedom of speech must always be tempered eastem corner. by several factors such as national security, national interest, plain common sense and Whfle I am dealing with .the subject of pditical survival. TTie last factor is important toeing the par.ty line, the selection of Cabinet to some members whose parties restrict their members or Cabinet material comes to my thoughts and .words by public censorship. mind. In 1980 it was admitted by Messrs A very good example of that b the treatment I. Gibbs 'and M. Hooper that to obtain a of the member for Callide (Mr Lindsay ministerial position and a place in that exalted Hartwig). "The Sunday Mafl" of 29 March sanctum called Cabinet they signed an undated 1981 carried a caption^— resignation at the direction of the Premier— a most honourable man. "The AustraUan" "MPs face curb on privUege." of 29 July 1980 contained an article headed The artkle stated that the Premier would "Job held resignation letters" which reported initiate procedures to introduce legislation that Mr Gibbs admitted to that and had to prevent parUamentarians from expressing said that Job had the right to hire and fire. their opinions or criticbing any Ad of Joh has not the right to hire and fire a Parliament. Minister. The next method of removing our privi­ Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Milkr): leges is the refusal to accept a private Order! I would ask the honourable member member's BiU. In my nme years in this for TownsviUe to refer to the Premier by Parliament not one private member's BiU his correct title and not as "Joh". I would has been debated. The nearest thing was ask him to refer to the Leader of the tlie Termmation of Pregnancy Bfll intro­ Government as "the Premier". duced by Sir WUUam Knox. After the Executive realised that it could not retain tabinet solidarity any longer, it left Sir Dr SCOTT-YOUNG: I bow to your mling. wiUiam Knox to introduce the Bfll in thb "The Townsville Daily Bulletin" on. 29 Uiamber I quote from a "Courier-Mafl" July 1980 carried an article, headed "Gibfe article which stated— defends undated letters of resignation", in "Even now, after the defeat of the which he was reported .to have said, "The ^T'^A^ \ ^^'''^ 19 of his coalition Preniier should have the right to hire and croMed the floor, Joh has kept his position fire Ministers." I refer Mr Gibbs to the as iTemier tenable because of the dever Constitution Acts of several States which tactics of removing from the Bfll the label provide that the Governor appoints Ministers ?Pr!,^r\'?'"l°*' ^^^ substituting that of of the Crown. The Governor can also fire Private Member's'". them. I refer to the Consititution Acts of New South Wales (section 45), Victoria (sec­ S.iH^^u *^' *° ^^'^^ ^ own skin. Cabind tion 37), South AustraUa (section 58), Queens­ h^crifi^T continued with its false and land (section 14) and Western Australia (sec­ nypocritical role of soUdarity on aU matters tion 74). All say that it is the Govemor 694 Matters of Public Interest [1 APRIL 1981] Matters of Public Interest who does the hiring and firing. That is very pleased .to know .that the Australian written into our Constitution Act, so Mr Labor Party in ithb House supports that Gibbs should read and leara. proposition. . It is amazing that such deceit could I lask honourable members .to consider .the be perpetuated under the Westminster system position of the producer. The gross return and passed over so Ughtly. Only scant ex-factory to producers in my electorate in mention was made of it by the media. This 1979 was about 149c a kUogram .after defer­ again raises some doubt, which was referred red pay. In 1980 it dropped back to 130c a to by another member earlier, about the kilogram, and that only reflected import Press. The Press prints only what it wishes. problems in the last quarter of that year. To me it is stUl incredible. Now, with the Talk at present b that 1981 wiU see only background of the Winchester South coal fiasco, it is even more incredible that Mr 100c a kiloigram^not •& miracle 100c like a Gibbs is retained on the front bench of this miracle mile, but a mirade depressed price Parliament. Recent events make me wonder of 100c la kilogram to the producer. If that whether the Executive is capable of con­ comes about, it wiU almost assuredly mean trolling the pressures brought on it by out­ a complete dosure of .the industry. side influence from industry, investors of various types and the trade unions. Let us abo look at the work-force, whioh is as important ,to me as it is to any other Returaing to the procedures involved in honour.able member. The Bacon Fiactory the appointments of Mr Gibbs and Mr Employees Union has an exceUent record Hooper, I refer to the book "Cabinet Govern- and is well respected in the industry. Only mtent" by Jennings, in which he states that two and a half years ago, Queensland Bacon although the Premier technically recommends Pty Ltd at Murarrie spent $500,000 to estab­ the appointment of a person to ministerial lbh a new factory. After 18 months, it has rank, it is .the Governor, representing the been forced to close. Twelve mionths ago Queen, who actually appoints the Minister. the company put off its employees, and 60 Consequently, the Premier may recommend people who should otherwise 'be earning a that a Minister be superseded by another or living are now out of work. In 18 months that a Minister should not be appointed. of operation, that factory earned $5m for Ministers can be dismissed only by a Gov­ Queensland in sales of canned producte 'to ernor, and the resignation of a Minister has other States; now it has closed. to be tendered and accepted by the Governor. On a much smaller scale, a simflar situ­ ation 'has arisen at the KR Darling Downs (Time expired.) factory, which has closed its ham-canning section with a loss of 30 jobs. That may not seem many, but they are aU people who have a right to earn what they can from the PIG-MEAT INDUSTRY Australian economy. They aU have a right Mr HARPER (Auburn) (12.50 pm.): I to a job, but they are being put out ot work am well aware that honourable members on to allow foreign countries—European coun­ both sides of the House are interested in tries—to dump their pig-meats on the Aus­ and very concerned about the issue ithat I traUan market. And they are dumping them. intend to rabe. I am certainly not averse .to If the Federal Government does not aflt, again raising .the canned-ham issue in the other oanners wiU be forced to close. They hope that increased publicity wfll convince will simply .turn to the .imported product. the Federal Government that it ought to They wfll obtain their needs from inter­ act in the interests of .the Australian pig national sources and resell here. If the producer, those employed in processing, and Federal Govemment allows that to happen, in the long-term best interests of .the Aus­ Queensland Bacon Pty Ltd wiU lose a fur­ tralian consumer and the Austrialian economy. ther 25 per cant of its kiU, 'because at pres­ ent 25 per cent of the pigs kiUed in Brisbane Large-scale dumping of Rumanian and by ithat company go into Australian cans. Yugoslavian .tinned iliam and preferential Its operations wfll almost assuredly wt be duty-free access ito Australian markets for viable, and it should be remembered .that carmed pig-meat b bringing the Australian a further 600 workers wiU then be out of industry to its knees. Other nations change work. and alter written contracts at their whim. They are not averse to crippling Australian I am pleased to see that the honourable primary producers, and I mention spwcific- member for Lytton has returned to the Cham­ ally the beef trade with Japan, in which our ber, because I know that he wiU support me tnading partnens are noitorious for thdr when I say that these men must be pro­ actions in regard to written contracts. It is tected. Whether 30 workers or 600 workers essential that the Federal Govemment act are involved, they have a right to earn a now to save the pig-meat industry in Aus­ Uving from Australian money in Australia, tralia. .Open-door access b being given to and the dumping of imported products must the countries I have mentioned under the be stopped- guise of their being developing countries, and I do not beUeve that .the Australian Mr Bums: Mayfair and Plumrose are people should .tolerate that situation. I am going that way, too. Matters of Public Interest [1 APRIL 1981] Racing and Betting, &c., BiU 695

Mr HARPER: Of course they are. As I As a result of an industrial dispute, the said before the honourable member for Beaudesert Road/Boundary Road intersecr Lytton came into the Chamber, they are tion at Coopers Plains is presently without going to import from interaational sources traffic lights. Inquiries that I have made and resell the .products 'here. That wiU put today and statements made to me by mem­ our employees out of work and deprive our bers of the PoUce Force indicate that the primary producers of a Uving. The whole traffic Ughts at that intersection will ibe out economy wiU suffer. of order untfl Monday. That intersection is one of the busiest on the south side of the Let us not bury our heads in the sand. river, yet no police are on duty at it. I For a year or two we mighit get cheap ham, believe that this morning between 6.30 and but that wiU not last. In the meantime the 7.30 two minor accidents occurred at that pig industry and the processing industry wiU intersection. In apite of that, there are stiU be killed. If they are, what happens to the no poUce directing traffic there. cheap meat? There will not be much cheap pig-meat in cans once those industries have The situation is ludicrous. Most 'honour­ closed. able mem'bers have travelled throughout Brisbane and have seen a member of the We must convince the Federd Govern­ PoUce Force standing guard over a couple ment that it has 'to give primary producers of witches' hats in a quiet suburban street. in Australia the same type of support as Apparentiy .the poUce have a peculiar set of foreign Govemments give their producers. priorities. I refer again to Japan and some European countries. The Federal Government must Mr Prest: When this Govemment knocked prevent the dumping of canned ham in down the Bellevue, the lights at the inter­ Australia and it must support 'the AustraUan section were out for months. producers and the Australian workers. Mr HOOPER: That b right. I know Until the industry has an opportunity to that the honourable memiber for Pine Rivers prove 'its case 'for long-term protection played a reasonable role in opposing the against foreign dumping activities—I empha­ Government's action of demolishing the sise that—the Federal Government should building. support the AustraUan producers. The indus­ try will eventually prove its case. It has tried Mr Akers interjected. to do so, but so far its attempts have been ignored. Mr HOOPER: I give credit where credit is due. I would not say that he played a I realbe that problems arise over GATT good role. However, I am sure he .will sup­ and other issues involving the Federal Gov­ port me in condemning the State Govern­ ernment. However, other countries can find ment for its failure to have those traffic a way around those problems. So I ask .the lights operating within a short time after the Federal Government to support Australian demoUtion of. the building. •' produicers. The National Party members in the Federal Government, who are not in the Mr Akers: I am in enough trouWe, majority, will certainly support the Austra­ already. ,, lian producer and the Australian worker. Let us ensure that the Federal Government Mr HOOPER: The honourable .member is,, does not impose further strain upon the but at least he has shown more principle Australian economy. than some of his colleagues on the Govemr, ment side of the House. In the interests of all motorbts in Queensland, I caU upon the Minister for LACK OF POLICE OFFICERS ON POINTS DUTY Local Goverament, Main Roads and Police' AT INTERSECTIONS to issue instructions to members of the Mr HOOPER (Archerfield) (12.57 pm.): Queensland Police Force to man busy road The matter that I raise today is the .failure intersections when traffic lights are out of of members of the Queensland Police Force order. to carry out .pdnts duty at busy intersedions in the city. It is .particularly noticeable that, [Sitting suspended from 12.59 to 2.15 p.m.] when traffic lights are out of order as the result of either power failure or industrial action, very rarely are poUce to be seen RAQNG AND BETTING ACT AND directing traffic at busy intersections. The ANOTHER ACT AMENDMENT BILL poor old motorist is subject to the law of tne jungle when attempting to traverse suoh SECOND READING—RESUMPTION OF DEBATE intersections. Debate resumed from 31 March (see p. 670) on Mr Hinze's motion— nprfJ*-"° ^^'•®* *^*t police do not like pertOTming .points duty; they consider it to "That the Bfll be now read a second time." tJZff- ^"* ^i*=l» « more important- venie?!^ ^ ""^ Queenslanders or the incon- Mr McLEAN (Bulimba) (2.15 p.m.): I' should like to enter this debate to discuss art ffSrPorS"'"''^'-^ "' '^ ^"''"issue "tha t arose recently, that .is, the 696 Racing, and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU announcement that the Albion Park sand because of the overcrowding. The closure of track would not be avaUable for gaUopers Albion Park wiU certainly not aUeviate that and that a $13m complex would be provided situation. for trotting. I have also heard that the Minister has Mr Hinze: That is a bit out. Where did plans to build a sand track at Eagle Farm, you get that from? but at present that track can be used only by A-class trainers, which eUminates most of the people who now train at Albion Mr McLEAN: That is from the reports Park. TTieir elimination would be a great in the newspapers. loss to the industry. For a number of years Mr Hinze: WeU, don't beUeve them. the Albion Park track has catered for the battling owners and trainers, and even battling jockeys. It has a long history of Mr McLEAN: Fair enough. supporting the battlers in the industry. There Mr Davis: It b about $7m. are many thousands of them who are just as important to the industry as the Mick Mr McLEAN: A complex costing $7m. Dittmans or the Kevin Langbys, the Tommy Smiths or the Bart Cummings, or, to go Mr Hinze: No, that is still a long way off. a bit further, owners such as the Minister If you say "considerable improvements" you in charge of racing. will be right. Mr Milliner: Don't worry about the Minis­ Mr McLEAN: I wiU accept that, just to ter; there are plenty of others like Mr get to my point. Tomkins and Mr Lee. Someone should come to the support of Mr McLEAN: We could include a lot of the people who have lodged protests against other people in this House. the closure of thb track for gaUoping. I have read newspaper reports from owners, trainers Albion Park caters for people who are not and jockeys. It seems to have been treated catered for on the bigger tracks. It caters in a light-hearted way. AU I have seeri so for those who, with a couple of friends, far is a clash between the wharfies and the put in a few hundred doUars each and buy poUce. a cheap horse. That gives them the oppor­ tunity to see their horse race in the city, The Albion Park track brings back fond and perhaps even win a race to pay the memories for me. As a young person I feed biU. attended race meetings at Albion Park for many years. It b a unique track. It b the The important issue is that we are to only metropolitan sand track in AustraUa. spend a great deal of money on a complex If we go back through its history we wUl that wiU most certainly provide long-overdue remember many champions that carried amenities to trotting patrons, but I cannot heavy weights. Racing has been possible on see why it cannot also be used by the that track when every other track in Aus­ galloping patrons. Those amenities wifl appar­ tralia has been closed because of heavy rain. ently be used only once a week by the It is probably the most colourful track in trotting people, although training facflities Australia. I have seen there persons dressed wiU be available at aU times. But I am in everything from a Jacky Howe singlet more conceraed at this stage about the to the most fashionably dressed men and public. If we are to spend thb money on wfomen. Over the years it has been classed amenities that are so long overdue why as a punters' paradise. It is a sentimental should they not be shared between the issue that I am raising because someone two variations of the sport? In thb day and should say something about its closure. age I am sure that the planners could incorporate tracks and training facflities for both trotters and gaUopers. An argument can be put up for the retention of that track for the use of Mr Davis: It is a waste of the land to gallopers. According to the articles I have read and the comments I have heard, there have just the one. is a request for both trotting and galloping Mr McLEAN: I fed it is a waste for horses to use the track. It has been suggested the land to be used for the racing and that both sports use the complex. I go along training of trotters only when it could be with that line of thought. If amenities are used for gallopers as wdl. The srnall batthng to be orovided at the cost suggested, why not owners, trainers and jockeys wiU always tx Id the two sports share them? Why not give involved with the racing industry, as well as the punter the opportunity to go to trotting stable-hands and others, and we have to at night and galloping during the day and think of those people as weU as the Dig use the excellent amenities that wiU be owners and tirainers. I urge the Mmister provided? to very seriously consider changing his mma about this complex and to rdam Aimon I have been told that some 150 gaUoping Park as a venue for both sports, wreiy horses work at Albion Park and that some that b not too much to ask. I believe ii 250 horses work regularly at Doomben. I can be done. In conclusion, I repeat my read that two horses were killed at Doomben Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU 697 olea on behalf of the people who have those race clubs that could be established traditionally supported the Albion Park in new towns might have difficulty in getting ealloping track and who rely on it for their access to loans. If such a poUcy were imple­ survival for the Minister to reconsider his mented and all the loans were converted into grants, it would take a great burden off the plans. race clubs, and they would be able to apply a great amount of their cash flow to increased Dr LOCKWOOD (Toowoomba North) (2.25 prize-money and minor improvements around p m): In rbing. to support the Racing and the courses. It would abo allow race clubs Betting Act and Another Act Amendment to provide more training fadlities. If more Bill I am conscious of the amount of work training facilities were provided, there would that needs to be done on the various race­ be an upsurge in racing generally, and perhaps courses throughout the State. an upsurge is needed no more than in the Mr Davb: Did they ever let you into the trotting and greyhound coursing fields. committee? In Toowoomba the trots have embarked on an ambitious program. Perhaps the Dr LOCKWOOD: No. I never was a program has been introduced ahead of its candidate to become a member of the com­ time. It was thought that by providing those mittee. Indeed, I was only a candidate .to trotting facilities the pubU.c would come to become a member of the club; and I am the course. I understand that this prograpi a member Of the club. is still not working as wdl as people would The Toowoomba Turf Club has trustees like. It is not proving to be the crowd- who manage the capital that b involved in gatherer .that people expected. But if the running that club. As every member would fadlities . are provided and if the clubs are know, there b a great deal of capital involved not required to make regular heavy repay­ in running any race club today. The trastees ments, they could look to other measures to are concerned that they should have access improve and encourage the trotting industry to loan or grant moneys as a matter of in that region. urgency, and they look to the time when this The show society and coursing enthusiasts BiU b proclaimed and the Racing and Betting in Toowoomba await the constraction of the Act, as amended, becomes law. greyhound track, which the Minister There b a great deal of work that they announced would be completed by September would like to see done. They would like 1982. I imagine that work towards this goal to see capital improvements carried out on will commence immediately after the Too­ the grandstands. Despite the amount of woomba show, which is on this week. If work that has been done on the course, it that concept is completed as planned it wfll has been subjected to two flash floods—one be of great benefit to the show sodety and during the December storm and one during provide an enclosed facility that is fitting for the February cyclonic rains. Work needs Toowoomba's weather conditions. It will to be done on the training track and on the provide those interested in greyhound radng main track itself, which suffered a great with an excellent facility and will also pro­ deal of damage during the rapid flash floods vide function rooms that can be hired out that occurred on those two occasions. to the public. I would like to see those anciUary facilities As the Radng Development Fund now funded by the Government by a grant to the stands, I do not beUeve there is any way show society. Of course, funds for the track in which all the clubs that wish to be helped would have to come from the Minister in at this stage can be helped. I understand charge of racing. However, I believe the the idea has been mooted that .the Govern­ people of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs ment could make massive borrowings and area could help launch the project by con­ distribute aU the money as loans or grants. tributing to life memberships of the club or The Government, rather than the individual clubs, if they were offered. This approach clubs, could then repay those loans. If thb has been successfully adopted by football policy could be implemented, I am sure that clubs. With a fee of $200 for a life mem­ it would win the support of not oifly Gov­ bership a great deal of capital can be ernment members but even Opposition mem­ acquired in a very short time. I beUeve that bers, and certainly aU the clubs that are there are sufficient people in Toowoomba presently waiting for funds. They would and on the Downs interested in greyhound appreciate getting .their capital funds now so racing and the show society to enable such that they could provide improved facflities a venture to be largely underwritten by the for racing in general. offering of life memberships. Such a poUcy could be implemented if huge loans were made available to the Gov­ Mr Davis: Have you ever had a bet on ernment by the SGIO, the AMP or some the tote in Toowoomba? of the other massive lending authorities .that have large amounts of capital to invest, Dr LOCKWOOD: I am glad the honour­ and of course the Goverament could use able member raised that subject. Its income from the TAB to repay the loans. I asked questions of the Deputy Premier The problem with this poUcy is that it would when he was in charge of racing in an effort be a once-only poUcy. Once implemented. to have the tote at Toowoomba replaced, 698 Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU and he said that would happen in March or heavy bail set, and .the cash would myster­ 1981. However, I understand that has been iously flow in. I do not know that a pen­ held up by the need to amend the Act. I sioner caught carrying a few bds would beUeve that the tote should be preserved for have .anyone coming in to pay hb $15,000 aU time, as it b a museum piece. Its func­ fine. tioning requires the services of people who It could be argued that that level of are extremely skilled in electrical or mech­ penalty wiU encourage SP bookmakers to anical engineering. In comparison with the either get big or get out. I do not think we size of today's TAB computerised operations, can fully support such a poUcy, although it is massive. The preparation and issue of we do have to make fines a real deterrent. tickets by hand takes a great deal of time. It would be so easy to pick up a person with It has an arm, which looks Uke the old a newspaper with a couple of drcles on it. single control on a tram, that swings around. They might be only the bets he had made The club would Uke nothing better than to with a Goverament agency. As the law stands, to be .caught in an hotel with ladng have a modera, on-course tote Unked to the sheets out of the daiUy paper in a hip-pocket TAB, and I am sure that wiH come once renders a person liable to prosecution and a this BiU has been assented to. That would massive fime. give on-course betters access to betting faciU­ ties on any event in AustraUa, with the fur­ Those who are the Mr Biggs of betting have ther advantage of being able to bet on a business facade. They have modem business doubles, trifectas and the Uke. It b some­ machines; they have xespectabiUty. Anyone thing that the punter would tmly appreciate. who walked in when bets were not being Certainly the club looks forward to an on- taken would never suspect a big SP betting course computerbed tote linked to a cen­ operation. tral computer. It would provide a great Mr Row: They are white-collar criminals. deal more revenue for the club. Dr LOCKWOOD: Yes, white-collar crim­ I am concerned about the mandatory inals and .tax dodgers. They are dodging a minimum fines provided in the Bill. Although State tax. I have no sympathy at all for SP betters, I Mr Hinze: They are leeches on sodety would be concerned if a pensioner was caught and not one cracker comes back into the making an SP bet or with instruments of racing industry. Why don't we hear that for betting on his person. Recently I read of a change? such a case in the Toowoomba "Chronicle". Dr LOCKWOOD: It b a problem. I fully Mr Moore: The police put them in his appreciate .tibat. The problem, of course, is pocket. .to get the big operators—those who are the big tax evaders. Dr LOCKWOOD: That might not be so. Concem has been expressed to me about What concerns mc is that a pensioner the provbions in clauses 5 and 6, which could face a $15,000 fine. Although I sup­ declare the substances considered to be port the suppression of SP betting, and any­ dmgs. There is a very widespread i^actice thing that can be done to further that end, .today of developiing horses, whether for trot­ I do not think I can support a $15,000 fine ting or gaUoping, and even dogs, on the so- being imposed upon a pensioner. If it called anaboUc steroids, which build up big could be proved that the pensioner made a musdes. They have been used by Olympic great deal of money out of it, perhaps he wei^t-Ufters and wrestiers. There b a very should be reUeved of his pension. However, large sale of steroids. In the main they come that is a matter for the Federal Department from pharmaceutical companies and are of Social Security. pushed as an aid ito .trainiing and developing a horse. They are also pushed by veterinary . I support fines in proportion to the bets surgeons. carried or .the total .diay's betting of a shop Just how the drag provisions of .the Bill that ib raided. Perhaps a minimum fine plus can be enforced remains to be seen, a an amount equalling the bets carried on .the beUeve that there wiU be great .diffioulty day for the .first offence would be just, with because to a very large extent the mdustry three .times the amount of .the bets carried has adopted .the attitude, "If I don't use for the second offence and five or even 10 them, my competitors wiU." There b almost times the amount of the bets carried for the an encouragement for .them aU to gd ai third offence. There would be some element it together. I do not beUeve that it b m 'the of justice in such penalties. Certainly it is best interests of the .horse or that it lengthens harsh to fine a man $50,000 when he is carry­ a horse's racing career. I support any nwas- ing betting sUps which amount to only $20, ures the Goverament introduces to reduce $30 or $50. If he was a courier or collector .the practice of injecting large amounts ot for a so-called Mr Big of betting, then it hormone into a horse in order to improve would be .interesting to see whether Mr Big its size and strength. would pay hb fine. That sort of thing used to happen when a person was caught drag- I am very pleased to say .that I will be running. A fairly hefty fine would be imposed supporting ithe BiU. Racing and Betting Act wul [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU 699

Dr SCOTT-YOUNG (TownsviUe) (2-40 throwing an empty syringe into a stable and p m.): Certain aspects of the Bill disturb then notifying the stewards that a syringe nie. The Govemment is endeavouring to is lying in the far cOraer of so-and-so's stamp out the practice of sO-caUed SP bet­ stable. Under the new section 228, the onus ting I cannot fathom how it estimates the of proof would be on the poor devil who income that it loses through SP betting owns or trains the horse. In my opinion, that transactions, because usuaUy they are cash provision should be removed from the Bill.' transadions. In 99.99 cases out of a hun­ It is too open to abuse. dred, SP bookmakers would not file a tax return relative to thdr operations. Mx)st Mr MOORE (Windsor) (2.45 p.m.): The registered bookmakers have SP dients who honourable member fOr Townsville, who has bet on credit cards, bank overdrafts, and so just resumed his seat, made some remarks oh, using all sorts of strange procedures to that I intended making, so instead of repeat­ avoid being caught. ing them in detail I shall mention them only briefly. The penalties assodated with SP betting appear to be extremely severe. The figures I want to deal first with the proposal to laid down in the proposed amendments are take galloping from Albion Park. In days absolutely in the realms of fantasy, so much gone by before the War, I was a punter and so that a person convicted for even a first I saw racing conducted at Albion Park under offence faces a penalty of $15,000. To the dreadfully wet conditions. In spite of those ordinary man, that means dther gaol or conditions, many records were broken at bankruptcy, and I consider that gaol or that track. The horses were not in any danger bankraptcy b an extremely severe penalty at all; they had a firm footing. A better for SP betting. track than the one at Albion Park could not be found. A considerable amount of SP betting used to be done in hotels or in dose proximity On a wet day the tracks at Ascot and to them. It is interesting to note that today Doomben are greasy. Horses can sustain most TAB offices or agendes are in close broken sesamoid bones, and jockeys get mud proximity to a hotel. It is almost as if the clods in the eye. On wet days the conditions designers of the TAB thought, "While the at those courses are shocking. Yet the Mini­ spirit is in, the wit is out", and they would ster is saying arbitrarily that Albion Park make more money from mugs punting when wiU lose galloping and wfll be given to they were half drank and not fully aware trotting. of what they were doing. Certainly, Brisbane needs a first-class trot­ ting track; it does not have one at present. Getting back to SP bookmakers—if the However, the sand track at Albion Park Government considers that SlOOm is bdng should not be taken away from the gallopers. taken out of the tax-gatherer's pockd, why It provides a safe venue for radng and a not simply register and Ucense SP book­ place for punters when meetings at Doomben makers? Many years ago in North Queens­ or Ascot are cancelled because of bad land there were three or four so-called betting weather. shops in FUnders Street, TownsviUe. One could go in, place a bet, have a cold beer— The Minister has a vested interest in the sometimes on the house—or a cup of tea Bill. That sounds like a smack in the eye and talk to all the local boys. They were for the Minister but it is not meant to be so. common meding-places, and quite reputable, The fact remains that this Minister owns and the registered bookmakers seemed to both gallopers and trotters and another flourish at the same time. I cannot see any Minister should be in charge of the Bill. The problem in licensing SP bookmakers, and it Minister is not high and mighty, but a lot would then be easy to gd back the tax of people adopt a high and mighty attitude money. If that were done, the huge fines and declare that Ministers should declare provided in the Act for a person committing their interests prior to Cabinet meetings. So an offence might become more logical. At under those circumstances this Minister the moment, offences are committed because should not be bringing this Bill forward. someone virtuaUy short-drcuits the activities Don't make any mistake about it; I think of registered bookmakers. he is honest. I should like now to discuss the new Mr R. J. Gibbs: But are you sure that he section 228, which contains a provision that b? IS completely abhorrent to Liberal members of Parliament—the reverse onus of proof. Mr MOORE: Of course I am sure he b; For admiiiistering a drug or some stimulant I have no doubt about it. I am simply to an animal, the reverse onus of proof referring to the hypocrisy exhibited by some IS provided. It should be removed. It should members of Parliament. They whinge about not be applied to any person in the racing redistributions, racing legblation and every game, because it is so easy to frame some­ other damn thing. We must be better than one involved in racing. There b nothing that. Perhaps it is a case of "self-righteous 0 prevent me from walking along and Bob"; I don't know. ; ™™g a syringe with heroin in it into a There is no reason why some other area siawe. If I wish to damage someone's reputa­ in Brisbane could not be set aside for a- tion, there b nothing to prevent me from trotting track. In view of the large amount 700 Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU

of money that is available—^look at the If the TAB facilities were as good as prize-money that is handed out—lack of those of the SP bookie, there would be no finance should not be a problem. An area SP bookies. Nobody would bother going to close to the new Brisbane Airport, for an SP bookie if he could bet another way. example, could be converted into a trotting But with the bookie there is the human con­ track. It could be located somewhere in the tact. He knows the person making the bet. Nudgee area. I am sure that a spot could It is private enterprise. A punter can go be found. I certainly would not like to see to an SP bookie whom he knows and say, wet weather racing taken out of Brisbane. "I am a bit short. Give me $5 ea'di way Abeyance." The SP bookies always had that I tum now to SP bookmaking. TAB personal contact with their clients. agencies are spread throughout Queensland. However, areas such as the Mitchell River, Some of them were so brilUant that they Gilbert River, Norman River, Flinders River could take a lot of bets, drink in the pub and Leichhardt River do not have TAB during the aftemoon and, at the end of itiie agencies. Say, for example, a couple of day, remember all the bets and pay out. ringers were having a drink in the pub at Nobody could touch them for a cent. They either Burketown or Georgetown—George­ knew to the last doUar aU the :bets they town might have a_TAB agency—or in the had to pay out. "Blue Heeler" Hotel at Kynuna. Say one of the ringers has a Uttle wager with the other I have not found any SP bookies around. that such-and-such a horse will win. He does There must ibe very few of them. If we not have to write anything down on paper. know there are big operators and that $2m It only needs a policeman in mufti standing is involved, we would know who they are. dose by to fit him with an offence for him We could not come up with a figure without to be liable to the exorbitant fine of knowing where it was coming from. Other­ $15,000 that can be imposed on a first wise it is just pie in the sky and airy-fairy. offender. How stupid are we? And what a By introducing this BiU we wfiU not dreadful crime! TTie fellow who just shot increase the amount of money going through the President of the United States will not the TAB. It is wrong; in fact, it is despic­ be fined that much. able. This should not be happening. A Govemm«>t Member: He'll probably I shaU now talk about the attitude of the get a medal. police to SP bookies in the past. An old railway mate of mine was named Ernie M. Mr MOORE: He will probably get a I wiU not give his surname because the medal from some people. All sorts of mad police would probably .fit 'him now. He used crimes can be committed in Queensland to work down in the old Globe Hotel. He and they wiU not attract a penalty like had ibeen a bookie's representative getting those prescribed in this Bill for the heinous two bob in the pound. crime of 'being an SP bookie. W'hen I was a., young feUow, every barber was an SP Mr Hinze: The M stands for Moore. bookmaker. What harm did they do? Mr MOORE: It did not, but it would not Furthermore, this is contrary to the Minis­ matter if it did. If it did, I would be able ter's nature. He b a knockaibout fellow and to be a 'bit more authentic 'because I could he has been conned or snowed into acting say that it applied to me. contrary to his own good feeling. Perhaps it was done by Cabinet, because he is not This feUow was down in the Globe Hold that sort of man. You name it and Hinze having a few drinks one day, and along came has done it. That b not an odious rem.ark; the poMce. They said, "Righto, Ernie, it's tliat is something of whioh he should be your turn today." He said, "Christ, no, I proud. The feUow who has not Uved and haven't been betting for two years." ITiey done things would not know how to legislate. said, "Come on, up to the watch-house." Somewhere along the line he has been They took him up outside the watch-house snowed. and said, "You might as weU confess to it because your wife and kids are at home and We have .gutiess members in our joint you don't want to be delayed here. Confess." parties who are worse than he is. They are Ernie said, "No, I'm not confessing. I just as bad; they are gutless and they allow haven't been in the business for two years. tbis sort of thing. It is, as I said in my You are not going to do that to me." So Address-in-Reply speech, like putting dogs into the watch-house he went, and they in a vacuum cham.ber and killing them. turaed hb pockets out and found nothing. The people concerned can close the door Then they said, "Off you go, Ernie." But and walk away and not hear the screams of as he was walking out the door they said, the dogs. They do not give a damn about "Hey, Ibten, you'd better come back in, them. Because members are not involved, Ernie." In went Ernie, they turaed his are not close to it, know nothing and care pockets out again and there were two bets nothing about it and are not friendly with in the poUceman's handwriting. They fitted the ringer in Kynuna who gets knocked off, him. there .is this airy-fairy .business of Queen Street politics and a .faUure to realise that Dr Lockwood: As long as they were not Queensland is a very large State. winning bets, though. Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU 701

Mr MOORE: It does not matter. That is but only if the information suppUed results the dirty sort of tricke^ that used to go in a conviction of the offender. It seems on in relation to SP bookmaking. I know therefore, that the point raised by the hon­ this feUow; I know he b honourable. The ourable member b scarcely relevant to the fact that he was an SP bookmaker's runner Bfll. did not make him dbhonourable. I beUeve every word he says, and yet he is one of The honourable member abo quoted the the decent sort of fellows we are trying to remarks of a Government mem'ber, made persecute. during debate on the 1980 BiU, that the BiU was "one of the best Bills to come into It is a basic tenet of the Liberal Party that the House." I agree that the 1980 Bill we should not introduce a reverse onus of was a major step forward for the radng proof. The Minister for Health tried to industry. It was introduced by my pre­ introduce such legblation this moraing, and decessor in this portfolio, the Deputy Premier we didn't permit him. It seems that every and Treasurer, Dr Llew Edwards. However, time it b difficult to secure a conviction we legislation is always subject to improvement introduce a reverse onus of proof, just as and the amending Bfll now before the House the Minister is doing on this occasion. There does make desirable and necessary improve­ is an attempt to justffy it to some extent ments. by saying, "How are you going to fit the bloke otherwbe?" But if we cannot convict It was pleasing to hear the honourable him in the normal manner we should not member say that he is happy that the book­ do it this way. makers' turnover tax and club levy wfll become separate entities under the amend­ Hon. R. J. HINZE (South Coast- ments and that he b pleased wd.th the amounts Minister for Local Goverament, Main Roads prescribed. I fully agree with him that and PoHce) (2.57 p.m.), in reply: I thank this provision is desirable. However, I stress honourable members for their contributions that Parliament will be the dedsion-making to this debate, and in tiie time available to body in any alterations to the rate of this me I wiU reply to .the various points raised. tumover tax or club levy. The Opposition spokesman on radng The honourable member also mentioned matters, the honourable meniber for the possible effects of other forms pf Sandgate, drew particular attention to the gambling. Again, I say that only time wiU penalty provisions of the Bill relating to tell. I assure thb House that I wiU 'be doing unlawful bookmaking, as did other members. everything possible to increase the turnover I thank him for .the research that he has of the racing industry. I agree with the obviously undertaken. However, I remind honourable member when he stated that some him that the approach proposed now wfll TAB agendes are not conducive to what involve the District Court instead of .the may be termed a pleasant afternoon's betting. Magistrates Court. I would hope that this I will see what can be done in thb respect. wiU result in more realbtic penalties bdng As I have said previously in conversation with imposed. the honourable member, the Government's intention is to completely look at the betting As he stated, the process of enforcement facilities in the agencies to make sure that relating to SP bookmakers will include action people who wish .to have a legitimate .bet where necessary through the Bankraptcy in Queensland, irrespective of what part of Court. I feel that bankraptcy provisions for the State they live in, will be able to do so SP bookmakers wifl have more .positive effect at an attractive TAB agency. They wifl be than imprisonment, but of course, only time provided with aU the conveniences that we will teU. I did mention that I do not propose can possibly give to them. to make martyrs out of bookmakers. Whflst it is necessary to reduce TAB The honourable member also referred to operating costs in relation to tumover, I section 244 of the Radng and Betting Act am concentrating primarily on streamlining 1980 which relates to the protection of, and the TAB administration, introducing new the payment to, police informants. Section types of computerised agencies and provid­ 244 of the Aot b not being amended. ing better services for the betting pubUc to counter SP betting. I believe these steps At the time the legislation was passed by wiU improve significantly TAB turnover. Parliament, there were in the Bfll a number of clauses in which penalties ranging up to In his remarks the honourable member $50,000 could be .imposed by the court. This for Pine Rivers expressed concem at the Parliament must therefore have had in mind minimum penalties prescribed in the Bill. at that time that the informant could receive As he stated, the District Court is given a substantial reward for information resulting discretionary powers in this regard—of in the conviction of an offender. course, I must emphasise that—and may indeed impose a lesser penalty if it so Under the legislation now before this desires. House, penalties will stiU range up to $50,000 and the informant wUI still be entitled to The honourable member commented on half of the penalty imposed. Payment will the future of existing sporting grounds be made upon the direction of the court, located within the boundaries of Deagon 702 Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU

racecourse, as abo did the honourable mem­ no room for two courses there. There is ber for Sandgate. Here again I reaffirm room for only one major track. We are that the bodies concemed need not worry. going to try to develop there probably the I give a complete assurance to those sport­ best trotting track in AustraUa, over 1 000 m ing bodies that their interests wfll be looked in length. It is necessary to have a 1000 m after. Those sports grounds wifl not be track to get what we refer to nowadays as placed in jeopardy by the work that we a "flying mile". intend to do at the Deagon racecourse. I I have had long discussions with aU of ask those honourable members to pass those the racing industry representatives, and I remarks on to their constituents. refer to Judge Broad, Mr Justice Williams The honourable member referred to par­ and Mr Lloyd Rees. I have also had dis­ ticular cases involving the racing industry, cussions about the development of Deagon which he appears to be fully familiar with. racecourse as a training track to overcome However, it seems quite inappropriate for the problem that would have arisen had we me to comment here at this time on those just closed down Albion Park as a race­ cases, or the other particular cases mentioned course without giving any consideration to by the honourable member for Wolston. those people who use it now for training purposes. The training track at Deagon The honourable member for Wolston was will be one of the best training centres in in some doubt where the extra money was Australia. coming from for hospitals and other public services referred to in my second-reading In reply to Dr Lockwood, I pdnt out speech. If he read the speech carefuUy, he that there are two or three ways to providb would see that the extra money wiU come funding. One is to apply to the SGIO to from taxes on increasing betting tumover. lend the amount required to the Racecourse I referred to more than $200m floating Devek>pment Fund through the TAB. There around. If it possible to get any of that can be no bdter investment in this State money—1 per cent or anything up to 10 than through the SGIO whioh invests funds per cent of it—and put it into Consolidated in this area with a Goverament guarantee Revenue or use it for the racing industry, that they will be repaid over two or three every honourable member in the House years. I know that the SGIO invests many would appreciate what could be done with millions of dollars in development in this it. I would remind the honourable member State. Another avenue is that the club could for Wobton that the State ConsoUdated go to its own bank and borrow suffident Revenue already benefits considerably from funds with a Government guarantee. such taxes. Mr Davb: I would not Uke to be investing I note that the honourable member for too much in trotting. Sherwood has reservations regarding the penalties and enforcement procedures set out Mr HINZE: If the honourable member in the Bill and in the 1980 Act. I would for Brisbane Central and I are healthy assure him that I wiU be watching the enough to be in this House in two years' operation of these provisions very closely, time, he wiU be able to see the great bene­ both in respect of my Police portfolio and fits down there. It will provide a type of in my racing and betting jurisdiction. racing that both he and I will be proud of. Then he wiU be pleased to eat those words The honourable member for Port Curtis and say, "Russell, I am sorry old fellow. expressed the fear that money allocated I was wrong. It is the best track in AustraUa. from the Radng Development Fund will all Ten thousand people are going there and it go to major projects in the metropolitan is an economic proposition. At 3 o'clock area and the larger centres. I say most on Wednesday 1 Aprfl 1981, I made a emphatically that this will not be so. I mistake." have already indicated that I propose to travel to all the country tracks in the State. The member for Windsor referreid to sand I have already been to Wandoan and tracks. At one time there was a great need Stanthorpe, and I have had discussions with for sand tracks—prior to the introduction the Rockhampton and Townsville Jockey of phantom betting. Under the new legisla­ Clubs. The honourable member can take it tion it is possible to carry on what is now for granted that it is certainly not intended referred to as a phantom bdting meeting, that all funds will be spent in the metro­ which means that if a meeting b abandoned politan area, although we have an enormous before the commencement of radng, betting program spread over the next three years can still be carried on. In the old days we in the city of Brisbane. used to run a few horses around so that punters could have a legitimate bd. I have The honourable member for Bulimba discussed this problem with the QTC and referred to Albion Park. I can say here quite emphatically that I am not trying to the BATC and I understand that they will take the side of the trotting industry or be putting down their own sand tracks. Tliere the gaUoping industry in this regard. I can is also a sand track on the Gold Coast, and appreciate that there is some sentimental there will be areas near Brisbane where attachment to Albion Park; there is no doubt people who wbh to continue to race horses about that. I have had some fun down on the sand will be able to do so. there, as has everybody else, but there is Motion (Mr Hinze) agreed to. Racing and Belting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU 703

COMMFITEE Mr HINZE: Most emphaticaUy, the answer is very definitely, "Yes". AH applica­ The Chairman of Committees (Mr Mfller, tions for advances will be recommended to Ithaca) in the chair; Hon. R. J. Hinze me through the TAB, through the race­ (South Coast—Minister for Local Govera­ course development authorities. I wiH take ment, Main Roads and Police) in charge of them through to Cabinet for approval and the BiU. everything will be tabled in the Parliament annually. Clauses 1 to 13, as read, agreed to. Qause 31, as read, agreed to. Qause 14—Amendment of s.36; Composi­ tion of Trotting Board- Clauses 32 to 50, as read, agreed to. Mr WARBURTON (3.9 p.m.): I simply Insertion of new clause— want an explanation from the Minister on thb particular amendment, whioh in fact Mr HINZE (3.13 p.m.): I move the fol­ reduces the membership of the Trotting lowing amendment— Board from nine to seven. Another amend­ ment increases the membership of the Tot­ "At page 10, after Une 35, insert the alisator Administration Board from nine to following new clause to follow clause 10, presumably to give wider representation. 50— I bring to the Minister's attention what the '51. Amendment of s. 176. Composi­ Deputy Premier, when he was in charge tion of Totalisator Board. Section 176 of racing, said in his second-reading speech of the Prindpal Act is amended by, in on the 1980 Ad about the Trotting Board. subsection (1), omitting the figure "9" He said— and substituting the figure "10".'" "The composition of the Trotting Con­ Section 176 of the Act provides that mem­ trol Board has been increased to nine bership of the Totalisator Administration under some pressure from the six northera Board shall consbt of not more than nine clubs which make up Group 3 clubs for persons appointed .by the Governor in the purpose of nomination to the Con­ Council upon the nomination of the Minis­ trol Board." ter. It is proposed to increase the upper Umit to 10 for increased flexibiUty in secur­ As Dr Edwards said that, I wonder if the ing people with commercial aibiUty as well as Minister would explain whether what he is people with a good background of radng. doing is redudng the representation of .the The regulations under the exbting Act .pro­ northern bodies. vide for 10 members, and there are 10 mem­ bers on the present board. Honourable Mr HINZE: What the honourable mem­ members wfll recall that it was decided to ber has said b quite correct; but since the reduce the number to nine. I find that it is Bill was introduced by my predecessor, .the not convenient and I want to allow for Deputy .Premier and Treasurer, we have had representation from the far South West. It representations from the board asking the is therefore necessary to ask 'the Committee Government to reduce the number again. It to consider this amendment. costs $25,000 a member. The board beUeves that it oan function with the present num­ Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed .to. bers. In my representations to Cabinet and the joint parties, I said that I would be New clause 51, ^as read, agreed to. prepared to reduce my own nominees from five to three, allowing the four members Clause 52—Amendment of s. 189; Func­ remaining to be nominated from the clubs. I tions, powers and duties of Totalisator guarantee to the Committee that .there wiU Board— be representation from the North on the board. Mr DAVIS (3.16 p.m.): This clause gives me an opportunity to ask the Minister a Clause 14, as read, agreed to. question relating to TAB agencies. It has been stated during the debate that Clauses 15 to 30, as read, agreed to. a number of TAB agencies will be closed, particularly in country areas. I Clause 31—'Repeal of and new s. 119; should like the Minbter to inform members Interest on and nature of advance— w.hether there is any chance that people Uving in those areas will be .given an oppor­ Mr WARBURTON (3..11 p.m.): Thb tunity to bd legaUy. To my way of think­ amendment refers to interest on loans. I ing—and I .think that .the honourable mem­ take this opportunity to ask the Minister ber for Wiindsor also mentioned this—^a whether, because of the manner in which person liviing in a country area .that can­ loans and grants will be made in the future not support a TAB agency has restricted under the terms of tiie Bii, it is hb intention opportunities for betting. A person may be to have tabled annually a fuU and compre­ able to operate under a bookmaker's licence hensive Ibt of the loans, grants, rates of in an area such las .thiat. I therefore lask the interest and so on. I think that is a very Minister: If a TAB agency closes, what important document for the Parliament to opportunities wiU there be for people to have in future. bet legally? 704 Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU

Mr HINZE: I think I would be faUing in Mr HINZE: For.the honourable member my duty if I did not indicate that it b the I would provide belly-dancers and a little bit intention of .the Government to give every of punting money also. What could be better Queenslaji'der, irrespective of the part of than that? Let no-one try to indicate that the State in which he lives, the right to have I am uncharitable. a legitimate bet. The Government could easily say that it wiU .talk to the TAB and Mr BURNS: Whibt I accept what the Min­ provide for reversed charges for focal .tele­ ister is trying to say about this, the hbtory phone calb costing, say, 10 cents for persons of the TAB b just the opposite. It has wishing to place bets.. That is not tbe com­ opened agencies in country towns and later plete answer, because people wfll say, "We closed them down. It is not good enough don't have a phone", or, "We don't have a simply to let punters have a tdephone telephone betting account." However, aUow­ account and a bet for 10c. In some north­ ing people lin every part of the State to western country* towns there is only one have a legitimate bet by tdephone is one external telephone line. It would be way of overcomiiig the problem. impossible for a punter to place a bet on a I refute the s.uggestion .that it is the Gov­ race held at 11 a.m. if he and 20 other ernment's intention .fo dose TAB agencies blokes are in the town hall trying to make wUly niUy. a telephone call on the one Une to the TAB agency down the road at the next town. Mr Burns: You have done it before. The Government should adopt a totally diff­ erent attitude towards small country towns. Mr HINZE: I know. .Let me put it to the The TAB says, "There is no money in it honourable member this way: He and I were for us, so we wiU close down the agency in in business, and we know what we are about. this town." The 'Government is going to try to put TAB agencies in the same category as a thriving I am concerned, too, for the staff at newsagency or a similar busiiness. A m.an, TAB agencies. Many of the agencies in the his wife and famfly may wish to conduct metropoUtan area are jammed into smaU a TAB agency on behalf of the Government, shopping centres and are occupying unsuit­ and I can see that becoming quite an attrac­ able premises. The staff have no security tive little business. at all. They have no protection against thieves with guns. Some of the offices are Mr Davis: I would be interested mysdf. equipped with the frailest iron bars that I have ever seen. They would not keep a Mr HINZE: I think that a few others monkey in a cage. would be interested, too. It b .the Government's intention to make The TAB sets up agencies, but no agency TAB agencies 'available to support families, will spend money on carpeting floors or pro­ set them up and give them all the encour­ viding cups of coffee. They could not afford agement that they need. It wiU be a totaUy to do it on the low rate of commission that different type of TAB agency from those they received from the TAB in the past. operating at present. Dozens of agents have complained about When legitimate TAB betting was first the lousy conditions provided and the restric­ introduced, the Govemment said in effect, tions imposed by the TAB. On the union "Go in and have a bet, get out of the place, side, the TAB has a very bad reputation in and go away." The Government's present the provision of working conditions and attitude is completely different. A person wages for staff. wfll be able .to collect his winnings after each race and reinvest on the next .race. Instead Another aspect that must be borne in of going iin at 11 o'clock 'and putting his mind is the location of TAB agencies. Ref­ money on .and coming back at 5 o'clock, erence is made to hotels. A point to be con­ or the next 'day, as was provided originaUy, sidered is the legislation relating to breath­ a person will, I hope, he able to go to the alysers. Suppose 20 fellows are having a TAB agency, sit down comfortably, place drink in a hotel at 3 o'clock on a Saturday hb bet, listen .to the fluctuations in prices afternoon and they want to place a bet with that come through, stay there with his the TAB, which might be IVz to 2 miles friends for the afternoon if he wishes, .and away. If they have had more than five beers reinvest hb winnings las they come through. they will not be game enough to drive that distance to the TAB. They will rather place I do not think I am stretching my imagin­ their bets with a bloke sitting in the bar who ation too much when I say that I can picture is prepared to take them SP. So SP betting a Uttle coffee shop somewhere in which a will not be stamped out until the Government punter can have a drink. Some of my col­ provides the faciUties that punters want and leagues have told me that if I really want in close proximity to the punters. to make the TAB flourish I should allow it to set up agencies in clubs and hotels. That, No punter would risk driving up the road of course, would have the whole game sewn to place a bet after having had more than up completely. five beers. He stands the chance of having a fine of $300 or $400 imposed on him and Mr R. J. Gibbs: What about throwing in of having his licence suspended for six a few belly-dancers? months. The bloke sitting at the corner of Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU 705 the bar will not only be happy to take his It is possible that proceedings may have to money but wifl abo pay up immediately be instituted in a way other than by way after the race is over. So the Government of complaint in writing, and summons in must totally change its attitude towards the some cases. The amendment allows for this TAB before any of the id^as put forward to occur. by the Minister are implemented. Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed to. Mr HINZE: We are going to try to bring about a very great change. The honourable Mr HINZE: I move the following further member for Lytton referred to safety. An amendment— agency in which punters race in, place their "At page 14, line 46, omit the word— bets and clear out, leaving the staff exposed 'Act;' to the risk of being threatened by some crank who has been lurking around the and substitute the words— place, b totally different from the type of 'section; or'." TAB agency that I see, that is, one in which a number of people are on the prem­ The provision is referring to offences to ises from 11 o'clock in the moraing till half which this section of the Act relates only. past 5 in the afternoon. The risks that the The reference to "Act" is incorrect. staff will face in future will not be nearly as Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed to. great as those to which they have been exposed in the past. The honourable mem­ Mr HINZE: I move the following further ber wifl notice that as time goes on. amendment— Mr DAVIS: I thank the Minister for his "At page 15, line 11, omit the expres­ comments regarding agendes. I want to sion— refer to the broadcasting of races. I am sure '1976' that anyone who follows racing would agree and substitute the expression— that, if the TAB wants to increase its tura­ '1980'." over, it must provide racing broadcasts. Dur­ ing the discussion on the Bill last year I The reference to the District Courts Act asked the then Minister in charge of racing, 1967-1976 is incorrect. That Act is now cited Dr Edwards, about this matter and he said as the District Courts Act 1967-1980. that he was having conferences with the various broadcasting stations. I would like Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed to. to know how far the Minister has gone in thb regard, because I see it as a necessary Mr HINZE: I move the following further addendum to the BiU. amendment— "At page 15, after line 37, insert the Mr HINZE: The Government intends to following words— provide a total broadcast of TAB meetings. It is possible. It operates in Western Aus­ '(9) Where a person appears before a tralia. The TAB in Western Australia bought court on a charge of an offence against a station so as to provide a complete cover­ section 214, 216 or 217 and subsequently age. I know it is possible and I am sure that appears before a court on a charge of a it b necessary. Discussions have already further offence against any of those taken place between my departmental officers sections, the court before which that and me and some of the radio stations. Some person first appeared shall hear and propositions have been put to the Govern­ determine all proceedings in respect of ment by the major stations. Discussions are the first oflence prior to the hearing and still takmg place. It b the Government's determination of proceedings for the intention to provide a complete radio broad­ second or subsequent offence'." cast of all TAB meetings in Queensland. A simflar provision is included in section Mr Davb: Any suggested time? 237(4). However, as proceedings for unlaw­ ful betting offences are now required to be heard before a District Court, a separate pro­ Mr HINZE: As quickly as we possibly vision is required in this section deaUnug with can; say six months. prosecution of unlawful betting offences. A complementary amendment is made to sec­ Clause 52, as read, agreed to. tion 237(4) to exclude these offences from Clauses 53 to 61, as read, agreed to. that section. A prior case is required to be Clause 62—Repeal of and new ss. 218, determined before a second case is com­ 218A and 218B; Penalty for unlawful book- menced. making, opening, keeping or using common betting house— Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed to. , Mr HBNZE (3.27 p.m.): I move the foUow­ Mr HINZE: I move the following further mg amendment— amendment— "At page 14, Une 17, omit the word- "At page 16, line 31, omit the words— 'shall' 'thb Act' and substitute the word— and substitute the words— 'may'." 'section 214, 216 or 217'." 706 Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiH

This section deals with appeals against a Under these drcumstances, I believe that dedsion of the District Court whioh can it is in the best interests of fair law that relate only to unlawful betting offences. It people who appear before the court for is therefore necessary to confine this section such offences should have the opportunity to the sections of the Act deaUng with to be judged by their peers in a jury trii. I certainly do not accept, and neither does those offences. the Opposition, that a District Court judge Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed to. should have the sole responsibility of sitting on the Bench and making a dedsion on Mr R. J. GIBBS: There is another part a charge of such seriousness. of this clause on which the Opposition would like clarification. I refer to .proposed new Mr WARBURTON: Thb proposed amend­ ment has been canvassed widely in the section 218(2) on page 14 which reads— Chamber, particularly during the second-read­ "A per.<«>n who contravenes section 214, ing debate. I beUeve that it is necessary 216 or 217 commits an offence against for me to place on record, on behalf of the this Act and may be proceeded against in Opposition, our complete opposition to it. respect of that offence before a Disitrict Some of the reasons for our opposition have Court constituted by a Judge of District been outUned by the honourable member for Wolston. Another reason b that the Min­ Courts sitting alone and is liable ..." ister, by hb own admbsion, has indicated It then goes on to state the penalties. that he beUeves that a District Court judge wiU adopt a tougher attitude towards If we are interpreting this part of the offenders. As I have pointed out on at clause correctly, we would 'be extremdy dis­ least two occasions in speeches in this Par­ turbed if a District Court judge sits alone to liament on radng and betting legislation, the pass judgment on a person brought ibefore evidence shows conclusively .that thb will him on a charge of SP betting. As the probably not be so. In any event, it is quite Minister would be aware, some of the mem­ unreasonable and improper for anybody to bers of the judiciary in Queensland at suggest that a District Court judge would present play a prominent role in many of take a tougher line. our race clubs and I would certainly not Another reason that the Government has like to see the situation arise where a person put forward for including .this proposed charged with SP bookmaldng is brought amendment in the legblation is that it wfll before a member of the Bench who has a force offenders into bankruptcy. The Opposi­ direct connection with a race club. We tion beUeves .that that is completely out of should never allow ourselves to .fall into the line with what is proper and reasonable. trap of interfering with a person's civil Yesterday, in my speech in the second-reading liberties, and it appears that by this Bfll we debate, I pointed out that from time will be removing the right of a person to immemorial there has been a long Une of demand a trial by jury if he so requires. Ministers in charge of racing who have made amendments to this section of the Act, saying that they had the complete answer Mr HINZE: It is not the present inten­ to the problem of stamping out SP book­ tion of the Government to make .provision makers. for a jury trial. It is ibdieved that with his experience and the discretionary power The present Minister is on record as saying afforded him under certain sections of the on one occasion that he had the answer Act, a judge of the District Court sitting to certain types of crimes. Perhaps on the alone is quite capable of administering the next occasion he might like to provide the intention of the Act. The Govemment same sort of penalty for SP bookmakers. believes that we should at least .give thb On this occasion I simply want to reiterate method a trial run. If we find that some­ the point that I made yesterday: it b often thing is amiss, I am not averse to introduc­ said that the punishment must fit the crime. ing amendments later. I am prepared to We in the Opposition believe that the Min­ take on board the submissions made by the ister and the Government have gone over­ honourable member, but it is not intended board on this occasion. to provide for a jury at thb particular time. Clause 62, as read, agreed to. Mr R. J. GIBBS: In the light of the Min­ Qause 63—Amendment of s. 225; Batteries, ister's reply to me, the Opposition wiU oppose drugs and the like at radng venues and other this clause. As SP bookmaking is now bdng places— classified as a serious offence within the community, we bdieve that every person Mr DAVIS (3.40 p.m.): Thb b a fairly charged with that offence has the right ito lengthy and important dause providing a a .trial before a jury. One orfly has to look penalty of up to $20,000 or imprbonment for at the penalties that wfll be handed down two years or both. I ask the Minbter: Would on people convicted of this offence. There a licensed person who is caught up in any are fines of up to $50,000. It means that part of this clause be dealt with by the people will face the possibility of bank­ stewards and then be charged under .the ruptcy. provisions of the Dill? A person who has Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU 707 been charged with administering a drug to system, with the right to a further appeal, the a horse could be charged under the rules submission of fresh evidence and legal repre­ of racing and then after paying a fine for sentation. Jockeys and drivers do not have that offence could .be charged under the the legal expertise to defend themselves. provbions of this Bfll- People in the racing game are jockeys, drivers, owners or trainers in their own right. As What is the Minister's attitude to the justice such, they have a limited legal ability to that licensed persons receive in this State? defend themselves. , A person has to have In my opinion, under the present Aot, it adequate legal representation at all times leaves a lot to be desired. I know that when the Minbter took over responsibiUty for rac­ and the right to defend himself at any level. ing he said that he believed that licensed Mr Bums: As soon as you start to bring persons were getting rather a rough deal and suggested that perhaps they were entitled legal representation into it, it makes it very to legal advice even at the initial stewards' costly. inquiry. That b probably going a little too far. At the present time a steward can fine, Mr HINZE: I shudder at that abo. I suspend or disqualify a Ucensed person. As understand what the honourable member has the Minister would be well aware, some just said about getting into long, drawn-out other States have an appeal tribunal, and I legal battles. Nobody wants that; but surely believe that would be a good thing in thb somewhere down the track we can look at State. Once a steward suspends, disqualifies racing throughout Australia to make sure or fines a licensed person there is the right that what we provide for our racing industry of appeal to the principal radng club and, in Queenslapd b the best. As long as I give in the case of trotting or greyhound racing, the Committee that assurance at the present to the respective boards. I believe there time, that should be all it needs. should be an independent board completdy separate from all the forms of radng admin­ istration. Mr DAVIS: I do not want to harp on this, but what is the answer to the question A conviction in many cases can take away I first asked? If a Ucensee is found guilty a person's livelihood. TTie member for Lytton under the rules of racing, is he abo charged spoke about some of the working conditions under the Bill? There are a number of in the TAB. Very few unions would allow matters covered by clause 63. A jockey the present procedures in the racing industry could use an electrical appliance such as a to continue. Although I am all for clean jigger—I have only heard about them; I racing, at the same time we must not lose would not know what they look like—and at sight of the fact that licensed persons have the same time a licensee could be found a right to all .the facets of British justice. After the stewards' decbion is handed down guilty of administering a drag or a stimulant. the appeal goes before a committee composed If he is found guUty under the rales of of persons who often act against the wishes racing, is he also charged under this pro­ of the racing industry. As I said, I believe vision in the Bill? there should be an independent appeals tribunal. Mr HINZE: I am not being critical of the honourable member; I just cannot pick up Mr HINZE: It b true that I have made his question. some statements about actions to be taken Mr Burns: Are there two penalties? Can after misdemeanours have occurred. In fact, a person be charged twice with the same the words I used were something like, "Racing offence? is the sport of kings, conducted by gentle­ men." That is .the way it has to be, and Mr HINZE: I would have to get the I did not wish to allow a trainer, a jockey answer. or an owner to be spoken to harshly. Mr Burns: To put it in plain racing Mr Bums: The stewards used to do that, language, can the stewards knock you off though. They handled that. and then can you be charged under this provision? Mr HINZE: Wait a minute. Mr HINZE: I am informed that an offence I know that members associated with the under the rules of radng is not an offence racing industry have often heard the way under this Bill. m whioh some of these people have been spoken to. I do not think that is necessary Mr Davb: If you are going to administer m any sport, and I have said so publicly. a drug, make sure you are not a licensee. After a mbdemeanour has occurred, a person can be charged and he can subsequently Mr Burns: Could the Minister repeat that appeal, if necessary. I said I would give advice? consideration to setting up an appeal tri­ bunal. These are matters that I wfll take Mr HINZE: I am informed that an on board but as yet I have not been able offence under the mles of radng is not an to attend to them. I rather like the VRC offence under this Bill. 708 Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amerutment BiU

Mr DAVIS: I will carry this a bit further. Clause 63, las read, agreed to. Clause 63 refers to "Batteries, dmgs and the like at radng venues and other places." Clauses 64 to 67, as read, agreed to. Let us take a hypothetical case. A horse might receive a stimulant at the track, which Clause 68—^New s. 232A; PoUce officer would be covered under this clause. Wiat the may grant bail for offence against s. 214 Minister is saying is that a Ucensee who 216 or 217— was found guilty by the stewards would not be dealt with under the BiU. Therefore, a Mr HINZE (3.52 p.m.): I move the fol­ person who is in the business of doping lowing amendment— horses might as well become a licensee, "At page 19, lines 14, 15 and 16, omit the because a licensee can get 12 months but words— someone else in the same game could be fined $20,000. In aU seriousness, it could '69A of .the Justices Aot 1886-1980 mean that a stable-boy or a strapper as if the person had been arrested for a simple offence within the meaning of Mr Hinze: I cannot hear you. th'at Act' and substitute the words— TTie CHAIRMAN: Order! '7 of the BaU Act 1980'." Mr DAVIS: It b not my fault that the Section 69A of the Justices Act 1886-1980 microphones are not adequate. has been repealed. The relevant .provisions are now contained in section 7 of .the .Bail It is a very simple matter. If you were Aot 1980. The provision wfll enable a person in the game of doping horses, it would pay arrested .to secure his rdease pending a you •hearing in the District Court. Mr Hinze: I'm not in the game of doping Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed to. horses. Clause 68, as amended, agreed to. Mr DAVIS: I am using it as a hypothetical case. What the Minister said when he Clause 69—Amendment of s. 237; Proceed­ rehashed what is said here b that a licensee ings for offences— would be able to get out of it a lot easier than someone outside the industry. A person Mr HINZE (3.54 p.m.): I move the fol­ who is not connected with racing and b not a lowing amendment— licensee could be fined $20,000 or iniprboned "At page 19, omit aU words oomprb'ing for two or three years for any of the offences lines 17 to 20 and substitute as clause 69 that are listed—^using batteries, doping, .the following clause:— obstmcting a horse from galloping, and so on. On the other hand, a Ucensee who came '69. Amendment of s. 237. Proceed­ before the stewards may only be warned ings for offences. Section 237 of the off for 12 months. In my opinion, that is Prindpal Act is amended by— pathetic legblation. If I were the Minister, (a) in subsection (1), in subparagraph I would make sure that the whole clause (b), inserting after the word "indict­ was rewritten. ment" .the words "(other than for an offence against section 214, 216 or Mr HINZE: The offence .under the Rules 217)"; of Radng b not the same offence as that (b) in subsection (2), omitting the under the Act. A person could be punished word "the" and substituting the word under both the rules and .the Ad and the a , punishments could be quite different. (c) in subsection (3), omitting the words "may appear before the court" Mr BURNS: We asked .the Minister earlier and substituting .the words "shaU 'be whether a person could .be punished twice entitied to appear before a court"; for the same offence and he said, "No." That b what caused the confusion. What (d) in subsection (4), omitting the the honourable member for Brisbane Central word "court" where fi.rstly and secondly has been saying b ithat, before the intro­ appearing and substituting the words duction of thb provbion, a person caught "Magbtrates Court" in each case; doping a horse, feeding it a lolly, or some­ i(e) in subsection (5), omitting ithe thing Uke that, went 'before the stewards, words "for which the maximum penalty who warned him off for 12 months or rub­ ds $20,000 or more" and substituting the bed him out for a certain period. According words "(being an offence other .than an .to the Minister's earlier answer, a Ucensee offence against sedion 214, 216 or 217) who was rubbed out for 12 months got off for which the maximum penalty is much more easfly than a person who was $20000".'" fined $20,000. The .Minister .has now cleared the matter up by saying that a person can As to (a) and (e)—proceedings for offences be fined twice for .tiie same offence. I do against section 214, 216 or 217 (unlawful not know whether that is Britbh justice, betting) are dealt with in section 218. The either. section being amended deals with other Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU 709 offences against this Act and it is therefore Clause 71—Amendment of s. 247; Per­ necessary to exclude the unlawful bettmg sonal appearance before court of offenders sections from this section. against certain sections— As to (b), (c) and (d)—there are now two Mr HINZE (4 p.m.): I move the follow­ courts of jurbdiction for offences committed ing amendment— against this Act. A Dbtrict Court shall hear proceedings against unlawful betting offences "At page 19, omit all words com'prising and a Magistrates Court shaU hear proceed­ lines 28 to 34 and substitute the foUowing ings against other offences. These amend­ words— ments are required to take account of the '(a) in subsection (1), two courts of jurisdiction that can hear (i) omitting the expression "(1)" proceedings for offences against different appearing at the beginning thereof; sections of the Act. The amendment wiU (ii) inserting after the word abo ensure that poUce officers can appear "adjourned," the words "ithe Judge before the District Court in respect of or"; unlawful bookmaking offences. (iU) omitting the word "them" and Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed to. substituting the words "him or them"; Clause 69, as amended, agreed to. (iv) omitting the word "thdr" wher­ ever occurring and substituting the Qause 70—Time Umits for payment of words "his or their" in each case; penalties— (v) oniitting the word "justices" where lastiy occurring and substituting Mr HINZE (3.57 p.m.): I move the fol­ the words "a Judge or justices"; lowing amendment— (b) omitting subsection (2)'." "At page 19, omit aU words comprising lines 21 to 24 and substitute as clause 70 As to (a)—all of these amendments are the following clause— required to take account of the fact that a District Court or a Magistrates Court can '70. Amendment of s. 238. Time limits hear proceedings for offences against dif­ for payment of penalties. Section 238 of ferent sections of the Act. As a result, it is the Principal Act b amended by— not now necessary to omit the reference to (a) in subsection (1), omitting the sections 214. 216 and 217. words "or 222," and substituting the As to (b)—^this suibsedion is now irre­ words ", 222, 225, 227 or 228,"; levant as the Bail Act 1980 has now been (b) in subsection (3), inserting after proclaimed. the words "this Act" where firstly occur­ ring the words "(other than an offence Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed to. against sedion 214, 216 or 217".'" Clause 71, as amended, agreed to. As to (a)—this section of the Act presently Clauses 72 to 79, as read, agreed to. deab with time Umits for the payment of penalties for unlawful betting offences. It is Clause 80—^Amendment of s. 4; Places of desired to extend thb section to cover time puibUc amusement— limits for other offences regarded as serious, that is, possession of batteries and drags, etc. Mr WARBURTON (4.3 p.m.): As a (section 225), interference with a person, result of my contribution to the debate yes­ horse, greyhound or property (section 227) terday concerning the Anzac Day Ad, the and use of drags and the like on a horse Minbter made a statement in the House in or greyhound (section 228). which he said— Section 232 provides that a member of "I understand that the RSL issued a the PoUce Force may arrest a person for statement this afternoon denying that it an offence against these and other sections had not been consulted by the Govem- and, to be consistent, it is desirable that iment in relation .to the amendments. thb section apply to the same offences as "In his statement, Mr Freeman said the section 232. The proposed amendment so RSL was completely satbfied that the provides. Government was not acting in any way to impinge upon the sandity of Anzac Day. As to (b)—abo, as the new section 218A He added that the Government had aded now deab specificaUy with recovery of pen­ responsibly by allowing organisations such alties imposed in respect of unlawful betting as the RSL and the Anzac Day Trust to offences, it is necessary to exclude the sec­ examine and comment on the proposed tions dealing with those offences from the amendments." recovery provision of this section. I am asking the Minister to provide evidence Amendment (Mr Hinze) agreed to. that Mr Freeman in fact made such com­ ments. Was the statement in fact written Qause 70, as amended, agreed to. or was it purely a figment of somebody's 710 Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU

imagination? The best that I can find out the numerous other service organisations or ;ics that \/iMr FreemaPr.or^on H^ni^deniecs »,^r.i,<.t,v,.iuemphatically, thart,ott foj. tjjat mattCT, thc pcoplc of Qucensland on he made a statement to that effect. this issue. I took the opportunity to have a As a result of what has eventuated, a look at the debate that ensued in the mid- very senior officer of the Returned Service­ 1960s when this matter was discussed. It is men's League has advised me that, on 9 interesting to note that the Honourable A. T March 1981, Mr Gilbert, who b tiie RSL Dewar, who was Minister for Labour and representative on the Anzac Day Tmst, Industry at the time, went to some lengths brought a letter to the RSL Administrative to advbe members that the Govemment had Committee meeting. The letter, which I sought the advice of almost every organisa­ understand came from the Minister for tion representing either ex-servicemen or Employment and Labour Relations or one ex-servicewomen. They all had the opportun­ of his senior officers, and addressed to the ity to present their point of view. The list trust was marked "Confidential". That was of organisations consulted appears at oaee a letter to the trust. That information was 2013 of Volume 239 of "Hansard". given to me by a senior officer of the RSL who in fact spoke to Mr Freeman directly Yesterday the Minbter tabled a letter and . . ... r, ,, , .,, ,, ,. -, a report. Although he did not read the about this matter. Members wfll recaU that contents of the letter, which was addressed MinisteMr Freemar saidn in wahis statementhe persot agreen whd oto ththe to Mr Jacobs, the Director of Local Govem- proposex/i,„.et»d, co,changeH .„ sh., to. c.f,f»™»„section t4 .n...Aof th e i^Anza t.1,c. jjjg^t^ ^jj ^jgjjg^ (jy ^^ McDonneU, the Day Act. Under Secretary of the Department of I am told that Mr Freeman has said that Labour Relations, allow me simply to make the administrative committee meeting this quotation from that letter— dedded that, because the letter to the Anzac "The foUowing summarises the agree­ Day Trast was marked "Confidential", it ments reached by the Trast with regard to could not be dbcussed. It respected the fact the question of the proposed exemption that the letter was marked "Confidential for of racing venues and offices and agendes Trust members". A meeting of the RSL of the Totalbator Administration Board State Council on that same day was con­ of Queensland from the provisions of sequently not informed of the contents of Section 4 of the Anzac Day Act." the letter to the trast. So we have a situation where a letter b sent to the trust, certainly Mr Hinze: Have you spoken fo Freeman? in relation to this matter, the representative of the RSL on the trast taking it along to MrM rFreema WARBURTONn directly:, Ibu havt eth nob t morninspokeng to1 the administrative committee meeting but, spoke to a gentleman who is- because it was marked "Confidential", they were not prepared to discuss it. As I said, as Mr Hinze: I just want the Committee to a consequence of that the RSL State Council know that you have not spoken to Freeman. meeting that afternoon did not receive that information. I know that the South Eastern Mr WARBURTON: No, I have not spoken District Association of the RSL has not to Freeman directly. I am advising the been consulted on the issue, and it represents Committee of the information that I recdved over 63 per cent of RSL members in this this morning from the president of the South State. Eastern District who, only minutes bdore, had spoken to Mr Freeman. I am just I want to refer at this stage to the Anzac relaying to the Committee the information Day Trast Committee, which b comprised that has been given to me. I made no of four people: Mr Justice Hoare, who is accusations that the Minister's statement is the chairman, Mr Gilbert, Mr Jefferson and incorrect, but it does seem to me that some­ Mr Connolly. The functions of the Anzac body is wrong and I think we ought to clear Day Trust as outUned in section 7 of the up the matter. If Mr Freeman has made a Anzac Day Act are— statement, and it is a written statement, Id "(1) Applications for payment from the us see it. That is what I put to the Minister Anzac Day Trust Fund of any sum for a previously. purpose specified in subsection (3) of sec­ tion eight of this Act shall be made to The letter continues— the Trust. "(a) The Trust raises no objection to "(2) The Tmst shaU consider every such amendment of the Anzac Day Ad in application and having regard to the cir­ accordance with the times provided in cumstances thereof, to the amount for the Section 128 of the Radng and Betting time being standing to the credit of the Act 1980, namdy, 12.30 pm. How­ Fund and to all pending applications for ever, the Trust is of the opinion that payments from the Fund made to the these times should apply to all activities Tmst, may refuse the application or may covered by Section 4 of the Anzac Day determine that the sum applied for or a Act 1921-1976." lesser sum be paid from the Fund." The point I am making, with due resped to On my reading of the Act the trast obviously those four very esteemed gentiemen, is has no right, and never did have any right, that I do not think the trust had any right to negotiate on behalf of the RSL, any of to negotiate thb matter. Racing and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU 711

Mr Hinze: That is why I asked you if that the Anzac Day Trust probably has not you had spoken to Freeman. Forget those the right to speak on behalf of aU those who four; forget the trust. may be affected by such a decision. I have been in contact with Mr Freeman, through Mr WARBURTON: I have made it clear my own officers, within the last few minutes. that I do not regard the RSL as bdng the He confirmed that the RSL goes along with sole responsible body in this matter, either, the proposal. and that is a point on which I shaU elaborate shortly. The Goverament believes that it Mr Burns: You wouldn't want to come has acted correctly in this matter. I submit out my way and say that. that it has not. I do not beUeve that it has carried out its responsibilities to those many Mr HINZE: I wiU not be involved in a organisations representing servicemen and controversy at this late stage of this Racing ex-servicemen. I agree that we should forget and Betting Act Amendment Bill over this about the Anzac Day Trast. It is a body matter. Therefore, I am prepared to with­ that has one job, and only one job, and that draw the proposed amendment to the Act b to distribute money that it is given from and allow debate and discussion on this par­ the racing industry. I do not believe that this Govemment has carried out its respon­ ticular point at some other time. sibilities to the people of Queensland, and Clause 80, as read, negatived. that is the point I am making. Clause 81—Amendment of s. 8; The Anzac We in this Parliament are confronted by a Day Trast Fund- situation that can be resolved sensibly, if Mr WARBURTON (4.16 p.m.): I want we want it to be resolved sensibly. The Govemment should be prepared to accept to get an assurance from the Minbter, if that the amendment to section 4 of the possible, that the amount of money to go to Anzac Day Ad be set aside to allow proper the Anzac Day Trust as a result of the new consultation to take place. That is really formula wUl be at least equal to the money what it is aU about. I am suggesting that that it receives under the existing scheme. I whibt the Minbter may have felt, from the am aware that had the proposed formula information that he has been given, that appUed on the last occasion the Anzac Day this organbation, which is probably the prin­ Trust would have received something like dpal organisation representing—— $400 more than it received. But I think it is reasonable to have on record, if possible, Mr Hinze: Would it make you any happier if we pulled it out? an assurance from the Minister that this formula is a fair and reasonable one for the Mr WARBURTON: I would like the Mini­ trust. ster to pull it out; that is what I am asking him to do. However, I would just ask him Mr BURNS: First of aU I thank the Min­ to allow me to finbh because I want to ister for withdrawing the previous clause, piirsue the point, and he might change his which also dealt with the Anzac Day Trast. mind. If we are to change the hours pro­ I oppose the idea of the race clubs that make vided in section 4 of the Anzac Day Act, a .profit out of Anzac Day not putting any then there should be a full debate on the money in. I beUeve the race clubs should be issue as a result of a BiU being introduced treated the same way as any other club or into this Parliament by the relevant Minister, organisation. and that is the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Sir WiUiam Knox) who, I refer to the Anzac Day Trust report for as I said yesterday, has been strangely silent the year ended 30 June 1980, which was on this bsue that is very important to all tabled in thb Parliament. In that report the of us. In fad, he adminbters the Anzac trustees (Messrs Hoare, Jefferson, Connelly Day Act, not the Minister in charge of and Gilbert) said— radng (Mr Hinze). That debate should be "It will be recaUed that when the idea of subsequent to honourable members of this an 'open' Anzac Day was originaUy Parliament having been given the oppor­ mooted, various business organizations tunity to consult with industry and organi­ made strong representations in support of sations in their electorates. trading on Anzac Day. The Anzac Day Act, which provides for an 'open' after­ . Yesterday I made the point that the Min­ ister for Labour Relations can fix any prob­ noon on Anzac Day, also established the lem with regard to radng. All I am asking Anzac Day Trust and it would seem appro­ the Minister in charge of thb BiU to do is priate that more of the organizations that to withdraw the proposed amendment at this profit financiaUy on Anzac Day should time and let us have another look at the make donations to the Anzac Day Trust matter. Fund." Earlier in the report they made reference Mr HINZE: I think I should explain to to the number of clubs and organisations itie Chamber that the committee and I were that profit from an open Anzac Day. They entmsted by the Minister for Labour Rela­ also said that they considered that donations tions to do something about thb. I accept could be substantially increased. 712 Racit^ and Betting Act and [1 APRIL 1981] Another Act Amendment BiU

In essence this clause says that in the past and on-course totalisator tax of $10,656. That racing clubs had to give a certain percentage was the money that went to the Anzac Day of their income recdved on Anzac Day to Trast to be spent, as I said, on Legacy the Anzac Day Trust. throughout the State, war veterans' homes, incapacitated servicemen and servicewomen, Mr Hinze: And they were run at a loss. etc. Mr BURNS: That is the day on which we Why not ask those race clubs to put some celebrate the tradition of Anzac and mourn money up? Why is the Goverament saying those who died at war, and it is that in future the dubs' contiibution wiU passing strange that the racing clubs queued .be taken out of Consolidated Revenue, to get the chance to'operate on that day. unclaimed dividends and fractions? The QTC Not one of them complained in the Press and the other clubs seem to me to be more that it was losing money, that it did not interested in getting a quid for themselves want to conduct a meeting on Anzac Day, and getting everything organbed for the or that somebody else should run the meet­ clubs and those who run racehorses rather ing. The QTC did not teU , the BATC than looking after the punter, the ex-service­ that because they weren't making any money men and their dependents. I wiU have no the meeting should be rati at Albion Park truck with this clause Of the BiU. It is not or out in the scrub. AU of a sudden we are designed to help the Anzac; it is designed to now told that the clubs did not make any help only the racing clubs. money out of the meetings. Mr HOOPER: I ask the Minbter: Will The point I make is that the racing clubs the change of hours apply to the Metro­ will make money from future Anzac Day politan Trotting Club at Rocklea? Further, meetings, and in future the donations made to why did he veto the promise made by Dr the Anzac Day Trust from racing clubs will Edwards to allow betting on the Brisbane come out of unclaimed dividends and frac­ gallopers at the Rocklea Trotting Qub? This tions—in other words, out of the punters' has been a contentious point for a number of pocket. That money used to go into Con­ years. I have raised it in the ParUament on soUdated Revenue—it was taxation that numerous occasions. Last year, when Dr became part of the revenue of this State. I Edwards had the responsibiUty for the radng believe that as a result of this Bill instead of portfolio, I believe he was prepared to aUow the QTC or some other club giving money to betting at Rocklea on the Brisbane gaUopers. the Anzac Day Trust, which uses it for Now Mr Hinze has taken control. He is Legacy, the war veterans' home and other supposed to be a trotting man. Rocklea is such activities, it wiU pay no money out at one of the best trotting clubs in Brisbane. aU, but after the revenue from unclaimed It provides a service for the residents of the dividends and fractions goes into Consolidated outer western suburbs. It certainly provides Revenue a percentage of it will go to the a service to the punters. They do not have Anzac Day Trust. to drive all over Brisbane to go to Albion Park, Doomben or Eagle Farm. Unless there I agree with the original idea of Sir Francis has been some pressure brought to bear on NickUn and others that, if a person profited the Minister by some of the trotting out of Anzac Day, he should contribute. interests The people who profit don't throw their money around. I looked at the Ust of dona­ Mr Davis: You mean the gaUoping tions to the Anzac Day Trast from organisa­ interests? tions such as golf clubs, bowls clubs and other sporting clubs. The total was $10,167. Mr HOOPER: I always thought that the Carlton & United Breweries gave a total of Minister was a trotting man, I have seen $1,000 for the ability to trade on Anzac him trot round the Parliament on occasions. Day—^they wouldn't have done badly—^Fourex gave $1,500 and the hotels association gave For the Ufe of me I cannot understand $750. All up it would have been a total of why the Minister does not grant the patrons about $3,250, which would mean that for of the MetropoUtan Trotting Club at Rocklea the right to trade they gave a lousy $3 a the facility for bdting on the Brisbane pub to the Anzac Day Trust for Legacy, the gallopers. It is long overdue. war veterans' home and old soldiers. Mr HINZE: Very briefly—I know that I can remember the campaign of the race everybody is trying to get finbhed—the first clubs for an open Anzac Day and how they answer b, yes, they will get more under the would share the profits and give money to new formula and can look forward to help the ex-service organisations. However, as increased income growth in future. The soon as they got a licence to operate in the formula has been thoroughly checked by the afternoon they decided they wanted the Anzac Day Trast, the Treasury Department, money. Now we have the race clubs saying the Department of Employment and ILabour just that: "We don't want to give any money Relations and officers of my own department. out of the profits we make." They did not give any of thdr profit. They were giving In reply to the honourable member for money from the bookmakers' turnover tax Archerfield—idbcussions took place yesterday of $46,900, bookmakers' fielding fees of with representatives of the MetropoUtan $8,254, off-course totalisator tax of $78,429 Trotting Club at Rocklea. I indicated to them Racing and Betting, &c., BiU [1 APRIL 1981] Adoption of Children, &c., BiU 713 that it is not the intention of the Govern­ on. I remind honourable members that there ment under its present policy to allow book­ is no legalised betting on the north side of makers to field at Rocklea on Brbbane Brisbane between Eagle Farm and Gympie. I ask, and I am sure that a number of other races. punters would agree with me: What is wrong Mr Hooper: Why not? with mixing betting and gambling? What does it matter whether a person bets at a Mr HINZE: A spate of these appUcations trotting track on greyhound events or vice b coming in. We have a request from the versa? That is done aU the time in New Capalaba Greyhound Club for its patrons to South Wales. be aUowed to bet on the Brisbane races. One of the best examples of the logic that Mr Davb: So they should. the Minister is now using is to be found in the attitude of the representatives of Mr HINZE: It may or may not be a good the Bookmakers Association, who immedi­ thing. It can be argued dther way. However, ately vetoed the idea. They bet on galloi)ers it should be analysed in the light of what interstate and then ask, "How much do the we are trying to do for all clubs, with their people who bd at Rocklea put into the capital development and capital involvement. industry?" I ask them how much they put into the industry when they bet on interstate I reassured Mr Tobdn, who would be a races. They do not contribute anything to particularly good friend of the member for the revenue from bdting on New South Wales Archerfield, that I wUl be looking at other and Victorian gallopers. That appears to me ways and means of supporting the Rocklea to be a hypocritical stance. If the Minister club. He intends coming back to me in the wishes to encourage people to bet legaUy next few weeks with a proposal for his own and not bet with SP bookmakers, he should track at Rocklea. I think it wiU be possible provide a venue at which they can do that. to assist the club in ways other than aUowing betting on the Brisbane gaUops. Clause 81, as read, agreed to. After dbcussing the matter with all sections Clause 82, as read, agreed to. of the industry on more than one occasion, BiU reported, with amendments. I believe that each section, whether it be greyhound racing, trotting, or galloping, has to stand on its own feet. Having said that, THIRD READING I assure the honourable member that I wfll be taking on board the points that he has Bill, on motion of Mr Hinze, by leave, made, and I wfll be having further discussions read a third time. with the Metiopolitan Trotting Qub. It was indicated to me that the dub would be pleased if betting was allowed to continue on southem events, and that the establishment ADOPTION OF CHILDREN ACT of a TAB agency at the track would eliminate AMBNDIVCBNT BILL some of the problems. As I said, further discussions will take place. FIRST READING Bill presented and, on motion of Mr White, Mr HOOPER: If the Minbter proposes read .a first tim'e. to have TAB agendes everywhere, for the Ufe of me I cannot see why he does not allow betting at the Rocklea tiots on Brisbane SECOND READING galloping events. I am told that betting is allowed at the Redcliffe trots on Brbbane Hon. T. A. WHITE (RedcUffe-^Minbter gaUoping events. The Rocklea trots do for Welfare Services) '(4.31 p.m.): I move— provide a service. I think that the Minister "That the Bill be now .read a second has been nobbled somewhere along the way. time." The present legislation goveming adoptions Mr DAVIS: I should Uke to carry thb on in Queensland, .that is, .the Adoption of because it shows how hypocritical the Min­ Children Act 1964-1979, 'has remained sub- bter can be. S'tantiaUy unahanged since its introduction in Mr Hinze: You are bdng nasty now. 1964. The legislation reflects the conditions and values of almost two decades ago when it was introduced. Mr DAVIS: No. I wish to make thb point because I think it is a fairly good one. At that time, chfldren were fairiy .readily Today we have been dbcussing ways of pre­ available for adoption, inter-oountry adoption venting SP betting. The area on the south was pnadicaUy .unheard of, recognition of side of Brisbane about which the honourable foreign adoption was .allowed for in the member for Archerfield was speaking .has Act, tout was jdatively uncommon, and the a population of about, 100 000. They would matrimonial causes legislati'on of the day not travd to Eagle Fanm or Doomben. The was quite .different from .the present Family Mimster said that he had had dbcussions Law Ad. It was much more difficult to with representatives from Capalaba, and so obtain a divorce in 1964 than it b in 1981. 714 Adoption of Children [1 APRIL 1981] Act Amendment Bill

In reviewing the introductory and second- Honourable the Minister for Justice and reading speeches on the debate of .the legis­ Attomey-General. These amendments lation, I suggest that three points seem to relate to sections 16 (4) (d) and repeal have been made. section 31 of the Adoption of Children Act. The first was the notion of simplicity. The (b) Amendments relating to the recogni­ director was given sweeping powers and it tion of foreign adoption. These are seemed .to have been generaUy thought that covered by an amendment to section 38, the exdusion of the courts oould make the the insertion of a new section 38A practice of adoption less complicated. and an amendment to section 39. Secondly, there appears to have been an (c) Many handicapped chfldren who appreciation of social factors. It seems that previously could not find real parents are it was felt that the involvement of a court now being adopted. The insertion of a with its strict procedures and reliance on new section 57A gives the Director, precedent would build up a whole case-law Department of Children's Services, a dis­ which would ultimately lead to protracted, cretion to provide financial and other complicated and expensive litigation .to the assistance for these handicapped children, exclusion of social .prindples related .to .the and also to other chUdren. welfare and interests of the child. (d) An amendment to section 59 (B) Thirdly, the law was drafted with a view wUl facilitate inter-country adoptions to economy. The administrative powers ves'ted where adoption is not regulated by the in the .director would make all matters related law of a country as is the case in many to adoption cheaper. The involvememt of non-European States. the court with solidtors would be expensive, (e) An amendment to section 65 wfll and this factor seemed to influence the provide the necessary power to allow the drafting of the iBiU. Minister to waive the payment of fees pursuant to regulation 40 of the Adoption The social context in which the legblation of Children Act. exists has changed very considerably since the time when it was introduced. Regretfully, These are simple, but necessary, amendments there are now oonsideirahly fewer chfldren which I wiU describe in detail. becoming available for adoption and the times of waiting for couples seeking to adopt Section 16 allows the director to apply a baby are increasing very considerably. to the Supreme Court for an order discharg­ There is an increase in the number of child­ ing an adoption order under certain circum­ ren born outside of marriage where the stances. Subsection (4) provides that in matemal parent wbhes .to adopt that chfld making this determination the court may into her present marriage. also make consequential or ancUlary orders including the domicile (including the domi­ The concept of no-fault divorce and the cile of origin) of the child. introduction of the FamUy Law Court have meant that there are many parents who seek The proposed Domicile BiU to be intro­ to adopt .tiidr children of a former marriage duced by the Honourable the Minister for into a second marriage, commonly known as Justice and Attomey-General will abolish reconstituted marriage. the rule of law whereby the person's domi­ cile of origin revives upon the abandonment There b a growiing interest in adoption of the domicile of choice without the from overseas countries, both inter-country acquisition of a different domicfle of choice. adoption where 'an Australian couple goes Under the new arrangements, the domicile to a foreign country .to adopt a child under of choice of a person will stay with him AustraUan law and in the recognition of until he acquires a different domicile of foreign adoption where 'a couple Uving in a choice. foreign country adopt a child according to the law of that country and seek ratification To complement the arrangements to be of that adoption under Queensland law 't^ included in the proposed Domidle Bfll it is approaching the Supreme Court pursuant to proposed to delete the reference to a domi­ section 39 of the present Adoption of Child­ cile of origin where it appears in section ren Act. 16 (4) of the Adoption of Children Act. The proposed amendment will apply from The Adoption of Children Act needs a a date of proclamation which will coincide general overhaul and I give notice to hon­ with the proclamation of the proposed ourable members that I wiU be seeking DomicUe Act. pubUc submbsions on this Act. Section 31 of the Adoption of Children The present Bill seeks to amend the Adop­ Act provides the basis of determining a tion of Chfldren Act in certain particulars child's domicUe after the making of an adoption order is to be repealed. It is pro­ which might be grouped as follows:— posed that this provision will be reinstated (a) Amendments regarding domicile (with certain amendments) in the proposed which will bring the Adoption of Children Domicfle BiU. It is also proposed that this Act into a consistent position with action amendment will take effect as from the proposed to be taken under the Domicile same date that the proposed DomicUe Act Bill to be introduced by my colleague the is proclaimed. Adoption of Children [1 APRIL 1981] Act Amendment Bill 715

Section 38 of the Act provides the neces­ and interests of a child adopted overseas by sary criteria for an adoption made outside Queensland couples for a period of up to 12 Australia and New Zealand to be recog­ months of the child's arrival in AustraUa or nised according to Queensland law. The New Zealand. criteria include in subparagraph (b) that "At the time at which the legal steps that It is proposed that the provision wiU allow resulted in the adoption were commenced, the director to exempt a child from such the adopter, or each of the adopters, was supervision in circumstances where the direc­ resident or domiciled in that country." It tor is satisfied that the welfare and interests is proposed that subsection B be deleted. of the child do not require his department's This action wfll allow overseas adoption intervention. orders to be recognised in Queensland where A similar provision was recently inserted the adopting couple were not resident or domiciled in the overseas country at the in com'parable Western Australian legislation. time that the adoption was made. This pro­ It is proposed that this amendment take effect posal follows agreement by all States and as from the same date tbat the proposed Territories fo introduce complementary amendment to sedion 38 becomes legislation to this effect. operational. The proposal wUl remove any implication Section 39 allows certain specified persons that the officers of relevant overseas courts to apply to the Supreme Court for an order are not competent to make orders for child­ declaring that an adoption order made out­ ren within their respective countries. side Australasia is recognised according to Attempts by State and Territory adoption Queensland law. authorities to negotiate inter-country adop­ tion working arrangements wfll faciUtate the As indicated eariier children adopted over­ adoption of overseas children by Queensland seas under drcumstances whioh do not couples and attempt to ensure that good meet minimum criteria outlined in sedion adoption practices are followed. 38 (2) of the Act are termed as "immigrant" It is proposed that this amendment operate children and placed in the guardianship of from a date of proclamation which will the director. coincide with the introduction of similar Therefore, persons who have adopted a legislation in other States and Territories. child overseas often seek an order from the It is further proposed that a new section Supreme Court to recognise the overseas 38A be included in the Act. The proposed adoption order and to alter the status of amendment outlined in relation to section an immigrant child to an ordinary adopted 38 wiU require a complementary amendment child and so obviate the necessity for them which wiU protect the interests of overseas to apply for a Queensland adoption order children adopted by Queensland couples. which would require them to demonstrate to the director that adoption would be in the At the present time these children, when best interests of the child conceraed. brought to Queensland, come within the category of "immigrant" children as defined In the past it has been more or less gen­ in the provisions of the Commonwealth eraUy accepted practice for a notice of Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act application for ratification of an adoption to and they are automatically placed in the be served on the director. However, in terms guardianship of the diredor until such time of the existing Act, there b no compulsion as dther— and it would be possible for the court to recdve an appUcation for ratification of (i) The overseas adoption is recognised adoption of an immigrant child who would according to Queensland law; or be under the guardianship of the director (ii) A local adoption order b made. pursuant to the Commonwealth Immigration (Guardianship of Chfldren) Act and for the Because of the proposed amendment to Sec­ Supreme Court to make a determination tion 38, children adopted overseas by Queens­ without the knowledge of the director who land couples may no longer faU within the is, by law, the child's legal guardian. defimtion of "iminigrant" children. It is therefore proposed to insert a pro­ Whilst attempts have been made to enter vision in section 39 which wiU make it into inter-country adoption working arrange­ mandatory for an appUcant to the Supreme ments with relevant countries, there has been Court for the ratification of a foreign adop­ limited success to date and it is stiU possible tion to serve a copy of the application up>on tor Queensland couples who may not be the director 21 days at least before the approved to adopt in Queensland (or who date fixed for the hearing of the application. may have even been refused approval to adopt in Queensland) to adopt children from This wUl enable the director to become overseas countries. a party to the proceedings conceraing the appUcation and to provide the court with .It b therefore proposed to insert a pro­ information as to what he considers to be vision m the Act which wfll allow the in the best interests of the children who oirector a discretion to supervise the welfare are under his guardianship. 716 Adoption of Children, &c., BiU [1 APRIL 1981] Jury Act Amendment BiU

It is proposed to insert a new section port that portion of the present regulation 57A to make a provision in the Act which 40 relating to fees, which allows the Minis­ will allow the diredor a discretion to provide ter to waive the payment of fees. Fees are assistance in such form and for such period generally waived where these would impose as he considers necessary to adopting parents financial hardship on the adopting parents— or an adopted child upon request. for example for adoption of a large num­ ber of children into a reconstituted mar­ Under the existing Ad the responsibilities riage where the applicants have very limiteid of the Department of Children's Services resources. It is proposed to amend section stop at the time that the director makes 65 to overcome this difficulty. an adoption order. This could be a matter of only days after a baby has been placed It b also proposed that the amendment in the custody of approved applicants. The wfll allow regulation 40 to be subsequently department is aware that some adopting varied to .provide that in respect of future parents have difficulty in adjustment and the applications, a fee shall be payable at the new provision will allow the diredor dis­ time of lodgement of the appUcation (Form cretion (through his officers) to provide coun­ 5) rather than at the date of the making of seUing and other supportive services to adopt­ an adoption order. The making of an adop­ ing parents, or, in the case of older children, tion order should be primarily seen as a ser­ to the adopted child. vice to the child rather than a service to the applicants. The proposed provision wfll also leave the way open for the director to provide finan- In addition, considerable expense is dal assbtance to adopting parents who adopt incurred by the department in processing a child who requires extraordinary expenses. appUcations which may not ultimately result in an adoption order. It is proposed that No such financial program presentiy exists the amendment wfll not allow the new and a number of such children with valid arrangements to apply to applications pre­ adoption consents have been placed in the sently on hand where applicants wiU stiH care of the director and in a long-term pay the fee when an adoption order b made. foster care situation. I commend the BiU to the House. Section 59B was inserted in the Act in 1979 and allows information on Queensland Debate, on motion of Mr Fouras, couples wishing to adopt a child from over­ adjourned. seas to be forwarded to overseas Govern­ ments (or persons acting on the au'thority of such Governments) with whom the director JURY ACT AMENDMENT BILL •has entered into working arrangements. TUiis information involves a sodal-work assessment Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa--Minis- of Queensland couples wbhing to adopt an ter for Justice and Attomey-General), by overseas child which is required by the leave, without notice: I move— overseas authorities who match available "That leave be granted to bring in a children with various appUcants. BiU to amend .the Jury Act 1929-1978 in Since the existing legislation was enacted certain particulars." senior officers of the department have par­ ticipated in overseas delegations to relevant Motion agreed to. overseas countries. In certain countries where the absence of any adoption law pre­ FIRST READING vents the signing of formal working arrange­ ments with the Governments involved, Bill presented and, on motion of Mr appropriate working arrangements have Doumany, read a first time. been negotiated with relevant private agen- ciM. Other States and Territories are now SECOND READING liaising with those agencies. Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa—Minis­ It is proposed that the existing legislation ter for Justice and Attoraey-General) be varied to allow similar arrangements in (4.49 p.m.): I move— Queensland provided that the director is satisfied that the agency concemed is a "That the Bfll be now read a second proper agency and that good practice occurs. time." It is an Australia-wide practice to refrain The purpose of this BiU is to prevent a from naming spedfic countries when pub­ criminal trial 'being aborted if the number licly referring to inter-country adoption. of jurors were to fall below 10 during the That is important. trial, by providing for a system of reserve jurors. Section 65 provides the head of power necessary for the making of the Adoption The more sophisticated techniques and of Children Regulations, including sub­ technology now used in modern crime and clause (d), "Fees Payable in Respect of Pro­ the more complex laws necessary to deal ceedings Under This Act". Advice has with them have tended to increase the been received that sub-clause (d) does not length of a criminal trial rather than to provide a head of power sufficient to sup­ reduce it. An increase in the length of a University of Queensland [1 APRIL 1981] Act Ameruiment Bill 717

trial increases the chance that one of the FIRST READING jurors may die or for some other reason caimot continue as a juror, for example, the Bill presented and, on motion of Mr Gunn, incapacity of a juror or the dbcharge of a read a first time. juror. Fraud .tiials, of which there have been SECOND READING several latdy, are Ukely to extend over a substantial period. A conspiracy trial in .the Hon. W. A. M. GUNN (Somerset—Min­ Dbtrad Court a few years ago continued ister for Education) (4.54 p.m.): I move— for a time approaching eight months. "That the Bill be now read a second The collapse of a trial because .the death, time." incapacity, etc., of jurors reduced the num­ ber of jurors below ten, would disadvantage Thb lb a very short BiU which contains four both the State of .Queensland and also an basic amendments to the University of accused person. Tbe cost to the State would Queensland Act. In various parts of the Act be considerable if .the aborted trial had been there are references to the Professorial in progress for four or .five months. An Board. For example, the president of the accused person is always presumed to be Professorial Board of the university is ex innocent untfl proved to be guilty. However, officio a member of the senate. in the above situation, the accused would have been subjected ;to the experience of In 1976, the senate undertook a major having had .to sit in .the criminal dock for revision of the constitution, powers and four or five moniths oifly to be confronted functions of the Professorial Board. As a with a fresh trial which may last for another result, it submitted revised statutes, which six months or more. Thb legislative scheme were subsequently approved by the Governor will hdp .to eUminate avoddiable cosits and in Council, and which involved a substantial distress .to an accused person. change in the composition of the board. Previously the board had been composed The Bill provides that a trial .judge may very largely of professorial staff. This com­ direct that up .to three reserve jurors may position was revised and, in particular, pro­ be chosen for a trial. How many, if any, are vision was made for 20 members of the to be chosen b a matter for the judge. The non-professorial staff to be elected to the reserve jurors would (a) have the same qual­ board. Instead of all professors being ex ifications; (b) he called .and empanelled in officio members of the board, a provision the same manner; (c) be subject to the same was inserted to provide that apart from those challenges, stand bys and liabUity to db­ professors who were ex officio members of charge; (d) .take the same oath; and (e) have the board in another capacity, for example, the same functions, powers, facilities and as deans or heads of departments, only 20 privileges as jurors. The number of pre- professors should be elected members. emptory challenges land stand bys would be increased .to a maximum of two. The reserve In view of these changes, the name "Pro­ jurors would be present during .the whole fessorial Board" was no longer considered of tbe trial. appropriate and it is proposed that the name of the board be changed to "Academic After the jury of 12 persons had been Board". The biU now before the House chosen the reserve jurors, if any, would then provides for this alteration wherever it occurs be chosen. If one of the 12 were to die, etc., in the Act. he would be replaced by a reserve juror ddermined by lot. Immediatdy 'before the The second amendment relates to the addi­ jury retired .to consider its verdict any r^erve tion of a general staff representative (that is, jurors who had not replaced a juror would of full-itime staff other than academics) to the be discharged. A system of reserve jurors university senate. Three members of the has been in operation in Westenn AustraUa senate are appointed "by and from the fuU since 1975. TTiat system b in many respects time graduate staff" of the university. The similar to the system contained in the .BiU. Technical and Laboratory Staff Association I commend .the BiU to .the House. (now re-formed as the General Staff Associa­ tion) has sought representation for non- Debate, on motion of Mr R. J. Gibbs, academic staff. Co-opted members of the adjoumed. senate have come from such staff and have made significant contributions. Formal repre­ sentation of such staff should be appropriately UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND .ACT recognised. AMBNDiMBNT BILL It b now proposed .to enable non-academic H

student—for example, a post-graduate student ensure that the existing method of fiUing —^to vote only as a student when electing a casual vacancies applies to the general staff representative to the senate. However, the representative on the senate. convocation has pointed out that there are a number of people who have been members The first term of oflSce of the general staff of convocation for a considerable period and representative will commence on the date who, for one reason or another, dedde to that this Act comes into force but shall pursue a further course of study at the terminate on the same day as the terms university and enrol as students. of other members of the senate. Thereafter, the term of office wiU be three years-^the It is considered that it would be more same as for the other senators. appropriate for such persons to continue to vote in senate elections as members of con­ I commend the BiU to the House. vocation rather than return to student elector status as required by the Act. The amend­ Debate, on motion of Mr Shaw, adjourned. ment provides for a person who has been a member of convocation for at least five years, and who enrob as a student, to be entitled to vote as a member of convocation BRISBANE FOREST PARK ACT and not as a student. AMENDMENT BILL Hon. W. H, GLASSON (Gregory- The fourth and final amendment is to the Minister for Lands and Forestry), by leave, wording of a financial provision of the Act. without notice: I move— Similar amendment was made to the James "That leave be granted to bring in a Cook University of North Queensland Act Bill to amend the Brisbane Forest Park and the Grflfith University Act in 1977. The Act 1977 in certain particulars." relevant section of the University of Queens­ land Act reads in part— Motion agreed to. "For the purpose of providing financial accommodation for enabUng the university FIRST READING to exercise and perform its functions, the senate, in the name of and on behalf of BiU presented and, on motion of Mr the university, may and is hereby auth­ Glasson, read a first time. orized, with the prior approval of the Governor in Councfl, to obtain from time SECOND READING to time advances— Hon. W. H. GLASSON (Gregory—Min­ "(A) by way of loan from the Treas­ ister for Lands and Forestry) (5.1 p.m.): I urer—" move— and so on. "That the BiU be now read a second time." The Parliamentary Counsel proposed that, legally, it would be desirable to clarify the The Brbbane Forest Park Act 1977 provided phrase "to exerdse and perform its functions" for the establbhment of the Brisbane Forest by extending it to read— Park and for the administration, manage­ "to perform and exerdse its functions ment and control of the park and for related and all powers that are incidental, neces­ purposes. This Act constituted a Brbbane sary or conducive to the proper perform­ Forest Park Advisory Planning Board having ance of its functions". advisory and recommendatory functions. This would then remove any legal doubts The membership of such board b presently about the ability of the university to exer­ as follows— cbe powers that might not be expressly listed (a) a chairman nominated by the Min­ in the Act but which obviously are necessary ister; to enable it to carry out its business. (b) an officer of the Co-ordinator- As I have just mentioned, similar amend­ General's Department; ments were made to the other two university (c) an officer of the Main Roads Depart­ Acts in 1977. It was considered that, while ment; it was desirable that the University of (d) an officer of the Community and Queensland Act abo be amended in thb Welfare Services and Sport D^artment; regard, the matter was not urgent enough to proceed on its own, and it was held, pending (e) two officers of the Forestry Depart­ a review of the Act and submission of other ment; amendments. (f) two officers of the Department of Lands, one of whom must be an officer The BiU contains some other machinery of the National Parks and WildUfe Service; amendments. For example, the Act at present contains two headings for the making (g) two officers of the Brisbane City of statutes which cover the same subject, so CouncU; it is intended .to repeal the redundant one. (h) one officer of the Ipswich City A machinery provision is abo necessary to CouncU; Scartwater Station, Ac, BiU [1 APRIL 1981] Meaker Trust, Ac, BiU 719

(i) one officer of the Mprdon Shire extended to certain returaed soldiers and Council; their dependants. The Public Curator is the (j) one officer of the Esk Shire Council; custodian trustee of the trust property. and Included in the trust is the provision, man­ (k) one officer of the Pine Rivers Shire agement and administration of a home for CouncU. aged returaed servicemen. Such home is In aU, at present there are fourteen members known as the A. H. W. Cunningham Mem­ of this board. The Bill increases the member­ orial Home and it is managed and admini­ ship of the Brbbane Forest Park Advisory stered by managing trastees. Planning Board to fifteen members by adding a further member who has to be a person At present, eUgiWlity for admission into normally resident in the area comprbing the such home is restricted to returned service­ local authority areas of the city of Brbbane, men of or over the age of 60 years for city of Ipswich, shire of Moreton, shire of whose benefit the trust property is managed Esk and the shire of Pine Rivers, nominated and administered or, who immediately prior by the Minbter for Lands and Forestry. to applying for admission to such home, have been residents in a defined restricted area The purpose of the amendment is to have for a period of three years or such other a member of the general pubMc, Uving in period as the managing trustees may fix thb locality, as an additional member of the from time to time and, except that they board. The locaUty from which this addi­ were not enlisted from such area, are per­ tional member is to come is the area within sons for whose benefit the trast property is which the Brbbane Forest Park is situated managed and administered. and which b serviced by the Brbbane Forest Park. At present there are 38 residents in the above home, which is organbed, structured The BiU abo includes certain "tidy up" and geared to accommodate and cater for administrative provisiwis brought about by more than 70. This shortage of residents is adminbtrative rearrangements of depart­ resulting in increased financial burdens and ments of Govemment. commitments on the parent body, the Scart­ water Station Trust. I commend the BUl to the House. The managing, trustees and the custodian Debate, on motion of Mr Kmger, trustee of the trust property (the Public adjoumed. Trustee) are in favour of an extension of area for residential eUgibility. . The proposed Bill extends the area of SCARTWATER STATION TRUST residential eligibility for admission to the EXTENSION ACT AMENDMENT ACT A. H. W. Cunningham Memorial Home to OF 1960 AMENDMENT BILL those returned servicemen (otherwise quaU­ fied) who have been residents in any part Hon. W. H. GLASSON (Gregory—Minb­ of Queensland north of the Tropic of ter for Lands and Forestry), by leave, with­ Capricorn. out notice: I move— "That leave be granted to bring in a I believe this Bill has a commendable and BiU to amend the Scartwater Station Trast beneficial purpose. I commend it to the Extension Act Amendment Act of 1960 House. in a certain particular." Debate, on motion of Mr Kruger, Motion agreed to. adjouraed.

FIRST READING MEAKER TRUST (RAINE ISLAND BiU presented and, on motion of Mr RESEARCH) BILL Glasson, read a first time. Hon. J. A. ELLIOTT (Cunningham—Mini­ ster for Tourism, National Parks, Sport and The Arts), by leave, without notice: I move— SECOND READING "That leave be granted to bring in a Hon. W. H. GLASSON (Gregory—Mini­ Bill to provide for the constitution of the ster for Lands and Forestry) (5.5 p.m.): I Raine Island Corporation and its powers move— and functions and for related purposes." "That the BiU be now read a second Motion agreed to. time."

The Scartwater Station Trust Extension Acts FIRST READING 1941 to 1960 make provision whereby the benefits of a certain trast property known Bill presented and, on motion of Mr as Scartwater Station shaU be appMed and EUiott, read a first time. 720 Meaker Trust, &c., BiU [1 APRIL 1981] Special Adjournment

SECOND READING This DiU gives new meaning and direction to a vital study and it is fitting that chair­ Hon. J. A. ELLIOTT (Cunningham—Mini­ manship of the Raine Island Corporation ster for Tourism, National Parks, Sport and should be vested in the Director of the The Arts) (5.9 p.m.): I move— Queensland National Parks and WildUfe "That the Bfll be now read a second Service. It is proposed that other members time." should include the Director-General and Under Secretary of the Department of Pri­ This is a simple BiU to provide for the con­ mary Industries; the Director of Aboriginal stitution of the Raine Island Corporation. and Islanders Advancement; Dr WUmer The corporation wfll undertake the vital task Edward George Butier or, in the event that, of promoting research into several important for any reason, he ceases to be a member of environmental aspects of the Great Barrier the corporation, his wife Elizabeth Maxwell Reef—factors which could weU have consider­ Butler; their son David Angus Butier or able implications for man and his somewhat lineal descendants of Dr Butler; a per­ tenuous place in the complex ecological son who is' a descendant of an indigenous chain. inhabitant of the Torres Strait blands and another person suitably qualified in the SpecificaUy, the corporation will be direct­ opinion of the Minbter who shall be the ing its attention to Raine Island, two smaU deputy chairman of the coriporation. adjacent coral cays—Pandora and MadeUan —and the surrounding seas some 160 km east- north-east of Cape Grenville in North The BiU further provides for the secrdary, Queensland. Queensland National- Parks and Wildlife Service, to be the secretary of the corpora­ The Act is to be known as the Meaker tion. Trast (Raine Island Research) Act. I pay tribute to the family of the late Benjamin The corporation wfll have the authority to Meaker, a former British businessman, and invest moneys but it wiU 'be required to particularly to Dr Wilmer Edward George present annual budgets to the Minister and Butler, a sometime trustee of the trust, now to be subject- to audit by the Auditor- resident in Queensland. It is owing to their General. concem for man's place in the environment The corporation wfll further be; required that this vital ecological study can continue. to submit annual reports on .iU operation to The turtles and sea-birds of Raine Island the Minister, and the BiU spedfies that these have been the subject of considerable scien­ reports should be laid before the House. tific research since 1843. However, it was A member of my committee suggested not until 1975 that the bland was included that, in the interests of economics, in an official scientific program, by the reports be attached to the National Parks Queensland National Parks and Wfldlife Ser­ and WfldUfe Service report, which comes vice, with aid from the AustraUan National in at approximately the same time. I shaU Parks and Wildlife Service. be moving that that happens and it can be In 1978 tiie World Wildlife Fund made its discussed at a later stage. first Australian grant, amounting to $46,300, Administration of the corporation wiU be for further research. Part of this program provided without cost to the corporation by included the tagging of turtles and the taking officers of Queensland National Parks and of samples for genetic studies, the banding WfldUfe Service and there is provision within of several thousand sea birds, the collection the Bill to second officers of the service to of plant spedmens for the Queensland Her­ perform duties for the corporation. barium and for the CSIRO and the prepara­ tion of a number of unusual bird, insect and I commend the BiH to the House. spider specimens for the Queensland Museum. Debate, on motion of Mr Warburton, adjourned. I feel that this hbtorioal background is necessary for honourable members to appre­ ciate the long-standing scientific interest in the region and appreciate also the signific­ SPEOAL ADJOURNMENT ance of the Meaker Bequest. The Raine Island research project must be continued. Hon. C. A, WHARTON (Burnett—Leader of the House): I move— Nine hundred thousand doUars, the extent "That the House, at its rising, do adjourn of the Meaker Bequest, is now on deposit until Tuesday, 28 April 1981." with the World Wildlife Fund in the United Kingdom and is awaiting transfer to Queens­ Motion agreed to. land upon the enactment of thb simple piece of legislation. The House adjourned at 5.14 p.m.