8 Oct 1996 Petitions 3033

TUESDAY, 8 OCTOBER 1996 "A Bill for an Act to amend the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1964"

"A Bill for an Act to enable warrants to be created, stored and managed in Mr SPEAKER (Hon. N. J. Turner, Nicklin) computers, and for other purposes" read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. "A Bill for an Act to amend the District Courts Act 1967, and for related purposes" ASSENT TO BILLS The Bills are hereby transmitted to the Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have to inform Legislative Assembly, to be numbered and the House that I have received from Her forwarded to the proper Officer for enrolment, Excellency the Governor a letter in respect of in the manner required by law. assent to certain Bills, the contents of which Yours sincerely will be incorporated in the records of the (Sgd) Leneen Forde Parliament— Governor GOVERNMENT HOUSE QUEENSLAND 18 September 1996 AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT The Honourable N. J. Turner, MLA Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have to advise Speaker of the Legislative Assembly the House that today I received from the Parliament House Auditor-General the annual report of the George Street Queensland Audit Office for the period 1995- BRISBANE QLD 4000 96. Dear Mr Speaker I hereby acquaint the Legislative Assembly that the following Bill, having been passed by the PETITIONS Legislative Assembly and having been The Clerk announced the receipt of the presented for the Royal Assent, was assented following petitions— to in the name of Her Majesty The Queen on 10 September 1996: "A Bill for an Act to facilitate the School Cleaners establishment of a major Queensland- From Mr Bredhauer (30 signatories) based financial institution, and for other purposes" requesting the House to reverse the decision by the Minister for Education to privatise The Bill is hereby transmitted to the Legislative cleaning in Queensland schools. Assembly, to be numbered and forwarded to the proper Officer for enrolment, in the manner required by law. School Cleaners Yours sincerely From Mr J. N. Goss (23 signatories) (Sgd) Leneen Forde requesting the House to reverse the decision Governor to privatise cleaning in Queensland schools, GOVERNMENT HOUSE thereby ensuring clean hygienic State schools QUEENSLAND and secure long term employment of cleaners 19 September 1996 in schools. The Honourable N. J. Turner, MLA Speaker of the LEgislative Assembly Government Services; Penalties and Parliament House George Street Sentences BRISBANE QLD 4000 From Mr Nuttall (128 signatories) Dear Mr Speaker requesting the House to (a) ensure that all I hereby acquaint the Legislative Assembly that pensioners throughout Queensland enjoy the the following Bills, having been passed by the same concessions as those in Brisbane (b) Legislative Assembly and having been alter the necessary legislation to allow for the presented for the Royal Assent, were assented Queensland Government Seniors Card to be to in the name of Her Majesty The Queen on 18 made available to disabled pensioners and September 1996: sole parents (c) ensure the provision of "A Bill for an Act to provide for the transfer continued and increased support to services of the undertaking of Challenge Bank providing assistance to older people in abuse Limited to Westpac Banking Corporation, situations (d) ensure the continuation of and for related purposes" funding for the public dental health system in 3034 Statutory Instruments 8 Oct 1996 an effort to reduce waiting lists (e) ensure the 3 October 1996— continuation of funding for the provision of free Board of Architects of Queensland—Annual prescription glasses for eligible residents and Report 1995-96 (f) call on the law makers to ensure severe and Court of Appeal—Annual Report 1995-96. long sentences are given for murder, rape and break and enter. STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS In accordance with the schedule Public Housing circulated by the Clerk to members in the From Mr Nuttall (97 petitioners) Chamber, the following documents were requesting the House to take actions to tabled— ensure that the coalition Government meets Aboriginal Land Act 1991— its commitments to (a) tenants in public housing that they are not charged more than Aboriginal Land Amendment Regulation 25 per cent of their income in rent (b) tenants (No. 1) 1996, No. 254 in public housing that they are not Challenge Bank (Transfer of Undertaking) Act disadvantaged and (c) introduce accountable 1996 strategies for addition and replacement of Proclamation—the provisions of the Act housing stock to ensure that proceeds of sales that are not in force commence 1 October of public housing to tenants are reinvested in 1996, No. 247 public housing. Child Care Act 1991— Child Care Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 1996, No. 252 Colmslie Beach Land Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984— From Mr Purcell (8 signatories) Community Services Legislation requesting the House to support and Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 1996, encourage the sale of 8.99 hectares of No. 236 land—Real Property description 201432, Lot Community Services (Aborigines) 2, Colmslie Road, Murarrie (also known as Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 1996, Colmslie Beach) to the Brisbane City Council No. 242 without delay at open space prices for the purpose of parkland to be held in perpetuity Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984— for the people of Brisbane. The majority of Community Services Legislation prime riverfront land has been sold to industry Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 1996, and we, the undersigned, believe the State No. 236 Government should sell this site to the Competition Policy Reform (Queensland) Act Brisbane City Council for the benefit of the 1996— people of Brisbane and future generations for Competition Policy Reform (Queensland- recreational purposes. Exemptions) Regulation 1996, No. 251 Corrective Services Act 1988— Speed Limits, Suburban Streets Corrective Services (Establishment of Prisons) Amendment Regulation (No. 1) From Mr Santoro (18 signatories) 1996, No. 244 requesting the House to introduce a lower Credit Act 1987— speed limit on suburban streets in Brisbane as Credit (Suncorp Building Society Limited contained in the recommendation of the Exemption) Order 1996, No. 243 Parliamentary Travelsafe Committee's Report on Local Areas Traffic Management of April Education (Senior Secondary School Studies) 1994. Act 1988— Education (Senior Secondary School Petitions received. Studies) Amendment By-law (No. 1) 1996, No. 262 PAPERS TABLED DURING RECESS Electricity Act 1994— The Clerk announced that the following Electricity Amendment Regulation (No. 3) papers were tabled during the recess— 1996, No. 253 16 September 1996— Fair Trading Act 1989— Suncorp Insurance and Finance—Annual Fair Trading (Darchery Dartslinger) Order Report 1995-96 1996, No. 234 20 September 1996— Financial Intermediaries Act 1996— Marine Incidents in Queensland—1 January to Financial Intermediaries Regulation 1996, 30 June 1996 No. 249 8 Oct 1996 Response to Petition 3035

Proclamation—the provisions of the Act Radioactive Substances Act 1958— that are not in force commence 1 October Radioactive Substances Amendment 1996, No. 248 Regulation (No. 1) 1996, No. 261 Fisheries Act 1994— State Financial Institutions and Metway Merger Fisheries Amendment Regulation (No. 2) Facilitation Act 1996— 1996, No. 266 Government Owned Corporations Act 1993— State Financial Institutions and Metway Merger Facilitation Regulation 1996, Government Owned Corporations No. 259 (Queensland Rail) Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 1996, No. 250 Stock Act 1915— Intellectually Disabled Citizens Act 1985— Stock (Cattle Tick) Amendment Notice Intellectually Disabled Citizens (No. 2) 1996, No. 258 Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 1996, Transport Infrastructure (Roads) Act 1991— No. 235 Department of Transport (Variation of Justices of the Peace and Commissioners for Fees) Regulation (No. 3) 1996, No. 240 Declarations Act 1991— Justices of the Peace and Commissioners Transport Operations (Road Use Management) for Declarations Amendment Regulation Act 1995— (No. 1) 1996, No. 237 Department of Transport (Variation of Local Government Act 1993— Fees) Regulation (No. 3) 1996, No. 240. Local Government (External Boundaries Review) Regulation 1996, No. 246 RESPONSE TO PETITION Local Government (Internal Boundaries Review) Regulation 1996, No. 255 The Clerk laid upon the table of the Local Government Legislation Amendment House the following response to petition Regulation (No. 1) 1996, No. 245 received by the Clerk since the last sitting day Local Government Legislation Amendment of the Legislative Assembly, 13 September Regulation (No. 2) 1996, No. 256 1996— Local Government (Morayfield Shopping Centre Zoning) Act 1996— School Cleaners Local Government (Morayfield Shopping Centre Zoning) Regulation 1996, No. 239 18 September 1996 Mineral Resources Act 1989— I refer to your contact with my office Mineral Resources Amendment Regulation concerning school cleaning. (No. 6) 1996, No. 263 I announced the decision to out source the Motor Vehicles Control Act 1975— cleaning of schools, along with a commitment Department of Transport (Variation of to put the savings into schools to improve Fees) Regulation (No. 3) 1996, No. 240 student outcomes. The pros and cons of my decision have been well canvassed in the Nature Conservation Act 1992— media. Nature Conservation (Macropod Harvest Period) Amendment Notice (No. 2) 1996, The Department of Education had a process set No. 241 up to ensure all schools received a fax for their cleaners by the end of the school day on Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Friday. Unfortunately, some schools did not Amendment Regulation (No. 5) 1996, receive the fax until the following Monday. I No. 264 regret this and apologise that our efforts were Nature Conservation (Protected Plants in not successful. Trade) Amendment Conservation Plan (No. 1) 1996, No. 238 The Government has offered a compromise proposal, regarding the cleaning of schools, to Native Title (Queensland) Act 1993— the Australian Liquor Hospitality and Native Title (Queensland) Regulation Miscellaneous Workers' Union. Currently the 1996, No. 260 Government is waiting for the Union to respond Plant Protection Act 1989— to this proposal. No relevant decisions can be made until the Union's response is available. Plant Protection (Gladiolus Rust) Notice 1996, No. 257 For further information, please contact Mr Don Brown, Secretary, Australian Liquor Hospitality Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act and Miscellaneous Workers' Union, on phone 1996— number (07) 3831 3355. Alternatively you could Proclamation—section 20(2) of the Act address a written enquiry to Mr Brown at PO commences 1 November 1996, No. 265 Box 331, Spring Hill, 4004. 3036 Ministerial Statement 8 Oct 1996

PAPERS the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths The following papers were laid on the in Custody and monitored that table— implementation. I had the pleasure of tabling that excellent report in this House a few weeks (a) Minister for Health (Mr Horan)— ago. Annual Reports for 1995-96— I attended John's funeral in Mackay Queensland Institute of Medical yesterday afternoon. A massive crowd of over Research Council 1,000 people indicated the tremendous Queensland Institute of Medical respect that John enjoyed. I believe that John Research Trust was only 48 years of age. I had spoken to (b) Minister for Environment (Mr John on Wednesday morning, and in that Littleproud)— conversation he expressed his typical concern Wet Tropics Management Authority— for several people whom he believed had not Annual Report for 1995-96 received justice. I know that he worked all day (c) Minister for Local Government and on Wednesday dealing with concerns in Planning (Mrs McCauley)— Corrective Services before boarding a plane Under the Local Government Act 1993— for Brisbane at 5 p.m. He suffered a heart attack on the flight and passed away in the (1) A copy of each of the reports from Royal Brisbane Hospital later that night. the Local Government Commissioner on the review of the divisional John had a positive and diplomatic boundaries of the local government approach that did much to promote growing areas of the Shires of Banana, Crows respect for his committee's advice and work. Nest, Maroochy, Noosa, Pine Rivers, He guided the first such indigenous committee Rosalie and Warwick and the Cities of advice to Queensland Government to a of Caloundra, Logan, Mackay, point where substantially more far-reaching Maryborough and Rockhampton; arrangements are proposed. He has earned (2) A copy of the report from the Local an historic place in this State's history. I know Government Commissioner on the of John's work in the Mackay area, especially review of the composition and divisional boundaries of the City of with ATSIC and how he worked to promote the Hervey Bay; development of many positive initiatives there. On behalf of all those who have worked with (3) A copy of the report from the Local Government Commissioner on the John in his capacity of advising the Local Government Boundaries Queensland Government, I offer my heartfelt Adjustment Review between the condolences to his wife, Mrs Lois Ramsamy, Shires of Crows Nest Shire and his surviving children and grandchildren. Rosalie; and (4) A copy of each of the reports from the Local Government Commissioner MINISTERIAL STATEMENT on the abolition of divisional Gold Coast Drug Incident boundaries of the local government areas of the Shires of Burnett, Hon. T. R. COOPER (Crows Nest— Kilkivan and Mareeba and the City of Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Bundaberg. Minister for Racing) (9.39 a.m.), by leave: The Gold Coast rave party which resulted in the emergency hospitalisation of nine young MINISTERIAL STATEMENT people this weekend has shocked the State Death of Mr J. Ramsamy and revealed a panorama of problems Hon. K. R. LINGARD (Beaudesert— associated with the so-called youth drug Minister for Families, Youth and Community culture. I can assure the House that I share Care) (9.37 a.m.), by leave: It is with deep community concern about these so-called rave sorrow that I draw the attention of honourable parties and associated drug taking preying on members to the unexpected and untimely impressionable and vulnerable young minds. death of Mr John Ramsamy. John Ramsamy Police investigations have so far revealed has chaired the Aboriginal and Torres Strait that the drug involved is not illegal and that Islander Overview Committee for over two and the premises involved do not sell alcohol and a half years and was a member of that therefore do not require a liquor licence from committee since it began its work in December the Licensing Commission. However, this does 1992. That committee advised the not mean that the police or the Government Queensland Government on the have been, or will be, sitting on their hands in implementation of the recommendations of relation to this or similar types of incidents. I 8 Oct 1996 Ministerial Statement 3037 will be meeting as a matter of urgency with the light of the upcoming Schoolies Week on the Premier, the Minister for Health and the Gold Coast. While the police will do everything Minister for Local Government to examine the possible to get on top of this problem, there current situation and discuss avenues for must be a whole-of-Government and a whole- monitoring and regulation of such parties and of-community approach to the drug issue. We venues across the State. must all be vigilant. People should be advised It is fair to say that the problem is a rapidly of the dangers associated with drug taking, emerging one, the complexion of which is and any information relating to these types of changing at a very fast pace. Yesterday the parties or drug availability should be passed to designer drug was Ecstasy, which is an illegal Crimestoppers immediately to assist police in drug; today it is Fantasy. Who knows what the detection and apprehension of persons new drug there may be around the corner? involved in illegal drugs. The youth drug scene seems to be heavily influenced by overseas influences and, it MINISTERIAL STATEMENT seems, via information available on the Internet. What is unquestionable is that an Gold Coast Drug Incident insidious culture of designer drug use has Hon. M. J. HORAN (Toowoomba taken hold among young people, who seem South—Minister for Health) (9.42 a.m.), by either unaware of the risks of chemical drug leave: This statement is about the episode of experimentation or are otherwise prepared to drug taking on the Gold Coast, which is a gamble with their health and wellbeing. matter of significant public concern at a State and national level. On 6 October 1996 at 6.38 The Gold Coast Bulletin today reported a a.m. an emergency call was made to the Gold number of allegations relating to the Coast Ambulance Service. The ambulance availability of this drug in Queensland schools. was called to the B3 dance club in Albert There is no evidence that this drug is available Avenue, Broadbeach. This is a non-alcoholic in schools. It would appear that the comments venue which operates from 2 a.m. to attributed to Superintendent Barron of the approximately 10 a.m. It is believed that 10 Drug Investigation Squad were misreported in patrons took a drug believed to contain this instance. Superintendent Barron had gamma hydroxy butyrate, also known as GHB actually stated that if information was received and Fantasy, on the premises. Within 15 that this drug was in Queensland schools, minutes of consumption of this substance, then that would be investigated. eight of the 10 experienced respiratory The Gold Coast Bulletin further reported depression, fitting or coma. Their collapse was that the Licensed Venues Association had believed to be due to hypoxia, which is a rightly raised concerns about the youth drug decrease in the amount of oxygen in the culture and rave parties on the Gold Coast bloodstream. These individuals did not appear with myself and senior police in the region but to go through an excitation phase, which is that police response to those concerns was typical of methylene dioxy meth amphetamine inadequate. I can report to the House that or MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy. They senior police in the region had been very were simply seen to fall over. Two individuals active in addressing the specific law and order who are believed to have taken a smaller dose concerns raised by that organisation and other of the drug did not collapse. community groups on the coast. The All eight patients who collapsed required operational approach taken by police in intubation and artificial ventilation at the Gold response to those concerns was outlined in Coast Hospital and in Brisbane metropolitan some detail in return correspondence to the hospitals. I am happy to be able to announce Licensed Venues Association, and indeed that all eight of these people were treated police have been actively involved in the Heart successfully and were able to breathe normally of City Task Force which was formed once the effect of the drug had worn off. All specifically to tackle law and order issues in patients have now left intensive care, and it is Surfers Paradise. I can assure the House that believed that none of them will suffer any police regard this matter very seriously and serious long-term effects. In this regard, I give that there had been inspections of this praise to the prompt and professional particular venue, the B3 nightclub on the Gold treatment which these patients received. Coast, but no illegal activity was evident. On the basis of the evidence available The weekend incident should also serve currently, it would appear that the drug used as a stark reminder to young people, to by people at the Gold Coast function was parents and the community generally of the gamma hydroxy butyrate, also known as GHB dangers of drug use and abuse, particularly in and Fantasy. The use of substances of this 3038 Ministerial Statement 8 Oct 1996 type at so-called rave parties is of great drugs of dependence section of the concern to me. On 5 July 1996, the Ministerial Commonwealth Government and was advised Council on Drug Strategy endorsed a proposal in November 1994 that the treaties and to develop a national protocol and guidelines monitoring section of the Commonwealth for the conduct of dance parties to minimise Department of Health was not aware of any the potential for harm arising from the use of reports of the misuse of the substance and MDMA and other related drugs. Reports of therefore did not see a need to schedule the acute poisoning with GHB led the Federal substance at that time. Drug Agency in the United States to issue As an urgent interim measure, an warnings about its potential for abuse. The amendment to the current Queensland drug has been promoted illegally there for poisons regulations 1973 will be enacted to body building as an alternative to anabolic ensure that this substance is not legally steroids, for weight loss and as a psychedelic available in this State. I expect that the substance. Legally, it is used as a research poisons regulation will be amended by the end drug to treat narcolepsy, which is a rare sleep of this week, thus making this substance a disorder, and as an anaesthetic agent. prohibited drug in Queensland. I have asked This drug has come to prominence due to that this issue also be placed on the agenda its popularity within the rave dance scene in for the next meeting of chief health officers, the United Kingdom and northern Europe. which will be held next week. It is to be hoped Adverse effects include vertigo or dizziness, that other jurisdictions will follow the lead of vomiting, drowsiness and memory loss. Queensland in addressing this important Respiratory arrest has also been reported, public health issue. In my role as a member of leading to the need for hospitalisation and the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy, I breathing support. This was the case for eight have requested the Commonwealth Minister of the Gold Coast users. The severity of for Health, the Honourable Dr Michael symptoms experienced depends on the dose Wooldridge, to consider urgent action in of the drug and the presence of other drugs regard to this drug. such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabis or amphetamines. These drugs are all associated with rave parties. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Testing of the substance found at the School Violence Gold Coast is taking place at the Government Hon. R. J. QUINN (Merrimac—Minister Chemical Laboratories at Nathan, and for Education) (9.48 a.m.), by leave: I refer to preliminary results may be available at the end the editorial in the Courier-Mail of last of this week. Because this drug is not used for Tuesday, 1 October 1996, titled "A need for anaesthesia in Australia, or for any other safe schools". That editorial supported a therapeutic purpose, it is not currently in the recent call by the Australian Secondary National Drug Schedule, which is a system Principals Association for greater powers to where access to a drug is restricted depending search students' property and remove on the toxicity of the substance and its trespassers from school grounds. intended use; nor is it controlled by any other I am pleased to inform the House that this legislation in Australia. All drugs for human use Government and my department take school are required to be registered for use by the safety very seriously, and current Therapeutic Goods Administration in arrangements are clearly well ahead of those Canberra. The national scheduling system in some other States. For example, principals involves the specific evaluation of the drug by and teachers already have the authority to the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the search students' property if they have scheduling by the National Drugs and Poisons reasonable grounds for suspecting dangerous Scheduling Committee, which consists of items such as weapons or drugs. Relevant State, Territory and Commonwealth guidelines are clearly documented in the representatives. Department of Education manual. Principals The control of the illicit use of this drug and teachers also have the legal right to could be achieved by the Commonwealth remove trespassers from school grounds and listing the substance as a prohibited import can use reasonable force to do so if and also by inclusion of the substance in the necessary. That does not mean that our staff Drugs Misuse Act in State legislation. The should be expected to confront menacing scheduling of this substance has previously louts or thugs, but they certainly have the been discussed at the National Drugs and authority to do so. Generally, of course, we Poisons Scheduling Committee in 1991 and would encourage the school to call in police, again in 1994. The committee wrote to the who are the right authorities to deal with that 8 Oct 1996 Ministerial Statement 3039 type of situation. So the simple fact is that district where there was a weapon school staff already have considerable powers involved." at their disposal to search students' property The truth is that school is probably the safest and deal with intruders. place for our children to be. Statistically This Government is also about to speaking, they are at far greater risk in their introduce new legislation which will more than own homes, on the road, at the local double the maximum penalty for trespassing swimming pool and just about everywhere on school grounds from $300 to $750. On top else. of that, we will soon be formalising and The problems which do arise in our extending the very successful trial of police schools are simply a reflection of the far constables in schools. Further legislative greater problems which exist outside the changes will soon give principals greater school gate, in the general community. That authority to deal with violent and unruly does not mean that we should stick our heads students. Among other things, schools will be in the sand or sit on our hands, nor should we able to suspend persistently disruptive indulge in alarmist hysteria. As I said at the students for up to 20 school days and to expel outset, our schools are among the safest and those who refuse to behave in the post- best regulated in Australia. This Government is compulsory Years 11 and 12. These determined to keep them that way. measures will be supported by a range of alternative education programs and facilities for difficult students outside the normal MINISTERIAL STATEMENT classroom environment. Over the next three years, we will also be employing an extra 200 Priority Housing Committee guidance officers and other specialist staff Hon. R. T. CONNOR (Nerang— such as counsellors, psychologists, social Minister for Public Works and Housing) workers and youth workers. (9.52 a.m.), by leave: I wish to make a These additional programs, facilities and statement on the establishment of a support staff will provide principals with committee to determine policy and make meaningful options to ensure that the recommendations regarding the priority overwhelming majority of well-behaved allocation of public housing to families whose students in our classrooms are not disrupted circumstances demand special consideration. by the unruly few. They will go a very long way The new committee will act as a form of towards filling the void which was left by the appeals court for people claiming a need to be former Labor Government in 1992 when it given priority consideration for public housing. banned the cane in State schools but failed to Dr Janet Irwin has already been provide principals with any viable alternatives. appointed to head this committee. A pool of Having said that, let me reassure the 12 community representatives will be selected House that our schools are not the urban war as members of the committee. zones so often portrayed in the media these Advertisements throughout the State days. Sure, we have problems, and this appeared from Saturday, 5 October, seeking Government is absolutely determined to nominations for these positions. Nominations overcome them—but let us restore some close on 21 October. Dr Irwin has been degree of proportion and perspective to this appointed for a two-year term. She has been debate. We have more than half a million a member of the Social Security Appeals students in this State, each attending school Tribunal for almost 10 years. This experience, for more than 200 days a year—yet one can coupled with her medical qualifications, count the number of serious incidents on indicates that she is well suited to the one's fingers. That is borne out by comments important task she now has, that is, the in yesterday's Courier-Mail attributed to introduction and oversight of a priority housing Detective Sergeant David Preston from the system to serve our State. Logan District Juvenile Aid Bureau. He Her other relevant experience includes states— terms as Commissioner of the Criminal Justice "It is not common, and you're looking Commission, Chair of an Immigration Review at the bottom half of the assault Panel and member of the Senate Appeals range . . . like a punch or something. Committee at the University of Queensland. Dr Irwin was born and educated in New Zealand . . . and graduated in medicine from the University Cases more serious than that are of Otago, Dunedin, in 1963. She was awarded extremely rare. I can't recall one in this Membership of the Order of Australia, the AM, 3040 Professor Peter C. Doherty 8 Oct 1996 in the Queen's Birthday honours in 1991 for about careers in the Fire Service to attend one "Services to Women and the Community". of these seminars. Under the system I inherited from my While on the Queensland Fire Service, I Labor predecessor, it is very difficult for would like to take this opportunity to Queenslanders to receive priority consideration congratulate it on being named the Public for public housing. This is because the criteria Sector Employer of the Year. This Queensland are extremely narrow. The new committee will training award is a tribute to the service's hard- give the system a commonsense approach, working and dedicated staff who should rightly so people with genuine need will not be be proud. overlooked. The current three criteria for Mr Schwarten: Under us. priority public housing allocations are: people whose homes have become uninhabitable Mr VEIVERS: No, it came in after we because of fire, flood or other disaster; parents took over. Likewise, the award signifies to the taking custody of a former State ward who general public that Queensland's Fire Service have no other housing options; and people is among the best in the world. I do not say who are subject to police requests under the that lightly. I recently had the opportunity to witness protection program. visit the West Midlands Fire Service in England—widely regarded as the best in the Initially, the full committee will be world—and I returned well aware that we are responsible for developing the policy for not far, if at all, behind. assessing priority housing requests. Once that policy has been established, Dr Irwin and In a career where lives are constantly at community representatives from the risk, high-quality training for our firefighters is committee pool will conduct appeal hearings vitally important for themselves and for the against adverse departmental decisions. public. I know Queensland's fire training Establishment of the committee will make the systems—particularly Q-STEP—are so highly decision process for allocation of priority regarded in Australia that many other fire housing transparent. This will boost public services are interested in adopting the training confidence in the system. practices and programs for their States. I have to tell honourable members that those other fire services will have to buy those programs. I MINISTERIAL STATEMENT can assure the Fire Service and the people of Firefighter Recruitment Queensland that this Government will continue to provide any assistance it can to ensure that Hon. M. D. VEIVERS (Southport— these first-class training programs continue Minister for Emergency Services and Minister and are expanded. for Sport) (9.54 a.m.), by leave: I rise yet again to bring good news from the Department of Emergency Services. This week, and up until PROFESSOR PETER C. DOHERTY 21 October, the Queensland Fire Service will Nobel Prize for Medicine be conducting information seminars around Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers the State seeking firefighter recruits. As this Paradise—Premier) (9.57 a.m.), by leave, Government is determined to meet its election without notice: I move— commitment by increasing the number of firefighters by 135 in its first three years in "That this House congratulates power, there could not be a better time to Queenslander Peter Charles Doherty on apply for positions as firefighters. winning the Nobel Prize for Medicine." These seminars began in Mount Isa last Queensland and Queenslanders can justifiably night and continue tonight in Townsville, with feel proud today at the triumph of a native further seminars planned for Cairns, Mackay, son. It is a rare honour indeed to win a Nobel Rockhampton, Maryborough, the Gold and prize. It is both significant and apt that Sunshine Coasts, Toowoomba and in Professor Doherty, who grew up in Brisbane Brisbane. Details will be given to the potential and was educated here, should have won recruits about the necessary education levels, such recognition in the field of medical health standards and other mandatory research, for medical research is an area of requirements to become a firefighter. With science in which Queensland excels. high unemployment levels in Queensland— While Professor Doherty's prize-winning which we inherited—it is pleasing that this work was performed at the John Curtin School Government is able to address community of Medical Research in Canberra in the concerns by hiring additional firefighters. I urge 1970s—and that institution also deserves the anyone who is interested in finding out more praise of all Australians for its pioneering 8 Oct 1996 Scrutiny of Legislation Committee 3041 work—we here in Queensland can draw pride system. Clearly, the Nobel prize has taken a from the fact that this impetus for excellence view that one of the most valuable sprang from our State. Queensland contributions which can be made in medical traditionally has given so much to the world. research is that which is undertaken with an Today, Queensland's top-flight medical eye to long-term prevention. That is something research needs little introduction to a global that I am sure all members would support. audience. Our expertise in tropical medicine Immunology holds many possibilities in terms and in cancer research is world renowned. of prevention and cure. Nonetheless, Queensland has always been in The importance of health promotion and the export business—in the business of giving preventive health measures needed to to the world the talents of men and women support a serious primary health care whose service to humanity, even today, approach to medicine cannot be sometimes needs to be performed on a bigger underestimated, and I think it is of particular stage. Over time, we shall eradicate this significance to Queensland, which is why this tyranny of stature and indeed in many areas achievement should be acknowledged in this have already done so. way. These sorts of programs are, of course, Today, Peter Doherty has won for informed by the quality of medical research Queensland another entry in the world list of resulting from the work of distinguished excellence. His research, with his colleague scientists such as Professor Doherty. In the Professor Rolf Zinkernagel of Switzerland, past, Queensland's own Health Promotion discovered how the human immune system Council was funded to help improve recognises virus-infected cells. This is a crucial Queenslanders' health status and deliver link in designing better vaccines and finding better health outcomes, and this group worked new therapies to combat cancer, multiple very closely with the university and other sclerosis and diabetes. Peter Doherty, who health care providers and researchers. now works in immunology in the United States, There are significant areas where joins three Australians in the Nobel order—Sir substantial gain in health in Queensland can Frank MacFarlane Burnet in 1960, John Carew be achieved through the help of research to Eccles in 1963 and Howard Florey, joint prize- prevent a range of specific health problems, winner in 1945 for the discovery of penicillin. including suicide, cardiovascular disease, The best wishes of all Queenslanders will cancer, injuries and mental health. However, in go to Professor Doherty today and their Queensland's case I think it needs to be said thoughts will be with him in Stockholm on 10 that we are always going to need to keep the December when he accepts his prize. fight against skin cancer alive and kicking, Mr BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—Leader because we are the melanoma capital of the of the Opposition) (10 a.m.): I rise to second world, unfortunately, due to climate and a the motion and join with the Premier in preference for the outdoors and other factors. congratulating Professor Peter Charles Significant research achievements are being Doherty on this award. It is not only a made in this area, as the current Minister for significant achievement for him, but one in Health would know. There is no reason why, in which all Queenslanders can take a great deal the longer term, Queensland cannot have the best health status of all Australian States, if we of pride. Professor Doherty has made the are serious about health promotion. ultimate contribution to medical research, and Queenslanders and this Parliament should This is a very significant day for express their gratitude—which we are doing— Queensland and Australia. I join in seconding that we have again found our way, through this motion moved by the Premier with a him, onto the international medical research degree of enthusiasm so that all map as a leading light. Queenslanders will know that, in a very bipartisan way, this is a significant day for all of His work in the early 1970s was a major us. breakthrough in identifying ways to prevent the development of what can be a very serious Motion agreed to. and often fatal illness—viral meningitis. Actually, it is a little more complex than that, SCRUTINY OF LEGISLATION but that is one of the positive aspects of his COMMITTEE work. Professor Doherty's collaborative work with Swiss scientist Rolf Zinkernagel looked Report specifically at the immune system with a view Mr ELLIOTT (Cunningham) to developing vaccines which laid the (10.03 a.m.): I lay upon the table of the House groundwork for other studies of the immune the Scrutiny of Legislation Committee's Alert 3042 Estimates Committee E 8 Oct 1996

Digest No. 9 of 1996 and move that it be Estimates of expenditure referred to it and printed. contained in the Appropriation Bill (No. 2) Ordered to be printed. 1996. I also lay upon the table of the House the additional information provided to the committee, together with the Hansard PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE transcript of the public hearing held on 18 Annual Report September 1996. I thank all those who were involved, including staff members Karen, Meg Mr STEPHAN (Gympie) (10.04 a.m.): and Maree, for their assistance. On behalf of the Public Works Committee, I table its 1995-96 annual report. Due to factors beyond its control, the committee did not have ESTIMATES COMMITTEE C a very busy 1995-96. The only report it tabled Report during that year was its 1994-95 annual report. However, so far in 1996-97 the current Hon. V. P. LESTER (Keppel) committee has been busy and intends to keep (10.06 a.m.): It is with pleasure that I lay upon up the pace. The committee has already the table of the House Report No. 1 of tabled two reports, has one ready to table and Estimates Committee C relating to the has three current inquiries. Estimates of expenditure referred to it and contained in the Appropriation Bill (No. 2) I thank my fellow committee members for 1996. I also lay upon the table of the House their assistance during the year. Also, on additional information provided to the behalf of the committee, I would like to thank committee, together with the Hansard all those who participated in our inquiries and transcript of the public hearing held on 19 the secretariat staff for their assistance. I September 1996. I thank all members of the commend the report to the House. committee for their input into the process and the research and other staff for their ESTIMATES COMMITTEE A contributions. I commend the report to the House. Reports Mr HARPER (Mount Ommaney) (10.05 a.m.): It is with pleasure that I lay upon ESTIMATES COMMITTEE D the table of the House Report No. 1 of Report Estimates Committee A relating to the Ms WARWICK (Barron River) Estimates of expenditure referred to it and (10.07 a.m.): I lay upon the table of the House contained in the Appropriation (Parliament) Bill Report No. 1 of Estimates Committee D (No. 2) 1996 and Report No. 2 of Estimates relating to the Estimates of expenditure Committee A relating to the Estimates of contained in the Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 1996 expenditure referred to it and contained in the and referred to the committee. I also lay upon Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 1996. I would point the table of the House additional information out that, in an endeavour to save on paper provided to the committee, together with the use, the minutes of the meetings and Hansard transcript of the committee's public hearings of the committee have been hearing held on 20 September 1996. I attached to Report No. 1 only. commend the report to the House. I also lay upon the table of the House additional information provided to the committee, together with the Hansard ESTIMATES COMMITTEE E transcript of the public hearing held on 17 Report September 1996. In tabling this report, I thank Mr ELLIOTT (Cunningham) all the staff who were involved in supporting (10.08 a.m.): I lay upon the table of the House the committee, including Hansard and the Report No. 1 of Estimates Committee E attendants, but especially our research staff relating to the Estimates of expenditure Kerryn Newton, Sandy Rowse and Tania referred to it and contained in the Jackman. I commend the report to the House. Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 1996. I also lay upon the table of the House additional information, ESTIMATES COMMITTEE B volumes 1 and 2, and the Hansard transcript of the public hearing held on 24 September Report 1996. I would like to thank in particular Mr STEPHAN (Gympie) (10.06 a.m.): I Graeme Kinnear, Andrew and all those other lay upon the table of the House the report for people who assisted us and those members Estimates Committee B relating to the who took part in that committee. 8 Oct 1996 Private Members' Statements 3043

ESTIMATES COMMITTEE F Primary Industries in relation to the Report Minister's position on the lock-up of 15 per cent of all native forests Mr J. N. GOSS (Aspley) (10.08 a.m.): I existing in Queensland prior to the lay upon the table of the House Report No. 1 year 1750; and of Estimates Committee F concerning the Estimates of expenditure in the portfolios of (b) condemns the Minister for misleading Public Works and Housing and Transport and the timber industry and being Main Roads as contained in the Appropriation untruthful in stating that the Goss Bill (No. 2) 1996. I also lay upon the table Labor Government had signed the additional information provided to the agreement." committee, together with the Hansard transcript of its public hearing held on 25 PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS September 1996. I would personally like to thank Rob Hansen, Rob McBride, Tania Performance of Treasurer Jackman, the Hansard staff and all other staff Mr BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—Leader who assisted with Estimates Committee F. The of the Opposition) (10.11 a.m.): On Saturday, committee has recommended that the the people of Lytton voted overwhelmingly for expenditure be agreed to, and I commend its the Labor Party candidate, Paul Lucas. In report to the House. doing so, the Liberal Party recorded an 8 per cent primary vote against them. ESTIMATES COMMITTEE G Mr Mackenroth: A drop. Report Mr BEATTIE: Yes, an 8 per cent primary vote against them—a drop in their Mrs GAMIN (Burleigh) (10.09 a.m.): I lay vote. That was because of the seven new or upon the table of the House Report No. 1 of increased taxes that this Government has Estimates Committee G relating to the introduced. It was a vote against Estimates of expenditure referred to it and Mrs Sheldon's taxes. What did Mrs Sheldon contained in the Appropriation Bill (No. 2) say to the media? "We're not going to change 1996. I also lay upon the table of the House a thing", she said. She continued the arrogant additional information provided to the approach to her job that she has committee, together with the Hansard demonstrated since assuming that role. transcript of the public hearing held on 26 September 1996. I commend the report to the I table for the information of the House a House. letter that was sent to me on 18 September from the Australian Society of Corporate Treasurers, which states— NOTICES OF MOTION "The Australian Society of Corporate Inquiry into Criminal Justice Treasurers (ASCT) urges the Opposition Commission to vote against the increase in the Debit Mr BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—Leader tax rates. These changes will have of the Opposition) (10.09 a.m.): I give notice significant long term consequences for that I shall move— Queensland as a potential major business centre for Australian and non-resident "That this Parliament condemns the corporates, not only for the Australian decision by the State Government to market but also potential headquarters for waste taxpayers' money of well over $1m the Asia-Pacific region . . . . taxing small on a politically motivated witchhunt, the and medium size businesses more than Borbidge Inquiry, into the Criminal Justice larger corporations." Commission—money which could be better used for extra police, education, The Australian Society of Corporate health and services." Treasurers has over 1,200 individual members. In Queensland, it has 65 members representing 50 companies. The letter further Native Forests states that the results of the increase in the debit tax will have the following effects— Mr DOLLIN (Maryborough) (10.10 a.m.): I give notice that I shall move— "There will be a narrowing of the credibility gap within Australia between "That this House— Queensland and the rest of the country, (a) takes note of the deceptive particularly in the area of taxation of statements by the Minister for financial instruments and transactions." 3044 Private Members' Statements 8 Oct 1996

In other words, the debit tax is bad for Mr FITZGERALD: I rise to a point of Queensland business, it is bad for regional order. The Budget is before the House. We headquarters, and is creating a situation in this cannot debate matters relating to the Budget. State that will lead to not only unemployment Mrs EDMOND: He is hoping that he can but also a reduction in our competitiveness. keep the cutbacks in Health a secret just long Time expired. enough to sneak into Mr Borbidge's shoes before the people realise that he was the one Extended Trading Hours who cut the funding to the Home and Medical Aids Scheme. Hon. V. P. LESTER (Keppel) (10.13 a.m.): I have to report to the Parliament Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable that a number of small-business people have member will not refer to "he" across the been lobbying me in relation to the extended Chamber and point. The honourable member trading hours issue. I believe that I should at should know to refer to members by their least put my personal view on this matter, that correct titles. is, we do not need the extended trading hours Mrs EDMOND: But he is not sincere, to the extent that we have them currently. I and the record will show that that is the case know that this issue will not be very popular and has been the case for far too long. The with some consumers and no doubt might Minister has been telling everybody who will cost me a few votes at the next election. listen how great things are in the Health Mr Elder: You are having two bob each Department, while patients in need of the way. most basic home and medical aids suffer. Mr LESTER: There is no two bob each Let us consider just one of the victims way here. We are firmly going out to support whom Mr Horan has so callously ignored. This the interests of small business. Extended person happens to live in the Minister's trading hours are creating a problem. If electorate. Mrs Bourke contacted my office members opposite want to go against small last week in total desperation after having no business and ridicule what I am saying, they success in obtaining any help from Mr Horan. are doing it very well. In the future they will not The staff in his electorate office in Toowoomba receive one vote from anybody in small promised to look at the matter closely, but business who supports 60 per cent of our nothing has happened. It is just as well that work. Mrs Bourke did not ring the ministerial office, We need to consider jobs, and it is at because she would have received an earful of least my role to put forward in the Parliament abuse from his media advisers as everyone the view of the small-business people. If I do who rings me tells me. His electorate office in not put forward their view, I am not doing my Toowoomba did nothing. Mrs Bourke has had job. I challenge the Labor Party to stand up two strokes, and all that she is seeking are and be counted, and to at least try to support incontinence pads—the most basic of medical the efforts of people in small business to make aids essential to cope with the effects of a profit, and to support employment. incontinence. It seems that the Minister's back to basics health system cannot cope with that. When I was Minister, everybody had an He has cut back her allowance in a shameful opportunity to make some money, and isn't and disgraceful way. making money what our life is all about? One can employ more people—— Time expired. Time expired. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Home and Medical Aids Scheme Diabetes Prevention Mrs EDMOND (Mount Coot-tha) Mrs WILSON (Mulgrave) (10.17 a.m.): (10.15 a.m.): For far too long, the Minister for The Health Minister, Mike Horan, has recently Health has stood up in this place and denied announced $164,000 in new funding initiatives funding cuts to community-based health to combat Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services by hiding behind the Treasurer's way- diabetes and nutrition problems. Of that, overdue Budget Statement. The Budget has $67,000 will go to the Cairns Tropical Public now been brought down and the Minister still Health Unit to improve nutrition in Cape York does not have the courage or the brains to and Torres Strait communities and $97,000 come clean and tell the truth about the cuts will go to Diabetes Australia to train Aboriginal that he is making to the Health budget and Torres Strait Islander health workers in because he thinks that he can still keep it a diabetes education and management. In secret. addition, the Health Minister, Mike Horan, has 8 Oct 1996 Private Members' Statements 3045 announced that Queensland Health and Some days later, on Cairns radio, a number of Diabetes Australia will develop a graduate people rang in to a talkback program to speak certificate in diabetes education and to the Minister. Mrs Phillpot informed me that management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait she has used this talkback program but, on Islander workers. That is very important the day in question, she certainly did not. I am because those graduates will then be able to informed that the Minister rang her place of go back to their own communities and work work and spoke to her supervisor demanding with their own people. That is a very big plus in to know the movements of Mrs Phillpot on the north Queensland. day in question. When Mrs Phillpot Queensland Health research has shown complained to the Minister's office, she was that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander told that a mistake had been made and that communities have more than 10 times the one of the Minister's staff had in fact rung up incidence of diabetes in larger communities, the radio station and had checked to ascertain which is an issue of great concern to the the names of all of the callers. Government. The communities have asked for The Minister is referred to clause 21, this type of support and we have come up with which the residents in that area signed. I am it. That response by the Health Minister is one informed by a senior officer of the department part of the coalition's Aboriginal and Torres that the Minister has been advised to seek Strait Islander Food and Nutrition Strategy and Crown law advice on clause 21 because the is proof of the coalition Government's information that was given was incorrect. commitment to the real health needs of Time expired. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Mr Horan's initiative is proof that the coalition Government is about making the lives Mrs S. Huang of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mr CARROLL (Mansfield) (10.21 a.m.): Queenslanders better, in contrast to Labor's Yesterday, one of my better-known preoccupation with throwing dollars at a few constituents in the electorate of Mansfield, political activists. The dollars for this particular Shirley Huang, was appointed honorary funding for Aboriginal diabetes prevention will diplomat to the Republic of China on Taiwan count in north Queensland. I commend the for Logan City. This honour was conferred at Minister for that. an impressive ceremony at the Logan City Council Library function rooms by popular Independent Mayor, Rod Golledge, whose Power Supply, Daintree Region council has long recognised the good sense of Hon. T. McGRADY (Mount Isa) pro-active diplomacy to enhance the social, (10.19 a.m.): On Monday, 30 September, I cultural, trade and economic relationships participated in a telephone conversation with a between Queensland and Taiwan. I applaud Mrs Odette Phillpot, who is a resident of the those initiatives of the mayor and his council. Daintree. Mrs Phillpot was most agitated and Mrs Huang has earned this recognition for distressed during that telephone conversation. her extensive and positive work in Queensland She informed me that she had recently and in Taiwan through not only enhancing the attended a meeting of the CILC community relationship between Queensland and Taiwan committee at the Daintree. A number of but also through her social work with the residents attended the meeting, and those Taiwan Women's League of Queensland Inc. residents had been informed that the Minister She has been very capably assisted and for Mines and Energy would be visiting the encouraged by her husband, Jerry Huang and area to inform the people that grid power their family, particularly their son, Steven. Last would come to the Daintree. evening, at that celebratory dinner, Shirley and Mrs Phillpot informed me that she raised Steven made stirring speeches and the question of what would happen to her exemplified the strong family values and hard because she had recently installed an HRAP work ethics that are so important to Taiwanese system at her home and had committed people. I was pleased to see hundreds of herself to the expenditure of a large amount of high-profile people attending both of money. She asked what would be her position yesterday's events, including the Federal if the power was to come through the member for Moreton, Gary Hardgrave, Mrs Daintree. Huang's parents and many other relatives and Mrs Phillpot claims that the following day friends. the Minister for Mines and Energy rang her at As I said last night and as I have said her home and, in her words, abused her. previously, it is a pity that we are not able to 3046 Private Members' Statements 8 Oct 1996 recognise an official diplomatic appointment of that Mr Lester made some comments about this nature. It will be a great day when those people who signed these form letters. Taiwan's attainment of adulthood as a He said that they were not up to much if they separate nation on the world stage is finally just merely signed such a letter. Let me say to recognised by other nations, because they him that quite a considerable number of those would benefit from that. people are electors in the electorate of I repeat here what was made plain in Keppel, and I will be happy to pass on to them speeches yesterday and elsewhere previously, his remarks. especially last week: I disapprove and reject Time expired. statements of any person which are discriminatory of any person in Australia. Along with all other members, I value the rich Rural Australian Resources multicultural society we enjoy in Queensland Mr STEPHAN (Gympie) (10.25 a.m.): I and the valuable contribution made to it by refer to a report by Julian Cribb of the CSIRO, people from all countries ranging from Ireland in which he made trailblazing comments about to Taiwan. the twenty-first century and the role of Australian agricultural research and developments in a perilous world. Shopping Hours Of course, he realises the great Mr SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton) importance that we should place on (10.23 a.m.): I rise to draw to the attention of agricultural development that has been carried the House that, over the weekend, my out in the past. Julian Cribb has campaigned electorate office received some 700 faxes to make Australians realise the enormous from electors in my area concerned about the possibility of a change to shopping hours. I natural resources that exist in rural Australia want to pay particular—— and why they need to be transformed back to a productive asset. We need to be cognisant Mr Borbidge: Ha, ha! of what he said, and also get some inspiration Mr SCHWARTEN: I am pleased to hear from it. It is vital to understand that this that the Premier is mocking my constituents, campaign to revive the bush is not based on whom I represent. He regards them as a joke! some kind of misplaced sentiment but is the I will be happy to pass on to my constituents responsibility of every thinking Australian. that the Premier of this State believes that The decision on what to do with the they are jokes when, in fact, they are most untapped resources of rural Australia is concerned about the statement that he made looming as one of the most important recently. I note what Mr Lester has had to say decisions we have to make in this century. We about small business. Of course, what he said need only to go out into some rural areas and flies in the face of the Premier's own report to look at what is there now and think about what this place, which cost $400,000 and which was there 15 years ago or 20 years ago. found that small business would not be Unfortunately, the resources in rural Australia adversely affected by the retention of the have diminished to such an extent that we are existing shopping hours and that their importing a lot of products that in the past we problems were more deep seated. used to export. I would have to say that a lot of small- Time expired. business people in Rockhampton agree with that statement. However, the overwhelming majority of the people of Rockhampton have Wahroonga Nursing Home bothered to ring my office or drop me a line Mr DOLLIN (Maryborough) (10.27 a.m.): and, indeed, have signed their names to form On 7 October, in a media release to the letters—and if the Premier regards them as a Maryborough-Hervey Bay Chronicle, the non-representative group of people, then I feel Minister for Health, Mr Horan, falsely accused very sorry for him. That shows why the me of telling Labor lies about the coalition's coalition went so badly in the Lytton by- decision to close the Wahroonga Nursing election. It proves that he has arrogantly Home. The Minister does not have his facts overrun the wishes of the people of this State. straight. I have not accused the coalition of However, I am here to stand up for those closing the nursing homes, which I hope it people and to say that they have every right to never does. What I have accused the Minister expect this Government to not only honour its of is closing 140 units and cottages by report but also to honour their wishes. I attrition—simply not accepting any additional particularly want to make mention of the fact persons to occupy the 122 units and cottages 8 Oct 1996 Questions Without Notice 3047 that, to the great shame of this coalition, today exactly what was happening with the CJC that stand empty. this inquiry should go ahead. It was an The Health Minister should check carefully election commitment to review the CJC and, the facts contained in a statement made by as we are honouring our election his staff member, Mr David McClune, commitments, it is being honoured as well. concerning an alleged decision by the The Attorney-General has indicated that the previous Government that no new applications inquiry should only be of 12 weeks' duration, would be received. I had certainly never heard so that it will not cost the State an inordinate of any mention of such an instruction. To be amount of money. doubly sure, I made further inquiries and I Mr Elder: How much? have been assured by the two previous Health Mrs SHELDON: That has not been Ministers, the Honourable Jim Elder and the adequately and finally determined, and cannot honourable Peter Beattie, and the Chairman be at this stage, as the honourable member of the Wide Bay Regional Health Board, Mr would know. Exactly what the commissioners Terry McCorley, board member, Mayor Alan will receive has been set. That is quite up front Brown, and former director of Wide Bay and it is very much in accordance with what Regional Health, Paul Kelly, that no such other eminent people in such positions instruction existed. They have all denied receive. As a Government, we will adequately categorically hearing about such a plan. cover it because it is an important initiative for I asked the manager of the this State. Maryborough/Hervey Bay Health Service, Mr Ron Wynn, if he would send me a copy of the directive allegedly made on 7 December last Inquiry into Criminal Justice year. However, he said that he could not find Commission any. Since then, another of the Minister's Mr BEATTIE: I refer the Minister for advisers, Mr Anthony Havers, claimed to have Police to yesterday's Cabinet decision to in writing an instruction directing the establish the politically-tainted Borbidge inquiry downgrading of the Wahroonga Nursing into the CJC. I table a copy of the Cabinet Home. I ask the Minister to table in Parliament submission dealing with the establishment of this direction. It is obvious to me that this the inquiry, supplied by a National Party Government has decided to close the Minister despite its top security classification A Wahroonga Nursing Home by attrition. rating. I ask: if the Minister was at Cabinet The coalition is now the Government and, yesterday, did he do the right and proper thing clearly, it is its decision as to whether the by excluding himself when the terms of Wahroonga Nursing Home is closed or kept reference and the selection of the open. It cannot continue to hide behind the commissioners were being discussed? If he skirts of the previous Government. I call on the did not exclude himself, why did he not Minister to come clean and table any existing recognise the fact that he had a conflict of documentation that supports his claim interest in that he is the subject of a CJC- regarding the downgrading of the Wahroonga initiated inquiry which will shortly be reporting Nursing Home, or to forever hold his peace. on whether he should face charges? Mr COOPER: I have no knowledge of QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE where the Leader of the Opposition obtained the document he has referred to. As to the Inquiry into Criminal Justice report and the inference made by the Leader Commission of the Opposition about whether I should Mr BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—Leader absent myself or not, he may also have of the Opposition) (10.30 a.m.): I refer the received a copy of the terms of reference. He Treasurer to yesterday's Cabinet decision to should have a look at them. As far as I am initiate the politically-motivated Borbidge concerned, they have nothing to do with me. inquiry into the CJC, and I ask: how much money has Cabinet set aside for this inquiry? Is it correct that the inquiry will cost, at the very DISTINGUISHED VISITORS least, $1m? As no money has been set aside Mr SPEAKER: I inform the House that in the Budget for this inquiry, will the money be present in the public gallery is a group of pulled out of Health, Police or Education? If United Kingdom parliamentarians, led by the not, where will the money come from? Right Honourable Michael Jopling, who are Mrs SHELDON: Certainly discussion travelling around Australia on a CPA trip. They went on in Cabinet about this issue. It was felt are in the Chamber now. that it was so important that the State know Honourable members: Hear, hear! 3048 Questions Without Notice 8 Oct 1996

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE "The Opposition leader said Mrs Sunshine Motorway Sheldon could abolish the tolls in a week, and could even reduce them in the Mr SPRINGBORG: I ask the Premier: meantime. He said four to five weeks can he inform the House of the Opposition's would be a reasonable time limit. position on the removal of the tolls on the Mr Beattie said if there was some Sunshine Motorway? reason why the issue had to come to Mr BORBIDGE: In reply to the Parliament, the Labor Party would support honourable member for Warwick, it is a little the Coalition to abolish the tolls . . ." difficult to know just what the policy of the The article goes on— Leader of the Opposition or the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is in regard to the " 'So there is not a problem for her,' removal of the tolls on the Sunshine Mr Beattie said of Mrs Sheldon." Motorway. We are aware that the Leader of It gets better. Obviously we know that from the Opposition has been mounting a very time to time there is a bit of friction between concerted and vicious campaign against the the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Treasurer because, unlike the previous Labor Leader of the Opposition. In fact, as late as Government, this Government honoured its Friday, 27 September, the Deputy Leader of election commitment to remove the tolls. the Opposition was quoted in the Sunshine However, my attention has been drawn to Coast Daily in direct opposition to the the Sunshine Coast Daily of Tuesday, 27 comments made by the Leader of the February 1996. The front-page story of that Opposition. The article states, "Mr Elder said paper is titled, " 'Mrs Sheldon should get on Mrs Sheldon was wrong in lifting the tolls." with it and do it' Labor turns tollbuster", and it What are we meant to believe? Who are we quotes the Leader of the Opposition. The meant to believe? Do we believe the article states— Opposition Leader, who said that Labor would vote with the coalition to remove the tolls, or "Mr Beattie said his party would not do we believe the Deputy Leader of the stand in the way of the election Opposition, who said that Labor did not commitment to abolish the tolls made by support the removal of the tolls? The question Treasurer and Member for Caloundra is: do these two ever talk? Joan Sheldon. Mr Davidson interjected. 'Mrs Sheldon should get on with it and do it. It doesn't take time,' Mr Beattie Mr BORBIDGE: My colleague the said, throwing down the gauntlet." Minister from the Sunshine Coast raises a very interesting question: what is their policy? I Mr Beattie might have thrown down the challenge the Leader of the Opposition today gauntlet, but he picked it up again pretty to state his policy in regard to putting back the quickly. He expanded on his policy in respect tolls on the Sunshine Motorway. Does he of the Sunshine Motorway. The article stand by the front-page story of the Sunshine continues— Coast Daily? Here he is—"Tollbuster Pete", "The former health minister said he "Bandwagon Beattie", at it again on the was concerned that Mrs Sheldon may try Sunshine Coast saying, "We'll get rid of the to blame Labor and independent Liz tolls", yet we know that, at the same time, he Cunningham if the Coalition was unable is orchestrating a campaign to discredit the to deliver on its promise." Government for honouring an election commitment. Mr Beattie was quoted as saying— I can understand the sensitivity of "We are not going to be seen to be honourable members opposite. Let me just playing a negative and petulant role. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the have promised a positive approach. Here Deputy Leader of the Opposition that in 1989 it is." the then Opposition Leader, Mr Goss, hand It gets better. Mr Beattie said of Mrs signed a letter which was distributed to every Sheldon— home in the then electorate of Cooroora, stating that Labor would remove the tolls. In "She has made a commitment, she 1990, the then Labor Government broke that has said it is funded, now it is a matter for promise. They have been campaigning her." against us keeping our promise, but they are Let us go through this slowly; let us enjoy the on the public record on the Sunshine Coast Opposition's agony. The article further states— saying what they would do. 8 Oct 1996 Questions Without Notice 3049

The Leader of the Opposition has a Treasurer tell the House whether this criticism favourite saying when he criticises people. He is justified, or are the Opposition and the tells them that they are not up to the job. Let society just playing politics? us see who is not up to the job. I have a letter Mr Schwarten interjected. from the Leader of the Opposition, dated 21 August 1996, making representations to the Mrs Edmond interjected. Minister for Environment on behalf of a Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for constituent. He addressed the letter to the Rockhampton! The member for Mount Coot- Honourable Tom Barton. Just so that there is tha! I know there is a desire to impress the no confusion in Opposition ranks, I point out visiting parliamentarians in the Speaker's that after he made representations to Tom Gallery, but we will have order. Barton as Minister for Environment and Mrs SHELDON: I find it very interesting Heritage, the Leader of the Opposition wrote that this group has decided to stick its head up on the bottom of the letter, "c.c. Rod Welford, now. I do not remember the Society of shadow Minister for Environment and Corporate Treasurers making any comment Heritage". All I can say is: come on over, Tom! against the former Government and former The Leader of the Opposition says one thing Labor Treasurer Keith De Lacy. Opposition in regard to the Sunshine Motorway tolls when members should remember that it was the it suits him, campaigns massively, dishonestly Labor Treasurer who not only raised the debits and deceitfully when it suits him and, at the tax in his own Budget but also broadened it to end of the day, does not even know who the include all EFTPOS and ATM transactions. I Minister for Environment is. wonder where Mr Beattie, Mr Hamill and Mr Elder were then, given their negative Health Tripartite Forum; Mr M. Miller comments now, because their own Treasurer did that. All we have done in this Budget is lift Mr ELDER: In directing a question to that tax to the level at which it is in every other the Premier, I refer to the letter sent to him last State. I wonder why the Society of Corporate March by the Deputy Government Whip in Treasurers has decided to raise this issue now which he suggested that, in addition to the and not when the former Labor Treasurer $80,000 for the tripartite forum, Mick Miller be introduced the tax into the Queensland paid $1,500 a day for expenses plus a $5,000 Budget. The fact of the matter is—— bonus to settle the question: what is in this for him? I ask: was this the only money—and I Mr De LACY: I rise to a point of order. I repeat "the only money"—the Government heard the Treasurer say that the former paid to Miller and his Health Tripartite Forum, Treasurer—me—introduced the debits tax. I and was this the pay-off for the secret deal find that offensive. That tax was introduced in between the Health Minister and Miller prior to 1982 by a Liberal Treasurer. It was transferred the Mundingburra by-election? from a Liberal Federal Treasurer to a Liberal State Treasurer. It was not introduced by the Mr Horan: Answer that on notice if you Labor Party. It was certainly not introduced by like. me. I find it offensive that the Treasurer should Mr BORBIDGE: If the honourable say that. I heard her say that on the news member would like to place the question on yesterday. The Treasurer seems to have no notice, I will make sure that I give—— concern about the correctness of what she Mr Elder interjected. says. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member asked a question. The Premier is member will state his point of order. answering it. Mr De LACY: I ask the Treasurer to Mr BORBIDGE: In reply to the withdraw the comment, because it is wrong; it honourable member opposite—I have not is a lie. paid Mr Miller anything. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member will not use the term "lie" in reference Australian Society of Corporate to the Treasurer. The honourable member will Treasurers withdraw, and then I will deal with his point of order. Mr CARROLL: I direct a question to the Treasurer. In light of the Leader of the Mr De LACY: Mr Speaker, I withdraw Opposition's reading of a letter from the the word "lie". It is manifestly untrue. Australian Society of Corporate Treasurers in Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable this Parliament earlier today, I ask: can the member for Cairns has found the Treasurer's 3050 Questions Without Notice 8 Oct 1996 remarks offensive and has asked for a to include all EFTPOS and ATM transactions. withdrawal. Is he going to deny that as well? He knows Mrs SHELDON: Before I withdraw, I that is a fact. When he broadened that tax to would like to make a statement. include EFTPOS and ATM transactions, did we hear from the Society of Corporate Mr Fouras interjected. Treasurers then? No, we did not. Where were Mrs SHELDON: No, the honourable Mr Hamill, Mr Elder and so on at that point? member has made this a debating point, and The fact is that the debits tax was part of the so will I. The fact is that, while he was the revenue Bills and the Budget. I notice that the State Treasurer, the honourable member did Opposition is talking about blocking the bring into the State Budget the debits tax revenue Bills and the Budget. Indeed, it has which had been a Federal tax, and he knows made suggestions that—— he did that. There is no way I will withdraw my Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. comment, because it was a matter of fact. The Treasurer is misleading the House. Mr De LACY: Mr Speaker, I have asked An Opposition member: Again! that this be withdrawn. It is wrong. It is false. We did not introduce the debits tax. It was Mr BEATTIE: Again! I have made it introduced in Queensland in 1982. That is absolutely clear that we will support the long before we came into Government. I insist Budget. We will not block it. To suggest that it be withdrawn, because this Parliament otherwise is simply an untruth. cannot function if misstatements and Mrs SHELDON: The honourable misinformation such as those are allowed to member was on television on Saturday night be promulgated. saying that he would block the Budget Honourable members interjected. because the taxes should not have been brought in. Mr SPEAKER: I call for order in the House! The honourable member has indicated An Opposition member: Rubbish! that he has found the remark offensive and Mrs SHELDON: He was. The Leader of has asked for a withdrawal. I ask the the Opposition back-pedalled the next Honourable Deputy Premier and Treasurer to morning, but he made those statements and withdraw that remark. If the Treasurer has he knows it. Yesterday, the Leader of the evidence that she can bring to the House to Opposition was trying to come through the prove otherwise, she can do so at a future back door by saying that we should use the time. Treasurer's Advance Account instead of Mrs SHELDON: Whatever the bringing in new taxes. What an absolute honourable member finds offensive I will nonsense! The Leader of the Opposition has withdraw, but I would also ask him to withdraw no economic credibility at all. I would like to a comment which I found extremely offensive, elaborate on that point further. that is, that I was a liar. The honourable The Treasurer's Advance Account—which member is the one with a problem with the was also in place under the previous truth. Treasurer—was brought in so that contingent Mr SPEAKER: Order! I understand that expenses could be paid, such as drought relief the honourable member for Cairns withdrew and so on. However, there has been an that comment. increase in this year's Treasurer's Advance Account for two major reasons. Firstly, State Mrs SHELDON: If he did withdraw, I am public servants are looking for a pay increase. pleased he withdrew his misinformed There has been a considerable amount of comment. money put into the Treasurer's Advance Mr Fouras: You've done very well. Account for enterprise bargaining No. 3. Mrs SHELDON: The honourable Obviously, the Leader of the Opposition does member for Ashgrove, Mr Fouras, certainly did not want public servants to have any increase not do very well as Speaker, did he? That is in pay. Secondly, there has been provision in why he is sitting on the back bench. the Treasurer's Advance Account for paid maternity leave. Obviously, the Labor Leader An Opposition member: Caught out of the Opposition does not want workers to again. have paid maternity leave, either. Those are Mrs SHELDON: No way. The fact of the two of the major items in the Treasurer's matter is that this had originally been a Advance Account that the Leader of the Federal tax which was brought in as a State Opposition obviously wants to have abolished. tax. The former Treasurer broadened that tax The Leader of the Opposition is also 8 Oct 1996 Questions Without Notice 3051 suggesting that a one-off payment in the Mrs SHELDON: Yes, Mr Speaker, but I Treasurer's Advance Account should go to draw to your attention that these comments recurrent expenditure. That would mean that were made by the Leader of the Opposition we would have to sack police, teachers, this morning in this House regarding what the nurses, etc., and the Leader of the Opposition Australian Society of Corporate Treasurers knows it. said about the debits tax. That certainly relates Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. to the Budget. If it is good enough for him, it is The Deputy Premier is misleading the House. good enough for me. She knows that that is simply untrue. If the I want to remind the House of a couple of $125m was taken out, there would still be a other comments by business leaders. As I surplus amount of $134m. It is simply a said, a Courier-Mail article carried the heading dishonest comment. "Budget okay by us, says business". The Mrs SHELDON: Wrong again—wrong, Metal Trades Industry Association said that it wrong, wrong! was heartened by the Government—— Mr HAMILL: I rise to a point of order. Mr Mr BEATTIE: The Treasurer is Speaker, it would appear that the Treasurer is desperate to save her taxes. arrogantly disregarding your ruling in relation to Mr SPEAKER: Order! We are not the conduct of question time. debating the Budget now. The Deputy Premier Mr SPEAKER: Order! I do not need any and Treasurer will come to the conclusion of advice from the honourable member. He will her answer. resume his seat. The Treasurer will complete Mrs SHELDON: Mr Speaker, you would her answer now. agree that I have been provoked by the other Mrs SHELDON: I am winding up. In side. I was trying to answer my question in a general—and I will answer this more fully minimum amount of time. later—the business community has supported I want to point out that Queenslanders our Budget very well. pay a total of $841m in tax less than other States. We are still the lowest tax State in the nation. That is a major incentive for business. Health Tripartite Forum; Mr M. Miller We have no FID tax. We do not have a fuel Mr BREDHAUER: I refer the Premier to tax. We pay about $400 per capita less than the letter sent to him last March by the Deputy residents of New South Wales and Victoria in Government Whip about the Century Zinc State taxes. negotiations, and I ask: did he condone the Deputy Government Whip's suggestion to him I want to respond to the comments by the that the Health Minister pay an $80,000 bribe Leader of the Opposition regarding the to Mr Mick Miller and his State Health Tripartite increase in the debits tax—which was Forum, which is under investigation for increased initially by the former Treasurer— misappropriation of taxpayers' funds? If not, which will allegedly be detrimental to the what action has the Premier taken to have this business community. I point out that Clive conspiracy to bribe investigated by the proper Bubb from the Queensland Chamber of authorities? Commerce and Industry labelled this a back to basics, works for business Budget. He said— Mr BORBIDGE: I suggest that the honourable member opposite get out of the "The QCCI applauds the gutter and ask the Minister for Health the commitment to a $4 billion Capital Works appropriate question. I note that he does not Program." have the guts to do so. If the honourable The Courier-Mail ran an article headed member asks the responsible Minister, he will "Budget okay by us, says business" which get the appropriate answer. stated—— Mr HAMILL: I rise to a point of order. Office of the Cabinet My understanding was that the report of Mr GRICE: I ask the Premier—— Estimates Committee A is going to be soon debated by the House. It would appear that Mrs Edmond interjected. the Treasurer is debating the Budget rather Mr SPEAKER: Order! I warn the than answering questions in question time. member for Mount Coot-tha under Standing Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Deputy Order 123A. Premier and Treasurer, and I ask her to Mr GRICE: I ask the Premier: can he complete her answer. inform the House as to what level of 3052 Questions Without Notice 8 Oct 1996 accountability existed in the former Labor- Department—so they created their own based organisation known as the Office of the corporate services section. I am advised that Cabinet and whether any human resource or these functions were established after it was corporate service records of its operations suspected that a financial detail concerning a were maintained as part of the Premier's social policy consultant was leaked to the Department? media. Mr BORBIDGE: The activities of the So how did it work? Firstly, no-one from former Office of the Cabinet in respect of the department was allowed access to the accountability speak volumes for the special corporate services area. More than 1,000 files rules that were put in place for the special were transferred out of the department and mates of the Labor Party when it held high into the Cabinet Office. The Office of the office in this State. Honourable members Cabinet alone was responsible for the would be aware that one of the first decisions evaluation and creation of all positions within of this Government was to abolish the former the Cabinet Office. No consultation was administration's elite Office of the Cabinet. entered into. Despite the fact that the Director- Members will recall that this was the hand- General of the Premier's Department was picked body that controlled and manipulated accountable for the office, he had no control Government; the body that more than or supervision of the financial records of the anything else destroyed morale within the Cabinet Office. Little wonder it was known as public sector; the body that was at the very Special Branch! heart of the downfall of the former But the most concerning aspect of all of Government. this is that when officers of my department It is well known that the 100-person-strong were preparing for the Estimates committee Cabinet Office, a refugee station for Labor meetings, it was found that financial records Party operatives headed by Mr Rudd, had a were maintained in such a manner that they separate division for almost every area of were rendered totally useless and totally Government responsibility. For example, there inaccessible. Information could not be was an Economic Unit in the Office of the accessed; it could not be located. It had Cabinet. Its job was to keep an eye on the effectively been scrambled. It had been Treasury. There was an Environment Unit in dispersed. It had been disguised. It had been the Office of the Cabinet. It was there to keep put away in areas and broken up so that it is an eye on Molly Robson. There was a Legal totally impossible for the people of and Administrative Unit within the Office of the Queensland to ever know what went on and Cabinet to keep an eye on the member for how much it cost behind the walls of the Yeronga and the member for Murrumba. Cabinet Office on the 14th floor. It was There was a Land Use and Planning Unit in impossible to access information, and they the Office of the Cabinet to keep an eye on had put in place a special corporate services that poor old soul, the member for Townsville. section away from that of the Department of There was virtually a unit for every area of the Premier and Economic and Trade Government activity. The reason for this was Development. quite simple. It related to the fact that the We have abolished the Office of the Ministry in the previous Government could not Cabinet. We have done away with its secrecy. be trusted to make a decision, so all the The only problem now is that the people of decisions had to be taken on the 14th floor of Queensland will never know what went on for the Executive Building. five long years behind the closed 14th floor Honourable members will be unaware of doors, how much it cost and what activities the extent to which the Office of the Cabinet were engaged in. The sort of accountability went to maintain its privileged and elite that this Government has opened up in regard position in Queensland. Not content with to the Estimates process can never be applied duplicating the role of other Government to the elite Office of the Cabinet, the special departments, the Cabinet Office set about Labor Party machine that drove Government attempting to duplicate its own Premier's in Queensland for five years. Department. I am advised that in July 1992 Mr W. K. GOSS: I rise to a point of the Cabinet Office created its own corporate order—in two parts. Apart from the slur on the services section to provide financial, human Auditor-General, who audited the whole resources and administrative sources within department, including the Office of the that 100-person office. The former Premier Cabinet, I make this point: Mr Borbidge is now and Mr Rudd did not trust their departmental the Premier; he is no longer the Leader of the staff—they did not trust the Premier's Opposition. 8 Oct 1996 Questions Without Notice 3053

Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point inform the House of the progress that has of order. been made regarding the Korea Zinc refinery Mr BORBIDGE: The honourable project in Townsville? member who interjects is neither. He should Mr SLACK: I thank the honourable be hanging his head in shame. He created an member for Mundingburra for his question. As Office of the Cabinet in this State and he put members of the House know, that member his mates in charge—Labor Party has been and is a very strong supporter of the candidates—which took control of development of the Korea Zinc project in accountability away from the corporate Townsville. It is my pleasure to inform the services section of the Premier's Department. House that recently State Cabinet took the Now, questions about accountability, step of signing off the IAS—impact consultants and all those types of assessment study—for that project. As questions—questions that members of the members will appreciate, the initial stage of Opposition can quite rightly ask us—can be that project is worth $530m to the city of answered. No-one will ever know of the Townsville and to the State of Queensland. It shabby and secret deals that the member for will be the first major development to occur in Logan presided over when he was the Minister far-north Queensland in the last 20 years. It responsible for the Office of the Cabinet. has had and will have a major impact not only on the economy of Townsville and that region, Westminster Tradition but also on the economy of the State. Mr BARTON: My question is to the For the benefit of the member for Minister for Police and Corrective Services. I Mundingburra, I would like to take the refer to page 2 of the Coalition Government of opportunity to place on record my appreciation Queensland Protocols Handbook which says— of the officers of the Department of Economic Development and Trade for the facilitation "Ministers shall subscribe to the work they did under the previous Government convention of the Westminster system of and under this Government between the representative Government." various Government departments and I refer also to the Minister's comments in the Government entities such as the Townsville Sunday Mail that he would not resign if City Council, the State Government and the charges are laid against him, and I ask: what Commonwealth Government in putting this makes him so special that he will thumb his project together. nose at the Westminster tradition, defy his own Government's protocols and refuse to Mr Palaszczuk: How much money? resign if charges of electoral bribery are Mr SLACK: The member should know recommended against him? the answer to that question. The amount of An Opposition member: Good money that was going to be negotiated in question! respect to the development of that project was negotiated under the Labor Party Mr COOPER: Good question—it is Government, but let me say that that obviously one of those ridiculous questions the Government did the easy part. The hard part member has been cooking up for so long. was in bringing it together. I pay respect to the God knows where he gets his inside officers of this department for dealing with information from. I will give him two pennies for those harder issues. where he gets this inside information he is trotting out. He seems to get his information The success of this project will send a from misreading articles like that. message to investors not only throughout The member can wave his protocol Australia and Queensland but also throughout handbook around all he likes. He knows as the world that Queensland does deliver on its well as I do what has been behind that whole projects. The process is open and situation. I will go no further than that. He accountable. It is there for all to see. This knows as well as I do—as do the whole lot of project will result from that process. them over there—exactly what is going on. For the benefit of members, I would like to When the member talks about resignation outline some of the key points in respect of etc., all I have to say is that I resile from this project. There will be 590 initial jobs in nothing that I have said in the past. Townsville during the construction and 350 jobs when the project becomes operational. Townsville and the region will benefit from the Korea Zinc Project downstream creation of 1,670 jobs and the Mr TANTI: I ask the Minister for generation of $84m a year of additional Economic Development and Trade: can he income. Nationally, this project will create an 3054 Questions Without Notice 8 Oct 1996 additional 2,000 jobs. The wealth creation of presided over that disaster. What a shameful this project is immense. Stage 1 will produce display it was by all of them, including the up to 170,000 tonnes of refined zinc a year member for Logan, who sits down in the back and annual sales will earn Queensland seat. Not one—not one—of them had the $250m, of which 85 per cent to 90 per cent will courage to tell the public how their be export revenue. Korea Zinc will purchase Government had presided over this enormous $150m of raw materials, much of which will be black hole—some $400m worth. Now the sourced in Australia. The latest information I public are having to prop up that scheme. have from Korea Zinc is that the refinery will be The member for Yeronga is now trying to operating with material 80 per cent of which build on Mr Clair's comments to the Estimates will come from the north-west area, when it committee. I would have thought that those comes on stream. comments speak for themselves. I am As many members would be aware from certainly not going to be guilty of inflaming the the reports in the paper, with the support of situation. I indicated then to Mr Clair, the the Townsville City Council, we will be Chairman of the Criminal Justice Commission, introducing enabling legislation. We will also that I believed it was an ongoing, ordinary be looking to expedite zoning and ensure that investigation, but Mr Clair was overplaying his those requirements that are associated with hand at that time. I think the situation speaks this development are met. Finally, I would like for itself. to point out that all the requirements of all the environmental provisions of all State legislation—particularly the Environmental Kirwan Hospital for Women, Townsville Protection Act—will be met. I have no doubt Mr ROWELL: I ask the Minister for that the confidence of the people of Health: would he inform the House of what Townsville, the member for Mundingburra and improvements the coalition Government has the member for Burdekin, Mr Mark Stoneman, been able to provide for Townsville's Kirwan who led a group to Korea recently, in this Hospital for Women? project will be rewarded. Mr HORAN: It is indeed a remarkable improvement to the Kirwan Hospital that the coalition is bringing about. In 1993, the Labor Police Corruption Government commissioned a special report to Mr FOLEY: I ask the Attorney-General look into the inadequacies of the hospital. The and Minister for Justice why he failed to inform hospital had been left without proper support Police Minister Cooper of "significant and service for a number of years. As a result corruption of police by criminal elements" on of that report, do members know what the Tuesday, 17 September 1996, at the same previous Government did? Absolutely nothing! time as he informed Estimates Committee B in The hospital was left on its own. There was the writing of this? What possible reason could he report, in black and white, of all the sorts of have for concealing this disturbing information services that the hospital needed, but nothing from the responsible Minister, obliging him to was done about it. In fact, only through my wait until after CJC Chair Frank Clair gave oral actions as then Opposition spokesperson was evidence of it at a public hearing the following I able to pressure that Government into day? Is it not a fact that he simply did not read putting some decent funding into the neonatal his own answer delivered to the committee on unit at that particular hospital. Tuesday, 17 September? We held a meeting at that hospital not Mr BEANLAND: I thank the member for long after we came to Government. I can say Yeronga for the question, the same person with great pride that, recently, I went to the who presided over the black hole in the Kirwan Hospital and took with me the director- Workers Compensation Fund that led to general and the deputy director-general. We $105m having to be provided by the taxpayers went through that entire hospital. It was our of this State. second visit in two weeks. We were there just Mr Borbidge: He didn't inform the two weeks before that. As promised, we went back and went right through the hospital. We Estimates committee. talked to the nurses and the doctors in the Mr BEANLAND: He did not inform the maternity section. We went through the Estimates committee, nor did he inform the theatres. We went through the physio section. public of this State prior to the last election of We talked to the social workers and that scandalous, outrageous situation that was obstetricians. We discussed with everybody allowed to occur. He did not have the courage what their particular problems and needs were. to tell the people of Queensland that he They know—and have great confidence—that 8 Oct 1996 Questions Without Notice 3055 this Government knows and understands what being the tenth anniversary of the Kirwan is needed, and we are acting upon that. Hospital for Women. We would be happy if Earlier this year, a position for an extra any of those existing staff would like to remain obstetrician was promised verbally by in the visiting medical officer position. They someone up there, but there was no money to now know that they have the support of this pay for that. At the same time, we had a coalition Government throughout all sections financial mess in Townsville, as we had of the Kirwan Hospital. We have backed up financial messes all over the State. We our words with cash and action. We are inherited an absolute mess of millions of recruiting. We have senior people going to dollars of budget overruns and a mess of Townsville. The hospital will retain its registrar millions of dollars of unpaid accounts status, so that training positions will be there in throughout the State. Townsville and the the new financial year. I believe that the Northern Regional Health Authority are no people of Townsville can have great different from the rest. There are unpaid confidence in the way that this Government accounts from the previous year, and things has brought about such a vast improvement were on track for the same this year. We have to the Kirwan Hospital for Women. It has lifted straightened out the financial mess. We have the morale of the staff. They now know that cleaned up their situation and given them a they have a Government that hops in, finds clean slate to start with from 1 July. We have out what is wrong, supports them and brings given them good professional management about improvement. We are a Government of so that all those services within the Townsville action. district health service can be properly and effectively managed. Inquiry into Criminal Justice Most importantly, for the Kirwan Hospital Commission for Women, we have been advertising and Mr BRADDY: I refer the Premier to his recruiting to provide obstetrics services at that speech in this House on 1 October 1991, hospital. We are providing for one additional when he was the Leader of the Opposition—a full-time obstetrician. That will take the number position in which he obviously felt comfortable from three to four. In addition, we are and to which he intends to return—when he considering up to eight VMO sessions per said of the then Labor Government— week. That is exactly what the staff want— eight VMO sessions split among three people. "They have cut funding to the CJC So there will eventually be four full-timers and and they have done it as part of their three VMOs attending that hospital, which will politically motivated vendetta against that give great flexibility to the staff. body." I am happy to tell the House that the How does the Premier reconcile this statement recruitment program is going successfully. with his politically motivated witch-hunt into the Already, Dr Green from Adelaide has been CJC after slashing its funding by $2m? appointed as the new director of obstetrics at Mr BORBIDGE: I seem to recall that the Kirwan Hospital for Women. He will be the previous Government slashed funding to taking up his appointment immediately in the the CJC by close to $3m. new year. We have already appointed a senior staff specialist who will be assisting Dr Green in that particular role. We also have interest from Aboriginal Deaths in Custody an overseas doctor and an interstate doctor Mr BAUMANN: I refer the Minister for for two additional positions. We also have a Police and Corrective Services and Minister for locum commencing in November and the Racing to an article by Tony Koch which possibility of another locum. If we have an appeared in the Courier-Mail yesterday, 7 oversupply of obstetricians—and I do not think October 1996, stating that the Queensland that has ever been achieved before—we will Health Department and the Corrective certainly be negotiating with them to go to Services Commission are ignoring the other parts of the State where there is an recommendations detailed in the 1991 urgent need for additional obstetricians. As Aboriginal deaths in custody report. I ask the well as providing an extra quarter of a million Minister: what is he doing to ensure that the dollars for that position, we have provided Corrective Services Commission complies with $1.2m for extra neonatal cots. the recommendations of this report? I thank the staff at the hospital, Mr COOPER: I do appreciate that particularly Dr Likeman and his staff, for the question, because this issue has been of work that they have done in the past—this ongoing concern, certainly to members on this 3056 Questions Without Notice 8 Oct 1996 side of the House. Quite obviously, for the last It is important that initiatives taken by the six years, members opposite ignored coronial QCSC to reduce deaths in custody work recommendations. That is sad. This effectively. We have certainly gone over and Government is not going to allow the QCSC to over the recommendations and we have been ignore any coronial recommendations, able to deal with most of them in certain especially those relating to Aboriginal deaths circumstances; however, still more can be in custody. I have certainly asked for a copy of done. I would expect Aboriginal and Torres the transcript of the coronial findings on the Strait Islander correctional counsellors to make death of Anthony Borey, which members contact with all new receptions, at least on the would have read about recently and about very first working day after those people come which most people should be concerned. into the institutions. I would also expect those counsellors to contact the appropriate family I have spoken to the QCSC executive members and outside sources and institutions about those media reports. I have also told to get a pretty good understanding and the QCSC that I want to see within a fortnight background of the people entering institutions, an action plan to deal with those coronial so that they can help them to deal with their recommendations that were made by Mr problems and in order to pre-empt any Casey. Some of those recommendations problems, such as suicides, that may arise. cross other departments. I have already had discussions with the Minister for Health on I note that a recommendation has been these issues that have been raised and will be made for the development of computer dealing with them as a matter of urgency. systems to upgrade databases, which is a good recommendation. The provision of extra Mr Casey's recommendations included: psychological services has also been that all staff at John Oxley Hospital must be recommended. I believe they are an absolute conversant with recommendations of the royal necessity. I will have those recommendations commission; that the hospital develop proper costed. Obviously, my next move would then systems to ensure information is passed on to be to try to make sure that I have good other institutions on a patient's transfer; that all relations with the Treasurer so that we can do prison staff have a workable knowledge of the something of value. commission's recommendations; that the I have had the QCSC take a number of ethnicity of all inmates be recorded; that the measures to address the recommendations of history of a prisoner's previous at-risk the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths observations be included in their database; in Custody so the number of deaths in custody that counselling be available for prisoners, particularly at high intake times, such as can be further reduced. I want to keep Christmas and Easter; and that Aboriginal focusing on those recommendations so that counsellors be encouraged to contact we can reduce deaths and ensure that those Aboriginal Legal Service staff and family recommendations are put into place. I had members to establish information relevant to quite lengthy discussions with the previous the prisoner's wellbeing. acting Chairman of the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Overview Committee, John I would find it absolutely incomprehensible Ramsamy. Yesterday, the Minister for if members of the QCSC staff are not fully Families, Youth and Community Care conversant with recommendations about attended his funeral. I acknowledge what he Aboriginal deaths in custody. I do not expect said about him. That person did an them to know them all chapter and verse, but I extraordinary amount of good work in the certainly do expect them to know the very operation of the overview committee and in basis of those recommendations, which came ensuring that the recommendations were put out at least three years ago. I have also into place. I commend his work and effort. We instructed my staff to set up meetings with the will certainly make sure that we continue, Minister for Health to resolve once and for all along with the Minister for Families, Youth and those protocol issues that were raised quite Community Care and the Attorney-General rightly by the coroner. He said that prisoners and Minister for Justice, to maintain the have a unique and distinguishing status and necessary rapport with the overview that the rules relating to patient confidentiality committee. That was ignored by members on must be modified to recognise the the other side of the House, which was an management responsibility of others. I am absolute tragedy. Those people are genuine sure that a very prompt resolution of that in their attempts; we are genuine in our outstanding matter can be achieved, and I attempts and we intend to work continually believe that it will be. and closely with them. 8 Oct 1996 Questions Without Notice 3057

Inquiry into Criminal Justice paper report had misconstrued or misquoted Commission; Payment of Legal Costs him in some measure. Mr LIVINGSTONE: I refer the Attorney- The ongoing problem of drugs in our General and Minister for Justice to his royal schools is one from which no Government can commission into the CJC. I ask: does he walk away. Indeed, the previous Government propose to pay the costs of parties given leave was committed and this Government is to appear? If so, does he expect that the committed to providing additional resources, Police Union will be one of the parties both monetary resources and skilled concerned? What are the anticipated costs of personnel, to ensure that the effect of drugs in the Police Union? our schools is, as far as possible, minimised if Mr BEANLAND: I presume that the not completely eradicated. We would be Government will be looking at the payment of fooling ourselves to suggest that there are no costs, yes. As to the Police Union or other drugs in schools and that we can put a barrier people who might or might not appear—that is around the fence line of schools and a matter on which I cannot comment. Only effectively keep out every drug from every time will tell who might or might not be school in Queensland. I do not think that there required to appear. In order to keep down would be a teacher, principal or Minister in legal costs, the Government has been looking Queensland who could give that guarantee at the operation of the Wood royal honestly. All that any Government can do is to commission in New South Wales, where a put in place proper funding and proper legal representation office has been set up resources and then rely upon its principals and under a senior lawyer in order to manage the teachers and, more importantly, try to get the need for people who are appearing before the message across to students and parents that inquiry to have legal representation. That schools cannot combat that type of activity; system has worked fairly well in New South students need parental supervision and close Wales. It allows full and proper legal involvement by parents in the education of representation for people at the inquiry and their own sons and daughters. manages to keep down the costs. Over a number of years, the department It would be very easy for people to have has conducted ongoing professional legal representatives at such inquiries week in development programs for its teachers and and week out, day in and day out, when they put in place a large range of resources, both in might need to have them there for only a very print and video form. Only recently, some new short period. It is a matter that we are ones have been included in the collection. A addressing. We are considering setting up a new video was released at a three-day separate legal office to manage that. As to conference that is under way currently at the who might or might not be required to Bardon Professional Centre, which is aimed at appear—it would be totally improper for me to spreading the word about best practice in comment on that. In fact, it would be reducing the impact of drugs upon schools. impossible for me to say at this stage. That is That is an ongoing program within the a matter for the commissioners in due course. department. Some 70 teachers are currently attending that in-service activity. During the school holidays, 200 teachers Drugs in Schools from the Metropolitan East region gave up Mr MALONE: In directing a question to their time to come together to try to work their the Minister for Education, I refer to the recent way through some of those particular issues shocking revelation about the designer drug and upgrade their skills with regard to GHB. I ask: can the Minister outline to the managing the impact of drugs in schools. As I House what efforts are being made in said before, a range of material, both video Queensland schools to combat the spread of and print, is available. A range of policy drugs? documents exists to inform teachers and, Mr QUINN: I was somewhat disturbed more importantly, principals, about how to this morning to read the headline on the front manage drug-related issues in schools in an page of the Gold Coast Bulletin, "It's in our effort to lessen the impact of drugs. schools". I was glad that the Minister for Police Although an impressive range of and Corrective Services was able to clarify measures is available, I suggest that there will some of the comments made by the police never be enough. There will never be the officer involved. He had no evidence that that definitive drug program that works. If there particular drug had found its way into our were, we would have found it by now. All that schools and, by and large, the newspaper we can do is try to ensure that the resources 3058 Matters of Public Interest 8 Oct 1996 are available to impress upon parents and the Minister does not care because he thinks teachers the need to be ever vigilant, to try to that he is above the law. What a contempt for put in place programs to show students the the people of this Parliament and for the best way of attacking those sorts of problems people of this State that the Police Minister and resisting peer pressure, and to address could actually sit in Cabinet while this matter other issues that can impact upon adolescent was being debated. Talk about having no life in general in high schools. Programs are understanding of conflict of interest, propriety ongoing and in time all Governments will be and proper behaviour! Absolutely none! supporting them. We have found that, at a bare minimum, Mr T. B. SULLIVAN: My question is to this inquiry will cost at least $1m. The the Premier. In view of the—— Treasurer does not have any explanation for Mr SPEAKER: Order! The time for how it will be funded; it has not even been questions has expired. It is now time for budgeted for. No wonder people think that her matters of public interest. role as Treasurer is nothing short of a sick joke. She cannot even budget effectively for a major inquiry. We are going to have at least MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST $1m—and maybe more; maybe as much as Inquiry into Criminal Justice $2m—used to pursue a political agenda for Commission the National Party and the Liberal Party. Is this sort of money being used in schools, or in Mr BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—Leader hospitals, or on providing extra police? Of of the Opposition) (11.30 a.m.): Yesterday, the course not! This is taxpayers' money. The Borbidge/Sheldon Government announced an improper inquiry into the CJC. By making that Government is prepared to pay these inquiry announcement, it is guilty of using in a very heads $3,000 a day—not bad if one can get improper way the powers of a royal it—in addition to any judicial pensions that commission. they may receive. It is little wonder that the Opposition can say very clearly that that This inquiry is designed simply to save the money could be better spent looking after political hide of Russell Cooper, the Police Queenslanders and providing services. Minister. It is nothing more than that. The National Party has never forgiven the One of the people who will head the Fitzgerald process for ending its three decades inquiry is none other than former Supreme of corrupt power and sending four of its finest Court judge Peter Connolly. I notice in today's Ministers to gaol. This inquiry is all about Courier-Mail, which published his details, that turning back the clock to the bad old days. he successfully excluded the fact that from The National Party never apologised to the 1957 to 1960 in the Queensland Parliament people of Queensland for the reign of Bjelke- he was the Liberal member for Kurilpa. I am Petersen and all that dreadful and far-reaching sure that it was a small oversight. harm and corruption that we saw caused to The problem with what the National and this State and its institutions. The problem is Liberal Parties are doing is that they have that the National Party does not recognise that removed the bipartisanship that Tony what it did was wrong. That is why it wants to Fitzgerald put into the reform process and turn back the clock. That is why the National which was established in the legislation that Party is even happy to continue to use the came out of the Fitzgerald inquiry. For name of Bjelke-Petersen as the name for its example, in relation to the Criminal Justice Act, headquarters when any other organisation all political parties or their representatives must whose leader had been exposed so badly agree on the appointment of the head of the would have hastily torn down the name plaque CJC. That was bipartisanship. However, under and just used the street number. Mr Borbidge and Mrs Sheldon, all of that has This matter is nothing short of a disgrace. gone out the window. They want to turn the Today, the Police Minister admitted that he clock back to the days of corruption. There was in Cabinet when the decision was made was no attempt to consult the Opposition and to establish this inquiry and its terms of no attempt to keep that bipartisanship. reference, yet he did not care. He is subject to As to Mr Connolly's appointment—I am examination by the Carruthers inquiry; he may not questioning his legal scholarship but let us well be charged with a range of serious look at the issue of whether the Opposition, as offences, including bribery, yet he sits in the alternative Government, can have Cabinet totally oblivious to those issues. Like confidence in this inquiry. Mr Connolly the National Party, which has always provided legal advice to Mr Cooper for the demonstrated its belief that it is above the law, Carruthers inquiry. He is quite entitled to 8 Oct 1996 Matters of Public Interest 3059 provide that legal advice. However, in Australian Parliament as "unethical and providing that legal advice, which is being unprofessional". It is little wonder that he got used by Mr Cooper as part of his defence, Mr glowing references to join the staff of the Connolly has disqualified himself. He should Minister for Primary Industries. What is his role not have been appointed as one of the on that staff? He is working in fisheries. people to head this inquiry. Mr Connolly is Queensland taxpayers need to be concerned entitled to give that opinion to assist Mr about Nicholls moving to Queensland and Cooper but, in my view, in doing so he is then joining a Minister's staff. In November 1995, disqualified from sitting as one of the he resigned as a senior adviser to Grant commissioners. I say that with a great deal of Chapman—a senator from South Australia— seriousness because that means that the for wrongly claiming $3,800 in overtime. So recommendations of this inquiry will not be Nicholls is prepared to rort his overtime given the sort of regard that they should by a payments, yet the member for Broadwater large section of the community and certainly expects us to believe him, to give him by the Opposition. credibility. I go back to the heart of where this inquiry If that is not enough, Nicholls wrote a started and refer to the allegations that were letter to the Hanson inquiry, which I table made in this House by the member for along with supporting newspaper reports, in Broadwater. Under parliamentary privilege, he which in relation to Le Grand he states— made very serious allegations. One of the "To conclude, I hereby state, people who provided him with support for unequivocally, that, at no stage, did Mr Le those allegations was a gentleman called Grand provide any information or Chris Nicholls. Let us look very clearly at the documentation to myself or Senator basis of those allegations and who made Chapman with regard to the Operation them because they go to the credibility of Wallah investigation." whether this inquiry should have been established in the first place or whether it is So either he lied in 1995 or he lied to the simply nothing more than a crude, blunt honourable member for Broadwater in the political instrument being used against the material that he provided for him. Either way, corruption fighter in this State. Nicholls is a liar; either way, his allegations should not have been the basis of an inquiry I contend that the record of Chris Nicholls which will be paid for out of taxpayers' funds in is such that not only is he not a person to be this State. believed, not only is he not a person with credibility but also he is a person who is I table that letter for the information of the prepared to lie and prepared to cheat to people of this State so that they know about achieve a particular purpose. What he has the people whom the members opposite are done is to perpetrate a fraud on the people of dealing with and upon whose allegations the Queensland, who are now going to have to Government operates. This inquiry is simply a pay for an inquiry that is not necessary and scurrilous waste of taxpayers' money. that simply has only a political purpose. Time expired. For seven months, Nicholls worked for the member for Broadwater. No doubt he and Far-north Queensland Health staff of the Premier's office put together the speech of the member for Broadwater in an Mrs WILSON (Mulgrave) (11.40 a.m.): I attempt to lay the groundwork for an wish to speak about far-north Queensland investigation into the CJC. If Mr Grice's speech health issues and related funding. Recently, is to be believed, Mr Nicholls, in providing any the Minister for Health, Mike Horan, met a evidence to a CJC hearing on Mark Le large group of Cairns doctors face to face. He Grand—or to any other hearing—runs a grave answered a lot of their questions pertaining to risk of committing perjury. When it comes to the Cairns Base Hospital, its redevelopment ethics, Nicholls has a chequered history. In and other issues on far-north Queensland 1990, he was fined $200 by the Australian health. The Minister also responded to certain Journalists Association for contravening the inaccuracies with reference to funding for the journalist's code of ethics. On that occasion, redevelopment of the Cairns Base Hospital, Nicholls' fascination with crime authorities got which is on track, despite the doomsday him into trouble. He tricked high school staff merchants and despite the $75m budget into letting him interview a 15-year-old student blow-out of the previous State Government. who was the daughter of a National Crime The State coalition Government is bringing Authority investigator. How low is he prepared health back to the people. It is opening wards, to go? Nicholls was described in the South cutting waiting lists and providing the health 3060 Matters of Public Interest 8 Oct 1996 services which have diminished for people has been found to fund additional ear, nose right across this State. I will focus on north and throat surgery sessional work. That will be Queensland. welcomed by families in the far north, many of In the Cairns district, the final realisation of whom, over the years, have had to travel long community health centres—one in Mulgrave distances to seek treatment. and one in Barron River—for local Many north Queenslanders rely on communities to access allied health services dialysis services and the Minister has has met with very positive responses. A lot of announced $260,000 funding to enhance the people are moving to north Queensland from dialysis services in the north. southern States and other parts of Australia, Mr Mitchell: Additional funding? and many of these newcomers expect that health services will be practically the same as Mrs WILSON: Yes, it is additional for those that they have left behind. The concept the far north. A further $246,000 in increased of localised community health centres, which funding for waiting lists is separate from the was developed by allied health workers in the $2.1m announced just a couple of weeks ago. north who saw the need to bring health The Minister has announced $240,000 to services to the community, has been very well fund three accident and emergency medical supported by the State coalition Government. staff at the Cairns Base Hospital. With the Many families with young children and, increase in population in the north, this is a indeed, senior citizens will find easier access to welcome move because many accident health services a great boon. It will mean that victims have had to be transferred to the long time spent in travel—and many Townsville or other hospitals. people use public transport—and the long A sum of $186,000 has been provided to waiting time for allied health services will enhance the Cairn Base Hospital's diabetic become a thing of the past. program, which will provide a much-needed The Cairns Base Hospital will be $4.87m service to far-north Queensland where better off, with an improvement of some 5.16 diabetes is a major medical problem, per cent in the district's current funding base. particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait The $4m worth of improvements has been Islander communities. In Queensland, health possible for a number of reasons, including a research has shown that Aboriginal and Torres reduction in the number of one-off Strait Islander communities have more than expenditures, a reduction in the costs 10 times the incidence of diabetes than the associated with the former failed larger community. That, of course, has been a regionalisation system, and increased funding great concern to my Government. The Minister forecasts for the Cairns Base Hospital from has also provided $150,000 for increased elective surgery waiting list incentive programs research appointments in the northern area. and other bonus funding programs. A few I also point out that, despite the knockers weeks ago, the Minister also announced that who have constantly told us that the north has the Cairns Base Hospital will receive $2.1m in been forgotten in the recent Budget, each of funding from the 1996-97 Waiting List Backlog these funding improvements is part of a record Program. This is an increase of some $106.5m budget announced for Cairns in the $200,000 on last year's allocation. recent State Budget. It is important to detail Other services have also been enhanced how the coalition Government has dramatically at the Cairns Base Hospital through the improved health funding to Cairns and far- coalition Government's 1996-97 Budget. north Queensland since coming to office in These include $600,000 announced recently March 1996. Apart from the specific initiatives I to be used to fund four additional registrars have mentioned, the following achievements and registered medical officers at a cost of should also be noted. $200,000, the remaining $400,000 to fund There is confirmation that the Cairns Base other services at the hospital's discretion. That Hospital Redevelopment Program will is a plus for our area, because a number of proceed—indeed, work has commenced on issues that need to be addressed pertain only that program. With respect to elective surgery, to the north. That $400,000 is a real boon to an allocation of $60,000 has been provided the medical fraternity in Cairns. Other funding for specialist operating theatre equipment to includes $92,000 to fund the paediatrics and reduce elective surgery waiting list times. An gynaecology chairs, the first for the northern allocation of $1.1m has been provided for region. minor capital works for health facilities in Cairns Those needing ear, nose and throat and Cape York. An allocation of $900,000 has surgery will be pleased to hear that $20,000 been provided for a north Queensland urology 8 Oct 1996 Matters of Public Interest 3061 specialist with support services. This service will Inquiry into Criminal Justice cover the Cairns region and is the first of its Commission kind in north Queensland. Hon. J. P. ELDER (Capalaba—Deputy The Thursday Island community has Leader of the Opposition) (11.49 a.m.): Over certainly welcomed the confirmation and the past few months, Queenslanders have contract letting of the $34m Thursday Island witnessed a sustained and brutal attack by the Hospital redevelopment program. This will coalition on the Criminal Justice Commission. provide local services for people who usually It has been as well orchestrated as it has been have to travel to Cairns or other hospitals for sinister in its motives. The coalition stooped so medical attention. Therefore, it will certainly low as to leak utterly false information about reduce the stress-related factors that are often the fees being paid to Mr Ken Carruthers in an associated with patients taking such trips. attempt to discredit him before he brought The announcement of an additional down his expected adverse findings against $300,000 funding for indigenous health issues Police Minister Russell Cooper and the has been made specifically for Cairns. Premier of the State, Mr Rob Borbidge. Mr Provisions from this funding include a mental Carruthers warned that it was "impossible to health worker for Yarrabah, funding to support over-state the seriousness of this history of Mookai Rosie, the centre for Aboriginal and disinformation". Torres Strait Islander women from the north, The motive behind this orchestrated and other alcohol and drug services in Cairns. campaign against the CJC has been popularly I advise the House that founder of Mookai interpreted as relating solely to the Carruthers Rosie, Mrs Rose Richards, was recently inquiry. Nobody in Queensland doubts the awarded a Premier's award for the work she independence of Mr Carruthers. He is a has done for the women of the north. The cleanskin. He is conducting an investigation announcement of an additional $3m for without fear or favour. This is the way such Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander investigations should be conducted. Not only communities in remote areas of north should they be independent; they should be Queensland has been provided for diabetes seen to be independent. Let me assure reduction strategies, community health centres members on the other side of the House that at Badu and Boigu and also research/data many Queenslanders have grave concerns planning for health services. about the independence of the Government's A number of claims have also been made politically motivated witch-hunt into the CJC. that the Cairns district has had the lowest Many believe that in large part the health funding per capita throughout Government already knows the results that will Queensland. Bearing in mind the specific come from that inquiry. Along with many health needs of Cairns, this claim is simply not Queenslanders and many in the legal true. Cairns received three times the health fraternity, the Government is only too well funding per capita of the Gold Coast and twice aware of the views held of the CJC and other the health funding per capita of the Sunshine non-judicial bodies by Mr Connolly. The Coast, based on ABS figures. Both the Gold Government knows his views. It is clear that he Coast and the Sunshine Coast can be will recommend at the very least a curtailment compared with Cairns in terms of economic, of the CJC's powers. population and tourist growth trends. Cairns is a high growth rate area. The coalition has Mr Welford: He's got his riding recognised the health needs of the north and instructions. has responded accordingly. We may be out of Mr ELDER: My word he does. He does sight, but we are certainly not forgotten. The not fully accept the findings of the Fitzgerald coalition State Government is committed to inquiry, which led to the establishment of the improving health services to Cairns and it will CJC. There are many people around town continue this ongoing support. claiming that they already know the detail of As people can see from the figures I have many of the findings which Mr Connolly will quoted in the last few minutes, the Budget make. That is not good enough. An inquiry certainly supports the north. The Minister has should be independent. We should not know travelled to the north on a number of the results before the witch-hunt even starts. I occasions to talk to the people about their repeat that not only should such investigations health concerns. He has spoken to the nurses be independent; they should also be seen to and doctors, and he has certainly spoken to a be independent. number of patients who, in the last few years, There is no doubt that the coalition is were unable to have the treatment that they desperate to discredit the Carruthers inquiry needed. and the CJC before the report is handed 3062 Matters of Public Interest 8 Oct 1996 down, just as the Premier sought through his the Official Misconduct Division of the CJC that notorious Public Service Bill to nobble the he decided to bring forward the judicial inquiry Director of Public Prosecutions, whose job it to begin an immediate investigation into the would have been to lay charges against the allegations about Mr Le Grand and other Police Minister. However, there is a second matters. equally important reason, as I see it, behind It defies belief that Mr Nicholls, after the Premier's frenzied attacks on the CJC. having worked for Mr Grice for five months and That reason is the secret hit list of public having already begun working for the Minister servants drawn up by the coalition and its for Primary Industries, raised these allegations cronies. for the first time. It defies belief that, when Mr Mr Acting Speaker, you will remember Grice defamed the head of the misconduct that I referred that hit list to the CJC on division on 13 September, that was the first Wednesday, 28 August. At that time, Mr time the matter had been raised. The truth is Borbidge and his department head, Mr Peter that it was a good time to trot out these Ellis, were overseas. Upon his return from outrageous allegations to attack the credibility overseas, Mr Borbidge denied any knowledge of the Official Misconduct Division, as it was of any hit lists. Yet we are informed by conducting an assessment of whether the CJC Government sources that upon his return from had a duty to investigate the Premier and his overseas the Premier's director-general, Mr cronies for their role in the preparation of a hit Peter Ellis, went into the bunker with other list. senior Government advisers to work out how When the Courier-Mail revealed that the to handle the public exposure of their CJC was considering evidence against senior involvement with the hit list. Mr Ellis remained bureaucrats relating to that list, the Premier's bunkered down for the best part of a week. attacks on the CJC reached new levels of When Mr Ellis emerged from the bunker, the frenzy. It was like a scene from Psycho, with a Courier-Mail—surprise, surprise—obtained a frenzied Premier plunging the knife into leaked secret Cabinet submission anyone who dared to stand in the way of recommending that a judicial inquiry into the these determined attempts to destroy the CJC be held in late 1996 or early 1997. CJC. On 29 September, the Premier briefed Two weeks later, a National Party the Courier-Mail that he was considering backbencher, the member for Broadwater, Mr referring Mr Clair's behaviour to a judicial Grice, accused the head of the Official inquiry. The Premier went on to indicate that Misconduct Division, Mr Mark Le Grand, of he believed changes to the Criminal Justice leaking sensitive information in relation to Act were needed. They sure are, that is, if the Operation Wallah. Mr Grice used this Premier and his cronies are to survive! Parliament to accuse Mr Le Grand of lying, Firstly, the Premier must secure from the cheating and perverting the course of justice. judicial inquiry a recommended change to the The source of these allegations is none other definition of "official misconduct". As it is than Chris Nicholls, who, as the Leader of the defined at present, the Premier's senior public Opposition said, in a letter to the Hanson servant cronies and members of his personal inquiry set up to investigate the leak, stated staff are gone for all money. Secondly, the categorically that Mr Le Grand was not the Premier must secure a recommended change source of the leak. As the Leader of the to the power of the CJC to compel witnesses Opposition has stated, the only conclusion to give evidence. So many people know who that can be drawn from the allegations by Mr was involved in drawing up and implementing Nicholls—his account and his words—is that the hit list that it would be impossible to he was lying then. maintain a conspiracy of silence in the face of Mr Beattie: Or he is lying now. the CJC's powers to compel witnesses to Mr ELDER: Or he is lying now. As the answer questions under oath. Thirdly, the Leader of the Opposition said: either way, he Premier must seek the agreement of is a liar. As has been outlined, he is the man Parliament for those changes, which in this who left the staff of South Australian Liberal case means the agreement of the member for Senator Grant Chapman for falsifying $3,800 Gladstone. We will not have a bar of the in overtime claims. As a liar, a fraud and a Premier's attempts to cover up official cheat, Mr Nicholls clearly has all the necessary misconduct by officers in the Public Service credentials to receive the full backing of the and his close advisers. Premier and his cronies, and back him they The Premier's strategy is to distract all of did. So concerned was the Premier with these the resources of the Official Misconduct startling new allegations against the head of Division by having it defending itself against 8 Oct 1996 Matters of Public Interest 3063 the judicial inquiry so that it will not have the that the Queensland Fire Service has been staff, time or, for that matter, money to calling for this type of legislation for more than investigate the hit list. The cut to the CJC's five years and yet, until now, it has achieved budget is of great value in thwarting any effort very little success. A little bit of research does by the CJC to investigate that list. If the not take long to find out where the fault lies. It Premier can tie up the CJC's remaining appears that the former Minister for resources until he can change the Criminal Emergency Services, Tom Burns, fought long Justice Act, he will have achieved his goal of and hard to get smoke alarm legislation, only protecting himself and his advisers from a CJC to be thwarted at every turn by the then investigation into the hit list. Housing, Local Government and Planning Mr Welford: Muzzling the CJC. Minister, the member for Chatsworth. Mr ELDER: As the member for Everton The reason for the previous Minister's said, he is muzzling the CJC. It is quite reluctance is unclear, because research and apparent to me and many others that a pall of figures collected by his department at the time corruption is again descending over were clear cut on the lifesaving virtues of Queensland. If the Premier has nothing to smoke alarms. They even indicated that most hide or to fear from a CJC investigation into housing groups were in favour of the proposal. the Public Service hit list that I referred to the Other States realised the benefits of smoke commission, he should cease his frenzied alarms as far back as 1991, when Victoria attack on the chairman and let that became the first State in Australia to bring in commission get on with its work. Every day legislation requiring detectors in all newly built that passes, as the Premier continues to and renovated homes. Overseas, this has behave hysterically in his determination to been commonplace for even longer. In destroy the CJC, is just another day in the Victoria, it is estimated that almost 70 per cent march back to the darkness of the 1980s. of all homes now have smoke alarms, while There will be a muzzling of the CJC. Every day the death toll from fires has been cut that passes will be another day in the march threefold. The Queensland Fire Service towards the sleazy secret deals with police approached the Labor Government requesting unions and the cronyism and impropriety smoke alarm legislation back in 1991 and until condemned by the Fitzgerald report. It will be recently,frustrated by the continuing delaying another day in a march towards corruption tactics, were almost at their wits' end. descending on all Queenslanders—something I have a couple of newspaper articles which all decent Queenslanders hoped would from 1994 and 1995 which clearly state that never again be inflicted on this State but the member for Chatsworth and Mr Burns which, sadly, is becoming a fact of life under were at loggerheads regarding smoke alarms. this National Party Government. I will outline some of the comments made in those articles. The Sun Herald of 3 July 1994 under the headline "Smoke alarm battle Smoke Alarms looms" states— Mr HEALY (Toowoomba North) "Queensland Deputy Premier Tom (11.59 a.m.): I am pleased to say that next Burns will take on the housing industry week Government building experts from and another minister in a bid to make around the country will be meeting on the smoke detectors compulsory in new Gold Coast to discuss changes to the Building houses. Code of Australia. Among the issues to be Mr Burns yesterday vowed to step up discussed will be changes to the code which his fight for detectors after the tragic will make it compulsory for all newly built deaths of three men and an eight-year- homes in Australia to have smoke alarms old girl in two separate house fires in fitted when they are built. In most cases, this will cost the average house builder around Brisbane . . . $200, which most members would agree is a Firefighters have been arguing for price that all new home owners would happily decades for compulsory detectors, which pay for the increased fire safety that it brings. cost about $200 for an average home, while the Housing Industry Association, Most of the States and Territories that will the Master Builders Association of have delegates attending the conference Queensland and State Housing Minister have had this legislation in place for many years. But for some reason Queensland, Terry Mackenroth have spoken out along with Western Australia and the Northern against them. Territory, has not. What is most surprising is . . . 3064 Matters of Public Interest 8 Oct 1996

On Friday smoke detectors became firefighters for mandatory smoke alarms in compulsory in NSW new homes and new homes." extensions. It goes on to state— The NSW legislation allows for "At the opening of the Fire Australia councils to insist hard-wired . . . detectors conference in Brisbane last week, Mr be fitted in homes being renovated as Hayden said about 150 people died each well as new homes." year in Australia as a result of fires. On 20 August 1995, the same newspaper 'These are tragic figures, although stated— there is evidence that they are starting to "Australia's largest real estate group fall, largely because of requirements in a has backed a 10-year fight by number of States now making it Queensland firefighters for mandatory mandatory to fit smoke alarms in new and smoke alarms in homes. substantially renovated private First National Real Estate Network residences,' Mr Hayden said. chief executive Bill Hamill said it was time . . . for agents to take a stand on house Mr Hayden said private research safety." showed the percentage of homes with The article goes on to state— smoke alarms in Victoria had risen to about 60 per cent from below 1pc in "Firefighters expect the average annual death toll of 20 will again be 1991 . . . reached in 1995. 'The success of smoke alarms in Victoria shows the value of a public safety They have fought for 10 years to program that combines both legislation have mandatory alarms fitted in new and education,' Mr Hayden said." homes but have been frustrated by opposition from some sections of the The former Department of Housing, Local building industry and from the Department Government and Planning initiated two of Local Government." separate research projects into the suitability of smoke alarms in Queensland and their On 18 September the same newspaper success rate in other States. The department states— commissioned the Australian Housing Urban "Queensland had wasted 20 years Research Institute and the Royal Melbourne and seen many lives lost without Institute of Technology to conduct the legislating for compulsory smoke research projects. The findings of the research detectors in homes . . . were due to be presented to the department Director of the University of in September 1995. Those findings have not Queensland's Occupational Health and been made public. It is understood, however, Safety Unit Barry Pratt—a former fire that both reports were highly supportive of officer—said more than 50 per cent of legislating for smoke alarms and confirmed the deaths in building fires were caused by Queensland Fire Service's position on the inhalation of the toxic components of the lifesaving benefits of installed smoke alarms. smoke. Independent research conducted by and . . . for the Department of Emergency Services and the Queensland Fire Service has also Mr Pratt said the Government's indicated that the public is strongly in favour of refusal so far had been based on smoke alarm installation legislation. It is opposition from various construction interesting to note that a Brisbane-based real groups who claim installation costs would estate company has recently taken a pro- be prohibitive." active step by installing smoke alarms in all of It seems that the former Minister was on his its rental properties at no cost to the tenants. own in rejecting the smoke alarm legislation A fire in a rented property in Brisbane in early call. I can imagine the embarrassment when April highlighted the immediate success of that the then Governor-General, Bill Hayden, came program. The family was woken by the smoke to Brisbane to attend the Fire Australia alarm, alerting them of the fire. Everyone conference last year and widely espoused the escaped safely and damage to the property virtues of smoke alarms. Again The Sun was kept to a minimum. Herald of 18 June last year stated— So it can be seen that even one of the "Governor-General Bill Hayden has most senior and respected Labor politicians in backed a 20-year battle by Queensland Australia supported smoke alarm legislation. 8 Oct 1996 Matters of Public Interest 3065

More than 100 Queenslanders have died in families. These lifesaving devices cost as little house fires in the past few years. How many of as $10. I commend the Fire Service for its them could be alive today if the previous continued fire safety commitment, which will Government had listened to the Fire Service undoubtedly lead to many, many more lives and, indeed, some of its senior Labor being saved. colleagues and taken the obvious form of action? As I said earlier, the cost of having hard-wired smoke alarms fitted to newly built Inquiry into Criminal Justice homes is around $80. The average home Commission could be fully fitted out for around $200. I Hon. M. J. FOLEY (Yeronga) believe that is a price that most home owners, (12.09 p.m.): The announced inquiry into the whether they are buying or building a new CJC is politically tainted by the Government's home, would be willing to pay for the safety improper motive in setting it up, by its timing, and advantages that these devices offer. I am by its usurping of the role of an all-party certain that anyone building a new home parliamentary committee and by the would happily pay that little extra for the Government's inappropriate appointment to benefits that smoke alarms give in terms of fire chair it. protection. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Laming): Mr T. B. Sullivan: Good insurance. Order! It is out of order to be critical of commissioners. Mr HEALY: I take the interjection. It is good insurance. I am sure that most members Mr FOLEY: With respect, Mr Deputy have learned from television news broadcasts Speaker, I am not aware that, firstly, the of the tragic deaths of people who became commissioner has yet been appointed by the trapped in fires in houses where smoke Governor in Council. detectors were not installed. Equally, there are Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! It has cases where smoke detectors have in fact been. saved the lives of many people. Last year Mr FOLEY: In any event, my comment alone, 27 people died in house fires in was directed at the Government's Queensland, and in every case they were in appointment. I did so quite carefully. I have no properties which did not have properly fitted criticism of the legal scholarship of Mr smoke alarms. Sadly, two of those tragedies Connolly; however, I do criticise the were in my own home town of Toowoomba. appointment by the Government of Mr Already this year three people have died in Connolly to chair the commission, and I am house fires in south-west Queensland. entitled to make that criticism. The Queensland Fire Service, which acts This is the fourth important commission of to protect the safety of all Queenslanders, has inquiry in four decades. We saw the 1956 done a great job in raising public awareness National Hotel royal commission, chaired by Sir about the benefits of smoke alarms, and that Harry Gibbs, the 1977-78 commission of will again be a feature of Fire Awareness inquiry chaired by Justice Lucas, the 1987-89 Week '96, which will be held from 20 to 26 inquiry chaired by Mr Fitzgerald, QC, as he October. To help raise awareness, the Fire then was, and now the 1996 Connolly inquiry. Service has also requested legislative help That there have been four commissions of from Government. This should not be a inquiry dealing with police corruption in one political issue. Sadly, it seems that the form or other indicates a disturbing theme in previous Government made it one. More Queensland's modern political history. homes have been built in Queensland in the past five years than in any other State, so the Let me outline the context to which I point impact of changed legislation should be quite for asserting that the Government's motive in obvious. I commend the Minister for setting it up is improper and political and that Emergency Services, Mick Veivers, and the the timing is calculated to make this inquiry Local Government and Planning Minister, Di politically tainted. The first fact that honourable McCauley, who have taken a pro-active stance members cannot escape is that Mr Borbidge on this issue. Next week's conference is and Mr Cooper entered into a memorandum expected to develop uniform national of understanding with the Police Union by legislation as part of the Building Code of which they agreed in writing to—— Australia, which will be in force from 1 July next Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I year. In the meantime, I urge all believe that that matter, too, is before the CJC Queenslanders to invest in smoke alarms for and it is out of order to be brought into this the security and safety of themselves and their House in debate. 3066 Matters of Public Interest 8 Oct 1996

Mr FOLEY: With respect, I am entitled bringing this on without adequate planning to address matters which are common and without relevant budget preparation. knowledge. This is not a detailed matter I point also to the usurping of the role of before the Carruthers inquiry, it is a matter of an all-party parliamentary committee. By the common knowledge that Mr Borbidge and Mr Executive setting up a commission of inquiry, it Cooper gave their signatures to a document is attempting to usurp the role of the which resulted in a memorandum of Parliament. The genius of the Fitzgerald report understanding. This is the subject of was that there should be an all-party conversations in every taxi and in every cafe in parliamentary committee. That bipartisan Queensland. With respect, I am entitled to approach is part of the strategy of combatting refer to it. corruption because it builds a community Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! It may consensus to fight corruption and to oppose well be, but it will not be the subject of debate the old "she'll be right" attitude of turning a in this House while it is before the commission. blind eye to corruption which got this State into There are plenty of precedents for that. so much trouble. Mr FOLEY: Mr Deputy Speaker, of There is a wide public perception that this course I abide your ruling. I do point out that inquiry has been established to save Russell fact and I point out also the fact of the Cooper's hide. It is therefore inappropriate to existence of the Carruthers inquiry, which has have a person chairing it who is a legal adviser placed Mr Borbidge and Mr Cooper under to Russell Cooper in respect of the very matter scrutiny and which has led Mr Borbidge and which has been the subject of the Carruthers Mr Beanland to make attacks on the Criminal inquiry. It gives me no pleasure to criticise the Justice Commission; I point also to the fact of appointment of a fellow member of the Bar. budget cuts to the Criminal Justice Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I Commission in the order of $2m; I point to remind the honourable member again, it is not attacks by senior Government Ministers on the acceptable to be critical of commissioners in Chair of the CJC, Mr Frank Clair; I refer to this House. attempts by senior Ministers to put on the agenda a re-run of inquiries into ALP Mr FOLEY: Mr Deputy Speaker, I have politicians, namely inquiries in respect of chosen my words very carefully and my allegations made by Mr Davies and in respect criticism is of the appointment. I make no of the Heiner documents; and I point also to attack at all upon Mr Connolly's legal the re-opening of the alleged leak in respect of scholarship. I have appeared before Mr Operation Wallah done in this House by the Justice Connolly as he then was. member for Broadwater, Mr Grice. I point to all Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I those things to show the context which gives remind the member that I have chosen my rise to the inescapable conclusion that this words very carefully, too, and I will not allow inquiry is politically motivated. the commissioner to be criticised in the House. I point also to the issue of timing, Mr FOLEY: Mr Deputy Speaker, I because this is not something which is the fruit understand your ruling and I make no criticism of some reflective process. This was brought personally of Mr Connolly. I do say, however, on without any budget provision, without any that it is not possible for bipartisan confidence planning made for it in the budget. It has been to be given to the appointment of a hard-line brought on early for what purpose? For a legal conservative to chair such an inquiry. I political purpose! That political purpose is in refer in this regard to the words of a legal part to set bush fires going at a time when Mr scholar who criticised the High Court for Borbidge and Mr Cooper expect to be making social policy and who insisted that that engulfed in an inferno upon the release of the was not the job of the court. That scholar Carruthers report, at a time when they are the stated— subject of investigation in respect of the hit list of public servants and also in an attempt to ". . . policy is better developed by inflame public opinion against the Criminal Parliament which, by design, is responsive Justice Commission in order to protect to the community." themselves from what they expect to be Those are the words of Mr Peter Connolly criticism of them from the Criminal Justice himself, and it demonstrates the wisdom of Commission in the Carruthers inquiry and in leaving these decisions to the Parliament and respect of any investigation of the disgraceful to the all-party parliamentary committee, for hit list of public servants. All of those are this inquiry has terms of reference so broad as matters of public record which point to a to descend into areas of policy, not simply law, political motive and to an indecent haste in and in that respect it is much better done 8 Oct 1996 Matters of Public Interest 3067 through an all-party parliamentary committee established as part of tenure conversions to than by the Executive using former members ensure Crown stewardship of key areas, of the judiciary to overhaul parliamentary represent a significant aid to future nature processes. This is a most unusual and conservation strategies. Even though there is politically tainted use of the royal commission a significant amount of goodwill for some power. people to enter into agreements of the type Time expired. that I have mentioned without reward, it is recognised that, for the system to be implemented extensively, there needs to be Voluntary Conservation Agreements some threshold incentive on some occasions. Many of these voluntary conservationists Mr CARROLL (Mansfield) (12.19 p.m.): believe that the execution of agreements of Today I want to mention as a matter of public this type will enhance the value of their land in interest the voluntary conservation the future and will protect the conservation agreements which can be entered into and enhancement work that they undertake. I between private landowners and levels of our believe that voluntary conservation Government to preserve land which has agreements will be a badge of approval and valuable flora and fauna and any remaining that these properties will be sought after by habitat for that fauna. I have diligently and people who really believe that that particular forthrightly examined issues appearing for the attractive land will be protected. three levels of government affecting Queenslanders and their wishes to conserve My interest in these agreements was worthwhile native flora and fauna in their inspired by an interest in the issues of how natural habitat. This is not easy when we strive best to conserve koala habitat. I have been to respect and minimise interference with the encouraged by some of my constituents who important rights of landowners to enjoy that have been very hardworking and very earnest land and their homes for which they have in their efforts to find a satisfactory resolution worked so hard. of what appears to be an intractable dispute. I will always do my best to assist people who I have spoken several times in this House are sincere and hardworking in an effort to on these issues and how they are handled in deal with big public issues. regard to the people of the electorate of Mansfield. Today I have the pleasure of As a forerunner to the possible congratulating the city council and our introduction of pro-active off-park conservation Government's Department of Environment on programs where financial incentives are significant steps taken last week towards provided to encourage people to enter into replacement of at least one acquisition VCAs, the Department of Environment is proposal with a plan to set in place a voluntary currently investigating two schemes. The first conservation agreement with the landowners. one is in the mulga lands, where applications It appears that there will be two agreements are currently being invited for land-holders to there to ensure that the Brisbane City Council enter into VCAs with financial assistance to and the State Government are satisfied that protect key types of habitat, for example, the landowners will be compliant with the long- riparian corridors, particularly endangered term conservation of these particular lands. ecosystems or known habitats of rare and threatened species. This has been made I know that the history of some of the possible with a $100,000 grant from the acquisition proposals has been heated and Australian Nature Conservation Agency. stressful. I hail the news that I received last week as a real breakthrough. I am confident The second scheme is a proposal that, in that both levels of Government here will reach areas such as where retention of mahogany valuable agreements with the landowners. I glider habitat is critical, to investigate the think that the conclusion of voluntary possibility of providing a short-term rebate to conservation agreements on these particular local government to adopt a differential rating lands in the electorate of Mansfield will scheme for areas protected as nature refuges. demonstrate the good faith of environment This would apply to specific targeted parcels of known mahogany glider or other key habitat. officers and advisers in both levels of Both of those examples—one dealing with the Government that I have mentioned. I believe it conservation requirements of a more will also be an interesting opportunity for some extensive particular type of landscape and the of the various conservation groups to show other with the specific habitat requirements of their sincerity. a particular species—will play a vital role in the Voluntary conservation agreements on development of integrated regional private lands, including areas that may be conservation strategies and will complement 3068 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 the development of a representative reserve viability of their farms through decreased soil system to protect the kind of biodiversity that I erosion, conservation of water and biological have mentioned. pest control. However, the benefits of land To date, two nature reserves have been protection measures accrue not only to the established, and another 30 are in the land-holders but also to the local community pipeline. I believe it is important that the and to the wider society, so there should be a debate and the public examination of the proper place for investment of at least some issues relevant to these be fully open and public funds in this resource for our future. honest. I have made comment on that aspect We cannot rely on national parks alone to of it before. If it is not, then the members of conserve that native flora and fauna which we the public will be unwilling to cooperate. The might think worthy of preservation. first nature reserve is the Berlin Scrub near Governments of all levels must proceed Laidley, which has been strongly supported by cautiously with Government-imposed the local council, which has offered a 100 per conservation measures. That is why I am very cent rate rebate for the area that has been pleased to acclaim the serious gazetted. This has been a far-sighted action commencement of a program of voluntary by that shire council to encourage conservation agreements in this State. Many conservation on private land. Although many national parks have become islands of natural ecosystems are conserved within the plants and animal communities within the protected area estate on Crown land, others broad regional landscape. Unfortunately, are not represented and occur only on wildlife knows no boundaries, so a broad-scale privately managed land. I am told that over conservation approach is the only effective two-thirds of Australia—approximately 500 way, if the majority of land-holders incorporate million hectares—is managed by private land- nature conservation objectives in the holders, so there is a need for a consistent management of their lands adjoining. This is and integrated approach to nature an area where our Government wants to work conservation on leasehold, freehold and by negotiation and agreement. I commend Crown lands. the Honourable the Minister, Brian Littleproud. It has become increasingly obvious that I know that, with his leadership, we shall have the protected area reserve system is not open and honest dealings. adequate if Australia is to retain current levels Time expired. of biodiversity and meet its obligations under the Biodiversity Convention. The National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENT) BILL Biological Diversity—Commonwealth of (No. 2) Australia 1996—recognises the need for APPROPRIATION BILL (No. 2) conservation of biodiversity on private land Committee (Cognate Debate) given that the threats to biodiversity extend Estimates Committee A across administrative and tenure boundaries. Report No. 1 That strategy notes the need for increasing The CHAIRMAN: Order! The question the standards of management and protection is— and also the levels of technical and financial assistance. The strategy seems to recognise "That Report No. 1 of Estimates the need to establish voluntary wildlife refuges Committee A be adopted." and to negotiate conservation agreements Mr HARPER (Mount Ommaney) and heritage agreements between owners, (12.30 p.m.): In rising to support Report No. 1 managers and Governments. These need to of Estimates Committee A, I am thankful to be backed up with sufficient resources, the Speaker and his staff for the manner in including trained facilitators, on at least a which they approached the whole process. I regional basis to assist in the implementation will touch briefly on a number of issues that I scheme. think are important to all members on both Apart from the National Strategy for the sides of the House. I take the point of view, as Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, I am sure do other members, that for us to do a number of other documents have reflected the job that we have to do we need support. It the need for nature conservation on private is through the funding provided through the land. Many rural land-holders and Appropriation (Parliament) Bill that we are able communities are aware that protecting to obtain that support. remnant vegetation and increasing the In regard to electorate offices, I am amount of natural or semi-natural habitat on pleased to see that the telephone systems will their farms can add to the long-term economic be addressed over this financial year. As one 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3069 who has severe problems with the telephone because of the things that have happened in his own electorate office, often having to and from an architectural perspective. That is dial four, five or six times to get a line out, I why I think that it is important that the can see that they well and truly need restoration continue. The matter of security is addressing. I believe that the funding for being addressed. That is of concern to all of computers in electorate offices for members us. I think the Speaker and the staff involved and their staff to operate is important. To in addressing those problems are to be function properly in this modern day we need commended for taking up that challenge. the relevant computer facilities and it is good I turn now to the issue of the televising of to see that that program is continuing. Part of Parliament. Quite a bit has been said about the key to the success of that program is in this. It is important to the people of training. That point needs to be stressed Queensland that Parliament is televised so strongly at all times. Proper training and that those who are interested can see what backup must be available and it is good to see happens here. However, we also have to be that that is being addressed. responsible in the way we spend taxpayers' As Chairman of the Public Accounts money and about who pays the major costs, Committee, I was pleased to see the funding given that the—— of the committee system addressed. I believe Time expired. one of the strengths of the Queensland Parliament, especially as we do not have an Mr BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—Leader Upper House, is the continuing development of the Opposition) (12.35 p.m.): Members of our committee structure. That system would be aware that there is one dissenting serves a very important role. That role will point made by Opposition members of continue to grow in importance as it has a very Estimates Committee A. That appears on important place in our democracy in page 8. We indicate that non-Government Queensland. It is good to see that the members would view with the utmost concern committees have been given the necessary any attempt to make savings at the expense funding to allow them to carry out their very of the important program of televising important role. Parliament, which we consider to be essential to maintaining an accountable Parliament. We Another area of importance to all would oppose vigorously any attempt to members is the Parliamentary Library. I was downgrade the televising of this Parliament. It pleased to hear the words "user friendly" used is one of the most important aspects of a when discussing funding and initiatives in the parliamentary process that the people have a library. Members will continue to receive great chance to see not only their members perform support from the library staff, and they will be but also to see that the Government of the concentrating on developing user friendly day is accountable. systems. We are very disappointed at the very As to information technology—I specify partisan way that the Government pursued the the importance of electronic publishing. In this non-televising of the procedures of the day and age, more and more information is Estimates committees. Bearing in mind that available to people no matter in what Parliament is televised, it seems only endeavour they may be involved. In our appropriate that the Estimates committees endeavours, when one considers the amount should also have been televised. Our of paperwork that flows across our tables and resolution, which is recorded in Hansard on comes in the mailbox each day, one can see page 13, indicates that our resolution to have the need to try to cut down on the use of Estimates Committee A televised was paper and unnecessary publication. Using defeated along party lines. I think that is a electronic publishing, we can select the shame. It is disappointing. I hope that next information we need rather than printing out year the Government will reconsider its everything. I think that is great. It is to the position and enable the full televising of the credit of the Speaker that electronic Estimates committees. I understand that there publishing, Internet and information was a desire to hide the Treasurer because of technology initiatives will be concentrated on. her poor performances, particularly in relation As one who thinks, and always has to tax; however, I do not believe that the thought, that this a beautiful building, I believe Treasurer's poor performance warrants the that the continuation of the restoration of non-televising of the Estimates committees. Parliament House is very important. I rate this It is important to refer to an answer the as one of the most important buildings for the Speaker gave to a question I raised in relation people of Queensland. It is part of our history, to where the Opposition office is located and 3070 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 to whom it is accountable. I note for the record In terms of other matters, I place on that, in his response to my question, the record my thanks to the Parliament—to Speaker felt that the office should be put Hansard, to the support staff, the kitchen staff, under the Parliament. I have no problem with the various attendants and security—who do that. I indicate to the Speaker and the Premier an excellent job and who work incredibly hard, that we need to resolve this issue. There is no often under very difficult circumstances. I point having part of the Opposition office include the library and the parliamentary under the Parliament and part under the committees—all sectors of this Parliament— Office of the Premier. That is a ludicrous, who I believe serve the members with unacceptable state of affairs, which, as the distinction and commitment. I said that to the Premier would know from the former position Speaker and I say so this afternoon in this he held as Leader of the Opposition, is a crazy debate. situation in anyone's language. I am happy to Mr SPRINGBORG (Warwick) accept the Speaker's proposal or, if the (12.40 p.m.): In joining to participate in this Premier wishes, the Opposition office could be debate on the Estimates for the Parliament, I totally under the Premier's office. Owing to the would certainly like to place on record my need for the Opposition to be seen to be thanks to the Speaker for his cooperation. I separate, I suspect that the Speaker's think the Speaker has done a great job in proposal is perhaps the most sensible option standing up for the rights of members of for us to consider. I thank him for that Parliament. In the time that he has been response to my question. Speaker, he has taken up with a great deal of However, in terms of accountability, I have gusto some issues that have been of concern no difficulty in the full accounts of the to members of Parliament. I also note those Opposition office being tabled in this other little things around the place which have Parliament under the auspices of the Speaker been made to improve the general in a procedural way. It should be done in the atmosphere of the Parliament, and I refer to same way as the accounts of a Minister's the placement of plants and tables around office to ensure full accountability. I have no Parliament House. That has certainly lifted the problem with that. I know that the hybrid appearance of this place, and I congratulate situation as it exists now causes enormous the Speaker on that. difficulties for my staff and for the Opposition I would like to thank the committee staff, in terms of the effectiveness of its operation. I particularly Kerryn and Sandy, who did an would have thought that the Premier would excellent job. The chairman of the committee have understood that because he went touched briefly on that matter when he spoke through the same process. I think we can earlier on. Certainly, they did a great deal and improve that dramatically. they were of invaluable assistance to our I raised the issue of witnesses appearing committee. I know that the members of the before the Estimates committees. Under the Opposition who participated in the committee current Standing Orders, Estimates share that sentiment. I would also like to thank committees request the appearance of public all of the staff of Parliament House, whether servants before them. I think that, if a request they be in catering, Hansard, the library, is made and an officer does not security staff, or parliamentary staff, for the appear—which occurred before Estimates wonderful work that they do in keeping this Committee A—a full explanation should be Parliament up to a certain standard and provided as to why that is the case, otherwise providing various support services for we will reach a stage at which Estimates members of Parliament. committees will be treated with disdain and The Leader of the Opposition touched on disrespect. the Estimates committee process and referred Again, I place on record the need for that to a couple of matters which the committee issue to be considered by the Leader of the believes need to be reviewed next year. We House between now and next year. I am not felt that this process was in need of further about persecuting public servants or making review and further consideration next year. things difficult for them. I do not want to do The parliamentary Estimates committee that. However, I believe that if there is a process is an evolving process and it would be legitimate question to be asked and the very unfair to say that there would be any year committee has made a unanimous decision to by which we could say that we have perfected request someone to attend—which is what it. Certainly this year innovations were happened in relation to Estimates introduced, such as questions on notice, which Committee A—then that person should provided a further opportunity to open up the appear. process and to allow further scrutiny. However, 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3071 the committee believes that there is a need to which is members' travel. I am on record in this look at issues such as the appearance of Parliament, and again today I will go on record witnesses at committee hearings, the number in this Parliament, as saying that members of of questions taken on notice—and this year Parliament should be able to travel that was basically broken down to 10 each for internationally. We have the one pool of Government and Opposition members—and money—and I am not advocating an increase the process of taking questions on notice in that pool of money—and we should be able during the committee hearing. to travel further to be able to expand our As well, the committee believed that—and knowledge on issues. Certainly, all of that this matter relates particularly to those knowledge cannot be obtained in Papua New committees which are sitting earlier on—the Guinea, New Zealand or Australia. time between the introduction of the Budget Time expired. and the Estimates committee process could be extended by another week or another few Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich) days. The committee believes that such an (12.45 p.m.): I am pleased to join the debate extension of time would be invaluable to on the Estimates committee report and Estimates Committee A in that it would allow particularly to raise a number of issues that I members of that committee more time during consider to be very important and that were which they could prepare questions. raised in the evidence given by the Speaker. I would just like to touch on a couple of I want to revisit the comments of the issues, which I believe are going to benefit Leader of the Opposition with respect to the members of Parliament next year. Certainly, televising of Parliament. I refer particularly to one issue is the commitment of this the evidence that was given to the committee Government, as per the recommendations of that, in the Budget process, it appeared that EARC, to establish five new electorate offices that was one area which may well have been in those major electorates which are over the victim of a budgetary pruning back. There 100,000 square kilometres in area. That will be was a move by the Government to seek to a great service to those members of reduce the funding which might have been Parliament who represent those electorates. available to facilitate the televising of Mr Johnson: We'll see a difference in Parliament. I think the offsetting area was the those electorates. restoration program of Parliament House, particularly the stone restoration work. I made Mr SPRINGBORG: Certainly that helps the point in the Estimates committee hearing, those members of Parliament to do their job and I will make it again today, that both the and to respond to the very important needs of televising of Parliament and the stone their constituents. restoration work are important programs; one Electorate office photocopiers is another should not be offset against the other. issue which, for a while, has been a festering sore. I note that some time ago the If we cannot provide properly for the honourable member for Bulimba said that a maintenance of what is—and I will use the couple of times during the day his photocopier words of the member for Mount Ommaney— had a kindy nap. However, I think that it is fair one of the most significant structures in this to say that, after the passing of this Budget, State and one of the most important public we are going to see a major improvement in buildings in this State, we are being negligent. the quality of those photocopiers. I believe Consequently, the restoration and proper that we are going to have machines that will maintenance of the fabric of this building is be much faster and machines that will be able very important and it should not be offset to collate and staple. For a long period, the against other important programs such as the electorate secretaries of members of televising of Parliament. That program is Parliament stood over photocopiers important—indeed, vital—in terms of photocopying one page at a time. The maintaining the accountability of the machines are not very fast, and they break Parliament and being able to ensure that our down. There is going to be a staged process constituents are able to see what is going on of replacing those machines and also the in their Parliament. facsimile machines. I believe that the televising process ought I would also like to congratulate the to have been extended to the hearings of the Speaker on the review of the Members' Estimates committees. From recollection, one Salaries, Allowances and Services Handbook, committee resolved to have its proceedings which I believe is overdue. A number of issues televised; other committees did not. It would have to be addressed in that regard, one of have been far preferable to have all 3072 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 committees open and accountable through notice prior to the hearing. There should also the televising of their proceedings. be a preparedness, as there was with most Ms Spence: The Independent member Ministers and, indeed, Mr Speaker, to take of Parliament changed her mind. questions on notice that were requested in good faith on the day. Mr HAMILL: I take that interjection from the honourable member for Mount Gravatt. As I also endorse the points made by my I recall, the initial decision was that one colleague, the member for Warwick, in relation committee was going to allow in the cameras to the timing of the Estimates committee but the Independent member changed her process. By pushing the Budget's presentation mind. That is a tragedy because it detracted and the Estimates committee process close from the accountability of the process. together, it makes it difficult to do the job properly. I wish to make other points in relation to the services provided to this House. I, too, Mr GRICE (Broadwater) (12.51 p.m.): I wish to add my name to those who have touch briefly on the matter of televising offered congratulations to those who provide committee hearings. It is apparent that the support services to the Parliament. Given the Leader of the Opposition is eager to tread the Government's professed agenda to stage in front of the television cameras as outsourcing and privatising Government much as possible. services, we were concerned that the same Mr Beattie interjected. spectre was looming in front of the Parliament. Mr GRICE: Probably, there was some Mr Speaker, I say to you to continue your fight disappointment. I think the honourable against those forces who would want to member's book had a very small print rate. It outsource services such as catering, security did not get too far. and maintenance. The parliamentary staff provide a sterling service to the Parliament Mr Beattie: It sold out. and I believe that the services provided are Mr GRICE: It had the member's face done efficiently and cost effectively. There is across the front, so I thought that that was nothing to be gained and much to be lost if why he might have been a little disappointed. that privatisation agenda is allowed to run That is why he loves to tread the boards and rampant in this place. act so much. Mr Speaker: I totally agree with you. Every one of us would have been pleased Mr HAMILL: Mr Speaker, I know you do that Committee G was not televised. The and I thank you for your interjection. The other members for Capalaba and Mount Coot-tha issues that I want to canvass are those set out put on a disgraceful performance. The on page 7 of the report. The Leader of the committee system is not, and will never be, Opposition has canvassed the issue of the served by that sort of bullying nonsense. I was appearance of witnesses. The witness whose in the House and I saw—— failure to appear which certainly concerned us The CHAIRMAN: I remind the was the witness, Ms Armstrong, who was honourable member that Report No. 1 is being advised of the committee's request that she debated at this time. That committee's report appear. The whole committee requested that can be debated, at some length, later. she appear. The Premier's Department Mr GRICE: I was just making a passing advised us that she would be appearing, but comment about television. she did not turn up on the day. If it is going to be the practice of the Government to override Mr Beattie: We can talk about it later. the wishes of committee members, that will Mr GRICE: We certainly can talk about it undermine the Estimates committee process. later. I endorse the comments that have been There seems to be a need for a little made about Mr Speaker. In doing so, I do not education to be delivered to some Ministers as mean to in any way denigrate the previous to how the process of questioning can be Speaker, who I think had the ideals of this conducted, particularly with regard to Parliament at heart, although perhaps he did questions on notice. The Treasurer, for one, not have the same support of his Cabinet as seemed to think that unlimited questions could the current Speaker has. The Speaker's be placed on notice and, therefore, that she attitude to this place is completely appropriate did not have to answer questions on the day. I and I hope it carries on with whomever is the think that was unfortunate. It must be Speaker in this State. His general touch recognised that there are limitations placed on around the place—— the committees' ability to put questions on Mr Veivers interjected. 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3073

Mr GRICE: He is the right bloke to crawl find the other increases in the Speaker's Office to, of course! For example, he has chosen not budget far less palatable. to treat smokers as lepers. The Speaker's expenditure for gifts has All parliamentary staff did a great job. increased from $500 to $5,000 in one year. I Hansard has an incredible job and does it do not know how many Queenslanders have extraordinarily well. The catering staff and all ever received a gift from the Queensland the people who help us to do our job deserve Speaker, and they may well question where nothing but the highest credit from us all. We this money goes. can overlook these people so easily because The Speaker's expenses for air fares have they do their jobs so well that they almost climbed from $15,000 to $18,500 this blend into the background. We do a difficult year—and this is for air fares only, for only one job and it is made a lot easier by the support person. This does not include the travel we receive. allowances, hotel costs and so on which Mr I repeat comments that I have made to Speaker undoubtedly incurs when he travels the Government about the extra assistance overseas. I think $18,500 is an extraordinary that is needed in electorate offices. That issue amount for air fares for a person whose office was addressed by the Speaker. He has does not require him to consult a constituency achieved an enormous feat, I believe, in or make policy in this State. having his budget increased by approximately While the Speaker of the Parliament has 6.9 per cent. He is also keen to offer a Rolls Royce budget for air fares, the assistance to backbench electorate officers Queensland Liberal/National Government has and Opposition electorate officers. I am sure pulled money from employment programs, that if he has as much success with the reduced funding for public housing and budget next year, that will occur. Other issues, reduced the budgets for child-care and some of which have been touched on and domestic violence programs. That shows some not, include the updating of electorate where the priorities of this Government lie. offices and equipment—telephones, as has What other increases have been provided been touched on, Internet access to the to the Speaker's Office? The clothing Parliamentary Library, and software upgrades allowance drew my attention. Do we not all which is an ongoing process. Very recently I wish we had one? The Speaker receives was pleased to see that a glitch in the new $1,800 a year to spend on clothes—terrific! I system, whereby its capacity was not am reliably informed that the Speaker was sufficient, has been very quickly corrected. I able to buy nine shirts and two suits with his think that ongoing support is something that new clothing allowance. I expect that many we all should be very thankful for. I support the Queenslanders sitting at home having been motion. made redundant by this Government would Ms SPENCE (Mount Gravatt) indeed be very envious and question how their (12.55 p.m.): At a time when conservative taxpayers' money was being spent. Governments in this country exhort us all to I applaud some of the other spending tighten our belts, take some pain and initiatives in this budget. The upgrading of eliminate waste, the Queensland Parliament is hardware and software in electorate offices not prepared to live up to its own rhetoric. I and the training of electorate officers are refer specifically to the increases in welcomed and, indeed, needed. I remind the expenditure in the Speaker's Office, where House that the upgrading of electorate offices there is no evidence of the restraint requested began under the Goss Labor Government. of the rest of the population. We inherited appalling electorate offices and I We see increases in printing from $2,000 am pleased to see that the new Speaker is to $5,000, an increase in computer equipment carrying on the tradition set by his to $5,000 and an increase in office equipment predecessors. Other initiatives, such as the to $3,000, all of which are solely for the review of the members handbook and the Speaker's Office. I expect that backbenchers creation of our own botanical promenade in in this Parliament who are currently putting up the corridors of the Parliament House, are with out-of-date, barely adequate photocopiers appreciated by the members of this can understand the Speaker's desire to establishment. upgrade the Speaker's Office, and indeed What is not appreciated around this they appreciate the funds allocated in this Parliament is the behaviour of the Speaker's budget to upgrade the equipment in driver/assistant, Mr Choveaux, the young man electorate offices. However, I believe that who was discredited by the Carter commission members of Parliament and the general public of inquiry and described as untruthful, 3074 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 immature, arrogant and so on. The honourable member for Mount Gravatt raise Queensland taxpayers paid a high price to get the fact that the current Speaker had a budget a person of this calibre in their employ. The for gifts of $5,000? previous Speaker's driver was given a There was a $5,000 increase in the voluntary early redundancy. Indeed, budget for computer equipment due to Queensland taxpayers paid $248,815 in VERs planned periodic replacement and upgrading for staff from this place so that the of existing computer equipment. Also, the Government could put its own people into the budget for office equipment increased by positions it wanted them to hold. My $3,000 to accommodate the replacement of a colleagues and I do not believe that a person facsimile machine, which, of course, is a such as Mr Choveaux should have a position periodic replacement. The budget for air travel which virtually gives him free rein in this place. of $18,500 increased from $15,000 to cover Many young women who work in this one overseas and two domestic flights. parliamentary complex have complained to Traditionally, all incoming Speakers visit me about this man—— Westminster. In 1993-94, the then Speaker Time expired. spent money on overseas travel. However, no- Sitting suspended from 1 to 2.30 p.m. one seems too concerned about that. There was expenditure of $10,000 on a trip to The CHAIRMAN: Order! I call the Cyprus and $3,000 was expended in respect honourable member for Cunningham. of other presiding officers. Also, travel to Mr LIVINGSTONE: Mr Chairman, I rise Darwin at a cost of $4,000 was undertaken by to a point of order. I draw your attention to the the then Speaker and his wife, something state of the Chamber. which he was perfectly entitled to. No-one is Quorum formed. arguing that point. There were also trips to South Africa, Perth and Melbourne at a cost of Mr ELLIOTT (Cunningham) (2.31 p.m.): $12,095.96. I find it quite amazing that such Prior to the luncheon recess, I was rather issues were raised by the member opposite. disappointed by the attack by the member for Mount Gravatt on the Speaker and her claim What economic geniuses ALP members that he spends a lot of money. In all of my 21 are! I find it hard to imagine why the years in this place, I have never attacked the honourable member for Mount Gravatt would Speaker. That the member stooped to that attack the Speaker over minuscule increases level is disappointing. Obviously, the Speaker in the budget, yet other ALP members have is not in the position of being able to refute called for the Speaker's budget to be those claims. Although I would not normally increased by $400,000 to provide television offer a response to such comments, I feel they coverage of Parliament. In addition, there should not go unchallenged. What I am about would be $50,000 a year in ongoing costs to to say is not motivated by any feelings that I administer that novel scheme. Currently, the have towards other members of Parliament. In television stations are allowed to televise the all fairness, these issues should not have Parliament, and it is not costing us a cent. been raised in the first place. However, given What is the honourable member's rationale? It that they have been raised, and in the is little wonder that the ALP Government, interests of a balanced debate, both sides of whenever it has been in Government, has the case have to be put. always managed to destroy the economy. I do not know whether the honourable member for I found it incredible that the member for Mount Gravatt is in the habit of reading. Mount Gravatt canvassed these issues. The However, I venture to say that she ought to honourable member referred to an amount of read How to Win Friends and Influence $5,000 in the Speaker's budget for gifts. All People. members who have been here for some time would realise that Speakers have a certain role Time expired. to fulfil. Most of the members who have Hon. J. FOURAS (Ashgrove) served in the high office of Speaker have (2.36 p.m.): All honourable members would done so in a very dignified way. At times, realise how well we are looked after in this Speakers are expected to give gifts to people. place. The service provided by catering, That is why that item is in the budget. Without security, gardening, library, Hansard and wanting to cast aspersions on the previous corporate services officers is given without fear Speaker, I draw the attention of honourable or favour and in the true spirit of the members to the spending on gifts by the Parliament. I commence my speech by saying previous Speaker. In 1991, the then Speaker that parliamentary officers do a very good job. spent $6,831 on gifts. Why would the I am quite happy to go on record as saying 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3075 that they will continue to do a good job. minuscule amount. The money was there. Parliamentary officers have to deal with There has been a suggestion that that money members on both sides of the political fence. was required for stonework restoration. That Governments change, but members are well program will be undertaken over 15 years. I looked after in this place irrespective of politics. would not be impressed by any suggestion I have two concerns to raise. We should that Treasury would require that the money for congratulate the Speaker on finding money for the stonework would be taken from the budget the telephone system. Spectrum Gold is an for televising Parliament. I suggest that the initiative that I would have introduced this year Speaker look at that issue. were I still Speaker, because it was time for Another issue of concern is the fact that that change to be made. Similarly, concerns $248,000 was paid out for redundancies. I am were expressed to me by members about aware that two of those redundancies involved photocopiers not working. The ongoing people who left this place to work as ministerial program of replacing out-of-date equipment is staff, and then the change of Government being continued, and I give credit to the occurred. We should be very careful about Speaker for that. such matters. I do not believe that the I am concerned about the issue of Parliament should pay for those who go to televising Parliament. Although members on departments and then come back to us. this side of the Chamber have spoken about Another case was the job-sharing this issue already, I specifically wish to speak arrangement that existed in my office. I can about it. With respect, I beg to differ from the understand the Speaker not wanting his Speaker's approach to the issue. There is assistant to be employed under a job-sharing always a position for more than one view on arrangement. The other point that concerns issues such as this one. I noted during the me is that we got rid of the Clerk Estimates committee hearing that a couple of Assistant—Committees. We paid a big processes were involved with respect to this redundancy in that case. Then there was the issue. Firstly, there was an allocation of money decision that I believe was taken off the cuff to in the mid-year budget review in 1996 of remove the Deputy Clerk. In my view that was $354,000 to televise Parliament. That amount a bad decision. I thought she was a visionary. would have provided for fixed cameras, a I thought she was an assertive and intelligent computer room and an operator to press the lady. Her problem was that she was a woman. buttons. The member for Mulgrave is listening There is also the case of the Speaker's driver. attentively. For example, under the proposed In many ways, we should be careful about the televising system, the camera would pan and expenditure on redundancies. I believe that then her face would appear on the television we paid a lot of money for unnecessary screen together with the words "honourable redundancies. member for Mulgrave" at the bottom of the Time expired. screen. That could have been achieved at the push a button. That would have removed the Mr STEPHAN (Gympie) (2.41 p.m.): It need to have idle cameras. After a three-year gives me pleasure to join the debate on the review, the Western Australian Parliament, Estimates for the Legislative Assembly. I want which has two Houses, is implementing that to highlight a couple of aspects that I feel are system and is spending over $1.2m on it. That of importance. Parliament feels that it is worth while, and it The Education and Protocol section of the has less money than we have. report notes the Parliamentary Internship My experience from talking to other Program, which aims to give university Speakers is that there is always a very big students first-hand appreciation of the danger in having cameras being operated by relationship between political practice and people who are not employed by the theory. That brings to mind the school children Parliament. The member for Ipswich said of all ages who visit this place. When I see before that we should not outsource them looking down from the balcony, I wonder parliamentary services. We are very careful just what they think of the vigorous debate about keeping catering and even Hansard that occurs here—the interjections and so under our control. There was some movement on—when they compare it with what they are to bring outsiders in to do the work of Hansard. allowed to do at school. From time to time, I If we are not going to outsource those hear fairly derogatory comments from school services, I think it is just as important to the children about the behaviour of members of Parliament that we own the video footage of Parliament. It is one thing to have a theory, Parliament. It would cost about $30,000 a but it is another thing to see it in practice. In year for an operator and film. That is a this particular instance, the practice may not 3076 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 be what the students expect or admire. It Mr CAMPBELL (Bundaberg) behoves all of us to bear that in mind. (2.46 p.m.): It is with pleasure that I join the Another aspect of the report that I have debate on the parliamentary Estimates. In been involved with recently is the common with other members, I want to give Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. It thanks for all the services that are provided was my pleasure to attend a CPA conference around the Parliament. They are provided very in the last couple of weeks and to be part of well. I also want to acknowledge the savings the discussion with members from New that have been made in many departments of Zealand, the rest of Australia and the Pacific the Parliament, especially Hansard and Rim. At present, not one New Zealand catering. I know that during the time of the member is feeling comfortable about his or her previous Speaker major savings were made. position. That country has just introduced a We should acknowledge the work that has new electoral process, and there is a great been done in this regard. deal of doubt as to who will be representing One area in which further savings may be the people in the next three or four years. made was identified in the transcript of the Many of the sitting members to whom I spoke hearing of Estimates Committee A. It was were very concerned about the instability that highlighted in reply to a question from Peter the new process has created. However, the Beattie concerning red tape. I know that a decision was taken to adopt the new system, review of the handbook is to be undertaken in and it is one that the rest of us will be able to an effort to reduce red tape. As Mr Bob Fick learn from. Perhaps it will work out well and we said during the hearing, the accounting will be able to say, "We can do that, too." On procedures we have are often simply a waste the other hand, bearing in mind that it will be of time. We must formulate a better system very difficult for one particular party to win that is more effective and efficient. I seek to Government in New Zealand, it is one that we have incorporated in Hansard a table that should examine closely. shows the 28 steps it presently takes to have I turn now to the parliamentary committee a $7 taxi voucher accounted for through system. It is relatively new to this Parliament. Parliament. The former Subordinate Legislation Leave granted. Committee goes back quite some time, and One seven dollar taxi fare—electorate office to some of the other committees have been airport for travel to Parliament: around since 1988-89. During its time the 1. Member signs taxi docket in taxi. Subordination Legislation Committee played a very important role in the legislative process. It 2. Taxi docket (invoice) sent in monthly account. was established to ensure that what is legislated is in fact what is put in place. It 3. Account sent to electorate office— succeeded in that aim. In the past we saw account collected from post office. many instances of Henry VIII clauses and the 4. Electorate Officer opens account— late notification of Government regulations in sorts—puts into Member's in-tray. the Gazette. Because of the late notification of 5. Member checks invoices—approves— a regulation in the Gazette, even though puts in out-tray. someone may have paid a particular fee, that 6. Electorate Officer collects—types letter transaction may not have been legal. As a and envelope for Member—puts in Parliament we have been lucky enough not to Member's in-tray. have been faced with that type of situation. 7. Member signs letter—puts in out-tray. Of course, the Scrutiny of Legislation 8. Electorate Officer collects. Puts letter and Committee now performs the role of the invoice in envelope, puts stamp on Subordinate Legislation Committee. I note the envelope, records in postage book, appearance of the following statements in the posts/also account paid to taxi company. committee's Alert Digest: the committee 9. Letter received at Parliament House. thanked the Minister for the response to a 10. Letter sorted—sent to Accounts. concern that it had in one particular area; the 11. Accounts Section distributes to committee referred a certain matter to the appropriate officer. Parliament for its consideration; the committee thanked the Minister for undertaking to 12. Officer photocopies invoice and attaches introduce an appropriate amendment. These travel form. are three items that I have picked out that are 13. Officer files invoice. of importance. 14. Officer sends photocopied invoice and Time expired. travel form to dispatch. 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3077

15. Dispatch generates envelope, stamps and be fair in what is being done. A couple of places in mail box. years ago, a $3,000 allowance was given to 16. Electorate Officer collects mail, sorts, and members. Some people got a mobile phone; places on Member's desk. others did not. Others decided to buy paper 17. Member authorises expenditure on travel shredders. What happened last year? It was form and puts in out-tray. decided that everybody got a mobile phone. 18. Electorate Officer collects, addresses But we did not turn around and ensure that envelope, stamps, records in postage everyone had a paper shredder. Those types book, and posts. of things should be equated to make certain that the same facilities are provided in all 19. Parliamentary office sorts mail. offices. At present, there is an anomaly in that 20. Photocopied invoice and travel form sent regard. to Accounts Section. Another matter I wish to raise about the 21. Accounts collects original invoice, review of the Members' Salaries, Allowances matches with travel form, and approves payment. and Services Handbook is one that country members should be considering. This is the 22. Paperwork sent to appropriate officer for only Parliament I know that does not provide generation of payment voucher. for an allowance to cover for other costs that 23. Cheque and voucher generated and members from a country area incur when they approved for dispatch. come to Brisbane. That is one allowance that 24. Paperwork enveloped, stamped and was taken away; it is one anomaly that has forwarded to Member. not been fixed up. I think that is important. 25. Electorate Officer collects mail, sorts, puts Mr Stoneman: You took that away. on Member's desk. Mr CAMPBELL: Yes, I know. I was very 26. Member deposits in electorate account. disappointed that it was taken away; it should 27. Cheque credited, balanced and reconciled not have been. with Parliament bank statement. I found it interesting that the big cost 28. All paperwork filed for Auditor. increases of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Mr CAMPBELL: This table identified Association have gone towards looking after some red tape that could be reduced. We visiting delegations. I wonder why this could consider providing something like a Parliament does not send delegations to other global budget for members. The report on the areas on reciprocal visits. Parliament reveals that 12,000 vouchers are I also wish to mention security. I agree processed for the 89 members. We should be that perhaps we have to have better security looking at some way of reducing that amount and that something should be done, but we of paperwork and allowing the members must not forget that the Annexe is the home themselves to undertake that responsibility. of members for the time that they are here. There are ways of achieving that. We cannot put in so much security that it In reading through the transcript, I noted makes it uncomfortable for members and their the work that needs to be done on Parliament families to be in the Annexe. We have to House and the Parliamentary Annexe. I think ensure that we do not go overboard in that that is very important. The stone work needs way. to be done, and it should be done fairly I would also like to mention internships. urgently. There is also work to be done on the That has been a very good initiative. I know Annexe. People driving on the riverside that the previous Speaker was also involved in expressway will note that the Annexe looks taking on university students to do internships quite dirty. A major need exists to go up there here. I think that could do only good for the and reclean it. whole Parliament. Mr Gibbs: It's the talking point of Dr WATSON (Moggill) (2.51 p.m.): It is Brisbane. with pleasure that I enter the debate today on Mr CAMPBELL: I think it is something Estimates Committee A, Report No. 1 on the we should be proud of. That building has been parliamentary appropriations. Can I begin by there for 20 years. That refurbishment needs congratulating the Speaker on—— to be undertaken. I support the work that is Mr Speaker: You can. being done in that regard. Dr WATSON: I thought I probably could. I turn to the major new initiatives section I would like to congratulate him on improving of the report. When we are looking at the ambience of the parliamentary precincts. It improvements to electorate offices, we should is important that we have a bit of pride in the 3078 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 institution and the place in which the I think it was the Whip who suggested Parliament is conducted, and I think it is earlier that we ought to be looking at how we appropriate that a small amount of funds be spend our travel money because, as members devoted to those causes. In doing so, I also of Parliament, if we are doing our job properly, pay tribute to the staff of the Parliament. if we are spending our travel allowance to Certainly in my time as a member of a number educate ourselves and to improve our of committees of this Parliament, the performance in Parliament and in discussing committee staff have supported all members legislation, then as a Parliament we should be of Parliament on both sides of the House to willing to ensure that members increase the the best of their abilities and with no hint of perspectives they bring to the Parliament, and political bias at all. I would like to congratulate we can do that by interacting with people of them on the way that they conduct their different viewpoints from everywhere. affairs. Given that there are a couple of I was a little surprised—and I am glad the parliamentary staff here in the Chamber, I will member is in the Chamber to hear this—by not embarrass them any further by referring to the Leader of the Opposition's concern about their performance, but I will say that we are the non-televising of the Estimates well served by the staff at Parliament House. committees. From the part of the Treasury I would also like to follow up briefly on a estimates that I saw, I would have thought he couple of matters raised by the member for would have been glad about that because at Bundaberg. On previous occasions, he and I one stage I almost wanted to write some have spoken about some of the issues he questions for him so that he could ask the raised. I agree with him that, in reaction to the Treasurer some better questions. I think the problems that occurred in the past, or were standard of the questioning in that area was assumed to have occurred in the extremely poor. He was well-served by the fact past—certainly reaction to reports from the that the committee was not being televised to CJC—we have gone overboard in the a wider audience. administrative processes adopted in the Time expired. Parliament. His suggestion of having a global budget for members of Parliament or some Mr J. H. SULLIVAN (Caboolture) other way of addressing the allocation of funds (2.57 p.m.): As I rise, let me say that it for members to carry out their legitimate surprises me somewhat that this Parliament business as a member of Parliament deserves has not got enough guts to stand up for itself investigation to see whether or not we can to say something critical about the budget improve the efficiency of the administrative allocation given to the Parliament. The process while in no way diminishing the transcript of proceedings by Hansard has the accountability of members of Parliament for Speaker saying that in his view there is the expenditure of their money. something that definitely needs to be done but that he does not have the money to do it. Mr J. H. Sullivan: The tax man is as That something is the provision of second accountable as you can get. electorate officers for our offices. I believe the Dr WATSON: I agree with the member question was asked of him by Mr Grice. This for Caboolture. We all have to file our returns issue has been around this Parliament for a for the Tax Department. Irrespective of what long, long time. Many of us would admit both we do, we have to account for what we do publicly and privately that our electorate there. That is certainly a fairly rigorous officers are overworked. accountability process. Mr McGrady: What's wrong with the I also wish to refer to a couple of items in system? the report. Firstly, let me refer to CPA Mr J. H. SULLIVAN: I acknowledge expenditure. Having just returned from a CPA the interjection of the member for Mount Isa. I conference, I think it is important that, if we are believe that the advancements that were going to be part of the Commonwealth, we do made for those members sitting in the larger participate in Commonwealth proceedings. electorates were good advancements and I There is a significant benefit for members of would say that it is probably likely, despite the this Parliament in hosting delegations from addition of a second office in his electorate, other parliaments as well as going overseas or that his electorate officer in Mount Isa could elsewhere in Australia. We expand our do with some paid assistance rather than horizons by interacting with people perhaps having the member's wife come in on a with different viewpoints and, by doing so, that voluntary basis. I know that the member's wife improves the decision making and the has done that for the seven years that he has parliamentary process. been in this Parliament because this 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3079

Parliament is not providing well enough for his Report No. 2 electorate. The CHAIRMAN: The question is— Mrs McCauley: He's got a wife to do it, "That Report No. 2 of Estimates my wife won't do it. Committee A be adopted." Mr J. H. SULLIVAN: I am happy to Mr HARPER (Mount Ommaney) acknowledge that the member for Callide has (3.01 p.m.): Once again it is a pleasure to rise a wife. Having said that, I think it is important to speak to Report No. 2. For the first time that at some stage in our history, we have got since their implementation, Estimates the guts as a Parliament to stand up to those committee hearings were widened to allow people who are providing budgets for this greater scrutiny of Ministers and senior place and say that we, as members of departmental staff. As I said earlier today, the Parliament of all political persuasions, insist process of the committees is obviously an that this Parliament be given the funding to evolving process. I make that comment provide for this job because, after all, our bearing well in mind that I am a new member principal purpose is out there in our and that this is the first time I have participated electorates. in the Estimates process. However, I am one The second issue I would like to raise of those who, in previous years, have sat in about committees has already been raised by the gallery and watched the process. So I can the honourable member for Gympie, but I make that comment having observed the would like to take it one step further. I was practice in previous years and seen the somewhat distressed to read in the report the process evolve. I reiterate my statement from boast of the committee that the Scrutiny of this morning, when I said that the committee Legislation Committee was to receive a casual system—be it Estimates committees or our position at the AO4 level part-time as a statutory committees—is a very important consequence of a request from that process within our democratic life here in committee. Over a period of time and through Queensland. I make the observation that, various methods, that committee has told this from a lot of the questions that were asked Parliament—and Governments of both during the Estimates committee process, persuasions—of its requirements for staffing. especially during this section of Estimates Just so that it is on the record, I lay upon the Committee A's hearing on the Tuesday, I felt table of the House a table that shows the that non-Government members did not look at staffing requirements suggested for the the broader picture but certainly homed in on Committee of Scrutiny of Legislation in two some very minor matters, which might be reports of EARC, one report of the regarded as nitpicking, rather than worrying parliamentary committee and by the about the total process for the State. parliamentary officers themselves in a report to I want to speak specifically to a few Cabinet. As a consequence of this new move, issues. In regard to the Audit Office—issues the current level of staffing will be a part-time were raised as to the independence of the legal consultant, a research director, a Auditor-General. I remind all members that the research officer, a part-time research independence of the Auditor-General is officer/administrative assistant and an safeguarded by the provisions of the Financial administrative officer. That falls way short of Administration and Audit Act 1977. I believe the resources this committee should have. that the Auditor-General's role is quite clearly Members of the Cabinet have stood in set out there. His independence, which is also this Parliament and suggested that, on clearly set out there, is safeguarded by that occasions, the Scrutiny of Legislation Act and his ability to report back at any time to Committee has been somewhat lax in its this Parliament on any matter that is of determination of matters that come before it. concern to him. This should be borne in mind This is a direct result of the lack of resources when members try to make assertions as to that this Parliament provides that committee. If his independence or otherwise. the Cabinet members want the committee to I wish to comment on the issue raised in be more precise in the time frames that are regard to funding for a commission of inquiry available to it, then they have to resource it into the CJC. I believe that the points raised in properly. The committee is not resourced relation to that are, in some ways, humbug. It properly in staff or in office space. does reflect some members' inability to grasp Time expired. the need for the CJC to be rejuvenated—to be Report adopted. refocused to its charter contained in the Criminal Justice Act 1989. Perhaps non- Clauses 1 to 4, as read, agreed to. Government members do not want the 3080 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996

Criminal Justice Commission to be retuned so Mr BEATTIE: I am delighted to hear the that it will be better and more efficient and Premier express his support for the fact that spend the money of Queensland taxpayers in the Opposition is supporting the Budget. We a better fashion. As was said this morning, the will be supporting the Budget, but we will be amount of money spent there must be examining each one of the broken promises, remembered—well over $100m in the last six each one of the increases in taxes and each years. I believe that the taxpayers are certainly one of the new taxes based on its merit. There saying to all of us—whether or not we admit is no reason why the Treasurer's slush fund, it—that they want to see value for money in which increased by $155m this year—from that sector. $104m to $259m—cannot be used to fund In regard to provision to the Opposition the $125m income which will come from these and the Opposition office—members would new taxes this year. I want to make it clear well remember the situation when the present that we are supporting the Budget. So we are Government was in Opposition and the voting for the Supply of this Government. legitimate concerns about resources which One of the things that concerns me were expressed in the much-talked-about greatly—and I referred to this during the EARC report. We raised those with the then Estimates process, and it was included in our Government, but it took very little action. I report—is that, on 12 September in this believe that the Premier and the Government Chamber, the member for Mansfield made should be applauded for the steps they have comments which suggested that the Auditor- taken in increasing resources and making sure General had been critical of the previous that the Opposition office is well and truly Labor Government. During the Estimates supported. It is certainly in a much better process, I raised those issues with the Auditor- position than it was in the past. General. I also raised them with him in correspondence. The Auditor-General has In regard to the Treasury aspect of the dismissed what the honourable member for committee hearing—one item that came up Mansfield said. I believe it is very important was the Treasurer's advance. The increase that we set the record straight so that there is from $104m to $259m has been much talked no possible doubt about the impartiality of the about. Obviously deliberately, the Opposition Auditor-General. In fact, the Auditor-General has failed to recognise the points that were said this— needed for that increase—the issues that are before the Government and which may well "I don't know why the member for arise within 12 months of this Budget and Mansfield read into that that by have to be met out of this Budget. A supporting the current Minister I was in responsible Government had to set those some way pouring buckets on the aside to ensure that they could be covered. previous Minister—that's just silly. It is not the truth of it at all." Time expired. In other words, the honourable member for Mr BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—Leader Mansfield not only misled the House but, in of the Opposition) (3.06 p.m.): At the the words of the Auditor-General, was silly. beginning of this debate, I indicate for the Mr Carroll: That's silly. record that the Opposition will be supporting the Government's Budget and its Mr BEATTIE: Does the honourable appropriations, not only in relation to these member think the Auditor-General is silly? The major areas but the rest of the appropriations member ought to read what he said. What he as well. So we will be voting for the said to the House was— Government's Budget. However, I make it very "Recently, I visited far-north clear that we will be examining each one of Queensland with the Auditor-General. He the new taxing measures on their merits—— explained to us on that trip, in a meeting Mr Hamill: The broken promises. with the community council chairpersons, the neglect of the Labor Government in Mr BEATTIE: The broken promises— that no guidance was given to community when they are introduced into the House a council chairpersons . . ." little later in this session, perhaps in November. So we will be supporting the That was fairly critical of the previous Budget. Government. The member has been exposed for being—in the words of the Auditor- Mr Borbidge: Budget measures—you General—silly. This is consistent with the sort vote against them, you vote against the of behaviour that members have seen him Budget. display in recent times. 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3081

During the Estimates process I asked the participated. I also express my appreciation to Treasurer whether she could give a the Leader of the Opposition and Opposition commitment that there would not be increases members for their bipartisan approach to the in taxes and charges in next year's Budget. matters of trade and investment. She refused to give that commitment. I say to I note that in this debate the Leader of all Queenslanders that they should brace the Opposition raised the issue of overseas themselves for more tax rises when the offices and the resourcing of overseas offices. Budget is brought down in May next year. That matter was addressed during the Queensland's status of being a low-tax State hearings of the Estimates committee, and he is being eroded by this Government. The asked a similar question of me. I did indicate National and Liberal Parties are demonstrating to him that the allocation for those offices was themselves to be high-taxing parties. We have not as much as we later found to be seen that from the seven new or increased necessary and that they were more expensive taxes. They are certainly not the National and than we had anticipated. However, I will say Liberal Parties of old, which would certainly not that we are reviewing that situation, and we have been supporting those high-taxing are looking for other avenues within our own positions. budget from which to cover an increased In relation to Queensland's new overseas service from those particular offices. However, offices, I am a little concerned that they are I certainly take on board the point that he is being established with only skeleton staff. The making about our not being able to provide Minister advised the committee that personnel to the degree that we would like. establishment costs for those offices had I also make the point that we are in the exceeded expectations. That is accepted, but process of opening three overseas offices we do need to make certain that they are additional to those that existed under the working effectively. previous Government. We have opened the I am concerned that the Government has office in Los Angeles, which everybody not properly funded the Ombudsman. He is realises is a very costly exercise. We have an unlikely to make substantial inroads into the office in Shanghai, which will be opened by backlog of 1,400 cases. I am concerned to the Premier on 21 October. Again, that is a hear today that neither the Premier nor the very costly location for the establishment of an Treasurer—and at the Estimates committee office. We are proposing and have in train the hearing the Treasurer—have budgeted for the establishment of an office in Jakarta, which inquiry into the CJC. That raises concerns that again is a costly place in which to do business moneys will be pulled out of the Police budget and will eat up considerable departmental and elsewhere. funds. We will be establishing an officer in Finally, I am concerned by the contempt Central Java to attend to the problems that that was demonstrated to the Estimates might develop were an officer not present. committee by Wendy Armstrong, a public In reply to the Leader of the Opposition in servant employed by the taxpayers of this respect of other issues of trade, he has written State, who simply refused to appear. That is a to the Premier indicating the need for a senior contempt not only of the Estimates committee officer to represent the Government in India. I process but also of this Parliament. I was will be fulfilling that role at the New Horizon disappointed that the Estimates committee Conference in India. We are very conscious of divided on party lines on that matter even the need to develop increasing trade links though the committee had unanimously overseas, particularly with our neighbours to invited her to attend. If public servants are the north. We are also very conscious of the able to treat the Estimates committee process need to do that on the basis of prosperity for in that way, it will simply become a hollow Queenslanders and jobs for Queenslanders. It process. is an essential part of our program, and we will Time expired. be pursuing that with all vigour. Hon. D. J. SLACK (Burnett—Minister The Estimates committee hearing took up for Economic Development and Trade and a considerable amount of the department's Minister Assisting the Premier) (3.12 p.m.): I time. That has to be recognised. I think it place on record my appreciation to the would be appropriate at some stage to Estimates committee members and conduct a cost/benefit analysis of the particularly the chairman, Bob Harper, for the Estimates committee hearing in respect of the way in which the hearing was conducted amount of time and cost to the individual during the section in which the Department of departments. From my own department's Economic Development and Trade perspective, my officers have informed me 3082 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 that it cost in the vicinity of $100,000 in time. in relation to this very important area of the That is an expensive exercise in anybody's Treasurer's own responsibilities. book. When one adds that figure to those of In relation to ministerial expenses I make the other departments and the cost of the a couple of points in passing. At the Estimates exercise for the Parliament, one sees the committee hearing, it was established that the need to consider measures to make the guidelines for ministerial expenditure had not process more cost efficient. I am not saying been changed materially by the incoming that there does not need to be or that there Government; yet we were able to find that, in should not be a proper analysis of the the case of the Treasurer's personal staff, expenditure, efficiency and operation of some $475.30 in accounts from hotels were departments; however, at some stage a processed for accommodating the Treasurer's cost/benefit analysis must be conducted. We chauffer in Brisbane. Over $2,000 has been do not want, as one person said recently, to chalked up in hotel bills in Brisbane by a enter a stage of paralysis by analysis through member of the Minister for Education's staff. It project evaluation in our department. We do is quite extraordinary that ministerial staff not want to have so much down time that we should be so accommodated in hotels in are not applying ourselves to the real core Brisbane at the expense of the ministerial business of the department and providing office. I regard that as quite a radical benefits to the taxpayers of Queensland. That departure from the probity of ministerial is an issue I put to the Parliament. I think there accounting which had been the case under should be an adding up of that cost. the former Government. The requirement for public servants to I turn now to the Treasurer's advance. We give evidence should be reviewed. That have heard in debate that the $259m requirement puts a lot of pressure on public advance or the slush fund—whichever term servants who are not, in many cases, used to one prefers to use—is a justifiable provision in that sort of forum in their own personal—— the Budget. It is my contention, and that of Time expired. non-Government members, that that is simply not so. In the former Government's 1995-96 Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich) Budget, an amount of $104m was set aside to (3.17 p.m.): The point that was just being cover contingencies, and it was more than made by the Honourable the Minister, the adequate to do just that. A $259m provision is member for Burnett, regarding the giving of excessive. When members look at that evidence by public servants is a very important amount in the context of the other deceits that part of the Estimates process. I believe that have been perpetrated by this Government in that is a vital reform. I compliment the relation to its Budget management, then well Government for that reform. I have already they might question such an excessive made some remarks in relation to the question provision by this Government. After all, were of accountability. We should not see a we not told that the Budget position was one situation in which the wishes of the committee of deficit? Time and time and time again, are overridden by the intervention of Ministers through a variety of accounting procedures, to deny the appearance of public servants we were told that; yet in the Treasurer's own when those public servants have been Budget Speech she had to admit that, on all requested to attend. of those accounting procedures, the former That leads me to the other important Government's Budget was in fact in surplus. point that I wish to make in relation to the Were we not told that Commonwealth committee report which is before us, that is, payments had been cut savagely by some the issue of accountability. I trust that the $250m? Was it not the case that, under Treasurer will take these remarks to heart. It questioning and from the Budget papers was very difficult to try to arrive at information themselves, we discovered that payments from the Treasurer in respect to one very from the Commonwealth to Queensland for important area of the Treasurer's ministerial 1996-97 actually increased? Indeed, as I responsibilities. I refer particularly to the matter pointed out, Budget Paper No. 2 reveals $5 of ministerial expenses. We saw the Treasurer billion from the Commonwealth, which is more seek to flick responsibility across to other than last year's $4.8 billion. Most people would Ministers, saying, "It is not a matter for me; it is accept that, but the Treasurer does not. a matter for the individual line Minister." It was Of course, the Government claimed that, only by virtue of having present the officer on the basis of reduced Commonwealth from the Treasurer's department who is funding and an alleged underlying Budget responsible for the administration of ministerial deficit, there was a need for new taxes. Quite expenses that we were able to obtain the facts frankly, that conclusion simply does not stand 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3083 up. It is a blatant breach of the confidence members know that that is a fact. Non- that the people of Queensland believed they Government members played to the press could have in the coalition Government, which gallery rather than applying themselves to the came to power on a platform of no increased serious business of an analysis of the Program or new taxes. Statements. The questions that non- The other very great concern I have is in Government members asked were framed to relation to the asset stripping of Government get media coverage and to get their names in owned enterprises, the Government's lights. However, their performance did not privatisation agenda and the Treasurer's receive accolades. philosophy that one can use productive Attacks on officers and ministerial staff do assets, realise them and then use those funds not suffice for probing, incisive questions. Non- to acquire less productive assets. That Government members showed little concern philosophy flies in the face of one of the key for the answers that were given by Ministers. recommendations of the Government's own That was demonstrated by their frequent FitzGerald Commission of Audit, which interruptions and their inability to listen. As I encouraged the Government to look at said before, it was a disappointing outcome to underperforming assets and to seek more the Estimates committees. The reservations prudent investments. expressed by non-Government members are The other matter is the $200m carryover not of a quality standard. They are superficial, in capital funds—something which the coalition reflecting narrow thinking and the inability of promised that it would never do and non-Government members to grasp the something which has contributed to rising fundamentals of the Estimate committees. In unemployment, the freeze on capital works many ways, the reservations were just a beat- and a worsening economic situation in this up. They contained tired old matters, to which State. non-Government members did not even want to hear responses during the Estimates Time expired. committees. Mr GRICE (Broadwater) (3.22 p.m.): With regard to the Audit Office—non- From the point of view of the parliamentary Government members raised the issue of the process, in many ways the Estimates independence of the Auditor-General. The committees have been disappointing. As we independence of the Auditor-General is all know, for the first time since the introduction safeguarded by the provisions of the Financial of the Estimates committee process, the Administration and Audit Act 1977. The powers of the committees were widened to defunct Electoral and Administrative Review allow greater scrutiny of Ministers and senior Commission, supported by the then departmental staff. Unfortunately, non- parliamentary committee for that body, Government members did not rise to the high reported on the Auditor-General's Office. One standard reflected in the new and widened of the outcomes was the establishment on 1 opportunities offered to them. Instead of using May 1993, under section 47 of the Act, of an the Estimates committees as a forum in which independent statutory office. Section 48 of they could examine the spending priorities of that Act provides that the Auditor-General is to the Government, non-Government members control the office. Under the provisions of were more interested in personalities and petty section 50 of the Act, the Auditor-General is point-scoring. appointed by the Governor in Council, and the During the Estimates committees, the Public Accounts Committee is consulted standard displayed by non-Government during the selection and appointment process. members was appalling. In many of the With respect to the conduct of audits, the questions that they asked there was little Auditor-General is free from direction by any substance, and if it had not been for the person as to the way in which the powers in incisive questions of Government members, relation to audit are to be exercised or the the Estimates process could be described as a priority given to audit matters. Non- farce. Non-Government members did not Government members are being too precious apply themselves to the discipline of a and too pious. thorough examination of the Program With regard to the non-Government Statements and the questions that they asked members' reservation about the funding for revealed their lack of a studious analysis of the the commission of inquiry into the CJC—that is Program Statements. Instead, the members just a lot of superficial nonsense. It reflects the opposite had a political hit list of questions inability of non-Government members to grasp which were drawn up by their backroom boys the need for the CJC to be rejuvenated and to and doled out accordingly. Opposition be refocused on its charter contained in the 3084 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996

Criminal Justice Act 1989. Non-Government institutions of the State were fanciful and members do not want the Criminal Justice unacceptable. The explanation was that Commission to be retuned so that it will be a savings would be achieved through better, more efficient institution that can serve centralising corporate services; yet, on the Queensland and Queenslanders into the next other hand, it was argued that the millennium. A lame CJC suits the non- Government would save money by the Government members; it does not suit the decentralisation of building services. It is a coalition Government. If the non-Government curious and inconsistent form of reasoning. members had their way, Queensland would be However, let me turn to the impact of wrapped in cotton wool and nothing would be those cuts on regional Queensland. Under the improved or bettered. Arts budgets, the funding for book purchases It is time for the ALP to stop thinking that by regional libraries has been slashed in it is a Government in exile waiting for Prince half—from $2m in 1995-96 to $1m in 1996-97. Charming to slip the mantle of government on That means that, throughout Queensland, it. Non-Government members have to earn regional libraries will be denied the opportunity Government. By their whingeing and to purchase books to enable regional complaining and through stopping process Queenslanders access to books for them to and progress, there is no hope of those read. That is a very sad state of affairs and it members opposite sitting on the Treasury comes on the heels of cuts to libraries. Under benches. Non-Government members can Labor, some $900,000 was provided to assist relax: the commission of inquiry into the CJC projects such as the establishment of a library will be funded from consolidated revenue. in far-north Queensland, an Aboriginal and As to the non-Government members' Islander unit and the distribution of reservation in relation to the Office of the microcomputers and CD-ROMs to small Queensland Parliamentary Counsel—that country libraries. This year, no such funding shows that they did not listen to the Premier's has been provided by the coalition answer. The reason for the reduction in Government. The regions and, in particular, parliamentary staffing from 48 to 43 is a regional libraries have been hit hard. decision by the office not to fill a number of It has also hit regional artists and local positions because of the completion of the government councils, which have waited for a Acts Reprinting Program, the Acts Review decision to emerge in relation to the Regional Program and the Acts Repeal Program. Arts Development Fund. I am pleased to say Further, the operations and funding of the that protests throughout this State have led office are being reviewed. As to the decrease the Government to back down on its attempts in funding—that reflects the reduced labour to abolish the Regional Arts Development and operating costs associated with the Fund. It has cut the figure from $15m, which completion of the programs to which I have Labor had committed on a notional capital referred and the non-requirement to outlay base, to $12m. The Government argues, of large amounts on information and technology. course, that this is an increase from the $10m Time expired. notional capital base previously provided. However, that is a specious argument Hon. M. J. FOLEY (Yeronga) because the Government well knows that it (3.27 p.m.): Shakespeare once wrote, "All that was the subject of a review in 1994-95 and the glisters is not gold." That is particularly true of Labor Government committed itself to the the Arts budget. At first blush, the Arts budget $15m capital base. Indeed, the Government appears to be substantially enhanced from knows that local government councils last year. However, upon analysis, one sees throughout the State had been proceeding that in fact it is an increase based largely upon with and receiving their submissions on the capital works, namely, the construction of the basis of the increased amount. Playhouse or Stage 5 of the Cultural Centre Another disturbing aspect is the scrapping commenced during the term of the Labor of the Indigenous Arts Festival. It is particularly Government. disturbing that this Government has still failed Upon analysis, one sees a disturbing to speak up for Queensland. Mr Borbidge and pattern of cuts to basic arts and cultural Mrs Sheldon have been absolutely silent in services. I refer to the cuts to the State Library public while Senator Alston has taken from of $363,000, cuts to the museum of Queensland the planned National Institute of $471,000, and cuts to the Art Gallery of Indigenous Performing Arts. This Budget takes $565,000 or 6 per cent of its budget in cash the proposed Indigenous Arts Festival, which terms. The explanations given to the was established under the Labor Government, committee for those cuts to the basic cultural off the agenda and removes that contribution 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3085 to indigenous arts. At a time when indigenous availability within the Department of Justice art is so important to the cultural life of firstly and, subject to that, within the context of Queensland, it should be supported. the overall State Budget. This is normal Therefore, one sees the surface feature of an Budget practice. increase but, upon analysis, one sees cuts in In respect of the Office of the areas that will adversely affect regional Parliamentary Counsel, there will be no Queensland, major cultural institutions and reduction in service delivery from the office as indigenous arts. a result of the review. The outcome of the Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers Government's new focus for the office is the Paradise—Premier) (3.32 p.m.): It is refocusing of activities from legislative reviews disappointing that non-Government members and reprints, which are almost complete, to have ignored so much of the information that drafting new legislation. was made available to them during a most In regard to the Coordinator-General's enlightened Estimates process that this advance, it is appropriate for the department, Government initiated. Firstly, in regard to the and in particular the Premier and the backlog of cases with the Ombudsman, under Coordinator-General, to have the flexibility to the previous Labor Government, budgeting be able to swiftly respond to funding priorities constraints and consequent resource and needs as they arise. The COG advance of limitations meant that officers had to cope with $2m is not significant, but represents a a huge backlog of approximately 1,300 cases commitment to getting things done. As the each year. In 1996-97, additional funding of committee was previously advised, a vast $110,000 is being provided for an additional proportion of the funding set aside has already temporary officer for the FOI Commissioner been committed: $1m to the Century Zinc and two administrative review officers for the native title negotiation, $200,000 to the St Parliamentary Commissioner. This increase is Johns Cathedral restoration project, $190,000 in stark contrast to the reductions in funding to the reinstatement of the Orchid Beach imposed on other Government departments airstrip, and funding for an interpretative centre and agencies to contain the deficit inherited at Cooktown. If honourable members opposite from our Labor predecessors. This increased wish me to tell those particular people that this funding, in combination with demand is a slush fund with which we are facilitating management strategies, will enable the office those particular projects, I will have no to continue to reduce the backlog of cases. hesitation in informing them of the attitude of Honourable members have referred to the the Labor Party. independence of the Auditor-General. The In respect of the Corporate Government reaffirms, in the clearest and Communications and Information Office, the strongest terms, the independence of the increase in the Budget will support staff costs Auditor-General in Queensland. for an expanded establishment which now Honourable members opposite have includes the former speech unit, special referred to an alleged 25 per cent funding events coordination such as Queensland Day increase in the Department of Premier and and the Colonial George Street Festival, Cabinet. As explained to the committee, the $250,000 for whole-of-Government advertising Budget increase of $10.213m principally and major funding for new public reflected additional funding of $6.55m for the communication and information programs South Bank redevelopment and the costs including gun laws, a directory of information associated with the establishment of regional resources, a ministerial directory, business and offices at $2.268m. In fact, after taking these investment promotional publications, and factors and machinery of Government business investment opportunities awareness changes such as the Government Air Wing and stimulation. and Bureau of Ethnic Affairs into account, a In respect of resources for the Opposition, more valid comparison reflects a decrease of for the record honourable members should $6.7m, or 10 per cent, in the budget to the note that the accommodation provided for the department. Leader of the Opposition within the Annexe In relation to the commission of inquiry has been subsequently upgraded and into the CJC, the final implications of the expanded from 277 square metres to 437 Government's decision will be evaluated within square metres. In addition, a new office has the context of the Government's ongoing been established at 80 Albert Street, providing review of its Budget. In this regard, funding will the Opposition with an additional 484 square be considered by the Cabinet Budget metres of office space of ministerial standard. Committee, having regard to resource Office IT enhancements have been completed 3086 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 with substantially improved equipment for the Secondly, the newspaper was an idea Opposition. Certainly in regard to additional with great potential. However, in the first copy staffing, this review has my full support and will we see that this is little more than a result in enhanced resourcing for the office of propaganda vehicle for the Minister, the the Leader of the Opposition, albeit with the Treasurer, and all other Government Ministers. final details yet to be determined. It has not escaped the attention of women Time expired. that the Treasurer's name was mentioned about 34 times and that the Director of the Ms SPENCE (Mount Gravatt) Office of Women's Affairs, Ms Jackson, had (3.37 p.m.): I turn to the Office of Women's her name mentioned 26 times. Indeed, I know Affairs in this Estimates debate. Opposition many women who have sent that newspaper members were concerned at the Estimates to Stuart Littlemore. They want him to do it hearing that the Treasurer and her officers over on his show. I am waiting for him to do were unable to provide specific details on that. Let us hope the next issue is a big Government initiatives and programs targeted improvement. at assisting Queensland women in this Budget The Liberal Party has no policy on and could only talk about global figures which women. It did not have one when it went to were included in the women's statement. It the election and it still does not have one. I would appear that the Treasurer and the expect that the Office of Women's Affairs will Office of Women's Affairs, while purporting to play a very useful role for the Liberal Party in have a coordinating function, do little more that it will go out into the community and do than collate statistics and have little input, the market research so badly needed by the influence or comprehension of the Liberal Party in this State. However, it is very Government's policy initiatives directed at difficult to envisage this office playing a pro- women. Neither the Office of Women's Affairs active role in encouraging line departments to nor the Treasurer as the Minister responsible develop good policies for women. could provide evidence of their input into the One of the new initiatives which concerns policy development of line departments which me is the change in focus of Women's have carriage of the development and Infolink. In the last few months, valuable staff implementation of programs and initiatives in that office have been told to take VERs directed at women. because their positions are to be downgraded. When questioned at the Estimates I am concerned about the loss of corporate committee, neither the Treasurer nor the knowledge and great talent from Women's Director of the Office of Women's Affairs could Infolink because of this Government's desire comment on their Government's child-care to downgrade those positions. It also concerns initiatives, because they did not know what me that Women's Infolink has moved the they were. One would expect that the Office of focus away from disseminating information via Women's Affairs would at least know pamphlets and brochures to the Internet. A something about an issue as vital to women considerable amount of time and money has as that of child care, but this is not the case. been allocated to information technology and establishing web sites on the Internet so that Women in Queensland must be asking women can have access to information that themselves what it is that this office does. It they previously received through the mail via seems that its major function next year will be pamphlets. I stand to be corrected, but I to conduct a survey of 5,000 Queensland believe half a million dollars has been women and to present a quarterly newspaper, allocated for this purpose. Although I firmly Mrs Sheldon's own rag, entitled Queensland believe that women need to keep up with new Woman. I will comment on each of these technology and I advocate their computer functions in turn. I will first address the survey. usage, I have serious doubts that women at There is great scepticism amongst this time are able to access the Internet in Queensland women about the need for sufficient numbers in order to justify this another survey. Women tell me that they are change in policy by Women's Infolink. surveyed to death and that they are sick and I was told at the Estimates committee tired of filling in surveys. They say that they hearing that 40 per cent of women have never know the outcome of these access to the Internet. I do not know about surveys—indeed if there is any at all. that. Do 40 per cent of the women in Therefore, I am interested in the kind of Woodridge, Inala, Rockhampton or Ipswich women the office is going to be surveying, have the Internet connected to their homes? If what kind of questions it will ask and what it not, where are they going to access it? Not at hopes to achieve from the survey. their local women's health centre, not at their 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3087 neighbourhood centre, and not at the office of $81m higher than that in the June quarter in their State member of Parliament, because the previous year. none of those State Government centres has Comments were made about dividends access to the Internet. I think the Office of from GOEs. Actual dividend payments by Women's Affairs has made the decision to GOEs in 1996-97 relate to the 1995-96 change the direction of Women's Infolink from financial year profit performance. Because communicating via the print media and via the annual reports in respect of 1995-96 are, with mail to the Internet without reference to any the exception of Suncorp, net yet publicly statistics on Queensland women's access to available, operating profit before tax figures for the Internet. 1995-96 and forecast receipts for 1996-97, or Time expired. on an individual enterprise basis, are still Hon. J. M. SHELDON (Caloundra— commercial-in-confidence, as the shadow Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Treasurer should know. These figures will The Arts) (3.42 p.m.): I thank the Chairman of become available to the public and the Estimates Committee A, Bob Harper, and the Opposition as annual reports are progressively Government members of Estimates released in the second half of 1996. Committee A for their great work. It is a great Comments were made about Budget pity that the Opposition members of the security. The claim that "sensitive, market committee, by their statements, have turned distorting information" was released is fanciful. Estimates Committee A into a political farce. There was public debate about what would I would like to cover a few issues that possibly be in the Budget. That was not based have been raised—firstly, that of the on a tax leak; people were purely discussing Treasurer's Advance Account. There has issues. In fact, the receipts from the tobacco certainly been a lot of misinformation about tax in June and July were significantly higher the advance account and its increase in than normal due to the debate, a lot of which funding. However, let me once and for all put was run by the Opposition. That increase is to rest any comments that have been made attributed to some stockpiling during the about this issue. The account is in place to progress of the debate. As Mr Hamill said, the cover a great many contingencies— loss of revenue between the leaking of the outstanding legal liability claims, decision and the announcement of the implementation of competition policy, major Budget is considered to be insignificant. project facilitation costs, provision for cash There were comments about privatisation equivalent of long service leave, funding for and asset sales. The Government has given drought relief and for natural disaster relief. Of assurances that the current income stream course, the largest provisions are for paid from Suncorp and QIDC will be maintained maternity leave and enterprise bargaining through the investment of part of the sale agreements. I would have thought that the proceeds. The Government is also committed Labor Party would have supported this. It to maintaining the net worth of the evidently does not. Of course, the Leader of Government as disclosed by the Commission the Opposition now wants to abolish it. I guess of Audit. While the mix of assets may change, public servants will not be receiving any wage it is the net worth of the public sector that must rises and women will not be receiving any paid be maintained. The Commission of Audit maternity leave. recommended that some of the Governments As to the comments about carryover "lazy assets" be sold to provide additional expenditure—the levels of carryover were very funds for the provision of infrastructure— close to those in previous years under Labor something which I know people in Queensland Budgets. Labor's Budgets certainly indicated applaud. The only people who do not applaud that it thought that was the way to go. The that move are members of the Opposition. promise that I made in March is one I intend There were comments made about pushing through but only with respect to Budget surplus and deficit. The Opposition coalition Budgets, not Labor Budgets such as committee members' misreading and that for 1995-96. Any temporary pause in misrepresentation of the deficit/surplus capital works imposed was used to ascertain a position has been going on since February. great number of projects—about $140m The facts remain the same. The Government worth—which Labor had announced and inherited an underlying deficit position of which were unfunded. The great bulk of capital $180m in 1995-96 and a projected deficit of works continued and, in fact, capital works in $240m for 1996-97. the June quarter of 1995-96 were $476m higher than in the previous seven quarters and Mr Hamill interjected. 3088 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996

Mrs SHELDON: Opposition members hiding information than disseminating that hate to hear it, but it is true. As the 1996-97 information to the public, and the bureaucrats Budget states, due to overexpenditure by the still have control. This year, some of the previous Labor Government, expenditure limitations placed on the committees were exceeded revenue by $45m in 1995-96. A unnecessary. They were too stringent and positive balance was only possible due to an they did not give members the opportunity to opening surplus at the beginning of the 1995- delve into and open up some of the areas that 96 year of $51m. The 1995-96 position was are now being pursued via Estimates only possible due to one-off funding sources committees in other States. of just over $180m which do not recur. The I was disappointed in this area of the Opposition has struggled with the various Treasury in particular, where most of the measures of surplus and deficit. The three workings of Government are held—or hidden, main measures, all identified within the depending on how one looks at things. The Budget, are Consolidated Fund, Government system has prevented our delving as deep as Finance Statistics and the Commission of we should be able to. The system still needs Audit—accrual. further refining. In refining the system further, The GFS surplus identified by the non- we ought to be able to be more accountable Government member of the committee to the people. That does not mean more staff include superannuation and other financial and so on. It means that we as assets but does not offset them against parliamentarians must open up the system a liabilities. It is purely a mechanism to gauge lot more. how well a State can repay its debts. I have spoken about the Metway merger Therefore, the GFS surplus is not available for several times in this place. I believe that the the Government of the day to spend on Government has well and truly missed the Budget line items and should not be used as boat in that regard. The figures are yet to an indicator of the accurate position of the come down. Although currently the stock deficit/surplus. market is improving generally—as it normally Mr Hamill: Tell us about the accrual would at this point—I believe that early in the surplus. new year banking shares will not be getting Mrs SHELDON: Yes, the Opposition did the returns they normally would, even though, say that it was. as I said, they are presently rising. Treasury has probably underestimated the amount of For the 1996-97 State Budget, the taxpayers' money that will be needed to float coalition faced several hurdles, as I said, a the new bank. $245m projected deficit—— I often refer to transport and road issues. Time expired. Once again, I believe that we have totally Mr D'ARCY (Woodridge) (3.48 p.m.): In missed the boat. We have heard so much speaking to the 1996 report of Estimates about tolls. I am not against tolls, provided Committee A, I point out that the that they provide a service to the public. reorganisation of the Estimates process over Members would be aware of my proposed the past few years has been of advantage to system for the Gold Coast highway. I believe the Parliament. However, it worries me that, that the Government's budgetary position will from looking at the overview, we still see a blow out beyond all expectations. curtailment of the real operation of the Budget One aspect in which Governments seem within this place. It is difficult enough for most to place a lot of faith in this day and age is people to realise that it is just income and gaming revenue. The gaming dollar continues expenditure at a household level. Basically, to be attacked by Governments. I believe that under the new procedures we have attempted the Government has overestimated the to make the Budget more understandable to revenue that it will obtain from gaming. For members of Parliament, to the committee and example, if it continues to bleed the racing to the public. Unfortunately, in my humble industry, the money will go elsewhere, and the opinion, the process has not gone far enough. gambling dollar only goes so far. It can now be At the moment, in respect of the overall spent in a number of areas. I note that Keno budgetary position, the new system still has a has come on-line, and we are probably lot of problems. allowing hotels to install more poker machines. Every time a Government attempts to Treasury must control this industry for the curtail the information to the public we get to benefit of the people of Queensland. Once the situation where there is less information again, in my view the Government does not coming out. There are more public servants have a proper handle on this matter. 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3089

The Treasurer just raised the two ongoing commitment to rural areas, accounting standards. The Estimates still do particularly through funding for the not have a clear dividing line as to whether we Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority. It is are working on an accrual accounting or a widely recognised that there is a great deal of cash accounting basis. This system is not fully commitment from this Government to rural in place. It is not understood by many of the areas. In 1996-97 approximately $4m will be bureaucrats, and it is still not understood by allocated for a range of existing drought some of the departments. It certainly has not assistance programs, including rural family been implemented fully. It is disappointing that support services. There will be $45m in this matter is being addressed so slowly. Until assistance for replanting and restocking, for the Government clarifies the accounting basis productivity enhancement and for small on which it is operating, the public will not business drought assistance and $14.5m for a understand what it is all about. This matter range of activities in the Department of must be addressed in real terms for the future. Primary Industries. Those schemes will do a lot Time expired. to benefit people west of the Great Dividing Range who have been suffering for a long Mr SPRINGBORG (Warwick) period. (3.53 p.m.): I rise to participate in the debate on the departmental aspects of the report of I turn briefly to the issue of ethnic affairs. Estimates Committee A. I congratulate the A major contribution in this year's Budget Premier, the Treasurer and Deputy Premier through the Premier's Department will be an and the Minister for Economic Development initiative which includes the provision of and Trade on their understanding of their $100,000 for the Ethnic Communities Council portfolios, the expenditure under their of Queensland, which will be recurrent for portfolios and the information provided during three years and is designed to improve the the course of the hearing. ability of the council to fulfil its function as the I want to talk first about the Regional Arts key ethnic community body in Queensland. I Development Fund and the contribution it believe that this demonstrates the ongoing makes to rural areas. I point out that in the commitment of this Government towards 1996-97 financial year—despite all the ethnic communities in this State. I have a scaremongering and wrong information large ethnic community in my electorate, and I provided by the member for Yeronga in certainly appreciate the wonderful work and particular over the last couple of the marvellous contribution they make to my months—$920,000 has been allocated to the particular community. I believe that factor is fund. That represents an increase of recognised by the community in my electorate $100,000, or 12 per cent, over the 1995-96 as a whole. financial year allocation. The additional I want to touch briefly on another issue funding has been utilised to support arts and relevant to the expenditure of the Premier's cultural policy development for 31 participating Department. I congratulate the Premier on his councils, which adds up to $85,000; to support initiative in the establishment of Premier's the introduction of the Regional Arts offices in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Development Fund into seven Queensland Mackay and Gladstone. This will demonstrate councils joining for the first time, which the commitment of the Government to represents an additional $15,000; and to Queenslanders in rural, regional and provincial support project activities in 97 councils, which areas. adds up to $820,000. These additional funds allow the Queensland Government to maintain Mr Fouras: Pity they don't know about its financial commitment to participating it. councils. It should be noted that outlays in the Mr SPRINGBORG: They do know arts area have increased from $100.1m in about it, and they are embracing the concept 1995-96 to $123.7m in the 1996-97 in north Queensland. Budget—an increase of some 24 per cent. This includes new initiative funding of $2.3m Mr Fouras interjected. for regional libraries, the replacement of the Mr SPRINGBORG: The member for State Library mainframe computer and an Ashgrove must be speaking to different additional $31.3m for construction of Stage 2 people from those to whom we have been of the Cultural Centre. speaking. This move gives those in regional While I am on the subject of the and provincial areas a direct line into the Estimates for the Treasury Department, I want Premier's office in this State. I believe that this to mention that I am very pleased with the will prove to be very beneficial in the future. 3090 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996

Briefly on the Department of Economic firms who are winning large contracts in Asian Development and Trade—there are a number countries. As a State, our primary production of major projects either being considered or depends very much on maintaining strong actually under way which are being presided economic ties with the growing Asian over by that particular department. There is economies. Mr Chairman, I seek leave to table the ongoing involvement of the Minister in and have incorporated in Hansard a table Korea Zinc Australia. Members would be containing major markets for our primary aware that Bill Hayden is currently establishing industries. the mediation process in relation to the Leave granted. Century mine. There is also the Pandora gas pipeline, which will benefit this State greatly in Major Markets the future. Meat—Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, United States Time expired. Wool—China, Italy, France, South Korea, Mr PALASZCZUK (Inala) (3.58 p.m.): Japan, Taiwan, Germany, United Kingdom, Queensland Labor is committed to supporting United States, Malaysia a multicultural Queensland. We support the Fisheries—Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, Bureau of Ethnic Affairs being transferred to Singapore, Thailand, Spain, Malaysia, New the Premier's Department. We also support Zealand the program goal for the bureau, which is Sugar—United States, New Zealand, United stated in the Ministerial Program Statements Kingdom, New Caledonia, Singapore for the Premier to be— Cotton—Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, China, "To increase harmony, cohesion and Thailand, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Pakistan participation in Queensland's culturally Mr PALASZCZUK: I want honourable diverse society—with particular focus on members to consider whether it is important to the needs and endeavours of ethnic trade with Asian countries, to accept jobs that community members—for the benefit of such trade brings us and the standard of living all Queenslanders." that we enjoy as a result of those employment I certainly hope that all members take note of opportunities. It is therefore a matter of great that statement. concern that the Borbidge Government has no moral courage in distancing itself from a As honourable members would be aware, number of incidents that have occurred the Goss Government established overseas recently—including the member for trade offices for Queensland in Hong Kong, Greenslopes' outburst against the Asian strengthened our relationship with Japan and community, the vote of thanks to the Federal opened secretariats dedicated to trade with member for Oxley by the member for Indonesia and Vietnam. I understand that the Mansfield and the presence of the Federal Premier will be opening an office in Shanghai member for Oxley at the opening of the and one in Jakarta later on. In addition, the electorate office of the Minister for Emergency Goss Government promoted courses in Services and Sport. languages other than English and promoted in our primary schools the teaching of Chinese, The issue of race should not be tolerated Indonesian and Japanese. We did this as a means of alienating one group of because we believed, and still do, that Australians from another. As a country, we Australians should have an insight into the rich have a proud tradition of accepting people like cultural traditions and religious beliefs of our myself from other parts of the world and trading partners. I very much regret, though, making our homes here. Together we can that the Borbidge Government has watered become one nation, one voice and one down these initiatives, which I believed trading partner in broadening our trading promoted a greater understanding between relations with other countries. We in the Labor our country and our near neighbours. Party stand up for all Australian interests, whether these interests be economic, cultural I very much value our trading relationship or religious. with our Asian neighbours because, as the elected representative for an area which has Report adopted. one of the largest industrial estates in Queensland, I am very much aware of the Estimates Committee B employment opportunities that are created in my electorate as a result of trading with Asian Report No. 1 countries. These firms range from trucking The CHAIRMAN: Order! The question companies, architectural firms and building is— 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3091

"That Report No. 1 of Estimates not the same. We have to bear that in mind. Committee B be adopted." We must realise that the problems are there. Mr STEPHAN (Gympie) (4.01 p.m.): Hopefully they will be addressed. Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to I refer now to the Department of thank the research director Karen Sampford, Emergency Services. I note that, in response research officer Meg Hoban and executive to a question concerning the transfer of a King assistant Maree Lane for their assistance and Air aircraft from Queensland Emergency cooperation in the presentation of the Services to the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Estimates Committee B report. I would also north Queensland, the Minister advised the like to thank the member for Yeronga, Matt committee that the aircraft had been handed Foley, the member for Waterford, Tom Barton, over the previous week. The committee was and the member for Rockhampton, Robert told that the aircraft would now undergo Schwarten and, of course, also Frank Carroll refitting and, in response to further and Liz Cunningham. Their help and questioning, the committee was advised that assistance has been greatly appreciated. the aircraft would be operational in late The committee has considered the January. The committee received the proposed expenditure utilising the various undertaking that the Christmas period would Budget papers together with the ministerial also be catered for. statements received in evidence from the Another important aspect of Minister Honourable Denver Beanland, the Honourable Veivers' portfolio is that of sport. In his opening Russell Cooper and the Honourable Mick statement, the Minister advised that, as part of Veivers, and I also thank them for their a long-term solution to planning for the cooperation during the committee hearing. provision of facilities, the Office of Sport and The committee examined proposed Recreation is presently formulating a strategic expenditure of $272m for the Department of plan as well as preparing a 10-year plan to Justice. As noted by the Minister in his guide the development of international, introductory statement to the committee, the national and regional sports facilities. I also 1996-97 Budget allocation represents an note that, over a period of time, a lot of increase of some $36m over last year's support has been given to sport in various allocation. The two major projects to be areas, not the least of which have been the funded from the allocation are the construction junior sports policies and subsidies that have of a courthouse in Rockhampton and the been put in place. Those are subsidies for extension of the courthouse at Southport. training and facilities. Other smaller areas will see improvements to Time expired. their courthouses, including the courthouse in Mr BARTON (Waterford) (4.06 p.m.): Gympie, and I thank the Minister for that The 1996-97 Budget is a fraud with regard to consideration. police numbers. Our analysis indicates that the I take this opportunity to refer to the police numbers promised simply cannot be matter of deaths in custody. Specific details met and that the Budget is fatally flawed with were sought of the current strategies being regard to how it calculates the numbers that implemented to reduce deaths in custody. The will be provided. In addition, the promise of an committee was advised that procedures and additional 139 officers cannot be met and I programs introduced by the Corrective should say that that promise appeared only in Services Commission included the use of the Minister's press release, not the Budget techniques to identify persons at risk of self- papers or in the program statements of the harm and the establishment of units to provide day. intensive supervision to persons identified as After allowing for the claimed separation being at risk. rate of 3.5 per cent to 4 per cent, we estimate Recently Mr Justice Dowd spoke on this that the real increase will be at best 20, but subject, saying that there is a perception that that it is more likely to be a real reduction of Australia has an Aboriginal deaths in custody 12. This figure is determined after allowing for problem. Nine out of 10 people, or in some the numbers to be trained by the Oxley and instances 99 out of 100, would say that Townsville Police Academies and, in addition, Australia has an Aboriginal deaths in custody our estimate is that after two years the actual problem but Mr Justice Dowd said that we do increase will be 90 less than the claimed not. He believes that we have two problems: increase in the 10-year plan. Under we have a deaths in custody problem, as does questioning, Minister Cooper failed to answer every other nation, but we also have an our analysis. He simply restated his figures, Aborigines in custody problem, but the two are and he said, "we can play around with 3092 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 figures", and "that we", meaning the increase numbers by a substantial amount. Government, "obviously have the intention of They must be on the never-never plan, meeting those targets." He may have that because the start will not be made in this intention, but the reality is that the numbers financial year. still do not add up no matter how one There are also many references in the analyses them. Budget papers to traffic fines and speed Another area of major concern is with cameras. One has to search for them, regard to police regional budgets. We did because they are spread throughout the obtain global figures for each region but a Budget papers and the Program Statements. complete breakdown of the expenditure This shows an increase in revenue from traffic across those regions was not provided. The fines of almost $15m this financial year, of Minister claimed that that was the which $11m will be attributed to camera- commissioner's responsibility and that those detected offences, most of which would be breakdowns were not yet determined. Here we speed cameras. In a full year's operation, this are, in early October, three months into a would mean a $20m revenue take. This is a Budget, and we cannot be given detailed very clear indication that the use of speed figures. It was disturbing that the regional cameras is primarily for revenue raising, not budgets have only been increased in the order road safety purposes. In this financial year of 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent, and this was alone, 150,000 additional Queenslanders will acknowledged by the Police Finance Director, be booked to swell Treasury's coffers, with a Dick Warry, in the hearings. This is far higher number in a full year. outrageous, particularly when it is compared to Mr Gibbs: She won't be booked, an overall increase in the Police budget of 7.3 though. per cent, itself lower than the last Labor Budget's increase of 7.5 per cent, that does Mr BARTON: I would bet that the not even keep up with the inflation rate over Treasurer will not be booked. That is for the past 12 months, let alone allow for certain. We have already seen that precedent. population growth. We should all object to the Police Service We are also very concerned that we are being used in such a blatant revenue-raising getting information that specific regions are in operation for this Treasurer. The committee fact getting a real cut in funding with some of itself expressed dissatisfaction with this the support services that they used to depend occurring—despite the protestations across on headquarters for actually being withdrawn, the Chamber of the chairman of that meaning that they have to provide that committee. We are also very concerned that funding themselves. That has the effect of over half of the—— lowering the numbers of operational police. Time expired. We are particularly concerned at the failure of Mrs CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone) the Minister to provide more detailed (4.11 p.m.): I would like to thank the information on that regional breakdown. Government for the opportunity to be involved The figures that have been promised in in the Estimates committee process. I particular regions are also of concern. We took acknowledge that the Government the liberty of asking three assistant relinquished one of its positions to offer me commissioners to attend the hearing. The that opportunity. It certainly was an assistant commissioner for the southern region enlightening one, to say the least. The was not able to give us a definitive figure but fundamental opportunity for scrutiny of the the assistant commissioner for the south Budget Votes and to question the Ministers eastern region was, indicating that he would and the officers responsible for the allocations be receiving 25 additional police, he hoped, and expenditure is important, as they are the over this next year, with them coming from the sponsors of public money. Accountability is of next two intakes. That is a very small figure great importance to residents. compared to the promises for that region that A lot of issues were raised during the had been made by the Police Minister when in Estimates committee process—some positive Opposition. and some negative. I know that it is always the Also, in the northern metropolitan region, negatives that get highlighted. I suppose that that assistant commissioner advised that, at is because they are usually the issues of any stage—currently included—he has 50 concern, so I am going to do the same. In vacancies. So much for police numbers from a relation to the Department of Justice, we Government that came to power promising heard a lot about the initiatives that the that it would totally address that issue and Minister has taken. They are commendable. 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3093

However, one of the major issues that has Queensland. The helicopter service is erupted since those hearings—the issue of the important. At the moment the community is CJC and its funding—continues to be a being asked to bear a great deal of that concern. I asked questions during the hearing funding. about what appeared to be disproportionate There is one other issue that I wish to impacts of the approximately $2m reduction in raise. It relates to country Queensland. I refer the CJC budget. Even to this day, I still cannot to the recreational camps that are run by the understand why the cut of about $2m would Government. I gather from the Minister's have such an expansive impact on the CJC's answer that there is a possibility that they may operations. The Estimates Committee B be considered for privatisation or sale. That process has expedited what has resulted in would be a most regrettable step. Country the last day or so, that is, the establishment of Queensland children have minimal access to the inquiry into the CJC. In part, the results of recreational opportunities to develop that inquiry will—— personally and to develop their sporting skills. Mr Fouras: Do you think the two events They need to be able to access those low- are related? cost, good facilities, and they are very good Mrs CUNNINGHAM: No, I do not, but I facilities. They need to be maintained for our think that one was used perhaps to expedite communities and our children so that they can the other. get away and have a great time of refreshment and enjoyment while developing In relation to Police and Corrective themselves socially and emotionally. I suggest Services—I again raised my concerns about that the Government retain the recreational the expenditure of money and where that camps. money is going to come from for the weapons legislation. Those questions were not able to Hon. R. J. GIBBS (Bundamba) be answered by the Minister, not because the (4.16 p.m.): I wish to raise a number of Minister is at fault but because this is matters relevant to the Estimates debate. legislation that is being foisted on us primarily Firstly, I believe that the racing industry is by the Federal Government. If all the promised becoming very much aware that it has a moneys do not materialise from the Feds, it Minister who has no idea of the industry that would be assumed that the State Government he represents but, more importantly, is not would be required to fund the implementation going to deliver on a number of the funding of the weapons legislation. The cost of that undertakings that he gave, particularly in the implementation will be high. The community lead-up to the Mundingburra by-election. This feeling about that legislation is certainly leads me to the sort of representation that the divided. It is one of the most divisive issues honourable member for Mundingburra is that I have seen for a long time. It would be a making on behalf of his constituency. grossly inappropriate request if the people of The people of Townsville are still waiting this State were asked to fund a Federal for harness racing to be reintroduced in shortfall for legislation that they did not invite. Townsville. It is simply not going to happen, With regard to police numbers—I reinforce because there was no funding whatsoever in the concerns that have already been the Budget for it. If it were to take place, I expressed. In the last couple of elections, our believe that the industry needs to be well community has addressed the issue of law aware of the Minister's reply to one of my and order. Members on both sides of the questions during the Estimates committee Chamber have made clear statements about hearing. He stated that, if it should take place, the need for increased police numbers. Those it will be funded by the harness racing industry promises need to be fulfilled and fulfilled quite itself. That simply means that they all need to visibly. Concerns about speed cameras have be aware that every club in Queensland, that already been outlined. I have received quite a is, Albion Park, Rocklea, Rockhampton—all number of letters from people in my electorate clubs—will be paying by way of a dramatic who are worried that the speed camera issue, slashing of prize money. It is interesting to rather than being primarily for safety, will be a note that the members of the Harness Racing revenue-raising exercise. I hope that that is Board—the board appointed by this not the case. Minister—are divided and split on the issue. With regard to Emergency Services and So the Minister is now in conflict with the board Sport—I am sure that other members will raise which he appointed. the issue of the funding of the helicopter Another interesting point is the mooted service in our region. There are great privatisation of the Queensland TAB. All distances to be covered in country members of this Parliament should have grave 3094 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 concerns about that because, on my should legislate in the Parliament to make calculations, it would simply mean that there those clubs put their hands up. The would be something like 80 race clubs in this Opposition would certainly support that. In State which would go to the wall, because simple terms, if the Minister does not take that shareholders of a privatised TAB are simply sort of hard stance with a number of those not going to subsidise country racing or clubs, the reality is that we will see a racing support it in any way, unlike the Government. I industry in the not-too-distant future that will be say this from my time on both sides of the involved in a debacle identical to that we are Chamber. When we were in Government, we now seeing between the ARL and Super supported clubs that simply could not League. compete. Privatisation would also mean that I turn now to the Minister's continuation of TAB services in many country areas the deliberate untruth of Labor leaving the throughout the State would suffer. Racing Development Fund in debt. The The same scepticism applies to the bottom line is that, when Labor took office, we undertaking given by the very same Minister, inherited a debt of $72m. We reduced that to Mr Cooper, that the greyhound club on the $32m over the period that we were in north side of Brisbane would be resurrected. Government. Had it not been for the former There was no funding in the Budget for that. National Party Government, Mr Cooper would The Minister was not prepared to respond to a have an additional $10m per year to use question on the subject. This left the throughout the racing industry in this State. I committee with every indication that no will not attack people who are no longer here funding will be forthcoming. That simply to defend themselves; that is not my go. means that the resurrection of greyhound However, I will say that the largesse that was racing on the north side of Brisbane—which I practised by the previous Government was a still do not favour, because it will mean that disgrace. the club will not be able to compete, and it will mean less prize money for other clubs—will Time expired. not take place. Mr CARROLL (Mansfield) (4.22 p.m.): One of the major questions to which the This was my first opportunity to be involved in Minister was unable to respond was the issue the Estimates committee process. I found it of pay television, which has the potential to be quite acceptable. I think that there was ample the biggest thing to happen to racing in this opportunity for the press to be present and to country in the last 200 years. It is interesting to record or to take note of the proceedings. note that the Minister was not only unable to Overall, the Budget that we considered, and answer the question but seemed unwilling to particularly that part examined by Estimates address the question of why he has not made Committee B, is a Budget about delivering the clubs that have signed the private promises. I think the people of Queensland deals—the so-called confidential deals with can be very pleased with what has been Sky Channel—produce the documentation presented to them by this Government. There and the contracts that they have signed. has been a positive response from all sections of the community and from the departments It comes down to a concern that I had that we examined, except for the CJC and the when in Government—and I was always Local Government Commissioner. I shall supported in that concern by the then return to those shortly. I am pleased to say Opposition and now supported by this that, in the community, there is a very positive Government—that is, that the Queensland response from private business entrepreneurs Turf Club is holding the rest of the Queensland for what they see as a Budget that will racing industry to ransom by its own greed and stimulate and allow for economic growth in this lust to return to the folds of power and running State. I was particularly impressed with the of the racing industry in Queensland. At the opportunity that our Government found for same time it is holding a gun to the heads of providing extra money for Legal Aid and for the rest of the clubs throughout this State the Director of Public Prosecutions. through its own private deal with Sky Channel. It will not make public the details of that deal. Turning to the question of the Criminal It refuses to make them available even to the Justice Commission's budget, I found it difficult Minister of the day. It is high time for this to understand and peculiar that the time spent Government to take the initiative, to go to the on examining the Estimates of the CJC was Queensland Turf Club and all the clubs who two out of three hours, yet in reality it is only have signed privacy agreements and to say one fourteenth of the Minister's budget. that it wants copies of them. If those clubs are Although the two are not necessarily not prepared to deliver, the Government connected, I am glad that the inquiry was 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3095 announced yesterday by this Government. Gympie, Mr Len Stephan, and the staff: That inquiry was an election promise and was research director, Ms Karen Sampford; always contemplated. I believe that some of research officer, Ms Meg Hoban; executive the answers to questions put by the Estimates assistant, Ms Maree Lane. It is significant that committee to the Minister and the Chairman of the majority report of Estimates Committee B the Criminal Justice Commission revealed a contained a number of references that were situation that, I expect, prompted the decision significantly critical of aspects of the Budget. I to be made earlier than it may otherwise have refer to page 3 of the Estimates Committee B been. It appears to me that it is time that there report, which states— was an examination of the matters that were "The Committee expresses concern mentioned in Parliament on 13 September by that any loss of the Commission's Mr Grice and on 18 September in the independence"— Estimates committee public hearing. that is referring to the Anti-Discrimination In my belief, it is a great pity that the Commission— chairman of the CJC was apparently unable to follow the Budget procedures that are followed "could result in a reduction of accessibility by all other departmental heads. We had the by the community." unhappy spectacle of the CJC Chairman I ask the Attorney-General to take note that coming into a public hearing of an Estimates that was the majority view of the committee. committee and virtually saying, "I wasn't going Similarly, I draw the Committee's attention to follow", or "I couldn't follow the processes to the reference at page 4 of the report, which that others followed." It was a pity that the states— Police Service was also apparently brought into disrepute and used almost as a "The Committee expresses concern scapegoat to justify a budget increase. It was that no budget provision has been made necessary that the Budget involve some cuts to increase the number of District and for various departments. There is no doubt Supreme Court judges from the 1995-96 that the public see that the CJC has a job to number of 53, to reflect the five additional do, but a review is due and, at first glance, District and Supreme Court judges there is no reason why it should not be subject pledged by the Coalition before the 1995 to budget cuts in common with other election." departments. That is another broken promise. We are still a I was pleased to see funding for victims of judicial quintet short of a bench in respect of crime has been increased. The Government is the Government's approach to appointments. doing what it can to ease the pain of those It is puzzling to note that the Government people. I believe that we have to bring in a can find fully $6m to put away in the Budget system whereby criminals are made to pay for for the holding of a referendum for an Upper the damage that they cause. House, yet it quibbles over money necessary I was very pleased to see the topic of for important work such as fighting corruption enhancement of a computer database for by the Criminal Justice Commission. Similarly, I comparative sentences in the Office of the draw the attention of the Committee to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I hope that passage at page 4 of the committee's report, that can be the subject of a thorough which states— examination within the next year or two. "The Committee expresses concern I was pleased to be able to flag my that the cut in funding for training for concerns about the growth in the number and justices of the peace/Magistrates Courts quantity of gambling devices in this State. We in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heard only recently the comments of a communities may result in less Victorian judge who had the difficult job of opportunity for indigenous participation in sentencing a lady caught in a web of gambling the administration of justice." addiction. I know that the Attorney-General wants to The debt collection problem for the wind back the justice of the peace reforms Department of Emergency Services was introduced by my predecessor, but I do draw another concern. to the attention of the Committee that in remote areas, in Aboriginal and Islander Time expired. communities, it is of vital importance that there Hon. M. J. FOLEY (Yeronga) should be opportunities for people to train to (4.27 p.m.): I thank the Chairperson of obtain justice of the peace (Magistrates Court) Estimates Committee B, the member for qualifications. 3096 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996

The Honourable the Attorney-General considerable importance and there is no doubt need only go to the Torres Strait and to the that financial accountability to the people of far-flung parts of Cape York to see the vital Queensland through the parliamentary importance of allowing indigenous participation Estimates committee procedure is of in the administration of justice. paramount importance. To ensure financial Let me turn to the statement of accountability to the people of Queensland, reservations by the Opposition members. The many long and arduous hours are spent in cuts to the budget of the Criminal Justice preparation for the committee. Regrettably, Commission are deeply disturbing. On the often the dedicated efforts of the many evidence, the budget cuts will compromise the individuals involved in the procedure is not ability of the CJC to combat corruption. The recognised or is not given adequate credit. alternative explanation offered by the Minister The Department of Emergency Services that those savings could be achieved through and the Office of Sport and Recreation corporate services cuts is a bogus explanation. operates on a budget in excess of $500m and It is quite false, and demonstrably false. employs more than 4,500 people as well as Indeed, it is so false that the Minister did not looks after something like 70,000 to 80,000 even have the temerity to raise it with the volunteers. With a change of Government Criminal Justice Commission at any point prior comes a change in priorities and, with that to the announcement of the budget. So there change of priorities, the amount and direction was no expression of concern by the Minister of funding differs from that of previous funding to the Criminal Justice Commission about the arrangements of previous Governments. It is a corporate services spending. That has been priority of this Government to improve advanced as a pretext after the event. emergency service delivery and to encourage There is a broken promise in respect of the development of sport and recreation at all the extra $1m for victim support services. levels throughout the State. The Although that extra funding was promised by Government's policy objectives have been Mr Beanland, it has not been delivered. I draw reflected in a 10.3 per cent budget increase attention to the most disturbing aspects in for fire services and a 10.3 per cent increase relation to procedural matters. The absence of for ambulance services. televising represented a change of heart in the This financial year, more than $68m in majority of the committee. There has been a sport and recreation programs and facilities will disgraceful attack on committee witness Frank be provided—a $1.1m increase on the last Clair by the Attorney-General and by the financial year. This $1.1m increase indicates Premier. However, the most extraordinary the importance that the Government places thing was that the Minister did not read his on sport and recreation and the corresponding own answer to the committee delivered on 17 promotion of Queensland's social and September in which it is stated that, on the economic development. advice of the CJC, there was "significant The funding increases to the Fire Service corruption of police by criminal elements". The and the Ambulance Service will be directed to Minister expressed himself to be "surprised" areas that will achieve improved emergency and "staggered" when he heard of that in the services delivery. The Government is public hearing, although he himself had provided that information fully a day before. committed to increasing firefighter numbers by Indeed, he was so surprised that he had not 135 over three years and the provision of new even advised the Police Minister. It was a firefighting equipment and other things. The dereliction of duty by the Minister. provision of an efficient and effective ambulance service is also a priority of this Time expired. Government. With that in mind, 33 additional Hon. M. D. VEIVERS (Southport— staff will be employed with 14 of those new Minister for Emergency Services and Minister staff being ambulance officers. To further for Sport) (4.32 p.m.): I rise to thank all those enhance ambulance service delivery, the involved in the conduct of Estimates budget has allowed for an expansion of the Committee B by which the financial paramedic program. administration of the Department of There is no doubt that, prior to the holding Emergency Services and the Office of Sport of the Estimates committee, departmental and and Recreation was examined vigorously. committee staff worked many late nights. I Numerous individuals put in many hours give my personal thanks to the director- of work to ensure the objectives of the general, Mr John Hocken, and the Executive committee were achieved. There is no doubt Director of the Office of Sport and Recreation, that accountability for one's actions are of Roger Plastow, for their enormous effort and 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3097 contributions to the Estimates committee. I and I lend my support for the views that the also give my thanks to the Commissioner for Minister expressed about their commitment. the Ambulance Service, Dr Gerry FitzGerald Hansard and the attendants covered the and to the Acting Commissioner of the Fire process admirably well. Service at the time, Mike Hall, for their The Opposition compiled a dissenting tremendous contribution to the Estimates report in this case over a number of issues. debate. They were largely to do with the nature of the To my ministerial staff and my unsatisfactory answers that were obtained via departmental executive directors and other the questioning. The most telling of those staff, I extend my very real thanks for their were in response to questions asked about valuable assistance. I also thank my personal rural fire brigades. It was revealed that this secretary, Mrs Darlene Heenan, who worked year some $1.5m less would be spent on rural very many late nights with the rest of my fire brigades than there was last year. I have personal staff getting everything together and to say that a most unsatisfactory answer that making sure that everything fitted the bill. They was forthcoming indicated that the $1.5m do a great job. I must also thank the staff of would be picked up by levies struck on local Hansard and the attendants because as they authorities. Let me say that the issue is moved out of this Chamber into the other starting to burn—pardon the pun—because I Chamber, it became more difficult to do notice that yesterday in the Gold Coast things. We really appreciate it. I know that now Bulletin, which is circulated right in the and then we mumble, but Hansard seems to Minister's backyard, an article stated that 20 get it all down and get it right, which is rural fire brigades in that area are not very amazing. To the Government and Opposition happy with the Government's attitude towards members of the committees—— rural fire brigades. I trust that the Minister Mr Palaszczuk: Is this a valedictory takes heed of that article and that he at least speech? will fund rural fire brigades to the level at which the Labor Government funded them last year, Mr VEIVERS: I say to the member to which was around $8m. The Minister's own take the thanks while I am nice and sweet advice is that he should fund rural fire brigades because one of these days I might not be as to $10.5m. kosher. I thank the members of the committee for their vigorous questioning, especially the The member for Gladstone made member for Rockhampton, and also the reference to the Helicopter Rescue Service. Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Jim Elder. I Her question was also evaded by the Minister also congratulate the Chairman of the and some of the departmental staff. The Committee, the member for Gympie, Mr Len Minister knows full well, as I do—even though Stephan, on handling a difficult situation he did not make the guarantee, which was because we were really outnumbered. Also, made by the then Opposition Leader, now the the member for Mansfield, Frank Carroll, Premier—that it was promised that, should the asked me the most difficult questions— coalition win Government, $1.5m would be actually more difficult than those asked by Mr paid to the Rockhampton Helicopter Rescue Schwarten. They kept up our concentration. I Service and to the Mackay Helicopter Rescue also thank the Independent member for Service. That promise was put in black and Gladstone. white and was well reported in the media. In fact, both rescue services indicated that they Time expired. understood that that would be the case. The Mr SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton) Mayor of Rockhampton received a letter from (4.37 p.m.): I thank the Minister for saying the Premier which stated that that would be "thank you". I join in giving my appreciation to forthcoming. those associated with this process, most Quite frankly, the mumbo jumbo that particularly to the staff, Karen Sampford, Meg came from the Minister and others when trying Hoban and Maree Lane, who was the to explain wet leasing did not wash. executive assistant. In common with the Minister, I also acknowledge the effort that the Mr Veivers: But it was right. public servants put into this process. I do not Mr SCHWARTEN: It was not correct. think that it does them any harm, but in terms The document that was taken to Treasury on of the hours that they put in, most of which is 22 June states that the coalition election overtime for which they are not paid, they commitments include capital funding for probably argue that it does not do them a lot helicopter rescue services at Rockhampton of good, either. Having worked in that process and Mackay. Let the record show that there is from a ministerial office, I appreciate that work no doubt whatsoever that that commitment 3098 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 was made. I feel sorry for the Minister that he the question of whether or not they have the has not been able to convince "Tweetie", the ability to come up with some other issues, Honourable the Treasurer—— because these reservations are a continuation The CHAIRMAN: Order! The member of that debate and do not in fact raise issues will refer to the member by her proper title. that were not answered. This is a recycling of questions in what was, for the first time, a fully Mr SCHWARTEN: It was a slip of the open and accountable process, unlike that tongue. The Treasurer's canary yellow suit held in previous years when Ministers did in overcame me for a moment. The fact is that fact dodge questions. Treasury was not forthcoming with that funding and the Minister is left with an explanation to A number of points have been made in make. I do not hold him responsible; I hold the relation to the Justices of the Peace Program Premier and the Treasurer responsible as outlined on page 3 of the reservations in because they did not honour that relation to the Department of Justice. In the commitment. I assure them that I intend to answer to a question, it was pointed out that keep them honest in that regard. only an appropriate number of people will be trained. In this case, training for justices of the On page 6 of the dissenting report, there peace (Magistrates Courts) has been is a note about the hiring of a consultant to completed in 31 Aboriginal and Torres Strait review the Ambulance Service. I think that the Islander communities throughout Queensland. Minister erred in that regard. I am not The communities of Mornington Island and commenting on whether or not Lyn Staib did a Napranum are currently receiving training. satisfactory job, but I do say that she should Negotiations are continuing in relation to the have gone through a competitive process in training of applicants at Doomadgee. The order to win the contract from the Ambulance reduction relates to the number of trainees— Service. which is 30—who still require training in these Lastly, I think it was a great failure of the centres. All other Aboriginal and Torres Strait whole system that there was no media Islander communities have received the coverage of the Estimates committees per se. appropriate training, which includes 159 I believe that those committees should be persons trained in 1995-96. Most of these televised, as is the Parliament. appointments have been approved since I have been the Minister. We have been Time expired. pleased to keep the process running. Hon. D. E. BEANLAND (Indooroopilly— One is not going to put through 159 Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) justices of the peace (Magistrates Courts) (4.42 p.m.): In rising to speak in this debate, I every year in these areas, because that firstly thank the Director-General, Mr Kevin means that it goes on indefinitely. The point is Martin, his departmental officers and my own that that is an appropriate number to have in ministerial staff for their assistance and each of these communities; we are training support in the preparation and presentation of the appropriate number of people. Therefore, the department's budget processes. I also it really makes a mockery of the whole thank the other two accountable officers who exercise to start repeating the issue. come within my portfolio area, the Electoral Commissioner and his staff and the Public The Alternative Dispute Resolution Trustee and his officers. Program is another issue that was raised. An answer was forthcoming which again outlined In looking at the report and the the position fully: there was no destruction of reservations which were tabled today, I notice the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. that they contain a list of matters that have The Opposition does not like the fact that the already been answered. Quite frankly, it is a bit Government is going to extend these services of a farce for Opposition members to simply throughout the State not only through the say that they do not like the answers they courts but also through community justice have been given. They do not have the ability programs. Not only people in Brisbane but to come up with other issues to list in the also people throughout the State will be reservations, so we have what is largely a eligible for these services for the first time. I repeat of the points that Opposition members know the Opposition does not like it, because wanted to make, and have made, in relation it is an extension of the service. Of course, we to questions on the Notice Paper. They asked saw an appalling Alternative Dispute questions prior to Estimates committees Resolution Program during the Labor Party's sitting, and quite fulsome answers were time in Government. Little work was done in supplied. Then they come forth with these this area, apart from a number of points being points in the reservations. Quite frankly, it begs raised from time to time about community 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3099 youth conferencing, victim/offender when we were in Government. That question conferencing and so on. In 1993-94, $22,000 was not adequately answered at the was allocated by the then Minister, and 19 Estimates committee, nor has it been conferences were conducted at a cost of adequately answered in the answers that I $1,184 each. When the member for Yeronga have received to questions on notice. was the Minister, only 22 conferences were In fact, when one looks at the increases, undertaken at a cost of $6,045 per one finds that they are significant—$2m for conference; an overall outlay of $133,000. salaries, wages and related payments—yet I see also that the saga of the Supreme there has been no increase in funding for Court Library has raised its head again. Ample grants and no increase at all in funding for funding has been allocated to the Supreme sports in this year's Budget. In fact, in some Court Library, which this year will receive an areas there have been cuts. However, the estimated $925,000. That is slightly more than Government is doing this under the guise of the funding provided in the 1995-96 financial increasing the size of the department—— year. In no way will that be cutting back the Mr Schwarten: In other words, less operations of the library. These moneys are money for kids in sport. coming from the solicitors' trust accounts. Of course, as at 30 June 1996, the cash held by Mr ELDER: And more money—— the Supreme Court Library Committee was in Mr Schwarten: For bureaucrats. excess of $1.2m. Of course, on it goes. Mr ELDER: More money for bureaucrats Time expired. with a narrower focus. That would have to be Hon. J. P. ELDER (Capalaba—Deputy the point that received the most Leader of the Opposition) (4.48 p.m.): I will condemnation during the Estimates hearings, keep my remarks to those parts of the particularly as it relates to sport. If there has dissenting report which dealt with Sport. I must been $500m in cuts across departments to say that throughout the Estimates process I meet this efficiency requirement in the Budget, was particularly concerned about the I would like to know where the cuts will be evasiveness of some Ministers and the fact made in sport and recreation. The only place that they had to rely continually on staff to cuts can be made is in respect of grants to provide me with information which I would kids and sporting organisations. have thought would have related directly to Of greater worry are the high-priority their portfolios. programs, particularly community centre One thing that concerned me significantly programs, that we had in place for high-need in regard to the Sports Program was that, as areas, such as Riverview, Beenleigh and the Minister said, the department had Glenala. For areas which needed those changed priorities with the change of centres and areas that the previous Minister Government. Certainly the Office of Sport and had pro-actively supported because the kids Recreation has changed; it no longer has the there needed these facilities, the funds have Youth component, which has gone to the been withdrawn. Glenala high school is still Department of Families, Youth and under consideration. Community Care. However, there is a Mr Palaszczuk: The Minister has significant increase in salaries, wages and promised it. related payments in the Office of Sport and Recreation, as shown in the Budget. I had Mr ELDER: If the Minister has promised estimated approximately a 36 per cent it, I would be pleased if Glenala high school increase, and I admit that I was wrong. It gains the centre it deserves. Some interesting happened to be a 40 per cent increase. That information arising from the Estimates process worried me. I asked the Minister about the concerned the Caloundra sports centre and increase, but he could not relate the details. the Toowoomba aquatic centre. I ask the Minister: is Glenala going ahead? I have received the answer to my questions on this issue, and I find that the Mr Veivers: You're doing the talking. increase is largely due to the costs of Mr ELDER: The point is that high-need restructuring the program following the areas in Labor constituencies have been rolled amalgamation of the department and the under this program. The Government even transfer of funds from the former Department rolled the sports centre at Cooloola, which is in of Tourism, Sport and Youth to the Office of the electorate of the member for Gympie. I Sport and Recreation. I cannot understand know that is creating a lot of pain for that how it will cost the Minister more to deliver a member. High-need areas were rolled in program that has a narrower focus than it did favour of areas such as Caloundra and others. 3100 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996

Caloundra received a $1m grant for a centre. which may span a number of years. However, Toowoomba received $750,000 for an aquatic the Labor Government's record shows that its centre. The Labor high-need areas have 1995-96 police capital works budget missed out completely. In respect of Statewide amounted to some $37m, of which $12.4m sport development programs and community was a carryover from the previous year. The development programs, there will be less 1994-95 capital works expenditure was $3m, money for a smaller number of communities with $22m rolled over. In 1993-94, $11.6m and associations. That is reflected in the was carried over from the previous year out of Ministerial Program Statements. the total of $22.8m. In 1992-93, the total The area of greatest concern is the budget was $26m, with a rollover component recreation camps. By the end of this year, the of $10m. The Labor Government set the Minister will recommend the selling and scene. We want to move away from that. We privatising of recreation camps in this State. want to spend the money on something of That is what will happen at the end of this value and get the job done. That is what we year. I will take an interjection from the are doing. Minister. I challenge him to tell me now that he As to the resource implications of the will not sell or privatise recreation camps. Weapons Amendment Act—there was criticism in the report with respect to the Time expired. administration of the gun buyback scheme. Hon. T. R. COOPER (Crows Nest— The honourable member for Waterford said Minister for Police and Corrective Services and that it was highly unsatisfactory. I ask the Minister for Racing) (4.52 p.m.): Five minutes honourable member for Waterford, as a is not long in which to get through all of the member of the committee, what he would matters raised in the debate, but I want to try consider to be an appropriate response. Is he to cover as many issues as I can. Firstly, I will suggesting that we should cut the police address the important issue of police budget and hurt other vitally important areas? numbers. The budgeted 1996-97 increase of That is what he wants. He is not going to get 139 additional police is a net figure comprised that from me; I am not going to do that. Or of 244 new recruits which accounts for does the honourable member want replacement of attrition and growth. In administration to take precedence over addition, there is a projected increase of 166 operational policing or recruiting? That would people rejoining the service. That adds up to a be ridiculous. As I outlined in my answer, gross increase of 410 officers. obviously we want more reasonable funding for the administration of the scheme from the The shadow Minister referred to projected Commonwealth. That is what the Opposition separations of between 3.5 per cent and 4 per should support. The Opposition should get cent, or between 224 and 256 police leaving behind that. We need an extra $8m. Then we the service. Even if the honourable member is could do the job better. right, that leaves a projected net increase of between 154 and 186 officers. That really Mr Barton interjected. makes our projected increase of 139 officers Mr COOPER: What else can I do if the more than reasonable and well and truly Feds are not going to cough up at this point? achievable. I acknowledge the critical need to We can only do the best we can. It is as achieve increases in police numbers. Every simple as that. That is what one would call an member in this place is interested in that. That honest answer. We are still going for more is why we introduced the 10-year plan. That is funding. If the Opposition wants to help us, it why we are going for 9,100 officers by the year should do so. We would welcome the help. 2005 versus the Opposition's 7,740 officers. As to regional police budgets—the We have budgeted for 2,780 extra officers as suggestion that service delivery at the opposed to the Opposition's 1,420 extra operational police level may be diminished is officers. That is 1,360 more officers than rubbish. The regions will be the main members opposite provided. We have beneficiaries of the 139 additional police, with demonstrated that that goal is eminently some 102 officers expected to be posted to achievable. That is the way we are going. regional areas. Funding will also be provided As to unspent funding on police capital to enable a further 84 police positions to be works—I note the Opposition's complaint that civilianised, mainly in communications rooms some $19m worth of capital works were rolled throughout the State. Again, that is where we over from the previous financial year. I explain are heading. We are trying to get them out yet again that that rollover is principally into the regions as well as to places such as attributable to the continuation of programs Logan—an area of which we are fully aware. 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3101

As to speed cameras and revenue—I learned that there was no reduction in the point out to the committee that revenue number of people employed in that office. questions are not part of the Estimates However, the positions have all been process. Nevertheless, I am more than happy downgraded in order to accommodate that to respond. Members opposite say that it is a budget shortfall. revenue grab, but it is not. Even though The Opposition is generally satisfied with revenue is certainly estimated to rise, it is the direction of the Office of Consumer Affairs, about saving lives, cutting down injuries and which is a continuation of the direction that the preventing people from being injured and office was taking under the Labor maimed and having to undergo very Government. However, we are concerned expensive, sad and tragic rehabilitation about a number of issues. The first is the programs. That is what it is all about and it is telephone system. I and other members I what the Travelsafe Committee was driving at. know get constant complaints from members We are about trying to save lives and reduce of the public who cannot get through to the costs so that we can devote any extra revenue Office of Consumers Affairs via the phone to education programs and programs that will because it is always engaged. They are prevent speeding, accidents and injuries to always put on hold. I am not saying that this is people. That is the constructive and the fault of the present Government or the responsible approach that we are taking. present Minister, but it is something that we As always happens, my time allocation is are going to have to confront and improve on running out. There are plenty of things I would in that office. I note that there was no money like to add with respect to Corrective Services allocated this year to do that. I hope that is and Racing. I thank those people involved— something that the Minister will look to do in Hansard and everyone else—as well as some the next year. of those on the committee who did not do a I turn now to the issue of education. The bad job. At least members opposite were civil Office of Consumer Affairs has dismantled the enough to ask fairly sensible questions. education and marketing branch and halved Time expired. the amount of money spent on educational Ms SPENCE (Mount Gravatt) purposes for the office. What does this mean (4.58 p.m.): I intend to make a few brief to Queenslanders? In the past, the office was comments on the Estimates committee a valuable tool in presenting training process, because I had the opportunity to be workshops in the community—in clubs, involved with three Estimates committees this etc.—to provide valuable information sessions. year. For Opposition members in this Chamber Time expired. the Estimates committees are a very important Report adopted. vehicle for allowing members to gain an appreciation of the Budget. Having observed quite a number of Estimates Committee C Ministers appearing before the Estimates Report No. 1 committee this year—I think seven or eight appeared before the committees on which I The CHAIRMAN: The question is— served—I can say that the success of the "That Report No. 1 of Estimates committee was very much dependent on the Committee C be adopted." ability of the Minister who is before the Hon. V. P. LESTER (Keppel) committee. Most of the committees were very (5.01 p.m.): I am very happy to report on the successful and the Ministers who appeared hearings of Estimates Committee C into the before the committees adopted a very positive Department of Training and Industrial spirit and answered the questions they were Relations and the Education Department. We asked. One or two Ministers were determined wish to thank the two Ministers and their staff to filibuster and avoid answering questions at very much for their attendance and their all costs. I am not going to name names, but cooperation. The research staff of the those committees before whom those committee—Louise Hepworth, Andrea Musch Ministers appeared were not as successful. and Maureen Barnes—all worked long hours In the very brief time I have left to me, I and worked hard to ensure that the hearings would like to say a few things about the Office of Estimates Committee C were a success. I of Consumer Affairs in the Attorney-General's thank those members who attended—Mr portfolio. That office has experienced a severe Bredhauer, the Deputy Chairman, Mr Braddy, cutback in its corporate affairs budget this Ms Spence, Mr Hegarty and Mr Tanti—for their year. The budget was reduced by half. We cooperation. Two other members of 3102 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996

Parliament called in: the member for with. In relation to TAFE—the Minister was Archerfield, who has just come into the asked why TAFE had underexpended a fixed Chamber, and the member for Bulimba. They capital budget by more than $16m. The made worthwhile contributions as well. Minister went on to answer those particular An Opposition member: And the issues. The field of education will be dealt with member for Mackay. by other members, but the committee asked the Minister about what appeared to be a 35 Mr LESTER: The member for Mackay, per cent cut in the amount of money allocated Mr Mulherin—who I was just about to come for the Computers in Schools Program. A to—made some comments in relation to departmental officer said that the program was issues that affected the Mackay area. almost complete. The hearings went like clockwork. Time expired. Generally speaking, there was good Mr BREDHAUER (Cook) (5.06 p.m.): I cooperation all round. There were lots of rise to speak on the report of Estimates searching questions and detailed answers. Committee C. I will confine myself substantially However, we should not lose sight of the fact to those Estimates relating to the Education that we need to examine just where we are portfolio. The first thing that should be placed going with Estimates committees. I believe on record is the Minister's response to my first that they are a great way of giving members of question in relation to the Education Parliament an opportunity to ask those Department's proportion of the $500m in questions that they need to ask. This applies Budget cuts that had been indicated by the not just to the members of the committees. Treasurer. The Estimates committee report The fact that other members of Parliament identifies that the Minister indicated that the can come in and ask questions is a very $53m which was coming through Education's desirable way to go, and it is working. Perhaps share of the $500m in cuts was to be made we need to do a little bit more work to ensure up of the following areas: occupational stress that it works better, but generally speaking the management, $600,000; school uniform progress we have made since the inception of allowance, $29,330,000; NALSAS, these committees has been reasonably worth $4,048,000; behaviour management/school while and will continue to improve if we are all discipline, $3,134,000; Supporting People with prepared to learn from the experience. Disabilities, $14,800,000; Flying Start, I want to note a few issues covered in the $5,064,000; Exporting Queensland hearings. In terms of workplace health and Campaign, $15,000; Say No to Drugs, safety, $1.23m will be allocated over three $300,000; and cultural heritage renewal, years to continue the employment of $529,000. I note also that the Minister, in workplace health and safety inspectors to answering that question, identified that some improve compliance with construction industry of those programs had been cut and then project notification requirements. That is a been replaced with other programs. It appears worthwhile allocation. An amount of $0.45m to me to be a bit of a pea and thimble trick will be allocated over two years to improve a that Treasury and the different portfolio areas pilot program using partnerships to promote are involved in. But there are significant areas industry self-management of workplace health which have been cut in this budget. and safety issues through the development of I want to talk now about the reservations industry codes of practice, self-audit tools for which I and other non-Government members targeted industries and accreditation of private of the committee indicated. Probably one of workplace health and safety service providers. the most notable features of this Budget in a That is very commendable. The more we work global sense has been the series of broken to lessen accidents in the workplace, the more promises that has characterised the Budget, productive our nation will be and the more we particularly in regard to the seven new or will be able to compete on the international increased taxes that the Treasurer has market. introduced. Education is another of those The committee sought justification for a areas which is characterised by a significant major focus on compliance and fraud within number of broken election promises which I workers' compensation. I will not go into all the will identify as I go through. Firstly, I want to issues now, but work is being done in that make a comment about the statements by the regard. Perhaps more work needs to be done. public servants to the committee about the Throughout the length and breadth of our likelihood of the Government being able to nation, and indeed internationally, fraud is a make any savings on school cleaning constant issue that Parliaments must deal throughout the remainder of 1996. 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3103

It is not to the credit of the Minister that allowance, he would redistribute that money to he and the Premier, after the school cleaners schools. The Minister has once again reneged issue was to all intents and purposes resolved, on that promise that he made to the P & Cs tried to save face on their backflip by arguing when he wrote to them, saying that he would that $30m would have to be saved by the give them back the money. He has taken school cleaners by the end of this year. That is away the money; it has been consumed by demonstrably untrue. The public servants Treasury. The Minister will argue that the have in fact identified to the committee—and money comes back elsewhere, but the fact is the Minister was eventually forced to own up that he broke his promise. to this fact—that there would be almost no Time expired. savings in the Education budget. As I say, it was just an exercise by the Minister to try to Mr HEGARTY (Redlands) (5.11 p.m.): cover his gaffe and mishandling of the school At the outset, I would like to acknowledge my cleaners issue. pleasure at being part of an Estimates committee on this occasion, my first year in Prior to the last State election, the the Parliament. I was very pleased with the Minister promised that he would be doubling way it was conducted, under the very able the number of guidance officers. He was quite hand of the member for Keppel as chairman, specific in his terminology: he said that he and the cooperation of the members for would be doubling the number of guidance Kedron, Mount Gravatt and Cook made it a officers in Queensland schools in his first term very fruitful and productive period to draw out in Parliament. He did not say "guidance from the respective Ministers for Training and officers and associated personnel". He Industrial Relations and Education the identified that there are 349 guidance officers highlights of their portfolios' budgets. in Queensland, and both he and public servants who were addressing the Estimates Firstly, in relation to the Training and committee attested to the fact that it would be Industrial Relations portfolio, I would like to impossible for this Government to honour its point out that during the public hearings election promise and to double the number of questions were asked of the Minister as to why guidance officers in Queensland schools, as it the Division of Workplace Health and Safety committed itself to doing. It was in fact a was not actively enforcing its legislation by foolish promise, but now that the promise has prosecuting poor-performing employers, as been made, the current situation we have indicated by the fact that only 58 employers amounts to yet another broken election were prosecuted for serious breaches of the promise. Act during 1994-95. The weapons of the armory of the Division of Workplace Health Another area about which I want to and Safety are not restricted to simply express concern is SIMS, the Statewide obtaining prosecutions under the Act. Critics Network for Information and Management focus upon 58 prosecutions for serious Systems, a computer system for offences; however, they seem to forget or they administration in schools. In my view, there choose to ignore that there are other has been a deliberate attempt by the enforcement and compliance measures used Government to bandy about different figures by the division. They do not mention that, about how much it was going to spend on during 1994-95, the division issued 2,751 SIMS—on this computer management project. warning notices, 2,706 improvement notices I identified six different figures the Government and 596 prohibition notices following the 2,036 had given, and eventually the figure we got investigations. from the public servants was a different figure The real facts are that there were more from anything in the Budget papers or the than 6,000 actions against employers for related documents produced by the Minister. I workplace health and safety breaches, not the think it is an attempt by this Minister to hide 58 focused on by some people. The figures the fact that this Government has cut the for 1995-96 show a further improvement in the Computers in Schools Program by 35 per division's performance. During the last financial cent. year, the number of warning notices issued I want to mention Sunsmart. Sunsmart is increased to 3,677, while 3,573 improvement an important health initiative in Queensland notices and 497 prohibition notices were schools to encourage and educate children issued. That is over 7,700 notices issued after about the dangers of sun exposure in more than 20,000 investigations and audits of Queensland. It has been abolished. I also workplaces across all industry sectors. That is want to talk about the Minister's promise that, a far different picture from that painted by when he got rid of the school uniform some selfish people and groups. 3104 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996

The Inspection and Advisory Service everyone concerned tried to carry out their part Branch of the Division of Workplace Health well, including the Chair and the Ministers. Of and Safety has over 220 staff, including 77 course, the Government and the Opposition support personnel and trainees. This is exactly does not agree and there are some significant the same total as last financial year. The factors and details that arise from the process existing 129 inspectors cover around 150,000 which confirm the differences between the registered industrial and construction Government and the Opposition, but the workplaces. Many of these locations include process is working and I believe that it will offices such as professional and clerical continue to work. It is encouraging to see that workplaces. The division has continued to on both sides there is a real determination to increase the number of prosecutions in recent make the process work. years and with the change in Government it In the short time available, I want to will be able to achieve even greater speak about some of the matters which I improvements. The number of prosecutions believe indicate the greatest problems in this does not reflect the true effort and value that Government department and Ministry. As I did this division is contributing to society. With over in the Estimates committee, I will open with 20,000 field actions and 7,700 notices last workplace health and safety. What has financial year, this division is working hard to become apparent to us, after an examination protect Queensland workers and the future of of what is occurring in Queensland and in Queensland businesses. other States, is that we must do considerably It is true that in the Kennedy report Mr better in this field. It does not just mean that Des Knight, in his performance audit into the there will be benefits in terms of the workers Division of Workplace Health and Safety, said themselves, which of course is the most that 132 policy holders were responsible for 30 important thing, and efficiency for industry; if per cent of workers' compensation claims. This we do better in workplace health and safety, figure has often been quoted by the that will have a significant impact in relation to opponents to the rescue package put forward the claims being made under workers' by Mr Jim Kennedy to save the Workers compensation, which this Government has Compensation Fund from the brink of disaster. made such play about. Yet again we meet on What is not being said by those individuals the first day of this parliamentary sittings and and groups who have such a large and vested we still do not see the legislation. It is now over interest in the workers' compensation industry three months since the Kennedy report was is that these 132 policy holders are some of brought down and all we have heard is the largest employers in the State who also rhetoric. pay approximately 30 per cent of the fund's In terms of workplace health and safety, premiums, and in all but one case received a what we know from other States is that when it merit bonus for a favourable claim-to-premium has been seriously looked into, it has brought ratio. These employers are clearly not the about such beneficial effects that the numbers unsafe employers that they are being made of workers' compensation claims drop. It is out to be. disappointing to the Opposition that the I would like to conclude by mentioning Government has taken the road of bashing that the new initiative of the airconditioning of the worker by taking away workers' schools in the Education budget above the compensation rights and that it has been slow 20th parallel will be a welcome and much- to act on the review of the workplace health needed initiative for the children and teaching and safety programs. In the committee report staff in that part of the country. I point out that we see promises in that regard but insufficient those schools that will not have the capacity to activity. fully fund the installation on a $1 for every $2 I refer also to the information which of Government funding will not be neglected; became clearer in relation to the long-term they will not be forgotten by the Minister. unemployed. What we have seen from the Certain options are being investigated to put Budget, and it was confirmed by the Estimates that in train and they will benefit along with committee details, is that this Government those communities that are a little more really has no plan for the long-term affluent. unemployed. All we have heard from this Government is talk. Unemployment is a Time expired. serious concern in this country. I see that Hon. P. J. BRADDY (Kedron) today's Courier-Mail mentions the matter. We (5.16 p.m.): I would also like to congratulate are now into the eighth month of this Estimates Committee C. I believe that it was Government and unemployment is rising. conducted in a good atmosphere and Page 2 of today's Courier-Mail carries an 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3105 article headed "Job ads falling—ANZ." The Government's Workplace Relations Bill. Having article states— complementary legislation will ensure that the "The ANZ Bank yesterday warned reforms are effective and readily accessible to employment growth might not be employers and employees. Whereas harmony sufficient to prevent the jobless rate is clearly desirable, the integrity of topping 9 per cent. Queensland's industrial relations system will be maintained. It is important for Queenslanders The bank's chief economist . . . said to be aware that we will retain a strong and the Federal Budget had not created any effective State industrial relations jurisdiction. jobs boost and employers were disappointed . . ." The Government's commitment to establishing an effective Queensland industrial The Queensland Budget complemented relations framework which provides for a fair, the Federal Budget in this regard. But what do balanced and truly flexible system includes: we see in relation to the figures? In unfair dismissal procedures based on a fair go Queensland, the number of job all round; freedom of choice, that is, maximum advertisements this month compared to last choice for workers and employers in setting year, when we had Labor Governments workplace arrangements and conditions; a federally and in Queensland, fell by 0.7 per cent. That was 9.1 per cent lower than at the simplified award system which provides a same time last year. Under this Government, safety net for employees; fair agreements in its eighth month, unemployment has underpinned by a set of guaranteed minimum worsened. The Estimates prove that the conditions; a strong and independent umpire Government does not really know how to to assist parties in the making and keeping of agreements and to settle disputes; handle it. Its vision is to do something in guaranteeing freedom of choice, through the relation to industrial legislation—again, no abolition of preference provisions and action. The Government says it is going to wait compulsory unionism and removing restrictions until the Federal legislation is improved. If the on the establishment of unions at the Government thinks that that is the panacea enterprise level; and facilitating genuine and the answer, it has to move more quickly, enterprise bargaining between employers and because unemployment is rising and people their employees through non-union enterprise are finding it even more difficult to find jobs. agreements and workplace agreements. Put We do not agree with the Government's simply, these reforms are all about answer to the problem, but it has not even put cooperation and freedom of choice. it into place. In relation to workers' compensation— The Government has a strategy, which despite the scare talk, the Estimates show that was outlined in the Budget and by the we have $1.25 billion worth of assets still Honourable the Minister for Training and available in workers' compensation. Despite Industrial Relations during the Estimates the Premier saying that perhaps by the end of hearings, which will ensure that businesses this year it will be $1 billion down, the figure is and workers are informed of the changes to nothing like it—$312m in deficit. the industrial relations legislation and of the new opportunities that will be available. This Time expired. Government has allocated $1.175m in the Ms WARWICK (Barron River) Budget to implement these changes. The (5.21 p.m.): I rise to speak on an issue which allocation will fund a number of initiatives, was raised during the hearings of Estimates including the establishment of an Office of the Committee C in relation to the Department of Employment Advocate. This body will advise Training and Industrial Relations. It is an issue employees and employers entering into of importance not only to the Government but workplace agreements and will ensure that all to all Queenslanders. I speak of the parties abide by those agreements. Other Government's industrial relations reforms, initiatives include the establishment of a which will herald a new era of greater flexibility Workplace Information Unit to promote and in which the focus of industrial relations will be advise on enterprise-level industrial relations, where it belongs, that is, at the workplace and particularly to small and medium businesses; enterprise level. The reforms are about to provide advice on workplace agreements encouraging cooperation, which can only lead and to promote a team culture within firms; to better harmony, satisfaction, productivity and the implementation of strategies to and profitability for all. This new direction will promote the new industrial relations laws. This be implemented through legislation which will will help to ensure that the reforms achieve the shortly be brought into the Parliament. The goals of increased productivity in business and legislation will harmonise with the Federal greater accountability for industrial 3106 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 organisations. Another initiative is the Mr T. B. SULLIVAN: Their faces are establishment of a Work and Family Program, frozen, are they? I am not quite sure about which will help employees effectively balance that, but there is some disappointment being their work and family responsibilities through expressed in country areas. the development of mutually beneficial work The Minister told the Estimates committee practices. that an additional 934 teachers are planned I would like to congratulate the for this year's budget. That may appear to be Honourable Minister, Mr Santoro, on initiating a significant increase, but when one takes into this funding. What this illustrates to all account that the vast majority of these Queenslanders, including members opposite, positions will simply fill in for enrolment growth, is that when they were in Government they non-contact time and specific programs, such paid only lip-service to industrial relations as behaviour management, one realises that reform. Clearly, true reform will be achieved the implications are that class sizes will only under a coalition Government. certainly not decrease and will probably increase. Mr T. B. SULLIVAN (Chermside) (5.26 p.m.): Minister Quinn, Treasurer Sheldon Mr Quinn: They didn't decrease in the and Premier Borbidge were always going to six years under you, either. have a difficult task following the six record Mr T. B. SULLIVAN: The Minister is Education budgets under the leadership of wrong. There was a very slight decrease. One Wayne Goss, Keith De Lacy and the Labor thing we did not do was what the Minister and Education Minister. Although the coalition has the Treasurer did, that is, go around the State provided adequate budget allocations in a saying, "Class sizes are a major problem. We number of areas, it has failed to live up to the are going to have significant improvements. promises that it made in June 1995 and Trust us to bring this about." Some people did February 1996. There are many such areas trust them. Unfortunately, they are not happy where the coalition's budget allocation fell well about what has occurred. short of its promises. In the short time Providing adequate school transport has available to me, I will comment on some of always been a difficult problem. The Minister these. told the Estimates committee that last year's $96.7m has been increased to $98.47m, One glaring example is the provision—or which is less than a 2 per cent increase. He non-provision—of guidance officers. This also added that there was no change in the Parliament would recall that, prior to the State policy. Yet in July last year the Minister election, the Minister promised to double the indicated, especially to the non-State school number of guidance officers in Queensland sector, that significant additional funds would schools. Yet the Minister told the Estimates be extended to non-State school students, Committee that, although there are 349 particularly in regional areas. There is great guidance officers currently employed in disappointment that this has not occurred. I Queensland, the 1996-97 Budget provides for await with interest the comments from those in only an additional 38 guidance officers. The the non-Government sector, particularly in the Minister might say, "But in talking to the regional areas, who have been let down. schools, they said that they want a variety of additional resources. So we are actually going One of the most remarkable failures in to provide family services, youth workers and this Budget is the scrapping of the $2.9m some other teachers." That amounts to only Sunsmart Program. With Queensland having 70 full-time equivalent teachers, which comes the highest death rate in the world for skin nowhere near doubling the 349 guidance cancer, it is truly remarkable that a relatively officers throughout the State. We also have a cheap program of $2.9m has been scrapped. problem in that there is a shortage of To say that those funds have been rolled into guidance officers in Australia, as members the general allocation budget for schools is a would be aware. Unfortunately, many cop-out, because the Minister and I both know that schools will not target the problem in the Queensland-trained guidance officers are same way that Sunsmart has focused on it. It heading interstate. The people who are is most efficient to target schoolchildren in the suffering the most are those in regional and early years. I know that the Health Minister will remote areas. I would have thought that some be very sorry for the increased cancer rates of the National Party members of the coalition would be disappointed that that promise was that will occur. not fulfilled. Budget Paper No. 2 foreshadowed a downtrend in funding for the education budget Mr Palaszczuk: Their faces are frozen. over the next two financial years. That is the 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3107 first time that there has been a downturn in Bureau of Statistics released national data in the Education budget over the past seven June 1995 which showed that just over 60 per years and it occurred when the coalition came cent of two-parent families with dependent to power. Certainly, the coalition does not give children had both parents in the labour force. students and education the same high ranking Consistently, 1996 data shows that in that the Labor Government did. It is a shame Queensland nearly 58 per cent of all couples that, in some of essential areas in which the with dependants have both parents in the coalition promised to provide increases, it did workforce. The data showed that 46 per cent not deliver. of women with children under five were in the Time expired. labour force, and 94 per cent of fathers and 65 per cent of mothers in two-parent families Mr TANTI (Mundingburra) (5.31 p.m.): It with dependent children were in the labour was very interesting to be involved in the force. Estimates committees and to see the differences between the two Ministers, Santo I am confident that this trend is going to Santoro and Bob Quinn. It was interesting to continue as people want and deserve to have examine the departments and how they were fulfilling careers and happy family lives. It is handled. The biggest disappointment was therefore the responsibility of Government, watching Mr Bredhauer scratching for employers and employees to look at current questions, because the committee could have work practices and devise ways that can make adjourned a lot earlier. the system more flexible and more supportive of workers with family responsibilities. This I thank Vince Lester for running the Government believes that both employers and committee in a very, very good manner. employees can benefit from policies that Mr Bredhauer: You didn't have enough enable businesses to better meet the needs questions to ask. Who was scratching for of workers with family responsibilities. questions? Employees are able to enjoy greater job Mr TANTI: We had plenty of questions; satisfaction through increased control over we just wanted the member himself to make a their working lives, while employers gain from a fool of yourself. So we went along nice and cooperative, skilled and committed workforce steadily. that is more willing to participate in and achieve organisational goals. Therefore, it is a Everyone in the committee did a win-win situation. wonderful job. There was a good spirit in that committee. It is a shame that such an important issue did not receive any priority from the ALP while Mr Palaszczuk: Come on. Get back to it was in Government. Had the ALP been pro- the Estimates. active in recognising that increasing trend and Mr TANTI: I thank the honourable had it taken the initiative to act on people's member. It forms a very good process—— changing circumstances, workplaces—and in Opposition members interjected. particular employees with families—would be better off today. Mr TANTI: Let me have my say, please. In recognition of the importance of work I wish to thank all the staff involved, who and family and of the growing trend for both did a wonderful job. Estimates Committee C parents to be part of the work force, the dealt with Industrial Relations and Education. I Government has allocated $75,000 to the refer to an issue of importance to this Department of Training and Industrial Government that was raised during that Relations to implement the Work and Family Estimates committee hearing, namely, the initiative. The initiative will provide advice to need to balance work and family employers and employees on the potential responsibilities. That is an issue that will affect benefits of family-friendly policies, possible more and more Australians as the need to implementation of new work arrangements, work as well as care for family members and practical examples of successful, family- increases. As a result, an increasing number friendly practices and policies. Officers from of people have dual roles in their home and the department will do that through on-site work environments. It is the Government's visits, providing one-on-one advice to clients, goal to assist workers and employers to strike producing publications and conducting a balance between their work and family seminars. In particular, the initiative will target commitments. and assist employers from small to medium- Demographic, social and labour market sized businesses. That is yet another example trends have changed the nature of work and of the coalition Government's commitment to the profile of the workforce. The Australian helping small business. 3108 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996

Importantly, officers from the department was a fraudulent promise made by the will work with employer associations so that coalition before the election. Unfortunately, they can encourage their members to many parents in the education community introduce family-friendly policies and work believed that promise and believed that their practices. That reflects the Government's children who need extra attention and special belief that initiatives such as Work and Family assessment would receive them from the should have a practical application and should promised number of guidance officers. That is echo the needs of industry. In the Education the first disappointment. Department, there was a very big range of The second disappointment is the loss of initiatives—— the Sunsmart Program, which has already Time expired. been alluded to by Opposition members of the Ms SPENCE (Mount Gravatt) committee. That $2.9m program has gone; it (5.36 p.m.): It pains me to have to agree with has disappeared. As a previous speaker said, the member for Mundingburra, but I have to Queensland has one of the highest rates of agree that I saw an extraordinary difference skin cancer in the world. The schools will no between the two Ministers when watching longer be provided with any money for them in action in the Estimates committee. Sunsmart. Some schools thought that the However, I will not make those comparisons as Sunsmart kits that were given to preschoolers the member for Mundingburra did not do so. and children in Year 1 had outlived their usefulness. Other schools still thought that Firstly, I will comment on the Education they were terrific. However, the money that Estimates. This year, there were many was given to schools to provide sunshades, disappointments for the students of cover the playgrounds and for education Queensland in the Education budget. Most of programs was money, and that was valued by those disappointments lay in the fact that, all school communities. That has gone. The when in Opposition, this Liberal/National Party Minister says that those funds are being given Government promised the world to children to P & Cs. and parents with respect to what it would do in education if elected. One of the greatest Mr Quinn: Make Shade is still there. promises it made, which some foolish people Ms SPENCE: Make Shade is still there. believed, was that it would double the number The Minister is saying that that money is being of guidance officers. Let us consider what it given to P & Cs in their general budgetary has done in its first Budget. In Queensland we allocation, but he knows that that amount will have 349 guidance officers. This year the no longer be spent for Sunsmart purposes. Government has added only 38 additional guidance officers. I am wrong—38 is a gross The Government has cut back the exaggeration. Computers in Schools Program by 30 per cent. The money that schools are going to get Mr Quinn: I've got to make an from the Sunsmart Program is going to be explanation because the information given in gobbled up quickly by P & Cs and school the Estimates committee wasn't right. communities in making up for their loss of Ms SPENCE: We will look forward to the funding for their Computers in Schools Minister's reassessment. I can believe that 38 Program. That is where the Sunsmart money is a gross exaggeration. will go. Mr Palaszczuk: It's going to be his I want to tell my school communities that apology. there is no money in this budget for school Ms SPENCE: I am sure that the councils. That Liberal/National lot opposite Minister will make an apology. One of the went around and promised every P & C that greatest frauds perpetuated in the education they would be funding, supporting and community was the promise of doubling the promoting the whole concept of school number of guidance officers. The Minister is councils. I will be telling schools in my area not a fool. He knew that it could never be that that also was a sham. In the Minister's done. It takes a long time and a lot of money first budget, he has not put forward one cent to train a guidance officer in this State. We for school councils. have only 349. To double that would be The other lie is that the school uniform extraordinary. It would take years and years, money would be given back to the schools perhaps a decade, to double that number and through the P & Cs in their budgets. That to train those people. That will not be done in money has gone. I refer members to point 12 one term of Government. I doubt that anyone of the Opposition members' dissenting report, could do it in two terms of Government. That which states— 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3109

". . . the Minister's reply that 'Obviously we including trying to fit in with the Federal have not done it. What we did was use timetable, which I think everybody in this place the funding in other areas.' " recognises is essential, we get criticised for it. That was another untruth by this Minister. It does not matter what I do, I just do not seem to be able to win with some of the Time expired. honourable members opposite. Hon. S. SANTORO (Clayfield—Minister Of course, in relation to the workers' for Training and Industrial Relations) compensation legislation, we are trying to fix (5.41 p.m.): I join with other members of this up a very big problem. As the honourable place in saying that the Estimates committee member for Kedron, being a lawyer, would process has been very successful. I believe know, it is a very complex piece of legislation. that the way in which the new Government It requires an enormous amount of effort by has tackled the Estimates committee process the implementation task force, which is has enhanced the accountability of Ministers working very hard. I go on record as saying to and their departments. Of course, I am the implementation task force and also to the referring mainly to the new initiative of many, many hardworking officers within the involving public servants directly in being Workers' Compensation Division of my accountable to the Estimates committee. In department a sincere "thank you" for working that regard, I say a very sincere "thank you" to well above and beyond the call of normal duty my ministerial staff and to the senior officers of to get that legislation ready for the my department, including the director-general consideration of the Parliament. and the other senior officers of the various divisions, for making themselves available at In terms of the workplace health and the request of both the Opposition members safety legislation which is currently in place and myself as Minister and for the very frank and of which the honourable member for way in which they answered the questions. I Kedron seemed to be slightly critical, I simply think it is fair to say that the officers were wish to remind him that, in fact, it was the asked many detailed questions and were previous Government's legislation to which he allowed a free rein in giving their answers. I am was referring. This Government has acted very sure that the Opposition would agree that their promptly on the recommendations of Kennedy answers were constructive and contained a to set up the review. Either late today or wealth of statistical and logistical information, tomorrow we will be officially appointing the which enhanced the appreciation of the independent consultant. committee of the important issues involving Mr Braddy: I'm not criticising the my department. legislation, I'm criticising the lack of activity. I also say "thank you" to the committee. I Mr SANTORO: Hang on a moment, the agree with the shadow Minister, who said that member cannot say that he wants to amend the committee was conducted in an his own legislation. His party was in atmosphere of cooperation and goodwill. Government for six years. He cannot criticise Obviously, in many ways these committees that legislation because it was his are still partisan and still political; nevertheless, Government's legislation. we got on well. I think that the process was enhanced by that goodwill. I compliment the Mr BRADDY: I rise to a point of order. I Honourable the shadow Minister for obviously made no criticism whatever of the legislation; I agreeing with most of what I had to say criticised the lack of activity of the because I notice that there are no qualifying, Government. The Minister is misquoting me dissenting or minority reports in relation to the and I ask him to withdraw. portfolio of Training and Industrial Relations. In Mr SANTORO: Of course, if the terms of the general direction of the honourable member finds it offensive, I will department, I modestly take that as a vote of withdraw. However, the claim of a lack of confidence in what we are about. activity is spurious; it does not stack up. If the During the shadow Minister's speech, he honourable member had been attentive—and expressed some reservations, particularly in I do not want to get too personal, but usually relation to the timing of the legislation. I have he is not very attentive—about a month and a said to the honourable member and I have half ago I made a ministerial statement as to said to the Parliament that in terms of the what this Government was doing in relation to that legislation. However, the member has industrial relations legislation, we are overlooked that. consulting extensively. If we did not consult, we would be criticised for it; when we do In terms of the long-term unemployed, I consult and we take a little bit of time, think that I have spoken enough in this place 3110 Appropriation Bills 8 Oct 1996 about the Opposition's abysmal track record providing appropriate training to those people. while it was in Government. Again, because So I viewed with some concern the decision in the time in which I have to speak is short, I will the budget to cut funding grants to the training not remind members of the Opposition's of workplace health and safety representatives abysmal and shameful record in terms of and safety officers. unemployment. Mr Santoro: That was scheduled by With regard to workers' compensation, the your Government to come into place. It was member pointed out that we have reserves. part of the program. However, he does not seem to understand Mr ROBERTS: The funding was cut in that we do not have a cash flow problem. I the budget, and I am expressing have stated that previously. We have a disappointment that it was cut. It provided a serious underfunding in a long-term actuarial proper level of funding for a very effective sense. The sooner the member understands training program conducted by Safe Work that, the more productive will be his Queensland. The provision of that training to contributions to debates. In relation to my workplace health and safety representatives department, I think that the committee and the knowledge that those people gained, process was constructive. which they took back to their workplaces Time expired. through those courses, was a very effective Mr ROBERTS: (Nudgee) (5.46 p.m.): I measure in dealing with the prevention of wish to make a few comments about some workplace injury. In effect, it created a network aspects of the Estimates committee as it of safety inspectors in virtually every workplace relates to the Minister for Training and in the State. Of course, since the Industrial Relations. Firstly, I shall speak about announcement of the cutbacks, many employers are now no longer willing to send workplace health and safety. I will follow that their employees to those training courses. As by making some comments about the unfair a result, the number of people attending those dismissal provisions in the Act. courses will drop dramatically. Since Safe In relation to workplace health and safety, Work Queensland was established, it has I speak with some experience as a health and trained in excess of 9,000 representatives in safety trainer with the ACTU for about a year both general representative courses and in and a half. I go back to the history of many of specific hazard courses. Again, I believe that a the reforms in the workplace health and safety detrimental effect of those cuts will be the lack field that were adopted by this country. Many of training for people in the workplace who are of those reforms can be traced back to the require it. Robens inquiry, which I understand was I want to make a few brief comments undertaken in Great Britain in the late 1970s. about the unfair dismissal laws. I note that in In many respects, it was a forerunner to many the Ministerial Program Statements there is an of the changes to workplace health and safety indication that the number of cases is legislation in this country and in other expected to be about the same next year, or countries. In particular, in the 1980s in Victoria, projected to be about the same as occurred quite innovative legislation was introduced last year, which is about 1,900. I speak with a relating to that issue. That legislation little bit of experience about the unfair contained provisions relating particularly to the dismissal laws because, as an industrial rights of workplace health and safety advocate, I ran quite a number of unfair representatives and the role that they played dismissal cases. I am pleased to report to the in any effective strategy to deal with the Minister and to other members that I won a problem of health and safety in the workplace. few as well. Of course, one of the key issues arising from the Victorian legislation was the right for Mr Santoro: You did well. workplace health and safety representatives to Mr ROBERTS: I won a few. stop a job. There has been a lot of noise and The key issue that arose out of that new criticism in the community about these laws. I legislative approach towards workplace health take honourable members to some of the and safety was in tackling problems at their provisions of the Act and question some of the source. As I have stated, one of the main concerns that are being raised. The unfair features of that legislation was to ensure that dismissal laws say to employers that, prior to there was a properly trained and effective dismissing any employees, they must firstly network of workplace health and safety have a valid reason for doing so. There is representatives throughout workplaces in the nothing unreasonable about that. The Act country. A key feature of that strategy was requires that employees must then be given 8 Oct 1996 Appropriation Bills 3111 an opportunity to defend themselves. There is but they will take up employment only if there nothing unreasonable about that and no are vacancies within the current guidance genuine, reasonable employer could complain officer numbers. about it. The other requirement is that Much has been made about guidance employees be given a proper period of notice officers. It is true that we did have a policy of in respect of their dismissal. When one increasing the number of guidance officers. examines the unfair dismissal laws, no However, I make the point that, when we put legitimate criticism can be levelled at them. the behaviour management policies to the Time expired. schools themselves, we asked them to indicate to us what range of skills they Hon. R. J. QUINN (Merrimac—Minister needed. We could have stood our ground and for Education) (5.51 p.m.): I place on the said, "You will have guidance officers." Rather record my appreciation of the spirit in which than doing that, we took the approach that we Estimates Committee C conducted would supply the schools with the types of proceedings. From my point of view, it was an resource people that they wanted in order to extremely valuable exercise for all members of get the job done. We do not resile from that Parliament. The best results are achieved in a because, at the end of the day, we think we committee when in fact committee members, will get a better outcome for our kids if we give the Minister and the public servants involved the schools the type of personnel that they cooperate to try to facilitate a flow of want. As I have said before, the policy did information backwards and forwards. The contain an increase in the number of guidance committee process itself is not a replica of officers, but we have since modified it to suit what happens in this Chamber, and I think the requirements of the schools. The that too many members make the mistake of behaviour management initiative is an trying to score political points and do not important one. We want to see it work in achieve results for the benefit of everyone. schools and we are willing to make that That was obvious on occasions. I thank the change so that it does. committee members of Estimates Committee C because, by and large, that was not the Much has also been made about the spirit in which the committee was conducted. Sunsmart Program which provided Year 1 students with a bag containing sunscreen, a The committee was allocated some four hat and so on. As the member for Mount and a half hours in which to examine the Gravatt said, some schools wanted it and Estimates of the Education Department, which some schools did not want it because the kids I think is the most time given to a committee were bringing their own gear to school. All that during my time in this place. We traversed a we have done is give schools the flexibility to large number of topics and, hopefully, apply the money as they see fit. If a P & C provided the information sought by members group or a school community thinks that on all occasions. Sunsmart is a good idea, they have the In answer to an interjection I have money via the school grant to buy the hats indicated that I do have an adjustment to and sunscreen themselves. If they do not make, which is not to my benefit I might add, want it, they can apply the money to but I do so in the spirit of trying to keep the something else. Therefore, we have again committee record accurate. When the given them flexibility, and we do not resile from Hansard report of the committee was that either. School communities are saying forwarded to my department, the officers went that a centrally driven program from head through it. We found that in fact we did office in Brisbane might not be suitable to their provide incorrect material with regard to particular circumstances. Therefore, we will guidance officers, of all things. I will now allow them to spend the money in the way correct that mistake. that they see fit. On the first occasion I provided the correct Another issue that has been raised is the information that there are 18 officers to be school uniform allowance. For the benefit of employed for behaviour management and the member of Cook, I make this point: I did that we are training approximately 20 others. not say that we would give the money back to Further on, I was advised by a departmental the P & Cs. I said that that was one of the officer that those 20 would also be employed. suggestions that they may like to make to me. I have been subsequently informed that that is On that basis I wrote to all the P & C not the case, but that my original answer was associations in Queensland and asked for the correct one. Eighteen guidance officers will their suggestions. be employed. Twenty officers will be trained, Time expired. 3112 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 8 Oct 1996

Mr ARDILL (Archerfield) (5.57 p.m.): "That this Parliament condemns the When I appeared at the Estimates committee decision by the State Government to I was shown every courtesy by the Chairman, waste taxpayers' money of well over $1m the Honourable Vince Lester, and I thank him on a politically motivated witchhunt, the for that. It is a shame that Mr Lester is not Borbidge Inquiry, into the Criminal Justice again the Minister for Industrial Relations, Commission—money which could be because he would make a much better fist of better used for extra police, education, the job than the present incumbent. In fact, I health and services." do not believe that we would have the sort of At a time when we have schools wanting industrial climate that we have in Queensland extra teachers, when people are dying on if Vince Lester was the Minister instead of the waiting lists in our hospitals, and when crime is present incumbent. such that we need extra police, we have a At the committee I asked questions reprehensible situation in this State in that this relating to two subjects, the first of which was a Government is not prepared to spend money misguided attempt by the Minister to close on delivering those services but rather will down three schools in Acacia Ridge, a suburb spend at least $1m, perhaps $2m, on of Brisbane which needs all the help it can get. pursuing a political exercise for political gain. One of those schools is the Acacia Ridge That is typical of this Government, which is not State High School. In an area of high interested in delivering services. It is not unemployment, that school happens to be the concerned about our ill, our children or those only State school in Queensland which is affected by crime, it is concerned only about accredited by the ASTF program Australiawide politics—cheap National and Liberal Party for the work that it is doing in placing students politics. in employment and its activities towards work Mr Braddy: They are proud of that, too. experience. It is the only State school in Queensland that has received that high Mr BEATTIE: Indeed they are. honour. In fact, the school has just received a Members opposite are seeking to turn back $30,000 grant to continue that work. The the clock on every occasion, to look after their school communities are totally against this mates from days gone by, to go back to the proposal, and I believe that the Minister has days when there was no level of accountability not heard the last of the issue. I will represent and when there was no corruption fighter such my constituents and I will be guided by what as the CJC to ensure that politicians behaved they want in the action that I take. in an appropriate way. I criticise the proposal to abolish regional A Government member: Your mob offices and the school support system. Those are slow learners. bodies are doing a great job for the education Mr BEATTIE: I can understand the system in Queensland. It is a retrograde step National Party member's interjection; his four to abolish any of those sections. mates did go to gaol. I can understand his I am pleased that the department is level of concern. What is important is that we proceeding with the initiative of the previous maintain standards. Clearly, Premier Borbidge Education Minister, Mr Hamill, to give priority to is out to get the CJC before it gets him and a program to enhance numeracy and literacy, Police Minister Russell Cooper. That is what which fell by the wayside during the 1980s, this is all about. The Government's calculated particularly in primary schools. Behaviour and coordinated attacks on the CJC seek to management is still a problem which is not discredit the commission before its being addressed in the present Budget. The investigations damage the Government. In Budget will not assist in providing the facilities Opposition, Mr Borbidge was happy to refer or the staff needed to handle behavioural any alleged sin by Labor Ministers to the CJC situations. The promised increase in guidance with a great deal of flourish. However, in officer numbers will obviously not materialise. Government he finds independent scrutiny too uncomfortable. He is not prepared to be Time expired. accountable. He has attacked the CJC over its Report adopted. investigation of the memorandum of Progress reported. understanding, even though that inquiry was requested by Police Minister Cooper himself. The Premier's current assault on the INQUIRY INTO CRIMINAL JUSTICE commission seeks to discredit the Carruthers COMMISSION inquiry findings before they are delivered. It is Mr BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—Leader also a desperate attempt to stop a further CJC of the Opposition) (6 p.m.): I move— investigation, one which threatens the 8 Oct 1996 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 3113 reputation of the Premier and those closest to directors-general feel knowing that their own him. Mr Borbidge knows that numerous public role in framing and using the hit lists is under servants and statutory office holders have scrutiny? They should now know just how complained to the CJC about the Public inaccurate were the comments about Service hit lists. Even the most cursory reading individuals on the lists—inaccurate and highly of the CJC Act would inform Mr Borbidge that defamatory. Out there is a long line of angry firing professional and independent public former public servants waiting to take civil servants based on scandalously inaccurate defamation action against the authors of that information is potentially official misconduct list. These are former public servants who under the Criminal Justice Act, with all of the have lost their livelihoods and their consequences that that entails. reputations. These are former public servants Mr Borbidge has taken to claiming that no with strong legal advice about the damages to such hit lists exist. He says so in the latest be claimed not from the Government but from issue of Sector Wide. He stated that the the individuals who prepared and used the hit "claims that my Government had 'hit lists' to lists. So is the Government worried about an sack public servants are untrue". Why then inquiry? Let us consider its actions. does every base-grade public servant in this Whom did it attack first? Why, Mark Le town have a copy of at least one of the three Grand, whose Official Misconduct Division has hit lists floating around prepared by members already begun interviewing people about the of this Government? How was the Sunday hit lists. The Government began discussing Mail able to publish an interview with one of cutting back the anti-discrimination legislation the contributors to those lists? We have the which provides protections against politically nonsense whereby the Premier says that the motivated discrimination and it embarked lists do not exist, yet the Sunday Mail is able upon a sustained smear of the CJC as to publish a story by one of the people who politically biased to cast doubts not only on the contributed to those lists. How did the Premier Carruthers findings but on any damaging feel when that same article revealed a lengthy revelations about the hit lists. The inquiry into CJC interview about this dishonest and corrupt the CJC is a deliberate distraction for the CJC practice? and a contempt of the Parliament, which Mr Speaker, make no mistake, Mr properly should be the only body investigating Borbidge wants to discredit the Carruthers the CJC. This inquiry will divert CJC energy and report. But Mr Borbidge also knows that the resources. More importantly, it will make the CJC is assessing his role in the transition to commission appear partisan if it pursues this Government. This time, it cannot be someone latest scandal inside the Borbidge else's fault. It could cost him his premiership. Government. Mr Borbidge knows all about the hit lists. He Let me make it clear to this House tonight knows that they were used to sack dozens of that we expect the CJC to do its job and to professional public servants. He knows the lists investigate those hit lists properly. We want to contain defamatory and wildly inaccurate make absolutely certain that justice is not only information about key statutory office holders done but that it is also seen to be done. As in this State, including the Director of Public the terms of reference of this inquiry make Prosecutions. Who would initiate any action clear, the Borbidge review is designed to against someone recommended for charges define away official misconduct and its arising out of the Carruthers report? The investigation by the CJC. Mr Speaker, make Director of Public Prosecutions! no mistake that this is a race—can the Mr Bredhauer: Put him under threat. Government destroy the CJC before the CJC reveals the truth about those who signed a Mr BEATTIE: So this man who is under memorandum of understanding and who threat is the one who will have to consider any authorised Public Service hit lists? Mr Borbidge recommendations from the inquiry and yet he knows he must destroy the CJC or be exposed is on a hit list. Mr Borbidge knows that, if the himself and put his premiership at risk. He is CJC finds evidence of authorship or prepared to destroy an important institution publication in relation to these hit lists, charges rather than to see further damaging of official misconduct will follow. revelations about his Government and his Mr Bredhauer: Wasn't he also on the behaviour. hit list in the Public Service Bill? In Opposition, Mr Borbidge championed Mr BEATTIE: Indeed. What interesting greater scrutiny of the Executive. In meetings he and his advisers must be having Government, it seems he has developed a on the fifteenth floor thinking up ways to make perspective about openness and honesty in the CJC go away! How nervous must some public life that has not been seen since the 3114 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 8 Oct 1996 last time the National Party ran this State. Mr What about his allegations on the illegal Speaker, I table for the information of the activities of the Toowoomba Turf Club? Even House public comments made in this House the member for Toowoomba South, the now on 23 October 1990 when the Premier Minister for Health, said that those matters attacked the Goss Government for doing what had been investigated by the CJC and were he is doing today and what he did yesterday in without foundation. But that is just typical of Cabinet. That shows the hypocrisy of his what the member for Broadwater peddles in standards. He is a weak man seeking this place. Given his record, if the Minister for desperately to survive. He is a man who will Health—who has more experience with not even pick up the telephone and ring the untruths than most people in this House—did head of the Criminal Justice Commission, not believe him, then why is he any more Frank Clair—a man whom he has never met. credible now? Why would the Government be setting up an inquiry into the CJC based upon All we have in this House are allegations anything from the member for Broadwater, from the member for Broadwater to try to written for him by a discredited former substantiate the establishment of the inquiry. I journalist and a petty thief like Chris Nicholls? remember the last allegations the member for That is the question everyone is asking. Even Broadwater made in attacking the CJC in if we get Grice before the inquiry, it is likely that relation to certain issues. His source was a he will not be any more—— gentleman called Tony Grosser, who, following a 40-hour siege, was subsequently arrested by Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will the South Australian police and charged with refer to the honourable member for shooting a policeman. That is the level of Broadwater by his correct title; he will not call source that the member for Broadwater has! him "Grice" or names like that. He does not care. He is prepared to use any Mr ELDER: Even if we get the member dishonest information to try to substantiate his for Broadwater before the inquiry, is he likely to allegations. be any more open than he was before the Time expired. Hanson inquiry when it was investigating the alleged leaking of information? When the Hon. J. P. ELDER (Capalaba—Deputy member for Broadwater was called to give Leader of the Opposition) (6.10 p.m.): It is my evidence at that inquiry, this is what pleasure to second the motion. As the Leader happened—and I quote from page 73 of the of the Opposition said, this Government is report of Mr Hanson— about turning back the clock, increased taxes "When (the member for Broadwater) in the Budget and very little for the people of gave evidence, counsel for the Speaker Queensland in terms of services, but it is of the Queensland Parliament took the prepared to spend at least $1m—if not objection that parliamentary privilege $2m—on this particular investigation. As the prevented any questioning of (the Leader of the Opposition said, fancy relying at member for Broadwater) about his the end of the day on a petty thief like Chris sources for the information contained in Nicholls to kick off this inquiry! He is a key his speech." adviser, so it has been claimed, to the member for Broadwater. I have to say that Mr Hanson went on to say— petty thuggery must be a prerequisite for "The claim of parliamentary privilege being a staff member of the member for seriously impeded a proper examination Broadwater, who continually specialises in and of (the member for Broadwater) about his peddles half-truths in this place. sources." This Parliament has seen the member for If the Government is serious about an Broadwater produce sensational allegations inquiry and the member for Broadwater and time and time again. As the Leader of the Mr Nicholls are to be key witnesses, then the Opposition said, in 1994 there were inquiry ought to be vested with sufficient allegations based on information from crooks powers to compel the member for Broadwater in South Australia. That was when he alleged to answer relevant questions in relation to that information provided to the CJC had been leaked information. leaked to the Mafia by the CJC. The Leader of A Government member: Oh! the Opposition was right: that source was Tony Mr ELDER: The honourable member is Grosser, who had been arrested in South the one who has something to hide. I am Australia after a 40-hour siege for shooting a advised that there is no clear power in a royal police constable. That is the sort of stuff commission to compel a member of peddled by the member for Broadwater. Parliament to respond to questions relevant to 8 Oct 1996 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 3115 the inquiry notwithstanding a claim of about that election promise when we were out parliamentary privilege. The Government on the hustings, when we were out after should give Mr Grice the opportunity to say votes? Nothing! It did not criticise the promise what he has to say without hiding behind by the coalition to review the CJC. parliamentary privilege. As the privilege is this I ask: after $120m has been spent on an Parliament's, it seems likely that it could be institution over a period of about six years, is it waived only by the Parliament, and it may responsible for any Executive Government to require a specific amendment to the Act to seek a review of how that money is being give him that ability. It will be interesting to see spent, whether the legislation is appropriate whether the Government really wants to and whether the parliamentary committee has investigate the allegations of the member for sufficient powers? Is that the attitude of a Broadwater or whether it will let him crawl responsible Government? I contend that it away, as he did last time. He has repeatedly certainly is. Members opposite have claimed sullied reputations in this place without the that this inquiry will cost over $1m. They put a slightest hint of any evidence or proof, and figure on it; I certainly could not put a figure on when he is called upon to prove it, he—as he what the inquiry will cost. When we are talking always does—ducks for cover. about $120m already expended and about At the end of the day, the Government is $20m a year in recurrent expenditure, it is at it again. At the end of the day, this quite responsible for a Government to ask Government is about undermining the CJC. It whether the money is being well spent. has owed the CJC for some time. I recall Mr The terms of reference have also been Littleproud's comments back in 1990 when he raised. We have heard the Leader of the said that members of the Opposition have Opposition and the Deputy Leader of the memories that are long enough to ensure that Opposition put forward what I call their fertile, things will be put back the way they were. Too fanciful ideas on the motives of this right! That is exactly what members opposite Government. Are the terms of reference are doing now. They are at it again. They are appropriate? Of course they are. I will not undermining the CJC. What members quote all of them, because that will take up my opposite want is retribution, and they are time. However, I point out that the terms of seeking it through this inquiry. reference include— Mr FITZGERALD (Lockyer—Leader of "To examine and review whether the Government Business) (6.15 p.m.): The Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee Government will be opposing the motion established under Part 4 of the moved by the Leader of the Opposition. In the Criminal"—— last couple of weeks we have heard a fair amount from the Opposition about election Mr SPEAKER: Order! I do not wish for promises. Members opposite have quoted the terms of reference to be discussed. election promises made by the coalition when Mr FITZGERALD: Certainly, Mr in Opposition. I know that the Opposition Speaker. I am just attempting to prove that claims that we cannot implement all our the terms of reference are adequate. We have promises at once. But did we claim that we discussed one of the terms of reference, that would implement those promises in the first is, the matters raised by the member for Budget, or were we saying, "As a Government Broadwater. we will implement such and such a policy"? Mr Beattie: Did you go to an election on What was our election promise with that? No, you didn't. regard to a review of the CJC, and what did Mr FITZGERALD: What I say about the the Opposition say about it at the time? To terms of reference is that serious allegations refresh the memories of those opposite, I were made and presented to this House by point out that the editorial in the Courier-Mail the member for Broadwater. of Thursday, 19 September 1996, stated— An Opposition member: Spurious. "The present Government in June last year, as part of its platform for the Mr FITZGERALD: I am not going to general election, promised such a review." say whether they are or whether they are not. They certainly were very serious. If the That editorial was referring to the member does not believe that the two former Government's relationship with the CJC and judges who have been appointed can the proposed inquiry. So a commitment was determine whether those allegations are made by us in Opposition that we would spurious, as he claims, or whether there is review the CJC when we came to some substance in them, and if he believes Government. What did the Labor Party say that those gentlemen will not give an honest 3116 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 8 Oct 1996 report on this, then he is not the person I prevent Jack Herbert's joke from being set in thought he was. I believe that the judges will the body of this State, then Queensland would do their duty with regard to this issue. have been a much better place. Lest Any suggestion that this investigation is members think for a moment that corruption is just hogwash so that the findings of the just something that happened back in the Carruthers inquiry will be muddied because the 1956 National Hotel royal commission or that it CJC will have been criticised and dragged happened back in the 1977-78 Justice Lucas through the mire is quite fanciful thinking. At inquiry, or that it happened back in the 1987- what stage is the Carruthers inquiry at this 89 Fitzgerald inquiry, they should just look moment? I presume that Mr Carruthers is south of the Tweed and they will see endemic already writing his report. When is the inquiry corruption in the New South Wales police into the CJC going to commence? Next week. force. That means that drug dealers and When is the report of Mr Carruthers going to paedophiles get to run free because they do come down? Let us face it: Carruthers is not have an effective police service. That is already making up his mind on what he is why the people of Queensland should be going to put in his report. If the member worried about the actions of this Government, believes that the inquiry into the CJC by these because corruption flourishes when there is an two honourable gentlemen is going to have arrogant and overbearing Premier and a weak, any effect whatsoever on Mr Carruthers' Liberal Attorney-General who fail to stand up deliberations—which are obviously taking for fundamental legal institutions to combat place right now—then he is rather fanciful in corruption. A few years ago, corruption had his thinking. He has a rather fertile this State by the throat; we need to be vigilant imagination. The member is looking to prevent it from happening again. everywhere to find the motive behind this—— The CJC is an important legal institution. It Time expired. is a legal institution which the people of Queensland should respect and cherish. It is Hon. M. J. FOLEY (Yeronga) not above criticism; it is not above (6.20 p.m.): The people of Queensland should accountability. That is why it is accountable to be worried about the Government's actions the parliamentary committee; that is why it is because those actions weaken the fight accountable to the Executive, that is, the against corruption. Police corruption is a Minister, for the Budget process; that is why it matter about which we should all be very is accountable to the Estimates committee; concerned. I well remember giving evidence that is why it is accountable under the Act to some 19 years ago before the Lucas inquiry. the Supreme Court, where any person who is That is one of four royal commissions in the adversely affected by a decision may take an last four decades that dealt with issues of application for judicial review. This debate is police or police corruption. I well remember about whether or not this Parliament will set that Mr Justice Lucas recommended that itself against the evil of corruption or whether there be a rotation of police officers in the we are to allow this politically motivated inquiry Licensing Branch to avoid corruption of police to go ahead in order to serve the short-term officers exposed to the brothel industry. I also political ends of Mr Borbidge and Mr Cooper to remember that we had a weak Liberal the detriment of an important legal institution, Attorney-General at the time and an arrogant, an institution which helps Queenslanders powerful Premier. It was a dangerous cocktail combat corruption and which helps to ensure which led to that recommendation not being that we do not allow the National Party and implemented. the Liberal Party to go back to their days of Bill Lickiss and Joh Bjelke-Petersen political convenience and allow the return of represented the opportunity to nip corruption corruption. in the bud, but it did not happen. That is Time expired. because the National Party, aided and abetted by the Liberal Party, has failed Mrs GAMIN (Burleigh) (6.25 p.m.): This consistently to attack corruption in this State. motion is nothing more than a political What we are now seeing is a continuation of exercise to hide Labor's own miserable record this dangerous cocktail of an arrogant, in office between 1989 and 1996. It is based overbearing Premier and a weak, Liberal on the foolish notion that the CJC is above Attorney-General failing to stand up for the review. I am amazed that Labor speakers integrity of the legal system. If that one today have had so little to contribute to the recommendation had been introduced in debate. However, I implore them to cast aside 1977, if there had been a rotation of police their bias and prejudices and be prepared to officers through the Licensing Branch so as to listen to alternative arguments. 8 Oct 1996 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 3117

The duties and responsibilities of the CJC. What other public body—and one that Government in relation to the CJC have best has cost $120m since its inception—is free been summarised in the editorial in the from review? The simple answer is none, yet Courier-Mail to which the honourable member Labor seeks to place the CJC in for Lockyer referred. It provides a concise quarantine—on a pedestal where it is beyond statement to which honourable members, the reach of the public. This is totally particularly those opposite, should pay unacceptable to fair-minded people. It is even attention. The member for Lockyer quoted a more difficult to accept when it is remembered little from that editorial, I will continue with it. It that the CJC has extraordinary powers that are states further— not even available to the police or the "It is to be hoped that the terms of judiciary. reference which are eventually The member for Yeronga mentioned the established include the role of the word "accountable" several times. Why should parliamentary committee, which seems to not the CJC be accountable? Every public have failed either to monitor the work of body has to be accountable. Government the CJC or to provide the Parliament with owned corporations, statutory authorities, and intelligent information about the CJC and all bodies and groups supported by public its processes. The politicised nature of the funds have to be accountable, why not the PCJC"— CJC? I suggest that Labor pay some attention which has been caused by Opposition to Peter Morley's words in the Courier-Mail of members of the PCJC— 31 August 1996, when he wrote— "makes it quite an inappropriate body to "Beanland's is the appropriate office conduct the kind of review which the when it comes to making a final Government (and The Courier Mail) recommendation about CJC powers." considers necessary." It is misleading and mischievous for Labor to I am aware that Opposition members are claim that the PCJC should conduct this paranoid about Sir Max Bingham and his review. Despite the strengths of that refusal to kowtow to their dictates during his committee, no fair-minded person would term of office. However, this should not make suggest that in a review of the CJC and its them blind to the truths of what Sir Max says, relationship with the PCJC such a review and he said about the CJC— should be the responsibility of the parliamentary committee. There could be no "On the basis of its track record in more stark example of Caesar investigating relation to its supervision of police, I don't Caesar. That Labor supports such a proposal think its really got a lot to crow about." is a deeply disturbing feature of our political I am concerned that Labor is so rigid in its landscape. I call on Labor to repudiate this thinking that it is unwilling to accept that there foolish and short-sighted proposal, to embrace are better ways of doing things than simply an independent review of the CJC and to following the dictates of the past. ensure Queensland has an efficient, effective It should not be forgotten that, under the and accountable CJC. If they fail to do this, previous Government, scores of they are more interested in political recommendations from the Parliamentary gamesmanship than in sensible public Criminal Justice Committee about the better administration. The Opposition stands functioning of the CJC were ignored time and condemned for moving this motion; this time again. It is ironic that the head of this motion deserves to be defeated. committee between 1989 and 1992 was none Time expired. other than the current Leader of the Mr BARTON (Waterford) (6.30 p.m.): I Opposition. What this House should be rise to support the motion. This judicial inquiry demanding to know is why that honourable is nothing more than a diversion by this member did not insist that the Goss Government. It is intended to try to save the Government respond to these hide of the unsaveable: the Minister for Police recommendations. The fact that he was and Corrective Services and Minister for eventually rewarded with a Ministry in the last Racing. It is an outrageous attempt to discredit desperate days of the Labor administration the CJC. Even before its findings have come gives some indication of why we heard nothing down, and because of what has already been from him for so long. His compliant response is put to it, the inquiry has been exposed for nothing short of pathetic. outrageous actions by this particular It is incumbent upon Labor to say just Minister—actions that have already seriously what it fears from a thorough inquiry into the embarrassed his Premier and may embarrass 3118 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 8 Oct 1996 him even worse when the findings are handed careful in the second PCJC to maintain down. consensus and ensure that it was not This judicial inquiry is attempting to politicised. But, sadly, the PCJC has been confuse the public's mind so that they will be politicised already on this issue. This judicial unsure of who is correct and who is wrong inquiry has been called for political reasons. when these findings are handed down. I do This is a Government Executive takeover of not think there is any doubt about who is this Parliament's role. The CJC reports to this correct and who is wrong. The CJC itself is the Parliament via the multiparty PCJC— body that has been conducting that hearing. something that members on the Government The public already knows that outrageous side of the House were very keen to defend a things were done by this Government when in short time ago. But this role of the Parliament Opposition. It is an attempt to save a Minister to monitor, oversee and review the CJC who says, "I will not resign if adverse findings through its own body, the PCJC, has now are made against me and charges of electoral been taken away from it by the Executive bribery are recommended." He says that he Government. will not abide by the Westminster principles or This motion is also part of defending the the coalition's own protocols for Government. rights of this Parliament. We want the CJC to He said that this morning in this House. He answer to this Parliament, not to the arrogantly intends to tough it out and will not Executive. This judicial inquiry removes our answer questions put to him in this House rights as members of this Parliament to about serious issues. oversee the CJC, as provided for by the This inquiry is part of the National Party- Fitzgerald process and as provided for in the led Government's revenge against the current Criminal Justice Act. The Government CJC—revenge against the Fitzgerald process, does not have the fortitude to come into this which it blames for turfing it out of Government Parliament and try to change that. It is on its ear over six years ago. The National usurping it through the backdoor by this Party wants revenge for its loss of inquiry. It is the PCJC's job to review the CJC Government. It wants revenge for the Joh jury and report directly to this Parliament—not inquiry, which left no doubt in people's minds Executive Government's. I have no doubt about what occurred there. We have seen a what the public want. The public want the CJC few of those people rewarded in the last six or to be independent of Executive Government, seven months. The National Party wants and they want it to be accountable through revenge against Inspector Huey. This inquiry this Parliament directly. will dredge up many of the already discredited Time expired. allegations of the past six years by National Party members in particular which have been Mr HARPER (Mount Ommaney) fully investigated by the CJC and were found (6.36 p.m.): It is a pleasure to rise in this to have no basis—particularly those debate, because this motion shows the outrageous allegations by the member for hypocritical nature of Opposition members. It Broadwater. shows that they are making a purely political grandstanding issue of it. That has been This inquiry totally undermines the PCJC. backed up by many of the comments made Most importantly, it destroys this Parliament's by members opposite tonight. It is an entirely capacity to review the CJC. Sadly, from hypocritical motion. If we examine the facts, watching the decisions that have been made members opposite must have little faith in Mr public coming out of the PCJC, the PCJC has Carruthers if they think that he is going to be already been heavily politicised. I was a influenced by this inquiry. Yet they have tried member of the second PCJC. The current to make a point of that by saying that it is PCJC Chairman, the member for Keppel, was purely to do with that. What a lot of rubbish! a member of that PCJC. It was very hard for—— Further, it was an election promise of this Mr Nuttall interjected. Government. The member for Lockyer has already addressed that. Members opposite Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for seem to have forgotten that. Labor seems to Sandgate will not interject from other than his have a paranoia about this matter. One has to correct seat. I warn him under Standing Order ask: given their total paranoia about it, what 123A. are they worried about? Why are members Mr BARTON: It was very hard to get the opposite worried about looking into this current Chairman of the PCJC to come to matter? What other body in this State is meetings, or certainly to stay there, unless beyond question? That is the question that there was a media opportunity. We were very Opposition members have not answered. 8 Oct 1996 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 3119

What other body is beyond examination and Mr Beattie interjected. question? In 1989, a predecessor of mine in Mr HARPER: The Opposition Leader the former seat of Sherwood, now Mount certainly does not seem to know. I guess we Ommaney, raised the point that perhaps the have to excuse him slightly because he was in CJC should have a five-year term with a that set-up for only a few months. sunset clause and then a review. I think his words then are bearing fruit now—that it is well Much has been made about Mr Connolly and truly worth doing. and his ability and suitability for carrying out the inquiry. Much has been made by the Something that members opposite have members opposite about his Liberal Party tried to say tonight and at other times is that membership. Let us examine the facts. He the Executive are the ones who have made was a member of this House from 1957 to the decision and the Executive will carry out all 1960. I seem to recall that, in 1960, he the results. That is absolute rubbish. The actually lost Liberal Party preselection. He was terms of reference are totally reasonable. They beaten by another person, lost preselection will come back to this House, when the full and did not stand for Parliament. The Parliament will have the say as to what is members opposite are dragging up events happening. But members opposite will not from 36 years ago. They fail to remember that face up to that and take that into account. It is Lew Wyvill, who in 1969 stood for Labor in this Parliament that will make any decision that Greenslopes, was appointed to the comes out of any recommendations. commission on merit and had our support. Nobody on this side of the House has Time expired. said that we do not need to stand against corruption and fight against it by having some Mr BREDHAUER (Cook) (6.41 p.m.): I form of misconduct division. Yet from the way rise to support the motion before the House that members opposite speak, one would tonight about the politically inspired witch-hunt think that we are totally opposed to anything into the CJC that has been set up by the like that. Once again, those are false Government. I will talk particularly about the statements by members opposite. One has to credentials of the person who is behind the reflect on some of the previous PCJC reports. I establishment of this inquiry. I refer particularly mention in particular 10, 13, 26 and 34 under to the allegations made in this Parliament former chairmen from the Opposition ranks, recently by the member for Broadwater about the current Opposition Leader especially and the head of the Misconduct Division of the the former member for Mundingburra, Mr Criminal Justice Commission. I will take the Davies. I seem to recall that, on reviewing minds of the members of this Parliament back these, there was a call for better processes to a speech that I made in this Parliament on and better access to information by the 7 September 1994. We might just add Parliament and certainly by the committee. another chapter to the saga that I outlined Yet members opposite are silent about that before the House that night. I want tonight. I wonder what the Opposition Leader honourable members to consider the track really can say about that. I believe there has record of the member for Broadwater in rising been a change in tune. He has already been in this House and tipping buckets on people, challenged tonight, but he has not risen to and the veracity of those allegations, which that challenge to answer those comments. have been subsequently investigated and not borne out. Some of those allegations have In this hypocritical motion the Opposition been alluded to already in this debate. talked about a waste of money and said that it could be better spent on education, health On 31 August 1993, the member for and services. That is another hypocritical Broadwater called for an investigation into the statement. Opposition members seem to have alleged Medusa tapes which were supposed forgotten the money that they wasted for six to contain information on a secret deal to pay and a half years. One has only to mention a out two detectives involved in investigations couple of examples to highlight this. What into former policeman John Huey. about the Cabinet Office, where excessive On 14 September 1993, Grice told staff numbers resided in the Executive Parliament— Building looking after the former Premier and his Ministers? What about the media advisers "Recent events convince me of a who were tucked away in various places on close and sinister relationship between Government funds helping prop up the then the Goss Labor Government and John Government? Yet they have the hide to come William Huey." in here tonight and talk about a waste of He said that Labor was covering up things money. I am blowed if I know! which should be brought out into the open. 3120 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 8 Oct 1996

There was no sinister relationship and no the CJC and were found to be without cover-up, and an embarrassed Sunday Mail foundation. The member for Toowoomba that had run the stories had to apologise. It North said that he was bitter at the member for admitted— Broadwater's actions, and the two dissociated "We accept that there is no themselves from him. Then we have the stuff foundation for these statements and that has been rehashed in these complaints. regret that they were ever made." Undeterred by a string of failures, in On 14 October, the member for September 1994 the member for Broadwater Broadwater claimed to have been threatened once again waded into the mire of his own by the Chairman of the CJC. In Parliament the making. Asked on the 7.30 Report whether he member said— thought that senior police and the CJC would do the Government's bidding to cover up the "I will not concede his right to use matters to which he had alluded, he replied— threats as an inducement to me to change my tack on a matter which is "I don't want to be that specific clearly my duty as a member of this because I don't know all the information Parliament." from their side of the fence." The claim was referred to the Privileges He even admits now that he did not know the Committee. On 12 November 1993, a facts. At that time he was given an opportunity unanimous report by that committee, including to table his information in Parliament. He failed two National Party members, found the claims to do so. He has now tipped another bucket, to be without foundation. Not even National this time on Mark Le Grand and the CJC. Party leader, Rob Borbidge, at the time the The inquiry is a politically inspired witch- Leader of the Opposition, could recall any hunt by this Government. It is an attempt to actual words at the meeting which might have discredit the CJC. As today's Cairns Post been threatening or intimidating. states— On 28 April 1994, the member for "Queenslanders should regard with a Broadwater alleged in Parliament that jaundiced eye the State Government's information provided to the CJC had been attempts to muzzle the Criminal Justice leaked to the Mafia by someone working for Commission. the CJC. The member's source for this pearl . . . was Tony Grosser. CJC Chairman O'Regan And it does seem to be just a little described the member for Broadwater's more than coincidental that the heat of allegations as romantic fiction and said the the Government's rage against the CJC member for Broadwater had been briefed about Grosser's penchant for prolific seems to have increased with the correspondence with Australian law organisation's continued probing into the enforcement agencies. Grosser was later Memorandum of Understanding between arrested in South Australia by police there the Queensland Police Union and the following a 40-hour siege and charged with State Police Minister Russell Cooper. shooting a constable. That incident has When it comes right down to it, would already been alluded to in this debate. Queenslanders prefer to put their money on the CJC's . . . or our politicians?" The member for Broadwater was not to be denied. On 28 April of that year, he alleged Time expired. in Parliament illegal activity on the part of the Hon. D. E. BEANLAND (Indooroopilly— Toowoomba Turf Club and its chairman, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) Neville Stewart. Stewart, the President of the (6.46 p.m.): On rising to speak in this debate I Toowoomba South Branch of the Liberal Party will make a couple of very pertinent points. It at the time and former Liberal State election was only today on radio that Dr Paul Reynolds, candidate, was alleged to have been involved a reader in government at the University of in bribing professional punters to conduct their Queensland—a person who could not be business through the club's on-course tote claimed to be biased towards this facilities. Government—said on radio that this inquiry is Honourable members will remember the not a witch-hunt. When asked whether it is a reaction of the National Party's two witch-hunt, Dr Reynolds said, "No, of course Toowoomba-based MPs. The member for not." When asked, "Why not?" he says— Toowoomba South said that the member for "Why not? Because, because the Broadwater had never set foot on Clifford Park inquiry will be independent of and that the matters had been investigated by Government. It won't get its marching 8 Oct 1996 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 3121

orders on a day-to-day basis from the located within the Queensland Police Government." Service and subject to strict privacy He further states— controls in view of the sensitive data accessible by way of criminal intelligence." "There's no reason to suppose that it would be a witch-hunt and I think that's to That submission highlights clearly the need to slur the Commissioners to suggest that have an appropriate review of the efficiency, that's what they're on about." effectiveness and roles of the Criminal Justice Commission. That quote from Dr Reynolds speaks for itself. No amount of chasing around by Secondly, I turn to the comments of the Opposition members to try to create Leader of the Opposition and his position in sensationalism, as they have been trying to relation to the CJC. I refer to one of the many do, will overcome those points. Even they reports from the time when he was Chairman agree that there should be an investigation of of the Parliamentary Criminal Justice the commission's functions, because some of Committee. On 25 August 1992, a report was those functions ought to be returned to the tabled which stated— Police Service or other places. "The Committee recommends that Over and over again it has been made the next Parliamentary Committee quite clear by speakers on this side of the prepare a detailed report for the Chamber that we believe that there does need Parliament at the end of 1994 or the to be an ongoing investigation of corruption. beginning of 1995 on the future direction That must always be the case. There must of the Commission and the future of its always be someone checking the police, no various Divisions. Such an evaluation matter who it is or in what form it is, because would include the desirability of a sunset there must be a continuation of the checks clause." and balances applying to the Police Service. So much for the position of the Leader of the That applies anywhere in this nation, not only Opposition. We can see his position exactly. for Queensland but also for other States. If Of course, none of those recommendations those checks and balances do not exist, there has been acted upon. will be other problems. I now turn to the comments of the For the Opposition to suggest that in member for Yeronga. In the report of the some way this inquiry will influence Mr Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee in Carruthers indicates that it has very little faith July 1991, the member for Yeronga made a in Mr Carruthers. He has finished his submission— examination and we are simply waiting for his "In my submission consideration report to be released. It has well and truly should be give to defining the Criminal gone past the hour for anyone to have input Justice Commission more clearly as a into his inquiry. That is over and done with. On body responsible for the investigation of no account will this matter interfere in Mr complaints of official misconduct and Carruthers' process in any shape or form. transferring its other responsibilities to the This motion is a continuation of that appropriate Commission or Department. cheap form of politics that we have come to The reform function of the Research expect from the Labor Party, particularly the and Co-ordination Division, for example, Leader of the Opposition. He gave the same should, in my submission, be transferred old tired speech. This inquiry is not a witch- to the Law Reform Commission for the hunt; far from it. The whole exercise is reasons discussed above. designed to accommodate the very points that the Leader of the Opposition and other The Witness Protection Division members opposite have raised. They do not should ultimately become the like it because, when they were in responsibility of the Queensland Police Government, they did not have the courage to Service. The discussions of this Division at get on with this matter and to tackle these pp.27 and 29 of the CJC Annual Report hard issues. No, as usual, they could not do a includes a reference to the Division's plan dashed thing. The former Government was to establish a pool of trained personnel tired and worn out. It went to sleep on the within the Queensland Police Service for public of this State. To suggest that an witness protection. organisation that has a budget of over $20m . . . should not at some stage have checks and Similarly, the Intelligence Division has balances—— functions which should properly be Time expired. 3122 Inquiry into Criminal Justice Commission 8 Oct 1996

Hon. P. J. BRADDY (Kedron) fair dinkum in their relationship with the CJC. (6.51 p.m.): If any Government in Australia Mr Clair has said publicly that he has tried time was required to behave with probity in relation and time again to meet with Mr Borbidge and, to these matters, it is this Government. Only a although Mr Borbidge has not openly refused, few short years ago, two reports in this State in eight months he has not found the time to damned for all time in the history of this meet with the chairman of this most important country the administration of justice by the commission. That is an absolute disgrace! It is Liberal and National Parties in this State—the more than a disgrace; it says that the 1988 Kennedy report into prisons and, in Government is not genuine. It is rushing this 1989, the Fitzgerald report which, after 32 submission through Cabinet. It is attempting to years of conservative rule, summed up a rush this inquiry through the community situation which showed that the prison system because it is running scared. was in total disarray and the justice system The Minister for Police stands in dire was in total disarray. Of course, that report trouble before one inquiry, as does the culminated in the arrest, conviction and Premier stand in dire trouble, and so to make sentencing of the Police Commissioner—a up for that Government members say man chosen specifically by the predecessors suddenly, "Did we not promise an inquiry into in title of those members opposite; a man the CJC? Let us rush it through." This has plucked from obscurity to become Police occurred immediately after the Government Commissioner because he would go along has delivered its Budget and when, instead, it with the rorts and the nonsense that were should be sitting down and working out all its being carried out by people opposite a few costs for the rest of the year. However, it has short years ago. not done so. The Government has had an So what do we see? A Government that opportunity to cost all its election understands the history? A Government that commitments. This Government is not shows remorse? Not at all! Today, it comes to genuine and should stand condemned as a this place and says that it is conducting this successor in title to the Bjelke-Petersen inquiry because it was an election promise. Government and all the errors that it made What hypocrisy! during its term in office. The Government also A Government member interjected. stands condemned because it is not prepared to face up to its responsibilities. Mr BRADDY: If the Government was undertaking this inquiry because it was an The Fitzgerald report said that in future, if election promise, it would do it properly. For a anything important was being done about start, there would have been an allocation in justice in this State, all politicians should try to the Budget for it. A submission spelling out be bipartisan. Today, the Opposition has how much the inquiry was going to cost would made it very clear to the Government that it have gone to Cabinet. I know that because I objects to the appointment of Mr Peter have been in Government. I know what Connolly, QC, to head the inquiry not—as the Cabinet submissions are like—that Cabinet member for Mount Ommaney said—primarily submissions spell out the cost for initiatives, because he was a former member of the and they always have. If the Minister was Liberal Party but because recently he was part genuine, he would have prepared a proper of the defence team for Mr Russell Cooper in Cabinet submission—the same as would have a matter analogous to this inquiry into the occurred under the former Labor CJC. No-one in Queensland could do other Government—setting out how much the than to believe that this inquiry relates to some inquiry was going to cost, and that amount extent to what has occurred during the would have been allocated in the Budget. The Carruthers inquiry. Minister is not fair dinkum. Time expired. I ask Government members to think Question—That the motion be agreed about this point, and I ask them to listen very to—put; and the House divided— carefully. They have been in Government for eight months. Despite many pleas, many AYES, 43—Ardill, Barton, Beattie, Bird, Bligh, requests and many suggestions from the Braddy, Bredhauer, Briskey, Campbell, D’Arcy, De Lacy, Dollin, Edmond, Elder, Foley, Fouras, media and from others throughout Gibbs, Goss W. K., Hamill, Hayward, Hollis, Queensland, the Premier of this State, the McElligott, McGrady, Mackenroth, Milliner, Mulherin, leader of the Government, has refused to Nunn, Nuttall, Palaszczuk, Pearce, Purcell, Roberts, meet with the chairman of the CJC. What an Robertson, Rose, Schwarten, Smith, Spence, absolute disgrace! Yet Government members Sullivan J. H., Welford, Wells, Woodgate Tellers: ask us to believe that they are genuine and Livingstone, Sullivan T. B. 8 Oct 1996 Adjournment 3123

NOES, 44—Baumann, Beanland, Borbidge, Connor, some of the votes to direct preferences to Cooper, Cunningham, Davidson, Elliott, FitzGerald, her"—"her" being Mrs Cunningham. What has Gamin, Gilmore, Goss J. N., Grice, Harper, Healy, not been revealed until now is what Federal Hegarty, Hobbs, Horan, Johnson, Laming, Lester, National Party Leader and now Deputy Prime Lingard, Littleproud, McCauley, Malone, Mitchell, Minister, Tim Fischer, told a luncheon at the Perrett, Quinn, Radke, Rowell, Santoro, Sheldon, Simpson, Slack, Stephan, Stoneman, Tanti, Veivers, Country Plaza Hotel in Gladstone on 5 Warwick, Watson, Wilson, Woolmer Tellers: September last year. Mr Fischer told stunned Springborg, Carroll local business people, who had gathered to Resolved in the negative. meet members of the shadow Cabinet, "The Liberal and National organisations in Gladstone are to be congratulated in getting ADJOURNMENT Liz up." Mr FITZGERALD (Lockyer—Leader of So if the characters on the other side of Government Business) (7.01 p.m.): I move— the House are so keen to set up inquiries to investigate arrangements for an election, why "That the House do now adjourn." do they not investigate the comments made by Mr Tucker and the Deputy Prime Minister of Inquiry into Criminal Justice this country? What offers did the Liberals and Commission Nationals make in the Gladstone electorate? What role did the Premier and the Leader of Mr J. H. SULLIVAN (Caboolture) the Liberal Party play in this understanding? (7.02 p.m.): Today's Courier-Mail describes the After all, this would not be the first time that Government's judicial inquiry into the Criminal the Premier has been a party to a secret Justice Commission as having been "handed election deal. a virtually unlimited brief". The editorial of the same paper states— Unless these matters surrounding the coalition's role in Gladstone are fully "There are suspicions that the inquiry investigated, the member for Gladstone, Mrs could be diverted into matters which have Cunningham, will continue to be the victim of excited the attention of the Premier . . ." an unwarranted slur cast by Mr Tucker and Mr It is not inconceivable that this judicial inquiry Fischer through their public comments. As a could revisit a celebrated matter currently result of those comments, it is open for people being considered by the CJC. to believe that a secret pre-election deal was If the Attorney-General is so interested in in existence, thus explaining why the member setting up inquiries to investigate election for Gladstone has voted so overwhelmingly deals, he should also see to it that the with the coalition parties in this place. That is coalition's role in the election in the seat of the disgraceful slur that Mr Tucker and Mr Gladstone in July 1995 is also scrutinised. In Fischer have implied upon the member for the Courier-Mail of September 11 this year, Gladstone. It stands, despite her own denials. State Liberal Party President, Bob Tucker, Why would the Attorney-General not want confirmed that there was an "understanding" to investigate this attack on the good name of with the now member for Gladstone and, the member for Gladstone? As the defender further, that the Liberals were "very of equal justice his office requires him to be, comfortable with her . . . so we decided to co- the Attorney-General must demand that the operate with her". Part of this arrangement, we Liberal Party President and the Deputy Prime are told, was that the Liberal Party decided not Minister appear before a properly constituted to stand a candidate so "she could have inquiry and explain their public statements another go". about Gladstone. That is the only way that the Mr Tucker needs to explain the extent of slur they have cast upon Mrs Cunningham can this cooperation and what the coalition be lifted. expected in return for the cooperation from the member for Gladstone. The Attorney-General Queensland Small Business and must surely recognise the implications of these Tourism comments and initiate an inquiry to include the Gladstone election in 1995. Mr HARPER (Mount Ommaney) (7.06 p.m.): I take this opportunity to support The National Party was up to its neck in what the Government is doing for small this Gladstone contrivance as well. Its business and tourism in Queensland. This candidate, Jenny Elliott, started campaigning Government recognises the value of only days before the July election, and Queensland's 140,000 small businesses and according to Mr Tucker ran only "to soak up is committed to help them advance, develop 3124 Adjournment 8 Oct 1996 and diversify. It is this commitment which last to Government so that we may properly month saw the Minister for Tourism, Small address the situation. Business and Industry appoint 15 small- Both the Small Business Council and the business people from throughout the State to Red Tape Reduction Task Force will be the inaugural Small Business Council. The supported by the Department of Tourism, council, the first of its type in Australia—and Small Business and Industry. This that is an achievement—was formed by the Government, as it has clearly demonstrated, is Government to provide Queensland small also determined to develop Queensland's business with direct input into decision making. important tourism industry. Tourism has grown The Small Business Council will provide this to become one of the State's largest Government with direct access to the opinions industries, contributing 10 per cent of of small-business people across the State at a Queensland's gross State product, generating grassroots level. $7.7 billion in expenditure in 1995 and The Government recognises the crucial providing 122,000 jobs. role that small-business people play, both in The tourism industry is a major source of the general economy of the State and also in employment and a significant creator of new employment. Its priorities, highlighted in the jobs—something that is very crucial—providing first meeting of the council, include the opportunities for people of all ages and skill proliferation of shopping centres and seed levels and across all regions throughout the funding for small business. I will expand briefly State, including those suffering economic on the matter of the shopping centres. decline and population loss. The Tourism Much has been said over recent times Council of Australia estimates that every 17 about shopping hours and their effect on international arrivals create a job in tourism, consumers and small business. Something and every 32 domestic travellers also create a that we as a Government, councils and small- job. After years of leading the nation business people throughout the State have to Queensland, unfortunately, with its tourism face up to is the number of shopping centres performance in recent years in some key that are being built around the State. Small- areas, has fallen behind. business people are drawn into those centres. This year, the Queensland Tourist and They are signing leases and then finding that Travel Corporation plans to enhance the business is not available to support the promotional and marketing initiatives, including overhead costs, let alone make a decent the development of a new domestic marketing wage for the owners. The council is addressing campaign and the launch of an on-line this problem. information and bookings service. Because of The Small Business Council complements Queensland's vast geographical expanse, another initiative of this Government, the there are many assets to promote throughout establishment of a Red Tape Reduction Task the State. The QTTC has increased its funding Force. The amount of red tape in terms of the to the State's 14 regional tourist associations forms and returns that small-business people by $65,000 per region. This will allow regions have to fill in is well known in all circles. One to further promote their particular areas, both often wonders what happens to those forms. intrastate, interstate and internationally. The amount of feedback that small-business It is pleasing to see that the Minister has people get is fairly low. One cannot blame a also reviewed the operations of the small-business person for saying, "Why am I Queensland Events Corporation. This will doing this? Why am I taking the time and the provide Queensland with a greater ability to cost to do this if I get no feedback and no identify and bid for major international events apparent benefit?" The Government is well and an ability to broaden its focus beyond just aware of this problem at the State and Federal sporting events to include cultural, recreational levels. We are setting out to make sure that and industry-based events which have the we are able to reduce that burden. potential to generate significant economic The task force, which met for the first time benefits for Queensland. last month, has been established to review the Time expired. compliance burden placed on small businesses and to make recommendations to the Government in order to reduce the Adoption Fees burden. The task force comprises business Mr DOLLIN (Maryborough) (7.11 p.m.): I people and industry representatives. Those rise to bring to the attention of this House the people, who have practical experience of the misery, pain and anguish being caused to burden of those returns, will be able to report infertile couples throughout Queensland by 8 Oct 1996 Adjournment 3125 the massive almost 800 per cent increase in November, that will leave us unable to adoption fees applied by this Government as achieve pregnancy and have children. of 1 October. I have received dozens of phone For the last four years infertility has calls and several letters from couples who ruled our lives, it never leaves our side have little hope of accommodating this huge and leaves us physically, emotionally and increase in adoption fees. It is a deathblow to financially drained. their hopes of ever having a happy, normal family that only parenthood can bring, and for The only light at the end of this long infertile couples this can happen only through tunnel is Inter Country Adoption. (I.C.A.) adoption. Why put that out of their reach? With an age cut off point of 35 (my husband is 36) and 10,000 couples on This State coalition Government says that the Queensland list with an 8 to 10 year it is bringing fees into line with other States wait, we looked at (I.C.A.) The waiting and that good business practice requires cost period for Inter Country Adoption is an recovery. I ask: does this Government not average of 3 years, a vast improvement have a heart or a soul? Surely money has not on local adoption. The cost, however, become its most important criterion and its averages $10,000 but can be as high as God? I ask members on both sides of this $30,000, depending on fees, airfares and House to do everything possible to have these accommodation in the country applied to. cost increases removed for the sake of some 10,000 childless couples across Queensland After years of costly infertility and for the sake of the orphaned children who treatments our finances are pretty would be rescued from war torn Europe and drained, but if we made sacrifices we saved from death and starvation in some could have saved the ten to fifteen African states. These children would be loved thousand dollars needed for (I.C.A.) Now and nurtured to become excellent Australians the Coalition Government wants to by parents who would consider them very increase the application and assessment precious indeed. fees for (I.C.A.) from $694.00 to $5,200.00, a 749% overnight increase. I will read to honourable members one of Local adoption increases from $496.00 to the letters that I have received from a couple. $3,950.00, a 790% increase, how can this The letter states very plainly and from their be justified! Who could budget for a 749% hearts the anguish that they are trying to cope increase in paperwork fees. with. The letter reads— I am hurt, angry and scared as yet "Dear Mr Dollin, another door to parenthood is being I am writing this letter in the hope closed to us, not through medical that it will move you to stand against the reasons, but through the decision of a heartless and discriminatory increase in heartless greedy and prejudiced Australian and Inter Country Adoption Government, who jumps on the family (I.C.A.) assessment and application fees. values bandwagon only when it benefits I am 30 years old and my husband is them as a vote grabber. 36. We have both come from hardworking We have as much right as the next ordinary families and are hardworking person to be parents, but this decision, if ordinary people. There is only one thing not blocked, will leave many ordinary that makes us different from a lot of other people with empty cradles, only the rich people whether rich, poor, good or bad, will be able to become parents. I am sure we are infertile. the Ministers concerned enjoy the lifestyle For the last four years we have been and joy their own children and their prodded and poked, taken drugs with grandchildren bring, not sparing a thought nasty and sometimes irreversible side for the 10 to 15% of couples facing effects, had countless operations, infertility who ache at the sight of a typical needles and blood tests, all in the family. desperate desire to have children and to Where do we fit in to this so called be a mum and dad. typical Australian family? There is no During this time we have gone place for us, the sterile people, but through four unsuccessful I.V.F. attempts. remember, even sterile people vote, and Due to my worsening medical condition, so do their family and friends and with 10 (endometriosis) I will be undergoing a to 15% of couples facing infertility, can drastic, but necessary operation in you afford to forget about us again! 3126 Adjournment 8 Oct 1996

Please act now to block this increase, young chap by the name of McGuire, who prove to us you have a heart, after all, comes from an excellent family, was bashed actions speak louder than words. Give us up outside Bonkers nightclub. He had his a break, lord knows we need one." head kicked in. He is going to survive, but just I make this plea to the members of this how we are not quite sure. It was an horrific House on behalf of these couples and for the incident. The police did an excellent job, and little children, the many orphans, they would they are working to see what can be done to love and cherish as their own if they could overcome these problems. We are still working afford to do so. on getting a 24-hour police station at Yeppoon, but we are deeply grateful for what we have been given at Emu Park, that is, the Keppel Electorate, Police Staffing; additional police officer. Kinka Beach We are still working on Kinka Beach. The Hon. V. P. LESTER (Keppel) good people there talk to me daily about what (7.16 p.m.): Tonight I am delighted to is happening. Officers from the department announce to the Parliament that Emu Park have met with the Kinka Beach people, as well now has two police officers. Previously, we had as the Minister and, formerly, the Premier. We a constable who, no matter how hard he tried, are seeing some progress to the point at found it difficult to keep up with the workload. which the department has accepted some Constable Paul White and prior to him alternative suggestions put up by the learned Constable Beard, who incidentally is the son of local people. It now comes down to a question a former member of this House—— of funding. It is important that we obtain some funding. The Department of the Environment Mr FitzGerald: He served in Gatton for tells me that it only tells us what to do; it does a while—a good constable. not give us any funds. So it comes down to Mr LESTER: He was excellent. We the Department of Local Government, which I have been successful in getting the Emu Park understand can, in special circumstances, area upgraded to sergeant status. Sergeant grant funding to the level of 25 per cent of the Arty Perry has now taken over there, and cost. We are also negotiating with the Main Constable Kevin Ongheen will be in charge Roads Department, because the road is from here on in. I also wish to thank the public coming awfully close to where the erosion is for supporting me and Councillor Fay Owens, occurring. The Transport Department recently who pushed extraordinarily hard for this to told the Livingstone Shire Council that it will occur over quite a period. At 9.30 a.m. on 18 organise some funding provided that it comes October at the Cultural Centre at Emu Park, out of another project in the shire. I imagine Councillor Owens and I will be hosting a that the council was not very happy with that morning tea—and everybody is invited—to suggestion; nor were the other ratepayers. welcome the two new police officers to Emu Nevertheless, we are working on this matter. Park. I want to compliment the Main Roads Dr Watson: Are we all invited? Department on continuing the widening of the Mr LESTER: Yes, all members are road between Yeppoon and Rockhampton. invited. Everybody should come along. I will We now have quite a considerable stretch of give members a special welcome if they four-lane highway. Additionally, in recent times attend. Also, the ambulance and fire stations we have been given a passing lane. This is are working well. There is continuing work very helpful to motorists, although I would being done on widening the road between have liked to have seen the passing lane a Emu Park and Rockhampton. However, we little bit longer, because the current road would like to see a 24-hour Police Service design creates a bottleneck. We are reaching established at Yeppoon. Ironically, that was the stage at which we are going to need a promised by the Labor Party prior to 1989. four-lane highway all the way between That was not achieved in the time that the Rockhampton and Yeppoon. Labor Party was in power. Time expired. Dr Watson: They didn't expect you to win. Population Decline in Regional and Mr LESTER: No, they did not expect Remote Centres me to win. We are in power, and I still have to Hon. T. McGRADY (Mount Isa) say the same thing. We do need a 24-hour (7.21 p.m.): One of the major issues facing Police Service there. There have been a this country today is the decline in population couple of severe bashings. In recent times, a numbers in regional and country Australia. In 8 Oct 1996 Adjournment 3127

Queensland, that problem is many times incentives to get people to come out and work worse. As the numbers reduce, so too do the and live in these centres. services, and it becomes a vicious circle. Whether people understand it or not, it is Actions by Governments, both State and an additional cost to live in the Dajarras, the Federal, in closing down Medicare offices, Mornington Islands, the Doomadgees and the immigration offices, taxation offices and many Cloncurrys of this State. If public servants are other offices around the State and the country simply going to receive $15 or $30 a week as mean a further loss of jobs in regional and compensation, there is no way in the world we remote centres. As politicians, we can sit back are going to get people to come and work in and allow the gradual death of regional and these centres, which means that we cannot remote Queensland, or we can say, "Enough provide the facilities and we cannot provide is enough", and devise policies and programs the services to the people who live there, and which will arrest this decline. The sad and sorry hence the vicious circle starts all over again. story is that the closure of offices and the loss of facilities has escalated in recent times under It is up to people such as myself to National/Liberal Party Governments. remind this Parliament at every single opportunity that it is the people who live in Private enterprise has a role to play but electorates such as mine—and others, but in they cannot simply make decisions without taking into account the social consequences this case, my electorate of Mount Isa—who of their actions. They have a responsibility to produce the wealth for this State. Every tonne the community. One of the concerns that has of ore which is extracted from the ground is been expressed many times is the fly in, fly new wealth. Every kilo of beef which is raised out operations around Australia today, on those properties out there is new wealth for particularly in the mining industry. The sad and this State. People have to start to realise that sorry story is that some of these mining it is the people in these centres who are companies pay little, if any, regard to the local creating the wealth which Mrs Sheldon and other people spend willy-nilly. That wealth community. Most of them do. Most of them comes from the places such as those in my have a sense of corporate responsibility and electorate. are in fact good corporate citizens, but some of them simply move in, dig up the ground Tonight, I want this Parliament to and move off somewhere else. But the lead understand that there is a crisis in rural and and the vision must come from Governments. regional Queensland. We are losing services I am somewhat sick and tired of left, right and centre. This has to be arrested. Government departments withdrawing services People in Government have to understand the from my electorate. The latest is the Fire reasons why this is occurring. Unless we sit Service, which has recently announced that it down and try to devise some policies and is going on to the 000 number. As most of us programs which will arrest this trend, this State know, that means that when a person picks up will not continue to prosper. the telephone and dials 000, that call goes to anywhere at all in Australia. What that means District Health Councils is that the communication room in my home city closes down, and with it four jobs simply Mr HEGARTY (Redlands) (7.26 p.m.): disappear. The advertisement on 28 September seeking expressions of interest in the new District There is also great difficulty in getting Health Councils represents a turning point in people to work in remote and regional centres, health administration in this State. Coalition because as the jobs disappear people are Health Minister Mike Horan has made clear reluctant to come and work in these places. I that the establishment of the 38 district have spoken many times about the problems councils firmly establishes the coalition model associated with trying to get doctors to come of community input into health delivery. These and work and live in regional and remote parts District Health Councils will be comprised of a of the State. We also have problems with very workable 8 to 10 community leaders, teachers, ambulance officers, fire officers, health professionals, business people and nurses, local government officers and, indeed, all public servants. The recent initiatives in concerned citizens. offering a decent Remote Area Incentives The health council that I have been most Scheme to teachers was applauded and interested in is the Bayside, which covers the welcomed by most people in the remote parts Redlands and Wynnum Hospitals as well as a of the State. I was one of the first people to number of school dental clinics. I have put congratulate the Government on its actions. forward for consideration for inclusion on the But it cannot stop there. We have to offer Bayside District Health Council several capable 3128 Adjournment 8 Oct 1996 local community leaders who will be ideal meetings, memos and committee monitors and who will identify community deliberations that can paralyse public health needs so that relevant services can be administration. Direct access to the Minister provided. The formation of a health council also means that these councils cannot be could not have come at a more opportune sidelined and are assured of the real power time: just before the expansion of the needed to function effectively. Redlands District Hospital from its present 40- Mike Horan's low-cost, community-friendly bed capacity to 144 beds. This will include District Health Councils stand in stark contrast provision for maternity services as well as a to the vastly expensive bureaucratic monolith new initiative of 24 beds for mental health that Labor imposed upon this State. Labor's patients; all in all, providing a range of services failed regional health authorities, which soaked only short of the tertiary treatment facilities up so much of the money which should have available at the major hospitals like Royal been used to fund hospital beds and services, Brisbane, Princess Alexandra and the Mater. are an allegory for the failure of the last Labor Mike Horan has put on public record that Government. Mike Horan summed up the real the role of the District Health Councils will triumph of his District Health Council model include monitoring service delivery and when he described it as health administration business plans, contributing to strategic getting back to basics and ensuring that direction and policy, allocating and overseeing ordinary people have a real say in the health minor capital works programs and monitoring services of their local community. This kind of financial compliance. These District Health no-nonsense, community-centred approach to Councils will report directly to the Health health services exemplifies—— Minister, allowing them to sidestep Time expired. bureaucratic red tape and address any problems directly to the person who is in a Motion agreed to. position to solve them without the endless The House adjourned at 7.30 p.m.