Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 20 DECEMBER 1983 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 868 20 December 1983 Pa^rs TUESDAY, 20 DECEMBER 1983 Mr SPEAKER (Hon, J. H, Wamer, Toowoomba South) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a,m, ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following BiUs reported by Mr Speaker— Wheat Pool (Validation of Proclamations) BiU; Mining Titles Freeholding Act Amendment BUI; Mines Regulation Act Amendment BUI (No. 2); Builders' Registration and Home-owners' Protection Act Amendment Bill. OVERTIME PAID IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS Return to Order The following paper was laid on the table— Return to an Order made by the House on 25 November last, on the motion of Mr Simpson, showing the amount of overtime paid in each Government department (aU funds) in 1982-83. PAPERS The foUowing papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports— Port of Brisbane Authority for the year ended 30 June 1983 Mackay Harbour Board for the year ended 30 June 1983 Board of Trustees of Newstead House for the year ended 30 June 1983 Commissioner of Main Roads for the year ended 30 Jime 1983 Department of Mines for the period 1 January 1982 to 30 June 1983 Department of Commercial and Industrial Development for the year ended 30 June 1983 University of Queensland for the year ended 31 December 1982 Commissioner of Main Roads for the year ended 30 June 1983. The following papers were laid on the table— Orders in Council under— Harbours Act 1955-1982 Harbours Act 1955-1982 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Farm Water Supplies Assistance Act 1958-1979 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 River Improvement Trust Act 1940-1983 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Water Act 1926-1983 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Supreme Court Act 1921-1979 City of Brisbane Act 1924-1982 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Electricity Act 1976-1982 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Fauna Conservation Act 1974-1979 and the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1975-1982 Land Act 1962-1983 Regulations under— Public Service Act 1922-1978 Mining Act 1968-1983 QuesticMis Upon Notice 20 December 1983 869 Tow-tmck Act 1973 Forestry Act 1959-1982 By-laws under the Harbours Act 1955-1982 Rule under the Coal Mining Act 1925-1981 Notice of a proposal by the Govemor in CouncU to revoke the setting apart and declaration as National Park under the National Parks and WildUfe Act 1975-1982 of aU that piece or part of National Park 30, parish of Chillagoe described as Areas A and B as shown on plan NPW 165 prepared by the Department of Mapping and Surveymg and deposited in the Office <^ the Director of National Parks and Wildlife and containing an area of about 8.79 hectares; a brief explanation of the Proposal Report of the Legal Aid Commission for the year ended 30 June 1983. QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE Questi<Mis submitted on notice by members were answered as follows— 1. Funding for Southport Bar Mr Wright asked the Premier and Treasurer— With reference to his following reported comments in "The Courier-MaU" of 13 December in an article on State (Cabinet's approval for a $32m project for the Southport bar— "We decided to go ahead with the scheme because we think it wiU be very worthwhile and will benefit the coast. We wiU argue later about who pays for it. I spoke to my Ministers yesterday and told them it would have to cost them and that they would probably have to sacrifice part of their budgets for the work."— (1) Is this an accurate report of the comments he made? (2) Which Government departments will have their budget allocations cut to fund the Southport bar project? (3) By what amount wiU the departmental budgets be reduced? (4) What departmental activities, programs or services to the community wiU be affected by these funding cut-backs? Answer— (1 to 4) The matter of financing the Nerang River training waUs is currently subject to investigation and negotiation. A detailed statement on this matter will be released at a later date. 2. Delays in Thles Office Mr Wright asked the Premier and Treasurer— (1) Did the Govemment set up an inquiry into delays in the Titles Office on the recommendation of the then Minister for Justice and Attomey-General and the then Mmister for Environment, Valuation and Administrative Services? (2) Did this inquiry result from complaints regarding long delays in processing titles and reports and that bad surveying work was not referred to the Surveyors Board, so that disciplinary action could be taken? (3) Was Mr Len Lawrence (former chairman of the Public Service Board) appointed to head a three-man inquiry? (4) Did this inquiry gather evidence from aU over AustraUa and was it close to completing its work when the new Govemment was elected? (5) Did the new Minister for Justice and Attomey-General move in Cabinet that the inquiry be suspended? (6) Did the new Mmister for Envhonment, Valuation and Administrative Services take strong exception to this move and did (Cabinet deckle that the inquiry be suspended? 6085g—30 870 20 December 1983 Questions Upon Notice (7) Why was the inquhy suspended and what was the cost of the inquiry to the date of its suspension? (8) As it has been widely reported that surveyors from aU over the State have been contacting himself and the Minister for Environment, Valuation and Administrative Services, seeking the completion of the inquiry, wiU he now reconsider this decision and allow the inquiry to produce a report so that discussions can be undertaken based on the committee's fmdings? Answer— (1 to 8) The Government set up a committee to inquire into and report on the process of cadastral plan examination in this State, following the receipt of submissions in relation to this matter. The committee consisted of Mr L. G. Lawrence, assisted by Mr P. Dawson and Mr J. S. P. O'Keefe. Public hearings were held by the committee in Brisbane between 15 and 26 August 1983, and interstate visits were made by the committee to South Australia and Westem Australia. The fees and travelUng expenses are not expected to exceed $25,000. A report has been received from the committee of inquiry, and it is now being examined. 3. Railway Houses Mr Neal asked the Minister for Transport— (1) What progress has been made towards the completion of the raUway houses for which wages pause funds were provided? (2) How many of these houses have been completed? Answer— (1 & 2) A total of 122 houses is being provided from these funds. Of them, 33 have been completed, with 26 more to be completed this month and the remainder programmed to be completed by early February 1984. This housing program totalUng $l(hn is the largest ever undertaken by the Railway Department in any one year. Another $6.5m was provided from the wages pause fund for major capital works, including workshops extensions and bridge renewals, which could not be undertaken as part of the normal annual capital works program. DarUng Downs Investments; Washington Developments Mr Smith as^ed the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General— (1) Is he aware that an organisation known as Darling Downs Investments, in association with Washington Developments of 73 Mary Street, Brisbane, ai^iears to be engaged in fraudulent advertising and other malpractice, in respect to land sales? (2) Is the practice of advertising land in such a way as to mislead potential buyers into reasonably believing the land being offered is situated locally «id desirably close to a particular city whereas, in fact, the land is located elsewhere in the State, lawful? (3) What are the names and addresses of the directors of both Darling Downs Investments and Washington Developm«its? (4) What are the financial backing of both organisations, the shareholdings of directors and the location of offices of both companies throughout the State? (5) Is it an ethical practice for Darlmg Downs Investments to use the standard contract of sale document of the Urban Development Institute of AustraUa, whh section 3 struck out, so as to cause a buyer, who has paid a deposit but who is subsequently unable to arrange for the balance of finance within the usual commercially recognised period, to lose his or her legal claim for the refunding of that deposh? Questions Upon Notice 20 December 1983 871 Answer— (1 & 2) I am informed that Washington Developments is selling its own land. Nehher DarUng Downs Investments Pty Ltd nor Wacal Investments Pty Ltd, which is the registered proprietor of the business name "Washington Developments", is a licensed real estate agent. Accordingly, no action may be taken by the Registrar of Auctioneers ami Agents in relation to any such sale. Any complaint in relation to fraudulent activities by any person or body should be referred to my colleague the Honourable the Minister for Lands, Forestry and PoUce. (3) The annual retum dated 29 October 1982 reveals that the names and addresses of the directors of Darling Downs Investments Pty Ltd are Warren Wayne Washington, 183 Station Road, Sunnybank, Queensland and David Roland Kent Steele, 25 Morley Street, Toowong, Queensland. The proprietor of the business name "Washington Developments" is a company by the name of Wacal Investments Pty Ltd. The annual retum dated 29 October 1982 reveals that the names and addresses of the directors of Wacal Investments Pty Ltd are Warren Wayne Washington, 183 Station Road, Sunnybank, Queensland and David Roland Kent Steele, 25 Morley Street, Toowong, Queensland.