15

NEW SOUTH WALES

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

(HANSARD)

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FIRST SESSION OF THE FIF TY-THIRD PARLIAMENT

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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Tuesday 29 April 2003

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The House met at 2.15 p.m. pursuant to the proclamation of Her Excellency the Governor.

The Clerk read the proclamation.

The Clerk announced that he had received a list, certified by Her Excellency the Governor, of the names of the members to serve in this Parliament, together with the writs on which they had been returned. He announced also that with Her Excellency's certification the writs had been returned prior to the day by which they were by law returnable.

OPENING OF SESSION

The Usher of the Black Rod, being admitted, delivered a message from the Commissioners empowered by Her Excellency the Governor to open this session of Parliament requesting the immediate attendance of the members of this honourable House in the Legislative Council Chamber to hear the Commission for the opening of Parliament read.

The members of the House, having attended the Legislative Council Chamber, reassembled.

OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF ALLEGIANCE

The Clerk informed the House that Her Excellency the Governor had issued a Commission authorising the Hon. Robert John Carr, the Hon. Dr Andrew John Refshauge and the Hon. Craig John Knowles to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen required by law to be taken or made by members of the Legislative Assembly.

The Clerk read the Commission.

All members, with the exception of Mr Armstrong and Mr Souris, took and subscribed the oath or affirmation of allegiance, and signed the roll.

SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Election

The Clerk announced, pursuant to section 31B of the Constitution Act, that the House would proceed to the election of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Having called for nominations, and sufficient time having elapsed, he declared nominations closed and informed the House that one valid nomination had been received: the Hon. J. J. Aquilina.

The Hon. J. J. Aquilina was declared elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

John Joseph Aquilina was then taken out of his place by Mr Martin and Mrs Perry and escorted to the Chair. 16 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

Mr SPEAKER (The Hon. John Joseph Aquilina), standing on the upper step: I would like to thank my parliamentary colleagues for this election. To quote Sir Edmund Barton on his accession speech as Speaker of this Chamber on 3 January 1883, I accept it solemnly, with fear and trembling. I pledge that I will undertake my duties as Speaker of this House impartially and fairly in all proceedings, and during my time as Speaker I will be guided by the Constitution of New South Wales, which I believe has served this State well.

The New South Wales Parliament is the oldest Parliament in Australia. It is steeped in tradition; it is part of the very basis of the democracy of this country. The Parliament itself has been in many ways a founder of many of the democratic traditions that formed this nation. Many of those traditions, and many of the individuals from here, were to play a prominent role in the formation of this great country. The traditions and the history of this place date back to the earliest days of the colony, and I am very conscious of those traditions and very conscious of what they mean to each and every one of us as elected representatives and, indeed, to the public of New South Wales.

It has been a long and at times rocky road since a Maltese migrant boy visited this Chamber on a year 5 excursion from St Joseph's, Rozelle. He could barely understand English at the time, and could barely see the proceedings over the bar of the top public gallery opposite. But it left him with an indelible mark; it left him also with an insatiable curiosity which has remained with him all of these years. It has been that curiosity and that respect for the traditions of this place which have brought me here, and which now, along with the honourable member for Lachlan, see me as the longest continuing serving member of this Chamber. I honour those traditions, and far from waning, that respect for those traditions, that respect for the proceedings of this Chamber has continued to grow.

To quote Sir Edmund Barton again, to be the elect of the elected, the one chosen from and by the representatives of the people, for the high position of Speaker is the highest honour that the House can offer to any of us. To members whose rights and privileges I may have unwittingly or otherwise transgressed over the years, I offer contrition and a sincere apology. I beg your forgiveness and indulgence for the future. I hope to be able to assist all members as much as possible to fulfil your highest expectations in your respective roles as public representatives.

I also extend my support to the many members of staff who perform their various duties. Running a Parliament is a huge task, requiring a large contingent of staff with varied skills. While those who work in this building are well known to many of us, I also wish to make special mention of our front-line staff members who work in the electoral offices around the State. I know only too well how much each one of us is indebted to them.

In conclusion, I would like to make the point, as my predecessor did on many occasions, that this Parliament is to be regarded not as the members' Parliament but as the people's Parliament. It has been a proud, recent tradition that members of the public are welcome here at all times. We want members of the public to know that your elected representatives welcome you to see how they are representing you. This is your place. This is the place where it all happens on your behalf, and we will continue to welcome you, to note your presence, and to trust that you will continue to come and see the proceedings of this Chamber so as to fulfil to your satisfaction the feeling that your representatives are representing you well. I thank all members of the House.

Mr CARR (Maroubra—Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Citizenship) [3.15 p.m.]: Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on the great honour that has been bestowed on you: your election as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. Fair to a fault is, I think, the assessment already being made by members on both sides of the House of the approach you will bring as Speaker of the House. For my own part, let me say that if ever I uncharacteristically should be considered by you as Speaker as making too harsh a criticism of those opposite or, for example, straying from a strict sense of relevancy on a matter before the House that I am addressing, I would expect to be corrected by you. I would take it with a sense of appropriateness that all honourable members would consider fair. If ever any of my attempts at humour were to be considered to overstep the mark, again I look to you for the necessary, if painful, instruction in what is appropriate behaviour in this House at all times, and I know I will not be disappointed.

Mr Speaker, you described what it was like for a boy from a Maltese migrant background. As it happens, your father was brought out here to be a tradesman on some of the big building sites around the city, as so many migrants were in the period of the great post-war immigration. As a migrant boy from a working-class school, you were brought in to observe Parliament at work, managing to see a bit of it and go away with some 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 17 sense of the significance of representative government. All these years later, after a record in local government you are now able to preside in this Chamber as Speaker. We would all join in saying that is the kind of country Australia is. It is a great thing, and that is a great story. There is a special honour in coming from that migrant background, your father a tradesman, and you making good—in particular, being Speaker in this Legislative Assembly.

I pay unstinted tribute to you for your achievements in education. The fact that our youngsters have the highest literacy of those in any school system in Australia is proof of the effectiveness of literacy programs and the extra funding applied during your years as Minister. The strengthening of vocational education, which is seeing youngsters in the school system make a seamless transition to the workplace, is a great tribute to your achievements. The State numeracy plan is working, because when you go to schools you see youngsters learning maths by different means and strategies that are more alive and interesting than they ever were in the past.

The requirement that schools provide annual reports to parents and to the community provides a new level of accountability. But above all, the testing that has underpinned all these achievements that have been strengthened in the school system—testing for literacy in those early years of high school, for example—has provided indispensable feedback for teachers, parents and school communities. These are all great achievements that have strengthened school education in New South Wales, and they are achievements of which you can be very proud.

Mr Speaker—and we are calling you Mr Speaker already, as if you had been in the job for some time— I also congratulate you on your victory in Riverstone during the recent election. The "ALP storms back in Riverstone" headline in the Blacktown Advocate is something that ought to be framed. Congratulations on your election as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

Mr BROGDEN (Pittwater—Leader of the Opposition) [3.18 p.m.]: Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Opposition I offer congratulations to you on your election to Speaker, and also on sharing with the honourable member for Lachlan the title of father of the House—although, due to the alphabetical superiority of the seat of Blacktown to which you were elected in 1981, I believe that you hold that title in your own right. On behalf of the Opposition, we look forward to a fulsome working relationship. I particularly congratulate you on noting the important role of our staff in our electorate offices. They are indeed the front line of the service that we provide to our community, and to that end it was, I think, very important that you made note of them today.

We look forward to a strong working relationship with you in improving their conditions and improving the services that we, as parliamentarians, offer to our communities. We look to you for the fair administration of this House. If you are fair, Mr Speaker, we shall be fair. We hope that, having been elected unanimously and taken the oath of office, you will uphold the position to which you in the manner expected of you by the entire House. Your role is very important: it is to uphold the traditions of the House, but more particularly to uphold justice in this House. From time to time we will ask you to uphold that justice and we look forward to your being forthcoming.

You referred earlier, Mr Speaker, to your first visit to this Parliament as a young boy, a student of St Joseph's school, Rozelle—a school that my aunts attended. I found out for the first time today that the school was co-educational. I note also that you enjoyed the strong tradition of having been educated by the Christian Brothers at Lewisham. I know that you are very proud of that fact, as am I and other members of this House. You have achieved much in your 22 years in Parliament. We look forward to working closely with you over the next four years, and hope we can enjoy a close and fair working relationship.

Mr SPEAKER: I thank the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition for their remarks.

Mr STONER (Oxley—Leader of the National Party) [3.22 p.m.]: Mr Speaker, on behalf of the National Party I congratulate you on your election to the position of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in this the mother of Australian parliaments. I know that you are aware of the awesome responsibility this position carries, not only for the operation and conduct of this House but also to the people of New South Wales, who rightfully expect their Parliament to set high standards. I note your earlier comment that you will uphold a standard of impartiality in your dealings with both sides of this House.

The entry of a number of newly elected members to this House makes it all the more desirable that you demonstrate your even-handed authority in the day-to-day operation of the business of this place. The National 18 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

Party appreciated your earlier comment in relation to electorate offices. Many country electorate offices are in areas remote from Sydney, and we would expect those offices and their staff to receive the same or an even greater level of support as that provided to all electorate offices throughout the State.

I take this opportunity to raise a matter which I believe is worthy of your consideration and, hopefully, your assistance. I represent the National Party team in this House. As you are aware, all 12 members of our team come from areas other than the major cities. It is difficult for country people to have their problems, hopes and aspirations heard by the decision makers. It is difficult for them to penetrate the often impervious bureaucracy, and their problems are more often than not overlooked by an indifferent metropolitan media. Thus, this Parliament is the one place where the voice of country New South Wales can and should be heard. I know you would agree that it is an important voice.

It should not matter that the concerns are parochial or relate to problems which might appear inconsequential to city people. We in the National Party believe that the people of regional and rural New South Wales play an outstanding role in the development and prosperity of New South Wales. We believe that the voice of country people should be heard in this place, and we will continue to take every opportunity to make that happen. But, Mr Speaker, the National Party looks to you to recognise the need for this House to be the people's House—representative of all and exclusive of none. We look forward to your indulgence in this regard in all matters before the House—during question time, matters of public importance, urgency motions and points of order—so that the voice of country people may be given a fair chance.

Mr SPEAKER: I thank the Leader of the National Party for his comments.

Presentation

Mr CARR (Maroubra—Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Citizenship): I inform the House that the Governor will receive the Speaker at 5.00 p.m. today.

SESSIONAL ORDERS

Election of Deputy-Speaker and Chairman of Committees

Mr SCULLY (Smithfield—Minister for Roads, and Minister for Housing) [3.24 p.m.], by leave: I move:

That during the current session, unless otherwise ordered:

(1) The House may elect at the commencement of each Parliament, and from time to time if necessary, a Deputy-Speaker and the Chairman of Committees.

(2) The procedure for the election of the Deputy-Speaker shall be as for the Chairman of Committees.

(3) References to the Chairman of Committees in the standing orders shall be taken to include the Deputy-Speaker.

(4) In the absence of the Speaker the Deputy-Speaker shall perform the duties of the Speaker.

(5) In the absence of the Deputy-Speaker the Chairman of Committees shall perform the duties of the Deputy-Speaker.

This was a change to the standing orders that was moved four years ago. The Opposition had some concerns about the change, which I believe were not well founded. Mr John Price has been an exemplary Deputy- Speaker. He served the previous Speaker very well for four years, and as Deputy-Speaker he will serve you very well, Mr Speaker. I commend this amendment to the standing orders to the House.

Mr TINK (Epping) [3.26 p.m.]: Mr Speaker, firstly I congratulate you on your election as Speaker. You referred in particular to the longstanding traditions of this House. I make that point in connection with my concerns about the motion moved by the Leader of the House. This House was able to function for 143 years without splitting the role of Deputy-Speaker, which for a long time included the position of Chairman of Committees. That new position was created for the first time in 1999. My dear friend and departed colleague the Hon. Paul Whelan gave one of the shortest speeches he ever gave in the House in support of the notion that the position ought to be split. He has been bettered today by his successor, the current Leader of the House, who spoke for an even shorter period in justifying these two roles. 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 19

The reality is that the House was able to function, year in and year out, with many more members than it has now, doing a lot more business and sitting for many more days than it does now, without having to split the two positions. In 1999, in justifying his position regarding the splitting of these two jobs, the only argument Mr Whelan made was that members would have an opportunity to take a bill without an amendment into Committee, which would enable members to express the wishes of their constituents on three separate occasions. That never happened, and it was never going to happen. It was a straw argument from beginning to end. The current Leader of the House does not even insult our intelligence by pretending that that argument has legs, as his predecessor well knew.

If the purpose of splitting the job was to ascertain whether a member might progress to the Deputy- Speaker's role, and then be elected Speaker, all I can say is that in the last Parliament that did not happen. A few minutes ago when the Clerk was about to open the envelope and we were all waiting with the tension we feel waiting for Eddie McGuire to announce a winner, I anticipated that the name John Price might be announced. An article in the Maitland Mercury of Monday 24 March stated:

Mr Price is deputy speaker of the Lower House but plans to put his hand up for the speaker's job when he is sworn in for his second term in May.

So something has happened, Mr Speaker. I do not take away from your election to the position, but my point is that these two positions are not a career path to the top job. I believe they are a political cul-de-sac of broken dreams. That is the case with regard to both the honourable member for Maitland and, dare I say, the honourable member for Wallsend. The Opposition waits with bated breath to see whether those members will come forward in a few minutes to resume their previous positions. However, it seems to me that if members representing Hunter electorates wish to get somewhere, they should take a leaf out of the book of the Minister for Mineral Resources, who started out on the wrong side of the Premier. On 5 December 1998, when the Minister for Mineral Resources was fighting for preselection, he was quoted in the Newcastle Herald as follows:

Bob Carr was assured that he would have a female candidate and I understand his response was "I ended up with a milkman".

Those who have toiled long and hard in the roles of Deputy-Speaker and Chairman of Committees have been beaten by someone whom the Premier originally described disparagingly as "the milkman".

Mr Carr: What is your point?

Mr TINK: The only point in having two positions is merely the parking of political and factional problems left and right. The positions are finely balanced: Wallsend on the left, Maitland on the right and the milkman in the middle, taking the prize. For the Premier's edification, the passing of the motion will result in unnecessary costs, which could be directed to other areas of the Parliament. Independent members who seek government accountability should oppose this motion. The salaries for these two positions would enable all members of Parliament to share resources rather than the spoils of office going to two members because of a factional brawl, with the milk cart coming up the middle.

The Opposition opposes this motion as it opposed a similar motion in 1999—because it is unnecessary. It has not been a requirement for the past 143 years, and over the past four years the Government has been unable to demonstrate a need for such a requirement. Indeed, the current Leader of the House did not even insult the Opposition by running the same argument that Mr Whelan ran when he moved his motion. The contribution of the Leader of the House set an all-time record: it certainly ran a lot faster than trains currently run over the Menangle bridge.

Mr SCULLY (Smithfield—Minister for Roads, and Minister for Housing) [3.32 p.m.], in reply: I thank the honourable member for Epping for his contribution. He has to be kidding when he refers to a political cul-de-sac of broken dreams. A test of a cul-de-sac of broken dreams would be for the Leader of the Opposition to call a division. The tradition was changed four years ago. The new arrangement has worked well and should be allowed to continue.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

The House divided. 20 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

Ayes, 53

Ms Allan Mr Gibson Mr Orkopoulos Mr Amery Mr Greene Mrs Paluzzano Ms Andrews Ms Hay Mr Pearce Mr Bartlett Mr Hickey Mrs Perry Ms Beamer Mr Hunter Mr Price Mr Black Mr Iemma Dr Refshauge Mr Brown Ms Judge Ms Saliba Ms Burney Ms Keneally Mr Sartor Miss Burton Mr Knowles Mr Scully Mr Campbell Mr Lynch Mr Stewart Mr Carr Mr McBride Mr Tripodi Mr Collier Mr McLeay Mr Watkins Mr Corrigan Ms Meagher Mr West Mr Crittenden Ms Megarrity Mr Whan Ms D'Amore Mr Mills Mr Yeadon Mr Debus Mr Morris Tellers, Ms Gadiel Mr Newell Mr Ashton Mr Gaudry Ms Nori Mr Martin

Noes, 36

Mr Aplin Mrs Hopwood Ms Seaton Mr Barr Mr Humpherson Mrs Skinner Ms Berejiklian Mr Kerr Mr Slack-Smith Mr Brogden Mr McGrane Mr Stoner Mr Cansdell Mr Merton Mr Tink Mr Constance Ms Moore Mr Torbay Mr Debnam Mr Oakeshott Mr J. H. Turner Mr Draper Mr O'Farrell Mr R. W. Turner Mr Fraser Mr Page Mrs Hancock Mr Piccoli Mr Hartcher Mr Pringle Tellers, Mr Hazzard Mr Richardson Mr George Ms Hodgkinson Mr Roberts Mr Maguire

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.

DEPUTY-SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Election

Mr McBRIDE (The Entrance—Minister for Gaming and Racing) [3.43 p.m.]: First, I, too, offer my congratulations to you on your election as the Speaker. I was impressed by your early experiences in this Chamber, when as a young Maltese student you visited this place. Indeed, you were so impressed that your relationship with this place has continued to the point that you are now the father of the House. I note the Premier's comment that this is an example of Australia. Indeed, your election to the position of Speaker is the best example of Australia, because in one generation an immigrant has been elected to one of the highest offices in this country and the highest office in this House. So I congratulate you on what you have achieved.

The honourable member for Epping continually referred to my colleague the Minister for Mineral Resources. If one measured the success of the Minister for Mineral Resources against the success of the honourable member for Epping one would find that the honourable member for Epping perhaps needs some instruction or assistance. Finally, I do not know what I have done to upset members opposite. I cannot imagine why they are upset. Anticipating speculation by the honourable member for Epping, I move:

That John Charles Price be Deputy-Speaker. 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 21

As honourable members know, John held the position of Deputy-Speaker in this Chamber for the past four years. He is a highly respected member of this Chamber. Everyone I know has shown respect for John's even- handedness and his gentlemanly behaviour—something that is not a common characteristic of this Chamber. He is held in high regard not only in this Chamber but also in his electorate of Maitland. In 1999 he represented the electorate of Maitland with only a small margin; in the status quo election this year he managed to get re-elected with a significant majority.

Mr Iemma: What's the margin?

Mr McBRIDE: I think it has gone from a couple of hundred votes to about 8 per cent. The honourable member for Gosford would have been happy with that sort of result—not having to go to a count for a couple of hundred votes. I am sure that John's nomination will have the total support of the whole House.

Mr MARTIN (Bathurst) [3.46 p.m.]: I second the motion.

Mr Hartcher: There's no need to speak to it; we're right.

Mr MARTIN: I am surprised that the honourable member for Gosford is interjecting. He should think himself lucky that he is still in this Chamber. In seconding the motion I am reminded of this time four years ago when the late Jim Anderson seconded the motion and said that new members of the House look around for members of great sagacity—that means wisdom, for the benefit of members opposite. John Price is one of those members. As a new member in 1999 I could always turn to him for good advice about the procedures of this place and how it works. I know that on his re-election as Deputy-Speaker he will continue to give good advice, and that new members will be receptive to his wisdom. I commend the motion to the House.

Motion agreed to.

Mr PRICE (Maitland) [3.48 p.m.]: First, Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on your elevation to the august position of Speaker of this House. I thank the Minister for Gaming and Racing and the honourable member for Bathurst for moving and seconding my nomination for the position of Deputy-Speaker. It has been my privilege to serve in this Parliament in a number of roles over the years—four years as Chairman of Committees and four years as Deputy-Speaker, with another four years proposed in the position of Deputy- Speaker. It was interesting to listen to the comments of the honourable member for Epping. Mr Speaker, my nomination seems to have created more controversy than your appointment. I think that confirms that the position of Deputy-Speaker is of value in this Chamber.

It is not often that members get upset about the election of a member to a position in this place, but I am pleased to continue in the role of Deputy-Speaker. I have found it extremely satisfying and I believe it is of value to this Chamber. To be part of the third Carr Government is also a great honour. I thank the Premier for his assistance during the election campaign, and I thank the electors of Maitland for recognising the work of the Labor Government and for allowing me to continue to serve as the member for Maitland.

Mr Speaker, I look forward to serving with you as I did with your predecessor. Then I found the job satisfying; now I am sure I will find it equally satisfying. Sharing the load will present an opportunity for me and for you. I will be happy with whatever capacity you want me to serve in, and this Parliament will be well served by both of us. Having had the opportunity to sit in the chair over the past eight years and to evaluate Opposition and Government members, I consider that I am reasonably well adjusted to the role. I believe I will be able to deal with situations in the way this Parliament would expect.

CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES

Election

Mr HICKEY (Cessnock—Minister for Mineral Resources) [3.50 p.m.]: I move:

That John Charles Mills be Chairman of Committees of the Whole House.

In the last term of the previous Government the honourable member for Wallsend performed admirably in the office of Chairman of Committees. He did an excellent job. Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on your election to the position of Speaker. I consider that the hard and diligent work you did in the previous Government put you 22 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003 there. Perhaps the honourable member for Epping should think about what he says. Does he think there is something wrong with the working class being members in this House? Does he think there is something wrong with working-class people representing the people of the State? If he does, he should come out and say it. The honourable member for Epping seems to think that milkmen in this State are second-class citizens. I am very proud to be a member of this House and to have a working-class background.

Mr HUNTER (Lake Macquarie) [3.52 p.m.]: I second the motion that John Charles Mills be the Chairman of Committees of the Whole House. First, I congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on your election. I also congratulate the honourable member for Maitland on his election as Deputy-Speaker. I point out to the honourable member for Epping that the milkman is still delivering. John Charles Mills was Chairman of Committees in the last Parliament, from 1999 to 2003, and he performed his job admirably. He was also a Temporary Chairman from 1997 to 1999. All members of the House know how proficiently John performed those duties. He is an experienced chairman. He has the respect of both sides of the House. John Mills has made some excellent decisions, particularly on points of order. He nearly always upheld my points of order. When he is elected today I hope he will continue in that vein.

John is a friendly, tolerant and occasionally humorous Chairman of Committees. He helps maintain order, especially late at night in Committee sessions. Both sides of the House would agree that he has always been a very patient Chairman of Committees. He has been helpful in dealing with my good friend the honourable member for Coffs Harbour, often late at night. I am sure that if John continues in the role of Chairman of Committees he will perform it admirably. John Charles Mills holds the respect of both sides of the House, and I second his nomination.

Motion agreed to.

Mr MILLS (Wallsend) [3.55 p.m.]: I thank the House for the distinct honour it has done me by electing me to be Chairman of Committees. I look forward to displaying the attributes that the honourable member for Lake Macquarie described when he said that I was patient and friendly as the Chairman of Committees. Members may have seen me in the chair a fair bit, but they could not know about the endless hours spent checking vellums. The Chairman of Committees is the second-last person to sign them off before they go to the Governor. That prompts me to say thank you very much to the Clerks for their assistance and for the great job they do, and to the people who work in the Legislative Assembly for the great job they do of meticulously checking amendments and the wording of bills. That makes the task of Chairman of Committees easy.

I commend to all members, and especially to new members of the House, the importance of showing respect for each other in this Chamber. Every member of this House is entitled to be here. Whatever members may think of what others say in this place, they should respect the fact that those members are entitled to be here. I certainly have respect for each one of you as members of this House. I note what the Leader of the Opposition said, and I add this John to the list of people who went to a Christian Brothers college, St Joseph's. Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on your election to the position of Speaker and look forward to working with you to serve the members of this House well.

Mr SPEAKER: I extend my congratulations to John Charles Price on his election as Deputy-Speaker, and to John Charles Mills on his election as Chairman of Committees. I thank them and their nominators for their remarks on my election.

MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONERS

Mr SPEAKER: I report that the House this day attended the Commissioners in the Legislative Council Chamber, where a Commission for the opening of Parliament was read and the following message to the Legislative Assembly was delivered:

Honourable members of the Legislative Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly—

We have it in command from Her Excellency the Governor to acquaint you that Her Excellency desires that you take into your earnest consideration such matters as may be submitted to you.

Members of the Legislative Assembly—

It being necessary that a Speaker of the Legislative Assembly be first chosen, it is Her Excellency's pleasure that you, Members of the Legislative Assembly, return to your Chamber, and there, after Members shall have been sworn, proceed to the election of one of your number to be your Speaker.

We are further commanded to acquaint you that Her Excellency desires that measures be taken by you, as may be deemed expedient, to provide for the peace, welfare and good government of the State. 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 23

LAW OF EVIDENCE BILL (pro forma)

Bill read a first time.

MINISTRY

Mr CARR: I inform the House that on 2 April 2003, with a view to restructuring the Ministry, I submitted to Her Excellency the Governor my resignation as Premier, Minister for the Arts and Minister for Citizenship and as a member of the Executive Council, an action that involved the resignation of the whole of my colleagues. Her Excellency then commissioned me to form a new Ministry. On the same day as I was sworn in as a member of the Executive Council and as Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Citizenship. The following persons were appointed by Her Excellency as members of the Executive Council and to the offices indicated:

The Hon. Andrew John Refshauge MP Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

The Hon. Michael Rueben Egan MLC Treasurer, Minister for State Development, and Vice-President of the Executive Council.

The Hon. John Joseph Della Bosca MLC Special Minister of State, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Industrial Relations, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for the Central Coast.

The Hon. Craig Knowles MP Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Natural Resources.

The Hon. Robert John Debus MP Attorney General, and Minister for the Environment.

The Hon. Patrick Carl Scully MP Minister for Roads, and Minister for Housing.

The Hon. Morris Iemma MP Minister for Health.

The Hon. Michael Costa MLC Minister for Transport Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Forests).

The Hon. John Arthur Watkins MP Minister for Police.

The Hon. Carmel Mary Tebbutt MLC Minister for Community Services, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Youth.

The Hon. Frank Ernest Sartor MP Minister for Energy and Utilities, Minister for Science and Medical Research, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts.

The Hon. Sandra Christine Nori MP Minister for Tourism and Sport and Recreation, and Minister for Women.

The Hon. Anthony Bernard Kelly MLC Minister for Rural Affairs, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Lands).

The Hon. David Andrew Campbell MP Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Illawarra, and Minister for Small Business.

The Hon. Ian Michael Macdonald MLC Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Hon. Diane Beamer MP Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Western Sydney, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning (Planning Administration).

The Hon. Reba Paige Meagher MP Minister for Fair Trading, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Commerce.

The Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC Minister for Justice, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship.

The Hon. Grant Anthony McBride MP Minister for Gaming and Racing.

The Hon. Kerry Arthur Hickey MP Minister for Mineral Resources. 24 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

I inform the House of the representation of Legislative Council Ministers in the Assembly. The Treasurer will be represented by the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Natural Resources. The Minister for Transport Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Forests) will be represented by the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Natural Resources. The Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Lands) will be represented by the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Natural Resources. The Minister for Emergency Services will be represented by the Minister for Police. The Special Minister of State, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Industrial Relations, Assistant Treasurer, and Minister for the Central Coast will be represented by the Minister for Roads. The Minister for Community Services, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Youth will be represented by the Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. The Minister for Justice, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship will be represented by the Attorney General, and Minister for the Environment. The Minister for State Development will be represented by the Minister for Regional Development. The Minister for Rural Affairs, and Minister for Local Government will be represented by the Minister for Regional Development. The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries will be represented by the Minister for Regional Development.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Mr CARR: I inform the House of the appointment of the Hon. Patrick Carl Scully as Leader of the Government in the House as from 2 April 2003.

GOVERNMENT WHIP AND DEPUTY GOVERNMENT WHIP

Mr CARR: I inform the House of the appointment of Gerard Francis Martin as Government Whip and Alan John Ashton as Deputy Government Whip as from 2 April 2003.

LEADER AND DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, AND OPPOSITION WHIP

Mr BROGDEN: On 3 April 2003 the Parliamentary Liberal Party elected me as Leader of the Opposition, Barry Robert O'Farrell as Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Daryl William Maguire as Opposition Whip.

LEADER AND DEPUTY LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY, AND NATIONAL PARTY WHIP

Mr STONER: I wish to inform the House of my election as Leader of the National Party, and of the election of Donald Loftus Page as Deputy Leader of the National Party and Thomas George as National Party Whip as from 31 March 2003.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

Mr SPEAKER: I report the receipt of the following message from His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor dated 8 February 2003:

J. J. SPIGELMAN Government House Lieutenant-Governor Sydney, 8 February 2003

The Honourable James Jacob Spigelman, Chief Justice of New South Wales, Lieutenant-Governor of the State of New South Wales, has the honour to inform the Legislative Assembly that, consequent on the Governor of New South Wales, Professor Marie Bashir, being absent from the State, he has this day assumed the administration of the Government of the State.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

Mr SPEAKER: I report the receipt of the following message from His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor dated 8 February 2003:

MARIE BASHIR Government House Governor Sydney, 20 February 2003

Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of the State of New South Wales, has the honour to inform the Legislative Assembly that she re-assumed the administration of the Government of the State on 20 February 2003. 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 25

ASSENT TO BILLS

Assent to the following bills of the previous session reported:

Privacy and Personal Information Protection Amendment (Prisoners) Bill Public Finance and Audit Amendment (Costing of Election Promises) Bill Summary Offences Amendment (Spray Paint Cans) Bill Guardianship and Protected Estates Legislation Amendment Bill Industrial Relations Amendment (Industrial Agents) Bill Pay-roll Tax Legislation Amendment (Avoidance) Bill Electricity Supply Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction) Bill Workers Compensation Amendment (Terrorism Insurance Arrangements) Bill Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill Coal Industry Amendment (Fees for Rescue Services) Bill Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Amendment Bill Driving Instructors Amendment Bill Drug Misuse and Trafficking Amendment (Dangerous Exhibits) Bill Coal Mine Health and Safety Bill Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill Disorderly Houses Amendment (Commercial Supply of Prohibited Drugs) Bill Bank Holidays Legislation Amendment Bill Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Amendment Bill Building Legislation Amendment (Quality of Construction) Bill Crimes Amendment (School Protection) Bill Defamation Amendment Bill National Park Estate (Reservations) Bill Water Management Amendment Bill Callan Park (Special Provisions) Bill

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION

Report

Mr Speaker announced the receipt, pursuant to the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, of the report entitled "Report on Investigation into Conduct Concerning the Woodward Park Project", dated February 2003.

Ordered to be printed.

CHILD DEATH REVIEW TEAM

Report

Mr Speaker announced the receipt, pursuant to the Children (Child Care and Protection) Act 1987, of the report entitled "Suicide and Risk-taking Deaths of Children and Young People", dated January 2003.

Ordered to be printed.

POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSION

Reports

Mr Speaker announced the receipt, pursuant to the Police Integrity Commission Act 1996, of the following reports to Parliament dated January 2003:

Operation Jetz Operation Malta

Ordered to be printed.

NSW OMBUDSMAN

Report

Mr Speaker announced the receipt, pursuant to section 31AA of the Ombudsman Act 1974, of the special report to Parliament entitled "Speedometers and Speeding Fines—A Review of Police Practice", dated April 2003.

Ordered to be printed. 26 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT

The Clerk announced the receipt, pursuant to the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, of the report entitled "Auditor-General's Report 2002—Financial Audits—Volume Six", dated December 2002.

AUDIT OFFICE

Reports

The Clerk announced the receipt, pursuant to the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, of the following Performance Audit Reports dated February 2003:

State Rail Authority: CityRail Passenger Security NSW Agriculture: Implementing the Ovine Johne's Disease Program

The Clerk announced the receipt, pursuant to the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, of the report entitled "Investigation under the Protected Disclosures Act 1994", dated March 2003

STANDING ETHICS COMMITTEE

Report

The Clerk announced the receipt of the report entitled "Sixth Report of the Committee of the 52nd Parliament", dated December 2002.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS

Report

The Clerk announced the receipt of the report entitled "Interim Report on Urban Water Infrastructure", dated December 2002.

COMMITTEE ON THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN AND THE POLICE INTREGRITY COMMISSION

Reports

The Clerk announced the receipt of the following reports dated December 2002:

Research Report on Trends in Police Corruption First Report on the Inquiry into Access to Information

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

Reports

The Clerk announced the receipt of the following reports dated December 2002:

Annual Review 2001-2002 (Report 21/52) The Role of Auditing and Accounting in Recent Corporate Collapses (Report 22/52) Inquiry into the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council's Mortgage Fund (Report 23/52) State Forests of NSW—Inquiry into the Practice of Trading with Customers who have defaulted on renegotiated payment terms (Report 24/52) First Home Owner Grant Scheme (Report 25/52)

REGULATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

Report

The Clerk announced the receipt of the report entitled "Report on study tour 12 to 29 July 2002— OECD, UK, Ireland, Ontario, Canada, USA", dated February 2003. 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 27

JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE UPON ROAD SAFETY

Reports

The Clerk announced the receipt of the following reports dated December 2002

Traffic Control and Safety in the Vicinity of Schools—Part 2: Response of Government Agencies to the Major Recommendations and Summary (Report 7/52) Traffic Control and Safety in the Vicinity of Schools—Part 3: The Evidence—Volume 1—The Testimony of School Communities in 2000 (Report 8/52) Traffic Control and Safety in the Vicinity of Schools—Part 3: The Evidence—Volume 2—The Testimony of School Communities in 2001 (Report 9/52) Traffic Control and Safety in the Vicinity of Schools—Part 3: The Evidence—Volume 3—The Testimony of Representatives of Government Agencies (Report 10/52) Traffic Control and Safety in the Vicinity of Schools—Part 3: The Evidence—Volume 4—The Testimony of Local Council Representatives (Report 11/52) Traffic Control and Safety in the Vicinity of Schools—Part 3: The Evidence—Volume 5—The Testimony of Bus and Taxi Operators, Representatives of Non-Government Organisations, Private Citizens and Members of Parliament (Report 12/52) Traffic Control and Safety in the Vicinity of Schools—Part 4: Summaries of Submissions received from Government Agencies, Non-government organisations, and the Community Where Railways and Road Intersect—Reports of Visits of Inspection by Delegations of the Staysafe Committee concerning Railway Level Crossings, 2001-2002 (Report 13/52) Road Safety and Street Design in Town Centres: Towards Best Practice in Traffic Control and Safety for Main Streets in New South Wales—Proceedings of a conference held at Parliament House, Sydney, 31 July-1 August 2000 (Report 14/52) Review of the Road Safety Situation in New South Wales in 1999, incorporating edited transcripts of evidence and certain submissions received (Report 15/52) Work-related Road Safety—Proceedings of a seminar held at Sydney, Thursday 8 February 2001 Bullying, Abuse, Intimidation and Assault on the Road—Selected Australian research and comment on 'Road Rage' and aggressive driving (Report 19/52) On Strategic Planning for Road Safety Improvements in New South Wales A Decade of the Staysafe Committee—1992-2002

SESSIONAL ORDERS

Mr SCULLY (Smithfield—Minister for Roads, and Minister for Housing) [4.10 p.m.], by leave: I move:

That the following sessional orders be adopted:

CHAIRMAN, CASTING AND DELIBERATIVE VOTE

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered, Standing Order 324 shall read as follows:

324. The Chairman of a committee shall have a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, also have a casting vote, except upon a private bill.

RESTRICTIONS ON CLOSURE

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered, Standing Order 96 be amended by the addition of the following subparagraph:

(4) May not be moved before 10.30 a.m. on days when the House meets at 10.00 a.m.

RESTRICTIONS ON DIVISIONS AND QUORUMS

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered, Standing Order 197 shall read as follows:

197. Members shall not be permitted to call a division on any question or call attention to the want of a quorum before 10.30 a.m. on days when the House meets at 10.00 a.m. If a division is called prior to 10.30 a.m. on such days, the division shall be deferred and conducted at 10.30 a.m. or, if an item of business is being conducted at 10.30 a.m., after that item is concluded.

FRIDAY SITTINGS

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered, on any Friday upon which the House sits, whether as a continuation of the sitting of the previous day or as a separate sitting day:

(1) Government business shall have precedence of all other business, including the routine of business;

(2) No quorums shall be called and any divisions called shall be deferred, set down as orders of the day for the next sitting day and determined after questions without notice; and

(3) Private members' statements shall be called at the conclusion of Government business, after which the House shall adjourn without motion until the next sitting day. 28 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

INAUGURAL SPEECHES

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered:

(1) A motion may be moved without notice, amendment or debate for the business before the House to be interrupted at a specified time (but not so as to interrupt a member speaking) to permit a member or members to make inaugural speeches without a question being before the House. The interrupted business shall be resumed on completion of the speech or speeches.

(2) The time limit for inaugural speeches will be 15 minutes with a five- minute extension.

NO CONFIDENCE IN MINISTER

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered:

Standing Order 123 be amended by leaving out the words "That the question be now put (closure)" at paragraph 7.

NO CONFIDENCE IN SPEAKER

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered:

Standing Order 123A be amended by leaving out the words "That the question be now put (closure)" at paragraph 7.

PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered, Parliamentary Secretaries may act on behalf of Ministers and references to Ministers in the Standing and Sessional Orders shall be taken to include references to Parliamentary Secretaries except in respect of the following Standing Orders:

3 (9) Inform the House when the Governor will give reasons for opening of Parliament 13 (3) Inform the House when the Governor will receive the House with its new Speaker 29 Front bench reserved for Ministers 37 Days and hours of sitting - move motion for 52 Adjournment of the House - move motion 100 Issue a notification for the allocation of time 114 Arrange government business 121(3) Matters of Public Importance - receiving notices 123 No confidence in a Minister 134 Petitions - copy referred to Ministers 135 Questions to Ministers 140(5) Questions without Notice - Ministers providing additional information 141 Time for lodging answers to questions on notice 199 Declare a bill urgent 201, 281 Governor's message not required for Appropriation and taxing bills introduced by a Minister 284(1) Estimates committees - appointment 290(1) Suspension of Member - move motion 310 Order for papers 363(10) Legislation Committees - Minister's department to provide assistance 405(3) Suspension of standing orders - speak in response to a motion

NOTES TO PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES SESSIONAL ORDER

The adoption of the sessional order means that Parliamentary Secretaries, acting on behalf of Ministers, will be able to:

introduce Government legislation on behalf of Ministers and have carriage of the Government's business.

be seated at the Table in order to undertake the functions undertaken by Ministers.

Specifically, the sessional order allows Parliamentary Secretaries, on behalf of Ministers, to:

1. give notice of, introduce and have carriage of Government business 2. have the same time limits apply to their contributions as apply to Ministers (SO 95) 3. table papers and, if desired, move motions to restrict inspection (SOs 305, 307 and 308) 4. reply to a private members statement (SO 119) 5. initiate a public works bill (SO 204) 6. give consecutive notices of motion (SO 147) 7. move a motion, without leave, to suspend Standing and Sessional Orders to deal with any item or items of business before the House (sessional order).

Parliamentary Secretaries will not be able to:

1. inform the House when the Governor will give reasons for opening of Parliament 2. inform the House when the Governor will receive the House with its new Speaker 3. sit on the front bench during question time 4. move a motion for the days and hours of sitting 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29

5. adjourn the House 6. issue a notification for the allocation of time (guillotine) 7. arrange Government business 8. receive notices of matters of public importance 9. be the subject of a no confidence motion in a Minister or speak for the Minister 10. receive copies of petitions sent to Ministers 11. answer questions either on notice or without notice 12. declare a bill urgent 13. introduce a money or taxing bill (see also s. 46(2) of the Constitution Act) 14. appoint estimates committees 15. move a motion for the suspension of a member 16. be the subject of an order for papers 17. be required to provide resources to a legislation committee 18. speak in response to a motion for the suspension of standing orders.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered, Standing Order 119 shall read as follows:

Private Members' Statements

119. The procedure for Private Members' Statements is as follows:

(1) At 5.15 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and at 4.15 p.m. on Thursday and Friday the business before the House shall be interrupted for Private Members' Statements.

(2) The interrupted business shall become an Order of the Day for a later hour of the day, except an Urgent Motion or a Matter of Public Importance on Thursday which shall lapse.

(3) If at the time of interruption:

(a) The House is in Committee - the Chairman shall leave the Chair and report progress and the resumption of the proceedings shall become an Order of the Day for a later hour.

(b) A division is in progress - it shall be completed and the result announced.

(c) Proceedings under the "guillotine" are in progress, the proceedings shall be completed.

(4) The Speaker shall propose the question "That Private Members' Statements be noted".

(5) Up to 16 Members shall be able to speak for up to 5 minutes each and replies by Ministers shall be limited to 2 minutes each.

(6) Private Members' Statements may be taken between items of business with the leave of the House for a specified period or a number of Members as notified by the Minister in charge of the House at that time.

(7) A division on any question or call for the want of a quorum shall not be permitted during Private Members' Statements.

(8) At the conclusion of Private Members' Statements on Thursday and Friday the House shall adjourn without motion until the next sitting day.

QUORUM AND DIVISION BELLS

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered, bells for quorums and divisions shall be rung for five minutes.

ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered, Standing Order 110 shall read as follows:

Tuesdays

1. At 2.15 p.m. (Speaker takes Chair) 2. Ministerial Statements 3. Notices of Motions 4. Papers (if the first sitting day of each week) 5. Petitions 6. Placing or Disposal of Business 7. Formal Business 8. Committee Reports - tabling 9. Call for Notices of Urgent Motions 10. Announcement of Matters of Public Importance 11. Questions 12. Ministerial Statements 13. Motions for Urgent Consideration 14. Matters of Public Importance 15. Business with Precedence 16. Government Business 30 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

Other Government Business Days

1. At 10.00 a.m. (Speaker takes Chair) 2. Government Business 3. At 2.15 p.m. (Speaker resumes Chair) 4. Ministerial Statements 5. Notices of Motions 6. Papers (if the first sitting day of each week) 7. Petitions 8. Placing or Disposal of Business (including the re-ordering of General Business Orders of the Day (for Bills) and General Business Notices of Motions) 9. Formal Business 10. Committee Reports - tabling 11. Call for Notices of Urgent Motions 12. Announcement of Matters of Public Importance 13. Questions 14. Ministerial Statements 15. Motions for Urgent Consideration 16. Matters of Public Importance 17. Business with Precedence 18. Government Business

General Business Days

1. At 10.00 a.m. (Speaker takes Chair) 2. General Business Notices of Motions for Bills (concluding not later than 10.30 a.m.) Any interrupted item of business shall be set down as an Order of the Day for Tomorrow with precedence of other General Business Notices of Motions for Bills. 3. General Business Orders of the Day for Bills (concluding not later than 11.30 a.m.) Any interrupted item of business shall be set down as an Order of the Day for Tomorrow with precedence of other General Business Orders of the Day for Bills. 4. General Business Orders of the Day or Notices of Motions (not for Bills) concluding at 1.00 p.m. Any interrupted item of business shall be set down as an Order of the Day for Tomorrow with precedence of other General Business (not for Bills). 5. 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. consideration of Committee Reports presented (Speaker leaves Chair) 6. At 2.15 p.m. (Speaker resumes Chair) 7. Ministerial Statements 8. Notices of Motions 9. Petitions 10. Placing or Disposal of Business 11. Formal Business 12. Committee Reports - tabling 13. Call for Notices of Urgent Motions 14. Announcement of Matters of Public Importance 15. Questions 16. Ministerial Statements 17. Motions for Urgent Consideration 18. Matters of Public Importance 19. Business with Precedence 20. Government Business

SUSPENSION OF STANDING AND SESSIONAL ORDERS

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered:

A Minister may move a motion to suspend Standing and Sessional Orders at any time, without leave, to deal with any item of business.

I wish to speak briefly to these sessional orders, which amend the standing orders. During a previous debate on the amendment to standing orders to enable the election of the Deputy-Speaker, honourable members referred to tradition in the House. These sessional orders now have four years of tradition in the House, and they have worked exceptionally well. Honourable members may have doubts about whether they should support these sessional orders. However, I indicate that they are exactly the same as the sessional orders that operated for the past four years. The sessional orders will operate for the next four years, subject to any further sessional orders co-operatively developed by the Government and the Opposition. We are a co-operative Government.

The Opposition has again indicated its concern about the sessional order relating to Parliamentary Secretaries. It expressed the same concern on the last occasion on which this sessional order was proposed. I indicate that the Opposition's strong views against Parliamentary Secretaries assisting Ministers are not well 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 31 founded. The position of Parliamentary Secretary has worked exceptionally well. The notion that the roof would fall in and that ministerial accountability would go out the window as a result of the introduction of Parliamentary Secretaries has been shown to be complete and utter nonsense. Based on their performance over the past four years, Parliamentary Secretaries have done a good job representing Ministers, and Ministers have been and will continue to be accountable at question time and for the performance of their departments.

Mr TINK (Epping) [4.12 p.m.]: The Opposition broadly accepts the proposals set out in the motion. As the Leader of the House indicated, we have had discussions about Parliamentary Secretaries undertaking the duties of Ministers. The Opposition maintains its concern with regard to this issue, a concern that was expressed when the proposal was first introduced at the beginning of the last Parliament. The Leader of the House said that the practice has worked well for four years. When the previous Leader of the House, Paul Whelan, originally moved this proposal in 1999 he said:

Parliamentary secretaries will also be given the opportunity to undertake a training role when representing the Minister.

It is instructive to go through the list of former Parliamentary Secretaries to see how they survived their training role. I interpose that one of the tasks of Parliamentary Secretaries under the proposed sessional order is to "table papers and, if desired, move motions to restrict inspection". In other words, to perform the old dark art of cover- up which the Government uses in this Chamber. It is no surprise that the only Parliamentary Secretary who has come through to the ministerial ranks is the honourable member for Cabramatta. I am sure that she learnt a great deal and excelled in her duty to restrict the inspection of papers. As to the training undertaken by the other Parliamentary Secretaries, I will go through a quick roll call. The current status of the honourable member for Wyong is uncertain. I have not even seen his name in media speculation. I wish him the best of luck. In the media the honourable member for Newcastle gets a guernsey to continue training as a Parliamentary Secretary—apparently he needs a bit more work. Our old friends Ian McManus, Col Markham and Kevin Moss went out the back door. If speculation is correct, Tony Stewart requires more training. He will also get a guernsey to continue to train.

The names that have been mentioned in the media are another matter of great interest. The honourable member for Fairfield is expected to assist the Leader of the House—if not in this House, in the onerous duties of the Bay Garden restaurant branch of the Government. Interestingly, the branch does not include the local member. I do not know why. My point is simply this: Until the last Parliament, the tradition of the Parliament was that Ministers make second reading speeches and Ministers are present in the House and accountable at all times for all the duties that are now undertaken by Parliamentary Secretaries. It is plain from the track record of the members who have held the office of Parliamentary Secretary that they have not performed sufficiently, even in the eyes of the Government, to undertake the role of Ministers. Yet the Government wants to continue this program, which has resulted in only one member being chosen to undertake ministerial duties.

The Coalition believes that Ministers should undertake ministerial duties. It is as simple as that—no more, no less. The Coalition opposes that aspect of the motion. The test for this proposal, as put by the previous Leader of the House, is as flawed and as bleak as the motion we voted on in relation to the Deputy-Speaker. These are make-up jobs for aspirants who are never going to make it. The Government should not again overturn the good conventions of this Parliament. We should revert to the practices that have held us in good stead for 143 years.

Mr SCULLY (Smithfield—Minister for Roads, and Minister for Housing) [4.17 p.m.], in reply: I refer to the four years of tradition that the Government established in the last Parliament. Sandra Nori, Grant McBride and Reba Meagher were all Parliamentary Secretaries and they are now Ministers. The role of Parliamentary Secretary is not merely an opportunity for training to become a Minister; it is also an opportunity to have a more productive role in Parliament and to assist Ministers. The practice has worked well for four years. I thank the honourable member for Epping for the history lesson. I commend the motion to the House.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

The House divided. 32 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

Ayes, 52

Ms Allan Mr Greene Mrs Paluzzano Mr Amery Ms Hay Mr Pearce Ms Andrews Mr Hickey Mrs Perry Mr Bartlett Mr Hunter Mr Price Ms Beamer Mr Iemma Dr Refshauge Mr Black Ms Judge Ms Saliba Mr Brown Ms Keneally Mr Sartor Ms Burney Mr Knowles Mr Scully Miss Burton Mr Lynch Mr Stewart Mr Campbell Mr McBride Mr Tripodi Mr Collier Mr McLeay Mr Watkins Mr Corrigan Ms Meagher Mr West Mr Crittenden Ms Megarrity Mr Whan Ms D'Amore Mr Mills Mr Yeadon Mr Debus Mr Morris Ms Gadiel Mr Newell Tellers, Mr Gaudry Ms Nori Mr Ashton Mr Gibson Mr Orkopoulos Mr Martin

Noes, 36

Mr Aplin Mrs Hopwood Ms Seaton Mr Barr Mr Humpherson Mrs Skinner Ms Berejiklian Mr Kerr Mr Slack-Smith Mr Brogden Mr McGrane Mr Stoner Mr Cansdell Mr Merton Mr Tink Mr Constance Ms Moore Mr Torbay Mr Debnam Mr Oakeshott Mr J. H. Turner Mr Draper Mr O'Farrell Mr R. W. Turner Mr Fraser Mr Page Mrs Hancock Mr Piccoli Mr Hartcher Mr Pringle Tellers, Mr Hazzard Mr Richardson Mr George Ms Hodgkinson Mr Roberts Mr Maguire

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS

Motion, by leave, by Mr Scully agreed to:

That, for the current session, unless otherwise ordered, the following code of conduct for members be adopted:

Preamble to the Code of Conduct

The members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council have reached agreement on a code of conduct which is to apply to all members of Parliament.

Members of Parliament recognise that they are in a unique position of being responsible to the electorate. The electorate is the final arbiter of the conduct of members of Parliament and has the right to dismiss them from office at regular elections.

Members of Parliament accordingly acknowledge their responsibility to maintain the public trust placed in them by performing their duties with honesty and integrity, respecting the law and the institution of Parliament, and using their influence to advance the common good of the people of New South Wales. 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 33

THE CODE

1 Disclosure of conflict of interest

(a) Members of Parliament must take all reasonable steps to declare any conflict of interest between their private financial interests and decisions in which they participate in the execution of their office.

(b) This may be done through declaring their interests on the Register of Disclosures of the relevant House or through declaring their interest when speaking on the matter in the House or a Committee, or in any other public and appropriate manner.

(c) A conflict of interest does not exist where the member is only affected as a member of the public or a member of a broad class.

2 Bribery

Members must not promote any matter, vote on any bill or resolution, or ask any question in the Parliament or its Committees, in return for payment or any other personal financial benefit.

3 Gifts

(a) Members must declare all gifts and benefits received in connection with their official duties, in accordance with the requirements for the disclosure of pecuniary interests.

(b) Members must not accept gifts that may pose a conflict of interest or which might give the appearance of an attempt to corruptly influence the member in the exercise of his or her duties.

Members may accept political contributions in accordance with part 6 of the Election Funding Act 1981.

4 Use of public resources

Members must apply the public resources to which they are granted access according to any guidelines or rules about the use of those resources.

5 Use of confidential information

Members must not knowingly and improperly use official information which is not in the public domain, or information obtained in confidence in the course of their parliamentary duties, for the private benefit of themselves or others.

6 Duties as a Member of Parliament

It is recognised that some members are non-aligned and others belong to political parties. Organised parties are a fundamental part of the democratic process and participation in their activities is within the legitimate activities of Members of Parliament.

CITIZEN'S RIGHT OF REPLY

Motion, by leave, by Mr Scully agreed to:

That, during the current session, unless otherwise ordered, the following citizen's right of reply be adopted:

(1) That where a submission is made in writing to the Speaker by a person who has been referred to in the Legislative Assembly by name, or in such a way as to be readily identified:

(a) claiming that the person or corporation has been adversely affected in reputation or in respect of dealings or associations with others, or injured in occupation, trade, office or financial credit, or that the person’s privacy has been unreasonably invaded, by reason of that reference to the person or corporation; and

(b) requesting that the person be able to incorporate an appropriate response in Hansard,

and the Speaker is satisfied:

(c) that the subject of the submission is not so obviously trivial or the submission so frivolous, vexatious or offensive in character as to make it inappropriate that it be considered by the Standing Orders and Procedure Committee; and

(d) that it is practicable for the Committee to consider the submission under this resolution,

the Speaker shall refer the submission to that Committee.

(2) That the Committee may decide not to consider a submission referred to it under this resolution if the Committee considers that the subject of the submission is not sufficiently serious or the submission is frivolous, vexatious or offensive in character, and such a decision shall be reported to the Legislative Assembly. 34 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

(3) That if the Committee decides to consider a submission under this resolution, the Committee may confer with the person who made the submission and any member who referred in the Legislative Assembly to that person or corporation.

(4) That in considering a submission under this resolution, the Committee shall meet in private session.

(5) That the Committee shall not publish a submission referred to it under this resolution of its proceedings in relation to such a submission, but may present minutes of its proceedings and all or part of such submission to the Legislative Assembly.

(6) In considering a submission under this resolution and reporting to the Legislative Assembly the Committee shall not consider or judge the truth of any statements made in the Legislative Assembly or the submission.

(7) That in its report to the Legislative Assembly on a submission under this resolution, the Committee may make either of the following recommendations:

(a) that no further action be taken by the Committee or the Legislative Assembly in relation to the submission; or

(b) that a response by the person who made the submission, in terms specified in the report and agreed to by the person or corporation and the Committee, be published by the Legislative Assembly or incorporated in Hansard,

and shall not make any other recommendations.

(8) That a document presented to the Legislative Assembly under paragraph (5) or (7):

(a) in the case of a response by a person or corporation who made a submission, shall be succinct and strictly relevant to the questions in issue and shall not contain anything offensive in character; and

(b) shall not contain any matter the publication of which would have the effect of:

(i) unreasonably adversely affecting or injuring a person or corporation, or unreasonably invading a person’s privacy, in the manner referred to in paragraph (1); or

(ii) unreasonably adding to or aggravating any such adverse effect, injury or invasion of privacy suffered by a person.

(9) That a corporation making a submission under this resolution is required to make it under their common seal.

TEMPORARY CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES

Mr SPEAKER: I nominate the following members to act as Temporary Chairmen of Committees during the present session: Marie Therese Andrews, Alison Patricia Megarrity, Wayne Ashley Merton, Marianne Frances Saliba and John Harcourt Turner.

SERJEANT-AT-ARMS

Mr SPEAKER: It is with pleasure that I announce that Ronda Mary Miller has been commissioned by the Governor as the Serjeant-at-Arms as from 1 March 2003. Her new title is Clerk- Assistant (Procedure) and Serjeant-at-Arms.

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Mr Scully agreed to:

That the House at its rising this day do adjourn until Wednesday 30 April 2003 at 10.00 a.m.

SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Presentation

The House proceeded at 4.38 p.m. to Government House, there to present Mr Speaker to Her Excellency the Governor.

The House returned at 7.30 p.m.

Mr SPEAKER: I report that today the Legislative Assembly proceeded to Government House, where I informed the Governor that immediately after the opening of Parliament the members of the Legislative Assembly, in the exercise of their undoubted rights, had proceeded to the election of their Speaker, that the choice had fallen upon me, and that I had to present myself to the Governor as their Speaker; whereupon the 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 35

Governor was pleased to offer me her congratulations. In the name of the members of the House and on their behalf I then laid claim to all their undoubted rights and privileges, particularly to freedom of speech in debate and free access to Her Excellency when occasion should require, and I asked that the most favourable construction should on all occasions be put upon their language and proceedings, to all of which the Governor readily assented.

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

The following members took and subscribed the oath of allegiance and signed the roll:

Mr Armstrong Mr Souris

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Inaugural Speeches

Motion by Mr Scully agreed to:

That, pursuant to sessional orders, the House proceed to hear inaugural speeches.

INAUGURAL SPEECHES

Ms JUDGE (Strathfield) [7.36 p.m.] (Inaugural Speech): Parliamentary colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, friends: I welcome this opportunity to thank those who have provided me with support and encouragement, goodwill and commitment in working with me to promote my committed objectives to serve the people of my inner-west electorate of Strathfield. I propose this speech not as a mere self-congratulatory effort with all the usual attendant plaudits, commendations and backslapping. Rather, this speech will broadly outline my ideas on politics and community.

Whilst not engaging in the minutiae of political manifestoes, I intend to abide by my political counsel and the ideas that have contributed to my being elected to this Parliament. I am extremely proud that the people of Strathfield have chosen me to represent them here. However, I am also acutely aware that this vote was not merely based on my personal following. The result represents the electorate's commitment to the values that have been promoted by the Australian Labor Party with Premier Carr as its leader.

The people of the electorate of Strathfield have overwhelmingly rejected the politics of fear and scaremongering. The people have rejected the policies of division and exclusion. My party proudly stands for community. We stand for inclusion. We are committed to empowering the weak and giving a voice to the marginalised. The needs and priorities of my community will always be my first representative priority. I intend to make the promotion of social justice, inclusion, community harmony and the environment and sustainability the key principles against which my success as a politician can be gauged. Much is said of my commitment to social justice and equality, and I believe one of the reasons for that is the ideas I harvested in my youth when I had the unique opportunity to spend a few formative years in New Delhi, India, with my parents.

Some lasting memories from this experience involved witnessing the huge gulf that exists there between the wealthy and the poor: either you were incredibly rich or you were devastatingly poor. Sadly, the demographic into which you were born stayed with you for the rest of your life. Few ever broke out of this mould and the consequent lack of opportunity and choice that came with being at the bottom end of the social scale. Later life led me to the South Pacific, where I worked as an Australian volunteer abroad for the Overseas Service Bureau in the small island kingdom of Tonga, a society bursting with youth, though, sadly, the political system worked against the interests of the community. Here I witnessed a youthful and buoyant society struggling to break free from the yoke of patrimony and corruption.

Then I helped oversee some small grassroots projects for a non-government organisation in the South Pacific, including installing a small humidicrib in a village hospital in the Solomon Islands. These experiences were truly formative for me as they enabled me to fully appreciate the range of trials and tribulations that face many communities both here and abroad. These aid programs have been very successful in alleviating poverty and exclusion. They represent excellent examples of the possibilities engendered when affluent societies share some of their wealth with other less fortunate communities. 36 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

I have a profound and passionate belief in the importance of wealth and resource sharing. I have witnessed first-hand what can be achieved when wealth and resources are more equitably shared. Such experiences have helped me value and appreciate democratic government—its accountability, openness and transparency—such as we have here, and the importance of vigorous and vigilant attention to these processes. As mayor I was able to tangibly apply these values in making a real difference, I hope, to my local community, through a process of consultation, consensus building and empowering people.

I believe that these hands-on experiences have contributed dramatically to the manner in which I understand what my community goes through on a daily basis. Indeed, the electorate of Strathfield is a highly diverse community in which there exists a polarisation of wealth and opportunity. Democracy is the instrument through which so many of the ravages of poverty and corruption can be alleviated. A conceptual notion of democracy alone will not suffice, for democracy is not the mere free expression of speech and periodical election. From my purview, democracy revolves around the provision of the necessary political will, courage and leadership. It enables society to evolve in the direction of equality for people en masse, not just for the privileged and elite few.

I will make it my task to seek my community's' views on matters concerning them. I will initiate a system of local feedback whereby my parliamentary engagement is shaped by what my constituency requires, as opposed to the political dictates of the day as shaped by vested interests and some cashed-up lobbyists. The Chinese philosopher Lao Tse wrote:

Go to the people, Live with them, Learn from them, Love them, Start with what they know, Build with what they have, With the best of leaders. When all is said and done, The task accomplished, The people will say We have done it ourselves.

It is now some seven years since the gloomy days of Hanson's initial rise to prominence, yet she and her ilk have been all but annihilated by the will of the electorate, which very quickly wised up to the reality that successful and harmonious communities are those which avoid racial marginalisation, economic confrontation and social division. Indeed, I believe it is no accident that the recent success of the Greens is fundamentally built upon notions of society which categorically reject this swing to the extreme right. Yet, as a Labor member of Parliament I understand that merely rejecting an ideal is not enough. The electorate demands leadership that is both idealistic and pragmatic: idealistic enough to be able to think and engage in new and bold ways to move society along, evolve community values and engage the young, yet be sensitive to the needs and values of our precious seniors; and yet pragmatic enough to deal with the daily complexities, inconsistencies and contradictions of politics and government.

The Carr Labor Government's electoral success is precisely due to the fact that it is a government not willing to engage the electorate's fears; rather, it appeals to the community's sense of justice, belonging and inclusiveness. Mature democracies require all citizens to partake in the active governing of society. This task requires strong and active leadership and a willingness to engage the community in the difficult questions of the day.

The electorate of Strathfield is among the most culturally diverse communities in New South Wales. Strathfield has the highest concentration of persons born in North and South Asia. Some 67 per cent of the community has at least one parent born abroad, and half of the electorate speaks a language other than English at home. Aren’t they lucky? I envy them. The community has worked actively to turn itself into one of Sydney's most cosmopolitan and vibrant communities. The very rich cultural offerings and tapestry of Burwood Road have made the suburb a focal meeting point for young people. With their highly developed public transport infrastructure, Burwood and Strathfield are emerging as regional centres for all of Sydney.

Ashfield is emerging as one of Sydney's leading Chinese suburbs, with many industrious and enterprising new residents from Shanghai. Strathfield's famous Boulevard bustles with many successful Korean businesses and restaurants. I pray that North and South Korea will one day come together, and I hope that the current impasse with North Korea is peacefully resolved. Homebush has emerged as the Tamil capital of New South Wales. I hope that the current peace negotiations taking place in Sri Lanka achieve the desired outcome 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 37 for all. Croydon is home to one of Australia's oldest Lebanese communities. Summer Hill is emerging as a highly cosmopolitan and unique village centre. Strathfield is also emerging as the place of residence of choice for many young professionals. Yet the electorate has a very high proportion of senior citizens, who, I believe, provide the community with a sense of social continuity and much-needed wisdom.

Over the past few years multiculturalism has come under attack. However, those who condemn multiculturalism clearly do not understand the social capital which comes with a very diverse community. Much of the dialogue of multiculturalism has been rooted around notions of "tolerance". I put to this Parliament that tolerance is the first step in what is an evolutionary process—with tolerance of others as the beginning point. However, this alone is not enough. As a society we have a collective obligation to broaden our way of thinking and move on to the next stage of citizenship. Tolerance leads to understanding, which in turn leads to acceptance and inclusiveness. The new global modality is one that needs to revolve around the celebration of difference whilst respecting our common human values.

A society that successfully absorbs a diverse range of cultures does not do so by simply tolerating others. Rather, a successful multicultural community is one where all communities and cultures are made integral to the functioning of the whole community. Being made integral to one another requires us all to shed the veil of isolationism. The elimination of prejudice and ignorance requires all of us to engage with one another. This engenders empathy, and in turn leads to greater connectedness and social cohesiveness. Diversity is a strength. We must celebrate our differences and rejoice in our multiculture. I think the wonderful volunteers and helpers here tonight are living testimony of that.

So much of the debate dominating the political attention of the media and our political opponents has revolved around the theme of law and order. This very sad political revolution has come about as a result of a mixture of sensationalist media and nefarious political campaigning. A practical political modality was born which revolves around frightening people into thinking that they are unsafe, that our community is constantly under attack, and that we need to build more prisons, provide harsher sentences, and eliminate youth from public spaces.

I reject this. I want to offer my community a message of hope and practical solutions which address the real issues of crime and disorder. For example, in Strathfield I recently initiated a youth outreach program called Point Zero, which takes assistance in the form of counselling and information to young people in need. People are not born criminals. Alienation and exclusion generate the conditions in which crime thrives. These conditions are created when people lack the basic needs which so many of us take for granted. Stable families, affordable housing, et cetera, are all necessary services which provide a feeling of community, family, and friendship, and that it is what I will strive for.

Public safety can only be secured when all these co-ordinates are put into place. We in Strathfield do not require carrots and sticks; we merely need to recognise that individuals, families and communities all strive for social security through the provision of these essentials. Effective government requires vigilant attention to all these needs. Running a government is not an easy thing to do. Society has a never-ending shopping list of needs and wants, yet these same societies have a limited capacity to provide the resources for these demands to be met. A State does not function like a corporation. [Extension of time agreed to.]

Running a State is somewhat akin to running a family. Different family members have different needs, and they change daily. All must be cared for; none must be left out or forgotten. From time to time some family members will feel hard done by as a result of not getting the exact same share of resources; alas, for the greater good, a State should be run in such a manner. Some communities require resources that they cannot pay for. The cost of ensuring that they are not alienated and marginalised is borne by other communities that are more fortunate. That is what breeds and fosters a very civil society.

I am proud to be the first woman member elected to the State seat of Strathfield. I believe it is critical that more women enter Australian parliaments. To date, Australia's parliamentary engagement of women has been limited. The gender balance of Australian parliaments reflects the overall positioning of women throughout our community, and that is evident in the corporate sector, civil administration and the judiciary. What women seek is not more and not less. What we want is a fair go: an equality of opportunity and outcomes.

For decades this Chamber has been known as the bear pit. This reputation has been gained through its being the most testosterone charged of all parliaments. Brinkmanship and innuendo have been the modus operandi of politicians for many generations, yet this would scarcely be the case, I believe, had we had more 38 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003 women politicians. It is not for lack of wanting to enter politics that so few women are to be found here; rather, it is the lack of genuine support and the structures that are needed by women that prevent so many from entering. This Parliament provides a striking example. Here we have a brilliant car park and several bars, yet we do not have anything to alleviate some of the pressures that working mothers, and indeed working fathers, may face.

I have heard that this bear pit may soon have a little cub on the way—it is not mine! Let us make this new cub feel welcome and allow women to breastfeed in this Chamber. Let us provide childminding facilities not only for members of Parliament but also for all members of staff, and possibly visitors. Let us turn this bear pit into the "bear and its cubs" pit. That would make us a national leader and show how we value women and what we are doing to help facilitate their greater active participation.

As mayor I made it my mission to make my local community highly environmentally conscious and engaged. We made it mandatory that all new dwellings have a rainwater tank; the first council in the State to do so. I believe passionately that nature is a finite resource that needs to be nourished, cherished and preserved. A good start for us in Australia would be to take a close look at the German Federal Nature Conservation Law, which explicitly forbids any loss of natural services from new developments. I challenge this Parliament to make that a reality in our State. I firmly believe that the provision of environmental and social impact statements should be at the fore of any new multi-unit development and I call upon the Government to make that provision mandatory.

As I said earlier, my seat is polarised between some very wealthy constituents and those less fortunate. The Reverend Bill Crews, with his Exodus Foundation, and Father Riley are examples of people who are using their energies to support the needy. Last year I wrote this poem entitled Tears Inside for Father Riley:

His tears trickled slowly down his cheek Finally absorbed by his worn flannelette shirt. Who would even notice its silent journey that day, A journey to nowhere and journey for nothing. What about your tears? Do you cry them inside where it's safer? Does my presence embarrass you? Do I scare you with my wild look and purple feet? Do I mess up the tidiness of your manicured park with its federation fences? So you want to move me on? To where? Anywhere, but next door to you. Property prices are soaring you say Have you felt the coldness of a steel park bench against your backbone at night, And the icy wind your only friend, screaming in your ear? Have you considered that I could be you? Not me you say! That would never happen to me. Life with its twists and turns could also roll you over one day. I hope not. That is my only hope, That you will never have to be me.

I would like to thank my partner, Ofo, and my beautiful daughters, Cecily, Theresa and Rebecca, for their love, patience and support, and my parents, Harry and Cecily, who have given me love, guidance and a good solid understanding of social justice. That is why Labor governments are important. I thank my talented brothers, Hal and James, and my sister, Sylvie. I pay tribute to the Premier, who took a particular interest in my electorate. I give a very big heartfelt thank you to my campaign team, led by Damian Kassagbi, and George Mannah. I also thank the exceptionally hardworking multicultural task force, branch members, and many outstanding volunteers. I thank my personal friends Keiran Mulcahy, Rhonda Woodford, and Phillip and Tony Mouawaad.

I thank Eddie Obeid, John Murray, Paul Whelan, John Murphy, the Hon. Bob Hawke, Dr Kerry Keogh, Strathfield Mayor John Abi-Saab, Burwood Councillors David Wheiley and John Fakhr, Councillor Ron Hoenig, Jason Yat Sen Lee, Khaldoun Hajaj, Alex Sanchez, George Newhouse and Clare Sneddon. I thank the members of many local communities, including those of non-English speaking background, service groups, the media, and particularly my electorate officers, Miranda James and Gemma Slarke. I thank the Australian Labor Party, Young Labor, and Joanna Woods, Helen Neziritis, Chris Minns, Mark Arbib and Karl Bitan. I thank doorknockers extraordinaire: Quang Hue Lam, Ann-Louise Van Den Nieuwenhof, Sunny Li, Jial Zhou and friends, Jim Zhang, Say-Choon Theo, Mei Yu Liu, Agnes Yi, Jason Arraj, Mathew Smith, Kate Scott-Murphy, Marco Mannah, Debbie Preston, Paul Barron, David Mackay, Giovanni and May Pantania, Michael Jeremy, Ian 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 39

Ismay, Athina Alex, James and Susan Lee, Keith Kwon, Gus Erickson, Sandy Pintomalli, Paul Sydnham, Xiaohu Xi (Tiger), Oscar and Marta Troche, Frank Lee, Simon Lees, Darrshana Sivapatham, Louise Mamouney, Stella Poneris, Jason Yat Sen Li, Raj Datta, Amanda Lampe and Wei Yang. I thank my campaign helpers: James Judge, Devleta Cakic, Jack Hickey, Anne and Bill Byrne, Michael Abou-Rizk, Sam Agon, Ann and Joseph King, Vivian Kwon, Sally Nicholson, Ray Jones, Helen Jones, Charlie Pantazis, Hassan Moussa, Norah Elias, Andrew and Gae Bristow, Fran Windon, Garry Preston, Milka Valdivia, Weizi (Red) Zhu, Kevin Zhang, George Kang, Eric Fir, Tambi Nallathambi, Clair Felton, Bill Thompson, David Hazelwood, Janet Hancock, Christina Kwong-Wong, William Au, Jan Wu, Anita and Anil Tiku, Janice Thorpe, Vijay (Elagupillai Vijayaratnam), Amanda Fazio, Chong Ho Pak and Wei Yang.

Finally, I thank the people of Strathfield for their wonderful support. As members of Parliament we are the servants of the people in our electorates. We must communicate with them in an open, genuine, and intelligent manner, not isolate them from the political process and seek them out only in the four weeks prior to an election. I am absolutely thrilled, honoured and elated to represent the people of Strathfield in this Parliament. God bless them!

Recently I read an article in the Catholic Weekly which stated that according to the St Vincent de Paul Society more than 60 per cent of the nation's wealth is held by 20 per cent of the population and only about 7 per cent of the nation's wealth is held by the bottom 50 per cent. The society has told a Senate inquiry that a national strategic plan is required to alleviate growing poverty. The society wants a national summit to be held. I challenge this Parliament, as a stakeholder, to support that call. However, the Howard Government has said that since 1996 the average income of the lowest 20 per cent of households has increased, and that data produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates no significant change in inequality.

Nevertheless, there can be no denying that many in our society are struggling, and as a member of Parliament I see it as a key objective of my job to find ways to assist them. There are no easy answers, but we must look at big-picture solutions such as providing excellent public education, universal health care that is accessible to all, affordable housing, meaningful employment, and reliable and cheap public transport. I am very proud to be a member of a political party that represents the interests of working people. I will do everything I can to look out for people in my electorate who are struggling. I send a very big thank you to everyone who assisted me.

Mr SPEAKER: I extend my personal congratulations to the honourable member for Strathfield on a compassionate and compelling inaugural speech. I note that the public gallery has been packed with members of her family, her friends and her constituents. I also note the distinguished presence in the gallery of the former member for Strathfield, Minister for Police and Leader of the House, Paul Whelan, as well as the Federal member for Lowe, John Murphy.

Mr ROBERTS (Lane Cove) [7.57 p.m.]: Mr Speaker, first of all, congratulations on your elevation to the lofty heights of the Chair. I rise tonight on the occasion of my inaugural speech with a feeling of great humility and pride. I have always believed that the responsibility for government and its participants is not some preordained right bestowed on a privileged elite, but a gift from the people and a trust held for the people. I am very conscious of the role the seat of Lane Cove has played in government in New South Wales and of the very worthy parliamentarians who have preceded me. Many of us here this evening will remember the late Sir Kenneth McCaw, the longest serving Attorney General in New South Wales history. He was succeeded in Lane Cove by another Attorney General, now Mr Justice Dowd.

My constituents hold in high regard and deservedly great affection my immediate predecessor, Kerry Chikarovski, an outstanding Minister in the Fahey Government. There are many reasons for admiring Kerry Chikarovski. Among them are her tireless enthusiasm and her nobility of spirit in campaigning for the party over the past 12 months. Both John Dowd and Kerry Chikarovski rose to become State leaders of the Liberal Party and each has left a positive legacy not just to Lane Cove but to the State of New South Wales.

Ken McCaw, a man of great erudition, was a role model for the disabled as one of two blind members in the Askin Government. He refused to allow his handicap to restrict him from being a successful lawyer and Attorney General. His widow, Lady McCaw, resides in Lane Cove to this day. Perhaps members for Lane Cove have serially recognised that the high quality of their constituents merits an extra effort in every aspect of parliamentary representation.

I am determined to continue the tradition of high-standard parliamentary representation for the electorate of Lane Cove and to ensure that my electorate remains at the very heart of liberalism and government 40 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003 in this State. When considering who has represented the seat of Lane Cove at a State level it is no surprise that it has also had outstanding representatives at a Federal level with Sir John Cramer, a Minister in the Menzies Government, the Hon. Joe Hockey, a talented Minister in the Howard Government, and, of course, our Prime Minister, the Hon. John Howard.

One of the great privileges of my life has been to serve on the staff of Prime Minister Howard. During the Prime Minister's first term, well-informed observers were describing John Howard as "the best Prime Minister since Sir Robert Menzies". In his second term John Howard was spoken of as "the best Prime Minister since George Reid". By any standard of judgment, John Howard now deserves the description "Australia's best ever Prime Minister". John Howard has the Menzies grasp of history and of international affairs, but in addition his understanding of freedom of trade and freedom of personal economic relationships rivals even the record of Sir Robert and his colleagues of that period.

The most important characteristic of our Prime Minister is that he is prepared to do what is right and to follow his vision for the betterment of Australia, irrespective of opinion polls. John Howard and his colleagues, especially Foreign Minister Downer, led the diplomatic charge which redressed a great wrong of previous Australian governments and secured independence for the East Timorese. He played a significant role in turning Bougainville in the direction of peace, and having served in Bougainville as a peacekeeper with the Australian Army I can confirm the admiration for John Howard that prevailed among Bougainvilleans. Compassion for the oppressed is a dominant characteristic of our Prime Minister.

John Howard is among those international statesmen who recognise that tyranny in one nation begets tyranny in another. At a time when opinion polls indicated trenchant popular opposition and the media were howling for his blood, John Howard prudently deployed Australian military forces to the Middle East, ready for action if required. When France, Germany and Russia tendentiously obstructed United Nations military intervention against the Iraqi dictatorship, John Howard and his Government resolutely stood with our allies, Britain and the United States. Australian service personnel have acquitted themselves with traditional courage and great distinction, and we thank the good Lord that they have suffered no casualties.

It is greatly to the credit of my leader in this place, John Brogden, that in the midst of the State election campaign he immediately committed the Liberal-National Coalition in New South Wales to full support for the Prime Minister and the Government. John Howard has proved on the Federal scene that good leadership means doing what is right and thereby winning over the public. I have no hesitation in stating that John Brogden will prove the same on the State scene in New South Wales.

The average age of my constituents in Lane Cove is around 38. My constituents are young, they are vibrant and they believe in themselves and their abilities. More than half of my constituents live with children at home. They are active in their local community and school groups, and they work very hard to support their families. Nearly 60 per cent regularly use a personal computer at home. While the three most common ancestries are Australian, English and Irish, people who trace their origins to more than 50 countries are proud to call Lane Cove home.

The Lane Cove constituency is one of the most beautiful and picturesque electorates in the world. It extends from the Greenwich peninsula in the east, following the meandering Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers, through to Putney in the west. My constituency incorporates some or all of four local government areas. On the west, the eastern part of the busy and diverse city of Ryde incorporates Putney, Tennyson, East Ryde and the western part of Gladesville, plus that part of Chatswood west which lies west of the Lane Cove River. In the city of Ryde may be found the Macquarie Park Cemetery and the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, two institutions with a very high reputation for dignity and compassion. Much of the famous Lane Cove River National Park is also in the city of Ryde.

The Mayor of the city of Ryde is Councillor Edna Wilde, OAM, who represents the west ward outside the Lane Cove electorate. The representatives of Ryde city's east ward within my electorate include the former Mayor of Ryde, Councillor Ivan Petch, among other things a wonderful musician who served as member for Gladesville in this Parliament. On its own peninsula in the south-east, the Hunters Hill municipality, proudly described as Australia's first garden suburb, is wholly contained within my electorate. Hunters Hill municipality incorporates Gladesville east of Pittwater Road, Boronia Park, Tarban, Henley, Huntleys Point, Hunters Hill and Woolwich.

The Mayor of Hunters Hill is Councillor Bruce Lucas, and the immediate past mayor is Councillor Susan Hoopmann, who made a wonderful contribution to my election and whom I am proud to claim as a 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 41 personal friend. Also on Hunters Hill Council is Councillor Richard Quinn, who provided me with strong competition in preselection. I pay tribute to the graciousness with which Richard Quinn has loyally supported me. The State Government would be aware that the people of Hunters Hill are not to be trifled with, as was shown by their opposition to school closures.

Sharing a name with my electorate is the Lane Cove municipality, all of which is contained within the Lane Cove electorate. The Lane Cove municipality incorporates the suburbs of Greenwich, Lane Cove, Linley Point, Longueville, Northwood, Riverview, Osborne Park, and Lane Cove west, plus those parts of St Leonards that lie to the south-west of the Pacific Highway. The Mayor of Lane Cove, Councillor John May, just a few days ago demonstrated his skills in his inspiring conduct of Lane Cove Anzac Day commemorations. I have had the privilege of serving twice as mayor of Lane Cove, and it would be hard to find anywhere a more dedicated team than the councillors and staff of Lane Cove Council.

In particular I pay tribute to Councillor Ian Longbottom, a man who breaks most records in community service and who is publisher and editor of the Village Observer, which is now entering its second decade of publishing excellence. The Deputy Mayor of Lane Cove is Councillor Mary Rawlings. I also pay tribute to my Liberal Party colleague, former Mayor Councillor Steven Bowers, who, among other things, presided over the opening by our Prime Minister of the wonderful Lane Cove Aquatic Centre. The north-east extremity of the Lane Cove electorate, which falls within the city of Willoughby, shares with my electorate St Leonards, which is north-east of the Pacific Highway, Gore Hill and part of Artarmon.

Within the city of Willoughby and within my electorate is the famous Royal North Shore Hospital. The Government should be aware that my constituents are vitally interested in the future of that important local institution. The new member for Willoughby is present in the Chamber tonight. Willoughby is well served by my colleague Gladys Berejiklian. I congratulate her on her win. I commend the Mayor of Willoughby, Councillor Pat Reilly, for his conduct of the Anzac Day service. The Deputy Mayor of Willoughby is Councillor Kate Lamb. Councillor Stuart Coppock, a prominent member of my party, represents Naremburn ward. The total area of the Lane Cove electorate is 31 square kilometres with an electoral enrolment of almost 45,000 people.

The apparently high population density has been offset by sound local planning which has provided splendid parks, sporting ovals, bushland and delightful foreshores for residents and visitors to the Lane Cove electorate. I have listed all the local government areas within my electorate because the people of my electorate are well served by their two cities and two municipalities. There is reason to suspect the State Government's motives in extending by six months the terms of all local governments in New South Wales. Many people are apprehensive that the Government intends to use the time to force amalgamations on councils. I now put the Government on notice. Any plot to amalgamate councils in my electorate will be strongly resisted by my constituents, their councillors and their local member.

The people of Lane Cove are indeed blessed with thriving churches and parishes as well as the generously supported local charity organisations that provide so much assistance to those in need. Lane Cove electorate has a proud history of military service to Australia and the Commonwealth. This is reflected in the active Returned Services League sub-branches of Lane Cove, Gladesville, Hunters Hill and North Ryde. The strong community bonds and networks are further reflected in the multitude of active service clubs, including Rotary, Lions, Probus and Apex that enhance and support the many communities within the Lane Cove electorate. [Extension of time agreed to.]

We are blessed with an active scouting and guide movement led by men and women who donate much of their time in a volunteer capacity to ensure that the wonderful benefits of their knowledge and their sense of civic duty are passed on to the next generation. One can drive around the electorate on a Saturday and applaud the large number of young people who are playing every conceivable sport. That is made possible by the selfless efforts of volunteer coaches, managers, umpires, referees and paramedics. This new generation is vitally important to New South Wales. It is the responsibility of this Parliament to nurture and cultivate the potential of all our youth. Sadly, under a Labor Government, the young people in my electorate must look forward to excessive bureaucracy, punitive taxation, restricted freedoms, incompetent administration and impaired employment opportunities for everyone except the beneficiaries of Labor's traditional jobs for the boys. On Valentine's Day in 1956—more than 47 years ago—the then Leader of the Opposition, P. H. Morton, MLA, made this promise on behalf of the Liberal Party:

We will cut through the political patronage which has been so marked a feature of State Labor's term of office. There will be no jobs, no soft spots in the Public Service or elsewhere for tired and worn out political hacks. Unlike the Government, we will 42 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

make our appointments on merit and on the basis of service rendered. Under a Liberal Government there will be no repetition of scandals, and allegations of scandals which have blanketed the Government of this State in recent years. We want clean government. We are sure the people of this State want it too.

The late Pat Morton was right about the desire of the people of New South Wales for clean government. His comments clearly demonstrate that, with Labor, little has changed over half a century. I make this promise to the young people of my electorate: My greatest obligation is to help deliver to them in 2007 a Liberal-National government led by John Brogden which will rapidly work to undo the damage done to this State by far too many years of Labor. I intend to defend the interests of my constituents and I intend to defend certain principles and institutions that have served us so well.

I honour and respect the Australian flag and the flag of New South Wales. I honour our sovereign and our unmatched system of constitutional monarchy. I respect our Federation and I am determined to preserve the existence and sovereignty of the States of Australia. I appreciate our bicameral system of government in New South Wales and I am aware that the Labor Party still harbours individuals who are determined to launch yet another Labor attempt to abolish the Legislative Council—the first legislative Chamber in Australia and a vital part of our democracy in New South Wales.

I respect our tradition of independence of the judiciary and I reject any attempt to politicise it. I understand clearly that freedom of the individual cannot exist without freedom for individuals to engage in voluntary commercial relationships. Everything that I have learned about history has proved to me again and again that the marketplace delivers high and rising prosperity to a degree that is impossible under any other system. Most important, those who gain most from a free market are those who, under socialism, would be permanently poor and oppressed. I believe in five simple values: freedom, security, community, opportunity and respect. Freedom is at the heart of the Liberal Party's distinctive appeal.

I share the Liberal belief that governments should not make for individuals those decisions that they can make for themselves. The second value is security, with the Liberal philosophy being strong on assisting individuals who lack the skills, the intellect or the physical health to care for themselves. Security emphatically incorporates locally led and locally based front-line police and strong commitments to the New South Wales health system. Under Labor, the constantly growing State bureaucracy is a threat to our freedom and our security. Under Labor, the erosion of the property rights of primary producers is a result of the same Labor contempt for private property, which gives rise to punitive land tax.

Community means promoting volunteerism and local responsibility, and preserving our autonomous local government areas. Opportunity means commitment to high standards in education and a focus on skills. It means genuine right of choice in schooling for every parent. Opportunity means providing real help to parents in looking after children. Respect means being aware and active in designing services and policies that nurture our young, support our families and care for and protect our seniors. These beliefs are based on the foundations of my upbringing, my education and those who instilled in me a love of service and a commitment to it. Most important, I know that those beliefs are shared by my constituents.

My political initiation was at the hands of the Hon. Dr Brian Pezzutti, who is present in the Chamber tonight—a recently retired member of the other place who taught me that a parliamentarian's role is to stand up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves. I am also fortunate to have been schooled in politics and representation by observing such gentlemen as Mr Arthur Sinodinos, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, and Mr Tony Nutt, Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister—individuals with a great commitment to duty, honesty and good, fair and open government. I thank the Hon. Bronwyn Bishop, MP, and the Hon. Tony Abbott, MP, for contributing to my understanding of liberty. I have had the fortune to be mentored at a local and State level by Mr Dick White, who is present in the Chamber tonight, Mr Frank Holles, Mr Bill Tafe, Mr Greg Bartels and Mr Mick Lardelli—all of whom I am proud to call friends.

In my formative years at St Ignatius College, Riverview, I was privileged to have studied under great and learned people such as Mr Errol Lea-Scarlett, Mr Philip Lee, Mr Glen King, Father Greg O'Kelly, Father Tony Walsh and Miss Patricia Tomkins. Those individuals instilled in me a passion for knowledge, understanding and Jesuit philosophy. For my understanding of banking and finance I sincerely thank the inspirational Dr Carolyn Currie of the University of Technology, Sydney. I also thank the members of the fourth estate, the often maligned though essential component of our democracy. In particular, I pay tribute to the local press from my electorate of Lane Cove who do so much every day to build, maintain and inform our community. I refer to Ron Bendall and Scott Howlett of the North Shore Times; John Booth from the Weekly Times, Di Bartok from the Northern District Times; and I have already mentioned Ian Longbottom. Significant in my election were the photographic and advertising talents of Mark Lee and Kilner Mason. 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 43

Worthy members of my local Liberal team that I have not already mentioned include Ian Hardwick, Steve Sim, Tim James, Bill Cross and Alan James. I also thank Stephen and Cindy Blaney, Simon Frame, Mark Donovan, Ronnie Corne, Tom Shanahan, Joe Hassarati, Glenys James, Chris Stone, Trish James, Sam Kursar, Kay Long, Adam Roach, Damien Jones, Nick Campbell, Andrew Gibbs, Sue Sinclair, Soo-Tee and Mary Cheong, Rupert Gray, Paul Hackett, Pat Kennedy, Michael Darby and Rick Forbes for their hard work and assistance during the election, as well as the staff of Ministers Coonan and Abbott and Ross Cameron.

I am so happy that in the gallery tonight are Barbara and Don Roberts, the best parents any son could ask for. Also in the gallery are my brothers and sisters, Jennifer, Louise and Michael; my uncle, John Beckett; my wonderful parents-in-law, Barbara and David Enoch; my sister-in-law, Katrina; and James, my brother-in- law. I am particularly proud to mention that my wonderful grandmother, Marjorie Beckett, who turned 90 years of age the day after my election, and who has always been so important to me, is in the gallery this evening. Let me take this opportunity also to remember my late grandfather, Jack Beckett, a chemist of Coogee, who, I am sure, is with us in spirit tonight.

Most of all I would like to thank my wife, Sarah, a lady of great sensitivity and significant political acumen who has been a tower of strength in these recent months. Sarah takes the old-fashioned view that a parliamentary family represents the electorate as a partnership. Sarah and my family join with me in thanking members of all parties and their spouses, as well as the Clerk, Russell Grove, the Deputy-Clerk, Mark Swinson, the Serjeant-at-Arms, Ronda Miller, and all the staff of the Parliament for the many kindnesses and courtesies extended to us. To my colleagues on both sides of the House, thank you for being here with me this evening. This is a distinguished House and I recognise that all who presently sit in this Chamber seek to serve the people of New South Wales. I thank honourable members for their kind attention.

Mr SPEAKER: I extend my personal congratulations to the honourable member for Lane Cove.

Ms GADIEL (Parramatta) [8.12 p.m.] (Inaugural Speech): It is with great honour that I address the House tonight. I am humbled by the support that the people of Parramatta have given me in electing me as their member of Parliament, and I thank them. I am conscious of the responsibility I now have towards them and the people of New South Wales. I will do my very best to ensure that the faith they put in me is justified.

Parramatta is a great city. It has an amazing history and a terrific future. It is, in fact, Australia's oldest inland settlement. Governor Phillip chose the site of Parramatta on 24 April 1788, and the settlement at Rosehill was founded on 2 November that same year. Parramatta is a place of many firsts. Australia's first wheat was harvested in Parramatta, the first vineyard was grown, the first show held, the first horse race run, and the first woollen goods fabricated in Australia were woven in Parramatta by convict labour.

Parramatta High School was the first co-educational high school in New South Wales. Parramatta also became the first city declared by an Act of Parliament in Australia on 27 October 1938. The first road out of Sydney was Parramatta Road, established in 1789, and the first ferry in Australia ran to Parramatta, also in 1789. In 1855 the first train outside of Sydney travelled to Parramatta. Parramatta has a great deal to be proud of. I would welcome anyone to come and see our beautiful city, its river, its parks and its lovely historic buildings.

The Carr Government has delivered for Parramatta in many ways but there is always more work to be done. The Government has committed funds to upgrade school buildings at Arthur Phillip High, Westmead, Burnside, Dundas, Parramatta and Parramatta North. We have also promised to install security fencing at Parramatta High School and Rydalmere Public School as part of our Safe Schools Program. In health, the major upgrade to Westmead Hospital has ensured first-class health services are at our doorstep, with an upgraded emergency department. Work is already under way on a new day treatment centre, a new breast cancer research facility and a new stroke unit.

In transport, the Parramatta to Chatswood rail link, when completed in 2011, will connect our region directly with the thriving northern suburbs and Macquarie University, where many young people from around Parramatta study. The Liverpool to Parramatta rapid transitway is up and running and is delivering fast and reliable bus services. In addition, the Carr Labor Government purchased the North West busways routes through Dundas, Telopea and Carlingford, offering expanded services and routes to local residents. On top of all this, the Carr Labor Government will bring new life to Parramatta as a city. 44 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

Last year Premier Bob Carr unveiled the new $800 million master plan for Parramatta Civic Place. This development will rejuvenate the city centre, improve the quality of our lifestyle and deliver 6,000 permanent jobs to Parramatta. Civic Place, to be completed around 2007-08, will link up with the new $100 million Parramatta transport interchange due to be completed in 2006. Sydney Water is also planning to relocate as many as 1,400 workers to their new headquarters in Smith Street, Civic Place. The Government has chosen Parramatta as the site for the new police headquarters, a $170 million project that will create 1,000 construction jobs and 1,350 permanent staff jobs in the area.

Additionally, the Carr Labor Government has committed itself to $42.5 million over the next four years in capital investment for the Sydney west trial courts project in Parramatta. All these initiatives show that the Carr Government recognises Parramatta as an important hub for the people of Sydney's west. Parramatta is a multicultural community and we are proud of it. Forty per cent of people in the Parramatta electorate were born overseas. The majority of those people were born in China, India, Lebanon, Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Macedonia. Our city is full of diversity, energy and hope, and, as I have already said, our future is exciting.

With the indulgence of the House I will now tell you a bit about myself, my background and my motivation for getting involved in politics. I do not come from a political family. I grew up in Cessnock in a typical working-class family. I attended public schools all my life. As far as I know, I am the first person in my family to join a political party. I was, in fact, the first person from my family to travel overseas or to go to university. Labor policies that opened the higher education system during the Hawke-Keating era made it possible for a young person like me to get access to a university degree.

I was only 10 years old when the Hawke Government won office in 1983. I remember sitting in front of my grandmother's television watching Bob Hawke's victory speech with tears of joy rolling down my cheeks. It certainly was not because at that age I was a political creature. It was just because I thought Hawkie was such a great bloke. At that age I did not understand how much of an impact Labor policies would have on my life or, for that matter, what impact they had already had. The first time I found my political voice was in the era of Nick Greiner and Terry Metherell. I was attending Cessnock High School and the impact of their policies on public education made me stand up and begin to listen—I was 15 or 16 years of age at the time. It was the first time I was conscious of the effect that government could have on my life.

I pay tribute to my parents, Kay and Leith, who, at the age of 18 and 20, brought me into the world. I thank them for everything they did; it could not have been easy. My dad was an apprentice plumber and my mum was a nurse at Allendale aged care facility. As soon as I was born she became the primary carer and went on to have another two daughters—my sisters Lorenda and Olivia—whom I adore. Mum later took jobs as a barmaid and a food processor at Steggles. Much later she went on to pursue her passion for cooking, and last year she made all of us very proud by becoming a qualified chef.

As a family we struggled, but my sisters and I were well looked after because my parents worked very hard to support us—they always worked hard and they taught us to do the same. In spite of my parents' young ages and financial situation, I know that one of the reasons we were able to get by was the role of government. As a child, I had access to education and to hospitals. In fact, were it not for the public health care system I may well have lost both my mother and my baby sister when I was six. My mum almost died after the birth of my sister, and my sister almost died a few weeks later when she contracted pneumonia.

As a result of these incidents, I have always valued the universality of the public health care system. I enjoyed the benefits of a healthy youth and of a comprehensive education, all of which were made possible through the system of government in New South Wales. I had taken all of these things for granted until I went to South Africa when I was 18. I had the privilege of being selected as a Rotary exchange student and of winning a scholarship that paid for my airfare. During my higher school certificate year I delivered bread all over the Hunter Valley on the weekends in order to get spending money to last me for the year. My shifts were 12 hours long, and I often roped my mates into helping me so that I could stay awake as I drove. In the Christmas holidays before I left I did some farm work and learned quickly how to pour concrete and mend fences.

With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that I was working myself into the ground but I was young and just could not wait to be in the same country as Nelson Mandela. So I just worked and worked. It was the best year of my life. It was incredible for an 18-year-old to experience life in a country like South Africa for a year. Nelson Mandela had recently been released and the country was experiencing monumental change. The school I attended conducted a ballot to determine what model of school it would have in the future. It was code for determining what kind of tolerance the parents would have for black kids attending the school. 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 45

I spent a great deal of time in the homelands of Boputhatswana seeing at first hand the impact of inadequate hospitals and a lack of education. I worked on projects that assisted communities in building maternity hospitals, which were in fact crude mud-brick sheds, and crèches, and in digging freshwater bores for communities. When I returned to Australia I saw my country with new eyes and I was so proud of what we, as a nation, had achieved. We had equal access to education, housing and universal health care. It did not matter what colour our skin was or how rich we were. Any child who grows up here has a recognised right to be housed, fed, educated and cared for and to feel safe. As I see it, this is one of the primary roles of government and something we, as elected representatives, must ensure continues. We must continue to provide for the future of the children of this nation so that they can have every opportunity to be the people they want to be, regardless of their circumstances.

I finished my tertiary education while working casually at the Australian Workers Union doing research, and later I went to the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union, where I became the first female postal organiser elected in New South Wales. Representing working people has been my passion for years and the skills I learnt in that role will assist me in representing the people of Parramatta. This year will be full of enormous challenges for me; I have been privileged to become the member for Parramatta and additionally, if all goes well, I will have the privilege of bringing a baby into the world. I am looking forward to the challenge and of taking my place as a working mother in society. I intend to work hard at my roles of member of Parliament, wife and parent. I note that at the turn of last century debate raged in this Parliament about women being elected to Parliament. In the upper House, Samuel Charles argued his case by asserting:

It is unnatural … If a woman is married, her first duty is to try to make her husband and home happy … and if she does her duty she will have no time for politics.

More than 20 years later Millicent Preston-Stanley became the first woman elected to this assembly. [Extension of time agreed to.]

Now, almost 80 years after her election, we have 36 women in Parliament, many of whom have juggled marriage, children and a parliamentary role admirably. I pay tribute to all of those women who came before me and who succeeded in their roles as legislators, wives and mothers. Thank you for removing the societal barriers that I might have confronted if I had been the first. I am proud to be standing here tonight to take my place as a member of this historic third-term Carr Labor Government—a government that recognises that the people of New South Wales deserve to feel safe in their communities, that our children deserve quality education, and that our community deserves good public transport and quality health care. It is also a government that recognises that there is still more to be achieved and that we, as a government, can work harder for the people of New South Wales.

I am also proud to be part of a government that recognises the hard work and dedication of our front- line workers such as police, nurses and teachers, who are out there in our community delivering government services. They are the backbone of our State. I am proud, too, to be amongst a group of recently elected post- baby boomer members of Parliament who have their roots firmly planted in the soil of the trade union movement. I know that Paul McLeay, Angela D'Amore, Tony Burke and I will never forget where we came from. I thank the trade union movement of New South Wales for its support during my campaign. I thank the unionists who have had an irreversible impact on my life, in particular, Maurie Polleti, Dave McCartney, Doug Irwin, Robyn Steele, Russ Collison, John Robertson and Bernie Riordon. You have all helped me in ways that I cannot even begin to explain.

I would also like to thank my husband, Michael, whom I cannot imagine ever having been without; the Watkins family, who have been a constant source of support through my teenage and adult life; my campaign director, Mike Bailey; the campaign team, particularly Mary Yaager, Rebecca Mifsud, Kate Pasterfield, Siobhan Barry, Susan Sheather, Tara Moriarty, Karen Adams, Kelli Field, Daniel Walton, Daniel Kickarovski, Chris Bowen, Talal Yassine, Chris Owen, Simon Young, and—last but not least—my dad, who, in spite of disliking the city immensely, came out of his comfort zone in the bush to help me out.

Without the support of the Australian Labor Party [ALP] branches in the Parramatta electorate I would never have made it here. In particular, I would like to thank branch members Phil and Margaret Russo, Desmond Netto, Paul Houston, George Bechara, Charlie Host, James Cullen, Anthony Chidiac, Paul Elliot, Gerard Gilchrist, Paul Zagami, Michael Yuen, Simon Carroll, Donna Davis and Paul Reed. I would also like to thank Parramatta Lord Mayor Paul Garad and councillors Julia Finn, Paul Barber and Pierre Esber for their assistance during the campaign. I must also thank the following members of Parliament for their support and 46 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003 encouragement during my preselection and campaign: Michael Costa, Joe Tripodi, Eddie Obeid, John Watkins, Reba Meagher, Carl Scully and Cherie Burton. You have all been wonderful. Thanks also to the ALP office, particularly Mark Arbib and Eric Roozendaal, who stuck by me in the toughest of circumstances.

Lastly, I would like to thank Gabrielle Harrison for her service to the people of Parramatta. As the House is aware, she is a woman of extraordinary courage. After the death of her husband, Andrew Ziolkowski, who died while serving as the member for Parramatta, she stood in his place and delivered a resounding victory for the ALP. Andrew was an amazing man. He was taken cruelly from the people of Parramatta and his family at the age of 29. His loss is still felt by many people, and I cannot imagine the pain that Gabrielle and his family went through. All I know is that Gabrielle took up the challenge and tried her best. On behalf of the people of Parramatta, I thank her and I wish her all the best for the future. I thank you all.

Mr SPEAKER: I extend my congratulations to the honourable member for Parramatta. I wish her a long and happy parliamentary career.

Mr McLEAY (Heathcote) [8.32 p.m.] (Inaugural speech): Mr Speaker, congratulations on your election to the important office of Speaker. I welcome my many friends and members of my family who are here tonight. Thank you for coming. I dedicate my speech tonight to the memory of my grandfather, Ron McLeay, my Pa. I might perhaps have been the third McLeay, not the second, to enter Parliament if life had not thrown a bit of trouble Pa's way. During the Depression Pa went looking for work. Like millions of other people, he had trouble finding it. He was a strong man, and he was never shy of a hard day's work. In hard times like these, a man's strength and willingness to work can make unemployment a burden on the soul.

Pa walked the streets, cap in hand, shop to shop. He rode the trains looking for work. Eventually, with no money to pay for his journey, he was picked up and thrown in gaol. Karl Marx once likened the law to a spider's web: It captures the small flies but lets the big bumblebees get through. It was true then, and it is true now in some countries and cities. Back then an unpaid train fare put Pa in gaol, and it left him with a criminal record. Years later, after serving his country in war, after years of tireless work for St Vincent De Paul and raising a young family—later giving one child to the Labor Party and one to the Lord—some of the locals in the Marrickville branch thought rightly that Ron should run for Parliament. But the crime of being poor and low self-esteem had set limits on his life forever. I hope that Australia is not like that any more.

In our Australia people get a fairer go. We take care of the needy, we take better care of the sick and the elderly, and we are more forgiving than we were in Pa's day. It is not by accident that this has happened. Labor governments in the State and Federal parliaments have changed, and changed forever, the very nature of what it means to be Australian. There is a compassion here, a creativity and an optimism and a comradeship in crisis, that I believe owes a lot to Labor's leaders. They believed that good government could help us to become a kinder, fairer and more prosperous nation, that it could extend the gentle arm which lifted the poor from their lot and gave the likes of my Pa a better go. As the years go by it is becoming clear that Bob Carr is one of those leaders. I have every confidence that history will record Bob's legacy plated in gold. Who knows? Maybe one day men and women like my Pa will pay him the same tribute they once paid Roosevelt: "That man once gave me a job." I am extremely pleased to be among the newest members of Bob Carr’s Government and to be a part of his spirited big picture.

I would not be standing here but for the tireless support, patience and guidance of my fellow members of the broad family that is the Labor Party, including my comrades at the Public Service Association, the Transport Workers Union, the Municipal Employees Union and the Labor Council. My good friend Gerry Ambroisine has always been there for me. When my wife, Cassandra, and I moved to Bundeena Gerry became far more than simply a mentor and friend. He became a neighbour—a particularly noisy and nosy one but still a good neighbour. I acknowledge the support I have received from other people in the branches, including Lawrie and Anne Daly, Steve Griffin, Bob Proudfoot, Neil Last, Dawn Baker and Barbara Jones. They encouraged me to run, and they never walked away from the challenges this entailed. Along with all of the ALP branch members and supporters, they worked tirelessly to ensure that their local Labor candidate was elected. I pay tribute to the former member for Heathcote, Mr Ian McManus. Ian once said to me, "The Labor Party is bigger than you or me." He is right, of course—and given the size of my suit, that is saying something. Ian demonstrated throughout the campaign and during his years as a local member that it takes an awful lot for this party to be bigger than the likes of Ian and I.

I was born 30 years ago in Marrickville, the second child of Leo and Janice McLeay. Leo was a telecom technician and Janice was a schoolteacher. My older brother, Mark, is 18 months older than me. Dad 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 47 and mum met through dad's younger sister, Maryellen, who knew her from St Bridget's school in Marrickville. Mum and dad got to know each other through the Youth Council, which was the then youth wing of the Labor Party. The Labor Party is a family tradition. Indeed, one would not have to give the family tree much of a shake for a fair proportion of the Labor Party to fall out. My mum's dad, my grandfather, Ted Delaney, set up the Yeo Park branch of the ALP. My dad's dad received his life membership of the Labor Party in the same year as Paul Keating. It was with great pride that he received this honour from the great man himself, Paul John Keating—a man he had known for many years and a man his son, my dad, Leo, was friends with for nearly 30 years.

In my family you do not just join a group, a club or a party. If you join you become involved; you become an activist. Another famous Marx—it was his brother Groucho—once said that he would never join any club that would have him as a member. Unfortunately for history, we McLeays have never adopted this particular brand of Marxist philosophy. We will thump the table well into the night, long after the last of the rubber chicken has been scraped off the walls. By the time I started school we had moved to Oatley and I had a new baby brother, Martin. My dad was an assistant secretary of the party and my mother was now working in welfare. Before I went to second class my dad was elected as a member of the Federal Parliament. The three boys and mum and dad lived in Croydon for the next 12 years or so. Mark was two years ahead of me at school and Martin was five years younger; my mum had gone back to teaching, and then later to the Catholic Industrial Office and then to the Industrial Relations Commission.

I went to St Joseph's primary school at Enfield and later on to St Patrick's College in Strathfield—as fate would have it, the alma mater of many an aspirant and anguished politician. At St Pats I made many friends and I loved the school. Many of the friends I made there are still my friends today. One fellow in my class whom I knew very well was Andrew Brogden. We were on the same basketball and rugby union teams and in several classes together. We would catch the same bus home, and this is when I would see and size up his big brother, John. While at school John Brogden became the State president of the Young Liberals, but Andrew and everyone else on the bus, as it travelled west, were of course strong Labor supporters. All of us were extremely puzzled at the strange aberrant aspirations of John. Andrew would tell me, "There is still time for him. It's only a fad!" Like the Leader of the Opposition, I, too, was vice-captain of the college. I played rugby and I took comfort in my religion. Another vice-captain at St Pats that year was the now honourable Tony Burke. While he also took his religion seriously, I recall him being too skinny to play rugby. However, it is with great honour that I join him in being elected to the New South Wales Parliament in 2003.

When I was at school I became active in my local Antioch, which is a Catholic youth group. After a while my mother became a parent leader with the Antioch group. I look back with great fondness that I was able to share these times with my mum. To be able to build my religious convictions, with my mother's guidance and support, is a gift I will always remember. My parents were separated at this time and in the process of getting divorced. Our religion provided us with rock solid support for a family that we felt at times was having a lot of troubles. My mum was seen by the other kids at Antioch as someone they could trust, someone they could rely on and—believe it or not—someone who was cool. They were right in this. She was always careful not to compromise my independence. Yet my life will always bear the profound and lasting imprint of my mother's love and attention. My two other brothers and I were also blessed to be—several years later—at the wedding of my parents, who remarried each other on their original twentieth wedding anniversary.

There is a teacher I was particularly fond of, Mr Paul Cahill. He was the first teacher to treat me as an adult at this crucial time. He was a religion and social science teacher, and when my parents were going through these problems, he would often just let me come into his office and talk things through. He was an inspiration. I found his patience, his challenges and particularly his egalitarianism—not to mention his record collection—to be of the highest order. Twelve years on we do not see so much of each other; however, he did contact me before the election to wish me luck, and to let me know he still thought of me. I will always recall my greatest lessons were learned at his side.

After stints as a student I went to work. One place I ended up working at for nearly a year was my Uncle Barry's mattress factory in Marrickville. It was hard work—bagging mattresses and loading them onto trucks— ten hours a day. The most important thing about working in this physical way in a place like Barry's is you realise how much people need good government and good laws to protect them. Many in the factory were new migrants. They were quite upset because they thought I was wasting my talents working there but I learnt a lot about the strength of the human spirit, the sacrifices people gladly make to give their children a better life. They were working their guts out at Uncle Barry's factory to make sure their kids would never have to work like this. One day immigration raided the factory and several of the workers were found not to have appropriate visas and were taken away to Villawood. 48 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

There was a very sombre and sad mood at the place. I asked one of the ladies on the sewing battery who was particularly upset what was wrong. She told me that it was because a member of staff—and she told me their name—had called immigration. It was because she, the informant, was not getting enough overtime because the two illegal workers were working too quickly, too efficiently, too conscientiously, too well. And the land of the free has a price. Poor people, newly arrived, will always be forced to do what they can do to improve themselves to get on. In the same way, the rich will happily exploit the workers, and the exploited are at times less forgiving and less kind to each other. As anyone who has worked in these conditions will tell you, the one place there is strength is the union. And only in solidarity is there negotiating power. It is our duty—we who are privileged by high office and great opportunity in places like this—to keep creating and keep improving opportunities for people to climb out of poverty. Working in the factory taught me a lot about people. And so did my two years with another agency. [Extension of time agreed to.]

I worked with the Department of Housing. I began on the Endeavour Estate in Waterloo, which is in Sydney's inner south. It is a housing estate with more than 2,000 dwellings on it. It was so-called "cutting edge" design when it was built, but by the time I got there, there had been a change in the dominant ideology. A lot of people thought it was not the best solution to build a community where everyone has the same struggles. However, I saw it a little differently. What I love about Waterloo is that there are always heaps of people coming up with ideas on how to improve things. There are active and vigorous tenant and community groups. There are people of all persuasions and cultures spotted through the community in what you might call "pockets of resistance"—residents, demographers, councillors, professors, public servants, authors, clergy and government side-by-side, working to make this society more harmonious, more tolerant, more civilised and more whole.

In public housing you do see such resolve; such creative imagination swirling around the living making a better world very much in the "now". In the long run, John Maynard Keynes would say, we are all dead. In the short term, in our housing estates, it is good to remember this. For there is no socio-economic bell curve in Dover Heights, and there is not one in Redfern either. The circumference of our opportunity cannot be bounded by four walls; or one set-piece design, or one grand location, or one school or one tabernacle. Walk onto any housing estate, any time you like, anywhere in our State, and you will see bright young children. You will see future prime ministers, future judges, future writers, artists, town planners and students of history. We need the courage to try to help them to unlock their potential. We need the conviction to ask the users and the customers how they want their services improved, and we need to change if they want us to.

I have changed a bit over time. The biggest influence I believe I have had in recent times is my wife, Cassandra. Meeting her has led to a series of events, including the birth of my very noisy daughter, Holly, who is interjecting from the gallery, nearly two years ago. The first time I saw Cass was in this very Chamber. She was standing here and I was sitting back there where Graham is. It was a Young Labor versus Young Liberal debate. I was sitting in the back, enjoying it. Cass got up to speak about the need to increase funding for young musicians. She spoke extremely well. She was articulate, sharp and formidably convincing—part Florence Nightingale, part Germaine Greer. Along with many others, I hung on every word. And I agreed with all present that Cass was a significant contributor to the victory that day for Young Labor over the Young Liberals. Cass is a very strong woman, with a keen sense of social justice and a true believer in using every part of the weaponry of the gifts and talents you have. Those of you who have known her for a long time, I would imagine, are now genuinely shocked that she is the wife of a mere member of Parliament, not the least because you would presume that she would be the member of Parliament, not her lesser half, her husband, yours truly. When we married about 3½ years ago it was in the church where my mother is a warden, and a member of the parish committee. For us it was our day but it was mum's church. During the ceremony there were prayers of the faithful, and one of them read:

Help Cass and Paul in their work. They have chosen vocations which require understanding and enthusiasm. We pray they find the strength to continue their vocations with passion and commitment, justice and integrity.

When we wrote these prayers we did not think I would soon be a member of Parliament. However, those words are still true, perhaps now even more so. Indeed, as my father said later that night, only Cassandra Wilkinson could bring Leo McLeay and Marion Wilkinson together in family.

It is my highest honour to be elected by the people of Heathcote. It is an important electorate. Two- thirds of it is in the Sutherland shire, and one-third is in the Illawarra. We take from the Illawarra a vibrant working class tradition, and from the shire a more aspirational and politically variable ethos. Both are very parochial and proud places. Because of our distance from the two cities, we tend to commute long hours, or try to never leave.

Whilst we have the highest number of trade-based qualified people in New South Wales, we also have a lot of unemployment and more churchgoers than most other places. We also have a constituency of volunteers, 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 49 which means we all look out for each other. Many, many people of Heathcote are either in the local church group, soccer club or surf lifesaving club—many participate in more than one. In my ever-widening quest to keep up with the Joneses, I joined the Bundeena Bushfire Brigade and served on the management committee of the Engadine District Youth Service. Both of these local warrior groups have given me a real insight into the way we come together as a community and look out for each other. It shows that when government provides some capital and infrastructure to give people the opportunity to participate they will, and they will do so in a way that always goes above and beyond what you expect.

In the recent fires in Engadine and Menai, under the watchful eye of our fearless captain, Ian Nightingale, we were able to work as a disciplined team to help save lives and property. There are nearly 50 active firefighters who lived in my village of Bundeena and Maianbar, as well as cadets and ancillary members who choose to do this for the love of the community, for the pleasure and fellow feeling of looking out for each other. The people of Heathcote are people who vote on the issues that State governments are the custodians of. We demand great local schools, the best hospitals in the world and safe and reliable transport. We want our share of police to keep us safe, and we want our environment to be protected. State Government, from cradle to grave, cuts into every aspect of our lives.

My daughter, Holly, was born nearly two years ago. Since then I have developed a heightened awareness of the special challenges that girls face. I want my daughter to have every opportunity in life. I make this pledge to Holly that I will fight for equal treatment for women and that I will work with the growing numbers of women in this Chamber to make this happen. The bellwether of any great society is always its treatment of women. The bellwether of my success as a member of Parliament will be my respect for women's issues. We in the Labor Party must remember we are a party of working Australians and we must reflect on this as we make decisions in this place and in its committee rooms about how our community is governed. I noted that five other union officials have been elected this term.

I also remember with great pride the years I spent working as an official with the Public Service Association [PSA]. I made many friends across the State, particularly Fran van Dartel, Cheryl McGuire, Maurie O'Sullivan and John Cahill, fighting to ensure that workers were not being victimised, that workers were being treated equally, that they had protection from bullies in the workplace, and that they were getting—slowly— more flexible work practices to help balance work and family needs. These are noble pursuits. I know my good friend Shane O'Brien will continue to work in the PSA for these issues.

Often people look to ideologies, slogans, or compelling or seductive ideas that explain the world and its discontents. Bob Carr continues to win the quiet confidence of the people of New South Wales not because of slogans or advertising jingles, but because all over New South Wales more kids like Holly are now learning to read. Reading recovery is now commonplace. More parents are getting help to raise their kids. We are trying new solutions to alcoholism, cancer and drug dependency. We are building a better world. I spent seven years working, proudly, with New South Wales public servants. I began to realise that there are countless decent, honourable public servants seeking practical ways to improve our quality of life and to give everyone a fair go. A government that taps into that commitment—a government like Bob Carr's—will not run out of energy. Good government provides working families with opportunities to make a better life for themselves and for their kids.

I thank my stars, my family, my support everyday for the good luck I have enjoyed. However, I will always remember that I am two generations from the bloke who hung off the side of trains heading north to look for work to put food in his belly. A better community is not the stuff of poetic ideology; it is found in the bread and butter of a good family, a good home and a good government—a Labor Government: thinking, listening, acting, striving every day to do its best for them. Pa, wherever you are, this one's for you!

Mr SPEAKER: I extend my personal congratulations to the honourable member for Heathcote. I note the presence in the gallery of a large number of his family, friends and constituents. I particularly note the presence in the gallery of the honourable member's father, the Federal member for Watson and a former Speaker in the House of Representatives.

Mr WHAN (Monaro) [8.55 p.m.]: It is a great pleasure and honour to have been elected to the New South Wales Parliament to represent the people of Monaro. On 22 March the people of Monaro voted for a Country Labor voice in the Carr Government. They voted for a positive agenda for the future—for representation that would produce results for our communities. Monaro's communities are very diverse, and so are our needs and demands. We have a range of urban and rural industries, from primary industry through to tourism. All are equally important. Agriculture, forestry and fishing remain key industries in our communities. 50 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

Tourism—which brings to the Snowy Mountains alone more than $605 million a year—is a major source of local employment, and higher technology industries are becoming increasingly important in the Queanbeyan area. Some commentators might be surprised to learn that Monaro has the highest number of public sector employees of any New South Wales State seat, so we are very grateful for the contribution to the local community made by teachers, nurses and all the other State and Commonwealth public servants. As a Country Labor member I aim to represent all the communities, their interests and their industries in this Parliament.

Monaro took a step forward in March by ending the National Party's 15-year hold on the seat and by putting its faith in Country Labor—a faith that will be worthwhile. I want to thank many people, but there are too many for me to thank individually. First and foremost, my thanks go to the people of Monaro who put their faith in me. I have been campaigning in Monaro and in the Federal seat of Eden-Monaro for a number of years and over that time many hundreds of people have volunteered their time to help. Labor's strength is its grassroots base and in Monaro our base is what gave us the edge. My thanks go to all the people who have worked on my campaigns from 1998 to 2003. In particular, I thank Meredith Horne, my campaign manager, who led our campaign with absolute determination and commitment. Other individuals who made tremendous efforts include our campaign office volunteers Steve Curren, Russell Gardner, Jane Davis, Bruce Sharp, Jil Chapman, Eric Thomas, John Hearn, Wal Costanzo and Barry Walmsley. Other key assistance came from Tom Mavec, Simon Degeling, Chris Snewin, Jim Chalmers, Paul Whalan, Jil Irish, the Whelan family, Bernie Baz, Gina Bosinosvski and my campaign manager from 1998, Kel Watt.

I also thank branch members all over Monaro for their mighty efforts—particularly Pete Mitchell, who, despite being the unsuccessful candidate in our preselection, proved once again his commitment to the Labor Party and his quality by continuing to lead our campaign effort in the Cooma and Snowy regions. Pete and I were helped in the Cooma and Snowy areas by stalwart Labor members such as Gunther Propst, Neen Pendergast, Gwen Marsh, Roger Vandersteegan, Leanne Atkinson, Anthony Seldon and Scot James. In Bungendore and Majors Creek our branches made great contributions through, amongst many others, Terry Vanderlinden, Ann Forward, Michael Guilfoyle and Murray Harrex. Many branch members on the coast helped my previous campaigns, and this time they gave a lot of moral support while campaigning hard in the Bega electorate. The New South Wales branch of the Australian Labor Party has given my campaigns tremendous support, and I thank the party office led by Eric and Mark for all their help over the three campaigns that I have been involved in. Our personal friends and neighbours—including Rene and Brigid Bol, the Burtons and Bellews—have always given our family great support and backup.

One of the key messages that came across very strongly from people in Monaro in this election campaign was that the area wanted someone who could deliver results. I am grateful for the way that Queanbeyan's mayor, Frank Pangallo, got the message across to many people that Queanbeyan and Monaro would be better off with a Labor member in a Labor Government. My team and I are very grateful for the direct and strong interest taken in Monaro by the Premier and many Ministers. I am particularly pleased that the Premier went out of his way in early 2002 to encourage me to run for this seat. There have been a number of influences on the development of my political interest. Some of the more recent that I would like to thank are the Federal shadow Treasurer, Bob McMullan, who I worked for for seven years; former Federal sports Minister Ros Kelly; and former member for Eden-Monaro Jim Snow.

Another former member for Eden-Monaro who had an important impact on my becoming politically interested and active very early was Bob Whan, my father. He is here tonight in the gallery. He obviously bears some of the responsibility for my interest in politics, as I was handing out how to vote cards when I was about six years old! Mum, of course, is here tonight too. I thank them for their support and encouragement over the years. Mum has unsuccessfully tried to talk me out of it a few times, but I think she is pleased now that I am here. Mum and Dad and Cherie's parents, Leonie and Roger McLean, have always been great support, particularly with the kids, during our campaigns. Most of all, of course, I thank my wife, Cherie, and our kids, Lachlan and Maddison. They are the most important people in my life and I thank them for their support in advance for however long I am privileged enough to be here. It would be impossible for me to overstate how important Cherie is as a friend, a partner and an adviser.

The Monaro electorate has been represented in this Parliament since 1858, but the name "Monaro" has been around a lot longer. "Monaro" is derived from the Aboriginal name for the region. It is a region rich in history and culture, both before and after white settlement. As this is my first speech as Monaro's representative in this Chamber, I recognise and acknowledge that the electorate of Monaro encompasses a number of indigenous lands, including the Ngarigo, Yuin and Ngunnawal language groups. Labor has a proud record in Monaro. For 56 years of the twentieth century Labor Party members represented the seat, with long-serving 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 51 representatives including people such as Jack Seiffert and John Akister. Labor has always had its roots in regional New South Wales. The party was born in the country and with Country Labor we are again showing how regional communities can get real representation through Labor.

Monaro has a great future. Our natural assets and our population provide the ingredients for success. Giving people of all ages the opportunity to reach their potential and gain better skills through education is one of the things that drove me to pursue this job. Monaro has many terrific schools, staffed by dedicated teachers and supported by enthusiastic school communities. My kids are receiving a quality education from our local public school. I have always been a strong advocate of our State school system. I will continue to do all I can to promote a strong public education system as the fundamental basis for quality education for all children. On top of that I will continue to support those local Catholic and private schools that offer affordable quality education to local families.

As part of the Carr Labor team I was very pleased to be able to take to the electorate a properly funded policy to lower primary school class sizes. I look forward to seeing the benefit of those additional teachers in our local schools. I will also be following through with the major capital works that are taking place in Monaro schools as part of the biggest capital works program in the last 50 years. Key commitments include bringing public secondary education to Jindabyne for the first time by building Jindabyne Central School, extending the Cooma North School, and completing the Jerrabomberra and Wyndham schools.

Health care was a key issue for many in the election, and in Monaro the people rightly felt that Labor, the party that has always backed the public health system, was best to deliver better health care. As a previous Federal candidate I am very conscious of the complicated Commonwealth-State relationship involved in delivering health care. Monaro people want better health care—but they do not really care who delivers it or funds it. Unfortunately for all of us, Labor's efforts to get public hospitals treating more elective and emergency patients are hampered by the Federal Government's neglect of Medicare. Monaro has one of the lowest rates of bulk billing in Australia. The measures that have been announced in the past couple of days by the Howard Government will not help lower and middle income families to access bulk billing in our region. That is putting pressure on our emergency departments, just as the shortage of local nursing home beds limits our ability to admit patients for elective surgery.

But, having said that, I know that the Carr Government and I have a number of important challenges in local health. Not the least of those is working to ensure that some services that are currently delivered to New South Wales patients in Australian Capital Territory hospitals, costing New South Wales millions of dollars each year, are delivered in our local facilities. We are lucky to have the Australian Capital Territory hospitals near the Monaro electorate because without them many more local people would have to go to Sydney for serious surgery or other major medical procedures. However, we can do better at delivering other specialist services in our local New South Wales hospitals, and I am pleased to say that the process of doing that is under way, thanks to the Carr Government's focus on rural health. For Queanbeyan the major health issue was the state of our local hospital, and during the election I was very pleased that we were able to gain a commitment to a $30 million project to rebuild the Queanbeyan hospital. It is a deliverable commitment, and it will be a great boost for our community in the long term.

Often in health we get fixated on curing people rather than preventing people from getting sick. One of my personal interests is sport and physical activity, and the important role that they play in making people healthier. I would like to see more focus on primary health care, particularly in fitness, from governments at all levels in Australia. Sport has been a key interest in my life. I have played water polo for the past 21 years but, probably more importantly, I have become involved in administration and development. I worked at the Australian Sports Commission for seven years, working on sports policy and then in information technology. My current interest is as Deputy Chair of the South East Regional Academy of Sport. I look forward to continuing to help local young people who are striving to achieve their potential in sport. And, while I am on the subject of sport, I point out the fact that since I was elected to Monaro not only has it rained a little bit—not enough, but a little bit—but the mighty Canberra Raiders remain undefeated.

For much of Monaro the link as part of the Australian Capital Territory region is critical, and I will be working closely with the Stanhope Government in the ACT to ensure that our economic, social and transport links are working effectively to benefit all the region's residents. Monaro's natural environment is one of its great assets—from Twofold Bay, to the south-east forests and Kosciuszko. In Monaro, as in all of New South Wales, we have a duty to protect our natural environment. In Monaro we can do that and also see jobs growth in local communities. We have seen important environmental achievements in our region, including new national parks and saving the Snowy River. I am a proud supporter of those achievements, and I will continue to work to ensure that we leave future generations an environment that is in good condition. 52 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 29 April 2003

One of the things that has struck me in the years that I have been talking to people in the region is that the farming community is now leading the way on many environmental initiatives, recognising that the long- term future of agriculture is just as reliant on a good environment as on any other factor. In Monaro we have seen farmers leading initiatives to preserve native grasslands and we have seen their increasing willingness to be involved in attempts to get protection of native vegetation right. [Extension of time agreed to.]

Our farmers are vital to our community, and I will be working with local farmers to ensure that they are able to run viable long-term businesses, and that when faced with new challenges—either natural, like the current and continuing drought, or man-made—they will have their interests well represented in government. We will only get long-term results on things like native vegetation if farmers and other land managers are involved in and backing the programs. I hold high hopes that the Wentworth initiatives announced by the Premier during the election campaign and the new ministerial arrangements will help us to achieve that over the next term. I have already mentioned some of the commitments made during the election campaign. I would like to reinforce for some of the constituents of Monaro a number of other initiatives that I am committed to seeing implemented. They include the Queanbeyan ambulance station to be completed this year, a new Adaminaby water supply, funding for the Queanbeyan Cultural Centre, the Eden multi-purpose wharf commercialisation, a boost in funding for feral pest control, noise barriers on Canberra Avenue, funding for the Cooma Skate Park, and new emergency services headquarters at Cooma and Jindabyne.

In relation to roads we have made important commitments around Queanbeyan, with funding for the Queanbeyan northern heavy vehicle bypass and $1 million towards duplication of Tompsitt Drive. We still have important issues to address on local roads throughout the electorate including, for Jerrabomberra residents, road links to the Monaro Highway and the Australian Capital Territory. Further down the Monaro Highway in Bombala I will be working to ensure the continued expansion of the softwood industry, including pushing hard to see the long-awaited new softwood mill finally come to fruition. I will be putting many other items in front of Ministers and the Premier over the next few years. I assure the Parliament and the people of Monaro that as the holder of Labor's most marginal seat—albeit with a 3.3 per cent margin—I will not be going soft on my demands on behalf of Monaro.

Before concluding I would like to mention an event that loomed large in our region during January and February: the terrible bushfires. I place on record the gratitude that all of our region has for the people who fought those fires or provided support services—the thousands of volunteers from the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Services and many other community groups, and the paid but no less brave and selfless people from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, State Forests, the New South Wales Fire Brigade, police and the Department of Community Services. They all deserve our thanks. The fires burnt through large areas of Kosciuszko National Park, through State forest and private land. In many cases the losses have been large, particularly for farmers who have lost pasture and fencing, but also for tourism operators and small businesses in the Snowy region. However, we must be thankful that in the Monaro electorate we lost no homes and, more importantly, no lives. That in itself is a great credit to all those who fought the fires.

One of my most important focuses during that period was to act as a conduit, as a positive and reasonable voice for the communities in our region to ensure that we got quick and generous assistance from government. And we did get that response. The Premier and Ministers responded quickly, and are still responding to needs as they emerge. A negative from the fires was the way that some people attempted to score political points while the fires were still burning. The positive was the way that the crisis brought out the best in so many people in our community, either by volunteering or providing moral or financial support. On Anzac Day last week a student from a local high school, when speaking to a crowd, compared the spirit shown by the people who fought the fires to the Anzac spirit. A week or so ago I drove again through some of the worst affected areas, and I was pleased to see how quickly the native bush is recovering. Indeed, I recommend to honourable members that they make a trip to Kosciuszko National Park to see the spectacular colours of the regrowth on the trees.

Prior to standing for the State seat of Monaro I had twice stood for the Federal seat of Eden-Monaro. I made the decision to run for State Parliament for the very simple reason that I felt I could deliver more for the community. At the Federal level I could talk about education funding; as a State member I can deliver new schools—with, of course, the assistance of a number of Ministers and the Government. For me good government is about delivering the best possible services to meet the needs of people and communities. Labor has always been about delivering the services that make Australia a fairer and more equitable society. Quality of life or access to education and health care should not depend on your bank balance. 29 April 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 53

A few weeks ago, when it was clear that I had won the seat of Monaro, I started to receive many letters, faxes and phone calls of congratulations. One of those stands out to me. I received a lovely letter from Jan Amour, the daughter of Jack Seiffert, who was the Labor member for Monaro for 24 years between 1941 and 1965. Jack Seiffert campaigned in a very different era to ours. He would not have used direct mail, phone canvassing or television advertising. He relied on grassroots service to the electorate and the traditional strong representation that Labor gives to country communities. Jan told me in her letter that at each election Jack would "lead his simple newspaper ads with the words 'I have served you faithfully and well'." I was one when Jack Seiffert finished as the member for Monaro, so I do not remember his time. But Jan and many others around Monaro have told me that his claim was well and truly justified. I hope that in years to come people will look at my time representing Monaro and say that I also served them faithfully and well. I look forward to my new role as a member of this House and again thank the people of Monaro for giving me the opportunity to represent them in the New South Wales Parliament.

Mr SPEAKER: I extend to the honourable member for Monaro my sincere congratulations. I note the presence in the gallery of his family, including his very proud father, a former member for Eden-Monaro in the Whitlam Government and now the father of the State member of Parliament for Monaro.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Bill: Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders

Motion by Mr Scully agreed to:

That standing and sessional orders be suspended to allow the introduction and progress up to and including the Minister's second reading speech of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Commencement) Bill, notice of which was given this day for tomorrow.

CRIMES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (COMMENCEMENT) BILL

Bill introduced and read a first time.

Second Reading

Mr WATKINS (Ryde—Minister for Police) [9.22 p.m.]: I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This bill will amend the Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 2002 to postpone the commencement of amendments contained in that Act to the Crimes Act 1900 and the Search Warrants Act 1985. These amendments relate to the detention of arrested persons for the purposes of investigation or during the execution of search warrants. They also contain provisions for the video recording of the execution of search warrants. These amendments were introduced to ensure that police could execute search warrants in the presence of an arrested person without delaying the search by having to take the person before a custody manager at a police station.

With the agreement of NSW Police the Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 2002 was proclaimed to commence on 1 May 2003. However, it has subsequently become clear that for operational reasons full implementation by NSW Police of the amendments will not be possible by 1 May 2003. Police concerns include ensuring by 1 May 2003 that an extra officer is present at each search to video record the detention of a person detained at the scene. This will have a particular impact on rural and remote searches and special arrangements will need to be made in these circumstances. Police are also concerned about the purchase by 1 May 2003 of sufficient recording equipment to maintain multiple video cameras at every search where a person is detained. Parliamentary Counsel has advised that the proclamation can be revoked only via an Act of Parliament. This bill will revoke the commencement date to allow NSW Police more time to prepare. The new commencement date will then be proclaimed and published in the Government Gazette when police are ready to implement the new provisions. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Debnam.

The House adjourned at 9.26 p.m. until Wednesday 30 April 2003 at 10.00 a.m. ______