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Hansard 9 Jun 1999

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Hansard 9 Jun 1999 9 Jun 1999 Legislative Assembly 2271 WEDNESDAY, 9 JUNE 1999 PAPERS MINISTERIAL PAPERS The following papers were tabled— Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) Minister for Tourism, Sport and Racing (Mr Gibbs), by leave— read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. Lang Park Trust—Annual Report and Financial Statements for 1998 PETITIONS Late tabling statement by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Racing (Mr Gibbs) The Clerk announced the receipt of the relating to the Lang Park Trust Annual following petitions— Report for 1998. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Fisheries Regulations Wear Wool Wednesday; Capital City Policy From Dr Kingston (408 petitioners) Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— requesting the House to remove all sections of ALP) (Premier) (9.33 a.m.), by leave: Before the Fisheries Amendment Regulation No. 3, commencing my ministerial statement, I Subordinate Legislation 1999 No. 58, relating acknowledge that today is Wear Wool to the legalisation of trawlers to take and sell Wednesday. Today, in common with many finfish, winter whiting and blue swimmer crabs other people, I have worn wool—a full woollen from the legislation. suit—as an acknowledgment of this great Similar petitions were received from Mr industry, which has made a significant Wells (127 petitioners), Mr Black (82 contribution to the development of this nation. petitioners), Mr Hollis (37 petitioners) and Mr The Queensland Government and the Laming (115 petitioners). Brisbane City Council will enter the new millennium in an exciting new partnership. The partnership, spelt out in the Capital City Policy, Sale of Liquor by Major Retailers formalises the very good working relationship that has been built up between George Street From Mr Lingard (687 petitioners) requesting the House not to increase the and City Hall. Basically, the policy creates a availability of liquor in the community by framework for the two administrations to work extending the sale of takeaway liquor to together to enhance Brisbane as the State's supermarkets and other retail outlets. capital city. It will influence policy making, program activity and investment decisions. A capital city task force, comprising senior Gatton Campus of University of Queensland officers from the Government and the council, has identified projects in seven key areas, and From Dr Prenzler (1,884 petitioners) that is where we will be focusing initially. The requesting the House to (a) uphold promises two levels of Government will work together to and undertakings given in 1991 through to provide resources for priority projects in the 1996 to establish the Gatton campus as the interests of not just Brisbane but the whole of preferred location for a world-class education Queensland. The Lord Mayor and I will hold and research facility and (b) to act to ensure summits at least three times a year to drive the that the Animal Health Institute as stated by policy. What this means is that the big issues the Department of Primary Industries in for south-east Queensland—roads, public February 1999 is established at the Gatton transport, sports facilities and affordable campus of the University of Queensland. housing—will be addressed by both Governments simultaneously. More strategic planning will mean better facilities for residents Bundaberg Base Hospital and more effective use of taxpayers' and ratepayers' money to create an even more From Mr Slack (4,008 petitioners) attractive and vibrant capital city. The new requesting the House to reject any move to millennium gives us the ideal opportunity for close the outpatient facility currently operating this new approach. at the Bundaberg Base Hospital, Bourbong Street, Bundaberg and to retain it as it In many ways, Brisbane should be the currently exists. gateway to this State, encouraging investment, tourism and opportunities for all Petitions received. Queenslanders. Brisbane already has an 2272 Ministerial Statement 9 Jun 1999 edge, because it has a whole-of-city local affordable housing and respond to high priority government combined with great economic issues relating to caravan parks, hostels, potential, a fabulous climate and a relaxed boarding houses and homelessness. The next lifestyle. The Capital City Policy will allow us to area is the Brisbane economic development build on these strengths and help us become and gateway ports strategy, which will involve a key player in the Asia-Pacific region. investigating ways to increase investment and The seven key areas that will be the initial exports, encouraging information technology focus of the Capital City Policy are as follows: and knowledge-based industries, establishing integrated regional transport planning, which a management and marketing framework for involves developing an integrated public the gateway ports and agreeing on key transport system for Brisbane, looking at major development areas and infrastructure funding. projects such as integrated ticketing and Again, that is part of Australia TradeCoast. We timetables, busways, bus priority and light rail. intend to lead Australia in exports. All of this Mr Speaker, as you would appreciate, our and more is contained in the Capital City vision for Brisbane includes not just a light rail Policy, a copy of which I table for the project for Brisbane but the South Bank information of honourable members. redevelopment, at a cost of $81m, a We also need a partnership with the pedestrian walkway bridge and the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth should redevelopment of the Roma Street site. The be involved in a national strategy for second area is the joint management of sport infrastructure development, with a focus on and entertainment facilities, which will involve strategic investment to drive our capacity to investigating the future of sporting facilities, export and to support the quality of life in our coordinated management and development. cities. It is time the Commonwealth joined in in As honourable members would know, the the organisation of a better urban community. Gabba is being redeveloped with a 37,000 Some 63% of Australians live in the capital seat capacity, and six soccer matches will be cities and over 80% live in urban communities played in the lead-up to a quarter final for the in Australia, yet the Commonwealth does not Olympics—a total of seven soccer matches. have an urban policy. It is leaving out 80% of The Government has also agreed with the city Australians through its lack of policy and council about the development of a major direction. Today I call on the Commonwealth stadium for Rugby League and Rugby Union. to participate as a third party in the Capital City That is currently being worked on by the State Policy. Government and the Brisbane City Council. I am pleased to say that this view has the That will involve a choice between Suncorp backing of the Lord Mayor and also the Stadium and the RNA. Property Council of Australia. Last week, the The next area is coordinated information Property Council's Executive Director, Ross management, which will involve looking at Elliott, said— sharing technology, such as call centres and "The next version of Capital City library on-line facilities, to deliver better services Policy launched by the Premier and the to residents and businesses. The next area is Lord Mayor should also have the Prime the integrated marketing of Brisbane, which will Minister as a participant and that is the involve developing an integrated tourism outcome we will be working towards." strategy for Brisbane that allows key stakeholders to define the city's image and I look forward to updating the House as our infrastructure. Yesterday I mentioned the plans with respect to the Capital City Policy launch of Australia TradeCoast, undertaken by come to fruition. the Deputy Premier, the Lord Mayor and me, which will enhance trade and job opportunities MINISTERIAL STATEMENT for Queensland. Centenary of Federation; Year of the The next area is a coordinated festivals Outback and events strategy, which will ensure support for festivals that reflect community aspirations Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— and highlight the city's unique identity. In ALP) (Premier) (9.39 a.m.), by leave: In addition to the arts, there are obviously other relation to the centenary of Federation and the major events, such as the Goodwill Games, Year of the Outback, there are important which are being worked on by the Minister at matters I want to draw to the attention of the present. House. In a little more than 18 months, Australia will commemorate the centenary of The next area is an affordable housing Federation—the birth of our nation. The strategy, which will encourage the availability of Queensland Government will be marking the 9 Jun 1999 Ministerial Statement 2273 centenary with a number of events, huge response to the first round of funding celebrations and community projects. All shows that people not only want to celebrate together, we have committed $25.83m. Of the anniversary of nationhood but also want to that amount, $10.2m will spent on the leave a legacy. Regional Queensland made Community Assistance Program. This program an important contribution in the first round, and will help communities around the State to regional communities showed great commemorate the centenary in their own way enthusiasm for the program. by creating lasting reminders of the past and While I am talking about regional by celebrating the future. Queensland, I would like to inform the House We had a great response from that the Cabinet, on a submission from the community groups in the first round of funding, Minister for Primary Industries, has endorsed a with 384 applications received. Forty-eight proposal to declare 2002 as Australia's Year of projects from around the State were approved the Outback. The Primary Industries Minister by the director-general of my department, and and I have already outlined the plan to the a total of $2.6m was allocated.
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