House Assembly Wednesday 23 June 2021
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PARLIAMENT OF TASMANIA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY REPORT OF DEBATES Wednesday 23 June 2021 REVISED EDITION Contents STATEMENT BY PREMIER ............................................................................................................................. 1 ATTENDANCE OF MINISTER FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL .......................................................................... 1 QUESTIONS ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 ADAM BROOKS - FITNESS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ................................................................................................... 1 ADAM BROOKS - FITNESS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ................................................................................................... 2 ADAM BROOKS - PREMIER'S RESPONSE TO ISSUES RAISED ................................................................................ 2 SECURING TASMANIA'S FUTURE ......................................................................................................................... 3 ADAM BROOKS - FITNESS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ................................................................................................... 5 ADAM BROOKS - FITNESS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ................................................................................................... 6 SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM ................................................................................................................................. 7 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE ......................................................................................................... 8 SECURING TASMANIA'S FUTURE - HEALTH ....................................................................................................... 12 ADAM BROOKS - FITNESS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ................................................................................................. 14 SECURING TASMANIA'S FUTURE - INFRASTRUCTURE ........................................................................................ 15 ADAM BROOKS - FITNESS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ................................................................................................. 17 OPERATION HYPERION - COST .......................................................................................................................... 19 SECURING TASMANIA'S FUTURE - BUILDING THE SKILLS BASE ........................................................................ 20 PERSONAL EXPLANATION .......................................................................................................................... 21 MEMBER FOR LYONS, MS WHITE ..................................................................................................................... 21 MESSAGES FROM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ........................................................................................... 22 COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS ............................................................................................................................ 22 FIRST READING ................................................................................................................................................ 23 PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURES (MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT) BILL 2021 (NO. 22) ............... 23 FIRST READING ................................................................................................................................................ 23 MOTION ............................................................................................................................................................. 23 ATTENDANCE OF MINISTER FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT QUESTION TIME ......................................... 23 MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE ......................................................................................................... 24 INTEGRITY ........................................................................................................................................................ 24 ADDRESS-IN-REPLY ....................................................................................................................................... 33 ADDRESS-IN-REPLY ....................................................................................................................................... 49 ADJOURNMENT ............................................................................................................................................. 104 DIANE NAILON OAM - TRIBUTE .................................................................................................................... 104 GENERAL MILLS WORKERS - INDUSTRIAL ACTION ........................................................................................ 104 ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES, TARKINE ..................................................................................... 106 RESPECT IN THE CHAMBER ............................................................................................................................. 106 ROWING - MAST SAFETY RULES ................................................................................................................... 108 ALLEN GEORGE HANSEN - TRIBUTE ............................................................................................................... 110 DR VICTOR RAYMOND LEONARD - TRIBUTE .................................................................................................. 110 RICHARD FLANAGAN - TRIBUTE ..................................................................................................................... 111 HOMELESSNESS - ASSISTANCE ....................................................................................................................... 114 WORLD PUBLIC SERVICE DAY ........................................................................................................................ 115 THE SOLSTICE SPLASH - LOAVES AND FISHES TASMANIA .............................................................................. 116 TREVOR DUNIAM OAM - TRIBUTE ................................................................................................................. 117 GROUP CAPTAIN PAUL WILLMOT AM CSC - TRIBUTE .................................................................................. 117 ERIC MOBBS - TRIBUTE .................................................................................................................................. 117 Wednesday 23 June 2021 The Speaker, Mr Shelton, took the Chair at 10 a.m., acknowledged the Traditional People and read Prayers. STATEMENT BY PREMIER Attendance of Minister from the Legislative Council [10.02 a.m.] Mr GUTWEIN (Bass - Premier) - Mr Speaker, with regard to the arrangements for question time today, I understand that in respect to Ms Howlett, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Racing, Minister for Women and Minister for Small Business, that leave is yet to be granted by the other place in order to allow for her to attend the House of Assembly today. That matter will be dealt with later and she will be joining us tomorrow. QUESTIONS Adam Brooks - Fitness for Public Office Mr O'BYRNE question to PREMIER, Mr GUTWEIN [10.03 a.m.] Prior to the preselection of Adam Brooks, did you have any reason to believe he lacked integrity and was unfit for public office? ANSWER Mr Speaker, I personally and warmly congratulate you on your ascension to the Chair. I am sure you will serve this parliament with distinction. I also add my welcome to new members to this place and hope you find your time here as enjoyable and as fruitful as I have in the work you can do to assist the Tasmanian people to improve their lives. Mr O'Byrne, congratulations on your ascension to Leader of the Opposition. I am sure that as this week rolls out there will be more to be said on that and the arrangements as they have landed. I note that Dr Broad has left us with a wealth of material in which to point out his views and the views of some within Labor of the machinations that have gone on over the last period, but we will deal with those matters as and when they come to hand. To Ms White, thank you for being a decent and responsible Leader of the Opposition during your time here. Albeit there are things we will always disagree on - in fact matters that at times I would say stretched the truth somewhat. I wish you well with regard to the coming circumstances and the new addition to your family. As to the question that was asked in relation to Mr Brooks, I had no dealings with him that would have indicated to me that he was not a fit and proper person to run as a candidate. 1 Wednesday 23 June 2021 Adam Brooks - Fitness for Public Office Mr O'BYRNE question to PREMIER, Mr GUTWEIN [10.05 a.m.] When it was revealed on 8 April that Adam Brooks was facing ammunition storage charges in Tasmania, what specific steps did you take to satisfy yourself that he was a suitable candidate for public office? ANSWER Mr Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for that question. Regarding the question he has asked in regard to Mr Brooks, I listened very briefly to a radio interview the other day about a matter that was put to the Leader of the Opposition about someone who held a very senior position in the Labor Party, the Labor Party president, and what his views were on Mr McGregor and the circumstances he found himself in. Mr O'Byrne said was it was not his role to act as judge,