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Hansard 8 Sep 2000 8 Sep 2000 Legislative Assembly 3197 FRIDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2000 Queensland's export earnings. But it is an Aussie company that took the risk and the initiative in the first place and I want to congratulate Bindaree Beef, its Chairman John Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) MacDonald and the board of directors for read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. putting their faith—and their money—in this project. I met with them; they are very decent Australians. I would particularly single out PETITIONS Leigh Belbeck, the human resources The Clerk announced the receipt of the manager, who has invested a great deal of following petitions— time and effort to make today possible. Bindaree has assured us the minimum work force will initially comprise 230 people, with Water (Allocation and Management) Bill plans to expand capacity over the next four From Mr Malone (62 petitioners) years and so create more jobs. requesting the House to delay the passage of In supporting this venture through active the Water (Allocation and Management) Bill and constructive Government assistance, my until an assessment of the impacts are Government is fulfilling two key policy investigated and not until industry is consulted priorities—job creation in sustainable export as to these impacts. industries and rebuilding regional Queensland. In the last year export revenue from the meat industry increased to over $1.3 billion. This Synergy Industrial Park makes it the State's second largest export From Dr Watson (2,554 petitioners) after coal, contributing about half of Australia's requesting the House to abandon the total export earnings from the meat industry. proposed construction of Synergy Industrial These achievements have been made with Park on Formation Street, Carole Park and to the active assistance of my Government and preserve the land and keep the last remaining the assistance that has been provided through green site in the area for the long-term health the Meat Industry Task Force. benefits to the residents in the area. In addition to Murgon, we have helped Petitions received. Consolidated Meat develop processing facilities at Rockhampton, and supported the refurbishment of the Cannon Hill meatworks. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT We are giving a robust industry that Murgon Meatworks participates in a fiercely competitive Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— international environment the boost it needs to ALP) (Premier) (9.32 a.m.), by leave: Today I ensure its long-term future as a major global will take great pleasure in officially re-opening player. We are showing the rest of Australia the Murgon meatworks and the saving of at that, with determination and the resources to least 230 jobs. The reopening of Murgon back it up, we can play an active role in meatworks is proof of the State Government's rebuilding regional areas. We will not stand idly commitment to regional Queensland and to by to watch regional towns decline and working in partnership with the private sector. whither. The reality is that it is unlikely that we will In cooperation with local communities and ever win seats in this area—although hope business we can help regional Queensland springs eternal—but I promised we would be a survive and prosper. We have committed more Government for all Queensland and proof of than $12m to assist companies wanting to that is Government investment of $1.7m in this establish sustainable export-focused or import meatworks and at least 230 jobs. Government replacement value-adding meat processing support includes $1.7m to upgrade the water activities in Queensland. As a result, the supply for the town and abattoir, as well as industry is committed to capital investment of additional assistance for staff training, an more than $200m, and to the creation of more environmental upgrade of the meatworks and than 2,000 jobs throughout the State. a refund of stamp duty on the sale of the The Meat Industry Task Force has facility. conservatively estimated that, over the next The help my Government will provide with two years, applications for further funding will the provision of specialised value-adding generate a further 2,000 to 3,000 jobs in the equipment will set the Murgon meatworks on a meat industry. These jobs are sustainable in firm footing to become a major contributor to the long term, and represent a broadening of 3198 Ministerial Statement 8 Sep 2000 the State's economic base through value- Labor Government would do everything it adding, another high Government priority. could to create jobs. That is why I set a target I should say that when we came to office of reducing unemployment to 5% within five a report that had been prepared for the years. It has meant we have focused on job previous Government, if I recall correctly, had creation every day, seven days a week. The indicated that the meat industry was in result has been that the National/Liberal enormous difficulty and would be losing coalition has whinged that we should not have something like 5,000 jobs. We have turned set a target. The result has been that we have that around. We have turned that around for created 22,300 more jobs than the the future of this State. We acted, we turned it National/Liberal coalition Government—and we around, and it is one of the significant have not finished yet. achievements of my Government. The result is that we have 22,300 reasons Mr Rowell: What a joke. why my Government should be re-elected and 22,300 reasons why the coalition should be Mr BEATTIE: In two years and four left to whinge on the Opposition benches. months the Borbidge Government— Mr Rowell interjected. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Mr BEATTIE: Let us be really clear. The previous Government's strategy in relation to Olympic Games the meat industry would have seen the Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth— Queensland meat industry exported to New ALP) (Minister for Communication and South Wales or overseas and a significant part Information, Local Government and Planning of it closed down. This Government has done and Minister for Sport) (9.39 a.m.), by leave: In more to assist the Queensland meat industry five days the eyes of the world will turn to than any Government in the last 25 Brisbane as the Games of the 27th Olympiad years—and that is a fact. Both the Deputy officially begin. Two days before the official Premier and the Minister for Training have opening ceremony in Sydney, our very own been key players in making this happen, along Gabba will play host to a gala ceremony for with the meat task force and I want to publicly the football tournament followed by seven thank that meat task force for what it has action-packed matches from 13 to 23 achieved. September. When it comes to jobs, the contrast This afternoon at the Gabba I will launch between my Government and the previous The Look of the Games. Government is clear, and this is very Dr Watson: The look of the Games? interesting. In two years and four months the Mr MACKENROTH: The member should Borbidge Government could create only listen: The Look of the Games. All Olympic 78,900 jobs—78,900 jobs. In the first two Games venues incorporate an image or years and two months of my Government, we design referred to as The Look of the Games, have created 101,200. We are 22,300 jobs which is consistent across all venues but ahead of the legacy we inherited from the unique for each Olympiad. As a host Olympic Borbidge Government—over a lesser period of city, Brisbane streets in the CBD, South Bank time—and we still have two months to go Parklands and the Gabba will be decorated before we have served the same period. I will with various Olympic Games banners. Non- repeat it: 22,300 more jobs under my competition venues such as the Novotel Government than were created under the Brisbane, the domestic and international Borbidge Government and they were there for terminals at the airport, Lang Park, Ballymore two months longer. and ANZ Stadium will also be dressed in Look What is the difference? The difference is of the Games elements. This will not only we set a jobs target. We set out to do brand our facilities as official Olympic venues something about unacceptably high but also provide a colourful welcome to the unemployment, whereas the coalition just thousands of visitors to Brisbane expected shrugged its shoulders and left it to market during the period of the Games. forces. In May 1997, the Borbidge/Sheldon In the past few weeks we have already Government said it could do nothing about had a taste of what is to come as athletes and unemployment. As it was leaving Government, officials have arrived in Queensland for pre- its message to Queensland was that Olympic Games training. In fact, 170 teams unemployment would rise. from 44 countries are training in the Sunshine But people expect Governments to make State—more than any other State or Territory a difference and I was determined that a in Australia. 8 Sep 2000 Ministerial Statement 3199 Honourable members interjected. The first ever indigenous arts market/trade Mr MACKENROTH: That is thanks to Bob fair will be staged allowing the direct promotion Gibbs starting it off. These teams are using a of local artists and retail enterprises. wide variety of sporting venues and it is terrific, International and indigenous arts marketing especially for children and young people, that initiatives, including those of indigenous Queenslanders have the opportunity to see people in North America and Canada, will be such a high standard of sporting talent in the researched to help develop indigenous arts lead-up to the Games.
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