Legislative Assembly Hansard 1988
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 1988 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Allegations by Member for Merthyr Against Hon. N. J. Tumer 22 November 1988 2907 TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 1988 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. L. W. Powell, Isis) read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following Bills reported by Mr Speaker— Special Prosecutor Bill; Parliamentary (Judges) Commission of Inquiry Bill; Public Accounts Committee Bill. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT Audits Completed as at 31 October 1988 in Respect of Financial Year Ended 30 June 1988 Mr SPEAKER: I have to report that I have received from the Auditor-General his report on audits completed as at 31 October 1988. Ordered to be printed. REPORT OF PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY COMMITTEE Mr SPEAKER: I have to report that I have received the report of the Parliamentary Library Committee for the period 1 July 1987 to 30 June 1988. Ordered to be printed. PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE COMMISSION Appointment of Members Mr SPEAKER: I wish to advise honourable members of the proclamation of the Parliamentary Service Commission Act 1988 on 19 November 1988. I also wish to advise that, pursuant to section 6 of the Parliamentary Service Commission Act 1988, the Parliamentary Service Commission consists of seven members of the Legislative Assembly. The membership shall include Mr E. C. Row, MLA, Chairman of Committees; the Honourable B. D. Austin, MLA, Leader of the House; Mr E. D. Casey, MLA, who has been nominated by the honourable Leader of the Opposition; and myself Three other members shall be appointed from time to time by resolution of the Legislative Assembly. Hon. B. D. AUSTIN (Nicklin—Leader of the House) (10.03 a.m.), by leave, without notice: I move— "That Mr A. A. FitzGerald, MLA, Mr T. M. Mackenroth, MLA, and the Honourable Sir William Knox, MLA, be appointed as members of the Parliamentary Service Commission." Motion agreed to. ALLEGATIONS BY MEMBER FOR MERTHYR AGAINST HONOURABLE N. J. TURNER Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to advise that I have received a letter from the Honourable N. J. Tumer, a former member of this Parliament. That letter is as follows— "Mr Speaker it is through your office and discretion that as a former member of this Parliament, 1 am permitted admission to the indelible record of Hansard. 2908 22 November 1988 Papers I thank you. I would not seek such an opportunity were it not out of genuine anguish. 1 reflect on my years in political office as ones of contribution. There is a modest sense of pride and a belief that I served the public interest well. Above all 1 knew when I retired from Parliament I did so with a conscience clear of any thought that it might carry a wrong doing. It is therefore with complete surprise and amazement that one irresponsible statement made by the Member for Merthyr and Former Minister of the Crown, Mr Lane, brings with it the distinct suggestion that the sense of duty and responsibility I brought to that high office should be under a cloud. At the Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry on the 15th November, 1988 Mr Lane alleged the possible misuse of Ministerial cash advances by a number of past and present Ministers. Mr Lane said and I quote 'I think Mr Turner' end of quote could have been involved. I refute his unfounded allegations which have no basis in fact. On no occasion have I ever misused a cash advance as a Minister of the Crown. In the name of decency and Justice I call on him to correct this injustice by committing to public record in this Parliament and to the Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry that he had no foundation for such an allegation and at the same time apologise." The letter is signed "N. J. Turner". PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Compulsory Wearing of Safety Helmets by Cyclists From Mr Littleproud (11 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will legislate for the compulsory wearing of safety helmets by cyclists. Development of Moreton Bay From Mr Burns (63 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will take action to make available for public scrutiny and debate all reports and recommendations affecting the development of Moreton Bay. Provision of Bus Services to Bayside Area by Brisbane City Council From Mr Burns (49 signatories) praying that the Pariiament of Queensland will take action to license the Brisbane City Council to provide bus services in the Bayside area. Closure of Brisbane Valley Railway Line From Mr HamUl (818 signatories) praying that the Pariiament of Queensland wiU consider the interests of local communities, including Gatton, Wondai, Toogoolawah, Linville and Feravale before the closure of their railway stations or the discontinuance of rail motor services. Petitions received. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports— Board of Trustees of Newstead House for the year ended 30 June 1988 Workers' Compensation Board of Queensland for year ended 30 June 1988 Questions Upon Notice 22 November 1988 2909 Department of Employment, Vocational Education and Training for year ended 30 June 1988. The following papers were laid on the table— Orders in Council under— Harbours Act 1955-1987 Health Act 1937-1988 Regulations under— Health Act 1937-1988 Food Act 1981-1984 Radioactive Substances Act 1958-1978 Cremation Act 1913-1978. Reports— Committee of Inquiry into the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1961-1987 of Queensland for year ended 30 June 1988 Dumaresq—Barwon Border Rivers Commission for the year ended 30 June 1988 North Brisbane Hospitals Board for the year ended 30 June 1988. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Enterprise North Queensland; Mr Geoff Moss Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers Paradise—Minister for Industry, Small Business, Communications and Technology) (10.07 a.m.), by leave: Last Friday, 18 November, the Cairns Post published an article concerning the newly passed enterprise zones legislation. It quoted an organisation caUing itself Enterprise North Queensland, as well as its chairman, Geoff Moss. Firstly, I would like to make it clear to the House, and hopefully to industry, the media and the general public, that neither the Queensland Govemment nor the Department of Industry Development has any formal connection with that organisation or its management. Secondly, although Mr Moss has expressed his support for the enterprise zone concept, I would like to point out that his organisation does not advise the Govemment in any way, shape or form as suggested in last Friday's article. My department has received many submissions and opinions from people and organisations in recent months conceming the enterprise zones legislation, and has taken this into account in the drafting of the Bill. In due course, the Government will decide upon the composition of the Cape York-North Queensland Enterprise Zone Board. 1 am keen for the people of north Queensland to support this new concept in the media, but must stress that the Queensland Govemment is quite capable of making its own announcements at the appropriate times. Enterprise North Queensland appears to be a professional lobby group and neither it nor its chairman, Mr Moss, is authorised to make public statements in respect of the Cape York-North Queensland Enterprise Zone, or any other matter, on behalf of the Queensland Govemment or the Department of Industry Development. QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE 1. Loss of Man-hours in Railway Department Mr LICKISS asked the Minister for Transport— "(1) What were the man hours lost by the Queensland Railway Department in (a) 1986/87 and (b) 1987/88 on account of (1) on-the-job accidents, (2) sickness 2910 22 November 1988 Questions Upon Notice and other absenteeism not requiring doctors' certificates, (3) absences with medical certificate, (4) long-term injuries that are work-related and (5) strikes? (2) What were the number of employees on light duties in the Queensland Railway Department for each of the abovementioned financial years?" Mr I. J. GIBBS: (1) (1) 1986-87 1987-88 673 973 586 302 (2) 1986-87 1987-88 Paid sick leave 1 805 462 1 617 420 Sick leave without pay 578 104 439 716 The only means currently available of checking whether a doctor's certificate is submitted in support of any particular absence is to physically search every employee's individual file. The department does not have resources which can be diverted from essential work to undertaking a search of this magnitude. (3) See (2). (4) No data in discrete form can identify the extent of lost working time due to long-term work-related injuries, nor is there any definition of what constitutes "long term". Assembling the details sought would involve a physical search of files as set out in (2). (5) (1) 1986-87 1987-88 26 691 23 687 (2) 1986-87 1987-88 40 41 (2) These totals include all employees who were engaged on light duties for the entire year. The figures do not include persons who may have been allowed concessional workings for a limited time, nor do they include those employees who were employed in a different classification owing to their health not permitting them to continue in employment in a more demanding capacity. 2. Imposition of Dockage on Feed Barley Mr BOOTH asked the Minister for Primary Industries— "With reference to the present practice of the Barley Marketing Board of placing a dockage for quality on feed barley— Is it fair in view of the loss of weight already incurred?" Mr HARPER: High levels of screenings have been a particular problem this year for feed barley received by the Barley Marketing Board.