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Hansard 30 Apr 1997

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30 Apr 1997 Ministerial Statement 1103 WEDNESDAY, 30 APRIL 1997 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Review of Members' Interests Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers Mr SPEAKER (Hon. N. J. Turner, Nicklin) Paradise—Premier) (9.33 a.m.), by leave: I rise read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. pursuant to the Parliamentary Committees Act 1995 to give this House the Government's response to the report of the Members' Ethics and Parliamentary Privileges Committee on its PETITIONS review of members' interests. The Government The Clerk announced the receipt of the will not be adopting any of the following petitions— recommendations of the report until the consultation and detailed consideration that the Government wishes to give these Prison, Wacol important matters has been completed in the near future. I would expect this process to be From Mr Palaszczuk (2,516 petitioners) completed soon. It is the Government's requesting the House to immediately stop the intention to involve the Opposition in this construction of any planned prisons at Wacol process. I will inform the House of the and ensure that the prisons are constructed in outcome of such consultation at that time. other more suitable localities, where the construction of such facilities will be welcomed by the community. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Children's Commission, Submission to Commonwealth Standing Committee Pork, Labelling Laws Hon K. R. LINGARD (Beaudesert— From Mr Healy (97 petitioners) Minister for Families, Youth and Community requesting the House to introduce labelling Care) (9.34 a.m.), by leave: As honourable laws so the public is aware of what they are members are aware, the Children's eating (local or imported pork); and/or Commissioner and Children's Services introducing a tariff that makes imported Appeals Tribunals Act was agreed by the pigmeat the same price as locally produced House on 22 November 1996. The Children's pigmeat. Commission was established with the appointment of Mr Norman Alford as Children's Commissioner on 19 December Parking Spaces, Thuringowa Drive 1996. The commission is now four months old. In that short time, I think it would be true to From Mr McElligott (1,308 petitioners) say that the commission has already had a requesting the House to recommend to the significant impact. When members spoke to Minister for Transport that he order the total or the Children's Commissioner Bill, many partial restoration of parking spaces which expressed the desire that the Children's have been eliminated as a result of recent Commission be pro-active as well as reactive. I improvements to Thuringowa Drive. am pleased to advise members of such a Petitions received. development. The Children's Commission has, at short notice, made a submission to the inquiry being PAPERS conducted by the joint Commonwealth Parliamentary Standing Committee on The following papers were laid on the Treaties. The inquiry relates to Australia's table— implementation of the United Nations (a) Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Convention on the Rights of the Child. The the Arts (Mrs Sheldon)— inquiry is taking place against the background Compulsory Third Party Premiums—1 July of considerable criticism of Australia's efforts in 1997 implementing the convention. In this regard, Queensland's establishment of the Children's (b) Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Commission is widely acknowledged as a (Mr Beanland)— positive contribution. Queensland Law Reform Commission— The Children's Commissioner is Report No. 51—Consent to Health independent of Government. Consistent with Care of Young People. that independence, the submission to the 1104 Ministerial Statement 30 Apr 1997 inquiry notes that it "should not necessarily be Coordinating Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr construed as the views of the Queensland Hartarto, officially launched the agreement. Government or any department of that Significantly, Dr Hartarto described the Government". The submission warns of the agreement as being equal to any signed by need to avoid the perception of a false Indonesia and other regional nations. Both Mr dichotomy between parents' rights and Downer and Dr Hartarto described it as an children's rights. The view is taken that historic milestone in the bilateral relationship members of a family have mutual rights and between the two neighbours which will create responsibilities. The submission suggests that real benefits for the private sectors of both as Queensland is the only State with a countries and enhance the regional Children's Commissioner, it may well provide a development of member areas. model for other States and the Commonwealth. The submission canvasses Under the agreement, Queensland's the need for a change agenda and delineates business sector will benefit commercially as a range of issues which need to be addressed well as from having a direct input into to implement the convention successfully. The commercial development strategies and submission concludes with recommendations cooperation in Indonesia's eastern provinces. centred on process, structural change and AIDA, the Australian/Indonesia Development research considerations. As the submission Area agreement, also provides Australian and Queensland business with a forum for raising has been under an embargo by the inquiry issues about constraints on doing business in until yesterday, the Children's Commissioner eastern Indonesia and for devising solutions to has today provided me with sufficient copies to those constraints. To accomplish this, AIDA enable distribution to all members. has established working groups in agriculture, Accordingly, I table the submission for fisheries and animal husbandry, mining and members' information. energy, tourism, transport, trade and industry, It is my intention to propose a committee and education and training. To ensure that of Parliament consisting of Opposition and Queensland's interests are represented, my Government members. The Committee on senior trade executive has been appointed Children and Their Parents is to continue this Queensland's convenor on each of these Government's pro-active approach to working parties. children's issues and continue our leading role in this area. This committee would have a I am pleased to announce that major role in monitoring Queensland's Queensland has been awarded chairmanship compliance with the United Nations of the very important education and training Convention on the Rights of the Child. It would working party. I am pleased to announce the also liaise closely with the Children's name of the inaugural chairman of that Commissioner to continue our State's progress working party. He is distinguished Professor of in caring for children. Engineering and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Advancement) at Queensland University of Technology, Professor John MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Corderoy. Professor Corderoy is also a Australia/Indonesia Development Area barrister of the New South Wales Supreme Agreement Court and a fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia. Hon. D. J. SLACK (Burnett—Minister for Economic Development and Trade and AIDA, under the education and training Minister Assisting the Premier) (9.37 a.m.), by chairmanship of Dr Corderoy, offers leave: I am pleased to inform the House of Queensland and Australia significant some exciting developments in Queensland's opportunities in the area of education and friendly and productive relations with training exports. Professor Corderoy is well Indonesia. I am pleased to announce that qualified in this area. Currently, he is Queensland will benefit from this responsible for the international marketing of Government's promotion of business sector QUT's courses and the recruitment of involvement in economic development overseas students, especially from South East opportunities opening up in eastern Indonesia. Asia. The number of Indonesians studying in Last week my senior international trade Queensland has increased from 310 to 1,364 executive represented Queensland at the in five years—an increase of 440%. I expect launch of the Australia/Indonesia student numbers to accelerate further as Development Area agreement in Ambon in economic development in Indonesia delivers Indonesia. Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, greater prosperity and increased educational Alexander Downer, and Indonesia's opportunities to millions of young Indonesians. 30 Apr 1997 Ministerial Statement 1105 Two hundred Queensland companies are with accommodation in Queensland since currently commercially active in Indonesia. I 1956 and the company has proven itself to be encourage Queensland's private sector to perhaps the most innovative and consistent participate in AIDA and, by doing so, profit and company of its type in the State. contribute to the economic development and Vic Trimble is the managing director of stability of a near northern neighbour. Australian Bareboat Charters, one of Australia's oldest and best-known bareboat MINISTERIAL STATEMENT charter companies. His contribution to the growth of that sector of the Queensland Queensland Tourist and Travel tourism industry has been significant and I Corporation Board look forward to him bringing this unique Hon. B. W. DAVIDSON (Noosa— experience to the board. Minister for Tourism, Small Business and Kerry Watson is the managing director of Industry) (9.40 a.m.), by leave: Yesterday Pacific Global Corporation Pty Ltd, an afternoon, I announced six new appointments independent tourism advisory and property to the board of the Queensland Tourist and management company on the Gold Coast. Mr Travel Corporation. These six vacancies are Watson is also well known as chairman of the the result of recent amendments to the QTTC JAL Gold Coast Marathon and has held Act and the resignation of three existing board numerous senior positions on a number of members. As a result, there are now nine State and national tourism bodies. members of the QTTC board and the chairman. The new members are Mr Bob Blair, I would also like to take this opportunity to Mr Grant Kenny, Mr John Menzies, Mr David thank the three retiring members of the board: Pradella, Mr Vic Trimble and Mr Kerry Watson. Mr Paul Morgan, Mr Gary Baildon and Mr David Hutchen.
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