Hansard 4 Dec 1996
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4 Dec 1996 Ministerial Statement 4845 WEDNESDAY, 4 DECEMBER 1996 OVERSEAS VISIT Report Hon. R. J. QUINN (Merrimac—Minister Mr SPEAKER (Hon. N. J. Turner, Nicklin) for Education) (9.32 a.m.): I table for the read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. information of all honourable members a report of my recent visit to China in which I led a delegation of university representatives into the Province of Shandong. SCRUTINY OF LEGISLATION COMMITTEE MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Resignation of Hon. D. M. Wells Women's Council for Rural and Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable Regional Communities members, I have to report that a vacancy Hon. J. M. SHELDON (Caloundra— exists on the Scrutiny of Legislation Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Committee consequent upon the resignation The Arts) (9.33 a.m.), by leave: I wish to draw of Dean MacMillan Wells from that committee. the attention of the House to a major step forward for the hardworking women and families of rural and regional Queensland. I Appointment of Mr P. T. Lucas am proud to make this announcement as Minister responsible for women's affairs, and I Mr FITZGERALD (Lockyer—Leader of do so on behalf of my colleagues the Minister Government Business) (9.31 a.m.), by leave, for Primary Industries and the Minister for without notice: I move— Local Government and Planning. "That Mr Paul Thomas Lucas, MLA, On Monday, State Cabinet endorsed the be appointed to the Scrutiny of formation of a Women's Council for Rural and Legislation Committee in place of Dean Regional Communities, a body which will give MacMillan Wells, MLA." a stronger voice in Government to the women Motion agreed to. of the State. The council, to be chaired by respected Beaudesert grazier, community figure and drought worker Jan Joyce, will be made up of women from all regions outside PRIVILEGE Brisbane. It will be briefed to provide practical Comments by Leader of the advice to Government on a range of issues Opposition affecting rural communities. To do that, it will draw on a great and somewhat untapped Hon. S. SANTORO (Clayfield—Minister resource: the vast body of knowledge and for Training and Industrial Relations) ideas shared by the women of rural and (9.32 a.m.): During the second-reading debate regional Queensland. on the Government's WorkCover Queensland I share the view expressed by Anglican Bill, the Leader of the Opposition referred to Archbishop Peter Hollingworth that the bush is me and stated, and I quote from page 4799 under unprecedented strain. So, too, are of the Daily Hansard— many communities not regarded as rural but ". he has been exposed for misleading which share similar disadvantages due to their the people and misleading the distance from the State capital. I strongly Parliament." support the archbishop's statements valuing the growing number of women in rural The honourable member has also—— leadership. Governments must do more to support communities and families caught in Mr MACKENROTH: I rise to a point of the crisis in the bush. By giving the women of order. That legislation is before the House and the State a greater opportunity to have their the Minister has the opportunity to reply today. views heard, the Government may be more I believe that he cannot rise on a matter of responsive to their needs. privilege in relation to that. This move is one of a long chain of Mr SPEAKER: Order! I was going to initiatives on which the coalition Government make a ruling. In view of the fact that the has embarked to assist people in rural and legislation is before the House and the regional areas of the State. Those initiatives Minister can reply, I rule that he can make his range from a massive injection of infrastructure statement at that time. spending, a huge return of Department of 4846 Ministerial Statement 4 Dec 1996 Primary Industries staff to rural areas where life outside the relative comforts of the city. It is they are needed, funds to subsidise water and an acknowledgment of the massive sewerage programs in small communities and contribution that so many women make to the an increase in drought relief funding. All this is State by keeping their communities, industries evidence that the Government is determined and families viable—usually while juggling their to put the heart back into the heartland of responsibilities to work, farm life, business, Queensland—a heart that has been torn out and, of course, raising children. These women by the wrong policies, the horror of drought are some of the most resourceful and and low commodity prices over six slow years. experienced people in Queensland. They are Few in this place would doubt the contribution experts on what works and does not work on that the women of the State have made in the farm and in our regional areas. They will overcoming such hardships over those years. do the women of Queensland proud. I Rebuilding of the bush will take time, hard congratulate them on being appointed to the work and dedication. There are few easy council and I look forward to receiving their first answers, but I have great faith in report and better—to making a real difference Queenslanders, particularly the women of this to life in rural and regional Queensland. council, to help bring about real solutions. The Government will certainly be listening to their advice. From a month after being sworn MINISTERIAL STATEMENT in—and the Office of Women's Affairs was Surgery on Time Project established to pursue such matters—we have Hon. M. J. HORAN (Toowoomba worked long and hard to establish a South—Minister for Health) (9.38 a.m.), by mechanism that could make a real difference leave: I wish to report to honourable members for women, families and communities of rural on the current status of the Surgery on Time and regional areas by giving strong advice to initiative. As honourable members are aware, Government. The steering committee, which the Surgery on Time initiative was developed made recommendations to Government last by Queensland Health as a Statewide month, found strong support for such a approach to enhancing elective surgery women's council. So from March next year, services and reducing waiting times for elective that council will be a reality. The council will be surgery. The plan was approved by Cabinet on required to consult extensively with the 1 July this year. Ten hospitals across the State community and community organisations in were selected to be a part of the project. formulating its recommendations. These hospitals are Cairns, Townsville, Issues to receive direct attention from the Rockhampton, Nambour, Prince Charles, council include ways to provide jobs in Royal Brisbane, Princess Alexandra, Gold traditional rural industries and in new Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba. The hospitals industries, to give better access to were selected based on size and location telecommunications and to strengthen criteria and collectively represent 70 per cent regional centres. Members of the council will of the occupied surgical bed days for represent all statistical regions of Queensland Queensland public hospitals. outside Brisbane. Those members are Jan The targets for the Surgery on Time Joyce, appointed chair, Beaudesert; Angela project for 31 December 1996 are: (1) a Toppin, deputy chair and member reduction to less than 5 per cent of Category 1 representing women of non-English speaking patients waiting longer than the recommended backgrounds, Mareeba; Joan Byers, Calen; maximum of 30 days; (2) a reduction of the Teresa Allen, Kumbia; Ellen Cotter, Goomeri; percentage of Category 2 patients waiting Jan Darlington, Monto; Laurel McCarthy, longer than the recommended maximum of member representing Aboriginal women, 90 days; and (3) maintenance of the Yarrabah; Elizabeth Gillam, Clifton; Jenny percentage of Category 3 patients waiting Crichton, Morven; Pat Fennell, Mount Isa; longer than the recommended maximum of Betsy Fysh, Longreach; Jo-anne Fitchett, 12 months. Kirwan; and Zena Ronfeldt, Dalby. The members for the Fitzroy area and for Torres Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is too Strait will be announced in the immediate much audible conversation in the Chamber. future. Mr HORAN: In the first six months of the The council's term will extend from March project, information systems have been 1997 to June 1999 with a review by the Office implemented which facilitated the collection of of Women's Affairs due in March 1999. The data relating to waiting times for elective establishment of this council honours the surgery in Queensland. Elective surgery hardworking women and families who support coordinators were appointed at the 4 Dec 1996 Ministerial Statement 4847 participating hospitals and are the vital link above the end of year target with 6.25 per between the corporate project and the cent long-wait patients. This equates to two hospitals. The elective surgery coordinators patients only, and again the hospital has have an oversight role in the management of assured me that it will reach the end of year elective surgery services and in ensuring the target of less than 5 per cent. provision of reliable, consistent and I am also pleased to inform the House comparable data. Full-time perioperative nurse that the proportion of Category 2 patients educators have been employed in each of the waiting longer than the recommended time 10 hospitals to implement training programs has been reduced and the number of for all registered nurses entering perioperative Category 3 patients waiting longer than the nursing and to enhance skills for perioperative recommended time has been maintained at a nurses already in the work force. Similarly, similar level. The tremendous achievements operating theatre management information being made to reduce waiting times for systems are being progressively introduced to elective surgery in Queensland public hospitals enable the better utilisation of our operating are entirely due to the dedication and theatres, an equipment replacement program commitment of the health professionals in this has been implemented and funding has been State and particularly at those 10 hospitals.