Hansard 31 October 1991

Legislative Assembly 2451 31 October 1991 NOTE: There could be differences between this document and the official printed Hansard, Vol. 320 THURSDAY, 31 OCTOBER 1991 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. PETITION The Acting Clerk announced the receipt of the following petition— Child-care Legislation From Mr Elder (58 signatories) praying that the Parliament will support the Child Care Bill 1991 and promote the development of associated regulations. Petition received. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports for the year ended 30 June 1991— Electoral and Administrative Review Commission Queensland Cultural Centre Trust Queensland Performing Arts Trust Workers’ Compensation Board of Queensland Bureau of Employment, Vocational and Further Education and Training. The following papers were laid on the table— Reports for the year ended 30 June 1991— Board of Trustees of the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (Q Super) Board of Trustees of the Government Officers’ Superannuation Scheme (Gosuper) State Service Superannuation Board Queensland Industry Development Corporation—Government Schemes Division Queensland Industry Development Corporation—Government Schemes Division Venture Capital Fund Queensland Harness Racing Board North Queensland Racing Association Trustees of Willows Paceway Trustees of Albion Park Paceway Report of the Board of Senior Secondary School Studies for the 18 months ended 30 June 1991 Report of the Board of Trustees of the Townsville Grammar School for the year ended 31 December 1990 Statute under the University of Queensland Act 1965. Legislative Assembly 2452 31 October 1991 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Railway Noise Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich—Minister for Transport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Economic and Trade Development) (10.05 a.m.), by leave: This Government has placed a high priority on the importance of improving the environment. Often, people see the environment as only national parks, trees and mountains. Mr Comben: No, I don’t. Mr HAMILL: And perhaps some lakes. We sometimes forget that the environment includes the cities and towns in which we live. The Transport Department has a major contribution to make in improving the quality of urban life. This year, public transport in south-east Queensland will receive some $140m in financial support from the Goss Government. This reduces the pressure on the urban road network and allows road funds to be spent in country areas. Indeed, 80 per cent of our State road budget is spent in rural and provincial Queensland, in areas outside Brisbane. However, although transport provides a substantial amenity to the community, it also generates noise. Noise from road transport, from trains and from aeroplanes impacts on our daily lives. For the first time, the Department of Transport is developing a comprehensive transport noise policy. The department is already well advanced in investigating the issue of road noise. Today, I am pleased to announce the examination of noise created by rail operations in the urban areas of Queensland. There has been a great deal of concern in the community about the noise impact of rail operations on the urban environment. Being the first of its type in Queensland, the rail noise study will provide detailed scientific information on the nature and extent of the incidence of rail noise and identify means to address any examples of extreme inconvenience created by such noise. Queensland Rail is in the process of engaging an independent consultant to conduct a series of field studies in urban areas around the State. The consultant will also be required to review any similar studies in other parts of Australia and internationally. The consultant is expected to begin the study prior to Christmas. Rail generates many social, environmental and economic benefits through the provision of passenger and freight services, particularly in urban areas. A major freight train is equivalent to 120 semitrailers. As can be seen, if rail freight services were not there, urban areas would be faced with a severe impact from a major increase in heavy vehicles on our road system. I do not promise to eliminate all the noise generated from rail passenger and freight operations in suburban areas. However, the intention of this study is to undertake a thorough, detailed examination of the rail noise issue to enable reasoned and achievable actions to limit the inconvenience of the noise impact of rail operations. This move is a further demonstration of this Labor Government’s commitment to improving the quality of the urban environment. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Education Hon. P. J. BRADDY (Rockhampton—Minister for Education) (10.07 a.m.), by leave: I rise on a matter of great importance to Queensland education. Since coming to office, the Goss Government has made education its No. 1 priority. In only two Budgets, education spending in Queensland has risen by more than $260m in real terms. We now spend more on education than any other Government in Queensland’s history. This achievement is all the more remarkable when we consider the savage cut-backs imposed Legislative Assembly 2453 31 October 1991 on education in other States. Thousands of teachers have been sacked in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, and schools in those States have been severely disrupted by strikes and other stoppages. In contrast, the Goss Government has increased the number of teachers in Queensland by more than 1 500, including more than 600 outside the south-east corner. In addition, Queensland teachers, who under the Nationals and Liberals were the worst paid in Australia, now enjoy the same salaries as their counterparts in other States. The No. 1 priority of the Goss Government is to provide Queensland children with the best education system in Australia. To do that, we have to not only reward our best teachers but also ensure that the standard of teaching is maintained and improved in our schools. From the start of 1992, a new category of teaching position—the advanced skills teacher—will be created. Advanced skills teachers will be the finest practitioners of their art in our schools. They will be paid more than any class room teacher in Queensland’s history. In return, they will be expected to be leaders in their field and serve as a role model and inspiration for our younger teachers. In 1992, approximately 5 000 ASTs will be appointed to schools throughout Queensland. To ensure fairness and equity, the number of positions will be allocated to schools on the basis of staff numbers. This means that each school, regardless of whether it is in the country or the city, will receive its fair share of positions and, indeed, the Government will guarantee that schools with as few as three teachers will be granted at least one advanced skills teacher. As can be appreciated, given the enormous responsibility facing these teachers, these positions are reserved for the very best. That is why AST positions are based on set criteria and a set proportion of our teaching force. I appreciate that, in selecting the best, some will miss out. I also appreciate that in selecting the best, our teachers will be subjected to a level of competition they have never previously experienced. But for the sake of our children, we have to ensure that the very best teachers will be selected. However, as a reformist Government we must listen to the views of our teaching professionals. Some teachers have expressed concern about the quota of 5 000 AST positions and some have raised heartfelt concerns about how they will relate to their colleagues in the staff room if they are rivals for a position. However, while the Government is sympathetic to the position of teachers, there is a greater challenge facing our schools. We have made some important progress in education in Queensland. We cannot jeopardise that progress now by going down the same road to ruin as other States have done. In Victoria, where no quota exists, the Government has been forced to sack thousand of teachers to pay for an open- slather position on advanced skills teachers. Unlike Governments in other States, the Goss Government will not sack teachers, particularly at a time of recession. We will not compromise the welfare of our children by making teachers the scapegoats for these difficult economic times. Similarly, we will not compromise the integrity of these new positions. That is why they are tenured for three years and subject to performance review. I appreciate that many teachers are not accustomed to being judged and selected by their peers, but in these tough economic times competition is inevitable. It is important to realise that teachers, through their union, chose a selection system based on written applications only. Teachers are now having second thoughts and would prefer interviews. They must now look to themselves and their union on this matter and not criticise the Government. The Department of Education proposed interviews but reluctantly agreed to the teachers’ position. The department and the union also agreed that AST positions should be reserved for teachers with at least nine years’ experience. This requirement narrows the eligibility for these positions, but it is comforting that it is still possible for teachers under 30 years of age to qualify for AST status. Younger teachers will therefore not be discriminated against. Legislative Assembly 2454 31 October 1991 In smaller schools, the level of competition for AST positions will be far less than it will be in larger schools. Indeed, the Government recognises the diversity of schools within our education system. Given the Goss Government’s commitment to improving the quality of education in rural and provincial Queensland, I have asked the Department of Education to adopt a flexible approach to this situation and explore options which could accommodate the needs of smaller schools.

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