2012
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Friday 10 May 2002 ______
Mr Speaker (The Hon. John Henry Murray) took the chair at 10.00 a.m.
Mr Speaker offered the Prayer.
ADMISSION OF THE TREASURER INTO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Mr SPEAKER: I report the receipt of the following message from the Legislative Council:
Mr SPEAKER:
The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it agrees to the request of the Legislative Assembly in its Message dated 9 May 2002 for the Honourable M. R. Egan, MLC, Treasurer, Minister for State and Development and Vice- President of the Executive Council, to attend at the Table of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday 4 June 2002 for the purpose only of giving a speech in relation to the New South Wales Budget 2002-2003.
Legislative Council MEREDITH BURGMANN 9 May 2002 President
BILLS RETURNED
The following bills were returned from the Legislative Council without amendment:
AGL Corporate Conversion Bill Home Building Amendment (Insurance) Bill
GOVERNOR'S SPEECH: ADDRESS-IN-REPLY
Eighth Day's Debate
Debate resumed from 12 April.
Mr MAGUIRE (Wagga Wagga) [10.03 a.m.]: What can be more basic than providing infrastructure services such as sewerage funding in rural areas? I have raised on other occasions in this place the need for sewerage funding for towns in my electorate such as Collingullie and Yerong Creek. Nowhere in the Governor's Speech has she referred to additional funding for that important infrastructure. On 25 March 2001 the Premier announced that the State Government would spend an extra $60 million over the next four years to help country towns provide cleaner water and better sewerage systems. That brings the total expenditure under the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage program to around $65 million per year. Funding for the program was agreed in 1995 at $85.5 million per year each from the State Government and local government for 10 years.
In recent years the State Government contribution has fallen to around $50 million per year, and by the sixth year of the program cumulative underfunding totalled around $120 million. A program of around $65 million per year over the next four years still amounts to underfunding by the State Government of around $20 million per year. When added to the existing shortfall, cumulative underfunding of the program will be around $200 million in four years, that is, by 2004-05. Many communities in my electorate—and, I am sure, in electorates throughout regional New South Wales—are screaming out for funding. Communities in towns such as East Wagga Wagga have been working hard to get sewerage connected to rural properties and continually battle for funding.
The residents of Collingullie write to me continually, and I make representations on their behalf. However, all we get is correspondence that touches on the subject, with no promise of money. The residents of Yeron Creek are in a similar situation. The local council has its funds ready, but it is time that the Government put forward funding that will give these people some hope that they will get very basic services, such as sewerage. We have heard the Premier and the Treasurer squawk about what they are doing about payroll tax, and I acknowledge that there have been some small cuts. However, I wish to refer to an article that appeared in the Weekly Times of 8 May. It reads: 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2013
The Victorian Government recently announced it would cut payroll tax … to 5.35 per cent from July 1 and then to 5.25 percent in July next year…
Treasurer John Brumby said the move meant Victoria now had Australia's lowest number of business taxes.
That says it all about why this Government has more money rolling around in its coffers but it is ignoring issues such as payroll tax. Victoria is clearly leading the way on this important issue. A reduction in payroll tax would create employment in rural areas and give businesses some relief, particularly those in the meatworking industry. The honourable member for Lachlan has raised this issue on many occasions; indeed, he has put forward a bill to reduce payroll tax.
Home owners warranty insurance, which has been the subject of debate this week, is a matter of concern for business and industry in rural areas. Apart from the bill that passed through this place tinkering around the edges, there have not been any major initiatives to address the real concerns of builders in my electorate and many other electorates throughout the State. Builders are still experiencing problems with obtaining home owners warranty insurance, and if that state of affairs continues it will have a major effect on the building industry. The legislation that passed through this place is nowhere near enough. More needs to be done to address the real problem, which is to teach builders the skills they need to construct properly and to encourage them into the industry. There must be a better way, and I encourage the Government to seriously address the matter. The Governor's Speech did not deal with it.
I am very disappointed that in her Speech the Governor did not place enough emphasis on public housing, which is another issue critical to the people of regional and rural New South Wales. The community of Holbrook is in desperate need of public housing. They have a sawmill, which, thankfully, has been retained for the community and now employs 120 people, an increase from 93. Three months ago we were to lose that sawmill, but thanks to lobbying of the local council by the Federal member, together with the support of State Forests and myself, the facility has been kept in action; indeed, additional workers have been employed. But there is a desperate need for public housing. It is disappointing that the Government has not put in place any major programs to provide public housing as a priority in rural areas.
I wish to raise some of the problems that have been experienced by tenants in public housing estates. Attempts by the Department of Housing to bring under control residents in public housing areas who are holding communities hostage in their own premises are failing. It is disappointing that people have to go through the nightmare of seeking orders at the tribunal to encourage disruptive elements in the community to live in harmony with other community members. I am disappointed that the Governor's Speech did not announce any initiatives to overcome this problem. Good people are becoming distressed and moving out of public housing. Older people are locking themselves behind doors because the Government is unable to force out, or bring into line, people who will not abide by the rules or who cause trouble within public housing areas. The Governor said in her Speech:
Careful fiscal management has seen healthy budget surpluses for six years in a row, plus a $10 billion reduction in budget sector debt and liabilities.
The Government has failed in many areas, but an area in which it has failed extremely badly is waste and mismanagement. The Government could have lower taxes if it did something about some of these issues. In 2000-01 the Government spent $104 million on advertising, $528 million since coming to office, and $133 million of taxpayers' money on consultants, a total of $637 million over six years. That would be 16 new Wagga Wagga base hospitals at $40 million each. The cost of the Chatswood rail link has blown out by $800 million. WorkCover has blown out by $2.8 billion. The list goes on. The Government has an enormous amount of debtors. For example, last year the Government wrote off $65 million in public housing rent. If honourable members had listened to what I said a moment ago about public housing tenants not complying and not being brought into line under the tenancy regulations, they would realise that this is another area in which the Government is failing. Proposals to address these problems should have been referred to in the Governor's Speech.
The $75 million cost blowout in the Conservatorium of Music would be two more hospitals. At a cost of $40 million each, all of us could have new hospitals built in our electorates if the Government got control of its waste and mismanagement. If one applies the sums logically to areas of need and priorities within the State all honourable members would benefit but, quite clearly, that is not happening. I could talk about many more matters of concern. For example, I could refer to the disintegration of branch lines. Many public meetings have been held and demands have been made on the Government to spend money on branch lines to get freight off the roads because they are deteriorating rapidly and funding from the Government to improve them is not 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 forthcoming. I could talk about funding resources to make our communities safer, for example, for policing and law and order. It is time that this Government addressed the real issues and priorities for the people of regional and rural New South Wales.
Mr MARTIN (Bathurst) [10.13 a.m.]: Like other honourable members, I was delighted to listen to the new Governor speak. She was appointed by this Government and is the first female Governor of New South Wales. By now most of us would have met her. I had the opportunity of hosting her for three days in my electorate. She certainly brings a new dimension to the role of Governor. I will refer first to some of the matters raised by the honourable member for Wagga Wagga. This side of the House is continually criticised about payroll tax. Since Michael Egan has been Treasurer the deliberate policy has been to phase down payroll tax. I am sure the honourable member for Cessnock and the honourable member for East Hills, who are sitting on the Government benches, would agree that the Government inherited record high levels of payroll tax from the Greiner Government. We have already reduced those record high levels by 25 per cent.
This is a lesson in history for the honourable member for Wagga Wagga. Not only did the Greiner Government have record high levels of payroll tax but it also raised the threshold, which caught many small businesses. The Government can hold its head high in relation to payroll tax. One highlight of the Government's economic record is that Treasurer Michael Egan has brought down six, and we are heading for seven, successive surplus budgets. That has added to the reputation of New South Wales as a responsible economic State. That achievement has given us a triple-A rating and has impacted on Government borrowing. New South Wales is regarded as a fiscally responsible Government not only in Australia but also around the world. The Government's task therefore in funding public facilities—education, health, roads and community services—is much easier. As the Premier has said many times, echoed by the Treasurer, the real basis for a responsible Labor Government is to manage the wider scope of the economy.
Not even the most severe critic from the other side, or anywhere else in this House, could say that the Government, under Treasurer Michael Egan, has done other than exercise a responsible fiscal policy. Honourable members will forgive me if I become parochial and wander around the Bathurst electorate. Like the other 92 members in this House, it is difficult to get everything we want but I can certainly point to some real benefits. I am delighted that the Minister for Sport and Recreation is in the House because the Bathurst electorate has done very well over the years with its sport and recreation facilities. The Government has provided $1 million, partly through the Department of Sport and Recreation and partly through the Department of Education and Training, to build a new recreation facility at Wallerawang, adjacent to the Wallerawang primary school. Once again, the community and the school will work together to share a facility. Mr Markham: What is going on at Lidsdale?
Mr MARTIN: I will tell the honourable member for Wollongong about Lidsdale when I come to roads. The Government has provided $600,000 to add to the $350,000 from Rylstone Shire Council to build a joint indoor facility to be shared by Kandos primary school and the community. A few weeks ago Minister Iemma was in Bathurst to open the new international standard water-based hockey complex, for which his department contributed $300,000. It is well used and brings great economic benefit to the town. The centre will be used to improve the standard of hockey, and everyone knows how highly the world rates Australian men and women hockey teams. As late as yesterday the Minister made another $50,000 available to develop a community recreation area at Kelso, to add to the $25,000 previously provided by the State Government and $15,000 from the Department of Housing. Kelso, a suburb of Bathurst, has a high indigenous population, a fact that will not be lost on the honourable member for Wollongong. That facility shows once again that the Government is spending its dollars wisely. The Minister for Sport and Recreation will correct me if I am wrong, but something like 83 per cent of the capital in these regional development funds that he administers is being spent in country and regional areas. So much for the criticism by members opposite that this Government thinks only about Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. It has a great record of expenditure on public works in regional New South Wales. Many other organisations have benefited from sport and recreation grants—everywhere from these major ones down to small groups like the Olind community hall. The Minister was able to give the Barring Progress Association a couple of thousand dollars for a modest project it had in that little village. Various community groups add to all this money. Sport and recreation is one area in which we get excellent value for expenditure of public money. If it is not a dollar- for-dollar arrangement, it is in kind, and we get on with building facilities that would not otherwise be there. I represent a country electorate of 14,000 square kilometres. Roads are a high priority. I am pleased that the Government, in co-operation with the Federal Government, is continuing with the upgrading of the Great 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2015
Western Highway, which was the length of my electorate, linking Sydney with the Central West. We are also making some progress on the development of the Bells Line of Road as an alternative crossing of the Blue Mountains. A couple of years ago the Minister for Roads made $250,000 available for the Maunsell McIntyre study that surveyed the route and laid out where that road could go. A tri-government committee—local, State and Federal—chaired by the honourable member for Lachlan is working to get the State and Federal governments together to do an engineering study for this road, and then hopefully it will move to the construction stage. It will be a major capital project, costing probably in the vicinity of $2 million, but the economic benefits in future savings in road trauma and by opening up possibilities for further development in inland New South Wales are enormous. I hope we can put to bed this silly notion from the National Party about the super highway and a range of tunnels. If we put our resources into the Bells Line of Road project it has a good chance of success.
Another road in my electorate that benefited from the generosity of the Minister for Roads is the Mid Western Highway between Bathurst and Blayney. Over the past couple of years approximately $15 million has been spent on rebuilding the bridges at Dicks and McLeans creeks and on associated roadworks. I am pleased that recently the Minister announced the successful tenderer for the Kings Plain deviation on that road. That work will eliminate a bad black spot at Kings Plain. This is a $10 million to $12 million project. The honourable member for Wollongong asked me about Lidsdale. The Lidsdale deviation project was completed in December last year when $10 million was spent on rebuilding the rail underpass on the Great Western railway line and the associated roadworks. That is stage one of this important project. Work is about to get under way on the $6 million upgrade of the Donnybrook area, which is east of Lithgow.
All these projects are beneficial to my electorate but I see two problem areas. On Saturday night at Oberon I will be attending a public meeting of people lobbying for the sealing of the Abercrombie Road, which links Oberon to Goulburn. Forty-four kilometres of dirt road are long overdue for sealing. It is an important link from the Central Tablelands to the Canberra region and even the South Coast. Many people travelling from the South Coast do not like to go through Sydney, and they can travel via this scenic route to the Central Western area. If the 44 kilometres is sealed it will be of great advantage to the people living along that road, mainly rural producers, and it will have a big impact as a tourist link.
At the other end of my electorate is Bylong Valley Way, which has about another 40 kilometres of unsealed road. If that is sealed, we will have a link not only from Canberra to the Central Tablelands but also to the Upper Hunter, the New England Highway and the North Coast. The advantage of sealing these two sections of road is that it takes pressure off people travelling north to south in New South Wales from having to travel along that coastal corridor around Sydney. Everyone knows about the congestion and problems that we have in Sydney. The Western Sydney Orbital will make a big difference, but any traffic that can be diverted from the Sydney Basin has to have a good economic outcome. A problem we have with road funding is our large areas and sparse population. We are often compared with the United States of America and even Europe, but our road system does not match theirs. The land mass of Australia is roughly equivalent to the continental United States. The only difference is that we are trying to service that massive land area with about 20 million people while the population of the United States is approaching 300 million. The economies of scale and the revenue base of American and European governments to fund autobahns, freeways and super highways is a luxury we do not have. We need to address this at a national level. Last year the Federal Government came up with the Roads to Recovery campaign—$1.6 billion over four years. Although that sounds like an impressive figure, and we congratulate the Government on providing it, the reality is that spreading $1.6 billion around Australia over four years only scratches the surface of our road funding problems. We need a national approach to road funding. We have sunset taxes or one-off taxes to fund military programs such as East Timor or to fund the gun buyback program that was introduced after the Port Arthur massacre. So why can we not have a sunset tax over a four or five-year period to give the Government a large influx of capital for roadworks so it can do something more quickly to fix our major road problems? That should be looked at in a bipartisan way, and maybe we can address the shortfall. If we continue the way we are going, State and local governments will not have the capacity to raise the funds needed. We need to talk to Canberra in a bipartisan way to see whether we can better fund our road building projects. I do not believe public-private consortiums are the way to go, because a profit factor has to be built in for private companies to invest in roads. Although they can sometimes speed up developments, it almost inevitably leads to tolls. We need to look at our method of taxation. We habitually complain about too much tax. It does not make too much sense for a politician to talk about increasing taxes, but if we can do it constructively we will have an avenue by which we can redress the shortfall in road funding, not only in New South Wales but also in Australia. 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
The other area I would like to address is health. Over its seven years in office, the Carr Government has spent record amounts on health. There have been major events not only in the capital works program but also in recurrent expenditure for health. We all know how important it is in the lives of every member of the community and we also know how expensive health provision has become. We all welcome advances in technology that have made so many more procedures available, prolonged people's lives and saved a lot of suffering and misery, but that comes at a very high cost. We have not always appreciated the scope of that cost.
The Government has spent a record amount of money on health, but we need to do more. I am delighted that over the past three or four years a brand new hospital has been built in Lithgow. A community- owned private component was built into the public hospital. It is an excellent model. Some bureaucrats do not like it because it is a little outside the square. I am currently working with a committee from the hospital and the Minister for Health to evaluate the success of the model. The new hospital has increased the efficiency and delivery of health services to the people of Lithgow and district. I am also pleased that under the multipurpose service two facilities are currently under construction in my electorate, at Blayney and Rylstone. I am sure the honourable member for Baulkham Hills is delighted with the improvement in health facilities at Rylstone. If he takes ill on one of his weekend trips to Rylstone—he may eat a bad oyster—he knows he will be well looked after.
Mr Merton: My wife has been at that hospital and she received excellent treatment.
Mr MARTIN: She would have been attended by excellent staff under the supervision of Marie Croom, the Director of Nursing. That is an example of the bipartisan approach taken by this Government. We even look after the spouses of Opposition members. It is very much an egalitarian health system. I am pleased that in the last budget the Minister for Health made available to the Mid Western Area Health Service $500,000 for a comprehensive clinical study of the service, which covers an area from Lithgow in the east to Lake Cargelligo and services important towns in the Central West, such as Bathurst, Oberon, Orange, Forbes and Parkes.
This review of clinical services will improve the future planning of the provision of health on a regional basis. Importantly, the review will also address a new base hospital at Bathurst. Unlike the honourable member for Wagga Wagga, I do not need 16 base hospitals. I will settle for one. The Bathurst Base Hospital has a proud tradition. There is a heritage building on site that dates back to the last century. The local people have a strong emotional attachment to their hospital, which is not unusual in country towns. I hope that by the end of this year, after the consultants' survey and study into the clinical services in the Mid Western Area Health Service is completed, the service will address the capital requirements for a new hospital at Bathurst.
It is also considering a new hospital at Orange. In recent times the Mayor of Orange, Councillor Niven, has dragged out the parochial anti-Bathurst sentiment. We have to take that sort of argument out of the equation. We must provide good health facilities for everyone in the region. My role as the member for Bathurst is to keep the construction of a new base hospital at Bathurst at the top of the list of priorities. The need for a new hospital at Bathurst is well advanced on the need for a hospital at Orange, which has a different range of facilities. We must address this matter in a constructive manner.
I am pleased that the Mayor of Bathurst, Ian Macintosh, is working constructively in this area to bring together a community committee, which will seek community input and proactively lobby the Government about the preferred site. There will be an argument as to whether the hospital should be built on a new greenfield site or a redevelopment of the base hospital site. Such arguments can polarise a community. I make the plea that the community needs to address the level of services so that we can lock into the health budget the necessary capital. Then we can sit down with the professionals and discuss whether the Government should redevelop the current base hospital site— which is the option I prefer—or build on a new greenfield site.
I have spoken about some of the major issues in my electorate that were referred to in the Governor's Speech. Despite negative comments to the contrary, the finances of New South Wales are in good hands. Treasurers receive a great deal of criticism. They have a difficult job. Our Treasurer can be proud of the record surpluses he has been able to achieve. Importantly, with the budget surpluses the Government has been able to substantially reduce the debt of this State. New South Wales is in good shape for the future. I hope that the Carr Government in this session and into the fifty-third Parliament will be able to continue to improve the infrastructure of this State.
Mr MERTON (Baulkham Hills) [10.33 a.m.]: I am pleased to speak to the Address-in-Reply debate. I commend the Governor, Professor Marie Bashir, as an outstanding Governor of our State. I was privileged to 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2017 work with Her Excellency some years ago when she was actively involved in an advisory capacity in the juvenile justice ministry. Her commitment, dedication and concern for young people has been carried forward in the administration of her present duties as Governor. The Governor's Speech earlier this year, which was made in the wake of some of the worst bushfires in New South Wales for many years, rightly acknowledged the work of our bushfire workers, State Emergency Service workers, police officers and volunteers, who worked day in and day out, commencing Christmas Day, to bring the fires under control.
I am pleased to note that in my electorate of Baulkham Hills both the Rural Fire Service volunteers and the State Emergency Service workers are well represented, as they are in the rest of Western Sydney. It is my privilege to be the spokesman for the Opposition on Western Sydney. The community owes an enormous gratitude to these volunteers. Their work and capacity is a debt that the community will never be able to repay. The program outlined in the speech prepared by the Carr Government for Her Excellency was typical Labor gloss and glamour, but with little substance. At best, the Labor Government has produced a document that is a regurgitation of previously made announcements, which are long on rhetoric but short on detail.
The Government has failed to address the fundamental issues affecting New South Wales, particularly the people of Western Sydney, such as education, health, transport and infrastructure, crime and safety, and planning. As the honourable member for Baulkham Hills I am concerned about matters in my electorate which I believe require immediate attention from this present Government. Perhaps one of the greatest issues that concerns my electorate and the rest of Western Sydney is the transport. The Government made an announcement in March 2002 that it will build a new 19 kilometre-link from Epping to Mungery Park at Rouse Hill via Castle Hill. This link will provide a valuable transport infrastructure service for the people of the north- west sector—a sector which, when completed, will house a population equal to that of Canberra: some 250,000 people.
The same announcement was made in 1998, but there are differences between that announcement and the announcement made in March 2002. One difference is that in the 1998 announcement the rail line was to go between Epping and Castle Hill and was to cost $340 million. In the March 2002 announcement it goes from Epping to Rouse Hill, a distance of 19 kilometres, at a cost of $1.4 billion. The 1998 announcement provided that the rail link would be constructed by 2010. The announcement made in March this year provides neither a starting date nor a completion date. The announcement made in 1998 provided that the rail link would be Treasury funded. In the March 2002 announcement funding is yet to be determined, with a vague statement that the Government will look at a private-public arrangement and an equally vague notion as to how that arrangement will be funded. The simple reality is that that rail link is a long way off.
If honourable members think that there are enough problems in that situation, additionally, the announcement made in March 2002 stated that additional transport links across the harbour bridge would have to be provided. That in itself would be an enormous task. At present people generally welcome the concept, because north-western Sydney has absolutely no public transport, apart from buses, buses, buses. To the Government's credit, Windsor Road will be upgraded to four lanes. However, it was dragged kicking and screaming to make a decision, after community protests and extreme lobbying by local members, councillors and other community groups. Nevertheless, the essential point that should be noted is that a north-western rail link is vital to the people of north-western Sydney.
In terms of the rail link, the major problem yet to be resolved is the proposed route through the Balmoral Road area, which has been earmarked for residential subdivision. Later I will speak about the problems of residential subdivision and the land shortage that exists in north-western Sydney. Many residents in the Balmoral Road area and, in particular, the residents of Fairway Drive, are concerned about how the proposed route will affect their community. Local residents, whose lives are virtually on hold until the rail route is determined, have formed a group known as Extend Norwest Rail Tunnels Action Group, or ENRTAG. They are concerned that most of the rail link will be underground until it gets to this area, when it will move above ground and plumb through the middle of a proposed residential area and Norwest Business Park. ENRTAG, under its Chairman, Eddy DeMarco, has presented council with a rail alignment proposed by the group. The proposal would have the least effect on residents living in the area. It would also address environmental issues concerning spoil and construction of the railway line. ENRTAG's proposal deviates from the Government's proposal in terms of the route after the railway station at The Hills Centre. Mr DeMarco said that the group's proposal had several benefits, and I agree with him. Mr DeMarco said:
If Transport NSW adopts our tunnel alignment for the rail corridor to Old Windsor Rd, then at least council can proceed with planning and the rezoning process. 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
Development can happen in the Balmoral Rd release area and the Norwest Business Park without concern that properties will be affected when construction work for the rail line eventually occurs.
As I have indicated throughout the years, it will be a long time before this rail link is constructed. Indeed, the Minister's press release refers to the project having a 10-year to 15-year development cycle, unlike the project that the Government promised would be completed in 2010. The press release states, "It is therefore unlikely that construction of the new link will commence before the end of the decade." So we are talking about a rail line that may not be completed until 2015. In the meantime what happens to the local residents, whose lives are on hold? Indeed, many people have considered selling their properties, because there is a land shortage. In fact, the number of blocks of land available in the north-west sector is of a very low order. The lives of local residents could be on hold until an actual route has been formulated and determined.
I commend ENRTAG's proposal as being a realistic way of providing rail transport by putting the line adjacent to Old Windsor Road, rather than through the middle of a residential area and Norwest Business Park. The Government must resolve two issues: when the rail link will be constructed, and the concerns of local residents. In addition, before the Epping to Rouse Hill rail link can be built we must get the Parramatta to Chatswood rail link, which was supposed to be completed by 2006. We have now been told that the Epping to Chatswood section will be completed by 2008. We simply do not know when the link from Parramatta to Epping will be constructed. Permission has been granted for construction of that section to proceed, but that is like getting house plans approved—it does not mean that construction will start next week. There is no completion date or starting date for the Parramatta to Epping section, which is linked to the Castle Hill to Epping rail link becoming a reality.
I turn now to other issues of concern to the residents of Western Sydney. There is grave concern in my electorate and, indeed, in many parts of Western Sydney, about overdevelopment. A New South Wales Coalition government would look carefully at overdevelopment. People who moved to The Hills and other places to live in a freestanding house on the traditional quarter acre block of land are concerned about the Government's push for what they call urban consolidation. The term "urban consolidation" is a nice way of referring to blocks of flats being built in places where people do not want them to be built, as well as townhouses and other types of development which, in many cases, residents think are inappropriate. A Coalition government would immediately abolish State environmental planning policy No. 5 and State environmental planning policy No. 53, which are controversial policies that have forced urban consolidation on Western Sydney. Those policies are the big stick used by Macquarie Street to force councils to make land available and to approve these projects.
The Coalition's plans would reverse the one size fits all approach adopted by the Carr Labor Government that has resulted in overdevelopment, community anger and a loss of neighbourhood character in urban areas throughout metropolitan Sydney. When I make those comments I am speaking specifically about Western Sydney and my electorate of Baulkham Hills. The Opposition believes that the Labor Government has betrayed local communities by introducing planning policies that enforce urban consolidation without giving residents a say. A Coalition Government would return to residents the right to a fair say about what happens to them.
The people of north-western and Western Sydney are concerned that land prices have escalated dramatically. Because of a shortage of available land, it is not unreasonable that market gardeners are fetching up to $1 million per acre, which means that the raw product comes at great expense after contributions and other payments have been made. Blocks of land in areas such as Glenwood, which is near Blacktown, and The Hills are selling for $250,000 and for up to $300,000 at Rouse Hill. These prices are beyond the means of the average first home buyer. Indeed, they are often beyond the means of the second home buyer. The Government must look at the real situation and make land available at a realistic price. However, I am the first to concede that that is difficult to achieve.
The root of all these problems seems to be the lack of water and sewerage. Sydney Water has become the de facto planning authority in terms of what land is available. The old simple market adage of supply and demand is running strong: If supply is increased—I am the first to concede that we must be realistic about that— the price of land can be reduced. One need only compare the price of land in places such as Queensland to see the difference. Although in some areas there is no strict identifiable comparison, people can buy land in Queensland for $90,000 to $100,000 in areas close to the central business district.
The people of Western Sydney regard law and order as important. Residents would be alarmed to learn that almost one-quarter of all cars stolen in Western Sydney are never recovered, and that is largely because of a 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2019 lack of police officers on the ground. Other areas with low recovery rates include Auburn, 78.9 per cent, Bankstown, 77.1 per cent, and Blacktown, 79.6 per cent. These figures confirm the views widely held in Western Sydney that the State Government has failed to provide adequate police resources on the ground, despite endless promises. At one stage the Minister for Police spoke about on-the-spot fines for mischief and nuisance crimes such as graffiti vandalism and shoplifting. This will not act as a deterrent. There is a big difference between being given a parking ticket and paying it at one's leisure, as opposed to being arrested, taken to a police station and brought before the court or being given a summons to appear before a magistrate, which would act as a deterrent. I suggest that on-the-spot fines for graffiti vandalism and shoplifting present no deterrent at all. [Extension of time agreed to.]
My constituents believe that there are insufficient police on the beat and that police numbers must be increased. Also, there must be more community-based policing. Many communities no longer have a police station or have police stations that are merely shopfronts. Communities need police stations that operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day to act as a deterrent and provide security. People should not have to resort to ringing a police hotline or drive some distance to a police station. Prior to the 1999 election the Carr Government promised to increase police numbers by 1,000. It is now three years later and the figure has increased by only 247, from 13,521 to 13,768—1,000 were promised but only 247 have been delivered.
It is stupid to suggest that senior officers should be put back on the beat. Senior officers are valuable and important people who administer the department. It would be ludicrous for senior officers, from the rank of commissioner down, to be involved in arresting offenders, to have to wait at court all day while a case is heard, only to return the next day because the case had not concluded. This would be a waste of valuable resources. There must be an aggressive but attractive recruiting policy to encourage people to join the Police Service. Many prospective recruits, especially mature-age applicants with families, are reluctant to join the Police Service because of the lack of financial assistance available during the training period. These are the people who often possess the types of skills that would enhance their ability to perform police duties. If the Carr Government were serious about its attempts to increase police numbers, it would spend time trying to overcome these problems and increase the rate of police recruits who successfully graduate from the academy.
Health care is of concern to Western Sydney, as it is to the rest of the State. Recently I became aware of a gravely ill 80-year old man, Trevor Hamilton of Baulkham Hills, who was being prepared for two life-saving operations but he was turned away from Westmead Hospital because there was no intensive care bed available for him. Hospital staff and doctors work hard and are very dedicated people, but at the end of the day if the beds are not there the system grinds to a halt. Two teams of surgeons had been simultaneously organised to carry out the operations to minimise the risk to Mr Hamilton. The doctors and medical staff at Westmead do a fantastic job with limited resources. It is time that Labor, which promises so much and delivers so little, started supporting them. Many schoolchildren in my area suffer during the hot weather. I attended Bass Hill Public School, where pupils swelter in temperatures that are 10 degrees above the outside temperature. They were forced to make an urgent plea for public donations so that they could install airconditioners in their classrooms. The windows at Burnside Public School have been sealed since 1996 to make it quiet but as there is no airconditioning the ventilation is poor. Children have to lie on the floor to avoid succumbing to heat distress. I acknowledge that the present Minister has taken steps to alleviate this problem and I congratulate him on that. However, similar problems exist throughout Western Sydney. Selective schools do not need facelifts of sandstone, grand pillars and gravel driveways but good basic services such as airconditioning and measures to combat rising damp and alleviate drainage problems. For some time I have been privileged to be the Opposition spokesman on Western Sydney, an area of 8,000 square kilometres—the third largest regional economy in Australia, with a population of 1.7 million, which represents one-tenth of Australia. Indeed, the population of Western Sydney is projected to increase to 2.6 million by the year 2011. Western Sydney has 72,000 businesses, generating $54 billion annually. The Liberal Party-National Party Coalition supports the people of Western Sydney in their aspirations, goals and dreams: from the diverse and proud multicultural communities of Bankstown and Auburn to the rugged mountain grandeur of the Blue Mountains, to the thriving commercial centres of Blacktown, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Parramatta—Parramatta being the birthplace of our great nation—to the dynamic north- western centre of The Hills, set amongst the backdrop of the historic Macquarie towns of Windsor and Richmond. We offer an alternative to the failed policies of the Labor Government. Our platform is enshrined in the deeply held conviction of a fair go for all. The Coalition believes in encouraging self-dependence, personal initiative and achievement. Many people of Western Sydney are truly 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
Labor's forgotten people, as evidenced by the result in the last Federal election when people left Labor in droves. That was also demonstrated in the by-election in Auburn—Jack Lang-type country, a great Labor icon— where there were swings of up to 20 per cent in some Labor strongholds. Unlike Labor, we do not promote a regime or legacy of social and personal mediocrity. Neither do we engage in social engineering. We believe in social justice and equity for all—put simply, a fair-go for all. We will never forget or fail in our fundamental belief and commitment to provide a helping and supporting hand to those in need.
Above all, the great Liberal-National Coalition believes that the role of government must be to provide an environment in which people can succeed, achieve their aspirations, and secure the future of their families and the community. It is my privilege to represent the Opposition in Western Sydney, an area that has for many years been Labor's traditional heartland. We believe that the winds of change are blowing and that the people now realise that the Liberal-National parties represent more of their dreams, aspirations and outlook on life. We have promised a program that will provide infrastructure for the basic things, such as transport, whether it be public transport or an improved road network.
We promise a curb on overdevelopment and restrictions on developments so that residents truly have a say about what will occur in their suburbs. We promise more police so that people will feel more secure at night when walking on the streets and travelling on trains, knowing they will not be attacked. We promise a return to the days when a family will be able to buy their own parcel of land on which to build a house and raise their children in a secure, protected and safe environment. Their environment will have schools close by and a hospital system that actually works. That is our charter, our cause and our commitment to the people of New South Wales, which we will honour, unlike the present Labor Government, which has been long in rhetoric but short on details and has left a legacy of broken promises and shattered ideals.
Mr MARKHAM (Wollongong—Parliamentary Secretary) [11.04 a.m.]: It gives me great pleasure to speak to the Speech delivered by the Governor, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, AC, on 26 February. The Governor was welcomed onto the land of the Eora people, on which Parliament House is situated, by Sylvia Scott, a Wiradjuri elder. This Parliament showed great support for Sylvia and she had great pleasure in welcoming the Governor. As the Parliamentary Secretary for Aboriginal Affairs, I will refer to what this Government has been doing and will continue to do in the portfolio of Aboriginal Affairs. This Parliament has for many years led Australia towards justice and equity for Aboriginal people, and it continues to do so. I am proud to be a member of this Parliament, in which honourable members can put aside their party differences to acknowledge when it is time for solidarity and bipartisan commitment to make a powerful and positive impact on the lives of Aboriginal people in New South Wales. I commend all honourable members for their continuous support for reconciliation.
This Parliament has played an important role in leading the reconciliation debate not only in this State but across Australia. I commend honourable members for their commitment to achieving social, economic and cultural independence for Aboriginal people in New South Wales. I believe that the work we do this year towards building a new plan for doing business with Aboriginal people will promote real empowerment for Aboriginal people in New South Wales. We are not only optimistic and excited about the future ahead, we are equipped with the tools of focus, partnership and innovation. One of the most important developments in Aboriginal affairs during the past year has been the commitments made by the Premier during his visit to Walhallow in February last year. The commitments made by the Premier formed the basis for an action plan for Aboriginal affairs in New South Wales.
I am delighted to report that the Premier made a solid commitment to establish targets and timetables for the delivery of government services and infrastructure to Aboriginal people and communities; to develop performance indicators on Aboriginal issues for chief executive officers of New South Wales Government agencies; to monitor progress in implementing the new plan through an annual audit report for the first time; to develop a formal agreement between the New South Wales Government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission [ATSIC] that was signed by the Premier and Geoff Clarke, Chairperson, ATSIC a few weeks ago; to hold an Aboriginal leadership forum; obtain greater support from the corporate sector; to improve the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal families, children and young people; and to implement cultural awareness training for senior public servants.
Our achievements in Aboriginal affairs during the past year have been based on solid, long-term partnerships between the New South Wales Government and Aboriginal communities. Those achievements have encompassed one of the most important and lasting elements in Aboriginal affairs, that is, self-determination. Through partnerships formed in consultation and co-operation with the communities we serve, we are able to 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2021 gain a better understanding of the issues that face both young and old Aboriginal people and affect individual communities. Working in partnership with Aboriginal people in New South Wales will remain an important component of this State's approach to Aboriginal affairs well into the future.
This year the New South Wales Government is developing a fresh plan for Aboriginal affairs. The plan is among a range of measures the Government has devised to target the comparatively poor health, education and economic status of New South Wales Aboriginal people. From this year all New South Wales government department chief executive officers will be required to reach specific performance targets designed to improve Aboriginal people's quality of life. Performance targets will be included in their contracts. Under this plan, all chief executive officers will be required to visit Aboriginal communities in New South Wales so they can meet Aboriginal people face to face and learn first hand about the many and very different Aboriginal communities in New South Wales.
The New South Wales Government must meet the needs of a dispersed and diverse indigenous population living in a range of geographical, cultural and economic situations. It is important that government agencies understand the impact of their programs and policies and the factors responsible for their success or failure. Government department chief executive officers [CEOs] have developed a project called Improving Outcomes for Aboriginal People to ensure that their departments achieve specific program targets. The project focuses on improving education and health standards for Aboriginal people, reducing duplication, and introducing an annual audit report to measure the progress of targets and timetables.
Issues that have come through strongly from community visits include the need for strong leadership within each community, particularly from elders; economic development within communities; and family violence and cultural heritage protection. Aboriginal people identified those issues and informed the departmental CEOs that work must be done in these areas. We are trying hard to find more appropriate and effective ways of delivering services to Aboriginal people and responding actively to their needs and aspirations—particularly the basic needs of proper access to clean water, safe housing and service provision.
The $200 million Aboriginal Community Development program [ACDP] is an excellent example of the New South Wales Government's commitment to reconciliation and to rural communities. The ACDP aims to raise the health and living standards of communities by improving housing, roads, access to water and sewerage and recreation and cultural facilities. However, the ACDP is not just about basic living standards but providing opportunities, sustainability and self-determination. Key components of the ACDP are ensuring community involvement in all phases of the program, establishing community working parties within each of the participating communities in order to ensure appropriate consultation and liaison, and providing opportunities for education, training and community development. The ACDP is an innovative program that will improve the overall living standards and health of Aboriginal communities in New South Wales. This landmark program will create a far greater skilled Aboriginal work force and provide new opportunities for permanent employment.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS] indigenous housing statistics for 1996 revealed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived in households larger than the national average. The average number of Aboriginal persons per household was 4.5, compared with the national average of 2.7. In rural areas the figure rose to six. The statistics showed that Aboriginal people were far more likely to live in poor, overcrowded housing without essential services than were average Australians throughout the country. The ABS health statistics revealed that indigenous Australians are more disadvantaged than any other identifiable group of Australians. Indigenous people die an average of 15 to 20 years earlier than other Australians and are far more likely to suffer infectious and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, trachoma, ear disease and renal failure.
Indigenous babies are two to three times more likely to have a low birth weight and two to four times more likely to die at birth than babies born to non-indigenous mothers. Indigenous people are likely to live further from health facilities and health professionals, which adds to the cost of service delivery. In the 1996 census about 41 per cent of indigenous people aged between 15 and 64 were employed. The unemployment rate for indigenous people was calculated at 23 per cent compared with 9 per cent for non-indigenous people. The Community Development Employment Project administered by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission provides approximately one-quarter of all indigenous employment. Mr Michael Dodson expressed eloquently the state of affairs in Australia:
A certain kind of industrial deafness has developed. The meaning of these figures is not heard or felt. We die silently under these statistics. 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
Since the beginning of the formal reconciliation process in 1992 we have seen great developments in achieving social justice and legislative change and improving relations between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the wider community. However, the statistics prove that there is still much work to be done. We are now at a point where the majority of Australians acknowledge that individual Aboriginal people and Aboriginal communities have suffered injustice and disadvantage. We have also recognised that such injustice and disadvantage must be addressed and reviewed. Australians are now asking: "We've acknowledge the faults of the past, so where do we go from here?" What is the "unfinished business"?
Australia has never entered into a treaty agreement with its indigenous peoples to acknowledge their rights and status as the first Australians. It is the only Commonwealth country never to have done so. This fact is reflected in a history marred by conflict over land use and the abuse of indigenous human rights. Indigenous Australians and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission are now calling for the right to negotiate an agreement or treaty to be respected and acted upon. They believe that treaty negotiations are a major part of the "unfinished business" and are a task for the new decade. An apology to the stolen generations, the achievement of self-determination and the recognition of customary law are also "unfinished business". The Premier of New South Wales was the first Premier in this country to offer to the Aboriginal people a formal apology for past injustices in response to the stolen generations report. That is why New South Wales and this Parliament have been a leading force for reconciliation in this country.
Many agencies, individuals and groups make decisions that impact greatly upon Aboriginal people and communities in New South Wales without ever having direct contact with Aboriginal people and those issues at a grassroots level. I am pleased to say that in the past year particularly, but indeed for many years, I have taken the time to sit and listen to what Aboriginal people have to say about the bread-and-butter issues that confront them every day. In the past few months I have travelled quite extensively to talk to Aboriginal people about their concerns, and I assure honourable members that I will continue to do so. I recently visited Aboriginal communities at Griffith, Leeton, West Wyalong and Murrinbridge. The local Aboriginal community at Murrinbridge has gone into the wine-making business—the honourable member for Murrumbidgee will be aware of this enterprise. It is growing grapes and producing high-quality wine. Aboriginal community members work in the vineyards and reap an economic reward for their efforts. It is a great venture and I was a proud to visit that community and see it in action.
A few weeks before that I travelled to five or six Aboriginal communities in the Northern Tablelands to discuss issues important to them. I visited a great enterprise in Armidale, where the local Aboriginal community is providing an essential service to the broader community by recycling materials from landfill rubbish and reaping the economic rewards. They are only some of the programs that my parliamentary colleagues and I have seen in action in the past few months. An important part of my role as Parliamentary Secretary for Aboriginal Affairs is to encourage and support Aboriginal community solutions to Aboriginal community problems. Aboriginal people are the best people to identify problems in their communities, the best people to devise solutions and the best people to judge the success or failure of government programs. I firmly believe that government services can be relevant and effective in Aboriginal communities only if Aboriginal people have the opportunity to identify what they want and need and take ownership of their decisions.
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs grants program has been developed to help the State Government achieve its social justice commitments to the Aboriginal people of New South Wales. Grants are available for individuals and organisations that wish to implement innovative programs that: one, aim to address the socio-economic disadvantage of Aboriginal people; two, reflect the social justice priorities of the Government and the department, early intervention, co-ordination, access, equity, participation rights and responsibilities; and, three, give Aboriginal people the capacity to take advantage of economic, social and cultural opportunities. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs is particularly looking for initiatives that focus on languages, culture and heritage, and the prevention of sexual assault and family violence. Domestic violence is a major issue right across society, but domestic violence in Aboriginal communities and general justice-related issues have been at the forefront of discussions between community and government for the major part of last year and this year. The New South Wales Government takes family violence in all communities seriously, and we are taking action. In partnership with the Department of Women and the New South Wales Department of Health, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs hosted a one-day forum with relevant New South Wales government agencies. The purpose of the forum was to develop a whole-of- government approach to co-ordinate affective services that addresses family violence. The Aboriginal people of New South Wales continue to have a rich and varied linguistic heritage. Two hundred and fifty years ago the area that was to become New South Wales would have hosted 50 or more 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2023 languages and dialects. The New South Wales Department of Aboriginal Affairs recognised the key role that indigenous languages play in forging identity, strengthening culture and increasing self-worth—all important components of social outcomes for Aboriginal people in New South Wales. In order to promote indigenous language maintenance and development in New South Wales, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs has identified the need for a statewide New South Wales Government policy. [Extension of time agreed to.]
First, indigenous languages have a direct bearing on the education of indigenous young people. Second, language maintenance and training can enhance employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal people. Three, higher academic achievement, better employment opportunities and increased self-esteem can all lead to improved socioeconomic outcomes. The findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the National Commitment and the Stolen Generations Report all recognise that the role that languages play in forging and sustaining identity. The importance of those reports cannot be understated. On page 5 of the Governor's Speech is a section entitled "An educated community". At page 7 of her Speech the Governor said:
The Government, in partnership with the private sector, intends to continue and expand the e-summer school program piloted this summer.
In the pilot, 300 students in 18 areas spent two weeks receiving high quality training in all aspects of computers and IT.
Fifty percent of these summer schools took place in country New South Wales, and 17 percent of the students were from an indigenous background.
I would like to highlight a couple of areas in which the e-summer school took place, and the Aboriginal participation in that very forward-thinking program. All students enrolled in the Walgett e-summer school were Aboriginal. Several of them were at risk of dropping out of school at the end of 2001. The e-summer school was seen as an opportunity to re-engage them in the education process. An Aboriginal mentor was engaged for the Walgett group, a woman with computing skills who acted as teacher's aide and was instrumental in making the students feel relaxed, particularly when they had a video link with Lidcombe e-summer school.
Kempsey e-summer school had several Aboriginal students, as did Wollongbar. These were students without computers at home and very little experience on the keyboard, let alone with other computer applications. Several of the other e-summer schools had small numbers of Aboriginal students. The staff commented on the increase in confidence that was evident from their participation. Whether this resulted from the personal attention afforded by small group numbers, the more adult TAFE environment, or newly acquired skills, it certainly had a positive effect.
I would like also to bring to the attention of the Parliament, in line with what the Governor had to say about Aboriginal communities, a very positive and exciting program that our Government has embarked upon. It is called the River Towns project. We have identified four towns on the Darling River to work with Aboriginal communities and the broader communities to achieve better results for those communities. Those communities are Walgett, Wilcannia, Bourke and Brewarrina. On Friday 22 March this year I had the pleasure to represent the Premier, Bob Carr, at Wilcannia, where on behalf of the Government I signed a memorandum of understanding between the council, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and the Aboriginal working party that operates in that town. I mentioned the Aboriginal working groups earlier. The role they are playing throughout New South Wales is absolutely incredible.
The communities of Bourke, Brewarrina, Wilcannia and Walgett have been experiencing a range of underlying social problems that have impacted on the overall health and wellbeing of the community as well as influencing the level of economic development. Further, the capacity of various communities and government and non-government stakeholders to address the underlying social and economic problems is constrained, and the effectiveness of many past and present initiatives has been dissipated. This is in part due to the diversity and complexity of the issues and the lack of collaboration within the context of a whole-of-community response.
The River Towns project was in part developed from feedback that Aboriginal community stakeholders provided. They said they did not want the focus to be solely on the Aboriginal community but, rather, they wanted to involve all sections—that is, a whole-of-community response—in solving community issues. The River Towns project is based upon research into collaborative leadership models that look at enabling communities to create a shared vision and joint strategies to address concerns.
Firstly, co-ordination and community participation facilitates community and regionally-based government and non-government service providers to adopt common approaches that actively increase the level 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 of community participation in management committees and in action strategies, and in delivering government and non-government services. Co-ordination and community participation gains alignment in the activities and projects of the three tiers of government. Secondly, the objective is to work in partnership with civic and Aboriginal leaders to seek their endorsement of and involvement in the projects and in how ultimately the community will gain a balance between internal and external reliance, and have greater community control and ownership. The third point is promoting Aboriginal women and youth leadership. There will be a strong focus on delivering relevant, culturally appropriate leadership and mentoring courses to the youth, women and indigenous sections within those communities. This will be achieved through the utilisation of currently available leadership and mentoring programs.
The fourth point is regional branding. Through the community facilitators with the River Towns project, it is intended to build on the work of the Barwon Darling Alliance and to capitalise on the commonalities within those four river towns, thereby enabling communities within this subregion to build on each others' successes and opportunities. I have seen this particular event in action. Just recently I was again in Wilcannia with the Minister for Health, Craig Knowles, to open the new extensions to the Wilcannia Hospital— a project of about $4.2 million. That project came about because the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities of Wilcannia sat down and had a good look at what they really wanted for their hospital. They advised the Government and the Department of Health on carrying out the construction of the extension to ensure that the building was culturally appropriate for the Aboriginal people and practical in servicing the whole Wilcannia community.
The day of the official opening was a very exciting one. William Bates, a respected elder of the Barkindji tribe, was the master of ceremonies. He spoke eloquently on all of the issues affecting the whole Wilcannia community. I had the opportunity of saying a few words and I indicated that over 13 years as a past shadow Minister and current Parliamentary Secretary I had visited Wilcannia on many occasions. I express my belief that the opening of the hospital extension would not have occurred and would not have been thought possible five years ago but for the sea change in attitude among members of the Wilcannia community.
I believe that all participants of the working party and all people involved in achievement of the hospital extension realise that the Aboriginal people in Wilcannia are not going anywhere. They will be there for a long time—forever more—and they have to work together and make sure that all the subgroups in the community work together and move forward together. The same principle applies to a town, to any area of New South Wales or, for that matter, any community in Australia. Aboriginal people are there, they have always been there, and they will be there always. Non-Aboriginal Australians have to work hand in glove with Aboriginal communities to make sure that not only the needs of Aboriginal people but the needs of the broader community, which Aboriginal people are part of, are met. I believe that the River Towns program goes a long way towards achieving that goal, and the results from the program's effectiveness are already coming through.
I also take this opportunity to mention that the Governor will be the guest of honour at this year's reconciliation dinner on 1 June, which will be hosted by Premier Bob Carr. For quite a number of years I have been involved with the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and currently I am the deputy chairperson of the council. Recently the council managed a coup by being able to persuade Martin Luther King III to be a guest speaker at the dinner. I encourage all members of this Parliament to attend to hear what Martin Luther King III has to say. In an article I wrote, which has been published in today's Illawarra Mercury in the forum section, I have pointed out that Martin Luther King III is the son of the famous American civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King junior. Mr King is the fourth President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference [SCLC], the organisation that his father co-founded in 1957. Mr King has devoted much of his adult life to the continuance of his father's mission of non-violence conflict resolution through many programs of the SCLC.
Taking into consideration the fact that the great struggle for civil rights in America inspired the desire for increased freedom and rights in New South Wales by opening the eyes of the people to the injustice and racism suffered by Aboriginal people, I am confident that the dinner will be a great occasion. The dinner will have special appeal because the money raised will fund certificate and diploma courses at the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, which aims to encourage and support indigenous leaders at all levels by developing knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to lead communities and organisations. The leadership courses are developed for indigenous Australians who want to help to shape the future of their communities, their region, or indeed their nation.
I reiterate my encouragement of all members of this Parliament to make a commitment and attend the dinner. Reconciliation is everyone's business, and attending the dinner is a practical way in which members of 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2025
Parliament can show their support for that cause. Time and time again support for reconciliation has been expressed in this Parliament, and I believe it would be fitting for as many members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council as possible to give effect to their commitment by buying a ticket, attending the dinner, hearing a great speaker, showing support for practical reconciliation, and ensuring that young indigenous leaders are given an opportunity to obtain a real education. [Time expired.]
Mr PICCOLI (Murrumbidgee) [11.33 a.m.]: Before commencing my contribution to the Address-in- Reply debate I express support for the comments made by the honourable member for Wollongong and acknowledge the efforts by government organisations, non-government organisations, the community and volunteers to make a difference in the lives of everybody, particularly Aboriginal people. I commend the honourable member for his comments. I am pleased to have an opportunity to respond to the Governor's Speech. I will deal in detail with a number of issues that concern my electorate. There is no doubt that in every single one of the 93 State electorates in New South Wales the issue of law and order is a significant problem, and the Murrumbidgee electorate is no exception. The issues relate to what the community perceives to be an increase in crime rates, particularly in crimes of annoyance such as the behaviour in the main street of country towns of younger members of the community who openly take advantage of the vagaries of the law to engage in antisocial behaviour without fear of retribution.
The issue has not been addressed by the Government, but action certainly needs to be taken to allay some of the fears held by the community. A simple measure that would be effective in curbing antisocial behaviour is increasing the number of police officers, in country New South Wales in particular. Even prior to the Olympic Games, the Griffith and Deniliquin local area commands suffered reductions in police numbers which have resulted in the Police Service being unable to assign police officers to beat patrols in the main streets of towns such as Griffith, Deniliquin, Leeton, Narrandera and others. Without a police presence being created by police officers walking up and down the main streets or driving around the opportunity for people to engage in antisocial behaviour exists. I am blessed to represent an electorate that does not have a serious problem of random, violent crime, and that is certainly not what I am talking about in terms of redress. However, the lives of some members of the community are being adversely affected by antisocial behaviour that I believe would be reduced simply by having a more visible police presence.
I commend the police officers in my electorate and throughout other areas of New South Wales for their hardworking approach to the prevention and resolution of crime. Those officers are hamstrung by a lack of resources, both human and material. I draw the attention of the House to the commitment given by the Premier prior to the 1999 State election that by 2003 police numbers would be increased by 2,000. In recent weeks the Minister for Police and the the Deputy Commissioner of Police have admitted that the Police Service has increased its strength by nowhere near 2,000. According to comments made by the deputy commissioner and reported in the media, Police Service strength is down by 800 police officers. I recognise that legislative changes are required to address law and order issues, but an increase in police numbers would make an enormous difference in New South Wales.
I turn now to health, which ranks first or second in the order of priorities for constituents. In country areas of New South Wales since the election of the Carr Government the aggregation of local hospital boards to create area health services has been a failure. Certainly if people ask the area health service bureaucrats about that they will probably be told that, far from being a failure, area health services are a wonderful success. However, my opinion is determined by the views of my constituency, not by the views of the bureaucracy. I am sure that the honourable member for Monaro would agree that the citizens of New South Wales, particularly those in country areas, almost without exception feel that the aggregation into area health services has been a failure.
The State Government has continued to support area health services, which are a failure. Significant change is needed. Services at hospitals have been reduced, which is having a significant effect on the ability to attract doctors. Everybody is aware of the doctor and nurse shortage in rural areas, but the problem is not solely that doctors and nurses do not want to come to the country. According to evidence from my constituents and doctors and nurses themselves, they do not want to work in area health services. Doctors are restricted in the procedures and practices they can perform in smaller district hospitals but even at Griffith Base Hospital the policies of the area health service restrict what they can do. After having done many years of training, why would a doctor set up somewhere where it is not possible to do the many things doctors have been trained to do?
Just prior to the 1999 election, at which I was elected, Finley Hospital had a total upgrade of its operating theatre—a brand-new operating theatre. Only a handful of operations have been done in that theatre 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 since. The community has been able to attract doctors from time to time but has also lost them. At this very time there is a danger of losing doctors because they are not able to perform many of the procedures that they have been trained to perform. An anaesthetist general practitioner is there at the moment. He has threatened to leave for that very reason. So, beyond just attracting GPs to the country, this issue has to be addressed. For some time I have been advocating the training of local people, because they are more likely to remain in country areas or to return to them. Area health services are blaming the critical shortage of nurses for problems in our hospitals. The Murrumbidgee electorate is one of the largest in New South Wales, with 30,000 square kilometres. Nowhere in the electorate can people be trained to become enrolled nurses or registered nurses. The nearest enrolled nursing course is at Cootamundra, which is 200 or 300 kilometres from Griffith- Leeton-Narrandera and 500 kilometres from Deniliquin, the biggest community in my electorate. It is totally impractical for any student to travel such distances, find accommodation, and complete a nursing course. I, and others, have been advocating that Griffith TAFE be approved for enrolled nurse training, which would be of great benefit to the community and the nursing staff at local hospitals. Beyond my electorate, from Griffith to the South Australian border, there are no other opportunities for TAFE training for nurses. The real shortage is in registered nursing. Those in my electorate who want to upgrade their skills from enrolled nursing to registered nursing would have to travel to Bathurst to Charles Sturt University to do that. It is just not appropriate for many enrolled nurses who have young families to take the one-month residential part of their course every quarter. It is about five hours drive from Griffith and other towns in my electorate to Bathurst. There is a great opportunity to improve nurse staffing levels in hospitals in western New South Wales if the training can be provided locally to local people. The three largest irrigation corporations in Australia are in my electorate—Murrumbidgee, Coleambally and Murray. So a major issue is the water reforms imposed by the Government very heavy handedly to the great detriment of many farmers. The reforms in relation to surface water and groundwater have significant impact. I am very critical of the way in which the Government has implemented the reforms and foreshadowed further reforms. It has used a sledgehammer approach—one size fits all. It has failed to satisfying anyone with respect to the cap on water. It will fail with respect to the management of groundwater. The Government will fail again with the water sharing plans currently before the community. The only way to deal with the issue is on a catchment-by-catchment basis, groundwater area by area, not a one-size-fits-all cut across the board. The Murrumbidgee Groundwater Management Committee was asked by the Government to reduce its allocations by a certain amount. All the groundwater users got together and agreed on a method by which to do it. It was elaborate and detailed, as it had to be. There was almost unanimous support from the irrigators but the State Government rejected the committee's proposal and imposed an across-the-board cut which will have significant impacts that would occurred under the committee's proposal. I am sorry that the State Government has not taken a more effective approach toward water reform. I hope that the Coalition wins the next election in March next year so that we can put our own reforms in place to address some of the problems people have had to face in the last seven years. There is plenty of work to be done with respect to salinity, water savings and the health of the Murray- Darling Basin. Over the past 10 years or more, irrigators in the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Coleambally areas, and other parts of New South Wales, through land and water management plans have been doing a lot to address the problem of salinity, but the issue has become sexy only in the last couple of years. Irrigators have reduced the levels of water tables and introduced more effective farming and more efficient practices. I am pleased that the rhetoric has changed from blaming irrigators for some of the problems we are facing in our rivers to acknowledging that many of the problems come from other areas in other parts of our river catchments. There is certainly a lot of work still to be done. A concern raised by Murray Irrigation Ltd, the operator of the Murray Irrigation Scheme, is that under the new land and water management plans and the Government's catchment blueprint its priority ranges from about 89 to 95. It is concerned that the good work it has been doing in the past 10 years has not been recognised and, because of its low priority, funding for the further works necessary might not be forthcoming. I want an undertaking from this Government that it will continue to fund land and water management plans not only in the Murray but also in the Murrumbidgee and Coleambally irrigation areas. There have been a lot of successes as a result of those land and water management plans. Farmers have become more efficient and the environment is better off. I hope that that funding continues. The last issue to which I refer is the development of the western Riverina area. The western Riverina, in particular the towns of Griffith, Leeton and Hillston, is the fastest growing area in country Australia. Griffith, which has a population of 25,000, experienced a population growth of 500 last year—a remarkable increase. 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2027
Mr Markham: It is a very nice town.
Mr PICCOLI: It is a very nice town. The population increase and much of the development in that town can be attributed to the fact that it is located in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. A lot of exciting things are happening in Hillston, and it is mostly good news. There is a great deal of environmentally friendly development. I said earlier that water is being used more efficiently but some issues are restricting development and expansion. A few years ago the Premier announced a five-point plan for the development of the western Riverina but not a great deal has happened since then. Griffith is surrounded by high-value horticultural land, which makes the development of residential blocks difficult and expensive.
The Department of Land and Water Conservation has large acreages of land adjoining Griffith township, but it refuses to allow that land to be developed. It is holding it back in order to keep land values high. It is selling off only 50 or 60 blocks at a time to further fund the department. While that might be in the interests of the department, it is certainly not in the interests of the Griffith community. With the shortage of land, the price of land in that area remains high and is unaffordable for many people. [Extension of time agreed to.]
[Debate interrupted.]
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Beamer): I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of Frank Willis of Crookwell, who is in Sydney to receive the Order of Australia award this afternoon.
GOVERNOR'S SPEECH: ADDRESS-IN-REPLY Eighth Day's Debate [Debate resumed.] Mr PICCOLI: Land prices in this area are making housing unaffordable. It is difficult in Griffith to get staff to fill jobs—a unique problem in country New South Wales. When people come to Griffith they find that housing and land prices are similar to those in Sydney. That problem could be alleviated if more housing blocks became available, but the Department of Land and Water Conservation is not assisting in that regard. The Premier said that he would attempt to resolve that problem, but that has not happened thus far. A number of things are holding back development in the western Riverina area. The housing issue is only one of them. People must be encouraged to come to western New South Wales to live and work. It is a great place in which to live. As I said earlier, it has one of the lowest crime rates in this State. The honourable member from Wollongong said earlier that Griffith is a pretty town. It has all the necessary facilities and amenities and it has the development and jobs. The Government must do something to encourage people to move to that area. We need in place policies that will make it even more attractive for people to come to country New South Wales. Hazelton airlines services Griffith. Recently I was pleased to hear that a preferred bidder had been nominated. I hope that whoever ends up purchasing Hazelton and Kendell Airlines can operate in the area cost effectively and sustainably and that people other than government and business employees are able to afford the air fares. An air link in that area is important. If no airline services are available some of the enterprises in the western Riverina and other areas of western New South Wales will be forced to move to the larger centres of Sydney or Melbourne to obtain the staff that they need. We are always talking about the important issue of employment in country areas. However, we must ensure that we encourage people to move to those areas and take up the jobs that are available or those enterprises will move to Sydney and Melbourne. As I said earlier, I was disappointed with the Governor's Speech. The State Government has failed in the key portfolio areas of health, water reform and native vegetation, which is having a huge impact on country New South Wales. It has also failed in relation to the provision of additional police. The Premier promised to provide an additional 2,000 police, but he has not kept that promise. However, people in country New South Wales live in hope. We have examples of how great things can be when we look at places such as Griffith, Dubbo, Mudgee, Leeton and Hillston. The western Riverina area is a place of great opportunity. I hope that prior to the next election this Government will put in place policies to address those major concerns. Mr MILLS (Wallsend) [11.57 a.m.]: I commend the Speech by Her Excellency the Governor, Marie Bashir, in opening this third session of the Fifty-second Parliament. The speech sets out the program for the 2028 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 final year of the Carr Labor Government's term of office, and it also looks to the future, beyond next year's election. Several constituents of Wallsend electorate were present at the opening ceremony. I agreed with their comments that, if the Government implements the program outlined in the Governor's Speech, Labor would not only deserve to win but would in fact win the support of the majority of people in New South Wales and thus win the 2003 election. Professor Bashir carried out her first year's duties in an exemplary and commendable way. Her sensitivity, compassion, courage, integrity and stamina have been evident in the way she carried out her role as the Queen's representative in New South Wales and throughout the State, especially in rural and regional areas, making contact with people from all walks of life. I am sure that the Governor looks forward to performing that task again next year after the election. I, too, look forward to speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate after the election next year. I expect to tackle my task then with the same degree of passion for the Labor cause and advancement of the interests of the people of my electorate, as I do on this occasion. I will express myself in a manner both genial and jovial without a trace of any grumpiness. I acknowledge that a few of my Labor colleagues in Sydney have suggested I should not be here next year. Fortunately, it is not up to those in Sydney. The responsibility for choosing the Labor candidate for Wallsend at next year's election rests with the rank and file members of the Australian Labor Party in Wallsend. We in the Hunter especially guard our democratic right to choose our own candidates for public office in accordance with Labor rules. Then, of course, the voters of the Wallsend electorate will have their say at the general election. I thank the staff of the Parliament for acknowledging how photogenic my guests were on the day of the opening of the Parliament. They printed in "Assembly Lines" a photograph of Ken Cooper, Bernadette and Bill Royan, and me. I also note that the Governor's opening Speech was the first New South Wales parliamentary Speech videostreamed live on the Internet. I commend the Presiding Officers, Speaker John Murray and President Meredith Burgmann, for thus enhancing the accessibility of the community to this Parliament, using latest technology. commend the Clerks and the staff of the Parliament for assisting in that process. In that way they have improved the accessibility of Parliament, and that builds the democratic process. I thank the Presiding Officers and the staff of the Parliament for their excellent work, which the Governor commented on in her Address. The Governor mentioned that 2002 is the centenary year of women's suffrage in both the Commonwealth and the New South Wales parliaments—quite a milestone of quality and democracy that we honour this year. And, of course, we are all working towards increasing the number of women who become representatives of their communities in parliaments around Australia. The Governor outlined the highlights of the Government's program. She said that that program will advance the Government's key objectives of modernising the State's infrastructure, promoting investment and jobs, creating safer communities, world-class schools and hospitals, and protecting our unique environment. I will address my remarks to those key objectives. The Carr Government is certainly working hard to win new jobs and investment for the Hunter region, which I have the honour to represent in this place. The driving reason for that hard work is that unemployment in the Hunter sits, generally, 3 to 4 per cent above the State average. The current unemployment State average is 6 per cent; in the Hunter it is almost 10 per cent. Those figures were released last week at an update session by the Hunter Valley Research Foundation, which monitors those figures for State and Federal governments. The Hunter is always above the State average in unemployment, and that is driven by a range of factors, the principal of which is new capital investment in many older industries and the closure of certain older industries. Coalmining continues to produce increased tonnages and each year there are fewer employees in the coalmining industry and that leads to lack of available jobs. Recently the only place in Australia that made electric lamps, the Electric Lamp Manufacturers (Australia) Pty Ltd, closed its works, with a loss of 200 jobs. As the Government and the industry sectors try hard to promote new jobs and investment, at the same time we keep losing. We have been in this situation ever since the Hunter Valley Research Foundation started measuring unemployment statistics. Using the new method adopted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to measure unemployment, the Hunter sits 2.5 to 4 per cent above the State average. That is the driver for the Carr Government's effort to win new jobs and investment for the Hunter. The Government is fully behind all the steelmaking proposals, including the Austeel project in Newcastle. Over the past 12 months the Premier has been to Newcastle five times and on every occasion has talked with people and held news conferences about these steel projects. BHP has had no influence over any of the decisions of the Government regarding steelmaking in the Hunter, even though its management in the Hunter and the Illawarra, and the Illawarra media, have attempted to stir divisions between the two old steel cites. That beat-up will not be successful, and the Government's efforts in both regions to develop investment and jobs will continue. 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2029
The Government is in the process of finalising negotiations with Tomago Aluminium to purchase land that Austeel and other heavy industries could use in the future. The agreement with Tomago Aluminium will allow Austeel to submit its environmental impact statement and thus the proposal will continue to move forward. The Government is working hard to win new jobs and investment for the Hunter. In March the Premier joined with Peter McGauran, the Federal Minister for Science, and the Chief Executive of the CSIRO, Dr Geoff Garrett, to launch the CSIRO energy centre. That is a milestone in Australia's sustainable energy industry and an important addition to the Hunter economy. That $35 million investment will showcase the very latest in Australian energy technology and will confirm Newcastle as one of the nation's sustainable development hubs. The centre will provide a good economic stimulus for the Hunter, around $24 million a year, once it is operating. It will create valuable employment opportunities during and after construction, with many CSIRO researchers and their families moving into the area. There will be good synergy with the University of Newcastle in that regard.
The New South Wales Government's commitment to that project is reflected in its contribution of $10 million; a mark of confidence in the CSIRO and in the future of sustainable energy in Australia. Much of the credit for that development goes to the Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development, Mr Richard Face, who has worked hard and is determined to attract investment to the Hunter region. The Government's efforts to promote investment and jobs have not come without some criticism. A recent article in the Newcastle Herald by Erik Eklund, a history lecturer in the School of Liberal Arts at the University of Newcastle, analysed the industries. Referring to the proposed three steel industries in the Hunter region he wrote:
Throughout Newcastle's 20-th century history, industry has been seen as the main reason for the city's existence and firms have secured significant government support to establish and maintain their presence …
In regional cities like Newcastle, Geelong, Wollongong and Whyalla this sector offered permanent jobs, and as the years progressed working conditions improved, both through union activity and through the arbitration system that encouraged better wages and conditions …
However, he argued:
Environmental costs inevitably flow from such major projects and there may be economic costs as well if other industries such as tourism and fishing suffer.
I challenge that analysis, particularly the comment that "environmental costs inevitably flow from such major projects". The honourable member for Lake Macquarie and I have been working with local communities to encourage the Pasminco zinc smelter, which is along the boundary of our electorates, to clean up its act. After a history of more than 90 years of emitting pollutants—the worst being leaded dust and leaded materials—there were health concerns about the emission of sulphur dioxide. The community accepted a plan proposed by Pasminco some years ago that if it could expand its production by 20 per cent it would be able to pay for a multimillion dollar program of environmental improvements.
The company could then stop the emissions and would be able to co-exist happily with the local communities. That is exactly what has happened. The lead emissions are now extremely low and, as a result of significant and clever capital investment, the emission of sulphur dioxide is at an historic low. The local community has benefited and is no longer concerned about health risks associated with living close to that industry. I reject the arguments that environmental costs would inevitably flow from steel projects. The industry can operate without emissions if it is run properly from the beginning. With the new steel investment we have the opportunity to do just those things.
In the Hunter some small and medium industries have developed. A few call centres have been established with State Government assistance. The Roads and Traffic Authority call centre employs 130 people and the Infringement Processing Bureau at Maitland employs 120 people. The Department of Mineral Resources at Maitland will employ more than 100 people. The Government is putting those extra jobs into the Hunter region to assist the region with investment and jobs. If there is one thing that people in my area tell me when they sit down to discuss the way society is heading in a broad way it is their concern about the casualisation and the contracting out of work over the past 10 to 15 years. I believe, and my constituents assure me that they also believe, that this has led to less security of employment.
But we are aware of these trends. The industrial relations model in the newer industries is trending away from full-time to part-time employment or contracting. My constituents say they still want to have full- time jobs. I do not regard that as a conservative attitude; I think it is a very sensible attitude. The constituents reject the notion that insecurity is brought about by the lower incomes that are sometimes associated with new 2030 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 industrial relations models. I believe our academics and our thinkers need to work much harder in this area, to improve the wellbeing of our society by increasing the number of full-time jobs and preventing the trend for new jobs always to be less secure through contracting and part-time work. Adele Horin wrote a most informative article in the Sydney Morning Herald of 9 March. She said:
… 70 per cent of the extra jobs created in the past decade have been casual or part-time … these jobs are fine for some. But they do not provide a living wage to male and female breadwinners …
The line between the employed and unemployed is blurred. Many people cycle through a succession of short-term jobs … between jobs, they suffer lengthening periods of unemployment.
Referring to Federal employment Minister Tony Abbott, Adele Horin wrote:
His idea of job creation involves cutting pay at the bottom to make hiring workers more attractive. But the OECD, after having examined 20 major studies, concluded this low-pay strategy remains unproven.
Adele Horin suggested that the low-pay strategy will spread poverty, not only for workers but also for people on pensions and benefits. The article continues:
It's a tough job being Employment Minister … That's because [the Federal Government] refuse to countenance public sector jobs. The nation is crying out for more nurses, teachers, child-care workers, community workers of all kinds.
Adele Horin concluded:
… the real problem is the lack of full-time jobs, not the lack of willing workers. The same edition of the Sydney Morning Herald listed the professions that were in short supply. That article reads:
Nurses are in short supply everywhere, along with high school teachers of mathematics, science and information technology. Supplies of speech pathologists, breast x-ray technicians, civil and electrical engineers and pharmacists have also dried up.
The latest survey of professional skill shortages by the Federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations also shows a critical shortage in NSW of physiotherapists in the area of HIV/AIDS and geriatric palliative care.
There is a nationwide shortage of child-care workers, midwives, mental health nurses, occupational therapists and radiation therapists … I am aware that a number of those professions were in short supply in the Hunter. The article continues:
Civil engineers, especially in the area of design, general project management, water supply, drainage and sewerage, are also in short supply across NSW. Given that most of these people are in public sector jobs, it behoves government—particularly the Federal Government but also the State Government and local government—to seriously consider what can be done to address these shortages, particularly in the public sector. Finally with regard to promoting investment and jobs in the Hunter, I refer to the establishment in the Hunter region of the Regional Co-ordination Office of the Premier's Department. The role of regional co-ordinators is to lead and facilitate whole-of-government efforts to deliver tangible and sustainable social, environmental and economic benefits to local communities. There are now 11 regional co-ordinators covering the State. I commend the work of the Hunter regional co-ordinator, Ben Chard, and his staff, and also Dr Allan Pattison, Dr Bev Firth and the staff of the Hunter Economic Development Corporation for the work they are doing in investment and job creation. [Extension of time agreed to.] Another key objective of the Government is world-class hospitals. Less than 12 months ago the Minister for Health announced the effective rebuilding of Hunter health services and increased funding for recurrent health services in the Hunter. On many occasions in this House I have argued for a fair share of investment and recurrent expenditure for health in the Hunter. I congratulate the Minister for Health, because I believe he has delivered just that for the people in the Hunter. The Government's capital works program for health includes the redevelopment of Belmont Hospital, including a new emergency department, for the people of Lake Macquarie; and a new bone and joint centre and ambulatory care centre at John Hunter Hospital, providing world-class facilities for acute care services currently provided at the Royal Newcastle Hospital. This state-of-the-art facility is being designed so that all diagnostic and treatment services can be delivered to patients in one location. The program also includes the redevelopment of Mater Hospital, including a new emergency department, new wards and new facilities for treating cancer and blood disorders; a new polyclinic in the Newcastle central business district to deliver local services to inner-city residents, in the electorate of my colleague the honourable member for Newcastle, the Parliamentary Secretary in the chair— 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2031
Mr Gaudry: It's going to be built on the Burger King site.
Mr MILLS: As the honourable member for Newcastle reminds me, the Government has now chosen the location for that polyclinic in the Newcastle central business district. The capital works program for health also includes a second access road and increased car parking for John Hunter Hospital. The proposed construction and funding time lines for the project are: for the current financial year, $2 million to finalise planning; for 2002-03, $9 million to begin construction; for 2003-04, $30 million; for 2004-05, $75 million; and for 2005-06, $118 million to complete construction. This is in addition to extra funding of $27.8 million in the recurrent allocation to the Hunter Area Health Service.
The funds will be used to expand community health services, improve medical services in the lower Hunter, expand cancer services at the Mater Hospital, improve drug and alcohol services outside the Newcastle metropolitan area, provide an antenatal clinic in Cessnock, expand funding for the emergency department at John Hunter and Maitland hospitals, provide additional surgery at John Hunter, Royal Newcastle, Belmont and Maitland hospitals, enhance mental health services, expand intensive care services at John Hunter and Maitland hospitals, provide a paediatrics registrar at John Hunter Children's Hospital, improve renal services at John Hunter Hospital, expand palliative care services, improve stroke services outside the Newcastle metropolitan area, and improve dental services.
The capital works program I have referred to, which is called the Newcastle Strategy, is in addition to significant projects that are either under way or have already been completed in the Hunter. They include the Mater Hospital Cancer Institute project, which was opened in September last year; the Rankin Park Hospital redevelopment involving a $4.9 million refurbishment of the existing two-storey building, with improvements to aged and rehabilitation accommodation and the day hospital; and the establishment of the Hunter child- adolescent mental health unit and pathology building at John Hunter Hospital. The pathology building is now open and the child-adolescent mental health unit is under construction. Other projects include the redevelopment of John Hunter Hospital's emergency department, the relocation of the detoxification unit from the Wallsend campus to Belmont hospital, and the establishment of a parental unit at Wallsend. I commend the Government for continuing to provide funding for the projects that are still under construction.
If people went to John Hunter Hospital today the first thing they would see is a large number of demountable buildings. The emergency department has been relocated, construction of the new building is well and truly under way, and occupation of the demountable buildings appears to be proceeding reasonably smoothly. Overall, the Newcastle Strategy is on time and within budget. Construction of the new emergency unit at Belmont hospital will commence this month. Consultations with user groups have commenced, sketch designs should be completed this year, and development applications for the project should be processed before the end of the year. As I have said, the Minister for Health visited the Hunter to open the new pathology centre, a $17 million development to consolidate pathology activities onto one site adjacent to the hospital. The Hunter area pathology service is now able to provide pathology services across the Hunter, as well as to its networked partners in northern New South Wales, from a single major centre. The establishment of state-of-the-art computer links allows general practitioners to access test results in their surgeries.
The new building also houses a telehealth centre, funded through the 1997 NBN television telethon. It provides a home for staff and equipment in the important field of telehealth, which improves access to health care for people who live in isolated areas through telecommunications technology. Health interpreters can also take advantage of that service to improve access to health services for people of non-English-speaking background who live in remote areas. The area pathology service is a very innovative organisation. As well as providing a vital public health service it also generates revenue from private patients that is reinvested in public health services. A new digital imaging system, the Kodak Australasia Picture Archiving and Communications System, has been installed at John Hunter Hospital to replace the use of traditional film produced from X-rays.
All imaging examinations undertaken at John Hunter are now available for viewing on computers throughout the hospital. Films will no longer be printed for patients seen within John Hunter Hospital. The system allows diagnostic images to be electronically stored and viewed via a computer network. Images stored electronically cannot be misplaced or lost. Images are always available, and they can be viewed simultaneously by several people at different locations within the hospital. Images can be viewed anywhere and at any time. The system can automatically retrieve the patient's relevant prior images in comparison to the latest images. Images can be manipulated to improve viewing. The images do not deteriorate over time. The need for retakes is reduced, and therefore patients are exposed to lower radiation. The system eliminates occupational health and safety problems associated with the use of film. 2032 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
I congratulate the State Government on rebuilding the health system in the Hunter. I particularly commend the work that is funding the Mater redevelopment as part of the Newcastle Strategy, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the board of Hunter Health and the Mater Hospital to work together to develop the Mater Hospital into a more modern place. I commend the Minister for visiting John Hunter Hospital last year to plant a tree at Yallawah Place as part of the Kurrawong reconciliation project. Many distinguished visitors, local people and community members planted a tree in the grounds of John Hunter Hospital behind Yallawah Place as an exercise in reconciliation with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters in the Hunter.
Recently the Government introduced the repeat offenders bail legislation. Statistics show that 80 per cent to 90 per cent of crimes are committed by repeat offenders. Nothing is more frustrating for police officers and victims of crime than for criminal with a long history of offences to be arrested and charged, only to be let out again. More often than not that person will commit other crimes while on bail. It is a frustrating cycle. The Government has taken action that will make a lot of difference to people feeling safe in their communities. The legislation will remove the presumption in favour of bail for repeat offenders and gets them off the street to prevent them from committing crimes. I commend the Government for continuing to achieve progress on the recommendations of the May 1999 Drug Summit. In August last year Minister Della Bosca released the Partnership for Change report outlining progress. It was communicated to everyone who took part in the Drug Summit. An additional $170 million was allocated over 4 years to implement the recommendations of the summit.
The Government is expanding treatment to provide more and better options for people with a drug problem, moving drug offenders in the criminal justice system into treatment to reduce drug use and crime, supporting young people to prevent long-term drug problems, supporting parents because that can give children a better start in life, building skills because we need well-trained workers to deliver drug programs, developing partnerships with the community to tackle drugs at a local level, and building awareness about drug use and how to seek help. The Government has boosted efforts in law enforcement to reduce the supply of drugs. We are improving treatment and other services in regional areas. Recently, the MERIT program—magistrates early referral into treatment—commenced in the Hunter region as well as a community detoxification program.
Both programs offer new significant opportunities for rehabilitation for people addicted to illicit drugs. The Government has adopted an evidence-based approach to ensure that a significant additional investment in drug programs remains properly targeted. Another key object is to protect our unique environment. In the past three years the Government has spent more than $7.7 million to clean up the environment of Lake Macquarie. I trust that the Government will continue that investment. The Government has invested $2.7 million in the Hexham swamp rehabilitation project, a joint State-Federal project, to restore that wonderful wetland to its original condition to act as the best fish, prawn and crustacean nursery on the east coast.
Marine life could not survive in the swamp when it was fresh water. But the Hexham wetlands are being restored to their natural state. The Blue Gum Hills Regional Park is under way and by the end of this year I hope that people will be able to take advantage of the recreational opportunities available. The salinity audits and groundwater plans for the Hunter are in place, so we are taking steps to continue to improve and protect our environment in the Hunter region. I support the efforts in reconciliation outlined earlier by the Parliamentary Secretary, and I particularly commend the Government audit for the $200 million Aboriginal Community Development Program to improve the standard of living and health in regional and rural New South Wales for Aboriginal people.
Mr GEORGE (Lismore) [12.26 p.m.]: On behalf of the people in the Lismore electorate I congratulate Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir on her magnificent contribution to this State and Australia. I am pleased that the honourable member for Auburn is in the House. Both she and I are of Lebanese origin, as is the Governor, and we are equally proud of her achievements. I place on record our appreciation and congratulate her on the magnificent job she is doing. She gave a very detailed speech. I was particularly impressed by the statement that the Government values our rural and regional communities and is determined that they should have fair access to public sector services.
In country areas, especially the electorate of Lismore, we have public transport throughout the day, but once the five or four o'clock bus services finish in the major towns no regional public transport is available. I am sure that I speak not only on behalf of the Lismore electorate in that regard. It is ridiculous that in this day and age when people are taken out of their communities and placed in major hospitals—people west of the range at Bonalbo are taken to Lismore—others cannot visit them unless they have a car. I am sure that each and every 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2033 one of us would agree that part of the recuperation process involves having family around to help through that process. The Government—and, indeed, every government—should be providing more of those services to rural and regional New South Wales.
The Governor in her Speech went on to say that during 2002 the Government would finalise key regional natural resource management plans, including catchment management blueprints, water sharing plans and regional vegetation management plans. In the Lismore electorate the people most affected by those plans are those that the Government has divided from our community. The Government has not listened to their concerns. The committees have been structured against them, yet it is their livelihoods and the running of their businesses that are being affected by these Government committees. New South Wales Farmers has representatives on the committees but they have been a total farce, and that is unacceptable.
A couple of hundred farmers were at the Cabinet meeting at Evans Head. However, I have attended meetings at Casino to which 20 farmers were invited to discuss those regional plans, and 150 turned up. They certainly voiced their anger. I am not saying that all of the work done by those regional committees is totally wrong, but these people have grave concerns about their future and the future of agriculture as a result of the natural resource management plans that are being implemented throughout the State. I have sent plenty of correspondence to the committees and to the Minister relaying the concerns of people in my electorate. I assure the Minister that right across the rural sector of the State people are disgruntled about the process and totally reject it.
The Governor also spoke about an educated community. I was pleased when the Minister for Education and Training allocated a little more than $750,000 to the Lismore electorate out of the additional $70 million that was allocated to fund priority building and security upgrading in schools. I appreciate that allocation, which is separate from other capital expenditure that I have been seeking for schools in the Lismore electorate. This year we have finally received funds to carry out those works, and I give credit to the Minister for that. The Governor said in her Speech that the Government will continue to focus its literacy strategy on spelling, writing and reading. That still causes concern in the electorate and, I am sure, throughout the country areas because of the number of emotionally disturbed children who are attending schools without support. I continually get letters about problems associated with such children. People in country areas need support so that their children can continue to achieve at school.
I was pleased when the Minister for Education and Training came to my electorate and visited Wyrallah Road School and the Casino High School, which was judged by the Australian as the top school, having achieved a sustained and dramatic improvement. I congratulate Geoff Cousins and his staff, the pupils, the parents and citizens association and the community at large on what they have achieved at Casino High School and on winning that award. For the past 10 years the school has had a program designed to improve racial problems at the school. I commend the combined effort made by the whole school community over the past 10 years. Geoff Cousins and everyone associated with the program deserve to be congratulated.
The Governor referred to healthier communities. The Northern Rivers Area Health Service is based in Lismore. I am proud of that. We have had continual problems with mental and dental health services. I will continue to pursue extra funding to have those problems addressed. Sadly, my electorate probably has a greater problem with those services than other areas in the State. The problems have been ongoing since I became the member for Lismore. A multipurpose service was allocated to Kyogle and Nimbin two years ago, but we are still waiting for the final plans and capital funding to be approved. I look forward to that funding appearing in this year's budget, which is to be delivered in the next few weeks.
On a number of occasions I have spoken to the Minister about the problem with anaesthetists in my area. The problem has led to operating times being cut back in all hospitals for which the Northern Rivers Area Health Service is responsible. The cancellation of appointments for some patients on two or three occasions is totally unacceptable. Sometimes patients arrive at hospital to be told they will not be operated on. I call on the Minister and the Government to resolve these problems. The problem has not only occurred in the Lismore electorate; it is occurring right across rural and regional New South Wales.
The Governor then referred to safer communities. The Casino community has been demanding a 24- hour police station, and I have tabled documents in this House supporting that demand. The mayors of Casino and Lismore, Col Sullivan and Bob Gates, and I have made submissions to the Minister. The biggest problems are the number of vacant positions and long-term sick and stress leave throughout the Richmond Area Command. Those problems have to be addressed by the Minister and are causing major difficulties in relation to 2034 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 the number of police on the street. It is all very well to say that the local command has 150 police, but let me advise the House what happens in my community. The police have lovely four-wheel drive paddy wagons, as we refer to them, but at night they may have to travel 100 kilometres to a case in one of those vehicles. They do not travel on a flat four-lane highway; it is a two-lane highway. As my friend the honourable member for Baulkham Hills says, that is one lane going one way and one lane going the other way. The police have ranges to climb; they cannot travel at the speed at which one can go from one suburb to another in a highway patrol car.
I emphasise again that the Government has to address this major problem. The Government should fix the current problems with extra police officers. The current police staffing numbers are lower than the staffing numbers before the last election. Two financial years ago $250,000 was to be allocated to the Casino police station. I have now been advised that the allocation has been put on hold again. I am told the reason for the hold- up is because the tenders were a little over budget. The Minister for Police should not defer the allocation for another 12 months because building costs in the State are rising. I call on the Minister to address the problems at Casino police station, where police are working under extreme difficulties. Lismore police station is in urgent need of a new station. The mayor of Lismore and I made representations to the Minister for Police. I hope the Government will include the allocation in the next budget. I have spoken with the Minister about what can be done in Lismore. I hope that some action eventuates from my representations.
The Governor said in her Speech that crime prevention is not an issue for police alone. I do not believe that anyone in this State would disagree with that statement. The Richmond Local Area Command has been singled out for a pilot program of the new police accountability community [PAC] teams. I have already attended one meeting about that program. I will encourage the community to support the program so that we can address some of the problems in our area. The program involves the local community and will give members of the community the opportunity to highlight their concerns. A pilot program has already been set up in Casino and similar programs will also be set up in Lismore and Ballina. As it is a pilot program, everyone is treading water at the moment. I know that we will give the program our best shot. In relation to indigenous communities, the Governor said that this year the Government will link 10 communities to clean water and fix 15 sewerage systems. I have talked with the Minister on a number of occasions about the need by Aboriginal communities for clean water and sewerage systems in Woodenbong, Urbenville, Bonalbo and the Muli Muli Aboriginal Reserve. I call on the Minister to address that issue. The relevant departments are up to date with those requirements and action is well and truly overdue. I was pleased to hear in the Governor's Speech that the Government will address the problem. I hope that next week's budget will include funding for the communities I have referred to. The Governor also spoke about a fairer community. She said:
This session, the Government will introduce a number of bills to protect consumers and businesses. A great deal has happened in relation to insurance since the Governor made her Speech. I want to place on record, and I have raised with relevant Ministers, my concern about the Department of Fair Trading tribunals. They are run like circuses. I cannot describe them any other way. Although they are equivalent to the Local Court, people have trouble getting transcripts and appeals have to be made to the Supreme Court. One of my constituents rang me this morning and said that he had been told the results of a tribunal hearing, yet he had not been advised that the matter was to be heard. If the Government intends to introduce a number of bills to protect consumers and businesses, it should address that issue. Businesses and consumers, particularly in country areas, need protection. They have difficulty settling disputes using the mechanisms that are in place. In relation to transport and roads the Governor said:
The Government will release a new CityRail timetable on April 21, the product of significant community consultation. The Minister for Roads is well and truly aware of my concerns about the Murwillumbah to Lismore-Casino rail link. It needs a great deal of work. Anyone who has seen the bridges on that line would appreciate my concerns. The trains have to travel at about 10 kilometres per hour. The state of the rail line is totally unacceptable. The Summerland Way needs a continuation of funding and I ask the Minister to acknowledge that we need funding for the Legume to Woodenbong Road. I believe the Minister will be in that area next week. I trust that he will make some announcements when he is there. Recently Jack Hurley of the Kyogle Lions Club, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary this year, asked me to place on record the club's appreciation for the contribution by the Minister to Lions Road. Generally speaking, there is a big drug problem in my electorate. The community of Nimbin, which is in my electorate, needs special assistance. I will be making a submission in that regard. I thank the House for the opportunity to speak in the Address-in-Reply debate and I congratulate the Governor, Her Excellency Marie Bashir, on the job she is doing for this State. 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2035
Mrs PERRY (Auburn) [12.46 p.m.]: Her Excellency the Governor reminded us in her Speech at the opening of the third session of the Fifty-second Parliament that 2002 marks the centenary of women's suffrage in both the Commonwealth and New South Wales parliaments. In September last year I was honoured to be welcomed as the first woman of Lebanese origin to be elected to the New South Wales Parliament. I am honoured to join Her Excellency and my fellow members in acknowledging this significant milestone in our democratic journey. Her Excellency addressed the Christmas-New Year bushfires. I am sure all honourable members join in offering sympathy to the victims and deep gratitude to the firefighters and all who were involved in providing aid and comfort. I also acknowledge the work of those who are providing ongoing support, particularly in the immediate aftermath. Many members in this House have spoken about that support.
I have spoken in the past of the vibrant and rich diversity of our community in New South Wales, particularly in my electorate of Auburn. Further to her Excellency's commendation of the "authentic Australian heroes" of the summer of 2001-02, I would like to speak about the unity of our New South Wales community. My electorate was not directly threatened by the bushfires, yet various cultural groups rallied to support the community of New South Wales, which has become their home. I was privileged to attend with the Premier and the honourable member for Bankstown the presentation of a cheque for $10,000 to the Bushfire Appeal by the Lebanese Muslim association. I have recently received a donation of $1,000 from Mr Fakhruddin Chowdhury, representing the Bangladesh Islamic centre of New South Wales. This centre's mosque is located in Sefton and attracts a multicultural congregation from the area. I was also privileged to receive a visit from representatives of the Auburn Turkish community who presented a cheque for $4,000 for the Bushfire Appeal. As the Premier has said:
These are donations from the heart and show when one part of the State hurts, we all feel the pain … and respond.
Her Excellency acknowledged the school students who were watching or listening to the first New South Wales parliamentary speech broadcast live via the Internet. The Government has demonstrated its commitment to making use of advances in information technology to improve services in all areas of New South Wales and for a broad range of the population, regardless of age or locality. Her Excellency referred to the pilot e-summer school program initiated in partnership with the private sector this year. I attended both the opening and graduation ceremonies of the e-summer school held in January at Lidcombe TAFE, where 30 Western Sydney students, a number of them from my electorate, gained valuable information technology training and experience.
These students were selected on the basis of their interest or expertise in information technology, and were required to apply for a position in the e-summer school as though applying for an employment position. At the end of the course the students I met were overwhelmingly positive about the skills and experience they had gained and the insights they had achieved into career directions in the fields of telecommunications and information technology. In other education initiatives, the Government has demonstrated its commitment to providing New South Wales school students with quality education facilities. Newington Public School is an excellent example of an outstanding education environment and a demonstration of how the New South Wales Government is making good use of Olympic infrastructure. The school was originally designed to be used as a medical facility in the Olympic village during the 2000 Games. The medical fittings have been removed, and the site has been returned to the Department of Education and Training and converted into a public school which will eventually accommodate 420 students. The school has been built to modern design specifications with a view to installing the latest technology and equipment. I have become aware, through attending functions at local schools, that upgrading older schools in the Auburn-Bankstown area is an urgent issue for students, parents and teachers. To this end, $21 million has been allocated to schools' capital works in my electorate of Auburn. In a further commitment to educational capital works and maintenance, 14 public schools in the Auburn electorate have received an extra $676,496 for repairs and refurbishment as part of the $70 million boost to public school funding for this purpose across the State. That funding will fast-track many planned maintenance projects. Among the 14 local schools to receive assistance, Auburn Public School will receive $9,983 to replace floor coverings and $11,002 for an electrical system upgrade. Some $49,500 worth of structural repairs will be undertaken at Bankstown North Public School, and Chester Hill Public School will receive $100,000 for external movement area works. This funding will also support schools in enhancing the learning environments for students by providing joint funding with the installation of covered outdoor learning areas at Auburn Girls High School, Bankstown North Public School and Birrong Public School. Auburn West Public School has a new two-storey building, including eight classrooms, boys and girls toilets, a special room for group work, including music and choir practice, and facilities for people with 2036 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 disabilities, including a toilet, shower, change room and laundry, and landscaping. I am pleased to say that work on stage one of this $1.94 million upgrade has recently been completed. The development, like that at Newington school, has been completed according to the most modern design specifications, in line with the Carr Government's commitment to providing the State's students with educational facilities of the highest order.
At various school awards and end-of-year functions in 2001 I was delighted to congratulate local teachers and school principals on outstanding education results in the area of literacy, to which Her Excellency referred. Her Excellency also referred to the Government's $46 million package aimed at providing 11 new special schools, 17 tutorial centres and 46 specialist staff to help children with disruptive behaviour. I have been privileged to not only meet but work with the talented and dedicated Ms Kristen Ody, who has been appointed as Principal of the School for Special Purposes, to be named Karningul, in my electorate. I am sure this school will be an invaluable support to students with specific behavioural issues, their families and the network of schools from which they will be referred.
Her Excellency the Governor identified a number of the Government's health initiatives, including the largest capital works program in the State's history. The future of Auburn hospital has been guaranteed by the $21.5 million it has received from the $178.5 million allocated for Western Sydney area health services. Her Excellency noted that in 2002 the Government will implement stage two of its Youth Partnership with Arabic Speaking Communities program. I note that included in the stage two plan is an extension of police and community training initiatives focusing on improved understanding of cultural issues through both formal and informal contact. This will be an important and positive step in the New South Wales Government's crime prevention and community safety initiatives, building trust and co-operation between the community and law enforcement authorities.
The Government has also supported Auburn Council through funding from the urban improvement program, which addresses issues for the Auburn town square and main street sites. Among other things, this will assist in the implementation of the joint council and police community safety agreement between Auburn local area command and Auburn Council. The Government has demonstrated its commitment to a better future for Sydney neighbourhoods through the enhancement of community safety, co-operation and environment. Her Excellency referred to a multitude of issues which are before the Government. Today I have referred to only a few of them, but each achievement is part of a positive program for the future of New South Wales.
Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Fraser.
[Madam Acting-Speaker (Ms Beamer) left the chair at 12.57 p.m. The House resumed at 2.15 p.m.]
BILL RETURNED
The following bill was returned from the Legislative Council with amendments:
Bail Amendment (Repeat Offenders) Bill
Consideration of amendments deferred.
GAMING MACHINES BILL
Bill returned from the Legislative Council with amendments.
In Committee
Consideration of the Legislative Council's amendments.
Schedule of amendments referred to in message of 9 May
No. 1 Page 3, Schedule 1. Insert after line 29:
[5] Section 19 Transfer of poker machine entitlements
Insert after section 19 (5):
(6) However, a person is not, for the purposes of subsection (3) (c), to be considered as having a financial interest in a hotelier’s licence by reason only of the person being the owner of the hotel. 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2037
No. 2 Page 10, Schedule 1. Insert after line 10:
[35] Section 47A
Insert after section 47:
47A Prohibition on accepting transfer of prize winning cheques
(1) A person (other than a financial institution) must not accept the transfer of a cheque that the person knows, or could reasonably be expected to know, is a prize winning cheque.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a person who accepts the transfer of a prize winning cheque in, or within 500 metres of, a hotel or registered club is taken to know that the cheque is a prize winning cheque unless the contrary is proven.
(3) In this section:
prize winning cheque means a crossed cheque (as referred to in section 53 of the Cheques Act 1986 of the Commonwealth) that is paid by a hotelier or registered club as prize money to a person as a result of the person winning money or accumulating credits on an approved gaming machine.
Legislative Council's amendments agreed to on motion by Mr Face.
Resolution reported from Committee and report adopted.
Message sent to the Legislative Council advising it of the resolution.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Private Members' Statements: Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders Motion by Mr Face agreed to:
That standing and sessional orders be suspended to permit the consideration of private members' statements at 3.00 p.m. at this sitting. PRINTING OF PAPERS Motion, by leave, by Mr Face agreed to:
That the following papers be printed:
Report of the Attorney General's Department entitled "Report on the Review of the Forfeiture Act 1995', dated March 2002 Report and Determination of the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal pursuant to section 12 of the Act, dated 24 April 2002 Statistical Return for the By-Election held in the electoral district of Hornsby on Saturday 23 February 2002 Variations of the receipts and payments estimates and appropriations for 2001-2002, under section 26 of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, arising from the provision by the Commonwealth of specific purpose payments in excess of the amounts included in the State's receipts and payments estimates Variations of the payments estimates and appropriations for 2001-2002, in terms of section 24 of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, flowing from the transfer of functions between the Attorney General's Department and Treasury (Office of State Revenue) GOVERNOR'S SPEECH: ADDRESS-IN-REPLY Eighth Day's Debate Debate resumed from an earlier hour. Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [2.20 p.m.]: I am pleased to participate today in the Address-in-Reply to the Speech of Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales. I have had the great pleasure of knowing Professor Bashir and her husband, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, for a considerable time and I am sure that her term as Governor will be fondly remembered long after she has vacated that office. I also participate in this Address-in-Reply debate—as I have in these debates over much of the past three decades—with some fondness, because it was in just such a debate, on 14 August 1973, that I spoke for the first time in this Chamber. On that occasion I spoke of the many challenges and opportunities confronting the Newcastle and Hunter region of this State. Today I want to speak about some of the key issues affecting my portfolios of 2038 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
Hunter Development and Gaming and Racing. Undoubtedly, those portfolios have undergone considerable change in recent years. As anyone with any life experience will know, many people do not like change, no matter how compelling and obvious the need for it is. Many people in all walks of life hanker after the good old days when, allegedly, life was always much easier and simpler. A fair proportion of people who have interests in my particular portfolio areas have a similar view. They miss the time when they could expect to retire from a major mining or industrial company after having worked hard all their life. They miss the time when, if they wanted to put a few more gaming machines in their premises, they could simply go out and buy as many as they liked. And they miss the time when they could run their businesses pretty much as they liked, without any regard for the longer term social consequences of what they were doing. I emphasise that these people belong to a small, albeit vocal, group that cannot accept change. But whether we like it or not, the world is a very different place from what it was when my contemporaries were growing up—and events like the tragedy of September 11 show how quickly change can take place and how substantial it can be. It is both foolish and negligent for responsible governments to ignore it. Since entering this Parliament over 29 years ago I have witnessed many changes in the Hunter region. As Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development for the past seven years I have worked hard to ensure that the Hunter confronts and manages its transformation from a largely smokestack economy to one that is capable of supporting a large and diverse range of domestically competitive, export-ready industries When I first entered this Chamber back in 1972 Newcastle was an industrial city well known for traditional industries such as steelmaking, manufacturing and coalmining. From then to now, after years of closures and downsizing of traditional industries, the Hunter has emerged with a new economy and a new identity. At times it has been painful. At times it has been dreadfully sad in human terms, but one event, the closure of Newcastle steelworks, proved to be a watershed for the region. It provided the opportunity to repackage the area and shed that old smokestack image. A positive, proactive community attitude has attracted new jobs and investment to the Hunter. I thank the people of the Hunter community, regardless of where they sit in the political spectrum, because everybody has positively co-operated. Information technology, call centres, filmmakers, boatbuilders, health researchers and people in the hospitality field are creating real, long-term jobs through growth in small- to medium-size enterprises. In recognition of the natural beauty of the Hunter, the region now has a strong and ever-growing financially viable tourism sector. New tourism infrastructure in Newcastle includes a number of international hotels, one with a five-star rating—a rating that Newcastle city has long yearned. Located in the vineyards are numerous world-class resorts that are unparalleled anywhere else in Australia. Late last year the Premier welcomed the first direct flight from New Zealand to Newcastle airport. As the first international flight into New South Wales to an airport outside Sydney it was an important milestone. At present there are two such flights a week, but I believe the number will steadily increase. I have heard the company is recording good flight loadings. The region is also fast emerging as a world leader in agribusiness—to some degree doing what was done 100 years ago—wine production and horse breeding. Our reputation as a reliable producer of cheap, clean coal also continues in the international marketplace. The Hunter region has an impressive competitive advantage: it is approximately 2½ hours drive from Sydney at the worst times of the day and has a network of highly effective road, rail, air and sea links. The region's advantages include: plentiful greenfield land at a fraction of Sydney prices; easy access to Sydney; the gateway to the mid North Coast and west of the Divide; Australia's biggest regional market, sometimes used as a test market; home of Australia's largest tonnage export port; world competitive mining, engineering and cutting edge technology; and a large professional, skilled labour force and strong industrial relations record. Its industrial relations record was not good in the early 1970s but with the co-operation of the Trades Hall, unions, employers and employees, it is the envy of other regions in Australia. Further advantages include: up to a 15 per cent savings in costs for companies relocating from Sydney; innovative business support and networks—especially the Department of State and Regional Development, the Hunter Economic Development Corporation and proactive local councils; strong, diverse industry clusters; and unrivalled private investment opportunities in the heart of the city through Newcastle's Honeysuckle urban renewal project. The Newcastle airport, within 25 minutes drive of the city centre, has direct flights to Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, the Gold Coast and Brisbane and direct international flights to New Zealand. Recently one Sunday night a delegation of people from the civil aviation authority in China looked at the structure of the Newcastle airport. I do not suggest that an immediate outcome of that visit will be direct flights to Newcastle from China, but that is a long-term possibility. The mere fact that they inspected the site was encouraging. 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2039
The airport is strategically positioned for future industry and defence business opportunities, and there are long-term strong possibilities for the carriage of airfreight with the continued demands on Sydney Kingsford Smith airport. If freighting into Newcastle airport becomes a reality, deliveries could be made to the western suburbs of Sydney from Newcastle in quicker time than from Sydney-Mascot-Erskineville. The Hunter is the State's largest export port and the world's largest coal export port. The $1.2 billion Minehunter project has been a major port-related industry. Kooragang Island industrial land provides an opportunity for the location of new port-related industries to the region. There are not many places on the eastern seaboard that can boast deep- water wharfage in a safe harbour.
The Honeysuckle development is a 50 hectare harbourside revitalisation project with a $100 million budget for infrastructure. Not to be outdone by what is happening in the lower Hunter, the upper Hunter is also undergoing a major transformation with new industrial land opening up for major development. It has a strong equine industry, with an export market, unparalleled anywhere in Australia and a commitment to diversify its agriculture base by experimenting with new crops for export. The new crops for the Hunter, already under way in the Merriwa, Scone and Muswellbrook areas are based on a New Zealand South Island model.
As the Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development, I am proud to say that the State Government is in the forefront of promoting the Hunter through the Department of State and Regional Development and the Hunter Economic Development Corporation, both of which can provide financial assistance and practical advice to investors wanting to establish or relocate in the Hunter. Those two organisations, together with my office, the Premier's Department and a regional co-ordinator, present a united front for attracting investment into the region. In the past few years many firms have relocated to the Hunter—a region with a work force, infrastructure and lifestyle second to none. It is a decision that they do not regret.
Upon my appointment as Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development in 1995 I established the Hunter Beyond 2000 Committee. I recognised the fact that BHP intended to process steel using the arc method rather than the integrated method. However, it came to pass that BHP closed its steel-making operations altogether. The committee was established in response to indications that BHP and other manufacturing industries would close in the future. This move has provided a forum that allows senior business leaders and others from diverse backgrounds, including the union movement—I insisted that its representatives serve on the committee—to form a united front and encourage business and investment, and ultimately jobs, in the Hunter.
The Hunter Export Centre was established to raise the profile of exports and encourage a stronger export culture in the business and general sectors of the Hunter community. As a consequence exports have proved to be a major source of investment and jobs in the Hunter. I have had the privilege of leading several overseas delegations and trade missions. I have always argued that exports present the main long-term growth opportunities for the region. One in five jobs in regional Australia now depends on exports. Small and medium- sized firms in regional New South Wales are increasingly answering the export call, growing their businesses and creating more jobs to meet demand.
As I said, I was privileged to lead four successful trade missions and to support many others. To date more than 45 countries involved in trade missions organised by the Hunter Export Centre have achieved in excess of $35 million in export sales. The wine industry has been a major beneficiary of these missions following a successful trade mission to China in 2001. Monarch Wines signed a memorandum of understanding to promote Hunter wines throughout China and formed a new winery, First Creek wines, to export wine to China through the Kingold Group. Other Hunter export companies include Minco Mining of Cardiff, PCWI International and Birnam Wood Wines—and the list continues.
Since 1995 there has been a steady flow of jobs to the region, with British Aerospace establishing the assembly of the Royal Australian Air Force new lead-in fighter training aircraft at Williamtown. This $1 billion project, which generated up to 610 jobs for the Hunter, is proof positive that we have the skills, advantages and the attitude to play and succeed in the big league. The steelworks closure announcement in 1997 led to funding of $10 million for the Hunter Advantage Fund and Investment Attraction Marketing Program. The Hunter Advantage Fund has attracted 1,926 jobs, while the Investment Attraction Marketing Program is on target and has been identified as a model for the regeneration of Japanese industrial regions.
To meet the special needs of the Upper Hunter, I established the Upper Hunter Beyond 2000 Committee in February 1998. I recognised that this region faced the same problems—unemployment, limited business opportunities and so on—as the Lower Hunter. The committee planned to address the issue of unemployment in the five Upper Hunter shires. It has had many successes including the establishment of a 2040 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
Cessnock private irrigation district and its extension to Broke Fordwich—which is almost complete—the development of the Donaldson and Nardell Mines in the Upper Hunter, and the release of the Upper Hunter buffer zones. These had been stagnant for some time and the project was in the too-hard basket when I was appointed to the ministry. However, it was announced recently that brick manufacturers would use about half a million tonnes of fly-ash—a power station by-product—every year. The committee has encouraged initiatives such as Crops for the Hunter and the establishment of a State Government assistance package of around $250,000 to upgrade Scone airport and develop an aviation industrial park. This project is expected to generate 90 jobs and inject millions of dollars into the local economy. The Carr Government's 1998 launch of the Call Centre Attraction Program prompted the emergence of call centres in the Hunter region and the creation of more than 1,200 full-time jobs. Call centres have become the fastest-growing sector of the Australian economy. Since 1998 we have seen the official opening of the Roads and Traffic Authority call centre, which created 150 jobs, and the Commonwealth Bank call centre, which created 350 jobs. The Teletech call centre took more than 90 jobs from Impulse Airlines when it merged with Qantas. The final closure of BHP steelworks in 1999 led to the establishment of the Steel River Industrial Estate in an effort to attract new industry to Newcastle. Steel River is a valuable industrial site situated close to the port and other infrastructure and it continues to progress. Some thought that it would be filled overnight, but that was never the intention. Newcastle and the Hunter are also very proud of their sporting achievements. The Newcastle Knights have certainly done Newcastle proud and put us on the map as far as rugby league football is concerned. Some people—not me—claim that it is no coincidence that Newcastle has won two premierships during my tenure as Hunter development Minister. That is probably an overstatement. The successful eighth Australian Masters Games was immensely valuable to the region. It was certainly the best Masters Games ever held in this country—Canberra will have to work hard to beat our achievement. Newcastle has certainly carried the sporting focus for the past few years. But that is nothing new: Newcastle and the Hunter region have always had a strong sporting tradition, and many premier athletes have come from this area. The Newcastle-Hunter region is a most beautiful venue in which to host major sporting events. This becomes more apparent as time passes. The New South Wales Surf Life Saving Association recently held its junior, masters and State titles in the region and will return to Blacksmiths beach next year. Next year's netball State age titles will also be held in the area. The advantages of the Hunter region as a sporting venue were quite clear to the 12,600 visitors, 11,160 contestants and 1,166 officials and their families who attended the eighth Australian Masters Games last October. The event certainly generated considerable financial benefits and a general appreciation of the region. That is true of the many activities that have been attracted to the Hunter. This is event-related tourism, and other parts of the State should emulate our achievements in that regard. [Extension of time agreed to.] The Hunter offered Masters Games competitors and visitors wonderful opportunities to enjoy the region's tourist attractions, including lakes, beaches, rivers and vineyards. It also offered lessons in early Australian history, a strong sporting tradition, excellent sporting facilities and an active and vibrant social scene. Positive indications for the Hunter are further demonstrated by the proposals to establish three major steel projects in the Hunter: Austeel, Protech and Hunter Specialty Steel. If successful, they will offer the region a glimpse of the future with an echo of the past. With an estimated investment of $150 million, SaskTel Telecommunications is already setting up in the Hunter. SaskTel International intends to construct a competitive broadband customer access network, offering voice telephony, pay television and dial-up and high-speed Internet services to the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas that will extend to other parts of the Hunter. The company will employ up to 200 people during the construction period and 160 during its operating period. SaskTel will build its national headquarters in the region and will be involved with the local community—in the same way as it is involved in Regina in its home province of Saskatchewan, Canada, which I visited last year as a representative of the Government. On the high-tech home front, Soul Pattinson Telecommunications last year signed a contract with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast to the Asia-Pacific. SPT, a Newcastle company, has made a strong commitment to the Hunter's film and television industry by establishing a new television station, which will employ up to 45 new staff over the next three years. SPT was intimately involved in Papua New Guinea's first commercial television station in the late 1970s, and this deal will continue that company's trailblazing efforts. These developments represent a proud record of achievement that fully justify the Carr Government's innovative appointment of a Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development. While much remains to be done, it is a privilege for me to serve the people of Newcastle and the Hunter in that capacity. 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2041
I want now to talk briefly about some issues relevant to my other portfolio—that of Gaming and Racing. I must say I was disappointed to hear some intemperate remarks made earlier in this debate by the shadow Minister for Gaming, the honourable member for Upper Hunter. In his speech in this debate, the shadow Minister criticised the increase in gaming machine numbers under this Government. I know he is new to the portfolio so I am tempted to forgive him for not being aware of the facts. So let us look at the facts.
When the Carr Government came to office in 1995 there were 73,814 gaming machines in 3,247 clubs and hotels throughout New South Wales. Under the Gaming Machines Act, gaming machines in clubs and hotels will be capped at 104,000. There are currently around 3,228 clubs and hotels in this State with gaming machines. In simple terms, that means that since 1995 the total number of gaming machines in clubs and hotels will have increased by 40.9 per cent. Under the Gaming Machines Act, they will not increase any more. I emphasise that there will be no more growth in machine numbers.
It should also be noted that over the same time—1995 to now—the number of clubs and hotels operating gaming machines has remained static—falling marginally by around 0.6 per cent. So what happened between 1988 and 1995, during the time of the former Coalition Government—a Government of which the shadow Minister was such a senior member? In June 1988 there were 52,300 gaming machines in this State, spread across 2,670 clubs and hotels. From 1988 to 1995 there was an increase in total gaming machine numbers of 41.1 per cent—compared with the total increase of 40.9 per cent under the Carr Government from 1995 until we capped them.
In relation to the number of venues operating gaming machines, there was a 21.6 per cent increase when the Coalition was in office, compared with slightly fewer outlets during the time of this Government. These machine numbers include approved amusement devices [AADs]. While they are not as popular today, 10 years ago the draw poker game on the AAD was hugely popular with hotel patrons, just as Queen of the Nile or Mr Cashman are popular types of poker machines today. When Garry West—a person whom I respect—was Chief Secretary, without any ceremony he and his Government increased the maximum number of machines that hotels could operate overnight from five to 10. To disregard AADs in the counting game just ignores history.
So what did the previous Government do about these increases? The number of gaming machines increased by a similar proportion during their term of government while the number of places where people could go and gamble skyrocketed. So what did the previous Government do? Well, they did not do a lot. Under the Coalition there was absolutely no strategy to control the number of gaming machines in this State, or even the number of venues operating them. Did the Coalition establish some sort of commission to control the numbers? Of course it did not. Did the Coalition bring to this House one single piece of legislation imposing controls on clubs and hotels to minimise gambling-related harm and to promote responsible gambling? The answer to that, of course, is no.
If you were to believe the Opposition, you would be convinced that gambling problems and increases in gaming machine numbers did not start happening in this State until this Government came to office in 1995. The truth is that the Carr Government was left to pick up the pieces of the Coalition's negligence over the period it occupied the Treasury benches. It spent almost nothing on gambling counselling services, it commissioned no real research whatsoever, and it simply ignored the need to create a safer gambling environment. Its failure to act when it was in government meant that the opportunity was lost to nip in the bud many of the current problems that I and my Government currently face. The shadow Minister, however, is not alone when it comes to distorting or misrepresenting the facts in this debate. In his speech in reply, the shadow Treasurer, honourable member for Vaucluse, complained about alleged tax increases under this Government and referred among others to keno licence fees and poker machines taxation. I suggest that the shadow Minister go and speak to any of the hundreds of small to medium size clubs in this State who will tell him the real story. A club earning $200,000 gaming machine revenue under the previous Government will tell him that it paid an extraordinary $23,500 State gaming machine tax under the previous Government. And it paid this amount every single year. Under reforms introduced by this Government, that same club earning that revenue pays absolutely no State gaming machine tax—not a cent. In fact, the gaming machine tax rates for both clubs and hotels now rank among the lowest in the country and, what is more, we have locked them in for another 2½ years. As for keno, I have no idea what the shadow Treasurer is talking about. There has never been a licence fee for the game, and under the Carr Government there has been no increase in the duty rates. The shadow Treasurer really needs to check his facts before he launches into these ridiculous attacks. 2042 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
In his contribution to this debate, the shadow Minister also complained about the Government's position on further gaming reforms relevant to the design of gaming machines. I have addressed this in detail in answer to a question in another place and I will not go into it again here. But I want to reiterate that the Government has not abandoned plans to modify technical standards for gaming machines. On the contrary, this Government will not shy away from any sensible and balanced measures that will work to minimise the sometimes devastating effects of problem gambling in this State.
I should point out, however, that the Opposition's criticisms on the technical standards issue rings hollow when one looks at their record. Do not forget that it was the previous Government that first introduced note acceptors on poker machines in 1994. With tokenisation introduced in 1992, these design changes coincided with a virtual doubling of poker machine turnover over that period—from $10.8 billion in 1992 to an extraordinary $20 billion just three years later in 1995. Again, this Government has been left to deal with the hands-off approach by the previous Government. We are achieving things through very clear and focused gambling harm-minimisation strategy. As part of this, we are creating a safer gambling environment by imposing a substantial—but balanced—range of controls on all commercial gambling operators. These include: a ban on gaming machine related signage, mandatory training for club and hotel staff, mandatory self-exclusion schemes for those venues, and the display of various warnings and player information material.
In addition, we are enhancing the community's awareness of the impacts of problem gambling, including a major public awareness program that will be launched shortly. And we are establishing an accessible and effective network of treatment and support services. In this regard, the "Policy Framework on Treatment Services for Problem Gamblers and their Families in New South Wales—Strategic Directions 2002-2006", which I launched last year, lays down a comprehensive road map for policy, planning and funding decisions about the provision and co-ordination of problem gambling treatment services. We are also funding a comprehensive research program into all aspects of problem gambling and to find out what works and what does not.
Finally, in the limited time available to me this afternoon, I turn to another crucial policy area within the Gaming and Racing portfolio—that of liquor regulation. I can assure all members of this House that problems that can be associated with liquor trading—such as noise, violence and antisocial behaviour—continue to be a priority for the Carr Government. The liquor harm-minimisation strategy, which was introduced in 1996 by this Government, has had some successes in combating many of these problems. I am also pleased that the strategy has received strong support from members of the liquor industry and police.
Although many of the liquor accords have had some degree of success, the success of accords relies on the efforts put in by the police, licence venues and local stakeholders. Accords fail where the effort is withdrawn, and there is not a good outcome for local communities. The Government thanks all those who have worked hard—police, councils and venues elsewhere—and put in an effort on accords for the benefit of local communities. However, I am looking at a range of things. For example, I am concerned about the contribution that bring-your-own restaurants make to liquor problems. No-one is suggesting that bring-your-own restaurants, which are popular, should in any way be harmed.
However, bring-your-own restaurant staff are not currently required to be trained in the responsible service of liquor, nor do general response service principles apply to those premises. I have received strong representations on this issue in recent times, including from other industry groups, and this House may be assured that if there is a problem with this sector of the industry, it will be fixed. I will also examine a range of problems affecting off-licence practices, such as the taking away of liquor from licensed premises after a certain time at night. It may well be necessary to turn back the clock and decide that no liquor is to be taken away from licensed premises after 10 o'clock. A lot of alcohol-related problems are literally spilling onto the streets, and people are fed up. I will also examine the range of hours, especially the idea of people entering licensed premises after 1.00 a.m. That may well be tested in a range of premises in places throughout New South Wales. All these ideas are very much in the embryonic stages, but the severity of the problem is reflected in comments made by members on both sides of the Chamber, in questions upon notice and in contributions made by honourable members to debates. Statements made by honourable members indicate that they are very concerned about the use and abuse of liquor and about antisocial behaviour. It must fairly be said that much antisocial behaviour is connected with drug abuse, but antisocial behaviour is a community problem, and it is a problem that must be addressed by Parliament. I will certainly have more to say on that subject in the future. Mr O'FARRELL (Ku-ring-gai) [2.50 p.m.]: The speech delivered by the Governor, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, AC, was written for her by the State Government—the Carr Labor Government. The 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2043 speech, and the programs and initiatives it contained are underpinned by the philosophy and political beliefs of Labor. They represent an outlook that is alien to my side of politics. The significant difference between the Liberal and Labor parties is that we Liberals trust people, and Labor does not. Liberals believe that individuals and families should have maximum control in determining their lives, whereas Labor prefers to make decisions for people. Liberals believe that the role of government is to lay the foundations to allow people to realise their full potential and, by so doing, contribute to the wellbeing of the community in which we live, but Labor fears achievement and is driven by the politics of jealousy and envy. Liberals understand that only the private sector, driven by human effort and ingenuity, can guarantee continued improvements to living standards for all. Labor erroneously believes that the public sector can fulfil the role. Labor's distrust of people, its dislike of people making choices for themselves and its distaste for individual achievement is evident throughout this Government and across its programs. That attitude manifests itself in my electorate of Ku-ring-gai in a number of ways. Today, again, I will deal in detail with planning across the municipality of Ku-ring-gai. For more years that I care to remember, Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council has been grappling with the State Government's attempts to impose higher density developments through State environmental planning policy [SEPP] 53. I again place on the public record my belief that the current council has been penalised by the State's planning authorities for the sins of both omission and commission of past councils. While I share community concern about the amount of time that this issue has been allowed to drag on, and at times the lack of a sense of urgency by both sides to resolve the issue, the fact is that the current council has endeavoured to meet the demands of Planning New South Wales. The council's task has been made all the harder by the failure of Planning New South Wales—I pause to confess that I prefer the old title, DUAP, which of course stood for developers underwriting ALP policies—to set clear goals. As I have said previously, it is like being asked to sit a maths exam, not having been given the questions and, when marked down, not being told where mistakes were made. That being said, it is patently obvious to the residents of Ku-ring-gai that the Carr Government and its planning bureaucrats hold all the cards. That was made very clear in the decision by the Minister for Planning to take over planning control for a number of sites. Labor's determination to act centrally to impose its will and its refusal to trust people to make decisions for themselves is very apparent in that action. Let me examine two of those sites. A site at Lindfield Avenue, which is the subject of media speculation in relation to the construction of an eight-storey building, is an inappropriate proposal because it is situated at the point of the Balfour Street underpass to the Pacific Highway and the Lindfield Avenue intersection. That intersection is a nightmare as it presently stands, but with increased density associated with the construction of an eight-storey building the situation will only worsen. At Avon Road and Pymble Avenue at Pymble the existing traffic problems will be made worse by unit developments that are being considered by Planning New South Wales for the site. These problems, which relate to traffic congestion at both sites and the manifestation of a clear lack of understanding in determining that the Minister will have direct planning control over them, highlight the fundamental weakness of Labor's centralised planning philosophy. If people do not know an area or locality, they will make mistakes. It is clear by the earmarking of those two sites that Labor's planning bureaucrats have no idea of existing problems. As I have said previously, they have no commitment to matching infrastructure and services to the population densities that they are trying to force upon communities such as Ku-ring-gai. In February the previously secret Christie reports on the state of Sydney's rail system were detailed in the media. Those reports highlighted a rail system in crisis, bursting at the seams, and in desperate need of maintenance and upgrade. The size of the problem was evident by the price that Mr Christie put on his proposals—a whopping $29 billion. Yet the whole SEPP 53 policy is predicated upon higher density developments close to railway stations so that more use can be made of the rail system. However, Mr Christie has said that the rail system cannot cope now. How on earth will it be able to cope if new densities are imposed? Anyone who catches a train in peak periods knows the overcrowding problems that currently exist. Regular commuters know that the state of the rolling stock and 80 new Millennium carriages that are being delivered two years late will not scratch the surface in relieving the problem in a 1,500-strong CityRail fleet. Here we have the best evidence of the gap between Labor's rhetoric and reality—a policy built upon the mirage of a foundation, or on Labor's utter unfitness for office. But still the relentless bullying and threats to Ku-ring- gai municipal council continue. Again I am pleased that the Liberal Party trusts individuals and recognises the role and importance of local decision making in local planning matters. Again I state that we are committed to repeal SEPP 53 and empower local government to determine such matters in the future. I will continue to work to try to achieve an outcome that both protects Ku-ring-gai's unique residential and environmental amenity and rejects Labor's determination to impose inappropriate developments upon the community that I am privileged to represent in this Chamber. 2044 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
I make no bones about my preference for suitable sites being identified under this policy along the highway and adjacent to appropriate railway stations or developments, if necessary, as a way of protecting the deeper suburbs upon which Ku-ring-gai is based, but my first preference is for no action to be taken until March next year, and only then after the election of a Liberal Government, which will repeal this policy But if something has to happen in the meantime, I have outlined my position forcefully. When Parliament resumed in February this year I sought and obtained a commitment to ensure that the Minister for Planning would be prepared to meet with the council, if the council thought that was appropriate, to try to further resolve the matter. I have passed that on to the council, and I have made the point that, as the area's State parliamentary representative, I am prepared to continue to be an intermediary in the negotiations.
I also again make the point to the residents of Ku-ring-gai that the Carr Government holds all the cards. Unless the Government is prepared to put off this matter until after the next State election, there clearly will be movement before then, and that movement will not be to the advantage of the Ku-ring-gai community. Another issue that reflects Labor's centralised approach to planning relates to SEPP 5. Infill SEPP 5 developments, which are permitted only because of Labor's amendments to a statewide planning instrument, are out of control in the Ku-ring-gai community. These developments are fundamentally and permanently changing the character and amenity of streets and neighbourhoods across Ku-ring-gai. Despite Labor's centrally imposed policy being flawed, and having been proved to be flawed, it continues to damage my community and other communities across the city.
Even though SEPP 5 developments are meant to provide housing for aged or disabled persons over 55 years, it has been recognised that that provision is impossible to police or enforce and that it is being abused. As recently as last Sunday I was told by a resident that when she inquired of a local estate agent about the ownership restrictions of a SEPP 5 unit, she was told that her son could buy such a unit. Despite Government claims that infill SEPP 5 developments offer greater affordability of housing choice for the target audience, units in the part of Sydney where my electorate is located are currently selling for $800,000. No senior wants to take on a mortgage at that stage of life. Labor's review of infill SEPP 5 actually worsens the situation by ensuring that these developments can be built away from the types of services that seniors and disabled people require.
Previously those sorts of developments were to be located near railway stations and shopping centres that provide what are termed relevant services, but now they simply have to be close to bus stops—irrespective of the frequency of bus services and regardless of whether bus services operate on weekends. While pursuing a policy which, by its nature, increases population density, the State Government also refuses point-blank to accept that increased densities will require upgrading of State services and infrastructure. North Turramurra provides a good example of that. Peak hour traffic access from Bobbin Head Road to Burns Road and the Eastern Arterial is the single biggest issue raised by local residents of North Turramurra. If the massive SEPP 5 developments that are planned for North Turramurra proceed, these problems will worsen dramatically; yet the State Government refuses to concede this point or similar points about the impact of such developments upon sewerage and water supplies and other State services.
Of more concern is the potential threat that is posed to developments in this part of my electorate by bushfire. I am not, and will not be, alarmist on this point, but North Turramurra has a history of being affected by fire. It is essentially a peninsula jutting out into Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. When Sydney was in the midst of a fire crisis earlier this year, both the Premier and the Minister for Planning stated that SEPP 5 developments would not be allowed in bushfire-prone areas. When I raised with the Premier proposed developments in North Turramurra, pointed out the area's fire history, and sought action on his statement, the Premier simply referred me to the Minister for Planning. The Minister for Planning has so far failed to offer any hope of stopping SEPP 5 developments in North Turramurra.
In the past week I have twice raised this issue with the Minister for Planning. A particularly large SEPP 5 development is proposed for North Turramurra adjacent to the entrance to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. In both instances I brought to his attention evidence from State fire agencies that raise real concerns about the safety of residents in the proposed units in the event of a bushfire. A letter from New South Wales Fire Brigades drew attention to the bushfire hazard that exists and recommended a course of action, and Phil Koperberg of the Rural Fire Service made a statement that was publicly reported. I have asked the Minister to intervene, to ensure that the safety issues are resolved before any approval is granted.
In relation to North Turramurra generally, I have raised with him the idea of having a moratorium on all SEPP 5 developments until such time as he can satisfy the public and council that the increased densities being proposed by him will be matched by increases in State services, and that emergency evacuation 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2045 procedures will be in place in the event of a bushfire crisis. It has been estimated that North Turramurra peninsula may have as many as 4,000 people. At a time of crisis, with one road in and out, there are real concerns in relation to evacuations. I again asked the Minister for Planning to address the specific issue of the large SEPP 5 development and the general issue of what is happening with infill SEPP 5 developments across the North Turramurra peninsula. However, the Premier is a clever politician: from time to time he will chorus community concerns on a particular issue and promise action, but somehow his relevant Minister always seems able to continue the flawed program apace—and it is no different in this case.
I support the provision of this type of housing for our aged and disabled citizens. I recognise that in my community there are some good infill SEPP 5 developments, including some large ones, but there are real safety concerns about a large SEPP 5 development. The infill SEPP 5 developments generally are changing the traditional character, residential amenity and lifestyle across the Kuring-gai municipality. The location of this sort of housing is a matter for councils and their communities; it should not be imposed from upon high from Macquarie Street or Phillip Street.
Whilst I may not always agree with everything local government does or how it does it, I recognise and acknowledge the role it has in our Federation. Local governments have been developed to provide local services and to undertake local planning decisions. I believe they should be allowed to do just that. Labor, with its distrust of individuals and its obsession with power, prefers to maintain control, and the Ku-ring-gai community is worse off as a result. I am pleased that the Liberal Party is committed to repealing Labor's infill SEPP 5 policy and replacing it with a policy which allows local councils, through their elected representatives, to provide such housing in appropriate locations in their area.
In the time left to me I want to move from a particularly electorate-based issue to a larger issue which, whilst concerning people in my electorate, is of more statewide significance. Labor's lack of trust of people and its jealousy and envy of those who achieve was highlighted in a recent controversy over poker machines in hotels. Following an alleged expose in the Daily Telegraph about a number of people who own multiple hotels in New South Wales, the Premier grandly announced—as he is often wont to do—a review of hotel ownership.
Quite why multiple ownership is an issue is anyone's guess. If I want to own a chain of butcher shops or if the honourable member for Liverpool wants to own a chain of legal firms, what business is that of anyone save ourselves—with the exception of any concerns about monopoly practices? But that was not the issue that was being raised in the newspaper. Yet the Premier, at the behest of a beat-up, a tabloid crusade, ordered an inquiry into multiple hotel ownership. And a beat-up expose it was! One could almost be forgiven for thinking that Mr Murdoch senior was visiting Australia and had to be impressed. Surely the Murdoch family has succeeded precisely because of its multiple media ownership in this country and around the world. I have no problem applauding and admiring the Murdochs for their success. But I find it hard to fathom why they would denigrate others who have also been successful—and denigration it was.
Arthur Laundy is the person concerned. I know Arthur, and he is a fine man. He has contributed mightily to the hotel industry in this State. He has stuck with the industry through thick and thin. And believe me, not that many years ago it was a very thin industry. It was marginal and people in it struggled. Few, if any, members of this House would want to appear on the front page of Sydney's largest newspaper photographed as Mr Laundy was. I would not swap places with Mr Launda, and I suspect that few citizens would have swapped places with him. I cannot and will not criticise any news outlet for running a factual, well-researched story. But I can and will criticise cheap sensationalism dressed up as fact. I will condemn the stupidity of providing the full names of business people who operate in an industry where armed hold-ups and attacks are not unknown. And I will condemn the type of invasion of privacy Mr Laundy was subjected to, and the vilification directed at others in the industry.
If Mr Laundy and his colleagues own multiple pubs, so what? Rather than offending some law, they are to be admired for sticking with an industry which has had a difficult past. Hotels sell alcohol and have poker machines, and both are legal. Hoteliers go about their business in a lawful way. They are subjected to as much, if not more, intrusion, inspection and regulation by government as most industries are. If they infringe the law or act in an inappropriate way they are dealt with appropriately under the laws of this State. I do not understand why, seemingly on a regular basis, hoteliers and their industry become the targets of media beat-ups.
If people have a problem with the gaming laws they should take it up with political parties or the Government, and if they are still not satisfied they should take it out on political parties or the Government at election time. If people have a problem with alcohol they should act similarly. But, for goodness sake, deal with 2046 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 the Government and the political parties and leave the operators alone. If the law changes, those operators, of course, will comply. But they are not responsible for enacting the liquor or gaming laws; we are. People should get off the backs of the hotel industry and get onto ours if they have a problem. People should make no mistake about the importance of the hotel industry to New South Wales. The 2,500 hotels employ more than 40,000 people, many of whom are our young people. [Extension of time agreed to.]
Many of those young people start their working careers working part time in pubs. Most of us were introduced to live music in hotels. An estimated 25,000 live band performances occur in New South Wales hotels each year, and 93 million meals are served each year in hotel bars and dining rooms. Hotels pump $30 million a year into charity, sporting and community groups. The Greengate Hotel at Killara is one of only two hotels in my electorate. Last year Ku-ring-gai Meals on Wheels was the beneficiary of the Greengate's charity evening. This week I missed the launch of a new beer at which money was raised to support another charity. This is further evidence that Dr Peter Beaumont and the Greengate Hotel support charity, sporting and community groups.
The hotel industry's capital and commercial value is approximately $8 billion—a significant figure by any measure. Like any comparable industry and employment sector, it should be encouraged and treated appropriately by government. The hotel industry is an important segment of the hospitality sector, and hospitality underpins the tourism industry, which is the largest employer in this State and in this country. Instead of ordering an inquiry into multiple hotel ownership, the Premier should establish a hospitality ministry and appoint a Minister for hospitality to advance the interests of this important sector of the economy. Instead of attacking individuals and casting aspersions on their achievements, we should applaud their initiative and success, as we applaud the same characteristics in successful business people and sporting people.
The recent media expose was based upon concerns about profits being made out of poker machines in hotels—and, by extension, at the expense of those who have a gaming problem. Expert research done in the area suggests that 2 per cent to 3 per cent of the users of poker machines have a gambling problem. These people, of course, should be assisted with their problem. That assistance is primarily a government responsibility, but, as the Minister for Gaming and Racing has demonstrated, hotels, clubs and other venues can and do help.
This assistance should be targeted at and available to those who have a problem. I also believe that governments should consider using a proportion of the tax collected on poker machines to run a high-profile, multimedia, antismoking-type campaign warning of the dangers of problem gambling in this area. As a Liberal I believe that people should be allowed to choose their own paths in life. However, I also recognise that that choice has to be informed. An omnipresent advertising campaign would ensure that one's choice of whether to play the pokies is informed. But Labor, with its lack of trust in individuals and its belief that it knows best for our citizenry, prefers the more prescriptive approach.
For instance, the three-hour shutdown for poker machines is a joke. Not only does it not apply equally—the casino is exempted due to its contract with the State—it is not based on any evidence or research that it will succeed. The old 6 o'clock closing time never stopped alcoholism in our community, nor the problems which were associated with addiction to that drug. I am certain that the three-hour shutdown will not stop people with a gambling problem from finding an outlet for their addiction. It is based on the political perception that if people perceive a problem, governments had better be seen to be doing something about it. It is a con and it ignores the facts. Governments have a responsibility to be honest with people.
This Government is not being honest with people about this element of its changed poker machine regulations. This measure is a Bob Carr special—invented for the media moment and designed to cast a shadow far greater than the reality it represents. Even the Minister for Gaming and Racing knows it is a sham. In my part of Sydney poker machines do not have the same allure as elsewhere. In some small clubs in my electorate machines have been removed but patronage and bar takings have actually gone up. I recognise that this is not typical for Sydney, but I also recognise that many people get some enjoyment out of playing pokies, just as others do from going to the TAB or, dare I say, just as many local residents do from going to the Lindfield Bridge Club. They should be allowed to pursue all these pastimes.
If 1 per cent, 2 per cent or 3 per cent of people have a problem, governments should be attempting to work with them to help them solve that problem, but not at the expense of the other 97 per cent or 98 per cent. We do not ban food because people sometimes overeat. Instead, we encourage exercise and greater restraint. We do not ban gardening because some people are allergic to certain plants. Instead, we encourage them to stay away from those plants. We inform them about what is happening. The honourable member for Miranda would 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2047 be aware that we do not ban horse riding because it is dangerous. We provide people with helmets and we try to train them in the responsible management of horses. Above all, we do not denigrate or vilify chefs, nurserymen or horse owners. We certainly regulate them, but we do not seek to present them as some sort of pariah or outcast.
I regret the recent expose in the Daily Telegraph. I would have preferred this Parliament to debate all the issues relating to poker machines and gaming in this State in an open and honest fashion. I would prefer Sydney and the State's population to be better informed and to fully understand the issues involved. Then we would get a better policy, then we would offer problem gamblers appropriate and accessible services, and then we could go back to reading about real problems and not beat-up ones in our papers. I am pleased to have participated in this Address-in-Reply debate. I look forward next year to participating in the Address-in-Reply debate under the Brogden Liberal Government.
Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Thompson.
PRIVATE MEMBERS STATEMENTS
______
DEPARTMENT OF FAIR TRADING AND Mrs JENNY HUTCHINSON
Mr MAGUIRE (Wagga Wagga) [3.15 p.m.]: I place on record my serious concern—a concern that demands action—regarding the Department of Fair Trading and my constituent Mrs Jenny Hutchinson. Mrs Hutchinson took a wedding dress with a tiny spot on it to a dry cleaning firm that advertised itself as being a specialist in hand cleaning formal wedding attire. My constituent received a phone call from a man at the dry cleaners who said he had half a lady's dress. My constituent went to the dry cleaners and found that the dress had been damaged in the wash cycle. She said that the man, who was quite rude, would not discuss compensation. In mid-March 2001 a complaint was lodged with the Wagga Wagga office of the Department of Fair Trading, which phoned my constituent and said that the dry cleaners would not deal with her or remake her dress. She was unable to get quotes as no-one wanted to get involved with the case against another business. She then arranged to obtain a quote from a firm outside Wagga Wagga.
In September-October 2001 quotes were lodged with the department and a hearing date was set. My constituent was told there was a backlog of cases, but she continued to ring and check. In January 2002 my constituent was told by the Department of Fair Trading that the case was being handled by its Wollongong office. After two phone calls she was finally told that the case would probably be heard in mid-February and that she would receive notification in the mail. By 18 February she had still received no notification. She rang the Wollongong office of the department and was told that the case would be heard on 14 February. Apparently, the department had had a lot of trouble in finding her file.
When she questioned an officer at that department as to why she had not received notification about the case she was told, "It is common for people in rural areas not to receive notification and to miss a hearing." The department could not give her the results of the case as it had to wait for someone who had all the documents in his briefcase to return to Wollongong. My constituent was then asked to ring again on Wednesday 20 February. On 20 February she again rang Wollongong, as requested. The department had still not gone through the files and it was, therefore, unable to give her any information. She then quoted from the hearing application form which stated that, once a hearing had taken place, notification of the decision would be received within seven days.
Six days passed and she received no notification. My constituent again requested information from the department. The response from the office—and my constituent's request was greeted with laughter—was that there was no way she would get a decision within seven days. She rang the Wollongong office again that afternoon and spoke to the team leader, who said that the case had been dismissed as neither party had turned up. The team leader also denied the comment by a member of staff that it was common for people in rural areas not to receive notification and to miss a hearing. My constituent was then informed that the papers for a rehearing were being lodged and, when those papers were returned, the matter would be dealt with quickly.
On 28 February the papers, which had been date-stamped by the postmaster, arrived at the home of my constituent. On 6 March she went to the Wagga Wagga office of the Department of Fair Trading to lodge the papers for a rehearing. The office would not accept the papers without the payment of another lodgment fee of 2048 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
$11, irrespective of the fact that, on the lodgment signed by a justice of the peace, was a statement to the effect that the first notification had not been received, which was not the fault of my constituent. On 23 March Mrs Hutchinson rang the Wollongong office and was told there was no record of the rehearing papers being lodged. My constituent will attest to the fact that the papers were lodged at the Wagga Wagga office of the department on 6 March 2002.
Departmental staff told Mrs Hutchinson that a search would be made and that they would get back to her shortly. Ten days later, on 2 April, my constituent had still not received a telephone call. She again rang the Wollongong office. She was informed that the file had been lost when the databases were merged and that the office would call her back. When she received the call she was told that her case had been approved for a rehearing but that the date had not been fixed and the office would call back on Friday 5 April. On 5 April the Wollongong office rang my constituent and said that no date had yet been set. She was told that the office had changed the way in which it did things.
The office sent my constituent a request in the mail to again lodge the papers, which would then be seen by someone overseeing the case who would decide whether there would be a rehearing. My constituent has since been informed that the hearing date was to be determined on 18 April. She then said to officers at the department, "You say that you have a backlog and that people commonly are not notified. If you send someone to Wagga Wagga to hear cases, that person must be sitting in an empty room with no cases to hear." The response to her statement was, "Yes, that happens." Last year I wrote to the then Minister for Fair Trading, and the current Minister responded on 25 January. His letter stated:
I share your concerns regarding the importance of maintaining a local Tribunal presence in Wagga Wagga and in regional New South Wales generally...
While new administrative arrangements, together with new information technology, will result in the processing of the region's files at Wollongong, the Fair Trading Centre at Wagga Wagga will continue to provide information and support and to accept new applications …
I am confident that these changes, together with the substantive reforms to be introduced will enhance the tribunal's presence in the region and will provide for efficient and effective dispute resolution service for the people of Wagga Wagga.
Quite clearly that is not the case. As of this afternoon the lady still had not received any confirmation that the hearing would be held on Tuesday 14 May. She has had to bear the cost of STD phone calls, as there is no 1800 number to contact the Wollongong office, and that is disappointing to my constituent. [Time expired.]
Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [3.20 p.m.]: That chronology of trouble sounds more like a couple of episodes from Blue Hills. The woman has still received no satisfaction. As has been explained, the Minister in charge of the Department of Fair Trading should now conduct some inquiry. Although I cannot tell him to do that, that would be in the best interests of the woman, in line with her experiences. I will refer the matter to the Minister.
NON-GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY WORKERS
Mr COLLIER (Miranda) [3.20 p.m.]: In Australia in this day and age we as a society must provide for our most vulnerable members, whether they be aged, sick or disabled. We must ensure the welfare and wellbeing of our most vulnerable and assist those who unselfishly devote their time and energies to caring for them. And we, as a society, must share the costs of doing so. In Australia these principles should be self-evident. They are well understood and readily accepted. There should be no need to remind ourselves of their existence or of their importance.
Sadly, however, we do have to remind our Federal Government of principles like those that underpin our society. Sadly, we in New South Wales must remind the members of the Commonwealth Government that the Federal system must share the costs associated with looking after the most vulnerable members of our society. The Commonwealth Government, too, has a responsibility for all Australians, but it is failing in that responsibility. I am deeply concerned that services to some of the most vulnerable people in the Sutherland shire will be reduced or lost altogether. In November last year the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission established salary increases of between 5.4 and 7.5 per cent in the Social and Community Services [SACS] Award. A further increase will apply in November 2002.
The State Government immediately fulfilled its responsibility to meet its share of the increases arising from that award, and that will cost $116 million over three years. Commonwealth funding of the salary increases 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2049 is estimated at $68.8 million, or 37 per cent of the total required, and that is considerably less than the New South Wales Government is already committed to paying. But the Federal Government has so far refused to pay its share of these jointly administered and funded programs. This shortfall means that the non-government community sector in New South Wales is facing a funding crisis. Already some services are making preparations to reduce their work and lay off staff.
In my electorate of Miranda local organisations such as the Handicapped Children's Centre and the Southern Sydney Therapy Centre have been affected. The unmet supplementation for the Handicapped Children's Centre alone is $243,000, which means that 57 staff positions, 36 clients and four shire group homes may well be affected. The funding crisis for services will also affect jobs and the excellent services provided by the Southern Sydney Therapy Centre at Miranda, and they may have to be reduced. I and my constituents ask: how can the Federal Government not look after the most vulnerable members of our community?
Even asking that question beggars belief. The provision of basic services to some of the most vulnerable people in our community is clearly at risk. The Federal Government must meet its share of the costs resulting from a decision made by the Industrial Relations Commission, which is an independent arbiter. Clearly those who manage services to the disabled and vulnerable members of society want the service levels to remain unaffected. They do not want a dispute between the Federal and State governments. The Chief Executive Officer of the Handicapped Children's Centre, Cheryl Rose, wrote:
The HCC should not be forced to jeopardise its high quality of service for people with disabilities because of the difficulties inherent in State-Federal financial relationships.
But this is not about an inherent difficulty; this is about the Federal Government not paying its share of funding. Managers want their workers—among the lowest paid in the State—to be paid appropriately for their services, and they want service levels maintained. However, that means the Federal Government will need to pay its share of the increases in the SACS Award. The State is paying its share; the Federal Government is not. One might say that these disputes and disagreements arise readily between the Federal and the State governments; but why does the Federal Government choose not to pay for those who care for our most vulnerable people. That is disgraceful and should not be within the Federal Government's contemplation.
Honourable members could understand parents of a disabled child saying, "We don't care whose responsibility it is, we just want the care for our child to continue. We want the same quality of service we have always had." I understand that and I understand them saying that if the Federal Government does not pay its share then the State should pay. But the parents and the carers also pay their share of income tax, the GST and excise duties direct to the Federal Government. So, Mr Howard, what is the problem? So, Mr Costello, why are you holding back? Our parents and carers have paid their share of tax and they want the Federal Government to pay its share of the wage increase of those who care for their loved ones.
They say, "Don't just put this back onto the States, as you usually do." I have written to the local member, Mr Baird, and to the Federal Treasurer, Mr Costello, expressing my concerns about this disgraceful situation. The Federal budget is due to be delivered next Tuesday. Let us hope that the Federal Government walks along the road to Damascus over the weekend and recognises its responsibilities to our most vulnerable people and those who care for them.
Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [3.25 p.m.]: I thank the honourable member for Miranda for raising this matter today. The fact that this has received such publicity on a statewide basis today, and probably nationally, is indicative of the concern within the community about money not forthcoming for those within the community who already bear an unfair burden without this additional worry. They are not the sort of people who generally go out to protest on the streets and therefore they must have a great level of frustration. I compliment the honourable member for Miranda on raising this matter this afternoon.
KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK WILD HORSE CONTROL
Mr WEBB (Monaro) [3.26 p.m.]: I report on a rather wonderful, innovative project that is in its infancy and marks the dawning of a new age for wild horse control in the Snowy Mountains. That program, under the Australian Stock Whip Program, has been dubbed the Australian Stock Wild Horse Incarceration Prevention program by the General Manager of the Snowy River Shire Council, Mr Ross McKinney, who has been very actively involved in promoting this concept. He has experience of a similar program in the United States of America that has been running successfully for some time. I have called on the Government to support 2050 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 the proposal to implement a wild horse training program for low-security inmates in prisons as a means of rehabilitation and increasing job skills as well as serving a need for wild horse control in the Kosciuszko National Park.
The success of the program would obviously be transferred elsewhere across the State and perhaps the nation as an additional method of controlling wild horses. The concept has been modelled in the United States of America, where Colorado Canon City prisoners have broken-in more than 10,000 horses using modern techniques and later went on to train them and sell them. Psychological benefits have been derived from the patience learned by the prisoners in their handling of the horses. It has long been recognised that rehabilitation and reskilling is very successful when animals are introduced into the equation as a third party. It is also important to note that the experiences, the training and the outdoors opportunities provided to low-security inmates—and I stress, low-security, low-risk inmates who are probably looking forward to release in the short term—will enable them to assimilate well into working life after their term in prison.
Today that term in prison can cost the taxpayer up to $70,000 per year. Anything we can do to successfully rehabilitate prisoners, to reskill and retrain them, to give them another objective in life, certainly must be trialled. I applaud the New South Wales Government, the Premier's Office, and Colin Steele from Queanbeyan, who have supported the program and provided some $20,000 for initial feasibility studies and the development of a business plan. The Federal member, Gary Nairn, has also supported the program and provided funding to the tune of $22,275 through the Regional Assistance program. John Dedman, the Executive Officer of the South East Area Consultative Committee, has also supported the program and the recommendation for Federal funding. In Mr Dedman's words, "This project stands to provide a boost to the economy of the region." It is important to note the benefits of the program. It will establish a facility for people who are at risk of entering our prison system, for the purpose of training feral horses and brumbies obtained from New South Wales national parks for sale to suitably qualified individuals within the community. The program will serve to reskill inmates within our corrective services institutions and give them a second chance. It will provide for accommodation, education and training of participants under professional guidance. Participants will be given the opportunity to learn life skills, all aspects of equine management, leather working, carriage restoration, marketing and sales, and distance education. The program is a win-win solution. The local community wins and the inmates win. The Department of Corrective Services has been fully involved in the development of the program. The RSPCA fully supports it, particularly given the public outcry at the time of the attempt to control wild horses in Guy Fawkes River National Park. More than 600 wild horses were shot and slaughtered—some say, from helicopters—which is a disgrace. The brumby, Australia's wild horse, has been a wonderful aspect of our cultural history, having been part of early pioneering in Australia. It played an important role in service to the country during times of war, and to this day continues to play a role in both work and recreation. The horse is a living cultural symbol of this nation and will always be one of the country's greatest legends. The program will assist land managers and the National Parks and Wildlife Service in controlling the feral horse, the brumby, in New South Wales. It will not only promote that icon as a working horse suitable for all kinds of activities, but it will ensure the brumby's continued existence. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has great difficulty dealing with the problem of wild horses. There are some 3,000 to 8,000 brumbies in the Kosciusko National Park alone. In large numbers the horses may cause some damage, but in smaller numbers they are much more sustainable. The program has my wholehearted support and I am pleased that the New South Wales Government also supports it. I hope the program is successful. CENTRAL COAST RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION Ms ANDREWS (Peats) [3.31 p.m.]: I wish to inform honourable members of an organisation that brings much joy and happiness to a large number of children and adults suffering numerous disabilities who reside on the Central Coast. The organisation to which I refer is the Central Coast branch of Riding for the Disabled. Horseriding is beneficial to people with disabilities such as hearing impairment, spina bifida, aphasia, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, ataxia, brain damage, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, poliomyelitis, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, and autism, as well as people suffering from mental and intellectual disabilities, and accident victims and cerebrovascular accident victims. I am pleased to be able to inform the House that Riding for the Disabled commenced on the Central Coast in 1979 at Tall Timbers. Even as far back as then, lads from the Juvenile Justice Centre at Mt Penang assisted with the riding lessons. In 1980 Riding for the Disabled moved to the grounds of Mt Penang. I am pleased to report to the House that Central Coast Riding for the Disabled now has a brand new indoor riding 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2051 arena. The grand opening of the arena was held on Monday 4 March, with Her Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, Professor Marie Bashir, AC, officiating. It was a wet day and, as the Governor pointed out, the inclement weather only highlighted the need for the indoor riding arena. The Governor, who is the patron of Riding for the Disabled in New South Wales, was warmly welcomed by the large crowd. The Governor's genuine interest in the work of Riding for the Disabled was quite obvious. We are fortunate to have as the Governor of the State a person of the calibre of Professor Marie Bashir. The Governor has a natural ability to relate well to all people, both young and old, regardless of their station in life. The Governor and all other speakers on the day, including myself, paid credit to Mrs Vicki McGuinness, the President of the Central Coast branch of Riding for the Disabled, for the tremendous effort she put into ensuring that the indoor arena came to fruition. The arena had been a dream of Vicki's and other members of the committee of the Central Coast branch of Riding for the Disabled for many years. Vicki recounted in her welcoming address how disappointing it had been in the past for children and adults alike when bad weather caused the cancellation of riding lessons. With the redevelopment of the former Mt Penang site—which was recently renamed Mt Penang Parklands by the Festival Development Corporation—it became necessary for Riding for the Disabled to be relocated. Through the assistance of subsequent Ministers for Juvenile Justice, Riding for the Disabled was allowed to relocate to another site, still within the grounds of the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre. It was appropriate that the current Minister for Juvenile Justice, the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, also participated in the official opening of the indoor arena. The Minister was able to acknowledge the important part that management, staff and juvenile detainees of the former Mt Penang Juvenile Justice Centre, now the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre, have played in the operations of Riding for the Disabled over the years. The participation of the detainees is a very important part of their rehabilitation. Importantly, it provides those young people with the opportunity to learn horse care and stable management, as well as assisting with the operations of the organisation. I wish to also acknowledge the extraordinary contribution of the following members of the Central Coast branch of Riding for the Disabled towards the success of the organisation: Jenny Cameron, the vice- president; Bill Cameron, the treasurer; Jennifer Norman, the secretary; Pauline O'Brien, the fundraiser; Gary Kirkby, a committee member; Betty Lane, a committee member who has been with the organisation for 19 years; Maureen Trotter, a committee member; Liza Huntley, a committee member; Lee Mitchell, a committee member; and Di Park, a coach who has been with the organisation for 15 years and is a youth worker with the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre. Worthy of special mention is Mr Phil Thompson, the manager of North Construction, who oversighted the entire project. Phil put an enormous effort into the construction of this massive arena, and no job was too small or too big for him. A number of volunteers have very generously and unselfishly given the organisation many years of service. It is quite obvious that they take great delight in making the classes available to the very appreciative participants. It was pleasing at the official opening to see a number of persons who had been attending the riding classes for a number of years. The new indoor arena cost in the vicinity of $190,000. I am pleased that the State Government was able to contribute $115,000 towards the project. In conclusion, I take this opportunity to congratulate all those associated with the success of the Central Coast branch of Riding for the Disabled, and I wish them all the best for the future. [Time expired.] Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [3.36 p.m.]: I thank the honourable member for Peats for bringing to the attention of the House the organisation Riding for the Disabled. In recent years a number of members of our community have volunteered much of their time to assist disabled people to enjoy recreational activities such as horseriding and equine activities. Today in this Parliament I hosted a Charity Awareness Week function to acknowledge the work of the many people who volunteer their time to raise funds and assist the less fortunate members of our community. The fact that the Government contributed $115,000 is commendable, but it was probably a lot more difficult for all those who gave up a considerable amount of their time to raise the extra money to make up the $190,000. I know that the honourable member for Peats has taken a personal interest in this, and she might pass on congratulations to those who have done a marvellous job. EPPING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Mr TINK (Epping) [3.38 p.m.]: I draw the attention of the House to the Epping Youth Development Group, otherwise known as the Shack. Following the compilation of a youth-at-risk study reflecting the needs of local Epping youth the Shack was found in 1992 by a group of concerned local residents, churches and 2052 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 businessmen. They have been operating from a disused scout hall that was converted into a counselling and recreation facility at that time. The Shack has to be seen to be believed—it is just that. There are exciting plans for a new building. The management committee, which meets monthly, comprises 10 members from the local community who voluntarily support the administration of the Shack. The Shack provides free and confidential service, home visits, counselling, family support, court support, resumé assistance, job board, youth and school liaison, health education, Centrelink assistance and referrals. The Manager of the Shack, Darlene Keenan, is an inspiration and is assisted by one other person. In the last 12 months the Shack has provided more than 800 hours of counselling for 385 people, 111 hours of court support to 44 people, 422 hours of home visits involving 127 people and many other sundry services. To try to move away from the statistics and into what the program is really about, I will read from what Darlene had to say in the annual report: Family breakdown, separation from parents, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, sexual assault, suicide, teenage pregnancy, neglect, lack of education, unemployment and homelessness, and cultural beliefs are common issues affecting our young people in life altering ways. Behaviour is also very changeable and very real whilst any of these factors are alive. High expectations in regard to education has seen many clients showing signs of stress where counselling has been necessary to keep self-esteem tuned. Young people suspended have further problems if they link with idle peers. Intervention for our young showing suicidal tendencies has seen much progress in positive ways this year. Teenagers are scared, fragile and limited to rise above these very real emotions. Having positive referrals for extra support has proven to be a healing ingredient whilst temptations are being tested. Those wanting to resolve their fears and pain through suicide are just so entrenched with pain and overloaded with many challenges. This lady and her supporters really work miracles. They are working at the very hard business end of youth at risk, so much so that their program is being copied elsewhere. The Rotary Club of Lindfield is setting up another Shack under the same program and principles. This is policing at its absolute best. I pay tribute to the links between Eastwood police and this operation. Constable Tim Drury, the Youth Liaison Officer from Eastwood police, has made a fantastic effort. Senior Constable Kristine Woods, who unfortunately took her own life at Eastwood police station, was an outstanding supporter of the Shack and did great work at all times with youth in the area. Senior Constable Rowena Thompson, Sergeant Jacky Lilley and Sergeant Bob Porter—who I understand is about to retire from the New South Wales Police Service—do magnificent work. It is an example of how our police and community workers can work together to make a difference for kids who are at high risk of ending up on the wrong side of the law.
It is important to note that the Shack would not be celebrating 10 years of effort in the community without the support of St Albans Church and Reverend John Cornish, and the tremendous support previously given by the former chairman, Mr Alan Gurman and Cathy Sanderson. The present chairman, Mr Ray Miles, from Associated Planners, provides unstinting support. The support through the church and its work in the area and a diverse range of clubs—the Rotary Club of Thornleigh, the Epping RSL and community club and all the voluntary groups and church groups throughout the area—for the operation must be seen to be believed. The Shack is presenting final plans to St Albans Church for approval for a rebuild. Preliminary approval for the plans has already been given to the initial sketches provided by the church. I wish the Shack well. I am delighted to be associated with it and with a program that really supports the kids at risk and, in doing so, takes some risks itself. It is to be commended for its work. [Time expired.]
Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [3.43 p.m.]: I thank the honourable member for Epping for bringing this matter to the notice of the House. It reinforces what I said a few moments ago about volunteers, Charity Awareness Week, and people who put so much effort and time into serving other people within our community. Although I am not directly aware of the group's activities, because it started towards the end of the time that I was the chairman of police youth clubs in this State, I know that it was one of the more diverse organisations that was helping kids, particularly recedivist kids and youth at risk that a lot of other organisations were not prepared to help. That was at a time when the police youth club movement was moving away, to some degree, from completely structured organisations and what the original youth clubs were set up for, which has been of considerable benefit.
This is another great effort of a community accepting its responsibility to ensure that it is able to contend with people who, in many cases, are less fortunate than others. They are not always people from lower socioeconomic circumstances. It can be a result of communication breakdowns regardless of where they sit in the social strata. During my time as chairman of the police youth clubs I became aware that many kids were lonely and in need of someone to put a hand out to them—some of them were from the so-called better areas of my electorate and other parts of this State. The Shack is doing a great deal of good work. The community is to be congratulated on its efforts. 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2053
BANGOR BYPASS
Ms MEGARRITY (Menai) [3.45 p.m.]: I have previously spoken in this House about the Bangor bypass. The Government is committed to start building the Bangor bypass before the end of this year to relieve traffic congestion in the Menai area. The last time I spoke on this matter I called on the Minister to release the draft environmental impact statement [EIS] as a matter of urgency, and include a north-south link road at the western end of the bypass. The Minister released the draft EIS, as I had requested, in late February for community consultation. The EIS included draft designs for the east-west leg of the bypass and also the north- south link, but my constituents rightly rejected many aspects of the Roads and Traffic Authority [RTA] draft design as unacceptable.
I immediately and repeatedly brought the concerns of the community to the attention of the Minister and I strongly urged him to initiate a review of particular aspects of the proposal. To his credit the Minister acknowledged the need for changes to the draft designs and instructed the RTA to review the proposal to examine issues raised by the community. The Minister assured me that this review process would be over and above the detailed consideration the RTA is required to give to submissions as part of the EIS process. He said that he would be in a position to advise the community of the outcomes of that review very soon after the close of the initial EIS consultation period.
With that in mind I met with the Minister earlier this week about the timeframe for the outcome of the review, and reiterated my community's bottom line. I again told the Minister that I believed the community's concerns were valid. I again told him about the hundreds of letters and concerns that my constituents have raised with me in a range of meetings and public forums. The concerns presented to me that I, in turn, presented to him must be addressed in the revised design. Today I would like to put on the record the submission I made to the Minister on behalf of my community. First, the road corridor has been reserved for many years and most residents were expecting the road to be constructed, but they were not prepared for the RTA's proposal to construct the road hard up against the northern edge of the road reservation.
Residents along the entire length would have high noise walls and a four-lane motorway running along their back fence. I have told the Minister that the bypass must be moved back close to the middle of the road reservation to reduce noise and visual impact. Second, communities along the route of the corridor have always had quick and convenient access to local schools and shops. It is totally unreasonable that communities should be cut off from one another, forcing a long drive around the bypass to get to basic local amenities. I have told the Minister that the bypass must maintain north-south connections at Shackel Road and Anzac Road, and that residents near Akuna Avenue should be entitled to a grade-separated interchange so their street can be accessed by the local community.
Third, the proposed design of the bypass would have left an ugly design and noisy scar around the bus- only bridge between Australia and Carter roads. I have told the Minister that the bypass must be designed in such a way as to minimise the visual and noise impact around the bridge. Fourth, the proposal to cut Old Illawarra Road in two, cutting it off to local traffic, would isolate the community of Barden Ridge. Currently there are five access points onto Old Illawarra Road, and to reduce that to one would have unreasonably increased the distance to shops and work and would become a fire hazard in the bushfire season. I have told the Minister that the north-south link must be designed to keep open as many of these access points as possible while getting trucks and through traffic off people's doorsteps. As far as I am concerned, these matters are simply not negotiable for my constituents. The Minister has assured me that the review will be ready by the end of this month. In turn, I have asked him to ensure that the community is informed with public displays of the revised design. The bypass is a necessity—no member of my community would disagree with that—but the Roads and Traffic Authority's current design needs to address the community concerns. The Bangor bypass and the north-south link must be built as soon as possible, but these matters must be addressed. I thank the Minister for his co-operation and I call on him to produce a solution that fixes the problems I have raised today. Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [3.50 p.m.]: I can understand the concerns raised by the honourable member for Menai. She would not be representing her electorate if she did not raise them. This is a forum in which honourable members have the right to do so, whether one is in government or in opposition. I understand the Minister is considering the early designs of the Roads and Traffic Authority and a review is taking place. A major bypass is going through my electorate at the moment and I understand there is scepticism on the part of some constituents and a degree of concern. The people who have lived along that corridor for 40-odd years knew it was coming, 2054 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 but they naturally have some misconceptions and some real concerns. Unfortunately, a lot of this is passed along the old bush telegraph and it remains to be seen, after the review, whether that is the case. Of course, access is always a matter of safety. A song many years ago referred to the English village of Bangor—we had a lovely day at Bangor. I imagine when this is finished that would be an appropriate song for the opening ceremony. I will refer the honourable member's speech to the Minister for Transport.
BURRANEER BAY PUBLIC SCHOOL Mr KERR (Cronulla) [3.52 p.m.]: I refer to Burraneer Bay Public School, which is in my electorate. It has a proud history and will have a proud future. The education offered at that school is first rate and over the years many parents have sought to place their children in that school. That will continue. The commitment of the principal and staff of Burraneer Bay Public School is second to none. Nevertheless, they are entitled to do their job with adequate resources. I bring to the House some of the shortcomings in the infrastructure of that school. The demountable building that serves as a school hall does not accommodate the school. It does not even fit just the infants children or just the primary children who attend the school. The school library accommodates only 33 children and the school has a roll of 540. The facilities are cramped and there is insufficient display area for books. Nor is there cloak room storage. All the teachers' resources are stored in the teachers' staffroom. The canteen is old, cramped and poorly ventilated. There is no adequate sheltered area for children to assemble when it is wet or extremely hot. The 30 female staff share one toilet located in the administration building, 50 metres from the infants classroom. Individual reading programs and special education programs are conducted under trees in the playground because no specialist or withdrawal rooms exist. Again, the quality of teaching provided by those programs is first rate. However, the teaching should be conducted with adequate facilities. No spare rooms are available for meetings. Executive offices are cramped and useless if more than three people need to meet. The inadequate staffroom is also used as a video room, a resource room and a meeting room. There are no shade structures in the school. There are no adequate storage facilities for students, staff or resources. The administration area in the school is small, cramped, poorly laid out and unattractive. The signage of the school is old, unattractive and poorly located. The drainage at the school needs addressing. Drains are non-existent, overloaded or inappropriately located. On wet days the run-off on slopes is dangerous. I particularly draw the attention of the House to the electrical wiring. It is old and safety switches do not exist or do not work. Many classrooms have just one power point serving three computers and other appliances. In some instances the power points are poorly located—in one classroom beside the water tap. There are a number of other matters I could relate to the House. Again, I underline the fact that this is a first-rate school and the education provided there is exceptionally good. I have been in correspondence with the Minister for some time in relation to the school but, as the Minister has just indicated, private members' statements provide a forum in which these matters can be brought to the attention of the House and the wider community, and I do so on that basis. I will continue to correspond with and bring these things to the attention of the Minister but I ask in the House that these matters be acted upon, particularly the electrical wiring. As a parent, I am sure the Minister would be worried about that. Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [3.57 p.m.]: As requested by the honourable member, I shall refer the safety issue to the Minister for Education and Training. LIVERPOOL ELECTORATE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS Mr LYNCH (Liverpool) [3.57 p.m.]: There have recently been two exceptional performances by sporting teams based in the Liverpool area. The Fairfield-Liverpool Lions cricket team won the Sydney first grade cricket premiership in April and the West Sydney Razorbacks was one of the two teams that played in the recently completed national basketball grand final series. Both these achievements by teams based in Liverpool have generated tremendous interest and enthusiasm in my electorate. I take this opportunity to add my congratulations to both teams. These sporting achievements are quite significant at a number of levels. Because a number of people are interested in them they are important for that reason alone. More than that, the individual players and teams are important positive role models for our area. On 27 April the Liverpool City Netball Association commenced its netball season. I was there, as was the Mayor of Liverpool, George Paciullo. The mayor made the point that the netball players were following in this great tradition. There is no doubt that all the netball players were well aware of the achievements of these teams and looked to them in that broad sense as inspirational. 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2055
The other real significance of these achievements is that they provide a positive media focus for Western Sydney. Those of us who represent Western Sydney are only too well aware that the area is very badly served by much of the media, particularly by the tabloid media. Diane Powell in her book Out West detailed that in a particular way. These achievements allow Western Sydney to be presented in a positive way, as opposed to the usual tabloid presentations. These sorts of sporting achievements add positively to the way that our region feels about itself.
The Fairfield-Liverpool Lions first joined the Sydney grade cricket competition in 1985. This is the first time that they have won the Belvedere Cup. The grand final was played over three days at Bankstown Oval commencing on Saturday 6 April. The match was extensively reported in the media, particularly in the local papers. The victory was all the sweeter because the vanquished club was North Sydney. The Lions made 344 runs in the first innings, after at one point being four for 29. They retrieved that position with contributions from Grant Lambert, 65 runs, Jason Krejza, 97 runs, and Dean Magee, 81 runs. At stumps on the first day they were seven for 291. In response to the total of 344 runs, North Sydney reached only 201 runs in its first innings. The Lions bowlers included Grant Lambert with five for 52, Don Nash with two for 71, and Anthony Clark with one for 27. The Lions thus led by 137 runs on the first innings with little more than a day remaining. The Lions batted again and by lunch on day three were one for 160. Thus Fairfield-Liverpool won its first premiership.
The Lions captain and wicket-keeper, Sean Pope, paid tribute after the win to the friendship and spirit within the team. He also made the point that everyone had contributed to the win and that the success had not been built solely on the efforts of one or two players. The Lions had been the most consistent team throughout the competition this year. They were the minor premiers and defeated St George and Mosman in the semi-finals. Grant Lambert was named the John Benaud medal winner as man of the match for his first innings batting of 65 and his five for 52 bowling in North's first innings. Tribute has also been paid to the coach Ron Harivel, Lions president Richard Cook and secretary Tom Liddell.
The other recent elite sporting achievement, of course, is that of NBL West Sydney Razorbacks, who are based at Liverpool. They are a franchise that developed from Liverpool's State league club, The Slammers. As is now notorious, they were defeated in the grand final series by the Adelaide 36ers. To get there they achieved play-off victories against the Perth Wildcats and against the Melbourne Tigers. They defeated Melbourne in the third and deciding match 115 to 103 of that series. Acres of newsprint have justifiably been produced to tell the Cinderella story of the West Sydney Razorbacks. This is a team that has been in the NBL for only four years and has already scaled these heights. This is made all the more remarkable because it is now the first and only Sydney-based team to have ever reached the NBL grand finals. In this sense the Razorbacks— or Pigs, as they are also known—have put to shame the more highly esteemed Sydney Kings, its elite Sydney neighbours.
We sometimes hear pop sociology, attempting to pass for serious political analysis, claiming that there is no sense of class distinctions between Western Sydney and other parts of Sydney, granted that all of a sudden we have been discovered to be aspirational. That excuse for analysis is revealed to be quite hollow when we read some of the media commentary about the Razorbacks. There are unmistakable references to the Pigs as a blue-collar club representing the suburbs of Western Sydney. The fantasies of post-modernism are, as always, banished by reality. The Razorbacks made the grand final by their defeat of the Melbourne Tigers in a third and deciding match at the State Sports Centre, also known as the pig pen, which is a temporary venue for the Razorbacks until facilities are completed at Liverpool. The interest in this match was so intense in Liverpool that Liverpool council did not have its scheduled meeting that night. Most of the councillors went to the match instead. Having qualified, the Razorbacks had to beat the Adelaide 36ers. As is now notoriously known, they won one match but lost two in the best-of-three competition. I congratulate the West Sydney Razorbacks.
Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [4.03 p.m.]: There are a lot of good sports in the electorate of the honourable member for Liverpool. Liverpool, particularly since it consolidated in the last 35 years, has produced a tremendous number of sportspeople. The Liverpool community can be very proud of that. The story of the NBL West Sydney Razorbacks is one of rags to riches. I congratulate them.
NURSES SHORTAGE
Mr TORBAY (Northern Tablelands) [4.02 p.m.]: On Sunday 12 May nurses across the nation will mark International Nurses Day and will also take the opportunity to add more signatures to their petition for better pay and conditions. Already about 55,000 signatures have been collected in New South Wales, and the 2056 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 petition has the potential to be one of the biggest ever presented to State Parliament. The What's a Nurse Worth campaign of the New South Wales Nurses Association, which was launched in July last year, is a reminder to the community that they have tended to take the dedication and service of the nursing profession somewhat for granted. In rural and regional areas nurses are the major health resource for many communities, and yet over the years there has been little recognition of their contribution either in access to further specialist training, child care facilities, flexible rostering, security and adequate pay. As a result of that neglect over a long period we have a national shortage of nurses, particularly specialist nurses. Many of those who have remained in the profession are ageing and looking at retirement within the next few years.
Another worrying aspect of this shortage is that trained nurses are working outside the profession and will not consider returning unless pay and conditions improve. They point out that in the New South Wales public health service the rate of pay for a registered nurse is $70 per week less than the rate of pay for physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists, and $100 per week less than other professionals, such as dieticians, social workers, psychologists and medical technicians. Clearly, this shortfall needs to be addressed both in terms of equity and in sending out a message to young people who are considering nursing as a profession that it is highly regarded and that they will be adequately rewarded. At present, nurses are reporting they are stressed out from working double shifts to make up for the shortfall in numbers in an environment where the work has become more demanding. Patients now stay in hospital for shorter periods. Those who are in hospital require more acute care and procedures are more complex. Patients leaving hospital much earlier than patients did in the past require more care from community nurses. There is also a shortage in numbers in that service.
New South Wales is short of 1,800 nurses, and the drift is continuing. A recent survey showed that of the 10,000 nurses who were not currently working in the profession in this State only 36 per cent said they would consider returning to nursing. The survey also showed the most likely incentives that would induce nurses to return to work were suitable working hours, better pay, support in education and retraining, improved working conditions and management or work process changes. Widely publicised and debated issues affecting nurses and their choices of employment range from having to endure inflexible working conditions, long shifts with unpaid overtime, ever-increasing workloads and poor recognition of skills and qualifications. Much of the present crisis can be linked to the ongoing and systematic undervaluing of nurses' contribution to public health and the day-to-day management of all sectors of the health industry.
The New South Wales Nurses Association maintains that the most pernicious force constraining the future of the nursing profession is the erroneous view that nurses are somehow expected to place duty to others above their own need for safety and a fair go as employees and citizens. This has led to an inadequate funding allocation for nursing services, a lack of quality monitoring and research into the outcomes of nursing care and treatment, lacklustre support for the professional education of nurses, inflexible State and Territory registration arrangements and mediocre management approaches at the local service level. The work force picture in Australia is being shaped by movements of professionally qualified nurses away from the formal health industry, such as the hospital and aged care systems, to seek opportunities to use their knowledge and skills in other work contexts. This trend creates pressure on managers of nursing services who look to the relatively unskilled market to fill vacancies. In turn this places enormous pressure on supervisors, particularly when it comes to the care of patients with complex health problems.
Lack of opportunities for specialist training within the nursing profession are creating shortages in the areas of midwifery, intensive care, mental health and critical care. Such shortages are being experienced by the New England Area Health Service in my electorate and are widespread throughout the State. There must be some provision of study leave for nurses to pursue these specialisations if we are to fill the gap. The shortage of numbers in the profession makes it virtually impossible to give nurses the necessary time off. In my view, it would be timely to mark International Nurses Day this year by the Government giving a commitment to addressing the issues raised by the New South Wales Nurses Association on behalf of a profession that has such a dedicated and excellent record of service to the people of this State and this nation.
BERALA RAILWAY STATION ACCIDENT COMMEMORATION
Mrs PERRY (Auburn) [4.07 p.m.]: On Monday 6 May residents and community leaders gathered at Berala railway station to acknowledge the fiftieth anniversary of a most tragic accident which occurred on 7 May 1952. On that day 10 people died and 82 were injured when a train ran into a stationary train in heavy fog at Berala station. The commemoration coincided with the next stage in the beautification of Berala station as part of the Action Stations program. I wish to thank my colleague the honourable member for Canterbury, the 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2057
Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, for attending the commemoration to appropriately recognise the anniversary and, by the unveiling of a memorial plaque, to honour those who lost their lives. The plaque has been placed in a memorial garden that has been erected at the site, as I have said, as part of the Action Stations initiative for Berala railway station. The Action Stations program has been strongly supported and sponsored by the Government.
Many local residents attended on the day, and present at the event were people who had a personal association with the accident, including relatives of the victims. These people turned out to pay their respects. They shared their stories later at a morning tea function hosted by Auburn Council. Joyce Moore, whose mother and aunt died in the crash, addressed the gathering in a moving way. Joyce had written to the Sydney Morning Herald "Column 8" about her wish to have a memorial established on the fiftieth anniversary of the accident. Auburn Council's place manager, Ms Jenny Coppock, saw the item and went about contacting "Column 8" and CityRail. Including the event as part of Action Stations at Berala was most fitting. Berala's stationmaster, Mr Larry Martin, has tenderly cared for the beautiful garden, which was launched in stage one last year by the Minister for Transport, and Minister for Roads.
At Berala the program has achieved its aim, which is to foster community support for and participation in environmental projects through a partnership between Keep Australia Beautiful, CityRail, local councils and participating groups. I thank Mr Martin for his hard work with both managing the station and maintaining and improving the garden. He is assisted by many residents who live locally. Larry has told me about the locals who regularly bring trees and other plants to him for the garden. This is truly a place in which the community has taken pride. I thank also the staff of CityRail, the Keep Australia Beautiful Council, especially Mr David Voltz, Ms Caroline Staples, the outdoor staff of Auburn Council, Ms Jenny Coppock, and Ms Rachael Gleeson, media officer for Auburn Council, for preparation of the event.
I congratulate the students of Berala Public School on their participation in the construction of the memorial garden, and I thank the school's principal, Mr John Warren, for his continued support of the Action Stations initiative at Berala. Action Stations is about communities taking greater care and ownership of their stations. In the electorate, Berala station and Regents Park station have been funded under this program. The environment surrounding these railway stations has been beautified and enhanced, and the local communities within these precincts have continued to stay involved in the general uptake of their station, improving cleanliness and presentation. Placed in a beautiful environment, the plaque and memorial garden are a special way for the local community to remember the memories of those who lost their lives 50 years ago. To live in the hearts and memories of those left behind is not to die.
Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [4.12 p.m.]: I congratulate the honourable member for Auburn on raising this important historic event in Parliament today. I remember the accident at Berala station, although I was only 10 years of age. People may ask me how I can remember the accident, and the answer is simple. My grandmother settled in Auburn, about halfway between Auburn station and Berala station, and my father spent his early childhood in Sydney before the family moved to the mountains and to Newcastle. In those days my father always got the Daily Telegraph—do not ask me why he got the Daily Telegraph; it was supposed to be the antiworker paper, and he was a part-time union official—as a means of keeping in touch, and I remember seeing the graphic photographs of the electric train and the smash on the front page.
At that time the accident was the first major catastrophe of its type in Sydney, and it was probably the largest accident involving an electric train until the tragic events at Granville. I note that two of the worst events involving electric trains happened in the short distance between Granville and Berala. The accident at Berala had a devastating effect on the area because Berala was only an emerging suburb. Many people lived in houses separated by vacant blocks of land. I remember that well. I saw the start of the garden construction when I visited the electorate to assist the honourable member for Auburn in the lead-up to the by-election. The memorial garden is a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives. I pay tribute to the Berala stationmaster, who has taken a personal interest in the garden. I am pleased that the honourable member for Auburn actively participated in an important milestone for the Auburn community, although people would probably like to have forgotten it. Nevertheless, the accident happened, and it is great that people are able at least to pay tribute 50 years later to those who lost their lives and to those who lost their loved ones in that tragic accident. KU-RING-GAI ELECTORATE SCHOOLS PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION Mr O'FARRELL (Ku-ring-gai) [4.14 p.m.]: Like other members of this House, I spend a fair bit of my time as a local member being associated with local public schools. I place on record again my strong support 2058 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002 for public education. That support will be lasting because of what I see as the contribution that free, compulsory and secular public education has provided to the prosperity and peace we enjoy in this State and in this nation. The Ku-ring-gai electorate has 11 primary schools and two public high schools. As I said, I try to be strongly associated with them all. However, at the risk of alienating a number of them, I pay tribute to principals such as Margaret Wick at Pymble Public School and Gai Collett at Killara Public School for their work and the contribution of their staff in looking after the generation that will live to inherit this society of ours.
Last year, as part of the Centenary of Federation activities, I decided to initiate a public speaking competition for my local public schools. On Friday 7 September in this Chamber we had the final of the Federation public speaking contest. Year 6 students had been asked to prepare speeches of two to three minutes. The schools had each selected a representative, and those representatives participated in the final held in this Chamber. On that occasion the topic was simply "What Australia means to me", which seemed appropriate in our Federation year. Jackson Pollard from Turramurra Public School was adjudged the best speaker on the day, and Sally Raymond from Beaumont Road Public School and Rebecca McArthur from Wahroonga Public School were the runners up.
In response to last year's initiative, I have had requests from a number of schools to make the competition an annual event. I am pleased to have responded positively to that request, and we will now have an annual Member for Ku-ring-gai Public Speaking Competition involving year 6 students in Ku-ring-gai's public schools. This year, in recognition of International Year of the Outback, the subject chosen is "Contribution of the outback to modern Australia". As I said, the competition is open to year 6 students attending the following schools: Lindfield Public School, Beaumont Road Public School, Killara Public School, East Gordon Public School, West Gordon Public School, West Pymble Public School, Pymble Public School, Turramurra Public School, North Turramurra Public School, Warrawee Public School and Wahroonga Public School.
Schools will again be asked to arrange for the selection of a single student to represent the school in the final. All students who take part in school finals will receive certificates. Those who attend the final, to be held in this Chamber on Monday 2 September, will receive certificates as well. Last year—and I hope again this year—a number of parents and teachers accompanied the students to Parliament House, and observed all the students participating in the speaking competition. The shadow Minister for Education and Training, Patricia Forsythe, was one adjudicator, and I was another. Last year I determined that I will not be an adjudicator of the competition again. The standard of speaking was so high as to make it virtually impossible to choose a winner. As I said, on that occasion Jackson Pollard from Turramurra Public School triumphed.
This year I will ensure that someone with much better qualifications than mine joins Patricia Forsyth and others in adjudicating the event. In this way not only do we provide an opportunity for students in our public schools to further their public speaking skills; not only do we ensure that they have greater understanding of Parliament, which is so important to everyone's lives although not always appreciated; not only do they gain the opportunity, which few people have, of speaking on the floor of this Assembly Chamber. It is a way in which I, as the local member of State Parliament, can demonstrate my support for public education, support which I know extends simply beyond words but in terms of the practices of my own family. Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [4.19 p.m.]: I thank the honourable member for Ku-ring-gai for bringing this matter to the attention of the House. Young leaders forums are of great benefit to the community. They give many young people an opportunity to serve the community. Some may end up in Parliament. Some may eventually put the honourable member for Ku-ring-gai under some duress with preselection. But jokes aside, because of their associations with such forums many young people in the Charlestown area in particular have taken on a more confident role in their communities, and that is to be encouraged. COFFS HARBOUR CITY COUNCIL REZONING Mr FRASER (Coffs Harbour) [4.20 p.m.]: I speak on a matter of grave concern to the Coffs Harbour electorate and in doing so refer to a letter from Mr Ernest Armstrong, an engineer living on a property in the Orara Valley area. Coffs Harbour City Council has been preparing a plan to rezone all farmland in Coffs Harbour that is presently zoned rural 1A. A number of workshops have been held under the guise of community consultation—and I use that term loosely. I attended two such workshops as an interested party as I own a rural block of land at Central Bucca. At the Nana Glen workshop people sat around a piece of butchers paper to draw up a plan. The plan was taken to the community and another meeting was held. The community expressed angst because it felt that council and the consultants had not listened to its views with regard to the plan—and from what I have seen the community is right. Mr Armstrong said: 10 May 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2059
By Thursday 9th May CHCCouncil will, more than likely, have decided to send the draft rezoning plan to NSW Planning for approval to put it on public exhibition in accordance with the legislation unless the Councillors can be persuaded to stop it.
He said that basically the plan would be passed and put to the Minister for approval. The draft stated:
Introduction This strategic Plan has been developed in partnership with the community to provide a better future for the Coffs Harbour rural areas. The vision for the plan sets out a preferred future to be met by the year 2020.
Vision To achieve sustainability of our rural communities.
Objectives The objectives relate to a "triple bottom line" of economic, social and environmental sustainability.
I think that council has missed the point. Previously, a 40-hectare subdivision was allowable but council has decided to double the size to 80 hectares. More and more people are adopting a rural lifestyle on the North Coast. These days even two acres of native flowers can yield a gross income of $60,000 to $70,000. People are working in town but living on rural blocks getting their fingernails dirty doing what they enjoy. But this plan will not benefit them. Many elderly people who realise they cannot continue to maintain their properties have expressed a desire to subdivide. As Mr Armstrong stated:
Our farming community has an average age that exceeds 56 years [ABS]. Those living on properties where farming is no longer viable, have great difficulty meeting the costs of maintenance. The so-called lifestyle is better described as not a lifestyle but a life sentence.
Coffs Harbour City Council proposes to give a life sentence to people by forcing them to stay on a property they can no longer afford to maintain but which they cannot sell because the land is not agriculturally viable. They do not have the money to start a dairy farm, to grow flowers, to cultivate or whatever. The council is locking up the properties. Indeed, it is sanctioning the growth of blackberries and lantana and invasion by feral animals. Council and the consultants have not listened to the community. A new attitude must be adopted towards planning processes. The present attitude will not provide economic sustainability or an acceptable social or economic return.
It should be remembered that people who live on rural land provide their own water and sewerage and, in many cases, they provide their own electricity. They are not an impost on council. Council should examine ways of establishing blocks as agricultural or environmental blocks so that people could derive an income from the property and from working in town. I make a plea to the Minister for Planning to not sign off on this plan, which was put together on butchers paper, but to consult with the community and obtain its views. The present position may be acceptable to the council but it is not acceptable to the community.
Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [4.25 p.m.]: I undertake to refer to the Minister for Planning the matter raised by the honourable member for Coffs Harbour.
ST GEORGE SAILING CLUB
Mr THOMPSON (Rockdale) [4.26 p.m.]: A few weeks ago I had the opportunity, with my wife, Lucy, to attend the ninety-second Botany Bay Championships for 16 foot skiffs. We were guests of St George Sailing Club, one of Australia's oldest sailing clubs. I cannot think of anything better than to spend a few hours on a boat in beautiful Botany Bay. I am most fortunate to represent an electorate that has within its boundaries the lower reaches of the Georges and Cooks rivers, including Kogarah Bay, Gwawley Bay, Woolooware Bay, Quibray Bay, Yarra Bay, Frenchmans Bay, Congwong Bay and almost all of Botany Bay. Sailing, quite naturally, was one of the pleasures and recreational pursuits of the early colonists around Sydney Harbour. Sailing regattas became commonplace and small sailing clubs were formed to cater for the increasing interest in the sport. Initially larger yachts were the most common vessels, but by the mid 1880s into the 1890s clubs were formed in the harbour bays to suit smaller open boats of lengths from six to 22 feet. In writing in the St George Sailing Club's Centenary Anniversary journal in 1997, Wayne Pascoe said:
Boating men took their knowledge with them to all rivers and bays up and down the coast and no small inlet was immune from someone sailing for pleasure.
Naturally the greatest impact of boat improvement was made in Sydney, and Botany Bay was one such place that drew rapidly from a close association with the sport.
The Sydney Referee (newspaper) mentioned on 28/01/1891 that a new 22 footer built for Mr. F. Thomas was delivered to Botany and "if she goes well, will come around and have a go at the Sydney cracks". 2060 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10 May 2002
During the following six years there were an increasing number of press references to sailing races on Botany Bay. With the increasing popularity of the sport, a number of local residents formed the St George Sailing Club in October 1897, the first sailing club in the area. The Sydney Mail of Saturday 30 October 1897 reported:
This Saturday it is probable a new club will be instituted at George's River. It is intended to carry the following programme. An invitation has been issued to all boatowners in the Botany and George's River district to meet on the river next Saturday afternoon, and under the direction of Mr. Gannon (who will act as commodore pre term) perform a number of evolutions. Afterwards a meeting is to be held, and all those taking part in the evolutions will be invited to band together and form a club, to be called the St. George's Club. As the number of boats in the district is a large one the new clubs should, if any enthusiasm is displayed, prove a strong one.
A strong one it has certainly proved to be. Born in the days of severe depression in the 1890s, St George Sailing Club has endured many ups and downs. On occasions its very being was threatened, but due to the hardworking loyal stalwarts that most clubs have—and St George Sailing Club had them in good number—the club survived and today it thrives. I acknowledge the dedication of all those, past and present, whose efforts have resulted in a club that is a wonderful asset to our community. No sailing club can exist on just a single class of craft, and over the years different types have alternated in popularity. Sailing craft smaller than 16 foot skiffs began to emerge in the late 1930s. Later came the Skyriders, Vaucluse Juniors or VJs, Skates, Manly Graduates or MGs, Sailboards, Flying Ants, Gwen 12s and Cherubs. In more recent times outrigger canoes and jet skis have been brought under the club's umbrella.
The club also caters for juniors learning to sail through the Botany Bay Sailing School. St George Sailing Club is truly one of the great clubs in the district that is immensely proud of its sport. The district also proudly boasts some of the very best sporting, social and ex-servicemens clubs in Australia. I thank everybody, past and present, associated with St George Sailing Club for their dedication and loyalty to their sport and to their community. Lucy and I thoroughly enjoyed being guests and spectators at the Botany Bay championships. I particularly acknowledge the club's president and chairman, Brian Collis, and his wife, Judy, who took special care of us. Brian is, I think, a fourth generation St George sailor. His father, Hamilton, or Pat as he is better known, is more than 90 years of age and only recently gave up competitive sailing. He is a previous champion sailor and past commodore of the club. There are a number of seniors who are stalwarts of St George and I salute them and all the good people who have made this club what it is today.
Mr FACE (Charlestown—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Hunter Development) [4.31 p.m.]: I thank the honourable member for Rockdale for bringing this very important matter to the notice of the Parliament today. St George Sailing Club has been part and parcel of Botany Bay for 105 years. Georges River Sailing Club and the St George Motor Boat Club—which I have visited on many occasions—are also located in this boating haven. In the early days people of affluence sailed quite large vessels. When people became more adventurous, smaller vessels, the 16-footers and 18-footers, VJs and the sabots became popular in the 1960s. VJs were sailed for quite a long time on Lake Macquarie, which now has a very active sailing club for 16 footers. It has been associated with the St George Sailing Club for a number of years. I congratulate the club on its continuing service. There is a surprising amount of aquatic activity on Botany Bay. It is a most enjoyable waterway and is a haven for the smaller classes of boats.
Private members' statements noted.
The House adjourned at 4.32 p.m. until Tuesday 28 May 2002 at 2.15 p.m. ______