454 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, 24 August, 1988

Mr Speaker (The Hon. Kevin Richard Rozzoli) took the chair at 2.15 p.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer.

MEMBER FOR ROCKDALE Personal Explanation Mr Unsworth: I wish to make a personal explanation. Leave granted. Mr Unsworth: In today's Daily Telegraph appears an article under the headline "Unsworth in 'doubtful' deal row". The story goes on to say: Former Premier Barrie Unsworth was implicated in four "doubtful deals" which police might be asked to investigate, N.S.W. Administrative Services Minister Matt Singleton claimed yesterday. I vehemently deny that I have been involved in any so-called doubtful deals in respect of my previous administration as Premier and as a Minister of the Crown. I deplore the way in which the Daily Telegraph reported the Minister's remarks and request you, Mr Speaker, to direct the Minister to withdraw them as he is in contravention of Standing Order 15 1. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have no power to do that at this stage. I accept the personal explanation of the honourable member for Rockdale.

PETITIONS The Clerk announced that the following petitions had been lodged for presentation:

Totalizator Agency Board The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is alarm and concern following the introduction and promotion of the use of electronic transfer of funds for betting purposes at Totalizator Agency Board outlets. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: The your honourable House will direct the Totalizator Agency Board of New South Wales to cease immediately any promotion or advertising related to the use of electronic transfer of funds for betting purposes. Your petitioners strongly condemn the form of advertising which fosters and encourages impulse betting, and we call upon your honourable House to instruct the Government to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the expeditious cessation of the TAB'S promotional campaign and the termination of betting through the use of electronic transfer of funds. And your Petitioners. as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Park, received. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 455

Lottery Offices at Newcastle and Kotara The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully shewetb: That the closure of State Lotter~esbranches at Newcastle and Kotara would cause the loss of 18 jobs In an already depressed regron, a loss of revenue and an increase In the payment of commmlons. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will take all possible steps to ensure that the State Lotteries branches at Newcastle and Kotara are not closed. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Keegan, received.

Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff

The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That Lawrence Hargrave Drive, the main south coast road between Coalcliff and Scarborough in the northern suburbs of the city of Wollongong, was closed on the 1st May. 1988, due to severe damage from slippage caused by heavy rain. This road serves as an integral and vital link for several thousand residents who live and work in the northern Illawarra region between Bulli and Helensburgh. The residents most affected by lack of access to pre-schools, schools, hospitals at Coledale and Bulk shops. businesses and other essential services, are those residing in the abovementioned areas. The residents of these areas are now forced to use the Princes Highway along the top of the Illawarra escarpment until it merges with the F6 Freeway at Bulli Tops. This is an extremely hazardous route during the winter months as it is frequently subject to dense fog and or icy and wet conditions. Adding to the hazard is the fact that the final, or first, stage of this detour is down, or up, the already infamous Bulli Pass. The parents of hundreds of pre-school and school-aged children are now forced to transport their children to and from school by this route. As a result of the road closure, train services are operating at maximum capacity. Local businesses are also suffering severe losses due to an almost complete removal of the tourist trade. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That honourable House will entreat the Premier, the Hon. Nicholas Greiner. and the Minister for Transport, the Hon. Bruce Baird, to place the repair and reopening of the aforesaid section of the road in a position of top priority in the State's road maintenance program and, second, will entreat the Minister for Transport, the Hon. Bruce Baird, to give a firm undertaking to these petitioners that the aforesaid section of road will be reopened within the period of four months from the date of closure, which was I st May, 1988, as was stated by a spokesperson for the Wollongong branch of the Department of Main Roads. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Greiner, received.

Abortion The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That becuse of the tragic deaths of over 100 000 Australian unborn children each year, by unnatural means as well as unfortunate accidents, and the confusion over the legal status and rights of the unborn child as well as its God-given historic right to life: 456 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That the Parliament of New South Wales will fully support Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile's private member's bill entitled the Unborn Child Protection Bill, and will ensure its prompt adoption and implementation in New South Wales, in the interests of future generations of Australian children. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr J. D. Booth, received.

- ' Wollongong Showground The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That the citizens of the city of Wollongong are flatly opposed to any proposal that would cause any part of Wollongong Showground to be leased, assigned or disposed of for the purpose of establishing an enterprise such as an international tourist hotel or convention centre, or some such other complex that would advantage private interests but which would deny the citizens the full use and benefit of this public amenity. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your Honourable House will take urgent steps to prevent the disposition or leasing of the abovementioned property. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Arkell, received.

Technical and Further Education The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is concern at the proposed changes in technical and further education. The introduction of the $100 administrative charge for technical and further education students and the $263 charge for diploma and associate diploma courses will reduce access for many students. The abolition of "daylight equivalent" in colleges will force the transfer of qualified teachers to other colleges and will reduce the number of qualified teachers in those colleges from which they were transferred. The decreased preparation and marking time of teachers will reduce the quality of education. The dismantling of women's programs cannot be tolerated as this is denying access by women to courses that would enable them to enter or re-enter the work force. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will reassess its position and maintain the quality of education in technical and further education colleges and public schools by withdrawing the proposed changes. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Cruickshank, received.

Education Policies The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is concern at the proposed changes in public education. The initiatives of the New South Wales Government in regard to public education will damage the quality of children's education. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 457

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will reassess its position and will maintain the quality of education in public education by withdrawing the proposed changes. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Cruickshank, received.

Hotel Trading Hours The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is concern about moves to extend hotel trading hours. Your Petitioners thcrefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will not permit the extension of hotel trading hours. And your Petitioners. as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Downy, received.

Community Housing The Petition of the citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is concern at the increasing levels of homelessness and hardship in the State of New South Wales. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will maintain funding for all community housing programs, including the community tenancy scheme. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Downy, received.

Inner City Accommodation The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is increasing concern at rising levels of homelessness and hardship for people on low incomes in the inner city. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will urge the Government to act to preserve the continued supply of boarding-house accommodation in the inner city, and will urge the Government to protect against redevelopment the supply of boarding-house style of accommodation available in Hinders Street, and South Dowling Street, and in other nearby areas, and will urge the Government to act to increase the supply of low-cost rental accommodation in the inner city. particularly for those groups displaced by escalating local housing costs. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Ms Nori, received.

Education Policies The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That the Minister's announcements of increased funding are welcome for the following initiatives: secondary textbook allowance, school link computer network, boost to staff development, rural education, and building maintenance. However, it is felt that the amounts allocated to these initiatives are insufficient to meet the deficiencies in these areas. 458 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

There is strong opposition to the following announced changes to public education: adjusted staffing formula; the increased extras, increased class sizes and increased period allowances will mean less time for teachers to give students the assistance required for a quality education, minimize students' elective options, severely hinder staff development and curriculum development and place restrictions on time available for parent-teacher consultation and interaction. The extra curricula activities. for example. musicals, zone and regional sports, will be increasingly difficult to function. Reclassification and cuts to ancillary staffing will mean that difficulties will be created that will lead to further disruption of students' education and welfare. For example. examination preparation, classroom material preparation, first-aid services. safety in specialized areas such as science, industrial arts and administrative duties and service to students. Cuts to the child protection unit with teachers being made mandatory notifiers of child assault or abuse means they need the professional support of this unit to in- service them in this area. Cuts to the disadvantaged schools program, with staffing supplements severely minimized, means that already disadvantaged schools and communities will be further disadvantaged. With staffing cuts, schools will have insufficient time to prepare submissions to secure supplementary staffing. These decisions by the Minister have been made with little, and in most cases, no consultation with the department, Public Service Association, teachers, parents or students. We support the Teachers Federation. the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations and the Public Service Association in their endeavours to maintain and improve the standards of public education. Your Pct~t~onerstherefore humbly pray: That your honourable House w~llnot agree to these changes to publ~ceducation standards. ,And your Petitioners. as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Gibson, received.

Sea Breeze Hotel, Blakehurst The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That because of the acts of vandalism and offensive behaviour to which the residents of Blakehurst are subjected by drunken youths walking home from the Sea Breeze Hotel during the early hours of the morning. the 3 a.m. trading licence held by Mr Gary Waterford be revoked and the 24-hour trading application submitted by Mr Waterford be refused. and the Sea Breeze Hotel not be allowed to re-open. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That the hopes and aspirations of the majority of the residents of the neighbourhood to live in reasonable peace and quiet will outweigh the commercial interest of one man. And lour Petitioners. as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition. lodged by Mr Yeomans, received.

Education Policies The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is protest at the proposals to change the public education system. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will reject the proposals to undermine and disadvantage the public education system, foreshadowed by the Premier and the Minister for Education earlier this year. And your Petitioners. as in duty bound, will ever pray Petition, lodged by Mr Doyle, received. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 459 PRISON METHADONE PROGRAM Ministerial Statement Mr YABSLEY: I wish to make a ministerial statement. Serious allegations have been made about the prison methadone program. These are being investigated by the Minister for Health, and by me, as the Ministers responsible. These allegations include the assessment and dispensing procedures for prisoners who have requested placement on the methadone program. I assure the House that all these allegations will be fully investigated. Like so many prison programs set up by the previous Government, no thought was given to the consequences, nor the proper resources applied. Quite simply, if the integrity of the methadone program cannot be guaranteed it should never have been set up in the first place. Although I see a significant role for methadone in fighting drug addiction, equally I know there is one sure way of destroying the credibility of a program, of undermining it and leaving it open to criticism and eventual destruction, and that is not to run it properly in the first place. Concern is expressed in the report that prisoners are not adequately prepared or educated about methadone and its effects. One custodial officer is reported as saying, "Anyone who wants it, gets it". Another is reported as saying, "They are getting methadone when they are not even using heroin, and have no heroin history". Furthermore, prison staff have not been adequately educated in the aims and objectives of the program. Against this background, and following discussions with the Minister for Health, I strongly support the decision to freeze the current methadone program and to review the prison methadone program. In connection with this matter I desire to lay upon the table of the House the following documents: Process Evaluation of New South Wales Department of Corrective Services Prison Methadone Program Study, No. 5; and Evaluation of New South Wales Department of Corrective Services Prison Methadone Program Study, No. 6.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE STATE RAIL AUTHORITY Suspension of Standing Orders Mr CARR (Maroubra), Leader of the Opposition [2.20]: I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would preclude the consideration forthwith of the following motion: That this House notes the appointment of Mr Ross Sayers as the new Chairman and Chief Executive of the State Rail Authority. On 17th August I asked a question of the Minister for Transport about the possibility of an increase in rail fares. The Minister responded by saying that the new head of the State Rail Authority, Mr Sayers, "had achieved a major reduction in the operating deficit of New Zealand railways. He reduced it by half'. In invoking that argument the Minister put on the public agenda in New South Wales the recent record of New Zealand rail. This Government and this Minister have invoked the New Zealand record as relevant to the Government's program and to the future management of the State Rail system in this State. The Opposition says that at the start of the process of restructuring State Rail in New South Wales we ought to debate the Sayers' record. It ought to be debated in terms of the Government's own Commission of Audit. It ought to be debated using such indicators as total net losses; current liabilities, level of borrowings, and net long-term liabilities. But our starting point in this debate must be operating losses, the matter the Minister himself raised. Let us look at 460 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 the operating losses and at the su gestion of a reduction by half of the operating losses of New Zealand rail from $76 million to $37 million in 1987-88. 1 invite the attention of the House to page 13 of the annual report of the New Zealand Railway Corporation. Mr Dowd: On a point of order. I do not know whether this matter is worthy of suspending the business of the House but clearly the Leader of the Opposition is going to the detail of the substantive motion. If the Leader of the Opposition is successful in persuading the House to suspend standing orders, he may then deal with the detail of the matter. At this stage he should not read reports of authorities of other nations. Mr Langton: On the point of order. It is obvious that to establish urgency there is a need at least to discuss some of the substance of the debate. It is in order for the Leader of the Opposition to canvass the substance of the motion to enable the House to decide whether standing orders should be suspended. Mr Greiner: On the point of order. [Interruption] Mr Greiner: I am as capable of wasting the time of this House as the Leader of the Opposition. The Opposition spokesman on transport matters refers to standing orders that no longer apply. [Interruption] Mr Greiner: I am sorry, he is the Opposition spokesman on corrective services matters. The honourable member for Kogarah is operating under standing orders that no longer apply. There is no motion for urgency before the House. The Leader of the Opposition-for reasons I could not possibly understand, and I suggest could not be understood by anyone either in this House or watching the proceedings-is seeking to suspend standing orders to note the appointment of the new head of the State Rail Authority. Clearly the argument advanced by the honourable member for Kogarah is irrelevant. It is not a matter of establishing urgency. The standing orders to which the honourable member refers have not operated for about two years. What is being discussed is the suspension of standing orders. I put it to you, Mr Speaker, that there is absolutely no validity in his submission. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Smithfield to order. I call the honourable member for Ashfield to order. Mr Greiner: There is absolutely no validity in the point of order of the honourable member for Kogarah. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Premier's point of order is valid. The sessional orders now provide for an honourable member to move a motion to suspend standing orders, so the mover need not establish urgency in the way that was necessary when standing orders were the deciding factor. I am concerned about the scope that the Leader of the Opposition can apply to the motion, mindful of the narrow framework in which it has been cast. I request the Leader of the Opposition to direct his comments to why the House should suspend its other business for the purpose of noting the appointment of Mr Ross Sayers as the new Chairman and Chief Executive of the State Rail Authority, and nothing more than that. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 461

Mr CARR: Standing orders should be suspended because this Government has invoked the record of the new head of the S.R.A. as relevant to its problems. That is why the House should note his appointment, and the impact and the relevance of his record. If one takes the key indicator of operating losses, one finds that the reduction in the operating losses, of the New Zealand Railways Corporation- Mr Dowd: On a point of order. Mr Speaker, you have instructed the Leader of the Opposition, who considers he is above the standing orders, that he should not develop the content of the substantive motion-if noting Mr Sayers' appointment has any relevance to what happens in New Zealand. Those honourable members who remember when the Labor Party attacked Alan Reiher before his appointment- [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Granville to order. Mr Dowd: -will realize that they are attempting now to apply the same sort of smear tactic. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I again point out to the kader of the Opposition that, by the phrasing of his motion, he has created a narrow ambit within which to discuss the need to suspend standing orders. To develop any substantive argument about what happens in New Zealand or in any other place is clearly outside the requirements of a motion for suspension of standing orders. The Leader of the Opposition must argue why the business of the House should be suspended. Mr CARR: The Minister has said that the justification for Mr Sayers' appointment lies in his record in reducing the operating losses of the New Zealand Railways Corporation. I am addressing that matter in passing, but the crux of my argument is that this matter justifies- Mr SPEAKER: Order! Is the Leader of the Opposition still speaking to the point of order raised by the Attorney General? Mr CARR: No, I have accepted the point of order. - Mr SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition might have waited until I had ruled on the point of order. I thought he was speaking further to the point of order. I repeat my warning to the Leader of the Opposition. His motion for suspension of standing orders calls merely for noting. If the motion had been phrased in terms condemning the Government for making the appointment of Mr Sayers, the Leader of the Opposition could expand on the matter. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Minister for Administrative Services and Assistant Minister for Transport to order. I fail to see how the argument being developed now by the Leader of the Opposition bears in any way on the motion for suspension of standing orders. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to confine his remarks to the matter of suspension. Mr CARR: Suspension of standing orders should be granted because the State Rail Authority is facing a range of cutbacks and restructuring, and the philosophy that the new head of the State Rail Authority will bring to bear on that task is most relevant. There is no way that this Government can prevent an airing of the fact that, under Mr Sayers' leadership, the New Zealand 3 1 462 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Railways Corporation suffered net losses that more than trebled current liabilities- Mr J. D. Booth: On a point of order. The Leader of the Opposition has moved a motion to suspend standing orders so that the House can note something that was reported publicly some time ago. If the Leader of the Opposition had moved a motion for suspension of standing orders to debate the adequacy or otherwise of the person appointed to head the SRA, or to censure the Government for selecting that person, that would be a different matter. But in arguing for suspension of standing orders to note something, the Leader of the Opposition simply needs to state why the House should take note of the matter, rather than to argue, as he is doing incessantly and in contradiction of your ruling, Mr Speaker, about the virtue or otherwise of the appointment. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Heffron to order. The point of order is well taken. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Coogee to order. The Leader of the Opposition is continuing to stray to the subject-matter of the substantive motion and is not speaking to the motion for suspension of standing orders. The motion of the Leader of the Opposition is in order, but, as I have said, he must limit his remarks to persuading the House why standing orders should be suspended. I am sure that the House would appreciate it if, in the few seconds he has left to speak, the Leader of the Opposition confined his remarks to the motion for suspension. Mr CARR: I can understand that the Government- Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition has exhausted his time for speaking. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Ashfield to order for the second time. I call the honourable member for Londonderry to order. Mr GREINER (Ku-ring-gai), Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Ethnic Affairs [2.30]:1 have seen some pathetic efforts. It might even be said by other members who have been in this House for the past five years that I was involved in some pathetic efforts during my time on the Opposition side of the House. That happened because Opposition leaders occasionally are desperate for something to raise. However, in the entire time I have been a member of this House, there has never been anything remotely as fatuous, vacant, or hopeless as this effort from the Leader of the Opposition. I shall not speak for as long as the Leader of the Opposition spoke on the subject. I shall simply say that from the time Mr Sayers was appointed executive chairman of the New Zealand Railways Corporation on 1st April, 1986, he split the corporation into three autonomous business groups- Mr J; J. Aquilina: On a point of order. When the Leader of the Opposition sought to move for suspension of standing orders he was not permitted to canvass the substance of the motion. However, the Premier is now seeking to do just that. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 463

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I remind the honourable member for Blacktown that the second speaker in the debate speaks in reply to the matters raised by the member speaking in support of the motion and therefore is entitled to touch on issues raised by the member who moved for suspension. However, I caution the Premier that I shall not accept any great elaboration on that point. I note the Premier's comment that he intended to speak briefly. In the circumstances, that would be a wise course of action. Mr GREINER: Without canvassing your ruling, Mr Speaker, I agree entirely. My Sayers also consolidated the corporate office- Dr Refshauge: On a point of order. Obviously the Premier is flouting your ruling, Mr Speaker, that he should not go further into the substance of the matter, other than to reply to what the Leader of the Opposition said. If the Premier wants to debate these matters he should prolong the debate rather than try to stall it. Mr SPEAKER: Order! It would have been fairer for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to have waited a little longer before taking his point of order, in order to see to what,extent the Premier would speak on that matter. I suspect that the Premier does intend to deal with the matter in a little more detail than I would like him to do that at this stage. I ask the Premier to be brief in any references that he makes in reply to the matters mentioned by the Leader of the Opposition, whlch I previously ruled out of order. Mr J. H. Murray: On a point of order. Earlier, when you were making a ruling, the Leader of the Opposition stood to his feet, and you asked him to resume his seat. During the ruling you just gave, the Premier stood to his feet, but you did not ask the Premier to resume his seat. Mr SPEAKER: Order! If the honourable member for Drummoyne had noted what happened, I interrupted the Leader of the Opposition to ascertain whether he had commenced talking to the substantive part of the motion, or was making further comments on a point of order-which is what I understood him to have been doing. I asked the Leader of the Opposition to resume his seat while I clarified that matter. I draw to the attention of all members that when the Cha?r commences to speak, it is courteous for honourable members to resume their seats immediately. Mr GREINER: In the year to 31st March-and this is directly to the point made by the Leader of Opposition about operating losses-New Zealand Railways Corporation- Mr Brereton: On a point of order. Only a few minutes ago as a result of points of order taken by the Government, the Leader of the Opposition was prevented from demonstrating to this House the record of Mr Sayers. He was prevented from demonstrating the losses that occurred in New Zealand Railways Corporation during the term of Mr Sayers' administration. He was prevented from dealing- Mr SPEAKER: Would the honourable member for Heffron come to the point of order. Mr Brereton: I shall. The point I am making- [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I understand the gist of what the honourable member for Heffron is saying, but I ask him to come to the point of order quickly. 464 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Mr Brereton: I shall, when I can hear myself think. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Brereton: The point I was making was simply this: The Premier and a number of his colleagues rose on points of order and specifically prevented the Leader of the Opposition from dealing with the merits of Mr Sayers' performance and from dealing with the liabilities of the New Zealand Railways Corporation during his stewardship.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Heffron is not dealing with the point of order. He should come to it quickly.

Mr Brereton: That being the case, and the Leader of the Opposition being ruled against, I ask you, Mr Speaker, in exactly the same fashion, to restrict the Premier, who is seeking to say that this fellow was a good performer during his stewardship. That is patently false.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have already ruled on that point of order. The Opposition would assist the Chair to achieve its goals if it waited a little longer before taking points of order. If I think the Premier is spending too much time on a particular matter I shall not hesitate to direct him to sit down. However, the Opposition is taking points of order almost before the Premier has commenced to speak.

Mr GREINER: In 1987-88 the operating loss of New Zealand Railways Corporation was down more than one half that of the previous year. In other words, the operating loss was halved from $76 million to $37 million.

Mr Unsworth: I was about to take a point of order. But I understand that the Premier has now resumed his seat, so I shall not take the point of order.

Question-That standing orders be suspended-put.

The House divided. Ayes, 42 Ms Allan Mr Irwin Mr E. T. Page Mr Arnery Mr Knight Mr Price Mr J. J. Aquilina Mr Knowles Mr Primrose Mr K. G. Booth Mr Langton Dr Refshauge Mr Brereton Mr Lovelee Mr Rogan Mr Carr Mr McManus Mr Rumble Mr Cleary Mr Markham Mr Shedden Mrs Crosio Mr Martin Mr Unsworth Mr Davoren Mr H. F. Moore Mr Walsh Mr Doyle Mr Moss Mr Whelan Mr Face Mr J. H. Murray Mr Ferguson Mr Nagle Mr Gibson Mr Newman Tellers; Mr Harrison Ms Nori Mr Beckroge Mr Hunter Mr Paciullo Mr Christie 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 465

Noes, 63 Mr Andrews Mr Hatton Mr Roberts Mr Armstrong Mr Hay Mr Schipp Mr Baird Mr Jeffery Mr Schultz Mr Berry Mr Keegan Mr Singleton Mr Books Mr Kerr Mr Small Mr J. D. Booth Mr Longley Mr Smiles Mr Caterson Miss Machin Mr Smith Mr Causley Mr Mack Mr Tink Mr Chappell Mr Matheson Mr Turner Mr Cochran Mr Merton Mr Webster Mrs Cohen Dr Metherell Mr Welsh Mr Collins Mr T. J. Moore Mr West Mr Cruickshank Ms Moore Mr White Mr Dowd Mr Morris Mr Wotton Mr Downy Mr W. T. J. Murray Mr Yabsley Mr Fahey Mr D. L. Page Mr Yeomans Miss Fraser Mr Park Mr Zammit Mr Glachan Mr Peacocke Mr Graham Mr Petch Mr Greiner Mr Photios Tellers, Mr Griffiths Mr Pickard Mr Beck Mr Hartcher Mr Rixon Mr Phillips

Pair Mr Souris Mr A. S. Aquilina Question so resolved in the negative. Motion for the suspension of standing orders negatived.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE STATE RAIL AUTHORITY Mr CARR: My question is directed to the Minister for Transport. Will the Minister confirm that in the past two years, under the chairmanship of Mr Ross Sayers, New Zealand railways had net losses that more than trebled, current liabilities that rose nearly 78 per cent, net long-term liabilities that more than doubled and that, as a consequence, the level of financing costs nearly doubled? Were operating losses disguised by property sales? Mr Greiner: On a point of order. The question is prolix. The Leader of the Opposition is simply making the speech that he was not able to make when he sought suspension of standing orders. Mr Caw: On the point of order. I have only one sentence to add. The question is considerably shorter than one permitted yesterday from the honourable member for South Coast. 466 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Mr Greiner: Further to the point of order. There is a series of rulings on the length of questions. On any estimation, and on any precedent, the question asked by the Leader of the Opposition is considerably in excess of what has been ruled previously to be excessive. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am not prepared to hear further debate on the point of order. The problem with the question asked by the Leader of the Opposition relates not only to its length. The whole purpose of asking questions is to elicit facts, not to give them. The question asked by the Leader of the Opposition gives facts. A member is not permitted to give a number of facts in a series of questions and to ask whether those facts are correct. I rule the question out of order.

PRISON METHADONE PROGRAM Mr GRIFFITHS: My question without notice is addressed to the Minister for Health and Minister for Arts. What action does the Minister propose to take to address the problems in the prison methadone program identified in the report tabled by the Minister for Corrective Services? What other deficiencies in the methadone program have been identified, and what is the Minister going to do about them? Mr COLLINS: First I place on record the Government's strong commitment, and my personal support, for methadone initiatives. In answering the question I will first address problems within the prison methadone program and then comment briefly on the deficiencies in the overall program. The prescribing of methadone and the medical management of patients is provided by medical practitioners of the prison medical service, a facility of the Department of Health. Many prisoners appear to be greatly assisted by the progam, both during their incarceration and upon their release. However, the report tabled by the Minister for Corrective Services raises some matters of serious concern regarding the administration of, and procedures used in, the conduct of methadone treatment in the prison system. The report, compiled between December 1987 and February 1988, is a collection of opinions of various personnel groups involved with the program, and makes serious criticisms of the program. The report stated that prisoners were going on methadone to secure early release, or as a condition of parole; that there were standovers within the gaols; that there was inability to progress through classification to all institutions while on methadone; and that there was inadequate dispensing facilities, particularly at Parramatta gaol, of which I shall say more later. The report also spoke of the perception of a blackmarket in methadone in the gaols, especially at Parramatta gaol; urine guidelines were not strict enough and were not enforced properly; that there was topping up and the use of illegal drugs both in gaol and in the community; and that there was lack of time for primary care and counselling at community dispensing units. The report added that there was inadequate education about methadone for inmates and gaol staff, and inadequate and or inappropriate assessments. The report was particularly critical of the methadone program at Parramatta gaol. For the benefit of the House that section of the report which deals with Parramatta gaol stated: A varlety of gaol personnel ~nclud~ngsuper~ntendents, custod~al officers, prison nurslng staff. and drug and alcohol staff, were asked whether they thought inmates were either sell~ngor drverting the methadone they recelved at the prison clinics. Around six rn 10 of those Interwewed agreed there was a problem with d~version of methadone from ~tsmended purpose. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 467

When these results are broken down by tnst~tutlonit is apparent that the problem was most frequently ment~onedby staff at Parramatta gaol. In fact, every person mterv~ewedat th~sInstitution answered "Yes" to the question. The h~ghfrequency w~thwh~ch th~s problem was reported at Parramatta gaol IS poss~blya result of the madequate d~spens~ngfac~l~t~es at this institution Inmates here are not held after be~ngdosed w~thmethadone but are released back Into the gaol, In contrast wrth other gaols (e.g. Mulawa), where the Inmates are detamed for at least 10 or 20 mlnutes after being dosed to ensure the thorough dlgestlon of the drug. The report is a condemnation of the management of this vital but sensitive program by the former Government. [Interruptro~] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Drummoyne to order. Mr COLLINS: It exposes a situation where there were serious deficiencies in the management of the program at Parramatta gaol during the last three months of Labor's administration. Since our Government assumed office the corrective services department together with the Prison Medical Service have taken steps to respond to a number of the criticisms. However, the problems identified by the report are so serious and widespread that I have ordered a full inquiry into the prison methadone program. This inquiry is being carried out by a committee of review to be chaired by Dr Michael Macavoy, director of the directorate of the drug offensive. I have frozen admissions to the program, until the review has been completed. Yesterday this committee visited Parramatta gaol and provided the initial advice that many of the problems identified by the report have been rectified. I have taken the opportunity provided by the tabling of these reports to review the entire methadone program. The sixth study, entitled "Results of Community Urinalysis for Clients of the New South Wales Prison Methadone Program", finalized in July, points to a blackmarket in methadone, which clearly needs to be investigated and eliminated. The urinalysis was undertaken to determine whether or not clients actually consume their doses of methadone, and hence to ensure that no blackmarket exists at the dispensing units. An absence of methadone from urine specimens strongly suggests that a blackmarket does exist. About 15 per cent of all clients had no methadone in their urine on at least one occasion. I was particularly disturbed to find that Department of Health clients recorded worse results than corrective service clients, with 19 per cent in total, and 25 per cent at Blacktown, having no methadone in their urine on at least one occasion. These results suggest that a blackmarket for methadone does exist. The report's conclusion to the contrary can be sustained only hy making a very casual assessment of the figures. I intend to review the operations of the general methadone program. Specifically, the review will examine: the procedures for assessing potential candidates for the program; the admission to and discharge of patients from treatment; the transfer of patients from treatment; the transfer of patients from the prison methadone program to community-based programs; the role of the private sector programs; the use of retail pharmacies for methadone dispensing; take-away methadone doses-a particularly serious problem; methadone dispensing fees; and the availability of methadone treatment in non- urban areas. It is my intention to ensure that the methadone program is effectively administered to help those addicts who desperately need assistance. If the program falls into disrepute and the community believes it is causing 468 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 more problems than it solves, its continuation will be in jeopardy. Already, the poor administration of the program by the former Government has generated community concern. To ensure that the program operates effectively in the future, a methadone policy committee within the Department of Health has been set up to implement the review committee's recommendations and to monitor the program. I demonstrate my commitment to the methadone program by endeavouring to make it work properly so that it receives strong community support. Every heroin addict who wants to escape the ravages of heroin addiction should have access to a place on the methadone program. Under this Government such programs will be run in a disciplined, responsible, and accountable manner.

LEGAL AID SERVICE Suspension of Standing Orders Mr WHELAN (Ashfield) [2.56]: 1 move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would preclude the consideralion forthwith of the following motion, namely: That this House condemns the Attorney General for his failure to support the Legal Aid Service of the State and permitting the closure of Local Courts. Standing orders should be suspended as the Attorney General and the Greiner Government have neglected the legal aid system of this State and brought it into complete disarray. The court system is clogged beyond redemption. Women are unable to obtain domestic violence orders, or protection from physical violence, harassment, and molestation from their husbands and boyfriends. A secret document in the office of the Attorney General shows that more than 55 Local Courts, particularly in rural New South Wales, are likely to close. Standing orders should be suspended because the recent strike by court officers, deliberately brought about by the Premier and the Attorney General- Mr Dowd: On a point of order. Mr Brereton: Is this open government? Mr Dowd: It is a matter of respect for the courts. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for'~shfie1dwill resume his seat while the Attorney General takes his point of order. Mr Dowd: This dispute went before His Honour Mr Justice Bauer of the State Industrial Commission. The matter then was taken to the Full Bench of the Industrial Commission. The dispute involved the closure of courts, regradings, and Chamber Magistrates. All these matters were the subject of hearings before the Industrial Commission on 15th August, and as a result of the extent of the proposed regradings they have now been transferred to an anomalies committee. The Industrial Commission happens to be- Mr SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Attorney General to come to the essence of the point of order. Mr Dowd: The Industrial Commission is a court of this State and the matters I have referred to are under its jurisdiction. The dispute referred to persisted for several days and I submit that to canvass matters that are now before that court is not only industrially sensitive but also sub judice. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 469

Mr Unsworth: On the point of order. The Attorney General suggests that matters before the industrial courts of this State are sub judice. Mr Speaker; if you were to rule in the Attorney's favour, it would mean that this Parliament would not be able to debate any industrial matter that was before a court established to determine industrial disputations. The suggestion of the Attorney General is ludicrous. Mr SPEAKER: Order! On a previous occasion I ruled in regard to sub judice that I was concerned about the restriction that past practice in this Chamber had placed on issues to be debated in this Parliament. On that occasion I intimated that I would take a more lenient view about matters that were the subject of hearings before administrative tribunals or an! !I-~bunalof a non-criminal nature. I deem that to uphold the sub judice rule on 1h1spoint would be unduly restrictive of the rights and privileges of this Hou\c. I do not uphold the point of order. Mr WHELAN: Standing orders should be suspended because the recent strike by court officers, deliberately brought on by the incompetence of the Premier and the Attorney General, has deprived women and children of their basic maintenance rights and denied them the basics such as- Mr Dowd: On a point of order. I suggest the honourable member read the wording of the motion, which refers to the legal aid service and the closure of Local Courts. Those courts are now open and the honourable member is referring to Chamber Magistrates, and that is not the subject of the motion. Mr SPEAKER: Order! No point of order is involved. Mr WHELAN: If the Attorney General is really worried, I do not know why he does not allow the debate to be brought on. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Attorney General to order and I call the honourable member for Ashfield to order. Mr WHELAN: I was replying to the interjection. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Ashfield will proceed to speak to the motion for suspension of standing orders. Mr WHELAN: Standing orders should be suspended because women and children are being denied their basic maintenance rights. They are being denied such basics as clothing, food and essentials. Children considered at risk cannot seek the protection of the court- [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Attorney General to order for the second time. I call the Premier to order. Mr WHELAN: -because courts are understaffed and thousands upon thousands of dollars in revenue have been lost through government maladministration and poor industrial relations. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Miranda to order. 470 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Mr WHELAN: Standing orders should be suspended because Local Courts in country areas have been closed by this supposed Liberal Party- National Party Government- [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Wakehurst to order. Mr WHELAN: -whose members now walk away from their traditional support base and leave rural people with the inconvenience of travelling long distances at great expense. It is all right for the Deputy Premier to laugh; he was able to go to Cabinet and stiff-arm the Attorney General-

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Premier to order. Mr WHELAN: -to keep two courts open in his electorate. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Premier to order for the third time. Mr WHELAN: What about the rural rump in this House? Why did they not protest to the Attorney General? [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Drummoyne to order. Mr WHELAN: Why did they not follow the lead of the honourable member for Broken Hill? Mr W. T. J. Murray: On a point of order. The honourable member for Ashfield should be giving reasons why standing orders should be suspended. I ask that he be directed to confine his remarks to that matter. Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is a fine line between reasons for the suspension of standing orders and the material that forms the substantive motion to be debated if suspension is granted. Earlier I ruled against the Leader of the Opposition on the basis that he had narrowed his substantive motion to such an extent that the material that he was raising would not have come within the ambit of the motion had it been before the House. The honourable member for Ashfield is attempting to substantiate the need for the House to suspend standing orders, and has advanced material in support. At this point I rule that the honourable member for Ashfield is in order. Mr WHELAN: It is all right for the Deputy Premier to use thug tactics on the Attorney General in Cabinet to keep open some Local Courts. But the rural rump in this House has done nothing to protect country New South Wales and its court service. The closure of Local Courts has prejudiced the rights of rural people and their duties as law-abiding citizens. It is vital that this matter be discussed as judges of all courts-the Supreme Court, the District Court, and the various registrars-have lost faith in the Government and have expressed hopelessness at the delay in jury trials, some accused persons now having to wait from six to eight years for a hearing. [Interruption] 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 47 1 Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs to order. I call the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs to order. Mr WHELAN: The Government is doing absolutely nothing to alleviate the delays in the court system, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel for the inordinate delays that are occurring. Standing orders should be suspended because of the longest strike in the State's legal history-nine days with the prospect of further strikes-and the Government's inability to adequately and properly determine, through the industrial courts, the justifiable claims of Local Court officers and others. Standing orders should be suspended so that the House can discuss a previous secret document, the report of Touche Ross and Company of 15th June, to ascertain the Government's attitude. All the backbenchers in this House will be agreeing to the Government's proposal that on-the-spot fines be issued to prostitutes in this State. That is what this secret report says. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr WHELAN: Page 42 of the report says that on-the-spot infringement notices will be issued for, among other things, causing alarm and affront and for offensive behaviour. That will mean that people could walk up to prostitutes and give them a $50 note-and members opposite probably will ask for change. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The House will come to order. The honourable member for Ashfield is now straying into the area covered by the substantive motion. I ask him to return to the reasons why the House should suspend standing orders. Mr WHELAN: It is right that this matter should be discussed, as the honourable member for Canterbury and the honourable member for Lakemba, who have been ardent supporters of a proposition to rid Canterbury Road of prostitution- Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member's time for speaking has expired. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Hurstville to order. Mr DOWD (Lane Cove), Attorney General 13.051: If I may speak to the motion-as some member in the House should-rather than to the matter raised by the honourable member for Ashfield, the allocation of funds to the legal aid service has in no way been interfered with since I have been Attorney General. Mr Whelan: Nick wants you to sack Cook. Mr DOWD: Mr Cook submitted his resignation. It is an unwarranted slur on him to suggest that he was dismissed. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call,the honourable member for Ashfield to order for the second time. 472 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 Mr DOWD: If the honourable member for Ashfield had the slightest interest in this matter, he would know that even before the report by Touche Ross and Company and the Commission of Audit report, the Legal Aid Commission had adopted a series of measures to deal with the serious delays and problems occurring in this blowout of the commission's budget. Mr Bill Robinson, who has been appointed as commissioner and director, is considering measures that have been taken and other measures to endeavour to curtail the serious budget blowout. Rather than curtailing the commission's activities, it has been requested to look at methods whereby funds are allocated. Mr Justice Grove, and the other members of the commission to whom I have spoken, are doing that, and doing it within the commission's existing budget. There is no indication that the budget available to the commission this year will be curtailed. Efforts will be made to ensure that legal aid is available to those who need it. There is not the slightest shred of evidence to support the first part of the motion. Mr Brereton: Then why will you not allow the debate? [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Heffron to order for the second time. Mr DOWD: In order to have a debate there must be something requiring a reply. Allegations have been made in this House, completely without foundation, about chamber magistrate services. There is a limit on how far we can debate this matter, for it is before the courts. Even the honourable member for Rockdale knows that in an industrial dispute there is a limit to how far one can debate matters publicly without being provocative. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Ashfield to order. Mr DOWD: Chamber magistrates are provided at 116 courts throughout New South Wales. Those services have not been curtailed, though one person erected a sign outside a court to say that the service was not available. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Londonderry to order. Mr DOWD: That claim was completely false. At that court, and the other 115, chamber magistrate services were available. No one has been prevented from obtaining the services provided and supervised by chamber magistrates. The Government is committed to providing nine supplementary full-time chamber magistrates. However, it has inherited unbelievable delays in the court system. We are under an obligation to restrict spendin and live within our budget. The former Government's cumulative deficit of f 46 billion must be addressed, and steps have been taken to do that. The honourable member for Ashfield raised the question of the horrendous delays in the court system. For the first time after his party lost office he has discovered what those delays are. In the civil jurisdication in the Supreme Court there are delays of up to five or six years from the time of setting a matter down for hearing. People in custody awaiting a hearing in the criminal courts face a delay of 16 or 17 months. [Interruption] 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 473

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Macquarie Fields to order. Mr DOWD: For that purpose, within a week of my appointment I approached the Premier and Treasurer with a supplementary budget for 1987-88 and secured- Mr Greiner: I gave it to the Attorney General. Mr DOWD: Yes, without demur the Premier gave me another $6.5 million to enable me to appoint two additional Supreme Court judges, four additional District Court judges, seven additional magistrates-all of whom, with the exception of one who will be appointed soon, have now been appointed-and approximately 80 to 90 support staff. Throughout rural New South Wales-I trust that members of the Opposition will visit the rural areas occasionally-additional District Court sittings have been listed; and from next year there will be additional Supreme Court sittings. The additional sittings will assist in reducing the delays. In the criminal jurisdiction of the District Court there is a 36-month delay for people on bail. That is an appalling delay, to which must be added the period between committal and the granting of bail. The honourable member for Ashfield suddenly finds these delays to be horrendous, or hopeless, or whatever term he used. That indicates what an absolute disgrace he was as a Government supporter during the past 12 years. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Miranda to order for the second time. Mr DOWD: At one time the honourable member for Ashfield was a member of the Wran Government, but did not get his votes quite right. Even the Wran Government would not accept him, and he was voted out of the Cabinet. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Seven Hills to order. Mr DOWD: The honourable member for Ashfield submitted a list of nominees to head the Independent Commission Against Corruption. What a kiss of death it would be to be nominated by the honourable member for Ashfield. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order. Mr DOWD: Court closures are a matter of considerable concern. This Government did not lightly address the problem of closing courts in country towns, as recommended to the previous Government. A large amount of my time has been occupied in speaking to Government supporters who are concerned and have spoken to me about their communities. The honourable member for Maitland was not gracious enough to acknowledge that he put to me a case for retaining a court, that I discussed that matter with him, and, after discussing it with my staff, I decided to keep that court open. That is the way this Government has dealt with this matter. Approximately 50 closures were mooted, and only 40 courts were closed. [Interruption] 474 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Seven Hills to order for the second time.

Mr DOWD: Interestingly, I telephoned one member of the Opposition, who said to me, "Gee, you are actually ringing me about the court closures. I did not receive that consideration under the previous Government". I shall not name that member lest it embarrasses him. I discussed the matter with him- as I did with every member who was concerned about a court being closed.

[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Waverley to order.

Mr DOWD: It is absolutely irresponsible for the honourable member for Ashfield to suggest that the Attorney General's Department has a hidden agenda of 55 courts. He knows that that is a flat lie. Already I have told the petty sessions staff, and I have said publicly, that the courts that have been considered are the only courts under consideration. A document was circulated deliberately to cause industrial dispute. That document did not emanate from my department, as the honourable member for Ashfield knows. The document was produced by people within the petty sessions officers association.

[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Minister for Administrative Services and Assistant Minister for Transport to order.

Mr DOWD: They deliberately circulated that document. All the staff have gone back to work. The matter is now before the Industrial Commission to consider regradings, which were supported by the Attorney General's Department and approved by the Premier. Absolutely no basis has been made out for this motion. There has been no attack on the legal aid service.

[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time.

Mr DOWD: The matter of the closure of the local courts has been dealt with. The fact is that delays occur in the major centres, not in outlying towns, and I will concentrate staff where delays occur. For that reason, the Government does not agree to the motion for suspension.

Question-That standing orders be suspended-put.

The House divided. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 475

Ayes, 42 Ms Allan Mr Irwin Mr E. T. Page Mr Amery Mr Knight Mr Price Mr J. J. Aquilina Mr Knowles Mr Primrose Mr K. G. Booth Mr Langton Dr Refshauge Mr Brereton Mr Lovelee Mr Rogan Mr Carr Mr McManus Mr Rumble Mr Cleary Mr Markham Mr Shedden Mrs Crosio Mr Martin Mr Unsworth Mr Davoren Mr H. F. Moore Mr Walsh Mr Doyle Mr Moss Mr Whelan Mr Face Mr J. H. Murray Mr Ferguson Mr Nagle Mr Gibson Mr Newman Tellers, Mr Harrison Ms Nori Mr Beckroge Mr Hunter Mr Paciullo Mr Christie Noes, 64 Mr Andrews Mr Hartcher Mr Rixon Mr Arkell Mr Hatton Mr Roberts Mr Armstrong Mr Hay Mr Schipp Mr Baird Mr Jeffery Mr Schultz Mr Berry Mr Keegan Mr Singleton Mr Books Mr Kerr Mr Small Mr J. D. Booth Mr Longley Mr Smiles Mr Caterson Miss Machin Mr Smith Mr Causley Mr Mack Mr Tink Mr Chappell Mr Matheson Mr Turner Mr Cochran Mr Merton Mr Webster Mrs Cohen Dr Metherell Mr Welsh Mr Collins Mr T. J. Moore Mr West Mr Cruickshank Ms Moore Mr White Mr Dowd Mr Morris Mr Wotton Mr Downy Mr W. T. J. Murray Mr Yabsley Mr Fahey Mr D. L. Page Mr Yeomans Miss Fraser Mr Park Mr Zammit Mr Glachan Mr Peacocke Mr Graham Mr Petch Tellers, Mr Greiner Mr Photios Mr Beck Mr Griffiths Mr Pickard Mr Phillips

Pair Mr Souris Mr A. S. Aquilina Question so resolved in the negative. Motion for suspension of standing orders negatived.

ORDER OF BUSINESS Motion by Mr Dowd agreed to: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would preclude the order of the day for resumption of the debate of the Address in Reply being postponed until after consideration of government business notice of motion No. I. 476 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

TEACHING SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL Introduction Dr METHERELL (Davidson), Minister for Education and Youth Affairs [3.23]: I move: That leave be given to bring in a bill for an Act to amend the Teaching Services Act 1980 to make further ~rovisionwith resvect to the conditions of employment of teachers in the Teaching services; and for other purposes.

Question-That leave be given-put. The House divided.

Ayes, 57 Mr Andrews Mr Hartcher Mr Schipp Mr Armstrong Mr Hay Mr Schultz Mr Baird Mr Jeffery Mr Singleton Mr Berry Mr Kerr Mr Small Mr Books Mr Longley Mr Smiles Mr J. D. Booth Miss Machin Mr Smith Mr Caterson Mr Matheson Mr Tink Mr Causley Mr Merton Mr Turner Mr Chappell Dr Metherell Mr Webster Mr Cochran Mr T. J. Moore Mr West Mrs Cohen Mr Morris Mr White Mr Collins Mr W. T. J. Murray Mr Wotton Mr Cruickshank Mr D. L. Page Mr Yabsley Mr Dowd Mr Park Mr Yeomans Mr Downy Mr Peacocke Mr Zammit Mr Fahey Mr Petch Mr Glachan Mr Photios Mr Graham Mr Pickard Tellers, Mr Greiner Mr Rixon Mr Beck Mr Griffiths Mr Roberts Mr Phillips

Noes, 49 Ms Allan Mr Hunter Ms Nori Mr Amery Mr Irwin Mr Paciullo Mr Arkell Mr Keegan Mr E. T. Page Mr J. J. Aquilina Mr Knight Mr Price Mr K. G. Booth Mr Knowles Mr Primrose Mr Brereton Mr Langton Dr Refshauge Mr Carr Mr Lovelee Mr Rogan Mr Cleary Mr McManus Mr Rumble Mrs Crosio Mr Mack Mr Shedden Mr Davoren Mr Markham Mr Unsworth Mr Doyle Mr Martin Mr Walsh Mr Face Mr H. F. Moore Mr Welsh Mr Ferguson Ms Moore Mr Whelan Miss Fraser Mr Moss Mr Gibson Mr J. H. Murray Tellers, Mr Harrison Mr Nagle Mr Beckroge Mr Hatton Mr Newman Mr Christie 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 477

Pair Mr Souris Mr A. S. Aquilina Question so resolved in the affirmative. Motion agreed to. Bill introduced and read a first time.

Second Reading Dr METHERELL (Davidson), Minister for Education and Youth Affairs [3.31]: 1 move: That th~sb~ll be now read a second tlme. This bill is a key part of the Government's strategy to regain the control and management of education in New South Wales from a trade union, and to restore it to those charged by the people of this State with that task-the elected Government. The Government has been obliged to take these steps because the situation is clearly intolerable. Two sets of circumstances have brought the Government to this point. In the first instance, consecutive governments during the past two decades have let slip from their hands the control of many of the major policy issues in education in this State. Second, during the same period, a strong trade union turned its back on the public good and sought to maximize conditions for its members with little regard for the interests of students or the community in general, and taxpayers in particular. The combined effect of these two sets of circumstances has been extremely unfortunate for public education. Governments procrastinated while the Teachers Federation, with coverage across the education sectors, spun a web of industrial deals around a series of fundamental education issues. Essent~alto the union's strategy was the necessity to characterize these issues as working conditions. As such, they could be subject to industrial negotiation and industrial pressure and disruption. As such they could be traded off by governments unprepared to resist the exercise of industrial muscle. Let me outline these fundamental education issues to the House. They go to the very heart of the teaching and learning process. They are fundamental to the organization of our schools. They should not be available as pawns on the industrial relations chessboard. These are the education policy matters defined and delineated in the bill. They include: supervision of students; face-to-face teaching time; what has become known in technical and further education as daylight equivalent; and class sizes. I shall deal with each of these issues in turn, starting with the supervision of students by members of the teaching service. What could be more basic to school education than the supervisory relationship between teacher and pupil? Society bestows on the teaching profession a sacred trust based on a clear understanding that when parents send their children to school they can be assured that students will be properly supervised, kept from harm, and effectively taught. This is one of the foundations upon which public education in this State is built. Effective supervision and teaching of students should never be on the bargaining table to be traded off in the heat of industrial negotiations. Appropriate supervision of students is not something that this Government or the community can allow teachers to do or not do at the whim of a local union organizer. At present we have the situation in a number of schools where some teachers, at the direction of their union, decline to take classes while students are without teachers because of sickness or other absence. We at present have the situation in a 32 478 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 number of schools where some teachers, at the direction of their union, are questioning whether they should have to supervise pupils waiting to board transport to go home. In secondary schools we have the situation whereby teachers of year 12 students, at the direction of their union, reject the reasonable expectation that they should be allocated to classes of absent colleagues after their own students have left school to prepare for higher school certificate examinations. These situations are intolerable, yet when action is taken to address these matters, the union claims these are matters relating to working conditions and are matters to be decided in the Industrial Commission of New South Wales. Any clear-thinking person would reject such a claim. Policy on the supervision of school students by teachers is clearly an educational matter, a matter for the Government to decide and for the Director- General of Education to implement. The test should be whether the safety and welfare of our school students is protected and their supervision educationally sound, not whether some industrial convention or work practice is required to be changed. This bill will ensure that the adequate supervision of school students by teachers during a normal school day will remain a matter for educational policy-making and not industrial bargaining. The issue of face-to-face teaching time addressed by the bill is another essential foundation of effective education administration. The way in which teaching in our schools is at present organized opens the way for considerable inconsistencies, inequities and discontinuities. Because of past industrial dealings there is at present the inequitable and illogical situation in secondary schools where two-thirds of the staff of each school teach 28 periods a week and one-third teach only 27 periods a week. The lighter loads are not related to particular subjects or to particular students. This is, instead, a bizarre historical oddity without rhyme or reason, consented to by former governments that were unwilling to stand up to the Teachers Federation. On this issue, as on others, this Govzrnment will meet its responsibilities to our children and to the community. The management of education, particularly in times of financial stringency, requires that such outdated and restrictive work practices should be abolished. We simply cannot condone them any longer. Consequently, the Government proposes to require that the one-third of each school staff who at present teach only 27 periods will teach 28 periods like the remainder of their colleagues. The Teachers Federation will call this an undermining of existing working conditions, and in doing so will show its true colours. In seeking to defend these unreasonable practices, in calling on to the streets the parents and students in what it calls a defence of public education, it is, in reality seeking merely to retain featherbedding and costly inequities in school staffing. The second matter with regard to teaching time in schools is the taking of classes for absent colleagues-the taking of so-called extras. The union says that teachers in high schools should not take additional periods in the event of the short-term absence of one of their colleagues from work. This is a policy of no extras; for example, no matter what the need, the union says that teachers should not take as much as one additional period to ensure the continuity of education and the supervision of students in the short-term absence of a teacher from work. It is to the considerable credit of a significant number of high school teachers that they have never really taken any notice of this union policy. Unfortunately, however, significant numbers of their colleagues feel compelled to abide by their union's directive, with the result that, especially in metropolitan west and metropolitan southwest regions where casual teachers are 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 479 hard to find, students are left with minimal or no supervision. Often they are simply abandoned in the playground. This is intolerable in a modern community that prides itself on the professionalism and team work of its teaching staff. To remedy this indefensible situation, the Government proposes that secondary teachers be required to take up to two periods-up to 80 minutes-a week to fill in for absent colleagues. All we ask is that these teachers accept what many of their colleagues already accept, that it is the corporate responsibility of the school and its staff to look after the education of each student enrolled in the school. The Government proposes that when teachers are absent the students should, so far as is possible, be taught by other members of the staff of the school concerned, who know the school's educational program and who know the students, rather than by a casual teacher generally familiar with neither. Additionally, as honourable members are well aware, quite frequently in the outer metropolitan west and southwest regions, a casual teacher cannot be found at all. School students in western Sydney have their difficulties compounded then by the absence of any instruction at all, whether from a member of the regular staff or from a casual teacher. Again, this cannot be tolerated and should not have been approved or condoned for so long. The Government is simply asking teachers to do what every other Australian worker does-work a little harder in order to cover for a workmate when he or she is sick and absent from work. That happens in every office and in every factory in Australia, every day of the week. It ought to come as a great surprise to honourable members that the executive of the union that likes to portray itself as the responsible defender of public education should be adamantly opposed to the taking of extras by high school teachers. This may, of course, not come as a surprise to honourable members on the Opposition benches who spent 12 years dodging the problem. The Government intends to meet its responsibility and deal with this scandalous situation where thousands of children have had their education stunted and blighted. It is abundantly clear that the union executive will never reverse its stance. Therefore, the Government must reverse it by legislation or be condemned by public opinion for failing to act in the face of a manifest educational injustice to our children. No doubt honourable members will hear claims that the taking of extras will mean students being taught by teachers outside their subject area while the employment of casual teachers avoids this problem. Of course, this is simply not so. Principals, in allocating extra periods, will pay special attention to matching teachers and classes. Even when this is not possible I have every confidence that regular classroom teachers, familiar with the school and its students, will be able to teach within and beyond their faculty specialization. In addition, the perfectly-matched casual is, in most locations, a complete myth. Many schools in western Sydney have trouble finding any suitable casual teachers, let alone those with the correct subject specialization. This is just a further example of the union executive's seeking to protect its industrial interests. This is no criticism of casual teachers who are bringing their best efforts to bear for the students they are asked to teach. It is simply that the public education system should not, in so many cases at the last moment, have to call on casual teachers to anywhere near the extent it presently does. Consequently, this bill defines, as a matter of education policy, face-to-face teaching time. I emphasize that there is no increase in teachers' total working hours. Their working day, working week, and existing conditions of service remain unaltered. 480 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Similarly, the face-to-face teaching hours of technical and further education teachers is an educational policy matter. Their total weekly working hours will remain unchanged. TAFE teachers enjoy a 30-hour working week. More than a third of those teachers at present are required to spend 18 hours in face-to- face teaching; the remainder teach 20 hours. The Government proposes to increase the number of hours spent face-to-face teaching, but will not increase the overall working hours. The actual face-to-face teaching requirement of TAFE teachers can, however, be significantly reduced. Any TAFE teacher teaching after 6 o'clock in the evening-that is, any course finishing after 6 o'clock not commencing after 6 o'clock-will have those hours credited at time-and-a-half towards that teacher's total teaching hours for the week. I draw the attention of honourable members to a simple example: if a TAFE teacher teaches six hours a week after 6 o'clock in the evening, or indeed a course finishing after 6 o'clock in the evening, those six hours are then credited at time-and-a-halt that is, six hours become nine hours. Therefore, that teacher has to teach only a further nine hours to reach the required weekly total of 18 hours. In other words, 15 hours of real teaching have magically become 18 hours. This is known as daylight equivalent. Many TAFE teachers teach as few as 15 hours each week-some as little as 12 hours-to meet their full teaching obligations and to collect a week's pay. Furthermore, TAFE teachers need only be present at college for four days each week. Some teach only an effective 3% days a week. Additionally, if scheduled classes require a teacher who has already completed I8 daylight-equivalent hours to teach an additional four hours, perhaps on a Friday morning, those four hours are paid at overtime rates. The teacher in my example has still spent only 19 hours at real teaching during the week; the last four hours being paid at overtime rates, although they may very well have been worked during what most people would see as ordinary working hours. Daylight equivalent, so called, cuts down face-to-face teaching and contributes to the overtime bill. Thanks to this restrictive work practice the overtime bill for TAFE teachers in the year to 30th June 1988, was $20.55 million out of a total salaries bill for permanent staff of $205.4 million-more than 10 per cent of the salary bill for permanent staff. That amount, of course, does not include the cost of the additional teaching hours for other staff or part- time staff to take account of the daylight-equivalent hours lost as a result of the other arrangements I referred to. Proposed section 25~(1) (d) of the bill has been drafted to deal with these circumstances, which should not continue. At a time when the Curran report has clearly stated that New South Wales is living beyond its means, with a $46 billion debt and unfunded liabilities, we simply cannot afford it. At a time when funds are required to underwrite a range of essential educational initiatives in TAFE, we simply cannot afford it. At a time when the public is being asked to exercise wage restraints and is calling, quite properly, for tax cuts, we simply cannot afford it. No responsible government should continue to fund such outdated work practices and wasteful use of scarce, highly-skilled staff. I refer, in conclusion, to the size of classes to be taught by members of the teaching service. This is the other education policy matter identified in the bill. The capacity of principals of schools to adjust the number of students in particular classes to the best advantage of students is at the core of good management of effective schools. All honourable members would be aware that the nature of the subject, the capacity of students, and the particulars of teaching methods, will all influence how many students should be in a class. These are educational decisions and matters of education policy, not matters for 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 481 bargaining at some industrial relations round table. The Government recognizes that in special circumstances, particularly where teachers are working with disabled children. smaller classes are not only desirable but also essential. Reduced class sizes will be maintained in our schools in a whole range of special circumstances. The Government recognizes also that the soft attitudes of the Wran and Unsworth governments on the class size issue have left a legacy in which the conventional wisdoms that small is necessarily better and that classes anywhere near the benchmarks of 30 students in primary or junior secondary, and 25 students in the senior secondary schools, are portrayed by the teachers' union as educationally impossible. I venture to say that this House is in large measure peopled by individuals who were taught in classes of 30 students, and sometimes even in excess of 30, without damage to themselves, their teachers, or the community. What has happened is that to the Teachers Federation leadership class size has become, in the words of Professor Karmel, the sacred cow, the simplist~cyardstick with which they can attempt to demonstrate to their membership how effective they have been as a union and how much power they have over governments and the taxpayer. Professor Peter Karmel, a distinguished Australian educator and architect of the first Schools Commission and the disadvantaged schools program, hit the nail on the head when he wrote: In schools, class sue has become a sacred cow, and pressures for reduct~onsin pup111 teacher ratios have contmued In sptte of great improvements over the past decade. In 1984 a review of research literature on the class size issue was undertaken by the Australian Council for Educational Research. Focusing on class size and achievement in English and mathematics, the review pointed out that the findings of the studies of the effect of class sizes upon student achievement in reading or English showed: "With only a few exceptions, the evidence in favour of small classes has been restricted to readingm-I emphasize, not to English at large-"in primary grades. At the secondary level, the results have either favoured larger classes or shown no significant differences". In relation to mathematics the review found: "In studies of the effects of class size upon achievement in Mathematics. larger classes have been found to be as effective as smaller classes". These union pressures for smaller classes have continued, not for valid educational reasons but for industrial reasons. It is time that the question of class sizes was taken out of the industrial arena and addressed as an educational policy matter. This legislation will do just that. I digress for a moment to include a memorable quotation on this question of class sizes, following the release of that report by the Australian Council for Educational Research to which I have just referred. The quotation represents a small piece of Australian history for Opposition members: There is not the slightest shred of ev~dencethat lower class slzes produce better education Mr Yeomans: Who said that? Dr METHERELL: I shall tell you. The former Minister for Education in the previous Labor Government, Mr Rod Cavalier, said that on 2nd February 1985. [Inrerniptron from gallery] Mr SPEAKER: Order! If there is any further interruption from the public gallery, I shall order that the gallery be cleared. Every person in the public gallery must maintain strict silence at all times. 482 ASSEMBLY 24 August, I988

Dr METHERELL: I shall quote that remark again in case it has not sunk into the minds of Opposition members: There IS not the slightest shred of evldence that lower class sizes produce better educat~on. That was said by Rodney Cavalier, the former Minister for Education. Ms Allan: A very poor student. He had only a third-class honours degree. Dr METHERELL: I would like that interjection to be recorded in Hansard-a denigration of a former Minister in the previous Government. I hope that Hansard heard the remark so that it can be recorded for future use. Mr Kerr: What was the interjection again? Dr METHERELL: I think it had something to do with the fact that Cavalier was a very poor student and obtained only a third-class honours degree. Ms Allan: A very poor research student. Dr METHERELL: The union will claim that this legislation will block its access to the industrial tribunals. That is clearly the sort of exaggeration and distortion for which the Teachers Federation executive is notorious. The legislation will not take away the union's general right of access to the tribunal. It will simply restrict that right to certain specific matters of educational policy to which it should have never applied. Access to the Industrial Commission of New South Wales on industrial matters relating to working hours, other conditions, and salaries generally, will remain unaffected. Access will be restricted only to the extent necessary for the Government to achieve its educational objectives, and to secure the resources needed for the implementation of its initiatives. Under this legislation the Government will decide matters of essential education policy. It should be plain common sense that, as the elected Government, it has a responsibility to decide where and how the taxpayers' money is spent in the public education system. However, the unfortunate fact in this State is that the Teachers Federation has, over a period of years, been allowed to control these matters. It would be pleasant to think that these problems could be resolved through the industrial tribunals. However, the tribunals are fettered by what is known as custom and practice. Because of the failure of consecutive governments, existing custom and practice is hopelessly outdated and impossibly expensive. The union has been allowed to assume control over the key spending priorities of State education, and we cannot fairly pass the buck to the tribunals to set this right when they are tied to the customs and practices of the past. I cannot let this occasion pass without making clear to the House that the Government's determination to amend outdated practices is not criticism of teachers themselves. The overwhelming majority of teachers are dedicated, hard working professionals, giving their best efforts in the classroom to benefit their students. However, the executive of the union, which talks about quality of education, acts instead on the basis of industrial expediency and industrial self-interest. The great majority of teachers will recognize that, in the present climate, all members of the Australian working community are being asked for a little extra effort. The great majority of Australians, including teachers, will happily give that extra effort. It is the union's executive that will not. 24 August, I988 ASSEMBLY 483 The Teachers Federation has targeted the crossbench members in another place for special attention as it lobbies to bring down this legislation. Those who oppose this bill should be in no doubt about the implications of their action. The bill is fundamental to the Government's budgetary strategy in education. If the educational matters defined in this bill are not removed from the industrial arena, it is already patently clear that they will remain the subject of industrial pressure and disputes. The union has already telegraphed that punch by bringing forward its first claim to the Industrial Commission last week. If the Government's hands are tied on such fundamental issues as class sizes, supervision, face-to-face teaching time, and the taking of extras and daylight equivalent, then the recently announced package of vital initiatives-and many more to come during this year-aimed at strengthening and revitalizing public education, will not be able to proceed. It is as simple as that-no savings, no new priorities in education. Money no longer grows on New South Wales trees. The education budget must balance. If the budget strategy of funding improvements in education through improvements in productivity is blocked, then the essential improvements necessary to prepare our schools for the twenty-first century will have to be abandoned. Our children will lose the!r last chance to be prepared for the intense challenges, and the ferocious international competition from better prepared overseas competitors. Our schools will deteriorate further unless we act. They will become education slums; many people would argue that many schools are now. Our children will not receive the skills and experiences they need in the new technologies. Those wlth disabilities and learning difficulties will have no chance to overcome their educational handicaps. There will be even fewer textbooks. Teacher professional development will grind to a halt. This is not scaremongering; it is simple fact. School maintenance was grossly neglected under the previous Government. This Government, faced with an enormous backlog of $227 million for urgent maintenance, has begun to turn the school maintenance crisis around. In late July I announced that direct grants to schools for urgent minor repairs and maintenance were to be doubled. This will allow principals to allocate funds for such matters as leaking roofs, blocked toilets and drains, gas leaks and defective taps, using the services of local tradespeople or the Public Works Department. It will mean that secondary schools, central schools and the larger primary schools will now have a grant of $4,000 in addition to the regular funding for cyclical maintenance provided to all schools. Smaller primary schools will receive grants relative to their size, but also doubled this year. Without the savings, these grants cannot continue. Many honourable members will know that I recently also announced funding for major maintenance and repair work at nearly 1 000 high priority schools-that is, nearly 1 000 of the 2 250 government schools. There are schools in urgent need which languished on the previous Government's backlog list. The schools include King Park Public School in the electorate of Smithfield, where more than $72,000 will be spent on repairs and upgrading; Asquith Girls High School in the Hornsby electorate, which is listed for $144,000 worth of science block upgrading; Canterbury Primary School in the Canterbury electorate which requires $88,000 in repairs; and Nowra High School in the South Coast electorate, where $120,000 worth of urgent maintenance, painting, electrical and drainage work is required. This list and the sums involved are substantial, and much more massive than those just mentioned. The schools reach across the State and include Rydalmere Public School, Evans, Narrabri, Belmont, Bellingen, Young, Blayney and Gulgong high schools and Darlington Point Public School. 484 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Mr Cruickshank: Griffith? Dr METHERELL: Last week in this House I released a further list of 30 schools to benefit from this program. Today I have released yet another list of 30 schools scheduled for an early start to urgently needed repairs. Nevertheless, all the schools mentioned, and those announced recently, are only a small part of the 1 000 schools listed for urgent work. The Government is committed to a $90 million allocation for school maintenance-a massive 50 per cent boost for 1988-89. Those who oppose this bill must know that they place this program in jeopardy by doing so. I have a list of more than 1 000 schools for which maintenance work is planned this year. In some this urgently needed and long-overdue work has commenced but many of the repairs needed will not be completed if this legislation ir, blocked. The money to do the work will simply not be there. [Imter'ruptio~] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Riverstone to order. Dr METHERELL: Last week while the Teachers Federation executive was calling teachers out into the streets, officers of the Department of Education were quietly interviewing applicants for positions in an exciting new development in public school management-the first 53 leading teachers. Over the next four years, 200 leading teachers will be appointed, involving expenditure of $8 million in that period. Those teachers will have the status and salary of deputy principal. Their role will be to support less experienced teachers and improve curriculum development within the school. The responsibilities of leading teachers will include also improving classroom teaching techniques, co-ordinating assessment and examination papers, and liaising with parents and the community. In 1989, the first such teachers will be appointed to very large high schools throughout the State and other large schools with low retention rates in years I1 and 12. Of the 53 leading teachers 26 will be based in schools in western and southwestern Sydney. In two country centres, Albury and Broken Hill, a position will be shared. as a trial, between two schools. These leading teachers will be an essential element in improving the real and perceived quality of public schooling. The Government believes in paying for quality. Leading teachers will be relatively highly paid, receiving more than $40,000 per annum. The salaries will be drawn from funds made available from the implementation of the total package of reforms. Those who oppose this bill need to recognize that in doing so they may well be sinking the leading teacher initiative, which has been widely applauded and supported. Opposition to the bill also will block one of the great reforms of postwar education-the implementation of the new special education plan. The development of the special education plan has involved more than 120 interested groups in the area of educating children with disabilities and learning difficulties. If we are unable to implement the productivity improvements dependent on this legislation, we will be unable to boost special education funds by $80 million during the next four years. We cannot then provide essential support to the tens of thousands of our children, who are the most disadvantaged 10 per cent-some would estimate 20 per cent-of our students. These are the slow learners in our schools, those with physical and intellectual disabilities, those with learning difficulties, and those with behavioural disorders. Such students are to be found in every classroom in every school throughout the State. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 485

If, for example, we cannot establish the proposed network of special education support centres across the State, tens of thousands of children will be denied improved access to diagnosis and remediation for their special needs, and tens of thousands of families will continue to suffer under an intolerable burden. This great burden must be lifted and shared by the whole community. I appeal to all members here and all members in another place: please, do not sell these children's futures down the drain by opposing the essential funds to make one of the great educational and social reforms in our lifetimes. We will look to establishing many special classes which will be needed over four years to cater for students in primary and secondary schools. If this legislation is not passed, those classes will not be established and thousands of our most disadvantaged students will not receive the necessary specialist attention. Additional special schools and extra support in the thousands of classrooms with integrated students and students with learning difficulties will be blocked if this legislation is blocked. This legislation will enable funding of in-service programs in special education needs for the 45 000 regular teachers in the public schools system. Without it, they will not get the extra skills and confidence so important in dealing with children with special needs. Further, the 3 000 professional teachers in special education will not have opportunities to upgrade their knowledge and skills if this vital funding for the special education plan is blocked. If we cannot increase the number of remedial and resource teachers, thousands of students will be deprived, to some degree, of special help for their learning difficulties. There are 12 000 students in special schools and special classes. Important help which the additional teachers' aides and other support and executive staff can give them will not be available; nor will the additional specialized diagnosticians and therapists be available in the special education support centres and elsewhere. Of all areas of education where new technology can produce dramatic effects on learning, special education students benefit most. That brings me to another major and long-overdue initiative which the opponents of this bill place in jeopardy. Recently I announced details of a four- year program worth more than $64 million for computers in education. It is the greatest classroom computer education program in Australia's history. It is the first serious attempt to catch up with educational applications of new technology now available in overseas schools. Called School Link, the program links all elements of the use of computers for education in government schools. The Government had intended that all aspects of School Link would be underway by term 1, 1989. To ensure our children are not left behind in an increasingly technological age, the Government will spend the $64 million during its first four-year term to ensure all State schools can make significant advances in computer education. This $52 million boost to the previous Government's $12 million allocation will enable schools to use computers in all subject areas and at all grades to enhance the teaching and learning environment. An important feature of School Link will be the provision of a computer co-ordinator in every government school. who will act as the school- based energiser for all aspects of the program. The computer co-ordinator will represent the equivalent of six periods a week in each secondary school and a corresponding supplement in large primary schools. Schools will receive that time allocation to enable the co-ordinator to energise the school's computer activities. Co-ordinators will undertake a training program designed to meet the needs of this vital new position. In turn, they will in-service other staff in their schools. A large program of software development and distribution to schools is planned during the next four years. 486 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Surely there is no member on either side of either Chamber who could not grasp just how vital computers are to the preparation of our children for the twenty-first century-particularly for children who attend the most disadvantaged schools and do not have access to computers in their homes. Yet those who oppose this bill, urged on from the streets, are clearly saying that they are unwilling, or unable for ideological reasons, to give computer education the priority it so obviously deserves. Another central element in the Government's drive to stop the haemorrhage of students from the public education sector to non-government schools has been the establishment of the new "Choice and Variety" policy. New schooling options will gradually be made available. These include senior high schools, technology high schools, new selective high schools and other specialized schools, following the example of the Performing Arts School to be opened at Newtown. For example, there will be schools specializing in Asian languages and mathematics. The school at Newtown, to be fully operational by term 4, 1989, will include students from the local area and students from all parts of the State. In addition to the normal high school curriculum, it will offer enhanced opportunities for students to study music, dance, drama, gymnastics and related arts. The school complex will include a large concert hall and space for smaller, intimate theatres, dance rehearsal rooms and music rooms. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Bligh to order. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Bligh to order for the second time. Dr METHERELL: I recently announced that the Government would spend more than $1 1 million to redevelop Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School as well as building a technical and further education college on the site to create the first integrated technology education centre for New South Wales schools. This will allow a far greater sharing of facilities and resources, and give the students at those schools access to important technical and further education courses in business, computing and technology. The Department of Technical and Further Education and the . Department of Education are considering the development of more shared facilities in such places as Young and other country areas so that school students may benefit from all that technical and further education has to offer in the area of technological education. Previously the only selective high schools available were two in the metropolitan north region and five in the metropolitan east region, plus the agricultural schools. Access to these schools was strictly limited by zoning provisions. The establishment of eight additional selective high schools is an extension and reinforcement of the rights of parents to choose the best educational setting for their children's education. These schools broaden the range of options available to parents and students within the public education system. The establishment of these new selective high schools reinforces the Government's commitment to the pursuit of excellence and the provision of a challenging learning environment for particularly able students. The new schools will serve some of the most disadvantaged regions-western and southwestern Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter and Illawarra. Selective high schools have been chosen according to their central geographic location in disadvantaged regions, including transport links. Consideration has also been 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 487 given to the projected enrolments in the selective high schools as well as the nearby schools and their capacity to cater for the relocated students. They wlll commence with a year 7 intake in 1989. Zones for the seven established selective high schools have been abolished. All parents in New South Wales with children proceeding to high school in 1989 will be able to apply for enrolment of their children in order of preference in any one of their three most preferred schools out of the 15 selective high schools. I shall list new selective high schools and their regions. The electors of these areas will follow with interest how Opposition members vote on this bill. Mr J. J. Aquilina: On a point of order. I am reluctant to take a point of order on the Minister but clearly the matters he is raising now bear absolutely no relevance whatsoever to the bill before the House. This House has been indulgent of the Minister in a number of instances. To allow this to go on now would be a travesty of the standing orders of this House. Dr Metherell: On the point of order. It is clear that each of the elements in the Government's program has a substantial cost. The funding for each of those programs is inextricably linked to this legislation. As I have demonstrated throughout my speech, and I shall demonstrate in the next sentence in my contribution on this issue, without this funding those programs will not and cannot proceed. Therefore these elements are integral to the Government's program and are the very foundation upon which this legislation has had to be built. Obviously they need to be addressed in my second reading speech. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have listened to the matters raised by the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, and noted the very broad ambit of the legislation in the terms in which it has been couched. I accept the Minister's assurance that the matter he is now raising is interwoven with the essential thrust of the bill. I therefore rule that he is in order. Dr METHERELL: I shall list the new selective high schools and their regions. The constituents of these areas will follow with interest how Opposition members vote on this bill. Without this legislation these and other initiatives in the choice and variety program will not be able to proceed. The schools involved are: Caringbah High School, metropolitan east region-southem suburbs; Girraween High School, metropolitan west region; Penrith High School, metropolitan west; Sefton High School, metropolitan southwest. Mr J:J. Aquilina: That is a very popular idea there, is it not? Dr METHERELL: To respond to the interjection, yesterday afternoon the parents of pupils attending Sefton High School were thrilled at the arrangements the Government has made for the introduction of selective schooling to commence next year at Sefton High School, as reported in the Daily Telegraph. Other schools involved are: Merewether High School, Hunter region; Smith's High School, South Coast region-Wollongong; Macquarie Fields High School, metropolitan southwest region; and Gosford High School, metropolitan north region-Central Coast. I inform the House that contrary to the pessimistic predictions of the Teachers Federation, the students and parents of west and southwest Sydney and those other areas I have mentioned have reacted positively to the opportunity to apply for selective school entry. In 1989 the department will have no trouble in filling places in these schools. Parents wishing to enrol their children will have to be turned away, such is the level of demand for this new choice. 488 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

The extension of specialized and selective high schools will, like the other improvements to education, necessitate the expenditure of additional funds. The Government's capacity to expend these funds is fundamentally linked to the success of its education budget strategy. Clearly, it will not be able to spend money which is not available due to any blockage of this legislation. The State's first government senior high school for year 11 and year 12 students starts at St Mary's at the beginning of 1989. It is part of the Government's commitment to improving choice and quality in government education. The new school will improve educational opportunities for students in western Sydney by providing them with a wide range of subject choices not normally available at their local school. The school will provide courses not normally offered at surrounding high schools because of limited demand; develop courses in co-operation with local TAFE colleges; ensure a range of courses of a vocational nature leading to careers where there is employment potential; and develop courses in co-operation with Nepean College of Advanced Education and the university of western Sydney. The school was chosen because of its good transport links, and its proximity to the new university site at Werrington, the present Nepean College of Advanced Education and Werrington College of Technical and Further Education. Following on evaluation of the St Mary's Senior High School pilot, the Government will consider establishing more senior schools in the metropolitan areas and provincial centres. Any sites selected will take into account school refurbishing programs and accessibility to TAFE facilities. Community involvement will be sought at an early stage, as is being done with St Mary's High School. Expansion of choice in government secondary schooling by the establishment of senior schools requires the Government to have the power to redirect educational funding to recognized educational priorities. Locking up funding by rigidly maintaining existing staffing arrangements and work practices will cripple the future of senior high schools and their clear benefits for students. Despite claims to the contrary by the Opposition, the Government is strongly committed to providing education and training opportunities of the highest quality for citizens in western Sydney. The commitment will be embodied in a western Sydney education and training plan to be released within the next three months. This plan will give a significant boost to education at every level, from schools through to tertiary education. The basic objectives of the plan will be to raise participation in education and training; reduce the level of unemployment-particularly for young people; increase enrolments in vocational courses servicing key industries for economic development; establish closer links between education training and industry in the interests of development of the region and State; and ensure that western Sydney residents get their fair share of the education dollar. This Government has already brought substantial improvements to education in western Sydney. As well as the senior high school at St Marys, we are planning to form the region's first university, drawing up plans for major new technical and further education colleges, expanding existing technical and further education colleges, setting up a joint industry-technical and further education skills centre to give specialized training in building and construction, and funding the Staying-On program operating in 20 secondary schools with low retention. The Government will award teacher education scholarships for the first time next year specifically to graduates from western and southwestern Sydney high schools in return for their commitment to serve in the area for a period of time. In addition to other initiatives I have already mentioned the Government will allocate half of the new leading teachers to schools in the 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 489 greater Sydney western region; expand the Joint Schools/Technical and Further Education program; and introduce four new selective high schools for western and southwestern Sydney. The western Sydney education and training plan will reveal more of the details, provided our funds are not blocked. Country students will not be overlooked by the Government. It will ensure that every country student, no matter where he or she lives, receives an education of equal quality and duration to that available to students living in major population centres. Students in rural centres and in isolated schools will benefit directly from the initiatives in the $23 million rural education plan to be released later this year. These initiatives will build upon the commitment already made by the Government to improve the standard of education in rural areas, including an increase in living away from home allowances and the introduction of teacher scholarships for country students who want to return to teach in the country. I am establishing a ministerial advisory committee on rural education to provide guidance on the implementation of the Government's commitments to rural students. All of these significant gains for rural students, the entire $23 million in the rural education plan, will be in jeopardy unless funds come from the staffing reforms. This Government inherited a situation in which the community's perception that our classrooms are undisciplined and disorderly is one of the greatest liabilities for public education. Who could deny that that was not one of the major issues at the last State election? The overwhelming majority of students take their education seriously and have a right to a classroom environment free from disruption, harassment and intimidation. To ensure that all schools offer an environment conducive to learning, the Government is developing a fair discipline code. A draft code will be released shortly for statewide community consultation. School communities will use this framework to develop rules and procedures for discipline and student welfare programs appropriate to their local needs. The fair discipline code will be trialled in four clusters of schools this year- Mr J. J. Aquilina: On a point of order. I understand the Minister's contention that anything the Government is trying to do is based upon the amendments that he is bringing forward in this bill but discipline is clearly not connected with that. I fail to see how discipline can be related in any way to the specific changes envisaged in this bill. Dr Metherell: On the point of order. The development of a new code of discipline in our schools and the preparation and publication of materials for that code, together with the in-servicing of teachers in the implementation of that code do not happen-and I should have thought that. as a former Minister for Education, the honourable member for Blacktown would have known this-without the expenditure of government funds. If this legislation is blocked, funding for all elements of the fair discipline code procedures cannot proceed. Mr J. J. Aquilina: Further to the point of order. Funding for public education in this State is not dependent upon whether this bill passes through Parliament; it is dependent on the education allocation in the forthcoming Budget. The Minister is trying to draw a thin argument. seeking to show that everything the Government is trying to do with education is dependent upon this bill. That is an absolute nonsense. The bow he draws is far too long. If such matters are allowed as part of his second reading speech. the Opposi~ion will feel free to canvass every single aspect of the Go\ernment's education policy. and they will be raised in debate. 490 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Mr J. D. Booth: Further to the point of order. I find it surprising to hear that comment come from the honourable member for Blacktown. As shadow minister for education, I should have thought he would have listened carefully to the Minister's speech. At all stages the Minister has made it perfectly clear that it is the Government's contention that the measures in this legislation are essential to implement the other matters he is discussing. It may be the contention of the honourable member for Blacktown that there is an alternative course of action available, a contention he may properly raise in debate on this legislation in due course, but that certainly cannot be the subject of a point of order here. It will not establish anything contrary to what the Minister has said in his speech about matters that will be put at risk in the Government's program if this legislation is not adopted. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Minister has said that the initiatives which stem from this legislation are germane to the delivery of the Government's education package. To mention every matter that might fall within the education portfolio is, in some sense, drawing a longbow. It is difficult for the Chair to select which areas of the education portfolio may or may not be financed by a major initiative of the Government. The honourable member for Blacktown has pointed out correctly that the wide-ranging nature of the second reading speech that the Minister for Education made will entitle the Opposition, in reply, to address matters of educational policy in a similarly wide vein. Certainly, I shall rule in that way on any points of order that may be raised in this debate. Dr METHERELL: We have absolutely no difficulty with that, for we wish to ensure wide-ranging debate on the Government's initiatives and proposals couched in the second reading speech. We are seeking to give the Opposition an education lesson and a lesson in economics. We are seeking to demonstrate to those who wish to block their ears and close their eyes that these initiatives cannot be funded unless one of two things first take place: an increase in government expenditure or, second, making savings equal to the cost of those initiatives. The initiatives must be funded and cannot be funded in any way except through the savings we propose. The fair discipline code will be trialled in four clusters of schools this year, based on two schools on the Central Coast and two in the Bathurst-Orange district. The Teachers Federation and its allies, in urging the defeat of this bill, are also endangering the critically needed injection of $15 million in extra funds over the next four years for professional development for all teachers. S,pecifically, the proposed expansion of courses concerned with the improvement of curriculum implementation, effective teaching and classroom practices, and educational leadership will be sabotaged if this legislation is blocked. The vast majority of government schoolteachers, keenly interested as they are in their professional growth, will be seriously disadvantaged. The students in government schools, dependent as they are on skilled, up-to-date, dynamic teaching programs, will be the biggest losers. Educational standards will not be upgraded in New South Wales on the broad front promised by the Government and hoped for by the electorate at large if this essential investment in the development of our teachers' skills is blocked. The Government's initiatives in education are not confined to schools. In technical and further education we plan to provide an extra 20 000 places at a cost of $21 million. If the money is not there, eligible students will again be turned away in their thousands from our colleges. This will have a particularly severe effect on the 5 000 young unemployed people who would be offered enrolment through the new Start to Life program which we are 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 491 developing, to operate from the beginning of 1989. Some 15 000 extra places are to be provided in the highest priority courses in greatest demand, for example, tourism and hospitality, computing and business administration. Money is needed in technical and further education to expand joint TAFE and schools programs, to improve enrolment procedures to remove the long queues of enrolling and re-enrolling students, to establish electronic security systems and to develop new courses and facilities. The funds will not be there if the practice of the daylight equivalent is allowed to continue. How can we permit, as a community, the turning away of almost 50 000 students who queued in desperation, finally in complete frustration, earlier this year unable to find a college place? Extra student places and the extra staff to teach them must be provided. Under these new arrangements, more staff will be employed next year in technical and further education than are employed this year, as technical and further education continues to grow with the huge boost of nearly 13 per cent in its funding. This legislation is essential if we are to afford those extra places and extra staff. The mechanism by which the Government will decide on matters of essential educational policy is set out in the bill. The new section 2.5~(1) defines an education policy matter to cover the issues that I have already discussed, namely, class sizes, supervision by teachers, face-to-face teaching time and daylight equivalent in technical and further education. Employment conditions of teachers in either the education teaching service or the technical and further education teaching service will continue to be determined by the Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Youth Affairs. To the extent that these conditions concern an education policy matter, and to that extent only, the Industrial Commission of New South Wales will not have jurisdiction. In all other matters, it will continue to do so. In the autumn session the Government introduced the Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, which abolished the Education Commission and made the secretary, instead of the Education Commission, the employer, for industrial purposes, of the members of the two teaching services. New section 28~follows the line of section 88 of the Public Sector Management Act and will put the secretary as the employer for industrial matters on the same footing as all other public sector employers who are not within the public service. This will ensure consistency across the public sector in the approach to salaries and other industrial matters between all employers both inside. and outside the public service. In doing so the Government is merely glving legislative effect to arrangements that had been undertaken administratively by the previous Government. This bill is not a precedent. This legislation is distinctive because the teaching services are distinctive. There are special issues involving unique and exclusive features of the teaching profession. There is no intention, and there has never been any, to introduce comparable legislation affecting any other category of public sector employee. The balance of duties within the same total working hours between face-to-face teaching, preparation, marking, supervision, incidental duties, as they are known in technical and further education, and a range of other teaching duties is an educational policy matter that should be decided on by the Government and administered by the respective departments of education and technical and further education. The importance of this bill cannot be overestimated. The capacity to take vital policy decisions and all decisions to reallocate priorities must be vested in the elected government. The Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Youth Affairs, the Director-General of Education, and the Director-General of Technical and Further Education must be permitted to perform their tasks 492 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 secure in the knowledge of legislative support. The fundamental educational issues of class sizes, student supervision, and face-to-face teaching arrangements must be clearly in the hands of those entrusted with the management of our schools and colleges, and in the hands of the elected government. I commend the bill. Debate adjourned on motion by Mr J. J. Aquilina.

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH: ADDRESS IN REPLY Fourth Day's Debate Debate resumed from 23rd August. Mr MARTIN (Port Stephens) [4.33]: It is with great humility that I make my inaugural speech in the New South Wales Parliament-the oldest and most revered Parliament in the land. My first duty is to congratulate you, Mr Speaker. on attaining the position of Speaker of this House. My association with the electorate of Hawkesbury goes back many years. My parents resided in that electorate for 38 years. I grew up in the outer reaches of the Hawkesbury electorate and my family's associations with the area go back even further. Often there was talk in my family about Ronald Bruce Walker, a former member for the electorate of Hawkesbury. Within my electorate of Port Stephens a park is named after another former member for Hawkesbury, Frank Finnan. I am aware that the present member for Hawkesbury is a well respected man. I am a Hawkesbury old boy. My inaugural speech is rather a daunting task, as I realize how important it is to contribute to the betterment of life in New South Wales. My electorate is the electorate of Port Stephens. I am that electorate's first member and it is with great pride that I represent the people of that area. My constituents have sent me to this Parliament of New South Wales and I will aim always to represent every one of them in an honest and diligent manner. I took special note of yesterday's debate on the Address in Reply to the Governor's Speech and I urge the Government to define clearly, especially for new members of this House. the cut-off point for the representation of decent, honest citizens. My electorate takes in Mayfield, Stockton, Nelson Bay, and Raymond Terrace. At the outset I intend to acquaint the House with my electorate because, for many reasons, I regard it as the most important electorate in Australia. The electorate is a vast yet heavily industrialized area. Within the electorate can be found Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited steelworks and associated companies surrounding that steelworks. Located in the electorate also is Australian Wire Rope, Australian Wire Industries, Tubemakers of Australia, Titan Manufacturing, and Koppers Australia Limited. Commonwealth Steel, a producer of fine stainless steel products in the Hunter Valley, is located within the electorate also. Just across the Hunter River from BHP steelworks is Kooragang Island. Kooragang Island has a coal loader, fertilizer works, and an alumina storage area that serves the Tomago aluminium smelter and the Kurri Kurri aluminium smelter. Upstream from the BHP wharves and Walsh Point it is expected that major growth will occur. Today Newcastle Harbour is much improved from the harbour it was five years ago. It is to Newcastle's credit that it has transformed Newcastle Harbour into one of Australia's most vital harbours. An industry of considerable value, the prawn industry, is located as one travels up the Hunter Rlver. I shall have more to say about that industry at a later stage of my 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 493 contribution. Also in my electorate is Carrington Slipways. At that slipways recently firefighting tugs, tourist vessels, and the new ferry Collaroy have been built. The slipways is about to commence the construction of an ice breaker to replace the Nella Dan. It is essential that the Government becomes acquainted with problems associated with shipbuilding. With the assistance of my colleague the honourable member for Waratah, who is the shadow minister for public works and State development, I hope to bring about the commencement of frigate construction at the Carrington Slipways by the end of 1989. The slipways' fine record must be commended to the people of New South Wales. Also in my electorate can be found Tomago aluminium smelter, which has just fewer than 1 000 employees. It is the most modern aluminium smelter in the world. It has experienced problems with waste disposal, which will be monitored extensively in the years ahead. But this company must be commended and encouraged to provide additional jobs that are so desperately needed in the Hunter region. The electorate also has within its boundaries the firm Alco Steel, which welded the monorail for Sydney. The companies that I have mentioned are showing signs of expansion. In particular I refer to the potline that is to be extended at the Tomago aluminium smelter. A further 450 jobs of a permanent nature will be available if the Government can make arrangements to sell this company power at a reasonable price. The electorate of Port Stephens has potential to provide much employment. I mention specifically Goninans, in the electorate of Waratah, and the aluminium smelters in my electorate. There is potential in my electorate for more than 1 000 jobs. In my electorate there are two military establishments, a small signals unit at Stockton and an Royal Australian Air Force base at Williamtown. The RAAF base at Williamtown is the best RAAF base in New South Wales. It is the home of the F-18 fighters and of the airmen and officers who contribute so much to the defence of this country; they are a credit to the service. There are 642 homes in Raymond Terrace that are publicly owned to house the families of men from the RAAF base at Williamtown. In the lead-up to the recent election, I promised the people of my electorate who are associated with the armed services that I would work towards improving and removing many problems that they encounter, particularly when they transfer from State to State. They have problems associated with arranging motor vehicle registration and changing drivers' licences. Housing and education are most important for these families that move from place to place. Further to the north of my electorate is Port Stephens itself, undoubtedly the most attractive waterway in Australia. Port Stephens is three times the size of Sydney Harbour in surface area. It is a beautiful natural waterway, the gateway to the Myall Lakes. Port Stephens is a place that must not be ruined by bad planning. I urge the Minister for Local Government and Minister for Planning to pay special attention to my electorate to ensure that it does not become a second Surfers Paradise. Tourism is the key to the northern part of my electorate, the boundary being the northern foreshore of that beautiful waterway. The area is growing rapidly and it requires the infrastructure for retired people, for young people, and for those seeking employment. As I said, tourism is the key, particularly in Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Fingal Bay, Soldiers Point and Anna Bay. Lemon Tree Passage, Tanilba Bay and Karuah are also most important. I shall now digress and tell the House something about the human side of my electorate. The electorate of Port Stephens has between 33 000 and 34 000 people-already 3.6 per cent over quota. The area has about 8 000 voters in Mayfield, 4 000 in Stockton, 4 500 in Raymond Terrace. and the 3 3 494 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 remainder in the triangle bounded by Williamtown, Karuah and Nelson Bay. The people of Mayfield are very suburban. They work in heavy industry; they are the people who have built this nation into what it is today from a manufacturing point of view, Tbese people have suffered considerably from smokestack emissions over the years, though this situation has improved considerably. Past Labor governments have done a marvellous job in cleaning up the environment of Newcastle. It is with great pride that I speak on behalf of the people of Mayfield and Stockton who have suffered so much from heavy industry and are now confronted with five chemical plants to be constructed on Kooragang Island. I urge the Government to make every effort to ensure that the health of the people of my electorate is protected when these chemical plants are constructed. Stockton is an area that suffers from isolation. The Stockton ferry is vital for communication with Newcastle. I urge the Government not to rush in and foolishly sell off the Stockton ferry, which provides a wonderful service to the people of the close-knit community of Stockton. Beach erosion in Stockton is of major concern, together with river erosion, the ferry service and pollution. Roads and sewerage are of vital importance in the northern part of my electorate. In the lead-up to the recent election, the Liberal Party candidate conducted an excellent campaign for sewerage without the payment of a levy by the public. For the record, the previous Labor Government offered to pay a third of the sewerage scheme proposed for my electorate through the Public Works Department, a third through the Water Board, with local government raising the remaining third. The ballot-boxes showed very clearly that the public did not want that system. This Government has now accepted the responsibility of sewerage for my electorate. Karuah, the Tomaree Peninsula, the Tilligerry Peninsula, Medowie and Fern Bay are to be sewered. This must be done in a very short period of time because of the growth that is taking place. For the sake of the people of the Hunter Valley, I hope that this Government ensures fairly and equitably that the people do not pay with any form of levy, as promised in the recent election campaign. The other interesting aspect is the road to Nelson Bay. Already I have been able to ask one question in the House on the problem of that road, and I assure honourable members that the Premier, when Leader of the Opposition, promised that a coalition government would spend millions of dollars in the rebuilding of that road. This announcement was made when Mr Greiner attended a function at the Rose Farm prior to the recent election. The people of my electorate remember that promise very vividly, and have sent me here to keep reminding the Premier and the Government of that promise to ensure that the safety and the lives of the people are protected. As a community-oriented person, it would be remiss of me not to mention the fine community groups in my electorate. Let me start with the working women's centre in Mayfield, which serves a marvellous purpose for the women of Newcastle. In Stockton the senior citizens, the surf club and the residents action group need special mention. The Stockton surf club goes back many years and is a worthy body that must be supported. There are two surf clubs in my electorate, the other being the Fingal Bay surf lifesaving club, which is thriving and going from strength to strength. The Stockton and Fingal Bay surf clubs are providing an excellent service for visitors to the area. My electorate presents a marvellous challenge for the Minister for Family and Community Affairs in the provision of pre-school facilities. The northern part of my electorate has experienced massive growth. In 20 years the population has probably trebled. It is vital that we provide for our young, who 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 495 are the future of this nation. I am saddened when I see people crying out for pre-school facilities but unable to obtain the necessary funding. Nelson Bay has a well-established pre-school, the Karingal pre-school. There is also the Anna Bay pre-school, which is desperate for permanent accommodation. A group at Soldiers Point is trying deperately to get off the ground. In the Tanilba area the pre-school has been given a block of land. The pre-school committee has been successful in having a building donated and moved to the site, and it is hoped that the pre-school will open in 1989. A group at Medowie was given funds by the former Government to purchase equipment that will enable it to move into its own building in the latter part of this year or early next year. A pre-school is attached to Stockton Primary School. In Mayfield, which is an established area, pre-school facilities are provided. Karuah has a great need for a part-time pre-school. Salt Ash has a pre-school without a roof; Raymond Terrace has a large pre-school with a long waiting list. Port Stephens Shire Council provides an excellent service, in conjunction with the New South Wales Government, in community programs. There is a mobile van to serve the young, the playgroups, and the isolated mothers from families with large mortgages, with one car and no significant public transport to make them mobile. It hurts me in this State, the premier State, to learn that its child care facilities rank third in Australia, and are even surpassed by Queensland. That is a magnificent challenge for this Government. It makes good sense that if pre-school education is advantageous to all children-which I am confident it is-then it should be freely available to all. Another community group that I must mention is the Raymond Terrace youth action group, which desperately needs assistance from this Government. There is also the neighbourhood centre, the occasional day care centre, and the long day care centre. In other parts of my electorate community groups are crying out for assistance. I am confident that the Minister for Family and Community Services will be able to assist these groups. I hope to be able to advise the Minister in the months ahead so that she can begin addressing these major problems. My electorate also has some cultural and live theatre groups. The Tilligerry cultural centre is utilizing the old Lemon Tree Passage Public School, and the Port Stephens cultural group occupies the former hospital premises at Nelson Bay. These groups are providing a wonderful outlet, particularly for our older or retired citizens, and I urge this Government to maintain the previous Government's contributions and, if necessary, increase them. I must mention the Australian Volmteer Coast Guard and the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, which give an excellent service in my electorate in protecting those who engage in water sports. I mention also the Port Stephens Police-Citizens Youth Club, which opened in 1980. The local people contributed $100,000 in a very short time towards the establishment of that club. The electorate has a polyclinic for which a small community raised almost $200,000 in 18 months. Nelson Bay is a great community; it needs support and should not be overlooked by this Government. I mention also the police boat that sank at Nelson Bay recently when attempting to save lives. The dedication and keenness of the police officers who risked their lives to go out to sea in extreme circumstances must be commended. I urge the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to ensure that these vessels are 100 per cent safe before men are allowed to risk their lives in attempting to save others. 496 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

My electorate is one of nine in the Hunter Valley. We in the Hunter, - irrespective of our politics, must ensure that the Hunter is protected, developed, and taken to new heights. In the days of heavy industry the Hunter was on top. With the wind-down of the manufacturing industries, and the attitudes that are currently demonstrated, the Hunter is being neglected. This Government must not allow the Hunter to suffer as northern England has done under Thatcherism. I therefore urge the Government to think seriously about the Hunter and to formulate an overall strategy, particularly in economics, to ensure that the Hunter goes forward. In my electorate it is important to support the industries that are restructuring and are part of the new economy which is emerging in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This is vital to ensure that additional employment is created. It will cause great disharmony and great upheaval in the Hunter if this Government withdraws from the traditional areas of input in a mixed economy and opts out. We cannot accept any higher unemployment in the Hunter. Already today it is unacceptably high. If the Government proceeds in the manner it has foreshadowed I can perceive only rugged times ahead. I urge the Government to think seriously before it acts. The debt of New South Wales is manageable. It cannot be assumed that simply the withdrawal of government input, particularly in public transport and transport infrastructure, shipbuilding, and engineering, will get this State on a much better keel. In fact, we are doomed if Thatcherism-type economics are allowed to prevail. Earlier in my speech I mentioned the water of Port Stephens. Port Stephens is the home of the oyster industry. I pay tribute to the oyster farmers, the employees, and the research workers who have been involved in that industry. At its peak, Port Stephens produced 43 000 bags of oysters a year, which was around 30 per cent of the national production. Today Port Stephens is on the verge of collapse as an oyster-growing area. That has been caused by the Pacific or Gigas oyster. The unfortunate problem that the oyster farmers are suffering from is the continual changing of their ground rules. For honourable members who do not understand the intricate side of an oyster, the Sydney rock oyster is the native oyster of New South Wales, occurring in the area from the Victorian border to Brisbane. Between 1948 and 1955 the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization-against the advice of the New South Wales Government-sent Gigas or Pacific oysters into Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia. The Tasmanian oyster industry became established quite some time after that, using that species. The Pacific oyster is quite a vigorous species, and will push out the Sydney rock oyster. It takes about 14 to 15 months to get to a marketable size, as against 3% years for a Sydney rock oyster. Its delicacy is nowhere near as fine as that of the Sydney rock oyster, the quality of which is found nowhere else in the world. A fair comparison would be drinking cheap wine as against good quality wine. I draw the attention of the House to the plight of the oyster farmers in the Port Stephens area. The occurrence of this oyster started to explode in Port Stephens about five years ago. Today the oyster farmers of Port Stephens are facing ruin. They find that it is illegal for them to sell those oysters. Yet the Tasmanians and the New Zealanders can send them into New South Wales. There is a shortage of Sydney rock oysters at the moment, and those foreign areas to New South Wales are replacing our traditional markets. There is a challenge here for the Minister. It is to seriously bite the bullet and decide the future of the Sydney rock oyster industry and the plight of the oyster farmers of New South Wales. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 497 There are 2 800 employees in this industry, which is worth between $25 million and $30 million a year. There are about 500 fair dinkum oyster farmers, and a very small percentage of them produce more than 75 per cent of the product. If the Minister does not act soon and bite the bullet, the major oyster farmers will face ruin. I suggest that the decision that the Minister must make is to allow the Port Stephens farmers the opportunity to sell the oysters that are growing naturally on their leases. The Minister should regulate the marketing of those oysters so that they can be differentiated. The oyster farmers of Port Stephens require special help, but they are not getting it from this Government. When I talk of fisheries, I talk of the gemfish industry and of the southern bluefin tuna industry. The southern bluefin tuna fishery is in dire need of careful management if its returns are to be maximized for Australia. Indeed, the Australian economy has been affected because of the lack of management of the southern bluefish tuna. Some honourable members may not be aware of the background of the southern bluefin tuna fishery. It commences in the Indian Ocean, sweeps down to the southern waters off Western Australia, travels across the Great Australian Bight and into the east coast waters. This fishery then extends out into the central Pacific Ocean and then back down into the southern Pacific Ocean. Traditionally, southern bluefin tuna are caught on the 18 degree to 19 degree Celsius water temperature line. Historically, the fishery has been based out of Port Lincoln in South Australia, and in southern New South Wales. New South Wales fishermen have traditionally caught southern bluefin tuna. If they have not qualified for a quota under the Australian fisheries service management plan, there has been trouble. A few years ago those who applied were allocated a five-tonne, or a one-tonne, incidental-catch quota, neither of which was transferable. This was an annual catch quota. Very few southern bluefin tuna were taken by the east coast longline fishery from its inception in 1983-1984 until 1988. 1 shall not expand upon that matter. It related to foreign and other vessels fishing that area. In late July 1988 the Commonwealth withdrew all incidental-catch quotas from New South Wales and other fishermen. This resulted from pressure exerted by the South Australian southern bluefish tuna fishermen, who own more than 80 per cent of quotas. Since June 1988, New South Wales longliners have taken only small numbers of very large-in excess of 100 kilogram- southern bluefin tuna. These fish bring extremely high prices. In fact, one caught off Ulladulla brought the highest price ever paid for an imported fish on the Tokyo market-$23,000 for one fish. As New South Wales fishermen have no quotas, these incidentally-caught fish must be thrown back if the Australian Fishery Service rules are enforced. I believe that it is important that New South Wales fishermen be allowed to take a limited number of these fish. I have made, and will continue to make representations to the federal Minister about this matter. It is much more efficient to utilize the southern bluefish tuna resource by cropping one fish at 100 kilograms in New South Wales waters, worth more than $20,000, than to take one fish at five kilograms to ten kilograms in South Australian waters worth only some tens of dollars. That would surely be a much better resource management system. New South Wales fishermen have been disadvantaged again in my view as in the initial allocation of quotas, South Australia received the lion's share, and New South Wales received the leftovers. It is happening again, and we must address that issue. Tasmanian fishermen are mounting a legal challenge to the 498 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 Commonwealth over the withdrawal of the incidental-catch quota. This action is being supported by New South Wales fishermen. I am concerned for the rights of New South Wales fishermen. They should be protected and I believe a serious new look should be taken at the optimum way in which to exploit the southern bluefish tuna resource. However, at the same time, we must comply with the most suitable scientifically based management regime for the species. It is worth noting that the South Australian southern bluefish tuna boats are allowed to fish off the east coast in the areas of the New South Wales longline fishery which targets yellowfin tuna. The South Australian boats are taking a 40 per cent bycatch of yellowfin along with whatever southern bluefin tuna they take. This is allowed by the Australian Fishery Service and is extremely unfair to New South Wales fishermen. Apparently there is one rule for the big operators and another for the little blokes. I now wish to address my remarks briefly to the gemfish fishery. This was traditionally a New South Wales fishery which spilled over to Lakes Entrance in Victoria. The fishery was established following the fine efforts of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture and Fisheries' research vessel Kapala, in the early 1970s. The fishery expanded rapidly, peaking in excess of 5 000 tonnes. This declined to around 3 000 tonnes a year in the early 1980s. Catches have risen with increasing effort. The most recent biological data shows that this level of fishing is affecting the stock. Something needs to be done if this species is to remain as the base for the fish and chip industry in New South Wales. The southeast trawl management committee initially decided to limit the gemfish catch to 3 000 tonnes per annum, but this appears to have occurred without consultation with the fishermen or the scientists involved in research of the species. A seasonal quota was settled upon, on a first-come-first-served basis instead of addressing the traditional rights of owners of fishing boats. That quota became a major problem, for it encouraged large vessels from other States, and, I understand, New Zealand, to move in and attempt to take the major share of the quota in the belief that future quota allocation may be made on this year's catch. These vessels targeted the orange roughy fishery-now regarded as threatened. There is a basic philosophy that the fisheries resources of Austalia and around Australia belong to all Australians. Various people have a licence to harvest that resource and deliver it to the consumer. No single person, no individual has a freehold right to that resource. It is vital that this resource is not overexploited and that we ensure the resource is available for future generations. The Government's mismanagement of inland fisheries is to be deplored. I hear constantly in the corridors of this House how honourable members are receiving extensive complaints from amateur.inland anglers. These people are most unhappy about the removal of fishenes inspectors, which will allow indiscriminate fishing of inland waters. The Government's handling of the closure of the trout hatchery and tourist complex on the Northern Tablelands has been catastrophic. Constituents from as far away as my electorate are complaining bitterly about the actions this Government has taken. The idea that the Government should sell off this resource to private industry is ludicrous. I am sure this message is getting through loud and clear to the Minister and the Government. I hope they respond accordingly. Honourable members may wonder why I sit on this side of the House and question so much of what is happening on the Government side of the Chamber. I want to make it clear to all honourable members that I come from an egalitarian side of politics-I 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 499 believe in a fair go for all. Having said that, maybe I should tell honourable members a little of my background. I was born on Pearl Harbour day in 1945, the son of a compositor. In 1951 my father purchased a farm at St Albans in the Macdonald Valley behind Wiseman's Ferry. I grew up in hard times. I saw the haves do well in this country in the lazy era; and I saw the have-nots remaining very much as have- nots because of lack of opportunity, and the lack of equality of opportunity. Because I believe in a fair go, I was driven to join the Labor Party by a long- term leader of the conservatives. I disapproved of the draft for the Vietnam war, I disapproved of the privilege that went with so much of this nation. And so, it was with great pride that I joined the Australian Labor Party in 1969. I have continued to work hard for the Labor Party and what its stands for. I know that we cannot win back government unless from within the ranks come warmth, strength, loyalty and a commitment to the organization. I am proud to say that exists today. I was fortunate to win a place at Hurlstone Agricultural High School. I am pleased to inform honourable members that there are five members of Parliament in Australia who proudly wear that old school tie today and they are all on my side of politics. I wish the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs all the best with his selective schools. I pay special tribute to the Hon. John Kerin who is doing so much for rural people of this country. The agricultural industry must receive full and careful support. I shall not go into the detail of that now. I offer my thanks to the people who have helped me to take my place in this House. First and foremost I pay particular tribute to my wife and family. I make special mention of the honourable member for Waratah, the honourable member for Charlestown and the honourable member for Maitland who helped me get here. I pay a special compliment also to my campaign director, Frank Rigby, my press officer Dianne Williams, and to Garry and Sue Worth. I thank Vicky McCleer for doing research work for me. I thank also the fund-raising teams and representatives from the six branches of my electorate, two representatives from Medowie branch, John and Nancy Wilson; Glenys Plowman from Raymond Terrace; Brian Adamsthwaite and Chris Smith from Mayfield; to the Rigbys and Bruce Langford in Stockton and, of course, to the team of people in the Tomaree area. I commend all those who sent me here to represent them and I assure my constituents that I shall work hard. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member's time for speaking has expired. Mr BERRY (Bathurst) [5.03]: I take this opportunity to thank the electorate of Bathurst for allowing me the privilege of addressing this House today. I give a solid undertaking that this representative will forcefully and sincerely take their case to this Parliament. This is the first time that a Liberal representative has been chosen as the member for Bathurst. That is an honour that I do not take lightly and further adds to the awesome responsibility of my position. The campaign of 19th March was a hard-fought battle, and I thank my opponents for what was a good clean fight. I extend my condolences to Mick Clough, my predecessor as member for Bathurst, who served for 12 solid years in this the most aggressive of all Australian Parliaments. Mick Clough, or Cloughy as he was popularly known, was a staunch representative in this Parliament. I shall earnestly follow his example of providing help to the needy and the least able in the community. Mick Clough characteristically was a tough representative who did not dally with the trimmings and niceties of politics. He got to the point quickly, and then 500 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 steadfastly held his view. I have witnessed many situations that required great courage from Mick Clough, and he was more than fit for the task. Mick was more the old-style Labor parliamentarian, quite apart from the lawyers and teachers who haunt Labor ranks today. Stan Wilson, the National Party candidate in the past election, also fought a tough campaign. I thank Stan and the loyal National Party supporters and followers for their help, guidance and general support. It must be remembered that without that support the conservative members of this House would not be in government today. Stan Wilson's campaign was a well-organized thorough effort. I pay special tribute to the members of the National Party and their many loyal supporters. The electorate of Bathurst has a rich and colourful history. The major population centre is the city of Bathurst, Australia's oldest inland city. On 7th May, 18 15, the town of Bathurst was officially inaugurated by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Thus officially the history of Bathurst began. Many famous and notable representatives of government have sprung from the region of Bathurst. The first member of Bathurst was an Irish immigrant named John Hubert Plunkett. Mr Plunkett served as a member for Bathurst for a short period of two months only, from 31st March, 1856. It is interesting to recount the reasons for this short tenure. It was a fact in the first elections for the Legislative Assembly that a person could be nominated for more than one electorate, as was the case with Mr Plunkett. He nominated also for the seat of Argyle, centred round the district of Goulburn. It so happened that Mr Plunkett was elected for both seats for which he nominated. He subsequently resigned from the seat of Bathurst in favour of the seat of Argyle. Before that time Mr Plunkett was appointed Solicitor General in 1831 and succeeded to the post of Attorney General in 1836, a position he held at various times over 20 years. Mr Plunkett experienced a chequered career in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. At one stage he served as the President of the Legislative Council. He was described by the first in the dynasty of Fairfax newspaper proprietors as the greatest friend of civil and religious liberty in the colony, an example I would wish to follow. An instance of his zeal for civil liberties is related to a tragic incident known as the Myall Creek massacre. In his position as Solicitor General Mr Plunkett successfully brought to justice seven white colonists for the murder of Aborigines at Myall Creek. It was the first time in the nation's history that a white man was hanged for the murder of Aborigines. As one can imagine, the event caused great uproar within the colony, because of the brutal nature of the slayings and the fact that white men could be hanged or brought to justice for the ki'tjing of Aborigines. Many solid men have followed in the path of Mr Plunkett. Notable among them are Gus Kelly and Clive Osborne. Gus Kelly served in this House for an astounding 39 years. In this period of service he held various ministries and his memory still lives within the electorate of Bathurst. Clive Osborne represented Bathurst from 1967 to 198 1. Clive has given me good counsel and is an extremely well-liked and valuable member of the Bathurst community. I take this opportunity to put on record the efforts of many people who have assisted me in recent days and months. The Liberal victory in Bathurst was the result of many hours of hard work and dedication from members, friends and helpers of the conservative cause. I thank them most humbly. This victory was not mine but theirs. I beg the indulgence of this House while I acknowledge the most generous efforts of some. Mick and Starr English were enormous contributors to my campaign. Mick served as campaign director, ably assisted by Starr. I euphemistically refer to Mick as Coach and it is largely due to the assistance of Mick and Starr that my campaign culminated in such an outstanding success. I look forward to many years of friendship with them both. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 501 Reg GiIlard, a former member of the federal Parliament, was another tireless worker for both the Liberal Party and my campaign. It is largely duesto the tireless efforts undertaken by such fine men and women that I have the privilege of addressing this House today. I thank, also most humbly, The Hon. Beryl Evans and Gloria Shultz, who are here today. I wish to record the efforts of John and Doreen Navin of Lithgow and Peter and Verna Peeters of Portland, who for many years have been unselfish toilers for the principles of liberalism. I thank them for steadfastly standing by those principles through many dark years under Labor. Elizabeth Collins and Debbie White undertook monumental tasks during the campaign and I register my gratitude to these people. Phillipa Wilson unselfishly lent time to the campaign and went to the extent of sacrificing some of her annual leave to assist the cause; deep thanks are extended to Pip. Brian Davids, Jeff McClintock and many others have been most supportive and diligent people in their efforts towards a successful result on 19th March of this year. I reiterate my most humble thanks to the workers and contributors to the campaign and pledge that I will return their efforts with interest in representing the electorate of Bathurst. The electorate of Bathurst looks to the coalition parties to right many of the wrongs created under Labor. The electorate is in desperate need of major roadworks. I am happy to report to this House that the Minister for Transport has visited my electorate and has undertaken to attend to problems brought about by the neglect shown to the roads under Labor. The famous bridge over the Macquarie River has been a political carrot for the electors of the city of Bathurst for the past 20 years. It is now a fact that this year the tenders for this bridge will be called, much to the relief of the people of Bathurst. I thank the Minister for Transport for his support in attending to the section of the Great Western Highway that lies within the electorate of Bathurst. Many lives will be saved as a result of the diligence of this Minister. With the utmost respect, I put it on notice that I, as member for Bathurst, will continue to lobby the Minister for funds to attend to other road related problems within the district, particularly the Ilford to Sofala Road and the road that leads to Hill End, a most historic town within the electorate of Bathurst. I wish to make honourable members aware of the tremendous potential that exists in the city of Lithgow. The people of that city have seen fit to turn to the conservative side of politics to redress the neglect and the terrible problems created under Labor. I am pleased to report that many of those problem situations will be attended to by this Government. One such problem is the upgrading of Lithgow railway station. The previous Government foisted the new concepts of State Rail Authority buses into the community of Lithgo-w, without consultation and with no thought to the disruption of the community traffic. I am happy to report that this Government will attend to the upgrading of the station and will incorporate a sensible interchange for State Rail Authority buses and trains. I thank the Minister for Corrective Services for his foresight in selecting Lithgow as a site for a $30 million corrective services development announced today. This will mean that many men and women of the Greater Clty of Lithgow will be employed. I understand that the recent prison officers recruitment campaign undertaken within the Lithgow area produced 120 interviews of prospective employees. The establishment of such an institution at Lithgow will enhance and secure the economy of Lithgow as well as broadening its economic base. The state of hospitals within my electorate is of particular concern to me. Hospitals in Lithgow and Bathurst are threatened with withdrawal of resident medical officers. This will severely hamper the delivery of health services in these hospitals. Rylstone Hospital suffers the many 502 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 problems associated with small country hospitals. I believe that an equitable solution to these problems will emerge with planned future meetings with the Minister for Health. I have great faith in this able Minister and believe that these hospitals will overcome the shortages and be able to plan for the difficult future ahead. Honourable members would be aware of the old saying, something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Well before 19th March this year the electors of New South Wales quite rightly believed there was something rotten in the State of New South Wales. Therefore, as all good men and women do, they did not stand idle. I believe that the men and women of New South Wales were voting on a principle; that principle was the demise of the welfare state. Why should this so-called noble ideology be so rightly decided against? It is because this ideology destroys incentive and the right of all to determine their own future. The welfare state is a cancerous ideal. It feeds on itself. For this principle to succeed and maintain power the welfare state must provide more and more resources in order to carry out more and more functions, until this cancerous proposition self-destructs as it creates more and more underprivilege by allowing and encouraging dependence. This is the rocess by which this State finds itself trying to come to terms with a deficit of %46billion. As Liberals, and in the great Australian tradition, we are always willing to give a hand to somebody in trouble, but we do not encourage people to have a lend of the system. As Liberals, we are acutely aware that there are people who by way of sickness, disability or unfortunate circumstances, have been unable to care for themselves properly. As Liberals, we are anxious to extend a helping hand and give meaningful assistance. This adds up to a healthy social conscience. Another concern I wish to raise in this House is the federal Government's plans for tertiary education for this country, and, more particularly, for country New South Wales. The Mitchell College of Advanced Education is situated in Bathurst and is one of the largest businesses of that city. The college services much of western New South Wales by way of a distance education program. The service that this college performs is second to none. My concerns centre round the loss of autonomy of universities and colleges under the proposals of the federal Government. The surrender of this autonomy is made under the dubious promise of better utilization of resources and the promise of additional funding. The surrender of autonomy leads to these institutions being vulnerable to act as an agent for social change. The centralization of power makes institutions liable to manipulation, and I put it to honourable members that this manipulation of institutions is a truly frightening concept. Let me give honourable members examples of the consequences that are possible. Traditionally universities were based on a forum of objective critical analysis, committed to imparting skills in the acquisition, analysis and synthesis of information, in constructing hypotheses and testing these hypotheses. But, in the 1960s and 1970s there was a shift in the ideological basis of universities to that of agents of social change. This shift occurred most notably in the areas of the humanities and social sciences. We were faced with such new concepts as consciousness raising, applied with such fervour that the level of consciousness was raised well beyond that of rational thought. One might say that many were raised to the level of unconsciousness when related to the real world. Many subjects offered were essentially functioning only in the area of social conditioning. An example would be women's studies. In many institutions these studies were conducted with a low level of scholarly merit. In some 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 503 institutions all women who studied the subject were g~venthe same mark, 72 per cent, to give a combined expression of solidarity and anti-elitism. The main aim of courses such as these was to cause middle-class women to discover their oppression, to become angry about it, and then to identify the causes of this oppression-the family, the workplace and the education system, even the language-and to work coIlectively for the takeover or destruction of such institutions. The arguments 1 raise are not an attack upon the rights and status of women, for technological advances and the demands of society today have allowed and have even compelled women to enter the work force. Inevitably, in many instances women have competed with and have overshadowed the performance of their male counterparts, and will continue to do so with vast success in the future. But this would have occurred naturally, and without the negative and destructive influences we have found in the feminist movements. Thus we find in the 1960s and 1970s a shift in the ideological basis of the universities. Today, the students of the 1960s and 1970s are people in their thirties and forties who are moving towards senior positions in business and education. There are underlying principles involved in any control over human groups or populations. I am quoting now from a dissertation made by Professor Lachlan Chipman. His propositions were that if one knows what people are thinking one has a good idea of what they are likely to do; if one has firm control over their education in their formative years, one has control over their general habits and thoughts for the rest of their lives; and if one has control over what is circulated in written and oral form and what is exhibited and portrayed in entertainment and in the arts, one has control of the raw material for thought and, therefore, for informed action. These principles are being applied in the current debate about education in this State. An industrial union is attempting to force the minds of our children against any form of liberal thought or conservative philosophy. It is clear that the education dispute is a dispute about work practices. A union is working deviously, manipulating parents and children. When, in the history of this nation, have women and children been pushed forward as a vanguard for an industrial dispute? That is what is happening in this State as I address this House. If an articulate group of people tell caring and concerned parents that the future and welfare of their children is threatened, the result will be quite predictable. If the curriculum of a school has an input from certain self- interested people, a degree of self-interest may be reflected in the courses designed by them, though I recognize that in New South Wales State schools many of the other approved study courses have formed a valuable contribution to the education of students. In past weeks a degree of control has been exercised in the circulation of written material. I have received many letters from students informing me that information explaining the Government's position has been denied them, in favour of propaganda from self-interested organizations. An industrial union with vast monetary resources, which is quite articulate, is indeed an awesome foe, but many an awesome foe has fallen under the general principle that right is might. I urge this House to stand steadfastly behind the Minister for Education and allow the overwhelming truth of this argument to emerge. The truth is that our State system of education is plagued with a definite malaise. This malaise is evidenced by employers in this State who are crying out for young workers who are able to function with basic education and skills. 504 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 Further evidence of this malaise is the violent reaction of students, teachers and parents during the past week, the result of prodding and coaching by a well organized union, a union that does not have the welfare of the New South Wales system of education at heart. On the other hand, it is particularly pleasing for me to know that many dedicated teachers in our State schools readily give their time, efforts and enthusiasm to the State education system. It is largely due to the efforts of these dedicated people that a great deal of sani7.y prevails within this argument. In acknowledging these people, I say to them, simply and sincerely, thank you. Another issue worthy of attention is rail transport. In 1980 Mr Just~;:e Macken published a report that revealed shocking evidence of featherbeddi ;kg and wastage of money in the public transport system, exceeding $400 milli 3n a year. His report was entitled "Report of the Inquiry into Industrial Relatic pg, in the Public Transport Commission of New South Wales". Among the poi 119 listed in the report was the claim that the norm for productivity was about th 'a$! hours a day for each man. The low level of productivity embittered employ,:@ more than management. Management was not interested in lifting productivi(ty, Management showed a contemptuous attitude towards employees who tried to increase productivity. Management undervalued the contributions of employees towards management. Two employees whose suggestions resulted in savings of $1 million a year were made to share a miserable reward of $5,000. Management communication was abysmal. Trades people lacked maintenance equipment, which restricted their production to a quarter of what they could do. Inefficient management had kept some equipment, including rolling-stock, standing idle for years while available spare parts were imported from overseas. The Macken report was produced in July 1980. Honourable members might ask what is different in 1988. The answer is that nothing is different. As honourable members learned from the Minister for Transport recently, nothing has changed. This was the series of nails that sealed Labor's political coffin. Honourable members will agree that these facts are a damning indictment of the previous Labor Government. As the honourable member for Bathurst during the past few months, I have learned that the great bulk of railwaymen resent being compelled to work under the conditions of which I have spoken. In the strongest possible terms I urge the Minister for Transport to heed the call of many of the intelligent and hard-working railwaymen of this State. These men know what is wrong with the system for, after all, they are the system. These men and women have positive suggestions to put forward in the restructuring of State Rail. The inefficient managers of the past should be mothballed so that the profession of railwayman may be lifted to the level it once occupied. Changes tn management should be instituted quickly. I am happy to witness that the Minister for Transport has made many decisions in that regard. I am also extremely pleased to note that the Minister is mindful that the restructuring of the State Rail Authority will have a major impact upon railwaymen. I urge the Minister to consider carefully any changes that might be proposed for country railwaymen so as not to disadvantage country people or country railwaymen. The country people of New South Wales should not be punished because of the bad management of the State Rail Authority by the Labor Government. I conclude by making two remarks. First, I put on record my gratitude to the Premier for his assistance in the past and the great honour I feel in serving in a Government under his leadership. Second, I end where I began by stating that as the member for Bathurst I will steadfastly defend the rights and 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 505 concerns of the people of my electorate and will faithfully attend to the duties of my office. Mr SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.30 p.m., pursuant to sessional orders business is interrupted.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

UNLICENSED BUILDERS Mr J. H. MURRAY (Drummoyne) [5.30]: A loophole in the present Building Services Corporation Act has caused great hardship to my constituents, Mr and Mrs J. H. Corkill, of 18 Mortlake Street, Concord. Recently, I became aware of this problem when, in all good faith, Mr and Mrs Corkill signed a contract and paid a deposit of $5,000 to S and L Constructions of Strauss Road, St Clair, New South Wales. This contract bears the name of A. Kastelan, licence No. 17 101, as builder. The signatory to this contract was James Towers on behalf of S and L Constructions, and the builder designated was Mr Tony Vilari, who had assumed the identity and licence number of A. Kastelan. Mr Kastelan was quite unaware that he was being falsely misrepresented in this way, as he had no previous connection with S and L Constructions or the builder, Mr Tony Vilari. I also understand from Bunvood police that the signatory, James Towers, has previously served a gaol sentence for similar offences. Unsuspecting people who believe they have taken all necessary precautions by checking the credentials of a builder with the Building Services Corporation, such as the builder's licence number and professionalism and whether the builder has credibility with this organization, should rightly feel they are covered in cases of fraudulent practice. Fortunately this was the course taken by Mr and Mrs Corkill. As a member of the Public Accounts Committee I was party to a review of the former Builders Licensing Board and am aware of the difficulties that the corporation is faced with in these instances. Proof of identity should not be the sole requirement for a claim to be made on the insurance scheme. Obviously a fraudulent document could be tendered as a genuine licence. This document could either be stolen, copied or manufactured, and then presented to the client for signature. Victims of scams, such as Mr and Mrs Corkill experienced through the actions of this unscrupulous builder, should be covered by the Building Services Corporation's insurance scheme. Unfortunately the statutory insurance scheme administered by the corporation, as it stands today, only operates where a contract is entered into with a licensed builder. Where a contract is signed bearing the name and licence number of an authorised builder, though he is not retained by that company, the insurance scheme becomes void since it was entered into with an unlicensed person. I believe this clause within the insurance scheme allows for a technicality to be pursued which negates the real aims of the insurance scheme which are to protect the ordinary family person from charlatans such as Mr Towers and his cohorts. This is the predicament the Corkill's now face. I have been informed by the present responsible Minister that the Building Services Corporation was required to act within the limitations of the existing legislation. Under the present law it is assumed they did not have a valid claim. Today I call on the Minister to act immediately to widen the scope of the statutory insurance scheme as administered by the Building Services 506 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Corporation, to include a protective coverage for consumers covering fraudulent builders who use unregistered builders' names or written contracts and also use unlicensed builders acting under the guise of licensed builders or tradesmen. Mr SCHIPP (Wagga Wagga), Minister for Housing [5.32]: I am sure all honourable members acknowledge the validity of the statement of the honourable member for Drummoyne. I found no joy in having to respond negatively to representations made to me about this matter. However, my department is taking steps to do exactly what is being asked by the honourable member. I shall not dwell on the matter. Charges have been laid and the matter has been listed for hearing. Unfortunately because of court delays, that hearing is not until mid-1989. A number of charges have been laid and the Building Services Corporation will serve a number of summonses in this matter. The honourable member may assure his constituents that this and similar action is not tolerated by the Building Services Corporation. I acknowledge the role played by the honourable member for Drummoyne when the Public Accounts Committee conducted a review of the former Builders Licensing Board. The recommendations of that committee, some of which were implemented by the former Government, have worked wonders for both consumers and builders. At the moment I have before me recommendations relating to follow-up legislation that will incorporate substantial amendments to the insurance and licensing provisions. The legislation will seek also to avoid problems associated with operators producing illegal licences. The effect of recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee, to be adopted after consultation with my Ministry, will be felt in the proposed amendments. As the honourable member for Drummoyne said, I as Minister am legally bound by the existing provisions. In saying that I do not cast aspersions on the previous Minister for Housing for not having acted; he did guarantee that substantial consultation would have to take place. In this session of Parliament amendments will be introduced to close the loopholes and ensure that adequate insurance benefits are provided. The insurance scheme was reviewed and found to be one of the finest building insurance schemes in Australia. However, it can be improved further and I shall seek to do that.

MONARO ELECTORATE ROADS Mr COCHRAN (Monaro) [5.35]:1 draw the attention of the House to a matter of grave concern to local government councils surrounding the Australian Capital Territory. These councils are experiencing considerable difficulty meeting maintenance and construction costs for roads leading to and from the Australian Capital Territory. Geographically the Australian Capital Territory is isolated, somewhat like an island, in the centre of my electorate. The territory has limited resources to service its extractive industries and tourist activities. Within the territory's boundaries is the nation's capital and little else. The residents of the Australian Capital Territory enjoy tourist facilities that are available in New South Wales. Consequently the roads leading to and from the Australian Capital Territory carry considerable traffic and local government councils are responsible for the maintenance of those roads. The Australian Capital Territory environmental plans do not permit the operation of extractive industries within its boundaries. Its sand and gravel operations are carried on in the Australian Capital Territory on New South Wales roads. The Australian Capital Territory in no way assists local councils with road funding. Heavy transports moving sand and gravel into the Australian 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 507

Capital Territory have no limitations placed upon them, and unless they happen to be unlucky enough to be detected by officers of the Department of Motor Transport when travelling over these short sections of roadway, no penalties are imposed upon them for overloading. The overloading of transports is potentially dangerous for other road users in the area, which is of extreme concern to the residents of areas adjoining the Australian Capital Territory. A number of tourist attractions are in close proximity to the Australian Capital Territory-New South Wales border, I refer particularly to Wee Jasper, the Hume and Hovel1 walking track at Yass, and the Cooma cottage. Visitors to these attractions cause heavy traffic congestion on roads. I am concerned that local governments are not able to extend their loans and are suffering as rate- pegging does not permit them to increase their rates. The traffic using local roads is presenting local government councils with an ever-increasing burden, which they are finding intolerable. Local government councils at Yass, Yarrowlumla, Cooma-Monaro, Gunning, Boorowa, and Queanbeyan are subsidizing the Australian Capital Territory's responsibilities. The former member for Monaro, Mr John Akister, drew this matter to the attention of the constituents of Monaro and its surrounds in an article that appeared on the front page of the Canberra Times in December last year. Mr Akister informed those who attended his press conference that the Australian Capital Territory seemed to be bullying local councils surrounding the Australian Capital Territory in that it was continually using the services and facilities of adjoining shires to which it did not contribute in any way. This problem has also been identified by all the local councils. Representatives of the councils have spoken to me in the past three months; they consider that some contribution should be made by the federal Government, either through additional funding or by some special funding to assist in the construction and maintenance of these roads. I call on the Minister for Transport to take up this matter with the local councils as a matter of urgency, and introduce some formal method of consultation between the councils and the federal Government, or to act on their behalf and make direct representations to the federal Government. Mr SINGLETON (Coffs Harbour), Minister for Administrative Services and Assistant Minister for Transport [5.40]: The honourable member for Monaro has raised a most important matter. I congratulate him on the way that he, as a new member of this House, is representing an important area of this State that is suffering from road problems created by others. The honourable member for Monaro has a deep interest in country roads. Roads are essential for the development of industries, and the transportation of people and goods. A problem is being created in the Monaro region because the federal Government is not contributing to the maintenance of local roads. At the request of the honourable member, I shall visit the area to look at the position. I shall be pleased to refer to the Minister for Transport the need for discussions with the federal Government about a possible contribution towards resolving some of the problems being created. Since the recent election this Government has taken a number of steps to attempt to bring State roads to some acceptable standard after many years of neglect. The honourable member for Monaro fully supported the Government on that issue. The allocation of the fuel franchise tax will make a considerable contribution to road maintenance. The Government has introduced a new toll roads program. We are conscious that it is impossible for this Government to meet all the present and future road needs of the State. The honourable member for Monaro has a deep interest in the toll roads program. He arranged for a 508 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 delegation to meet me and discuss the possible development of a toll road from Canberra to the South Coast. I have no doubt that such a proposition would be supported by the federal authorities. The federal Government's reduction in the Australian bicentennial roads development program has caused major problems for New South Wales. Its actions have been extremely hypocritical. A special petrol tax was introduced, but was reduced by 15.9 per cent this year. In addition, for some years the amount was not indexed. That has had a dramatic effect on the funds available to all States of Australia. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Minister's time for speaking has expired.

MULTICULTURALISM Mr NEWMAN (Cabramatta) [5.43]: I raise a matter of concern in my electorate and the adjoining electorates of Fairfield and Smithfield. I refer to the continuing controversy about statements by the federal Leader of the Opposition, Mr Howard, and his National Party associates, on immigration and multiculturalism. Recently an issue of the major local newspaper in my electorate, the Advance, carried front-page headlines reading, "Yellow Peril, Tension Strikes and Rises". The article concerns a local alderman of Fairfield council, Mr Phuong Ngo, who seems to have been rather upset. He was a supporter of the Liberal Party in the recent State election. He now contends that Mr Howard has done enormous harm and that Asian people have long memories. I have long memories of Alderman Ngo. I suggest he will be back supporting the Liberal Party again. I am concerned about the issue of multiculturalism and immigration. Almost every day we read- Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am loath to interrupt the honourable member for Cabramatta but he is not complying with my ruling yesterday on the types of matters that can be raised in private members' statements and in the Address- in-Reply debate. The honourable member is canvassing wide subjects when he speaks of immigration policies. He should ensure that his remarks are confined to urgent local matters and not matters that can be raised in the Address in Reply. Mr NEWMAN: The article I referred to was on the front page of a recent issue of a local newspaper, the Advance. I am concerned about this matter, as I am sure all honourable members are, because this controversy is taking place in many other electorates. It has been brought to my notice by such members as those representing the electorates of McKell, Bankstown and Marrickville. Only a week ago in my electorate of Cabramatta I was given a circular by the Australian Buddhist Association, which is most concerned about multiculturalism and the Liberal Party's policy on immigration. Buddhists have a number of temples in my electorate and the adjoining electorate of Fairfield. They have expressed to me, as their local member, concern about the statements which lead them to believe that their religious practices could be threatened by policies expounded at the federal level. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I cannot allow the honourable member to continue in this vein. He is referring to a purely federal matter. The fact that the honourable member has received representations as a member of the State Parliament does not bring the matter within the jurisdiction of the State Government. Policies of the federal Liberal Party, or any other party, are of no consequence when this House is dealing with private members' statements. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 509

Mr NEWMAN: I shall refer the headlines in the Advance to the Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Ethnic Affairs. The portfolio of ethnic affairs has a close relationship with multiculturalism, and the Minister for Ethnic Affairs should be concerned about increasing emotions on the issue in a State electorate. I also request the Deputy Premier to consider the newspaper headlines appearing in my electorate. I hope the Premier and the Deputy Premier dissociate themselves from this controversy.

Mr SCHIPP (Wagga Wagga), Minister for Housing [5.48]: I hesitated to take a point of order but I wish to demonstrate to the House that the honourable member for Cabramatta is raising this issue in an attempt to drag controversy into this Parliament, where it should not exist. If the honourable member had been watching the position as closely as he claims, he would be able to qoute from extensive statements by the Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Ethnic Affairs in this Parliament over a number of weeks. The Premier said: Multiculturalism really reflects two very basic Australian values-the value of a fair go and the value of tolerance for other people.

When opening the Carnivale celebrations on 10th August, the Premier said that he hoped that Carnivale could assist in overcoming the problems and the misunderstandings about multiculturalism. The Premier elaborated what I considered to be healthy, profound and acceptable views to both sides of this House. Any honourable member addressing his mind to this question in a mature way would recognize that we do not want to debate a matter that has got out of hand in the federal sphere. I suggest that the honourable member for Cabramatta quotes the views of Clyde Holding, who was dismissed from the federal ministry for his views, which the Prime Minister deplores. Mr Holding said that multiculturalism is enclaves of people living as though they were in Greece, Italy, Vietnam or wherever. That is nonsense. If the honourable member condones that sort of attitude by the Labor Party, it indicates that this is a political attempt in this Parliament to stir up trouble where none exists.

Mrs Crosio: On a point of order. The honourable member for Cabramatta was quite concerned and sincere in his presentation. It ill behoves the Minister to condemn him. You ruled clearly that the honourable member for Cabramatta should speak only about his electorate. I believe that the Minister, in reply, should talk only about those matters within the Cabramatta electorate that were of concern to the honourable member.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! With all due respect, the honourable member for Cabramatta ranged far and wide. That is why I had to endeavour to guide him as to the matters that may be raised in a private member's statement. The honourable member for Cabramatta spoke of multiculturalism, and it is in order for the Minister for Housing to reply to it.

Mr SCHIPP: I invite the honourable member for Cabramatta to write to the Premier and ask him to expound his views. Then the honourable member would be able to be fair dinkum and tell his constituents about the honest, open and tolerant attitude of the Premier. The Premier is an ethnic, and supports the sort of integration and assimilation that has taken place in Australia. If the honourable member does anything in his electorate to destroy that assimilation, he will be a failed member. He should be ashamed of himself for the way in which he presented this matter today. 34 5 10 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATION Mr MATHESON (Penrith) [5.5 11: I should like to address an immediate problem among my constituents. I refer to housing. I am pleased that the Minister for Housing is present to hear about these problems. In order to be able to advise my constituents of the best possible action to take when facing housing difficulties, I recently contacted Department of Housing personnel to establish the extent of the current waiting lists and the procedures undertaken by the department in assessing each individual case. To be placed on the basic Department of Housing waiting list, one must approach the department and make application. An application can take six to eight weeks for processing and assessment of the individual's needs. If accepted onto this list, depending on the category of housing sought, there is, I believe, a wait of approximately three to seven years to obtain accommodation within my electorate. Should persons require priority housing they again must make application to the Department of Housing. Then there is a six to eight week delay in assessing priority. If approved for priority housing, the department allocates the first suitable vacancy to that applicant. Unfortunately, the department has no control over where and when vacancies occur. Therefore, approved applicants may not be able to be housed immediately. However, departmental officers give priority to the most urgent cases, again depending on the type of accommodation sought. Crisis accommodation is another matter that must be recognized as needing immediate thought. Upon an applicant's approaching the Department of Housing, the officers carry out investigations into the current situation of the constituent, that is, current income, number of family members, living conditions, and so on. They then look into the possibility of placing these persons in temporary accommodation. The entire metropolitan area is scanned by Department of Housing personnel in the hope of finding suitable immediate accommodation. Should this not be forthcoming, constituents are placed in temporary accommodation, such as a motel, until further arrangements can be made. Figures obtained by the Department of Housing show that the allocations office in Mount Druitt alone receives, on average, applications from five genuine homeless people a day. This number may seem very minimal to some. However, honourable members remember that this is one office and there are many other such offices located throughout New South Wales. I consider that five people or families are five too many. These people are homeless, so much so that some of them have had to sleep in cars or under bridges just to obtain shelter. They have no one to turn to and nowhere to go, and an income which does not allow them the luxury of a roof over their heads through private rental of the most basic kind. The Department of Housing personnel should be congratulated for their tireless efforts and the enormous amount of work undertaken by them to ensure the security of applicants. They work under extreme pressure and should not have to experience the level of stress that their positions require of them. I am advised that each day approximately 30 people or families confront the Department of Housing allocations section to either register for housing assistance, seek rental assistance, or to make application. I have already received in my electorate office approximately 50 representations on behalf of constituents, and my staff have forwarded many others direct to the Department of Housing to make their initial approach. I am sure we all acknowledge my electorate and outer western regions as areas which are rapidly expanding, and 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 5 11 that many of the people who choose to live in these areas do not have the income to afford the escalating private rental prices. It is interesting to note the belated grave concern of the New South Wales Opposition leader in his call for the State Government to release some of its surplus land for medium density housing. It is pleasing to see that he recognizes the west as an area in need of assistance. It is patent nonsense for Opposition members to raise this issue when they had. twelve years in Government to take action to assist the homeless. Instead, in that period the waiting list increased from 32 393 at 30th June, 1976, to the latest figure of 75 373 applicants, which is an all-time record. In a media release of 29th July the Minister for Housing, Mr Schipp, announced that the State Government has called for tenders for the construction of 2 250 new homes for rental for public tenants in land and house packages from private builders. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member's time for speaking has expired. Mr SCHIPP (Wagga Wagga), Minister for Housing [5.56]: 1 appreciate the honourable member for Penrith raising this matter, and I compliment him on his deep understanding and concern about housing in his area. I am sure that his constituents will have a whole new era opened up for them as a result of the taking on 19th March of the seat of Penrith by the Liberal Party, and ' the representations that the honourable member will make on behalf of his constituents. I am sure that the honourable member will prove to be a geniune, grassroots member. That was reflected in his presentation today. The honourable member has gone out of his way to learn how the Department of Housing works. I am aware that the honourable member attended a home buyers evening recently conducted in his area by the Department of Housing's advisory service. He has made inquiries of the department in order to acquaint himself with the complexity of the issue. The electorate of the honourable member has aumajor housing problem-as have all the western Sydney electorates, which have a shift of population-and that is why he raised ?his matter today. I assure the honourable member for Penrith and all other honourable members that the Government is doing its best through the Department of Housing to meet the crisis that has been building up for many years. The honourable, member for Penrith is a member of my housing backbench committee. I am sure that he will make a significant contribution to the policies of the Government and to determining the direction in which the Government will proceed to develop those policies. Certainly he has not missed any of the joy of the announcements that I have made since I became Minister five months ago. The sum total of those announcements is that my department has established approximately 25 000 home opportunites. Not all of those opportunities represent home ownership. That figure includes rental properties. I believe there is considerable scope to further increase those development opportunities. My department will endeavour to meet the needs wherever they exist. That will include providing housing, marketing land at a rate sufficient to meet the demand, and taking the initiative of advising people how they can obtain a home with the least possible trauma. The department's record waiting list obviously is a complicating factor. I shall work through to try to bring that list of 75 000 applicants into some semblance of balance in the period ahead. I thank the honourable member for Penrith for raising his concerns. I shall respond positively whenever I can to any request to meet the requirements of his constituents. 5 12 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR SMITHFIELD ELECTORATE Mrs CROSIO (Smithfield) [5.59]: I raise a matter concerning the need for traffic lights in my electorate. The Minister for Transport might consider it odd that I raise this matter, for J have received recently a reply from him regarding a roundabout that is to be constructed at the comer of Granville Street and The Horsley Drive. I appreciated his reply, but on behalf of my constituents I bring to his attention their concern about the dangerous corner of which I speak. The Horsley Drive is a main road that runs through the centre of my electorate. It curves at the point where Granville Street intersects it, and another road veers off in a northeasterly direction. Consequently, that intersection is recorded as one of the black spots in the Fairfield city area. For a number of years I have made representations to respective Ministers to have traffic lights installed at that intersection. People in the area have threatened to lie down in front of the traffic unless action was taken. I have received many petitions and even as late as last week a 14-year- old girl spoke to me of her concern. She was a witness at the scene of an accident at that intersection in which two persons were killed. In a letter she told me of the effect the accident had on her; and it must be remembered that that effect will increase as she grows older. I am particularly pleased that the Assistant Minister for Transport is in the Chamber. He has been active in replying to another representation I made. I request the Minister for Transport, through the Assistant Minister for Transport, to ask the Department of Main Roads to reconsider its decision to construct a roundabout at the intersection. For many years I opposed the concept of roundabouts. When I was in local government I visited regions in which roundabouts had been built- particularly in the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania. I am now very much in favour of roundabouts, because they assist in easing traffic congestion and also slow traffic down. I have found also that in areas where there is a lot of pedestrizn traffic-and this is one of them-and buses pick up passengers, the traffic c oes not slow down as it should. Constituents have written to me on more than one occasion expressing their concern about this intersection. I am aware of the cost involved in installing and maintaining traffic lights. However, on behalf of all those concerned people and especially the families who have lost loved ones who were involved in accidents at this comer I again request the Department of Main Roads to reassess the area and to take note of the increased volume of traffic travelling in a north-south direction along Granville Street. Traffic lights should be installed at the intersection as it has a record high accident level with a number of fatalities. Mr SINGLETON (Coffs Harbour), Minister for Administrative Services and Assistant Minister for Transport [6.3]: The honourable member for Smithfield has been very reasonable in her presentation of the need for a roundabout, traffic lights or some other safety procedure at the intersection of The Horsley Drive and Granville Street. Honourable members will be aware that The Horsley Drive is an extremely busy road. Recently I replied to the honourable member's requests. However, I acknowledge that I have also had strong representations from the Hon. Helen Sham-Ho, a member of the other place who lives in that area. I know the honourable member for Smithfield realizes the difficulty the Government is facing because of the serious federal road funding cuts and the inadequacy of funds to meet the needs of roads. She said that she has made requests of successive Ministers to have something done about this intersection. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 5 13 I assure her that this Government is much more conscious of the need to improve the State's roads than was the previous Government. Recently, in reply to the honourable member for Monaro, I stated that this Government has a high priority to bring roads up to standard. However, funding for traffic lights and roundabouts is restricted at present. Planning is under way for the roundabout at the intersection of The Horsley Drive and Granville Street. I believe that funds will be made available for its construction in the not too distant future. As soon as I receive some advice on this matter I shall advise the honourable member. Mrs Crosio: The Minister has just written to me and told me that the intersection will get a roundabout. We want traffic lights. Mr SINGLETON: The honourable member may want traffic lights but she will get a roundabout. Private members' statements noted. [Mr Speaker le@ the chair at 6.5 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.]

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH: ADDRESS IN REPLY Fourth Day's Debate Debate resumed from an earlier hour. Ms NOR1 (McKell) [7.30]: I welcome the opportunity to make my first speech in the Legislative Assembly. I am deeply honoured to represent the constituents of McKell. As you know, Mr Speaker, McKell is a new seat aptly named after a great Labor man, Sir William McKell, who for many years represented the electorate of Redfern, a significant proportion of which is now included in McKell. The seat of McKell was formerly known as Elizabeth and prior to that as Phillip and was represented for 34 years by my predecessor, the Hon. Pat Hills. I am constantly reminded through my work in the electorate of how well respected and loved Pat Hills is by the traditional residents of the inner city. I wish him and his wife Stella a long and happy retirement. The electorate of McKell is a diverse, vibrant and in some ways contradictory electorate to represent. It encompasses so many of our State's, indeed our nation's, landmarks. McKell contains within it the site of the first European settlement, some of the State's most prestigious academic institutions, such as the University of Sydney, the University of Technology and the Conservatorium of Music. It includes many of our city's recreational and cultural centres, including the Opera House, Darling Harbour, the Botanic Gardens, the Domain, the Art Gallery, Port Jackson, Parliament House and the central business district. All are part of McKell. The electorate is also fortunate to have three major hospitals within its boundaries-Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children and Sydney Hospital. And, to the envy of other members, the beautiful Lord Howe Island is also part of McKell, an electorate, though traditionally of inner city working-class constituency, that is experiencing major demographic changes. The process of gentrification is well under way and there has been a decrease in the inner city population. As I said earlier, the electorate has many contradictions and disparities. On one hand there is an influx of people who are relatively affluent professionals. On the other hand the older South Sydney local government area has an unemployment rate three times the national average. There is also a high 5 14 ASSEMBLY 24 August, I988 proportion of large single-parent families. The newcomers are tending to buy their own homes, yet a significant number of constituents in McKell are Department of Housing tenants. I even have to choose between support for the Rabbitohs or the Tigers. I am invigorated by the challenge to represent an electorate like McKell and I hope that I will prove to be an effective member. The provision of housing is an issue of great concern to me and many of my constituents. During the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless the Department of Housing published a document entitled "Housing Makes Sense", in which it defined housing in the following terms: Housing is more than shelter: It is a package of opportunities and is the focus of people's personal lives. Adequate, affordable and well-located housing means stability, security and access to jobs, education and services. Poorly housed people suffer from social, psychological and health problems. which often lead to family breakdown and the need for more expensive welfare services. I agree wholeheartedly with that analysis and for that reason, as member for McKell, I will be devoting a lot of my time and interest to housing issues. The document to which I have referred goes on to make a strong case in favour of both government and private investment in the housing industry. Investment in housing helps to alleviate a vital social need and at the same time plays a major role in creating economic growth. It argues that housing is the greatest employment income multiplier of any goods-producing industry in Australia. Clearly, investment in housing is an effective way to create employment opportunities. Research conducted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization shows that the housing industry creates more jobs per $1 million invested than any other industry. During 1986-87 the combined $1 950 million invested by both the State and Commonwealth in housing programs created, through direct and indirect effects, approximately 105 000 jobs throughout the Australian economy. More than 70 per cent of the materials used in the construction of housing are produced in Australia. Therefore, investment in housing does not adversely impact on import spending. In addition to job creation, income earned by building homes in Australia remains in Australia. Increased expenditure on public housing by government also creates advantages in other areas. For example, significant savings in unemployment benefits due to increased employment opportunities, increased income tax revenue from workers in the building and related industries, and State governments also benefit through indirect tax revenue. It goes without saying, of course, that a reduction in government investment in housing, and in particular public housing, will have many detrimental effects on the economy as a whole. If the Government's commitment to housing is cut back, even slightly, there will be a significant impact on the number of new housing commencements. Having mentioned the sound economic arguments for government interest in public housing, I would like next to discuss the social benefits derived from such investment. The provision of public housing is a vital factor in alleviating homelessness and inadequate housing and their flow-on effects such as poverty, health and emotional problems, crime and long-term social alienation. The number of people who are homeless or inadequately housed is at crisis level. Evidence of homelessness is all around us, with people living in parks, bus shelters, railway stations, hostels and refuges. There are also many more people who for various reasons are inadequately housed and who suffer greatly as a result. I was pleased when the Government announced a ministerial inquiry into homelessness and the provisions of affordable accommodation in 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 5 15 inner Sydney, as there is undoubtedly a need for such an inquiry and for some very urgent action. However, I cannot forgo this opportunity to state that I think it most unfortunate and I believe shortsighted that there is no representation on the committee of inquiry of tenants or tenant representatives or any individuals' organization with experience in dealing with the problems of homeless people. I am extremely disappointed with the Government's choice of membership of that committee. I do not believe that a real estate agent and a boardinghouse landlady have a great deal to offer the homeless people of Sydney. I hope that the inquiry will make appropriate recommendations to the Minister and the Government which seriously seek to address the problems of homelessness and adequate housing in the inner city, rather than provide mechanisms for developers, landlords and private property owners to increase their profits. The private rental market is now beyond the reach of many traditional inner city dwellers and boardinghouse accommodation is becoming more and more scarce as developers move in to capitalize on the increasing demands for tourist accommodation, and strata title units. The combination of these factors has produced a large increase in the number of homeless and inadequately housed in the inner city area. The Government must introduce adequate measures to preserve low income housing such as residential flats, boarding houses and private hotels in the inner city. The Government must not revoke the provisions of State Environment Planning Policy 10 which gives the Department of Housing the right to veto demolition of boardinghouses. The Government should also extend the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 to include residents of boarding and lodging houses. Because of the problems I have outlined, there exists an immediate need for more short term and emergency accommodation in the inner city; but, any extension of these services must be approached with caution. It is far more appropriate and effective to alleviate and address the cause of these problems rather than simply accept and address their results. As I was saying earlier, the private rental market in the inner city is highly competitive and is facing spiralling rental costs. It is not feasible for low income groups to compete in this market when it meam spending up to 90 per cent of their income on rent. As a member of Parliament I have been contacted by scores of people who live in extreme poverty because a large proportion of their income is spent on rent. With little disposable income left after paying for accommodation, they are forced to tap further into the social security system and non-government support services in order to obtain food, clothing, other essentials and cash for bill payments as they are unable to save any money. These people become trapped in a vicious cycle of survival, entrenching their dependency. It is widely acknowledged that public housing stock in the inner city is insuffcient to meet current demands, as evidenced by the enormous waiting lists for public housing in the area. In order to qualify for housing without a wait of up to ten years, people must be virtually on the street or in life threatening situations. Housing is provided only after each person or family is well into a state of crisis. In the long term this approach is extremely damaging to those involved. Public housing stock must be retained and increased in the inner city if long-term social problems are to be averted. Any proposal to sell off public housing, either to tenants or on the open market, will only exacerbate these problems. It is not acceptable to banish public housing from the inner city just because land and housing costs are higher. The cost of providing housing in this area is balanced by the fact that infrastructure costs are minimal. Transport, health and social services, and recreational facilities already exist and the 5 16 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 Government does not have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars setting up these facilities and providing access to them. Much is made of the ever-increasing cost of public housing, the long waiting lists and increasing dependence on the State to provide such housing. What we have to realize is that Australian society is changing, and it is demographic changes, such as that of the ageing population and the increasing incidence of family breakdown, that has meant that an increasing proportion of the public depend upon and seek accommodation from the Department of Housing. An obvious example of this is the response of women to domestic violence. In the past, women were expected to endure domestic violence. Fortunately, more women now are making the hard decision to do it on their own, however few are likely to have the financial resources to manage to obtain accommodation on the private rental market and are forced to depend on public housing. Public housing for the disabled is another example of the increasing demand for such housing, and community expectations have altered during the years so that in the 1980s, unlike the 1880s or even 20 or 30 years ago, it is expected that a public housing authority will provide services for disabled people, and so it should. The Government has to recognize these facts and tailor its policies accordingly. A tightening of the criteria for eligibility might make the figures look better, but will not fundamentally in any way address the housing shortage or reduce the actual demand and necessity for public housing. I am worried about the Government's intention of selling off public housing as the McKell electorate has a number of public housing estates within its boundaries, some of which are located in the most prestigious parts of Sydney. I am concerned also about the persistence of rumours, from what I believe to be reliable sources, that the Government intends to sell off these public housing estates, though I would hope that the Commonwealth-State housing agreement would be tight enough to preclude such action. I am alarmed by what I perceive to be an attitude on the part of the Government that the inner city is too good for public housing tenants. Some time ago I predicted that the Government intended to sell off the Mort Bay development on the Balmain peninsula. Unfortunately, my prediction has come true. I am worried that the Government plans to relocate Paddy's Market to the site of the Alexandria public housing project. I am even more alarmed that the car park for Paddy's will be where pensioner and singles units are meant to be constructed. And I am appalled by the Government's recent decision to issue notices to quit to some tenants in Department of Main Roads properties in the inner city. Under the previous Government, negotiations enabling these properties to be handed over to the Department of Housing were almost complete. It is actions such as this that lead me to conclude that this Government does not have a serious commitment to public housing. Why else would elderly folk, with no resources or family to assist them, be cast out on the streets by this Government, when they should be Department of Housing tenants with all the benefits and security that would entail? Why sell off houses that are already owned by the Government? The Department of Housing would not be able to purchase other existing properties in the inner city without spending a fortune. Is this New South Wales Incorporated's solution to homelessness in the inner city? I am most concerned about the future of public housing in Millers Point and on the Glebe Estate. I pride myself as being a local member who knows her community. There is something very special about both Millers Point and the Glebe Estate and while I am the last person to say that they are free of 24 August, I988 ASSEMBLY 5 17 problems, their problems are distinctly different from the other housing estates in McKell. I believe that difference lies in the fact that they are close-knit communities. It is not uncommon to find two, and sometimes three, generations of the same families livlng there. They are a cohesive community. They provide support for each other. The result is that these two communities are simply not plagued by the kinds of problems that unfortunately are so prevalent in other areas. To sell off properties in either of these estates and break up these communities would be a travesty. Let me make my position perfectly clear. I will most strenuously oppose the selling off of public housing in my electorate. I will publicly and openly organize opposition to such moves. I will seek the support of the federal Government to block such moves. I will use any avenue to prevent the breaking up of these historic communities. I implore this Government to make it a priority to retain and expand public housing stock in the inner city, with an emphasis on providing accommodation appropriate to the special needs of the homeless and inadequately housed people in this area. I would like to discuss briefly the issue of home ownership versus public housing-and the role of government. Approximately 80 per cent of present applicants for public housing, 60 000 families and single persons, receive a pension or benefit as their main source of income. These people cannot afford to buy housing in Sydney and the cost of subsidizing them into home ownership is far greater than the cost of public housing, without the benefit of an appreciating public asset, which can be used over again. Present conditions for affordable home loans mean an income of around $400 per week is required to get the maximum loan of $85,000. Median housing prices in Sydney are now around $130,000, so even with this income and a maximum loan, a huge deposit is required. The effect of privatizing the form of assistance, by providing funding for home ownership instead of more public housing, is to shift government assistance away from those most in need. Sales of public housing have the effect of reducing rent revenue because, typically, tenants leaving were paying market rents and new tenants pay rebated rents. It also means stripping off assets which in many cases will appreciate in value and be fully paid up. I am a realist. I recognize that there is no one solution to all our housing problems, and that governments must and will continue to support homebuyers, but it behoves us to reflect on the important role that public housing continues to play in providing a home for many Australians.

Another area of interest and concern to a significant number of my constituents is the issue of transport and traffic problems in the inner city. Three precincts within McKell are particularly disadvantaged by the large numbers of traffic movements within their locality. They are Millers Point, the Pyrmont- Ultimo area and East Sydney. These three areas bear the brunt of Sydney's tourist trade; East Sydney with its numerous restaurants and entertainment venues, Millers Point because of its proximity to The Rocks, and Pyrmont- Ultimo because of its proximity to Darling Harbour and the Powerhouse Museum. Many of my constituents, quite reasonably, complain to me about difficulties in parking their cars, the inadequacy of resident car parking schemes. lack of policing of such schemes, invasion of privacy, hooliganism and so on. The residents of these areas know they live in a special part of our city and, as such, endure many intrusions that residents in other localities would simply not tolerate. However, I feel the time has come when the burdens placed on these communities should be shared a little more evenly throughout the population. 5 18 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 It is my view that, given that the whole of our economy benefits from the tourist and entertainment industry, it is not unreasonable that governments should allocate additional resources to these areas to ensure that their local and environmental amenity is preserved as much as possible. In addition, I also ask the Government to embark on a well-funded public campaign to encourage people coming into the city for entertainment, or to well-known tourist attractions such as Darling Harbour or the Powerhouse Museum, to use public transport and leave their cars at home. If the Government fails to encourage people to use public transport when coming into the city this can only mean my constituents will face a deterioration in their local environment. Speaking as someone who does not have a driver's licence and has never driven her own motor vehicle, I am well aware of the difficulties and deficiencies of public transport. However, I am also well equipped to state that one can live without a car, even a busy member of Parliament with two young children. I believe that one of the most neglected forms of transport in cities like Sydney is a pair of shoes! Walking! In my view, pedestrians are a neglected breed. Walking must be the most frequent mode of transport for elementary trips for most people. All motorists must get out of their car sometimes to shop, to reach the workplace or to gain access to pedestrian refuges like parks. Walking does not generate air pollution, is healthy and sociable, yet walking is one of the most under-resourced and unprotected activities in urban life. As a member of Parliament, I will actively pursue policies that give a better deal for pedestrians, policies that will restrain the impact of cars in the city and help to create safe, pleasant walks to major pedestrian venues like the Quay, Darling Harbour, The Rocks and Pitt Street. And I will advocate the return of city awnings and street trees for dry, shady and green streetwalks with particular attention to facilities for the disabled and visitors. To this end I have already made representations to the Sydney Traffic Committee, of which I am a member, to carry out a survey of, and to analyse all pedestrian accidents in the city and to consider individually all obstacles to unimpeded access to the city's main pedestrian venues including major parks. Not surprisingly the Government's education policies have aroused feelings of anger and concern in my electorate. The latest announcement that the Government is considering closing down schools with fewer than 100 students has caused considerable anguish. In the inner city almost 600 children at eight primary schools will be affected by the Government's plan. Children will have to travel further to new schools and will face great risks crossing additional major roads. The hit list for inner city schools includes Australia Street, Erskineville, Blackfriars, Darlington, Fort Street, Riley Street, Taverners Hill, and Ultimo. As an example I shall explain what effect the closure of the Ultimo Primary School would have on its students. They would have to attend Glebe Primary School, which would mean their crossing Wattle Street, Wentworth Park Road, St John's Road, and Glebe Point Road. These are all busy and dangerous traffic thoroughfares. The children would have to cross Wentworth Park, which is regarded as an unsafe place. I would not allow any children of mine in their primary school years to cross Wentworth Park. It is a large unsupervised area with many buildings, and no primary school age child should have to walk through it. The children of Millers Point would have to travel all the way to Glebe or Woolloomooloo. In either case they would have to cross the central business district, which I believe is not an appropriate journey for primary school age children, particularly the younger ones. Of course, these closures would mean a sell-off of some of the nation's oldest schools. Apart from 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 519 their historical value small schools are ideal for disadvantaged children as they provide a better opportunity from more individual teaching and a closer family- type atmosphere. Schools such as Blackfriars and Australia Street provide a unique service for children from three to eight years of age. They enable pre- school and school-age children of the same family to stay together during those early years. I can just see this Government selling off schools in the inner city for a quick profit, and then a few years down the track, when the school-age population in the inner city increases, there will not be enough classrooms to deal with the influx of children and it will be too prohibitive to buy back land and buildings. One has only to look at the waiting lists for pre-schools and long day care in the inner city to realize that there is a massive increase in the number of pre-school children in the inner city. Within a few short years, all these youngsters will be wanting to be enrolled at State schools. As with public housing I will fight the closure of any schools in my electorate with passion and vigour-because it is about fighting for our kids' future, and I know I will have the full support of each and every one of my constituents. I call on the Government to re-think this nonsense and give an unequivocal guarantee that no schools in the inner city will be closed down. I should like to conclude by acknowledging that I have many people to thank for the fact that I am now a member of the Legislative Assembly. Australian Labor Party politics in the inner city being what it is, I not only have to thank people for the assistance I received during the election, but also for the support I was given in my preselection. I should like to acknowledge by name some of the people who have helped me: my dear friend, Gabrielle Brine, and my campaign workers, Trevor Davies, Sue Wicks, Bill Palmer, Terry Murphy, Greg Johnson, Bill Austen, Geoff Smith, Rebecca Nicholson, Peter Jones, and Ray Phillips. I would also like to thank all the other Labor Party members, supporters and friends who worked tirelessly for Labor victory in McKell. I received assistance from a number of parliamentary colleagues. In particular I thank the Hon. Delcia Kite, the Hon. Deirdre Grusovin, the Leader of the Opposition, Bob Can, and my friend and supporter, Peter Baldwin, the member for Sydney, and his staff-Fiona Seaton and Elizabeth Tout. I thank my campaign director, Vic Smith, for all his efforts. I wish to thank my mother for all her help with child care. I owe my children, Bonnie and Lachlan-both of whom are really too young to understand the nature of their mother's work- a great deal of thanks for being such good little kids. I hope that when they grow up they will have cause to be proud of their mum. I owe greatest thanks to John Faulkner, the assistant general secretary of the Australian Labor Party, for his magnificent support for me as a candidate, his tireless efforts in my campaign, and for his forbearance in his other role as my spouse. I thank my two wonderful staff members, Lynette Tenisons and Sarah Taylor. Finally, Mr Speaker, I wish to thank all honourable members for the courtesy extended to me during my speech. I realize that if I am doing my job properly-as I will- this will be the first and last time I will be heard in silence. Mr ROBERTS (Cessnock) [7.55]: It is with great honour that I stand in this Assembly, knowing it is an historic event that a Liberal member of Parliament speaks on behalf of the Cessnock electorate, which was constituted early this century, and for 87 years has had Australian Labor Party representation. During the early years of this electorate, the only choice the voting public had was between voting for the Australian Labor Party and the Communist Party. In 1981 the Liberal Party fielded a candidate for the first 520 ASSEMBLY 24 August. 1988 time in the history of the Cessnock electorate, and on 19th March, the people of the electorate expressed a desire for change. I am happy to take up the responsibility bestowed upon me and to fight to see that this electorate receives its fair share of services from this Government. It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to our candidates who stood on earlier occasions, Mr Colin Richardson, Mr Jim White and Mr Gerard Berkhout, and also my coalition running mate for this election, Mr Des Snelgrove. I also wish to pay tribute to Mr Colin Fisher, the former State member of Parliament representing Upper Hunter, whose retirement created a vacancy in the electorate he represented, part of which now falls within the boundaries of the Cessnock electorate. I should like to acknowledge the people who supported my nomination and who worked towards my success. They are too numerous to mention individually. Suffice to say many have travelled to be here in Parliament today. I also acknowledge the work done by the Singleton and Kurri Kurri-Cessnock Liberal Party branches. I must also pay tribute to the Neilly family, who have been prominent in representing the Cessnock electorate. Mr George Neilly represented this electorate from 1959 to 1978, and Mr Stan Neilly represented the electorate from 198 1 until 19th March. From my study I have found that both former members were hard-working State representatives, but their party let them down. The Cessnock electorate was considered rock solid and the jewel in the Labor Party crown. Consequently, little money was directed to it and funds were redirected to more marginal seats at the expense of the die-hard Labor representatives and their supporters, who sought to defend a party that deserted Cessnock. By 19th March, this electorate had become tired of a Labor Government that had grown arrogant and that failed to hear the voice of its traditional supporters. The alternative was a tattered band of Liberal Party supporters, a group of disillusioned Labor people, and a group of bush shooters, who objected to their rights being denied them. These groups amalgamated and were able to combine the issues of the day with the dissatisfaction of the electorate to topple 87 years of Labor Party supremacy. Victory for the Liberal Party was achieved with 10 days of solid campaigning, a Bankcard to meet the bills, and a car with a constantly empty fuel tank. Many issues affected the election outcome in Cessnock; law and order, education, health and industrial development, in tourism, mining and agriculture. I should like to discuss those issues now, to show how my representation of Cessnock and treatment by the Greiner Government will be different from that of the previous Unsworth Government. Following this, I shall elaborate on various matters raised in the Governor's Speech delivered last week. Concerning law and order, prior to the recent State election, former Premier Unsworth sought to make capital out of people who enjoyed recreational and sporting shooting. Often many people had a rifle in the back rooms of their homes. It was seldom used. They did no harm and intended no malice or crime. Yet the former Premier was quoted as calling these people "criminals" and "red necked rebels". He said they had weapons at their disposal and had the opportunity to use them for unlawful purposes, therefore, this was criminal conduct. Many people objected to this. To illustrate h&wstror&ly people felt, with one week's notice a public meeting was called in Cessnock and more than 2 000 people attended. At Maitland with three weeks' notice a public meeting was called and more than 5 000 people attended. I am happy to say to those people 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 521 from the Cessnock electorate who are present in the House tonight that this Government is now repealing such draconian legislation. We are honouring our election pledge and introducing legislation to increase the requirements of people who wish to hold a shooter's licence, and to increase the penalty for those who use firearms to commit crime. We will not deny a shooter's licence for recreational shooting or for bona fide firearm collectors. Another issue that affected the election outcome in Cessnock electorate was the state of local roads. In short, they are an absolute disgrace. Local councils are often reduced to merely patching the patches on the roads. Through the local media I have stated publicly that I take no responsibility for the state of local roads over the past 87 years. My predecessors must be accountable for that. However, I do take responsibility for a long-term strategy to improve the roads in my electorate. The people of Cessnock are free to judge my performance from 1988 onwards. At present the electorate faces a problem with a massive volume of traffic using the new extension from Newcastle to Sydney. Once the traffic reaches the Freemans Waterhole section, it must travel along Main Road 220 towards Maitland, or Main Road 220 and Main Road 195 through Cessnock and on to Branxton where it joins the New England Highway. These roads were not designed to handle a large volume of traffic, and pavement failure is a constant problem. With the opening of the freeway extension, traffic volume at Mulbring on Main Road 220 has increased by 40 per cent; at Cessnock on Main Road 220 by 30 per cent; and at Leggetts Lane on Main Road 195 by 50 per cent. Road problems also exist in my own shire of Singleton. As a Singleton shire councillor, I am only too well aware of local road conditions. I am participating actively in obtaining funds for urgent roadworks within the shire. I have also had discussions with representatives of Muswellbrook Shire Council to determine the urgent roadwork priorities in the Denman, Sandy Hollow and Baerami areas which my electorate covers. I am concerned also about the low-level railway crossings in the Denman area that have caused horrific road and rail accidents. These problems must be addressed also. Since being elected as a member of this House, I have initiated meetings with the regional officers of the Department of Main Roads to discuss problems of roads within my electorate. I have participated in fighting for funds for roadworks. One of my first major achievements on being elected was the allocation of funds for flood damage to local roads. Cessnock City Council was allocated $1,435,000; Singleton received $35,000; and Muswellbrook received $20,000. In addition I welcome the allocation of funding for road maintenance and improvements this year. Cessnock City Council has been allocated $1,830,000; Singleton $763,000; and Muswellbrook $770,000. Cessnock electorate and others in this State will benefit from this Government's deliberate reallocation of the tax raised on each litre of petrol sold, which money will go directly to roadworks. This will be a substantial improvement by this Government, compared with our predecessors who merely lumped all such money into consolidated revenue and reallocated the funds. The Government will increase funding for roadworks this year by I I per cent. or $150 million in real terms. This will be a specific ongoing commitment in an effort to reverse the rapidly ageing process of the roads in the State. and it is an action that I applaud. Another issue of great concern to me is education. This Government has made a bold decision to reallocate resources in education, including a 50 per cent increase in school maintenance to $90 million in 1989. Over the next four 522 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 years $80 million will be spent in special education for students with learning disabilities. In some areas 20 per cent of the students come into that category. In addition, $52 million will be spent on computer education and $23 million on rural education, the textbook allowance will be doubled, and leading teacher positions will be created. For me, there will be an additional bonus in bricks and mortar; a new school is to be built at Mount View in Cessnock. This new permanent school will replace the existing demountable school established in 1985. On 6th June the Premier visited Cessnock and announced the decision for a permanent school, which was confirmed to me by the Minister for Education, Dr Metherell, when I met him on 6th July. Planning for the school will commence in the latter part of this term. I am happy to say that other schools in my electorate will also benefit from the Government's initiatives. The additional money being allocated for such things as computers and textbooks will assist the education process in both primary and secondary schools within my electorate, and throughout this State. In addition, I should pay tribute to the technical and further education colleges in Cessnock and Singleton. These are large, important institutions that play a significant role in training the people with work skills that are necessary in our local industries. These range from mining and heavy equipment maintenance, office and business skills, nursing, and a new course in hospitality. I will work to assist in continuing and improving the level of funding to the TAFE colleges as they play an important role in meeting the requirements of the work force in the Cessnock electorate. Another problem is the issue of health. My electorate has an ageing population and the most up-to-date medical services are required. We have nine hospital and nursing home complexes within the Cessnock electorate. There are also various community health services, supported from these centres. I intend to fight to improve the overall funding for health resources allocated to this electorate. We as a government must improve both the efficiency of health services and hospital administration. Let me tell honourable members a story of what hospital administration was like under my predecessor. Constituents have approached me with their concern that in one of the hospitals in my electorate the pathology department was used to test not only blood samples from hospital patients, but also a few random samples taken from local racehorses and trotters. The results, spread among a few, meant a little flurry at the local Totalizator Agency Board office to place a bet. As this example shows, Mr Speaker, I can only say in this area we have little to beat! This Government's decision to create a single area health board and to abolish the regional health offices will allow the resources previously allocated to be redirected to patient care. I applaud this, as I will any scheme this Government implements to push health resources through to the end users. The creation of the new Hunter area health service has allowed me to demonstrate that the people of my electorate have been well represented. Since being elected I have also fought for services to be allocated to the intellectually disabled in my electorate. The recent announcement by the Minister of Health, Mr Peter Collins, of a special home on Wollombi Road, Cessnock, for the intellectually disabled is a positive step in catering for the needs of these people. I shall work to obtain further resources for the maintenance and improvement of these centres within the Cessnock electorate. I now wish to direct attention to industrial development within my electorate, and to the issues concerning tourism, mining and agriculture. The Cessnock electorate is unique in that it has world class vineyards in and around the Pokolbin, Brokenback and Dalwood areas. Family names such as Tyrrell, 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 523

Tulloch, Drayton and McGuigan are synonymous with those areas. Many of the vineyards are more than 100 years old and have contributed greatly to the tourism of the area. In fact, tourism has become one of the major growth industries of my electorate. With this has come the establishment of motels and convention centres. Only last week Cessnock city council approved the Rothbury Country Club Resort. This development will cost in excess of $130 million. A fine balance will have to be maintained between the development of these projects and the land owned by the vignerons, to ensure that the vignerons are not subdivided out of existence. It is extremely desirable that Cessnock has started to develop in these areas. The city of Cessnock was largely based on coalmining. Many of those mines now have been worked out. The economy of the area has declined with the loss of those mines, and I am hopeful that the tourism-vineyard concept will create a much needed boost to the local economy. I wish to advise the Government that as a Singleton shire councillor I am well versed in coalmining. Singleton council is a progressive council which has twelve mines operating within its boundaries. Production is in excess of 20 million tonnes per annum. Approximately 50 per cent of the mining work force resides in Singleton, and the balance of this force commutes from the coalfields area. I know I can adequately represent the mining interests of the electorate, and it may come as a surprise to Opposition members to learn that I can also adequately represent the workers in this industry. I clearly acknowledge this fact because in 1976 I worked on the Mount Thorley construction site west of Singleton, building the rail spur line servicing the present coal hoppers. This job was a means to financing my further studies at Macquarie University. It was an interesting job, even more so the day the men came and asked me to be their union representative. That position taught me a great deal, especially in the art of mediating an agreement between two parties. More importantly, as a conservative person myself, it opened my eyes to how the traditional Labor person thinks, especially in respect to his attitude towards his employers. I say quite openly that this was one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. Concerning agriculture, I am well versed to debate the issues affecting my electorate. My family has been engaged in agriculture for many generations, and I am also a graduate in agricultural science. The agricultural industry covers approximately 90 per cent of my electorate, ranging from the Pokolbin area through to Singleton, and out to Denman and Baerami. The main pursuits in this region are grazing and dairying. The latest development in this area is the new abattoir and feedlot complex proposed for Singleton. This will provide a much-needed boost to employment prospects in the Singleton district, and put the Singleton township and district firmly on the map as a major livestock centre. I mentioned earlier my studies at university. These were in the fields of finance and law. More recently I have specialized in local government finance and law. I should like to use my expertise in this field and direct the remainder of my speech to discussing special points of financial interest to me in respect to the Governor's Speech in opening this forty-ninth Parliament. The Speech dealt in part with the overall management and reallocation of resources in this State. I feel that this Government will be known as one that managed the financial resources of the State, and improved them for future generations. The Premier's mini-budget on 2nd June provided a focal point from which to base the management of this State. The recent Curran audit report provides the 524 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 information on which to base our review. This report highlighted that for years New South Wales has been living beyond its means. In a broader sense it can be shown there has been excessive spending, a heavy drain of losses from government business undertakings, poor management of the State's assets, a failure to recognize and pay for operating expenses as they are incurred, and an increasing reliance on debt. In New Soyth Wales, borrowings increased to $24.7 billion in 1987, compared to disclosed borrowings five years earlier of $11.7 billion. In addition to this the State has liabilities of $14.5 billion for which provision has not been made. The annual operating deficit is $1.2 billion, of which an increasing proportion comprises debt servicing costs, and losses incurred by the major State transport undertakings. Compounding this is the problem that the federal Government at this year's Premiers' conference and Loan Council savagely cut back its payments to New South Wales by $540 million. This consists of payments totalling $360 million together with a reduction of $180 million in capital funds. The present financial situation is serious, and the position developed in the past five years cannot be sustained. Therefore the changes to be made will have to be fundamental and go to the very core of the problem. We now have a situation where our current liabilities amount to $46,184 billion, which is $8,200 for every man, woman and child in this State. This Government must curtail the explosion of employment in the State public sector. This has grown at a faster rate than the economy as a whole, and now employs 19 per cent of our work force, compared to 13 per cent 20 years ago. If we broaden the horizon we see that as a nation we employ 30 per cent of the work force in the public sector. The total outlays for this now account for 42 per cent of the nation's gross domestic product. For us in New South Wales the spiralling debt servicing costs have tripled over the past five years. There is also an increasing debt from continued borrowings to finance social welfare type works, which are non-income producing. I should briefly elaborate on this point, saying I encourage the use of social welfare to help the needy and assist their comfort, and to enable them to find employment. However, if we are to successfully embark on this course, we should not use debt funds to finance it, but rather some other source so that we do not incur additional interest cost in the process. There are other financial problems this Government has to address as a matter of priority, namely, the pricing structure for services provided by State authorities, which should reflect their true costs, and the massive operational inefficiencies in the major State authorities, including manning levels, which are 20 per cent above the realistic level for the work in hand. Also, this Government must attend to the reluctance of bureaucracy to eliminate inflexible costly work practices, and to rationalize uneconomic services that result in poor financial performance. I could go on further about the financial problems that His Excellency alluded to in his Speech. However, I will not. Suffice to say that the problems ahead are ones that only strong determined governments can overcome. I know that this Government is capable of doing this. For myself, I shall enjoy participating in parliamentary debates that I can contribute to, and, more important, fight for the resources that my electorate has been starved of for the past few generations. As I stated earlier, the Cessnock electorate was the jewel of the Labor Party crown. I picked up this gem that was lying in the gutter, and I intend to hold it, as thc Labor Party no longer value it. During future elections 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 525

I intend to make Cessnock into a safe Liberal seat-as safe as the rock of Gibraltar. And to those members of the Opposition here present I say the only way to get me off the rock is to blast me off.

DISTINGUISHED VISITOR [Debate interrupted.] Mr SPEAKER: I draw to the attention of the House the presence in the gallery of the Lord Chancellor Rt Hon. Lord Mackay of Clashfern of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. [Debate resumed.] Mr RUMBLE (Illawarra) [8.20]:I thank His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, Air Marshal Sir James Rowland, for his opening of the second session of the Forty-ninth Parliament last week. As the Governor will be retiring in the near future 1 wish him and Lady Rowland all the best in their future years and thank him for his distinguished sewice to New South Wales. Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on your election to your high ofice of this Parliament. I pay tribute also to the previous Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, the Hon. Laurie Kelly. Laurie Kelly has been a colleague and friend of mine for over 25 years. I always found him a hard-working and helpful colleague and wish to thank him for his help and assistance to me over the years, especially during the last State election. Laurie Kelly sewed this House with distinction in the position of Speaker for 12 years. He was the longest-sewing Speaker over one continuous period of time in the State's history. I wish Laurie Kelly and his wife Rhonda a very happy retirement. I now have the honour to represent the State seat of Illawarra which takes in an area south of Wollongong and straddles both Wollongong and Shellharbour municipal councils. The electorate includes the suburbs of Mount Kembla, Unanderra, part of Berkeley, Dapto, Oak Flats and Albion Park Rail. As a resident of the Illawarra area for 36 years and as a member of the Australian Labor Party for 26 years I consider it to be a great honour to represent the Illawarra electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. I thank the electors of Illawarra for selecting me as their representative for the next four years. I also thank my campaign director, Patrick Heffernan, and branch campaign directors, Brian Dellitt, George Bartolo, Ken Dalton, Alderman Vicki King, Len Reilly, Tom Hawker, and all people who assisted in my campaign. Finally, I wish to thank my wife Patricia and our two children Leisa and John for the assistance I received during a hectic election campaign. The problems of the Illawarra electorate, like the Illawarra area generally, are exacerbated by the unemployment rate being twice the State average, with teenage unemployment being even higher. Hundreds of workers from the Illawarra electorate have to travel to Sydney each day for their employment. Current numbers travelling to Sydney will inevitably increase as more work is available there. As an overwhelming number of these people travel to Sydney each day by train, it is imperative that there is no running down of the public transport system in general and in the Illawarra area in particular. The ridiculous decision by this Government to scrap the Maldon to Dombarton rail link will not assist rail passengers travelling between the Illawarra and Sydney. The previous Labor Government had the vision and foresight to make a commitment to complete the Maldon to Dombarton line. This was evident by the letting of a contract for the Avon tunnel. The benefits of completing this 3 5 526 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 line would have seen the economic transport of coal from the western districts to the port of Port Kembla, and fewer coal trucks would have been on the roads in the Wollongong area. It was envisaged that steel and wheat would be transported on this line. Work on the Avon tunnel was commenced on 16th November, 1987, by the former Premier, Mr Unsworth. The new link was intended to help with grain transport and to provide a passenger link between the Illawarra and Macarthur areas. Two days later, Mr Greiner, as leader of the Opposition, wrote to the Community Transport Concern Association in Wollongong stating that though it was difficult to predict a time for completion, on election to government the coalition would be committed to the completion of this rail link. This commitment had also been given repeatedly by Mr Baird as shadow transport minister. On 14th March, in Wollongong, Mr Greiner said the coalition would complete the new link by 1991. On 2nd June, 1988, the Greiner Government announced its incredible decision to cancel the Maldon to Dombarton rail link. The contractor, McConnell Dowel1 Constructors (Aust) Proprietry Limited had already incurred much expense in moving plant to the site, environmental control measures, work on the portal, and commencing drilling and blasting. The reasons given by the Minister for Transport to stop work on the new rail link, in a media statement received by Wollongong city council on 6th June, were first, that an expenditure of $150 million would be needed to finish the project. This would leave little available for the priority work of the State Rail Authority such as track maintenance, upgrading and capital expenditure to improve operating efficiency. Second, that the 1990 southern and western coal exports that were to be served by the railways being forecast at 4 to 6 million tonnes, would be less than one-third of that originally anticipated in 1982, and third, that completion of the Maldon-Dombarton link would not have materially reduced road haulage levels in the Illawarra region. The informption I have been able to ascertain in response to these three reasons is, first, that at the start of work in 1983 the estimated cost was $160 million for the entire Maldon to Port Kembla railway; that when Mr Unsworth allowed tenders to be called for the Avon tunnel in January 1987, the official estimate of its cost was $35 million, almost 30 per cent of the total of $1 10 million still to be spent on the 35 kilometre link; and that the June 1988 estimates were $150 million for the cost of completion and $34 million for the tunnel. Second, it is clear that coal tonnages are down from the high projections made around 1980. However, if the line had been opened as planned in December 1986, some seven million tonnes of coal, on present figures, could have been moved by the new line to Port Kembla by June 1988. New factors not mentioned in the Minister's statement include, first, the intention of the Maritime Services Board to close down the Balmain coal loader, thus increasing coal railed to Port Kembla by four million tonnes per annum; second, the commissioning of a new grain terminal at Port Kembla in 1989, and the possible closure of the Rozelle grain terminal; third, the development of Port Kembla as a point of export of agricultural and horticultural produce and the option of diverting wool exports from Sydney to Port Kembla; fourth, the extra costs of railing coal via inner Sydney with two three-hour curfews for coal train movements each working day, and the steep Como bank needing four locomotives for a small coal train. The fifth factor not mentioned in the Minister's speech was the success of electric trains from Sydney to Wollongong, with demand for more passenger trains, leaving less paths for coal trains on the Illawarra Line; sixth, the use of the line by passenger traffic, linking Wollongong to Campbelltown and possibly Sydney's second airport; and, seventh, employment benefits in construction, and regional development on completion. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 527 Third, the new link, in allowing a more direct link to Port Kembla for coal from the Burragorang Valley would allow for economical rail transport of the 1.5 million tonnes per annum of coal that is currently road hauled via Wollongong city. It would also assist in the relocation of the South Bulli mine to west Bellambi, thus taking a similar amount of coal on roads in urban areas. In addition, the line could take coal from near Tower colliery to the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited's steelworks at Port Kembla. This coal is currently road hauled to O'Brien's Drift at the top of the Illawarra escarpment. Recently I attended a meeting in Wollongong at which there were representatives of the trade union movement, the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Manufactures, the Leisure Coast Tourist Association, the Illawarra Region of Councils, and State Labor Party members of Parliament. This meeting unanimously resolved that a deputation meet with the Minister for Transport, The Hon. Bruce Baird, with a view to requesting the State Government to reverse its decision to abandon the Maldon to Dombarton project. I am sure that honourable members would agree that this meeting represented a wide cross-section of the Illawarra community. The request for a meeting was refused. Both coal and passenger trains now compete on the main Illawarra line. If the Maldon to Dombarton line had been completed, the coal trains from the western districts would have been switched to this line. The State Rail Authority will be placed in an untenable situation when competing with road hauliers relating to freight charges. The State Rail Authority has to charge for coal being hauled from the western districts to Sydney, thence to the port of Port Kembla, whereas the road hauliers have a more direct route. This is a typical example of a State instrumentality being deliberately discriminated against, in favour of private enterprise, with resultant problems and dangers for the motoring public in competing with these roaring monsters. This problem will be severely aggravated by the Minister for Transport if he allows B-doubles on to roads in the Illawarra area. The allowing of this type of transport on roads such as Wilton and Appin would be fanciful if it were not so serious. One would think that this Government is wagmg a vendetta againt the motoring public and users of public transport in the Illawarra, or should I say the Greiner Government is waging a vendetta against the Illawarra area because it did not win any seats in the Illawarra at the last State election. The number of passengers using the train system has dramatically increased since the introduction of electrification between Sydney and Wollongong. This increase has also been particularly noticeable in the southern suburbs of Wollongong. A single line track south of Wollongong has now reached saturation point. It is imperative that the State Government now start planning for the duplication and electrification of the railway line south of Coniston as soon as possible. People travelling to Sydney by car by way of the tollway will have a further slug in store for them. At present there is a 40 cent toll charge. However it has been strongly rumoured that is planned to raise this toll to $1. This decision will have the effect of forcing many drivers to use the Princes Highway to travel to Sydney, which quite obviously is not as safe to travel on compared with the F6. The result of this will be many more accidents on the old highway road with possible disastrous consequences. The impost would be another slap in the face to people of the Illawarra by the Greiner Government. One of the most worrying concerns to the Illawarra area is the future of the Tallawarra power station and the Huntley colliery, both situated in the southern suburbs of Wollongong. The recently released Commission of Audit 528 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 has recommended to the Government that current overcapacity in the New South Wales power generating system should allow for the immediate retirement of Tallwarra A and B power stations. It went on to say that staff could be redeployed where possible or offered retirement or retrenchment packages. Tallawarra has in excess of 400 employees. The report stated that the cost of coal production at Huntley, Newvale and Liddell State mines is higher than at alternative mines. Uneconomic mines should be phased out over a transition period if it is considered necessary to avoid retrenchments. Huntley's work force, gradually reduced over several years, now stands at approximately 200. Prior to the last State election the then Government stated that it was planning for the expansion of Tallawarra and was considering the installation of new longwall mining equipment at Huntley colliery so it could provide coal for at least one 660 megawatt unit at Tallawarra power station in the 1990s. The previous Government also stated that Elcom mines would not be privatized. Also prior to the last State election the Opposition energy spokesman Mr Rowland Smith stated that the Liberal Party-National Party coalition was committed to pressing ahead with the Tallawarra power station. He said Tallawarra power station and Huntley colliery would not close under a Liberal Party-National Party government. Mr Rowland Smith denied rumours both centres would be under a threat by a change of government, and said this was the result of scare tactics used by the Labor Party to frighten people into voting for the Australian Labor Party. He went on to say that Tallawarra is an old plant and that it was planned to establish a one-unit 660 megawatt plant there. Mr Rowland Smith said the situation with Huntley colliery was similar to the Tallawarra power station with the colliery being kept open to supply the needs of the Tallwarra power station. However, all these statements have to be matched against the remarks of the Deputy Premier made in this House in May 1987 when he said that Tallawarra power station near Wollongong has been kept open by the Government, and at the Government's insistence, to avoid the Government's being embarrassed by the lack of employment opportunities in the Wollongong area. For this, the taxpayer pays $30 million annually. In other words a senior member of this Government had criticized the previous Labor Government for insisting that the Tallawarra power station be kept open. At the last meeting of the Illawarra Task Force held on the 8th August, 1988, I moved the following motion, "That this meeting of the Illawarra Task Force express to the State Government our strong opposition to the recommendations of the recently released New South Wales Commission of Audit for the closure of the Tallawarra power station and the phasing out of the Huntley colliery with the resultant loss of 600 positions and many more based on the multiplier effect". The motion was carried unanimously and the chairman of the Illawarra Task Force, the Hon. Ted Pickering, M.L.C., stated that he would take this motion back to the New South Wales Cabinet. I acknowledge that the Minister for Mineral Resources and Minister for Energy has stated on three separate occasions since the State elections that neither the Tallawarra power station nor the Huntley colliery would close. I sincerely hope that the views of the Minister will prevail in Cabinet as the New South Wales Government will be using the Commission of Audit as an instrument to break a multitude of election promises, run down the public transport system, and sell off the more profitable government assets and enterprises. In summary, the Tallawarra power station must be retained and developed in the future as part of the New South Wales Elcom State power grid. Hunter colliery should be retained in State ownership to supply steaming coal to the Tallawarra power station and coking coal to the export market. Despite tough national and international competition. there is huge potential to sell 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 529 Huntley coking coal, probably to Japan, particularly if further investments were made to upgrade the washery. I wish to draw to the Government's attention the necessity to take urgent action to arrest the declining environmental conditions of Lake Illawarra. The area of Lake Illawarra is 42 square kilometres, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the foothills of the Illawarra range. The lake is a popular holiday attraction. Features include prawning grounds, fishing, sailing and power boating. Public boat ramps are at Windang, Kanahooka and Oak Flats. The previous Labor Government set up the Lake Illawarra Authority, a group made up of local representatives under the chairmanship of Mr Laurie Kelly. Funding was to be on a one-to-one basis between the State Government and local councils. Recently federal and State regional members of Parliament met with representatives of the Illawarra Yacht Club. It was resolved from this meeting that the regional members of Parliament write to the Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development and Public Works requesting him to release $500 000 of funding as pledged by the former government authority. It was also resolved that these monies should be released to commence such programs as: sediment-nutrient removal program; ooze removal program; algae harvesting program; weed removal program; and a dredging program. It is imperative that work start as soon as possible considering the appalling condition of some areas of the lake, some foreshore areas and Griffin Bay, where the Illawarra Yacht Club is situated. It is my understanding that this Government has frozen additional funds which had been allocated to improve New South Wales sporting and recreational waterways. The Wollongong city council was developing a further proposal for major dredging and reclamation works in Griffin Bay. The Public Works Department was represented on the steering committee which developed the project. I am sure that the whole of the Illawarra district would welcome a statement that the funding under the sporting and recreational waterways improvement scheme had been restored, and I would trust that this would allow the Wollongong city council to get on with the Griffin Bay project, as I understand that $1 million of this work would be eligible for the subsidy under this program. In the Illawarra we have an extremely hard-working and dedicated group of people comprising the Port Kembla Harbour Task Force. The task force is endeavouring to upgrade the port of Port Kembla into a major export facility. The task force envisages that items such as freshly cut flowers, sheepskin products, swimming pools, grain, fruit and vegetables, and chilled meat will be exported from Port Kembla. However, the task force wishes to establish a container depot with a special container crane, so that some of these items may be exported. Recently, the Port Kembla Harbour Task Force approached the Government for assistance to carry out a feasibility study costing between $40,000 to $50,000 for the installation of a portainer crane and container handling facility. This proposal is for the study to be done with the Government providing funds on a two-for-one basis with the task force. All indications at present show that such a development would be viable. The task force believes the container handling facility will provide a major boost to attracting new trade through Port kembla. I hope the Government will give serious consideration to this proposition. Meetings have been held in Goulburn with firms interested in moving livestock through Port Kembla. Holding yards are likely to be built at Goulburn for this purpose. Initially, the export of live cattle to Japan is envisaged. It is 530 ASSEMBLY 24 August, I988 also hoped that Port Kembla may export processed and greasy wool. The cancellation of the Maldon to Dombarton rail llne was also a setback for the task force. The Port Kembla Task Force has been working in close co-operation with the recently established Australian Dockyard Development Company. Investigations are now under way for the building of an international dry dock in Port Kembla that would have the effect of generating 2 000 jobs. If a decision is made to go ahead with its construction, the dry dock would cost between $250 million and $300 million. The dry dock would give a much needed boost to the economy of the Illawarra. One of the most disturbing features of the direction of this Government is in the area of education. Fewer teachers in schools, and other cutbacks, will mean increased class sizes, a decrease in elective subjects, an increase in composite classes, and library hours will be decreased. After attending meetings of parents and citizens' associations, the independent teachers and the students, one important concern that emerged was the lack of consultation by the Minister for Education, Dr Metherell. I hope the Government does not continue to delude itself that their education policies are correct and that it is the public perception that is off beam. In this education dispute this Government has been able to unite the Teachers Federation, the independent teaches, the parents and citizens' associations, school principals and students against this Government. I have been informed that even the union that represents the school inspectors has criticized this Government over its so-called initiatives. If Government members think that people associated with the education campaign will forget what is going on now, especially the students, they are kidding themselves. It is about time this Government initiated some serious discussions with the main parties involved in the education process. I am pleased to see the Government will be adopting a charter of victims rights. In my opinion, priority should be given to persons who are victims of physical or sexual assault. Recently in the Illawarra area a young fellow was bashed so badly he was very close to death and only now is commencing to regain consciousness. Many people are afraid to walk the streets during the evening. In this so-called civilized society we have child sexual assault units and the governments of the day have to run media campaigns against the evils of incest. In other words, we are endeavouring to convlnce people to act like civilized human beings instead of animals. I am raising these rather distasteful subjects as there are plenty of do-gooders in this community who can manufacture a multitude of excuses for the perpetrators of crime who are those social misfits, but in many cases the victims have no one to speak for them. The proposed increase in police numbers will be welcomed by most people in the community. In my electorate I have received numerous complaints of break- ins and acts of vandalism. I am speaking from personal experience, as my electorate office has been broken into, and the computer, photocopier, and typewriter stolen. Many of these offences are drug and or alcohol related. With this Government's manic determination for economic rationalism, I hope there will be no cutbacks to funding for youth workers. Community youth workers perform a great service for young people during evenings at youth centres. Many of these young people would be wandering the streets of an evening, possibly getting into mischief if not for the youth workers and the youth centres. The Greiner Government says that the plight of pensioners is of concern to the Government. An examination of the system of pensioner rate rebates is being undertaken. One wonders if this Government is genuinely concerned with the problems of pensioners. Three weeks before the election, this Government promised the New South Wales pensioners that it would maintain all travel concessions for the elderly. However, since winning office 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 531 the Government has increased pensioner excursion tickets by 40c to $1, an increase of 66.7 per cent. For pensioners living in outer metropolitan areas, these tickets have doubled in price from $1 to $2. This Government has completely abandoned free intrastate rail trips for concession holders. Pensioners and all wage earners have had their living standards attacked by this Government by such measures as public transport fare increases of 12.5 per cent, electricity charges increased by 9.1 per cent, Department of Housing rents raised by 12 per cent, public hospital charges up by 15 per cent, and patients in public nursing homes will pay 87.5 per cent of their pension, up from 75 per cent. If unions are to strike, even if a fundamental principle is involved, fines of up to $1,000 per day may be incurred. Individual trade unionists who strike and or impose bans and limitations in an industry declared an essential service may also be fined up to $1,000 per day. This is the type of legislation you would expect from a Third World banana republic. The Government says it has established a working party to review, with the Local Government and Shires Association, the system of rating and rate- pegging. Many people have stated to me that they think the current system is inequitable, as not all people contribute to council incomes even though everyone is entitled to services of councils. Suggestions have been made that municipal councils should operate on a poll tax. It will be interesting to see the recommendations of the working party. However, I hope this Government does not abolish its powers of rate-pegging for municipal councils. Rate-pegging was one of the major reforms of the Wran Government in the Wollongong council area. Before the introduction of rate-pegging legislation, ratepayers were slugged with rate increases of up to 20 per cent. If this Government does not exercise rate-pegging control over councils and shires, rate increases will be thrown back to the bad old days of massive increases. The Greiner Government says that the New South Wales economy is currently performing better than those of the other States of Australia. In terms of output, employment, consumer spending, homebuilding approvals, non- residential building approvals and trading bank loans to business, growth in this State exceeds increases in other States for most of the past year. Recently a leading international rating agency, Moody's Investors Service, announced an AAA rating for the performance of the New South Wales economy. New South Wales has the lowest debt of any State as the proportion of gross State product. New South Wales has proportionately the smallest public sector of any State. Moody's also noted that debt servicing costs were less than the average of all States. Moody's described the economy of New South Wales as strong and diverse. These statements have to be measured against all the doom and gloom that has emanated from the Government since the release of the Commission of Audit report. The figures quoted in the $1 million Commission of Audit report would be obtainable by the public on inspection of records at government departments such as Treasury and the Auditor-General. Much of the State debt has been incurred on the purchase of new rolling-stock for the State Rail Authority and funds invested in Elcom for power generating plants so that consumers will not have to endure power blackouts in winter as experienced during past years. Another of the great achievements of the previous Labor Government was the electrification of the rail line to Wollongong. That Government introduced modern, double-deck, air-conditioned rolling-stock after electrification. The Wran Government inherited a rundown, ramshackle public 532 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 transport system in 1976 and quite obviously the State Rail Authority now would have outstanding debts to finance the massive capital investment program of the Labor Government. However, the State's assets as a percentage of debt are in excess of 3.5 to one, and that excludes land assets. The Australian Labor Party supports a reduction in State debt but it opposes this Government's attempts to use the Commission of Audit to run down our public transport system, to sell off a multitude of government assets and enterprises, to break even more election promises, and to slug the pensioners and disadvantaged groups in the community. As I said at the beginning of my speech I consider it to be a great honour to be a member of this House. Finally, I wish to congratulate all members of this House who have made their maiden speeches and wish them all the best for the future. Mr MERTON (Carlingford) [8.50]: It is with honour and a sense of responsibility that I rise as the newly-elected member for Carlingford to speak for the first time in this Chamber in the Address-in-Reply debate following the Speech made by the Governor, His Excellency, Sir James Rowland. His Speech outlined the Government's legislative and financial proposals for the second session of the Forty-ninth Parliament of New South Wales. Before turning to the issues raised in the Governor's Speech, may I take this opportunity, Mr Speaker, to extend the traditional courtesy of congratulations to you on your election to that high office. Our Parliament holds an historical position as the oldest Parliament in Australia. The dignity and position of the House are only enhanced by your contribution to that office. The electorate of Carlingford is a new electorate. It represents the suburbs of Winston Hills, Old Toongabbie, Northmead, Carlingford, Oatlands, Kingsdene, North Rocks, and part of Baulkham Hills. Previously these areas were represented by three members in the Legislative Assembly. I pay particular tribute to the work, the dedication and the representation undertaken on behalf of these people by the member for The Hills, Fred Caterson, the member for Northcott, Bruce Baird, and the former member for Wentworthville, Ernie Quinn. These members' application to and record of service and duty have set a very high standard and example for me to follow as the new representative for Carlingford. In addition.to those members of Parliament, I should like to thank my campaign director, Rod Taylor, and the campaign committee of Diane Larbelestier, Keith Forrest, John Goldsborough, Gordon Lobley, Ross Scoble, Peter Torhorst, Ken Noms, and Joan Andrew, as well as many other supporters who worked so tirelessly and whose names by necessity cannot be mentioned. I thank also the members of my family, my wife Olwyn, and children Alexandra, Andrew and Rachel whose help and support have made it possible for me to be here today. All in this Chamber know that without the dedication and service of such individuals none of us would occupy these august benches. The electorate of Carlingford encompasses four local government areas: Baulkham Hills shire, Parramatta city, Hornsby shire, and Blacktown city. I pay particular tribute to the work of local government in these areas in dealing with the problems within their jurisdiction. I have already found a willingness and desire by each council to work with me on meeting many issues of concern to my constituents. Local councils have naturally been appreciative of State government sensitivity to their needs. The councils in my electorate have responded to the new directions being set by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon. David Hay, in particular the self-regulatory move to restrict the use of section 101 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 533 Act, which formerly gave State governments a broad discretion to ride roughshod over the decisions of their municipal counterparts. The electorate of Carlingford is positioned within the northwest and western suburbs of Sydney. It is an area with a large youth population with more than 23 per cent of the electorate being under 19 years of age. It is a strong familv area-64 Der cent of the adult ~o~ulationis married. The rteo~leof ~arlii~fordhold special commitment tb

In the intervening range are the typical residents of Carlingford and the northwest and western suburbs of Sydney-the type of people I represent in this Parliament. Menzies described them in these terms: . . . salary-earners, shopkeepers, skilled artisans, professional men and women, farmers and so on. These are, in the political and economic sense, the middle class. They are for the most part unorganized and unself-conscious. They are envied by those whose social benefits are largely obtained by taxing them. They are not rich enough to have individual power. They are taken for granted by each political party in turn. They are not sufficiently lacking in individualism to be organized for what in these days we call "pressure politics". And yet, as I have said, they are the backbone of the nation. The Premier, his Ministers, and Government members have not forgotten these people. Policies and directions have been set in place for their benefit. In all the focus of reform is to support individual initiative and endeavour. It is a people-conscious approach. Our philosophy recognizes that government that operates to support the will and desires of the people is government that recognizes the real life of the nation. As Menzies described, this real life: . . . is to be found in the homes of people who are nameless and unadvertised, and who, whatever their individual religious conviction or dogma, see in their children their greatest contribution to the immortality of their race. The home is the foundation of sanity and sobriety; it is the indispensable condition of continuity; its health determines the health of society as a whole. I hold a strong bond through family and professional ties with the people of Sydney's west and with those who live in my electorate. My grandparents, Frederick and Annie Reeks, arrived from England together with their children at the turn of the century to set up a dairy farm in Toongabbie. Later they moved to Seven Hills, where a further dairy farm was established, ironically in what is now the western tip of my electorate of Carlingford. My mother Nancy is the second youngest daughter of the family who stayed at this address throughout the great war, the Depression, and World War 11, supplying milk to families of the area. She only moved out with the growth of suburbia, which overtook the once green paddocks upon which the cows grazed. My family well understood the difficulties of the man on the land, and the problems of the primary producer. My father, Charles Merton, is the son of Percival and Millicent Merton who dedicated the whole of their lives to the religious and social work of the Salvation Army. They travelled throughout New South Wales quite often on bicycle or by horse and cart, to bring a message of hope and comfort to the needy and distressed. My father, a fitter and turner by trade and a baritone singer of some note, was often referred to as Australia's Lawrence Tibbett in the early days of appearing on ABC radio. My parents have continued their strong family involvement with the Salvation Army. My early memories of life in rented fibro homes in Merrylands and South Granville were of unmade streets where sewerage was unheard of, and where the many small boys of our area, myself included, spent hours in large concrete drains pretending we were reliving life in the air raid shelters of the second world war. Attendance at Granville South Public School and Fairfield High School gave me a strong public education. Fairfield High School consisted originally of a large number of demountables placed on an enormous tract of land in what is now the middle of Fairfield shopping centre. Like most children of the era, school travelling arrangements consisted of walking three miles to the station from home and at least another mile at the other end. Bus passes and their associated problems were not a reality of life in Sydney in the early 1950s. The dedication of my teachers was such that deplorable working conditions and hours were not the issues-caring for a student and preparing him for employment were the focus. I cannot recall the expressions "casual 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 535 teacher continuity program" and "multifaced integrated audiovisual learning assistance technology". By today's standard it is amazing that we even survived. In those days, a walk of up to four miles to sport in the middle of summer, and the very real threat of the cane if we were late or failed to attend, were the order of the day. Translated to today, students might well feel that they would want to shake the foundations of Parliament House. In 1970, with the help of my mother, I established a small law office in Parramatta which still exists and in which she still works. During that time I have seen the results of the decay of law and order in the community and the very real problems of young families facing the housing crisis. In 1970, a three-bedroom house in the outer western suburbs cost $7,800. I turn in detail to the range of proposals and initiatives which the Greiner Government will institute during this parliamentary session. The Government has given priority to issues in law and order, health, education, housing and family policies. These areas are vital to the residents of the Carlingford electorate. Central to achieving this goal of change is the restructuring, both in organization and direction, of the State's administration. Our priority must be towards a long-term goal-lower real prices for services and tax reform. The development of an economically responsible financial framework for the State's expenditures, and in particular the reversal of the explosive debt burden created by the Wran and Unsworth governments, is of the highest priority to this Government. In simple terms the present debt shared by families is $25,000 a household-$46 billion across the State, compared with a $5 billion debt left by the previous Liberal Party-National Party Government. The residents of Carlingford electorate share a massive $345 million State Government debt. After 12 years of Labor, Carlingford families pay a quarter of their electricity bill to service the debt in just the Electricity Commission alone. The spending policies of the previous Government are summarized by the Commission of Audit in the very simple statement, "New South Wales has been living beyond its means". The incredible mismanagement of the State administration, exposed by the Commission of Audit, is an indictment upon 12 years of hard labour. The community can only be thankful that it instituted an early release on licence from the cavalier attitudes of the Sussex Street secondhand hock merchants. Our Premier has demonstrated his ability to manage the State Government for the benefit of the community. The priority is efficient services. Tax reform is on the agenda. The Government will review public sector superannuation schemes to ensure the security of both employees and employers. Responsible initiatives to restructure management, including the establishment of the Office of Public Management, and the enhancement of a performance-driven senior executive public service, are part and parcel of the Premier's and Government's commitment to change New South Wales for the better. One of the Government backbench committees on which I serve is the housing committee. It is indeed a pleasure to work with our Minister, the Hon. Joe Schipp, and the committee chairman, the Hon. John Hannaford. The quality and availability of housing and the problems of medium-density development are of paramount importance to those residing in Carlingford. Important initiatives are being introduced by this Government to assist home buyers, particularly first home buyers. For example, $250 million will be provided under the premier low start loan program during 1988-89; $440 million is to be provided under the affordable home loan program; and the first 536 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 home purchase limit for stamp duty concessions has been increased to $125,000. A greater emphasis is being placed on the provision of retirement housing for elderly people requiring care services in addition to their housing. A special Cabinet committee on urban development has been established to co-ordinate all aspects of the land release process and to ensure that quality land is available at a realistic price. The retail presence of Landcom is to be reduced by the wholesaling of undeveloped land to industry. This will augment the involvement of the private sector in residential land development. Because of the critical shortage of developed land, the Department of Housing will increase its production program for residential land sales to 8 000 homesites in 1988-89. This will benefit those many young families in my electorate seeking their first home, who are unable to obtain land at a price within their means. Another crucial issue to the families of Carlingford is law and order. The protection of the citizen, not the criminal, is a fundamental belief held by my constituents and myself. In this respect I am working with the Attorney General, the Hon. John Dowd, on the Government's law and justice committee. A record sum of $1.089 billion is to be spent on law, order and public safety this financial year. This Government is demonstrating its belief in the need for improved police services and increased police strength in New South Wales. We are committed firmly to the provision of an additional 1 600 police officer positions during our first term in office. Under the direction of Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Hon. Ted Pickering, some of these will provide additional protection for my electorate. Drug trafficking and other drug-related crime will be vigorously attacked, an initial step being the creation of a single drug agency and the tightening of bail laws. Trevor and Judy King, who operate the Caring and Sharing Mission in the Carlingford electorate, know only too well the tragedy that drugs wreak, with those young people who are drawn to the seedy and unlawful world of narcotics. The commitment of the Attorney General, Premier and Cabinet has been demonstrated in the vigorous assault on corruption with the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in tandem with a stringent new ministerial code of conduct. The long overdue reform of the congestion in the New South Wales court system has begun, with the allocation of 137 additional sitting days to the court lists. The appointment of four more District Court judges, two Supreme Court judges and seven magistrates, serviced by an additional 8 1 support staff, will further expedite proceedings and increase access to the courts. Further evidence of the priority that law and order is receiving under the new Government is the reform of juvenile cautioning procedures, the repeal of the Darling Harbour Casino Act, and the passage of summary offences legislation, each contributing to a general atmosphere of security and reliable administration of justice. Nearly 16 000 students in Carlingford attknd primary, secondary or tertiary places of education. School, technical and further education, university and youth employment issues are central to their future. The Government is at present reviewing all State-funded employment schemes, with youth employment a high priority. A new youth employment scheme called Start to Life is due to commence in the near future. New legislation will be put forward by the Greiner Government to establish a training advisory council aimed at simplifying procedures relating to apprenticeship and other employment based training. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 537 Parents concerned about standards, discipline and excellence will be heartened by the fact that a full review of the secondary curriculum is being undertaken and that no changes are to be made to the curriculum before a discussion paper has been prepared and made available for public comment. The highly developed, valuable but until now rarely recognized skills of experienced teachers' will be utilized with the appointment of some 200 leading teachers during the Government's first term. This will promote quality teaching and provide first-class curriculum development. Parents, teachers and students in schools in Carlingford such as Muirfield High School, James Ruse Agricultural High School and Cumberland High Schools will benefit from our change in emphasis to quality and supportive educational opportunities. The sum of $20 million a year is to be spent on the introduction to government schools of special education services for children with disabilities and learning difficulties. In Carlingford, the tremendous work of the North Rocks School for Deaf and Blind Children is a testament to the way special education works with the dedication of specialist teachers. There will be a $52 million increase in spending over the next four years on computer education, and eight new selective high schools will be established in metropolitan regions. New opportunities will exist for the very bright and talented students in the Carlingford electorate. The secondary textbook allowance will be doubled over the next two years, providing great assistance to families supporting their children. Unemployed 15 to 19 year-olds will benefit from the provision this year of 5 000 places in vocationally oriented technical and further education courses. By 1992 this Government will have created 20 000 additional TAFE places. The new approach to education, with some unfortunate but predictable hesitation from the fainthearted, is furnishing the people of New South Wales with a basis of hope for the future of their children. The Minister for Education, the Hon. Dr Terry Metherell, is setting an agenda for reform which recognizes merit among both teachers and students, emphasizes and encourages excellence, and seeks to provide basic skills of literacy and numeracy designed to guarantee our youth the fundamental requirements for making a productive contribution to society. Nearly 2 000 people are self-employed in the Carlingford electorate. Policies which recognize that Government must get off the back, and out of the way, of small business are the only policies which will foster business, enterprise and employment. Small business will be encouraged by the abolition of unnecessary business licences, laws, and regulations. Instead, the Government will establish no-nonsense, one-stop business licensing, and the introduction of a single licence regime for businesses. Much work has already been undertaken in this regard by the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, the Hon. Gerry Peacocke. It 1s a refreshing change to phone a Minister's office and the receptionist says "Gerry Peacocke's office, how can we help you?" Complementary to the business portfolio are the broader interests of economic growth and a sound industrial base. Under the stewardship of the Deputy Premier, the Hon. Wal Murray, our State's development is being facilitated by the efforts of the State's first Department of State Development. No issue is closer to the daily concern of Carlingford residents than the traffic problem. More than 66 per cent of my constituents travel to work by car. Windsor Road, Seven Hills Road and Pennant Hills Roads are a congested 538 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 nightmare in peak hours. It is not unusual to take up to two hours to travel to the city. The provision of a safe, accessible, and practical road system must be a major priority for any responsible government. In my electorate of Carlingford, motorists bear the brunt of years of neglect in the provision of adequate roads. The Minister for Transport, my regional colleague, the Hon. Bruce Baird, has firsthand knowledge of these problems and has committed the Government to build the Castlereagh Expressway. This is the first real attempt to solve our area's traffic problems. Our Government will allocate a record level-more than $1 billion-for roadworks in our State this financial year. This should go a long way towards alleviating traffic problems in Sydney's west. New initiatives involving the private sector in the funding and operation of tollways will allow the diversion of funds to facilitate additional important road projects such as the Castlereagh Expressway. One of the important issues raised in the political agenda for this session is minerals and energy. After 12 years of Labor misrule, the Greiner Government inherited a stagnant, decaying mining and minerals resource industry, and an absolute mess in energy supply to homes and industry. The situation has become abundantly clear in the work I have undertaken on the Government's mineral resources and energy committee, which is under the chairmanship of my regional colleague, the member for The Hills, Fred Caterson. For example, the Electricity Commission today carries a staggering debt of nearly $7 billion, and labours under an unwarranted reputation for inefficiency brought about solely by the decisions and actions of its former political masters. The debt means that customers are paying $260 a year just for the privilege of having electricity connected. They have to pay that even before a light is turned on! Many of the electricity councils were in the same sort of mess. Whatever financial reserves they had built up to meet future development were taken from them by the former Government to pay for an array of vote-catching welfare projects which generally had nothing to do with supplying electricity. Labor devised an administrative straightjacket to ensure the county councils toed the line, legislating to appoint general managers of their own liking, whether or not they met the councils' needs, and even providing for ministerial appointment of council members. This was the the people's inheritance from Labor. The Greiner Government refuses to accept the legacy. We have set about bringing some common sense back to government. The Minister for Mineral Resources and Minister for Energy, my colleague, the Hon. Neil Pickard, is endeavouring to restore the faith and trust of energy consumers and the mining industry in this State. He is guiding the Electricity Commission in reducing its debt and basing its operations on sound business principles. Hard decisions had to be taken to stop the rot caused by billions of dollars of debt. That debt was caused by the vague dream of former Premier Neville Wran for the establishment of a Ruhr Valley in the Hunter. His dream of a smelter on one street corner and a power station on the other has become the nightmare of higher electricity bills for consumers throughout the State. At the same time, the Greiner Government has clearly recognized the difficulties that such increases impose on disadvantaged members of our community, and has set out to help them. The final policy area I seek to address is the family. Under the stewardship of the Minister for Family and Community Services, the Hon. Virginia Chadwick, and the Minister for Health, the Hon. Peter Collins, a 24 August, I988 ASSEMBLY 539 greater emphasis on support for family life and the development of quality public and private health care is the aim of this Government. This is demonstrated in the nature of its reform of welfare services and the public hospital system. It is our aim to strengthen the role of non-government agencies in the delivery of welfare services, and it is with this view in mind that the manner of funding alternative care for children is presently being reviewed. Forty-five new day care centres are presently being constructed, most of which should be completed by the end of the year. Family impact statements h?ve become a vital aspect of the decision-making process of Cabinet, particularly with the State Government taking up the slack in the area of family support schemes following the federal Government's decision to abandon support. Health expenditure will be significantly increased and the streamlining of management in hospitals will create new bed opportunities in Sydney's west. In conclusion, let me say that the people of New South Wales indicated in an almost unprecedented manner on 19th March that they wanted change- a change from 12 years of government neglect. The people of Carlingford and New South Wales rejected a government which was more interested in providing monuments than basic services such as hospitals, schools and roads; which allowed the streets at night to be unsafe places for people to walk; which offered no hope to the homeless; which manipulated its finances to conceal from the people its real state of near bankruptcy; and a government which promised only more of the same with no light at the end of the tunnel. This Government, under the direction of Nick Greiner, whose courage and achievements in years to come will be compared only with those of Margaret Thatcher, has taken up the challenge not only on behalf of the forgotten people of Sydney's west and northwest, but also on behalf of all the people of New South Wales. We have already seen that the path to reform will be a difficult one, especially where vested interests are threatened. This Government will never betray the people of New South Wales who voted for change. We will neither flag nor fail in our efforts to strive for our goals and our pursuit of excellence. We have a Premier and a Government that appreciate the truth of Winston Churchill's words, "It is much easier to stop than to do". I look forward to serving this House, this Parliament and this Government in striving for a goal of action. I thank all honourable members in the House for their courtesy. Mr ROGAN (East Hills) [9.19]: I congratulate all those members who have made their maiden speeches in this session of Parliament. They have all shown a sincere desire to represent their constituents. I am sure they will all give priority to the needs of their constituents. In this Address-in-Reply debate I wish to mention briefly the Chelmsford hospital. I have made a number of speeches in this Chamber on this matter. On behalf of the Chelmsford Victims Action Group I express appreciation to the Minister for Health and the Government for establishing a Royal commission into this matter. I am confident the Royal commission will fully vindicate all that I have said about Chelmsford hospital both in and out of this Chamber. I express appreciation also to the Chelmsford Victims Action Group and others who have played a major role in urging the Government to establish a Royal commission. I pay tribute in particular to Ms Jan Eastgate, Mr Barry Hart, my secretary Miss Margaret Como, and all the members of the action group who persevered for many years in the hope that justice would be done-and I am sure it will be. I thank also the many journalists who, like me, became involved in this matter. They realized it was not just another story and became involved 540 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 in a crusade to obtain justice for the victims. In particular I mention three journalists who wrote a series of articles published in the Sydney Morning Herald. I refer to Mr Robert Haupt, Mr John O'Neill and Mr Mark Coultan. Many members told me that,they had not really fully appreciated the horrors of Chelmsford until they read those articles. There have been a number of spinoffs from the Chelmsford matter. I refer to changes to the Medical Practitioners Act-the first major change for 50 years-and the proposed measures that I hope the Minister for Health will introduce to provide for persons injured as a result of malpractice by medical practitioners. After I had become involved in the Chelmsford hospital saga, I realized that there were inherent weaknesses in the health system. On 1st April, 1986, I wrote to a former Minister for Health, the Hon. B. J. Unsworth, calling for action. I said: The overall position of medical insurance cover of doctors is also a matter to which I have referred and indeed is one which merits very serious consideration; particularly in view of the decisions by the N.S.W. Medical Defence Union to refuse coverage to those doctors who treated patients at Chelmsford. The former Minister for Health replied that he had established a working party to examine the question of compulsory professional indemnity insurance for medical practitioners. The working party was chaired by Merrilyn Walton, manager of the Complaints Unit, and included representatives from both consumer and professional bodies. Terms of reference were given and that study commenced. Last week the present Minister for Health announced that he had issued a discussion paper for community discussion on the matter. I hope that those members of the community who have something to contribute will do so, because this is an area that needs reform. I am sure that within the next 12 or 18 months legislation will be introduced to give effect to the discussion paper. Before commenting on the Governor's Speech, I wish to join with other honourable members in paying tribute to the Governor, Sir James Anthony Rowland, who is to retire in January when his term of office ends. Sir James Rowland and his wife have brought a dignity to that high office, as have other incumbents. I commend the Governor and his good lady for having made Government House more accessible. Apart from attending Government House each year when the Address-in-Reply is presented, I had been there on only one other occasion before Sir James Rowland became Governor. During his term as Governor I have attended Government House on a number of occasions. I hope that that courtesy will continue under the new Governor. I shall now refer specifically to the Governor's Speech. I express my disappointment at the Government's lack of vision in not having a dynamic plan for the future or an adequate legislative program. Some minor pieces of legislation are mentioned in the Governor's Speech but I am disappointed that important legislation is not mentioned, particularly legislation relating to the environment. I shall deal with that matter later. The Speech contained a number of initiatives that were really initiatives of the former Labor Government. One of those was the celebration of the bicentenary by the establishment of a demonstration forest at Macquarie Woods between Bathurst and Orange in the electorate of the Minister for Tourism. Also the Government will introduce a strategic plan to eradicate footrot in sheep, which is costing industry approximately $60 million a year. Farmers will be given assistance through advisory systems. I understand that that also was an initiative of the former Labor Government, as was the present Government's commitment to the upgrading of the State's lakes and estuaries. As I say, a number of the initiatives mentioned in the Governor's Speech were initiatives of the former Labor Government. However, I am pleased that legislation will be introduced to implement those initiatives. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 541 I address my remarks now particularly to environnlental matters, for which I have the honour of being the shadow minister. Significant progress was made by the former Government in environmental matters. I refer to the introduction of the Heritage Act, the Coastal Protection Act, and to measures such as the protection of wetlands. Since 1976 and until the end of the former Labor Government's period of office, some 7 223 hectares of wetlands have been added to New South Wales nature reserves. State recreation areas have been significantly increased and a number of initiatives were taken on air pollution. Since 1976 the levels of dust and acid rain have been reduced by something like 60 per cent and are now well below the World Health Organisation standards. In 1981 the former Government enacted the Clean Air Act to facilitate the introduction of unleaded petrol-an initiative for which it gained Australia-wide agreement, although when the measure was introduced into this House it was vigorously opposed by the Opposition. The former Government introduced a number of initiatives in regard to the clean waters area, but because of the limitation of time I shall not go into those. I refer particularly to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The former Government increased national park acreage by 100 per cent-a significant achievement. One third of the New South Wales coast is now permanently preserved and managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. More than 15 million visits annually are made to these parks. Plans of management had been adopted for 41 of the 63 national parks. The New South Wales national park system has been acknowledged by representatives of the UNESCO-backed International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources as being among the five best in the world. The Wran Government's historic rainforest decision in October 1982 permanently protected New South Wales rainforests and added more than 115 000 hectares to our national park system. That Government dramatically expanded Domgo, Border Ranges, Werrikimbe, Barrington Tops and New England national parks and established the Washpool and Nightcap national parks. It ensured the survival of the many excellent examples of warm and dry temperate rainforests and that of the rare plant and animal species inhabiting them. In the two years prior to losing office the Labor Government increased by 45.5 per cent funds for the National Parks and Wildlife Service. In 1987-88 a total of $14.454 million was to be spent on national parks capital works programs, an increase of 29.7 per cent on the previous year. This followed a 58 per cent increase over the previous financial year. In addition 95 new staff positions had been created in the national parks service in the two years prior to that. I should mention also the wilderness legislation which was introduced in this House and was another first for this State. Though the legislation was given only lukewarm approval by the then Opposition, I hope that no action will be taken to wind back the clock on the achievements through that legislation of the creation of wilderness areas. The Governor's Speech refers to the environment portfolio as follows: Priority will be given to improvement of the management of our national parks and conservation areas. Any development within them will only occur in an environmentally acceptable fashion. That paragraph has sent cold shivers down the spines of those who place a high value on our national park system, particularly as the Minister was quoted in the August edition of Prologue Notes, which is the New South Wales Forest Products Association newsletter, under the heading "No New Forest Parks- the Government Pledge" as follows: The NSW Environment Minister, Tim Moore, has stated there will be no more National Parks dedicated on State Forest land in NSW. 542 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988

Speaking at the opening of the Wingham Brush Wild Life Reserve on 13th July, Mr Moore rejected environmentalists' calls for an expanded Barrington Tops National Park. We said past National Park expansion had ensured nature conservation was well catered for. "There has been a balance struck already. It was the Rainforest Decision of 1982 and we propose to continue with the process that came from that. We are interested in balance and in responsible environmental management". I agree with the latter part of that quotation. But is the Minister saying that there is to be a cessation of the progress to which I have referred, this expansion of the national park system, which was a feature of the former Government? Will no further new initiatives be taken? I am concerned also about some of the statements that have been made by Ministers of the new Government, particularly that reported on 7th May in the Sydney Morning Herald under the heading "Government moves to replace impact statements", in the following terms: The State Government is pressing ahead with plans to amend the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act despite widespread opposition from conservation groups. That is a reference to what the former Government considered an absolute safeguard-that before areas of some significant value were to be logged, an environmental impact statement must be entered into. A recent court decision upheld that principle. Any move to water down that legislation will be vigorously fought by the Opposition. I assure honourable members that the environmental movement and all those hundreds of thousands of people it represents will equally join forces to show their opposition to any move along that line. Other headlines about national parks are of great concern. The Daily Telegraph of 28th July carried the following: "Ski resorts worth $1 billion set to start". That followed a visit by the Premier to Kosciusko National Park during which he indicated that so far as he was concerned the development would occur in that national park. I was pleased to read that the Minister for Environment clearly stated his opposition to the development. I am sure he was sincere when he said that any development there would only proceed over his dead body. In a bipartisan manner I hope that never occurs because, frankly, the environmental movement generally and all those it represents believe that the Minister is the only thing standing between a real concerted attack upon the environment and this Government. Mr T. J. Moore: It is as well that I do not have any leadership aspirations. Mr ROGAN: Whenever the Minister does that, he will have the full support of the opposition. However, if some of the proposals that are being mooted-such as mining in national parks-occur, we will most vigorously oppose those undertakings and the Government that initiates them. The environmental movement is concerned about some of the attacks that are being made by the Government. There is a lack of commitment in some areas to proceed with promises that were made in writing to the environmental movement-and I am talking about those who represent hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people, with a genuine concern for and about the environment. That concern is being shared more and more by a greater percentage of the population, as is evidenced by the number of people and groups that have sprung up over the years to form themselves into environmental protection groups in various areas. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 543 The Wilderness Society wrote to the Minister more than two months ago requesting a response to certain questions. I understand that as of today it had not received a reply. The first question was, "How does the coalition intend to implement the review referred to by Mr Greiner?" When Mr Greiner wrote to the society on behalf of the coalition when it was in Opposition, he said that in the spirit of bipartisanship his Government would conduct annual reviews of additional wilderness areas outside national parks, with a view to taking protective action. The society further asked: "When will the review be undertaken? Will the Government's consideration of wilderness areas with a view to taking protective action be a public process?' Further, the society asked, "Will the review process assess land for protection as wilderness irrespective of its tenure? In particular, will the review be applied to State forests and freehold and leasehold land?" The Opposition does not agree with the division of the portfolios of environment and planning. The former Labor Government saw merit in keeping the two portfolios together. Although it does not fall within my area of responsibility as environmetal spokesman for the Opposition, I am aware of concern about the possibility of detrimental coastal development. Without planning control, responsibility for proper coastal development will be odtside the control of the Minister for Environment. Mr T. J. Moore: On a point of order. It ill behoves the honourable member for East Hills to talk about the Greiner Government having two Ministers to control portfolios of environment and planning when the Oppostion has three and a half shadow ministers to cover aspects of those portfolios. He should be directed to return to the structure of the matter before the House. Mr Rogan: On the point of order. I submit that no point of order is involved. The Minister's point is frivolous. Mr DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! No point of order is involved. Mr ROGAN: Coastal development is of such concern to the environmental movement that this weekend two summits of environmentalists around the State will meet to discuss protection of the coast and native forests. These meetings have been organized because of widespread and deep concern among several hundred community groups. The direction in which the Government is heading on environmental issues is causing them anxiety. Next I shall speak of the banning of mining in national parks. Before the Labor Government lost office the then Minister for Planning and Environment, now the Leader of the Opposition, sought to move amendments to the national parks and wildlife legislation in order to enshrine in it the Government's policy of excluding mining and mineral exploration from national parks and equivalent areas. There was at that time a commitment from the Opposition, now the Government, that if it came to office, as it has done, it would initiate legislation banning mining in national parks. But no mention was made in the Governor's Speech of proposed legislation banning mining in national parks. A response is awaited from the Minister, and from the Government, as to whether that promise will be given effect. Of concern also is a backbench committee of this Government which is travelling round the State, probably at considerable expense during a time of great Government austerity, to examine ways by which a decision to construct a 500 kilovolt power line from Mount Piper to Marulan should be rerouted from its agreed original path through western graziers' properties to a new route through the Kanangra-Boyd National Park. Some $500,000 was spent by the 544 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 Electricity Commission on the production of an environmental impact statement which recommended that the 500 kilovolt powerline should be sited through private property. But we now have this Government backbench committee wasting money on flying round the State looking for ways in which this decision could be overturned. The powerline project is estimated to cost $70 million. I have received a number of letters from people concerned for the environment and from those who believe that a decision might be taken to reverse the original proposal to keep this powerline away from the national parks. Correspondence has been received also from private property owners who are concerned that the line may be rerouted through their properties. The environmental impact statement was prepared after consideration of 204 submissions. It was a consultative process, and a preferred route was established. This was supported by Lithgow council and by environmentally responsible people. I call on the Premier to abandon the backbench committee immediately and get on with the job of constructing the powerline. No mention was made in the Governor's Speech about a subject of significant importance, the full responsibility for which comes within the administration of the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs. It is an environmental matter of sufficient importance to be considered one of the major environmental problems of this State, if not the nation. I refer to soil degradation, erosion of soil, the loss of topsoil brought about by improper land use over the years. Perhaps, in early years, that was result of ignorance of proper land use, and certainly to some extent it has been rectified in the past few years, particularly as a result of the work of my colleague in the upper House the Hon. J. R. Hallarn, who was the former Minister for Agriculture. Some 70 years ago New South Wales was fortunate to elect William McKell to Parliament. McKell had an intense and informed interest in the affairs of the rural electorate. He recognized particularly that overgrazing and the complete clearing of shrubs and trees were having a devastating effect on the land and on agricultural production. When soils erode they are lost for ever. McKell inaugurated the New South Wales Soil Conservation Service in 1938 when more than half of the land in the eastern and central divisions of the State, some 70 000 square miles, was affected by soil erosion. A number of measures were taken by the former Labor Government to counter soil degradation, and now I look to the Minister for Environment in the present Government to make positive statements, in conjuction with his colleague the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, to show that the initiatives commenced by the former Government will continue and that funds will be found to expand the program so that what is now being described as the scourge of the 1980s-or, as some commentors describe it, rural AIDS-this loss of valuable topsoil, will be overcome. In the limited time I have to complete my speech I shall confine myself to two matters of extreme environmental irpportance, the first of which is the depletion of the ozone layer. It is a worldwide problem, probably falling more within the responsibility of the national Government, but equally a matter deserving of attention by the New South Wales Government. Indeed, there has been talk of legislation by the federal Government to confront the problem, and it is refreshing and pleasant to find there has been significant co-operation by industry. But in New South Wales we have a particular responsibility, because the depletion of the ozone layer is brought about mostly by the production and use of chlorofluorocarbons, of which this State is the major manufacturer in Australia. The last matter to which I shall briefly refer is the so-called 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 545 greenhouse effect in which world temperatures will rise as the result of the emission of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere with consequent damaging changes to the environment. I call upon the Government to establish committees, to put out statements and papers, and to bring about a public awareness of the dangers of the greenhouse effect, so that there will be recognition of the role that government should play in tackling that problem. These particular environmental problems are increasingly regarded as perhaps the most catastrophic of this State, nation, and the world. Mr PETCH (Gladesville) [9.49]: For all of us in this Chamber, 27th April was a significant day. In the presence of our colleagues, our families, our close friends, and the staff of the Legislative Assembly, we made, some of us for the first time, an oath or an affirmation that we would be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11, her heirs and successors according to law. In this day and age one is constantly reminded that many commitments such as wedding vows and legal contracts are, by some, so lightly entered into. I am sure that each of my colleagues in this Chamber is aware of the enormity of the responsibility associated with the commitment we were making and the trust the people of New South Wales have placed in us-trust to conduct the business of the Legislative Assembly to the best of our individual and corporate ability. Obviously 27th April had particular significance for each of us as individuals. First for you, Mr Speaker, it was the day when this House, in its wisdom, saw fit to recommend to the Governor your appointment to the very high and responsible office as Speaker of this House. I congratulate you, albeit somewhat belatedly. From my association with you over the years I know that you bring to this very important parliamentary appointment the wisdom and impartiality it requires. For me it was a memorable day, and I must admit it was a day not without a element of relief. It has been said that a week is a long time in politics. If that is the case, my eight years of campaigning through three elections was an eternity. It has been a long but worthwhile wait, and I am sure there were some relieved members on the other side who were, so to speak, shortchanged by the results of the 19th March poll. The condolence motion for our friend and colleague the late Ray Aston should have reminded us all of our own mortality and the ephemeral nature of our existence-in particular, the fugacious tenure of the ofice we each hold here. But not so fleeting are the implications and at times unintended consequences of the decisions made in this and the other place. One of the great responsibilities with which we have been entrusted is the proper and economic management of this State. In drafting legislation we sometimes need the wisdom of Solomon and the ability to extend ourselves mentally in creative and lateral thought to ensure that any current legislation does not cast long unintended shadows. As one of the class of 1988 making my maiden speech I take this opportunity to compliment my new colleagues on their maiden contributions to this House. I would add also my sincere thanks to you, Mr Speaker, and the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Cooksley, with his staff for their advice and assistance particularly during the orientation seminar, which contributed so much to the initiation of myself and fellow novitiates. It is appropriate and has been customary, although the custom has not always been observed, for a maiden speech to acknowledge those people and events that have influenced one throughout the years. I have been fortunate to have a supportive family through kinship and caring, and an extended family through friendship. It would be improper for me not to acknowledge my mother and late father for the values 546 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 they taught me, and the sacrifices they made to enable me to enjoy a good education, which has contributed significantly to my career. As a husband and father the loyalty, love and devotion that exists within the immediate family has given me the encouragement to pursue a course where I may be effective in preserving family values. There are many who should be named on an occasion such as this but to do so would take too long, and in attempting to be brief but inclusive I may risk omission. There are those who know how they have helped me, and there is no need to call the roll. There are those who have guided me spiritually and those who have given me prayerful support. There are those who have taught me. I particularly admire those who have executed that task honestly and, rather than try to inculcate me with their own particular view of the world, have impartially made me argue to the roots of my intellect. Would that all teachers were so honourable. There are those, by their commitment to the community through local government and voluntary organizations, particularly Ryde council-and I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker's Gallery of the Mayor of Ryde, Alderman Lardelli-and Lions International, who have had a significant influence on my development. My acknowledgements would not be complete without reference to the New South Wales division of the Liberal Party of Australia, and in particular to Dr Graeme Stan and his staff at Riley Street, as well as my own campaign team led by Ian Hardwick and Lia Iacono. Their planning, coupled with the tireless efforts of my conference members and executive, together with those who gave so generously of their time, contributed significantly to our success on 19th March. Obviously the leadership of Nick Greiner, together with his coalition team, who spent countless hours in the seat of Gladesville, was the focal point of our success. The seat of Gladesville in many ways is representative of the average New South Wales citizen. It has its blue-collar workers as well as executives and pensioners. It has a mix of constituents of various non-English speaking backgrounds together with other Anglo-Saxon families, some of whom trace their ancestry back to the First Fleet. In this homogenous environment we experience an atmosphere of close co-operation and friendship, and I am honoured to represent the constituents of Gladesville and assure them that the trust and responsibility they have placed in me will command my full attention to their needs and aspirations. This is not to say that the Gladesville electorate is without any problems, and, to say the least, traffic would probably head the list. The two major arteries that pass through the electorate, namely the Epping Highway and Victoria Road, contribute to a tremendous cross-flow of traffic using residential streets particularly during peak hours. I express my gratitude to the Minister for Transport, who has devoted so much time to my electorate, together with the engineers from the Department of Main Roads addressing these issues. I appreciate their close co-operation as well as their proposals to alleviate many of these problems. Already traffic control measures have been announced together with the construction of the Castlereagh Freeway north of the Epping Highway. This will be the first stage of a comprehensive traffic management scheme, which ultimately will benefit my constituents and relieve their anxieties. I am pleased to note that further implementations for traffic control will be announced during the life of this Parliament. The Gladesville electorate is bounded north and south by the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers, and steps are already in motion to improve the environment by dredging the silt deposits in Morrison Bay. Our Government 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 547 has already effected the transfer of land currently occupied by the Forestry Commission at Putney. Shortly this land will be added to the Putney Park to provide additional waterfront parkland for the benefit of my constituents and further enhance the foreshores of the Parramatta River. Both Ryde and Hunter's Hill councils, which administer the municipal responsibilities in the seat of Gladesville, deserve recognition for the provision of open space parkland for active and passive recreation, which has contributed enormously to the quality of life enjoyed by my constituents. Added to this parkland we have the open space surrounding the two fifth schedule hospitals at Gladesville and North Ryde, both of which exist in total harmony with the environment, and at the same time provide valuable service to the developmentally disabled and mentally afflicted in the north and southeast regions. I recognize and appreciate the time and effort provided by the Minister for Health and his determination in ensuring that these two hospitals remained open and did not fall victim to the previous Government's proposals. I welcome also the announced inquiry that will provide a basis to determine the most effective method of providing the highest standards in mental health services in this State. The seat of Gladesville has an ageing population, particularly in the North Ryde area, and we are currently investigating the most effective method of providing better public transport to serve the needs of these constituents. We propose to introduce a bus service that will connect the Gladesville terminus with the Eastwood railway station through East Ryde and North Ryde. This new service will.soon provide an access for these people to enable them to connect with main transport routes. We will shortly be seeking public opinion to determine the preferred route and operating times of this new service in order that my constituents in East Ryde and North Ryde may be best served. Additionally, we propose to introduce a bus to ferry interchange at Gladesville wharf. This will afford passengers the option to transfer from bus to ferry on the same ticket and will provide a faster and more relaxed mode of transport between Gladesville and Circular Quay. The Gladesville electorate is not isolated in its law and order problems. Similar to many other electorates, we have experienced the detrimental effects of housebreaking, theft, vandalism, and drug distribution. It was common to receive regular complaints from shopowners in Gladesville who had their shop windows smashed repeatedly and their premises robbed so many times that they became uninsurable and sustained heavy personal losses on each occasion. It is an indictment on the previous Government to experience the changes that have taken place in the Gladesville shopfronts. Many shops have lost their aesthetic appeal as they now resemble Alcatraz with steel bars fitted behind the front windows and doors, simply to protect their stock. I have received numerous complaints from parents about hypodermic needles and syringes found regularly in the grounds of Gladesville Primary School. I found this situation completely unacceptable. I am pleased to state these problems are now receiving a great deal of attention, and I appreciate the support and contribution made by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. I welcomed the news that Gladesville police station, the only police station in my electorate, would be manned 24 hours a day. I recognize the co- operation and dedication displayed by the officer in charge, Senior Sergeant Barry Melouney, and his staff in addressing these problems. Of course, this does not diminish the valuable contribution by the officers and staff at Ryde and Eastwood police stations in maintaining law and order in my electorate. Earlier in my speech I referred to those who have a commitment to the community through voluntary organizations, and I am proud to be associated with the dedicated service provided by the members of the Gladesville and North Ryde 548 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 community aid centres. I recognize particularly the understanding and support offered by the Minister for Family and Community Services and her commitment to support North Ryde community aid centre in its application for funding of a long day care centre. Additionally, I welcome the Minister's commitment to provide a bus for the Gladesville community aid centre which will be appreciated by many of our senior citizens who would be otherwise housebound. It would be remiss of me not to recognize my predecessor, Rodney Cavalier. Though we may be philosophically opposed, I have always respected his integrity and I take this opportunity to wish him well in his new career. In the Governor's Speech on 17th August at the opening of the second session of the Forty-ninth Parliament, His Excellency said: Before the Government can undertake significant expenditure initiatives or tax cuts, it must reverse the explosive growth in debt, which threatens to ovenvheim the Budget. No single debt could be greater than that of the Electricity Commission of New South Wales which has now reached a record level of $6,100 million. This has had a marked effect on the cost of electricity to New South Wales consumers. The effect of this incompetent Labor management has been that every consumer has to pay an extra $260 a year in their electricity bills. Blame for this indebtedness does not remain entirely with the Electricity Commission but with the Labor Government's policy which set out to establish new power stations that the State did not need, let alone afford. Instead of taking the simple first step of determining if there was any need for additional generation plant-plant that could easily have been installed to upgrade the infrastructure of existing power stations-Labor was carried away with a dream of developing an aluminium smelting industry in the heart of the Hunter Valley and, as the honourable member for Carlingford said earlier, turning the area into the Ruhr Valley of Australia. New generation plant was ordered, with an installed capacity of 6 600 megawatts, and the dream turned into a nightmare. The installed cost of these generators was of the order of $6,600 million, which has a strange correlation with today's $6,100 million indebtedness of the Electricity Commission. What happened to the dream? I shall tell the House what happened. The winegrowers, the environmentalists, and the residents of the Hunter Valley created such an uproar that the prospects of cheap open-cut coal for Eraring power station went out the back door, forcing the station to use more expensive deep-mined coal. The prospects of cheaper electricity vanished, as did the expanded aluminium smelter industry. At the same time prices for aluminium in an oversupplied world market plunged, destroying the economics as well as the opportunity for any smelting expansion. I might add that the New Zealand electricity department had a similar proposal to construct a coal-fired base load power station on the North Island. It handled the situation more prudently and in a thoroughly businesslike manner. When the aluminium smelter proposal fell through, the power station simply was not built, and New Zealand electricity consumers were not lumbered with the cost. There is no question that there was a level of extravagance and neglect surrounding the power stations in New South Wales. The new power station at Mount Piper, costing somewhere in the order of $1,320 million, is ready for commissioning within a short time, but its finalization will remain to the future as there is no immediate use for it. There is little wonder that the Premier is alarmed at this gross wastage. The Commission of Audit has suggested that this station be soldin order to reduce the debt load. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 549

When we look at Wallerawang we see a section of the powerhouse with four 30-megawatt generators, all in a state of disrepair, and taking up valuable space that could be used to accommodate a larger and more efficient generator. Then there is the former flagship of the Electricity Commission, Liddell power station, with an installed capacity of 2 000 megawatts which was literally run into the ground. I do not have to remind honourable members of the scandal surrounding the lack of maintenance at this station, or the use of low-grade, high-ash coal which corroded the boilers and had them leaking like sieves, resulting in blackouts across the length and breadth of this State. With an abundance of coal, with power stations located over the coal seams, and with little or no fuel transport costs, we should have the lowest tariffs for electricity on mainland Australia. This would contribute significantly to lower production costs in industry and stimulate employment opportunities. At the moment we have the converse where we have this huge component reflecting higher bulk rates to county councils and industry subsidizing domestic consumers. One can understand the political wisdom of industry paying a higher tariff than domestic consumers for the simple reason there are more domestic accounts. This does not, however, diminish the fact that electricity charges for everybody in this State would have been substantially less had we not embarked upon a grandiose scheme of building power stations that we did not need. The management of the Electricity Commission and the members of the county councils became the scapegoats for the previous Government's blunders. As a former member and chairman of the Sydney County Council, I had first-hand experience and knowledge of how the previous Government held back the cost of living increases required by the Electricity Commission because it was an election year, but after the election increased the bulk supply tariff by such a outrageous amount that the county councils were required to increase their tariffs by as much as 40 per cent. The former Government left the county councils in the onerous position of announcing the bad news. To add insult to injury, when there was the expected public outcry, the Government blamed the county councils for these increases, and set about engaging the firm of Peat Manvick and Mitchell to conduct an inquiry into the financial management of the Sydney County Council. The Sydney County Council engaged the services of Coopers and Lybrand to conduct a parallel inquiry, which not only placated the Sydney Council Council but found it to be one of the most efficiently managed undertakings in this State. How strange it is that the findings of the Government inquiry were not made public. Electricity is one of the most transportable forms of energy. It can be conveyed over vast distances without any substantial loss. Already there is a 500 000 volt double circuit transmission line connecting the Hunter Valley power stations with Mount Piper, and this transmission line will shortly be extended to Marulan near Goulburn. When completed, this transmission line will have the potential to carry the entire output of the Hunter Valley as well as the output from Mount Piper to the southern regions of the State completely independent of the Sydney, Illawarra and Newcastle transmission areas. The importance in this analogy is that private enterprise could own any or all of these new power stations and have a high-powered transmission connection to its industrial or manufacturing complex in any part of the State, particularly in the Wollongong-Port Kembla area. I am sure the honourable member for Wollongong would appreciate this suggestion. Despite the huge potential investment in these power stations, it is anomalous that not all of New South Wales is supplied with electricity generated in this State. Indeed, in 550 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 northern New South Wales, the Tweed Valley, a substantial growth area, is supplied by Queensland electricity. It is obvious that this anomaly should be addressed, not only by supplying the whole State with New South Wales electricity, but also by providing the long-term reliability and stability that can be attained by an interconnecting grid system transversing the eastern seaboard of Australia. The interconnection already exists into Victoria through the switching stations of the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric system. The northern New South Wales link would complete the grid system to which I referred. I am pleased to be a member of the Government's mineral resources and energy committee, where I can be of assistance to my good friend and colleague the Minister for Mineral Resources and Minister for Energy. I am pleased also to note that the Minister has taken steps to put Elcom on a more responsible business footing, as befits one of the major industrial undertakings in this nation. I welcomed this statement by the Governor: These developments have only one alm-the creatlon of the cheapest electnclty supply system In mamland Australla wlth an honest and equitable dlstnbutlon of cost to all consumers. In the mining industries the problems were no less severe. Even though mineral production and exports provide 40 per cent of this State's income, exploration was at a standstill, coal production was falling dramatically, and jobs were vanishing like mist. The former Government did not seem to care. It seemed more interested in looking after special interest groups rather than developing the bread and butter industries on which this State's prosperity depends, and the job opportunities they provide. I refer to simple things like the restriction on foreign investment in New South Wales mining ventures and exploration. This Government has freed up investment by adopting the commonsense approach of inviting 50-50 overseas partnerships with local companies in developing mineral opportunities. Our Government has set about restoring private coal rights to the people pickpocketed by Labor in the past. The Government is also actively promoting development of a minerals processing industry in New South Wales through the Department of Mineral Resources and the Ministry of State Development. This is something that Labor simply would not countenance; it seemed content to either leave the minerals in the ground or flog them off without any effort to gain added value benefits from further processing. We also look to promote wherever possible multiple use of land so that the maximum benefits can be returned to the people and the State. At the same time our policies will ensure the least damage to the environment and less conflict with our State's heritage. As a former member of the executive of the Local Government Association of New South Wales, I applaud the Government's initiative to legislate for the constitutional recognition of local government, as well as legislation for the return of a democratically elected council to the city of Sydney. I congratulate the Minister for Local Government on bringing forward these initiatives. Having served both as an alderman and mayor of Manly, the Minister brings a great deal of experience to his Ministry, as well as a complete understanding of the role and function of local government. For too long now the hoary old chestnut has been produced to gain political favour with the promise that no council would be dismissed without a full and proper inquiry. I wonder what happened to this promise when the Warringah shire council was dismissed. Although a subsequent inquiry exonerated the council, it was left in the wilderness without even the decency 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 551

of an apology. The same applied to the councils of the city of Newcastle and the city of Sydney. Where was the full and proper inquiry before their dismissal? In the case of the Council of the City of Sydney one could not be blamed for suggesting political expediency was the motive. It is amazing how the planning for Darling Harbour, which after all should have been a function of the city council in conjunction with the Darling Harbour Authority, was removed from council's control. This was not only a smack in the face for local government, but also an indictment of the professional capabilities of the staff in the city council's planning department. The route of the monorail is another classical example of political expediency. Despite the protests of aldermen that the proposed route would detrimentally affect the aesthetic appearance of many of the historic buildmgs, the Government ran roughshod over the citizens of Sydney by removing the only impediment-the city council. This blatant contempt for local government has left those who pride democracy reeling. It is little wonder that the Minister's proposal to constitutionally recognize local government and democratically elect the city council comes as a breath of fresh air. It is also pleasing to note that the Minister is working in close co- operation with the central body of all local government in this State, the Local Government and Shires Association, and has established a working party to review rating and rate-pegging. This should achieve a more up-to-date and realistic base and thus provide fairer and more equitable rates for all. I welcome the Minister's concern for the plight of pensioners and his current examination of the system of pensioner rate rebates. After all, with the grace of God, we w~ll all be pensioners one day, and it certainly would be reassuring to have a Minister who displayed the same concern as my colleague. I am honoured to be a member of this Government, which initiated a course of action to address organized crime in this State. Already the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption has brought a great level of credibility to this Government. The actions of certain former members of this House did very little to enhance the standing of an elected member in the electorate at large. I am pleased to say that our initiatives in establishing this commission have been warmly received in my electorate, and bring to the Government a level of respect that has been lacking in the past. Added to this is the resolve by the Premier to put a halt to the bankrupt financing of this State, to which I briefly alluded earlier in my address. The findings of the independent Commission of Audit of the State's financial obligations, released on 1st August, certainly confirmed our worst fears in this regard. The Premier's strategy to return the State's finances to a sound base deserves to be acknowledged, and commands the respect of all who appreciate the importance of sound financial management. I expressed my appreciation to various groups and people earlier, but my ultimate expression of gratitude must be to the people of Gladesville, whom I have the great honour of representing. I hope the trust they have shown in electing me will be justified by my service to them, and my performance in this House and on the various committees of this Parliament. I thank the House for its courtesy and indulgence. Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Knowles. House adjourned at 10.18 p.m. 552 ASSEMBLY 24 August, I988 QUESTION UPON NOTICE The following question upon notice and answer was circulated in Questions and Answers this day.

DUCK AND QUAIL HUNTING Mr CRUICKSHANK asked the Minister for Environment and Assistant Minister for Transport- Will he proclaim a duck and quail season in New South Wales for 1989 and successive years thereafter? Answer- The report of the New South Wales Animal Welfare Advisory Committee on duck and quail hunting, which was presented to the previous Government, is currently under consideration by me and other relevant Ministers. No decisions on its recommendations have yet been taken. I expect that the question of whether there will be duck and quail hunting seasons in 1989 and beyond will be resolved in the next several months. He and other honourable members will be informed of the decision as soon as it is taken.