Hansard 30 October 1991
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Legislative Assembly 2319 30 October 1991 NOTE: There could be differences between this document and the official printed Hansard, Vol. 320 WEDNESDAY, 30 OCTOBER 1991 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) read prayers and took the chair at 2.30 p.m. UNPARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE Statement by Mr Speaker Mr SPEAKER: Order! On Wednesday, 23 October, during the summing-up of his Estimates debate, the Honourable Minister for Tourism, Sport and Racing used several unparliamentary words in reference to the honourable member for Sherwood. The honourable member for Sherwood was not present in the Chamber at the time and therefore was unable to take a point of order and ask for a withdrawal. As a result of this incident, today a meeting of the Temporary Chairmen was held and, in conformity with the practice of the House, it will be the policy of the Chair that when unparliamentary language is used and the honourable member aggrieved is not present in the Chamber, the Chair will intervene and order the withdrawal of the offending words. The Standing Orders will be enforced by the Chair to ensure proper conduct in the House. I ask the Acting Clerk to read the petitions lodged. Mr DUNWORTH: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to have this matter referred to the Privileges Committee. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I point out to the member for Sherwood that that is out of order. I have just asked the Acting Clerk to read the list of petitions lodged. PETITIONS The Acting Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Child-care Legislation From Mr Foley (18 signatories) praying that the Parliament will support the Child Care Bill 1991 and promote the development of associated regulations. Similar petitions were received from Mr Hayward (25 signatories) and Mr T. B. Sullivan (92 signatories). Use of Agricultural Chemicals From Mr Hayward (1 641 signatories) praying for urgent provisions to be made in the laws for the protection of human health from agricultural drifts and oversprays. Abortion Law From Dr Flynn (235 signatories) praying that action be taken to ensure that the law prohibiting abortion on request be enforced. Legislative Assembly 2320 30 October 1991 Redcliffe Police Station From Mr Santoro (2 021 signatories) praying for urgent action to provide for additional police and resources at the Redcliffe Police Station. Petitions received. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports for the year ended 30 June 1991— Builders Registration Board of Queensland Queensland Local Government Superannuation Board Rental Bond Authority Department of Resource Industries Legal Aid Commission Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland. The following papers were laid on the table— Orders in Council under— Integrated Resort Development Act 1987 Superannuation (State Public Sector) Act 1990 Harbours Act 1955 Reports for the year ended 30 June 1991— Golden Casket Art Union Office Mortgage Secondary Market Board Queensland Machine Gaming Commission Queensland Treasury Department By-law under the Harbours Act 1955 Regulations under— Transport Infrastructure (Roads) Act 1991 Justices of the Peace and Commissioners for Declarations Act 1991 Proclamation under the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners for Declarations Act 1991. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Rural Adjustment Scheme Hon. K. E. De LACY (Cairns—Treasurer) (2.35 p.m.), by leave: I inform the House that yesterday Federal Cabinet approved a significant relief package for the hard-hit rural sector. Included in this package is an additional $30.6m for the Rural Adjustment Scheme, of which $12m will be allocated to Queensland. In fact, this is the largest increase in RAS funds for any State. The Commonwealth’s package is broadly in line with the proposals put by myself and the Minister for Primary Industries, Mr Casey, at last week’s meeting of Federal and State Ministers in Melbourne. In essence, the Commonwealth’s package incorporates two Legislative Assembly 2321 30 October 1991 significant initiatives. The first will see the Commonwealth take up a bigger share of the Commonwealth/State funding arrangements under RAS Part B which relates to carry-on assistance. This means that the Commonwealth will now provide $2 for every $1 of State funding for carry-on assistance. The other significant initiative relates to income support for farming families experiencing severe financial hardship. This program alone is expected to help about 2 000 farmers. Queensland will play its part in this specific program with the Government schemes division of the QIDC assessing eligibility on behalf of the Department of Social Security. The total Commonwealth package, together with the Queensland Government’s own drought-relief programs, will ensure that there is adequate assistance for our rural producers. However, the Queensland Government will continue its close monitoring of the rural sector in this State, and it will not hesitate to again press the Commonwealth for further assistance if the situation deteriorates. In this respect, the Commonwealth Government has given a commitment to review rural assistance measures next March. As I said, the Queensland Government welcomes the Commonwealth’s initiatives, but there is one area of concern for the State. Queensland believes that the Commonwealth should lower the trigger point for Federal funds for the Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements—NDRAs—to make allowance for its decision to exclude drought from these arrangements. This decision has meant that the cost of freight subsidies on fodder, water and restocking during the current serious drought have to be fully met by the Queensland Government. Mr Cooper: Hypocrite! Mr SPEAKER: Order! That word is unparliamentary. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw it. Mr COOPER: I withdraw it. Mr De LACY: We estimate that, in addition to the direct cost to the State of these subsidies, the 1989 decision by the Commonwealth to remove drought from the Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements will cost the State up to $14m this year. Mr Hobbs: Whose fault was that? Mr De LACY: The honourable member’s Government was in power when it happened. However, yesterday, the Commonwealth gave an undertaking to review the trigger points. This is a step in the right direction, and the Queensland Government will continue to press the Commonwealth to take the final step. I give a commitment that, whatever the outcome of that review, the Queensland Government will maintain these freight subsidy programs and other assistance measures announced in our drought relief package. In conclusion, I wish to respond to those who say that the Commonwealth’s initiatives are too little, too late. These people ignore the fact that RAS funds have been providing relief to rural producers for months. This may be difficult for some members opposite to swallow, but the figures speak for themselves. Since 1 July, there have been 1 954 applications in Queensland for RAS funds, and total assistance approved now totals more than $7m. Mr Stephan: That won’t go very far. Mr De LACY: The honourable member should listen. This includes subsidies on loans totalling $100m. The State Government will continue to provide assistance to the rural sector under our comprehensive drought relief package, and we will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that appropriate resources from both the Commonwealth and the State are available to meet emerging needs. Mr Cooper interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting. Legislative Assembly 2322 30 October 1991 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Mater Hospital Hon. K. V. McELLIGOTT (Thuringowa—Minister for Health) (2.41 p.m.), by leave: I refer to a report in today’s Courier-Mail stating that surgery would be delayed and services cut as a result of so-called budget shortfalls at the Mater hospital in Brisbane. The story was based on a provocative memo which had been prepared, on his own initiative, by the medical superintendent, Dr John Waller. I find it extraordinary that a senior member of the hospital staff would distribute such a provocative and uninformed document without proper consultation with the hospital executive, the regional director or, indeed, my office. It was then no surprise that this memo was passed to the Liberal Party spokesperson on Health. I think that it is disgraceful that this baseless document has been used to stir up a so-called crisis in funding at the Mater hospital complex. There were no facts provided in the document to support the claims made and no indication of who or what authority had given directions to cut costs. The Goss Government is a Government of sound economic management. Responsible managers are provided with an appropriate budget allocation and expected to manage within that budget. Let me outline the true funding position at the Mater. There have been no budget cutbacks at the Mater hospital. The base budget allocation for the Mater public hospitals in the 1990-91 financial year was $86m. The base allocation for the 1991-92 financial year is $90,675,900. What there has been is a budget overrun within the first three months of this year’s financial operations. This overrun, if projected to a full year effect, could represent a potential deficit of $3m. To deal with that situation, the immediate concern is to identify the inefficiencies which are responsible for services running over budget and then to rectify the situation. Additionally, the Government also has a commitment to fund the Mater New Life Centre in the Mater mothers hospital with an additional $2.5m in this financial year. This will represent an additional $5.5m full year increase to the base allocation. It is clear from these figures that the Goss Government’s Health budget for this financial year has resulted in an increased level of funding at the Mater hospital complex.