Legislative Assembly 12229 8 June 1995 THURSDAY, 8 JUNE 1995 Copies of references to the Local Government Commissioner dated 26 May 1995 to examine, report and make recommendations on certain reviewable local government matters in relation to the Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) areas of— read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. (i) Shire of Kilkivan and the area of the Shire of Cooloola; PETITIONS (ii) Shire of Calliope and the area of the Shire of Monto; The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— (iii) Shire of Kilkivan and the area of the Shire of the Nanango; (iv) City of Charters Towers and the area Liquor Licensing; Police Staffing, of the Shire of Dalrymple; and Mackay (v) Shire of Murweh and the area of the From Mr Casey (81 signatories) praying Shire of Tambo that (a) discussion and debate be reopened (b) Minister for Transport and Minister concerning liquor licensing and closing times; Assisting the Premier on Economic and (b) serious consideration be given to night Trade Development (Mr Hayward)— clubs/hotels closing at or prior to 3 a.m.; and Government Response to the (c) additional funding be provided for an Parliamentary Committee of Public Works increase in police staffing in the Mackay Report No. 29 into the Mackay Small Craft Harbour. district. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Police Staffing, Gold Coast; Palm Beach Police Station Financial Management Strategy From Mrs Gamin (639 signatories) Hon. K. E. De LACY (Cairns— praying that action be taken to boost police Treasurer) (10.04 a.m.), by leave: The numbers in southern areas of the Gold Coast Queensland Government is committed to the and that a police station be built at Palm development of strong and sustainable Beach. economic growth that ensures rising living standards for all Queenslanders. In April this year, the Premier released From Strength to Housing Commission Accommodation, Strength, a comprehensive strategy to build Innisfail on Queensland's strong economic foundations and meet the challenges of the new From Mr Rowell (25 signatories) millennium. requesting that carports be attached to Housing Commission accommodation in From Strength to Strength encompassed Innisfail. a range of initiatives aimed at further enhancing the domestic and international competitiveness of Queensland business, and Abortion Law providing the building blocks to accommodate From Ms Warner (139 signatories) and sustain future economic growth and praying that sections of the Queensland development. Fundamental to this approach is Criminal Code which make abortion unlawful the Government's continuing commitment to be repealed and that abortion services be sound financial management and low taxes, established in the public hospital system and which are central to the creation of an community based women's health centres with internationally attractive environment for no charge attached to this service. business. The focus of my statement today is on the area of fiscal and financial Petitions received. management. It is indisputable that Queensland's PAPERS financial strength is unrivalled. We have achieved the lowest tax regime of any State in The following papers were laid on the Australia at the same time as reducing net table— State debt. This has allowed the Government (a) Minister for Housing, Local Government to initiate a major expansion in expenditure on and Planning and Minister for Rural social services and infrastructure, without the Communities (Mr Mackenroth)— need to increase the tax burden on 8 June 1995 12230 Legislative Assembly businesses and households. Roughly 12 to undertake the reforms associated with the months ago, I tabled in Parliament the Financial Management Strategy. Financial Management Strategy—Improving I have pleasure in laying before the Financial Management in the Leading State. House a report on progress achieved to date Today I intend to table a progress report on in implementing the Financial Management this strategy. Strategy. The report includes detail in relation The Financial Management Strategy laid to each of the 17 initiatives being the foundation for Queensland to remain the implemented. It also includes copies of two leading State well into the foreseeable future. recently completed policy initiatives: a new The strategy has three specific goals: ensuring Public Finance Standard for improved that the Government services are provided on management of the State's considerable the basis of best value for money; maintaining physical asset base; and a policy framework the State's infrastructure in a condition that is and guidelines for the introduction of client appropriate for present and future service standards by Queensland Government generations; and preserving the long-term agencies. financial stability of the State. The Mrs SHELDON proceeding to give notice Government has pushed ahead with the of a motion— reforms implied in this document and has Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will completed the first phase of the reform resume her seat. I have asked members in process of financial management in the the past to give notice of a motion in the Queensland public sector. proper form. The member is making a To date, 17 new initiatives have been statement. That is not a motion at all; it is like identified to ensure sound financial a speech. Notices of motion should be management and the adoption of a culture of motions put before the House rather than continuous improvement. Through the members outlining what they think or feel. The Financial Management Strategy, this member will table that notice of motion. It will Government is requiring agencies to, among be edited by the Table Office and it will appear other things, establish a clear client focus, in edited form in the notice paper. strong fiscal discipline, high standards of Mrs SHELDON: Mr Speaker, I have expertise for staff, clearly stated objectives and followed the form of a notice of motion. Could strategic approaches to service delivery, more you point out to me where I am wrong? I had appropriate levels of management authority almost finished my notice of motion, apart and autonomy, improved performance from the part starting with the word measurement and evaluation and "condemns". Mr Speaker, I move— strengthened accountability. Considerable progress has been made in the first 12 "That the member for Caloundra be months of this reform package. The first phase further heard." has seen: all agencies surveyed on their Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am merely status relative to the initiatives of the Financial saying that notices of motion should be in the Management Strategy; agencies developing form of a motion and should not be an formalised plans for implementation of the occasion for debate. I will allow the member to process; and firm timetables established for finish giving her notice of motion. If the the completion of reforms identified. member went to a P & C meeting or a It is pleasing to report that agencies have meeting of any similar group and moved that already made good progress in a number of notice of motion, it would be ruled out of order. areas and that benefits are already starting to The member is indulging in a debate. She accrue well ahead of schedule. Some of the may conclude reading her notice of motion, non-financial benefits which have occurred to but the table staff will edit it. date include: improved awareness of financial Mr Gibbs: This is the first representation management processes amongst senior you have made for your electorate in three management; a greater understanding of the years. role of financial management by program Mr Veivers interjected. managers, that is, those actually responsible for service delivery; improved Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for interdepartmental communication leading to Southport! gains in operational efficiency; and Mrs SHELDON: And that is the one implementation of improved practices millionth lie that Minister Gibbs has told in this identified in other agencies. Agencies have House. I will finish my notice of motion. clearly indicated a willingness and commitment Mr Veivers interjected. Legislative Assembly 12231 8 June 1995 Mr SPEAKER: Order! I warn the and again this morning, the Minister for Family member for Southport under Standing Order Services, Ms Anne Warner, has attempted to 123A. misinterpret and misconstrue comments that I have been making in respect of the proposed anti-racism rally set down for this coming COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY Saturday in Townsville and my comment that ASSOCIATION to erect a monument to the late Eddie Mabo Report would not be wise at this time. I made those Mr McELLIGOTT (Thuringowa) comments as a matter of what I believe to be (10.12 a.m.): I table a report on my public responsibility based on two factors: one, participation in the Commonwealth that any further focus on the tragic events Parliamentary Association parliamentary visit centred around—— from 26 April to 12 May. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Firstly, the member will seek leave to make that personal explanation. PERSONAL EXPLANATION Abolition of CJC Mr STONEMAN: I did. Mr Speaker, you said that I had leave. Mr BEANLAND (Indooroopilly) (10.13 a.m.), by leave: Yesterday in this Mr SPEAKER: Order! Secondly, the Parliament, the Attorney-General claimed that member is not allowed to debate the issue. I had publicly advocated the abolition of the Mr STONEMAN: I am not. Criminal Justice Commission. In fact, the Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member said Attorney-General quoted from his own answer that he was making the personal explanation to a question on 7 October 1993, not from on the basis—— something I have said. I have been misquoted before, but I must say that this is the first time Mr STONEMAN: This is the basis that I have been so blatantly misquoted in this of—— fashion. It is an outright disgrace, a blatant Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member is abuse of the privileges of this House and starting to debate the issue; he can only state further, utterly untrue.