Legislative Assembly Hansard 1982
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 1982 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Mmisterial Statements 26 October 1982 1701 TUESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 1982 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. S. J. MuUer, Fassifern) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the foUowing Bills reported by Mr Speaker:— Oty of Brisbane Town Planning Ad Amendment BiU; Distrid and Magistrates Courts Acts and Property Law Ad Amendment Bill; Constmction Safdy Regulations Interprdation BUI; Supreme Court Acts Amendment BUI. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT Brisbane City Coimcil Accounts Mr SPEAKER announced the receipt from the Auditor-General of his report on the books and accounts of the Brisbane City CouncU for the year ended 30 June 1982. Ordered to be printed. PAPERS The following paper was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed:— Report of the Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement for the year ended 30 June 1982. The following papers were laid on the table:— Orders in Coundl under— , Supreme Court Act 1921-1979 Water Ad 1926-1981 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Harbours Act 1955-1982 Eledricity Act 1976-1982 and the Statutory Bodies Finandal Arrangements Act 1982 Mines Regulation Act 1964-1979 Ordinance under the City of Brisbane Act 1924-1980 Reports— Legal Aid Commission of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1982 Umber Research and DevdOpment Advisory Coundl of North Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1982 Timber Research and Development Advisory Council of South and Central Queens land for the year ended 30 June 1982. FEES PAID BY CROWN TO BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS Retum to Order The foUowing paper was laid on the table:— Retum to an Order made by the House on 5 August last, on the motion of Mr Gygar, showing aU payments made by the Government to barristers and soUcitors during the 1981-82 finandal year, stating the names of the recipients and the amounts received separately. > MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Diredors of Donnelly Benefits Pty Ltd Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa—Minister for Justice and Attorney-General) (11.6 a.m.): On Thursday last the Honourable the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations replied on my behalf to a question asked by the honourable member for Mackay conceming Queensland-registered companies named in the McCabe-Lafranchi Report, and the names and addresses of their diredors. 1702 26 October 1982 Petitions Induded in the 18 Queensland-registered companies named in the answer was Donnelly Benefits Pty Ltd and the names and addresses of the current directors of the company as shown in the records held in the Office of the Commissioner, for Corporate Affairs were given as— John Patrick Donnelly, 283 Monaco Street, Rialto Barbara Anne Donnelly, 283 Monaco Street, Rialto Peter James Sanders, 9 Manor Street, Brighton, Vic. The Commissioner for Corporate Affairs has now advised that although Peter James Sanders was shown as a diredor of this company in the McCabe-Lafranchi Report, he in fact resigned from that position on 7 March 1980. Peter John Cornish of 1/23 Grove Stred. Toowong was appointed alternate director to Barbara Anne Donnelly on 4 November 1980. Therefore, John Patrick Donnelly and Barbara Anne Donnelly with Peter John Cornish as alternate diredor for Barku-a Anne Donnelly are the current directors of the company as shown in the records of the Corporate Affairs Office. Attempted Derailments near Woodridge Hon. D. F. LANE (Merthyr—Minister for Transport) (11.8 a.m.): I wish to report to the House that I have ordered a full-scale investigation into attempts to deraU passenger trains near Woodridge last week-end. In addition to railway police, the trail bike squad and the police dog unit will participate. Last year the maximum penalty under the Railway Act for placing an obstraction on a railway line was increased from $100 to $500. I wUl press for higher penalties if necessary. However, I would point otit that the Criminal Code still applies hard labour for Ufe, with or without whipping, for any person who unlawfully obstructs the use of a railway or "injures" property on it. Although this penalty would not be imposed nowadays, it demonstrates how seriously the law has always viewed the crime. Vandalism has been a problem in the Woodridge/Kuraby area for a long time, but with the introduction of fast dedric trains on 18 September the risk of tragedy has obviously escalated. I do not know if children have been responsible, but the fact that more than one derailment attempt has been made certainly indicates warped minds. The very young must realise the tragedy which could occur if large balks of bridge timber, railway sleepers and concrete are placed in front of a speeding train. Adults have a responsibility to instruct thdr chUdren to this effed. If the would-be saboteurs were adults, they were sadists. Last week-end damage to the under-floor machinery of the empty Beenldgh-bound locomotive, which stmck the debris while travelling between 70 and 80 km/h, wUl cost about $4,000 to repair. Had the train been full of commuters and a piece of timber had penetrated the driver's cabin, the possible loss of life is too horrible to contemplate. PETITIONS The Oerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Proposed Closure of Road near Rasmussen State School From Mr Glasson (184 signatories) praying that the ParUament of Queensland will prevent closure of the road adjoining Rasmussen State School, AUambie Lane and Ross River Road. Appointment of Therapists to Narbdhong School From Sir William Knox (24 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will appoint a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist and a speech therapist, each on a full-time basis, to the Narbethong school. Petitions received. Questions Upon Notice 26 October 1982 1703 QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE Questions submitted on notice by members were answered as follows:— 1. Road-works, Aspley Hypermarket Site Mrs Nelson asked the Minister for Local Government, Main Roads and Police— What action is being taken by his department to provide adequate road-works to ensure smooth traffic flow and proper access in the vicinity of the recently approved hypermarket site at Aspley? Answer:— Extensive investigations have been undertaken by officers of the Main Roads Department into a number of planning layouts for road improvements in the vicinity of the Aspley shopping centre. The major retail developments in the area, coupled with further proposed development, including the hypermarket, have made the task a complex one. The stage has now been reached where an acceptable layout has been devised as a basis for discussion with other authorities and other interested parties. It has been tentatively programmed that funds be made avaUable for the work in the 1983-84 and 1984-85 financial years, subject, of course, to the necessary funds being avaUable. In the meantime, necessary consultation with other parties and detailed design of the proposal wiU be undertaken. 2. Statutory Authorities Mr Prentice asked the Premier— With reference to an answer he gave in response to a question from the member for Stafford on 21 March 1979 in relation to statutory authorities— (1) What further statutory authorities or Govemment-sponsored bodies have been formed or found since that date, what are their names, do they report to ParUament and are their accounts audited by the Auditor-General? (2) How many of those authorities shown in the answer of 21 March 1979 as (a) not reporting to ParUament or (b) not having accounts audited by the Auditor- General or (c) both of the above, do now so report or have accounts audited, or bdh, and what are those bodies? Answer:— (1 & 2) The matter of the number of statutory bodies and committees in Queensland and their reporting requirements and procedures is under investigation. No dedsion has yet been made as to any new requirements for reporting to Parliament due to the complexity of the issue, but I can assure honourable members that accountability is being maintained through established procedures and a considered dedsion will be made in due course. Deductions from Wages of Hospital Employees for Payment to Toowoomba Savings Credit Union Mr FitzGerald asked the Minister for Health— (1) Is it possible to make deductions from the wages of hospital employees in Toowoomba who wish to pay regularly into the Toowoomba Savings Credit Union? (2) As many hospital employees now wish to invest their savings in Toowoomba, wiU he investigate the matter? Answer:— (1 & 2) From the honourable member's question it is not clear whether he is referring to employees of the Toowoomba General Hospital or of the BaiUie Henderson Hospital. 1704 26 October 1982 Questions Upon Notice However, with regard to employees of the Toowoomba General Hospital it is advised that the Toowoomba Hospitals Bloard is responsible for wages and any deductions made from wages for the employees engaged by it. Advice has been received from the Toowoomba Hospitals Board that the. Toowoomba Credit Savings Union has not approached the board for consideration to enable its contributors to have deductions made from their wages. To enable such consideration, the credit unicm should approach the board direct. Before deductions can be made from the wages of employees at the Baillie Henderson Hospital, the approval of dther the Tireaisury Department oi- my department would be required, dependent upon the category of staff concemed; 'e.g., admmistrative staff—^Treasury 'Department; other categories—Department