New South Wales

Legislative Assembly

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Fifty-Sixth Parliament First Session

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Authorised by the Parliament of New South Wales

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Presiding Officers ...... 1 Absence of the Speaker ...... 1 Private Members' Statements ...... 1 Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital ...... 1 Kembla Grange Prison Proposal ...... 1 Snowy Region Tourism ...... 2 Announcements...... 3 Newcastle Jets ...... 3 Private Members' Statements ...... 3 Lane Cove Electorate Volunteer Paul Hackett ...... 3 Point to Point Transport ...... 4 Oxley Electorate Events ...... 5 Drought Assistance ...... 6 Hawkesbury-Nepean River Catchment ...... 7 Hunter Medical Research Institute...... 8 National Robotics Championships ...... 9 Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre ...... 9 Workplace Safety ...... 10 Peakhurst Park Synthetic Sporting Field ...... 11 Visitors ...... 12 Visitors ...... 12 Community Recognition Statements ...... 12 Newcastle Jets ...... 12 Myall Lakes Electorate Youth Week Celebrations ...... 12 United Services Union ...... 12 Horizon Credit Union ...... 12 Kingspan Environmental Manufacturing Plant ...... 13 Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club Volunteer Cathy Cole ...... 13 Workers Rights ...... 13 Seven Hills Electorate Events ...... 13 Pacific School Games Participantben Van Dorssen ...... 13 Plastic Fantastic Challenge Participant Jessica Melville ...... 14 Anzac Commemorations ...... 14 Westleigh Rural Fire Brigade Captain Ray Mychalewycz ...... 14 Campbelltown Electorate Sports Clubs ...... 14 Nyiirun Djiyagan Wakulda Women's Festival ...... 14 St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Father Nicolaos Zervas ...... 15 North Shore Electorate Marine Conservation ...... 15 Rotary Club of Holroyd Sixtieth Anniversary ...... 15 Ku-Ring-Gai Netball Association ...... 15 TABLE OF CONTENTS—continuing

Club Marconi Chestnut and Wine Festival ...... 16 Taree Wingham Clay Target Club Championship...... 16 Tribute to James William Morris ...... 16 Special Olympics Australia National Games ...... 16 Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary Fortieth Anniversary ...... 16 Port Macquarie Electorate Community Organisations ...... 17 NSW Seniors Local Achievement Award Recipient Peter Trist ...... 17 Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing Club...... 17 Men Care Too Founder Greg Smith ...... 17 Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Competition ...... 17 Anzac Day Ceremonies...... 18 Visitors ...... 18 Visitors ...... 18 Commemorations ...... 18 Centenary of First World War ...... 18 Announcements...... 18 Death of Benjamin Joel Smith ...... 18 Bills ...... 19 Smoke-free Environment Amendment Bill 2018 ...... 19 Child Protection (Working with Children) Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2018 ...... 19 Assent ...... 19 Governor ...... 19 Administration of the Government ...... 19 Administration of the Government ...... 19 Question Time ...... 19 Castlereagh Freeway Corridor ...... 19 State Infrastructure and Services ...... 20 Castlereagh Freeway Corridor ...... 21 Regional Mental Health Services...... 22 Castlereagh Freeway Corridor ...... 23 State Economy ...... 24 Rozelle Compulsory Land Acquisition ...... 25 Cancer Research...... 26 Rozelle Compulsory Land Acquisition ...... 27 Political Donations ...... 27 Documents ...... 28 Inspector of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission ...... 28 Reports ...... 28 Committees ...... 28 Committee on the Ombudsman, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and the Crime Commission ...... 28 Reports ...... 28 TABLE OF CONTENTS—continuing

Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption ...... 29 Reports ...... 29 Documents ...... 29 Auditor-General ...... 29 Reports ...... 29 Committees ...... 29 Legislation Review Committee...... 29 Report: Legislation Review Digest No. 53/56 ...... 29 Petitions...... 29 Petitions Received ...... 29 Responses to Petitions...... 30 Business of the House ...... 30 Business Lapsed ...... 30 Motions Accorded Priority ...... 30 Powerhouse Museum Relocation ...... 30 Consideration ...... 30 Castlereagh Freeway Corridor ...... 31 Consideration ...... 31 Powerhouse Museum Relocation ...... 32 Priority ...... 32 Bills ...... 35 National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2018 35 First Reading ...... 35 Second Reading Speech ...... 35 Farm Debt Mediation Amendment Bill 2018 ...... 39 Coal Industry Amendment Bill 2018 ...... 39 First Reading ...... 39 Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018 ...... 39 Second Reading Debate ...... 39 Third Reading ...... 61 Private Members' Statements ...... 61 Campbelltown City Proclamation ...... 61 Trust in Parliaments ...... 62 Inverell Police Station ...... 62 Newcastle Jets ...... 63 Kangaroo Management Plan ...... 64 Tathra Bushfires ...... 65 International Day of Mourning ...... 66 Western Sydney Incinerator ...... 67

Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 1

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Presiding Officers ABSENCE OF THE SPEAKER The CLERK announced the absence of the Speaker. The Deputy Speaker (The Hon. Thomas George) took the chair at 12:00. The Deputy Speaker read the Prayer and acknowledgement of country. [Notices of motions given.]

Private Members' Statements BANKSTOWN-LIDCOMBE HOSPITAL Mr GLENN BROOKES (East Hills) (12:13): I stand here today as a proud member of the Government, which is getting on with the job of delivering hospitals and health infrastructure right across the State. Whether in the bush or Western Sydney, the Government is spending record amounts on health infrastructure projects by upgrading hospitals left, right and centre, improving the quality of care for patients and reducing hospital waiting times. Despite these record investments, the people of the East Hills and Bankstown community are rightly saying: What about us? Therefore, today I ask the Government on behalf of my community: What about us? I request that Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital receive the upgrades it deserves. I do not want to be misrepresented: Despite there being more patients, waiting times are now far better than they were under the Labor Government. The percentage of patients leaving the emergency department of Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital within four hours of presentation has improved from 45.7 per cent from October to December 2010 to 73.5 per cent from October to December 2017. Elective surgeries performed on time have improved from 87.2 per cent from October to December 2010 to 99.8 per cent from October to December 2017 but, because of Labor's mismanagement, there is more work to be done. I have continually advocated a full upgrade to Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, and I will continue to request it of the Minister for Health. The petition of Labor to upgrade only the emergency department is a narrow-minded, bandaid solution. I will continue to press for an upgrade of the whole hospital. The Government and the health Minister are fixing vital health infrastructure across the State. The Liberal Party and the Nationals are the only parties that build hospitals and improve the quality of care for patients. I ask the Government to get on with the job and upgrade Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. KEMBLA GRANGE PRISON PROPOSAL Ms ANNA WATSON (Shellharbour) (12:15): I express my disgust for the Government's continuing contempt for the residents of Dapto. Almost a month ago, the Government announced that it may build a prison at a site in Kembla Grange, across the road from brand-new housing developments in West Dapto. This announcement was shockingly scant on detail. At the time, the member for Kiama promised community consultation for residents of West Dapto and surrounding areas. Yet, almost a month later, we still do not anything further about this proposal and are still completely in the dark about this proposal means for the community. It is insulting that the Government can make such a proposal and not give the community the information it is asking for. The community does not know the size of the facility being proposed, its scope, classification or expected construction costs, who will operate the facility or how many jobs would be created on the site. Last week I called on the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra to announce community information sessions during May to give the local community a forum in which to speak to the member for Kiama and the Government about its concerns. Every stakeholder and resident needs to be in the same room at the same time to voice their opinions. It is the only way to ensure the entire community is on the same page. I thought that the end of this month would be a reasonable deadline for the Government to stop shuffling papers and talk to the local community. Instead, the member for Kiama said yesterday that the Government will not hold any community consultation until the end of June—nearly three months since the announcement was made. That is not good enough. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 2

To add insult to injury, the member for Kiama announced the Government will open drop-in centres for a total of nine hours. Two sessions will be on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and no evening sessions have been announced for commuting residents, which could effectively exclude them from voicing their opinions. There has also been no mention of how the Government plans to notify local residents about these drop-in centres. It is as if the Government does not want members of the community to be able to access the sessions and have their questions answered. The Government's idea of community consultation sounds like a sham to me. Leaving a community in the lurch for almost three months after the initial announcement is not acceptable. Neither is the fact that, after this three-month wait, the consultation residents will receive will consist of some pamphlets on a trestle table in Dapto Square for a few hours. Usually the member for Kiama cannot be dragged away from a photo opportunity or a chance to big-note himself in front of the community, but on this topic the member for Kiama has been as quiet as a mouse and no- one has seen him. This is not acceptable from someone who is meant to be the Government spokesperson in this region. If the member for Kiama cared about residents in this region, not just those in his own electorate, he would be fighting for real community consultation in May, not at the end of June. He would give the community the information it is asking for and answering its questions rather than announcing a few drop-in centres in almost two months time. This series of events screams of an incompetent government that has no idea what it is doing; a government that could care less about facing up to the legitimate questions of the good people of West Dapto and Kembla Grange about this proposal. Those opposite are scrambling. They do not want the community to ask questions because they do not have the answers. I am sick and tired of this Government always giving the Dapto area the short end of the stick and with my hand on my heart I will not stand for one bit of it. Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama) (12:19): Where does the member for Shellharbour stand on this proposal? Where does she stand on jobs? What is she going to say to the young people in her electorate who are looking for employment opportunities? Why is she seeking to misled the House today about the Government's intentions? The member for Shellharbour attended a briefing with me. She took part in the discussion as to the consultation that would take place and she commended the Government on the consultation sessions we announced. Ms Anna Watson: I am not misleading the House. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The member for Shellharbour has had an opportunity to make her contribution. Mr GARETH WARD: I take offence at the attack on members of the public service who are prepared to meet members of the community and listen to their concerns. This Government has been clear. Rather than holding meetings behind closed doors—which those opposite did when they were in office—we want the community to have its say. Not once in her private member's statement did the member for Shellharbour say where she stood, and she is not going to. She is worried about what her union masters might think and Labor is yet to make a decision. I encourage her to be open-minded and to listen to her community. The member for Shellharbour should think about the jobs and the opportunities. We will talk when she has done that. SNOWY REGION TOURISM Mr JOHN BARILARO (Monaro—Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales, Minister for Skills, and Minister for Small Business) (12:20): Today I inform the House about the historic largest single investment in tourism in this State. A couple of weeks ago I announced funding of $27 million, secured through the Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund, to develop walking and mountain biking trails in Kosciuszko National Park. This funding will be used to open up more of the national park, which is home to some of the most beautiful conservation and wilderness areas, so that more people will be able to experience what it has to offer. Tourism is very important to the Monaro electorate, which includes the great town of Jindabyne and the beautiful Snowy Mountains. When one talks of the Snowy Mountains, the winter season and skiing most often comes to mind. That is an important part of local tourism but it has a boom and bust approach. In the three months of winter we have lots of tourists, which is fantastic for local businesses, and then in summer it is quiet. It is very difficult to run a business on that cycle. This funding will be used to grow the tourism product outside of winter. In recent years millions of dollars have been spent on walking and mountain biking trails in national parks. For example, Queenstown in New Zealand is now a renowned tourist destination for both the summer and winter seasons. With this funding, the Snowy region will be firmly on the domestic and international tourism map. This $27 million in funding will be used on two key projects. Firstly, $17 million will be invested in the Kosciuszko Snowies Iconic Walk to develop a new 25 kilometre section of track. This track will ultimately link Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 3

with other tracks to create a world-class 44 kilometre multi-day walk. Tourists will be able to see some of the most iconic wilderness areas, which have been closed to the public for generations. It will allow visitors to hike from Thredbo via Charlotte Pass, Guthega and Perisher to Lake Crackenback. They will also be able to stay in luxury resorts or back country camping facilities along the way. What a fantastic Aussie experience that will be in one of the most beautiful parts of this State. Secondly, $9.8 million will see the Thredbo Valley Track extended. This track will be constructed using International Mountain Bike Association Guidelines. Once complete, we will have a 61 kilometre track from the top of the Snowy Mountains down to Jindabyne. This significant investment will give us epic status and allow us to attract international mountain biking events to the region. It will link the trails in the national park from Thredbo to the Dead Horse Gap area and Lake Crackenback and right down to Jindabyne. This has been welcomed not only by the mountain biking community but also by the Jindabyne and Monaro communities. This will mean we will see more tourism for the full twelve months a year. During construction there will be 138 jobs, and following construction there will be 190 permanent jobs. Of course, we all know the ripple effect to cafes and accommodation and other small businesses, which are so important to regional communities. It is no different in Jindabyne. Ninety-seven per cent of businesses in Jindabyne are small businesses, and they have to deal with the seasonal changes in running a business in the area. The Government is trying to grow the tourism product so that there is 12 months of activity in the mountains. At the moment, great events outside of skiing that are being held include L'Etape, the amateur Tour de France, which is now in its third year. Some of the best cyclists not only from Australia but from around the world will come to the Monaro for this significant race later this year. Tourism puts a region, New South Wales and Australia on the map. Iconic tracks and products and events like the L'Etape cycling showcase to the world the fantastic opportunities for tourism in Australia—and that is good for everybody. They allow us to promote the region. Growing businesses means jobs for locals so that kids can stay in the area. From the Government's perspective, growth in a region allows us to continue to invest in the services that make a community not only a wonderful place to work but a great place to live and to raise a family and to call home. This $27 million in funding is a fantastic announcement from the New South Wales Government. Announcements NEWCASTLE JETS TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery): I take this opportunity to wish the Newcastle Jets the best of luck on Saturday night. As a long-time supporter of the Jets, I know that they will represent New South Wales in the best way they can and with the best of spirits. Go, the Jets! Private Members' Statements LANE COVE ELECTORATE VOLUNTEER PAUL HACKETT Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS (Lane Cove—Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing, and Special Minister of State) (12:26): I speak in this place today to share some stories about a remarkable resident of my Lane Cove electorate. Paul Hackett is very much a giver—although he has had to become a taker after the uncovering of a personal need. Paul Hackett had donated 100 pints of his best to the blood bank. After giving his 101st donations, he received a blood-chilling call from the blood bank requesting him to urgently visit a haematologist. Tests showed that Paul had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, which would require regular blood tests. After such a distinguished period of giving, he would no longer be able to give blood. The good news is his blood levels have evened out and the blood tests are now required only annually. There are so many positive things to say about this legend of Lane Cove. Paul arrived in Sydney from Ballina in 1958, initially working in the retail industry and then as a textile agent. Later he ran his own textile agency for about 40 years. His best move was in 1973 when he and his wife, Judy, shifted to Lane Cove after the birth of their first son and Paul joined the Lane Cove Apex Club. Paul's list of positive achievements is incredible. Amongst other achievements, Paul initiated a group that supported unemployed youth and ran Pops at Parramatta Jail, a program that saw broken toys delivered to prisoners for repair before they were given to underprivileged children at Christmas. Paul also campaigned to rebuild the Greenwich Senior Citizens' Association and library and, using his gift for public relations, initiated a committee to raise funds for pioneer microsurgeon Dr Earl Owen's foundation. While listening to commercial radio, Paul had an idea to form a committee which led to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service handing over seized goods to charity. But wait, there's more. Paul Hackett worked with Lane Cove Lions on a project to fully refurbish a house near St Vincent's Hospital to accommodate family members of people who had been hospitalised. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 4

This proud achiever, having generously given 100 pints of his own blood, needed to be a receiver. He developed leukaemia in early 2000, which he has since overcome. Paul has had a prostatectomy as well as two stents inserted. But like the Duracell bunny he bounces back. Whilst I hope no-one in this Chamber will ever need to use Paul's recipe to beat cancer, I offer his advice. Paul Hackett says he beat his cancer through a healthy diet, a positive attitude and rowing. He paddles his kayak a distance of around 50 kilometres a week—which is not bad for a gentleman in his seventies. Most importantly, Paul says the secret to beating prostate cancer is for it to be detected in the early stages. His paddling around Sydney Harbour gave him a renewed love for its natural beauty while alerting him to its potential dangers. Paul became concerned for the number of fishermen—mostly of Chinese or Korean backgrounds—who were at risk of being swept off rocks because they were not aware of the dangers of an incoming tide. His latest campaign is to have warning signs erected in appropriate places written in Chinese and Korean. I am sure that wherever this old Ballina boy settled his nature would have seen him work hard at his textile business while working equally tirelessly for those with a need. I am delighted he chose Lane Cove as his long-term family home. This long-time blood donor has what Aussies refer to as "true blue" blood. He gives but asks nothing in return. Paul Hackett is today a man Australia and, in particular, Lane Cove can hail as a community hero. I am proud to call Paul a dear friend of mine. I again wish to place on record that Paul has, in his time of good works, assisted many souls. POINT TO POINT TRANSPORT Mr JIHAD DIB (Lakemba) (12:30): In 2016, I spoke in this Chamber on the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Bill 2016 and about the impact this Government's policies had on people. I said then that the reason we share people's stories in this place is because they are the ones we come here for, and for whom we are a voice. Today, I want to follow up with further stories from my electorate that highlight the ongoing problems taxi plate owners face in 2018. I recently met with a group of taxi plate owners from my electorate who operate under a taxi service provider. These owners have serious concerns about the new regulatory framework and where they can seek resolutions when service providers act outside of the bounds set by the new framework. Let us look back on the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Bill from 2016. The goal was to establish a standalone regulator and a new regulatory framework for the point to point transport industry. It aimed to ensure compliance of rideshare services and, importantly, provide a mechanism for industry assistance through a temporary levy generating $250 million in order to provide $20,000 in compensation for taxi plate owners. That mechanism provided just $20,000 for plates worth $180,000—if the owners were lucky. I asked the Government for more information on this then, and it seems now this is all the information we will be getting. When plate owners are not driving, they often rent out their cars. For a lot of these owners, the biggest financial investments of their lives might be their taxi plates. The taxi offered a consistent albeit modest income and was not about to depreciate in value should they choose to sell. We know now that this dream has come crashing down. We also know change in any industry is inevitable. Change can often mean progress, though it is not without its impacts. How a government responds to these changes can often determine the severity of the impacts on ordinary people's lives. I have also said before that reform needs to be done well. The biggest shame in all of this is seeing how the playing field has changed and how the Berejiklian Government has failed to keep up its end of the bargain. My simple question is this: In 2016, the Liberal-Nationals Government promised to provide a new regulatory framework that would provide a level playing field, so why is it that we—I am sure it is members on both sides of the Chamber—continue to hear stories of financial hardship, of irregularities in the industry and of difficulties in resolving disputes, despite a new regulatory body having been established? According to the point to point transport regulator, the taxi service provider is required to pay the levy or pass on the cost to the customer. This is all well and good, but in reality that means ultimately that the driver is responsible for collecting the $1 levy. It begs the question: If the driver is not honest, does it fall to the plate owner or the service provider to pick up the cost? In the case of the plate owners I met with, yes, they are left to make up the cost to the service provider, simply because there is no rent-hire application to ensure every trip is recorded in real time. What was clear when talking to the operators is that the point to point transport regulator does not seem to offer support for this problem. The scheme designed to compensate plate owners is now leaving them out of pocket. Let us not forget that this Government was willing to find $2 billion for stadiums but requires the taxi industry to pay its own compensation. This is not all. While the point to point transport regulator requires one vehicle inspection per year alongside scheduled servicing, one particular service provider requires three inspections per year on site and for the plate owners to pay the cost of each inspection. It may not seem like much Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 5

to require, but when the imposition is so great and when the owners' livelihoods have been shredded, every single dollar counts. Of the group I met with, one woman, Noorlindah, shared with me stories about how these changes have impacted her husband, a taxi operator. Noorlindah told me that the stress on her husband is so great he is having flare ups of a chronic illness not seen for some time. I ask those opposite: If they owned taxis for 25 years, would they be able to consider a career change in their 50s? This is not a hypothetical question. For people in my electorate it is a reality. The answer from the regulator is to change service providers. These owners have asked me: What is the point of an industry regulator if operators cannot alert them to discrepancies within the industry? What is the point of an industry regulator if they have no teeth or, worse still, are unwilling to help? What then can workers in the taxi industry raise with the regulator? Let us not forget these plate owners did the right thing by signing up to an industry regulated by the Government, now only to be dudded by the very Government that is meant to protect them. As I mentioned before, the biggest shame in all of this is that the Government has not acted quickly enough to ensure a level playing field for all plate owners operating in a rapidly changing industry. Over the last few years we have seen hardworking people left behind through no fault of their own. Noorlindah put it simply when she said, "We did the right thing. We pay our taxes." Now it is time for this Government to do the right thing and seriously reconsider how it has treated taxi owners in New South Wales. OXLEY ELECTORATE EVENTS Mrs MELINDA PAVEY (Oxley—Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight) (12:35): In this job, there are days that are diamonds. The day that we unveiled the new naming of the Urunga Bridge after Uncle Tom Kelly was one of those diamond days. As part of the Pacific Highway upgrade, the magnificent community of Urunga was bypassed. Therefore new bridges were created approximately two kilometres away from the town. There arose a strong sense of urgency among many in the Bellinger Valley that they wanted the new bridge to be named after Uncle Tom Kelly. Many years ago, the first person who raised this with me was former mayor Mark Troy, who sadly could not be with us at the official naming as he was on his first European trip. But it was Mark Troy who put it firmly in my mind as the local member that we needed to do this. Time passed and I became the roads Minister, and it was something I was very keen to facilitate—as I was keen to facilitate the naming of the new Macksville Bridge after Phillip Hughes, the son of the Macksville valley, to acknowledge his effort in cricket at a national level and his very sad passing. It was just last week, on March 29, that we were able to name the new bridge after Tom Kelly. The energy that went into that from the community, particularly Tom's niece Lisa Kelly, was instrumental in that work. It is important to acknowledge why this was important to so many people. It is because Uncle Tom grew up in the valley and in the region. He was loved by everybody. He grew up on and worked on dairy farms. He supported the local community. To see his nephew Dylan Kelly, who is fluent in Gumbaynggirr language, welcome us all to the ceremony under the bridge would have been a very proud moment for Uncle Tom. It certainly was for Lisa Kelly and Uncle Tom Kelly's surviving brother, Uncle Porky, who did the unveiling ceremony with Lisa. I acknowledge all who contributed to the naming. Bellingen Shire Council and the Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council were very strong in pushing for it. I also acknowledge that Uncle Tom Kelly was born at Corindi and grew up on the Kalang River. I was told that in the vicinity of the place we were standing for the naming they would collect the freshest and most beautiful oysters ever and scour the mudflaps for the worm, which apparently tastes delicious, although I am yet to experience that delicacy. Tom was also employed by Bellingen Shire Council for 39 years. He was an active member of the community. In particular he dedicated his time to creating opportunities in education and the arts for children. Tom was a strong advocate of Camp Creative, for which the Bellingen Shire is famous throughout the district, and initiated a scholarship program for the local Gumbaynggirr children. Amongst a range of other legacies, Uncle Tom Kelly in partnership with Aunty Marg Boney also played a vital part in putting the Aboriginal heritage interpretative sign together along the beautiful Urunga Boardwalk. It was a magnificent day that about 50 of Uncle Tom Kelly's family and friends attended. The mayor, councillors, members of the chamber of commerce and many people who were touched by his work were also in attendance. It was an important moment that will be seared in the memory of his family. I again acknowledge the work of Lisa Kelly in the organisation of the event. I give a big shout-out to all RSL sub-branches in the four valleys of the Oxley electorate that I represent. Of the many events that were held, I was able to attend only five—two dawn services, a service for the Unknown Soldier at Macksville, the Kempsey march and a lunch at Bowraville. It is lucky that the roads in my electorate are good now. It was a tremendous day. I congratulate everybody at Comboyne. I heard that the march at Wauchope was magnificent and a service was held at Repton. The South West Rocks sub-branch does an Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 6

incredible job; I am committed to getting there for an 11.00 a.m. service. It was incredible not only to commemorate 103 years since the Gallipoli landing but also to be part of services to celebrate 100 years since our victory at Villers-Bretonneux. It lifted my heart to see so many young children be part of the experience. It showed why we should celebrate all those who made sacrifices to make our world a better place. Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama) (12:40): I thank the incredible member for Oxley, who is a passionate advocate for her community and veterans. This is an important occasion. It is 100 years since Australian troops broke the Hindenburg Line and since they invaded Damascus. It is also 100 years since the Second Battle of the Somme and the Fourth Battle of Ypres. Those were some of the most incredible moments in which Australians were involved. The member for Oxley has used the important and valuable time of the House to reflect on the service of many people from regional New South Wales. Some of toughest soldiers on the front line came from farms, shops, offices and all walks of life. In fact, in this Chamber is a memorial to George Braund and Teddy Larkin—two of our forebears in this Parliament. The member of Oxley does great credit to her electorate and the men and women of the RSL. DROUGHT ASSISTANCE Mr PHILIP DONATO (Orange) (12:41): I share with the House the story of the Haycock family, who are fifth-generation farmers situated near Yeoval on their 1,800-acre property Pine Villa that was until recently Australia's largest Red Angus cattle stud. The Haycock family is no stranger to the hardships associated with drought—they have endured many. The 1982 drought was previously the worst that they had experienced, although they prevailed with the help of accessible freight subsidies from the Government of the day that afforded them and their fellow farmers the protections necessary to survive financially and, more importantly, psychologically. The Haycock family heeded this Government's advice to become resilient and prepare for drought, though no amount of preparation or resilience can sustain farmers in perpetuity. The Haycock family constructed a $70,000 dam, installed two solar pumps worth $20,000, restarted a bore, restarted a windmill, installed new troughs and underground pipes, and built seven kilometres of fencing and new gates. They sowed pasture, stockpiled 300 tonnes of grain in silos, including three bunkers and all of their existing field bins, and made 1,600 six-foot round bales. The Haycocks are now deep into what they have determined from their considerable experience to be the worst drought since 1982. Even with all their resilience and the preparation measures they have undertaken, the stored fodder which they have been feeding their cattle since July 2017 is now exhausted. They purchased $50,000 worth of grain in the hope of strengthening their cattle, which were becoming very weak. The Haycocks were a powerful influence in the industry through the improvement of genetics across Australia and have invested considerable funds into the importation of genetics to further develop their existing bloodlines and herd. It was a tough but necessary decision when six weeks ago the Haycocks had to sell half their herd, which was then 600 head. They were unable to sustain the cost of keeping their cattle alive, which required 30 bales of hay each day. With the drought widening and deepening, the accessible supplies of both grain and hay have dwindled. The demand for the diminishing supply of fodder has escalated costs and now the Haycocks and other farmers have turned to supplies from interstate. The Haycocks have reduced the amount of feed to their cattle to the minimum maintenance level of just 36 bales per week. The cost of a truckload of hay is $5,500, of which $3,500 is for haulage alone. The Haycocks are now spending $15,000 a fortnight to feed their cattle, which is unsustainable due to the cost of freight. Unfortunately, selling the remaining cattle is problematic. The Haycock's generationally built herd and genetics would be lost and would be impossible to rebuild in the foreseeable future. The value of the cattle has dropped significantly and at present the saleyards are full. Two weeks ago the Haycocks could get $650 for a lame cow, but now they are only able to fetch $60 for the same animal. Even if they could sell them, many animals are now deemed too under-conditioned to transport. So the Haycocks are now between a rock and a hard place. The Haycocks are not alone; farmers on nearby properties are experiencing the same situation or worse, having to also freight water for their stock. The New South Wales Government is encouraging farmers to move away from their reliance on an emergency response. However, when farmers' long-term drought plans are executed and exhausted and farmers are now faced with an indefinite drought, where can they go to justifiably seek emergency assistance, and when? Drought, which is considered by accepted definitions as a natural disaster, is inevitable; therefore, this natural disaster, as with any bushfire, flood or storm, requires an emergency response. Drought does not come and go as quickly as a flood, fire or storm; nevertheless, the cost is comparable, and so should be the Government's response. In the Government's own words: a drought is an unpreventable and uncontrollable weather event, such as flood or storm, which both attract funding and resources in urgent response. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 7

The official Department of Primary Industries [DPI] Combined Drought Indicator shows that 11.2 per cent of New South Wales is now in drought, 26.5 per cent is in the onset of drought, and 60 per cent is on watch. The area highlighted by drought on the DPI map indicator identifies much of what my electorate would occupy; however, the DPI website does not list any New South Wales area as having been declared a natural disaster. If the official DPI Combined Drought Indicator identifies areas in drought or in the onset of drought, an assessment is not just prudent; it is essential so that the natural disaster is determined and declared to precipitate the appropriate funding being made accessible to the primary producers affected by the drought. The advice I have received is that the miniscule $20,000 loan the Government is offering to assist farmers takes up to six months to process, and that it will only put debt-burdened farmers deeper into debt. In the case of the Haycock family, $20,000 would not last more than three weeks, and what then? The Government should not re-sign the Intergovernmental Agreement on National Drought Program Reform, which expires on 1 July this year. The Liberal-Nationals Government should reinstate statewide uncapped freight subsidies for stock, fodder and water, which ceased in 2013. The Government needs to urgently legislate drought assistance and look after our farmers, upon whose shoulders our future rests. HAWKESBURY-NEPEAN RIVER CATCHMENT Mr KEVIN CONOLLY (Riverstone) (12:46): Much of the electorate of Riverstone lies within the floodplain of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system. As many will be aware, the Hawkesbury-Nepean system presents the greatest flood risk in New South Wales due to the number of lives at risk, the depth and velocity of water likely to be experienced, and the potential damage to homes and infrastructure. This is because the river system gathers rainfall from a massive catchment area and channels it through very narrow gorges in the Sackville area, which delays the release of the water. That is why we proposed to raise the wall of Warragamba Dam—to reduce the flood risk to more than 100,000 people in Western Sydney. In order to understand the proposal it is first necessary to understand how Warragamba Dam is built and how it works now. Some people may imagine a dam with a spillway at the top—the sort of dam that holds back water until it reaches the top of the wall and then spills over. But that is not how Warragamba Dam is built or is designed to work. If one looks at a photograph of Warragamba Dam as it is currently, one will see that it has five gates set in the wall—not at the top, but part-way up. These are like windows in the dam wall. Four of the five gates are operated by dam controllers, but the fifth—the gate in the centre, known as the drum gate—is opened automatically by the weight of water pushing against it. The dam is built this way to store water safely up to that level but then to release any extra water into the Warragamba River. The release of water is directed through the five openings, which have been designed to cope with the stresses involved. If water were to rise so much that it overtopped the wall, it would create a real risk that the dam wall would break. This could happen when the amount of rainwater entering the dam from upstream exceeded the amount of water that could pass out through the five gates, even when fully open. That is why in the 1990s, when new research revealed the potential for heavier rainfall across the Warragamba catchment than previously thought possible, two actions were undertaken. The first action was to strengthen and raise the wall by five metres to make overtopping less likely. This was done by raising the section above the gates, but without altering the level of the gates—they stayed exactly where they had been before; so the full storage level also stayed exactly where it had been. The second action was to build an auxiliary spillway around the dam. In an extreme flood, five erodible earth and clay walls, or fuse plugs, built across the upstream opening of the auxiliary spillway would progressively be washed away by the rising floodwaters. This would divert excess floodwater around the dam via the auxiliary spillway to eliminate the risk of overtopping. The auxiliary spillway operates only in the event of a flood with one chance in 750 of it happening in any year; that is 3½ times less likely to occur than the record flood of 1867, which was a one chance in 200 event. Action taken in the 1990s has provided protection for the integrity of the dam, but no protection for the people downstream of the dam. If the auxiliary spillway ever operates it will release an enormous amount of water downstream. This water would travel with great velocity and immense force, destroying anything and anyone in its path. This is the stark reality facing more than 100,000 residents of the region. Although only very rare rain events would generate enough water to cause these results, the risk is known and real. The current proposal for the purpose of protecting people, property and infrastructure is to once again raise the dam wall without altering the height of the flood gates. Both the wall and the auxiliary spillway would be raised by 14 metres to ensure that even in a very rare rain event, not only would the integrity of the dam be protected, but the likelihood of a massive release of water downstream would be reduced substantially. It is important to note that as in the 1990s, the windows in the dam wall would stay exactly where they are, so no addition to the permanent storage level would occur. What would occur would be temporary storage of more water Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 8

behind the dam for a period of up to 14 days. Over that time water levels behind the dam would be higher, causing some environmental impact upstream. But without raising the wall the environmental impact caused by that water would occur downstream of the dam. There is no option that would see zero environmental impact when that amount of rainfall occurs. The raised wall would only alter the location of the impact that would inevitably occur. At the same time, by reducing the downstream peak, the higher wall would reduce the damage to homes and businesses, as well as to schools, public buildings, sewerage and electricity assets, railways and roads. Most importantly, the raised wall would save lives by reducing the peak of a flood downstream and increasing the time available for evacuation of areas likely to be inundated. For this reason alone the project absolutely must proceed. Of all the options considered within the development of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Risk Management Strategy, raising the wall of Warragamba Dam is the option that has the most benefit because most of the water causing floods in the valley comes from the Warragamba system. The catchment of Warragamba dam represents 70 per cent of the whole catchment of the river system below Windsor. The people of Western Sydney need and deserve the protection that raising the dam wall will provide. HUNTER MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP (Newcastle) (12:51): The Hunter Medical Research Institute [HMRI] celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year, marking two decades of groundbreaking achievement and community engagement. The organisation began in 1998 as a bold vision to deliver patient-focused research and improve community wellbeing in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Since then HMRI has evolved into a world-class institute that sees 1,700 medical researchers, students and support staff striving to prevent, treat and defeat a multitude of serious illnesses. HMRI facilitates that by seeding start-up studies, and fostering a flow of information and innovation back and forth between scientists, clinicians and public health professionals. This organisation has been hugely successful in attracting top medical specialists, while collaborating with other leading institutes and industries helps to fast-track the provision of new and better health solutions. The opening in 2012 of a state-of-the-art medical research facility adjacent to John Hunter Hospital in the electorate of Wallsend consolidated those efforts. For the first time the region's major teaching hospital has a research facility associated with it, thus enhancing the integration of research with clinical services. HMRI was created by combining the research prowess and aspiration of the University of Newcastle, the clinical and treatment capabilities of Hunter New England Health and the foresight and commitment of a community that undertook to raise additional money for medical research to be conducted in the Hunter. Governance is delivered by a board consisting of three representatives, one each from the university, the health service and the community, together with the executive director of HMRI, the chair of the foundation, and an independent chair with an additional vote if ever needed. This executive oversees the operational activities and ensures it operates within a strong set of commercial and financial management governance principles. HMRI researchers rely on philanthropic donations from the community, along with Australian Government funding and the fundraising efforts of the HMRI Foundation, HMRI Sydney Foundation and a number of authorised affiliate foundations to support research projects, equipment, scholarships, fellowships and travel grants. The HMRI Foundation is a group of Hunter community leaders, who volunteer their time and expertise to assist with HMRI's fundraising activities. The foundation reports to the HMRI board, and the chair of the foundation is invited to be a member of the HMRI board. The HMRI Sydney Foundation is focused on growing the institute's fundraising reach in Australia's biggest city by reaching out to Hunter ex-pats and other community-minded individuals who have their head in Sydney but their heart in the Hunter. Internal grant funding is allocated through a rigorous peer review process and invested in areas of highest public need. Infrastructure funding is provided by the NSW Office for Health and Medical Research through the Medical Research Support Program, and the NSW Department of Health through the Capacity Building Infrastructure Grants Program. The council advises the board on scientific matters and research management processes, ensuring that the research is highly relevant and of high quality, and is conducted in accordance with the national code of health and medical research. HMRI can be rightly proud of the processes it has put in place to establish a world-class medical research institute in a regional area, advancing Newcastle's emerging identity as an intellectual centre of excellence on the international stage. I pay tribute to current and past HMRI directors Michael Nilsson, Maree Gleeson and John Rostas, as well as former board members, current board members, chairpersons and the current chairman, Kyle Loades. I look forward to many more decades of groundbreaking achievement and community engagement from this fantastic Hunter organisation. Congratulations HMRI. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 9

NATIONAL ROBOTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS Mr KEVIN HUMPHRIES (Barwon) (12:56): Today I have a good news story about the small town of Wee Waa in northern New South Wales. For members who are not familiar with Wee Waa, it is about 200 kilometres west of Tamworth and about 40 kilometres west of Narrabri. Wee Waa has a population of about 1,800, with about 170 students attending the secondary school. Recently a number of those students were able to represent their community overseas in a very important event. Those eight students are Sam Gallagher, Noah Platt, Nick Morrison, Thomas Johnson, Cait Downes, Michael Horne, Alice Haire and Emily Shearin, members of a team that, in March 2018 at Sydney Olympic Park, gained enormous credit and honour by taking out an award at the National Robotics Championships. They continued three years of good work as the Bush Bots team by winning the wildcard entry to the FIRST Robotics Championships in Houston, Texas, just two weeks ago. The team was ably mentored by a number of adults who were as equally excited as the students, including Sharon and David Grellman, Jo Horne, Steve Catt, Peter Horne and Michael Haire, who have done a fantastic job. Under the guidance of teacher Steven Bruce they have been able to achieve an outstanding outcome. As with the Sydney Regional Finals Championships, the World FIRST Robotics Championships aims to move milk crate size cubes in alliance with two other teams within the context of a defined area. In effect, it is stacking within the confines of what some people would call a video game, so robotics and computer technology are at the forefront. Many of the 380 or so teams invited to participate in the world championships were sponsored by groups such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]. Many of the participants in the American teams were from universities, alumni and a mix of community-based groups; they were not all school students. It was an outstanding achievement for eight students from a small community in north-western New South Wales to have earned the right to compete at that level in Houston, Texas, two weeks ago. I acknowledge the community that helped make that happen, because the team only gained the wildcard three weeks before the world championships. The community rallied around the students and was able to raise $63,000 for their trip. In particular, I recognise Namoi Cotton, which is based in Wee Waa. James Tolson, a computer programmer at Namoi Cotton, worked with the students after school, on weekends and for much of the school holidays, advising the team on the building and construction of their robot, as well as the technology behind it. Google helped the team transport the robot, named BOT, to Houston, Texas and a number of corporations, such as Rockwell Collins, also assisted. When we drill down to the local level, the Wee Waa community was ably supported in raising funds by local farmers, the local branch of the Returned and Services League, Wee Waa Lions Club and a local philanthropic group. I met with the students 10 days before their trip and they were exceedingly excited. They are mostly in years 10 and 11, with some in year 12. Some of them have been part of the program in Wee Waa for the past three years. They get to compete with students of their own age but, more importantly, teams from universities and other tertiary institutions as well. It is noted that many of the people who attend the world championships are university spotters and venture capitalists, looking for the next tech start-up and the next level of science, technology, engineering and maths—or STEM—students, innovation and teaching. In Australia, there is an already identified shortage in those areas and we are doing something about it. The point of the exercise was not just to broaden those students' experience—it has certainly done that—but also to make sure that they get a window into the next generation's opportunities. I congratulate Wee Waa High School and its community for an outstanding effort on the world stage. CENTRAL COAST MARINE DISCOVERY CENTRE Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (13:01): The Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre in my electorate of Terrigal has been operating since 2010. In that time, it has had nearly 30,000 visitors and operates with mostly volunteer labour. The centre is open for approximately 200 days a year, mainly on weekends and school holidays. In 2017, after eight years of operation, the Marine Discovery Centre developed a project plan to consider further enhancements of its facilities and resources. This involved applying for more than $1 million from the State Liberal Government. Terrigal is one of the major tourist hubs in the Central Coast region, with many visitors year-round providing a boost to small businesses and other organisations in the local area. That is why it is so important to improve our local facilities and amenities, to cater for tourists and locals alike. Just a few weeks ago, I was delighted to announce the success of the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre in being awarded $1.5 million from the State Liberal Government for its facility and resource enhancements. The improvements will include building extensions to construct a new multi-purpose classroom; a cafe deck addition; extensive painting, guttering and sewerage replacements; solar panels and battery cells to reduce the current power bill of approximately $1,000 per month; and a brand-new air conditioning unit to replace Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 10

the 30-year-old existing system. I am pleased to say that as a result of these quite extensive improvements, the Marine Discovery Centre will also attain official ecotourism accreditation. This work will be funded through the Regional Growth—Environment and Tourism Fund and is one of the many hundreds of projects being announced for local communities across New South Wales as part of this Government's enormous $1.3 billion Regional Growth Fund. Indeed, the Premier has made it very clear that she is working hard to ensure that every community gets its fair share. I am pleased to say that the Central Coast is well and truly benefitting from statewide funding opportunities. The State Liberal Government's $1.5 million contribution will also go towards an exciting new project called Wonders of the Wreck. This involves installing live video streaming of the former HMAS Adelaide wreck just off Avoca Beach in my electorate of Terrigal. The project will allow people across the world, no matter where they are, to go online and view the underwater landscape of the former HMAS Adelaide. It will be a powerful tool to give people who are considering going for a dive a taste of what it is like before undertaking that dive. As the Chairman of the Marine Discovery Centre, John Asquith, has said, this funding will modernise our centre and raise it to the standard of a first class facility, which is expected by tourists and locals. A first class facility is exactly what a $1.5 million investment will deliver for our community. I emphasise that it is not only tourists who benefit from local facility upgrades such as this. A few weeks ago I was at the Marine Discovery Centre and I noticed quite a few mums and dads with their young children making use of the brand-new playground equipment at the Terrigal Rotary Park. The park is next to the Marine Discovery Centre and has benefited from government funding enabling an upgrade to that facility. A fantastic new small business called Parklife Coffee, which is also based at the marine centre, is a beautiful spot for mums, dads and their children— in fact, people of all ages—to enjoy the local environment. I can report that Paul and his team at Parklife Coffee make excellent coffee. School usage of the Marine Discovery Centre is also expected to grow as a result of the $1.5 million investment. I note that the Parliamentary Secretary for Education is in the Chamber. In fact, the annual number of students attending the centre is predicted to rise from 6,000 to 25,000, which just goes to show that the Marine Discovery Centre is a great educational facility. This Government is committed to improving local communities across New South Wales. It is committed to local facilities such as the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre. Last year the Government demonstrated its support for the marine centre with a grant of $2,000 from the Minister for the Environment conservation fund. When compared to a large $1.5 million investment, $2,000 sounds relatively small but that does not mean that the money will not have a significant impact. The conservation funding enabled important bush regeneration and rehabilitation of the Terrigal Lagoon Reserve. Plants, tools, chemicals and equipment were purchased with the funds and volunteers were able to remove weeds from this important section of the foreshore. This work has been completed, showing that the Chairman of the Marine Discovery Centre, John Asquith, and his extremely hard working volunteers are very efficient. I commend all the people involved in the Marine Discovery Centre. I am delighted that I was able to achieve a $1.5 million investment in this fantastic local community facility. Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama) (13:06): Unlike the political pilot fish that sit opposite, the member for Terrigal knows what it is like to swim against the tide to secure grant funding for his electorate. The member secured an Environment and Tourism Fund grant of $1.5 million for the Marine Discovery Centre, which will educate, entertain and delight locals and tourists alike. The member for Terrigal has secured this funding and convinced the Government to allocate it because he is passionate about tourism and promoting our marine environment. As I come from a coastal community, I can attest to the need to find tourism activities and events not just during the warmer parts of the year when people are naturally attracted to the beautiful delights of the New South Wales coastline but also during the off seasons. The marine centre will be an attraction for local people, local schools and local students. The marine centre and other community facilities are achieved due to the hard work, dedication, grunt and effort of people such as the member for Terrigal. These things do not just happen; they happen because of good local members who are excellent advocates for their community. The people of Terrigal have such an advocate in their local member. WORKPLACE SAFETY Mr DAVID MEHAN (The Entrance) (13:07): Today is May Day, the international day of labour. It is a day when working people recall the struggle to achieve improvements to the condition of labour and when working people in the wider community recommit themselves to building a better world. The celebration of May Day can trace its beginning to ancient festivals welcoming the coming of summer in the northern hemisphere. Those celebrations were adopted in the nineteenth century by the labour movement in the northern hemisphere to Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 11

link the observance of May Day on 1 May as labour's international day and the promise of a better world with the coming of summer and the promise of a good harvest. Most countries now recognise the day as a public holiday. Some countries recognise 1 May as May Day—as does the Northern Territory—and some countries recognise and declare a public holiday on another day, as is in the case in this State. It is a labour day linking the observance of May Day with other achievements such as the achievement of the eight-hour day, which is universally recognised as a fair days work by working people the world over. I also acknowledge and recognise that 28 April was Workers' Memorial Day. On the weekend memorial services were held across the world as well as across this State. A service was held in my electorate at the Workers Memorial Wall located at Ourimbah. The wall records the names of 17 people who lost their lives at work or as a result of work. Workers' Memorial Day is when we recall those who have lost their lives at work or as a result of work. It is worth remembering that so far this year 40 Australian workers lost their lives at work. The tragic news of the loss in Madam Speaker's family reminds us that for many people work remains a terrible risk. However, on Workers' Memorial Day people the world over recommit to doing better by reducing the number of lives being lost. I link Workers' Memorial Day and May Day by acknowledging the place that the Australian Labor Party holds within the framework of Labor's recognition of international days and Labor's historic mission to try to build a better world. As members will be aware, the Australian Labor Party was formed in 1891 to take political action when direct action taken by trade unionists and people at a grassroots level was seen to be not completely effective. One of the first planks of the Australian Labor Party's policy platform was to improve working conditions by ensuring the safety of workers in workshops and factories. The Factory, Shops and Industries Act was one of the first pieces of positive legislation that was supported by the newly formed Australian Labour Party, as it then was, when it attained office and representation in this House in the first State elections held after 1891. Recognising May Day and Workers' Memorial Day as days when we recommit to building a better world for all working people is important, and making our workplaces safer is equally important. I congratulate workers the world over who are marching today and recommitting themselves to building a better world. All too often, at the expense of its role in wider society, business has its eyes focused completely on profit. On May Day it is important to recall the struggle of past workers and recommit to building a better world for all people in the future. PEAKHURST PARK SYNTHETIC SPORTING FIELD Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (13:12): While I strongly oppose fake news, I certainly have grown fond of fake grass. Only a year ago I launched a campaign to fund a synthetic field in my local area in partnership with the Georges River Council and the wonderful St George Football Association. After meeting with a large number of representatives from a wide range of sporting codes, I am convinced that a synthetic field will provide increased playing opportunities and improve players' safety and wellbeing, not just in my electorate but across the St George area. This time last year in the House I said that there is a huge demand for synthetic fields. There still is. That is because they are safer, allow for all-weather use, and can accommodate a number of different sporting codes, including the Australian Football League, soccer, hockey and athletics. In my community, sporting fields and facilities are at capacity. Each and every weekend thousands of kids and adults take to sporting fields such as HV Evatt Memorial Park, Gannons Park, Olds Park, the Renown Reserve—where I played for the Oatley RSL soccer club—and Peakhurst Park. Many of these grass fields are in need of urgent repair and maintenance and would be improved by laying a synthetic field. That is why last year I started my campaign to fund a synthetic field for Peakhurst Park. The insulation for a synthetic field, although costly in the first instance, reduces future maintenance costs for clubs, organisations and councils. If properly maintained, synthetic fields have a long and happy life. They are not suited to every location but they are certainly suitable at Peakhurst Park. Peakhurst Park is one of the most popular sporting fields in the local area and field five is in need of extensive repair. It is an example of a sporting facility that would benefit greatly from an upgrade to synthetic turf. I meet regularly with St George Football Association and its excellent general manager, Craig Kiely. Mr Kiely welcomes the idea. During a meeting he advised that there are almost 10,000 registered football participants in the St George area and a synthetic field is well and truly needed. Following years of campaigning, I welcomed $300,000 in New South Wales Government funding from Minister Paul Toole for the construction of a synthetic sports field at Peakhurst Park. This new, multipurpose, all-weather field will expand the range of sporting and recreational activities at Peakhurst Park and benefit local football clubs, schools and community groups. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 12

I am delighted that our Government has been able to partner with Georges River Council to deliver this much-needed project that will be an asset to our community for decades to come. I have campaigned for this funding over several years and I thank everyone in the community who signed my petition to make our dream of a synthetic field in the St George area a reality. The field will feature a Fédération Internationale de Football Association standard surface, fencing and new lighting. It will meet national standards and cater for local representative level football. But it does not end there. Recently the Premier announced that through the more green and open spaces policy communities will have access to more open spaces and playgrounds. It is part of a $290 million funding injection from the Government to make New South Wales communities more liveable and green. Following this funding announcement we are going to apply for more money to ensure that Peakhurst Park gets the synthetic field it deserves. This will ensure that kids using the local fields at Peakhurst have the best possible fields available to play on. I will continue to lobby for funding for Peakhurst Park to ensure that our community receives its first synthetic field that allows kids to play soccer on all-weather material year on year. I will continue the fight for this extra funding. Visitors VISITORS TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans): I recognise Mr and Mrs John Morrison for 50 years of service to the justice of the peace movement. Congratulations. Community Recognition Statements NEWCASTLE JETS Ms SONIA HORNERY (Wallsend) (13:17): I am shouting out my praises for the Newcastle Jets on Friday's spectacular semifinal win. A dedicated crowd of 19,000 rallied the team as they scored two goals, with the hero, Riley McGree, scoring the greatest goal in A-League history. And I, a season pass ticket holder, cheered right alongside them. I say well done and offer my best wishes to Chief Executive Officer Lawrie McKinna, coach Ernie Merrick and, of course, the players: Riley McGree, Jason Hoffman, Dimi Petratos, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Jack Duncan, Glen Moss, Nigel Boogaard, Roy O'Donovan, Joey Champness, Steven Ugarkovic, Ronald Vargas, Daniel Georgievski, Johnny Koutroumbis, Patito Rodriguez, Lachlan Jackson and Nick Cowburn. I will be there on Saturday night to cheer them on. Go, the Jets! Never tear us apart. MYALL LAKES ELECTORATE YOUTH WEEK CELEBRATIONS Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD (Myall Lakes) (13:18): I recently attended events to celebrate Youth Week across the Myall Lakes electorate. This year I had the opportunity to view a wonderful photo exhibition capturing the theme Unity through Diversity at the Manning Art Gallery. While I was there I heard the band warming up for the Live n Loud gig later that night. The King of the Krater skate competition returned again to the Great Lakes, with close to 500 competitors taking to the sky to perform a dazzling array of tricks, kicks and flips. The event was organised by the Homebase Youth Service, YMCA and Ted Bickford. Skateboard, scooter and BMX enthusiasts from as far away as the Central Coast came to compete in what has become an annual event. UNITED SERVICES UNION Ms ANNA WATSON (Shellharbour) (13:19): As a committed unionist, I acknowledge May Day. I am proud to stand in this place to celebrate the work of the union movement of New South Wales. In particular, I acknowledge the United Services Union [USU], which is the principal union in local government across New South Wales that advocates for all council workers. Blue- and white-collar workers in every community across New South Wales have the USU to thank for their working conditions. I congratulate its General Secretary, Graeme Kelly, on his dedication to the union movement. I thank Mr Kelly and the USU executive for never giving up and never giving in. I extend my gratitude to the USU executive, its membership and staff. I also acknowledge Jack Klower, who is a stalwart of the union movement in the Illawarra. Many owe much to Jack Klower and Graeme Kelly, as they have improved the lives of countless families across New South Wales. I sincerely thank Graeme Kelly and the USU, and wish them all the best in the future. HORIZON CREDIT UNION Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama) (13:20): I congratulate and recognise the outstanding efforts and commitment that the staff of the Horizon Credit Union in Albion Park make to our local community. The staff at Horizon are locals and long-term employees who have collectively accumulated more than 60 years of service. The great team consists of branch member Jo Thompson, loans officer Michelle Jones, senior manager service officer Melanie Borg and member services officer Anne Girard. This year the aforementioned staff have supported Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 13

several programs in their community through the Albion Park Youth and Community Centre, including the Free Pantry initiative, which collects donations of non-perishable items, clothes and new toiletries that are then delivered to the community centre and distributed to families in need. Horizon also provides a free breakfast for children before school. The bank provides monetary vouchers to local school presentations, which illustrates its commitment to giving the best possible start to the next generation. Horizon's work is not limited to these programs: it continues to support Relay For Life and local sports clubs. I congratulate the outstanding team at Horizon Credit Union. KINGSPAN ENVIRONMENTAL MANUFACTURING PLANT Mr GUY ZANGARI (Fairfield) (13:21): On Friday 9 March 2018 Kingspan Environmental officially opened its new factory at 3 Herbert Place, Smithfield. The event began with a factory tour for guests of the water tank manufacturing plant and Tate access flooring. Kingspan employs 130 staff across its environmental rainwater tanks, access flooring and installation divisions, and occupies 8,500 square metres of manufacturing space. Kingspan is a local New South Wales success story that began as the Parramatta Tank Works factory in 1934. Its tanks are iconic and are made by utilising corrugated Australian BlueScope Aquaplate steel. Kingspan is the largest manufacturer of rainwater tanks in Australia. I congratulate Kingspan on the opening of its new facility in Smithfield. The Fairfield electorate is proud to have this company manufacturing in the area and providing jobs for our local community. TERRIGAL SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB VOLUNTEER CATHY COLE Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (13:22): I have spoken in this place many times about the fantastic work of Cathy Cole, a volunteer at Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club. For the past few years, Cathy has spent countless hours retracing our local history back to the Second World War, when women trained to become lifesavers at Terrigal Beach in the absence of their husbands, brothers and other male figures who were fighting in the war overseas. Last month I was delighted to honour Cathy's work by nominating her for a Terrigal Rotary community award. Last week Cathy's years of work came to a conclusion when she successfully tracked down the final untraced lady. Bessie Campbell was one of the original surf life saving women. Sadly, she has passed away, but she is survived by one relative, her nephew. I congratulate Cathy on her consistent commitment to tracking down the families of these women to ensure they receive the recognition that they rightly deserve. WORKERS RIGHTS Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains) (13:23): Today I acknowledge that it is May Day, International Workers Day, and I congratulate the members of worker collectives, otherwise known as unions, who are out in the street today encouraging people to join their union. Labour Day and the Labour Movement acknowledge the eight-hour working day, commemorate the granting of the eight-hour working day for Australians and recognise workers' contributions to the economy. Labour Day is an annual public holiday, celebrated on various dates in each Australian State and Territory. I acknowledge the Blue Mountains Unions Council for its work and the many other councils. I especially acknowledge Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sally McManus and the Change the Rules campaign. Workers of the world unite. SEVEN HILLS ELECTORATE EVENTS Mr MARK TAYLOR (Seven Hills) (13:24): Recently, Toongabbie locals in my electorate of Seven Hills were delighted to see that the upgrades to Toongabbie railway station were completed four months ahead of schedule. I was pleased to be joined by the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Hon. Andrew Constance, to open the new-look and fully accessible Toongabbie station. The local community is happy that three new lifts are making accessibility easier for all. The upgrades include two kiss-and-ride parking spaces, family accessible toilets, weather protection canopies, new signage and bicycle storage for customers riding to the station. This upgrade has been part of the Government's successful Transport Access Program, which has spent more than $1 billion since 2011 and has 450 projects either completed or underway in the State. A mural painted by the Hills Sports High School students together with local artist Danielle RG is part of the upgraded station. The mural symbolises Toongabbie's history from first Australians to the opening of the original station on 26 April 1880— 138 years ago. Well done to the Hill Sports High School students. PACIFIC SCHOOL GAMES PARTICIPANTBEN VAN DORSSEN Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown) (13:25): I recognise the outstanding sporting achievements of Ben Van Dorssen from my electorate of Charlestown. Last year and this year have been successful for this young sports star, who has begun his first year of high school. Ben secured gold, representing New South Wales in football at the 10th Pacific School Games. His team went through the entire competition undefeated. Having captained the Hunter region team, Ben was selected to play for the State team in the under-12s division. Ben's achievements, however, do not stop there. He is now playing with the under-13s at the Newcastle Jets Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 14

Academy—Go, Jets! Ben is an outstanding sportsman but his recent literacy results prove that he is also working hard in the classroom. Well done on your all-round achievements, Ben. One day I will be asking for your autograph. PLASTIC FANTASTIC CHALLENGE PARTICIPANT JESSICA MELVILLE Ms TANYA DAVIES (Mulgoa—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Women, and Minister for Ageing) (13:26): Jessica Melville, a year 5 student from Trinity Primary School in Kemps Creek, has taken up the Plastic Fantastic Challenge after seeing her mum working hard at home cutting up plastic bags to form a plastic yarn known as a "plarn". When she asked her mum what she was doing, her mum said she was creating a plarn to make waterproof mats for the homeless. When she was inspired by this objective, she asked if her school could participate by providing her with plastic bags. Jessica was overwhelmed by the response from her school and received so many bags that she had to ask at an assembly that people stop bringing her bags. Jessica said it was a scary thing for her to do. Although she was nervous, she said speaking in front of her class has given her more confidence. I thank Jessica and her mum for their commitment and the Creative Fringe for this project, which will donate the waterproof mats to Mama Lana's Community Foundation to give to the homeless. ANZAC COMMEMORATIONS Ms LIESL TESCH (Gosford) (13:27): Today I offer a heartfelt thanks to all those who served our great nation. In memory of our Anzac spirit, I thank all those who organised and attended ceremonies in the Gosford electorate to commemorate Anzac Day. I thank local organisations such as Ettalong Diggers; the Gosford RSL Club; Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club and Golf Course; Pearl Beach Community Commerce; Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club; and the Vietnam Veterans, Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Association of Australia for providing wonderful opportunities across the electorate to commemorate Anzac Day. I also thank BlueWave Living and other local aged care facilities that helped their residents commemorate Anzac Day. A strong community gathered across our electorate in memory of all those who have gone before us—young and old— who fought for the freedom of Australia. With a wink, I thank the old fellows who offered me a tot of rum in memory of our dads at the generous breakfast supplied by Ettalong Diggers. To all those who served, we thank you. Lest we forget. WESTLEIGH RURAL FIRE BRIGADE CAPTAIN RAY MYCHALEWYCZ Mr MATT KEAN (Hornsby—Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation) (13:28): I pay tribute to a great man who has done wonderful work in the Hornsby community. Ray Mychalewycz has been Captain of the Westleigh Rural Fire Brigade for the past five years. He is as good a bloke as anyone could ever meet. He has been a terrific friend to many in the community, including me. Ray, Deputy Captain James Morrison and Deputy Captain Andrew Webster work tirelessly to ensure the local community is protected from bushfires. We will find Ray and his brigade at a number of local community events giving kids a chance to look at the truck and informing residents about their safety. The brigade has also entered a team in the Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research. The Westleigh Brigade is on call to help when a fire hits not only in New South Wales but also across the globe. The brigade recently assisted at the Holsworthy fire in Sydney and last year Ray was in Canada to assist its firefighting efforts. On behalf of a grateful community, I thank Ray and all our Rural Fire Service volunteers for their service to the bushland shire and our community. CAMPBELLTOWN ELECTORATE SPORTS CLUBS Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (13:29): With the winter sports season well underway, I thank the mums, dads and volunteers who every year put so much hard work into Campbelltown's local sporting clubs and I wish our local sporting clubs good luck for the season. The sporting clubs in the electorate include South Campbelltown Kangaroos Junior Australian Football League Club, Campbelltown Warriors Rugby League Football Club, Campbelltown City Soccer Club, Campbelltown Collegians Football Club, Campbelltown Cobras Soccer Club, Southern Districts Soccer Football Association, Campbelltown Uniting Church Soccer Club, Macarthur Wasps, Bradbury Ambarvale Football Club, Kangaroos Junior Rugby League Club, East Campbelltown Eagles Rugby League Football Club, Collegians Junior Rugby League Football Club, Campbelltown Harlequins Rugby Football Club, Campbelltown Warriors Junior Rugby League Football Club, the Campbelltown District Netball Association, and particularly the Campbelltown Thunder Netball Club, of which I am the proud patron and a supporter. All of these clubs make an invaluable contribution to our community. On behalf of all members of this House, I extend my sincere thanks and best wishes to them all. NYIIRUN DJIYAGAN WAKULDA WOMEN'S FESTIVAL Mrs LESLIE WILLIAMS (Port Macquarie) (13:30): This year the Nyiirun Djiyagan Wakulda Women's Festival, hosted by Djiyagan Dhanbaan, will be held at the Birpai Local Aboriginal Land Council in Port Macquarie. The women of the Birpai Nation, through the Local Aboriginal Land Council, will be hosting Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 15

a day of Indigenous culture and celebration through the sharing of stories, knowledge and cultural activities that are aimed at empowering Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women in the community. Event manager Rhonda Radley and her team, comprising Melanie Horrigan, Arly McInherney, Angela Martin and Connie Smith, are taking action to empower women by incorporating into the day's festival leadership and self-awareness education seminars that are designed to build respect and guidance for women through Aboriginal teachings and cultural diversity. The day's events include cultural language, weaving, arts, stories, and song and dance. Rhonda believes that sharing in culture and history through our first nations peoples will bring wisdom, community empowerment and a sense of identity and that much can be learnt through recognising the valuable contribution women play in today's society. It is with pleasure I commend Rhonda Radley and her team for their outstanding contribution to cultural awareness and mutual respect for women living in the Hastings region. I am enormously grateful to have received an invitation from Rhonda to attend on Friday and join in this unique event of celebration. ST DEMETRIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH FATHER NICOLAOS ZERVAS Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP (Newcastle) (13:31): I congratulate and commend Father Nicolaos Zervas of St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Hamilton. Father Zervas, who was ordained for the Newcastle Greek community in 1973, recently delivered his forty-fifth Easter service at the church. In commemorating this memorable milestone, Father Zervas was surrounded by his four children and ten grandchildren. Father Zervas said the weekend's services took on extra significance. "It's special for me, I've been there for 45 years," he said, "I knew a lot of people who are no longer still around. I baptised thousands, I married hundreds ... so it's emotional for me." Father Zervas also revealed that he was thinking of retiring. We hope not yet, as he makes an outstanding contribution to the Newcastle community. Father Zervas received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1993 for his contribution to the community—a contribution he continues to this day. He is a volunteer with Meals on Wheels at Hamilton and he considers his involvement with the Northern Settlement Services one of his proudest achievements, along with his work on the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW. Father Zervas, well done and congratulations. NORTH SHORE ELECTORATE MARINE CONSERVATION Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (13:32): I acknowledge the work of Robin Tedder and other members of my North Shore community in advocating for a Sydney Marine Park to ensure the conservation of our marine environment and biodiversity. I am a supporter of preserving our marine environment, as we do our national parks. As the representative of a community bordered on three sides by Sydney Harbour, I am eager to see the introduction of sanctuary zones which will help our marine life to thrive and support the health of our harbour. I acknowledge two local world-leading organisations, the Sydney Institute of Marine Science in Chowder Bay and Taronga Zoo in Bradleys Head, for the work they do to both educate on and invest in marine conservation. As Liberals "we are all, at heart, conservationists …", as Robert Hill said. I am proud of the Liberal Party's impressive record on marine conservation, including the end of whaling in Australian waters, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park commencing in 1979 and the Greiner Government's establishment of the Solitary Islands Marine Reserve in 1991. I thank the Minister for the Environment for engaging with me as I advocate for this important proposal, including recommendations for Sydney Harbour zones within my own electorate of North Shore. ROTARY CLUB OF HOLROYD SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY Ms JULIA FINN (Granville) (13:33): On 26 April I was delighted to join members of the Rotary Club of Holroyd to celebrate their sixtieth anniversary. Over 70 people attended, including local Rotarians who were joined by many community leaders and friends from interstate, as well as past presidents of the club. The Rotary Club of Holroyd, which was chartered in 1958, strives to represent the highest ideals of Rotary International. The club has a proud history of contributing to local community projects, which include Ronald McDonald House; Riding for the Disabled; mentoring programs at Cerdon College, Merrylands, and Greystanes High School; renovating and extending a major garden at Greystanes High School; sponsoring an Indigenous health scholar through Australian Rotary Health; and facilitating raffles that have raised more than $70,000 for 55 community organisations. Rotarians come from a broad cross-section of our local community and are committed to giving their time and resources to serve local, national and international communities. Congratulations to President Sofia O'Donoughue, President Elect Pat Gerardis, Secretary Narelle Wilson, Treasurer Helen Wilson, and members of the board who contribute to build upon the club's proud history. KU-RING-GAI NETBALL ASSOCIATION Mr JONATHAN O'DEA (Davidson) (13:34): I acknowledge Ku-ring-gai Netball Association for generously donating 70 netball uniforms for use in the Solomon Islands. I was recently part of a New South Wales parliamentary delegation that delivered this gift during a short visit. As members of this Parliament would be aware, we have a twinning arrangement with the Solomon Islands whereby we share experiences on parliamentary processes and other matters. Ku-ring-gai Netball Association's [KNA] longstanding patron Brenda Williams Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 16

facilitated the donation on behalf of KNA. The association celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last year, and is the largest female sporting organisation on the North Shore. In early April I attended the first day of KNA netball, and another successful season is now well underway. I wish all those associated with KNA all the best for the future, and again I commend KNA's generosity. CLUB MARCONI CHESTNUT AND WINE FESTIVAL Mr GUY ZANGARI (Fairfield) (13:35): On Sunday 29 April 2018 Club Marconi celebrated its sixtieth annual Chestnut and Wine Festival. The chestnut festival is a celebration of culture and tradition, with fine Italian food, classic music and dancing. The perfect accompaniment to eating fresh roasted chestnuts is, of course, red wine. It was great to see the young, the young at heart and volunteers roast the 1.3 tonnes of chestnuts over hot coals in chestnut barrel roasters and chestnut pans. I congratulate the board of directors, the ladies auxiliary, staff and volunteers who organised this successful event. Club Marconi has much to be proud of, maintaining and promoting age-old traditions and Italian heritage. TAREE WINGHAM CLAY TARGET CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD (Myall Lakes) (13:36): I congratulate the Taree Wingham Clay Target Club, which hosted the New South Wales Northern Zone Clay Target Shooting Championship at the Cedar Party sports complex. Shooters from across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria attended the championship. Northern zone single barrel championship Port Macquarie shooter Hank MacInnes broke every target and received a perfect score of 50 out of 50. Local shooter Kerry Miller missed a lone target and settled for second overall with 49 out of 50. The zone double barrel championship was closely contested. A total of 13 shooters managed to hit all 50 targets, and the shoot-off came down to local shooter Phil Baker and Jason Owen. In the end, at the eighty-sixth target Owen failed to hit and Baker took the win. Baker also had success in the zone point score championship. Local Tammy Henshall also scored well. I congratulate the club. TRIBUTE TO JAMES WILLIAM MORRIS Ms LIESL TESCH (Gosford) (13:37): I commemorate the life of James William Morris. Although he was born over the ditch, James was the second President of the Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club and served on the Woy Woy Shire Council from 1929 to 1934. He was also instrumental in the establishment of Ettalong Public School, where his youngest son went to school. This was after an extraordinary contribution fighting for Australia. He lied about his age—then 15—and volunteered to fight in Sudan. He then joined the British Royal Marines, and remained with them until 1899. Scant evidence suggests he also fought in the Boer War. James was first to put up his hand when World War I broke out, sailing with the First Battalion for Egypt. He was shot at Gallipoli on the afternoon of 25 April, treated in hospital and returned to fight two weeks later. His performance at Lone Pine earned him a promotion, but he was sent home, unfit for service after another serious machine gun wound to his face. James passed in Randwick in 1939. Members of the Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club commemorated James, and all the men and women who have fought for the freedom of our great nation at their new memorial on Anzac Day this year. SPECIAL OLYMPICS AUSTRALIA NATIONAL GAMES Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (13:38): The Special Olympics Australia National Games were held in Adelaide from 16 to 20 April. As part of a very strong New South Wales team, 20 inspirational athletes from the Central Coast participated. All of these athletes have been training for months—even years—to perform their best in a range of competitions. I acknowledge the support from Gosford Freemasons who very kindly provided coach transport to the airport for the 20 local athletes. I congratulate Ron Elshaw and all the members of Central Coast Masonic Lodge for this act of generosity. Indeed, many members of the Freemasons live in my electorate of Terrigal, and I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank them for demonstrating the Freemason values of integrity, honesty, caring for others and personal development. I also congratulate all the local athletes who represented New South Wales at the recent Special Olympics in Adelaide. MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY Ms JULIA FINN (Granville) (13:39): On Sunday 22 April, I was delighted to join the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary at their fortieth anniversary mass. The thanksgiving mass was conducted by the Apostolic Nuncio of Australia, the Most Reverend Adolfo Tito Yllana, and celebrated the 40 years the sisters have been based at Granville. The sisters came to Australia in the mid-1970s and established a convent in the Blue Mountains. However, a bushfire destroyed the convent and the sisters moved to Granville. The beautiful mass was well attended and was a special occasion. I congratulate the sisters on the celebration and Father Andrew from Holy Trinity Church for the part he played. I also acknowledge Sister Justina, Sister Susanna and the other sisters. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 17

PORT MACQUARIE ELECTORATE COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS Mrs LESLIE WILLIAMS (Port Macquarie) (13:40): I acknowledge the Port Macquarie Timeless Quilters Association for its generous donation of $2,400 towards Orange Sky Laundry that was raised at its successful event, Share a Craft Day, held on 5 April 2018. Fundraisers Sue Jenner, Lee McGlashan and Dawn Lane proudly presented Alison Neale, the secretary of Make a Difference, with a cheque for $2,400 that will be used to upgrade the laundry's van to include a shower and to undertake much-needed repairs and maintenance to its vehicle. Make a Difference is a fantastic organisation that supports more than 3,000 homeless people each year by providing regular access to clean clothing and caring support volunteers who are more than happy to lend a supportive ear. It is humbling to see the community of Port Macquarie getting out in force to support the day to raise much-needed funds to continue the valuable support that Make a Difference provides to those in our community who find themselves homeless. I am very proud of the members of our outstanding community organisations in Port Macquarie who dedicate their time and efforts and their naturally-born talents to ensure people in need feel respected during times of hardship. NSW SENIORS LOCAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT PETER TRIST Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP (Newcastle) (13:41): I congratulate Newcastle City Library volunteer Peter Trist on winning the Newcastle 2018 NSW Seniors Local Achievement Award. Mr Trist received the award for his tireless volunteer work at the Newcastle City Library in initiating the popular Book Chat program. The program runs once a month and each meeting has a different literary theme carefully planned by Peter. Peter's program provides people from all walks of life with an opportunity to interact and to engage with an extensive range of people who they may never have had a reason or occasion to speak to before. Peter's warmth, acceptance and effort to include all who choose to attend Book Chat have significantly contributed to the long-term success of the library's program. Peter's dedication to his volunteer work illustrates the generosity and tenacity of seniors in Newcastle. I congratulate Peter. I am thrilled that his knowledge, skills and hard work enrich our local community in Newcastle. MIDDLE HARBOUR AMATEUR SAILING CLUB Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (13:42): The Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing Club has raced centreboard dinghies from its premises at The Spit in my electorate of North Shore for more than 50 years. The club caters for all levels of sailing, from novices to sailors with a high level of skill. On the water the racing is keen, with the starting and finishing of the day's racing being done by each member on a roster basis. Off the water, the club atmosphere is relaxed and congenial. Advice on rigging and trimming a Laser is freely available from any of the more experienced sailors in the club. I was pleased to visit the club last week to award it with a grant of $10,000 to invest in a retrieval ramp upgrade. I thank each of the committee members for the ongoing support they offer the club and our North Shore community, including the Commodore Chris Kelleway; Vice Commodore Graham Jennings; Secretary, Treasurer and Public Officer Jonathan Brown; Club Captain Diana Sissingh; Handicapper and Web Master Rob Lowndes; Catering Officer Sean Atherton-Feeney; and committee member Warwick Foy. I also thank the Minister for Sports and Premier Gladys Berejiklian for their ongoing support of grassroots community sporting groups. MEN CARE TOO FOUNDER GREG SMITH Ms LIESL TESCH (Gosford) (13:43): Hats off to Greg Smith at Men Care Too. Greg, who is a carer for his mum, recognised the need to support other male carers on the Central Coast and has established the non-for-profit Men Care Too. He sends out a very interesting and informative weekly newsletter to all those on his mailing list. He is also working with the very generous local Iris Foundation to support male carers and to offer opportunities to connect and to share. Greg is educating carers about the fact that they must also focus on their own health. He is inviting those who are supporting a family member or a friend with mental illness to attend an upcoming carers' Men's Day Out at Glenworth Valley. Carers will be kayaking and drumming and will have the opportunity to meet like-minded blokes performing similar roles. I was lucky enough to attend a viewing of the movie The Ripple Effect in support of Men Care Too, raising awareness about the impact of suicide in communities around the world. I commend Greg and his ongoing work to make the Central Coast community a better place to live. LOWER MID NORTH COAST RUGBY COMPETITION Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD (Myall Lakes) (13:44): I inform the House that the Lower Mid North Coast rugby competition is underway, and after the first few rounds it is obvious that the 2017 premiers, the Wallamba Bulls, are once again the club to watch. I am particularly pleased that this year women's rugby has been introduced to the competition. I congratulate the clubs and the players involved in the women's competition. I congratulate all the clubs involved in the competition—the Wallamba Bulls, the Forster Dolphins, the Manning Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 18

River Ratz, the Old Bar Clams and the Gloucester Cockies—on the standard of their rugby, the way they play rugby and for encouraging the growth of rugby through the women's competition. ANZAC DAY CEREMONIES Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown) (13:45): Last week I had the honour to attend three Anzac Day ceremonies in my electorate, each honouring the Diggers in a unique way. The Dudley community in particular chose to pay their respects at a dawn service, with players from the Dudley Magpies Rugby League Football Club wearing specially made jerseys and hoodies which have printed on them the names of fallen soldiers listed on the Dudley War Memorial. On the sleeves are the names of two Victoria Cross recipients, Clarence Jeffries and William Curry, both of whom went to Dudley Public School, the only school in the British Empire to have two Victoria Cross recipients. The players will also wear these jerseys at their next home game. Dudley is a small community with a small school, which has had an outstanding number of pupils serve our country, a legacy worth remembering. I commend the Dudley Magpies for taking the initiative to pay their respects and provide a legacy for the Dudley community. TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery): I will leave the Chair. The House will resume at 2.15 p.m. Visitors VISITORS The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I extend a very warm welcome to William Davidson, Barry Hatter and Arthur Scott, who were commemorated earlier today at the event celebrating justices of the peace who have served their communities for 50 years or more, guests of the Speaker, and member for South Coast. I also welcome Arabella Gibson, Professor Bryanne Barnett, Jarrod Bowditch and David Cotton, who are representing the Gidget Foundation Australia, guests of the Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales, Minister for Skills, and Minister for Small Business, and member for Monaro. I acknowledge students and teachers from Marist College Eastwood, guests of the Minister for Finance, Services and Property, and member for Ryde. I acknowledge also students from the Australian Catholic University. I welcome all of you to the Chamber. Commemorations CENTENARY OF FIRST WORLD WAR The DEPUTY SPEAKER (14:20): On 26 April 1918, Martin Place was a blaze of colour. From dawn until nearly midnight, the area was packed with stalls, each bedecked with flags and bunting, from which women and girls sold homemade sweets, homegrown produce and handmade trinkets to raise funds for the Red Cross. The seven- and six-year-old daughters of Governor Davidson spent all afternoon presiding over a lucky dip at the Edith Cavell memorial stall, while the wife of Premier Holman ran a stall on Pitt Street corner selling vegetables, jams and preserves. But the fundraising stalls were not confined to Martin Place. Branches of the Volunteer Aid Detachment positioned stalls on every corner of George Street—from Central to Circular Quay, as well as along Pitt, Elizabeth, Macquarie, Castlereagh, Bridge and Hunter streets. Mrs John Jacob Cohen, the wife of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, had a stall outside David Jones. Her husband was a long-serving executive committee member of the Red Cross Society in Australia. The Victoria, Imperial and Strand arcades competed to outdo one another in both decorations and fundraising efforts, and a special matinee show was performed at Her Majesty's Theatre. Across the State every town held a Red Cross fete. The massive fundraising efforts of Australian Red Cross Day 1918 raised a staggering £400,000, which in today's currency, allowing for inflation, would be approximately $32 million. It was an extraordinary day and testament to the determination of the women and girls on the home front to contribute to the war effort, and to provide support and care for the troops, particularly the wounded. Lest we forget. Announcements DEATH OF BENJAMIN JOEL SMITH The DEPUTY SPEAKER (14:22): It is with deep regret that I inform the House of the tragic passing of Benjamin Joel Smith. As members would be aware, Ben was the Speaker's son-in-law. Ben was well known and highly respected in the local community. Together with his father, Bruce, he farmed 1,645 hectares at Warranoy, Wallendbeen, between Young and Cootamundra in southern New South Wales, running more than 2,000 head of sheep and 50 breeding Angus cows, as well as producing wheat and canola. Tragically, Ben's life Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 19

was cut short, and so many of us alongside the Smith and Hancock families grieve his loss. Ben is survived by his wife, Rachel, and children Grace, Van and Jai. The Speaker has taken extended leave from Parliament as she supports her daughter, grandchildren and family through this difficult time. On behalf of the Speaker I thank all members for their kind messages over the past few days. On behalf of this House, and the Parliament, I extend our thoughts and prayers to Ben's family as they grieve his loss. Bills SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2018 CHILD PROTECTION (WORKING WITH CHILDREN) AMENDMENT (STATUTORY REVIEW) BILL 2018 Assent The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I report receipt of messages from the Governor notifying His Excellency's assent to the abovementioned bills. Governor ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I report receipt of the following message from His Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor: GOVERNMENT HOUSE SYDNEY, 22 APRIL2018 T F Bathurst LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR The Honourable Thomas Frederick Bathurst, AC, Lieutenant-Governor of the State of New South Wales, has the honour to inform the Legislative Assembly that, consequent on the Governor of New South Wales, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley, AC, DSC (Ret'd), being absent from the State, he has assumed the administration of the Government of the State. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I report receipt of the following message from His Excellency, the Governor: GOVERNMENT HOUSE SYDNEY, 23 APRIL 2018 David Hurley GOVERNOR General David Hurley, AC, DSC (Ret'd), Governor of New South Wales has the honour to inform the Legislative Assembly that he has re-assumed the administration of the Government of the State. Question Time CASTLEREAGH FREEWAY CORRIDOR Mr LUKE FOLEY (Auburn) (14:26): My question is directed to the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight. In a Facebook video on 26 March the Minister was filmed jumping for joy, stating that the Castlereagh Corridor was "finally determined". When the Minister was jumping for joy, did she know that hundreds of family homes would be destroyed because of her Government's decision to move the corridor? Mrs MELINDA PAVEY (Oxley—Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight) (14:26): I acknowledge and thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. Yes, there was certainly some positive reflection from the people of the Central West when we said we were going to consultation about the corridors to provide a better transport option for the people of the Central West, and also an alternative for the people of the Blue Mountains. We have been very engaged in listening to that consultation and in listening to those communities because we have made no determination. We are determined to provide transport and traffic relief to the people of Western Sydney. We have started a process of consultation. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call the member for Londonderry to order for the first time. Mrs MELINDA PAVEY: We have started a process of consultation to get feedback from the people of Western Sydney as we design the future for the people New South Wales and Western Sydney. We are committed to ensuring that there are better public transport options and better road transport options—not only for the people who live there but also for the people who need to travel to the Central West of New South Wales. The Government will continue to consult. We will continue— Mr Luke Foley: So it is not finally determined anymore? Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 20

Mrs MELINDA PAVEY: If you had actually read a document instead of just a press release from Prue Car you might actually understand the process. Do your homework. Mr Luke Foley: You have been reading a lot of them. Mrs MELINDA PAVEY: Do your homework, Luke Foley, if you want to be the Premier of this State. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Minister will resume her seat. I call the member for Keira to order for the first time. Ms Jodi McKay: Point of order: It is about the Minister directing her comments across the table and not through the Chair. However, what I will say to the Minister is that in that video she clearly says it has been determined. I have made my point of order. The Minister said they determined it The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call the member for Strathfield to order for the first time. The Minister has the call. [Interruption] The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call the member for Keira to order for the second time. Mrs MELINDA PAVEY: Our Government will continue to listen. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call the member for Keira to order for the third time. Mrs MELINDA PAVEY: Our Government will continue to work with those communities that are affected; we will continue to listen to what they say. We have not determined an absolute corridor. We are seeking input from the communities. We will work with them. However, be assured of one thing: we will do our homework and we will provide a better future for the people of this State. STATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES Ms MELANIE GIBBONS (Holsworthy) (14:30): My question is addressed to the Premier. How is the New South Wales Government getting on with the job of delivering better services for the people of New South Wales? Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN (Willoughby—Premier) (14:30): I thank the member for Holsworthy for the question because I know that she, alongside all of our members in this place, appreciates that it is not only important for Government to build infrastructure but also for Government to provide the quality services for that infrastructure. Last night at midnight clocked an important milestone. The Minister for Transport and I were able to announce today that Opal has hit two billion trips. In the early 1990s, members may recall that those opposite had started to talk about the T-card and they promised— Ms Tania Mihailuk: Those were the days. Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN: "Those were the days," said the member for Bankstown. Indeed. Broken promises— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock. It is only one minute into the second question. We will reach a time when questions will be asked and answers will be listened to. The Premier has the call. Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN: They made a number of promises. The final promise they made was that the T-card would be ready for the Sydney Olympics in the year 2000, but that never happened. Those opposite were in government for 11 years after the Sydney Olympics, but they still could not deliver the T-card. We came to Government— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock. The Premier has the call. Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN: I know those opposite want to forget. We came to Government in 2011 and by December 2012 the Opal card had started to work. In less roughly less than two years, we made something work that for 20 years they could not make work. The Opal card has clocked up not only two billion trips but it is also the largest system of its kind in the world. It covers 40,000 square kilometres and there is not a system like it anywhere. For those who I know are interested in transport statistics, I know the Minister is, it covers 300— Ms Yasmin Catley: They start at Newcastle. Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN: I am happy to talk about Newcastle. We are investing more in Newcastle then those opposite ever did. They should hang their heads in shame about Newcastle. We are delivering what those opposite never did. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 21

In addition to the number of trips, we are pleased to announce also that commuters have saved about $160 million in that time through the discounts we offer to encourage people to use public transport. We are very pleased with the way it is going. Customers are voting with their feet; they are tapping on and off and using Opal like never before. Again this demonstrates a project we had up and running within two years of coming to government. Those opposite could not deliver it in more than 20 years; they left a big hole in the budget with nothing to show for it. We came into government, fixed it and delivered it. While I am speaking about frontline services, not only are our frontline transport services providing very important support to our customers but last week I was very pleased to join the Minister for Health at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital to meet some of the new nursing recruits. This year we have welcomed 2,400 nurses and midwives to New South Wales, which is a record number and brings the total of nurses and midwives in New South Wales to more than 51,000, which is a record high. Since we have been in government more than 6,700 nurses and midwives have been welcomed into the system. Last week the Minister for Health and I saw demonstrations of how these new trainees are getting used to the job and how they are building confidence to save lives. We thank each and every one of those nurses and midwives for choosing to work in New South Wales. On Friday, while the Minister for Police was doing important work in Kokoda, I attended the attestation ceremony in Goulburn with the Minister for Family and Community Services and the member for Goulburn where we saw an extra 230 police officers graduate from that wonderful academy. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Maitland to order for the first time. Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN: Do those opposite have a problem with new police officers? [Extension of time] Since we have been in government we have welcomed nearly 1,000 extra police officers into the workforce. I take this opportunity to thank all of our frontline workers. They know that with the Liberals and The Nationals they have a government committed not only to building infrastructure but also to supporting them to ensure that they are undertaking their jobs to the best of their ability. That is why we are the party for the workers. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Maitland to order for the second time. Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN: We support all of our frontline workers, whether they are nurses, teachers or police officers. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Stop the clock. I remind the member for Keira that he is on three calls to order. The Premier has the call. Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN: We have the resources to ensure that not only do we have enough frontline workers but that we also support them in the workplace day in and day out. That is why we are ensuring that we have the best infrastructure, equipment and services to support those frontline workers and are ensuring that they have all the support they need on the front line to save lives, protect the community and enable our citizens to enjoy the benefits of their services. CASTLEREAGH FREEWAY CORRIDOR Ms PRUE CAR (Londonderry) (14:37): My question is directed to the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight. What does the Minister say to people such as Dianne Xiberras from Cranebrook, who is in the gallery today, who purchased her family home 26 years ago on official government advice about the existing Castlereagh freeway but now faces the prospect of a motorway going through her kitchen? Mrs MELINDA PAVEY (Oxley—Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight) (14:38): I thank the member for Londonderry for her question and for raising the concerns of people within her electorate. That is her job and that is why she is here. To Dianne I say: Thank you for coming to Parliament today. We are listening to you. I understand what you are going through and I am concerned. That is why we are having this consultation period. It is important that we do that because changes were made to the original corridor due to concerns about threatened species legislation. That is what we are dealing with at the moment. But I can say to Dianne that no determination has been made. We are listening and we are consulting. People's voices and their attendance at public meetings are making a difference. Those opposite think this is a laughing matter. It is not. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I know there is a lot of concern over this issue. Mr Michael Daley: There sure is. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call the member for Maroubra to order for the first time. [Interruption] Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 22

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Londonderry asked the question and the Minister is doing her best to answer it. The Minister will be heard in silence. Mrs MELINDA PAVEY: Dianne, it is not a laughing matter, which those opposite tried to make it; it is serious and we take your representation and attendance here very seriously. We have not determined the corridors. We are listening to you and thank you for being here. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: When the member for Newtown has finished, we will continue. REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Mrs LESLIE WILLIAMS (Port Macquarie) (14:40): My question is addressed to the Deputy Premier. How is the New South Wales Government improving access to mental health services in regional communities? Mr JOHN BARILARO (Monaro—Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales, Minister for Skills, and Minister for Small Business) (14:40): I thank the member for Port Macquarie for her question not only in her capacity as the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health but also as someone who has been a strong advocate for mental health, particularly mental health services in regional and rural communities. Tomorrow is World Maternal Mental Health Day, which gives me the opportunity to speak about an event that happened a couple of weeks ago that the New South Wales Government supported. I am not sure if many in this place know much about the Gidget Foundation, but it is a foundation that I believe will change the way in which we deliver mental health services, particularly for mums and dads who struggle through perinatal depression and anxiety. I believe the foundation will continue to grow and be a service that we will be very proud of. That is why I am proud to speak today about something a little bit different from what I normally speak about in relation to services to the regions. I acknowledge the presence in the gallery today of Arabella Gibson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Gidget Foundation; Professor Bryanne Barnett, who is a board director of the foundation; and also David Cotton. The Gidget Foundation is named after David Cotton's daughter—a vibrant young woman who was nicknamed "Gidget". Gidget was in her early thirties when she gave birth to her first baby, Jasmine. At the time, Gidget told her mum how she loved the birth and looked forward to having more children. Soon, though, Gidget began to suffer from postnatal depression, but she never recognised that she was suffering from depression and anxiety. She hid her struggles from her loving husband, family and friends, and eventually took her own life. She was 34 and Jasmine was just nine months old. Perinatal depression and anxiety [PNDA] is a condition commonly experienced by women during pregnancy and in the year following the birth of a baby. New fathers can also experience PNDA. Perinatal depression and anxiety affects one in five mothers and one in 10 fathers. When we have children it should be a joyous and beautiful time, but it is also a very vulnerable time for young families, and for those living in regional areas it is very difficult to seek counselling, support and professional help, especially if one has to travel far from home. That is why a couple of weeks ago the Gidget Foundation Australia launched a fantastic program called Start Talking. I, together with the Minister for Mental Health; the Parliamentary Secretary in the other place, the Hon. Bronnie Taylor; the Minister for Early Childhood Education, the Hon. Sarah Mitchell; and the member for North Shore attended the foundation launch. The Government has made a commitment of $270,000 to support this program because we know that for those who live in regional and rural New South Wales the tyranny of distance, the lack of services and at times the isolation can be difficult. The Gidget Foundation offers free specialist perinatal psychological counselling via video call for parents living in regional areas. Gidget Foundation clients will receive a GP-referred mental health plan, which includes up to seven one-hour video call sessions with a trained psychologist. On the foundation day we heard some real- life stories that touched me, the Minister and all those who were in attendance. I acknowledge Brigid Glanville, the master of ceremonies at the foundation launch, for her courageous article in the Sydney Morning Herald—her story touched so many people. Many members of Parliament got in contact with Brigid about her story—a story that in my household brought up some things that my wife and I went through many years ago when she had a miscarriage at 16 weeks on Christmas Eve. There was also the whole period before the next pregnancy—the feeling of having a ticking time bomb and the anxiety around that. This is something that many families and people from all walks of life deal with. That is why the Gidget Foundation is fantastic. It delivers a service across the board. It is a new foundation but it deserves the support of all. I am proud that the New South Wales Government has, in the first instance, been able to assist with a $270,000 commitment. More importantly, the foundation will need more money, and I call on the corporates out there and anyone else who may want to support it. [Extension of time] Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 23

At the launch I also met a mum from Gerringong named Chelsea. Chelsea spoke about her beautiful daughter Clara and her positive birthing experience. However, the days and months that followed were far from positive. Chelsea shared a heartbreaking story about her personal struggle with perinatal depression and anxiety, and how she considered taking her own life. Her story touched me. There were also videos on the day of other people who are struggling. The Gidget Foundation is running an advertisement that I think touched everyone who saw it. People from all walks of life and in every profession suffer depression and anxiety. It is an issue that we all must grapple with. As a Government, we sometimes get caught up in talking about the billions of dollars worth of infrastructure we are building and project business cases. We must remind ourselves why we were elected to this place: We are here to support the people in our communities, our constituents. At the heart of our communities are young families, individuals—mother and fathers. We need to make sure that as a Government we do not lose sight of our role in society. In this case, it is an opportunity to partner with a foundation that I believe will change the way we deliver services, especially in regional New South Wales. I am a member from regional New South Wales and represent an electorate of 25,000 square kilometres that extends to the corners of the State border with Victoria, including some very isolated areas. Members come from across the State, and it is important to reach out. I will conclude with some comments that the chairman, Dr Vijay Roach, made at the launch. He said, "The most important message is that you will get better. We are there to care for you, to love you, to put our arms around you. The Gidget Foundation Australia will help you get better." They are great words from a foundation that we will learn more about in the years to come. CASTLEREAGH FREEWAY CORRIDOR Ms PRUE CAR (Londonderry) (14:47:5): My question is directed to the Deputy Premier, and Leader of The Nationals. On 27 March he said it was "a huge day for the Central West as we announce the Castlereagh Corridor preservation, connecting Bells Line of Road with the future M9 and current M7 orbital motorways." Was it also a huge day for hundreds of families in Western Sydney, whose lives have been turned upside down as they face the prospect of losing their homes? Mr JOHN BARILARO (Monaro—Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales, Minister for Skills, and Minister for Small Business) (14:48:3): I thank the member for Londonderry for her question. We heard the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight explain that, as a Government, one of the commitments we always make is to ensure we build the infrastructure not just for today but for generations to come. We all know that traversing the Blue Mountains and opening up the Central West have been issues confronting governments and communities for a long time. For the first time we are making sure that we put in place a future plan for a corridor not only as per the Minister's earlier response—dealing with congestion and traffic arrangements, transport and freight throughout Western Sydney, especially from the Blue Mountains—but also to open up the Central West. We will do that through a consultative process. The Minister has already said today that the matter is out for consultation. The problem with the member for Londonderry is that we know her track record when it comes to putting the facts aside and bending the truth. We remember the story of Kingswood TAFE, when she said that the Government was closing the TAFE and behind her there were the cranes in the sky and we were investing $20 million in TAFE. The member for Londonderry never lets the facts and the truth get in the way. The member for Londonderry is probably struggling— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Clerk will stop the clock. Members will come to order. Mr JOHN BARILARO: We have had two really good responses from the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight explaining that we are out for consultation. She told Diane in the gallery that we are listening. So why do you not judge us at the end of the process rather than at the start? Stop the scare campaign. This is what you are really good at—using real issues as political footballs for political advantage for yourselves, without any respect or care for the individual. You do not care about individuals who are affected by the corridor. Mr Jihad Dib: Point of order: I ask that you request the Deputy Premier to direct his comments through the Chair. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier will direct his remarks through the Chair. Mr JOHN BARILARO: It is absolutely clear that Opposition members do not care about the constituents or the people affected. They will use every issue as a political football. We have seen this happen before and will see it again in the future. We will continue with the transparent process, allow the community to have a voice and then we will respond. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Londonderry to order for the second time. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 24

Mr JOHN BARILARO: I have complete confidence in the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight conducting a consultation process that allows people who are genuinely affected to be heard. I have more confidence that this Government at the end of the process will respond—as we have always done—in a way that is in line with the community. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The member for Londonderry asked the question. She will listen to the answer. Mr JOHN BARILARO: We make no apologies that we are interested in building the infrastructure that unblocks traffic. We make no apologies that we want to open up the Central West to freight. We make no apologies that we want a process that includes those affected. Your track record is to shut down Parliament and sign off. We know about some of the decisions made by your Ministers who are now doing time in jail. We know about your processes, so do not try to judge us based on the manner in which you guys ran government because the past is a good lesson about the future. Ms Jodi McKay: Point of order: I ask that you request the Deputy Premier to direct his comments through the Chair. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier will direct his remarks through the Chair. Mr JOHN BARILARO: I thank the member for her interruption—it allowed me to settle down a little. Before I resumed my seat I heard an interjection that I will do a backflip. Those opposite say, "Please listen and please consult" and, as soon as we consult and make a change or perhaps make a different announcement, they call it a backflip. We call that listening and engaging; we call that consulting with the community. The Opposition's track record speaks for itself. History is a good lesson about what the future will look like. As I said, we know that the member of Londonderry never lets the facts get in the way of a good public relations stunt or a good story. My message to those opposite is: Stop using these issues as a political wedge and start campaigning on what they stand for—not what they stand against. STATE ECONOMY Mr DAMIEN TUDEHOPE (Epping) (14:53): My question is addressed to the Treasurer, and Minister for Industrial Relations. How has the New South Wales Government reformed the economy to ensure fairness for the people of New South Wales, and are there any alternatives? Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET (Hawkesbury—Treasurer, and Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:54): I thank the member for Epping for his question and for the great work he does representing his local community. Importantly, I wish him a happy May Day. I wish you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and the Premier a happy May Day because May Days are always better under Liberal-Nationals governments than they are under Labor governments. There are more jobs, more workers and more opportunities under a Coalition Government than under those opposite. The Liberal-Nationals Government is focused on making New South Wales strong, free and fair. Over the past seven years we have worked hard to rebuild New South Wales after the lost decades under those opposite. They left the budget in a mess; they left the State saddled with debt and they introduced tax after tax on small businesses and families across New South Wales. They do not like the truth, but after 16 years what did we get? We got a $30 billion infrastructure backlog. It is no surprise that under those opposite New South Wales was the worst-performing economy in the country. Since 2011 the Government has turned around the fortunes of this State with a very sensible performance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Clerk will stop the clock. Members will come to order. Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET: As members would be well aware, we enacted the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which has controlled spending, and we implemented a strong wages policy—opposed by those opposite— that balances fairness with responsibility. We have reformed our workers compensation scheme—opposed by those opposite—giving greater support to the most seriously injured workers. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Cessnock to order for the first time. Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET: We have recycled our assets, cut waste and reduced taxes. We have created the right conditions for business, for employment and for jobs. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Maitland to order for the third time. Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET: Members should not take it from me. This work has been recognised in the latest CommSec State of the States report, which shows that New South Wales is number one for the Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 25

fifteenth consecutive quarter in a row. That means more jobs and more opportunities for families and communities across New South Wales. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I remind the member for Maitland that she is on three calls to order. Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET: I am not going to gloat. Whether we are one, two or three, at least we are not numbers seven and eight, which is what occurred under the Labor Party. We should never forget that the Labor Party opposed every single reform measure that has put our State back on top. Every measure we have taken to balance the books Labor has opposed. When we boosted the economy, Labor opposed it. We build more infrastructure; Labor opposes it. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Cessnock to order for the second time. Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET: As we are seeing today, those opposite pursue short-term political opportunities over what is in the best interests of the people of this great State. They claim that they are not a party in the business of success but a party in the business of fairness. There is nothing fair about having the worst-performing economy in the country. There is nothing fair about having the highest unemployment rate. There is nothing fair about delivering no infrastructure and racking up debt and deficit, because those things have real consequences for people across this State. Mr Deputy Speaker, when Labor members talk about fairness they mean taking more money from your hard work and giving it to those who vote for them. They will always put their unions before the people of New South Wales. There is no greater example of this than the recent treatment we saw of the member for Kogarah—a man who stands up for principle, a man of integrity, a man who looks out for the people of New South Wales. He is focused on his community and the people of New South Wales above his union masters. I say to the member for Kogarah, as they try to kick him out of this place: Leave the dark side; join us. We will run you for Kogarah and we will win. [Extension of time] While the member for Kogarah and I are focused on the real issues facing the people of New South Wales, we know that Labor is obsessed with the unions, with identity politics and with sidelining middle Australia. I found a perfect example of this recently on one of my favourite Facebook pages. The Labor Party is holding a competition at the moment—"An Evening with Hillary Rodham Clinton". It is giving away tickets. One ticket is $10, five tickets are $30, 30 tickets are $50 and 100 tickets are $100. I would have thought they are high prices. The person who ran the worst presidential campaign in United States history is coming to New South Wales to mentor the worst Opposition leader in this State's history. Can members imagine the meeting—crooked Hillary with low-energy Luke, lazy Daley, little Ryan and Jodas of Strathfield all in the one place together? The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer will refer to members by their correct titles. Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET: A losers' tour—first stop, Sussex Street. Ms Jodi McKay: Point of order: My point of order is under Standing Order 129. The question was specifically about the economy and also alternative views. This is way beyond that. I ask that you bring the Treasurer back to the question. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question was broad ranging. There is no point of order. Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET: It is completely relevant to the economy because we know what Labor's philosophy leads to. On this side of the House we will continue to deliver for the people of New South Wales. We do not mind, and are completely relaxed, if those opposite want to take advice from Hillary Clinton because as far as we are concerned, when it comes to losing, #they're with her. ROZELLE COMPULSORY LAND ACQUISITION Ms JODI McKAY (Strathfield) (15:02:0): My question is directed to the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight. This morning the Supreme Court found that Roads and Maritime Services acted with an improper purpose in seeking to acquire land at Rozelle. Given that the Minister personally signed off on the acquisition, can she explain how this occurred and why she, as Minister, failed to prevent it? Mrs MELINDA PAVEY (Oxley—Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight) (15:02): I thank the member for her important question. Roads and Maritime Services today is analysing the judgement handed down by the Supreme Court. Until we have properly analysed that information, in consultation with my colleague the Minister for WestConnex, we will not be making any further statements at this time. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Strathfield to order for the second time. I call the member for Maroubra to order for the second time. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 26

CANCER RESEARCH Mr MARK TAYLOR (Seven Hills) (15:03:0): My question is addressed to the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research. How is the New South Wales Government investing in cancer research to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment plans? Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst—Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research) (15:04): I thank the member for Seven Hills for his question. I note his interest in what is a very challenging topic for us and for our entire community. Yesterday the member accompanied me, the Premier and the Federal Minister for Health on a visit to the Children's Medical Research Institute at Westmead to announce further major funding, and I will address that issue in a moment. Before I came into the House today I attended the Pink Lady luncheon held by the Breast Cancer Network Australia. As I sat in the room with about 600 women and some men, I contemplated what cancer can do to so many of us. Sometimes we think we are immune to these sorts of things. But I remember when I first came to this place, in 1991, I met a former member for Parramatta, Andrew Ziolkowski, who was a member of the Labor Party. Andrew passed away when he was only 30 years old. He used to sit at the back of the Chamber and was always light hearted and stirring, but he got very ill. I think back on all the people who have been in this place, many of whom have passed away or who have suffered from cancer and survived. Not so long ago Kathy Smith, the former member for Gosford, passed away. Nick Lalich, the member for Cabramatta, is fighting cancer. Tony McGrane, the former Independent member for Dubbo, and Dr John Kaye from The Greens in the other House have passed away. Members' families have also been touched by cancer. I know that the wife of the member for Terrigal, Jill—I met her recently when I was at Gosford visiting the new hospital facilities that this Government is providing there—has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer yet is still working in the cancer centre at Gosford Hospital. I think all of us have been affected in some way by cancer. My sister-in-law passed away five years ago from very aggressive breast cancer. As a Government—and I am sure I speak also on behalf of the Opposition— there is nothing we would like better than to do more to ensure that all forms of cancer are addressed. It was therefore with great pleasure that yesterday I, Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the members for Seven Hills and for Parramatta and the Federal Minister visited the Children's Medical Research Institute at Westmead. We all know that the Government is spending $900 million rebuilding Westmead Hospital—and the Government will build more once we go past stage one. What people perhaps do not know is what the Government is doing for our community by putting money into some of these very challenging areas of research into diseases that come under the loose heading of "cancer". It was a great pleasure to attend the launch with the Federal Minister. It is a challenge as every day there are pressing issues that the Government has to spend money on. I thank the New South Wales Treasurer for putting money aside—in fact, $21 million to join with the Federal Government's contribution of $20 million—to fund the group called ProCan. ProCan forms part of the Children's Medical Research Institute at the Westmead campus and it is an amazing facility. The physical layout of the institute is incredible. It has a range of the latest technological devices to screen the elements that can contribute to cancer. It also has the most amazing staff. We were in the company of the co-directors of ProCan, Professor Roger Reddel and Professor Phil Robinson. To hear them speak with such enthusiasm about the research they are bringing to this great task of trying to defeat cancer was an experience I will not forget. Professor Robinson calls himself a "cell biologist" but he is actually one of the world's pre-eminent researchers in this area. Professor Reddel came to research from a different area. He is from the medical area—a doctor. [Extension of time] Since 2016, Professor Reddel and Professor Robinson have put together an amazing research team that is working across a range of areas but is focused particularly on proteomes, which are the proteins that may contribute to cancer. In fact, we know they contribute to cancer but how they contribute and how we can address them are difficulties that Professor Reddel and Professor Robinson and their research team are seeking to find the answers to. As I said yesterday at the launch of the new facility, which our Government and the Federal Government funded jointly—to extend it, employ more staff and do whatever else needs to be done—when I was a science teacher decades ago Watson and Crick proposed the theoretical DNA model. Since that time, through research at many facilities worldwide we have arrived at a much more profound understanding of deoxyribonucleic acid—or DNA—and the genome that determines so much of what we are and the diseases that will affect us. We have now gone to the proteomics level—we are down to the proteins—and that is what ProCan is focusing on particularly. I must also mention the role of immunotherapy, which is also being studied as part of a range of initiatives to address cancer. Yesterday the Premier and I heard from Elizabeth, an 11- or 12-year-old girl from Oakhill Public School. Elizabeth has been through the most challenging times for a couple of years, including having all sorts of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. ProCan holds out the hope that we can get targeted, specific solutions by identifying the tumours and proteins and giving doctors the capacity within 36 hours to target the cancer with the right drug. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 27

I think what our Government and the Federal Government are doing in this area, and indeed what so many researchers want to do, will certainly take us closer to solving the problem of cancer. ROZELLE COMPULSORY LAND ACQUISITION Mr MICHAEL DALEY (Maroubra) (15:11): My question is directed to the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight. When the Minister's office and department finally get around to analysing today's onerous judgement from the Supreme Court, they will find that His Honour Justice Hammerschlag said, "The RMS was motivated by an improper purpose," and that the Government therefore in relation to WestConnex attempted to unlawfully acquire land from a private company at Rozelle. Will the Minister now look into how many other people have had their homes and businesses taken from them without justification by her Government? Mrs MELINDA PAVEY (Oxley—Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight) (15:12): I acknowledge the question and thank the member for Maroubra for his question. He represents a party that sold off the corridors. Good on them! I am pleased that the member has had the time to read the judgement, just as we are reading this very important judgement. Mr Michael Daley: I finished it before midday. Mrs MELINDA PAVEY: Opposition members think this is a laughing matter. It is an important judgement and, as I said in my previous answer, we will take the right amount of time to consider it and analyse it, and at the appropriate time we will come back with further information about our plans moving forward. We have plans. We have plans for this city. We have plans for Western Sydney. We have plans for regional New South Wales. We have plans to get rid of the traffic chaos that those opposite left us with when they sold off the corridors. Mr Michael Daley: Point of order: Sometimes you just have bad days, Minister, and sometimes on your feet you can make them worse. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Maroubra will take his seat. There is no point of order. Mrs MELINDA PAVEY: As this matter is subject to possible future legal action, Roads and Maritime Services is unable to provide further comment at this point, as I have previously said. This is a Government determined to develop infrastructure in New South Wales that will liberate people from traffic jams left by Labor. Ms Jodi McKay: Point of order: My point of order is Standing Order 129. The Minister was asked about compulsory acquisitions and reviewing compulsory acquisitions. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Minister has completed her answer. POLITICAL DONATIONS Mr JAMES GRIFFIN (Manly) (15:15): My question is directed to the Special Minister of State. Will the Special Minister of State advise the House of the Government's response to recent community concerns around Labor donations from a convicted criminal? Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS (Lane Cove—Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing, and Special Minister of State) (15:15): I probably can. As surprising as this question was, I thank the member for it. Donations are a part of our political process. The right of individuals, corporations and organisations to donate to political parties for the purpose of electoral expenditure has been affirmed by the High Court. The onus is therefore on us, the public's representatives, to do the right thing and act with honesty, transparency and integrity with respect to those donations. Between 2003 and 2009 property developer Ron Medich contributed some $260,000 to the Australian Labor Party, New South Wales Branch. It gives me no pleasure to inform the House that, when Medich was accused of the murder of businessman Michael McGurk, the Australian Labor Party—under the then Secretary and now disgraced Senator Sam Dastyari—solemnly promised to the people of New South Wales that, if Medich was found guilty the Australian Labor Party, New South Wales Branch, would donate that money to charity. It gives me no pleasure to inform the House that Dastyari's lieutenants at the time were Mr Foley and Mr Minns. Further, it gives me no pleasure to inform the House that Dastyari said, "Should Mr Medich be convicted, these funds will be donated to charity"—the exact words. Further, in this House John Aquilina, then Leader of the House, went a step further and assured the people of New South Wales that the Medich funds would be frozen and placed into trust. Two weeks ago Mr Medich was found guilty of murder. What did Labor do with the cash? We have now discovered that they have already spent the blood money. Is it possible that there is a correlation between the $260,000 debit from Mr Medich in the Sussex Street income column and the $260,000 credit in the Labor Party Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 28

General Secretary's account after Mr Clements' sacking in 2016? They are similar amounts. I guess we will never know, except that it is unlikely that Labor used the money for elections, as it lost them all after 2010. The official excuse as to why Labor would not answer the questions—cop this one!—the reason it went back on its promise to donate the blood money was that the promise was almost a decade old. It seems that Labor promises in New South Wales have a statute of limitations. It was easier for those opposite, easier for Labor, to keep the money than keep a promise. How quick was the Opposition leader to backflip when this Government and the people of New South Wales called for that blood money to be donated immediately to charity, as was promised? It took immense political, media and public pressure to make those opposite relent. Where was that virtue when the Leader of the Opposition was on the phone to Sussex Street and they said, "We're not giving over the money. That was a promise from yesterday or a week before. We don't keep promises; we're keeping the money"? Where were those opposite and the Leader of the Opposition, then assistant secretary, when the former leader did not freeze the funds or place them in trust but went on a spending spree? There is a light here. That behaviour stands in stark contrast to that of Mr Foley's deputy, Michael Daley, who a few weeks earlier had revealed that unbeknownst to him the Labor Party had received $15,000 from a developer. What was Mr Daley's response, in contrast to his leader's? Mr Daley's immediate response was, "No, no—never. We're going to hand that back, and we're going to do it right away." That is the contrast between someone with integrity— [Extension of time] I contrast the behaviour of Mr Daley to how the Labor bosses in Sussex Street dealt with Medich's bloody money. They delayed and they distracted, and even now they are churning out emails to members asking for suggestions as to whom the money should go to. It is the same old Labor keeping the same old form: It is easier to keep the money than to honour a promise. We are putting Labor on notice today: The Government has not forgotten its broken promise from 2010, and we will not forget its promise of last week. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call the member for Port Stephens to order for the second time. Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS: I am telling those opposite that they had better donate that money to charity. Let us give it to the victims of crime, give it to that charity. Labor must donate that money or face serious consequences, and that is a promise. Who thinks the money should go to victims of crime? No-one opposite. Mr Troy Grant: Grace's Cottage. Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS: Grace's Cottage—there is any number of charities. I put those opposite on notice that by midday tomorrow the Opposition leader must reveal which charities will receive the $260,000. I am asking the Leader of the Opposition to do the right thing. Mr Luke Foley: Point of order— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Minister has completed his answer. Documents INSPECTOR OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CONDUCT COMMISSION Reports The CLERK: In accordance with section 49 of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007, I announce receipt of the report of the Inspector of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission entitled "Report under Section 49 (1) of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 for the period ending 31 December 2017", dated April 2018, received 19 April 2018 and authorised to be printed. Committees COMMITTEE ON THE OMBUDSMAN, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CONDUCT COMMISSION AND THE CRIME COMMISSION Reports The CLERK: I announce receipt of the Government Response to Report 3/56 of the Committee on the Ombudsman, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and the Crime Commission entitled "Review of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994", received 19 April 2018 and authorised to be printed. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 29

COMMITTEE ON THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION Reports The CLERK: I announce receipt of the Government Response to Report 4/56 of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption entitled "Protections for people who make voluntary disclosures to the Independent Commission Against Corruption", received 19 April 2018 and authorised to be printed. Documents AUDITOR-GENERAL Reports The CLERK: In accordance with section 63C of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, I announce receipt of the following reports of the Auditor-General: Financial Audit Report entitled "Report on Local Government 2017", dated 20 April 2018, received 20 April 2018, and authorised to be printed. Performance Audit Report entitled "Managing risks in the NSW public sector: risk culture and capability", dated 23 April 2018, received 23 April 2018, and authorised to be printed. Committees LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Report: Legislation Review Digest No. 53/56 Mr JAMES GRIFFIN: I table the report of the Legislation Review Committee, Legislation Review Digest No. 53. I move: That the digest be printed. Motion agreed to. Mr JAMES GRIFFIN: I also table the minutes of the committee meeting regarding Legislation Review Digest No. 53/56. Petitions PETITIONS RECEIVED The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I announce that the following petition signed by more than 10,000 persons has been lodged for presentation: Sydney Water Catchment Coalmining Petition calling on the Government to establish an inquiry into coalmining in the Sydney water catchment and impose a moratorium on current and proposed coalmining operations in the area, received from Ms Pru Goward. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I set down discussion on the petition as an order of the day for a future day. The CLERK: I announce that the following petitions signed by fewer than 500 persons have been lodged for presentation: Pet Shops Petition opposing the sale of animals in pet shops, received from Mr Alex Greenwich. Pig-dog Hunting Ban Petition requesting the banning of pig-dog hunting in New South Wales, received from Mr Alex Greenwich. Short-term Holiday Letting Petition calling on the Government to ban the conversion of entire homes into short-term holiday lets and to introduce appropriate controls including a short-term letting registration system, received from Mr Alex Greenwich. Edgecliff Railway Station and Interchange Petition requesting that the New South Wales Government upgrade the Edgecliff railway station and interchange to provide full access, received from Mr Alex Greenwich. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 30

Route 311 Bus Services Petition requesting more reliable 311 bus services, received from Mr Alex Greenwich. Oxford Street Light Rail Petition calling on the Government to include Oxford Street as part of the inner Sydney integrated light rail network, received from Mr Alex Greenwich. Glebe Island Multi-User Facility Petition calling on the Government to commission an independent impact assessment of the proposed Glebe Island Multi-User Facility and to protect adjacent residential amenity by imposing operating conditions such as night and weekend bans, received from Mr Alex Greenwich. The CLERK: I announce that the following petition signed by more than 500 persons has been lodged for presentation: Brisbane Water Channel Petition requesting the funding of a long-term dredging solution for Brisbane Water Channel, received from Ms Liesl Tesch. RESPONSES TO PETITIONS The CLERK: I announce that the following Ministers have lodged responses to petitions signed by more than 500 persons: The Hon. Anthony Roberts—Wallacia Golf Club Cemetery Development—lodged 15 March 2018 (Mrs Tanya Davies) The Hon. Brad Hazzard—Tullamore Multi Purpose Health Service—lodged 13 March 2018 (Mr Philip Donato) The Hon. Melinda Pavey—M5 Toll—lodged 15 March 2018 (Ms Greg Warren) Business of the House BUSINESS LAPSED The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I advise the House that in accordance with Standing Order 105 (3) General Business Notices of Motions (General Notices) Nos 2499 to 2577 have lapsed. Motions Accorded Priority POWERHOUSE MUSEUM RELOCATION Consideration Dr GEOFF LEE (Parramatta) (15:27): My motion should be accorded priority because this House should stand behind the people of Western Sydney. The relocation of the Powerhouse Museum was a key Government commitment. Members on this side of the House stand behind the people of Western Sydney. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Stop the clock. I call the member for Kogarah to order for the second time. Dr GEOFF LEE: It is disappointing that members on the other side do not stand for the people of Western Sydney. We on this side of the House stand for the delivery of infrastructure for the people, whether it is roads, rail, hospitals or schools. We also stand for the delivery of arts and culture infrastructure. The relocation of the Powerhouse Museum was a key election promise in the 2015 election. There are not many days that a politician can say are great days, but Saturday was a great day when we stood on the banks of the Parramatta River. I commend the Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Don Harwin, and the Premier for being present at the announcement to commit $645 million to relocating the Powerhouse Museum to its new premises on the banks of the Parramatta River. This was a great day not only for members on this side of House but also for the people of Western Sydney. It was a key election commitment to bring a cultural institution to Western Sydney. My motion deserves to be accorded priority because we have selected a site and decided on a scope and the amount of money we will spend. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a first-class facility for the people of Western Sydney, New South Wales and Australia. We hear a lot of noise from those opposite, and I ask members opposite to support my motion. It is sad that those opposite do not care about Western Sydney— but we do. Members opposite should explain to the people of Western Sydney why they are against the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Western Sydney. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 31

I see Luke Foley is in the House. Shame on him for trying to cancel the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum, shame on him for pandering to his eastern suburbs mates and shame on him for turning his back on the people of Western Sydney. Members on this side of the House are for the workers and the people of Western Sydney. This motion should be accorded priority because the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Western Sydney is important for the whole State— [Time expired.] CASTLEREAGH FREEWAY CORRIDOR Consideration Mr LUKE FOLEY (Auburn) (15:30): My motion deserves priority. It is no wonder that the Treasurer prefers to speak solely about Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump; he certainly cannot talk about matters in his electorate since the Government announced eight months ago the end of the 1951 Castlereagh freeway corridor in favour of a new corridor that would plough through hundreds of homes, farms and small businesses in the electorates of Hawkesbury, Penrith, Londonderry and Riverstone. I was in Hawkesbury on Saturday and had a great day at the Hawkesbury standalone race day. My friend the Treasurer, the member for Hawkesbury, could not show his face. All day racegoers raised with me how the Government wants to seize their homes and farms. The member for Hawkesbury could not turn up because the week before he had been booed off stage at the Hawkesbury Show. It is a considerable achievement for a conservative to be booed off the stage in Hawkesbury. If Labor won Hawkesbury, we would hold 93 out of 93 electorates in this place! Such is the toxicity of this policy that this Government has managed to have the member for Hawkesbury booed off stage and now he cannot show his face in his electorate. In the gallery today is Cathy Galea from the Raygal nursery in Cranebrook. She asked me to come to Cranebrook and I did; I was there yesterday. There were hundreds of people—yes, Premier, hundreds of people— telling me stories about their lives. Diane Xiberras is here today. She bought a home in Cranebrook with her husband 26 years ago. They received official advice from Government that they were outside the Castlereagh freeway corridor. To ensure they were not in the corridor they paid more than they wanted to. She raised her family in that home and now operates a successful small business, but she received a letter a few weeks ago showing a corridor ploughing through her kitchen. This is how this Government is treating voters in its electorates in the north-west of Sydney and Western Sydney. The Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight released a video on the day of the announcement which shows her literally jumping for joy. She said, "Here we are on the Castlereagh Corridor, finally determined." Today it is no longer "finally determined"; today she is saying, "It is just for consideration." On the same day the Deputy Premier said, "A huge day for the Central West as we announce the Castlereagh Corridor preservation." This Government will fold on this as it has folded on many other bad decisions. The people of New South Wales must ask themselves: If the Government has to backflip so many times, maybe it is a poor Government in the first place. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Londonderry to order for the third time. The question is that the motion of the member for Parramatta be accorded priority. The House divided. Ayes ...... 49 Noes ...... 35 Majority ...... 14 AYES Anderson, Mr K Aplin, Mr G Ayres, Mr S Barilaro, Mr J Berejiklian, Ms G Bromhead, Mr S (teller) Brookes, Mr G Conolly, Mr K Constance, Mr A Cooke, Ms S Coure, Mr M Crouch, Mr A Davies, Mrs T Dominello, Mr V Elliott, Mr D Evans, Mr A Evans, Mr L Fraser, Mr A Gibbons, Ms M Goward, Ms P Grant, Mr T Griffin, Mr J Gulaptis, Mr C Hazzard, Mr B Henskens, Mr A Humphries, Mr K Johnsen, Mr M Kean, Mr M Lee, Dr G Maguire, Mr D Marshall, Mr A Notley-Smith, Mr B O'Dea, Mr J Patterson, Mr C (teller) Pavey, Mrs M Perrottet, Mr D Petinos, Ms E Provest, Mr G Rowell, Mr J Speakman, Mr M Stokes, Mr R Taylor, Mr M Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 32

AYES Toole, Mr P Tudehope, Mr D Upton, Ms G Ward, Mr G Williams, Mr R Williams, Mrs L Wilson, Ms F

NOES Aitchison, Ms J Atalla, Mr E Bali, Mr S Barr, Mr C Car, Ms P Catley, Ms Y Crakanthorp, Mr T Daley, Mr M Dib, Mr J Doyle, Ms T Finn, Ms J Foley, Mr L Greenwich, Mr A Harris, Mr D Harrison, Ms J Hoenig, Mr R Hornery, Ms S Kamper, Mr S Leong, Ms J Lynch, Mr P McDermott, Dr H McKay, Ms J Mehan, Mr D Mihailuk, Ms T Minns, Mr C Park, Mr R Parker, Mr J Piper, Mr G Scully, Mr P (teller) Smith, Ms T F Tesch, Ms L Warren, Mr G Washington, Ms K Watson, Ms A (teller) Zangari, Mr G

PAIRS Hancock, Mrs S Chanthivong, Mr A Roberts, Mr A Haylen, Ms J Sidoti, Mr J Lalich, Mr N

Motion agreed to. POWERHOUSE MUSEUM RELOCATION Priority Dr GEOFF LEE (Parramatta) (15:39): I move: That this House supports the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Western Sydney. Only members on this side of the House support Western Sydney. As we know, a strong arts and cultural sector contributes to the global competitiveness of New South Wales and provides not only social benefits but also stronger economic value. The New South Wales Government recognises that Western Sydney needs more cultural infrastructure. While Western Sydney is home to more than 2.2 million people—almost one-third of the population of this State—it currently only gets 5.5 per cent of State funding for cultural, heritage and events purposes. Western Sydney deserves more and this Government is determined to fix this imbalance. The relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta is a major commitment towards redressing this imbalance. A world-class museum will make it easy for the 2.2 million people who call Western Sydney home to access the incredible Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences collection that spans history, science, technology, design, industry, decorative arts, music, transport and space exploration. Cultural infrastructure supports urban renewal. The new cultural projects are highly successful in leading the revitalisation and regeneration of our cities. The ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Order! The member for Parramatta will be heard in silence. The member for Londonderry and the member for Shellharbour will be seated. Dr GEOFF LEE: I am disappointed that members opposite do not support arts, culture and the people of Western Sydney. Members on this side of the House support them. The new Powerhouse Museum will be great and has some wonderful new features which include: more than 18,000 square metres of exhibition and public spaces, making it the largest museum in New South Wales; increased access to the internationally significant collection of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences; state-of-the-art exhibition halls to host international travelling exhibitions, bringing the very best of the world to Sydney; and home to the first planetarium in New South Wales. It will deliver the first dedicated play and learning spaces devoted to science, technology, engineering and mathematics [STEM], and include twenty-first century learning spaces dedicated to children's spaces that encourage natural curiosity that are designed for all. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 33

The intention of the Powerhouse is to inspire children to become the next scientists, engineers, mathematicians, researchers and astronauts. Members on this side of the House recognise that inspiring the next generation for the jobs of the future is essential, and that is why the focus of the new Parramatta Powerhouse is so important. The focus on STEM is an exceptional way to rebalance and address the legacy of not having provided a fair balance of money for the people of Western Sydney. The new Powerhouse Museum will cater for the ever-growing number of families and visitors who will experience sensational exhibits inside the museum and, when outside it, they will enjoy revitalised and vibrant riverside spaces, fun activities and new experiences. I am interested to hear why Opposition members do not support the Powerhouse Museum and why the Leader of the Opposition does not want to give Western Sydney a major arts and cultural facility. How will they explain why they want to give Western Sydney a second-rate arts and cultural facility? The Leader of the Opposition said he wanted to cancel the Powerhouse Museum and only wanted an expanded performance space for Western Sydney, which is clearly inadequate. The Powerhouse Museum will anchor an arts and cultural precinct to the expanded Riverside Theatres with a brand new theatre with up to 1,500 seats, and a bridge will link it to form a pre-eminent arts and cultural precinct in Western Sydney in the heart of Parramatta. This is an important motion, not just for the people of Parramatta but for all the people of Western Sydney. We deserve better, and this Government is right behind the people of Western Sydney. I commend the motion to the House. Mr MICHAEL DALEY (Maroubra) (15:44): My contribution to the debate on the motion accorded priority concerning the Powerhouse Museum relocation follows an astoundingly lacklustre performance by the member for Parramatta, who moved the motion. He looked as if he walked in here and read something the kids in the Premier's office had written for him. The people of Parramatta want a great many things, but they do not want a cultural knock-off from the Sydney central business district [CBD]. The people of Parramatta want a member who sticks up for them and not a member who comes in here to parrot lines, because Parramatta is turning into a 50-storey high-rise precinct. One of the characteristics of this Government over the last seven years has been its poor implementation of any policy or any infrastructure program—in fact, the Government's performance might be characterised like this: "…poor implementation is fast becoming the curse of the New South Wales Government," and, "The latest instance of poor implementation is the long-running plan to uproot the Powerhouse Museum." I did not say that and it was not the Leader of the Opposition who said it; it was Matthew Mason-Cox, a Liberal member of the other place. Mr Gareth Ward: Who? Mr MICHAEL DALEY: The member for Kiama asked who—that is great respect he shows for his colleagues. When we think of the chaos that is unfolding with regard to projects like WestConnex and the light rail and we add the backflips on greyhound racing, the Fire and Emergency Services Levy and council amalgamations, and twice on stadiums, in the argument to relocate the Powerhouse Museum we have both complete and utter chaos and backflips. We also have secrecy and cover-ups—the lot. If we look at the timeline for this relocation, it is absolutely chaotic. On 26 February 2015, then Premier Mike Baird and then Deputy Premier Troy Grant announced the entire Powerhouse Museum would be relocated to Parramatta at a cost of $10 million. In April of the same year, then Deputy Premier Troy Grant said a new Powerhouse Museum would be built in an old car park site by the Parramatta River, but he failed to mention that that was part of one of the always attendant property plays. Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian, as Premier and Treasurer, could not do a thing in Sydney without there being a developer working somewhere around the corner, a property play hovering over the top of everything that they touched. The same is the case with this proposed museum relocation. In October 2016, Powerhouse bureaucrat Dolla Merrillees revealed the proposed museum in Parramatta would be smaller than the existing Ultimo museum. In February 2017, Dr Lindsay Sharpe, a former director, alleged that the cost to move the Powerhouse would be up to $2 billion. We have heard expert after expert present evidence to an upper House inquiry into museums and galleries and to the media that the cost of this new museum, once eventually finished, would be around $2 billion. The Government has not been able to controvert those figures and, despite the fact that those assertions have been made, all we are left with is a continual hiding of the facts and a continual assertion that a property deal or two would pay for the relocation cost. The fact is, the Government is a long way short of raising the required funds. In July last year, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin, announced $140 million would be spent to secure a Parramatta site and that there would be two museums, one at Parramatta with $100 million for a riverside theatre development and $40 million over 20 years for a Western Sydney arts precinct. As I said, all these plans fell apart in the upper House inquiry, and now we have the latest glossy announcement: no cost, no business case, no start dates, no end dates. These crucial details have all been either deliberately hidden or not worked out—lost in confusion. In all the discussions around the Powerhouse Museum and what should or should not be in Western Sydney, a crucial fact has always been missing. When I go to Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 34

Parramatta, residents say to me, "No-one has ever asked us what we want out here." It is the elites from North Sydney who overpopulate the Cabinet of this Government who deign to tell the people of Parramatta exactly what they want. Let me tell those opposite what the people of Parramatta want: They want something original, not a cultural knock-off from Sydney's CBD. Those opposite should come clean with a business case and come clean to the people of New South Wales that this relocation is more about property development than anything else. [Time expired.] Mr MARK TAYLOR (Seven Hills) (15:49): I commend the excellent motion accorded priority on the Powerhouse Museum relocation moved by the member for Parramatta. Relocating the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta, the geographic heart of Sydney, ensures families will have a world-class cultural facility right on their doorstep. This is a clear demonstration of the New South Wales Government's commitment to Western Sydney. It is important that young people are excited and inspired by science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, because the jobs of tomorrow will rely heavily on these disciplines. It is right that the students and families in my electorate of Seven Hills—students at Toongabbie Public School, Toongabbie East Public School, Toongabbie West Public School, Westmead Public School, Seven Hills Public School and Wentworthville Public School—will benefit from this great initiative by the New South Wales Government. At the weekend a teacher said to me that one of the fantastic things about having the Powerhouse Museum move to Parramatta is that it will save her class an hour and a half travelling into Sydney and an hour and a half travelling back, and give the kids of Western Sydney easy access to the museum. That is what those of us on this side of the House are all about. The greater Parramatta area in Western Sydney is at a critical moment in its history. It is one of the fastest growing communities in the State. It is rich in multiculturalism, and its diversity demands that the Government meets the fast evolving cultural needs of its people. The relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta will help to deliver this aim, and Greater Western Sydney, with Parramatta being the central city, will be all the better for having such an extraordinary museum on its doorstep. Greater Parramatta is a vibrant and developing city. Investment in a vibrant cultural sector, along with investment in health, education, finance and business services, will drive the economy of Parramatta and therefore drive the economy of Western Sydney. Parramatta, as part of Western Sydney, is itself a powerhouse—an economic powerhouse. Indeed, the investment from the public and private sectors in this great city will total more than $10 billion over the next five years. Located at Parramatta, the new Powerhouse Museum is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a stunning new purpose- built facility to house the museum's extensive and valuable collection. The relocation means jobs, and it will mean that more people from across the State—in fact from right across the State, from across Australia and from around the world—will be drawn to Parramatta as a cultural destination. We must not forget how important early exposure to inspiring exhibits, displays and cultural activities is for growing minds. We must support every effort to grow the State's knowledge economy, and this means educating the next generation to embrace innovation. This side of the House is investing in good facilities for Western Sydney. I commend the motion to the House. Ms JULIA FINN (Granville) (15:53): I condemn this Government for tearing apart the Powerhouse Museum and putting a shrunken version of the museum in Parramatta, instead of building the fantastic cultural institution that Labor is committed to bringing to the people of Parramatta. The relocation of the museum was originally a $10 million promise; now it has blown out to a project that will cost much more than $1 billion. Instead of moving the full Powerhouse Museum, the collection is being carved up with bits and pieces left in various locations. We should remember that the original plan for the relocation of the Powerhouse was to free up land in Ultimo for developers. Instead, the museum is being carved up into different pieces, with a bit left in Ultimo, a bit in Parramatta and a bit in Castle Hill. The member for Parramatta had a great smile on his face on Saturday when the relocation was announced. I was not smiling; I was laughing my head off. The announcement reminded me of a 20-year-old episode of South Park about a planetarium. If those opposite have not seen that episode, they need to watch it before wasting $1 billion on boring people to death. The episode was about the director of the South Park Planetarium hypnotising kids on a school excursion so that they would return. He recited to the kids over and again, "We love the planetarium. Not visiting the planetarium will cause you pain." That is the only way you will get people to visit your lame museum. The ASSISTANT SPEAKER: The member for Granville will direct her comments through the Chair. Ms JULIA FINN: I find it bewildering that the Government has chosen a 20-year-old punchline from South Park to inspire its arts and cultural policy for Western Sydney. The people of Western Sydney deserve a fantastic facility; instead, we are getting a smaller version of the Powerhouse Museum with a lame planetarium. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 35

How ridiculous. The Government chose to debate this motion in this House because they knew how the Hon. Matthew Mason-Cox would vote in the other place. This has been a comedy of errors from start to finish and it keeps blowing out. It is great that the entire museum is not being relocated from Ultimo, but the people of the Western Sydney deserve better than its proposed lame, cut-down version. Melbourne is home to the fantastic Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the people of Western Sydney are getting a 20-year-old joke from South Park. Mr ALEX GREENWICH (Sydney) (15:56): By leave: Since the 1890s the Powerhouse Museum has had a presence at Ultimo. In fact, it was named after the Ultimo Power Station. I note that the Government is not moving the Powerhouse Museum from Ultimo to Parramatta; it is going to build a new Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences at Parramatta. The Ultimo museum will have a reduced presence. My concern and that of my constituents has always been that this campaign has sought to pit east versus west. This campaign has been premised on taking something from the city and giving it to Western Sydney. As members well know, the Powerhouse Museum has an amazing collection and it should be shared across the State. The Ultimo site will now be a fashion and design museum, as well as a theatre. I thank the Minister for the Arts for understanding the importance of keeping a cultural presence at the Ultimo site. We are still awaiting on the final details, but I share community concern about the development of the land that is to be sold in this, one of Sydney's most densely populated areas. I repeat that I will never support any policy that seeks to take something from one part of the State to give it to another, nor will I ever support any policy that seeks to pit one part of the State against another. Indeed, for some time now that has been the tone of the media campaign and the tone of some in the Government. I strongly support the campaign to retain the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo and to ensure that we share its assets across the State. I also strongly support keeping a strong arts and sciences presence at Ultimo. Dr GEOFF LEE (Parramatta) (15:59): In reply: Today's debate has reached farcical new heights. I refer in particular to the contribution of the member for Granville. It is appalling that those opposite have had to rely on cartoon characters to formulate their strategies. The member for Granville should stop watching episodes of South Park and start caring about the residents of Granville. In contrast, the member for Seven Hills understands that the new museum at Parramatta will inspire the future students who will become our twenty-first century researchers, scientists, engineers, mathematicians and astronauts. Some 2.2 million people in Western Sydney will have access to a world-class facility—the largest in New South Wales. Mr David Borger, a former Labor luminary on the other side of the House, even supports it. I commend the member for Sydney on his rational and considered opinion on this matter. He can rest assured that the arts, fashion and design elements will be kept at Ultimo. The contribution of the member for Maroubra was very disappointing. He tried to mislead the House. He said there was no business case and no finish date. The business case is on the interweb. In fact, I can give the member for Maroubra a copy of this brochure, which can also be found on the interweb. It clearly shows the date 2023. I was very disappointed that the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Luke Foley, did not contribute to this debate and tell us why he is not delivering for the people of Western Sydney. He is happy to have a performance space but not a world-class museum. The Leader of the Opposition will have to explain not only to the people of Auburn but also to the people of Western Sydney about why he has let them down. The people of Western Sydney deserve better. The ASSISTANT SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to. Motion agreed to. Bills NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME FOR INSTITUTIONAL CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE (COMMONWEALTH POWERS) BILL 2018 First Reading Bill introduced on motion by Mr Mark Speakman, read a first time and printed. Second Reading Speech Mr MARK SPEAKMAN (Cronulla—Attorney General) (16:03): I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Government is pleased to introduce the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2018. The Government is taking action to ensure that the National Redress Scheme is established. This bill reflects the commitment made by the New South Wales Government in March this year to participate in the National Redress Scheme for Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse recommended by the royal commission. New South Wales is pleased to be taking the lead as the first State to introduce a referral bill. Victoria will soon follow and introduce a similar bill. It is anticipated that the Commonwealth Parliament will introduce the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018 in the coming weeks so that the National Redress Scheme can start on 1 July this year. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 36

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard from thousands of survivors across Australia. Their stories opened our eyes to the prevalence of institutional child sexual abuse, the failure of institutions to respond and the lifelong impact it brings to bear. The findings and recommendations of the royal commission are powerful and far-reaching. The New South Wales Government will respond formally to all of the recommendations in June. Leading the way in joining the National Redress Scheme is one of a number of significant steps the New South Wales Government is already taking to protect children from institutional sexual abuse, to hold perpetrators to account and to provide support and justice for survivors. Swift and decisive action is what the community expects—and rightly so. That is why New South Wales, together with Victoria, will be first to opt in to, in principle, the National Redress Scheme. The New South Wales Government has already responded to a number of recommendations in the royal commission's redress and civil litigation report. This includes, first, introducing guiding principles for civil child abuse claims made against New South Wales Government agencies to make litigation a less traumatic experience for victims and to ensure a compassionate and consistent approach. In 2016 the Government issued a Premier's Memorandum on the Model Litigant Policy for Civil Litigation, which had the effect of incorporating the guiding principles into the model litigant policy. Our response to the royal commission includes, secondly, amending the Limitation Act 1969 in 2016 to remove limitation periods for all actions for damages that relate to death or personal injury from child abuse, including actions against a perpetrator of the abuse or a negligent institution. Limitation periods were removed because of their effect on victims of child abuse, who on average do not disclose their experiences, or act on them, until decades after the abuse occurs. Thirdly, the Government has been undertaking an extensive consultation process on proposals to address the barriers that survivors face in seeking damages through civil litigation. The royal commission identified that these barriers include members of religious orders not being "employees" within existing vicarious liability law, and the lack of an entity with legal capacity to be sued—known as the "Ellis defence". New South Wales is continuing to take significant steps on behalf of survivors and I am pleased to say that proposed reforms will be put forward in the coming months. In April, the New South Wales Government announced that it had accepted the overwhelming majority of recommendations in the royal commission's criminal justice report. More than 50 of these recommendations will be introduced before the end of 2018, which include introducing new criminal offences, including offences of failure to report and failure to protect children from abuse; strengthening existing criminal offences, including increasing the maximum penalty for persistent child sexual abuse to life imprisonment; changes to sentencing, including requiring courts to apply current sentencing standards for historic child sex offences; and changes to procedure, such as retrospectively repealing an old limitation period that is preventing some survivors from accessing justice today. In the course of its inquiry, the royal commission found that for many survivors the current civil litigation systems and past and current redress processes have not provided justice. The royal commission heard that the very nature and impact of institutional child sexual abuse can work against survivors' ability to seek damages under existing avenues. The long-term impacts of child sexual abuse make it difficult for survivors to call institutions to account through the legal system. They are at risk of retraumatisation. Another key factor is the years and decades it can take for survivors to disclose child sexual abuse. Survivors who attended private sessions through the royal commission took, on average, 23.9 years to disclose. Many people told the royal commission that the difficulties they encountered in trying to obtain adequate redress resulted from the power imbalance between institutions and survivors. Of course, reforms to our civil litigation system will go a long way towards addressing those problems. As I have explained, we are getting on with this. However, the royal commission also found that civil litigation is simply not an effective means for all survivors to obtain adequate redress. It identified this being the case for survivors of past institutional child sexual abuse, including many forgotten Australians, former child migrants and members of the stolen generations. The royal commission noted that society's failure to protect children across a number of generations has created a clear need for avenues through which survivors can access appropriate redress for past abuse. This leads into the royal commission recommendation that the Commonwealth Government establish a single national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. New South Wales has been working closely with the Commonwealth, Victoria and other State and Territory governments to develop a scheme as recommended by the royal commission that is survivor-focused, and guided by the needs of survivors and what is known about the nature and impact of child sexual abuse—and institutional child sexual abuse in particular. Subject to the passage of legislation, the National Redress Scheme will commence on 1 July and run for 10 years. The purpose of the scheme is to recognise and alleviate the impact of past institutional child sexual abuse and related abuse. The scheme will be operated by the Commonwealth Government. New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory have announced that they will opt in, and I am pleased that Queensland and the Northern Territory have announced their intention to join. Only Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 37

participating jurisdictions are part of the scheme. For States currently, this means they must have made a law referring legislative powers to the Commonwealth. It is hoped that other jurisdictions will now follow New South Wales' lead in doing this so that survivors have equal access to redress across Australia. Redress includes the three core elements recommended by the royal commission. The first element is a monetary payment which, under this scheme, will be up to $150,000. As recommended by the royal commission, this is a tangible means of recognising the wrongs that survivors have suffered. The second element is access to counselling and psychological support, depending on where the person lives. The royal commission learned a great deal about the long-term psychological and mental health impacts of child sexual abuse on survivors. It highlighted that many survivors will need counselling and psychological care from time to time throughout their lives. It was made clear that those who made submissions and spoke at public hearings overwhelmingly supported the proposal that counselling and psychological care should be provided through redress. The third element is a direct personal response from the participating institution or institutions responsible. The royal commission explained that many survivors described the importance of receiving an apology from the institution responsible for their abuse. Such an apology includes acknowledgement of the abuse, its impacts and the steps taken to prevent it from happening again. Having said that, the royal commission also pointed out that some survivors may not want further contact or engagement with the institution. For this reason, the principles guiding the provision of direct personal responses state that engagement between a survivor and a participating institution should occur only and to the extent that the survivor wishes it. An intergovernmental agreement has been drafted to be signed by States and Territories participating in the scheme, as well as by the Commonwealth. The New South Wales Premier signed the intergovernmental agreement along with the then Acting Prime Minister and the Victorian Premier. We hope that other jurisdictions will now follow their lead and sign the agreement. The intergovernmental agreement sets out the governance arrangements for the National Redress Scheme and the respective roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth, States and Territories. The terms of reference for the Ministers' Redress Scheme board include the voting process for changes to the scheme. Any key change will require the agreement of New South Wales. I now turn to the detail of the bill. The bill provides a text reference enabling the Commonwealth Parliament to enact the legislation establishing the National Redress Scheme. This is the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018 set out in schedule 1 to this bill. The bill also includes an amendment reference to enable the Commonwealth to make amendments to the National Redress Act relating to redress for institutional child sexual abuse. This is subject to specific limitations. The first limitation set out in clause 5 is to ensure that the Commonwealth cannot make any amendments to the National Redress Act that would prevent or limit the establishment or operation of a State redress mechanism. The term "State redress mechanism" includes a scheme established by a government or non-government entity for or in respect of individuals who have suffered institutional child sexual abuse. The purpose of this limitation is to ensure that State mechanisms such as the New South Wales Victims Support Scheme are not inadvertently affected by any changes made to the national redress Act. "State redress mechanism" also includes the jurisdiction of a court to grant compensation or support to victims of crime, including crime relating to institutional child sexual abuse. This means that the limitation to the amendment reference prevents any changes to the national redress Act that would impinge on the jurisdiction of courts in this regard. I note that clause 5 (3) of the bill identifies certain matters where the limitation does not apply. This is to protect provisions in the national redress Act that address court proceedings that relate to the scheme. This includes the release of civil liability of institutions or officials in connection with the operation of the scheme; the disclosure or use of evidence or other information provided or obtained in connection with the scheme; and the making, enforcement or protection of payments in connection with the operation of the scheme. The second limitation, in clause 6 of the bill, is to prevent the Commonwealth from making any amendments to the national redress Act that would remove or override a provision that requires the agreement of the State. This protects the provisions in the national redress Act that require the agreement of States to certain matters. This includes the requirement that a State agree to a State institution being declared by the Commonwealth Minister to be a "participating institution" in the National Redress Scheme. States must also agree to the listing of a defunct institution and to two or more State institutions forming a participating group for the purpose of the scheme. Clause 9 of the bill provides that either regulations or ministerial directions may determine how the agreement of the State is to be given, withdrawn or evidenced. In addition to the limitations applied to the amendment reference, the intergovernmental agreement includes important safeguards to ensure that participating States and Territories are consulted on and have voting powers to approve or oppose proposed changes to the National Redress Scheme. Although not legally binding, the intergovernmental agreement acknowledges that the development and implementation of the scheme is a shared responsibility between the Commonwealth and participating State and Territory governments. The ability Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 38

to terminate the text and/or the amendment reference is provided in clause 7 of the bill. A reference can be terminated on a day fixed by the Governor by proclamation. Clause 8 makes it clear that if the amendment reference is terminated before the text reference, the laws in place are not affected. Clause 8 would apply only if the amendment reference is terminated in accordance with section 144 (8) of the Commonwealth Redress Bill. This provides that a State may terminate the amendment reference and remain a participating State only if six months' notice is provided and all the participating States do the same. Clause 10 provides that the State law does not preclude information sharing with the scheme operator and between State agencies for the purpose of the scheme unless prescribed by regulations under the Act. This is consistent with related provisions in the Commonwealth Redress Bill. The bill authorises regulations to be made for the purposes of the proposed Act. This is in clause 11. Schedule 1 sets out the text of the bill for the proposed National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018. This is the subject of the text reference under clause 4 (1) of the bill. The Commonwealth Redress Bill establishes the National Redress Scheme and in doing so implements the response to the royal commission recommendations. This bill provides the legislative basis for entitlement, participation, offers and acceptance, provision of redress, funding liability, funder of last resort and other administrative matters. The Commonwealth Government has undertaken significant consultation and negotiation with stakeholders to develop the National Redress Scheme as reflected in its bill. This has involved negotiating with the States, Territories and institutions as well as working closely with survivors, advocacy groups and experts. The Commonwealth bill reflects the careful design and development of a National Redress Scheme that responds to the royal commission's recommendations and puts survivors first at the same time as being viable for institutions to opt in. This is imperative to ensure that as many survivors as possible have equal access to redress. The Commonwealth Redress Bill will be explained in detail when it is introduced in the Commonwealth Parliament. I will therefore be somewhat brief in my account of the key elements. The Commonwealth Redress Bill provides that abuse within the scope of the scheme is sexual and related non-sexual abuse that occurred before the start of the scheme, when the person was a child and in a participating State or Territory. A person is eligible for redress if they have been sexually abused within the scope of the scheme, the abuse is of a kind for which the redress payment worked out would be more than nil, one or more participating institutions is responsible for the abuse and at the time of the application, the person is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. If an application for redress identifies a participating institution as being involved in the abuse or if the scheme operator has reasonable grounds to believe a participating institution may be responsible, they must request that the institution provide any information that may be relevant. This ensures that institutions are contacted and given the opportunity to provide information to inform the determination. If the operator considers there is a reasonable likelihood, as defined in the Commonwealth bill, that the person is eligible for redress, they must approve the application. Reasonable likelihood was recommended by the royal commission as the standard of proof for determining applications for redress. After approving an application, the scheme operator must determine the amount of the redress payment and the share of costs attributable to each liable institution. The process for working out the amounts, including the application of an assessment framework, is prescribed. This includes deducting any relevant prior payments—for example one that may have been received through the New South Wales Victims Support Scheme. A determination made by the redress scheme is an administrative decision, not a finding of law or fact. A person who has applied for redress may apply for internal review of a determination. The original determination must be reviewed in those circumstances by an independent decision-maker. If a person is entitled to redress and wishes to access the counselling and psychological component, they will be referred to the participating jurisdiction where they live. In New South Wales, counselling and psychological services will be provided directly through Victims Services. If a person wishes to be given a direct personal response, the participating institution must take reasonable steps to give one. Guiding principles are included in the Commonwealth Redress Bill and a direct personal response framework sets out the arrangements under which institutions will provide direct personal responses. If a person accepts the offer of redress, they must release particular institutions from all civil liability for the abuse. The abuser is not released from liability. This is consistent with the royal commission's recommendations. All Commonwealth institutions are participating in the National Redress Scheme. State, Territory and non-government institutions must agree to participate. States and Territories must also agree to State or Territory institutions participating in the scheme. A State institution includes State departments and other bodies established under State law. Because New South Wales has opted into the scheme, non-government institutions in our State, including churches, charities, independent schools and other organisations, are able to participate. I strongly encourage these institutions to join so that survivors have access to redress. Some institutions where child sexual abuse has occurred may no longer exist. To ensure that survivors are not deprived of access to the scheme simply Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 39

for this reason, the Commonwealth Redress Bill provides that a "defunct" institution can participate in the scheme if it has a representative that acts on its behalf and assumes its obligations and liabilities under the scheme. For the purposes of the scheme, a participating institution is deemed to be responsible for the abuse of a person if the abuse occurred in circumstances where the participating institution is primarily or equally responsible for the abuser having contact with the person. Various circumstances are relevant to determining that question—for example, whether the institution was responsible for the day-to-day care of the person when the abuse occurred or whether the abuser was an official of the institution when the abuse occurred. Participating institutions that are determined to be responsible for the abuse of a person are liable for the costs of providing redress. Those institutions are also liable for contributing to the administration of the scheme. Participating government institutions may be the funder of last resort for a non-government institution that no longer exists and is not participating in the scheme. This applies only where the government institution is equally responsible for the abuse and has agreed to be the funder of last resort. The Commonwealth Redress bill provides that the Minister may make rules as required or permitted or to give effect to the Act. The National Redress Scheme operator must provide an annual report at the end of each financial year. An operational review will be undertaken two years and eight years after the commencement of the scheme. This is an important moment in time. The enactment of this bill by the New South Wales Parliament, together with the enactment of the bills by the Commonwealth and Victorian parliaments, will bring about the establishment of a National Redress Scheme. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, their families and the organisations that represent them. Whether as children or adults, the reality is that for many years survivors were not listened to, were not believed or were not acknowledged. I thank them for their resilience and their determination to ensure that we all learn from the mistakes of the past, and to acknowledge the harm and suffering experienced by the many thousands of children who have been sexually abused in institutions where they should have been safe. I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned. FARM DEBT MEDIATION AMENDMENT BILL 2018 COAL INDUSTRY AMENDMENT BILL 2018 First Reading Bills received from the Legislative Council, introduced and read a first time. The ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I order that the second reading of the bills stand as orders of the day for a later hour. ROAD TRANSPORT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (ROAD SAFETY) BILL 2018 Second Reading Debate Debate resumed from 6 March 2018. Ms JODI McKAY (Strathfield) (16:27): I lead for the Opposition on the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018. Road safety is a priority for all on this side of the House. I also know that view is shared by the Government and crossbench members of Parliament. The reason is simple: Every death on New South Wales roads is one death too many; too many lives that are cut short and too many families grieving the loss of loved ones. It is important that this bill is debated during National Road Safety Week. As we know the New South Wales road toll is heading in the wrong direction. The number of people losing their lives on New South Wales roads has increased substantially since 2014, with 392 people killed on New South Wales roads in 2017. Over the December and January period, a shocking death toll brought home to everyone the need to make changes to our approach to road safety in this State. On behalf of the Opposition I place on record our strong desire to make road safety and to reduce the New South Wales road toll a truly bipartisan effort. I thank the Minister for meeting with me personally on this bill. However, on three occasions I have approached the current and former Ministers to offer to work together, including jointly hosting a road safety round table with stakeholders. On three occasions, I have been knocked back. On this side of the House we believe the Government needs to look at different and innovative approaches to reduce the road toll. Generally, our approach to improving safety on our roads in New South Wales has changed very little in the past 10 years. That is why we have proposed the parliamentary inquiry into road safety. We believe that the inquiry would be a transparent way of looking at what we are and have been doing versus Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 40

what we need to be doing, including examining best practice approaches globally. We see that inquiry focusing on those factors that contribute to the rising death toll such as speed, fatigue, driver distraction, alcohol and drug use, and vehicle and road conditions. The inquiry would also look at the current road safety programs for motorcyclists, pedestrians, cyclists, older and younger drivers, as well as those people who drive heavy vehicles. We know that it is also important that we look at the differences in the cause of crashes between country and metropolitan areas. Unfortunately our proposal has not been supported by the Government. However, I note that the Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety (Staysafe) is investigating heavy vehicle safety. Although I remain hopeful that there will be an outcome from the inquiry that will be beneficial for those who drive heavy vehicles or who may be involved in accidents involving heavy vehicles, the information that I have is that the inquiry is not progressing the way that we would hope. While that committee is not opposed, we do believe a high-level, transparent inquiry by this Parliament is necessary. It is also important that we engage the community in this discussion. In saying all of this, initiatives in this bill are in part new and the Opposition supports the objectives of the bill. However, I raise a number of issues. The bill deals with enhancing drug-driving enforcement and penalties, and this is supported. When we get behind the wheel of a car we take on a responsibility to ourselves, to the passengers in our car, and to other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Motorists who drive under the influence of drugs show a blatant disregard for that responsibility. A driver under the influence of drugs can be as impaired as a driver under the influence of alcohol and it is important that the road transport laws reflect this. This bill will enable police to test for cocaine in a driver's system, in the same way drivers are currently tested for cannabis, speed, ice and ecstasy. At this point, I note the presence of the Minister for Police in the Chamber. The bill also strengthens the powers of police when dealing with motorists driving under the influence and increases the penalties for drug-driving. The bill increases the maximum penalties for driving under the influence of drugs to reflect those penalties applied to high-range drink-driving. Police will also be able to issue a 48-hour driving prohibition to a driver arrested to undergo blood and urine tests for suspected impaired driving, and to issue a license suspension notice to a driver charged with driving under the influence. Labor supports all of these initiatives. The other measures in the bill relate to the introduction of camera-based technology for mobile phone use offences. We support measures that deter, discourage and detect people using their mobile phone while driving. We recently saw a tragic incident at Leumeah, where two police officers were seriously injured when their car was crushed between two cars. Senior Constable Jonathon Wright and his colleague Senior Constable Matthew Foley were setting up a random breath testing site when a young driver allegedly ploughed into them at 60 kilometres per hour. It is alleged in media reports that the driver was looking at his phone for up to 20 seconds at the time. Let us just stop and think about what that actually means. The Minister noted that if you are travelling at 60 kilometres per hour and if you look at your phone for just two seconds, you travel 33 metres blind. This driver allegedly travelled 10 times that distance. It is clear that despite the Government's education and awareness campaigns the message around the dangers of texting and using your phone while driving are not getting through. Again, we support greater law enforcement measures to keep drivers off their phones while they are at the wheel. However, on behalf of the Opposition I place on the record our concerns regarding transparency and consistency with the Minister's proposal. I understand from the Minister that this bill will provide for the trial of a range of detection technology to catch those drivers who use their phone while driving. It will provide for new camera technology to be used. It will also provide for mobile phone use to be detected by tollway cameras, speed and red light cameras, and transit lane cameras. It is important to note that the community still does not know how the new technology will operate. This is very new technology that is neither tried nor tested and I understand from watching the television news, which appears to be the only source of information on these detection devices, the technology takes a photo of every driver in every car and that an algorithm—that is the word used by the Minister—is then used to determine whether a driver is using a phone. How that algorithm works is unknown. If my description is lacking, then I ask the Minister to provide further details. Perhaps the Minister could explain in detail how that technology works, given that a trial is imminent. I also ask the Minister to elaborate on when the trial will begin. Is it in four months, 12 months, or next week? These time frames have been reported by the media. The Opposition supports measures that deter people from using mobile phones while driving. A better way to manage this issue would have been to go to tender, determine the technology and then come to the House seeking the legislative framework to make it work so that everyone in this House knows how the technology works. The Minister is asking for broad and unfettered powers to trial and introduce technology that we know little, if anything, about. To have confidence in a technology, drivers must understand how it works—that does Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 41

not include a 1½ minute clip on Channel 7 News. To have confidence the Minister must educate and make the community aware about what this technology involves. She also should inform this House. Unlike other road safety cameras that are triggered when a motorist does something wrong, the cameras that we have seen on the television news photograph everyone by looking into their vehicle. To determine whether a driver is using their mobile phone, the camera appears to capture a photo from the front of the vehicle, which shows the steering wheel and potentially the driver's legs, lap, arm and chest. Will the Minister explain to the House how privacy will be managed in relation to this technology? Will the Minister also explain how modesty will be managed, because women in those vehicles will have parts of their bodies exposed. Their legs and their chests will be photographed from above. I would like to know whether that is a concern for the Minister and how it will be managed. Will the Minister also tell us how long these images will be stored and who will have access to these images? Will the Government commit to an awareness campaign prior to rolling out these cameras to inform motorists that they now will be photographed inside their vehicles? I call on the Government to be upfront and transparent with motorists before switching on the first mobile phone use detection camera—even in a trial. Neither the bill nor the Minister's second reading speech provided answers or assurances regarding the use of this technology. The bill also allows toll cameras to be used for mobile phone detection, which was not mentioned by the Minister in her second reading speech. As we know, this Government has a plethora of motorway projects that will be tolled and therefore will require toll gantries. These projects include the M4, the M4 East, NorthConnex, the M5, the M4-M5 Link, the Northern Beaches tunnel, the Western Harbour tunnel, the F6 and the Sydney Gateway. Each of these projects will have multiple toll camera points. Will all of these camera points be used to take photos inside every vehicle? Again, I ask the Minister to elaborate. I believe this is the first time that toll gantries will be used to detect any offence other than not paying a toll. Will the Minister enlighten the House on whether there are plans to use the toll gantries for speeding offences too? Perhaps the Minister will explain what modifications will be required to the toll gantry to enable this to happen. Again, who will have access to the photos? For instance, will a private toll operator access the photos? Private operators are certainly not equipped nor do they have as their core business the detection of such offences. At the heart of our concern is consistency between these new mobile use cameras, and existing red light and speed cameras. Quite frankly, there is no consistency. The use of camera advisory signage is not legally required in New South Wales, but it is part of a Roads and Maritime Services policy to alert motorists that they are approaching a fixed or mobile speed camera. For mobile speed cameras, the RMS says mobile speed camera signage is overt and mobile speed camera vehicles are marked. We all see sign postings at intersections to alert drivers that red light speed cameras are installed and operational. The Centre for Road Safety website enables users to search for the locations of red light, fixed and mobile speed camera areas. The Minister told us that she has decided that the Government will not use signage to advise motorists that they are approaching a mobile phone use detection device. We presume that information will not be available on the Centre For Road Safety website. Why is mobile phone use being treated differently to speeding? The Minister's approach is confusing and inconsistent. Either she believes motorists should be informed about detection technology or she does not. The Government cannot have a bet each way. It cannot say that advice warnings are okay for speeding and red light offences, but take a different view for mobile phone use. This is a Government introducing a new enforcement mechanism with no commitment to transparency. There will be confusion and there will be anger amongst motorists, and rightly so. The Opposition is also concerned that the arrangements surrounding all camera signage are managed by RMS policy, which is a policy we cannot find. When the Minister gives her speech in reply, will she explain where we can find this policy? The RMS website refers to the policy, but a copy of it does not seem to be available. Does this lack of information mean that decisions such as advice signage are at the whim of the Minister, which is what we are seeing here today? Will the Minister release the advice received from her agency and the Centre for Road Safety? What advice did the Minister receive? We believe that detection devices should not be used for revenue raising but rather to encourage motorists to change their behaviour. One would think that the Government has been motivated to erect advice signage for speed and red light cameras. However, I come back to consistency. The Opposition believes that the way in which detection devices are used should be transparent. Clearly, that is not the case with the introduction of this legislation. I know that the Minister about the need to catch motorists using their phones, and that the offending driver will just complete the text message, read their email or make a call once they have passed the camera. But that same argument can and has been used in relation to speed and red light cameras. I point out that if a driver has their head down texting, dialling or reading a message on their mobile phone then the driver is unlikely to see a sign advising of the camera ahead. There are many issues still to be worked through with this technology. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 42

Although the Opposition supports measures to catch drivers using their mobile phone when driving, we have concerns about transparency and consistency with this bill. To overcome some of these issues we ask the Minister to implement advice signage for all traffic enforcement devices. At the very least the Minister should commit to an education and awareness campaign in relation to these cameras. As it stands, motorists will not be informed when this technology is switched on. They will not be informed that when they are approaching a red light speed camera they are also approaching a mobile detection camera, and a photo of the driver in their vehicle could be taken regardless of whether the driver is speeding. If a motorist is approaching a red light speed camera and the driver is aware there is a red light speed camera ahead, the motorist will not be told that the camera is looking into the car to detect whether the driver is using a mobile phone. A motorist is advised of two issues but not the third issue. I cannot understand that. That is not consistent policy. How is that good policy when there is no consistency? Does the Minister believe mobile phone use is worse than speeding? So many mixed messages are coming from the Minister. I have already raised our concerns with the regulation of this technology without knowing how it works, yet this is what we are being asked to do today. We are being asked to support a bill to regulate technology that is neither tried nor tested, nor does anyone in this House—possibly apart from the Minister—know how it works. How does this technology work? No-one knows unless they have watched Channel 7 News. We also believe there should be a transparent review of this technology and its use. Will the Minister commit to that? Given this technology is still very much in its infancy, we ask the Minister to commit to that transparent review. Labor will support this bill because we believe there are too many deaths on our roads. However, we raise in the strongest terms our concerns with this legislation. When it comes to our roads, the objective of law enforcement should be to change behaviour for the better, not simply to raise revenue for government. The lack of transparency and consistency around the implementation of these detection devices leaves the Government well and truly open to criticism. Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD (Myall Lakes) (16:44): I speak in support of the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018, and I compliment the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight on bringing it forward. I love speaking after the member for Strathfield—it is a great honour. Mr Greg Warren: She makes you look good, mate. Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD: The member for Strathfield—who the member for Campbelltown says is forever making me look good—would like a parliamentary road inquiry. For years, Labor member have been called "mirrors"—they are forever looking into things. Every time there is an issue do Opposition members have an answer or a policy to address it? Do they do anything about it? No, they just call for an inquiry to look into it. The member for Strathfield then contradicted her argument by mentioning that Parliament's permanent Staysafe committee is looking at public policy, road safety and other issues. The great thing about this Government is that, unlike Labor during its 16 shameful years in government, we listen to the public. If individuals and organisations have ideas about how to improve road safety we have an open door and people can come forward with those ideas so that they may be considered. The member for Strathfield also said that this change needs to be done in a hurry and that it is an emergency because of the number of deaths on our road. But she went on to say that she wants the legislation to be delayed so that she can understand how the technology works. That is not how the system operates. We want answers and we want to implement changes straightaway. The road statistics for my electorate over the past five years show that there were 240 serious accidents, 30 per cent of which were drug related. That is a huge number. That percentage relates not to alcohol—although it is a drug—but to serious accidents that are caused by illicit drugs. That is why this legislation is so important. I refer to cocaine, in particular. The objects of the bill are: (a) to include cocaine as a prescribed illicit drug, and (b) to bring the consequences for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs into line with those for doing so with a high range prescribed concentration of alcohol, and (c) to authorise a police officer to prevent a person suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or another drug from using a vehicle, and (d) to authorise the use of devices for the enforcement of offences relating to the use of a mobile phone by drivers of motor vehicles ... Touching on the last object, if drivers lock their mobile phone in the boot of their vehicle before they start driving, they will not be caught by any cameras or technology and they will have absolutely nothing to worry about. We need to use advances in technology because we must do anything we can to protect lives and reduce the road toll. Drivers should not be scared about whether a sign says there is a speed or a red light camera ahead. If a driver knows there is a camera ahead, they will not look at their mobile phone. The point is that if the phone is in the Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 43

boot of their car and they are not touching it, drivers do not have to worry about it. Driving while using a mobile phone is absolute madness. It is a criminal act, and only ratbags do it. I would like to mention Diane and Graeme McMurtrie from my area. They are the parents of a beautiful daughter, Hannah, who was 19 years of age when she was killed in a motor vehicle accident. When she was located at the scene of the accident it appeared as though there could have been a distraction. Diane and Graeme would like to be part of a school road safety campaign that focuses on how road accidents impact not just the person driving, who may be seriously injured or killed, but also other people and families involved. The McMurtries lost their beautiful daughter, which has had a huge impact on their lives. If a second vehicle is involved in an accident, obviously another family will be impacted. The associated school community and workplaces will also be affected. Another young lady was killed recently on Old Bar Road by a drink-driver. She was a childcare worker at a Wingham preschool and her death impacted not only her family but also her co-workers and the wider community in her regional town. It is interesting that when we consider road safety we always think about the Pacific Highway or other highways. But more and more research and evidence reveals that many accidents occur on local roads and involve local drivers—it is not the drivers from Sydney who are causing accidents on our highways. That is why it is fantastic to have Di and Graeme McMurtrie telling their story and getting the message across to young people about the impacts of the way they drive. Drug-driving is a key factor in deaths on country roads across New South Wales. In the 2016-17 financial year, in country New South Wales there were 58 fatalities from crashes involving a motorist with an illicit drug present in their system. This represents 23 per cent of all fatalities that occurred on country roads in that period. Fatalities from crashes involving motorists with an illicit drug in their system have almost doubled in country areas over the past three financial years. It is therefore increasingly important to implement new and enhanced measures to deter and detect drug-drivers, and the measures outlined in this bill will do just that. As announced by the Premier in January, the roadside mobile drug-testing program will progressively increase over the next three years, to up to 200,000 tests by the end of 2020. This will more than double the number of mobile drug tests that are currently carried out in New South Wales. These tests are performed by police across country New South Wales, targeting areas where fatalities involving the presence of illicit drugs and alcohol occur. Drug tests are delivered alongside random breath tests to tackle the challenges of both drink-driving and drug-driving. These reforms will enable police to test for cocaine alongside the three illicit drugs that are currently detected by the mobile drug-testing program. As mobile drug tests can be undertaken anywhere, anytime—including across our country road network—it is intended that anyone who uses cannabis, speed, ice, ecstasy and now cocaine will think twice before driving. The maximum court-imposed penalties for a first offence are a $1,100 fine and an automatic six-month driving disqualification. For a second or subsequent offence, a maximum fine of $2,200 and an automatic 12-month driving disqualification apply. The maximum penalties for this offence type are not affected by the bill. The reforms will also deter drug-driving by strengthening the penalties and sanctions for driving under the influence—also known as DUI offences. This includes increasing the maximum court-issued penalties and introducing police powers to remove drug-drivers from the road through licence sanctions. The maximum penalties for first and repeat DUI offences will now align with the penalties for first and repeat high-range drink-driving offences rather than mid-range drink-driving offences. More than 75 per cent of fatal crashes involving a drug driver occur on country roads. These amendments, combined with the Government's commitment to enhanced enforcement, are essential to address the drug driving related road toll in country areas. I commend the bill to the House. Mr ALEX GREENWICH (Sydney) (16:54): The Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018 adds cocaine to the list of drugs for which it is an offence to drive with a detectable amount in one's system. The bill also increases offences for driving under the influence of drugs, gives police greater powers to stop someone driving their vehicle if they are suspected of driving under the influence and provides for the adoption of enforcement measures for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving. I will limit my brief contribution to the addition of cocaine to what is known as the "presence offence". The presence offence is committed when someone is caught driving with any concentration of a prescribed drug detected in their saliva, blood or urine. It is different from the offence of driving under the influence of drugs in that the prescribed drug does not need to be active. Enforcement occurs through mobile drug testing operations. Currently cannabis, speed, ice and MDMA are tested and the bill will extend that to cocaine. About 100,000 mobile drug tests are conducted each year and the Government wants to increase that number to 200,000 by 2020. The number of operations has already increased under this Government and that has resulted in a massive increase in convictions. Driving under the influence of drugs poses serious community safety risks and the Government should take action against the practice. But the presence offence does not distinguish Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 44

between the active and inactive presence of a drug. People who are not under the influence of a prescribed drug are receiving criminal convictions for traceable amounts in their system that have no relevance to their ability to drive. A criminal record is a serious matter that can lead to major setbacks in life and affect employment. Fines of up to $1,100 apply, and offenders also have to pay for costs associated with court appearances and legal representation. Some offenders, particularly those who are young or who experience disadvantage, will struggle to pay and may end up in debt. If convicted, a person's licence will be disqualified, possibly impacting their earning ability and/or carer responsibilities. Court resources such as Legal Aid will be further burdened. With the planned doubling of mobile drug tests and the addition of a new prescribed drug, the proportion of affected people in the community will increase significantly. If a person's driving is not affected by traces of an illicit drug that was taken some time ago, is it really appropriate to impose considerable life-changing penalties and devote significant resources to convicting them? We cannot even provide the public with a reliable estimate of how long after taking a drug they should not drive to avoid inadvertently committing the offence. Traces of drugs in each person's system will depend on many factors, such as how often they use the drug and how much they weigh. Fundamentally, what we are doing is randomly testing and convicting people for their past drug use. I know that some of the more conservative members of this House will not have a problem with that, but it is not right and there is no community benefit from turning drug users into criminals. The 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey identified that more than 40 per cent of the Australian population over the age of 14 had tried an illicit drug in their lifetime, with 15 per cent having tried it in the past year, more than 8 per cent in the past month, and more than 5 per cent in the past week. In the Minister's second reading speech she stated that the drugs currently tested for in mobile drug tests are "commonly used in the community". Should we really treat more than 40 per cent of the population as criminals? Drug use is a health concern, not a criminal one. To protect the community from harm we need to focus on active drugs in a driver's system, rather than apply a blanket conviction to anyone found with traceable elements of illicit drugs in their system. We should use mobile drug tests as a tool that leads to further tests to determine whether the person was actually driving under the influence of an active drug. Indeed, if drug use was not a criminal offence, it would be easier to find out from a driver when they had taken a drug and what that drug was. I am concerned that this bill is another step in our failing war on drugs, which has not stopped community drug use nor helped people with drug problems. The biggest success of the war on drugs has been to support the growth of organised crime. I would like to see this Parliament have a mature and nuanced discussion about drug use that is evidence based, with the focus on harm reduction. Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (16:59): I support this Liberal-Nationals Government reform to road safety legislation. The two main purposes of the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018 are: first, to address drug driving; and, secondly, to address driver distraction on our roads. As I am sure all members will acknowledge, drug driving is selfish and stupid. The message is clear: This type of behaviour is not tolerated by our community. Under this bill, there will be increases in fines, terms of imprisonment, and licence disqualification periods for driving under the influence. Offences in this bill mean that drug drivers who put the lives of others at risk can expect a tough penalty. These key penalties will now reflect the penalties that are applied to the highest range of drink driving first and repeat offences. This means that for a first driving under the influence offence the maximum penalty will be 30 penalty units, which is currently $3,300, or imprisonment for 18 months or both, as may be ordered by the court. In addition, an automatic licence disqualification period of three years would apply. The court may impose a longer or a shorter period of disqualification than the automatic period. However, it must not be shorter than 12 months. In the case of a second or subsequent offence, under the amended legislation the penalty is 50 penalty units, which is currently $5,500, or imprisonment for two years or both, as may be ordered by the court. An automatic licence disqualification period of five years, with a minimum period of two years, will apply. There is some misinformation in the community that drivers who are impaired from the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs—for example, strong painkillers—cannot be detected or penalties enforced by our Police Force. That point needs to be clarified. The offence of driving under the influence can apply to drivers who have been detected at the roadside because they are showing signs of impairment. The police are trained to detect those signs of impairment in drivers. I note that the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight is in the Chamber. The Brisbane Water Local Area Command recently conducted an extensive drug-driving operation on Terrigal Road. Every driver was tested. The Central Coast community will not tolerate the selfish, stupid actions of those who drive with drugs in their system. Following the current procedures as outlined in the Road Transport Act 2013, police can arrest drivers if they are reasonably suspected of being under the influence and take them to a hospital for blood and urine tests as required. Blood and urine testing can identify whether the impairment was due to an illegal drug, a prescription Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 45

drug or a combination of drugs. This includes different types of painkillers such as codeine, morphine and oxycodone, and other drugs including methadone, ketamine, LSD and heroin. On 15 January this year the Premier and the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey, announced that a review is underway to identify appropriate restrictions and safeguards to help reduce the risk of people driving while impaired by prescription medications. The review will consider existing guidelines and policies, and includes consultation with police, road safety experts and health experts. These measures will aim to balance the safety of the broader community on the road with the individual needs of people taking prescription medication. As a member of the Staysafe committee, I commend the Premier and the roads Minister for acting swiftly. The committee regularly receives reports highlighting the terrible impact that this behaviour has on people across New South Wales. Any driver who takes a substance that carries a warning or who is prescribed or recommended a new product by their doctor or pharmacist should take simple steps to check how this may affect their driving. This can include talking to a doctor or pharmacist about the new medicine, talking about interaction with other medications and alcohol, following all information and advice from medical experts, and adhering to the manufacturer's instructions. The amendments in this bill, as well as the many extensive initiatives in the Road Safety Plan 2021, send a very clear message to the New South Wales community: Regardless of what substance you may have used, it is your responsibility to remove yourself from the road if there is the potential that you may be impaired. One additional measure is cracking down on drug drivers. Earlier this year cocaine was added to the list of drugs that are subject to roadside testing. The number of roadside mobile drug tests will double from 100,000 per year to 200,000 per year by 2020. I can tell the Minister, who is in the Chamber, that I have received overwhelming feedback from people in my electorate that it is the right decision. We are sick and tired of seeing selfish drivers on our roads risking the lives of innocent people because of their stupidity. The Liberal-Nationals Government is 100 per cent committed to improving road safety and reducing fatalities on our roads. In 2017 the total road toll in New South Wales was 392. That is 392 mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents and children who will never go home to their families. It is a staggering and terrifying statistic. Unfortunately, that number includes two road fatalities in my electorate of Terrigal that occurred on roads that were in the best condition—the Central Coast Highway and Avoca Drive. Those accidents involved people at either end of life's spectrum: One person was a 19-year-old P-plate driver and the other person was a 47-year- old father of two. Those people will never go home to their families, and it is a stark reminder of the impact that the road toll has on our community. Every 41 minutes someone is either seriously injured or killed on roads in New South Wales. They are sobering numbers. That is why this Government has introduced the Road Safety Plan 2021. As the Premier announced on 6 February, the plan includes a range of measures to address speeding, drink-driving, drug driving, driver distraction, driver fatigue and truck safety, and also has funding to improve safety on our country roads. Under the new plan, police will have greater powers to enforce harsher penalties. Those penalties will act as disincentives to prompt people to take responsibility to do the right thing when driving on our roads. The plan also includes increased funding for safety improvements on roads in New South Wales, such as $125 million for the new Saving Lives on Country Roads program. As outlined by the member for Myall Lakes, it is not city people being killed on country roads; country people are being killed on country roads and Central Coast people are being killed on Central Coast roads. This program will help address those issues. We know that, traditionally, people are killed in close proximity to their home. In addition to speeding, driver complacency and distraction are the greatest risks to our young people. As the member for Terrigal, I have had the privilege of attending numerous young driver education programs throughout my electorate, whether it be the Blue Datto program or a rider program. At these meetings I explain to year 10 students that while it is exciting to receive a licence—we all remember the day we got our licence and gained freedom—it also comes with a great responsibility. Those young people will now be in charge of a machine that can take their life or that of someone else. I relayed to the 178 year 10 students at Terrigal High School my story of being involved in an accident as a young driver. Anyone who has been involved in a head-on collision can never forget the sound of crushing metal and the sight of a bonnet coming towards them. You could have heard a pin drop when I asked the students, "Which one of your friends will you kill if you do not pay attention or use your phone while driving or, worse, drive under the influence of an illicit substance?" The early education programs for year 10 students are a good start. Young people today have greater levels of education about road safety than we ever had. The graduated licence system is proving to be a great success, but we cannot rest on our laurels and take it for granted. I fully support the bill before us today. I acknowledge the hard work by the Minister's team: Louise Higgins, Damon Barker, Gavin Crouch—no relation—Claire Murdoch, Alison Noyes and Cathy Chang. I congratulate the Minister on her passion, dedication and drive to ensure that the bill was delivered as quickly as Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 46

possible so that we can start saving lives on our roads and stop people dying needlessly because of the stupid and juvenile actions of drivers. I commend the bill to the House. Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown) (17:08): I make a brief contribution to debate on the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018. The objects of the bill are: to amend the Road Transport Act 2013 to include cocaine as a prescribed illicit drug; to bring the consequences for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs in line with those for driving with a high range prescribed concentration of alcohol; to authorise a police officer to prevent a person suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or another drug from using a vehicle; to authorise the use of devices for the enforcement of offences relating to the use of a mobile phone by drivers of motor vehicles; and to make other amendments of a minor, miscellaneous or consequential nature. The purpose of the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill is to improve road safety by enhancing our drug-driving enforcement, enhancing penalties for driving under the influence and providing for the adoption of new and emerging camera technology to address the risks of mobile phone use when driving. I will first address the provisions relating to the inclusion of cocaine as a prescribed illicit drug. The bill proposes to extend existing provisions prohibiting a person from driving a motor vehicle with prescribed illicit drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy and speed in the person's oral fluid, blood or urine to include prohibiting a person from driving with cocaine in the person's oral fluid, blood or urine. Currently, two subcategories of drug-driving offences exist and they are differentiated by the type of drug detected. The first is driving with the presence of cannabis, speed or ice or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine—MDMA—or ecstasy in oral fluid, blood or urine. The second is driving with the presence of morphine or cocaine in blood or urine. Therefore, driving with the presence of morphine or cocaine in blood is currently illegal. This bill proposes that cocaine will be included in saliva testing and be brought in line with the drugs ecstasy, methamphetamine and tetrahydrocannabinol. The Centre for Road Safety advises that the use of stimulants such as ecstasy, amphetamines or cocaine means a driver is likely to believe they are a better driver than they are, is likely to drive aggressively and take more risks, is likely to be overstimulated and lose concentration, is likely to have blurry or limited vision, and is likely to see things on the road that are not there. I must admit I was shocked to read that cocaine is not currently considered a prescribed illicit drug along with the three aforementioned substances that are tested during roadside drug enforcement because the drug has a similar stimulating effect. The current legislation does not provide for cocaine to be detected by DrugWipe devices used by New South Wales police. This legislation addresses that issue. According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, cocaine use is at a 15-year high among Australians yet conviction rates for drug driving under the influence of cocaine are very low. According to the same survey, New South Wales has the highest rate of cocaine use in Australia, with 3.4 per cent of survey participants stating that they had taken the drug in the previous 12 months—which is above the national average of 2.5 per cent. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission estimates that the average cocaine consumption in Sydney is double that in any other capital city, and is around three times more than is consumed in Melbourne. There is no reason to believe the statistics in my electorate of Charlestown are any different from what is being experienced in Sydney. Like testing for alcohol, police should have the capability to test drivers for a drug in their system that impairs their ability to drive safely. At the end of the day, we must do what we can to reduce the number of road deaths in New South Wales. In 2017 the road toll in New South Wales soared to an eight-year high of 392. We are aware that people's driving skills can become impaired while they are under the influence of cocaine and, in the interests of safety, I agree with the bill amending legislation in this way. Making it an offence for drivers to have cocaine present in their saliva will deter people from driving while under the influence, which is the intention of the bill. Technology is advanced and the oral detection of cocaine is now feasible. Therefore, there is no reason that this part of the bill should not be supported. I will now address the provisions that allow for camera-based enforcement of mobile phone use offences, of which I am also supportive. We know for a fact that being distracted while driving increases the risk of an accident. Even a brief glance at a mobile phone can be dangerous. A car travelling at 60 kilometres per hour covers 33 metres in two seconds, meaning a motorist who is using a mobile phone while driving is effectively driving blind. From 2012 to 2017, 184 crashes involved the illegal use of a mobile phone in New South Wales. These crashes resulted in seven deaths and 105 injuries—that is, seven deaths and 105 injuries too many. More than 40,000 people were fined by New South Wales police for illegal mobile phone use in the 2016-17 financial year. These numbers show that too many people have been tempted to glance at their phones. We must remember that it is not worth our life or someone else's life, and a technology-based deterrent is a positive first step. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 47

However, I hold some privacy concerns, as raised by the shadow Minister for roads and member for Strathfield that the new camera technology appears to photograph the driver of a vehicle from an angle that captures the steering wheel and the hands, legs and lap of the driver as they pass the camera, potentially without doing anything wrong. I ask the Minister to respond and say what will happen to the photographs of a driver potentially doing nothing wrong. Furthermore, as the member for Strathfield mentioned, the Government will not require signage alerting motorists of approaching mobile use offence cameras, even where existing signposted speed or red light cameras have been modified to detect mobile use offences. Normally signage for speed and red light cameras is considered an important deterrent, and so that the general public knows that photographs being taken are not simply a revenue-raising measure. Opposition members agree with that. Drivers in New South Wales need to know that they cannot risk lives by using a mobile phone while driving, but the use of photography as a deterrent should be consistent. Consistency is important so that drivers understand the rules and this includes consistency in signage, alerting drivers of the potential to be photographed while driving. In conclusion, I reiterate that we desperately need to do all we can to reduce road deaths in New South Wales. I, with others on this side of the House, will support the bill but I will keep a watchful eye on how the use of emerging technology relating to photography plays out. Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (17:16): I support the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018. It is fitting to consider this legislation during Road Safety Week when we acknowledge the 1,227 people lost on our roads just last year. As the sun goes down today in Sydney, the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be lit up yellow to acknowledge those losses and to solidify our commitment towards zero road deaths in New South Wales. I support the legislation as part of the Road Safety Plan 2021, which is a series of targeted and proven initiatives to address the different key risks, trends and types of crashes on our roads. This includes strengthening penalties and police powers for driving under the influence, the inclusion of cocaine in the mobile drug testing regime and enables enforcement of camera-detected mobile phone use offences. I commend the Minister and her team for putting together this package of reforms to ensure that we can progress road safety initiatives in our community. I refer to the inclusion of cocaine in drivers' oral fluid testing at the roadside by police. These amendments will ensure that the testing of the current three drugs in the mobile drug testing program [MDT] will also include cocaine. The MDT program currently targets commonly used illegal drugs that feature in the road toll and can affect the skills required for safe driving. These are the psychoactive component of cannabis [THC], speed or ice, and ecstasy. The key purpose of our roadside MDT program is to deter drivers from taking the risk of driving after illegal drug use and risking the safety of others on the road. Drivers who have used illegal drugs have no place on our roads. New South Wales crash statistics show that cocaine is a substance detected in the system of motorists involved in fatal crashes in New South Wales. I am advised that from 2012-16, 11 motorists involved in fatal crashes, including four motorists in 2016, had cocaine in their system. Data for 2017 has yet to be finalised, as drug and urine tests of drivers involved in those crashes is still being processed. However, incomplete data indicates that at least two drivers or riders were involved in fatal crashes and had the drug present. Those crashes resulted in four fatalities. Although the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes with cocaine in their system has remained comparatively low over time, evidence shows that mixing cocaine and driving is a road safety risk. Cocaine use can impair the skills required for safe driving. The immediate effects of use can be distracting and disorienting, affecting concentration on driving. The drug can also produce changes in reaction time, changes in response that are less reasoned and more impulsive, and increased risk taking. Research indicates that cocaine is associated with an increased risk of a person being killed or seriously injured in a crash, compared to a sober driver. The National Drug Strategy Household Use Survey 2016, which is conducted every several years by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, highlights that 3.4 per cent of New South Wales respondents used cocaine in the previous year. This is up from 2.7 per cent in 2013 and higher than in other States and Territories. There is a need for us to address this risk. These reforms will bring about a robust program to deter drug driving. This approach is consistent with the New South Wales Government's zero tolerance approach to driving after illegal drug use. The timing of these reforms is important. The Government has committed to expand the drug testing program to 200,000 tests by 2020. This will more than double the current number of mobile drug tests that are carried out in New South Wales. It also builds on this Government's election commitment to triple roadside drug testing from around 30,000 tests per year prior to 2015 to 97,400 tests per year. In June 2017 we achieved this commitment with 97,400 tests completed by New South Wales police in the 2016-17 financial year. As New South Wales moves to the largest roadside drug testing program in Australia, the time is right to expand the scope of roadside testing to include cocaine, which is already illegal, if present in blood and urine while driving. These amendments will send a strong message that illegal drugs have no place on our roads by introducing tougher penalties and an enhanced enforcement commitment delivered by the NSW Police Force. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 48

In supporting this legislation I acknowledge the work of the Minister, her office, the Minister for Police, the NSW Police Force and the many organisations that work together to promote and ensure road safety New South Wales. Last year I was fortunate to attend, with the member for Tamworth, the RIDER road safety awards in my electorate of North Shore at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club. Their work to ensure that young people are educated about the risks and their own responsibilities on the road is crucial but at the same time it needs to be complemented by appropriate legislation for monitoring and enforcement to ensure that we have safety on our roads to reduce the death toll that affects too many lives and families. Mr PHILIP DONATO (Orange) (17:22): As the member for Orange and a member of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party I support the bill. I thank the Minister and her hardworking staff for preparing this important bill and bringing it before this House. Road safety is an important issue not just because it affects us all every day at any time but because a motor vehicle is one of the most dangerous things in our community. Driving on a road and holding a driver licence is a privilege, not a right—something which should be the core objective that underpins all legislation. Like many other regional members of Parliament, I see and hear about the devastation and tragedy that regularly occurs when too many men, women and children are killed or grievously injured on our roads. Only a few weeks ago a 22-year-old man was killed just out of Orange after his car collided with a tree on the side of the road. This young man played with my sons when I coached Australian Rules many years ago. These tragedies are never far from our mind. In the regions there is often one degree of separation: If I do not know the person, then somebody I know knows the person who has been killed or seriously injured in these accidents, because of the closeness of community in regional areas. In regional towns, traffic accidents often involve people we know, either directly or through another person. That brings these matters home and to light. This is all the more reason to promote road safety and to adopt legislation as our community's behaviours change and technology to detect offences is improved. Further, in my previous role as a police officer and later as a police prosecutor, I saw firsthand the devastating and tragic consequences of such accidents. I am sure police officers can identify with this, and there are a few ex-cops who are members of this place who would attest to this, including the member for Seven Hills. Police officers deliver the awful news to family members of a road traffic accident death and often have to talk to traumatised family members, along with attending accident scenes and seeing major trauma. Unfortunately, these tragic events happen all too often, and I am glad to support measures to improve road safety. I turn to the content of the bill before us today. I commend the bill for including cocaine as a prescribed illicit drug for the purpose of roadside drug testing [RDT], which is now detected by oral fluid swab. Cocaine, like many other illicit drugs, is unfortunately prevalent in our community. It is a drug that impairs a driver's ability to function properly and drive a motor vehicle safely and responsibly on our roads. Until now, cocaine was only detected if a blood or urine sample was taken from the driver, which only happened in limited circumstances— for example, if a driver involved in the accident was taken to hospital or failed a sobriety assessment test conducted by police at the roadside. This new technology to detect cocaine via random RDT will go a significant way in detecting, prosecuting and hopefully deterring drug-affected drivers on our roads. I anticipate that a significant number of drug-affected drivers will be detected when this legislation commences. Increasing penalties to the equivalent of high-range drink-driving adequately reflects both the public interest and the objective criminality. Section 3A of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, titled Purpose of sentence, lists a number of factors that a court must consider when determining the sentence of an offender. The first is to adequately punish the offender; the second is to hold the offender to account; the third is to denounce the conduct; the fourth is general deterrence; the fifth is protection of the community; the sixth is to recognise the harm done to the community; and the seventh is to promote the rehabilitation of the offender. By increasing the penalties in line with high range drink-driving, when one looks at the statistics referred to in the Minister's second reading speech, I believe the response is adequate, proportionate, reasonable and appropriate. I now turn to the mobile phone offences and provisions to detect those offences. The improved technology and widespread use of mobile phones, especially smartphones, while driving have added a new complexity to road safety. In relation to traffic matters and driving offences, the nexus of driving with the use of mobile telephones is a significant contributing factor to motor vehicle accidents. I anticipate that in 10 years, when we review the statistics, there will be a distinct correlation between the prevalence and use of mobile phones and serious and/or fatal motor vehicle collisions. We need to do something now to tackle this issue. One only needs to walk Macquarie Street, outside this building, at any time of the day or night to see drivers using their mobile phones to make calls, to send and receive text messages, and to scroll through information, such is the prevalence of this behaviour. Most of these people are using their mobile phones without any attempt to conceal what they are doing. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 49

As the Minister stated, at 60 kilometres per hour a vehicle travels 33 metres in two seconds—that is, a third of a rugby field when a driver using a mobile phone is essentially driving blind. There are already offences for driving whilst using a mobile phone, an infringement notice issued by way of penalty notice usually only detected by police directly observing the offence. The use of mobile phones while driving was brought to a head with the tragic incident that occurred a couple of months ago involving two police officers setting up a random breath testing station in Campbelltown. The driver who was allegedly driving at 60 kilometres an hour, on his own admission, whilst texting for 10 to 20 seconds, collided with and seriously injured two police officers because of travelling between 150 and 300 metres while looking at his phone and not at the road, so blind driving. Both police officers sustained serious injuries, with one officer requiring amputation of his lower leg. That is a terrible tragedy. The use of new technology to detect mobile phone offences is to be encouraged. The introduction of this legislation will place a significant additional workload on the police, especially highway patrol officers, and Local Courts. I would hope that the Government plans to increase the number of police to bolster highway patrols and to keep up with this demand, as well as increase staffing of the court system to cater for the increased workload that I anticipate. As we know, visible police presence is the best deterrent in relation to road safety. I am also pleased to note that resources by way of fines derived from camera-detected offences will be placed into the Community Road Safety Fund and dedicated to road safety initiatives. One such initiative I endorse is the introduction of a driver education program for all learner drivers. At the moment there is a traffic offenders program or a driver education program, which is a voluntary course designed to educate traffic offenders and assist them to learn driving skills. Something similar could be offered for learner drivers on a voluntary basis as a component of their L-plates, and they could get credit at the completion of such a course. This program, from all accounts of people I speak to, receives very positive feedback and reviews from participants, with many saying that all drivers should attend, not just offenders. There should be an initiative to support such a program. Additionally, school-based educational programs, such as "Not A Statistic", involving police and emergency services could be funded through this fund. I visited such a program run by Parkes Police-Citizens Youth Clubs [PCYC] late last year. All local year 10 students attend the program, those about to embark on their driving careers. They watch a confronting scenario as part of this informative awareness program that includes role-playing. It is a great program. Young people need to know that they are not bullet-proof; they need to know that their skin will tear and that their bones will crush if they are involved in a major motor vehicle accident. I believe in this program, so much so that I have requested Superintendent Taylor, the commander of the newly amalgamated Central West Police District, to introduce this program in Orange later this year. Only through education, awareness and enforcement will we make an inroad to reduce the number of serious motor vehicle accidents on our roads and reduce the number of injuries and fatalities. I commend the bill to the House. Ms STEPH COOKE (Cootamundra) (17:31): I support the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018. Roads are the lifeblood of our regions, our towns and our villages. The Cootamundra electorate is an electorate made up of small communities. To us roads are more than arteries for commerce; they are vital in maintaining our way of life. Rural and regional people, like those in the Cootamundra electorate, often travel hundreds of kilometres daily to conduct business, to get their children to school, to attend sport, and to visit friends and family. It is these friends and family who are most important to us and to me. I support this bill because the ever-present tragedy of road-related deaths in rural and regional areas hurts us all. It hurts those who are left behind, and it is up to all of us to do all we can to remove this horror that should never simply be accepted as part of life. One life lost is one too many; one grieving family is one too many. Road users are all—each and every one of us—ultimately responsible for making our roads safer. Whilst I am proud to be part of a government investing unprecedented amounts in fixing country roads, this on its own will never be enough. Without effective and efficient deterrents to poor driver behaviour, all of this investment will be in vain. With mobile technologies becoming so integral to our daily lives, we all understand and realise the temptation to reach for our phone when it vibrates. However, this behaviour is dangerous. This behaviour has ended lives, and therefore this behaviour must be understood to be endangering the life of not just the driver but also their passengers and all road users. Road safety research and policing reveal that detection is critical to achieving a shift in driver behaviour. Put simply, drivers who believe there is a high risk of detection are more likely to be deterred from engaging in high-risk behaviours. Whilst the police continue to do an outstanding job enforcing these laws, they cannot be everywhere. In the 2016-17 financial year police issued more than 40,000 infringements for illegal phone use. Education campaigns are trying to reduce that figure but it shows just how prevalent illegal phone use whilst driving is. Without rigorous enforcement we will continue to see the carnage this behaviour creates. Automated solutions can act as an additional deterrent to supplement the work already conducted by police on our roads— for example, the use of speed and red light cameras. Automated devices also allow police to conduct more Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 50

hands-on enforcement activities and we are all grateful for the recent success of highly visible police presence in deterring poor behaviours. The bill will extend the operator onus provisions that currently apply to camera-detected offences, including speeding, running red lights, unauthorised driving and mobile phone offences. Under these provisions, the responsible person for the vehicle, usually the registered operator, will be deemed to have committed the offence. This provision is necessary because the actual offender is not identified at the time camera offences are committed. The penalty notice or court attendance notice for the offence will be sent to the registered operator, which can also be a company. If the registered operator was not the driver, the Act requires them to nominate the person who was driving at the time of the offence. If such a nomination is made, the responsibility for the offence is transferred to the person nominated. This not only provides protection for the registered operator but it also ensures that the driver at the time of the offence is held accountable and receives the appropriate fine and demerit points. This will act as an effective deterrent to curb the prevalence of these behaviours on our roads. Adding camera-detected mobile phone offences to the current operator onus scheme will ensure that these offences are dealt with as efficiently and effectively as other camera-detected offences. The bill also makes consequential amendments to the Transport Administration Act 1998 to ensure that any fines and penalties from camera-detected mobile phone offences are paid into the Community Road Safety Fund. This is consistent with the treatment of other camera-detected speeding and red light offences. The Government established the fund in 2013 to increase transparency and to direct fines back into road safety programs, including engineering works, public education campaigns and enhanced enforcement by the NSW Police Force. This is not, as some may claim, a blatant attempt at revenue raising; it is a consistent and deliberate approach to reduce road accidents across this State. These amendments will deliver on a key commitment of the Road Safety Plan 2021 and will ensure that those who continue to take risks on our roads are detected. Importantly, it will act in concert with our current education and enforcement strategies to remove risk-taking behaviour and make New South Wales roads safer. I commend the bill to the House. Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama) (17:38): I speak to the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018. At the outset I commend Minister Pavey for her work on road safety. The Government is aware of the numerous accidents that have occurred on South Coast roads and is working hard to upgrade the Princes Highway, including at Gerringong and Berry to Bomaderry. I also look forward to seeing the Albion Park Rail bypass completed in due course. The reforms in this bill will provide police with powers to issue a driving prohibition of 48 hours to a driver who has been arrested to undergo blood and urine testing if they have failed or refused a sobriety assessment. This important measure will ensure that drivers showing signs of being acutely impaired and under the influence of a drug are taken off the road for a reasonable and consistent time period. Current provisions already allow police to take steps to prevent driving whilst a driver is under the influence of alcohol and drugs. There are already provisions at law to deal with these matters, including section 112 of the Road Transport Act. These steps can include temporarily prohibiting driving and confiscating keys or taking a vehicle for safekeeping. However, the circumstances and for how long the actions can be applied outlined in the existing legislation are not clear. These reforms provide a clearer and more consistent option for police. The power to issue a driving prohibition for 48 hours may be exercised only if a driver was arrested after failing or refusing to submit to a sobriety assessment. The typical steps prior to a sobriety assessment are that police have observed actual signs that suggest impairment by a drug, such as in the driver's manner of driving, behaviour or appearance. Police will obviously have to interact with these drivers but this is an important measure to protect other road users. This power will only be exercised where there is indication that the driver is under the influence. As I said, this very sensible provision will make the provisions that currently exist clearer and more defined. The drug could be pharmaceutical, illegal or a combination of both legal and illegal substances, and the period of time for the effects of the drug to pass will vary. Some drugs are also associated with a "come down" effect—where a person can be fatigued after the immediate effects of the drug have faded. Given the severity of the alleged offence, a 48-hour period is considered an appropriate amount of time to remove offenders from the road. It balances the safety of road users and recognises that the driver has not yet been charged with an offence. In the intervening period the vehicle can be removed, the driver will not be a danger to other users and appropriate action can be taken. However, it is not intended to indicate that a driver will necessarily be fit to drive after this period. Drivers should always exercise caution and make a conservative choice about getting back behind the wheel after any sort of substance use, be it legal or otherwise. It is an offence to contravene prohibitions on driving or requirements issued by a police officer under the relevant division of the Act, with a maximum penalty of $1,100. This is an existing offence and it will also apply to the proposed 48-hour prohibition applied to drivers immediately after a suspected driving under the influence offence. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 51

These amendments will deliver on a key commitment of the Road Safety Plan 2021 and send the New South Wales community a strong message that this Government is committed to tough action against drug drivers. On Boxing Day the Falkholt family was involved in a tragic accident on a South Coast road. No matter how much law the Parliament passes we cannot bring back those who have lost their lives, but we can ensure that we have a rigorous regime that empowers those on the front line of law enforcement to make sure that we keep every road user safe. Everyone must drive to the conditions of the road. Holding a licence is not a right; it is a privilege. We need to ensure that that privilege is respected. Each year in Australia approximately 1,200 people lose their lives, but the number of those injured on our roads nationally each year—75,000—often goes untold. That figure is way too high. Currently the Sydney Harbour Bridge and other infrastructure around the nation are awash with yellow lights to kick off Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week. I have been to funerals of people who have lost their lives on the Princes Highway. I have seen the effects of this carnage. Some years ago my friend the member for Bega was involved in a car accident. I remember the horror of hearing of that accident and seeing the injuries that he sustained. Indeed, none of us are spared from the impacts that road accidents can have on our friends and families. I commend the Minister for these actions. I also commend the Government for its actions in relation to the use of mobile phones while driving. Many constituents have raised with me their concerns about people using mobile phones while driving and being distracted and the impact that can have. Anything that impairs one's ability to drive behind the wheel, be it the use of a mobile phone or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, needs to be taken incredibly seriously. I am very pleased and proud that in Minister Pavey we have a Minister who knows and understands country roads in particular and the devastating impacts that loss of life can have on country communities, not only on the people involved in accidents and on their families but also on our emergency services personnel when they attend accidents and have to see firsthand the devastating impact of road trauma, and on the people who work on patients in hospitals as a result of these accidents. All of those people play an important part in road safety and in sending a strong and unequivocal message. I also commend those people who go into our schools to speak about road safety. As Parliamentary Secretary for Education I met with a group of people in my electorate who are working on teaching young people in our schools the impact of road trauma and the need to ensure that they treat driving as a privilege and not a right. People often joke that the fastest way out of Sydney is behind a P-plate driver. I hope that all people on provisional licences remember that we want them to get to where they are going safely; we want them to survive and thrive, and we want our roads to be a safe place. I believe this legislation will make them that little bit safer. Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie) (17:45): I will put my mobile phone down because I do not want to be distracted while I am speaking on this very important bill. The Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018 is but a handful of pages—it is a very simple bill. While it is a simple bill, I thank the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight and the Government for tackling these very important issues. It only needs to be a simple bill because we are talking about a simple premise: that innocent road users should be safe, but that we will not stand for road users who defy the standards set by the public and use alcohol or illicit drugs or are distracted by mobile phones while they are driving. We have had enough of that sort of behaviour. If those drivers will not take personal responsibility, we have to introduce other methods of dealing with that behaviour. I am generally quite concerned about measures that might be seen as an intrusion by the State into people's rights to do certain things—the notion of the Big Brother State. I am sure that some people will speak about some of the elements of this bill in that context. But that is not the case. This bill is not about Big Brother— other than Big Brother saying, "Brother, you are being irresponsible. Stop it. You are risking not only your own life with your actions in your motor vehicle; you are also risking the life of other road users or your friends and family who might be in the vehicle with you." The issue of testing for cocaine is really just keeping up with the times. We should always ensure that the law is equitable; we should not discount certain drugs that, for whatever reasons, we have certain perceptions about. We know that drugs do affect people's behaviour and that they are used by some drivers. It does not make it better if somebody is killed or injured by a driver who is affected by marijuana and not cocaine. Of course that testing should be included in the legislation. I acknowledge the Government is taking action on people who use mobile phones while driving, handheld mobile phones in particular. I know that studies show that any conversation through a hands-free or a handheld mobile phone is going to affect a driver to some degree. I do not know how we deal with the issue of hands-free mobile phone use by drivers. I use one myself and I try to use it responsibly and limit myself, but I personally believe that there is a difference between using a hands-free mobile phone and a handheld mobile phone. As a motorcyclist, while I am on a motorcycle I have a heightened awareness of vehicles coming towards me and I always watch the eyes of the driver. I am not interested in anything much else other than where that car that is heading towards me is going. Often I can see that the person coming towards me is almost oblivious to the Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 52

conditions around them, and frequently I will see that the driver is holding a handheld mobile phone to their ear. That gives me a huge amount of concern. I often say to people that if they hear of the member for Lake Macquarie having been killed on his motorcycle they should look to see if there might have been a car around at the time with a handheld mobile phone in it, because the odds are that a mobile phone could well and truly be involved. It does not mean that it will be—a whole host of things can happen to anybody—but statistically the use of handheld mobile phones by drivers involved in accidents is quite significant and it should not be discounted, but it should be stopped. Recently I spoke to my local area commander, Danny Sullivan. Danny was speaking to me about some of my social media engagement. I have been trying to use social media a lot more in getting messages out to the community about different matters rather than self-promotion. He asked me if I would be interested in looking at the issue of driver behaviour in southern Lake Macquarie, which has a much higher incidence of accidents causing death or injury than the State average. There is really no excuse for that, but I have to agree that it is certainly obvious in a number of ways. If people do not personally know anybody who has died, they only need to drive around the area and see all the roadside memorials—they are quite prolific in southern Lake Macquarie. People probably do know somebody who has died in the local area from an accident that may have been caused by bad judgement, but too often it is beyond that—it is almost wilful activity on the part of some of those drivers involved. I started putting together a little video on this issue yesterday. I was not sure if this bill was going to be debated tonight, so I was not triggered by that; I was triggered by the request of the local area commander, Danny Sullivan, to do something on this issue. Apart from personalising this debate by saying that I am a motorcyclist and that I am aware of the drivers out there, what makes me more aware of road safety—and I know many other members in this House are similarly affected—is that I am a father and a grandfather. My granddaughters will be driving soon, or they will be hopping into other people's cars. I do not want people to wilfully assume, as the member for Kiama said, that they have a right to drive how they like when they like. Drivers do not have the right to put somebody else at risk by driving too fast. Even if nothing happens, they have wilfully caused unnecessary anxiety and have exposed people to unnecessary risk. I want to see that stopped. I want to see my community safe, but I do not know how to do that. I do not know how we are going to do it, but, once again, I acknowledge that the Government and the Minister are having a go. I think some of these measures will be quite significant and I thank them for that. I want all those people who will complain about the loss of some perceived right they think they should have to think about the one, two, three or dozens of people who will not be killed because of stupidity on the road or the many hundreds or thousands who will not be injured. That is the personal, social and familial cost. The other side of it is the actual cost. If we want to be crass about dollars and cents there is a real financial cost to the community but that is not what should be motivating us and I do not think it is. It is about the personal cost in our communities. I fully support the bill. It is wonderful timing for me to be able to raise this with my community and for people to be able to have a good look at themselves in the mirror if this is the behaviour they are exhibiting. Once again I thank the Minister and the Government for taking this action. Ms ELENI PETINOS (Miranda) (17:55): I speak in support of the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018. Driving on our roadways is a critical part of the everyday lives of people in my local community and across New South Wales. It is important to provide confidence to drivers, cyclists, passengers and pedestrians that they can reach their destinations and return safely to their families. With that in mind, the purpose of the bill is to amend road transport laws to address drug-driving and driver distraction on New South Wales roads. By way of background, the Government is implementing these reforms as part of its Road Safety Plan 2021 to continue valuable research into the role of distraction in crashes on New South Wales roads so that we can respond to our trauma trends. Illicit drug use has long been a health and safety issue not only in New South Wales but across Australia. Unfortunately drug-driving has now become a serious road safety concern on our State's roads. Cannabis, ice and ecstasy are harmful substances that have been defined as prescribed illicit drugs since the Road Transport Act 2013. Between July 2015 and June 2016 more than 20 per cent of fatalities on our roads involved a driver under the influence of a prescribed illicit drug. An increasing number of incidents are now involving drivers under the influence of cocaine. Over a six-year period between 2010 and 2016, 303 crashes occurred involving at least one driver under the influence of an illicit drug. Providing the police with these extra powers is in response to the evidence that shows drug-driving is on the rise both in number and as a percentage of overall incidents. The Government is responding through this bill by providing police with the tools necessary to test and remove drivers under the influence of cocaine. The bill will add cocaine as a prescribed illicit drug, giving police the authority to conduct random oral fluid testing on drivers suspected of being under the influence of cocaine. These measures will be Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 53

implemented with the aim of keeping the vast majority of law-abiding drivers safe from harm and as part of the longer term goal of reducing the road fatality to zero. Failure to follow the law and respect the safety of fellow drivers must come with strong penalties and as a Government we are taking strong steps to ensure the safety of road users so they can travel safely and return home to their families. Detecting and prosecuting offending drivers is just the first element in making our roads safer. No detection and prosecution is effective without penalties that act as an appropriate deterrent, sending a strong message that such behaviour on our roads is unacceptable and punishable by tough penalties. In response to this, the Government is increasing the maximum penalties for those caught while driving under the influence of prescribed illicit drugs in the same way as they are presently applied to high range drink-driving. A first offence will carry a maximum penalty of 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 18 months or both, as well as licence disqualification for three years. Second and subsequent offenders will receive 50 penalty units or imprisonment for two years or both, as well as licence disqualification for five years. In response to concerns about drivers charged with driving under the influence but awaiting penalty, police will now have the power to issue a 48-hour driving prohibition while undergoing blood and urine tests as well as the ability to issue a licence suspension notice after a driver has been charged with driving under the influence. This has the intent of keeping dangerous drivers off the road and keeping fellow road users safe. The bill also seeks to address the use of mobile phones while driving, a significant driver distraction that unfortunately is an unnecessary cause of road fatalities. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our daily lives. As drivers it is easy to become complacent and forget that driving is a complex activity. However, anything that causes a driver to take his or her hands off the wheel, eyes off the road or mind off the driving task is dangerous for everyone on the road. Research shows that drivers who take their eyes off the road for longer than two seconds double their risk of a crash. Between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2017 there were 184 crashes on New South Wales roads where handheld mobile phone use by drivers was identified as a contributing factor. These crashes resulted in seven people being killed and 47 being seriously injured. While this is only a very small fraction of the crashes and trauma on New South Wales roads over the five-year period, crash numbers are underreported due to the difficulty of obtaining evidence of mobile phone use at crash scenes. In addition to the reforms in the bill, the New South Wales Government has committed, as part of the Road Safety Plan 2021, to continue valuable research into the role of distraction in crashes on New South Wales roads so that we can respond to our trauma trends. International research shows that being distracted when driving increases the risk of a crash. Simply taking one's eyes off the road for longer than two seconds doubles the risk of a crash. While around two-thirds of drivers agree that using a phone while driving is dangerous, unfortunately many people still do it. The Government responded to these challenges when it included mobile phone offences in the double demerit points scheme and also introduced an additional demerit point for mobile phone offences. The current fine for using a mobile phone in contravention of the road rules is $330 and four demerit points. A higher fine applies if the offence was committed in a school zone. Even with robust penalties in place, changing driver behaviour requires a combination of education and enforcement. Education is important. That is why the New South Wales Government became a premier partner of the Sydney Swans in September 2014 to raise awareness of the dangers of illegally using a mobile phone through the "Get your hand off it" campaign. The Sydney Swans players are ambassadors advocating solutions to help drivers break the habit of looking at their phone while driving. Public education campaigns are an important way to help the public understand the potentially life-changing ramifications of what may initially appear to be a harmless action. The Government also recognises that public education campaigns are just one element in reducing this dangerous and illegal behaviour. A critical element in deterring this behaviour is to ensure drivers know that if they break the law substantial penalties will apply. Automated enforcement has the potential to supplement and support the important work of New South Wales police in deterring unsafe driving and enforcing the road rules. That is why the Government is focused on improving its campaign to reduce the use of mobile phones while driving through the use of new camera technology that will allow police to remotely detect and prosecute those who use a mobile device while driving. If passed, the bill will allow photographic evidence of drivers using mobile phones while driving to be admissible in court. Testing of potential devices will take place prior to cameras being introduced so the community can have confidence in the technology solution. Fines collected from these new cameras will be allocated to the Community Road Safety Fund, an initiative that uses the proceeds raised from speed cameras to provide road safety programs. The bill provides a proportionate response to the challenges our police face on the roads in relation to drug-driving Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 54

and driver distraction. The Government is delivering safer roads for the people of New South Wales in a responsible, considered and targeted way. I commend the bill to the House. Mr ANDREW FRASER (Coffs Harbour) (18:03): At the outset, I compliment the Minister and the Government on the introduction of the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018. I remind the Minister, although I am sure she does not need reminding, of the tragic death some years ago of a dear lady by the name of Dixie Gibson about whom I have spoken in the House previously. Mrs Melinda Pavey: I babysat her. Mr ANDREW FRASER: As the Minister said, she babysat that young lady, who came from Coffs Harbour. Her grandfather, who lived in Dorrigo, was an Assistant Minister for Police. Even though this has not been officially confirmed, I feel sure that Dixie, who was one of my son's first girlfriends—a tall, good-looking girl, like a model—could not really drive without texting someone. Dixie went under a Pearson's truck at Kew and the driver of that truck has never driven a truck since. I doubt he has driven a motor vehicle since because it was the second tragic death that he was involved in. I believe Dixie was texting at the time. It was the saddest funeral I have ever been to with the number of young people there, because she was a popular young lady. Introducing measures in relation using a mobile phone while driving is fantastic. The number of young people who have been killed on the Pacific Highway over many years purely due to the use of mobile phones while driving has been astronomical. Each death in New South Wales—and there are statistics to back this up— costs the Government approximately $900,000. Road crashes are estimated to cost the economy $7 billion every year, with $3.5 billion of that amount going to the treatment of almost 12,000 people in this State's hospitals. That is $3.5 billion being spent on health care. We must send the strongest possible message to all drivers not to drive with alcohol or drugs in their system. I was amazed by the earlier contribution of the member for Sydney when it has been proved that using marijuana slows a person's system so a driver's reaction times are longer. For the member to promote the idea that people with cannabis or methamphetamines in their system—and the North Coast is rife with methamphetamine use—should not suffer the penalty of losing their licence or a criminal charge is beyond belief. It might be all right if a person is driving up William Street at 40 kilometres an hour—but the reality is that even when driving at 40 kilometres an hour it is still possible to kill someone. I ask the member for Sydney to look at the statistics across the State. Last weekend in the Coffs-Clarence region the police conducted drug and alcohol testing. There were 959 breath tests and 321 drug tests in Grafton and Bellingen, which is in the Minister's electorate, and in Coffs Harbour. Ten drivers tested positive for cannabis and six drivers tested positive for methamphetamines. There were also drivers tested who were drinking and driving. We are all aware of the issue of methamphetamine and the use of ice. Ice is reported to give people inhuman strength—people do not know what they are up to— and we have seen incident after incident on the street, in hospital wards and with ambulance officers and police that shows the super human strength these people appear to gain while using methamphetamine. And yet some say it is okay to put them behind the wheel of a car. The member for Sydney needs to wake up. The devastation that drug has caused on the streets of Sydney is evident. I believe cannabis is a gateway drug, no matter what other people say. And yet I am and always have been a strong supporter of the medical use of cannabis for children's health and other health issues. I invited the former Premier Mike Baird to visit a four-year-old girl who was suffering from fits. Her parents were illegally treating her with a cannabis extract which worked better than the steroids and other medications they had tried. Unfortunately her father died of pancreatic cancer approximately 12 to 18 months ago, which was very tragic. I draw to the attention of the Minister in the House the Government's 2011 policy, which I took to the previous Minister, Duncan Gay. Under the heading "Increasing Driver Education", the policy stated: Improving driver skills and awareness is vital to preventing accidents on our roads. A Coalition Government will prioritise a strategy that encourages a better educated and more skilled driving population… It talks about education in relation to alcohol, fatigue, non-use of restraints such as seatbelts. It also talks about cyclists and drug-driving, but it also talks about working with the Board of Studies to investigate the feasibility of introducing compulsory driver education for students in years 10, 11 and 12 and running more road safety campaigns. I organised for the President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile [FIA] to speak with Duncan Gay prior to the last election in relation to the driver education programs that have been tried and tested in Europe, particularly in Finland, and endorsed and promoted by the FIA. I have written to the Deputy Premier, the Minister and the Deputy Premier about the Ignition system that has been put forward by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport [CAMS]. They say it is an initiative for young drivers but I would say it is for novice drivers. It is my fervent belief that every novice driver should have Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 55

the opportunity that I had as a 16-year-old to drive on a police driver training range. It is not necessary for the program to be conducted on a police driver training range but they do exist in New South Wales. There is one in Armidale and another at Eastern Creek. There is an opportunity for the Government to put a $6 million sports driver training range to train engineers, mechanics and others not only in the art of driving but also in understanding that a car is a lethal weapon. I do not know whether it has been stated in this debate—I have listened to some of the debate as Assistant Speaker from the chair and some from my office and the floor of the House— but driving is a privilege; it is not a right. When a person is behind the wheel of a vehicle, it is a lethal weapon: It kills. The statistics are in the newspaper every day—and the Minister would be more aware than I am of those figures from what I see on the Pacific Highway. [Extension of time] I would like to see the Government adopt the CAMS Ignition program. The program is conducted by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. I have been an official with that confederation for more than 40 years. I am a great enthusiast with rallies, as the Minister knows. The local car clubs have gymkhanas and teach young people how to drive, but it is on a voluntary basis. I would like to see this program adopted from year 7 through to year 11. The program addresses issues such as fatigue and everything we are talking about in this debate tonight. The program is for children from year 7, but it should also be for novice drivers. There are a lot of refugees in the country. I am not casting any aspersions on them but I note that some of their driving skills are not all that great. People are being taught how to drive in about 15 different languages, which worries me as to the level of understanding that might be achieved. This program can be delivered in a period from year 7 through to year 11. It can be done in three-hour blocks or five half day sessions, or it can be run as a program over 2½ full days. It teaches the basics of driving such as behaviour, vehicle maintenance, seating and position, how to start a car, vision and pedestrian safety. The program also covers road rules, implications for crash and crash victims, and contributing crash factors. The program gives participants what I experienced. We did nightly theory sessions at the police driver training range in Adamstown. At the end of the theory, we were given practical lessons. Until we passed the practical and theory lessons, we were not given that tick. The skills I learned there on skidpans and a range of things are still in my automatic driving reactions today. The member for Lake Macquarie mentioned not simply watching a car coming towards him but also watching the car driving 500 metres in front, so that if someone is driving erratically, particularly on the M1—and we have all travelled on that road—it is possible to see the incident coming before getting to it. I have those skills. I drove for three years in Moree where there are two speeds on gravel roads, stop and flat out. Those skills saved me on more than one occasion when I hit bull dust or water on the road. In those days I was travelling too fast. I was travelling 100 miles an hour—160 kilometres an hour—on a gravel road. Everyone did that. The skills I learnt at the police driver training range gave me the ability to drive on those roads and taught me how to get out of trouble if an incident occurred such as bad road conditions or a problem with your vehicle such as a flat tyre. Whilst we are raising people's awareness this week through lighting up the Opera House, the Ignition Program piloted in 20 schools would cost the government about $95,000. I wonder how the cost of that compares with the cost of lighting the Opera House? Whilst the Opera House being yellow raises awareness and has had great media coverage across the State, I think $100,000 out of the $104 million speed camera and red light camera revenue raised last year is a drop in the ocean. I did receive a response from the Premier on driver training. The Premier said she had done a course and found it taught her helpful skills. The policy way back then said the Government would spend about $50 million of the funds raised in revenue from red light cameras and speed cameras on promoting and delivering driver education. I ask that the Minister consider providing $100,000 from the $104 million raised in the last 12 months into 20 high schools for driver education. It will take three to five years before we receive the results. The police driver training range taught me many skills. A driver training facility in regional New South Wales at Eastern Creek or Raleigh International Raceway in the Minister's electorate, which is set up for rally sprints, would suit the purpose ideally. It could be made compulsory for young drivers to pass the course. I hear people say, "At what cost?" If it costs $500 per family it is worth it. When we taught our children they probably picked up some of our bad habits. But, at the same time, we sent them off to a driving school. The driving schools taught them how to do a three-point turn, a reverse park, how to go through a stop sign, negotiate a roundabout and took them through the course that the driving test would take. That is not teaching someone to drive; it is teaching someone bad habits. There is an opportunity to teach young people properly and correctly, under the supervision of trained professional drivers, the skills that will save a life. The cost of a life, estimated some years ago, was $900,000. That is the cost of that person dying. The loss to the economy is in the billions of dollars in lost production. The angst to families, friends and relatives is appalling. I commend that to the Minister. I commend the legislation to the House. It is a step in the right direction but we need to go further to protect our novice drivers, not just youth. All drivers who are going to obtain a driver licence should be trained correctly. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 56

Mr JAI ROWELL (Wollondilly) (18:18): I support the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018. I note the Minister is in the House and thank her for her hard work on the bill. Between the years 2012 and 2016 in my electorate 45 of our nearest and dearest passed away on our roads and another 403 were seriously injured. In total that is 448 people either killed or seriously injured during that period. That amounts to more or less one quarter of the population of Colo Vale or the entire population of Yanderra. Of those 448 people, over 70 per cent of those incidents involved speeding, fatigue, alcohol or drugs. They were events within the control of that particular driver. That is why I support this bill. It goes to the heart of ensuring that, as the member for Coffs Harbour said, those people who do have a lethal weapon—that is, a car—drive safely. This is an important bill. In 2009 I was involved in a car accident. A young couple driving in the opposite direction drove into the car that I was driving with my father as a passenger. We nearly lost our lives. Had those drivers had greater experience we would not have been in that situation. It would not have caused stress to our family. It was a difficult time. I support this bill. Distracted driving, in particular mobile phone use, is a significant community concern. The Road Safety Plan 2021 includes profound words from Vicki Richardson, founder of the Don't Txt n Drive Foundation. Vicki's daughter was tragically killed in a crash while distracted by using her mobile phone, and for Vicki it is hard to see people texting or using their phone while driving. This is why the foundation strives to spread the message that using your mobile phone when behind the wheel costs lives. It is important that New South Wales continues to look for smarter and more innovative ways to reduce offences, get the message out to the community, and drive down distraction-related road trauma. These amendments are a first step. The bill will allow for the approval of camera-based enforcement devices to photograph mobile phone use offences. A mobile phone use offence includes offences under New South Wales Road Rules 300 and 300-1. Rule 300 permits full licence holders to use mobile phones for audio calls only. The phone must be securely mounted and not obscure the driver's view of the road, or operated without the driver touching any part of the phone, such as via Bluetooth or voice activation. Texting, video messaging or using email or social media when driving is against the law for all drivers. Drivers must be parked out of the line of traffic to use these functions. This type of activity takes eyes off the road and poses a very high risk. Rule 300-1 prohibits learner and provisional P1 and P2 licence holders from using any mobile phone, including hands-free devices and the loud speaker function, while driving or while the vehicle is stopped but not parked. Failure to comply with both rules 300 and 300-1 attract strong penalties. If the offence occurred within a school zone, a $439 fine and four demerit points apply. If the offence did not occur within a school zone, a $330 fine and four demerit points apply. This bill is a first step in being able to enforce these offences more efficiently. The Government is developing a market-based process, which will identify potential technology and suitable suppliers to detect mobile phone offences. We will be engaging with industry over the coming months to make this happen. Following this process, Transport for NSW, Roads and Maritime Services and the NSW Police will work with industry to determine suitable locations to test this technology. Further, the Government will assess whether existing approved devices, such as fixed speed cameras, could also be approved for use to enforce mobile phone use offences. These reforms will supplement the existing penalties, enforcement and education initiatives to address mobile phone use and driving. These are very important initiatives. I commend the Minister for her dedication with this bill. Those 448 lives either lost or seriously injured have an ongoing impact not just financially, but to individual lives, families, friends, and the places they work. The worst part of my job over the last 7½ years has been receiving phone calls from the police saying there has been another accident or fatality in my electorate. The electorate of Wollondilly traverses Wollondilly Shire Council and Wingecarribee Shire Council. The Hume Highway runs through the electorate. There is also Picton Road to the Illawarra. There are a lot of trucks on the road and people driving through to get to Sydney or into the country. A lot of those people involved in fatalities live outside my electorate. A lot of the time, many of those people who have lost their lives are people known to us. I can think of one family who lost a child as a result of a parent driving while affected by drugs. They lost control of the car and although they survived, the child did not. That accident occurred on Appin Road. There was an outcry by various political parties that suggested the accident occurred because of the state of Appin Road and that we need to invest in that road. Although the accident had nothing to do with the quality of Appin Road, I note the Government's ongoing commitment to upgrade it. The accident occurred because of the actions of the driver. That family will never get their child back. I cannot imagine how terrible it must be for a parent to know that they are responsible for the loss of their child. These laws go a long way to ensure that people with drugs in their system do not drive. I reflect on the night I had a car accident. Young drivers were driving on the wrong side of the road and smashed into the car that I was driving and in which my father was a passenger. Those young drivers needed more training and this bill will go a long way to solving issues like that in future. I thank the people who deal with these Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 57

tragic situations, namely the police, the Rural Fire Service [RFS] in rural areas, Fire and Rescue NSW, ambulance and innocent bystanders. As the former Minister for Mental Health, and Assistant Minister for Health, I know too well the impact those traumas have on the community. A number of volunteers in the RFS have stated that they can attend 20 fatalities, but it takes just one that causes a mental health issue from which it takes a long time to recover. We have heard about the cost to the individual, to the community and to families, but there are ongoing costs to those who attend accidents. I ask us all to think of those people who help others who are involved in accidents and who have to clean up the mess—literally. They do a great job and no money in the world can compensate them for their work. I support the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill and commend it to the House. Mr CHRIS PATTERSON (Camden) (18:27): I speak in debate on the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Bill 2018. It is important that police have appropriate powers to take drug drivers off the road. These reforms strengthen options available to police to ensure that motorists who are charged with an offence of driving under the influence are prevented from driving in the time between being charged and appearing in court. Typically, drivers charged with an offence of driving under the influence continue to drive between the time of being charged and their court date. During this time they have the ability to cause havoc on our roads. The potential devastation and mayhem that can result from them snubbing their nose at the law is not acceptable and I am happy that we are addressing those issues with this legislation. Depending on the court date, it can mean that alleged offenders who have been charged with driving under the influence of a drug can continue to drive on our roads for weeks. In comparison, drivers charged with a high-range drink-driving offence can be issued with an immediate licence suspension notice when charged, which remains in place until they appear in court. The reforms in the bill will address this discrepancy by providing police with powers to issue an immediate licence suspension notice to a motorist who has been charged with an offence of driving under the influence, which will apply the same powers that are available for charging high-range drink-drivers. Unlike a high-range drink-driving offence where action can be taken immediately after breath analysis, it can take several weeks for results from laboratory-tested blood and urine samples from which police can then charge a person with an offence of driving under the influence. Those results provide evidence to confirm that the motorist was drug-impaired at the time of being observed at the roadside. The provisions in this bill ensure that once a decision is made to charge a driver, action may be taken to protect the community and remove the privilege of driving. It must be remembered that driving is a privilege, not a right. Members of the community who put other road users at risk by not adhering to the road rules should not have the privilege of driving. I know a lot of members might not think I look old enough to I have a 17-year-old daughter— Mrs Melinda Pavey: No, I think it is possible. Mr CHRIS PATTERSON: Others will be surprised that my eldest daughter is only 17 years old. She has had her P-plate licence for a couple of weeks. I would not say it scares me because that would be melodramatic, but I am sure she takes safety precautions every time she goes out. However, other users of the road may be drug drivers and God forbid that your child comes in contact with a drug driver, especially if they have been assessed as a drug driver but have not yet appeared in court. This legislation cannot be introduced quick enough for parents of young drivers. I commend the Minister and Cabinet for introducing the bill because this important amendment brings legislation up to the community's expectation. The community has made it abundantly clear that they do not want drivers who have been charged with an offence of being under the influence on our roads. The provisions in the bill ensure that once a decision is made to charge a driver, action is taken to protect the community by removing the privilege of driving. Once the suspension notice is issued, the driver is required to surrender their licence if they hold a New South Wales licence. The driver will remain suspended from driving until the charge is heard and determined by a court, or until the charge is withdrawn. Drivers take a risk if they continue to drive while suspended. The penalties for driving while suspended include a maximum penalty of $3,300 or imprisonment for six months, or both in the case of a first offence. Higher penalties apply if it is a second or subsequent offence. These charges are intended to strengthen our drug driving framework and deter motorists from driving under the influence of a drug. These amendments will deliver on a key commitment of the Road Safety Plan 2021 and will send a strong message that if people drive while impaired they have no place driving on New South Wales roads. I emphasise that all drivers have a responsibility on the roads as drivers not only to look after the safety of the people in their vehicle but also the safety of every other road user that they come across. We cannot escape—accidents happen and that is whey they are called :"accidents". Unfortunately, we will never stop an accident from happening, and we cannot legislate against accidents, but we can legislate to ensure that drivers are on the road in the right frame of mind and that they are able to drive to minimise accidents. At the end of the day motor vehicle accidents have the ability to change people's lives forever. I commend this appropriate legislation to the House. It picks up an Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 58

anomaly that is not covered in driving under the influence of alcohol. Clearly what is good for one offence should apply to another offence. Members of this House support this legislation. The fact that it has bipartisan supports shows that this legislation is not only commonsense but also that it is what the community expects of members of Parliament. I commend this legislation to the House. Mrs MELINDA PAVEY (Oxley—Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight) (18:36): In reply: I acknowledge the contribution of the member for Camden. I am sure he will not mind my sharing this story. In my first week of taking over the Roads portfolio and responsibility for road safety I was lectured to not call crashes "accidents". I am not calling out the member for Camden, but as a friend I say that it is an important distinction. As the member for Camden said, sometimes it can be an accident. For example, last weekend at Tumut a tree branch fell on a motor cyclist. He did not survive. You could say that was an accident. But too often when fatalities are involved it is a crash because someone has failed and taken someone's life or caused serious injury. I share that with all members, because I did not know that terminology until I became the Minister. It is really important terminology that we, as leaders in our community, should use—it is a crash. Sometimes crashes could and should have been stopped if people had taken the approach that it is not a right to drive but a privilege to drive. I acknowledge the contribution of the member for Wollondilly. Yesterday I was pleased to have been in his part of the world, thanking him for his work and the community for being patient in the upgrade of the Narellan Road. Traffic jams can cause crashes and frustration. I am very pleased with the Government's record of improving the communities in the electorate of Wollondilly. I also acknowledge the contribution of my mid North Coast colleague the member for Coffs Harbour. Yes, we have a beautiful girl in common. Dixie was the member's son's dear friend. I was not close to Dixie at the time of her passing, but her father, Peter, remains a very close friend. He is involved in the Dorrigo Chamber of Commerce. He has been an important person in my family's life. He lost his daughter, whom I used to babysit when she was a young girl, in that terrible accident that involved a Pearson truck. I have heard the story of the driver—mobile phone distraction. I acknowledge that the member for Coffs Harbour is a passionate proponent of improved driver education. I will never forget the many hours that we have spent in cars together. On one occasion we were driving along Waterfall Way heading out to AgQuip—it was probably in early 2000. The member was driving and concentrating on the road ahead. I looked around as he was talking—as he is wont to do—and saw a kangaroo hopping beside the car. He did not see the kangaroo. Kangaroos mostly jump out in front of cars but this kangaroo was relatively clever and stayed to the side. That is a somewhat obscure story but driving can lead to obscure moments that cause crashes. I thought that was a story worth sharing. I also acknowledge another Dixie, Dixie Erlandsen, and her beautiful daughter Rachel. In 2015 I had only just become the member for Oxley. Two years before the Pacific Highway upgrade at Nambucca was finished Rachel pulled out in front of an ambulance that was travelling at speed on its way to pick up a child in the Nambucca Valley, and mother and daughter lost their lives. That is one of those events that had the most profound ripple effect through the community. The member for Cootamundra mentioned that it is just one degree of separation. The member for Orange spoke about the boy he coached in Australian rules football—one degree of separation. It was a beautiful tribute to Dixie's daughter Rachel that her friends from Bishop Druitt College were able somehow to contact Taylor Swift, who at her concert a couple of weeks later in Brisbane sang a lovely song in honour of Rachel. Stories such as that tear your heart apart, as does the story of Hannah McMurtrie that the member for Myall Lakes told. I was with Hannah's parents when we turned the Sydney Harbour Bridge yellow. I thank the member for North Shore for acknowledging that it is Road Safety Week. The story of Hannah McMurtrie is harrowing. Some people in her local community knew of her death before her parents did because it was posted on social media. The conclusion of the legal proceedings into that crash and fatality was less than ideal. I cannot fully express my profound gratitude to Hannah's parents, Diane and Graeme McMurtrie, who are leading public advocates for Road Safety Week. They have been able to rise above their profound, utter grief and speak regularly at traffic offender courses in Taree. From their perspective, the best thing is that people have come up to them in the street since then and said, "You have made me kick ice. I have kicked my boyfriend out. I am a better person for the way that you told your story, and so I am a better driver." That is the commitment that family, who have been to the darkest depths, has made to make the world a better place. There are days when they still visit that dark place, and Hannah's brother and sister are still there. In acknowledging that we turned the Sydney Harbour Bridge yellow, I thank the Fraser family. Sarah Fraser was killed on the Hume Highway. She pulled over into a space that was only 1½ metres wide, which is outside Australian design rules. Her father, Peter, and her sister, Jess, spoke the other night when we turned the bridge yellow. I acknowledge the member for Strathfield, and Opposition spokesperson, and thank her for attending. We need to share these stories so that we can be our best selves when we are behind the wheel of a car. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 59

The member for Lake Macquarie spoke about drivers using mobile phones. I listened to him speak about looking at the eyes of drivers coming towards him because being pre-emptive is a matter of life and death. I do not think enough drivers are pre-emptive. I used to love a farm bike, but I do not enjoy being on the road on a motorcycle. I thank the member for Kiama for his contribution to the debate. His community is similar to my community on the mid North Coast—Pacific Highway/Princes Highway—with similar terrain and similar population pressures. The Government is investing $1 billion in construction on the Princes Highway. But as the member for Kiama said, the tragedy of the Falkholt family between Christmas and New Year tore the nation apart. There are big challenges going forward to deal with the consequences of that accident. As part of the Road Safety Plan 2021, the Government has put wire rope at the point where the accident occurred and is installing rumble strips. As the member for Coffs Harbour pointed out, if there had been grade separation when Dixie Gibson died that accident may not have happened. Some 87 per cent of accidents occur when drivers cross the centre line or veer to the left and into a tree. Having that infrastructure to improve driver behaviour is a very important part of the Road Safety Plan 2021. I acknowledge the comments of the member for Charlestown supporting the cocaine presence test and mobile phone detection. I acknowledge the understanding and knowledge that the member for Terrigal displayed about the issue of impairment. I does not matter whether it is a legal or illegal drug in a driver's system, it can be detected by police through drug analysis. That is a very important conversation to be had in the wider community. Turning to the contribution by the member for Sydney, I think it is a good idea to remove from our roads drivers who are taking drugs. There can be arguments about whether drugs should be legalised or remain illegal, but the Government is doubling the amount of drug testing on New South Wales roads. I am proud to have the Premier's support for this initiative. Take those other arguments somewhere else, but do not question the Government's drug enforcement regime and what this legislation does in relation to cocaine. The member for Myall Lakes made a wonderful contribution to the debate, acknowledging Diane and Graeme McMurtrie. The member's community faces some big challenges in terms of its road network, and I support his comments. The first speaker in the debate was the member for Strathfield, the Opposition spokesperson. I got the sense that everything was in the way of Labor's supporting the Government's initiative. The member for Strathfield called for another parliamentary inquiry. I did not hear the proposed terms of reference or subject matter that the member would like investigated, but I am proud that last August the Government determined terms of reference for the Staysafe committee. The Government looked at the data around heavy vehicle accidents, decided that something needed to be done and asked Staysafe to investigate. I am sure that members of the committee will not be impressed to hear comments like, "The committee is not getting anywhere." That saddens me; it is a very bipartisan committee. The member for Strathfield also raised concerns about mobile phone technology. But at the very least the member should acknowledge that the Government is one of the first in the western world to introduce this technology. When you are the first, you do not have all the answers. The Government will protect the privacy of motorists across New South Wales first and foremost. The Government is not going to stall or go slow in introducing this technology. I was particularly disturbed by the hoary argument that the Government is simply revenue raising. I have to say that I do not want the revenue from a speeding fine going towards funding a highway patrol. I do not want a cent from that fine, and I would not get a cent if drivers did not speed. I do not want a cent from any fine for a mobile phone use infringement detected by any camera technology we institute. I do not want that money; I want drivers not to use their phones or check their Facebook. I ask members to be genuine when talking to people in the community and not say that I am bringing in this technology to raise money. I want to bring in this technology to save lives on our roads. In their contributions to debate on this bill, members raised questions about the privacy provisions. There will be exemption provisions in the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998, which will mean that Roads and Maritime Services can capture and use photographs for the purpose of law enforcement, including road safety offences, under the Road Transport Act 2013 and regulations. All photographs are used solely for law enforcement purposes and tightly controlled to ensure privacy. I make the point that these reforms have strong community support, and it is the community that is driving our road safety goal. The community wants safer roads and better driver behaviour. I say to members opposite that a community survey commissioned by Roads and Maritime Services and completed in early April found 74 per cent of those surveyed support the use of cameras to enforce the detection of mobile phone use offences. Community support is driving us, because community members want better drivers and safer roads. This bill is a first step to being able to deliver for the community and enforce road safety more efficiently. The New South Wales Government has commenced procurement activities to identify suitable technology in the market—that is no secret. We know that there are products in the market and that different technology providers offer a range of solutions to detect and capture photographs of handheld mobile phone use or touching a phone in Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 60

contravention of road rules. As part of the additional market testing and any potential trial of technology, the way that the technology operates and how it captures information will be key considerations. Once a robust viable product is identified in the market, a privacy assessment involving the Privacy Commissioner will be completed. This timing will enable a measured, clear assessment that reflects any actual, rather than hypothetical, risk to privacy. We need to pursue these legislative measures now to send a strong signal to the market and to the community that we do not tolerate mobile phone use while driving, and we will explore and encourage technology solutions that will deter the behaviour. It is important to recognise that this legislation is not about revenue raising. We have started talking to technology providers. We called for expressions of interest in March and the process closed two weeks ago. We need to embrace this type of technology. We should remember the original breath-testing technology, which was brought in more than 30 years ago. I acknowledge the Labor Minister for Police at the time, George Paciullo, for bringing in that revolutionary technology. The legislation before us is similarly designed to respond to community needs and the desire to have safer roads. I note that breath-testing technology has evolved enormously in the past 30 years. This Government wants to share information, not hide it; this technology is a new way of detecting mobile phone use by drivers on our roads. I note that the reason existing cameras are included in this legislation is that existing technology that can capture images must be incorporated. The intention of including toll cameras in the reforms is to allow for the use of existing infrastructure in which investment has been made, if the trial identifies that this technology can be adopted. Existing cameras of any type—including toll cameras, red light cameras, fixed cameras and mobile cameras—will only be used to detect mobile phone offences if gazetted for this purpose. This is what the reforms allow. This step would only be taken if the technology can be adapted to meet robust standards as a dedicated mobile phone use camera. We will continue to communicate with all stakeholders on this important reform. I return to the issue of driver training, which was raised by the member for Coffs Harbour. I point out that New South Wales is the only State that has mandatory driver training within the school curriculum. It is important that we have a good view of how schools are providing that. What the member for Coffs Harbour is proposing is a worthy idea. I encourage grandparents, aunties and uncles, and parents, when buying presents for their 17-year-old relatives—such as the member for Camden's daughter—to buy professional driving lessons. Having professional lessons as part of the 120-hour graduated licence is really important. As the member for Coffs Harbour said, we do not want to teach our children our own worst habits. It is important to have another process to improve our thinking and approach to driving. There has been a 50 per cent drop in the number of drivers aged between 17 and 25 involved in fatalities since the introduction of the graduated licence system. That age group now makes up 18 per cent of the road toll. Drivers aged between 40 and 49 make up 20 per cent of all drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes in 2017. These drivers and riders think that they are experienced, but these statistics show us that we all need to drive safely on our roads. This is my age demographic. We did not have the benefit of a graduated licence scheme, and my dad did teach me some bad habits. We need to be cognisant of and acknowledge the good work of our young people and their parents and their investment of time, energy and money to get that 120 hours on the logbook. Before closing, I highlight the importance of this bill in improving the safety of our roads for everybody in our community. Drug driving reforms are the critical next step in strengthening our framework for enforcing, penalising and ultimately deterring drug driving so that we can save lives. Penalties for the offence of driving under the influence—fines, terms of imprisonment and licence disqualification—will now align to those typically applied for high-range drink-driving offences. This is consistent with community expectations and means that courts will have more options to impose significant penalties for offenders who put themselves and others at risk by driving impaired. Police will also have clear power to take drug-impaired drivers off the road immediately after an alleged offence and ensure that licence suspension is available when a driver is charged, which is the case for high-range drink-driving offences. By adding cocaine to the oral fluid testing regime, the bill ensures that the drug is treated the same as other illegal drugs that have the potential to impair the skills required for safe driving. This measure provides another deterrent and sends a clear message that if people take the risk of getting behind the wheel after cocaine use, they will be caught anywhere, anytime. Timing the delivery of this initiative with the expansion of the roadside mobile drug testing program and other measures in the bill provides a chance to deliver the change cost effectively. Like other States and Territories across Australia, New South Wales has a zero-tolerance approach to driving after illegal drug use and has enforcement measures in place to deter and detect driving while impaired by both illegal and prescription drugs. The two-phase approach that we have to deter and enforce penalties on drivers by having both presence and driving under the influence offences is a key strength of New South Wales's approach to reducing drug driving trauma. The bill will also allow New South Wales to be a leader in testing and implementing camera enforcement Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 61

of mobile phone offences. This technology is only just emerging, and limited trialling has been completed to date. The initiative is in addition to, and will reinforce, our tough penalties and ban on all novice drivers using mobile phones while driving. As I have said, within the next few months industry innovators will have the opportunity to be part of a market sounding. Only devices that meet robust standards and are efficient and effective solutions to support NSW Police Force enforcement of mobile phone regulations will be further considered. The measures proposed in the bill are the first legislative initiatives of the Government's Road Safety Plan 2021. They do not stand alone but are supported by a comprehensive suite of ongoing and new initiatives to improve the safety of our roads, encourage safer vehicle uptake and educate and enforce drivers to deliver a safe road transport system. I commend the bill to the House. TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Adam Crouch): The question is that this bill be now read a second time. Motion agreed to. Third Reading Mrs MELINDA PAVEY: I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Motion agreed to. Private Members' Statements CAMPBELLTOWN CITY PROCLAMATION Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (18:59): Friday 4 May 2018 marks an historic milestone for the City of Campbelltown—namely, the fiftieth anniversary of the proclamation of Campbelltown as a city. Tonight I take the opportunity to reflect on both the past 50 years in our city and what the next 50 years may have in store for us. The history of Campbelltown extends much further back than its proclamation as a city. Almost two centuries ago the lands currently occupied by the City of Campbelltown were inhabited by the Tharawal people and to this day many direct descendants of the Tharawal people continue to call Campbelltown home. Not long after the arrival of the First Fleet some of the earliest contact between Indigenous Australians and European settlers took place at Campbelltown. At that time six cattle brought over by the British escaped and were unable to be located. In 1795, seven years later, when British settlers first made contact with the Tharawal people, they discovered a herd of approximately 60 cattle grazing in the open pastures in the area now known as Camden. The Indigenous artwork of the escape and subsequent flourishing of the First Fleet cattle in the area, which is depicted in the historic Bull Cave at Kentlyn, has recently been added to the State Heritage Register. In 1820 the village of Campbelltown was founded. It was named after the wife of former Governor Lachlan Macquarie, whose maiden name was Campbell. The land was originally used by John Macarthur as one of Australia's first sheep farms. Over the centuries Campbelltown continued to develop and by the middle of the twentieth century the municipality of Campbelltown had amalgamated with the neighbouring municipality of Ingleburn, with a combined population of more than 20,000 people. In recognition of the growing size and strength of Campbelltown, the then New South Wales Government, under the leadership of Premier Bob Askin and Minister for Local Government Pat Morton, historically proclaimed Campbelltown as a city. The proclamation put Campbelltown on the map and acknowledged its rightful place as the major regional centre in south-western Sydney. For some this may seem a trivial occasion to celebrate, but the symbolism and subsequent change in planning policies since then have been, and continue to be, significant as Campbelltown continues to grow at an increasingly rapid rate. The proclamation of the City of Campbelltown coincides with another significant event in the city's development—the electrification of the rail line between Campbelltown and Sydney. This important service connection will be commemorated on Friday, with a recreation of the first journey on a "red rattler" carriage. It would be remiss not to note that four years after that first journey, five decades ago, S-set trains were introduced to the Sydney rail network. To this day those carriages are still being used on the Campbelltown rail line. I pre-emptively congratulate Mayor George Brticevic, General Manager Lindy Deitz, and all of the Campbelltown City councillors and the Campbelltown-Airds Historical Society on what I am sure will be a wonderful day of celebration this Friday. The original proclamation document will be on display on Friday morning at the aptly named HJ Daley Library. At the time of the proclamation Harley James Daley, MBE, was our longest-serving town clerk and he is fondly remembered as the "father of modern Campbelltown". Mr Daley served as the town clerk of Campbelltown for an incredible 41 years. During that time Campbelltown grew from a small town of 8,000 people to a major Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 62

regional centre of more than 130,000 people. On his retirement in 1971, when the library was named after him, Mr Daley said that he was "the proudest man in Campbelltown". I am sure that if he were still with us, that would be the case again this Friday as we remember everyone who has contributed to our city since that proclamation and before. I thank members for their indulgence. TRUST IN PARLIAMENTS Mr JONATHAN O'DEA (Davidson) (19:04): As truth becomes dangerously malleable in the wake of international tensions and challenges, people all over the world are losing trust in governments. According to the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer, the general global population has only 43 per cent trust in government, while Australians have a mere 35 per cent trust in government. Sadly, this trend extends to my electorate of Davidson and across New South Wales. Recent ongoing public discourse on the global trend of loss of trust in government has no doubt influenced planning for the upcoming annual Australasian Study of Parliament Group [ASPG] conference. The 2018 ASPG conference will be in Brisbane from 18 to 20 July, focusing on the theme of "Trust in Parliament in a post-truth world". Having presented papers at several previous ASPG conferences, I will speak again at this forum this year. My paper will focus on "behavioural trust" and especially the need to prompt change in attitudes and behaviours that are threatening trust in our parliaments. My paper posits that many factors have contributed to the demise of trust in governments, including weak institutional protections, poor communication with constituents, the influence of social media, and the tempting pursuit of short-term wins over long-term gains. Ultimately, I make the fundamental point that if we want the public to respect and have faith in our democracy and parliamentary institutions, it is crucial that people in this and other parliaments display principled attitudes and behavioural characteristics. I believe that desirable behavioural characteristics that cultivate public trust include integrity and honesty, openness and transparency, competent and fair performance, and collaboration in the public interest. When politicians do not display these characteristics, people's attitudes towards parliamentarians can shift from a healthy scepticism to a cynical malaise of disengagement and active hostility towards our democratic system. Certainly, a public arena characterised by overwhelming negativity and disconnection makes it extremely difficult to forge good policy in the public interest. Parliaments and parliamentarians can do better. The public are desperate for leaders who inspire trust and demonstrate a real sense of integrity. Parliamentarians must treat the public and each other with fairness, openness and respect, appropriately balancing competing interests to govern well. While collaborating within a team is important, so too is independent thought, respect for individuals and freedom of choice. These freedoms should not give way to oppressive group dynamics where self-interested political players transact to dictate outcomes with questionable public merit. Rather, a process of thorough, transparent analysis of costs, benefits and outcomes with real public engagement needs to drive decision-making. So how do we tap into our better sides? One entity that attempts to facilitate this is the Australian Futures Project. By working with government, business, media, experts and the public to address complex challenges, the Australian Futures Project is fulfilling a mission to improve how Australia creates its future. In November last year, I undertook its Parliamentary Leaders Program, led by executive director Ralph Ashton with the support of a number of other people active in the program, as well as those who support it through financial, moral or board assistance. The Parliamentary Leaders Program features three sections focusing on the context, the leader and the change agent. The program assists parliamentarians to be more self-aware and consider our aspirations, motivations, biases, ethics, health and relationships as we assess our approaches to various situations and decisions. Improving our ability to filter and evaluate multiple sources of information enhances our ability to govern. Understanding the rapidly changing context in which we govern is vital to shaping our capabilities as parliamentarians. At a time when trust in parliamentarians and parliamentary institutions is ebbing away, it is imperative that we behave in ways that instil the public's trust. I recommend the Parliamentary Leaders Program course as a means to that end and look forward to participating in the ASPG conference in Brisbane when it further examines the issue of trust in parliamentary governance. INVERELL POLICE STATION Mr ADAM MARSHALL (Northern Tablelands—Minister for Tourism and Major Events, and Assistant Minister for Skills) (19:09): On a number of occasions I have spoken in this House about the desperate need for a brand-new 24-hour police station for the Inverell community. Tonight I redouble my efforts as the local member of Parliament to ensure that we secure the funding needed from the Government to get this important community safety facility in Inverell. Inverell is a growing community almost in the centre of the Northern Tablelands electorate. At the last Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates the shire had a population of 16,780, showing growth of 1.8 per cent since the last census taken in 2016. It is a community that is growing. As it continues to grow, it will require more police resources, which will require a new station. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 63

Over the past few years I have had a number of very positive meetings with police Minister Troy Grant, Commissioner of Police Mick Fuller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie and, more recently, with New England Police District Commander Superintendent Scott Tanner. I thank Inverell Shire Council and Mayor Paul Harmon for always supporting the push for this new police station. The need for a new facility is obvious to anyone who lives in Inverell or has ever been to the station. It was built in 1960—it is nearly 60 years old. More important than its age is that the way policing is conducted in Inverell has changed dramatically. There is no comparison between what was then and what is now. In 1960, Inverell had less than half the population it has now. At the time, Inverell had 12 full-time police officers working out of that brand-new station. Nearly 60 years on, the population has more than doubled and a policing contingent of almost 50 officers is trying to work out of the same space that was built for 12 officers. Police no longer live in the two residences at the back of the station because those spaces have been required to house the rural crime squad and detectives. Space that was built for police to live in has become their workplace. Our expensive new police boat that is used for operations on Copeton Dam does not have a place to sit under cover; it sits out in the open. We have one interview room when we need at least two, we have an evidence room that is overflowing and we do not have enough cells. When there are prisoners in those cells needing to be transported to the courthouse, police have to do so in a public space with no covering or protection. Those offenders could literally escape and run straight down the main street or into the public domain. Likewise, the public could, in theory, interact with those prisoners. There is a roof that leaks and a muster room that is too small. There is no dedicated female officer locker room because in 1960 there were no women officers among the contingent of 12 at Inverell, and not much forethought was given to what may occur in the future. Highway patrol and Aboriginal community liaison officers are working out of very cramped spaces. There is paint peeling, carpet with holes in it, and electrical cords running along the floor. People who are giving statements or who may be offenders and need to be taken to the charge room or the interview room have to be taken past officers' desks. In the course of their duty officers may have sensitive documents on their desks and information on their computer screens that members of the public should never see. All these factors combined mean that we need a new station. It is not a case of undertaking repairs— although they are occurring at the moment, that is a short-term fix. I thank Minister Troy Grant and Commissioner Mick Fuller for the allocation of that $250,000 to do that urgent, short-term work, but that is just a short-term fix. In the medium and longer term we need a knockdown and rebuild. The site is big enough and it is perfect—it is in the middle of town, right next door to the courthouse. We need that new station—it is crucial. We are going to need more officers working at that 24-hour police station in the next few years and they will not fit in the current space. Moree 24-hour police station was rebuilt in 2013 and Armidale 24-hour police station was rebuilt in 2007. Inverell 24-hour police station needs to be the next one to be rebuilt. NEWCASTLE JETS Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP (Newcastle) (19:14): I was one of the many thousands at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night when the Newcastle Jets cemented their place in the A-League grand final. I watched as mid-fielder Riley McGree scorpion-kicked the ball into the back of the net, which was followed by a final deafening roar of the crowd as fans realised that the Newcastle Jets were contenders for the premiership. It has been a hard slog for Newcastle Jets fans over the past 10 years since they last won a premiership. They have had wooden spoons handed to them, they have had a former billionaire owner who sacked players before leaving the club in financial dire straits, and they have had countless Jets coaches who tried to make it work. But now, in 2018, 10 years later, with a committed owner in Martin Lee, an outstanding chief executive officer in Lawrie McKinna, and a brilliant coach in Ernie Merrick, we are at the brink of greatness once again. Well done and best wishes of course go to the players: Riley McGree, Jason Hoffman, Dimi Petratos, Nikolai Topor Stanley, Jack Duncan, Glen Moss, Nigel Boogaard, Roy O'Donovan, Joey Champness, Steven Ugarkovic, Ronny Vargas, Daniel Georgevski, Johnny Koutroumbis, Pato Rodriguez, Lachlan Jackson and Nick Cowburn. The city is absolutely ecstatic. Ever since Friday night—and that goal—it is all we can talk about. To then find out that Newcastle will be hosting that very game is just the ultimate in the sporting history of the Jets. In a first for the A-League, the decider will be held outside of a major metropolitan city. The highest- placed team left from the regular season gets to host the grand final, and this year that just happens to be Newcastle. As members may remember in the last sitting week the member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery, the member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, and I all spoke about our dream to have Newcastle as the home city for the Matildas soccer team. We spoke of the W-League Jets, the A-League Jets, the Asian Cup, the Women's Newcastle Knights and the Newcastle Knights. In fact, the city has not been this pumped since the Knights won their last premiership in 2001, although we are feeling that this might be a good year for us there as well. The Jets also beat the Mariners in 2008—an absolutely superb victory. We always love beating the Mariners. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 64

The next big test for our city was getting our hands on a ticket. This is where the excitement gets a little bit out of control. On Sunday, once it had been announced that Newcastle would be the hosting city, the Newcastle Jets members got the first pick of the draw. The first 20,000 tickets were gone on Sunday. On Monday morning a lot of members got on social media, asking how it came to be that they could not get tickets. In fact, despite being a Jets member myself, I too missed out on getting tickets. On Monday at 10.00 a.m. another lot of tickets was released. They were sold out in minutes. Then at 1.00 p.m. on Monday tickets were released to the public, and it was manic. Reports came in that the Newcastle Ticketmaster office could not even release one ticket and that McDonald Jones Stadium could only serve six people before the allocation was exhausted and the internet sent the site into meltdown, ultimately crashing after the event. What came next has saddened many fans and angered Newcastle Jets chief executive officer Lawrie McKinna. The tickets came back onto the market via a few well-known reseller sites including the Ticketmaster Resale site. Ticketmaster is the official ticketing outlet, but the tickets were not coming back at market prices— some have been listed at 9,000 per cent over the retail price. Mr McKinna has threatened to bar members who are selling A-League grand final tickets at exorbitant resale prices and he has asked fans who catch members selling tickets above their cost price to take the seller's details and they will be banned. This should not still be an issue considering that last year in October the Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Matt Kean, issued a media release announcing that new laws would stamp out dodgy ticket scalpers. He said that the amendments to the Fair Trading Act 1987 would crack down on price gouging in the sports and live entertainment industries. He said the laws are an Australian first and would stop the "bots" by outlawing security manipulation software. He added, "We're also introducing laws to combat price gouging by putting a 10 per cent cap on resold tickets." He also said, "… today we're putting a stop to it". The problem is that that is all the Minister has done: issue a media release. It has been 200 days since the legislation passed this House. What has the Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation been doing? Those laws might have been able to prevent a situation in which $10,000 is being offered for the price of a ticket. Regardless of how the Government has performed with this legislation, one thing is for sure: the Newcastle Jets will outperform Government members at the grand final. If the Minister cannot find $10,000 for a ticket, he will find the rest of Newcastle huddled around television sets or at the pub screaming "New-cas-tle, New-cas-tle!" Go, the mighty Jets! KANGAROO MANAGEMENT PLAN Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie) (19:20): I draw to the attention of the House a problem concerning the management of kangaroos at Morisset Hospital. It may come as a surprise to many people that the biggest attraction that brings international tourists to southern Lake Macquarie is not the beautiful waterway but the many hundreds of wild kangaroos that graze within the grounds of the Morisset Hospital. Whether people like it or not, the kangaroos have become a tourism phenomenon at Morisset mainly because international tourists can take a train from Sydney and easily access the site where they can be pretty well assured of seeing wild kangaroos up close and personal. As I have said in the House before, the issue is not as straightforward as it might sound, primarily because the site is an operational mental health facility and a residential facility for persons with developmental disability. Lake Macquarie residents have been visiting the site for many decades to see and interact with the kangaroos, mostly without incident as they have the advantage of knowing the site and have a reasonable knowledge of the dangers associated with wild kangaroos. Sadly, there have been occasions when the kangaroos have been deliberately harmed, but increased security at the site generally has provided a safer environment for the animals and the hospital residents after hours. I believe that now the tourism genie is out of the bottle we cannot reasonably put it back. The Morisset kangaroos are now widely advertised on major tourism web sites as a cheap and highly recommended day trip for tourists. Every day trains deliver hundreds of international tourists to Morisset. Even the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, who is present in the House, would not be able to turn back that tide. Most of the tourists who come by train begin the long walk to the hospital site, often taking the wrong turns and often in extreme weather conditions. They have no idea that the walk is lengthy—the shortest route is approximately four kilometres—that there are no water or toilet facilities at the site, that the site is a functioning health facility, or that wild kangaroos can pose dangers. There have been a number of reported incidents in which kangaroos have attacked visitors, in one case causing a very deep gash to a man's stomach. In most cases they have been kicking out, clawing faces, and grappling with people, causing lacerations or significant scratching. The National Parks and Wildlife Service [NPWS] does not seem to have the resources to manage this issue, nor does Hunter Health which owns and manages the hospital site. There is a pretty strong argument that the hospital should not have to manage the issue. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 65

I am personally resigned to the fact that we will not stop people from visiting the kangaroos. That joey has left the pouch, so to speak. The only thing we can do is educate people about the dangers and find a way to manage the situation, not just for the safety of visitors and the hospital's residents but also for the safety of the kangaroos. Despite a number of warning signs being placed throughout the area, people still come in droves and they feed the kangaroos processed foods. Only last week I was there and saw tourists attempting to feed the kangaroos corn chips. It is obvious from the litter that all manner of processed foods is being used to draw the kangaroos in, including inappropriate foods such as apples, bananas and carrots which, while perhaps not as bad as corn chips, are not part of the natural diet of kangaroos. Regardless, the feeding of kangaroos is illegal and is certainly not appropriate in the way it is occurring at the site. I do not want to stop people from seeing the kangaroos, but the situation has to be better managed. The kangaroos have become so desensitised to human contact that they will freely approach human visitors to obtain food, which leads to many of the kangaroos becoming aggressive. In particular, the bucks can become very aggressive. Recently one attacked a man, who required 17 stitches in his face. As I said, the genie is out of the bottle and it seems unlikely that this tourism can be stopped. It is not right that this has been left largely to the Hunter are health district to deal with. It is time for a coordinated response to be developed by NSW Health and the NPWS and perhaps, if it can assist, the Lake Macquarie City Council to a small degree. A coordinated response should result in improved directional signage to ensure that visitors arrive safely at the site. Once they are there, there should be appropriate signage about not feeding the animals as well as advice that the kangaroos can cause injury. I suggest that five or six languages should be used for this advice. Greater presence of National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers would be excellent and, I am sure, appreciated by Morisset Hospital staff, particularly security officers, who all too often are left with issues around interaction with local kangaroos. I assure members that nursing staff, who care directly for clients in the developmental disability residential areas, would appreciate that also because they are unable to allow people access to toilets and water, which causes distress. I will be asking the Minister for Health and the Minister for the Environment to consider coordinating a better response in order to keep kangaroos and people safe as our visitors go about having a wonderful experience at Morisset. TATHRA BUSHFIRES Mr ANDREW CONSTANCE (Bega—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure) (19:25): This evening I speak about the Tathra bushfire and in doing so, on behalf of the community I serve, I pay tribute to the emergency first responders who, on Sunday 18 March 2018, were on hand when a fire known as the Tathra, Reedy Swamp and Vimy Ridge bushfire took hold. That fire burnt out around 1,200 hectares of land and caused a firestorm, which was basically hell on earth for the Tathra community and residents of Reedy Swamp and Vimy Ridge. The first responders—the Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Police—did an incredible job in evacuating people and responding to the fire. The emergency operations centre involved other government agencies, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry NSW, the State Emergency Service and members of the Volunteer Rescue Association. NSW Ambulance and South East Regional Hospital and staff were all on hand. The community was evacuated, although many people stayed to fight the fire alongside our emergency services personnel. Although 69 homes were destroyed and 50 homes were damaged by fire, I understand that 398 homes were saved as a result of the efforts of our emergency services personnel. That means that tonight a lot of families can be in their homes as a result of that incredible effort. People risked their lives to save their neighbour's property and our emergency services personnel saved valuable community assets such as the historic wharf, the public school, the surf club, the bowling club and the pub, which the locals are very pleased about. During the evacuation operation over three to four days, 885 people were assisted through the recovery centre whilst asbestos assessments took place and the fire was put out. Indeed, the evacuation operation was incredible; I have never seen anything like it. The community pulled together, along with organisations such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army chaplaincy, the Bega Showground Committee, the Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club, St Vincent de Paul, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Family and Community Services, Mission Australia and the many amazing community volunteers, who for four days served so well that evacuation centre and those who relied upon it. The recovery effort was led by Euan Ferguson. It was an incredible effort by him and his team. I commend the coordination, including Team Rubicon Australia, Tathra Surf Life Saving Club, Tathra Beach Bowling Club, the Office of Emergency Management and council. Everyone has pulled together with the local community. A community committee was formed to assist those who have lost everything and those who required support during the emergency. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 66

The community response has been incredible. A significant effort has been put in. I particularly recognise the Premier and her office, and the work they have done to ensure that the clean-up operation could commence as quickly as possible—a $10 million clean-up fund. As of Friday 27 April 2018, 29 of the destroyed homes have been removed and the sites have been cleared for people to rebuild. The eyesore of the damage that was left from the fire has been cleared away for the community. Work is continuing on a daily basis. What we cannot forget, particularly as we head into the winter months, is that residents will continue to go through the trauma of what has occurred. We must never forget that. I know through the recovery efforts that our health agency and the southern districts are working to pull everyone together, which is very important because residents affected by the fire are coming forward with significant trauma. The bushfire was a natural disaster that will have an everlasting impact on so many people. Pleasingly, no-one lost their life and homes can be rebuilt. But there is no doubt that the work that was achieved through the emergency operations and the leadership shown by people such as John Cullen, the recovery centre and the leadership shown by Euan Ferguson has meant that hundreds of people have been cared for and supported in an incredible way. I send a message of thank you on behalf of the community to everybody. We will continue to work around the clock. It has been a phenomenal effort on the part of our local people to ensure that people have been cared for during this natural disaster. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland) (19:31): I speak on a subject that is very close to the hearts and minds of everyone in my electorate. It is an appropriate day to speak about this subject because today is May Day, 1 May. On 28 April each year people from around the world pause to remember those people who have lost their lives due to a work place incident, accident or occupational disease. The International Day of Mourning is a sad reminder to all of us to take the time to recognise the significance and vital importance of work, health and safety, and how work place incidents affect those around us. We should take a moment to think of those families where someone never came home from work, those children who will never know their father or their mother, and for those who have lost a life partner, a son, a daughter, a friend or even a colleague. Last weekend I attended the small but significant service in the Hunter hosted by Hunter workers. Having worked in the heavy vehicle transport industry prior to my entry to Parliament, I know firsthand the risks that are faced by workers, clients and even members of the public when accidents happen at work. Luckily, I owned my company at a time when the former Labor Government undertook an extensive review of safety in the bus and heavy vehicle industry. Safety management systems were introduced into the industry as a mandatory part of bus operator accreditation for the first time. Introducing changes that properly protect workers, and ensure proper compliance and oversight is a constant challenge for government. It involves education and working with employers to improve their work habits, and with management and owners to ensure that safety is properly funded. The most important agent for change and for reducing death at work is the union movement, from where our party and our movement arose. Those on the other side of the House are often at pains to criticise the union movement. However, I pay tribute to our unions for their tenacity, their strength and their resolve to stop death and injuries at work. I will table a list of all the mighty unions I would like to mention today, but first I will relate a story about how this became very clear to me. Back in 1997 the then Liberal Government wanted to implode the site of the former Canberra Hospital. In that particular event the life of young Katie Bender was lost. She was a member of the public who was sitting and watching the implosion, which turned out to be an explosion. At that time a very dear friend of mine, Pauly Wilson, who was working as an organiser for the Health Services Union [HSU] got into all sorts of strife as a unionist trying to fight and fight to ensure that the glass windows at the aged care hospice at the site were covered by boards so that if anything went wrong people would be protected. The damage to those boards showed that there was real wisdom in his sight. Nobody thanked him beforehand for his efforts, but afterwards it was clear that lives had been saved and injuries had been avoided due to his work as a unionist. I pay tribute to these unions: Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Australian Services Union, Australasian Meat Industries Employees Union, Australian Workers Union, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Community and Public Sector Union Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, Electrical Trades Union, Finance Sector Union, Health Services Union, Maritime Union of Australia, Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Rail, Tram and Bus Union, Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association, Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union, Transport Workers Union, United Services Union, United Voice, the Public Service Association, the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association and the Teachers Federation, who have worked with our Labor Party to save workers' lives at every point. Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 67

The Hunter is a close-knit community. I pay tribute to all workers in the Hunter who have died as a result of a workplace incident in recent years. In December 2013, Ingrid Forshaw, a female miner who came from Cessnock, died at age 38 at Singleton. In 2014, Ryan Messenger, a 25-year-old from Raymond Terrace, died at Karuah. In March 2016, Sergeant Geoffrey Richardson from Port Stephens died in Cessnock. In December 2016, 53-year-old Stephen Norman died near Singleton. In March 2017, Tim Macpherson, who had only recently moved to Maitland with his pregnant wife and their toddler son, died at Barangaroo. In October 2017, 55-year-old father of three Allan Newling died in Thornton. In March 2018, 20-year-old Brayden Asser from Macquarie Hills died at a recycling facility in Mayfield West. In the Hunter, we have lost more than 1,800 miners since mining began. But even one death, any death, is one too many. I pay tribute to the union movement for the work it does to protect lives at work and I also pay tribute to the families of those who have lost a loved one at work. It is too much. WESTERN SYDNEY INCINERATOR Ms TANYA DAVIES (Mulgoa—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Women, and Minister for Ageing) (19:36): Last month I welcomed a recommendation from the Department of Planning to refuse a development proposal by Ian Malouf to build the world's largest incinerator at Eastern Creek. From day one I have wholeheartedly opposed the incinerator at Eastern Creek, especially when I repeatedly questioned the representative of Mr Malouf in my office about the purpose of the two 100-metre smoke stacks that were clearly visible in their project illustrations. When he was unable to answer a basic question that I asked of him five times— "What will be emitted from these smoke stacks?"—I had serious cause for alarm. I have talked to many residents in the community and leaders of organisations, schools and sporting clubs and it is clear that the incinerator is not welcome here. There are serious health concerns associated with burning thousands of tonnes of waste so close to homes and schools in Erskine Park, St Clair and beyond. The proponent is incapable of guaranteeing that the type of feedstock that he proposes to feed the incinerator will meet with policy. In any case, the evidence is out that nanoparticles emitted from this type of incineration process cannot be traced by the current monitoring systems available. The nanoparticles cannot be identified and measured and therefore cannot be monitored to ensure the community's health is not severely impacted. The proponent has also failed to adhere to the New South Wales Government's Energy from Waste policy, which I will speak about shortly. The concerns raised by our community, the Environmental Protection Authority, NSW Health and local councils have not been addressed by the proponent in the planning proposal. The evidence is in and the verdict is clear: the proposed incinerator at Eastern Creek should not go ahead. I thank the member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres, the Premier and my other parliamentary colleagues who have stood alongside me and backed my position in fighting this proposal. I congratulate the Department of Planning on recommending that the incinerator proposal be refused by the Independent Planning Commission, as it is inconsistent with government policy and does not meet regulatory standards. The Independent Planning Commission will spend the next three months investigating this proposal before making a final determination. We have ensured that a proper, independent assessment process has been undertaken to ensure that the science, the experts in their fields, and facts are used to formulate the recommendations. I will quote the irrefutable findings of the Department of Planning's assessment report to demonstrate how the independent scientific assessment process has delivered the result that we now have, that is, to recommend refusal of the application. Page (vi) of the assessment report says: Due to the nature and technical complexity of the proposal, the Department and the EPA jointly engaged Environmental Risk Sciences Pty Ltd (EnRisks), an independent expert in the field of human health risk assessment (HHRA), and ARUP Pty Ltd, an expert in international best practice waste to energy engineering, to assist in the assessment of the proposal. These experts were engaged in 2014 at the onset of the assessment process, prior to lodgement of the Applicant's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Department sought their expert advice throughout the assessment, particularly with respect to the consistency of the proposal with the requirements of the EfW Policy and the robustness of the Applicant's HHRA. Throughout the assessment process, the experts have raised significant concerns regarding the rigour of the Applicant's assessment of these matters. The experts have formally reviewed the application three times and have met with the applicant and its consultants on two occasions. Despite two significant amendments to the proposal, Arup maintains its view the proposed development is inconsistent with the energy from waste policy. EnRisks advises it is not possible to be confident the human health risk assessment is appropriate and sufficiently conservative and therefore the risk to human health is unknown. Further, on page VIII-IX it states: One key requirement of the energy from waste policy is for energy recovery facilities to use proven technologies that are well understood and capable of handling the expected variability and type of waste feedstock. This must be demonstrated through reference to fully operational plants using the same technologies and treating like waste streams in other similar jurisdictions. This is known as a "reference facility". Based on the advice from the Environment Protection Authority and Arup, the applicant's Tuesday, 1 May 2018 Legislative Assembly Page 68

nominated reference facility, Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 in West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, is not an appropriate reference facility as it is not thermally treating the same types of wastes as the proposed development. Without reference to a fully operational facility thermally treating the same waste feedstock, there is no certainty regarding the concentration and mix of pollutants in the emissions. As such, the air quality impacts and health risk estimates are unknown. ... Furthermore, the applicant has not adequately demonstrated how wastes that have the potential to generate harmful toxins will be excluded from the waste stream. The applicant also proposes to include potentially hazardous wastes as part of the design fuel, which are not permitted to be used for energy recovery under the energy from waste policy. These extracts from the Department of Planning and Environment's assessment report highlight the health dangers of this proposal and the unscrupulous actions of Ian Malouf to push a business proposal that contravenes numerous government policy directives. I stand with my community and will be at Rooty Hill RSL on Monday 14 May at 11.00 a.m. when the Independent Planning Commission will hold a public hearing. I encourage all members of the community to join me and to oppose this proposal until the incinerator at Eastern Creek is killed off once and for all. The House adjourned, pursuant to standing and sessional orders, at 19:41 until Wednesday 2 May 2018 at 10:00.