Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 1987 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 2860 7 October 1987 Papers WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 1987 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. K. R. Lingard, Fassifem) read prayers and took the chair at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS The Deputy Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Bridge to North Stradbroke Island From Mr Clauson (904 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will abandon plans for constmction of a bridge from the mainland to North Stradbroke Island. Amendments to Education Act From Mr Gygar (73 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will desist from making amendments to the Education Act which will eliminate independent education boards. Fire Levy From Mr Comben (8 398 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will declare a moratorium on fire levy charges and establish a fair system. Declaration of National Park on South Stradbroke Island From Mr I. J. Gibbs (3 098 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will ensure the protection of all public land on South Stradbroke Island by declaring the area a national park. Warwick Dairy From Mr Booth (2 075 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will support the Warwick Dairy and resist all moves toward its closure or downgrading. Award System and Industrial Commission; Anti-strike Legislation From Mr McLean (23 646 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will ensure the support of the existing award system and the Industrial Commission and repeal anti-strike legislation. Petitions received. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports— Intellectually Handicapped Citizens Council of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 Air PoUution Council of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 Noise Abatement Authority of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 Commissioner for RaUways for the year ended 30 June 1987. The following papers were laid on the table— Proclamation under Diseases in Plants Act 1929-1972 Orders in Council under— City of Brisbane Act 1924-1986 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Papers 7 October 1987 2861 Health Act 1937-1987 Rural Training Schools Act 1965-1984 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Irrigation Act 1922-1986, Water Act 1926-1987 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Water Act 1926-1987 Water Act 1926-1987 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Water Resources Administration Act 1978-1984 Harbours Act 1955-1982 Banana Industry Protection Act 1929-1972 Regulations under— Cremation Act 1913-1978 Food Act 1981-1984 Health Act 1937-1987 Radioactive Substances Act 1958-1978 Education Act 1984-1987 Farm Produce Marketing Act 1964-1986 By-laws under— Education Act 1964-1987 Harbours Act 1955-1982 Statutes under— Griffith University Act 1971-1987 James Cook University of North Queensland Act 1970-1987 University of Queensland Act 1965-1987 Reports— Rockhampton Jockey Club for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Totalisator Administration Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 Tmstees of the Local Authorities Debt Redemption Fund for the year ended 30 June 1987 Board of Nursing Studies for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Chiropractic Manipulative Therapists Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Chiropodists Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 Dental Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Nurses Registration Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Occupational Therapists Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Optometrists Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Pharmacy Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Physiotherapists Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Psychologists Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987 The Speech Therapists Board of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1987. 2862 7 October 1987 Ministerial Statement MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Photographic Drivers' Licences Hon. D. F. LANE (Merthyr—Minister for Transport) (2.39 p.m.), by leave: The latest figures show that 437 000 Queenslanders now hold a photographic driver's licence foUowing their introduction httle more than a year ago. This is an outstanding achievement in terms of the logistics and public acceptance of such a system, underlining the unqualified success of the licences. As it is a matter which affects members and their constituents, it is an appropriate time to give a progress report on the system launched in July 1986. The Queensland photographic licence system, apart from its obvious convenience and durability, has some less-conspicuous but equally important benefits. For example, it is estimated that almost 150 000, or 30 per cent of licence-holders already have indicated on new licences their willingness to be organ-donors in the event of an accident. This innovation can mean that the tragedy of a fatal road accident can provide someone requiring a donor organ with a real chance of life. Another significant spin-off involves the release of more than 100 police officers, previously occupied with clerical work, to carry out much-needed police duties throughout Queensland. Queensland tax-payers would also be happy to hear that the licence fees, coupled with more efficient issuing procedures, have enabled the system to be self- funding. This is more significant considering that Queensland licences, when compared with annual renewal charges, are the lowest in Australia. The average annual renewal fees for Queensland are presently $4.70; Victoria, $10; Tasmania and South Australia, $12; Northem Territory, $13.15; Westem Australia, $16; New South Wales, $21; and the Australian Capital Territory, $22. The popularity of the new licences has been emphasised by the thousands of motorists who have surrendered old paper licences long before the required renewal date. In the near future, photographic licences and driver records wiU be co-ordinated through an on-line computer system with added advantages for the public and for the administration. The photographic licence system is a service of interest to all members and their constituents giving access to licence issuing facilities. The Transport Department's ongoing program for installation of photographic facilities now extends throughout the State to all 16 Transport Department offices and 200 police stations from Thursday Island to BirdsviUe. A fiirther $lm has been allocated towards the program in this year's State Budget, which is indicative of the high priority given to it by the Queensland Govemment. It is an important initiative, which has provided added convenience for the driving public, improved administrative procedures for the department, and a strong deterrent against counterfeiting and theft of hcences. Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is too much audible conversation. Mr LANE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. With 437 000 of these licences already in use, and with the public rapidly changing to the new system, it can only mean escalating benefits for motorists, pubhc administration and for the community at large. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT North Queensland Timber Resources Management Hon. W. H. GLASSON (Gregory—Minister for Lands, Forestry, Mapping and Surveying) (2.43 p.m.), by leave: On 15 September, the Leader of the Opposition implied in this House that the Queensland Govemment was guilty of mismanaging north Queensland timber resources since 1981, and thus was instmmental in causing a Ministerial Statement 7 October 1987 2863 subsequent loss in timber-related jobs in the area. Furthermore, he accused the Queensland Govemment of ignoring the plight of those supposedly displaced timber-workers, and of ignoring rainforest conservation in general. The facts do not substantiate his claims. In his attack on this Govemment, he cited employment figures taken from a 1981 Department of Forestry position paper titled Timber Production from North Queensland's Rainforests. That paper said that there were "about 600" people directly employed in the industry at that time—but, somehow, he came up with the figure of 800 jobs. Be that as it may, I can now—in late 1987—point to 765 people directly employed in the north Queensland timber industry. That is a gain of 165 real jobs during the six- year period. In fact, it may interest the Leader of the Opposition to know that the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported 56 operating sawmills in north Queensland in December 1981; but the latest ABS data available, current for December 1986, reports 55 operating sawmills in the same statistical area—hardly, one could say, a loss of any magnitude. Interestingly, the gain in north Queensland jobs directly related to the timber industry has been achieved during a period in which the annual harvest allocation for rainforest timbers on Crown lands has been substantially reduced. This would seem to indicate a higher end-use value for those beautifiil timbers—thus necessitating the use of more labour in their preparation for marketing. As I have stated many times in the past, the annual cut from our northem rainforests—now set at 60 000 cubic metres a year—can be maintained indefinitely. This is the sustainable yield level—the level at which the 18.7 per cent of the rainforest zoned for logging will replenish itself That is also the level of yield which will guarantee the jobs of those people now employed in the north Queensland timber industry. It is those jobs—and the related indirect employment—that the Queensland Govemment is concemed about in its total opposition to the Commonwealth Govemment's declared intention of nominating our northem rainforests for World Heritage listing. In his recent attack on this Govemment, and on my Department of Forestry, the Leader of the Opposition also dutifully wmng his hands in anguish over our supposed lack of concem for the conservation of our northem rainforests.