Legislative Assembly Hansard 1955
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 13 OCTOBER 1955 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Auditor-General's Report. [13 OcTOBER.] Questions. 661 QUESTIONS. BURDEKIN DAM AND SOMERSET DAM. )lr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) asked the Premier- '' In view of the fact that his Govern ment has abandoned work on the Burdekin Dam which, when completed, would pro vide water for irrigation and hydro-electric power for industry and so add to the national wealth of the State, how can his Government justify any further expendi ture of money on the Somerset Dam which neither irrigates one square foot of land nor generates a single unit of electricity and adds absolutely nothing to our national wealth or development~'' Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane) replied- '' The development of Stage 2 of the Durclekin Dam project has not been nbandonetl. It has, however, been found necessary to defer its development for the reasons stated in my reply to the hon. member for Buruekin on 27 September last. In ordinary circumstances I would consider :1 further reply to the hon. member's ques tion unwarranted but as his question affords further proof of his blinded paro chialism and unfathomable ignorance in matters of public importance, I feel some further remarks are necessary. If the hon. member really believes his assertion regard ing Somerset Dam, which would indicate colossal ignorance on his part, then he is possibly the only person in Queensland who is of such an opinion. Had the hon. mem ber listened to my speech on the Secop.d Hear1ing of the Somerset Dam (Finance) Dill in November last, he would have leamecl that this major multiple-purpose project makes a very considerable contribu tion to our national wealth and develop ment. From the point of view of flood mitigation alone, there· is no better exemplification of man's ability under flood conditions, to hold back a raging tonent in the form of the Stanley River, which, otherwise, by its junction with the heavily-flooded Brisbane River woulrl cause untold damage to property and possibly heavy loss of life. Early this year, Brisbane and district was threatened by a flood of similar proportions to that of 1898, but the existence of the Somerset THURSDAY, 13 OCTOBER, 1955. Dam, combined with river improvement IYOrks, had the effect of reducing it to the level of the 1931 flood. It has been esti Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. J. H. 2\fann, mated that if a flood similar in proportions Brisbane) took the chair at 11 a.m. to that of 1898 hacl engulfed Brisbane on that occasion, the material damage alone "·onld have amounted to millions of pounds. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT. Furthermore, the importance of Somerset PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. Dam as a water supply standby for Bris bane, Ipswich, and environs cannot be M:r. SPEAKER announced the receipt over-emphasised. During the prolonged dry from the Auditor-General of his report on spell in November and December, 1952, the public accounts for the year 1954-1955. considerable quantities of water, reaching a maximum of 63 million gallons a clay Ordered to be printed. for a week were released to meet demands 668 Questions. [ASSEMBLY.] Qttestions. of these areas. Contrary to the hon. mem Queensland that would follow the com ber's assertion that Somerset Dam does not pletion of the Burdekin Dam Scheme, will generate a single unit of electricity, the he kindly inform the House why such a hydro-electric plant which was installed in 'scheme of vital importance to the develop 1954 earned approximately £7 4,000 from ment of the State was scrapped becauHc the sale of power generated for tlie of aHeged lack of finance while adequate financial year ended 30 June, 1955. money can be found to proceed with the Somerset Dam was not designed for irriga electrification of the Brisbane suburban tion purposes.'' railway system~ Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane) PUBLIC HOSPITAL ON REDCLIFFE PENINSULA. replied- Mr. SPARKES (Aubigny), for Mr. '' The allegation contained in the hon. NICHOLSON (Murrumba), asl,ed the member's question that the Burdekin Dam Secretary for Health and Home Affairs- Scheme has been 'scrapped' is a complete " In view of the ever-increasing popula distortion of my statement made on this tion on the Redcliffe Peninsula and the matter in September last. The Burdekin large number or l'esidents reqmrmg Dam Scheme has not been 'scrapped' but specialised treatment necessitating regular the construction of Stage 2 has been trips to Brisbane by ambulance, will he deferred for the very good reasons given to recommend the establishment of a public the hon. member in my reply to his question hospital in that area in order to give local on 27 September. In planning develop attention to such cases and provide much mental works, the Gov·ernment must lun-e !needed hospitalisation for other peop1o in regard to the interests of the State as a surrounding districts~'' whole and not any par-ticular part of it. Stage 1 of the Burdekin Dam Project pro Hon. W. 11. 1IOORE (Merthyr) replied- vided for the development of about lHO farms in the Clare, Millaroo, and Dalbeg '' The developmental policy of the Bris areas and as I have pointed out previously, bane and South Coast Hospitals Board its construction, combined with other envisages the provision of a new hospital irrigation projects in North Queensland, at Sandga te or Redcliffe. Owing to the will make provision for the settlement of <lemand on the availahlP loan monev of 200 farmers annually over a period of eight other more urgent hospital building 1vorks, successive years. The amount being spent there does not appear to be any possibility on the electrification of suburban railways that provision of a new hospital at one or in the metropolitan area is infiniteslma 1 other of those centres could be undertaken compared with the very large expenditure in the very near future.'' required to proceed with Stage 2 of the Burdekin. The electrification of suburban Ou•r?A~'IEN~'S' CLINIC AT CABOOLTURE. railways is merely incidental to the major work of the quadruplication of tracks which Mr. SPARKES (Aubigny), for lllr. is now being carried out progressively. NICHOLSON (Murrumba), asked the This quadruplication is essential, because Secretary for Health and Home Affairs- of the saturation of existing lines by the " In view of the negative reply received rapidly expanding traffic, to enable passen from the Brisbane and South Coast ger, live-stock, and goods trains to awl Hospitals Board in respons·e to representa from the country to be handled expedi 'tions made by the Leader of the Opposition tiously and economically in and out of the and myself for the establishment of a metropolitan area and there can be no cottage hospital at Caboolture, will !te doubt that when this is completed it will recommend the establishment of an out result in benefit to the whole State.'' patients' clinic in that c·entre? WoMAN ARRESTED, s~'EEL'S CAFE, VIES'£ ExD. Hon. W. lU. lliOORE (Merthyr) replied- '' The Brisbane and South Coast Hos Mr. MORRIS (Mt. Coot-tha): I desire pitals Board has received many requests to ask the Secretary for Labour and Industry for the extension of outpatients' clinic whether he has an answer to the following services in its district. However, the Board question, which I addressed to him on is limited in the number of these services 21 September:- it can supply, because of the difficulty of "Was a woman arrested at or ne' a r obtaining medical practitioners to under Steel's Cafe, West End, at approximately take this particular type of work.'' 10.30 p.m. on the night of Saturday, 17 SeptemberW If so,- BURDEKIN DAM SCHEME AND ELECTRIFICA~'ION 1. What was the charge on which she OF SUBURBAN RAILWAYS. was arrested W Mr. COBURN (Burdekin) asked the 2. What was the name of the arresting Premier- constable? '' In view of the tremendous develop 3. Did the arresting constable request ment and increase in population in North the assistance of a civilian~ Questions. (13 OCTOBER.] Want of Confidence Jvlotion. 669 4. Did any assisting civilian accompRny l'APERS. the constable to the watch-houseq The following paper was laid on the table, 5. Who was the police officer in charge an cl ordered to be printed:- of the watch-house at the time of arrival of the prisoner, and did this police officer Report of the Commissioner for Transport or any other hav·e any conversation with for the year 1954-1955. the accompanying civilian, and if so, who did so~ The following papC'l's 1\'Cl'e !aiel on tl1e 6. Is there any record or know ledge on table:- the part of any police officer at the Order in Council under the Labour H J,c1 watch-house of any facial injuries which Industry Acts, 1946 to 1952. were obvious on the prisoner on arrival at the watch-house~ Regulations under the Liquor Acts, 1912 to 7. Had the arrested person any past 1954. police record~'' Regulations under the Apprentices aml Minors Acts, 1929 to 1954. Hon. A. JONES (Charters Towers) replied- ''Yes, a woman named Lilian Paice WANT OF COXF'IDENOE MO'l'ION. otherwise Lilian Pace otherwise Lilian CHAIRMAN oF CoMMITTEES. Hardie. ~Ir. NICKLIN (Landsborough-L€ader ' ' ] . Drunkenness. of the Opposition) (11.13 a.m.): I move- '' 2. Constable M. Hasenkam, stationed '' That the Chairman of Committees has at West End Police Station, Brisbane. lost the confidence of the House, due to his '' 3. Yes. The constable did call on a neglect of duty in improperly closing the young man named Edward Daniel Hill of debate on the Financial Statement, by No.