Hansard 6 November 2002
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6 Nov 2002 Legislative Assembly 4399 WEDNESDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 2002 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. PRIVILEGE Notice of Motion of Dissent from Mr Speaker's Ruling Hon. K. R. LINGARD (Beaudesert—NPA) (9.30 a.m.): Mr Speaker, I rise on a matter of privilege. Mr Speaker, following your statements and rulings on Thursday, 31 October, I give notice that I shall move— That Mr Speaker’s ruling on Thursday, 31 October, that there was no point of order in Dr Watson's statement that ‘there has been no change to the standing orders. No-one has moved that standing orders be suspended. At 10.30 a.m. question time begins’ be dissented from. PRIVILEGE Aircraft Used in Fighting Bushfires, Answer to Question Hon. M. F. REYNOLDS (Townsville—ALP) (Minister for Emergency Services and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland) (9.31 a.m.), by leave. I rise on a matter of privilege. During question time on 30 October, the member for Nanango asked me why South Australian aircraft were brought to Queensland to fight the recent fires in Toowoomba and Tara. At the time of that question I was not aware of the specific details, but I answered that I would investigate it and get back to the member about it. On 31 October, I made a ministerial statement to the House in which I stated that the aircraft used at Tara and Toowoomba were from Queensland based companies. During that ministerial statement I advised the House that no interstate aircraft were used in fighting these fires. This statement was based on advice from my department and from my ministerial office who also contacted the senior fire officers at both the Tara and Toowoomba fire and received the same information. Since then, further investigation has revealed that while the two companies were Queensland based operations, they do cross-hire some of the aircraft from interstate for their Queensland operations. All aircraft are registered federally by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and these aircraft can then operate anywhere within Australia. There is no state based registration system for aircraft. In that regard, some South Australian based aircraft remain in Queensland, subcontracted to Queensland operators, for up to six months each year. Whilst the fires were burning out of control and when these Queensland based companies responded that they could urgently provide the aircraft needed to fight the fires, they did not mention to the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service incident command team or the district disaster coordinator, nor were they asked, if the aircraft provided were Queensland aircraft. Now that I have been advised of this up-to-date information about the aircraft used to fight these fires, I would like to report these details to the parliament at this, the earliest opportunity that I have had. The senior firefighters, the district disaster coordinators, who are usually the senior local police officers, decide what equipment and personnel are needed at such emergencies and I believe that they are the very best people to do so. ASSENT TO BILLS Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have to report that I have received from his Excellency the Governor— Mrs PRATT: The minister implied that I was not telling the truth at the time and I would like an apology. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, I have to report that I have received from His Excellency the Governor a letter in respect to assent to certain bills, the contents of which will be incorporated in the records of parliament. 4400 Privilege 6 Nov 2002 Government House Queensland 4 November 2002 The Honourable R.K. Hollis, MP Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Parliament House George Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 Dear Mr Speaker I hereby acquaint the Legislative Assembly that the following Bills, having been passed by the Legislative Assembly and having been presented for the Royal Assent, were assented to in the name of Her Majesty The Queen on 1 November 2002: “A Bill for an Act to regulate the provision of child care, and for related purposes" "A Bill for an Act to provide for the registration of architects, and for other purposes" "A Bill for an Act to provide for the registration of professional engineers, and for other purposes" "A Bill for an Act to amend the Governors' Pensions Act 1977, Judges (Pensions and Long Leave) Act 1957, Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1970 and Public Officers Superannuation Benefits Recovery Act 1988” "A Bill for an Act to amend particular Acts administered by the Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Sport". The Bills are hereby transmitted to the Legislative Assembly, to be numbered and forwarded to the proper Officer for enrolment, in the manner required by law. Yours sincerely (sgd) Peter Arnison Governor Mrs PRATT: I rise to a point of order. The minister did imply that I was lying and I would like an apology. Mr SPEAKER: But I do not have the authority to— Mr REYNOLDS: I take offence at what the member for Nanango has indicated in this House today and I ask that it be withdrawn. Mr SPEAKER: You asked— Mrs PRATT: I rise to a point of order. Mr SPEAKER: That is out of order. You cannot ask for that. Are you rising on a point of privilege? Mrs PRATT: Yes, I am. Mr SPEAKER: Seek to raise a point of privilege. PRIVILEGE Aircraft Used in Fighting Bushfires, Answer to Question Mrs PRATT (Nanango—Ind) (9.33 a.m.): In his ministerial statement, the minister stated— Let me complete my statement by saying that some of the members on the other side do not know the truth. That impinges on my reputation and I would like an apology. Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is nothing in that that is personally attacking the member. So unfortunately, it is not a matter of privilege. Mrs PRATT: I asked the question and it was directed at me. Mr SPEAKER: I have just made my ruling. I note the member for Nanango's matter of privilege raised in the House on 31 October 2002 in relation to a ministerial statement. Mr Johnson interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Gregory will cease calling across the chamber now. If you call again, I will warn you. I note the member for Nanango's matter of privilege raised in the House on 31 October 2002 in relation to a ministerial statement by the Minister for Emergency Services and Minister Assisting the Premier in north Queensland. Further, I note the minister's matter of privilege this morning clarifying his statement. Following this clarification, I therefore advise the House that there is no matter of privilege. 6 Nov 2002 Papers 4401 QUEENSLAND INFORMATION COMMISSIONER Annual Report Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, I have to report that I have received the annual report of the Queensland Information Commissioner for 2001-02. I table the said report. PETITIONS Police Beat, Arndale Shopping Centre Ms Stone from 791 petitioners requesting the House to retain the Police Beat shopfront within Arndale Shopping Centre. The following Honourable Member has sponsored an E-Petition that is now closed and presented— Fish Farms, Moreton Bay Marine Park Mr Briskey from 1,108 petitioners requesting the House to stop the development of the proposed sea cage fish farms in Moreton Bay Marine Park proceeding; establish a new policy that does not allow sea cage aquaculture in Moreton Bay Marine Park; and continue to promote councils, industries and individuals that improve the health of our bay and waterways. PAPERS PAPERS TABLED DURING THE RECESS The Acting Clerk informed the House that the following papers, received during the recess, were tabled on the dates indicated— 1 November 2002— Queensland Investment Corporation—Annual Report 2001-02 Queensland Investment Corporation—Statement of Corporate Intent 2001-02 Ministerial Response from the Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Sport (Mr Mackenroth) to Report No. 77 of the Public Works Committee entitled The Redevelopment of the Tallebudgera Outdoor Recreation Centre Department of Public Works—Annual Report 2001-02 Board of Architects—Annual Report 2001-02 Board of Professional Engineers—Annual Report 2001-02 Queensland Health Department—Annual Report 2001-02 Gold Coast Hospital Foundation—Annual Report 2001-02 Health Rights Commission—Annual Report 2001-02 Ipswich Hospital Foundation—Annual Report 2001-02 Mental Health Court—Annual Report 28 February to 30 June 2002 Mental Health Review Tribunal—Annual Report 28 February to 30 June 2002 Princess Alexandra Hospital Foundation—Annual Report 2001-02 Queensland Nursing Council—Annual Report 2001-02 Sunshine Coast Health Services Foundation—Annual Report 2001-02 Toowoomba Hospital Foundation—Annual Report 2001-02 4 November 2002— Office of Health Practitioner Registration Boards—Annual Report 2001-02 Chiropractors and Osteopaths Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Chiropractors Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Dental Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Dental Technicians and Dental Prosthetists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Medical Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Medical Radiation Technologists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Occupational Therapists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Optometrists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Osteopaths Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Pharmacists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Physiotherapists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Podiatrists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Psychologists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2001-02 Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland—Annual Report