4635 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Tuesday 11 November 2003 ______ Mr Speaker (The Hon. John Joseph Aquilina) took the chair at 2.15 p.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer. DEATH OF MR WILLIAM GEOFFREY LUTON, A FORMER SERJEANT-AT-ARMS Mr SPEAKER: It is with regret that I inform the House of the death on 7 November of William Geoffrey Luton, who served as Serjeant-at-Arms from 28 July 1973 until 30 January 1981. Members and officers of the House stood in their places. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following bills reported: Local Government Amendment (Cudgegong (Abattoir) County Council Dissolution) Bill Evidence Legislation Amendment (Accused Child Detainees) Bill Gaming Machines Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill Police Association Employees (Superannuation) Amendment Bill Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Development Consents) Bill Funeral Funds Amendment Bill Hairdressers Bill Industrial Relations Amendment (Public Vehicles and Carriers) Bill TRIBUTE TO MR JOHN WHITE Ministerial Statement Ms SANDRA NORI (Port Jackson—Minister for Tourism and Sport and Recreation, and Minister for Women) [2.20 p.m.]: Today I pay special tribute to an outstanding individual on the staff of Tourism New South Wales, John White, who is in the gallery today. On 28 October 1963, just over 40 years ago, John joined the public service with the then Department of Tourist Activities. If ever there was a stalwart at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, it would have to be John White. John was appointed as a junior clerical assistant, general scale, with duties including answering telephone inquiries and despatching literature. As honourable members would know, the agency has had several name changes and restructures since that time from the Department of Tourist Activities to today's name, the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation. Throughout those changes, John has been the records guru. I guess we could all imagine the changes in records management that have taken place over the past 40 years as computer systems were developed and became more sophisticated. John has kept ahead of all that, and kept track of hundreds of thousands of files over the years. About 15 years ago, John implemented the original computer system, CARMS, which was the basis of the first computerised filing system, and it has been in place since then. I know that everyone thinks of John as a happy and bright person for whom nothing is ever too much trouble. I am told that he has the remarkable ability to remember and locate a letter that arrived several years previously. Well done! Clearly, John is a man of amazing memory and organisational skills. I have no doubt that his fine principles and values of public service were shaped from an early age when he and our Premier, Bob Carr, attended Sunday School together at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Maroubra. John now holds the title of Administration Services Officer for the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, and he is looking forward to the task of amalgamating the records of Tourism New South Wales with those of the Department of Sport and Recreation. I commend John White for his dedication and commitment to the agency and join with all staff in saying that the organisation would not be the same without him. I congratulate him on 40 years of loyal service to the people of New South Wales. Mr IAN ARMSTRONG (Lachlan) [2.33 p.m.]: On behalf of the Opposition and all members in this place I join with the Minister and the Government in extending hearty congratulations to Mr John White on 40 years of loyal and unflinching service, despite governments, Ministers and tourists coming and going, and despite his unfortunate start when he had to sit with the Premier in Sunday School. 4636 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 11 November 2003 Mr Carr: I won the Bible prizes. Mr ARMSTRONG: That is not evident here today. This afternoon we have heard about someone who has given 40 years of his working life to the same employer, be it a public or a private employer. Recently I read that these days the average chief executive officer stays in his job for four years and the average Sydney home has a new owner every seven years. These days in society we see rapid changes in jobs, locations and addresses. We are now living in an entirely different environment. It is good to know that someone, who is obviously happy in his job, is setting benchmarks of loyalty and consistency. We often hear from psychologists and others about how much counselling is needed these days to keep people happy. I do not know what John White's secret is, but he appears to have achieved that happiness. We need more people like John White to talk to the current generation of young people and to inform them that they can obtain job satisfaction by making a contribution. I have no doubt that John White's success is due to his being a contributor. He put everything into his job, as opposed to being someone who merely filled a position from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.—or from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. as it was in those days. Steam trains were still in use in the 1960s. In those days some of the red rattlers that are running on our rail lines today were fairly new carriages; they were used to transport tourists around this State. Some of the dirt roads are now covered with bitumen, cars have become faster and people now fly around the world regularly. Tourism has come a long way and people's views and desires have changed. But records are still an important and essential part of running a business. I hope John White remains with the department for many more years. All our public service colleagues throughout government should take note of his achievements. I extend my congratulations to him. UNPROCLAIMED LEGISLATION Mr SPEAKER: Pursuant to standing orders I table a list of legislation unproclaimed 90 days after assent as at 11 November 2003. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Mr SPEAKER: I acknowledge the presence in the public gallery of the former President of the New South Wales branch of the RSL, Rusty Priest, AM; the present New South Wales State President of the RSL, Don Rowe, OAM; the New South Wales Metropolitan Vice-President of the RSL, John Haines, OAM; and the Far West Metropolitan District State Councillor of the RSL, Mr Bob Durbin. INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION Report Mr Speaker announced the receipt, in accordance with section 78 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, of the report entitled "Report on Investigation Into Certain Applications Made to the Department of Fair Trading for Building and Trade Licences", dated November 2003. Ordered to be printed. LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Report The Clerk announced the receipt, in accordance with section 10 of the Legislation Review Act 1987, of the report entitled "Legislation Review Digest No 5 of 2003", dated 10 November 2003. PETITIONS Gaming Machine Tax Petition supporting the increase in gaming machine taxes and welcoming the fact that all extra revenue will be spent on the health system, received from Miss Cherie Burton. 11 November 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 4637 Autism Spectrum Disorder Petition requesting additional support for children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder in all educational settings in New South Wales government schools, received from Mr Daryl Maguire. Department of Education and Training Restructure Petition requesting a delay to the proposed restructure of the Department of Education and Training, received from Mr Russell Turner. Gaming Machine Tax Petitions opposing the decision to increase poker machine tax, received from Ms Gladys Berejiklian, Mr Thomas George, Ms Katrina Hodgkinson, Mrs Judy Hopwood, Mr Malcolm Kerr, Mr Daryl Maguire, Mr Wayne Merton, Mr Robert Oakeshott, Mr Donald Page, Mr Steven Pringle, Ms Marianne Saliba, Mr Ian Slack-Smith, Mr George Souris, and Mr Andrew Tink. Self-funded Retirees Assistance Package Petition requesting funding for an assistance package for self-funded retirees, received from Mr Donald Page. Cudgen Creek Seaway Petitions requesting that the Cudgen Creek seaway at Kingscliff be cleared of silt, received from Mr Steve Cansdell, and Mr Russell Turner. White City Site Rezoning Proposal Petition praying that any rezoning of the White City site be opposed, received from Ms Clover Moore. Water Police Pyrmont Site Petition opposing development of the current Water Police Pyrmont site, received from Ms Clover Moore. Lane Cove Rotary Athletics Field Petition opposing the use of the car park at Rotary Athletics Field, Lane Cove, as a construction storage site, received from Ms Gladys Berejiklian. Freedom of Religion Petition praying that the House retain the existing exemptions applying to religious bodies in the Anti- Discrimination Act, received from Ms Marianne Saliba. Coffs Harbour Pacific Highway Bypass Petition requesting the construction of a Pacific Highway bypass for the coastal plain of Coffs Harbour, received from Mr Andrew Fraser. Jingellic to Holbrook Road Upgrading Petition requesting funding for the upgrading of the Jingellic to Holbrook road, received from Mr Daryl Maguire. Tumbarumba to Jingellic Highway Upgrading Petition asking that the Tumbarumba to Jingellic section of State Road 85 be sealed, received from Mr Daryl Maguire. 4638 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 11 November 2003 The Alpine Way Upgrade Petition requesting funding to repair, upgrade and realign 11 kilometres of The Alpine Way between the State border at Bringenbrong Bridge and the beginning of Kosciuszko National Park, received from Mr Daryl Maguire. Windsor Road Traffic Arrangements Petitions requesting a right turn bay on Windsor Road at Acres Road, received from Mr Wayne Merton and Mr Michael Richardson. The Spit Bridge Traffic Arrangements Petition opposing the proposal to add a two-lane drawbridge next to The Spit Bridge, and calling for a responsible and holistic solution to the transport, traffic, and freight needs of the area, received from Mrs Jillian Skinner.