6 Sep 2000 Legislative Assembly 2953

WEDNESDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2000 Lytton National Park, Quarantine Station From Mr Lucas (135 petitioners) requesting the House to take the necessary steps to have the Quarantine Station building Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) moved back to the Lytton National Park and read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. that adequate funding be provided to make it available for heritage displays and performances for students, tourists and CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION general public. Report Mr SPEAKER: I have to report that today Cairns-Atherton Tableland, Highway Link I received from the Chairperson of the Criminal From Mr Nelson (3,600 petitioners) Justice Commission a report titled "Allegations requesting the House to construct a highway of electoral fraud—Report on an advice by link between Cairns and the Atherton P. D. McMurdo, QC", and I table the said Tableland on the alignment identified as Route report. S7 by the Integrated Transport Study for the Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth— Kuranda Range and known locally as the Lake ALP) (Leader of the House) (9.32 a.m.): I Morris/Davies Creek Road. move— "That the report be printed." Police Resources, Coolangatta Ordered to be printed. From Mr Quinn (1,060 petitioners) requesting the House to ensure that more police and resources are assigned to crime AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT fighting in the Coolangatta area. Petitions received. Mr SPEAKER: I have to report that today I received from the Auditor-General a report titled "Audit report No. 6 1999-2000—Results MINISTERIAL STATEMENT of audits performed for 1998-99 as at 30 June Government Achievements 2000", and I table the said report. Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— ALP) (Premier) (9.34 a.m.), by leave: In recent MEMBERS' DAILY TRAVELLING weeks the people of Queensland have ALLOWANCE CLAIMS witnessed the stark contrast between my can- do, positive and progressive Government and Report the whingeing, whining, carping coalition. Mr SPEAKER: I lay upon the table of the While the Opposition Leader and the Leader House the annual report of daily travelling of the Liberal Party have been sinking into a allowance claims by members of the mire of misery and negativity, my Government Legislative Assembly for 1999-2000. has been delivering on our commitments. For example: the Native Title solution that will generate thousands of jobs in the mining PETITIONS industry, particularly for indigenous Queenslanders and all Queenslanders; the The Clerk announced the receipt of the vegetation management and RFA solutions following petitions— that will save hundreds of thousands of hectares of native vegetation, as well as protect the jobs of farmers and timber industry Orchestras workers; the successful launch of Virgin Blue From Mr Hegarty (51 petitioners) and Impulse Airlines services in Queensland requesting the House to keep the Queensland that will provide the biggest boost to our Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland tourism industry in more than a generation. On Philharmonic Orchestra separate so that both top of that, work is gathering pace at Roma can continue in their best suited pursuits and Street, and preparations for the Goodwill that the QPO continues with the chamber Games are well advanced. orchestra performances in rural Queensland In fact, I am pleased to inform honourable and that there is no reduction in the number of members that the ANZ Stadium will be a world- QPO players or of concerts given by the class athletics facility following a $2.6m orchestra as a separate entity. upgrade for the 2001 Goodwill Games in 2954 Legislative Assembly 6 Sep 2000

Brisbane. While the Sydney Olympics are Society, Lifeline and the Salvation Army, without doubt the highlight of the sports together with people such as Ian Brusasco calendar for this year, Brisbane will be the and former Lord Mayor Clem Jones, set out to place to be in 2001. It will be the biggest change that unacceptable situation. sporting event in the world in 2001. The ANZ Foodbank Queensland was established Stadium will certainly be among the hot spots with corporate support and a $250,000 for sports fans. ANZ will host the cream of the Queensland Government grant. During the world athletics crop at next year's Goodwill past two years it has distributed around 1.5 Games, which runs from 29 August to 9 million kilos of food through 180 agencies in September 2001. It is therefore appropriate Queensland. Until recently Foodbank had that this stadium should get an upgrade. In been operating out of a warehouse in my fact, it is the most significant upgrade to the electorate provided by Coca-Cola. With the stadium since the 1982 Commonwealth end of this arrangement, the State Games. Work will start in late September and Government provided funding of $1m to buy will be completed in February next year, in time land and construct a new warehouse. We for other international events, including the have also given Foodbank Queensland a long- Australian Track and Field Open and Under 20 term lease at a peppercorn rate because we Championships in March and the World recognise the enormity of the work undertaken Veterans Athletics Championships in July. The and this organisation's dedication to its cause. upgrade will include: $2.25m in State Government funding for a new athletics track, I was also honoured to last week officially timing and sports equipment; and $375,000 in open another building, this time the world joint State Government/Brisbane City Council headquarters in Brisbane of Australia's largest funding for lighting, communications and software company, Mincom. There can be few scoreboard. better advertisements for the Smart State than The Brisbane Goodwill Games—and they a company such as Mincom deciding that the involve more than just Brisbane; they include most suitable place in the world for its world the Gold Coast and all of Queensland—will be headquarters is Brisbane. Mincom has an the most prestigious event on the world's annual turnover of more than $200m and sporting calendar in 2001 and will have a huge employs 1,100 staff in 30 offices in 18 impact on Queensland in terms of exposure countries across North America, South on an international scale and business here at America, South-East Asia, Africa, the United home. In fact, it is unprecedented. When the Kingdom and Europe. In June it was the Games are beamed to more than 450 million Australian Technology Awards Winner for households around the world next year, we Excellence in the Development of Data want to showcase our capital city and parts of Management. It is a past winner of the Queensland and its sporting venues in the Exporter of the Year award from Austrade. It best possible way. The State Government is had won the Premier's Export Award three working in close partnership with the Brisbane times in the past decade and a range of City Council and will announce further industry awards. upgrades to other venues in the near future. Mincom exemplifies the enterprise and Another major initiative that I am pleased expertise Queensland has to offer the rest of to detail today is the State Government's the world, demonstrating our can-do ability and continuing support for Foodbank Queensland. how well we can do it. My Government has set A number of Ministers joined me yesterday for out to make Queensland the Smart State and the opening of its new facility. This magnificent has been successful in attracting a large initiative helps to feed 20,000 needy number of IT companies to establish a Queensland families a year, and I was presence here. Go-ahead companies like honoured to yesterday open the charity's new Mincom are helping to make Queensland $1.4m warehouse at Colmslie, along with a stronger, smarter and more competitive in the number of Ministers and the local member. As world's marketplace. honourable members would be aware, Recently on a visit to Indonesia I visited its Foodbank Queensland distributes food and Indonesian office in Jakarta. Little more than grocery items supplied by manufacturers and two decades since it began in 1979, Mincom suppliers that might have damaged has become a big winner, an innovative packaging, a limited shelf life left or be a computer software company with its eye on discontinued line. Before Foodbank, this food the future and its feet firmly planted in had to be dumped while families in crisis went Queensland with its world headquarters here. I hungry. But in 1995 a number of charitable congratulate Mincom management and its bodies, headed by the St Vincent de Paul employees on their achievements. 6 Sep 2000 Ministerial Statement 2955

As I said, those are just a few examples business as usual. This can-do Government of my Government's recent initiatives and will continue to deliver for the people of involvement in building a stronger and better Queensland. The Borbidge Government put Queensland, a smarter Queensland, and that Government on hold and made no meaningful is the result of a can-do Government. decisions during the whole of the Carruthers and Connolly inquiries. We have been busy in turning Queensland into the Smart State and MINISTERIAL STATEMENT we will not be sidetracked. More than 100 new Electoral Fraud; CJC Inquiry jobs have been created every day, seven days Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— a week, since we formed Government in June ALP) (Premier) (9.40 a.m.), by leave: On 15 1998 and we will continue to focus on jobs. August the Attorney-General, following We will continue to deliver. consultation with me, referred the Ehrmann It is essential that if there are allegations to the Electoral Commissioner to recommendations that the law needs to be ensure proper investigation of alleged changed, they should be made prior to the breaches of the Electoral Act. The Attorney- next State election so that the next State General and I urged the Electoral election can be run on the new rules and new Commissioner to take all necessary action to laws. Should there be serious allegations of get to the bottom of these allegations. He unlawful behaviour or official misconduct by subsequently referred these matters to the anyone in Parliament, these people will stand CJC. aside until the matter is resolved. The umpire I welcome the report from the CJC has spoken and the Government will move presented to the Speaker this morning and quickly to ensure that the CJC's tabled in the Parliament and I commit my recommendations are implemented. Government to cooperate fully with the inquiry and to ensure that we have the most honest I call on the National and Liberal leaders and open electoral system in Australia. I give a to follow my example and let this inquiry guarantee today that my Government will not proceed without political interference. The interfere with the CJC inquiry. Unlike our independent umpire has spoken, and the predecessors, we will not be striking out at the independent inquiry should be allowed to get independent umpire and seeking to disrupt on with its important job as expeditiously as and derail the process of justice. Unlike my possible without a daily diet of hysterical predecessor, I have sought the highest political carping and half-baked allegations standards of probity, and that will not change from the Opposition. No-one is guilty until today. The challenge this Government faces is found to be so by a proper judicial process. I similar to that faced by the Borbidge call on all members of this House to let the Government—that is, an open CJC inquiry. We CJC's inquiry proceed without interference so will not nobble the CJC inquiry in the way that that it can move to a speedy resolution, and if the Borbidge and Beanland Government there are recommendations that need to be nobbled the Carruthers inquiry. Queenslanders implemented in terms of the Electoral Act, have my guarantee on that today. then let us do it before the next State election. It is up to the commission to decide the My Government has nothing to hide. That terms of the inquiry and whether or not there is why the Attorney-General, after consultation are public hearings. We will abide by the with me, originally asked the Electoral decision, whatever it is. But we support—and Commissioner to investigate this matter. let me make this clear—we support open Queenslanders expect their Government to be hearings to clear the air once and for all. If any honest and accountable, and to ensure that members of my party are found to have the laws of this State are upheld by all. There transgressed, they will face the full can be no exceptions—and nor will there be. consequences of the law. Queenslanders Queenslanders, like all Australians, have over expect it. My Government expects it and I recent years increasingly despaired at the way expect it. There will be no cover-ups. My politics is played, have increasingly despaired Government will cooperate in full with this at our politicians, which is why they are held in inquiry. low regard, and have seen all political parties tarred with the same brush. I also promise that I will not allow the business of Government to be put on hold The announcement this morning by the while this inquiry is being held. We are going to Criminal Justice Commission will confirm in the get on with the job. My Government has minds of many Queenslanders the view they demonstrated that it is here to make a have long held—that political parties do difference to people's lives and it will be harbour a small number of people who do 2956 Ministerial Statement 6 Sep 2000 single-mindedly pursue their personal careers updating; enabling the Electoral Commission and advancement. What Queenslanders to use data on name, address and date of expect is that when these matters are drawn to birth from Government agencies, subject to the attention of the Government—when we privacy safeguards; and the use of driver's have these occasional bad eggs—that licence applications as enrolment applications Government will act, and that is exactly what subject to privacy safeguards. we are doing; we are acting. No other The all-party report unanimously Government in Queensland has been better recommended that the Electoral Act be placed to ensure that all of these allegations amended to provide for enhanced electoral roll are rigorously evaluated and investigated, and updating by allowing the Electoral Commission that justice will prevail. of Queensland to obtain information from I am dismayed that my party, the Government agencies. These reforms will allow Australian Labor Party, with its proud heritage the Electoral Commission to collect name, of making life better for Australians over many address and date of birth data to trigger further decades, is the subject of such allegations. All inquiries to confirm the accuracy of the my life in the party, including most publicly in electoral roll. Obviously, this amendment to the the Queensland reform years of the seventies Electoral Act will reduce the opportunity for and eighties, has been directed at making the fraud with the incorrect registrations of voters. party's processes more inclusive and Another measure to counter such fraud democratic, and to removing practices that I could be the proposal to require voters to described at the time as rorts. I have had no provide identification when they vote. This will truck with electoral fraud. I will have no truck be considered by the parliamentary all-party with electoral fraud under any circumstances. committee. The Government yesterday This is an honest Government. These introduced a Bill to include prominent allegations about individual members of the authorisation information on how-to-vote cards ALP in three specific electorates will be fully to allow for appeals and to allow for appeals investigated. As we all know, the subjects of all from the Court of Disputed Returns. This fulfils these allegations took place before my the commitment my Government made earlier Government came to office. Unlike the this year in response to a report from the allegations that confronted the Borbidge parliamentary Legal, Constitutional and Government— Administrative Review Committee. We will Opposition members interjected. ensure that whatever reforms are needed will be introduced and we will have the most Mr SPEAKER: Order! I intend to hear this honest electoral system in Australia. statement. If I have to send members out of the Chamber while we hear it, I will do so. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Mr BEATTIE: As I indicated, all these allegations took place before my Government Austar came to office. Unlike the allegations that Hon. J. P. ELDER (Capalaba—ALP) confronted the Borbidge Government and (Deputy Premier and Minister for State were the subject of a similar public inquiry, no Development and Minister for Trade) Minister, or the Cabinet, or the Government (9.51 a.m.), by leave: The Beattie itself is the subject of these allegations. And Government's drive to make Queensland the unlike the inquiry into the Borbidge Smart State is gaining momentum. Later Government, its practices and Ministers, this today, I will officially open the site of Australia's inquiry will have a conclusion; it will have a second largest pay TV operator, Austar, on the result. Gold Coast. My Government, as I have indicated, is Austar has chosen Queensland to base committed to electoral integrity and fairness. its national headquarters, bringing with it 1,000 We are committed to ensuring that new jobs by the year 2004 and a further 150 Queenslanders shall never again be denied jobs in the construction phase of a new 10,000 democracy through gerrymandered electoral square metre facility at Robina. Austar boundaries. As a further demonstration of my currently employs 500 people on the Gold Government's determination to deliver Coast, but the new site is designed to make electoral justice, State Cabinet last week room for the company's ambitious growth adopted the unanimous all-party Legal, plans in Australia. The pay TV giant has Constitutional and Administrative Review around 420,000 pay TV subscribers, 28,000 Committee report into issues of electoral on the Gold Coast, and they are adding 1,000 reform arising from the 1998 State election. customers a week to their Internet service, These reforms include continuous electoral roll Austar-net. Already, Austar is planning to 6 Sep 2000 Ministerial Statement 2957 expand its customer service department and will not budge on this matter. Today, I am upgrade its IT and telecommunications pleased to announce that the Queensland capacity. Government is prepared to meet the co- For the people of the Gold Coast, Austar's payment of the costs for syringes on behalf of decision will mean more than just jobs; it will diabetic Queensland residents. In making this play a critical role in helping to diversify the commitment, my concern is the potential for region's economy. The Gold Coast is cost shifting to Queensland if the renowned for its tourism successes, but it is Commonwealth Government reduces the level fast becoming one of Queensland's major of its subsidy on syringes. business centres. Already the Beattie We have a right to be cautious. The Government has invested $8m into the Centre coalition Government has a track record in cost for Biomolecular Research and Drug Discovery shifting, dumping programs and leaving at Griffith University. We have invested $100m Queensland to pick up the tab. Look at the plus into the Gold Coast Convention Centre at $20m Commonwealth Dental Program as an Jupiters Casino, creating 2,300 new jobs. In example. But it remains my strong belief that just a few weeks the Premier and I will open the Commonwealth Government should meet the Gold Coast Marine Park Precinct, which will the full cost of supplying syringes under the have the capacity to generate more than subsidy scheme. However, I have this week 3,000 jobs. written to Dr Wooldridge to seek his assurance But it is not just the Government which that the Commonwealth Government will at has seen the limitless opportunities on the least not reduce its level of subsidy towards Gold Coast. Private sector investment is the supply of syringes to people registered with pouring in. Versace is about to open the doors the subsidy scheme. of what is billed to be one of the most Last week, I met with Diabetes Australia prestigious resorts in the world, and the final (Queensland) to obtain the latest information touches are currently going onto the new on the costs of consumer co-payments and Chevron Renaissance project at Surfers the quantities involved under the subsidy Paradise. scheme. Their figures show that for the 12- Austar's investment on the Gold Coast is month period from July 1999 to June 2000, a not just an endorsement of the Beattie total of 47,958 packs of needles were bought. Government's investment in innovation in this That is approximately five million needles with State; it also heralds a significant opportunity a total co-payment cost of $283,278. Clients of for the Gold Coast to become a major the subsidy scheme pay $8 per 100 needles, business centre of Queensland. or $5 per 100 needles for pensioners and holders of health care cards. When I wrote in June to Dr Wooldridge MINISTERIAL STATEMENT seeking funding in the budget to supply free National Diabetic Subsidy Scheme needles and syringes for diabetics, his response was disappointing. The Minister Hon. W. M EDMOND (Mount Coot-tha) advised that in 1998-99 the Commonwealth (Minister for Health) (9.53 a.m.), by leave: On Government subsidised people with diabetes 31 May 2000 the House debated and agreed to an amount of $160m for medications, to a motion moved by the member for diagnostic agents and syringes. The Minister Gladstone. The subject of that debate has a stated that it was— direct potential effect on the lives of thousands of Queenslanders. These Queenslanders have "Reasonable that persons with diabetes and rely on lifesaving injections of diabetes make some contribution towards insulin. Diabetes Australia (Queensland) has the cost of managing their condition." 22,000 people with insulin dependent diabetes The amount of that contribution in Queensland registered with them. In May, this House called is $283,278. I ask: is it reasonable for the on the Commonwealth Government to fully Commonwealth Government to at the same meet the cost of needles supplied to diabetics time spend $2.2 billion propping up the private through the National Diabetic Subsidy health insurance industry? Scheme. The Beattie Labor Government is a caring As patron of Diabetes Australia Government. Our priorities include providing (Queensland) I was pleased to speak in favour safer and more supportive communities and a of that motion. I have subsequently written two better quality of life for all Queenslanders. That letters on this matter to Dr Wooldridge, the is why I am pleased to inform the House today Commonwealth Minister for Health and Aged that we are going to provide assistance to Care, but the coalition Government apparently diabetics in Queensland, and I think we are 2958 Ministerial Statement 6 Sep 2000 being perfectly reasonable. I call on the Stage 1 refurbishment at Yamanto for the Commonwealth to be also reasonable by Ipswich District Office have also been continuing its level of subsidy towards the completed. Construction of an exhibit transfer supply of syringes to people registered with the facility at Queensland Health's scientific subsidy scheme. services facility at Coopers Plains has been completed. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Projects currently undergoing construction include new stations at Beerwah, Deeragun, Police Service, Capital Works Edmonton, Kowanyama, Stage 1 of a project Hon. T. A. BARTON (Waterford—ALP) to replace the central region headquarters and (Minister for Police and Corrective Services) Rockhampton district offices, including (9.57 a.m.), by leave: One of the greatest refurbishment of the Rockhampton station. Of challenges facing any Government is the need course, while I cannot mention too much to maintain service delivery within growing about future plans until a future Appropriations communities. For the Queensland Police Bill has been debated, Queensland Service, aside from operational costs, more communities can be assured that this police and new equipment, this also requires a Government's commitment to providing our commitment to inject millions of dollars each police with the best facilities money can buy year for new and improved infrastructure. will be ongoing. The opening of a number of new and More than 700 additional police on the refurbished facilities in recent weeks, plus streets in the past two years, increased police those which I will have the pleasure of opening budgets, improved police powers and a in coming weeks, is indicative of the Beattie commitment to building new facilities means Labor Government's commitment to providing that this Government is ensuring that our such facilities. The Queensland Police Police Service remains the most progressive in Service's 10-year rolling capital works plan is all the country. about ensuring that we think well into the future when it comes to accommodating policing needs within Queensland. Above all, it MINISTERIAL STATEMENT is about ensuring that the service expands in Wind Farms; Renewable Energy line with the population that it protects. Hon. T. McGRADY (Mount Isa—ALP) Today, we are building modern, state-of- (Minister for Mines and Energy and Minister the-art facilities with all the features required to Assisting the Deputy Premier on Regional allow our police to get on with the job. But the Development) (10 a.m.), by leave: I take this question is: what about the future? What opportunity to address the House again about 10 or even 20 years down the track? about the work being done in Queensland with We must remember that in years to come our respect to renewable energy by Stanwell population will inevitably expand and, when Corporation. Since the announcement of the that happens, the Queensland Police Service Government's energy policy Stanwell has needs to expand with it. reached some major milestones with the In the 1999-2000 Budget, the Beattie completion of the Koombooloomba hydro Labor Government allocated funds to a generation unit and final stages of the wind number of new and replacement facilities turbine project at Windy Hill, near Ravenshoe, across the State. Today we are seeing the on the Atherton Tableland. The Windy Hill fruits of that planning, and in coming weeks I project now has 20 wind turbines installed, will have the great privilege of opening many making it the largest wind farm in Australia. of them. New stations that have been recently Final testing and commissioning is taking place completed include Bamaga, Calliope, Coen, and, if all goes well, the corporation could be Gracemere, Hendra, Laura, Lowood, looking at a second stage of a similar size Morningside and Tiaro. In recent months we early next year. have seen the completion of the replacement The Government's energy policy has Brisbane City and Gladstone watch-houses, as given companies such as Stanwell the well as the new Redcliffe watch-house, which confidence to embrace these new will be officially opened this month. technologies. The energy policy's targets for Replacement Water Police facilities at renewable energy of 2% by 2005 were Rosslyn Bay, a major refurbishment of the announced ahead of the Federal Slacks Creek and Townsville Police Stations, Government's proposed legislation and set a the refurbishment of the former Oxley Police more aggressive target than the Federal Station to accommodate specialist squads and legislation. 6 Sep 2000 Ministerial Statement 2959

The wind project produces clean, Government, that are seeing Stanwell renewable energy, displacing over 28,000 Corporation rapidly becoming Australia's major tonnes of greenhouse gases each year which producer of renewable energy. In fact, would have otherwise entered the atmosphere Queensland now has more wind generation from traditional coal-fired power generation. installed and operating than all of Australia But projects such as the wind farm also have combined. We are setting the scene for social and economic benefits as well as Queensland to be the leader in renewable environmental advantages. Not only can the energy in Australia. Windy Hill turbines provide power for a town of around 10,000 people; they also add to the security of supply in the area. The local town MINISTERIAL STATEMENT benefits from increased activity during Murray-Darling Basin Draft Salinity construction, but more importantly is provided Management Strategy with a sustainable future from tourism and Hon. R. J. WELFORD (Everton—ALP) ongoing support activities. In just one day at (Minister for Environment and Heritage and Ravenshoe more than 800 people visited the Minister for Natural Resources) (10.04 a.m.), viewing area and tour operators now advertise by leave: The Murray-Darling Basin wind farm tours—bringing more visitors into the Commission in Canberra yesterday released its region. James Cook University is studying the Draft Salinity Management Strategy. This social and economic benefits of the project on strategy takes a coordinated approach to the Ravenshoe area. salinity problems across eastern Australia, and This work is funded by Stanwell our Government welcomes its release. Corporation and will enable Stanwell to Those in the community who have maximise the economic benefits for rural experienced salinity first-hand or seen the communities in the future. This will make sure images on television will know what damage that communities can get the absolute salt can do to our landscapes. Unlike other maximum benefits out of these types of States, Queensland has been fortunate so far. projects. Projects such as Windy Hill provide a But the impacts of salinity often do not emerge much-needed boost for regional communities, until many years after the damage is done. and I am pleased to advise that Stanwell The Murray-Darling Basin is often called Corporation is also actively assessing future Australia's food and fibre basket, but it may projects in the areas of Bowen, Collinsville and well end up as a basket case if we do not Crows Nest. These proposals are still at the manage the challenges from overuse of its investigation stage and it is very early days yet. water and land resources. But with the support of local councils, they are looking promising. The councils make excellent A separate draft Integrated Catchment partners for these developments, providing Management Policy statement was also valuable local knowledge and support. released yesterday and it sets out a new approach for managing natural resources in Other projects that Stanwell is involved the basin. This approach is based on setting with include the Rocky Point sugar targets for catchment health and helping cogeneration project, which is under communities take more responsibility for the construction, and the Maryborough sugar management of the resources in their cogeneration project, which is undergoing a catchment. This ICM strategy builds on the feasibility study. The cogeneration projects with approach of the Murray-Darling Basin cap. It the sugar mills provide a much-needed develops indicators to monitor the health of financial boost for the sugar industry. And in the catchment—designed to protect productive addition, Stanwell, with the assistance of agricultural land, rural and regional Government, is investing in a number of infrastructure, our water supply systems and efficiency projects which will help Queensland wetlands of international significance. sugar millers become even more competitive in the future. Stanwell is also investigating the One of the most important targets is feasibility of wind turbine manufacture in contained in the Draft Salinity Management Australia to avoid costly importation of Strategy. In simple terms, it aims to make sure equipment. This plan will further add to the that the level of salt exposed in our landscape future viability of renewable energy in our and in our rivers does not get any worse. State. Salinity targets are being developed for all of the major tributaries of the Murray-Darling River The work that is being done by system. It is proposed that end-of-valley corporations such as Stanwell is great news for targets for major Queensland rivers will be Queensland. It is these types of projects, with developed over the next two to three years. the full support of the Queensland During this time Queensland will conduct 2960 Ministerial Statement 6 Sep 2000 further technical work and consult with our researchers working with Welsh, American and catchment communities. Indian groups on this $2m project. It is hoped We have now updated figures contained that cracking the gene code in stay-green in the November 1999 basin salinity audit sorghum will help researchers develop other report. Although salt in the landscape is not cereal crops with greater drought resistance. yet a problem in Queensland to the same As you would be aware, Mr Speaker, degree as it is in the southern States, there is water use efficiency is an important issue, and no question that communities and particularly this research has the potential to increase rural land-holders need to be vigilant. We have grain production and grain quality without an opportunity in Queensland to avoid the increasing water usage. Department of Primary problems of other States. Industries researchers have calculated annual Our actions on vegetation management economic benefits of stay-green sorghum at and water resource planning through the $34m in the northern grain belt of Queensland WAMP processes are essential first steps. We and New South Wales. Sorghum is grown here cannot pretend that salt is not going to for stockfeed, but in India and in African emerge here as it has in other parts of rural nations it is very important as a human Australia. It we continue with unsustainable food—making this work valuable for land and water use practices, salinity levels in international humanitarian efforts. Our Queensland will increase. Right now we have a researchers are using smart science to study chance to change that. Our Government is the gene markers which enable stay-green to taking steps to improve our knowledge. Funds grow grain under dry conditions. Under this for new salinity hazard mapping were allocated Government, Queensland researchers are in the State Budget and we will improve our leading the world in the push to develop risk assessment data to help establish long- drought-resistant crops. term management plans. Our Government is encouraging comment on both of these draft MINISTERIAL STATEMENT documents, which are available for public comment until 5 December this year. Fire Safety Hon. S. ROBERTSON (Sunnybank—ALP) (Minister for Emergency Services) (10.10 a.m.), MINISTERIAL STATEMENT by leave: Queensland Fire and Rescue Drought-resistant Crops Authority research reveals that people living in Hon. H. PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) private rental accommodation are among (Minister for Primary Industries and Rural those Queenslanders most likely to die in a Communities) (10.07 a.m.), by leave: I would house fire. This research is backed up by the like to inform the House about some exciting QFRA's recent community fire awareness research under way at Warwick that aims to survey, which showed that only 54% of develop drought-resistant cereal crops for properties being rented from a private landlord Queensland. With parts of the Darling Downs and 44% of properties rented from a real grain belt currently experiencing very dry estate agent have smoke alarms installed. By conditions, this research into drought-resistant comparison, the overall percentage of stay-green sorghum is vitally important to Queensland homes fitted with smoke alarms Queensland and other dry regions of the has risen in the past two years from 56% to world, such as Africa and India. almost 70%. Despite this overall increase in smoke alarm usage, private rental properties The stay-green characteristic originated remain an area of major concern for from wild sorghum in Ethiopia and has already firefighters. The research highlights that the been crossbred into commercial varieties. But private rental sector is lagging behind and what the researchers are doing now is using there is a need for a concerted campaign to biotechnology and gene marker tools to home encourage private landlords and real estate in on the gene sequence in sorghum that agents to ensure smoke alarms are installed in makes it drought resistant. I am pleased to their premises. report that a Queensland researcher working within the Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences On Monday night, I had the pleasure of will lead an international project to identify the launching a new fire safety initiative from the genes in stay-green sorghum that enable it to Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority that thrive and produce grain under drought targets landlords and the real estate industry conditions. Dr Andrew Borrell, based at the to pay more attention to fire safety issues. The agency's Hermitage Research Station, left for initiative involves an interactive CD-ROM the United Kingdom last week as part of an package designed to enhance fire safety in international collaboration that will see our private rental accommodation. It will be 6 Sep 2000 Private Members' Statements 2961 distributed to real estate agents, property PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS owners, tenants and other key stakeholders Electoral Fraud throughout the State. This applies to rental accommodation across the State, whether it Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers be holiday units in Cairns or on the Gold Paradise—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) Coast, flats in Mackay or on the Sunshine (10.13 a.m.): It is now clear that a spectre of Coast or rental houses in rural and provincial criminality hangs over this Government. What communities. we have seen today is some of the most The CD-ROM provides advice on installing serious allegations that can be made against smoke alarms; how to develop a home politicians anywhere, anytime. And the Premier evacuation plan; home security versus safety; gets up in the Parliament today and talks and the rights and responsibilities of tenants, about the proud heritage of Queensland property owners and real estate agents in Labor! Is a proud heritage rorting and cheating terms of home fire safety. Property owners your way into office? Is a proud heritage need to be reminded that smoke alarms are a rigging the electoral rolls? Is a proud heritage smart investment. A smoke alarm can increase campaigning for people who are convicted of firefighters' chances of confining a fire to just electoral fraud? This proud heritage will return one or two rooms. For owners of rental to haunt the member for Brisbane Central and properties, it can ensure their property is back his Government. on the rental market much sooner. For tenants The Premier said in his ministerial it can mean the difference between life and statement to the Parliament this morning that death. when all this happened he was not the A number of stakeholders collaborated on Premier. No, he was not the Premier; he was the project, including the Department of the Leader of the Opposition. He was the Emergency Services, the Queensland Fire and parliamentary leader of the Labor Party. Rescue Authority, the Emergency Services Before he was the parliamentary leader, he Advisory Council, the safety in residential spent more than half a dozen years as State dwellings task force, the Real Estate Institute Secretary of the Queensland Labor Party. Yet of Queensland, the Tenants Union and the he expects us to believe that Mr McMurdo Property Owners Association of Queensland. It could uncover in two weeks what he could not also reflects the changing role of the uncover in four and a half years as Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority, which parliamentary leader and half a dozen years today focuses more and more on proactive fire as State Secretary of the Labor Party! prevention strategies rather than just being an It is now a matter of public record that, organisation that reacts to fires. despite the fact that Mr Beattie says he fixed In the past few years, front-line firefighters the problems immediately, the rule changes at have been the driving force behind a number the Labor Party conference went through in of highly successful fire safety and awareness only 1999, after the 1998 election—in fact, campaigns. Programs such as Fire Ed, the over three year and a half years after the 1995 Road Awareness and Accident Prevention election. Mr Beattie was well aware of the Program, Seniors Fire Ed, Fight Fire stench of electoral corruption that was singeing Fascination and Operation Safehome have all and destroying the Labor Party in Townsville. had a positive impact on community safety. The Premier cannot dodge responsibility. He This new initiative will, I believe, not only cannot plead the Sergeant Schultz defence. increase fire safety awareness in the private Time expired. rental sector but help save lives that may otherwise be lost in fires. Fuel Prices NOTICE OF MOTION Mrs ATTWOOD (Mount Ommaney—ALP) Hospital Waiting Lists (10.16 a.m.): Queenslanders are still being ripped off. Mount Ommaney residents are Miss SIMPSON (Maroochydore—NPA) feeling the pinch of the frequent rise and fall of (10.13 a.m.): I give notice that I shall move— petrol prices. The petrol price rort continues to "That this House condemns the get worse. How do petrol companies explain a Beattie Labor Government for allowing 10c a litre difference in the price of unleaded hospital waiting lists to grow, for cutting petrol at a service station between morning back on intensive care beds, and for bad and dusk? What about a 5c a litre difference management practices that have placed between a service station on one side of the dangerously high pressure on staff." Centenary Highway and one on the other? 2962 Private Members' Statements 6 Sep 2000

Last week petrol was 93.5c a litre at some can't do projects such as Technomart, Expo service stations. This week it is 82.5c a litre. 2002— My team of volunteers collecting Mr Elder: What are you dribbling about? information on petrol prices are bewildered and Dr WATSON: The Deputy Premier should angry as they watch the prices seesaw in the remember Technomart. There might be local community. They will not let the matter something in the Auditor-General's report rest and will continue to provide me as a today about it. The Government could not do member of the Petrol Price Watch Committee Technomart and it could not do Expo 2002, with the proof we need to stir the Brisbane light rail—and I notice that the Commonwealth Government into action. Many Minister for Transport is not even in the people in the local area want to know what is Chamber—the Noosa film festival or the going on. There is a problem and the Federal Brisbane flower festival. It could do none of Government must take steps to fix it. How can those things, and a dozen other projects are petrol companies justify such price hikes? looking decidedly shaky. Where is Queensland's 8.3c per litre fuel subsidy going? Certainly not into the pockets Does anyone remember the Premier's of Queensland motorists! The subsidy should proposal for a viewing platform at the top of be going back into the pockets of motorists, 111 George Street? Where is that now? What not into the coffers of the petrol companies. about the proposal for a tennis centre at During the past three years, the oil Doomben? Where has that gone? What about companies have received $1.5 billion from the Chevron and the Nathan dam? They are both State and little, if any, has been passed on to on the slippery slope, and so is the waste the people of Queensland. This fuel subsidy water pipeline to the Darling Downs. Two and a scheme was a product of an agreement half years ago the Premier promised 5% between the Commonwealth Government and unemployment. Halfway through his term, it is the former Borbidge/Sheldon coalition 8%. That is what the Budget said. That is what Government in 1997, who agreed to an the Budget expects it to be. On the other side increase in Federal fuel excise, and now of the ledger, there was the "Beattie Burger", Queensland motorists are paying the price. the Government sponsored racing car. In the The subsidy needs to be paid directly to the past couple of years his major announcement service stations for the benefit of motorists and has been a logo—the "Beattie Burger". What should not be contributing to the huge profit a joke about this Government! We also had margins of petrol companies. A local the prospect of boutique brothels from one independent service station owner says that end of the State to the other. he cannot compete with the major service Time expired. stations, which are selling fuel for less than what independents can buy it for. National Meals on Wheels Day Time expired. Mr REEVES (Mansfield—ALP) (10.20 a.m.): Today is National Meals on Electoral Fraud Wheels Day. I think I speak on behalf of all Dr WATSON (Moggill—LP) (Leader of the within this Chamber when I honour this great Liberal Party) (10.18 a.m.): The Beattie organisation and the thousands of volunteers Government has a lot of explaining to do who give their time freely each day to ensure about electoral corruption in the ALP ranks, that those most in need—our aged—are fed. I but its greater crime is its sheer incompetence. especially congratulate, as I am sure the Queensland is being run by a can't do clown in Minister for Fair Trading, Judy Spence, does, a can't do circus. The list of can't do projects the Mount Gravatt Meals on Wheels Service, has grown year by year, week by week over which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. the past years. I listened to the Premier's It provides a great service to those in need in ministerial statement this morning, which was the electorates of Mansfield and Mount an apology for the things he has not done. Gravatt. It all started with the first public meeting at St Bernard's Catholic Church at Yesterday we heard the Premier backing Upper Mount Gravatt. This was followed up by away from his smoking reforms. On ABC radio a second meeting on 16 April 1975 which this morning we heard the Energy Minister say established a committee of Mrs Gladys Peel, that we should not worry if the PNG pipeline Mrs Hughes, Mr Keith Begbie, Mrs Marjorie turns belly up because there are plenty of Wilson and Sister Heather Rowland. other ways of getting our gas. This was supposed to be the Government's signature Tuesday, 1 July 1975 was chosen as the project. The can't do basket is overflowing with first day, with 70c being the initial charge. The 6 Sep 2000 Private Members' Statements 2963 late Mrs Eva Parer undertook kitchen duty at America's coal wealth far exceeds the amount Salvin Park Hostel, which provided the meals. of recoverable oil in all the world. Given Mr Jack and Marjorie Wilson offered their Australia's own vast coal reserves, a domestic home in Tryon Street as a depot. Over the coal liquefaction industry would bring next three years, meals were provided by phenomenal benefits in terms of job creation Belmont Private Hospital, a Macgregor Lions and curbing our foreign debt. Club supported project known as MACH 1, and Exxon is one of the overseas companies the Mount Gravatt Nursing Home Centre, the involved in the US research. The US latter continuing until August 1985. On 1 Government sponsors this research because it January 1979 St Peter's Uniting Church at fears it is too reliant on foreign oil imports, as Valmar Street in Upper Mount Gravatt became highlighted with the American involvement in the depot. Today this location is still the depot; the Gulf War. Indeed, US Government the only change is that now the Seventh Day literature points to— Adventist Church owns the property. Holland Park Meals on Wheels commenced operation "... the alarming prospects that the United of their own kitchen and since 1985 have States might be dependent on foreign supplied the Mount Gravatt Meals on Wheels sources for 60%-70% of its oil supply by Service. the end of the first decade of the 21st century ... Over the longer-run, advanced I pay tribute to the volunteers: Mrs coal-to-liquids technology could again Hughes, Mrs Begbie, Mrs Valerie Little, Mrs offer a way to break the Nation's Barlow and Mary Lowe for well over 20 years' increasing dependence on imported oil." service. There are two people I want to mention in particular: Rose O'Brien and Jack As members know, the cost of fuel is linked to Sexton, the current roster clerk. The amazing the cost of all things purchased by the aspect of these two great individuals is that Australian public—food, clothing, utilities, they both celebrated their 90th birthday this furniture, vehicles, etc. The current spiralling year. I thank Mount Gravatt Meals on Wheels petrol price should be a wake-up call for on National Meals on Wheels Day. Keep up intensive Australian research into extracting the good work. The community really liquid fuels from coal. appreciates the service these people perform. Time expired. Time expired. Petrol Price Petition Fuel Prices Ms BOYLE (Cairns—ALP) (10.24 a.m.): It Mr KNUTH (Burdekin—CCAQ) is with incredulity and dismay that the residents (10.22 a.m.): I am sure that all of my of Cairns and the far north have rushed to sign colleagues are aware of the dire financial and the petrol price petition. They cannot believe social threats posed on the fabric of Australian that Prime Minister John Howard and his society by high crude oil prices. Spiralling petrol Government do not understand the prices have caused grief around the country, seriousness of the impacts of these rising and I believe this Government can do petrol prices in regional, rural and remote something to cap the price of fuel—actions areas of Queensland and elsewhere around that have nothing to do with the GST. I call on Australia. They cannot believe that he is not this Government to pressure its Federal listening and is not even showing concern, let counterparts to greatly step up investigations alone taking the action that they know is into making liquid fuel from coal, a process required if their very lifestyles are to be scientifically known as coal liquefaction. My preserved and if business is to be allowed to own research has revealed that current carry on. This is evidenced by the hundreds of technology has cut the cost of producing liquid people who have already signed the petition fuel from coal to below US$35 a barrel. that I and others have been circulating. It is Participants of an American research project evidenced also by their comments as they are now working to lower the price to below sign. Cairns city itself has been in the middle of US$25 a barrel. Meanwhile, in their current a price war this last week. Amazingly, petrol greed fest, the oil cartels are demanding we prices have dropped as much as 8c at some pay in the region of US$33.40 a barrel and stations. In the meantime, the picture is more. nowhere near so rosy in the cape and rural Research sponsored by the United States areas surrounding Cairns. Government's Department of Energy shows Some independent travellers originally that every tonne of coal is equivalent to more from Victoria and New South Wales doing their than five barrels of crude oil. On this basis, long-dreamed trip around Australia told me of 2964 Private Members' Statements 6 Sep 2000 the prices they had been forced to pay in the The Health Minister would be advised to previous week—$1.16, $1.19 and even $1.24 practise some prevention of these problems by per litre. Not only vehicle travellers but visitors, spending more on proper staffing levels. rural people visiting regional centres, bus Anyone who believes that there is no great services, trucking and delivery services have problem with the health system probably does been already affected. They have two choices. not talk to either the constituents who ring the If they are on private business, their choice is offices of members of Parliament with their to stay home. If they are attempting to do real-life examples or Health staff, many of commercial business, then their only choice is whom are lower paid, casual staff who cannot to raise prices. get job security after three or four years of What about pensioners? Already they are promises and who find that their hours have staying in their homes because they do not been cut back despite growing work levels. know how to find the dollars to put the petrol in The surgical waiting lists are growing. their cars. Even more worrying than that, they Time expired. are worried because they know that as petrol prices go up so do food prices. That is an Petrol Price Petition impost that they cannot bear. They say very clearly, "Thank you for trying." Ms NELSON-CARR (Mundingburra—ALP) (10.28 a.m.): The public petition which this Time expired. Government recently released calls on the Federal Government to own up to the problems confronting motorists across Hospital Resources Queensland. Petrol prices have exceeded the Miss SIMPSON (Maroochydore—NPA) $1 a litre barrier in some regions. Townsville (10.26 a.m.): The human trauma of another prices have been well over the 90c a litre major sterilisation failure of surgical equipment barrier for months. People are angry and with 81 patients called back for blood testing in people are hurting. My office has been north Queensland is indicative of an ailing inundated with constituents who want to not State health system and bad Government only sign the petition but also take it with them management. The Health Minister may try to to get more signatures. The Prime Minister pass off this latest incident after the Gold and the Leader of the Democrats, Senator Coast Hospital sterilisation failure affecting 32 Lees, are only protecting their own backs over people earlier in the year as of minimal risk the GST impact on families struggling to fill and only human error. However, like the Gold their fuel tanks. A parliamentary inquiry should Coast, these people in north Queensland are examine the relationship between world parity going through the hell of not knowing whether pricing and domestic fluctuations. How else they have been infected with life-altering or can it be explained that petrol prices continue potentially terminal diseases following their to go up and down by 8c a litre overnight? This colonoscopy procedures at Townsville and is something that impacts on regional Ingham hospitals between 10 July and 14 Australia. August. The disparity between city and country As happened with the Gold Coast prices is an issue that the Federal Government debacle, there had to have been a systematic should address urgently. This is a national failure involving multiple errors—not a single issue. It crosses State and national case of human error—in order for these boundaries. The States simply do not have the unacceptable and personally terrorising power to do it themselves. However, the incidents to occur. Hospital staff are under Queensland Government—the Beattie stress. They are overworked and systems fail, Government—has got down to the heart of the and that is dangerous for patients and the matter. Once again, the Beattie Government is overall Health budget as litigation costs grow. I addressing issues which hurt the hip pocket of understand that the Queensland Health ordinary Australians. Department paid out about $13m last year in Petrol prices are outrageous. They are legal costs and payouts and is currently facing hurting the ordinary Australian, and they are up to $30m worth of claims. As the bonuses hurting badly. Response to the petrol price and salary packages get fatter for the fat cats petition has been overwhelming. I move under the Beattie Labor Government's wrong around in the community a lot. Without doubt, priorities and doctors, nurses and allied staff petrol prices are the No. 1 issue on their lips. find they are understaffed for their These people want something done. They responsibilities, the department will be paying want answers. They are fully supportive of the more out in litigation. Beattie Government's call for action. People 6 Sep 2000 Questions Without Notice 2965 contact me on a daily basis to report disturbing someone else in his political party but it was petrol pricing trends. I will continue to urge the he—the then Premier of this State, who signed people of my electorate to continue the an MOU that he did not even read—who set fight—keep angry, keep the pressure up and up an inquiry to destroy the CJC. He did it, do not accept that nothing can be done. along with the former Attorney-General. The The recent factor of the new tax system is former Attorney-General, Mr Beanland, did it. driving petrol prices up. The GST causes Mr BEANLAND: Mr Speaker, I rise to a inflation, the excise is linked to inflation and point of order. I find that comment offensive drives the petrol prices up and, of course, and untrue, and I ask that it be withdrawn. petrol price rises cause inflation. This is a Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for vicious cycle that needs to be broken, and it Indooroopilly finds that untrue and offensive needs to be addressed now. and asks for it to be withdrawn. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The time for Private Mr BEATTIE: I withdraw, because I think Members' Statements has expired. all Queenslanders would love it if he were never the Attorney-General. If that is what he QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE wants me to withdraw, I am absolutely delighted to withdraw the comment that he Electoral Fraud was the Attorney-General. If only it were true. Mr BORBIDGE (10.30 a.m.): My question Mr BEANLAND: Mr Speaker, I ask the is addressed to the Premier. I refer to the Premier to withdraw what I found offensive and Premier's repeated assurances that he would untrue. not take any action to seek to influence the Mr BEATTIE: I withdraw. He wants me to Criminal Justice Commission in terms of what withdraw that he was the Attorney-General. If action it may take in regard to allegations of only we could withdraw that he was the electoral corruption in the political party that he Attorney-General. He disgraced the office and leads, and I ask: if that is true and he has not used the office, along with the then Premier, to misled people, why did he allow the Labor abort a CJC inquiry. Party to seek to influence the outcome of the CJC investigations by providing legal advice Mr BEANLAND: Mr Speaker, I ask that from a QC saying that there was no need for the Premier withdraw. any such investigation? How can anyone Mr SPEAKER: Order! He did withdraw. believe a word of what the Premier says? Mr BEANLAND: He did not withdraw the Mr BEATTIE: I find this a bit extraordinary, offensive and untrue words. coming from the man who spent $11m of Mr SPEAKER: Which ones? taxpayers' money to try to destroy the Carruthers inquiry because it was investigating Mr BEANLAND: I am not going to repeat his behaviour—not the behaviour of his them. He well knows what they are. It is not up political party but his individual behaviour—and to me to repeat them. the behaviour of the former Minister for Police. Mr BEATTIE: I withdraw. What is the There are no Cabinet Ministers under member for Indooroopilly trying to suggest? investigation here, but he was. He was the That he was not in some collusion with the Premier and he was under investigation. He Premier of the day to abort the Carruthers spent $11m of taxpayers' money to try to inquiry? That is exactly what he did. He set out destroy a perfectly legitimate CJC inquiry. to destroy a legitimate CJC inquiry, along with I say to Queenslanders: there will be no the Premier of the day, and it cost $11m. nobbling by my Government—no nobbling like Mr BEANLAND: Mr Speaker, I find that that done by the Leader of the Opposition. offensive and untrue and I ask that it be Talk about a rort! He spent $11m of taxpayers' withdrawn. He keeps repeating it. money trying to destroy the CJC. Then in a fit Mr BEATTIE: What a sensitive little petal! of petulance he sought to destroy its funding. I withdraw. The Labor Party organisation He did everything that he could to destroy the provided advice to McMurdo QC. The Leader CJC. of the Opposition provided advice to McMurdo Everyone has heard of the Connolly/Ryan QC. He wrote to him. What, the Opposition inquiry. The Connolly/Ryan inquiry and the Leader is saying that he can write to McMurdo abortive attempt by the Leader of the QC but that the Labor Party organisation Opposition to destroy that Carruthers inquiry cannot? My Government did not. My cost taxpayers $11m. He set out to nobble. He Government made no approach to McMurdo does not come to this debate with clean QC, as I said we would not. I stick to my word, hands. It was not anyone else, it was not unlike the Leader of the Opposition, who went 2966 Questions Without Notice 6 Sep 2000 out to try to intimidate Mr McMurdo. He wrote Opposition refers to—I thank him for being to Mr McMurdo QC. The Labor Party helpful; he just confirmed what I said in my organisation wrote to McMurdo QC; I did not. ministerial statement, and when he does the Mr Borbidge interjected. right thing I thank him for it— Mr BEATTIE: No, he should not have Opposition members interjected. either. He sought to intimidate him in the same Mr BEATTIE: Relax! All of the members way that he did with the Carruthers inquiry. opposite will have heart attacks; it will not do What they sent was a legal advice, a QC's any of them any good. Recommendation advice, which was appropriate. 64(1)(a) states that these matters should be looked at "affecting the electoral roll relevant to the conduct in 1996 of a plebiscite within the Electoral Fraud Australian Labor Party to select its candidate Mr BORBIDGE: I direct a further question for the State electorate of Townsville". I see no to the Premier. I refer to the Premier's allegation in there in relation to the current ministerial statement made earlier today in member or my Parliamentary Secretary. which he stated that he would stand aside any Where is it? Where is the allegation? member of his Government who may be implicated in respect of the inquiries. I refer the Opposition members interjected. Premier to paragraph 64 on page 29 of the Mr BEATTIE: Opposition members should McMurdo advice. That paragraph deals with a not be slimy. Where is the allegation in relation recommendation to conduct an investigation to Mike Reynolds? Again the Leader of the into alleged official misconduct affecting the Opposition, the muck master, comes in here electoral roll relevant to the conduct in 1996 of and makes allegations against individuals. a plebiscite by the Australian Labor Party to Mr Borbidge interjected. select its candidate for the State electorate of Townsville. This relates to his Parliamentary Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Secretary for north Queensland. In view of the Opposition will hear the answer to the Premier's commitment to the House this question. That is my final warning. morning, will he ask the member for Townsville Mr BEATTIE: The muck master comes in to stand aside as his Parliamentary Secretary, here and makes allegations against or is this another case of saying one thing and individuals. There is nothing in there— doing another? If so, how can anyone believe anything the Premier says? Mr Horan interjected. Mr BEATTIE: I thank the Leader of the Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Opposition for his question. Recommendations Toowoomba South will cease interjecting. That 64 and 65 relate to matters in 1996 and 1993, is my final warning. and between 1993 and 1997. That confirms Mr BEATTIE: There is no allegation in the point I made before. That is, all of these there in relation to Mike Reynolds. I will stick to alleged activities took place before my the commitment that I gave in relation to my Government came to office. That is the first ministerial statement. Where is the allegation point. in relation to Mike Reynolds? Mr BORBIDGE: Mr Speaker, I rise to a Mr BORBIDGE: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. The Premier was the Leader of point of order. We are merely investigating the Opposition during the period. how the member for Townsville got here when Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point the now Premier was Leader of the of order. Opposition. Mr BEATTIE: It is a frivolous point of Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point order. Everything about him is frivolous. He of order. takes frivolous points of order to try to cause Mr BORBIDGE: This is another example disruption. I thank the Leader of the of the Premier squirming— Opposition for drawing to the attention of the Mr SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat! House that all of the matters that will be the subject of the inquiry are matters which Mr BORBIDGE:—out of accountability. allegedly took place before my Government Mr SPEAKER: The Leader of the came to office. So all of these alleged activities Opposition will resume his seat. I will not took place before my Government came to accept any more frivolous points of order. office. That is the first point. Anybody taking a frivolous point of order will be The second point is this: in relation to the warned immediately under Standing Order specific matter that the Leader of the 123A. 6 Sep 2000 Questions Without Notice 2967

Mr BEATTIE: Let us be clear about this. November this year to 28 March 2001. What There is not one statement in this document we have done is to take into account that attacks the behaviour of Mike Reynolds— Christmas and the school holidays, when not one. people have other spending priorities and, of Mr Borbidge: Oh! course, limited cash flow. We have already started an interim SPER call centre. Between Mr BEATTIE: The Leader of the February and the end of August it has Opposition is great at throwing mud, but there contacted more than 7,000 fine defaulters who is not one statement to that effect, and I read have been issued with about 11,500 warrants. out the recommendation. I made it clear in my This means that the equivalent of more than ministerial statement that if there is behaviour 37,000 imprisonment days have been that warrants someone standing down, they avoided, which shows that the new system is will be stood down. working for both the Government and the This morning the Attorney-General and I people of Queensland. In the majority of had a meeting with my Parliamentary cases, people with outstanding fines agree to Secretary. I have discussed this report with take some compliance action on one or more him, which is where I have been since the debts, and nearly $4m has already been report has been tabled. I have received an collected as a result. These are very assurance from my Parliamentary Secretary progressive reforms by the Attorney-General, if that he has not been engaged in any improper I might say so. behaviour. I accept that assurance. The Leader of the Opposition has provided nothing I cannot understand what Opposition in this Parliament that contravenes the Leader Rob Borbidge was complaining about assurance that I have received from my on Channel 10, because when the coalition Parliamentary Secretary. Government was talking about introducing a registry system, Attorney-General Beanland Let me make it clear: throwing mud is one said that a two-month amnesty would recover thing, having facts is another. The Leader of many millions of dollars. So here we have the the Opposition has none. He is in the gutter Leader of the Opposition criticising what his yet again. Attorney thought was a good idea. But the coalition Government never funded the Fines Amnesty system. There was no funding for the system in its June 1998 Budget. I take the Attorney's Mr SULLIVAN: I refer the Premier to the interjection: the Leader of the Opposition did announcement this week that the State not read the Act. The coalition did not plan a Government expects to gain about $10.5m proactive call centre, which is what will make from a fines amnesty after the introduction of our system so successful. What is more, until the State Penalties Enforcement Register, and last year most Magistrates Courts had no I ask: can he understand a Channel 10 report computer systems and none of them was on Monday which says that the Opposition connected by an electronic network. That has argues that the lengthy amnesty shows the now been rectified. In addition, we have system is not working? developed a modern and comprehensive Mr BEATTIE: The short answer to the accounting system linking the courts, the question is: no, I cannot. State Cabinet on Police Service, the Department of Transport, Monday, following a submission from the Corrective Services and up to 125 local Attorney-General, approved a four-month governments. The system will offer a range of amnesty for fine defaulters that is expected to modern payment options such as credit cards, recoup up to $10.5m in unpaid fines and fees EFTPOS, direct debiting and payment through before the State Penalties Enforcement Australia Post. Register—SPER—comes into force. This is a continuation of the Government's program of It is plain that the coalition system was being tough on law and order and making unfunded and would not have worked sensible reforms in terms of the various issues. because there was no call centre and no I talked about electoral reform this morning. Statewide accounting system or computer This is just a continuation of good government. system. We have demonstrated that our The amnesty was foreshadowed in legislation system does work. During the amnesty period, last year and will give defaulters— fines can be paid at any Magistrates Court or Queensland Government Agent office across Mr Foley: Didn't read the Act. the State. This is about my Government Mr BEATTIE: That is right—an opportunity getting on with the job. We will continue to get to pay what they owe and keep themselves on with the job. It does not matter how much out of prison. The amnesty will be from 27 mud or muck members opposite throw in here. 2968 Questions Without Notice 6 Sep 2000

We will get on with the job of looking after actually before a CJC inquiry. Where is Mike Queenslanders and their interests. Reynolds mentioned in this document? My challenge to the Opposition is this: find his name and find an allegation. If members Member for Townsville opposite can find a serious allegation in Dr WATSON: I again refer the Premier to relation to the behaviour of Mike Reynolds, the subject of the member for Townsville and then I will act in accordance with the ministerial his position in this place. In particular, I refer to statement I made to the Parliament today. paragraphs 44 and 45 on page 21 of the There is not one. When the Leader of the report tabled this morning, which state— Opposition was Premier of this State, he "In 1997, Mr Andrew Kehoe pleaded appeared before a CJC inquiry, yet he did not guilty in the Townsville Magistrates Court stand down. So what he is saying is that he to several counts of forging electoral wants a different standard for someone else. enrolment forms, that activity occurring in He can confess today. He should tell us what September and October 1996." he really did. Confess! It goes on in that paragraph to state— Mr BORBIDGE: I rise to a point of order. The CJC had legal advice that I had no case "His conduct is relevantly considered to answer. in the assessment of whether official misconduct could be reasonably Mr BEATTIE: Talk about hypocrisy! One suspected in relation to this pre-selection could peel Mr Borbidge's hypocrisy with a contest." spade. He was before a CJC inquiry about an MOU which he signed, and he did not stand Paragraph 45 states— down, and nor did the Minister for Police. "In my view"— Neither of them did. Members opposite that is, Mr McMurdo's view— suggest that Mike Reynolds should stand down, and he is not even mentioned in the "having regard to s.32(1)(a) at least, there document. could be a reasonable suspicion of official misconduct ... (consisting of) a criminal Opposition members interjected. offence or offences affecting the electoral Mr BEATTIE: I ask again and again: roll, for the purposes of the pre-selection where? It is a very simple line. Nowhere; that is contest in Townsville in 1996." where! Absolutely nowhere. All the mud Mr Elder: What's your question? master and muck master do—they sit side by side—is throw mud. In they go, out goes the Dr WATSON: I am just reading it out so mud; they throw it. But there is not one skerrick that everyone knows what it is. The question of evidence. Mr Reynolds is not even named. is: how can the Premier assume that the There is a movie about the invisible man. member for Townsville— Maybe that is in invisible ink. Let me have a Mr Elder: What are you assuming? look here, let me have a look there; let us find Dr WATSON: On the basis of what is some invisible ink. Maybe if I put water on it. here, how can the Premier assume that the Hang on, Mr Speaker. I have a dirty fingerprint member for Townsville was not involved in here. Let us see if Mike Reynolds' name is official misconduct, and why should he not under the mark. Wait a minute. I have a dirty stand aside until this issue is resolved? mark here. That could be "Mike"—no, I have to tell you, it is just "37"; it is not even a dirty Mr BEATTIE: Everybody heard what the mark. If the member wants to be taken Leader of the Liberal Party read out and, to his seriously, he should come in here with some credit, he read it out accurately. But there is honesty and stop throwing mud without facts. not one allegation in relation to Mike Reynolds in what he read out. There is not one allegation in this whole document in relation to Australian Musicians Mike Reynolds. The Leader of the Opposition Mr PURCELL: I refer to the Premier's love should not talk to me about standards. When of music, and I ask: has he been able to offer he was Premier, he was before a CJC inquiry his personal support to any home-grown talent and he did not stand down. He signed a recently? document— Mr BEATTIE: I am delighted that Mr Borbidge interjected. someone is playing my song, anyway. It gave Mr BEATTIE: But there were allegations me great pleasure the other day to present against the Leader of the Opposition, and he country music legend Slim Dusty with an did not stand down. He was named. He was appreciation award at the Toombul shopping 6 Sep 2000 Questions Without Notice 2969 centre. What a great Australian Slim Dusty is. course, is not why they are together but how The award from Toombul Music and EMI they are doing it. They have the latest state-of- celebrated Slim Dusty's outstanding career the-art technology. They are the first fully and contributions to the Australian music digital commercial radio stations in Australia. industry for more than 50 years. What a great We all know that digital technology is the way Australian he is. Slim Dusty has sold more of the future. In common with Austereo, my than 5 million albums, almost exclusively in Government recognises the significance of Australia, and has recently released his 100th information technology and multimedia. I have album. I recommend it to all members. Have to say that I was delighted to go along with members heard it? The Whitlams. Mr McGrady: I bought it. Mr McGrady: Foster and Allen aren't bad, either. Mr BEATTIE: He has bought it. I have, too. The member for Gregory has got it. I Mr BEATTIE: I have to tell the House that recommend that all Queenslanders buy it. He the other day in the Government jet when we is the first Australian to receive a gold record, were going to open a couple of mines for MIM the first Australian to enjoy an international hit in Mount Isa, the member for Mount Isa put with A Pub With No Beer, and we have all Foster and Allen on and we went to Mount Isa heard of that, and the first singer to have their with hymns. Both the Minister and I are better voice beamed to earth from space when the persons for having been hymned by Foster space shuttle Columbia broadcast his and Allen. recording of Waltzing Matilda as it passed over Australia. He has won more gold and platinum Ms K. Ehrmann records than any other Australian singer. What an achievement that is. Mr SPRINGBORG: I direct my question to the Honourable the Premier who has Mr McGRADY: His wife is a good singer, repeatedly sought to belatedly distance too. himself from Karen Ehrmann. If his standards Mr BEATTIE: I met his wife, she was are as high as he claims, why did he tolerate there. She is a lovely lady. He has won more the Labor Party paying for a plane fare for her than 30 Gold Guitars, has been awarded an from Townsville to Brisbane to work in the MBE for his services to entertainment and has office of the Deputy Opposition Leader at the been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. He time of the 1998 State election after she was has also been the chairman of the Country charged? Music Association of Australia since its Mr BEATTIE: Let me give a very direct foundation. He was one of the first people to answer to this. What the Labor Party does at be introduced to the Country Music Hall of an organisational level in relation to these Renown. His accolades are not restricted to matters, if they have done it, is a matter for the music and it is important that we put them on organisation. I do not seek their approval for the record. He was the 1999 Father of the Government decisions and they do not seek Year and also in 1999 he was the inaugural my approval for administrative decisions. But Commonwealth Government Senior Australian can I say that if they have approved it, what of the Year. On behalf of his many fans I was evidence does the member for Warwick have delighted to present the award to this to suggest that they have? remarkable man. I am sure this is one thing that all of us in this Parliament would agree Mr Springborg interjected. on—Slim Dusty is a great Australian. Mr BEATTIE: What evidence does he have that they did? Here we go! He has no While we are talking about music—I will evidence to support the claim he just probably lose the member for Mount Isa on made—no evidence at all. Let us get to the this one—I was delighted the other day to see facts of this issue. In terms of what we have a performance of The Whitlams in Brisbane. done as a Government, it is very simple. On Mr Purcell: Gough and Margaret. 15 August the Attorney-General, after Mr BEATTIE: It wasn't Gough and consultation with myself, wrote to the Electoral Margaret; it is a band called The Whitlams. Commissioner in these terms— The Whitlams performed at the official opening "You will no doubt have become of the headquarters of Austereo. Stations aware of the proceedings in the District B105 and Triple M have dominated the Court at Townsville on Friday 11 August Brisbane radio market. They are now working 2000 during which Ms Karen Lynn out of a single headquarters that I had the Ehrmann pleaded guilty to 24 counts of honour of opening. The significance, of forgery ... 2970 Questions Without Notice 6 Sep 2000

I bring this matter to your attention Committee report on innovation and tell the given that the Electoral Act 1992 falls House what this Government is doing in this within my area of Ministerial responsibility, field of endeavour? and I invite you to have the information Mr ELDER: I thank the member for his disclosed in the Ehrmann matter question because the release of the long- examined with a view to determining awaited Miles Committee report on innovation whether any breaches of the law relating paints a pretty disturbing picture for Australia to elections in Queensland may have and a disturbing picture for the Howard occurred, and"— Government. In short, the top-level business this is the key part— advisory panel has warned that Australia faces "to take whatever steps you deem the prospect of becoming a branch office necessary as a result of that economy. examination." The report says that the Federal Government needs to spend more than $2.6 That is what the Government did. We did not billion over five years for new research and do what the Borbidge Government did—set development, provide tax breaks and higher about destroying a properly constituted CJC education incentives or the nation will face the inquiry under Carruthers. We put our matters consequences of a significant downfall and transparently on the record. We did not run again become a branch office economy. The away. We wrote to the Electoral report calls for a sweeping overhaul of industry Commissioner, who referred it to the CJC. We policy and proposes measures to boost acted openly, transparently and honestly. industry spending on research and innovation. There is a clear difference between Mr However, the mounting concern over the Borbidge and me on this issue. He tried to economic impact of Australia's falling R & D will destroy the CJC's legitimate inquiry; we, indeed give the Federal Government a great through our action, instigated one. Through deal of indigestion; and why? Because it was our action we instigated one because I will the decision of the Howard Government in its have no truck with electoral corruption in any 1996 Budget to slash R & D funding in this party, and I do not care whether it is in the country and at that stage gut the support for Labor Party, the Liberal Party, the National industry R & D. That is what has set us on the Party, One Nation or the City Country Alliance. slide. Anyone who breaks the law when it comes to electoral matters should go to jail. End of story! The decision was widely condemned at That is what happened to Karen Ehrmann. We the time by the business community and the will not compromise on electoral honesty. We broader community. The Miles report's key will not compromise on these matters of great recommendation is that the 125% tax importance. concession for existing R & D spending be boosted to 130% ,and that makes up for the All people have to do today is look at the erosion to date. More importantly, it difference. I have come out and the recommends that companies that increase Government has supported the CJC's inquiry, their level of R & D spending should receive this public inquiry, today. That is what we did. tax concessions of between 170% and 200% Look at what the Borbidge Government did. It on additional expenditure and R & D. wasted around $11m of taxpayers' money trying to destroy a properly constituted CJC The committee chairman and senior inquiry, and the Attorney-General of the day partner of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, David was complicit in that behaviour and lost the Miles, urged the Federal Government to adopt confidence of this Parliament because the the recommendation and to adopt a Attorney-General abused his position in recommendation of an innovation action compliance with the Premier of the day. They agenda for this industry and to do it by the abused their positions; they used them for year's end, otherwise Australia, as he says, will cheap political purposes. What did the become that branch office economy. Supreme Court think? They found bias. They If we do not start to generate more found bias! Australian ideas that can create wealth and if we do not generate those ideas and then bring them through to fruition in this country, Miles Report on Innovation we will certainly see a deterioration of living Mr MUSGROVE: I ask the Deputy standards in this country. Premier and the Minister for State The difference between the Federal Development and Trade: can he express his Government and this Government is that the views on the recently delivered Miles Beattie Government has recognised, through 6 Sep 2000 Questions Without Notice 2971 its Smart State initiatives, that we do need to A Government member: Before he was be innovative across industry and we do need in Parliament. to be innovative across Government. It has Mr BEATTIE: Before he was in been this Government that has been spending Parliament? No, before he was born! There money improving R & D opportunities for were a number of options, including tunnel industry and for research institutions. The options, as the member knows. Obviously, we $100m at the Queensland University's Institute examined that option in relation to the private of Molecular Bioscience, the $270m 10-year sector. However, tunnels are incredibly plan to drive that innovation, the industry expensive, and while that would be something support systems now that drive R & D, the new that everyone would love, there are start-up R & D packages for small innovative environmental considerations as well. companies—it has been this Government that has recognised that it will be innovation, new If I recall correctly, the various knowledge-based industries and support for recommendations are now out for community R & D that will broaden and grow this consultation and examination, which is clearly economy. It has been the Federal the basis of the petition that the member has Government and John Howard, and in this presented. All views will be taken into account, respect the support of Rob Borbidge and Dr including those of the 3,600 petitioners to Watson, that gutted industry in this State, that which the member referred. As the member has actually taken away educational knows, when a road is going up the side of a opportunities in this State and left us at risk as mountain, clearly the options are limited. We an economy. are trying to find sensible options. One of the things that the Minister for Kuranda Range Corridor Local Government and I did recently in Cairns and Townsville was to launch the regional Mr NELSON: My question is to the strategies for north Queensland. One of the Minister for Transport and Minister for Main recommendations of those strategies referred Roads. to population locations in the strip around Mr SPEAKER: The Minister is not here. Cairns and where future land use Mr NELSON: He is not interested in arrangements should be put in place. The question time. benefit of that, of course, is that people who are doing housing subdivisions, people who Mr SPEAKER: He is not in the House. are building housing to cater for future Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. population growth, can take those things into The Minister for Transport's daughter is not account. That is fundamentally linked to the well and that is why he is not here. If the future road requirements for the tablelands member wants to direct the question to me, I and access to the tablelands. will answer it. So in terms of the member's question— Mr NELSON: I will direct the question to yes, the views of those people will be taken the Premier. Given the Minister for Transport's into account. I will talk to the Minister about assumption at the last sitting that only myself that. In terms of a direct response—clearly the and Peter Campion supported the Lake Minister will respond as he usually does in Morris/Davies Creek option for a Kuranda relation to these matters. However, if we are Range road, and notwithstanding the looking at sensible planning for the Cairns objections of the member for Barron River to region, including the tablelands, future land the proposal, can the Premier assure the use is integral and central to the outcome and 3,600 petitioners from all over north the solution. Obviously, transport corridors are Queensland that this option will get a fair also an integral part of the solution. hearing from the Department of Transport and an answer from the Minister in the near future? Mr BEATTIE: In terms of the options—as Impact of GST on Building Industry the member knows, a significant transport Mrs NITA CUNNINGHAM: I refer the study has been done in that area. Access to Treasurer to the latest data on the building that road and increasing population— industry, and I ask: what evidence is there of An Opposition member interjected. the impact of the GST on this jobs-generating Mr BEATTIE: The member should listen. industry? An increasing population on the tablelands Mr HAMILL: As was forecast not only by has been an issue since I was a kid—before the Queensland Government but also by the the member was born. In terms of a number of Federal Government, the GST has brought options, there have been some regrettable— great hardship to the building industry across 2972 Questions Without Notice 6 Sep 2000

Australia, and particularly in Queensland. In Electoral Fraud fact, I draw the attention of the House to the Mr SEENEY: I refer the Premier to his most recent data for July this year showing a claim that the ALP disputes tribunal did not 12.6% reduction in building approvals in this have the means to get to the bottom of the State. That is quite a devastating impact upon electoral corruption in Townsville. I refer also to the housing and construction sector. I table a 1996 letter from the then State Labor that document. Secretary, Mike Kaiser, and the then State The effects of the GST have been felt Labor president, Don Brown, in which they throughout the industry—from the contractors jointly reassured disgruntled party members in and the companies right through to the Townsville as follows- suppliers. Indeed, recently in Ipswich the "We can assure you that the Hancock mill actually laid off workers because disputes tribunal will conduct its affairs in of the downturn in activity in the housing and an unbiased way with a view to thoroughly construction industry. The manager of that mill investigating all of the allegations." actually stated that that was the reason for I ask the Premier: how can he now contradict that lay-off—not, I might say, as the Leader of the statement of the then president and the the Opposition asserted falsely, that it had then Secretary of the Labor Party by stating something to do with the regional forest repeatedly that they did not have the means agreement. It did not. to detect the corruption that will now be the Mr Laming: Because you revoked the first subject of the inquiry? Is it not a fact that this home owners scheme. could have been stopped in 1996? Mr HAMILL: I hear an honourable Mr BEATTIE: As I have indicated on member from the Sunshine Coast interjecting. previous occasions, in my view the Labor I have some correspondence from some Party's disputes tribunal got it wrong. I have people on the Sunshine Coast who outlined said that. They got it wrong because they were the sort of hardship that they have not police officers. They did not have the experienced as a result of the GST. A Mr and investigative resources to go out and do what Mrs Donnelly of Noosa have written to say that the police did. However, the Federal Police did housing and construction work that they wish do it. Proof of the fact that the Federal Police to undertake is going to cost them a further did do it is the fact that Karen Ehrmann is in $8,900 as a result of the GST. Although the jail. member for Mooloolah thinks that it is a bit of The member cannot complain that the a joke, his views are not shared by his system does not work, because it does work. colleague the member for Noosa, who actually Karen Ehrmann is in jail under my Government wrote to me in relation to the Donnelly's because I will not compromise when it comes case—albeit getting the figure wrong, but then to honesty and standards that relate to the again, accuracy has never been one of the greatest integrity of the Electoral Act. So firstly, more well-known qualities of the member for I think that the tribunal got it wrong; secondly, Noosa. The member for Noosa recognised the they are not police officers, therefore it is hardship experienced by his constituents. understandable why they got it wrong; and What did he do? The member for Noosa thirdly, the Federal Police clearly got it right asked that I waive the cost of the GST on the because Karen Ehrmann is in jail. Donnelly family. But there is more. We have all seen the I inform the House that the GST was steak knives ad: there is more. The more is levied by a Federal Liberal/National Party that today the CJC has established an inquiry. Government. Even the member for Noosa The CJC will examine all of the matters relating should understand that the tax that he to the four issues, if I recall correctly, that are supported cannot be waived by the set out in its report. I have indicated that that Queensland Government. However, I thank public inquiry has my full support and the full the member for Noosa for drawing my support of the Government, because we will attention and, in turn, the attention of this not compromise when it comes to electoral House to the enormous hardship that is being honesty. felt by ordinary Queenslanders who want to I have already given an undertaking in the build their own home but who cannot afford to House today that, unlike the Borbidge years, have work undertaken because of the GST. unlike the Beanland years and unlike the There is no doubt whatsoever that, be it Sheldon years when that Government through the fall-off in housing approvals or the deliberately set about aborting a legitimate fall-off in activity in the construction industry, CJC inquiry, that will not happen under my the GST is hurting Queenslanders. Government. I have said it several times, but I 6 Sep 2000 Questions Without Notice 2973 said it again—perhaps more succinctly that will be three or four years before we come out time. I got it all together. I think it was better of that trough. The alternative Government than the few times I said it before. Practice opposite would have us with no apprentices in makes perfect, and I think I am getting that period. Had it won the last election and better—anyway, I hope I am. got rid of Q-Build and downsized Housing Having said all of that, let me make it some 1,225 fewer people in Queensland clear that we are not going to put Queensland would have construction industry skills. on hold while this inquiry is taking place; we will This Government has targeted a number get on with the job. Queenslanders want to of groups, especially indigenous communities, see more of the jobs that we are creating. Let to provide construction skills. I refer to me remind honourable members that more Woorabinda, Palm Island, Bamaga, New than 95,000 jobs have been created under my Mapoon, Umagico, Injinoo and Kowanyama. Government. We have been creating more We have a scheme in place—set up by me— than 100 jobs a day every day of the week, whereby 25 young Aboriginals are working in seven days a week, every week of the year. the construction industry, and they are making We have provided certainty. We have provided a damned fine fist of it. There are also 40 projects. We are getting on with the job. This is young Aboriginals working in the ATSI housing a can-do Government. Queenslanders HITT scheme. deserve a can-do Government. We will Ms Bligh: They were in my electorate the continue to deliver and perform. other day. They did a great job. Let us look at the sorts of things we have Mr SCHWARTEN: The member for South done. I mentioned that the Minister for Mines Brisbane reminds me of the excellent job that and Energy was in Mount Isa for the opening those young apprentices did, three of whom of two new mines. Century Zinc is going ahead were women, in her electorate in building under our Government and Virgin Airlines is seniors units. All of this is in sharp contrast, as happening. Honourable members should look I said before, to what is being offered by the at what Virgin Airlines has done for competition other side. Not once have I heard any policies in the airways. That is the sort of government suggested for providing skills to young Queensland needs and that is what they are Queenslanders in the construction industry. going to get. Not once have I heard from members opposite a suggestion for how we might give young Skills Week people a start in this industry and what we could do about their GST inflicted downturn in Mr MULHERIN: I refer the Minister for the building industry so as to provide young Public Works and Minister for Housing to the people with a future in the construction fact that this week is Skills Week, and I ask: industry. This Government will continue to can he advise of training initiatives taken within provide opportunities, both in Q-Build and in his portfolio that benefit young Housing, for young people to gain a future in Queenslanders? the construction industry. When it comes out Mr Borbidge: Have you got a rorting of the doldrums in the next couple of years, class? thanks to this Government we will have 1,225 Mr SCHWARTEN: I thank the honourable people who can take up jobs. member for that very important question, and I note the derision that it brings from the other Electoral Fraud; Ms K. Ehrmann side; they are obviously not used to skilling people and getting on with the job of providing Mr HORAN: I refer the Premier to his a future in the construction industry for young repeated refusal yesterday to explain why his people in this State. Today, through both the claim to have acted immediately on becoming Department of Housing and the Department of aware of allegations against Karen Ehrmann Public Works, 625 young people have a future for electoral rorting in Townsville in fact in the construction industry, thanks to the involved, in his own words, action in 1999, innovation of this Government. In addition, when he was aware of the allegations no later there are another 600 in our HITT Plus than November 1996. I ask: why did the scheme. By combining those numbers we see Premier not act three years earlier, in 1996? that about 1,225 young people now have a Why did he not act two years earlier, in 1997? future. We just heard what the Treasurer had Why did he not act even one year earlier, in to say about the construction industry. One of 1998? the by-products of that downturn at the Mr BEATTIE: When the Leader of the moment is the incapacity of the industry to Opposition was doing one of his muck master train people. All of the forecasts indicate that it efforts in the MPI debate yesterday I took a 2974 Questions Without Notice 6 Sep 2000 point of order and pointed out that the inquiry today that it will have our full electoral reform process in the Labor Party had cooperation and support, but it needs to get taken place over three conferences—1997, on with the job so that, if there are outcomes 1998 and 1999—and that that reformed our that require legislative changes, we have time processes. It is not true to say that this matter to make them. Queenslanders would expect was delayed for three years. I have dismissed that, if there are problems with the current that. electoral laws, they will be changed before Mr Borbidge interjected. they vote again. That is why it is important that the inquiry gets on with the job. I hope we will Mr BEATTIE: No. Was the honourable get some bipartisan support for any changes member in a different Government from that to the Electoral Act. which history shows him to have been in? And I refer to that little asterisk at the bottom of the page. As I recall it, 1997 was prior to the last Fires election, was it not? So 1997, 1998 and 1999 Mrs LAVARCH: I ask the Minister for were all through a period prior to the election Emergency Services: can he advise the House and afterwards. about the current fire situation in Queensland Mr Borbidge: "Immediately" equals three and outline the penalties in place for people years. caught deliberately lighting fires? Mr BEATTIE: I have already indicated to Mr ROBERTSON: I thank the honourable the honourable member that those matters member for this most important question and were dealt with. More to the point, they were for her ongoing interest in matters pertaining to dealt with at a time when Karen Ehrmann was Emergency Services, particularly in her not convicted; at a time when I was electorate of Kurwongbah, which has been determined that we were going to clean up the touched by some of the fires over the past rules so that the alleged behaviour could never week. happen again. So we have 1997, 1998 and The fire situation across Queensland 1999; the basis of the question is wrong. remains extremely dangerous. High fuel loads, Mr Borbidge interjected. windy conditions and next to no rainfall across most of the State in recent months have Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the resulted in thousands of fires which have Opposition will allow the Premier to answer the destroyed many thousands of hectares of question. bushland and threatened lives and property. Mr BEATTIE: Let me come to the issue. I Firefighters and rural fire volunteers are still indicated in my ministerial statement this working around the clock containing fires that morning that if issues are identified in the CJC are burning from Cairns in the north to the inquiry that require changes to the Electoral Gold Coast in the south and west to Cloncurry. Act, those changes should be in place before In the seven-day period to midnight last the next election. I hope this inquiry will finish Sunday, QFRA urban fire stations across its work well before Christmas so that we will be Queensland alone responded to some 3,186 in a position by early next year to legislate to incidents, of which 2,222 were grassfires. A change any provisions in the Electoral Act that staggering 1,818 of these fires occurred in the need changing. That is important. If we are greater Brisbane and south-east region, going to have an outcome from this inquiry including my electorate of Sunnybank, where that will produce sound and sensible changes yesterday fires threatened properties in the to the Electoral Act, if they are needed—there suburb of Berrinba, at the southern end of my have already been changes and I spelt those electorate. out today—this inquiry needs to do its work This past weekend alone saw QFRA units effectively and efficiently, and it needs to be throughout the State respond to 1,277 done before Christmas so that we can get on incidents, of which 876 were grassfires. In fact, with the business of reforming the Act if last Saturday was the busiest day in needed. That is important. Inquiries need to Queensland's history in terms of the number of have an outcome. If that outcome means that fires attended by Queensland's firefighters. changes are required to the Electoral Act, Those figures do not include the hundreds of there needs to be an opportunity for that to be fires dealt with over the past week by volunteer done prior to the election. rural fire brigades across the State at places I want to ensure that the next State ranging from Boonah, Ipswich and the Gold election is held under the most open and Coast hinterland to Rockhampton, the honest electoral laws in Australia, and we need Cairns/peninsula, Charters Towers and west to time to do that. I am simply saying to the Cloncurry. 6 Sep 2000 Questions Without Notice 2975

The disturbing thing about the fire I might remind everyone that, as I said in emergency over the past week is that my ministerial statement, my Ministers, the firefighters report that approximately 80% to Cabinet and the Government are not subject 90% of these fires have been deliberately lit. to any allegations. There is a clear difference This is intolerable. I warn Queenslanders that here. This involves certain matters involving anyone caught deliberately lighting illegal fires the Labor Party. I have made it clear that we will have the book thrown at them. There are will not have any truck with anyone who breaks very stringent penalties in place to deal with the law, whether they are in the Labor Party, people who light fires. For example, I refer to the Liberal Party, the National Party, the One section 72 of the QFRA Act, which provides for Nation Party, the City Country Alliance or the up to one year's imprisonment or a $17,000 Houdini party. It is that simple. I am simply fine for offences regarding the lighting of fires. saying that those allegations have been Section 146 of the QFRA Act, when around. The Federal Police investigated them unauthorised grassfire is a crime, provides for three or four years, which resulted in Karen penalties of up to $35,000 or five years' Ehrmann going to jail. Those matters are now imprisonment pertaining to those offences. before an inquiry. I am saying to the inquiry: get on with it. We want to ensure that we get to the Electoral Fraud; Ms K. Ehrmann bottom of these matters. Ideally, if any Miss SIMPSON: I refer the Premier to the changes need to be made to the electoral claims that he and the Labor Party acted laws we could do them before Christmas. Let quickly once they were aware of allegations of us not muck about with this. If we need to electoral rorting against Karen Ehrmann, and I improve the electoral laws so that we have an ask: why was it not until 1999 that Labor open and honest system, which I believe we appointed a team, including Don Brown, Joan already have—if we need to improve it to Budd and John Bird, two of whom were make it better, let us get on and do it. If this discredited by the Thuringowa episode, to inquiry finds that anyone has broken the law, ensure the validity of Labor Party membership then throw the book at them. I will support any lists in Townsville? Why did they wait two and a move to throw them out of the Labor Party. I half years to do that? will have no truck with anyone who breaks the law. It is that simple. Mr BEATTIE: As I have indicated, the But we have acted. We have acted clearly reforms that took place in the party took place and decisively in the fact that Karen Ehrmann over three conferences—1997, 1998 and was asked to stand down as a candidate. Not 1999. I acted quickly and effectively. There only that, we made sure we changed the rules. were ongoing matters which presumably the We have supported a public, open inquiry. I organisation needed to follow through. As I have indicated to it that it will have our full have indicated on a number of occasions, my support and cooperation. All I say to the responsibility is the parliamentary party. These inquiry is this: if there need to be changes to day-to-day matters involving the administration the law, give us adequate time—and it would are matters for the administration of the party. be nice if we could make those changes That is something that I think everyone in a before Christmas or early next year—to sensible environment would completely change the law. understand as a rational outcome. I just say one final thing. The Opposition The bottom line is that, as I have has been good at throwing mud in all of this. indicated, I moved quickly to change the rules. What is important, though, is the outcome, The difference is very simple: not only did I because Queenslanders want to have an move to change the rules, I did that at a time open and honest system. There is only one before Karen Ehrmann was convicted. I in fact Government that will deliver it, and that is my denied her natural justice; I asked her to stand Government. aside as the candidate. Why did I do that? Because I expect the highest standards from my candidates and the highest standards in Olympic Games Medals terms of electoral behaviour. I did not go about Mr HAYWARD: I refer the Minister for seeking to re-endorse the candidate, as the Mines and Energy to the fact that in a recent National Party did with Denis Hinton. The news story about the Olympic Games it was contrast between the Government and the revealed that a Queensland mine had Opposition on these matters is very stark. We supplied the silver to be used for Olympic will not in any way have any truck with anyone medals, and I ask: can he provide the House who breaks the rules. with information about this? 2976 Privilege 6 Sep 2000

Mr McGRADY: I thank the member for Rural Communities portfolio, can he provide the question. Those of us on this side of the any further assistance to the families who have House understand and appreciate his interest been devastated by the severe bushfires that in both sport and the mining industry. I can have been raging throughout these areas? certainly provide the House with information Mr PALASZCZUK: Firstly, I say that it is about this sterling effort by BHP's Cannington not in the province of the Minister for Primary mine in the north-west of this State. Industries to declare shires as drought affected In July last year Cannington provided or to declare IDPs; that is done by the local 1,050 kilograms of silver from its silver, lead drought committees. The honourable member and zinc mine to be used as the base for over has raised a very, very important issue that is 5,000 gold, silver and bronze Olympic and affecting quite a number of our producers in a Paralympic medals. This silver was worth about number of regions. I urge all those producers $300,000. So I am pleased to advise the who are affected by drought conditions to House that the north-west of Queensland has contact the Department of Primary Industries achieved an Olympic milestone with the official for an IDP application form. It is important that launch of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games affected producers make an IDP application. victory medals recently. Both the first and An IDP application will then be assessed by second place medals have been made from the local drought committee, which includes fine grade Cannington silver. The first place local industry representatives. medals are gilded with six grams of pure gold. The third place medals also contain a small As agreed by industry and Government in amount of Cannington silver coated with 1992, the primary trigger for an IDP declaration bronze, derived from obsolete Australian 1c is that the current rainfall deficiency must be and 2c pieces. equivalent to a one in 10 to 15-year occurrence. The Cannington mine, as most people know, is located about 160 kilometres south- Mr Rowell: Not a problem! east of Cloncurry. It is the world's largest single Mr PALASZCZUK: That is not a problem. mine producer of both silver and lead. It was discovered back in 1990 as part of the Rainfall and pasture growth during the previous Labor Government's drive for the previous two summer seasons are also Carpentaria/Mount Isa minerals province. If my considered as an indicator of effective rainfall. memory serves me correctly, it was opened by The other criteria that must be fulfilled prior to Labor Premier Beattie. In the 13 months to granting an IDP include pasture condition and June 2000, Cannington mined 1.7 million availability of surface and underground water, tonnes of ore to produce 31.3 million ounces stock condition and reduction in numbers of of silver, 216,000 tonnes of lead and 67,000 livestock above normal turn off, the stocking tonnes of zinc. rate of the property compared with the district average, and the amount of drought feeding BHP is a Team Millennium partner of the being undertaken. This is in accordance with 2000 Olympic Games and, of course, the industry agreed policy. Applications for IDP Cannington is also part of one of the sponsors declarations are assessed by the local stock of the Games. Come the Olympics, inspector in consultation with members of the Queenslanders can be proud to know that, local drought committees. Last week I took although most of the events will be held in time out of my holidays to visit a number of Sydney, the participants will be competing for these drought-affected areas. I must say that good, old-fashioned Queensland silver. the conditions I saw were some of the worst I have seen in a number of years. In that Drought-affected Shires regard, I can assure producers in Queensland that if they put in an IDP they will be treated Dr PRENZLER: On behalf of good sympathetically. Queenslanders, I refer the Minister for Primary Industries and Rural Communities, Mr Henry Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Fouras): Palaszczuk, to the disastrous seasonal Order! The time for questions has expired. conditions currently prevailing in south-east Queensland, where some shires are experiencing the worst drought conditions in PRIVILEGE over 100 years, and I ask: given the already Electoral Fraud; McMurdo Advice difficult times being experienced by dairy farmers and other primary producers, will the Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers Minister act promptly to declare these badly Paradise—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) affected shires drought affected? Under his (11.30 a.m.): I rise on a matter of privilege. 6 Sep 2000 Penalties and Sentences (Non-contact Orders) Amendment Bill 2977

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Fouras): that challenge. Are you saying that I cannot do Order! It is time for Government business. I it? rule that the member write to the Speaker Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have heard about his matter of privilege. what the member is talking about. It is not a Mr BORBIDGE: Mr Deputy Speaker, it matter of privilege. The member will resume relates to a challenge from the Premier his seat. wanting the reference in the McMurdo advice Mr BORBIDGE: Is the Premier's relating to Mr Reynolds. misleading the House a matter of privilege, Mr Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Speaker? member will resume his seat. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I warn the Mr BORBIDGE: I move— Leader of the Opposition under Standing "That the Leader of the Opposition Order 124 because he is deliberately be heard." challenging the Deputy Speaker. I now call the Attorney-General. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Even though I cannot accept that it is a matter of privilege, I will hear it. PENALTIES AND SENTENCES (NON- Mr BORBIDGE: Thank you, Mr Deputy CONTACT ORDERS) AMENDMENT BILL Speaker. At page 19 of the McMurdo report at Hon. M. J. FOLEY (Yeronga—ALP) paragraph 40, there is this reference which (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and was clearly significant in convincing Mr Minister for The Arts) (11.33 a.m.), by leave, McMurdo to include the 1996 preselection without notice: I move— contest in the seat of Townsville into the "That leave be granted to bring in a inquiry into official misconduct in terms of Bill for an Act to amend the Penalties and preselections, and I quote that reference. Sentences Act 1992." Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: So? Motion agreed to. Mr BORBIDGE: The Premier wanted the reference. I am providing the reference, Mr Deputy Speaker. First Reading Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! There is Bill and Explanatory Notes presented and no matter of privilege. The member will resume Bill, on motion of Mr Foley, read a first time. his seat. We all have a copy of the report. We have all read it. The member will resume his seat. Second Reading Mr BORBIDGE: Mr Deputy Speaker, this Hon. M. J. FOLEY (Yeronga—ALP) is the evidence the Premier wanted. (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for The Arts) (11.34 a.m.): I move— Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I think it may be necessary to talk to members of this "That the Bill be now read a second Chamber as to what privilege is. Privilege is time." when members are stopped from coming into This Government is committed to the Chamber and doing their duty. Of course, reforming the criminal justice system to make it an attempt to deliberately mislead the House more responsive to the needs of victims of is a matter of privilege. However, I will not crime. On occasion, victims of crime may have stand by at the conclusion of question time a fear that an offender, even though after question time and watch the Leader of convicted, may injure them, harass them, the Opposition get up on a matter of privilege damage their property or otherwise cause when it is never a matter of privilege. The other them detriment. This Bill seeks to address this day the member for Gladstone missed out on situation by allowing the sentencing court to five minutes of her speaking time because we make an order that an adult offender who has ran out of time because the Leader of the been convicted of an indictable offence Opposition had raised a matter of privilege. against the person refrain from contact with She sought the right to speak on the matter the victim or from attending a stated place for the day after. This is what is happening each a particular period of time. day when we move to Government business. Whilst the courts have always arguably In most cases it is quite clear— had the power to make orders of a similar type Mr BORBIDGE: With respect, Mr Deputy as, say, a condition of probation, this Bill takes Speaker, the Premier challenged me to this one step further by giving the courts the provide the information. I am responding to ability to make such an order as part of any 2978 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 sentence imposed upon an adult offender. The Bill specifically provides that an order Such an order can be made for the benefit of cannot be made where an order may be made the victim of the offence and an associate of under section 30 of the Domestic Violence the victim. An associate of the victim is a (Family Protection) Act 1989. There is already person who was with the victim when the power in section 30 of the Domestic Violence offence was committed. Under the Bill, the (Family Protection) Act 1989 for the sentencing court may make the order if satisfied that, court to make a domestic violence order unless made, there is an unacceptable risk against the offender if the court is satisfied that that the offender would injure the victim or a protection order could be made under the associate, harass the victim or associate, relevant provisions of the Domestic Violence damage the property of the victim or associate (Family Protection) Act 1989 against the or behave in a way that could reasonably be offender as the respondent spouse. This expected to cause detriment to the victim or exception should therefore avoid any potential associate. for inconsistency or for the non-contact order Under the Bill, in deciding whether or not to be interpreted as overriding or invalidating to make the order, the court is to have regard the conditions of a domestic violence order. to all of the circumstances of the case. This It is not anticipated that the provisions in includes having regard to matters such as the this Bill will be used in every situation where a terms of any other orders relating to the person has been convicted of an indictable offender and victim or associate, such as an offence against the person. However, the Bill order under the Family Law Act 1975 of the provides the sentencing court with a further Commonwealth; the viability of making an sentencing option should it feel that an order is order in circumstances in which contact necessary to protect the victim of the offence. between the offender and victim may be As noted previously, the Bill is innovative. unavoidable, such as if the offender and victim As far as my department is able to both live in a small or remote community; and establish, in many respects this Parliament is the antecedents of the offender. The Bill being asked to break new ground, especially in makes it an offence for the offender to breach respect of those aspects of the Bill where the the order. Perhaps the most innovative aspect victim can apply for an amendment of the of this Bill is that it specifically enables an order which is, in effect, part of a sentence. application for amendment or revocation of a The Bill, if enacted, will be monitored closely to non-contact order to be made not only by the ensure that its intended effect is being offender or prosecutor but also by the victim or achieved. The Bill is yet a further example of any associate named in the order. The reason this Government's ongoing commitment to this has been done is that the order made by affording better protection to victims of crime. I the sentencing court in the first place is for the commend the Bill to the House. benefit of the victim. Debate, on motion of Springborg, In order to avoid a situation where an adjourned. offender may turn around and apply for an amendment or revocation immediately after WATER BILL the order is made, the Bill provides that an offender cannot make an application for Second Reading amendment or revocation of the order until six Resumed from 5 September (see months after the date on which the order was p. 2934). made. This restriction does not in any way Mr HOBBS (Warrego—NPA) (11.39 a.m.), affect the offender's rights to appeal against continuing: In my contribution yesterday I the order as an appeal against sentence. The spoke about the fact that this legislation does Bill provides that, in relation to an application not have sufficient regard to the rights and for amendment or revocation by the offender, liberties of individuals. I referred to the Alert the order for amendment or revocation can Digest and the Minister's response. He made it only be made if the court is satisfied that there quite clear that, if a new plan were put in has been a material change in the place, the owners of an existing dam may be circumstances of the offender, victim or required to let some of their water go if it were associate that justifies the amendment or seen to be over and above their normal stock revocation. The Bill gives the relocation of the and domestic requirements, even though that victim's employer's workplace so that the victim dam may have been there for 10, 20 or 30 may be working in the place where the years. Not only may they have to let the water offender works as an example of a material go; they may even have to modify the banks, change in the victim's circumstances. the structure and the drainage. This is quite a 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2979 serious situation, and compensation is very and to look at what solutions there may be. limited to say the least. These are the types of That is the only way it can be done. The problems that need to be resolved. method that has been used is wrong. It has This Government has tried to sell this been based on lies. It is pure scaremongering. legislation in many ways. It has used all sorts It has not been particularly good for the of scare tactics and so on. Salinity is one of people. All it is doing is raising more concerns the issues used by the Minister. I note his in the community. Certainly that is not ministerial statement of this morning. I feel it is necessary. important to raise this issue today. In this I refer to the WAMP document contained House and in public arenas—in newspapers, in this legislation, particularly as it relates to the on radio and so on—the Minister has been Condamine/Balonne. The Government paid highly supportive of the outcomes of the something like $2.7m to formulate this original salinity audit in Queensland. document, along with others. I just cannot Anyone with half a brain knows that the believe how it came out so wrong. The very salinity audit was not correct. The information next day the Minister had to release a provided in that document was not based on statement to say that he did not mean there any foundation. I wrote to the Murray-Darling would be cutbacks of such magnitude in those Basin Commission and asked the regions. The huge impact must be whereabouts of the scientific data on which it understood. There are businesses wholly based the conclusions in the report. It wrote designed around the use of water in this State. back and said that it had none, that it got it In some cases hundreds of thousands of from the Minister. Eventually the Minister wrote dollars, even millions of dollars, worth of back and said that he had some original salt infrastructure would be rendered useless if this load data. It was only in a draft form and document went through in its present form. should not have been used in any scientific We know some changes will be made to it. context at that stage. He did say that when the With all the information we have, with the information became available he would send expertise we have access to and with the me a copy. I have not got one yet; I hope I will years of study that have been undertaken, get one. how could it come out so wrong? This process A report in today's Courier-Mail refers to has to be changed to make sure we get it the fact that the estimates of the impacts of right. We all have to get it right. We cannot just salinity are out by as much as 20 or 30 years. go out there with some sort of political agenda. We who live in those regions want to know The water we take from producers and send about salinity. We do not want to be told down that Murray Darling system will only go furphies. We want to have information into the irrigators' pumps. It will not go into the provided to us that we know is true and environment. That is exactly the way it is. accurate, not just hear ministerial statements Mr Welford: How do you know that? that are not based on any fact. We do not Mr HOBBS: Because that is the way it is. want armchair conservationists taking over the New South Wales does not have its system in whole environmental agenda with emotion place. New South Wales has been the biggest rather than fact. contributor to new water use in the last two I have the support of Senator Hill for the years. New South Wales is first, followed by proposal that we endorse a salinity audit for Victoria and South Australia. Queensland and Queensland. A $4.3m salinity audit in the ACT come last in the increase in new water Queensland is being considered by the usage over the last two years. That is the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. The situation. New South Wales is still using more proposal has gone to the Federal Minister for than we do. Primary Industries for consideration. I have Mr Elliott: It is fashionable to kick asked the State Minister to provide funding for Queensland. That is what this is about. that audit. We need to have in place a process we Mr HOBBS: That is exactly it. This is not all have faith in. We also want to have going to work that way. The Government has stakeholder involvement—not so much to drive to listen to those arguments. the process but just to observe so that when The Government has done the same the results come out everybody can be happy thing up on the Fitzroy River, with the Paradise that everything is fair and aboveboard. That is dam. There is no way in the world the Paradise the best way I can see to help people come to dam can be built. With the amount of water some firm conclusion that, yes, there is a allowed in the WAMP, it is not possible that a problem here or, no, there is no problem there dam of a substantial size is feasible. The 2980 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

Government knows that as well as I do. The rural and regional Queensland, and particularly Minister is nodding acceptance. So it is gone. the Burdekin River basin. Mr Welford: Do you say it should be The Burdekin Shire Council, farmers and built? the North and South Burdekin Water Boards Mr HOBBS: Of course it can be built. are very concerned at the absence in the draft legislation of identification of their roles. We Mr Welford: Regardless of the need to have a reassurance that the status environmental issues? quo will remain in respect of the roles of the Mr HOBBS: No. The Minister is talking North and South Burdekin Water Boards under about 80% of environmental flow going to sea. the new legislation. The Minister may give a That is not necessary. reassurance that their roles will be continuing, Time expired. but reassurances need to extend beyond words. The current and future roles of the Mr KNUTH (Burdekin—CCAQ) North and South Burdekin Water Boards (11.47 a.m.): The Burdekin has a reputation should be recognised in the new legislation. for the highest efficiency and productivity amongst rural producing areas in the world, While the Bill proposes a system to apply often doubling yields achieved in lesser, non- to all types of water supply and use irrigated farming areas. These achievements arrangements, it does not address the unique have not happened by chance. Rural circumstances in the Burdekin, where water is productivity outcomes reinforce the Burdekin's managed, administered and operated by the assessment of the achievements of our Department of Natural Resources, the forebears in the current and, hopefully, future Burdekin Shire Council and the North and management of the Burdekin aquifer by the South Burdekin Water Boards. The Bill Department of Natural Resources and the assumes that water will be allocated under one North and South Burdekin Water Boards in system, and the legislation fails to address the their respective areas of control. unique circumstances of the Burdekin aquifer and current water distribution and Locals will say that there are really only management arrangements. two seasons: great summers and perfect In an article in the Courier-Mail titled winters. The sun shines about 300 days a "Water Debt", printed on Saturday, 1 January year. Unpredictable tropical wet seasons are 2000, the reporter, Siobhan Ryan, reported the only interruption to a year of sunshine. that the Environment and Natural Resources Some 80% of the rainfall generally occurs Minister, Rod Welford, said that the current between November and March. The water licensing system was ad hoc, short concentration of rainfall in the summer months sighted and ultimately doomed. He went on to means that crop production during the warm say— winters is rarely affected by the long wet season. The average rainfall in the Burdekin "In the past water has been allocated River irrigation area is 900 millimetres. Water is on a local, first come first served basis the lifeblood of the community. The Burdekin and hasn't had sufficient regard to has the space, the soil, the clean air and the ecological sustainability. The price of sunlight hours to maximise the long-term water has been lower than the real cost of advantage of the vast resources of the supplying it." Burdekin Dam. What the Minister is really saying here is that As far back as 1994, a Labor Government his Government no longer wants to commit to agreed at a Council of Australian Governments protection of our farmers and the original meeting that in the future it would charge Australian support of primary industries. Our users the real economic cost of water and forefathers had the foresight to know that if we provide for environmental as well as have strong primary and rural industries, agricultural uses of the water flows. Typically, subsidised by the availability of cheap water, the same Government was the Government we will build a great nation. However, this that signed Queensland away under the Government sold out to the ideals of National National Competition Council and its never- Competition Policy and rationalisation of our ending goal to destroy the battler, the farmer services. This Government is actually saying and the small businessman. The community that it is time primary producers went it alone. and I, as the elected member for Burdekin, are What this really means is the eventual concerned at the limited time provided for the destruction of many agricultural and community's response to the legislation. I horticultural farmers who will eventually lose believe this Bill to be one of the most water rights to large privatised corporations, significant pieces of legislation to impact on which will buy all available water and resell it at 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2981 unaffordable rates. We once had copious developed in the lower Burdekin area to amounts of cheap, affordable water in the ensure the continued economic growth in Burdekin. It was the only fall back farmers had agricultural industries in the region. Other in hard times. Even at current cost, the objectives of this project are: to provide water average canefarmer is still paying around supplies for further agricultural development $27,000 a year for water in the Burdekin. and for likely increases in urban and industrial The management and improvement of development in major centres of the region the aquifer has assured the continued success well beyond the year 2000; to provide of Burdekin rural industries. This Government additional water supplies for the irrigation of needs to recognise the success of our water existing cane assignments along the boards without encumbrance from this Haughton River between 11 and 32 kilometres Government. If COAG and NCP reforms are to stabilise and increase production; and to motivated by reducing Government also provide a measure of flood protection interference and support for industry-driven while providing for the future installation of a corporations, the Government need look no 500 megawatt hydro-electric power station at further for successful models than the North the Burdekin Falls Dam site. This is a clear and South Burdekin Water Boards. The case in which conservative politics has a far Minister has never taken the time to study our better insight into rural and regional needs water boards. than a Labor Government which is anti-dam, anti-water infrastructure and anti-rural. Prior to any decision on the development of the mighty Burdekin Dam, the conclusions The Minister may argue that in a recent report acknowledged the potential circumstances have changed as a result of for the development of agro industries subject National Competition Policy, COAG water to the adequate availability of water for their reform and the absence of Federal and State establishment. The Burdekin has consistently Government initiatives to promote major water argued, with limited success, to State and infrastructure projects in recent times. That is a Federal Governments the potential of this area fault that lies within the Government itself, and for value adding to maximise opportunities for it has no-one to blame but itself. If the Federal our rural industries. Successive Queensland and State Governments were committed to Governments have encouraged industrial the bush and the development of sustainable development centred on Townsville with scant industries to support successful rural regard to findings. Attempts to obtain reliable production, sufficient water supply allocations information from the Department of Natural with appropriate water pricing and water Resources on land set aside in the Burdekin management policies, then rural Queensland Shire for industrial purposes for agro industry would not be in the position it is facing now. development have so far proved futile, not Although this legislation will provide for only for me but also for the Burdekin Shire environmental flows and hopefully guaranteed Council. allocations for the North and South Burdekin In common with many other rural Water Boards and individual water communities, the Burdekin supports the entitlements for land in the Burdekin River promotion of diversified value-added industries irrigation area, the Burdekin community is and agricultural development. Out of unclear about the amount of water already frustration, the Burdekin Shire Council called allocated from the Burdekin Dam for on the Department of Natural Resources, agricultural, industrial and urban commercial through a freedom of information request, to purposes, and I believe all existing and future identify land in the Burdekin Shire that has users should now have a knowledge of the been set aside as part of the Burdekin River quantity and percentage of the Burdekin Dam irrigation area development for industry and catchment area already allocated. agro industry development purposes. In a Further, there is a great concern among document released by the Queensland Water landowners and myself on the continuing Resources Commission in 1988 on the rights over water that simply falls from the sky Burdekin River project by the former Minister and is captured in small dams. We have seen for Water Resources and Maritime Services, in recent years water charges being levied on Martin Tenni, the following objectives of the landowners to have this water stored in these Burdekin Dam project were identified. small catchments. This is nothing more than The principal objective of the Burdekin an attack on the individual rights of landowners Falls Dam scheme is to provide adequate to be able to have the certainty of free water at water supplies for the irrigation of sugarcane, their own costings, and I certainly hope that rice and other crops on new lands to be this Government is not going down that path. 2982 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

This Bill must ensure the continued That is the easy bit. The devil, as always, prosperity of the Burdekin community as one is apt to be found in the detail, and the devil in of the most successful rural producing districts the detail of this legislation, leaving aside the in Australia. The Bill does not preserve the forest of amendments that the Minister has autonomy of the North and South Burdekin now brought forward—proving that he holds a Water Boards under a system by which the job that is utterly beyond him—conclusively boards receive bulk water allocations and with shows that this Bill is fundamentally flawed. trading arrangements vested in the boards. We have already heard from members on The Bill should be robust enough to handle this side of the House some of the detail of the recognition of existing practices to guide what this Bill would do to otherwise profitable natural resource management and to provide farmland. In particular, I commend to the for the recognition of diversity and where House yesterday's wise words of my continuous improvement and review are colleagues the members for Keppel, adopted as principles necessary for the Toowoomba South, Gregory and Crows Nest, achievement of appropriate reform. and yesterday and today the honourable This Bill needs to address impediments to member for Warrego. It is an utter mistake to the transfer of operational responsibility for the conclude that water resources for agriculture management of irrigation areas from the State and other farming uses is a matter that is only, to local bodies such as the North and South or only chiefly, of concern to rural and regional Burdekin Water Boards. It is essential that the voters. This Minister might be trying to win the water industry moves ahead and gets on with green vote with this and a range of other its core business, guided by good, well- legislation, but he should be aware that many thought-out legislative backing that is city people understand very well what the real unambiguous and can be readily understood. imperatives and priorities of farming are. The management, administration and Of course, Queenslanders everywhere are operation of the Burdekin River catchment concerned with the effective management of system by the Department of Natural scarce and often unreliable water flows. I Resources and the North and South Burdekin believe that Queenslanders everywhere would Water Boards are not properly enshrined in the also be very concerned to learn that property Bill. rights freely exercised for decades, and sometimes longer, are to be subject to I have acted responsibly to reduce the constraints under this Bill that would frustrate length of my speech due to time constraints, and frighten urban land-holders if similarly but in closing I would like to voice the concerns restrictive measures were placed on their of many farmers in the Burdekin community. I rights. ask the Minister in his reply to guarantee that primary producers dependent on the In fact, farmers are natural availability of cheap water will not become conservationists. It is true that some practices targeted peasants under the thumb of of the past have proved to be privatised water providers who will charge counterproductive in the longer term. The true exorbitantly for water that will be to the future conservationist—that is, the person who detriment of those producers. Will water users actually wants to conserve assets instead of merely locking them away—understands that be compensated for the loss of allocation? If new science and new technology make the Minister cannot give that assurance right advances possible. The key issues here relate here and now, then I will be letting all my to the effect of the legislation on the security of constituents know what the future holds for water entitlements, on property rights and them. I will also not support this Bill. investment and the very limited provision for Mr SANTORO (Clayfield—LP) (12 p.m.): I appeal and compensation. It is those two last think that everyone would agree that a modern components that have clearly marked this State such as Queensland genuinely needs to legislation as having sprung from the party that have a water regime that provides for the always knows best—the Labor Party. sustainable management of that resource. Let us look at the issue of overland flow. It Few people would object to the principle that is fair to say that while industry groups have there should be a regulatory framework for not advocated regulation of overland flow, service providers covering asset management, generally speaking there is acceptance of the customer standards and dam safety. There proposal. The Queensland Farmers Federation would be fewer, I am sure, who would query has sought to ensure that regulation takes the need for a governance regime for statutory place only in defined areas where there is a authorities that provide water services. risk that overland flow development will impact 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2983 on the use of water for pastoral and positions is dangerous. The Scrutiny of agricultural purposes. Legislation Committee raised a significant In this context, it is interesting that the issue when looking at clauses 808 to 828 Scrutiny of Legislation Committee suggested inclusive in the Bill, which is now subject to 148 that the Bill should, under clause 26, confer on Government amendments. Again, what a land-holders a right to impound overland flow shocking indictment on the Minister's water and subartesian water. That right would performance level! That issue related to the provide the opportunity to expand an creation of a large number of offences. It agricultural pastoral business. But the Minister said— wants nothing to do with that. He told the "The committee noted that the Bill committee that the Bill is concerned with the creates a large number of offences, many allocation of water and that works aspects are of which are punishable by substantial predominantly dealt with under the Integrated monetary penalties and terms of Planning Act 1997, known as the IPA. In other imprisonment. The committee further words, farmers should use the IPA to manage notes that a significant number of the their own private land-holding; or perhaps he more serious offences may be dealt with meant, "Try to use the IPA, just do not hold as though they were indictable offences." your breath while doing so." That relates to more serious offences. The The bottom line on management of water Minister responded as follows— resources is that nothing should be done that "I agree with the Committee that the limits business opportunities without adequate increases in penalties provided in the Bill compensation. In the context of this Bill, it is are substantial. However, the increases clear—as, for example, the mid-Condamine are necessary in light of similar offences working group has told the Minister—that provided for in the IPA. significant limitations are placed on development in the draft plan produced for the The works approvals process for area. In relation to existing agricultural areas, some water infrastructure is provided for generally as a point of principle, and under the Integrated Development particularly in terms of the mid-Condamine, it is Approval System, established under IPA. important to examine opportunities for on-farm Water allocation will come under the water efficiency gains with existing jurisdiction of the Water Act 2000. If a infrastructure. It is important that due case arose where a person had consideration is given to the need to unauthorised works constructed for the rationalise and activate existing inoperative purpose of taking water, it would be licences. There is a need to address inefficient inappropriate to have a lesser penalty for licences in tributary streams. Additionally, in taking the water than for constructing the terms of the mid-Condamine, it is agreed that works. additional water needs are not large. Further, the scale of some water I believe that in those few sensible points resource developments, and the value of we are hearing the genuine voice of crops planted means that the maximum conservation, and that is what we need to penalty needs to provide a suitable hear. We need to hear genuine conservation deterrent to the unauthorised taking of arguments, not the baloney we hear from the water." radical greens and increasingly, sad to say, The Minister went on to say— from the Minister responsible for this Bill. "Clause 931 of the Water Bill, Everyone is agreed that water is a finite referred to in the Committee report, is resource. No-one who works on the land in based on section 225 of the Sugar Queensland has ever been under any Industry Act 1999." misapprehension there. Everyone understands I would respectfully suggest to the Minister and the imperative to conserve water at a higher to other members in the House that that is Big efficiency rate than has been the case in the Brother speaking. That is bureaucracy past, but there is a difference between speaking. That is the Minister—the Minister agreement—genuine agreement—between who seems to think that the bush is that little private citizens and their Government on a ornamental shrub on the nature strip outside matter of community importance and the sort the House—failing in his ultimate duty as a of rule-by-diktat we increasingly see in political representative. The ultimate duty, legislation from this Government. since he needs reminding, is to protect the The difference is stark and the difference people from the overbearing attentions of big is clear. The great divide between the two Government. 2984 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

This legislation, as other speakers have the city. Of course, the first thing that he did said before me, and as I reiterate, is flawed. It was talk to all the environmentalists and ask is flawed in the detail. The Minister concedes them what is the need for the Logan/Albert that himself by coming into this place with 148 catchment area. amendments to his own Bill. It is also flawed Of course, the second group that he talks generally as an exercise in policy-driven to are those people representing the legislation that clearly takes very little account indigenous people of the area. The third group of the freedom of the citizen to work his or her that he talks to represent all of those own land or to prosper as a result of their own Government corporate bodies and big efforts, free from the risk that some remote businesses that have demands for water. bureaucracy will decide to place an artificial Then he talks to all the urban people. Of limit on their earning potential. course, the last people to whom he speaks are These are things that should worry, and those people who have been running the should worry very deeply, every free citizen of Logan-Albert catchment area for over 40 years this State. That is the reason the Opposition and who are very proud of what they have has taken the attitude to this Bill that it has. Of done environmentally with the Logan River. course, I support strongly the official They are very proud of the controls that they Opposition spokesman and other speakers have put in place in that particular area. who have spoken before me. Naturally these people become very upset because, as they say, this is central Hon. K. R. LINGARD (Beaudesert—NPA) bureaucracy gone mad. This process is going (12.07 p.m.): The difficulty that the to be placed in the hands of young Government has in introducing this water bureaucrats in Queen Street who will come out management Bill is that it is basically to the areas only every now and again but who exercising its theory of central control on a will write the regulations on how to control the group of people who believe very much in Logan River. control at a local government level. I say to all of those people who are We all realise that this Water Bill will bring involved in this legislation that, yes, there was in the WAMP control at a local level. Most of a need for some central control. When the the people at a local level agree that there has coalition was in power, it was also bringing in to be some sort of regulation and control over NRMs and looking at WAMP controls. But what is going on with the water. They all also surely it is possible to make sure that those agree that there have been some areas in bureaucrats who are making the significant Queensland, especially in central Queensland, decisions listen to the local people and that where there is a need for exercising greater the local people have some sort of control, control. But there are many areas—and my and feel as though they have control, over area of the Logan/Albert catchment is one— what is going to be decided. These people are where everyone is extremely happy and also very proud of what they have done so far. very proud of the water management of the When they hear that the environmentalists Logan/Albert catchment area. have been spoken to, that the indigenous So all of these people agree that whilst groups have been spoken to, that the there has to be extra regulation and extra business corporations have been spoken to control, this should be done at a local level. I and that those people who want domestic know that the Government goes out and tries water have been spoken to but that there to say, "Yes, we will listen to the local people. have been no conversations with the local We will listen to their theories and we will listen water boards and the water groups, then they to them." But what has just happened in my are naturally entitled to become very upset. area shows the reality. For four years these One of the reasons why the bureaucrats local people have been trying to get the need to talk to the locals in the Logan-Albert WAMP regulations drawn up. Recently the area is that the original decision to have the Minister and the department realised that it Maroon Dam, which feeds the Logan River, has not been finalised. So a young person was based on maintaining the economic was sent out with a demand that this be done viability of agriculture. Many of those people in eight or nine months. I realise that these who have irrigation licences asked—maybe officers have to be very well-versed in what has even demanded—that they receive a special to be done with WAMP legislation, but the amount of water and pay a special amount of person who was sent to the Beaudesert area money for it. Some of those people have had already been out to the Condamine area never exercised all of their entitlements in 40 and been subjected to the ideas from there. years. So when a young bureaucrat comes Also, he is a young person who comes from along and says, "Look at all the water in the 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2985

Maroon Dam that is not being used; we can their water boards and water advisory groups, take it for urban use and we can take it for have done an excellent job. I think that issue domestic use", with absolutely no of flood control is particularly important. These compensation whatsoever to that land-holder people understand how much water can be let who, because of his respect for the decision to down these rivers and how much water it is have the Maroon Dam has been paying all of necessary to have in these rivers. those fees for a long time and is not getting In short, I suggest to the Minister that, in any compensation whatsoever, it is natural setting up these WAMPs, we must ensure that that he will become particularly upset. the local people feel as though they can assist I ask that when the bureaucrats are in the decision making, that they will not be making these WAMP decisions they talk to all completely outvoted by the young of those land-holders, especially in the Logan bureaucrats. They must be assured that when River area, who for 40 years have been paying it is necessary to put WAMP regulations in money for water but never using all of their place, a young bureaucrat will not be sent out entitlements. Those people have also known from the city to undertake the task and how to control floods for the last 40 years. complete it within three months or four They know how much water is necessary to be months. There is no doubt that it can be done; held in the Maroon Dam. I would not be they can be drawn up very, very quickly. surprised if the Maroon Dam is 80% or 90% full However, the locals must be assured that at the moment. A young bureaucrat would these bureaucrats will sit down and talk with all probably ask, "Why don't we use that water?" of the groups involved. Certainly, there are Of course, those people who have run that groups in the Logan area who can have a very catchment for so long know that it is necessary significant input. to store water there in times of drought. If a Mr SPRINGBORG (Warwick—NPA) young bureaucrat turns up and says, "No, we (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) are going to use it; there is water being (12.16 p.m.): This Bill is certainly one of the wasted", then naturally the local people will most controversial pieces of legislation that will become extremely upset. come before this Parliament this year with the These people know that the rivers flood in exception, I suppose, of the Vegetation times of heavy rainfall. If these young Management Bill, which will be debated some bureaucrats do not talk to the local people, I time later this sitting week, or maybe even later am sure they are going to make some bad than that. There is little doubt that the issue of mistakes. These people know how to create water management is very controversial. I am low flows and ensure that the water gets sure the Minister has a good appreciation of through to urban areas when it is necessary. that from his discussions with people involved These people know how the carp affect the in the water industry and people who seek to rivers and what quantity of water is necessary regulate water usage in this State. I came to to try to eradicate the carp. I can do nothing appreciate that fact when, as Minister for but congratulate the Carpbusters in the Logan Natural Resources in Queensland, I talked to River and Rathdowney areas. They have people about WAMPs. I went out to the recently been running a program and Cooper catchment area to look at the potential promoting that issue. I also congratulate A. J. utilisation of water for broadacre irrigation. We Bush. They have been promoting Carpbusters were looking at how the Government could go to try to get rid of the carp in the Logan River. about balancing the competing needs of the At the last contest it was quite amazing to see community with the need to encourage the size of fish and the number of fish that economic development, to encourage an came out all of those river systems around irrigation industry and to ensure that Beaudesert. consideration was given to environmental I also think we have to realise that there is issues. an opportunity for the annual transfer of Certainly in my area a lot of people have licences but there is not a market in water been talking about the water allocation allocations. An open market in water management planning process, or the water allocations will enable the highest bidder to management planning process, depending purchase the available water to the detriment upon the way in which it is being implemented of the system. It may cause the degradation of in their area, and what is going to happen with valuable agricultural land surrounding the regulation in the future. The reason that the stream. The successful scheme on the Logan people are very much concerned about this River is a typical example of how local control issue is that they have invested a great deal of will work. However, central control will really money in their properties over a period. I have upset all of these people who so far, through only to go further down the system from my 2986 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 area to the proposed Condamine/Balonne all of those considerations and also ensure WAMP area to understand the feelings of equity. When I was the Minister and we were those people in the Dirranbandi and St George looking at the water allocation management areas. Many of those people have invested planning process for the Condamine and the hundreds of thousands—and in some cases Balonne, one thing was very apparent to me. tens of millions—of dollars in putting in And we should bear in mind that these infrastructure and they have also borrowed processes have been going on in Queensland money, which means that they have to meet for some five years now. It is a challenge for significant commitments. I know that the reference panels to work through some of shadow Minister has been made very well these issues. The model runs are also aware of this in his discussions with those challenging; there is a great deal of data. people. Before I became the Minister, about four People are extremely concerned about or five years ago, when the Fitzroy WAMP was what the Government is seeking to achieve in its gestation stage, I was told at a briefing through its water legislation. This Bill provides that merely changing some of the data in that the legislative mechanism for the water model run would create hundreds of allocation management planning process. It thousands of pages of output. That is the also reforms the way in which water has been significance of changing a few of the variables allocated and regulated in the State over a in a model run. There is a lot of toing-and- long time, and injects new concepts, such as froing and concern from people about the vesting the ownership of all water in the credibility of the information being used in the Crown—something that is creating a significant process. There is concern on the part of degree of concern in the community. I people on reference panels that they may not understand, though, that people who wish to be getting access to all of the data. When develop a stock and domestic water supply at draft WAMPs are released, people in the a reasonable level from overland flow will still public say that the department has not be able to do so. I am a little sympathetic to properly considered social or economic the point of view that, instead of vesting aspects in the development of a water ownership of all water that falls on one's land allocation management plan. in the Crown, perhaps it is better to address issues on an area-by-area basis depending In relation to the Condamine/Balonne, upon the demand in those areas. Certainly, in one issue brought to my attention some years other jurisdictions around Australia the ago—and it continues to be brought to my Government has sought to charge on that attention—is the need for an equitable basis. When the What Price is Water? distribution in the development of the irrigation document was released, people were industry in that area. I think we would all concerned that they would pay for water that concede that the area is very close to the point fell in their rainwater tank. That is not what this of maximum development, if it has not legislation addresses. However, people do reached that stage already. I refer to the area have issues and concerns about the vesting of around St George, Dirranbandi and perhaps a water ownership in the Crown, and I will be bit upstream from there. interested to see how the issue of overland In Chinchilla, downstream from Dalby, I flow evolves. believe there is an opportunity to ensure that I think we all concede that there are areas those people share equitably in any additional of extremely high stress across Queensland. I water that can be identified. There are a think we are all keen to address the issue and couple of very small weirs in that area. If we come up with the best mechanism for doing were to compare the amount of water involved that. On certain parts of the Darling Downs and there, we would see that it is just a drop in the in other parts of Queensland there are ocean. However, people are concerned that concerns. Equally, there are areas in they may not have the opportunity to benefit Queensland where this will never be a from any new water development. There are significant issue, because of the limited opportunities in that area. In Chinchilla the number of people who live in those areas, the water melon industry and other sunrise limited development opportunities and the industries are very important. sheer volumes of water that run across those In my area on the Upper Condamine areas of the State throughout the year. there is significant concern about the way in It is very important for the Parliament to which the water allocation management recognise that any regulatory regime needs to planning process is being undertaken and be properly targeted and that it does not need about its impacts. I will come back to that in a to be overreactionary; that it needs to balance moment. 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2987

At this stage, there is no draft WAMP for Murray-Darling Basin and the amount actually the border rivers. It is probably not all that far used. There was a fair difference between the away. But there are some issues in relation to amount used and the amount falling in it. I think the Minister is on public record as Queensland. I would be interested to see the saying that his preferred position is for no Minister's latest data. I think there is an further extraction from the border rivers part of opportunity for a proportional increase in the the State. One of the challenges for his amount of water that we continue to extract officers in that part of Queensland lies in from the system, if it is managed properly. I will developing this in consultation with New South bring a couple of examples to the Minister's Wales. The rivers in that area split New South attention in a moment. We need to be careful Wales from Queensland. It is also fair to say about this. that the amount of development in New South At the moment there are two examples in Wales is far and above the amount of my electorate that worry me. The Minister is development in Queensland. We would aware of the proposal by the Stanthorpe Shire continue to argue that there is not an Council for the development of a new dam on equitable distribution of development the Granite Belt to be located somewhere near opportunities for water between the States. Ballandean. The majority of the water that One of the challenges for the Minister on originates from the Granite Belt runs further the Murray-Darling Basin ministerial council is down the system. And I suppose some of it to ensure that Queensland is not made a may be used, once it gets towards or past scapegoat for the overdevelopment which has Goondiwindi, by the irrigated crops industry in occurred in New South Wales and Victoria. I that area, and an amount is used in understand that, at a recent meeting down horticulture around Stanthorpe, but most of it there, the Queensland Minister laid it on the runs out of that system. line to the Minister. That is to his credit. Even My concern is to ensure that at the same though some of the things I hear him saying time as providing an opportunity for further from time to time concern me a great deal, I development there is also a need to understand that he firmly advocated underwrite the provision of water for domestic Queensland's position at the last meeting. use in and around Stanthorpe. I think that is That is something that he has to continue to something that the Minister is aware of. The do. I went to only one of those meetings. At amount of water that that council has at the the briefing for that meeting I was told that we moment may stand it in good stead for the would be lined up by the Commonwealth and next half decade, but it is not going to go very all of the other States because they would much beyond that. There is a need for a little want to use us to balance their social bit more water to underwrite development on conscience; in other words, they would try to the Granite Belt. blame Queensland for the amount of overdevelopment or the poor state of the The new dam would provide an annual Murray-Darling system. yield of around 8,000 megalitres, which in the scheme of things is a very, very small amount The majority of water that originates in the of water. It is an amount of water which many Murray-Darling section in Queensland, which I individual irrigators in Queensland, particularly understand covers about 25% of the State in the southern area of Queensland, provide and produces about 15% of the water, runs for themselves. There are private out of Queensland into New South Wales and developments in the southern part of the State further down the system. That is not to say that store several hundred thousand that we do not have a responsibility. However, megalitres. We need to consider the I caution that it does provide us with some commercial, domestic and agricultural opportunities to be able to underwrite areas of requirements of the Granite Belt, which does Queensland that need further development to not have a major water storage. ensure their economic viability. The proposed water storage would be so Mr Welford: If science is any indication, minute compared with even the smallest dams we have lost our innocence. that we tend to build around Queensland as to Mr SPRINGBORG: I will be interested to be almost dismissed out of hand. I would be hear some more about that. Recently, I was very concerned that, going on the Minister's looking at a document from the commission statements, it may be ruled out. I know that headquarters in Canberra—it was from an some people out there are saying that he has irrigators meeting—which illustrated in graph indicated that he would not like to see any form a comparison of the amount of water more extraction from the border rivers. I am originating on Queensland's part of the just seeking an assurance that that does not 2988 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 extend to proposed water storage for the I would like to talk about a meeting of the Granite Belt, which is not just for some limited Cunningham and District Irrigators Association irrigation opportunity but very much to which was held just outside Warwick and which underwrite the future of the town of Stanthorpe I attended recently. In 1990 or 1991, those and also the surrounding little villages. I would people were part of a beneficial use review in like some assurances from the Minister, that area in relation to 92 megalitres of water. because I understand that at the moment Honourable members should keep in mind things are bogged down. that many people actually spill more water Mr Sullivan: But isn't that the problem? than that in priming their flood pumps. This Everyone wants their little bit, but the water was actually identified as not being used aggregate effect of that is what the Minister to its best effect and at that stage a has got to cope with. commitment was given that irrigators in the area would have an opportunity to tender for it Mr SPRINGBORG: I would just say that in 10 megalitre lots. Ten megalitres is probably 8,000 megalitres is a very, very small amount enough to produce about two hectares. It of water. might be three hectares, depending upon the Mr Sullivan: Sure, they want that; the year. It is a very, very small amount of water. cotton farmers want something else; the other They have been waiting for a long time. They farmers want something else; and the towns have been given all sorts of commitments by want something else. the Department of Natural Resources that Mr SPRINGBORG: The difference with there is an opportunity for the process to be this particular proposal is that one of its primary put in place. Even as late as early this year focuses is for domestic use. There are some they had had a commitment from officers of irrigation opportunities, but the amount of the Department of Natural Resources water which the irrigators are seeking there is reconfirming the commitments which had been very, very small. It is minute when compared given in the early nineties and confirming that with people who might be using 10,000 the process that had been put in place would megalitres on their own property throughout continue. the course of a year. We are talking about I understand that the Minister has put this 8,000 megalitres, probably 80% of that for the on hold and has said, "No, that will not now be entire Granite Belt and the town of Stanthorpe. happening. We will be waiting for the outcome We do need some assurances because of the Condamine/Balonne WAMP." I just do there is a concern out there about the future not think that that is fair when one considers for our town area. There is the equity issue that it is 92 megalitres and that we had a that I have been trying to talk about. If we had process which was started prior to water known these things 50 or 100 years ago, allocation management planning in maybe we would then have divided our Queensland and also prior to this new catchments and said, "You are going to have legislation. There is a basic decency issue a certain amount, you are going to have a here; I think we need to stick to our word. certain amount and you are going to have a I am hoping to take a deputation of those certain amount." Over the years there has irrigators to the Minister—I have actually been an extraordinary amount of development requested a deputation—to talk about this in certain areas. The cotton industry, for issue, because I have a lot of sympathy for example, is doing exceptionally well in their position. It concerns 92 megalitres Australia at the moment in terms of returns to identified before the Murray-Darling interim producers and the flow-on effect for the caps, before the water allocation management communities. That is extraordinarily good. But planning and before the new legislation. Until there is this equity issue in which there is not recent months those people have been led to an equal distribution of water along the river believe that it was all in place, that in an open systems. People are concerned that, because tendering process they would have a chance of the overdevelopment in some areas we are to purchase this water in 10 megalitre lots, and going to see a situation in which other areas now it has been stopped. It is water that was are completely closed off. I am saying that we previously and is currently captured in the need to consider all of those scenarios, and system; it is there. It is there in the Leslie Dam consider them properly, and we need to and it is something which is currently factored understand that one action here could have a into water use. I would just like a commitment very, very negative reaction not only for an from the Minister that he will look at revisiting irrigation community but also the development that particular issue, because it is extremely of a town. important to those people. 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2989

Another issue—and this is why I think we Service providers will set their own need to be moving with some degree of speed standards appropriate for their infrastructure. and certainty towards a conclusion on all this They will also draw up service levels agreed planning—is that a number of applications with their customers. Providers will need a have been held up awaiting the outcome of plan, such as a total management plan, to WAMPs and also the deliberations on the demonstrate how they will achieve those Murray-Darling Basin. It affects people who maintenance standards. This will cover such want to go into small viticulture operations and things as service levels, interruptions to supply, maybe have enough water for four or five pressure/flow conditions, etc. They will report hectares. We are not talking about broadacre annually to the regulator and will need their irrigated agriculture; we are talking about niche plans audited by an independent engineer, marketing, niche agriculture that actually probably every three years. produces a maximum return for the amount of The provider will develop standards for water that is used. If we look at wine customers outlining such things as the type of production, it involves certain tonnages of service to be delivered, the billing structure and grapes and then real value-added products procedure for complaints. Operators of and commodities. The same principle applies hazardous dams or dams with flood mitigation to horticulture. Many of those applications out purposes will continue to comply with dam there have been held up. Much about this Bill safety conditions. The Government will concerns me and we should be looking at streamline the reporting processes and will some amendments to it. ensure that the new regulations do not Time expired. financially burden service providers with limited Mr MULHERIN (Mackay—ALP) resources. To allow service providers time to (12.37 p.m.): In speaking to the Water Bill comply with the new arrangements, the Bill 2000, I would like to focus on the aspects of outlines a staged process for implementing the the maintenance of water service infrastructure changes. The Bill provides exemptions for and the new arrangements for water boards, in smaller service providers with less than 1,000 particular the implications for the Pioneer connections or an irrigation supplier with up to Valley water board and the Eton irrigation 100 users but less than a 20,000 megalitre scheme in the Mackay district. The provision of annual throughput. water in Queensland is fundamentally an I now turn my attention to the new essential service undertaken as a natural arrangements for water boards. This Bill sets monopoly, mostly by State and local out a more consistent way of establishing and governments or water boards. The nature of operating public sector water authorities, the industry is such that there is unlikely to commonly known as water boards. The ever be much competition in the provision of methods of accountability and governance water to customers. However, there will be arrangements will be simplified and will be greater commercialisation within the industry, more appropriate for all water authorities. and the private sector will participate more and Boards will fall into two categories—Category 1 more as years go by. and Category 2—depending on their size and With this reduction in Government control, status. Their accountability requirements will there is a greater need to ensure consumers match their category. Board members will have have a reliable supply and acceptable levels of clear roles and responsibilities. service. The Water Bill establishes a system of Category 1 boards will negotiate a regulation which requires service providers, performance plan directly with the Minister for both public and private, to be registered, to Natural Resources. All boards will have greater maintain their water assets and infrastructure flexibility in appointing board members. The in good condition, and to establish customer powers of the Minister in relation to water service standards. Local governments will be boards will be clearly identified and able to set their own service standards, administrative procedures will be streamlined. provided these are publicly reported. The The Bill also resolves the confused Water Bill will ensure that monopoly water accountabilities of board members as to providers adopt long-term maintenance whether they act in the interests of the board programs for assets and have customer or those who elected them, the lack of clarity service standards in place. The proposal is regarding the responsibilities of board staff and outcomes focused and does not seek to tell the CEO, cumbersome and inefficient providers how to manage their assets or deal establishment processes and conflicts of with their customers. interest for DNR staff sitting on boards. 2990 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

This Bill has implications for all water River. That authority will include a requirement boards, in particular the Pioneer Valley Water to maintain existing supply arrangements with Board and the Eton irrigators scheme. The the Pioneer Valley Water Board. Licences and Pioneer Valley Water Board was formed in other entitlements for water managed directly 1996 to construct and operate the irrigation by SunWater, that is, Mackay city and Eton reticulation works as part of the Teemburra irrigation area customers, will be spread into Dam project. Funding was provided by Mackay interim water allocation and supply contracts. Sugar and loans raised by the board. The Licences held by the customers of the Pioneer board comprises five members, three of whom Valley Water Board stipulate that the water is are elected from the 300 properties served in managed by the Pioneer Valley Water Board. the area. The two other members are Accordingly, these licences will be unaffected appointed by the Governor in Council on by the Bill. nomination from Mackay Sugar and the As I said earlier, the Pioneer Valley Water Department of Natural Resources. The current Board has expressed a concern about the board members are Mr Andrew Capello, the resource operator planning process under the chair; Mrs Annette Werner, the deputy chair; WAMP. The WAMP for the Pioneer and the and Mr Terry Neilsen, all of whom are elected development of the implementation plan will by the 300 property owners. It also consists of provide the basis for the trading of water Mr Eddie Westcott, the deputy chair of Mackay allocations. The Water Bill outlines detailed Sugar, and Mr Ed Donohue from the statutory requirements for consultation in Department of Natural Resources. The board developing the implementation plans through supplies water solely for irrigation of sugarcane notices, submissions and publicly available and holds a bulk allocation at present of draft plans. The Pioneer Valley Water Board 46,414 megalitres per annum. believes that it has developed an effective During public consultation on this Bill, water allocation management policy within the public meetings were held in the Pioneer Pioneer Valley water supply area. This policy Valley to discuss the implications of the Bill. In allows trade of allocation within its area. addition to the public forums, there have been However, the board has set rules to preserve a number of other meetings with the viability of each section of the irrigation representatives of the Pioneer Valley Water infrastructure. The board believes that this Board and the reform unit, including a meeting approach is an identical approach to that with the Minister for Natural Resources at the suggested in the Bill and it contends that its Proserpine Community Cabinet meeting to present arrangements should translate discuss particular issues of concern in relation through the entire WAMP process, including to the Bill. Central to these concerns has been the resource operation plan and issue of what the Bill means to the financial viability of resource operation licence for the board. the irrigation scheme, its board and The board has a current loan from the ratepayers. Queensland Treasury Corporation of $7m Until recently, the board was uncertain as which is funded by water charges on to its position under the new legislation where ratepayers. It will be 16 years before the loan all individual land-holders would have an is finalised. The remaining loan period for the allocation listed in a water entitlement register board extends past the ten-year term controlled by the Department of Natural proposed for the WAMP. The board is seeking Resources. The board's position was, and still assurance that its water entitlements are is, that the board should hold bulk allocation in preserved for the loan period. The board's the water entitlements register. I am pleased principal concern with the WAMP is that the that the Bill's transitional provisions expressly hydrological model studies show significant preserve the status quo of the board holding differences from the studies leading to the bulk allocations in the water entitlement approval of the Teemburra Dam project. The register until implementation of the Pioneer board has raised these model discrepancies Valley WAMP is completed, and I will through the WAMP process. However, its comment on the implementation of the concerns remain that these issues will not be Pioneer Valley WAMP later. fully addressed prior to release of the draft As part of the transitional provisions, State WAMP. The financial viability of the board is Water Projects, which will now be known as based on bulk water allocation and supply SunWater—I must say that I am also pleased reliability agreements agreed by all parties on that the Government has appointed the Mayor approval of the Teemburra Dam project. The of Mackay City Council, Councillor Julie Boyd, WAMP could affect this viability. to the SunWater board—will receive an With respect to the Eton irrigation scheme authority for its operations on the Pioneer and based on the past five years, the Eton 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2991 irrigation area in the Mackay region services I congratulate the Minister and his staff on the irrigation needs of 230 canegrowers who the consultation process. It has been a difficult use an annual average of between 23,000 and no doubt very emotional process for a lot and 25,000 megalitres at a current price of of people. However, I think most people would $41 a megalitre. Water is channelled from the agree that the old laws are outdated and need Kinchant Dam in the Eton area. The dam was to be changed. This Bill recognises that water built in the 1970s. In December 1997, an is our most valuable natural resource. For the interim local management committee was long-term economic prosperity of the State, established compromising Mr Dino Vezzoli, the the community has demanded that a water chair; Mr Colin Dunn, the deputy chair; Mr Tom management system be implemented that will Deguara; Mr Paul Vassallo; Mr John Muscat ensure that this valuable resource will be and Mr Tony McMahon, all of them available for future generations. canegrowers. It also comprised Mr Graham Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone—IND) Smith from Mackay Sugar and a DNR (12.50 p.m.): In rising to speak to the Water representative. During public consultation, the Bill I pass on my appreciation to the Minister committee met with the Water Reform Unit for the briefing his officers gave not only to me and expressed its concerns in relation to the but also to the Scrutiny of Legislation Bill. I also understand that it met with the Committee. They certainly made themselves Honourable Minister at the Proserpine available to answer any questions we might Community Cabinet meeting. have had. The major concern of the Eton irrigators is In dealing with many issues in this that, if usage remains at the current level Chamber we need to ensure that we balance based on the year 2000 of 24,893 megalitres, the needs of the environment, the needs of irrigators will face an $80 megalitre cost by the the community and the economic impact of year 2004-05. Their concern is that that will not what is being proposed. From talking to a be affordable, because incomes from cross-section of different people living in sugarcane production will not provide sufficient different areas, I wonder whether that balance profits to sustain the projected charges on has been achieved in the Water Bill. current levels of usage. I think that everyone in this House knows the current state of the The Bill proposes a quantum shift in the sugar industry. The interim committee has not rights of landowners to access overland flow been able to obtain a detailed breakdown of water—that is, rainwater. Since the 1920s costs, including DNR's corporate costs, from Government has vested in itself the control of the Water Reform Unit to consider the financial water in watercourses, lakes, springs and details of the scheme. underground sources. I believe that State ownership has been accepted by the majority If irrigation charges increase significantly, of people in the community, in many cases irrigators will be forced to reduce their demand because it is a bulk amount of water that is for irrigation and thus affect the viability of the available. I do not believe the current proposal scheme. The irrigators would like to establish a enjoys general community support. working party compromising DNR, the irrigators and, no doubt, Mackay Sugar to investigate In this Bill the Government is proposing to the establishment of a management plan control overland flow—that is, rainwater. Many which is cost efficient and which will deliver people were justifiably stunned. People put affordable irrigation whilst maintaining the questions such as, "Are they going to tax us infrastructure in a responsible manner. Eton next?" I put that to the Minister. Is there a plan irrigators have had discussions with the local to progress this new law so that in the future management of the adjoining Pioneer Valley people will be taxed for collecting rainwater in Water Board, whose operational costs and tanks and dams on their farm properties? I am overheads are much lower than those of DNR. talking in this instance about small farm dams The discussions have focused on developing a and farm tanks, not off-site storage or ring management plan to ensure the viability of the tanks. In the Minister's agenda is there an scheme. What they would like to do is opt out intention to introduce a charge on the basis of of SunWater and become part of a locally quantity of water collected? managed scheme. They believe that that will I guess it would be six months since that enable the growers to achieve benefits whilst query regarding the intention of Government still delivering water in an affordable manner. I to control overland flow was raised. This would like the Minister to respond to the issues person, who does not live in my electorate, I have raised on behalf of the Pioneer Valley raised with me an issue involving another Water Board and the irrigation scheme State in which this type of control was put in irrigators. place. When I checked with the Minister's 2992 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 office I was told that there was no proposal for taking water for domestic purposes and for that to occur. We are not that far down the watering stock. Clause 21 states in part— track, yet this Bill has been introduced. I "... the chief executive may limit or prohibit wonder whether the answer given to me at the taking of water under section that time was truly accurate. 20(3)(a)"— We in this Chamber should be looking at that is, from a watercourse, lake or spring for minimising, not maximising, the new rules, domestic purposes or stock watering— regulations and laws we put in place in regard to our community. In the briefings I had on the "or (4)(a)"— Water Bill, the one constant was that the that is, from overland flow for domestic catchments under stress at the moment are purposes— the Balonne, the Condamine and the Flinders. "for watering a garden, by publishing a I put it to the Minister that, in most people's notice." minds, they are the ones that should be covered by this legislation. If the question is Where will the notice be published? Many of asked why not cover just the Condamine, the the people who live on these properties that Balonne and the Flinders by this legislation, have dams or tank catchments do not get the the answer is given that if a subsequent area paper, or if they do they may get it once a came under pressure the Government would week. How will that notice be published? How have to come back to the Parliament. My broad will its distribution be? How informed will response is that that is not an onerous the community be? situation. The Bill states that the notice can prohibit the use of water in tanks and dams for The people of Queensland do not think watering gardens. I say to the Minister that the having to draft a new Bill to cover a new area people who wrote that provision have never is a big deal when we are talking about lived in an area in which people rely on caught introducing new laws and regulations that will water, because everybody who has a dam or significantly erode their rights and liberties. tank has a ranked order of use. When it gets Much of that is perception. The Bill states that, dry, they start to stop watering the garden. I unless the catchment is at risk, the freedoms am not talking about people with bores; I am people have to harvest rainwater will remain talking about people who catch water in dams the same as before the legislation was or in tanks. They already do knock it off. It is introduced. The reality is, however, that the Bill called self-preservation. So a clause in the is in place, it does vest in the State control of legislation whereby the chief executive can overland flow and it does raise in people's publish a notice and state that people cannot minds a significant erosion of their freedoms use water in dams and tanks for watering a and their rights. I ask the Minister why this Bill garden is unnecessary and, I think, dangerous could not have just addressed those highly at- because people may not know the notice has risk catchments of the Balonne, the been published. They may not get to hear Condamine and the Flinders. about it, and the maximum penalty is a fine of I refer to one of the savings that has been $37,500. I find that to be most reprehensible. touted in the Bill. Clause 20 states— As I said, most people who live in places "Despite subsection (6), an owner of where they rely on tanks and dams already land on which there is overland flow water control their use of water. or overland flow water that has been The quantum shift this Bill makes is one collected into a dam may take the water— that I do not believe is necessary. If there are (a) for domestic purposes; or problems, of course they should be addressed. We hear often that Australia is the (b) for watering stock of a number that driest continent in the world. I think most of us would normally be depastured on the fail to appreciate that until we have a long dry land." spell. Many people who live in the cities, by the The clause goes on to talk about the ability of very nature that they turn on a tap and get people to take water from a watercourse, lake water, do not understand it either. But anyone or spring for camping purposes or for watering who has lived in a rural community, even on a travelling stock. Agforce is pleased to see that five-acre lot that relies on its own water in legislation because it enshrines the right of catchment, knows that water is a precious people to take water for domestic and stock commodity. watering purposes. However, there is a This quantum shift, this undermining of constraint on that right. The same page sets people's freedoms, is in my opinion unjustified. out limitations on taking water. This applies to The Bill should have been restricted to those 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2993 high-risk catchments of the Balonne, the do? What will he say to a landowner who has Condamine and the Flinders. Then the officers a dam that he has determined has too much of the department should have placed on water in it for their needs? I am just talking them the responsibility of demonstrating to the about a dam that is pushed up on a property; I Parliament, irrespective of who is in am not talking about a ring tank or offsite Government at the time, that there is a need storage. The Minister has just said that he has for another catchment to be listed. That would the mechanism to direct the owner to be preferable to implementing this unilateral redistribute the water in that dam. How will he constraint. assess how much water needs to be A number of other areas of concern have redistributed, and in what way will he direct the been raised. The first is the level of penalties landowner? Will it be through a letter? Will it be being proposed under this Bill. I know that the through a notice? Minister has responded by saying that they are The other issue on which I seek commensurate with the penalties in other clarification from the Minister relates to the legislation brought into the House, but these protection from the rule of self-incrimination. penalties are significantly high. To a cotton The question relates to the administration of a grower, a fine of $127,500 may not amount to water authority. The answer given in relation to much, but I wonder how often people who the removal of the right to not answer a may inadvertently contravene a direction they question on the basis of self-incrimination says have not read and have had no access to will that the information gained cannot be used be subject to or at least liable for a maximum directly in a criminal hearing. However, it leaves fine of $37,500. I think it would be tragic if open the possibility of the information gained anyone did actually cop that maximum fine, being followed through in an alternate or but I would be interested to see how many parallel investigation and then coming back to people are actually liable for such a high fine. bite the person giving the information. I Sitting suspended from 1 p.m. to wondered whether all secondary use of the 2.30 p.m. information is covered in the Bill or whether it is Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM: There is a just that, in certain circumstances, the question that I would be interested in having information cannot be used against the person the Minister answer on the record. I know that but, in other circumstances, they may be there was an answer to this question in letters vulnerable. to the Scrutiny of Legislation Committee, but I I want to raise the Draft Water would be interested in a bit of additional Management Plan for the Boyne River. I was information. Where an existing dam has water invited to only one or two of the meetings of which is deemed by the Minister to be surplus the group that finalised the format of the to domestic or reasonable stock watering Boyne River Draft Water Management Plan. needs—and I notice that the Bill refers to the However, I know that during its deliberations it amount of stock that a property of that size was clearly under the impression and of the should have running on it—is it the Minister's understanding that it was a Draft Water intention to give a direction to the owners of Management Plan and not to be used for the those dams to redistribute the water in some allocation of water. The group was of the view way, whether that is to the closest stream or that it was not a WAMP; it was a WMP. Clause wherever? Not all places that have dams and 1044 of this Bill unilaterally makes the status of tanks would have a stream in close proximity. WAMPs and WMPs the same. It says here Many properties do not go anywhere near a that a WMP can be used for allocation creek. From recollection, the response the purposes. It states— Minister gave the committee was not, from my perspective, 100% clear. I just wondered "The Draft Water Management where there was a mechanism in the Bill to (Boyne River Basin) Plan 2000 is taken to allow the Minister to give a direction to a be a Draft Water Resource Plan that landowner to release water in some way, provides a framework for establishing shape or form. water allocations." Mr Welford: Yes. I know that during the whole process of the Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM: Would the group formulating the plan, it was under the Minister be able to outline in his reply the impression that it was not going to be used for mechanism that he would use, please? allocations. I am not for one minute implying that the information it gained was inaccurate or Mr Welford: The power under the Bill. incomplete—not for a minute. But in some Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM: The Minister has instances the members of the group were the power under the Bill, but what would he landowners who, had they known they were 2994 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 formulating a Water Allocation Management Some people in my electorate have pumping Plan, may have included different guidelines licences. We certainly do not have anyone with and parameters in their discussions. They may the vulnerability of cotton growers or others have included some other specific information with massive farms, as in western Queensland. that should be included in an allocation plan However, we do have people who irrigate as opposed to a management plan. At the lucerne and other crops. The Bill says that meeting that I attended, it was anecdotally changes to water allocations under the 10-year said that this plan is just an assessment of period that will be introduced by this Bill will be what water is available, just to map the water eligible for compensation for the value of water availability. I believe that, on that basis, they lost. So if they are paying $100 a megalitre for may feel aggrieved that this Bill unilaterally water and the Minister removes 20 megalitres changes the status of that plan without their from their allocation, they will get $2,000. having the chance to revisit it. I wonder I wonder about the equity of that, given whether the Minister will give those people and that, for the allocation they currently have, the other affected landowners the opportunity people will be developing infrastructure and to comment again on the Draft Water investing in cropping or grazing to use the Management Plan on the basis that it is now allocation they currently hold. The going to be used for the allocation of water compensation is for the value of the water lost, resources. not for the value of the infrastructure or Under clause 42 of the Bill, the Minister forgone earnings. I wonder how the Minister can issue a moratorium notice to direct that explains that that compensation is so narrowly applications for taking water will not be focused. The easy answer is to say, "With the accepted or dealt with until a Water Resource money that we give them, they buy another Plan is approved or the notice withdrawn. allocation." The fact is that it will be a seller's Water Allocation Legislative Bulletin No. 9 market, because water is a scarce commodity, contains a map in the back which is very and I have not argued against that for one helpful and shows that most areas of the State minute. It may be that the formula the have either a draft WRP or a WAMP or a department uses to develop the value of water WMP over them, which are now all transferred may be quite different from the value structure to water plans. However, what I want the used by somebody with an overallocation who Minister to clarify is whether it is his intention— has water to sell. it is not in the Bill, but the power is in the Bill— I wonder what mechanism is in place to once this Bill is passed to issue a moratorium ensure that farmers are able to avoid notice on all applications so that none that is significant income losses because of this currently with Government will be dealt with compensation. For periods longer than 10 until all the plans are in place. That is not what years there is no compensation at all. I wonder the Bill says will happen; the Minister just has how the 10-year period was ascertained. I the power to do that. know that it was going to be shorter and Mr Welford: That is administratively in Agforce is grateful for the Minister's willingness place now. to listen to its concerns. As a result, the period Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM: Right across has been stretched to 10 years. I do not know Queensland? the rate of return on farming investments, but I would hope that it is under the 10 years so Mr Welford: Wherever there is a WAMP that they are not out of pocket. The being prepared. Government defends its position, I Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM: But there are understand, by saying that the current licences some areas where there is not a WAMP. can be revoked at any time, but it would be There are not many, but there are a few on interesting to know what level of licences are that map. Is the Minister intending to put a actually revoked or have been revoked over moratorium on applications so that they the last five or 10 years. cannot— Local authorities have expressed some Mr Welford: No, not if there's not a concern about this Bill, particularly with the WAMP. increased regulatory role that the State will be taking and the additional costs that this will Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM: I thank the place on councils. Again, it would be Minister very much. interesting to see what cost benefit analysis There are a couple of other issues I has been done on that. The Gladstone Area wanted to raise today. Other members have Water Board restructure is in this Bill. That talked about compensation. I would have to continues to be an issue of concern. I received echo the concerns of those who have spoken. Treasurer Hamill's press release that stated 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2995 that the two councils are very happy with the was given to environmental issues that are current arrangements. However, I would be considered frequently today. As times interested in their feedback. I have sent the changed and as the tobacco industry slowly press release off to them and I am waiting to died—it is still in the process of dying—the use hear back from them to see whether they are of water from the Tinaroo Falls Dam changed. really are happy with the new structure. Anyone who knows this area will know that a Time expired. lot of sugarcane is planted inside the MDIA. Sugarcane uses a lot more water than Mr NELSON (Tablelands—IND) tobacco, so therefore Tinaroo Falls Dam's (2.41 p.m.): I have mixed feelings on this Bill. water is now not only used differently, but a In one respect, I welcome the Bill because we larger volume is used. do need to look seriously at the way water is used in this State. The competition for water is, of course, As previous speakers in this debate have relative to what we are growing on the said, Australia is one of the driest continents tablelands. Although there is a huge on earth, yet the area which I represent, the catchment area, the existence of only one tablelands, is probably the wettest place in dam of a limited capacity means that there is a Australia. On many occasions the towns of limitation placed on the growth of our Topaz, Babinda, Bartle Frere and Bellenden agricultural industries within the Mareeba- Ker and surrounding areas compete yearly for Dimbulah Irrigation Area, or the MDIA. So the the record for the highest amount of rainfall in situation has arisen, as I and other members the country. Anyone from north Queensland or have mentioned in the House before, where anyone who has visited north Queensland will we do need a secondary catchment so that we know that that area measures rainfall in can manage our water more effectively. metres, not inches, and it certainly has a large When a massive volume of rain falls on capacity for gathering water. I will touch on that the mountain range that we call the tablelands later. and travels straight down to the Great Barrier The first point I would like to make is: yes, Reef, two things happen: firstly, the water can we do need to look at some reform of how we take a lot of silt and debris with it straight into use our water, how it is managed and how it the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park; and, can be distributed effectively to the people secondly, we miss out on a major resource. who need it the most. I endorse a lot of the The use of water as a resource is integral to comments that have been made on this side this Bill. of the House, particularly the comments from Once again I say to the Minister and put the previous speaker. Certainly some very on the record that a second dam is needed in interesting points have been raised. I will not that area not only for agricultural and water go over those points now. I will listen intently to management purposes but also for the Minister's answers. environmental reasons. I am not sure whether I raise a few local issues that have been the Minister has been taken up and down the raised with me in regard to water and its length of the Walsh River, but anyone who management and distribution in my electorate. knows the Walsh River would know that there Basically, the only supply of water in the used to be a great series of weirs up and down tablelands area is the Tinaroo Falls Dam. It is a that river. Some of those weirs are now three very large dam. It was built in the fifties. It was or four feet underneath silt. They are built predominantly, if not only, to supply water completely covered up because of the lack of to the tobacco industry in the Mareeba- water flow down the Walsh River at certain Dimbulah Irrigation Area. This is an important times of the year. A dam at the headwaters of point. The dam's capacity was measured, the Walsh River—this is Nullinga dam—would distributions were drawn up and the whole enable the Walsh River to be flushed on the tobacco industry of north Queensland was occasions when it needs to be flushed and it planned around the capacity of the Tinaroo would sustain an environmental flow down the Falls Dam and the volume of water that could Walsh River without draining too much on the be used from it. Tinaroo Falls Dam. The problem experienced today is that The other problem that is experienced the use of water from the Tinaroo Falls Dam with water management on the tablelands is has changed. In the 1950s there was little to the need for Cairns to grow. The situation that no concern given to environmental issues. No- occurred with the road this morning highlights one really thought about what would happen the fact that Cairns is growing. Cairns is a city to the Walsh River or the Barron River after the that is on the move. There is not much room building of the dam. Very little real concern for it to grow further towards the coast; it will 2996 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 have to grow more towards the tablelands. A tablelands; this is a problem that affects all problem associated with the growth of Cairns dams—with the regulated supply of water. If will be its need in the very near future to people pay—in some cases very large consider an alternative water supply to the one amounts of money—for water, what it already has. Considerable strain is placed on guarantees do they have of supply? I suppose Cairns water supply in the dry season coming this is one of the good points of the Bill in that up to the wet season. Even though many it is going to address—or I hope that it is going people tell me, "Cairns does not take water out to address—those supply needs and a of Tinaroo at the moment directly", Cairns guarantee of supply for the future. Again, does look for water out of Tinaroo coming water is a product that farmers buy to down through the hydro-electric power station guarantee their livelihoods. They pay a certain at Barron River. Whether that is a direct usage amount of money for it and they expect to be or not, there will be a future need for a water able to draw on that water when they need it. catchment within the area and the adjacent That point touches on the issue of areas around Cairns. compensation that has been raised by other There are very limited areas where this speakers. can occur because Cairns is surrounded by Having said that, of course, there are world heritage rainforests and mountain many more concerns about this Bill. The ranges. The most viable option for a water relevant user groups on the tablelands have storage area is the western part of the made their representations to the department Atherton Tableland to feed the MDIA, and to the Minister. I encourage them to do so therefore freeing up some of the water in further and I will pay great attention to what Tinaroo which, I am told, is very heavily used if the Minister says. In closing, I would like to not 100% allocated at the moment. Again, I express my reservations as to the number of am not sure whether the WAMP is completed amendments that have been proposed to the there yet, but suffice to say that the water that Bill at such a late stage. I have very limited is coming out of Tinaroo is a very heavily used resources at my disposal. Unless I sit down resource at the moment. Therefore, to free up and read through all of those amendments water out of Tinaroo one needs to supply myself, it is very difficult for me to get the gist water into the MDIA. We must also remember of what is being proposed by those that the MDIA is gravity fed, so the dam needs amendments. I do not think that that is the to be on the same sort of level and capacity as right way of doing things. If the Government Tinaroo. All points lead towards Nullinga. It is wants to get some level of cooperation and it not a political thing; it is more a necessity than wants people to have a level of trust and anything else. A new dam is necessary not certainty in what is going on, it should make only because of agricultural reasons but sure that everyone is involved in the process, because of the growth of the region's instead of bringing in amendments to the Bill population, for environmental reasons and to at a late stage. But far be it from me to lecture allow flows down the Barron River and Walsh senior members of Parliament on what to do. River on all occasions. All I can say is that if more time was given, Other points raised with me as serious maybe we could reach some common ground. concerns regarding water management on the At the moment, the Bill does not have my Atherton Tableland is the guaranteeing of support because I have reservations. As I said, water rights into the future. One of the many of those reservations have been raised problems that this area has—as I said, even already by other speakers. I will listen to the though it is one of the wettest parts of the Minister's reply and make my judgment then. world—is that it experiences severe dry spells or wet seasons that do not always pay off. As Mr REYNOLDS (Townsville—ALP) recently as 1996 or 1997 Tinaroo Falls Dam's (2.51 p.m.): It is with a great deal of pleasure capacity fell to around 27%, which is a very that this afternoon I speak in support of the dangerous level for the dam's capacity to fall Water Bill 2000. First of all, I congratulate the to. It is dangerous not only because of the lack Minister for Environment and Heritage on what of water but because of its quality of water. can only be described as a very historic Water When the water level of a dam falls to such a Bill 2000 that has been presented to the low capacity, it is incredibly heavily silted and it Parliament. contains a large amount of fish kill which, in I know that matters pertaining to some cases, turns the water putrid and makes development—whether we are talking about it unusable. secondary industrial development or primary So there is a problem—and, of course, industry development—and the ability to this is not just a problem with dams on the balance that with environmental management 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2997 always leads to a fairly good debate in the link Townsville by pipeline to the Burdekin community with the major stakeholders Dam. So we have the Paluma Dam, our involved. I congratulate the Minister on the historical water source, the expanded Ross level of consultation that has taken place with River Dam and then the linkage to the this Water Bill. Certainly, I thank the Minister Burdekin Dam. I think that that water and his staff for briefing me on a couple of framework will stand Townsville in good stead occasions in regard to concerns that I had for many, many years to come. It means that about the Townsville Thuringowa Water Supply when we are looking at putting in new Board. infrastructure and increased industrial, In relation to this water reform Bill that has commercial and residential development, we been presented to the Parliament, I would like can say that we have an excellent water to refer to the history of the supply to cope with that. I would go so far as Townsville/Thuringowa region and then look to say that, with those three water storage into the future in terms of what the area's facilities, Townsville City probably has one of water needs will be. Of course, Townsville has the most reliable, if not the most reliable water often been described as being located in the supply along the east coast of Australia. That dry tropics—surrounded by hills and not having is very much to the credit of Townsville and as much rainfall as other areas of tropical north Thuringowa. We also have good roads, good Queensland. Indeed, water planning has sewerage and an excellent port. Of course, always been very, very important for this Government is doing all that it possibly can Townsville. Unlike other local governments to ensure that we have a base load power around Australia, in Queensland local station in Townsville. In effect, that will mean government plays a very forward planning role that the last piece of the jigsaw is well and truly in terms of water. Certainly, that has historically in place. been the case. For decades leading up to the In my wider responsibility as the 1970s, Townsville depended on the Paluma Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, over Dam for most of its water supply. Indeed, the past two years I have had meetings with a water from the Paluma Dam, which is situated range of stakeholders in regard to water in the Mount Spec area, is obtained by a allocation and planning for the Burdekin Basin pipeline that travels about 70 kilometres along catchment area. A number of different water the Bruce Highway to Townsville. The Paluma supply sources have been identified and they Dam has been a very good source of water will now be examined by the Department of supply for Townsville. Of course, these days it Natural Resources in terms of the water is only a minor source of supply. allocation plan for the Burdekin Basin In the 1970s, the council and the State catchment area. I know that some of those Government worked together to build the Ross sources include Hells Gate near Charters River Dam. Stage 2 of the Ross River Dam, Towers, Burdekin Stage 2, the Elliot Main with the uplifting of the wall of the dam, Channel and the Urannah dam. increased its capacity. Today, the Ross River If I could say one thing to the Minister Dam plays a major role in the supply of water today, it would be this: if we look at the for Townsville/Thuringowa and increasing the development, particularly the primary industries residential, commercial and industrial development of that area, it is very, very development in our community. The Townsville important that the water allocation planning City Council is a go-ahead council and the takes place as soon as possible to ensure that Townsville community is a go-ahead we make a decision in regard to where the community. Over the past two or three next major storage area will be. I ask the decades, we have been attracting Minister to give that matter priority over the development to Townsville and we have been next year, because I know that the people of able to encourage major industrial growth as the Burdekin, Bowen, Proserpine and other well. As was the case with Sun Metals and any areas of north Queensland are keen to get on future industrial development, water and water with that water management planning. As a legislation are most important for our region. Government, I know that we are keen to do so In the 1980s, after many years of as well. drought, the Townsville City Council and the This Bill is enshrined in a principle of Townsville Thuringowa Water Supply Board ecologically sustainable development. That had a very important decision to make as to principle of ecologically sustainable whether Townsville linked up with the Burdekin development is of integrated environmental Dam. That dam, which was on the drawing management. As I said before, it is about boards for decades, was built and in 1988 in finding a balance between development and my time as Mayor of Townsville we decided to the environment. Historically in Australia, we 2998 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 have got that wrong so many times. This Bill is excellent and it took in the needs of the a very historic Bill. It looks at the dichotomy of Townsville/Thuringowa councils and the demand and supply within a planning Townsville/Thuringowa Water Board. I thank framework that has at its ultimate principle the Minister for that consideration. ecologically sustainable development. I I fully support this visionary Water Bill commend the Minister and his staff for 2000. I am sure that, as the years go on, the bringing forward this Bill in that way. vision that lies behind this Bill—the principle of I think generations to come will look at this ESD—will be recognised not only by this Bill and say that it was visionary. It is not only generation but also by future generations of about today; it is also about generational Queenslanders. equity. What we do today, what we plan for Mr PAFF (Ipswich West—CCAQ) and what we implement is for the future (3.02 p.m.): I rise to debate the Water Bill, generations of Australians as well. This Bill, about which I have had great concerns ever with its central principle of ecologically since it was first proposed. This is about sustainable development, allows for that control, not water management. The generational equity to be put in place. amendments look like something from another I noted that within that planning Bill. In the past 30 minutes I have been framework there is a challenge to develop a bombarded with more amendments and I am modern water law aimed at improving the finding it difficult to stay on top of it all. The security of supply for future users, ensuring previous speaker mentioned the Council of that future water developments are Australian Governments, or COAG. It was sustainable while also protecting the health of reported on 22 August that the Minister, Mr our rivers and our catchments. That is a very Welford, attacked the way in which the Federal laudable goal and a very important challenge. Government was approaching water reforms. That challenge has been taken up within the That might rule out some of the previous framework offered through this Water Bill speaker's comments about how the Federal 2000. Government might be looking at this. My final comments relate to the other The Lower Lockyer irrigation area, in my principles enshrined in the Bill that have come electorate, is one of the most significant areas out of the Council of Australian of intensive primary production in this State. At Governments—COAG—water framework and present the cost of water is $14.30 per the challenge that we as State Governments megalitre and it costs $15.29 per megalitre not have to meet the requirements of COAG. used. The average usage is 6,690 megalitres. Previously in this House I have said that I do By the year 2005 it is proposed that the cost not particularly laud and hold up as public will be $40.75 per megalitre. Small systems policy that is in the interests of all Australians cannot sustain the cost of $46,400 per year, some of the things agreed to by COAG in and that will increase to $354,589 per year by terms of National Competition Policy in the the year 2006. The centralising of water early nineties. But I know that that is the policy. management in Brisbane is costing The COAG water framework has required the $177,204—just to run a bureaucratic office in Queensland Government and all other States Brisbane that is superfluous to requirements. to implement a comprehensive system for This management facility should be based in water allocation and management. That the areas where the water is stored and used. framework and system is what is being It appears that this Bill is benchmarking presented today in the Water Bill 2000. against the Victorian control of water and that I thank the Minister and his staff for Queensland cannot sustain this cost structure. working with me, the Townsville City Council Whenever a change is made by Governments and the Townsville/Thuringowa Water Board in relation to the allocation and supply of water on the unique challenges in relation to the we can be sure of one thing, and that is that water generation and supply issues inherent in the cost to the farmer will rise. Just as surely as the Townsville/Thuringowa area today. The night follows day the price of water will Mayor of Townsville, Councillor Tony Mooney, continue to go up. How can this or any other and I made strong recommendations to the Government in Australia expect the rural Government, as did my colleague from the community to foot the bill for ever-increasing Mundingburra electorate, Lindy Nelson-Carr. water prices when Government inaction and The Government was able to see the unique interference is forcing our farmers to compete and historic circumstances in terms of both the with international markets that are hopelessly generation and distribution of water by the corrupted and unfair? Our farmers are individual councils. That consultation was expected to pay the real price for water while 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 2999 others around the world are being subsidised outcome. After all, this Government—this open and supported by their respective and accountable Government—has appointed Governments and then turning around and as its Minister for Environment a man who is dumping their subsidised production into claimed as a member of the Federation of Australian markets. Earth. One could not get much loopier than There are many areas in this Water Bill that. This mob believes absolutely in one world which are ambiguous and which do not spell Government. Many of its ideas seem out clearly just what is going to happen to praiseworthy at first. How can we argue with water supplies in particular areas. To give the idea of a world where everybody has the honourable members some idea of how this freedom to do just about anything? What Water Bill has not been widely advertised and about their belief that all people of the world the lack of the wider community's knowledge must have the freedom to travel without of the implications of the Bill, I point out that passports, visas or other forms of registration last week in Toogoolawah the local National used to limit travel between and among or Party candidate for the new seat of Nanango within nations? Can members imagine what did not even know of the existence of the Bill. this country would look like after a few years of The people in the bush have not had time to totally unrestricted immigration from every become aware of the Water Bill. country and region on this earth? That is the type of muddle-headed thinking coming out of An article on Tuesday, 22 August in the this Government and this Minister in particular. South Burnett Times was the first time that this How can we possibly expect a man who thinks Bill was reported in that newspaper. That like that to preside over the solution to the underlines the lack of consultation in this complex problems involved in legislation such district, which depends heavily on irrigation. In as this? his second-reading speech, the Minister claims Another matter of great concern to people that there has been widespread consultation in my electorate is the fact that this Bill with industry, but he could list only the continues the trend of this Government's Queensland Farmers Federation and the legislation that devolves power and authority Queensland Irrigators Council as names that away from the elected representatives of the at least sound vaguely like they may have the people and concentrates that power in the interests of land-holders and the bush in hands of unelected, faceless bureaucrats. In general at heart. almost every place where it counts, this Bill The Queensland Farmers Federation vests all decision making in the chief executive answers to the National Farmers Federation— of the department. This is a totally a body borne out of desperation in the bush. unacceptable state of affairs for people in the The people who started this group no doubt bush. They are horrified that the director- had the best of intentions, but they have since general has the power to impose penalties of been overrun by the economic rationalists, free up to $124,000 and that he has the power to traders and globalists. These days it looks turn honest farmers into criminals. At the very more like a committee of the United Nations least, decisions of the nature that are required than an organisation dedicated to fighting for to implement this Bill should be vested in the the wellbeing of Australian farmers. So it is Parliament and devolved from there to local asking a bit much to expect the Queensland working groups or committees who are Farmers Federation to stand up for the rights concerned about the use and distribution of of farmers. It is simply one more peak body water in a particular area. that has been subverted by the globalists. Further, I find that there is no appeal Next we come to the Queensland process for people who are not satisfied with Irrigators Council. I believe that most of the the decisions of the department in relation to people involved in that council have their their water allocations and, again, no hearts in the right place, but when stacked up compensation. A right of appeal is not what against the might of such powerful lobby the farmers want. They want their water and groups as the Queensland Conservation the right to go about their business and their Council and the Environmental Defenders livelihood. They want this Government and all Office I believe they would have little hope of other interfering Governments to simply leave being heard above the uproar of the pro- them alone and allow them to get on with their greenie and pro-free trade lobbyists. lives. Anyway, I am quite sure that, irrespective I am very concerned about an of how many pro-farming groups were involved approximate $2.7m consultancy fee that was in the consultation process, it would make paid to a former senior public servant to absolutely no difference whatsoever to the complete the draft water allocation 3000 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 management Bill and that to this time the even with access to a small percentage of that Minister has not fully explained how that $2.7m. consultancy contract was awarded. It would be This Bill completely replaces a number of interesting to hear from the Minister how this existing Acts, including the Water Resources came about. Act of 1989 and the Gladstone Area Water Dr PRENZLER (Lockyer—CCAQ) Board Act of 1984 and further amends the (3.11 p.m.): I rise to speak on the Water Bill Sewerage and Water Supply Act of 1949, the 2000 that was introduced into this House by Petroleum Act of 1923 and a number of other the Minister for Environment and Heritage and smaller Acts as well. Currently these existing Minister for Natural Resources. There is no Acts vest the right to water found only in water doubt that water is such a scarce commodity in courses, public dams, natural lakes and this country that some sort of water springs in the control of the State Government. management is absolutely necessary to Clause 19 of this Bill states— ensure the fair equity of water supply to all "All rights to the use, flow and control users under a sustainable water management of all water in Queensland are vested in regime. Australia is undoubtedly the driest the State." continent on this planet. What would our In simple terms, up till now all waters, including farmers and other water users give to have the rain and overland flows on private property, consistency of rainfall that so many of our were accepted as belonging to that property. competitors on the world agricultural markets The pivotal part of this whole Bill is that this enjoy! Australia consistently swings from right of water ownership will be removed from periods of drought to periods of major floods property owners. There is no doubt that this will with very little in between. At this very moment, impact very heavily on land-holders who, for south-east Queensland has been stricken by many years, have accepted it as their common one of the worst droughts on record. law right to use that water as they saw fit. Having read this Bill, I believe that this There is also no doubt that in some parts of Minister has again failed miserably. This Bill this State this right has been abused, with ranks on the same level as the doomed some property owners having no concern for Vegetation Management Bill which, before it others, particularly in relation to overland flows. receives royal assent, is to undergo major I doubt that anybody in this House would not amendment. I have no doubt that the outcry accept the fact that something has to be done that will come from the farming community in this area. I also doubt that any reasonable, throughout Queensland will result in major thinking landowner would not agree that some amendments to this Bill as well—amendments of these privileges have been abused for too that have already started to enter this place long. with the 63 pages distributed by the Minister at The thrust of this Bill is aimed directly at the commencement of the second-reading the water users in our State. Under this Bill, debate. Those 63 pages equate to almost anyone who pumps water that will now be 20% of the Bill, and we received another page vested in the State will, under the new water today. reform unit, be forced to pay a fee for that It is interesting to note the criticism from water. This will impact heavily on our rural the member for Sandgate yesterday regarding producers who are already wavering under the amendments to the Bill not being pressures of large costs from many other foreshadowed by the City Country Alliance. In sectors and poor commodity prices. In a way answer to that criticism, I state that the City this Bill is another tax Bill and will force property Country Alliance is well aware of many of the owners to pay the costs of the Department of amendments being proposed by the Natural Resources. I ask the Minister: with the Opposition spokesman, the member for added costs of fuel price rises, the assault Keppel, particularly in relation to what water from cheap imported foods, the effects of should be vested in the State. I also note drought and now the proposal for increased here, as my colleague mentioned, the $2.7m water charges, how many farmers does he that the Minister paid out to consultants to really want to have left in this country? write this Bill for him. There is no doubt that the For example, I can make direct reference criticism from the member for Sandgate falls here to our dairy farming community, which is rather short when here we are presented with currently undergoing devastating reforms. the equivalent of 20% of the Bill having to be Many of these farmers use intensive irrigation amended by the very Minister who introduced systems to maintain their levels of production. it in the first place. I wonder what amendments In my electorate of Lockyer alone it is the City Country Alliance could have proposed, estimated that, under the deregulation of the 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3001 dairy industry that is currently occurring, $8m or who in some way or other are all associated more per annum will be lost from the with Cubby Station and that there is no electorate. This alone will impact heavily on the representation from irrigators in the Beardmore regional communities in my electorate without irrigation area itself. That alone goes a long the added burden of increased charges for way towards undermining what could have water for irrigation. been a good system of determination of There is also no doubt that officers from allocations in this region. There is no doubt the Minister's department have already that there are immense problems with past accepted that there are going to be significant allocations in the Balonne system, and we changes to water charges in Queensland, with outlined this in the debate on the motion last the responsibility of setting allocations for year. ground and surface waters in the central There is also no doubt that people living Lockyer region of my electorate already being further down the water system are being handed over to Resource Management in his impacted upon by the overuse of water further department. The function of this group is to set up the system. If sensible WAMP procedures new levels of water allocations and charges to were established for these areas, all the water properties in the central Lockyer region— users of this system would be satisfied. As charges that are set to rise to more than mentioned by the member for Toowoomba double the current charges over the next few South, the recycled or renewed water project years. Officers from his department are also re- that is being investigated at the moment for evaluating the charges to the Warrill Valley the Lockyer Valley and the Darling Downs users of water from the Moogerah Dam would greatly reduce the requirements on the system. already overstretched Condamine River system. We should be looking at that further, In the past, irrigation systems such as the and I will mention that later in my speech. central Lockyer have been fraught with many Unfortunately, as happens with many Ministers problems—problems that were exacerbated by in many departments, this Minister has false promises from DNR officials. In the words consulted only with the major peak bodies. I of one of the users in the central Lockyer believe that consultation with the grassroots region, the promises made to these farmers landowners will occur only during the were like being offered a top-of-the-range development of the WAMPs as a result of this Mercedes Benz at a car dealership, settling on Bill. I also believe that will be the first time they the price with the dealer, signing up and only will hear about it. Indeed, in reality, this Bill later discovering that a Mini Minor with no serves no purpose in the sustainable motor has been delivered. management of water in this State. However, it Those concerns have plagued many is a Bill that will satisfy the greenies at the users of irrigation water in areas that have expense of landowners. come under the control of DNR, and that In his second-reading speech, the worries me. The time will come when this Act is Minister stated that, throughout history, water applied out in the field. There is no doubt that, has been our most valuable natural resource, if this Bill passes this House and is contributing to our economic, social and implemented, certain areas of our State will be environmental growth and prosperity. He went impacted upon heavily. One particular area on to say that, as our population and that has been mentioned by other members in industries expand, there is more and more this House is the Darling Downs and the demand for water—words that nobody in their Condamine/Murray/Darling system. right mind could argue with. He went on further That brings me to the proposed WAMP to state that this Water Bill fulfils Queensland's process as outlined in the Bill. That process to responsibilities under the 1994 water resources assess the fate of all waters in the catchment policy of the Council of Australian system is, on the surface, a very good idea. Governments, or COAG. There is no doubt Unfortunately, already this process has been that some of the intent has originated from the subjected to much ministerial political COAG agreement, but it is the abuse of this interference. My office has already received agreement by the National Competition calls from disgruntled water users of the Council and others that concerns me the most. Beardmore Dam irrigation project who have The Bill aims to achieve its objectives in expressed grave reservations about the three ways. Chapter 2 relates to water committee selected to look at the WAMP for allocation and management, which I have just the Balonne River. They claim that the Minister discussed. Chapter 3 relates to water and has interfered in this committee and has sewerage infrastructure and services. Chapter sought the selection of committee members 4 relates to water usage by statutory 3002 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 authorities. It is also interesting to note that, in members should remember that the majority its Alert Digest No. 11, the Scrutiny of of this water is from underground aquifers. It is Legislation Committee made a number of estimated that, with the provision of some references to the impact of this Bill on our 60,000 to 70,000 megalitres per year to this communities. One point raised related to the valley alone, all pressure on these impact of residents along the waterways underground supplies could be alleviated. directly affected by WAMPs such as that which There is no doubt that there would still be will occur along the Condamine/Balonne plenty of water available to move further up system. In his reply to the committee by letter, the chain to supply Darling Downs irrigators as the Minister stated— well. This scheme should be made a reality, "... a social economic study is currently and it should be made a reality now. We have under way in the Condamine/Balonne only a small window of opportunity to ensure basin and will inform further decisions in that it goes ahead. That window of opportunity relation to the draft Condamine/Balonne exists only until Government environmental WAMP." protection regulations force the major cities to undergo very expensive upgrades of their It could be said that perhaps these social effluent systems. economic studies should have been completed a long time before any WAMP This is a win-win situation. The winners will processes were undertaken to determine be our streams and catchment areas. One of where water is going to go. the winners will be Moreton Bay, which will no longer be polluted by large nitrogen loads from The Scrutiny of Legislation Committee effluent. Our farmers will also be winners. I also raised other concerns about this Bill in cannot understand why this Government is relation to offences—offences that can attract dillydallying around with this scheme. The fines of up to $124,000 and terms in jail—and interdepartmental committees involved seem the ability of authorised officers to enter private to be setting out to reinvent the wheel. The properties. One of the worst aspects of this feasibility of such schemes is already well Bill—and it is very similar in this regard to the documented. The methods of transport of the Vegetation Management Amendment Bill—is effluent and treatment to a quality useful for that absolutely no compensation is paid for irrigation have already been established in this current water allocations that are removed if country. We have only to look at the bolivia the Bill comes into effect. There is also no right scheme in South Australia, which is already of appeal under the regimes proposed, and I producing high-quality vegetables to Australian think that that is very unfortunate. and overseas markets. Earlier I mentioned the proposed renewed Issues in relation to the health aspects of water scheme for the Lockyer and the Darling this food are nonsensical, and the reason for Downs. This water scheme would make use of that is that the major retail outlets—Coles, the hundreds of thousands of megalitres Woolworths and Franklins—are already buying discharged annually from the sewerage these vegetables from this market and putting treatment works throughout the Ipswich, them into our supermarkets. In reality, I believe Brisbane and Logan City areas. Much work that Government departments are trying to has already been done on this proposal. reinvent the wheel. This is something that we Currently, the matter rests in the hands of already know about. It is well documented. It interdepartmental bureaucrats in this has been used in other parts of the world. It is Government. If the Minister is fair dinkum being used in the Hervey Bay area of about the health of our waterways and the Queensland for sugarcane production. As I impacts that overuse are having on our said, it is being used in South Australia. environment, then I challenge him to stop Therefore, we should move ahead with this mucking about with this proposal, show a bit of proposal. guts, get on with the job and make this If this scheme goes ahead, it would renewed water system a reality. The advent of drought-proof the Lockyer Valley and also aid this system will completely relieve the pressure the farmers on the Darling Downs in a big way. from the Lockyer Creek systems and many of One only has to go into that country now to the systems on the Darling Downs. see what the drought is doing. One only has to It is estimated that up to 200,000 talk to the farmers in the Lockyer Valley and megalitres of water per year from these see what is happening to their bores. They are sewerage outlets could be made available to falling away and salinity is rising because they such a scheme. Currently, irrigators in the are overdrawing on the aquifer system. We Lockyer Valley are overusing their schemes by have to do something about this for the at least 20,000 megalitres per year, and country and for those farmers. This is the salad 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3003 bowl production area of Queensland; there is "That this House calls on the State no doubt about that. It produces Government to investigate and, if approximately $90m worth of food a year, and possible, make provision in this year's we have to look after it. budget for a rainwater tank rebate program to encourage water I issue a challenge to the Minister. If he is conservation." serious about the quality of our streams, then he should get on with the job and make this During that debate, the Minister stated— renewed and recycled water scheme a reality. I "One of the things that the will take great interest in the amendments that proposition put up by the member for are to be proposed to this Bill at the Nicklin would impact on is reticulated Committee stage. There is no doubt that we water, because that is the highest cost will be supporting some of them and not water in the State. In terms of how supporting others. strategic we need to be, it is my view that Mr WELLINGTON (Nicklin—IND) we need to start where the water is most (3.28 p.m.): I rise to speak to the Water Bill expensive, because that is where the 2000. When the Minister introduced this Bill greatest gains of this kind of investment into the House, he indicated that one of the would be captured. One would start in objects of the Bill was to establish a those areas where the cost of delivering sustainable management framework for the water is the highest. One would provide planning, allocation and use of water and incentives for people to use the untreated other resources. In his second-reading speech, water that is caught in rain tanks. Lots of he spoke of the need to ensure, amongst people in rural areas use it for everything other things, that consumers' interests were already, including drinking, and do so in protected. Nowhere in any of the 500-odd an entirely healthy way." pages of this Bill and Explanatory Notes could The Minister spoke about starting where I find one word requiring or calling on all the water was the most expensive because Queenslanders to share in the responsibility of that was where the greatest gains of that kind conserving the valuable resource of water. of investment could be captured. In a little over Time and time again during debate on this Bill 18 months the Minister has moved his focus speakers have acknowledged the increased from densely populated urban communities demand for water to support the rapidly being involved in water conservation. Now he increasing Queensland population. However, is placing all of the water resource this Minister requires only the rural responsibilities on rural Queenslanders, on communities of Queensland to carry 100% of Queensland farmers and on isolated this responsibility, to carry 100% of the cost of Queenslanders. this over-the-top legislation which takes away The Minister's actions and this Bill, which farmers' rights and leaves them with no right to takes away farmers' rights, speak louder than compensation. his words. The Minister had a clear mandate of The Minister claims that this Bill support from all Queensland State politicians represents only the sixth time in more than to introduce a rainwater tank rebate program 100 years that State politicians have sat in this which would have provided the opportunity to place to discuss in detail the future of our touch all Queenslanders. He had the water. Reference has been made to opportunity to include all Queenslanders in parliamentary debates in 1891, 1910, 1922, water conservation. Instead, he has introduced 1928 and 1989. I do not believe the Minister's this over-the-top legislation. statement accurately reflects when members I do not agree with the Minister's claim of this House have debated the important that this legislation reflects modern day issue of water usage. Only last year, on 25 practices. This legislation is not inclusive of all March, members debated a simple and all- Queenslanders. There is nothing modern inclusive program for water conservation in about taking away farmers' rights to water. Queensland. That program sought to include There is nothing modern about taking away all Queenslanders in water conservation and farmers' rights to compensation. There is did not take away Queenslanders' legal rights, nothing modern about taking away farmers' as this legislation does. It was about giving all rights to appeal against adverse decisions. Queenslanders an incentive to be involved in There is nothing modern about justifying this water conservation. The motion I moved on over-the-top legislation because some people that occasion, which received unanimous with businesses in Queensland are simply not support from all members of the Parliament, doing the right thing. I believe modern day states— practices are about drafting legislation and 3004 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 limiting the scope of the legislation to respond and lack of thought for other water users. A to specific problems. balance must be struck between meeting all The supply of electricity has similarities to life's needs and sustainability. the supply of water. They are both very Proper studies of dam locations must be valuable resources. By way of comparison, I taken into account. Dams should be sited invite members to look at how the Minister for scientifically to create the least environmental Mines and Energy has responded to the ever- impact. Better farming practices are warranted increasing demand for electricity. The Minister to ensure that if one litre is required one litre is for Mines and Energy, the Honourable Tony used. The wastage of water must be McGrady, has a program available to all eliminated. Education on the use of water Queenslanders known as the Solar Hot Water must be made available at every opportunity in Rebate Scheme. Under that program schools and in the media. It is important that Queenslanders are encouraged to diversify grey water be used at every opportunity. It is their source of electricity to include the more than adequate for the irrigation of generation of electricity from the sun. This is sporting fields, golf courses and the like. an amazingly successful program. I I think most people are coming to understand that, since October 1998, 6,954 understand the strain that is being placed on applications under the scheme have been our world's resources, but when necessary processed and that Queensland electricity conservation management hits the hip pocket consumers who have diversified their electricity all commonsense goes out the door. I believe source come from both rural and urban human weaknesses need to be taken into Queensland. I believe this is an example of a account. I believe the ultimate aim can be Minister using the modern day practice of achieved steadily over time. diversification to respond to a growing demand for energy. I am disappointed that the Minister Government must be prepared to for Environment and Heritage has not followed compensate, financially where necessary, and this lead by including all Queenslanders in have a more flexible approach to these issues. water conservation strategies through After all, past Governments must shoulder a incentives to install rainwater tanks. lot of the blame for previous bad management practices. It was our leaders who allowed these I do not intend to go over issues that things to happen—possibly through ignorance, have already been covered by other members but money rules. As we seek wealth, wealth in this House. Suffice it to say that I believe and more wealth, environmental sacrifices are this type of legislation should have been continuously made. If we do not accept our limited to high-risk water catchment areas. If environmental responsibilities, then the the Government legislates to take away greatest show on earth will come to an end someone's right to water, the Government has and nature's final curtain will eventually come an obligation to provide appropriate down. Our children deserve better. compensation and appropriate appeal rights. This Bill certainly does not have my full Dr CLARK (Barron River—ALP) support. (3.37 p.m.): It is with pleasure that I rise to contribute to the debate on the Water Bill Mr TURNER (Thuringowa—IND) 2000. As members from both sides have (3.34 p.m.): Water means life. Without it we recognised, this is one of the most important could not exist. Whether it be in the paddock pieces of legislation to ever go through this or the home, water should be conserved. It is House. If anyone doubts the need for this not in endless supply. Less than 3% of the legislation, they need look no further than the earth's total water is fresh water. Polar ice and crisis facing the Murray-Darling Basin. Salinity inaccessible ground water make up more than is known to be a major problem, but the extent half of that 3%. We must never lose sight of is frightening. 2,500 tonnes of salt is washed that fact. down the river system every day. It is We need holding dams to meet our future estimated that it is possible that agricultural water use needs for food production and land the size of Victoria will be unusable in 50 human consumption. As long as we develop years' time. Adelaide's water is fast becoming dams with environmental conservation in undrinkable. mind—the downstream and upstream effects When it is appreciated that the Murray- on our marine and animal species, for Darling Basin contains 42% of Australia's farms example—and include things such as fish and produces 90% of Australia's irrigated ladders, we must also be prepared to release crops, representing about $22.8 billion of the necessary water quantities to sustain river national agricultural exports, the need for flows. Our biggest fault has been greediness remedial action is obvious. The situation arose 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3005 because water management was based on a plan—or WAMP—which with the passing of philosophy of resource development rather this Bill will become a statutory plan rather than than one of conservation and sustainable use. just a policy. Without the kinds of reforms that It is the same philosophy that was endorsed are provided for in the Water Bill, the future for by the conservative Government of the Bjelke- the Barron River—which has already been Petersen era that is responsible for the significantly modified following the construction problems Queensland rivers are facing today. of the Tinaroo Dam—was looking very grim. The contributions of many members opposite The existing legislation makes no express demonstrate the difficulty they have in really provision for allocating water for the embracing the new philosophy of ecologically environment. The other uses to which I have sustainable use needed to manage our rivers. referred would, I am sure, always take Members may think that in the Wet precedence, because economic imperatives Tropics, where annual rainfall is measured in always win out over ecological imperatives metres, water would be less of a controversial unless Government actively intervenes. issue than it is in some of the drier areas of the The existing legislation also fails the State, but nothing could be further from the farmers as demand for water increases, truth. In fact, the water pricing policy required because the current incremental licensing under the COAG agreement, whereby large system is not secure for entitlement holders as local authorities have had to introduce two-part a licence is issued for a limited period only and water tariffs comprising a fixed cost of access its value can be eroded as water availability and a volume-driven cost—user pays—was a becomes less reliable. Licences are also key issue in the Cairns local government susceptible to change or cancellation by election. Whilst there was fierce opposition at Government without compensation. The the time, demand for water has reduced inability to trade water entitlements also significantly, allowing savings to be made by prevents its most efficient use. Those serious delaying construction of new water flaws in the existing legislation seem to have infrastructure in Cairns. Water is no longer been forgotten or ignored by speakers being wasted and people are finally realising opposite, because when they were in that just because water falls from the sky it is Government they never refused farmers any not a free commodity to be squandered but water or encouraged water efficiency, adopting rather one to be used wisely. instead short-term political expediency over The Barron River, from which my responsible use of our natural resources which, electorate takes its name and which runs sadly, is the hallmark of conservative through the middle of my electorate, has more Governments. There is a legacy of demands placed on it and poses more environmental problems with which we have to challenging management problems than deal today. almost any other river in this State. It currently Thus the Water Bill, which will be opposed provides for the following uses: irrigation for the by the coalition, is a vital piece of legislation farms of the Atherton Tableland in the because it develops a modern regime for Mareeba/Dimbulah irrigation area, which improving the security of supply for future include tobacco, fruit and vegetables, and, water users—surely the most important and more recently, an expanding sugar industry basic requirement for farmers. It also ensures following construction of the Arriga mill; local that water resource developments are recreational opportunities, including water- sustainable, while at the same time the skiing on Lake Tinaroo and swimming along its legislation protects the health of rivers and length; urban water supply for Mareeba, catchments—surely the most important basic Kuranda and Cairns; tourism, with white-water requirement for our whole community. rafting from below the falls to Lake Placid and I am pleased to report that by all accounts riverboat cruises at Kuranda; acceptance of the development of the Barron River WAMP is secondary treated sewerage from Mareeba, progressing well. True, it has not been a fast Kuranda and Cairns and the agricultural run-off process, but these things take time. Similarly, of nutrients and pesticides; and generation of the outcomes to date have not equally electricity at the Barron Gorge hydro power pleased all the stakeholders, but that should station. Obviously, it is a significant challenge not come as any surprise, either, and indeed, for a river to be used in such diverse ways and if any one stakeholder group was totally still remain a healthy ecosystem. satisfied, then the WAMP would not be In light of all of those demands, it is hardly delivering a fair outcome and meeting its surprising that planning for new water storage objectives for sustainable allocation and has been a high priority, as has the management of water, including preparation of a water allocation management environmental flows. The technical work on the 3006 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

WAMP by local DNR staff has been of the Honourable members: Hear, hear! highest calibre, and the commitment by Mr SLACK (Burnett—NPA) (3.45 p.m.): I members of the Community Advisory do not wish to go over much of the ground Committee has also been exceptional, and I that has been covered during the debate on commend them all for their work. this Bill, but I want to commend the Opposition I have sat and listened to both the spokesperson on his contribution in which he irrigators and the conservationists, and I outlined the Opposition's position on the believe that the final WAMP will fairly reflect legislation. I believe it is important that the their input and perspectives. I do not believe failings of this Bill are reiterated, because they that the irrigators will see any significant are very significant. I acknowledge that it has reduction in their current allocations, and there been a challenge for the Minister and for his will be enhanced environmental flows, department to put legislation before the House particularly in dry times, which will improve in relation to the water issues facing this State. riverine ecology. However, there are limits as to As we all know, water is one of the most how long the proposed Barron River WAMP important issues that we have to deal with. can satisfy all the competing demands that I That is evidenced by the number of speakers outlined earlier, and planning for additional listed to make a contribution to the debate. I infrastructure has been occurring in parallel would be surprised if this issue did not affect with the WAMP process. the electorates of all members. It is certainly an issue in my electorate, as it is in the It appears that the best future option is a electorates of most members who have dam on the Walsh River, north of Dimbulah. spoken so far. The Nullinga dam is the proposed solution to add to our water storage, and I understand I want to make it quite clear that the that it will be economically viable. It is ideally farmers and the industries in all electorates located to provide for the irrigators' needs so recognise the need to have a sustainable as to free up the Barron River waters for other supply of quality water. It is recognised that it is uses, particularly future urban water supply for a finite resource, the provision of which has to the Cairns region, which is the fastest growing be approached very carefully. Obviously, we area outside the south-east corner. This dam must have regulation to ensure that it is will not have the same environmental and provided to our society on an equitable basis. cultural impacts as a dam on Flaggy Creek, If we are to have employment and economic close to the Wet Tropics World Heritage area growth in the future, there is no doubt that the and the Mona Mona Aboriginal community. legislation has to be carefully tailored to ensure Whilst detailed studies will obviously be an ongoing, sustainable supply of quality required on the Nullinga dam proposal, I water. believe we know enough already to purchase When farmers argue with the outcomes of the land so as to secure this future water WAMPs or other findings of scientists who storage option. examine what is occurring within our river systems, there is no doubt in my mind that Radical reform of the system of water they are objective about it. At the end of the allocation and use in Queensland to meet our day, they realise that their income, their future, national and international obligations for depends on an ongoing, sustainable supply of ecologically sustainable use of water resources quality water. It is not in their interests to be was never going to be easy. For some people, motivated by short-term gain in objecting to it will be painful, but history will judge us by our legislation or other Government proposals. actions now, and future generations will thank However, the flaw in this Bill is that when it us, I am sure. We know from bitter experience comes to land-holders' rights, the Beattie what happens to river systems that get Labor Government is very keen to adopt the exploited and abused. We know the billions it "trust us" approach, just as it did on the tree- will cost to repair them. Ignorance can no clearing legislation. In essence, the Beattie longer be used as an excuse for a lack of Labor Government expects the coalition and action, and I commend the Minister for his the farmers to accept this legislation sight courage and commitment to present this unseen. No-one knows how the provisions of reform agenda for the benefit of all this Bill will affect the individual land-holders Queenslanders. I support the Bill. until water resource plans have been Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Mickel): developed in Queensland river catchments. It Before calling the member for Burnett, I would will not be until conversion of entitlements are like honourable members to welcome determined that water users will know whether students, parents and teachers from the they have been adversely affected by this Middlemount Primary School. legislation. By then, it will be too late. 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3007

In its current form, the Government's on behalf of their clients said that to me and Water Bill ensures that there is no right of they outlined to me the situation that I have recourse for these land-holders. Correct, outlined to the House, where the individual Minister? rights of the farmers were overlooked—taken Mr Welford: Not correct. for granted—and a Big Brother approach was taken by the department, an approach which Mr SLACK: I ask the Minister to explain was to be condemned by this House. that in his reply. There are three reasons why I make this statement: first, if a farmer's water At the end of the day this was how the entitlement is reduced by the development of Government treated land-holders who had a WAMP or a review of the WAMP, they have genuine rights to compensation. So how can no right of appeal to the Land Court; secondly, we trust this Government in relation to the Bill this Government has made no provision to before the House? Members can see why I compensate farmers if an entitlement is taken would be hesitant about voting for a Bill that away, and that point has been made many has the potential to take people's water times in this House, and it is a very important entitlements away, especially when there is not one, because farmers are entitled to one skerrick of support for people whose compensation; and, thirdly, this Government viability is affected by it. That is the point that has made no budgetary commitment to assist has been reiterated in this House time and water users to adjust to changes brought again. about by the new legislation. If farmers were Water users groups believe compensation not going to be affected adversely by the and transition incentives must be paid where changes to the water entitlements, surely the legally defined entitlements to water are taken Beattie Labor Government would have no away as a result of the introduction of a review objection to making some compensation of water resource plans. What can be fairer provisions. It is a matter of logic. than that? The coalition amendments Why should farmers be treated less well foreshadowed by the Opposition than fishermen who are compensated when spokesperson on Natural Resources aim to the Government decides to buy back licences recognise existing water entitlements, release for environmental considerations? The the revised draft for public consultation, community as a whole, not just some establish a water resource tribunal to unfortunate individuals, should be responsible adjudicate appeals over water resource for the implementation of the Government's operation plans once they become law and environmental protection measures. Farmers provide for compensation should an would do well not to trust this Government's entitlement holder be adversely affected. I cavalier approach to land-holders' rights. cannot understand how any Labor member of Parliament with farmers or industry in his or her I give an example that has occurred in my electorate could vote against these own region. Due to the decisions of this amendments, which provide natural justice to Minister and his department, land-holders' the rights of property owners. They would also properties were inundated following the provide some peace of mind to land-holders, construction of the Walla Weir. If we look at particularly those hard hit by the onslaught of what took place there, 12 months after the the Beattie policy approach to land rights on water had swallowed up their prime riverfront leasehold land, tree clearing legislation and grazing land the Government still had not now water allocation rights. issued a notice of intention to resume. In While the Government may have the best some cases, the Government still did not know of intentions to protect the environment and to how much land these property owners had ensure that farmers and industry get quality lost. No surveys had been done. These people water in a sustainable manner, it has to get were only the little guys. They could not afford the support of the farmers, the land-holders to take their case to the Land Court. Yet, their and industry to provide for economic viability was very adversely affected. This development. To ensure that it all works, the Government walked over those owners' rights Government has to be prepared to come up until the issue started getting media attention. with the dollars to allocate the resources to I believe that after I raised this issue publicly make it work. We do not want to have a and in Parliament on two occasions the situation, as the member for Nicklin quite compensation issues were finally sorted out— correctly pointed out, where land-holders and and not before time. farmers, who are not doing well, have to bear People with knowledge of the land- the cost on behalf of the rest of the holders' legal rights described the situation as community. We do not know what the appalling. Many solicitors who approached me outcome of some of these WAMPs will be, but 3008 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 if we are going to take away the entitlement of seasons if they do not get the rains they need a land-holder who has paid for that entitlement or manage their water properly. in some way or other— whether by the As we speak, many land-holders are purchase of his property or the purchase of a searching the sky for clouds that herald rain to water entitlement—at the end of the day he is minimise the damage of not only the fire being asked to bear an unfair cost of this season but to stave off drought for those not legislation, and that is the major failing of this yet suffering a drought, or relieve it if they are. legislation. It is a failing that the Minister and I ask this Government to remember that and the Government knows is there. They know it to not continually label land-holders as the is there in the tree clearing laws. In the enemy, as was done in the case of the Minister's other portfolio, in which he espouses vegetation legislation. All land-holders are the high principles of protecting the interested in is a reasonable solution. What environment, it is very evident that the they do not want is one that will see their resources have not been applied to match the whole lifestyle diminished or destroyed. Government's rhetoric that has been spoken in this Parliament and in the public arena. This Bill endeavours to establish a Mrs PRATT (Barambah—IND) sustainable management framework for the (3.55 p.m.): Water is undeniably the most planning, allocation and use of water and important issue of this century, because, other resources. It is aiming to introduce a without its proper management, there may be framework for service providers to cover water catastrophic effects in the future. It is often standards for customers and dam safety. This wiser to err on the side of caution when Bill has been introduced in the hope of formulating legislation than to blindly plough stopping the degradation of our landscape on regardless. through the management of this vital resource. There is no doubt that the practices of the past The honourable member for Thuringowa cannot continue. The continuing creeping of has reported to this House that less than 3% the salt pans of the Murray-Darling River of the earth's drinking water is fit for human system has demonstrated this fact to us. consumption, with approximately 50% of that locked up in ice and inaccessible ground In saying that, I must add there are many water. When we look at such frighteningly low concerns for many land-holders and councils in figures, it brings into perspective the fragility of this Bill. The Minister for Natural Resources has life on this planet. It is not hard to see why made much of the fact that this is the first time certain individuals and green groups get into a in 90 years that water laws have been lather and urge Governments to bring in reviewed. It therefore goes without saying that extreme legislation. In the same report it is much has changed during that time, and there stated that, along with chemicals, oil being may very well be a lot to address. The very fact poured down sinks and fertiliser, cigarette butts that the Minister has brought in 61 pages are a major source of pollution of our water containing in excess of 180 amendments in from people flicking them from their vehicles or the past day shows how difficult it apparently tossing them into the gutters as they walk has been to get the Bill right. It must therefore down the street. These cigarette butts get follow that if the Minister and his department washed into stormwater drains, and had such difficulty bringing this Bill to stormwater is not treated before it is Parliament, he cannot expect us to analyse discharged into our creeks and rivers. So we the book of amendments and their effects on can see that there are many factors—not just the Bill itself in two days. the actions of land-holders—that need I have no doubt that drafting legislation is attention when addressing the issue of water difficult, but this Government is constantly preservation. rushing Bills through which have obviously not It is understandable and admirable that been thought through clearly and that people are prepared to fight for their necessitate so many amendments at short environment. There is no-one more aware of notice. In business, so many adjustments to a water conservation or management than the document after its presentation would be an man or woman on the land who relies on water indication that the groundwork and research for his or her existence. That is not to say that had not been carried out efficiently and would there are not those who knowingly abuse the be seen as incompetence. Unfortunately for system. Unlike many in larger towns and cities the rural sector of Queensland, Mr Welford who are water conscious only when their and his statements regarding dingoes, council imposes restrictions or a water main farmers' wives driving trucks to town to get ruptures, people on the land are aware every cheap fuel and various other equally stupid day just how they will fare over the coming statements have proved terribly painful. I 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3009 would feel sorry for this public display of way, deserting the very people whom they inadequacy by the Minister, but I feel more were supposed to represent. sorry for the people who suffer because of the There have been some favourable legislation that he puts forward. comments from many people about the To the Minister's credit, he has not Burnett WAMP, but as in all things, it is difficult approached water management with a blanket to get any consensus. However, most people attitude but has produced water management agree that water allocations are restricted and plans for different areas and endeavoured to that there will be an adverse effect not only on take into account the varying factors of the rural industry but also on the towns and service water systems of those areas. One of the industries of the area. Many factors must be concerns of many stakeholders is the taken into consideration, and I am not reduction of current water allocations. As other convinced that they have been. In his second- speakers have stated during this debate, reading speech, the Minister stated that the stakeholders face possible losses of up to 80% Department of Natural Resources will become which, for some irrigators, is totally the regulator of the framework pertaining to unacceptable. water service providers. I am sure the Minister The Minister has stated that the financial is fully aware that local government is opposed ramifications of this Bill on individual to that and believes that regulations should be stakeholders will be reviewed in 12 months. independent of the DNR. That statement in itself shows the Minister's There are winners and losers out of this lack of understanding of the very effect that water reform, and it is very unfair that rural this legislation will have on those stakeholders. land-holders must bear 100% of the brunt of For many, 12 months will be too late. This is this legislation. These reforms will revolutionise not gloom and doom talk; it is fact. Over the the way we farm our land and how we use our years, many stakeholders have invested vast water, as they should do. However, one thing amounts of money in setting up infrastructure. is very clear: the only farmers we will have in Under this legislation, their investment is going years to come will be those who have a to be severely affected. guaranteed supply of water. Water will become Farmers have grave concerns—quite the new cash cow. It has been stated that justifiably—regarding an appeal against the farmers will become land and water managers reduction of their allocations and what to be serviced by corporatised water bodies as compensation they may receive. What rights Governments split their roles as water of appeal or compensation do these managers and regulators. We are not too far stakeholders have—stakeholders who are to down the track to privatisation and the lose part of their water allocation? The answer devastation that appears to follow such a is that, in this Bill, there are no right of appeal transition. or compensation provisions. Just as there is a It is a shame that the concept of a Water lack of compensation in the vegetation Bill, which had the support of all members in management legislation and minimalist this House, has been lost with this particular compensation for the dairy industry, losers out Bill. There are positives in this Bill and there of the water allocation process just have to are negatives. I have insufficient time to wear the results of this legislation and make evaluate the extensive list of amendments and the most of it. their effects on the Barambah electorate. I That is not an easy thing for farmers to do cannot support this Bill. when they are being kicked constantly by this Mr BLACK (Whitsunday—CCAQ) Government. There appears to be a constant (4.03 p.m.): I rise to address this Labor eroding of the common law rights of the Government's Water Bill. It is a big Bill in many people who work and live in the rural areas of ways, the most obvious being that it goes for this State by their own Government. Over the 384 pages—384 pages of mostly bureaucratic past 10 years or so, since Sir Joh's day, not gobbledegook interspersed with spectacular one Government has really had an interest in outpourings of pure uncertainty! That is right, the land. Although he was not perfect, Sir Joh pure uncertainty. On page 35 of this Bill, at the worked the land. He knew and understood the beginning of Part 2, Chapter 2, headed "Water land. Since his time, no Government has Rights", there occurs what is without doubt the taken any real interest in the problems or greatest and by far the worst grab for power needs of rural industry. The Labor Party has over the lives of ordinary Queenslanders that never understood the land, and the Nationals has ever been contemplated, let alone have pandered to the Liberals and lost their attempted. Clause 19 states— 3010 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

"All rights to the use, flow and control river systems in Queensland, in north of all water in Queensland are vested in Queensland we have many watercourses that the State." are greatly underutilised. Currently, Bowen Is anybody out there listening? This morally and Queens Beach are supplied by a 200 and financially destitute Government is setting millimetre pipeline from Peter Faust Dam on out to take absolute control of every single last the Proserpine River for domestic and drop of water in this State. commercial needs. Currently, water for agriculture in the Bowen area is sourced from Water is the single, unique substance that the sub-artesian aquifers in the Don River/Euri is required by virtually every organism on this Creek delta. The supply of additional high planet for survival. Yet we have a Government volumes of water to the Bowen Shire for that is prepared to blatantly attempt to take agricultural and industrial use is being control of water, the most precious and unique addressed in the Burdekin Basin study. That commodity on earth. Of course, the Minister study is due for completion very soon. It is will argue that such uncertainty is not what the investigating the resources and the potential Government is about. He will plead that the harvesting of water from the Burdekin and Government has much higher and more adjacent rivers. worthy goals for this Bill. He will plead that there are exemptions in this Bill to cover such There are two main potential projects that things as the drinking water in household will have a large impact on the Bowen Shire. tanks. I do not think that the public of this One is the possible Urannah dam proposal, State are particularly keen on the idea of which would supply water to a new 30,000 having to rely on exemptions administered by hectare irrigation farming district south of the faceless bureaucrats for the security of their Collinsville area to boost primary production drinking water supply. opportunities in an area that has been hit hard by the almost complete stoppage of This grab for absolute power must be coalmining in the area. That proposal is likely unique in the civilised world as we know it. It to support an industry based on crops different almost defies belief. We are sitting here in this from those grown in the Don River/Euri Creek comfortable, reasonably civilised place talking area, such as sugarcane, cotton, citrus or about one of the most disastrous pieces of peanuts. It would also provide a reliable source legislation that has ever been considered by of water to support industrial development in an Australian Parliament. Yet the members of the region. the Government, as well as many of the so- called Opposition, are behaving as if there is The other potential project is the nothing untoward going on. extension of the Elliot Main Channel to Bowen, which would draw water from an increased How bad or how stupid do things have to Burdekin Falls storage or from a new storage be before some of the self-righteous, within the Burdekin catchment. This extension overinflated buffoons in this House come to would supply water to the area between Home the realisation that they are playing with the Hill and Bowen, with the potential extension lives of real people out there? There may be south of the Don River, which would support some members of the House who feel inclined an expansion of existing cropping patterns with to take offence at my description of them, but considerable potential for new crops, including sometimes this has to be done to shake them sugar. There are a number of substantial out of their slumber. Are they awake now? As I areas both in Collinsville and north of Bowen said, the enormity of this power grab almost that offer the opportunity for major agricultural defies belief. It would if it were not being and value-adding development when and if attempted by this arrogant and morally these proposed projects come to fruition. destitute Government. This is the sort of thing that Stalin or Genghis Khan would have only I am concerned that this Bill will hinder or dreamed about. stop completely the development of water infrastructure projects in areas that desperately I noticed in the Minister's second-reading need the boost that these projects will bring. speech that references to environmental flows The Chairman of Bowen Collinsville Enterprise, occurred frequently and were almost always David Evans, has stated— given precedence over any other consideration, and particularly came before the "Governments have an obligation to wellbeing of farmers and their communities. contribute to the cost of building water One of the many problems with this Bill is that infrastructure in recognition of the external it focuses on the control of water use and the benefits they create." minimisation of water use. While in some He went on to say that he believes that the circumstances that may be appropriate for the approach to water infrastructure should be 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3011 based on beneficiary pays rather than user constructed many years ago during a time pays. Water infrastructure drives a wide range when our Governments seemed to have more of other industry development, which has the foresight and ambition than they generally potential to create jobs and wealth. Once display today. It was designed to provide a again, the spectre of National Competition reliable water supply to assist in the Policy rears its ugly head in an attempt to redevelopment of a wide range of primary further burden the farmers and communities of industries in the mid reaches of the Mary River. regional Queensland. A few years ago the spillway was raised in Governments, including this one, are a stopgap attempt to forestall an impending going way too far in their pursuit of the goals of water shortage in the region. The Mary River is National Competition Policy. They have to currently supplying water to the Maroochy realise that significant regional development Shire through the Baroon Pocket Dam and the opportunities will occur if they take off their Noosa Shire through direct pumping from the blinkers and see that we cannot assess the river downstream of the Borumba Dam. This viability of a water infrastructure project simply dependence on Mary River water by a large on a set of figures prepared by a desk-bound area of the rapidly developing Sunshine Coast bureaucrat. If proposals stack up is causing shortages of supply for farming and environmentally and commercially, they should industry in downstream areas of the river. be able to go ahead with Government financial Because of the nature of the high seasonal support. Nobody expects hospitals, schools flows in the Mary it is very well equipped to and roads to make a profit from their direct handle the extra storage capacity, and in fact operation, so why should large water the extra capacity would be a great help in infrastructure projects, which have the potential flood mitigation for towns such as Gympie, to return just as much benefit to the which regularly suffers the devastating effects community as schools and hospitals, be of flooding of its main commercial district. expected to be run on a user pays basis and The major raising of the Borumba Dam without Government support? That does not has been discussed and kicked around for far make any sense whatsoever to me. too long. It is high time the Government got off Since 1987 some 2,500 jobs have been its behind and committed funds to this project. lost in the Bowen Shire, including 650 from the This part of the State has suffered repeatedly Collinsville mine, 350 from the Collinsville from the ill thought out decisions of this Power Station, 300 from Queensland Rail, 400 Government. They have suffered through the from the Merinda meatworks and another 400 debacle of regional forest agreements and the from the service sector. Many of them were resulting job losses, and just recently the dairy lost due to the inattention of both National and industry has been kicked to death by Labor Party members of Parliament, who deregulation. It is time that the Cooloola region fiddled while the region was being burnt to the received some help instead of uncertainty from ground. If this area had been well represented this Government. by parliamentarians who were working for the The people of rural and regional electorate instead of simply being party hacks Queensland will not benefit one iota from the in Brisbane, it is very likely that I would not be provisions of this Bill. It will tie them up forever standing here speaking in this House today. It in bureaucratic red tape and then, if they is a fact of life in politics that seats are not won manage to disentangle themselves, they will but are usually lost through incompetence or find that they cannot afford the user pays cost laziness, and that is how both Labor and the of using the water they have fought to acquire. Nationals have lost the seat of Whitsunday at How many farmers have been advised and various times in the past. It is my intention to encouraged by various Government agencies see that they do not get it back, and I am and departments to build private on-farm fighting tooth and nail to obtain every storages and other water infrastructure to advantage I can for the district. This Water Bill improve the value and reliability of their is all about stopping people from moving properties only to find now that they no longer ahead and stopping development in its tracks. have the right to use the overland flows of Another water infrastructure project is long water that they have been catching in their overdue, and that is the major raising of farm dams? It is simply unacceptable that Borumba Dam, which is on Yabba Creek, a people who have poured their own hard- major tributary of the Mary River. The Mary earned capital into infrastructure in good faith River drains a large area of south-east now end up with nothing. It seems to me that Queensland from around Kenilworth and the only winners from this piece of legislation Maleny and flows through the rich Mary Valley will be the greenies and the large multinational to Maryborough. The Borumba Dam was farming companies, who will eventually buy up 3012 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 most of the water allocations in this State and I am not against dams in places where end up with close to monopoly control of both there is no other water supply. Hervey Bay is our domestic and rural water supplies. lucky; we have Tim Waldron leading the team of Wide Bay Water. Hervey Bay is setting the This Bill crosses the line of fair and pace in water management. The skills of our equitable treatment of farmers who have been first-class team at Wide Bay Water are in operating under a set of rules for water use demand all over the world. Perhaps the over many years. Suddenly and without any Minister should have talked to Tim Waldron reasonable consultation or notice those and had him help to get this Bill right the first farmers have been abandoned by this time. Government. This attitude is totally and completely unacceptable to me and my Mr Welford: I did, and he has. electorate. This Government is riding Mr DALGLEISH: I spoke with him, too. roughshod over people who it thinks cannot It is interesting to note that the Beattie fight back. This Government is in for a big Labor Government is set to punish the people surprise at the next election. I reject this Bill. from regional and rural Queensland for the Mr DALGLEISH (Hervey Bay—CCAQ) actions of the city. The member for Sandgate (4.15 p.m.): Stradbroke Island water is piped to summed it up in his contribution. He made it Redlands for local consumption, and it is top- clear that he holds the farmers accountable for quality water. Fraser Island also has an everything. How many hectares of natural land abundant supply of beautiful drinking water are left in Brisbane Central? Who is destroying running into the ocean. At a time when our natural environment? I suggest we look at consideration is being given to raising the most of the Labor seats. Lenthals Dam wall and flooding a large area of Hon. B. G. LITTLEPROUD (Western land that has become home to a wide variety Downs—NPA) (4.18 p.m.): In speaking to the of wildlife, we are seeing major silting problems Water Bill I wish to advise honourable in the creeks and rivers because of the lack of members that I do not intend to be repetitious. run-off and flushing in the Burrum River Lots of things have been said already. A lot of system. We have the opportunity to avoid any the comments I will make relate to my further environmental destruction. If the electorate. Firstly, I think all honourable Minister for Environment were serious about members acknowledge that there is a need for the environment, he would let us use the water an update to the legislation that pertains to the from Fraser Island. I have attended many use of water across Queensland. I gatherings around Hervey Bay at which acknowledge that this has flowed on from a support has been expressed for a proposal to COAG agreement. However, it does not pipe water from Fraser Island. This would also always necessarily follow logically and be a means of raising revenue for the ongoing scientifically that everything that flows from maintenance of Fraser Island. COAG must be right. Do the overpaid bureaucrats and greenies I think the Minister will regret the level of who make these decisions realise the ongoing consultation with, or in some cases the way in effects that raising the dam wall will have? I which he ignored, some people who willingly say: no, no, no. They are interested in worked very hard for a number of years to try pandering to the minorities and looking after to put some advice together. These people their bank accounts. The ongoing effects of now feel like they have been ignored. I think Lenthals Dam have been devastating. Only that will come back to haunt the Minister. An last week I attended a meeting between DPI article in today's Courier-Mail states— representatives and councillors regarding the "The salinity crisis in key Queensland silting problems that the waterways are rivers would not hit until 2050 despite suffering from. The Burrum River system is earlier State Government claims of huge silting up and the bureaucrats are looking the problems within the next 20 years." other way; they have their head in the sand. That sort of statement is also going to Mr Welford: Head in the silt. make it difficult for the Minister's proposals to be accepted out there by the people whom I Mr DALGLEISH: Yes, in the silt. I believe would term "practitioners". If I have a criticism that they understand that this problem has of the legislation before the House—and I am been created primarily by the dam. We should pretty familiar with the Murray-Darling Basin—it leave the dam for emergency use only so that is that those people who have worked so hard it fills up and remains full. Then we should on various committees and who have been harvest the beautiful water from Fraser Island trying to put together workable solutions feel and utilise this untapped natural resource. that they have been ignored and that the Bill 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3013 has been dominated by non-practitioners. That Warrego, who talked about the sorts of studies is something that the Minister has to that he recalls from his time as a Minister of overcome. that department. We were talking about rising There is a parallel between this piece of salinity levels in Queensland. I see that the legislation and the Environmental Protection Minister has taken note of that. I suggest that Act. The licensing provisions pertaining to that he get some of his departmental officers to legislation were just about to be proclaimed look at the research that has already been when I became the Minister for Environment done into salinity, because I found it quite following the defeat of the Goss Government. revealing. The same thing happened with that legislation. I will now become a bit specific about the That piece of legislation, put together by Molly Condamine/Balonne Basin. I know that the Robson, had been dominated by non- Minister has already received many practitioners in the business sector and the deputations not only from me but also from practitioners were up in arms because it lacked local government representatives, people tied equity and had no regard to financial impact. up with Landcare and water users along that Listening to previous speakers debate this Bill section of the river from Dalby to St George, before the House today and yesterday, I have which is regarded as the middle reaches of the picked up the same vibes, that it lacks equity river. He has acknowledged that the sorts of and lacks consideration of financial impact. I arguments we are putting forward are, in fact, think the Minister is going to find that there are valid. I have also heard comments attributed many problems to be sorted out before he to the Minister when he was talking to those gets this legislation right. It will be revisited people in the St George/Dirranbandi area. Of many times and there will be ongoing criticism course, they have criticisms that that part of of the type referred to by the member for the river is overallocated. The Minister said that Burnett, who talked about the serious impost he has to try to overcome their problems. He on those people who own land without any said that it probably has to be resolved at their suggestion of compensation. end and not necessarily at the expense of However, I will pay tribute to the Minister. I people in other reaches of the river. heard just recently that he was down south on There has been relatively little a ministerial council and was being pressed to development in the middle section of the river sign off on a cap on the amount of water from Dalby through to St George in recent coming out of the Murray-Darling in years. However, it has been proven by some Queensland and he refused. It has been my of the DNR people and also by water users in experience over recent years that the people my area that we generate a significant amount in the southern States, especially South of water that flows into the Murray-Darling Australia and Victoria, come up with some system, yet we impound very little of that water arguments that are not exactly accurate. The and we use only a small amount of it. Our most recent revelation occurred when I argument has always been that we want attended a Landcare meeting at Jimbour equity. We have unused potential to further House on the Darling Downs at which some of develop some of our agricultural land and we the Minister's DNR staff spoke about salinity. I have a population that has a lot of skill in have listened many times to the arguments of terms of crop husbandry. We do not want to Senator Robert Hill, who was a resident of be denied the chance to develop our Adelaide. He argued very strongly that it is a resources using our share of the river in times terrible situation in Adelaide; that they will not to come. We have no argument, of course, be able to drink the water out of the Murray about there being an environmental flow. We and that it is our fault as well as their own fault. have been reassured—and I hope it follows One of the Minister's own scientists from through—that the Minister recognises the Queensland got up and made the statement validity of our case. When it comes time for the that it is not exactly a similar situation. He next draft of the WAMP for this river, we hope pointed out that most of the land in the that he will be able to make sure that we are southern part of Australia through which the treated fairly. Murray flows used to be the bed of an inland In the Chinchilla Shire there is one big sea and thus there are already high levels of tributary, the Charley's Creek, which flows out salinity in that soil. However, that is not the of quite sandy country down onto the black case in the Murray-Darling Basin in soils of the Darling Downs. It is along Charley's Queensland. So they are two different Creek that a horticultural industry has been situations. established in the Chinchilla Shire which grows That ties in with some of the assurances something like 25% of all the melons in given by my colleague the member for Queensland. What those fellows can do is 3014 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 quite amazing. They can grow an acre of Victoria. They said that essentially it is melons on half a megalitre of water and get a managed locally. Any decision that is handed mass production of about $10,000 an acre. down from Melbourne is met with derision and When one thinks about that small amount of criticism. But if the local people are involved in water generating that amount of the planning—and there are all sorts of productivity—and it also generates quite a few committees and boards that deal with jobs—one can see the need to get the most allocations, trading, salinity and all those sorts efficient use of water. of things—the decision is accepted. I can see The Minister and I have talked on a similar situation in this legislation in regard to occasions about how we have to become water management plans for different areas. If more efficient in the way we use our water and the local people are part and parcel of putting what we use it for. These people are aware of it together and are part and parcel of the day- all those economic arguments and are a little to-day management decisions, I think the bit frustrated because some of the attitudes at Minister has more chance of making it work present are that that particular creek is unlikely than if he comes in either at a ministerial level to be given any decent sort of allocation or at a director-general level and imposes a unless they can get sleeper licences from off decision from Brisbane. the river proper. I think there is an argument The practitioners are very sceptical about for the Minister to look very carefully at that the non-practitioners. I refer to the article in case, following up on his argument about the today's Courier-Mail which states that scientific most efficient uses of water in terms of advice seems to be flawed. My advice is to try economic return. He should give consideration to make as much use as possible of the local to the claims being made by the water users of planning on these sorts of issues. Of course, Chinchilla. there are similarities with the vegetation When we look at some of the smaller management legislation in relation to local tributaries that flow into Charley's Creek we find management plans, but it all depends on who that the situation gets a bit worse. I will just is on the committees that formulate the plans, speak about my own personal situation. I own how they operate and whether or not they are a property which has Canaga Creek running dominated by the Minister or the director- through it. I made some inquiries of DNR two general. or three years ago about my chances of water I now turn to two specific proposals for harvesting out of that creek. I was told that for water storage on the Condamine within the drought mitigation purposes I would be electorate of Western Downs. I refer to the allowed to irrigate 10 hectares. Adjacent to Condamine weir and Nangram weir. The that creek there is some quite good country Nangram weir is a very small proposal of only property, up to 60 or 70 acres of high quality 2,000 megalitres. It is proposed to augment deep loam that would be suitable for the Chinchilla Weir, from which water is horticulture. The prospect of developing only released to people who hold irrigation 10 hectares was not very attractive, but it was allocations downstream. However, it is made worse when I became aware of the fact extremely inefficient. For example, if those that people not more than three miles away people want 10 megalitres of their allocation, had been given the right to harvest overland the Chinchilla Weir only has the capacity to flow and that they were able to irrigate up to release a minimum of 100 megalitres. 160 acres, yet I was not allowed to take it out Therefore, 100 megalitres has to be released of a watercourse. It was virtually the same to give those farmers their 10 megalitres. As water. That is another case of lack of equity. I members can see, it is highly inefficient. The acknowledge that this Bill faces the difficulty of locals went to DNR quite some time ago and trying to deal with varying situations across the suggested putting a weir near those people State. Certainly on the upper reaches of the who need that kind of allocation. If that was to Condamine and across the Darling Downs occur, they would be able to impound most of there is an enormous growth in overland flow the water and save the water rather than harvesting and there is a need for regulation of waste it. it. In that regard, planning had proceeded to I will just cite an experience I had when I the extent that there had been cultural record went down to Shepparton in Victoria. They searches and drilling for the foundations of the were already into water trading and had been weir. When Howard Hobbs, the member for into irrigation for a long time. I was able to go Warrego, was the Minister, we were assured to an institute of sustainable irrigated that the weir would be built within the term of agriculture down there and talk to some of the the coalition Government. However, the staff about how they manage the situation in coalition lost Government, and now it seems 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3015 further away than ever. I have often said that positive benefits which will outweigh any this will not threaten the health of the river; this adverse impacts ... The draft WAMP will enable more efficient use of water in the simply ignores completely the EIS and its river. In fact, it would provide more surety for findings in respect of the Condamine the water supply of Chinchilla and would Weir. It is worthy to note that the EIS was enable 90 megalitres per 100 megalitres to be released only months before the draft used effectively. If there was ever an area that WAMP and in correspondence of 5 March needed access to assured water, it is the 2000 the Council urged the Minister for agricultural belt across the western downs. Natural Resources to embrace the The Condamine weir is somewhat similar recommendations contained in the EIS but is a bigger structure. The proposed because the EIS revealed no reasonable structure is anywhere between 10,000 to impediment to the Condamine Weir 12,000 megalitres. It is only a small structure proceeding. within the banks of the river. It has also been The outcomes of the draft WAMP do advanced in its planning in that the cultural not give credit for the fact that the state of searches have been done and the drilling of river health in the middle reaches of the the foundations had commenced. A local river is superior to that of the upper and committee was formed which identified the lower reaches. Nor does the draft WAMP various soil types adjacent to the river. It was give credit for the fact that the river is aware of the fact that if it could get a fair bit of effectively 'recharged' by the time it leaves the water for horticultural use that would the middle region. This is due to a generate more jobs within the local number of factors including the community. It is terribly disappointing that, contribution of major tributaries such as although it was almost there for the taking, all Dogwood Creek along which there is of a sudden there was a change of negligible irrigation development. An Government and the present Minister came equitable WAMP would reward such along and put the WAMP in place. contribution to river health whereas the The Murilla Shire Council commissioned a draft WAMP does not." position paper in response to the draft I ask the Minister to continue his Condamine/Balonne WAMP. I want to read recognition of the validity of the case of the some relevant sections from that paper. It people in the middle reaches of the states— Condamine when he brings in the reviewed "The prohibition on the development WAMP. I commend the Minister for taking a of the Condamine and Nangram Weirs for stand against capping the flow coming out of environmental reasons is completely Queensland into the Murray-Darling system inconsistent with the conclusions of the until such time as there is a full assessment. I Environmental Impact Study ... for the support the Minister's stance in relation to Condamine Weir which was produced for people in the southern States of Australia in the Department of Natural Resources by that they are trying to use Queensland's water Gutteridge Haskins Davey Pty Ltd. On any to solve their problems. We have to look after assessment the EIS provides the most ourselves and other States have to look after comprehensive and solid justification yet themselves. If we come up with some sort of received to proceed with construction of environmental flow that keeps the river healthy the Condamine Weir. In every instance after it leaves the boundaries of Queensland, cogent recommendations have been we have done the right thing. made so that impacts on the environment and on man-made infrastructure can be This is difficult legislation in all aspects. satisfactorily mitigated and managed. It However, because the Minister is not allowing should be remembered that both the the practitioners enough consideration and Condamine and Nangram Weirs are because there is not enough consideration in anticipated to be relatively small structures relation to compensation for those people who (10,000-12,000 ML and less than 2,000 will be badly affected financially, this legislation ML respectively) and in combination with will have a difficult passage. other design and operational features it is Ms NELSON-CARR (Mundingburra—ALP) anticipated that down stream impacts will (4.35 p.m.): The Water Bill is a significant be comparatively small (refer EIS pages milestone for water reform in Queensland, 139 to 141). The ultimate reflecting the practices of the day. It is said to recommendation of the EIS is that the contribute to our economic, social and construction and operation of the environmental growth and prosperity. We do proposed Condamine Weir will provide not want to reach a point where there is 3016 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 insufficient water to satisfy all our needs. It is community cannot agree on that code, only the first overhaul of Queensland water laws for then would the Government need to regulate. 90 years. Water is our most valuable natural It needs to be said here that this has been resource, and this is the first time the one of the most comprehensive consultation sustainable management of water has been processes ever undertaken in Queensland to enshrined in statute. As our population and support the introduction of new legislation. industries expand, there is more demand for The Water Bill separates the ownership of water. This means that the community requires water from land, which allows for water licences water to be shared responsibly to ensure its to become transferable water allocations. availability for future generations. These allocations will be secure for the 10-year We need an overhaul of our water laws, life of a water resource plan. Currently, licences and this Bill does just that. Some Queensland are issued for only three to seven years and river systems are already reaching their can be changed at any time or cancelled capacity for further development. The Murray- without compensation. Transferable water Darling disaster, one for which all Australians allocations can be bought and sold or will pay the price, could eventually happen mortgaged as an asset separate to the land here. Already salinity in Queensland affects title. Owners can sell water without selling the more than 10,000 hectares, with a further farm or buy more water for more expansion 73,000 hectares at risk. We can introduce a without having to buy more land. If water has fair water management system that will ensure been fully allocated, new enterprises can the sustainability of our primary industries and obtain water through a market system. This is avoid the huge costs of repairing degraded the most sustainable way of sharing a limited rivers. This is democratic, smart, responsible resource. Of course, this will be subject to the and transparent. necessary public interest safeguards. The Bill introduces sensible planning for Chapter 3 of the legislation covering water allocation and use. It provides modern infrastructure and service provision introduces regulation for water service providers and a consistent regulatory framework for water establishes new governing arrangements for service providers, whether they be public or statutory water authorities, that is, water private. Because water provision is a natural boards. The Water Bill also complies with the monopoly, there needs to be protection of 1994 water resource policy of the Council of consumer interests. Accordingly, service Australian Governments, COAG, which providers will be required to maintain their required all States to implement a assets over the long term and establish comprehensive system for water allocation and customer service standards. Local management. The Bill gives a legal footing for governments can establish their own service water resource plans such as WAMPS, which standards, provided these are publicly tell us how much water a river has, how much reported. Smaller service providers will be is currently being used, how much is needed exempt. The Bill simplifies reporting processes to sustain the river's environment and how to ensure that they are streamlined and much may be available for future ensures that the regulations do not financially development. This process is supported by the burden councils and others with limited best available science and involves the whole resources. Guidelines will be established with community in the planning. This new Bill the Local Government Association and improves the security of supply for current transitional provisions will be set out in a users. Entitlements will be better specified and staged process. The earliest requirements will there will be more security over a longer be 1 July 2001. Some other major elements period. Together with the ability to trade are: the service providers must be registered; excess water, that will provide greater certainty relevant provisions of the Sewerage and Water for all water users and it will create jobs and Supply Act 1949 will be integrated; owners of encourage investment. hazardous dams must comply with dam safety In a few catchments the State needs to requirements; and owners of dams built for be able to regulate overland flows where there flood mitigation purposes must comply with are potential problems. To do that, overland flood mitigation requirements. flow water needs to be vested in the State. Chapter 4 of the Water Bill improves the However, control of overland flow can be made process for establishing and operating public only as part of a planning process such as the sector water authorities, that is, water boards. WAMP. Even then the Bill allows the It ensures there are consistent, appropriate community to first develop its own code of accountability and governance arrangements practice regarding overland flow control. If the for all water authorities. 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3017

Comprehensive consultation undertaken At places such as Brookstead, to support the new legislation found that most Tummaville, or even further above Warwick people agreed that the old laws were outdated towards Killarney, the Condamine River will be and needed to be changed. Meetings with kilometres wide during flood. In a big flood it stakeholders and the public were conducted could be up to 10 kilometres wide at through Queensland over the past two years. Brookstead. Obviously, those flows are not The Water Industry Peak Consultation accurately recorded. No-one has any idea how Committee also met every month since late many megalitres are actually travelling down 1998 to ensure the various concerns of water the Condamine/Balonne system, because the users and other stakeholders were considered. waters are all out on the flood plain and are This has resulted in a piece of legislation which not accurately recorded. We are instituting a simplifies many of the complex issues model to suggest how people's allocations surrounding our water resources. It is one should be treated without having a proper set which will ensure that such a valuable resource of criteria to accurately work out historical flows. will be available for all of us forever. That is of great concern to me. In all, there is unanimous agreement on the inadequacy of the current law and the There are people at the upper and lower need for change. Whilst there will be different ends of the Condamine/Balonne system who opinions on the way these changes occur, I have expended massive amounts of money. It believe this legislation makes huge leaps is very easy to point the finger at some of the forward in striking a balance. There is a broad bigger operations in the Balonne part of the consensus of opinion across the community as system, where people have amassed amazing to how we will manage our water for future amounts of water. They have very big pumps generations. I commend the Bill to the House and they impound huge volumes of water. The and congratulate the Minister and those average operation that is impounding water is involved in the process. a family operation. There are perhaps two or three family members involved in the farming Mr ELLIOTT (Cunningham—NPA) operation. They may employ one or two others (4.40 p.m.): In speaking to the Water Bill I will and some casuals. raise a number of issues. I refer first to the hydrology that has been used for the WAMP Quite frankly, they have put their own process in the Condamine and Balonne money into—in most cases, unfortunately, catchments. I attended a meeting at Cecil they have borrowed large sums of money; Plains, as did many farmers, irrigators and anything up to a million dollars—putting other people interested in overland flow. In together the pumping infrastructure, the dams, fact, more than 100 people attended that the channels, the head ditches, the tailwater meeting, as did officers of the Minister's return systems and so on. All of those facilities department. In fact, the person who drove the in that irrigation program are dovetailed. The process—he put together the criteria they money has been spent in accordance with worked on for determining flows, historic runs their need to handle a certain volume of water. of rivers and so on—was there, spoke at some If we suddenly take any part of that water length and was questioned by those present. away, the economies of scale and the viability The second gentleman who spoke at that of that operation, which is fairly finely tuned meeting was a consultant commissioned by anyway, will be lost. DNR to do other work in relation to this same process. Both those gentlemen freely Most members in this House would be indicated that the data and the hydrology they aware of the disastrous price of grain, the are working from are, quite frankly, flawed. cyclical nature of the cotton industry and the We just do not have accurate data. very poor prices for cotton in recent times. Honourable members might ask why. The Cotton prices are not too bad at the moment. facts are that the data is historical. There are Because of the low dollar, the price of cotton gauging stations at various points and flows has snuck back up a bit. There are large are able to be measured at those points. numbers of people who are locked into bad Those flow meters do not take into account currency positions and have to deal with low what happens when a river breaks its banks. cotton prices. They are going to find it fairly Apart from going out and personally gauging difficult to service their debt on the or depthing it and then working out the infrastructure they have put in place with measurement at the time of the flood, there is borrowed money. They have to pay interest no way of working out what flow is actually and redemption on all of that. This outside of the river's banks and on the flood Government is putting at risk not just those plain. people but many others. 3018 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

I believe it came out very clearly at the the right thing by ensuring that water comes meeting at Cecil Plains that there has not out of Queensland and goes to other places. been a socioeconomic study of any real detail However, that water will go to only one place, carried out to assess what sorts of impacts this that is, New South Wales, where they will type of action will have on the whole economy pump it into dams and use it for irrigation. of the region. Let us look at the many towns Unfortunately, that has been the record of New dependent upon irrigation in the South Wales. It is very popular to knock Condamine/Balonne system. St George was a Queensland. It has always been a fine sport in little town which had a population of shearers, the golden triangle of Sydney, Canberra and railway workers and people who worked in Melbourne to have a go at Queenslanders: various primary industries, but it was never a "They are the hicks. They are the ones with progressive town by any means. When the the banana leaves growing out of their ears." Beardmore Dam came to fruition we saw the Going back in history as far back as one likes irrigation industry in its many facets get going. to go, New South Wales Governments have The whole thing changed. not done the right thing with the Murray-Darling With water coming down and water system in terms of water allocations. harvesting taking place around Dirranbandi, The New South Wales Government now the town revitalised. Dirranbandi had virtually wants to say that Queensland constitutes only died. Honourable members might wonder what about 13% of the entire catchment. It wants to I know about Dirranbandi because it is not in say that we should not have any of this water. my electorate. An uncle of mine had a Because we are at an earlier stage in our property near Dirranbandi, so I know the area development of the resource than New South and I know the people. Quite frankly, at one Wales is, its Government is trying to say to us stage Dirranbandi went very close to dying. A that we should not be doing anything. In new lease on life was brought about by common with the member for Western Downs, irrigation, by people being able to harvest flood I applaud the Government if in fact it refused water and grow high-return crops. Suddenly, to sign off on that proposal, because there people were employed. needs to be much more understanding. The hydrology has to be progressed to a point at There are industries which work in which everyone agrees that the models being conjunction with the irrigation programs— used are accurate. People must have industries that build equipment and industries confidence in those models. If we reach that that support all of the various infrastructure stage, I believe that no-one in the irrigation that is used. I refer to the people who cart the industry would deny that we all must have a cotton modules, the people who do the responsibility in respect of environmental flows. contract picking and the contract farmers. All of I think that goes without saying. those people are part of a total industry. On my side of the system, the Oakey Government members come into this Creek side—which has not been discussed House and say that they represent a much at all in the WAMP process—there are Government which wants to do one thing— many instances where water is flowing past at that is, create jobs, jobs, jobs. They are always pumpable levels, but there is a pumping ban saying it. Here is an opportunity to ensure that on Oakey Creek. Why? Because there is no jobs are not destroyed. Quite frankly, they water in the Chinchilla weir; because there is could abolish as many as 30,000 jobs if they not enough riparian right water down the make the wrong decisions in respect of water. creeks and down into the river for people to One does not have to be too clever to see pump for domestic purposes or stock what sorts of industries the Government would purposes, so we are not allowed to pump. have to put together: new industries, whether That is fair enough. I do not think anyone they be high tech or whatever they might be, would dispute that. Most farmers have a and we all would applaud any new industries respect for and an understanding of the need that it is able to bring into this State. Anyone for the riparian right for environmental flows. with any brains is bipartisan enough to support But they will not be impressed if we give water any of those sorts of processes. Unfortunately, away from the entire Queensland part of the the possibility exists that, through loss of water catchment only to see that water go into New supply to these people, up to 30,000 jobs will South Wales and be utilised by people who be lost if the Government does not do the right make millions of dollars from it. That would be thing. That is no exaggeration. a real tragedy. Other members have spoken about this There are other important issues that I issue, so I will touch on it only very briefly. The wish to touch on. If one considers some of the Government might do what it considers to be reports that have been done to date, one will 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3019 see that the environmental impact assessment dam, or, in extreme circumstances, they will said that the Condamine River is one of the have to knock it down altogether. I think that healthiest rivers in this nation. It got a 70% bill flies in the face of everything we in democratic of health from the environmental scrutiny that countries believe in. If that occurred in was undertaken when researching all of the America, there would be a civil war. The rivers in the country. The Condamine is in Government wants to think long and hard reasonably good order. I am not suggesting before it takes any of those types of measures that it is 100% or that any of the rivers are in in respect of those who utilise the overland their best possible condition or that we cannot flow, because they are ready to jump up and do better. One of the interesting activities that down. is occurring is that people are using water I understand that the current position projects wisely and planting more trees. This is cannot continue ad infinitum. Some people obviously a good thing. have been sitting on licences trying to maintain I turn now to the overland flow. I am not a the value of their property but have not spent pumper of overland flow, but we have to be one single dollar or done anything to very mindful from a legislative point of view of commence operating those licences. being fair to those who do pump overland flow. Obviously those people have to be given less If we go back historically, what should have priority than those who have expended occurred is the same as applied to the creeks money, who have gone to the trouble of and rivers. As each person put in a dam and a starting to build works and so on. We have to ring tank, those pumps should have been able look very carefully at it. I do not think this to access a certain height of flow going past process should be rushed. The Government them. The next one that went in, regardless of needs to consult a hell of a lot more than it whether it was upstream or downstream, has. I am not saying that there has not been should not have been able to go in at a height consultation; obviously there has. But there which took water away from previous are very definite flawed areas in respect of the installations. They should each have been hydrology being used, and I think the increasing in height. That is exactly what Government needs to work hardest of all on happened on the Oakey Creek as licences that hydrology, because it will come back and were given out. The first licence granted to bite the Government far more than anything Sam Johns below us was only at 12 inches. else. If the Government makes decisions and The Oakey Creek has to flow only to a 12-inch afterwards people can go to the Land Court or level and he can crank up a 12-inch pump. some other court and point out that the That is fair enough. He was the first one who hydrology that was used to make those had enough nous to see the potential of it and decisions is in fact entirely flawed, it will come did it early. Each licence granted after that back and bite the Government very hard. increased in height. That is what should have Mrs NITA CUNNINGHAM (Bundaberg— happened with the overland flow. ALP) (4.58 p.m.): I rise to support this Water Unfortunately, it did not. Bill, the first overhaul of Queensland's water It would be most unfortunate if we were to laws for 90 years. While Queensland's water attack those who, under the legislation of the industry has moved on a long way since its day, built ring tanks and were doing something management systems were first put into law in that was good for the community and 1910, Queensland's water use up to 10 years themselves. They were trying to assist ago, particularly in irrigation, was relatively themselves in the very dry and drought- undeveloped. But all that has changed. This stricken conditions that were experienced Water Bill 2000, after extensive consultation, particularly on the Darling Downs in the late will reflect the current state of Queensland's eighties and through the nineties. They lost so water industry, and it will ensure a safe supply much money from a dryland point of view that for future generations. The Bill will ensure many of the people said that the only chance existing water users have a secure supply, that they had to survive was to be able to put in future water development is sustainable and ring tanks and be able to pump some water. that the health of our rivers and catchments is Historically, that is where the pressure has protected. come from, and that is why people have done Water is our most valuable natural what they have done. resource. It provides drinking water; it irrigates Under clauses 19 and 20, there is the crops; it generates electricity; it is vital for ability, if the WAMP says so, to say to those heavy industry; it supports tourism and fishing, people that they will have to release some of and a regular flow is essential to sustain plant that water for other purposes or other people, and animal populations throughout the or they will have to reduce the size of their environment. Water also has a strong 3020 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 recreational and cultural importance within our fairly between all users. In short, it was a very diverse society, and as our population different world and our current laws are out of expands and our industries grow our date. They can no longer cope with the communities expect water to be shared complexity of an expanding use of the responsibly and they expect its availability for resource. future generations to be ensured. Looking at some of the problems that However, with population growth there is a have emerged, one sees that there is currently greater competition for water. Our urban water no power to allocate a flow of water specifically supply needs are growing, our irrigated to sustain the environment. Water licences agriculture is expanding and our factories are have been issued with no knowledge of the getting bigger. With these demands, our total water available, so every new licence limited supplies of water need to be allocated effectively dilutes the reliability of existing ones. carefully and used wisely. The environmental Current licences can be cancelled by the problems in other States—salinity, blue-green Government at any time without algae, pollution and water shortages—are not compensation. Licences also have a limited as severe in Queensland, but they could easily life and are difficult to transfer. Irrigation water become so. Already some Queensland river cannot be bought or sold except as part of a systems are reaching their capacity for further land package. There is no process for development. The first stages of salinity are catchment-wide water use and environmental appearing in parts of Queensland—certainly it planning. Private enterprise cannot participate is a severe problem near Bundaberg—and the effectively in developing water storages and tragedy of the Murray-Darling degradation is a distribution systems and there is no process for timely warning of what could happen here if we the fair sharing of overland flow water. But continue on without controls and without times have changed, and I commend the responsible management. Minister for taking these long overdue steps to better manage this State's most valuable The community wants Government to natural resource—water. address these issues now to avoid problems in future years. To their credit, many water users As water is such a major issue in have already started to manage water better Bundaberg, I would like to respond to some with trickle irrigation, recycling and efficiency earlier comments. Earlier in this debate the programs. It is time for the law to follow suit. member for Keppel said that the member for Bundaberg is allowing the Beattie Government Other State Governments have had to to break its promise over Paradise Dam. I reform their water laws because of a would remind Opposition members that that breakdown in soil and water quality. To ensure promise was for five years, not two. So it is a that that does not happen here in bit early in the day for them to get all excited Queensland, this Water Bill 2000 aims to halt about broken promises. Perhaps I should degradation caused by water use such as the remind them once again about the second Murray-Darling Basin problems; implement a traffic bridge in Bundaberg that was promised modern water management system that is by the National Party before every election for efficient and sustainable; clearly specify water 20 years and was never delivered until the entitlements for users so that their supply is Goss Labor Government was elected. Perhaps secure; provide environmental flows to ensure members opposite need to be reminded that healthy rivers, plants and animals; allow the people of the Bundaberg district have trading in water so that people can buy or sell been waiting some 30 years for this dam. It water separate to their land title; separate the has been desperately needed for all of those water industry roles of management, 30 years—to be built in an electorate that has development, regulation and service provision; always been a safe National Party seat, not in allow private sector participation in the water my electorate of Bundaberg. The National industry; and ensure greater public Party was in office for all but eight of those 30 consultation and input in water management years. So do not try telling Bundaberg people to achieve a fair outcome for all water users. about broken promises. They have very good But to justify change we must look at what was memories! wrong with the old laws. Further, in his speech the member for The principles of Queensland's water laws Keppel suggested that the Minister was were written in 1910 when there was little rushing this legislation through and by doing competing demand for water, when there was so some very important issues may not have little evidence or knowledge of environmental been fully addressed. That is exactly why in impacts and when there was little capacity to Bundaberg the Government is going through model river flows so water could be shared the proper processes before proceeding with 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3021 the dam—so that all of the important issues Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member are fully addressed. finds the comments offensive. The member for Are we to believe that the Opposition was Bundaberg will withdraw. going to rush it through, put it in the wrong Mrs NITA CUNNINGHAM: Can the place, build it to an unsustainable size, not member for Callide explain which comments wait to see the impact on the environment, not he finds offensive? consult with the community or not worry about Mr SEENEY: Absolutely, Mr Deputy the needs of the users? Is that why the Speaker, I will. members for Keppel and Burnett flew over the Paradise Dam site some 12 months ago and Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! told the media, "It looks like an all right site."? Mr SEENEY: I will. Is that how they want to make major Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! infrastructure decisions in this State—a quick decision just to gain political points, regardless Mr SEENEY: I will. of our future? Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! If that is how the coalition wants to Mrs NITA CUNNINGHAM: I was not manage the growing water needs of this State, speaking— then our farmers, our industries and our residents can be very grateful indeed that we Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I have now have a Labor Government in this State taken your point of order and I have asked the that is prepared to go through the necessary member for Bundaberg to withdraw. Be and responsible processes, as painful as that seated! might be, to ensure that infrastructure is Mr SEENEY: The member for Bundaberg economically and environmentally sustainable asked me for an explanation, Mr Deputy and to ensure that all of those very important Speaker. issues are addressed prior to starting projects. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, she did not, I might add that there are a large number and she has no authority to, in any case. Be of water users and concerned groups in the seated. The member for Bundaberg will Bundaberg catchment area who have been withdraw. contributing to the planning process for a very Mrs NITA CUNNINGHAM: Mr Deputy long time. While they have waited patiently Speaker, I was not referring personally to the and impatiently for decisions to be made, they member for Callide. I said "any Opposition all know that the process is now coming to an members". If he wants me to withdraw any end and to their credit they are all working reference to him, I will do so. together for the best possible result for the entire region. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The member found it offensive. Irrespective of why I would also add that three draft Burnett he found it offensive, I ask you to withdraw. WAMP science forums were held in Bundaberg two weeks ago. Last Friday a five- Mrs NITA CUNNINGHAM: I withdraw that. hour meeting of the Burnett Development I will go on to say that the absence of any Reference Group was held in Bundaberg and other Opposition members at these forums this Saturday the Minister, Rod Welford, will be and at the numerous meetings held in Bundaberg to launch the Burnett Catchment throughout our region over recent years has Strategy. The absence of any Opposition been noticed. It is obvious to everyone that members at these forums and at the this Government is committed to providing numerous meetings held throughout our responsible and sustainable solutions to the region over recent years has been noticed. water shortages that we have suffered for the Mr SEENEY: I rise to a point of order. past 30 years. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Kaiser): What The Bill before the House introduces is your frivolous point of order? sensible planning for water allocation and use. It provides responsible and sustainable water Mr SEENEY: The comments that the management for Queensland and proves that member for Bundaberg is making are a fair water management system can be demonstrably untrue. They reflect on me as implemented to ensure the sustainability of our the member for Callide whose electorate primary industries and to avoid the huge costs covers most of the Burnett catchment area. I of repairing degraded rivers. find them offensive and I ask that they be withdrawn. I will provide the member for This new Bill improves the security of Bundaberg with a list of the meetings that I supply for current users, entitlements will be attended. better specified and more secure over a longer 3022 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 period and the ability to trade excess water will native title cultural heritage legislation, which I provide greater certainty to all water users. It mentioned, which will have devastating will create jobs and encourage investment. ramifications for future industry and This legislation is long overdue. Nobody development on freehold and leasehold land with any vision for the future could possibly in Queensland; and the much-thwarted vote against it. I commend the Minister for his Vegetation Management Bill, which this initiative and commitment to a fair and Government introduced despite the pre- sustainable water industry management election promises by the Premier, Mr Beattie, system for this State. that he would introduce only voluntary guidelines, and then he had the audacity to Mr MITCHELL (Charters Towers—NPA) gag the debate on the legislation in this (5.10 p.m.): It gives me pleasure to join in this House. This Government has also introduced debate on this very important legislation, the legislation allowing it to resume private land on Water Bill 2000. In saying so, nobody would behalf of private developers in all areas of deny that legislation was not required to Queensland, including the south-east corner. overhaul the very outdated water laws in this State. However, it worries me to read that I could go on for quite a while about other water management was left for so many years legislation introduced by this Government, but without an overhaul of water management I will return to the Bill and how it will affect planning necessary to make decisions about Queensland. Back in 1996, then Minister water allocation and infrastructure in Howard Hobbs launched the $1.2 billion State Queensland. Government infrastructure program initiative, which was to give all Queenslanders from As the Minister stated in his second- every area of the State the tremendous reading speech, this Bill amalgamates three opportunity to submit proposals for water exposure draft Bills that have undergone projects and infrastructure to harvest water to comprehensive consultation throughout the enhance the future for industry development State. How many times have we heard this across the State. The response was before? The public is up in arms—and I say all overwhelming, to say the least, and the the public; all the community groups and process was put in place to categorise the industry groups—because the legislation does submissions and plans, such as WAMPs and not fit the bill, is unworkable and people have environmental impact studies, to further not had the opportunity to be involved in any advance many of these projects as quickly as consultation at all. Does it not worry everyone we possibly could. that, on the morning that this Bill was to be debated, 63 pages of amendments were put Unfortunately, the coalition lost on the table? Government, the incoming Labor Government dropped the ball and the whole process However, it seems very strange to me that slowed down to a snail's pace. Over the past draft Bills such as the Cultural Heritage Bill, of two and a half years, in terms of infrastructure, which it was demanded that there be further nothing has been accomplished. The only consultation right across Queensland, have response that we seem be able to get from not made it to the table to be debated. I this Government as to when we can expect believe that is because people had a decent any further allocations of licences or any opportunity to voice their opinions on the effect infrastructure whatsoever is to wait for the that they thought that Bill would have on the outcome of the WAMPs being carried out on State of Queensland. As I said before, this the water systems throughout Queensland. I Water Bill did not have the same exposure for for one believe that the WAMPs have nearly grassroots consultation. As other speakers outworn their life as excuses by this before me have stated, I am disappointed with Government for its lack of action in funding the Bill and the ramifications that it will have for infrastructure in Queensland. I also believe many industries in rural and regional that the environmentalists and conservationists Queensland. have played a huge role in the delays to many It really concerns me that this Bill just studies and that they have had a large call on adds to the ever-growing attacks on and most of the outcomes of this Bill. I can see further invasions of the rights and property that influence causing wide-ranging and rights of the people in rural Queensland by this significant problems to future water allocations Beattie Labor Government. I refer to the ever- and other projects. This Labor Government will growing list of attacks on rural Queensland: the only keep the rhetoric rolling with political ongoing saga of native title, which is the arguments and not produce the bricks and catalyst for opposition by all industry bodies in mortar that are needed for water infrastructure rural and regional Queensland; the de facto in Queensland. 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3023

On a couple of occasions in this debate it their own storage on their properties from has been said that Australia is the driest these overland flows with dirt dams and ring continent in the world, yet around 60% of tanks. It has always been the case, especially Australia's water is based in our river systems in my area on the downs, that people have in north Queensland and 90% of that water been very fair in sharing water from the ends up either in the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf overland flows. of Carpentaria. For some 32 years I lived by Over the past 10 years, there have also the Flinders River. I have always been amazed been some very successful schemes that have that not one water storage project has ever maintained, controlled and managed water to been constructed to harvest water from that stop unnecessary wastage. Two of those river to alleviate the ongoing drought problems schemes that come to mind are the PIPE in the north-west and to assist in attracting scheme to replace flowing bore drains with other industries to that area, thereby creating polythene pipe to reach many properties population growth and jobs for people who without too much wastage and the capping remain in this long-suffering region. program of many of the flowing bores, which Studies on the Richmond dam project, has been accepted widely by most of the which is based on the Flinders River, has users who rely on the artesian supply. shown that many alternative industries can be From my reading of the Bill, it appears to created with the construction of a water have a fair few failings. I suppose the Bill is a storage along any part of the Flinders River reasonably conservative attempt to ensure a system. The same can be said for Charters sustainable water management process in Towers, with the construction of the Hells Gate Queensland. However, I do not believe that dam or any other project on the upper the Bill will be accepted by the wider Burdekin. It has been documented already community—as has been explained to me and that at least 20,000 hectares to 40,000 many other members have already mentioned hectares can be used immediately for irrigated these matters—because of some of its failings. cropping. Already we have potatoes, peanuts, If the foreshadowed amendments do not grapes and many drought-relieving crops rectify people's misgivings, I believe that the growing on a small scale along the Burdekin. legislation will have to be revisited to make it a Cotton Australia has done extensive studies in workable water management plan for all of both areas and has found a huge potential for Queensland. cotton growing in those areas. However, recently I was told also that Cotton Australia Mr ROWELL (Hinchinbrook—NPA) has put a lot of those projects on hold (5.18 p.m.): In joining this debate on the Water because of the massive uncertainty due to the Bill, I want to say that water is an extremely WAMP process and the outcome of this Bill. important commodity for Queensland, which is a very big area of very dry land. Therefore, the One of the real problems—and this has need to conserve water and use it sparingly is been mentioned previously in this debate—is very important. A major requirement for water that when this Bill is passed, the WAMPs will retention is that there is cost sharing between become law and there will be no effective those people who are involved at the pump appeal mechanism for people whose existing head. I do not think that this Bill pays enough water allocations are reduced. The concern is regard to that issue, because those people that this legislation provides no compensation who use the water from the dams are the ones and no right of appeal. In common with many who pay for the cost of that water. Yet the members who have spoken before me, I benefits flow to a number of people right believe that there should be an appeal across-the-board. mechanism through the Land Court so that everybody can have a decent chance rather Many towns throughout Queensland are than having the Minister as the sole dependent on water. Benefits flow also to adjudicator on the outcomes. businesses that service those areas. I have a letter from Jones Air, which is extremely Many provisions of this Bill need to be concerned. It states— explained further to those people who already have licences and permits for water allocation "Our family business was started in and water harvesting. One of the main St George by our parents in 1974. Five concerns of most people in my area is how far years ago we employed five people. this Government intends to go in terms of the Today, we employ up to forty people and regulation of the overland flows. There has have an annual wages bill of one and a been a wide diversity of views as to the control half million dollars." of overland flows on people's property. For That is an example of some of the spin-offs. many years, property owners have regulated There are also benefits for people who supply 3024 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 chemicals and so on to the agriculture through the Leichhardt Section of the industry. The agriculture industry employs not Burdekin River Irrigation Area. It is only primary producers but also many suppliers proposed to extend the Elliot Main throughout the towns of Queensland who are Channel an additional 117 Km along the so important to agricultural industries. If there coastal plains to the Don River at Bowen. were no dams in those areas, there would be With an estimated construction cost little if anything in those places, just as there of $178.5 million, the Elliot Main Channel was 30 and 40 years ago. extension ... will provide 223,000 The work involved in putting this whole Megalitres per annum of irrigation water process together will be horrendous. The from the Burdekin River to areas at transition process will require a major effort. I Inkerman (3750 hectares), Molongle have assisted people to lodge water (5600 ha), Salisbury Plains (5500 ha) and applications, and I know that the process takes Bowen (11,640 ha). A total of 26,480 some time. At present, the staff of DNR are hectares ... stretched and would have immense difficulty in The estimated gross value of dealing with the burden imposed on them by production generated by the proposed this Bill. Elliot Main Channel irrigation area is $184 Drought conditions can be ameliorated million per annum, giving a total Net with water supplies. If the areas west of Present Value over 30 years of $982.7 Toowoomba had additional dam capacities, million." they could be assisted greatly through this That is an enormous amount of money. If the time of drought. Some farmers have been Elliot channel is built, the opportunities created able to keep their dairy herds alive by pumping will be considerable. water from underground bores. Large storages would lead to major improvements. Water And then there is the Urannah dam storage is extremely important to those proposal. The project executive summary for people. I have seen the work being carried out the Urannah dam states— by people in the cotton industry in the Dalby "The proposed Urannah Dam site is area. They have built dams to trap overland located in the upper Broken River Valley flows. They now grow crops that could not South East of Collinsville in the Bowen have been grown in those areas years ago. Shire. Identified as a Category 1 project There are obvious benefits in trapping by the Water Infrastructure Task Force, overland flows and using them for irrigating and a Priority 1 project in the Mackay cotton crops. Water Resources Strategy, Urannah Dam We should also look at the reuse of would facilitate the development of a treated effluent from Luggage Point. There 20,000 ha irrigated agricultural zone could be major benefits for the Lockyer Valley around Collinsville in the Bowen Shire. and areas further west from using that water, With a development cost of $150 which at the moment is just being pumped out million ... Urannah Dam would store to sea. If we treated that water to a safe level 1,500,000 ML of water. With a provisional and used it for irrigation, that would provide Net Present Value of agriculture greater security for those areas. production alone of $564.8 million, In the area that I represent, and to the Urannah Dam will also meet the future south and the north of it, dams such as the water needs of the Northern Bowen Basin Burdekin Falls Dam have been built. That dam Coal Industry and Collinsville Power is responsible for very big tonnages of Station (value of non-agricultural water sugarcane being grown in that region. Were it use not included in NPV). not for the Burdekin Falls Dam the The Mackay Regional Water underground supplies would have dwindled to Resources Strategy estimated the Net the extent that only a quarter of the amount of Present Value of the Urannah Dam sugarcane being grown in the Burdekin region (including non-agricultural water use) at at present would have been produced. $1056 million with employment creation of There is a lot of interest in the Elliot Main in excess of 6000 jobs ..." Channel proposal, which would have many Those projects are extremely important. In the benefits. We have to have projects such as Bowen region, trickle irrigation is used that. The project executive summary states— extensively. They have got water use down to "The Elliot Main Channel is an a fine art. If water were stored and brought into irrigation channel running for 12.7 Km the Bowen region we would see increases in from the Burdekin River near Clare sugarcane and horticultural crop production, 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3025 and it would be a major boon not only for the fruition. If that does not occur shortly and if we agricultural industries in that region but also continue to have these extremely wet years, I the mining industry, because water is critical to think some of them will go out of business. the mining industry. There has been consideration of acid sulfate The Tinaroo Falls Dam was built some soils, but I have seen crazy things, such as time ago expressly for the use of the tobacco taking drains as long as two kilometres through industry. Mangoes, limes, lychees, avocadoes private property to avoid going through fish and also sugarcane are now produced in that habitat areas, which would have negated the area. The problem is that, with crops such as need to travel such a long distance. sugar being grown, there is a high demand I also want to talk about the importance of during the early summer period of the year in the retention of water in relation to agriculture particular. The dam's levels five years ago, because there are some definite commercial before major crops such as sugar were being prospects. I know that in relation to the grown, got down to about 30% of capacity. Walkamin establishment up on the tablelands, There is a very high demand for water for the the coalition developed something like 24 sugar crop during the January/February period, multipurpose ponds, which made a total of 42 particularly if the weather is dry. ponds altogether, for experimental fresh water research. A range of fish and crustaceans The Nullinga dam project on the Walsh have been considered in that area—fish such River is interesting. It, too, would provide as sleepy cod, barra eels and all those types considerable economic benefits for the area. of things. Recreational fishing and other Something like 2,070 hectares of land would activities in dams and impoundments are be submerged as a result of its construction. extremely important because dams in the The estimated cost is around $113m. There inland provide a unique range of opportunities has been consideration of environmental for people living in the areas away from the issues with respect to Nullinga. It does not coast. The Fairbairn Dam is just a typical appear to have any problems. The dam would example of that. reduce the pressure on Tinaroo and would have some major benefits for Cairns, which will Twenty-five or 30 years ago when that require additional water as the city grows. dam was built there was virtually nothing there. There would be increased hydro generation What we have now is a great area for capacity through the Barron River Falls at recreation and for people to be able to go and Kuranda. Generally, it would improve the enjoy water sports—skiing and all those types environmental flow of the Barron River. The of things—and the dam is also stocked with estimated range of the capacity of the dam is fish. They are the sorts of things that we need between 63 million litres to 80 million litres. to look at in the future for inland areas where Although the last figure might be optimistic, it water storages potentially could be built, which certainly does give a true indication that a would benefit a number of the towns that considerable amount of water could be stored otherwise would not have the opportunity to there. The capacity for irrigation is about 8,320 enjoy those sorts of lifestyles. hectares. Those dam proposals are important It is also important for job opportunities. It for north Queensland and need to be is important for the diversification of the State. considered. I think that if we did not have the water in a lot of those western areas, we would not have the Turning to other areas, of course we could infrastructure that has been put in place. We also have some diversion of water from the are seeing major benefits as far as irrigation is North Johnstone River into Tinaroo. That could concerned. We are seeing crops that we never be a major benefit for that dam. That has thought would be grown. We are growing been looked at over a period, but no firm grapes and those sorts of things around the decision has been made. Emerald area. Those sorts of crops would not I would like to talk briefly about drainage. have been grown without water. Of course, the While Queensland is a State that for the most flow-on effects from those crops to many of part is short of water, there is a major need for the towns are quite considerable. drains, particularly in the wet tropical areas of I think the member for Keppel would north Queensland. A SIIP package was put remember back 20 to 30 years ago in the days together back in about 1994. We are still when Emerald was a very small, backyard waiting for that work to be carried out. It is town, for want of a better expression. extremely disappointing to many farmers that over the past three years they have had to Mr Seeney: Railway camp. bear the brunt of cyclones, but they have not Mr ROWELL: A railway town is probably been able to see those projects come to what it was all about. 3026 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

Mr Lester: Three thousand five hundred not going to be detrimental to many areas. I people then; about 12,000 now. nominate the Tinaroo area because I know Mr ROWELL: It has grown enormously that people up there are extremely concerned over the past 20 years or so. I think that clearly about it. demonstrates what can happen when There probably needs to be a water commonsense prevails and where good resources tribunal to adjudicate on appeals by judgment is used when building dams. I have property holders who have been affected by spoken of a number of dams on the this whole process. I think that is lacking in the tablelands and certainly in the Bowen region. Bill. It is something that certainly is needed. I That region is desperate for additional water. If do not think that the Minister has given we can provide those areas with additional enough recognition to the fact that people can water, I think we will see major growth have considerable problems with the process occurring there. in terms of where they end up in relation to In the Bill there is talk of compensation their entitlements because, as I said, those not being all that forthcoming for those people entitlements are so important to them. If they who are going to lose their entitlements. There do not retain them, they can virtually close up, is no compensation— which makes it very difficult for the people they have employed and for the town that depends An Opposition member interjected. on their business. If this did occur, we would Mr ROWELL: Very little compensation is see a gradual winding down of some of the the word. I think it is non-existent. If people are country areas of Queensland. ever going to get anything out of it, they must I also think there needs to be a unit within go through a very lengthy and very arduous DNR responsible for the water resources process. People who spend a lot of money in planning for the future. We cannot simply go developing properties but then are not entitled ahead and have the bureaucracy doing this to the level of water which they anticipated and work. I think it has to be done in conjunction on which they based their whole strategy and with the people to whom it really means a lot. their projected income very often employ a When we look at stream flows, environmental considerable number of people. Those jobs considerations and all that sort of thing, which I would be put at risk if they had to decide at know the Minister is very keen on, I do not some stage what to do about a reduced think that we need to be going overboard. supply. Because of their absolute dependency on water, they may have nowhere to go; they Time expired. may even have to close down the enterprise Mr MALONE (Mirani—NPA) (5.38 p.m.): It because of the lack of water, and it will be is with some pleasure that I rise to speak to almost impossible to gain compensation. That the Water Bill 2000. There has probably been is one of the disappointing parts of this no other Bill before the House—in my time, legislation. anyway—that has had so many impacts on I would also like to talk about tradeable rural Queensland and our ability to produce. water rights, particularly in many of the The fact of the matter is that the supply of irrigation schemes. Honourable members can reasonably priced water and reasonable look at the Tinaroo area, where there are water quantities of water throughout Queensland channels going all over the countryside. If gives the opportunity for Queensland to there was any tradeable right that took away develop into a State that can actually hold its the prospects of a channel being viable in the head high. It always amazes me that we seem future and it was loaded into another area, to be constrained by development that has that would make the whole of that region taken place in other States when Queensland difficult to operate. Whether it is the people continues to have to develop its resources to who are involved in the pumping of the water get to a sustainable position. onto their land or the administration of the It is also amazing from many points of whole process—and bear in mind that a view that there is a real concern throughout certain amount of work has to be done on Queensland in relation to the continued these channels—it is quite costly. If we reach running down of our small rural communities. the point at which those channels are not From time to time debate rages in smaller maintained or if they are maintained and that shires as to how to maintain and continue to maintenance is very expensive, that certainly grow our small communities. This has been a will not bode well for the development of that longstanding debate. My colleagues have area or the sustainability of that particular identified a number of areas in the State region where crops are being grown. While we where small communities have developed talk about tradeable rights, I hope only that it is simply because of reasonably priced water. 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3027

There have been many studies and many development of water infrastructure across the learned people have spent large sums of State. I believe that WAMP committees have money on this issue. Fortunately, the answer is been set up with the decorum of a grand jury, staring us in the face. It is not hard to establish yet at the end of the day probably one person why these small communities have prospered. of the 10 people who sit on that committee I refer to areas such as Emerald, the Atherton can be regarded as a true stakeholder with Tableland and all those areas which were any sort of substantial investment riding on the whistlestops but which are now thriving and outcome of the WAMP. developing communities. Local shires are It is worth repeating the assertions of my spending money developing facilities such as colleague and shadow Minister for Mines and swimming pools and reasonably decent roads. Energy when he spoke about the Burnett River Therefore, young people are establishing WAMP, which requires an environmental flow themselves in the area, and all of this is as a of 80% at the mouth of the Burnett River. result of access to water. Under those conditions, it is hard to see how Many of my colleagues have mentioned we could develop any more infrastructure on that theory and have referred to those small that river with that level of environmental flow. towns. I reinforce the view that there are a lot It defies description to understand how anyone of other small communities throughout could possibly require an 80% environmental Queensland in the same boat. Many of those flow on a river. As I said, this legislation communities are looking forward to further requires a level of commonsense and some development to retain young people in their practical understanding beyond that which towns and to develop tourism and develop pervades the other side of the House. The new sunrise industries such as grape growing, unfortunate direction of this legislation is based tree growing and figs. We are seeing those on the assumption that one cap fits all and new sunrise industries develop where there is that legislation which is acceptable and irrigation water in the community. The Atherton desirable on, say, the western downs is also Tableland is a typical example. Its irrigation acceptable and desirable on, say, the central water was established many years ago, as my coast, or any other area of Queensland for colleague Marc Rowell just mentioned, for the that matter. I can certainly assure members tobacco industry. Of course, with the further that this is not the case. development of the sugar industry in that area, I recollect that in the Mackay district at the it is now a flourishing community. It has also end of 1990 and the beginning of 1991 there developed grapes and many other allied was extreme rainfall of 160 inches over a 10- crops, and even aquaculture, as the member day period, that is, four metres of rain. The for Hinchinbrook also mentioned. I believe that coastal area from Proserpine to St Lawrence Emerald's Fairbairn Dam cost something like was basically a coastal sea. The amount of $26m to build many years ago. My bet would water that was wasted and the extreme be that every year it returns at least that hardship which land-holders faced during that amount of money to the Queensland coffers. event was something to behold. Almost In terms of sustainability and making that 85,000 head of cattle—and those were the community a great place to live, that dam is ones that were able to be identified—died irreplaceable. between Proserpine and St Lawrence at that This legislation is really about some level time. I personally lost quite a number of cattle. of commonsense. I say to the Minister that, They just walked up into the bush and died. with a level of commonsense, this can be a There was no feed available because they wonderful tool to ensure sustainable and could not get to eat the grass because it was profitable water development and covered with water. It was heartbreaking for a infrastructure development in the State. It will lot of people. Some graziers lost almost all of assist in developing our State to its full their cattle. However, the unusual part of that potential. However, a word of caution is that story is that within three months the area was we must be ever mindful of the extreme bias drought stricken again. 1991 was one of the of the green movement that pervades the driest years on record and subsequently department and the thinking of the Minister. resulted in further losses in cane and cattle Under the guise of some of the stakeholders, production. that can bias the deliberations and decisions Of course there can be no legislation to of the WAMP committees. The whole premise cover these events. However, the destruction on which this legislation is based presumes to wildlife, the damage to our rivers, river and requires that there be a level of informed courses and river systems was enormous. The and commonsense deliberation in respect of amount of erosion which took place after that the set up of the WAMPs and the weather was something to behold. However, 3028 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 by the same token, almost on a yearly basis costs which really cannot be justified by any the first rains of spring or early summer create added level of service that we would expect fish kills in our rivers and streams because of under those circumstances. dead water. Low oxygen levels in the water flow down the stream like a slug, creating huge As I said, there are a couple of schemes fish kills. I have seen with my own eyes five to in my electorate but, mostly, farmers do their 10 metres of dead fish on the banks of the own thing. It is quite amazing how innovative creeks within my electorate. This situation is farmers can be when they are allowed to do created by unseasonable flows in rivers, yet it what they have to do—building small dams or could be regulated by weirs or small dams. drilling 20 to 30 metres into fractured rock, getting small flows of water. Indeed, with the The whole basis of the legislation is small amount of half a megalitre to one flawed to some extent. One has to wonder megalitre per hectare of supplementary about the level of expertise within the irrigation, a lot of farmers do quite well. If they department and by the Minister when the were forced into a Government scheme, some department has to engage an external level of compensation or some consultant to the tune of $2.7m to put in place encouragement to further develop would go a legislation which, once in the Parliament, has long way towards making their operations very to be revised with 148 amendments. I believe effective. By developing their own schemes that a few more have since come in. The farmers are very aware of water usage. They Government employed Steve Etwell. Steve are very careful about how they use their water has a history in the Mackay district because he and they do a great job of supplementary was the CEO of North Eton Enterprises, and irrigation. that history is not that bright. One would have to wonder how senior experienced members of The shadow Minister for Primary the department feel about the allocation of Industries raised some issues in regard to the such scarce resources to a consultancy firm Urannah dam on Broken River, which is a when they have to stagger from day to day on great site. In my own electorate are the dam limited funding. We also have to remember sites of Blacks Creek, Finch Hatton Creek, St that this is from a department which has had a Helens Creek, Connors River and Denison proud record of achieving infrastructure Creek at Nebo. They are all identified dam development in this State but which has now sites. During the term of the Labor relegated to persecuting and prosecuting land- Government there does not seem to have holders as the department struggles on been too much in the way of any progress to without clear direction or ambition. make those things happen. My colleague the member for Mackay, I will finish by highlighting some of the Tim Mulherin, mentioned the Pioneer Valley issues I see as problems in the Bill. Irrigators Water Board under the stewardship and CEO have no effective right of appeal if their John Palmer and the chairmanship of Eddie entitlements are cut by a WAMP. There is no Westcott. It is certainly facing some problems. provision for compensation for irrigators' The Pioneer Valley Water Board was one of entitlements that are seriously affected by the the first water boards set up outside the introduction of a WAMP. Irrigators' department. With the development of the entitlements can be cut again when the Pioneer Valley irrigation scheme, it ran into WAMP is revised within 10 years, and I quite a bit of strife as a result of badly understand there is no compensation available designed infrastructure by the department. It is in that instance. Regulation of overland flows still paying for that. I am sure that the Minister must be timely to protect water access for all is speaking to it. I am sure that there needs to farmers and investment in on-farm works. The be some understanding to come to a final accuracy of WAMPs in regard to outcome in respect of that matter. environmental flows has to be questioned. The Eton irrigation scheme in my There does not seem to be any protection in electorate does a great job. Those responsible the Bill if the plans are wrong. for it are endeavouring to ensure that it With those few words I commend the Bill continues. They are trying to minimise the to the House. The Opposition certainly will be costs to growers so that they can receive a moving some amendments as we have some reasonable return for growing sugar. It seems reservations in respect of the Bill. that the administrative costs of that scheme are very substantial. The Eton irrigation Debate, on motion of Mr Welford, scheme is looking at substantially increased adjourned. 6 Sep 2000 Hospital Waiting Lists 3029

PRECEDENCE OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS amendments. They are complex and warrant Sessional Order detailed consideration—more than I realised would be the case at the time this was Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth— originally considered. This does change the ALP) (Leader of the House) (5.53 p.m.), by whole way in which the Parliament would need leave: I move— to function in order to cope with this Bill. "That so much of the Sessional Question—That Mr Mackenroth's motion Orders be suspended to enable be agreed to—put; and the House divided— Government business to take precedence AYES, 41—Attwood, Barton, Beattie, Bligh, Boyle, from 8.30 p.m. today until the Braddy, Briskey, Clark, J. Cunningham, Edmond, adjournment of the House, except for a Elder, Fenlon, Foley, Fouras, Hamill, Hayward, Kaiser, 30-minute adjournment debate." Lucas, Mackenroth, McGrady, Mickel, Miller, Hon. R. J. WELFORD (Everton—ALP) Mulherin, Musgrove, Nuttall, Palaszczuk, Pearce, Pitt, Reeves, Reynolds, Roberts, Robertson, Rose, (Minister for Environment and Heritage and Schwarten, Spence, Struthers, Welford, Wells, Minister for Natural Resources) (5.53 p.m.): I Wilson. Tellers: Sullivan, Purcell second the motion. NOES, 39—Beanland, Black, Borbidge, Connor, Mr BEANLAND (Indooroopilly—LP) E. Cunningham, Dalgleish, Davidson, Elliott, Feldman, (5.54 p.m.): The motion moved by the Leader Gamin, Goss, Grice, Healy, Hobbs, Horan, Johnson, of the House seeks to have Government Laming, Lester, Lingard, Littleproud, Malone, business take precedence over debate on Mitchell, Nelson, Paff, Pratt, Prenzler, Quinn, Rowell, private members' Bills this evening. Clearly, the Seeney, Simpson, Slack, Springborg, Stephan, situation is that the Government has some Turner, Veivers, Watson, Wellington. Tellers: problems in getting its legislation through. I say Baumann, Hegarty to the Leader of the House that this is not Resolved in the affirmative. helped when the Minister brings in 63 pages of amendments at the start of the debate. All told there are 148 amendments, and I understand HOSPITAL WAITING LISTS that more are coming. I am not being difficult, Miss SIMPSON (Maroochydore—NPA) but I would have thought all of these (6.02 p.m.): I move— provisions would have been in the original Bill. "That this House condemns the Quite frankly, I have not seen this many Beattie Labor Government for allowing amendments introduced in this fashion before. hospital waiting lists to grow, for cutting The Minister ought to have withdrawn the Bill back on intensive care beds, and for bad and brought in a new Bill. He should have management practices that have placed started from scratch. This is a serious piece of dangerously high pressure on staff." legislation and there is a degree of urgency to The Beattie Labor Government is get it through. I accept all of that, but it does cheating public health patients while spending not say much for the Minister's operation and money on art in hospitals and building a $13m the management of Government business Brisbane footbridge. The Beattie Labor generally when this sort of situation occurs. Government and Health Minister Wendy This process takes up an enormous Edmond have done a fudge job on surgery amount of additional time. Some of these waiting figures and are falsely claiming that amendments relate to contentious issues. things are improving, while the Some of them are purely administrative. correspondence and phone calls to many Nevertheless, a great deal more time will now members' offices show a different story. They be taken up with debate than would have are failing to disclose the true state of surgery otherwise been the case. I think it has to be waiting lists because they have broken a recognised that this has not been well promise to improve access to specialists for managed at all. The volume of Government appointments by actually reducing access in amendments is larger than many Bills that many hospitals. There is a waiting list to get on come before this House and their contents are the waiting list. quite extensive indeed. Let me quote from a Gold Coast man I appreciate that the Government wishes who, in his letter of 8 August this year, took to get its business through. I also make a point offence to a remark by the Minister for about what is contained in these Tourism, Merri Rose, in which she stated amendments—their length, their detail and publicly that 98% of all Category 2 patients at their significance. If we did not move on in this the Gold Coast Hospital were being seen fashion this evening there would be some within the appropriate time. The constituent problems, largely because of all of these enclosed a copy of a letter sent to him from 3030 Hospital Waiting Lists 6 Sep 2000 the Gold Coast Hospital after he had tried to "Category 3, the non-urgent, the obtain an appointment for an orthopaedic ones that often actually cure themselves if problem. The letter from the hospital states— they wait." "We have received a referral letter The Minister is wrong. There are tens of requesting an appointment for you with a thousands of Category 3 patients in specialist for your orthopaedic problem. Queensland, many in pain and discomfort, Due to the increased number of patients and they are not curing themselves. There are accessing the Gold Coast Hospital hundreds of Queenslanders who are slowly services, it has become necessary to going blind while waiting for cataract surgery issue appointments in order of priority. through the State hospital system because the Your referral has been categorised as a Minister does not think Category 3 surgery is Number 2 which is the next available important. appointment. However, we are unable to I want to put a human perspective on this give you an appointment date at this time by quoting a letter written on behalf of one of as clinics are fully booked for some those elderly Category 3 patients who lives in months." north Queensland. This woman was accessing The constituent then comments in his letter services through Cairns. that Minister Rose must have been Mrs Edmond: It just goes to show what a misrepresenting the situation in her media joke you are. statement because, he said— Miss SIMPSON: I am quoting the "It would be very easy to claim 98% Minister directly from Hansard. I repeat: success rate when people can't even get according to the Minister, Category 3 are the an appointment." non-urgent, the ones that often actually cure themselves if they wait. Similar situations are occurring right throughout Queensland, but I will quote Mrs Edmond: You are not quoting directly another example of the Bundaberg man from Hansard. whose wait for a hernia operation defies the Miss SIMPSON: That is a direct quote Government's claim that only 11 Category 2 from Hansard. This Minister has no patients were waiting for semi-urgent surgery consideration for those who are waiting longer at the Bundaberg Base Hospital. A Health than they should. spokesman said only last week, according to This north Queensland woman was the News Mail, that there were no patients in accessing services through Cairns. Mrs X, we Category 1 and just 11 Category 2 or semi- will call her, was told she had to wait for two to urgent patients waiting. The article states— three years for public surgery in Cairns. So this "But the 49-year-old disabled elderly pensioner decided she had to go pensioner, who requires surgery to correct private. Members should note that the Beattie a painful hernia, said he went to make an Government's surgery figures as at 1 July appointment this week and was told he 2000 showed only 34 people waiting for eye would have to join a queue behind others surgery in Cairns, which highlights the who had been waiting since last October. absurdity of the Government's spin-doctoring. 'They showed me the list to prove It does not add up. Her friend writes— there were hundreds of people before me "Mrs X's vision is now so poor she on the category two list,' he said." can hardly see. She is an artistic woman who used to paint and write. These Then there is the Nambour Hospital. The passions are no longer available to her surgery waiting list says that there are 91 because of her condition. Her little cottage patients awaiting eye surgery. But the official is a haven of serenity, cleanliness, peace report does not tell what the local GPs know, and artistic arrangement. For two years and I will table a document which shows that she has scrimped and saved and gone the actual wait time to see an ophthalmologist without necessities of everyday life to find before even being considered for the surgery the money, saving $150 per fortnight from list is nearly a year. her pension ... Is there nothing the This disgraceful situation has been raised Queensland Government Health system time and again with this Health Minister, but can do for this lady? Mrs X has given me she does not seem to be concerned at all. I permission to petition on her behalf. Her refer members to the Health Minister's eyesight is poor to say the least, and comments on 29 February 2000 when she giddiness excludes her from much said—and I quote directly from Hansard— mobility ... Is this what our prized free 6 Sep 2000 Hospital Waiting Lists 3031

Queensland Health system has now people are not receiving the best clinical bureaucratically become?" care because of it." Unfortunately, Health Minister Wendy I will now quote from an article in the Edmond has virtually admitted that the Beattie Sunday Mail which backs up my claim about Government has no intention of treating tens the reduction in ICU nurses and the reduction of thousands of Queenslanders, people who in operational beds as a result, which is having wait on the non-urgent, Category 3 surgery an adverse impact on patient care. The article waiting list. The Government's indifference has states— been exposed by the Minister's extraordinary "The doctor said one patient was claim in the Parliament that Category 3 recently brought to a major teaching patients can often cure themselves if they wait. hospital after a cardiac arrest but was not It is no wonder that waiting lists are growing in able to be admitted to the ICU ward. this State. It appears that the Government's Instead he died in the emergency strategy is to leave people as long as it can in department." the vain hope that they will cure themselves. That is the shameful and disgraceful situation There is also the situation with acute under the Beattie Labor Government. It has its patients and intensive care units. But first of all priorities wrong; it is putting the funding into let us look at the full extent of Category 3 the bureaucracy. numbers around the state. There are 45.5% of The Opposition also raised the issue of Category 3 patients waiting too long at the Toowoomba Hospital's ICU, which has lost Bundaberg; 15.6% at Caboolture; 51.1% at capacity and which was closed at weekends. Cairns; 46.8% at the Gold Coast; 22.8% at The Opposition stands by the claims that it Ipswich; nearly 27% at Toowoomba; 37% at made during the Estimates process that one Townsville, and those are only the ones who patient who suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac have been put on the list, because, as I attack did die at the Royal Brisbane Hospital in mentioned before, there are thousands who the emergency department and was not have been kept off the list due to the fudging admitted to the ICU because of a lack of of the figures because people cannot get respirator capable ICU beds. access to the specialists to even get on the In regard to the second patient referred to list. during Estimates, he was initially unable to be Let us look at the mismanagement with admitted to Redcliffe Hospital's ICU because it regard to intensive care beds. Despite the was full and he was also unable to be protestations of the Health Minister, there have admitted to Royal Brisbane Hospital's ICU due been significant cutbacks in funded and to another critical problem. At the time the staffed respirator capable intensive care beds Royal Brisbane Hospital had a power brownout in Queensland, particularly at the tertiary level and a failure of the back-up power system. in Brisbane. Patients who require ICU Staff had to hand ventilate some patients and treatment definitely cannot cure themselves. I therefore could not accept the patient from referred to the cutbacks in operational ICU Redcliffe. I understand that the ambulance beds during the Budget Estimates process last carrying the patient had to turn back to month, and I quote this directly for the record Redcliffe Hospital where an ICU bed was in case the Minister trips up again over the eventually made available. difference between currently operating and The cutback in ICU beds to a level well staffed ICU beds and future planned capacity below the national standard is sheer stupidity, within the new hospitals. I said— particularly given that elective surgery is still supposed to be a major activity of public "I refer to the fact that, under your hospitals and the fact that, along with trauma administration, there has been a surgery, elective surgery accounts for between reduction in ICU beds at Royal Brisbane 25% and 50% of the activity generated in Hospital from 22 to 14, and I am talking ICUs. The alternative of placing people back about respirated ICU beds; at Princess into non-ICU ward settings prematurely is Alexandra from 20 to 14; at Prince happening contrary to best clinical practice, Charles from 10 to 7; and Redcliffe according to clinicians— Hospital is supposed to have five ICU beds under the so-called reversal of flow, Time expired. but there are only three ICU beds Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers operating. This is a compromise of care, Paradise—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) Minister, and you should be aware of it, (6.12 p.m.): In joining this debate tonight I because there are examples where second the motion moved by the honourable 3032 Hospital Waiting Lists 6 Sep 2000 member for Maroochydore. I do so to set the Director-General, Queensland Health. record straight in regard to the circumstances Financial Year—1995-96. relating to the appointment of the director- (A) Quantitative. Activity—If activity general of the Department of Health by the levels meet or exceed 1994/95 levels current Premier. What we have under this (within 1%)—one-third. Financial—If the Government is a Premier who is more Queensland Health budget is achieved— interested in performance bonuses than in one third. patients, a Premier who has sought to create the impression that Dr Stable's contract was (B) Qualitative. Restructure—If the the sole creation of me and my colleague the organisational restructure is finalised—one former Minister for Health, Mr Horan. third." On 16 February 1996, the then Minister That all adds up to 100%. And who signed it? for Health, Peter Beattie, wrote to Mr Horan. Was it the signature of Mike Horan or Rob He said— Borbidge with Dr Stable? It is signed "(Dr) R L Stable Director-General, P Beattie Minister for "Dear Mike Health" and it is dated 2 February 1996. Re: Appointment of Director-General— I table that document so that once again Dr R L Stable. the Parliament and the people of Queensland I wish to advise for the record that Dr can see just how desperate this man is, the Stable was offered and he subsequently lengths to which he will go to hide the truth, accepted the position of Director-General, the fact that increasingly we cannot believe Queensland Health, on the basis that the anything that the leader of this corrupt salary package would be in the order of Government says. He tried to create the $200,000 per annum for a five year impression during the Estimates hearings and contract. during the political controversy over bonus At my request, Dr Stable payments that somehow this was all the work commenced duty much sooner than of the previous Government. His own signature would normally have been the case and, on that document on 2 February 1996 shows in particular, before his service contract that it was his work. He wrote a begging letter could be finalised. Because his contract to the incoming Minister for Health saying, has been somewhat different to previous "This is the deal I have done, please honour Public Service contracts, there have been it." Of course, we had to. delays associated with discussions, and Mr Horan: And he did, and then he procedural matters to be resolved, with turned it into a lie at the Estimates. both the Public Sector Management Commission and Crown Law." Mr BORBIDGE: Then he turns it into another blatant lie at the Estimates. The fact is The then Minister for Health, the current that when we subsequently checked on this Premier, went on to say— deal that Mr Beattie had done, we found that "As you and I have both recognised the particular performance agreement in the past, it was important to attract a between Dr Stable and the then Minister for suitably experienced and qualified person, Health was not approved by the Premier of the preferably with a clinical background, to day. It was not approved by Premier Goss. So the position of Director-General. I after his 100 days of listening as the Minister achieved this but in the process offered a for Health, Peter Beattie committed the larger package than would normally have Government by way of the agreement that he been the case in the public sector. signed on 2 February 1996 to the performance Therefore, I ask that you take any bonus agreement that he later condemned. necessary steps to honour my Hon. W. M. EDMOND (Mount Coot-tha— commitment to Dr Stable. ALP) (Minister for Health) (6.17 p.m.): I move Yours sincerely, Peter Beattie, the following amendment— Minister for Health." "Delete all words after 'House', and What was enclosed? What was enclosed was replace with— a document dated 2 February 1996, which 'notes high levels of demand for elective stated— surgery and the Beattie Labor "Queensland Health, Office of the Government is reducing hospital waiting Director-General, Private and Confidential, lists, expanding intensive care services Agreement re Incentives as per the and improving the delivery of health Contract of Employment of: Dr R L Stable, services for Queenslanders.' " 6 Sep 2000 Hospital Waiting Lists 3033

The Opposition's motion is as desperate As for intensive care beds, the member as it is dishonest. It is the same old tired for Maroochydore's notorious confusion with untruths that have been peddled so many numbers is compounded by her trouble with times before. It is the same old the facts. As a result of the $2.8 billion unsubstantiated arguments that were refuted Statewide health building program, intensive at last month's Estimates committee hearings, bed numbers go up, not down—up at the including the latest ramblings of the Opposition Royal Brisbane Hospital, up at the PA Hospital Leader. It is the same old untruths that they and up at the Logan Hospital. Although ICU tried to peddle in the debate following another beds are networked and staffed according to unsubstantiated notice of motion last need, the rebuilding program will increase November. This is yet another example of the hospitals' capacity to open more ICU beds Opposition operating in a policy-free zone. than are currently available if required. There There is not one single new idea. There is not have been no funding cuts and no cuts in one single new argument and, most beds. The member just does not have a clue importantly, there is not one single shred of what she is talking about. She should do truth in what they say. The only thing that the herself a favour and shut up occasionally. Opposition consistently offers up in this House People would believe in her more if she kept is negativity—negativity levelled at our fine quiet. public hospital system, negativity levelled at This Government is about increasing our fine public hospital staff, and negativity services. That is why I was pleased to and attacks on the senior bureaucrats. announce $25m to put into extra services for The public of Queensland is sick and tired cancer patients across the State and putting in of this whingeing, negative Opposition. They a strategy to bring those cancer treatment want them all to be buried. Both staff and services on line. I am determined that the days patients may well be suffering from stress, but of ad hoc planning for cancer treatment it is stress exacerbated by the constant attacks services are over. The tenders are out in the of the Opposition on the public hospital paper. That is a good move. However, do we system. Members opposite hate the public hear one bit of positive support from the hospital system. It is an ideological thing with Opposition? We just hear whinge, whinge, the Opposition, which continues its attacks on whine, whine, attack the bureaucrats, attack hardworking and caring hospital staff who do the staff, attack the hospitals, try to undermine not deserve such treatment. It is nothing but the public health system so that the coalition hysterical scaremongering to gain cheap Federal Government can bring in their political points at the expense of patient care. I privatised system, to keep on going with the fail to see how the hysterical rantings that we private health insurance strategy and get from the Opposition offer any stress relief undermine the system and try to bring it to its to the patients and the staff involved. knees so that they can then force through their Let me refer to a couple of the facts. ideology and do away with our wonderful Under Mr Horan's stewardship, as at 1 July public hospitals system. 1997, 41.3% of people were waiting too long Time expired. for Category 2, or semi-urgent elective Ms BOYLE (Cairns—ALP) (6.22 p.m.): I surgery—not non-urgent elective surgery, but am very pleased to second the Minister's semi-urgent elective surgery—and 58.7% of amendment to the ridiculous motion that was patients were being seen on time. Under moved by the member for Maroochydore. Labor, as at 1 July 2000, 91.6% of Category 2 Since 1946, Queensland has had a proud semi-urgent patients were seen on time. That history of free hospital care. It is indeed a was done using exactly the same appointment shame that any honourable member of this priorities and exactly the same system and House should erode the confidence of the methodology that was used under the public of Queensland in their free hospital coalition. The difference is that Labor has system without basis and with the implication restored openness and honesty to elective that were the member opposite Minister for surgery by publishing the data quarterly as part Health, that she could do better than the of our elective surgery strategy. My present Minister has done. Of course, that is predecessor leaked out only the good bits, only an implication without any hard facts and he covered up the bad news. We let it all given or suggestions made to this Government out there so that people understand and know on what could be done better. The member what is happening. However, with nearly half of gave no indication of where more funds could the Category 2 patients waiting too long under be applied, or how they would be obtained the coalition, it is no wonder that they tried to from the Federal coalition Government. No, of cover it up. course not, considering the record of the 3034 Hospital Waiting Lists 6 Sep 2000 previous Government of only some two and a report cards that it has sent to doctors at the half years ago when it did not reduce waiting Cairns Base Hospital because— lists. At that time, it was not the situation in "We need all the ammunition we can Queensland that any patient could roll up to a get to point out the deficiencies of the public hospital and obtain instant care, but the Government and hopefully get something member's implication is that we should be able done about it." to achieve that goal. I am so angry about that. We could expect In fact, we have achieved, and we have better of the doctors of our State. I have achieved well. I refer to the increases in the qualifications in psychology and in science and Health budget over the past three Beattie I can say that the AMAQ report card is not a Government Budgets: in 1998-99, $3.12 survey that is worth 5c. It is biased. The billion; in 1999-2000, $3.45 billion; and in questions lead to the answers that are desired. 2000-01, $3.81 billion. I challenge the member That the AMAQ dares to stand by those report for Maroochydore to tell us exactly what she cards is a shocking thing in itself. I remind Dr would do differently if she were the Minister. Smith and other doctors in this State that this Would she increase the budget further? survey is about the political aspirations of the Where would she get the money to do that senior person in their organisation. considering, of course, that her partners in What about the people of Queensland crime in the capital city of our country, in who are used by these other agendas? In fact, Canberra, have devoted over $3 billion to the the Cairns Hospital and many other hospitals, private health system? How indeed would the with the massive increases in Health budgets member increase the Health budget when that they receive year after year, are giving the Queensland as a State—as are all States—is very best care that we can provide. They reliant on the Federal Government's handout cannot provide all that they would like, no. of people's taxes for public hospitals, yet that They do not provide an instant service for money was devoted instead to the private every person who wants it. We all wish that we health system. What indeed has the member could provide that, but these hospitals are to say about that? Nothing! Absolutely providing a good service, certainly for urgent nothing! and semi-urgent patients. The Health I will talk for a little while about the Cairns Department is also providing expanded Hospital. I know it well. The member for services to community health as well as to Maroochydore dared to raise the issue of hospitals. I am indeed proud to stand with the waiting lists at that hospital. Despite the Minister and support her amendment to the dislocation owing to the wonderful motion. redevelopment that is going on at that Dr WATSON (Moggill—LP) (Leader of the hospital, the staff have absolutely scored for Liberal Party) (6.27 p.m.): I rise to support the the patients in Cairns and the far north. In motion moved by the member for terms of that hospital's waiting lists, 100% of Maroochydore, namely that this House urgent and 96% of semi-urgent patients are condemns the Beattie Labor Government for being seen on time. That is a proud record. If allowing hospital waiting lists to grow, for the member opposite had any kind of cutting back on intensive care beds and for responsibility, she would indeed give bad management practices that have placed recognition to the fine work that the staff have dangerously high pressure on staff. done in achieving that outcome. The member would also give recognition to how well the The real tragedy for public hospital $127m redevelopment of the Cairns Base patients in Queensland is that the coalition Hospital is proceeding. She would give was not able to finish the job started by Mike recognition to the $1.2m CT scanner that the Horan in early 1996. The member for Beattie Government has funded and put in Toowoomba South inherited from the current place. The member would give recognition to Premier the worst Category 1 waiting lists in the new emergency medicine doctor who has Australia. That is the reality. But in just two been appointed and to the boosted computer years and four months of coalition know-how resources that will take pressure off the busy and back-to-basics management, we turned emergency department. the worst waiting lists in Australia into the best. Mike Horan got to work and organised the Mind you, in terms of partners in crime, I money, the training and the staff to make an am also absolutely embarrassed by my local all-out offensive on bringing waiting times representative of the AMA, Dr Peter Smith, down. That is what the member for who dares to say, if the Cairns Post quote is Toowoomba South did while he was the correct, that the AMAQ will implement the Minister. The coalition's Surgery on Time 6 Sep 2000 Hospital Waiting Lists 3035 project initially included 10 major hospitals. The appointment to get an appointment to get an first target we set was for Category 1—the appointment. That is not good enough. urgent cases requiring surgery in 30 days or To make matters worse, the Health less. Minister has admitted that negotiations are Mrs Edmond interjected. well under way to close around 90 specialist Dr WATSON: Are we going to have this outpatient clinics at the Royal Brisbane continuing nonsense from the Minister for Hospital. Mrs Edmond justifies this cutback by Health? saying that those places will be made available where people live out in the suburbs. But that Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Fouras): simply has not happened. There is no Order! The member for Moggill would like to be evidence of any major uptake in specialist heard. I ask the Minister and the member for clinics at the Logan Hospital, the Redland Toowoomba South to have a conversation Hospital, the Caboolture Hospital, the Ipswich outside; otherwise I will warn both of them. Hospital or the Redcliffe Hospital. Dr WATSON: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Under the coalition we had a Health Minister who got everyone working together The target was that 95% of Category 1 and cooperating to deliver the service—surgery patients would get surgery within 30 days. We on time. Under Labor we have a Premier reached that target. In fact, when the coalition implying that hardworking nurses are whingers. left Government 98% of all Category 1 patients Under Labor we had big dollars being spent, were receiving their surgery on time within 30 but no action. days. An estimated 13,000 Queenslanders had operations under the coalition that they Time expired. simply would not have been able to get had Mr SULLIVAN (Chermside—ALP) Labor stayed in power. Compare that with the (6.32 p.m.): I rise to support the amendment record of Peter Beattie while he was in charge moved by the Minister for Health and to reject of Health. Under Labor only 51% of Category 1 the negative, whingeing half-truths of the patients were receiving their surgery within 30 shadow Ministry. The motive behind the days. So we had 51% under Labor and 98% original motion moved by the member for under the coalition and Mike Horan as Health Maroochydore is contained in the motion Minister. The worst waiting list in Australia which she tabled in the House this morning. under Labor became the best waiting list in She said that there are three issues for which Australia under the coalition. she was going to condemn us that have Clearly, while Labor's Health Minister was placed dangerously high "press" on staff. That doing a hundred days of listening a lot of is right; that is what she had on her mind—the Queenslanders were doing many painful days press. That is all she wants. She wants a of waiting. Perhaps I am being a bit harsh on cheap line and a publicity stunt. There is no Mr Beattie. After all, he did inherit most of the level to which she will not stoop and there is no mess from his now deputy, the former Minister Queensland patient she will not use or abuse for Health, Jim Elder. One wonders whether to get her name in the newspaper and to get a the Health portfolio is to State Labor what the story up. It is unfortunate that the half-truths Aboriginal Affairs portfolio is to Federal Labor. are abundant. Is Health its poisoned chalice? One thing is for I will concentrate on the ICU beds, of sure: Labor's management of Health is which there are currently 126 in south-east sickening a lot of Queenslanders. It is difficult Queensland, and this includes the intensive to tell just how sick the patient is because of care, high-dependency, critical care and Labor's spin doctoring of the figures. But the neonatal ICUs. When the current hospital AMA has not fallen for it. It knows that the redevelopment projects are completed, there waiting list numbers do not add up and do not will be 335 ICU beds. Because this is capacity gel with the anecdotal evidence from the to meet future needs, some of these beds community. The AMA, which was disparaged a may not be opened immediately or funded at moment ago by the member for Cairns, is this stage, but the capacity will be there when launching an investigation. they are required. As the shadow Minister One thing we do know is that in should know, that is good planning. We do not Queensland right now just getting onto a build just for what is needed now; we build in a specialist appointment list is very difficult. As capacity to grow. We do not fund unnecessary that poor person on the Gold Coast mentioned beds now, because that is a waste of money. a moment ago by the member for We fund what is needed. Do we have a Maroochydore discovered, with Labor running network to supply what is needed? Yes, we Health in Queensland we virtually need an do. No patient in Queensland is denied access 3036 Hospital Waiting Lists 6 Sep 2000 to an ICU bed. Queensland Health manages What she has said is absolutely untrue. To say ICU bed availability on a Statewide network there are cuts in bed numbers and that beds basis. There is quite a deal of flexibility in the are not available is an untruth. system. The clinicians are able instantly to Of course some beds will be moved from access information on the availability of beds. the centre of Brisbane to the outer areas In those rare circumstances when an ICU bed where people live. Why should people from is not available in a specific hospital, a bed will the Pine Shire and Logan and people in the be provided at another nearby hospital. electorates of the members for Albert and Intensive care is a highly specialised area and Caboolture, for example, have to travel to the requires specialised staff and equipment. It is Royal Brisbane Hospital when the Caboolture, a waste of valuable resources to leave ICU Redcliffe and Prince Charles Hospitals can beds open and to have staff when they are meet their needs? not needed. However, we have a system in place across the State to provide instant Time expired. response on demand. Mr SLACK (Burnett—NPA) (6.37 p.m.): Let us look at the facts. The State coalition I will give a comparison between 1 July Government established its credentials on 1998, under Rob Borbidge and Mike Horan, Health in a powerful way during the two years and 1 July 2000, under Peter Beattie and and two months it had in power. Wendy Edmond, with respect to the Prince Charles Hospital in my electorate. Two years Mrs Edmond interjected. ago, under the coalition, 78% of Category 2 Mr SLACK: The Minister should listen. patients were receiving their treatment within When it gained office, Labor under Goss had the 90-day time frame. At that time, 138 left the hospital system in tatters with an Category 2 patients were long wait. Just a appalling elective surgery record. About half of couple of months ago, under this Government, all Category 1 patients were not receiving we had 99.7% of Category 2 patients receiving treatment on time. Category 2 patients did not their treatment within that time frame, with only fare much better. Only 58% of them were one Category 2 patient who was a long-wait receiving treatment on time. With proper patient. What is the comparison? Under the management and resources directed at the coalition, there were 138 long-wait patients at front line of health care, the coalition was Prince Charles two years ago. Under us, there quickly able to turn these wait times around. was one, and this was at a comparable time— Today it should not be forgotten that, when 1 July—two years apart. the Borbidge Government left office, our The Beattie Labor Government's $2.8 elective surgery wait times had gone from the billion Statewide health building program will worst in Australia to among the best. As the see ICU bed capacity increase in Queensland member for Moggill said, 98% of urgent hospitals. For instance, the Royal Brisbane elective surgery patients were receiving surgery Hospital currently has 22 ICU beds available if on time and 80% of Category 2s were on time. needed. The new hospital will have 36 beds The Borbidge Government had at that time set available if the need arises. And again, not all its sights on Category 3s, which also of those will be open and funded immediately. desperately needed improving, once the There is room for considerable growth. The urgent lists were in hand. Princess Alexandra Hospital currently has the On the back of those dramatic health capacity to open 21 ICU beds. The new improvements we have a right to ask: what hospital will have the capacity to open 30 beds happened? The Beattie Labor Government if needed. The Logan Hospital previously had happened. No matter how much it fudges the three ICU beds. Now that the new expanded figures, it is clear that the Beattie Labor hospital is open it has the ability to open six Government does not have even a shade of ICU beds if the need arises. Royal Women's this sort of commitment to Health. It has not had 58 beds available. The new made any meaningful inroads into the redevelopment now has the capacity to open electorate surgery waiting lists. We have had 166 ICU beds if and when the demand arises. serious blow-outs in hospital budgets all The Prince Charles Hospital, in my electorate, around the State. There have been major currently has six general ICU beds but it has increases in bureaucratic appointments to the the capacity for eight beds if required. In Queensland Health head office during Labor's addition, because of its specialty, there are 16 term in office, and the district health councils post-operative intensive care beds available to have been getting increasingly frustrated by meet cardiothoracic surgical demands. Those the way this Government expects them to figures simply put the lie to the things that the rubber stamp very poor and very damaging member for Maroochydore has been saying. service cutbacks. 6 Sep 2000 Hospital Waiting Lists 3037

In my own area there have been Medical Association Bundaberg Branch resignations from the Bundaberg District President, Dr Howard Kingston, who is a highly Health Council—both respected community respected member of the medical profession leaders with a genuine interest in health in my area. He has described the Bundaberg delivery in the region. They resigned out of Hospital as being significantly understaffed. He sheer frustration last year saying that they goes on to say that Bundaberg's public could not sit by and watch this Government hospital patients were being short-changed gut services to the district. because decisions on funding were made Mrs EDMOND: I rise to a point of order. "based on politics and not on need". Just last That has to be corrected. He went off to be the month the hospital's chief surgeon was the bishop of the Northern Territory. I cannot take latest senior medical officer to quit. He said— responsibility for that. "There was already a crisis in the Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Fouras): provision of adequate services before I Order! There is no point of order. left. Mr SLACK: In the Burnett region, elective All that's being done is category one surgery waiting lists for Category 2 blew out (urgent) cases and emergencies." from 18% to 33%, and Category 3 blew out So it is a bit rich for Queensland Health, the from 20% to 45.5% from July 1999 to January Minister and those only too willing to toe the 2000. Those are the facts. Only in the latest line to claim that health problems in this State elective surgery report has there been any are non-existent. reduction in waiting list figures. Although Dr CLARK (Barron River—ALP) Category 3 continued to deteriorate, the (6.43 p.m.): I think the first thing that needs to proportion of semi-urgent patients waiting too be said in this debate tonight is that it is not a long were cut. That is not because they finally debate that we could have had under the fixed up the terrible haemorrhage of dedicated coalition Government. And why not? Because staff and of health funds; the Category 2 the facts were never out there in the open! reduction was the result of a new Queensland Health policy to send Bundaberg patients to Mr Mickel: You had to FOI them. Maryborough and Hervey Bay in an effort to Dr CLARK: Exactly. Members had to FOI improve the books. them. They were never out there. Let us have a look at those books and Mrs Edmond: You didn't get them. They ask exactly who is doctoring the evidence, to refused point blank to release them. coin a headline from the Courier-Mail of last Dr CLARK: I take the Minister's week? I refer again to the 49 year old disabled interjection. We could not even get them pensioner mentioned by the member for under FOI. I was not in the Parliament then. I Maroochydore who requires surgery for a am even more appalled— painful hernia, who last week disputed the Queensland Health elective surgery figures. Mrs Edmond: We didn't get one When this man tried to make an appointment document under FOI—not one piece of paper. for treatment, he was told that he had to Dr CLARK: Exactly! queue behind others who had been waiting since October last year. The hospital staff Mr Mickel: Do you know why? Because showed him the list to prove that there were Toowoomba Hospital had the worst figures! hundreds of Category 2 patients before him. Dr CLARK: I have heard, too, that How does the Labor Government reconcile Toowoomba Hospital had the worst figures in that with its latest elective surgery report, which Category 3. We actually found out about that shows that there were only 11 Category 1 later and, yes, we have managed to improve patients waiting for semi-urgent surgery in them. Bundaberg? It has no answers. Let me go back to the issue in relation to The honourable member for the AMA. That has been talked about tonight. Bundaberg—surprise—has also written to the We have heard about this report card. This Health Minister admitting, "They can't both be has to be a cynical political exercise, and why? right." If the Minister had to deal on a day-to- Because one of the things that AMA says it is day basis with constituents who had had going to get is information about waiting lists! It operations cancelled time and again and who is already out there. What kind of waiting list are in significant pain and discomfort while information does it want? Obviously the kind they are waiting—waiting on waiting lists to get that is doctored! Obviously the kind that is on the waiting list—she would know where the going to be used for political point scoring! The truth lies. She should just ask the Australian Beattie Government should be congratulated 3038 Hospital Waiting Lists 6 Sep 2000 on bringing openness and accountability to the I am proud to tell honourable members hospital waiting lists. what is going on in Cairns in terms of Category There are also games being played in 1; 100% receive treatment on time. In Cairns. The member for Cairns has made Category 2, 97% are seen on time. In mention of this already. Let me say that Category 3, yes, there are problems, but the Dr Peter Smith, who chairs the local branch of point is we know what the problem is. That the division of general practice said in the problem is actually better now than it used to Cairns Post that anything that highlighted the be. We know why members opposite are in true state of the city's public health services here talking about Category 3, because they was welcome. He has to go no further than the cannot bear to acknowledge that we are published waiting list data. Honourable actually doing well with Category 1 and members can be sure that the true state of Category 2. So, no, they have to find affairs in Cairns is never going to come out something else, and it is Category 3. We are through the AMA; its political agenda is never not walking away from that problem. We know going to allow it. it is there, but we are being honest about it. We are not in here scoring political points, Getting back to the point I am making, as the Opposition is on this issue. Our our openness and our accountability is Government's comprehensive waiting list something that we are proud of. Under Labor reduction strategy has brought openness and we publish waiting lists every quarter for the 33 accountability to waiting lists. Most importantly, reporting hospitals. We have now been doing the waiting list reduction strategy has been that for eight reports. We give them to GPs. successful in reducing waiting times for elective We give them to the media. We probably even surgery and seeing an impressive increase in give them to the Opposition. We make it surgery throughput, and nothing annoys the available on the Internet. Anybody who wants members opposite more than that. The it can see it; it is there. I have gone into Government has not buried its head in the hospitals. I am sure members opposite have sand, though. We have railed against the gone into hospitals. I know that members on Federal Government, because that is where this side of the House have. What do we see we need to get a bit of honesty into this in any hospital? We see posted up on the debate. We need to have acknowledged walls this information on waiting lists! exactly what the Federal Government is doing Mr Mickel: You see it at the Logan in terms of its subsidy of private health Hospital, that's for sure. insurance. Dr CLARK: We do see that at Logan. I Time expired. have seen it in hospitals in Cairns. We walk out Mr BEANLAND (Indooroopilly—LP) of the lift and usually there it is. (6.48 p.m.): I think the member for Barron Mrs Edmond: It is in the lift at Nambour. River has waiting lists on her mind rather too much. Perhaps she should be thinking about Dr CLARK: It is in the lift at Nambour. those who cannot get on the waiting lists. This We want people to know. We are not is a Minister who lurches from crisis to crisis. hiding anything. We are actually providing that This is a Minister of a can't do Government. information, particularly to GPs so they can This record speaks for itself. What we have know which hospitals have spare capacity so here are hospitals that lurch from crisis to crisis, that patients can be referred there accordingly. as the Minister does. Publishing those waiting list figures ensures We have budget blow-outs; we have that hospitals actually manage better. We can category blow-outs. Category 1, the most pinpoint which hospitals are performing urgent category, has blown out by 20% in the extremely well and which need assistance to past 12 months. But there is not a word from improve their performance. We do not mind the Minister! What do we have from the saying that there is a difference. I think it Minister? The Minister tries to say that the actually creates a bit of good competition Category 1 waiting lists are getting better; they between hospitals. They do not want to look at are not blowing out. I say to the Minister that those published reports and see that they are they are getting worse. The facts speak for not doing as well as the hospital in the next themselves. Of course, the Minister cannot city. We are out there telling people exactly read the facts. The Minister is too busy trying what is happening. The coalition did not have to create an impression and a perception, the guts to publish waiting lists. It just picked which is what this Government is all about. We out the bits that it wanted to tell. It did not tell know, of course, that this Government does us exactly what was going on. not want to tell the public what it knows: do not 6 Sep 2000 Hospital Waiting Lists 3039 let on what you know; laugh it off—except this QE II Hospital and the Logan Hospital. This Minister yells and shouts. She does not laugh Government has always wanted to cut and it off at all. downgrade services at the QE II. It has been This Government lurches from crisis to integrating those services with those of the PA crisis. The Minister has lost the support of Hospital and the Logan Hospital to downgrade hospital staff, and that is why all these figures them and cut them back. It is no wonder that are coming out of the various hospitals. No the people who live in those areas are up in matter which category one looks at, the waiting arms and rail against what this Government is lists are getting longer, not shorter. Of course, doing in that regard. urgent Category 1 cases have blown out by There are problems in not only Categories over 20%. If one looks at the published waiting 1, 2 and 3, ICUs, staff practices and blow-outs list data, one sees that it is going from bad to with budget problems but also in the worse. One should also look at what the outpatients area. There have been further shadow Minister tabled a while ago. For closures and further reductions in services example, in the Nambour Hospital—just one under this Minister and this Government. The hospital in this State—the waiting list for Minister will continue to deny it, but the facts orthopaedics is something like 30 weeks. speak for themselves. Of course, the new Miss Simpson: And that's for category is the waiting list before one gets on appointments. the waiting list—the secret list that the Minister does not have. No wonder this Government Mr BEANLAND: Yes, 30 weeks just for an laughs it off, because that is the only thing it appointment, and it is longer after that, of understands. The Minister's reply in this course. This is something that this debate tonight was poor. There was no Government does not want to know about. substance whatsoever in the reply because As far as management practices and the Minister has no basis for her amendment, pressures placed on staff are concerned, one and the public of Queensland know it. The only has to look at what is happening in Minister stands condemned by her own words hospitals. The Minister again brushed this for her lack of substance and lack of support. aside, as she likes to do. There have been Time expired. problems with management on the Gold Coast because staff are under such enormous Mr MICKEL (Logan—ALP) (6.53 p.m.): pressure. There was another instance of this in We have just heard a speech that was Townsville recently. The staff are not to blame; probably written and authorised by Shane it is this cold-hearted, mean-spirited Minister Sondergeld on behalf of the Liberal Party, who puts more pressure on her staff day by because the leadership of the AMA and the day. She loves to talk up the perceptions but Liberal Party work hand in glove when there is does not deliver. This situation also occurred a policy-free Opposition, as there is at the under the former Minister, the now Premier of moment. This Parliament should be this State. After 100 days of listening that congratulating this Minister and the member Minister did not deliver either. for Waterford on the $65m extension to the There have been cutbacks in intensive Logan Hospital. It is an outstanding hospital care services across-the-board. I notice that a with outstanding new services, something that number of members opposite talked about could never have been delivered under the beds in ICUs, but of course they did not say coalition. whether there were staff available to look after Mr Horan interjected. those facilities. They did not say whether the Mr MICKEL: I notice the member for beds were functioning and taking patients, but Toowoomba South interjecting. He was the they said that there were some spaces. It is a member who wanted to drag the maternity bit like the Yes, Minister program I remember services out of the Logan Hospital and put seeing about the perfect hospital with no them back in the QE II Hospital. Logan has patients. This Minister believes in the same the largest growth of young families in thing: a perfect hospital to her is one which Queensland. And what was the response of has no patients. That is how this Minister the member for Toowoomba South? Drag the operates. What a farcical situation that is. maternity services out of the hospital and put However, that is the situation in relation to them miles away from families! That is a ICUs under this Government. It is the same complete and utter policy disgrace from the situation across-the-board wherever one looks. member for Toowoomba South. There are We are not just talking about the young parents in Logan City having babies. Nambour Hospital, the Royal Brisbane Hospital The maternity section is right there. The and the PA Hospital; we are talking about the member for Springwood has shown the way 3040 Personal Explanation 6 Sep 2000 recently by adding to his family. I do not want never access it. A working-class family in to say anything about technique, but there Logan City has been locked out of that have certainly been additions to his family. opportunity forever. That is why that mob over The AMA leadership under Dr Sondergeld there are silent on it. They know that has been exposed for what it is by Matthew Queensland is being sold out on this to the Franklin in the Courier-Mail. The fact of the tune of $430m. It is the working-class families matter is that AMA leadership has always and poor families in regional Queensland who opposed places such as Logan City and will pay the penalty for that. Caboolture getting extra services because their The State Opposition's response is AMA specialist mates do not like travelling to absolute silence on this. It has no policy those areas. Matthew Franklin exposed it, and response. It is just apologists for the AMA it is a fact. Constituents in Caboolture would leadership, which does not even represent its not have had that service if it had been left to own membership. Doctors are doing a decent the AMA, and it is the same for Logan. job in the public hospital system, an absolutely decent job. We never hear that from the AMA I am told that Dr Sondergeld is trying to leadership, though. chalk up brownie points for a Liberal Party or National Party preselection in Maranoa. That is Time expired. what this survey is all about. It is not about Question—That the Minister's health promotion; it is about self-promotion. It amendment be agreed to—put; and the is the AMA push polling. It is push polling for a House divided— political outcome—to help the Leader of the In division— Opposition. It knows he was floundering last time and it came to his rescue, and the poor old thing is floundering again. So the AMA PERSONAL EXPLANATION leadership is again out there offering a bit of a Division Bells transfusion for him, offering a bit of help and respite through a push poll that it is going to Mrs SHELDON: Mr Speaker, I draw to run through all those regional hospitals. Dr your attention that I and another member Sondergeld is a self-publicist. He is trying to missed the last division because the bells did create a bit of a bow wave for a policy-free not ring on our floor, which is Level 11. I ask Opposition. that that be fixed because I think it is important that members have the opportunity to attend When Health Minister, the member for divisions, and we cannot if we do not know Toowoomba South claimed that private health they are on. insurance would reduce waiting lists. That is Mr SPEAKER: Thank you. what we have from the Federal Government. What are those opposite doing here tonight? AYES, 40—Attwood, Barton, Beattie, Bligh, Boyle, Braddy, Briskey, Clark, J. Cunningham, Edmond, Saying that waiting lists have expanded! They Elder, Fenlon, Foley, Fouras, Hamill, Hayward, Kaiser, cannot have it both ways. They have private Lucas, Mackenroth, McGrady, Mickel, Miller, health insurance, yet they are still saying that Mulherin, Musgrove, Nuttall, Palaszczuk, Pearce, Pitt, waiting lists are growing longer. What is Reeves, Reynolds, Roberts, Robertson, Rose, happening with private health insurance? It is Schwarten, Spence, Struthers, Wells, Wilson. costing taxpayers $2.2 billion. Why are the Tellers: Sullivan, Purcell AMA leadership and the Opposition not NOES, 39—Beanland, Black, Borbidge, Connor, pressuring the Federal Government to allow Cooper, E. Cunningham, Dalgleish, Davidson, Elliott, patients who sign up for public health Feldman, Gamin, Goss, Grice, Healy, Hobbs, Horan, insurance to get full-cost recovery for their Johnson, Laming, Lingard, Littleproud, Malone, services? Why do they not do that? We hear Mitchell, Nelson, Paff, Pratt, Prenzler, Rowell, total silence from the other side, because they Seeney, Sheldon, Simpson, Slack, Springborg, are in the pockets of the AMA leadership on Stephan, Turner, Veivers, Watson, Wellington. this one. Tellers: Baumann, Hegarty Why are they not out there arguing the Resolved in the affirmative. case for Queensland's public hospital system Mr SPEAKER: Order! For any future when we know that $430m is going to be divisions on this motion the bells will be rung ripped out of the public hospital system in for two minutes. Queensland to pay for the $2.2 billion subsidy Question—That the motion as amended to get into private health insurance? If one is be agreed to—put; and the House divided— not in private health insurance already, what is AYES, 40—Attwood, Barton, Beattie, Bligh, Boyle, the Federal Government's answer? To shut Braddy, Briskey, Clark, J. Cunningham, Edmond, the gate on them forever so that they can Elder, Fenlon, Foley, Fouras, Hamill, Hayward, Kaiser, 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3041

Lucas, Mackenroth, McGrady, Mickel, Miller, wonder that it takes rural people and its Mulherin, Musgrove, Nuttall, Palaszczuk, Pearce, Pitt, constituencies for granted when this is the way Reeves, Reynolds, Roberts, Robertson, Rose, it treats the Parliament. It is true to the form of Schwarten, Spence, Struthers, Wells, Wilson. the Opposition that its members turn up and Tellers: Sullivan, Purcell treat this Parliament and their constituencies NOES, 39—Beanland, Black, Borbidge, Connor, with contempt by engaging in the petty Cooper, E. Cunningham, Dalgleish, Davidson, Elliott, behaviour of calling a quorum when only three Feldman, Gamin, Goss, Grice, Healy, Hobbs, Horan, Johnson, Laming, Lingard, Littleproud, Malone, of them bothered to turn up for the debate. Mitchell, Nelson, Paff, Pratt, Prenzler, Rowell, What a joke! This Opposition is a joke. Seeney, Sheldon, Simpson, Slack, Springborg, I was going to take it easy on the Stephan, Turner, Veivers, Watson, Wellington. Opposition over the lunacy of some of the Tellers: Baumann, Hegarty comments its members made in the debate Resolved in the affirmative. today, but this ridiculous provocation they have Sitting suspended from 7.08 p.m. to just embarked upon is good reason to point 8.30 p.m. out what absolute dunderheads they are. Opposition member after Opposition member went on today about how the sky is going to WATER BILL fall in, how disasters are going to befall us and Second Reading what a disaster this is going to be. According to them, the world is going to come to an end Resumed from p. 3028. and rights are being ripped from people. What Hon. M. J. FOLEY (Yeronga—ALP) absolute rubbish! (Attorney General and Minister for Justice and Even the most cursory reading of this Bill Minister for The Arts) (8.30 p.m.): Out of an will alert anyone to the fact that this Bill of itself abundance of caution and to allay any doubt takes no rights from anyone. It does nothing of on the question, I wish to declare an interest in the sort. It simply sets up, for the first time in that I am the part owner of a small block of our State's history—it took a Labor land next to a creek. This Bill deals with issues Government to do it—a comprehensive of the ownership of land on the beds and planning system for the allocation of water and banks of watercourses. It also deals with the the assessment of the health of river systems taking of water by owners of land adjoining a and catchments in our State. We have never watercourse. Although, arguably, this is not had that before. covered by the disclosure provisions, out of an abundance of caution I inform the House Under successive conservative thereof. Governments, for 32 years prior to the Goss Government in 1989, water licences in this Hon. R. J. WELFORD (Everton—ALP) State were handed out like confetti. Water (Minister for Environment and Heritage and licences were just a routine taxing measure, a Minister for Natural Resources) (8.31 p.m.), in routine measure to collect revenue—nothing reply: Now we all appreciate what an else. They were never a measure of the health honourable person the Attorney-General is. of the catchment—never justified on the basis Out of an abundance of caution and to allay of need, never justified on the basis of any doubt, I should declare that I own a piece economic viability or feasibility, never justified of land some kilometres from a watercourse. on the basis of ecosystem health or catchment We are all very grateful to know it. This debate health, and never justified on the basis of has been a long one, but it is fair to say— strategic investment in the State's interest. Mr HEGARTY: Mr Deputy Speaker, I draw They were used as a pork-barrelling exercise. your attention to the state of the House Opposition members tonight come in Quorum formed. whingeing and complaining. Why? Because this planning system deprives them of the Mr WELFORD: The only reason we are opportunity to ever again abuse the system of debating this Bill at such length is that the water allocations to serve their own political Opposition has so many concerns with it, yet it interests. calls a quorum when only three Opposition members have bothered to be in the House to For the first time in our State's history, this debate it. After Opposition members went on planning system transforms ad hoc water all day with tedious repetition over licence allocations that have no security under nonsense—absolute rubbish—three of them the existing law to an entitlement to an turned up here tonight to debate the Bill, and allocation which will be secure and will justify what do they do? They call a quorum! What compensation if any Government changes it in an absolute joke of an Opposition! It is no the life of a water plan for a catchment or river 3042 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 system. That does not exist at the present unparliamentary. I find it offensive and I ask time. It does not exist under the law over which the Minister to withdraw it. the previous Government was happy to Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Fouras): What preside and to make no changes to it. is the word? This regime does not exist in any other Mr SEENEY: "Lie". State of Australia. In no other State of Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is not an Australia will there be 10-year water security unparliamentary term. The Minister did not call under water plans. In other States plans run the member a liar. for five years. In no other State of Australia will water users be entitled to be compensated by Mr WELFORD: It is unparliamentary if it is the State if, having received an allocation, their used against another member in the House. water entitlement is adjusted within the 10-year Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point life of the water plan. No other State of of order. Australia is compensating within the life of Mr WELFORD: They have played a game water plan—at the beginning, at the end or at of deliberate deception against the people of any other time. In every other State of Queensland for years, pretending as they do Australia there is no compensation at any that we can go on with abandon and ignore time. the signals that require good planning to be Yet what do those opposite do? They get put in place. up here and whinge and complain. It is so Members opposite spoke of their $1 damned typical of the landed gentry. They billion infrastructure plan. Interestingly, by the have been squandering the State's natural time the second speaker, Mr Johnson, got to resources for decades, and here they are his feet, it was $2 billion. So within the space trying to pretend there is justification to of half an hour, they doubled the scale of their continue to do it. We will not squander our infrastructure plan, the illusory plan that they State's inheritance or deprive future promoted around the State, again as part of generations of the opportunity of economic the grand deception that they play on the security, because we are going to make sure people of Queensland that somehow they that the natural resources of this State—its have their interests at heart. great environmental assets, its water resources The one thing that that grand billion-dollar and its land resources—are managed plan delivered in the life of the previous responsibly for the future of our State's Government was the demise of the Comet economy and people. dam. The one decision members opposite The Opposition spokesperson made a were able to make as a result of that grand number of points, but one point virtually all billion-dollar plan was to recognise themselves, Opposition members made is that the water in the face of all their criticisms of this planning laws need reform and there does need to be a process, that there are environmental limits on better planning system. Every one of them the capacity for new infrastructure to be acknowledged that, but none of them wanted developed. We are doing that planning to take on the responsibility for what it should process properly, and we are doing it largely be—not one of them. Not one of them wanted according to the formulas that the previous to put their finger on the paper. Not one of Government set in place. But oh, no! them wanted to sign on the dotted line and Members opposite do not want to apply to say, "Yes, we need a planning system that themselves the discipline that they know has recognises the health of catchments and river to be applied in Government. Oh, no! They systems and allocates water in a fair and want to take the cheap, easy road. They want responsible way." to enjoy the luxury of Opposition that means they do not have to be disciplined about Not one of them had the courage to anything; they just promise the world and not commit themselves to a planning system of have to deliver anything. any kind. Oh, yes, they all want to mouth the platitudes, pay lip-service to sustainability, but The deception of members opposite do they want a planning system that actually extends to just about every commitment they achieves it? Of course they do not! They want made in relation to water resources. They to use it as a cheap political stunt to continue know damned well that the $1 billion the lie that they have played out against their infrastructure plan was an absolute illusion, constituencies for years, that somehow— and half of it was spent on planning studies anyway. It was not about infrastructure. Half of Mr SEENEY: I rise to a point of order. the plan was about planning studies. The one That term has long been considered decision they made was to close down the 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3043

Comet dam, and the promise of the Paradise Government, the National Party in particular, to dam, just like the Opposition Leader's promise continue to hand out licences upstream or in the last week of the Urannah dam and the downstream of existing licensees and Elliot Main Channel, are promises made in a undermine the security of existing water users. vacuum of information about the real feasibility That is what the current law allows. It is what of those projects. Are they not so grand and the Opposition was happy to tolerate. Why? bold in Opposition that they can go out and For the very reason that it abused that system. make these promises, knowing full damned Mr Deputy Speaker, if you ever want to well that they have no basis on which to know see a classic example of that, look at the most that they can deliver them! That is typical of difficult catchment where a water plan is members of the National Party. They wander currently being developed: in the Condamine. into their own constituencies—they are seats, Mr Deputy Speaker, do you know why it is by and large, that we cannot win—and deceive difficult to develop a water resource plan in the them and tell them that they will give them the Condamine? Because it has been pork- world and never, ever deliver. As the member barrelled and rorted up hill and down dale for for Bundaberg mentioned, members opposite years. The reason that St George channel promised an issue for Bundaberg for 20 years. irrigators are up in arms is because their Election after election after election they security was taken away by rorting duped their own constituents into believing conservative Governments that handed their that they would deliver something and never water to water users further down the system. did. They are at it again. Whether it is the Those Governments handed out more water Condamine or whether it is water security, licences than the river could handle and rorted whether it is the issue of so-called rights to the system in order to shore up their mates' water, the Opposition is determined to engage votes. That is why the Condamine is a difficult in a campaign of deception and process now. That is why it has been left to a misrepresentation when it comes to this Bill. Labor Government to deal with it, because This Bill simply establishes a framework members opposite never had the courage to for planning. It provides for the very water deal with it when they were in Government, as allocation management planning process they never had the courage to deal with the which the previous Government, the current RFA, as they never had the courage to deal Opposition, embarked upon. It gives that with vegetation management and as they process legal effect that it never had. We never had the courage to deal with native title. would have got to the end of that water All the difficult planning issues that are so allocation management planning process and important and central—the foundation—to the had no basis for enforcing it, no basis for long-term economic security of this State have implementing it. But we are giving it teeth. The been left to this Government to resolve, Opposition set up the process, but it had no because the Opposition is not interested in intention of abiding by its principles and its good planning; it is interested in rorting the discipline, because at the end of the day if system for its own ends. That has been its they got to the end of a WAMP and found that game since it came on the political scene, and they could not continue to rort the water if it ever gets back into Government it will be at allocation system, what would they do? They it again, as it was when it was in Government would ignore it and go on handing out water last time. licences as if there was no tomorrow and as if It is interesting that on one hand the the environment and river systems did not members of the Opposition boast about how matter. sustainable water use currently is in the hands Another issue raised by members of the of rural land-holders. I know from my own Opposition especially was the appeals process experience working and talking with rural land- and the opportunity to appeal if there is loss of holders and irrigators throughout the State that viability. The reality is that part of the they genuinely do want to get it right. They negotiation process for implementing water genuinely do want to do the right thing and allocation management plans/water resource operate in a sustainable way. They know that plans is to ensure that people's viability is sustainability is fundamental to their long-term preserved. That is part of what the planning business security, their long-term financial process is about. This process, for the first time security. It is interesting that Opposition in our State's history, makes available a legal members suggest that somehow we are mechanism to provide for a person a volume undermining the viability of rural industry, when allocation of water which is secure. That does they claim that they are already sustainable. If not exist at the moment. What exists at the they are already sustainable and we are trying moment is a law that would allow a coalition to put in place nothing more than 3044 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 sustainability, how could we possibly be opportunities to develop—that is true—but in undermining the viability of rural industry? some catchments we are very close to the Members opposite cannot have it both ways. limits of the capacity of natural resources to be What an insult to rural land-holders for further exploited. Until we face that reality and Opposition members to say that somehow acknowledge it and be honest about it with our putting in place sustainability undermines the constituencies, this State will forever be on a viability of rural industry. That is what they are long-term decline. saying. On one hand they are trying to say There were so many issues raised by they are sustainable; on the other hand they members on the opposite side of the House are saying that to put in place sustainable that it is impossible to address them all in my planning principles will wreck rural industry. reply, but I will be happy to deal with them in The one thing I am confident of saying is the Committee stage. The key issues that I that, as a result of putting in place this have addressed are the key issues that were planning process, we will underpin the long- raised by just about every speaker on the term economic security of rural industry. That is other side—loss of rights, so-called; loss of what this planning process is about. We will do opportunities, so-called; and devastating for rural land-holders and irrigators what no impacts, so-called. Those are the issues that I Government in the history of this State has have addressed in this debate. been prepared to do with them, that is, to put The reality is that we need to put in place in place a planning system that secures their a planning system that will be practical and access to that resource. That is what this that will work. I recognise that there are claims planning system is all about. It is unfortunate for compensation. However, the reality is, as I that Opposition members virtually to a person have explained in numerous discussions with did not acknowledge that that is what this Bill is rural industry groups—who, by and large, about. accept the detail of my point, but do not want As I say, they paid lip-service to the need to accept the principle—that it is impossible to for some sort of water planning system and devise a compensation system that recognises the need for reform. They paid lip-service to the vast diversity of different categories of the concept of sustainability, but they simply water users. Some users have fully developed could not get their heads around the fact that their licence; some have not developed their in order to achieve sustainability sometimes licence at all; some have only partly developed what must be put in place to achieve that their licence. The proposition that a consistent outcome is a disciplined system. Yes, that is and workable compensation system can be not always easy and it is made all the harder devised simply belies reality. Nevertheless, this by the fact that previous Governments have Government acknowledges that making the been too slow to tell people the truth about the transition to sustainable water use will be limits of their catchments and the capacity of difficult in some catchments and we will work catchments to deliver the resource to them. through the negotiation process with people in However, so long as I remain the Minister those catchments to ensure that their for this portfolio I will ensure one thing: I will tell concerns are addressed. rural land-holders and irrigators the truth. I will Some members said that lawyers will be tell them the truth about the capacity of rubbing their hands at the thought of actions catchments to provide the resources that they caused by the complexities of this planning need to build long-term security in their system. On the other hand, members of the industry. I will not go out to rural industry, as Opposition say that they want more appeal Opposition members serially do, and mislead provisions put into this planning system. If one them and pretend that there is an abundant thing will guarantee that lawyers will rub their future out there that simply does not exist. hands, it is making the planning system more The simple reality is that after 100 years complex by having numerous appeal of development we have transformed our processes beyond what are already in there, State from a State with a relatively small that is, the opportunity as part of the resource population and a small-scale economy to a operation plans for people to appeal to a highly developed, mature economy with large- panel established by the chief executive. scale rural and mineral-based industries that I say to the member for Gladstone, who draw heavily upon the resources of our walked out of the House a moment ago landscapes. That is a reality and it is time that spitting the dummy as she so often does in we acknowledged that reality and told the truth these debates, that so much of what she said to the people of Queensland. It is true that in is absolutely dead wrong—absolutely dead most of our catchments we still have wrong. There are, in fact, no limits on water for 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3045 stock or domestic users. Anyone who wants to out of it. So we are, in this particular instance, build a dam on their farm for stock or domestic treating their licences as convertible, as if it use to capture overland flows is totally free to was a full WAMP. That does not deprive any do so. Nothing in this Bill stops them from future users of the opportunity to access doing that. What the Bill does, however, resource that may be available, but it provides allow—as the current law does allow for water greater security for the existing users who resource planning—is that if in an area there is asked for those transitional arrangements to a development of surface water infrastructure be considered and I have accorded them that to a level that threatens the security of existing benefit. water users, then a planning system can be In relation to the matters raised by the established, as it currently can for ground member for Mackay in relation to the Pioneer water resources. That planning system Valley Water Board, I can assure him that the requires that the community in that defined arrangements for the board will be preserved area be consulted and involved in devising the while the resource operation plan is developed allocation rules for the allocation of overland for the Pioneer WAMP. The question of the flows. It does not automatically deprive people term of the WAMP being 10 years was a key of their rights to overland flows; it simply issue considered during the consultation establishes the legal status of overland flows process. As I indicated, no other State at the same as other water resources currently provides 10-year water security, as but does not trigger any power to control those Queensland will be, and it will be a overland flows until a plan is put in place to requirement of the WAMP that there be manage them. periodic reporting on the performance of the In relation to the issue of self-incrimination outcomes that the WAMP puts in place. raised by the member for Gladstone, I say that this is a standard clause that can be found in Both industry and conservation groups will many pieces of legislation. This clause be part of the review process in the last three provides that the privilege against self- years of each 10-year plan so that the process incrimination is not a basis for refusing to is fully transparent and accountable. In relation answer inquiries or provide information about a to the Eton irrigation area and their desire to person's water use. However, they provide that consider local management, the information with immunity from prosecution corporatisation charter of SunWater provides based on that information. Yes, it is true that that these can be considered for nine months that information may lead authorities to other following corporatisation and I encourage inquiries which independently establish irrigators to use that time constructively to breaches somewhere else by other people, or discuss opportunities for local management indeed by the person who provided the where that is considered appropriate. information, but the court will determine the To some extent, this Bill is complex. To extent of the immunity that this provision those members who said that their provides to people who are required to provide communities would have mixed feelings about information. When we think about it, water is a this Bill, it is a reality that in any process of public resource that needs to be managed change from one set of arrangements to and allocated fairly among users and it is only another there is a period of uncertainty. proper that people who exercise the privilege However, this Bill does not take certainty away of using a public resource under licence from from people; it provides the regulatory the community are also required to provide framework with which to work towards more information about how they use it. That, I certainty. This Bill is about providing the legal would suggest, is the least the community is basis for the water planning process in the entitled to expect from water users. future to deliver plans that in turn deliver more On the question of the transition from a certainty for water users. Yes, the transition water management plan to a water allocation process is never an easy one, but it would be management plan, I state that the key reason a lot harder if we were not to embark upon it. If for doing this was largely in response to water we were to simply leave in place the current users on the Boyne system who did not want arrangements whereby successive just a licence; they wanted a more secure Governments, for their own purposes, could allocation. As a result of that consultation, as continue to hand out licences that undermine part of the water management plan that has the security of existing water users, let me tell been developed we resolved to ensure that members that our State's economy and the existing users do not just get a licence that is financial viability of the existing water users variable subject to some future water allocation would be in a much more parlous state than if management plan, but get a secure allocation we go through this disciplined process. 3046 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

I have no agenda on this Bill that is either ¥ chapter 9, part 1, sections 1037 to pro-development or pro-environment; it is 1045, 1048C, 1048D, 1048F and about good planning and it is about sound 1107A and part 5 planning. If any single member opposite can ¥ schedule 2, amendment of the point to any particular agenda that I have, let Integrated Planning Act 1997 them do it. I challenge them to say with the amendments 1A and 13 slightest modicum of decency and honesty how it is that putting in place a decent ¥ schedule 3, amendments of the planning system—the first ever in this State's Aboriginal Land Act 1991, the history—is in any way a specific agenda. Let Forestry Act 1959, the State them spell it out and let them be exposed for Development and Public Works the political chicanery for which they have Organisation Act 1971, and the become renowned. Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 I commend this Bill to the House. It is an ¥ schedule 3, amendment of the important step forward in managing the Water Resources Act 1989, catchments of our State and it is important in amendments 1A, 1B, 1C, 1, 2, 3 and laying the foundation for a secure future for 5A.'." the State's economy. Mr BEANLAND: I rise to speak in relation Motion agreed to. to this amendment moved by the Minister. I do so because prior to this amendment being moved I did not have the amendments with Committee me, but I now have amendments to the Hon. R. J. WELFORD (Everton—ALP) Explanatory Notes. I have heard some (Minister for Environment and Heritage and ridiculous things in my time, but we now have Minister for Natural Resources) in charge of the amendments to the Explanatory Notes. I Bill. suppose when I go through and check these I will find that we have amendments to the The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Ms amendments. Nelson-Carr): There are 1,145 clauses and four Mr Seeney: We've already got them. Schedules. Before calling members to speak to particular clauses, I wish to advise that Mr BEANLAND: If that is the case, I thank certain clause numbers have not been the member for Callide. That highlights what I allocated in the Bill for drafting purposes. If any said this evening prior to 6 p.m. about how member wishes to speak to a particular clause, ludicrous this whole situation is. I think that it is will he or she please now indicate. quite an insult to the Chamber to produce these amendments in this fashion. I Clause 1, as read, agreed to. appreciate that at times there is a need to Clause 2— make some amendments, but we have an Mr WELFORD (9.03 p.m.): I move the enormous task to consider. We now have following amendment— amendments to the Explanatory Notes. That is definitely a first for the Chamber. I have never "(1) At page 32, line 6, 'schedule 3'— heard of that before. However, I thank the staff omit, insert— who have given me the amendments. I 'schedule 2'. presume they were circulated a little earlier in the afternoon. (2) At page 32, lines 10 and 11— I think that to have amendments to the omit, insert— Explanatory Notes shows the significant '(2) The following provisions of this Act amendments that the Minister is making—and commence on assent— I say the Minister—because he was not across ¥ chapter 1 this Bill when it was drawn up. I think that is a great shame. It certainly does the Minister no ¥ chapter 2, parts 1, 2 (except section credit to bring amendments of this magnitude 20(3)) and part 3, divisions 1 and 2 into the Chamber, particularly as they relate to ¥ chapter 5, parts 1, 2 and part 3, the Explanatory Notes. division 3 I said earlier when the Leader of the ¥ chapter 6, parts 1, 2 and 3 House moved that this Bill be debated tonight and I will say it again: this whole Bill should ¥ chapter 7 have been withdrawn. Now that I have found ¥ chapter 8, sections 1006, 1007 and amendments to the Explanatory Notes, that 1010 to 1015 reinforces what I said earlier. A new Bill should 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3047 be introduced with new Explanatory Notes. minor drafting errors that have been picked up The whole situation has reached a ridiculous in consultation with rural industry. To the extent stage this evening. that there is anything of substance in the Mr SEENEY: I rise to support the amendments, I say to the member for comments that have been made by the Indooroopilly that they are the outcome of member for Indooroopilly. Tonight, we have in consultation with stakeholders and rural this Chamber an almost absurd situation. We industry in particular. have a Minister who quite clearly does not I apologise to the member for understand the portfolio for which he is Indooroopilly for providing an amendment to responsible. Tonight, rather than get a the explanatory memorandum. Of course, response to the very genuine comments that there is no obligation to do that, but I thought were made by a whole range of speakers on that, for the benefit of members who may want this side of the Chamber, we have been to read the amendments and understand treated to a half-hour tirade from a glittery them, explanatory memorandum to explain eyed fanatic who knows everything and what the amendments do would be helpful. In understands nothing. That has been future, I will inform the Leader of the House demonstrated clearly by the fact that we have that we should not provide that to the member 148 amendments plus a few odd other because he has complained about it. amendments that have been dropped on the Mr BEANLAND: By providing these table. Plus we have amendments to the Explanatory Notes, the Minister shows that Explanatory Notes. The whole thing is a mixed these are not just trivial or minor amendments. up mess. This Bill should have been withdrawn It is no use the Minister getting nasty with me and done properly. and bitchy across the Chamber. That does not The only thing in the Minister's reply that do him any good. This is his Bill, not my Bill. was half right was the fact that this Bill is very The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Ms important to the natural resource base of Nelson-Carr): Order! That is unparliamentary Queensland. About that the Minister was right, language. The member will withdraw. but we would never know it from what we have seen of the handling of this legislation. How on Mr BEANLAND: I withdraw. But it is no earth can anyone come to terms with 148 use the Minister becoming outraged with me, amendments plus the assorted extra ones? because it is the Minister's Bill. The Minister We are probably looking at about 160-odd produced the Explanatory Notes. Members on amendments to a Bill that has over 1,000 this side of the Chamber, including me, are the clauses. It is absurd and it is a clear indication ones who have to wade through them at this of the Minister's total lack of ability to late hour. The fact that the Minister produced understand the issues and to handle this them shows that these are significant portfolio. amendments to what he is proposing. That speaks for itself; otherwise he would not have I support the comments that were made produced them. by the member for Indooroopilly. This Bill should have been withdrawn, redrafted and The fact is that they are not trivial. brought back into this Chamber in a Consultation should have occurred earlier. As I responsible manner. have said, there should have been proper consultation. The Minister is not across this Bill. Mr LESTER: Just briefly, I have to report It is not my fault that the Minister is not across to the Chamber that industry representatives it. He should not get angry with me. The fact have expressed to me very considerable that he is not across it speaks for itself. There dissatisfaction that so many amendments is nothing that I can do about it. It seems to have been brought in with very little time for me that the shadow Minister, the member for them to go back to their people and discuss Callide and other speakers on this side of the them. Without going further into the issue, Chamber know more about this Bill than the they are disappointed and I have been asked Minister does. That is a sad reflection on the to express that disappointment. state of affairs. The fact that we are having to Mr WELFORD: I have two short points to debate at this hour these new amendments make, because I do not want to take up time that were not expected when the Bill was that the Opposition could use to repeat tabled and introduced into this Chamber themselves or for the member for Callide to speaks volumes. It is a sad reflection on the repeat everything that anyone else from the Government that this situation has occurred. Opposition wants to say. Firstly, in relation to a Amendment agreed to. full briefing on all these amendments, most of Clause 2, as amended, agreed to. them are trivial to the point of hardly being significant. They are either numbering errors or Clauses 3 and 4, as read, agreed to. 3048 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

Clauses 5 to 9— quickly found out about the legal status of the The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! allocation to which he was restricted. Honourable members, please note that The Minister spent two years travelling clauses 5 to 9 have not been allocated in the around Queensland trying to erode the Bill for drafting purposes. The Committee will concept of the worth of those allocations and now proceed to clause 10. entitlements. They are more important than he Clause 10— can ever realise to those people who, in most cases—and this is quite the opposite of what Mr LESTER (9.11 p.m.): I move the he suggested—paid quite a lot of money for following amendment— those rights and allocations. They represent a "At page 34, line 11, after 'needs'— very big proportion of their capital base and insert— property value. In a very real way they represent the ability of those people to run a 'including the allocations to existing water profitable business and property. They are entitlement holders'." certainly not something that can get taken Clause 10(1) sets out the purpose of away at the whim of the Minister. Chapter 2 in advancing sustainable Let us move away from the legalistic management and efficient use of water and arguments and think about this as a moral other resources by establishing a system for question. Is it morally right for a Government to the planning, allocation and use of water. take away arbitrarily a property right that Clause 10(2) then sets out exactly what someone has paid for and which represents a constitutes sustainable management. big proportion of that person's capital value; Amongst other things, the Bill currently that represents the very essence of the ability requires sustainable management to of that person to earn a living for himself and contribute to providing for the fair, orderly and his family? Of course it is not. The Minister efficient allocation of water to meet community came in here bleary-eyed, raving, carrying on needs as in Part 6. There is no mention of and waving his arms around. He spent 10 recognising existing water entitlements. The minutes trying to reduce the worth of these Opposition believes that any system for the licences to nothing and then he told us that he planning, allocation and use of water should did not have time to properly respond to the recognise existing water entitlements wherever arguments put by so many speakers on this possible. This amendment would provide that side of the Chamber in the second-reading recognition and ensure that existing water debate. entitlements are considered first and foremost It is an absolutely absurd proposition that in any planning process. these existing water entitlements should not Mr SEENEY: I rise to support the be recognised. This amendment seeks to amendment moved by the member for include that recognition right at the very start of Keppel. This amendment and the concept that this legislation, which is where it should have it encompasses go to the very heart of been. Were there any sense of fair play, that everything that is wrong with this piece of would have been a basic tenet of any move to legislation. This amendment seeks to have the reform Queensland's water laws. The existing existing water entitlements of Queensland's water entitlements that have had the strength water users recognised. That is the great flaw of law behind them and that have been in the Minister's legislation. recognised by Government and industry It was over two years ago that I first raised should have been recognised in this in this Chamber what was then a rumour that legislation. Instead, the whole build-up to this the existing water entitlements were going to legislation involved a very deliberate attempt to be somehow taken away arbitrarily. In the two erode those rights and to turn them into years since I first raised that issue in this something that could be taken away without Chamber the Minister has been up and down any right of appeal or without any the State speaking in quasi-legal jargon trying compensation. More than anything else, that to justify the completely unjustifiable. The is why this legislation has been so poorly water entitlements that generations of accepted by people in the community. That is Queenslanders have enjoyed have become why this legislation has been the subject of so property rights over time. They have been much suspicion and distrust. recognised by all and sundry in the industry. As I and many other honourable They have had the full force of the law behind members on this side of the Chamber said in them. Heaven help the irrigator who used the second-reading debate, there are many more water than he was entitled to. He very things in this legislation which are good, which 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3049 are needed and which have been wanted by and I look forward to that debate. But one the irrigation industry and the water users of does not have to be a rocket scientist or an this State for a long time. But this legislation Einstein and one does not have to get the fails on the basic philosophies, because it has satellite pictures to work out that in that case, been introduced by a Minister who is a as in this case, the end result of the Minister's zealot—a fanatic—and who refuses to look at bungling through his department has been the the practicalities and realities of the situation. complete opposite of what his intent The reality of the situation is that these water supposedly was, simply because he does not entitlements and licences have been part of understand and he will not understand. He the Queensland water industry for generations. comes in here with a preconceived agenda They cannot be taken away arbitrarily. They that has only one aim—one very narrow cannot be ignored and they cannot be aim—and refuses to take any advice from reduced to something of no worth. It is just not anybody with any practical experience. The fair. Against any other legal interpretation it is end result is a tragedy for Queensland, and so just not fair. It is against every concept of it is with these water licences and these water natural justice. entitlements. The Minister spoke a lot about They have been arbitrarily removed— sustainable management and the need for taken away—from the property owners who security. This legislation does not give security. have purchased them and who have built their Creating the precedent that these water businesses around them. In many cases they entitlements and licences can be taken away, have mortgaged their whole businesses to made to disappear into thin air or reduced to those water licences and those allocations, nothing at the whim of the Minister enshrines and they are just suddenly going to disappear. into the whole water industry in Queensland a The Minister has decided that they have basic insecurity. The same thing can happen supposedly no legal backing and they are just with the new regime of licences and allocations going to disappear. It is up to the Minister to at the end of the 10-year period. If it is good decide whether or not those people get a enough to take them away now and to reduce replacement entitlement, whether they get the them to nothing—to take away the property ability to carry on their business or not. It is owners' value now—it sets a precedent for the entirely at the whim of the Minister; it is entirely Minister to repeat it again in 10 years' time. It at the whim of his so-called planning enshrines insecurity into the industry. processes, which in reality are politically The industry itself by its very nature is motivated processes. In reality so many of capital intensive. No irrigator—no industry— those planning processes that will determine achieves a return on the capital investment in whether these property owners get an 10 years. It is just not possible. They are long- entitlement to water to replace the one that is term investments. They need long-term taken away from them are based on politics security over the thing that makes them rather than science, and that is just totally profitable, and that is the water allocation and unacceptable. It is totally unacceptable to me the water entitlement. That applies whether it and it is totally unacceptable to any fair- is an irrigation industry or whether it is a minded person who understands the issue. secondary industry. They need that security. Once again it sets a precedent that can be repeated in 10 years' time, and that is the This legislation simply enshrines insecurity tragedy. in the industry. It takes away the property rights that the water users enjoy now and it Time expired. sets a precedent and provides an opportunity The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Ms for the new property rights, for the new water Nelson-Carr): Order! Before calling the member entitlements, to be taken away in the future. It for Toowoomba South, I remind members not is the exact opposite of what the Minister to interject unless they are in their correct purports is the case. That is the tragedy of so seats. much of what this Minister says. He comes in Mr HORAN: I speak in support of the here and says all the right things and makes amendment moved by the Opposition. What all the motherhood statements, but he does we are really talking about tonight on this not understand the practicalities. The end amendment is whether the Minister maintains result is, more often than not, the complete the existing entitlements for these people who opposite of the intent that he espouses. have been pioneers of the irrigation industry in There is no greater example of that than Queensland, who have poured hundreds of his handling of the vegetation management thousands—if not millions—of dollars into their legislation. We will debate that later this week, particular project and properties, who owe 3050 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 money to the banks, and who have developed they have had for 30, 20, 15 or 10 years. He some of the finest agricultural irrigation just cannot morally, economically or socially do systems in the world in terms of crop that. It is the most ludicrous, ridiculous, stupid, production and what they do for the economy wrong thing that I have heard of in my life. and for export, or wipes that out with the stroke The Minister is a lawyer. He should of a pen. imagine the reaction if someone barged into We can sit here tonight and make his profession and said, "You can't do any statements about this, that and the other. I more conveyancing. You can't do any more heard the Minister in his reply talking about family law. You can't do anything like that." corruption. That is a bit rich after today's Imagine if he had spent six years at university events. Regardless of that, the people in the and countless years setting up the office and Upper Condamine about whom I am talking suddenly some rooster in Parliament says, are the pioneers of flood irrigation, water "No, that is gone. We cut the line halfway harvesting and bores on the deep black soil through", and half his business is gone. How plains of Australia. They built these properties would he like that? That is what we are looking up. In one area they started the first private at tonight: taking these rights away from good, water board; I think it is the only private water honest, hardworking families, the families they board that exists in this State. They put in ring employ, the families who rely on them, the tanks, distribution systems, tillage systems and people who drive the trucks, the people who group crops that had never, ever before been supply the poly pipe, the people who fix the grown on the heavy deep black soil of those pumps, the electricians who fix the bores and plains. People cannot turn the stub over with the motors, the shopkeepers, the people who normal implements because in rain it just turns fix the diesel engines, and everybody who into pottery clay and goes hard. So they had depends upon the work created by these to develop systems to be able to plant and families. All of those people are at risk of losing grow in that country. their livelihood because of the cut to their In return, for all their experimentation, water allocations. The Minister just cannot take borrowing, hard work and effort, they have away from people what they have been given. developed one of the greatest agricultural In many cases a condition of their licence was farming systems in Australia and in the world that they had to build certain headworks, that provides for us income, economic tanks, distribution systems and so forth. development, jobs and export all the way This is one of the most serious issues that down to Fisherman Islands and all the way to we have faced in this Parliament. There are the warehouses of Brisbane that supply the many other ways that the Minister can address various goods that are required up there. The this issue without cutting the livelihood of these Minister just cannot take away from people people. He is looking at cutting the livelihoods what they have built up, what they have earned from some of the finest farming developed and what the Government has systems and the finest farm communities in given to them. the world. What is it going to mean in terms of The Minister should not give us this flow-on effects in Toowoomba, Pittsworth, business about corruption, water licences and Oakey, Cecil Plains, Millmerran and similar all that. Let us get honest here tonight, play a places? It is going to mean that hundreds of straight bat and talk about these families who millions of dollars—the flow-on effects—will not have developed these places, been to the be spent. We are already seeing it; $2m a bank manager, got the money and put month is no longer spent on the downs themselves through great strain and stress to because of the dairy deregulation. I can show put in place these fantastic systems. the Minister companies that have cut their number of staff in half because of the effects I hope that the Minister has had a drive of dairy deregulation. around Brookstead, Pittsworth, Norwin and some of those areas on the downs and seen From the look on his face, I feel the the magnificence that is there. I hope that he Minister does not understand what he is going has had a look for himself at what he is talking to do to that whole community. He should be about cutting in half or by up to 90%. These concerned about it and he should be prepared farmers know that under the heads of power to accept this amendment, because this is a given by this Bill the Minister is going to cut minimalist approach. At the very, very least he their water allocation by between 50% and could let people stay on their existing 93%. He is just going to break people; he is arrangements. He cannot take that away from just going to drive them off the land in one fell people. Words fail me. It is worse than cruel; it swoop. He just cannot take from people what is wrong, it is dishonest. 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3051

Mr Schwarten interjected. those opposite not stick up for Mr HORAN: The member for Queenslanders? We cannot take from people Rockhampton should get up on his feet and what they have legally had for 30 years, 10 say something if he wants to. years or 20 years after they have undertaken development with Government licences. This is Mr Schwarten: No, I want to give your so wrong that it defies imagination. mate a go. I call on the Minister to consider this Mr HORAN: He should go back to his seat amendment and give it some thought. Do not and say something meaningful. just knock it out because it has come from this There are many aspects to the WAMP side. We are speaking genuinely about this. and ways of working out water arrangements. What is going to happen to these people is for These people are experienced. They know real. What will happen to the communities what they are talking about. There are around them is for real. What will happen to hydrological engineers in their midst offering Queensland is for real if the Government advice and so forth. However, the figures, the proceeds with this and does not, at the very assumptions and the calculations are wrong. least, allow people to keep their entitlements. They do not understand some of the systems. Then we can put their water allocations into They do not understand that some tanks can the whole system and look at other options. only be filled once in 10 years and some However, we cannot take from people what several times in 10 years. It depends on the they already legally have. They are entitled to size of the block and the size of the dam. it. They are doing a fantastic job with it. I have Then there are times when it is full and nothing seen how these places have developed and can be taken from the river anyway. There are what people have put in to make these places also freak storms and the overland flow runs the successes that they are. We cannot pull which fill it up again. This is in an area where the rug from under their feet, because this the bores are becoming deeper and deeper in issue is too big and too serious. order to bring the water to the surface because Mr WELFORD: I will give members the it is not a renewable water area, as is the case opportunity to carry on and on about this with the Lockyer. It is older water. No-one amendment in a moment, but let me say this: knows where it comes from, but it is not like firstly, I do not intend to do anything that takes the Lockyer where the weirs put it into the away from people their capacity to use water gravel bed after rain. This is different country, that they have used for 20 or 30 years. No-one different bores and different water. It is reliant who has had water for that long will have their on the combination of the overland flow, the allocated volume of water reduced in a way water from the Condamine and the bores. that prevents them from continuing to farm all Therefore, it is a combination of those three the areas they are currently farming. I give the things. Chamber that guarantee. That is the first point. This amendment is worth considering. The second point is that, yes, I will give When dealing with an issue as serious and as consideration to this amendment, so much so large as this, we cannot take from people what that it is already in the Bill. The amendment they have had for years and years and proposes a change to clause 10 (1). If something from which they have developed a members look at clause 10 (2), which contains business. They have not only developed their the definition of "sustainable management" personal business but the business of used in subclause 1, it says— everybody else for hundreds of kilometres "... 'sustainable management' is around—the business of the State, the management that ... economy of the State, the exports. In economic terms, what the Government is (c) contributes to the following— considering is absolutely dreadful. It is (i) improving planning confidence disastrous. However, in social terms, the of water users now and in the impacts will be worse. I have spoken to some future regarding the availability of these people. They are devastated by the and security of water prospect. They are good, honest and entitlements ..." hardworking people. They are devastated by Therefore, the amendment is unnecessary. the fact that their allocation will be cut by 50% to 93%, according to the Government's Mr SEENEY: That is absurd. That is calculations, and I have seen the figures. It is absolutely absurd. It is childishly absurd. just crazy. Something in the order of 8% of The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr water comes out of this system. The rest goes Reeves): Order! The member will resume his to New South Wales and further on. Why do seat. I call the member for Western Downs. 3052 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

Mr LITTLEPROUD: In listening to the sorts of insecurity. Tonight he now stands up comments made by the Minister in reply to the and says that he is going to look after these second-reading debate, and being cognisant people. I think the Minister had better check of what is being proposed in this amendment, the press statements he has made, because I want to make a few comments which should he said that he would not recognise any be included in the record of the Chamber. I allocation given by DNR, or whatever it was, refer to the actions of a former Minister of a that was not as a result of a WAMP study. Labor Government, Ed Casey, who became Tonight the Minister has said something the Minister for a mega department on 2 different, and I find that very difficult to December 1989. This Minister said that the understand. National Party had given out all sorts of I now turn to the start of the WAMP allocations and created all sorts of problems. studies in the Condamine/Balonne. I recall the It should go on the record of this comments made by my colleague the member Chamber that in fact Ed Casey as the Minister for Keppel, who pointed out that the draft for Primary Industries in charge of the WAMP was put together by a consultant. We administration of water allocation sold all sorts pay very able public servants big money to of allocations in order to get money for the provide advice to Ministers. Why did the Goss Government. However, he was unable to Minister then choose someone who was not a guarantee to those people whether the member of the department but a consultant to Government of the day could deliver the water. do this survey when there are people in the That is the reality. He sold off allocations all department who have worked with people in over the place. After a scientific analysis of the agricultural belt in the Condamine and those allocations, people had no chance of Balonne area? Why did the Minister ignore getting that amount of water every year. He them and get a consultant to come up with sold a pup. Yet today the Minister is trying to this flawed WAMP? lay the blame with us. Yes, there are After listening to what the member for problems. However, it is now on the record that Keppel had to say, I understand he was paid a Ed Casey— bonus because he finished on time. The Mr Schwarten: He was using your Minister himself has admitted that it is flawed. system, wasn't he? Why the dickens do we walk away from Mr LITTLEPROUD: No. He came in here expertise within the department to bring in a full of revenge and full of hate and cut the guts consultant who is paid a lot of money? He clean out of the DPI and all the things backing came up with something, got a pat on the the rural industries of Queensland. He cut all back and within a week it is discovered that his services out of DPI and Water Resources. He findings were flawed and something had to be sold all of those things off and smiled all the done about it. It does not do much for the time he did. He will cop criticism forever for the Minister's credibility and it does little for the things he did. However, this Minister believes confidence of the public who are dependent all the blame rests with us. I have now put that upon the water resources of Queensland. on the record. Mr Welford: There was no consultant on I recall when this Government and this the WAMP. That is why— Minister came to power. Back then he started Mr LITTLEPROUD: There was no to talk about what he would do in relation to consultant on the WAMP? entitlements. I remember that the Minister Mr Welford: You live out there. It would made statements that he would not recognise be nice if you actually knew what was going any allocation unless it was an allocation given on. after a WAMP. The member for Callide has spoken about all of those allocations handed Mr LITTLEPROUD: I can tell the Minister out by the Department of Natural Resources, what is going on. There are a lot of people out or whatever the department was in those days. there saying that all the scientific data the People thought that they were given Minister is throwing up in terms of the WAMP allocations that had the recognition of is flawed. The Minister admitted within a week Government. However, the Minister came out that it was wrong. He admitted within a week and said on radio that the only allocations he that it was badly flawed. would recognise were allocations subject to a Mr Hobbs: After one day he said it was WAMP study. wrong. Mr Welford: Not true. Mr LITTLEPROUD: One day? I gave him Mr LITTLEPROUD: Yes, it is true. This is one week. So within one day the Minister going to cause all sorts of problems and all admitted that all the scientific data that backed 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3053 up the WAMP was wrong. The farmers can Government. A small portion was funded by poke holes in it all over the place. Now the the Government. This legislation reduces the Minister is saying that there was not a capacity of those people to produce, even consultant involved. My colleague the member though the Government supported them with for Keppel said that there was. funding in the previous year. Mr Welford: On the Bill there were It is absolutely ridiculous that the Minister consultants involved. can come in here with this legislation, which is totally flawed. There must be a stage at which Mr LITTLEPROUD: On the Bill? Well, that the Minister recognises that what he is doing is was not real smart either, because we have absolutely wrong. What the Minister is trying to perfectly able public servants out there who do is immoral. He is taking away the rights of would do a much better job of putting all this people who have put so much work and stuff together than consultants would. They dedication into building a development. If have a rapport with the— those opposite had tried even once in their Mr Welford: That is not what your lifetimes to put together a package to establish constituents tell me. They reckon the public a business, to develop something to work for, servants are no good. and some Government came in and tried to Mr LITTLEPROUD: I am here to express change the rules, they would understand. That my point of view. I think I am more in touch is exactly what this Government is doing with with what is going on out there than the this particular amendment. I do not think what Minister is. He has all sorts of comments about the Government is trying to do is fair in that, but I have a higher regard for the anyone's language. expertise of the Public Service. They work out We have to understand that the people there constantly with the people who are using who go out and work to build up all of this the system and they have a pretty fair idea. It infrastructure are not just people who live on is a pity the Minister did not take more notice the land. The Minister is not just putting it up of them. the cockies. This is a matter for people in I put on record that one Edmund Casey, communities. The livelihoods of people from a long-term member of this Assembly who various areas revolve around these became the Minister for Primary Industries, communities. These are people from Brisbane, shattered many of the services provided to from Sydney—from the suburbs and people out there. He was the bloke who saved everywhere. lots of allocations on the river that were not The other day a meeting was held in there. The Minister should not try to blame it all Dirranbandi. The hall was full—absolutely on the National Party. chock-a-block with people. The question was asked: how many people in this room are Mr HOBBS: There are a number of issues under 45? Three-quarters of the people in the that need to be followed through. The principal room put their hands up. These were not the reason the Opposition is strongly pursuing this farmers, the graziers or the aristocracy. They is that we need to include existing water were the workers. The Government is tearing entitlement holders in this allocation. There this system down in the same way as it is needs to be some recognition of them in this tearing down everything else in this State. legislation. The Minister mentioned that there There is no need to do it. All the Government are provisions already in the Bill and that we has to do is recognise that there is an should not worry about it. There was laughter entitlement for these people to go out and from the Labor Party side of the Chamber, so I develop. read through it. Even if the Government does claw back There is reference to improving the this water and send it over the border, it will be planning confidence of water users now and in put into the pumps of irrigators in New South the future regarding the availability and Wales. It will not get to the Narran Lakes. It will security of water entitlements. That does not not get into the environmental areas. It will go recognise existing entitlement holders at all. straight into the pumps of irrigators over the The Minister needs to ensure that it is in clear border. You are being taken for a sucker by and concise language that the legislation does the people of New South Wales, Victoria and in fact do that. The Minister is not recognising South Australia. You are the biggest sucker the work that has already been done by all this State has ever seen. It is about time you those people out there. woke up to the fact— The development incentive scheme is The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr one good example. Those people put together Reeves): Order! I remind the member to speak a proposal and it was supported by the through the Chair. 3054 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000

Mr HOBBS: For Christ's sake, I am directly affected. The people surrounding them looking straight at you! Can't you understand are affected, too. There has to be only a small that? Four per cent of the water of this State change in the price structure and those cotton goes over the border— areas particularly end up being unviable. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! Presently they are going okay, but a 5% Resume your seat. That was a reflection on reduction in their productivity will not mean the Chair. breaking even or a small profit; it will mean a big loss because of the scale under which they Mr HOBBS: I think it was a reflection on have to operate. I live in that area and I talk to what I was trying to do and what we are trying them all the time. I know the region. I implore to do here in this State. the Minister to recognise that those people do The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! have an existing entitlement. Resume your seat. I suggest that the member Dr PRENZLER: City Country Alliance withdraws that statement. It was a reflection on members will be supporting the amendment the Chair. The member will withdraw that moved by the member for Keppel. We do so statement or I will warn him under Standing for a number of reasons. One reason in Order 123A. particular is that, despite the theatrics that Mr HOBBS: I withdraw—just. have been performed here for the past half- The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! I hour or so, there is no doubt that property warn the member under Standing Order 123A owners have held water entitlements for many, and I ask him to withdraw. many years—as some members have said, for generations. My own area is based largely on Mr HOBBS: I withdraw. The Minister irrigation systems, and some of those needs to understand very clearly what he is entitlements have existed for many, many doing. He must look at what he is trying to do. years. They certainly have become an integral He is not going to solve the problems of the part of property valuations. Properties in eastern States of Australia by taking water irrigation areas have always sold at premium from Queensland farmers and sending it over rates compared with those in other areas. We the border. It will not work, simply because it will be supporting this amendment. will go into their pumps. The Minister must understand that. Queensland presently has The Minister claimed a while ago that the one of the smallest increases in the use of entitlement to existing allocations is already water in the whole Murray-Darling Basin. Those contained in the Bill. I do not believe that to be with the biggest increases in use in recent the case at all. Clause 10(2)(c)(i) does not say times have been New South Wales, Victoria that at all; I believe it says something and South Australia. They have had the completely different. If that is what the Minister biggest increases in recent times. The ACTU intends to say, that clause should be rewritten and Queensland— to read "improve planning confidence of water users now and in the future with regard to the Mr Reynolds: The ACTU? security of existing water entitlements". That is Mr HOBBS: I was just thinking of the the only way in the world that that provision member's faction. I was thinking of Townsville. would carry the meaning the Minister claims it It came across my mind. I just could not think does. of anything else. There is no doubt that water users Mr Reynolds interjected. throughout the State depend heavily on The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! irrigation; they always have. If there have been The member for Townsville will cease any errors in water allocations/water interjecting. entitlements, the blame lies at the feet of present and former officers of the department. Mr HOBBS: We are not asking for a great Consequently, we in the City Country Alliance deal, apart from a recognition of the believe that if any water entitlements are to be entitlements people have. The Minister has an removed from any landowners, they must be entitlement. As a member of Parliament he compensated. The idea that the Government has an entitlement to various things, even can take things from people has to cease. This though he has been here for only a short time. has happened with dairy farmers with their milk There are people in the community who have quotas. It has happened right across-the- been there for a long time. The Minister is board with this Government in the past few taking away any entitlement people have in a months. This sort of action has to cease. If lot of instances. these people are entitled to these things, if What people need to understand is that they are part of the viability of their land, then this relates not just to the people who are we must take cognisance of that and 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3055 compensate them for any loss. With those few Mr JOHNSON: I withdraw, but I will say words, I repeat that the City Country Alliance that I have utmost respect for the Chair. I will will be supporting this amendment. continue. I will take you up on the interjection Mr JOHNSON: This debate revolves again. I said in this House yesterday, in around clause 10(2)(c)(ii), which states— response to an interjection from you, that you are a representative of an urban seat— "the economic development of Queensland in accordance with the The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: I just principles of ecologically sustainable gave the member for Gregory a hint that he development." needs to speak through the Chair. The issue before us this evening is one of Mr JOHNSON: Mr Chairman, I will speak grave concern to many Queenslanders, not through you, but I will also address the only in existing irrigation areas but also those member for Chermside while I speak through who are pursuing irrigation; those who view the Chair. I addressed this issue yesterday in water development as a way of providing relation to manufacturing industry and what quality of life and infrastructure for occurs in a seat such as Chermside in Queenslanders in the future. This is a moral Brisbane. It is about the flow-on benefits, and issue, an issue of principle, an issue for that is something that has been totally families and businesses. It is a real social overlooked by Government members both this issue, one that I believe has been overlooked evening and yesterday. I think the interjections by the Minister. Ultimately, this is an by the member for Chermside are totally economics issue. I think economics is the one unwarranted, totally without foundation, and factor that will be crucial in the ongoing viability they show just how far removed Government of farmers who rely wholly and solely on members are from what is really happening access to good irrigated areas. Ultimately, here, what the meaning of this clause is all communities will suffer under this legislation. about and what this legislation is all about. I can tell by the look on the Minister's face Mr Sullivan: You didn't hear what I said that he is embarrassed by this legislation. It is then. not a laughing matter, and I believe the Mr JOHNSON: Just go away and go to Minister to be a man who shows more sleep! compassion and more understanding than he The recognition factor, in conjunction with has to date. I have spoken to some of his the Minister's consultation process, enables colleagues about this legislation. They have as him to justify his pushing this legislation many reservations as I do, because some of through this Parliament against the wishes of those people— the majority of people who live and work for Mr Sullivan: You always say that. the common cause of success not only of rural Mr JOHNSON: I think I took you up on communities or rural land-holders but also of this yesterday. I addressed this issue with you the people who rely on rural businesses to yesterday in relation to the manufacturing— keep their businesses viable. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr The most important consideration is that Reeves): Order! The member for Gregory will we must recognise the viability of business. I speak through the Chair. have heard the Deputy Premier talk on numerous occasions about the reason we Mr JOHNSON: I will, Mr Chairman, but I have to have good policy in place. I raised have to tell you for one half of one minute that yesterday the issue of the GST. Many I am taking the interjection from the member Government members have knocked the GST for Chermside. or the New Tax System, but for God's sake, The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! they have not given it a go yet to see whether The member will speak through the Chair. it will work. We talk about small business. The Mr JOHNSON: I will, Mr Chairman. Just let Minister talks about the water/irrigation factor. me finish, eh? If we do not give this the proper and fair go that it deserves, many other people will be The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: There affected. The banks and the financial have been continual reflections on the Chair institutions will certainly take a dim view of this by a number of Opposition members. I ask the legislation. I said it in this Parliament member to withdraw that and get on with his— yesterday. I have again today spoken with Mr JOHNSON: Withdraw what? people who are directly affected and people at The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: The executive level throughout this State who work member knows the words. I know the words, very closely with the Government and the but I will not repeat them. department in trying to bring about the reforms 3056 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 that everybody in this State desires for has got his facts wrong. We are talking here economic and ecological sustainability of our about clause 10(2)(c)(ii), which states that— water resources. Those people have been "The economic development of totally discounted. Queensland in accordance with the These 63 pages of amendments, in principles of ecologically sustainable addition to the amendments that have been development ..." presented to the Parliament today, are unfair If we cannot have ecologically sustainable to the common denominator. The fact of the development, we are going to see the demise matter is that many of these people have not of Queensland. We heard what the member been consulted fully in relation to what this for Warrego said a moment ago about what legislation is all about. The reality of it is: who will happen when that water goes over the will pay the penalty? Mr Chairman, you have a New South Wales border. Those over the smirk on your face and you are laughing, but I border are going to be the winners in this have to say to you that a lot of people in exercise and we are going to be the losers. Queensland will not be laughing tonight. I Queensland will be the loser. Do members hope and pray, as I said yesterday, that the know where the New South Wales border is in Minister will listen to what industry is all about. to the part of the Murray-Darling system that is We saw an example of this with the vegetation in Queensland? It is right adjacent to it. The management legislation, which the border runs parallel to the river. The catchment Government guillotined through the Parliament area comes from the Carnarvon Range and last year. The fact of the matter is that this is back in above Miles and other towns on the not going to be any different. I have heard the downs, At the end of the day New South member for Warrego and the member for Wales will be the winner; Queensland will Keppel say— ultimately be the loser. Again we are going to The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr see countless farmers, whether they be in Reeves): Order! I have allowed the member to southern, central or northern Queensland, go speak for seven minutes and he has not to the wall because the piece of legislation referred to the amendment moved to the before us that has not been the result of clause, except for his opening words. I ask him proper consultation with the general public. As to get back to the amendment that was I said yesterday, this is an issue of proposed by the member for Keppel. consultation, not insult. That is exactly what Mr JOHNSON: You are pretty touchy, Mr this is all about. Reeves, but the whole— Mr ROWELL: I want to speak very briefly The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! I to the amendment to clause 10 that has been warn the member for Gregory under Standing moved by the Opposition. I think that it is Order 123A and I ask him to withdraw that extremely important that we recognise that a comment. lot of the collateral value of property depends very much on the amount of water that that Mr JOHNSON: I withdraw. I will revisit the property has allocated to it. I think that what amendment and— the Opposition is intending to do is to put Mr Sullivan interjected. beyond all shadow of a doubt that people who Mr JOHNSON: This is pretty serious stuff. have had an entitlement for some period will retain that entitlement. Mr Sullivan interjected. I heard the Minister say that that provision Mr JOHNSON: Are you the chairman, are is in legislation here and legislation there and you? that if we go to different clauses of the Bill it is The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order!, I in some ways recognised, but it is not clear do not think the member for Chermside is cut. If people are to have the right to use helping the debate. The member for Gregory water, we want to ensure that under this Bill will speak to the clause. there is no misinterpretation of what their right Mr JOHNSON: I will speak to the clause. I really is. know that I have only two minutes left, but the The important issue is that water is gold to point I make tonight is that the most important primary producers. There is no question about factor here—and the Minister touched upon that. They are very frugal in the way that they this himself in relation to clause 10(2)(c)(i)—is use their water. They have used some of the improving the planning competence of water best technology in the world to ensure that users now and in the future to ensure the they get the maximum value out of their water. availability and security of water entitlements. I can assure members that the infrastructure That is what the Minister was talking about. He that has been put in place by many industries, 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3057 such as the horticultural industry in its packing That water security is destroyed by the WAMP, sheds and that type of thing, has been put which becomes law under this head of power there only through borrowings by producers in the Bill. That is what will happen. About who have had to put up a considerable 44,000 or 45,000 megalitres of water that is amount of their asset as collateral to banks. If able to be taken out currently by licence from they are to lose any proportion of that capacity the Upper Condamine into the ring tanks, but to earn the income that is so critical to pay that under the Minister's 10% percentile money back, that certainly will not endear arrangement there will be times when they them to their banks. could take 160,000 megalitres, but they The Opposition is asking the Government cannot take that amount out because they do to accept this amendment so that it puts not have the storage for it. The whole thing is beyond all doubt any question of whether the flawed. It is complicated. It is difficult to go water entitlements of those people is through all the details in a five-minute speech, preserved. but the WAMP is wrong and the WAMP is going to cut these people's allocations. Mr HORAN: When I was speaking before about guaranteeing existing water I would like to hear the Minister say entitlements, as this amendment seeks to do, tonight that the 44,000 or 45,000 megalitres is I made the point that what this Bill does is still available, that every single one of those provide a head of power for the WAMP. The irrigators will be able to get approximately the Minister said that these people will keep their same amount of water from the Upper water entitlements and that that is what it is Condamine system into their ring tanks when about. These people are so upset because this Bill is passed as they could before. I bet the draft WAMP, which becomes the WAMP, he cannot. He cannot guarantee that, and that is wrong. The head of power makes the is where the whole thing is wrong and flawed. WAMP law. Changes to the system of I spoke before about the devastation that calculation due to COAG requirements and so will happen to these people. I think that the on will cut these people's allocation by from devastation will hurt even more when they 50% to 93%. In some parts of the WAMP the know that this is happening because of flawed percentage has been changed from 70% to calculations. At the very least, the Minister 10%. I think that that refers to the fact that, should have some experienced people from where a tank system can be filled on average the department go and sit down with the seven years in 10, that gives the reliability or Upper Condamine Basin Irrigators Association performance indicator that is part of the COAG and talk to these people who know when they arrangements. Further down in the Lower can turn the pumps on and when they cannot Balonne the figure is probably one in 10. So and who know about the reliability of the river by putting on the Upper Condamine that one and how often they will fill the ring tanks on in 10 through the system of calculations, the average. Minister has effectively either halved their I will just say it again because I want to allocation or taken off 93%. That is what is make this point clear: this Bill gives a head of affecting people. That is what I am trying to power to the WAMP. The WAMP is wrong, the get across tonight. Even if the Minister says WAMP is flawed and the WAMP under the that what this Bill is about is keeping these head of power will cut the water allocation of people's water and their existing entitlements, the irrigators of the Upper Condamine by 50% they are going to lose their existing and, in some cases, by 93%. It will be an entitlements. absolute economic and social disaster for the I will take the extraction rates, the number people, for the Darling Downs, for of days and the starting height of the river Toowoomba, for other towns, for south-east where they are allowed to start their pumps. Queensland, for the whole State and for Different properties have different heights at Australia. I do not think that the Minister which they are allowed to start their pumps to seems to realise this important point. That is fill the ring tanks. Those people know what why this amendment is so important. The very they are doing. They have got water engineers basic thing that we should keep for these and everybody else who have worked it out. people is what they have now. Because of this legislation they will lose from 50% to 93% of their allocation through the Time expired. WAMP. The WAMP becomes law, because of Mr ELLIOTT: I do not want to labour the the head of power given to it by this particular point too much, but basically the Minister is Bill, it becomes the regulations. The Minister trying to say that what is on the previous page uses flowery words about the Bill to say that it of the Bill says the same thing. I really cannot is about water security and everything else. agree with that. I cannot see why the Minister 3058 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 will not accept this amendment. If the Minister becoming the Minister, that he would not says that this amendment is saying the same recognise those allocations—only allocations thing, why will he not accept the words of the given after an official WAMP. I suggest that amendment moved by the member for the Minister checks very carefully, because Keppel? Basically, the words are not a long there are quite a number of members on this way apart. If the Minister accepts those words, side of the Chamber who concur with my they are basically saying what the Minister opinion. says is stated on the previous page. Mr SEENEY: I am going to conclude the The word we want is "security". We hope debate on this amendment on behalf of the that the Minister is not going to implement members on this side of the Chamber. It is an what he could potentially under this legislation, emotive issue and it is a very important issue. under the WAMP as it stands, in the We could debate it for a very long time, but Condamine and Balonne. After that meeting there are other amendments that we want to that was held at Cecil Plains, we considered debate. the requirements of the people who were at Nothing could illustrate the incompetence that meeting. Currently, one land-holder has a of this Minister more than the response that he 774 megalitre ring tank. If the Minister goes gave when he responded the first time to the through this process in the way in which it can amendment that was moved by the member be brought through, that land-holder will finish for Keppel. Obviously, the Minister could not up with between 140 megalitres and 170 grasp the concept. I say to the Minister that megalitres instead of 774 megalitres. the concept is very simple. It is that this That is how the member for Toowoomba legislation recognises existing rights and South gets those figures. To me, it is really entitlements. We contend that that is a basic quite worrying that the Minister could possibly tenet of achieving sustainable management, have a situation in which he has the head of because to achieve sustainable management power to be able to bring about that result. I the Minister has to achieve security in the am not saying that the Minister is going to do minds of the water users. that, but it is rather terrifying to think that the If the Minister set a precedent by taking Minister is putting in place legislation that gives away the existing entitlements totally, by the head of power to the WAMP and, in turn, arbitrarily removing them as though they have under that process the Minister can cut no worth and no standing, then the Minister people's allocations to that degree. I think that sets a precedent that can be repeated at the is quite terrifying. end of every 10-year period. In so doing, the Mr LITTLEPROUD: I spoke earlier to this Minister enshrines insecurity into the legislation amendment. When I said that the Minister was and he threatens the very sustainable on the public record as saying that he would management that he aspires to. not recognise any allocation other than the The member for Western Downs is dead allocation that was given after the WAMP on a right: this legislation does not recognise river, there was an interjection from the existing water entitlements. The Minister has Minister. His interjection across the Chamber said that in this Chamber on numerous was that that was not true. Since I made my occasions. I have heard the Minister say it at first contribution, I have spoken to quite a few meetings up and down the State. I have seen of my colleagues on this side of the Chamber. it reported in the media on a number of They have the same recollection as I have. I occasions that these existing rights and suggest to the Minister that he check his public entitlements, in the Minister's mind, are record, because I will be speaking to the somehow worthless, they have no standing, Opposition office, and we will be checking, too. they have no legal backing and that the only I put the Minister on notice that he check very entitlements that will be legal entitlements will carefully what he said in his interjection. The be the new ones that the Minister will Minister might care to stand up and say it introduce. formally that that was not the case because, if In the Minister's first response, he that is the case, and I can find otherwise, he contradicted that, simply because he did not will be guilty of misleading the Chamber. understand. The Minister did not take the time I suggest that the Minister look very to read or listen to the amendment that was carefully through all the transcripts of all the moved by the member for Keppel. This public statements that he has made on ABC amendment is very simple and very basic. As I radio with regard to the recognition of said the first time I spoke to the amendment, it allocations given by the Department of Natural refers to the basic thing that is wrong with this Resources, or its equivalent, prior to his whole legislation: this legislation does not 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3059 recognise the entitlements and the rights that the Bill for drafting purposes. The Committee are held by people all over Queensland. It will now proceed to clause 19. does not recognise the rights and entitlements Clause 19— that are the basis of their businesses, which in many instances they have paid for, and which Mr LESTER (10.24 p.m.): I move the they have used as the basis for major capital following amendment— investment, about which the member for "At page 35, lines 26 and 27— Toowoomba South spoke. omit, insert— The Minister really has to understand that '19.(1) All rights to the use, flow and that is a very basic requirement of any move to control of all water in watercourses, lakes establish the sustainable management of and springs and all underground water Queensland's water resources. The first step is are vested in the State. to recognise those rights and entitlements. That is not to say that all of those rights and '(2) All rights to the use, flow and control entitlements can continue to be delivered in of overland flow water are vested in the perpetuity. There may well be cases where owner of the land over which the water water allocation management plans establish flows. that that water cannot be delivered. However, '(3) However, a moratorium notice or a it has to be recognised that those rights and water resource plan may limit or alter the entitlements exist, and if we arrive at a volume of overland flow water that may situation where for the greater community be taken or interfered with on land. good those rights and entitlements have to be '(4) Subsection (5) applies if a moratorium reduced, then it is only fair that those people notice or a water resource plan limits or be compensated. However, the first step is to alters the volume of overland flow water recognise that those rights exist. That is what that may be taken or interfered with on the Minister has categorically refused to do for land. the past two years, and that is one of the most important things that represents everything '(5) To the extent any rights mentioned in that is wrong with this particular piece of subsection (2) are not limited or altered by legislation. the moratorium notice or the water resource plan, the rights remain vested in Question—That Mr Lester's amendment the owner of the land.'." be agreed to—put; and the Committee divided— This amendment seeks to reproduce the AYES, 37—Beanland, Black, Connor, Cooper, definition provided in the previous Water E. Cunningham, Dalgleish, Davidson, Elliott, Feldman, Resources Act 1989 and prevent the vesting Gamin, Healy, Hobbs, Horan, Johnson, Laming, of all overland flow in the State as the Bill Lester, Lingard, Littleproud, Malone, Mitchell, currently provides. The Opposition's Nelson, Paff, Pratt, Prenzler, Quinn, Rowell, Santoro, amendment would mean that the Minister Seeney, Sheldon, Simpson, Slack, Springborg, could vest overland flow water in the State only Turner, Veivers, Wellington. Tellers: Hegarty, where its regulation has been identified as a Stephan necessary and beneficial measure because of NOES, 37—Bligh, Boyle, Braddy, Bredhauer, heavy demand for water overallocation and so Briskey, Clark, J. Cunningham, Edmond, Fenlon, on. The practical effect would be that the Foley, Fouras, Hamill, Hayward, Hollis, Kaiser, Lucas, Minister would vest overland flow water in the Mackenroth, McGrady, Mickel, Miller, Mulherin, State only on a catchment-by-catchment Musgrove, Nuttall, Palaszczuk, Pearce, Pitt, basis. The amendment allows land-holders in Reynolds, Roberts, Robertson, Rose, Schwarten, Spence, Welford, Wells, Wilson. Tellers: Sullivan, areas where overland flow is not an issue to Purcell continue exercising their rights to harvest it but also allows the Minister to vest overland flow The numbers being equal, the Temporary water in the State if it is deemed necessary in Chairman (Mr Reeves) cast his vote with the a particular area. Noes. Mr SEENEY: I rise to support the Resolved in the negative. amendment moved by the member for Clause 10, as read, agreed to. Keppel. This, too, is one of the basic flaws in Clauses 11 and 12, as read, agreed to. this legislation. The Minister refused even to attempt to justify the concept of recognising Clauses 13 to 18— existing water entitlements. A number of The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! speakers on this side of the Chamber put Honourable members, please note that forward a genuine argument that is heartfelt in clauses 13 to 18 have not been allocated in the general community and which is 3060 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 representative of the feelings in the The aims of this legislation can be community. Such is the arrogance and achieved by the amendment moved by the incompetence of this Minister that he refused member for Keppel. I suggest that, if the to stand up in this Chamber and respond. The Minister is fair dinkum and genuine in respect first time that he attempted to respond he of some of the things that he speaks about in made an absolute goose of himself. The this Chamber, he should just accept this second time, recognising the fact that he got it amendment. There is absolutely no need for so wrong, he refused to even attempt to this imposition on every land-holder in answer it. Tomorrow, when the Minister reads Queensland. There are certain mitigating the transcripts of his first response to the clauses in the legislation that allow people to propositions put from this side of the Chamber use some of the water that the Crown is about recognising the existing entitlements, vesting in itself for stock watering and domestic even he will be embarrassed. purposes. There is some confusion about whether they can put it in a dam before they This amendment addresses the second do that, confusion about whether they can big cause of suspicion and angst in the impound and confusion about whether or not general community. The clause that we seek the existing infrastructure can stay there. There to amend vests the ownership of all water in is also some confusion about natural justice the State in the Crown. It establishes that the questions that arise from the concept of land-holder no longer owns the water that falls vesting the water in the State. These are not on his land. That is a concept that is just questions that are being raised by completely foreign to what has been the honourable members on this side of the accepted practice or the accepted norm for Chamber; these are questions that were raised generations of landowners in Queensland. It is also by the Scrutiny of Legislation Committee. a concept which causes a lot of difficulty, The Minister should get the report of the suspicion and angst. Scrutiny of Legislation Committee and read As the Minister stated in his second- some of the concerns raised by that reading speech and in some of the committee of this Parliament that included Explanatory Notes, this vesting of the water in members from both sides of the Chamber. the State, or establishing that the State owns This is a basic and fundamental philosophical all of the water, is necessary to be able to question, and it needs to be given a lot more manage and control the overland flows. That consideration than it obviously has been by probably is the case in areas where overland the Minister, who has simply gone out and flows need to be controlled. There are some taken an absolute approach. areas where overland flows need to be In conclusion, I repeat that we support the controlled. There are some areas where aims and ideals that the Minister has development is occurring at a rate that will at espoused. We support the necessity to be least cause conflict between neighbouring able to control overland flows in those areas land-holders and is occurring perhaps at a rate where they are a problem. That needs to that is unsustainable. That development will happen, and it can happen if the amendment need to be controlled. Overland flows in those that has been moved by the Opposition is areas need to be controlled. accepted. It can happen, because the Minister The amendment moved by the member can vest ownership of water within that defined for Keppel gives the Minister the right to vest area, within that catchment in the State. Within the ownership of the water within that area to the processes of the management planning the State. It gives the Minister the right to that follows or that is given a head of power by solve that problem, and we support that. What this legislation, the use and the sustainability we do not support is the extension of that right of that water within that particular area that is over every land-holder in Queensland. What causing concern can be controlled. But there is we do not support is the approach that the no need to extend that absolute power over Minister has taken in the legislation. It is a every land-holder in this State. There is no fanatic's approach. It is a zealot's approach. It need to incur the suspicion and the anger of says that, contrary to what generations of land- land-holders all over the State simply to be holders have accepted and acknowledged, the able to control situations in very narrow, very State owns every drop of water that falls on confined, very defined areas of the State. Queensland and the land-holders can use it at I know that the Minister is going to stand the whim of the Minister. That is a zealot's up and say that it is not a big deal because approach. It is an absolute approach that is those land-holders are given back the rights unnecessary to achieve the aims of this that they thought they had. But for land- legislation. holders it is a basic philosophical belief. It is a 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3061 departure from what has always been The issue is this: Queensland is a very, very accepted. It is a departure from what has large State, a very diverse State. In always been acknowledged, that the commonsense terms, it is far more practical to ownership of land encompassed the right to issue this vesting on a catchment by own and use the water for certain purposes. catchment basis, which means that we reduce There has always been some water vested in the bureaucratic process and we reduce the the State—the water that is in major need for licensing requirements. There are watercourses, the water that is in lakes and huge differences between coastal and inland springs. The old legislation defined clearly that catchments. It simply makes economic sense. some water was vested in the State where There are areas in this State where there controls needed to be applied to that water. will need to be some processes put in place, This amendment copies, mimics or mirrors that some regulatory means to control some of the approach, but it extends it. The amendment overland flows, but in the majority of the State that the Opposition has moved extends that that is not the case. Really all the Minister is vesting of water in the State to those other doing is implementing a complicated system areas that now need to be controlled. They are that is going to cost a lot of money not just for areas where overland flow needs to be the Government but also for the people; it is controlled, and we are all well enough aware of going to make red tape a real problem for them. them. I think that the Minister needs to What I do not believe this legislation consider very, very carefully what he is doing should do is take away what so many land- with this Bill. This is a fundamental change, as holders consider to be part of their property the member for Callide has just said. There is right, to take away what so many land-holders a huge and fundamental change to the way in have for generations considered to be part of which the natural flow of water throughout this the ownership right that they have to the land State is going to be regulated. It needs to be that they have purchased, and that is the right handled very, very carefully. to manage and control the water that falls on I understand very well the problems that that land. That is a right that they have always do occur in some catchments in this State. We accepted and acknowledged. Now it is going have to be able to put in place some to be vested in the Crown and then, at the processes that will manage those areas, but whim of the Minister of the day, given back to we do not have to do it for the whole lot. We the land-holder; he can use it for stock water, do not have to put that process in place domestic water or whatever. straight away. There is no need—no need at Mr Rowell: Very benevolent! all. It is ridiculous to think that we do. In the Mr SEENEY: Very benevolent! Minister's own words, in his letter to the Scrutiny of Legislation Committee, he gave It is understandable that out there in the examples of where people have built a dam community there is a great degree of suspicion on an overland flow system and it is possible because we are dealing with a Minister who that, if it was decided that the storage in that rightly or wrongly has established for himself a dam is over and above that required for reputation out in the community of being a domestic and stock use, those people may zealot and a fanatic. People are have to let some water out of that dam by understandably suspicious. This is a basic siphoning or whatever the case may be. It is in philosophical right. It is a basic philosophical black and white; the Minister said so. He has question. It is a very complex question and it is also said that, in some instances where people very detailed when one gets into an may have existing dams that are on those examination of who actually owns the water overland flows picking up water, they may that falls on the land and what rights the land- have to reduce the capacity of those dams by holder has to that water. There is really no perhaps reducing the banks, using drainage need to try to grapple with that to solve the systems or whatever. problem that this particular piece of legislation sets out to solve. It is totally unfair. There is no recognition of existing rights, and this was mentioned in Time expired. the previous clause in relation to existing Mr HOBBS: I want to speak to the entitlements. This is about the existing rights amendment moved by the Opposition that people have. They have common law spokesman, the member for Keppel. rights. This situation would cause a riot if we Regulations on overland flows in this State tried to do it in the city, because the population have been identified as necessary and would not wear it at all. I implore the Minister to beneficial measures because of heavy consider this amendment. It is a genuine demand for water, overallocation and so on. amendment designed to be fair and to 3062 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 recognise that this is a problem that we can shows that the rights can return to the owner work through. However, there is no need to go of the land, they can. to these lengths. I believe this is a very well structured A short time ago the Minister made a amendment. It recognises all the concerns strange comment in relation to the previous that the Minister has espoused tonight. It also clause. The Minister said, "Don't kid us" when recognises the significant concern of someone said that we were trying to be landowners. This Bill is a quantum shift where genuine. That is not really fair. We understand we are taking away the right to harvest the rural industries. We come from rural rainwater which has been inherent in the industries. We know them. We are not here for culture of country Queensland, and urban fun; we are here trying to tell the story the way Queensland in some instances. I certainly it is. We would be just as happy to knock off support the amendment. I doubt from the way and go to bed, as everybody else would like to the Minister is demonstrating at the moment do. However, we have a genuine and serious that he will accept this amendment. That concern. The Government is eroding the would be grievous, because tonight we are common law rights that people have. If it dealing with issues that affect people's cannot accept our amendment, we at least incomes. We are dealing with issues that ask it to have the courtesy to respect our affect their lifestyles. opinions. When looking at rural Queensland, we are Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM: I rise to speak in also dealing with issues that have the potential support of the amendment. It strikes a very to affect people's lives. Rural communities sound compromise in relation to the position have suffered high levels of suicide. When which the Minister has put forward and which farm owners or farm families get to the end of others in this Chamber put forward in the their tether, they take the worst possible second-reading debate. The first part of the course of action. It is fine for us to sit here and member for Keppel's amendment to clause 19 treat issues such as water as some sort of recognises the status quo, that is, the State intellectual debate. However, we should not. does have control of water in watercourses, The fact is that this is something that is integral lakes and springs. However, it also recognises to people's survival on the land. We should the status quo, that is, people on the land therefore treat it with dignity and respect. I have had the right to harvest overland flows believe that this amendment deals with all of and that that power will be retained by the the concerns the Minister has espoused. It owner of the land. also covers the concerns of people who deserve to retain the ability to impound water The amendment then covers the issue that flows over their land if there is no genuine that the Minister has repeatedly said that this reason why they should not do that. I believe it Bill is about, that is, recognising areas where is a commonsense amendment. water is vulnerable, where the supply of water Mr LITTLEPROUD: Earlier tonight in the is at risk, where the allocation has been overly debate I put it to the Minister that he in fact extended. The rest of the amendment, had made a public statement saying that he particularly (4), goes on to say that a would not recognise any allocation given by moratorium notice or a water resource plan the Department of Natural Resources or its may limit the freedom that is given in equivalent other than one that was determined subclause 2, that is, the flow and control of after a WAMP. By way of denial, he interjected overland flow waters are vested in the owners across the Chamber. I think I am right in of the land. If there is a problem, then a saying that the Minister has a degree in law. moratorium or a water resource plan can alter He is learned in the law and he has also who has the power to harvest that water, at practised law. He failed to respond to the least whilst the study is taking place. challenge I made. I again challenge him to Subclauses 4 and 5 of the amendment stand up and put it on the record—rather than go on to say that, after the moratorium notice interject across the Chamber—that he has or water resource plan limits or alters the never made the statement that I allege he volume of overland flow, the water may be made. taken or interfered with on the land. If it is I allege that he said that any allocation found that after the study the overland flow given by the department prior to a WAMP does have to be in some way altered, it allows would not be recognised by him or his for the power to alter it. Subclause 5 of the Government. I want him to stand up now—not amendment goes on to say that if after the just interject across the Chamber—and say moratorium notice or the water resource plan that, yes, that is the case. We are searching 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3063 for the transcripts. He is learned in the law some socialist plan. The people are going to enough to know that, if he makes an aside, it buck. is not the official record. If he is so strong in his They all have relations in Brisbane. The memory of what he said and what he has not kids have gone. There are no jobs in the bush, said and the assurances he has given or has so they have moved to the city. They are not given, let him stand up to respond to what going to university or they are working in I am saying now, because when I asked the banks, in real estate, in sharebrokers' offices last time he just ignored it. and so on. They all vote and they know when I want to make a comparison between they are getting shafted. what went on a number of years ago when I gave a pretty impassioned speech in the Neil Turner was the member for Warrego and final days of the Goss Government. I told the the Minister for Primary Industries. At that time then Government that people out there hated we went through some pretty serious it. If this Government keeps on going the way considerations with regard to landowners' that it is and adopts a heavy-handed socialist rights in relation to soil conservation. There attitude, it will go down the tube, too. In the had been a fair bit of development in terms of meantime, we have a pretty serious problem. I soil conservation on single properties. That suggest that the Government has to have then moved to whole of catchment soil more consideration for those long-held rights conservation plans. As the Government of the of the people who own the land. It cannot just day, we had to recognise that we could either put them aside. be heavy handed by bringing down the weight of the Government and the weight of the law We have a problem. In the eastern part of and make people do as they were told in a my electorate, around Dalby, there are ring whole catchment across all property tanks springing up all over the place. If we get boundaries or we could coerce people and all these people together and start talking convince them that what we were proposing about the impact of one upon the other, they was in their own best interests and the best will agree that they have a problem that they interests of the whole catchment. have to work out themselves. If the Government comes over the top and We argued hard and long in our recognises none of their rights then the committee meetings. However, we chose the Government has the problem, not them. latter. We believed that the best way was to convince people that they had to cooperate. Earlier the Minister totally refused to stand That was a successful approach across various up and deny the allegations I made with parts of Queensland. Enormous benefits are regard to not acknowledging the assessments being reaped from cooperative arrangements given by his department prior to any WAMP. made by landowners, because they believed He chose to make a comment as an aside that it was for their benefit and the benefit of across the Chamber rather than stand up and their neighbours that there was a voluntary make a formal statement that would go on the catchment planning for soil conservation. record of the Chamber. I challenge the Minister again to make that statement on his To a certain degree, the same thing feet. applies in this debate. Earlier today I spoke about my experiences in Shepparton in Dr PRENZLER: City Country Alliance Victoria. Given the power, local people can members will be supporting the amendment work these things out without the heavy hand moved by the member for Keppel. There is no of the Minister. The Minister is shaking his doubt that one of the pivotal facets of this Bill head and saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah." I can is the control of overland flow of water. There is tell the Minister that I have been around long also no doubt that, as I mentioned in my enough to say that I saw him charge in with his speech at the second-reading stage, some white horses in 1990 with the Goss control of overland water is absolutely Government. He thought he knew the lot. After necessary in certain circumstances. I think six years, the public of Queensland hated him anybody on this side of the Chamber would because he would not listen or take any recognise that. This amendment certainly notice. The people thought, "What a smart takes all of those considerations into account. alec." I am speaking from experience. I have The Minister keeps on referring to been out there. I know how my constituency sustainable management. I believe that responds. I suggest to the Minister that the control, supply and allocation of water amendment we are putting forward tonight throughout this State to our primary producers with some recognition of the long-held rights of is about just that—sustainable management. I landowners cannot be put aside because of believe that the passage of this amendment 3064 Water Bill 6 Sep 2000 will result in a clause that allows for sustainable water boards around the place. What about management. councils such as the Toowoomba City Council, What the Minister proposes in his very with its three dams? Does all that water simplistic clause 19 is, to me, nothing but suddenly belong to the State rather than the dictatorship in all senses of the word—where Toowoomba City Council, which paid for it? all rights are invested in the State and all What happens to all the water in the common rights of landowners are removed. I Cressbrook, Perseverance and Cooby Dams? cannot support that and neither will my What happens in relation to the private water colleagues. board on the Condamine? What happens to that water? If control is vested in the State, This amendment is very sensible. It vests does that mean there is some new charging the rights to water as they are at the moment. arrangement—that they own it and therefore That is, it vests control in relation to they can sell it to the Government? Is that the watercourses, lakes and springs in next step? This is wide open to totalitarian underground waters to the State, which is fair. abuse by the Government. We cannot abide It also goes on to say that people who own it. properties do have some common rights to that water and that they can control it and use I think this is a sensible amendment. It it as they wish, as long as it does not impact starts to bring a bit of commonsense to the on their neighbours or on streams and so on. legislation and it allows the opportunity to control any areas that are a serious problem. This amendment allows control where There is already the availability of approvals to water is abused. There is no doubt that there put in dams, water harvesting systems and are some areas in this State in which water is ring tanks and licences on streams, creeks and abused. Some of the members from the boards. There is a whole array of controlling Darling Downs have mentioned those areas. mechanisms to properly manage the water They are right. They understand that and a lot systems of the State without having to go to of the landowners out there are coming to the absolutely totalitarian state that the understand that as well. This amendment is Government seeks to implement with this very sensible and we will support it. particular clause. I support the amendment. Mr HORAN: I rise to speak in support of Mr JOHNSON: I rise to support the the amendment moved by the shadow amendment moved by the member for Minister on behalf of the Opposition. It makes Keppel. Two important factors have been sense. This amendment allows for a higher raised here tonight. The member for Callide level of control and management where it is raised one in his contribution to consideration identified as being absolutely necessary. There of this clause this evening. The issue is are only a limited number of areas in the State catchment by catchment assessment. I think if in which that would be necessary. we analyse and evaluate things catchment by What we have with the clause as it stands catchment, we will see very clearly that is absolute totalitarianism. Anybody reading Queensland is a very different State. No this would think we were in Stalinist Russia. It matter what part of the State we look at, all provides that all rights to the use, flow and catchments are different. It is a bit like control of all water in Queensland are vested in everything that happens in nature: it is the State. We have to ask why we should different. I think the member for Callide have such a totalitarian type of clause. What is captured that concept in his speech. going to happen at some time in the future with something so open, controlling and I draw the attention of the Minister to complete as this provision? subparagraph (2) of the amendment moved by the member for Keppel to clause 19. It Where does the State's right start? How states— far off the ground does the Government start to own the water—before it hits the roofs of "All rights to the use, flow and control houses? Will it affect people who put up tanks of overland flow water are vested in the to collect the water from roofs, sheds or owner of the land over which the water whatever? Will it be in cities, where the flows." Government will tell people that they cannot I believe the Minister should listen very closely collect water off their roofs because it will not to this. If he can find a differentiation, I would run into the creek and will not run further down like his opinion on it. the catchment? Is the Government going to We talk about freehold land, leasehold interfere? land and different types of leases, within I am sure this provision would give the reason, within this State, but at the end of the Government the right to take over some of the day they are all totally discounted here. I think 6 Sep 2000 Water Bill 3065 one of the most important statements made that fairly strongly. I found that quite an here this evening came from the member for interesting statement. Because the Brisbane Warrego. The member for Warrego asked the Lord Mayor is the same political colour as the Minister just a moment ago to respect the Minister, that measure was resisted. rights of affected people. There are a lot of Nonetheless, what the Minister is suggesting people affected by this legislation. They are here is no more palatable to those land- affected in more ways than a lot of people holders than that suggestion was to the local realise. authorities. Obviously the Minister felt he was I believe the Minister to be a person who biting off more than he could chew to take on can give reason and understanding to these all the local authorities, although his colleague requests, and I seek his support in the sitting next to him seems to be keen to take adoption of this amendment, moved by the them on in respect of the ability of councillors member for Keppel. I believe it is a valid to run for higher office. He has suggested that request. I believe it is a proposal that has they have to resign from their current position merit. By supporting it the Government can before they can do so. show that it is reasonable in accepting a Mr Littleproud: "Terrible" Terry. change to the legislation such as is proposed to clause 19, a change that will give purpose Mr ELLIOTT: "Terrible" Terry, as they call and reason to the people who live in the areas the Minister in local authority circles now. in question. I ask the Minister to support the The amendment moved by the member amendment moved by the member for for Keppel is reasonable. It is not over the top. Keppel. The Government can do any of these things Mr ELLIOTT: This is one of the core that it needs to do under all sorts of different provisions of the Bill. The Alert Digest of the statutes. It does not need to go to this extent. Scrutiny of Legislation Committee reveals that It is totally over the top. The next we know, this this is the provision that most concerned the Government will be like some of the other committee. It is far reaching. Basically, as was State Governments, which are suggesting that indicated before, it provides that the Crown will people do not even own the water that falls on control all of the water on a person's farm. The their roofs and that they cannot impound it in Crown can do what it wishes in respect of that rainwater tanks. How far will we go with this water. It could pump it out of a person's dam stupidity? into a watercourse if it so desired. The Crown Mr Littleproud interjected. could tell a person to reduce the size of a dam or knock it down altogether. As I understand it, Mr ELLIOTT: The person to whom the the Minister has confirmed that that is the member refers suggested that people do not case. I find that right over the top. own the air they breathe. That is a good socialist attitude! I am afraid that I cannot As we have seen in this State under all adhere to it. colours of Governments, when a problem exists, a Government can do anything. It can Mr WELFORD: A number of members declare a state of emergency, and it can do have already spoken, and I might try to whatever it needs to do at a particular time. address this issue. I thank the member for The Government does not have to enshrine Keppel for his submissions on this such a provision in this legislation and allow for amendment. I want to explain why I think the such extreme measures. amendment really does not achieve anything. Let me explain it this way: the scheme of the Mr Horan interjected. Bill is that the starting point which that clause Mr ELLIOTT: That is right. It is interesting recognises basically says what the existing law that the member should say that. The member says in respect of all water except overland for Toowoomba South is saying that perhaps it flows, that is, water is a public resource. That is could be said that the State Government owns another way of saying that water is a public the water in Cressbrook Dam. All local resource. The fact that, as a legal technicality, members attended a recent Division 2000 it vests in the Crown—in the same way that meeting held in Toowoomba which was watercourses, springs and other water currently addressed by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane. At does—is simply to say it is a public resource, that meeting the proposal to bring Brisbane but that of itself does not prevent people from, waste water to the top of the range was as of right, exercising use over that resource. discussed. One of the things the Lord Mayor The only way that there is any control over how said at that meeting was that the State someone uses that resource is when a water Government wanted to take over local resource plan is made subsequently under authorities' water and that they had resisted section 38. 3066 Adjournment 6 Sep 2000

To reinforce that point, clause 20 (6) can adjust people's entitlements under a water specifically states— licence that they currently have for water out of "A person may take or interfere with a watercourse but you will not allow an overland flow water and subartesian water adjustment of a licence for water that is in an for any purpose unless there is a impoundment capturing overland flows. I know moratorium notice or a water resource from my discussions with rural industry that plan that limits or alters the water that they simply would not accept that. They say may be taken or interfered with." that if there has to be an adjustment, then it should be evenly and fairly allocated across In other words, the guarantee to use overland both overland impoundments and other water flows is expressly stated in the Bill. Clause 19 taken out of the landscape. So I just do not is simply there to provide the legal mechanism see how the member can say that what he is which allows a water resource plan to be proposing has the support of rural industry. established to deal with overland flows in an In relation to subclause 2 that the area where that is required. member for Gregory raised—and I take his This issue about overland flows was proposition seriously—with respect, it is a legal comprehensively consulted on with rural nonsense. Think about it. Overland flows can industry leaders. Although they acknowledged flow from one property to another property to that there would be a problem with perceptions another property. I do not know how one is about vesting overland flows in the same way supposed to interpret a clause that says that that all other water is already vested, they the use, flow and control of overland flow water acknowledged that the only way that any is vested in the owner of the land over which overland flows are affected is if the planning the water flows. You could have multiple process for a water resource plan is owners, and you are setting up a recipe for commenced. So the model we have here for dispute about who the real owner is. Is the dealing with overland flows is exactly the same owner whose land the water first falls on the legal model as has been used for subartesian owner of the overland flow, or is it the owner of water since the early 1900s and has served us the land whose land the water flows over at well and served the constituencies of members some subsequent point? It is not a practical opposite well. It is exactly the same model. It clause in that sense. does not automatically take away anyone's There is an issue of perceptions; I accept right to use subartesian or overland flow water. that, but the reality is that what we have in the That can occur only if a water resource Bill for technical reasons provides a consistent planning process is commenced and finalised basis for vesting water and guarantees the use according to the requirements of the of that water unless and until a water resource legislation. plan is applied, and that is then confined to a In relation to the security that members geographical area. opposite believe people currently have in Progress reported. relation to overland flows, the existing legislation, the Water Resources Act, brought into this Chamber by Don Neal, one of the ADJOURNMENT National Party members of the day, specifically Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth— allows flood plain impoundments to be torn Leader of the House) (11.10 p.m.): I move— down/taken away at the discretion of the State "That the House do now adjourn." without compensation. What we are saying here is that there is now protection. That provision is removed. There is now no power to Goodwill Games require them to be torn down without Mr DAVIDSON (Noosa—LP) (11.11 p.m.): compensation. They have to be regulated only Back in 1996 as Minister for Tourism, Small if they will be over a certain height. What this Business and Industry, I authorised the says is that overland flows and people's Queensland Events Corporation to undertake capturing of them can be regulated in only research into the Goodwill Games and the those areas where a specific water resource potential for the State of Queensland to stage plan is developed for them. this outstanding sporting event. After much If one reads the member for Keppel's research and expert investigation, an opinion proposed amendment in conjunction with his by Ernst & Young that the staging of the 2001 suggested amendment to clause 46 (4), in Goodwill Games was a viable proposition for effect what he is saying is that when a water Brisbane and the State of Queensland was resource plan is amended or put in place, you reached. 6 Sep 2000 Adjournment 3067

Let me emphasise that conclusion by the very best in the world, will participate in this Ernst & Young. It stated— race scheduled for Sunday, 2 September "Brisbane and the State of 2001. Queensland." Why should these very best athletes be Whilst the Goodwill Games title now has denied the opportunity to compete on the very Brisbane attached, there never was any doubt best course in Australia? Athletes can and do that the State of Queensland was a partner in compete in capital cities around the world and the games. In January 1998, at a meeting never notice the difference. Skyscrapers, between the then chief executive of the pollution in the air and in the waterways, murky Queensland Events Corporation and the city back streets and make-do bunting are the President of the Queensland Events same no matter the name of the big capital Corporation, Mr John Jamison, who met with city, but just another capital city. Such executives of the Goodwill Games venues—and Brisbane qualifies on all Incorporated, it was advised that Brisbane and counts—complete with suspect pollution in the Queensland would be required to formally Brisbane River where it is proposed to hold the present its bid in Atlanta on 23 February 1998. swim leg of the race do nothing to tell the On 23 February, a delegation headed by millions upon millions around the world Mr Williams and Mr Jamison formally watching on television that in Australia we presented our bid for the Goodwill Games of have sporting venues and lifestyles that are 2001. In March 1998 the coalition Cabinet not tainted with the curse of commercial formally approved the bid and the contractual pollution. arrangements necessary to stage the Goodwill In Noosa Heads, we are fortunate enough Games in 2001. We are now only 12 months to live in one of the most pristine places in the away from staging these games, the first time world. This is one of the many reasons past these games have been held outside the USA triathlons held in Noosa have been so or Europe. successful and why world-class competitors A number of venues for the 12 core return to our event every year. Added to this sports that make up the games have been unpolluted environment, we not only have a considered and some have been finalised. triathlon course that the world champions One of the most spectacular of these events, declare one of the best, but we also have the the triathlon, is still to be determined. So far, expertise that makes it so. events have been scheduled for the Gold The intent of these games is to bring Coast and Brisbane, with the possibility of the together the very best athletes in the world in triathlon being staged in Brisbane. These their chosen events. It should surely follow that decisions hardly encompass the notion of the a host venue that has runs on the board in State of Queensland. These decisions have staging such elite events should be the place been discussed despite the fact that the where we show the world the very best second biggest triathlon ever staged in the Queensland has to offer. The potential to world, and the biggest triathlon ever staged in showcase Australia and Queensland to the Australia, happens each year in Noosa Heads world will have no better television graphics to and has for the last 18 years—an event parade Australia to the world than the natural recognised by both competitors and officials as beauty that is Noosa. With a visual beauty that one held in one of, if not the best, triathlon has made it one of the most sought after course and venue in the world. tourist destinations in Australia and a Even former Premier and now current worldwide reputation for its natural lifestyle, chairman of the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Noosa Heads has an Australian appeal to a Mr Wayne Goss, has been a participant in this world market that these games will provide world-class event and has personal experience second to none. The panorama of Noosa's of the superb management of the triathlon by pristine beaches, river parklands and the promoter and organiser, Mr Garth Proud, and magnificent vista of Laguna Bay from all his expert team. sections of the proposed triathlon course can only further enhance Queensland's reputation The Noosa council and the Noosa for beauty in the sun, a beauty that will not be Triathlon Management Group and Mr Proud's lost on the devotees of American and United Sports Marketing have experience European holiday destinations. second to none in the world at staging sports events such as the Goodwill Games triathlon. The Noosa council is corporatively It has 18 years of triathlon management and committed to sustaining and maintaining the experience in one of the world's best venues. highest environmental standards that can be Only 50 competitors, 25 male and 25 female, imagined anywhere in the world in water and 3068 Adjournment 6 Sep 2000 air quality. Can we offer these champion some of the schools in Bundaberg I heard of athletes any other venue than one of such the outstanding fundraising activities of St great natural beauty combined with an Luke students, who raised $350 for the Guide environment second to none in this or any Dogs for the Blind and more than $1,000 for other country such as Noosa provides? another charity—a real credit to such a very Noosa Heads meets all the criteria small school. required by the organiser of the 2001 Goodwill At the special school I saw the wonderful Games, a major requirement being that we are new garden built by their students, while no further than one and a half hour's drive another group in the choir entertained us from Brisbane, a trip time which can be beautifully. It is amazing that those students maintained even in weekend traffic. We have cannot read and therefore have to memorise the accommodation facilities required for the all of the words of those songs. At our staging of this event that are second to none Bundaberg area youth support AGM I saw yet and totally adjacent to the course and another group of teenagers facing their marshalling areas. Noosa has at its disposal problems with a wonderful sense of humour. what is considered by athletes themselves the These are just some of the most recent best course in Australia. achievements. All of these young people and Time expired. many more are a credit to themselves, their families and their teachers, and in Bundaberg we are very proud of them all. Young People of Bundaberg Mrs NITA CUNNINGHAM (Bundaberg— ALP) (11.16 p.m.): I would like to place on City/Valley Bypass record in this House the remarkable Mr SANTORO (Clayfield—LP) achievements of some of the young students (11.18 p.m.): Tonight I wish to raise an issue in Bundaberg. Too often we hear of teenagers that I have raised previously in this place: the who are doing the wrong thing, we hear of the impact that the construction of the City/Valley trouble they are in, the problems they have bypass will have on the residential and small and the problems they cause. But they are business amenity of the suburbs of Albion, only a very small minority of the young people Ascot and Hamilton. we have in Bundaberg. During recent times, indeed for the past Bundaberg has three young Olympians: two years, former councillor Graham Clay, the Troy Elder, Dan Ronan and Steven Keir, and new councillor for Hamilton, Tim Nicholls, and we will all be watching their performances in myself have raised serious concerns on behalf Sydney with pride. We have students from the of our constituents about the adverse impact Bundaberg State High School going to Sydney which the City/Valley bypass will have on their to do catering work at the Olympic village. lifestyle, property values and local small Kepnock students will be part of the opening businesses. ceremony marching bands, and four of our We complained and, indeed, outlined naval cadets who have just won State honours how the city council's consultation process was will take part in the flag raising ceremonies at in fact a scam and how the majority of affected the Paralympics as well as representing local residents did not have an effective Queensland in their national finals for naval say—indeed, we contend no say at all—prior cadets. to the finalisation of the plans for the Our North Bundaberg Primary School City/Valley bypass. We also outlined how the Rugby team made it through to the State City/Valley bypass would increase the volume finals played at Lang Park last week. and frequency of traffic along an already very Bundaberg North State High School music congested and overburdened Kingsford Smith students won the State Rock Eisteddfod, with Drive, which would make this major road more Kepnock State High School students also unsafe than what it is already. It certainly is competing in the finals and winning more on- very unsafe, as recent accidents and indeed stage awards of excellence than any other facilities have proven. In turn, we contended— school in the competition. and still very much contend—that it would lead Another 11 Kepnock State High School to a major increase in rat-running through students recently won awards in the National local, narrow and, in some cases, already Economics Competition, with Kelly Bray-Irvine unsafe suburban streets. being placed in the top 4% of students in We also complained that the City/Valley Australia. Others did well in the National bypass had been planned without a Kingsford Science Awards. Last week, during visits to Smith Drive solution component and a solution 6 Sep 2000 Adjournment 3069 to the anticipated and unacceptable increases are in fact borne out by that report, which in traffic. In fact, the City/Valley bypass is Councillor Hayes, the Brisbane City Council currently being constructed without any such transport chairman, contends is only a draft Kingsford Smith Drive plan and solution. The report. She also says that perhaps the House would be interested to know that there technical conclusions are not valid. are no funds allocated to Kingsford Smith We will circulate the results of this report Drive in terms it of it being the end part of the to our constituents, because Councillor Hayes, City/Valley bypass. There are no works that Councillor Soorley and the Labor Brisbane City have been outlined or indeed planned. Really, Council administration are not prepared to tell there is no Kingsford Smith Drive solution, our constituents the truth—a truth that will which is of great concern to our constituents. mean very bad news for them in terms of The Soorley administration has reduced residential amenity, reduced property contended that the increase in traffic will be values and a big deterioration in the lifestyle minimal. They have quoted figures of 19%, that they have been enjoying for many, many which in themselves are very substantial. They years before this Labor Brisbane City council have also suggested that the City/Valley plan was foisted secretly upon them and bypass will decrease traffic congestion. No-one without consultation. believed it then and nobody does now. Time expired. Today, we have evidence as to why nobody should believe the claims of the Soorley administration. Recently, newly elected Fuel Prices Councillor Tim Nicholls, in his usual diligent and Mr REYNOLDS (Townsville—ALP) effective manner, obtained a report called (11.23 p.m.): Tonight I call on the Federal Road and Safety Audit Report, Stage 5 Government to give back some of the $400m (Existing Road) Kingsford Smith Drive, windfall from petrol excise that it will collect this Cooksley Street, Links Ave—a report which the year to fund national highways. The Federal Brisbane City Council refused to make public Government should also forgo the next as part of the consultation process and as part increase in fuel excise, which will be driven up of the overall implementation and construction by the GST and is due in February. process for the City/Valley bypass. That report It is outrageous and indecent that up to states— 46c per litre is going towards fuel excise. In "The Inner-City Bypass ... project is other words, if a person is paying 92c a litre, projected to increase current traffic half of that is going back to the Federal volumes from approximately 40,000 vpd Government in excise. The Federal near Nudgee Road to almost 45,000. By Government is using the bowsers at petrol the year 2011 this is projected to increase stations as tax collection agencies. to 50,000 vpd. Without the ICB project, I call on the Prime Minister, John Howard, traffic volumes on Kingsford Smith Drive to get his head out of the clouds. He is not were predicted to increase to about acknowledging the indignation that is felt 45,500 vpd by 2011. Thus future traffic across regional and rural Australia. He is not volumes may be increased by 25% above even listening to the members of his own current levels by 2011. Without the ICB Government who have lobbied to have this project this increase would have been extra fuel excise transferred directly to improve about 10-15%. The capacity of a four lane the state of national highways. road such as Kingsford Smith Drive is about 60,000 vpd. A State Government infrastructure draft directions paper just released by the Deputy It is interesting to note that weekday Premier, Jim Elder, makes it clear that in past (WD) volumes are much larger than years Federal spending on roads has lagged weekend volumes. As a result AWDT and well behind what State and local governments AADT are quite different. The above are putting in. With this windfall that the figures are AADT volumes. AWDT Federal Government is receiving from volumes are about 12.5% greater than skyrocketing petrol prices, it cannot deny that it AADT." has the funds that are needed. In particular, For the benefit of honourable members, I point the people of Townsville and Thuringowa out that that means a potential increase of desperately need the Douglas Arterial road to 50% in traffic along Kingsford Smith Drive. All be built. It is indisputably part of the National the fears that we—Councillors Clay and Highway and a Federal Government Nicholls and I—have expressed in this place responsibility. The Federal Government is and outside of it on behalf of our constituents laughing all the way to the bank with the 3070 Adjournment 6 Sep 2000 money taken from the pockets of north Franchise Act, which provides lessee service Queenslanders, who are being forced to pay station operators with certain basic rights in exorbitant prices for petrol. It is time the their relationship with lessor oil companies. The Federal Government gave something back second of those Acts was the Petroleum Retail and provided the funds for roads that are so Marketing Sites Act, which seeks to limit the critical for us in Townsville and Thuringowa. number of retail sites that the oil majors may I know that the Labor Party in operate directly. Queensland has a very positive plan to attack In short, those Acts provided the only petrol prices. We are very much aware that it is protection for mum and dad service station the ordinary Queenslander and the families operators against the oil companies. Naturally, who are hurting, and hurting very badly. The service station operators refused to accept the petition that we have been distributing repeal of those Acts in the absence of an throughout Queensland has been very agreed oil code. In the meantime, the Federal successful, as the Premier outlined yesterday. Government has done nothing to deal with the Last Sunday morning in Flinders Mall, in three vertical integration of the industry through and a half hours, 216 people signed that amendments to the sites Act and the franchise petition. Those people signed a petition to Act. The Federal Government showed no campaign for a full-scale inquiry into the petrol leadership in resolving the impasse, and in pricing practices of the oil industry. We want September 1999 Minister Minchin said that the Federal Government to come to the party. they would simply give up on the oil code. This State cannot do it alone. Let the Federal So what do we have now? We have no Government do what it can and join in the fight ACCC price surveillance, we have no oil code against skyrocketing petrol prices. and we have no reform of the industry or the existing inadequate legislation to break the Fuel Prices stranglehold of the oil companies. There is plenty that the Prime Minister could do about Mr KAISER (Woodridge—ALP) petrol prices. He could keep his promise to (11.26 p.m.): John Howard says that there is Australian motorists to lower the excise by the nothing a Prime Minister can do to cut the full equivalent amount of the GST. He could price of petrol for consumers. That is not what restart negotiations on the oil code and show his Federal Treasurer thought in July 1998, some leadership. He could do something when he announced a so-called reform about tackling the appalling degree of vertical package for the petrol industry. He said that integration in this industry. He could break the that package was "designed to cut prices for stranglehold that oil companies have on every consumers". aspect and every level of the industry, from Back then the Federal Government wholesaling through to retailing and from seemed to acknowledge that there was distribution through to refining. something the Government could do to lower prices, but not now. Now, post GST, when the Federal Government gets a windfall profit from Deaf and Hearing Impaired; Alopecia inflation-driven excise rises, it seems that Mr LAMING (Mooloolah—LP) nothing can be done. Back in 1998, the (11.29 p.m.): I am pleased to rise to inform the Federal Government said that the fuel industry House of the successful outcome of a recent was an industry that had "grown into joint venture project to aid the deaf and disrepute". The Federal Government promised hearing impaired. I am advised that this was to fix the problem. What was their solution? an Australian first. On Thursday, 17 August the One thing they did was remove the ACCC's Quota clubs of Mooloolaba and Nambour price surveillance role, preferring instead to presented captioned hospital procedure videos leave prices to market forces. What a great to the Director of Nursing at the Nambour failure that has been. General Hospital. The function was held in the The Federal Government sought to ease auditorium, where members of Quota people's concerns about that by promising to International, Better Hearing Sunshine Coast implement what was called an oil code. The oil and the Deaf Society were present to witness code was intended to be an industry code of the handover by the President of Quota practice that would be legally enforceable International of Mooloolaba, Mrs Joy under the Trade Practices Act. However, the Haywood, the President of Quota International catch was that the Federal Government never of Nambour, Mrs Kay Lancashire, and the intended to enact the oil code until two other Lieutenant Governor of the 34th District of Acts had been repealed. The first of those Quota International, Mrs Janice Woolrych, who Acts was the Petroleum Retail Marketing spoke of Quota's work within the community. 6 Sep 2000 Adjournment 3071

The ceremony was signed by an offered, despite the fact that wigs are interpreter from the Deaf Society for guests expensive and they do wear out. who were hearing impaired. This was an A number of years ago, my constituent enlightening experience for those with normal began to suffer from loss of hair and was hearing. A captioned video was screened eventually forced to wear a wig. This loss was depicting a surgical procedure. In time, the diagnosed by her medical practitioner as being Quota clubs, in conjunction with Better Hearing caused by alopecia. At the time she was, at Australia and the Deaf Society, hope to extend the age of 64, still working. She is now retired the captioned video library. The General and she and her husband are on a war Manager of the Australian Caption Centre, Mr veteran's pension, which is their sole income, Alex Varley, was present to acknowledge the and as such cannot afford the continuing cost contribution made by Quota, as Nambour of wigs as they wear out. The Health Insurance Hospital is the first in Australia to receive these Commission informed her that wigs are not innovative videos. This was followed by an rebateable by Medicare, and she has been informed morning tea at which members informed that under the State Government's learned of some of the difficulties and hurdles health program only persons who have cancer faced by the hearing impaired and the work of can claim an amount towards the cost of wigs. the Captioning Centre. She wrote to the Minister to ask that As the Captioning Centre has now consideration be given to providing assistance opened an office in Brisbane, members are to those who suffer from alopecia and that the welcome to view the procedures used to same rebate or allowance be given towards complete these videos, news items and so on. the cost of wigs that they are forced to wear. An approach was made by Mr Varley to the Those with alopecia are prone to skin cancer, various Government departments several particularly in this State. My constituent has years ago seeking financial assistance to have had two cancers removed from her head all videos in all hospitals captioned, but this already but has been advised that she is not was rejected at the time by the Government of able to be included in the program. the day as being too costly. This lady needs to wear a wig for the sake of her health, and it is not merely a cosmetic Quota was sparked into action when a consideration. I suggest that for a woman to Better Hearing Sunshine Coast member was in be going out in public with a bald head causes hospital and needed to view a surgical much stress and loss of self esteem, making procedure but was unable to obtain full benefit the sufferer likely to venture out only when from the video due to his hearing loss. The absolutely necessary. It would also be highly 34th district governor at that time, Clare embarrassing. A wig is really is a psychological Balston, a member of the Mooloolaba club, as well as a medical necessity. Tonight I call brought to the club's notice what could be on the Minister to review the Government's achieved after she and the patient received policy on alopecia so as to ease the suffering guidance from the Captioning Centre. of people afflicted with the condition. Because of Quota's commitment to the hearing impaired, this proved to be an ideal project, originally costing approximately $2,500 Battle for Australia Commemoration Service for six videos. This initiative is being followed Mr ROBERTS (Nudgee—ALP) up in other hospitals in Australia with Alex (11.33 p.m.): At 11 a.m. today Queensland's Varley's guidance. Videos already captioned inaugural Battle for Australia Commemoration by such clubs and other organisations are Service was held at Brisbane's Shrine of available for purchase by hospitals throughout Remembrance. The aim of the service was to Australia. I take the opportunity that this honour the courage, sacrifice and service of occasion presents to request that the Health the Australian Armed Forces and the civilians Minister give serious consideration to what who resisted and ultimately repulsed the level or source of funding assistance might be Japanese attack on Australia in 1942. Few available to this worthy cause. Australians are aware of the significance of the The second matter that I wish to raise period known as our country's most dangerous tonight is also a health matter. It is to do with a hour. The geographic magnitude of what is well recorded but not widely known condition now called the Battle for Australia, fought on called alopecia. A lady constituent of mine has land, sea and in the air, lends support to the been afflicted with this condition, which causes efforts to give these events more formal substantial hair loss to the point at which a wig recognition. needs to be worn. Although she has written to Bill Puckering of Northgate, in my the Minister, no financial assistance has been electorate, is a veteran of the Battle for 3072 Adjournment 6 Sep 2000

Australia. Bill was in a medical unit in New Queensland State Tournament of the Minds Guinea and saw much of the terrible conflict competition on Sunday, 3 September 2000. In that maimed and killed so many young particular, the Nambour all-girls team of eight Australians and natives of New Guinea. Bill won the maths and engineering category at wrote to me recently and said— the tournament. The team consists of Apolline "I have seen terrible wounds that Bouchara, Year 6; Shannon Bell, Year 5; were inflicted upon our men by enemy Catherine Dash, Year 7; Michelle Hansen, action, I have nursed a man in the Year 6; Christie Mulcahy, Year 7; Emma process of dying, I have promised them Wishaw, Year 6; and Kate Wittholz, Year 5. the world until their life came to an end." This all-girls team triumphed in an area that has traditionally been male dominated. I One of Bill's promises was "to have these men understand that over 11,000 students honoured; so that those killed, those wounded participated in the various categories of the will at last never be forgotten". Part of Bill's tournament this year and this in itself highlights dream will be fulfilled by the annual the significance of the achievements of the commemorative service held today and which students of the Nambour State School. will be held each year into the future. I know that the other, a permanent memorial in his The Tournament of the Minds provides an home town of Brisbane, will also come true. In opportunity for teamwork and creative thinking that regard, I acknowledge the very strong from the teams, which are drawn from various support given to that issue by the Minister for age groups of participating schools. Both State Public Works. and private schools were represented in the tournament. I congratulate Nambour State The Battle for Australia Commemorative School students. Their school and their region Committee is to be congratulated on raising are very proud of their achievements. I the awareness and significance of this defining understand that the students will now moment in our history, for were it not for represent all of Queensland at the national people such as Bill Puckering the freedoms we Tournament of the Minds to be held in Sydney enjoy today may have been but a distant on 21 and 22 October. I wish our student memory. I say thankyou to Bill and his mates representatives well and I know that they will for defending Australia's freedom. be great ambassadors for Queensland at the national tournament. I take this opportunity Tournament of the Minds also to acknowledge publicly the support from the students' parents and teachers at the Mr WELLINGTON (Nicklin—IND) school. I say: well done and congratulations to (11.35 p.m.): I rise to acknowledge publicly the the Nambour State School. great achievement of students from the Nambour State School in winning the Motion agreed to. The House adjourned at 11.37 p.m.