Legislative Assembly Hansard 1989
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 1989 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 1722 19 October 1989 Standing Orders Committee THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 1989 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. K. R. Lingard, Fassifem) read prayers and took the chafr at 10 a.m. PETITIONS The Deputy Clerk announced the receipt of the foUowdng petitions- Police Manning Strength; Police Station, Sunnybank From Mr Gygar (160 signatories) praying that the Pariiament of Queensland wiU take urgent steps to increase the number of police and establish a police station in the Sunnybank area. Compulsory Pre-registration Period, Medical Students and Practitioners From Mr Beanland (290 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland wdU reject changes to the Medical Act which extend the compulsory pre-registration period for medical students and practitioners to two years. Jet-ski Areas, Tallebudgera Creek-Snapper Rocks From Mr Gately (537 signatories) praying that the ParUament of Queensland wdU legislate to provide separate areas for the use of motorised jet skis from TaUebudgera Creek to Snapper Rocks. Petitions received. PAPERS The foUowdng papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports— Commissioner of Main Roads for the year ended 30 June 1989 and companion document Department of Employment, Vocational Education and Training for the year ended 30 June 1989 Queensland Employment, Vocational Education and Training Board for the year ended 30 June 1989 Department of Community Services and Ethnic Affairs for the year ended 30 June 1989. The foUowing paper was laid on the table— Order in CouncU under the Electricity Act 1976-1988. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE Adoption of Report Hon. N. J. HARPER (Aubum—Leader of the House) (10.03 a.m.): I move— "(1) That the Report of the proposed amendments to Standing Orders conceming the Election of Speaker, from the meeting of October 4, 1989, be adopted, and (2) That the amendments be presented to His Excellency the Govemor by Mr Speaker for His Excellency's approval." Motion agreed to. Ministerial Statement 19 October 1989 1723 MINISTERLAL STATEMENT Road-funding Hon. G. ALISON (Maryborough—Minister for Main Roads and Racing) (10.04 a.m.), by leave: I am making this statement to inform members of my concem about the inadequacy of funding for roads. Over recent months a great deal of media attention has been given to the need to increase road-ftmding, arising from the deep concem expressed by the RACQ and the strong caUs for action from the Local Govemment Association of Queensland. Since becoming Minister for Main Roads, I have received a number of represen tations from councils, community groups and individuals pressing for greater efforts to improve roads and to make them safer. I have also had an opportunity to look closely at the basis for our road-funding. I am sure aU members appreciate the importance of a good road system to people and commuiuties right throughout this State. Road transport is vital to the economic and social Ufe of Queenslanders, and often provides the means of access to essential services such as health and education. The cost of road transport gets factored into almost everything we buy. This Govemment recognises the importance of roads, and has reflected this in its priorities, as have various Queensland Govemments since 1957. No-one can deny the great achievements since that time, when many of our major highways stUl had significant lengths unsealed. However, there is presently a crisis wdth roads, and it is simply a problem of inadequate funding. The cause is clear. Since 1983-84, the level of road-funding from the Federal Govemment has declined by 30 per cent in real terms—or $120m per annum. The decUne occurred because Federal road-funding was not indexed during intervening years. It is indexed now, but it is indexed at a level which is just too low. During that time, for example. Federal expenditure on administrative services increased by 13 per cent in real terms, and on culture and recreation by 11 per cent. The Federal Govemment's priorities are hitting at the very life-line of this State and nation. The Federal Govemment coUects some 30c from every litre of fuel sold, but retums to roads only about 5.4c per litre. For its part, the Queensland Govemment has increased its road-funding effort in real terms in an endeavour to compensate for the Federal decline. For example, it has increased motor vehicle registration in real terms, and dedicated all of those funds, some $300m in 1989-90, to roads. In 1983-84, Queensland Govemment road-funding repre sented 65c for every $1 of Federal road-fiinding to Queensland. In 1989-90, to maintain at least a modicum of progress, the Queensland Govemment has to provide $1.62 for every $1 of Federal road-funding. In addition, to assist local govemment wdth its road problems, the Queensland Govemment has recently announced a special matching grant scheme, involving a further $40m over two financial years. This scheme has received the overwhelming acceptance of local authorities. I expect to be able to approve the grants to individual councils by the middle of November. This inadequacy of funding means narrow pavements are not being widened where necessary, ageing pavements are not being rehabilitated soon enough, not enough additional passing lanes are being provided and heavily used highways are overdue for duplication. All of these things could be tackled more effectively with a proper level of road-funding from Canberra. The result is higher costs for freight hauliers and motorists, a higher than necessary road-toll—wdth all that implies for human tragedy—and a higher life-cycle cost of providing roads. There have been many independent studies on the economics of investing in roads that show the community benefits exceed the investment, but we do need to make the 1724 19 October 1989 Ministerial Statement investment to gain those benefits; we need to increase road-funding. That extra ftinding could be achieved just by the Federal Govemment's retuming at least 7c per litre to roads instead of approximately 5.4c per litre as at present. It seems iUogical to underinvest in roads when the outcome is bad roads, high accident rates and high freight costs. Mr Speaker, the situation is grim. I urge all members of this House to contemplate this important issue, and to lend thefr voices to the caU for an adequate level of road- funding. For my part, I wdll be meeting soon wdth my Federal counterpart to discuss with him at first hand some of Queensland's road problems. I hope to be able to persuade him and, through him, the Federal Govemment Mr Tenni: Put the whole lot back into roads. Mr ALISON: That would be very usefiil. Through the Federal Minister, I hope to be able to persuade the Federal Govemment to restore the level of Federal commitment to building a good roads system. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Comments by Member for Rockhampton on Teachers' Salary and Career Restructuring Hon. B. G. LITTLEPROUD (Condamine—Minister for Education, Youth, Sport and Recreation) (10.09 a.m.), by leave: Mr Speaker, it is a matter of concem to me as Minister for Education and as a parent that, on Tuesday, the Opposition spokesman on Education, the member for Rockhampton, misled this House. In a scaremongering, alarmist statement on proposed salary and career restmcturing for teachers, Mr Braddy claimed that the Queensland Govemment had refused to supplement salary increases. He is obviously more concemed wdth trying to score political points than wdth achieving something positive for education in Queensland. I reiterate what I told non-Govemment school representatives recently. The State Govemment has made a commitment to meet its share of any additional costs that flow on to the non-Govemment sector as a result of any approved award increases for teachers. That was also stated at a meeting wdth non-Govemment school employers' representatives on 18 September and reaffirmed by the Honourable the Premier at a subsequent meeting on 26 September. On 26 September I also wrote to my Commonwealth counterpart, Mr Dawkins, seeking an assurance that the Commonwealth also would meet its share of any award increase for non-Govemment teachers. I have not received a reply. Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table the letter and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. Whereupon the honourable member laid on the table the following document— 26 September 1989 The Honourable J.S. Dawkins, MP Minister for Employment, Education and Training ParUament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Mr Dawkins You would be aware that, as part of its recent State Budget, the Queensland Govemment announced a major initiative in the area of teacher salaries and benefits. The details of a major component of that initiative are contained in the attached document "A New and Improved Career Stmcture for Teachers in Queensland State Schools". It is intended that the Govemment's proposed career stmcture be central to the restmcturing of the Teachers' Award—State. To this end, the document provides a basis for negotiations between the Department of Education and the Queensland Teachers Union. I am advised that these negotiations are proceeding satisfactorily. Ministerial Statement 19 October 1989 1725 It is intended to present a submission to the State Industrial ConciUation and Arbitration Commission as soon as possible after agreement has been reached between the parties, particularly in respect of productivity and efficiency issues which are subject of as yet "private" discussions between the Department and the Union. It is the Department's firm intention that any submission to the Commission wiU be within the guideUnes set by the Federal and State Commissions as part of the National and State wage decisions.