NEW SOUTH WALES

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

THIRD SESSION OF THE FORTY-FIFTH PARLIAMENT

Tuesday, 15 August, 1978

Third Session of the Forty-fifth Parliament--Opening of Session-Administration of the Government-Assent to Bills-Constitution (Amendment) Bill (Messages)- Constitution and Parliamentary Electorates and Elections (Amendment) Bill (Message)-Senate Vacancy (Resignation of the Hon. Sir Robert Carrington Cotton, K.C.M.G.)Senate Vacancy (Resignation of Hon. James Robert McClel1and)-Leave of Absence-Vacant Seat (Resignation of Hon. Sir John Bryan Munro Fuller)-Law of Evidence (Amendment) Bill (pro forma) (first reading)-Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition--Senate Vacancies (Messages)-Death of Hon. William Charles Peters-Public Accounts and Financial Accounts of Statutory Authorities (Interim Report)-Joint Committee upon Pecuniary Interests (Report)-Questions without Notice-Death of Hon. Robert James Heffron, a fo5mer Premier of N.S.W.-Governor's Speech: Address in Reply (First Day's Debate)-Special Adjournment-Adjournment (Resignation of Hon. Sir John Bryan Munro Fuller).

THIRD SESSION OF THE FORTY-FIFTH PARLIAMENT

The House met at noon, pursuant to the proclamation of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor. The President took the chair. The Prayer was read. The Clerk of the Parliaments read the proclamation. I COUNCIL-Opening of Session

OPENING OF SESSION His Excellency the Governor entered the Chamber, and was received by the President, who was accompanied by the Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for Planning and Environment and officers of the House. A message was forwarded to the Assembly that Hi Excellency desired their immediate attendance.

The Assembly being come,

His Excellency was pleased to deliver the following Speech:

Honourable Members of Parliament here assembled- The people of New South Wales have given to this Third Session of the Forty- Fifth Parliament a special place in the constitutional history of this State.

On 17th June, 1978, the electors approved by an overwhelming majority the Bill to provide for members of the Legislative Council to be elected by the people.

My Government has acted to effect this historic reform

Accordingly, this will be the last session of the Parliament of New South Wales under its existing constitution.

My Government believes that the reform of the Legislative Council was also an expression by the people of their desire to remove any vestige of colonial status from New South Wales.

Accordingly, my Government proposes to take action: firstly, to make the High Court of Australia the final Court of Appeal; and, secondly, to make the appointment of the Queen's representative a matter solely and directly for recommendation to Her Majesty the Queen of Australia by the Government of New South Wales, so that the appointment of this State's nominee shall no longer be subject to endorsement or possible veto by the British Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Government of the United Kingdom.

My Government believes that the strength of parliamentary democracy requires that tke integrity of those elected to offices of high public trust should be seen to be beyond doubt.

To this end, measures are being considered to provide for public disclosure of pecuniary interests by members of both houses of Parliament. Members of the Legislative Assembly-

The Budget for 1978-79 seeking the necessary appropriations for the State's public services will shortly be placed before you. Opening of Session-l 5 August, 1978

Estimates for expenditure from the General Loan Account will also be sub- mitted for your consideration, together with amounts proposed to be voted from that account to meet the requirements of the wide range of capital works currently in progress and new works to be commenced this year. Honourable Members of Parliament-

This year's Budget is being prepared against the background of unparalleled financial stringency imposed on the State by the Commonwealth Government, a de- pressed national economy and the highest unemployment in Australia since the Great Depression.

There are clear signs, however, that the New South Wales economy has begun its recovery from the four year long recession.

In the year to March, 1978, economic activity rose 0.7 per cent in New South Wales, whereas for Australia as a whole, it fell by 1.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, New South Wales has made a significant contribution to the national fight against inflation.

In the twelve months to June, 1978, the inflation rate in New South Wales was 7.5 per cent, compared with the national rate of 7.9 per cent.

As part of its contribution to the national task of controlling inflation, the Government has enforced strict limits on the growth of the State Public Service at the administrative level. These limits do not, of course, apply to justified increases in the nursing and teaching professions.

In June, New South Wales was the only mainland State to record an increase in employment.

In the twelve months to June, the increase in the number of unemployed in New South Wales was 2 per cent, compared with a total increase of 30 per cent in the other States. Nevertheless, the Government is concerned that there were 144 100 registered unemployed as at 30th June.

My Government will continue to give high priority to job-creating programmes, with special regard for their effect on young people and on the most seriously depressed regions in the State.

My Government is co-operating with the Commonwealth Government through the Special Youth Employment Training Programme. A further 500 young people are to be trained within the State Public Service and statutory bodies under this scheme from the l st September.

As part of the Special Industries Progrme to generate further job opportunities in an area of high unemployment, action is being taken with a view to acquiring additional land for industry in the Western Suburbs region. 4 COUNCIL--Opening of Session

My Government will continue to give the strongest encouragement to large- scale development projects in the private sector, particularly in mining and manufac- turing.

The Government has followed an active role to encourage new private invest- ment by both Australian and overseas sources.

A survey by the Commonwealth Department of Industry and Commerce states that major projects valued at more than $1,400 million have been started last year or are about to begin in New South Wales.

As part of a continuing drive for new investment the Government is expanding its overseas activities, particularly in the United States and Japan. In May, the Premier opened the new American headquarters of the New South Wales Government Office in Los Angeles; and the Tokyo Office has been significantly upgraded.

My Government takes encouragement for the longer-term prospects for New South Wales from the upsurge of local and international interest in coal as a source of energy.

The Government is pursuing an integrated energy policy, which includes a financial commitment to research on the development of solar energy and the conversion of coal into oil by the liquefaction process.

In its efforts to restore the New South Wales economy, my Government will continue to place the highest importance on the contribution of the rural sector.

The New South Wales Meat Industry Authority will be constituted in Novern- ber following the election of producer representatives to be held in October. This Authority will be responsiible for the regulation and control of the Meat Industry in New South Wales. It will also have the power to trade on its own behalf and on behalf of others.

The New South Wales Overseas Trade Authority will continue to expand its operations, particularly along the lines of such initiatives as the trade mission to Saudi Arabia successfully undertook in May. . Proposals are currently being examined to revise the Primary Products Act to provide fur alternative marketing schemes better suited to the special needs of particular primary industries.

My Government has made a detailed review of natural disaster relief measures, and has made them the most comprehensive now existing in Australia. However, proposals by the Commonwealth to shed its responsibiiities in this field to the States will be resisted.

My Government will maintain its commitment to the growth centres at Bathurst/Orange, Albury/Wodonga and Macarthur, despite the abandonment by the Cmmonwealth Government of its clear undertakings. Opening of Session-15 August, 1978 5

Among encouraging recent developments in decentralization are decisions for a $159 million Paper and Pulper Mill at Albury; a $25 million Casings Factory at Hathurst; and a new Brewery at Lismore at a cost of $12 million. Following planning studies and public consultation by the Planning and Environ- ment Commission, approval has been given to a structure plan for the development of Cosford/ Wyong Region. As part of an ongoing programme to decentralize its activities, the Planning and Environment Commission is setting up a planning office at Queanbeyan to deal with statutory planning matters in the southeast region of the State and to carry forward planning studies identified as necessary to the development of the area. In this session, the Coastal Engineering Bill and the Coastal Protection Bill, designed to provide for the balanced development and protection of New South Wales coastal areas, will be submitted for your consideration. The Petroleum Products Subsidy (Amendment) Bill will provide benefits to petroleum users in country areas. Consumer protection laws have been amended to cover farm implement trans- actions. The severity of the Commonwealth Government's financial measures has posed grave problems for the State in maintaining essential spending in the four great areas of the public sector-transport, education, health and welfare.

Nonetheless, my Government is determined to fulfil its obligations and under- takings to the community in these fields.

The Budget and Loan Estimates will provide for the highest atIocation for roads and freeways in the history of the State. The road and freeway programme will continue side by side with the five year programme to upgrade public transport.

In education, legislation will be introduced for a New South Wales Education Commission to consoiidate and build on the advances in the education system made in the past two years.

Twelve new scbools will open during the 1979 school year.

A programme of major upgrading of 27 schools throughout the State is proceeding.

Since the prcsent Government came into office teaching establishments have been increased. This has allowed for class sizes to be progressively reduced so that classes in primary school need not exceed 33 per class, in years seven and eight 32 per class and in year twelve, 25 per class.

The Government has at the same time assisted non-Government schools by providing higher per capita subsidies for students and by giving the schools greater access to services available to Government schools. 6 COUNCIG-Opening of Session

The facilities of the Government Stores Department have now been extended to pre-school kindergartens, child care centres, denominational schools, private schools and local government bodies to help reduce their operating costs. The Department of Technical and Further Education is continuing to develop initiatives and reappraise its programmes in the light of employment opportunities and social demands. In co-operation with the Commonwealth authorities, the Depart- ment has embarked upon special educational programmes for unemployed young people at colleges in areas of highest unemployment.

The Commonwealth supported pre-apprenticeship courses in 1977 only. In view of the lack of employment for young people and the advantages to the community in giving young people an opportunity to obtain some introductory trade skills the State Government increased the number of classes in the pre-apprenticeship programme to provide for approximately 2 000 students in 1978. An additional 600 students were taken into day secretarial courses.

My Government acknowledges that there is concern by parents, teachers and employers to ensure the most effective and appropriate curriculum and teaching and examination methods. In response to this concern, a series of seminars is being conducted throughout the State so that the Government may obtain the views of all persons and groups interested in the vital matter of the future of education in New South Wales.

My Government views with deepest concern proposals by the Commonwealth to break agreements in the provision of health and hospital care.

My Government will resist any changes in health arrangements likely to harm the welfare of patients, particularly the underprivileged, the handicapped and the aged.

The first intake of patients at the Westmead Hospital is expected to take place in November. A new 120 bed hospital has been completed at Campbelltown.

Sexual Offences Referral Centres have been located at 8 metropolitan hospitals in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, and plans are being formulated for their extension to strategically-based hospitals in country centres.

My Government is concerned by the increase in drug abuse. The extent of this problem is evidenced by the fact that it is being investigated by three Royal Commis- sions, one appointed in New South Wales, one in South Australia and one established by the Commonwealth.

The Government has expressed to the Commonwealth the need for a national approach, once the reports and recommendations of the various Royal Commissions are available.

The Government has amended the Poisons Act to introduce penalties for the cultivation of illicit crops and to increase the penalties for trafficking in prohibited drugs and drugs of addiction. Opening of Session-15 August, 1978 7

To increase the effectiveness of action against drug traffickers, the Drug Squad within the New South Wales Police Force has been increased from 18 to 35, with units stationed also at Wollongong and Newcastle. The New South Wales Drug and Alcohol Authority has been established to advise the Government on the co-ordination of activities by Departments and voluntary agencies. During this session you will be asked to approve a bill to provide a statutory basis for the Authority. In pursuit of its policy of placing emphasis on treatment and rehabilitation of drug users, the Government is providing support for 23 drug referral centres through- out New South Wales.

One of the most serious aspects of the reduction in Commonwealth funds is its impact on welfare housing.

My Government is concerned to make provision for future generations of low income earners and to assist those who are currently most in need.

The Government will assist people to acquire their own houses by continuing to make low interest finance available to terminating building societies, and legislation will be introduced aimed at streamlining the operations of these societies. The home lending activities of permanent building societies will also be encouraged.

A total of $47 million, including $17.5 million from the Government's special unemployment relief fund, has been allocated to the Project Homes Scheme, which has the twin aims of providing low interest home loans through terminating building societies and stimulating activity in the home building industry.

The Land Commission, which has become a major force in the land develop- ment industry has acquired some 1 200 hectares of land with a potential for over 9 000 residential allotments.

Continuing support will be given to the Credit Union Movement. A wm- pulsory stabilization fund has been set up to protect and ensure the security of deposits by members and to provide support for credit unions where necessary.

My Government is conscious of the difficulties facing ethnic groups in the Community and established the Ethnic Affairs Commission to provide advice on initia- tives to assist these groups to become integrated with our society.

The Report of the Commission in accordance wih the Ethnic Affairs Act, 1977, has been received by the Government and its recommendations are being carefully considered. The Report will be tabled in Parliament and a summary will be printed in thirteen languages.

The Community Interpreter Services set up as part of the Ethnic Affairs Division of the Premier's Department is providing free-on-call interpreting and referral services through offices located at Sydney, Willoughby, Newcastle, Hurstville and Liverpool 8 COUNCIL--Opening of Session

The Migrant Interpreter Service within the State's hospital and community health system includes 30 interpreters with support staff. Action is in train to provide a further 30 interpreters and additional positions are envisaged to consolidate the service, particularly in country areas.

The office of Counsellor for Equal Opportunity and the Anti-Discrimination Board have been estabIished with a view to overcoming the adverse effects of discrim- ination in a variety of fields.

The Report of the Anti-Discrimination Board on its review of discrimination in legislation, superannuation and Government policies and practices is being examined by the Government. Arrangements are being made for the Report to be printed.

It is now more than 11 years since the people of Australia agreed to a constitu- tional amendment to allow the Commonwealth Parliament to make laws on behalf of Aborigines,

My Government, however, believes that the community has a continuing resjmdbility for the welfare of our aboriginal fellow citizens throughout Australia and within the State. It is a matter of some concern that the Commonwealth Govern- ment has so far failed to bnwrits obligations under the 1975 agreement.

A Directorate of Aboriginal Affairs will be estabLished to liaise with the Com- rnmaIth in the carrying out of the agreement and to co-ordinate the range of services and to improve their availability to aborigines. The Directorate will also formulate fmmrd policy and planning to meet the needs of Aboriginss in New Sauth Wales.

The Government will continue to pursue vigorous policies to develop the Arts, particufady in outer urban and country areas.

This year there have been performances of the Australian Opera in Newcastle as well as in country centres-Tamworth, Armidale, Inverell, Narrabri, and Glen Innes.

A train exhibiting works of art from the New South Wales Art Gallery will soon be operating throughout country New South Wales.

A train with exhibits from the Australian Museum is already operating.

The Government has been encouraged by the success of the Art in the Gardens and Art by the Lake projects in promoting popular involvement in the Arts and Crafts.

Grants have been made for the writing of worhs dealing wit6 aspects of the social history of New South Wales.

A Performing Arts Molarship wii be estab2rshed to enable promising actors to gain experience overseas. Opening of Se,sion-l5 August, 1978 9

A Bill will be introduced to provide tax exemption for gifts to approved Art Galleries, Museums and other cultural organizations. There will be an Entertainment Centre built on the Haymarket site. Programmes have been approved to provide special bicycle paths in the metropolitan area. The policy of providing financial grants for sporting organizations will be continued by the Government. My Government commenced last year a policy of urban parks in the inner areas of Sydney and this policy will be continued. The programme will provide parklands for passive recreation. It will establish breathing space for hundreds of thousands of Sydney residents and is a most important step in correcting fie imbalance that was created in the past.

A Sporting Injuries Insurance Bill will be introduced this session.

In the last two years approval has ben given to the acquisition of some 600 000 hectares of land for addition to national parks and nature reserves throughout the State.

The reoent proclamatitxi d Mungo National Psk provided one of the most important multi-disciplinary sites for research and study of physical relics amd Aboriginal lore.

My Government is considering proposals for the re-organization of the State Court system to ensure that efficient courts are available to all citizens at reasonable cost. Action has been taken to improve the procedures for Appeals from Petty Sessions to the District Court and to widen the avenues of Appeal.

The legislation on civiI proceedings in Courts of Petty Sessions will be modernized. A Bill will be introduced to improve and modify the laws dating to the granting of bail.

The Legal Services Cammission Bill will establish a Commissitrn to administer State Legal Aid Services.

My Government is conoerned with the apparent increase m crimes of violence in most major cities throughout Australia. Increased penalties for violent crimes wiII be introduced' this session. The Government has mmunced its policy on the recomndations d the Royal Commisaim into New Sauth Wales Prisons.

Pa inclwieti a programme of large scale buildiag and recunstdon. 10 COUNCIL--Opening of Session

Legislation will be introduced to establish a Prisons Commission and a Corrective Services Advisory Council.

A tribunal will be established to examine complaints against the Police.

My Government is convinced that such a tribunal will safeguard both the interests of the public and the Police.

Members of the State Emergency Services Organization, the Police Forces, the Volunteer Rescue Organizations, Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades and the Welfare Organizations have continued to perform magnificent services, particularly during this year's fire and flood emergencies. On behalf of the Government and the people of New South Wales I express deepest appreciation and admiration. The Government intends to complete a flood mitigation plan for a very large area of agricultural land west of Deniliquin where Murray River floodwaters have caused considerable losses in recent years.

Flood mitigation plans will also be prepared for large areas of the Murn~m- bidgee, Lachlan and Gwydir Rivers and for many smaller areas where flooding from minor streams has been a problem.

Flood maps will also be prepared for selected towns to provide a basis for planning of urban development in areas such as Bathurst, Camden, Casino, Goulburn and Gunnedah.

Honourable Members of Parliament-

A comprehensive programme of legislation has been prepared for your consideration during this session. In addition to the Bills I have already mentioned, the legislative programme for the session includes other important measures.

As a further step towards complete abolition of death duties a Bill will be introduced to provide further exemptions. Already death duty has been eliminated on estates passing between spouses, and further exemptions have been provided for primary producers.

Amendments will be sought to the law relating to the prevention of cnreltv to animals.

A Bill will be introduced to reconstitute the Government Insurance Office under the control of a Board of Directors.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Bill and the Planning and Environ- ment Court Bill will streamline the development process, ensure proper consideration of environmental impacts and provide third party rights of appeal.

A Bill will also be introduced to establish the New South Wales Science and Technology Council on a statutory basis. Opening of Session-15 August, 1978 11

Bills to amend the Acts of Incorporation of Universities, which were not finalised last session, will be re-introduced. Other Bills to be introduced include the Valuation of Land (Amendment) Bill and a Bill to provide for the issue of possessory titles in respect of Torrens Title Land. A Bill to provide for the registration of Chiropractors will be submitted for your concurrence. Legislation will be introduced for the purposes of regulating the activities of funeral funds. The Motor Dealers (Amendment) Bill will widen the degree of protection provided for purchasers of motor vehicles. The Public Transport Commission Act is to be amended to enable the Com- mission to enter into contracts involving deferred payment arrangements. You will also be asked to approve Bills to amend the State Superannuation Act and the Police Regulation (Superannuation) Act. The Fisheries and Oyster Farms (Amendment) Bill is being prepared to imple- ment certain of the resmunendations of the Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly upon the Fishing Industry. The Adoption of Children (Amendment) Bill and the Community Welfare Bill will be introduced to give effect to the recommendations of expert committees which have reported on existing laws in these fields. Other Bills proposed for this Session include: the Road Maintenance (Contri- bution) Amendment Bill, Law Foundation Bill, Local Government (Amendment) Bill, Bread (Amendment) Bill, Industrial Arbitration (Amendment) Bill, Electricity De- velopment (Amendment) Bill, Crimes (Amendment) Bill, Crown Lands (Amendment) Bill, Mental Health (Amendment) Bill, Auctioneers and Agents (Amendment) Bill, Strata Titles (Amendment) Bill, Coroners (Amendment) Bill and the Sporting Bodies Loans Guarantee (Amendment) Bill. I commend for your consideration the wide-ranging and constructive programme of legislation I have outlined. Honourable Members- When next we assemble in this historic Chamber, which witnessed the beginnings of responsible Government in Australia, we shall inaugurate a newly-constituted Par- liament of New South Wales-the first in its 154 years of existence fully based on the principle of democratic elections. I now leave you to carry out the important duties entrusted to you by the people of New South Wales. The Assembly then withdrew.

IThe President left the chair at 1 p.m. The House resumed at 3 pm.] 12 COUNCIL-Administration of the Government-Assent to Bills

h- h- ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT-- - The President reported the receipt of the following messages from His Excel- lency the Lieutenant-Governor and His Excellency the Governor: e" L. W. STRE!ET, Lieutenant-Governor. The Honourable Sir Laurence Whistler Street. Lieutenant-Govetnor of the State of New South Wales, has the honour to inform the Legislative Collncil that. consequent upon the departure from the State on 26 April. 1978, of the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Roden Cutler, on a visit to the United Kingdam and Europe, he this morning took the Oath of Allegiance and the Official and Judicial Oath before the President of the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of New South Wales, and assumed the administration of the Government of the State. Government House, Sydney, 27 April, 1978. A. R. CUTLER, Governor. The Governor of the State of New South Wales. Sir Roden Cutler, has the honour to inform the Legislative Council that, following his return froan an official visit overseas, he has this day re-assumed the administration of the Government of the State. Government House, Sydney, 1 June, 1978.

ASSENT TO BILLS Royal assent to the following bills of the previous session rqmrted: Crown Lands (Maritime Services) Amendment Bill Electricity Commission (Financial Accommodation) Ameaxhmt: Bill Fisheries and Oyster Farms (Maritime Services) Amemirneat BR Maritime Services (Amendment) Bill Nationd Relief Fund (Repeal) Bill Navigation (Amendment) Bill Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal (Amendment) Bit1 Police Regulation (Amendment) Bill Port Rates (Amendment) Bill Public Hospitals (Amendment) Bill Tombullen Storage Bill Yanco Weir Reumstruction Bill Crimes (Banking Transactions) Amendment Bill Evidence (Amendment) Bill Workers' Cmpenxttion (Amendment) Bill Coal and Oil Shale Mine Workers (Superannuation) Amendment ail Closer Settlement (Amendment) Bill Credit Union (Airmtrdment) Bill Crowo Land3 (Aarmbment) Bm Assent to Bills-15 August, 1978 13

Dormant Funds (Amendment) Bill Government Guarantees (Amendment) Bill Liquor (Footway Restaurants) Amendment Bill Local Govenunent (Footway Restaurants) Amendment Bill Local Government (Meat Industry) Amendment Bill Municipal Council of Sydney Electric Lighting (Amendment) Bill Noxious Trades (Amendment) Bill Real Property (Amendment) Bin Securities Industry (Amendment) Bill Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration (Meat Industry) Amend- ment Bill Travel Agents (Amendment) Bill Western Lands (Amendment) Bill Constitution (Referendum) Bill Constitution (Referendums) Amendment Bill Coroners (Amendment) Bill Egg Industry Stabilisation (Amendment) Bill Local Government (Vehicles) Amendment Bill Local Government (University of New South Wales) Amendment Bill Lotteries and Art Unions (Amendment) Bill Main Roads (Vehicles) Amendment Bill Married Persons (Property and Torts) Amendment Bill Meat Industry Bill Meat Industry (Amendment) Bill Notice of Action and Other Privileges Abolition (Amendment) Bill Pesticides Bill Sancta Sophia College Incorporation (Amendment) Bill Business Franchise Licences (Tobacco) Amendment Bill Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill Conveyancing (Receivers) Amendment Bill Government Guarantees (Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground) Amend- ment Bill Justices (Amendment) Bill Local Government (Amendment) Bill Local Government (Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground) Amendment Bill Marekting of Primary Products (Amendment) Bill Metric Cohversion Bill Registered Clubs (Amendment) Bill Scaffolding and Lifts (Amendment) Bill Second-hand Dealers and C&leaOm (Amendment) Bill Tocumwal Railway Extension (Supplementary Agreement Ratsca- tioa) Bill Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Bill Dentists (Dental Board) Amendment Bill Dental Hospitals Union (Repeal) Bill 14 COUNCIL-Constitution Bill

CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT) BILL

The Pres~dentreported the receipt of the following messages from HI~Excel - lency the Governor: A. R. CUTLER, Governor. A Bill, intituled An Act to repeal the proviso to section 7 of the Constitution Act, 1902 as finally passed by the Legislative Council and Assembly, having been presented to the Governor for the Royal Assent, His Excellency has reserved the said Bill for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon. The proper measures will be forthwith adopted for obtaining The Queen's decision accordingly, and in the meantime the Bill is herewith trans- mitted to the Legislative Council, to await Her Majesty's pleasure. Government House, Sydney, 3 April, 1978. A. R. CUTLER, Governor. In pursuance of the provisions of the 33rd section of the Act 5 and 6 Victoriae Cap. 76, the Governor hereby signifies to the Legislative Council that the Bill passed by the Parliament of New South Wales intituled "An Act to repeal the proviso to section 7 of the Constitution Act, 1902" has been laid before Her Majesty in Council and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same by Order in Council on 25 July, 1978. His Excellency now transmits it to the Legislative Council to be for- warded to the proper Officer for enrolment in the manner required by law. Her Majesty's assent to this Act will be duly notified by Proclamation in the Government Gazette. Government House, Sydney, 8 August, 1978.

CONSTITUTION AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORATES AND ELECTIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL -- The President reported the receipt of the following message from His Excellency the Governor; A. R. CUTLER, Governor. A Bill intituled "An Act to provide for the election of Members of the Legislative Council directly by the people" as finally passed by the Legis- lative Council and Assembly, having been approved by the electors as required by the Consitution Act, 1902, as amended by subsequent Acts and having thereafter been presented to the Governor for the Royal Assent, His Excel- lency has, in the name of Her Majesty assented to the said Bill, havhg previously received instructions from Her Majesty to so assent thereto, and now transmits it to the Legislative Council, to be numbered and forwarded to the proper Officer for enrolment, in the manner required by law. Government House, Sydney, 10 August, 1978. Senate Vacancy-15 August, 1978 15

SENATE VACANCY Resignation of Senator the Honourable Sir Robert Carrington Cotton, K.C.M.G. The President reported the receipt of the following message from His Excellency thc Governor: A. R. CUTLER, Governor. The Governor transmits to the Legislative Council copy of a despatch dated 13 July, 1978, received from the President of the Senate of the Com- monwealth of Australia, notifying that a vacancy has happened in the repre sentation of the State of New South Wales in the said Senate through the resignation of Senator the Hon. Sir Robert Carrington Cotton, K.C.M.G. The Governor also desires to inform the Legislative Council that on 26 July, 1978, with the advice of the Executive Council and pursuant to the provisions of section 15 of the Commonwealth Constitution, he appointed Christopher John Guelph Puplick, Esquire, to hold the place in the Senate having become vacant by the resignation of the said Senator the Hon. Sir Robert Carrington Cotton, K.C.M.G., until the expiration of fourteen days after the beginning of the next session of the Parliament of the State of New South Wales or until the election of a successor, whichever first happens. Purswt also to section 15 of &e Commonwealth Constitution, the Governor has signified the name of the said Christopher John Guelph Puplick to His Excellency the Governor-General as having been appointed as aforesaid. - Government House, Sydney, 8 August, 1978. Motion (by the Hon. D. P. Landa) agreed to: That this Message be taken into consideration on the receipt by this House of a Message from the Legislative Assembly dealing with the same subject.

SENATE VACANCY Resignation of Senator the Honourable Jarnes Robert McClelland The President reported the receipt of the folkwing message from His Excellency the Governor: A. R. CUTLER, Governor. The Governor transmits to the Legislative Council copy of a despatch dated 21st July, 1978, received from the President of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Australia, notifying that a vacancy has happened in the representation of the State of New South Wales in the said Senate through the resignation of Senator the Honourable James Robert McClelland. The Governor also desires to inform the Legislative Council that on 9th August, 1978, with the advice of the Executive Council and pursuant to the provisions of Section 15 of the Commonwealth Constitution, he appointed Kerry Watter Sibraa, Esquire, to hold the place in the Senate having become vacant by the resignation of the said Senator the Honourable James Robert McClelland until the expiration of fourteen days after the beginning of the next session of the Parliament of the State of New South Wales or until the election of a successor, whichever first happens. 16 COUNNCIG-SenateVsin~y-teader of the Opposition

Pursuant also to Section.1.5 of the Commonwealth Constitution, the Governor has signified the name of the said Kerry Walter Sibraa to His Excellencv the Governor-General as having been appointed as aforesaid.

Government House, Sydney, 9 August, 1978. Motion (by the Hon. D. P. Landa) agreed to: - That this Message be taken into consideration on the receipt by this House of a Message from the Legislative Assembly dealing with the same subject.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE The President reported the receipt of a communication from His Excellency the Governor intimating that leave of absence had been granted to the Hon. 0.M. Falkincr from 1st July to 14th September, 1978, for the purpose of proceeding overseas.

VACANT SEAT Resignation of the Honourable Sir John Bryan Munro Fuller The President reported the receipt from His Excellency the Governor of a communication notifying the resignation of the Hon. Sir John Bryan Munro Fuller on 1st August, 1978, and intimated that an entry recording the resignation had been duly made in the Register of Members. The President announced that, in accordance with section 8 of the Constitution (Legislative Council Elections) Act, 1932, he had notified His Excellency the Governor that the seat of the Hon. Sir John Bryan Munro Fuller had become vacant before the expiration of his term of service through his resignation on 1st August, 1978, and that the notification had been duly acknowledged by His Excellency.

-- -- - LAW OF EVIDENCE BILL (pro forma) first Reading Bill presented and, on motion by the Hon. D. P. Landa, read a first time.

TEMPORARY CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES The President nominated the Hon. Richard Kelynack Evans, the Hon. Herbert John McPherson and the Hon. Richmond WiUiam Manyweathers to act as Temporary Chairmen of Committees during the present session.

LEADER AND DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION The Hon. M. F. WILLIS: I have the honour to inform the House that con- sequent upon the resignation on 1st August, 1978, of the Hon. Sir John Bryan Munro Fuller as Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, I was appointed Leader of the Opposition and the Hon. Robert Baron Rowland Smith was appointed Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2nd August, 1978. Leader of the Opposition-Select Committee-15 August, 1978 17

The Hon. D. P. LANDA: On behalf of the Government I congratulate the Hon. M. F. WiIlis and the Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith on their election by their parties to the positions of Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Opposi- tion. I wish them well in their new roles and hope that their stay in those offices will not be brief.

SENATE VACANCIES Resignations of Senator the Honourable Sir Robert Carrington Cotton, K.C.M.G., and Senator the Honourable James Robert McClelland The President reported the receipt of the following messages from the Legislative Assembly: Mr President- The Legislative Assembly having resolved to meet the Legislative Council for the purpose of sitting and voting together to choose a person to hold the place in the Senate renderedpVaclant by the resip-tionof gnator t&e Honourable Sir Robert Carrington Cotton, K.C.M.G., requests the Legislative Council to name the place and hour for such meeting. Legislative Assembly Chamber, L. B. KELLY, Sydney, 15 August, 1978. Speaker. Mr President- The Legislative Assembly having resolved to meet the Legislative Council for the purpose of sitting and voting together to choose a person to hold the place in the Senate rendered vast by the resign_afiqn of Senator the Honourable James Robert McClelland, requests the Legisla'tive Councrto name the place and hour of such meeting. , Legislative Assembly Chamber, L. B. KELLY, Sydney, 15 August, 1978. Speaker. Motion (by the Hon. D. P. Landa) agreed to: That the Legislative Assembly's messages be taken into consideration next sitting day. ,/

DEATH OF THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM CHARLES PETERS The President reported the receipt of a communication from Mrs Grace Peters acknowledging the resolution of sympathy on the death of her husband, the Hon. William Charles Peters.

SELECT COMMIT"R2E ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS OF STATUTORY AUTHORITIES Interim Report The Hon. W. L. Lange, as Chairman, brought up and laid upon the table the interim report, minutes of proceedings and evidence of the Select Committee on Public Accounts and Financial Accounts of Statutory Authorities, for whose considera- tion this subject was referred on 2nd March, 1978. 18 COUNCIL--Joint Committee-Q~~estions without Notice

JOINT COMMITTEE UPON PECUNIARY INTERESTS Report The Hon. H. J. McPherson on behalf of the Chairman, brought up and laid upon the table the report of the Joint Committee upon Pecuniary Interests, for whose consideration this subject was referred on 29th September, 1976.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE SIDEARMS FOR RANGERS AND INSPECTORS The Hon. W. G. KEIGHLEY: I ask the Vice-President of the Exec~ttiveCouncil and Minister for Planning and Environment a question without notice. Is there any reason to suppose that an application has been made by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the State Fisheries for their rangers and inspectors to carry sidearms, by which term I refer to pistols and the like? Will the Minister assure the House that if such application has in fact been made, or is about to be made, it will be refused. The Hon. D. P. LANDA: I thought for a moment that we were again being asked to set up more select committees. It appears that there is more life in the death rattles of some honourable members than they have had in their previous years of service. I give the House and the honourable member a categorical assurance that National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers and State Fisheries inspectors will not carry sidearms. His Excellency the Governor, in his speech today, announced a significant increase of some 600 000 hectares in the area of national parks throughout the State. As a result of this development, and the sixfold increase in size of the Myall Lakes National Park, rangers will have a more difficult task in policing national parks and safeguarding them from wilful destruction by irresponsible people. However, 1 assure honourable members that in performing their task of preserving national parks and fisheries, rangers and inspectors will not be issued with sidearms.

NORTH COAST NATIONAL PARKS The Hon. M. F. WILLIS: I direct a question without notice to the Minister for Planning and Environment. Is it a fact that in February of this year the Planning and Environment Commission released plans for six extended national parks on the North Coast, including the proposed Yuragir National Park extending from Wool- goolga to Yamba? Has the Minister's attention been invited to recent media reports that plans now exist to reduce greatly the area of the proposed Yuragir National Park, and to published maps featuring the purported drastic reductions? Will the Minister inform the House whether more recent environmental surveys of the area have been carried out and, if so, whether such surveys indicated the need to review drastically the earlier proposals? If this is not so, will the Minister confirm that environmental considerations are to be sacrified to placate local hostility among some landowners and to help the member for Casino in his uphill fight to retain that seat at the next general election? The Hon. D. P. LANDA: I should have regarded the question as a reasonably serious one until I heard the-pathetic conclusion to it. I was about to describe the conclusion as the sting in the tail, but it was more like being stroked with a feather. All I can say is that if the honourable member for Casino has as much difficulty retaining his seat as Ken Gabb had in winning the seat of Earlwood, held for twenty- eight years by the brother of the Hon. M. F. Willis, we shall look forward to Don Questions without Notice-Death of Hon. R. J. Heffron-15 August, 1978 19

Day partaking in such a "diflicult struggle". We certainly do not view the future with any concern. I should have thought that, of all the honourable members in this place, the Leader of the Op~sition,whose surname is synonymous with the electorate of Earlwood, would have been the last to talk about the Labor Party having difficulty in holding a seat, particularly in view of the answer given by the people recently when the question was put to the test. On the substantive part of the question, I inform the House that the Minister for Lands is conridering the boundaries of national parks, which after all are his responsibility, and on his determination of them appropriate orders will be made in my department, gazetting and defining their limits so far as cartographic work is concerned.

DEATH OF THE HONOURABLE ROBERT JAMEmEFFRON, A FORMER PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES The Hon. D. P. LANDA (Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for Planning and Environment) 1[3.33]: I move: That the Honourable the President be requested to communicate to the family the profound sympathy and sorrow of the Legislative Council of New South Wales at the decease of their distinguished father, the Honourable Robert James Heffron, former Premier of this State. On 27th July this year the death occurred of Robert James Heffron, P-emier of New South Wales for five years, Minister of the Government of this State for twenty-three years, member of the other place for thirty-eight years, member of the Australian Labor Party for half a century, and respected friend to many on both sides of both Houses of the Parliament. The late Robert James Heffron was born in New Zealand in 1890. the fifth of eight children of an immigrant Irish blacksmith. After leaving school at 14, having impressed his teachers as a bright student, and after working for five years, he went to America. But to the ultimate good fortune of Australia, times were hard in America, and during his two years in the United States Bob Heffron often pondered a bleak f~lti~rewithout the comfort of a full stomach. He returned to New Zealand at the age of 73. studied law at night, worked for a mining company and became involved in trade union activities. He married in 1917 and soon after came to Australia, settling first in Melbourne. He became an organizer for the Federated Clothing Union. and in 1921 moved to Sydney to become secretary of the Marine Stewards Union.

It was a forceful provocative speaker, a young man of radical ideas, keen to challenge and relishing being challenged, who came to Sydney with his young wife. It war undoubtedly with a sigh of relief that some of his Melbourne Labor colleagues farewelled him. but they were not to know that for most of the next half century he was to make his mark as one of the most skilled, wise, creative and constructive politicians this State has had the privilege to be served by. -- -. . - He entered the Legislative Assembly as member for Botany in 1930 at his second attempt, and retained the seat until 1950 when he became member for Maroubra. In the early thirties he was a turbulent young man in a turbulent era and played a prominent 20 COUNCIL-Death of Hon. R. J. Hcffron

role both in thc internal party crisis that marked the last years of the Dcpression and the Lang era, and in the integration of the Labor Party that was to consolidate its role in government, from electoral success in 1941, for many years. The rough and tumble of those early struggles provided many lessons for Bob Heffron and it was as a rational, nlethodical and conciliatory politician who believed in discussion and the strength of good argument to support strong and positive policies that he made his reputation.

In 1941, Mr W. J. McKell-later Sir William-led the unified Labor Party to victory at the polls and the late Bob Heffron became Minister for National Emergency Services, responsible for civilian defence. In 1944, he became Minister for Education, a portfolio he held until 1960. He became Deputy Premier in the Cahill Government in 1952 and was elected Premier early in 1960 following the death of Mr Cahill in October of the preceding year. He stood down as Premier on 30th April, 1964, to be succeeded by his Treasurer and the present Treasurer, the Hon. J. B. Renshaw. He retired from Parliament at the dissolution of 1968. I am sure that all honourable members will agree that the bare recitation of these facts, imposing though they may be in both length of service and breadth of application, tell only little of the late R. J. Heffron's contribution to the well-being of the people of this State. While the party of which I am a member owes much to his efforts toward restoring its fortunes after the turbulence of the thirties and maintaining it in office during the critical years of war, post-war reconstruction and growth during the fifties and sixties, it was the people of New South Wales who benefited from his political skill, wisdom and sense of purpose.

His most enduring monument is surely found in the schools and universities of this State. The importance of his term as Minister for Education lies not in its record length-sixteen years-but in the way he met the unprecedented challenges of those years. They were years not only of vast expansion in the number of schools and pupils; they were years also of great experimentation and innovation and deep changes in community attitudes to the purposes of education. Between 1945 and 1960, the number of children at primary school increased from 330 000 to 570 000; the number of children at secondary school increased from 119 000 to 210 000. At technical \chools the number of students increased from 42 000 to 108 000, and at universities, more than a fourfold increase from 5 000 to 22 000. But it was not just the huge increase in student numbers and consequent demand on facilities and manpower that challenged the late Bob Heffron, for he held the education portfolio through an era that saw extraordinary changes in the community's attitude to education.

The sense of nationalism and hope nurtured 'by war and victory in turn nurtured a peace-time optimism and a demand for better standards that quickly identified comprehensive education as a prerequisite to the fulfilment of the aspirations of the lucky country. The technological advances of the war effort utilized for post- war production of com~moditiesand the continued achievements in science and tech- nology created a further demand for skilled manpower. In establishing a system that met these demands in terms of both quality and quantity, the late Bob Heffron could well lay claim to be the father of the modern education system in New South Wales.

He had the unique distinction of establishing two universities-the University of New South Wales and the University of New England-against considerable reac- tionary opposition, and setting two other colleges, Newcastle and Wollongong, well on the road to becoiming autonomous universities. The Heffron philosophy was that equality of opportunity in education was the right of all, and not just of the privileged few. His actions established the principle as a fundamental goal, the realization of The Hon. D. P. Landa] Death of Hon. R. 3. Heffron-l3 August, 1978 2 E which we are still working towards. One of the mat important achievements in educa- tion took place not when he was Minister but when he was Pr~mkr.IR 1963, his Government, with the Hon. J. B. Renshaw as Treasurer, introduced in that year's budget the first significant measure anywhere in Australia of aid to non-government s~hools-at the time a highly controversial proposal, dot least within the Australian Labor Party. The presence of representatives of all major religious denominations at the memorial service for the late Mr Heffron and the eloquent testament paid by them and others both during that service and afterwards were recognition of the invaluable wn- tribution he made to this State and its people, Not the least d these were his efforts toward resolving the divisive and damaging controversy of 1963. The Hon. Robert Jlrmes Heffron achieved the recognition of becoming Premier of this State late in his political life, but surely history will recognize a man whose career began in the years of youth, of hard times and tough challenges and continued through nearly four decades of untiring and fully committed service to the people of this State. Bob Heffron believed that if every man and woman and, more important, if every child in New South Wales had equal opportunities, New South Wales would be a better place to live for everybody. Mr Heffron survived his loyal and devoted wife of sixty years by only a few months and is survived by his two daughters and two grand- children and the countless thousands of schoolchildren and young adults who have benefited from his belief in their equal and inalienable right to an education of their choice. The Hon. M. F. WILLIS (Leader of the Opposition) 13.421: I should like to add the Opposition's support to the motion of condolence moved by the Minister to the family of the late Robert James Heffron who served with considerable distinction in the Legislative Assembly of this State over a period of thirty-eight years. I did not know Mr Heffron personally although I did meet him on two occasions, once in the lobby of the Legislative Assembly many years ago. On that occasion Mr Heffron greeted me graciously when I was introduced to him. On a previous occasion I was attending high school when he demonstrated even more graciousness by giving us a holiday. Historians will recall that Robert James Heffron was the man who finally broke the power of the redoubtable J. T. Lang, in the late 1930's and brought about a re- united Labor Party in New South Wales. He will be more widely remembered, however, as the State's Minister for Education over a period of sixteen years-I thought it was eighteen years but the Minister said it was sixteen--during which time great expansion took place in New South Wales in all phases of education. During Mr Heffron's long period in the education portfolio he presided over the far-reaching survey of secondary education by the Wyndham, committee. This survey had the effect of drastically re- shaping high school curricula and introducing a new emphasis in pre-tertiary training. As Minister for Education Mr Heffron granted autonomy to New South Wales univer- sities and colleges. Also, he was a driving force, against considerable opposition, in the cstablishment of new universities, one in particular being what was formerly known as the University of Technology and now the University of New South Wales, which has emerged as a truly great university by world standards. I think it can be truly said that education in this State experienced its period of greatest expansion during the time when Mr Heffron held the education portfolio, which he handled extremely well. With a rapidly increasing population following the war years, provision of vastly expanded educational facilities was a priority require- ment. Bob Heffron brought to this task the necessary energy and organizational 22 COUNCIL-Death of Hon. R. J. Heffron-Address in Rcply capacity that effectcd thc transfornlation that is now taken for granted. Hc carricd 0111 this task with great skill and much administrative ability. Older members will recall Mr Heffron as Minister for National Emergency Services when this country was under threat of military invasion. He was responsible for introducing regulations that had the effect of blacking out this city as well as some large provincial centres. I just remember these things for I was a child at that time. In addition, air-raid shelters were constnicted in many well-populated areas. I remember taking part in emergency procedures with those shelters when I was still at school. No doubt it was this flair for organization and getting things done that influenced the Premier of the day in appointing Mr Heffron to the demanding education portfolio, which he held with great distinction for many years. Following the sudden death of Premier Cahill in 1959, the top post in govern- ment, which had eluded Bob HeEron for many years, came to him at the age of 69. He held that office until he retired in 1964. His elevation to the position of Premier of this State at the age of 69 was seen by many as a stopgap appointment, but it was not seen that way by Bob Heffron. He quickly grasped the reins of office, and with the same sense of purpose that characterized his ministerial career he took command of that Labor Government and set out on a programme of legislation that bears his unmistakable imprint.

Mr Heffron survived the upheaval that attended his introduction of a bill to abolish the Legislative Council of New South Wales. That bill was rejected in the upper House after a number of his own supporters had defected and crossed the floor to defeat the measure. He proceeded to pilot the bill through the constitutional processes necessary for it to go to a referendum, where it was convincingly rejected by the electors. Despite that setback, he led his party to success at the 1962 general elections after which he remained Premier until his retirement in April. 1964. Bob Heffron was then 73 years of age and deserving of a lengthy and happy retirement, and it was good that he was spared to enjoy life beyond the normally accepted term. That was some recompense for his many years of dedicated service to his party and the parliamentary system of this State. The widely representative gathering at Bob Heffron's funeral service at St Stephen's Uniting Church was an eloquent tribute to the general esteem and affection felt for this man both within and beyond the political spectrum. On behalf of members of the Opposition, I join with the Leader of the House in extending deepest sympathy to his daughters, Mrs Maylene Cordia and Mrs June Scott, and their children on the loss of a devoted father and grandfather.

Members and officersof the House standing in their places, Motion agreed to.

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH: ADDRESS IN REPLY

First Day's Debate

The PRESIDENT: I report the receipt of a copy of the Speech made this day by His Excellency the Governor. As it is available to members, and as members heard the Speech in person, with the consent of the House I shall not ask the Clerk to read it. Address in Reply-15 August, 1978 23

The Hon. EDNA S. ROPER (Deputy Leader of the Government) 13.481: I move: That the following Address be adopted and presented by the Whole House to the Governor, in reply to the Speech which His Excellency had been pleased to make to both Houses of Parliament, viz.:

To llic Excellency, Sir ARTHUR RODEN CUTLER, upon whom has been conferred the decoration of the Victoria Cross, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Cotnn7nnder of the Royal Victorian Order, Cornrnander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Knight of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusatem, Governor of the State of New South Wales and its Dependencies, in the Commonwealth of Australia. May it Please Your Excellency- We, Her Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects, the Members of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, in Parliament assembled, desire to express our thanks for Your Excellency's Speech, and to affirm our S'jlncere allegiance to Her Most Gracious Majesty. 2. We beg to assure Your Excellency that our earnest consideration will be given to the measures to be submitted to us, and that we will faithfully carry out the important duties entrusted to us by the people of New South Wales.

It is indeed a great honour for me to move the motion for the adoption of the Address in Kcply to the Speech of His Excellency the Governor. It is particularly fitting for mc to rnove the motion because when I first became a member of this Chamber a Labor government was in office in New South Wales. On that occasion, just twenty years ago, I also moved the motion for the adoption of the Address in Reply. Now New South Wales has another Labor Government, and I am again proud to be the person to move this motion. It may be quite evident to my close colleagues in this Chamber that at this time I experience deep emotion. Lest those honourable members who hear me and observe me fall into error as to the real cause of this emotion, let me clarify some aspects of it. Naturally, I am saddened but honoured to be making my final Address-in- Reply speech and perhaps one of my last major speeches in this House. After years of parliamentary service my approaching separation from the Parliament is accompanied by an entanglement of feelings which observers may not fully comprehend. His Excellency the Governor in his truly distinguished and capable way has provided in his address the key to my real feelings at this time. Honourable members on both sides of both Houses that comprise this Legislature have had shown to them what a truly people's government has been able to achieve. His Excellency gave a hint of greater achievements in the future, notwithstanding the worst economic circumstances since the depression of the 1930's. The people of New South Wales have at last a government that they can admire and respect and, indeed, in which they can have the utmost confidence. A singularly important example of the Government's success is that, despite the federal Government's policy of union confrontation, in the past two years New South Wales has had an imposing decrease in working hours lost through industrial disputes. Notwithstanding this achievement, as recently as today newspapers are endeavouring to indicate :hat this State is beset by industrial strife. New South Wales has one of the lowest incidences of working days lost per person in the work force of any 24 COUNCIL-Address in Reply

State in Australia. The business community, the people of New South Wales ancl unions that are parties to State awards know why: the State Government in its wisdom has placed in the ofice of Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Mines and Minister for Energy an exceptionally trusted man with the knowledge and understanding that employees and employers appreciate.

For nearly three years New South Wales has been free of power blackouts caused by industrial disputes. Honourable members may never know the spiteful and provocative ways in which the former Liberal-Country party Government approached industrial relations in New South Wales. It reacted to the industrial problems of men and women in the work force by using a sledge-hammer. For many years at Christmas time the Electricity Commission of New South Wales donated a hamper to each employee working in its mines. When those workers indulged in an industrial dispute the Askin Government decided to take away that Christmas present as a form of punishment. This was the type of industrial relations that applied during the reign of the former Liberal-Country party Government in New South Wales.

I am sure that during this debate there will be many references to industrial relations in New South Wales, the number of working hours lost and the number of people who are continually on strike. It is important that the House be informed of the number of working days lost. It is all very well for the Leader of the Opposition, who will be sitting on that side of the Chamber for many years to come, to grin. He does not deter me from putting before the House the relevant figures. Because of thc industrial policies of the former Government the people of New So~tthWales expressecl their wish by throwing that Government out of oflice. During the last year that the former Government was in office 2 600 C00 working days were lost in this State as a result of industrial disputes. I remind the House that New South Wales has the !argest work force of all the States. This huge total of working days lost represented 1 .S 1 working days lost per person in the work force through disputation. It is interesting to note that in 1977, one year after the precent Government was elected to oRce to end the debacle plag~~ingthe people, working days lost through industrial disputes by workers under federal and State awards fell to 500 000. represe::ting 0.319 working days per person. This figure is 500 per cer;t less than the working days l07i i:i 1973. 1 do r.0: need to say anything fu~thcron that point.

I should like to diverge slightly to point out to the news rxedia some traps of truth concerning industrial situations. Last month there were headlines in the Daily Telegraph and the Ausfralinn, saying "New South Wales tops the cclunt on ..trikesm. The newspapers said that of the 457 disputes in Australia for the threc months to the end of March this year, 61 per cent were in New South Wales. The number of disputes in no way indicates the level of industrial disputation in any State. Factors to watch include that New South Wales comprises 2.2 million workers, or 35 per cent of Australia's work force. There is no distinction in these figures between people working under federal and State industrial jurisdiction. For example, in the March quarter of 1977 New South Wales workers lost 88 100 working days due to 282 strikes. In Victoria, 116 700 working days were lost from only 79 strikes. These figures illustrate the truth of the great saying that there are lies, damned lies and statistics. The policies and priorities adopted by the Labor Government of New South Wales over the past two years are now correcting years of neglect incurred during eleven years of previous Liberal-Country party rule. Although New South Wales has the largest manufacturing base of any State, and therefore the largest unemployment, its rate of increase during succeeding months has been lower than other States. The Hon. Edna S. Roper Address in Reply-] 5 August, 1978 25

I am sure all honourable members are as eager as I am to launch into the hectic legislative programme which the Governor has outlined as being in store for us once again. The programme is a dynamic one which is characteristic of the Wran Government. It is a Government of which, frankly, I am proud to be a member. It is a Government which stands in fierce contrast to the years of complacent lethargy which marked our predecessors' term of office. It is an administration concerned with getting things done-which must be a painful embarrassment to the Government in Canberra which seems to be preoccupied with getting it5elf out of trouble and issuing empty promises to a now thoroughly disillusioned nation. The Wran style has made its mark not only on this State, but also on the nation, as one of great achievement.

In its two and a half years of &ce the Government of New South Wales has proved that individuals and business enterprises can work in harmony with a very practical mncern for the less privileged sections of the community. It has been demon- strated that the party of social justice is also the party that can create jobs and revive business confidence. That is the very thing that has happened in this State. As honour- able members heard in His Excellency the Governor's most enlightening speech today, New South Wales recorded a 2 per cent rise in unemployment in the twelve months to June this year, compared with a 30 per cent rise in the other five States. As I intimated earlier, in June New South Wales was the only State that recorded an increase in employment.

This has occurred against the background of the most vicious financial cuts by the federal Government, which appears to think that inflation can be fought only by putting half the workforce out of work. The Fraser Government has a strange way of handling the economy in Canberra. To me, it is a strange prescription for economic recovery. It is unlikely to be swallowed by the nation for much longer. We on the Government side of the House utterly reject that prescription on the basis that it is lacking both in commonsense and in concern for the welfare of the people who put us, their elected representatives, into office.

The Wran Government has not been content with lifting New South Wales out of the economic doldnims that afflict the rest of Australia. As its current legislative programme and record of achievement show, it is committed to improving the quality of services delivered to the public in such basic areas of need as health, the regeneration of cities, the arts, and availability of legal aid. Bernard Shaw once said that discontent is the mainspring of progress. There is undoubtedly grave cause for discontent among the general public about the degeneration of these service5 since the Fraser Government took over in 1975. That discontent has nurtured a strong will by the Wran Government to make up for the irresponsibility of the federal Government and its failure to meet its financial obligations to the people of this State.

Legal aid is an outstanding example of the will of the Wran Government in action. Honourable members will have taken note of His Excellency the Governor's announcement that a Legal Services Commission Bill will be introduced this session. It constitutc~a major step forward in the provision of more rationalized and com- munity-oriented legal services in New South Wales. The Government has already taken important initiatives in the expansion of legal services to make them much more widely accessible to all. Last year the Public Solicitor embarked on an extensive duty solicitor scheme that covers twenty-six courts of petty sessions from Newcastle through Gosford to Wollongong, and throughout the whole of the metropolitan area. In the period to June this scheme assisted in 16 492 cases. The scheme assisted people with appeals to the district court in 342 cases. A sum of $300,000 was allocated for this scheme and 26 COUNCIL-Address in Reply five new branch offices were set up at Gosford, Hornsby, Parramatta, Liverpool and Bondi Junction. A notable and significant aspect of the s~~hr~rb;lnand regional biting oP these ofices is that they depart from the heavy city concentration of lawyers in lucrative commercial areas of practice. Since their establishment the branch ofices have helped citizens with advice in 15 000 cases and dealt with 1 700 applications in civil matters. The need for this service beyond the city centre is clear and compelling. I understand that the offices at Gosford, Newcastle and Wollongong are just a beginning in the process of regionalization. Country folk may be assured that their needs in this field are being actively planned for. Efforts that have been made in New South Wales since May, 1976, to gauge and meet the legal needs of all sectors of the community have not been parallelled by the federal Government. This is a tragedy. The suffering that is being caused to thousands of people as a result of the federal Government's callous indifference to the problems of the poor and of middle-income earners defies description. It is a matter of personal concern to me that in family law matters thousands of children are being affected by the means test that is applied to the granting of legal aid. Even most pensioners do not qualify for it. This is scandalous. It might surprise most people to know that the means test guidelines were last revised in March, 1976-almost two-and-a-half years ago. Social security payments have been revised more than once in the same period, in a grudging response to the skyrocketing consumer price index. This is a shameful example of the federal Government's restricting public spending by the cynical expedient of making legal aid availability irrelevant to the needs of the very people whom it is supposed to benefit. Cases of hardship resulting from this policy of the federal Liberal-Country party Government and its indifference are legion. They are all tragic. This suffering is unnecessary. Among the many cases I know personally, one is of a mother in her mid-thirties. She is struggling to pay rent and support her three children, one of whom is a severe asthmatic; and endeavouring to pay off the legacy of debts left by her husband, who deserted her four years ago. This heroic lady-I say that advisedly-who is a deserted wife pen- sioner has been denied legal aid. The same policy of indifference to the needs of the average person is evidenr in the field of health care. No doubt the nation will get an example of the attitude of the federal Government towards health care when the Budget is introduced in the federal Parliament tonight. If the newspapers give any real indication of what is about to happen in the area of health care, God help the sick. Not content with dismantling Medibank, the federal Government seems intent on putting health care services out of the reach of all but the rich. At this point it is interesting to note that in the area of care of the sick, oversea interests now come to Australia. They regard care of the sick as a lucrative business. We have read in the newspapers of an American consortium buying up private hospitals in Australia with a view to making a quick dollar from the sick people of this nation. It is terrible to think that the sick are being exploited. We are in serious danger of becoming like the United States where a major operation can mean having to sell one's house to meet hospital and doctor's bills. In the State Government's view, health care is a basic right of all citizens. There can be no defensible reason why people should be denied this right because of lack of means or because of where they live. People in New South Wales country areas and in the western metropolitan region have been sadly neglected on this score, The Hon. Edna S. Roper] Address in Reply-15 August, 1978 27 but the Government is determined to remedy the neglect, notwithstanding the drastic cuts imposed by the Fraser Government on health expenditure. In addition to the building of new hospital complexes at Westmead and Campbelltown, major redevelop- ment work is proceeding on the Liverpool, St George and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital at North Sydney. In the country areas, work is either completed or is nearing completion on a $2.4 million project at Griffith Base Hospital; a $4 million redevelopment at Casino and District Hospital; a new $2 million hospital at Pambula; an $8 million redevelopment of Gosford Hospital, and a new $4 million obstetric and intensive care block at Maitland. Work has started on the first stage of a hospital development at Shellharbour and on a new ward block at Grafton, to be built at a cost of $5 million. In addition, planning is well advanced on a $3 million project at Wyong.

The record of activity throughout the State speaks for itself. Yet, it is clear that we as a society have no cause for complacency about our record in health care. No amount of capital works expenditure will solve the special problems afflicting our Aboriginal citizens whose disproportionately high sickness and mortality rates are so closely linked to the sins of omission and commission of both our forebears and our contemporaries in imposing their culture and values on Aboriginal society. The rate of Aboriginal infant mortality is six times that of white Australians, and most of the deaths are attributable to malnutrition, respiratory infections and gastro- enteritis. That is an intolerable situation, and we all have an obligation to do our utmost to remedy it. Also intolerable in my view are the endemic diseases of western civilisation which have taken root so lustily in Australia.

It may amaze honourable members to know that Australians have a higher death rate for all ages between one and sixty-five than the inhabitants of England, Wales and Sweden. Except for the United States and Finland, Australia has the highest incidence of death from cardio-vascular disease in the world. We also have one of the highest per capita road tolls in the world, with road accidents being the most significant contributor to the death rate amongst the under-thirties. That is frightening. We can also boast one of the highest, and one of the only rising, rates of suicide in the world-at a time when suicide rates in England, Canada and the United States are falling. The increase in the suicide rate has been particularly marked amongst women, especially those over 25. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in attempted suicides. Twice as many women as men are now receiving treatment for this malady. There has been also an alarming increase in the incidence of psychiatric illnesses among women. The most common are depressive states and psychiatric neuroses. We have become familiar with the phenomenon now known as suburban neurosis, which produces its own special variety of drug abuse. More than 10 per cent of Australian women are dependent on analgesic or sleeping pills; and the vast majority of the millions of prescriptions written out each pear for tran- quillisers and sedatives are written for women.

This appalling state of affairs suggests to me that the real challenge of the future is to effect a qualitative improvement of our social environment. People have become lost in our vast conurban agglomerations-lost without a sense of purpose, without a sense of personal worth. We need to look to our families, our schools, our places of work and our major institutions-all the places where people interact. We need to look at and to examine our own personal values, for I hazard the view that there is nothing surer than that our future is threatened more by spiritual emptiness and by unthinking acquisitiveness than by any material constraints. We need to develop a caring society. This is a process that I believe will be facilitated by the development of institutions on a more human, and therefore less centralized, basis. Consistently 28 COUNCIL-Address in Reply with this, I think we need to make our policies-social, economic and environmental- more people-centred than they have been. This means, apart from other things, that jobs must be designed to give fhe people who do them satisfaction and enjoyment. It should also be realized that, in pure economic terms, people who enjoy their jobs tend to be more efficient and productive. In the industrial field, we need to open up choices to people, and to allow them to use their talents. I think most people now realize that discrimination and prejudice which for so long have kept women out of important areas of the work force-and, I regret to say, are still keeping them out in many areas-in reality cause a terrific waste of people, resources and talent. The Wran Government on coming to office immediately sought to rectify this, notwithstanding the shameful obstruction that its efforts met in this House. The Anti-Discrimination Act, the establishment of the Wolmen's Co-ordination Unit in the Premier's Department, the review into New South Wales Government administration conducted by Professor WiIenski-all these constitute practical initiatives by a government that is cammitted to redressing the batance, which historically has been tilted against women. However, the battle is far from won. I heard recently of a young married woman, an employee of a major building society in this State, who is paying interest on her mortgage at a rate higher than that paid by men. Thii is a flagrant violation of the Anti-Discrimination Act, but when I suggesaed that she take action under the Act, she answered that she feared for her jab if she were to rock the boat. Who could blame her for her fears? What is needed in this situation is that the institution itself set its house in order; it must realize that discriminatory policies and practices no longer have any place in our society. Public and private institutions might be imore enthusiastic about reviewing their policies if they had more women-or even some-at senior management level. Professor Wilenski's report paints a dismal picture of this matter in the public service. It noted that of the 104 senior officers, that is, public service administrators earning over $28,000 per annum, none is a woman. On the other hand, 88 per cent of women are in positions that attract less than $10,000 a year. I should be surprised if the professor were to paint a radically different picture in private industry. The time is long overdue for society to recognize the professional worth of women by enabling them to take their place in senior, decision-making positions in both the public sector and the private sector and in politics, indeed in the cabinet of this Government. In conclusion, I should like to say that in the speech I made in this House twenty years ago death duties was one of the areas of concern that I raised. I am proud to be a part of a government that has seen the light of day in this area. After twenty years in this Parliament, I can see some measure of achievement in the field of discrimination against women-indeed against families. I am proud to be part of the Wran Government. I am proud also to have taken part in two referendums concerning this historic House. It will be an historic event when the members of the Legislative Council are elected by the people of this State. It has been a great privilege to have been a member of this House and to have served with so many of my colleagues. When I eventually leave this Chamber I shall be able to sit back and watch how the reformed Legislative Council works. DoubUess it will do great things in the future. I am quite sure that irrespective of what happens in this respect the Wran Government will continue to hold office in this State for many years. This enlightened government has shown the people of this State that it is willing to adopt a policy of concern rather than one of continuous abuse and complaint against the people of New South Wales. I have had much pleasure-hdeed I am honoured-in speaking to the motion. The Hon. Edna S. Roper] Address in Reply-15 August, 1978 29

The Hon. kLMs&WdON 14X31: 1have settt pleasure in secondine the motion for the adoption of the Address in Reply to His Excellency's Speech. I noticed that in his Speech he did not discriminate betweea members of the Legislative Council and members of the Legislative Assembly. This was mentioned by the Deputy Leader of the Government.

The Hon. Sir Asher Joel: I was going to mention that in my speech.

The Hon. P. McMAHON: All I can say, with great respect to the Governor, is that great mknds think alike. It was interesting to note-and I am pleased that at least one member of the Opposition recognizes this-that the Governor did not differentiate between members of the Legislative Assembly and members of the Legislative Council. It was enlightening-and it must have been particularly enlighten- ing to members of the Opposition-to note the progressive measures foreshadowed by His Excellency the Governor. It should be borne in mind that the proposed legislative programme is being planned at a time of great economic difficulty throughout Australia, which is due in the main to the restrictive, negative and disastrous fiscal policies of the federal Government.

The Hon. R B. Rowland Smith: I suggest that the position is due to the policies of the former Whitlam Govemment.

The Hon. P. McMAHON: I had thought that the change of leadership in the Opposition ranks would bring a great deal more advanced thinking rather than a continuance of looking back into the past. I am not sure whether the leadership of the Opposition is aware that there has been a change of government in Ca~berrain recent years.

The Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith: Everyone will be aware of that after the budget spcech tonight.

Thc Hop. P. McMAHON: The position will no doubt be much worse after thc fcderal Treasurer has made his budget speech tonight. We should all bear in mind that moves to reform the Legislative Council were initiated by the Wran Labor Govern- ment. Contrary to the expectations of some members of the Opposition, the Govern- ment's hopes were endorsed by the people of New South Wales.

I should like to take this opportunity, for I may not get it again, to refer to the outstanding record of many members-both Government and Opposition-of the Legislative Council. I refer not only to present members of this House but also to former members who have made great contributions to this House in the past. I refer in particular to the Hon. Sir John Fuller, who was leader of the Government, and then Leader of the Opposition, in this House. Sir John Fuller, a member of the Country Party, applied himself to his task in the manner that one would expect from a leader in the Legislative Council of New South Wales. We look forward to an elected membership of this House that will have a more responsive attitude to the needs of the community. I am not suggesting that honourable members do not now have that responsive attitude, but in an elected House there must obviously be a change in that its members must report back to the electorate. Doubtless the change in the election of members to the upper House will result in a change in the contributions to our debates. Honourable members should take cognizance of the fact that what they say here will be noted by the electorate.

Debate adjourned on motion by the Hon. P. McMahon. 30 COUNCIL-Special Adjournment-Adjournment

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT Motion (by the Hon. D. P. Landa) agreed to: That this House at its rising today do adjourn until tomorrow at 4.30 p.m., sharp.

ADJOURNMENT Resignation of the Honourable Sir John Bryan Munro Fuller Thc Hon. D. P. LANDA (Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for Planning and Environment) 114.291: I move: That this House do now adjourn. The Hon. M. F. WILLIS (Leader of the Opposition) 14.301: I would be most remiss if I allowed to pass this opportunity to pay tribute to the former Leader of the Opposition in this House, the Hon. Sir John Fuller, whose resignation on 1st August was announced to the House when it met today. I am aware that normally no action is taken by the House upon the notification of a resignation but precedents do exist for reference to be made on the motion fm adjournment when a member with a period of long and distinguished service has tendered his resignation. With the resumption of Parliament today I am certain every honourable member has noticed the absence of a man who served in this Chamber from Ap~il,1961, to 1st August, 1978-a period in excess of seventeen years. I believe every member who has had the privilege of sitting in this House with Sir John Fuller-whether he be present here today or not-will agree with me that at all times he was a real gentleman, a true friend and an honourable opponent. For eleven of his seventeen years as a member of this House, Sir John served as a Minister of the Crown and for almost eight years of that period he served with distinction as Leader of the Government in this House. For the past two and a quarter years he served with equal distinction as Leader of the Opposition, during which time he influenced the proceedings of this House with his dignity and knowledge. He influenced the very Constitution of the State by his leadership of the managers of this House appointed in respect of the constitutional changes recently approved at referendum. Sir John will no doubt be best remembered as Australia's first full-time Minister for Decentralisation and Development-a portfolio he held with great credit to himself for eight and a half years. During that time he built the Department of Decentralisation and Development into a most significant department which was more than once com- mended by the media for its efficiency. He pioneered the concept of regional develop- ment and the establishment of common regional boundaries throughout the State for all admiristrntive purposes. It was on his recommendation that the government ot the day named Bathurst-Orange as the State's first pilot growth area and joined with the Commonwealth and Victorian governments in promoting Albury-Wodonga as a national growth area. From November, 1973, to May, 1976, Sir John served as the State's first Minister for Planning and Environment. During this period the comple- mentary functions of land use planning and environmental management were drawn together under one commission, and pollution control was consolidated under the one commission-both responsible to the Minister for Planning and Environment. Having served as Sir John's deputy in opposition since January, 1977, I am conscious of his great dedication to the processes of Parliament and his tremendous knowledge of politics. He is a consummate parliamentarian and politician. This is understandable, for he has been closely associated with the political scene since early Adjournment-l5 August, 1978 31 age. His father, the late Bryan Fuller, Q.C., was prominent in political organization and was a foundation member of the Liberal Party of Australia. Sir John's uncle, the late Sir George Fuller, was Premier of New South Wales and a member of the first Commonwealth Parliament elected following federation in 1901. He was also a federal Government Minister. In 1939 Sir John Fuller joined the Australian Country Party and shortly afterwards was elected secretary of the Coolah branch of the party. He was elected to the State council of the party in 1945, became State vice-chairman in 1956 and was State chairman from 1959 to 1964. He is still a member of the State executive com~mitteeof the National Country Party of New South Wales. Sir John served also as a meonber of the general council of the Graziers' Association of New South Wales from 1944 to 1946 and again from 1952 to 1965. He was vice-president of the association in 1965. On his elevation to Cabinet in 1965, Sir John resigned from his executive offices in the Graziers' Association and other interests, including the board of Country Television Services Limited. Apart from his pastoral interests, Sir John had for many years taken a keen interest in industrial expansion and the building up of our export potential. In 1959 he called for a national economic inquiry to recommend guidelines for more balanced development throughout the State. Subsequently he sought a co~stitutionalconference aimed at determining necessary action to curtail the drift of rural populations to the cities and encourage decentralization of industry, commerce and people. Sir John realized that the industrial base of the State could be broadened to any great degree only by encouraging the exploration and development of oversea markets for the products of secondary industry and primary industry. He sought and received the co-operation of the New South Wales Chamber of Manufactures, the Sydney Chamber of Commerce and the export division of the Metal Industries Association in promoting annual government-sponsored trade missions from this State to complement the work of the Department of Overseas Trade and to highlight the industrial capacity of New South Wales firms. In September, 1967, Sir John Fuller led the first government-sponsored trade and investment mission to North America. For successive years following that initial visit to America, Sir John led trade missions to a number of oversea regions: South-east Asia in 1968; Africa in 1969; Japan and other far eastern countries in 1970; Europe and the United Kingdom in 1971; East and West Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia in 1972; Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan in 1973, and the Pacific islands and New Zealand in 1974. For his outstanding efforts to promote overseas trade he was made a fellow of the Australian Institute of Export. I am sure that all members were happy for Sir John when he was knighted by Her Majesty the Queen in the new year honours list of 1974 for services to the State. Sir John also had substantial experience in local government, having served on the Coolah shire council for ten years. It is no wonder that with such a background he was able to enrich the standard of debating in this Chamber and was such an able counsellor on all things political. This place will be the poorer for his retirement but the richer for his motive in retiring, which he genuinely expressed as being to give the younger fellows an opportunity to gain experience. I personally am much the wiser for having served as his deputy. I know I am expressing the view of all members when I wish Sir John and his wife, Tot-Lady Fuller-a long and happy retirement. The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) [4.38]: It gives me great pleasure to be associated with the tribute paid by the Leader of the Opposition to the Hon. Sir John Fuller. I do so particularly as I believe Sir John was one of the finest politicians and statesmen of our time, not only in New South Wales but also in Australia. To follow in this man's footsteps is indeed an honour- and a big responsibility. As the Leader of the Opposition mentioned, Sir John's family background was politics and law. His father was an eminent barrister and his uncle was a former Premier of this State. However, Sir John's great love was the land. After he left school he spent two years on government experiment farms at Bathurst and l'rangie. He then undertook an apprenticeship with Winchcombe Carson where he became an expert in wool. Soon after he was a jackeroo in northwest Queensland. In 1939 he took up his holding, Kallatenee, at Coolah. In 1940 Sir John married. He soon became involved in the politics of rural industries. For many years he was a member of the central council of the Graziers' Association; he was its vice-president in 1965. For many years he was involved in local government in the Coolah shire. He was vice-chairman of the National Country Party from 1956 to 1959 and its chairman from 1959 to 1964. He was appointed a life member in 1964 and I am pleased to repeat what the Leader of the Opposition said: he is still a member of the central executive of our party. His experience in all aspects of country life brought him finally into the Legislative Council in 1961. After four years in opposition he was appointed to the Ministry of the Askin-Cutler Government as Minister for Decentralisation and DeveIopment. What an impact that appointment was to have. From 1968 to 1973 manufacturing in this State enjoyed its most prosperous period. During those years income from export of manufactures reached an all-time high of almost 23 per cent of Australia's total export income. Today it is something like 17 per cent. In the three calendar years 1970, 1971 and 1972 a total of 251 major industrial projects were completed or launched in New South Wales. The total financial commitment of those was of the order of $1.2 billion. I came in close contact with John Fuller in 1972 when I approached him about the prospect of setting up a decentralized wool processing plant somewhere in New South Wales. Because of his background of working in the wool industry and being a wool producer he was greatly interested in this matter. I received tremendous assistance not only from him but also from the department. We were able to establish this plant in Orange. It was the first ever and became the catalyst for another one to be established within twelve months-at the end of 1973-in Cowra. John Fuller could see the prospects of this type of involvement of oversea interest in joint participation with Australians in the setting up of these projects. In 1974, when I went round the world on a tour on business of my own, he asked me to inquire whether there were other people interested. There was one person in Germany who is still possibly interested in setting up a processing plant in New South Wales. In 1976 John Fuller took over the onerous task of Leader of the Opposition. We all know what a wonderful job he did. It ended in his mammoth task as leader of the managers for the Opposition parties in the managers' conferences on the reform of this House. During the time that he served in this Parliament John Fuller was tireless in his approach to all matters, big or small. At all times he displayed great knowledge, was understanding and firm but fair. He was always thoughtful of others, particularly those who worked for and with him. Some time ago he made up his mind to retire and nothing would change him from that decision. He had worked hard and he reckoned it was time he had a rest. We are the richer for the experience of having worked with him and been counted as friends. Now he is in some sort of retirement-I do not quite know what-but I wish him and Lady Fuller many years of happiness, health and good fun. The Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith] Adjournment-1 5 August, 1978 33

The Hon. D. P. LANDA (Vice-President of the Executive Cot~nciland Mini\tcr for Planning and Environment) [4.44], in reply: As the Hon. M. F. Willis has said, it is not usual but nevertheless not without precedent that a few remarks arc made on this motion in relation to a member of this Chamber who has retired after long and distinguished service. Sir John Fuller clearly falls within that category. However, there are many honourable members of this Chamber whose knowledge of the Hon. Sir John Fuller extends over many more years than mine-honourable members who have known him during the full seventeen years of his service to this Parliament and longer and who can speak with authority of his early years in this place and his many activities on the land. But succeeding him as Minister for Planning and Environment has given me a special opportunity to learn of that particular aspect of his political career. Sitting opposite him at this table also brought us together on many and varied occasions. In a sentence, he was a formidable and resourceful opponent. Since being elected to the planning and environment portfolio I have also been able to observe how he faced many of the problems of land use planning and environmental protection in New South Wales and I have learned much from many of the decisions he made in the years 1973 to 1976. The Hon. Sir John Fuller's resignation after ten years as a Minister and as Leader of the Opposition in this Chamber I am sure came as a surprise to many of us on both sides of the Chamber. We shall all miss his contributions to the Council's debates. While the honourable member was ever conscious of the propm dignity of parliamentary practice, he was not without a sense of humour. I for one shall never forget his discourse on the possiMe advantages uf a peerage structure in this State, which effectively defused a rather tense moment during the debate on the reform of this Council. More important, I believe his contribution to the processes both in and outside this House that preceded the successful passage of the reform bill and its overwhelming support by the people of New South Wales will be remembered and well documented by all those with an interest in the Government of the State. Sir John Fuller, I believe, recognized the inevitable a long time before some others, and that surely is one of the marks of an astute politician. On behalf of the Government members of this House I wish Sir John Fuller well in his retirement, as I have already communicated that to him personally. I am sure that many of the standards he set for his colleagues will not retire with hi. Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at 4.48 p.m.