Hansard 1 Dec 1999
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1 Dec 1999 Legislative Assembly 5667 WEDNESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 1999 Written statement in accordance with s46KB of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977 (c) Minister for Environment and Heritage and Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) Minister for Natural Resources (Mr read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. Welford)— (a) A proposal by the Governor in Council to include in Brisbane Forest PETITIONS Park areas totalling about 1778 The Clerk announced the receipt of the hectares being— following petitions— about 1348 hectares of State forest 809; and about 430 hectares of the Prostitution Laws D'Aguilar National Park; and From Mr Horan (1,463 petitioners) (b) A brief explanation of the Proposal. requesting the House to reject any move to legalise brothels in Queensland and do all in its power to restrict and contain this immoral MINISTERIAL STATEMENT practice which is so harmful to society. Anderson Dawson Centenary Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— Townsville Railway Station ALP) (Premier) (9.34 a.m.), by leave: Today is From Mr Johnson (1,846 petitioners) an historic day for Queensland, and, in requesting the House to submit that the particular, an historic day for the Australian significant historical and heritage values of Labor Party. Today marks the 100th Townsville's Railway Station would be anniversary of the swearing in of Anderson significantly, if not terminally, compromised if Dawson as Premier of Queensland, the first relocation were to take place. Labor Premier in the first Labor Government in the world. Anderson Dawson was an ex-miner and newspaperman, miners union president, Abortion Law republican, chairman of the 1891 strike From Mrs Lavarch (95 petitioners) committee in Charters Towers and member for requesting the House to (a) acknowledge that Charters Towers—a very colourful character in the decision to continue or terminate a a very colourful period. pregnancy lies with the pregnant woman; (b) While the history books record that the remove reference to abortion from the Criminal minority Dawson Government lasted just seven Code; and (c) make abortions available within days, the legacy of that administration is with the public health system and eligible for us still. Born on the industrial battlefields of Medicare funding. Barcaldine in 1891, the Queensland Labor Petitions received. Party had as its central tenet the belief that all women and men are entitled to be treated equally. That belief remains the heart and soul PAPERS of the Labor Party today. MINISTERIAL PAPERS The world's first Labor Government also The following papers were tabled— marked the beginning of a major change in (a) Attorney-General and Minister for Justice democracy, that is, that all sections of society and Minister for The Arts (Mr Foley)— were empowered through the ballot box. Anderson Dawson's political opponents in Annual Reports for 1998-99— 1899 were elitist and privileged. It was Labor Supreme Court of Queensland that represented everyone, no matter what District Court of Queensland their background or circumstance. Importantly, Report of the Attorney-General to the Dawson administration proved that Labor the Legislative Assembly in could form Government. In fact, Labor enjoyed accordance with s 10 of the 39 years in Government between 1915—when Attorney-General's Act 1999 T. J. Ryan won a comprehensive victory—and (b) Minister for Health (Mrs Edmond)— 1957. Labor's time on the Government Bundaberg Health Services benches led to significant changes in politics, Foundation—Annual Report for 1998- and these shifts were of lasting benefit to 99 voters and Queenslanders. 5668 Ministerial Statement 1 Dec 1999 Anderson Dawson believed the most "Although doomed to failure, effective way to change society for the better Dawson's action in forming a minority, all- was to work through the Parliament, rather Labor ministry was a courageous one. In than through direct action. It is believed this large part, this was determined by Labor's attitude stemmed from the shearers strike of wish to appear as 'a constructive party' 1891 at Barcaldine which was brutally which was willing, when asked, to accept repressed by the authorities. Anderson the reins of Government." Dawson was not the only leader of his time Labor Governments are often courageous. who adopted this approach. William Kidston, Labor Governments are determined to make a the bookseller and publicist who later became difference. I know that in some Governments Premier of Queensland, penned a poem in from time to time the Ministers are more 1891 entitled "The Ballot is the Thing". interested in driving around in limousines Mr Schwarten: Member for looking at their navels. Governments that Rockhampton. make a difference, such as Labor Mr BEATTIE: A lot of good people come Governments, are ones that look after the from Rockhampton. There are exceptions, but electorate. It is our side of politics that is a lot of good people came from Rockhampton, committed to ideals; it is our side that reforms; it is Labor that constructively reshapes society including the Minister for Public Works and through the parliamentary process to improve Minister for Housing. benefits for all Queenslanders. Mr Borbidge: He's a bit of a poet. In the 100 years since the Dawson Mr BEATTIE: Yes, he is a bit of a poet. It Government, Labor administrations in seems to be a tradition of central Queensland. Queensland and Australia have advanced the However, returning to the poem of William living conditions of all Australians. The great Kidston titled "The Ballot is the Thing", it says thing about the Labor party is that it embraces in part— everyone. It believes in equity, fairness and a fair go for all. Anderson Dawson wanted to "Throw your old guns aside, my boys; give workers a stake in Government and a say the ballot is the thing." in their future. He paved the way for Governments that worked for ordinary families Anderson Dawson told Parliament on this rather than working against them. For the first day 100 years ago— time ordinary Queenslanders knew that their "I want this House and every interests, daily struggles, hopes and member of this House and every member aspirations would be acknowledged in the of any party or section in this House to corridors of power. My Government has a thoroughly understand our position, and similar goal. We want all Queenslanders to that is that we take the public life of the have an assured place in the new millennium. colony very seriously ..." Our Smart State policies will ensure that our That belief in the supremacy of the ballot and children are educated in skills so that they can the Parliament resonates just as strongly stake their claim in the high-tech global society today. The great thing about a democratic that is emerging. society is that change can occur through the The Queensland Labor Party will mark the ballot box. In Queensland—in the past 10 centenary of the Dawson Government in a years, for example—the Premiership has number of ways. This weekend I will be leading passed through six hands without the spilling my ministerial colleagues to Charters Towers of one drop of blood. That is the strength of for my Government's 21st Community Cabinet our democracy. Parliament remains the meeting. I believe that a Community Cabinet supreme institution of the people. meeting which takes Government to the people in our huge and decentralised State is Later today I will officially launch a book the most fitting way to honour the memory of that brings to life the power and the politics of Premier Dawson. The Dawson Government's the 1890s and the all-too-brief existence of the defeat on the floor of the Parliament will be re- Dawson Government. Written by respected enacted on stage almost 100 years to the day, Queensland historian Professor Ross and the Attorney-General will be one of the Fitzgerald, "Seven days to remember—the stars in that play. world's first Labor Government" is a poignant account of Dawson's drive to make life better Mr McGrady: And the Minister for Mines for all Queenslanders. I table a copy of that and Energy. book for the information of the House. Mr BEATTIE: I was coming to that. We Professor Fitzgerald writes— would never leave out the Minister for Mines 1 Dec 1999 Ministerial Statement 5669 and Energy. Both of those Ministers will star. 2 a.m. and died the next morning. A short time We might even have a role for the Leader of later, his sister died of an unknown disease. the Opposition—we need someone to sell The father was so distressed that he left. Jaffas and so on at half-time. Young Dawson then went to an orphanage for A commemorative headstone will be three years, before he was taken by foster erected at the grave of Anderson Dawson, parents to live in Charters Towers. His father which has until now been marked only with his died in an asylum, which then stood where name and year of death. The headstone will Wolston Park is today. His foster father, who recognise his exalted place in Labor history. was an alcoholic, had a small accident at The Labor Party owes much to Anderson Charters Towers in which he fell over and Dawson. As the Labor Premier of Queensland drowned in a small quantity of water. He was in 1999, I proudly celebrate the 100th later to become the Federal Defence Minister. anniversary of the election of the first Labor In 1909, because Federal Parliament was Government in the world. meeting and he had been elected as a senator, Dawson left his family in Melbourne.