[Hansard] Legislative Assembly WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 1989 Electronic Reproduction of Original Hardcopy
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 1989 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 4070 5 April 1989 Papers WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 1989 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. L. W. Powell, Isis) read prayers and took the chair at 2.30 p.m. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the foUowing Bills reported by Mr Speaker— Parliamentary (Judges) Commission of Inquiry Act Amendment Bill; Commissions of Inquiry Act Amendment Bill; Foreign Ownership of Land Register Act Amendment Bill; Unordered Goods and Services Act Amendment Bill; The Criminal Code, Evidence Act and Other Acts Amendment Bill; Student Education (Work Experience) Act Amendment Bill; Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act Amendment Bill; Plant Protection Bill; National Tmst of Queensland Act Amendment Bill; Fauna Conservation Act and Another Act Amendment Bill; Mining Titles Freeholding Act Amendment Bill; Local Govemment Grants Commission Act Amendment Bill; Inspection of Machinery Act and Another Act Amendment Bill; Holidays Act Amendment Bill; Consumer Affairs Act Amendment Bill; Collections Act Amendment Bill; Banana Industry Protection Bill; Associations Incorporation Act Amendment Bill. PETITION The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petition— Fair Contracts Legislation From Mr Burns (236 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will pass a Fair Contracts Act to protect home buyers from unfair contracts and building practices. Petition received. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table— Orders in Council under— City of Brisbane Market Act 1960-1985 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1988 Primary Producers' Organisation and Marketing Act 1926-1987 Regulations under— Primary Producers' Co-operative Associations Act 1928-1988 Foreign Ownership of Land Register Act 1988-1989. Ministerial Statement 5 April 1989 4071 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Effects of Cyclone Aivu in Burdekin District Hon. M. J. AHERN (Landsborough—Premier and Treasurer and Minister for State Development and the Arts) (2.37 p.m.), by leave: I rise to report to members on the current situation in the cyclone-affected area of the Burdekin. I can assure members that every possible action is being taken to quickly process all forms of assistance in the Burdekin and other affected areas. This morning, in company with Emergency Services Minister, Russell Cooper; the member for Burdekin, Mark Stoneman; the Minister for Community Services and senior Goverament officials, I inspected a number of townships that had suffered severe damage. We saw the results of cyclone Aivu in townships such as Ayr, Home Hill, Brandon, Inkerman and Clare. It was a scene of some devastation and early estimates put the damage at tens of millions of dollars. Homes, properties, crops, public buildings and business premises were badly hit. The first impression is that this is one of the worst cyclones to have hit Queensland in recent years. During today's inspection I authorised immediate payments through clerks of the court under the disaster relief arrangements. Following Cabinet's declaration on Monday the whole region is already covered by the Commonwealth/State disaster relief arrangements. Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much audible conversation in the Chamber. Mr AHERN: I have authorised the use of an emergency services helicopter to enable aerial assessment of damage to property by a senior insurance assessor. This should fast track the claims and repair process. In addition, I have appointed the member for Burdekin to act as liaison officer between local people and organisations and the State Goverament. This has been put in place to ensure that all speed is applied in the disaster relief arrangements. It is important that members fully understand the extent of the damage. Officials of sugar-cane growers' organisations told me today that much of the flattened crop could be salvaged, but losses in sugar cane alone would be a minimum of $20m. I wish to place on record my Goverament's appreciation of the way in which emergency services personnel, police, defence forces and local people responded to the emergency. Many people showed great skill and courage. It is incredible that injury and loss of life as a result of both the Gympie floods and cyclone Aivu was not extensive. This must reflect on the preparedness of the emergency services system. Once again, I assure honourable members that every means of support will be applied by the Gov ernment to the stricken north. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Allegations against Queensland Industry Development Corporation Hon. B. D. AUSTIN (Nicklin—Minister for Finance and Minister Assisting the Premier and Treasurer) (2.40 p.m.), by leave: Honourable members will be aware of a smear campaign launched by the ALP against the reputation of the Queensland Industry Development Corporation and its officers. As part of this smear, the honourable member for Lytton has made a series of allegations in this House conceraing a reported investment by QIDC in a company called Anchorage Village Pty Ltd. These allegations were— • that there is a widespread report of a $2m QIDC investment in the company which operates a tourist resort on Stradbroke Island; • that the company has been given into the hands of receivers; 4072 5 April 1989 Ministerial Statement • that a principal reason for Anchorage Village Pty Ltd establishing a resort in the first place was based on an alleged Government promise to build a bridge to Stradbroke Island; • that a loss to the QIDC and the Queensland tax-payer will result from this reported bankruptcy. Once again the Opposition is resorting to a smear of a reputable Queensland organisation in a bid for cheap political points on the basis of gossip. Mr Mackenroth: Stop laughing. Mr AUSTIN: I have not finished yet. Ms Warner interjected. Mr AUSTIN: 1 cannot. What he has done is bloody laughable. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr AUSTIN: 1 apologise, Mr Speaker. Why must the QIDC suffer because the ALP chooses to blunder into this House armed only with a so-called widespread report, with no research and no checks on the facts, and then make serious and damaging allegations? The facts of the matter are that the QIDC has never had any financial dealings with Anchorage Village Pty Ltd. It appears that the economic genius, the honourable member for Lytton, has confused the QIDC with the AIDC, the Australian Industry Development Corporation. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Mr J. B. Loiterton; Noosa Northshore Resort Project Hon. J. H. RANDELL (Mirani—Minister for Local Government and Racing) (2.42 p.m.), by leave: Yesterday, during the debate in this Chamber on the National Crime Authority (State Provisions) Act Amendment Bill, the honourable member for Bundaberg made some wild allegations about the Government's alleged involvement with a devel oper, Mr John Barrie Loiterton. The honourable member described Mr Loiterton as an international con man and alleged that the Government had "aided and abetted" Mr Loiterton's proposed tourist development the Noosa Northshore resort project, through his company Leisuremark Australia Pty Ltd. The honourable member also alleged that there were what he called "three key elements" involved and he listed those as, "the personal gain of a Federal member of Parliament, an association with an international con man and State Gov ernment interference and manipulation for financial gain". The thrust of the honourable member's allegations is that the Government has been deeply involved in a devious, shonky deal to help some sort of crook. 1 absolutely and categorically deny and reject those allegations. They are untrue and offensive. The original $485m Noosa Northshore resort development was a rezoning application initiated by Leisuremark and that was refused by both the Noosa Shire Council and the Local Government Court so, therefore, it is totally incorrect to claim that anybody, least of all this Government, approved it. Mr D'Arcy: You went up there and told him to approve it. Mr RANDELL: The honourable member would not know what he is talking about. He still has stars in his eyes. Whether or not this $485m proposed project has been approved by this Government is not a matter for debate or interpretation. Plainly, clearly, and demonstrably it was not given any approval. Following the refusal of the Noosa Shire Council to approve its original application and the dismissal of its appeal against that decision in the Local Ministerial Statement 5 April 1989 4073 Goverament Court, Leisuremark Australia Pty Ltd submitted a revised application to the council. This revised proposal provided for a far lower level of development. Obviously, Leisuremark would not have submitted this revised proposal if it had Goverament approval for its original proposal. Mr D'Arcy: You told him they didn't need any. Mr RANDELL: Go to sleep again! I understand that the decision to approve this application, subject to conditions and acceptance of an offer from the company, was made by the council last week. All honourable members will be aware that the provisions of the Local Goverament Act allow for an appeal to be lodged against this decision of the council with the Local Government Court within 30 days of that decision being made. In the event of such an appeal being lodged, it is a matter for the court to determine in the first instance and, if the court determines that the rezoning should be further considered, it is then and only then that the application for rezoning would come to me for consideration. Exactly what the honourable member for Bundaberg had in mind when he alleged "the personal gain of a Federal member of Parliament" and what that had to do with the circumstances surrounding the Leisuremark proposal really escapes any rational comprehension. Mr Campbell: You made representations to Cabinet. Mr RANDELL: The honourable member should stay in Bundaberg. Any claim that the Federal member for Maranoa, Mr Ian Cameron, had adjoining land rezoned is also completely untme.