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Legislative Assembly 21 March, 1991 ASSEMBLY 1503 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thursday, 21 March, 1991 Mr Speaker (The Hon. Kevin Richard Rozzoli) took the chair at 10.30 a.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer. BILLS RETURNED The following bills were returned from the Legislative Council without amendment: Constitution (Legislative Council) Amendment Bill Constitution (Referendum) Bill PETITIONS Chullora High-temperature Incinerators Petition praying that the House reject the proposal to construct two high-temperature incinerators at 75 Anzac Street, Chullora, received from Mr Shedden. Albion Park Rail Pedestrian Crossing Petition praying that a pedestrian crossing be established on Tongarra Road, Albion Park Rail, in the vicinity of the Albion Park Rail Public School, received from Mr Rumble. Albion Park Rescue Helicopter Service Petition praying that the House ensure that the rescue and emergency helicopter service stationed at Albion Park and serving the communities of the South Coast be retained at its present level of service, received from Mr Rumble. Rockdale-Banksia Traffic Petition praying that the House reject the proposals of the Roads and Traffic Authority for Rockdale and Banksia, received from Mr Unsworth. Pacific Highway Roadworks Petition praying that the House request the Minister for Roads to honour the promise to complete work on the Swansea S-bends by 1991, received from Mr Welsh. Rockdale Police Station Petition praying that full police services be maintained at Rockdale police station, received from Mr Unsworth. 1504 ASSEMBLY 21 March, 1993 Royal Agricultural Society Showground Petition praying that the House will prevent the sale by the Government of foreshore and public parklands, including the Royal Agricultural Society Showground, the E. S. Marks Athletic Field and part of Moore Park, and that residents be included on their administrative bodies, received from Ms Moore. Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf Petition praying that public money not be wasted demolishing the structurally sound finger wharf and establishing a walkway on the western side of Woolloomooloo Bay but instead that basic renovations be carried out on the wharf and an integrated multimedia arts centre be established, received from Ms Moore. Mater Dei Catholic High School Bus Service Petition praying that because the bus service from the North Head, Noraville and Toukley areas to the Mater Dei Catholic High School is grossly inadequate and inappropriate, the House and the Minister for Transport will intervene, received from Mr H. F. Moore. Toukley Ambulance Station Petition praying that the Minister for Health ensure that paramedics are retained at the Toukley ambulance station, received from Mr H. F. Moore. Offences Against Children Petition praying that an investigation be made concerning claims that child sex offenders are being acquitted, and sentences of convicted child sex offenders be reviewed to see whether they should be substantially increased, received from Mr Rumble. Adult Leisure Learning Centres Petition praying that annual grants to adult leisure learning centres be maintained at least at 1990 levels, received from Mr Unsworth. Police Rescue Units Petitions praying that the House call upon the Premier and the Government to refrain from disbanding police rescue units in New South Wales, received from Mr Hunter and Mr Mills. Bulli District Hospital Petition praying that proposals for the redevelopment of the Bulli District Hospital be commenced immediately and that full district hospital services be provided as a matter of priority, received from Mr Rumble. 21 March, 1991 ASSEMBLY 1505 Swimming Pools Petition praying that because the Swimming Pools Act has failed to achieve its objectives, the House amend the Act by revoking the requirements in respect of fencing swimming pools and deleting section 13 of the Act, received from Miss Fraser. Casinos Petition praying that the Government will take no steps that will legalise casinos and further expand gambling and organised crime in New South Wales, and that the Government will close existing illegal casinos, received from Mr White. Blacktown Bus Services Petition praying that consideration be given to redressing the grievances arising out of the rerouting of the bus lines and the increasein fares by theLeslies Bus Company at Blacktown, received from Mr J. J. Aquilina. Mount Ousley Road Safety Petition praying that the House take urgent steps to provide additional safety infrastructure on the Mount Ousley Road to allow out of control vehicles to vacate the main thoroughfare before they collide with other traffic or invade private houses, causing serious injury or death, received from Mr Markham. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO PRODUCTIVITY IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Report Mr GREINER: I desire to lay upon the table the first interim report of the Royal Commission into Productivity in the Building Industry of New South Wales. I indicate briefly that the report suggests the appointment of an additional commissioner and the appointment of a task force to carry out prosecutions after the completion of the commission. The Government is happy with the progress of the commission and accepts the recommendations. MINISTRY Mr GREINER: I wish to inform the House that the Minister for Health and Minister for Arts is away today. I will be answering questions on his behalf. JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE UPON THE PROCESS AND FUNDING OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM First Report Mr Booth, as Chairman, brought up the First Report from the Joint Select Committee upon the Process and Funding of the Electoral System. Ordered to be printed. 1506 ASSEMBLY 21 March, 1991 Mr BOOTH (Wakehurst) [10.35], by leave: The report which I have tabled today is the first report of the Joint Select Committee upon the Process and Funding of the Electoral System. It addresses questions related to the operation of public funding of elections as it currently works. The report details 13recom.mendations to improve the current system, including the introduction of a universal threshold of 4 per cent of the first preference votes cast at an election of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council in order to qualify for public funding. This proposal is the same as applies in the Federal system and would bring public funding into line with the new system of qualification for return of deposits to candidates which was included in amendments to electoral legislation passed by this Parliament late last year. Our second report will address all the issues related to disclosure of donations, election spending and various other matters-including numerous proposals about different types of limitations in election spending-which have been tried overseas and are currently the subject of much discussion and dispute here. It was in order to commence this review that recently some members of the committee completed a study tour to the United States of America and Canada. I point out, as there was some criticism of this tour, that our committee not only has completed a most exhaustive study of numerous options used in North America but also has the best and most extensive collection of information, reports and studies available in this country. Indeed, we are now being approached for assistance by such groups as Parliament House in Canberra and the Australian Electoral Commission. Public hearings in relation to the subject-matter of this second report will commence on Monday, 8th April. REGULATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Eleventh Report Mr Cruickshank, as Chairman, brought up the Eleventh Report from the Regulation Review Committee. Ordered to be printed. Mr J. H. Murray: Mr Speaker, as a member of the Select Committee on the Process and Funding of the Electoral System I want to- Mr SPEAKER: Order! Leave has not been granted for any statement other than the statement of the honourable member for Wakehurst. It is not within the standing orders or the procedures of the Parliament for the honourable member to speak on the matter. I have consulted the Clerk, who has confirmed this. Mr J. H. Murray: On a point of order- Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have ruled on the matter. I have sought the advice of the Clerk. The Clerk has advised me that the honourable member is not able to speak on the matter at this time. The honourable member will not canvass my ruling on the matter. 21 March, 1991 ASSEMBLY 1507 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE STATE BANK FINANCIAL STANDING Mr CARR: Will the Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Ethnic Affairs inform the House of the current financial position of the State Bank, following its regular briefings to him? Is the level of bad debts the same as that described in the bank's last annual report? Will he request the Auditor-General to immediately bring forward his report on the bank's financial position and examine any change since the bank's 1989-1990 accounts? Mr GREINER: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question which, as usual, is eminently predictable, and in this case responsible. I thank him for the responsible way in which he framed the question. The State Bank of New South Wales is performing considerably better not only than State banks in other States-which would be damning with faint praise indeed-but is performing very comparably with all the banks with which it competes-in other words the nationally operating banks. In terms of the precise level of non-performing loans, the State Bank issued a statement a month or more ago which put the level at of the order of $800 million. I would be happy to have the bank reaffirm that today. I think the underlying point of the question of the Leader of the Opposition concerns a report in the news services today that Nippon Investors Service Inc., which is one of the Japanese bond rating agencies, has downgraded the rating of the State Bank of New South Wales. It is important that all members of this House, regardless of their views of the future of the bank, support the State Bank and its importance to the State.
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