1044 1044[ASSEMBLY]

BILLS (9): RECEIPT AND FIRST QUESTIONS (42): ON NOTICE READING 1SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS 1. Factories and Shops Act Amendment Bill. Dlemountable Classrooms 2. Hairdressers Registration Act Amend- Mr SHALDERS, to the Minister rep- ment Bill. resenting the Minister for Education: Bills received from the Assembly; (1) Will the Minister advise which- and, on motions by the Hon. G.' C.' schools; MacKinnon (Minister for Educa- (a) primary tion), read a first time. (b) high schools, 3. Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insur- have been supplied with de- Hill. mountable classrooms since ance) Act Amendment schools reopened in 1975 and the Bill received from the Assembly; and, dates when either approval for on motion by the Hon. N. McNeill such supply was given or the (Minister for Justice), read a first dates when supply was made? time. (2) Who determines the priority for 4. Environmental Protection Act Amend- the allocation of demountable ment Bill. classrooms to- Bill received from the Assembly; and, (a) primary schools; on motion, by the Hon. G. C. Mac- (b) secondary schools? Kinnon (Minister for Education), a first time. (3) Who determines which priority read shall prevail in the provision of 5. Anzac Day Act Amendment Bill. demountable classrooms when Bill received from the Assembly; and, there is a need for them at both on motion by the I-on, N. McNeill primary and secondary schools? (Minister for Justice), read a first (4) How many "special" classes In time. primary schools are accommo- 6. Reserve (Swinana Freeway) Bill. dated in- Bill received from the Assemnbly; and, (a) demountable classrooms; on motion by the Hon. N. E. Baxter, (b) other classrooms of a tem- (Minister for Health), read a first porary nature; time. (c) ordinary classrooms? '7. Education Act Amendment Bill. Mr ORAYDEN replied: 8. Registration of Births, Deaths and (1)- Marriages Act Amendment Bill. Date or approval 9. Registration of Identity of Persons (a) Yarolhep, Primary Sehoo ...... 10/2/7 5 Bill. Cue Primnary School ., . .. .. 21/2/75 received from the Assembly; Boulder Junior Primary (in progress now) 4/3/75 Bills Greenwood Primanry School (in progress now) 4/3/75 and, on motions by the Hon. G. C. Warburton MacKinnon (Minister for Educa- Adam Road Primary School .. 13/3/7614/3/75 Warwick Primary School ...... 13/3/75 tion), read a first time. Gilen Forrest Primary School 13/3/ 75 Pinlarra Primary School ...... 19/3/75 House adjourned at 6.12 ps. Xlogsley Primary School 3/4/7 5 Eat Maddlugtoa Primary School . 3/4/75 (b) Mirtabooka Senior High School 17/2/ 75 Churchlands Senior High School...... 17/2/76 (2) and (3) The final responsibility for the allocation of demountable classrooms rests with the Director- General of Education. Wednesday. the 23rd April, 1975 (4) (a) 2. (b) and (c) No other information The SPEAKER (Mr Hutchinson) took is available concerning the the Chair at 4.30 P.M., and read prayers. number of "special" classes in permanent classrooms or other types of temporary BILLS (2): MESSAGES classBrooms. ApilrovriaUiOWl Messages from the Lieutenant-Goverinor 2. CARCOOLA SCHOOL received and read recommending appro- Extensions: and Enrolment priations for the Purposes of the following Mr SHALDERS, to the Minister rep- Bills,- resenting the Minister for Education: 1. Police Act Amendment Bill. (1) Has there been an accommoda- 2. Agent General Act Amendment tion problem to date this year at Bill. the Carcoola Primary School? [Wednesday, 23 Apr11, 1975] 1045

(2) (a) When is it anticipated that Mr Grayden (for Mr O'CONNOR) re- extensions will be made to the plied: Primary School; Carcoola Waterproof clothing is provided in (b) what is likely to be the accordance with industrial award extent of those extensions? conditions and consideration is (3) What was the enrolment at the given to specific applications. Carcoola Primary School- ()when school resumed in Feb- ruary 1975; 5. COUNTRY HOSPITALS (b) on 17th April, 1975? Resident Doctors Mr ORA LYDEN replied: Air T. D. EVANS, to the Minister rep- resenting (1) Yes. the Minister for Health: (2) (a) and (b) The transference of (1) How many Government hospitals the "special" class from Car- (including those administered by coola Primary School to Pin- boards) are there in country dis- jarra Primary School on 21st tricts which are not serviced by April, 1975, has eased the a resident doctor within the par- accommodation pressure at ticular district? the school and, as a conse- (2) What are the names of such hos- quence, future extensions at pitals? the school are not required in the immediate future. Mr RIDGE replied: (3) (a) and (b) The enrolment of 181 pupils at the commencement (1) Sixteen. of the 1975 school year had (2) Departmental: Coolgardie, Donny- reduced to 169 pupils by 17th brook, Laverton, Leonora, Marble April and this enrolment was Bar, Onslow, Wooroloo. further reduced by the trans- ference of the "special" class Board: Brookton, Dumbleyung. of 14 Pupils on 21st April, .Terrainungup, Nannup, Narem- 1975. been, Ravensthorpe, Tambellup. Wickepin, Williams. HOUSING Esperance: Mr L. A. AndtersonZ 6. NORTH KALGOORLIE SCHOOL Mr T. D. EVANS, to the Minister for Substandard Classroom Housing: Mr T. D. EVANS, to the Minister Is he now in a position to advise representing the Minister for Educa- whether Mr L. A. Anderson of 134 tion: Lyall Street, Kalgoorlie, about whom I wrote him on 11th March Would the Minister (if he has not last (which letter was acknow- already done so) please read page ledged on 14th March, 1975) will 1 of the Kalgoorlie Miner of date be provided with a suitable sized 16th April, 1975, and in the light home in Esperance to enable him of the statements attributed to to establish his family at Esper- the headmaster of the North Kal- ance prior to taking up duties at goorlie School therein and parti- that centre on 8th May next? cularly the statement, "The Min- ister had possibly been incor- Mr O'NEIL replied: rectly advised because of a mis- It is a long standing policy in re- understanding of statements lation to Housing Commission made by Mr Barker (the head- operations that matters relating master) to an officer of the de- to a specific applicant or occupant partment" and- are not made public. The mem- ber will receive an answer to his (a) advise whether he now ad- correspondence within the next heres to the answer he gave few days. to part (3) of my question 11 of 16th April, 1975 concern- ing the use of a condemned RAILWAYS pavilion and a storeroom be- Porters: Waterproof Clothing ing used to house classes; and Mr T. D. EVANS, to the Minister for Transport: (b) make a statement clarifying Will he give favourable considera- the works programme for tion to Providing waterproof this school which will over- clothing for use by WAUR porters come the serious accommoda- whose duties require them to tion and other problems work In wet conditions (rain)? thereat? [ASSEMBLY.]

Mr GRAYDEN replied: (2) What extensions are being under- (a) Yes. taken in the current financial (b) A repair and renovation con- year? tract for the school is to be (3) What extensions are planned for undertaken this year. A firm the 1975-76 financial year? proposal for further building (4) What long-term planning has and upgrading has not been been undertaken for extensions determined. The matter must to the comprehensive scheme? be related to the needs in so many other areas and the major escalation of costs Mr O'NEIL replied: which has had a serious effect (1) No. on the number of works which (2) and (3) None. can be undertaken. (4) Following recommendations by 7. BYFORD REHABILITATION CENTRE the Director of Agriculture, of those areas in the State showing Future Role greatest difficulty for development Mr DAVIES, to the Minister repre- of on-farm drought proof water senting the Minister for Health: supplies, Preliminary engineering Referring to question 26 of 15th studies and estimated costs to April, 1975, regarding the future supply the first three priority of the Byford rehabilitation areas have been carried out by centre- the Public Works Department. (1) Will staff members transfer- These areas embrace- ring to the Drug and Alcohol (a) parts of Westonia and Mt. Authority continue to be em- Hampton; ployed at Byford? (b) the West Midlands; and (2) Will transfer(s) be effected (c) the Eradu Sand Plain. without loss of salary? These studies have been for- (3) If not, 'what are to be likely warded to the Department of differences? Agriculture for an economic (4) How many and what category appraisal, to ascertain if a satis- of staff will be employed at factory approach can be made to Byford? the Commonwealth Government (5) How many patients will be for financial assistance. The accommodated there? capital required to supply water (6) What structural alterations, to farms in the wheatbelt areas if any, will be necessary? is beyond the resources of the State and any extension of the (7) What is the anticipated cost comprehensive scheme will de- of same? pend on future Commonwealth Mr RIDGE replied: Government support. (1) Yes. (2) Those prison officers appointed 9. ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES to the authority will experi- Contributory Scheme: IKuln-Pingaring ence only minimal loss in Area salary. (3) This matter Is subject to Mr P. V. JONES, to the Minister for negotiations with the Public Electricity: Service Board and will vary When is it anticipated that the according to the categories of State Electricity Commission will staff. extend the contributory scheme (4) Final selection of staff has to provide power to the areas east not yet of Kuhin townsite, and to Pin- been completed. garing? (5) Up to 25 patients can be accommodated. Mr MENSAROS replied: (6) None. The supply of electricity to Pin- (7) Answered by (6). garing and areas east of Kuhin town depends on the construction B. COMPREHENSIVE WATER of a major power line from Mer- SCHEME redin to Kondinin and the estab- Extensions lishment of a step-down sub- Mr P. V. JONES, to the Minister for station at Kondinin. Water Supplies: In view of the high capital cost (1) Has consideration been given to of these works it is not possible extending the reticulation area of at present to make a reliable esti- the comprehensive water scheme mate of when supply will be avail- east of Pingaring in Kuhin Shire? able in the above areas. (Wednesday, 23 April, 1975] 104704

10. PINGELLY DISTRICT HIGH (2) Yes (25 of the 30). The maximum SCHOOL distance travelled by bus is ap- Library-resourceCentre and proximately 35 miles. Improvements (3) No. (4) No school In Western Australia Is Mr P. V. JONES, to the Minister rep- known to offer every subject resenting the Minister for Education: externally examiined at the end (1) Has the redesigning of the of year 12. There is thus no in- library-resource centre at the dication as to the meaning of the Pingelly District nigh School phrase "a full range of subjects". been completed? (5) Yes1 three. (2) If not, when is completion anti- (8) Yes. It Is normal In all second- cipated? ar' schools in Western Australia (3) When is it expected to call ten- f or staff to specialise in one or ders for the construction of this more subject areas. resource centre? (7) Yes. (4) When Is It anticipated the plan- ned upgrading and improvement of the playground area at the Pin- 13. HOUSING gelly school will be commenced? Adeline: Jaxon Construction Mr GRAYDEN replied: Contract Mr T. D. EVANS, to the Minister for (1) to (3) Sketch plans have been Housing: approved and documentation is proceeding. It Is anticipated that in reference to State Housing the works will go to tender soon Commission contract with Jaxon after the completion of the docu- Construction for the erection of mentation. 10 homes at Adeline being ten- (4) The Education Department has der No. 47/75 and subject to file requested the Public Works De- 163/175- partment to give consideration to (1) is he aware that the com- submitting the development of mission's tender documents Reserve 9244 as a play area for specify the use of "extruded" funding from the regional em-. bricks, which restricts the ployment development scheme. type of bricks to those of a clay nature? II. This question was pastponed. W2Is he further aware that an addendum to the said speci- fications stipulates that 12. MORAWA HIGH SCHOO0L locally manufactured bricks Uipgrading to Senior Status may be used Provided that such use does not conflict Mr McIVER, to the minister repre- with the drawings, which senting the Minister for Education: drawings are clearly marked (1) How many fourth and fifth-year extruded bricks for six of the students are at present attending ten dwellings to be con- the Ivorawa High School? structed? (2) Are any of these students bused (3) Is he thus aware that the in from outer areas; if so. how specifications clearly exclude far? the use of bricks manufac- (3) Do any of the fourth and ftfth- tured in Boulder by B3oulder year students board in the town? Modular Masonary Co. Pty. (4) Is there a full range of subjects Ltd.? available? (4) Is he also aware that the lat- (5) Were any additional staff required ter company, the only local following the upgrading of the brick manufacturer and Morawa High School to a five- which employs 10 to 12 men, year high school, and if so. flow has in the past supplied bricks many? for use in new houses built within the district, that it is (8) Do any of the present staff at currently supplying brick/ the Morawa High School special- blocks for the Mines Depart- Ise in teaching certain subjects? ment, for the continuing con- (7) Do they have the use of audio- struction of the new Eastern visual aids in the instruction of Goldfields Senior High any particular subject? School and has also supplied for the Kalgoorlie hospital Mr GRAYDEN replied: laundry without the company (1) Year 11-22; Year 12-8 (1st having received complaints as March. 1915). to the quality of Its product? 1048 [ASSEZMLY.)

(5) As the builder Is ready to (7) Did the tribunal ascertain the place orders for the supply possible utilisation of Crown Land of materials, would he, as a f or pine plantations? matter of urgency, have the said specifications amended (8) If so, why was the Forests De- to permit the use of the partment not represented on it? locally produced brick blocks Mr RIDGE replied: to enable the local company (1) (a) Mr S. J. Stokes as Chairman to off er its product to the of the Tribunal, who at that builder? time was Divisional Land Mr O'NETL replied: Superintendent, Surveyor- (1) to (3) Yes. Gene ral's Division, Lands (4) I understand this to be so. and Surveys Department. (5) No. Contractor has already (b) Mr W. T. Walton and Mr A. placed orders for this con- T. Moulton. Mr Walton bad tract. been associated with the timber industry all his life, including 24 years' service 14. PAY-ROLL TAX with the Forests Department. Concessions to Decentralised Mr Moulton was an orchard- Industries ist at Bridgetown. In April 1963, on the resignation of Mr J. T. TONKIN, to the Treasurer: Mr Walton on account of ill- How much In pay-roll tax con- health, Mr J. C. Usher, an cessions has been applied for by ex-forester was appointed. decentralised industries for the When he resigned in April 1973-74 pay-roll tax year? 1967, because of ill-health, Mr MoPharlin (for Sir CHARLES Mr J. E. Talbot, also an ex- COURT) replied:- offier of the Forests Depart- went, replaced him. None 487 applications have been re- of these represented particu- ceived for assistance by way of a lar Interests. pay-roll tax concession. In accordance with the Act, the (2) The tribunal recommended the concession will be granted to setting aside of 88 330 hectares for businesses requiring it to con- State Forest. The extraction of tinue, expand or establish In de- information to ascertain the area centralised areas. set aside for State Forest would involve lengthy investigation. The applications are at present However, if desired, the infor- being processed. mation could be made available in approximately four weeks. 15. CROWN LAND TRIBUNAL (3) The tribunal was not established Membershitp and Recommendations under any Statute but resulted Mr A. R. TONKIN, to the Minister from a Cabinet decision. for Lands: (4) Advisory Powers to the Minister (1) Further to question on notice 13 for Lands. Terms of reference asked on 5th September, 1974. were to inquire into the question during the life of the Crown Land of utilisation of sparsely tim- bered Crown lands for future agri- Tribunal- cultural development. (a) who represented the Depart- mnent of Lands and Surveys; (5) No. (b) what were the names, quali- (6) Answered by (5). fications and d"interests"l rep- (7) The tribunal considered limited resented by tribunal mem- lands in the Jandakot project. bers? There is doubt that this was (2) H-ow many hectares of land were within the terms of reference. set aside for State Forest as a result of the tribunal's recom- (8) Answered by (7) and (1) (b). mendations? (3) Under which sections of which 16. HEALTH Act was the tribunal established Mercury Poisoning and Its members appointed? Mr A. R.. TONKIN, to the Minister (4) What powers did the tribunal representing the Minister for Health: have and what were Its terms of (1) What studies have been made In reference? Western Australia of the mer- (5) Has the tribunal a successor? cury content of human blood and (6) If so, what are the details? hair? [Wednesday, 23 April, 1975] .104904 (2) What has been done to alert gen- management of Cockburn Sound. eral practitioners In the medical an environmental study relating Profession to the need to spot the to the siting of extensions to West toxicological symptoms of mer- Coast Highway and studies lead- cury poisoning? Ing to the formulation of a Mr RIDGE replied: coastal policy. (1) A report of a survey from Victoria has been closely studied. This 18. This question was postponed. reveals that although there is a positive correlation between the 19. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION amount of fish (shark) consumed AND CONSERVATION and levels of mercury in blood and hair, no Ill effect on health Function Undertaken by Government was apparent. Mr A. R. TONKIN. to the Minister (2) The medical profession must be for Conservation and Environment: aware of the considerable publi- In regard to the Governor's speech city given to this topic in the when opening Parliament this media. If and 'when the Minister session, what major reorganisa- Is advised of the need to alert tion of envirornental and con- nmedioai practioneirs it shall he servation functions has the Gov- done. ernment carried out? 17. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Mr STEPHENS replied: AUTHORITY Those Government departments New Initiatives and functions associated with en- Mr A. R. TONKIN, to the Minister vironment and conservation mat- for Conservation and Environment: ters have been consolidated under a single Ministry of Conserva- With reference to question 79 of tion and Environment, including 27th March, 1975 concerning new Fisheries and Wildlife, National Initiatives undertaken by the En- Parks, Swan River Conservation, vironmiental Protection Authority, Western Australian Native Flora how many of the programmes out- Protection together with the De- lined In the answer were the re- partment of sult of initiation by the Court Environmental Pro- Government and 'what was the tection. date of inception of each of the programmes? 20. MINERAL SANDS Mr STEPHENS replied: Narngvju Project: Environmental The specific Programmes referred Protection Report to and their dates of inception are:- Mr A. R. TONKIN, to the Minister (a) Hardy Inlet-Augusta estu- for Conservation and Environment: arine study-June 1973 In regard to mineral sands treat- (b) Conservation Through Re- ment at Narngulu, could the ad- serves Committee-February vice given by the Environmental 1972 Protection Authority to the Greenough Shire Council, of the (c) Coogee air pollution study- environmental factors needing November 1972 consideration when allowing the Plnjarra, study-October 1974 establishment of Plants of this (d) Demographic and Environ- kind, be tabled? mental Reserves Committee- June 1973 Mr STEPHENS replied: The answer to the Member's Pre- Yes, I have extracted the re- vious question was not intended quired information from a letter to be an exhaustive list of pro- sent to Mr K. H. Poskew, Shire jects and most of the projects Clerk, Greenough Shire Council cited were initiated by the pre- by the Chairman of the Environ- vious Government. However, this mental Protection Authority on Government has actively encour- 20th July, 1973. Much of this aged a continuation of the pro- letter deals with the proposed grammes and brought to fruition establishment of the plant in a the Coogee air pollution study and coastal area south of Drummond's the report of the Conservation Cove and I have therefore tabled Through Reserves Committee. only that portion which deals Some examples of programmes with the Narngulu site. initiated by this Government are preliminary investigations leading The paper was tabled (see paper No. to future proper environmental 164). IASSEMBLY.]

21. EN-VIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (2) How many cubic metres of Department and Statutory particle board from all Bodies:' sources were consumed in Receipts and Expenditure Western Australia? Mr A. R. TONKIN, to the Minister (3) How many cubic metres of for Conservation and Environment: Particle board were exported What are the receipts and expen- from Western Australia- diture for the years 1972-73 and (a) interstate; 1973-74 for the operation of the- (b) overseas? (a) Department of Environmental Mr MENSABOS replied: Protection: (1) to (3) This department does (b) Environmental Protection not collect and keep statistics Council; on this subject. (c) Environmental Protection I suggest the Member refers Authority? to statistics published by the Mr STEPHENS replied: Commonwealth Statistician, or the Timber Supply Review Expenditure for the Department published by the Australian of Environmental Protection for Department of Agriculture. the years 1972-73 and 1973-74 was $128 006 and $202 134 respec- Forestry and Timber Bureau. tively. Included in these were:- 24. STATE FORESTS (i) $8 000 for each of the years "Forest Focus": Publication 1972-73 and 1973-74 being Mr A. R. TONKIN, to the Minister payment of members' fees for for Forests: the Environmental Protec- Considering that the Forests De- tion Authority. partment publication Forest Focus (11) $1 528.62 and $121.88 for the has been published on a quarterly same periods being members' basis, yet at page 31 of the de- fees and incidental expenses partment's 1974 annual report it for the Environmental Pro- Is stated that only three issues tection Council. were published in 1973-74. how All other costs associated with many issues were published in the Environmental Protection 1974-75? Authority and Environmental Protection Council were borne by Mr RIDGE replied: the Department of Environmental The aim has been to Publish three Protection in its role of servicing issues of Forest Focus Per year the authority and council. contingent on the availability of staff and printing facilities. At There was no revenue collected least one Issue is expected to be during either of these years. available in 1974-75. 22. CROWN LAND AND STATE FORESTS 25. WOODCHIPPING INDUSTRY Lease for Forest Developmnent State Forests Blocks Mr A. R. TONKIN, to the Minister Mr A. R. TONKIN, to the Minister for Forests: for Forests: What steps have been taken by Further to page 10 of the Forests the Government towards imple- Department 1974 annual report, menting the policy of leasing which forest blocks were Involved Crown land and State Forest for in assessment concerning the first private forest development? five years' operation of the MarrI Mr RIDGE replied: chipwood project? All aspects of the feasibility of Mr RIDGE replied: leasing Crown land and State The forest blocks involved in forest for Private forest develop- assessment during 1974 conc?rn- ment are being investigated. Ing the first five years of opera- tions of the Marri woodchip pro- 23. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ject were:- Particle Board: Production and Exports Andrew Mr A. R. TONKIN, to the Minister Boorara for Industrial Development: Brockmnan Crowea For the Years 1970-71, 1971-72, Dombakup 1972-73 and 1973-74- Easter (1) How many cubic metres of Gardner particle board were produced Gordon In Western Australia? Graphite [Wednesday, 23 April, 19751101 1051

Iffley Mr McPRARLIN replied: Leeuwin The average monthly prices paid Mataband to farmers at Midland saleyards Mindanup for export quality wethers, 18.5- Nairn 22.0 kg, were as follows: (Source- Poole Australian Meat Board). Strickland Button 1974 C per kg Warren January .... 50.9 Weld. February .. 53.6 March .. ,42.5 April .. 41.4 26. STATE FORESTS May ...... 48.7 Timber Zone June ...... 38.1 July .... ., ... .. 32.0 Mr A. ft. TONKIN, to the Minister August ..... 27.1 for Forests: September ...... -.. 19.6 Under the heading of "land October ...... Il 15.8 alienations" In the annual report November .. .. 13.5 of the Forests Department, refer- December ...... 19.0 ence is made to a "timber zone" - 1975 C per kg (1) What are the boundaries and January 16.9 definition of the timber February (Department of zone? Agriculture estimate) ... 17.8 (2) What is its approximate area March (Department of in hectares? Agriculture estimate) .... 16.5 (3) What are the boundaries of the area described as being 28. LIVE SHEEP "outside timber zone"? Exports (4) What is its approximate area Mr H. D. EVANS, to the Minister in hectares? for Agriculture: (5) Will he table a map showing (1) What has been the average the boundaries referred to in monthly price paid to f armers (1) and (3) supra? for wethers used in the live sheep trade since the beginning of Mr RIDGE replied: (1) The timbered zone is a sta- (2) What number of live sheep were tistical region adopted by the exported in 1974? Forests Department for re- (3) To what markets were live sheep cording land alienations. The exported in 1974, and how many boundaries are as shown on sheep to each market? the plan submitted for tabl- (4) What firms exported live sheep ing. from Western Australia in 1974. (2) Approximately 6926 000 hee- and how many did each firm tares, handle? (3) That section of the State not (5) What has been the average included In the timber zone. monthly price paid to farmers in South Australia for wethers used (4) Approximately 2456024 000 in the live sheep trade since the hectares. beginning of 1974? (5) Yes. The boundaries of the "timber zone" are shown, Mr McPHARLIN replied: bordered red, on the plan sub- (1) Monthly average prices paid to mitted herewith for tabling. farmers for wethers used in the live sheep trade since the begin- The plan was tabled (see paper No. ning of 1974 are not available. 165). I have been advised that the average price for wethers to 27. EXPORT MUTITON tanners from one large exporter for 1974 was $13.02. Price to Producers (2) 793 121 live sheep were exported Mr H. D. EVANS, to the Minister in 1974, for Agriculture: (3) The markets and number of live What has been the average sheep exported In 1974 were:. monthly price per kilo paid to Singapore ...... 95519 farmers for sheep sold for the Mauritius 3 391 export mutton trade since the Arabian Gulf .. .. 693 204 beginning of 1974? Malaysia ... -, .1. 1 007 1052 1052[ASSEMBLY.]

(4) Farms exporting sheep and the Ing firms, Plaimar Ltd. or Bush, approximate numbers (source, floake and Allen Aust. Ltd., to animal inspection office, Fre- ascertain if it would be possible, mantle,) are as follows: with Government assistance, to Western Livestock .... 140 keep the plants for processing 0. Booth & Sons ... 5200 apples for concentrated juice op- Dalgety Australia .... 1 007 erating in the 1975 season, and Gray Robins Pty. Ltd. .21387 if so- G~ardiner Smith ...... 2 380 (a) on what dates were such ap- Wesfarmers ...... 26346 proaches made; Emanuel ...... 68711 (b) to whom were they made; Livestock Exports .. .. 3 690 Clausen Steamship Co. (c) what were the details of Australia Pty. Ltd....482 004 propositions suggested or dis- Amalgamated Industries 113 535 cussed with the firm or firms? Patton Exports ...... 47301 Mr MePHARLIN replied: (5) Not available. Both companies advised that there is no market in Australia or WOOL SALES overseas for concentrated apple Albany juice. A Committee of Government and Mr H. D. EVANS, to the Minister industry representatives was for Industrial Development: formed to examine the possibility (1) Is there any intention on the of utilising the existing or modi- part of Albany Wool Sales Pty. fied plant for the production of Ltd. to direct bulk class and/or alternative products. interlotted wool to Fremantle for On the committee's recommenda- sale? tion, the State Government has (2) How many bales of each of these approached the Commonwealth classes of wool were sold in Al- seeking funds for a survey of the bany in 1974? total available market for apple (3) What was the amount of subsidy Juice products and financial assist- met by the Government in hav- ance in acquiring and re-estab- ing wool railed by farmers to lishing a juice operation in this Albany in 1974? State. No reply Is yet to hand. Mr TiSNSAROS replied: (1) it is understood that Albany Wool 31. PINE PLANTATIONS Stores Pty. Ltd. has decided to close down its bulk classing opera- Privately Owned: Area and tion at Albany. It is not envis- Production aged that interlotting will be Mr H. D. EVANS, to the Minister for affected. Forests: (2) As interlotting is not involved (1) What is the total area of private only bulk classing totals have pine plantations in Western Aus- been obtained. The figures for tralia? the last three seasons are as fol- (2) Who are the owners of these lows: plantations and what area does 1972-1973 12 198 bales (7.8% of each owner bold? total receivals). (3) What Is the expected production 1973-1974 5659 bales (5.1% of of soft-wood timber from private- total receivals). ly owned plantations in each of 1974-1975 8 210 bales (4.9% of the next ten years? total receivals) (to date). Mr RIDGE replied: (3) The 50% concession on wool as railed to Albany for sale from (1) Approximately 5 '770 hectares Narrogin and Points south totalled at 30th June, 1974. $35 401 in the 1913-1974 financial (2) and (3) At the request of some year. It is estimated that the cost of the owners, this information for 1974-1975 will be $15 000. is not available for release. APPLES 32. PINE PLANTATIONS Processing: Government Financial Privately Owned: Sale of Assistance Products, Mr H. D. EVANS, to the Minister for Mr H. D. EVANS, to the Minister for Agriculture: Forests: Did the Western Australian Gov- Having regard to the extent of ernment make any approach to the operation of the proposed either or both of the fruit juic- Wesply complex to be constructed (Wednesday, 23 April, 1975] 1053

at Dardanup, which will result in (3) and (4) These facilities are pri- low cost production through vately operated and I am not economy of volume and the limited aware of any details. Western Australian market for Pine products, to what extent will (5) Yes. The difficulty experienced the growers of private Pine plan- was the result of the nearest com- tations in this State be faced with munication facility being out of problems of disposal of their order. Product at an economical level? (6) No. Communication facilities are much better than those existing Mr RIDGE replied: on many other highways through- On account of its large scale and out the State and we must rely manufacturing efficiencies, the on passing traffic. proposed Wesply complex at Dar- danup should provide private ('7. An investigation is not considered growers, as well as State plan- necessary. tations, with a hitherto non- Geraldton Highway existent economic outlet for Traffic Counts small thinnings. Average Daily Traffic Location 1D73/74 Jan. 3-Jan. 23. 1975 33. GERALDTON HIGHWAY (Holiday peak) Traffic Count and Communication Facilities 36 km north of Mocha. 918 1 103 Mr CARR, to the Minister for Traffic: 70 km north of Encabeba, c0o 844 (1) Does he have traffic count details for usage of the new Geraldton 34. TEACHERS Highway via Eneabba, and if so, Trainees: Book Allowance will he advise the House of them? (2) How many emergency radio facili- Mr CARR, to the Minister represent- ties is he aware of between Gin- mng the Minister for Education: gin and Dongara and will he ad- (1) How many student teachers are vise their location? presently training under the aus- (3) Who owns each of the radio facili- pices of the Teacher Education ties? Authority? (4) What radio networks are the fre- (2) How many of these are entitled to quencies of these radios plugged a book allowance? into; e.g., police, R.F.D.S.? (3) By whom is the book allowance (5) Is he aware that a fatal accident payable? occurred on the highway at the (4) What is the value of the book weekend and that some difficulty allowance? was experienced contacting emer- (5) Has this book allowance for 1975 gency services? been paid Yet? (6) Does he agree that emergency (6) If "Yes' to (5), when was It paid? communication facilities are in- (7) If "No" to (5)- adequate in relation to usage of highway? (a) why has it not been paid and the when is it Proposed to be (7) Will be conduct an urgent investi- paid: gation into the Possibility of imt- Proving the services and advise (b) have students had to pay the House the results of such in- their book bills at the various colleges or have they been vestigation? given credit to the extent of Mr Grayden (for Mr O'CONNOR) re- their book allowance? plied: (1) Yes. Details of traffic counts Mr GRAYDEN replied: appear below. (1) 5 361 as at 28th February, 1975. (2) Six radio and telephone facilities (2) 3 531 are entitled to a WA Educa- located at- tion Department teacher educa- Telephones- tion scholarship book allowance. Todds service station (5km (3) The teacher education scholarship north of Gingin) book allowance is payable by the Esso Service Station, South Western Australian Government Cataby through the Education Depart- Cataby ment. Eneabba (4) The teacher education scholarship book allowance is $55 per year Radios- for all scholarship holders, with 32 km south of Dongara the exception of final year stu- 16 kmn south of Dongara. dents in courses other than homne [ASSEM]BLY.]

economics, manual arts and the (2) If so, are there any delays being Diploma of Education who re- experienced in the transfer of ceive $35 per year. such land and what are the rea- (5) Teacher education scholarship sons for such delays? book allowances for 1975 have (3) If no delays are being experi- been paid to all scholarship hold- enced, when will the transfer of ers except in cases of late appli- land be effected? cations, changes of course, and (4) What type of redevelopment is a small group of students whose envisaged for the land? records were incorrect. These exceptions are currently being (5) How many homes will be erected? processed. (6) Will the present tenants of the (6) The book allowances were avail- existing WAGR dwellings receive able for collection during the first priority for allocation of the week of April 1975. homes erected? (7) When will the project be comn- (7) See answer to (5). pleted? RAILWAYS Mr O'NEIL replied: Land at Wexcombe: Transfer to (1) As part of the normal programme State Housing Commission of examining possible land acqui- Mr SKCIDMORE, to the Minister for sitions for future requirements, a Transport: preliminary inquiry has been made of the WAGE as to the pos- (1) Is the Western Australian Govern- sibility of the land in question ment Railways negotiating with being available for purchase by the State Housing Commission for the transfer to that authority the Housing Commission. of an area of 77 acres in the Wex- (2) to (7) Answered by (1). combe district? (2) if so, how many homes are in- 37. TEACHING HOSPITALS volved and when will the transfer ADVISORY COUNCIL of the land be effected? Meetings and Subcommittees (3) In the event of the land being transferred will the WAGE en- Mr DAVIES, to the Minister repre- sure that its tenants will receive senting the Minister for Health: favourable consideration from the (1) On what dates did the Teaching SHC in the following ways-- Hospitals Advisory Council meet (a) that the present tenants are during 1973, 1974, and so far this housed in suitable alternative year? accommodation during any (2) Were any THAC subcommittees redevelopment of the area; operative during that time, and if (b) ensure that they would have so, what was their purpose and priority above all others to on what dates did such subcom- re-occupy homes in the rede- mittees meet? velopment? (3) What are scheduled dates for Mr Grayden (for Mr O'CONNOR) re- plied: future meetings of THAC? (1) Some preliminary discussions Mr RIDGE replied: only have taken place. (1) 1973- (2) 56 Nissan huts and 14 Therma- 31st January bau type houses. No indication 1st March has been given of when land 5th April transfer will be made if and when 10th May agreement is reached. 14th June (3) (a) and (b) The points made by 12th July the Member will certainly be a 9th August consideration If and when de- 11th October tailed negotiations take place. 8th November 13th December STATE HOUSING 1974- COMMISSION 14th February Land at Wexcombe: Transfer 14th March from Railways Department 11th April Mr SKIDMORE, to the Minister for 9th May Housing: 13th June (1) Is the State Housing Commission 8th August negotiating with the WAGE for 10th October the transfer of an area of 77 No further meetings have been acres in the Wexcombe district? held. (Wednesday, 23 April. 1975] 105

(2) Yes. (b) Medical computer co-ordi- Formed 5th April, 1973- nating committee. (a) Committee to examine pro- 23/1/73 vision of renal dialysis faci- 6/4/73 lities at Sir Charles Gaird- 24/5/73 17/7/73 ner Hospital. 19/2/74 (b) Equipment review commit- 30/4/74 tee to examine proposed 21/5/74 purchases by teaching hos- 18/6/74 pitals of equipment costing 20/8/74 over $30 000. 17/9/74 (c) Animal holding committee 15/10/74 to advise on the provi- 19/11/74 sion of animal holding faci- 21/1/75 lities. 18/2/ 75 Formed 10th May, 1973- 18/3/75 10 year plan committee to for- (c) Maternal and child health mnulate a proposed ten year committee. teaching hospital plan for Wes- 6th June, 1913 tern Australia. (3) No date has been determined. Formed 12th July, 1973- Committee to examine a pro- 39. PREMIER posal to establish a nuclear medicine facility at Fremantle Supreme Court Case: Finalisation Hospital. Mr JAMIHESON, to the Minister repre- Formed 9th August, 1973- senting the Minister for Justice: Committee to examine the Im- (1) By reason of its relevance to the plications of associating the sub judice rule which thus far has Chair in Cardiology with a sec- precluded discussion in this Par- ond cardiac investigatory unit. liament since 1972 of certain matters of great public Import- Formed 8th November, 1973- ance and interest, will the Min- Second committee to examine ister state the progress position in provision of renal dialysis faci- Supreme Court action number lities at Sir Charles Gairdner 3878 1972 in which Charles Walter Hospital. Michael Court, K.B. is the plain- The meeting dates for all sub- tiff and Incorporated Newsagen- committees are not available as cies Company Pty. Limited, each subcommittee arranged its Richard Walsh, George Munster, own meetings. John Albert Hepworth, J. R. (3) Meetings scheduled monthly on Walsh, Gordon and Catch (Aus- second Thursday of each month tralasia) Limited and Graeme but actually meet as business Pratt are or were the defendants? comes forward. (2) Amongst other things, will the Minister state- 38. STATE HEALTH COUNCIL (a) whether the case has been finalised; Meetings and Subcommittees (b) if so, when, and on what Mr DAVIES, to the Minister repre- terms; senting the Minister for Health: (c) whether It has been set down (1) On what dates did the State for trial, and if so, when, and Health Council meet during 1973, what date has been fixed for 1974 and so far this year? the trial? (2) Were any State Health Council Mr O'NEIL replied: subcommittees operative during (1) A summons to a Judge in Cham- that time, and if so, what was bers seeking an order for fur- their purpose and on what dates ther and better particulars of did such subcommittees meet? statement of claim was filed by (3) What are scheduled dates for the solicitor for the defendants future meetings of the State on the 28th November, 1974 for Health Council? hearing on the 12th February. 1975. By agreement between the Mr RIDGE replied: solicitors for the plaintiff and the (1) 31st January, 1974. defendants the matter was ad- 28th February. 1974. journed sine die. (2) Yes. The Court file discloses that no (a) Coronary care ambulance action has been made since then. committee. 24th August, 1973. (2) Answered by (1). i055 [ASSEMIBLY.)

40. INDlUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT (3) Is the Interest rate prevailing Wespx, Agreement: Profitable under this new scheme 4%? Levels (4) Under certain circumstances of hardship will the interest pay- Mr MOILER, to the Minister for In- ments be forgiven for a period of dustrial Development: 12 months? In reference to the proposed (5) (a) How soon will beef farmers agreement between the State and be allowed to apply for these Westralian Plywoods Pty. Ltd. funds; relating to the establishment of a (b) to what authority will they particle board manufacturing In- apply; dust ry- (c) how soon will applications be (1) For the purposes of clause 24 processed? of the agreement what is the Mr McPHARLIN replied: meaning of the phrase "pro- (1) to (5) The Prime Minister has fitable levels" in line nine advised page 23 of the Bill? the Premier that: (1) $800 000 of Commonwealth (2) What is the minimum per- money will be provided to centage of profit on paid up match the announced State capital which would be con- assistance of $800 000. strued as being at a profit- able level for the purposes of (it) This will be available to clause 24 of the agreement? People who are predominantly beef producers at 4% per (3) Will he table for 48 hours the annum over 7 years with a Registrar of Companies Office first Year repayment holiday file, relevant to Westralian and interest in the first Year Plywoods Pty. Ltd.? capitalised. (4) What Practices, if any, is it Conditions of eligibility and contemplated will be indulged administrative arrangements in by Westralian Plywoods will be discussed at a meeting Pty. Ltd. pursuant to its pro- of Commonwealth and State posed agreement with the Ministers next week. State which may justify the provisions of the Trade Prac- 42. tices Act being invoked? Mr MENSAROS replied: Contracts and Boundaries (1) "Profitable levels" is a gen- Mr EL-AnE to the Minister for Agri- eral term the meaning of culture: which varies from industry (1) Further to question 28 on 17th to industry and from time to April, 1975 would he advise time. In the context of the whether the increased distance agreement, if the company from a plant Processing market and the State are unable to milk and subsequent increase in agree as to whether prices for transport costs will prevent some products of the company had producers from consideration of fallen below profitable levels obtaining market milk licenses? for the purposes of Clause 24 (2) If "No" would he indicate whether then the matter would be de- eligible producers in the Augusta- termined by arbitration pur- Margaret River area would be suant to Clause 26. eligible for production of market (2) Answered by (1). milk? Mr McPHARLflJ replied: (3) No. it Is a document avail- (1) The circumstances stated would able to all members of the not prevent a producer from being public. licensed by the Dairy Industry (4) 1 would refer the member to Authority for the production of my remarks when introducing market milk. Whether he were the Bill. granted a market milk quota by the authority could depend on his BEEF ability to obtain a milk collection Commonwealth Aid Scheme service without adding to indus- try costs. That is, his willingntess Mrs CRAIG, to the Minister for Agri- to pay any increased costs of culture: transport himself would be a con- (1) What amount of funds have been sideration. made available to Western Aus- (2) The Dairy Industry Authority tralia under the most recent could be expected to apply the Commonwealth beef aid scheme? same considerations to producers (2) Has the requirement that 85% of in the Augusta-Margaret River income be derived from beef been area as in other milk producing relaxed? areas. [Wednesday, 23 April, 1975) 105705

QUESTIONS (3);- WITHOUT NOTICE am now aware of the regulation 1. MARKETING OF EGGS ACT because the honourable member has quoted it and I will arrange Amending Legislation to undertake an investigation. Mr BARNETT, to the Minister for Agriculture: 3. LAMB MARKETING (1) Has the Minister received any re- Press Report on Statements hiy Minister quests from the Egg Marketing for Agriculture Board In 1974 and/or 1975 to in- troduce legislation to amend the Mr CARR, to the Minister for Agri- Marketing of Eggs Act? culture: (2) How many requests were received, (1) Was the Minister correctly re- and on what dates were they re- ported in The Albany Advertiser ceived? of Monday, the 24th March, in relation to his meeting at Mt. I should add that I have given the lamb the Minister's office notice of this Barker as saying of question. marketing controversy- .. there was colossal pressure Mr McPHARLINq replied: brought to bear by vested inter- (1) and (2) The honourable member ests, so much so that the Prem-. should note there Is a Bill on the ler had requested him to take notice Paper to amend the Mark- the matter to Cabinet and he eting of Eggs Act, it being order was obliged to do so. of the day No. 22. And further- Mr H. D. Evans: That is not the an- In a Cabinet where the swer to the question asked. numbers were nine to three against the Country Party it was a difficult job to get a fav- 2. PASSENGER VESSELS ourable decision but his mem- Soliciting for Passengers bers had fought tooth and nail and had it not been for the Mr HARMAN, to the Minister for Country Party the board would Works: have been scrapped? (1) Has the Minister been made (2) If the Minister was correctly re- aware of any complaints In re- ported, is he suggesting that the cent days on the Perth waterfront nine Liberal Ministers have been by representatives of various pas- excessively influenced by this senger vessels, In respect of tout- "colossal pressure broujght to bear ing or soliciting for fares on those by vested interests"~? passenger vessels? (3) Does not the Minister agree that (2) Has he also been made aware of this situation demonstrates the in- physical clashes which have oc- effectiveness of a minority party curred in this area, and of per- In a coalition Government, and sonal abuse which has resulted the inability of his party to repre- from such clashes? sent country people? (3) Is he aware of a regulation made under the navigable waters leg- Mr McPHARLIN replied: islation which covers nuisances on (1) to (3) How often have we heard jetties? Among other things reg- it said, by members on the other ulation 32 states that a person side of the House, that one does shall not by any means tout or not believe all one reads in the solicit anyone to proceed as a papers? It has been said so many passenger in any vessel or ve- times. If the particular reporter hicle. desires to report In that manner (4) If the Minister is not aware of the that Is his business, and what I complaints that have been made, said is my business. will he arrange for an investiga- tion to be made so that Inspectors BEEF of the Harbour and Light Depart- ment can visit the area in ques- Commonwealth Aid Scheme: Grievance tion and furnish a report? MR H. D. EVANS (Warren) [5.02 p.m.l: I have a grievance which emanates from mr O'NE]I replied: the way in which the Western Australian (1) to (4) Firstly, the honourable beef producers have been disadvantaged member himself made me aware when compared with their counterparts of the fact that he intended to in the other States of Australia through ask a question relating to this the lack of effort and a Jack of apprecia- matter. I have to say that other tion of the difficulties of the producers than the notice given to me I am by the State Government. Not only is there unaware of any complaint, and I a lack of help by the State Government, am unaware of any fisticuffs. I but the lack of help has brought about a [ASSEMBLY.)I decrease in the aid which could have been Australian total of cows and calves has given, which aid was received from the been slaughtered in Western Australia. Commonwealth in the other States of Aus- The pro rata of Commonwealth aid is tralia. 4J per cent, or slightly under, so the pro- Mr Blalkie: Like South Australia. portionate allocation is not there. While the Minister will probably say It Mr H. D. EVANS: The Commonwealth is the fault of the Commonwealth, the aid has been in two separate parts. Firstly, treatment which has been accorded West- an amount of $20 million was made avail- ern Australia has come from the efforts of able at 11 per cent interest, and that the State Government Itself. The efforts money was available to beef producers who were hopelessly inadequate in the first were 85 per cent dependent on beef' for place, and that inadequacy has resulted in their Incomes. the action of the Commonwealth Govern- Secondly, and more recently announced, went, The fault comes back to the State a supplementary scheme involving $18.8 Government of Western Australia. million has been introduced to asist beef producers, and that money will be made Because of the paltriness and parsimony available at 4 Per cent interest. An addi- of the Western Australian Government the tional concession is that no interest will producers in Western Australia have been be Payable during the first 12 months of very seriously affected. The failure to the loan which, I understand, will be over recognise just how seriously they have a period of seven years. been affected was demonstrated in aLstate- The qualification for Participation in ment attributed to the Premier upon his the second scheme-and this is an essen- return from the southern region which tial Part of it-is that the Commonwealth differs markedly from that made by the Government would match funds which President of the Farmers' Union who, in were wade available to, beef Producers by a Press article published on the 8th April, the various State Governments. In Queens- pointed out that in the Margaret River, land, this amounted to $10 million; in New Manjimup, Denmark, and Albany regions South Wales3 $5 million; In Victoria, $2 beef producers had reached a crisis point. million: and in South Australia and Tas- This point apparently has not been recog- mania provision was made for up to $1 nised by the Government, as shown by million. the Press statement of the Premier and Mr Stephens: How was that money made inx the aid made available to those far- available? mers. Of course, the trouble is not just the Mr H. D. EVANS: They have not re- amount the farmers have not received ceived the $1 million Yet. We can proceed from the State Government, It is the with the fact that it is agreed Western amount they could have received from Australia provided a sum of $800 000 and, the Commonwealth Government at the obviously, the commonwealth has taken same time. The ineptitude of the present into account the amount which the State Government in its failure to meet the most has considered necessary to meet the crisis recent development in the problems of the situation which has occurred. A sum of beef industry is once again demonstrated. $800 000 in Western Australia has been and is deserving of the strongest censure. described by one political Commentator as no mare than a tokena gesture. The State contribution of $80000DD Is to be MR MePHABLIN (Mt. Marshall-Min- made available In loans of up to $2 500 at ister for Agriculture) (6.08 p.m.l: The 5 per cent. A sum of $2 500 does not cover honourable member's criticism of the the interest bill on a, Property of 450 amount of money made available by the acres. That is the extent of the assistance State Government to the beef producers given to beef producers by the Western who are in a situation where they have Australian State Government. reached the point of desperation, I think reflects a lack of complete fairness on It is not surprising, therefore, that his part. For many months the Federal Western Australia has been disadvantaged Government has said that it would allo- when the Commonwealth has taken into cate funds for distribution through various account the recognition of State efforts. channels. Mr Elalkie: It has taken the Common- Mr H. D. Evans: The other States did wealth a long time. not wait, as you did. Mr H. D. EVANS: I point out that the Mr ZvcPRARLIN:, The Commonwealth Western Australian herd comprises some- Government did make available a sum of thing in the order of 9 per cent of the $20 million through the Commonwealth Australian total. Development Bank at i1l per cent interest. Mr Blaikie: Leave out the bulls and stick Mr Blalkie:' That was as a result of the to the facts! Queensland elections, too. Mr H. D. EVANS: We have 1282 000 Mr McPHARLIN: of course, since then cattle in Western Australia, or in excess only about one-third, or a little more, of 9 per cent of the Australian total. Also, of that money has been used because of something In excess of 7 per cent of the the high interest rate. [Wednesday, 23 April, 19751 1059

This matter was taken up at the Agri- Mr H. D). Evans: There was nothing cultural Council level where the Minister quick about it because It was brought to did say that the Government planned a the attention of the Government last further allocation of finance. We put October. forward a case for the allocation of larger Mr MePHARLIN: We believe there will suing of money, and we were talking in be no unnecessary delay for those people terms of about $100 million. We sug- who channel their applications through gested that it be made available through the committee for loans at 5 per cent. the rural reconstruction boards or au- thorities in each State. In the case of the second scheme, the Federal Government is talking about a The Commonwealth Minister said he maximum term of seven years. After the would give the matter consideration and first 12 months the scheme is to be re- put forward to the Federal Cabinet what viewed. he considered to be a fair proposition. Tihe matter was deferred, so much so that the I believe the criticism is unfair because States of Queensland, New South Wales, the Government made money available and Victoria decided they could wait no quickly and without any undue delay in longer. It was because of the procrastina- responding to the situation which exists tion on the part of the Federal Govern- in the beef Industry, and that money will ment that these States decided they would help those who are in need of it. do something and Queensland came in Mr H. D. Evans: Too little, too late. with assistance of $10 million at 21 per cent for the first 12 months, with a re- vision after that period. There was no assurance that the money would be avail- POLICE AND CENSORSHIP able at that rate of interest for the whole Increase in Crimtes: Grievance term of the loan. New South Wales came forward with MR GREWAR (Roe) [5.13 p.m.]: I have $5 million and we in this State decided a grievance which is also the grievance of we, too, could wait no longer. We called a large section of the law abiding citizens a meeting of all concerned-the Pastors- within the community. One has only to lists and Graziers Association, the Farm- read the public opinion columns in the ers' Union, stock firms, associated banks, newspapers in the Past few weeks to gauge the R. & I. Bank, the Treasury, the De- Public feelings on the subject of the decay partment of Agriculture-and they gave of moral standards and discipline within us an assessment of the situation. As our society. a result of that meeting we appointed a The pack rape by nine bikies in a Perth committee to work on the problem. 'The suburb some months ago shocked most committee made recommendations that self-respecting people. This despicable act the amount of money referred to should followed a spate of crimes of this nature be made available as quickly as possible committed during the past decade. There to those people who were making appli- has also been a dramatic increase in the cations, and who were in desperate need number of crimes involving violence, of some form of assistance necessary to especially by gangs, and inflicted against tide them over the Immediate situation. women and others incapable of protect- ing themselves. Cases submitted will be analysed by the committee, which is already working. The Any crime involving the deprivation of committee first met last Friday. Applica- one's freedom is abhorrent and must rank tions will be directed to the committee f or as the foulest act that man can commit analysis and assistance will be given to against man. It illustrates the level of those who are in need of this sort of depravity and degenerateness to which finance. some members of the community have sunk. No punishment is good enough for Since then the Federal Government has these criminals. It is my hope that no allocated an amount on a dollar-for-dollar compassion or mercy will be given to those basis equal to that allocated by the sentenced until their debt has been fully States. The method of this allocation Is paid and their that the Commonwealth envisaged it repentance is complete. being directed through the rural recon- In the meantime, society has a respon- struction authorities. In answer to a ques- sibility to compensate the victims. Nothing tion today it was said that the system will should be spared to ensure that those in- have to be worked out when the Ministers nocently involved are justly compensated meet in Melbourne next week. So we dn for the failure of society to protect them. not know the present arrangement under which the fund will be administered but, The rise in the crime rate in the last as I said, I understand It will be through 20 Years or so indicates that we, as parents, the rural reconstruction authorities . have gone wrong somewhere in the rearing of our children. Have we given too much The State made a quick decision for freedom and too many choices to those immediate relief without any red tape individuals who cannot cope with them attached to it. adequately? Should we now be looking at 1060 1080[ASSEMBLY.] more rigid disciplinary measures for those society has become sick when it "pushes" deviants who are unable to adjust to un- films and literature which are in bad taste limited freedom? It is my belief that we before consolidating values of worth. should. While on this subject, I suggest that E'very citizen has a responsibility to the rules of censorship be extended to the society, authority, and his fellow man. If printing of slogans on 'T-shirts. Many of the individual cannot learn this lesson by these display the most Perverted and crude normal restraints, more severe forms of forms of expression one is likely to see discipline should be applied in the schools anywhere. The evil of this type of porno- and by society. I will be decried for sug- graphy is that everyone is exposed to it. gesting a return to corporal punishment At least one has the choice of going or but the only discipline some people un- not going to a blue movie, and reading or derstand is physical punishment. not reading a smutty book; but in the It is almost with guilt feelings that the case of printed 'I-shirts the freedom of law Passes sentence on offenders. We must choice is not available-we are all forced get our Perspectives right and become to see them. better orientated to Place law and order My concern is not for the well-adjusted above the freedom of some individuals. people in our society but for those who The Physical crime of brutality should cannot readily sort out socially acceptable surely be matched with equal treatment. values. We tend to focus too much atten- I suggest that consideration be given by tion on the right of the individual, to the society to the person offended. After all, detriment of society as a whole. While we the innocent Party is the loser, whether he must recognise the right of the individual is the victim of violence, a criminal assault, and his freedom, we must not give those or any other crime. The criminal,' on aspects priority over the traditional values Completing his sentence, has paid his debt of society. to society, but not to the victim of his act. it is my suggestion that where possible, PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION and after release, the convicted person should Pay the victim for his mnisdemne- Election Promises: Grievance aflour, in cash or in kind. The sentence MR B. T. BURKE (Balga) [5.20 p.m.]: should Match the crime and also the My grievance involves the very poor per- damages caused by the criminal. formance of the State Government in the The type of Punishment meted out by field of pre-school education, and it also the law courts today is causing people involves a. warning to the Parliament and to question the values of justice and fair- the people of the approaching crisis in this ness in our society. area. While on the subject of sociology, I There are 16 000 children attending Would like to make the plea that higher some 350 pre-school centres in this State. -standards of censorship be imposed on Prior to the last election the Government society, especially as regards films and promised, with regard to pre-school edu- literature dealing with crimes of violence cation, that it would encourage kinder- or human per-version. I make this plea garten attendance on a noncompulsory principally on the ground that the only basis for all children. With regard to prim- standards many Young People have to ary schools, the then Leader of the guide them today are those which arc Opposition promised his Government available through the media. It could would lower the admission age to the year easily be construed by the Young and gul- in which a child turns five. Let us look at lible mind that what occurs in filmns, on what has happened to both of those television, or in printed material is nor- promises, before we move on to the im- mal and acceptable social behaviour. Pending crisis in pre-school education. It would be fair to say that the great After 13 months in Government, the majority of our young people are capable man who made those promises has been of assessing what is socially acceptable able to achieve only one thing; that is, behaviour and what is not. It could be the operation of two pre-primnary centres. considered a form of injustice to be Not only has he failed to deliver the goods; stricter with censorship gradings but I but he has also created a. very inequitable feel the best interests of society would be and unfair situation which will become served by not exposing the general public more inequitable and unfair in the near to perverted or "kinky" films or to films future. in which are featured crimes of violence beyond what could be classed as socially Let me illustrate the situation by refer- acceptable. ence to my electorate of Balga. The parents of children attending a kinder- It Is far from my belief that we should garten within the Balga electorate are ever again become as narrow-minded or paying $3 a week. The parents of children puritanical as the Victorians. There is a attending a pre-primary centre Just half midway position where the emphasis is on a mile away are paying absolutely nothing. the quality of the material and subject, The children attending each of those rather than on unnatural behaviour. Our facilities come from families of a very [Wednesday, 23 April, 1975] 1061 similar nature. The Government has con- of children who are being educated at that sistently refused to acknowledge that its age. It must also be remembered that the policy, at the time it was announced and Pre-School Education Hoard fulfils a vital at the present time, is unworkable. function in that it allows parental Influ- Mr Clarko: Is it not a good thing that ence at the higher decision-making levels. pre-school education should be free to If this function is to be taken over by the some, rather than- Education Department, can we expect the '70 years of experience now incorporated Mr B. T. BURKE: It is certainly not a In the Ne-School Education Board to be good thing to make promises which one usefully employed? Can we expect that cannot keep. The Government said child- parents will be promoted to the decision- ren would enter school a year earlier than making ranks as far as the education of the age at which they entered school at their pre-school children is concerned? the time the promises were made. That has not happened. What has happened Is Let us see this matter in perspective. that the children of families living close The Minister has constantly denied that to each other are being treated dispro- he Intends to take over the functions of portionately. Some are being allowed to the Pre-School Education Board, yet this attend kindergarten at a cost to their morning he was willing to tell a member families of $3 or $4 a week; others are of the board that as far as he was con- going to pre-primnary centres at no cost. cerned that body was written off and fees Mr Clarke: That is precisely why we could rise, and as far as his principal offi- cers are concerned the Pre-School Edu- started It. cation Hoard is a tin-pot show. The Gov- Mr B. T. BURKE: The impending crisis ernment cannot fulfil its promises. If it is due to the inaction of a very inept Min- continues at this rate, it will take 150 ister who told a member of the Ne-School years to do so. Education Board that as far as he was concerned the board could be written off. Let the Government say it Intends to He told the same Pre-School Education take over the pre-school centres which are Board member that as far as he was con- now run by the Pme-School Education cerned the fees for kindergartens would Board in order that it may fulfil its rise. There is no doubt that at the meet- promises. There comes a time in the life ing of the council delegates of the Pre- of every Government when it must either School Education Hoard next Monday put up or shut up. That time is not when night the Government will be called upon it is making a policy speech, and we are to state its position unequivocally. If the now tasting the bitter fruit of that policy Government intends to take over the acti- speech. vities of the Pre-School Education Board, let it say so. If it is unable to keep the ROAD TRAFFIC AUTHORITY promises it made in its Policy speech with- out taking over these pre-school centres, Absorption of Shire Tragfic Ins pectors: let it say so. We will then have a fight Grievance as to whether the Government's action is MR OLD (Katanning) [5.27 p.m.]: I correct or desirable. Hut please do not let am reluctant to raise this matter now. the Government double-deal all the time. Mr B. T. Burke: No reply? In 13 months the Government has been able to provide two pre-primary centres. Mr Grayden: I would welcome the op- Working on that basis, It will take about portunity. 150 years to replace the 350 pre-school The SPEAKER: Order! The member centres which are at present taking In children. for Katanning. I will allude to some of the statements Mr OL;D: I feel that I would be remiss which have been attributed to the officer in my duty to my electors if I did not of the Education Department who is res- refer to the newly-formed Road Traffic ponsible to the Minister for this area of Authority which is causing some concern education. The officer Is constantly telling to shires in my electorate. Indeed, it is members of the Pre-School Education also causing great concern to shire traffic Board that theirs Is a tin-pot show. Is he inspectors, who could justly be described reflecting the attitude of the Governent? as the meat in the sandwich. If so. does the Government not have the It appears to me that the spirit of the gumption to stand up and say the Pre- legislation is not being observed by the School Education Board is a tin-pot show traffic authority, and I feel the Minister and will be taken over? should make an investigation and issue While I am speaking about the taking a statement for the benefit of members over of the Nre-School Education Board, in this House. I hasten to assure the let me sound a warning to the Govern- House that I am convinced the Minister ment. Embodied in the actions and per- is as concerned as I am that the spirit sonnel of the Ne-School Education Board of the legislation is not being Interpreted are some 70 Years of experience In devel- correctly by the newly-formed authority. oping flexibility to meet the special needs and the longer this situation is allowed [ASSEMBLY.]

to continue the harder it will be to bring new authority. Could not a system of act- the legislation back into its proper per- ing rank be implemented within the auth- spective. ority which would not necessarily have any effect on the establishment of the Police It was expected that by this time some Force? It is well known that during the part or parts of the State would have war acting rank was conferred upon mem- been taken over by the Road Traffic Auth- bers of the services and it in no way im- ority and that we would have had a paired the opportunities for promotion of chance to assess the efficiency of the those People serving in the permanent authority and the way it was running. arms of the services. I cannot see why However, due to the breakdown in rela- that could not be done in this case. tions between the Government and the authority this state of affairs has not I find it hard to believe that the Road been reached. I would like the matter to ITaffic Authority has made a genuine ef- be expedited. fort to solve the Problem. I know meet- ings have been held between the interested Meanwhile, some local authorities are parties, but It seems to me that the only becoming embarrassed financially by the people prepared to concede anything are burden placed upon them through the the traffic inspectors. They have offered necessity to keep up Patrol work. The to allow their years of service to be cal- old concept of shires filling the coffers with culated on a pro rata basis for entry into fines and thus subsiding their revenue the authority. In a submission from the certainly does not prevail in my electorate, Institute of Highway Patrolmen a sugges- and I can assure members that a number tion was made that as after five year of of shires can Ill afford to subsidise the satisfactory service in the Police Force an Road Traffic Authority today. The point officer can expect to attain the rank of I make here is that road patrol officers are first-class constable, a traffic inspector currently operating within town bound- with 10 years of continuous service should be accorded the same rank. I understand aries and issuing infringement notices,' and to the best of my knowledge the rev- that a member of the Police Force can enue from such infringement notices is expect to attain the rank of senior con- stable after nine to 11 years of service, going Into Consolidated Revenue. and it is suggested that traffic inspectors My understanding of the matter in the should achieve this rank after 15 years of first place was that no traffic patrol officer service. It is reasonable to assume that a would operate in a townsite area unless policeman can attain the rank of third- he first obtained the approval of the shire class sergeant after 13 to 15 years of ser- or the traffic inspector for that district. vice, and it is suggested that traffic in- spectors should attain the same rank after The matter which seems to be holding 20 years of service. up the Implementation of the traffic auth- ority is the conditions of employment of I do not think the traffic inspectors are traffic inspectors. I feel this is something asking too much. It is Inconceivable that which should and could be resolved quickly these men should be required to enter the to the mutual benefit of all parties. I do new authority as first-year constables, re- not believe the traffic inspectors are ask- gardless of their experience and service. ing for any concessions to which they are This is a situation which will be faced not justly entitled. They seek equity in the only once in the life of the authority, be- new force with officers of the Police cause once the traffc Inspectors are ad- Force transferring into the authority, and mitted to the authority they will become I do not think anyone should deny that to part of It and any future recruitment will them, be purely a normal police-type operation. A good number of traffic inspectors Some of the men concerned are probably are not entitled to any prefer- amongst the most experienced traffic op- ential treatment as they are reasonably erators in the State. In fact, many junior new in the field of traffic Inspection. How- policemen have been the recipients of their ever, there are some-and these are few advice and help whilst on duty at country in number-for whom I am concerned. I police stations or on country traffic pat- am not surprised that the Police Union rols. Surely such experience should not go is keen to protect the conditions of its unrecognised. members, for when all is said and done During the debate on the Road 'Taffic that is the objective of a union. There- Bill on several occasions the Minister for lore I do not attach one iota, of blame to Traffic gave an assurance to the House the union for that. However, I do feel the regarding the employment of shire traffic union is unnecessarily obstructing the ef- inspectors. Such assurances may be found forts of traffic inspectors to obtain justice in Hansard of the 30th October and the in the new authority. 12th November, 1974. On the 30th October, Surely there is no need to create a situ- in reply to a query I raised, the Minister ation in which policemen transferring to said- the Road Traffic Authority are disadvan- The member for Katanning asked taged as far as promotion is concerned by for some details in connection with the fact that we are able to give a hand- the conditions of employment of in- ful of traffic inspectors rank within the spectors, and I think I have covered [Wednesday, 23 April, 1975] 1063

that point. I give an assurance that wonder whether it is proper for the Min- we do not intend adversely to affect ister to attach his own name to my source anyone, but to take them all if pos- of information. sible. If some are over-age or are in The SPEAKER: The Minister may make similar category problems will be created, but we will certainly study the an explanation. situation to see what can be done. Grievances Resumed The SPEAKER: The member has three Mr ORAYDEN: It highlights the diffl- minutes. culty the Minister experiences in dealing with the ftc-School Education Board and Mr OLD: Those remarks of the Min- its members when personal conversations ister were reassuring to members, and I are leaked in this manner. am certain they were made in all sincer- ity. I am convinced of this by statements Mr B. T. Burke: The truth came out. the Minister made during visits to shires Mr GRAYDEN: It is a disgraceful state in my electorate when he indicated that of affairs that a Minister cannot deal with he is as keen as I am to see these men a board of this kind without information fairly treated. being channeled to People like the mem- I do not intend to labour the point, so ber for Balga. I do not know where he I shall conclude with an appeal to the got the information. Why does he not let Minister to hasten a decision on this mat- me know by way of interjection? ter in view of the fact that within the Mr B. T. Burke: The Minister Is afraid next five weeks I understand some mem- to say anything in public. bers of near-metropolitan traffic author- ities will be taken over by the new auth- Mr GRAYDEN: The member should own ority. Naturally those concerned are very up to the House and state where he got apprehensive regarding the conditions the information, because his remarks were under which they will be employed. There- based on a personal conversation. However. fore, I ask the Minister to give the matter he expects those on this side of the House his urgent attention. to answer the sort of rubbish he speaks. I again ask the member for Balga to disclose the source of his information. PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION Mr B. 'T. Burke: You have not denied Election Promises: Grievance that the Minister made the statement. MR GRAYDEN (South Perth-Minister Mr O'Neil: You would not have said it for Labour and Industry) [5.35 P.m.]: A if the Minister for Education were in this little earlier the member for Halga made Chamber and able to reply. some comments in respect of the Pre- School Education Hoard. I did not rise Mr GRAYDEN: The Minister for Educa- immediately he resumed his seat because tion will have the opportunity to read I expected another member to rise. Quite the remarks of the member for Balga and apart from that, I was also hesitant to rise will be able to sheet home the blame to the because most of his comments amounted responsible person. I again emphasise that to nothing more than cheap abuse of the this situation highlights the difficulty with Minister for Education. which the Minister is faced. The point I want to make is this: The The SPEAKER: Grievances noted. member for Balga referred to Mr Gregg, an officer of the board; and most of the matters raised by the member apparently BILLS (2): RECEIPT AND FIRST arose from a personal conversation between READING Mr Gregg and the Minister for Education. I am not aware of precisely what was 1. Public Trustee Act Amendment Bill. said, but no doubt the Minister for Edu- Bill received from the Council; and, cation at a later date will take the op- on motion by Mr O'Neil (Minister portunity to read the remarks of the mem- for Works), read a first time. ber for Balga and will adequately reply to 2. Health Act Amendment Bill. them. Bill received from the Council; and, However, I want to make the point that on motion by Mr Ridge (Minister the remarks of the member for Balga for Lands), read a first time. highlight the difficu~ties the Minister for Education experiences in dealing with the Nre-School Education Board, or members BILLS (3): INTRODUCTION AND of the Board. FIRST READING 1. Companies Act (Interstate Corporate Point of Order Affairs Commission) Amendment Mr B. T. BURKE: I rise on a point of Hill. order. Mr Speaker. I made no reference to Bill introduced, on motion by Mr receiving information from any person O'Neil (Minister for Works), and named by myself during my speech. I read a first time. 1064 [ASSEMBLY.]

2. Acts Amendment (State Energy Com- MR GRAYDEN (South Perth-Minister mission) Bill. for Labour and Industry) [5.48 p~m.J: I Bill introduced, on motion by Mr Cannot accept the statement that there Mensaros (Minister for Fluel and has been a long delay on this question. Energy), and read a first time. The Minister has had it under considera- tion lot a long time for good reason. I 3. Small Claims Tribunals Act Amend- have not had the opportunity to draw ment Bill. the attention of the Minister for Education Bill introduced, on motion by Mr to the remarks made by the member for Grayden (Minister for Consumer Kalgoorlie, but I will certainly give him Affairs), and read a first time. the assurance that I will. Question put and passed. BILLS (6): THIRD READING Bill read a third time and transmitted 1. Factories and Shops Act Amendment to the Council. Bill. 2. Hairdressers Registration Act Amend- BILLS (2): THIRD READING ment Bill. 1. Registration of Births, Deaths, and Bills read a third time, on motions Marriages Act Amendment Bill. by Mr Grayden (Minister for 2. Registration of identity of Persons Labour and Industry), and trans- Bill. mitted to the Council. Bills read a third time, on motions 3. Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insur- by Mr Stephens (Chief Secretary), ance) Act Amendment Bili, and transmitted to the Council. Bill read a third time, on motion by Mr Rushton (Minister for Local NATIONAL SONG AND NATIONAL Government) and transmitted to the ANTHEM Council. Use at Functions: Motion 4. Envirornental Protection Act Amend- ment Bill. MR JAMIESON (Welshpool-Deputy Leader of the opposition) [5.50 p.m.]: I Bill read a third time, on motion by move- Mr Stephens (minister for Conser- In the opinion of this House, in the vation and Environment), and State of Western Australia, the play- transmitted to the Council. ing of the National song "Advance 5. Anzac Day Act Amendment Bill. Australia Fair" should supersede the playing of "God Save the Queen" at 6. Reserve (Kwinana Freeway) Bill. all functions, the only exceptions to Bills read a third time, on motions be where the Queen, her representa- by Mr O'Neil (Minister for Works), tive, or a member of the royal family and transmitted to the Council. is the official guest, when the anthem "God Save the Queen" will have pre- EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL cedence. In moving this motion I do so without Third Reading any disrespect f or any monarch, head of State or for any other persons who may MR GRAYDEN (South Perth-Minister consider such a matter to be repugnant for Labour and Industry) [5.46 p.m.]: I when brought before them. move- I believe we have to come to grips with That the Bill be now read a third this situation before long, otherwise we time. will cause contusion among the people of this State, which is quite unnecessary. MR T. D. EVANS (Kalgoorlie [5.47 Indeed, I would have preferred to have p.m.]: I would like an assurance from the debate on this motion a little the Minister, representing his colleague, earlier so that we could have made a de- the Minister for Education in another termination prior to the forthcoming place, that he drew that Minister's atten- Anzac Day activities as many bands tion to my remarks yesterday evening and members of organisations will be when I used this Bill as a vehicle to criti- assembled to play or to hear various cise the Government for its long delay hymns, national anthems, and so on in coming to grips with the problem of during the respective Anzac Day services. allowances -now cum-scholarships -for I feel that the members of those organisa- the training of teachers at the various tions would lie to have some guidance training institutions. Will the Minister as to exactly where we are heading in advise whether he has, In fact, drawn the regard to this matter. attention of the Minister for Education to On a number of occasions the Premier my comments so that we may, perhaps has said that he will not have a bar of wishfully, and at least hopefully, obtain "Advance Australia Fair" being played as some favourable decision? our national song or anthem-whatever [Wednesday. 23 April, 1975] 1006

we may call it-and prefers that we con- presence of the Queen when she is visi- tinue to recognise "God Save the Queen" ting that country. On all other occasions as our national anthem. That may be his "0 Canada" is used as the national song, personal opinion, but I do not know from in the two languages that are spoken in where he gets it or what deep-rooted asso- that country-depending on the area in ciation he has with the anthem of "God which the national song is played-that Save the Queen" as against an anthem or is, in English and in French. a song associated specifically with Aus- Mr Blaikie: That is Canada's national tralia. song? First and foremost, we are all, basically, classed as Australians. This has been so Mr JAMIESON: Yes, or anthem. Some for a long time: as a matter of fact, since countries refer to It as an anthem, and about 1901 when the Constitution of some refer to it as a song. The difference Australia, by action of the Whitehall Par- is that an anthem has an ode recognis- liament determined that we were a sep- Ing the god of the country in question. arate entity. Since then we have moved In some countries, because of religious along on our own fairly well, subject, of problems, it would be natural for such an course, to our ethnic ties with the people ode to be avoided, because If such an of the United Kingdom with whom the anthem were played in one part of the majority of Australians are Still associated country it could be taken as an offence by as a result of their backgrounds. Many the people there, and if played in another migrants, of course, have existing associ- part it could be recognised that the ations, but other Australians have associ- anthem was used in deference to a god ations with the United Kingdom through more than the country concerned. parents, grandparents, great grand- It is Interesting to note that Cyprus parents, and some have associations even does not use "God Save the Queen". It further back than that. is one of the 32 nations in the British However, despite all this, once a country Commonwealth of Nations that uses the cuts its ties with its mother country and national anthem of Greece, no less, as is on its own to make its own Way in Its national anthem. I am not certain the world and to take action unilaterally whether Cyprus has its own words to that in the United Nations or In any other anthem, but it is the Greek national world council, surely it is entitled to have anthem that is recognised in that country. some degree of national spirit through Earlier I mentioned Fiji. This is one of the medium of a national song, national the few countries that does use "God anthem, or whatever one cares to call it. Save the Queen" as itq national anthem It is passing strange that of the 34 but in such circumstances that "God nations constituting the British Common- Save the Queen" is played first on State wealth of Nations, only two, occasions, followed immediately by "Bles- recently sing Grant 0 God of Nations on these granted independent status, have no isles of Fiji." Therefore Fiji has a joint national song; they are Granada in 1974 Save the Queen"' and the Bahamas in 1973. With the ex- national anthem-"God ception of those two Commonwealth and its own anthem. nations, the other 32 of longer standing Gambia has as its national anthem "The have all taken some action to adopt a Gambia": Ghana has "Ghana"; Guyana national song or anthem of their own. has "Guyana": India has "Jana-gana- There is an exception among that number mana.", but "Vande Mataram" has equal which I will deal with later in my status with that national anthem. India speech: that is Fiji. Because of the atti- cannot separate them. Jamaica has tudes adopted by these various countries "Jamaica": Kenya has "Kenya"; Lesotho I intend to indicate to the House the has "Lesotho"; Malawi has "0 God Bless national anthems or songs of the various Malawi"; Malaysia has "Negara Ku"; countries to show the nationalism that Malta has "Innu Malt!"; and Mauritius is inherent in the various national tunes has "Motherland". In Mauritius this that have been adopted by them. national anthem is played after "God Save the Queen" when the Queen or her spe- To our way of thinking no doubt, some cial representative-but not the Governor- of the titles will appear to be fairly corny. General-is Present, or when musical hon- The first of these titles reminds me of the ours accompany the Loyal Toast. attitude that we may adopt. Nevertheless the country in question feels that this Mr Blalkie: You are doing very well. is desirable, I suppose. Mr JAIaESON: Thank you. New Zea- The first country I mention Is Bangla- land uses "God Defend New Zealand" as desh. It has "My Bangal of Gold, I Love Its national song, but it does play "Gnd You." Barbados has a tune titled "Barba- Save the Queen" in the presence of mem- dos"; Botswana has "Fetshe Ia rana"; bers of royalty or the Governor-General. Canada has "God Save the Queen" and Otherwise, on all occasions, including "0 Canada" as its national song. Canada sporting events, "God Defend New Zea- uses "God Save the Queen" only In the land" is sung. 1066 1068[ASSEMBLY.)

In Nigeria the national anthem is judged best of these was written by Arthur "Nigeria"; in Sierra Leone it Is "Sierra H. Adams for his "Fling Out the Flag", and Leone"; in Singapore It is "Majulah Singa- he received E1OO for his efforts, but still Puna"; in Sri Lanka it is "Namo Namo the people of Australia would not accept it. Matha"; in Swaziland it Is "Swaziland"; and In Tanzania It is "Mungo, Ibariki The next reference to a national anthem Afrika". In Tonga the national anthem was on the 11th April, 1933, when J. T. is "Tonga"; in Trinidad and Tobago it is Lang. then the Leader of the opposition "Trinidad and Tobago"; in Uganda it is in New South Wales, rebuked the people "Uganda"; in Western Samoa it is "The of Lidcombe in that State for not respect- Flag of Freedom"; and in Zambia it Is ing "Advance Australia Fair" when it was "Zambia". Played at a function he attended. He I did mention Granada as being one evidently assumed that, having been the of the latest States which has joined the Premier of the State, be had a right to is some stipulate that "Advance Australia Fair" British Commonwealth. There should be the recognised Australian song doubt whether it uses "God Save the or anthem. It was composed about 1878 Queen", but my research has not brought by Peter Dodd McCormick under the pen to light the exact situation* there. name of "Amicus". He was a Scot and So far as is known in the Bahamas, this was probably the reason that for many which only recently became an individual years the Presbyterian Church received the State, "God Save the Queen" is used. royalties from the tune, but I will deal with that aspect later. A nation does not decide lightly to use a different tune, hymn, song, or anthem. As early as 1941 Malta had its own "Advance Australia Fair" was first sung national anthem and as recently as 1968 as a patriotic song at a St. Andrew's flay some of the other nations changed celebration in New South Wales in 1878. their anthems. As the nations have It will be recalled that during the war reached a state of independence, they have years the late Arthur Calwell endeavoured felt it desirable to have an anthem to call to popularise it by having it introduced their own. No doubt this has been because as a signature tune for the ABC news Pro- of a degree of national pride they have gramme and indeed this was the situation developed in their own community, but, for a considerable time until the Labor as I have said, the decision has not been Government left the Treasury bench in made lightly or without some definite Canberra and the Menzies Government assumed office. Then of course it was reason. changed. Many of the older members will I think it advisable to record the at- recall that Arthur Caiwell vowed that when tempts which have been made to estab- the Labor Government was returned to lish a suitable anthem or song in Aus- office "Advance Australia Fair" would be tralia. The earliest attempt was made in restored as the signature tune for the 1826 when John flanmore Long composed ABC news. However that has not come and published the "Australian Anthem to pass. It is interesting to note that con- and Australian Hymn", but It was not siderable debate ensued and concern was very well received. Then, "Advance Aus- expressed in the national Parliament of tralia" was described as the Australian that day as to the reason the tune was national anthem In 1946. This anthem Is no longer used. not to be confused with "Advance Aus- tralia Fair" which was a different one al- The Prime Minister of the day gave together. some rather weird answers to questions In 1961 Carl Linger tried with "The on the matter and indeed one of the Song of Australia". Then there was answers was that he felt that as the copy- formerly an anthem of Queensland. A right of the tune was held by the Presby- revised version was composed in 1880 and terian Church the playing of it on the sung to the tune of "God Save the Queen". ABC news programme could be construed By this I mean that different words were as indicating that the Government was sung to the same tune. assisting a religious body, thus contraven- ing the Constitution. That long bow was In 1903, 74 entries were received for a drawn, but it was certainly one of the national anthem competition, the first prize reasons given at the time by Robert Gordon being £2 2s. Apparently those offering the Menzies as to why the tune should not be money did not consider the competition adopted. worthy of a very high prize. It was shared between J. Alexander Allen for his "Battle The ABC continued to play the tune for Hymn" and a person known as "Gumtree" a time, as I mentioned, as the signature for a song "The C:ross and the Great White tune during the war years and for some Star". time afterwards. Indeed, as Minister for Although many people were trying hard, Information, Mr Calweli was successful in the overall opinion %%as against a national persuading picture theatres to introduce It anthem. In 1913 the Musical Association in 1943, but after a while most theatres of NSW offered £200 in prizes for the pro- decided to drop the tune and to use "God duction of a national anthem and the one Save the Queen'. [Wednesday, 23 April, 1975] 1067

In 1948 another competition was held Mr Blaikie: Could you put that to a tune and this time the ABC offered a prize of to give us a better feeling? £70 wvhich Marie E. J. Pitt won for her 'Ave Australia". That apparently was not Mr JAMIESON: If the Premier were popular because other than having seen a here with his trumpet he may be able to reference to it in official records, I cannot oblige, but for my music abilities I must recall having heard of it even though it score one of his zeros, which I will prob- was composed not long ago. ably score from him anyway for raising In 1951 the Commonwealth Jubilee com- this matter. Petition resulted in "This Land of Mine" If we are worried about offending by John Wheeler, but this met a similar the fate to that of "Ave Australia". Crown by adopting one as against the other, I think if we study the verbiage In 1956 when the Olympic Games were we would probably come down on the side being Planned for Australia, the powers of "Advance Australia Fair" because it that be realised the necessity to play the still is very loyal to our British back- national anthem of the nations which were ground: not that I worry much about the victorious in the events. The national wording because, as a rule with the anthem is played as the victor is decorated anthems, only the first verse Is used. As on the dais, Although a great deal of a matter of fact usually it is only the air thought was given to the matter nobody which is the status symbol, was able to make a decision. At the time it was suggested that "Advance Australia I have said quite a deal about "Advance Fair" or "Waltzing Australia Fair" and I think it is fitting Matilda" should be that used. The subject was even raised in we should examine the background of Federal Parliament where an alteration "God Save the Queen" and the tune asso- was again vetoed by the then Prime Min- ciated with It. Its origin seems to be ister Menzies, and further action was not obscure, although in the John Bull manu- taken. script of 1619 there was a song which could be likened to it. It had been altered a So, from a reference to the annals of history in Australia it great deal since that time. The fact re- will be realised that mains that there is an indication that although many endeavours have been made to produce something with unique even before that date a similar tune had Popular appeal, no-one has yet been suc- been sung. cessful. The more popular choice has been Sitting suspended from 6.15 to 7.30 pi. "Advance Australia Far"' because of its Australian content. Mr JAMIESON: Prior to the suspension I do not know the reason behind the I was mentioning the fact that "God Save choice of those who want to retain "God the Queen" was originally a folk music Save the Queen" as against "Advance tune In Britain and gradually developed as Australia Fair". For Jingoism at its best a national anthem. The information avail- I suggest they refer to the second verse able on Its origin in the United Kingdom of both these songs. The second verse of is in doubt because at the same time the "God Save the Queen" reads- tune was developed on the continent and, Indeed, the French and the Germans had o Lord our God arise. a tune-folk music-which ran to the Scatter her enemies, same beat as "God Save the Queen". So And make them fall: nobody knows really where It originated, Confound their politics, In more modern times the American Frustrate their knavish tricks, people developed a tune, with a martial On Thee our hopes we fix: air, which runs to the same tempo. So. the God save us all. origin of the tune is very difficult to de- I think, though, that the Jingoism of the termine and it is one of those things which second verse of "Advance Australia Fair", has developed. I am only mentioning these would take the points to demonstrate that it is something prize. That verse reads- which grew like Topsy; it is not something When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd, which was specially written by a poet laur- To trace wide oceans o'er, eate and Put to music. It Is something True British courage bore him on which has been acquired over the years. Till he landed on our shore. I am no expert on music and I do not Then here he raised old England's know, as a musical score, how "Advance flag, Australia Fair" rates. I assume it is not The standard of the brave; very high, but at least it is original to Australia and It has come to the fore time With all her faults we love her still- and time again. Despite the fact that en- "Britannia rules the wave". deavours have been made to impose other tunes We could not get anything more jingoistic on the public of Australia none than that. has lasted for very long at all. Indeed, If It is Jingoism we want, that it is of Interest to note that the tune of out-jingoes anything in "God Save the "God Save the Queen" is used also by the Queen". Swiss as their national anthem. 1068 1068[ASSEMBLY.]

To confuse the issue by using a similar Mr Watt: That is where the biggest ab- tune for so many different national an- jection to the system occurred. "God Save thems does not help us very much. I sug- the Queen" was not included in the list. gest it is high time we adopted our own tune as other countries have done. Mr JAMIESON: Nor do I think it should have been; that is the point I am I point out the situation which exists making. Uf it had been included people at sporting events, such as the Empire for various reasons, may have chosen it Games. When a competitor from one of in preference to other tunes. However, it the other 34-odd countries wins an event certainly would not be something distinc- Mhe national tune or national anthem of tive to Australia; it would be part of the that country is played. However, when one heritage of some other country. I say of our athletes wins an event In which a again we are being presumptuous when member of the United Kingdom competes. we say we will impose the United King- we play the United Kingdom national an- dam natianal anthem on the people of them. That seems unreal. our country. Australia is independent of I do not know that we should be so pre- Great Britain, and votes independently of sumptuous at this stage of our history to that country in matters of foreign Policy, say that we should retain "God Save the and on all other matters. However, we Queen" as our national anthem because I still symbolise a tune associated with do not think we are entitled to do that. Great Britain. The United Kingdom is not likely ever to Mr Sodernan: What if the majority of say that we shall not use it, because of our background and association with that the population want to retain it? country. However, without being disres- Mr JAMIESON: I do not think they pectful, I point out that 34 other nations would, if the case were put to them in have seen fit to choose something which a rational way. syinboilses their own countries, The least that can be said is that "Advance Austra- Mrs Craig: Why not place "God Save lia Fair" does symbolise Australia. the Queen" on the list? I hope good sense will prevail in regard Mr JAMIESON: I suggest that in the to this. Whether we adopt "Advance Aus- case of the 34-odd countries I mentioned tralia Fair", or whether something better earlier, if the people had been asked comes along, we should be looking for gen- whether they wanted to retain "God Save eral agreement so that we will know ex- the Queen" they probably would have actly when the national anthem of the said they did. However, that does not United Kingdom should be played and justify the retention of the tune because, when, the accredited national anthem of the people of those countries were part of Australia should be played. the colonisation of the world and when If we are to Play around with this mat- they broke away as separate entities they ter on the basis of who is in control of the retained the anthem of their mother Treasury bench in Canberra it will only country until their own was developed. lead to further confusion. The situation Canada and New Zealand have got away will be stupid. I do not think the present from it, and those countries are occupied Prime Minister of Australia has rushed by the same sorts of people as we have in into this matter- In the first place, he in- Australia. They are not disloyal or dis- dicated his Position very clearly. On the respectful to the Crown, which seems to '7th November, 1973, while answering a be the impression of Government mem- question in the House of Representatives, bers. it seems that if a proposition such as the Prime Minister said- this is accepted we are moving away During the election campaign last from loyalty to the Crown. November I undertook that if my Party were elected to government a When the present Australian Govern- quest would be held for a distinctly ment. did get around to doing something Australian national anthem. A state- about its election Promise it looked at the ment was made by me to the same ef- possibility of a national anthem contest, fect for Australia Day, 26 January. but it was advised against that Course for There had been no subsequent demur the very reason I mentioned earlier. That until some synthetic indignation was method had been tried many times and it stirred up In the last week or so. In had failed. A number of anthems were the meantime arrangements have been suggested but nobody wanted them because made for the Statistician next Feb- rlhey had not grown up with the country ruary to hold a larger poll than has as. evidently, "Advance Australia Fair", ever been held on any subject-60,000 did. people will participate-on whether 'Advance Australia Fair', -Waltzing The Bureau of Census and Statistics Matilda'. or 'Song of Australia' should conducted a poll and experts Interviewed be that anthem. When the Queen Is members of the public. The result was visiting Australia 'God Save the Queen' that "Advance Australia Fair" received will be played. All this has been made 51.4 per cent of the vote; "Waltzing Mat- plain for the last 12 months. ilda", 19.6 per cent of the vote; and "Song [Wednesday, 23 April, 19751 161069

of Australia", 13.6 per cent of the vote. any other tune should be adopted at this The result of the poll was announced by Juncture or why "Advance Australia Fair" Mr Whitlam on the 7th November, 1973. should not be adopted. The matter reached the stage where one As a matter of fact, "Advance Australia would have thought a decision could be Fair" has been adopted, although it is made and we could accept "Advance Aus- clearly meeting with problems. The Prime tralia Fair' and try it out as the national Minister recently announced in The Bul- anthem of the Australian People. But letin that the bands of all the armed party politics came into it and Premiers services must play the accepted Australian in the various States, including our own anthem on Anzae Day-the one adopted by Premier, began objecting to it. Perhaps the Government of the day, which is the lyrics of "God Save the Queen" rate "Advance Australia Fair" and not "God higher than those of "Advance Australia Save the Queen". Many of the returned Fair"; but I read out the second verses servicemen's organisations are taking the of both songs and I am sure it will be attitude that this is a form of disloyalty. agreed that the lyrics in the second verse I quickly deny that and suggest It is one of "Advance Australia Fair" were more of those cases where there is always op- appropriate to the United Kingdom than Position when It is sought to change an the lyrics in the second verse of "God Save established habit, whether it be genuine the Queen". One does not know where Opposition or merely related to the fact the opposition to the change is comning that People do not understand the reason from unless it is a matter of party politics. for the change. Another feature is that organisatlons can It will not help the people of this State be placed in an awkward situation. Re- or any other State to adopt out of cussed- presentatives of both the State and Federal ness, because the Labor Government is Parliaments attended the San Nicola ball in office in Canberra at the present time, the other night, and the organisers were the attitude that "God Save the Queen" confused about what was to be played as must be retained as the national anthem. the national anthem. In view of the fact Obviously the Prime Minister had the sanc- that the Prime Minister was present, they tion of the people for doing what he in- were advised that "Advance Australia Fair" dicated he would do about the matter. should be played, and I understand it was Had I been in his position, I would not played. The point is that if the matter is have included, "God Save the Queen" be- not sorted out soon we will have the stupid cause I think it belongs to another country. and we might as well have retained it as situation that when a representative of the Federal Government visits a district "Ad- our anthem and put up with all the diffi- vance Australia Fair" will be played, and culties that would- be involved as a result. when a representative of the State Govern- ment visits aLdistrict "God Save the Queen" I mentioned all the countries which have will be played. adopted the same tune. If a Swiss or a British person wins an event at the The local people should not be expected Olympic Games, the same tune is played. to have to keep up with the machinations I do not think we should adopt a diehard of party politics, which are not really im- attitude in relation to one Particular tune portant enough to be involved in this or another, and I am not in a Position to criticise it from a musical point of view. kind of argument. It Would be far better The tune is no longer under copyright. The to give "Advance Australia Fair" a trial Presbyterian Church's rights to it expired as the national anthem. in 1969 and it is now public property. I have moved the motion for those Perhaps we could use it until such time as reasons. I think it is clear to everybody we find a more suitable tune. In the future what it is all about. I will read it to the one might grow upon Australia. House again, and leave It at that- Our experience in this country has been In the opinion of this House, in the that in the past people have put forward State of Western Australia, the play- many different songs-amongst them "The ing of the National song "Advance Song of Australia"-ln response to comn- Australia Fair" should supersede the petitions, but none of them has clicked and playing of "God Save The Queen" at I daresay in these circumstances they never all functions, the only exceptions to will. The titles of the national anthems be where the Queen, her representa- of most other nations include the name of tive, or a member of the royal family the country. I think this is one feature is the official guest, when the anthem in favour of "Advance Australia Fair". It "God Save thle Queen" will have pre- indicates that this is a young country which cedence. is moving forward, and that is the impres- sion we want to convey abroad. I think the motion gives a clear indica- tion that there will be no disresuect. Whon I think I have said all I need to say the Governor or a member of the royal about the matter. I do not think we can family is present, "God Save the Queen" do any further research to find out why will be played, and when no representative 1070 1070ASSEMBLY.] of the Queen is present people will know people to give evidence, the place would it is correct to play "Advance Australia become a shambles; that is. similar to the Fair". floor of a slaughterhouse. I do not know how Parliament would be reduced to a Mr BERTRAM: I second the motion. shambles if we called very eminent people Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr here to give evidence. They would be asked O'Neil (Minister for Works). questions by members of the House, through you, Mr Speaker, and I am sure KWINANA FREEWAY EXTENSION you would not allow the place to degen- erate into a shambles. Summoning of Witnesses to the Bar of Indeed, my motion does not arise out of the House: Motion of the standing orders of the Australian MR A. R. TONKIN (Morley) [7.48 p.m.]: Labor Party, but under the provisions of I move- the Standing Orders of this Parliament. That the following be summoned to The people who drew up our Standing the Bar of this House on a date to be Orders obviously thought that at same time fixed to give evidence relating to the in the future the Parliament might want construction of a southern extension to know what the experts have to say on to the Kwinana Freeway and matters a particular subject. Apparently the Goy- erment does not want to know what the relating thereto: experts think, because I asked the ques- Dr Edward Maslen of 31 Roebuck tion of the Premier and he said that the Drive, Manning Place would be a shambles. So we are to Prof. Martyn Webb of 102 Circe stumble on, blindly making up our minds Circle, Dalkeith without valuable information, or perhaps Cr Paul flitter of 76 Brookton I should say that the Government, with its numbers, will Pass measures through the Highway, Kelmscott House irrespective of what the Opposition Prof. flesmond C. O'Connor of says. The time has come to wonder whether 118 Forrest Street, South there should be an Opposition at all. Perth Mr Nanovich: You would hardly think Mr Gordon Barrett-Hill of 8 so, the way it has been the last 12 months. Hindering Parade, Claremont Mr Lauchian Miller of 19 Larundel Mr A.' R. TONKIN: We will finish up with a one-party Government such as we Road, City Beach have seen in some countries of the world Dr Alison Baird of 9A View Street, -the Opposition is deported, shot, or put Peppermint Grove out of business-because we are not given Dr Brian W. Logan of 18 Alness the information, and no notice is taken of Street, Applecross our arguments in any case. Dr Byron Lamont of 12 Flamingo If we could hear expert opinion given Run, Burrendab at the bar of the House we could truly Mr L. A. Tilly of 195 The make up our minds. However, it seems Esplanade, Mt Pleasant that this Parliament will continue to be Mr George H. Playford of 184 a farce, because of the attitude of the Pre- Lockhart Street, Como. mier. We will not be permitted to enter our deliberations in a proper manner such This seems to be a radical departure as as occurs in the House of Commons, which far as this Parliament Is concerned. I do is supposed to be the mother of Parlia- not know why it should be radical to seek ments-although I think if she looked at the opinions of experts. I might add that this offspring, she would wish it had been I think the Minister for Transport made aborted. Certainly we are not following the comment that he thought some of the the best practices of the House of Com- people on the list were rather biased and mons which introduced a commnittee system that it was not a very balanced list. in 1882. Obviously the members of that Of course, I point out there is nothing Parliament wanted to know the opinions to stop the Government moving a similar of experts. resolution to bring to the bar of the House I want to know why the Government is people it thinks fit to give evidence. I afraid of our having this knowledge, floes did not In actual fact include civil servants the Government fear that if we have some in my list, and that is probably an omis- information we may be able to change the sion; I included only the names of people course of events? I believe Parliament is who bad indicated their willingness to come being treated with contempt- here, although of course, this Parliament can summon to the bar anyone at all. Mr Bertram: And the people. I believe it is the first time that such Mr A. R. TONKIN: -and as a conse- a motion has been moved in this House. quence the people are being treated with People have been brought to the bar of contempt. This is Supposed to be the place the House for contempt of parliamentary where the representatives of the people privilege, but not to give expert opinion. meet. I believe the people are not getting The Premier stated that by calling these their money's worth from this Parliament; [Wednesday, 23 April, 1975) 107107 they are not getting their money's worth the Minister for Labour and Industry, a because we do not have a proper committee Minister of the Crown, has suggested that system, and we cannot even bring witnesses I should come outside to sort things out. to the bar of' the House. We are denied flow, Mr Speaker- knowledge. Mr Rushton-, You called all our mem- I believe Parliament should take its bers lazy, and that Is offensive too. responsibilities seriously, It is claimed that Parliament is sovereign; agreements are Mr A. R,. TONKIN: -1 believe that the brought here, amendments to the metro- remarks are interfering with my duty, as politan region scheme are brought here, a member of Parliament, to speak as I but the whole thing is a Joke because we see fit. know the Government decides on agree- mnents and amendments before It lays Mr Grayden: Just keep off the cheap them on the Table of the House, and it abuse, that is all you have to do and we does not matter what we say from then will get along much better. on, we may as well go home, because the Mr A. R. TONKIN: We have the Mini- Government will use its numbers. We all ter for Labour and Industry threatening know that, so what are we doing here? physical violence, and I believe that is What am I doing here? a breach of parliamentary privilege. We now have a genuine one-party Mr Sodeman: You are misinterpreting State, and because of that, Parliament it; he asked you to come outside to dis- has been emasculated, and it has lost any semblance of what it should be. I believe cuss it. the Government is to blame for this be- Mr Jamieson: What shower did you cause, by using its numbers, it has refused come down in? to allow People to be brought to the bar of the H-ouse, and it has refused to estab- Mr A. R. TONKIN: This Is a matter of lish a genuine committee system. Of privilege. If members of the Opposition course I can understand the Government or members of the Government, for that back-benchers supporting their leaders in matter, are to be subjected to threats of this way, because they are lazy and they physical violence as we have heard here do not want a committee system to be tonight from the Minister for Labour and instituted. industry, we have reached a sorry state. This is not the first time that the Mini- Mr Nanovich: At least they have somne ster has threatened me personally. sense to know what they are talking about. Mr Orayden: I am not prepared to sit Mr A. R. TONKIN: Parliament here to listen to that type of abuse from has been you. treated with contempt. Mr Grayden: You are a, bloody ratbagl Mr A. R. TONKIN: Therefore, I would like to hear a determination from you, Points of Order Sir, on this matter of privilege which has suddenly arisen, because certainly, as I Mr H. D. EVANS: I rise on a point of indicated, this is a one-party State. The order. The member for Morley may not opposition is prevented from obtaining take exception to the fact that the Minis- information, and certainly it is a one- ter called him a ratbag, but I do, and I party State if members of Parliament and would like the remark withdrawn. Ministers of the Crown-people holding The SPEAKER: Which member said the highest office under the Crown-are this? going to resort to physical intimidation. This is the type of situation to be found Mr H. D. EVANS: The Minister for in the blackest of black Africa. Labour and Industry. The SPEAKER: I ask the Minister for Several members interjected. Labour and ]industry to withdraw the The SPEAKER: Order! term as it is offensive. Mr ORAYDEN: I withdraw the remark. Mr A. R. TONKIN: if that is so. I would like to hear your ruling on this The SPEAKER: The member for Mor- matter Mr Speaker. It is a matter of grave ley. concern. We find, going back through the Mr Grayden: He cannot get away from centuries, in various Parliaments this cheap abuse. He would not have the cour- question of the right of a member of age to come outside to do something about Parliament to speak as he sees fit-sub- it. ject, of course, to Standing Orders, and Mr Nanlovich: I could not agree with subject to your request, Sir-has been jeal- ously guarded. A very grave precedent has you more. been set in this Parliament; I never Mr A. R. TONKIN: I wish to address thought I should live to see the day when myself toD a question of privilege that has a minister of the Crown would act in arisen. Mr Speaker, you have heard that such a way. 1072 [ASSEM4BLY.)

The SPEAKER: I presume this is In the Mr A. R. TONKIN: We have no comn- form of a point of order? mittee system and we will not have one Mr A. B. TONKIN: That is right, Mr because members on the Government side Speaker. refuse to allow it. The Ministers are busy; they hold the reins of power, and they Speaker's Ruling are not interested in seeing to it that the The SPEAKER: I rule there has been Opposition can become an alternative no attempt to stop the member for Mor- Government by making available to it the ley from making his speech. At times in knowledge it should have. The back-ben- this House I have mentioned the fact to chers opposite are sitting pretty and are members of the Chamber that there have not interested in attempting to alter the been what appeared to be attempts to situation, because that would mean more really Prevent a member from making wvork for them. himself heard, and I have appealed to Mr Nanovich: How can we believe In a members to allow a member to make his proposal like the one you are putting for- speech. This is a place wherein a mem- ward? Your proposal is like a Pair of ber may be heard, and must be heard, no trousers without a backside. matter whether his views are agreed or disagreed with. Mr Jamieson: The performing horse is at it again. I do not like any threats; but this form of threat has been used over a long period. The SPEAKER: Order! The member for There is nothing to stop the member for Morley. Morley from rejecting it and ignoring the Mr A. R. TONKIN: I believe there is a matter completely. I rule that there has great difference between iniformation been no attempt to intimidate the member publicly given and that wvhich is secretly and to prevent him speaking in this given. It has been stated that it is quite Chamber. possible for members of this House to Debate Resumed speak to officers of the Main Roads De- Mr A. R. TONKIN: Thank you, Sir. As partment in respect of a matter that is I was saying, I believe it is not in the relevant to this motion; but very often interests of back-benchers on the Govern- information gleaned In that manner can- ment side to have a committee system. not be attributed to its source. It is not Mr Nanovich: It Is. We have one. possible to quote the Commissioner of Main Roads or any other officer if he does Mr A. R. TONKIN: If it is in the inter- not wish to be Quoted publicly. In any case, ests of the member for Toodyay, when will a comment made to myself by such an he move to have a system Instituted? officer may be wittingly or unwittingly So we have a situation in which mem- different-whether it Is wittingly or un- bers opposite are quite content to sit back wittingly so does not make any difference and not take their parliamentary obli- the comment may be different-not only gations seriously, because they will not marginally but significantly, from the agree to a committee system. We have a comment he made to the Minister. Government using an iron fist to prevent The great advantage of having informa- proper information being given to mem- tion publicly given at the bar of this bers of the Opposition. I believe in a House, as the motion seeks to achieve, is proper system of committees, because that the information would be given to Parliament would be more knowledgeable. all members. The information given to the Mr Clarke: Once again, why didn't your Minister would be the same as that given Government do something about it between to me. Therefore, it would stand up and 1971 and 1974? would be capable of cross-examination: Mr Bertram: We did Plenty. You cannot and it could be refuted, accepted, or modi- build the world in one day. fled. However, when information is given in a hole-in-the-corner fashion the Com- Mr Clarko: Why didn't you do it? missioner of Main Roads and other The SPEAKER: The member for Morley. bureaucrats can give advice to the Minister Mr A. R. TONKIN: We have no com- and then speak in confidence to a member mittee system in this Place and there will of the Opposition saying different things be no such system- and that is a most unsatisfactory state of Mr Clarko: There is a committee now. aff airs. We hear often about the power grab Mr A. R. TONKIN: -while the Govern- from Canberra. Uf this Parliament con- ment continues to operate as it is at tinues to be as inept as it is at the moment present. that grab will continue and we will not Mr Clarko: We already have the Public be able to do anything about it. The Accounts Committee. House of Representatives set up a Select Committee which deals with road safety. Mr A. R. TONKIN: Mr Speaker, do you That committee has produced a useful think I might be able to be heard? document. The members of the House of The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Representatives, in spite of having duties Morley. more onerous than those of members of (Wednesday. 23 April, 1975] 107307 this Rouse, have not been frightened to to ask the experts what is wrong with our work and to farm committees. As a result reasoning when we say the Narrows Bridge they have produced the very worth-while will not be able to cope with the excess document to which I referred earlier In traffic it will be required to take. this session. The people have a right to know the What is wrong with this Parliament truth, If we are wrong the people have a that we have not done something similar? right to hear the reasons why we are It has been claimed that this House Is wrong. They have a right to know whether much smaller than the House of Repre- further portions of the Swan River will sentatives, However, we have 51 members be reclaimed as a, consequence of the re- and the Senate has 60u members: so our clamation of the Canning River. It Is as House is numerically almost equal to the inevitable as night follows day that that Senate and I cannot see why a committee will occur. The Minister has come to this system which Is Possible In the Senate- place and told us that only two small por- and has revitalised that Chamber-is not tions of the Canning River are to be re- possible in this place. claimed. That sounds very nice, but in The document produced by the House five years' time the People will be told of Representatives Select Committee on that only a small portion of the Swan road safety was Ignored In the Main Roads River will be reclaimed. Department booklet dealing with the We have not received an assurance from Kwinana Freeway extension. That docu- the Minister in that respect. He made no ment contains findings which seem to attempt to assure the House and the pub- throw doubt on the whole freeway con- lic that what I have said about the future cept, so I cannot see why it should have reclamation are not valid of the Swan River Is untrue. been ignored. If the findings He has made no attempt to deny that they should have been challenged and re- reclamation of the Swan might be nec- futed in the booklet of the Main Roads essary to enable the Narrows Bridge to Department. be duplicated. That is why we would like to call before We want to ask these people why ring the bar of the House people who are ex- roads cannot be developed for Perth; we perts and whom we could question about want to ask them about the alternatives, the validity of some of the arguments put not just to the preferred route that has forward in the report of the Select Com- been looked at in such a narrow way, but mittee of the House of Representatives. to the whole question of a radial or near But that has not occurred. We do not radial freeway. know why that document has been ignored in the papers tabled by the Min- When we look at the Main, Roads De- ister for Urban Development and Town partment booklet, we find that the cost- Planning, We would like to know why benefit analysis does not include what will the report was ignored. Is it true that the happen if public transport is left as it Is conclusions drawn by the House of Repre- compared with what will happen if public sentatives Select Committee on road safety transport Is upgraded. So, the cost-bene- throw doubt on the extension of the fit analyses given to us by the Minister EwInana Freeway? Is it true that the for Transport and the Minister for Urban conclusions of that committee are invalid? Development and Town Planning are quit-% the rationale of this inadequate: however, we have not been We would like to hear told why these omissions have occurred. alleged invalidity. We want to be able to ask people whose We believe we have shown that the ability we respect to answer that kind of Narrows Bridge capacity will break down question. before the extensions to the Kwiflana Free- We want to know what Is going to hap- way are completed. We were told by the pen to the 6 000 vehicles which at present Minister for Transport that the bridge will get onto the freeway system via Bickley take 120 000 vehicles a day, but that cap- Street in South Perth. Will they filter onto acity has never been reached anywhere the freeway via Judd Street? If so, the else In the world in respect of a bridge Minister's figures are wrong, because they of that kind. So what is so special about have subtracted these 6 000 vehicles and the Narrows Bridge that it can take that assume they will travel along the Can~- number of vehicles in 24 hours when the ning Highway and across the Causeway Golden Gtate Bridge and the Oakland where now they travel along the Kwinana Bay Bridge in San Francisco cannot? The Freeway and across the Narrows Bridge. Minister has not answered that question. Will those vehicles filter through South He has not explained bow I am wrong In Perth, represented by the Minister for La- my calculations using the figures provided bour and Industry? One of the reasons for by his department to show that the Nar- this extension, we are told, is to ease con- rows Bridge capacity will break down be- gestion In South Perth. But what is to fore the extensions are completed. happen to those 6 000 vehicles? Will they percolate through South Perth to Judd I take my job seriously, and I believe Street? If they do, certainly this exten- other members, although not all, do the sion will not do for South Perth what the same. Therefore we should have the right Government claims It will do. 1074 2074ASSEMBLY.)

We want to hear the case against the This move is made pursuant to section 36 Of preferred route. We have seen and heard the Interpretation Act, which provides that the case in favour of the preferred route, where a regulation, rule, or a by-law has but not against it. We believe we should been brought into effect by being published have this right, in order to make up our In the Government Gazette, and hence minds. I mentioned earlier that, at the very taking legal effect from that day, if with- brief meeting held upstairs, officers from in six days of the Parliament next being the Main Roads Department spoke con- assembled the regulation concerned is temptuously of the Olivero system, which tabled within the Parliament, it is com- caters for a six-way interchange. To date, petent within 14 sitting days subsequent to the Main Roads Department has been un- the laying of the regulation on the Table able to develop a reasonable five-way in- of the House tar any member of the terchange, and it certainly does not behave Parliament to move In the manner I am that department to criticise a six-way in- moving now; namely, for the disallowance terchange in this way. We want to know of the regulation. whether such a system can work , and whether It is possible to introduce it. The disallowance can be effected by a motion being carried trough either House As has been said time and time again of Parliament. I emphasise, "through on this subject, this Parliament should either House"; the disallowance does not take Its responsibilities seriously and require the determination of both Houses should come to a decision based on know- of Parliament to be made, although it has ledge. Members should not Just make a few become the practice for separate motions bleating noises when the Government of disallowance to be moved in both brings in a Bill and then allow it to go H-ouses of Parliament. However, I point through merely because the Government out that this is not necessary. has the numbers in any case. In the ab- sence of a proper committee system, we Perhaps I could be excused for having should be able to call these experts to the been influenced by the previous speaker, bar of the House. If in fact what I have the member for Morley, when I mention said about Government supporters and briefly that if we did have a committee laziness is not true, I1should like to see it operating within this House similar to the demonstrated. I would be very happy to be Public Accounts Committee, but dealing proved wrong and to have my arguments with subordinate legislation tabled in the refuted in a proper, intelligent and rational House, the move I am making now would way. I do not know whether knuckles ever not necessarily have to be made by one proved a point, although it might give sat- member seeking to influence 50 other isfaction to some people. members. I would hope that if there are good and If there were a subordinate legislation cogent reasons that these People could not committee and if that committee had come be brought to the bar of the House, and to the conclusion that f or some reason a that we could not have a proper com- regulation was harsh or unconscionable or mittee system, these reasons will be shown for any other reason should be disallowed, to us, rather than for the House to be naturally, in the course of its duty, it would treated to a display of the Government report so to Parliament; I would think its using- its numbers in order to quash a determination would be far more persuas- proposal which Is provided for in our ive than any argument any single member Standing Orders and which would show of Parliament could put forward, particu- that we, the representatives of the people larly when we have regard for the fact in this place, take our responsibilities ser- that although regulations are made under iously. the auspices of Government, I am afraid 'The SPEAKER: Is there a seconder to in all cases they are in fact born in the bureaucracy and on many an occasion have the motion? slipped through the surveillance of Minis- Mr CARR: I second the motion, Mr ters to become effective as law and are said Speaker. to have Government support. Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr I repeat that this Instance Is not an Young. isolated one. I am not referring specific- ally to the regulation which is the subject EDUCATION ACT of my contribution; I am speaking gener- Disallowance of Regulation: Motion ally. However, I agree that as regulations MR T. D. EVANS (Kalgoorlie) appear to have the backing of Government, [8.14 and as the majority party or series of P.M.): I move- parties within the Parliament, sitting as a That subregulation 2, paragraph (b) coalition, constitute the Government, It of regulation 120 made under the Edu- would seem to be an uphill battle for any cation Act. 1928-1974, published In the member who is not a member of the Gov- Government Gazette on the 31st day of ernment party or parties to be able to January. 1975 and laid on the Table convince a majority of the House that a of the House on the 18th day of regulation needs attention or disallowance. March, 1975 be and is hereby dis- However, that is what I seek to do on this allowed. occasion. [Wednesday, 23 April, 1975] 1075

The subject of the subregulation I wish assume a student, Prior to the 31st De- to have disallowed relates to sick leave cember, 1974, spent three years in a teach- entitlement to which teachers from time ig institution, and took up a teaching to time have recourse, because of ill-health, career this Year, as a teacher. He would during their teaching career, as distinct already be accredited with three years' from the time spent in a training institu- sick leave entitlement because of the three tion. years he had spent as a student in a train - Prior to the 31st January, 1975, when ing institution. That leave would have subregulation 2, paragraph (b) of regula- been accredited to him. tion 120 made under the Education Act, Suppose at the end of this Year, having was promulgated, the regulation pro- completed another 12 months' service, that vided- student was plagued by a serious illness, In determining the sick leave for he would have a sick leave entitlement which a teacher Is eligible, his service of 40 days on full Pay Plus 20 days on as a monitor and as a student in a half Pay, because of his having spent three teachers' college counts as service on years in a teachers' college or similar the permanent staff. institution, Plus one year's service as a Another subregulation, being paragraph teacher. However, since paragraph (b) of (1) of regulation 120, has not been subregulation 2 of regulation 120 has been amended, but because of the proposed re-enacted, and has been effective as from amendment to subregulation 2(b) of regu- the 31st January, 1975, the situation has lation 120. it will prescribe different con- changed, because that subregulatlon now ditions for different teachers In the future, reads- depending on whether the teacher entered Where a teacher was appointed as a teachers' college before or after the 31st a monitor- December, 1974, and whether, in fact, that That condition is still a common denomin- teacher was a bonded student or an un- ator. Continuing- bonded student before or after that date. -or accepted as a student with allow- Regulation 120(1), which sets out the ances in a teachers' college- sick leave entitlement of teachers, pro- Note that it states, "a teachers' college". vides, from the date of permanent Continuing- appointment, five full days on full pay, in -prior to terms of working days to which a teacher the 31st day of December, 1974, he may count his service as a is entitled. When that entitlement Is ex- monitor hausted, if the need still exists, a teacher or as a student as service on a6 Permanent staff of a school in de- becomes eligible to two days on hall pay. termining I will not go through the whole series of the sick leave for which he sick leave entitlements, but I will refer to is eligible. the entitlement of a teacher after the SO it is quite clear that a student completion of three years' service on the who enters a teachers' college after the permanent teaching staff. For most pur- 31st December, 1974. will no longer be poses, in the argument I will present. enititled to count the three-year period- three years' service on the permanent in some cases a four-year period-he will staff is material, because most students spend in a teachers' college to give him now spend three years in a teaching Insti- future sick leave entitlement, tution. The subregulation dealing with At this stage I mention that this situa- sick leave entitlement reads as follows- tion Was brought to my notice by the On completion of each additional 12 General Secretary of the W.A. State months' service on the permanent School Teachers' Union. I Preface my staff, 10 full days.. further remarks by indicating that Mr Then, where the need exists, this is fol- Trevor Uloyd, who is the general secre- lowed by five half-days on full pay. tan', advised me that for the Past 20 years he has been associated with the So one does not need to have recourse Teachers' Union in an administrative to a slide rule to realise that after three capacity. It is only years' service on recently that he be- the permanent staff a caine the general secretary of the union. teacher who had not been sick for an ex- He has assured me that during the time tended Period, would have accrued 30 he has been associated with the Teachers' days on full pay, followed by 15 days on Union, and to the best of his knowledge, half pay. recollection, and research, he was unable Prior to the deletion and re-enactment to find any instance where the Teachers' of subregulation 2, paragraph (b) of regu- Union had made any approach of this lation 120 on the 31st January, 1975, a kind to any member of Parliament-poli- teacher who had spent three years in a tics aside-to seek the disallowance of any teachers' college, provided he had not, as regulation, a student, eroded that entitlement, was However on this occasion the Teachers' able to carry that entitlement with him Union views this subregulation and its into his teaching career on the permanent implications with such concern that it staff. So for the sake of argument, let us believes an approach should now be made 1079 176rASSEM33LY.]

to Parliament to have the subregulation such will no longer have any appli- disallowed and this is the reason I1am now cation to them, students could not making that approach. reasonably expect to accumulate sick I have a copy of a letter addressed to leave credits for use when they be- the Union dated the 24th February of this come teachers. year under the hand of the Director- I make two comments In respect of the General of Education. I make no secret two parts of the letter I have quoted. I of the fact that a copy of that letter was say this with all due respect to the Direc- provided to me by the General Secretary tor-General of Education: one would as- of the State School Teachers' Union. sume that autonomy in the case of the five orthodox teachers' colleges was some- This particular reg-ulation was not gaz- thing that was brand new in 1975. The etted in isolation. It appeared among letter I have mentioned states there was others referring to students about whom a need to have the legal conditions operat- I spoke last evening, and they set out ing before the academic year began this the machinery for the payment of scholar- year. I would like to point out that I in- ships, which is another name for the troduced the Teacher Education Act which bonded allowances of the past. set up the autonomy of the five existing This particular regulation was gazetted teachers' colleges way back in 1972; so. together with others. Apparently it was they operated on an autonomous basis at the subject of a letter to the Director- least in 1973 and 1974. General of Education from the union. I For that reason I say the haste in doing now refer to the letter from Mr Barton these things was not as great as it might to the union dated the 24th February, appear to have been. The need to do this 1975. It states-- in haste, without referring the regulations to the union for consideration and com- I acknowledge receipt of your letter ment, does not appear to be justified by dated the 22nd January, 1975, that argument. As you are probably aware the Mr Barton goes on to say in the letter amendments to the Education Regu- that because the institutions are autonom- lations relating to teacher education ous, the department finds it impossible to students were published in the Gov- obtain records of student absences from ernment Gazette of 31st January, 1975. the colleges or institutions on the ground These amendments have been pro- of illness. I would point out that the cessed by the Crown Law Department general secretary of the union, Mr Lloyd, and sent to the Goverrnent. Printer is a college member of the Graylands on 24th of January, 1975. You will Teachers' College board; so, he busied appreciate that this action had to be himself to find out what the position was taken to ensure that the new con- at the Graylands Teachers' College. In the ditions with reference to teacher letter I have accompanying the other training now that it Is conducted in documents, hie makes the point that he autonomous institutions were opera- had discussed the matter with the princi- ting legally by the time the academic pal of the Graylands Teachers' College who year began. I regret that at this time assured him there was no worry In rela- your Executive was in recess and did tion to that institution. In fact, the situa- not have an opportunity to study and tion prevailing at the Graylands Teachers' comment on the amendments before College would be common to all the the legal processes were completed. teachers, colleges. They do, in fact, main- tain an attendance register and a record I make the point that I am omitting the of student absences. The fact that they third and the ultimate paragraphs,' be- present no diffi- cause they are not relevant to the sub- are autonomous would ject matter of the debate. I now refer culty to the department In gaining access to the fourth paragraph of the letter which to this information. states-- Mr Skidmore: Mt. Lawley Teachers' College certainly The administration of sick leave for keeps a record. students has been difficult for many Mr T. D. EVANS: To use a favourite years and becomes virtually impossible expression of the member for Karrinyup- now that training institutions are I have to be polite to him because I am autonomous. It Is not possible to ob- almost a constituent of his-the domino tain from them records of students' theory seems to operate. The two dominoes absences through illness. As a result have fallen. I say this with respect to all students complete training with the Director-General of Education: I their leave credits intact although think he was putting up an argument to many of them have had periods of defend the method by which the regula- absence through illness during their tions were brought Into operation. How- period of training. Under the new pro- ever, I am challenging one of them only. visions there will be no necessity for The domino theory seems to apply to them. students to apply for sick leave and This argument could be used: I hope to they will suffer no penalty with res- be excused If I come up with the wrong pect to their scholarships if absent figure, but I assume there would be some- through sickness. Since sick leave as thing like 5000 students now undergoing [Wednesday, 23 April, 1975] 07 teacher training. I would hazard-a little So the union finds that flesh is being more than a guess-an opinion that of made of one teacher and fowl of the other those 5 000 trainees, only about 3 000 would and it considers this to be an unhealthy be under some form of contract, or the situation and rightly complains. recipients of scholarships or under some It would be apposite if I were to give a bond to the Education Department. brief quotation from the letter the union The existence of the unbonded students handed to mec together with a copy of the is not something which has mushroomed regulations when I was acquainted with overnight; this type of student might have this situation. The letter is addressed to been rare some years ago, but today he is me by the general secretary of the union common. So, while the number of un- and is dated the 16th April, 1975. It reads bonded students has grown, their presence in part- has enabled the Education Department to The real reason the Union wishes to become aware of and accustomed to the hold up this Regulation is the fact existence of unbonded students. that teachers in their first 1, 2 or 3 years Of service are very prone to Looking back on the recruiting experi- requiring sick leave than later in their ence of the Education Department and career. on the graduates from the teachers' col- leges, one could find that the department I pointed out to the general secretary that has, in fact, leaned heavily towards,-many the expression "hold up" was not quite would say quite rightly-students who were appropriate because I knew the union de- bonded, in offering them first preference sired to have the regulation disallowed of employment within the Education De- and not delayed. partment. There Is every reason to expect, Mr Hartrey: That is typical of school Indeed to believe, that this practice will teachers these days; they cannot express continue, and the department will be in- themselves clearly. clined to give first preference to graduates Mr T. D). EVANS: Present company ex- who have worked their way through the cepted. I hope! training institutions and during that time The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Blaikie): were bonded or were the recipients of Order! The honourable member will con- scholarships. tinue. This becomes relevant, if the argument Mr T. D. EVANS: Thank you, Mr Acting is put forward that there might well be in Speaker. I am glad you came to my the future-as there is almost now-an rescue. equal number of bonded and unbonded The union has indicated that the real students. reason it wishes to have the regulation So the department must draw a distinc- disallowed Is the fact that during their tion between the bonded and non-bonded first three Years' service teachers are more students who find themselves in the teach- prone to require sick leave because of ing service later on. This may be a legiti- natural causes-let us forget about the mate argument, but under the old regula- motor vehicle-than in any other period tion, no such distinction was drawn. of their teaching life, with the possible Let us assume that two teachers entered exception Of the period just before re- college in 1970, one being bonded and the tirement. I emphasise the word "Possible". other unbonded. Let us assume also that The letter continues- they did a three-year course and that they Regrettably, a number of teachers were both off ered employment within the proceeding to the country in their Education Department and that during first appointments have accidents in their training they did nothing to erode their first Year of service due to their their right to take an entitlement on into unfortunate accommodation circum- their teaching careers. Let us assume that stances in many cases and their desire they both first taught in 1974 with three to return to the metropolitan area years' entitlement to sick leave. The new during term holidays, long weekends regulation is not retrospective and so that etc. Also, they are prone until they situation will continue. All students, develop a resistance, to be the recipi- whether bonded or unbonded in the past, ent of classroom infectious diseases who are now teaching are credited with brought In by the children and even three or four years' sick leave entitlement the common cold lays young teachers for the time they spent in college. That low for periods. entitlement continues. They have the right According to the union this is the most to accrue sick leave right throughout their vulnerable Period in the life of a teacher; teaching careers. yet, if the regulation is not disallowed, the However, the new regulation Provides that teachers will have no sick leave entitle- all students who are bonded and who enter ment at all until they have completed one a college in 1975 will have no three years' year's service as teachers. On the other entitlement for sick leave, or credit for hand, in the past the moment teachers being on the permanent staff, at the time enter a Government school-on the first they enter a Government school at the day of the first year of their teaching ser- completion of their training three or four vice-they have already accrued three or years hence. four years' sick pay entitlement. 1078 [ASSEMBLY.]

I have tried to submit the case as calmly 2. the refusal of the Minister for as possible and, let me assure the Minister Health to inform the public and others, devoid of any political in- of the results of the analysis trigue, and with no intention at all of try- of fish for mercury content; Ing to gain any political advantage. I have submitted my proposal sincerely believing 3. the ineptitude of the Minister that an injustice has been done. Knowing for Health in failing to deal the officers of the department I would say adequately with a potential that the injustice has been done inadver- hazard to the health of the tently. I do not believe that sufficient people. cognisance has been taken of the conse- I believe the Government-and in particu- quences of the regulation. I hope it will lar, the Minister for Health-has been be in that atmosphere that the Govern- criminally negligent and criminally care- ment will give careful consideration to the less regarding the health of the people of proposal. I hope the debate will be ad- Western Australia, and that the Minister journed-I understand this is so-so that should be replaced. In the face of the careful consideration can be given to the most awful evidence of mercury poisoning regulation. wvhich leads to severe damage to nerves I trust I have been able to convey my and brain, insanity, death, blindness, and sincerity in the matter and that I am not affects the unborn child the Government to be used as a political vehicle on this has done nothing to protect the people's occasion. I hope that when the vote is health. finally taken on this issue the relevant portion of the regulation will be dis- The Minister for Health has done no- allowed. thing but make misleading statements. In August of last year he told Parliament I make the point, perhaps unnecessarily there was so, that section 36 of the Interpretation no need for alarm. Yet weeks Act provides that notwithstanding the later, as a consequence of an initiative by disallowance of a regulation, rule, or by- the Whitlam Government, he was law, as the case may be, nothing shall be awakened out of his slumber and said that done by the disallowance to affect any- perhaps pregnant women should not eat thing that happened in the past since the too much shark. Even worse, he stated regulation, by-law, or rule became opera- that in Western Australia the average tive. Consequently, the disallowance of the levels of mercury in shark which had been appropriate portion of the regulation can- tested slightly exceeded the level of 0.5 not in any way detrimentally affect parts per million. The Minister omitted to anyone. say that People do not eat average shark, but that they eat particular shark and he In any event the impact of the regula- also omitted to say that some of the shark tion, if it is not disallowed, will not be tested had a level of 2.8 parts Per million, felt until four years hence when those who a contamination which can cause serious entered college this year will have com- consequences if as much as 1i ounces of pleted their training of three or four years the flesh is eaten. I submit that lj ounces and entered the employment of the Edu- of fish is not very much. cation Department in a Government school. At the time the Minister attempted to I urge the Government to study the reg- shield himself, by refusing to reveal the ulation carefully and to give my argu- actual figures to the public. He treated ments the consideration they deserve so the matter with secrecy, to which we have that on the deliberative and conscientious become accustomed. At the same time, vote of this House the appropriate portion and even worse, the Minister claimed he of the regulation will be disallowed. had tabled a paper in Parliament which The ACTIING SPEAKER (Mr Blaikie): gave results of testing. However, no such Is there a seconder to the motion? Paper had been tabled. When it was eventually tabled the paper showed that Mr JAMIESON: I formally second the over many months the Government had motion. done nothing to protect the health of the Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr people. Grayden (Minister for Labour and In- I do not intend to take very long in dustry). speaking to this matter because the case HEALTH is clear and simple. I will divide my re- marks into three main sections: first of Mercury Content in Fish: Censure Motion all what mercury poisoning will do to MR A. R. TONKIN (Morley) [8.50 p.m.): a human being; secondly, world experience I move- and in particular the attempts throughout That the House censures the Gov- the world to set limits; and, finally, this ernment for:- Government's record. 1. Its inactivity In failing to re- Mercury poisoning causes severe damage spond to the dangers of the to the nervous system and the brain, and ingestion of fish contaminated it can cause genetic mutations which, of by mercury; course, have tremendous implications for (Wednesay. 23 Apr11, 1975] 107907 generations as yet unborn. Mercury It is interesting to note that coal and poisoning can cause insanity. It can mani- oil contain some mercury which is re- fest itself gradually so that the Individual leased into the atmosphere and eventually does not notice, and can lead to con- finds its way Into water. Mercury can vulsions and to a coma. There can be a come from factories producing plastics, gradual concentric retraction of the visual chlorine, caustic soda, and caustic potash. field which can eventually lead to blind- I1 have already mentioned the coating of ness. It can lead to an inability to co- seed for crop planting. Paint preservation ordinate voluntary muscular movement is another use to which mercury Is put. and can eventually lead to paralysis. As I Mercury Is also used in pulp mills because said previously, a foetus can be affected, it is a slimielde-a new word to me. It and in particular Its central nervous has Something to do with destroying system, mould and is therefore used in pulp mills. The point to make here is that mercury Mercury Is also used In extracting gold, is cumulative, because it is not rapidly silver, and rare metals, and it is also found excreted and the result is that very small in sewage. portions of methyl mercury, or mercury It is not really relevant where all this in its inorganic form, can accumulate over mercury comes from; what is important many years and the presence of the poison is the contaminated shark which is being can be very difficult to detect. eaten, possibly at this moment, in West- It is interesting to note that the old ern Australia. The Government has not saying, "Mad as a hatter" probably came done anything about it. The dimeulty from the fact that mercury in the fur of here is one of setting limits, and an arbi- a felt hat affected the brain and the per- trary limit was set by the World Health sonality of the hatter felting the fur. Organ isation and the Food and Agri- The people who are most at risk are culture Organisation at 0.5 parts per pregnant women, nursing mothers, suck- million. ling children, and the foetus. Swedish A far better way to examine the prob- studies have shown that bacteria attack lem is to look at the toxicological symnp- the inorganic mercury and convert it into toms which can be present, and also the methyl mercury and It is in this form It blood and hair of People who are believed enters food, generally at a low level. It to have ingested large amounts of shark, is progressively concentrated as It passes This is a more reliable way to discover along the food chain. Shark Is bad because whether a person is in trouble. it is far it is at the end of the food chain and man better to look at the total dietary Intake Is only one link further along the food than at the mercury level in fish. Never- chain. theless, I think it is up to Governments Air Jamieson: That all depends on to see to it that poison is not sold in the whether or not the man is in the shark's shops for people to eat. environment. It is also very dangerous to talk about Mr A. R. TONKIN: Perhaps sometimes the average consumption of fish. It is not the shark is at the end of the food line, the average consumption of fish which and not man. That is true. it has also People eat, it is a certain consumption; been shown experimentally that the toxic and it is misleading to talk about an Aus- effect is due to the methyl mercury in the tralian average of 15 grams a day, and a fish, and not to its presence in the water Japanese average of 84 grams a day, be- itself. cause, as I say, the mercury is not aver- aged out over everyone in Australia. Cer- The world was first alerted to some of tain People eat more fish than others do, these events when seed wheat, which had and they will therefore ingest more mer- been treated with mercury as an anti- cury under certain circumstances. fungal agent, was eaten in Iraq In 1980, in West Pakistan in 1961, and in Rather than speaking in terms of parts Guatemala in 1963. In 1970 a family of per million in fish, it is perhaps better to New Mexicans were poisoned from eating adopt the recommendations of the WHO pork from a pig which had eaten mer- and the FAQ, which arc that no more cury-treated wheat. Then, of course, there than 0.3 milligrams of mercury should be was the very celebrated case in Minimata ingested per week, and no more than 0.2 Bay, and the Agano River in Niigata, in milligrams of that should contain methyl 1963, where discharges from industrial mercury. plants using mercury catalysts-manu- It is clear that until we can set limits facturing vinyl chloride and acetalde- which are not arbitrary but arc based on hyde-caused poisoning. research, Qovernments must err on the It is possible that some of this mercury side of caution. This is why the National gets into the water from the activities of Health and Medical Research Council set man-industrial and other activities. a limit of 0.5 parts per million. Some of it comes naturally. However, I In order to be absolutely fair, we must do not think it really matters where it look at the argument from the point of comes from because once one eats the view of those people who stand too lose most fish it causes poisoning. from any reduction in the sales of fish; 1080 1080ASSEMBLY.]

in other words, the Australian Fishing In- Victoria bans the sale of any school shark dustry Council. Naturally, the council is more than 41 inches in length. The larger putting an extreme case, but I am Pre- the shark the higher the mercury content. pared to accept the limit it suggests. If we accept that limit, we find this Govern- Mr Watt: It is age more than size. ment Is still culpable. The Australian Mr A. ft. TONKflN: Had the honourable Fishing Industry Council suggests one part member seen the figures worked out by Per million. It is prepared to put the limit the Victorian Health Department and the as low as that, although its members will Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, he be affected by any reduction in the sale would see there is a correlation in size, of fish. I think that organisation's argu- and this has been found all over the world. ments have been very fair. However, it is not as simple as that; it A preliminary report of the joint inves- is not just a question of size. The honour- tigation into mercury contamination from able member indicated It was also a ques- shark by the Victorian Health Depart- tion of age- ment and the Department of Fisheries and Mr Watt: And the species. Wildlife indicates that those departments would set a limit of one part per million. Mr A. R. TONKIN. -but the age of the Only shark will be affected, at least in shark is often related to its size and the Australian waters. correlation indicates the cumulative effect The Australian Fishing Industry Council which I have already mentioned. says it "would not and could not justify Sweden and Finland have said that if any action that would leave the populace a fish contains mare than one part per open to danger from contaminated fish". million of mercury it is unsuitable for The people who make their living from human consumption, and if the mercury selling fish say they would not and could content is between 0.5 and one part per not justify any action which would leave million the fish should -not be eaten more the Populace open to danger from conta- than once a week. minated fish; yet this Government has acted in a way which leaves the populace The Minister has mentioned the very open to danger. as I will demonstrate. high limit in South Australia, which has caused fishermen in Victoria to send their In Japan. if 20 per cent of a minimum fish illegally into South Australia for sale, sample of 25 fish contain more than one and there has been a shortage of fish in part per million of mercury, the fish can- Victoria because of the more stringent not be sold. On looking at the report deal- demands of the law in that State. The ing with fish which was tabled by the petrochemical complex proposed for Red- minister for Health a few days ago, I cliffe on Spencer Gulf in South Australia find that in 1974, 24 out of 71 shark con- will not be using mercury as a catalyst tained over one part per million of mer- because of this problem. cury, and 51 of those 71 shark were ob- tained from fish shops. So 24 of those It is not clear how much of the mercury 711 shark contained over one part per in fish is methyl mercury. More research million, which works out at 33.8 per cent. is needed. We also need more research in Japan the sale of these shark which to ascertain the interactions with other people are able to buy in Western Aus- elements. For example, it has been sug- tralia would have been stopped. gested that selenium may reduce toxicity, Mr Skidmore: That is over one part per but that is not clear. We are thierefore only at the beginning of our knowledge, million? and it is important that we err on the side Mr A. Rt. TONKIN: Yes. The figure in of caution. Victoria Is 0.5 parts per million. I would now like to come back to what Mr Stephens: What is the figure in has happened in this Parliament. In ques- South Australia? tion 38 of the 6th August, 1974, 1 asked Mr A. R. TONKIN: The figure in South about the testing of wet and canned fish Australia Is ridiculous. It is 5.5 parts per for mercury content. In replying to the million. question, paper No. 139 was tabled. This Mr Stephens: I know it is to be reduced. Paper Indicated the location of the fish We are talking about what it was. caught but said nothing at all about the mercury content. Following the matter Mr Barnett: They are becoming more up 1 asked question 31 of the 8th August, aware of the danger. and then questions 4 and 5 on the 28th Mr A. R, TQNKIN: The South Austra- August. The Minister replied to question lian figure is completely unrealistic. We 5 as follows- see, therefore, that in Japan a ban would No useful purpose would be served be imposed by the Japanese Government by tabling a preliminary report, but on the fish samples mentioned in the re- having regard to the total situation the port tabled in this Parliament, and that indications at this stage are that ban would be accepted by the Australian there Fishing Industry Council which suggests Is no need for alarm. a limit of one part per million. Mr Barnett, Shameful!I [Wednesday, 23 April, 19751

Mr A. R. TONKIN: The Minister said, he hoped they would not be noticed when "The indications at this stage are that they 'were revealed. The Minister was there is no need for alarm." This was the forced ta take some action because of the Minister talking about 2.8 parts per million. reports from the Eastern States. Within weeks of that reply being given to 'o-one could say that the Minister and me, in response to an article in The Sun- the Government were not told frequently day Times of the 22nd September which of the danger;, the matter was brought to indicated alarm in Victoria over the high their attention repeatedly by the vigilant incidence of mercury contaminated fis- Opposition. I referred to the matter again up to three Parts Per million the headline when I replied to the debate last year on screamed-no higher than we have here the motion seeking the establishment of a for all practical purposes, the Minister who standing committee on the environment. I had said there was no need for alarm Pointed out that the establishment of such suddenly found cause for alarm. He warned a committee would enable the people and that pregnant women in Western Australia this Parliament to be fully informed about perhaps should not eat shark. what was happening. We heard nothing So it seems to me this Minister is com- more about the matter. Of course, Parlia- pletely inept. In this Parliament he as- ment was In recess--a very convenient sured us there was no need for alarm but time for Ministers because they do not he would not give us the figures. He have to answer questions. not even in the treated the Parliament and People like lamentable way they do when we are sit- children, yet when the figures were released ting. in the Eastern States Press, officers of his However, the Minister finally broke his department probably said to him, "Maybe silence when the Australian Government You should say something about this mat- Imposed a penalty on People who sold fish ter because the figures are very similar to with a high mercury content. our figures." He then said, "Perhaps if you are pregnant, You should not eat shark." Mr Stephens: A high mercury content, Why did he not give this answer to Parlia- or a content in excess of 0.5 parts per ment? Parliament has been treated shabbily million? when we consider some of the answers we Mr A. R. TONKIN: A mercury content receive to our questions. The Minister sud- in excess of 0.5 parts per million. denly found cause for alarm, and on the 30th September. he had this to say in Mr Stephens: There is a difference, you The West Australan- know. The major types of fish consumed in Mr A. R. TONKIN: The Minister's com- W.A. appear to have low mercury ment was that the mercury content of levels. But the average level of mer- fish sold here was a little high, but there cury in the shark tested slightly ex- was nio evidence that anyone bad come to ceeded the level of 0.5 parts per any harm from It. Of course there was no million laid down by the IfHMRC. evidence-what evidence could there be when no research had been undertaken? Mr Skidmore. Slightly! Doctors had not been informed that our fish had a high mercury content. Mr A. R. TONKIN: The average!I The so what evidence could there be? When a Minister had forgotten, or perhaps he did person is ill, a doctor bas many symptoms not understand, that the consumer of fish to look for, and without true knowledge of does not visit 16 different fish shops, the situation, a doctor might not look for collect a little fish from each one, and in mercury poisoning. Surely our doctors this way achieve an average intake. Surely could have been alerted to the fact that the Minister has enough nous to under- tests show there to be a high incidence of stand that from the figures he was looking mercury contamination in shark and that at! However, he did not say anything for they should be on the lookout for mercury another six months because he was fright- poisoning. No blood testing had been car- ened of the figures. Surely he could see ried out, so of course there was no evi- that People could be Ingesting 2.8 parts per dence that anyone had come to harm from million which is very serious by any stan- Ingesting mercury contaminated fish. This dard. Even the Australian Fishing Indus- was one of the silliest statements I have try Council, whose main concern would be ever heard from a Minister of the Crown. to look after jobs for its members-and we can understand that-admits the -ser- Prom overseas experience we know that iousness of 2.8 Parts Per million. the results of the ingestion of mercury are quite clear. Surely the Minister could I followed this up with question 21 of realise what would happen to people who the 2nd October. Once again there was a ate shark containing 2.8 parts per million refusal to reveal results of tests because, of mercury. I believe, the Minister was afraid that when he did reveal the results the public On the 8th April of this year, I asked a would know just what was going on. I1do question without notice. It reads- not believe he wanted to reveal them this What are the results of the testing year, but he was asked continually and which has taken place in 1913, 1974, eventually he promised to do so. I believe and to date in 1975? [ASSEMBLY.]

The testing referred to is f or mercury consumed excessive amounts of shark. I contamination. The Minister replied- asked the following question of the Min- The results of the tests on Western ister representing the Minister for Health Australian fish have been tabled in a today- report on mercury content of Western (1) What studies have been made in Australian fish. Western Australia of the mer- cury content of human blood and The results of the tests had not been hair? tabled. On receiving this reply, I immedi- ately went to our Clerks-who are so effi- I point out It was a recommendation of cient-to ask them whether this Paper had the Public Health Department that such been tabled. I would have been very sur- studies be made. The Minister replied- prised if it had escaped me, but I thought (1) A report of a survey from Vic- I should check the matter. toria has been closely studied. This reveals that although there The paper that bad been tabled told Is a positive correlation between us that fish had been caught in various the amount localities in Western Australia. Tabled of fish (shark) con- papers Nos. 139 and 266 of 1974 indicated sumned and levels of mercury in the mercury content of imported fish, and blood and hair, no Ill effect on where the local fish had been caught. It health was apparent. did not mention a. single thing- In other words no studies have been made in this State. I did not ask for that answer. Mr Skidm ore: No research whatsoever. I wanted to know what studies have been Mr A. R. TONKIN: -about the mer- made in Western Australia, and I found cury contamination of our fish. So the that no studies have been mnade despite answer given by the Minister was quite the fact that the Public Health Depart- untrue-the papers had not been tabled. ment recommended that they be made. The next day, the 9th April, I asked The second part of my question today was another question without notice and I as follows- pointed out to the Minister that his (2) What has been done to alert gen- answer the previous day had been in- eral Practitioners in the medical correct. I have already referred to the Profession to the need to spot the result of my question-the report was toxicological symptoms of rmer- tabled. cury poisoning? on the first page of the report, we see To that the Minister replied- that from a total of 72 samples, the mer- (2) The medical profession must be cury content of 43 exceeded 0.5 parts per aware of the considerable pub- million. Now it may be maintained that licity given to this topic In the the figure is a little low, and I will gen- media. If and when I am advised erously concede that point although It of the need to alert medical prac- does not mean to say that I believe 0.5 titioners it shall be done. parts per million is a low figure. It is an arbitrary figure, and so is 1.0 part per Mr Skidmore: I would have thought the million an arbitrary figure. Public Health Department, through its Minister, would be doing a little more Mr Stephens: And one that is being than that. adopted by an increasing number of countries throughout the world. Mr A. R. TONKIN,: For months the Minister was aware of the very high Mr A. R. TONKIN: That may be so, amounts of mercury In shark, but he did but it Is still an arbitrary figure. not do anything to alert the medical pro- Mr Stephens: Yes. fession to the need to watch out for Mr A. R. TONKIN: Allowing for the toxicological symptoms. fact that 1.0 part per million is reason- I believe I have made out a very serious able, and the Australian Fishing Industry case. The Minister-and the Government Council-which I think would be pushing -must he culpable for doing nothing in Its barrow as much as It could-has not the face of a serious threat to the people asked for a higher figure than 1.0 part of this State: a threat which Is much per million, it means that 33 per cent of greater than that posed by many other the samples on the first page of the report diseases, because many diseases can be contain more than 1.0 part per million, cured whereas the damage caused by mer- some even up to 2.8 parts per million. cury poisoning is irreversible, and it is As I said before, it is considered that at damage to the central nervous system. the level of 2.8 parts per million, 1j oz. mercury poisoning is insidious because It of fish Per week could result in serious is hard to detect. consequences. We have seen the Minister running As a consequence of this report, which around like a silly hen saying, first of all, was tabled a week or two ago, the Public that there is no need to worry and there Health Department has recommended that is no cause for alarm. A few weeks later studies be made of mercury levels in the when the same figures were published in hair and blood of people who may have Victoria he changed his mind, saying that (Wednesday. 23 April, 19753 pregnant women should not eat too much different species of shark relative to fish- shark. Then the Minister attacked the ing areas and seasons. The sharks were Australian Government and said it was caught at certain times, and when land- silly to think about very harsh penalties ings over a whole season are considered for high mercury levels. If the Minister the position could be worse. That kind of wished to be constructive instead of being sample could not be obtained due to the obsessed with the idea of knocking every- limitations placed on the resources of the thing from Canberra, he could have said, department, which is quite understand- "I think your penalty for levels in excess able. I merely mention this to indicate of 0.5 parts per million are too harsh; I it is quite possible that the situation is think the level should be lifted to one part more serious than the report indicates. per million." I believe the Government is deserving However, in a destructive manner and in of the censure of this House because it spite of all the evidence racing him he has not reacted with vigour and has not attacked the Australian Government for been alert to the dangers. The Minister trying to do something in this matter. It said that doctors must be aware of the might be argued that the Australian Gov- dangers of mercury poisoning because of ernment was being heavy-handed; and the the publicity given to the matter in the Minister could have told that Government media. Apparently the Minister was not it was going to extremes and that he be- alert, and yet he expects the medical pro- lieved a levcl of one part per million to be fession to be alert. When we consider a more reasonable level. He could have the way in which this whole question has held a constructive dialogue with that been handled, we find we certainly have a Government and pointed out that in very unhealthy state of affairs In Western various countries one part per million is Australia, when we have such a Minister being accepted; but instead he chose to for Health. be destructive and to attack that Govern- ment, The SPEAKER: Is there a seconder to I would like to conclude by showing that the motion? the results which have been tabled might Mr JAMIESON: I formally second the not indicate the true position. The re- motion. port Itself admits that this was not a random sample of shark. As any person Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr having even the slightest knowledge of Ridge (Minister for Lands), statistics will appreciate, random sampling is most important. METROPOLITAN WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE, AND DRAINAGE ACT The report tabled by the Minister taid AMENDMENT BILL that the samples were chosen to give mer- cury levels over the whole range of sizes Second Reading to enable the most representative regres- MR O'NEIL (East Melville--Minister for sion equation to be obtained. So, deliber- Water Supplies) [9.29 P.m.]: I move- ately-and quite rightly from the point of view of what they were trying to do-- That the Bill be now read a second those concerned with the study sought out time. either larger shark or smaller shark, either The purpose of this Bill is to amend the of which would skew the result-to use the maximum rates which the Metropolitan statisticians' term-and would not give a Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage true random sample. This was done in Board can charge for water, sewerage and order to obtain a good regression equation drainage services as provided under sec- to help them with their correlation of tion 94 of its Act. length and contamination. The Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewer- I do not criticise that, although I think age and Drainage Board was established we could be critical and say that could as a board in its own right by the then have been done with a certain group, but Liberal-Country Party Government on the they should also have tried to obtain a. 1st July, 1964, under the Metropolitan random sample to get a true scatter. Water Supply, Sewerage, and Drainage Act, The point I want to make in this respect 1909- 1963. is that as it was not a random sample- The constitution of the board of seven on the admission of the people who col- is made up as follows- lected the sample-the actual position A chairman could really be much worse than is de- nominated by the Gover- picted by the result. Had a true random nor for a time not exceeding seven sample been obtained there might have years; been more than 34 per cent of samples The general manager for the time with a level of more than one part per being of the board; million. An engineer; The report also admits that there Is The Under-Treasurer or his nominee; some chance of bias due to the lack of A person nominated by the Minister information on the total landings of from a Panel of names of three 1084 1084[ASSEMBLY.]I

eligible persons submitted by the The rates currently being levied on Perth City Council to represent annual ratable values are- the ratepayers; and for water, 4c in the dollar for resi- Two persons nominated by the minis- dences and 7c in the dollar for all ter f rom a panel of names of six other services; eligible persons submitted by the Local Government Association, for sewerage, 8.3c in the dollar for all each of whom shall represent the services: and ratepayers and at the time of ap- for drainage, 1.50 in the dollar for all pointment or re-appointment be a services. mayor, president or councillor of a local authority whose municipal The only properties rated by the board district or part thereof is within under a capital unimproved value are five the board area. large industrial complexes in the Ewinana area. The agreements under which these Each member other than the chairman is complexes were established decree that they appointed for a term not exceeding three shall be rated under such a valuation. years and is eligible for re-appointment at Currently a water rate of 1c in the dollar the end of such term. is levied. Under sections 90, 91 and 92 of the Act, the board is required to make and to levy The Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewer- water, sewerage and drainage rates respec- age and Drainage Board like other organ- tively for all ratable land within the board isations, both private and governmental, is area with the area being normally dissected f aced with the problem of continually into several districts. It should be noted rising costs. that water and sewerage districts relate Interest rates on borrowing for capital to the same defined areas while drainage works have risen substantially and the districts are separately defined areas. majority of private borrowings during the Separate rates are made for each to current year attract an interest rate of provide funds to defray expenses of general 10.3 per cent whereas In 1973-74 the aver- administration of the Act and expenses age rate was approximately '7 per cent. incurred in the maintenance and manage- Salaries and wages have increased since muent of the water works, sewerage works, July, 1974, by approximately 40 per cent and drainage works, and to pay the pre- and material costs during the same period scribed interest and sinking fund on the in the vicinity of 50 per cent. capital cost of such works; as well as to construct, extend, and improve such works The State's participation in the Com- as may be provided, constructed, extended, monwealth Government's national sewer- or improved out of revenue. age programme, and the consequent high Under section 94 of the Act the rates in annual capital expenditure on sewerage, is any one year shall not exceed- also seriously affecting the board's oper- water and sewerage ating financial position in that the 70 per cent repayable proportion of the financial ten cents in the dollar on the assistance attracts interest at 9.5 per cent annual ratable value of the and It Is becoming extremely difficult to land; or finance the heavy debt charges on the blgb one and two-thirds cents in the cost of sewerage reticulation and assoc- dollar on the capital unim- ated headworks in built-up areas. The proved value of the land; and advances from the Commonwealth, 70 per for cent of which Is by way of loans, are for drainage backlog sewerage programmes and there- two and one-half cents in the fore apply to work done in heavily built- dollar on the annual ratable up areas. value; or Members will be interested In the enorm- five-twelfths of a cent in the ous Increases In expenditure on sewerage dollar on capital unimproved capital works over the last few years. in values. 1967-88, expenditure was $2 288 646; in It is proposed that the maximum rates 1968-09, $4 275 252; In 1969-70, $8156 514; which may be levied for water and sewer- in 1970-71, $7 227 660; and, In 1971-72, age be increased from 10c In the dollar $7 599 382. In 1972-73 the amount of to 20c in the dollar on the annual ratable $15 955 000 Included a special Common- value and from 140 In the dollar to 30 wealth nonrelpayable grant of $3.5 million. In the dollar where rates are assessed on the capital unimproved value, and that the In 1973-74 expenditure was $17 500 000, maximum drainage rate be increased from Including $6.8 million as a first allocation 2Jc in the dollar to 5c in the dollar on under the national sewerage programme. the annual ratable value and from five- This money was fully repayable with inter- twelfths of a cent In the dollar to lc In est. the dollar where rates are assessed on the Expenditure this financial year amounts capital unimproved value. to $23 400 000. Of this sum, $11.9 million [Wednesday, 23 April, 1975] 108508 is made available under the national sew- 'Under the provisions of this Bill, a erage programme on the basis that 70 per person who Is so prevented from partici- Gent is a repayable loan and 30 per cent pating in the State superannuation scheme is a grant. but who was a member of a local govern- Thus over a period of eight years the maent superannuation scheme, will be en- annual expenditure on metropolitan sewer- titled to continue in that scheme, age work has increased tenfold or 1 000 per Clause I is a preliminary clause con- cent. taining the title and other relevant par- Preliminary estimates, prepared on the ticulars. basis of the current rating structure and Clause 2 amends section 2 of the prin- allowing only 15 per cent for inflation, cipal Act so that the Road Traffic Auth- Indicate a very large deficit for 1975-76 ority becomes a corporation to which the and although rates were increased by an provisions of the average of 34 per cent at the 1st July, 1974, Act apply. a further increase for 1975-76 is Inevitable Clause 3 adds a new section 3A to the if the board Is to continue to meet Its cost principal Act. Paragraph (a) of subsection of operation and maintain the service (1) of this section provides that a person expected of it. may be regarded as an employee of the There is no intention of Increasing the Road Traffic Authority for the purposes rates to the maximum now being sought, of a local government superannuation but It Is reasonable to allow the board some scheme only if he- margin of rating capacity for future years. (I) has been appointed to a position Any adjustment to the rating for 1975-76 as warden under the Road Traffic will of course be the subject of a thorough Act to an office within the Road investigation before being passed on to the Traffic Authority under the Pub- consumers. The constitution of the board, lic Service Act, or as a member of to which I referred earlier, ensures that the Police Force for service with ratepayers, Interests are adequately rep- the traffic patrol; resented. I commend the Bill to the House. (ii) elects within three months of his appointment to participate in a Debate adicurned. on motion by Mr local government superannuation Jamieson (Deputy Leader of the Opposit- scheme; ion). 010i was previously employed by a municipal council on traffic con- SUPERANNUATION, SICK, DEATH, tr~ol or vehicle licensing duties and INSURANCE, GUARANTEE AND was a subscriber to a local govern- ENDOWMENT (LOCAL GOVERNING ment superannuation scheme dur- BODIES' EMPLOYEES) FUNDS ACT ing that employment; AMENDMENT BILL (iv) is not eligible on medical grounds Second Reading to join the State superannuation scheme or will be unable to attain MRl RUSHTON (Dale-Minister for 10 years' service for the purposes Local Government) 19.4D p.m.]: I move- of the scheme. That the Bill be now read a, second time. Paragraph (b) sets down that funds pro- vided by Parliament to the Road Traffic This Bill proposes to amend the Act cover- Authority may be used to meet contribu- Ing local government superannuation, to tions under a local government superannu- allow certain local government traffic offi- ation scheme. cers who transfer their employment from a municipal council to the Road Traffic Paragraph (c) provides that the Audit Authority or to the Police Force for service Act, 1904, shall apply to the keeping and with the traffic patrol, to retain the super- audit of the superannuation accounts of annuation rights which they held in their the Road Traffic Authority. municipal employment. Subsection (2) makes It clear that a Generally, persons who do transfer will person who continues In a local govern- be entitled to join the State superannua- ment superannuation scheme is not also tion scheme. However, under the Super- entitled to contribute to the State super- annuation and Family Benefits Act, 1938- annuation scheme. that is, the legislation covering the State I commend the Bill to the House. scheme-s person is not eligible for superannuation benefits unless he Is cap- Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr able of attaining 10 years, service. This, Davies. could therefore prevent older council offi- cers from obtaining benefits under the Message; Appropriations State scheme on their transfer. A council Message from the Lieutenant-Governor officer could also be precluded from join- received and read recommending appropri- Ing the State scheme on medical grounds. ations for the purposes of the Bill. 1086 1086ASSEMBLY.]I

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ACT AMEND- A third proposed amendment to this MENT BILL section would permit combinations of the various societies to pool their resources Second Reading and join in establishing any of the facil- MR RIDGE (Kimberley-Minister for ities, such as holiday homes, contem- Lands) [9.44 p.mo.]: I move- Plated in the Bill. This would aid the That the Bill be now read a second smaller lodges which would not be in a time. financial position to act alone. Three of the matters which are included A further clause in the Hill includes a in the measure now before the House have proposal which originated from depart- been presented at the request of the mental sources. Friendly Societies Council, the remaining clause being in relation to the frequency The law as it exists requires the benefit of fund valuations with the intention of funds of a society to be valued by an giving more flexibility to the registrar and actuary each five years, the Purpose being the actuary in their dealings with insur- to ascertain the level of benefits which ance funds operated by societies. may be paid from a fund. Several soci- eties are handling an increasing level of The first amendment seeks to insert a endowment and life assurance and chang- definition of "member" in the Act, a ing circumstances can require a need for term which is used throughout the legisla- a valuation within a shorter period than tion, and also in the rules under which five years. each society operates. The insertion of the definition will remove any lack of cer- This amendment then would permit tainty as to the meaning of the term as be- more frequent valuations whenever they tween the Act and the rules. are required and thereby allow contri- butions and rates to be adjusted when A further clause in the Bill seeks to ef- the state of the fund requires this to be fect three changes to section 7 of the Act. These are new matters which do not qual- done. ify or reduce the function of friendly soc- ieties as they exist. The final clause in the Bill has been included for the purpose of correcting an The first Proposal is in relation to error in the Act. On reference to the Act friendly societies in other States which it will be found that paragraph (d) of have had the authority to establish and subsection (1) refers to paragraph (2). maintain holiday homes for some years. The reference should be to paragraph (b)l These facilities have benefited members of subsection (1). This clause then will and have promoted interest in the move- provide for the adjustment. ment. Some local societies have accumulated I commend the Hill to the House. funds which could be applied to this activ- Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr ity. This I consider a worthy step and I support the request of the Friendly Soc- Davies. ieties Council that it be Permitted to es- tablish holiday homes. UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN The intention is that priority will be AUSTRALIA ACT AMENDMENT BILL given to members and their families, but Second Reading should there be vacancies, nonmembers MR GRAYDEN (South Perth-Minis- would be accommodated. ter for Labour and Industry) [9.48 p.mn.]: The second proposed change is a new I move- provision. That the Hil] be now read a second Friendly societies act in a similar man- time. ner to life assurance houses, but they are This Hill seeks to amend section 1BE limited to $6 000 in the cover they may and section 41 of the University of West- offer. erin Australia Act, 1911-1973. Assurance companies make loans to The university authorities have request- clients against the value of their policies ed, the Government, and it has agreed, to and it is proposed that similar authority introduce legislation to amend the prin- be given to friendly societies, subject how- cipal Act in order to clarify the regula- ever, to the limitation that the residual tion-making powers of the university value of a policy shall not be reduced senate and the procedures relating to the below $200. making of regulations, and also to allow some flexibility in relation to the time Other States already have a similar within which the university's annual re- provision in the Acts under which they port has to be submitted. operate. This provides an additional bene- fit to members of friendly societies, and I The university also requested that pro- am pleased to support the proposal. vision be included to enable the separate [Thursday, 24 April, 1975] 1087 forwarding of the university's annual re- port from that of the Auditor-General' ?iryixilautiiw Tohuuri report on the university accounts. Thursday, the 24th April, 1975 With regard to the proposed amend- ments to the provisions of section 16E of the principal Act, the university auth- The PRESIDENT (the Hon. A. F. orities requested that provisions similar Griffith) took the Chair at 2.30 P.m., and to section 27 of the Murdoch University read prayers. Act, 1973, be included following doubts raised as to whether the regulations made QUESTIONS (3): ON NOTICE by the university senate were regulations for the purposes of the provisions of sec- 1. This question was Postponed. tion 36 of the Interpretation Act relating to disallowance. 2. QUESTIONS The amendment now sought makes it RePlies: Cost and Time clear that a regulation of the university senate is not, and never has been, such The Hon. R. F. CLAUGHTON, to the a regulation, and emphasises the time at Minister for Justice: which it is to take effect. In respect of the answer to ques- tion (1) on the 22nd April, 1975, Section 41 of the Principal Act at present regarding the cost and number of provides for the university senate to hours spent in answering Parlia- "within three months from the close of mentary questions, will the the university year transmit to the Gov- Minister advise- ernor a report of the proceedings of the university during the previous year, and (a) the individual departments such report shall contain a true and de- involved in compiling the tailed account of the income and expendi- Information; ture of the university during such period, (b) the number of officers in each audited at the expense of the university department required to re- by the Auditor-General...... The Act search the information; further provides that the report of the Auditor-General on the university ac- (c) the total number of hours counts shall be laid before both Houses spent in this research; and of Parliament at the same time as the university's annuaj report. (d) the total estimated cost of supplying the information? The university has experienced consider- able difficulty in recent years in complying The Hon. N. MeNEILL replied: with the statutory restriction of three (a) to (d) Presumably, the ques- months from the close of the university tion refers to the cost of pre- year in which to submit its report. This paring the answer to ques- has been further aggravated by the need tion 1, 22nd April, 1975. for the report to be submitted together If so- with a copy of the Auditor-General's re- Port on the accounts which, of necessity, (i) no estimate has been is usually not available until later in the made; following year. 00i it will be made if the Hon. Member insists that The amendment to section 41 is simple we further aggravate the and Provides for the senate to forward cost and disruption al- its report as soon as practicable after the ready experienced by the close of the university year, and for the preparation of answers Auditor-General's report to be forwarded to the abnormal number as soon as practicable after being received of Questions covered by by the university authorities. question 1, on the 22nd April, 1975. I commend the Hill to members. 3. LUPINS Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr Jamieson (Deputy Leader of the Opposi- Research tion). The Hon. MARGARET McALEER, to the Minister for Justice representing House adjourned at 9.51 p.m. the Minister for Agriculture: In view of the problems and diffi- culties besetting the promising new varieties of lupins, most of