Legislative Assembly Hansard 1984
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 1984 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 476 18 September 1984 Papers TUESDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 1984 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. H. Wamer, Toowoomba South) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following Bills reported by Mr Speaker— Beach Protection Act and Another Act Amendment BiU; Mental Health Act, Criminal Code and Health Act Amendment Bill. AMENDMENTS TO STANDING ORDERS Assent Mr SPEAKER informed the House that on 17 September he presented to His Excellency the Govemor the amendments to Standing Orders adopted by the House on 28 August, and that His Excellency was pleased, in his presence, to accord his assent thereto. PAPERS The following paper was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Report of the Nominal Defendant (Queensland) for the year ended 30 June 1984. The following papers were laid on the table— Proclamation under— City of Brisbane Act 1924-1984 Orders in Council under— City of Brisbane Act 1924-1984 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Electricity Act 1976-1982 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Electricity Act 1976-1982 Explosives Act 1952-1981 Petroleum Act 1923-1983 Harbours Act 1955-1982 Harbours Act 1955-1982 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 River Improvement Tmst Act 1940-1983 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Agricultural Bank (Loans) Act 1959-1981 Banana Industry Protection Acts 1929 to 1937 City of Brisbane Market Act 1960-1982 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Fisheries Act 1976-1984 Primary Producers' Co-operative Associations Act 1923-1981 The Supreme Court Act of 1921 Regulations under— Public Service Act 1922-1978 Law Courts and State Buildings Protective Security Act 1983 Fisheries Act 1976-1984 Ministerial Statements 18 September 1984 477 Fishing Industry Organization and Marketing Act 1982-1984 Primary Producers' Co-operative Associations Act 1923-1981 Primary Producers' Organisation and Marketing Act 1926-1984 Traffic Act 1949-1982 State Transport Act 1960-1981 Motor Vehicle Driving Instmction School Act 1969 Motor Vehicles Control Act 1975 Tow-tmck Act 1973 Motor Vehicles Safety Act 1980 Workers' Compensation Act 1916-1983 Queensland Marine Act 1958-1979 By-laws under the Harbours Act 1955-1982 Financial Statements and Report of the Auditor-General on the Queensland Coal Board for the year ended 30 June 1984 Reports of the following bodies for the year ended 30 June 1984— Brisbane and Area Water Board Queensland Harness Racing Board Queensland Turf Club Downs and South-Westem Queensland Racing Club Central Queensland Racing Association. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Queensland Pork Producers State Council Hon. N. J. TURNER (Wartego—Minister for Primary Industries) (11.8 a.m,), by leave: In the light of recent speculation in relation to the affairs of the Queensland Pork Producers State Council, I consider that I should inform the House of all aspects of the matter which have come to my attention. The Queensland Pork Producers State Council is a pork-producer representative body, set up under the provisions of the Primary Producers' Organisation and Marketing Act, As Minister for Primary Industries, I am responsible for approval of the organisation's annual budget and I require an annual report. My department has no representation on the organisation, all members of the State council being directly elected by pork-producers. On 20 August 1984, Mr Denis Hinton, State president of the Queensland Pork Producers State Council, requested advice from the Director-General and the Director of Marketing of my department on the handling of what appeared to be an administrative problem within the organisation. Mr Hinton advised my officers that he believed that Mr David Collins, executive officer of the organisation, was improperly conducting the business affairs of a private company, Asian Pacific Exports Pty Ltd, through the organisation and using the organisation's resources. Mr Hinton stated that such activity was in direct contravention of assurances that he, as State president, had received from the directors of this company and that State council's executive officer. The directors of Asian Pacific Exports Pty Ltd, which imports products used in pig production and has undertaken the export of some grains and bird seeds, are Mr Robert Wild and Mr John Bryant, who at the time were State councillors of the organisation, and Mr ColUns, former executive officer of the State council. As the extent of the unauthorised involvement between the company and the organisation could not be identified, Mr Hinton asked for departmental assistance, A departmental officer, with a senior officer of the Intemal Operational Audit Service, accompanied Mr Hinton to the State council's office. Their investigation was confined to an examination of the books and, in particular, to the entries shown in the debtors' ledger specifically relating to OTC telex accounts. 478 18 September 1984 Ministerial Statements Their investigation established that expenditure had been incurred on telex, telephone, postage and letter-head printing on behalf of Asian Pacific Exports Pty Ltd. A sample inspection revealed that expenditure was being brought to account in the appropriate manner and staff claimed that the intention was to invoice Asian Pacific Exports Pty Ltd for outstanding telex accounts. On receipt of this advice, Mr Hinton called a special meeting of the State council on 30 August. At this meeting. State counciUors Messrs Wild and Bryant resigned, as did the executive officer, Mr Collins. My Director-General advised the Auditor-General of developments, and I am informed that the president of the State council has requested an audit by the Auditor- General of the books of the organisation. I am informed also that the State council and the former directors have not, as yet, reached agreement on the extent of moneys due to the council for providing services to Asian Pacific Exports Pty Ltd and that this aspect is currently being pursued under the direction of the State president. I stress that the matter is basically one which the organisation itself must resolve. 1 hope that this can be done at an early date so that the pork industry can address itself to other issues of importance to the industry. Conservative Party of Australia Hon. M. J. TENNI (Barron River—Minister for Environment, Valuation and Administrative Services) (11.12 a.m.), by leave: In recent weeks, many north Queens landers have received a brochure from a so-called political organisation, the Conservative Party of Australia, which claims that it is fighting to save the environment from all forms of progress, including the Cape Tribulation to Bloomfield road and tourist and commercial projects from Caims to Coolangatta. The party, which has its origins in Byron Bay, is mn by its fearless political gum, a gentleman by the name of Mr Fast Bucks. In a dazzling performance, this gentleman recently announced his political ambition of winning a Queensland Senate seat when he gate crashed my Brisbane office. After making it as far as the office photocopier before being escorted out, he satisfied the disappointed media by handing out to workers in Edward Street copies of a so-called report. Other breath-taking instalments of the "Fast Bucks Reports" conceming other Cabinet Ministers have been promised. After such a magnificent start to his campaign, it seems only fair to ask who this gentleman is. He is Mr Johannes Van De Knapp, also known as John Christopher Anderson, of Lot 9, News Road, Corrabell, near Byron Bay, He changed his name by deed poll in 1983 to the legendary Mr Fast Bucks, Among his many claims to fame is his introduction of the Marijuana Party to Byron Bay and the publication of various illegal newspapers attacking police, politicians and any person with whom he does not agree. He associates with a Frederick Christian Dierck, who has changed his name by deed poll to Mr Con Slick, Mr Slick is well known to Byron Bay police as a local hoodlum and dmg-dealer. Mr Fast Bucks's criminal record includes the following— 6 weeks' hard labour for assault and resisting artest in Victoria in July 1968; $100 good behaviour bond for 12 months for larcency in Victoria in Febmary 1974; and $200 in fines, plus costs and compensation totalling $170, for criminal damage in Victoria in August 1981. Mr Fast Bucks's political future may be cut short, as he is currently on remand until 12 October to the Byron Bay Magistrates Court concerning charges of cultivating 60 Indian hemp plants. His principal associate in far-north Queensland, Michael James Bromfield, of Woree Caravan Park in Caims, has an equally unsavoury background. Mr Bromfield's previous Personal Explanations 18 September 1984 479 convictions in Queensland include those for dmg offences in 1978, possession of property suspected of being stolen in 1980, and the possession of an instmment for smoking (dope) and fraud in Brisbane in 1982, When approached in Kuranda a week ago while handing out Mr Bucks's literature, he advised that he could be contacted at 312 Sheridan Street, Caims, the address of a number of Cape Tribulation Road protesters. I am sure that the vast majority of responsible Queenslanders who are concemed about environmental issues would dismiss Mr Fast Bucks's so-caUed campaign on conservation issues as a sick joke, were it not for his criminal backgroimd. The only thing fast about this gentleman is the speed with which he and his associates break the law. PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS Mr KRUGER (Murmmba) (11.16 a.m.), by leave: In this House on 30 August 1984, the member for Pine Rivers said— "Queensland has set the pace for Handihomes and in my area of Pine Rivers the first Handihome has been opened." At the time, I said that the first Handihome in the State was being built at Kallangur, in the middle of the electorate of Murmmba.