Legislative Assembly Hansard 1985
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 27 AUGUST 1985 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Papers 27 August 1985 141 TUESDAY, 27 AUGUST 1985 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. H. Wamer, Toowoomba South) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m. ASSENT TO BILL Appropriation Bill (No. 1) Mr SPEAKER: I have to report that on 23 August 1985 I presented to His Excellency the Govemor Appropriation Bill (No. 1) for the Royal Assent and that His Excellency was pleased, in my presence, to subscribe his assent thereto in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty. PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Minimum Penalties for Child Abuse From Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (2 637 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland wiU set down minimum penalties for child abuse. Third-party Insurance Premiums From Mr Warburton (40 152 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will revoke the recent increases in third-party insurance and ensure that future increases be determined after public hearing. Petitions received. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table— Proclamations under— Foresty Act 1959-1984 Constmction Safety Act Amendment Act 1985 State Enterprises Acts Repeal Act 1983 Eraser Island Public Access Act 1985 Orders in Council under— Legislative Assembly Act 1867-1978 Forestry Act 1959-1984 Harbours Act 1955-1982 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Workers' Compensation Act 1916-1983 Auctioneers and Agents Act 1971-1981 Supreme Court Act of 1921 Money Lenders Act 1916-1979 Building Societies Act 1985 Magistrate Courts Act 1921-1982 Co-operative and Other Societies Act 1967-1978 Tmstee Companies Act 1968-1984 Justices Act 1886-1985 Real Property Act 1861-1981 142 27 August 1985 Papers District Courts Act 1967-1982 State Securities Registration Act 1925-1981 Judges' Salaries and Pensions Act 1967-1984 ChUdren's Services Act 1965-1982 National Parks and WUdUfe Act 1975-1984 Fauna Conservation Act 1974-1984 Fauna Conservation Act 1974-1984 and the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1975-1984 Land Act 1962-1985 Newstead House Tmst Act of 1939 Queensland FUm Industry Development Act 1977-1981 Regulations under— PubUc Service Act 1922-1978 Motor Vehicles Insurance Act 1936-1979 Constmction Safety Act 1971-1985 Private Employment Agencies Act 1983 Industry and Commerce Training Act 1979-1983 Factories and Shops Act 1960-1983 Industrial ConcUiation and Arbitration Act 1961-1985 Weights and Measures Act 1951-1983 Inspection of Machinery Act 1951-1982 Workers' Compensation Act 1916-1983 Elections Act 1983 Land Sales Act 1984-1985 BUls of Sale and Other Instmments Act 1955-1981 Auctioneers and Agents Act 1971-1981 Business Names Act 1962-1979 Cash Orders Regulation Acts, 1946 to 1959 Money Lenders Act 1916-1979 Invasion of Privacy Act 1971 -1981 Co-operative and Other Societies Act 1967-1978 Co-operative Housing Societies Act 1958-1974 Friendly Societies Act 1913-1982 Liquor Act 1912-1984 Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act 1962-1982 Recording of Evidence Acts, 1962 to 1968 Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980-1984 Property Law Act 1974-1985 Art Unions and Amusements Act 1976-1984 Collections Act 1966-1981 Associations Incorporation Act 1981 Justices of the Peace Act 1975 Funeral Benefit Business Act 1982 SmaU Claims Tribunals Act 1973-1984 Ministerial Statement 27 August 1985 143 Building Societies Act 1985 Public Tmstee Act 1978-1981 Censorships of Films Act 1947-1984 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1975-1984 Films Review Act 1974-1984 Fauna Conservation Act 1974-1984 By-laws under the Harbours Act 1955-1982 Rules under the Coroners Act 1958-1982 Report of the Companies and Securities Law Review Committee for the period 1 January to 30 June 1984. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Application by Junefair Pty Ltd for Totalisator Administration Board Subagency Hon. R. J. HINZE (South Coast—Minister for Local Govemment, Main Roads and Racing) (11.9 a.m.), by leave: AU honourable members wiU be aware of aUegations that have been made by honourable members opposite in recent days conceming the decision by the Totalisator Administration Board to recommend to me an appUcation by Junefair Pty Ltd for a TAB subagency at the Oxenford Tavem. One of the principal allegations made by those who have no knowledge of the realities of life when it comes to the operation of TAB subagencies is that the operation of a subagency is a money-making operation. A memorandum, dated 23 August last, sent to me by the general manager of the TAB (Mr Harriott) answers that allegation. It will set the record straight and give honourable members an idea what this is aU about. The memorandum reads— "Regarding sub-agency operations, the sub-agent receives no rental retum whatsoever from the T.A.B. as the conditions of a sub-agency caU for that sub- agent to provide premises and any attendant costs of premises such as Ught and power. The sub-agent's reimbursement is limited to a percentage retum on turnover with a minimum weekly payment of $125.00 or two and a half per cent of weekly turnover. The sub-agent is also required to provide all necessary staffing and no reimbursement is available to him from the T.A.B. for those costs. Taking these factors into consideration, it is estimated that the operation of a sub-agency with an initial tumover of approximately five thousand doUars ($5,000) per week would cost the sub-agent in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,Q00) per year for the first year of operation, together with an amortisation of costs involved in building and setting up a sub-agency. Where a sub-agency is operated in separate premises as is proposed in this case, it is estimated that a tumover of at least fifteen thousand doUars ($15,000) per week would be required before a break-even point is possible. Again in this case, it is estimated that it could take up to two years to reach that point." I will be tabling the document. One of the most serious allegations that can be made against a Minister is that he has misled the Parliament. Last Thursday in this House the honourable member for Salisbury (Mr Goss) said— "The Minister made a statement in this House on 23 August 1984 and that has proved to be not tme." The honourable member for Salisbury made that statement in reply to an interjection from the honourable member for Ashgrove (Mr Veivers). I understand that those two members are at loggerheads now. Tommy is crooked on the honourable member for 144 27 August 1985 Ministerial Statement Salisbury for stealing his thunder. The honourable member for Salisbury mshed in here, bignoting himself As I said, the honourable member for Salisbury made that statement in reply to an interjection from the honourable member for Ashgrove, as reported in Hansard— "He has misled the House as well." The honourable member for Salisbury agreed with the honourable member for Ashgrove. The honourable member for Salisbury said also— "The member for Ashgrove is right." I refer to the following statement that I made on 23 August 1984 in this House, which replied to allegations made at that time by the honourable member for Ashgrove— "With regard to an application to the TAB for a licence—anybody who owns what he considers to be a suitable site can lodge such an application. In this case, the reply from the TAB was that at this time it did not believe that an agency was required in the area and that it would reconsider the application in 12 months' time." That is the cmx of my statement on that day, and I believe that the honourable member for Salisbury and the honourable member for Ashgrove were referring to it when they made their allegations last Thursday that I had misled the House. That statement was based on a letter dated 30 May 1984 from the then chairman of the TAB (Sir Edward Lyons) to the solicitors acting for Junefair Pty Ltd, one of the two applicants who at that time had applied to the board for a licence. That letter read— "With reference to previous correspondence regarding the establishment of T.A.B. facilities in the Oxenford area, my Board directed the Executive to carry out a full survey in Oxenford, and the results of the survey were discussed at a Board meeting on 29th May, 1984. The survey shows clearly that a full agency operation could not, with the findings of the survey, be justified under any circumstances at this time. With regard to conducting an operation in other business premises, it is considered that even this level of service would not be viable at this stage. In view of all the facts placed before the Board, it was decided that a T.A.B. service in this area is not warranted at this time, but the area will be re-surveyed in twelve months' time to examine the growth and development of this general area, and establish if a T.A.B. installation is desirable and, if so, just what location would give the best T.A.B. service to the pubUc." An identical letter was sent to Mr and Mrs Frith, and I will table copies of both. In view of that irrefutable evidence, which completely rejects the allegations made in this place last Thursday by the honourable member for Salisbury and the honourable member for Ashgrove, I call upon both to withdraw and apologise. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will have to discuss that matter with the Clerk. Mr HINZE: Thank you for your mling, Mr Speaker.