28 Nov 1996 Ministerial Statement 4525 THURSDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 1996 Suncorp/QIDC/Metway merger. Capital investment in all sectors remains strong, despite what the Opposition may say. A $4 billion capital works program is under way. In Mr SPEAKER (Hon. N. J. Turner, Nicklin) short, we have been in the business of actively read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. governing the State and have presided over major development activities in all regions from north to south and east to west. PROCEDURE FOR QUESTIONS ON NOTICE In the area of electricity, the Government moved swiftly to ensure that the lights will not Mr SPEAKER: Order! I wish to draw to go out in Queensland. We initiated the recent the attention of honourable members the open megawatt electricity bidding process, Standing and Sessional Orders relating to the with the result that new power generation asking of questions on notice. Sessional Order plants will be built by the private sector at 68 states that questions should be brief and Mount Stuart and Yabulu, both near relate to an issue. While almost all questions Townsville, and another at Oakey, on the being asked do conform with the Sessional Darling Downs. Construction of the new Mount Order, on occasions questions have been Stuart gas turbine plant will cost in excess of asked which have been unduly lengthy. I ask $90m and will employ approximately 30 all members to keep questions on notice as contract personnel. The project will provide brief as possible and to relate them to one 288 megawatts to the electricity grid. issue only. I shall be closely monitoring Meanwhile, at Yabulu, 15 kilometres north questions in future and will enforce the west of Townsville, a 134 megawatt gas Standing and Sessional Orders where turbine power plant will be constructed at a necessary. cost of approximately $60m, employing 20 An Opposition member interjected. people during construction. Power is expected Mr SPEAKER: Order! That was my from both plants by 1 January 1999. statement. It was not prepared by anyone Mr McGRADY: I rise to a point of order. else. I ask the Treasurer to rephrase the word she has just used. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Mr SPEAKER: Order! I refer the member to my statement yesterday. I have Queensland Development Activity asked members not to rise on frivolous points Hon. J. M. SHELDON (Caloundra— of order. I warn the member under Standing Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Order 123A. The member will not rise on other The Arts) (9.32 a.m.), by leave: The frivolous points of order today. Opposition would have the people of Mrs SHELDON: Interestingly, that point Queensland believe that development activity of order was raised by the failed Minister for under way in Queensland is subdued. Mr Minerals and Energy, under whose great Speaker, I assure you that that could not be stewardship this State was plunged into further from the truth, and today I will place on darkness. record details of some of the major projects currently under way or at an advanced stage Four kilometres west of Oakey, a 318 of consideration in Queensland. megawatt power plant, fired primarily by natural gas, will be constructed at a cost in I will refer in more detail to specific excess of $140m. Power from this plant for the projects shortly, but I can summarise by Queensland electricity grid is expected by mentioning that the National/Liberal January 2000. Government has actively managed the development of new power generating plants I turn now to the Government's $1 billion in Townsville and on the Darling Downs, made Water Infrastructure Package. We are decisions regarding the upgrading of the committed to responsible planning for this Pacific Highway in the south, and has major investment. Consequently, an facilitated the development of major new independent task force has been established mining projects and gas pipelines across the and has reported both to the Minister for State. Mines and Energy and me. Meanwhile, the Government has not sat on its hands. We have a $1 billion Water Infrastructure Package, including the construction of dams Opposition members interjected. and pipelines. We have also committed to the Mrs SHELDON: The Opposition really national electricity grid and the does not wish to hear all of this good news 4526 Ministerial Statement 28 Nov 1996 about Queensland and what we, as a coalition The Queensland gas industry is booming, Government, are doing in this State. with some important major projects under way. The impact assessment study for the After the successful sale of the State gas Dawson River dam will be finalised early next Pipeline, some people may have thought that year. Demand surveys for the Dawson and the Government would sit back and relax. Comet River dams have also been completed Certainly, that is not what this Government is and show demand in excess of 1 million doing. We set about putting in place megalitres per annum by the year 2005. A arrangements for the construction of an 800 working group has been established in kilometre gas pipeline from the Rolleston to oversee the relocation of the Cooper/Eromanga Basin in south-west town. Aboriginal cultural and heritage studies Queensland to Mount Isa. A preliminary route in relation to the Dawson River dam will be for the pipeline has already been identified, finished by December. In relation to the Comet and agreement reached in July this year with River dam, terms of reference for the cultural MIM to supply Mica Creek power station with and heritage studies are soon to be finalised gas following its conversion and expansion and tenders are out for consultants to perform from coal. The pipeline will also supply MIM's the impact assessment studies. smelting operations and other mine sites in the Mount Isa area with natural gas. Mr Hamill interjected. Other gas pipeline projects are under Mrs SHELDON: The Opposition really active consideration, including Gladstone to does not wish to hear good news about south-east Queensland, central Queensland Queensland, whether it is about jobs, to Townsville and Townsville to Papua New development or even the sporting Guinea. These pipelines, should they go achievements of our great nation and State. ahead, will provide significant investment Members opposite are a group of whingers, opportunities and provide great stimulus to the whiners and knockers. Queensland economy. Indeed, Queensland Expansion of the capacity of the Bedford now leads Australia in gas infrastructure Weir is currently under way and investigations development, current and planned. I also are under way in relation to other weirs. In mention that the new owner of the State gas addition, the Minister for Natural Resources pipeline has secured new customers in has recently announced the construction of a Gladstone and anticipates increasing weir on Warril Creek. Work on the 113 throughput by some 25 per cent in the first kilometre north-west Queensland water year of ownership. That is certainly a pipeline is under way and continuing on magnificent performance. schedule. The pipeline will take water from There is much to be excited about in the Lake Julius, north of Mount Isa, and supply Queensland mining industry, as numerous the Ernest Henry mine, north east of major projects are currently under way Cloncurry. In addition, the construction throughout the State. These projects provide contract for the $60m Eungella pipeline in Queensland with great opportunities for job central Queensland was recently awarded to creation, export growth and an improvement Leighton Contractors. All of these to Australia's balance of trade. Near Moranbah developments mean more jobs for in central Queensland, Shell Coal is currently Queenslanders. developing the Moranbah North coalmine at a The Government recognises also the cost of $500m. The mine is located in an area enormous potential of the Surat Basin/Dawson containing vast reserves of high-quality coking Valley region in agriculture, mining and value coal and will supply the export market with coal adding. On 5 October 1996, we initiated an through the Dalrymple Bay coal terminal. Mr expressions of interest process for the Speaker, as you would know, over the provision of necessary infrastructure which will weekend the Premier and I launched the facilitate further development in the region. extension to the Dalrymple Bay coal terminal. The response has been overwhelming and Development work is continuing 50 there was the biggest ever meeting in Dalby of kilometres north east of Emerald in financiers and others in the private sector preparation for the installation of what will be interested in cooperating with the Australia's longest longwall machine in the development of the Surat Basin/Dawson near future. The 2.5 million tonnes of coal Valley. As I said, this represents an exciting produced per year from this mine will be opportunity for the private sector to participate processed and railed to Gladstone and Hay in the opening up of the Surat/Dawson area. Point for export to overseas power stations This will create an economic boost to and jobs and steel mills. At Mount Isa, construction is for our State. under way on a mine which will take over as 28 Nov 1996 Ministerial Statement 4527 Mount Isa's main copper-producing area. The Censorship is a matter that affects all mine will exploit the vast reserves of copper Queenslanders through what they see, hear ore located deep below the surface and bring and read every day. It is vital that as informed a new lease of life to the city. The mine parents and concerned citizens we development is in conjunction with the $210m understand, appreciate and apply these upgrade and expansion of the existing Mount guidelines to our media habits.