Hansard 6 October 1993
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Legislative Assembly 4727 6 October 1993 WEDNESDAY, 6 OCTOBER 1993 The following papers were laid on the table— (a) The Premier and Minister for Economic and Trade Development (Mr W Goss)— Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) Australian Financial Institutions read prayers and took the chair at 2.30 p.m. Commission—Annual Report 1992–93 PETITIONS (b) Minister for Transport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Economic and The Clerk announced the receipt of the Trade Development (Mr Hamill)— following petitions— Department of Transport—Annual Report 1992–93 Sunshine Motorway Queensland Railways—Annual From Mr Laming (11 signatories) praying Report 1992–93 for the development of a 24-hour service (c) Minister for Justice and Attorney–General station to replace the existing Mooloolaba toll and Minister for the Arts (Mr Wells)— booth on the Sunshine Motorway. Criminal Justice Commission— Annual Report 1992–93 Child Molesters (d) Minister for Health (Mr Hayward)— From Mr Campbell (29 signatories) Queensland Institute of Medical praying that the parole period be removed Research—Annual Report 1992–93 when sentencing child molesters, that Queensland Institute of Medical offenders are given and serve maximum Research Trust—Annual Report sentences and that their names be released 1992–93. for publication. STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS Traffic Lights, Mooloolaba In accordance with the schedule From Mr Laming (188 signatories) circulated by the Clerk to members in the praying that traffic lights be installed at the Chamber, the following documents were corner of Tarcoola Avenue and Brisbane tabled— Road, Mooloolaba. Auctioneers and Agents Act— Auctioneers and Agents (Declaration of Kindergarten Funding Banks) Amendment Order (No. 2) 1993, From Mr Welford (105 signatories) No. 353 praying that sufficient funds be provided in the Cairns Casino. Agreement Act— 1993-94 Budget to enable State Education Cairns Casino Agreement Regulation Department Subsidies (SEDS) to continue to 1993, No. 361 provide adequate funding for community Clean Air Act— kindergartens and that extra funding be also Clean Air (Prohibition of Use of Leaded provided for the Creche and Kindergarten Fuel Oil) Regulation 1993, No. 368 Association. Credit Act— Credit (Continuing Credit Contracts— Youth Crime Fees and Charges) Amendment Order From Mr Stoneman (1 839 signatories) (No. 2) 1993, No. 362 praying that police numbers be increased and Harbours Act— that laws be amended to provide parents, Harbours (Ports Corporation) Amendment teachers, police and the courts with sufficient By–law (No. 1) 1993, No. 363 powers to effectively deal with youth crime. Health Act— Refuse Management Amendment Education Regulation (No. 2) 1993, No. 367 From Mr Littleproud (138 signatories) Health Services Act— praying that funding allocation for the State Health Services (Public Hospitals Fees Education Department (SEDS) Program be and Charges) Amendment Regulation not reduced. (No. 2) 1993, No. 358 Petitions received. Land Act— PAPERS 6 October 1993 4728 Legislative Assembly Land Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 1993, Department of Transport Estimates, I have No. 357 arranged with the Queensland Rail Board to Lands Legislation Amendment Regulation provide to the House an advance copy for the (No. 2) 1993, No. 356 benefit of members. Lands Legislation Amendment Act— Ordered to be printed. Lands Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 1993, No. 356 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Proclamation—the provisions of the Act not in force commence 17 September Director, Queensland Government Office, 1993, No 355 Tokyo; Mr R. Tilley Mining (Fossicking) Act— Hon. W. K. GOSS (Logan—Premier and Mining (Fossicking) Amendment Minister for Economic and Trade Regulation (No. 1) 1993, No. 360 Development) (2.35 p.m.), by leave: The Proclamation—declaring procedures for position of the Director, Queensland the prospecting, exploring or mining in Government Office, Japan was advertised the Yowah Designated Area, No. 359 nationally in Australia on 12, 18 and 19 June Public Trustee Act— of this year and in Japan on 15 June. Advertisements appeared in the Courier-Mail, Public Trustee Amendment Regulation the Australian, the Australian Financial (No. 3) 1993, No. 352 Review, the Japan Times and the Queensland Public Trustee Amendment Regulation Government Gazette. (No. 4) 1993, No. 366 In response, there were 47 applicants, Pyramid Selling Schemes (Elimination) Act— from which a short list of six was drawn up. Pyramid Selling Schemes (Elimination) The interview panel consisted of Mr Harris, Exemption Regulation 1993, No. 354 Executive Director, Trade and Investment State Housing Act— Development Division; Mr Richard McAlary, State Housing Interest Rate Order (No. 2) Director (Operations) of the division; Mr Greg 1993, No. 365 Dodds, Executive General Manager, North State Housing (Freeholding of Land) Act— Asia, Australian Embassy, Tokyo; and Mr Ross Willims, Deputy Director General, Office State Housing (Freeholding of Land) of Cabinet. It was the unanimous decision of Interest Rate Order (No. 2) 1993, No. 364. the interview panel that the job be offered to Mr Tilley, one of the short-listed applicants. ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN CHAMBER As well as normal checks for such a Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable senior position, inquiries were made with members, I just heard a member’s beeper go appropriate law enforcement authorities in off. I am going to start taking action against both Australia and Japan because of the members who do not turn off their beepers sensitive nature of the position. Advice was when they come into the House. Similarly, I do sought and obtained through diplomatic not believe that members are entitled to channels from the Japanese National Police actually lean over and have telephone Agency. The National Police Agency of Japan conversations in the Chamber, either. confirmed that it had approached Mr Tilley when seeking information in relation to the activities of a person who was the subject of QUEENSLAND RAIL; TRANSPORT an investigation in Japan. The National Police DEPARTMENT Agency of Japan advised that Mr Tilley was Annual Reports not implicated and was not under suspicion of Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich—Minister for having criminal involvement. Transport and Minister Assisting the Premier On 23 July, following an approach from on Economic and Trade Development) (2.33 Mr Harris of my department, the Criminal p.m.): I lay upon the table of the House the Justice Commission advised officers of my annual reports of the Department of Transport department that a review of its holdings and and Queensland Rail, both for the year ended information from other agencies indicated that 30 June 1993. nothing adverse was known about Mr Tilley. My department sought and obtained this I draw the attention of the House to the advice in writing from the CJC and the fact that, while Queensland Rail will be National Police Agency of Japan. At the same publishing its annual report later this month, in time, it was confirmed that Mr Tilley had been view of the importance of rail to the interviewed for the position of Investment Legislative Assembly 4729 6 October 1993 Commissioner at the Australian Embassy in Finally, officers of my department have Tokyo and had been found to be the most been kept abreast of the Criminal Justice suitable candidate. Commission’s inquiries into this matter. This Following all of this information being morning, the CJC told my department that, as sought and obtained, an offer was made to its investigations were continuing, it was the Mr Tilley, and he was appointed as a commission’s view that it was inappropriate for temporary employee under the provisions of any further details of the matter to be made section 34 of the Public Service Management public. and Employment Act 1988. This was to enable him to gain familiarity with the MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Government’s trade and investment operations, pending the final agreement on Child Protection Register contractual arrangements. Subsequently, the Hon. A. M. WARNER (South Criminal Justice Commission received Brisbane—Minister for Family Services and information from another agency which led to Aboriginal and Islander Affairs) (2.40 p.m.), by the undertaking of further inquiries and, in leave: I rise to clarify the concerns raised by turn, resulted in its bringing matters of concern the Ombudsman about my department’s child to the Government’s attention. This led to the protection register, and to allay some of the CJC revising its own view on the fears which may have been generated by the appropriateness of Mr Tilley’s appointment. misreporting of the Ombudsman’s report. On 2 September, the then acting director- The issue of child abuse is a sensitive general received written advice from the CJC one within our society. Queensland families on this matter. are entitled to have the debate about how we, The Governor in Council subsequently as a society, deal with child abuse in a determined that Mr Tilley not be appointed measured, reasoned and rational manner. Director of the Government Office in Japan, Child abuse is one of the basic causes of and his temporary employment under section many social problems which face us today. 34 of the relevant legislation was terminated. Child abuse is preventable; it is avoidable; it is It has to be clearly stated that, contrary to not in the category of accidental tragedy. claims by the member for Surfers Paradise, Mr Officers of my department have the Tilley was never appointed by the Governor in unenviable task of intervening