Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
THURSDAY, 17 OCTOBER 1974
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
.Ministerial Statement [17 OCTOBER 1974) :Hinisterial Statement 1399
THURSDAY, 17 OCTOBER 1974 requested the concurrence of the Queens land Government in such a proposal within three weeks in order that substantial building work on the hospital take place early in Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. W. H. Lonergan, the New Year. Flinders) read prayers and took the chair Leaving aside for the present any com at 11 a.m. ment upon the inordinate haste which he sought to impose on the Queensland Govern PAPERS ment in arriving at a decision on a matter of such importance, I have to tell honour The following papers were laid on the able members that there are reasons of great table, and ordered to be printed:- weight which impelled us to suggest for the Bdance Sheet and Profit and Loss Account Prime Minister's consideration an alternative of the Public Curator for the year proposal to h!s request that we surrender 1973-74. the Mt. Gravatt project to the Common The following papers were laid on the wealth. table:- Mr. Hrom!ey: It is over 25 years since a Report of the Legal Assistance Committee major hospital was built in Brisbane. of Queensland for the year 1973-74. Mr. TOOTH: Mr. Speaker, the statement Orders in Council under- that I am making is an extremely important Money Lenders Act 1916-1973. one. Judges' Salaries and Pensions Act 1967- Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The honourable 1973. member for South Brisbane will cease The State Electricity Commission Acts. interjecting. 1937 to 1965. Mr. TOOTH: The development of a major The Southern Electric AuthoTity of hospital at that location with the has!e Queensland Acts, 1952 to 1964. which the Commonwealth clearly has m Regulations under mind were it possible of accomplishment, Elections Act 1915-1973. which I gravely doubt, would dislocate the Hospitals Act 1936-1971. entire forw;trd-planning programme of hos Fire Brigades Act 1964-1973. pital construction in the metropolitan and south-east region of this State. Planning is currently under way, and in ;;ever~] areas construction is well advanced which w1ll MINISTERIAL STATEMENT provide for this region within the next five MT. GRAVATT HOSPITAL; ALTERNATIVE TO to seven years approximately 1,000 addi COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL tional acute beds. These include 200-230 beds in stage l of a ne\> hospital at Mt. Hon. S. D. TOOTH (Ashgrove-Minister Gravatt as well as major additions at Royal for Health) (11.5 a.m.): In late September, Brisban~, Princess Alcxandra. Redcliffe, the Premier received from the Prime Minis Nambour, Ipswich, Southport, and Cherm ter a letter, outlining certain proposals for side. These activities are all inter-related in for a Development Programme for Austra a co-ordinated plan which also takes lian Hospitals. This w'as based upon the cognisance of proposed developments in ''Report on Ho-;pitals in Australia" made by church and private projects and of com the Hospital and Health Services Commis munity health services centres which sion and outlined the Prime Minister's views Queensland IS providing as rapidly as regarding preliminary moves towards the possible. implementation of that report. The provision of ho'>pital beds today is In addition. the Prime Minister indicated very costly both in terms of money and of his desire to undertake certain initiatives in trained professional personnel, and it is respect of the construction of what he economically necessar: and essential from described as Australian Government Hospi a staffing-resources point of view to time tals to be located in Sydney, Melbourne, and the provision of additional beds with the Brisbane. These proposals had been released changing needs of the populations they are to the Press on the previous week-end, and to serve. For example, the planning to date received widespread publicity. They were at Mt. Gravatt has been directed towards an additional to, and indeed in marked conflict area of special need-an obstetrical unit with, recommendations in the "Report on which will ultimately form part of the Hospitals in Australia", and in consequence over-all Mt. Gravatt complex, and a new were received with considerable surprise both teaching hospital, completely up-to-date in in official and unofficial circles. concent to integrate with a new university In respect of Queensland, I refer in par medic~{ school, which it is envisaged may ticular to a statement in the Prime Minister's come into existence at Grifflth University, letter that he saw clear advantages in the Mt. Gravatt, in the 1980's. Commonwealth Government's assuming full This brings me to another point of responsibility for the development of the major importance, namely, the fact that the major acute hospital at Mt. Gravatt, and new Griffith University at Mt. Gravatt is 1400 Ministerial Statement [17 OcTOBER 1974] Questions Upon Notice
being established on very modern educa beds in its general paediatric and obstetrical tional principles, involving innovations both wings. 1t is a teaching hospital for purposes in planning and structure on the campus of the Queensland University at St. Lucia. and in the academic approach to university The Mater Hospital authorities have been work. lt is hoped in developing the teaching recognised by this State as partners in the hospital to be able to relate as closely as provision of public hospital facilities in the possible to the university, consistent with metropolitan area of Brisbane. The funds adhering to the primary purpose of the of the Order have not been sufficient up to hospital, the provision of patient care, and the present to enable them to moun! ~ny the provision of such care at the time when major capital rebuilding or refurbtshmg the need for it becomes apparent. programme in respect of their general acute These considerations obviously conflict hospital, which now urgently needs to be with any hasty development at Mt. Gravatt completely rebuilt. They have, however, in advance of community needs and with provided plans for this purpose, and these the type of stereotyped and uniform pattern plans are well advanced-so far advanced, which I understand is envisaged for the indeed, that it would be possible to begin so-called Australian hospitals in the three operations before Christmas this year. eastern capitals. If the Commonwealth Government were My justification for making this comment to offer financial assistance to the Mater lies in the fact that I have become aware of Misericordiae Public Hospital authorities to approaches made to firms of architects in enable them to proceed with their major Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane for the reconstruction and redevelopment pro provision of plans for rapid implementation gramme, we feel sure that this offer would of Australian Government hospitals, and it be favourably regarded. Not only would appears that, to save time, uniform planning the assistance of the Commonwealth then is contemplated. It is apparent that the prin be directed to a most worthy organisation, cipal criterion is to be speed to enable the but it would merge into the total prog1 amme Prime Minister or some other Common for the State without creating any imb:1lance wealth dignitary to turn sods or lay stones or distortion and would provide the quickest early in the New Year. Attempts to provide avenue by ~hich Commonwealth assistance instant, uniformly designed hospitals must could be made available to Quee;1sland be deplored and cannot effectively be inte patients. grated into the careful professional planning of our hospital programme. It is devoutly hoped that this suggestion will commend itself to the Prime Minister. In addition to the foregoing, the Queens The need for rebuilding at the Mater is land Government has strong reservations as urgent and the State Government has already to the constitutional rights of the Common committed approximately $2,000,000 for wealth to enter in this manner the field of capital assistance towards extensions and health delivery services, which has always renovations at the Mater. Further State been accepted as an area of State responsi assistance has been the subject of negotia bility. tion, but our resources are committed over Having in mind, however, the expressed a wide field, and progress would therefor.e desire of the Prime Minister to assist State be slow. If the Prime Minister will commtt Governments in the financing of the building the $20,000,000 he has reserved, and make and operation of hospitals, we have suggested it available for the Mater, the rapid for consideration an alternative proposal restructuring on Mater Hill will be of early which would allow the Commonwealth to and immense benefit to Brisbane and contribute substantially towards the develop Queensland. ment of essential hospital services in this State and would provide the means whereby Government Members: Hear, hear! Commonwealth money could be used in this State almost immediately in this financial year. QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE I speak now, of course, in respect of the ADVERTISEMENT OF Po·;niONS IN special finance which has been announced CORPORATE AFFAIRS OFFICE in the Press as being available for the con Mr. Tucker, pursuant to notice, asked The struction of a hospital in this State-a figure Premier,- of $20,000,000. For the information of honourable members, I outline the alterna ( 1 ) What was the cost of the advertise tive suggestion which the honourable the ment in The Courier-Mail of October 12 Premier has submitted to the Prime Minister. calling for legal and accounting practi tioners in the Corporate Affairs Office? As members know, the Sisters of Mercy conduct a completely public hospital in (2) ln what other media was the adver Brisbane in the Mater Misericordiae Hospi tisement inserted and at what cost in tals complex at South Brisbane. These each? hospitals provide free public inpatient treat ment to those requiring it, as well as free (3) Of all the positions advertised, such casualty and outpatient services at the as commissioner, assistant commissioner, hospital. The hospital provides 400 public inspectors, assistant inspectors, exr.miner Questions Upon Notice (17 0CTOBER!J974] Questions Upon Notice 1401
clerks, registrar and field officer, which quotas which applied to the first re-dis are at present occupied by appointed public tribution under the Act is therefore made servants and what is the reason for adver on incorrect premises. If the principles tising them as vacancies? prescribed by the Act were applied to enrolments as at September 30 last, the ( 4) As the detailed advertisement goes fresh quotas so ascertained would reflect beyond the usual action on reclassification. the increase in electoral population since why is the pre,ent staff being held up December 31, 1970, and result in a to public ridicule and what other indig higher quota in every zone and area. I nities or interruption to their careers can table a statement showing the districts they anticipate? which are above or below the 20 per cent. variation in such fresh quotas. It will Answers:- be noted that in the South-Eastern Zone (1 and 2) "The advertisement appeared eight districts are above the maximum once' only in The Courier-Mail, Sydney variation. In each of the Provincial Cities Morning Herald and Melbourne Age of Zone and the Western and Far-Northern October 12, and in The Australian and Zone one district is above the maximum Financial Review of October 16. No variation." accounts have yet been received." Papers.-Whercupon Mr. Knox laid upon (3) "As a resu:t of a complete inspec the Table of the House the informa tion of the office of the Commissioner for tion and statement referred to. Corporate Affai·rs, the functions of the office have been regrouped and the organisation of the office has been com pletely restructured. The responsibilities METAL CONTAMINATION OF MARINE of many positions, including those to LIFE which the Honourable Member's Question Mr. B. Wood, pursuant to notice, asked refers, have been substantially altered The Minister for Health,- from those in the existing organisation and the classifications of these positions ( 1) Which species of aquatic fauna are have been varied, although in certain t.;sted for contamination by mercury, cad cases the designations used are similar." mium, lead ~md other heavy metals? ( 4) "Where special qualifications are (2) With what frequency. in what num required, it is the usual practice to adver bers and from which localities are marine tise such positions in the daily Press, in animals sampled and tested for heavy addition to the Government Gazette. In metal contamination? no way does this hold the present staff ( 3) What were the average and maxi to public ridicule. In fact, the restructur mum levels of each metal found in each ing of the office of the Commissioner for species, in each locality, over the last 12 Corporate Affairs now provides a wider months? career structure with more promotional opportunities available." ( 4) What are the expected background or base-line levels of each metal in each locality?
ELECTORAL DISTRICT ENROLMENTS Answers:- Mr. Tucker, pursuant to notice, asked The ( 1) "The Government Chemical Minister for Justice,- Laboratory has tested the following species ( 1) What were the enrolments in each for mercury: jewfish, mullet, bream, fiat of the 82 State electorates as at September head, tailor, mackerel, sweetlip, prawns, 30? crab, tuna, black bream, whiting, ray, shark and oysters. In addition, oysters (2) What was the percentage variation have been analysed for zinc, cadmium, in each electorate on the quota set under lead and copper." the Act? (2) "The species are examined as they Answers:- appear on the various fish markets throughout the State." ( 1) "I table the information requested by the Honourable Member." (3) 'These figures are not readily avail able but I will communicate further with (2) "The Electoral Districts Act 1971 the Honourable Member on the Question." also provided for future re-distributions and for the ascertainment of fresh quotas ( 4) "There is no data available on this based upon the number of electors Question. Sampling of tidal estuary enrolled for all the ex1stmg districts waters is being carried out as a current within the zone or area as at December project by the Water Quality Council. I 31 in the calendar year preceding the am advised that the question of con appointment of commissioners. The tamination of fish and oysters with heavy relating of existing enrolments to the metals is under active consideration by 1402 Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1974] Quf'stions Upon Notice
the Food Standards Committee of the (2) What was the cost of public.ttion? National Health and Medical Research ( 3) Who printed the booklet? Council." Answer:- (! to 3) "10,000 copies were published ALLEGED POISONING OF ETNA CREEK by Watson, Ferguson and Company, South PRISONERS Brisbane, at a cost of $2,942.55." Mr. Wright, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Tourism,- ( 1 ) With reference to the p~raquat COMM.ONWEALTH NEGOTIATION OF poisoning of two Etna Creek pnsoners, PUBLIC LOAN IN GERMANY resulting in the death of one, did the Mr. Hinze, pursuant to notice, asked The po;soning occur as a result of prisoners Treasurer,- making an alcoholic beverage by mixing ( 1) Is he aware of an announcement vanilla essence and methylated spirits in by the Commonwealth Treasurer on Sep a gramoxone weedicide container? tember 19, wherein he stated that the (2) Will he investigate the allegations Government was negotiating a public loan that prisoners in all Queensland prisons in Germany for an the need for relief to the liquidity situa RECONSTRUCTION OF MACKAY tion has been quite apparent, one of the BASE HOSPITAL particular problems faced by the States Mr. Casey, pursuant to notice, asked The being the grave difliculty experienced by Minister for Health,- semi-governmental authorities in raising ( I ) Have the plans and specifications for loans to fill their current year's programs. the second stage of the reconstruction of In these circums:ances, it is preferred that the Mackay Base Hospital been completed there should be as little competition as and have they been approved by his possible from Commonwealth loan department? If not, what is causing the raisings." delay? (3 and 4) "It has, as the Honourable (2) When will the construction of stage Member suggests, been a matter of some two commence and what facilities will it concern to the States over a period of provide? many years that the Commonwealth Gov ernment has financed most of its own Answers:- capital expenditure from revenue while the ( 1) "Sketch plans prepared by the States have built up huge debts. Further, Mackay Hospitals Board's architects for it is true that the Commonwealth denied the new ward block at Mackay Hospital the States' request for a reasonable addi were referred to the Department of tion to their financial assistance grants Works for examination. As a result of for the current year. However, I would advice from that department and with the not accept that such denial was related concurrence of the hospitals board dis to any difficulty in meeting the cost of cussions have been held between officers additional grants. The Commonwealth of this department, the Department of in 1974-75 budgeted for a deficit of Works and the board's architects with a $570 million but such was after taking view to finalising acceptable plans. This into account monies to be provided to has now been achieved and the hospitals the States on a loan basis, assisted by board has been informed." public borrowings, including $701 million (2) "The date for commencement of for the Loan Council borrowing pro construction of the new ward block will grammes, $235 million for housing and be dependent on the time taken by the approximately $70 million for sewerage. board's architects in the preparation of There is therefore ample scope within working drawings and specifications after the Commonwealth's revenue capabilities sketch plans have been approved and also to grant further assistance to the States upon the availability of loan finance. The if that Government had any desire to do new ward block to be constructed at so." Mackay Hospital will comprise three floors. The ground floor will contain outpatients, X-ray and rehabilitation medicine depart ments, casualty area and administration offices. The first and second floors will ROCLEIGH AND FORGAN SMJTU provide ward accommodation to a maxi BRIDGES, MACKAY mum of 140 beds including 20 private and intermediate beds." Mr. Casey, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Mines,- Further to my previous Questions regard ing the deteriorating condition of the RAILWAY GooDS SIDINGS, MACKAY Forgan Smith Bridge at Mackay and the Mr. Casey, pursuant to notice, asked The delayed construction of the Rocleigh Minister for Transport,- Bridge, and in view of the increasing delays caused to motorists on the Forgan Smith ( 1) What additional siding accommoda Bridge, will he consider calming the irate tion for the unloading of goods has been motorists of Mackay by having the con provided during the last three years at crete superstructure of the bridge painted, the Mackay railway goods yards? as it is in a dirty and stained conoition (2) Has this additional accommodation and is an eyesore? allowed the unloading operations in River Street to cease and, if not, when will they Answer:- cease? "The limited funds available for main (3) As siding <1CCommodation at tenance on the national highway requires Mackav is severely taxed and the unload priority to be given to more urgent works. ing operations in River Street are a :;evcre The amount of funds allocated to national traffic hazard. will he urgently consider highways by the Commonwealth for the establishment of additional siding 1974-75 is less than what the State pre accommodation at Paget Junction as the viously spent on these roads when it had first stage of the construction of a major full control of programmes." goods yard in that area? 1404 Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1974] Questions Upon Notice Answers: COMMONWEALTH ASSISTANCE f'OR (1) "Four." HOSPITAL SERVICES (2) "The only unloading operations Mr. Harris, pursuant to notice, asked The which take place in River Street are for !Vlin!ster for Health,- two firms located on the river bank. ( 1) Is he aware of a letter sent by Unloading is carried out on the warehouse the Prime Minister to the Premier in side only and not on the roadway side of which the Prime Minister gave an assur River Street." ance that the funds allocated by the Com (3) 'The siding capacity of the Mackay monwealth Government under the pro goods 5hed is adequate for requirements." gramme will not be offset against funds which would otherwise be made available by the Commonwealth Government? (2) In view of this assurance, on what TARlFF PROTECTION AND grounds does he claim that the Common EMPLOYMENT wealth proposal on the Mount Gravatt ~~r. Alison, pursuant to notice, asked The hospital impinges on State projects in Mm1stcr for Development,- Southport, Redcliffe, Nambour and Ipswich and the possibility of the long-awaited ( 1) Has his attention been drawn to the new general hospital in Wynnum? six-point plan of the Leader of the Opposition to overcome unemployment in Queensland? Answers:- (2) Would Mr. Tucker's efforts be best ( 1) "I am, of course, aware of the directed to his colleagues in Canberra to full contents of the official communica have the tariff barrier restored on certain tion from the Prime Minister 1·J the industries to protect Australian workers Premier of this State, concerning financial from unfair competition from coolie labour relations between the Commonwealth and in South-east Asia and also to assist the the State in respect of health services. I shipbuilding industry to become a viable am, however, surprised to learn that the proposition once again" Honourable Member is also privy to this communication, which it was assumed was (3) What has his department done to of a top-level confidential nature." promote industries and job opportunities in Queensland, in spite of the Common (2) "The Honourable Member has wealth Government's disastrous financial missed the point. If he carefully reads and economic policies which have thrown my earlier Ministerial Statement, he will thousands of Queenslanders out of work? notice that I emphasised the importance of, and necessity for, establishing a for ward planning programme in developing Answers: our hospital services-and then implement (1) "Yes." ing it. The proposal of the Prime Minister (2) "One does not have to possess cuts across this forward planning pro extra-sensory perception ,to realise that gramme, and if the Commonwealth hos the present high rate of unemployment pital were to be established at Mount throughout Australia stems directly from Gravatt in the time proposed t y the the economic policies pursued by the Prime Minister to meet his personal Commonwealth Government. Not only is desires, we could reach the position where the future of the nation's textile, clothing, mer~ beds would be available in the footwear, shipbuilding and furniture indus metropolitan area than the assessed needs. tries threatened, but many other sectors My reference to the possible deferment of of Australia's industrial structure are being extensions at Southport and Redclifl·~ hos progressively weakened. The Leader of the pitals was in the context that beds to be Opposition would certainly be doing a JVovidcd b/ the;e projected additional launching ramps and trailer industrie:; from one end of the nation to the parking facilities in the Wynnum, Manly other, as present policies are doing. The and Lota areas'? Federal Government. with whi,_h the Leader of the Opposition is closely allied, is doing Answer:- a great disservice to the nation by wrecking "Consideration is being given to the the economy through its policies. What [ provision of additional boat-launching cannot understand is that honourable mem facilities in the Wynnum, Manly and Lota bers opposite and their colleagues in Can areas." berra just cannot see what is happening to the people of our nation and our economy. That is why T say repeatedly that there is QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE no alternative to getting rid of the Govern FEDERAL TAXATION AND TARIFF POLICIES ment in Canbenra. Government Members: Hear, hear! Mr. TUCKER: I ask the Premier: Is he aware that a brochure with the title "An Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: That is the Open Letter to All Queensland Housewives" only solution. bearing his name is being circulated by various retail stores and that the postal Mr. Hinze: Ask him another one. address mentioned thereon-Box 17, Mr. Tucker: He hasn't answered one of Alderley is regi~tered under the name of the them yet. League of Rights? Further, in his call to eliminate sales tax, is it his intention to give Mr. SPEAKER: Order! a lead by eliminating stamp duty on real estate sales and transfers, which surely is a PREMIER'S PLAN TO FREEZE TAXATION form of sales tax, and, if so, how then would he balance his State Budget? Mr. TUCKER: When in his plan the Premier speaks about freezling all taxation, Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: I am not aware does he intend it to be at the new that any pamphlet such as that referred to by equitable levels or does he wish to revert the Leader of the Opposition is being cir to the levels existing under the McMahon culated by city stores. However, if there is any such propaganda, from whoever it may Government? be coming, about the reduction of income Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: The present tax tax and the elimination of sales tax on ation levels are unrealistic and detrimental Consumer Price Index goods and endorsing to the nation and to the livelihood of its my suggestions about consumer support (or people. They are entirely foreign to incentive subsidies, as they later came to be known and to harmony within the community. At in some areas), I would say that it is on the the Premiers' Conference I said to the Prime right track. We have to make living easier Minister, "While you continue taking an for people, not harder as the Commonwealth ever-increasing slice out of the national Government is attempting to do, wrecking the income, you will continue to get greater economy, bringing industry to its knees and pressure for more wages and higher prices. creating massive unemployment. You have to narrow the gap between an On the matter of reducing any State tax, article's oost of production and lits selling I have said to the Commonweal1h Govern price." However, the Commonwealth is ment time and again, "You control the widening that gap through increased income national economy through income tax sales tax and greater sales tax. causing prices and tax and excise duty. Start in you ow~ back wages to increase. yard. That is where the lead has to be given." The Commonwealth has claimed again and However, that Government refuses to give again that the people have too much money the lead and is bringing the nation to its and it has to be taken from them-a knees by unrealistic and dangerous policies. polticy with which I do not agree-and I reiterate that the only solution is to get rid PRICE DISCOUNT WITHOUT PRICE CONTROL of the Government in Canberra. Mr. TUCKER: I ask the P:remier: With reference to the same open letter and in MAIN ROADS DEPARTMENT FUNDS view of the recent experience whereby 'lowered tariffs did not result in lower Mr. ARMSTRONG: I ask the Minister prices to the general public, will he for Mines and Main Roads: In view of the explain how his proposed price discounts statement in this morning's "Courier-Mail" would be passed on to the consumer without regarding the provision of moneys from the the assistance of price control, which he so Federal Government to the New South vehemently opposes? Wales Government to avert the paying off of 3,500 employees from its Main Roads Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: To the sugges Departments and the Federal Minister's tion of the Leader of the Opposition that statement that the funds have no strings lower tariffs did not result in reduced prices, attached, can the Minister inform the House [ remind him that they did not cause of the present position with respect to funds massive unemployment and did not wreck for main roads in this State and has he 46 1406 Questions Without Notice [17 OCTOBER 1974] Questions Without Notice agreed to the Federal Govemmenfs setting It reads- priorities for the spending of such funds in "Re wrongful dismissal T.P.O. Timm, this State? H.M. Prison Stuart Townsville request immediate reinstatement until inquiry will M<. CAMM: Prior to the introduction of publish facts to Senator Keeffes advantage the three Bills governing the provision of facts in post funds from the Commonwealth to the States for road-building, the Commonwealth ... 5 Baxter Street, West End, Townsville.'· indicated that, provided we give it details of So it would appear that that is one of Sena how much money we have available from tor Keeffe's sources. I warn him that if his our own resources and how much money information comes from sources of thal we intend to spend, it will make available kind the slanders on the officers in the: through the Treasury certain sums to enable Tow~sville Prison that he has had published us to carry on. It has also indicated that would be completely without basis. I now it will waive the provision requiring the challenge Senator Keeffe to produce reason Main Roads Department to submit detailed able information on which we can investigate programmes until after 1 January 197 5. any charges that might have to be instigated This is at it stands today. in respect of the Townsvil!e prison. As far After 1 January 1975, in accordance with as I am aware, all of his allegations are the outline of the three Bills that were without any basis in fact. passed, the State Governments have to give The danger is that he has now libelled details of all programmes that they con every officer in the prison. ~~~body ~bo template. We find this an impossible situa knows Mr. Henderson, the VlSitmg JUstice, tion, and I think the Commonwealth will find would say that he is one of the best and it impossible, too. We will have a pile of fairest magistrates in North Queensland. As papers sky high. It will hold up all the road visiting justice, he has the responsibility for building programmes throughout the State. seeing that that prison is run as it is expected Up till the end of December, funds will be to be run. He has furnished reports that made available by the Commonwealth, clear the pris-on authorities completely of provided we tell it just where we are spend any irregularity. I would certainly take t~e ing the funds that we raise. opinion of the visiting magistrate and . h1s decisions in writing rather than the ramblmgs SENATOR KEEFFE'S STATEMENT ON of the criminal element with which Senator TOWNSVILLE PRISON ADMINISTRATION Keeffe apparently associates in Townsville. Mr. AIKENS: I ask the Minister for OPERATIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF Tourism, Sport and Welfare Services: Has COMMERCIAL AND iNDUSTRIAL he any knowledge of the people who supplied DEVELOPMENT the information to Senator J. Keeffe on which he based his scathing allegations about the Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG: I ask the Minister staff, visting magistrate and medical officer at for Development and Industrial Affairs: Has Townsville Prison? If so, will he advise the he seen a reported statement by Mr. Tucker, House on the matter? M.L.A., in "The Courier-Mail" of 16 October 1974 that he proposes to use the Departmem Mr. HERBERT: I would not know from of Primary Industries, the Department of which of his criminal associates Senator Commercial and Industrial Development and Keeffe got the story. I sincerely hope that it the Justice Department to provide specialised was not the Aboriginal ex-prisoner who was services to Queensland industries? Would on A.B.C. radio last night, because if the Minister inform the House what services it is the man we suspect it is, no responsible are presently supplied by the Department of person would place any credence on what he Commercial and Industrial Development? says. Mr. CAMPBELL: Apart from the normal. I think I should give the House the details incentives which the department gives by way of two telegrams that came from Townsvil!e of financial guarantees to approved appli recently. The first is dated 10 October and cants, and the provision of Crown industrial was sent to Mr. Whitney, the Comptroller land for would-be manufacturers and factory General of Prisons. It reads- buildings for pioneer industries in decentral "Re M. K. Timms T.P.O. H.M. Prison ised areas, concessional freight rates for Townsville" goods which are destined for export either "Claiming immediate department interstate or overseas, and freight conces enquiry and salary until misconduct is sions on machinery going to decentralised proven against me not the kangaroo court areas, it has encouraged the establishment procedure adopted by minorit'Y of trouble within its administration of a branch of the makers failure to acknowledge within 24 Industrial Design Council, which has been hours of intention details of incident of tremendous assistance to industry, par released to Press for publication ticularly in decentralised areas; it has estab ... 5 Baxter Street, West End, Townsville." lished a department to 'encourage manufac turing under licence; and it has recently con I received one, too. He did not leave me out. ducted a very successful business seminar for Questions Without Notice [17 OcTOBER 1974] Questions Without Notice 1407 small businessmen in Rockhampton. Next and Energy. in "The Courier-Mail" today month the department proposes to conduct a regarding multi-national and foreign capital 'imilar seminar in Townsville and Cairns. participation in mineral production in Aus By contrast, the policy announced by the tralia. will the Minister inform the House of Leader of the Opposition, under which he the Austrakm equity in Hail Creek would use the three departments mentioned Associates, which is endeavouring to produce by him in seeking to present a case to the export coal from the leases at Nebo? Industries Assistance Commission, indicates Mr. CAMM: Hail Creek Associates are that he has accepted compietely the present A.A.O. (which took into partnership policies of his Federal counterparts which Marubeni and Sumitomo, and recently are having such a devastating effect on changed its name to Associated Australian industries not only in Queensland but Resources), an oil company, I.O.L. Ltd., and throughout Australia. In supporting those Western Mining Corporation. I understand policies he has shown that he is completely that C.R.A. has acquired an interest in I.O.L. out of step with the great body of workers as well as a small interest in Associated who, presumably, he believes, support him AustraFan Resources. An analysis will at the polls. reveal, 1 am sure, that Australian equity in Mr. Bromley interjected. Hail Creek Associates is in excess of 75 per cent, the remainder being divided among Mr. SPEAKER: Order! If I have to speak Marubeni, Sumitomo and C.R.A. But, as I to the honourable member for South say, there is at least 75 per cent Australian Brisbane again, I will warn him under ownership in the company that is seeking Standing Order 123A. permission to export coal from Hail Creek. Mr. CAMPBELL: Only yesterday I received a deputation from the furnishing LOCUST CONTROL trade composed of Mr. Cox of the Furniture Mr. NEA'L: I ask the Premier: Has his Guild, Mr. Harding of the Furnishing Trades Union and Mr. Sharpe from the Chamber attention been drawn to an article in today's of Manufactures, and Mr. Harding in par "Courier-Mail" in which it is reported that ticular, a union representative, denounced the Federal Minister for Agriculture (Senator in unmistakable terms the devastating effect Wriedt) claimed that the Premier had made that present Federal policy is having on the no direct approach to the Prime Minister furniture industry. seeking financial aid for the control of the spur-throated locust? If so, will the Premier As the Leader of the Opposition believes comment on .this article and tell the House in the Australian Industries Assistance Com what action has been taken? mission, which is a product of the present Federal Government that was said to be Mr. BJELKE-PETERSEN: I am surprised created to give relief to those industries at the statement made by Senator Wriedt, that are being so devastated, I repeat what because he must be aware of the fact that [ said earlier, which is also a reiteration of earlier this year I approached the Common what trade union representatives from four weahh Government on this very matter. On callings have asked. I have been asked 9 April, in reply to my request for assistance, to take every step and use all my influence the Prime Minister wrote to me saying that to have the Federal Government eliminate the Australian Government had agreed to its present drastic policies and revert to the provide up to $500,000 on a dollar-for-dollar tariff structure that prevailed prior to the basis to New South Wales, Victoria and advent of the present Labor Government Queensland. I have made full inquiries into as ~ means of s~~uring Australian employees this matter. and I have ascertained that to agamst competition from Asian regions date we have not received one cent. The where the wages are only about 10 per cent Commonwealth Government drew a distinc of those of the Australian work-force and the tion between the spur-throated locust and hours worked are about 40 per cent above other species. Apparentiy it overlooked the those required to be worked in Australia. fact that any type of locust-spur-throated I support the Premier's call to the Federal or otherwise-eats and destroys crops. The Government to change its policies before Commonwealth Government's attitude was industry becomes so devastated that it will that because Queensland was being plagued have to approach the Australian Industrial by the spur-throated locust we were not Development Corporation and go down on entitled to any subsidy. This is, of course, 1ts knees and beg for financial support, which typical of the Commonwealth Government, 1s presumably the first step in the Federal which tries to wriggle out of its promises. Government's policy of socialisation of Aus In this instance, as I say, it had said that tralian industry. it would give the States $500,000 towards the cost of combating the locust plague. AUSTRALIAN EQUITY IN HAIL CREEK Yesterday morning I made a further AssociATES approach to the Commonwealth Government. I pointed out in a telegram to the Prime Mr. NEWBERY: I ask the Minister for Minister how serious the situation is. I said Mines and Main Roads: In view of the state that it would cost at least $2,000,000 to ment by Mr. Connor, Minister for Minerals counter the inroads that locusts are making 1408 Questions Without Notice (17 OCTOBER 1974] Questions Without Notice in different parts of the State. I also pointed it is. The honourable member for Cook i1< out that the Queensland Graingrowers nodding his head as though he is concerned. Association, local authorities and the State Perhaps through his party organisation he Government are contributing. We are pro may suggest to his colleagues in Canberra viding oillces and staff to tackle this very that they should consider this a little more serious problem that confronts so many seriously. If we do not get financial assis people. I can only hope that Senator Wriedt tance-we are doing it again; we are making and the Commonwealth Government will finance available-- catch up on some of these things and realise their very serious responsibilities on a vital Mr. Davis: How much? issue of this nature. Mr. SULLIVAN: That is none of the honourable member's business. I will Mr. NEAL: l direct a supplementary administer that part of it. The president of question to the Minister for Primary Indus the Graingrowers Association is ve!'y happy tries. In view of the question I asked the with the efforts of the Queensland Govern Premier, and in the light of the uncertainty ment. We are working very hard on this. In that the report I referred to could create in Roma yesterday, officers of my department. areas plagued by grasshoppers, will he out councillors and grain"growers' representatives line to the Chamber the action he has taken had the machinery set up to save our crop~. on the problem referred to by Senator Wriedt in the article? RoADWORK ON BEENLEIGH-WATERFORD ROAD Mr. SULLIVAN: Like the Premier, I am Mr. HOUSTON: I ask the Minister for somewhat amazed that Senator Wriedt should Mines and Main Roads: make such a statement. The Premier indica 1. Will he take urgent action to have ted to the House that he had approached the the work on the Beenleigh-Waterford Prime Minister, but had not received any response. To support the Premier I road west of the abattoirs, which has been undertaken by the Albert Shire Council approached Senator Wriedt as Federal on behalf of his department, completed Minister for Agriculture. I felt that I had a responsibility to do so. I hoped that immediately? Senator Wriedt, being responsible for primary 2. Has the money aUocated for thi~ industries, would support the approach. I job already been spent? If so, has he wrote to him on 1 May and received a letter taken urgent action to !have the job in reply dated 11 June. It is amazing that he completed? should say in the Senate that no approach 3. Is he aware that the road is unsealed, had been made. is in a dangerous state and is affecting The Premier pointed out that the Prime industries, particularly the meatworks, in Minister indicated to him in a letter that the Beenleigh area? $500,000 would be made available on a Mr. CAMM: If, as the questioner has dollar-for-dollar subsidy basis to assist the indicated non-completion of the work is States in controlling Australian plague jeopardi;ing the operation of an industry in locusts. The sum of $15,000 was all that was the -area he may rest assured that the: spent during the year on the control of Governm~nt, through my department, will Australian plague locusts out of a total of assist in every possible way. If, as he about $440,000 spent on controlling migra has indicated, the funds that were allocated tory spur-throated locusts and Australian for the completion of the work have been plague locusts. As yet we have not even expended and the work-force of .the Albert received the dollar-for-dollar subsidy on the Shire Council is involved, I Will have a $15,000. complete investigation made to ascerta!n The Premier made the point that spur whether additional funds can be made avml throated locusts nr migratory locusts eat as able for the completion of the job so thai much grain as do the Australian plague the operations of the meatworks will noi locusts. To emphasise the point-and I am continue to be jeopardised. not sure whether I told the Committee this when I went to the Agricultural Council I FREEDOM OF THE PRESS took with me a mounted spur-throated locust and a mounted Australian plague Mr. HINZE: I ask the Premier: As the locust. A fair indication of the proportionate editorial column of "The Courier-Mail" is damage caused by the Australian plague always headed by Jefferson's statement thal locust and the spur-throated locust can be the freedom of the Press cannot be limited gained by comparing our Government plane without being lost, is he aware that the with the V.I.P. 727's used by the Prime Federal Government, in one fell swoop, is Minister. I should think that the spur now about to take away the last vestige of throated locust consumes four or five times democracy that has been the bi:thri~ht ?f as much grain as the Australian plague all Australians and to supplant 1t With Its locust. own Left-wing, socialist, Communist doc I am very concerned about Senator trinaires? What steps can be taken to protec! Wriedt's statement that we have made no the Queensland Press, television and radio approach. I shall not go into detail and bore news media against this insidious manipula the Chamber by reading the letter, but here tion of our daily news? Questions Without Notice [17 OcTOBER 1974] Supply 1409 Mr. B.JELKE-PETERSEN: Everybody can your protection, Mr. Speaker, and tbe pro see with his own eyes and hear with his own tection of Parliament, in speaking out against ears what is happening in this very important this iniquitous decision made by their party. :uea of everyday living. The people in the I have not received any approaches from Labor Government and the A.L.P. in Can the A.L.P. to have prostitution legalised in berra are setting about destroying the this State, and I trust I never will. I have, freedom of the Press. This is one of the however, received numerous protests from freedoms that has been guarded and pro members of the A.L.P.-not those in this tected over the years. It has been acknow House-against the decision of the A.L.P. ledged by Governments and all po!iiical convention in Cairns. parties as a freedom that must be maintained. All of us from time to time feel that we Mr. Frawley interjected. have been criticised unjustly or unfairly but Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I inform the hon we have to admit that in the freedom we ourable member for Murrumba that when enjoy people are entitled to look at things I rise to my feet I expect him to remain from different angles. We accept that. On silent. the other hand we cannot and will not accept the moves being made by Canberra to intimidate and control the media in .the SUPPLY way it wants. The only good thing in this COMMITTEE-FINANCIAL STATEMENT regard is that the Senate has blocked the RESUMPTION OF DEBATE moves. I hope it will continue to block them because it is not in the interests of this (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Lickiss, State or nation for the Press to be controlled Mt. Coot-tha, in the chair) by the socialist, Communist-dominated Debate resumed from 15 October (see p. Government in Canberra. 1372) on Sir Gordon Chalk's motion- "That there be granted to Her Majesty, RIDING OF TRAIL BIKES IN SCHOOL RESERVES for the service of the year 1974-75, a sum not exceeding $96,262 to defray Mr. NEWTON: I ask the Minister for Salaries-His Excellency the Governor." Works and Housing: What action has been taken by officers of his department to keep Dr. SCOTI-YOUNG (Townsville) (12.17 trail bikes and other motor-cycles off vacant p.m.): It gives me great pleasure to speak on school reserves and to stop the damage they the Treasurer's balanced Budget. I can pay are doing to those school reserves as well no greater compliment to the Treasurer and as the nuisance they are creating in the early the Premier than to call it a balanced Budget. hours of the morning and late at night to It hurts no-one, not even those who can persons residing near those reserves? afford to pay more but have complained bitterly about it. It does not affect the Mr. HODGES: If any complaints are general over-all finances of businesses, includ lodged with the Police Department, the ing mining companies, on which there has appropriate action will be taken immediately. been considerable discussion recently. It gives me great pleasure to belong to a coalition LEGALJSAT!ON OF PROSTITUTION Government which in this world of change is moderate and considerate of the wishes Mr. FRAWLEY: I ask the Minister for and aspirations of the ordinary people. Justice: Have representations been made to his department by the Leader of the The ordinary citizen has not altered at Opposition or any other member of the all; it is only the emerging Left-wing t~ink_ers A.L.P. to legalise prostitution in Queensland? and socialists who have changed h1s life. He is still clinging to everything to which Mr. KNOX: Ever since the iniquitous he held previously. All he wants is a job decision was made by the A.L.P. convention the opportunity to follow an occupation that in Cairns that prostitution should be legal he likes and wishes to follow-and a religion, ised-which of course is contrary to all the a way of life that is inbred in him, a conventions of the United Nations, to which belief in a supernatural being rather than this country subscribes and which this State an earthly god or, worse, socialistic-State god. supports-the A.L.P. has been desperately He is clinging to the hope that his children's trying to pretend it did not happen. As education will be what he and his wife soon as it is mentioned in this House, A.L.P. wish it to be, and not what some socialistic, members make derogatory remarks as though blank-minded official desires. it had never happened. Of course, we all The ordinary citizen wishes to serve his know perfectly well that it was a decision country. He wants to be allowed to work made by the Labor Party, and it is no good his full working day and receive a full day's the Leader of the Opposition throwing up pay for it, to go home in safety to his his hands in horror and saying, "I am family at night, to take them out in peace bound by that decision. I cannot do any and safety at night and at week-ends as thing about it." If members of the A.L.P. he chooses and, when he is sick, to go in this House had any courage at all, they to a hospital where he is treated like a would speak out against it under the privilege human being, with dignity and respect, not of the Parliament. Here they would have me•rely as an unknown with a number and a 1410 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) card. That is what the Queensland Gov They find them costly, about 61 per cent ernment offers the ordinary citizens, and I more expensive than ·the ordinary general hope to God it never alters. practitioner rate. Some countries are even Unfortunately, I see signs of cracks and talking about employing bare-footed doctors. changes in our administrative procedures. They are turning them out by the hundred. When I study the provision for hospitals like sausages, and not even putting shoes in the Budget, I note that in 1973-74 the on them. I do not know whether they put Government spent $85,431,000 on hospitals, any knowledge in their heads or any diplomas and that in 1974-75 the expected expenditure in their pockets, but they are sending them is $93,300,000. We also have to take into out into the countryside. Wouldn't it be account another S110,000,000 that the Gov lovely if this State came to that! Then we ernment intends to spend in the next seven could get bare-footed medicine in Queen years on the construction of new hospitals Street for a dollar a time! That is what at Redcliffe, Southport and Ipswich, a new Gough, Hayden and their boys want to medical school at Townsville, and additions give us. to the Royal Brisbane Hospital. At the same Dr. Crawford: Chinese-model. time, we have been alarmed by the Federal Government decision, apparently made off the Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG: Yes, Chinese-model. cuff and with very little forethought and planning, to build a 1,000-bed hospital at The National Health Service in England Mt. Gravatt. The cost of such a hospital is the greatest socialist failure the world has will be at least $20,000 a bed, which means ever seen. England tumbled to her knees, that the Commonwealth Government will be and now she is lying fiat on her back, purely up for at least $20,000,000 for the hospital. and simply because of socialism. The Kaiser, Only one person could build a $20,000,000 Napoleon and Hitler could not break her hospital overnight with a single stroke of the but by God the socialists did! They brought pen-the great imitator, Gough! Of course, her to her knees very quickly. Now she is God could do it. a nation ruled by "mediocracy". That "mediocracy" is controlled from the floor of Mr. Aikens: I won't be available. the workshop at shop-steward level. The intelligent and the patriotic have all been Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG: I don't think anyone killed in the wars. That country spends will be available to see that $20,000,000 5 per cent of its gross national income on hospital eventuate. No thought has been given health, yet the system is grinding to a halt. to planning the building itself or staffing it. We can hear its groaning even from Aus No architects have been engaged. The way tralia. Its doctors are leaving the country. Gough speaks, one would think it was an Its health service is staffed by Eurasians, accomplished fact. Africans and Australians; if they left the The whole health field throughout the country, the whole system would fall apart world is characterised by a considerable lack and fail to function. Every Australian gradu of co-ordinated thinking and planning. We ate goes to England ·to practise medicine and have trained medical and paramedical per surgery on the poor old Englishman. As sonnel and we have so-called economists if he hasn't already had a gutful of the starry-eyed ones, green-eyed ones and red socialists and the various people who have eyed ones-and politicians like Hayden in fought him over the years! He has no the Federal sphere and Burns and Moore on resistance or intestinal fortitude left; he is the Opposition side in this Chamber, who simply giving up under weight of socialism. have not the foggiest idea of the difference between agitation and administration. All we England has 1,000,000 people working in get from them is agitation. I have yet to the health service. It has 3,000 hospitals hear one sound word of administration or and 500,000 beds. The hospitals and clinics suggestion from their lips. All they can do have long waiting lists. The community health is complain about the system. If the health centres are being closed because they cannot problems were "cured" as they would .try be staffed; they cannot be organised or to cure them, the health services would end administered. On the other hand, private up an expensive, jumbled mess, with a con hospitals are on the increase in England. fused, disgruntled, disenchanted staff and People are so fed up with second-rate resultant poor service to the community. medicine that they are paying for the per sonal touch and the care and consideration It is interesting to take a quick look they know they can get in private clinics. at the general trends in health programmes throughout the world. It is a most confused It is interesting to note ·that Mrs. Barbara picture. Some countries are erecting massive Castle, the socialist witch who has become edifices to contain many hospital beds. Other Minister for Health-or Mistress for Health countries are not building any more hospitals -has decided to reduce the number of and reducing their bed numbers. Some coun private hospitals so that she can bring back tries are building more community health into the health service some of the best centres and saying that they are the answer surgeons and physicians in England. Of to the problem. Other countries are pullino course, she will not get them back. They down their community health centres becaus~ will migrate, most probably to Australia, they say that they are not worth having as only to fall from the frying pan into the they cannot keep them staffed and managed. fire of Hayden and his mob. Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1411 It is interesting to look at what the poor and attention. If honourable members old consulting doctor is paid in England. He opposite become sick, they will want it, too. is extremely poorly paid and very dissatisfied. because they will realise its importance. He receives £5,000 a year-peanuts. The Five per cent of New Zealand's medical waiting list for ordinary, routine operations practitioners are Asians or Africans. National such as hernias can run into years but any medicine poses very complex problems which one in England who wants an abortion just cannot be solved unless the plans are con presses the button and says, "Brother, I want sidered in depth. The plans we have in an abortion", and she gets it. The acute beds Australia at the moment have not been con are being cluttered up with abortion cases. sidered in depth or even fully. The medical Abortion has become such a racket that even profession and the economists have not got the politicians who introduced it admit that together. A limited plan was drawn up by an they did not forsee that they would have economist by the name of Deeble. He called their fingers steeped in the blood and guts it a health plan, but it is not; it is a financing of babies. Abortion on demand is a disgust plan. Upon this plan the whole of our ing, stinking mess. It is taking so many acute national health scheme will be hung. beds that the ordinary citizen is not being treated for his serious ailments. Let us turn to America. Seven Bills are presently before the Ways and Means Com Now let us look at the position in Sweden, mittee in the United States Assembly. This the greatest socialist country in history. This indicates how complex the matter is. First is the country on which Gough intends to of all, there is the Nixon Administration model Australia~Gough called it a marvel Bill. I do not know what will happen to that lous country-but this same stinking country, now that Nixon has been axed. Then there steeped in socialism, is financing various is the Mills-Kennedy Bill, the Griffith insurrections and selling arms made in its Kennedy Bill, the Long-Ribicoff Bill, the magnificent factories. These are the great American Hospital Association Bill, the socialists! They look after their own people Medi-Credit Bill and the Health Insurance with the blood of others. They spend 7 to 8 Association of America Bill. Whereas per cent of their gross national product on America has seven Bills, Australia has Mr. health but at the same time their people are Hayden and Mr. Deeble, who claim that we withering and fading on the socialist vine. will have a beautiful, workable, composite The suicide rate is high; the divorce rate is health scheme. All my eye and Betty Martin! fantastic, and they, too, have abortion on It simply will not work. The complexity of demand. If people could get out of the such a scheme is shown by the tremendous country they would, but their taxes are so amount of work that has been done in damned high that they cannot afford to leave. America. The general hospitals have 17 beds per 1,000 The American Association of Medical of population and six acute beds per thou Clinics, which has a membership of hundreds sand head, which is twice as high as that in of medical practitioners, said this in its America. Hospital treatment is so expensive gazette of 30 May 1974-- that the Swedish authorities have decided to "The demands of today's health care are convert to health centres. An opthalmologi so extremely complex that no single pro cal operation-an eye operation-is subject position thus far advanced provides the to a waiting period of two years. This is the necessary solution. For any national health highly proficient socialised medicine. So far insurance scheme to work there must be I have instanced two socialist countries, both co-operative alliances between provider, of them flops. payers, Government and the public." Now let me turn to New Zealand, another The concluding sentence is most interesting, socialist-oriented country-the one that ,gave and the medical profession, the paramedical the great Gough Whitlam his first ideas on personnel and, as well, the hospital and how to run a campaign. There is not one health administrators should thoroughly digest Australian Labor Parl!y policy that Mr. Kirk it. had not implemented originally-before Little cracks have appeared in our State Gough Whitlam. Take Australia's foreign health service, and it will not be long before policy, financial policy or any other policy; they become wide crevices. In its desire to every one came from Kirk. Whitlam is no forestall steps taken by the Commonwealth original, just an imitator. socialist Government to establish a centrally controlled national health scheme, the State Mr. Bromley interjected. Department of Health is rushing headlong into action that it will later regret. Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG: Read history and The State would receive higher dividends find out! New Zealand's free hospital sys from bolstering and impcroving the present tem cannot cope with the demand for beds. facilities. The set-up of base hospitals and It has 34,000 on the waiting list for beds, so district hospitals is a magnificent one, but there again people want the personal touch. the facilities provided need to be enlarged Private insurance companies are instituting and improved. For example, the out-patient private health insurance schemes and back departments should be enlarged, and hos ing private hospitals which are starting up pital administrators more competent than again because people want that personal care those presently in office should be appointed. 1412 Supply (Financial Statement) And 1 mean medical administrators not lay to go to lodgings in the city. Persons administrators. If an administrator does not receiving radiotherapy are sick-and they get do his job, the Government, instead of fid sicker each day from the effects of radium. dling around, should sack him. There is This matter should be looked into. Regard too much pussyfooting around with persons less of all the administrative difficulties and who do not look after people. Any hos personality clashes at Royal Brisbane Hos pital administrator who does not ensure that pital, the number of Queensland Radium the patients are properly cared for should Institute beds should not be reduced. The be sacked; he is no good to the community. Director-General of Health should bounce off After all, the State is running a health ser his tail and investigate what is happening. It vice, not an institution for mentally crippled is not good enough for the State and its health officers. citizens that professionals like Mowatt and The cost of establishing community health his men should have to fight so hard to get centres will be tremendous. In spite of beds and decent treatment for their patients. that, the number of patients treated per hour Whilst browsing through the Budget I or per day will be reduced, thereby causing noticed that no money is being paid to dissatisfaction among patients, who will not universities. Last year we paid $15,246,000 be given personal medical attention. Further to the universities, but this year we have more, I suggest that community health centres only a blank space in the Budget. will not attract staff, and that by the time adequate staff are found-possibly six or Mr. Lee: The Commonwealth Government seven ye&rs hence-the medical and health is paying. administration will have fallen down around our ears. Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG: That is so. I turn now to the Queensland Radium I wonder what is to happen now that the Institute. Without doubt it is the most Commonwealth has taken over financial efficient unit of its type in the world. Over responsibility for the universities. I shudder the years I have referred to it many patients to think what will happen in our moral, on whom I have operated and who required educational and political spheres when post-operative radiotherapy. At all times I universities are controlled completely by the have received full co-operation and first-class Commonwealth. The university newspaper service from the institute, and I am sure that of 15 August carried the headline- all other surgeons in Queensland have had "University growth limited by Senate similar experience. quota decision." The Queensland Radium Institute, which As soon as the Commonwealth took over was designed and originally administered by the universities it started cutting back. The Dr. Cooper, is the envy of other Australian article reads- States. The present director, Dr. Mowatt, is a first-class officer, who is kind and con 'Total new undergraduate enrolments siderate not only to the patients but also will be limited to 3,615 students compared to his staff. He has imbued those who with an enrolment of new students in work under him with the desire to care 1974 of just under 4,000." properly for the patients. Anyone who is Browsing through the article I found that referred to the Queensland Radium Institute the arts faculty has a quota of 1,120 students; receives first-class, personal treatment. All engineering, 260; ,educational studies, 430; of my patients who have received treatment and medicine, 245. It seems that we will there have the highest regard for the institute. have an imbalance of graduates from univer Recently, however, two of my patients sities. We will have people with B.A. degrees who were referred to the institute found cleaning the streets and driving buses. While upon their arrival that no beds were avail an arts degree is of use in teaching, it is able to them. In one instance that did good for little else. Australia has great not matter, because the patient's son was mineral deposits, but a very small quota a wealthy man and was able to have his is set for technological studies such as father admitted to a private hospital. On engineering, applied science and architecture. the other hand, the other patient was a They are virtually neglected, yet arts is given pensioner, and makeshift accommodation, not a large quota. within the Royal Brisbane Hospital, had to Many people will be frustmted and dis be found for him. That is not good illusioned by the university policy. What is enough for an elderly man in need of the answer? Arts should have much higher radiotherapy. Inquiries that I made disclosed entrance requirements. The arts quota should that the administration of the Royal Bris be reduced considerably while the quota for bane Hospital has reduced the number of engineering should be increased, and better beds available to the Queensland Radium facilities should be provided for engineering, Institute. This is criminal. medicine, architecture and veterinary science. If more beds should be provided for any We want science graduates in a developing category of patients, they should be pro country, not a lot of airy-fairy people with vided for Queensland Radium Institute B.A.'s who cannot do a good day's work patients so that country people, by arrange or anything constructive. Before arts ment, may come to Brisbane and go straight graduates know what is happening, they will into a hospital bed. They should not have be driving buses and cleaning the streets. They Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1413 will become disillusioned and will cause a where undemocratic and unchristian philos deal of trouble. As we need technologists, ophies are taught and instilled into students. let us cater for them. ln fact, they could well end up defeating the very reason for their existence. That I know that we now have little control is exactly what will happen to the universities over the universities, but this Assembly in this country unless they are controlled should keep a close eye on what is happening and watched carefully. there. Interstate students are being admitted and preventing Queensland graduates from The Budget's proviOlion for education is entering certain faculties. It seems that inter rather illuminating. Expenditure has been state students are even given preference. A increased from $189,000,000 to $230,000,000. lot of radicalism is still being fostered in Recently in the Press we have been pestered various faculties. During question time this by claims from various teacher groups that morning Dr. D'Urso and Dr. Wertheim of they are not receiving a fair deal and that the Council for Democracy in Schools were they me not getting this or that. However, mentioned. They belong to the philosophy on perusing the Budget, we find that of the department at the university and are pushing $230,000,000 being provided only $16,450,000 out their evil tentacles in an attempt to comes from the Commonwealth. Therefore, influence school-children with their Left the State is supplyling almost $214,000,000. wing radical principles. In the last fom years the number of teachers has risen from 13,600 to 18,600. Allowances University administration at board and for scholarship-holders have been increased committee levels is very poor. The State's to an expected amount of $1,970,000. As role and the wishes of the people who con reported in the Press, wages have increased by trol the purse strings are completely dis 22.8 per cent. Obviously the teachers have regarded. The Universities Commission con had a fair crack of the whip. Now the siders that the States are redundant and citizens and the parents expect a good should not have anything further to do with return for the money. education. That is an interesting philosophy One point on which I consider the teachers' because it grows at the university and spreads comp}aints are justified relates to accommoda downward. Before we know it, people will be tion provided in one-teacher schools in the saying that the State provides nothing for northern and western areas of our State. education. The Federal sphere will assume In many instances no accommodation is pro total responsibility and gain all the kudos vided and the teacher stays in a hotel, hostel, for our education system. or boarding house. That is not good enough. In a previous speech I referred to this The matter should be investigated at top poor administration. I cite an interesting level. Some sort of Public Service housing remark by Dr. Goodman that appeared in commission or authority should be formed "The Courier-Mail" of 10 May 1971. He to consider the problem in depth and suggest is reported as saying- improvements to provide more comfort and better facilities for teachers at those schools. "The administrotion has thus far been That would be one of their big bones of con outwlitted, outthought and outmanoeuvred tention. If it is eliminated and these people by the radicals in the university power are provided with better quarters, a consider struggle." able amount of the agitation coming from He went on- the Queensland Teachers' Union will "A team of management consultants and disappear. financial experts would, I am sure, find A comparison of the figures for 1957 and many areas where financial savings could 197 4 indicates the ,growth in education since be made, and many ways in which the this Government came to power. In 1957 university could operate more efficiently." we had no pre-school facilities. In that year we had 23 kindergartens, whereas today That rather serious accusation was made there are 270. Kindergarten teacher college when the State controlled the finances of enrolment was 34 in 1957; today it is 451. the universities. Now that we have no con In 1957 we had 1,507 primary schools; today trol over them, what will happen? We wlill we have 1,058. Enrolments have increased. have turtle-farm fi,ascos in every department, Primary school teachers have increased in with mi~appropriation of money by aicy number from 5,368 in 1957 to 8,077 today. fairy economists working out their own There were no deputy principals in 1957, theories at the expense of the university whereas today there are 113. That shows as a whole. The Commonwealth will pour a spreading of authority and responsibility, in taxpayers' money and the State will have which is a good idea. There were 16 special no say in its management. schools in 1957; there are now 79. In 1957 I cons:ider that the future of our universities we had 16 technical colleges and we now is not at all bright. They could become have 18. Since 1957 there has been an States within a State-places in which Com astounding increase in expenditure. No-one monwealth money (that is, the taxpayers' can say, with what has been achieved and money) is squandered and wasted; places is to be achieved in 197 4, that the Queens from which few technically trained people land Education Department has not done a can emanate; places where frustrations and grand job in providing an extremely good disillusions are bred and fostered; places education system over a very vast area. I 1414 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) may di1fer from my colleague the honourable sickness. I defy anyone to say that I do member for Townsville South, but I think not have a backache, and I could get my that the Minister is to be congratulated. $500 a week until I am 65 years of age. Recently Opposition members have passed That payment would then cease and I would some uncomplimentary remarks about the be put on a pension of some sort. State Government Insurance Office. What is How is this Utopia to be financed? For its fate? Where is it going? Recently the a start, everyone is to be slugged 2 per cent National Compensation Bill was introduced of his wages. That will also apply to Gov in the Federal House. It will provide com ernment and semi-governmental bodies. The pensation to anyone who receives an injury self-employed person will pay 2 per cent of at work, at home, in bed, while robbing a his own taxable income in addition to the house, in the process of committing grevious 1.35 per cent levy. These charges may bodily harm on another person, while com eventually become part of the one levy. In mitting piracy and even while hijacking. As addition, all users of petrol will be required far as I know, the latter two are regarded to pay an extra lOc per gallon. Can hon internationally as capital offences. They are ourable members imagine the influence that punishable by death. It does not make much that will have on air fares? Where is all sense to me that the present Federal Govern of this going to stop? There will be a ment intends to compensate people who, in loading of lOc a gallon of petrol used in all any other country, would be executed. forms of transport. What is an accident compared with an How is it proposed to finance the scheme? illness? This is extremely difficult to define. The genius who worked it out is named 1 have searched the books and I cannot come Woodhouse, and he had an offsider named up with anything definitely concrete. The Meares. They are justices. All I hope is definitions are airy-fairy and are certainly that I never have to appear before them. I not definite. Injury by accident is defined as do not think I would get a fair judgment. damage to the human system (the human system being body or mind) caused by an Mr. K. J. Hooper: At least they wouldn't external untoward event. That is a lovely use a knife on you without anaesthetic. definition. I would expect that to have come Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG: There is nothing from Mr. Hayden because, having heard it, like a little acupuncture now and again. a person would scratch his head and wonder what it meant. These gentlemen were asked, "How will the scheme be financed?" They said, "That's The human body can be injured if it is hit easy. All you have to do is work out the by a virus or bacteria, or when a malignant total cost." They contend that they disease starts to grow in it. Basically there will receive $495,000,000 from workers' is no difference between being hit by a compensation premiums. They will take virus and by a 10-ton truck or double-decker over all workers' compensation-and bus. the State Government Insurance Office will It is rather interesting that venereal go out of business. What will happen to the disease is compensable. This is the first time insurance companies? Where will people be that venereal disease has got a decent card able to borrow money later? What will hap out of the pack. It has always been looked pen to the loan programmes of insurance upon as something to be ashamed of. Under companies? Much of their liquidity is the legislation a person could receive up to obtained from insurance premiums. Com $500 a week. A Cabinet Minister, a senior pensation business will be taken from private Minister anywhere, or a businessman could insurance companies and the S.G.I.O. Soon be paid $26,000 a year. This is fantastic. He the S.G.I.O. will not be able to erect another could get up to $500 a week. building, as all of its business will be taken from it by the Commonwealth Government. Mr. R. E. Moore: For taking his secretary out. From levies on the self-employed, it is estimated that another $105,000,000 will be Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG: For taking his sec obtained. From the extra lOc a gallon tax retary out, or for falling down the back on petrol, another $290,000,000 is expected. stairs whilst drunk. This Utopia has sud Not bad! It is said that in 1973-74 denly been thrust upon us. We will breed $370,000,000 was spent on social service a race of bludgers, no-hopers, cheats, rogues, benefits, which will be included in the new and beggars. And who does the Government scheme. That leaves $390,000,000 to be want to run this scheme? Who are to say obtained from general revenue. whether people are sick enough to receive This is not really a good business deal. such payments? The despised old medical Social service benefits amounted to only profession-the doctors that the Federal $270,000,000 last year. From the levy and Government want to put down under their the petrol tax $395,000,000 will be obtained, thumbs and turn into mere numbers. and still more will have to be found. It is This was pointed out to the planners, and proposed to interfere with insurance com they said, "That cannot be allowed to hap panies. This will create unemployment, dis pen. We will have a tribunal." There will rupt trusts, and reduce the number of be no medical officers on that tribunal, so it avenues through which people can borrow will be an open go for anyone to feign money. The resuLt will be financial chaos Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1415 until everything is sorted out. The planners One aspect of the State Budget that requires say that the scheme can be financed on close attention is the huge railway deficit $1,655 million. They say that it will reach the State has now to bear. In 1972-73 the a plateau and level out over 20 years, and State lost $33,500,000 on the railways. Last they will then be able to grab-1 think that financial year the loss increased to the stag was the word used-so many millions per gering sum of $58,500,000, an increase of annum to put in their hip pocket. I do not more than 7 4 per cent. Only 10 years ago know why. people regarded the loss incurred on the This idea started in New Zealand. In that railways-then $6,190,000-as a serious state country, however, the plan was less drastic of affairs. It is clear that the Treasurer, a levy of I per cent was imposed on the Minister for Transport and the Com employees and self-employed people, $1.50 missioner for Railways could not care less was added to the drivers' licence fee, and how much money is now lost through mal third-party insurance was taken over. administration and failure to rationalise Recently I asked the Treasurer how many freight rates. Obviously they have caught claims for compensation for personal injury the blame-Canberra bug, and are now too were made to the S.G.I.O. for 1972-73 and preoccupied with helping the Premier to 1973-74, and what was the total amount paid pursue his personal vendetta to worry about out on the claims. In 1972-73, it was how the State's financial position is affected $22,186,469, and in 1973-74 it was by the operation of the railways. In his $30,144,679. Budget the Treasurer estimated that the Rail ways would lose $40,100,000 this financial In New Zealand, about 100,000 workers year. On his record of rarely being able are injured each year, and the New Zealand to estimate railway losses accurately, it can Government considers that it can run the be expected that the working loss, plus debt scheme on a payout of $50,000,000 annually. charges, will probably be far in excess of The Queensland figure is nearly up to that of $60,000,000. New Zealand at the moment. In referring to the loss last year, the Other drastic figures are the 3,600 people Treasurer said- killed, and the 90,000 injured, on the roads "This deficit position is clearly the result in Australia last year. Multiply those figures of this Government's policy of holding by five and one gets the number of work fares and freights at fixed levels while injuries. It will be an enormous bill. I costs all around, including of course the doubt whether $1,655 million will cover it. costs of operating the rail system, are con We are heading for absolute chaos. The tinually increasing." State Government Insurance Office, which adequately covers injured workers at the If ever there was a forewarning of an moment, will be almost castrated financially. imminent increase in rail freights, we have it It will have terrific upheavels in its staff in the Treasurer's Financial Statement. Mark and in its financial income. If the Bill goes my words, the only reason there was not through, the result will be financial calamity an increase in this Budget was that it was for the whole of Australia. designed as an election Budget. Believe me, if the present Government is returned to It is envisaged that eventually the scheme office, which is becoming less and less likely will take over the whole of rehabilitation each day, rail freights will be savagely and repatriation, and all sickness benefits. increased without any consideration of the There will be one huge unit controlling health, programme of rationalisation promised by sickness benefits, compensation, repatriation the Government during the election campaign and all other matters in respect of which in 1972. The record of this Government a person can receive social service payments. with the 'railway is one of neglect and indif They will all be run by one big depart ference, which I will outline as I proceed. ment. It will be the greatest financial monster this country has ever been saddled with. [Sitting suspended from 1 to 2.15 p.m.] It has given me great pleasure to speak on Mr. R. .!'ONES: I turn now to what the the Budget. The Treasurer and his fellow Treasurer said on 4 May 1972 in delivering Ministers have done an amazing job. They the policy speech of the Liberal Party have looked after the financial and general section of the coalition. On page 28 of his welfare of the State extremely well during policy manifesto, referring to the Govern the last 12 months. ment's transport policy, he said- "The Government will also proceed with Mr. R. JONES (Cairns) (12.57 p.m.): I the co-ordination and rationalisation of all refer to page 3 of the Treasurer's Financial forms of public transport in the metro Statement where he says- politan area under one Brisbane Regional "Railway operating losses again were a Transport Authority. severe drain on the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Operating costs, exclusive of gen The plan envisages these things: eral debt servicing costs, were $183,661,801. The linking of the northern and Receipts totalled $145,077,223, leaving an southern suburbs by rail; operating deficit of $38,584,578. This com The building and modernisation of pares with a deficit of $13,919,074 in new rail stations with bus-rail inter 1972-73." change facilities, and adequate car parks 1416 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) at suburban stations to facilitate the Electrification is yet another story. It is co-ordination of bus and private trans one of the greatest tragedies in the history of port with the rail system; Queensland's transport. Over a long period of time it has been fully covered by members Further modernisation of railway on this side of the Chamber, and it will be rolling-stock, use of electric rail cars and the provision of modern fast buses; dealt with again. I shall now examine the financial results Electrification of the suburban rail as revealed by divisional statistics. A com system and the provision of fast and parison of working expenses as a percentage frequent rail services to such areas by of revenue earnings shows that the Southern the end of the first five-year stage." Division has witnessed an increase from Now let us look at some of the Government's 118.23 per cent in 1957 to 116.23 per cent actions during the past years. Firstly, this in 1973 while over the same period in Government has torn up railway lines at the both the Northern and Central Divisions the rate of one mile a week since it came to reverse applied. For example, in the North· ern Division the corresponding percentages office. In fact, nearly 1,000 miles of track are 88.70 and 72.11 and in the Central have been ripped up since it came to office in Division they are 92.56 and 61.56. The 1957. Ironically, the Government claims to significance of these percentages is that, serve country people, yet, when we analyse whereas the railways operated at a handsome the tearing up of these railway lines we find profit in the Northern and Central Divisions, that it was the countryman who lo~t out. they lost heavily in the Southern Division, particularly in the Country Party strongholds. Over the past 17 years, the Government has reduced dramatically the number of rail What a chaotic situation this is! There way jobs. In 1957, 25,303 wages staff were is a dire need for rationalisation, but the employed in the Railway Department; in Government has ignored all calls made for 1973 these had been reduced to only 18 562. it. What a pity i:t is that the Budget was Similarly, salaried staff had decreased from not used as the starting point! But what else 4,520 in 1957 to 4,043 in 1973, giving a could we expect from this tired, stale Gov su!ll total of 7,218 jobs lost to Queensland ernment? rmlway workers. On that basis no fewer In 1973-74 there was a deficiency of than 17 ~ailwaymen have lost their jobs each $58,522,438. Indeed, over the past years the pay penod, or each fortnight since the deficiency has increased alarmingly, from National-Liberal Government ' came to $6,193,522 in 1963-64 to $30,910,413 in power. 1972-73. In the same period the total revenue earnings increased from $41,100,000 to Assuming that this Government has torn $134,200,000, while total expenditure up railway track at the rate of one mile a increased from $44,200,000 to $165,100,000. week and that 17 jobs a fortnight have been Over a 10-year period of Country-Liberal lost since 1957, let us see what has happened Party administration the percentage excess to the financial operations. It is on record of expenditure over revenue increased from that the last occasion when the railways were 107.53 to 123.02. In fact, the ,last occasion run at a profit was under a Labor Govern on which the Railway Department made a ment. in the mid 1950's. During the regime profit was, as I have said, in the mid-1950's, of thts Government the policy in the railways when the Labor Party was in office. has been one of increasing the excess of expenditure over revenue. Indeed, in the last Mr. Jensen: Last week in Bundaberg it 10 years the percentage of excess of expen was said that Mr. Knox was the first Trans diture over revenue has increased from port Minister to make a profit, in 1965. 107.53 per cent to 123.82 per cent. I shall lo~k forward to the early tabling of the Mr. R. JONES: Whoever said that should Ratlway Commissioner's report in this read the figures that I have just quoted. Parliament in order to ascertain the percen To revert to passenger journeys in country tage in 1973-74. areas-rural dwellers are relying less today on railways as a mode of travel than they Neglect of our railway system has been did previously. reflected in the number of passenger journeys undertaken. There has been a net Mr. B. Wood: They have no choice. decrease of some 39,400,000 in the 17 years of National-Liberal administration or, in Mr. R. JONES: I whole-heartedly agree. percentage terms, a decrease of 10 per cent. Country passenger services are the worst This is despite an increase of 40 per cent in ever provided in the history of Queensland the State's population during the same period. railways. In 1955-56, which was the last full financial year of a Labor Government Some $160,000,000 has been added to the in Queensland, a total of 5,738,049 journeys Public Debt while Sir Gordon Chalk has were undertaken by country passengers. By occupied the positions of Transport Minister way of contrast, in 1972-73 the number had and Treasurer. It now totals the enormous dropped to 1,493,797. This represents a sum of $334,000,000 and this does not decrease of nearly 4,300,000 journeys. This include the estimated $800,000,000 required is due, of course, to the fact that not one to electrify Brisbane's suburban network. steel passenger car has been made available Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974) (Financial Statement) 1417 by the coalition Government to improve or freight rates that they are getting. Their modernise country rail services. Those cars charges are based on the freight nates applic that are in service were constructed under able to the operator of a corner store. a Labor Government. In Far North Queensland and other far As to suburban rail journeys, the number Hung country areas the people are not getting It was suggested that if A.N.L. were per it controls and with which is could com mitted to carry freight to North Queensland pete with other forms of transport. It can it would provide competition and perhaps pour the profits into the pockets of its big some relief to North Queenslanders from business friends by setting secret freight rates. heavy rail charges. It is using every means at its disposal to assist its business friends but not the ordinary If intrastate shipping trade were allowed, people in Far North Queensland. said the Premier, 4,500 men would lose their jobs! That about equals the complement of Because of the Government's inept the railway staff in the Northern Division. approach to urban tmnsport and electrification He says, in effect, that by sending a few over the past 17 years and its failure to ships to the North we would lose practically follow Labor's plan, more than 370,000 of the whole Northern Division. That is the 725,000 people living in Brisbane are still ridiculous. I will leave it to the readers of without a rapid suburban or urban rail ser "Hansard" to assess the Premier's veracity vice. If the people living on the Redcliffe in this matter. Peninsula are included, the number of rail less residents rises to 400,000. When the Premier was making that Press statement, apparently he forgot the Govern The only sl!ainless-steel carriages delivered ment's railway employment record. I will in the 1950's were ordered by the Labor Gov repeat the figures, because I believe they ernment and built for it. Antiquated pas bear repeating. In 1957, when this Govern senger carriages 40 to 60 years old are ment assumed office, 29,823 people were still being used in the suburban service in employed in the Railway Department. The the 1970's. It is ridiculous. No wonder latest figures, as disclosed on 26 September visitors to Queensland find our transport last in answer to a question from me, show system laughable. No new track has been that 22,705 were employed at the end of the provided an suburban arreas and the number financial year 1973-74. Obviously 7,118 jobs of suburban rail terminals has remained of railwaymen have been lost through unchanged for 17 years, yet Brisbane has redundancy and retrenchment caused by this experienced the greatest growth in its history. Government's actions in 17 years. No fewer The report on the electrification of the that 7,118 railway jobs have been lost. Brisbane rail system was presented to ParHa We must remember that over that period a ment in 1947. Its approval by a Labor Cabinet substantial profit has been returned to ,the and a Labor Government in 1950 was repud Government from the Northern Division. iated by the coalinion Government in 1958. However, that has been used to offset the Since the preparation of the Wilbur Smith heavy losses of the Southern Division-par plan in 1970, the Minister for Transport has ticularly, as I said, those lines servicing announced that we will experience the first National Party strongholds. Despite the electric train service in Queensland in 1977. profits from the North, the National Party In 'The Courier-Mail" of 28 August 1974 has done nothing to alleviate the burden of he predicted electrufication in the metropolitan the heavy freight charges which inevitably area-30 years after the tabling of the make the cost of living in Far North Queens initial plan in this Parliament, 30 years of land much higher. Furthermore, the appli procrastination and messing around, including cation of freight rates is inconsistent. Super 17 years of this Government which repudiated market lines that are almost identical are Labor's plan! The Government is 30 years attracting over 100 different rates when behind the times in this as in everything freighted from Brisbane. Through the 1,300 else. secret freight agreements the Railway Depart The Opposition is conscious of the Gov ment has reached with individuals or com ernment's neglect of the railways. Go to the panies, it is pouring profits into the pockets country areas and see the decrepit buildings, of those individuals or companies. the old rolling-stock and the poor communica tions within the railway service. Is it any There is an illogical classification of goods wonder that the morale of railwaymen is in the application of freight rates. This was borne out by the provincial freight study at a low ebb? conducted in September 1970. It was then Mr. Bousen: Poor amenities are supplied shown that a Mt. Isa distributor was paying to the staff as well. $90.15 per ton ex Brisbane for a canned product but $55 per ton ex Brisbane for the Mr. R. JONES: That is correct. It same product which had been renamed. That seems likely to be a definite attempt to is just one example of the illogical classifica run down the railway system. There is tion of goods for the determination of freight a growing need for maintenance and for rates. Although this report was compiled the provision of new technical and communi and presented almost four years ago the cation facilities. Whilst the rest of the situation still exists. It is the people i~ the world has progressed, the Queensland Rail North, the Far North, and the North-west ways have remained static. They aJre pro who are suffering. It is an indictment of bably the greatest employer in the State, and the National Party, which professes to rep they provide many essential community ser resent the country areas and claims to have vices in the West and the North. Indeed, the interests of country people at heart. the railways are the basis of the economy But nothing is done about rail freights, which of some country towns and the backbone of Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1419 their transport. system. They provide an stupid little importance. Let us provide a essential service that must constantly be transport system to cater for our needs and upgraded. enable us to compete on a world-wide basis. Rail\Hy rolling-stock and passenger services We are so far behind that it is laughable. >hould be developed not only to meet the We have to co-ordinate surface transport demands now placed upon them but in to achieve over-all efficiency. We cannot order to gain the traffic that could be expect to continue as we are today. No e~ttracted if they operated efficiently, and individual transport operator, however big, to allow them to compete against other forms can cope with the task. Individual State of transport. Upgrading and assessment for Governments cannot handle the task. My ~he future should be given top priority in own feeling is that we should stop dealing each section and division. Some communities with transport piecemeal, with each transport are served solely by the railways, particularly task in isolation. Transport has 1o be tackled in adverse conditions produced by cyclones in conjunction, in co-operation and in co and floods. After such disasters, the rail ordination. We cannot blithely assume that ways are always the first means of transport we can go on as we are. We have just ro operate. got to expand into the field of an Australia wide transportation system. If we cannot I think that the Government should be afford the cost of making rail transport more planning the future transport requirements efficient, we cannot afford the cost of the of the State, and I think that rail trans infrastructure for alternative forms of trans port has been sadly neglected and should port. Would it not be best from all points receive prompt attention. Unfortunately, it of view to have each section doing the is not being given the necessary consideration. job that it does the best, instead of each Recently we have seen constant confrontation running across the others' corners, or run between the State and Federal Ministers for ning parallel, with each transporting the Transport. It becomes crystal clear to the same sort of merchandise in competition? observer what happened prior to federation Surely that is an important point to consider of the Australian States, and why Queens when we have a railway deficit of something land has a 3 ft. 6 in. gauge, New South like $58,500,000 in one year. The task of Wales 4 ft. 8! and Victoria 5 ft. 3. Obviously all those engaged in transport activities in t:ach State was looking across the border the 70's should be to organise all transport at the neighbouring State and jealously systems and take full advantage of the par guarding its right to maintain its own inde ticular capabilities of all forms of transport. pendent railway service. The stupidity of such an outlook has not yet penetrated the It always has been the A.L.P. objective halls of Government in this State in 1974. to make provision for a rapid transport We are still procrastinating and perpetuating system in the metropolitan area to provide what was done so many years ago. We are a safe, cheap, clean and efficient service. ~till making the mistakes that we made Back in 1965, and possibly earlier than that, before federation, when each State established we proposed to set up a transport com its own little transportation system and mission. The Government made a similar operated it within its own area. announcement in 1972, but what has trans pired in the last two years? Have we seen Where is there any breadth and depth of any transport commission or Brisbane trans outlook in that attitude? Where is the Gov port authority set up? Has such a body ernment's foresight? If it does not start evolved? Committees have been set up, but to do something now, Queensland will be so often has the same type of committee left behind the rest of the world in rail with so many different people on it been and road transport. At least air trans constituted and reconstituted that it has port is a Commonwealth responsibility, and become farcical. Despite all the committees, the facilities of the Department of Civil the proposed transport authority has still Aviation are well maintained at the various not come into being. airports and are far ahead of those provided It is time something was done about for other forms of transport administered the establishment of an authority to co by the State. Let us be a little enlightened ordinate all passenger transport systems in in our thinking, and let us make the Austra the Greater Brisbane area and surrounding lian transport system one of which we can areas. Certainly the people of Brisbane, and be proud. the people of Queensland, want to see the We hear much talk about the tourist job done. They want the Government to industry. While the facilities provided for get on with it, and we will support the air transport might be adequate to handle Government if it does. We will be there the tourists presently arriving by jumbo jet, to make sure the job is done, in co-operation how are they to be handled by other forms with the Australian Government, on a broad of transport in the coming decade? It is basis, so that the whole thing is done absolutely ridiculous! Government members correctly and efficiently. ;;;hould pull up their socks and start catering We should be reviewing passenger trans ' for Queensland's transport needs now, for the port throughout the whole State with a view next decade, instead of looking inwardly at to eliminating unnecessary delays and pro themselves and contemplating their own viding the best possible service. We have to 1420 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) look at what is required on a long-term basis. already been offered. I am not making any We have to co-ordinate bus and train trans promises in this regard, but I think thai port in the metropolitan area and in country should be the basis of our submission in the areas. The existing suburban system should future and that we should be talking abouc be extended to cater for all people living this to the Federal Government. within the Greater Brisbane area. Through This authority will be charged with the a transport authority we should be able responsibility of implementing a modern to introduce a system of co-ordinated trans transport system designed to eliminate port, which we believe would even be able duplication of transport with a view to to reduce fares. We want to get people out achieving fast, modern and economic move of their motor cars and by providing a ment of people. This transport authority, or better and more efficient system we will commission--call it what you like-would. do this. If we can provide good transport in effect, control all the public and urban we will get them out of their cars and thus transport in the metropolitan and near reduce our traffic problems. metropolitan areas. I should hope that it Mr. R. E. Moore: What difference does would control not only railway passenger it make? services but also bus and ferry-boat services and any others that may eventuate in the Mr. R. JONES: If the honourable member years to come, the object, of course, being for Windsor does not know the difference fast and economic transportation of passen that a co-ordinated transport system will gers. make to traffic in Brisbane, I suggest that he should go back to Japan and have a good Electrification is something we should be look at its system, bearing in mind the accelerating. It simplifies requirements and density of its population. We can squeeze reduces the cost of going underground when only so many motor cars onto our roads; but, the need arises, particularly in the long term. with a co-ordinated system, the maximum And I think that the whole matter of urban number of people can be transported over transport in the metropolitan area should be the longest distance in the shortest possible looked at in the long term. The sooner we time. It is not logical to believe that as establish such a transport authority and gel many people can be transported as quickly it moving, the earlier we will reduce the and efficiently with one or two to a motor number of cars on the road and thereby con car as can be transported by a rapid tain the mounting road toll, which I am sure rail transit and co-ordinated transport system. each one of us deplores. We must accept The bringing of this authority into opera the challenge. No one person is to blame for tion will need some adjustments in the think this grave problem, and I am sure that the ing of this State Government, of the Rail best means of attacking it is the provision of way Department, the Brisbane City Council alternative means of transport. and the private operator. However, any Before leaving the operations of the Rail problems that arise must be overcome way Department, I make a pl~a ~o the because we cannot allow the present situation Minister for Transport, who 1s 1n the to continue. The longer we delay, the worse Chamber for the resiting of the Cairn& will the position become. Let me make it marsha!li~g and goods yards. This matter quite clear that areas at present serviced by has been brought to his attention both private operators should not necessarily be through the local authority and by deputation interfered with; nor should the ownership of from the Cairns Chamber of Commerce. the services, but their time-tables should come In the early days the site now occupied within the economic operation of the over-all by the marshalling yards was on the out service and must be under the control of skirts of the town, but what was once the the transport authority. I think that is one edge of Cairns is now the centre of the thing that must be quite clearly spelt out. city. Great inconvenience is caused to many I think we should also guarantee that as a people particularly motorists, who are fre result of the change there will be no quently delayed at the railway level crossing. worsening of the service to any member of To a motorist sitting in his car with the the community. For this authority to operate motor idling, a two-minute delay at the properly our passenger rail services must be level crossing seems a much longer period, separated, as far as possible, from other rail particularly if he is in a hurry to get to way activities. Naturally, in many cases work. Frequent complaints are made about suburban trains will run on the same lines as the practice of shunting across the road other trains but, with the co-ordination of crossing. rail transport and other transport, there The level crossing near the wharves could should not be any problems in regard to time be closed off, and the marshalling yards tabling or control. could be relocated on land set aside in Appropriate financial arrangements should the East Cairns reclamation area near Smith's be made. I have no doubt that some ground Creek. As a result of representations that work has already been done. I hope that any have been made, ingress has been provided arrangements that will have been made will to 1he railway yard, but we need to look continue and that the Federal Government at the provision of egress over the new will come into the arrangement on a more reclamation area, which is under the control generous basis than the one-third that has of the Cairns Harbour Board. Such an outlet Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1421 would allow a connection to be made with besmirches people's characters under parlia the North Coast line near Woree. This is, mentary privilege. That is reprehensible, but of course, a long-term project. I have heard it done in this Assembly. I see no reason why 1he railway passenger In the last few years the incidence of such terminal should be shifted, nor do I see attacks has increased. Even on the public the need to relocate the passenger line to platform some honourable members denigrate Redlynch and Kuranda. Provided the level others, particularly those who belong to an crossings are adequately protected by mech opposing party. It seems that it is done anical signalling devices, the line will not for some personal, narrow satisfaction. Unfor create any great inconvenience to motorists. tunately Ministers indulge in the same tactics I stress, however, that the marshalling and when they seek to support their own political shunting yards should be removed to the parties, or launch a barrage of abuse on Smith's Creek area. some issue. All honourable members know that Opposition members are sometimes Finally, in the 10 years that I have been berated in their own electorates. On other in this Chamber I have noticed a great occasions Opposition members are supplanted, deterioration in the public's approach to as it were, by a Government member in Parliament. It is only natural that in this their own areas. During election campaigns game of politics the tempers of members particularly, a Government member may sometimes become heated, so we should inform people in an Opposition member's look closely at ourselves, and ensure that electorate of a benefit that is to be given any disrespect that we as politicians might to the area, and the people's elected rep evoke is not shown to the paJ:.liamentary resentative is by-passed. system by way of contempt for it. As parliamentarians we must be masters of our I have seen public servants elevated to the own destiny and we must also do our duty platform while the elected member is rele to uphold the reputation of parliamentarians. gated to a seat in the audience. I thought it was very bad taste when that happened To command respect we should be meticul to me at the opening of a hospital. Perhaps ous in the example we set. How could any it has happened to all Opposition members. one think other than ill of politicians when Relegating a local member to the body of their behaviour, as reflected in that of some an audience is not the proper way to treat members of this Assembly lately, is both an elected representative. After all, he is base and crass. I could itemise instances elected by a majority of the people in the here of character assassination, allegations electorate, and he should be looked up to against members without basis in fact or by them. When we denigrate ourselves, we truth, snide innuendoes and insinuations, made must expect the can to fall on our own in the hope of creating doubt or gaining cheap shoulders. political advantage, and muck-raking. Some of the mud must stick, not only to those I give credit to a number of Ministers who, who are denigrated, but also to those who when they come to my electorate, always are denigrating. notify me of their intention to visit and invite me to attend their functions. In fact, Mr. Frawley: Give the honourable mem the majority of them invite me onto the ber for Lytton a copy of this. platform with them. If they do not act in this way, it does not benefit them. In my The CHAIRMAN: Order! electorate, where I receive 66 per cent of the vote, it does them no good not to do Mr. R. JONES: As elected members of the the right thing. There is an immediate people, we should not abuse the privilege reaction against them. of this Assembly. We should establish a privileges committee to discipline honour, The attitude of passing over members of able members who abuse the privilege of Parliament and purposely not recognising the Chamber. them in an address should be reconsidered. I have been subjected to that. I do not Mr. B. Wood: That applies in the Federal know whether the Minister concerned thinks Parliament, doesn't it'? it is smart not to mention the local parlia mentary representative. Most Ministers are Mr. R. JONES: It applies in most Parlia honourable in this, but it is the Minister ments of the British Commonwealth. who does not observe that standard who Can we blame the publ:c for thinking ill denigrates parliamentarians and, by so doing, of a person who, in his individual speeches, denigrates his own position as a Minister is grossly abusive? Some honourable mem of the Crown. bers use this Assemblv to their own advan Another ploy is to have a public servant tage and, T am sorry" to say, to the disad open a function or a building instead of vantage of the standing of members of delegating the task to the local member, Parliament. Is it any wonder that the particularly when he is a member of the parliamentary representative's image is soiled Opposition. That I have seen on occasions. when he despoils his political opponents with cowardly and untrue attacks in this Chamber The ever-increasing ministerial practice of and attacks innocent people outside? Although delivering a tirade against a person who is he knows the true state of affairs he not present is to be deplored. Since the 1422 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) A.L.P. assumed office in Canberra, Queens we are parliamentary representatives. If we land Ministers have used various platforms cannot remedy these matters within the con where those attacked cannot reply. They fines of Parliament, the situation can only have the floor and get stuck into somebody deteriorate and will prove to be a blot on our who may be a thousand miles away. I have democratic system. If these faults are peculiar seen that done. That does not help the to Queensland, the Legislative Assembly of standing of parliamentarians. As those Queensland should do something about Ministers damage themselves by their own remedying the position. statements, there is o£ten no reason for retaliation. Action of that sort may appear It is no good accusing Press reporters of at the time to be smart, but inevitably it sensationalism when the aim of the politician damages the prestige of parliamentarians and is headline-hunting. If the purpose of poli thereby the parliamentary system itself. That ticians is to gain publicity, we can have no has to be remembered. It is for that reason complaint at being subjected to unfettered that I bring this matter to the attention of newspaper jargon. The word '·statesmanship" this Parliament in its dying stages. applies not only to parliamentarians but also to journalists. Perhaps they should go hand Another complaint of mine is the denial in hand. Inevitably, the politician must of the right of representation to the become conscious of the fact that he has Opposition within the parliamentary system. certain privileges in the field of politics. I refer particularly to the subject raised yesterday by my colleague the honourable We understand ,the cut and thrust of member for Barron River-the Common politics. Nobody understands it better than wealth Parliamentary Association. If at the the members of this Assembly. Therefore Commonwealth Parliamentary Association nobody can remedy the situation better than meetings all other States have Opposition they can. We all know the hurly-burly of representation and Queensland does not, politics and how the political game should surely that is a reflection on Queensland as be played. But there are times when we a whole. Do honourable members believe are at risk in running down our fellow that others at the conference look on all members. The Parliament itself falls into of us as members of Parliament-or are we contempt in this pursuit. We despoil our denying ourselves by the Government's selves and throw mud at one another. It actions? is despoliation of the system under which The Government may be secure in office we choose to represent our electors. at the moment, but politics is a peculiar If we choose to bypass capability and business. One day those sitting on the benches on the right-hand side of the Speaker experience by not applying ourselves to use will be sitting on the Speaker's left. I can ful purposes, we are bad members of Parlia assure Government members that I will be ment, and future democratic government could advocating that members of Her Majesty's be in danger of erosion by default of Opposition-members of the alternative members of Parliament. Do not blame the Government-whoever they may be, should Press or the public for looking down on be represented at a parliamentary conference members of Parliament and treating them or a parliamentary convention. It should be with derision. c_onsidered from the point of view of par (Time expired.) hamentary protocol rather than party politics. If we are to speak about democracy, let Mr. WHARTON (Burnett) (3.12 p.m.): In us spell it in the right way-not "d-e-m-o-c-k rising to join in the debate on the Financial r-a·c-y." Let us spell it in the correct way Statement, I piace on record the efforts of and approach it in a way that most benefits the Treasurer-- the community. The deletion of any privilege within the Mr. B. Wood: Aren't you going to pledge parliamentary system foreshadows an even your loyalty to the Throne? tual erosion of the standing of a member of Parliament within the community. How Mr. WHARTON: I did it the other day. could any member of the community look I do not have to do it in every speech I up to a politician when he is spoken down make. The honourable member never does to by his own colleagues? When a Gov it. In any case, there is nothing to worry ernment denies rightful representation to the about; nobody questions my loyalty to the Opposition. whether at a Commonwealth Queen. If everybody acted as I do, it would Parliamentary Association conference or in be a far better world to live in. the member's own electorate, the pretensions I realise how difficult it was for the of such action will eventually have reper Treasurer to formulate this Budget. Because cussions. The public cannot be expected to most of the matters that affect the Budget look up to a member of Parliament and to any real extent are outside his control, accept him as a person of standing wlth an it was far from a simple task. Most of the aura of responsibility, when his own parlia changes in recent times have resulted from mentary confreres attempt to denigrate him at the Federal Government's fiscal policy. every opportunity. An attitude adopted for political or monetary considerations does not Mr. K. J. Hooper: The Australian Govern pay off in the long term. First and foremost, ment? Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1423 Mr. WHARTON: The Australian Govern all such items, and I pay a tribute to him ment, the Federal Government or the Com on the way tin which he has done it. It monwealth Government. It is really the Fed is always a difficult task, and it has been eral Government. It exists because of the made more difficult over the years. It must federation of the six States. I respect it in be accepted that the present Budget is that sense in the same way that I respect the reason:able, sorund and resourceful. Queensland Government and the Govern I am not going to repeat much of what ments of the other States. has already been said by others. One line The root of the Treasurer's problem is of thought on which I wish to concentrate Canberra. We had devaluation, revaluation, is irrigation. This is a vital aspect of the tariff adjustments, higher petrol costs, high Budget. The State faces problems of infla wage costs to both industry and the Govern tion and .increased unemployment, and the ment and high interest rates which created Government will handle them as they come a terrific problem not only for business along. Later, when I return to the Budget, people but also for the ordinary working I shall mention some ways of overcoming people who have to pay more for com unemployment. modities. Mr. Davis: What about that C.P.A. con Queensland is copping a financial hiding. ference? The recent Federal Budget increased postage rates, telephone fees, interest rates and fuel Mr. WHARTON: There is no point in prices, and caused higher costs in every the honourable member's repeating his ques way for the primary sector and the secondary tion. It is tedious repetition and I know that sector as well. The results are higher prices you, Mr. Dean, do not like it. I do not, for food and lower incomes for those who either, because there lis no point in it. produce it. These matters greatly concern the The people of this State are becoming a people of this State. little tired of the Federal Government's However, the Treasurer was able to present policies. Very few people like the higher a reasonably good Budget. People on both postal and telephone charges, and I am sides of the fence will admit that mining sure they do not like housing difficulties and ;oyalties and hospital fees were the only higher interest rates. I believe that the worker mcreases. That would be a source of satis in particular [s being penalised, yet A.L.P. faction to most people. It is very difficult members of this Parliament invariably to please all the people. Many of them go along with Federal Government policies. want to express their own opinions and try Wherever they can they defend them, saying, to force their own wills on the Treasurer. 'These are things that the A.L.P. are doing for you." If they are ex:amples of what the Some may not like one section of the Federal Government proposes to do, I am Budget, and some may not like another. quite sure that the people will not re-elect !"hen the Budget is worked out, an attempt it. I feel s:ure that the A.L.P. will be Is made to avoid new taxes, although some the loser at the next State election because others may have to be increased. In the it has advocated poldcies of the Federal main, however, the Treasurer has not gener Government that the people reject. If the ally increased costs to the people. people want such policies, fair enough. I Mr. DaVlis: Wouldn't you like to tell us would not be wor,ried unduly if the people about the C.P.A. conference you attended? elected a Government that was pledged to such policies as long as they were correctly Mr. WHARTON: Of course I would like put before the people. The A.L.P. has a to tell the Committee about it, but it would tendency to present its policies in such a way take a week to do so. Even then, you would that one does not, in effect, know what is in not understand what I had said. the sugar bag till it is opened. It is then found that there is a snake in the bag. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr. Dean): Order! The honoill'able member will Mr. B. Wood: We don't know your please address the Chair. policies at any time. Mr. WHARTON: If a person is determined Mr. WHARTON: I shall do that, Mr. not to find any good in policies, he will Dean. If the honourable member cares to not find it. I will give credit to the Federal take some time off outside the Chamber, Government where credtit is due. Those who I should be delighted to tell him about the are not prepared to look for a good policy Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will not find one. meeting that I attended. I hope I represented Queensland well, and I hope that I was able We have a lot of good fellows on the other side of the Chamber, but some of to convey Queensland's point of view to them are putting forward socialists policies. those from other parts of the world. I commend the honourable member for Mt. When one considers all the complexities Gravatt for his speech during this debate of trust accounts, appropriation accounts and when he exposed the theories of the socialist adjustment of many other accounts, it is movement. He indicated the way socialism is obvious that the Budget is not prepared spreading throughout the Commonwealth. overnight. It is the Treasurer's duty and People must think about these things before responsibility to present a Budget covering they cast their vote. Socialist policies can 1424 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) injure this great nation of ours and do There has not been any increase in rail untold harm to what has stood the test of freights or fares, which is very important time. \Ve are now at the cross-roads. not only from the point of view of the The policies of the Federal Government primary sector but from the consumer's that are being put into effect are bringing angle as well. If we can produce foodstuffs about higher food costs. They adversely at a reasonable price, then consumers, most affect the average worker, who was tradition of whom are working people, must benefit. ally a supporter of the A.L.P. He has to No increase has been made in fares for city pay more for his food, fuel, transport and people and I think this is appreciated. I other necessities. Without doubt, he finds concluded from the speech made by the himself worse off under these policies. When honourable member for Cairns that if ever our colleagues were in the Federal sphere Opposition members become the Govern they did the job well, but things have altered. ment there is no way in the world that The State Government has demonstrated fares and freights will not rise. This Govern that its policies are fruitful to people in every ment has seen fit to more or less subsidise walk of life. the railways to the tune of about $40,000,000 this year. I think this is wise because next This Government is greatly concerned about year we might have a $40,000,000 profit. At inflation and unemployment. It seems that least, we are giving service and attracting unemployment is on the march. Unemploy business to the railways by offering that ment must be a matter of great concern service at a reasonable price. to every Government and every person. I realise the problems of inflation and Mr. Jensen: Where is the $40,000,000 unemployment. When unemployment is rife, coming from? people cannot afford to buy the necessities Mr. WHARTON: It is coming from the of life. Unemployment affects the primary general revenue of the State, as the honour sector, the secondary sector and the business able member knows. sector, which does a great job in providing the necessities of life. When consumer goods Mr. Jensen: It is coming from pay-roll tax. get beyond the purchasing power of the Mr. WHARTON: We will discuss that individual, we have problems. In a moment later. l will point out how the State Government will try to overcome the problem of Mr. R. E. Moore: Tell him to write you unemployment. a letter. The Treasurer has brought down a record Mr. WHARTON: Well, I suppose he Budget, providing for the expenditure of could. I do get letters from him. I do not over $1,000 million. Such a large Budget want to be at cross purposes with him befits the times. Our State is growing in because his electorate is quite close to mine. population, development and prosperity, and We might disagree on policy but if something it is essential that the Budget should grow arises for the common good we go along with it. I commend the Treasurer for bringing together. down a record Budget. We have increased the education alloca Only mining royalties and hospital fees tion by the considerable sum of about have been increased. $40,000,000. Education is a very important Mr. Jensen: You are wrong there. aspect of our way of life. It would be a sad day if we ever went backwards in Mr. WHARTON: I am not wrong. education. Times are changing and educa Mr. Jensen: What about the pay-roll tax? tion is becoming ever more important so as That is the biggest increase of the lot. a Government we have seen fit to increase ,this Vote. A new high school has been Mr. WHARTON: The honourable member built at Gin Gin. I appreciate that very will not see that in the Budget. Legislation much. It is a magnificent building and it is covering the increase in pay-roll tax was performing an excellent service for the people brought down before the Budget. In any in that area. event, pay-roll tax was handed over to us by the A.L.P. Federal Government. We Mr. Jensen interjected. never had pay-roll tax in Queensland until the A.L.P. Government took over in Mr. WHARTON: That may be a worth CanbePra. while comment. The honourable member for Bundaberg likes to make a few inter Opposition Members interjected. jections during my speech. I listened to him Mr. WHARTON: No, of course we didn't. in silence and it was not solely because I Now that we have it we are getting more of had a bad throat that day. I respected him it. The Federal Government handed over and allowed him to make his speech without the taxing power to us. It gave us some interruption. I merely nodded my head a of its work to do. But the Federal Gov couple of times when he was right-and he ernment wants to retain for itself the great was not often right. field of taxation-income tax. The amount Teaching staff is being increased by more of money collected from that source has than 2,000 to over 18,000, an increase of grown considerably as a result of inflated over 13 per cent. This is also very important. wages. Teachers do a marvellous job and I pay Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974) (Financial Statement) 1425 tribute to them for their work. Obviously, The increase of 251 in police strength is if their classes are too large-and in some necessary to provide adequate protection of the cities they are too large-then the for the community. It is a shame that more ~tandard of teaching must drop. If we want protection is needed than in the past, but the highest educational standards we must we cannot deny that the crime rate has see to it that classes are not too large. The increased tremendously. Police officers carry Government is gradually doing this. We are out their duties quite efficiently, even though increasing the teaching staff in order to sometimes they operate under extreme diffi overcome this situation and to advance culty. Under this Government their con education to the required standard. ditions have been improved. We are giving extra scholarships and extra Mr. Jensen: Don't you think Bundaberg allowances for scholarship holders. Extra and not Gympie should be the headquarters per capita payments are being made to non of the new North Coast police district? State schools. The increase per primary Isn't the Minister being parochial? ~tudent is from $62 to $81 and per secondary student from $104 to $132 as from 1 Mr. WHARTON: Perhaps I, too, am January next year. It is important to look parochial, but I must agree with the hon after these non-State schools because if the ourable member. Bundaberg should be the State had to educate every child it would centre of the new police district. face serious problems. As a Government we The Treasurer has set aside a total of try to assist these schools so that, irrespective $1,500,000 for sporting, youth and recreation of which school a parent wants his child to services. attend or what type of education the parent desires for the child, it is available to him. Mr. Davis: Not enough. The mileage rate payable to operators Mr. WHARTON: Perhaps it is not enough, of school bus services is being increased by but we must be sensible. A great number 6c per mile. When these services first started, of sporting bodies apply for financial assis everything was cheaper and it was a simple tance towards the improvement of their play matter to get contractors to do this work; ing fields, and in most instances the Govern hut times have changed. People are ment has acceded to their requests. The demanding better buses for their children to position is, of course, that it is only since 1ravel to school and in many ways the this Government made finance available to standard of the services has to be raised. sporting bodies that some of them saw the ln some instances even short runs over good need to improve their facilities. The Gov roads are not economic, so it is easy to ernment's move is a wise one, because the v:sualise the problems that confront those last thing we want is a nation of academics operators whose service extends into country or professional people without sporting areas without bitumen roads. ability. We must also have sport-minded The total allocation for health and hospital persons in our community. Many employers services has increased from $117,000,000 to look for versatile people who have done well $149,000,000. The health of the people is of academically and in sport. Sportsmanship paramount importance, so the Government develops leadership. There is no doubt what has a heavy duty to provide adequate health ever that the community as a whole will services. The Queensland Government is benefit from improvements in sporting doing this quite capably, and the Minister for facilities. Health deserves oommendation. Incidentally, Money has been allocated for cheap rental he should be complimented upon the minis accommodation for aged people. terial statement that he made this morning. Mr. Davis interjected. TI1e subsidies payable to the Blue Nursing Service and other home-nursing services are Mr. WHARTON: I think I will withhold being increased. This is certainly a step the bouquet I was thinking of handing the in the right di!rection, because those persons honourable member. who suffer from ill health, whether they It is easy to say that the Federal Govern are young or old, are entitled to receive the ment does this and that. It makes a con services they desire. Quite naturally some tribution. If anyone gives us something, we people prefer to be cared for in either homes give due credit, but listening to the honourable or hospitals. On the other hand, a large member one would think the Commonwealth number of people would ro.ther stay at home gave us everything. That is not so. We and be cared for there. It is only human have been providing housing for aged people itarian, therefore, to make adequate pro for a long time. We all realise that housing Yision for home-nursing services. for the aged is important, and we realise In recent years many country areas, includ that most of us will grow old. It is wonder ing the Gayndah district, have received the ful to think that old people have somewhere benefit of home-nursing services. Because of to go if they cannot manage on their own. the small number of patients, contributions While they can decide when they are young to the funds of these services are limited and where they will work and reside, when they they deserve special considerotion. I am are old and have limited resources it is pleased to see that the Treasurer has taken appropriate that they should have suitably steps to lighten their load. comfortable conditions. That is their due. 1426 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) The Treasurer allocated $5,000,000 providing for these capital works, which towards the operating costs of council ser mean more work for Queenslanders. We will vices in areas of special need. That is one build more schools-again more employment. of the finest benefits to be conferred on local authorities in Queensland. For quite some Mr. Tucker: 1f you came over to our time I and other honourable members have party, we might have a hard look at it. advanced submissions for such a grant. Local authorities in Queensland are doing an excel Mr. WHARTON: Don't look too hard. lent job. The State cannot be run from Funds for housing have been increased Brisbane, and power must be diversified. I from $48,000,000 to $61,000,000-again am sure that honourable members on both more employment for Queenslanders. sides accept that. Local authorities that $43,000,000 is to be spent by the Housing get into difficulty can draw on this fund. Commission and $18,000,000 is to be pro This is a worth-while provision because vided for advances to terminating building already local authorities are unable to finance societies for home buyers. Again, that is all their activities from rates. The Common more employment for Queensland. Every wealth Government has made funds available move taken by this Government has been and local authorities welcome them. directed at creating employment. I repeat In the light of the difficulty in borrowing that we want our people to be fully employed money, the $45,000,000 that the Treasurer so that there will be a turnover of money. has allocated as debenture loan money for Full employment benefits the primary pro local authorities is a tremendous contribution. ducer, those involved in secondary industry, It will help many people in rural areas to the businessman and the worker himself. remain in employment. I am sure that no Everybody is fully paid for his efforts and is honourable member would like to see a able to spend the money as he desires. spate of unemployment in Brisbane, Bunda Another $82,000,000 has been set aside berg or elsewhere. Local authorities are for roadworks, creating more employment. l probably the main employers in rural com stress the importance of roads in the rural munities. They provide work for men on areas because of the work-force that is roads, sewerage construction and so on. employed. Country people who own their own homes are part of the community-more so than I commend the Government on the assis people in the city. People in rural com tance it has given to the extension of munities are interested in everything that electricity into rural areas. However, more happens. The country man is a member of is needed in my electorate. In this field of Rotary and the p. and c.; he is interested activity expenditure is to be increased from in virtually everything that takes place. That $65,000,000 to $78,000,000-again creating is why I want local authorities retained. more employment. That is the attitude we The $45,000,000 set aside in special funds have to maintain in this great State of ours to will help to keep local authorities going. keep it moving: keep people in employment. In my electorate many local authorities are Provided expenditure in the Government reducing staff. Honourable members know sector is counterbalanced by expenditure in how local governments function. They have the private sector, our growth is assured. a certain amount of money and prepare a Public works should constitute a field of budget. They cannot pull a string in heaven employment, but the private sector should be and say, "We want more money to keep encouraged too, so that it employs its share. our employees on." One of the problems arising from Federal Government actions that worry me is that Mr. Lee: Canberra has a money tree from the private sector of the economy is falling which it keeps plucking money. by the wayside. That is a shame, because Mr. WHARTON: The day will come when many people will lose their jobs. Obviously there is no more money to pluck. no State Government can provide funds for capital works sufficient to balance the employ Local government is concerned about local ment potential of private enterprise. I am people. We should remember that we are concerned at the Federal Government's a State of human beings. We should concern attitude towards the private sector. Many ourselves with the human element at all businesses are folding up. I know that the times, remembering that people are human socialist attitude to this is, "You can't run beings. We should keep them employed if your business, so we will take it over. You they want to work. I am not so silly as can't run your farm, so we will take it over.'' to say that anyone who does not want to Whatever it is, they will take it over. We work should be kept in employment. must be wary of that attitude. We have provided $85,000,000 for educa I turn now to irrigation, where expenditure tion buildings. That means more employ has increased to $26,000,000. That is not ment for Queenslanders. $20,000,000 has enough and I will expand my argument to been set aside for capital works for health and show why. Included in the proposed expen hospital services-again creating more diture is $2,000,000 for the Monduran Dam. employment. This is the answer to the That has cost 17 ,000,000-odd dollars and is Leader of the Opposition, who asked what an important project. We were to receive we were doing about unemployment. We are $4,400,000 from the Federal Government. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1427 That money is required. State funds will Water is important to my area. I am :supplement Federal allocations, but we are speaking now not simply of this scheme but still short of money. of the whole region. It is a region of sugar growers and it is v,ery important that water 1 pay tribute to the State Government for be got out to ,the farmers so that they can the part it has played in this scheme, which obtain the benefit of it. Water is also for simplicity is known as the Bundaberg important to the city of Bundaberg. It is irrigation scheme. It covers not only my own expanding and lack of water hinders develop electorate of Burnett but also Bundaberg and ment. Because the scheme is primarily for Isis. It is now a regional scheme, although cane farmers, the Irrigation Commission is when it started it was thought of merely to not able to say that water will be reticulated provide water for the cane-growers at Walla to all subdivisions. ville, who suffered from repeated droughts :md frosts. They experienced great difficul If the other barrages are provided and the ties. The project started through the efforts water supply is plentiful, more development of Bundaberg District Irrigation Committee. will be possible in Bundaberg, Burnett and lt has now spread through the whole region Isis. It is important that the scheme be and includes the shires of Kolan, Gooburrum, extended 'to Isis, which is at the end of the Woongarra and Isis. It is disappointing that line. It was not mentioned in the early the scheme has slowed down. stages but it, too, is a region of sugar production. The sugar industry is important. We understood when the scheme was first It is well organised and well controlled by promoted that phases 1 and 2 would each the growers, and has very efficient mills in take five years, or a total of 10 years, but our area. It is doing an excellent job and, because of the slowness of money coming with water, the potential of the area can in we will have to wait until about 1980 be realised. before Stage I is finished. This is rather dis turbing because, as a result of escalating We hope that the report of the Bureau of costs, the final cost will be considerably Agricultural Economics is completed before more than the original estimate of long. We expect it to be favourable. $47,000,000. It could be somewhere round Obviously there had to be a report on the $70,000,000. I am sure >that honourable feasibility and economics of the scheme. members realise how adversely such increases These studi,es are important. We undertake affect budgeting. them in our own businesses, so they must be done with big schemes. We expect to I have thanked the Federal Government follow the report, and if this is done there for its funds. It promised $4,400,000 and we will be a shortage of funds to complete received $2,000,000 of it the other day. I phase 2. The whole region needs to be will take it if it is good money, and it is served by irrigation. One can see the good money. Because it came from us in importance of providing finance for it. the first place, it is not socialist money, and there is no socialist Government in this neck Mr. Blake: Would you expect increased of the woods. costs to be offset by increases to the user? The State has done its bit. It found funds Mr. WHARTON: I accept the honourable to get the scheme started. Then we per member's interjection. Some increased costs suaded the Federal Government, which was will be paid for by the user. Whilst I com of our own ilk, to get the scheme really off mend the honourable member for Bunda the ground. Now we have a dam that will berg on his speech, I do not know if he soon be full of water but we have not the obtained any more money for irrigation. funds to reticulate that water to the farms. More money has to be provided from some This is most disappointing for the Kolan source for the Estimates of the Irrigation and Wallaville people, who know that the and Water Supply Commission. Where is it dam is completed and that the channelling to come from? is nearing completion, but that they will be the last to get water. Mr. Jensen: There is one scheme unfinished on the border of New South Wales and We will soon have the barrages on the Queensland. Finish one scheme first. Bucca Weir and the Burnett River. No doubt, with channeliing, they will pro Mr. WHARTON: The honourable member vide water for many more areas than were would have to admit that the Bundaberg originally envisaged. But we have to get scheme has progressed reasonably well. But on with the job. We cannot allow more funds are needed. In a State such as water to simply be held in the dam; Queensland, water-storage facilities are neces it must be reticulated. I support the sary in very many places. There is no honourable member for Bundaberg, who doubt that if more money could be obtained said today that we need additional funds to for this State, a greater share could be complete the job. I am not being derogatory allotted to Bundaberg. This is what I am of the State Government. It has played its trying to bring about. part very well. The Federal Government has There are many ways of going about provided funds, although it has been tardy obtaining this money. The honourable mem in doing so. The project is not stalematedi ber for Isis mentioned a greater contribution any longer. by the growers. It must be accepted that 1428 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) irrigation is a national responsibility, because source from which we can get the money. the return to the State on capital invested The Commonwealth Government is able to in irrigation is infinitesimal. Every Treasurer recoup itself. As a Government, maybe is a businessman, and when a proposition we could go into the taxation field, but is put to him he looks at it and says, "What it would be a very serious move to say. will be the return from it?" Irrigation does "\Ve "ill set ourseives up as our own not produce the return obtainable from other taxing authority." Perhaps it would be the fields of investment. It must therefore surely best thing that could ever happen for be a national matter. Bundaberg is a great Queensland, but would it be right at this sugar area, and, if irrigation makes it fully particular time? The Budget identifies the productive, a considerable amount of addi advances that have come from the Com tional taxation will flow to the Federal monwealth Government by way of special Government. As it is taxation that provides grants and matching grants, and through the funds from which allocations for works various funds. We have to consider the of this nature are made, a great deal of matter very carefully. We have to ask the finance needed for this project must come ourselves, "Is it better this way or would from the Federal Government. I do not it be better the other way?" Maybe the want to be criticised for asking for more time will come when we will be better off for a special purpose. Irrigation is very by being our own taxing authority. We important in Queensland. Irrigation works would certainly be able to spend the money are proceeding at a number of places through as we wanted to. out Queensland such as Eton, Burdekin, Mt. When the Federal Government provides Isa, and the Queensland-New South Wales money for irrigation we have to match border. Not a great deal of State money its allocation from our own funds. This has as yet gone into these schemes. About does cause a drain on State revenue. As $300,000 of Commonwealth money has been a Government we must co-operate with and used on the Burdekin scheme. This seek funds from the Federal Government emphasises the need for the infusion of a so that the pool for irrigation can be great deal more into the irrigation Vote in increased. We might be able to provide Queensland. more money ourselves, but I am not trying My concern is to find some way of to dictate how that should be done. I obtaining that money. Perhaps some more have mentioned the possibility of levying could have been found within the limits of our own taxation and I have mentioned the Budget. The Treasurer found $92,000,000 the adjustment of Votes. I would say for future escalation of salaries in the Public that the Votes included in the various Service. Perhaps some of that could have Estimates are appropriate, and I should r.ot been shoved into the pool, but would that like to interfere with them. I should not have been wise? The railways are being like to rob Peter to pay Paul. subsidised to the extent of about $40,000,000. I throw another suggestion into the ring. Perhaps rail charges could have been We all need food, and we cannot live on increased, and that $40,000,000 could have ;bread alone. When adequate food at been allocated for irrigation. Perhaps some reasonable prices is not available, the whole could have been taken from the Education nation suffers. I know of no better way Vote, but would that have been wise just than irrigation of making sure of the avail now? When one looks at the Budget over all, ability of food. Irrigation ensures a continuity it will be seen that the State could hardly of food. It is the ups and downs in food afford to take funds from any Vote and production that cause high and low costs transfer them to another wi,thout problems. and depressions. Irrigation ensures to the The State should therefore seek from ,the whole nation a constant supply of food Federal Government additional funds for at a reasonable price. Most other countries capital development in irrigation. I appreci impose a consumer tax on food and other ate what has been done by the Common commodities. I see nothing wrong with wealth Government, but it is the one who, obtaining money in that way. If the revenue after aH, holds the purse strings, and so from that small tax was expended on much of the money is obtained in taxation irrigation, which would have the effect of from Queensland. It is our money, and cheapening the price of food generally, in surely we can get some of it back for capital the long term consumers would be getting investment projects that the State cannot a rebate on the tax they were paying. afford, particularly when they provide more Perhaps that is one way in which we could money for the Federal Government. This obtain additional funds for irrigation. would be wise expenditure by it. I am not attempting to minimise the responsibility of Mr. Lee interjected. the State; it has to pay its share. Mr. WHARTON: The cost is $10 per Mr. Jensen interjected. acre-foot from the channels. It has been increased again-by about 20 per cent, I Mr. WHARTON: The honourable mem think. Of course, there are varying rates ber made his speech, and I listened care for water from streams-$3.50 and so on. fully to it. We have to get funds from The Bundaberg scheme was designed for the Commonwealth Government for that the sugar industry. No other industry could purpose. For the State it is the only afford that charge. With the sugar industry's Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1429 p.~aks, assignments and so on, that was and we all know how brochures and election estimated to be the figure that it could afford pamphlets are turned out in an endeavour to pay, It had to be worked out on an to bolster the stocks of a weary Government. economic basis, All schemes have to be On top of this the League of Rights has economically viable, and that is how the entered into the campaign in the metropolitan charge was worked out. Not many people area and is using a business firm known ..:ould afford to pay $10 per acre-foot for as Scurr Bros., who are sending out with their "' ater to grow pastures and fatten cattle, accounts to electors in the Mansfield, Mi. lrrigation does help the sugar industry, the Gravatt and Belmont electorates a scurrilous fruit and vegetable industry and other indus pamphlet. Let me inform these people that tries in my area that have returns high we have received many telephone calls com ~nough to cover that fee. It is a fairly plaining about this leaflet. They have come costly scheme over all, but I know how from people who are not supporters of any beneficial it will be to my area. Indeed, it particular political party but are, in the will be important to Queensland and the main, swinging voters. whole of Australia. I make these points in hope that further funds might flow into the Mr. R. E. Moore: Complaints to whom? irrigation Vote to serve Queensland by con Mr. NEWTON: To members of Parlia ;;erving water. ment. Who does the honourable member Mr. NEWTON (Belmont) (4 p.m.): The think they are being made to? honourable member who just resumed his Mr. R. E. Moore: Why wouldn't they seat was very apologetic for his Government's object to Scurr Bros.? Budget. He endeavoured to explain some of the matters contained in it and it was Mr. NEWTON: They are objecting strongly interesting to note that he supported my to the way it is being done. We hear leader's cal! to get Queenslanders back to much talk about businesses closing down. Let work. Of course, this cannot be said about me indicate quite clearly that these people some other members of that side of the are well known to members on this side of Chamber who found it very difficult to sup the Chamber and if they start complaining port the Budget. about loss of trade they will have nobody Mr. Lee: Ha, ha. but themselves to blame, because of their actions in this regard. Mr. NEWTON: Despite the "Ha, ha" from From a State point of view there is nothing the honourable member for Yeronga, who in the Budget that will stimulate the employ was one of the worse culprits, they used ment position for the people already unem their time in the debate to attack the Austra ployed or the thousands of school-leavers lian Government in the slanderous, scurrilous at the end of this year. They will be faced manner we have become used to in this with a gloomy future, Chamber since the Australian Labor Party became the Government in the Federal sphere Mr. Miller: Do you 'agree with Dr. in 1972. Such speeches will be of valuable Cairns? assistance to Australian Labor Party candi dates in the forthcoming State general Mr. NEWTON: I am making my speech election campaign. from material that I have gathered. I am not like the honourable member for Mt. One expected gloom and fear to be part Gravatt, who used a book written by Dr. of this year's Budget because this time the Cairns as the basis for his speech in this bright lights and television camera were debate. At least I have studied the Financial absent from the floor of this Chamber. Statement, as the honourable member for Absent also were the titles that the Treasurer Ithaca will learn before I conclude my speech. has given his Budget over the years-such :~s the "March of Progress" Budget and As I say, thousands of children who will the "Go Ahead" Budget. The only thing leave school this yem and seek employment that remained unchanged was the Treasurer's are faced with a gloomy future. The Queens glowing tie, although it lost its glow towards land Government should be thankful for the the end of his introduction of his Financial assistance that it is receiving under the Statement. It is interesting to note that the Australian Government's Budget. Such assis only television appearance he made connected tance is reflected in the Queensland State with the Budget depicted him digging in his Budget. This State will receive direct assis garden looking for a glow-worm, tance amounting to nearly $400,000,000 by After studying the Budget papers I can way of special grants from the Common only call this the "'Hold the position as is" wealth Grants Commission. Budget We all know that this will not be Mr. Lee: That's untrue. the position because the Budget allows for the expenditure this year of a further Mr. NEWTON: It as not untrue. These 't;200,000,000 and a study of it reveals that figures are revealed by the Auditor-General's this amount will merely cover increa~ed report. In 1973-74 the S~ate received administrative costs and wage increases, with, $322,172,490 by way of finandal assistance as indicated by my leader, more emphasis from the Australian Government, and that on administrative costs. We are all fully sum represents an increase of $50,526,976 aware of what happens in an election year over the figure received in the previous year. 1430 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) Present indications are that in the 1974-75 Mr. NEWTON: The honourable member financial year the Australian Government's should listen. He doesn't like this because it assistance to this State will reach the level is true and factual. This is what appeared of $400,000,000. in the "Telegraph" of 15 October- "All savings banks would gradually Instead of painting a gloomy picture and increase lending for homes, the Director trying to instil fear in the minds of the of the Austraiian Bankers' Association Queensland electors, the Treasurer in his Research Directorate, Mr. R. B. Cameron, Financial Statement should have reviewed said today." the economy of this State in minute detail. Since the Labor Party assumed office in Then- Canberra it has taken many steps towards "Yesterday Australia's biggest home making the economy of this State buoyant. lender, the Commonwealth Savings Bank. For ex:ample, the Federal Treasurer (Mr. said it would lift home approvals by Crean) has announced amendments to the more than 25 per cent." Banking Act. In this debate Government mem and further on- bers have attacked the Federal Treasurer. "The Commonwealth Bank, because it They have not given him one ounce of is the oldest and the bigges,t, will naturally credit for what he has done to assist Queens be able to do it first. land. "But other banks also are doing it and To rebut the scurrilous attacks made by before long everyone will, Mr. Cameron Government members on the Fedeml Treas said." urer, I will read the following extract from No-one can tell me that this is not an a recent Press statement- attempt to give a boost in the right direction. "The Federal Treasurer (Mr. Crean) To go a little further, I refer to the announced today the promulgation of the latest figures released by local authorities, amendments to the Banking (Savings including the Brisbane City Council, the Banks) Regulations that he foreshadowed Shire of Pine Rivers and the Toowoomba in his announcement on 5 September 1974 City Council, all of which have indicated on lending for housing. The amendments clearly that building permits approved come into effect immediately. increased in the month of September. "The effect of the amendments is to Alderman Brusasco is reported in "The ,reduce from 60 per cent to 50 per cent Courier-Mail" of Wednesday, 16 October. the proportion of the depositors' balances as follows:- required to be held by savings banks "City Council Health Committee Chair· subject to the Banking Act in prescribed man Alderman Brusasco said there were liquid assets and public sector securities, 1,007 building approvals in September and to reduce from 10 per cent to 7.5 compared with 766 in August and 917 per cent the proportion of depositors' in July. balances the savings banks are required to hold in deposits with the Reserve Bank " 'Compared with the number of and Treasury notes. approvals in the boom of 1973, the latest figure is particularly encouraging,' said "Mr. Crean stated that the amendments Alderman Brusasco. to the Regulations would enhance con siderably the ability of savings banks to " 'It may indicate that Federal Govern expand their lending for housing in the ment monetary policies are stimulating year ahead." the building trade,' he said. "In September 1973 there were 973 Government members have made all sorts of approvals, in 1972, 1,204, and in 197L allegations against the Federal Treasurer; 1,099. they give him no credit whatever. " 'For the first time in about four months. As recently as Tuesday of this week "The the number is almost back to the same Courier-Mail" reported as follows- level as ir: .~he past years,' Alderman Brusasco said. "The Commonwealth Savings Bank boosted its lending for both new and estab I now turn to other financial assistance lished houses by more than 25 per cent in referred to by the Federal Government since the last month. the introduction of the Budget. Firstly, I cite a statement made by the Minister for "The general manager (Mr. I. R. Housing and Construction, Mr. Les Johnson. Norman) said yesterday that the bank who recently held a meeting of all State approved loans of $35,600,000 to about Housing Ministers in Canberra on J 1 2000 families, compared w1ith housing loans October. He indicated that a housing research of $28 million in August. council was to be set up as agreed on at "He said he expected the September the meeting in Por,t Hedland on 14 June. total to be exceeded for at least the next He indicated that the Australian Govern few months." ment would provide $450,000 on a dollar for-dollar basis, for the triennium 1974-75 Mr. Lee: What about reading from today's to 1976-77, as well as a supporting secretariat. "Telegraph"? Mr. Johnson said that the conference would Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1431 discuss additional advances to the States in the $30,000,000 available over three years, renew light of developments in the building industry ing the scheme from 1 Julv 1974. This Jnd the ability of the State Housing authori do~ubles the amount made av-ailable in each ties to use extra funds in home construction. of the five yea,·s from 1969-70 on. The He said also that the committee would gr;-,nts, which c.re to be non-repayable and decide amendments to the Housing Agree interest free-- ment Act designed to allow the States to Mr. Frawley interjected. use more of the Federal funds for lending through terminating building societies to low Mr. NEWTON: You don't like it, do you? income earners. At present this is limited Weli, you are going to cop more of it. to 30 per cent of Federal advances except in specially defined circumstances. Mr. John The CHAiRMAN: Order! The honourable -;on said that he agreed at Port Hedland member will please address the Chair. that there was need to look again at this limit so that the Australian Government Mr. NEWTON: The member for Mm could act more flexibly when circumstances rumba can interject as much as he likes. justified an increase in terminating society [ am on my feet and he will get the answers funds. here this afternoon. Mr. J ohnson said also-- Mr. Johnson said that the grants, non "I have told the Ministers that we will repayable and interest free, should provide give them all the money they can use more than 3,000 units in three years. He to build more homes for lower income said the scheme would provide reasonable earners." accommodation for single pensioners at rents they could afford. He said it was further But he planned to raise a number of matters proof of the Government's intention to care for discussion. Among these would be hous for the aged. Too often single pensioners ing standards, the special needs of handi Jiving alone in private accommodation were ~apped people, a greater involvement in forc;d to pay too high a proportion of their participation by consumers in evolving hous pensions in rent. The annual grants avail ing policy, and whether the States were able to the State Governments for each of fulfilling the requirements of the Housing the three years would be $10,000,000. Mr. Agreement in relation to provision of ameni Johnson said the units were built by State ries, recreation facilities and landscaping and housing authorities after each proposed build the intermingling of Housing Commission ing scheme had been submitted to him for homes with private dwellings. approval. A typical unit was of between Mr. I,ee: Do you believe what you are 300 and 400 sq. ft., containing a bed-sitting -;aying? room, kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Rents for the units provided under the new scheme Mr. NEWTON: I have no reason not were to be not less than the maximum rate to believe it because I have a lot of con of supplementary assistance paid by the tidence i.n the Federal Minister for Housing, Department of Social Security. 1rrespect1ve of what Government members might say. Mr. Hodg2s: Why haven't we got some of the money? Mr. Tucker: It makes much more sense than 'the speech made by the honourable Mr. NEWTON: You've got it! You don't member the other day. know you've got it. You made one of the most stupid statements-- Mr. NEWTON: Yes. Judging from what we heard from the honourable member for The CHAiRMAN: 0Tder! Would the hon Yeronga the other night, that is quite true. ourable member please address the Chair? Let me draw attention to the proposed Mr. NEWTON: Through you-- amendments to the Defence Service Homes Act. i\'1r. Johnson said that the amount of The CHAIRMAN: No, not through me. ~ 115,000,000 included in the Federal Budget The honourable member will address the tor the Defence Services Homes scheme Chair. this financial year was $13,000,000 more than had been provided in the year 1973-74. Mr. NEWTON: 1f the Minister wants to The proposed maximum loan for persons interject, let him. I am quite happy to deal eligible under the Defence Service Homes with his interjections, too. I will give him Act is to be increased to $15,000. Queens a good send-off before I finish this afternoon. land, of course, will benefit from that alloca Rents under the previous scheme have been tion. fixed by State housing authorities and they Turning to what has been stated about vary between $2 and $4.60 a week. The the pensioner dwelling scheme-the Federal grants would be apportioned among the Minister for Housing (Mr. Les Johnson) States according to the total number of single announced that the Australian Government pensioners in receipt of supplementary assist has doubled the amount made available under ance in each State. On this basis, the annual the scheme for dwellings for aged pensioners. allocation for Queensland will be almost He said the Federal Government would make $1,500,000. 1432 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statemeni) I turn to the other scheme that has been Turning to the State Budget, I shall deal set up and about which so much has been first with police. The proposed increase in said in the Chamber-the Australian Hous police strength looks good in black and ing Corporation. That is another very good white. The Budget says that it is to be scheme. The Commonwealth Government increased from 3,772 to 4,023 by the addi is endeavouring to assist the State housing tion of 251 police officers. These figure; authorities by setting up a corporation to have to be compared with those given by the assist those people it feels should receive Minister in answer to a question on 27 assistance to overcome housing shortages August 1974. He said that the approved throughout the Commonwealth. strength was 3,406. So 366 police personnel are unaccounted for in this State Mr. Hedges: That hasn't been set up yet. in addition to the shortage of 69 police' officers, because the actual strength at the Mr. NEWTON: I will tell you what is time the question was asked was 3,337. in it so that you might know. Therefore, the number of serving policemen and police women is down 435 at present. The CHAIRMAN: Order! The honourable member will address the Chair. It will be interesting to see where the additional police officers come from to bring Mr. NEWTON: I will tell the Minister the force up to strength and offset the all what is in it, for his information, so he time high level of resignations as at 30 June will know what further assistance he will 1974. And there will be more resignations, receive from the Commonwealth. The police arts and science course is to be the main basis of promotion from this year One of the measures announced by the on, whereas prior to 1974 police duties and Federal Treasurer in his Budget speech was law enforcement were the main basis of the establishment of the Australian Housing promotion. Corporation, with initial funds of $25,000,000. The corporation will seek to effectively moni Further discontent is occurring in the force tor the housing industry to identify its unused because of the long delay in filling pro capacity and to facilitate housing loans to motional vacancies for non-commissioned take up any slack that may occur. Funds officers. There are 21 vacancies for senior lent will probably be available to low and sergeants, and there is a strong ,feeling in the middle-income earners at moderate rates of force that this rank will be eliminated bv interest and may incorporate the deferred the Government if it is returned at the next repayment principle. The Federal Treasurer State election. Some police stations have continued that the people in the employ of been downgraded and reclassified. They the Commonwealth Government, including include Camp Hill, Chermside and Hamilton, migrants, will be included in this scheme. which are in explosive-growth areas in which no new police stations have been provided. A further announcement that has been There are 40 vacancies for first-class sergeant' made relates to money being made available and 51 for sergeants second class-a total of for environmental protection. The proposals 91 vacancies waiting to be filled in those two include- ranks. Assistance to the States for nature con The failure to bring the number of non· servation purposes, $9,000,000; commissioned officers up to approved National air monitoring programme, strength is so serious that the matter has been $250,000; take; up by letter from the Queensland Nature conservation studies, $381,000; Police Union to the Premier. The Minister and the Commissioner of Police are deli Assistance to the States for water quality berately holding back these promotions. assessment, $322,265; Assistance to the States for soil con Mr. Hodges: Don't be so ridiculous. servation $500,000; and Mr. NEWTON: The Minister is able to do Public environmental awareness pro- it. That sort of thing happens continually. gramme $100,000. According to yesterday's newspaper, officers The Federal Government has been doing a are receiving promotion after prOtmotion; but good job in the provision of aged persons' that has not been the case with non-com accommodation. From 1 July this year, the missioned officers during the past two years. maximum subsidy has been increased to The Minister claims that he is still awaiting $6,000 for a single nursing-home unit and a report from the planning and research $7,000 for a double unit. These benefits to section of the Police Force. That has been the State are in addition to those already the excuse used for some years past. listed by the Leader of the Opposition and Labor's policy, as laid down at the recent me on behalf of the Opposition. But the convention, is quite clear. As the Govern Premier, Ministers and Government back ment after the next State election, the Labor benchers knock these and other Australian Party will have a full and open inquiry into Government schemes that will stimulate the all aspects ot the Police Force in this State. economy of the State and create employ That is something for which the A.L.P. ment in many fields in which people are now has been asking for some time in order seeking it. to overcome the discontent that there ha~ Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Staternent) 1433 been, and still is, in the Police Force. The Mr. NEWTON: Of course I am proud of inquiry will investigate the strength of the it, and you'll swallow everything that you Police Force, including policemen and police said-- women; the downgrading and reclassification of police stations; and the re-opening of The CHAIRMAN: Order! The honourable police stations closed by the Government in member will address the Chair. I do not areas where they are needed. propose to give him any more warnings. Mr. NE\VTON: The motion reads- New police stations will be provided in fast-developing industrial and housing areas. "That convention congratulates and All types of patrols, including mobile, water fully endorses the action of the Acting and foot patrols, will be investigated. Pro Australian Treasurer, Bill Hayden, in motions in the Police Force will be based guaranteeing Australian-Government back on other courses, and the police arts and ing for financial institutions such as build science course will not be the main basis ing societies in the current credit squeeze. for promotion. Duties that can be carried "Convention agrees it is unquestionable out by civilian personnel will be considered that the asset backing of permanent build more fully to release policemen and police ing societies is strong and that Mr. Hay women for other duties. Juvenile aid will den's prompt move will strengthen this be brought back under the contml of the backing. Police Force. Police will be provided at "Convention is confident that the per sporting functions to maintain law and order manent building society movement has the and to see that public property is protected. Australian Government's full support in The operational hours of police stations the role it is playing in providing finance throughout the State will be reviewed with for home buying in this State. a view to returning to manning police "Convention applauds the Australian stations for 24 hours a day, seven days a Government's recent decision to allow week, where required. interest payments on mortgages as tax deductions-thus giving home buyers Let us make quite clear where we stand weekly rebates-and urges, as a further on the matter of discontent in the Police move to assist home buyers, that interest Force. on building society contributors' accounts Mr. Hodges: They don't want to again be tax free, as they are in Britain, in work under a Labor administration. order to attract more investment into build ing societies. Convention notes that this lVIr. NEWTON: The Minister comes in on would, in effect put contributor interest this matter. It has been made clear in payments about two per cent above stated every deputation that the A.L.P. has received rates and a paye system of taxation would from the Queensland Police Union that. mean a two per cent rreduction in the under Labor Governments, systems of pro~ rate paid by borrowers." motion and the courses on which promotions Here is a telegram from the permanent were based were better than those being fol building societies congratulating the A.L.P. lowed today. on the move taken by Mr. Bill Hayden, the I now wish to deal with housing, which then Acting Treasurer. I also have here a has been seriously neglected by the Govern telegram thanking me for what I did, and ment over the past five years. During the a letter received in this morning's mail from past 16 months, the National-Liberal Govern the Metropolitan Permanent Building Society, ment has been playing politics, for election thanking the Australian Labor Party Opposi purposes, on the question of funds allocated tion in this State for what it has done. by the Australian Government for housing This Government has shirked its responsi to relieve unemployment in the building bilities. It is placing the responsibility for industry in this State. The National-Liberal financing home-ownership fairly and squarely Government has voided its responsibility for on the shoulders of the permanent building ~ousing those in need in Queensland, and societies. During the past 12 months the 1t has placed the full burden of providing National-Liberal Government has provided houses for home ownership on the, shoulders the lowest number of houses on record of permanent building societies, which are through the Queensland Housing Commis providing up to 65 per cent of houses in sion-1,407. It finished the financial year Queensland today. with a credit of $11,800,000. Again I support the action of Mr. Bill Mr. HODGES: I rise to a point of order. Hayden, the Federal member for Oxley and The honourable member has been making Minister for Social Security who has been that wrong statement for several weeks now. condemned by so many members opposite, I should like to put him right. The Queens in assisting permanent building societies when land Housing Commission did not finish the recently they were faced with a very serious year with $11,800,000 in credit. It finished situation. I place on record the motion that the year $3,600,000 overcommitted. I moved at the Labor-in-Politics Convention Mr. NEWTON: I suggest to the Minister on this matter. that he go through the 1974-75 Estimates. Mr. Chinchen: Are you proud of it? Mr. Hodges: You can't read. 1434 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) Mr. NEWTON: The Minister hurts me M:r. NEWTON: I invite the Minister to when he says that I cannot read. He should enter this debate. If he is game to put his put his glasses on and read the document; money where his mouth is, he has the oppor the information is there in black and white. tunity to do it. The total amount advanced What I said is correct. to this Government by the Australian Gov ernment for housing for 1972-73 was During the last five years of the Australian Sl5,800,000, and for 1973-74 it was Labor Party Government in this State, we $17,400,000. The amount allocated to constructed through the Queensland Housing Queensland by the Australian Government Commission 10,132 houses. If I take your has almost doubled since Labor took office last five years, you have constructed only in December 1972. 8,369 houses. Mr. Hodges: That is right. The CHAIRMAN: Order! I can assure the honourable member that the Chair has Mr. NEWTON: I thank the Minister for not constructed any. acknowledging >that I am right in something. And I am right in my other statements, too. Mr. NEWTON: These figures indicate that The Master Builders' Association and the home construction by the present Govern Building Trades Group of Unions have both ment over the past five years is down 1,763 asked the Queensland Government through houses. The output for the last six months the media to release money for housing to of the 1973-74 financial year should have relieve unemployment in the industry, which been doubled. Had the Minister been doing has been serious in this State since April his job, he would have done that. At the 1973. This request was completely ignored end of the financial year the Home Builders' by the State Government which had ample Account had a credit of $3,100,000; the funds and, since the floods in January 1974, Housing Institutions Advance Account, ample materials stockpiled to overcome this $2,500,000; and the Queensland Housing position. Do not deny that, because up until Commission Fund, $6,100,000. The last recently it was still stockpiled under the Story mentioned is used for the purchasing of land, Bridge, as has been pointed out by the hon home-ownership, rental housing and main ourable member for Lytton on many tenance. There is a further increase of just occasions. on $12,000,000 in this year's Budget. The shocking thing about it is that terminating Mr. HODGES: I rise to a point of order. building societies were screaming for money The timber stockpiled on the wharves is for before the end of the financial year, yet all the Queensland Works Department, not the that money was held in funds by the Govern Queensland Housing Commission. ment. Mr. NEWTON: I am talking about the On the day the Minister got off the plane timber stockpiled under the Story Bridge, from Canberra, I received a telegram indi which plainly belongs to the Minister. He cating to me what the allocation would be said it was obtained during the flood period for the next 12 months. It stated that there for the relief of people affected in this area. would be a further allocation of $27,400,000 under the Commonwealth-State Housing Mr. Hodges: That is right. Agreement, being made up of $16,950,000 for the Queensland Housing Commission Mr. NEWTON: Up to a few weeks ago Fund and $10,470,000 for the Home Builders' it was still stockpiled under the bridge. You Account. Let the Minister get up and deny continually get up in this Chamber screaming that. The Minister got the front page of about people being unemployed-- the newspapers when he said that he received only $6,000,000. The CHAIRMAN: Order! Will the honour able member please address the chair. Mr. HODGES: I rise to a point of order. Mr. Davis: Oh! I did not make an untruthful statement. The amount I stated was correct. I got $4,200,000 The CHAIRMAN: Order! The honourable for the Home Builders' Account and member for Brisbane had better watch him $2,300,000 for the Queensland Housing self. This is not the first time that the Commission Fund. honourable member has reflected on the Chair when I have been addressing another The CHAIRMAN: Order! I hope the honourable member. If I have to warn him honourable member will accept the Minister's once more, I will deal with him under Stand statement. ing Order 123A. And I remind him that he is interjecting from other than his usual place. Mr. NEWTON: I made no reflection on the Minister. Let us get the point quite Mr. DAVIS: I rise to a point of order. clear. I am just stating what was conveyed I have laryngitis and I could not-- to me in a telegram. The Minister told my Federal Minister to put his finance where Government Members: Speak up! his mouth is. The CHAIRMAN: Order! There is no Mr. Hodges: That is right. point of order. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1435 Mr. NEWTON: The National-Liberal Gov Mr. Hodges: Did you say home-ownership? ernment has also eliminated the day-labour construction force of the Queensland Housing Mr. NEWTON: Yes. Commission. Mr. Hodges: You don't believe in it. Mr. HODGES: I rise to a point of order. Mr. NEWTON: The Minister does not The honourable member is flirting with the believe in it. truth. We have not eliminated the day Even when a Liberal-Country Party Gov labour force of the Queensland Housing ernment was in power in Canberra, the Commission, and I ask him to wHhdraw that present Queensland State Government did remark. not go there seeking additional finance for The CHAIRMAN: Order! I hope the hon housing. In spite of constant appeals from ourable member for Belmont will accept the the Opposition to do so, the Government Minister's statement. sat back and did nothing whatever. It relies on the permanent building societies Mr. NEWTON: I can only place these to provide money for home-ownership. matters before the Committee on the We will review the Building Societies Act information received from the Minister him and Co-operative Housing Societies Act in self in his answers to questions. He answered relation to fixing interest rates charged by a question from the honourable member for private lending institutions. Government Everton by saying that he had only con guaranteed loans for housing and for home structed seven houses with the day-labour ownership can and should be pegged at construction force for the year 1973-74. fixed interest rates for the repayment period Mr. Hodges: You are admitting there is of the loan and at the time of the signing a day-labour force. of the agreement. Aged persons' units will be given top priority to overcome the Mr. NEWTON: Of seven. present backlog under this Governm.;nt. Mr. Hodges: You said seven houses. Rental accommodation for married couples, couples with families and pensioner couples Mr. NEWTON: Yes, seven houses. in need of accommodation will be catered for in complete accordance with the new Mr. Hodges: What about all the mainten Commonwealth-States Housing Agreement of ance? Get your facts right. 1973, which was introduced by the present Mr. NEWTON: I am glad the Minister has Australian Government. Under this agree brought maintenance into the matter because ment the means test on overtime has been he is 12 months behind there, even with the lifted. The Minister did not make a great strong day-labour force he does have in that splurge about this when he returned from section. I will give him credit there. At least Canberra. he has a decent day-labour maintenance Mr. Hodges: I did. force. Mr. NEWTON: I did not see any such Mr. Hodges: You just said J did not have report in the Press. This morning the a day-labour force. Federal Minister for Housing told us that the means test had been lifted. Labor will Mr. NEWTON: You have not the good play its part in providing housing for people day-labour force that we had when we were in Queensland, who have been grossly the Government. As a Government we will neglected by the present National-Liberal set up a programme for providing houses Government. through the Queensland Housing Commission and will double the output of the present In the time still available to me, I wish to deal with the Queensland State Emer Government. This will be achieved through gency Service, which was formerly known the contract system and the reintroduction of as the Civil Defence Organisataion. We a day-labour force throughout the State. would have expected more than $301,150 Mr. Hodges: What would it be achieved to be set aside by the Queensland Govern through? ment to reorganise this body. We must not forget that Queensland Cabinet Ministers Mr. NEWTON: It will be achieved through rushed off to Canberra to obtain $500,000 the contract system-- at a time when the Australian Governmennt Mr. Hodges: What about your day-labour was considering the setting up of a national force? disaster fund. In 1973-74 only $61,355 was set aside by this Government for this organ Mr. NEWTON: And a day-labour force isation and the actual amount expended throughout the State. The Minister did not totalled $73,180. This year, to save face, the listen. Queensland Government has increased its We are proud of day labour, which did a expenditure to $301,150, which is almost magnificent job for the whole time we were $200,000 less than the sum asked for by in Government but which has now been it from the Australian Government. eliminated by this Government. We will In view of the damage caused by cyclone encourage home-ownership on the basis of a "Althea" in 1971, by the Brisbane tornado low deposit and low repayments. in 1973 and by the disastrous floods earlier 1436 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) t~is year, the Government should have pro matte;; in the light of the disaster experienced VIded the State Emergency Service with more in Townsville by my present leader, the tragic finance than it has given to it. happenings experienced by honourable members on both sides of the Chamber at Mr. Hodges: We were invited to Canberra Mt. Gravatt, Springwood, and so on, and by Mr. Barnard, who promised us half a the recent flooding throughout the State, we million, but when we got there he reneged. think the steps I have outlined are essential. Mr. NEWTON: I will tell the Minister This service must be improved and why in a moment; the reason is easy to encouraged to continue with the wonderful see. In 1973 the expenditure approved for work it did on those three occasions. natural disaster relief totalled $31,506,250. Mr. Hodges: That is exactly what I am Of that sum, to 30 June 1974 the Australian dealing with now. Government had paid back $27,800,000 to this Government, but that fact has been Mr. NEWTON: The Minister accused me hushed up by Government members so that of being like the Prime Minister. I am they could get all the credit for what announcing what we intend to do, but the happened earlier this year. Minister is taking action piecemeal. Lf he had The new State Emergency Service wiJJ given us information on what he intended be given complete autonomy by an A.LP. to do, there would not have been any need Government in this State. for me to make this speech. I turn now to land for residential purposes. Mr. Hodges: It has always had autonomy. In this context we have again seen a rush Mr. NEWTON: The new State Emergency to Canberra to get money for land in Service will be given complete autonomy Queensland. The Minister may correct me under an Australian Labor Party Govern if he wishes, but I remind him that he has ment. The director will be the chief com ample housing sites available to get on with mander of operations, with regional directors building houses in Queensland. It is about appointed throughout the State. The Com time that this land, which has all the missioner of Police and inspectors in charge required facilities, was subdivided so that of police districts will be under the control people are not pushed into areas where the of the director which will be a complete facilities they want are not available. reversal of the present situation. A Labor Government in Queensland would Mr. Hodges: I am reorganising the ask the Australian Government to review whole thing. some of the schemes suggested by the pre sent Government to ensure that they Mr. NEWTON: They will assist where measured up to the standard required by the requested by the director, and carry out A.L.P. If the Minister wants to buy into their normal duties of keeping the public this, now is the time to do so. When we clear of disaster areas so that members of were in Government, and sewerage was not the State Emergency Service will not be available in an area that we went into, at hampered by sightseers and property will not least we put in absorption trenches and be damaged or pilfered by people who go bailer sumps in an attempt to dispose of through flooded areas in their boats. household water. We will work in close co-operation with Mr. Hodges: Like Victoria Park? our national counterparts. A close study will be made of all the New South Wales Acts Mr. NEWTON: I am amazed that the c:overing all aspects of disaster. Minister should talk about Victoria Park. He should do what Sir Thomas Hiley did Mr. Hodges: You sound like Gough. when he was Minister for Housing-and I give him credit for it-that is, spend most THE CHAIRMAN: Order! Persistent Sunday afternoons driving around Housing interjections will not be tolerated. Commission projects. No matter which one we raised, Sir Thomas Hiley knew something Mr. NEWTON: Every effort will be made about it. Believe me, there are some shocking to set up voluntary assistance regional groups projects on the fringe of the metropolitan throughout the State and provide them with area at the moment. If the Minister has not up-to-date plant and modern equipment so had a look at them, I suggest he does, that they can cope with such emergencies. because we on this side of the Chamber Volunteer groups will be put through the have. school at Mt. Macedon or other similar schools, where they will be given the most Mr. Hodges: Shocking in what way? up-to-date information and advice on disas ters. Costly experiences in this State with Mr. NEWTON: Water is being dispersed natural disasters have proved that this is into open earth drains and all over allot essential. The director and his staff and the ments. volunteers in the force are to be cornmended The other day somebody was silly enough on their untiring efforts and loyalty in the to say that if people did the right thing their difficult task they were called upon to per allotments would not become soggy and form in recent disasters. I make no apology waterlogged. What utter rot in a wet year to the Government for our policy on this such as this one! The land is absolutely Supply (17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Staten:ent) 1437 saturated. It could not take another drop assist in overcoming the housing shortage of water. Those conditions are being experi there. The same could be said of the area enced in Woodridge, Kingston, and Carole represented by the member for Port Curtis. Park, where the local authorities are not We know that a lot of suitable housing land concerned about the health hazards caused is available in the Moreton region. It has by these conditions. We on this side of the all necessary facilities and people would not Chamber are very concerned. have to wait two or three years after moving The Government cannot condemn what into a house for the facilities to be provided. was done by the Labor Party. As a car There is also the scheme that the Minister penter, I worked in many of the Housing inspected. He was endeavouring to buy land Commission areas that have been spoken of. which he claimed had been made available l recall the amount that we spent on drain to him by the developers. We are not age in those areas in an endeavour to ensure knocking that. It was done by the Labor that, wherever there was a treatment plant, Government. A project that comes to mind it was utilised to its fullest extent to get rid is the one in Stannard Road, Wynnum West. of household waste water. A similar position arose during a credit squeeze in, I think, the 1960's. A real estate Mr. Hodges: Why doesn't the local auth ority take the sewerage to where we have agent could not unload the land. The our sites and homes? Housing Commission got a bargain. It is one of the best housing areas in the Wynnum Mr. NEWTON: That is something that the district, which of course was in my electorate .'vfinister and his commissioner should have prior to the Government's redistribution . considered before they went into those areas. In addition, there is the scheme that is We should not be going back to the dim being considered by the Federal Minister for dark ages of the 1930's and the 1920's. Urban and Regional Development, the State Mr. Hodges: But the Lord Mayor said Minister for Lands and the Lord Mayor of that he would have all places sewered in 'two Brisbane. We feel that the Housing Com years. mission has ample land and should get on with the job of building houses and providing Mr. NEWTON: Which Lord Mayor? employment opportunities for builders and Mr. Hodges: The Lord Mayor of Brisbane. apprentices. Mr. Hodges: If I had the money, I Mr. NEWTON: He has done a very good would. job. The Housing Commission has ample land Mr. NEWTON: The Minister does not within a radius of six or eight miles of the know where his money has gone. My appeal G.P.O. Some of it has been subdivided and the other day must have been warranted. is ready for bitumen roads and kerbing and I made a statement through the media that channelling to be put in. It is within a it is about time the Federal Minister for mile of a sewerage treatment plant. Other Housing came to Queensland or sent some land is two miles from a sewerage treatment body else up here to see where the money plant. The Housing Commission is going is going. The Minister answered a question outside the metropolitan area. earlier this year about finance, and there Some people working in the metropolitan is no way in ,the world he could have area are being forced to travel 10 or more spent all the available money by the end hours a day to earn eight hours' pay. They of the financial year. At that time he had incur heavy expenditure on fares in travelling spent 4,000,000-odd dollars on land and great distances into the metropolitan area, indicated that between March and June he where their jobs are, yet there is land within had a further l ,000,000-odd dollars to spend the metropolitan area that could be utilised. on land. He also disclosed the funds he The Housing Commission is developing land had for other housing purposes over and in areas where facilities are not available. above what he had set aside for land. I could go into those matters at greater We will co-operate fully with the Aus length, but as the Minister has taken up tralian Government where residential land ~o much of my time with his interjections for housing is made available on either a I will have to turn to other policy matters freehold or perpetual lease basis. The per that I wish to deal with. We will study the petual lease basis would allow people schemes, because we believe that some of the endeavouring to own their own homes to suggested schemes and some areas in relation take full advantage of the amount of the to which negotiations are being conducted loan. are very desirable. Mr. Miller: Would you allow them to The Kallangur scheme is one that is being buy that land at a later date? handled by the Premier and one that we would wish to consider very carefully. The Mr. NEWTON: That is up to the person. schemes for Townsville, Gladstone, and the I expected that question. A number of Moreton region are being handled by the houses are built on perpetual lease land in Treasurer. My leader has informed me that my electorate. The people are quite happy some good land is presently available in the and have no argument with what will happen Townsville area, which could be used to to the land eventually. They are paying a 47 1438 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) small annual rent for the land and were able Queensland today would be used if electri to take advantage of the full amount of the fication was introduced. The honourable loan to build a decent three-bedroom house, member for Cairns should get his facts whereas a person building on freehold land straight. It is carrying capacity that is has to purchase both the dwelling and important, not the method of traction by the land out of the loan money if he does which trains are hauled. not already own the land. It is true that electricity has its advantages. We would also request that such land Coal, which is a natural fossil fuel, is used be close to employment and be serviced to produce electricity. It is also true that by a fast and modern mode of transport. electricity does not produce the air pollution It should have such necessaries as sealed caused by diesel motors and engines of other roads, kerbing and channelling, and sewerage, types. With electrostatic smoke precipitators as well as park and recreation areas to and the correct ratio of air to fuel, smoke avoid the substandard housing conditions can be kept to the minimum in the gen which apply in a number of Queensland eration of electricity. Electric motors also Housing Commission estates. At present there have the advantage of lower maintenance are a number of schemes for land for costs. Whilst there are indeed benefits to housing in this State, all of which attract be obtained from the electrification of the financial assistance from the Australian Gov railways, electric trains certainly will not ernment. carry any more passengers than diesel trains. The people of Queensland should have a Mr. R. .Jones: I am thinking in terms of good look at the record of this Government going underground in the future. since the 1972 election. The Premier has been Mr. R. E. MOORE: I think the hon and still is circling around the State in his ourable member has been underground for plane like a queen bee looking for a new too long. colony. He is more concerned about a Queen for Queensland than the affairs of this State During the Budget debate, I usually speak to the Treasurer's Financial Statement. As that need urgent attention. He has forgotten the Budget applies to the whole financial that Que.ensland is part of Australia. situation of Queensland, I propose to skirt Every assistance offered by the Australian briefly round fiscal policies. ·when one con Government is looked upon suspiciously siders the Budgets brought down in other by the Premier. This has been the States, the Queensland Budget is seen to be case even when the assistance has been in a very good one. In comparison with it, the form of money to overcome unemploy other State Budgets pale into insignificance. m~nt. The Treasurer and the Minister for This is not solely because the Treasurer is Mmes must stand condemned on the low a financial genius. It has been made pos royalties paid by companies mining our sible as a result of the natural assets of mmeral wealth. For the pa·!>t five years the Queensland and the Government's policies State has missed out on more than generally. The Budget also shows that the $30,000,000 a year in royalties. State is fairly robust, as nearly two years (Time expired.) of Federal rule have not completely killed it. Mr. R. E. MOORE (Windsor) (5 p.m.): The Federal Government is fast making If the speech of the honourable member inroads into the livelihood of Queenslanders. for Belmont !s a sample of A.L.P. policy, By all. manner of insidious means, it is I do not thmk we on this side of the attemptmg to take ove'r the States. It is Chamber have a thing to worry about. not doing it in one fell swoop; it is doing it by attrition. Its policy is to take things In reply to the remarks of the honourable away gradually until the people get used member concerning the supposed rosiness of to that situation. It hopes that finally the !he build!ng industry, I point out that it people will give up, and it will then take IS stated m the Stop Press of today's "Tele over the States. The Federal Government ~raph" that home loans insured by the Hous is trying to say, "You are in a bad situation mg Loans Insurance Corporation fell by as far as transport is concerned in Queens 40 per cent to the end of June. I do not land. We will be kind to you and take doubt that the down-turn has since become over your railways. We will be good to greater. Things are in fact anythincr but you." That is the way is works. \Vhen we rosy, and I should like the honourable ~em decide that something is too much for us ber to get his facts straight. and therefore hand it ove:r to the Federal I should also like to reply to the hon Government, that will be the first nail in ourable member for Cairns who referred our coffin. I hope we never fall for any of to electrification and what 'he said I did those tricks. No matter how hard things not know about transport in Japan and other get as a result of the maladministration in places. What I said is that the type of Canberra, I hope we do not fall for any traction. used in trains is not very important. thing of that type. If a tram travels at 40 miles an hour hauled When the Fedeml Government offers us by a diesel locomotive, it will not carry one money for main roads and tells us that we extra passenger if hauled by electric traction. must spend it in a certain way, as far as The same Budd cars used on the railways in I am concerned it can go to hell. We do not \! Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1439 need the money that badly. We will spend complex here." Although a certain amount of the money our way. We are not going preliminary work can be done on the site, to take money with strings attached such as the levelLing of the ground, the job to it, whether :it be for harbours or anything should not be started until pl:anning is else. This is an autonomous State with a completed. We have this well in hand and Government that has the ability to govern. the State is well aware of our hospital needs We have a Treasurer and top public servants both at the moment and for the future. It of skill and proficiency who can run the is not a crime to have a surplus of beds. State efficiently. They have done it in the I would say it would be far better to have past, so why should they suddenly fall down a surplus of beds than a shortage but the and not be able to do it because by some Treasurer of the State has to make an alloca mischance the suburbs of Sydney and Mel tion of funds and for this he must work out bourne unfortunately elected a Federal Gov priorities. So we do not just build a ernment of socialist persuasion. Of course hospital containing an extra couple of hun those voters would change their mind dred beds. tomorrow. They elected a Government that was not wanted here. Honourable members Mr. Miller: How would it be staffed, opposite got the greatest shock of their lives anyway? when they saw the results of the poll. Mr. R. E. MOORE: There could be a Mr. Porter: They will get a greater shock shortage of nurses but I am saying that at the next State election. there are so many other avenues requiring finance-Main Roads, education, beach pro Mr. R. E. MOORE: I know they are doing tection, sewerage and other areas all des a lot of whistling in the dark. They have perately in need of funds. So we should thrown out challenges :and said, "Let us go build an 800-bed hospital and not become to the people. The sooner the better." They too lavish as the money is required in do not really mean it, and they have their other avenues. We do not take into con fingers crossed. I do not get any great sideration whether a hospital is a church enjoyment out of seeing any member hospital or any other type of hospital. We defeated. When half a dozen or more of are doing a job for the State and we treat them go to the wall, they can come to all hospitals alike. me for help. I respect them as men, but I While on that subject, I should like to do not think very much of their party. If thank the sisters and doctors who work in they need a hand :after the election, I am the various church hospitals such as the sure honourable members on this side will Mater and St. Andrew's for the great part help them out. they play in providing a hospital system I do not know why we allowed the Federal under which people have a choice. People Government to take over our universities. I have likes and dislikes. Some do not like realise that if the Commonwealth Govern the Princess Alexandra or the Royal Brisbane ment enacts legislation similar to that enacted while others do not like the Mater. So by the State, constitutionally the Common they have a right of choice and there is wealth legislation takes precedence. But I nothing better for a person who is entering do not see how that applies to legislation hospital for major surgery than to have dealing with universities. The amount of confidence. money that lis now being allocated to univer sities is being handed direct to the universities Mr. Frawley: The sisters and doctors do instead of first coming to the States. The a good job. result is that the States have lost control. Staff and students at the universities still Mr. R. E. MOORE: What the honourable have to comply with State laws covering, member says is right. The majority of say, driving on the left-hand side of the agnostics and atheists on the other side do road, but, generally speaking, we have lost not know what part they intend to play control of the format of university educa in this field. tion. I do not know why we did not put Mr. Frawley: They want to destroy the up a better struggle against what has hap church. pened. We have heard a great deal of talk about Mr. R. E. MOORE: That is so. They the Comonwealth Government building a are becoming more and more radical. One 1,000-bed hospital at Mt. Gravatt. The hon notices it in such debates as the Address in ourable member for Townsville very clearly Reply. I am not referring to every hon explained the situation. One does not build ourable member opposite, but the majority a 1,000-bed hospital with the stroke of a do not pay any respect to past traditions pen. Massive planning is necessary to build or to royalty. I do not know where they and equip an efficient hospital. One must are heading. The Christian ethic is one l0ok to the future when planning a hospital. of the very sound planks on which society I think the State Government was planning is built. It has been very effective in the for an 800-bed hospital, and those plans past. It has its shortcomings but we know are well under way. After foundations have of nothing better. A person who sincerely been laid and steelwork erected, it is too late tries to follow the Ten Commandments to say, "Let us try and build a hospital cannot go far wrong. 1440 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) As to our attitude towards the Common i.ts own Army, Navy and Air Force. Defence. wealth, in my last Budget speech I spoke must be carried out on a national scale. to the Treasurer and half committed him. All the Commonwealth Government need [ said that Queensland would take back its do is control those spheres of government income tax powers if given the opportunity. that affect the whole of the nation. The Treasurer did not entirely agree with The present duplication is very costly. For me. I am now saying to him and to example, Queensland has a Consumer Affairs his ministerial colleagues that it is about Bureau and a Consumer Affairs Council, time we stopped moaning and groaning about but because our consumer protection is far what the Federal Government is doing to in advance of anything brought forward by the States and did something about it. the Commonwealth Government, Senator We should take back our State taxing Murphy is not happy with it and now wants power because the man who pays the pipl!r to introduce his own socialist consumer pro calls the tune. If we do not do this we tection plan. are hell-bent for nationalisation. This could be one great bulwark against it. By having Mr. Chinchen: It's the same in legal aid its own taxing powers this State o::ould and many other areas. retain a free-enterprise system and people Mr. R. E. MOORE: It is one massive would flock here from every other State system of duplication. The Labor Party is in Australia. We would not have any trying to sow the seed so that one day problems about population growth. Because when State Labor is elected to power-by of the Labor Party's socialist policy many mistake-it will vote itself out of office and people today are looking for a place to go. hand over the control of the State to the To which country can they go? With the Commonwealth. But to the Labor Party, of insidious inroads that Communism and course, that will be Utopia. socialism are making in almost every country, there are not many places to go; but that Mr. Chincben: Not manv over there wanl is no excuse for us to throw up our hands it at the moment. - and say, "Well, it is happening everywhere else; it will happen here." It need not Mr. R. E. MOORE: The Labor Party has happen here. We should do all in our definite suicidal tendencies. To illustrate power to prevent it. in spite of a referendum that resulted in a vote against the abolition of 1he Queens Mr. Frawley: Do you know that up in land Upper House, the Labor Party com Cairns they put up a motion to have a mitted suicide by abolishing it and voting referendum to do away with the State itself out of office. I predict that if Labor Government and put Queensland under Fed is ever returned to office we will need an eral control? Upper House to protect us against the type of gerrymandering that the Labor Party Mr. R. E. MOORE: I do not know about engages in-and for the protection of State that. Dr. Cairns's main concern is, as he calls rights. it, the system, whatever that is. He knows what it is. It is the rock on which we are Mr. Murray: They have an inbuilt tendency foundering-socialism. to suicide. Unfortunately I do not have the latest Mr. R. E. MOORE: Yes, they have. They figures available, but those that I have been are like the lemmings that tumble over a able to obtain from the Parliamentary oliff and die; but some of them survive. Library show that in 1972-73 the Common wealth Government received from Queens Mr. Casey: What would you say we have land the huge sum of $925,000,000, which did lost by not having an Upper House in not include all kickbacks and spin-offs, and in Queensland? return it paid us only $821,000,000. Any State Minister who believes that Queensland Mr. R. E. MOORE: While we have a cannot stand on its own feet and that it National-Liberal Government we lose noth is doing better under the present uniform ing, but when irresponsibles like honourable taxation arrangements, under which Queens members opposite are in power we need the land with a lower population than the other safe.guard. Labor members ask what useful major States receives more per head, should service is performed by the Senate. The have another look at the facts. We would very nature of voting for the Senate is such do much better on our own, and the sooner that, irrespective of the gerrymander the better. instituted by the Federal Government to get a vast majority in the House of Representa Mr. Jensen: Are you advocating secession? tives, it will not get a majority in the Senate -thanks to proportional representation. It is Mr. R. E. MOORE: Secession is not the a safeguard designed to prevent anyone answer. Australia has a very good Com gerrymandering electorates and remaining in monwealth system under which the States power for ever. have autonomy, or should have it. The Federal Government should control only The Senate's role of safeguard, as with an those activities that cannot be attended to Upper House, is becoming increasingly by the States. It would be ridiculous to important. In the whole scheme of things have each State meet the cost of providing it is not costly. Irrespective of which party Supply (17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1441 is in power, mistakes are made. An Upper fOir a 48-hour week, where there are virtually House of elder statesmen-men who have no strikes and where costs can be kept down sat in this House, who know the score and to bedrock? Australians may work at an the pitfalls-would play a very useful role. equal or better production rate, but they receive $80, $90, or $100 a week-four Opposition Members interjected. times as much. It is true that a freight Mr. R. E. MOORE: Queensland can stand component is included in manufactured goods on its own feet. We have large exports of imported from overseas, but that does not coal, bauxite, beef and wool. The beef compensate for a wage cost that is foUif export market is somewhat depressed but it times higher. is to be hoped that that will not last very There are those in the Federal sphere long. Queensland is well endowed with who say that AustraLian companies must natural resources. Without Queensland and compete. There is no way in the wide Western Australia the Commonwealth world they can compete in these circum Government would be in real strife in its stances. The FedeDal Government wants the balance of payments. This year Queensland best of both worlds. It wants people to live became a claimant State to the extent of in this country but not to purchase goods $24,750,000. Queensland deserves a much manufactured here. That attitude is sense bigger allocation in the light of the job it less. If the housewife is offered two shirts does for Australia as a whole. identical in appe:arance, one made in South I become deeply concerned when I see east Asia and the other made in Queensland, textile industries going out of business why wouldn't she buy the cheaper article? because of the Federal Government's policy. But that is not the point. The i.mported At the best of times these industries make article should not be on the shelf for her only about 8 per cent profit. to buy. If she expects her husband to be paid high wages in this country, she must Mr. Marginson: Eight per cent? buy goods made in Queensland or Australia, thereby supporting the Australian work-force. Mr. R. E. MOORE: As a matter of fact The economy is in a sorry mess. It grieves they have been making less than that. A me. When I said that South-east Asia was few years ago 8 per cent over all was con virtually free from strikes, I did not intend sidered reasonable. to indicate that everyone in Australia who When such industries go out of business strikes is automatically in the wrong. There under the present tariff situation, the mach has been a lot of agitation lately for all sorts inery is sold and no-one else will establish a of silly reasons. People have been induced similar business without security. Who would to strike against their wish. I do not support invest millions of dollars in a factory to earn strike ,action in those cilrcumstances. 8 per cent? One section of Australians has been heard Mr. Marginson: Why did two woollen to say that productivity must be increased. mills at Ipswich close down when McMahon However, the persons saying that have never was Prime Minister? produced anything in their lives. Genera~ly Mr. R. E. MOORE: What were they? speaking, the section of the commumty working on the production line or in the Mr. Marginson: Two woollen mills. machine shop, which is really producing this country's goods-textiles, footwear, motor Mr. R. E. MOORE: I did not know that cars-has 'a set amount to do each day any closed down. The honourable member based on time-and-motion studies. Those is telling me. Did they close down when people just cannot work any harder. There wool was bringing $2 a pound and nobody fore, any suggestion that people should work could afford to buy it? It would have to be harder has to be directed at those who something like that. They certainly would have never worked in their lives. They not be closed down because of the private should be producing. That might relate to enterprise system or the tariff situation. I do some members opposite; I do not know. not believe that any company should receive total protection, but when we import Mr. Marginson: That was not necessary. goods from very low-priced countries our industries must be protected. Mr. R. E. MOORE: I have my doubts about where efficiency or inefficiency lies. Mr. D'Arcy: Is it true that you offered There is inefficiency somewhere, but it is Norm Rix the endorsement for Albert? not to be found among the hard-working Mr. R. E. MOORE: I think the honourable people of Australia. member has been smoking another joint or The Treasurer has been criticised for perhaps he is wearing platform soles and increasing Queensland's mineral royalties. his head is so high in the clouds that through They were [ncreased from $4,018,740 to a shortage of oxygen he is making stupid $37,856,000. Our first policy was right, and statements. so was our second. We encouraged the Speaking of tariff protection-how could companies to come to Queensland by offer any Australian manufacturer of footwear or ing ·a very low royalty rate. When they textiles be expected to compete with South became financially sound we decided they east Asia. where employees receive $A25 could afford higher royalties. I make no 1442 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) apology for the decision and I support the Mr. R. E. MOORE: No, with no strings Treasurer, pauticularly in increasmg the attached. I am referring .to hand-outs to royalty on bauxite to $1 a ton. layabouts and dead-beats. If a person does not want to work, no longer does he have to. Mr. Marginson: We were always told he couldn't do it. There is a great deal of talk nowadays about leisure. The country is running down, yet Mr. R. E. MOORE: When the Opposition there is talk of a Minister for leisure, and, was moaning and groaning, the industry was I suppose, about 200 peopJ.e in a department not properly established. We had to allow to look after leisure. I should like to hear the industry to become established and more someone talk about work. Every dead-beat or less get its money back before we in this country is getting a hand-out. could start to do something. If we did not Mr. Hanson: Haven't you got a heart? Go work that way, we would chase every to St. Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army prospective industry away. homes and see some of •the people there. Bauxite is only 18 ins. under the ground so that the deposit is really a vast stockpile Mr. R. E. MOORE: I am pleased to accept of this raw material. As bauxite contains that interjection. The people in those homes 50 per cent alumina and as alumina contains are certainly an unfortunate lot. I dare 50 per cent aluminium, bauxite contains 25 say they are all receiving social service per cent aluminium. In view of the price of benefits. I am talking about healthy young aluminium, the royalty of $1 a ton received men and women who simply do not want to by the State is not exorbitant even though work. They are dirty; they have long hair the raw material has to be processed. and they have a vested interest in untidiness. When they buy a pair of dungarees, they Mr. D'Arcy: The industry must have cut the bottom off one leg to make it shorter developed overnight if you could increase the than the other, and then they make the edge royalty from $4,000,000 to $37,000,000. ragged. They take a slice out of the back side, add a patch and make themselves look Mr. R. E. MOORE: There must be a as untidy as possible. They then go on the dole starting point, a datum point and a cut-off and live on the beaches round Cairns because point. It did not become developed over they cannot stand the winter weather. They night. The situation was continually under register with the employment agency as glass review and this was simply the time at which blowers and lion tamers. They are the ones the decision was made. I am referring to. I am not talking about Mr. D'Arcy: Do you think the railway times of depression or widespread unemploy deficit had anything to do with it? ment. In those circumstances, help has to be given to young and old, and to the healthy Mr. R. E. MOORE: I reckon that all the and the unhealthy. But if there is work avail kids the honourable member taught would able for healthy people, they should work. be failures. If they do not work, they should not eat. A week or so ago there was a marked Mr. Casey: If that is the attitude of the lack of confidence in the Federal Govern younger generation, would you say that ment following a run on one or two of the something is wrong with the education permanent building societies to the tune system? of $6,000,000. A certain amount of criticism Mr. R. E. MOORE: I suppose it could be was levelled at the Treasurer because of a that you and I-the people of our genera remark he passed. I do not know what it was but it was probably his use of the word tion-are to blame. "run". If he had some knowledge that The CHAIRMAN: Order! The honourable there was a run, should he have sat tight member will please address the Chair. and said nothing so that the big investor who has the know-how and keeps his ear Mr. R. E. MOORE: I would not be sur to the ground could get his money out while prised if the present position indirectly the little man got his fingers burnt? How results from the depression from which the can the Treasurer be criticised for inform world emerged with the Second World War. ing the little man of something that the big The parents of today's young peopk were fellow already knew. The Treasurer adopted children at the time of the depression. They the right attitude. He did not suggest that missed out on many things, and there has anybody draw his money out. All he did been a tendency to say, "I didn't have very was state a fact and I commend him for much as a kid. I'm going to see that my doing so. I hope he was not shocked at the children do better than I did." The result criticism. If a similar event occurs, I hope is that they lavish all sorts of things upon he wiil be as quick off the mark to inform their children. the little man what is happening. Generally I think the wheel will turn, and that when speaking, the big investor can look after the generation of which we have made such himself. a mess have children of their own, they Another scourge or creeping disease in will say, "I'm not going to allow them to this nation is Commonwealth hand-outs. be messed up as my parents made a mess of me when I was a kid." I do not know Mr. Lee: With strings attached. the real reason for the present situation. It Supply (17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1443 could be the result of pornography, deviation When they make a mess they think they and general laxity in everything. Today can hop back to square 1. They appreciated children must have their own way. Little the dollar and then they said, "We will Johnny cannot be given a hiding because it reduce it now by 12 per cent and go back might upset his future manhood. to square 1." But the problems caused by the revaluation upwards remain. They do Mr. Marginson: Have you a solution to not disappear with depreciation. When we this problem? see these blithering amateurs going from bad to worse, we realise that something had Mr. R. E. MOORE: I have no solution. to happen in the long run. In all honesty Part of the solution might be, "If you don't one has to say, "They have to get better work, you don't eat." because they couldn't get worse." No doubt Mr. J\farginson: One of my colleagues they will profit by their mistakes, but they suggested that they join the Young Liberals. will not be there much longer to try to rectify those mistakes. The Liberal-Country Mr. R. E. MOORE: They could not do Party coalition will have to pick up the bett:er. One does not find Young Liberals threads and attempt to clean up the rotten, throwing bricks through windows. Young sorry mess. I only hope that it is given Liberals, Young National Party members a full three-year term and another term fol and, I dare say, the majority of Young lowing that to get us back onto a solid footing. Labor members, would be reasonable people Inflation has increased by 40 per cent over because by joining such organisations they the last two years. We will never get back demonstrate a sense of !'esponsibility. to square 1. All we can hope for is a stabilising effect. Prices are not going to come Young people tend to make the same mis down. All we can hope for is that they takes as their parents did at their age. When will not increase by more than 3 or 4 we cread Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and per cent in accordance with the then cur Shakespeare, we realise that there is nothing rent inflationary ,rate. After all, there has new in world today. Whatever happens always been gradual inflation. today also happened in those days. The Federal Government should have I am greatly concerned about the amount brought down a balanced Budget, or bud of money that is thrown around by the geted for a surplus. But it budgeted for Federal Government. Look at the money a deficit, the whole idea being to impose it gives to so-called liberation movements. more and more taxes and take more and Their correct title would be terrorist organi more money from the people to enable it sations. A smoke-screen has been put around it introduce its socialist policies. It is trying the amount of money that has been pro to reduce everybody to the same level. I vided. A Federal colleague told me that will admit that nobody will starve under to his knowledge about $1,500,000 has been the Federal A.L.P. Government. But who sent to South Africa-probably to Rhodesia, wants that sort of breadline subsistance? where terrorists are killing white women Mr. Alison: A grey mass. and children. It is a shocking disgrace that a so-called responsible Federal Government Mr. R. E. MOORE: That is true, and who would do such a thing. If we have that wants that? People want some encouragement sort of money to spare, we should be giv to look after themselves. They are prepared ing it to the World Health Organisation, to forgo something now in order to have the Save the Children Fund or some other something later. worthy organisation to whom the donation Mr. Alison: Or to work a bit harder. of a few dollars can mean the saving of a life. Mr. R. E. MOORE: Or to work a bit harder for something. Surely people who Mr. Frawley: You can't claim a donation do that should be able to reap the reward, to the Freedom from Hunger Campaign as save money and know that the nest-egg an income tax deduction. is there, without having inflicted on them an inflationary spiral in which all the hard Mr. R. E. MOORE: That is no doubt work and savings of a couple of generations right. We have such an incompetent lot of go out the door. The responsible people who novices in the Federal sphere! First of all have worked to build up the nation lose all they decided to cut tariffs across the board. their savings simply because there is an Now they are having another look at that. incompetent, socialistic Government in Can They decided to appreciate the dollar by berra. Ideals are all right, but one has about 12 per cent. to be practical. Members of the Federal Mr. Bjelke-Petersen: You are letting them A.L.P. Government are great idealists. off lightly when you say that they a:re Mr. Marginson: Their ideals are all right, incompetent. and you cannot object to that. Mr. R. E. MOORE: The Premier is pretty Mr. R. E. MOORE: Their ideals may good at taking them to task. Probably I be, but what a stupid lot of idealists they am being kind to them when I say they are are. No-one can get 9c for 4c. That is incompetent. the first thing they have to remember. 1444 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) People receive pay rises but lose sight Mr. R. E. MOORE: What rot! The Premier of the fact that money loses its purchasing has offered his full co-operation to the power with every such rise. In addition, Federal Government. His attitude is that they lose take-home pay because they go he will not allow Queensland to be taken into a higher tax bracket. After all, one over by the Commonwealth, and I fully does not spend one's gross income; one agree with it. I will fight to my last ~pends only what is left after compulsory breath to see that this State is not taken tax is deducted-net income. over by the Commonwealth. If it wants When we talk about gross income, we co-operation of the type that existed before should remember that the difference between Labor took office in Canberra, the Govern our gross income and our net income is ment of Queensland will give it gladly. merely something used to implement Labor's After all, that is what the founding fathers socialistic policies. People speak critically of hat! in mind when they framed the Con the salary rise for members of Parliament. stitution. Previously, our take-home pay was about There has been a great deal of talk about $133 a week. A gross amount of X-thousand world inflation. A claim has been made that it dollars is spoken of; but we could spend has taken an upturn since the Middle East only the $133 we took home. Apart from countries increased the price of crude oil, what went into the Parliamentary Super and the Federal Government contends that annuation Fund, the balance was used by Australia is caught in that inflationary spiral. Labor to implement its socialistic policies, That is, of course, absolutely ridiculous. not for the benefit of members of Parlia Australia produces 80 per cent of its pet ment. Everyone on a high income is in roleum requirements, and oil exploration in a similar situation. this country has not gone very far beyond Mr. Lee interjected. the initial stages. The CHAIRMAN: Order! The honourable !VIr. Lee: If people were given an incentive member for Y eronga is interjecting from to search for oil. Australia would become other than his usual place in ,the Chamber. 100 per cent self-sufficient. Mr. R. E. MOORE: Inflation continues Mr. R. E. MOORE: That is one of the to increase, and the higher taxes go the points I was about to make. The whole greater are the wage demands. When the of Australia should be explored to determine plumber, the painter, the architect or the the extent of the natural resources, whctivor doctor increases his charges because of they be coal, oil, natural gas, uranium or increasing inflation and the amount of tax other minerals. People will be occupying he has to pay, his attitude is, "How much this great country of ours for a very long am I going to get out of it? My tax is 40c time, and we owe it to future generntions in the dollar. and I want a certain amount to leave behind us a country that is worth out of that." The attitude of people such living in, one whose assets have not been as that is that they will not work solely for sadly depleted. the Taxation Commissioner. The main cause of inflation is purely and The present situation has arisen because simply the Federal Government's socialist the people in office in Canberra have not policies. When the Liberal-Country Par~y the r;ous to know that they ought to be was in office in Canberra, inflation stooJ reducmg taxes to get themselves out of 'the at the low level of 4! per cent and mire. unemployment was minimal. Unfortunately, Mr. Alison: They know what they are however, a Federal election was held shortly doing. They want to wreck the economy. before things began to improve. After Labor was voted into office the people said, Mr. R. E. MOORE: People will be on "At last things have started to impr Mr. R. E. MOORE: I fully believe in our of another country. In such circumstances commitment in Vietnam. 'i'he day that trade becomes complicated, and that is when America pulled out could still be a sorry inflation gets out of hand. one, because the war in Vietnam is not over. Mr. Row: We lose on it. If the domino theory has any merit, we may rue the day. Mr. R. E. MOORE: Yes we do. If the America was our friend and ally when we Federal Government does not do something needed her; we could rely on her. Americans to control inflation, we will be back to the and Australians speak the same language, so barter system. there are no language barriers. Although we (Time expired.) ma•y have differences of opinion, there is little trouble in resolving them. I think it [Sitting suspended from 6 to 7.15 p.m.] was Bismarck who said that the fact that Mr. BOUSEN (Toowoomba North) (7.15 America and Britain had a common tongue p.m.): In commencing my contribution to was one of the worst thorns in Germany's this debate this evening, I wish to com side. He could not solve that problem; there ment on what today's speakers on the other was no way in which he could drive a wedge side of the Chamber have said. Each of between the two countries. If the honour them did nothing but denigrate the Australian able member who interjected thinks that Government. Australia could get a Communist country to be its friend and ally in time of need, he is I refer first to the remarks of the hon mistaken. ourable member for Townsville, who attacked our free hospital scheme simply because two As I said earlier, America has always been patients he sent down to Brisbane could with us, she will be with us again. But things not get a hospital bed. An Australian Labor have changed. All that Labor has done since Party Government introduced the free hos it has been in office is insult our American pital scheme in Queensland. That scheme con colleagues. I have said on other occasions tinued successfully for many years under the that an orphan going home from school direction of the Labor Government. It is alone is open to attack by every lout and only because of the ineptitude of this Gov bully; but he has a fairly safe passage if he ernment and its loss of interest in the free goes home with a cousin or brother. In my hospital scheme that our health services opinion, no-one will give us a belting while have deteriorated so badly. Being a private Uncle Sam looks after us as a brother or an enterprise Government, it has fostered pri uncle would. Subservience does not come vate hospitals to the detriment of our general into it. and base hospitals. It has been unable to People who criticise multi-national com cope with the increase in population and panies talk a lot of rubbish. What does a has allowed our free hospital scheme to run working man •get from any company other down. That is why the position in our than his wages? All multi-nationals pay good hospitals is now serious. There is a short wages, and other point in their favour is that age of nurses, a shortage of doctors, and financially they can withstand a cold draught. a shortage of wards-which means there is If things go badly for them in Australia, their a shortage of hospital beds. What has the overseas reserves are so broadly based that Government done to arrest the problem? they are affected very little. Nothing at all. Mr. Casey: Despite the language prob The honourable member for Townsville lem, I thought you did quite well in Japan. also criticised the free hospital schemes in Great Britain and New Zealand. He said M<. R. E. MOORE: I suppose sign that in Great Britain the situation was dis language works wherever one goes. graceful; people could not get beds. He said all sorts of nasty things about Great In times of inflation, trade is really a Britain's National Health Service. Why then system of bartering. In effect, Australia sells does the Australian Medical Association send so many bales of wool or tons of beef and doctors to Great Britain for post-graduate buys machinery from another country. There courses in the treatment of various illnesses are no trade problems while we can buy or in surge!"';? Yet here was one of our goods from a country to which we are selling. learned professional men running down Great When Australia sells goods for cash, without Britain's scheme! reciprocal trade, it receives currency that I was in both islands of New Zealand becomes rather an embarrassment. An earlier this year, meeting all sections of the American who wishes to invest people in that country. I did not hear one $US20,000,000 in Australia does not spend word of condemnation about its free hos the money here. The Reserve Bank puts the pital scheme. I doubt very much whether Australian equivalent into circulation and it the doctor has visited New Zealand or knows is spent here. The $US20,000,000 lies in just what is happening there. reserve so that this country may purchase goods from America. Jf another country is The honourable member for Burnett short of American dollars, it can then buy blamed the Australian Government for all some from Australia. That is one way in the shortcomings in Australia and the which we can get Japanese yen or currency economic ills confironting us, including 1446 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) unemployment. I therefore ask this ques This year he has called it the "people tion: what has the State Government done pleaser" Budget. Actually, it should be the to arrest unemployment or bring about full "people teaser" Budget because it promises employment? The Leader of the Opposition everything and gives nothing. I suppose we (Mr. Tucker) challenged the Premier to go should count ourselves fortunate that we to the people on the issue of unemployment have a Budget at all because, the way the alone. I am sure that if this is done State was governed earlier this year, it the Australian Labor Party will again be looked as if we would have nothing left in government after the election, whenever but a great big hole in the ground where it may be held. Queensland used to be. The honourable member for Burnett also Only two months ago the "National Times", said that rail freights had not been increased which could scarcely be called a Left-wing in this Budget. That is true. If by some newspaper, described Queensland as "a State miracle the National-Liberal Government is of economic chaos" and said- returned to power at the next election, I say "On present trends, Queensland looks without fear of contradiction that rail freights like remaining one of the world's greatest will be increased immediately the Govern quarries." ment is returned. Rural people would have to face increased rail freight charges. Luckily for the people of Queensland, a week later the Australian Government agreed The honourable member for Windsor said to bail the Treasurer out and give him a that the Australian Government intended to record $24,750,000 from the Australian take over the Queensland railways. Possibly Grants Commission. But still Government we would be a lot better off if it did. members blame the Australian Government We might then get something done. Nothing for all of the misdoings in this State. is being done now. This Government scrapped the electrification scheme introduced by Jack Even that massive sum was not enough Duggan and sold all the buildings. Now it to balance the Budget, so the Treasurer is talking about implementing that scheme decided to accept the advice that the A.L.P. at a cost of millions of dollars more than has been giving him for years. He crept it would have cost if it had proceeded with around the multi-national mining companies Jack Duggan's scheme. This Government has and said, "Look, I'm terribly sorry but closed down more railway lines than it has I'm afraid we will have to ask you to pay built and has given freight haulage to road for the minerals we have been giving you." transport services. That is how he increased the royalties on coal being exported from Queensland. But The honourable member for Windsor also that is only a "oncer"; he will not be able referred ,to the amount the Australian Gov to pull the same rabbit out of the hat next ernment collects from Queensland in taxa year-for two reasons. In the first place, the tion and the return Queensland gets from mining companies will not accept increased it. royalty charges every time the State Budget Mr. Tucker: How on earth did you ever gets in a mess; and, in the second place, understand that? the Treasurer's party will not be in Gov ernment this time next year. They will not Mr. BOUSEN: That is right. have to worry about balancing the next Budget. Of course, it must be remembered If he supports the Premier's desire to that the Budget is not even balanced for this secede from the Commonwealth, he will find year. The economic stability of this State that Queensland is in real trouble. The is highly contingent upon all companies con Government would be incapable of running cerned agreeing to pay the increased charges, the State. Even at present it has to be propped and it seems that they are not all happy up by the Australian Government. about it. The honourable member also advocated Exactly one month ago today, we saw the return of the Upper House in Queens the undignified spectacle of the entire Cabinet land. What a ridiculous statement. Tha,t skulking inside the grounds of Parliament would mean the election of another 50 House for fear of legal action against them politicians. Imagine the cost to the people if they went outside. It is the longest time of this State. We have survived successfully that some of them have spent in the House for 52 years without it and I see no reason for years. for its return. Mr. Lane: Who wrote this script? The Treasurer likes to name his Budgets. Perhaps that is the only decision the Premier Mr. Tucker: Not you-it's got sense in allows him to make. Last year he named it it. the "go on" Budget. One day he said to one of his colleagues, "I reckon we will The CHAIRt'\1AN: Order! blame the Australian Government for every thing that goes wrong in Queensland." His Mr. BOUSEN: The honourable member colleague said, "go on." That is how he gave it to me just before dinner, Mr. Lickiss, got the name for his Budget last year. to read for him. Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1447 It seems a little hasty to talk about protection from rapacious landlords who, having 'a balanced Budget when in fact the taking advantage of the lack of legal res State Budget will be balanced only if the traint, do not hesitate to send rents sky mining companies agree to the increased high? Why is it that when Queenslanders charges. are without homes, and even the hope of obtaining homes, $11,800,000 remains The Treasurer speaks of an enormous unspent from the housing allocation pro difference in the economic conclition of the vided by the Australian Government? Will State if unemployment increases, yet, from this be the fate of the $235,000,000 that the way in which he and the Premier carry the Australian Government has agreed to on, one would think that they were trying make available to the States for welfare to create unemployment. Every single pro housing during the 1974-75 period? ject that the Australian Government has put forward, which would have helped to double The Government has persisted in releasing employment opportunities in this State, has as freehold land areas that are not, and been rejected because of the paranoia of the never will be, economically viable living State Government about anything that comes areas for rural production. Yet it will not from Canberra. release Crown land to be distributed, in The offer of Australian National Line co-operation with the local authorities, for shipping has been refused. Assistance in residential purposes. housing and transport has been knocked The railways of this State, on which the back. The possibility of a growth centre primary producer is heavily dependent, are at Townsville has been thwarted. The Snowy now $38,584,578 in the red, which is Mountains Engineering Corporation has $12,440,578 more than the Treasurer been prevented from using its expertise to estimated. He will soon see 'that the help the State. The psychotic fear of the $84,968,000 loss, which I predicted when elected Austral~an Government has become I spoke on the Railway Estimates last year, so pronounced that this Government will is not merely possible but probable. I said not even accept the proposed hospital at at that time that the losses would be twice Mt. Cravatt as a gift. what they were that year, and my figures Such is the Government's sense of prior have almost proved to be correct. ities that, whilst people in this State are without a roof over their head, the State Mr. Rae: Almost. Government has decided to spend $2,000,000 in the Solicitor-General's office, beginning Mr. BOUSEN: There is not much dif with a string of appeals to the High Court ference. and the Privy Council, thus making a laugh ing-stock of this State. That sum of This once-thriving, profitable industry has $2,000,000 will be spent in an absurd been reduced by ministerial bungling to a attempt to convince the people that the millstone around the Treasurer's neck. It is election of the Australian Government in time the State Government admitted that 1972 and its re-election in 1974 did not it is not competent to administer the railways. happen. In fact, from the Premier's point The Australian Government has indicated of view, it seems that federation in 1901 its readiness to assist Queensland in this never happened. He certainly does not admit regard. For the good of Queensland the that Australia is a federation of States, not State Government must reject its party a haphazard collection of squabbling colon political stance and accept whatever assist ies. Meanwhile, Queensland's citizens lack ance is available .to it from the Australian work and homes. Government. Mr. Lane: How is the unemployment situa tion in Toowoomba? Mr. Jensen: This is because there is a Liberal Minister in charge of the railways. Mr. BOUSEN: We have no unemploy ment. I keep them all employed. Mr. BOUSEN: The honourable member could be right. The record of this reluctant, delinquent Government in the field of land administra It is generally accepted that a National tion condemns it as incompetent and Party Premier would naturally, and on prin inhumane. Its worst features do not show ciple, give some consideration to his Country up in the Budget; the most indefensible Party and National Party followers who, in part of the whole sorry mess has been the the main, are in the rural sector. However, Government's refusal to act. Refusals do since the Premier-a designated National not lend themselves to audit. Why has the Party member-was elevated to his exalted Government refused to accept the Australian position, he has grossly neglected their Government's plan to set up a commission known and understandable policies of decen to control land prices? Those States that tralisation. He and his Government have have accepted this sensible plan can already shattered the hopes of the rural sector and point to a marked reduction in land prices. destroyed the social activities of country Why has the Government revoked the Land communities, which were notable for and lord and Tenant Act, which provided some recognised as the nursery of sociability, 1448 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) co-opention and welfare. The previous joyous One of the lines most recently closed atmosphere of country life is now at its down was the Amiens branch--on 28 Feb lowest ebb. ruary of this year. This was a most incon sistent and deplorable act. The line was Mr. Sullivan: Would you answer one constructed to provide a livelihood for question? You have criticised the Premier. returned soldiers from World War I. It was What about what the Prime Minister has a soldier-settlement area, which eventually done to the rural areas? became very productive and successful in fruit-growing on the Granite Belt. Despite Mr. BOUSEN: The Minister can put his the fact that this line was only 40 miles question on notice. in length it boasts of such memorable The deterioration can only be attributable names as Fleurbaix, Pozieres, Bullecourt, to the drift of country people •to the cities. Paschendale, Bapaume, Messines and Amiens. This has been brought about by the ill These place names, together with the railway considered and blatant method of closing line, stood as a monument to the greatness down and pulling up various railway lines. of our armed forces in World War I, yet particularly those in farming areas. My col the State Government, by its action, has league the honourable member for Cairns destroyed confidence and brought a sadness dealt with various railway matters this after of heart to our war veterans. noon, and I do not intend to go into detail on the number of staff transferred, etc. Now let us look at the points I have I merely want to generalise and point out mentioned about the main southern line. I that the closure of railway lines has affected refer to an advertisement which appeared in people in country areas, particularly those "The Chronicle" in Toowoomba on 29 March in farming areas. Most of the small towns this year, which read- on the route of such lines no longer exist. "Commencing from Monday, 1st April, Gone are the conveniences enjoyed by people 1974 the railway stations at Cambooya, in those towns. The position is now aggra Nobby and Allora will be attended on vated by the withdrawal of almost all the a part time basis only. facilities enjoyed by citizens on other lines, "Hours of attendance will be: notably the Toowoomba-Warwick-Wallangarra "Cambooya: 8.00 a.m.-9.30 a.m.: line. the main southern line to Sydney. Mondays to Fridays inclusive. That line has been left intact, but almost all "Nobby: 10.00 a.m.-11.00 a.m.: Mon the staff have been withdrawn so that the days and Thursdays. 10.30 a.m.-12.30 stations are virtually useless to .the public. p.m.: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I know that an area officer has been "Allora: 1.00 p.m.-4.00 p.m.: Mondays appointed to visit the stations during the and Thursdays. 2.30 p.m.-4.00 p.m.: week. People who require railway informa Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. tion or service have to be regimented to "Further information may be obtained attend a.t the stations at times when the by telephoning any of these offices during officer is in attendance. It is not always con the abovementioned hours of attendance venient for people to go to a station or from the Station Master, Clifton. during the time when the officer is there, "An officer will also be in attendance and consequently they use other means of at Greenmount between the hours of transpor.t. This is another useless and sense 9.45 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. on Tuesdays, less move which will drive the public away Wednesdays and Fridays." from the railways. Nothing can be achieved by the appointment of this officer. In fact, I want to refer also to an article which it is an insult to the people's intelligence. appeared in the Railway Weekly Notice No. The closing down of stations and the with 13/74 of 28 March 1974, which read- drawing of staff on .this Hne will certainly "Area Supervisor, Clifton--Commencing accelerate the drift of people from towns on Monday, 1st April, 1974, an 'Area en route, with the consequent elimination of Supervisor' based at Clifton will operate most business places which usually provide on the Allora Branch and the section all the local community's requirements. between Cambooya and Hendon on a These old-established towns are now being six (6) month trial basis. rapidly phased out by decreasing population. "The 'Area Supervisor' will be supplied The railways were built originally to provide with a motor vehicle and will take charge a service to the people. Do not let us of Allora, Cambooya, Nobby and Green forget that the railways are a public utility mount stations during such hours as are which, together with the staff associated nominated by the General Manager, Too with them, provide the best means of decent woomba, for the convenience of the Gen ralisation. This Government is sadly lacking eral Public. in imagination and stupid in the practice "In so far as Train Working is con of closing down and pulling up such railway cerned, Allora, Cambooya and Nobby lines. This, together with the removal of Stations will be worked under the pro staff from other places is certainly a retro visions of Rules 229 and 422 of the grade step which deprives the public of a Book of Rules. Allora, Cambooya, and very convenient and useful means of trans Nobby will cease to operate as separate port. functional accounting stations as from Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1449 Monday, 1st April 1974, and the under Railway Department provides no service mentioned Accounting procedures will be whatever. He is prepared to pay the addi introduced in lieu thereof from that date:- tional $12 a ton to obtain good service. "Consignments to and from that sec tion of Railway from Cambooya to Another point raised with me was the Hendon (including the Allora Branch, ordering of livestock wagons. Perhaps some but excluding Clifton) must be treated members are unaware of the fact that anyone in accordance with instructions applying who orders such a wagon is required to to unattended sidings as laid down in pay a deposit. On a "K" wagon, for Instructions 430, 431 and 432 of the example, the deposit required is $12, and Accounts Instruction Book (By-law 973), on an "IC" wagon it is $4.50. Cambooya with the exception that irrespective of is a fairly active stock-railing centre, and direction of travel all inwards consign the people there are required to ring Clifton ments will be accounted for by the to order wagons. However, because no-one Base Station-Clifton. is on duty at Cambooya station to collect money, they are not required to pay the "C.O.D. Parcel traffic may be deposit. As I say, with the absence of accepted for addresses at any of the staff at Cambooya a telephone call has to above places, but must be consigned and be made to Clifton to order livestock wagons. freighted to Clifton. The goods shed at Cambooya has also been "Guaranteed Ledger and Cash demolished. Deposit Accounts presently held at Cambooya, Nobby and Allora will be At Greenmount it was found that the transferred to Clifton. line through the station was spiked over, "There may be some future amend and all trains had to use the loop line. ment to Cart Weighbridge facilities at Any person wishing to join either a goods Cambooya, Nobby and Allora of which or a mixed train to Warwick or Toowoomba further instructions will be published if is required to cross over a set of lines to necessary." reach the carriage. This could result in serious injury from tripping over the lines. Those stations are now desolate. Mr. R. .Tones: Pity a woman with three Stations such as Allora, Nobby, Green or four kids or a pram. mount and Cambooya will be closed down, which in turn will mean that the positions of station-master and night officer at those Mr. BOUSEN: She would have a very places will be abolished. However, as I difficuit task. While I was there, a lady was have just read out, an area officer will be forced to back her car across three sets appointed to attend these stations at certain of lines so that she could park near the times each week. station platform. There several kiddies loaded six cartons of goods into her car. I want to refer now to the reaction of Is this service? Country people are entitled the people in those towns to the closing to better than that. down of the stations. Because of the poor service that is given Mr. R. .Tones: Some of those officers are on the main southern line, buses are oper only there for half an hour. ating in the area and are making a handsome profit. Mr. BOUSEN: A person could quite easily miss out on transacting his business. Nobby was at one time a very busy grain depot, and the Railway Department installed The first place from which I received a weighbridge there for all grain traffic in complaints was Wyreema, where the station and out of the station yard. Now that was closed down and the staff transferred the station has been closed down, the weigh to another station. As well, the goods shed bridge has been handed over to a private was demolished. The outcome was that individual. goods were left on the platform. A local shopkeeper complained bitterly about the At Allora, a town with a population of fact that perishables consigned to her were several thousand, and once a very important quite often left on the platform for a number butter, cheese and milk transport depot, the of hours at night. Wyreema is approximately station has been closed down, and the rail l 0 miles from Toowoomba and is the ;;entre traffic is now virtually non-existent. of a vast housing development. Although in future railway facilities will be in great Generally speaking most people know how demand, the station has been closed down the C.O.D. system operates. Persons can and is now nothing more than a siding. order ·goods by phone and have them delivered cash on delivery. Irrespective of On my arrival at Cambooya I found where people live on this line, a C.O.D. that the rail Jireight on beer, for example, parcel must be consigned to Clifton. They was $8 a ton and that the road transport are then notified and have either to send charge was $20 a ton. The publican pre money to Clifton or go there themselves, and fers to obtain his supplies by road for the pay the amount owing before taking delivery simple reason that the transport operators of the parcel. Is it any wonder that the give him a good service and deliver his main southern line carries little goods or goods to the door. By comparison, the passenger traffic? 1450 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) People living at Cambooya, Greenmount, realised this and stopped longing for the old Nobby and Hendon must have goods con days when men worked for a pittance. signed to Clifton and pick them up them Australian people have enough sense to selves or arrange to have them delivered realise that they live in an affluent society, after the cash has been paid. and they demand a fair return for their Mr. Davis: Who represents this area? labour. It is about time the Queensland Government woke up to itself. Mr. BOUSEN: The honourable members Previous speakers have referred to the for Carnarvon and Cunningham. "Sunlander" and its griddle car, which oper That is tantamount to regimentation of the ate's between Brisbane and Townsville. I do people. not want to go into all the gory details, As most honourable members know, the but about 12 months ago I travelled to Railway Department has been trying to Townsville and back. On the way up we introduce container traffic. Freight on grain had to join a queue and, when we ordered a from Clifton to Whinstanes costs $125 a ton meal at the griddle car counter, we were by rail and $145 by road. Most people use told, "That's off. This is all we have left." containers and send goods by road to Whin On the return journey, when I eventually stanes because the train service is not suit got to the griddle car, they were right out able. In some instances containers are sent of food. There was nothing left to eat. by road to Toowoomba, loaded on rail I could not get a meal. That is the type wagons and railed to Whinstanes. of catering provided for first-class passengers The present Government seems to have on that train. No wonder people will not conveniently forgotten that Toowoomba is travel on it when they cannot get service. a commercial centre of no small importance. The sooner it returns to the old dining-car The new marshalling yards will certainly be and cooks preparing the meal as it is desired, an advantage when completed, but the con and waitresses to serve it, the sooner wi!I venience may well be offset by frequent passengers be encouraged to return to train delays in the business area caused by traffic travel. What we want is a comfortable air being halted for long periods while trains conditioned train with people in attendance. (now much longer and heavier than in for It is an eye-opener to see the service given mer years), trundle slowly across the level on the interstate air-conditioned trains. crossings at Russell Street, Margaret Street, Queensland is in a desperate condition Herries Street and J ames Street. As a result, with a part-time Premier and a reluctant vehicular and pedestrian traffic is delayed for Cabinet. The Public Service is seething with quite some time. I urge the Government to resentment. The gag that the Queensland make this a really useful facility by linking Government has applied will not allow them Harlaxton and Willowburn stations and to express their opinions. Policemen are rebuilding the Gowrie Junction-Wyreema rail resigning in record numbers. The teaching loop. The biggest mistake the Government profession is in such desperate need of staff ever made was to tear up this line. However, that the Government is expending $600 a it is still not too late to replace it so that head to fly in stop-gap recruits from abroad. trains may travel from Harlaxton to Willow The management consultants who studied the burn or Gowrie Junction, Wyreema, Wallan State's hospitals reported that morale among garra and so on. In this way the city centre the nursing staff could only be described would be bypassed, thus preventing delays at as explosive. Meanwhile, the Premier flits level crossings while long trains pass through from cloud to cloud in his $1,000 per week the centre of the city. This would be a logical plane, coming down just long enough to and sensible solution to the problem. enjoy a bit of royalty worship as he grovels The Government must face up to the fact before the Shah of Iran and Prince Charles. that, at the moment, the Railway Department With all this, the Treasurer talks of a does not offer an attractive career to young "people-pleaser" Budget. Whoever is pleased people. The Commissioner, who is not by it, it certainly is not the people of usually noted for his insight into the depart Queensland. ment, remarked recently on the general shortage of labour particularly that of Mr. BIRD (Burdekin) (7.52 p.m.): Perhaps trainees for the shunting staff and trainmen. if the previous speaker had written his own I can offer him two solutions to the difficulty speech he might have been able to follow he experiences in having staff readily it and it might have been a little easier available. for us to understand. However, I will not denigrate him for that. Mr. Jensen: Do you think he's getting too old for the job? I am indeed pleased this evening to be able to join Government 6peakers in support Mr. BOUSEN: Yes. They should get rid ing the 1974-75 Budget. I particularly con of him quickly. gratulate the Treasurer because I believe To overcome the difficulty he has to grant he has made every endeavour to ensure increased wages and better working con that the Budget gives us the maximum benefits ditions to attract people to the department. we could expect in this State without further• Without workers there could be no Railway ing inflation. We all know that the Federal Department, although the wages bill would Government is presently hell-bent on creating shrink. It is time that the Commissioner inflation throughout Australia, and it is Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1451 reassuring to know that at least in this States. Without doubt, that would be the State we have a Treasurer who on behalf joke of the century-cert!ainly the greatest of his Government is endeavouring to the since federation. best of his ability to halt inflation. I shall give a few classic examples. The If we obtained the services of the best first is the National Health Scheme. I do economist in the world and he spoke to not propose to outline the follies of that members of the Opposition for two hours, he scheme because that has been done more would still not be able to convince them capably than I could hope to do it by the that Australia's present parlous position is honourable members for W·avell, Townsville due absolutely to the efforts of the present and Ipswich. They have outlined the prob Federal Government. We know that it intro lems and costs of national health schemes duced what was termed a credit squeeze. in overseas countries, where they have been Surely to goodness there is not a member found to be seriously wanting. I particularly opposite who has not heard of a credit remember a speech by the honourable mem squeeze. Although the Federal Government ber for Wavell in which he outlined the admits that it applied a credit squeeze, the cost of the National Health Service in Britain economy has got out of hand. Either the and how the cost escalated until today it Federal Government does not know how to 1is a major problem. We know that exactly check inflation or it does not have the ability the same thing has happened in other overseas to check it. On the other hand, its action countries. may be completely intentional-and .that is The introduction of a National Health a matter I intend to develop further in my Scheme in Australia is suspect. Other people, speech. some of them not of my political belief, We have heard talk about the lack of would agree with me. One would be the new houses being constructed, as though the president of the A.C.T.U., Mr. Bob Hawke. Queensland Government were solely to blame. In replying to a question asked by me, the Any young married person who is seeking Minister for Health said that the A.C.T.U. finance to construct a home knows whose is looking at the possibility of setting up a fault it is. He could tell us in no uncertain health fund in Australia-when the Federal terms. Even if Opposition members are Government is talking about introducing a fooled, young people in Queensl:and-and I National Health Scheme. I would say that suppose throughout Australia-- I am also pleased that the Queensland I do not want the Committee to have Cabinet accepted with alacrity the Common the idea that we are in dire straits with wealth Government's proposal to construct a water supplies; but, if there is to be an weir at Clare on the Burdekin River. It was increase in sugar production in that area, well known that the Federal Government had it will be ar the expense of the rice industry said that it would provide $3,000,000 towards if additional water is not made available. the construction of this weir, of which We are all aware of the wonderful work $300,000 was to be made available in the of the State Government in supporting the first year, and had requested the State Gov people who commenced the rice industry ernment to pick up the tab for the remaining in the Burdekin district. The financial and $1,580,000, making a total of $4,580,000 other assistance the Government gave them over all, based on today's costs. No-one was indeed commendable. It would be a knows how costs will escalate, but I can tremendous blow to the district if it were only assume that, as in the past, the Federal suddenly found that the rice industry had Government has made no provision to meet to fail and be forced out of business simply them, and that they will have to be borne because increased cane assignments took by the State Government. precedence and no water was available Mr. Davis: You don't want it? for rice-growing. Therefore, although the Clare Weir may to some extent protect Mr. BIRD: The honourable member for the rice industry, at the earliest opportunity Brisbane thinks that North Queensland is a major dam must be constructed on the the other side of Caboolture. Burdekin River system. The only one that Mr. Frawley: He does not even know we can foresee at present is the Urannah where that is. Dam. Mr. BIRD: I could well believe that. I do not believe that the $26,800,000 I am disappointed that construction of allocated for water conservation in Queens weirs on the Haughton River has had to be land is enough. In future years I would delayed. For the last few years we have like to see the allocation to the Department been hoping that these weirs would be com of Irrigation and Water Supply at least menced-in fact, it was hoped that they doubled, and possibly trebled. I would like would be complete by now. also to see the Federal Government give a great deal more. When Dr. Patterson People who know the district understand addressed the Urannah Dam committee that the river runs for only a short period recently, he said that Queensland is the and that when it stops running the sands in only State that requires major water-storage the river and the aquifers adjacent to it do projects. If that is so, surely he should not take long to dry out. They understand be able to assist us in obtaining more how valuable the weirs would be to people finance for these Queensland projects. Con engaged in the sugar industry on land bor sidering the amount of money taken out dering the banks of the river. Those who of the Lower Burdekin district every year, know the position understand what happened. in taxation alone, it will be appreciated They know that no provision has been made that the Federal Government could return for the construction of the Kinchant Dam a considerable amount to the district for outside Mackay. The Queensland Govern the construction of works of this type. ment submitted proposals on the Kinchant Dam to the former Liberal-Country Party There is a need for forward planning, Government in Canberra. They were rejected, not only for water conservation but also and for political expediency that decision was for drainage. We hope it will not be very reversed by the present Federal Government, long before there is an expansion in the which decided that it would take part in sugar industry. If we continue to secure building the Kinchant Dam by providing additional markets such as those won in $5,000,000 towards the cost of the project if South Korea and Malaysia recently, there will the Queensland Government met the bill for be a need for expansion in the sugar industry. associated works. On present estimates the We are wondering exactly what is happening additional associated works will cost about with the markets allegedly won in China $10,000,000. We realise that the Queensland some time ago. We heard about them and Government could not be expected to raise I have no doubt that sales of Australian $10,000,000 without forgoing other projects sugar have been obtained in China. The on its books. It would appear that one unknown factors at present are how long project to suffer is the construction of the the contract will run and the price. weirs on the Haughton River. Jt is unfortunate that up till now we have We know that the Clare Weir is only not negotiated a long-term sugar agreement part of the Urannah Dam project. It will that is mutually satisfactory to the Japanese not really provide us with a great deal and us. It is also regrettable that we have of water. The main purpose of the weir at been unable to secure a new agreement with Clare is to raise the water level and so Britain because of her ties with the European reduce pumping costs. We will be con Economic Community and the difficulties tinuing to press for the early construction she is having within the community. The of the Urannah Dam because we feel that member countries say they can provide nothing less than that will really ease the Britain with sugar at a low cost and she water position in the Lower Burdekin district. is not permitted to buy it any longer from Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1455 Commonwealth countries. I have no doubt Honourable members will recall that dur that we will win further markets for our ing my speech in the Address-in-Reply sugar and that an expansion will be neces debate, I mentioned the attitude that had sary. been adopted to primary industries in social The sugar industry is worried about the ist countries. I pointed out that the Commun expected difficulty with finance. If the expan [sts had allowed primary industries to fail, sion is to be of any magnitude, new farms and that they were now endeavouring to get will have to be brought into production and people to return to these industries by offer the sugar industry is worried about where ing them great incentives. There was a the finance will come from to put these new certain amount of hoo·ha from the other side farmers on the land. If they manage to of the Chamber when I said that. I also borrow the money to get onto the farms, said that Australia would go the same way. to clear them, to level them and to put That is exactly what will happen, and that them under cultivation, the high interest rates position is a couple of months closer today they will have to pay could upset the than it was when I mentioned [t previously. economics of the industry, which, for a I hope that in 12 months' time I do not long time, has been able to keep its costs have to rise in my place in this Chamber down and remain fairly stable. I can under and say, "Our primary industries have almost stand the concern of those in the sugar been wiped out, and primary producers have industry at present because of the shortage been brought to their knees. They are now of finance and the ruling high interest rates. below the poverty line." I do not want to say, "I told you so." We know that the Federal Government took away the development allowances that I agree completely wtith the honourable farmers enjoyed in past years. We are also member for Mt. Gravatt, who said in his concerned about how these farmers will be speech in this debate that the Federal Gov able to establish themselves unless the allow ernment has a carefully planned progmmme ances are restored. to wreck the economy of Austmlia so that it can say that the capitalist system has failed. The Prime Minister has said that there Every day one or other of the Federal is a world-wide food shortage and that Ministers says that the present system has additional food must be produced. I am failed. The others join in the chant, "It's hopeful that he will therefore realise that, not our policies that are wrong. It's the sys given the incentive, water and other facil tem that is at fault." It is strange that the ities, Australia can produce a tremendous system did not fail prior to 1972. But it has amount of food for overseas countries. certainly failed since the A.L.P. Government I fail to understand why there is a need has come to power. I do not think for a at present for Australia to import food. moment that the people are so naive that We also import motor cars, textiles, furniture they will believe that it is the system that and many other commodities simply because has failed. If it fails, it will be because it they come from cheap-labour countries. has been forced to fail. Obviously the Prime Minister is more con cerned with employment opportunities there Mr. Chinchen: It was all right for 150 than in Australia. This seems absolutely years. ridiculous. It is very pleasing indeed to see that the unions are at long last fed Mr. BIRD: That is right. It had its up with the position and are starting to shaky times in earlier years when socialist kick over the traces. They are determined A.L.P. Governments were in office in Can that their members will be looked after. berra, but the country managed to shake them off. Labor Governments rushed into A study of "Hansard" would reveal that State-owned enterprises all over the country. I said not long after the A.L.P. Govern They failed, and tremendous losses were ment came to power that this very thing incurred. would happen. I said that this was the type of thing it would do. My predictions Another classic example of the intention have come true. As a result of its policies, of the A.L.P. Government to kill Australian unemployment is growing hour by hour. industry was the recent statement by Dr. There are those in the Opposition who Cairns that hustralia will import oil from have claimed that this is the fault of the China. Has anyone ever heard anything so Queensland Government. If they read the utterly ridiculous? A fine oil industry was newspapers. they must be aware that that being built up in this country until the is the position Australia-wide at present. A.L.P. Government came to power in 1972. If Queensland could be shown to be in any How many oil strikes have been made since way responsible for what is happening in then? How much dPilling has taken place? the other States, I should be very surprised Absolutely nothing has happened. The Labor indeed. I hope that the Prime Minister Government has completely killed the industry will show some common sense in the not that was being built up in this country. too-distant future and begin to think about Now it is talking about importing oil from his fellow Australians instead of worrying China. That is another case of "jobs £or the about his mates in Communist countries boys" over there, and never mind about our whom he is trying so hard to woo. own. 1456 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) I was very pleased to hear the Minister for Barratta soils that previously were considered Minerals and Energy is concerned about oil unsuitable for growing anything. Officers at supplies throughout Australia. He might the research station have found in the last few have exaggerated the supplies available, years that rice is an excellent crop to grow because he referred to two weeks' supply. in these soils to break them up and con The figures supplied to me give me reason dition them for the growing of other crops. to believe that only about one week's supply More recently they have learnt that crops is available at any give time. I sincerely can be planted on the virgin soils with a hope that the Minister for Minerals and high degree of success. Energy will wake up to his responsibilities and endeavour to improve the position. If I should also like to pay a compliment he does not, primary and secondary indus to the officers and staff of the Swans Lagoon tries, and, indeed, the whole country, will Cattle Research Station and the Ayr Cattle grind to a halt. I hope it will not be Field Research Station. The Minister for necessary to wait until we get additional oil Primary Industries would know full well supplies from China. Something should be that when he came up only last week to done well before that time. open a field day at Swans Lagoon Cattle Research Station. considerably more interest A statement made by the president of was shown in the work done there this the A.C.T.U. during a recent "Monday Con year than in any past year. This shows the ference" programme worried me. Most hon high standard of the work being carried out ourable members probably heard him say by the officers there and, in addition, the that the ideal system is one under which fact that, with the fall in cattle prices, the people decide, through the Government, graziers are looking at ways of conducting what will be produced, where it will be their properties more economically than they produced, and when it will be produced. Of perhaps have in the past. There was cevtainly course, that is socialism, and that is his a record crowd there~far bigger than I way of thinking. But look at what has have ever seen before. It was obvious from happened to overseas countries that have tried that! Look at what has happened in the interest the people displayed that they Russia, the greatest socialist country of all, were keen to learn what had been done where people are told what they will grow, at the research station in the previous 12 when they will grow it, and how they will months. grow it! We know that as a result of I should also like to congratulate one the policy Russia has had to import tremen of our local officers at Ayr Cattle Field dous amounts of food. We know that the Research Station--Pat Thurbon-an having farmers in Russia are discontented and com been chosen to travel overseas to assist pletely disinterested in producing anything. one or two countries with their cattle If Mr. Hawke thinks that such a system research. I think it is indeed wonderful would work in Australia, and that primary to have a person from the Lower Burdekin producers who have worked tmder a free district chosen for such valuable work over enterprise system ever since this country seas. was first settled by white people are now Finally, I should like to express my going to stand in line and be told what they gratitude to the Treasurer and to the Under will produce, where they will produce it, Treasurer (Mr. Fields) who assisted him and when they will produce it, he has another ,at the time in drawing up !!his Budget in think coming. what we consider to be a most difficult I am pleased to note that the Govern year. I also take the opportunity of con ment of Queensland appreciates the wonder gratulating Mr. Fields on his elevation to ful work done by the Bureau of Sugar the position of Chairman of the Public Experiment Stations and has again increased Service Board. its subsidy to the bureau. Those who know the sugar industry will be aware of the Mr. N. F. JONES (Everton) (8.48 p.m.): tremendous amount of good work that is After listening to the remarks of the previous done by the bureau at its experiment stations speaker, it appears to me that he has placed throughout Queensland. I keep a fairly close before the Committee a number of proposi eye on what happens at the research station tions based on false premises. The first point at Brandon, outside Ayr. Growers on the I should like to clarify before dealing with Burdekin are very fortunate. Thanks to some of the matter·s in the Budget I want the work of the staff at the ·research station, to raise is the previous speaker's claim that they have some of the best sugar crops ·this State is suffering from the Federal in Queensland; their cane is remarkably free Government's centralis! policy. What has not from disease; they have high c.c.s. canes; been said in this Chamber, and what was and they have canes that stand up in fairly not said by the previous speaker, is succinctly strong winds without snapping. I suppose set out in an editorial dated Sunday, 14 growers in other areas can be equally thank September 1974, as follows:- ful for the work done by their local sugar "The bureaucratic strangulation from experiment stations. Canberra and the real need to cut Federal I pay a compliment to the staff of the Government spending have obscured the Millaroo Research Station, where work is point that six State Government carried out on the growing of crops of all bureaucracies also drag on society both types on what are known as Oakey and economically and philosophically. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1457 "Significantly, they have grown at a per cent of the total State population. At faster rate than the Commonwealth Public that time the population of the remainder Service, and within their own States the of the State stood at 961,000, or 53 per cent bureaucrats have imposed a far more of the total. The census reveals that the centralis! policy than Mr. Whitlam ever population growth in the metropolitan area envisaged. In the decade from 1960, the from 1966 to 1971 stood at 88,000, or 60 per number of State public servants increased cent of the increase. By comparison, the dramatically (by 78 per cent in Queensland population growth of the remainder of the compared with 42 per cent in the Com State was 59,400, or 40 per cent of the monwealth service)." increase. The number of dwellings completed What about some honourable members by the Queensland Housing Commission over opposite being reasonably honest about the the years from 1966 to 1971 represents the growth in spending by their Government? reverse of the trend in the growth of popula Why don't they speak about what is happen tion. The Commission's effort, as shown in ing in this State instead of trying to cloud the same census, amounted to the construc the issue by continually attacking the Federal tion in Brisbane of 2,548 dwellings, or 30 Government? The people of Queensland want per cent of the total, and in country areas to see a Government governing in this State of 5,922 houses, or 70 per cent of the total. for the people of this State. This Government This quite clearly shows that the Government is trying to set itself up as nothing more is not acting responsibly. Today the Gov than a Federal Opposition to the detriment ernment shows the same neglect for the major of the Queensland people. growth areas. Government .Members interjected. The trend set by the Government in the provision of housing would lead us to believe Mr. N. F. JONES: In answer to those that in addition to having a Country Party Government members who are making a lot (now National Party) Premier we have a of noise, I point out that that appeared in Country or National Party Treasurer. The a well-known newspaper, "The Australian", growth rate in population in the metropolitan on Sunday, 14 September 1974. area shows that this Government's so-called I will deal now with the Treasurer's decentralisation policy has been a failure. Financial Statement. During this debate the A further example of the Queensland Gov Committee heard a number of Government ernment's poor record in housing as com members put forward various points covered pared with that of the last Labor Government by the Budget as indicating responsibility on is revealed in a publication entitled "Housing the part of this Government. and Poverty", by .M. M. Jones and published One of the most important subjects dealt by Melbourne University Press in 1972. The with by the Budget is housing, and I am pattern of decline was set in the year this pleased t While the population increases, the Govern "(4) What are the numbers in each ment decreases the construction of dwellings. category located on the (a) northside and There is ·a permanent waiting list for State (b) southside of the metropolitan area?" rental homes. The figure remruins constant while a large section of the community never In reply to the first part of my question, lodge an application because of an awareness the Minister told me that 767 dwellings or that the position is hopeless. They know it is buildings had been purchased. That represents impossible to try to get State accommoda over one-third of the number of houses con tion. stwcted by the Queensland Housing Com mission. He told me that 402 dwellings Mr. Frawley: How many representations had been removed or demolished-by one have you made for people to get State rental department! If the Premier had given me accommodation? the figures for every department, I am sure that the total number destroyed by the Gov Mr. N. F. JONES: Ask the Minister. He ernment would far exceed the number con knows. I have made hundreds of them. structed in the State by the Government for rental purposes. On other occasions honourable members on this side of the Chamber have given figurres The clearest example of the Government's of the number awaiting rental accommoda failure in housing is shown in the Treasurer's tion. It is well over 6,000, •and it remains own figures. Let us now examine the expend constant. We hear of people with priority iture for housing under the Queensland and people without priority. I believe that Housing Commission Fund. In 1973-74, the every man, woman and child has a priority amount appropriated was $54,822,000. The for a dwelling. amount expended in that year was $48,500,000~a shortfall of a little over The Government hides behind its priority $6,000,000. It was estimated that system in a vain attempt to cover up the $68,000,000 would be required under the shortage of houses-a shortage created by Queensland Housing Commission Fund for non-activity in this important mea of Govern 1974-75. In 1973-74, under the Home ment responsibility. As I have said, when a Builders' Account, $9,249,000 was approp person needs a house for his family, there riated, and $6,097,000 was expended-a should be no such term as "priority". We shortfall of about $3,000,000. It was esti need a Government that will look to the mated that $6,276,000 would be required for needs of the people rather than hide behind 1974-75 in the Home Builders' Account. In an artificial priority system. 1973-74 the expenditure was $6,097,000, a The Government destroys far more houses reduction of $3,000,000. For 1974-75 than it constructs. We have a house-hungry $6,276,000 was required. population ;and a Government that is con The Minister today attempted to refute the tent to knock houses down for all sorts of suggestion that the Queensland Housing reasons. It is a pity that we cannot compare Commission had failed to use all the money the total figure of houses destroyed with the appropriated to it for the period. In actual total number of houses constructed by the fact the amount was close to the $12,000,000 Government. I have no doubt that if we suggested by the shadow Minister. It was could, we would find that the Government's $11,984,961. That was the amount unex record of destructions exceeds the number of pended by the Queensland Housing Com houses it has constructed. mission from the funds that had been When I tried to elicit the number of houses appropriated for housing. The Minister says removed, demolished, resold, relet or unoccu that he needs further money to commence pied because of freeway or other Department immediately the construction of houses, yet projects, the Premier said that the work he neglected to spend nearly $12,000,000 of entailed in gathering this information could the amount appropriated by the Treasurer not be justified. It could not be justified last year. beoause it would have shown lthe real The Australian Government increased its activities of the Government in relation to advance by $3,500,000. As a result, the our housing problems! While we cannot com Queensland Government has available to it pare the total figures, we can examine the the unexpended amount of $11,984,961 plus Main Roads Department figures, which are the additional amount made available by the startling. On 16 October this year, I asked Australian Government, making a total of the Minister for Mines 1and Main Roads- $15,484,961. I wonder whether at the end "(1) How many dwellings or other build of this financial year it will be found that ings used for accommodation purposes the Minister for Works and Housing has in have been purchased by the Main Roads the vicinity of $20,000,00, unexpended. Department in relation to past or future freeway construction? I believe we should compare the amount of money advanced by the present Aus "(2) How many dwellings does the tralian Government for housing with that Department hold an option over? advanced previously. In 1972-73, at a time "(3) How many of these dwellings have when the Liberal-Country Party Government been removed or demolished by the depart was in power, the Queensland Government ment? was allocated $350,000 plus $527,000 as a Supply (17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1459 recurrent grant. The grand total was The letter read- $877,000! In 1973-74 the Federal Labor "I refer to your Question in the House Government allocated $17,400,000 plus the of 25th ultimo in regard to land held $527,000 recurrent grant-a total of by the Queensland Housing Commission $17,927,000, That was an increase of 1,944 and would advise- per cent. Honourable members opposite have the gall to charge the Australian Govern Unsub- Surveyed divided ment with not giving Queensland its fair Sites Acreage share. The money is being given all right, Metropolitan (Brisbane but this Government is failing to spend it and adjacent) 532 1,023 in the areas of need. Provincial Cities and In 1974-75 the Australian Government major Towns 580 792 allocated $20,900,000 plus the recurrent Remainder of State .. 1,143 161 grant of $527,000-a grand total of "(2) Surveyed sites are indicated in (1). $21,427,000, or a further increase of 19.52 The unsubdivided acreage may be expected per cent. In spite of that, members of this to produce 4 sites to the acre." Committee decry the efforts of the Aus Mr. Miller: Mr. Jones-- tralian Government, which generously has far exceeded its responsibility to housing in Mr. N. F. JONES: The honourable mem Queensland. The problem is that when the ber just came into the Chamber. If he money arrives at the door of the State will wait a moment, he will find out what Treasury the Government fails to spend the is going on. sums allocated for housing. An answer to a question asked by the shadow Minister for Housing on 8 August The State's present allocation would con 1974 showed that the position has not really sist of the 1973-74 amount of $58,468,755 changed. It read- less the $3,327,192-in other words, a cut of Surveyed Unsub 5.69 per cent-plus unexpended funds from Sites divided 1973-74, $11,984,961, giving a total Acreage allocation of $67,126,524. That takes into Metropolitan (Brisbane and account the unexpended amounts and the adjacent) .. 524 1,303 additional amounts provided by the Federal Provincial cities and major towns 453 860 Government. Remainder of State .. 1,025 141" At the same time as the Australian Govern ment advances increased by $3,500,000 the Mr. Miller: If you were Minister for State showed a decrease of 19.5 per cent. Housing and wanted land immediately, would For example, this Government had cut back you buy it at the cheapest price or the by $3,300,000 whereas the Australian dearest price? Government had increased its allocation by Mr. N. F. JONES: If the honourable $3,500,000. And we should remember the member can be patient for a moment he additional $6,500,000 that has just been will learn that what the Minister said about promised by the Federal Government. cheap land is a lot of hoo-ha. Queensland's performance in supplying The Minister wants to help land developers land for the construction of Government whom he and his Government allowed to housing is very poor. Even the blocks rob young couples while his department sat on large parcels of land that it held back developed are far from satisfactory. Every from developing. Had the Government member of this Chamber knows the story allowed this land to be developed, a large about no sewerage and about waste water number of rental houses could have been being spread over the yards of hundreds of constructed and of course some young couples residences of the Queensland Housing Com or, for that matter, other persons requiring mission. It is a tale well known to us all. a home would have had a chance to get reasonably priced land. What about this recent attempt by the Minister for Housing to shift the blame onto Let me outline some of the land held the Federal Government because he wants by Cambridge Credit-one of the companies extra finance from it for blocks of land referred to by the Minister-and some of to start building on immediately? Start to its associated companies. It held 4,426 allot build on immediately! He could not even ments at Springwood, 3,700 at Collingwood expend the amount of money he was allocated Park, 2,790 at Mt. Warren Park, 3,000 at last time. Kimberley Park, 1,566 at Ashmore Village and so the long list continues. This Gov If honourable members study the proposi ernment sat on a lot of land and allowed tion in some detail, they will find it a very this private developer to develop land and interesting story. Firstly, the Minister made maintain a high price, so robbing the public claims about the need for land yet a letter of this State. he wrote to me on 30 October 1973 showed Let me refer in detail to one of the without doubt that his department had not developments. I can compare it with the taken full advantage of its own landholdings. 2,255 surveyed unused sites held by the 1460 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) Queensland Housing Commission as outlined Mr. N. :F. JONES: No. He is reported in the Minister's 1973 letter. While there as saying- is some variation in the figures, this will "It's beautiful land in the Rochedale show what the situation was. The develop and surrounding areas, where we've been ment I wish to compare with that was an offered 800 to 1,000 sites at between 890-acre residential development under con $4,500 and $6,500 each. Sites in the struction in a shire close to the metropolitan same area have been sold for between area and on the west side of the Pacific $8,500 and $10,500." Highway. It contained approximately 2,800 residental blocks varying in size from Mr. Miller: That's cheap. 600 sq m (24 perches) minimum up to three Mr. N. F. JONES: Cheap if one makes times that size. The average size was that sort of a comparison. But it was 708 sq m (28 perches). The layout uses Government neglect that helped to create cui-de-sac design extensively for residential the situation in which young people were privacy and child safety, and wide streets forced to pay $8,000 and $10,000 for land. for major collector roads. Orossroads will Now, because the Government thinks that not exist. That is a description of a deve it can buy land at "rock-bottom prices", it lopment that the Government allowed to wishes to buy at between $4,500 and $6,500. proceed while it sat on approximately the same number of sites. Mr. Miller: Do you think $8,000 is expensive? If the developer made a profit of $5,000 on each allotment, which in the eyes of Mr. N. F. JONES: Yes, I do, when the the developer would not be excessive, from Government is sitting on 10,000 blocks of this one estate he would stand to make land. If the Government was fair dinkum approximately $14,000,000 profit. At a time and wanted to do something for land when young people could not afford to hungry people in the metropolitan area, it buy blocks of land from the developer, would have developed some of its land so the Government was prepared to sit back that people, young and old, who wanted on the same amount of land as was in land could purchase it at reasonable prices. this development and allow the developer Let us compare the Minister's "rock to maintain high prices. bottom" prices with the prices that he gave Mr. Miller: What price was that land? in answer to a question in 1973. Those prices can be doubled if some members want Mr. N. F. JONES: I shall tell the hon to point out that there has been inflation. ourable member shortly. I am only saying Let us look at the Minister's figures, and what the developer's profit would be. let us see how he neglected to develop that land and so make reasonably priced The Minister claimed in a Press statement allotments available to the people. I asked that some of this land was available at the Minister- rock-bottom prices. Let us compare the prices in his Press statement with the prices "(1) How many allotments has the given in an answer that he gave to a Housing Commission purchased by resump question asked in the House about land tion in the last five financial years in purchased by the Queensland Housing Com (a) the Greater Brisbane area and (b) mission. Let us see if the land is at rock other areas of the State? bottom prices. Or is the Government trying "(2) What was the price or the average to get one of its private-enterprise friends price paid per allotment according to areas off the hook and still maintain the pressure in each year?" on the land market so that prices remain The Minister answered high? Under the heading, "Home sites go "Acquisition by resumption- begging during cash 'drought' " an article (!) (a) 16 allotments which resurveyed in "The Sunday Mail" of 13 October 1974 into 10 normal size building sites (b) stated- 7 allotments plus bulk areas of unsub "Two thousand fully-developed home divided land which will produce of the sites have been offered to the State Gov order of 603 building sites." ernment at 'rock bottom' prices, but it hasn't the money to buy them." I do not think that the Minister has used that number of blocks even to this stage. It should be recalled that the Government The answer continued- had housing funds of $12,000,000 that it "(2) 1970/71 $1,785 average for 10 had not spent. It should also be recalled sites." that the Minister was sitting on enough land to provide 10,000 building blocks. Yet he As I said, the figures can be doubled if it is reported on 13 October 1974 as saying is said that there has been inflation, and that if he had the necessary money he they will still be below the "rock-bottom" would buy land so that he could start to prices to which the Minister referred in the build. Press article quoted. How can it be claimed that $4,500 and $6,500 are rock Mr. Miller: He didn't say "start to build". bottom prices? The honourable member Mr. N. F. JONES: He certainly did. for Ithaca tries to say that it is cheap at $8,500 and $10,500. He ought to tell that Mr. Miller: You are misquoting him. to some of the young people in his electorate. Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1461 In his answer on 25 September 1973 the to take place in the dealings of the Queens Minister referred to a $454 average for 13 land Housing Commission. It is offensive to sites in 1971-72. Even if that average is me, and I should like a withdrawal and an multiplied by four, it still does not reach the <1pology. rock-bottom prices the Minister is talking about. In the same answer he referred to a ·ne CHAIRMAN: Order! The Minister for $2,533 average for three sites in 1972-73. I Works and Housing says that the statement suppose land would be dearer when the deal made by the honourable member for Everton involved such a small number of sites. Double is untrue, and asks for it to be withdrawn. that figure and we still do not reach the tlgures he discribed as rock-bottom prices. Mr. N. F. JONES: I will withdraw it, Mr. The honourable member for Ithaca and a Lickiss, but let me say this: it means that the few other honourable members opposite Minister and the Government allow the think that land at $8,000 to $10,000 is cheap developer to rob young people by charging for young people. high prices for land, while the Government sits on land it could develop at a cheaper I am quoting the Minister's figures. I do rate. not know why he changed his mind. If $1,875 a block was not a rock-bottom price, Mr. HODGES: I rise to a point of order. how could he say that $4,500 to $6,500 a The honourable member is again telling block were rock-bottom prices? Is it because untruths. This Government has never allowed he is buying off a private developer, or any of the public to be robbed by aJ!ybody because he does not want to develop this at all in this regard. The only occaswn on other land he holds as he does not want which I have seen robbery taking place was young people to have land at a reasonable with a member of the ALP. who bought price? Is he protecting the market for the a piece of land for $15,000 and sold it for developers? Is he refusing to put the 10,000 $56,000. blocks of land that he has on the market at the prices he quoted in this answer so that Mr. N. :F. JONES: Let me summarise he can protect the high prices being charged some of the things that were said, seeing by the developers in this State? I would say that the Minister was not in the Chamber. that that is what he is doing. He might be able to take a few more points of order. The summary shows ,that Let me go a little further. In the same $12.000,000 was unexpended by the Queens answer he referred to an average of $512 for land Housing Commission. I know the 21 sites. An average of $512 in September Minister jumped to his feet earlier in the 1973, yet he says on 13 October 1974 that debate today and said that this was not $4,500 to $6,500 are rock-bottom prices. correct, but the figures supplied by the Multiply that figure of $512 by six and we Treasury show that it is near enough. It '>till do not reach his rock-bottom prices of is 11,000,000-odd dollars-near enough to ! 3 October 197 4. He referred to an average $12.000,000. of $1,875 for four sites. His answer con tinued- The Queensland Housing Commission holds "In regard to (2) it should be realised approximately 2,255 surveyed sites and 1,976 that some of the sites require extensive acres of unsurveyed sites. There are some differences, as I said, between the Minister's development works, others require less letter and the answer he gave to our shadow costly works while some are fully Minister in this Chamber a few months iater. developed when purchased consequently On the average this .Jand could be expected there is no common acquisition cost." to produce at least four sites to the acre. 1 agree that there are going to be some I am quoting from the Minister's letter. development costs associated with this land, That makes a total of 7,904 sites plus the but I do not believe that the development 2,255 surveyed sites. a grand total of over ~osrs are going to be six times the amount 10,000 building sites that this Government paid for the land. I do not believe the and this Minister have sat on while the Minister when he says that he is buying land developers have charged high prices to at rock-bottom prices. He is buying land people, young and old, who tried to buy from developers because he wants to look land on which to build homes._ The amount after the developers, and wants to deny an of land held is more than double the 4,426 opportunity to the young people of the State allotments that would be expected to be to buy the 10,000 blocks he holds. What developed at Springwood when it is completed does this mean? It means that we have a by 1977. Minister and a Government that have not The Minister has been making statements only allowed robbery to take place, but have in the Press claiming that he needs money failed to use their own resources to protect from the Federal Government to purchase that section of the community that requires more land. lt should be clear-and it is housing and land. clear-that any person in this State, young or old, who cannot gain reasonable rental Mr. HODGES: I rise to a point of order. accommodation or cannot afford to purchase I should like the honourable member to a block of land or build a house can lay withdraw the remark that I allowed robbery the blame at the feet of this Government. 1462 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974) (Financial Statement) The Minister has the land and the Govern had previously been made and thereby denied ment has the resources, but they have failed this State the advantages to be gained from to use both for the benefit of the people a larger sum of money. of this State. It has been made clear to the Queensland Now Jet us look at what has happened Government that there is a contingency that about the land commission. The Minister will allow the Australian Government to has been making statements that he wants make available up to $7,000,000 in the extra money to buy this land at what he 197 4-7 5 financial year, provided agreement terms "rock-bottom prices". As I say, let is reached. Because the State Government us look at what happened to the land com had not previously ,reached agreement with mission in Queensland and its relationship the Commonwealth, the State was denied the with the Commonwealth Government. The use of this money. It had available to Queensland Government was advised that it another $21,000,000, which could have the Australian Government had made avail been used to relieve unemployment. able $2,500,000 and negotiations were com The Australian Government is willing to menced with the Queensland Government discuss at any time with the Queensland on this basis. However, a clear understanding Government all the details of the establish was given to the Queensland Government ment of a land commission or its equivalent. that expenditure up to $7,000,000 would be A similar body is working very well in made in the first year of operation of a South Australia. As I say, the Queensland land commission or its equivalent. But this Government has failed to reach agreement Government failed to set up a land corn because of its petty, narrow, State-minded mission-and it must be remembered that outlook. this .figure had been referred to publicly I will repeat this so that the Minister by Sir Gordon Chalk. In fact, Sir Gordon will not need to jump up and take another had quoted a figure of $21,000,000 over point of order. I think he said the Queens ,three years. land Government was discussing it with the Because there was no agreement with the Commonwealth Government. The Australian Queensland Government on the establish Government is willing to discuss at any ment of a land commission by the end time with the Queensland Government the of the financial year 1973-74, only a nominal full details of a land commission or its figure of $1,000,000 was budgeted for in equivalent. Considerable discussion has been 1974-75. In other words, because this Gov held, and negotiations are considered to be ernment refused to co-operate with the at an advanced stage. If this is so, why Federal Government it denied this State did the Queensland Government not use $21,000,000 for land acquisition. the money that was available? I turn now to education. At this stage, Mr. RAE: I rise to a point of order. whilst the Federal Government is increasing The honourable member is quite wrong in expenditure on education it is doubtful saying that we have refused this amount whether the State Government has taken of money. We have done nothing of the full advantage of the extra funds being made sort. We are still negotiating with the available by the Commonwealth. The Queens Commonwealth Government but we are land Government is playing petty politics negotiating on our terms which are simply at the expense of the children of the State. that we will have the right of freehold As an illustration of the Government's petty and not leasehold as is the determination action in relation to children, I point to a of the Federal Government at the moment. school in a fast-growing area of Brisbane, The CHAIRMAN: Order! There is no with over 1,200 students crammed into seven point of order. tin sheds, or dernountables, and 14 class rooms. The classes are oversized. The ~r. N. F. JONES: It is a pity that the remainder of the school buildings are of M~n~sters are so sensitive tonight. If the the old type that were built some 20 years Mm1ster for Lands will remain seated and ago, and are urgently in need of paint and wait for a few minutes I will tell him what repair. They constitute a fire hazard. Apart he is doing. ' from this, the teachers at the school are Mr. Rae: He does not know his "ekker". forced by the Education Department to work under shocking industrial conditions. Mr. N. F. JONES: I was good enough I warn the Minister for Education and to get the Minister on his feet to call a the Government that one of these days the point of order. He is so sensitive because State will be faced with a tragedy and loss the facts are very clear. There was no of life as a result of the failure of the agreement with the Queensland Government Government to protect students and teachers on the establishment of a land commission. who are housed in these old buildings that I notice that the Minister is not denying are nothing more than fire traps. Up till that. By the end of the 1973 financial year now the Government has been blessed with only the nominal sum of $1,000,000 was good luck in that the fires that have occurred budgeted for in the 1974-75 Budget. The have caused damage only to buildings. The reason why only $1,000,000 was allowed reason is that the majority of these fires for was that the State Government had have broken out after school hours or late failed to take advantage of the offers that at night. Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1463 Anyone who witnessed the fire at the areas, should be set up. The council should Grovely State School will realise the inten meet to discuss where a school is to be sity of the blaze and the complete destruc erected or where major works are to be tion caused by it. The fire in the old carried out at existing schools. It should wooden building would have destroyed the be called together pa;rticularly when a site school in a very short space of time if it is being selected for a new school develop had not been for the dedication and quick ment. action of the fire brigade. But what would The Education Department claims that it have happened if the fire had occurred dur oarnies out a survey prior to selecting a ing school hours? site for a school, or, for that matter, deciding The Government has neglected to take to construct a new school. Despite claims remedial action at existing schools. Further that a survey was undertaken by the Educa more, in the construction of new schools tion Department, no teachers, parents, or the Works Department is not required to other interested persons have ever been inter meet the standards laid down by the city viewed by any person involved in taking a council. State schools are not constructed survey, let alone somebody from the Educa under the Brisbane City Council by-laws tion Department. that cover the fire-proofing of the lower Mr. Frawley: That is untrue. floors of multi-storey buildings. It must be obvious to all that the Gov Mr. N. F. JONES: In a minute I shall ernment is placing children in a dangerous show that it is true. situation in new schools that are not built Recently, the Education Department and in conformity with the Brisbane City Council the Works Department deoided to construct by-laws that protect the general public a new school in the Everton Park area. One against fire risks. of the reasons for constructing the new The Premier has tried to justify the Gov school was to relieve the overcrowding at ernment's neglect by claiming that fire drill the Everton Park State School. The proposed is conducted at State schools and that escape school is needed to cater for the area in stairs are appropriately located. He added which it will be constructed, and it is to be that the Works Department had conducted built by the commencement of the 1975 school a special review of fire risks and that appro year. The Education Department claimed that priate steps were being taken. He could its survey showed that the new school would not give a list of the places or of what assist in overcoming the overcrowding at works had been carried out. I was not the Everton Park State School. That claim intereste.d. in the Premier's attempts to justify is not true. I do not believe that the Educa the position. I wanted to see some action tion Department or the Works Department taken by the Government to remove fire engaged in any survey at all. Facts gathered risks. by interested persons show that most of the new students would come from an area I asked the Minister for Education and Cultural Activities further questions about adjacent to the present school, and that no the so-called special review of possible fire relief for this school would be afforded by the construction of a new school. I might add risks. He claimed it commenced in July that this Government does not have any 1968, and that the necessmy works were com pleted progressively. But, again, he could evidence to support its contention. not g1ve the number of schools. If the department had genuinely wanted to rdieve the position at the primary school, In 1973, following destruction of a num the information I am about to outline would ber of schools by fire, the Government have been sought by it. Neither the Works decided to conduct a survey of schools con Department nor the Education Department nected to a reticulated water supply. When tried to gather any information concerning I asked the Minister a question in 1973- the number of pupils coming from any mea five years after he commenced the special to attend the new school. A survey taken review-he could not give details of how by people in the area shows. very clearly the mains from the schools connected to a that the largest number of pupils will come reticulated water supply. I always believed from an area very close to Everton Park. that \Vater was one of the main weapons About 450 children from directly behind used by the fire brigade in fighting fires. the Everton Park primary school would I sought further information from the Min attend the school. The families with the ister on how many State schools have located 1,200 pupils attending the school were asked within the school grounds one or more how many of their children would be pre hydrants served by at least a 3-inch main. pared to enrol at the new school when con He stated that fire hydrants are not usually structed. From the area closest to where it located within school yards; in other words, is to be constructed only nine children were no school has a hydmnt in the school yard. indicated as prospective pupils. What we have Let us look at this Government's planning, at the moment is a Government intending to or, should I say, lack of planning. A com build a school, and using that school as munity council should be set up comprising an excuse for relieving overcrowding at the local p. and c. representatives, Teachers' Everton Park State School. It had no facts Union members, the local alderman and before it. It is playing politics with the child State and Federal members representing ren who are to attend that school. 1464 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) It amazes me that the Government allows So the Minister for Education says one an overcrowded school of 1,200 pupils with thing in the House and the Director of seven demountables-14 classrooms-two Special Education Services outside the placed within 10 yards of the toilet. It allows Chamber says something else. Either the the children of this school to be crammed Minister should talk to the people in his into tin sheds and fails to make a survey department and obtain the correct informa or to gather any information. It just decides tion from them or, if his directors are to to build another school somewhere else and make statements and attack members of claims that that will relieve the position at Parliament, he should ensure that their the Everton Park State School when in fact statements are correct. there is no basis for the claim. If information about the Everton Park A number of lies have been told about school had been sought by the department, the Everton Park State School. I wrote to I believe it would have known the statement the Minister for Works and Housing some that the new primary school to be con time ago. In his reply he indicated that land structed would relieve overcrowding at the was to be bought adjacent to the Everton Everton Park primary school was incorrect. Park Primary School to relieve over However, no attempt was made to gather crowding. When I checked with the owner the information so that reasoned judgment of the land after that clear indication from could be formed on whether another school tbe Minister, I was told that only a short ought to be constructed. conversation had been held with a member of While the Government allows children to one Government department. In other words, attend school in tin sheds and old buildings no indication had been given that a purchase that are fire traps, allows people to be was to be made and no indication as to the robbed by hungry landlords, destroys houses amount of money that would be paid. So and builds freeways for the motor-car, cries I had a letter from the Minister with details poor mouth and wants more money from the about the purchase of land to relieve over Federal Government, the Premier spends crowding in the school that were completely $600,000 on a new aircraft without calling untrue. I refer to the Minister for Works tenders. What public notice was given of and Housing. that purchase. Only a Press statement to the Mr. Alison: I don't suppose you have the people of Queensland! The Government has departmental viewpoint? no money for relief of overcrowding in schools or to remove some of the injustices l\1r. N. F. JONES: I certainly do, and it it has created. It is wrong to have priorities seems to me that the Minister for Education such as that. is completely dictated to and dominated by Who made the decision to purchase the some of the heads of his department. That aircraft? Who sold it to the Premier? Who becomes clear from some of the statements were the experts with the special expertise? that have been made. Who decided that the aircraft was a reason Some time ago I asked questions in the able or correct purchase for the State? Who House about the interview and assessment demonstrated the plane to the experts? How of children by the gu;dance branch. I subse long did the demonstration take? How many quently made a statement that there should days were taken to decide to spend that be an increase in the staff. Who do honour amount of money? How many companies able members think answered the statement? were asked to include comparable aircraft Not the Minister for Education, but the in the demonstration? How many other com Director of Special Education Services-a panies were asked to supply details of an Mr. Berkeley, I think his name is. He said aircraft for purchase by the Government? that my statement was off the beam. What I can state clearly that no other aircraft he did not know was that the facts and was inspected and that no expert compared figures contained in that statement were taken the performance of this type of aircraft with from an answer by the Minister for Educa that of any other. I have not the expertise tion. It follows that Mr. Berkeley implied to compare aircraft, ~o I asked some experb either that the Minister for Education told to compare the aircraft purchased by the untruths in the House and did not supply State-a Kingair 200--with the Merlen 111A correct information in answers to questions I believe it is important that that com or that the Minister did not know what he parison be recorded, because it shows tha1 was talking about. He denied the points I the Premier either did not receive any advice made in the statement. He said they were or did not take notice of any advice he was not correct, though those points were advanced by the Minister in answer to my given. question in the House. The first comparison should be of prices. The Merlen 111A, equipped to a standard I asked the Minister about the number of similar to that of the Kingair 200, is 10 per people employed by the guidance branch cent lower in price. The Kingair 200 costs for interview and assessment. He said that $680,000, the Merlen 111A $598,960. 2,394 children were awaiting excamination by the 15 officers in the Guidance and Special The experts reported- Education Branch. What did Mr. Berkeley "Design-The M3a is a proven design say? He said that the figures were not going back several years but the K200 is correct. a new one-at this stage unproven-and ne Supply (17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1465 doubt ¥<1th the normal design bugs inherent "The K200 has only a freon type air in any new design. conditioning system with the pump on "The M3a is a fail safe design as one engine only. The M3a has cooling opposed to the safe life technique used turbines and air bleeds on each engine for with the K200. This means that major better more efficient airconditioning." structures of the M3a can fail but that the The K200 obviously was designed to com aircraft is safe to operate until the next pete directly with the M3a, so they are inspection period when the failure will be similar in performance, the only major dif detected. On the other hand the K200 with ference being, as stated earlier, the range and its safe life design gives vital components the cabin pressurising and air-conditioning a 'life' at which time they must be replaced systems. In addition, the take-off and landing or repaired, etc." distances required for the K200 are greater than those required for the M3a. Mr. FRAWLEY: I rise to a point of order. The industry reports that, with that in Is the honourable member allowed to read mind, one wonders why the decision to pur a letter word for word in his speech? chase the K200 was taken without consider ation of any other aircraft available with THE CHAIRMAN: Order! There is no similar or better price and performance. Not valid point of order. only the industry wonders; the people of Mr. N. F. JONES: The Premier can read Queensland also wonder. "Hansard" tomorrow to see what he missed Mr. AHERN (Landsborough) (9.46 p.m.): out on when he went ahead and purchased In the present economic climate, the Treasurer the aircraft from his mates. is to be commended on his Financial State ment. It is an excellent Budget, and he has They continued- not succumbed to the temptation to increase "Systems-All main systems of the M3a costs generally, as other State Governments are at least duplicated and in some cases have done. The Budget recognises the infla triplicated e.g. the undercarriage can be tionary pressures present in Australia today, lowered by three separate means. and the Government has wisely decided to "In relation of the systems of both air carry the added costs of railway operations craft the M3a is a scaled down airliner and general increases in costs in a number while the K200 is an enlarged general of service areas. It realises that increases aviation aircraft. would only add to the fires of rampant infla tion that are raging in this country, and it "Fuel-The M3a carries 697 pounds has decided to tailor its expenditure to the more fuel than the K200 and burns less means at its disposal. per hour (at 20,000 ft. the difference is 100 lbs. per hour). Consequently the M3a Certainly mineral royalties are a major has a greater range and areas that have no feature of the Budget. They have helped to regular supply of Avtur can be visited balance it, and they have shown the wisdom without the necessity of an intermediate of mineral development in this State. Royal service stop, its long range allowing the ties have been increased to such an extent M3a to carry return fuel. In fact a M3 that they will provide approximately has flown from San Antonio in Texas to $37,900,000, and they have helped Queens Cologne in Germany with only one refuel land to become the most favoured State in ing stop. It flew a total distance of 5421 Australia in almost every field of taxation. miles at an average speed of 322 miles per That is a great tribute to the Government. hour. There have, of course, been big problems for Governments and the community in "Engines-The M3a is fitted with general to face, and they have been referred AiResearch engines as opposed to the to during this debate. There is the present K200's Pratt & Whitneys. The AiResearch gross economic irresponsibility of the Federal have a life of 4000 hours between over Government. In a number of areas, it seems hauls compared with the P & Ws 3000 to be blundering along creating great prob hours. The P & Ws tend to lose output during their life due to their compressor lems for itself, the State Governments, and becoming less efficient whereas the the country generally. The present situation AiResearch engines do not." is that there is no money and no confidence in the economy. This is creating serious These details should be recorded in "Han problems for the State Government, and it sard" because I do not believe the Govern wilt create similar problems for the Federal ment attempted to look at any other plane Government, too. before making the purchase. The Federal Government, through its Reserve Bank policy, has deliberately created They concluded by saying- tight liquidity, and it has been very slow "Cabin systems-The M3a has a higher to relax its restrictions. Allocations to the pressurisation capability than the K200 States, and also to local government loan i.e. the system can maintain the cabin at programmes, have deliberately been cut back sea level pressure to an aircraft altitude of by the Federal Government. The tariff 16,800 feet but the K200 is only capable reductions of 25 per cent have finally had the of maintaining it to 13,800 feet. effect of creating a gross surge of money out 1466 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) of the country, and this has added to the only 11.3 per cent this year. Last year it liquidity problem. The situation now being was 5 per cent. We are going out the back faced is one that cannot be overcome quickly. door. The Commonwealth aid programme The credit squeeze will be with us for some compounded the problems. We have to do considerable time, and in the short term State something about this in future. We have to and Federal Governments will be able to allocate a great deal more money for roads do little about the stagflation that is being in various categories. At this stage we have produced. That is very much to be regretted. recognised that it is not feasible to increase The Treasurer therefore had immense dif motor vehicle registration fees, but they may ficulty in bringing down a reasonable Budget. have to be increased when the inflation The Federal Government has also pursued a experience slows down a little. Our main policy of gross antagonism towards, and roads construction and maintenance pro straight-out abuse of, the private sector. This, grammes cannot exist in the present situation. too, has created great problems for the They must go out the back door if we present and the future. That was the econo do not do something further in the very mic climate in which the Treasurer short term. approached the preparation of the Budget. The other area I want to briefly canvass I do not intend tonight to encompass the is housing. This subject has been raked over entire area covered by the Budget. All I continuously in the debate. The honourable want to do is highlight briefly a couple of member for Everton made some ponderous points that I think are worthy of consider remarks about it a few minutes ago. Clearly, ation. The first concerns the roads pro increased land costs, higher interest rates and gramme, which is a great problem area in increased costs in the construction industry Queensland and, indeed, throughout the have shot to pieces the housing policies that nation. have existed in this country. That is a fact of life. We are providing for an 11.3 per cent increase in expenditure by the Main Roads Mr. R. E. Moore: All in two years. Department. This is very good. It will increase Mr. AHERN: Within a very short period expenditure from $74,300,000 to $82,600,000. of time, anyway. Today young people cannot But let us face it: in this industry inflation afford to take advantage of the offer of is running at more than 20 per cent. Last building societies to advance 95 per cent of year we increased main roads expenditure the valuation of the house and land. The by 5 per cent. Our road programme is being public sector cannot afford to take over cut to ribbons by inflation. It is one area the whole housing programme in Australia. that we ought to be very concerned about. The Queensland Housing Commission cannot This Government has done a great job expect to provide all housing in future. throughout the length and breadth of the Unfortunately, throughout the State great State in providing bitumen-surfaced roads long queues of people are queuing up at ~or a great number of people. Unfortunately, Housing Commission offices applying for m the last couple of years inflation has Housing Commission houses. A few years ago crippled the programme. This year we have many of these people would not have thought had Federal Minister J ones compounding of doing so and did not need to line up the difficulties we faced. The Commonwealth at the Queensland Housing Commission, aid for roads programme was presented to because building societies, banks and so on us-discussed not, but presented. Taking into were able to provide an excellent service. account the inflation experience in the indus That is not on today. try, I say that the quantum of Common The housing policy has been shot to pieces, wealth aid moneys across the board is not and I ask the Government, within the as much per annum as under the old sCheme. limited power available to it, to review When we consider the malicious categories the situation and perhaps lengthen the terms that were thrust ponderously upon us of loans. Let us look at the prospect of national highways, export roads, beef roads gearing the repayments on borrowings to and so on were dedicated within the Vote a person's income in the early years of a provided for us-we find that our programmes loan. Let us look at other ways as well, for rural arterial road systems have been because we had a very proud policy in cut in half. Is it any wonder that local Queensland that left us with the best pro authorities throughout the State are complain gramme of home-ownership in Australia if ing bitterly? Thank heavens the Main Roads not in the world. Now we are going back Department has been in a position to say wards because of the incredible policies that "We will cushion the effects, wherever w~ the Federal Government has been imple can, of this stupid policy in relation to menting. We have to do something about Commonwealth aid moneys for roads." But it and I again ask the Government, with the we still have the situation that inflation is limited powers we have, to look at the cutting down the effects of at least 10 problem. years of our good record in assisting people I want to say something now about the m remote areas of Queensland. N arangba development. This is near my We have somewhere between 20 and 30 area and it has been the subject of some per cent inflation experience in the industry, public comments, including references tonight. but we are able to increase expenditure by It is certainly not the best concept to provide Supply [17 OCTOBER 1974] (Financial Statement) 1467 cheap accommodation, at least for young thing should be encouraged. We certainly people. If we have money for this type of should not brand the developers with an project and if we believe philosophically that arbitrary term like "robbers". the Government should be buying up land and I turn now briefly to the Treasurer's Bud developing it-and that is what the Federal get proposals for local government. He has Labor Government wants-the Narangba pro given earnest consideration to the needs of posal is totally wrong. We should be looking local authorities. He has said, wisely, that at the marginal benefit of adding to towns he will review the subsidy scheme. That such ·as Redcliffe, Caboolture and Caloundra news is welcome, because such a review which already have infrastructures, with water is needed. Although the system that exists schemes already provided, sewerage schemes has served us well, it has led to confusion already connected-- and problems. For example, one local Mr. R. E. Moore: Shopping centres. authority in its total sewerage scheme might make extensions that are approved as being Mr. AHERN: And shopping centres. eligible for a certain subsidy; but once it goes outside the terms of approval the sub The marginal gain in these places would sidy is not paid. This causes many political be much greater, but the Federal Govern problems as well as confusion. I think ment wants something about which it can say, it would be better to provide a more equitable "This is ours." I suppose it will put a great working basis for the scheme. big monument on it. It might even be called "Urenville" or "Cairns County" or something The Treasurer said also that he would like that. A whole new infrastructure will have provide approximately $5,000,000 by way to be built for "Urenvme" at Narangba of grants to local authorities. This infor and the number of allotments that will be mation, too, is welcome, because the State provided there is probably half the great num Government is in an ideal position to know ber that would be provided marginally in the problems of local authorities. Three Gov areas such as Redcliffe and the other places ernment departments are working in the I have mentioned. I really think we should area of local government, determining the give some consideration to this matter. priorities, and they are doing a good job. If anyone is to provide grants to local The honourable member for Everton spoke authorities, the State Government is in the about the establishment of a land commission. best position to do so. The Federal Local He said that we would not co-operate in Authorities Grants Commission money should constituting a land commission. Mr. Lickiss, be given to our grants commission to dis you know very well that we have had a burse, because all that the members of the Land Administration Commission in Queens Federal Grants Commission did when they land for 25 years and all the Commonwealth came to Queensland with their brief cases needed to do was come up here and co was make gross errors. They remained operate with us. The Land Administmtion here for about a fortnight and in that short Commission is doing in my electorate at this time presumed to try to assess the needs point of time the type of development the of 131 local authorities. Those in my area Commonwealth wants-and to good effect. were wiped completely. The honoumble member also spoke about Mr. R. E. Moore: When they got a sun providing cheap land for housing. He does tan they went home. not realise that with the conditions that are imposed by local 1authorities today and auth Mr. AHERN: It would be a joke if it orised by this Assembly, it would cost some were not so serious. thing !like $4,500 an allotment to bring it As I say, the local authorities in my to saleable condition. If we want to assess electorate missed out completely, and they the true fa:ts of the situation, Lord Mayor deeply resent it. If indeed there are any Cl em J ones is selling allotments in the city terms of reference set down for the com of Brisbane for $12,000. So his concept of mission, I am sure no-one could understand providing cheap land in Brisbane is night them. As I say, the State Government is out the back door as far 'as I am concerned. in the best position to implement a grants scheme. The honourable member, in his argument, confused raw land with developed land. We The Treasurer added that he would be all know that he is able to confuse a situation allocating another $45,000,000 by way of very quickly and handle statisitcs in such a loans to local authorities. This is an excel way as to confuse everyone. He spoke lent proposal and one that will provide us also of developers, labelling them as robbers. with additional money at a time when local I want to make it very clear that the authorities are in urgent need of assistance. developers in my area are partners. I ask the Treasurer to keep these matters Developers accept a considerable risk in their under review, because the situation changes developments and some of them are at continually, sometimes for the worse. present going broke in various areas in I refer briefly to State succession duty. Queensland. This is a risk area, and co-opera In his Financial Statement the Treasurer tively they are playing a very legitimate part said that from this tax the State will in the over-all programme of providing receive $22,000,000. In the past this tax housing for the community. This type of has been described in many ways. It has 1468 Supply (18 OCTOBER 1974] Questions Upon Notice been claimed to be a tax on widows; it has been condenmed as a mean tax and it has been described as a tax on death. it is a most hated tax. The position is that in its recent Budget the Commonwealth Government instituted a most malicious and snide form of increased probate duty. It said that capital gains tax will apply at the point of death and that death will constitute a sale. This will almost cripple anyone with any assets at all, and we must do all in our power to prevent the imposition of this vicious tax. Mr. Bjelke-Petersen: They are highway robbers. Mr. AHERN: They certainly are. ln view of the Federal Government's action we should introduce a new tax to replace probate tax. I say that because I do not like the tax and because there is a better way of collecting $22,000,000. Road permit fees are another form of tax that vitally affects National Party members. The Treasurer said that the State collects $7,300,000 in this field. This tax is paid by very few people, and mainly by those living in remote areas. It does not affect residents of Brisbane. It affects some people very significantly while affecting others not at all. It is a sectional tax. The Federal Govern ment has compounded the inequity by abolishing the fuel subsidy. People in remote areas are again being hit very severely. We should look at this form of tax, which raises $7,300,000, in the light of the Federal Government's decision to remove the fuel concession. Probate tax and road tax combined yield about $30,000,000. If I were preparing the Budget I would institute a tax of 5c per gallon on fuel to replace both probate tax and road tax. About 600,000,000 gallons of fuel are used annually in Queensland. A tax of 5c per gallon would yield about $30,000,000. Those two sectional taxes could be abolished and the fuel tax substituted. It would be paid by virtually all people in a fair and even way. At the same time, on world standards, fuel would remain relatively cheap. The impact of the tax would be inflation ary, but the other two taxes are also inflation ary. Petrol stations and outlets would have to be licensed and, to some extent, outlets would have to be restricted. The imposition of this tax in place of the other two would be a sensible move. I strongly advocate it, and ask the Government to look into it. fn today's circumstances our State Budget was very impressive. I congratulate the Treasurer on being able to introduce such a marvellous Budget. No other State in Aus tralia has been able to match the wonderful job he has done or come anywhere near it. Progress reported. The House adjourned at 10.9 p.m.