1162
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Thursday 26 May 2011
______
The Speaker (The Hon. Shelley Elizabeth Hancock) took the chair at 10.00 a.m.
The Speaker read the Prayer and acknowledgement of country.
TRIBUTE TO ROBERT GOULD
Mr JOHN ROBERTSON (Blacktown—Leader of the Opposition) [10.00 a.m.], by leave: I acknowledge the students in the public gallery from St Andrews Primary School at Marayong. On behalf of the Opposition I acknowledge the passing of Bob Gould; a great contributor to this city's intellectual and political capital over many decades, who died suddenly on 22 May 2011. This House is a place of robust debate and differing· views. We often find ourselves in agreement on matters but more often in disagreement—sometimes quite passionate and heated disagreement. But regardless of which point on the political spectrum we come from I think we all agree that all points are needed. We agree that diverse views, contrary views, majority and minority views are all equally important contributors to the healthy and robust debate that underpins our democracy. We should never silence in this place the dissenting view but rather allow it to have its voice. There would not be one member of this House who can say that he or she has not experienced moments of being in the minority and yet was afforded the respect and right to state his or her case.
Bob Gould was far more than the proprietor of the business that bears his name; he was also a great contributor to keeping this principle front and centre in the life of this city. This contribution was partly the result of the sheer wealth of knowledge, opinion and thinking that could be found in his various businesses over the years. His collection of political works in particular was legendary, featuring innumerable out of print titles and second-hand books. These allowed those with an inquiring mind access to the views of those before them and, in the process, access to a type of wisdom to inform the debates of their day. Significantly though, these inquiring minds needed to be both persistent and tenacious. Gould's store did not reward those looking for a sound bite or a quick and easy answer to complex issues. Because of its deliberately uncharted layout, although all the answers were there, if one wanted answers in Gould's store, one would have to seek them out. At any given time no-one, not even Bob himself, could say for certain what was or was not in stock. It was, and still is, up to the customers to come and see for themselves.
The great benefit for those who pursued this challenge was that they not only found the opinion they sought but they also found the opinions of many others along the way, thus their understanding of the issue in question was greatly enhanced. It was a place that highlighted the difference between being knowledgeable and considered, versus simply being quick and clever. Reflecting on that point might give each of us a moment to pause in this age where all members of this place are increasingly encouraged to react rather than to consider. Beyond the walls of his various bookshops Bob was a legendary contributor to political debate in Sydney for over four decades. He was a pioneer in the Vietnam anti-war movement. He was one of the three people who pursued and tackled the man who tried to assassinate Labor leader Arthur Calwell at an anti-conscription rally in Mosman. He was also a leading voice opposing censorship of the day, openly selling the then banned work Portnoy's Complaint. For all this he was rewarded with numerous raids on his shops and great suspicion and surveillance from the authorities of the day. As former President Meredith Burgmann once remarked, Bob Gould's ASIO file was fatter than hers. I am sure she meant that as a compliment to Bob.
Bob remained an active and vocal member of the Labor Party and an active contributor to debate on issues of public censorship, public policy and refugees up until his passing. I cannot remember a Labor conference without Bob Gould being there. He would set up a shop in the foyer of the Sydney Town Hall and allow us all to work our way through his pile of works to find something to read and occupy ourselves with for two or three days. Although we use this place to determine the view of the majority, we do so always respecting that there is no one right way of seeing any issue. We should do so always with a sense of history, which tells us that those in the minority at one point often prove to be the majority over time. Although Bob has left us, his legacy continues and, as I am sure he would have wanted, his family are keeping his store open. I encourage all members to pay a visit to Gould's bookshop at Newtown. I encourage all members to spend an hour trying to find that book they have long lost or an old work they have been meaning to track down. But most of all
26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1163
I encourage members to browse the numerous other works along the way, the numerous competing points of view that lie stacked in Bob's store, and to marvel at the diversity of opinion that makes our system of government such a great thing to defend.
Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst—Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure NSW) [10.07 a.m.]: On behalf of the Liberal-Nationals Government I acknowledge the sad passing of Robert Gould. Setting aside Mr Gould's particular political proclivity, he was certainly in the vanguard of those who supported free speech. Those aware of Mr Gould's history would appreciate that he played a pivotal role in pushing the boundaries to ensure the opportunity for free speech and that the issues relating to refugees, censorship and public policy were out in the public arena. I understand from those who have a little better memory than I have that his first bookshop was located near Chinatown, in the old Gould's Book Arcade. I join with the Leader of the Opposition in extending condolences to his family and all those who found him to be an integral part of their lives over many years. Irrespective of our political views, it is a sad day for New South Wales when giants of men who have contributed so much to public policy pass on. I congratulate the Opposition for drawing this matter to the attention of the House. On this occasion, the Government and the Opposition are as one.
Members and officers of the House stood in their places as a mark of respect.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Inaugural Speeches
Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst—Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure NSW) [10.08 a.m.]: I move:
That the business before the House be interrupted:
(1) at 11.30 a.m. to permit the presentation of inaugural speeches by the members for Port Macquarie and Vaucluse; and
(2) at 6.20 p.m. to permit the presentation of inaugural speeches by the members for The Entrance, Wyong and Gosford.
As I have indicated previously, in the first weeks of a new Parliament it is necessary for new members to be permitted to make their inaugural speeches. Today those opportunities will be given at 11.30 a.m. and 6.20 p.m. For the information of members wishing to arrange their day, I advise that the inaugural speeches commencing at 11.30 a.m. will take us to about 12.20 p.m., and those delivered at 6.20 p.m. will take us through until approximately 7.20 p.m.
Question—That the motion be agreed to—put and resolved in the affirmative.
Motion agreed to.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders: Bills
Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst—Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure NSW) [10.11 a.m.]: As I did yesterday, with the understanding of the Opposition, I move:
That standing and sessional orders be suspended to permit the resumption of the adjourned debate and the passage through all remaining stages at this or any subsequent sitting of the Court Security Amendment Bill 2011 and the Library Amendment Bill 2011.
As I have indicated, there will be a number of inaugural speeches delivered today. I have discussed with the leader of Opposition business that our intention this morning is to call on debate on the Library Amendment Bill, which will likely continue until the commencement of the first of the inaugural speeches at 11.30 a.m. There may be some necessity to accommodate some slight variation in the program, as there usually is, but at this stage that is the intention. I will discuss those matters with the leader of Opposition business in due course.
Question—That the motion be agreed to—put and resolved in the affirmative.
Motion agreed to. 1164 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders: Routine of Business
Motion by Mr Brad Hazard agreed to:
That standing orders and sessional orders be suspended:
(1) At this sitting to provide for the following routine of business after the conclusion of the motion accorded priority:
(a) business with precedence;
(b) government business;
(c) notices of motions (general notices);
(d) matter of public importance;
(e) private members' statements;
(f) at 6.20 p.m., inaugural speeches; and
(g) the House to adjourn without motion moved at the conclusion of inaugural speeches.
(2) On Friday 27 May 2011, to permit general business to take precedence of all business prior to 1.00 p.m., unless after 12.15 p.m. government business is called on.
LIBRARY AMENDMENT BILL 2011
Agreement in Principle
Debate resumed from 25 May 2011.
Mr GEOFF PROVEST (Tweed) [10.14 a.m.]: It gives me great pleasure to support the Minister's introduction of the Library Amendment Bill 2011, the object of which is to provide greater flexibility in the management of arrangements for regional libraries, such as libraries that operate on behalf of two or more local councils anywhere in New South Wales. The bill provides for local councils to make alternative arrangements for the provision, control and management of the library, library services or information services in an area of any council that is party to the arrangement. Such arrangements cannot be entered into without the approval of the Minister. Guidance will be available for local councils on possible alternative arrangements. A template agreement for joint management arrangements will be available from the State Library.
The bill is particularly relevant to the Tweed electorate. It is very interesting that Labor members were so quiet when I discussed public funding for local libraries in this House on 7 December 2007. At that time the local council contributed $19.99 per capita to the public library fund whereas the State Government provided only $3.50, and that resulted in a significant funds shortfall. The problem was brought home to me when I compared the State Government's library subsidy with the Queensland Government's subsidy, which was approximately four times greater.
The SPEAKER: Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber.
Mr GEOFF PROVEST: The Tweed electorate is unique. Thirty per cent of its population is over the age of 65 years, which is one of the highest proportions of any State electorate. Many of my elderly constituents access the library. The Minister stated that in 2009-10, New South Wales public libraries had 3.3 million members—that is, 46 per cent of the population— received 37 million visitations, administered 50 million loans and used 2.44 million internet hours. Approximately two years ago, an anomaly arose whereby pensioners were being charged an ambulance fee of up to $1,000 if they crossed the State border. The State Government decided to pay the fee for pensioners, but not for schoolchildren and others. The only way pensioners can get the appropriate form to obtain the subsidy is by downloading it from the internet. I have printed the form for pensioners many times.
The library and my electorate office are the only places where pensioners can have the forms printed. It is increasingly the case that government forms are available only from the internet. For many pensioners and 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1165
people on limited incomes, the local library is the key to internet access. Over the past 16 years, State Government funding for public libraries has gradually been reduced, and that means that local councils must take up the funding shortfall and recoup the expenditure by increasing fees. People simply cannot afford a continual escalation of costs. The Coalition Government intends to permit local authorities to enter into cooperative arrangements that will provide for collective or joint management of regional libraries. In lengthy discussions I had with him yesterday, the Minister agreed to begin discussions with the Queensland Government about sharing facilities. There is a very good library in Coolangatta, but during the past 12 months the informal agreement, whereby residents or library members of the Tweed electorate could borrow books from that library, ceased. That occurred because the Queensland Government, which is a Labor government, introduced a fee of $130 a year.
The SPEAKER: They do need the money though!
Mr GEOFF PROVEST: The Minister responsible, the Hon. George Souris, has given me his personal assurance he will enter into negotiations in this regard. Once again I see evidence of a fresh wind blowing through New South Wales. Commonsensical and responsible decisions are being made, and I applaud that. Indeed, I am quite excited to be part of the team that is responsible for them. Collaborative arrangements are being made also with regard to companion animals, community services, economic development, environmental management, health, social justice, skills development, tourism, waste and water. The bill provides the Minister with responsibility to approve alternative arrangements, and I will be seeking alternative arrangements with our Queensland counterparts in that regard.
Mrs Barbara Perry: It is not possible though.
Mr GEOFF PROVEST: I have heard from the other side that it is not possible. I like to think outside the square and try to deliver for the people of my electorate. This bill will allow the Minister to actually enter into negotiations. It may require further amendment down the track, but it will allow the Minister to enter into negotiations, whereas in the past we have been met with something akin to the Great Wall of China, and that is not surprising. Representatives of the Queensland Government have said to me in discussions that they did not think too highly of the previous Labor Government here in New South Wales.
At present the Library Act of 1939 unduly limits the management arrangements for regional libraries. A former regional library manager, Martin Fielding, whom I have brought down to speak with former Ministers in this place, put forward a fairly substantial argument about the lack of funding and lack of cooperation from the previous Government. On each of those occasions, after speaking with former Ministers, I was given an assurance that the issues would be addressed and resolved. But certainly up till the date of the election, the people of the Tweed have continued to suffer because of lack of action. Martin Fielding, who was the regional director of our local libraries for many years, resigned in protest. He actually quit his position because he believed he was getting no support from the previous Government, and that was a shame. Library services were close to Martin's heart and he excelled in his job. For him to walk away out of sheer frustration was a crying shame and a travesty.
In addition, the Library Act makes provision for local councils to access and to collaborate in the preparation of plans, and I will be pushing hard for more active cross-border cooperation. Even though we are blessed with perhaps the best climate and natural features of any other area in New South Wales, which cries out for outdoor activity, our libraries, including mobile libraries, perform a very valuable role. I should also put on the table the fact that there has been great cooperation with regard to the services provided by that fine university, Southern Cross University, which has a campus in the electorate of Tweed and also across the border near Coolangatta airport, and it is seeking to expand even further.
Initial discussions between the university and the local council to which I have been privy indicate that the university wants to expand its library services to make them available also to members of the local public. The librarians and their staff up there do an excellent job. I often visit the library myself in order to promote it and to get a fair shake for it. In the limited time I have been in this role I have found that although at times it is good to talk to senior bureaucrats, at the end of the day it is really those at the coalface, the hardworking people who work from 9 to 5, who know what the real issues are and often have a commonsense approach to them. I commend the bill to the House.
Mr NATHAN REES (Toongabbie) [10.23 a.m.]: What a sad indictment of this new Government. One would think that the Coalition, having spent 16 years in opposition, would come to this place champing at the bit. But what do we get? The Library Amendment Bill. I look across the Chamber and see the new member for 1166 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
Riverstone sitting there and I think that the new Government could introduce legislation and policy relating to plans to put hundreds of thousands of people out into that growth area. But no, they introduce the Library Amendment Bill. I see also two new representatives for the Hunter and think that the Government could have introduced controversial but necessary legislation to fix Newcastle city centre. But no, instead we have the Library Amendment Bill. A couple of pages—
Mr John Williams: Point of order: Madam Speaker, I ask that you return the member for Toongabbie to the leave of this very important bill.
The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the member for Toongabbie was about to return to the leave of the bill.
Mr NATHAN REES: We could be debating legislation on important water reform. But instead we have the Library Amendment Bill. After 16 years in opposition, in the third week of the new Parliament, and what is presented as a test for one of the finest legal draftspeople in Australia, Don Colagiuri? The Library Amendment Bill! I am sure that as Parliamentary Counsel Don would have sweated night after night as he went to work on this substantial reform. It is absolutely outstanding. As Shakespeare wrote, "He laboured mightily and brought forth a gnat." We have even done the Government a favour by agreeing to the bill proceeding through all stages. Members of the O'Farrell Government have told us time and again that they were elected with a mandate for open and honest government, yet after 16 years in opposition and in the third week of a new parliament, this is an example of the sort of pap that one morning dribbled across the collective consciousness of the Cabinet. Seriously! It is true, no-one can deny that the O'Farrell Government has a mandate. But what it does not have—
Mr Geoff Provest: It is better than the Metro.
Mr NATHAN REES: It is unlikely that you would put half a billion dollars into a library, I'll give you the tip. The Coalition has acted with contempt towards this Parliament. It is a reasonable expectation that all members, including crossbench members, should be provided with proposed legislation well in advance of its introduction so that it can be properly scrutinised. Perhaps the Government thinks that this bill, which seems at first glance to be relevantly minor—it comprises only 52 words—can be rushed through this place. However, as members of Parliament we have a responsibility to consider every piece of legislation at length to ensure that it has no unforeseen consequences. Snakes in the grass, perhaps. What is more, I have difficulty understanding the reason that this legislation should be passed so expeditiously. In the past the Opposition has supported bills in relation to which the Government of the day had an explicit time line, but that does not appear to be the case here. I would have thought that Minister Souris, a gentleman and a longstanding member of this place, would have acknowledged this and allowed the House time to consider this bill at length. The Opposition has some serious concerns about the content—
[Interruption]
I could go on. After 16 years in opposition you bring forward this nonsense. Get real.
Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: On the basis that the bill comprises 53 words and there are 19 Labor members in the Chamber, each of them would have to read only three words to enable them to get their head around the bill, so why is the member complaining?
The ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Mr Andrew Fraser): Order! That is not a point of order, but it is a very good point.
Mr NATHAN REES: If that is how the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure conducts the drafting of his legislation he is in for a world of pain.
Mr Michael Daley: They are going to have more speakers on the bill than there are words in it.
Mr NATHAN REES: Perhaps Government members could use pictures. The Minister needs to guarantee to this House that rural and regional libraries will not close as a result of this bill. Earlier this month new education Minister Piccoli made this laudable commitment to the House:
I am very proud to be part of a government that is delivering for rural and remote areas of New South Wales, and delivering for every single student in New South Wales.
26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1167
He said that the Government was committed to closing the gap between rural and regional education. No-one will dispute that that is a worthy goal. But what will be the effect on education outcomes if this bill results in public libraries being closed in rural and regional New South Wales? What effect will there be on education outcomes if public library services are reduced and outsourced, which could result from this bill?
Mr John Williams: Frank Sartor wasn't worried.
Mr NATHAN REES: We do not take all our advice from him—not all of it.
Mr John Williams: Don't use it all up; you won't get an extension of time, Nathan.
Mr NATHAN REES: I was going to suggest that at one point yesterday when Government members were getting stuck into a former upper House colleague. This bill could seriously impact on rural and regional communities. For that reason alone I would have thought The Nationals could have taken more time to consider its content. The Opposition also has concerns about library workers in rural and regional New South Wales. Perhaps we should not be too surprised that it did not occur to those opposite to think of the workers in this debate—that is in their DNA. The only substance in policy and legislation has been the reflex of assaults on workers' rights and safety across this State.
Mr Brad Hazzard: The rest of them wanted you out, but we fought for you.
Mr NATHAN REES: I am quietly grateful for the ongoing support. The Minister said that the bill proposes greater flexibility for rural and regional libraries. Whilst this is admirable, some serious consequences are associated with the proposal. The bill states that two or more councils will be able to enter into arrangements for the provision, control and management of libraries and library services in any one of those council areas. The Opposition is interested in the detail of those arrangements. Presumably they will take whatever form the relevant councils deem appropriate. Will it include outsourcing and privatisation of library services? The Minister needs to address these concerns as I am sure they are not limited to our side of this place. The bill contains no provisions to protect the employment of library workers. I reiterate that the libraries most likely to be affected will be in rural and regional electorates. This is not just about the rights of workers in libraries; it is about the potential wealth of knowledge and experience that can be lost if the Government does not act to protect those workers.
[Interruption]
This is my former union. Protecting workers in local libraries in this case, as in so many others, is not just about what is good for the workers but what is good for those who provide the services. I foreshadow that the Opposition will review this bill in detail and will have further comment when it is before the Legislative Council—that should take about three minutes.
Mr ANDREW CORNWELL (Charlestown) [10.32 a.m.]: The Government looks forward to working closely with local councils to improve public libraries across the State. The Government recognises that libraries can build on their recent successes with the assistance of the State Library. While local councils have the main responsibility for public libraries, the Library Act creates an important link between the State Library and local governments. The Library Act has been a remarkable success in many ways. The Act has effectively encouraged councils to establish free public libraries through the provision of a subsidy. Prior to 1939 only the City of Sydney and Broken Hill councils operated free public libraries. Over 70 years later, all New South Wales councils have voluntarily adopted the Act and, all but one, operate a public library.
The Library Act guarantees free public libraries for the people of New South Wales. The Act establishes the Library Council of New South Wales, which governs the State Library and is the Minister's chief advisory body on public library matters. Public library services also are one of the best examples we have of State and local government cooperation. The State Library's leadership, expertise and services can be felt in local communities through their local council libraries. Because of this relationship, the people of New South Wales have access to the vast collections and services of the State Library in 374 public library locations across the State. Currently, under agreement, one council operates regional libraries on behalf of participating neighbouring councils. These arrangements show the cooperative spirit that exists across the public library network. Participating councils clearly see the benefits of combining their efforts and pooling resources.
The State Library assists local councils with the development of template agreements for regional libraries and provides advice on any proposed variations to the agreements. Extensive consultation by the 1168 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
Library Council of New South Wales has revealed that councils would like more flexibility in the type of regional arrangements under section 12 of the Act. The Government has responded with this bill to give councils a new option to operate regional libraries jointly. Under the new option, member councils would not need to delegate library management to one council but could collectively be responsible for it. The growth in use of New South Wales public libraries has been phenomenal over the past six years with visits increasing by 15 per cent to over 37 million per annum.
Newcastle City Council should be commended for the work it has carried out with Wallsend library— a brilliant facility to which people from all around the region travel to use. I take my children there for book readings. I note also that the previous Government's cost shifting has placed enormous pressure on local government. Recently the media in our local area reported on the potential closure of Cardiff library. Councils are expected to provide a champagne service on a beer budget. I note the presence in the Chamber of some young parents. The member for Cessnock would be well aware, as would most young parents, of the value of reading to children. It enables children to learn the structure of language and grammar. Children learn to love books and reading provides a great bonding opportunity. I know that the member for Cessnock would read to his children, the member for Mount Druitt would read to his grandchildren, and the member for Liverpool can read out aloud to the member for Keira.
Local councils greatly value the range of programs provided by the State Library in support of their public libraries. I am advised that these include professional development seminars, with over 1,300 public library staff—half the statewide workforce. The member for Toongabbie has left the Chamber, but being a man of words I believe he would have read to his children that fantastic novel "In Search of the Black Panther" and "Harry Potter and the Vanishing Metro". Further programs, including the Multicultural Purchasing Cooperative, which coordinates central purchasing of materials in languages other than English on behalf of public libraries; comprehensive plain language legal information, including collections in every New South Wales library and the find legal answers website; and plain language drug information, developed in partnership with the Department of Health, are available in collections in all libraries across the State, supported by a website and State Library research projects in direct consultation with public libraries.
The State Library has also developed other resources and practical tools for councils such as the cost-benefit analysis of collection management and a methodology for calculating the value of libraries to communities. Many of these tools and guidelines have been adopted nationally and internationally, showing the leadership of New South Wales institutions. Most notably, the New South Wales Public Library Standards, developed by the State Library in 2008-09 in consultation with local government, have been adopted nationally. These are just some of the ways the Government works closely with local councils, through the Library Council and the State Library, to support public libraries across New South Wales.
The member for Toongabbie referred to workers missing out. Cost shifting by his Government resulted in the potential closure of Cardiff library in the Newcastle region. That library is used extensively by people less fortunate than us because they cannot afford to buy a newspaper or magazine. With prudent financial management we will remove some of that cost impost on local government. Under an O'Farrell Government this cost shifting should end. In closing, I reiterate that the bill will provide the option for councils to manage jointly regional library services. The Government supports increased flexibility for councils to manage their public libraries cooperatively with other councils, if they so desire, in much the same way as they manage other council services. I commend the bill to the House.
Mrs BARBARA PERRY (Auburn) [10.39 a.m.]: It could be said that, at face value, the Library Amendment Bill 2011 has been introduced to remedy a situation in one council area. For many years the current legislation, the Library Act 1939, has had a positive impact on the operation of local libraries, particularly regional libraries. I am concerned that the Minister for the Arts is not present in the Chamber today to listen to debate on this bill. He obviously does not understand the serious consequences that could result from this bill. The Minister, in his agreement in principle speech, said that the arrangements in the current legislation worked well. He said:
There are 19 libraries in New South Wales controlled or managed between 70 local authorities under agreements made pursuant to section 12 of the Library Act 1939. Located throughout the State, they are what are colloquially known as regional libraries.
The Minister then listed the 19 regional libraries, which include city and metropolitan libraries such as Ryde and Hunters Hill in the Ryde area and, if my memory serves me correctly, in the northern Sydney area libraries that have agreed to share resources. Various libraries have greater expertise and more resources in certain areas and share their resources with each other. For many years local government has supported collaboration and the 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1169
sharing of resources. That has worked well not only in the library system but also in other areas that benefit from resource sharing, such as planning. However, the Library Amendment Bill does not relate to a mutual and cooperative arrangement between libraries. I want to raise issues that I am concerned about. In November last year the Hon. Catherine Cusack introduced a private member's bill, the Library Amendment (Arrangements for Mutual Provision of Library Services) Bill. In her second reading speech she raised a particular issue relating to the Richmond-Tweed Regional Library. She said:
In June this year the Richmond-Tweed Regional Library Committee, comprising representatives of all four participating councils—Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Tweed—was informed by the General Manager of Lismore City Council, Mr Paul O'Sullivan, that he had obtained a series of legal opinions that invalidated its authority, with the result that Lismore, as the host council for the administration of the library, would take over full control of the library's staff, budget, property management and allocation of resources. These actions caught many by surprise and caused considerable alarm among library users. The belief that the library system is the victim of a hostile takeover has caused an outcry in the local community.
It is understandable that the community would be concerned about the actions of Lismore City Council, given the long history of the arrangement. However, I make the point that the councils were party to an arrangement and that at any time one party may seek to discontinue an arrangement. During my time as local government Minister there were numerous examples where one party sought to discontinue an arrangement. It cannot be argued that the current Library Act is defective when that legislation has allowed for these types of arrangements and discontinuance if the situation calls for such action. That is the first issue of concern I raise.
I now refer to the second issue of concern. It has been said that the Library Amendment Bill is about mutual cooperation and mutual arrangements. The bill does not specify mutual cooperation between libraries. That is an omission, particularly if the bill was introduced to address issues such as the arrangement relating to the Richmond-Tweed Regional Library. That should be a matter of concern to all library users, local communities and members, particularly the members opposite. Effectively, the bill is silent on the contracting out of library services. I do not say that that is the intention of the Minister. But the title of the original bill that was introduced in the other House by the Hon. Catherine Cusack was Library Amendment (Arrangements for Mutual Provision of Library Services) Bill. That bill referred to mutual arrangements, libraries and local councils. This amendment bill does not enhance mutuality. As I said, I do not say that is the intention of the Minister. But I am concerned that this bill will provide for the contracting out of services, which will ultimately have the impact of a reduction in services and staff. The intent has not been made clear in the bill.
More time must be taken to examine this bill. The members opposite must ensure proper consultation. It seems that consultation has taken place only with the Library Council. It is unclear whether the Minister has consulted with all relevant stakeholders. This bill must be looked at more closely to see whether it will have adverse impacts on services and staffing. We ask for more time to review the bill, possibly before it is sent to the Legislative Council, as requested by the shadow Minister for the Arts, the member for Toongabbie. Government members may say that the bill states that an agreement cannot be entered into without the approval of both the Minister for the Arts and the Minister for Local Government. However, that does not provide proper protection. The bill must be specific in its intent so that, by omission, adverse situations that have not been envisaged do not occur.
Mr TIMOTHY OWEN (Newcastle) [10.46 a.m.]: I am pleased to support the Library Amendment Bill 2011 and I strongly support the comments made this morning by the member for Tweed and the member for Charlestown. Local councils, including Labor councils, are the primary providers of library services throughout New South Wales. Already various councils are cooperating to great effect in the provision of library services. This bill will further encourage such cooperation between councils. That can only be a good thing. Public libraries are the cornerstone of cultural life in communities across the State—as are art galleries, a particular pleasure of mine. In the past the public library often was perceived as a collection of books and a place where silence had to be observed—like the last Labor Treasury.
The latest book of the Leader of the Opposition—"The Search for the Black Hole"—deserves the same observation. Fortunately, under this Government those ideas are consigned to history. Public libraries have expanded beyond the traditional roles of information provision and recreational reading. They now provide a much more vital role in areas such as lifelong learning and children's programming. They ensure that all members of our communities have free access to services and resources that allow them to engage with the online world and to enhance their quality of life. That is an outstanding achievement.
Public library spaces are increasingly being used for events, as meeting places for community groups and as technology access points. Effectively, they have become community living rooms and they are vibrant places where people gather, share and learn. Public libraries are busier than ever before and there is no 1170 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
indication that these trends will do anything other than increase. This bill supports that process. The library services across the State make up our public library network. The network is ably supported by the State Library of New South Wales, one of our world-class cultural institutions. The State Library supports the public library network and communities across the State in a wide range of ways.
For example, the State Library produces guidelines that assist local councils to plan a new building or help council library managers to benchmark library services. Such assistance was not available in the past. The State Library also provides an extensive program of seminars for public library staff, allowing them to keep up to date with developments in the library and information industry. Through the informative NSWnet.net internet service, the State Library negotiates and subsidises affordable internet connectivity and access to online databases on behalf of public libraries.
Another outstanding example of an important public library service is the State Library's Glasshouse Learning Space, which was launched this month by the Minister for the Arts, the Hon. George Souris. The Glasshouse is designed to encourage new audiences for the State Library and to better meet their needs. The space is equipped with the latest learning technologies so that the State Library can engage with school students and teachers, children and families and lifelong learners. Importantly, the Glasshouse gives the State Library greater ability to engage with audiences across this State, so a school group from Bermagui or Byron Bay, Taree or Dubbo can experience, virtually, its world-class collections. And lifelong learners who are able to pay a visit to the State Library can experience an interactive workshop or lecture in a modern, contemporary and comfortable space.
The Glasshouse provides video conferencing facilities that will enable programs to be delivered in regional libraries—again an outstanding concept. Already school groups that have used the space include those from Coffs Harbour, Mudgee and Lake Macquarie. Courses for lifelong learning groups have included social networking tools, preservation of family history items and how to use the State Library website. Our State Library is at the forefront of providing library services to communities through this initiative and through its ongoing support of the public library network. I commend the Minister for the Arts. In conclusion, I reiterate my support for the bill. It will encourage councils to work more closely, and that will have significant outcomes for communities across the State in our much-valued public library spaces. I commend the bill to the House.
Mr MARK SPEAKMAN (Cronulla) [10.51 a.m.]: The Library Amendment Bill 2011 is needed because the Library Act 1939 unduly limits management arrangements for regional libraries. At the moment, section 12 of the Library Act allows one council to manage a regional library or an aspect of its library service on behalf of all councils participating in the arrangement. However, there is a great need for rural and regional libraries to have more flexibility. The current arrangements generally work well, but some regional libraries would prefer participating councils to be jointly responsible for library services. The Act does not recognise such a joint responsibility arrangement, and that is why this amending bill is necessary. At the moment, were there to be such a joint responsibility arrangement, the council having such an arrangement could not obtain a State subsidy.
The object of the bill is to provide greater flexibility in the management arrangements of regional libraries, allowing local councils to enter into alternative arrangements for the provision, control and management of a library, a library service or information service in the area of any council that is party to the arrangement. The arrangement cannot be entered into without the approval of the Minister for the Arts, who in turn must have the agreement of the Minister for Local Government. That approval process will ensure that any alternative arrangements meet the objects of the Library Act and are consistent with State policies. Local councils will receive guidance on possible alternative arrangements, and a template agreement for joint management arrangements will be available from the State Library. The Minister for the Arts will be advised by the Library Council on applications for approval of alternative arrangements.
None of those arrangements are, in principle, particularly new, given what councils do at the moment in other areas. Under section 355 of the Local Government Act councils can already jointly exercise their functions in areas such as companion animals, animal pounds, community services, environmental management, health and economic development. Why have the bizarre situation where councils can jointly exercise their functions in the areas I have mentioned but not in relation to libraries? That is the idiosyncrasy in the Library Act that the Liberal-Nationals Government will fix. This bill will allow libraries and councils, particularly in rural and regional areas, greater flexibility and therefore the ability to deliver better quality library services at lower cost to ratepayers. That flexibility, with the economies and efficiencies it allows, will give councils greater capacity in the collection, purchasing and sharing of books and other resources in their libraries. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1171
We on this side of the House are committed to a strong public library system in New South Wales. We went into the election announcing that we would be providing additional funding for regional libraries in this State as part of our Revitalising Regional Libraries policy. We will increase funding for regional libraries through our Regional Library Top-up Fund, and we will provide extra funds to fast-track the rollout of wireless hotspots into rural and regional library locations. In these days of the information revolution, libraries are not just places in which to find books. These days libraries are without walls; they are accessible through information technology via the internet. It is very important for people in rural and regional but especially remote areas of New South Wales that they have councils that coordinate delivery of services in the best and most flexible ways, without becoming stuck in the red tape of a Library Act that restricts it to operating only in a certain way. The bill will assist councils to deliver the best quality services at the lowest possible cost to the ratepayers who use our public libraries.
After 16 years of Labor, the people of this State have the disgraceful situation that New South Wales has been provided with the least amount of funding for libraries of all the States of Australia. In New South Wales 90 per cent of the costs of libraries have been shifted to the State's councils. That is notwithstanding that library visits have increased by 15 per cent over the past six years, internet use in libraries has increased by 30 per cent over the past five years, and New South Wales has three million public library members—close to half the population. This demonstrates a massive use of libraries, and it is increasing year by year. In the 16 years of Labor Government New South Wales had the least amount of funding for libraries in the whole of Australia. That is an appalling record.
This Government is committed to increasing funding for regional libraries through our Regional Library Top-up Fund and by providing additional funds to fast-track the rollout of wireless hotspots into rural and regional library locations. The Government is delivering on that commitment because it recognises the important role that public libraries play in the culture and in the lifeblood of New South Wales. They are important for schoolchildren who borrow and read books for their schoolwork. They are important for community groups that may not have either the financial resources or their own computer equipment to enable them to access various reading and research materials. They are important for the elderly, particularly those on fixed incomes, pensioners and self-funded retirees, who may not be able to buy book after book from the local bookshop and therefore depend on their public library for reading and research material.
Mr Anthony Roberts: They are great equalisers.
Mr MARK SPEAKMAN: As the Minister says, libraries are great equalisers. We on this side of the House are committed to equality of opportunity. We want to make sure that no matter whether one lives in Lane Cove or Tibooburra, Broken Hill or Byron Bay, one will have access to world-class libraries. That involves unshackling local councils so they are not straitjacketed by out-of-date legislation that does not allow them to arrange their affairs in relation to libraries in a way that will cost ratepayers the least and give them the most.
I commend the bill to the House. It is an example of this Government's commitment to eliminating unnecessary red tape. It may appear to be a modest amendment and it may seem concise and economical in words, but we on this side of the House believe it will have a significant impact on unshackling those who provide library resources in New South Wales. It is symbolic of our commitment to get rid of red tape—red tape that shackles business, the public sector or anything that stands in the way of an efficient, economical, high-quality and fair delivery of services in New South Wales, be it some obscure section of the Library Act or something else. We are committed to dealing with all these problems and making sure that at every level of civic, private and public activity—whether it is attracting investment to New South Wales or fixing regional libraries in more remote areas of the State—we make New South Wales number one again.
Mr STUART AYRES (Penrith) [11.01 a.m.]: It gives me great pleasure to speak to the Library Amendment Bill 2011. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the member for Lane Cove, who is at the table, who held the shadow Arts portfolio during the term of the last Government. He visited Penrith on several occasions to talk about library services and arts facilities in the area, including the Joan Sutherland Centre and the Civic Centre, which also hosts the Penrith City Council Library. I thank him for his efforts in that portfolio and wish him all the best in his current portfolio of Fair Trading. As it is Library Week, it is appropriate that we are talking about library services across regional New South Wales and about giving greater flexibility to councils to work cooperatively to provide better library services throughout the regions. Some fantastic events have been held in the library facilities that operate across the Penrith City Council area, which includes the electorates of Londonderry and Mulgoa. There have been a number of workshops covering everything from 1172 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
family reading to playschool and story-time sessions. For example, on Fridays at Penrith library people can take part in a sustainability workshop on worm farming. These events show the diversity of library services and the impact they have on local communities.
As we heard from the member for Cronulla and from the Minister for the Arts in his agreement in principle speech, around 3.3 million people—or about 46 per cent of the State's population—are members of libraries across New South Wales, and there are more than 30 million visits to libraries each year. It is important to mention that this week. I was a little disappointed to hear the member for Toongabbie say that there are more pressing issues to consider. Members from western Sydney know that councils are under significant pressure because the former Government withdrew their funds, which is putting extra pressure on ratepayers. There is pressure on the provision of council library services, and that is especially true in Penrith. In the past couple of years the South Penrith branch of Penrith library has closed due to a shopping centre redevelopment and Penrith council, which is under significant financial strain, has been unable to reopen it.
Penrith City Council runs library services out of Emu Plains and St Marys in the electorate of Mulgoa. I acknowledge that the member for Mulgoa is doing a fantastic job and I know that she will be aware of the needs of Penrith City Council and will be listening to its concerns. As a councillor she knows all too well the strain that the library at St Marys is under and that Penrith council wants to be able to provide better quality services across the area. This bill is innovative in that it will give councils the ability to work together to provide better quality library services. There is little doubt that there is more mobility across many areas, with people able to access the internet and other information services. As a result, the role of libraries in our communities is changing.
We need to adapt to the changing ways in which our communities engage with each other, but we also need to make sure that libraries still play a role in people's engagement with one another. My constituents, particularly some older constituents, often talk about the library as being one of the few places where they can congregate and talk to each other. Library services do not have to operate just from a civic centre or a particular location in a shopping centre. I am interested in the provision of more mobile or satellite library services. That might be a solution to some of the problems that Penrith City Council is facing in its provision of library services across the area.
Smaller satellite services based in a fixed location often have high service fees. The cost to council to conduct a service out of a library such as Emu Plains might be in the vicinity of $15 a loan, whereas a loan fee for a primary service could be as low as $2. One can see how councils are struggling to provide quality services to satellite locations in their areas, not just in regional New South Wales but in growth areas across the western belt of Sydney. If this bill gives councils the opportunity to think more innovatively about how they can pull resources together to provide some satellite or mobile library services, it will make people's lives a little easier. The member for Toongabbie has clearly forgotten that these types of services make our communities; they are what bring us together, so they are important. The member for Toongabbie should pay a little more attention to some of the other things this Government is doing. I urge him to hang around for the introduction of the Infrastructure NSW Bill 2011, which I am sure will be of interest to him.
When considering the costs that councils face in providing services, we should consider also the cost of electricity that is driving up the running costs of individual services. Penrith City Council might be able to engage with an adjoining council such as Blacktown council or even Blue Mountains council to provide a mobile library service for people who are restricted in their ability to get to a library centre. People might find it much easier to visit their local community centre or their local Country Women's Association hall or any number of different locations to access a mobile library service. Rather than a single council incurring the cost of managing that service, the bill allows councils to work collaboratively to provide better library services.
The Minister for the Arts should be applauded for taking such an innovative step and for working with the Minister for Local Government to address an issue that is critical for every council across the State. Members of the South Penrith Residents Action Group in my electorate have told me that although the area has lost its library branch they will not campaign for the return of a fixed service—although I am prepared to acknowledge that they would not knock it back. They also recognise that we have moved to the point at which mobile and satellite services are being rolled out at other sites around the city. Pyrmont has an innovative satellite library service that is of particular interest to Penrith City Council. This bill will assist councils to work together and to provide better library services.
In his agreement in principle speech the Minister pointed out that this legislation will provide greater flexibility for local authorities in making arrangements for the joint provision of services. Flexibility is critical; 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1173
we cannot continue to lock ourselves in to fixed locations for library services. Although Penrith Panthers on the Prowl is not a mobile library, it does provide educational services across metropolitan Sydney. The bus visits schools and community groups and allows children across Sydney to participate in an education program. There is no reason that councils cannot consider that sort of option in the delivery of library-based services. Members would have seen library buses in their electorates that provide not only books but also wireless access to the internet.
The electorate of Penrith is compact, but local government boundaries cross a number of neighbouring electorates. My colleague the member for Londonderry might want a library service in Werrington or in Richmond and my colleague the member for Mulgoa might want a library service in the developing area of Glenmore Park or in the established villages of Mulgoa or Wallacia. The provision of mobile services will allow councils to work together to provide better library services. This legislation will enable councils to work together, to share costs and to cooperate with management arrangements. It encourages innovative thinking about the management of libraries and the delivery of internet access at wireless hotspots. It will definitely provide the opportunity for mobile services to access fixed satellite locations or for other services to be provided at community halls, such as Country Women's Association or Scout halls, where members of our communities congregate. All those facilities could be utilised for the provision of library services.
If we provide opportunity and information for local residents they may be encouraged to join local reading clubs and to be involved in other related activities. That will all be possible with the improved provision of mobile library services. This legislation will enable councils to work together where the demand for those services crosses their boundaries, and as a result they will be able to provide better services. This is an important bill and it demonstrates that this Government is not just focused on the big picture but can get to the street level, where State governments should be able to operate, and improve library services. Members on this side of the House recognise that a stronger New South Wales can only be built from the ground up by strengthening local communities. Libraries and councils play a critical role in that process by providing meeting places. This bill can only improve the quality of services delivered by councils, and I commend it to the House.
Mr JOHN WILLIAMS (Murray-Darling) [11.14 a.m.]: It gives me great pleasure to speak on the Library Amendment Bill 2011. The member for Toongabbie, the shadow Minister for the Arts, and the member for Auburn contradicted each other in their contributions to the debate. The member for Auburn has a great deal of experience in local government not only as a councillor but also as the former Minister for Local Government. As such, she would be well aware of the importance of the amendments that this legislation makes to the operation of regional libraries in New South Wales. The member for Auburn was jumping at shadows.
Debate adjourned on motion by Mr John Williams, by leave, and set down as an order of the day for a later hour.
CONDUCT OF MAGISTRATE JENNIFER BETTS
Reports
Mr GREG SMITH (Epping—Attorney General, and Minister for Justice) [11.16 a.m.], by leave: I table the following reports:
(1) Report of an Inquiry by a Conduct Division of the Judicial Commission of NSW in relation to Magistrate Jennifer Betts, dated 21 April 2011.
(2) Magistrate's Response, dated 12 May 2011, to the Report by a Conduct Division of the Judicial Commission of NSW.
Ordered to be printed.
CONDUCT OF MAGISTRATE JENNIFER BETTS
Ministerial Statement
Mr GREG SMITH (Epping—Attorney General, and Minister for Justice) [11.17 a.m.]: It is with regret that I table the report of the Conduct Division of the Judicial Commission of New South Wales relating to the conduct of Magistrate Jennifer Betts and also the document prepared by her at my invitation, being her response to the conduct division's report. The report of the Conduct Division dated 21 April 2011 found a number of complaints concerning the behaviour and capacity of Ms Betts to be substantiated and could justify 1174 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
parliamentary consideration of the removal of the judicial officer. By way of background and for the information of members, I will briefly outline the procedures for investigating complaints against judicial officers as provided for under the Judicial Officers Act 1986. Part 6 of that Act sets out the procedures to be followed when a complaint is made in relation to a judicial officer. Pursuant to section 15 of part 6 of the Act, any persons may make a complaint to the Judicial Commission about a matter that concerns or may concern the ability or behaviour of a judicial officer.
Section 13 of that Act provides that there shall be a conduct division of the commission and the Act provides for its functions and procedure. The functions of the Conduct Division are, in essence, to examine and deal with complaints referred to it by the commission. Three people constitute the Conduct Division. Two are to be judicial officers, one of whom may be retired, and one is to be a community representative, being a person of high standing in the community nominated by the New South Wales Parliament. Pursuant to section 23 of the Act, the Conduct Division must conduct an examination of a complaint referred to it and may hold hearings in connection with the complaint. Pursuant to section 34 of the Act, if the Conduct Division is of the opinion that a judicial officer about whom a complaint has been made may be physically or mentally unfit to exercise efficiently the functions of a judicial office, it may request the officer to undergo a medical or psychological examination.
In accordance with section 28 of the Act, if the Conduct Division decides that a complaint is wholly or partly substantiated, it may form an opinion that the matter may justify parliamentary consideration of the removal of the judicial officer from office. Section 29 of the Act provides that, if the Conduct Division forms such an opinion, it must present a report to the Governor setting out its findings of fact and opinion as to whether the matter could justify parliamentary consideration of the removal of the judicial officer from office. Section 41 of the Act and section 53 of the New South Wales Constitution Act 1902 provide that a judicial officer may be removed from office only on the grounds of misbehaviour or incapacity.
Section 53 of the Constitution Act cannot be invoked unless and until the Conduct Division of the commission has made a finding, under section 28 of the Judicial Officer Act, that the matter could justify parliamentary consideration of the removal of the judicial officer from office. Section 53 of the Constitution Act also provides that a holder of judicial office can be removed from office by the Governor on an address from both Houses of Parliament in the same session seeking removal on the grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity. It is against this background that the report of the Conduct Division relating to Ms Betts has been tabled today. I will now provide for the assistance of members the factual context of the Conduct Division's report.
The Conduct Division considered four complaints against Magistrate Betts involving the conduct of the magistrate in the hearing of matters before her. The complaints were made between 2003 and 2009. Three of the complaints related to conduct that calls into question the impartiality of the magistrate and her capacity to discharge the functions of a member of the judiciary to afford a fair, dispassionate and impartial hearing to litigants. Medical evidence indicates that the magistrate had, as a result of treatment, gained insight into her unsatisfactory behaviour and that there was a low likelihood of such behaviour recurring. However, the Conduct Division report indicates that the magistrate's oral evidence in response to the complaints demonstrated a failure to understand quite basic concepts of judicial behaviour.
The Conduct Division found all four complaints to be substantiated and could justify parliamentary consideration of the removal of the magistrate from office on the ground of misbehaviour or incapacity. Procedural fairness requires that Ms Betts be given the opportunity to respond to the report of the Conduct Division. I intend to facilitate the House's consideration of the Conduct Division's report concerning Magistrate Betts by shortly giving notice of a motion to invite Ms Betts to appear at the bar of the House to show cause why Parliament should not request the Governor to remove her from office. I ask members of the House to consider the report of the Conduct Division in detail.
Mr PAUL LYNCH (Liverpool) [11.24 a.m.]: I join with the Attorney in noting with regret the tabling of the Conduct Division's report and the magistrate's response. It must be a matter of regret to any of us who treasure the independence of the judiciary and have been practitioners to have a report like this tabled. I thank the Attorney General and his office for the courtesy he has displayed in the past 24 hours in discussing this matter with me. That is of course entirely appropriate because it seems to me that this is not, and cannot be, a partisan matter. That springs partly from the fact that it deals with an individual and is therefore a somewhat different matter from most that come before this Chamber. Certainly it is a matter of the utmost seriousness. The consequences for the magistrate can be quite significant in terms of reputation, professional standing and livelihood. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1175
It is also particularly significant because of the importance of the principle of judicial independence, which goes a lot further than just rhetoric; it is a critical part of how our society operates. That emphasises how significant the proceedings are that will potentially come before the House. On that basis, I simply urge all members to look carefully at the material that has been lodged. These things require careful consideration. If members are called upon to make a decision they must do so after having looked at the material very carefully and considered the matter very seriously.
INAUGURAL SPEECHES
The ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Mr Andrew Fraser): Pursuant to resolution business is interrupted for the presentation of inaugural speeches. I call the member for Port Macquarie and congratulate her on her election to this place.
Mrs LESLIE WILLIAMS (Port Macquarie) [11.25 a.m.] (Inaugural Speech): Firstly, I take this opportunity, Madam Speaker, to congratulate you on your appointment as Speaker of the House. It is an historical appointment, you being the first woman ever to be appointed to this position. Already you have proved that you have all the credentials needed to keep this House in order. Congratulations. I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land I represent, the Birpai people. I also commend the work of Birpai Elder Uncle Bill O'Brien for his commitment to building stronger relationships, enhancing knowledge and promoting reconciliation among the people of the electorate through his Welcome to Country. I also acknowledge my predecessor, Peter Besseling, and wish both him and his family all the best for the future.
It is interesting when you look back on your past and particularly reflect on your childhood memories and the role they have played in shaping your life; you do not consider them unique. But when you share your life story and watch as others respond with looks of amazement, you tend to reconsider this view—and I know Nathan will concur. I was born on Kangaroo Island in South Australia—I guess I have already considerably narrowed my similarities with most of you.
My father, John, was the local butcher and my grandfather before him, as was my uncle and my cousin. Not surprisingly, knitting sausages, preparing and packing minced beef and dressing a shop window are proudly skills that will always stay with me. Like many country butchers, my dad killed the sheep and beef for the shop at our slaughterhouse not far out of town on my grandparents' farm. I can therefore add to my repertoire of skills details I will not share with the House as it nears the lunch break only to say that I know the importance of having a very sharp knife and salting and folding the hides just so, ready for the tanner. My dad worked long hours and changed careers many times during his life—no wonder I have a problem sticking to one—but I know now that was to meet not his own aspirations but the changing needs of his growing family.
As for my mother, there are no words to describe the pivotal role she has played in so many people's lives. Her nurturing role extended much further than our household—for some 25 years she devoted many hours of service to our isolated community as a volunteer ambulance officer. I grew up with two sisters and one brother, but that is the simple description of our family unit. The door of our home was always open—to friends, family and neighbours. Some stayed for a cuppa, to catch up on news, to get some advice or to garner support; others stayed for years.
They came to live with us so they could have a better start in life, get a better education, or just because they were in need of a place that provided love, care or stability. And while providing so much love to so many people, my parents have also provided 24-hour care for my brother, Phillip, who was born with cerebral palsy. Forty years ago there were no respite houses or group homes, little financial support from the Government, and certainly no support networks for carers—we all grew up as carers and today I am a better person for it. When my first child, Ben, was born in Alice Springs my only wish was that I could be half the parents they were.
I am not the first female to represent the Port Macquarie electorate in this House, but I am probably the only one to have twice come second and then went out a third time before finally nailing that all-important first place. I wear this as a badge of honour. Standing three times meant I had the opportunity to show the community my personal qualities—persistence goes without saying, but combined with my strong connectivity with my local community, being genuine, loyal and with a steely determination, the voters of the Port Macquarie electorate had a clear understanding of the different choices presented to them.
Of course, one of the first questions asked of you when you lose an election is: Will you stand again? For me that was an easy decision. In fact, it was partly the community who made that choice for me—the nurses I worked with, the local butcher, the shoppers at the supermarket, the parents at the bus stop, the volunteers 1176 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
I worked beside, and, of course, the local Nationals membership. They had no doubts I had the qualities that the people of the Port Macquarie electorate were looking for in their local member. With a background in teaching, nursing, small business and administration, and a myriad of volunteer roles, they knew I had the life experiences to be an effective representative aligned with their various issues. I once read that you have two ears and one mouth, and that if you use them in that proportion you are on your way to being a successful politician. As we moved ever closer to the March 26 deadline it became obvious that was one of the key qualities people sought of their local member. Of course they wanted a hardworking local member who was able to deliver real outcomes, but at the top of their list they wanted a local member who would listen.
We have heard a number of inaugural speeches over the past few weeks and listened to the claims made by members that their electorate was without argument the number one place in which to live in New South Wales—whether that is for its pristine beauty, its colourful culture, or its vibrant communities. It is with some reservation that I have to inform the House that whilst I am sure it will not be reflective of their future speeches, these members have quite simply got it wrong. Cleary they need to venture north to the Port Macquarie electorate to find what is colloquially known as "God's Country". Without doubt the Hastings and the northern part of the Manning Valley and surroundings are the most picturesque locations—not just in New South Wales but across this nation.
Our area enjoys the best climate in Australia, with the average temperature ranging from 7 degrees to a balmy 27 degrees. It has the best surfing spots—do not worry Andrew; I have been sworn to secrecy about exact locations—and, without a doubt, the best people. The majority of my electorate is centred on Port Macquarie. It was first settled in 1821 and is one of the oldest penal settlements in Australia. It is a haven for the historian, with heritage buildings and remnants of our past sprinkled amongst the cosmopolitan and vibrant central business district, with its outdoor eateries overlooking the beautiful Hastings River and the stunning architecture of the internationally acclaimed Glasshouse Arts and Conference Centre. Travelling a little further south you find the beautiful and fast-growing areas of Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie. Just beyond that is Camden Haven, with the magnificent backdrop of North Brother Mountain with the Camden Haven River at its feet.
The most southern part of the electorate is bordered by the mighty Manning River, with the small but wonderful communities of Harrington and Crowdy Head. And of course there are the many villages sprinkled in between including Hannam Vale, Lansdowne, Coopernook, Moorland and Johns River, to name just a few. And then about 600 kilometres east of Port Macquarie is the World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island, where we have a community whose issues are so unique and so broad that the Premier has responded appropriately and on being elected transferred responsibility for it to his own office. Our white sandy beaches and rocky headlands are shouldered by a hinterland of picturesque hills accommodating delectable local produce in eateries and galleries along winding country roads.
The people of the Port Macquarie electorate continue to surprise me with their enthusiasm for their local fare, and the dedication and inspiration they capitalise on to showcase it to the world. The list of award-winning local cuisine is endless—Ricardo's famous relish, The Other Chef's onion jam and Cassegrain's verdelho all hold regular spots on my pantry shelf. Last Sunday I, along with some 14,000 others, attended the Slice of Haven—a food and wine festival in the stunning Camden Haven that has now well and truly secured its position on our local events calendar. This is just one example of the vigour and foresight of our local communities that have banded together against the odds of the competitive coast and the global financial crisis to continually punch above their weight. Similarly, the Camden Haven Music Festival, Oysters in the Vines and the very popular local markets at Johns River, Laurieton and Port Macquarie provide a showcase of what our community has to offer.
Whilst the picture I paint is one that is undoubtedly luring you ever closer to the electorate that tops the list in New South Wales, it is not without its challenges. Like many communities, particularly those across regional New South Wales, our idyllic lifestyle has been eroded and threatened—and it has nothing to do with climate change! It is the result of 16 years of a Labor Government that has left those of us living in rural and coastal regions now paying the price for its neglect and arrogance. But now is not the time to look back. Now is the time to garner our strengths and to work together to ensure everybody gets a fair go no matter what their postcode.
As a new local member I will play my part by giving the following assurances to my electorate, on which I should be judged at the end of my first term as a member of the O'Farrell-Stoner Government. I will deliver on each of the commitments I made prior to the election. The expansion of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital will be the largest infrastructure project being undertaken in the electorate, and undoubtedly one of the 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1177
most crucial. Terms such as "access block" are not lost on me, and I do understand the dilemma facing mid North Coast families when they are told they will have to travel to Sydney for a diagnostic cardiac catheter. The challenge for the Liberal-Nationals Government is to ensure this critical project delivers maximum benefit for patients, on time and within budget. Similarly, the replacement of the Stingray Creek Bridge has been a long-term agenda item, and I will work closely with our Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to ensure it soon becomes a reality. Important major road projects are currently underway, including the Herons Creek to Stills Road upgrade on the Pacific Highway and the Oxley Highway upgrade to Wrights Road. I will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure these projects are completed in a timely manner.
As I said during the election campaign, there is a lot of work to do. Whether it is getting the long-awaited primary school at Lake Cathie, guaranteeing Westport Park is dedicated as public open space, upgrading the playground at Crowdy Head, dredging at Harrington, upgrading Pilot Beach Reserve at Dunbogan, improving Ocean Drive at Port Macquarie, or supporting $50,000 for a local youth space. These are just some of the projects that have my name written right across them and that is the guarantee that they will get done. I will not only keep the electorate informed about these and many more issues of importance; I will always be listening to our community. Whether it is through meetings and phone calls, chatting in the street or at the local supermarket, or on what will be our regular electorate tours, this is my commitment to each and every member of the Port Macquarie electorate. [Extension of time agreed to.]
There are many organisations and volunteers in our community who make tangible efforts to assist those who need resources and advice to improve their lives—often when their lives are in crisis. I refer to the Anglican and Catholic-run soup kitchens, local church groups that connect with the homeless and needy, Lifeline, the Hastings Men's Shed and Suicide Prevention Network, the palliative care volunteers, the local Salvation Army—for which I will again proudly be a volunteer collector on Sunday—the Pink Ladies and the Marine Rescue volunteers, to name just a few. These community groups bear such a burden in trying to help others and they do it with limited resources. I will make it my responsibility to assist them in their humanitarian efforts so they can reach out further to assist others.
I remind you again of my mum and dad who instilled in me a sense of helping others. I will build on that tradition by continuing to focus my energy on improving the life and the opportunities of those who face challenges far greater than ours. Those with disabilities and mental illness and their carers, and the homeless and young people at risk can be assured that their needs are at the top of my list. I am heartened by our future at a local level largely because I continue to see evidence of communities across the electorate collaborating to achieve better outcomes. As a local member I am privileged to be able to work alongside dynamic and passionate groups of people who, like me, are prepared to contribute their energy and time to ensure a better future for our children and for their children. Locals who have banded together through progress associations, chambers of commerce, tourism boards and volunteer organisations to achieve better outcomes for those who reside across the Hastings and the Manning valleys. As Mother Theresa said:
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
My election campaign was the sum total of the work of more than 300 volunteers; people with honour, good people, who accepted the challenge and seized the opportunity to make a difference for others in their community. They may think their contribution was lesser when compared with others but when fused with the other contributions we created—as my opponent referred to—the perfect storm. The sum total of the contribution of each volunteer meant we left no stone unturned, no market unattended and no community unvisited.
Dollars are imperative to a campaign—there is no argument about that—and often those in political parties are criticised for overspending. In reality your bank balance might just as well be zero unless you have someone like Bill Yates to position the corflutes in every corner of the electorate, or Rodger Alden to organise the hundreds of supporters and volunteers for polling booths. Just as importantly, without those enthusiastic individuals to answer the telephones, knock on the doors, attend the markets, update the databases and cook the barbeques you would not have a winning campaign. Each and every one of those hundreds of volunteers deserves a mention here today but that would be impossible. Please know that I am indebted to each and every one of you for your generosity and your time. I thank those on the strategy team and the many who took on leadership roles throughout the campaign.
I make mention, however, of those who led the charge. Campaign director, Theo Hazelgrove, unfortunately cannot be here today. His meticulous planning from the outset meant all bases were covered. My question to the other new members of the House is: How many of you came home to a prepared casserole, the dry cleaning collected, the ironing hanging neatly inside the door, the car washed and the kitchen tidied so there 1178 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
was nothing else to do in those dark hours but to turn on the microwave and check the answering machine? Assistant Directors Paul Rowlandson and Cameron Kirton were instrumental in ensuring that the team remained cohesive and on track. It was not all smooth sailing, but who would expect it to be when a campaign spans not months but years. It was because of your wisdom, adaptability and foresight that we were able to achieve our goal. I am confident that it will be the community who will be thanking you in the months and years ahead as they realise the real benefits of electing a member who is a part of the O'Farrell-Stoner Government.
Some six years on from my first introduction to The Nationals, I have never lost sight of the one person who was the catalyst for my entry into politics; a person who seized the opportunity to bolster the team with yet another grassroots community advocate, synonymous with so many other members of the Stoner team. Despite two election losses she remained determined, resolute and optimistic. When I stepped forward for round three, she stepped forward alongside me without faltering. It was then that I sensed victory was on the horizon. Melinda Pavey, I thank you for your unwavering support, dedication and friendship.
Under the leadership of Ben Franklin, the staff members of our head office are the true unsung heroes. I knew that a win in the Port Macquarie electorate would be the jewel in the crown and for those who had been there from day one to 26 March this had become a personal mission. I am sure a round-three candidate provided some interesting challenges: a "no" to my request would need to be accompanied with either a lengthy and well-researched explanation or "if we do not say yes, she will be back again!"
In round three it was clear that a bona fide Coalition effort was intrinsic to secure the seat of Port Macquarie, and clearly both Barry and Andrew recognised this. There was a constant stream of Shadow Ministers to the electorate from both the Federal and State camps—for many the road to Port Macquarie is well worn. Jillian Skinner, Catherine Cusack, Brad Hazzard, Andrew Constance, Duncan Gay and Pru Goward, to name a few, were instrumental in providing assurance to the electorate that we were listening and we were about action, not words. I was honoured to have Julie Bishop visit the electorate. In the final month before the election Joe Hockey visited twice. His appearance on the day immediately prior to the election confirmed this was an all-out Coalition effort. I thank my fellow Nationals colleagues for their advice, guidance and ongoing support.
There were also those on the periphery who, whilst they were not a part of the campaign proper, played an important role in keeping me both grounded and sane. Those friendships outside of politics provided me with the most honest advice through the hectic and rigorous months leading up to election day. I am still relying on you Anne, Nyomie and Julie—and no lesser on Kim who is taking charge of the mental health ward—to ensure I remain focused and real. To my Rotary fellows, I thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm for my ambitious goal and for your understanding and patience as my hours of service gradually dwindled. My commitment to our shared goals certainly has not, and I will always wear my Rotary pin proudly.
An enormous thankyou to two beautiful people of this world: Ben and Meredie. It is one thing to hold yourself up for public scrutiny as a candidate but to ask your two teenage children to stand beside you as you endeavour to become a household name is another. But I should not have ever doubted for a minute their commitment to my dream. For a 19-year-old young man to give up a week's holiday to scrutineer at nursing homes and to head off to the pub on a Friday night with a bright yellow T-shirt emblazoned with the words, "Vote 1 for my mum" is simply selfless. Meredie took on whatever task was thrown at her through the campaign with such calmness and ease. She remained entirely focused on our one goal with enthusiasm and pragmatism beyond her years.
To my husband, Don—I know this may surprise many here but I just do not have the words. Many times I felt a fraud when people would pass comment about my untiring efforts and my apparent seamless ability to be involved in every aspect of the campaign. This election win happened because of a partnership that was indestructible and beyond criticism. Don's curriculum vitae now reads like a book, and his skill set has expanded considerably to include taking charge of the 300-plus volunteers for polling day, keeping the house that I have paid little attention to for years, attending to our two cavaliers who bark because they think I am a stranger, and ensuring that we actually have a bank balance.
When it got to the point in the final weeks of the campaign that I needed to be in two places at once, I was! Without hesitation Don filled in as my representative. So it is no surprise that I stand so proudly next to him. All the people I have mentioned today and those that time does not permit me to mention have one thing in common: my word. You have my word that I will continue to work hard, fighting for the best possible outcomes for the people in my electorate, who have given me the honour and the privilege to serve each and every one of them as the Member for Port Macquarie. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1179
Ms GABRIELLE UPTON (Vaucluse) [11.54 a.m.] (Inaugural Speech): Madam Speaker, colleagues and friends, I rise to speak today, conscious of the responsibility I bear by being elected as the member for Vaucluse to this great Parliament. I am equal to the task. Like my Liberal and Nationals parliamentary colleagues I am determined to honour the trust placed in me by my local community and in our new Parliament by the New South Wales people. The portrait of William Charles Wentworth is not in the Chamber to stare down at me. It usually hangs on the far wall. Painted around 1850, it is being refurbished—rather like the New South Wales Government. A happy coincidence one might say.
Despite W. C. Wentworth's watchful eye being absent from the Chamber, he looms large in the colonial history of New South Wales and Sydney's Eastern Suburbs in particular. He was chief founder of colonial self-government and a protagonist for the introduction of civil liberties, such as trial by jury and free speech. He formed Australia's first university, the University of Sydney, and with Blaxland and Lawson made the first European crossing of the Blue Mountains. W. C. Wentworth left a formidable legacy and he personifies the enterprise, energy and independent thinking that we value in Vaucluse. As best we know, the seat of Vaucluse took its name from W. C. Wentworth's large ancestral property, Vaucluse House, which once covered the suburbs of Vaucluse, Rose Bay and Watsons Bay. Vaucluse House was named after Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, in South Eastern France, where Petrarch, the fourteenth century Italian poet, sought refuge from the civil disorder in nearby Avignon.
W. C. Wentworth's life was full of controversy and charm. The Australian-born statesman was often at odds with leading colonial families called 'the exclusives'. No doubt he, like Petrarch, sought refuge at Vaucluse. To this day, W. C. Wentworth's body is entombed in a family burial vault in Chapel Road, Vaucluse, above a high rock ledge that was once part of the Vaucluse House property. It is not surprising that W. C. Wentworth had his final resting place there. It is said that he loved to sit on the ledge and look out over Sydney Harbour. More than 130 years on, the splendour that he saw remains just as alluring today. It is why, ladies and gentlemen, Vaucluse is such a special electorate in our State and no-one of course can argue with that—not even my parliamentary colleagues who are rightly jealous of their own electorates.
Our electorate is unique and diverse. It is full of natural beauty, it is rich in character and history—and all in 15 square kilometres—from the international tourist destination of Bondi Beach to the tiny, secluded harbourside beach at Camp Cove that is only reached by foot; from the foreboding South Head cliffs facing the Pacific Ocean to the soft white sand and gentle harbourside swells at Nielsen Park; from the beautiful 1834 Lindesay residence in Darling Point, home to many colourful historical characters, to nearby contemporary homes designed by internationally acclaimed architects. We cherish our role in New South Wales and Australia's history and the diversity and beauty of our natural and built environment. We value the terrain with the exquisite harbour glimpses that W. C. Wentworth so enjoyed—except when we have to climb up heartbreak hill when we run in the City to Surf.
I will stand with our local community in defence of those precious things so that future generations may also enjoy them. That is why I helped found my local residents' group, the Darling Point Society, more than 10 years ago. The challenge will always be to preserve the character of our area whilst allowing progress that improves the quality of our lives and reflects our diversity. It is a challenge we must embrace. The challenge is made easier by our Government's commitment to give planning powers back to the local community. Projects of spurious State significance will no longer be fast tracked away from the communities they most affect. To the south-east of the electorate lies Bondi Beach, a world-class international tourist destination that attracts more than two million people a year. The infrastructure at Bondi Beach must be renewed to reflect its iconic status. Bondi Pavilion at the centre of the beach is in need of maintenance and North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club is struggling to meet growing needs within its clubhouse.
Something less well known about Bondi Beach is that its northern end is home to unique marine life. There are giant pink boulders, with their holes burrowed out by black sea urchins. Around those boulders are baby Port Jackson sharks, scorpion fish, sea stars, giant cuttlefish changing shape and colour, and electric-blue sea spiders. It is a miracle that this rich marine life coexists with the intense recreational use of the beach. As we renew our infrastructure at Bondi Beach we must protect this natural environment because its value extends well beyond our local community. Our home is on a peninsula. Travelling in and out of the electorate on the three age-old arterial roads is challenging. It is not as challenging as the M5, admittedly—my colleagues would say— but challenging nevertheless, with traffic congestion snaking its way east and west.
Ferries are an important and popular transport choice for local residents. So we welcomed the Government's recent announcement to seek registrations of interest from the private sector to run our ferries. 1180 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
It is long overdue. I look forward to seeing new and expanded routes that can improve services for local commuters and encourage greater use of ferries. Our local community is diverse and enterprising. Over 50 per cent of our residents are born overseas, compared with 30 per cent nationally. Close to 40 per cent are professionals, double the national average. They include business leaders, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. We are proud also to have the largest Jewish community in New South Wales. My heartfelt thanks go to the community's leadership—in particular Yair Miller, who joins us today, and Vie Alhadeff from the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies—for the early friendship and guidance they generously extended to me.
While Vaucluse is often stereotyped by its affluence, what is not often understood is that some of our residents are less fortunate, socially isolated and need assistance with housing. We strongly benefit from the many vibrant local organisations that stand ready to help. Their vital work is often made possible through the generous financial and hands-on support of local residents. This social compact we have shows the enterprise and energy of our diverse community, a community that punches above its weight. I was born in the eastern suburbs of Sydney and educated, like my mother and sister before me, by the Brigidine nuns. My world expanded beyond this Catholic community through my mother's encouragement of my musical talent, so-called, and my debating flair. An infectious love of knowledge and respect for heritage on my father's part led to my inquiring mind. With these influences my confidence grew. I learnt about uncertainty and diversity. As the first one in my family to attend university and then graduate to work in a top law firm in Sydney, I understood early on about hard work, focus and risk taking.
Throughout my youth my mother and my Catholic faith instilled in me a belief that is as strong now as it was then that there is no higher calling than serving the community. This led me to contribute to the community wherever I was. In my late twenties I went with my husband overseas to study, to work and to see the world. Before starting my MBA in New York, I served as a volunteer in the Manhattan Borough President's office, helping small businesses to grow. I listened to people, I understood their needs and I worked hard to help them get ahead. From these experiences, I stand before you as an optimist. I believe in self-responsibility, choice and competition. I believe that solutions are usually found within communities rather than in the lofty corridors of government. I believe in equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. Innovation that comes from opportunity grows the economy which, in turn, creates jobs and supports our families.
The dividends of economic growth fund quality services: transport, hospitals and reliable infrastructure. This is a Liberal vision. It is a vision that will make New South Wales the number one State and the seat of Vaucluse a better place to live and work. Labor has a different approach: tax, spend and regulate. As Ronald Reagan said, "Tax anything that moves, regulate it if it keeps moving and subsidise it if it stops moving". Because of Labor's approach New South Wales' potential has remained only that—potential. However, our Government understands New South Wales' potential and we have already begun the tough work of rebuilding New South Wales. Living in New York for six years I saw the best and worst close at hand—great ideas and bad public policy. I knew then that I could best contribute to the community by using my business, finance and legal skills. [Extension of time agreed to.]
For more than a decade since returning to the eastern suburbs I have used those skills to help the community in areas that are key to New South Wales' future: education and research; business policy; and youth development. I bring those skills to my new role as a member of Parliament. I am honoured also to have the trust and confidence of the Premier and his ministry to assist them as the parliamentary secretary to our tertiary and vocational education sectors. As a first generation university graduate, a former deputy chancellor and a medical research institute director, I am passionate about education and the advancement of knowledge. Knowledge empowers us, it minimises our differences, it maximises our prospects of understanding one another and it is not diminished by age or use.
Our tertiary and training sectors need to be better supported. A key part of the equality of opportunity I firmly believe in is making them more accessible and flexible for students. We must also encourage the sectors to work closely together, not only because education and training helps each of us reach our potential but because we can grow the New South Wales economy and build our export markets. Research must be better supported. After all, imagination based on knowledge can be the key to our discovery of a better future, safer lives for our children and cures for disease. New South Wales should also leverage its funding to support research and business partnerships and to simplify planning processes so that businesses, research institutes and universities can be located together to exchange ideas and capital. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1181
Through my roles in business and in policy here and overseas I have often seen how bad Labor has been for our economy. Business needs to be freed up from red tape to do what it does best—to take risks and to drive economic growth through investment. Our laws in New South Wales have led companies to shift their investments to other States. It shows in our near-to-the-bottom ranking for economic performance amongst all the States and Territories in Australia. This is shameful because New South Wales is blessed with abundant financial, human and intellectual capital. Our Government will simplify our laws and processes. On the first day of Parliament I watched the reform of our director liability laws. A director of a community centre, small business or school will no longer be automatically liable for what has happened in the organisation if he or she has not done anything wrong. This is commonsense, I hear you say. But it has taken a change of government to make it happen.
We must also work hard to restore business confidence in dealing with government. Business has been burnt through the former Labor Government not honouring its obligations. Business is crying out for accountability, transparency and openness from government, and we must deliver that. Please indulge me while I pay tribute to some people. My journey here was very much assisted by their valuable support. To the former members for Vaucluse Rosemary Foot, AO, and Peter Debnam, I pay tribute to their work for our local community and to the good governance of this State. To Rosemary Foot, in particular, the first woman to serve in a leadership position in the New South Wales Liberal Party as former Premier Nick Greiner's deputy, you have shown an unflinching commitment to the party and to me and I thank you.
To my campaign manager, Chris McDiven, AM, the first female Federal President of the Liberal Party: As my first mentor into politics you shared the decade of my journey here. I value your generous spirit, your sense of perspective and your good humour. To Jessie Bartos, my loyal local mentor: I will always value your advice and your praise—when it comes—is always worth the wait! To the Hon. Robert Webster and the Hon. Nick Greiner, AC: Thank you for your strategic advice and practical support. To David Gonski, AC: Your integrity, your lack of hubris and your distinguished accomplishments continue to inspire me. Thank you for your early and constant support of my dreams. And to Charles Curran, AC, and Mrs Eva Curran, Kevin McCann, AM, Warwick Negus and Bruce Morgan: Thank you. To my dear friend and mentor Emeritus Professor Mark Wainwright, AM: Your strong and gentle leadership, your thoughtfulness and your common decency have indelibly informed my life.
To my parliamentary colleagues and mentors—the Hon. Greg Pearce, MLC, the Hon. Don Harwin, MLC, the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, the Hon. Mike Baird, the Hon. Jillian Skinner and the Hon. Robyn Parker: Thank you for your encouragement in so many ways. Without the support and endorsement of the Liberal Party, my Liberal colleagues and the Vaucluse Conference I would not be here. Although we say that Vaucluse is a safer seat, we did not take it for granted; our campaign team and conference worked hard during the election and we exceeded expectations on every front. Many of you sit in the gallery today. We shared a solid victory of which we can be proud, and I thank you. To Nicole Banks: Your leap of faith in me, your calm approach and your unstinting loyalty have meant so much has been accomplished.
To enter politics you need the strong support of your family. My family has allowed me the greatest luxury of all: being able to focus on my calling to this Chamber. It is because of my dearest husband, Alex, my handsome son, Nicholas, and my gorgeous daughter, Georgina, that I stand here today and I can tell them in the gallery how they sustain my spirit and intellect and how they are the joy of my life. Thank you to my dear mother and father, Marie and Warwick, who worked so hard to provide me with the opportunities that led me here today, and to mum who taught me the meaning of resilience and that everything "finds its own level" in time. To my three siblings and, in particular, to Graham, my youngest brother who is here today, I thank them for their enduring commitment to our small but very close-knit family.
To my parents-in-law, Miki and Dragana, who are here today: Thank you for your love and support over more than 20 years. To Annita: Thank you for your warm and trusting care of our precious children and home which makes everything else possible. And finally, but not least, to all my parliamentary colleagues and to the large Liberal-Nationals Coalition class of 2011: I am honoured to be part of such a diverse and talented group of people. We come to this place with community expectations on our shoulders that perhaps no new class of parliamentarians has carried in recent times. But we have the enthusiasm, idealism and determination to make sure that the people of New South Wales view this Parliament with pride and not with contempt. When the portrait of W. C. Wentworth is returned to this Chamber I know he will be able to look down on us and acknowledge that we have restored faith in our great democracy and our great State. Thank you. 1182 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
INFRASTRUCTURE NSW BILL 2011
Bill introduced on motion by Mr Barry O'Farrell.
Agreement in Principle
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL (Ku-ring-gai—Premier, and Minister for Western Sydney) [12.18 p.m.]: I move:
That this bill be now agreed to in principle.
We are all proud citizens of the greatest State in Australia. That pride has been sorely tested in the past decade as people from city, coastal and country New South Wales have seen the State's infrastructure investment and results fall behind those of our competitors. That is why my Government prosecuted a strong case for our Five Point Action Plan and the detailed policies that support it. It is an action plan that commits to build the New South Wales economy to make New South Wales number one again, to renovate our infrastructure, to improve our services, to restore honesty and accountability to government and to give people a say in decisions that affect them.
The number of new members in this place is evidence of the overwhelming support of the community for action and investment to achieve these objectives. Whether it is a family in western Sydney trying to get to work and school in congested traffic or on crowded trains, a commuter in the Central Coast or the Illawarra waiting for a train, a young person or couple trying to own a home, a business owner worried about another blackout, an investor looking for a high performance jurisdiction, a farmer trying to get produce to market, an exporter battling queues of ships waiting their turn to dock, or families struggling with cost of living increases, especially power bills, the need for a new approach to planning, selecting, funding, delivering and evaluating infrastructure has never been more critical in our State. Just 61 days ago the people of New South Wales demanded real change, and my Government is determined to deliver as we promised, including within our first 100 days, essential elements of the solution to New South Wales' long neglected infrastructure malaise.
The Infrastructure NSW Bill 2011 I introduce today creates an innovative, ground-breaking and new body—Infrastructure NSW—to sharpen our competitive edge to achieve economic growth through strategic infrastructure investment. This bill delivers what the New South Wales Liberals and The Nationals have outlined in detail over the past 18 months. The creation of Infrastructure NSW will, at long last, take the politics out of infrastructure decision-making, to get the right infrastructure projects delivered on time and on budget. We will put an end to the stench that has surrounded infrastructure decision-making for more than a decade during which projects were drawn up on the back on envelopes before media conferences, recycled with the regularity of new Labor leaders, started, stopped, varied and too often abandoned, and chosen by politicians and faction bosses in back rooms based on their political interests and not in the public interest according to the actual needs of the taxpayers, citizens and our economy.
We have had a system that saw $500 million of taxpayers' funds squandered by Labor on the disgraceful Rozelle Metro debacle, with absolutely zero to show for it except another blow to New South Wales reputation as a secure place to invest and higher living costs for New South Wales families. It was a system in which Labor substituted glossy brochures for real infrastructure and, where rare projects were built, blowout after blowout and delay after delay. Today we draw a line under Labor's chaos and political intervention and get on with the solution. If we are to grow our economy, improve our quality of living and make the most of our opportunities, we must invest well in economic infrastructure, aligned with our strategic objectives.
The Commonwealth Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics estimates that urban congestion costs New South Wales more than $4 billion in lost productivity each year. Clogged freight networks cost our economy and the failure to provide adequate transport, health and other public facilities affects us all. This bill will bring real change to the way infrastructure is delivered and put infrastructure planning and decision-making where it should be, in the hands of experts. When politicians now or in the future decide to reject the advice of experts, it will be up to them, or us, to account for the decisions and actions.
This bill lays the foundation for what has been missing for more than 10 years—coordinated infrastructure planning across the whole of government using the most efficient and effective funding mechanisms to deliver the best results. Through Infrastructure NSW, we want to maximise investment by, and 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1183
involvement of, the private sector to overcome the State's infrastructure backlog we have inherited. We will do so using a board that understands how to catalyse the innovation of the non-government sector in balance with the assessment and management of risk and opportunity essential to defending public value and the interests of taxpayers and government.
The objects of the bill in part 1 set out the Government's intention to secure the efficient, effective, economic and timely planning, coordination, selection, funding, implementation, delivery and whole-of-lifecycle asset management of infrastructure required for the economic and social wellbeing of the community, with decisions informed by expert professional analysis and advice. Getting the governance right— the allocation of responsibilities and accountabilities—is central to future success in our infrastructure investment. Infrastructure NSW will report directly to the Premier. A Cabinet infrastructure committee, chaired by the Premier, will provide long-term oversight and monitoring of major infrastructure projects.
The Deputy Premier, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services, the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the Treasurer will serve on the committee and bring threshold questions of fiscal discipline, regional considerations and links between infrastructure and land-use planning to the table for these decisions. Our commitment to introduce a Cabinet reporting framework for all major infrastructure and service commitments, including quarterly project progress updates to Cabinet, noting time and costing variations signals a new era of fiscal responsibility and accountability for New South Wales public infrastructure. That is the sort of accountability that is routine for any responsible organisation but which escaped the attention of the Labor Party; which has transferred to families and businesses the consequences of Labor's failures including the $100 million Tcard debacle, the $500 million Rozelle Metro fiasco and the John Robertson special, the massive blowout in the Solar Bonus Scheme which, if left unchecked, could add $170 to family power bills.
The Infrastructure NSW board will set the strategic and policy direction for the organisation. With an independent chair, it will comprise five persons appointed from the private sector, the chief executive officer of Infrastructure NSW, the directors general of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Trade, Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services and Planning and Infrastructure and the Secretary to the Treasury. As I have announced, the founding chair will be the Hon. Nick Greiner AC, an adviser to State and Federal governments of both political complexions who brings both a strong public sector background and private sector expertise to the role.
Infrastructure NSW will be led by a chief executive in accordance with the policies and strategic direction of the board. The chief executive officer, who will report to the Premier, will lead a group of professionals in an organisation whose structure and functions will create a new model of effective public sector infrastructure planning. The chief executive officer will recruit to Infrastructure NSW a compact, specialised staff team that brings together the best of the public and private sectors. The chief executive will have the power to second, employ or contract individuals from the private and public sectors for short-term or long-term purposes as required.
Infrastructure NSW will strengthen New South Wales' strategic coordination capability with the establishment of a New South Wales coordinator general—a role that the chief executive will hold—responsible for coordinating the input from all State agencies to develop a consistent whole-of-state approach on matters relating to infrastructure and responsibility for special projects that require statewide coordination. This brings me to one of the most important provisions of the bill and one of the most significant roles of the board in setting the policy direction of New South Wales infrastructure planning, coordination, selection and ultimately delivery. The board will direct and oversee the preparation of a 20-year State infrastructure strategy for New South Wales, along with detailed five-year infrastructure plans that set out the details of projects and sequencing and funding arrangements in the New South Wales budget from year to year for the delivery of those projects consistent with the 20-year strategy. This will provide an opportunity for all members of this Parliament to scrutinise the plans and speak for their communities about infrastructure priorities for the near, medium and longer term.
When we announced our policy to establish Infrastructure NSW more than a year ago, the plan was to create an organisation with an expert board that would produce, frankly and without fear of political interference, a strategic direction and detailed recommendations for New South Wales' infrastructure task. A board with the high calibre and expertise appointed by my Government would, and should, expect that its recommendations are transparently published. Clause 8 of the bill makes this very clear: If the government of 1184 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
the day chooses to reject the strategic direction and recommendations of Infrastructure NSW, it will have to account to electors for its reasons. In other words, the days of multi-billion dollar infrastructure decisions being made behind closed doors by factional deal-makers ends today.
Part 4 of the bill relates to infrastructure strategies and planning. An immediate task for Infrastructure NSW is to develop the 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy. This will set out the long-term, integrated infrastructure requirements of our State and address emerging bottlenecks, the social, economic and environmental costs of our infrastructure challenges, the objectives to be achieved against which the performance of our infrastructure can be benchmarked, and a full range of potential solutions to those problems.
The 20-year strategy will detail recommended major infrastructure projects backed by sufficient evidence and analysis to gain broad community support and confidence. It will be reviewed every five years. Flowing from the 20-year strategy will be detailed, costed and transparent five-year infrastructure plans, with projects funded in the forward estimates. These costed and funded five-year plans will bring back certainty and a real project pipeline for New South Wales and address Labor's shameful legacy of reputational risks in New South Wales for investors and companies. Infrastructure NSW will also prepare sectoral State infrastructure strategy statements as required across key economic sectors. These will set out a clear analysis of long-term requirements for a sector, and a transparent road map for infrastructure needs. For example, sectoral statements could address needs in areas such as ports, metropolitan or rural transport or water. These plans and statements will be submitted for approval to the Premier and the Infrastructure Committee of Cabinet and, again, any decision to vary a recommended plan will be reported transparently.
Part 5 of the bill relates to the delivery of major infrastructure projects. Infrastructure NSW will primarily play a coordination and facilitation role in cooperation with other government agencies and the private sector, who will deliver the important projects outlined in the 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy and five-year Infrastructure Plan. However, when a major infrastructure project is of high strategic importance and would benefit from the dedicated focus and expertise of Infrastructure NSW, the Premier may direct Infrastructure NSW through a "project authorisation order" to take responsibility for the entire or specified part of a project. The power conferred by part 5 for Infrastructure NSW to step in to deliver major projects will be required only rarely. It provides the community with confidence that key projects can be delivered on time and within budget.
It is the intention that Infrastructure NSW work in close collaboration with State agencies, including the new Integrated Transport Authority, on these infrastructure needs. And I acknowledge that several of these agencies have well-recognised skills and track records in project delivery. The success of Infrastructure NSW will lie in its ability to coordinate and facilitate across government, but to take on very few projects for direct delivery itself. When a project is beyond the existing skills set of a particular agency, or is likely to consume its attention at the expense of its primary service delivery functions, Infrastructure NSW may recommend to the Premier and Infrastructure Committee an alternative delivery method. And, if a project were to bring together a number of agencies' requirements in a single project, with no clear majority stakeholder, a practical outcome might be for Infrastructure NSW to step in and set up a special delivery model to deliver the project. These decisions will be made in consultation with agencies, based on evidence and experience, and in the public interest.
Environmental planning and assessment requirements are not altered or affected in any way by this bill. As previously announced, the Government is separately bringing forward amendments to address community concerns with part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. If Infrastructure NSW were to take over a project during the environmental planning and assessment process, the steps in the process that have already been undertaken, and any approvals that have already been obtained, need not be affected. Infrastructure NSW can simply step into the shoes of the relevant government agency at the same point in the approval process.
I now turn to other features of the bill. Part 1 of the bill provides preliminary information including definitions. A "major infrastructure project" means a project that has a capital investment value of more than $100 million or that has been nominated as a special project requiring oversight or coordination by Infrastructure NSW. Part 2 establishes Infrastructure NSW as a statutory corporation and outlines the roles of the board, chief executive and coordinator general. Part 3 specifies the functions of Infrastructure NSW, including the 20-year State infrastructure strategy, five-year plans, preparation of implementation plans, provision of advice regarding risk assessment in infrastructure provision, recommended funding and delivery arrangements, and the overseeing and monitoring of delivery of major infrastructure projects. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1185
An important function will be the role of Infrastructure NSW in coordinating funding submissions to the Commonwealth, including Infrastructure Australia, to achieve this State's fair share of contribution to vital infrastructure, reversing Labor's failure to bid or succeed for our infrastructure share, and taking a strategic, professional and evidence-based case to the Commonwealth. So while the Government has already reaffirmed our commitment to build, and the Minister for Transport has lost no time in starting project work to deliver the North West Rail Link, we will be able to call upon the skills and expertise of Infrastructure NSW to assist in determining the most effective funding mechanism for the project.
In April I commenced discussions with the Prime Minister on New South Wales' critical infrastructure priorities, including the North West Rail Link, and I remain hopeful of an outcome that respects our mandate and our commitment to begin construction of the North West Rail Link in this term of Parliament. Part 4 of the bill contains the provisions governing the 20-year State infrastructure strategy, annual five-year Infrastructure Plan and State infrastructure strategy sectoral statements. Division 4 of part 4 of the bill contains the provisions governing the role of Infrastructure NSW in overseeing and monitoring the delivery of specified major infrastructure projects. Infrastructure NSW may require a government agency to prepare a project implementation plan. This process will provide assurance that critical infrastructure projects are tracking to plan.
Part 5 of the bill provides for the Premier to order, through a project authorisation order, that Infrastructure NSW become responsible for the carrying out of a project. Provisions include the option of transferring ownership of the project assets, rights and liabilities from an agency to Infrastructure NSW; or for a project to continue to be owned by the government agency but Infrastructure NSW have the power to exercise the functions of the agency and to direct the authority in relation to the carrying out of the project. In such a case the agency itself will be unable to exercise its functions relating to the project without the consent of Infrastructure NSW; or where a project is owned by Infrastructure NSW, it will become the proponent of the project. It will have the power to acquire land in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act. Clause 35 of the bill provides for a project that is owned by Infrastructure NSW during implementation to be transferred, upon completion, back to the relevant agency for operation. Importantly, the bill extends to State-owned corporations, which are responsible for many major infrastructure networks across New South Wales.
Under subclause 32 (4) of the bill, the Premier cannot make a project authorisation in respect of a State-owned corporation without first consulting with the portfolio Minister, the voting shareholders and the chair of the board of the State-owned corporation. Similarly, under subclause 35 (5) of the bill, it will be necessary to consult with the portfolio Minister, the voting shareholders and the chair of the board of the State-owned corporation before making a project divesting order in respect of a State-owned corporation. Under clause 15, State-owned corporations—along with all government agencies—will be required to cooperate with Infrastructure NSW in the exercise of its functions, including complying with any reasonable request of Infrastructure NSW for information to enable that body to exercise its functions. This provision will enable Infrastructure NSW to request copies of draft submissions that State-owned corporations propose to make to independent regulators. Schedule 1 to the bill sets out provisions for members of and procedures of the board, including that the chairman's remuneration be determined independently by the Statutory and Other Officers Tribunal. These are the key elements of the bill.
The Government's intention regarding the role Infrastructure NSW will play has been made clear in our Five Point Action Plan, and detailed supporting policy documents. I acknowledge the support and encouragement we have had for the proposal from peak infrastructure and industry organisations in New South Wales, who have long advocated for a transparent and professional approach to fixing this State's infrastructure problems. We understand that to harness the potential of the non-government sector in capital, know-how and innovation we need a new model in New South Wales. The Government, through Infrastructure NSW, is determined to set New South Wales back on the path of investment in world's best practice infrastructure planning and delivery to improve the lives of our citizens across this State. The people of New South Wales want our State to be number one again. We want to restore that great sense of pride in our cities and in our regions, and to be confident in the opportunities for the future available to all our citizens. Providing the infrastructure that New South Wales needs and deserves is the first step. I commend the bill to the House.
Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Richard Amery and set down as an order of the day for a future day. 1186 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
MARINE PARKS ACT 1997: DISALLOWANCE OF MARINE PARKS (ZONING PLANS) AMENDMENT (SOLITARY ISLANDS AND JERVIS BAY MARINE PARKS) REGULATION 2011
Debate resumed from 25 May 2011.
Ms KATRINA HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck—Minister for Primary Industries, and Minister for Small Business) [12.40 p.m.], in reply: I thank the members who have participated in this debate—the member for Marrickville, the Minister for the Environment and member for Maitland, and the members representing the electorates of Keira, Coffs Harbour, Liverpool, Bega, Clarence, Sydney and Port Stephens. In particular, I thank my colleague the Minister for the Environment, because what she said in this House yesterday is absolutely true. It is fantastic to finally have a Minister for the Environment who thinks about the repercussions of legislation on the environment.
Mr Daryl Maguire: She speaks the truth.
Ms KATRINA HODGKINSON: She speaks the honest and practical truth. It is simply a delight to have somebody with that level of intelligence but also that sort of commitment to the environment, who is willing to work practically with a practical Government, and also a Minister for the Environment who understands regional New South Wales—in fact, who lives in regional New South Wales. The Minister for the Environment is a persuasive advocate for the ongoing protection of our marine environment. I very much look forward to working closely with her to deliver the right balance in managing our marine parks in the future. We failed to hear anything of substance from members opposite during the debate. I find that disappointing given the importance of this issue. The member for Marrickville carried on about the extensive consultation that took place under the former Government. Certainly until the zoning changes were put in place there was a lot of discussion.
But once the zoning changes were in place, the community did not have any opportunity to comment on the changes until it was too late. That is why we say it was a flawed community consultation process. As you would be well aware, Mr Deputy-Speaker, we are concerned not about what happened in the lead-up to the zoning changes coming into force but about what happened regarding community consultation after those changes were in place. Some of the zoning changes might have been of benefit, but the community should be given the chance to have a proper say. That is where we are coming from with this motion to disallow the regulation. We do not want just token consultation; we want the community to have a real opportunity to comment on the changes that affect people's lives—in this case, zoning changes in relation to Solitary Islands and Jervis Bay marine parks.
The fact that we failed to hear anything of true substance from members opposite in this debate is not really very surprising, given the way the regulations were imposed on the community so that Labor could score some cheap political points. It is not that long since the election was held; Labor's lunge for The Greens preferences—or to try to win the green vote—is fresh in our memories. I have an apology to make to the member for Marrickville. I said it was in order to secure The Greens preferences; I should have said it was in order to secure the green vote, because that is what she wanted. The member for Marrickville scraped in by her fingernails. And I congratulate her on that, because I recognise that it was a bitter fight. In the final term of the last Parliament successive inner-city Labor members came into this place and put regional New South Wales on the chopping block in order to save their hides. That should never happen. A member of Parliament should never threaten the environment or our primary industries simply to secure his or her own safety. That is just not on. We saw it with the locking up of our State forests—
Mr Daryl Maguire: The red gums.
Ms KATRINA HODGKINSON: The red gums, as the member for Wagga Wagga rightly says. We devoted a lot of time to debating that policy in this place last December. It was the most extraordinary act by inner-city members I think I have ever seen. It was also extraordinary that former Premier No. 41 sought to pre-empt the Natural Resources Commission by saying in this place that the State forest would be converted into a national park. And then, two hours later, Premier No. 42 stepped in! That is what it was like in the final term of the last Parliament. We on this side of the House remember it. A similar thing occurred with the new zonings that came into force on 1 March this year. People had only just gotten used to the old zoning arrangements— which had been in place from 2002 through to 1 March this year—and they were very happy to have the opportunity to engage in consultation after those arrangements were in place. But that opportunity was not given to them. That is why people were rightfully upset. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1187
As I have said continually, this debate is not about marine parks. Marine parks are here. Some New South Wales marine parks are popular with the community. This motion is about the zoning regulations that took place at the last minute in order to secure green votes in a couple of inner-city marginal seats. That should never happen again. The Liberal-Nationals Government will base its marine parks policies on common sense, good science and proper consultation, and we will find the right balance. Further on, when we are conducting our audit of marine parks in accordance with our election commitment, obviously science will be the core focus. That is obviously a matter for a future announcement, but I reassure the House that it is progressing well.
I note that a couple of members opposite questioned our commitment to that process. I reaffirm to the House today that we are moving down the road, but that is a matter for a future announcement. When in Opposition we made a commitment to move a motion to disallow the regulation as soon as the new parliamentary session began should we be successful in winning government—which of course we were. I am determined within my Primary Industries portfolio to meet all our election commitments. Some of the bars are pretty high, but I am determined to follow through with those commitments. That is the reason we have moved this disallowance motion in the Parliament at this time. I commend the motion to the House.
Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.
The House divided.
Ayes, 62
Mr Anderson Mr Flowers Mr Provest Mr Annesley Mr Fraser Mr Roberts Mr Aplin Mr Gee Mr Rohan Mr Ayres Mr George Mr Rowell Mr Baird Ms Gibbons Mrs Sage Mr Bassett Ms Goward Mr Sidoti Mr Baumann Mr Hartcher Mrs Skinner Ms Berejiklian Mr Hazzard Mr Smith Mr Bromhead Ms Hodgkinson Mr Speakman Mr Brookes Mr Holstein Mr Spence Mr Casuscelli Mr Humphries Mr Stokes Mr Conolly Mr Issa Mr Stoner Mr Constance Mr Kean Mr Toole Mr Cornwell Dr Lee Mr Torbay Mr Coure Mr Notley-Smith Ms Upton Mrs Davies Mr O'Dea Mr Ward Mr Dominello Mr Owen Mr Webber Mr Doyle Mr Page Mr R. C. Williams Mr Edwards Ms Parker Tellers, Mr Elliott Mr Perrottet Mr Maguire Mr Evans Mr Piccoli Mr J. D. Williams
Noes, 22
Mr Barr Mr Lynch Mr Robertson Ms Burton Dr McDonald Ms Tebbutt Mr Daley Ms Mihailuk Ms Watson Mr Furolo Ms Moore Mr Zangari Ms Hay Mr Parker Ms Hornery Mrs Perry Tellers, Ms Keneally Mr Piper Mr Amery Mr Lalich Mr Rees Mr Park
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Motion agreed to.
[The Speaker left the chair at 12.56 p.m. The House resumed at 2.15 p.m.] 1188 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
NATIONAL SORRY DAY
The SPEAKER: As today is National Sorry Day, I am sure that all members of the New South Wales Parliament would wish to pay respects to the stolen generations and their families, and remember all that they have endured.
STANDING ORDER 249
The SPEAKER: I wish to clarify a number of issues that have been raised with me by members as a result of matters that arose in question time yesterday. First, for the edification of all members, I wish to make a statement in relation to Standing Order 249. Yesterday during question time I ordered the removal of the member for Kogarah from the Chamber after she had been repeatedly called to order. There appeared to be some confusion as to the implications of the member's removal from the Chamber. Standing Order 249 makes it clear that when a member is removed from the House, he or she is excluded from the entire parliamentary precincts and cannot take part in any proceeding of the House or its committees. Accordingly, when a member is ordered to be removed from the Chamber in accordance with Standing Order 249 he or she is excluded from the parliamentary precincts until the adjournment of the House. It is the established practice that the member excluded has 30 minutes to leave the precincts.
STANDING ORDER 131
The SPEAKER: I wish to make a statement in relation to proceedings during question time yesterday where there was some confusion about requesting additional information in answer to a question. I draw members' attention to Standing Order 131 (3), which provides that at the conclusion of the Minister's answer to a question, the member who asked the question may, at the discretion of the Speaker, seek additional information from the Minister. Accordingly, the onus is on the member who asked the original question to make clear they are making a request under Standing Order 131 by asking "Can the Minister provide additional information?" It is then at my discretion whether to allow the additional information to be provided for up to two minutes.
Any request for additional information made in accordance with Standing Order 131 (3) does not constitute a supplementary question. One member asking for "additional information" does not prevent any other member seeking additional information in response to another answer nor indeed asking a supplementary question. If members have any further questions to ask me about the standing orders, they should feel free to come and see me at any time.
ASSENT TO BILLS
Assent to the following bill reported:
Real Property Amendment (Torrens Assurance Levy Repeal) Bill 2011.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Notices of Motions
Government Business Notices of Motions (for Bills) given.
MEMBERS' FUNDING AND DISCLOSURE OBLIGATIONS
The SPEAKER: I remind members that a briefing session on funding and disclosure obligations will be held tomorrow in the Jubilee Room commencing at 1.30 p.m. I encourage all members to attend the information session. I ask members to advise the Clerk's office if they propose to attend.
QUESTION TIME ______
[Question time commenced at 2.23 p.m.]
INFRASTRUCTURE NSW
Mr JOHN ROBERTSON: My question is directed to the Premier. How does giving himself absolute control and direction over Infrastructure NSW, including the right to hire and fire directors, meet the Premier's commitment to remove political interference from infrastructure decisions? 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1189
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: I cannot believe that I have been asked a question on infrastructure by those opposite, who thought that infrastructure was either a media conference or a glossy brochure and who promised over the term of their office 11 railway lines—seven in western Sydney.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lismore will come to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: Did they ever build one? No, they built half a rail line in 16 years. Yet they try to criticise the Government. We are determined to take the politics out of infrastructure delivery in this State by having a body called Infrastructure NSW that will do for this State what exists in other States. It will do for this State what started in Queensland under Wayne Goss and continued through Liberal-Nationals governments until Anna Bligh became Premier of that State. It will do for this State what started in Victoria under Jeff Kennett and has continued to this day through Labor governments up to the Liberal Government of Ted Baillieu. It will establish a pipeline of projects, an infrastructure strategy. On a visit to the Gold Coast one can see the railway line snaking towards Coolangatta airport. Only four or five years ago that railway line was snaking towards Robina.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will come to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: In Victoria one can see bridges that were built four or five years ago under the infrastructure strategies of successive governments in Victoria. Over the past 16 years in this State we have had strategy after strategy after strategy. They almost dwarf the Minister for Transport, who has used them in her press conferences as props. They are not as good a prop as Paul Gallen, whom we saw in the State of Origin contest last night. He is a much better captain than the captain of the Opposition in this House. But I will not be distracted. In this State we have had strategy after strategy, plan after plan, promise after promise, but no delivery. Today we have introduced into the Parliament the culmination of our commitment to infrastructure delivery in New South Wales—Infrastructure NSW, an agency that will put in place a 20-year infrastructure strategy for this State.
The SPEAKER: Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: Infrastructure NSW will be oversighted by a board chaired by Nick Greiner, who has been a consultant and has advised State and Federal governments of all political complexions. He sorted out the Newcastle port mess made by Joe Tripodi and the Labor Party for that side of politics.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Maroubra will come to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: Nick Greiner has been appointed on the basis of his business skills because, as I have said previously, I am not a great fan of his political skills. He knows that I have said that. The board members will include people drawn from the private sector, director-generals of three departments, the Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure NSW and the Secretary of the Treasury. Infrastructure NSW will put in place the 20-year infrastructure strategies. It will put in place the five-year infrastructure plans attached to the forward estimates. Those forward estimates will come before this Parliament, and that will allow members in this House and the other place to represent the views of their communities on infrastructure needs in this State.
This is revolutionary, first-order legislation. It will ensure that if Infrastructure Australia ever again has money to hand out to the States, as it did by the billions when Kevin Rudd inherited the surplus from John Howard, New South Wales will get a fair share. We live in a city that is home to one-fifth of the nation's population yet we received less than 2 per cent of the funding from Infrastructure Australia under that first round of funding because those opposite were too incompetent to make a case for the nation's greatest infrastructure backlog that exists in this city and across the State.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will come to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: We will end the rort that saw $500 million wasted on the Rozelle metro because old No. 41 thought it would help Verity Firth retain her seat. We will end the rort that saw projects awarded for political purposes, not for public interest. That is the charter of Infrastructure NSW. As the Leader of the Opposition should know, if he was not Sergeant Sloppy, if the Government disagrees with a recommendation or a project proposed by Infrastructure NSW we have to publicly account for it. That is a long way from the way in which the members opposite put together infrastructure projects—down at Sussex Street behind closed doors in consultation with the union bosses. They did whatever they thought would get them across the line at the next election. We will end those days. We will ensure that this State has the infrastructure 1190 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
that people need to get on with their lives. Infrastructure provides services, and services are the foundations upon which people build their lives. Without those foundations they cannot have the unlimited opportunities we are committed to.
WAGES POLICY
Mrs ROZA SAGE: My question is addressed to the Premier.
[Interruption]
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Mount Druitt will come to order.
Mrs ROZA SAGE: Does the Government's plan to require the Industrial Relations Commission to recognise its wages policy have the support of the members of the Labor Party?
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: I thank the member for Blue Mountains for her question. I congratulate the member on a magnificent victory and I congratulate the people of the Blue Mountains on returning yet another principled and hardworking member for the Blue Mountains. It is no secret that I am a fan of the former member for the Blue Mountains, who retired at the last election. We have appointed him to an appropriate job. We now have another member who shares his principled views. They also share another common trait—a disgust and abhorrence of the way in which Labor administered the State over the past four years. That should not be a surprise because we have seen again this morning the Leader of the Opposition still trying to whip up hysteria about the same wages policy that his party pursued for four years.
I am reminded of that expression of Paul Keating—the friend of the former Minister for Planning— who described the Leader of the Opposition as a "banshee on a rampage" in a famous letter he wrote after No. 40 was sent on his way. The Leader of the Opposition has his controllers from Unions NSW and the Public Service Association pretending that this is a new development, a new policy, and that public servants' wages, conditions and entitlements will be jeopardised. The great saboteur is in full flight. Any sniff that New South Wales might be back on track, any sniff that we might get the State's finances back under control, and the great saboteur pops up again. We already know that the Leader of the Opposition always fails to mention that the policy we are pursuing is the policy he agreed to as Secretary of Unions NSW in 2007.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will come to order. I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: We already know that he always fails to mention that the Parliament has a safety valve: proper accountability and a proper safeguard to ensure that no unfair wages policy can be imposed. But now it comes to light that the Leader of the Opposition has also failed to mention that the former Carr-Egan Labor Government wanted to introduce exactly the same proposal back in 2004. As former Premier Bob Carr stated, justices of the Industrial Relations Commission gave out pay increases that almost defiantly refused to take any account of the State's capacity to pay.
Mrs Barbara Perry: Is there not a statute of limitations?
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: I think that statute runs for about 16 years. He was supported by his Treasurer, Mr Egan, who said that decisions of the Industrial Relations Commission in excess of the Government's wages policy added nearly half a billion dollars to the ongoing level of annual expenses. That is in addition to the $900 million—
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Macquarie Fields will come to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: —that those opposite stuck taxpayers with because they paid wage increases over and above inflation in exchange for promised productivity savings that they never ever bothered to pursue. So Bob Carr and Michael Egan unbelievably came up with a sensible idea back in 2004 to require the Industrial Relations Commission to take into account government policy when making wages decision. Does that sound familiar? They knew then that that was the right course to take. They knew then that it was the only way to bring the State's finances under control. The only difference is that back then they did not have the guts to proceed with a tough decision that was in the public's interest. In true Labor style they knew what had to be done but they were not prepared to take those tough decisions that were going to benefit the community. It is that sort of decision-making style over 16 years that has got this State into the mess it is in. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1191
The SPEAKER: Order! Government members will come to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: I'm wounded; I've been attacked by the pink bat. It is that sort of decision-making style over the past 16 years that we have been elected in record numbers to fix. I reiterate: We have no intention of reducing conditions and entitlements for public servants. We have a safety valve in place to prevent unfair decisions being made—the safety valve is the Parliament—and we have an Industrial Relations Commission policy that the Labor Party devised seven years ago but were not strong enough to implement.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Shellharbour will come to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: Our policy will ensure fair wage increases for public servants across the State. In those areas where unions and public servants identify productivity savings they could be paid more than the 2.5 per cent. We hope many public servants take advantage of that provision because it will mean that we are delivering better and more effective services to the people of this State.
INFRASTRUCTURE NSW
Mr JOHN ROBERTSON: My question is directed to the Premier. Why will the Premier not guarantee to release every plan and strategy submitted to him by Infrastructure NSW?
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition has asked a question to which the Premier is endeavouring to give an answer, should he care to listen to it.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: I have a letter in front of me written by a bloke called P. J. Keating, who apparently has an office at Potts Point, but I will not reveal the details or the phone number. The letter is pertinent, because the author could almost have been predicting the future when he stated:
If the Labor Party stocks ever get so low as to require your services—
No prizes for guessing who he is talking about—
in its parliamentary leadership, it will itself have no future.
For 16 years Labor failed to deliver the infrastructure that this city and this State needs, whether road or rail line, water, electricity or port infrastructure. It failed to deliver all of those things that we all need, whether as individual citizens, business people, farmers or industrialists, to get on with our lives and to enable the State's economy to grow and to provide the jobs that a strong economy provides, to provide the opportunities that a strong economy provides as people have the confidence to go off and pursue their dreams, and to provide jobs that families need as they seek to pay the power bills and deal with the problems left by those opposite.
There could be no greater legacy to be hung around the necks of those opposite than the fact that they have limited the opportunities of people across this State. As one travels the M4, the M5, the M7 or the M2 each day one is faced with increasing congestion. When one comes down the F3 there is increasing congestion. When one tries to get on trains across this city there is increasing congestion. One of the reasons I lost weight was to catch the train in from Roseville once a week. When one uses CountryLink services one sees that on-time running is abysmal and the service coverage is appalling. When one uses country roads one finds that because of rail closures on grain lines the trucks have churned up the road and some councils are threatening to turn bitumen roads back into dirt. The fact is that we have a hell of an infrastructure mess. I make no apologies for the fact that we are revolutionising the way in which infrastructure will be delivered. We are going to have an arm's-length—
Mr Michael Daley: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will come to order. I cannot hear the point of order.
Mr Michael Daley: We did not ask the Premier for an apology; we asked him for a simple answer.
The SPEAKER: Order! Is the point of order made on the basis of Standing Order 129?
Mr Michael Daley: The point of order relates to Standing Order 129. The question is very simple: Will the Premier release every plan and strategy submitted to him by Infrastructure NSW—yes or no? If he does not know the content of his own bill, he should just say so. 1192 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the Premier is about to answer the question.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: I was just saying that we make no apologies for putting in place an arm's-length process to provide the people of this State with the hope that young people, like the ones in the gallery, will have the sorts of infrastructure they need.
Dr Andrew McDonald: They're walking out.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: They started walking out when the member for Maroubra stood up to take his point of order. Infrastructure NSW will identify, plan and look at the financing arrangements for infrastructure. It cannot be done overnight but it will be done. The process means that we will never again be in a situation like that we have experienced for the past 16 years, when for years Labor sat on a proposal for a fast train service to Penrith, and the only time it gave a response was when the contractors, the proponents, made a fuss during the 2007 election campaign. And that response, of course, was no—a response based not on an assessment, a business case model or merit but merely because it suited the political objectives at the time.
As I said before, this body will do its work without government interference. If we determine that the infrastructure strategy that it presents is to be varied, we will have to front-up and transparently and accountably report to the people of New South Wales. That has not been done for years in this State. Whether on the south coast, the north coast, west of the divide or in the city, we will see that improvements in infrastructure across the State, improvements in the services that people rely upon, and improvements in opportunities are available to people as a result of this legislation.
SOLAR BONUS SCHEME
Mr CHARLES CASUSCELLI: My question is directed to the Minister for Resources and Energy. Can the Minister provide the House with any new information relating to the Leader of the Opposition's involvement in the Solar Bonus Scheme?
Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: I congratulate the member for Strathfield on his 16.3 per cent electoral swing and inform him that people do walk faster in Strathfield.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Mount Druitt will come to order.
Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: We know about the Solar Bonus Scheme and how the Leader of the Opposition said it would cost $355 million when it in fact cost $1.2 billion. We also know how he failed to monitor the scheme and that in his first press conference he acknowledged that failure. However, what we only now know is how he misled his Premier and Cabinet. The member for Toongabbie was Premier when the Leader of the Opposition took the scheme to Cabinet on 9 November 2009. The first point in the Cabinet minute refers to the funding required for the scheme's implementation. Do members know how much the minute mentioned? It said that no resources would be required.
Why would it cost nothing? It required no funding because it was proposed that the cost of the scheme would be passed on to all electricity customers through increased electricity bills. Every customer would have to pay more for electricity. That is what he told the Cabinet. He told his own Premier and Cabinet that the scheme would cost nothing because the electricity customers of New South Wales would get the bill. However, that is not what he told the people of New South Wales. His press release referred to a generous scheme designed to encourage reduced production of greenhouse gases as a result of people using solar power, but it said nothing about the 3.2 million consumers who would receive an increased bill. That was his first deceit. His second deceit is probably even worse, if members can believe it.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lismore will come to order.
Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: He also challenged the integrity of his Premier—the man he was seeking to undermine. On 9 November he was already working with Joe Tripodi and Eddie Obeid to bring down the then Premier, the member for Toongabbie. However, four days before, on 4 November, the Leader of the Opposition received a report from consultants stating that the cost of the scheme if expressed in gross terms would be 86 per cent more than if it were expressed in net terms. All members would agree that that is logical. What did the Leader of the Opposition tell his Cabinet four days later? He told his colleagues that the gross scheme would cost significantly less. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1193
Mr Michael Daley: Point of order: Standing Order 128 2a states that questions should not contain statements of fact unless they can be authenticated. The Minister is quoting from a Cabinet minute—
The SPEAKER: Order! The question did not contain a statement of fact.
Mr Michael Daley: I am asking whether the Minister is prepared to table the minute from which he is purporting to read.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member has raised a number of issues, none of which constitutes a point of order.
Mr Brad Hazzard: To the point of order: Members on the other side of the House get to ask questions and Standing Order 128 states what they can and cannot do; it does not tell Ministers what they can and cannot do. The member should note that the standing order restricts members of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER: Order! Standing Order 128 imposes a restriction on all members in relation to statements of fact. I do not believe the question contained a statement of fact. There is no point of order.
Mr CHARLES CASUSCELLI: I ask for an extension of time to allow the Minister to enlighten us.
The SPEAKER: Order! Having provided information at the beginning of question time, I hope this procedure will not be over used. I will allow the Minister to provide additional information if that is required. The standing orders make it clear that there is a difference between additional information and a supplementary question. If any member wants to dispute that, they will be provided with another explanation tomorrow. Is the member seeking additional information as distinct from asking a supplementary question?
Mr CHARLES CASUSCELLI: I would like additional information because the point of order took so much time.
The SPEAKER: Granted on this occasion.
Mr Michael Daley: Will you table the minute?
Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: Table it? The whole world will know about it. Do members think I would keep this secret? I will quote the minute, which states:
…the "gross" Scheme contained in the Electricity Supply Amendment (Solar Bonus Scheme) Bill 2009 has been designed so that the (net present value) cost of the Scheme to consumers is significantly less than half that of the "net" Scheme…
That is half the cost of the net scheme when it was 86 per cent higher, and he knew that from a report he received four days previously. I checked and discovered that it was in his office—not lost in the mail. He had it, but he provided this minute to the Cabinet. He deceived the Premier and his colleagues. The remnants of that Cabinet are with him now. The Leader of the Opposition nodded in response when the member for Toongabbie asked whether he did it. He said he did it; he said, "I lied Nathan. I was working to bring you down." There is only one issue here—the issue that Paul Keating raised when he said that this man has no moral authority.
Dr Andrew McDonald: Point of order: Under Standing Order 73, imputations or improper motives and personal reflections—
The SPEAKER: Order! I understand the point of order.
Dr Andrew McDonald: Those issues should be raised by way of substantive motion. This is a personal imputation and the Minister should raise it in a substantive motion.
The SPEAKER: Order! I understand the point of order. The Minister was reporting the comments of someone else in relation to the Leader of the Opposition, not making those comments himself.
Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: There is much more to be said, and over the next four years it will be said. 1194 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
POLICE EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Mr NATHAN REES: My question is directed to the Premier. Why is he amending the Industrial Relations Act to give his Government the power to remove police officers' transfer and tenure entitlements?
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: It is fantastic to hear this first question asked by the member for Toongabbie since Parliament resumed. I was worried that the leadership tensions opposite would mean he would never be allowed to ask a question. I am also concerned that my good friend the member for Macquarie Fields is up and down so much doing the work of the Leader of the House that he is challenging the member for Maroubra. The wages policy being pursued by this Government is exactly the same as the policy that members opposite pursued when they were in government, but which they failed to implement. Their failure was not in identifying productivity savings or paying wage increases based on promised productivity savings but in not ensuring that they were delivered. As a result of that failure, the taxpayers of this State are out of pocket to the tune of almost $1 billion. As I said, conditions and entitlements on the table today under this Government's policy were part and parcel of the former Government's wages policy for four years.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will come to order. The member for Macquarie Fields will come to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: The question was about entitlements and conditions. There is no change between this policy and the former policy on entitlements and conditions and, as I said yesterday, they are on the table. If unions and workers want to identify savings in their departments, savings that may well lead to more effective and efficient services to people across the State, they should be rewarded for it and we are prepared to reward them, as those opposite were prepared to reward them, with more than 2.5 per cent pay increases. That is fair. The member for Toongabbie—No. 41—is now changing his tune. Having asked a question about why conditions and entitlements were under threat, not having admitted, like his boss—or his alleged boss—that it is exactly the same policy as those opposite had previously, he now wants to move on. This is a responsible policy.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will come to order.
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: This is a responsible policy in the interests of people across the State. It will guarantee to public servants fair wage increases. It will guarantee to taxpayers affordable wage increases and secure finances, and it will guarantee to all that there is a safeguard, there is a veto for Parliament. If the policy was unjust, if it were to be unfair—presumably if those opposite ever got back into office—it could be disallowed by one or other House of Parliament. As I said yesterday, and I note every day, we do not have control of the upper House and no doubt those opposite would use that veto. We were elected to make the tough decisions to fix up the mess in the State. We are getting on with the job. The Leader of the Opposition said on his first day in office that he wanted to be the hardest-working and most constructive Opposition leader we have seen in this State's history. So far, like Frank Fry in the Hitchcock movie, he has been a saboteur and, just like Frank Fry, the thread in his cloth is running out and he is about to fall off the Statue of Liberty.
NEPEAN HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS
Mr STUART AYRES: My question is directed to the Minister for Education. What is the Government doing to provide Nepean High School for the Creative and Performing Arts infrastructure it needs for its students?
Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI: I note the member for Penrith's interest in schools in Western Sydney. Situated at Emu Plains at the foot of the Blue Mountains, Nepean High School is a specialist high school for creative and performing arts. The new Government certainly supports creative and performing arts schools, but I should remind the House of the announcement made back in September 2009 by No. 41, when that former Premier announced he was going to convert Nepean High School into a specialist high school. It was a nice announcement, an announcement we all supported. But what did the former Government deliver to back up that announcement? Did it build a performing arts centre for the students in the school? No. Did it build a theatre? No. Did it build a little grassy knoll that students could perform on in the playground? No. Did it change the sign at the school? No. It announced that Nepean High School would be a performing arts centre and what did it change? It changed the letterhead. That is the only thing it did in support of Nepean High School becoming a creative and performing arts centre.
For too long the students of Nepean High School had to make do with two classrooms converted into a dance and drama performance space, a space the member for Penrith and I visited a couple of years ago. The 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1195
O'Farrell-Stoner Government thinks it is essential to provide Nepean High School with a performing arts centre so it can provide a quality performing arts program for its students. I am pleased to inform the House that the O'Farrell-Stoner Government has acted quickly to enter into the implementation stage of this project to provide a performing arts centre at Nepean High School and has appointed a project director to deliver the project to completion. This significant investment in western Sydney by the Government is due to the efforts of the hardworking member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres. Since being elected in June 2010 the member for Penrith has fought to secure an appropriate level of funding to recognise the school's recent change to a specialist high school. Stuart, you have achieved a lot more than just a change in the letterhead.
The member for Penrith and I were at Nepean High School during the election campaign, making this promise, and now I am proudly part of a Government that is delivering on that promise. On 24 May the Department of Education and Training project control group for the Nepean High School performing arts centre project, which includes the principal who represents the school community, met with the Government Architect's office and other stakeholders, such as the school education director and the department's regional asset planner, to develop some options for a master plan.
[Interruption]
Aren't members opposite rude? They keep on interrupting during an announcement that is so important for western Sydney, and so rude after everything we have done for them too. Even in the election we did them a big favour. If anyone in the Labor Party should get sick we will provide for them, because the member for Charlestown is a vet. He is up on level 12 and he has a stethoscope, so they will be right.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister will return to the question.
[Interruption]
Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI: The member opposite is only proving the joke. Can someone bring me a blackboard and some nails? I would rather listen to that noise than those opposite. It is proposed not only to construct a new performing arts centre at the school but also to upgrade and refurbish teaching facilities to meet the specialist teaching requirements of a creative and performing arts high school.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Fairfield will come to order.
Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI: The member for Penrith has discussed this with the project control group and we will continue to discuss this important project for Nepean.
The SPEAKER: Order! Government members will come to order.
Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI: The Nepean High School community, especially Julie Tyres and the rest of the parents and citizens association, are understandably delighted that the Government is making progress to deliver for the school. The O'Farrell-Stoner Government is committed to making New South Wales government schools—particularly those in western Sydney—number one again.
LACTATION BREAKS
Mrs BARBARA PERRY: My question is directed to the Minister for Women. Why is her Government amending the Industrial Relations Act to give it the power to remove the right to lactation breaks for mothers working in the New South Wales public service?
Ms PRU GOWARD: As the Premier has already said to the House, the wages policy proposals are about trade-offs. Nobody is suggesting that anybody has to accept anything they do not want to. They just have to accept that they have a pay rise that reflects that. We have strongly supported the principles of equal pay and family friendly work practices.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the House will come to order.
Ms PRU GOWARD: Members will find, as the Premier has said, that those trade-offs are a perfectly acceptable part of industrial relations. If we want to see those principles retained it is quite appropriate that the 2.5 per cent, as the inflation rate, be retained. 1196 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will come to order.
Ms PRU GOWARD: New South Wales public sector employee-related costs represent $28 billion and accounts for more than half of our expenditure. We saw enormous rises in expenditure over 16 years under the previous Government, enormous wage blowouts—
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Maroubra will come to order.
Ms PRU GOWARD: —and all that ever did was reduce the services that government was able to provide to the families of this State. There are always trade-offs and the former Government chose to reward union pressure instead of the families of New South Wales.
BARANGAROO DEVELOPMENT
Mr MARK COURE: My question is directed to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. How is the Government undertaking its review of the arrangements at Barangaroo and delivering on another election commitment?
Mr BRAD HAZZARD: I congratulate the member for Oatley on his election to this place, with a resounding swing of 15 per cent. Another great Liberal member of Parliament joins a team that is determined to make New South Wales number one again. A major project on our infrastructure radar in the quest to make New South Wales number one again is the opportunity offered to New South Wales through the development project at Barangaroo.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Oatley and the member for Kiama will come to order.
Mr BRAD HAZZARD: This magnificent 22-hectare site is one of the last great opportunities to take Sydney to a new international level—a financial, business and community level that will be the envy of the world. But what Barangaroo offers is so important to the people of New South Wales, and to Australia and to the world, that the New South Wales Government has stepped in to ensure the former Labor Government's decision-making around planning processes over the past few years has been appropriate.
As a Land and Environment Court proceeding was commenced by a community group, the Australians for Sustainable Development, challenging issues related to Barangaroo, I called the parties to take part in mediation. I thank all of them for their goodwill in taking part in that mediation two weeks ago today. Lend Lease was, of course, a party to those proceedings. I thank Lend Lease for its cooperation in being prepared to meet and work with the Australians for Sustainable Development. I would expect no less of an Australian company that has a world-class reputation, one of the nation's business leaders. The Government values the contribution of Lend Lease, which is a leader in sustainability and innovation, to the urban fabric of this State and recognises that the company would also like to see the issues around process resolved.
The result of the mediation to which I referred was agreement that there should be a review. The Government announced accordingly that a short, sharp review would take place. Today I can indicate to the House that since that date I received from the parties suggestions as to the terms of the review, and I thank them for their input. Let me make this very clear: Ensuring that the processes have been appropriate is critical as the Government recognises that Barangaroo's potential is to deliver private sector investment worth $6 billion at a time when State Labor has left the New South Wales economy languishing far below its potential. Barangaroo is far too important to allow there to be any doubts about the integrity of the process.
But the O'Farrell Government also understands that New South Wales, indeed Australia, needs the Barangaroo development to proceed expeditiously. That is why today I am announcing the terms of reference for a short, sharp review of arrangements at Barangaroo. They are as follows. The review will be in relation to compliance with the planning approval processes, and decision-making in relation to such processes, relevant to, first, the concept plan approval MP06_0162, known as modification 4, including in relation to land use mix, scale and density, and relationship to the Sydney central business district; second, the adequacy of planned transport arrangements to meet the demand generated by the site at full development; third, the proposed headland park; and, fourth, the relocation of the cruise terminal to White Bay.
To ensure the review is undertaken in an objective arms-length process, I have looked outside New South Wales to find an appropriate person or persons to undertake the review. I have the pleasure of announcing 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1197
that after an Australia-wide search the Government has appointed two eminently qualified persons to undertake the review: Ms Meredith Sussex, AM, who is a member of the Council of Australian Governments' Expert Panel on Capital City Planning, the former Coordinator General of Infrastructure Victoria, the former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria, and the former Executive Director, Commonwealth Games Coordination; and Ms Shelley Penn, who is a Fellow and National President-elect of the Australian Institute of Architects, the former Associate Victorian Government Architect, from 2006 to10, currently Deputy Chair of the Heritage Council of Victoria, and a board member of the National Capital Authority.
I emphasise that this review will be short and sharp. It will be transparent; it will be conducted by two reviewers independent of the processes around Barangaroo. Our intention is that it will be complete within eight weeks. Barangaroo is a great opportunity. It will be an exciting journey, and this review should ensure that there is absolute confidence in the way Barangaroo goes forward. It will give certainty to business. I invite the investors of the world to get on board. I can assure you that there is no better investment opportunity than putting your money into New South Wales under a Liberal-Nationals Government.
REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Northern Tablelands.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: The member for New England.
Mr RICHARD TORBAY: Nice interjection! My question is directed to the Minister for Education. Regional, rural and remote undergraduate participation in higher education in New South Wales is 32 per cent below the national population share. Can the Minister advise the House what steps the Government is taking to build a closer relationship with regional universities, such as the University of New England?
Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI: I thank the member for Northern Tablelands for his question and acknowledge his strong commitment to regional New South Wales universities, particularly given his role as the Chancellor of the University of New England. After 16 years of neglect, the O'Farrell-Stoner Government has already begun to strongly engage with the university sector. The O'Farrell-Stoner Government is committed to closing the gap in educational participation—and I acknowledge the statistics to which the member referred— between metropolitan students and students in rural and remote areas of the State, from early childhood through to higher education. How refreshing it is to hear the words "rural", "remote" and "regional" in this Parliament after such a long time.
In 2009 regional undergraduate participation in higher education in New South Wales continued to be below the national population share, as expressed by the member for Northern Tablelands in his question. Students in remote areas of the State comprise only 0.5 per cent of the domestic undergraduate student body at New South Wales higher education providers, and yet they comprise 2.5 per cent of the national population. Our Government is determined to work with our regional universities to turn this around. The University of New England will be an important part of that.
The House would recognise that as Chancellor of the University of New England the member for Northern Tablelands has done a terrific job. He has been a member of the University of New England council for 25 years. The University of New England was the first regional university and has for a long time had one of the largest percentages of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, on which we congratulate the university. The New South Wales Nationals and our predecessor, the Country Party, have a strong association with the University of New England. I am proud to remind the House that when the University of New England became fully independent in 1954, the very first chancellor was Sir Earle Page, the former Country Party Prime Minister, and grandfather of the Minister for Local Government, Don Page.
Mr Kevin Anderson: Who was 60 yesterday.
Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI: Yes. Indeed, the Minister for Local Government is a graduate of the University of New England, as is the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing. Universities play a critical role in regional New South Wales—they are key drivers of regional economies, providing employment, delivering a professional workforce, supporting local research initiatives, and making a major contribution to the social and cultural life in our regional centres. The O'Farrell-Stoner Government is committed to building strong partnerships with the university sector, particularly regional universities. Prior to 1198 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
the election the Premier, the Treasurer and I met with New South Wales vice-chancellors to listen to their ideas. Since we have come to Government I met with the New South Wales Vice-Chancellors Committee on Tuesday 5 April 2011—two days after being sworn in as Minister—and had lengthy discussions about some of the initiatives they would like to see the new Government undertake.
In recognition of importance of the university sector to New South Wales, the Government has appointed the new Liberal member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton, as Parliamentary Secretary for Tertiary Education and Skills. I congratulate her on her inaugural speech today. The member for Vaucluse has a strong background in tertiary education, having served as Deputy Chancellor at the University of New South Wales and on its council. Under the previous Labor Government, parliamentary secretaries were highly paid letter signers who were given zero direction from their Ministers: they lacked distinct roles and had limited responsibilities. I need only remind the Parliament of the last three Labor parliamentary secretaries—Angela D'Amore, Karen Paluzzano and Tony Stewart—to give members an idea of how seriously they took the role of Parliamentary Secretary.
The member for Vaucluse is the ideal person to engage with universities on behalf of the O'Farrell-Stoner Government. A critical part of her role will be to engage directly with the university sector to address issues that have been of concern for many years, and which the previous Government failed to address. These include: the most effective governance arrangements—I am sure the member for Vaucluse will have discussions on that aspect with the Chancellor of the University of New England—the current regulatory environment in which those governance arrangements operate, to make sure they are not burdened by red tape; how we can support our universities to find ways to gain higher levels of capital and research funding from the Commonwealth and other sources; how we can work with our universities to ensure a high-quality professional workforce for the State and meet our graduate supply needs; and how we can set up stronger partnerships between our universities, schools and TAFE institutes throughout the State to lift participation in higher education, particularly with regard to students in regional and rural New South Wales.
Shortly the Parliamentary Secretary and I will again meet with the Vice-Chancellors Committee, and New South Wales university representatives are meeting with the Premier next week. Our commitment to universities across New South Wales is just one part of the O'Farrell-Stoner Government's commitment to education. I look forward to working with the member for Northern Tablelands on regional education matters and regional universities. [Time expired.]
DISABILITY SERVICES
Mr CRAIG BAUMANN: My question is addressed to the Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services. What has been the Government's response to the Productivity Commission report entitled "Disability Care and Support"?
Mr ANDREW CONSTANCE: I thank the member for Port Stephens for his question and note that he is one of six Hunter-based members to be elected as a member of this Government. I will refer in a moment to the Hunter region as it is relevant in answering this question. On 28 March the Productivity Commission released a draft report into the National Disability Long-term Care and Support Scheme. The O'Farrell-Stoner Government was given an opportunity to respond to that report. I am pleased to announce that the Government has released its submission which shows its support for the implementation of such a scheme. The Government supports the implementation of that scheme for a number of reasons. First, this Government will not sugar coat the fact that this State's systems are in dire straits. The Productivity Commission indicated in its draft report that the service system offered in this country to people with a disability is underfunded, unfair, inefficient and fragmented. It offers people with a disability no choice.
In essence, the report of the Productivity Commission recommended a doubling of disability services in this country—from $6.3 billion to $12.6 billion. Members well know the difficulties faced by many families in accessing services to better support their loved ones. Too often people are forced into situations where they have to make the heart-wrenching decision of handing the care of their loved ones over to somebody else. John Della Bosca is heading up the Every Australian Counts campaign. Today I joined John and Sue O'Reilly, the mother of 21-year-old Shane, who suffers from quadriplegia and cerebral palsy. Sue gets by on about $2,000 per month. She is trying to access services to better support Shane but under the current system she is struggling to do so. That is why the New South Wales Government is keen on the implementation of a national scheme.
As part of the Productivity Commission findings it was recommended that a trial be conducted of a national disability insurance scheme somewhere in Australia. The New South Wales Government will suggest 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1199
the Hunter region for that trial. About 14,000 people with a disability reside in the Hunter, with about 576 services in the area providing them with support. The Government believes that the Hunter is one of the most suitable regions in the country to undertake such a trial to meet the needs of people with a disability in a suburban, coastal and country setting. This will give the Commonwealth the opportunity to see what we are saying about the Hunter region.
The Productivity Commission findings also made a recommendation around a whole-of-life approach to disability and, in particular, individual choices. For that reason the O'Farrell-Stoner Government is committed to rolling out individualised funding to people with disability, their carers and their families. It sees this as an important reform and it will be working with the sector over the next couple of years to implement that model. Fundamentally, if we are to move to a national scheme individualised funding support needs to be in train. The New South Wales Government is committed to that reform in advance of a national insurance disability scheme coming on board.
The report of the Productivity Commission is an important step. The New South Wales Government is committed to ensuring the implementation of such national reform. It will be working also with the other States to pressure the Commonwealth to implement this vital reform. Anyone in this country who thinks that he or she does not need to worry about disability services is wrong. For that reason the New South Wales Government has no problem in committing to a campaign. I will be visiting the Hunter to ensure that this scheme is implemented. The Government is not about issuing press releases: it needs to campaign and fight hard for this reform for the most vulnerable in our community.
INFRASTRUCTURE NSW
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: Earlier in question time Opposition members asked about Infrastructure NSW and the ability of the Premier to vary the plans without any accountability or transparency. I think No. 41 impugned my integrity on that issue. I think I have now worked out where the Opposition members went wrong. Six parts to the Act were introduced today. Part 4 gives me the power to send back amendments and changes to Infrastructure NSW, but I think Opposition members missed part 2 clause 8 (4) which states:
(4) If the Premier makes any amendment to the strategies, plans and statements submitted by Infrastructure NSW under Part 4, the Board may advise the Premier that it does not agree with the amendment and make that advice to the public.
Question time concluded at 3.17 p.m.
VARIATIONS OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS 2010-11
Mr Mike Baird tabled, pursuant to section 26 of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, variations of the receipts and payments estimates and appropriations for 2010-11, arising from the provision by the Commonwealth of specific purpose payments in excess of the amounts included in the State’s receipts and payments estimates—Department of Family and Community Services.
PETITIONS
The Clerk announced that the following petitions signed by fewer than 500 persons were lodged for presentation:
Wauchope Policing
Petition requesting additional police and resources for the Wauchope area, received from Mr Andrew Stoner.
Oxford Street Traffic Arrangements
Petition requesting the removal of the clearway and introduction of a 40 kilometres per hour speed limit in Oxford Street, received from Ms Clover Moore.
Pet Shops
Petition opposing the sale of animals in pet shops, received from Ms Clover Moore. 1200 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
Inner City Social Housing
Petition requesting that inner city social housing be retained, received from Ms Clover Moore.
Mental Health Services
Petition requesting increased funding for mental health services, received from Ms Clover Moore.
PETITIONS
The Clerk announced that the following petition signed by more than 500 persons was lodged for presentation:
Receptor Targeted Radionuclide Therapy
Petition requesting the availability of receptor targeted radionuclide therapy in New South Wales, received from Mr Andrew Stoner.
CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO BE ACCORDED PRIORITY
Clubs Industry
Mr GEOFF PROVEST (Tweed) [3.18 p.m.]: My motion, which should be accorded priority, seeks the support of this House for the important contribution made by clubs in New South Wales, and opposes mandatory pre-commitment technology for gaming machine players. I worked in the club industry for 27 years and for 16 of those years we had to fight the Labor Government for everything. Clubs are the backbone of our communities. There are 1,485 clubs in New South Wales. Clubs are found in the cities and in the country and perform a valuable role, but they need our support. I have pleaded with previous Treasurers for the survival of clubs in various places not only to assist with employment in those towns but also for the many community groups that rely upon them.
Clubs act as meeting places for people and charities, but we have not heard anything from the Leader of the Opposition or Opposition members about supporting the club industry; they have been strangely quiet. For a number of years I worked at the Revesby Workers Club—another fine club. Like many other clubs, Revesby Workers Club was formed by volunteer workers. Over the years that club has been the backbone of the Bankstown area. In my electorate we have the Twin Towns Services Club, Tweed Heads Bowls Club and South Tweed Sports club, which all support their local communities. Clubs in our State support sporting groups, but Opposition members are strangely quiet in relation to that matter.
I do not believe any Opposition member has picked up the phone, rung the Prime Minister and said, "This proposal will be disastrous for clubs." People who are employed by clubs in New South Wales will lose their jobs and many junior sporting events just will not be held. Many clubs will be forced to close and will not be able to afford to implement this technology. I am not talking about the freedom of people; I am talking about the survival of the club industry. Those members who are smug and are smiling, and who do not appear to be supporting clubs that are working for the good of the people of New South Wales, should pick up the phone, ring the Prime Minister and say, "There is no deal."
The SPEAKER: Order! All members will come to order.
Mr GEOFF PROVEST: Clubs are working hard for our local communities. They support hospitals, Legacy and many other great charities. They provide funding for environmental projects in my area and in the Coffs Harbour region. Without their support many charities would fold. Back in the late 1970s Tweed Heads Bowls Club donated $500,000 to the local hospital to build a new wing, which would not have occurred without the support of our clubs. The former Labor Government constructed a building for a new outpatient facility in Tweed Heads, but no funding was ever provided to run that facility. The Twin Towns Services Club came to the rescue, donated $200,000 and that outpatient facility was recently opened. Clubs are meeting places for many lonely people who rely heavily upon them. However, the Federal Labor Government is hell-bent on trying to destroy that valuable industry.
I am sure that many members regularly patronise their clubs and are members of at least two or three clubs in their electorates. These not-for-profit clubs work for and are a part of our community. This motion 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1201
should be accorded priority because clubs play a major part in our community and provide much-needed funding for our economy. Many university students are employed by our clubs which donate large amounts of money to sporting groups and to other worthwhile community organisations. We cannot stand idly by while a rampant Federal Labor Government seeks to destroy our clubs. I fully support the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, and Minister for the Arts, who I know is passionate about our clubs. I support also ClubsNSW—a great organisation headed by Chief Executive Officer Anthony Ball. ClubsNSW has been apprised of this proposal but people in our communities have not. Opposition members, who are strangely silent in relation to this matter, have done nothing other than sit on their hands. This motion should be accorded priority.
Infrastructure NSW
Mr JOHN ROBERTSON (Blacktown—Leader of the Opposition) [3.23 p.m.]: My motion should be accorded priority today as this Government has broken several promises that it made to the people of New South Wales. Let me briefly establish those promises.
The SPEAKER: Order! Members leaving the Chamber should do so quietly. There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber.
Mr JOHN ROBERTSON: On 10 March the Premier promised that Infrastructure NSW would have an independent board, and that he would ensure that the board could and would blow the whistle if the Government failed to meet its transport commitments. It is laughable to suggest that a board that is entirely at the control and direction of the Premier, chaired by his long-term mentor, could ever meet that promise. That is one broken promise that deserves the priority and attention of this House. Let me continue to establish what else this Government promised. The Government promised it would provide direction for Infrastructure NSW, not vice versa. On 27 October 2010 the current Premier promised that Infrastructure NSW would put in place plans for rail lines, roads, ports and other infrastructure, and that the government of the day would simply go down that list, seek funding for them and tick them off. The promise that was made was that Infrastructure NSW would determine the State's needs, plans and budgets independent of government, and that the government of the day would simply deliver. Now that the election is over precisely the opposite is true.
The SPEAKER: Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber. Members will resume their seats. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.
Mr JOHN ROBERTSON: Infrastructure NSW can beaver away, writing as many secret plans as it likes, but it cannot put a single plan in place. Under the Act only the Premier can do that. This matter deserves to be accorded priority. Another broken promise that ought to be debated is that this Government not only failed to meet its promise; it moved to new ground located in the opposite direction. Infrastructure NSW is entirely at the control and direction not of the Government but the Premier. He promised that Infrastructure NSW would take decision-making away from politicians. In reality, he consolidated decision-making away from Infrastructure NSW, its board, Treasurer No. 44, the transport Minister, the infrastructure Minister, the planning Minister, the Department of Transport, the Roads and Traffic Authority, the Department of Planning and this Parliament and dropped it into his own lap.
That is not what he repeatedly promised the people of New South Wales, which is why this matter deserves to be accorded priority. My final reason why this motion deserves priority relates to the Government's broken promise to end political interference in infrastructure decisions. I draw the attention of members to the words spoken by the current Deputy Premier on 22 November 2010. He promised that Infrastructure NSW would ensure "that our infrastructure spend is planned properly and it's not…buggered up by politicians". I do not believe he should speak of the Premier in that way, but I thank him for establishing another reason why my motion deserves to be accorded priority.
Question—That the motion of the member for Tweed be accorded priority—put and resolved in the affirmative.
CLUBS INDUSTRY
Motion Accorded Priority
Mr GEOFF PROVEST (Tweed) [3.28 p.m.]: I move:
That this House supports the important contribution of clubs in New South Wales and opposes mandatory pre-commitment technology.
1202 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
The motion that has been accorded priority—one of the most significant motions to be moved in this House— will ensure the survival of 1,485 clubs that are being threatened with sheer annihilation if the Federal Government's proposal is implemented. Opposition members should talk to their Federal Labor colleagues and try to prevent the implementation of the Gillard-Wilkie agreement which will put at risk the future viability of every registered club in New South Wales.
The Government did the deal to stay in power, without any concern for the impact on clubs. The proposal will not only impact on major leagues clubs and RSL clubs; it will also impact on little clubs. Mr Deputy-Speaker has many small clubs in his electorate, such as Kyogle Bowling Club, that will be put at risk. In every member's electorate there will be clubs that will not be able to afford the technology. The proposal requires centralised databases that cost thousands of dollars. Who will pay for that? That will be paid for by the taxpayer, just to keep the Federal Labor Government in power.
Jobs will be cut. In January I had the privilege of the Premier visiting my area. On his visit we went to a club that had to put off 30 workers and shelve a $50 million development with a conference centre. They are now faced with this unique threat. Registered clubs are not-for-profit bodies. Their object is to promote and support the community and social objectives. The local bowling clubs provide the community with bowling greens. I am sure the member for Mount Druitt enjoys his local bowling club. Clubs provide the community with golf courses and swimming pools. Without the support of clubs, there would be a tremendous lack of facilities in our State.
I have managed clubs for about 27 years, some of the largest clubs in the State. We strove to make the members happy and to support local sporting groups. My old club, Revesby Workers, has 50 or 60 sports groups attached to it. My old bowls club is the largest bowls club in the Southern Hemisphere and often hosts international television events on Channel 2. It also supports local Legacy, local schools and so on. As part of our community contributions, we even bought a community police car. The Labor Government at the time could not afford one, so the local club bought a community policy car. It is unbelievable.
Clubs represent a diverse mix of sporting, social and community charters. There is a club for every interest. As I said earlier, virtually every club in New South Wales was established on volunteer labour. Materials were donated and volunteers built the premises and established the clubs. They did not ask for government handouts. With all the repressive Labor Party taxation on clubs, all they ask is for a fair go. They want a fair go to serve their local communities and to support their sporting groups and local charities. I applaud ClubsNSW. It has taken up the fight. It will not lie down because the clubs are fighting for survival.
In making the commitment to the Strong Clubs Stronger Communities memorandum of understanding, the Government recognises the substantial and unique contribution made by the club movement. A business and regulatory environment that allows registered clubs to achieve their outcomes is a win-win outcome for the whole community. I congratulate the Government on this initiative. Once again, we can feel a fresh breeze blowing through. Late last year when the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing and the Premier visited the Tweed area and signed the memorandum of understanding, the club industry felt a breath of fresh air. Finally, it had a commonsense plan that would deliver a viable framework and a Government that was keen to support the industry. The Government recognises the valuable contribution that the club industry makes to this great State.
The memorandum of understanding includes an increase in the amount of club contributions. Clubs do not have to be forced to contribute. Most clubs contribute more than the required legislated amount. For the first time a club's support for professional sport, such as rugby league, will be counted as a community contribution, with the clear exception that it does not include player payments. This initiative will promote sport. Many of our sporting heroes are role models for our youth in the State and we should support them. The former Government's strategies were a simple grab for revenue to cover their mishandling of the State's affairs. I am afraid to say that the clubs were an easy target. Over the years I was involved in the club industry clubs faced continually rising taxes, which affected their viability. Unfortunately, in the past 16 years a large number of clubs have had to shut their doors or amalgamate.
Our clubs are the backbone of our communities. It is deplorable that the Federal Government has done a deal with an Independent from Hobart to introduce a strange proposal on anti-gaming initiatives. It will put people out of work and destroy clubs, particularly in regional and rural areas. Under a New South Wales Labor Government the increases in gaming machine taxes brought many clubs to their knees. The situation in New South Wales now is that we have a spineless Labor Opposition led by a man who is anything but an energetic leader. I strongly oppose mandatory pre-commitment technology. I am 100 per cent for the club industry. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1203
Mr PAUL LYNCH (Liverpool) [3.35 p.m.]: Taking away the short-term political rhetoric from the member for Tweed, I agree with many of the sentiments he expressed. It is a pity that he mucked up the motion. We have heard some banter about Sergeant Sloppy, but have members actually read his motion? It states that "his House supports the important contribution of clubs". Did the member for Tweed check the motion, which he signed? He moved a motion that states "his House supports the important contribution of clubs in New South Wales". The member should pay enough regard to this House to correct typographical errors.
Mr Geoff Provest: I am sure the clubs are interested to hear that.
Mr PAUL LYNCH: It is a question of how serious the member is. If he is serious about the issue he should check his motion. The second part of the interesting motion is that it "opposes mandatory pre-commitment technology". I thought the issue was whether the member opposes or supports the compulsory imposition of that technology, not the technology itself. I do not care whether the technology is good or bad, the issue is whether it will be applied. The member has not drafted the motion rationally or properly.
Mr Geoff Provest: I bet you will be welcomed in your club tonight.
Mr PAUL LYNCH: Let me declare my interest. I am an honorary member of Mounties at Mount Pritchard, an honorary member of the Liverpool Catholic Club and a social member of Austral Bowling Club. I will be at the Liverpool Catholic Club on Sunday. The Catholic Club in particular is one where I have many friends. I hold my election functions there and they have supported me in my election campaign. I am happy to be supportive of those clubs because they play an important and positive role in our community. I am particularly supportive of them because the profits they make go back into the community, unlike the profits of hotels which go into private pockets. I have always felt that the clubs fulfil a useful social need because of their contributions, if nothing else. Certainly every member on this side of the House supports the role of clubs in this State.
I refer to what the Labor Government did to support registered clubs. No government in memory did more to highlight the enormous contribution the clubs industry brings to the public of New South Wales. Clubs make a major contribution to this State, providing quality facilities, services, support and jobs in hundreds of local communities. The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal estimated that the registered clubs' contribution to social infrastructure in New South Wales was $811 million in 2007 alone. Registered clubs also significantly boost the State's economy, employing 43,000 people and supporting 45,000 volunteers. It is timely to recognise that registered clubs have continued to enhance facilities and services and to provide community support in the face of tough economic times. The Labor Government worked closely with the club industry to ensure its ongoing sustainability, providing changes to legislation to help registered clubs generate much-needed income, increase membership and visitation and reduce costs. These changes enabled clubs to issue seven-day temporary memberships and remove membership limits, allowed clubs to expand catering operations and included all key recommendations made by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.
We worked with ClubsNSW to establish a club viability panel to help clubs in financial difficulty. We also allowed struggling clubs to defer payment of gaming machine tax without being charged interest. Clubs also benefited from the Labor Government's gaming reforms introduced in January last year, which cut red tape and encouraged venues to trade poker machines. We worked closely with ClubsNSW on strategies to reduce alcohol-related violence and help venues to reduce risk, and we helped to run workshops for front-line bar and security staff. ClubsNSW provided advice to individual clubs during compliance audits. A significant amount of work was also done in relation to responsible gambling, which is a significant part of this debate. There is already a statewide cap on poker machine numbers and an innovative poker machine forfeiture scheme that provides an ongoing mechanism to reduce machine numbers even further. Gaming venues have obligations to shut down gaming machines for a period each year, to provide self-exclusion schemes, to install clocks in gaming areas and to supply responsible gambling information about counselling services and the odds of winning.
There is no doubt about the role that clubs play in the community. I have mentioned briefly a couple of the clubs in my patch. The Catholic Club and John Edmondson VC Memorial Club played a very significant role a number of years ago when we were trying to establish a branch of the Bendigo bank in a shopping centre when all the other banks had moved out. Two of the clubs—I think John Edmondson and the Catholic Club— were each prepared to commit $100,000 to fund the establishment of the branch. That is a reflection of the commitment that those clubs have to our area and to our region. The clubs also provide significant funds through the Community Development and Support Expenditure scheme. Interestingly, some of the social programs dealing with the consequences of problem gambling are funded through the scheme, from which one refuge in Liverpool also gets significant funding. 1204 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
The days of clubs funding only sporting teams—which is certainly important—are long gone. Clubs have a much broader view about the sorts of things they should do. Certainly those clubs have come very much from the fabric of the community. The Catholic Club at Liverpool commenced, as did Mounties, at about the time of the development of the Green Valley estate. The Mounties club was originally going to be named the "workers club" but there were some difficulties with the licensing laws and they had to start again and call it something else. The initial meetings of the Mounties club featured Gough Whitlam, amongst other people, and the member for Cabramatta, who is almost a fixture at the club—that is probably putting it unfairly—
Mr John Williams: Were there any Fergusons there?
Mr PAUL LYNCH: The Fergusons are everywhere. The member for Cabramatta is well and truly known at Mounties. Clubs play a significant and integral role in our communities in a whole range of areas, not just in sporting clubs—as important as they are—and those with professional leadership, as those in my electorate have, are only an ornament to the area.
Mr STUART AYRES (Penrith) [3.42 p.m.]: It is a privilege to speak about the great work that clubs do in our electorates, particularly the electorate of Penrith. I acknowledge the contribution of the member for Tweed who, after working in the clubs industry for 27 years, is more qualified than anyone else in this House to talk about clubs' commitments to local areas. This is essentially an attack on a community group. The Federal Government is attacking the community of every member in this House, regardless of their constituency. Everyone in this place should recognise that. If the clubs did not contribute to our local communities we would have constituents knocking on our doors, filling our email inboxes and making sure that our phones rang off the hook with requests for government funding—which comes from the taxpayer—to support community groups, sporting groups and cultural groups. They are groups that clubs support locally.
The member for Parramatta informed me recently that a couple of weeks ago the Rosehill Bowling Club hosted a bowls day for the blind. That is the type of work that clubs do in the electorate; they provide a community service and low-cost activities. The member for Strathfield has a small bowling club in his electorate, Ashfield Bowling Club, that contributes to the local community. These small clubs are under attack by the Federal Government, which wants to rip funds out of these community organisations that support smaller community groups. The member for Granville talks to me quite regularly about the contribution of clubs in his electorate and he has spoken about the good work of the Merrylands RSL. A number of clubs across the electorate of Penrith continue to contribute to the local area. For example, the Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club and Club Paceway not only conduct race meetings on Thursday nights but also hold a regular market event for members of the community on Wednesday nights. The Emu Plains Sporting and Recreation Club, affectionately referred to as the "Leonay Golfie", is always supporting organisations such as the Emu Plains Rugby League Club.
The member for Tweed—who is 100 per cent for the Tweed—talked about the support that clubs offer to RSL clubs and Legacy groups. Another local club that pops into my mind is Penrith Gaels Sporting and Cultural Club, which epitomises exactly what this debate is about: a group of people, essentially volunteers with the same cultural background, who decided to develop their own club. Western Sydney is littered with those types of clubs. People came from overseas, made their home in western Sydney and banded together to create their own cultural clubs. Those clubs are under attack from the Federal Government. Sporting clubs are under attack from the Federal Government. RSL clubs are under attack from the Federal Government. This is happening because the Federal Government will not come down to the grassroots level and consider the impact of its proposals.
Every person in this place recognises the critical importance of clubs in this State; they have become part of our cultural identity. New South Wales is very different from a State like Victoria, where communities have developed around individual football clubs in regional areas. In New South Wales communities have developed around the clubs movement. The clubs industry has been the driving force behind community development. The member for Liverpool described how some areas in his electorate were developing and houses were popping up. But what are the first things established in a new area? It is the clubs, which support local people and help them to engage with each other. The member for Tweed also spoke about how clubs can be a home away from home. The fastest-growing type of household in this State is the single household. Single people, whether young or elderly, will often go to their local club to engage with others. That is exactly what we should support. We should support local clubs, which build stronger communities for all members to represent. Those stronger communities are under attack from a Federal Government that has lost touch completely with this State and this country, and it is time to get rid of it. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1205
The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber.
Mr CLAYTON BARR (Cessnock) [3.47 p.m.]: Cessnock is the home of the Cessnock Goannas. I am pleased to speak in support of the clubs and pubs of New South Wales, and I acknowledge the assistance they provide to the community. In my work for charity and with sporting teams I, too, have been fortunate to benefit from their good work. But it is important to point out that the new Government is using time in this place to discuss Federal issues. The Coalition should be reminded that it had 16 years in Opposition and now it is in power it should get on with the job of governing New South Wales. The Premier is not the New South Wales spokesperson for the Federal Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott—although many would believe otherwise. The Premier is the leader of the Government in this State. Today we should be talking about the Premier's latest broken promise with regard to Infrastructure NSW, which affects this State and which is controlled by this Government. However, this Government is keen to continue its role in opposition to the Prime Minister and the Federal Labor Government.
Mr Geoff Provest: Point of order: I refer to Standing Order 127, relevance. If the member for Cessnock believes that clubs are not a State and a local issue, he is kidding himself. They are the backbone of this State.
The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! The member for Cessnock will confine his remarks to the motion. The member for Maroubra and the member for Coffs Harbour will direct their comments through the Chair.
Mr CLAYTON BARR: I appreciate and acknowledge the member's raising the issue of relevance because it is not relevant to discuss this issue in this House. This is a Federal issue and it is being debated at that level. We all understand that problem gambling in Australia is a very serious matter. The means to an end are not always beyond question. I am advised that up to 160,000 Australians have problems with gambling. Unfortunately, members of the Opposition refuse to acknowledge that. They do not care about the means; they care only about the ends. Clubs are part of a vibrant community and have enormous capacity to invent and reinvent themselves time and again—and they do it wonderfully well. I am fortunate that one of my local clubs provides a cafe, hairdressing salon and an auditorium for a range of functions that meet the community's needs.
Clubs are important. Money spent irresponsibly by a problem gambler is money not spent on his or her family. While members opposite are happy to talk about the impact on families in other areas, they will not recognise the impact that problem gambling has on families. Members opposite have their heads in the sand. The Federal Government is also aware of concerns raised by small clubs and small venues, particularly those in rural areas of Australia, such as Cessnock. The sign-off from the Liberal-Nationals Government with regard to reducing tax does not impact on small clubs; it has maintained the status quo. The tax cuts it has offered will go to large clubs with revenue in excess of $1 million from gaming. Good job! Well done! They are to be congratulated.
Mr Andrew Fraser: On a point of clarification: I wonder whether the member for Cessnock supports the larger clubs in his electorate or only the smaller clubs. Is he talking about tennis clubs—
[Interruption]
The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! I do not need the assistance of members to sort out a point of clarification.
Mr GEOFF PROVEST (Tweed) [3.52 p.m.], in reply: This is unbelievable. The member for Liverpool is worried about punctuation and wording when the real issue is that clubs in his electorate are about to close their doors and people in his electorate will lose their jobs and sporting amenities. To say that they will not close is farcical. I believe what ClubsNSW has told the Government; it has undertaken detailed analyses. Clubs need our support now. It is beyond belief that members opposite have said that over the past 16 years the Labor Government has cut red tape, fixed sign-in laws and so on. I worked in the industry and I know that the former Government did nothing. Although it gave a little every now and then, it generally stood in our way.
That is why in 1996 I stood with 3,000 people outside this place protesting about the former Government's policies and it is why I led 2,000 people down the street in the Tweed in 2006 and protested in front of the then Labor member's office. That has happened time and again. Members opposite would not listen. 1206 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
I even led delegations to meet with the then Treasurer Michael Egan. He had no idea what was going on. The problem that we confronted during 16 years of Labor government was that its members did not understand the industry. They cannot be bothered to understand it and they do not get involved in it.
The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! The member for Cessnock has already made a contribution. The member for Tweed will be heard in silence.
Mr GEOFF PROVEST: That is why the clubs industry welcomed with open arms the O'Farrell-Stoner memorandum of understanding. The president of ClubsNSW said, "Finally, someone understands our issues and our industry. How refreshing is that!" That is why the industry voted unanimously in support of the memorandum. The member for Penrith made a fine contribution to the debate. Penrith is home to one of the largest clubs in the State. The Penrith Panthers do a lot of great work and, as the member said, will continue to do so—but with no support from the Federal Government. The former chief executive officer was subjected to scandalous attacks but the accusations made against him were eventually dismissed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. It was appalling that members opposite went down that path. The member for Cessnock said that this issue has nothing to do with the State. He behaved like Pontius Pilate and washed his hands of the issue. He does not care about the clubs in Cessnock and the club workers, suppliers and sporting teams. He is happy to walk away from them. That is typical of the behaviour of members opposite during their 16 years in government.
Members referred to problem gambling. The clubs industry has implemented programs to assist problem gamblers, including self-exclusion schemes, and it has engaged consultants. I acknowledge that some people have gambling problems, but the industry is doing all it can to assist them. The archaic pre-commitment scheme will not work. The Federal Government has not decided whether it will apply across borders, who will pay for it and so on. The member for Cessnock said that it will affect only the large clubs. He should talk to members of the small clubs and do some research to establish the benefits they enjoy as a result of this Government's memorandum of understanding. I am sure he will be surprised. The problem with Labor members is that they never speak to the industry. Protest groups have sprung up all over the place. I am proud to be a member of this Government, which is supporting one of the best industries in this State. It is about time members opposite stopped pretending to be Pontius Pilate and blaming everybody else, and supported their local clubs. I am 100 per cent for the clubs industry!
Question—That the motion be agreed to—put and resolved in the affirmative.
Motion agreed to.
LIBRARY AMENDMENT BILL 2011
Agreement in Principle
Debate resumed from an earlier hour.
Mr JOHN WILLIAMS (Murray-Darling) [3.57 p.m.]: During debate this morning on the Library Amendment Bill 2011 the shadow Minister, the member for Toongabbie, was basically contradicted by a member of his party with respect to the importance of the amendments in the bill. One could only call the shadow Minister's contribution frivolous. He virtually said that as it contained only 53 words the bill did not mean a lot. The member for Auburn had a completely different view. She believes there is a shortfall in this amending bill that could create problems. I bow to the knowledge of the member for Auburn, who is a former Minister for Local Government, but I think she is jumping at shadows.
Regional libraries have been constituted by an agreement between councils to provide much-needed library facilities on a shared basis. The previous Government failed to recognise that libraries are extremely important to communities. Over four years the then Minister for the Arts instituted a process whereby he reduced library funding by about 2 per cent per annum. The former Government walked away from its obligations to the people of New South Wales. Because of this cost shifting and the need to rationalise, there was a development opportunity for regional councils. The amendment in this bill puts in place a means to formalise an agreement between councils to operate a regional library in an area under a prescribed arrangement. Areas that enjoy these regional libraries will always be challenged. Regardless of who runs the service, local government has always been concerned about library demands on revenue and generally feels the service should be funded out of State coffers. That was the view taken by the former Minister, Frank Sartor, 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1207
when he decided on the annual funding reduction of 2 per cent. That decision has impacted on libraries; every library in my electorate has been affected. Two years ago all State libraries supported a petition that was presented to Frank Sartor, who refused to acknowledge it. He continued to downgrade funding for this important local government service.
Libraries have to move with the times and perform a variety of functions. However, during the drought libraries in the electorate of Murray-Darling were much in demand. Farming families who were virtually put out of business by the drought found refuge in libraries. Libraries played an important role in giving people peace of mind and providing access to a range of reading material—I think all members will agree that good reading material can be a great motivator. Farmers and their families enjoyed the quality reading material supplied through the libraries. I saw the benefits in those areas where we brought the library to the farm, particularly in the more remote regions. The Unincorporated Area of New South Wales is unique. Many members may not be aware that part of New South Wales is unincorporated. This State's Unincorporated Area has some remote communities within it, such as the community of Tibooburra. The village committee at Tibooburra is trying to gather books and reading material to provide to the community through a community-managed library. There is recognition that libraries hugely benefit remote areas. The latest request for books by the Tibooburra community is a clear indication to me of the benefit derived from providing some sort of library facility for the people.
Those who have been involved in local government know that libraries are a big drain on revenue. The former Government certainly did nothing to alleviate that expense. In fact, it did a good job shifting the expense on a continual basis, year on year, to the local government areas. The councils that support regional libraries have been criticised by those opposite for dismissing employees and contracting out services. That is unbelievable. They are living in the shadow of the old WorkChoices legislation; it will not go away. There is some crazy belief that local government is going to allow its employees to be underpaid. I cannot believe that mentality exists; it is certainly not what this amending bill is about. Members opposite have a bad habit of reading something awful into anything that is good for the community. They always find some sort of danger, threat or sensationalism.
There is absolutely no threat in this bill. It offers a means of supplying library facilities across the State in a cost-effective manner. Delivery must be cost-effective because the previous regime removed so much State Government support for libraries that local government organisations must now find a means of adapting and creating even better facilities than we have had historically. Rapidly moving technology offers a greater range of services to communities, and the bill ensures that library facilities will be provided in the long term rather than the short term. There are challenges—there always will be. I do not think there is a council meeting to discuss library funding that does not try to find the cheapest way to offer that service. The bill does not constitute a threat to employment or to local councils. It comprises 53 words to amend the Library Act in order to make life a lot easier for regional councils that support a facility that is really great for the State of New South Wales.
Ms TANIA MIHAILUK (Bankstown) [4.10 p.m.]: In speaking to the Library Amendment Bill 2011 I echo the concerns that have been raised by the member for Toongabbie and the member for Auburn. In response to the contribution of the member for Murray-Darling, had the Government not attempted to rush the bill through the Parliament the Opposition might have found the proposal a little more acceptable—except for the fact that we are a little afraid that there might be more sinister motivations behind it. The bill proposes to permit circumstances whereby two or more local authorities can enter into an arrangement—I note the term has been amended to "arrangement"—to manage libraries and library services or information services in the area of any local authority that is party to the arrangement, without the obligation that one or more of the local authorities retain the carriage of undertaking such functions. That is a matter of concern for the Opposition. The bill is clearly silent on this critical issue, and has the potential to remove the obligation or onus on any of the local authorities that are party to this arrangement to utilise their own resources in managing the library's services. It potentially opens up a Pandora's box of issues.
There are broad-reaching implications for local government operations, namely that such a bill may lay the foundations for outsourcing or contracting out of essential services that ordinarily would be undertaken by local government employees. One of the Minister's supporting arguments for the proposal is that certain functions are already jointly exercised through collaborative arrangements. I note that such functions tend to be limited to operational areas that may involve broad-reaching initiatives such as environment and water alliances, whereby clearly the councils in those agreements may not have the capacity to undertake the specific functions. The functions and duties undertaken within libraries can be and are met by local government employees, and any agreements formed between councils should clearly stipulate that the provider of the service should remain one or more of the respective councils involved within the agreement. 1208 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
The Hon. Catherine Cusack initially proposed the Library Amendment Bill in November 2010, although it was then named the Arrangement for Mutual Provision of Library Services Bill. The Hon. Catherine Cusack indicated that her concerns related to Richmond-Tweed Regional Library, where it appeared that one of the local councils was citing the Library Act 1939 as a means of undertaking a hostile takeover. Whilst I do not suggest that the Hon. Catherine Cusack's intentions are not honourable, I am concerned that the speedy manner in which the bill is being rushed through this Parliament suggests that there may be more sinister motivations behind this proposal.
If the Government's intention is to simply allow for more flexible arrangements of management between councils, I suggest that consideration be given to incorporating in the bill a provision that clearly stipulates that local authorities may enter an agreement whereby they have the option of jointly and cooperatively undertaking the management of such services whereby at least one of the councils remains the service provider. This would complement and resolve any anomaly, as was suggested originally by the Hon. Catherine Cusack, that may have been created by section 12 of the Library Act 1939.
Essentially, a joint or cooperative agreement whereby a council or councils remain the service provider would alleviate the Hon. Catherine Cusack's concerns. It would also alleviate any concerns the Opposition has that the current proposal would potentially lay the foundations for outsourcing or contracting out of services that ordinarily would be undertaken by local government employees. The bill in its current form is a concern. The Opposition will review the bill and consult widely on it. I suggest that the Government do so as well. We will make further comment prior to the bill being deliberated upon in the Legislative Council.
Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina—Minister for Local Government, and Minister for the North Coast) [4.14 p.m.]: I speak in support of the Library Amendment Bill 2011. The bill enables two or more local councils to enter into arrangements for the provision, control and management of libraries and library services in any of the areas of the council. Arrangements can be entered into with the approval of the Minister for the Arts, who must have the agreement of the Minister for Local Government. I assure the member for Bankstown that there is no sinister motivation whatsoever in relation to this legislation. The bill will solve a problem that was experienced with an agreement between four North Coast councils last year. Indeed, that was the genesis of this legislation. Those councils—namely Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Lismore councils—had a joint library agreement known locally as the Richmond-Tweed Regional Library. The agreement saw the provision of exceptionally good library services for the four council areas for more than 30 years.
However, in July last year Lismore City Council decided that due to the wording of the Library Act 1939, which only enabled one council to run a library, even a regional library, the council needed to take control of the regional library. One of the reasons given by Lismore City Council for acting in the way it did was its desire to protect the rights of employees who hitherto had been employed by a body that was not properly constituted. Lismore council's control of the regional library included the combined assets of the library group, which are now included on Lismore council's balance sheet exclusively. The remaining three councils have lost the benefit of those assets and any control over them.
Indeed, the actions by Lismore City Council in relation to the Richmond-Tweed Regional Library has caused the three disenfranchised councils to consider withdrawing from the service altogether. This would be a great shame and would cause substantial detriment to the residents of those three council areas, who currently have access to one of the best library services in New South Wales. The regional library, as it was operating, was providing an exceptional service. It had one of the highest memberships, with more than 50 per cent of residents holding membership. It was also one of the cheapest library services on a per capita basis and the second-busiest library services in the State. This legislation will enable regional library agreements and will further facilitate the creation of new agreements. It will also mean that a regional library will be able to access funding provided by the State Library of New South Wales, because it will now be legally constituted.
I commend the work of my colleague in the other place, the Hon. Catherine Cusack, for her substantial work on this legislation. The honourable member, with the then shadow Cabinet's approval, introduced similar legislation prior to the prorogation of the previous Parliament in an attempt to fix the problem that existed under the old legislation, especially as it applied to the Richmond-Tweed Regional Library. I also acknowledge the dedication and efforts of Martin Field, the former director of the Richmond-Tweed Regional Library, whose tireless work saw it become one of the most vibrant and well-patronised libraries in New South Wales. This is commonsense legislation which will make regional libraries legal and encourage their growth. As the Minister for Local Government I encourage councils to share resources, and mobile regional libraries supported by several councils are a good example of this cooperative approach. I commend the bill to the House. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1209
Ms ANNA WATSON (Shellharbour) [4.18 p.m.]: I speak on the Library Amendment Bill 2011. The O'Farrell Government is attempting once again to ram legislation through this House and the other place. The bill will leave many local government workers exposed to the threat of outsourcing, privatisation and loss of jobs. The bill effectively sells out workers and is the thin end of the wedge to continue, possibly section by section, to dismantle local government services. Our concern is that there are no clearly defined employment protections, such as no forced redundancies or the protection of wages and conditions.
In relation to resource sharing, consideration must be given to the Local Government State Award regarding wages. All councils are required to provide a salary system in accordance with the Local Government State Award. As such, salary system rates of pay can vary from council to council. This may result in a reduction of pay rates. The bill, if introduced without protections, could lead to loss of services traditionally delivered by local people, particularly in regional and rural New South Wales. Clearly there is a hidden agenda here. Is it that councils will be forced to compete regarding the wages they pay, rather than regarding the services they provide? In our view, councils should remain the service provider and employees should be paid at whichever is the greater rate of pay.
Mr GREG APLIN (Albury) [4.20 p.m.]: I support the Library Amendment Bill 2011. The object of the bill is to amend the Library Act 1939 to enable two or more local councils to enter into an arrangement for the provision, control and management of libraries and library services in any of the areas of the councils. The bill provides that local councils may make alternative arrangements for the provision, control and management of a library, library service or information service in the area of any council that is party to the arrangement. A library that operates in that manner exists in my electorate. In fact it is in one of those unique situations where it crosses the border, so it already embraces many of the ideas and aspirations embodied in this bill. Hence the objections of those opposite are totally unfounded because this type of operation clearly exists and crosses the border. I speak of none other than the Upper Murray Regional Library, which is a company limited by guarantee. Seven councils have a representative on the board of directors: the City of Wodonga, Corowa Shire, Greater Hume Shire, Urana Shire, Tumbarumba Shire, and Towong Shire and Indigo Shire—Towong and Indigo shires are in Victoria.
The Upper Murray Regional Library has two mobile libraries and 10 branches, which operate both in Victoria and New South Wales at towns such as Beechworth, Chiltern, Corowa, Corryong, Holbrook, Mulwala, Rutherglen, Tallangatta, Tumbarumba and Wodonga. The regional library covers 28,000 square kilometres, serves a total population of more than 126,000 people and, as I have said, provides services to seven councils in New South Wales and Victoria. One of its two mobile libraries is affectionately known as Suzi: a refitted Isuzu truck that more resembles a hi-tech office or meeting room. It is a mobile homework and training centre. Suzi boasts seven laptops and internet access, fold-down desks to accommodate 12 to 15 people and, most importantly, it is on wheels so it can travel anywhere.
When I was on one of my frequent electorate tours to Khancoban—one of the furthest points of my electorate from my base in Albury—I encountered the operators of this mobile library setting up and I was amazed at the technology being delivered in that fairly remote area. Admittedly Khancoban is on the Alpine Way, but it is a small town at the eastern side of my electorate as one commences the drive up the Snowy Mountains. I was fascinated to find them setting up a satellite dish. Lynne Makin, the Chief Executive Officer of the Upper Murray Regional Library, had this to say in the 2009-10 annual report of that library:
Our interest in technology and our belief in equity of access was the catalyst for us to lead the way in innovative service delivery as shown through the Mobile Homework and Training Centre. "Suzi" as the refurbished mobile library is affectionately known has been featured in Conferences in Australia and New Zealand and has provided support for many students in the community as they work their way through the education system. She has been the difference in achieving education goals for a number of children in our community.
I endorse those comments by Lynne Makin. When the satellite dish was set up at Khancoban I was amazed at the organisation inside, the electronic technology and at how many books and workstations had been crammed in. I then sat and watched as people arrived to utilise those facilities. This wonderful facility crosses the border and embraces the ideals of all councils and that is why we should support this amendment. The Upper Murray Regional Library provides services for people of all ages from diverse walks of life, and all socio-economic and educational backgrounds. It provides access to information to students who are studying, those who are improving their language skills, business people and farmers who wish to grow their businesses, and children who are undertaking projects at school, and online access and assistance to those who have limited mobility and are unable to come to the library due to time constraints.
Importantly, all branches provide free internet access to library members and books can be reserved from any branch free of charge and sent to the nearest Upper Murray Regional Library branch. This is an 1210 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
example of some of the great advantages of regional libraries and councils working together to achieve so much for our communities. But sometimes difficulties are encountered. In recent times there has been tension at the Riverina Regional Library, which comes under the Wagga Wagga City Council, between the board and the council, which has resulted from control from one centre without the involvement of the other councils.
The Greater Hume Shire Council covers two library organisations: the Riverina Regional Library and the Upper Murray Regional Library. I sought the opinion of Steve Pinnuck, the General Manager of Hume Shire Council, on this bill. He says he believes it will provide the regional library with the authority it needs to provide services without seeking continuous approvals from lead councils. What more endorsement can you get than the users of those libraries and the councils that provide the services in the regions that experience the difficulties addressed by this bill? I commend the bill for doing that. Councillor Bill Bott, the chair of the Upper Murray Regional Library board of directors, who is well known to many in this State, said in that same report:
It is my belief that the UMRL [Upper Murray Regional Library] continues to be the most cost-effective and positive service that is often provided by the member councils to their constituents.
He also expressed his appreciation to Lynne Makin. Last year the Upper Murray Regional Library underwent significant changes because Albury City left and Wodonga City was making changes and taking over the operation of its own library. Hence the regional library underwent an external review to identify any major issues that councils had with the organisation and also to look at the structure, governance and other models of service delivery. The Upper Murray Regional Library has the reputation of being one of the leading regional libraries in New South Wales and Victoria. Its unique geopolitical structure has given it many advantages. One of its major strengths has been the ability to apply for grants in both States.
To date and since commencement as a company in 1998, the Upper Murray Regional Library has successfully applied for grants to the value of almost $2 million. Members would readily accept that without those grants the collection would not have been as good. The mobile libraries would not have been replaced and the technology would not have been of a standard to provide online services and connectivity across the very large region I have referred to. The Upper Murray Regional Library formed a business unit in 1999 to maximise revenue opportunities. Up to the end of the last financial year that business unit had turned over almost $800,000. That was money that councils need not have provided, and did not provide because it was raised by that business unit. It has enabled service development and provided reserves for future technology and mobile library upgrades.
The staff of the Upper Murray Regional Library is dedicated and professional. It has a reputation for innovation with the use of mobile satellite technology for mobile libraries. They partnered with the Federal Government and Australian and European businesses to pilot a mobile satellite project based on the Immarsat satellite positioned over the Northern Hemisphere. It was written up in international publications in Europe that this successful project was the catalyst for the funding of a statewide project providing satellite connectivity to mobile libraries across New South Wales. Without this connectivity real-time online services could not have been achieved. These are the sorts of achievements that flow from flourishing regional libraries. These sorts of innovations, energy and dynamism should be protected and encouraged through the introduction of this bill to incorporate the flexibility observed as necessary by the Minister. As I have illustrated, this is exemplified by the Upper Murray Regional Library. We can make great differences to the regional delivery of services through libraries in New South Wales. I commend the bill to the House.
Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie) [4.29 p.m.]: I contribute to the debate on the Library Amendment Bill 201. In doing so I lend my support to what I believe to be a sensible proposal for providing greater flexibility to local government in the provision of public library services.
As the member for Lake Macquarie and also the Mayor of Lake Macquarie—I have been in local government for some 20 years—I have a keen interest in seeing unreasonable restrictions removed from council operations. This of course should always be done in a considered manner with checks and balances to ensure that the interests of the local community are protected. This bill will deliver that outcome by maintaining a requirement for the Minister for the Arts, with the agreement of the Minister for Local Government, to authorise any such arrangements between two or more consenting councils. Local government, indeed all levels of government, face many challenges in the delivery of services where community expectation and particularly technology continue to grow. There is no doubt that libraries will continue to evolve with this growing demand and with new technology. One constant for councils in delivering services is that costs continue to grow and that revenue to service those costs is increasingly difficult to find. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1211
Lake Macquarie City Council has 10 libraries and one mobile library, and is possibly more exposed to the cost pressures surrounding delivery of this service than many councils. But no doubt all councils would welcome greater flexibility when considering how to best deliver the services our communities need. It is not immediately apparent how Lake Macquarie council could benefit from this bill. However, the bill will remove obstacles for such consideration. The Lake Macquarie local government area services five electorates— Swansea, Charlestown, Wallsend, Cessnock, and my electorate of Lake Macquarie. I have no doubt that the representatives of each of these electorates will remain keen to ensure that library services in their electorates operate as efficiently as possible, but most importantly, provide for the needs of their communities. Lake Macquarie City Council is currently reviewing its library services to ensure that they can not only be sustained, but that they remain relevant to changing demographic circumstances. Some people have suggested, or fear, that this bill is an attempt to reduce library services for the purpose of cutting costs; however, that is not the case. It is a recognition that our service has to remain relevant to community needs and that this must be done cost effectively.
Libraries have changed greatly over the years and I note that other members have articulated the wide range of services they now provide. This trend will not change. Indeed, the significant pace of change in technology ensures that this trend will continue to challenge how library services are delivered. When I was at school the municipal library was the central source of information for students to get information external to their textbooks. School libraries now are generally much more extensive. The introduction of computer technology and the internet into schools has changed the way many students access information. This trend is even greater in areas of higher education. We are a tech-savvy community with a high take-up of in-home technology that is used for learning and recreation. The internet, cable television and computer-based games machines all compete in some way with services that have been or are provided by libraries.
However, one area in which libraries excel and that cannot be easily replicated remotely is the provision of the highly skilled human resource of librarians and library staff. This resource must be supported and the benefits of their expertise utilised to the greatest benefit of the community. This bill gives councils flexibility in considering how they might deliver library services into the future and fits with my strong view that unwarranted restrictions should be lifted from local councils. The bill is timely for Lake Macquarie and Newcastle city councils, as they will soon meet to discuss opportunities for greater resource sharing. While there may be no immediate benefit, the highly successful co-operative approach to resource sharing across regional councils in the Hunter through our regional organisation of councils—Hunter Councils—suggests that this bill may provide opportunities for Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and/or other councils in the future.
I will make a few closing comments. I cannot agree that this bill is of such great moment that it cannot be introduced in this particular time frame. I see nothing untoward about the time frame with which it is being introduced. I understand that there has been significant discussion amongst people within councils and within libraries. Certainly the discussions I have had with Lake Macquarie City Library staff indicate that they support the intent of the bill and that they see no hidden agenda; there is no spectre here. As a matter of fact, insofar as councils being responsible employers to a significant workforce, the legislation actually restricts how councils can deliver services and, therefore, workers are protected. This bill is not about that. This bill is about providing flexibility to local government and I absolutely support that basic tenet. I commend the bill to the House.
Mrs ROZA SAGE (Blue Mountains) [4.35 p.m.]: I speak in support of the Library Amendment Bill 2011, which is very appropriate because I love books and I love libraries. When I made my inaugural speech I was very privileged to have a get-together afterwards in the Jubilee Room, which is the old library in Parliament House. Those who looked up would have noticed that inscribed in the leadlight of the ceiling were the words:
Knowledge is the mother of virtue.
Libraries are the repository of knowledge and learning. As we have already heard, local councils are the primary providers of library services in New South Wales. This bill will further encourage cooperation between councils in their administration. As we have already heard from the many regional speakers, in many areas multiple councils have the scope to manage libraries. This bill would clarify that arrangement. Such councils could enter into and ensure eligibility for State subsidy, which is not provided for in the current arrangement. There are no ulterior motives. There are no conspiracy theories surrounding this bill. I would like to let the House know the importance of libraries. They are the hub of communities, especially in regional areas. In my electorate of the Blue Mountains, the Blue Mountains City Council looks after six libraries: Blackheath, Katoomba, Wentworth Falls, Lawson, Springwood and Blaxland. They offer a huge range of services. 1212 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
Libraries are no longer about books; that was an old theory. Today a lot of electronic interaction goes on in our libraries. They offer history and family history searches. This service is actively and intensively used in our area. Libraries have areas and a lounge area in which people can sit and read. They offer programs for children and young adults, including games, storytelling and holidaying activities. We should encourage our children to read. We should encourage our children to come to libraries to tap into that font of knowledge. Libraries also provide a community information database, which contains displays of the various proposals for different developments. Libraries in the Blue Mountains provide information on any of the community services that are offered in the area, which is a very valuable community resource.
People who cannot physically get to libraries can access online library resources from home. Library computers can be used to access the internet and for word processing purposes. Many people who cannot afford a full computer service use the library computers to prepare their resumes. This can be done at no cost in our area. Children come to the library to do their assignments. It is a very valuable asset for people on low incomes. Our libraries have assistive technology for the visually impaired as well as books, CDs and DVDs. The Blue Mountains has a Book Express service for train commuters on those long train trips that were getting longer under the previous government. This is unique to our area. From my experience, when you are looking for that book to get you over that hurdle when you are doing hobbies or crafts but you cannot find it anywhere, the library is the place to look. My daughter wanted me to make her a wedding cake and ice it. Would I spend a great deal of money on a one-off experience? Where was I to go?
Mr Nick Lalich: The Cheesecake Shop.
Mrs ROZA SAGE: My daughter wanted something a little fancier than that. The Cheesecake Shop was not good enough for my daughter. I went to various libraries and borrowed many books on cake icing. Libraries have valuable information on all sorts of topics that we are not able to contain within our own homes. These valuable library services across New South Wales make up our public library network, which is ably supported by the State Library, one of our world-class cultural institutions. The State Library is right next door. I encourage all members to visit our State Library where they will see many people in the library sitting at computer terminals researching the resources that have been loaded onto the computers.
The Minister for the Arts, the Hon. George Souris, made an important announcement about the State Library Glasshouse Learning Space. The Glasshouse gives the State Library a greater ability to engage with audiences, mainly schoolchildren, across the State by utilising the latest technology. It provides curriculum-focused programs from kindergarten to year 12 for students and teachers in real and web-based settings. Children in regional New South Wales can access the library's valuable collection on topics such as the discovery and exploration of Australia and the Pacific. To ensure that these valuable services are available to all the people of New South Wales, particularly regional areas where this impacts most, we must support this bill. It gives councils more assurance of the administrative process. I reiterate my support for this bill. It will encourage councils to work together to maintain our much-valued public libraries, which will have significant outcomes for communities across the State. I commend the bill to the House.
Ms SONIA HORNERY (Wallsend) [4.41 p.m.]: I congratulate Madam Acting-Speaker, Ms Melanie Gibbons, on her appointment to that position. I speak in debate on the Library Amendment Bill 2011. Every member would agree on the benefits of public libraries. We all would have stories about our wonderful experiences at our local libraries. Newcastle City Council is one of two councils that cover my electorate. Its community surveys continually show outcomes that public libraries are their most popular facilities and provide the greatest degree of satisfaction of all the council's services.
A cooperative agreement between Lake Macquarie and Newcastle city councils on library services is already occurring. When two good councils work together cooperatively it results in a good outcome. In relation to this bill, I am concerned that councils remain the service provider. When I have talked to librarians about the future of public libraries, they tell me that libraries need State and Federal funding so that in the future they are able to provide a diverse range and good delivery of services to their communities. In earlier days people paid a fee to borrow a book from a library. We do not want to return to that concept in our libraries. I have heard that the Victorian Government is pursuing a concept where the local school library is the sole library in an area. I have lived and worked in Walgett and Kempsey and I would be concerned that a small school library, which stocks resources specifically for primary and high school children, would be the sole library in a country area. Country towns like Walgett where I have lived and working-class areas like West Wallsend where I grew up deserve to have a public library that is accessible to children and other members of the community every day of the week. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1213
The member for Lake Macquarie talked about Lake Macquarie City Council's review of library services. The community has been concerned that the review will result in a reduction in library services. The Newcastle Herald has reported on a number of occasions that moves were afoot to close Cardiff Library. That is of great concern to the community, especially the elderly in the Cardiff area. Although Cardiff Library is small, it is close to Cardiff railway station and is easily accessible. The Lake Macquarie area is expansive. If Cardiff Library were closed, people would have to travel to another suburb. However, the transport services on the peninsula would make that very difficult. I urge Lake Macquarie City Council to consider keeping Cardiff Library open. Although the number of visitors to the library may be small, it is a very important service in the area.
It was one of my proudest moments when earlier this century Newcastle City Council opened the Wallsend Regional Library. Newcastle City Council put a great deal of resources, vision and forethought into this $8 million library. It is an extremely popular facility. Many children use the facility because it is large, serviceable and attractive and it is open for extended hours. The old Wallsend library was located in smaller premises in Wallsend, a poky little place, and was open for limited hours. The council shut it down and built the bigger regional library in Wallsend. It has been extremely successful as a leisure resource and an education resource for the working-class children who live in the Wallsend area. From my conversations with librarians I know that they are open to listening about the future. But they want the Government to be mindful of the need for funding and support so that they can maintain and increase the range and delivery of services. With this support and funding our libraries will remain the wonderful resources that our communities enjoy.
Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD (Myall Lakes) [4.47 p.m.]: I congratulate Madam Acting-Speaker, Ms Melanie Gibbons, on her appointment to that position. I congratulate the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, and Minister for the Arts on introducing this legislation and I acknowledge the work previously done by the Hon. Catherine Cusack in the other House. My electorate of Myall Lakes includes the Great Lakes Council which has libraries at Forster and Hawks Nest, and Greater Taree City Council which has libraries at Taree and Wingham. The Government supports libraries and it intends to continue its support, unlike those on the other side. We have had 16 years of Labor and 16 years of neglect of our libraries.
I have had discussions with the Friends of the Great Lakes Library Service and librarians in the area. They have spoken at length to me about the problems over the past 16 years with funding and the shifting of costs by the previous State Labor Government to councils, making it almost impossible for local councils to be able to fund services, particularly libraries. Opposition members have thrown up red herrings and have said that jobs will be lost. I assure them that the Liberals and Nationals, in particular, members who represent regional areas, want to increase jobs and not lose them. We want more jobs in country and regional Australia. This is not about people losing their jobs; this is about doing the job in a better way than it has been done in the past.
Libraries are particularly important to regional areas. In an area such as my electorate, which is one of the lowest socioeconomic areas in Australia, people cannot afford to go out and buy the latest books, so they go down to the library to borrow books. The great thing about libraries today is that not only do they have books that people can borrow; they have internet facilities that people can use. The other services now provided in libraries are important to regional communities. Books are important to human development. The more children read the better their development, and reading increases people's ability to improve themselves. It is important for children's education that they have access to libraries, and this bill will help those children in regional areas to do that.
It is important in an area such as mine, where 35 per cent of the population is over the age of 65 and about 20 per cent of the population is over the age of 85, for seniors to be able to access books and use the facilities that are available at libraries. Not all children and not all seniors have access to computers, but they can go down to their local library and access those facilities. Research is extremely important, whether it is for business, a school project or for study. People can go to their local library and all those facilities are there, as well as trained people to assist them in their research. At one stage I decided that I would write a book and I thought I would go to a library where I could research the topic of my book. The great thing about Greater Taree City Council is that it has on microfiche newspapers dating back to the 1860s. I was going to write about an important topic that I am sure everyone in the House would agree is very important: the history of rugby in the Manning Valley. I went to the library and as I was researching that—
Mr Richard Torbay: It's prehistoric.
Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD: It is, but it is all there; that is the great thing about it. As I was researching that fantastic subject of rugby in the Manning Valley I was able to ascertain that in the 1800s, the 1214 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
villages in the Manning Valley—there are so many: Oxley Island, Mitchells Island, Nabiac, Taree, Wingham, Upper Manning, Lower Manning—not only all had a rugby club but, interestingly, but also all had a racecourse. They all had professional running, cricket clubs and a racetrack. All these little villages were making their money from cutting timber or from dairy farming, where the quota might have been only 10 or 20 gallons, and they were taking part in community sports, which meant they travelled for a day or more to have a game of cricket.
Ms Robyn Parker: Rugby union or rugby league?
Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD: Rugby union. Rugby union started in about 1840, and legend has it that it was started by a boy named William Webb Ellis at a school called Rugby. He picked up a ball, started running with it, and there was the birth of rugby. Rugby continued to be the number one sport throughout the world until about the 1890s when in the northern part of England some inbred, psychologically impaired people decided they did not like it and that they would start playing rugby league. In Australia we continued playing rugby union, which was brought to us by the British after the colonisation of Australia.
Mr Andrew Fraser: Is this the Library bill or the football bill?
Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD: This is about libraries. When one goes to the library one finds out about these things. After the Wallabies toured England, a bloke named J. J. Giltinan waited for the Wallabies to get off the boat at the dock and as they did he signed them up for money, including Dally Messenger. That was the start of rugby league in Australia in 1908. Back in those days they had these sports and all the villages were able to take part in them. By going to the library one is able to find out these pearls of wisdom. What happened to my book? I have research papers and copies of photographs. Interestingly, in those days when there was so little money around, the first time anyone won a competition he or she received a solid-gold fob watch chain with a solid gold medallion for winning that particular year. This tradition continued and each year thereafter anyone who won the competition received another gold medallion to attach to the fob watch chain.
One also received a cap—a skull cap with a little peak and a tassel on top. Even in country rugby back all those years ago they were capping their players. I can assure members that the players of the Forster Tuncurry Rugby Club or the Manning River Ratz or the Old Bar Clams would love to get a solid-gold fob watch chain with a medallion in 2011, but they have got Buckley's. Who would have thought that anyone entering a regional library in a country town would find out about a wonderful thing such as the history of rugby and other sports? I did not write the book but I have all the material. One day the book will be written. In closing, I would like to tell the Minister for Roads and Ports, if he is listening to this debate, that I will be a couple of minutes late for our meeting. I commend the bill to the House.
Mr RICHARD TORBAY (Northern Tablelands) [4.57 p.m.]: I congratulate Madam Acting-Speaker, Ms Melanie Gibbons, on her appointment to that position.
Mr Andrew Fraser: This is going to be good.
Mr RICHARD TORBAY: It will be better. I agree with most of the things the member for Myall Lakes said that were relevant to the bill, and I congratulate the member on his contribution. I support the Library Amendment Bill 2011 and congratulate the Government on introducing the bill. Like many members in this place I spent some time in local government and I also served as mayor. I note a number of my parliamentary colleagues are still serving in that capacity.
Mr Andrew Fraser: They are going to have an inquiry.
Mr RICHARD TORBAY: Yes, I read the newspaper. Libraries provide critical services. When one looks at the history of library services in this State one finds it is a story of services that used shared resources equitably between State and local governments. One would have to go back far enough in time to when the member for Myall Lakes was using libraries and the modern technologies that he referred to as microfiche. I am not going to talk about any downloading that he might have done recently. If we go back to the history of library funding we find that there was an equitable arrangement: 50:50 funding between State and local governments.
Over time that has eroded to a point where the contribution from the State could be regarded as tokenistic: in many cases a $200,000 contribution when libraries cost between $2 million and $10 million. To those of us who serve in regional areas those are not alarming figures—they are within the range. The 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1215
communities then operate them and continue to provide those services on behalf of ratepayers, who are, of course, also New South Wales taxpayers. The State Government makes a modest contribution and councils are carrying the burden on behalf of ratepayers. They do that because ratepayers expect these valuable services to be provided. As members know, they now include much more than the provision of microfiche resources and books.
The electorate of Northern Tablelands is the third largest electorate in New South Wales and it has many communities, both large and small. It has been wonderful to see new libraries recently established at Tenterfield and Glen Innes, which now has a fabulous learning centre. The council and a number of State organisations contributed to the establishment of that facility, which houses a state-of-the-art library. New libraries have also been built at Inverell and Uralla. I had the honour of opening the Uralla library recently. The new library at Guyra is underway and the Armidale Dumaresq Council is also planning a state-of-the-art library.
Libraries will continue to do amazing things, given the new technologies available and the services people demand. I was a member of the rural and regional taskforce and we held six meetings across regional New South Wales. People told me that they want increased funding to assist councils and more flexibility. This bill provides that flexibility. To argue against the flexibility that this bill provides when local government is shouldering 90 per cent or more of the burden is to argue against a commonsense outcome. There is no doubt about that. We must provide the services in regional communities that people expect and we must deal with the critical issue of remoteness and the other challenges confronting the provision of new technologies—some of which have not even been conceived. I commend the bill and the flexibility that it will provide.
Mr TONY ISSA (Granville) [5.01 p.m.]: I now know where to go if I want a promotion and the library door is locked. I was surprised to hear the member for Toongabbie say earlier that he did not understand the two-page Library Amendment Bill. If he cannot understand a two-page bill, I do not know how he will understand a 30-page or 40-page bill. Instead of sharing his ideas about how the Opposition will move forward with this Government to provide better library services, he criticised this legislation. That is not acceptable and the member for Bankstown should tell him that.
Libraries now contain much more than books; they are places where people can meet. I am privileged to have three libraries in my electorate that I often visit not only to obtain information but also to meet people. People use libraries to access old newspapers and magazine articles and to meet and share ideas with friends. Importantly, our libraries now provide books in many different languages and that encourages people to visit and to share a coffee or ideas while they are reading. Libraries also have playgroups so that young mothers and their children can join others and enjoy stories about their different lifestyles. That is what libraries are about today. Of course, we can access a great deal of information on the internet, but libraries provide a venue in which people can socialise.
It has been brought to my attention that many Higher School Certificate students use libraries as a refuge. Their home environment may be crowded and noisy and the library enables them to study in a peaceful and quiet environment. The Minister should be congratulated on introducing this bill. It is a great piece of legislation and I look forward to its implementation. Library management is not only about decision-making; it is also about staff sharing ideas. People in different local government areas have different ideas but when they get together they share those ideas and as a result provide improved services. I commend the bill to the House.
Mr PAUL TOOLE (Bathurst—Parliamentary Secretary) [5.05 p.m.]: I also congratulate Madam Acting-Speaker, Ms Melanie Gibbons, on her appointment. It gives me great pleasure to support the Library Amendment Bill 2011. The bill is well overdue; this issue should have been addressed many years ago. It amends the Library Act 1939 to enable two or more local councils to enter into arrangements for the provision, control and management of libraries and library services in any of the areas of the councils. The Minister for the Arts, the member for Upper Hunter, should be commended for introducing this legislation. It is a practical and commonsense bill and, as I said, it should have been introduced many years ago.
Regional libraries are a pivotal and critical service in all our electorates. That is specifically true in the electorate of Bathurst. Libraries provide a positive and important experience for local people. They encourage lifelong learning and reading. Our communities need and should have access to library services that expand their minds, empower them and enrich their lives. Regional libraries connect our communities and provide a wealth of information and various ideas. They provide also a popular and frequently used service for everyone. The State Library of New South Wales provides statistics each year. In 2007-08 it surveyed 98 libraries across New South Wales and the Bathurst library was sixth on the list of service providers. Each member of the library staff 1216 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
issued 32,795 pieces of material. That demonstrates the importance and relevance of the material borrowed from our libraries. Libraries benefit everyone whether or not they use the local library. Regional libraries stand for intellectual freedom, democratic engagement, community cohesion, social justice and equality of opportunity. Libraries are open for business to anyone.
These essential services promote a love of reading. As a former educator and as a father, I take my three children to the library every fortnight. They love going and they borrow up to 12 books each, which they read over the next two weeks. It is also an opportunity for parents to interact with children and encourage a love of reading. As a schoolteacher I made many visits to the library, and library staff have visited schools in my electorate many times. Libraries have moved away from their old grassroots traditions. I am sure that the member for Cabramatta—who is probably the oldest person in the Chamber at present—will remember when you were not allowed to speak in the library and the librarian would walk around asking you to be quiet. We have come a long way from those days. Now service delivery is more modern. As various members have said, people can enjoy a coffee or a soft drink in the library. Libraries offer not just books but magazines, DVDs and CDs, as well as free internet access, which is an important service. That shows how local government is keeping up with technology.
Libraries promote various programs and projects. They offer fantastic services. Sometimes authors visit libraries and hold storytelling sessions. They read books to children and speak about the story and how a particular book was created. Recently our library has held live orations, when people tell their life stories. Groups of 40 or 50 people come along to hear them. So instead of just books we have people in the library sharing their stories with many others. Libraries also offer school holiday programs and have Wii and PlayStation consoles. I have not used those services but my children have enjoyed them. No matter what your personal interests are, your library will cater to them.
Mr Nick Lalich: Up to a point.
Mr PAUL TOOLE: Up to a point, that is correct. Libraries offer free and equal access. Some of them are open seven days a week. That is important because library use can depend on the types of services provided. Libraries are strategically located because councils have done a lot of research and located them near public transport so that residents can access them easily. Library staff have integrity and are trusted by the community. When I was growing up a particular lady, Toni Daymond, used to dress up in a bumblebee outfit or as a dragon—she was a lovely lady; I put that on the record. She was a lively, active storyteller who promoted the love of reading that so many people share. John Cumberford, manager of the Bathurst Regional Council library, does a fantastic job. He is loved by the entire community and has a great staff working under him. The library staff are knowledgeable, well trained, helpful and welcoming.
Mr Troy Grant: Assets to the community.
Mr PAUL TOOLE: They are absolutely assets to the community, as the member for Dubbo says. The mobile van provides another important service. Once a fortnight it visits rural areas in my electorate, supporting those smaller schools that do not enjoy the luxury of having large libraries. It also assists the elderly or those who cannot leave their homes easily. It is a great service. I have spoken to a number of council general managers about this bill, which they support. As the member for Albury said, change is occurring already. Labor has failed; the bill should have been introduced many years ago. Blayney in my electorate is serviced by Orange City Council library, which also caters to other local government areas such as Cabonne, and Parkes and Forbes. This bill tidies up an arrangement that is already in place.
In the Dubbo electorate towns such as Narromine and Gilgandra have implemented a sharing arrangement. The bill is to be commended because it will allow local government areas that already work collaboratively to continue to do so, with the support of the House. The member for Murray-Darling and the member for Myall Lakes spoke about the financial burden on councils of community service provision. There has been a tremendous amount of cost-shifting. When I first came to local government the State Government made a financial contribution of about 26 per cent. That has decreased at an incredible rate, and the State Government now contributes about 7 per cent.
Mr John Barilaro: Was that under Labor?
Mr PAUL TOOLE: That was under Labor. A 2007-08 survey revealed an added cost to councils of something like $431 million. Councils have to bear this funding burden, and they are trying to address it by 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1217
using a sharing arrangement across various local government areas. That is why this bill is a commonsense and practical measure. Libraries are critical local investments. By supporting the bill we show our support for the arrangements that are already in place as well as any future arrangements that may be needed to ensure that library services continue.
Dr GEOFF LEE (Parramatta) [5.18 p.m.]: It is an honour to speak today on the Library Amendment Bill 2011, a great bill introduced by the Minister for the Arts and member for Upper Hunter, the Hon. George Souris. I worked as an educator at the University of Sydney and libraries are a passion of mine. So it is with great joy that I speak in this debate. I am delighted to speak after the member for Bathurst—Mr 36 per cent, a sensational result—who followed the member for Myall Lakes. Their wonderful contributions highlighted the cost-shifting of the previous Labor Government and the difficulties associated with it. The previous Labor Government caused other problems too, and left a budget black hole of more than $5 billion for the Liberal-Nationals Government.
Mr Stephen Bromhead: And going up daily.
Dr GEOFF LEE: And it is going up daily; that is correct. During 16 years of Labor library use changed. The Liberal-Nationals Government is moving forward with legislation to cope with those changes— unlike the previous Government. The use of libraries is critical for rural Australia and rural New South Wales, as well as many metropolitan areas of the State. To keep up with changing times, we need to change the way we fund strategic initiatives. The bill addresses the important initiatives we need to implement to cope with the evolution of libraries. I started my college education at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, in Richmond. We had a small library that was full of dusty old books. In those days the books were 40, 50 or 60 years old, and you could not get any up-to-date information. It meant that as a student I could not go to the library and flick through books to get notes on horticulture. It was very difficult.
Part of the problem was the lack of resources for libraries that are situated in remote areas. Nowadays, libraries are not just places where dusty old books are stored; they have been transformed into learning places. Working at the University of Western Sydney for the past seven years has really shown me the importance of libraries as living, learning spaces. That is what I want to talk about today. I want to speak of my support for the bill in terms of libraries being transformed into community spaces where people can come together and learn collaboratively—learn from each other, learn from their peers, learn through mentoring—rather than just being places where those dusty old books are stored. Some of my experiences come from my time at the university. The University of Western Sydney leads the way in its library provisions—
Mr Stephen Bromhead: Tell us about some of your experiences.
Dr GEOFF LEE: I thank the member for Myall Lakes for asking about my experiences. The University of Western Sydney has six campuses and its library collaborates across those campuses to facilitate the sharing of resources. It is no different from libraries collaborating with other institutions or organisations— an aspect that is addressed in the bill. From my experience at the University of Western Sydney, if I want a book I can simply go online, see what library the book is available in, and then order the book, without leaving my office or the classroom. The wonderful changes that have been made mean we do not physically have to go to the library; if the book is not available, we can simply order it online. For my students, the learning spaces are incredible. The Parramatta campus of the University of Western Sydney has updated its learning spaces, so the books now occupy only about 20 per cent of the space.
Mr Stephen Bromhead: Where is the Parramatta campus?
Dr GEOFF LEE: It is in Rydalmere, at the corner of James Ruse Drive and Victoria Road.
Mr Stephen Bromhead: The old hospital site?
Dr GEOFF LEE: Yes, that is right; there was an old hospital there. It is a very historic site. It was the oldest three-storey building, and it housed a female orphanage. Indeed, one of my ancestors went to that orphanage. I want to talk about my experience of cutting-edge libraries. Libraries have adapted since they held racks of dusty books, and the Rydalmere campus of the University of Western Sydney allocates probably only about 20 per cent of its space to books. Because of that, the campus now has other valuable areas. It has meeting areas, where people can gather in private in a closed-off room. An earlier speaker in this debate referred to the 1218 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
fact that in the past people were not allowed to talk in libraries. Nowadays they have closed-off areas where people can talk and meet in groups, and students find that valuable. We know that education is about working with others, because that is how we work in the future. We do not work in isolation; we work with our peers, we learn from each other, and then we have facilitators of that learning. So not only do we have the books; we also have the meeting rooms.
One change that I find very interesting is the provision of different furniture. In the past libraries had little cubicles and we had to place our books on shelves in those cubicles. Nowadays libraries have things like beanbags where people can sit. The tables and chairs are gone, and there are leisure areas where people can sit and carefully browse through magazines, books and other publications. But I think there is even more to libraries. The twenty-first century library has lots of computers and computer terminals—and with very good reason. It is through those computer terminals that people can gain access to the World Wide Web. For the past eight or nine years I have studied for my Masters degree and doctoral studies, and I appreciate the value of being able to use the World Wide Web. It provides access to databases, journal articles and the latest up-to-date information. The computer terminals in libraries are always the most popular resources.
Not everyone in a rural area has a computer at home. Not everyone has access to the internet and not everyone has high-speed broadband, which enables one to download lots of information quickly. So the pipeline is very limited. But libraries can provide that high-speed broadband access. It gives people who cannot afford high-speed broadband access at home the opportunity to access the World Wide Web so they too can learn, just like everyone else. It raises an interesting point about access and equity for those who suffer social disadvantage. The fantastic thing about this bill is that it goes some way towards supporting libraries in remote areas and ensuring that they are an integral part of the community.
An important point regarding libraries and access to the internet is that people can go to libraries to learn. If we look at current trends in education, we see that about 30 per cent of all education will be delivered online within the next decade. That is a fundamental shift. Connection to the internet may be problematic for people in rural areas, which denies them access to online education services. Internet access is important also for small businesses in rural areas. A library offers small business owners the opportunity to access online education as well. They can go to the library at a time convenient to them, which could be on the weekend or during the day. They can use the library's internet facilities if they cannot afford them in the business, and they can learn online.
Some of the online services are wonderful. For example, one can get a certificate online, one can get free courses online, one can get degrees online, and one can get Masters degrees online. However, I have not heard of any PhDs or doctorates that one can get online—except a few from fraudulent companies, where one can get a certificate for $25. Obviously we do not want to encourage that. Remote learning through libraries is extremely important. I believe one of the greatest features of libraries is connection to the internet. It is wonderful to be able to use multimedia. In the past one could read traditional material only in libraries. Nowadays in libraries one can sit and hear lectures, watch YouTube and access various other multimedia— regardless of one's income, social status or social disadvantage. Anyone can go into a library and use its services, which is important in relation to access and equity.
In Sydney we have the great State Library. We also have libraries like those at the University of Western Sydney, the University of New South Wales and Macquarie University. They are fantastic, big libraries. But people who live in remote areas do not have easy access to libraries that they can drive to and use their services. Books, periodicals and articles can be resourced through remote libraries, which are better serviced and maintained and are more highly funded. People in rural areas are being given the opportunity to access the information they need at a lower cost through remote libraries.
Mr Stuart Ayres: And it allows councils to work together.
Dr GEOFF LEE: I was about to comment on that. Not only does this bill allow greater access and equity for libraries; it also enables councils to collaborate and pool their resources. Who best understands the needs of local people? It is the local councils. Councils should be encouraged to work together to share their resources and the services they offer. They will then become community hubs. The member for Granville talked about a meeting place where people can socialise, hear guest speakers and hold functions. Efficiencies are to be gained from councils sharing and collaborating. An important Liberal Party policy is collaboration in order to make better use of taxpayers' money. Efficiencies are very important to this Government. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1219
I support the amending bill. We have spoken about community centres. We have spoken about the opportunity for people to meet at libraries to learn from others, to hear guest speakers and to hold community meetings. We have spoken of the need for collaboration between councils to deliver community services and generate efficiencies. We have spoken about the need to provide resources to communities that collaborate to make better use of limited budgets, which avoids wasting money through service duplication. We have also spoken about access and equity for those people who do not have a home computer or those who may have to share a computer with others. This legislation will give people the opportunity to visit a library to look up different articles or perhaps take an online course. Working quietly and privately in a library allows people to focus on important issues.
This amendment is a vital link between access and equity. It is also about sharing of resources between different organisations, be they local councils or private organisations. Perhaps the resources shared between universities, vocational education and training centres and TAFE colleges could be used to assist local communities. I congratulate the Hon. George Souris, the member for Upper Hunter, on introducing the bill. The member for Bathurst—Mr 36 per cent—highlighted the need for fiscal responsibility. The member for Myall Lakes referred to cost-shifting and pointed out that the Liberal-Nationals Government is putting forward legislation to improve the welfare of not only city but regional and rural New South Wales. I am pleased to support the bill.
Mr CHARLES CASUSCELLI (Strathfield) [5.33 p.m.]: Before I speak in debate on the Library Amendment Bill 2011 let me establish first my credentials for doing so. I will go back a little way. Most members will know that I am Italian. I am a descendant of the Roman Empire. I was born in Rome—
Mr John Barilaro: Where is that?
Mr CHARLES CASUSCELLI: You will need a history lesson, young man. I am more than happy to give you that lesson later. I want to establish my credentials by looking at libraries from the dawn of civilisation. I quote:
In the West, the first public libraries were established under the Roman Empire as each succeeding emperor strove to open one or many which outshone that of his predecessor. Unlike the Greek libraries, readers had direct access to the scrolls, which were kept on shelves built into the walls of a large room. Reading or copying was normally done in the room itself. The surviving records give only a few instances of lending features. As a rule, Roman public libraries were bilingual: they had a Latin room and a Greek room. Most of the large Roman baths were also cultural centers, built from the start with a library, a two room arrangement with one room for Greek and one for Latin texts.
I believe the Roman Empire had a lot to offer, not the least of which was an understanding that libraries were important to its culture. Let us reflect for a moment on what the previous Government did for libraries. The Labor Government was addicted to big announcements in its 16 years in office. It announced lots of projects but unfortunately did not deliver many. It did not do the thousands of little things that our communities depend upon. Libraries affect quality of life in local communities not only through their funding but also through the important roles they play. I have heard members on the other side—is there another side—
Mr Stuart Ayres: They sometimes turn up.
Mr CHARLES CASUSCELLI: Members opposite complain about what this legislation may do. The bill will simply allow local governments to work together. This may be a totally new concept to members opposite—
Mr John Barilaro: There are no members on the other side.
Mr CHARLES CASUSCELLI: We have already acknowledged that. This legislation will allow local governments to work together. One of the major issues I face as the member for Strathfield is that my electorate covers four local government areas. That means I have to get those four local councils to work together in the interests of both the local community and this Government. An important issue will be the provision of library services and what can be done better to provide for libraries in my area. This legislation will allow those councils to come up with an idea and action it for the benefit of the community. What I hear from those opposite is, "If we do this, this may happen. If we do this, it has the potential to do that." If that approach had been adopted in the past the Sydney Harbour Bridge would not have been built because at some time someone may have wanted to jump off it. I have heard that same sort of thinking from members opposite since the commencement of the Fifty-fifth Parliament. All I hear from the other side is, "Things are going too fast", or "It may do this or have the potential do that." 1220 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
The people of New South Wales want the Government to get on with the job of governing. If I had a remote control that could fast-forward those on the other side of the House I would use it every few minutes. The Liberal-Nationals Government has given a commitment to the people of New South Wales to make things easier for them. This small piece of legislation does exactly that, but those opposite say we should not act. The Government trusts local communities; it trusts them because we are their elected representatives. The people of New South Wales have asked us to trust in them as they have put trust in us. The Government is about flexibility and adaptability, and it is asking local communities through local government to do things that benefit all community members. The electorate of Strathfield has a few libraries but they are not simply repositories of knowledge, they are not just about books or access to the internet.
Our local libraries have become de facto after-school care centres. They have become places for children to gather after school to spend time learning and socialising with each other. They have become focal points for community participation. Libraries have become safe meeting areas for our schoolkids. They have become places where their parents know they are in a safe environment that assists the learning process and enables them to engage with their friends outside the school community. Libraries are about community engagement. They are about participation in the community. Libraries, just like our clubs—we have had several debates about our clubs and what is happening with them—and like our local shopping centres have become not only facilities for local employment and local participation but also something else.
I have heard people talk about making things bigger and centralising services. I will give members an example. Members on the others side shut down three local police stations in Strathfield in the past 16 years. They thought it was better to consolidate the police resource in my electorate into a single facility at Burwood. They thought that building more office space and consolidating police resources in one centre was better for the community. I have news for them. Libraries are exactly the same. We do not need monstrous regional libraries; we need local governments that work together to maintain the current number of libraries. There may be some consolidation, but as much as possible we want to maintain the local connection of our libraries.
When people talk about the centralisation of facilities, whether it be police stations, libraries, or even local shopping centres, they forget what some of the by-products actually are. Sure, if one has a large consolidated centre one can count more people coming to that location and people will say, "Look at how successful that is. We have more people coming through this one facility." I say to people who make those claims: If we had the same facilities spread out and we counted all the people who went to all the decentralised facilities I would challenge the number of people who went to the regional facilities. The other thing that people miss is that once we start concentrating these facilities we add to the transport and traffic burden. People will not walk to a regional centre that is 11 kilometres away. When there are local libraries, local shopping centres or local clubs, people are predisposed to walk. They are predisposed to sharing a motor vehicle or catching a bus to a local facility as opposed to using a car to drive themselves to regional shopping centres.
What is underestimated in New South Wales is the burden of traffic congestion on our roads that centralised facilities can create. If members do not believe what I say, they should go to some of our regional shopping centres on a Saturday morning, a Thursday evening, or in the late afternoon and tell me what their experience is like. They are traffic nightmares. Parking is an issue. All these things are becoming a greater burden on infrastructure and on the government of the day simply because we have this belief that bigger is better and centralisation is better, but they come at the expense of local community facilities. We must think even more broadly. Have a think about immigration. I am an immigrant. What I have noticed in Strathfield is that our local libraries have become a centre of learning and interaction between the immigrant kids and the other kids in our community. We need to maintain this. Anything that we can do to ensure that community libraries are kept open and to help local government to maintain these facilities is a good thing. I have two daughters; one is 21, one is 25. I am alarmed at the amount of competition--
Mr Guy Zangari: Text messages.
Mr CHARLES CASUSCELLI: —for their attention and their time on social media networks, and text messages are part of that competition. It is taking away their need or desire to interact with their peers. I am alarmed by how far this is going. I thought it would never happen in my family. I truly thought that I had two sensible kids—they are actually adults now—who would not be overly influenced by this social media phenomenon. Yet every day I see that they are pulling away more and more from physical contact with their peers and their friends, and they are getting more and more involved in this social media phenomenon. Libraries provide a facility for our kids to come face to face, to bump into one another, to look at each other and to converse in a way that social media networks do not provide. People might say they are in the library for only a 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1221
small amount of time but that does not matter. It is a bit of time—time that they otherwise would have spent at home doing something else and most of that time would have been spent on Facebook, Twitter, email, texting and all those other things that work against the interests of a mature society.
It is pleasing to note that in 2009-2010 New South Wales public libraries had 3.3 million members. People who provide some of the social media facilities in this country would be proud to have that many people as part of their membership base. That is 46 per cent of the population. Libraries received 37 million visitations, administered 50 million loans and used 2.44 million internet hours during that period. That is fantastic. We need to ensure that those figures do not decline. We need to do everything in our power to maintain, if not improve, each and every one of those statistics. They are statistics that I support, as opposed to some of the other statistics I hear in this House. For those of you who do not know, New South Wales has 19 libraries that are controlled and managed between 70 local authorities under agreements pursuant to section 12 of the Library Act 1939. They are located throughout the State. They are what are known colloquially as regional libraries. I thoroughly support the bill.
The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Before I call the member for Clarence, I recognise Spencer Ferrier in the gallery, a guest of the member for Clarence.
Mr STEVE CANSDELL (Clarence—Parliamentary Secretary) [5.47 p.m.]: Mr Deputy-Speaker, thank you; it is a pleasure to speak under your guidance. I support the Library Amendment Bill 2011 introduced by the Hon. George Souris, Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, and Minister for the Arts. This bill basically recognises the value of libraries. It recognises the contribution that local government makes in providing library services for the people in our community. Because of the tyranny of distance in country New South Wales, it recognises the importance of local government in supplying services to people in country New South Wales. Of course we are in Sydney and I try to recognise only country and regional New South Wales. That is where we come from. Over the past 16 years country and regional New South Wales got a raw deal from Labor and we have to ensure that we do not get a raw deal from the Coalition for the next 16 years.
Local councils in Sydney do not have just a fixed library space. This afternoon I was informed by my friend and colleague Spencer Ferrier that Willoughby Council provides a service to the Dougherty centre and aged care facility at Chatswood. His mother, Ada Ferrier, is 101 years old. She reads clearly, she is in tune with everything and she can read up to six or seven books in a short time frame. They are delivered and she just sits and reads them. She loves reading and she loves expanding her education. I do not know what her next career will be, but what she is learning through her reading shows the value of libraries not just to people who come off the street, but also to people in homes and in aged care facilities. It is a real credit not only to Willoughby Council and the library but also to Ada Ferrier, who is 101 but who has the mind and agility of someone half her age. I give credit to Ada and wish her happy birthday for her 102nd birthday. I will have to find out when her birthday is and buy her a thick book so that she can spend a couple of days reading it. I will now return to the bill.
Mr Richard Amery: I am looking forward to that.
ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward): Order! The member for Mount Druitt will come to order.
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: I appreciate the Opposition's support for Willoughby Council and the Dougherty centre and aged care facility. My electorate encompasses two councils, Clarence Valley Council and Richmond Valley Council. Clarence Valley Council has a major library in Grafton with outreaches in other areas. There is a library at Maclean and outreaches at Yamba and Iluka. A couple of years ago it had a mobile service. I believe it is still going.
Mr Nathan Rees: This is still going!
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: I could go for a while longer, if you want to hang around. I know the member for Toongabbie is interested in my speech because he came into the House to listen to it.
ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward): Order! Members will address their remarks through the Chair.
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: This bill relates to councils working cooperatively and it provides for all parties to have a greater say. Richmond Valley Council has its main library in Casino, an outreach at Evans Head and a mobile library. 1222 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward): Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber. The member for Cabramatta will resume his seat.
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: Richmond Valley Council operates library services for Kyogle Council and also provides an outreach service to the many small villages in the area.
Mr Richard Amery: The Nationals library burnt down, didn't it?
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: It is Nationals territory. Richmond Valley Council provides a great service. I applaud the council, as well as Kyogle Council, for the services they provide to their communities. This bill provides for greater stakeholder ownership when councils amalgamate their library services. For example, four councils up north—Lismore, Byron Bay, Murwillumbah and Tweed—share services. Rather than the main council library assuming ownership, this bill will give the other councils greater input. This bill promotes cooperation. In that respect, it is a positive step. Previous speakers have referred to the services provided to local government by the State Library of New South Wales. In 2009-10, $25.5 million was provided through the State Library to assist local authorities in the provision of public library services. The State Library also provides consultancy services to assist with strategic planning, library building advice and professional development.
The New South Wales public library network comprises 374 libraries and 22 mobile libraries. The State Library's NSWnet.net services specialist team negotiates cost-effective, subsidised broadband internet services for councils and libraries to support free internet access for the public. It also negotiates competitively priced access to online databases, e-audio and e-books, search tools and so on. The Outback Letterbox Library provides services via email and courier to isolated residents of Central Darling shire and the Unincorporated Area of New South Wales through funding to Broken Hill City Council. The member for Murray-Darling would be well aware of email and library services in general in regional areas. If he has not raised the issue I am sure he will. Libraries are not just places where people go to read books. Schoolchildren go to libraries for internet access. I will explain the internet to the member for Toongabbie later.
Mr Nathan Rees: You can explain it with a crayon.
ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward): Order! The member for Toongabbie will come to order.
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: For those on the other side who do not fully understand the internet, the State Library runs courses on internet access. The courses are simple and easy to understand and are available to everyone, including those from all shades of politics. My children and grandchildren are prolific users of library services. If the elderly are unable to leave their home, some libraries provide house services. Richmond Valley Council not only provides outreach services to local communities; it also provides a service to the elderly who are infirm and unable to leave their homes. It is a well-regarded service. If it were not for local government libraries, these elderly people would not have access to books. This service can help ease the loneliness and restriction felt by many people who are confined to their homes.
In country New South Wales the elderly may not be able to drive to town. If they do not have family nearby they can call on the local service to deliver books to their homes. In 2009-10, 796,283 people visited the State Library reading rooms and 203,174 client information inquiries were answered. Further, 2.13 million people visited the State Library's website in 2009-10 and there was an increase in online access with 161 online products and 257 databases accessible on-site and remotely. The library managed an observation and interview study with clients to improve their capacity to address client needs. It is pleasing to note that 86 per cent of clients rated their State Library experience as good or very good.
Mr Guy Zangari: Wow.
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: It does have a wow factor. Specialised library services run by the State Library include the Legal Information Access Centre, druginfo @ your library, the Family History Service and the Australian Indigenous Information Service. Multicultural services include books and audio books in 40 languages. The State Library provides many other services. I fully support the bill as, I am sure, does every member of the House. I know that Opposition members are impressed because they have come into the House to listen to the debate. I am sure they will not vote against this bill because that would cause a division and, as half the Opposition members have gone home, they will not have a quorum.
The object of the bill is to provide for greater flexibility in the management arrangements of regional libraries, that is, libraries operated on behalf of two or more local councils anywhere in New South Wales. The 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1223
bill provides that local councils may enter into alternative arrangements for the provision, control and management of a library, library service or information service in the area of any council that is a party to the arrangement. Such an arrangement cannot be entered into without the approval of the Minister for the Arts, who must have the agreement of the Minister for Local Government. This ensures protection for smaller councils.
Mr John Williams: Hear! Hear!
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: This bill looks after areas such as the electorate of the member for Murray-Darling. I am sure members opposite will be able to find information through the State Library services on the Solitary Islands Marine Park, rather than getting it from the backroom. Why is this bill needed? At present the Library Act 1939 unduly limits the management arrangements for regional libraries. Section 12 of the Act enables one council to manage a regional library or an aspect of its library service on behalf of all councils participating in an arrangement. I will provide a copy of this to members opposite for bedtime reading as they might have missed something.
Mr John Williams: Tell them about the tyres on the mobile library.
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: I could talk about that.
ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward): Order! The member for Campbelltown will come to order. The member for Clarence will address his remarks through the Chair.
Mr STEVE CANSDELL: The tyres for mobile libraries in regional New South Wales are bought locally. Everything is bought locally so that the money stays in the area. Section 12 of the Act enables one council to manage a regional library or an aspect of its library service on behalf of all councils participating in an arrangement. While current arrangements generally work well, some regional libraries would prefer participating councils to be jointly responsible for library services. As a joint responsibility arrangement is not recognised under the current Act, any council with such an arrangement would be ineligible for State subsidies. The current arrangement is constitutionally illegal. Councils have gone into these arrangements in good faith. This bill legitimises all the arrangements to make everyone accountable. The bill is based on the Library Amendment (Arrangements for Mutual Provision of Library Services) Bill 2010, introduced by the Hon. Catherine Cusack, MLC. That bill lapsed without debate due to the proroguing of Parliament—which was disgusting.
But I have only two minutes left, so I cannot talk about the proroguing of Parliament. The great thing about library services is that members opposite, and Mad Dog, can brush up on Solitary Islands Marine Park, find out where it is and what the problem is up there. There is a call-in complaints section at the library. If members opposite visit a library, access the internet—members on the other side do not quite understand computers—and Google "Solitary Islands Marine Park" they will find out all about it. If Opposition members Google "New South Wales past Newcastle" they might find things that they have never seen. Members opposite are welcome up there—Mad Dog, too, is welcome to come to Grafton. I will take him out for a fishing trip to Solitary Islands Marine Park. That is a genuine offer. I know members want me to speak for another 50 seconds but there are other members who want to make a contribution to this debate. I commend the bill to the House and I thank the Labor Party for its interest and concern.
Mr BRYAN DOYLE (Campbelltown) [6.01 p.m.]: I speak in support of the Library Amendment Bill 2011. There are three things by which most communities are judged—
Mr Kevin Anderson: Only three?
Mr BRYAN DOYLE: Only three things that are major: their parks, their public swimming pools and—
Mr Guy Zangari: Their libraries?
Mr BRYAN DOYLE: —their libraries. I thank my friend the member for Fairfield. Cooperation between councils in running libraries is very important. I draw the attention of the House to a wonderful model that could be adopted. Strangely enough, it is found in the opal of the south-west—
Mr Guy Zangari: Fairfield. 1224 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
Mr BRYAN DOYLE: No, it is Campbelltown. Campbelltown—that opal of the south-west—has not only one library but five service points under the auspices of the HJ Daley Central Library located at Campbelltown, Ingleburn, Minto, Glenquarie and Eagle Vale. The significance of the library is indicated by the name H. J. Daley. If the title of the father of modern Campbelltown could be granted to anyone, most people agree that it would be granted to H. J. Daley. As a town clerk for 41 years he ran the council very carefully and Campbelltown grew from 8,000 people to a city of more than 130,000. His only break during that period was when he served with the ill-fated 8th Division during World War II and spent three years in Changi Prison. But the proudest day of his life was when Campbelltown named the library after him.
The shared model under which Campbelltown operates enables a broad range of the community to access library services. Most people thought that with the advent of online internet—I note my friend the member for Clarence referred to Google—libraries would become obsolete and irrelevant. That has not proved to be the case. In fact, more than ever libraries are the key for local communities. Apart from the obvious service of providing books on loan, libraries can provide homework assistance. The Campbelltown libraries offer a very professional homework assistance service to students. I know that the member for Fairfield has a background in education and he would know that that sort of homework assistance helps young students to achieve their potential. Having such a free service available after hours to assist students to get through those difficult assignments that teachers are prone to set is of great assistance to the young people of the Campbelltown area.
One important aspect of libraries, not only in metropolitan areas but also in rural areas, is that they are sources of history of the local area and of families. Campbelltown is one of the cradles of European civilisation in Australia, and much of my family history is contained within the Campbelltown library of H. J. Daley. Two of my convict ancestors, Thomas Lloyd and Sarah Bone, came to Australia—Thomas Lloyd on the ship Asia and Sarah Bone on the ship for females, Mistral. Sarah brought her daughter, Rebecca, with her. She came to Australia as a free person, but her mother was sent here as a convict. They were assigned to Thomas Rose's farm, which is now the modern day Rosemeadow at Campbelltown and the land on which the Doyle family currently lives.
Thomas Rose was sent to Australia on a term of life, but within a year he was given a ticket of leave, which we would now call parole. I obtained a copy of his ticket of leave through the local library at Campbelltown. One would not think that one would be able to get such information from one's local library but the Campbelltown library is a wonderful source of applied family history. Thomas Rose was free to work in the great Australian tradition of a fair go. Rebecca Bone—who had grown up by this stage—worked on Thomas Rose's farm and they fell in love and were married by the Reverend Thomas Riddell, who was the first Anglican minister to be assigned. I have a copy of their marriage certificate, which was also sourced through the Campbelltown library.
Mr Kevin Anderson: What a great resource.
Mr BRYAN DOYLE: It is. The original document still exists at St Peter's Anglican Church, which is one of the original churches that was built in Campbelltown in the colony of New South Wales. It is not widely known, but the first service in St Peter's Anglican Church was a Catholic service by Father John Joseph Therry.
Mr Guy Zangari: He would be turning in his grave.
Mr BRYAN DOYLE: No, it was just a sign of ecumenism back in the early days of the colony. That applied history still continues because, unfortunately, Thomas Lloyd had friends who were also convicts and who had absconded from the service of John Warby who was another founder of Campbelltown, that opal of the south-west, and his farm was at Leumeah, another great suburb in Campbelltown. Thomas Lloyd made the unfortunate mistake of harbouring some of his mates. Of course, he was caught and appeared before Magistrate Allman, who issued a handwritten warrant to the police officer in charge of the local area, which in those days was known as Campbell Town. Lloyd was remanded for general bad conduct and harbouring the two convicts and was sent to Hyde Park Barracks on Macquarie Street.
I also obtained a copy of that warrant through the services of the Campbelltown City Library. Libraries have an extraordinary range of resources that relate to families of members in this place. They provide wonderful resources and link our families and their history. A copy of the warrant is now proudly displayed at the Campbelltown police station. The Campbelltown library also provides Higher School Certificate information and support for students. That is vital not only for their primary and secondary education but also for their tertiary education if they choose that path. Of course, we also have the very fine University of Western Sydney campus at Campbelltown. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1225
An inter-library loan service is provided between Campbelltown, Ingleburn, Minto, Glenquarry and Eagle Vale. Those services are provided also in rural areas. People may visit a library wishing to borrow a particular book only to find that it is not at that library. I am sure members have had that experience. The member for Penrith is nodding his head in agreement. I am sure he uses the library regularly. Rather than having to travel to another library only to find that the book is not available, the local library will arrange an inter-library transfer at no cost to the borrower, who will be notified when the book is available. That is very important for the elderly who often cannot travel between libraries, and for young people without access to a vehicle. That is an issue because not all library services are close to public transport. It is important that that sort of assistance is provided.
Libraries also provide a refuge for people who want to read quietly. They are a bit like this Chamber at times when we can hear what is going on, read or ponder deep thoughts. The Campbelltown library also focuses on services for children. It has very popular baby read and rhyme sessions, children's story times, book clubs, home library services, author visits and school holiday activities. The library's five service points have 68,000 members and each year more than 228,000 items are borrowed. Members might think that those items are only books. However, they include not only fiction and non-fiction books but also DVDs, CDs, talking books, magazines and comics. I am sure that the member for Cabramatta has read a few comics in his time. The library also has graphic novels, materials in various community languages, literary resources and other materials.
ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward): Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber. Members who wish to have conversations should leave the Chamber. The member for Campbelltown will be heard in silence.
Mr BRYAN DOYLE: I am particularly proud of the wonderful Aboriginal resource unit at the Campbelltown City Library. It contains an extensive array of literature on Aboriginal history and provides a very real connection between the Dharawal people and the City of Campbelltown. I firmly believe that the more we know about other people the harder it is to dislike them and the more able we are to get on together. The Campbelltown City Library loans more than 829,000 books and other materials and it attracts 681,000 visitors—
Mr Richard Amery: That is not a plea of not guilty, is it?
Mr BRYAN DOYLE: No. In the case of the member for Mount Druitt it would be a plea in mitigation.
Mr Richard Amery: The brief facts will do.
ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward): Order! The member for Mount Druitt will come to order.
Mr BRYAN DOYLE: The object of this bill is to provide for greater flexibility in the management of arrangements for regional libraries. The Campbelltown City Library has multiple wonderful complexes with interconnected services and the librarians are devoted to serving the community. It provides a great model that regional libraries can emulate. H. J. Daley, after whom the library is named, had every reason to be proud of the legacy he left his community. I commend this bill to the House.
Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Kevin Anderson and set down as an order of the day for a future day.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Notices of Motions
General Business Notices of Motions (General Notices) given.
INAUGURAL SPEECHES
ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward): Order! Pursuant to resolution, business is now interrupted for the presentation of inaugural speeches. Before I call the member for The Entrance, I remind the House that this is the member's inaugural speech and I ask the House to extend to him the usual courtesies.
Mr CHRIS SPENCE (The Entrance) [6.21 p.m.] (Inaugural Speech): Twenty-three years ago, in 1988, two Liberals representing the Central Coast delivered their maiden speeches. One was the previous 1226 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
Liberal member for The Entrance and the other is the member for Terrigal, my good friend and mentor, Chris Hartcher. It is with a great sense of pride and honour that I stand here tonight, not only with Chris, but with Darren Webber, Chris Holstein and Gary Edwards, as part of the Liberal team which now covers the Central Coast. On 26 March this year, 498 people across New South Wales put their names forward as lower House candidates to represent their communities and 405 of them were unsuccessful.
To be numbered among the chosen is a rare honour but it is also a great responsibility—a responsibility that I intend to discharge. On 26 March this year there was an historic victory for the Liberal Party—the biggest party majority in New South Wales history, ending 16 years of Labor mismanagement. It was a clear sign from the people of New South Wales that they wanted transparency, accountability, integrity and honesty restored to government. That commitment was given to and will be delivered by a Coalition Government and our new Premier, Barry O'Farrell.
For many of us life takes us on a long journey. Indeed, many stories collectively form the chapters of our lives that shape our values and our beliefs. Eight years ago, the direction of my life, what I thought I valued and my priorities, changed in the space of a few hours. On 18 January 2003 I was doing night shift work as a Corrective Service Officer at one of the Australian Capital Territory's remand centres. Late that afternoon I was awakened by a phone call and I was informed that a bushfire alert had just been broadcast for my suburb. I went outside and looked around. There were people climbing onto the roofs of their houses, hosing gutters and preparing for the unknown.
I too climbed on my roof and started hosing down the gutters. Within a few minutes the sky went black and an ember attack like a burning snowstorm preceded a fire of massive proportions. There was a roar of sound as the fire engulfed the pine forest adjacent to my home. The darkness and the smoke were so heavy that I could barely see a few feet in front of me. The heat was intense and thousands upon thousands of embers were swept across the streets and houses in front of a fire-driven windstorm. This was the unprecedented bushfire that was to sweep through the western suburbs of the Australian Capital Territory, tragically killing four people, destroying over 500 homes and severely damaging thousands of properties.
My home in Duffy was engulfed by fire only 25 minutes after the phone call that woke me. I grabbed my dogs, threw them in the car and fled in front of the firestorm. After leaving my dogs with a friend I returned to the Kambah area seeking to assist others to fight the fires and to help those whose homes had been destroyed. Some five hours later I returned to what was left of my home. Like so many others that day, I had saved nothing of my own. I was left with only the clothes on my back and I had no insurance to replace what I had lost. Attending a bushfire recovery centre that night to collect second-hand clothing was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I had only second-hand clothing to wear. I had no wallet, licence, credit card or money. I felt like a person without an identity. For the first time in my life I felt exposed and dependent. I suddenly discovered what it was like to be a refugee.
It was only after two weeks, with a Big W voucher, that I was finally able to buy my own clothes. Sometimes you realise that what you have taken for granted can be taken away in an instant. You also realise how important the small things are and how dependent you are on others. The fire changed my life. I sought a new beginning. I sought new opportunities and I moved to the Central Coast. It is there that I began my involvement with the Liberal Party and my journey of public service, which has led me to this House.
My family has a long and proud record of public service. My parents, Janet and Michael, who are both present in the gallery tonight, have devoted most of their working lives to our community—my mother as a teacher. Teachers are the cornerstone for guiding and educating our young people and I am forever grateful for the love, guidance and teaching that she has given me over the years. My father enlisted at the Royal Military College in Duntroon in 1970, later graduating as an officer in the Royal Australian Engineers. With his military postings my family moved to Holsworthy, Papua New Guinea, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra before he finally took his discharge at Kapooka in 1990. He followed a proud family tradition of military service and instilled in me the values of patriotism, discipline and commitment.
I owe a great debt to both my parents for the love and support they have always shown me and for the values they have instilled in me and have upheld themselves. They both came from Queensland to work on my campaign. Both of them have always been there for me and it is an enormously proud moment for me to have both of them here tonight. Along with my debt to them is my debt to my grandparents, Reg and Bev, who are in the gallery tonight, and Kevin and Doris, who have both sadly predeceased us. Reg has given over 50 years of service to the Liberal Party, which was acknowledged by our Leader, Barry O'Farrell, at a special presentation at 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1227
Cronulla. Reg and Bev have been wonderful grandparents and have shared with me all my life's highs and lows. They are my biggest fans. No matter what path I have chosen I know that I have always had their absolute support. To have them both here tonight is truly a blessing.
My father's parents, Kevin and Doris, are no longer with us. I know they would have been delighted to see me stand here today, just as they were thrilled to see my father graduate from Duntroon. I hope they see me do as well in this vocation of service as my father did in his. Just as my father served in the Army, so my grandfather, Kevin, served our country in the Second World War. He was in the 2/3rd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment from June 1942 to January 1946. He fought the invading Japanese at Buna, then at Lae, Wewak and North Borneo.
My initial desire at school was to go into the Armed Forces as my father and grandfather had done before me. I had planned to join the Air Force, but my life took me elsewhere. I have the greatest respect for those who serve our country. I have and always will support and uphold them. I am committed to assisting them, both during their service and in their retirement, as a citizen and as a member of Parliament. My interest in politics began in my early twenties when I started to work in the Federal Parliament, firstly in building services and then in parliamentary security. Through various twists and turns I came in 2004 to join the Shelly Beach branch of the Liberal Party. It was there that for the first time I made the acquaintance of Phil Walker, who had carried the flag so well in two elections and whom I was to work for when he stood again in 2007. I acknowledge him here tonight.
Hundreds of people participated in the great victory on 26 March when we achieved a historic swing of 17.3 per cent in The Entrance with 50.9 per cent of the primary vote. This result was possible only with the help and support of the more than 300 volunteers who worked on polling day. And this result is your victory—I am your representative. And equally, tonight is your night too. I acknowledge the friendship and support that the two sitting members from the Central Coast, Mike Gallacher and Chris Hartcher, have given me. Their support, advice and assistance have been sustaining and invaluable. Without Chris and Mike the Central Coast Liberal organisation would have been leaderless. They were instrumental in the Federal successes in Robertson in 1996 and Dobell in 2001, and together they helped bring about the historic results in The Entrance, Wyong, Gosford and Swansea. For as many years as Chris Hartcher has fought the good fight on the Central Coast, Ray Carter has always been there as support for all Liberal campaigns. I thank him for that.
No mention of The Entrance campaign can ever be complete without a tribute to Laurie and Evelyn Littlefield. They have been like rocks for the Liberal Party at The Entrance for over 40 years. Their time and their support, their friendship and their encouragement have been constant and touching. They ask nothing for themselves and give everything of themselves. Our State Executive representative, Lynn Webster, has always supported me both on the ground in The Entrance and in the higher reaches of the Liberal Party. I acknowledge her tonight. Likewise I acknowledge Carol Stewart, Barbara Craige, Herv Nayna, Jim and Christine Gorman, William Nemesh, Gerry Cirulli, Alan Rodwell, Rod and Michael Shellshear, Quintan and Jan Anthony, Garry Gluyas, Domenic Biasi and Michelle Markham for their stand-out work in the electorate shopping centres. Despite the summer heat and the hilly terrain I was ably assisted in the daily doorknocking of over 17,000 homes and other campaign activities by my dedicated team of volunteers, including Phil Grantham, Nathan Miller, Tim Koelma, Luke Nayna, Scott McGrath, Christian McLaughlan, Andrew Brickhill, and the best Italian campaigner, my friend Simo.
Another group of people also worked tirelessly on my campaign 24/7, putting their lives on hold to help me. They deserve to be acknowledged—my dedicated, hardworking and loyal staffers, Aaron Henry and Laurie Alexander. I also welcome our newest addition, Emily Haines. The campaign office and the strategic planning for over six months were superbly carried out by Bob Ward, my campaign manager. Bob was more than a manager; he was an adviser and a counsellor. His skills enabled me to focus 100 per cent on relating to the voters rather than to the administration. The Central Coast-Hunter campaign was oversighted with great skill by Rod Bosman on the ground and Mark, Richard, Chris, Clint, Lisa, Jen and Eleni in William Street. There are some others who have stood by me and supported me over the years and through the campaign to an extraordinary extent. They know who they are, and I express to them my profound thanks and appreciation. I was assisted in campaigning and doorknocking by a number of shadow Ministers and members, and I thank them all. [Extension of time agreed to.]
In particular, I acknowledge the leadership, the guidance and the support given to me by our leader, Barry O'Farrell. Barry made frequent visits to the coast to campaign with me, and each time he took the trouble to encourage me personally. He is a great leader and I believe history will show him to be a great Premier. I also 1228 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
thank the leader's staff over the years for their support and assistance, including Natasha, Brad, Sam, Sally, JBR, Matt, Rose, Dianne, Gayle and Peter O'Connell, Peter Schmigel and Rod Bruce. To my Oztag team mates and friends, particularly Czes: When I started the campaign I knew I could rely on you and you never let me down. Led by you, over 50 more Oztag players from the coast helped man the booths on 26 March with the same enthusiasm they show on the footy field. I thank them all. Since my early twenties I have had a group of friends from Canberra. They are my closest friends and, despite the passage of time and the distance between us, nothing can, and I hope nothing will, ever diminish our commitment to each other. Dean, Daniel, Jordan and Terry are four of the best mates anyone could ever wish for. I thank them for their years of support.
But above all I thank my guiding light, my beautiful wife, Vienna. I wish she were here tonight, but our separate careers see her with business commitments in Melbourne. But rest assured she is with us in spirit and, more than that, she is watching this live on the internet. Vienna, you are my inspiration and my rock. I could not have embarked on this journey without you, and I certainly would not stand here tonight had it not been for you. I cannot thank you enough. I hope that the demands of politics will never be placed above the commitment we made to value each other above all others. Before I go on could I please thank each and every one of the over 400 people who have travelled down from the Central Coast to support me and my fellow coasties tonight. To those in the galleries, those watching live in the Theatrette and on the internet and around the building tonight, thank you. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the hardworking staff of the Parliament, particularly the attendants and catering staff who have helped make tonight.
I am the third member for The Entrance, a seat created in 1988. It is a magnificent electorate with its superb beaches and lake. It stretches across both Gosford city and Wyong shire, and includes four railway stations, huge shopping centres and the Central Coast campus of Newcastle University. However, it is an electorate with many challenges, especially in roads, public transport and employment. I hope to work for the betterment of our area in many respects, but especially in these three. We need to end the traffic gridlock on Wyong Road, the Pacific Highway and The Entrance Road—falsely called the Central Coast Highway. They all need a massive injection of funding and have been neglected for too long.
The last 16 years have seen no major road works in my electorate despite its population growth. We need to break the endless daily drudgery for over 30,000 commuters both on road and rail. Eventually we will need a new freeway to Sydney. Eventually, too, we will need a high-speed rail link between Sydney and Newcastle. These can only come about through the combined effort of both the Federal and State governments. Yet only last week we saw Labor's indifference to the Central Coast, yet again, when federally it dropped all funding for the F3-M2 link. Labor's contribution in office was to promise a high-speed rail link for the 1999 election, at a budgeted cost then of $800 million, and immediately shelve it along with hundreds of other promises as soon as the election was out of the way.
Rail services to the Central Coast after 16 years of inertia need upgrading. A journey from Gosford to Central is slower now than it was when the first electrified service began in 1960. Similarly, the people of The Entrance were given a hospital at Wyong so badly staffed that for some time it could not be used for mothers to give birth. This in a population of over 150,000 people! Tuggerah Lake was allowed to decay by Labor. The very name The Entrance is used today because of the channel connecting the Pacific Ocean to Tuggerah Lake. Yet the lake, suffering population pressure and siltation, was, like so many other problems, ignored. The last Liberal member was responsible for major dredging programs in the lake, the creation of new islands and lakeside parks. Contrast this with the former Labor member. His only contribution is an insignificant and very forgettable sandstone statue in the park. Since my election the biggest single request to me is simply put, "Can we finally get something done in this area?" The answer is yes. Yes we can, and yes we will.
I aim to get something done. I aim to represent all people in the electorate of The Entrance. I aim to fulfil my commitments: my commitment to the engineering study of The Entrance channel; my commitment to fixing the gridlock on Wyong Road; my commitment to the express train services to cut travelling time to and from Sydney; my commitment to policing and maintaining The Entrance police station; my commitment to help business revitalise the central business districts of The Entrance and Gosford; my commitment to properly planned public housing with adequate parking, and council and community consultation in site selection; my commitment to work with all levels of Government and business for job creation and to reduce unemployment—especially among our youth; and, above all, my commitment, along with my friends and colleagues on the Central Coast, to fight for, recognise and establish our presence as a region in our own right, not just in name. Our region is as large as the Australian Capital Territory, with the fourth biggest population in New South Wales, and it is entitled to the same level of services as Sydney, Newcastle and the Illawarra. 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1229
In my journey around the electorate of The Entrance I have met thousands of good people. I thank them for their support on polling day and I give them this pledge: I will not let you down. Sir Robert Menzies spoke about the Liberal Party being for the forgotten people. In my electorate I am determined there will be no forgotten people. To the residents of Narara, Niagara Park, Wyoming, Lisarow and Ourimbah, I give you this assurance: You will no longer be the forgotten people as you have been under Labor. In my endorsement speech to the Liberal Party at The Entrance I drew attention to the Roman God Janus, after whom the month of January is named. Statues of him always have two heads: one looking forward and the other looking back. Janus is the god who looks forward to the new year but he also looks back to the past year.
Like Janus, this Government must look forward. But it must also look back. It must look back because it will be seeking to advance the great achievements that were made when we were last in government. It must look forward because there is a huge task before it to make good Labor's mismanagement. For the Liberal Party the history of the electorate of The Entrance is a story of Liberal achievement. Under the Greiner Government great things were achieved for The Entrance. In the four years the Liberal Party held the seat it had a proud record. We will have a proud record once more. Mr Acting-Speaker, overhanging your chair is the State crest on which is written the State motto: Orta recens quam pura nites. In English that means: Though recently risen, how brightly you shine. Under this Government, though recently risen, New South Wales will shine. Under this Government, though recently risen, The Entrance will shine once more.
Mr DARREN WEBBER (Wyong) [6.50 p.m.] (Inaugural Speech): Tonight I stand here with a sense of unreality. I never dreamed I would be a candidate for Parliament, and when the honour was bestowed on me I was challenged with the expectation that I could win a seat that the Liberal Party had never represented. Though I am young, my journey here has been a long one. For me, the path of community service began on the magnificent beaches of the Central Coast. Some of the most rewarding experiences in my life have occurred on the beach. Surf Life Saving Australia, an iconic Australian institution, coordinates thousands of volunteers like me who work hard to keep our beaches safe. It is my pleasure to acknowledge in the public gallery tonight Chad Griffiths and Stuart Harvey from Surf Life Saving Central Coast. My involvement with the movement goes back many years. I have had the honour of being Club Cadet of the Year and Junior Surf Life Saver of the Year. I have been elected to the positions of chief instructor, secretary, club captain and president. All these roles are unpaid and voluntary, requiring time above and beyond the countless hours devoted to performing patrols on weekends.
Surf lifesaving has taught me many things, and rescuing someone from the surf is a real buzz. But the most rewarding experience happens early in summer on a Sunday morning. "Nippers" is the name given to all young children involved with the club. Most of the under-sevens that I used to teach started off fearing the waves. Week after week, after many hours of encouragement, the moment when the nipper catches his or her first wave occurs. You can see the transformation on their face immediately. The look of horror is replaced with excitement, having conquered the elements and their fears. From there on in there is no stopping them. It is that transformation that I had in mind when I stood for Liberal endorsement in Wyong. Prior to 26 March the majority of the Wyong electorate had never voted for any political party other than Labor. Many were taught the old fallacy that Liberals represent the wealthy and Labor represents the workers—an out-of-date class stereotype that Labor supporters still pull out of their bag of tricks for elections today. But, just as I had persevered with scared nippers in the surf, I persevered for 12 months on the campaign trail, reassuring Wyong voters about what we Liberals stand for and spreading the Coalition's positive message of much-needed real change for New South Wales.
Time after time people would tell me that they had never been doorknocked by a politician before, let alone a candidate. Some apologised, saying that while they appreciated my efforts and agreed that we had the worst State Government in history, they still had to vote Labor because their parents always had. But the majority were sympathetic—sympathetic to a new vision for Wyong: the vision offered to them by the Liberal Party. As a candidate I joined a team. You could almost say I joined a family: the Liberal family. My leader, Barry O'Farrell, was a constant support. He came up to support me so often I was thinking of giving him his own bedroom at my place—complete with a mighty Wests Tigers doona! The two State members, the Hon. Mike Gallacher and Chris Hartcher—who had been the sole standard bearers for many years—backed me, advised me, and at times even chastised me. My good friends, and now colleagues, Chris Spence, Chris Holstein and Garry Edwards, made up the famous five: a team dedicated to delivering responsible government that worked with extraordinary unity and teamwork.
Our campaign leadership under Rod Bosman had an unmatched record: five wins out of five contests on the Central Coast. His chief assistant, Sue Honeybrook, was an unmatched example of energy and 1230 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
enthusiasm. Karen McNamara, my campaign manager, was my greatest helper—right from when I was endorsed. Karen, I am very happy to acknowledge you in the gallery tonight. Your dedication and commitment from day one played a great part in our victory and to you I am profoundly grateful. More than 300 people manned the polling booths on 26 March. Every polling booth was absolutely covered with Barry O'Farrell and Darren Webber corflutes. Out of 27 polling booths, we carried 19— an unprecedented result in Wyong. The enthusiasm of the polling booth workers was evident at the huge celebration party that night. They are too numerous to thank here, but I know their names and I thank each and every one of them.
Wyong railway station became a second home to me in the past six months. From 4.45 a.m. until 7.15 a.m., a dedicated team hit the station regularly. Supporting me were many of our members and supporters. Those who especially put their lives on hold, and went above and beyond what I could ask for, include Andrew Ferrari, Brendan Tate, Trevor Morton, David and Sharon Watts, Scott Arneil, Darren McKeirnan, Richard and Ruth Joplin, Tony and Karen Drinan, and of course Glenda Bilton, who ensured that all our workers on election day were well fed. Dennis Pogsun staffed pre-poll without missing a single day—an extraordinary time commitment. During the campaign we erected more than 1,300 corflutes. We blazed the Liberal message in every street, in every shopping centre, and on over 400 homes. An amazing feature of the campaign was the number of people who contacted us for a sign. Dozens of others, when they saw the team putting up signs, would come up and say, "Put one on my house too."
We had a superbly located campaign office on the Pacific Highway in Wyong. I was never on my own in the campaign. The Liberal Party from William Street was constantly on the phone. Shadow Ministers came to assist me with specific issues—and even with doorknocking. Our leader, Barry O'Farrell, was in Wyong even before I was chosen as the candidate. Barry's pledge to support the people of the Central Coast in their fight against the Kores coalmine set the scene for our Wyong campaign. We were strongly supported by Alan Hayes and Mike Campbell from the Australian Coal Alliance—who are both here tonight—in that battle to make sure that the Wyong valleys that comprise 53 per cent of the coast's water catchment were protected from arbitrary decision-making.
Barry, your commitment was second to none. You brought the shadow cabinet to Wallarah Bay, with all your Coalition shadow Ministers meeting community groups and leaders. And—what a tribute to Wyong— I began polling day standing with you at Blue Haven booth and then cast my vote with you at Kanwal booth. Our victory in Wyong was built on foundations—foundations laid by that small group of people who consistently upheld our values, articulated our philosophy and punched above their weight in what for years was a Labor stronghold. I acknowledge the hard work of the previous Liberal candidate for Wyong, Ben Morton. He, along with his parents, Trevor and Linda, have kept the Liberal faith for many years, together with other local families like David and Sharon Watts, Mike and Judy Gallacher, and Alan Woods.
Likewise, I acknowledge the hard work of all previous Liberal candidates in Wyong. At the time of their campaigns Wyong was deep under the spell of Labor and the task they faced must have been daunting. In particular, I praise Rick Walton, our candidate from 1991. Rick assisted my campaign and added invaluable insight. Liberal councillors Lynne Webster and John McNamara guided me and kept me informed of local issues in conjunction with two well-established independents, Doug Eaton and Greg Best. To our sister conference of Davidson, represented in this House by Jonathan O'Dea, I say a special thanks. Guys, you did a great job and, Jonathan, you were a constant help. Under the tireless direction of Jose Menano you sent up team after team to work the shopping centres and knock on the doors. Jose, you were with me every step of the way. Davidson is a great conference and proved itself to be a great parent to Wyong.
My friends, particularly those long-time mates since my school years, were originally not understanding as to why I would wish to enter politics. They were a little concerned, so dreadful was the public perception of a politician after 16 years of bad politics. However, seeing my passion and knowing my ideals, they all supported me. I want to especially thank Chris Dobson, Todd Lang, Scott and Tanya Lang, Scott McCrone, Julie Shelley, Rick Ward and Corinne Phillips. They are all great mates who have played integral parts in shaping my life journey. I also thank some of those friends' parents, Frank and Louise Dobson, and Steve and Sue Ward. As a young candidate contesting a State seat for the first time I appreciated greatly the wise advice of my good friends Robert Browne and June Kentwell. I look up to them as political mentors. Finally, let me make the most heartfelt tribute to my father, Lester, my principal and greatest supporter. The Webber family moved to the Central Coast from Newcastle in the early 1940s. My grandfather Norman Webber opened one of the first hardware stores in the area. Since then our family has been involved in local small business and community service. [Extension of time agreed to.] 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1231
My father, William Lester Webber, commonly known as Lester, has owned and operated several small businesses and has devoted more than 50 years of his life to surf life saving. He is in the gallery tonight. Dad, you have been my strength and I pay tribute to you. You, above all others, have influenced my ideals and values. He is joined by Uncle Norman, Aunty Pam and Aunty Margaret. I suspect all of us Webbers, including Nan and Pop, who are no longer of this mortal world, are all still in shock that our name now forms part of the rich history of the New South Wales Parliament. To represent my home, my family, my friends, my supporters and also those who did not vote for me is a true privilege and an honour. I thank the electorate of Wyong for entrusting to me their representation. To be the first Liberal to ever represent Wyong is something of which I am very proud and humbled by. The opportunity and indeed the responsibility to make a difference on a large scale in the electorate is both challenging and exciting. Neither I nor the Coalition Government will take Wyong for granted. We will not treat the constituents of the electorate as just a red patch on a strategic map in Sussex Street.
The Wyong electorate in all its incarnations has been represented by Labor since its beginning. Originally its working population consisted of dairy farmers and their families. There was a large abattoir and, along with the council, these were the two chief employers. Wyong shire is split in two by the Wyong and The Entrance electorates, as is the Federal electorate of Dobell. Wyong's main arterial links are the Pacific Highway and the Newcastle-to-Sydney railway line. Its boundaries are the Pacific Ocean in the east and the F3 freeway in the west. It is a magnificent area with its lake, its beaches and its forest. But, like all growth areas, it faces many challenges. Tragically, it is disadvantaged and regularly features on the indexes of disadvantage.
Its rapid growth and lack of service and infrastructure spending under the former Government have led to traffic gridlock on the Pacific Highway and Wyong Road, overcrowded trains and an understaffed Wyong Hospital with a brand-new maternity ward, which through lack of staffing is unable to offer a proper range of service to mothers and families. An instance of the former Government's gross incompetence and neglect of the area is seen in the construction of the Wyong police station, or lack thereof. This was first promised in 1999 and it was promised again in 2003, 2007 and 2011. It still remains uncompleted. The same can be said of the Warnervale town centre—a planning disaster that has dragged on for decades.
As part of my election campaign I made a number of pledges to the electorate, which I intend to see brought to fulfilment. These include: upgrading the intersections along Wyong Road; finishing construction of Wyong police station; working with the Roads and Traffic Authority and, importantly, the community to get the Pacific Highway upgraded through the Wyong central business district; assisting commuters by introducing three express rail services to and from Sydney each morning and each afternoon; and delivering practical measures to clean up Tuggerah Lake, with the ultimate goal of restoring her to her former glory. I plan to deliver with the health Minister a low-care emergency triage unit to complement Wyong's existing emergency department. A special interest of mine is the problem of graffiti. It despoils shopping centres and homes. I strongly support our announced policy of depriving repeat offenders of their drivers licence or their entitlement to a drivers licence.
I live and breathe the electorate of Wyong and the Central Coast. I was born at Gosford Hospital, I grew up in Tumbi Umbi and, along with my sister, Kylie, attended Berkeley Vale Primary School and Terrigal High School. We are products of our great public education system. Mum and Dad provided for us both the best they could and sacrificed much for our benefit. Through hard work, my parents were able to provide a home on acreage in beautiful Tumbi Umbi. During my high school years we hosted several Japanese exchange students at home. I was enormously privileged to represent my school and Wyong shire on a return exchange visit to Japan. Not long after school I took part in an Anglican Board of Mission trip to the Philippines. As I visited the many impoverished communities of the Philippines I was struck by the terrible poverty I saw and I came to appreciate what a lucky country Australia is. I also came to appreciate my responsibility to help others less fortunate than I. I had limited interest in, or knowledge of, religion until I was a teenager. At the age of 12 I determined to become a Christian and was baptised and confirmed in the Anglican Church. I was deeply impressed by the dedicated stewardship of Father Peter Lord, and I count him as both a teacher and a friend. I am proud to acknowledge myself as a Christian and ask for God's blessing on my work.
On leaving school I commenced an apprenticeship as an electrician. The Central Coast is a stronghold of tradespeople, thousands of whom commute to Sydney and Newcastle to find work. Tradesmen and women are small business people. They receive no sick leave and no holiday leave. If they do not work they do not get 1232 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
paid. They ask for nothing and they receive nothing. They are givers to our society, not takers. The philosophy that underpins small business is the philosophy of our great party—the party that believes in free enterprise, the party that believes that one should seek to contribute to the common good rather than take from the community, the party that believes in helping the disadvantaged as far as possible with a hand up, not a hand out. So there was only one party for me to join, and that was the Liberal Party.
In 2002 the great John Howard was Prime Minister of Australia. His leadership inspired me. His values and his integrity attracted me. I went to the office of my Federal member, the member for Dobell, and asked how to join and do my part. I was a walk-in. No-one influenced me; no-one asked me. I originally joined the Young Liberals branch and later transferred to a senior branch. Lynne Webster invited me to join the 2004 Liberal ticket for Wyong Shire Council—in an unwinnable position, I hasten to add—and my political career was underway. Wyong comes last alphabetically in the list of New South Wales electorates. For too long Wyong has come last in the delivery of services and infrastructure. With Webber for a surname I am used to being last on the list, but it is time for the Wyong electorate to get a good dose of reverse alphabetical order. It is time for the Wyong electorate to be part of a government of reform. It is time for the Wyong electorate to have a more effective voice.
Mr CHRIS HOLSTEIN (Gosford) [7.16 p.m.] (Inaugural Speech): As I rise in this honourable place to make my inaugural speech I officially acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and pay my respects to elders past and present. To those of this Fifty-fifth Parliament of New South Wales I offer my congratulations; to all those elected to this House and to the other place, especially those elected for the first time, and to my Central Coast colleagues Chris Spence, the member for the Entrance, and Darren Webber, the member for Wyong, and my northern colleagues Garry Edwards, the member for Swansea; Andrew Cornwell, the member for Charlestown; Robyn Parker, the member for Maitland; and Tim Owen, the member for Newcastle. The Hunter is very much part of my heritage.
I look forward to the challenges ahead, expecting at times that we will not agree. But a difference of opinion is what makes democracy work, more so when the right to a different opinion is respected. Tradition tells me, and rightfully so, to mention my predecessor Marie Andrews, the member for Peats and subsequently the member for Gosford, from 1995 to 2011—a much-respected member of the community and one who showed commitment to her constituents. I wish her the best in her retirement. I also acknowledge a past member for Gosford in the gallery this evening, Malcolm Brooks, previously a fellow city councillor, shire president, mayor, mentor and, at times, an opinionated opponent, but also very much a friend. It should be noted that Malcolm's inaugural speech in 1973 concluded at approximately 3.00 a.m. No doubt that is why I get only 15 minutes. All members have sung the praises of their electorates and have waxed lyrical about how they represent the best place in New South Wales. Far be it from me to break with that trend. Thus, let them stand corrected.
Gosford has a diverse collection of beautiful beaches, the picturesque Brisbane Water and breathtaking bushland. It encompasses city lifestyle, urban living, rural farming, manufacturing, light industry and great tourism destinations. It stretches from Mooney Mooney to Mangrove, Kulnura to Kariong, Spencer to Springfield, Point Clare to Point Frederick, and Peats Ridge to Patonga, Gosford to the mighty Woy Woy Peninsula. Our area's history goes back to the earliest settlement in the 1820s. In fact, prior to that, in 1788 Governor Arthur Phillip and a small party of officers and marines undertook a number of exploratory voyages to Brisbane Water. Folklore says that on one such trip a canoe of natives—who were either Darkinjung or Guringi people—jumped from their vessel and swam in the most unusual fashion, looping their arms out of the water in a forward motion. These were the first white men to see the Australian crawl.
Early industries included shipbuilding. From 1829 to 1953 more than 500 vessels, including ketches, schooners, ferries and tugboats were built on the shores of Brisbane Water. Timber cutting of ironbark and red cedar, and citrus orchards were also early industries. Only with the coming of the railway in 1899 did growth increase. From the early 1900s, Sydneysiders started making the Central Coast a holiday destination. In the post-war period, around the 1950s there was a significant growth in housing as young families and, in particular, retirees made Gosford their home. The 1960s and 1970s saw an even greater influx of retirees settling in what had been the family's holiday retreat.
However, it was not only Sydneysiders who came. Others came to the Woy Woy peninsula to retire. They included people such as Leo and Florence Milligan. Their son—a regular visitor, a poet, a comedian, a 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1233
novelist, an actor, an environmentalist and star of the Goons—was one Terence Alan Patrick Sean Milligan. Of course, he was better known as "Spike". He put Woy Woy on the world map. He was to endear Woy Woy to the world with classic lines such as, "Don't blame me, me mum lives at Woy Woy," and "Woy Woy, the world's only above-ground cemetery." We have a sense of humour in Woy Woy. However, members should note— including in particular the Government Whip—that you can take the Wagga out of Wagga Wagga but you cannot take the Woy out of Woy Woy.
Whether it is named Peats or Gosford, my electorate has been a diehard Labor seat since its inception. Therefore, I am proud to have been given the privilege by the people of my community to represent them. The community's vote of confidence in the Liberal Party and in me to represent them is no more reflected than in the historic winning of every booth in the electorate. My community's expectations of me are therefore high in tackling the infrastructure backlog that is the result of long neglect by the former Government. I am Newcastle born. I moved to Gosford at an early age as a publican's son, raised to believe that hard work will bring its just reward and that nothing comes without effort. I was educated at Gosford Public School and Gosford High School. My teenage years were spent pursuing my love of rugby league and my involvement in the Young Lions movement, Leos. Casual work outside school hours at the local supermarket culminated in a traineeship when I finished school and ultimately a retail management career. For 10 years I managed supermarkets across the State from Maitland to Swansea, Mayfield, Taree, Raymond Terrace, Dubbo and Orange.
Playing rugby league and selling baked beans was punctuated by one of the highlights of my life—my marriage to Mary in 1980. After 10 years in a nomadic retail existence and with a young and constantly growing family we returned home to Gosford to family, friends and what has now been 20-plus years in a variety of small businesses. I have gone from corner shop owner, takeaway cook, coffee shop extra cleaning tables to underwater ceramic technician—that is dishwasher to the uneducated—to florist. Yes, I am 120-kilogram former front row forward who can do a flower arrangement. Does anyone have a problem with that? Our return to Gosford meant we had to buy a home. Acquiring a home with a big backyard for four kids and another one on the way at an affordable price came with the knowledge that the backyard was in a flood fringe area. The maximum water level was two metre below floor level and 20 metres from the house—at least that is what the council officers said. Less than a year later we discovered after two days of rain that we had bought a house in a floodway with a flood level one metre above the floor and, naturally, right through the house. Council, we have a problem!
For the flood-affected neighbours, more than a little community activism courtesy of the Narara Creek Restoration Committee—thank you Peter Shields—the Narara Valley Residents' Association—thank you Henning Christensen—support from some of the councillors of the day, including Robert Bell, Ray Griffiths and Kim Margin, the then local member, Tony Doyle, and former Federal member, Frank Walker, resulted in the voluntary acquisition and relocation of more than 25 properties. That experience ignited a desire in me to get involved in local government and community issues. I proudly say that I was elected to the Gosford City Council in 1991. I can also proudly say that I have served 20 years as a councillor, including six as mayor. I acknowledge this evening the presence in the gallery of Councillor Laurie Maher and Councillor Craig Doyle, the mayor and deputy mayor of the City of Gosford. I also acknowledge the presence of my council colleagues councillors Chris Burke and Jeff Strickson.
My foray into local government has come at a financial cost to my family. I took on a full-time job with token pay and a mountain of responsibility. I believe local communities should be thankful for our many hardworking, dedicated and professional councillors. Indeed, many members, both past and present and of all political persuasions, have travelled that road. I owe much to my time in local government. It was an apprenticeship like no other. And now, 20 years on, I can still say that every day on council was a learning experience. It is the level of government closest to the people, but it is often the whipping post for the levels above. Many members would attest to that. My saviours from the breadline have been my wife and in later years my children and my extended family. Their dedication to our small family business has been outstanding. The Gnostic Corner at Woy Woy is not only successful but it also contributes to and enriches many in our local community. My family's commitment has been huge in enabling me to fulfil my civic duties over the years.
I spoke earlier of the infrastructure backlog in my community, but we should also acknowledge the wins we have had. We have had local surf club redevelopment with eight new clubs in 10 years. That is the envy 1234 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26 May 2011
of the New South Wales Surf Life Saving movement. Caroline Bay Regional Arts Centre is a showpiece that allows us to enjoy shows such as the touring Archibald Exhibition. The Peninsula Leisure Centre is a $25 million state-of-the-art aquatic facility. Of course, we have the best regional sporting stadium in Australia— the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium at Graham Park, Gosford, which is the home of the mighty Mariners. They have been in the grand final three times, but have been three times the bridesmaid. Please God, let next year be our year! God willing—that is "God" spelled "NRL"—the stadium will soon be the home of the mighty Central Coast Bears.
It would represent a union made in rugby league heaven of vibrant regional rugby league tragics, a breeding ground for rugby league for decades and a club steeped in history founded in 1908, the North Sydney Bears. That team is home to legends such as Harold Horder and Ken Irvine. That union is being facilitated by legends Greg Florimo and our own David Fairleigh. All of these projects were initiated at the local government level and most were advanced under local guidance alone and often with an indifferent mix of State and Federal support. As the State member for Gosford indifference will not be in my charter. I will fight to meet the community's needs, including a new performing arts centre, the upgrading of the Woy Woy road and rail crossing, and the re-establishment of the rehabilitation centre at the Woy Woy Hospital after heartless removal by the previous Government. [Extension of time agreed to.]
Other projects include the West Gosford intersection, a 14-year debacle, the delivery of the Gosford Challenge and the central business district revitalisation, ensuring economic growth and job creation and, hopefully, the purification of the iconic memorial to Labor Party bad manners, Iguana Joes. My goal in this place, beyond those of honouring the election commitments in my campaign, are simply to use my experience gained in local government, the knowledge gained of my community's needs and to seek cross-government cooperation. To achieve those goals I am prepared to think outside the box and, above all, to apply commonsense, the lack of which has too frequently been replaced by mountains of red tape and regulation. This new member of Parliament will base decisions on one standing principle if nothing else— commonsense!
In thanking those I need to, if I were to name all those who have helped me to this spot today I would have to break the record of Mr Brooks and take you into the wee small hours of the morning. I apologise for this abridged version and crave the understanding of all those who helped me. I thank my campaign team led by Richard Keogh, assisted by Bob Mudge and Malcolm Brooks. To team members, many of whom are here—Bev Ferrier, Mark Porter, Suzie Woods, Sharon Martin, Jeff Strickson, Deanna Bocking, Jenny Philips, Bob and Annette Strong and Steve Russell—thank you all for your faith and your undying support. To Rod Bosman for his guidance and his patience and to those volunteers in their hundreds who believed in me and manned the pre-polls, assisted at the railway stations, assisted with doorknocking and, of course, on 26 March when they presented the voters with a sea of blue that led to an historic victory for the Liberal Party: I promise not to let them down and to give my all in honour of their efforts and the voters trust.
I thank Mike Gallacher from that other place for his guidance and support; I am humbly in his debt. To my colleague in this place, the Minister for Resources and Energy, the member for Terrigal, Chris Hartcher, I thank him for his assistance. Who would have thought: in 1849, 162 years ago, the SS Parland arrived in Australia with German migrants. Our ancestors arrived on that boat and Mr Hartcher and I discovered this and, amid concerns of any possible onboard liaisons, he became worried about the fact he was putting on weight. I, in turn, worried about the fact that I was losing my hair! Thankfully, after extensive DNA testing, the only shared trait was our political belief. Thank heavens for small mercies.
To our leader, Barry O'Farrell, whom I remind that all winning campaigns must start at the cake stall at Kariong on election morning, to Jillian Skinner, Gladys Berejiklian and Mike Baird whose frequent visits were greatly appreciated and were key in the factor of victory in the seat of Gosford, and to Mark, Chris and Lisa-Maree from head office, thank you all for your support. Thank you to my close friends who have been able to distinguish the person from the politician. To the Byers, Smiths, Hickeys, Vickerys, Bennetts and particularly the Scaysbrooks who have travelled for eight hours to listen to a friend for 15 minutes, thank you all.
My last but most important thanks go to my family. To Marie Louise Holstein, my mother and number one supporter, the embodiment of the statement that there is no love like that of a mother's: Mum, I cannot thank 26 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1235
you enough! To my wife, Mary: If in my 53 years on this earth I made but one good decision, it was 30 years ago when I asked Mary Elizabeth Ryan to be my wife. I have no false expectation on where her then positive response now rates in her lifetime of decisions. I know I am not the easiest person to live with but, Mary, you have been my rock! To my children: to number one Ranga, Gabrielle, and her husband, Graham; my grandchildren who have been exceptionally well behaved this evening, Dominique, Julian, Lillian and Phoebe; to my lovely out-there daughter, Emily, and her partner, Richard; to my number one son, Jacob, proof that the fruit does not fall far from the tree; and my beautiful daughter, Bridgette, and her partner, Rob; to my son Caleb, absent this evening but who no doubt will light up Greece like the true Ranga he is—my family members are my reason for being and they fill me with pride in all that they do.
I end my first but by no means my last speech with a dedication to my late father, Henry Holstein, who taught me to be true to myself, to stand up for what I believe in, to be respectful, hard-working and loyal. I know he would have been proud to be here tonight, and in some way I know he is here. I hope that those attributes and values that I bring to this place in serving the people of Gosford and New South Wales will honour my father and my family name. I thank you, Namaste.
The House adjourned, pursuant to resolution, at 7.36 p.m. until Friday 27 May 2011 at 10.00 a.m.
______