Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
TUESDAY, 31 AUGUST 1982
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
Papers 31 August 1982 635
TUESDAY, 31 AUGUST 1982
Mr SPEAKER (Hon. S. J. Muller, Fassifem) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m,
PAPERS The foUowing paper was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed:— Report of the State Electricity Commission of Queensland for the year ended 30 June 1982 The following i>apers were laid on the table:— Reports— Queensland Law Reform Commission for the year ended 30 June 1982 Pyramid SeUuig Schemes Elimination Committee for the year ended 30 June 1982 Proclamation under the Forestry Act 1959-1981 Orders in Council under— State Housing Act 1945-1981 State Housing (Freeholdmg of Land) Act 1957-1980 City of Brisbane Act 1924-1980 Expjlosives Act 1952-1981 Forestry Act 1959-1981 Regulations under— Co-operative and Other Societies Act 1967-1978 Water Act 1926-1981 By-laws under the Water Act 1926-1981 Information relating to payments under the Pensioner Rate Subsidy Scheme 636 31 August 1982 Ministerial Statements
MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Investigations by Private Consultants into Railway Department Hon. D. F. LANE (Merthyr—Minister for Transport) (11.3 a.m.): It is my duty to report to ParUament on a Cabinet decision yesterday in relation to the Railway Department. By direction, I have instructed the Commissioner for RaUways and general managers throughout the State that provisions of the Railways Act should be used, when considered appropriate, in relation to bans imposed by raUway employees. I have also been instmcted to engage private consultants to make urgent, extensive investigations into the foUowing aspects of the Railway Department— (a) the management stmcture of the department; (b) the effects of industrial agreements and arrangements with unions on the operation and efficiency of Queensland railways; (c) the feasibility and cost effectiveness of p>rivate enterprise carrying out the maintenance of sections of rolling-stock normaUy carried out in raUway workshops; (d) The cost-effectiveness or otherwise of preserving the poUcy of requiring the carrying of certain commodities by rail under the Transport Act permit provisions; (e) The benefits or otherwise of entering into contracts with private enterprise for the handling and carriage of general goods and parcels now normally carried out by railway employees; (f) The savings which can be made in resources by the implementation of all or any of the above measures; and (g) Any other matters which the Honourable the Minister for Transport considers could benefit from an examination by the consultants. The consultants wiU report directly to me. I am to present that report to Cabinet within six months of commencement of the investigation, and I shall keep Parliament informed. I express the sincere hope that all railway staff and employees wiU co-operate fully in this study, which is very much in the interests of Queensland and the security of employees, which, in turn, depends very much' on the efficiency of the department. The Railway Depyartment, as with any other transport business, must be competitive and reliable lo compete in the market-place.
Housing in Queensland Hon. C. A. WHARTON (Burnett—Minister for Works and Housing) (11.8 a.m.): In recent times we have heard much from the ALP, through spokesmen such as the member for, Chatsworth, on the housing situation in Queensland. In answer to some of the criticisms levelled by such people, let me say quite clearly that the Queensland Govemment has an ongoing and diversified program of assisting famiUes and, in fact, has led the nation in dealing with many of the problems in the housing area. The latest move in this area was the introduction of a new $200m housing package which wiU provide for additional spending on both rental and home-ownership programs through the Housing Commission. Spending for rental housing purposes in the current financial year will be increased by 33 per cent and new home-ownership programs will inject an additional $100m into that area. The ALP has consistently attacked the Govemment's program which provides options for the poorer family—policies providing them whh the option of buying or renting a home. Labor makes it quite clear that it considers poorer famiUes should not have this option. Labor is anti-home-ownership. This should be made quite clear to the many thousands of poorer families who have been assisted into home-ownership and to those now seeking it. Our policies are ones which continue to serve those most in need, not those who are more well off. The member for Chatsworth, in this House last week, indicated that once a family obtains a Housing Commission house it should continue to hold that house irrespective of whether the family could afford private rental. What a shocking statement! Let him tell that to the people in need who are waiting to get welfare housing. Qilestions Up Much has been made of recent "research" undertaken by the ALP and often quoted by Aie member for Chatsworth. His use of figures has been at least suspect. At best it can be caUed manipulation for political purposes. Let me give an example or two. The member quotes raw construction figures for Housing Commission rental purposes. He knows as well as I that these raw figures are not valid for the purpose of dealing with welfare housing. He weU knows, but has made no attemprt to explain to the pubUc, that what should be examined are the "net gain" figures in welfare rental stock. If the member had taken the fuU statistics from the report he quoted and not just the parts that suited his preconceived argument, he would have reached a conclusion that welfare rental stock did not increase in 1974-75 (a year he is fond of quoting) by 2 059. The report shows that the increase in rental was 877 and, of these, 337 were for non-welfare. This means that the correct figure was 540 and the corresponding figure in 1981-82 was 701. Let me look at some more figures. In 1974-75, after aUowing for sales, etc., tenancies increased by 1597. In 1981-82 the figure was 2 668, or an increase of 67 per cent. The honourable member also uses some of the information I gave him last week on wait Ust figures. He fails to use the full facts, namely, that over 60 per cent of those assessed into priority categories are adequately housed in terms of space and amenities and that, in Brisbane, the rejection rate at the time of allocation is 30 per cent. The member and his cohorts in the Labor Party shed crocodile tears over the pUght of those seeking housing. Yet he and his Labor coUeagues are the ones who have been backing the shorter hours issue and the disruption of industry it has caused. We hear nothing from the member and his colleagues on the increased costs to home buyers that such moves cause. If he is at all genuine, let him speak out on behalf of the home buyer and the rental famUy who cannot get into housing because of increased housing costs. Meanwhile, the Queensland Government is taking positive step)S to help both the rental occupant and home buyer. PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— State Service Superannuation Scheme From Mrs Nelson (500 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will remove all discrimination from the State Service Superannuation Scheme. Aerial Distribution of Herbicides From Mr Frawley (1 696 signatories) praying that the ParUament of Queensland wUI ban the aerial distribution of herbicides in Hazardous Area No. 1. Petitions received. QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE Questions submitted on notice by members were answered as follows:— 1. Convicted Murderers Leaving Place of Detention without Supervision Mr Greenwood asked the Minister for Welfare Services— (1) How many convicted murderers are still undergoing sentences of imprisonment in Queensland? (2) Have some of these been allowed to leave their place of detention during the last 12 months without the supervision throughout their absence of an accompanying prison officer or member of the Queensland Police Force and, if so, how many prisoners were allowed to do this? (3) How many of these were aUowed to leave their place of detention without such supervision on more than one occasion? (4) If any of them were allowed to leave their place of detention without such supervision on more than one occasion, will he indicate the number of occasions with respect to each? 638 31 August 1982 C^estions Upon Notice (5) If the answer to (2) is in the affirmative, were there compelling reasons for allowing convicted murderers undergoing sentence to leave prison whhout such super vision throughout their absence and, if so, what was the nature of those reasons in each case? Answer:— (1) Eighty-one. Additionally, five persons are detained at the Security Patients Hospital, Wacol. (2) Yes. Five. This practice has been in (H>eration since 1969. (3 & 4) Four were granted leave of absence on a daily basis without supervision. Available records do not readily indicate the number of occasions those prisoners actiiidly departed the prison. In addition, one pmsoner is currently hospitalised on a continuing basis. (5) It is an established fact that the majority of people cwivicted of murder eventually retum to the community. The decision in this regard is taken on the recom mendation of the Parole Board, which is an independent statutory body. Given the fact that the majority of convicted murderers do retum to the community, the Prisons Department has a very heavy responsibUity to ensure that such persons are afforded every op>portunity to rehabilitate themselves so that they are no longer a risk to society. A proven technique in modifying a prisoner's behaviour is gradual and controlled involvement with society. In Queensland this involvement with society is controlled through leave of absence, release to study, release to work and eventual parole. In considering a prisoner for involvement in these programs, the overriding consideration is puUic safety and security of private property. The level of supervision required for a particular prisoner is carefully assessed priw to his or her being involved in a particular orelease program. Where a prisoner is deemed to be "not a risk" he is released without supervision. The honourable member wiU, I am sure, appreciate that in selecting prisoners for these pwograms a ••value" judgment is involved. I am pleased to add, however, that the Queensland Prisons Department and the officers in the Parole Board have an enviable record in this regard. 2. EstabUshment of Sugar Industry, Ord River Mr Blake asked the Minister for Primary Industries— With reference to Westem Australia's stated intention of establishing a crystal sugar industry on the Ord River, and to the recent Press statement of the former West AustraUan Premier, Sir Charles Court, in which he stated, "I find it most extraordin^ that no credible and acceptable explanation has been given as to why the Queensland Premier has gone back on the assurances and imderstandings reached with Western Australia when I was Premier."— (1) What assurances and understandings were reached with the West Australian Government regarding a sugar industry on the Ord River? (2) Were those assurances and undertakings reached as a result of recom mendations by the sugar industry in Queensland? (3) If so, what official sugar industry organisations in Queensland subscribed to those assurances and understandmgs reached with Westem Australia regarding a sugar mdustry on the Ord, and to what extent did each subscribe? Answer:— (1 to 3) On the occasion to which Su- Charies Court refers, presumably in January 1975, both he and the Premier agreed that it was desirable that, if the Western Aus tralian Government was to proceed with a sugar industry on the Ord, it be undertaken within the present marketing and production control arrangements for the Queensland and New South Wales sugar industries. Questions Upon Notice 31 August 1982 639 They also saw the need for fuU consultation between their respective Governments. Research assistance was provided by the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations on a consultancy basis to the Western Australian Government to assess the technical feasi bility of sugar production on the Ord. This research involved the testing of commercial cane varieties developed by the sugar industry and required its approval which was forthcoming in a spirit of co-operation. In subsequent discussions which the Premier and I have had with Sir Chiles Court and Mr Old, the Western AustraUan Minister for Agriculture, we stressed aU the reasons why we felt the existing industries could meet any growth in the market in the forseeable future. Sugar pwoduction on the Ord would be far more costly than equivalent expansion in the existing industry in view of aU the infrastructure requured for milling, transport and port facilities in this remote region. The Western Australian gentlemen have always maintained that they wished to proceed with sugar on the Ord and the only understanding has been that, if the Westem AustraUan Government was determined to proceed, a formula for co-operation should be explored under the existing orderly marketing arrangements. ITiere has been on-going consultation between officers of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and the sugar industry associations regarding the Ord River pwoject and joint representations have been made to the Commonwealth Govemment. These consultations have been held with the Joint Sugar Industry Associations with representatives from the Queensland Cane Growers CouncU, the Australian Sugar Pro ducers Association Limited, the Proprietary Sugar MUlers Association, the Co-operative Sugar MUlers Association Limited and the New South Wales Cane Growers Council and the Sugar Milling CO-operative Limited. Our Govemment's position is quite clear. In view of the current depressed state of the sugar industry and the severe market constraints and obligations under the Inter national Sugar Agreement, it would be irresponsible to pwoceed with any expansion of the sugar industry at this time. This attitude has been adopted with the full support of the existing industry. 3. Bull-bars Mr McKechnie asked the Minister for Local Govemment, Main Roads and PoUce— With reference to the answer to a question the Minister for Transport gave to the member for Warrego in relation to bull-bars on 5 August— (1) What action should people who Uve in country areas take if they have fitted buU-bars in good faith, not knowing that some bull-bars contravene Australian Design Rules in relation to safety? (2) Will police prosecute some of these people or wiU they adopt the more sensible attitude of allowing people time to fit safer bull-bars that conform with Australian Design Rules? (3) Why are some bull-bars considered dangerous according to Australian Design Rules? Answer:— (1) If people living in country areas consider bull-bars fitted to passenger cars, utUities or panel vans contravene the Australian Design Rules, they should arrange inspection by a local inspector of motor vehicles and be guided by his advice. (2) Members of the PoUce Force are required to enforce the provisions of the Traffic Act and Regulations. However, the commissioner is conscious of the need to exercise a commonsense approach to this matter, and police officers are being . adyised to delay further enforcement action untU firm guide-lines have been formulated. (3) Because the PoUce Department has been advised by the Division of Occu|>ational Safety that some buU-bars nuUify the control coUap}sing effect required under the Australian Design Rule No. lOB—Steering Column, which incorporates the barrier colUsion performance requirement. 640 31 August 1982 Questions Upon Notice 4. Primary School, Planlands Mr Randell asked the Minister for Education— When will a primary school be established in the Mackay suburb of Planlands? Answer:— A site has been acquired for a future school at Planlands. However, pupil numbers in the catchment area do not warrant the establishment of a school in that suburb in the near future, though the situation wiU continue to be monitored. There appears to be greater expansion of numbers in Mackay's northern suburbs and these are being catered for in existing schools. 5. Marlborough-St Lawrence Section, Bruce Highway Mr RandeU asked the Minister for Local Government, Main Roads and Police- As the remaining road-works wiU be completed later this year on the link between Marlborough and St Lawrence on the Bmce Highway, (a) what is the projected completion date of the roadworks, (b) wiU he investigate the possibUity of an official opening of this important section and (c) in view of the tremendous importance of this road and in recognition of the contribution made by both State and Federal Governments, will he endeavour to arrange for the highest possible representation of both Governments on such an important occasion? Answer:— The works will be finished in October 1982 and the official opening is being planned for 29 October. The Honourable the Premier has agreed to carry out the opening, and the Commonwealth Government will be represented by the Honourable R. J. Hunt, MP, Minister for Transport and Constmction. The honourable member is assured that the ceremony wUl be a fitting tribute to all who have played a part in the provision of the vital highway link between Marlborough and Sarina. 6. New High School, CapeUa Mr Lester asked the Minister for Education— When will high school facilities be established in Capella, to serve the Capella and Tieri areas? Answer:— Planning has commenced with a view to opening a secondary department at the CapeUa State School in January 1984. 7. Library, Emerald State High School Mr Lester asked the Minister for Education— When wiU a new free-standing library be built at the Emerald State High School? A nswer:— A free-standing library for the Emerald State High School has been included in the forward planning of my department for consideration when funding is available. 5. Sister Margaret O'Connor Mr Underwood asked the Minister for Health— With reference to alleged deficiencies in medical treatment and care at Moonyah Alcohol RehabUitation Centre— (1) Is the woman who calls herself Sister Margaret O'Connor, and who practices as a nurse at that centre, situated at 58 Glenrosa Road, Red Hill, Brisbane, qualified to practise as a registered nurse in Queensland? Questions Upon Notice 31 August 1982 641 (2) If so quaUfied, (a) when specificaUy was she admitted to the Queensland Nurses Registry, (b) under what name and address was she originally registered and (c) under what name and address is she now registered? (3) If she is not so qualified, what action does he propose to take? Answer:— (1 to 3) There are four people on the register with that name who live in the Brisbane area. It is therefore impossible to give any further opinion unless further additional information is suprplied. If the honourable member has any information concerning breaches of medical treatment and care, he should immediately report the aUeged breaches to the Director-Creneral of Health and Medical Services or me so that the allegations may be investigated. 9. Moonyah Alcohol RehabUitation Centre Mr Underwood asked the Minister for Local Government, Main Roads and Police— (1) How many times in the last three years have police been caUed to the Moonyah Alcohol RehabiUtation COntre, 58 Glenrosa Road, Red HUl, Brisbane, to inquire into or in any way investigate cases of sudden, unusual or other deaths? (2) What were the names of the deceased and what was the cause of death in each case? Answer:— (1) PoUce have investigated the deaths of seven persons at the Moonyah Alcohol RehabiUtation Centre, 58 Glenrosa Road, Red Hill, during the three year period, 7 AprU 1979 to 4 April 1982. (2) The names of the deceased persons and causes of death are as follows:— 1. William DeUingham died 7-4-79. Cause of death:— (i) Acute alcoholism (ii) Coronary atherosclerosis 2. Clarence George Brown died 28-3-80. Cause of death:— (i) (a) Cirrhosis of Uver (b) Alcoholism (ii) Carcinoma of ampulla of vater 3. Kenneth John White died 8-4-80. Cause of death:— (i) Alcohol and phenytoin poisoning (ii) Myocardial fibrosis 4. Colin Leslie Tucker died 26-7-80. Cause of death:— (i) Acute alcohoUsm 5. Allan Robert Grant died 9-9-80. Cause of death:— (i) Coronary occlusion 10. Bull-bars Mr Katter asked the Minister for Transport— (1) Is he aware that there is one dead kangaroo every 5 km on the Flinders Highway between TownsvUle and Hughenden and that every one of those dead animals would represent an average of $1,000 in damages to the car with which it coUided? (2) Will he remove all laws and regulations which make the use of bull-bars Ulegal? 642 31 August 1982 Questions Upon Notice Answer:— (1) I am aware that kangaroos are responsible for considerable damage to vehicles in north-western Queensland. However, having travelled extensively and worked in country areas, I am also well aware that bull-bars are extensively used on vehicles throughout Queensland and are a fact of life. (2) At present the Queensland Traffic Regulations do not specificaUy prohibit the fitting of bull-bars. There are several references in the regulations which prohibit— equipment which prevents a driver from having sufficient view and control; equipMnent which projects more than 1 metre in front of the headlamp; and equipment which has any sharp edges or protrusions. Passenger cars of today are manufactured in accordance with the Australian Design Rules for Motor Vehicle Safety. These design rules presently stipulate that aU vehicles have buUt into their design a controlled collapsing effect which is contrived to minimise injuries to occupants in head-on and rear-end colUsions. A significant factor in this design is the collapsible steering-column. It would not be in the best interests of all road users to allow blanket approval to be given for vehicle owners to fit any type of bull-bar to their cars. Safety and common sense have to prevail and I am sure all members would agree with that. Some form of regulation must apply to ensure that bull-bars are not overly i)rotrusive, that they do not block vision of turning indicators and Ughts, and not radically interfere with the normal in-built safety features of motor vehicles. 11. RaU Passes for People Receiving Specialist Medical Attention Mr Katter asked the Minister for Health— (1) Is he aware that the free rail fares for people, especially pensioners, to travel to cities to receive specialist medical attention have to be secured for the trip to the city and then a separate rail pass has to be secured to retum from the city? (2) Will he alter this procedure which has caused patients at the Townsville General Hospital, delayed by unnecessary bureaucratic requirements in obtauung their return pass in the afternoon, to incur additional expenses to cover the cost of taxis and motels after they have missed their scheduled afternoon raUmotor? Answer:— (1 & 2) It has been the policy of my department for a number of years for the referring public hospital to issue a forward journey pass to a patient referred to another public hospital for specialist medical treatment. Not every patient referred to a pubUc hospital for specialist medical treatment is able to retum home on the same day, as some are admitted to hospital. The treating specialist is in a better position to recommend the mode of return travel, which, under certain circumstances, may differ from the forward journey, and the issue of a return journey pass may not be in the best interest of the referring hospitals board. Managers of hospitals boards are authorised to issue raU travel passes without the need to consult my department, and I cannot envisage any difficulty or delay in the issue of such passes. 12. Weapons, Police Emergency Squad Mr Hooper asked the Minister for Local Govemment, Main Roads and PoUce— (1) Has the Police Emergency Squad been issued with magnum revolvers, automatic armaUte rifles, semi-automatic SLR rifles and shot-guns for possible use during the commonwealth Games? (2) Has the squad been issued whh Uzi sub-machine-guns and Schmeisser sub machine-guns and, if so, how many have been issued and are they standard police issue? (3) Does the Police Emergency Squad do some training at the Behnont Rifle Range and are civiUan members of the club at this range who act as range safety officers for the poUce permitted to fire these weapons in return for their services? Questions Upon Notice 31 August 1982 643 (4) What length of training does each officer receive on these highly sophisticated weapons? (5) Is a member of the squad, who has been issued with a magnum revolver, permitted to wear this weapon when he is carrying out normal police duties? Answer:— (1 to 4) The Queensland PoUce Emergency Squad was formed in 1964 to meet an up»surge of violence by criminal elements and mentally disturbed persons. The pjrimary objective of the squad is to apprehend violent offenders without danger or injury to members of the community, induding police officers. Since its formation, weaponry and training have been upgraded to meet current policing requirements, not for the Commonwealth Games in particular. t am advised that when members of the squad use the facilities at the Belmont Range, safety officers are i>rovided by the squad. Unfortunately, for security reasons, it is not pjroposed to identify weapons in use by the squad or enlarge further on the type of training undertaken. (5) Police Officers are permitted to carry certain concealable firearms of their selection, subject to handUng efficiency and departmental approval. 13. Supervision of Prisoners, Brisbane Courts Compdex Mr Hooper asked the Minister for Welfare Services— (1) Was there adequate supervision, or any supervision, over prisoners confined in the Brisbane Courts Complex during the court recess on 30 July when prisoner Mark McMaster allegedly committed suicide? (2) Is it the normal procedure for a prison officer to have the inmates of these ceUs under direct supervision at all times whilst awaiting transportation to the Brisbane Prison? (3) If so, why was the aUeged suicide not detected by the officer or officers present and restrained? (4) Did the officer, or officers, leave the cells unattended at any time that McMaster was confined in the ceU? Answer:— (1 to 4) As the honourable member well knows, the death of Mr Mark Robert McMaster is to be the subject of a coronial inquiry. 14. Parole of Joseph William Morris Mr Hooper asked the Minister for Welfare Services— :(1) Was a Josepdi Morris sentenced to a term of three years for false pretences? (2) What was the nature of the false pretences? (3) Did his term of imprisonment in the Brisbane Prison commence on 23 September 1980 and was he released on p>arole on 6 October 1981? (4) Is it normal practice for a prisoner to be paroled before completing at least half of his sentence? Answer:— (1 to 3) A Joseph WilUam Morris was convicted at the District Court, Brisbane, on 23 Sepitember 1980, on 17 charges of false pjretences and one charge of stealing as a servant. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour with the trial judge recommending that he be eligible for p>arole at the expiration of one year. Mr Morris was released on parole on 6 October 1981. (4) When a trial judge makes a recommendation that a prisoner be eligible for |>arole after a specified period, it is normal practice for the Parole Board, an independent statutory body, to consider an application submitted by the person in question at that time. 644 31 August 1982 Questions Upon Notice 15. Certificate Course in Horticulture, Queensland Agricultural CoUege Mr Stephan asked the Minister for Education— With reference to the certificate course in horticulture offered by the Queensland Agricultural College, Lawes— (1) How many students have enrolled for this course? (2) What number could be successfully enroUed in this course? (3) Is he satisfied with the sup>port given by enrolments to this course designed primarily to assist in practical training in the horticultural industry? Answer:— (1) There are certificate courses in agriculture, animal husbandry and horticulture at the Queensland Agricultural College. Enrolments in the agriculture and animal husbandry courses at the 30 April 1982 census date were 32 and 59 respectively. The certificate in horticulture at the Queensland Agricultural College commenced in 1981. There were 19 full-time students enrolled in the course at the census date. (2) The demand by qualified entrants for places in the certificate courses in colleges of advanced education in Queensland invariably exceeds the number of places determined by and funded by the State Govemment in the context of its annual Budgets. Other opportunities for training m horticulture at the certificate level are provided by TAFE on an exernal studies basis. More advanced study is pwrovided by the Queensland Agricultural College through the two-year fuU-time associate diploma course in mral techniques funded by the Comonwealth Government. (3) Within the limits of available State and Commonwealth funding and of student places, I am satisfied that there are adequate opjportunities for training at this level for the horticultural industry. 16. Delay in Supply of School Requisites Mr Stephan asked the Minister for Education— With reference to State schools annual supply of school requisites such as pencils, paper and exercise books— (1) Is it usual to experience long delays between dispatch of the order and the supply being received, a period sometimes in excess of six months? (2) WUl this delivery be expedited to enable schools to receive their orders more punctually? Answer:— (1) The date of ordering of school requisites and materials required, for the normal day-to-day operation of State primary schools, should not be linked with the date of receipt of the goods. Orders from all schools are received by the same date each year. Each school then receives an annual issue of stock at approximately the same time each year. Each school is aware of the nominated delivery date for its stock and plans accordingly. (2) The nominated date for the receipt of orders and orderly despatch of stock enables this dep>artment to take advantage of bulk-purchasing and inventory management. 17. Local Purchase of Supplies by National Parks Officers Mr Stephan asked the Minister for Tourism, National Parks, Sport and The Arts— With reference to the abiUty of National Parks officers to procure smaU essential items at short notice— Will he give consideration to allowing National Parks officers to procure essential items, such as connections for water piping, or nails or bolts for building operations, from local approved suppliers to overcome the delays in delivery from State Stores when these items are required immediately? Questions Upon Notice 31 August 1982 645 Answer:— National Parks and Wildlife Service field officers already hold authority to authorise the purchase of minor essential items urgently required up to a limit of $150. This authority would appear to be sufficient to overcome problems mentioned in the honourable member's question. If any officer is experiencing difficulty through the extent of the authority not being sufficient for purchases or from other cause he should advise the Director, National Parks and Wildlife Service, as soon as possible in order that the matter can be investigated. 18. Grain Stocks Mr Booth asked the Minister for Primary Industries— With reference to the rapidly worsening drought situation and the probability that widespread drought feeding will be necessary— (1) Have officers of his department carried out a survey of current grain stocks available in this State? (2) Is he satisfied that adequate grain stocks are available to meet a prolonged drought? Answer:— (1) Officers of my department have recently surveyed the grain stocks available for drought-feeding. In summary, they are— North Queensland—smaU quantities of maize over and above normal sales are currently avaUable on the Atherton Tableland. In the Burdekin area the maize harvest wiU commence in the next few weeks and up to 3 000 tonnes could be surplus to normal requirements. Central Queensland—1 370 tonnes of general purpose wheat and some 15 000 tonnes of grain sorghum are currently uncommitted and therefore available for sale. South Queensland—currently some 80 000 tonnes of general purpose wheat are available. However, no significant quantities of grain sorghum or barley are available. Should the need arise, stocks of prime hard wheat are also available. This wheat currently sells at a premium of up to $20.69 per tonne over the price of general purpose wheat. (2) Although the current winter grain harvest is estimated to be well below average, I do expect that grain surplus to domestic human requirements from the current crop, together with current carry-over grain stocks, will be sufficient to meet the anticipated demand. 19. Purchase of Queensland Land by Japanese Finance Minister Mr Kruger asked the Premier— (1) Does the Japanese Finance Minister, Michio Watanabe, own land in Queensland? (2) Is the Mr Watanabe who was recently entertained at Kingaroy by the Premier the same Mr Watanabe who recently purchased land, Por. 3, Parish of Marsshmead, previously owned by the Premier's son? Answer:— (1 & 2) At no time has property owned by my son or by any member of my family been sold to any citizen of Japan. On the other hand, I have no objection to any Japanese citizen purchasing property in Queensland. It would be an indication of sound judgment. It is quite obvious to me that the honourable member, by the very nature of his question, is not only seeking cheap, political pmblicity but also, to achieve it, is prepared (along with other members of the ALP) to indulge in gutter poUtics. That fact has already been amply demonstrated in this House. 646 31 August 1982 Questions Upon Notice 20. Freeholding of Leased Land Mr Kmger asked the Minister for Lands and Forestry— (1) Has there been a significant increase in requests to freehold previously leased land since the introduction of the new land laws passed in May 1981? (2) How many parcels have been freeholded and what is the area of those parcels? (3) Is a large proportion of the freehold land now under contract of sale? Answer:— (1) Yes. (2) The records available show that, between 1 July 1981 and 30 June 1982, 4864 auction perpetual leases and perpetual lease selections with a total area of about 470000 hectares were freeholded. The greater percentage of these leases would have been freeholded under the 1981 legislation. (3) I have no knowledge of transactions with land after the issue of the deed of grant in fee simple. 21. Purchase of LesUe Homestead by Eastlorden Pty Ltd Mr Kruger asked the Minister for Lands and Forestry— (1) Is he aware that the Leslie Homestead near Warwick has been purchased by a company registered as Eastlorden Pty Ltd, and that the transfer of ownership was registered with the Titles Office on 19 August? (2) Is he aware that the directors are Fuji Mam Ito, Nagoya City Chikusa-Ku-Fuji Midai 2/chome/8 Aichi Prefecture, Japan and Peter Richard Leigh Crommelin, 27 Mossvale Street, Ashgrove, the company secretary, who is also a soUcitor of the above address and who obviously handled the purchase? (3) Is this puithase, which was for a sum of approximately $1.3 million, an indication that there is a need for a register of foreign ownership of land in this State? (4) Will the National Party proposal to have a land register be implemented? Answer:— The details in my answer to question 20 are the reason for the brevity of my answer to this question. The parcel of land referred to was indeed a freehold parcel of land and all transactions would be registered in the Titles Office, which is under the control of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Attomey-General. The answer to the honourable member's question is— (1) No. (2) No. . (3) By itself, no. (4) This matter is being considered. 22. Brisbane-Gympie Section, Bmce Highway Mr Simpson asked the Minister for Local Government, Mwn Roads and Police- What will the likelihood of additional road funds from the Federal Government mean for the upgrading of the Bmce Highway between Brisbane and Gympie? Answer:— The CommonweaUh Minister for Transport and Constmction has announced that, under the AustraUan Bicentennial Road Development Program, four lanes are expected to be completed between Brisbane and Nambour by 1988. Completion dates for the various stages have not yet been determined as they depend on the rate at which funds are made available for this project, as well as on the times required for design and constmction. It has also been indicated that a bypass of Nambofur should be completed by 1988. Questi The administrative details associated, with the Bicentennial Road Developpnent Program, including the works program for 1982-83, have not yet been finaUsed. Any firm commitment on what the scheme will achieve is therefore pnremature. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Aboriginal Land Rights Mr CASEY: I ask the Minister for Water Resources and Aboriginal and Island Affairs: In view of the restatement by the meeting of the Aboriginal Advisory Council working party held at Palm Island last week that last month's meeting of the full council at Bamaga rejected the Govemment's deeds of grant in tmst for Aboriginal and Islander people, does he stiU maintain that the Bamaga meeting supported the Govemment's proposals and took no vote on the subject? Does he also maintain that the Torres Strait Advisory CouncU stUl supports deeds of grant in trust? Mr TOMKINS: The meetings between the Aboriginal and Islander people at Bamaga referred to by the Leader of the Opposition did not come to any firm decisions regarding a deed of grant in trust. Mr Casey: They set up that workmg party last week. Mr TOMKINS: They did. The Leader of the Oppxjsition should not get excited because I am leadmg up to that. The meeting sup>ported the estabUshment of a working group to represent the Aborigines and Islanders. It was proposed that approximately five persons from both conununities would form a group and conduct meetings in due course. Mr Casey: With what object? Mr TOMKINS: Mr Geier, from Palm Island, who has appeared on "Nationwide" and other television pyrograms, wrote to me and asked me exactly what he had to do to obtain funds. When I investigated the scheme I discovered that the group was not formed for the purpose of calling its own meetings. However, the boot is on the other foot. The Govemment wiU teU them when it is ready with its services legislation. Mr Geier also took the matter up with the Federal authorities. Last night, Mr Peter Baume, the former Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, appeared on "Nationwide". He indicated that he would not be very happy with what went on up there. It is purely and simply a case in which Mr Geier and Rachel Chumming acted without any authority at all. They are the two persons who are creating the trouble. Mr Casey: What about the deed of grant in tmst? Mr TOMKINS: The Leader of the Opposition should know that the deed of grant in tmst is now law and that it is not negotiable. Some time ago legislation was passed and there is no chance that it wiU be revoked. The Government does not do something one day and give it away the next. It certainly wiU not do that on this occasion. That is something that Mr Geier does not understand. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that in due course the working party will get together and study the services legislation. Homeless Youth Mr FOURAS: I ask the Minister for Welfare Services: Is he aware of a recent survey that indicated that there are 2 000 homeless youths in Brisbane? Does he consider that the 11 refuges that are funded jointly under the Commonwealth/State Youth Program at a cost of $307,000 are adequate to overcome the current problem? Is he aware that other State Governments are responding to the problem of youth homelessness by providing additional funds? For instance, in the last financial year New South Wales provided an additional $672,000 for half-way houses for medium-term accommodation, for community-based programs to place homeless youths with families and for its 26 youth refuges, of which five are currently funded by that State. Is it not tune for the Queensland Govemment to make a positive commitment to mitigate and minimise the serious problems arising from youth homelessness? 648 31 August 1982 Questions Whhout Notice Mr WHITE: I thank the honourable member for drawing to the attention of the House some of the difficulties arising in connection with homeless youth. The survey that was conducted has been the subject of criticism both in Queensland and throughout the Commonwealth. The issue of homeless youth involves more than simply providing accommodation. Recently in North Queensland I issued a pubUc statement on the availabiUty of accommodation. In Cairns I found that, although 47 beds are available for homeless youth, on one night on which a check was made only 22 of those beds were occupied. Having said that, I should Uke the House to reaUse that my department is concemed about the problem. In concert with the Commonwealth under the Youth Services Program, it has a program under review at the moment. My department is doing an excellent job. Certain difficulties arise in the major urban centres of Queensland. For instance, in Brisbane approximately half the homeless youths are youngsters from Sydney and Melbourne who have fled from the Governments of New South Wales and Victoria. They were unable to obtain jobs in those States, which are controlled by Labor Govem ments. Approximately 70 or 80 per cent of homeless youths in hostels in North Queensland are from the southem States. The other matter that I want to draw to the attention of the House just happens to be one that was dealt with in an article in today's "Australian" under the headline "Children in NSW get worst deal". The article states— "NSW spends far less per capita on services for children aged under four than any other State. Queensland, at the top of the list, spends six tunes more " Mr FOURAS: I rise to a point of order. The Minister's remarks are totally irrelevant to my question. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr FOURAS: The Minister is wasting the time of the House. Mr SPEAKER: Order! While I am on my feet the honourable member wiU remain seated. There is no point of order. Mr WHITE: The honourable member's performance shows that Opposhion members become quite sensitive when anyone criticises a Labor Government, such as that in New South Wales, which is under attack in the welfare area. The article continues— "Queensland at the top of the list, spends six times more—at $802—for each 4-year-old compared with NSW's $132. Even Victoria, second last on the list, spends $405 a child." After-school and Vacation Care Programs Mr FOURAS: I ask the Minister for Welfare Services: Is he aware that, because ot inadequate funding, after-school and vacation care programs in Queensland are stmggUng to survive? Is he also aware that these essential programs for school-age children, most of whom would otherwise be latchkey children, are totally funded by the Commonwealth Government, unlike those in other States where the State Govemments match the Commonwealth ^ Government's contribution? Is he further aware that, as a result of his department's penny-pinching and miserly approach to funding, only 37 programs are operatmg in Queensland, whereas, for example. New South Wales has 176 programs, for which the New South Wales Government contributes more than $500,000 of State funds? The Queensland Government does not contribute one cent. WUl that shocking situation be remedied in the next State Budget? Mr WHITE: It is the same old story. The Opposition seems to think that the only answer to society's problems is to spend more money. There are more social problems m New South Wales than in any other State in Australia. The New South Wales Govemment has been spending money as though it is going out of fashion. Now. suddenly, it finds that it is in terrible financial straits, and we aU know of the increased taxation that the Wran Government has introduced in New South Wales. Questions Without Notice 31 August 1982 649 The fact is that Governments are not responsible for being mothers and fathers to children; parents have that responsibUity. It seems to me that the Opposition wants the Govemment to become the parents of children in this State. Certainly the Govemment has a responsibiUty, and it is exercising that responsibUity by developing programs to assist parents to keep their children at home and to look after them rather than by establishing an altemative series of accommodation programs and other programs that do nothing but sever the relationship between parents and their chUdren. Plight of Small Business Community Mr GOLEBY: I ask the Minister for Commerce and Industry: Following a claim by the member for Rockhampton in the House last week that the Minister's department had ignored the pUght of the small business community, can the Minister explain to the honourable member why the Independent Small Business and Traders Association has now come out in full support of the Government's proposals relative to that matter? Mr SULLIVAN: The attack on me and my department by the member for Rockhampton is typical of the unfounded and uninformed statements that he has made on small business in the House in recent months. But, once again, he has been left vrith egg on his face. He has set himself up as an expert on consumer affairs with no backing, apart from a few malcontents, whose only aim, it appears, is to try to make poUtical capital out of a Very contentious and delicate issue. I believe that the spokesman for the association, Mr John Conley, summed up the situation very well when he said last week that the views of the Independent Small Business and Traders Association were not counter-productive, as were those of the member for Rockhampton and his party. He said his association applauded the initiatives shown by the Crovemment in forming a joint committee expressly for the purpose of formulating well-balanced legislation. Far from ignoring the interests of the small business comunity, the Government is now setting up plans to prepare a model lease as a guide for shopping centres and also to establish a mediator to help settle any disputes that may arise between landlord and tenant. That has been done as a result of studies undertaken in relation to the Cooper report. I am confident that the vast majority of tenants and landlords in shopping centres throughout the State will give fuU support to these Government initiatives to provide harmonious relations between the two parties. Indeed, I suggest to the honourable member for Rockhampton—^he is not in the Chamber, but I hope that somebody draws his attention to my answer—that he should refrain from shooting off his mouth on issues about which he obviously has very limited knowledge, or else, as a newly-promoted Labor spokesman seek some other avenue to explore in his feeble attempts to gain some form of notoriety amongst his Labor Party colleagues. I assure him that his call for my dismissal as Minister wiU faU on deaf ears, not only in the House but also amongst the small business community generally. DemoHtion of Brown's Cottages Mr CJOLEBY: I ask the Minister for Tourism, National Parks, Sport and The Arts: Can he explain the tme pxxsition relative to the demolition of Brown's Cottages in the Valley? Mr SPEAKER: Order! Today bemg a day allotted for the Address-in-Reply d^>ate, I suggest that the honourable member place his question on notice to give the Minister an opportunity to answer it adequately. Mr GOLEBY: I do so accordmgly. At 12 noon. In accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 17. the House proceeded with Govemment business. 19780-23 650 31 August 1982 Address in Reply ADDRESS IN REPLY Resumption of Debate—Sixth and Seventh Allotted Days Debate resumed from 26 August (see p. 623) on Mr Randell's motion fw tiic adopticm of the Address in Reply. Mr HARPER (Aubum) (12.1 p.m.): I acknowledge the privilege given to me by the people of Aubqm to act as their representative in this Pariiament. I again assure His ExceUency the Governor of my allegiance to the Crown. I am proud to be one who fears God and honours the Queen. I wonder how many members of the Oppositim have a simUar outlook. Certainly, their champion, Hughie Hamilton, seems to be proud of his active membership in the Communist Party and his allegiance to the Communist Party. I wonder how many members of the Opposition feel as I do about fearing God and honouring the Queen and how many fall more into line with Hughie Hamilton. I am sure that all honourable members have heard the saying that a person who squarks like the crows and flies with them must expect to be shot down with them. It seems to me that the Leader of the Opposhion and his colleagues take pride in their association with Communists such as Hughie HamiUon, Certaiihly, the Leader of the Opposhion was shot down with the Hughie Hamihons and the Peter Beatties in their great fibzzero f a general strike. Strike-leader Hamilton made it clear that the real issue was not working hours. C^ieensland workers were called out on strike for purely political motives. Hamilton and his mates made it clear that the objective of their strike was the defeat of the Bjelke-Petersen Government. If the Leader of the Opposition and his coUes^es—the Hamihons and the ^Beatties—are capable of learning a lesson, surely the response by Queensland workers must teach them that Queensland workers are not prepared to sacrifice their wages for politically motivated strikes. Full credit should be given to the honourable member for Rockhampton for keeping his distance from the Leader of the Opposition. It was noteworthy that the honouraUe member kept out of the debate initiated last week by the Leader of the Oi>position on the proposed disaUowance of an Order in CouncU. When the Opposition denigrated Central Queensland development, the member for Rockhamp>ton abstained frpm taking part in the debate because he is aware of the development that will be stimulated in Central Queensland by the Iwasaki project. I repeat that full credit mast be given to. him for not joining his leader in the attack that honourable gentleman made last week. Apart from the electorate of the honourable member for CalUde, the electorate of the, honourable member for Rockhampton is closest to the Iwasaki project. Perhaps the honourable member for Rockhampton did not take part in the debate last week because his: views are more in line with those expressed by the member for (TalUde than with those expressed by his leader. As I recall it, the member for Bundaberg suggested during the debate last week that working hours could be reduced ad infinitum. What an attitude to adopt! He believes that working hours can continuaUy be reduced and that wiU not do any harm to anyone. It is beyond aU logic to claim that there can be no vaUd reason for resisting pyressure for reduced working hours. It is a pity that the honourable member has not inherited from his father some of the common sense about which he told the House last week. Gains in working conditions can be won only by increasing productivity, and increased productivity is not achieved by people going 'on strike. No-one should expect to receive more pjay for less work. r .» Hughie Hamilton admitted that the shorter working hours were a side issue and that the strike was being manipulated by him and his cohorts to bring about the defeat of the Bjelke-Petersen Govemment. What hope was there for that? Not a hope on earth. One must be very careful not to judge union members by their leaders. I commend those involved in the coal-mining industry in the Aubum electwate. The union membership on the coalfields acted with a degree of responsibUity that must be very heartenmg to aU who are genuinely concerned with the advancement of Australia. So many other members of the work-force acted similarly, p)articularly those in the electricity supply industry. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 651 In fact, I offer my congratulations to aU those people who refused to join in the politically motivated strike of recent weeks, and, on behalf of the people of Aubum, I say to them, '•Thank you very sincerely." My hope is that aU Australians wUl continue to reject poUtical strikes. It does concern me, however, that restrictions are becoming apparent on the granting of union tickets. If union membership is to be a requirement of a place in the work force, surely it is axiomatic that union membership must be available without restriction on race, creed or the politics of the appUcant. I take this very seriously and I tmst that some of the serious-minded members of the Opposition may have regard to it. If the union movement is to demand membership of unions as a right to take a place in the work-force, that membership must not be restricted because of race, creed or the politics of the appUcant. If this is not to be so, the union movement has only itself to blame for Govemment action against aU forms of compulsory union membership. For too long we, in Australia, have taken our high standard of living for granted, just as the benefits of our monarchy are aU too often taken for granted. Foreign nations weU know the value of our British democratic system, the Westminster system, and it, too, is the envy of many overseas nations. I pay tribute to a former constituent, the late Jack Parr, of Golden Mile Orchard in the Mundubbera district, who pioneered our citms export industry. Mr PoweU: A man of vision. Mr HARPER: Yes, he was a man of vision. He was a man who made his way by hard work and initiative. Together with Jack Blick he worked to gain access to the potentiaUy large Japanese market. Quarantine has long been a piroblem in this area, but recent improvements in fumigation techniques brought a weaUh of success, which wiU have been achieved by men Uke Jack Parr who know not the meaning of 35-hour weeks. The Mundubbera citrus industry has recently suffered a natural disaster which can be equated to drought, flood or fire in other industries. It was a very severe period of frost. It is interesting to note that the charter of the Rural Reconstruction Board, as detailed in its recent annual report, reads— •'The objective of the scheme is to help restore to economic viabUity those farnns and farmers with the capacity to maintain viabiUty once achieved." Two of the ways in which it will achieve that objective are debt reconstmction and carry-on finance. Frost in citrus cannot be compared with frost in other crops, such as grain. In the Mundubbera area of the Aubum electorate I have seen fruit faUing from the trees and decaying under them. I have seen fmit not being picked and drying out. I have seen youttg trees frosted and killed with no likelihood of revival. I have seen nursery trees being destroyed. Many growers in that industry are faced with the prospect of losing more than 50 per cent of their income this year, and they are faced with difficulties contmuing into next year and into the following year. It is imperative that they be given support and assistance. They are good farmers, they are good orchardists, and they deserve every assistance to ensure that they are retained in a viable px>sition so that they can continue producing for overseas markets in Queensland's largest citms area. This Govemment, particularly through the Minister for Primary Industries, has acknowledged the situation and is meeting, and wUl meet, the needs. I trust that the Minister for Primary Industries in his discussions on drought assistance in CJanberra wUl have the opportunity to bring forward with other States, particularly South Australia, the very real need for Federal Govemment assistance to citrus orchardists who have been so severely hit by 30 days of virtually continuing frost. That had not occurred in that area for 30 to 40 years. Mr Prest: You gave them drought relief. Are you going to give them frost relief now? Mr HARPER: I know that the Opposition would not understand the need to keep people working on the land. 652 31 August 1982 Address in Reply Last week in this House very few Opposition members were present when I spoke to the Exotic Diseases in Animals Act Amendment BUI introduced by the Minister for Primary Industries, amendments which were accepted by the Assembly. During the debate I expressed my opposition to the importation of live foot-and-mouth disease virus into Australia in advance of any outbreak of that disease here. The decision will be taken by the Federal Government, and it will be one of national importance. The effect of that decision could be felt throughout the whole economy—not only by the rural communhy, but by every man in the work-force in the largest of our cities, be they industrial or otherwise—^because the introduction of a disease such as foot-and-mouth disease would have such a far-reaching effect. The construction of the AustraUan National Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong is nearing completion and it wiU be commissioned in a short time. Hopefully, it will be commissioned next year so that continuing trials can be carried out. There can be no doubt that it is the envy of scientists throughout the world. It is a laboratory of which we should be tremendously pwoud. Without doubt, in many instances, its security provisions are unique. The CSIRO has designed and patented its own air filtration system to cope with aerosols. The laboratory has been buUt on a fail-safe basis. I have illustrated the construction of the laboratory in my electorate by comparing it to a farmer deciding that he wants a windmill on his property. To be sure that he always has a windmiU to pump water, he constructs three of them. If one of them fails, he has a back-up. If the back-up windmill fails before the first windmill is repaired, he still has one windmUl up his sleeve. He says, "Just to be sure, in case there is not any wind, I will put in an engine and I wUl have a stand-by engine and plant to pump the water. However, it might break down, so I will put in a coupde of extra engines to have in reserve." That is the principle adopted by the Fraser/Anthony Government through its responsible Minister in North Queensland, David liiomp»on, with the Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong. It is secure in every way. However, human beings are involved with the procedures. It does not matter how secure everything is made, if the possibiUty of human error is present there must be a possibUity of escape of the virus from the Australian National Animal Health Laboratory. Mr Neal: And sabotage. Mr HARPER: Unfortunately, these days in Australia the possibility of sabotage has to be considered. The industrial situation has deteriorated to such an extent that as recently as last week blatant industrial sabotage and blatant industrial intimidation occurred in Queensland. Thank heaven the work-force could see through it. Nevertheless, the elements exist. I agree with the honourable member for Baloime that, in addition to the normal risks associated with human error, abnormal risks brought about not by chance but by design must be guarded against. Strong arguments are being put forward on both sides. I have made my position quite clear. It is also the position of the National Party as the resuh of a decision reached at its conference one month ago. We arrived at our policy decisions in a democratic manner. The conference was attended by approximately 500 delegates. Mr Davis interjected. Mr HARPER: It was not a conference conducted behind closed doors and contrdled by a handful of old faithfuls, such as Peter Beattie. The decision arrived at at the National Party conference was that live foot-and-mouth virus should not be introduced into Australia prior to an outbreak of that disease in Australia. The decision stipulated—it is a most important stipulation—that sdenti^. veterinarians, stock inspectors and field staff must have adequate training. The community must be prepared to meet the cost of that training. Approximately 15 to 20 persons should be sent overseas on a continuing basis. Mr Davis: Who wiU pay for that? Mr HARPER: The community will have to bear very little added cost. It does not matter whether a scientist is trained in Geelong, in Pirbright in England or on Plum Island in America, his or her wages and accommodation charges have to be paid. It is possible that women will be involved. The only additional cost is the cost of transportaton to and Address in Reply 31 August 1982 653 from the research centre, wherever it may be. I am quite sure that overseas laboratories will not turn up their nose if they are offered Australian scientists, veterinarians and field staff at no cost to those laboratories. They will be only too pleased to co-operate with us. As I have said, I have made my position quite clear. I respect the Minister for Primary Industries (Mr Ahern) for putting forward his views in the House on Thursday morning. In a democratic nation we must be prepared to Usten to both sides of the story. And, believe me, there are two sides to this story. It is to be hoped that the debate that develops over the issue does not overshadow the magnitude of the Eraser-Anthony Government's decision, arrived at in 1977, to construct a maximum security laboratory at Geelong. The recommendation made by the Commonwealth/States veterinary committee to the Standing Committee on Agriculture—and considered, supported and sent on to the Australian Agricultural Council in February 1970—should continue to be the poUcy of the Federal Government. The recommendation was that the laboratory should not manipulate, in advance of an outbreak in Australia, the virus of foot-and-mouth disease or other highly virulent animal viruses. That decision was arrived at in 1970 and it remained in force when the decision to establish the Australian National Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong was arrived at. It is all very well to claim that subsequently, when Mr Sullivan was Minister for Primary Industries, a contrary decision was arrived at. AustraUan rural industry supported the view held in 1970, namely, that the laboratory should not manipulate, in advance of an outbreak in Australia, the virus of foot-and-mouth disease or other highly virulent animal viruses. I believe that it will be possible to enter into negotiations for the training overseas of our field and laboratory scientists. The future of the Australian National Animal Health Laboratory and the introduction of viruses is tremendously important to the whole economy. It is important to every Australian, and in particular to every Queenslander because we in Queensland are so dependent on the livestock industry. It is extremely important in my own electorate of Auburn, but many other areas also need consideration. I now turn to water conservation, particularly in the Auburn electorate. The Boondooma Dam is expected to be ready to store water by the end of the year. The Cania Dam was completed at the beginning of this year and is ready to receive the rains that h is hoped will soon fall in that area. If rain faUs in the area, the Cania Dam will certainly fill. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the Wuruma Dam on the Nogo River. Although rain has fallen in the area, the Nogo catchment is not nearly as satisfactory. It is to be hoped that that area, too, will receive adequate rains so that there will be security in water harvesting and storage. New weirs and dams are needed urgently on the Dawson River upstream from Theodore. A number of sites, and two in particular, have been selected in the Taroom area. A site has been selected for the Baroonda Dam. Unfortunately, its construction might well depend on what happens to coal in the area. I hope that the Federal Govern ment wiU provide more funds for water resources. I acknowledge the need in this area of the people represented by the honourable member for Callide and by the honourable member for Flinders. The need of the people in my own area is very definite. There is a need for the Baroonda Dam upstream of Taroom, and also for a dam on Palm Tree Creek. There is a growing need for a new weir to service Moura. Although a new bridge is being constructed on the Dawson Highway there, which will prolong the life of the existing weir, I am hopeful that plans for a new weir at Moura will be implemented and that before very long a decision will be taken to go ahead with its construction. There is a very real need for increased expenditure on water resources and soil conservation. That has been recognised by the Government and, in particular, by the Minister for Primary Industries, who is to be congratulated on his initiative in the area of soil conservation. There is also a need for extension services in the field of water conservation. Officers from the Water Resources Commission are prepared to plan and to assist in the building of structures. I am pleased that the Mmister for Primary Industries is in the Chamber and able to hear the proposal that I am putting to the Parliament. A number of com petent soil conservation officers of his department would be capable of assisting land- 654 31 August 1982 Address in Reply holders with the design and the supervision of constmction of relatively smaU water- harvesting facilities. I am referring to small dams, not really big ones. I am not suggesting for one moment that those officers should take over the role of the officers of the Water Resources Commission, but they should be capable of making recommendations to land holders about the construction of smaller earth-dam facilities. In fact, surely that is a logical part of a total property soU conservation plan. A service of that type is available to landholders in Victoria, and I hope that before very long the Government, through the Department of Primary Industries, will see fit to make a similar service available to Queensland primary producers. I turn now to the funding of main roads, and I draw attention to the Leichhardt Highway between Taroom and Theodore and between Banana and Rannes in my electorate. I will not take the time of the House to deal with the Banana to Rannes section, because the Minister for Main Roads has repeated his unequivocal commitment to an expenditure of the order of $lm a year on that part of the highway following the completion of work presently being undertaken on the Dawson Highway close to Moura. I travel over the Taroom to Theodore section of the Leichhardt Highway nearly as frequently as I travel over another section of that highway on my way to Brisbane— twice a week when the House is sitting—and the Taroom to Theodore section includes a bitumen strip 12 feet wide. We in this House kid ourselves when we consider the reasons for the carnage on the road. If honourable members had to face road-train after road-train and semi-trailer after semi-trailer—double deckers with dogs—on a 12-ft bitumen strip with a 6-inch fall each side to the water-table, they would gain some idea of the reasons why people in mral areas believe that the most effective reduction of the road camage can be achieved by the provision of better roads. Because of that, I am heartened that at last the Federal Government has decided to earmark the collection of funds to be made available for work on these roads. I hope that the funding is not only for national highways but also for roads such as the Leichhardt and Dawson Highways, which should receive their fair share. Speed limits have been put forward as a reason for the road toll. I cannot agree with that. In the few months since the reduction of speed limits for heavy vehicles, I have not noticed any reduction in the speed at which they travel in my electorate. When I was traveUing to Brisbane last night, I did not notice any reduction in their speed; I had semi-trailers on my hammer, all but passing me. I did not notice that their speed had been reduced, and I have not noticed that throughout the area of Queensland that I have travelled. Mr Booth: It is very noticeable in my electorate. Mr HARPER: The honourable member for Warwick might well say that; perhaps the measure has an advantageous effect in the more closely settled areas. However, I am not at all sure that 90 km/h is an appropriate speed limh for heavy vehicles on many country roads. What I am sure of is that roads such as the 12-ft bitumen strip between TTieodore and Taroom, and hundreds of others throughout Queensland like it, are unsafe at 60 km/h. The intelligence and the common sense of the road user has to be relied upon. When a person is traveUing on bad roads, common sense dictates that he should drive safely. Unfortunately, far too many drivers, both of sedans and of heavier commercial vehicles, seem to lose their balance of common sense when they get behind the wheel, and if the speed limh is 100 km/h, they travel at that speed, despite the fact that a safe speed could well be only 60, 70 or 80 km/h. The Minister responsible is fully aware of the need for maintenance of equipment on heavy vehicles, which, I suggest, has a greater impact on the reduction in road accidents with heavy vehicles than the reduction of speed limits. It is tremendously important that equipment on heavy vehicles be adequately maintained. For a long time I have advocated outside the House that a black-box system, which takes advantage of electronics and which is similar to that provided in aircraft, should be introduced. Such a black box would record the speed of the vehicle, how far it had traveUed and a number of other factors that are essential in determining the cause of an accident. I under stand that some private enterprise comp>anies have effectively introduced such a system, and I would like to see this Govemment give serious consideraton to its introduction m Queensland. In New South Wales—I give full credit where it is due—a system of maxi-brakes has been introduced at a cost, it is said, of less than $1,000 a vehicle. That is not a great expense when compared to the cost of an accident involving a Address in Reply 31 August 1982 655 heavy transport vehicle. The other night on television I saw an attempt to provide a supfdementary braking system. It was not successful, but I am informed that maxi-brakes utilise a spning which, when the air is cut off, automatically engages the brake. That is something else that the Govemment should consider introducing. I now want to move to the area of grain growers and the Queensland Wheat Board. In the Moura area of my electorate many grain growers—in fact, probably most of them— are faced with going through a period of 15 to 18 months without any cash flow. Seasonal conditions have been such that those farmers will find themselves in very serious straits if the drought continues. It will be too late for them if it rains now. A few of them may sow early swghum, but they wall stiU face pjroblems. If they wait untU the more advantageous Christmas/New Year period, they mn the risk of not getting a good winter crop in again next year. I congratulate the Wheat Board on its decision to build a modem automated grain storage at Moura, which is a tremendously important tmcking point for both winter and summer grain. The board's initiative in designmg and beginning to build the State's first automated grain storage is most commendable. I now want to deal quickly with a number of other mral industries. There is a need for StabUity in the beef industry. I have long said that we will not take the first step in that direction until we introduce an acceptable system of carcass classification. We have for too many years experiniented with classification, and although we are weU on the road to acceptable standards, its introduction is the prime requirement for stabiUty in the industry. It will not be easy for beef producers because they cannot adopt the procedure used by pig producers. Pigs are fed the same ration which can be varied, if necessary, to meet classification standards. But it is a problem that must be tackled, and until it is no scheme to stabilise the beef industry can really be said to have begun. We also face a most difficult problem with meatworks rationalisation. We certainly need to do something about the unused killing capyacity of our meatworks. At present we have a proliferation of kUling facilities, but their capacity is not being used adequately, and it is just common sense that they must be in trouble. Unfortunately, as is usually the case, it is the producer who suffers and who has, in the end, to meet the cost of the under-usage of these excessive facilities. All I can say is that the producers should not now be called on to buy out works which are losing so much money that they cannot continue to operate. It was a private enterprise decision to establish those works, and if they fail then private enterprise has to accept the fact that it made a wrong decision. We certainly do not want less competition among the buyers of our livestock. We cannot afford less competition in the market-place. For too long cartels and buying groups have manipnilated the market. We cannot afford further deterioration in competition for any of our livestock. The problems of the Australian sugar industry iUustrate the fragile structure of our rural industries that depend on export markets. Only four or five years ago, in the middle of the beef depression, those in the beef industry envied the Australian Sugar producers. Whether Western Australia likes it or not, Queensland and New South Wales, to this point in time, have been the sugar-producing States. The sugar industry was the envy of other primary industries but, because of its dependence on overseas markets, it, too, is in trouble. It is a fact of life that whUe we depend on overseas markets, many of which can be manipulated politically, we run the risk of getting into economic troubles. It would be abject folly for the Western Australian Government to persevere with its plan to develop a new sugar industry on the Ord. This morning, in answer to a question, the Minister for Primary Industries referred to this matter. Without doubt many of the 7 500 cane farmers in Queensland who depend on price support will undoubtedly need assistance in one way or another. Their position cannot be further jeopardised by the openmg of a new sugar industry on the Ord. I am concerned about the farmers on the Ord. They have a problem of scale. Industries other than the sugar industry could give them the necessary scale. They tried cotton production. If I were to be kind I would say that it proved to be unsuitable for the area. We, in Queensland, have every right to push our point of view that the development of a sugar industry on the Ord, at this point in time, would be inappropmate. 656 31 August 1982 Address in Reply While speaking about overseas trade, I express my concern about the closer economic relations being negotiated with New Zealand. Australian primary producers would well be disadvantaged. The Minister for Primary Industries is aware of the potential danger. He has made representations to try to convince the Federal Govemment of the needs of Queensland industries, particularly the dairying industry and the small crops and horticultural industries. If trade is to be free it must be free both ways. Both the Federal and State Governments must closely monitor access to markets under the closer economic relations that are being negotiated. When speaking in the debate on matters of pubUc interest last week, I referred to the Valuer-General's valuations of the Monto Shire and the fiasco that resulted. I urged the Govemment to aim at having one valuing authority within the Land Administration Commission. In the Central Highlands and Dawson area of my electorate we are lookmg for continuing mineral development with the possibility of expanding industrial development in line with that mooted for Wandoan. It is imperative that Australia should have a liquid fuel supply other than off shore. It will be too late to decide to build a coal liquefaction plant when the need is upon us. Forward-thinking surely demands the estabishment of a liquefaction plant on our coalfields. While I am talking about coalfields, I once again congratulate the workers on the coalfields at Moura in the Auburn electorate, the Thiess Dampier Mitsui mines, and those who will be coming to Theodore. There is expansion at Moura by TDM, and as soon as markets are avaUable no doubt Theodore Coal wiU move into that area. Relatively speakmg, our mining ventures in the Aubum electorate do not have the industrial disruptions that are associated with many other areas. Certainly we do not have a Wran's Navy in Queensland. This is surely a tribute to the coal miners generally, the several unions involved and the total work-force that comprises their membership. (Time expired.) Mr FOURAS (South Brisbane) (12.41 p.m.): I am pleased to take part in the Address-in-Reply debate. Before raising some issues about welfare I should like to make some brief comments about the naming of the Minister for Welfare Services (Mr White) as Father of the Year. It has become a ludicrous situation in Queensland that a person has to be either a top public servant or a Minister of the Crown to have the title of Father of the Year bestowed upon him. Worse still, in the current appointment, there was a political statement by the selection committee that this honour was a just reward for the improvement in the services to children and famiUes because of the actions and efforts of the Minister for Welfare Services. That political statement is very open to debate, and it ought to be, because only a very superficial look at the efforts of that Minister has been taken. He is reported regularly and rather tediously in the media day after day as outlining the marveUous things that he wiU do, yet the Govemment has done nothing except talk about the need for new programs and the need for a new broom to bring welfare services in this State up to the services prorided in the other States. Surely the point is that a Minister who is doing his job as a Crown employee and is getting well i>aid for it is receiving sufficient reward without receiving an honour such as being named Father of the Year. Hundreds of people in my electorate strive and work very hard in voluntarily looking after kids. They put a lot of their resources and thne into doing that. It is about time that the selection committees stopped boring the public by makii^ pMibUc figures, such as the Minister for Welfare Services, Father of the Year. It is something like a Gilbert and Sullivan farce year after year to read that politicians or top puUic servants are working beyond the call of duty and are deserving of more than their fat salaries and perks because they have done so much for the welfare of our youth. What is hap>pening in welfare in this State? The Govenunent should erect a sign at the border reading, "Poor, stay out", because Queensland does very Uttle in providing resources, facilities and services, whether they be in housing, in welfare, or in wlucation. The last Commonwealth Grants Commission report showed that this State spends neariy $100 a year less on welfare, health and education than the Australian average, and that it should be spending more, because Queensland is a decentralised State. Therefore, it costsmore to provide services in Queensland than in other States. Queensland should be spending at least $260 more in those three vhal areas to minimise and mitigate against the social Address in Reply 31 August 1982 657 disadvantages suffered by the poor. The Govemment should stop providing services to only the rich and the powerful. It is time that Queensland found the resources, stopped claiming to be the lowest taxed State, and used the resources to mitigate against and minimise social disadvantages. A recent survey by the Australian Council of Social Services indicated that one person in six is living in poverty in Australia. The figures on average disposable income show that Queensland is at the bottom of the pile. Therefore it is pwobable that more than one person in six in Queensland is poor. The people working with the poor know that there has been a drastic increase in the number of poor in our society. It is possible that one person in five in Australia is poor. Something like 2.83 million are starving. What does that poverty mean? It means that families must skip meals because they cannot afford enough food. It means that pensioners must go without meat in their diet. It means that families must clothe themselves in second-hand clothes and rely on charity for items such as a stove, a refrigeratoir and a washing machine. It means constant stress and worry and a high degree of Ul health because it is an overbearing problem that weighs heavily on people. In many cases, families must go without dental and health care because they cannot afford to pay dental, medical and pharmaceutical charges, which are increasing every day. Sometimes poverty means violence as the stress caused by it builds up an uncontrollable emotion. Because of the problems caused by poverty, parents feel guUty about belting their children. Poverty comprises a whole series of factors that deprive people of anything appyroaching an accepytable standard of Uving. Over the last three years, rents have increased at double the inflation rate. After paying rent, single pensioners are left with $45 to $50 to pay for electricity. The most dramatic moment for hundreds of families in my electorate is the arrival of the electricity biU, because they know that it will be substantial. Electricity charges have increased from $50 per quarter to more than $100 per quarter. That is a hidden tax that the poor cannot afford to pay. There is no such thing as free education any longer. Parents are required to pay school fees and also for uniforms and books. Everyone has the right to a reasonable standard of living. That is [>ossible only if it is accompanied by the appropriate provision of income and services. Everyone has the right to such a standard of living, whether he is single, a supporting parent, aged, disabled, unemployed youth, Aborigine or migrant. Welfare must be viewed in its wider sense. Welfare is about jobs that give people the security and the right to participate and incomes on which to Uve, to be identified with the community and to have a right to play a role in the community. Welfare is about the right of all Queenslanders living in this affluent State to expect adequate housing, health, education and child care. Adequate living standards cannot be achieved by allowing individuals and families to cope without support. The mechanisms of our social system must be adjusted to allow access to resources by all those groups, not only by the rich and the powerful. It is the responsibility of any democraticaUy elected Government to establish systems that miUtate against and minimise social disadvantage. All Govemments, including the Queensland Government, should be committed to ensuring that social justice is a right and not a privilege. Unfortunately, in this State it is not a right for the poor; it is a privilege for the rich and the powerful. Queensland has the most inadequate welfare services of any State in Australia. Today honourable members heard the Minister say, in effect, how much worse off Queenslanders are compared with their New South Wales counterparts. When commenting on the facts and figures about the additional resources put into providing support for families and children in other States, the Minister said that money is not the answer. He said that the cost of providing welfare services is very high in the other States. The Minister said that the Govemment should not have to provide vocational programs for disadvantaged children and that it should not have to provide child-care faciUties for the poor. He said that it should not have to provide facilities for homeless children. Breakdowns in the famUy unit are occurring, but the problem is brushed aside. Nothing is done about it because the Government says that the solution is not to be found in providing resources. That is absolute nonsense. In 1977 the Government promised to introduce new welfare legislation. That was nothing more than a political ploy to allay serious community concern about the poor state of welfare in this State. Mr Fraser has said many times that life was not meant to 658 31 August 1982 Address in Reply be easy. The poor and powerless in the State of Queensland say to me, "It wasn't meant to be impossible, either." People who spend 50 to 80 per cent of their income on rent cannot survive. It is time that welfare housing was provided for them. I know of pensioners who, because they have saved, could afford to p>ay $20,000 towards the cost of a Housing Commission home and who, because they are pensioners, are not eligible for inclusion on the list. I should like the Minister for Works and Housing to tell the House how many people on low incomes wUl benefit from housing funds. I turn now to the major problem in the welfare area—the lack of information services in Queensland. This problem is referred to only very briefly in the Pariiamentary White Paper on Family Welfare. No attempt is made to provide the information services that are necessary and that ought to be given No. 1 priority. The average citizen is poorly informed about private and public resources, faciUties, rights and programs. He becomes lost in his attempts to obtain the information that is required to enable him to overcome his community problems. Information is essential to the proper working of any social welfare system in our society. Without information, individuals cannot seek effective help to correct abuses; neither can they benefit from the protection and services that the Government and non-government, organisations offer. They cannot make the most of their resources. More importantly, they cannot participate meaningfully in public debate leading to the decisions that affect their well-being. What I am saying is that individuals need information to correct abuses. They need to know how they can benefit from the services that are provided by the Government and the voluntary sector. They need to know how they can utilise their own resources. However, more than that, they ought to have a say in puUic debates leading to the decisions that affect their well-being. In a moment, I shall document the steps taken by other States and compare them with the lack of action on the part of the Queensland Government. It is important that the need for information not be seen as a faciUty offered exclusively to those who face problems. It ought to be seen as a wide issue in the everyday functioning of individuals and families and as being necessary to their participation in family Ufe. The giving of information to the right person at the right time requires access to appropriate sources of information. Information must be available through channels that are acceptable and accepted. In recent years, the delivery of human services has become more complex. Producers and user services have no way of finding out what is available. As organisations increase in number and specialisation, it is less likely that one organisation wUl be able to meet all of a citizen's needs. As a result, the importance of interagency referral becomes paramount. Effective referral depends upon accurate and comprehensive information. Quite often, all that people can do is ring the switch-girl in a Government department or in a voluntary or other agency. Quite often the switch-girl does not have the right information, and misinformation is given. Something should be done to correct that situation. I turn now to what Victoria and New South Wales are doing in the provision of information services. They spend millions of dollars on the provision of such services. The Victorian Welfare Department has instituted a comprehensive community information program involving a wide range of individual groups that provide advice and feedback to the department. The aims of the feedback process are twofold: firstly, to provide redress in individual grievances; secondly, to highUght aspects of services that are provided. Victoria funds 60 citizen's advisory bureaus. In contrast, Queensland does not fund one. The 60 Victorian bureaus collect statistics from which the Government can see the numbers and types of inquiries that are received each year. The statistics are used as a sensitive social indicator that highlight areas of confusion, inadequacy and special needs. They are used by the Government at all levels in adapting policies and providing solutions to community problems. The Victorian community information program is plugged into a human ser\'ices inforniation system, which goes right across all aspects of Government siirvices in Victoria. The program is supported by local government information services, b'' Government agencies and community groups. It is important that the nature and extent o< the program be appreciated. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 659 Victoria has Statewide directories of social services and distributes an updated directory to local govemment. 80 per cent of local authorities facUitate and develop local information services. They receive community information grants from the Victorian Govemment. Information is provided at local level. That is the type of program that the Queensland Government should be considering. The Victorian Government is spending more than $lm a year in providing information services, but the Queensland Government does not give even one cent to the Brisbane Citizens Advice Bureau, or to the few other citizens advice bureaus. The New South Wales Government approaches information services from a different direction. It funds the wages of the coordinators in the 130 neighbourhood information centres throughout New South Wales. In 1981-82, that cost the Government $1.4m. Those neighbourhood information centres can answer most questions, particularly the simple and recurring questions, and they have the advantage of providing information services close to people's homes. There are five regional information centres in New South Wales funded to the level of $35,000 each. In the last financial year, that cost $165,000. In addition. New South Wales has special information programs that are population specific, which means that there are information services for women, tenants and migrants. In the last financial year, that cost $223,000. Community development officers are employed in New South Wales. They are attached to a community group or to a local council, particularly in new housing areas, to provide information services. In the last financial year, that program cost $260,000. The women's information service in South Australia is mn by six full-time staff. Members of the staff are bUingual and utUise the assistance of dozens of volunteers, as do similar staffs in the other States. That shows how badly off we are in Queensland. When one considers the resources put into migrant information services in the other States, one sees that it is an absolute scandal that the Queensland Government does not fund the few citizens advice bureaus in this State. Welfare services cannot hope to function effectively until a comprehensive and co-ordinated information service is established. It is regrettable that Queensland is ignoring this problem in the same way as it ignores problems in other areas. The problem just will not go away. I shaU look now at the provision of children's services, something that is very dear to my heart. In 1972, the then Federal Government, which was a Liberal Government, recognised that Federal CJovemments had a responsibility for funding services for chUdren and families. The Federal Government responded to what it saw as a lack of services for families and children throughout AustraUa. Unfortunately, with the new federalism policies of the Fraser Government, there has been a drowngrading of children services, and that is appalling. I am concerned that the Federal Government is not providing enough money for those services, particularly in a State such as Queensland that does nothing in that field itself. Queensland relies basicaUy on Commonwealth grants. In 1974-75, the Federal Office of Child Care provided $70.5m for chUdren's services. In 1981-82, the figure was $80m, which was a decline in real terms of more than 50 per cent. What has happened? Because of a lack of funds, many programs are suffering. Staff are grossly underpaid, appropriate child development programs cannot be established and submissions for new programs have been rejected. As I have said, that has caused severe stress in Queensland because, unlike some other State Governments, the Queensland Government has been unwilling to find supplementary funds to meet the shortfaU. It does not top up the Commonwealth funds. Queensland is a bulldozer State, a development State, and the Government does not worry about providing services to individuals and families to help them survive in today's society. [Sitting suspended from 1 to 2.15 p.m.] Mr FOURAS: Prior to the luncheon recess 1 was drawing to the attention of the House the severe cut in Federal funding of children's services. In 1974-75 the Office of Child Care gave the States $75.6m. In 1981-82 that figure was $80m which, in fact, in real terms is a decline of 50 per cent. 660 31 August 1982 Address in Reply I make the pomts that existing programs are suffering, that staff are being grossly underpaid, that appropriate child development programs are not proceeding and that sub missions for new programs have been rejected. All that has caused extreme stress in States such as Queensland, which is not providing the money for these children's services programs. That is highlighted particularly when one looks at the after-school and vacation care programs that in Queensland are struggling for survival because the Commonwealth's contributions have not been increased for the last two years. Over and above that, the funding for these essential programs, which are designed to keep latchkey children off the streets and to keep them out of trouble—those children who have only one parent who has to work or who have both parents working—is given by the Commonwealth Government on the expectation that the State Govemment will match the contribution doUar for dollar. That has occurred in other States, but not in Queensland. At a p. and c. meeting in my electorate I was informed that a member of the Liberal Party— I will not mention his name—was to present a cheque for the school's vacation program. I told the members of the p. and c. association that that was amazing because not only did the money come totally from the Commonwealth but also the Minister would have to come outside of his own area to hand over a cheque to a school in my electorate. That shows the hypocrisy and grandstanding of members opposhe. They are merely pretending that they are doing something for the latchkey kids who during vacation would have nowhere to go and would get into strife. Because the State Government will not contribute one cent of its own money, Queensland does not have enough of these well structured programs. Queensland has 37 programs which have to be funded from $182,358—not one cent of it is State money. New South Wales has 176 programs and contributes $380,000 under the sharing arrangements. In addition New South Wales provides $170,000 of its own money for those 176 programs. So New South Wales contributes more than half a million dollars more than Queensland to fund the vacation and after-school programs. I am involved in some of those programs in my area. We have to try to find people to co-ordinate and mn them. People with qualifications are paid only $130 or $140 for a 30-hour week to run a program. Because of that pittance they do not stay with the program. Youth homelessness has been reported in the media. Brisbane has 2 000 kids wandering the streets without a house to live in. What has the Queensland Government done about that? It has provided a few refuges that provide crisis accommodation for a period, but that is all. Everybody knows that there is a need to involve the community in these programs and a need to provide medium and long-term accommodation. Other States are meeting that challenge; other States are involving families in the community. But what does Queensland do? Under the youth services program it provides the bare minimum. It makes available only $150,000 a year to run 11 refuges. In reply to a question of mine this morning the Minister said that accommodation is not the answer, and pointed out that a refuge with 40 beds in Caims has only 20 of them utUised at the one time. He uses that to justify Govemment inaction. Refuges are not the total answer but they go some way towards overcoming the trauma of these kids, and minimising their social disadvantages. The Government has to be a little more fair dinkum and make a firm commitment. The New South Wales Govemment provides $200,000 of its own money, as well as the half a mUlion dollars it provides for vacation and after-school programs, to fund 20-odd refuges. It funds five refuges of its own. It provides approximately $200,000 for half-way houses that provide medium-term accommodation. It provides programs for youngsters to be taken from crisis care refuges and placed in families. These are called stretcher or share family programs. The New South Wales Govemment is spending almost Sim more than the C>ueensland Government on these programs, yet we are supposed to be the richest State in AustraUa. Victoria is conducting simUar programs. If the Minister suggests that these kids are coming from interstate perhaps the Government should erect a sign saymg, "Home less, poor and anybody but the rich and the powerful stay out of Queensland because we have no resources for you and no commitment to do anjrthing about your problems." Let us have a look at the White Paper published by the Minister. He was made Father of the Year because of his commitment to family welfare in this State, but it was a political decision by the selection committee to show that he is doing a marvellous job. In the five years that I have been Opposition spokesman on welfare this Government has been talking about family welfare legislation to improve the lot of every child and Address in Reply 31 August 1982 661 family in the community. It has spoken about increased resources at the local community level to help support famiUes in times of stress and need. MarveUous, but all the (jovernment has done is talk about it. The Government has talked about it as a political ploy to allay community concern about what it is not doing. .n. Let us look at some aspects of what the Government is doing or intends to do about juvenile deUnquency and other problems associated with children. It says that it wiU set up a variety of programs and institute juvenUe probation orders, community service orders and attendance at a project centre, and that more resources will be allocated. But what has the Government done? It has not provided any resources. There is one attendance centre in the whole of Queensland, and that is mn by the Reverend AUan Male, a former Father of the Year. That attendance centre does not have a clue about providing kids with the necessary social survival skiUs. There is also the fanuly proctor scheme under which kids on remand are placed with family proctors. But there are only four in the whole of Queensland. Aides are provided to help famiUes in their home, but there are no more than 20 of these family aides in the State. But the resources required for the proposed family welfare legislation to work wUl not be found by this Government. I have attended seminars at which top public servants from the Minister's department have said that it is a fact that the proposed famUy welfare legislation will require a lot more resources than are being provided right now. Queensland spends 20 per cent less than the Australian average on the provision of child welfare pyrograms and 60 per cent less than the Australian average on programs for the aged and infirm. The new family welfare legislation is a marvellous piece of propaganda but, on the admission of the Minister, it wiU require a lot more resources, yet his top public servants keep saying that it wUl be implemented without any increase in the present avaUable resources. In fact, the programs wUl be introduced in bits and p>ieces. Families are not being treated as a whole, nor is the Government providing the resources to enable local authorities and voluntary groups to do their jobs. They are being treated as bits and pneces, and that is how the famUy welfare legislation will be implemented. It will be implemented on an ad hoc basis in bits and pieces, which is absolutely ridiculous. Let us look at emergency relief. The White Paper does not cover major problems in welfare such as the lack of adequate welfare housing and income for people to maintain their famUies. What is the good of these esoteric and idealistic schemes when the Govemment wUl never implement them? If it cannot provide finance for the most basic and essential items such as shelter for famUies, what is the point? It does nothing at all about providing emergency relief. What can this Government do for somebody who is distraught? If a person is in receipt of social security payments, he gets nothing, but if he is in between, the Government gives him a marvellous amount, something like $15 a week! If he is a married man he receives $31 a week. But he is not eligible for that money if he is in receipt of social security benefits. Last year, the New South Wales Government gave $9.3m under hs emergency relief scheme. It did not limit payments. Payments up to $1,000 can be made to secure a family against breakdown. Unlike Queensland, New South Wales is doing something. Although this should be a Federal responsibility, surely the States should have a commitment to the poor and the powerless, not merely to the rich and powerful. Children from poor families are sufficiently disadvantaged without their having to go to school lacking proper uniforms and books. The student allowance in Queensland is $54 a year, but the means test is so severe that only supporting parents qualify. An invalid pensioner with children, an aged pensioner with chUdren, or a person on unemployment benefits does not qualify. In New South Wales, people in aU those categories receive $138; in Victoria they receive $208. Children are at least being helped to go to school in both Victoria and New South Wales. The trauma facing my constituents when school opens each year is unbeUevable. They dread school opening because they have to pawn wedding ripgs,, radio sets and so on to send their chUdren to school with proper books and uniforms. The Government talks about giving children equality of opportunhy, an opportunity to play an important role in society. The International Year of Disabled Persons was a terrible sham. Everyone talked about giving disabled people fundamental rights, equality and a chance to participate. What is the point in changing attitudes, as the lYDP set out 662 31 August 1982 Address in Reply to do, if support is not provided by way of adequate employment, health care, pubUc housing, children's services, education, and all the other infrastructure necessary to let disabled people participate and integrate into the mamstream of community life when we do not do anything to help them help themselves? Recently the Federal Budget provided millions of doUars for an institutional program. Is it not ludicrous that people should be institutionalised at tremendous cost to society? They are being forced into institutions. Under the handicapped persons assistance legislation, subsidies of $4 to $1 are provided for buildings for handicapyped people. By providing heavy subsidies, the Government is forcing people to opt for institutional care. On the other hand, disabled people living at home have to meet high costs that severely disadvantage them through no fault of their own. They are forced to meet the coSt of taxis, vehicle modifications, special appliances, aids in the home and other things. The Government does not assist them to live an independent Ufe. Disability aUowances should be paid so that they may meet the cost of essential services that enable them to lead independent Uves. Community groups should be assisted in their attempts to support the disabled. Last year. New South Wales found over $400,000 for 37 community and self-help groups. New South Wales funded play-groups, pre-school development projects for the disabled, parent support groups, temporary care programs and consumer information services. Last year it also found $130,000 for temporary care programs. Most of that money was spent on premises. For every doUar that the Govemment spent, there was $4 of voluntary help for those people. Recently, I received a sad letter from a parent who chose to keep his chUd in his home rather than institutionaUse him. People who care for disabled children become tired. A number of them suffer heart attacks as a result of Ufting their chUdren. They need a break. FacUities should be provided to give temporary care to the chUdren. In Queensland, 28 beds out of the 80 beds at Halwyn are avaUable for temporary care. If a parent does not book well in advance, the child cannot be accommodated. A commxmity group known as MAMRE is run by some nuns on the northside. It is doing a marveUous job, but it is almost impossible for p>arents to book their chUdren in. I could feel the stress being suffered by the person who wrote to me. He told me that his wife was tired, that they wanted a break but could not get it because they could not get anyone to care for their children. While there is much talk about our being concerned about the disabled, the Govemment does nothing to assist disabled people to look after themselves. They want greater control over their lives. They want increased funding for themselves. They want community-based services and a resource centre run by the disabled for the disabled. It is time that the Queensland welfare systeni got up to date and did these things. In my electorate, the Better Hearing Association is not receiving one cent of funding from the Department of Welfare Services. That association is providing tremendous resources for people who are partiaUy deaf and helping them to become integrated into the community. But the Govemment is not helping. Similar organisations in New South Wales are given $30,000 or $40,(X)0 to enable them to provide services. The Australian Council for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled is funded whh $45,000 in New South Wales; it is funded in other States. In Queensland, that councU is supposed to provide resources for the disabled and it is supposed to do it on a shoestring budget. What has the Government done? Queensland is supposed to have an information service. But a person who rings the disabled information service in the Welfare Services Department is told, "We are sorry but we do not have these facilities. We are sorry but we do not have anything to do with them." In the past 12 months, 79 women and 142 children have gone through one women's refuge in my area. It has tumed away 131 women and 408 children during fhe past financial year because the refuge is fUled to capacity. The Govemment does not have the right poUcies to make the refuges effective. Those women and children were turned away because the refuge was fuU. Why? Because the funding for refuges is less m Queensland than in other States. Refuges in Queensland have to find 12i per cent of their running costs and 25 per cent of their capital costs. Therefore, Queensland has fewer refuges. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 663 Queensland does not have half-way houses, as other States have, so that people can be noved out of institutions. Queensland does not have child-care facilities in more than half of hs refuges. Every other State has child-care facilities. It is ap>palling that (^eensland is dWQg very little m aU of these programs. The Minister does not support fuU funding. Battered women are treated differently in C^ieensland. Here, the refuges movement is seen as a poUtical ideology that is abhorrent to the idea of what a family is all about on the other side of the fence. Somebody once said, "A woman, a dog, and a walnut tree, the nore you beat 'em the better they be." Family and domestic violence is increasing rapidly. The people concemed are having to cop it sweet. They have to stay in an environment in which they are abused and have to face physical violence as well as the mental and emotional problems that arise from them day after day, simply because they cannot go anywhere else. Battermg is not merely physical injury; it is a person being told repeatedly that he is useless. The Government is doing nothing about it. It is paying only lipHervice. It is spending less than any other State on women's refuges. The same is being done to the disabled and the aged. It is amazing how little Queensland is spending on the aged. The CJovemment does not fund many programs for the aged. According to the last Commonwealth Grants Comnussion figures, it spent 60 per cent on programs for the aged and infirm. New South Wales spent $54.5m, Victoria spent $46m, and Queensland spent a mere $8,7m. It spent a per capita figure of $3.77 compared with the six-State average of $9.22. Some home-nursing services in my electorate have written to the Minister for help. They want more funds because of greatly increased salaries last year. They caimot maintain the same level of services. The Govemment refused to provide additional subsidies. The result is that people are forced into institutions. The Govemment's policy seems to be to provide increased funding to institutionalise the aged and infirm. What a short-sighted px^cy! When home help was cut back a couple of years ago from a two dollars to one dollar subsidy to a doUar for doUar subsidy, the Government saved money by halving the services. What an app>aUing situation! Unlike other State Governments it refused to pick up the deficiency. Then we read that the Miiuster for Welfare Services was named Father of the Year for his services to welfare. What a hypocritical situation! Victoria is finding miUions of dollars to provide family aid, housing referral, financial counseUing and emergency accommodation services oh a regional basis. Queensland receives only the money that the Federal Government gives it for family support services. That money is spent willy-nilly throughout the State. It is time that support and services were provided to families and children to enable them to maintain a reasonable existence in this State. Resources should be found for them as well as for those who want to speculate, those who want to rip off our minerals and those who want to invest in Queensland real estate. Let us put barriers across the border between Queensland and New South Wales to make sure that only the rich and the powerful come here. Let us make sure that those who cannot fully support themselves and who have disabUities and problems are kept in the other States, because the Crovernment refuses to be fair dinkum and refuses to find the resources to help anybody other than those who are affluent, rich and powerful. (Time expired.) Mr INNES (Sherwood) (2.36 p.m.): I commend the Governor for the admirable way in which he and Lady Ramsay move around this State and demonstrate their personal interest and personal touch in the occupancy of their high office. The proposed legislative program outUned by the Govemor in his Opening Speech is clearly not the entire program envisaged by the Govemment. I wish to refer to some matters that relate to the administration and government of this State that will arise during this session of the Parliament. Some matters are not completely clear from the speech that the Governor made on behalf of the Government in opening what obviously wiU be a busy session of ParUament. Mr R. J. Gibbs: I thought you were going to be the only person on that side of the Chamber who did not say that. Now we are waiting for you to pledge your support. 664 31 August 1982 Address in. Reply Mr INNES: Of course. On behalf of myself and the electors of Sherwood, I pledge loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen. Mr R. J. Gibbs: She will be deeply impressed. Mr INNES: Like thousands of other loyal subjects, the people in my electorate and the electorate of the honourable member for Wolston wUl flock to the Commonweal]|h Games and to any other functions at which they have the opportunity of seeing the Queen and Prince Philip. After listening to the totality of the contributions made by the Opposition, I cannot understand why Opposition members continue to sit in their seats in this House, why they continue to reside in this State, and why they do not move from this State to the States that clearly provide the focal point of their attentions and that provide the activities and conditions of which they apparently approve, Opposition members speak in favourable terms about nothing north of the New South Wales border. For every tittle of inforrtiafion, they constantly depend upon the advice and the assistance of the staff of the Labor administrations in New South Wales and Victoria^ Th^ depend upon those people for every proposal that they put forward—and they are very few and far between—and. for inhiative and innovation. They refer to what has happened in New South Wales and, more recently, to what has happened in Victoria. Mr McKechnie: You've forgotten about Hughie Hamilton. Mr INNES: I wUl get round to him. The favourite phrase of the Opposition and people who bear the hallmarks of its kind is "The Govemment ought to" Everything starts with "The State Govemment ought to" or "The Commonwealth Government ought to". Their suggestions always involve an extension of Govemment services and an increase in the Public Service and in Govemment expenditure. Not once did the honourable member for South Brisbane suggest where the money should be taken from to fund the massive extension of Govemment services that he suggests. Mr Mackenroth: It is called a redistribution of wealth. Mr INNES: The honourable member is a member of a p)arty that, at Federal level, has gone through an incredible contortion in an attempt to create the impression that it is a low-tax party. Every contribution made by a member of the Opposition in this House and in the Federal Parliament is a repetitive call for massive increases in Government spending, such as that engaged in by the Premier of New South Wales. During his term of office a dizzy expansion occurred within the New South Wales Public Service. Approximately 44000 additional public servants were appointed. Of course, he could not pay for them. The result has been massive retrenchments in the Public Service. Mr R. J. Cribbs interjected. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Miller): Order! Mr R. J. Gibbs: What about the morality of the Liberal Party with the prostitution in Western Australia? Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Persistent interjections will not be tolerated. Mr INNES: I wiU take the interjection from the honourable member for Wolston. In the eulogy of the State of New South Wales and the total condemnation of the State of Queensland by the Opposition spokesman on welfare, we did not hear any reference to teenage prostitution, the heroin addiction of 12-year-old giris and the prostitution of 12,13 and 14-year-old girls around Kings Cross. Mr Prest: What about m Queensland? Mr R. J. Gibbs: What about the Valley and Musgrave Park? Address in Reply 31 August 1982 665 Mr INNES: In Queensland there is nothing like the depravity and abuse of young children, particularly young girls, that occurs in New South Wales. Of course, no world is perfect. Mr R. J. Gibbs interjected. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I warn the honourable member for Wolston under Standmg Order 123A. Mr INNES: In every State there are thousands of people for whom any reasonable human being expwesses concem and sympathy. Such concern is converted into px)sitive action and initiatives on the part of tens of thousands of people. The least social p)roblems occur with the highest level of employment and the greatest growth. There is nothing more humUiating and destmctive than unemployment. Certainly, in a tiipe of lowest unemployment and maximum job creation and economic activitiy there wiU be people with money and, therefore, people with self-respect. Mr Prest: You are not talking about Queensland now. Mr INNES: I am talking about Queensland. Mr Prest: Don't you know there is a recession? Mi- R. J. Gibbs: There are 68 000 unemployed in (Queensland. Mr INNES: If Op>position members were to get their minds off the centimetre-wide track along which th^ wander, they would reaUse that the present conditions are the best pxKsible, Since the first ship loaded with wool left AustraUa's shores, AustraUa has been, a trading nation. Contrary to the limited knowledge of members of the Ofppxjsition and their wish to confine issues to those concerning their branch of the AustraUan Labor Party, Queensland is p>art of a nation that trades with the rest of the world. The misfortune with Opposition members in this ParUament is that there would not be more than two of them who have ever employed a man, produced anything or created a productive enterprise. They have not reaUsed, as the average smaU shopkeeper does, that if a person is not selling goods, he cannot make a profit, expand his operation or emjplby more people. Opposition members insist on thinking of matters in terms of centin!ietre horizons. In fact, the world is many thousands of mUes around and the issues of the vvorld relate one country to the other. Although Queensland is luckier than most other States in AustraUa it is still dependent on the trading conditions on which this nation depends. If Australia's major markets in America or Japan are down the drain, Queensland's sales, profits and capacity for playing for Government schemes are also reduced. The reality is that everybody in the community has to tighten his belt. So when Opposition members propose, as they do so continuaUy and compulsively, an extension of Government services, they should tell us from whom the Government presently serves the money should be taken. Mr Prest: The Liberal tax-dodgers; get it off them. Mr INNES: Let me examine that Uttle exercise. It is what might be called the "altogether" syndrome. Everybody has heard the story about the king being iii the altogether. Because of the conditions applying at the time, he got to the stage of wearing no clothes until some little feUow in the street said, "The king is in the altogether." Suddenly everybody realised that something was wrong and the king brought everything back to reaUty. That is what has happened in the taxation industry. I shaU have a look at the taxation industry, which is important to this State. Taxation avoidance or taxation minimisation runs from the top to the bottom of the society. It refers to every plumber, carpenter, bricklayer or shopkeeper who forms a family partnership. His wife takes five phone calls a week, and that is called an active partnership and the income is split. The member for Port Curtis would know that on every building site in AustraUa some men work under assumed names. They demand cash in hand, which is the basis of the cash economy. During growth periods industrial muscle was used to get money in the hand rather than put through the books. To get jobs completed during highly competitive times employers paid $800 or $1,000 or $1,200 in cash to crane drivers working on high-rise buildings. Men refused to work overtime. Instead, at week-ends they worked under assumed names, or just worked for cash. Those people have gone to 666 31 August 1982 Address in Reply nearly every house in (Queensland or in AustraUa and said, "Provided it is on a cash basis, I'll paint your house for $1,000. If it goes through the books it will be $2,000." Everybody knows what is happening. I guarantee that in the last two years the member for Port Curtis has seen such transactions himself. I guarantee that that is happening throughout Australia. What has happened? What is seen to be done by everybody is converted little by little, and the steps get more refined untU there are totally artificial arrangements. When people come to their senses and form a proper moral conclusion they realise that the arrangements are totally illegal. That malaise runs through the whole of our spdety. It is not confined to members of a particular party or to people at any particular level in the community. It runs from the top to the bottom of society in Australia; from the person who deducts $X to reduce the amount of tax that he pays, to the person who enters into a questionable partnership or takes advantage of the schemes that have been accepted as legitimate through to the schemes that clearly should have been condemned at an early point in time. Mr Prest: The Costigan report does not speak of the odd dollar or two; it speab about the odd mlUion doUars. Mr INNES: It is not the odd doUar. The odd dollar by 14 milUon people means $14m. The reality is that everybody in Australia has been into some sort of arrangement of affairs to minimise taxation. Mr Prest: I have hit the hip)-pocket nerve. Mr INNES: It has nothing to do with my hip-pocket nerve. I have never been in a partnership or a scheme. I have never asked for black money. I have never asked for cash in the hand. Mr Prest: Don Lane says you have. Mr INNES: The honourable member for Port Curtis represents an area where more would be known about black money than anywhere else in Australia. Every major construction area in Australia is an area where the black money economy thrives. The honourable member can certainly speak with authority on that subject, because I will bet my boots that a high percentage of his constituents is into one of the devices that I have just described. The whole country needs the sweepers put through it to make sure that people pay their equitable contribution. Mr Prest interjected. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr MiUer): Order! I warn the honourable member for Port Curtis. Mr INNES: I do not mind interjections. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Chair wiU not allow discussion to take place across the Chamber while a member is on his feet. Mr INNES: There is obviously a systematic factor behind tax minimisation, tax avoidance or tax evasion, to give the various terms to the various degrees that have been referred to. There is a malaise and I welcomed the review of the taxation thresholds which was announced in the recent Federal Budget. That is a start to relieve the real conditions that contribute to the inducement to establish artificial arrangements for minimising tax. One of the factors involved in business—I think everybody has seen it—is that in the first year or so in which a man starts a smaU business he ploughs aU his money back into the business. So when the first tax bill is due he does not have the money in his hand. Not only is his first tax bUl due, but also he has to pay provisional taxation. I do not speak of my personal circumstances but I have seen other people who, on an income of $65,000, have faced a taxation bill of $56,000. That is the sort of thing that pushes people into desperate straits and makes them look for a minimisation of tax or even tax losses. i Address in Reply 31 August 1982 667 Once a person is on the sticky paper, as a well-known Queenslander once said, it is difficult for him to get off. If a person reduces his taxation to zero in any year, and a normal or good year follows it, he is then faced with a double tax bUl because of provisional taxation. That can literally consume everything a person earns in one year. So the whole question of provisional taxation and p>rovisional taxation liability in smaU business, particularly m the early growth years, must be looked at. The Federal Government has to go much further in reviewing the structural basis of taxation to reduce the highest levels and to make adjustments that do not oblige or force people, or even encourage people, to look for ways to avoid paying what they should rightfully pay. One of the tragedies is that many people who have prospered from Govem- ment-derived revenue are the very ones who are majoriy into tax avoidance devices. It is utterly immoral for a person who derives a substantial amount of income from Govern ment contracts or Government-supported services to be in any form of tax evasion or minimisation. ^ The system has to be modified, but the other thing that has to be modified—^this is why I used the analogy of the king with no clothes—is the attitude of the community towards tax UabUity. It is a matter of national morality. It is totally wrong for any member of the Opposition to suggest that these prractices are confined to any particular group in the community, any particular party in the community or any particular occupation in the community. It just happens that some of the painters and dockers were involved. It is perfectly clear from the report of Mr Costigan that many other I)eople wete involved. In other words, it is an accurate reflection of the reality in Australia, that morality in relation to taxation has gone out the window at every level of society. Perhaps it has been encouraged by punitive tax levels. I personally do not believe that anybody who derives his income from personal exertion, in other words, from the number of hours he works, should ever get even close to paying 50 per cent of his salary in taxation. There are blue-collar workers, if anyone wants to bring it down to that level and to foster and encourage phony distinctions in society, who get close to paying 48c in the dollar on their wages. I think we all know, and everybody who has worked and everybody who is employed knows, that frequently people in modern Australia refuse overtime on the basis that they do not get enough out of it, and I think that any system which encourages that is wrong. So there are two things that have to be changed. Mr Prest: You voted to suspend railwaymen if they don't work overtime. Mr INNES: Let us look at the railway situation. I found it staggering that a campaign that has been fostered by union-type rhetoric would suggest that white-coUar Government workers are the privileged class, that they are the haves and are further up the pole. What about the blue-collar workers? It has been said that they are further down the line and are being exploited, but during question-time last week we discovered that in fact a guard on a coal train in Central Queensland—this would touch the heart-strings of the honourable member for Port Curtis—earns appmximately the same as a back-bench member of Parliament. An engine driver on a central Queensland coal train earns about $3,(WO a year more than the back-bench members of Parliament. And for what? For working about a half or third of the hours that an average member of Parliament works. Mr Prest: You are only picking on a couple of depots in the State. Go across the board. Mr INNES: If my memory is not defective and not limited, a person training to be a driver at Mayne Junction earns $850 a fortnight. I think that is the situation, and I am positive that the majority of white-collar Government workers would not receive anywhere near that. I am not going to engage in this phony distinction between blue- collar and white-collar workers. The reason why many people chose to be blue-collar workers i^ that they can earn more money because overtime is an expectation, hot an occasional occurrence. When we get down to figures the reality is that people are in very different situations from those in which a lot of campaigns and arguments seek to depict them. I do not begrudge the feUow working on a coal train or swinging a pick getting a fair day's pay for a fair day's work—— Mr Prest: They are on an hourly rate, and if you look at the houriy rate and the amount, they are getting a fortnight, consider how many hours they are working. 668 31 August 1982 Address in Reply Mr INNES: That is the typical rhetoric of the unionist. The reality is that the average worker, the average Australian, does not look at his hourly rate. He looks at his average weekly or fortnightly pay cheque. That is what he works on and what his bank works on if he wants to borrow money. That is what his wife works on when she sets a budget for the house. Mr Prest interjected. Mr INNES: What the honourable member says is typical of the argument of the unions—to take it to a point of unreality and pursue an unreal argument. If the Costigan report becomes a focal point of condemnation in this country of taxation evasion, I will welcome it. People who have been rightly cited and named in that report must be prosecuted to the hUt. I sound a note of warning about prosecution. Personally I do not favour retrospective legislation. I want to know the basis of it. As yet, I do not know. I do not beUeve that what was not unlawful yesterday should be made unlawful tomorrow. If that is the basis of the legislation, I am against it. I understand it is being explained in terms of assistmg the evidence-finding. If that is so, I should have preferred the approach offered by the Law CouncU of Australia which said that it was prepared to participate in a task force that should be supplemented or contributed to by the professional associations of accountants as well as inspectorial staff from the CommonweaUh Taxation Department. The council was prepared to help create a special task force to get the best brains in this country working towards the task of prosecution. If it was unlawful—and clearly it must have been unlawful—half a dozen years ago, or even in 1973-74, which was the time that Labor was in power, we must provide the equipment and resources to discover and prove the unlawfulness, but we should never be in the business of making Ulegal yesterday what was not Ulegal yesterday. If we do that, nobody in this country can be certain, when dealing with his affairs, that what he is doing today will not be made a crime, retrospectively, tomorrow. That is an important principle that has been rejected by the Liberal Party over the years. I believe it must be maintained. In looking at the altogether syndrome and the failure to recognise what was going on untU it became so blatant that everyone realised something must have gone wrong at an earlier point in time, I am very interested in the precise details of the legislation put forward by the Federal Government. I have a few observations to make on the liquor industry in Queensland, and some of the related, but apparently unrelated pressures. A tavern is proposed in my electorate. I should apologise to the honourable member for Wolston. One of the proposed sites is in his electorate. The tavern will service people resident in my electorate, which is an area immediately adjacent to the electorate of the honourable member. To the best of my knowledge, and from talking to people knowledgeable in the industry, we have an extraordinary situation. The people pushing for the tavern and tendering want a bottle shop. That is what makes the profit, and that is what they really want. The people in my electorate did not ask for licensed premises, a tavern or a hotel. There are licensed premises about three miles away. The majority of them are club-going-type people or people who drink at home. They are 20 years past the age of people who usually go to hotels. Now that the initiative is there, through the present way in which the Licensing Act is framed and the Licensing Commission is administered, a system of tendering is involved. I do not seek to condemn or criticise the diligence with which the officers of the commission go about their job as they see it, administering that little compartment of the Government or that segment of the Govemment orange. A tender involves the offer of money to the Government for the placement of that faciUty, so obviously one of the considerations in deciding whether a hotel may be built there, leaving aside the hurdle of local opposition, is the amount of money that is offered to the Licensing Commission by those interested in setting up a tavern. My information from the industry—and it was confirmed by a number of sources—is that the people who apply for a tavern licence—basically all they want is a bottle shoi>—have to hang on the end of the tender all of the other basic requirements of the Licensing Commission and have to satisfy the terms of the Licensing Act. A tavern is a hotel without accommodation. It is not an old-world English pub; it is not a warm little German-type inn. Under our Act, it is a pub without accommodation. A tavern has to have certain minimal amenities. It may have a bottle department, but it must have a puWic bar, a lounge bar, a dining-room and a service for providing snacks at all times Address in Reply 31 August 1982 669 when the Ucensed premises operates. It must provide main meals in the dining-room when ever they are usually offered. The majority of residents in my electorate would not object to a bottie shop, because it would suit them down to the ground to have a place at which they could buy bottles of liquor to take home, as most of them do; but it must have tacked onto it all of the other minimal requirements, which brings the cost of the development up to at least $l.5m. Then the people who tender believe that they must make it as big as possible to attract and excite the interest of the commission and of the court. They think that if they offer a bigger facUity and make a bigger investment it will be a more desirable facility viewed as a licensed premises and, therefore, more Ukely to receive the approval of the commission and, later, of the court. That is absolute insanity, in my view. In our society, the drink-driver bedevils us. There is carnage on the roads. The relationship between alcohol and accidents is absolutely irrefutable. The minimal requirements on the tenders is usually parking space for at least 120 cars; but by the time the local authority takes into account that it is a big development, it will probably be parking space for 200 cars. The whole Act is designed to drag cars to the place where liquor is served. Society i« coming round to condemning the consequences of bringing those two things together. So we have a community that does not really object to a bottle shop but does object to everything else that goes on at a hotel, such as the intrusion of non-residential noise into a residential area at night. It does not want the sound of vehicles, particularly vehicles driven by people who have had a couple of drinks and rev their engines for a quick getaway at 11 or 12 p.m., speeding cars or people shouting out late at night, "Hooray. Goodnight. See you next week." Those things cause a very real intmsion into the quiet of the night. Perh^s the entertainment area can be far enough away for the sound to be minimised; but whenever a $3m facUity is put up—and that wiU be the amount of some of the tenders, only about $500,000 of which will be for the bottle department—it must be serviced. The bottle departments must be serviced. High throughput must be achieved. An investor goes out to capture a client audience and provides entertainment until 11.30 p.m. for six nights a week. He goes out to attract the young people who statistics prove are those mostly affected by liquor. Therefore we have the absolute nonsense of a society that wishes to minimise drinking and driving at one level of government, and we have another administrative area which needs radical review because we have a local population who would put up with a bottle department that would provide a convenience but do not want and object to all the other nuisances, such as noise, that are attracted by the rest of the facilities. An investor would be delirious if all he had to build was a bottle department, but he is forced to tack onto the end of it another $1.5m worth of improvements. To try to get ahead of the other com petitors, he tacks on another $lm and buUds a convention centre in an attemprt to obtain a licence. It is absolutely illogical. It is absurd and it must be reviewed. I am a member of a committee chaired by the Minister for Justice that has been conducting a review of the Liquor Act. I use this forum and the instance of my own electorate to urge the removal of the absurdity and Ulogical situation with which I am faced. I know that an objection will be raised by the hotel industry. Enormous amounts of money have been paid for existing licensed premises. Members of the hotel industry will argue that they have an investment to protect, and now that the cream of the profits is obtained from bottle departments, somebody else wants to move in and jeopardise their total investment. They will say, "The bar trade is no longer good for us. It is in the bottle trade that is important." If that means that some preference should be given to people with existing licensed premises for a period of adjustment, so be it. Evolution is easier than revolution. Let us move towards a situation where licensed premises are made smaller and more responsive to the demands of the locality. Why should exactly the same type of tender be called for when a development is proposed beside a divided highway in an industrial area or in a mixed commercial area as is called for in circumstances where licensed premises wUl be built immediately adjacent to a residential area? That does not make sense. A more flexible approach should be adopted and a wider range of Ucences should be made available to accommodate local views, not to accommodate a blanket view of Queensland. One of the consequences of the licensing provisions of the Liquor Act is that if a person entered a modern hotel he would not know whether he was in Cooktown or COol- angatta. All the hotels are the same on the inside. A lack of imagination and individuality is apparent, which often occurs as a result of the minimum standards imposed by Govern ments through their laws. 670 31 August 1982 Address in Reply I call upon the drinkers of Queensland to go into training on the expectation that some time later this year the drink-driving limits wiU be reduced from .08 to .05. I do that because I am convinced that the drinkers of Queensland do not know what effect that .05 limit will have on them. I am further convinced that they do not know what .08 means. Nobody should break the law unwittingly or wUhout public warning. At present the limh is .08. For the average male, that is the equivalent of five 7-oz. beers in one hour. Actually, that is .075, but six beers would take the average male over the UmU. Three cans or three stubbies of beer would take him to the present limit. Although sonae types of wines are more potent, usually five glasses of wine or five half-nips of spirit would take him to the limit. Women consistently show a higher reading than males, even when their weight is equivalent to that of males. As to .05—three 7-oz. beers in an hour wUl toke. a drinker to a level of .045, which is just OK. However, four 7-oz. beers in one hour wiU take him over the Umit. Two cans or two stubbies will take him into the danger zone. Tests have been done in Queensland to contrast light ale with ordinary beer. One result is that there is an enormous difference between individuals. Roughly speaking, tests conducted in Victoria and Queensland show that a drinker can have twice as many light ales as ordinary beers to give the same level of alcohol in the blood. Mr Hewitt: Quite dramatic. Mr INNES: It is dramatic. I ask drinkers in Queensland to begin to pace themselves. They wiU have to aher their habits. I do not call upon them to stop going to the club or to the hotel. However, they have to decide who is going to drive if their blood alcohol level exceeds the limit. Drinkers wiU have to begin counting how many drinks they have, or all of them will run the risk of having their licence suspended or, if they are involved in an accident, their insurance policy cancelled. (Time expired.) Mr FRAWLEY (Caboolture) (3.16 p.m.): This is the 11th occasion on which I have participated in an Address-in-Reply debate. Again I reaffirm my allegiance and that of the vast majority of my electors to the Queen. 99.9 per cent of them would be loyal to her. I congratulate the Governor, Sir James Ramsay, and Lady Riflnsay on the manner in which they carry out their duties. They have visited my electorate on more than one occasion, and on each occasion the people of my electorate, of all political parties, have been most impressed with them. If the ALP had its way, Queensland would have no Governor and there would be no expressions of loyalty to the Queen. The honourable member for Archerfield even refused to accept his Queen EUzabeth medal on the occasion of her jubilee in 1977. I know of ALP councUlors throughout Queensland who accepted the medal. During the recess the ALP again suffered leadership problems. If it had not been for the "fix" put in by the honourable member for Rockhampton North, the Leader of the Opposition would have been tossed out and he would not have been leader today. It is interesting to note that the Federal leader, Mr Hayden, was able to hold his leadership only with the support of the Left-wingers and Communists in the Labor Party. It was the Left-wingers who caused the interference in the Queensland branch of the Australian Labor Party. Next it was disclosed that the poker machine lobby had been heavily involved. All that came out was that it gave $30,000 to the Labor Party. God knows what else it gave under the lap! Mr Kruger: How much did you get? Mr FRAWLEY: Not a cent. I am against poker machines and I intend to vote against them. It would not surprise me to leam that the Mafia is connected wUh the Labor Party. I warn everybody that if ever the Labor Party again assumed office in Queensland graft and corruption would be rife. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 671 When the ALP was in government in Queensland people who wanted the services of a justice of the peace, which were free, had to pay £5 to their Labor member to obtain such services. The Labor Party even had a bagman who used to vish the brothels in Albert Street and Margaret Street once a week to collect the Labor Party's share of the take. As for land deals—it used to cost a person £1,(M)0 to obtain a lease. I can remember when the Labor Party's Minister for Lands was found guilty of corrupt practices. He solicited £1,000 from a gentleman named Francis Marsh BeU. He asked for a donation to Labor Party funds in return for a Crown lease on a property known as Camboom Holdings. Opposition members talk about people making donations to Government piarties; the Labor Party's Minister for Lands was found guUty. What happened to the Commissioner for Lands who drew the matter to the attention of the Government? He got the sack. It was not until Sir Francis NickUn became Premier of Queensland that Mr Creighton was reinstated following his sacking by a Labor Govemment for exposing a fraud. I should imagine that in the days of a Labor Govemment public servants did not rest easy at night. The Leader of the Opposition is fortunate to be in Parliament. Many years ago in Mackay he took the knock in a business deal and let his brother carry the can. But for that the Leader of the Opposition would not now be in Parliament. For the information of new members I shall again teU the House of some of the rackets that were engaged in when the Labor Party was in power and when I worked in Parliament House in 1951 as a maintenance electrician. Week after week members used to go down to the Government Garage, which was on this site, and fill up their cars with petrol without paying a penny. One day I saw a member—I shall not mention his name—walk up with a generator from a Ford V8 in his hand. A day later he walked up with a starter motor in his hand. I said, "What are you doing?" He said, "They are reconditioning a Ford V8 in the Government Garage and I am taking some of the new parts and replacing them with the old parts from my car." To cap it aU, he staggered up one day carrying a big, long torque tube and drive shaft from an early model Ford V8. He said to me, "Go down and help yourself if you like. There are plenty of parts down there." The chairs from the BeUevue Hotel used to be sold for £1 each. When the BeUevue was being sold, the people who had bought those chairs rang the then Speaker of this Pariiament, Sir Alan Fletcher, and offered him the chairs back. That is tme. Some of the lovely round cedar tables in Parliament House were given away in payment of gambUng debts. I have actually seen one of those tables in a house opposite the entrance to the St Leger enclosure at Doomben. Three members used to run a profitable racket. They used to find out which members were away and rent out their rooms for 10 shillings a night. One night when Parliament was sUting and I was on duty as the electrician, I felt a bit sick and I obtained the permission of the acting Chairman of Committees to lie down on the bed in the room that belonged to the Chairman of Committees. In Parliament House it was next to the room occupied by the Chief Hansard Reporter. I was lying down on the bed feeUng a bit sick, and in walked a parliamentary attendant and a stranger. The parliamentary attendant said, "You have to get out. This feUow has the room for the night." I could not believe it. When I walked out the door I recognised the fellow as the cockatoo from the two-up school on the banks of Enoggera Creek. When I put it on him, he said, "I paid 10 shilUngs for a bed for the night." One day when I was working in ParUament House, I was standing on a ladder in the men's toilet replacing a light bulb. A stranger with a bag walked into the toilet and said to me, "Is this the place where I can get a wash, shave and brush-up?" I said to him, "What do you mean?" He said, "I got off the train at South Brisbane station. I got a taxi and I said to the driver, 'Where can I get a wash and a brush-up?' He said that he would drop me at a place where I could get one." He asked, "Where's the bathroom?" I showed him, and he went inside and had a bath and a shave. When he finished, he left two shiUings on the window-sill. Mr Hansen: Is that aU he gave you? 672 31 August 1982 Address in Reply Mr FRAWLEY: I put it in my pocket because I was on only £4 a week at the time and I needed the money. If a person with a traffic ticket went to the right member of Parliament.and kicked in enough money—usually £5—he would get out of paying the traffic ticket. That happened when the Labor Party was in power. Another couple of members had a racket going in the tunnel that led into WiUiam Street. They had stacks of washing machines and refrigerators there that they used to recondition. They would book up the materials to Parliament House. In those days, the running of Parliament House was the responsibility of Mr Speaker, not pf the Works Department as is the case now. Anything that those members wanted they booked up to Parliament House, and they got away with it. That is an example of what happened. The member for Maryborough is not a bad bloke and he probably would not do that; but many other members would. For many years, members of the Queensland Press have gone to great pains to bucket as many members of Parliament as possible. However, in July this year some of them sunk to an aU-time low with their spiteful attacks on the Minister for Water Resources and Aboriginal and Island Affairs and the Minister for Commerce and Industry who visited the islands in Torres Strait on the Government boat "Melbidir" The "Melbidir" is used to carry passengers and goods between the islands in Torres Strait on a regular basis. Its home port is Thursday Island. Since I have been a member of this Assembly, every year since 1972 the Minister for Aboriginal and Island Affairs has visited the islands in Torres Strait and has taken some members of his committee with him. They have travelled on the "Melbidir" on one of its regular runs. I have been twice in 10 years, and on both occasions I found it to be a fairly informative trip. I thank the Honourable Oiarles Porter, the Minister for Aboriginal and Island Affairs, who took me on those trip>s. Because of the dangerous coral reefs in the area, under maritime law no boat is allowed to travel in the Torres Strait area at night without a Torres Strait pilot. Travelling has to be confined to the daylight hours. Every evening at dusk the "Melbidir" anchors and the crew and any passengers can fish. I never fished because I do not like fishing, but I do not begrudge anybody the opportunity of fishing. What are people supposed to do on the "Melbidir" after dark? Although I do not blame all members of the Press, for some reason some of them were up}set. They angled—that is an appn-opriate word—for a trip on the "Melbidir", but because they did not receive an invitation, they got dirty and decided to get square. I told the Minister for Water Resources and Aboriginal and Island Affairs (Mr Tomkins) that that is where he made his mistake; he should have invited some members of the Press to accompany him, especially those who, night after night, drink themselves into a stupor at the Journalists Club at Bowen Hills. They might have got full on the boat and fallen overboard, and we would have been well rid of them. While I am on the subject of the Journalists Club, I might say that if the poHce had a breathalyser there on any night of the week they would fill their books, because more people leave that establishment over .08 than under it. When the blood alcohol level is reduced to .05, the police wUl have a bonanza there. Of course, one of the reasons that journalists never mention high superannuation payouts to police and generally lay off the polic6 is that they are frightened of retaliation. Last year I represented the Queensland Government at the Pacific Conference held in the Cook Islands. Incidentally, I submitted a written report that.has been included in the report of that conference. One of the matters for discussion at that conference was: Is the Press a boon or burden to Pariiament? When I spoke on that subject, I mentioned the faciUties enjoyed by the Press in this building. Many delegates from other countries expressed surprise and even disbelief. It might be as well for me to detail some of the facUities enjoyed by the Press at Pariiament House. The Press gaUery in this Chamber is fitted out with comfortable chairs, desks and even headphones for those who are hard of hearing. When the debate is too boring, the journalists can retire to one of the two Press rooms on the sixth floor. Those Address in Reply 31 August 1982 673 rooms contain approximately 21 telephones, a number of small cubicles for p>rivacy, a refrigerator and a colour TV set, which supyplies a closed-circuh picture from the chamber and also the four Brisbane channels. The tel^hone calls are paid for by the pubUc; no check is kept and the sky is the limit. In fact, on a Wednesday one journalist would ring from that room to place his SP bets. Mr Smith: Did he wm? Mr FRAWLEY: I do not know. At meal times the members of the Press can go to the Visitors Room and.,have a fairly good meal for $1.80, which is much cheaper than outside. However, the real bonanza is the Cheap grog. Although I do not buy it, I am told that a pot can be brought for 45c and that the cost elsewhere is 67c. Mrs Nelson: Drinks are dearer in the Members' Bar. Mr FRAWLEY: I did not know that, because I never go there. Every year about Christmas time Ministers host parties that usuaUy are attended by many members of the Press. In fact. Ministers have told me that if they do not invite members of the Press they gatecrash the party, anyway. Some time ago a Minister, who is not now in the Chamber, told me that I could use his name and say that 50 per cent of his expense allowance goes on drinks for the Press. In Queensland, some members of the Press—I do not blame them all; there are a few good Pressmen and Presswomen—set themselves up as a voice of pubUc opinion. The electronic media is not very far behind, either. Some time ago one of the current affairs groups rang my Caboolture office and asked for an interview about the proposed Rocksberg Dam at Upqer Caboolture. I thought I would do the right thing, so I rang two people who I knew were in favour of it and two who were against it. Incidentally, I am in favour of it. I asked those four people to get dressed and to come to my office so that they could take part in the television interview. However, one of the girls from the television station rang me again and told me that they wished to speak only to those who were again^ the dam. They were not interested in the facts; they did not want both sides Jack Stanaway said some awful things last week. He is not a bad bloke; he has sampled more beer here than any other journalist. He used to be the Opix>sition's Press secretary. He said there are sauna baths in this buUding. By using the plural he made people think that th»e is a sauna on every floor, but there is only one sauna in this building and it is used by everybody, Opyposition members and Government members Mr Mackenroth: And staff. Mr FRAWLEY: And staff. I am glad the honourable member mentioned that. Mr Mackenroth: They can thank me for that. Mr FRAWLEY: What does the honourable member mean? I had a lot to do with that. I asked Mr Speaker about it. The honourable member is not going to side-track me. Jack Stanaway made out that we enjoyed more facilities than anybody else, but the billiard tables he referred to have been here since the 1930s and have been used by both Govemment and Opposition members. Some of the Press members here are not on a bad wicket. I do not know what they all get, but an A grade joumahst receives $26,416 a year, Mr Mackenroth: The Press are not writmg this down. Mr FRAWLEY: I have a copy for them. There are extensive exemptions from the provisions of the award. They include the editor, the assistant editor, the chief of staff and the news edhor of "The Courier-Mail" and the "Telegraph". My mformant in the Press tells me that the editor of "The Courier-MaU" is on $52,000 a year, the chief of staff on $46,000, the assistant edhor on $44,000 and the news editor on $37,000. Mr Borbidge: Would you say they work as many hours as a member of this House? Mr FRAWLEY: Wait tiU I tell the honourable member about it. Recently a log of claims was served on pnrovincial and metropolitan newsp>apers by the Australian Journalists Association. It wants a 28-hour week made up of four seven-hour days. Some of the pay claims were: an editor, $2,000 a week; staff editor, $1,800 a week; news editor, $1,600 a week and a sub-editor, $1,600 a week. The claim for A grade joumaUsts was $800 a week, which is $41,600 a year. I receive a lousy $33,600 a year, not the $34,000 that has been mentioned in the newspapers. The journalists have made a claim for $4l,6(X) a year, yet they have the temerity to get stuck into us about our salaries. I do not have a copy of the 25-page claim sulnnitted by the AJA in Sydney, but it will be up here tomorrow by expwess and I will refer to it on another occasion. I do not mind members of the Press enjoying the facilities down here. Fair enough, they can use the telephones and television set, drink the grog and eat cheap meals, but Mr Tenni: Don't be hypocrites. Mr FRAWLEY: That is right. When they are printing the news, they should be factual about h. I have been a member of Parliament for almost 11 years, yet I have had only one interview published word for word. That was by a chap named Philip Wilson. 1 had not met him before; in fact, I did not even know he was a journalist with the AustraUan Broadcasting Commission. He approached me one day and asked me for an interview. I acceded to his request, and the interview was faithfully reproduced word for word. I said to him, "I will be honest with you, I don't trust too miany members of the Press,. There are only a few I do tmst." The interview was published word for word, and he is the only bloke who has ever done that. Mr Prest: I bet you don't get a run on this. Mr FRAWLEY: I don't give a hoot whether I get a run or not; I intend to have II 000 copies of this speech printed and distributed throughout my electorate. I ani finished with the Press for the moment until I get the information from Sydney, but I will use that in another debate. When the president of the Queensland Country Womens Association, Mrs Margaret Fitzherbert, commented on Aborigines on 3 August, the first person to attack her was Mrs Bonner, the wife of NevUle Bonner. I do not intend to attack any pariiamentarian's wife—I just mentioned that m passing—but Mrs Fitzherbert's comments were 100 per cent right. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 675 Too many people are frightened to speak out about the faciUties enjoyed bv Aborigines because those who do axe inevitably called racists. I do not care a hoot whether I am called a racist, I am going to say a few things now. Mr Tenni interjected. Mr FRAWLEY: Al Grassby is a rotten little jumped-up Riverina rainbow. Senator Keeffe is a champion of the Aborigines and a blood brother of some of them. He is always crying about their problems. When he lived in TownsvUle he was always complaining about the treatment of Aborigines and saying how good they were. The former prickly Minister for Aboriginal and Island Affairs thought, "I will be nice to the senator. I wiU buy this house next door to him that is for sale, and put in an Aboriginal famUy." He did that. The fact that they were a mob of drunkards was pure coincidence. They were there for only a fortnight before Senator Keeffe was down here pleading and begging with the Minister to shift them from the house. At every chance, he castigated the Queensland Government, but as soon as an Aboriginal family moved in next door to him he did not like it. AU the people who say, "I will do this and that for the Aborigines" are in the same boat. It is aU very well untU a daughter or a son wants to marry an Aborigine or when an Aboriginal family nioves in next door. It is then that their tune changes. I am not against Aborigines. I compete against them in athletics. One of my friends is a very good Aboriginal woman. She is a good athlete. I am proud of our friendship. She is not lUce some of the lazy, drunken layabouts. Mr Prest: What did you say on TV? Mr FRAWLEY: What did I say on TV? Mr Prest: About their drinking. Mr FRAWLEY: They should not be allowed to drink. They cannot handle it. That is a known fact. When I read here articles from "The Medical Journal", Haydn Sargent called me a racist. He has done nothing for Aborigines in Queensland. When he stood for Parliament, Doug Tooth did him like a dmner. Mr Prest: Do you think Neville Bonner wants them only on polling day? Mr FRAWLEY: I think so. NeviUe Bonner is in Parliament only for the Aborigines. He is the Senator for Aborigines. He got stuck in to me about being a racist. He drinks his share of grog. That is why he would not want drink to be banned. Just recently the member for Barron River drew attention to some of the benefits provided for Aborigines to help in their education. I do not begmdge what is done, but why don't white children get the same treatment? An Aboriginal chUd living at home gets $484 a year if he is in Year 11 or 12. Aboriginal children get an allowance if attending boarding school, a book allowance of $360 if they are in Year 11 or 12, or $300 for those in Year 8 or 9. Mrs Nelson interjected. Mr FRAWLEY: A blind man in my electorate who had a son attending the CJaboolture primary school could not get 10c by way of assistance. I tried hard to get help for him from the Blind Institute and the Department of Education, but I could do nothing for him. He worked at the Murrumba Star Caravan factory until it went broke. He p>aid taxes for years. When he was retrenched and reverted to the blind pension he could not get any assistance. Mr Prest interjected. Mr FRAWLEY: The Labor Party would have given him nothing. Aboriginal children get personal pocket-money. I know white chUdren whose parents are so poor that they cannot afford to give them pocket-money. Aboriginal children in Year 11 or 12 get $3 a week, those in Year 8, 9 or 10 receive $1,50 a week. I do not begrudge that payment to Aboriginal children, but whhe children should be treated in the same way. 676 31 August 1982 Address in Reply The present members of the Federal Government are idiots; they are just as bad as the members of the Whitlam Govemment. It is crazy the way members of the present Federal Govemment are carrymg on. Charles Perkins holds more land on behalf of Aborigines than any white man in Australia. Aborigines receive a study grant if they continue their education beyond secondary school. TTieir wives and children can be flown down to visit them three times a year. If I attended school in Brisbane and my wife lived in Maryborough or Bundaberg she would not get down here if she could not pay her own way. Mrs Ndson: She would get a concession. Mr FRAWLEY: Yes, but she could not get a free trip. Wives of Aboriginal istudents get a first-class, free trip, while other people fly second class. I heard one man say in a hotel recently that Aborigines should be pnit in hang gliders and towed dovm from Caims. I do not agree with that. As honourable members know, I am a former blue-coUar worker, being an electrician by trade. I have pmrchased a share in my boy's engine-reconditioning business at Redcliffe. I will work in it and also do electrical work. If I cannot make as much money as an electrician as I am making now I wUl eat my tools of trade. I will work in Western Qiieens- land where people cannot get electricians and make a fortune. I wUl do a bit of pig-chasing on my days off. Hughie Hamilton is a self-confessed Communist. Anyone who thinks that he did not use the strike for political purposes is not right in the head. As soon as I saw the pamphlets being distributed outside the City Hall by the Communist Party, I realised what it was all about. It was disgraceful. I warn people that we must retain our freedom in Queensland, the freedom that our forefathers fought and died for. We are in danger of losing it. If ever the Communists take over, Hughie Hamilton wiU be the first person to be shot. Mr Prest: What do you think of the Bjelke-Petersen Katon brigade? Mr FRAWLEY: Just crazy. I understand that a person cannot be a member of Parliament if he is a bankrupt, is a criminal or is insane. The honourable member for Port Curtis should be examined, because he must fit into one of those three categories. Op)po»tion members spend a lot of time denigrating the Government and getting stuck into the Premier. On more than one occasion I have said that the ALP scraped the bottom of the barrel in finding candidates for elections. In 1980 it did not scrape the bottom of the barrel; it scraped the scrape. I have something to say about some ALP members. I wiU not mention their names because most of them are not here today. Some of the members in the Chamber are pretty good fellows, but the honourable member for Port COrtis is the worst of them. Mr PREST: I rise to a point of order. Those remarks are offensive to me. I am really hurt and I ask for a withdrawal. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Miller): Order! The honourable member for Port Curtis asks the honourable member for Caboolture to withdraw the words. Mr FRAWLEY: What do I have to withdraw, Mr Deputy Speaker—that he is the worst Mr FRAWLEY: I would not doubt U. Incidentally, while I am on the subject of the shorter working week, let me point out that, as an electrician, I worked a 44-hour week in five days. Then the hours were reduced to 40. Most of the business with the 38-hour week is a lot of rot. A young bloke in my electorate employs three people in his workshop. He said to me "If the 38-hour week comes in I will give it to them but I cannot have them knocking off 24 minutes early or starting 24 minutes late each day during the week or let them finish two hours early on Friday because Friday is a busy day. How can I hire another man to do the other two hours a week for those three workers? It would be far better for me to sack one of them and give the other two four hours' overtime each at time and a-half and teU them straight out that they have to handle the extra work." That is what will happen. Any employer with fewer than 20 employees will be worse <^ with a 38-hour week. Only the employers with 20 or more workers can afford to pot another man on. All of the other employers wtU be in trouble. Mr Jones: He will stand over the three of them. Mr FRAWLEY: That is right. He intends to stand over the three of them and tell them straight that they have to do some work. Mr Prest: A typical employer. Mr FRAWLEY: Not at all. I had as many as seven people working for me in my garage. I paid over, the award rate; I did not pay anybody only the award rate. Mr Prest: You did not pay them at aU. Mr FRAWLEY: Yes I did. So many people wanted to work for me that I had to teU the commonwealth Employment Service not to send any people out to me. The young fellow who runs the workshop told me that every person who is sent to him by the CES immediately asks, "How much do you pay over the award rate and how much overtime do you have?" If he says, "I pay the award rate", they do not want to work for him. Another important subject that I have meant to bring up for some time is that there are too many justices of the peace being appointed by this Government. When members of Parliament were restricted to the nomination of 16 justices of the peace every year—some members may not have been in ParUament when that happened—we were able to nominate only four people every three months. That was good. On Bribie Island there are 106 JPs for 2 755 residents. That is ridiculous. In Cabo Mr FRAWLEY: I agree. That is one of the few times I have agreed with the member for Chatsworth. He is a brilliant young man. He wUl go a long way in the Labor Party if it does not get its knife into him before the next election. The member for Everton is another fine member. It has been a pwivilege to work in this Parliament with those two young members of the ALP. If all members acted as they did, it would be a damn good Opposition. Those members are a credit to their country. A serious practice has developed in my electorate. Many people do not know where Bellthorpe is. It is situated west of Caboolture and north-west of Woodford, One afternoon in 1970 the school bus was traveUing up the Bellthorpe Range when a car was travelling dovra the .r^nge. No safety wall is provided for vehicles travelling up the range. The bus slipped over the side of the road and two schoolchildren were killed. One of the girls on the bus is presently attending high school. She is the daughter of a friend of mine: There are signs at the top and the bottom of the range which read "One-way traffic up the range from 3.15 p,m, to 4.15 p.m." During those times the bus takes schoolchUdren up the range. No other traffic is allowed to use the road for one hour. From 7.45 a.m. untU 8.45 a.m. one-way traffic only down the range is permUted. There is one hour every day when traffic cannot come down the range and one hour every day when traffic cannot go up the range when the school bus is on the road. No complaints have been made about the Woodford police. They have done their best. People have been booked for not obeying that sign. Usually, most of the bookings are made by the bus driver. He takes the number of the offending vehicle that is coming against the school bus, and gives it to the police. Positive identification of the driver riiust now be made. On one occasion the bus driver took the number of a car, as did the schoolchildren, but when the driver was apprehended in Victoria he denied that he had been in (Queensland. Because no-one could positively identify the driver, he escaped penalty. Last week a Telecom vehicle traveUed up the range while the bus was travelling down the range with the schoolchildren. That is not so bad. When the bus is traveUing down the range it is against the wall of the cliff. If there is any danger of a car going over the edge of the range, it wiU be the vehicle traveUing uphUl. The penalty at the present rate for disobeying the sign at the top or bottom of the BeUthorpe Range is $40 and three denoerit points. Anyone who commits a second offence by driving up or down the Bellthorpe Range agamst the school bus should have his licence suspended indefinitely at the discretion of the Com missioner for Transport. A very dangerous practice is occurring. Mr Mackenroth: Shouldn't they upgrade the road? Mr FRAWLEY: The road is upgraded. In early 1971 the Government made 9 grant to upgrade that road. It is not in bad condition. I travel over it regularly, and h is in fairly good condition. To improve it a new route would have to be constmcted to cut out the dangerous stretches. I urge the Minister for Transport to ensure that the Traffic Regulations are enforced. I do not know how he can do that in relation to the Bellthorpe Range, betatise police cannot be expected to sit out there for two hours every day waiting to catch motorists. The Traffic Regulations should be amended slightly to provide that a motorist can be convicted on the evidence of a bus driver who takes the number of his vehicle, t realise that such a step would create a dangerous precedent and that it would not be wise to have a motorist convicted because someone simply took his number. Nevertheless, I cannot see anything wrong with such a provision in relation to the road on the Bellthorpe Range. Mr McKechnie: Have you discussed this with Mr Greenwood? Mr FRAWLEY: No, I haven't. I might do so, because he gives some very good legal advice. Contrary to tiie criticism that is levelled at Queensland, it is the best State to live in. Recently, I visited New South Wales. I do not intend to dwell on the actions of Mr Wran. Everyone has heard how he robbed sinking funds so that he could pay wages. All. the funds are now broke in New South Wales. I want to compare Queensland with Victoria. When someone in Queensland buys a property he pays stamp duty at the rate of 35c for every $100. In Victoria, the rate is 60c per $100. People in Queensland have to pay $8.50 every five years for a driver's Address in Reply 31 August 1982 679 licence. In Victoria the charge is $30 every three years. I honestly believe that Queensland is a great place to live. Opposition members should be ashamed of themselves for knocking their State at every opportunity. Mr SMITH (TownsviUe West) (3.51 p.m.): To allay the concern expressed by Govemment members—I express my loyalty and that of my constituents to Her Majesty the Queen. AdditionaUy, I endorse the attitude expressed by ALP parliamentarians, organisers and rank-and-file members, that we welcome visitors from the CommcHiwealth and look forward to a highly successful Commonwealth Games. The Games will bring credit to AustraUa and in particular to the host city, Brisbane. My party's view is that it would be intolerable for any group,, regardless of the intensity of its feeUngs about an extremely sensitive issue, to contemplate dismption to the Games. Since I participated in the Address-in-Reply debate on 12 March last year, many decisions have been made and many events have occurred to affect the prosperity and growth of North (^eensland and in particular TownsviUe and my electorate. This debate gives members an opportunity to submit to audit the Government's actions and to take stock of matters pertinent to members' electorates and regions. I intend to do that. Next to employment opportunities and the cost of living, the Govemment's faUure to adequately house the people is of paramount concern to the thoughtful people in the TownsvUle community. Successive conservative Govemments, both Federal and State, have continued to voice concem. Regrettably, however, actions have failed to match their rhetoric. One does not have to be an astrologist or to possess a crystal ball to understand what is happening and wUl continue to happen. In /Townsville, organisations such as Family 'Emergency Accommodation TownsviUe (FEAT), the Drop-in Centre and the Homeless Persons Committee have pubUcised their information and assessments for the past few years. With the sudden spate of tourist development, land speculation and the actions of the get-rich-quick entrepreheufs, land and home prices have been forced up and rental costs have risen to a level out of all proportion compared with a year ago. Some real estate agents in TownsviUe claipi that the housing market has been depressed for a number of years and that the sudden increases in purchase, prices and rentals had to be expected. There may be some validity in such a claim, but the severity of the increases has hit the low and middle-income earners. It is clear that three vital points have been neglected. The first is that the great dream of home-ownership has always been more of a myth than most people reaUse., Secondly, what' does aU this mean to people who rent houses? Thirdly, why is housing, suddenly becoming so much more expensive? Unlikely as it may seem, the expectation of a resources boom mainly is responsible for a rise in interest rates and a resulting increase in housing costs. The mining and driUing of natural resources currently offers a huge, quick return on money invested. In the last financial year, $6,500m was invested in this country by overseas interests. Much of it went into exploration of our natural resources. As a result, the semi-Government authorities in areas involved in energy and resource devdopment could not borrow sufficient money for their own projects and were forced to increase interest rates to attract more loan fiiiids. In tum, banks and building societies increased interest rates to compete for the available money. Of course, the catch is that as banks and building societies are forced to pay more interest on the money that is lent to them, they, in turn, must charge higher 'interest on the money they lend to people who are trying to become home owners. Put another way, it is a case of passing the buck to the ones who will end up footing the bUl, In other words, the home buyers are actually subsidising the exp)l.gration of resources by the huge corporations. That ought to be emphasised. The really important but largely neglected aspect of interest rate increases is the effect on the. rental market. For years, the Govemment's housing policy has treated renting as a short-term step towards realisation of the great dream of home-ownership. It was felt that the problems of renting could be ignored because at the end of the tunnel wias "your own home,''^ which everybody, supposedly, could reach. That theory was always false, even when the rate of home-ownership was at its peak. More than one-quarter of Australians were 680 31 August 1982 Address in Reply renting, and at least one in 10 would rent all their lives. The reality now is that a much higher proportion of people will be life-long tenants; others wiU rent for longer periods before being able to buy a home. , In the past, Govemments have been able to side-step the i^ue of tenants' rights because of the.widespread view that renting was a temporary condition, claiming that the rights of private property—that is, those of the landlord—could not be interfered with. As a resuU, tenants .have been denied basic rights. Rents have been set at the whim of the rental market. ..Qf. course. Government provisions for housing have been insignificant. The interest rate pressure has now forced many people to accept a shift in attitude. Surprisingly^ the Deputy Premier and Treasurer (Dr Edwards) said in April, I think, that the determination of interest rates can no longer be left to the whim of the market-place. I find that statement surprising, in view of the Government's recent action of setting the interest rate on Queensland Housing Commission mortgages at 14.5 per cent. CaUs for Govemment intervention, control and expenditure in the housing markets are not coming from Left-wing, socialist quarters or radicals; they are coming from right across the political spectrum in Australia. Housing should not be left at the whim of the market-place. In fact, we should adopt the attitude that those in need should be the first to receive assistance. There exists now a great and immediate need for Govemment regulation of the private rental market. Laws should protect tenants' rights and set a fair level of rent contrdl. There should be a guarantee of long-term security for tenants. People would not then need to struggle for home loans on an open market affected by fluctuations controlled by big business profits. Housing, whether rented or owned, is a basic right and, as the private market is proving increasingly unable to provide for peoples' needs, the Governnment has a responsibility to regulate that market and also to increase its own public housing as a real altemative. Already, home loans and rents in the private market are too high for most people. At the very least, Govemment housing must be able to fill the gap. At present, it falls a long way short of meeting that gap. The housing .shortage in TownsvUle is alarming and is getting worse. On a number of occasions I have written to the Minister for Works and Housing and to the Deputy Premier and Treasurer; so there cannot be any excuse for the Govemment to claim ignorance of the plight of the homeless in the Townsville area. I have a document that was puUished by the FEAT organisation, which I seek leave to incorporate in "Hansard". Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr MiUer): I have viewed the document mentioned by the honourable member. (Leave granted.) FAMILY EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION TOWNSVILLE STATISTICS FOR QUARTER ENDING 30th JUNE STATUS: 1982 1981 Single ,l;,; 8 6 Single Parent 14 12 Married/Defacto ^. .. 31 m Separated ,, .. .. .; HJ 30 8 Divorced .. ' f;; .i s 6 1 Widowed ... 3 RACE: Aboriginal/Islander 7 7 European 81 41 Mixed 3 6 Other 1 Address in Reply 31 Augustt 1982 681 INCOME: Salary/Wages 9 2 Supporting Parents Benefit 48 17 Unemployment Benefits 24 18 Widows Pension 2 2 Invalid/Sickness 3 10 No Income 1 3 Other .. 5 2 Total Numbers 92 AGE: Under 21 12 2 21-35 62 11 36-50 16 14 Over 50 2 2 Unknown Number of Clients 92 Number of FamiUes 81 20 Children 160 CAUSE OF HOUSING PROBLEM: A. Sale of Property 4 B. Break Up of Family 10 C. Domestic Violence 3 5 D. Domestic Crisis 8 f E. Rental Costs Beyond Means 29 10 F. Eviction 11 7 G. Just Arrived in Townsville 25 $ MEET CRTTERIA FOR PUBLIC HOUSING: Yes 36 23 No 56 27 F.E.A.T. HELP: Assisted With Bond 28 1 Housed in Maisonette 6 3 Assistance to Secure Reasonably Priced Accommodation 21 Temporary Housing/Caravan/Boarding House Night Shelter 18 4 Housmg Through Advocacy to Public Housing Authority 2 2 Information on Tenancy Laws 3 REFERRALS: Material Aid/Emergency Relief 13 Income Security 9 Emergency Housing .. 20 Public Authority 25 Private Housmg Market 51 Sup>port Services 16 Legal Services 4 Mr SMITH: The figures sup>plied by the Family Emergency Accommodation TownsviUe make very interesting reading. I remind members that the figures do not relate to the hows of looking for altemative accommodation. They refer to the desperate—those without a roof over their head. The first factor reveals that for the quarter to the end of June this year there were 92 client families, whereas for the same period last year the number was 52. The category of cUents under "Income" shows that a fairly significant 19780—24 682 31 August 1982 Address in Reply section of that increase has been caused by the additional number of people in the category "Supporting Parents Benefit", increasing from 17 last year to 48 in the year ended 30 June 1982. The next exercise is to look at the relevant increase by age groups. That shows.a very dramatic increase in the 21-to-35 age group, in which the number of clients increased from 35 to 52. That reflects the fact that under the present economic conditions many young, low-income families are on the move throughout AustraUa. That is the sort of thing that was experienced during the Depression, and Australia is getting very close to that state at present. Under the heading "Cause of Housing Problem", in the category "Rental Costs beyond Means" the increase is from 10 to 29. People just cannot afford the rents that are being asked. The most telling figures and the clearest evidence of the inadequacy of the public housing availabUity are to be found in the category of people looking for accommodation. They are the ones who are unable to find any sort of accommodation. In 1981, 23 fell into that category, whereas in 1982 the number increased to 36. Those people meet all the criteria of tenants acceptable to the Queensland Housing Commission but, in spite of being recognised as pwiority cases, they cannot be housed. An analysis of the serious situation shows that in both 1981 and 1982, in spite of the advocacy of FEAT, the Housing Commission was able to accommodate only two families in each quarter of each year. That is a very informative document, which gives a dramatic iUustration of the seriousness of the housing problem in TownsviUe. The overall magnitude of the neglect and the poor performance of the (^censland Government in comparison with other States has been adequately pointed out by my colleague the member for Chatsworth. My remarks generally relate to Townsville. However, I must say that the logic of the Government policy is certainly obscure—at least, to me—especially in respect to the new Queensland Housing Commission home-ownership scheme. Certainly I am on record as supporting some of the principal elements of the scheme; but the application of a 14.5 per cent interest rate—the same rate as building societies and 1 per cent higher than the Commonwealth Bank—is outrageous. Mr Mackenroth: After you spoke in support of it they increased the interest rate by 2 per cent. Mr SMITH: That would not surprise me. The clear evidence of a lack of working dialogue between the State and Federal Governments can be seen in the remarkable circumstances of the State applying a 14.5 per cent interest rate for Housing Commission houses with money provided from Common wealth funds, when clearly it could have opted for a rate 1 or 2 per cent lower without jeopardising the essential objectives of the scheme. We then saw the Federal Treasurer (John Howard) as part of the Fraser election package—^before the roof fell in over the tax-avoidance issue—announce a subsidy on housing interest rates in excess of 10 per cent. Qearly an effective administration would reaUse that unnecessary administration costs can only add to the overall Queensland Housing commission costs. It would have been far more logical for the Federal Govemment to add the subsidy cost to the State housing grant after seeking State guarantees on the interest rates to be charged. But, no, both Governments want to play politics with housing without really doing very much. It is not my intention to go into the Government's initiatives too deeply; but it is clear that, unless there is some qualification or modification of the present principle of repay ments up to 25 per cent of income, the consequences wiU be further pressure on the private rental sector, increased speculation by landlords and social disruption. With respect to the latter point, honourable members can easily think of middle-aged and elderiy people who have lived in an area for many years, probably after rearing a family, and who are attemptmg for the first time in their lives to acquire, a few luxuries, after saving for a well-earned hoUday or planning for retirement, and are being forced to uproot their lives « they are to make any headway whatsoever. The consequences of suddenly having to pay 25 per cent of gross income could be shattering for some people. It could put some people in the position of having goods under hire purchase repossessed. Address in Reply 31 ^ August 1982 683 I am proud that in the city I represent we have a thoughtful and caring city council, recentiy retumed with a stunning majority in spite of attempjts by the Govemment to rort the electoral boundaries. That council supports both morally and financiaUy such agencies as the Townsville Welfare Council and FEAT. The council has also made a major contribu tion towards stabUising land prices for home buyers, and is working towards the implementa tion of a new scheme for the developnnent and sale of comparatively low-cost land in. the suburb of Douglas, which is in the electorate of my coUeague the honourable member for TownsvUle. Dr Scott-Young: It was originally created by a previous local authority. Mr SMITH: I concede that, but the new scheme is a far better one. I wiU touch on that point in a few minutes. The scheme will supply a continuous supply of reasonably priced land for first-home buyers, people on low incomes and even pensioners. To come to the point made by the honourable member for Townsville—the scheme developed has retained the beneficial aspects of the original Douglas land scheme, but with some important differences. The financing arrangements are very interesting. The Council intends an initial release of 200 allotments' through private developers on a developmental tender basis. The money from the sale wUl be put into a developmental fund, which wiU finance the subdivisional costs for 100 low- cost allotments to be developed by the council itself. The sale of those blocks wiU in fact replenish the developnnent fund, thereby allowing further low-cost development. As there is enough land for about 2 000 aUotments, the scheme could continue for 10 or 20 years, depending on the demand, and, more importantly, the abUity of people to be able to afford their own homes, however modest they may be and no matter how much assistance the council may be able to provide. The big advantage of the latest council land scheme is that it wiU not be a burden on the ratepayers, as the previous scheme unfortunately was. That is evidenced by the council's budget provision for only a 12 per cent increase in rates, which is a major achievement for a city the size of TownsviUe. It is a model council and should be congratulated. The Douglas project is, I believe, unique in local government. It is designed to relieve the massive problem of inadequate housing. Before leaving the subject of the Townsville City Council, I would like to join those par liamentarians and councUlors who have condemned the Govemment's cuts in subsidies for the caphal works programs of local government. I understand that the subsidy payments for Townsville were reduced from a potential $1.49m under the previous formula to $888,000 under the new formula. That represents a massive effective cut of $605,000. I am reminded that the Minister for Health made a thoroughly unjustified attack on the council last year about the rate of progress in constructing a sewerage treatment works. More recently he has has been buzzing round about mosquito control in the city, but he has done nothing to contribute to the cost. The last estimated cost of the sewerage works was about $14m. That project is a good example of the effect of the change to the subsidy. Under the previous arrangements—which, incidentally, the council used to plan its future works finances, as the honourable member for Port Curtis pointed out the other night—^the subsidy would have amounted to $5.6m. With the subsidy reduced from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, the subsidy wiU be halved to $2.8m. The councU expended $500,000 on the project in the 1981-82 financial year and has planned a roughly equivalent expenditure for 1982-83. In the present era of tight finance, that represents a very good effort. It must be clear to many members who represent councUs with similar budgetary worries that many essential public works wiU have to be canceUed, deferred or carried out over a much longer period owing to the Government's cut-backs. It is quite obvious that some Ministers do not have much of a grasp of the prmciples of public finance; neither do they recognise the comparative efficiencies of councils compared with their own departments or the vhal part councils play in the community. After years of being ripped off at the bowser by the huge Government petrol rake-off through the poUcy known as world parity pricing, the Queensland motorist now finds that the Fraser Government has come up with an imaginative scheme of extracting from him a further cent a litre for road constmction. The recent report on the Bruce Highway, which is a national highway, prepared by officers of the Federal Department of Transport and the Queensland Main Roads Department makes very interesting reading. After years of Government promises to improve the road; it has been found that 1 443 km of the 1 722 km of road between Brisbane and Cairns are inadequate 684 31 August 1982 Address in Repriy for today's needs, not to mention future needs. The repoit suggests that $515m, on 1982 prices, needs to be spent to bring the highway to an acceptable standard. After all the years of waiting and watching while money has been poured into the south-east corner of Queensland, we are now presented with a grand plan that wUl take a further 10 years to complete, p>rovided funds are made avaUable. I do not know that we have advanced very far, because, many promises have been made over the years. On other occasions I have spoken about the Bmce Highway, particularly about the Bowen-TownsviUe section. Recently the honourable member for Whitsunday referred to that section and, very correctly, focussed attention on what is probably the worst section of the Bmce Highway. I support his remarks. I am sure that the Minister for Northem Develc^ ment and Maritime Services would not disagree with them. Mr Jones: AU the money is going on Hinze's highway. Mr SMITH: Of course it is, and it has been for years. Page 24 of the main volume of the report admhs and identifies what people Uving in the North have known, and had to tolerate, for many years. It is in these terms— "This section contains some of the most deficient sections of pavement on the highway. Pavement width is frequently less than 6.0 m between Bowen and Ayr, and roughness warrants pavement reconstmction. There are numerous locaticuis where 1 in 50 year immunity standard is not prac tical. As mentioned earlier it is only possible to achieve 1 in 5 year to 1 in 10 year flood immunity at the Don, Burdekin and Haughton Rivers." Anyone who wishes to travel in the North can expect, once in five years, to sit at the side of the road for a couple of days in the Bowen area. The report continues— "No allowance has been made to widen the Burdekin River combined road and rail bridge. WhUe the roadway is only 6.7 m wide, it is not practical to widen this major steel truss stmcture (1114m in length)." The report further indicates that provision has been made for deviations totalUng 8.4 km in length to achieve better alignment and flood immunity. It then continues— "There is no allowance to deviate the highway in the vicinity of Bowen ahport, where aUgnment is of a low standard." The assessed cost, again at 1982 prices, for that section of the road, is $65m. Of the 201 km involved, 163 km are substandard. What an indictment! It is acknowledged that that road carries between 1 800 and 3 000 vehicles a day. About 20 per cent of the traffic comprises commercial vehicles. Many of them are huge semi-trailers weighing 40 tonnes aU up, and they belt along the highway. In spite of the inadequacy of the road, the traffic flow is stUl increasmg by between 5 and 10 per cent. If the projections are correct, and I have no reason to dispute them, the volume of traffic is likely to double within 10 years. The Federal Govenunent has a responsibility to provide trading links between the States and Tenritories, to assist in the movement of exports and imports, reduce the transport costs of primary and secondary industries by providing direct links between ports, points of pro duction and points of export and consumption, to assist in the carriage of traffic to national tourist and recreational centres, and to assist in the mobUity of the defence forces and theii supplies and equipment. I doubt very much whether any honourable member would be prepared to claim that the North Queensland sections of the highway perform their desired function. On 3 August 1979 the Minister for Local CJovemment, Main Roads and Police met with representatives of cities, shires, developnnmt bureaus and tourist organisations. They represented just about everyone who Uves north of the TropMc of Capricorn. At that meetmg, the Minister said that, in order to complete the Marlborough-Sarina section of the road within three years, an additional $15m over and above the amount already projected was necessary. He undertook to formaUy request the Federal Gtovemment to provide the additional money and gave an undertaking that, if it did not, the State would go it alone-^ seemingly generous gesture. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 685 What is the position a little over three years later? The section is stUl incomplete, although it is alleged that it wiU be opened in October. Of course—and here is the catch— the northern end of the section has not been up>graded at all. It has been pmt down for many years, and it is quite narrow. When the department wiU get round to doing that work, I do not know, and I am not certain whether it is included in the study area. If that was the end of the story, I might say that it is getting close and that it is just as weU to have something to look forward to. What has happened is that, in an attempt to meet an unfulfUled promise, all other North Queensland roads have been starved for funds and have been allowed to deteriorate through lack of maintenance untU they are worse than they were several years ago. The section from TownsvUle to Ingham is a good example. As I said before, the largest road and raU bridge on the Bmce Highway is now recognised by the joint study group as bdng too narrow. Unfortunately, the report says, it is impracticable to widen it. If that was the end of the story, I am sure that some sort of traffic control could be introduced. If it was the only narrow bridge the situation, while being far from satisfactory, would have to be tolerated. The fact is that there are seven one-lane bridges on the 17-km stretch between Bowen and Home HiU. There have been so many horror smashes on narrow bridges that North Queenslanders—that is, those in the know—show a marked reluctance to use those roads except as a matter of urgency. North Queenslanders do not go on> touring hoUdays in North (^eensland in any significant mimbers. Hiat is well known, and the reason is quite obvious. In the meantime, an increasing percentage of the dead and injured as a result of bridge accidents are travellers who are not famUiar with the conditions and, of course, heavy transport vehicles are involved. In their case, the danger frequently arises because of young drivers with very limited experience being in charge of rigs that wdgh up to 40 tonnes. There is an understandable reluctance on the part of drivers of heavy vehicles to stop their vehicles to give way to passenger vehicles. Possibly many of them are owner operators who are hard pressed financially. That situation must not be aUowed to continue. I am far from satisfied that the Minister's action in the control of heavy vehicles is anything like adequate. This moming, the honourable member for Auburn spoke of the need to make compmlsory the fitting of monitoring gear to heavy vehicles so that the performance of those vehicles on the highway may be checked at any time. Drivers should not have to be caught m the act of committing a breach. I certainly supiport that approach. Most of the larger and more responsible firms fit monitoring devices to their vehicles. It is the people who are mnning on a shoestring budget and the inexperienced who are taking the chances. In a recent accident, there was a triple fataUty at Gales Creek near Home HUl. It involved a 17-year-old semi-trailer driver in a loaded cement tmck and three young men driving north in a utility. It appears that the utiUty should have given way. That is not disputed. On the other hand, a more experience semi-traUer driver might have foreseen the danger and he might not have traveUed at the speed at which the other vehicle was apparently travelUng. Tlie impact of the accident caused the utility to be thrown 40 metres to the side of the road. The three young men were killed instantly. That is an example of the camage that is taking place in North Queensland. The people of North Queensland are not prepared to accept a contuiuation of that type of activity. People should not be expected to take their lives into their hands every time they travel in their vehicle on the road. Something must be done to reduce the camage on the roads. Many things can be done to aUeviate the problem in the interim, and I intend to make a couple of suggestions. It is very clear that at present "Give Way" signs are inadequate. They are totally ignored. Perhaps that is brought about because of the large number of road signs that are used. I can understand the reaction of many drivers who think that it is just one more sign and, after all, drivers ignore so many of them, why should they take particular notice of a "Give Way" sign? That is the attitude at present. Of course, that atthude has produced terrible results. Flashing amber Ughts should be installed immediately. That would not be a terribly expensive exercise. They should be instaUed on one side of narrow bridges. I remember being in the North in the early fifties. My recollection is that vehicles heading north gave way and that vehicles heading south did 686 31 August 1982 Address in Reply not give way. At present there is a mix-up, and it is contributing quite significantly to the problem. Someone must examine that again in an effort to reduce the number of road accidents. < The first expenditure that the Government ought to make out of the Federal grants, which I understand wUl be very significant grants, should go towards removing those narrow bridges. That work ought to be given a priority well ahead of work on alignments and pavements. They are the focal points at present. Experienced road-makers are not needed to carry out that type of work. Many people in the community would now do that work at very attractive contractural rates. North Queensland has been sold out shamefully by the Government and its Federal counterpart in relation to the Bmce Highway, its main highway. People i^ other areas have adequate grounds for complaint, but it must be rementbered that the Bruce Highway provides a vital Unk and ties the coastal cities of Queensland together. No expense should be spared to bring the highway up to a safe standard. I am pleased that the Minister for Water Resources and Aboriginal and Island Affairs is in the Chamber, because I wish to refer to the water scheme in the Burdekin area. I am sure that he wiU be interested in the comments that I have to make. EarUer this year, I brought to the public's attention that a maSsive land grab in the Burdekin area was being organised by a few landholders led by Geoff Cox, brother of the former National Party member for Mourilyan, Mrs Vicki Kipipin. On 24 March, I brought to the attention of the House details of a meeting in the Premier's office, in which Sir Robert Sparkes effectively usurped the authority of Govemment Ministers. I find it incredible that at that meeting, at which vital land matters were discussed, the Minister for Lands was not present. The Minister for Lands has a very good reputation. Maybe the other members at the meeting thought that he was too honest to be present at the meeting. The final result of the pressures on the Govemment has been that the recommendations of the Water Resources Commission have been thrown out of the window, and huge parcels of prime irrigated land wiU be given to a chosen few National Party supporters, most of whom are already wealthy graziers in the Burdekin area. Mr Mackenroth: Are they friends of the Minister? Mr SMITH: I do not know. I think he is a bit doubtful about them now. They did not stick up for him when he was on the "Melbidir" I could point to a couple of people who are not wealthy graziers. However, only one or two would fall into that category. The great majority are wealthy graziers. Mr Tumer: I hope you don't mean all over Queensland. Mr SMITH; I am talking about the Burdekin area, in which massive rip-offs have occurred. In July the Minister for Water Resources (Mr Tomkins) announced changes that should be described as a scandal. The proposals, which were decided upon by Cabinet under the direct orders from the president of the National Party, were a sell-out of the public purse. I would have thought and expected that some Liberal Ministers would not have allowed themselves to be parties to the decision that was arrived at. They claim that they do not always agree with the actions of the National Party. They were given an opportunity to stand on their dig. But what did they do? They did what Liberal members have done in this Chamber on several occasions recently—^they ran and allowed the Premier to have his say. I must say that in that instance the prime responsibUity for the disgrace rests not so much on the Premier as on the president of the National Party, Sk Robert Sparkes. Under the revised proposals, not all of the land that wUl benefit from the reticulation scheme wUl be resumed. Landholders who fortuitously ovm their own land adjoining the river will be able to turn land that presently is useful only for grazing purposes into farms that wiU be worth $4,000 to $5,000 a hectare. The landowners will be able to instaU private irrigation pumps to take advantage of the regulated flow that wiU result from the dams construction and other works. Their windfaU wiU be paid for from pubUc funds. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 687 Something should go back to the Government and to the people who pay for those works. However, such people are to be excluded from the resumption. That will not give them a fair go. The original resumption proposals were very generous. If they had been applied universaUy, the distribution of the benefits would have been far more equitable. The second element of the bonanza for the landholders is that the number of additional 70 ha farms that they wiU be allowed to repurchase has been increased from three, as was originally proposed by the Water Resources Commission. My information is that the commission was very reluctant even to put forward the figure of three, and that it did so under pressure. However, that was not good enough. As a result of pressure exerted by the President of the National Party and others, the figure has been increased to seven. When that figure is added to the original retention farm, which nobody would begrudge the land holder, it means that effectively there wiU be a hand-out of 560 ha of prime irrigated land to a comparatively small number of people. The ovemight income on a profit margin of $3,000 a hectare could be over $1.5m. A significant number of landholders wUl finish up with eight farms, and this wUl be under a scheme that was sup>posed to open up land for new farmers. Again the public will foot the bUl, and young farmers who are unable to obtain blocks in the ballot will be forced to buy their farms from the land barons at inflated p>rices. The package of proposals will add unnecessary costs to the whole Burdekin project. I had hoped that the Fraser Govemment would refuse to allocate any funds until the announced resumption proposals had been overthrovm. I believe that the response of the Minister for Water Resources was a very lame one. He claimed that Govemment outlays would be reduced. So what? The whole issue remains a scandal. Although the issue is a serious one, the attempts by the local member, Mr Bird, to stay in line with the party chiefs and the landholders, and at the same time retain his credibUity with the community at large, have been amusing. In particular he was striving to retain his credibUity with the young men who have been denied the opportunity of going on the land at a reasonable price. Mr Bird said— "As a Cabinet Minister, I have been deeply involved in the formulation of this policy after what was full and careful consideration." I beUeve that Mr Bird had no say whatever and merely had to bow to the dictates of his party chief. Mr Frawley: No, not him. Mr SMITH: I believe so. The landholder's interests have been purely self-interest and not that of the community, the sugar industry or the rice industry. Geoff Cox has been denying that he and others will make a fortune. I once said that he would become a millionaire overnight. I must take that back. He and his family wiU overnight become multimUlionaires. On 1 January 1981, he converted 6055 ha of land to freehold for a total cost of $394,504, or an average of $65 a hectare. Mr Frawley: To whom is he related? Mr SMITH: I understand to Vicki Kippin. A good test of Mr Cox's sincerity would be to see if he is prepared to sell a major portion of the land he acquired for $65 a hectare for a figure much below $1,500 a hectare. That would prove the accuracy of the statement of overnight profit one way or the other. In the meantime, his brother, Mr David Cox, has been involved in a court action to have certain resumption values overtumed because he leUeved the resumption values were insufficient. These people want it both ways. The fact is that most people in the Burdekin, including civU and industry leaders, acknowledge the vaUdity of the statements that I have made. However, most of them are not game to speak out. The questions that remain to be answered are: 1. How many existing property holders will be entitled to eight farms? 2. Can he deny that owners adjacent to the river wUl be allowed to keep all the property and then subdivide it into 70 ha irrigated farms? 688 31 August 1982 Address in Reply 3. Can he deny that landholders are going to be aUowed to pump the water provided by the dam without any controls or cost to them? 4. Are the landholders stUl being allowed to freehold leasehold properties from the Govemment at ridiculously low prices? 5. What is the formula for farm retention? 6. How many farms wiU be left to develop after the retention and option- purchase farms are parcelled out? 7. Are the people with eight farms going to be allowed to bid at auction for even more farms? (Time expired.) Mr TURNER (Warrego) (4.32 p.m.): I congratulate the mover of the motion for the adoprtion of the Address in Reply, the honourable member for Mbani (Mr Randell), and the seconder of the motion, the honourable member for Toowong (Mr Prentice), on the capable manner in which they carried out their task. I understand the honour that they must have felt. Some seven years ago it was my privilege and pleasure to move a similar motion in the other Chamber. Anyone who listMied to the Governor's Opening Speech or has taken the trouble to read it would realise the develop>ment that has occurred in Queensland since it has been under the control of the coalition Govemment. It compares more than favourably with the situation in any other State in AustraUa. I pledge my aUegiance and that of the majority of my constituents in the Warrego electorate to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and to her representatives in Australia, our own Governor, Su: James Ramsay, and the Govemor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen. One thing we have to be extremely thankful for in this great country is the fact that we live under a wonderful system of British Parliament, justice and democracy. Having been a member of this Parliament for nearly eight years and having listened to hundreds of speeches in Address-in-Reply debates, I am amazed to hear so few members of the Australian Labor Party indicate any loyalty to our system or to the monarchy. In fact, some members of the ALP are quite outspoken in indicating their desire to destroy our system and to replace it with a socialist republic. Mr Frawley: Not the member for Caims; he is a royaUst. Mr TURNER: I shaU take the honourable member's word for that. The system under which we live, with its flaws and imperfections, is stiU the best system in the world. It has brought this nati(»i from a penal convict settlement some 200 years ago to the stage where it is one of the great and lucky countries in the world. Mr Prest: The members of the Labor Party have pledged their loyalty in the past by fighting for their country. Mr TURNER: So have many members on this side of the Chamber. I understand the honourable member's views about the monarchy. The system under which we live gives us freedom and affluence. We are able to go where we Uke, do what we lUce and say what we like. We are not shackled by having to carry visas or identity cards, such as those carried by people in other countries. I ask those people who wish to destroy our system and to replace it whh a socialist repubUc to teU me the name of any socialist republic that has more freedom or afBuence or is a better country in which to live. Mr Frawley: If he can find one, let him go there. Mr TURNER: I agree with the honourable member on that. It is certainly not places like East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Rumania, Hungary, Poland, Vietnam, or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Mr Vaughan: Are you talking about Australia or Queensland? Mr TURNER: I am speaking of Australia, the country that we aU Uve in, and the system of justice, democracy and Parliament under which we aU live. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 689 Opposition members who espouse the other philosophy will say that we would have a different type of Utopia if we became a socialist republic. I cannot go along with that philosophy. What absolute rot! People who beUeve in that believe in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and Superman, in that order. The honourable member for Auburn mentioned Mr Hughie HamiUon, his Communist activities and his role in the recent Sta,te strike. Let us look at the attitude of many ALP leaders and union officials. We know the poUtical leanings of the Hamiltons, the Carmichaels, and the Halfpennys. What has happened to the street marchers and demon strators who protested against Vietnam and the involvement of America and the western world? What has happened to the moratorium demonstrators? Where now are Senator Georges, Tom Uren, Jim Cairns and all the others protesting against aggression in the world? What about Afghanistan and Poland? Do they not protest against Communist aggression? All we hear now is a wall of silence. I recommend to anyone interested in retaining our system to read Dr Jim Cairns's book "The Quiet Revolution" of which I will quote a small part— "It seems that even if people were convinced that a Labor Party would nationaUse the banks and BHP, and completely cut the 'American alliance', there would StiU be a 40 per cent vote for it. Given really educational work, this fact should give confidence that it is possible to win a much better society in AustraUa than the affluent socially apathetic one we have. How might this be done? First of all—^what about revolution? How do revolutions take place? I think it can be said that they take place in three ways. (1) By a serious national economic crisis and breakdown. (2) By a sufficiently strong national movement against foreign imperialism and racial domination. (3) By invasion of sufficient power or influence from outside to push the indigenous revolutionary forces in the direction history and circumstances were taking them. This is likely to happen only in the security sphere of the Soviet Union or China." He went on to say— "I have argued from the facts and probabilities that only a peaceful or quiet revolution is possible in AustraUa." If we contemplated that attitude or philosophy for Australia, how frightening it would be. Today the Left-wing control in the ALP is frightening. To make my point I WJU read what a former Lord Mayor of Brisbane (Mr Clem Jcmes) said on 17 February 1982 when he refused to renew his party ticket for 1982— "The party to which I belonged and which I love does not exist any more. What we have in Queensland now is a new party espousing a different ideology." I will also quote Mr Hodder, when he nearly defeated Dr Murphy for the State presidency of the ALP, when he was reported by the "Telegraph" on 23 June as saying— "But I was concemed that the socialist left might make an effort to grab the presidency, taking advantage of the fact that a large number of people might not support Dr Murphy." That happened here in Queensland where they say we have no Left Wing. It is history now that Mr Hayden only just held on to his position in the Federal sphere by the strong support of the Left Wing when he won over Mr Hawke by 42 to 37. I wonder what the cost of that win wiU be to Mr Hayden and what the undertakings were that he had to give to the Hamiltons, Carmichaels and Halfpennys. Mr Vaughan: What about the Right-wing mob of Nationals you have out your way near Warwick? Mr TURNER: I remind the honourable member for Nudgee that I have a mixture of people in my electorate from all walks of life. They are not Right-wing or Left-wing anything. Many ordinary working men vote for me, and that is why I am here. They appreciate the fact that we must retain the system we have. Mr Vaughan: Enjoy it. You are not going to stay too long. 690 31 August 1982 Address in Reply Mr TURNER: I don't think the honourable member for Nudgee wUl have the pleasure of seeing a change of Government in this State for some considerable time. I want to touch briefly on the recent Federal Budget. It is a reasonable Budget, but has obviously been brought down as an election Budget in that it assists in many worthwhile areas with reductions in taxes and increases in pensions and social security benefits. But it is certainly not a Budget that assists people in rural areas. Air navigation charges have risen, and that will have a detrimental effect on all inland areas where air services and private aircraft play a significant role. The imposition of a fuel levy has been mentioned by members on both sides. It will place an additional burden on many people, but it places a greater burden on those people who use the roads the most—^those who travel the greatest distances. Some people livmg in metropolitan areas might not travel very far at all in 12 months, but people in remote regions, whether they be fencing contractors or stock carriers, use the roads a great deal and will therefore be paying more. The freight differential was increased in the Budget and this wiU mean that fuel will cost more in country areas. The diesel fuel exemption has been removed so that people in the mining and primary industries wiU now have to apply for an exemption. This is really pulling the wool over the people's eyes, because some people wiU not get around to applying, and others who do apply wUl find that there is a hold-up while applications are processed through the bureaucratic channels in Canberra. In the meantime the Federal Government wiU be using that extra revenue, possibly placing it on the short-term money market, before it is returned to the applicants. So in many ways it is not a kind Budget for people living in the inland areas of Australia. The Federal Government should do something realistic about the taxation zone allowance so that all people who live in remote regions can benefit. They should receive some direct incentive to stay and work in those areas, and to populate them. I want to touch briefly on the extension of power to rural properties. The escalation in installation costs has caused tremendous problems in my area. The Government, through the Minister for Mines and Energy, has increased the subsidy, but in many areas it is beyond the means of many people to find the $35,000, $40,000 or $50,000 capital contribu tion that is being requested. I ask the Minister to look more closely at what can be done. It is not a luxury to have power today; it is indeed a necessity. In many instances workers will not stay on remote properties if power and television are not available. I take the opportunhy to thank Mr Peter Beattie for his statement that people in country areas should not get cheaper power. That was a tremendous benefit to me. He said on television that the Government was looking after only the National Party voters when it introduced electricity equalisation. Some of us well remember the vote on equalisation here when the Labor Party walked out of the Chamber rather than support it. I should probably also take the opportunity to thank the Leader of the Opposition for inspecting my electorate. In the past it has been my privilege to thank the member for Archerfield for coming out to the electorate prior to an election to help me be retumed, but Mr Casey took on that role this time. He visited the electorate quite recently and was very critical of a lot of things that were going on in western areas, particularly in relation to health services, roads and education. He referred to the lack of interest that the Government had displayed in these areas. We should look at the true poshion and at what has happened in relation to those issues. I wiU cite some figures to show what has happened in my electorate in relation to hospitals. Since I become a member I have been fortunate enough to have Lew Edwards, when he was the Minister for Health, Sir WilUam Knox and Mr Austin visit all the hospitals in my electorate. As a result of those visits, a new air-conditioned hospital costing $3m or so is due to be opened in the next month or so at CunnamuUa. Plans for a $3m hospital at MitcheU have been prepared. Construction is expected to take place in the very near future. About a month ago, the Minister for Health vished Tambo and approved the construction of a new hospital. About $500,000 has been spent at both the Augathella and BlackaU hospitals. These improvements highlight what has been done in the health area. Address m Reply 31 August 1982 691 During the Minister's visit, he gave permission to the Booringa Shire Council at Mitchell to use any hosphal buUdings that are surplus to Department of Health require ments after the construction of the new hospital for an old people's home. I emphasise that they will be used not as a geriatric or nursing home but as an old people's home. That will be of tremendous benefit for the elderly people in the region. The Leader of the Opposition also criticised western roads. I remember what the roads were like when the ALP controlled Queensland. I am sure that the Minister for Water Resources and Aboriginal and Island Affairs well remembers what they were like, too. Today, the majority of roads in Western Queensland are bituminised or advancing rapidly to that stage. There is a new highway between CunnamuUa and Charleville. The CunnamuUa-Bollon road, through to Brisbane, wiU be finished this year. The CharlevUle- Quilpie road, in my area, has been bituminised. A national highway has been constructed for about 50 miles on the AugatheUa-Tambo road. A great deal of work is taking place on the AugatheUa-Morven road to bring it up to bitumen standard. Widening and reaUgnment work is taking place on the Augathella-Cliarleville road, and extensive work is being carried out on the Tambo-Blackall road. Education in the West was another matter that concerned the Leader of the Opposition. I do not know how he travelled through the region, or whether he was awake or not. In many of the centres in my electorate, new pre-school centres, libraries, manual arts buildings, administration blocks and other buildings are being constructed. New toilet blocks costing between $60^000 and $100,000 are being provided. The CunnamuUa school is being air-conditioned—and rightly so—at a cost of $160,000. At BlackaU, a new high school is to be built. It was ludicrous for the Leader of the Opposition to be critical, as he was, of the three areas to which I have referred. He would have been better off not criticising them. The modernisation of the CharlevUle hospital presented problems. Representations were made to me and to the Minister for Health about relocating the operating theatre and the recovery room. I am pleased to know that the Minister has approved the changes. They will benefit the hospital tremendously. I thank the Minister for Health sincerely for the job that he does and for the interest that he takes in his portfolio. The Leader of the Opposition has a vast knowledge of country areas. When he was leaving the West, he suggested that people in western areas should return a Labor member to obtain better representation. I do not know how he could truthfully make that statement, or how anyone could support the ALP in western areas. I will mention only the ALP move to have one vote one value in western areas. In the unlikely event that a Labor candidate were to be elected in my region^ and in the unlikely event that a Labor Government were to be elected at the same time, its first commitment would be to introduce legislation to do away with every second seat ii Western Queensland. Effectively, that would mean my electorate would be amalgamated with Grregory, or some other western electorate. If that were done, the elected mernber's representation would extend from close to Roma to BirdsvUle, Urandangie, Winton, Alpha and elsewhere. How the ALP could ask anyone to support it on that issue is beyond my comprehenision. I point out that the present so-called gerrymander was introduced in 1949 by the ALP under Ned Hanlon. So much for Mr Casey's visit to the area! Mr Stephan: Would you like.him to come back? Mr TURNER: I would be delighted for him to come back at any time to debate the issues that he raised. Perhaps he will think of something else next time. I represent an electorate that is virtually totally dependent on wool and beef. Most of the electorates can diversify in some way. The electorates east of mine have fairly intensive farming, although they have suffered from drought this year. In those electorates, there is natural gas, a winery or mining areas. It probably is tme to say that the Minister for Lands and Forestry and I represent the only two electorates in Queensland that are totally dependent on wool and beef. Our electorates lack the opportunity to diversify. It is very difficult to establish industries in that region. There is a desperate need for water in westem areas. The success story at Emerald and St George speaks for itself. I visited St Greorge last week-end and looked at the dam, the irrigation projects and the cotton industry. There ap>pears to be a site on 692 31 August 1982 Address in Reply the Maranoa River at MUchell that would be suitable for a simUar scheme. I have raised the matter with the Minister, and I have also raised it in Parliament on numerous occasions. Inspections have been made and work has been done on the proposal for some time. The honourable member for Flinders has spoken eloquently and at length on the need for water in inland areas. He has a great knowledge of that subject. I am not knocking the Bradfield scheme, and I know that Mr Katter has taken a deep, personal interest in it. I compliment him on trying to do something for inland areas, and I am aware that he is endeavouring to have a dam buUt on the Flinders River. I pay tribute to the Mmister for the role that he has played. I should like to touch briefly on a matter that was raised by the honourable member for Townsville West and other honourable members. It is the proposal for a dam on the Burdekin River at a cost of some $200m or $300m. It is common knowledge that the sugar mdustry is in some sort of difficulty. That industry has a quota system. If the Burdekin Dam scheme is proceeded with and more cane land is brought into production, I wonder where the quotas wUl come from. The Government is endeavouring to prevent the estabUshment of a sugar industry in the Ord River area, which has the capacity to grow vast amounts of cane. I can understand the reasonmg behmd it, but I wonder why the Government would proceed with the Burdekin Dam when the sugar industry has so many problems. The money could be spent on buildmg 10 or 15 dams in inland areas. The need for smaU dams in those areas has been demonstrated over a long period. The Govemment is responsible for providing—in fact it has an obligation to provide—^facUities to improve the way of life of the people in those regions. There are arguments against my proposal, one of them being that it might not be cost-effective. My reply is that we would stiU be in the Dark Ages if we subscribed to that theory. We would have no satellite television on remote properties, no Scho On Thursday, 26 August, 1 asked the Minister for Lands a question concerning the drought assistance that is available to graziers, primary producers and businessmen in my region. With your indulgence, Mr Deputy Speaker, I ask leave to have the Minister's answer incorporated in "Hansard". Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Miller): Has the honourable member shown it to Mr Speaker? Mr TURNER: No. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am sorry, but the mling is that it must be shown to Mr Speaker beforehand. Mr TURNER: I shall content myself by saying that some assistance is provided to primary producers and to business people by way of carry-on finance and so on. On the same day, 26 August, I asked the Minister for Primary Industries a question concerning the importation of viruses such as foot-and-mouth virus into Australia for research purposes. I understand that many people in the grazing industry are concerned about the proposal. The Minister said that he considered it essential for the Australian National Arumal Health Laboratory to have live foot-and-mouth vims in advance of an outbreak as a necessary part of the training of field and laboratory veterinarians. Perhaps the Minister is correct, but I hope that sufficient information; will be conveyed to the various producer organisations in Australia so that they can determine wljether they want the proposal to go ahead. I hope that they have an input.into the determination of whether or not foot-and-mouth virus is imported for experimental purposes. I have approached the Minister for Health in relation to the appointment of a speech therapist at CJiarleville to operate between the hospital and school systems. I hope that something realistic can be done in that area. There is a desperate need. Speech therapists are located in Roma and Longreach. The CharlevUle region, which includes Morven, Augathella and Wyandra, is at a disadvantage at the moment because it does not have a speech theraprist. I shall touch briefly on the dingo barrier fence. Cabinet took a decision on this matter. The decision did not suit everyone. It is very hard to make a decision with which everyone agrees. I have the greatest sympathy for those people who do not wish to have any part of the fence. The reconstruction of the fence in my region is of paramount importance, and I take the opportunity to congratulate the Government on spending $3m on the restoration and realignment of the fence. Industry is being asked to contribute about $273,000 towards the maintenance of the fence. The Government will pick up the tab for any expenditure beyond that, which will be about $250,000 a year. I have not totalled the amounts of money that local authorities receive in grants, but I know that the five local authorities in my region, which have some responsibility for the fence, receive more than '$2m from the Grants Commission. I suggest that $273,000 is not an astronomical amount to ask industry to contribute towards the maintenance of the fence that is vitally important to the wool industry in that region of the State. I shall refer briefly to the proposed heritage legislation, which I understand comes under the control of the Minister for Tourism, National Parks, Sports and The Arts (Mr EUiott). We have a responsibility to ensure that many historic buildings are not destroyed. People are taking a greater interest in our heritage, and here I think of old museums, such as the ones at Miles and Chinchilla. People are endeavouring to retain many of our old cultures and ways. The same attitude should be adopted towards buildings. I hope that something will be done in that area in the not too distant future. Quite recently, the Minister visited the westem region during a tourism promotion campaign, which was an outstanding success. I take this opportunity to |>ay a tribute to him, to the role that he has played and to the enthusiasm and effort that he is putting into his portfolio. Now I shall touch briefly on television coverage in Westem Queensland of inajor sporting events. People in the cities can tum on their television sets and watch any major sporting event. Although this matter is not the responsibiUty of the State Government, 1 ask the Federal Government, through the Australian Broadcasting Commission, to ensure that before the rights for the coverage of major sporting events are sold to commercial television stations, consideration should be given to making such coverage available to Address in Reply 31 August 1982 695 country regions. In the not too distant future, sateUite television wiU enable commercial television to be beamed to many country areas, but something should be done in the meantime. The Commonwealth Games are to be held in Brisbane shortly, and I think that they will be wonderful for Australia, Queensland and particularly Brisbane. The Brisbane City CouncU, the State Govemment and the Federal Government have provided funds to construct the facUities for the Games. Brisbane is fortunate in conducting the Common wealth Games because when they are over it will be left with world-class sporting facilities. Those facilities will do much for the city and the State. I certainly hope that the Games will be peaceful. The Queen will be in Brisbane at that time. Around that time we will be retuming to ParUament House, which has been restored, and that will be a wonderful occasion for all concemed. I wish also to touch on the kangaroo industry, which in Western Queensland in recent times has faced many problems, apart from the problems of the scandal brought about by the substitution of kangaroo meat for beef in sausages and other foodstuffs. That affected the industry greatly. At the moment the kangaroo population is increasing dramatically and posing a problem, particularly in drought-affected areas. In my area it has been very fortunate that two companies have seen fit to set up tanneries, one at Blackall and one at Morven. No doubt that will create some measure of employment in those regions and will induce people to shoot for hides. The Government must be conscious of the problems facing that industry and not attempt to throw any spanners in the works. The industry is vital to country regions where it generates much employment and money on the local scene. I have always been an advocate of equality in all eastern States, but we have had a problem in relation to the dying of kangaroo meat because New South Wales has had a distinct advantage over Queensland. Today the Minister for Primary Industries informed me that some progress has been made in that area. I am thankful that because of a $lm subsidy each by both the State and Federal Govemments TAA services have been retained in Western Queensland. To retain the Fokker Friendship service has been a tremendous benefit to country areas, and I certainly hope that all steps will be taken to ensure that that service is retained in the years to come and not aUowed to decline in any way, such as being taken over by a small airUne with smaller aircraft. Once again I congratulate the mover and the seconder of the motion for the adoption of the Address in Reply. Mr NEAL (Balonne) (5.12 p.m.): I am pleased to take part in this Address-in-Reply debate and in so doing I pledge my loyalty and that of my constituents to the person of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I also congratulate His Excellency the Governor (Sir James Ramsay) and Lady Ramsay on the dignified manner in which they have carried out their duties. They have travelled extensively throughout the length and breadth of the State and have gained first-hand knowledge of the aims, aspirations and problems of the people. That has greatly endeared them to Queenslanders. I congratulate the member for Mirani on his moving for the adoption of the Address in Reply and on the manier in which he is carrying out his duties as the member for Mirani, following Mr Tom Newbery. I am sure that he will serve his electorate extremely well. He is certainly an asset to the House. The same can be said for the member for Toowong (Mr Prentice). Having once again pledged my allegiance to the Crown, I wish to say how fortunate Queenslanders and Australians are to live under our system of government. I have had the privilege of travelUng to many parts of the world—and not just recently. When I was in my early 20s, I travelled to many ove.'seas countries, including some behind the iron curtain. That certainly impressed upon me the need to maintain the democratic system that we enjoy and the way of life that we lead. When I arrived back in Australia there was no doubt in my mind that I was in the best country in the world. Thank heavens for our system of govemment, which allows us the freedoms that we enjoy—freedoms not enjoyed by many hundreds of miUions of people in numerous countries throughout the world. In fact, only approximately 25 democracies, as we know them, still exist in the world today. The remainder are dictatorships. We are very fortunate. 696 31 August 1982 Address in Reply In his Opening Speech, the Governor outUned some of the programs that the State wUl undertake in the coming year. Of course, Queensland can look forward to continued progress. He stated— "The Queensland Govemment completed the 1981-82 financial year with a balanced ConsoUdated Revenue budget. The underlying strength of the Queensland economy and the Govemment's sound financial management withstood pressures such as as large wage increases which have caused more serious difficulties for other Govemments." We have been fortunate in that. Bearing in mind the recent problems we had foUowing pressure by the unions for a 38-hour week, it is a pity that the likes of Hugh Hamilton and Halfpenny do not spend time in some of the dictatorships. They might then have more respect for the law and the system of Govemment in this State. If people do not respect the laws of the State, we wUl be on the road to anarchy. In fact, many people in this State, particularly the more miUtant ones, say, "If you don't like a law, break it." That is a short-cut to anarchy if permitted to continue. The Govemor referred to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. I am sure we are all looking forward to that important event, not only because Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh wUl be present but also because it wiU be a tremendous spectacle. The eyes of the world will most certainly be upon us. Let us hope that there wiU be no problems associated with the conduct of the Games. I trust that there will be no stupid demonstrations. People will be attending the Games to see the events and not to be put upon or interfered with by demonstrators. Any demonstrations wiU only create problems within the community, particularly over the matter of Aboriginal land rights. Today's "Daily Sun" carried an article which stated— "Aborigines calling for land rights in NSW yesterday clashed with athletes who were carrying the Queen's Message for the Commonwealth Games. The protestors tried to prevent the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Alderman Doug Sutherland, from meeting the athletes." That was an unfortunate incident, and I do not believe it wiU do the Aborigines' land rights cause one little bit of good. Demonstrations that end up in yiolence wiU only diride the community further and create further racial tensions. It is unfortunate that it has been widely reported that busloads of Aborigines wiU come from the Northern Territory and New South Wales to demonstrate at the Games. All I can say is that they should be very careful, because I am certain that the people of this State and overseas spwctatois at the Games will certainly not appreciate any demonstrations, particularly if they become violent. Spectators might even take part in them. As the Governor said, we can be proud of Queensland's progress and the fact that of aU the States we have suffered the least from the economic problems plaguing the rest of Australia and the rest of the western world. It is interesting to note that Queensland, with a population of 2 311900, accounting for 15.6 per cent of Australia's total population, has consistently experienced a higher rate of population growth than most of the other States, In 1981, the population growth in Queensland was 2.85 per cent, compared with the national average of 1.64 per cent. The latest figures show that Queensland's population growth is almost double the national average. As well as having a strong population increase, this State has experienced a strong growth in employment. The (Queensland work-force has expanded faster than the national average. Statistics indicate that in 1980-81 the (Queensland work-force grew at the rate of 3.8 per cent, compared with the national average of 2.3 per cent. It is interesting to note that although New South Wales and Victoria provide employment for two-thirds of Australia's civilian employees, those States have been experiencing employment growth rates below the Australian average. Western Australia is the only State other than Queensland to experience a growth rate above the Australian average. An Opposition Member interjected. Address m Reply 31 August 1982 697 Mr NEAL: The figures were compUed by the Parliamentary Library from figures suppUed by the AustraUan Bureau of Statistics. They undoubtedly indicate that the State has been weU govemed. It has long been recognised that Queensland is the most decentralised State in Australia. The improvements in Queensland have not just happened. They are the result of sound economic management and forward-planning by the Government. It should be remembered that 46 per cent of Australia's major projects are under way in Queensland; that 19000 new businesses opened here last year; that retail sales increased by 17 per cent; that building approvals increased by 24 per cent; and that Queensland attracts 40 per cent of all foreign investment in AustraUa. Furthermore, the statistics reveal that Queensland is the lowest-taxed State in AustraUa. Despite enormous extension in the mining sector, Queensland's agricultural industries StiU make a significant contribution to the economics of the State and nation. The figures prove beyond doubt the importance of Queensland's primary industries. While people are often carried away with mining developments, it is well to remember that agriculture stUl provides the majority of the State's gross value of production. In 1980-81, the gross value of agricultural production was $2,414m; this year, it is estimated to be $2,555m, which means an increase of 5.7 per cent. Although many parts of the State are suffering from poor seasonal conditions and the effect of lower commodity prices, the estimated gross value of Queensland's production of $2,555m is still well in excess of the $l,800m estimated to come from mining. The importance of agriculture to Queensland is highlighted by comparison with the other States. When Queensland's gross value of agricultural production was $2,414m, the gross value of agricultural production in New South Wales was $3,060m and in Victoria $2,801m. The respective agricuhural production was: Queensland 20.7 per cent; New South Wales, 26 per cent; Victoria, 24 per cent. Although New South Wales and Victoria have greater production, the significance of the figures relates to the value of export production. Queensland derives much of its revenue from export production. It is well to remember that a big percentage of Queensland's agricultural production is exported. New South Wales and Victoria contribute more than Queensland to AustraUa's gross value of agricultural production. However, Queensland is the country's largest exporter of agricultural pjroducts. During 1980-81 the value of Queensland exports was $1,980,849,000. It accounted for 31-87 per cent of Australia's agricultural exports. New South Wales, at $937,245,0(X), accounts for 15 per cent of the Australian total and Victoria, at $1,554,198,000, accounts for 25 per cent. That highlights the importance of agriculture to Queensland. Unfortunately, the seasonal conditions throughout a great deal of the State have been deteriorating and the prospects do not look particularly good. In the last day or so I heard on the news that 30 per cent of Victoria and 90 per cent of New South Wales have been officially declared drought stricken. New South Wales is looking at a loss of something like 25 miUion in sheep numbers. Wheat prospects throughout the State are very poor. Considering the overall situation in the marketing of wheat, there is no reason for confidence. COmp>ared with the previous estimate of 1-4 milUon tonnes, the current estimate ap)pears to be about 400000 tonnes. That wiU result in a loss of well over $100m to wheat farmers in Queensland. There will be a flow on in lost jobs, lost sales of machinery and many other losses. In addition, growers cannot expect to receive a very profitable price for their wheat, considering the massive stocks held in the other wheat-producing countries of the world. The United States of America is expecting a record grain harvest in 1982. They are some of the facts to which grain growers will have to face up. The United States, Canada and AustraUa dominate the world wheat trade. The United States alone meets 50 per cent of the market. Unfortunately, Australian wheat growers are not competing with their counterparts in those countries; they are competing against the Treasuries in those countries because the Treasuries are handing out massive amounts of money to acquire the wheat cropw. In mid-July the (Canadian Government aimounced that it would make available to the Canadian Wheat Board up to one bUlion dollars to aid the financing of wheat sales to Russia. At the same time legislation was introduced in the USA Senate to permit the Department of Agriculture to offer a 10-year agricultural loan export guarantee and a 4 per cent loan export subsidy. 698 31 August 1982 Address in Reply These moves are occurring at a time when the chairman of the AustraUan Wheat Board Sir Leslie Price, has been busy rebutting the USA charges that Australia has been dumping wheat on world markets. It is interesting to note that, while Sir Leslie has been rebutting those charges, under the grain trading practices of the USA between 1976-77 and 1981-82 USA wheat production rose by 7.5 million tonnes but its exports increased by 22-8 million tonnes. While they have been telling us that we have been dumping wheat on the world market, they have been reaping the benefits of it. The member for Warrego referred to the deteriorating situation in his electorate. A large portion of his electorate has been drought declared. Some areas in my electorate have been drought declared on an individual basis. The Department of Primary Industries stock inspectors should examine the matter very closely when applications for drought declarations are submhted. A large number of landholders have submitted applications for drought declarations, but they have been refused on the basis that their stock have been in good condition. That may be so. One cannot argue the toss that their stock are in good order. The point I make very strongly is that the reason why their stock are in good order is that most of them are mnning only half their normal carrying capacity. The drought did not break to any substantial degree. Some shires were removed from the drought-declared list in September and October last year. Other shires were removed from the list in January and Febmary this year. No drought-breaking rains fell; only relief rain was received. Under those circumstances people will not restock their land because there is no future in it. They will only be putting themselves back into the mire very quickly. Some people who have sent stock away on agistment have been refused drought declaration of their properties. Because they want to maintain their breeding herds, they have sent their stock away on agistment. The Minister should examine the situation because a serious drought situation is certainly looming. The Department of Primary Industries drought secretariat chief, Mr Peter Smith, is reported in today's Press as saying, "Long 'dry' heading for big drought." I agree with him. As chief of the drought secretariat, he has his feet firmly on the ground and is aware of the situation. I beUeve that we are heading for a big drought. Whilst there has been a world-wide trend towards declining agricultural wprk-forces, statistics show otherwise in Queensland. We are aware of the drift of rural population to dty areas. In June 1982 there was a significant increase in the number of people employed in the agricultural sector. The June figure of 84 300 is 14 per cent higher than in May 1981, notwithstanding the trend towards the use of larger machines requiring fewer people to work them. The replacement of men by machines has been one of the reasons for the decline in rural population. The tremendous expansion that has taken place in South-west and Central Queensland and the establishment of irrigation farms has created greater agricultural employment. That has benefited the towns in those areas. I wish to refer to the diesel fuel rebate scheme introduced in the Federal Budget. There has always been an excise duty on fuel. The increase of one cent per litre will be directed towards the bicentennial roads program. I applaud that move, but I believe that problems will arise in claiming the rebate. The Federal Government's proposal is that a rebate will be payable on diesel fuel used for off-road purposes in the agricultural, mining, fishing and forestry industries, in medical and nursing institutions and for domestic purposes. AU diesel fuel, irrespective of end use, will bear the full rate of excise duty. Certain industries are to be exempted. At present, primary producers and other people who are exempted from the excise duty state their case on appUcation and are issued with a diesel exemption certificate, the number of which is lodged with the local agent or fuel supplier. The primary producer makes his fuel purchases through that agent and does not pay any excise duty. The Federal Govemment's proposal is that the primary producer wUl pjay the duty and, once he has accumulated more than $100 worth of rebate, will have to claim the rebate. I stress that that is not $100 worth of fuel. The primary producer will be claiming a rebate of 6.115c per litre. If he is paying 30c a litre at present, he will in the future be paying approximately 36c per litre. When he has accumulated more than $100 worth of rebate be will be entitled to lodge a claim for the rebate of 6c per litre. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 699 Under the scheme, persons claiming the rebate will be required to maintain satis factory records of usage, purchase and so on and, if required, to produce records to substantiate a claim made under the scheme. Persons who are found abusing the system wiU be liable to prosecution. That, of course, is fair enough. The scheme also provides that claims wUl not be accepted unless the total amount of a claim exceeds $100, except in the instance of a domestic user, who may claim for any amount. NormaUy, claims will not be recognised unless lodged within 12 months of the date of purchase. Those provisions mean that farmers and land-owners who use a lot of fuel wUl have to waste time filling in forms. I do not see the need for that. Why cannot the present system continue? Another unfortunate aspect of the Federal Government's scheme is that the RaUway Department wUI be required to pay the excise. That will substantially increase the cost of carriage of goods everywhere, particulary in the western areas. It is wrong that the Railway Department should have to pay a levy of Ic per litre towards the cost of maintain ing roads. After all, the Railway Department competes with road transport. Furthermore, local authorities will be required to pay the levy. It is ridiculous that they wiU be paying a levy to meet part of the cost of roads that they construct. Naturally higher costs in general will result. The Federal Budget does, however, contain quite a number of pluses. The increase provided for in depreciation on certain farming plant is welcome. The figure has risen from 20 per cent to 33i per cent. That is good news. For some time, the total cost of water improvements has been allowed as a tax deduction in the year in which the expenditure is incurred. That should not be forgotten. The Federal Government also announced that it would write off the $24m owing under the tuberculosis and bmcellosis eradication scheme to assist the beef industry. I question what benefit that will have when one considers that the slaughter levy has been increased from $3 to $4 a head. While talking about stock, I wish to state my views on the proposal to introduce live foot-and-mouth vims into Australia for the Australian National Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong. We have been told that the safeguards buUt into the laboratory are the best in the world. The argument has been advanced that scientists must have the live virus so that if an outbreak of the disease occurs in Australia they wiU be able to identify it. I cannot help but recaU the importation into Australia of foxes, rabbits, prickly pear, all sorts of other cactus, pests such as ticks, and parthenium weed. The latest pest to be imported into Australia—no-one knows how it got here—is the lucerne aphid. It wiped out Hunter River lucerne, which was recognised as a top lucerne. We had to buy special aphid-resistant varieties of lucerne. I dry-farm lucerne on my property. I had always grown Hunter River lucerne. When the aphid came along, I took the advice of the Department of Primary Industries to grow aphid-resistant varieties of luceme. I grew one of the varieties that was recommended for the area. I assure honourable members that it was not in the same street as Hunter River lucerne. I have returned to growing Hunter River lucerne. I said, "The aphids can eat half the area of Hunter River lucerne and I wiU still have twice the production that I got from the aphid-resistant lucerne." That raises the possibUity of industrial sabotage at the AustraUan National Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong, which concems me. All the safeguards that have been provided at the laboratory at Geelong stiU wUl not stop the individual who \,sets out to sabotage the livestock industry of Australia. Mr Prest: You did it yourself by putting kangaroo meat in with beef. Mr NEAL: That is another story altogether, and the honourable member may take the opportunity to talk about it. He reminds me of the rooster that thinks he has to crow when the sun rises in the moming. Before any decision is made on the introduction of live foot-and-mouth vims into Australia, the views of stock producers in AustraUa have to be canvassed. Those in the industry have to thrash it out amongst themselves. I certainly would not like to make the decision and to impose it on the industry in general. 700 31 August 1982 Address in Reply I wish to mention a few other matters. The first is irrigation. I was fortunate to see some irrigation schemes in America, I wUl not take honourable members on a Cook's tour. However, the irrigation scheme in the Sacramento Valley in CaUfomia and the effect that it has on the area certainly opened my eyes to the benefits that flow from irrigation. I am most conscious of the impxact of the small irrigation area in my electorate, particularly on the smaU town of St George. What has taken place in California certainly is an eye-opener. When I discussed the matter with one of the leaders of industry in Queensland, he said that the results in California are so spectacular that all members of Queensland Parliament should be compelled to visit there. I agree with him. Australia is the driest continent in the world and a tremendous amount of water is needed if it is to be fully developed. Queensland has the greatest amount of water run-off of any Australian State, and we should seek ways and means of exploiting that great supply of water to the advantage of the State. Mr Gunn: Hasn't the Commonwealth Government an obligation in that regard? Mr NEAL: Yes, it has a big obligation. The first scheme that involved two States was the Snowy Mountains scheme. The member for Flinders spoke very eloquently about the Bradfield scheme. That is the sort of thing that the Government must consider. Another scheme that has been considered is the diversion of the Qarence River into the Condamine/Balonne river system. A report on that scheme issued by the New South Wales Government is not very encouraging at aU. Mr Booth: That report is a bit suspect, don't you think? Mr NEAL: One could say that. I have been informed that in the compilation of that report surveys that were done many long years ago were taken as read. However, they are the sorts of schemes that we should be considering. As weU as promoting schemes that capture the imagination, the Government should also consider smaU schemes. Many areas of the State would benefit from small irrigation schemes resuUing from the construction of weirs on some of our rivers, Mr Gunn: Off-stream storages. Mr NEAL: Yes, a great deal of off-stream storage is being constructed. Certainly irrigation farming can be expanded by the use of off-stream storage, as can be seen from the on-farm storages being constmcted on the Darling Downs, Unfortunately last year the Govemment reduced subsidies to water boards. Those schemes have a definite community involvement and I beUeve that the Government should give more support to them. I hope that it takes a good, hard look at such schemes. On numerous occasions I have mentioned the Niminbah Water Board to the Minister, That water board area covers about 20 landholders and two small country towns, one with and one without reticulated water supply, although the existing reticulated water supply needs to be augmented. For some time that board has considered the sinking of a bore to supply water for the properties in that drought-prone area. Although the area is not presently a drought-declared one, it is quite possible that it will be in the next few weeks. The landholders have put their heads together and have been trying to do something positive to overcome the water shortages that occur in drought years. I hope that the Govemment looks favourably at the restoration of the subsidy that was previously available for capital works carried out by those boards. I tum now to what has become a bone of contention—bull-bars on cars. There has been a lot of pubUcity about them of late, but nowhere has there been a satisfactoty answer to the problem. They are a fact of life in country areas, and have been for many years. There is no doubt that they are OK under (Queensland law, but thq' do contravene Australian Design Rui« lOA arid lOB. I do not know what the legal situation is and it has not been satisfactorily resolved Mr Wright: I will tell you aU about it. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 701 Mr NEAL: I would welcome the opinion of the honourable member for Rockhampton. I hope he can solve the problem, but I doubt it very much, I think it is a matter for the insurance companies to come to gripw with. Bull-bars are a fact of life, and people cannot be blamed for using them. I had one on my car, and I wish that I stUl had it. I did over $1,000 worth of damage to my car recently, and that would have been avoided had I StUl had the roo bar fitted to my car. I had pyreviously saved myself thousands of dollars in damage through the use of a roo bar. Mr Prest: What about cutting down on your speed? Mr NEAL: The honourable member is wasting my time. I do not know whether he has ever hit a kangaroo, but if he had he would never again go whhout a roo bar. Mr Prest: It is the speed. Mr NEAL: It is not speed. Mr Prest: It is speed. Mr NEAL: Yes, the speed of the kangaroo as it jump>s out at the car. We have to get some answers, if not from the (Queensland Govermnent then from the insurance companies. (Tune expired.) Mr WRIGHT (Rockhampton) (5.52 p.m.): It is understandable that the Opening Speech made to this Assembly by His ExceUency the Governor was a political, pro- Govemment contribution. It has been suggested that the Govemor really contributes little to the content of his Opening Speech and that this is sup>plied by Ministers and the Premier's Press facilities. I accept that it is normal and traditional that the Govemor should say what his Government has done and throw a few bouquets around. But in view of the fact that the opening of ParUament is well covered by the media it is regrettable that the Governor did not take the opportunity to refer to the many problems Queenslanders face and urge some type of solution to them. He could have done that wUhout being p>arty political. In his Speech the Governor stayed with the style that Tory or anti-Labor parties have always seemed to adopt. When the Whitlam Govemment was in power, when things were going wrong, it was Gough Whitlam's fault or it was the Labor Party's fauh. Whenever things are bad nowadays, be it in the Federal sphere or in Queensland, instead of saying, "It is our fault, we have made a mistake.", we hear the constant phrase, "The state of the world economy." I see that the (Sovernor has faUen into the same old trap as he, too, has tried to pnit aside the faults of the Govemment and blame the state of the world economy. Mr Blake: They are stiU blaming WhiUam. Mr WRIGHT: I take that comment from the honourable member for Bundaberg; they are stiU blaming Whhlam. The fact of the matter is that there are problems in (^eensland with roads, housing, health, education, primary production and mining ventures. In fact, almost every aspect of Queensland's economy is in some difficulty, and so it is rather strange for the Governor to say— "We wiU be seen as people of a vibrant Sovereign State whose economic and sociological development has exceeded aU expectations." I want to be a little bit pxarochial, because I want to suggest to the Governor, through this Assembly, that that certainly is not the attitude of the people of my area, especiaUy those who live in Mt Morgan. We have a very sad state of affairs that in such a wealthy State-^at least it is espoused as such by Government members—and a vibrant State, as it has been oaUed, with great economic development, a State that we can be proud of, we have 3 000 people in the small town of Mt Morgan who are being deprived of the everyday necessity of water. Some 400 homes simply do not have water. People have to take water with them to work. Some of them obtain it from neighbours, relatives or friends. Before the 1980 election, the Premier came to Mt Morgan and promised that something would be done. He said that he would cite Mt Morgan as a special case to ensure that its case would be heard in Cabinet and in the Federal sphere. Two years later nothing has been done. The people of Mt Morgan have had promise after pronuse but no action. 702 31 August 1982 Address in Reply Petitions have been presented to the Government. I was party to the preparation of such a petition, and I took it personally to the Minister for Local Ciovernment. I have been part of deputations. I have been involved in nation-wide and Statewide publicity. Representations have been made by letter and in personal deputations, but nothing has been done. In the prevaiUng circumstances, the Government has said, "The best we wUl do is give the people of Mt Morgan, through their councU, a 25 per cent subsidy for emergencies." The people of Mt Morgan are now carting water. It is not good enough for the Government to spend mUlions of doUars on racecourses and other activities that it wants to use to promote its image when it cannot look after ordinary people. Is it any wonder that Opposition members become angry when, on the one hand, people in Queensland are so badly treated and, on the other hand, the Govemor and Ministers of the Crown say how well off the people are? Mt Morgan should be declared a disaster area. The truth should be told about why the necessary money is not forthcoming. Is the reason political? The Banana Shire, which is in an area represented by a National Party member, received $lm. I am told that that was an illegal donation, gift or grant; that a Minister who attended a function in the town one night became intoxicated, and, regrettably for him and for the Government, made a promise more or less publicly that he would arrange $lm for the Banana Shire. Next day the promise was brought to his attention and he was made to hold to it. I am told that a similar situation developed at Mt Isa, where the Government broke all the Treasury rules and all the so-called economic restraints and requirements to ensure that Mt Isa received Government money. It is not fair if other areas can get money and Mt Morgan cannot. The people of Mt Morgan deserve a better deal because of what Mt Morgan has contributed to the nation's economy. Millions of dollars in revenue have come from the mine. At present, a display in the Parliamentary Librairy shows exactly what Mt Morgan has done for the State and nation. Action must be taken. It is not good enough for Ministers to say, "We would like to help, but we can do nothing because of Treasury rules." The Treasury should not control the State. Political decisions should be made in the interests of people. The time has come to recognise exactly what Mt Morgan has done for Queensland. It is time,, also, for those who have benefited from Mt Morgan, such as BP Australia and the present mining company, to dig deeply into their pockets and provide funds. But for Mt Morgan, BP Australia would not exist. The Persian Gulf oU finds were funded by Mt Morgan money. I got in touch with BP but I was told that it could not do anything. I make a plea to the Government to put people first. Let us set aside party politics. Before the local government elections, it was suggested around the traps that something would happen if the people kicked out the Labor Council. It is to be "regretted that the majority of those members of council who had worked so hard for,their people, who had taken every case they could to every possible Minister and to every level of government, whether an association or a department, were defeated. Despite the political turn around in a traditional Labor stronghold, despite the people listening to the Government, nothing has been done. I ask why. The time has come fOr the Government to put its money where its mouth is and begin repaying its debts tO the many people in Mt Morgan who have contributed greatly to the economy of the State. It is time that they had a new deal. I come now to the road over the Mt Morgan range. The road, is so bad that semi-trailers and other heavy vehicles cannot negotiate it without breaking the law that double lines must not be crossed. Already three cars have been pushed over the side of the range when trying to get away from semi-trailers; yet the Govemment stiU says that there is nothing it can do, or that there is nothing it will do. [Sitting suspended from 6 to 7.15 p.m.] Mr WRIGHT: Prior to the recess for dinner I was canvassing the problems that are being experienced by the people of Mt Morgan, problems that have been caused \rj the apathy and almost hostility of this Govemment towards that town. I reiterate that there has to be a new deal. There has to be some type of precise undertaking, it is no longer any good just making excuses. As the member for that area, I ask that the Government make a defiiute statement about its intentions to ensure that Uie 3000 people in Mt Morgan have water. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 703 There is a need for departmental and governmental realisation of the economic contribution that has been made by Mt Morgan in the past and its economic plight of the present. The people of Mt Morgan just do not have the financial capacity to pay for the scheme themselves. I am talking about a scheme that would cost in the vicinity of $3m. There are some 450 wage earners in the town. Regrettably, most of the people are on low fixed incomes—age and welfare pensioners. So it is not good enough to simply ask the council to find the money that is needed. We need to understand the potential of that town. I have heard it said that Mt Morgan is dying and that, therefore, we cannot spend more money and so send good money after bad. But Mt Morgan is a living museum. It is a town of great tradhion and great history, and therefore it is a town that has tremendous tourist potential. It is time that that was acknowledged. Because of its excellent climate, an excellent retirement vUlage for the aged could be set up there. That was mooted when Westwood was being closed down. A promise was made by the Department of HeaUh that the Government would consider converting part of the hospital for aged care, but it was never done. The solutions are well known. It is not as if I have to keep repeating them. The main solution is money. Some $3m is required to build a weir on Fletcher Creek. Alternatively—and this is a solution that I have put up and I believe that the honourable member for Callide has been proposing a similar approach—we should bring forward the construction of the StanweU pipeline, which will take water from the FUzroy River and feed the billion-dollar powerhouse to be buUt at Stanwell. It is some 10 years away, but the pipeline could be built now at a far reduced cost. If that were done it would serve the growing township of Gracemere and the hinteriand of Rockhampton and, in -addition, a link could be made to Mt Morgan to overcome the problem there. It may weU be that that has to be done now because recently I heard that the mining company involved in Mt Morgan has found additional mineral deposits. It could well be that there will be considerable expenditure by the Government and by private enterprise in that area. For that to happen, there must be water, better roads and the other facilities I have referred to tonight. So I ask that the Government take a more positive, responsible, sympathetic and understanding approach to that town. Because I had some business to do for the Australian Labor Party and for some of my electors in Rockhamprton, I was unable to be present this morning. I was told by some of my colleagues that the Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr Vic Sullivan, in answer to a Dorothy Dix question from the honourable member for Redlands took me to task. Apparently he referred to an aUeged Press release by an organisation caUed TISTA—the Independent SmaU Business and Traders Association. I well know the organisation. I was party to its formation. I worked very closely with Greg Eaton and John Conley 12 months or more ago in setting up that organisation. I have seen the Press release. I rang John Conley and I expressed my personal views about his attitude. I now want to raise the matter. It would seem that the Government has brought pressure to bear on or even threatened a small business organisation and called upon it to dissociate itself from the Labor Party, particularly myself. When I raised the matter with John Conley last week, I was told that he had been inundated by Government members after my speech in the House last Wednesday, Govemment members said that I was in league with it and that it was in league with me and that it ought to dissociate itself. A Press release was prepared that said nothing but in fact dissociated it in some political way from myself. I take exception to it. I told Conley how I felt. I feel sorry for Greg Eaton. I have discovered that the Press release was prepared and released by John Conley. It does not have the support of TISTA because I do not believe that TISTA exists any longer. I say that with great regret. I travelled throughout Queensland, and in the Northern Territory where 160 businessmen met with me, and thousands of dollars were contributed to form a TISTA organisation there. At the request of Bill Eaton, the ALP member for Mourilyan, I visited the Atherton Tableland and dozens of small businessmen met with me and contributed a great deal of money to TISTA. The same thing happened in Central Queensland and the Brisbane area. That money was used wisely. There is little left. I do not believe that there are many members in the TISTA organisation now. John Conley, regrettably, has been used as a tool of the National Party. 704 31 August 1982 Address in Reply At the last council elections the Liberals brought to my attention the fact that John Conley, who says he is an apolitical person—^that is a non-political person—was distributing how-to-vote cards for the National Party, His reason for that was to try to get on side with the Government because he thought the only way to get things done was to keep on side with the Government parties. He has not only let himself down but also those persons who had great faith in TISTA—those people who paid $50 and tried to form a new organisation to truly represent smaU business. It should be pointed out that whilst the Minister for Commerce and Industry made the point that TISTA dissociated itself from me, he did not say that TISTA was the organisation that publicly and officially withdrew its support from the special booklet produced recently by his department. Its members insisted that its name should not appear in the introductory Usting of those groups that participated in the production of the booklet. Mr Borbidge: It was involved in its production untU the last stage. Mr WRIGHT: Yes. The honourable member for Surfers Paradise would agree that it dissociated itself from the Minister, from the booklet and from the Govemment. The Minister wanted the association to dissociate itself from the Labor Party but he did not want it known that it had already dissociated itself from the Govemment. The Minister can give prepared answers to Dorothy Dix questions over and over again, but that will not stop me in the campaign in which I am involved with members of the Labor Party on behalf of small business. The campaign has been going for four years. It has been led effectively by members of the Opposition. If it had not been for Opposition members, nothing would have been done, a Small Business Development Corporation would not have been established, and an inquiry into iniquitous leasing practices in shopping centres would not have been carried out. We would not have had laws in this State that require an economic impact study before a new shopping complex is buUt. Because of the activities and the way in which the issue has been handled, the Government is now aware of the problems. I suggest that the Govemment is trying half-heartedly to catch up on the ALP and the way in which it has made great inroads into the small business support in this State. It is being done in the manner that was adopted by John Cain in Victoria. That is why he was supported and is still supported by thousands of businessmen. Seventy-five per cent of smaU businesses m this State last no longer than three years. The reason for that is not inadequate management skUls or the economic situation that prevaU, but because of a myriad of issues. I suggest that the three Bs—^big business, bureaucracy and the banks—are the real enemies of small business in this State. Small businessmen are being ripped off by the exorbitant interest rates that are charged, by tough leasing arrangements, severe loan limitations and by hidden bank charges. Rules, regulations, forms and fees are plaguing the small business proprietor almost to the point of despair. Because of the trend in this State and the Commonwealth towards indirect taxing, firms are virtually nothing more than unpaid tax coUectors for Governments. The iniquitous imposition of sales tax on freight still exists. We have asked to have that situation changed in the Federal sphere. However, the Liberals and Nationals refuse to act. Independent traders continue to be disadvantaged by the rebates, the concessions, the bulk-buying deals and the special purchasing and promotion arrangements that are available to big business. Big business is able to sell a product more cheaply than small business can buy h. That point was raised by Bill Eaton over and over again when we met with people in country areas. Small businesses are faced with the continuing proliferation of shopping centres. Despite all the promises and the requirement of economic impact studies, every time small business protests the Government interferes. The Minister for Local Govemment overmles the requirements and the requests put forward by small business and allows shopping centres to go ahead. The unfair and unscrupulous leasing practices continue, in spite of State Government promises that have been given for years and in spite of five inquiries into small business. Unless something is done to give relief, the level of 75 per cent of small businesses that fail within three years wiU escalate to 80 or 90 per cent. Something other than depending on industry self-regulation needs to be done. Self-regulation has faUed to Address in Reply 31 August 1982 705 resolve the problems arising between landlord and tenant. It has failed to overcome the problems created by key money, prenuum bonds, fines and fees for consent, percentage turnover, option rights, demands and goodwiU. The time has come to take on board the ideas that the Opjposhion has put forward. There is a need for a commercial tenancies Act that will outlaw iniquitious leasing practices. There is a need for a model lease that will contain the basic provisions necessary to protect small business tenants. There is a need for a small business tribunal to adjudicate on commercial tenancy p>roblems such as those that I have listed. Such a tribunal ought to have judicial power so that it can enforce its determinations. There is a need to restructure and strengthen the Small Business Development Corporation. It needs to be given powers and a financial back-up to enable it to effectively assist small businesses. There is a need for laws to control the unfair wholesale trading practices. The time has come to have a complete review of the lending and leasing policies of the banks and other financial institutions. Such a review might need co-operation among the various States. The introduction of a management skUls scheme is called for, as is the expansion of the existing services that the Governments are providing at present. Importantly, the anomalies that exist must be removed. The honourable member for Balonne referred to bull-bars. I, too, shall canvass the points that he raised. He said he did not understand the situation. Products that can be sold and bought legally in Queensland cannot be used legally. Last week I met whh the automotive after-market association of Australia and asked it to provide me with a Ust of items that can be sold legally but cannot be used legally. The list was provided to that association by the Consumer Affairs Bureau. Items on the list include alloy and wide wheels, wide-section tyres, exhaust extractors, complete exhaust systems, alternative carburettors, intake manifolds, turbo-chargers, sports-type steering wheels, wheels of smaller dimension, reflective window-tinting, spoilers, alternative replace ment seats, extended spring shackle plates, tinted perspex, headlamp shields, repeater-type horns, wind horns and windscreens. All those items are governed by the law as it stands at present. If a person owns a motor vehicle of a model earlier than 1971 or 1973, depending on which Australian design rule is in force, and if he changes any of those parts with what are referred to as non-standard or non-genuine parts—in other words, parts that are not retailed by the car assembler—his vehicle is illegal. Because of that, it is unroadworthy. Because of that, he runs the risk of losing his insurance cover. I know of a person who fitted a standard exhaust system to his vehicle and, after it was hit in the rear, made a claim on his insurance company. His claim was knocked back because the assessor tendered a report that the vehicle had been modified. The person involved was not a hot-rod driver or some young feUow with thousands of doUars worth of modifications fitted to his vehicle; he was an ordinary person. I suggest that hundreds of thousands of vehicles on Queensland roads—as many as 60 or 70 per cent—^are Ulegal. Because they are illegal, their owners are completely jeop>ardising their insurance cover. Mr R. J. Gibbs: The Government also uses this as a source of revenue. The police puU them up, book them and then let them go. They don't make them remove the fittings either. Then they fine them again, Mr WRIGHT: That is a valid point. Also, the poUce, in using their discretionary power, can say that an exhaust is too noisy, yet there is not one noise-testing system in this State. Police are pmtting cars off the road and saying that a steering wheel is too smaU or too big. One machinery inspector approves of a car and another inspector does not approve of it. The Minister for TraiBport (Mr Lane) said in this Chamber that there is nothing wrong with bull-bars. The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Sir WilUam Knox) said that some bull-bars—in fact, I think he said all bull-bars—are iUegal because they defeat the "cmshabUity" requirements of the AustraUan design lavre. The system needs to be changed. Last Tuesday in this Chamber I asked the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations to meet representatives of the automotive after-market industry—those people in mdustiy representing retaUers, manufacturers and service groupw who are involved in spare parts and accessories. What did he say? He said, no, he was not interested. Some 706 31 August 1982 Address in Reply 350 000 people are involved in the industry in Australia; and some 20 000 firms in Queensland are associated with the spare parts and accessories industry. The industry is worth more than $1 bUlion, but it is in jeopardy. What does the Minister say? He says that he is not prepared to meet representatives of the industry; that he does not want to get involved. Instead, he says that they should take up the matter with their representatives in the various organisations at Federal level, Mr R, J. Gibbs: He pulled Mr Lane in. Mr WRIGHT: I have a statement that was issued by the Transport Department. I know that the Minister is trying to clarify the matter. I do not want to be seen to be supporting him too much, but at least he tried to clarify it. Regrettably, when he did that, he created more confusion. He said what the law was and referred to the Australian design rales. Then he came back to the people and said, "Please use common sense." Mr Lane: Are you against common sense? Mr WRIGHT: I was being nice to the Minister and I do not want to hurt him. I suggest that he should go to his ministerial colleagues and try to do something about jobs in this State being in jeopardy. Let me canvass the confusion that exists. On 8 July last the SGIO issued a memo that stated— "The official poUcy of the Division of Occupational Safety is that the fitting of bull-bars to passenger vehicles that have a lOA or lOB stamped on their complaince plate (these vehicles are manufactured after 1971) is not acceptable. However, the fitting of flexi-bars is permitted. Bull-bars can be fitted on four-wheel drive and other vehicles that do not come into the scope of passenger cars and their derivatives providing that no object, such as extra lights, are fitted onto the top of the bar that could obstmct the driver's forward vision. BuU-bars fitted to these vehicles must have contoured ends simUar to the vehicle's bumper-bar. Shari}-edged objects, such as cyUndrical fishing-rod holders, are not allowed to be fitted to the buU-bar as these could cause injury in an accident." The SGIO instructed its officers throughout the State repwesenting the SGIO not to accept vehicles which did not conform to that policy. The SGIO also told its officers they had to suspend the cover on all vehicles that were outside that official policy, that is, the official poUcy of the Division of Occup>ational Safety. That is what the SGIO did on 8 July. But thmgs got rough, and the SGIO suddenly found that it was in competition with all the other insurance companies; so it issued another memo, which stated— "As a Government Department, this office cannot condone the breaching of regulations laid down by another department (that is the Department of Occupational Safety) on the legality of bull-bars but as an Insurance Office we have to be competitive. In order to interrelate these two philosophies it is suggested that a commonsense approach be adopted when considering such risks. Any modifications which do not affect the safety or increase the performance of a vehicle should be accepted." The SGIO had changed its mind. However, the memo continued— "If cUents enquire if such modifications are allowable it should be pointed out that the modification is illegal " What sort of a State are we mnning? What sort of an insurance office do we have in this State? On the one hand h says, "It is Ulegal, but don't you dare teU them unless they ask. Forget about the point that if they have it it is illegal and unroadworthy and therefore they jeopardise their claim." That is what the memo went on to state. It continued— " and if on submission of a claim it was found that the modification contributed to the accident then consideration would have to be given to the acceptability of the claim. It is suggested that a low profile be maintained in respect of modifications which do not affect the safety or increase the performance of the vehicle," Address in Reply 31 August 1982 707 Mr Blake: It adds up to taking money under false pretences, really, doesn't it? Mr WRIGHT: I believe it does. It is wrong; it is unprofessional. One can use aU the terms in the world, but we should not have the SGIO or any type of business in the State saying one thing but meaning something else—telling people their rights only if they ask—especially when it is known full weU that customers' rights could be jeopardised. Let me develop the scenario. For instance, if I drove an old '64 Holden that is unroadworthy and I smashed into another car, the insurance company could deny my claim. I then become responsible for the repairs of the other vehicle. I will develop the peint even further. Let us say that I am driving a '72 Holden that I have modified— not to any unsafe proportions, but by fitting a different exhaust. If I prang into a Mercedes Benz worth $30,000, because I am in the wrong the SGIO can knock back my claim on the grounds that the vehicle has been modified and then in common law I am liable for repairs to that Mercedes Benz. If it had to be written off, I am then liable for $30,000. Even though they know those facts, the SGIO and other insurance companies, unfortunately, have allowed this to continue. (Changes must be brought about. I have here reams of letters from various manufacturers, retaUers and repairers throughout the State and Commonwealth asking that something be done. Because my time is fast mnning out, I will not be able to quote them all but their tenor is that these laws are jeopardising the employment of their staff. For instance, a manufacturer from Salisbury states that the products he sells to Datsun are legal when they are used on the Datsun car assembly plant or when Datsun sells them through their own retaU outlets; but, when that same Salisbury firm sells them on the open retail market to an independent trader, the product is Ulegal. That is the same with spoUers, SAAS and AustraU steering wheels and wide wheels. If the law is appUed right dowh the line, firms such as Bob Jane will be out of business, Repeo will go to the wall, 20 000 small businesses in this State will be in trouble and hundreds of thousands of jobs will be in jeopardy. Mr Hartwig: The insurance companies will still be there. Mr WRIGHT: Yes, they will. Is it any wonder that we ask that something be done? Yet the Ministers on the other side hide their heads like ostriches, and say that the responsibility is not theirs, that h lies with Canberra. That is not good enough. Something must be done about it and if I have to stand here every second week to raise the point and go to the media, I shall continue to do so. We are jeopardising people's futures and the insurance cover of people on the roads. I wonder how far this matter can be taken—for instance, if a non-genuine part is used. The 1979 report of the New South Wales inquiry into the spare parts industry makes the point that, if a non-genuine part is used, the warranty of the vehicle is put at risk. The report states at great length that the commission found that distinction between two types of parts was even harder to determine when the manufacturer of the non-genuine part was also the manufacturer of the genuine part. Those parts must in a sense be identical as they are made in the same factories by the same machines and, one could go on, on the same production line. The law says that the products that the firm sells through the car assemblers, which are called OE parts—original equipment—are legal but if they are bought through an independent retailer they are illegal. The 1979 New South Wales commission said that there must be some changes. In Queensland we now have the ridiculous situation of the law being applied haphazardly, of machinery inspectors putting cars off the road and of poUce clamping down on people, as they did in Emerald a couple of weeks ago, teUing them to get their cars off the road because they had bull-bars. Some people have legally bought items such as fog- lights or some type of reflective material for their windscreens and fitted them to their vehicles—but that is iUegal. In doing so they have jeopardised their insurance cover. The confusion exists and ought to be dispeUed. First and foremost the Govemment should put a moratorium on the actions of machinery inspectors and poUce. As I heard one of my colleagues say earUer, the insurance companies are up to their neck in it; so they should declare a moratorium, also. Nobody should have his claim refused unless 708 31 August 1982 Address ia Rep^y it can clearly be proved that a modUication contributed to the accident. If that is so, I am sure we aU accept that, because we want safe vehicles on the road. The AustraUan Design Rules also need to be reviewed. Although that is a Federal role, the pressure must come from Queensland, because this is really where the pn-oblem is today. It is not good enough for a Minister to say, "Leave it to the organisations." Those organisations meet very rarely, and then, having made a determination, they must take the matters back to the States and some sort of agreement must be reached. So a random checking system that wiU be a deterrent to poor quality must be estabUshed immediately, and the onus of ensuring that quality prevails should be shared. But it should be kept in mind that to those in industry the cost of testing one unit is $5,000, and that GMH produces some 13 500 line items and buys 15 000 line items from outside. If there is to be a law that says that every one of those products, which are in fact legal, have to be made legal by a further test, manufacturers wiU face tremendous financial problems, and that should not be. We need to ensure that there are testing facilities, because there are none at the moment. At the same time, I suggest that this Parliament, whether by a select committee or by a departmental inquiry, start checking into the spare parts industry. Evidence given to me in the last week shows that spare i>arts sold by the car assemblers- genuine parts that are identical with the non-genuine parts but are in a different box- may in some cases cost 60 per cent to 100 per cent more than the non-genuine parts. I have reams of cases from those in the repair industiy proving how costly it can be if they stick to the law. I am saying that they are breaking the law because of the cost. The TtiajoT car assemblers in this nation have a monopoly, and that monopoly ought to be broken. I note in my reading that the COuncU of SmaU Business Organisations of Australia is calling for an inquiry into small business. I would urge them to expand their inquiry into these issues, because there is certainly a need to protect the many small businesses and their employees, whose jobs are at risk in the rather ridiculous situation that now prevails. While still on the subject of cars, I want to raise the question of roadworthy certificates. I weU appreciate that that matter has been dealt with on many occasions by my parUamentary coUeagues, but I have now come across a situation that sunply amazes me. The member -for Bulimba brought the matter to my notice at the week-end, prior to my going to a meeting of the Queensland Consumers Association, and I met with one of his constituents. He intends to pursue it, as I intend to right now. Completely false roadworthy certificates are being given. I have an instance of a person who was sold a vehicle in November last year. Withm three weeks he had a new roadworthy investigation carried out and about 10 major faults were found. In fact, the vehicle was put off the road. Some weeks ago in Rockhampton, I had a simUar case in which a person bought a second-hand Jaguar. Within a month, it had been given two certificates saymg it was roadworthy. It was then taken to a very reputable firm in my city and 24 major complaints were found. The vehicle is totally unroadworthy. Do members know where the onus lies? The onus is on the person who buys the vehicle, because the laws in this State say that if a person buys an unroadworthy vehicle, he must fix it. The new owner does not go back to the person who sold it to him. He fixes it and then takes a common law process against the vendor to get his money back. Mr Hartwig: They do their own roadworthies. Mr WRIGHT: I know they do. But as far as I can see, there is no reason why a person selfing a vehicle should be able to give his own declaration of roadworthiness. It should be given by someone else. If it is necessary to have special garages appointed and thoroughly checked from time to time that do only roadworthy checks, perhaps the Government ought to look at that answer. It is completely wrong to have on the road dangerous, mst-ridden cars that should never have left the lot, should never had been resold and should never have been registered. I repeat that the onus is on the buyer. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 709 While I am on the subject of buying, I inform honourable members that I have been investigating a group called the Queensland Buyers* Advisory Service, an organisation that I first supported in prmciple because I thought that if Gtovemment was not prepared to give reasonable information to consumers on quality and general purchases in the market place, let private enterprise do it. The booklet I have states— "The Queensland Buyers' Advisory Service Pty. Ltd., is a service organisation that operates on the basis of providing members with a varied range of services in return for the payment of an annual fee." It also says in this official document— "For any purchase over $100 members of Q.B.A.S. can obtain unbiased advice, the best possible price, and detaUed p>roduct specifications just by a single telephone call." That is a lie. I have recently had a meeting with a number of business people in this city, and they are prepared to sign statutory declarations that they were approached to become members of (^BAS from the retaUing point of view. They asked what the services were and what benefit they would get. Because they did not join their names will never be referred to by QBAS. Because some kitchen and rep>air firms would not accept blackmail tactics by QBAS, never wiU any unbiased advice be given about them. That firm has told businesses, "We will recommend your products but you will give us over $1,000. If you do not give us over $1,000 you wUl not be listed." If that is an advisory service, I will go hoppring to Timbuktu, Something should be done about it, I am aware that Jan Taylor of the Consumer Affairs Bureau has been outspoken about the pn-oblem. The people mnning that firm have no expertise. When asked on what bads they made repiresentations about a product they said that they did so only on the recommendations of the manufacturing firm. If a person wants to know anything about a kitchen suite or stove, QBAS rings the ntanufacturer and asks what is good about the product. What firm, in today's competitive domestic market-place, wiU downgrade its products? Is it any wonder that the manufacturer says it is the best product at the cheapest i>rice? That is not good enough. This is a questionable advisory service. It is also engaging in misrepresentation because its booklet says that it is unbiasel. It tends to tell consumers—^and I am told that some 20000 Brisbane people have joined—^that they can get advice by making a telephone call, that it shaU be unbiasol and that it shall be information of advantage to them. Mr R. J. Gibbs: It is almost a fraud. Mr WRIGHT: I accept the honourable member's comment. The firm should be mvestigated by the Corporate Affairs Office and, if necessary, by the Fraud Squad. We need an advisory service in (Queensland. It is a pity that the Govemment cannot expand the Consumer Affairs Bureau, or at least involve itself in some way to emure that important information is available. We ought not to condone such an enterprise. I know that it is making a lot of money. I do not begmdge the mon^. That is part of the system, regrettably, in too many circumstances. We should diange the system so that the consumer is protected. That is not possible while this situation prevails. (Time expired.) Mr BERTONI (Mt Isa) (7.47 p.m.): I rise with pleasure to take part in this debate and to express my allegiance and that of my constituents to Her Majesty the Queen. I also thank the Govemor for his excellent Opening Speech. I thank both His Excellency and Lady Ramsay for the part they are playing in Queensland. I am sure that many honourable members realise that the Governor and his lady have endeared themselves to country people by their understanding attitude towards the problems experienced by the country people of Queensland and Queenslanders generally. I was surprised to hear the honourable member for Rockhampton trymg to place J^n Conley as a member of the National Party. I thought he said that he was apoUtu:al. On one occasion I heard John Conley say that he was once a member of the Liberal Party. More to the point, John COnley recently issued a Press statement commending the Govemment's ap>proach to the problems associated with smaU business and accusing the member for Rockhampton and the ALP of being counter-productive. I believe that that may have sparked the honourable member into making his comments. 710 31 August 1982 Address in Reply The honourable member for Rockhampton may rest assured that the Government initiative relative to small business is part of National Party policy. I am sure that when the legislation is introduced Opposition members wiU recognise that the Govemment is taking action to protect small business and will continue to do so. Small business does not accept the ALP because it knows what happened when the ALP was in power in the Federal sphere. Opjposition members cannot deny that small business has deserted the ALP. ALP members will do anything to try to get small business back under their wings. I assure Op>px)sition members that the small business people will not accept the double-talk of the Labor Party on these issues. About 90 per cent of the constituents of my wonderful electorate at Mt Isa are involved in the mining industry. The remainder are involved in the beef industry and the raUways or are Aborigines. One of the greatest concerns at the moment in my electorate is the low world metal prices and their effect on the small and moderate-sized mines. Mr R. J. Gibbs: You haven't been in Mt Isa for three months. You are living a life of luxury at Jindalee with your chemist's shop. Mr BERTONI: I shall accept that interjection. The ALP has resorted to gutter-sniping and mud-sUnging in its campaigning in Mt Isa. The ALP has decided that it cannot get rid of me, certainly not on the work that I do in the area, so it has started asserting that I live in Brisbane. It is spreading the most vile mmours in Mt Isa. That is. typical of the low type of candidate that the ALP has in Mt Isa. As long as it continues making these allegations and mud-slinging, the people of Mt Isa will never vote an ALP candidate into office. Mr R. J. Gibbs interjected Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Wolston has previously been warned under Standing Order 123A. I shall not wam him again- Unless the honourable member controls his eniotions he wUl not remain in the Chamber to intermpt. Mr BERTONI: The major concern in my electorate is the low world metal prices. They have caused havoc with the small and moderate-sized mines. The effect has been felt not only in AustraUan mines but also, in American mines. It is due partly to countries such as Zambia, Zaire, Chile and Peru maintaining high levels of copper production because they have no other means of earning foreign currency. This is forcing the closure of our mines. One result is that the Gunpowder copper mine is to be put into moth-balls. That is causing deep concern in my electorate. At present there are 65 employees at the plant. They will be laid off progressively over the next six or seven weeks. Once again the lovely township of Gunpowder will be put into moth-balls. The sole cause is the low worid metal prices. I praise the unions for adopting a common-sense approach to the closure and accepting that the matter is out of the hands of Govemments. They realise that we wiU have to wait for rises in metal prices. It is a phy that once again the Gunpowder mine is bemg put onto a care and maintenance basis. It was done previously in 1977. It was closed for three or four years. It just got back into production and now it is again being closed. It is not good news in an area such as mine where mining companies are the life-blood of the community. Another matter that is causing deep concern is the Federal Govemment's recent amendment of the fertiliser subsidy legislation. The bounty on local phosphate has caused the people of Monument to wonder whether they will have jobs after Christmas. That is how seriously they are taking it. The amendment was rejected by the Democrats and the ALP in the Senate, but it has now been accepted and passed in both Houses. The people in my electorate are deeply concemed about the Government's policy of allowing subsidies on imported fertUiser. That has caused Mr Jack Andreazza, the manager in Monument—it is commonly known as Duchess phosphate—to state in a letter to the township of Monument that— ". . . Queensland rock would be the first source of rock to be discarded should any detrimental effects be felt by the fertUizer industry following the flow on of subsidy to imported fertilizer, however, we believe it may be some time before a clear picture wiU emerge. Our Australian customers have given Q.P.L. a contractual Address in Reply 31 August 1982 711 undertaking which to date has been honoured and business generally carried on in good wiU, this, we believe can continue for the remaining two years of our contract given a favourable supply demand situation in the market place. Having said this, it is clear that one of the more likely immediate effects that our customers may be subject to is the worsening drought situation in eastern Australia. We await what effect this will have on our customers." They were deeply concerned and distressed because of the possibiUty that the mine at Monument would have to be closed. Mr Smith: Do you know that 30 (XK) tonnes coming from Japan and Korea had to be landed at Townsville? Mr BERTONI: I can recaU when Monument was first closed down. At that time the Government was asked to keep the mine open. The directors of BHP South had decided to close the mine. The delaying tactics that were used at that time were useless. Information was avaUable on the amount of phosphate that was entering AustraUa. Statements were made by Doug Anthony that the phosphate at Naum would be in existence for the next 20 years. When he was challenged on it, he agreed that 20 years was possibly not its expected Ufe. We now know that it will not last for longer than a few years. Decentral isation poUcies in my electorate ought to be looked at very carefully. I beUeve that the Federal Government should legislate for a local content of phosphate to be used in fertiUser that is manufactured. The same procedure is adopted with Queensland nickel, for the motor vehicle industry, for Mt LyeU and for other multinational companies. When a Queensland or Australian firm is involved, the Government falls down on the job. I beUeve that more pressure should be applied to the Federal Government, which appears unsympathetic to the problems encountered by country people. The closure of the mine at Mary Kathleen is a matter causing major concem in my area. This year will see the final chapter of Mary Kathleen. Mr Jennings: Very sad, too. Mr BERTONI: Yes. It will be a very sad day when the Mary Kathleen uranium mine is finaUy shut down. The directors of Mary Kathleen Uranium Limited have announced that, because they have enough uranium oxide to fill the present contracts, the mine wUl be closed. Retrenchment notices have been issued to a number of people, and they have left. By the end of this year the majority of people will have left the mine. That leaves a problem of what to do with a beautiful tree-lined town with well-kept gardens and lawns. There are 212 homes in Mary Kathleen. It is a great place in which to rear a family. It is a Uttle oasis. Anyone who has been to Mary Kathleen has fallen in love with the township. The major problem that remains is what to do with the town. Under the present agreement with the Mines Department and Mary Kathleen Uranium Limited, it is necessary that everything be demolished so that the area can be returned to its natural state. How ridiculous! A large number of people go to aU the trouble of buUding the town, but absolutely nothing is done to try to maintain it for some other use. The people of Mt Isa are deeply concerned about the issue. The tourist development bureau approached the Government, the chamber of commerce joined the Cloncurry Shire Council and the Mt Isa City Council in making submissions and various Ministers have come to my electorate to discuss the problem. The Minister for Northern Development and Maritime Services (Mr Bird) held discussions in an endeavour to determine what could be done with the town. The Minister for Local Government, Main Roads and Police (Mr Hinze) held discussions whh the mining company and concerned people of Mt Isa. Talks were held between Mr Hinze, Mr Gibbs, Mary Kathleen Uranium officials and the Cloncurry Shire Council with a view to determining what could be done with the town. I must say that I was extremely disappointed at the attitude adopted at that meeting. It was a foregone conclusion that the town would be closed down and demolished. Mr Vaughan: You were disappointed at the attitude adopted by whom? Mr BERTONI: By the officials involved. 712 31 August 1982 Address in Reply Mr Vaughan: The Ministers? Mr BERTONI: No, not necessarily the Ministers—the officials involved. They beUeve they can sell equipment from the mine, houses and furniture to recoup some of the losses. At the time I queried the stated cost of maintenance of the township. I was told that it would exceed $1.5m. Mr Jennings: You would think they would have accepted the written-dovm value, wouldn't you? Mr BERTONI: I asked some of the company directors how much they would give the Cloncurry Shire Council to look after the township for them. They do not like to say the town is being bulldozed, but that is exactly what will happen to it. The cost of demolition wiU be very high and I thought that the company would be prepared to make a contribution to the Cloncurry Shire COuncU to enable it to maintam the town in its entirety or on a smaller scale. I was quickly put in my place and was told that the company had no intention at all of giving money to the councU; that it would rather demolish the town. The Government should object strongly to that type of thinking. At the recent National Party conference I suggested that the Government set up a task force to examine the whole matter and become more involved in trying to save the township of Mary Kathleen from demolition. I have managed to convince the Minister for Mines and Energy (Mr Gibbs) to come to my electorate to hold talks with interested parties. He wiU be there next Tuesday. The MKU officials said that they want a decision made by the end of September because they want to be able to auction the township and the mine equipment in about AprU of next year. I sincerely hope that the Minister will be able to play a greater role in helpnng to have the township saved. No-one in my area wants to see it demolished. The p)eople would be happy with a reduction in the size of the township to one that is manageable. When Mr Bird made his first visit to the electorate he agreed to discuss with a prominent entrepreneur the possibility of converting the township into a tourist centre. So far no reply has been received. All avenues are being explored. Many prop)osals have been put forward. It has been suggested that the town be converted into an aged persons' settlement, a prison farm or a military base. Recently, Senator CoUard made a statement about the problems associated with decentralisation. He said that the Govemment is establishing too many industries in the southem areas that would be close to attack. He said that it should decentraUse Australia's miUtary defence industries so that the country would be better placed in time of war. In referring to what Senator CoUard said, a Press report stated— "In an earlier statement, he said that the new McDonneU Douglas FA-18 should be built in Western Queensland and not in Melboume. In the event of a major conffict, AustraUa's security would be subject to extra unnecessary vulnerabiUty due to the centraUsation of major defence oriented industries. Senator CoUard said. At present, most of these industries, including munitions, aircraft design and assembly, explosives and electronics factories, repairs and maintenance workshops, are concentrated in Sydney and Melboume. It is therefore imperative that the Govemment aim toward a program of decentralisation by establishing defence instaUations and faciUties in inland Queensland. For example, the FA-18 could be assembled in Cloncurry, Longreach or Charleville with components manufactured in other provincial areas, Senator Collard said. Such a re-location would offer numerous advantages in providing a greater dispersal of industries. It would reduce the security risk and at the same time increase AustraUa's defence efficiency and strength." People are recommending many things, but can they get the Government to art? No, it will not act. I know that that is one of the major subjects that wiU be disoissai tomorrow when the Prime Minister is in my electorate for the presentation of the Burke Address in Reply 31 August 1982 713 Shire outback awards. Other matters that wUl be discussed are the future of Mary Kathleen and decentralisation. All the talking, pushing and shoving will be wasted unless the Govemments involved start to take notice of people in country areas. If Mary Kathleen were situated near the coast, hundreds and hundreds of people would want to buy that township but, because it is situated in the country, all pleas to retain the township fall on deaf ears. Nobody wants to listen to any talk about anything unless it is shuated in the south-east comer of the State. It is a shame that the Federal Govemment does not take more action to implement its decentralisation policy. It is said that Queensland is the most decentralised State in AustraUa, and that is correct. It will continue to be the most decentralised State in AustraUa. We hear talk about people and industries slowly moving out of country areas. A survey that was taken in the electorate of niy coUeague the member for Flinders (Mr Katter) showed that many people were satisfied with the medical, postal and other facUities that are available to them, but they all indicated that they wanted to leave the area because of their concern about road grants, freight concessions and the petrol equaUsaition scheme, which really is a farce in country areas. AU those things are placing an additional burden on people in rural areas. Their quality of life is not the same as that enjoyed by people who live in the south-east quarter. People are slowly but surely leavmg country areas. The Government shows apathy and will not take action to keep people in country areas. Mr Vaughan: The State Government? Mr BERTONI: No, I do not blame the State Government for that. It has done a tremendous amount of work for decentralisation, and I think that the honourable member would agree with that. When one considers the coal-mines and the industries that are being developed outside the south-east corner, one realises that Queensland is a most decentralised State. It is miles ahead of the other States. They are lagging behind. The Federal Government has to do something about decentralisation. Because Burke Shire has only one telephone line for a very large area, it takes two to three hours to get a telephone connection. When I complained about that to the Federal Government, I was just shrugged off and told that to provide another line out there would be too costly. The Federal Government did not care about the poor people who have to live there and pay the same tax as anybody else but have to put up with such inconveniences as impassable roads during the wet season, which I will come to later. Those people have been neglected for too long by the Federal Government with its policy of first looking after city areas such as Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and, to a lesser extent, Brisbane. The further north one lives, the less one is thought of. I do not know how the Federal Government can beUeve that the people accept its policies. Most people in my electorate complain of its poUcies—not that a Labor Party Government would be any better. My community sees very little in the present Federal Budget that affects them. I admit that the Government has given a few more dollars in the family income, but that is about all. The major problem in my electorate is communication, whether it is by air, road, rail, or telephone. The problem of zone aUowances has been discussed quite openly by my constituents. Recentiy the Federal Govemment was approached to increase the zone aUowance to at least $1,000 for people who live in country areas to help them overcome some of the inconvenience and to assist them in paying for such things as high freight costs. Much was said about that and the Government sent up what seemed to be a sympathetic team to investigate the problem. However, the decision was to wipe Mt Isa off the list; it was not to have any zone allowance. That caused another furore and, as a result, the Government restored the zone aUowance that had existed previously. That was a great exercise in futUity. Does the Federal Government really think that the people of my electorate are so dumb that they do not know that they were had? The exercise was: take it off them, give it back to them, and now they should be satisfied. But the people are back to where they were many years ago and I am sure they will not stand for that; neither should they. The zone allowance should be mcreased so that it is in proportion to the difficulties in the area. Certainly it should not be reduced. 19780-25 714 31 August 1982 Address in R^y Mr Prest: Do you think the Aborigines in your area should be getting hand-outs from the Federal Govemment? Mr BERTONI: No, I do not believe in hand-outs. Mr Prest: That is what you are asking for. Mr BERTONI: No. I ask the honourable member to interject later when I come to that point. I wUl tell him a few things. As I said, air transport is a very important form of commuiucation in my electorate. I am sure honourable members recall the exercise of BPA, as it then was, trying to take over western services with its Metroliners and the pressure that was applied to the Government to stop that. The complaint from BPA was that it needed to expand its services to become more viable and to obtain more flaianciaUy rewarding routes. But the country members did not want that type of reduced service and, in its wisdom, the Govemment rejected the take-over move. BPA was given some coastal routes and then changed, its name to Air Queensland. However, it has now applied to reduce aU its services in country areas and to hand them over to smaller enterprises. The problem is that although Air Queensland receives a subsidy for one or two services a week, the small operators would also have to supply one or two services a week. That is subject to Australia Post contributing to the services. But if that body decides that it no longer wishes to have a twice-weekly service or a weekly service, it wiU reduce its contribution and those services wiU stop. If that happens, country areas will get, at best, air services only once every fortnight. Therefore, it is imperative that the Govemment makes sure of its ground before any change is made and services to country areas are reduced, particularly those in the electorates of Cook and Mt Isa. I understand that they are to be handed over to private enterprise—to smaU operators who do not really have the financial backing to ensure a regular service. We will be in trouble unless the Government guarantees the retention of those services at the present rate. I foresee a major problem occuring at election-time. A country constituent would first have to apply for a postal vote. The returning officer would send out a ballot-paper, but the whole process must be completed within three weeks. If some of those areas are to be serviced only once every fortnight, how can the Government expect ballot-papers to be retumed in time? What will those ballot-papers be worth? Nothing! An elector will 6e denied his legal right to cast a valid vote. But that is only one problem. What if a person on Momington Island gets sick and requkes speciaUst attention? If a patient is brought to Mt Isa for treatment he will have to wait for a week before he can get a service back. People are entitled to a service to the main airport in an area and back again within a reasonable time. I do not say that it should be the next day, but it should certainly be within a few days. Mr Jennings: They should never have changed the name from Bush Pilots. Mr BERTONI: No, I think they just conned everybody by changing it to Air Queensland. My other ever-present problem is roads. I intend to be highly critical of the Federal (jovemment's fuel policy. Some years ago when the Federal Government increased the excise on fuel it said that the increase was due to the increased price of fuel purchased from OPEC. That was acceptable. Then when the market price went down there was StUl an increase in the excise, but this time, the Federal Govemment said, it was because the monetary situation had changed. Now it has increased again because it says the States are going to get some money to spend on the roads. If people are not being conned, I do not know who is. The equalisation scheme is not effective in my area, and when the Government imposes an increase in excise, it will hit country people a lot harder than city dwellers because we travel many more miles on a day's joumey than do our city cousins. It is a fact of life that we have to travel many miles to get from point A to point B, so we wfll be hit harder by this new imposition. Even the proposed new road grants a« inadequate. Many roads in my area are impassable in the wet season, and some roads In the Burketown area are out for two or three months. Some of the roads in my electorate are so narrow that a car and a road train cannot pass. I know that the ^ of widening the road between Cloncurry and Mt Isa would be in the vicinity of $36ni. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 715 but at least a start should be made on it. When a section of the road needs to be repaired, it should not be patched but widened. That would be a sensible ap>proach. As long as the roads are just patched the problem will remain. Unless more is done, roads in country areas wiU never achieve an acceprtable standard. I get frequent complaints from my constituents who travel down into the south-east corner of the State. They see the excellent four-lane highways—I know the population justifies it—^^and find it hard to reconcile them with the dangerous little narrow roads that they have to put up with. If a motorist moves off to the side of those roads, he is liable to have a fatal accident. I suggest that the Minister looks urgently at the problem of North (^eensland roads. Earlier I heard a member from one of the Tovmsville electorates referring to narrow bridges. There is nothing worse for a country motorist than to be travelling along at an ordinary pace ap)proaching a one-lane bridge only to see an unsuspecting tourist on the other side who does not know who should enter the bridge first. Although "Give Way" signs are provided at one end of the bridge, it is difficult for drivers to determine whether they will be able to cross in time. Far more money must be spent on roads. They are a major problem in my area and the whole of North Queensland. Education is of pjrime importance to all country people. When the opportunities available to country children are not as good as those provided in the south-east corner of the State, either they have to attend boarding-schools or be educated with limited facilities. At one time representations were made to get Years 11 and 12 at Cloncurry. The Education Depurtment said that it could not do that and that anybody wanting to proceed to Years 11 and 12 would have to go to Mt Isa. That meant the break-up of families. Many famUies became fed up and left the area. Eventually Ooncurry got its high top. It StabUised the population. However, we now have a problem in that the manual arts section and the home economics section are accommodated in a school that was built in 1884. It is almost 100 years old. It is now time that the Government provided a new school at Cloncurry. The Works Department issued a directive that certain areas of the school would not be maintained because they were condemned, but all the children are still educated there. The Government, in its wisdom, bought 12 ha of land on which to build a new school, but I cannot get the Government to agree to building it by 1984. It is natural to think that students in my area who include a manual arts course in their higher education have in mind returning to the land or working in country areas. But many students have to study history and French because of the lack of equipment and facilities to train all of them in home economics and manual arts. We cannot expect people to Uve under adverse conditions in the country and put up with a poor education system. I appeal to the Minister for Education, who is in the House, to seriously consider building a new school at Cloncurry. It is urgently required. The Minister's predecessor (Mr Val Bird) agreed to the high top. It was the best thing to happen to the town. A new school would be greatly ap>preciated. It would stabilise the work-force and let our chUdren be trained in the same way as chUdren are trained in the South. The inland medical service was the vision of Dr Harvey Sutton, a man who is well liked and well-loved by all people in the area. He envisaged bringing medical care to country people, not just to those in the townshipw who can msh to a doctor when they suffer a cold or have a minor accident. He had in mind people living on stations and in far-flung areas like Karumba and Normanton, which are visited only occasionally by doctors. He also had in mind Burketown, which has no doctor. His vision included even Momington Island. He had the idea of providing a service that would encompass all of my electorate and that of the honourable member for Flinders. Dr Harvey Sutton would fly doctors to various areas and provide a regular weekly service so that the people could discuss their medical problems with a doctor. It was a tremendously well-accepted vision and service in the area. , Dr Harvey Sutton may not fulfil his dreams because the service was a financial loss in certain areas. On a number of occasions he asked the Government for financial assistance. The Govemment has had many discussions with him and with the IMS committee. Recently there were discussions in the Premier's office involving the Premier, the Minister for Health, Dr Harvey Sutton, the Rev Father Ray Ayles and myself. It was agreed that if the Govemment gave Dr Harvey Sutton $40,000 as a once-only payment he could survive the financial problems and keep the medical service aUve, 716 31 August 1982 Address in Reply The service does not act in competition with the Royal Flying Doctor Service; it augmented it. They worked well together. The Royal Flying Doctor Service is Government- supported and the people are appreciative of the work it does. Dr Harvey Sutton's service went to areas that were not visited by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and also on a more regular basis to some areas that it did visit. The result was that the Royal Flying Doctor Service increased its visits to those areas. The matter has been before Cabinet on many occasions. Each time the request has been refused. It is difficult to understand why the Government does not fully reaUse that medical care is an essential part of Ufe in the Inland, and I do not think it would place a burden on the Government to supply $40,000 on a once-only basis to keep the service operating. I am disappointed that, after all the discussions I have had with Ministers and other people concerned, support has not been forthcoming for a service that they agreed needed supjport. Even the ALP says it supports the service. Everybody seems to support it, but it does not receive any financial backing from the Govemment. It would be a tremendous disappointment if it closed down after the end of this year. I have always said, and I will continue to say, that the Government should make finance available for junior inter-city competitive sport. (Time expired.) Mr JENNINGS (Southport) (8.28 p.m.): I express the loyalty of my electors and myself to Her Majesty the Queen, to the country and to the flag. One thing that impresses me when I travel is seeing our flag with the Union Jack and the Southern Cross on it. I congratulate the Governor and Lady Ramsay, who do an excellent job for the State. They are part of our system. Sometimes it is regrettable that people tend to denigrate that system, because it is part of the greatest system in the world. The honourable member for Mt Isa outlined a number of interesting facts about the people in remote areas, the problems in remote areas and the importance of those areas to Australia. Sometimes we forget, and sometimes the Federal Government forgets, that one of the basic reasons for our economic problems is that we are remote. Australia's population is something of the order of 4.5 people a square mile. In the United States it is about 55 to 60 a square mile and in Japan it is 790 a square mile. At the same time, AustraUa is the most overgoverned democracy in the free world. At one stage, one person in four was employed in the Public Service; it is now between one in three and one in four. That compares with one in 12 in the United States and one in 14 in Germany and Switzerland. Whenever we talk about shorter working hours and less work and more pay, all we are doing is putting more people out of work and increasing overheads. That gets back to basic economic problems, and I shall say more on that subject later. The member for Rockhampton referred to a management skiU scheme. I would be interested to hear more about that. I was fascinated by his mentioning it. Our basic philosophy of private enterprise, as borne out by the Govemor's Opening Speech, is that whatever we do and whatever we say in each State, security of the nation comes first. No-one can argue with that. International alliance comes second, because it affects our security. A strong private-enterprise economy is required. Unless that exists, taxes are not available to pay for social welfare. With a strong private-enterprise economy our social welfare should be better than that of any other country in the world. If people put money in the bank, they must be assured that it will be secure from inflation. If somebody buys a property at a reasonable price, he must be assured that it will not be devalued by independent bureaucratic action. If a person works hard, he should be assured of a reasonable return for his work. During recent months, we have heard a lot of talk about glooni and doom and how the economy has gone down. I must admit that recently I was pleased to see many more lights on in the high-rise buildings at night on the Gold COast than there have been in the last few months. That is a very good sign. There is no doubt that gloom and depression feed upon themselves. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 717 Sometimes members of ParUament forget that pyrofits are the incentive and basic reason for private enterprise. Once a person sets about destroying the ability to make profits, he destroys the basis of our whole country. The good systems that operate in this country are understandable. As home out by the Costigan report, taxation is so compUcated and difficult that wheelers, dealers and crooks are involved in it. A simple method of taxation, such as a flat rate of taxation in some form or other—I am not saying that it should be 20 per cent—should be introduced to eliminate the crooks from the system. A basic and intense belief in the rights of the individual is required. If we do not have that, we wiU not have the will to defend it. Our history revolves around the lucky country in which we live; there is no doubt about that. However, we will not be lucky for much longer if we side-step hard work. A national scheme providing incentives in every industry and every factory would tend to create a shuation in which people wanted to work. A lot of union leaders tend to ran away from that phUosophy. If employees knew they would go home with more money, they would work harder. At the moment, the reverse applies in many cases. From my experience in the building and housing industries, I state that there has not been a major strike since 1952. I have said, and I wiU go on saying, that the reason for that is that the small gangs of subcontractors, including the plasterers and tUers, work for themselves. The member for Nudgee scoffs at that remark. I repeat: there have not been any strikes in the housing industry since 1952. Australian companies have proven world-wide that they can produce houses more cheaply and more efficiently than any other country. Mr Vaughan interjected. Mr JENNINGS: I can imagine why the member for Nudgee is interjecting. His leader said that Queensland famiUes had not received any spin-off from the resources boom. He said that he would arrange a meeting with other Labor leaders to decide their policy on resources, and that there should be a more equitable distribution of wealth. I do not know whether the Leader of the Opposition has had that meeting. Not one suggestion has been advanced by him about a more equitable distribution of wealth. I can understand the sUence in the Labor Party, because there is no better system for the equitable distribution of wealth than private enterprise, with people working hard and achieving results. Profits have been the motivator and incentive since time immemorial. Mr Smhh: Honest profits. Mr JENNINGS: I could not agree more. That is what I am talking about. Mr Warburton: There is not much evidence of it round, is there? Mr JENNINGS: It depends on whether a person opens his eyes. If the honourable member for Sandgate visited some places and saw how some people work and the productivity that they achieve, he would agree that a considerable number of hard-workers are achieving a result, and they deserve that result. If the member for Sandgate cannot see why some people, such as the employees of Utah, deserve the wages and incentives that they are receiving, that is his fault. He has not looked very far. The honourable member for Nudgee might make a similar comment. Those honourable members might complain about a worker getting more money because he works harder; I don't. The union leaders know full well that if a man works harder he gets more money. The worker does not want to go on strike. It is aU very well for the honourable members for Nudgee and Sandgate to claim that there are no workers earning more money. If they cannot see that fellows are working harder, they have a big problem. No wonder the Labor Party is in strife. I deplore the attitude of those two members. To my mind every Australian worker is the best worker in the world. Given the right leadership he is a fair-dinkum vvorker. That is exactly why last week when the union leaders lined up all the men and tried to get them to stay on strike the men wanted to go back to work. They knew that 40 hours a week is fair and fair dinkum. A democracy is Uke a goldfish bowl. Members of the Communist Party have a different method of operating. I am deeply concemed about the intemational growth of communism, p>articularly in the USSR. Russia has bigger and better weapons. A lot of Its technology has come hot from its resources but from our side, the capitaUst side, the free 718 31 August 1982 Address in Reply enterprise side. Our side has the ability to produce and is given the incentive to produce. Communists and other people who want to undermine our system can criticise us, subvert us and denigrate us. They know we are absolutely free. Frequently people criticise the mining industry. It is one of the most imprartant industries to the future of this country. Many people tend to forget how much money is spent before one mine comes into production. The latest figures reveal that approximately $50m is spent on exploration before one mine is brought into production. In other words, of every thousand authorities to prospect that are granted, 100 may be examined on the ground, 10 may be drilled and one is brought into production. Every incentive should be given to the mining companies to go out and explore for minerals. Every encouragement should be given to driU a risky bore here and drill a risky bore there. That is what will provide our future. Our country is big. The member for Mt Isa said that, and everyone knows it. I turn now to my electorate of Southport. I compliment the Minister for Education for the schools that are provided in my electorate. New schools are being constructed and their establishment has been well planned. The Minister and his officials deserve fuU credit. Often I shudder when I think of the bureaucracy in the Health Department and the Education Department. However, in the provision of schools, desks and seats behind those desks the Education Department, together with the Works Department, deserves congratulations. The Main Roads Department is keeping up with the constmction of roads in my electorate. The Southport-Nerang Road and Bundall Road, which are very busy thorough fares, are upgraded continually. Numerous problems arose at the Southport Court House. The buUding was filled to capacity. However, a new court-house is being constmcted and will be of great benefit to the electorate. Many problems arise in developing areas, such as Southport, Surfers Paradise, Albert and the Gold Coast as a whole. A recent problem concerned the nursing home at Southport. It was fascinating to see how it was resolved. I wish to make a point about building contracts. I have met a number of people who have signed buUding contracts that do not contain the copyright conditions of contracts. They are not proper contracts at all. The plans and specifications are very brief. People get carried away wdth the idea that the pwice shown on the contract is the maximum price and that it might be less. Of course, it is never less. I have referred some of these matters to the Building Advisory Board which, after looking at the contracts, has thrown up its hands in horror. Recently, I had to negotiate with a builder and his client. I wrote out a document and got both of them to sign it. At least, in the end, they both thanked me. But the point is that the dispute should never have arisen. The contract was not clear and specific. The buyer was not sure what she was getting, and the builder had only a hazy idea of what he was providing. An argument developed, and once an argument develop)s between a builder and his cUent, the pxMition gets worse and worse. Anyone building a home anywhere must, first of all, go to a reUable solicitor and get a p>roper contract drawn up so that the buyer knows exactly what he is getting and the builder knows what he should provide. I have met builders who make variations but they never get anything signed. Frwn the point of view of builder-cUent relationdiip, if there is any variation a builder should get a document signed stating, "This is a variation." If there is no additional cost he should write "No cost" on it. A great deal of my time i» taken up in sorting out these disputes. It is important that, in the future, people should do what I have suggested. There is a most unusual shuation in Federal Parliament at present. The Co*t>8*" report has been pn-esented. The Australian Labor Party, through its Federal leader (fioi Hayden) and its propaganda machme, has set out to pwomote the doubtful p>ropo$ition that the members of the Labor Party are lily-whites. It is up to the Federal Government to dedde how it wUl handle that report about the Painters and Dockers Union, ^* |J* matter is important to the future of this country. Graft and corruption are the only things that wUl ever destroy our society, it cannot be destroyed from within. All of us, regardless of whether we are Liberals or members of the National Party or the Labor Address in Reply 31 August 1982 719 Party, are loyal to our country. There will never be a revolution in this country. As I say, the only things that will destroy our society are graft and cormp>tion. They are the greatest disease of any democracy. The report on the Painters and Dockers Union is important, but it is not new. An article in "The Bulletin" of 11 June 1977 stated— "'The real power in Australia is whh the trade unions, then comes the public service, then you blokes in the media. The politicians don't really matter', a fmstrated businessman observed recently." Referring to trade unions, the article continued— "Notoriously, the membership takes little interest in the affairs of their unions. Leaderships, sometimes elected by minute percentages of members, weild enormous power over employees. Violence, while not commonplace, tends to be an increasing part of the trade union scene. The building industry is one of AustraUa's biggest and most important, and h's StiU staggering under the decline of the economy in the past couple of years. Now it could weU be again threatened with a revival of the violent destructive upheavals that continually wracked it between 1969 and 1976. This grim possibUity arises because of the curious nature of the building industry unions—it's not a case of your normal right-wing, left-Jwing struggle. Here it is a case of a group of non-aligned communists being in bitter conflict with a group of 'pro-Chinese' communists—both of whom are against a group of 'pro-Moscow' communists. The possibiUty of violence and physical intimidation is widely recognised." That was stated in June 1977. In July 1977, a detailed, investigative article, headed "Painters and Dockers. 'We catch and kUl our own'", ap>peared in "The Bulletin" It stated— "In comparison with other unions, it is smaU, but its record of violence and murder among its own ranks is unparalleled in AustraUan union history. In this, the second last of his series, Alan Reid tells the grim story of the Painters and Dockers' Union. With only 2100 to 2 500 members scattered around Australian ports, the Federated Painters and Dockers' Union is numerically insignificant. But it has power, real pxxwer. It is among the most turbulent of the nation's unions. And its record is frightening. Its Melboume branch (330 strong) is a kiUing ground with a bloodstained history of murders, woundings, bombings, arson, and union elections conducted under the menace of a machine-gun. In 1973, its Victorian secretary, Pat Shannon, joined those gunned to death (one of those convicted of Shannon's murder was subsequently himself knifed to death while in Pentridge jail). Voicing almost a Sicilian code, its Federal secretary, Terry Gordon, at an inquiry into alleged payments to the maritime unions, told Royal Commissioner J. B. Sweeney, 'We catch and kill our own.' The union's Fremantle branch (with some 73 to 79 on the casual roster) devised what Royal Commissioner Sweeney described as 'a bogus system (under which) . no work at all was done by painters or dockers but money was paid to them as though they worked. '" That was in July 1977. There is no doubt that the Painters and Dockers and GaUagher and the Builders Labourers Federation have UteraUy been getting away with murder for a long time. I wiU be interested to see what else arises out of the COstigan inquiry. Certainly the Victorian land deals have been mentioned. I mention that because the new Labor Premier of Victoria (John Cain), whom I know weU, has raised a number of issues, one of the most important of which is why in 1974 when the corruption and doubtful deals were first exposed in the newspapers, not one question was asked by the Labor Oppositicm in Victoria—not one question in the spring or autumn sessions of ParUament and not one question in a session thereafter. Not until after I was elected to the Victorian Parliament was a question asked about them. Hiis is sO important because 720 31 August 1982 Address in Reply the Victorian Premier has in his Cabinet Ministers who were in those days shadow Ministers but who did not get to their feet to ask questions about these deals when they became pubUc. , The Victorian Government has discussed nuclear shif>s, but one of the simple things it is now considering—this is when Labor ideology sometimes gets out of kUter vrith what is right and what is wrong—is handing back economic powers to plannipg authorities. In other words, planning authorities will have the power to purchase and sell property. Previous experience has shown that all a planning authority has to do to undermine values in any area is make a statement that a certain pjroperty wUl be acquired within two years. Once that statement is made the property value is destroyed. I now wish to refer to an organisation in my electorate known as the Gold Coast Waterways Authority. I have heard much about that authority and it takes up a great deal of my time. The actions of the authority are important to the local people, to tourism and to the Government. On 1 September 1980, before I was elected to Pariiament, I made a statement about The Broadwater. Because I think it is ap>propriate, I will repeat it now— "I am now and always would be totally op>posed to any building development on the Broadwater or islands in it and I am sure the pelicans would agree. To contemplate such a course would be to contemplate a serious precedent which would see so many people adversely affected and destroy one of the beautiful vistas of Southport." I repeated that on 24 November 1980. Before I was elected, I made a point of stating that I would protect the area. 1 say that because the Gold Coast Waterways Authority has, over a period, become involved with a super salesman and prepared a number of plans for presentation. These plans have been rejected by many people, but the authority insists that they have been accepted by a number of people. I feel that the authority has set out to mislead the people. It has refused to provide information. It does not provide copies of its minutes. It has not provided any costings of its projects. Some members of the authority have a personal and professional interest in what it is doing. After the election I said that a referendum was a waste of time and that it was more important to obtain an environmental impact study. What is required is a revised stabilisation of the bar, proper clearance of all the channels to ensure that they can be used by boats of all sizes and proper control of The Broadwater to ensure that anchored boats do not pollute. Many objections have been lodged to the authority's plans. People want that area preserved. The problem is that the authority's entire basic concept of flogging off public property to pay for public works was wrong. Existing public recreation areas should not be substituted with controlled areas, preventing people from enjoying an area as they had previously. The southern end of The Southport Broadwater has to be retained. The authority is talking about pmtting in over 100 acres of earth fiU. No-one in his right mind would do that. Perhaps a few people want it, but the majority do not. When the waterways authority proposed the building of a casino at the end of The Spit, that gave most people a pretty good idea of just how good the authority's ideas were. The authority has already stated quite clearly that it has no estimate of the cost of its latest submission. No cost benefits have been prepared. Consequently, it is completely unacceptable to everyone in the area. When the authority said that its projects had not received much public comment- that it felt opinion was about equal for and against—it had obviously completely forgotten the petition containing 7 200 signatures that I presented to this Parliament. It is unfortunate that certain members of the authority have stated that they intend to proceed with legal action against the authority. The latest plan, which includes 600-odd units, a resort hotel, marinas and so on, B not acceptable to people in the area, and it is ridiculous for the authority to proceed in the manner U is attempting to move at the moment. Address in Reply 31 August 1982 721 I turn now to our unions. It is important to emphasise that the Communist structure has a well-organised, well-controlled and ruthless full-time organisation paid for by captive unions. We have a responsibility to protect trade-unionists, and I think that they realise that in Queensland they are being protected. We have to encourage and organise industry to stand up to and fight these irresponsible unions, because it is in the interests of the majority of the men who are working Mr R. J. Gibbs: Who are they? Mr JENNINGS: Firstly, there is Mr Hamilton. I know that the member for Wolston has said that he wants Australia to become a republic. I cannot understand his thinking; but he wants AustraUa to become a republic, and that is exactly what the Communists want. Originally they wanted Australia to be a republic. That is what the member for Wolston wants, but I do not. I believe in our system of monarchy and our flag. I believe our future revolves around the monarchy. Mr R. J. Gibbs: Why? Mr JENNINGS: It is something that we can follow. It is the basis of our history. It made this country. 1 wonder why Opposition members do not want secret ballots. In the recent big strike no secret baUots were conducted. Is it any wonder that the union leaders are against secret ballots, when the Communist-controlled unions continue to try to mn this country in the way that the AMWSU has tried? Strictly speaking, there are no such people as Communists. Not even in Russia has Communism pn-evailed. It wUl never do so. All the talk about the disappearance of the State and the appearance of the communal society in which men wUl work for the good of all, with coercion and bmtality no longer being necessary, is just a load of rubbish. The Communists know that they can succeed only through the breakdown of organised religion and the ap>pUcation of brute force. An Opposition Member: Rubbish. Mr JENNINGS: It is right. The honourable member cannot try to tell me anything different. No sociaUst or Communist nation has been taken over by democracy, but there has been much of the reverse. Intemational Communism has not deviated one iota from its objective. Mr Stephan: It wants chaos. Mr JENNINGS: That is so. An Op>posUion Member interjected. Mr JENNINGS: Opposition members favour peace with the Commos. They favour giving Russia a country that does not belong to it, and say that people who resist such take-overs are against peace. In their minds d'etente means agreeing with the Commos. Enormous pjroblems are developing in various areas. The USSR worked out a new system in the 1970s, and used the Cubans to take over Angola. Mr R. J. Gibbs: Who are these subversive elements? Mr JENNINGS: The member for Wolston may not know, but Ben CJiifley knew. In 1945, when the Commos Thornton and McPhilip>s organised the great steel strike, he got the wOTkers back by threatening to bring in the Army. In 1947 he again beat the Communists black ban of the Woomera Rocket Range by p>assing the Approved Defence Projects Act. In the winter of 1949, when Ben Chifley was faced with the great coal strike, he passed the National Emergency COal Strike Act, froze union funds and used the Army to produce coal. Those are facts. Mr R. J. Gibbs: That was 33 years ago. Mr JENNINGS: A couple of weeks ago the honourable member for Nudgee made the most disgraceful statement I have heard in this House when he referred to the Premier as being similar to Hhler. Mr Vaughan: That is right. 722 31 August 1982 Address in Re^y Mr JENNINGS: That is a disgrace. When I think of what Hitler did to the worid I can only say it is most unfortunate that the honourable member for Nudgee should repeat that statement. It is the most terrible description to apply to anyone. We know that inflation destroys everything that we hold to be unportant. It is essential to maintain the value of our dollar. Shorter working hours and higher pay can only increase inflation. Mr Hayden said that the Costigan report would blow people's heads off. The Costigan report may not do that, but I am sure that the painters and dockers would if people did not agree with them. Mr R. J. Gibbs: In Western Australia, in the Liberal Party, prostitution blew some heads off. Mr JENNINGS: The Labor Party in Victoria did not do much when it had an' opportunity to take action. I am totally opposed to tax cheats. The point about the leaked reports is that Mr Costigan said he found high-level cormption. TTiat is extremely serious, (juite Obviously much must be done about it. It is notable that no inquiry was held in the Albury-Wodonga affair when a prima facie case was established that $20m had been misspent. No fewer than five^ Governments were involved. They were a New South Wales Labor Government, a New South Wales Liberal Government, a Federal Labor Governmoit, a Federal Liberal Government and a Victorian Liberal Government. We should all be concerned with stamping out graft and corruption wherever it occurs. I am absolutely horrified at the gross negUgence in the Crown Solicitor's Office in Perth. The book should be thrown at anybody in a Government department who does the wrong thing, as was done in Western AustraUa. The same applies to the painters and dockers, the seamen and the builders' labourers. I am 100 per cent in favour of throwing the book at tax cheats. The Taxation Department can currently go back a long way into records. However, if retrospective legislation is introduced, it wiU put at risk every document that is made. It will put at risk wiUs, powers of attorney, trust deeds, pensions, superannuation, court judgments and many other documents. All of them are drawn up in accordance with the laws of the land at the time. They could all be put at risk. The honourable member for Warrego mentioned increases in air navigation charges. I could not agree more with what he said. Air navigation charges pose big problCTis in remote areas. The people in those areas need to use air transport. When I was livmg at Mt Surprise, it cost me about $27 a year to register my aircraft. It now costs hundreds of dollars and, in addition, there have been huge increases in fuel costs. When things are going well, everything looks rosy; but the Mt Surprise area is presently experiencing a drought. During the year, the chairman of the Etheridge Shire, Mr Stan Collins, retired. He and I worked together because, at the time, the Government intended to close down the Forsayth railway line. We were elected to the shire on our campaign to keep the line open. After three years we stood for election again. We were able to say, "Three years ago we said we would keep the raUway line open and it is still open" It is stUl open today. The honourable members for Mt Isa and Warrego mentioned the Federal Budget. I remember how important the beef roads scheme was to the people of the North in the 1960s. It affected everybody in that area, and I hope that the Federal Govemment remembers its importance. The inland areas are one of Australia's greatest natural resources. Although we have coal and many other assets, traditionally our greatest natural resource has been the large inland areas of grazing and grain land on which cattie and sheep could feed. When I went there, it did not take me long to realise that, with the right sort of investment m the cattle industry and good management, a person could double his investment by the end of the third year, treble it by the end of the fifth year and quadmple it by the end of the sixth year. That still applies, but sometimes one tends to forget it. The honourable member for Mt Isa said that we should encourage people to go into the inland areas. It is important to have the right taxation zones in the bush. Address in R^ly 31 August 1982 723 Recently a journalist wrote that politicians work 13 hours a week. That may apply to some honourable members. If we closed our offices for a month and took no telephone calls, we might catch up, because that is how far behind we are. It is completely irresponsible for a journalist to claim that we work only 13 hours a week. When people contribute to a political p>arty—and I do not care which party it is—^there are two matters of importance. The first is that their contribution should be treated as confidential. The second is that they are entitled to nothing more nor less than the platform and the policy of the party. If someone makes a donation to a poUtical party, and makes that pubUc knowledge, his donation should be returned because he compromises everyone in the party. There are many thmgs for which we should be thankful. One of those things for which we should be thankful is the Opposition, particularly its leader. I hope that he retains his position because it makes the job of Government members much easier. High interest rates are an important aspect of our economy. The reduction in interest rates in the United States and the increasing activity on Wall Street are very pleasing. I hope that we can reap the benefits of the faUing interest rates. My time has almost expired, but there are some brief comments I wish to make. Most people in this country, no matter what their political affiUations might be, are proud of their homes, their properties, their towns, their State, their country and their flag. I do not include the Communists in that group. Basically we have a great country in which to live. We are very lucky to have it. We have also been very lucky to have National-Liberal Governments in office in Queensland for the last 25 years. , (Time expired.) Mr WARBURTON (Sandgate) (9.6 p.m.): On 3 August this year the Gpvemor, Sir James Maxwell Ramsay, opened the second session of the Forty-third Parliament. It is always interesting to hear the Govemor's Opening Speech and to peruse his speech in "Hansard" the following day, mainly to see what he has said and possibly to consider what he has not said, particularly in terms of what that means in respect of one's own electorate. In his Opening Speech the Governor said— "The Queensland Government completed the 1981-82 financial year with a balanced ConsoUdated Revenue Budget." That is not something that is new. It is the sort of thing that we have come to expect in the Governor's Opening Speech. Honourable members are not sufficiently naive to think that the Governor himself writes the speeich that he reads. Having met the man on numerous occasions and knowing him well, 1 am sure he would be disappointed if I suggested he did. The fact is that he read something that was concocted by the scribes of the Government. The Governor has the responsibility to read exactly what they prepare. Of course, if he had any grave doubts about the accuracy of the statements contained in it, I have no doubt that Sir James would be quick to correct the position. I have quoted a comment that he made concierning the Consolidated Revenue Budget. Unfortunately, because of high inflation, high taxes and record unemployment, many of the constituents in my electorate are not quite so fortunate; they have not been able to balance their budget. For the same reason, many others have only just been successful in balancing their budget. I wonder when the public will finally pull aside the veil that is spread year after year about the balancing of the Budget. What is it? It is quite a simple and interesting exercise. A budget is balanced by spending what is received. That is exactly what the family tries to do. It is easy to balance a. budget. It is easy to spend only what is received. That is exactly what the Government does. It shows no initiative. It has reduced services significantly over a lengthy period. Complaints that are brought forward in this Chamber concerning the lack of housing— that is one of the highlights of recent criticism of the Government—education, rail 'services, and so on, show conclusively that my. comments are correct. Balancing a budget does not mean a great deal in terms of government. It is time that the Government introduced some honesty into its statements and said that, in spending only the amount of money that it received by way of taxes and from other sources, it has actually cut services and failed to meet all the requirements of the people of Queensland. That has happened for many years, and it is continuing to happen. I shall not dwell on specific aspects. 724 31 August 1982 Address in Reply I have said that it is interesting to read the Governor's Opening Speech in terms of how it affects one's electorate. I would be the first to admit that in a naturally developing State some good things would come from the Government's Budgets. No matter into whose hands the control of Queensland is placed over the years, the State's natural developmient and naturaUy developing economy—^it is suffering from a downturn at present—^would ensure that some good things happen, provided common sense prevails. The Govemor said— "The fleet of modern rolling-stock, both passenger cars and goods wagons, is being progressively augmented and the suburban electrification scheme is progressing satisfactorily." It is extremely pleasing to me, and, I am sure, to my constituents, to realise that finally the electrification scheme between Kingston and Shorncliffe is about to be completed. The first electric tram is due to run on that Une in a fortnight's time. That will be particularly pleasing to those railway passengers who have had to put up with the old wooden carriages that have run on the line since electrification began. I shaU be pleased to associate myself with the scheme next Saturday, because I sincerely believe that it wiU be a boost not only to the constituents in the Sandgate electorate but also to those commuters who travel great distances between their home and their work-place. I refer particularly to people who live on the Redcliffe Peninsula. Mr Akers: People in Bracken Ridge, too. Mr WARBURTON: I regret that I did not include the people of the fast-developing suburb of Bracken Ridge who use the railway services. I am sure that they will be deUghted to be dep>rived of their old-fashioned mode of transport—the wooden railway carriages. The Governor went on to say that the rebuUding of "Eventide", Sandgate is under way. He said that the overall cost of the program is $20m. That redevelopment is essential. It should have been begun many years ago. No society of the standard that we claim to have attained should ignore its elderly people or those who need the type of care that "Eventide" homes provide, but I regret to say that that is happening in Queensland society today. As the member who represents the area in which the Government-controlled "Eventide" home is situated, I must say that although the building is wonderful and the new development is appreciated not only by the residents but also by other people, there is not enough of it. The nursing-home section that houses the unfortunate people who cannot tend themselves is at its capacity of approximately 140 to 150. When the rest of the complex is completed, it will house fewer people. Not going back too far—say, 10 or 15 years—about 1000 people were domiciled in the "Eventide" home at Sandgate. When the new complex is completed, it is expected that it will house fewer than 500 people. In today's society, the other people just do not disappear. There are also private nursing homes in my electorate, and I can say with a deal of surety that there are long waiting-lists for those homes. The people on lists are not all elderly people who are unwanted by their families. They are people on their own who need to be tended. Quite frankly, I believe that the Government is neglecting its responsibility in that area. Certainly, I give high praise for the type of complex that is presently being built at "Eventide", but I repeat with a great deal of surety that it is not enough. Because of the nature of Ufe today, more "Eventides" are needed. Because of science and the medical treatment that people are receiving these days, they are living longer—that is a statement of fact— and they have to be looked after. I am simply saying to the Government that although all the things mentioned by the Governor in his speech are appreciated, not enough is being done. It all gets back to the balanced Budget that is thrown at us year after year. Of course, if the Government spends only what it receives, it can balance its Budget. However, in doing that the Government is cutting back on services that should be provided in a society such as ours in this great land flowing with mUk and honey. The Government can make a significant contribution. It has the resources to turn the State into a land Address in Reply 31 August 1982 725 flowing with mUk and honey and to ensure that people share in the wealth of the State. But that is not hap>pening, and there is something dramatically wrong. When things are not going as weU as they should, one can only criticise the Government. The final point to which I wish to refer in the Governor's Opening Speech relates to tourism. He said— "Queensland is rapidly gaining greater recognition as a tourist destination, and the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation is achieving remarkable success in its vigorous efforts in Australia and overseas to promote the Sunshine State." I do not suppose that one can really argue about such a comment. A similar comment would have been made about tourism some five years ago when the State Tourist Bureau was operating. Regardless of whether it is a bureau or a corporation, I have no doubt that pwople in it would be endeavouring to carry out their responsibiUties, which are to increase the number of tourist dollars in this State for the benefit of the Government, and also for the benefit of the people. That brings me to a point that I made in this Chamebr recently as a result of the tabling by the Minister for Tourism of a second report of the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation for the year ended 30 June 1981. Honourable members will certainly recall that rather unique happening. My research shows that it is one of the first times, if not the first time, that a Minister had to seek leave to table a revised report because the financial statement in the original report was false. I said this recently and it bears repeating: I do not say it was fraudulent but I say that it was false. With the leave of the House the Minister quite rightly withdrew the original 1981 report of the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation and produced a further financial statement and a further report. But the matter goes much further because, at question-time, the Minister on the very day that he presented the new report misled the House. Although attention was drawn to that a week or so later when I spoke in the debate on matters of public interest, nothing further has been forthcoming from the Minister, who has not been interested in altering his reply to suit the circumstances. He has not misled me; he has misled the House. The House heard the member for Southport, as it has heard other members, speak about support for "our great democracy and the Westminster system—that system of which we are all so very proud and which works so well for us." One wonders just what they are speaking of, because it does not work in this place. Some Ministers on the other side of the House, quite frankly, hold the Parliament in absolute contempt. It is unfortunate that the Minister for Tourism is not in the House because I do not intend to let this matter rest, and I serve notice to that effect on him now. He must answer for other things—not to me, but to the Parliament. He misled the House and I now advise the House—and through it I advise the Minister—that on analysis of the 1980 report of the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation I find that it is just as false as the 1981 report, which has since been replaced. I have asked the Minister what he proposes to do. Will he seek permission of the House to replace the 1980 report because the financial statement in that report was false? An amount of $330,(X)0 has not been misappropriated but it has not been shown as a transaction. That amount is for an item referred as "commission earnings" The 1980 report does not show anything at all about the tmst fund that operated at that time. It is interesting to note that the tmst fund operation has been shown in the new report that was recently tabled in the House. It is also interesting to note that on the left-hand side of pages 8 and 9 of that report the actual receipts and payments of the general fund and the trust fund are shown for the year 1980. Those figures differ from the figures in the original 1980 report. To make matters worse—I am saying that that financial statement is false—the document was audited by none other than the then Auditor-General of Queensland, Mr A. J. Peel. If I am correct in my assumptions, and I am sure I am, one wonders just how it is that the then Auditor-General of Queensland could put his certificate on a financial statement that is false and lacking in the information that is expected about that corporation. It is clear that someone has to answer for this. One would expect the Minister to come forward and give a clear, concise and comprehensive explanation of just what is going on m the Tourist and Travel Corporation. 726 31 August 1982 Address in Reply Are we to believe, as he explained on the last occasion, that some inexperienced officer had been responsible for the financial affairs of the Tourist and Travel Corporation, this corporation that is supposed to be headed by a board of businessmen with great business acumen? Are we to be led to believe that that board, headed by Mr Frank Moore, did not look at the financial statement prior to its being included in the 1981 report? Are we now to believe that the same board did not peruse the statement that went into the 1980 report, which is equally false? The Minister will be questioned on the matter if he does not make a statement about it. He will be questioned until we get to the bottom of it. The board of the Tourist and Travel Corporation has a great deal to answer for. Two false financial statements in two reports! What on earth is going on with a corporation that is handling one of the biggest industries in this State? We are all being told time after time that the tourist industry is on the dramatic increase. We have been told that by the Governor. At the moment the Government is talking about an industry that is benefiting Queensland by $1.4 billion a year. Are we to beUeve that the corporation cannot handle even a simple finandal statement? I want to know how the then Auditor-General of Queensland, Mr Peel—a man of some note in this Parliament—could put his certificate on a false statement. It is not fraudulent, but false. It is false in that it does not show the full financial transactions of the corporation, and it is incomplete in that it does not show the activities of the trust fund. I cannot really understand it. I trust that the new Auditor-General, Mr Craven, has plenty to say about this matter when he brings down his report, hopefuHy in the near future. I do not want to be seen to be vindictive towards the corporation, but What T despise in this place is the contempt with which we as members, who have the'responsibility to try to find out why such things happen, are treated. That is one Of the basic problems of this House, and I do not know what the Government intends to do to resolve the problem. We have sat here today and listened to honourable members from the Govemment side saying what a wonderful system it is under which we live and how wonderful it is to have this system of ParUament. I wiU teU members what I think of it and the way it works on occasions. It stinks, and the sooner somebody does something about it, the better. I repeat that an obligation rests on the Government to answer the charges that I have made today. Certainly a heavy obUgation rests on the corporation and the then Auditor-General (Mr Peel) to explain how his certificate was attached to a document that was absolutely false. I hope that the present Auditori-General (Mr Craven) who^ I understand, is very diligent .in carrying out his work, has something to say in his report about the matter. I wUl be disappointed if he does not. One of the worst construction sheinozzles to happen in ,my electorate for some considerable time relates to the Houghton Highway and the associated Hornibrook Highway, which is of some historical significance. When the construction of the Houghton Highway was mooted. Ministers said that the idea was to retaiiri the Hornibrook Highway with two lanes of traffic running north, and that the Hpughton Highway, .with its associated walkway and breakdown laneway, would be used for, traffic travelling south. In late August 1980, the Minister for Local Govemment, Main Roads and Police (Mr Hinze) was questioned in Parliament about the proposed restoration of the Hornibrook Highway. He was asked whether he would giVe an assurance to the ieo[^e of Redcliffe that the Government would honour its commitment to provide a four-lane service by the restoration of the Hornibrook Highway and, if so, whether he would provide details of the estimated cost and timetable. The Minister indicated that, on the basis of inforjnatipii obtained during the repair of a small number of spans of the' old timber structure, it seemed that the cost of completely refurbishing the Hornibrook Highway might ,wel' ''* in excess of $1 million. He mentioned that he had arranged for the Main R(»ds Department to closely examine various options to ensure safe and adequate traffic operations across Bramble Bay. He said that, in the meantime, a further scheme to make the bridge structurally sound by the replacement of faulty girders and deck plates over the full length was being prepared, and that it was expected that the work would begin in September and extend into the 1981-82 financial year. On two separate occasions—in December 1979 and again, in December 198(^' received letters from the office of the Minister for Main Roads detailing thC extent of the work to be undertaken to upgrade the Homibrook Highway. Those letters were in answer to inquiries that I directed to the Minister.; Without doubt, representatives Address in Reply 31 August 1982 727 of the Govemment led the pmblic, particulariy people on the RedcUffe Peninsula, to believe that the Homibrook Highway would remain open to traffic. I suggest that, if that were not to be the case, it was only common sense for the Government, when constmcting the Houghton Highway, to m^e it a four-lane traffic way, with associated breakdovm lanes and walkways. But that did not hapipen. Despite the hullabaloo and promises about refurbishing the Hornibrook Highway, it is now being used by pedestrians, fishermen and bicycle riders. Undoubtedly, it wUl become dereUct in years to come. I do not believe for one moment that the Government intends to spend very much money on the maintenance of the Homibrook Highway. I am somewhat concemed about what that highway may look like in 10 to 20 years' time. What has hap>pened to the Houghton Highway, which is the matter that concerns me most of all? At a cost of thousands upon thousands of doUars, the breakdown lane has been discarded and the low concrete wall between it and the walkway has been discai'ded. There will now be three lanes of traffic with a special system of traffic lights. The whole original concept is now absolutely useless. On one of the longest viaducts in the Southern hemisphere there will be three lanes of traffic, two going one way and one the other in peak hours, without a breakdown lane. It is the. most stupid nonsense that I have heard of for a long time. Certainly, breakdown phones are provided; but what good they will be at times of breakdovms or accidents in peak hours I leave to the imagination of honourable members. The original concept was good; now it is lost because of somebody's incompetence and because of the dishonouring of the original pwomise to retain the Hornibrook Highway. To cap it aU, I have received an invitation, as I have no doubt other people have, to attend the official switching on of the traffic lights on the Houghton Highway. I have already attended one official opening of the Houghton Highway, which I appreciated because it was of some historic significance and importance to the people whom I represent. The switching on of the traffic lights should never have occurred. It was never intended that there would be directional lights for two lanes travelling north and one lane travelling south in the afternoon and vice versa in the morning. It cost many thousands of dollars and the result is an entirely new scheme that does away with the very important breakdovm lane. I have written to the Minister who sent me the official invitation—none other than the Minister for Welfare Services—^to say that I regret very much that I will not be there because I am not a hypocrite. I refuse to take part in a farce, and that is what it is. The opening is the result of broken promises and of incompetence by some persons. I regret that I have had to adopt that attitude. It is the first time I have refused to be present at an official ceremony. I feel very strongly about it, and I refuse to take part in such hypocrisy. My concluding remarks concern the very important matter of the theft of native plants in Queensland. I have concemed myself with it in accepting my responsibiUties in my shadow portfolio. What has concerned me and many other people is the Govemment's failure to introduce legislation to preserve our heritage in terms of buildings, sites and so forth, and the Government cannot escape criticism for that. As to the theft of native flora—in October 1981 there was a sudden realisation by the Government that something needed to be done. That was home out by the fact that the Native Plants Protection Bill was introduced into this House with some flurry. It has now disappeared from the Business Paper. I am amazed and very concerned because of what has happened over a long period. I wish to quote from some statements that have been made to the media over a period of years by a long procession of Ministers who have had responsibUity in this area. On 18 February 1979, an article in "The Sunday Mail", under the heading "Native plant theft clamp", stated— "People taking native plants from State forests and selling them face fines of up to $5(XX) or a year's jaU under tough conservation laws being framed by the State Government. The National Parks and WildUfe Service is worried that stealing tropical plants from Crown Land and national p>arks and selling them in Queensland and interstate is becommg a big business. 728 31 August 1982 Address in ftcply One truckload from North Queensland rainforests was driven to Adelaide for sale. Staghorns by the semi-trailer load have been, sent to Sydney. IUegal trafficking in Queensland's floral emblem, the Cooktown Orchid, also is rife. 'Teeth' Tropical ferns are being taken from Crown Land and national parks. The COlture, National Parks and Recreation Minister (Mr. Newbery) said he had ordered a review of the Native Plants Protection Act 'to give it more teeth'." That was in 1979. One would have hoped that the then Minister would have been true to his word and that some suitable legislation would have been introduced. Of course, it did not eventuate. Reminiscent of the Blue Hills, saga, that article was one of many dealing with the native plants protective legislation that appeared on the Business Paper during that period. On 10 October 1979, an article in "The Courier-Mail", under the heading "A deterrent to plunderers", stated— "The State Government's planned legislation providing much heavier penalties for stealing or trafficking in protected native plants must be presented to Pariiament as soon as possible. The National Parks Minister (Mr. Gibbs) plans to have draft amendments within a month, and will consult legitimate dealers who have legal sources of supply. The $5(X)0 fine and 12-month jail sentence the Minister is considering as maximum penalties are severe, but necessarily so." Another Minister told us that something had to be done, that the position was drastic, that the legislation was ready and that it had to be introduced if our native plants were to be properly protected. On 30 March 1980, an article in the "Sunday Sun", under the heading 'Tlant pirates face tough new penalty", reported— "Flora pirates blackmarketing in rare plants stolen from Queensland's national parks or Crown lands wall soon face penalties of a $50(X) fine or 12 months jail." Where have I heard that before? I heard that prior to 1979. That was the second occasion on which the Minister (Mr Gibbs) had commented upon that matter. The previous Minister (Mr Newbery) made similar comments, stating that it was of utmost importance that something be done. Mr Vaughan: They didn't even index the penalties. Mr WARBURTON: As the honourable member for Nudgee has pointed out, the Government did not even index the penaUies. The article continued— "Mr Gibbs said yesterday: 'I want to deter these plant pirates and to protect the legitimate dealers.'" On it goes until October 19S1, when the present Minister for National Parks (Mr ElUott) introduced a Bill entitled the Native Plants Protectbn BiU. Everyone was happy. In particular. Opposition members were quite pleased to see that, after a long procession of Ministers in charge of the National Parks portfolio and after a long list of promises that; began in 1979, something was going to happen. Recently I visited the Conondale Range area. Those people who are familar with what is happening there will know that a very large number of native plants are being stolen from the national park and the forestry areas. That is happening all over the State, and it must be stopped. However, it will not be stopped if the Minister withdraws the Bill because of some criticism levelled by civil liberties groups. Heaven knows where it has gone, bijt it certainly no longer appears on the Business Paper. In addition to the other matters that I have referred to the Minister for a reply, the matter of the presentation of a further Bill to protect Queensland's native plants should be commented upon by him. (Time expired.) Mr AKERS (Pine Rivers) (9.46 p.m.): As the final speaker in the AddrCss-in-Reply debate, I am very pleased to note that 43 members have preceded me in the debate. That shows the value of the debate, in that it allows so many members to speak for 40 minutes Address in Reply 3P August 1982 729 and to express their feelings and opinions on a wide range of matters relating to the control of the State of Queensland. Unfortunately, I am left with only 14 minutes in which to make my contribution. I reaffirm my personal loyalty and that of my electors to Her Majesty the Queen. The House is debating the motion for the adoption of the Address in Reply to His Excellency's Opening Speech. I am very pleased to note the contents of the Govemor's Opening Speech but, like other members, I am disappointed at the omission from it of certain things. I am particularly sorry that no mention was made of a proposal to protect historic buildings in Queensland. Yesterday's "Telegraph" told us that simple Uttle cottages in the built-up area of the city are to be demolished. They are historic buUdings, but they are going. I have not visited the site today, but I would suggest that by now they have gone completely. No attempt was made by anyone to protect them. Nehher the State Government nor the Brisbane City Council did anything to protect those buildings or any others in Brisbane that have been demolished. Queensland is the only State that has not taken any real action by way of introducing some form of protection for the buUt environment. I go through the list of buUdings on the National Tmst register. Anzac Square has been damaged; Hoffnungs building has gone; the lower George Street precinct, following the loss of the Bellevue, has been irreparably damaged; the National Bank has gone; the facade of Her Majesty's is in great danger; the old Govemment Printing Office is about to come down; many of the old buildings in Alice Street have gone; the old buildings in Eagle Street are being demolished. Brisbane has lost a tremendous amount. In spite of all the fervour that is being generated by the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and by songs that praise the good things about Queensland, much of our heritage is being lost. Every time a problem of that type arises, the State Government promises that it will introduce heritage legislation to prevent a recurrence. The Brisbane City Council grumbles and moans about it, but nothing hap>pens. At every election we are p^romised action, but we wait until the next election with nothing but promises. On 12 December 1979, the Minister for Local Government and Main Roads was asked a question about the matter. His answer sounded very good. He said— "Consideraition is being given to the desirability of introducing legislation for the restoration and pjreservation of significant properties such as historic buildings." Nearly three years ago the Minister for Local Govemment and Main Roads promised that action would be taken, but still nothing has been done. The Brisbane City Council can act now because it has the power to do so. It can declare an historic building as a class of building and exempt it from rates. If that were done, much of the pressure that is on property owners to sell or to develop their properties would be removed. Rates are a large p>art of the cost of maintaining buildings. As I say, the Brisbane City Council has the power to act if it wants to do so, but it will not do so. It is trying to pnish the blame onto the State Government. One has only to travel through the suburbs of London, to visit Oxford or Stratford, or to travel through hundreds of English viUages that are protected by pwoper heritage legislation, to know how important it is to act now for the sake of Queensland. Whole villages have been preserved, and they do not necessarily contain very old buildings. TTipse buildings may have been only 30 or 40 years old when they were protected 200 years ago. They have been saved, and the people of Britain still have that asset. We should be considering that type of preservation. The Palace of Westminster was demolished by German bombers during the Second World War, yet it has been totally restored. Virtually the whole of the city of Hamburg was destroyed, but it has been rebuUt in a way that recreates the atmosphere that existed in that city previously. I do not say that a clamp should be put on people's properties. That is the objection that 1 hear to any form of heritage legislation. Buildings should be preserved in such a way that people are not deprived of their rights or of the value of their property, and that can be done. 730 31 August 1982 Address in Replj The main concern of developers and of people who own property is to know where they stand. At present, they do not know where they stand, so they go ahead and try to get the maximum return on their building. It is only after they have incurred expense that some consideration is given to stopping them developing their own property. I know that it is easier for action to be taken in other States, because nearly every other State of Australia has a State planning authority. Queensland has, quite rightly, given the responsibility for town planning to local authorities, and I do not wish to change that situation. Local authorities must be given the power to take some positive action under their planning Acts. In the United States of America, where private enterp>rise is supreme and where developments outdo anything anywhere else in the world, the p»'eservation of historic structures has been the objective of legislation since shortly after the American Civil War. It has not been completely successful in preserving the heritage, but many historic buildings and sites are safe now because potential developers have known since that time that those buildings and sites have been designated as such and they do not spend money on them or do anything to increase their value. It can work. Progress aiid development can pffoceed, as has happened in the United States of America, and there can stiU be reasonable pro tection of important buildings. Some of the controls that exist in the USA could be introduced here. The south bank of the Hudson River directly across from the intensely populated Manhatten Island has been i>reserved as total bushland. There is a Uttle red hothouse under the George Washington Bridge. Even though it is no longer functional, h is still there because the people care about their buildings. Even the dreaded Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay has been preserved. Because people have cared about their buildings and have done something to pnotect them without penalising anybody else, beautiful little buUdings in the middle of Washington that were constmcted a long time before the United States rose to its great heights stUl surrive. So heritage legislation can work, and it is up to the State Govemment to foUow the lead of virtually every other civilised country in the world and protect our lustoric sites. I turn now to some less dramatic biit probably equally important matters that affect my electorate. Recently the Albany Creek Community Centre was almost totally destroyed by vandals. The value of damage is at least $10,000, and possiWy doser to $20,000. Hooligans broke into the Aspley Theatre Group's prop room and spread everywhere the paint used for its propw^over the ceilings, in the cutlery drawers, on chairs—and destroyed carpet tiles, and so on, through the entire building. Those young people must have got paint on themselves and their cl Another very dangerous piece of road in the Pine Rivers electorate is the one-lane bridge at Samford near the Samford District Bowling Club. I warn anybody who travels to that beautiful part of the district to take care of their lives at that point. Although the Bruce Highway in North Queensland has dozens of one-lane bridges, the people in those areas are aware of them and respect their inherent dangers; but the northem approach to that bridge consists of a wide, new piece of road that comes down a fairly steep hill, around a curve and straight on to a "Give Way" sign. The bridge is barely wide enough for one vehicle, and several serious accidents have occurred on it. People have been knocked off horses and all sorts of damage has been done. It is one of the craziest pneces of work that I have seen for some time, but no action appears to have been taken to alleviate the dangers. One of the things that is of great interest at present to the whole of Queensland, and probably to the whole of Australia, is the Commonwealth Games. I have been to cities in other parts of Australia and other parts of the world and have noticed that if a person does not know the layout of a city he has problems. To assist visitors, I call on the Commonwealth Games Foundation to introduce a system under which locals would be identified as such. I suggest a large button saying, "HeUo, I'm a local" Perhap>s similar stickers could be placed on cars and at places where people were prepared to give information to visitors. Information could be placed in hotels and motels so that visitors would know what the stickers meant and know that a person wearing a button could give them guidance around the city. This would go a long way towards making people feel welcome and would probably save them a lot of worry. Some positive action in that direction could do a lot of good. If the idea is properly advertised on Games tickets and in the appropriate literature placed in motels the idea would work well. At 10 p.m., under Standing Order No. 17 and the Sessional Order of 5 August, the debate was corwluded. Motion—That the Address in Reply be adopted (Mr Randell)—agreed to. SUPPLY Constitution of Committee Hon. C. A. WHARTON (Burnett—Leader of the House): I move— "That the House will, at its next sitting, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty." Motion agreed to. WAYS AND MEANS Constitution of Committee Hon. C. A. WHARTON (Burnett—Leader of the House): I move— "That the House will, at its next sitting, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider of Ways and Means fOr raising the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty." Motion agreed to. CONSTRUCTION SAFETY REGULATIONS INTERPRETATION BILL Hon. Sir WILLIAM KNOX. (Nundah—Minister for Employment and Labour Relations), by leave, without notice: I move— "That leave be granted to bring in a Bill to declare with respect to the interpretation of the Construction Safety Regulations made under the Constmction Safety Act 1971 as amended from time to time." Motion agreed to. First Reading Bill presented and, on motion of Sir WUliam Knox, read a first time. 732 31 August 1982 Criminal Law Amendment BiU Second Reading Hon. Sir WILLIAM KNOX (Nundah—Minister for Employment and Labour Relations) (10.3 p.m.): I move— "That the Bill be now read a second time" The purpose of the BiU is to declare the meaning of "construction work" used in the first schedule of the Construction Safety Regulations 1979. The first schedule of the regulations provides for fees for the inspection of notifiable work under the Construction Safety Act 1971-1975 to be based on the cost of construction work. The regulation as amended in 1982 provides that the fee shall be calculated at the rate of $1 per $500 or part thereof based on an estimate of the cost of the construction work. On completion of the construction work the actual cost of such work is determined to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector of Construction Work and the fees re-assessed at the rates already referred to. Since the inception of the Construction Safety Act, fees have been collected in accordance with the provisions of the regulations. This has meant determining the cost of the project, with the exclusion of various items such as cost of machinery, clearing, levelling and filUng the site, etc. These exceptions are prescribed in the first schedule to the regulations. Legal advice from eminent counsel indicates that the practice adopted is in accordance with the regulation requirements. Nevertheless, a company has argued that charges should be limited to labour only on the site and should not include off-site fabrication. To put the matter beyond any legal doubt whatsoever, the Bill proposes that the term "construction work" used in the first schedule of the Construction Safety Regulations shall be constmed to be and to have always been the term "project". I commend the Bill to the House. Debate, on motion of Mr Hansen, adjourned. CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa—^Minister for Justice and Attorney-General), by leave, without notice: I move— "That so much of the Standing Orders and the Sessional Order be suspended as would otherwise prevent the immediate bringing in of a Bill intituled, 'A Bill to amend the Criminal COde in a certain particular,' and the passing of such Bill through all the stages in one day." Motion agreed to. First Reading Bill presented and, on motion of Mr Doumany, read a first time. Second Reading Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa—Minister for Justice and Attomey-CJeneral) (10.6 p.m.): I move— "That the Bill be now read a second time." One of the functions of the Attomey-General is to ensure that the criminal law is properly administered and that the work of the courts is carried out in an efficient manner. It has been brought to my attention that trials of multiple accused persons may be delayed because of illness of one or more of the accused. To ensure the proper administration of the criminal law and the efficient working of the court, this Bill amends section 617 of the Criminal Code so as to allow trials of multiple accused persons to proceed notwithstanding that one person may not be able to be physically present. In trials where there are multiple accused persons, there are long periods when the proceedings have no relevance except to one or two of the accused. Consequently, no prejudice would arise by allowing the trial to proceed where the interests of those absent are not affected by what is taking place at a particular time. Criminal Law Amendment Bill 3p August 1982 733 Every adjournment costs the Crown and the accused a substantial amount. Intermhtent adjournments serve no purpose other than to delay the conclusion of the trial and in the process cause considerable cost to the Crown and inconvenience to all concerned including counsel and jurors. This BiU therefore provides that where two or more accused persons are charged in the one indictment, if it is made to appear to the court that any of them is unable to be present by reason of his illness or infirmity, the court may permit him to be absent during the whole or any part of the trial. Before permitting him to be absent, the court will have to be satisfied that the interests of that accused person will not be prejudiced by the trial p>roceeding in his absence and that the interests of justice require that the trial should proceed in his absence. Mr Speaker, I have every confidence in the integrity of the State's judges to depend on their protecting the legitimate interests of an absent accused. This Bill wiU greatly facUitate the conclusion of trials when there are a number of accused persons involved. I commend the Bill to the House. Mr R. J. GIBBS (Wolston) (10.7 p.m.): I have discussed this matter wUh the Mmister for Justice and Attorney-General in the past few hours following discussions I had vrith Crown Law officers a number of days ago about the need to put this legislation through this evening. I certainly do not intend to go into all the reasons behind h because that could mean making some sub judice remarks about the Russell Island criminal trial that is presently proceeding. I beUeve I have said enough about that. However, there are a number of very minor matters on which I seek clarification. For example, the Minister referred to the amendment of section 617 of the Criminal Code. Subclause 2 of the amendment to section 617, is in these terms— "If an accused person so conducts himself as to render the continuance of the proceedings in his presence impracticable, the Court may order him to be removed and may direct the trial to p>roceed in his absence." I take cognisance of the fact that the proposed subsection 3 (b) gives the court a discretionary power to say that the interests of justice require that the trial proceed in his absence. The Minister said— " , provides that where two or more accused persons are charged in the one indictment " I recall the Whisky Au-Go-Go trial some 10 or 12 years ago in which one defendant made himself unavailable to appear in court because a horse kicked him in the head. Am I to assume that, under the Bill, if a person is unable to attend because of illness the trial can continue without his being present, provided he has counsel to represent him in court? I raise it merely as an example. Having received the Bill such a short time ago I require some assurance from the Government that that is the type of situation that could occur. I am corrected by my leamed colleague beside me. The gentleman concemed in the trial was a witness and was not a person charged. I apologise. The Opposition is happy to accept the legislation in toto. I reaUse that there are some dire reasons for passing the legislation tonight. Mr INNES (Sherwood) (10.12 p.m.): From time to time a combination of events and circumstances throws up new situations which the law has not previously had to deal with, and this is one of them. The honourable member for Wolston is right in suggesting that there could be limitations on the extent to which one can deal with the facts underlying this particular instance, because it could mean canvassing the issues involved in a case before the court. As a general principle an accused man should be present at his trial. That is the underlying principle which is registered in these proposals. Only in exceptional circum stances can one consider a trial proceeding in the absence of an accused person. The Bill makes that clear. 734 31 August 1982 Criminal Law Amendment Bill Previously the section, as I recall it, was framed in terms which in fact set out the situation that appears in both proposed subsections 1 and 2 of the new section 617. If a person intentionally conducts himself in a way so that it is clear that he is trying to put off his trial, the court can order that the trial proceed. A person cannot voluntarily inevitably or continually defer his trial by his own conduct. The Bill does not deal with that intentional situation; it deals with the more accidental or very rare occasions. It is limited to a situation in which there are two or more accused persons. If it is only one accused person, it is a fairly simple matter. Large numbers of people are not necessarily inconvenienced by an adjournment of a trial or even the discharging of a jury, with an indictment to be presented at a later date and the trial starting again. In some cases—and this is one of them—in a very lengthy case which has been going for 13 or 14 months with perhaps nine accused persons, the inconvenience to other people is enormous. The possibility of a trial of such length being aborted and having to be started again gives rise to the most horrendous impositions in terms of costs and of time and dislocation of lives. The amending Bill is very carefully phrased. It deals with two or more accused. It clearly underlines the principle that a person should be at his trial. It requires permission to be given to a person to be absent, so there is an obligation that there be an application on the part of the person himself. He seeks the permission of the Court to absent himself. It is a voluntary act on the p>art of the accused as opposed to an involuntaiy act and a situation imposed upon him. The BiU provides that the interests of the accused person will not be prejudiced by his absence and that the interests of justice require that the trial should pyroceed. In a multiple-accused trial parts of the evidence deal only with a particular accused and have nothing to do with another accused. I know that there are times when some lengthy trials have given rise to occasions when the senior counsel involved might absent himself from the trial and leave a solicitor in control because counsel has no part to play, although in a joint accusation all accused have to ap>pear before the court. Sometimes parts of the evidence relate only to a particular person and his involvement in the totality. The judge is in the best situation to view that. Of course, a person who is represented by legal counsel is no doubt able to make up his own mind as to the type of evidence that is still to be adduced. The consequences of allowing one person's situation to affect the proceedings so far as three, and possibly seven persons are concerned, particularly during cases of enormous length and, therefore, enormous cost, are horrendous. As I said at the outset, the complexity of human affairs always finds a new situation. A new situation has been found. The proposed amendments mirror all the traditional principles and the underlying principle that an accused person should be present. It qualifies that greatly. The Bill is designed to achieve justice in aU the circumstances. I support the Bill. Dr SCOTT-YOUNG (Townsville) (10.17 p.m.): I rise to ask some questions of the Minister. Is this specific legislation for some section or group? Is it specific legislation to cover a certain legal proceeding that is about to proceed or should have proceeded before this? Would the Minister explain to the House whether the judge is the sole? arbiter whether a man is sick, insane or feigning? Does it allow people to mischievously behave in the court on charges such as multiple rape or mass violence, which are so prevalent today, and allow an accused person to feign illness, and does the judge act solely and wholly of his own volition or does he rely on medical eyidence? Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa—Minister for Justice and Attorney-General) (10.18 p.m.), in reply: I thank the honourable members who have spoken during the second-reading debate. First of all, in response to the honourable member fof Wolston, I would point out that other than clause 3, the Bill is a representation of the existing provisions in section 617 of the Criminal Code. There is no marked variation from the present situation. Subsection (2) of the proposed new section 617 is designed to cope with conduct of a particular nature. The example that can best be used is that of Stuart during the Whisky Au-Go-Go trial. That is a fairly special type of circumstance. Criming Law Amendment Bill 31 August 1982 735 The aspect that the House is concemed with in the Bill is that covered in pyroposed subsections (3) (a) and (b). It should be noted that reference is made to two or more accused persons. The clause provides that the court must look very carefully at two conditions: (a) is that the interests of the accused person whose absence we are concerned with will not be prejudiced by the trial proceeding in his absence; (b) is that the interests of justice require that the trial should proceed in his absence. They are two pve-conditions. I must state very firmly that the court wiU be looked to to exercise judgment and discretion in the light of the circumstances and reasons that are presented. Those two criteria combined will govern the consideration by a judge of a particular case. I thank the honourable member for Sherwood, as a member of my committee, for his support. His comments were relevant. He has recognised the special circumstances that exist. From time to time the Govemment has no option but to amend legislation, no matter for how long it has stood, if the dynamics of the community and our system dictate that the Govemment must take into account new circumstances that face it. The honourable member for Townsville is concemed about whether the Bill is a response to particular circumstances. Certainly it has been triggered by the lengthy conspiracy trial that is euphemistically known as the Russel Island trial. However, in the light of what is happening in our society today, I must say that similarly lengthy trials will occur in the immediate future. Cases involving con^iracy, particularly in white-collar crime, will become more frequent. The exigencies that have been thrown up by the Russell Island trial are a warning to us that we should be making preparations for the future. I assure the honourable member for TownsvUle that the Bill is not a response to a section or group. No sectional interest has demanded these amendments. Both counsel for the accused and counsel representing the Crown have seen the need for something to be done. The Crown Law Office looked at it and the Solicitor-General looked at it. They aU saw the need for action. The BiU has been drafted to protect the interests of the accused who is absent, the interests of justice for all the others involved and the interests of justice for the community as a whole. The Bill reflects a very balanced ai>proach. Clearly, we very much depend on the judge's own assessment. I think that we would all have confidence in the judges on the Bench to take into account any evidence and facts that are relevant to assessing such a case. The evidence may well incorporate medical evidence. On the other hand, the stage that the trial has reached must be taken into account. The status of the other accused and each case that they have presented in their defence and the status of the case that has been presented by the prosecution must be taken into account. So the judge has the task of weighing whether, having regard to the particular accused, the other accused and the general community, the interests of justice are being served to the best advantage by allowing the provision to apply. It is a combination of facts. The provision will be useful in the immediate future as we are confronted with more complex and lengthy proceedings that involve two or more accused. Dr Scott-Young: I am fully satisfied with the Minister's answer to my query. Mr DOUMANY: I commend the Bill to the House. Motion (Mr Doumany) agreed to. Committee Mr Row (Hinchinbrook) in the chair Clauses 1 to 3, as read, agreed to. Bin reported, without amendment. Third Reading Bill, on motion of Mr Doumany, read a third time. 736 31 August 1982 District and Magistrates Courts Acts, &c., Bill DISTRICT AND MAGISTRATES COURTS ACTS AND PROPERTY LAW ACT AMENDMENT BILL Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa—Minister for Justice and Attorney-General), by leave, without notice: I move— "That leave be granted to bring in a Bill to amend the District Courts Act 1967-1980, the Magistrates Courts Act 1921-1976 and the Property Law Act 1974-1981 each in certain particulars." Motion agreed to. First Reading BUl presented and, on motion of Mr Doumany, read a first time. Second Reading Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa—^Minister for Justice and Attorney-General) (10.30 p.m.): I move— "That the BUl be now read a second time." The purpose of this Bill is to increase the civil jurisdictions of the District and Magistrates Courts having regard to the inflation rate and to realign the jurisdiction of the Small Debts Court established under the Magistrates Courts Act to that of the Small Claims Tribunal. From the date upon which the last increase in the civil jurisdictions of the District and Magistrates Courts was calculated, namely 31 December 1974, to the date it can be expected that the increases in this Bill will be effective, namely 31 December 1982, it is estimated that the Consumer Price Index wiU have risen by 122.6 per cent. As a resuh, there has been a fall in real money values, which has meant a higher level of individual indebtedness. The civil jurisdiction of the District Court is currently limited to actions of $15,000 and that figure has remained unchanged since 14 June 1977. Having regard to the inflation rate which has occurred, this Bill increases the civH jurisdiction of the District Court to $40,000. To be consistent with this increase and considering the propx>sed increase in the civil jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court, the Bill further provides for an increase in the monetary limits under which certain actions provided for in the District Courts Act can be taken. In relation to the civil jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court, recent experience has shown that, because of the higher level of individual indebtedness, there has been an increasing need for legal proceedings to be commenced in the District Court where the costs to all parties involved are considerably higher than those of the Magistrates Court. The civil jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court is currently limited to actions of $2,500, and that figure has remained unchanged since 14 June 1977. This Bill increases the civil jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court to $5,000. Consistent with these increases, the Bill further provides for increases in the monetary limits under which certain actions may be taken under the Magistrates Courts Act. The House wiU recall that a Bill to increase the monetary limit of the SmaU Claims Tribunal to $1,500 was recently passed by this House. When the Small Qaims Tribunal was originally established in 1973, it had the same monetary limit as the Small Debts Court, established under the Magistrates COurts Act. Subsequent amendments in 1975 and 1978 raised the monetary limit of the Small Claims Tribunal to $1,000, but corresponding amendments were not made to the monetary limit of the SmaU Debts Court. The definition of an "action for a smaU debt" is amended to provide for a monetary Ihnit of $1,500, which realigns the monetary jurisdictions of the Small Claims Tribunal and the Small Debts Court. The amendments to the Property Law Act set out in the Bill are necessitated by the increases in the civU jurisdiction of the District and Magistrates COurts. I commend the Bill to the House. Debate, on motion of Mr R. J. Gibbs, adjourned. Adjournment 31 August 1982 737 SUPREME COURT ACTS AMENDMENT BILL Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa—Minister for Justice and Attorney-General), by leave, without notice: I move— "That leave be granted to bring a Bill relating to the number of judges of the Supreme Court and in connection therewith to amend the Supreme Court Act of 1921 as amended." Motion agreed to. First Reading BiH presented and, on motion of Mr Doumany, read a first time. Second Reading Hon. S. S. DOUMANY (Kurilpa—Minister for Justice and Attorney-General) (10.34 p.m.): I move— "That the Bill be now read a second time." The object of this Bill is to give the Government authority to appoint a maximum of 18 judges to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Act 1921-1979 makes it lawful for the Govemor in CouncU, by commission in Her Majesty's name, to appoint a duly qualified person to fill any vacancy in the number of judges. However, no such vacancy is deemed to have arisen and no such ap>pointment can be made until the number of judges has been reduced below 16, in which event, such number of appointments may be made as will bring the total number of judges to 16 but not more. I believe it would be in the interest of the court and of the administration of justice in this State to increase this maximum to 18 judges. This would give flexibility to the Govemment by enabling judicial apjpointments to be made without its being obliged to await changes in the legislation. This proposal has been considered by the Chiet Justice and he supports it. I commend the BUl to the House. Debate, on motion of Mr R. J. Gibbs, adjourned. ADJOURNMENT Hon. C. A. WHARTON (Burnett—Leader of the House): I move— 'That the House do now adjoum." Road Funding Mr PREST (Port Curtis) (10.35 p.m.): Tonight I want to discuss roads and road funding and the rip off by Governments of motorists through the imposition of additional taxes and by various other means. When the State Budget was brought down last year the Treasurer said in relation to roads— "The inadequacy of Commonwealth funding for State roadworks is a source of continuing concern. Commonwealth funding for 1981-82 represents an increase of only 9 per cent on last year's allocation. This clearly is not sufficient to meet cost increases let alone make up for previous years' shortfalls. By comparison with the substantial additional revenue that is flowing to the Commonwealth from the fuel tax imposts, the sum being returned to the States for roadworks is little more than a prittance. The Commonwealth expects to receive additional income of some $3,400 miUion from its crude oil levy this year-^most of which is paid by the road users—and yet only $662 miUion is being made available to the States for roads. The refusal by the Commonwealth to recognise the road funding needs of the States and of Queensland in ;p)articular has been the prime cause of the recent substantial increase in motor vehicle registration fees." I recently received a letter referring to a report jointly prepared by the Department of Transport and Construction in Canberra and the Queensland Main Roads Department. 738 31 August 1982 Adjoumment The letter stated— "The report indicates that if the Bruce Highway is to be upgraded lo at least acceptable standards by 1992, an additional $255 mUlion (March, 1982 prices) wiU need to be provided over ten years for works on this highway, that is, an effective doubting of the present rate of expendhure. ITiese funds must be additional to present levels, as the Queensland road system caimot afford to have funds diverted from other areas of the road system." That report referred only to the Bruce Highway between Brisbane and Cairns. It must be recaUed that there was a substantial increase in motor vehicle re^tration fees as from August 1981, and the total revenue from motor vehicle registration fees for the 1981-82 financial year was $131,757,247. Whh the increased number of motor vehicles on the road and a full year in which the increased fees have been collected, that figure wiU be even higher in the next financial year. I am equaUy certain that motor vehicle registration fees will be increased in one form or another in the forthcoming State Budget. It should be realised that the Federal Government has introduced another scheme under which it will rip off motorists not only in Queensland but throughout the Commonwealth. In the Federal Budget the Treasurer introduced a levy of Ic per litre on the price of fuel. That money wUl be spent, so we are told, to improve the road system throughout Australia before the bicentennial year of 1988. Although the levy is only Ic a litre this year, it will increase to 2c a litre from July next year. When this Federal Government first came to office the price of petrol was ap)proximately 15c a litre. The price of petrol in Brisbane is now 39.9c a litre, and on the central coast, at a port where petrol tankers unload, the price is 43.9c a litre. There can be no doubt that this increase has been brought about by the poUcies of the Liberal-National Country Party Federal Government, which are supported by the National and Liberal Parties of this State. In country areas petrol prices are even higher. In country areas motor vehicles are a necessity not a luxury, because country people cannot use other forms of transport. They rely solely on motor vehicles to go to and from their employment. Unlike the people of Brisbane, most country people cannot use trains and buses to get to work. They are being ripped off. What will they gain from the added taxes imposed by the Federal Government, supported by the Queensland Government? Nothing at all! Declaration of Drought-stricken Areas Mr BOOTH (Warwick) (10.40 p.m.): I draw the attention of the House to the rapidly worsening drought situation in Queensland, particularly in my electorate of Warwick. 1 make a plea to honourable members to be realistic about the situation that is developing. Droughts can develop in different ways. Sometimes the rain declines gradually over two, three or four years, whUe at other times there is a complete absence of rain for some time. In the past two to three years the rainfall has been low, and for the last five or six months we have had virtually no rain. In my electorate of Warwick and throughout the south-eastern Darling Downs Mr Lee: It extends right into Victoria. Mr BOOTH: It does, but I am making a plea particularly for my own electorate, with the thought of getting it declared drought stricken. There are two ways in which drought declarations can be issued. One way is to declare a complete area drought stricken, and the other way is to get an independent declaration for one property. An independent declaration has much going for it, but the Government should never be tardy in making drought declarations. When an area warrants it, it should be covered by a complete declaration, because the problems can be handW much better. If two farmers wish to bring in a trailer load of fodder they have a much better opportunity of doing so under a complete declaration. In the present drought conditions I believe that the only emergency stock feed is gram. Hay will become too expensive. The price will go through the roof. If it is used at all," will be used only as an additive. Adjournment 31 August 1982 739 This morning, when I asked the Minister for Primary Industries a question about the drought in Queensland, he proved that he was alert to the situation, in that he had already asked his officers to prepare a report on the adequacy or otherwise of grain for feed purposes. The figures he presented were a little heartening. They indicated that there is grain in Central Queensland and some in the Burdekin area, but the southern area has very little grain, other than wheat. The Minister appeared optimistic when he said that he believed the harvest would provide sufficient grain for our own use in Queensland. I am a little worried about that. It seems to me that sufficient grain wUl be available only if we get rain. On the other hand, if we go through to Christmas-time without rain, 1 doubt that we will have sufficient grain in the south-eastern area to meet our own requirements. That is one reason why we should be thinking about a drought declaration now. It would allow the Government, if necessary, to marshal grain in Queensland and try to hold it for our own use. I do not say that the Government should pass emergency legislation, but it should be alert to the position. The present policy on drought support is to provide feed so that stock can be kept alive. I see a serious situation developing on grain farms. Although most grain farmers do not have cattle that will die during the drought, they will not be earning an income. The man with stock has a slight advantage in that, when a drought breaks, he gets a cash flow somewhat quicker than the man who has to wait on a crop. SmaU businessmen in country areas can be squeezed out in times of drought. Nowadays, as long as they meet the requirements applying to primary producers, they can receive aid. Tonight, I make a plea for the shires of Glengallan, Rosenthal, Allora and the city of Warwick to be declared drought stricken. I wUl be doing everything in my power in the next few weeks to have them declared. It will be an advantage to the Government because it wUl know the shires that really need aid. It may be px)ssible to marshal the supplies of fodder on hand. In an emergency situation grain is possibly the only thing that can be relied on. It poses difficulties for the beef producer who has cattle that are not accustomed to being fed on grain. It poses some difficulty for dairy farmers, but they can handle the situation. Grain has saved us on many occasions and it could save us now. (Time expired.) Depo-Provera Dr LOCKWOOD (Toowoomba North) (10.45 p.m.): I bring to the attention of House and the State the widespread use of Depo-Provera as a contraceptive drug in Third World nations. I am concemed as a consumer, a member of this Parliament and a doctor that Queensland women are facing an unwarranted risk from Depo-Provera injections when used as a contraceptive. In the United States of America, the FDA—the Food and Dmg Administration—from 1963 to 1979 refused to give the Upjohn company a contraceptive licence for Depo-Provera. Instead the FDA restricted its use to paUative treatment of women who were suffering from cancer of the cervix. The contraceptive effect of Depo-Provera has been known since 1950, but 30 years of research and clinical experience have proved that it should not be used as a contraceptive before all other methods have been considered. The other methods which I wUl mention briefly are— 1. The rhythm method, which was perfected by BUlings; 2. Mechanical devices such as condoms and diaphragms; 3. Spermicides; 4. Oral contraceptive pUls; and 5. Inter-uterine contraceptive devices which may be suited to various couples. Why is there so much international concern about the use of Depo-Provera injections? I think the concern stems from a double standard. It is not good enough for the women of the USA to have Depo-Provera injections but it is good enough for the women of the Third World countries to have them. This double standard smacks of racism, but it is racism on a grand and mternational scale. It is being practised on a muUinational scale. 740 31 August 1982 Adjournment Depo-Provera injections were not licensed for contraceptive use in the USA, Braril, Canada, India, Japan, Sweden or Venezuela. I believed that it was not authorised for contraceptive use in Australia, but I am horrified to find that it has been used right here in Queensland. In my opinion, Australia should not tolerate the use of Depo-Provera as a contra ceptive. Its side effects are far too horrible to allow its routine use for the contraceptive advantage. Australia should condemn its use here and in the emerging or Third Worid countries in Asia, Central and South America and Africa. I certainly condemn hs use here and in the Pacific islands. Why condemn it? Depo-Provera is given by injection. Its contraceptive effects last three to 12 months or more; but to be certain of the contraceptive effect, more Depo-Provera is injected before it is needed. Thus an overdose is deliberately given to almost every woman on the drug. The side-effects are— 1. The menstrual cycle may be so upset that other hormones are necessary but may not be effective in reducing the side effects. Women cannot tolerate the hormones or the menstmal up>set, which causes them to reject the drug. 2. Weight gain. I have seen a woman who gained 5 stone in one year on Depo-Provera. She was unwomanly. She had a build at the end of that year more like a sumo wrestler than a woman. She had huge muscles, a deep voice and hair on her chest. 3. The virilising effects in women are probably reversible whh the help of other hormones but they are irreversible in female babies if Depo-Provera is given to the mother during pregnancy. 4. In 1970 the USA FDA considered that the chance of increased cervical cancer in women on Depo-Provera warranted withholding the licence for its use as a contraceptive. 5. Others such as decrease in libido or sex drive; increased incidence of painful legs and sore breasts; severe depression; upwet in the metabolism of water salt and sugar have warranted continual denial in its use as a contraceptive. In the USA the Agency for International Development—AID—was prevented from sending Depo-Provera to Third World countries by an American law which forbids the export of dmgs not Ucensed for use in the USA. What happens now is that Depo-Provera is exported in bulk to the IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation) and the UNFPA (Unhed Nations Fund for Population Activities) which distribute it in Third World countries. Perhapys the most condemning criticism of the drug was delivered m 1975 in the following words of Donald Warwick in the Hastings Centre Report of 1975— "There has been a growing consensus that the pxor, whether as individuals or as nations, should not be the guinea pigs or Beagle dogs for the world's contraceptive testing." A five-stone weight gain is a terrible penalty to pay for saying that she could occasionally forget to use her contraceptive method. I am concerned that here and abroad women have not had explained to them the full side-effects or the contraceptive alternatives before the injections are given. (Time expired.) DevelopMnent of Cow Bay Mr KRUGER (Murmmba) (10.50 p.m.): On 27 October 1981 I asked a question about the proposed developmient of COw Bay. The House should be made aware of the situation. The Minister's answer to my question stated— "(1) No subdivision proposals are at present before the Land Administration commission and no such investigations have yet been undertaken. (2) If the area was developed there is no doubt that some machinery wou have to be used. Adjournment 31 August 1982 741 (3) Any development would be carried out by the Land Administration Com mission. It can be expected that an esplanade/buffer area would be retained and that land reserved for public use would be placed under the control of the local authority." Mr Lee: We know all that. Mr KRUGER: If the member for Yeronga knows all that, why didn't the Minister act correctly on it? The answer continued— "(4) The matter of Cow Bay has been discussed with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Virtually the whole of the coastline and adjacent land from the mouth of the Damtree River northerly to the north of the Bloomfield River is national park. In comparison. Cow Bay is a small parcel of Crown land adjoining the national park on its northern boundary and partly on its southern boundary. Adjoining the western boundary and inland therefrom are numerous parcels of freehold land which have access to the ocean frontage via the subject land. (5) Yes, it is possible to develop in compatibUity with the environment." I wrote to the Minister after the C^pe Tribulation Community Council distributed a document indicating that Cow Bay was an area of vacant Crown land near Cape Tribulation. The document spelt out quite clearly the types of trees and shmbs growing in the area and the need to conserve such areas. The document continued— "Representations have been made by the Queensland Conservation CouncU and other conservation group>s for the area to be included in the National Park. Concem has been expressed that neither the local Lands Administration Commission nor local developers possess the necessary knowledge to manage such a sensitive area. The area is stiU under consideration for inclusion in National Park, and Mr Elliott indicated last December that he was discussing the matter with Mr Glasson— yet the local National Parks and Wildlife Service was not consulted about the clearing, and nor was any other ecologist." It then referred to the actions taken by the member for Barron River. I wrote to the Minister for Lands and Forestry about the matter and received the foUowing reply— "Dear Mr. Kruger, I refer to your request of 20th April, 1982 for information in relation to the Crown land at Cow Bay and the clearing taking place there. Whilst recently in Port Douglas, I was approached by reprresentatives of the Southedge Daintree Pastoral Company, the Douglas Shire COuncU and the Parlia mentary representative from that locaUty with a request that I grant the aforementioned Company authority to constmct an access across a coastal swamp located between the road constmcted by it to serve the subdivisions from freehold portions 190, 13v, 21v, 22v, 23v, 26v, 28v and 29v, parish of Alexandra, and the beach. The Land Commissioner, Caims, and the Chief Commissioner of Lands also attended the meeting. It was pointed out to me by those present that it was in the public interest to allow the constmction of the access track and proposed car parking area to prevent people from making access to the beach in a number of locations which would have caused untold destruction of vegetation over a much greater area. As the local Land Commissioner and the Shire representatives strongly supported the proposal I granted permission for the Southedge Daintree Pastoral Compiany to proceed with construction." That concerned the same deal. The Minister has gone back on the information that was given to the Pariiament at the time. I then read with interest an article in "The Cairns Post" under the heading "Gearing at Cow Bay" It stated— "The way in which approval was given to clear an area of land at Cow Bay, 80 km north of C^ims, is cause for concern. 742 31 August 1982 Adjoumment According to the Queensland Conservation COuncil, the Minister for Lands and Forestry, Mr Glasson, authorised a private company in the area to construct a road across public land." In the Minister's statements it is quite clearly spelt out that that had occurred. I am concerned that a Minister of the Oown can say various things in this Parliament and shortly after go to private companies and allow them to do things which he suddenly believes to be in the best interests of the people of Queensland. The strip that I am talking about is a 40 metre wide road. It was unnecessary at the time. The pwevious statement was that it could be done by hand. I want to taiow whether it is correct that a pwivate company has constmcted the 40 metre wide road. Is the clearing necessary? Of what benefit will it be to the pubhc? Was the public given a chance to object before the work was carried out? Has the Minister failed to keep his promise as given to the Parliament, as I believe he has? Does he intend to confuse the House further? The events that have occurred are a sound reason why the Minister should either step dovm from his portfolio or explain fully why the undertaking was carried out in direct oppxwition to previous statements made in the House only a few weeks before. Strike by Railway Workers in 38-hour Working Week Diiqmte Mr HARPER (Auburn) (10.55 p.m.): Every day honourable members hear more and more of the repercussions of the strike action that was taken recently by employees of the Railway Department. Tonight I want to draw attention to the irresponsible attitude adopted by some employees of the department and by their union leaders. Mr Prest: Don Lane is respxmsible for that. Mr HARPER: The honourable member says that the Minister for Transport is responsible. When young people in my electorate who have been trying to work hand in hand with the Railway Department are penalised and when raUway employees in my electorate find that they are not able to meet their commhments, I believe that it is my responsibility to draw attention to their pUght. The railway employees who went on strike showed a total disregard for the viability of the Railway Department. When pwivate enteri>rise goes into any area, it provides a service to win customers. In contrast, some raUway employees seem to think that they can deny a service to their department's customers and yet hold their custom. That is simply not good enough. The Railway Department will not hold custom unless it provides a service. If the Railway Department is not able to compete with the type of service that is provided by private enterprise, such as in road transport, its whole operations are jeopardised. Railway employees as a whole, not just the striking element, must realise that. It is time that raUway employees used their common sense and realised where they were being led by theu- union leaders. If confidence in the Railway Department is to be regained, all employees must adopt a responsible attitude to their work. It is not good enough for them to think that because they turn up for work for a week, irrespective of the type and quality of service that they provide, they should be paid. Surely it is in the best interests of all raUway employees to build up raUway business instead of further destroying the declining share of business that it holds at present. The Railway Department's share of busmess is declining because it can no longer provide a reUable service. Private transport operators tum up to accept delivery of livestock for transportation to meatworks; they carry grain; they transport spare parts to people whose vehicles need them; and they carry food to supermarkets. People who usually would employ the Railway Department to do that work find that they can no longer rely on employees of the department to tum up, because some sections within the department decide that they wiU work either only for a Umited period or not at all. Mr Lee: AU they want to do is knock the boss. Mr HARPER: That is correct. Adjouroment 31 August 1982 743 Before the strike, the Railway Department was holding business; but as a result of the most recent strike action it is losing business. I am sure that the majority of railway workers could not possibly want to lose more wages and, in the i>rocess, place their jobs and those of then- mates at risk. Yet that is exactly what is hap>pening. If they Uke to place their own jobs at risk, they are quite at liberty to do so. But if they try to place their mates' jobs at risk, that is not fair. Mr Prest interjected. Mr HARPER:. The honouraUe member for Port Curtis might want to get rid of railway employees from his area; I do not want to lose them from mine. I do not want to see the business of the RaUway Depurtment mn down, either. I 4o not want to see men who have gone into country towns and buUt homes there forced to move because their mates shut the railways down and showed no concem for them. I certainly do not want to see the railways in the Auburn electorate run down through the stupidity that is chasing customers away. What man in his right senses thinks that he can continue to gain support, to have the confidence of the business community and to obtain custom if he continually goes on strike, refuses to cart, closes goods sheds on Saturday mornings and will not give delivery of goods that are taken to the railways? How could he still expect people to use the raUways when they have the altemative of road transport that wUl provide a service and deliver the goods on time without strike action? Inclusion of Westem Catchment of Noosa River in Cooloola National Park Mr INNES (Sherwood) (11 p.m.): Last week, at a late hour of the sitting of this Parliament, a very important step was taken to increase the estate of the national parks of South-east Queensland. I refer to the revocation of the State forest in the area of Cooloola. I speak in the debate tonight first of all to place on record my own personal support for that visionary step, which was the inclusion of the western catchment of the Noosa River in the Cooloola National Park. The Noosa River can properly be described as a delicate river system. It is not a big river. The lake into which it feeds is shallow and delicate. The value of the entire system can be preserved, as has been accepted by the Govemment, only with the inclusion of the westem catchment as well as the eastem catchment, which was saved in a very notable action taken by this Parliament in the early 1970s. The Minister for Lands and Forestry (Mr Glasson) said that about 17 460 ha were being taken from the Toolara State Forest for inclusion in the western catchment, and he referred to a small balance area of about 345 ha on the eastem boundary. He went on to say that the area of 345 ha was to be used for the preservation of a unique species of plant, the Boronia KeysU. That is the only area in the world in which it is found. The Minister paid a tribute to certain bodies that had supported this proposal over the years. He referred to the National Parks Association of Queensland, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Queensland Conservation CouncU, and he rightly pointed out that those bodies had always been supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. But the most important body that was not mentioned was the Cooloola Committee, and I know that that body was not omitted intentionally. No doubt it is covered by the umbreUa of the Queensland Conservation CouncU. The Noosa Parks Association gave rise to a group known as the Cooloola Committee, which has existed for some 13 years. The president of that group during the whole of hs currency has been Dr Arthur Harrold, a medical practitioner from Noosa. In fact, he was the person who rediscovered Boronia Keysu after it had been lost to botanical records for 60 years. It was first discovered in 1909 by the then head teacher of the Norman Park State School, James Keys. Later, in 1926, h was placed on international botanical records by a certain Czech botanist. It disappeared and was not collected again until Arthur Harrold, when driving through Cooloola, which he loved so much, in December 1971, came upon a specimen that he did not recognise and which he sent to the herbarium in Brisbane. Another area of this species was discovered by a bulldozer driver, who read in an agricultural joumal an article on the boronias of South Queensland prepared by Dr Harrold. ' 744 1 September 1982 Ministerial Statement The Huxleysr—Mavis Huxley was secretary for 10 years and BiU Huxley was Treasurer for 10 years (this year his services to the conservation movement were recognised by his being made a member of the general division of the Order of AustraUa), a councUlor of the Australian Conservation Foundation and an engineer—Rex Faine, a vice-president and engineer, Eileen Beswick, a former secretary, and aU of their some 200 supporters, annually donate $1,000 to $2,000 to collect scientific evidence and to pubUsh the well-known books that have become part of the tourist attraction of the whole Noosa area. They have worked assidiously, quietly and persistently. Sometimes they have been an annoyance to the Government, but they have worked in a balanced, inteUigent, dUigent and constant fashion not often seen in conservation movements. Probably every member of the House would have seen the well-known slip that that committee puts in its works—the picture of the ground parrot, one of the rare fauna residents of the Cooloola area. The activities of that committee need to be specially noted, because the inclusion of the western catchment is a major triumph for their persistence and imagination. Motion (Mr Wharton) agreed to. The House adjourned at 11.6 p.m.