Questions without Notice 26 May 1989 COUNCIL 1167 Friday, 26 May 1989 The PRESIDENT (the Hon. A. J. Hunt) took the chair at 11.2 a.m. and read the prayer. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE REREGISTRA TION OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS . The Hon. M. A. BIRRELL (East Yarra Province)-The Minister for Health should be aware of the disturbin~ plans by Dr Geoffrey Edelsten to seek reregistration as a medical practitioner in VIctoria and by Dr lan McGoldrick to apply for registration as a medical practitioner in this State. As there are doubts about whether the Medical Board of Victoria has adequate rights and powers to deal with these controversial applications, does the government propose to seek immediately to amend the board's powers and membership? The Hon. C. J. HOGG (Minister for Health)-I thank the honourable member for his question and the way in which he has drawn both matters to my attention. When I meet with the Medical Board of Victoria on 1 June, I will seek to be briefed by the board and will then take the appropriate action. STRIPPING OF TOPSOIL The Hon. R. M. HALLAM (Western Province)-Is the Minister for Industry, Technology and Resources, who has responsibility for mining in Victoria, aware of the concern being expressed by a number of communities throughout the State at the large-scale stripping of topsoil from particular properties and its subsequent sale for garden purposes? If so, what action is the Minister prepared to take, particularly in those instances where it can be shown that the land is substantially and permanently degraded by being denuded of that topsoil? The Hon. D. R. WHITE (Minister for Industry, Technology and Resources)­ During the course of the life of this Parliament, it is hoped that a number of new commercial ventures will be undertaken in the mining sector. Honourable members will be aware of the current commercial activities in goldmining in Stawell. It is hoped that in the life of this Parliament commercial operations will be begun by Western Mining Corporation Ltd at Bendigo and by Ballarat Goldfields Ltd at BaHarat. It is an important project to which CRA is linked at Horsham, Nagambie and Benambra. In the context of that setting it is important that honourable members know also that we are in the process of preparing a mines Bill which is a substantial rewriting of the Mines Act, and I hope the Bill will be available for public discussion during the period between now and the start of the spring sessional period. It is by no means certain, but it is hoped that the Bill will be introduced at an early stage in the spring sessional period. In that context, Mr Hallam's question relates not only directly to the Horsham project, but also to the rewriting of the Mines Act. Officers of the Department of Industry, Technology and Resources, in drafting the Bill, will have regard to the comments he has made and we will seek further comment from him when the draft Bill becomes available and when debate on the mines Bill ensues in the spring sessional period. 1168 COUNCIL 26 May 1989 Questions without Notice ASSISTANCE FOR HOME BUYERS The Hon. T. C. THEOPHANOUS (Jika Jika Province)-The Minister for Housing and Construction is aware ofmy continuing interest in housing issues and my concern, in particular, which I have expressed to him on a number of occasions, for the difficulty that low to middle-income householders are having in trying to buy their first homes. Will the Minister advise the House of measures he has taken to assist these people? The Hon. B. T. PULLEN (Minister for Housing and Construction)-I thank Mr Theophanous for his interest in the issue of assistance for people seeking home ownership. As he is aware, the government has introduced a number of schemes to assist home buyers. The home opportunity loans scheme is structured to peg payments to 27 per cent of a person's income, which makes home loans available to a number of people who would otherwise have difficulty in meeting home payments. In addition to that, this week I have written to the leading banks and the Australian Bankers Association, putting on record some proposals for a more innovative and cooperative approach to home lending. The time is right for the banks to step up their involvement in flexible home loan arrangements. One way in which the banks could assist home buyers is by following the lead ofthe government in providing flexible low-start loans. This is not saying that the banks have to increase their overall lending dramatically, but simply that they should address the question ofproviding arrangements which enable a wider spectrum of people to obtain loans and to move the opportunity down the scale to people on lower and middle incomes. Honourable members interjecting. The Hon. B. T. PULLEN-The lending policies of the banks have not been keeping pace with the need, and it is interesting that the Opposition is so bereft of understanding in this area and so lacking in concern for people who want to get into their own homes. Ironically, instead of taking a positive approach to an issue that demands some bipartisan concern, all the Opposition can do is jeer, and it is quite clear that that is why the Opposition's credibility is at such a low ebb in this area. Honourable members interjecting. The PRESIDENT-Order! The House will come to order. I know the Minister, in part, brought it on himself, but nevertheless the House will come to order. It will be a hard day today and the cooperation of all honourable members is required. The Hon. B. T. PULLEN-I am surprised that the Opposition can be provoked so easily by just reminding it about home o\YDership. In addition to asking the banks to examine a more flexible arrangement for assisting home purchasers I am also asking them to support our home opportunity loans . scheme by investing in Victorian housing bonds to augment the funds provided by the State and Commonwealth governments through the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement. With increased financial backing for this scheme the banks could assist many more Victorians to become home owners. The time is appropriate for the banks to respond in this way and I am confident that several of the banks will respond favourably to this request, which, after all, is practicable and reasonable. Questions without Notice 26 May 1989 COUNCIL 1169 SALE AND CLOSURE OF CITY LANES The Hon. B. A. CHAMBERLAIN (Western Province )-1 refer to the Minister for Local Government the fact that in recent years the Melbourne City Council has closed and sold many of the corporation lanes in the central activities district. Normally lane closures have been made through negotiation with property owners of adjacent development and lanes have been sold to the developers. These lanes are classified as "public highways" under the Local Government Act. However, recent closures have not been effected in accordance with the Act, and the safeguards for the public that are required under the Act have been ignored. Has the Minister or her department been aware of these facts and will she, as soon as possible, obtain and provide me with a report on the circumstances of all such closures in the central business district Within the past three years, including the names and locations of all such lanes? The Hon. M. A. LYSTER (Minister for Local Government)-I thank Mr Chamberlain for once again giving me the opportunity of becoming better educated on a matter that I am not yet qualified to answer. I am to meet with the City of Melbourne and this is one matter I shall investigate prior to that meeting. I shall communicate with Mr Chamberlain as soon as I have that information. MELBOURNE AIRPORT The Hon. K. I. M. WRIGHT (North Western Province)-I refer to the Minister for Industry, Technology and Resources an urgent matter concerning the airport at Tullamarine-which at first sight may not seem to be a State matter-which for at least three months has suffered aircraft landing delays of 20 to 30 minutes, not as a result of radar operating restrictions but mainly because of unreasonable work practices with respect to the separation of aircraft. These delays must have an impact on commerce and industry in this State. Will he and the government take up the matter with the Commonwealth government urgently so that it may be resolved? The Hon. D. R. WHITE (Minister for Industry, Technology and Resources)-The management of flights into Tullamarine airport, as Mr Wright indicates, is a matter for the Federal government. My colleague the Minister for Tourism has been involved in active discussions with Qantas Airways Ltd, in particular with its chief executive, Mr John Menadue, in regard to increasing the number of direct flights to Melbourne to enhance Melbourne's tourist activities and commercial activities. The government is confident that as a result of the activities of the Minister there will be a greater role for Melbourne's international airport to enhance tourism and domesti~ activities. It is important to note that the efficiency, effectiveness and turnaround at Melbourne Airport far exceed those of any facility available in Sydney. The access of skilled labour to the airport for other activities, including maintenance work for Qantas and so forth, is a favourable and substantial factor in the role of the airport. If there are the minor turnaround problems which Mr Wright has identified, 1 shall refer them to the Minister for Tourism.