Legislative Assembly Hansard 1982
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 1982 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 2256 16 November 1982 Questions Upon Notice TUESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 1982 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. S. J. Muller, Fassifern) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m. STAMP ACT AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) Assent reported by Mr Speaker. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed:— Reports- Operations of the Stock Routes and Rural Lands Protection Act 1944-1981 and the Barrier Fences Act 1954-1978 for the year ended 30 June 1982 Literature Board of Review for the year ended 30 June 1982 The following papers were laid on the table:— Orders in Council under— Farm Water Supplies Assistance Act 1958-1979 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Irrigation Act 1922-1979 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 Water Act 1926-1981 Forestry Act 1959-1982 Queensland FUm Industry Development Act 1977-1981 Proclamation under the Forestry Act 1959-1982 Regulations under the Irrigation Act 1922-1979 By-laws under the Water Act 1926-1981 Report of the Queensland Coal Board of its financial accounts for the ended 30 June 1982. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Olympic Produdions and Publications Hon. Sir WILLIAM KNOX (Nundah—Minister for Employment and Labour Relations) (11.5 a.m.): I am aware of the activities of Olympic Productions and PubUcations, who claim to be produdng a book entitled "Queensland Trade Apprenticeship Manual" The principals of the company sought the co-operation of the Industry and Commerce Training Commission in the production of the manual. Since the original approach to my deparQnent, a number of complaints have been received which have been the basis for concern at the activities being conducted by this company. I would ask that any organisation not satisfied with its dealings with Olympic Productions and Publications contact the PoUce Fraud Squad in Brisbane as it is investigating the matter. QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE Questions submitted on notice by members were answered as follows:— Booking of Ministers' Air Travel Through Private Travel Agendes Mr Wright asked the Premier— (1) On what date was Cabinet approval granted for Ministers' air travel to be booked through private travel agencies? (2) Since that date, and for each Cabinet Minister (a) how many airline trips for interstate, intrastate, and overseas purposes have been booked through private travel agencies, (b) which private travel agencies have been used and what Questions Upon Notice 16 November 1982 2257 amounts have been paid to these agencies, (c) how much revenue has the Tourist Bureau lost through forgone commission, (d) has the accounting procedure for the bookings through private agencies involved what is known as the bank settlement plan, (e) has this method been used for the bookings of Messrs. BjeUce-Pdersen, Edwards, Schubert, Crooke and Walsh for thdr current ten-day overseas trip and (0 do the official guide-Unes for members' travel—"Except where facUities are not available, members are required to use the services provided by the Queensland Govern ment Tourist Bureau when travel is being arranged"—stiU stand as official Government practice? Answer:— (1 & 2) Special circumstances have existed in those few instances where airUne bookings for overseas travel have been made through avenues other than the Queensland Goverament Tourist Bureau. The information requested by the honourable member is not readily avaUable and, in my opinion, the cost in staff time and salaries in researching the records of all departments is not warranted. In accordance with Government poUcy, almost aU Goverament aftUne travel bookings are made through the Tourist Bureau. The existing guide-lines are stiU applicable in relation to travel by members of the Legislative Assembly. 2. Means Test for Free Dental Treatment Mr Casey asked the Minister for HeaUh— With reference to the means test which is applied at all State dental clinics throughout Queensland— (1) Does the Health Department still use the old and out-dated structure of the basic wage for a single adult male, and the guaranteed adult minimum wage for a married person, as its base for the means test for entitlement to free dental treatment? (2) Is this practice uniform throughout Queensland? (3) Are the following items the Only allowable additions: (a) $20 per week for a wife, provided she is not working; (b) $9 per week for each chUd; and (c) $33 per week for rent or home payments? (4) If not, what are the correct figures? (5) As the Government itself pays district allowances of up to $56.35 per week in various areas of Queensland to its wage and salary employees, including those working in dental cUnics, why does it not use the reverse principle when determining a fair means test for the ordinary citizens in all communities? (6) What criteria does his department use to assess that anyone can keep a wife for $20 per week, food, clothe and educate a child for $9 per week, or rent a house for $33 per week? (7) As the basis of dental care is prevention rather than costly care or replacement, will he take immediate steps to upgrade the niggardly means test at the State's dental clinics, so that more people in the community will receive regular and proper dental care? Answer:— (1) In establishing eligibility for treatment in dental clinics controlled by hospitals boards, the guaranteed adult minimum wage is used as the basis when assessing married persons, widowers, and single supporting parents. For other persons the basis is the single adult male basic wage. (2) Yes. (3 & 4) Additions to the adult minimum wage and adult male basic wage are aUowed, in assessing eligible income levels, for wife, dependent children and rent or home payments. These allowances are regularly reviewed. For obvious reasons the amounts involved are not made public. 2258 16 November 1982 Questions Upon Notice (5 & 6) It has never been suggested that the amounts approved as allowances in regard to wife, dependent children and rent or home repayments when determining eligibUity, represent costs involved under these headings. The allowances serve a purpose in determining those most in need of the service. (7) The dental cliiiic means test is jegularly reviewed w|th a view to providing a service to those' most in need in the communky, bearing in mind the availability of material resources and trained personnel. 3. Acts out of Print Mr Prentice asked the Minister for Environment, Valuation and Administrative Servicgs-r ' •• • • With reference to his answer to my question of 21 October— (1) How many of the Acts of this ParUament are currently out pf print or otherwise unavailable tp the pubUc Of Queensland? . (2) What are the short titles of those unavailable Acts? Answer;— (1 & 2) The honourable member's question does not lend itself to a simple answer. If the words "this Parliament" used by the honourable member in his question refer to the Forty-third Parliament, the answer is one: the Traffic Acts Amendment Act of 1982 (No. 52), which was assented to on 8 November 1982, and is expected to be available at the Government Printing Office later today. If the question refers to legislation enacted by the Queensland Parliament since 1859, a response is much more dkficult. In my previous answer, I indicated that all Acts of common usage are available. for immediate purchase, I further indicated Acts presently being reprinted that should now be available.; However, there are a great number of obscUre Acts in little demand that are not kept in stock. When a request is repeived for a copy of one of these, the Government Printer makes one avaUable as quickly as is possible, if necessary by photocopy procedures. Additional to that, a number of Acts are in need of, or are, in the process of consolidation. The initiative for consolidation must be taken by an appropriate department and not by the Government Printer, A definite statement of all of the Acts would need a close scratiny of Queensland Statutes Annotations, which would demand a good deal of time and effort. If the honourable member is insistent that he needs this information, I wUl give the necessary instruction for its collation. However, I would ask for some sympathy in understanding the huge task that would be involved. 4. Advertisement of Queensland Properties for Sale to German Buyers Mr Hansen asked the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General^ (1) Has the notice of the Consumer Affairs Bureau been drawn to advertisements Usting a Brisbane phone number and the name of a Mr Claus Backwinkel of Herderstrasse 23, Dusseldorf, which seeks a listing of Queensland properties for sale to German buyers? (2) If the advertisement has been investigated, does any breach of the Auctioneers and Agents Act exist in relation to the proposed fees charged to prospedive vendors? Answer:— (1) My attention has been drawn to an advertisement which appeared in the "Mary- borough-Hervey Bay Chronicle" on 22 October 1982. This advertisement is headed "SeU your Property in West Germany". The advertisement makes no reference to Mr Claus Backwinkel of Herderstrasse 23, Dusseldorf. (2) This advertisement is currently under investigation, and I wiU advise the honourable member further in due course. If the honourable member has any further information on this matter, I would be pleased to receive it. Questions Upon Notice 16 November 1982 2259 5. Bicycle Racks, Kuraby Station Mr Gygar asked the Minister for Transport— With reference to the trial-instaUation of 10 bicycle Storage racks at-the- Kuraby Railway Station by the MetropoUtan Transit Authority— (1) What was the cost of this instaUation? (2) What has been the result of this trial? (3) Does the MTA intend to install bicycle racks at other stations? Answer:— (1) The installation cost was $1,266.