Hansard 26 November 1991
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Legislative Assembly 3027 26 November 1991 NOTE: There could be differences between this document and the official printed Hansard, Vols. 320 and 321 TUESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 1991 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following Bills reported by Mr Speaker— Liquor Amendment Bill; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land (Consequential Amendments) Bill; Stipendiary Magistrates Bill; Pay-roll Tax Amendment Bill; Land Tax Legislation Amendment Bill; Appropriation Bill (No. 2). CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION Report Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to advise that today I received from the Chairman of the Criminal Justice Commission the Report on an Inquiry into Allegations of Police Misconduct at Inala in November 1990. Ordered to be printed. ELECTORAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COMMISSION Report Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to inform the House that on Thursday, 21 November 1991, I received from the Chairman of the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission a report in three volumes titled Report on Local Authorities External Boundaries Review. Ordered to be printed. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE Resignation of Mr D. E. Beanland Mr SPEAKER: I have to report that a vacancy exists on the Standing Orders Committee consequent upon the resignation of Mr Denver Edward Beanland, MLA, from that committee. Appointment of Mrs J. M. Sheldon Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth—Leader of the House) (10.05 a.m.), by leave, without notice: I move— Legislative Assembly 3028 26 November 1991 “That Mrs Joan Mary Sheldon, MLA, be appointed a member of the Standing Orders Committee to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr Denver Edward Beanland, MLA.” Motion agreed to. COMMITTEE OF SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION Resignation of Mrs J. M. Sheldon Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to report that a vacancy exists on the Committee of Subordinate Legislation consequent upon the resignation of Mrs Joan Mary Sheldon, MLA, from that committee. Appointment of Mr J. N. Goss Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth—Leader of the House) (10.06 a.m.), by leave, without notice: I move— “That Mr John Nelson Goss, MLA, be appointed a member of the Committee of Subordinate Legislation to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mrs Joan Mary Sheldon, MLA.” Motion agreed to. PRIVILEGE Referral of Publication Nationals in State Parliament to Select Committee of Privileges Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I refer to a publication Nationals in State Parliament, dated November 1991, which states on page 2, under the heading “Stop Press”— “The unprecedented scenes in Parliament on Thursday, 31st October, where the Speaker and the Chairman of Committees totally disregarded Parliamentary Standing Orders, occurred as we went to press.” I regard this attack on myself and the Chairman of Committees that we “totally disregarded Standing Orders” as a reflection on our integrity and impartiality, and I am therefore referring a copy of the publication containing the article to the Select Committee of Privileges for investigation and report. PETITIONS The Acting Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Burdekin Falls Dam Scheme From Mr Smyth (21 signatories) praying for funds for the construction of the Burdekin Dam scheme to its maximum capacity of water conservation and hydroelectric power. Legislative Assembly 3029 26 November 1991 Tobacco Levy From Mr Turner (155 signatories) praying that the tobacco levy be increased and that the proceeds be channelled into an independent foundation for health promotion, research and sponsorship of sport and the arts. Mr FitzGerald interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have to accept that interjection from the member for Lockyer. I suggest the statement was a reflection on the Chair and the motives of the Chair. I ask the honourable member to withdraw and apologise. Mr FITZGERALD: I certainly will apologise to the Chair if you considered it any reflection upon yourself, Mr Speaker. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have just told the honourable member that I considered the interjection to be a reflection upon me, and I ask for an unqualified apology. Mr FITZGERALD: I give you an unqualified withdrawal. Importation of Tropical Rainforest Timbers From Mr Palaszczuk (111 signatories) praying that the importation of tropical rainforest timbers be selectively banned, that only timbers that can be harvested from plantation or secondary regrowth be imported as raw timber and that Queensland give support to international action to protect rainforests. Abortion Law From Mrs Woodgate (442 signatories) praying that the Queensland Parliament will oppose any attempt to decriminalise or legalise abortion. Child-care Legislation From Ms Warner (260 signatories) praying that the Parliament will support the Child Care Bill 1991 and promote the development of associated regulations. Petitions received. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table— Regulations under— Public Sector (Appeals) Amendment Act 1991, the Public Sector Management Commission Act 1990, and the Public Service Management and Employment Act 1988 Workplace Health and Safety Act 1989 Fishing Industry Organization and Marketing Act 1982 Orders in Council under— Parliamentary Members’ Salaries Act 1988 Summer Time Act 1990 State Housing Act 1945 Fishing Industry Organization and Marketing Act 1982 Legislative Assembly 3030 26 November 1991 Ordinance under the City of Brisbane Act 1924-1990 Guideline under the Sugar Industry Act 1991 Report of the Rice Marketing Board for the year ended 31 March 1991 Report of the Central Queensland Egg Marketing Board for the year ended 28 June 1991 Reports for the year ended 30 June 1991— Local Government Grants Commission on Financial Assistance for Local Government Atherton Tableland Maize Marketing Board Dumaresq-Barwon Border Rivers Commission Lower Burdekin Rice Producers Co-operative Association Limited Mackay Sugar Co-operative Association Limited. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Trade Mission to Northern Italy Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich—Minister for Transport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Economic and Trade Development) (10.10 a.m.), by leave: I led Queensland’s first business development mission to northern Italy from 10 to 22 October. Today, it gives me great pleasure to report to Parliament on the results, to date, of that mission. Directors of seven companies participated in the mission along with representatives of the Italian Chamber of Commerce, Queensland, an official from the Mount Gravatt College of TAFE, an official of the State Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Director of the Trade and Investment Development Branch of the Premier’s Department. While overseas, we were ably assisted by the marketing director of the Queensland Government Office, Europe. The value of the new business through Italian contracts which originated from the trade mission runs into millions of dollars. This is one area in which Queensland is taking a leading role in addressing the balance of trade problem afflicting our nation. While commercial interests understandably preclude the companies from making public the details about their new business prospects, they have assured me—and I am pleased to assure the House—that the long-term benefits from this mission will be immeasurable. We will be hearing much more about those benefits when the contracts are finalised. New sources of investment and technology have been identified and discussions on new joint ventures have been initiated. In the meantime, I can inform the House that, beginning next year, one of the first tangible results involves arrangements that are currently being put in place for Queensland textile industry students to be able to study in Florence. This is a real break-through, which was achieved during the mission by the Associate Director of Applied Science at the Mount Gravatt TAFE, Nerida Davis. She is confident also of securing a scholarship with assistance from an international airline for at least one student to attend a semester at the highly regarded Polimoda Institute, starting in September 1992. The course offers credit points towards a degree in fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Early this year, the Queensland Government was approached by members of the Queensland chapter of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a proposal for a business mission, which they were very eager to organise in co-operation with my office and the Premier’s Department. It was, indeed, a golden opportunity to expand Queensland’s international trade base in a country which now boasts the fifth largest Legislative Assembly 3031 26 November 1991 economy in the OECD. Northern Italy is recognised as an industrial and commercial powerhouse with world-leading expertise in many areas. We embarked on the mission with three objectives: promoting Queensland’s export of goods and services to Italy; increasing the flow of Italian technology and investment to Queensland through new and joint ventures; and fostering co-operation between Queensland and Italian companies in the provision of goods and services to third markets. We achieved very strong gains in each of those objectives, and I am confident that this is only the beginning of a new and prolific phase in our business relationship. I take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Queensland chapter of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for its tremendous efforts in initiating and organising the trade mission. In its short history, the Queensland chapter of the chamber has achieved a great deal and has made a valuable contribution to the development of stronger trade and cultural links between Queensland and Italy. I seek leave to table the list of participants in the mission, the mission program and details of meetings which I attended while overseas. Leave granted. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Lotus Glen Correctional Centre Hon. G. R. MILLINER (Everton—Minister for Justice and Corrective Services) (10.13 a.m.), by leave: I wish to advise the House that a Queensland correctional centre, Lotus Glen near Mareeba, has been awarded the Inaugural Corporate Award of the Human Rights Commission.