5 Jun 2003 Legislative Assembly 2621 THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 2003 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. PETITION The following honourable member has lodged a paper petition for presentation— Roundabout, Dawson Highway, Gladstone Mrs Liz Cunningham from 1,403 petitioners requesting the House to note their concerns at the number of traffic jams occurring in peak hour between the Kin Kora roundabout and the Garden Lovers roundabout, Dawson Highway Gladstone and to ensure an urgent review is done to identify ways to rectify this problem. PAPER MINISTERIAL PAPER The following ministerial paper was tabled— Minister for State Development (Mr Barton)— Report on investment and trade mission to China from 15 to 24 March 2003 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Sugar Industry Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.32 a.m.): Last night I received a letter from the Prime Minister, John Howard, in regard to sugar industry reform. I welcome this letter and after discussions with Tom Barton, the Minister for State Development, and Henry Palaszczuk, the Minister for Primary Industries, can I say that we believe that what is outlined in the Prime Minister's letter is achievable. We are very pleased with the Prime Minister's letter and I thank him for sending it. In fact, later this day, State Development Minister, Tom Barton, will go to Canberra to resolve any issues. He will be having discussions with the federal minister, Warren Truss. We are keen to progress this matter. We have had discussion. It is now time to get on with it and we are keen to do that. I want to make sure that the record is set out clearly for all Queenslanders to see. I seek leave to incorporate a copy of the Prime Minister's letter in Hansard. Leave granted. Prime Minister CANBERRA 4 JUN 2003 The Hon Peter Beattie MP Premier of Queensland PO Box 185 BRISBANE ALBERT STREET QLD 4002 My dear Premier I write regarding the contents of the Sugar Industry and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2003 ("the Bill"). My Government remains committed to an economically sustainable sugar industry and wishes to work with you in finalising the sugar industry legislation. While I appreciate that changes have been made to the original reform package proposed by your Government, I am of the view that further consultations on implementation details still need to occur. After discussions with the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Warren Truss MP and members of the Federal Sugar Industry Taskforce, I consider that urgent discussions need to occur in the following areas: Collective Bargaining and Arbitration Under the arbitration process outlined in the Bill, it appears that the Sugar Industry Commissioner will be unable to hear disputes in instances where one party is unwilling to participate in the arbitration process. This provision 2622 Ministerial Statement 5 Jun 2003 would allow parties to effectively avoid the arbitration process if they consider it is not in their interests. I would appreciate clarification on how growers can be protected from abuse of market power where this may occur. Single Desk Value-adding and innovation are crucial to the future of the sugar industry. Indeed, providing scope for value-adding and innovation lies at the heart of the rationale for reform. Referring to the proposed exemption system, there are concerns that the proposed legislative changes do not effectively increase the scope for grower participation in value-adding and other downstream processes. It is also not clear how the amendments will allow growers to apply for exemptions from vesting (whether individually or in a collective). This issue needs clarification. I would ask that our governments urgently review how your proposed legislation deals with these concerns. This review should take the form of discussions between the Minister for State Development, the Hon Tom Barton, MP and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Warren Truss, MP. As part of this, it may be necessary to consider further amendments to the legislation. Naturally, the Commonwealth's funding package will remain in place while the discussions on these concerns take place. I am confident that if we can reach agreement on these issues, we will be able to carry the industry forward to a sustainable and more prosperous future. Yours sincerely (sgd) (John Howard) MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Sir Charles Kingsford Smith; Aviation Industry Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.33 a.m.): Later today I will attend a ceremony honouring one of our greatest Queenslanders, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. Relatives of Smithy and his legendary co-pilot, Charles Ulm, will be at today's ceremony, which will commemorate their historic flight across the Pacific. It is almost 75 years to the day that they made that inaugural flight and if members visit the Kingsford Smith Memorial on the way to Brisbane airport and have a look at the Southern Cross, it makes us wonder how they ever did it. It was an epic, courageous journey and it is fitting that we should celebrate this achievement during Queensland Week. Smithy was a man who personified the spirit of innovation. He was determined to be the best in the world. That is the sort of Smart State spirit that my government wants to foster in Queenslanders. He and Charles Ulm pushed back the boundaries of international flight and helped make the Queensland aviation industry what it is today. In addition to the trans-Pacific flight, they completed a record-breaking circumnavigation of Australia in 1927 and in 1928 they also completed the first non-stop trans-Australian flight and were the first to fly across the Tasman. In 1929, they made a record-breaking flight from Sydney to London, once again in the Southern Cross. Smithy and other great Queensland aviation pioneers like Bert Hinkler and Sir Hudson Fysh would probably not recognise Brisbane airport as it is now and would be astonished at the changes which have taken place in aviation in Queensland. In 2003, the Smart State has a vibrant and growing aviation industry. Brisbane is home to Virgin Blue and Cairns is home to Australian Airlines. Since 1998, more than 4,200 people have been employed in the aviation industry in Queensland. That is Smart State thinking; Smart State achievement; the Smart State working. The Aviation Australia Technical Training Centre has been established in Brisbane, as the Minister for Employment knows, and construction is under way on Virgin Blue-FlightSafety Boeing's aviation training centre and Qantas's Boeing 767 heavy engineering maintenance facility, as the Minister for State Development knows. Recently, Hawker Pacific and the Cairns Port Authority agreed to establish a centre of excellence for aircraft maintenance, which will deliver about 50 new jobs to Cairns. Smithy, I am sure, would be proud to know that exploits like the great flight he and Charles Ulm undertook 75 years ago helped lay the foundations for an exciting aviation industry. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Queensland 400 Business Directory; Food Processing Industry Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.35 a.m.): This morning I had the opportunity of launching the Queensland 400 business directory. It recognises the achievements of the local heroes of Queensland's privately owned companies. I 5 Jun 2003 Ministerial Statement 2623 had the chance of addressing their conference this morning and I table a copy of the publication, Queensland 400. These are the innovators who are driving the economy. They are the engine room of Queensland. A few minutes ago I left them at the Convention Centre where they are talking about their achievements and the future of this state. One of the areas that I want to talk about today in terms of innovation is food processing in Queensland. Queensland's food processing industry is highly export oriented, growing quickly and facing unprecedented opportunities as consumers increasingly expect a greater variety of pre- prepared combinations, ready-to-eat products and healthier takeaways. Our food processing industry employs over 35,000 Queenslanders and has an annual turnover of almost $9 billion. The sector is becoming an important exporter with overseas sales generating almost $4 billion every year. Queensland is home to a number of Australia's most innovative food processing firms. We would expect that in the Smart State. They include companies like the Australian Garlic Bread Company, Snap Fresh and Food Spectrum. The Australian Garlic Bread Company is one of Queensland's shining lights. I recently opened its new food processing factory in the electorate of the member for Capalaba. In just nine years, the company has gone from producing less than 500 garlic bread rolls a fortnight to 1.2 million and exports to Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand. My government assisted this company through the Department of State Development's Queensland Industry Development and Food Smart schemes. Queensland is also home to Snap Fresh, Qantas flight catering's state-of-the-art food manufacturing facility located just south of Brisbane in Logan city. Snap Fresh produces fully prepared meals for a wide range of airlines, as well as non-airline clients like schools, hospitals and aged care facilities. It opened in 2002—and I had the honour of opening it—and now produces around 20 million meals every year. Food Spectrum is also making its mark. Food Spectrum celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and is a leading exporting firm, last year winning the Premier of Queensland's export award for large advanced manufacture.