Legislative Assembly 1278 10 May 1990 NOTE: There could be differences between this document and the official printed Hansard, Vol. 314 THURSDAY, 10 MAY 1990 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE Vacancy; Appointment of Honourable N.J. Harper Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to report that a vacancy exists on the Criminal Justice Committee consequent upon the resignation of the Honourable Michael John Ahern from that committee. Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth—Leader of the House) (10.02 a.m.), by leave, without notice: I move— "That the Honourable Neville John Harper be appointed a member of the Criminal Justice Committee to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the said Honourable Michael John Ahern." Motion agreed to. PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table— Orders in Council under--- Racing Venues Development Act 1982-1988 Liquor Act 1912-1989 Report of the Trustees of the Willows Paceway for the year ended 30 June 1989. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Comments by Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen Regarding Governor of Queensland Hon. W. K. GOSS (Logan—Premier, Minister for Economic and Trade Development and Minister for the Arts) (10.30 a.m.), by leave: During the parliamentary recess the former Premier, the Honourable Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, made some inflammatory remarks about the Governor of Queensland, Sir Walter Campbell. At the time I issued a statement responding to the remarks of the former Premier and, because of the important historical aspects of this issue, I seek leave to have my statement incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND HON. WAYNE GOSS M.L.A. Executive Building 100 George Street, Brisbane, Q 4000 Telephone 224 4500 MEDIA RELEASE SATURDAY, 7TH APRIL, 1990 Legislative Assembly 1279 10 May 1990 STATEMENT BY MR WAYNE GOSS, M.L.A., PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND The Premier, Mr Goss, said today he felt obliged to make some comments on certain media statements in relation to the actions of the Governor of Queensland at the time of Sir Joh Bjelke- Petersen's resignation from office in 1987. The media statements had described events which had purportedly occurred. Mr Goss said that Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen had outlined some major complaints he had, and in summary these appeared to be— • The Governor did not accept immediately his resignation as Premier which would involve the falling of his whole Ministry and recommissioning him as Premier. • The Governor delayed the formation of a new Cabinet and had forwarded him a rather technical letter to explain the delays. • The Governor had not accepted his advice. The Premier said that from an examination of the correspondence released by the then Premier, Mr Ahern, on 16 December, 1988, it was apparent that— • The Governor had told the Premier that he may not recommission him as Premier unless he was of the view that he was able to form a new Ministry and that he would be able to obtain the confidence and support of the Parliament. • Subsequently, the Governor, acting on the advice of the Premier, agreed to the commissions held by three Ministers being withdrawn and the swearing in of the new Ministers. • There was no delay on the part of the Governor in appointing the new Ministers, as the Ministers whom the Premier wanted to have sworn in were in fact sworn in less than 48 hours after the Premier had first seen the Governor. • The letter of 25 November forwarded to the Premier by the Governor set out the facts that had occurred up to that time. It could not be called a "technical letter in any sense. "Insofar as the Governor accepting the advice of the Premier is concerned, the point needs to be made that if Sir Joh had resigned as Premier, as he wished to do, his request to be recommissioned would not constitute advice from a Premier, and the Governor would not be obliged to act on such advice." Mr Goss said the actions of the Governor throughout had been constitutionally entirely correct. For further information: Home (07) 273 7955 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Courier-Mail Article Regarding Investigation Into Underground Mine Safety Hon. K. H. VAUGHAN (Nudgee—Minister for Resource Industries) (10.03 a.m.), by leave: I rise to make a statement about an article in this morning's edition of the Courier-Mail regarding an investigation into underground mine safety and the involvement of Dr Sally Leivesley. Dr Leivesley is one of four consultants working with two officers of my department's Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station on an underground mine safety research project. Dr Leivesley was engaged along with the other consultants late last year by the previous Government. Their appointment is for a fixed six-month period and ceases when they deliver their report to me later this month. The team is investigating mine explosions, using evidence from the Moura mine disaster in central Queensland in 1985. The entire budget for the project is around $290,000. The issue of the Moura mine disaster was extensively investigated by the Mining Warden in 1986. His finding was that the mine flame safety lamp was the most likely source of ignition which led to the blast. The lamp was immediately withdrawn from use throughout Queensland. Tests on the lamp as late as yesterday at SIMTARS still support this finding. Safety conditions are continually monitored by SIMTARS and the and the Mines Safety Inspectorate, and the House can be assured that it is an issue that the Government takes Legislative Assembly 1280 10 May 1990 very seriously. However, at this time I have no evidence before me to suggest that there was another cause for the Moura tragedy. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Medical Board Report on Ward 10B, Townsville General Hospital Hon. K. V. McELLIGOTT (Thuringowa—Minister for Health) (10.05 a.m.), by leave: In recent days public attention has again been focused on the past medical practices conducted at the psychiatric ward of the Townsville General Hospital. The Government, and myself in particular, have been criticised for the decision not to proceed with an open public inquiry. It is obvious that problems identified at the unit were allowed to develop unchecked by previous Health Ministers, who were, of course, members of the National Party. I need not remind honourable members that in 1986 I was the first person to question publicly activities at the unit. Since becoming Minister for Health, I have informed the House of measures put in place to ensure that the unsatisfactory practices permitted in the psychiatric unit will never be allowed to occur again. I can say to honourable members in all sincerity that the care for the mentally ill in Townsville is now of a standard of which this Government and this State can be proud. In my judgment, the Ward 10B fiasco highlights the need for changes in the administrative arrangements of public hospitals, similar to those envisaged in the Green Paper proposals that were issued for public comment some two months ago. In January, State Cabinet resolved that the Townsville Hospitals Board be dismissed and replaced with an administrator to institute new administrative and medical structures. At present the unit is functioning well, following the appointment of senior professional staff. Public confidence in the unit is growing and morale among staff has slowly returned over the past two years. Planning is well under way for a new $5m psychiatric facility. In early March I tabled the unabridged report by retired magistrate Merv Stubbins into malpractices at the unit, and its key recommendations have been acted upon. In addition, matters raised through the Stubbins inquiry, plus all documentation on Ward 10B held by the Health Department, have been referred to the Director of Prosecutions. Other avenues of investigation and inquiry have also been undertaken. They include examinations by professional bodies, that is, the Medical Board of Queensland and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. As I understand it, Dr John Lindsay is no longer registered in Queensland as a medical practitioner, nor as a specialist psychiatrist. He is in fact living in Western Australia. I further understand that the Royal College of Psychiatrists is due to make a determination shortly as to his membership. Dr Cant is not a psychiatrist and is not therefore the subject of any examination by the college. The Medical Board of Queensland has now concluded an investigation of complaints against the two doctors. In a letter to me, I am advised that the board has— (1) examined a report by Dr J. Ellard on perusal of documents concerning Ward 10B; (2) examined the report by Mr Merv Stubbins, Chairman of the Health Complaints Unit; (3) contacted witnesses recommended by barrister R. M. Bourke and considered his assessment of information provided by them; (4) noted advice from barrister R. M. Bourke concerning the standard of proof required in the case; and (5) interviewed Dr Cant at length at a full meeting of the board. The Medical Board has decided that there is not sufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution before the Medical Assessment Tribunal for misconduct in a professional Legislative Assembly 1281 10 May 1990 respect. The board decided that further investigation is unlikely to provide such evidence. Therefore, it has resolved that no proceedings against either Dr Cant or Dr Lindsay will be initiated. This issue was ignored for far too long by the previous Government. This Government is prepared to do all that it can to resolve the matter. To that end, and following the latest development, namely, the release of the results of the Medical Board's report, I am currently examining the options for finally settling the concerns of the Townsville community.