Legislative Assembly Hansard 1976

Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 1976 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 1482 Matters of Public Interest [11 NovEMBER 1976] Ministerial SJatement THURSDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 1976 Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. J. E. H. Houghton, Redcliffe) read prayers and took the chair at 10.58 a.m. REMEMBRANCE DAY Mr. SPEAKER: As this is Remembrance Day, I ask all honourable members to rise in their places and join me in observing the customary two minutes' silence to mark the occasion. Mr. K . .J. Hooper: And for Sir John Kerr. Mr. Herbert: You rat! Whereupon honourable members stood in s;lence. Mr. SPEAKER: Lest we forget! Thank you, hcnourable members. Order! I take a very dim view of the inter jection by the honourable member for Archer field. I am sure I express the opinion of all honourable members when I say that, on an occasion such as this, which we observe with reverence, his interjection is completely intol erable. I severely reprimand the honourable member and in doing so I am sure I have the support of all honourable members. Government IVIembers: Hear, hear! Mr. Herbert: It happens to be Remem brance Day in the square, so you just watch your step. Mr. Marginson interjected. Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I remind the hon ourable member for Wolston-- Mr. Marginson: What about the Minister? Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I remind the hon ourable member for Wolston that I will not tolerate persistent interjections. I now warn him under Standing Order 123A. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT SAND-MINING, FRASER IsLAND Hon. .J. B.JELKE-PETERSEN (Barambah -Premier) (11.6 a.m.): Yesterday the Fed eral Government decided to ban sand-mining on Fraser Island. The Commonwealth accepted the recom mendations of a commission of inquiry set up by the Whitlam Labor Government that export licences for minerals mined from the island not be renewed from 31 December. This decision will have three immediate and serious consequences:- 1. All mining leases throughout Aus tralia are now suspect because they can be Ministerial Statement [11 NOVEMBER 1976] Ministerial Statement 1483 rendered inoperative at any time by the proviSion of the Maryborough barrage pro withdrawal of export licences. ject, which I understand will cost some 2. The Commonwealth has misused a $24,000,000. The whole company, with its power intended to conserve scarce resources organisation, could be switched onto a project in order to impose its policy on a State of that nature if the Commonwealth so Government that has constitutional power decides. over mining. The committee will include State and area 3. A total of 1,000 people will lose their representatives and we plan to have it in jobs or be seriously affected in Mary operation quickly. borough and the Wide Bay region at a Yesterday, I outlined to Mr. Nixon and time when there already are some 1,000 l\1r. Newman some of the proposed projects people out of work in that region. which would cost a total of $63,000,000. It is interesting that even the former Labor They include completion of the Bundaberg Prime Minister (Mr. Whitlam) was highly Irrigation Scheme, road-works, forestry and critical of the Fraser Island inquiry and that special grants to local authorities. now he and the Labor people, as I understand it, are supporting the decision of Mr. Fraser's There also is provision for expansion of Government to ban mining. tourist facilities in the Wide Bay area and on Nevertheless, the Commonwealth has made Fraser Island itself. its decision-one that it will regret through The programme year by year is: the loss of confidence it will create within the $ mining industry and the effect it will have on Queenslanders, who can see that their jobs 1976-77 15 per cent 9,486,000 are at stake any time pressure groups in 1977-78 25 per cent 15,810,000 Sydney and Melbourne choose to make 1978-79 25 per cent 15,810,000 demands on Canberra Governments whether 1979-80 20 per cent 12,648,000 Labor or Liberal. 1980-81 15 per cent 9,486,000 The main consideration now is the future These works would include: of the people who will lose their jobs and the future of Maryborough and of Queens IRRIGATION AND WATER SUPPLY $ land generally. Completion of Phase 2 Bundaberg Irrigation Project 50,000,000 I was astounded that at the time it made Completion Monduran Dam 6,000,000 the decision to halt the operations the Com monwealth had not considered a single Total 56,000,000 detailed proposal to offset the loss of the sand-mining industry-just some vague state FORESTRY $ ments about financial assistance. Maryborough 1,500,000 Mr. Camm, Mr. Knox and I mentioned to Gympie .. 2,000,000 Mr. Nixon and Mr. Newman projects that Total 3,500,000 would assist in alleviating unemployment and hardship caused by this Commonwealth NATIONAL PARKs- $ decision. l told the two Federal Ministers Wide Bay Region 200,000 bluntly that, as their Government was creat ing the unemployment, it was their responsi bility to provide the funds to create new jobs. ROAD-WORK8-- $ Susan River Bridge 80,000 Reliable estimates drawn up by the Co Maryborough-Gympie (Bruce ordinator-General (Sir Charles Barton) show Highway) 610,000 that there will be a loss of regional income of approximately $5,140,000 a year for the next Special maintenance 100,000 15 to 17 years at least. This of course does Fraser Island-Roads 2,000,000 not include the mining companies' losses; that Total 2,790,000 is a separate issue. What the Queensland Government now $ plans to do is to set up a special Wide Bay Special grants to local authorities 350,000 P_lanning Committee which will have two aims:- We have allowed an inflation factor to cover 1. To alleviate the immediate short-term the next five years. effects of the winding down of Fraser Island sand-mining on employment in Mr. Speaker, the Queensland Government Maryborough and the surrounding regions. already has told Canberra of projects it wants to replace sand-mining. These are the ones 2. To draw up the detailed plans for ready to go; there are others that will come long-term projects to provide permanent forward from the committee we will estab employment. lish. Canberra has made promises; now we One of the suggestions today is that the will expect the money so that we can get on mining company, with its equipment, could with the task of providing new jobs for be given a contract to do work such as the Maryborough and Wide Bay people. 1484 Questions Upon Notice (11 NOVEMBER 1976] Questions Upon Notice PAPERS Section 3 of the Act provides for the number The following papers were laid on the of members of the commission and section 4 table, and ordered to be printed:- provides for their terms of membership. It is my understanding that the commission has Reports- been devoting a considerable amount of Commissioner of Police, for the year energy to an examination of matters which 1975-76. come within the terms of its charter and it is anticipated that its first report will be laid Police Superannuation Board, for the on the table of this House prior to the rising year 1975-76. of the House for the Christmas recess. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROJECTS CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENT BILL Mr. BurlllS, pursuant to notice, asked the INITIATION Premier- Hoi!ll. R. J. HINZE (South Coast-Minister ( 1) How many environmental research for Local Government and Main Roads): I projects are funded by the Government? move- (2) What is the nature of each project, "That the House wilL at its present what governmental group or organisation sitting, resolve itself into a Committee of is undertaking each project and what fund the Whole to consider introducing a Bill to amend the Clean Air Act 1963-1976 in ing does each project receive? certain particulars." (3) Does the Commonwealth Govern ment participate in the funding of these Motion agreed to. projects and, if so, to what extent generally, and what specific projects receive such funds? QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE Answer:- ( 1 to 3) Most Government departments 1. TREATIES COMMISSION conduct research into various aspects of Mr. Burns, pursuant to notice, asked the environmental management. In particular, Premier- departments and authorities such as the Cl) \Vhen was the Treaties Commission, National Parks and Wildlife Service, the which was promised in his 1974 policy Fisheries Service, the Department of Har speech, established, how many people are bours and Marine, the Department of entitled to sit on the commission and Primary Industries, the Water Quality who are the present members? Council and the Irrigation and Water Sup ply Commission have personnel engaged (2) On what dates has the commission on research relevant to the operation of met and what recommendations have arisen their organisations. from the meetings? The Commonwealth Government does (3) For how long is each commissioner fund research projects conducted by State appointed and what guide-lines were set for Government departments and authorities appointment? under schemes such as the NatioNal Water Resources Management Programme, the ( 4) Will the commission be compiling National Sewerage Programme and the reports and, if so, will these be tabled Area Improvement Programme. in Parliament? Precise details on the number, nature Answer:- and funding of environmental research projects are not readily available. (1 to 4) The Treaties Commission was established, in pursuance of the provisions of the Treaties Commission Act 1974, on 18 April 1975. The members of the com 3.

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