Hansard 3 December 1993
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Legislative Assembly 6477 3 December 1993 FRIDAY, 3 DECEMBER 1993 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Mr G. Latemore, Overland Safaris Hon. T. J. BURNS (Lytton—Deputy Premier, Minister for Emergency Services and Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) Minister for Rural Communities and Consumer read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. Affairs) (10.02 a.m.), by leave: Honourable members would be aware that it is sometimes necessary to take steps to alert people to a PETITIONS particular problem. In this case, potential The Clerk announced the receipt of the tourists to our State are at risk of being subject following petitions— to unacceptable conduct by a Mr Graham Latemore, who trades as Overland Safaris out of Cairns. Latemore formerly traded as Abortion Law Independent Safaris. From Ms Warner (504 signatories) Over the last few years, my department praying that sections of the Queensland has received numerous complaints from Criminal Code which make abortion unlawful tourists about Latemore’s behaviour. Those be repealed and that abortion services be complaints include intimidation; racist established in the public hospital system and statements; excessive drinking of alcohol; an community-based women’s health centres impatient and volatile nature; abusive with no charge attached to this service. language; and direct and indirect threats of violence. As a result of this conduct, some complainants have abandoned their tour and arranged for their own return. Tourists would Abortion Law have a happy holiday with Mr Latemore! From Ms Warner (541 signatories) There have also been instances of tourists praying that sections 224, 225 and 226 which being abandoned in remote locations. My make abortion unlawful be removed from the colleague the Honourable Minister for Queensland Criminal Code. Tourism, Sport and Racing, Mr Bob Gibbs, as well as the Northern Territory’s Office of Consumer Affairs, have received similar Abortion Law complaints. From Ms Warner (855 signatories) This tour operator travels from Cairns in praying that all abortion laws be repealed to north Queensland to Ayers Rock and then allow abortion to be safely and readily returns. Mr Latemore has had his tour available as a confidential matter between a operator’s licence for tours within Queensland woman and her doctor. cancelled by the Queensland Department of Transport, but operates the interstate tour on Petitions received. the premise that the Australian Constitution allows him the right of free trade between the States. These interstate and overseas tourists PAPERS are our guests in Queensland. While they are The following papers were laid on the in this State, they are consumers within the table— meaning of the Fair Trading Act, and are entitled to the same protections as any other (a) Minister for Tourism, Sport and Racing Queenslander. They should not be subject to (Mr Gibbs)— the ill-treatment which is part of Latemore’s Trustees of the Willows Paceway— stock in trade, and I am concerned that his Annual Report to 30 April 1993 behaviour has damaged, and will continue to damage, Queensland’s image as a premier Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation— tourist destination. Despite approaches to Latemore to Annual Report for 1992-93 mend his ways, no real cooperation has been Corporate Plan for 1993-94 forthcoming. Many difficulties are faced in (b) Minister for Health (Mr Hayward)— dealing with these complaints as many of the victims reside overseas or interstate and have Health Rights Commission—Annual left Queensland. Accordingly, I would warn Report for 1992-93. Queenslanders holidaying in the Cairns area not to deal with Latemore. 3 December 1993 6478 Legislative Assembly I warn tourists to think carefully before PRIVILEGE embarking on some outback safari tours. Advice should be sought from licensed travel Answers to Questions by the Minister for agents or reputable tourist promotion Tourism, Sport and Racing organisations regarding the suitability of Mrs SHELDON (Caloundra—Leader of certain tours. My colleague the Honourable the Liberal Party) (10.08 a.m.): I rise on a Minister for Tourism, Sport and Racing, Mr matter of privilege. In answer to a question on Gibbs, will publicise this problem through the Tuesday, 30 November in this House, the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation’s Minister for Tourism, Sport and Racing stated international network. that no grants had been made by his I table for the information of honourable department to the Mount Gravatt Australian members some of the complaints lodged with Rules Football Club. On Thursday, 2 the Queensland Office of Consumer Affairs November, in answer to a further question on and the Northern Territory Tourist Commission notice by me, the Minister contradicted himself about Latemore’s activities. by stating that $10,685 had been made available to the Mount Gravatt Australian Rules Football Club by his department. This PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC raises the question that the Minister ACCOUNTS deliberately misled the House, and I move— Report “That this matter be referred to the Mr HOLLIS (Redcliffe) (10.06 a.m.): I Privileges Committee for its consideration have pleasure in presenting a report of the and report back to the House.” Parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts upon its inquiry into the financial Mr GIBBS: I rise to a point of order. On administration of Aboriginal and Islander the basis of the accusation, let me say that I councils. During this inquiry, the committee have no problems at all—— focused on the role of the Department of Mr LINGARD: I rise to a point of order. Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander The motion has been moved. Therefore, it Affairs and its support for the Aboriginal and cannot be debated even by a point of order, Islander councils. Areas considered by the otherwise it is completely unfair. It has been committee included the director-general’s moved, and must be put immediately to the responsibility for financial accountability in House. relation to the councils, the adequacy of the community services legislation and the Mr GIBBS: I seek leave to make a appropriateness of the structure of the ministerial statement. councils. The committee has made only one Mr SPEAKER: No, the Minister cannot do recommendation to the Minister, that is, to that now. address the conclusions reached by the committee. Question—That the motion be agreed I thank all members of the committee, to—put; and the House divided— especially the subcommittee members, NOES, 48—Beanland, Borbidge, Connor, Cooper, Messrs D’Arcy, Fenlon and Grice, for their Davidson, Elliott, FitzGerald, Gamin, Gilmore, Goss dedicated efforts. The committee particularly J. N., Grice, Hobbs, Horan, Johnson, Lester, appreciated the work of its research staff, Ms Lingard, Littleproud, McCauley, Mitchell, Perrett, Debra Stolz and Mr Ted Dahms, whose Quinn, Randell, Rowell, Santoro, Sheldon, Simpson, endeavours have contributed significantly to Slack, Stephan, Stoneman, Turner, Veivers, Watson Tellers: Springborg, Laming the committee’s deliberations. The committee also appreciated the work of Ms Sandy Rowse AYES, 34—Ardill, Barton, Beattie, Bennett, Bird, from the committee secretariat for her Braddy, Bredhauer, Briskey, Budd, Burns, Campbell, assistance in preparing this report. Casey, Clark, D’Arcy, Davies, De Lacy, Dollin, Edmond, Elder, Fenlon, Gibbs, Goss W. K., Hamill, Finally, I also table the committee’s Hayward, Hollis, Mackenroth, McElligott, Milliner, issues paper, a transcript of proceedings of Nunn, Nuttall, Palaszczuk, Pearce, Purcell, Pyke, the public hearing held on 13 September Robertson, Robson, Rose, Smith, Spence, Sullivan 1993, and the correspondence provided to J. H., Sullivan T. B., Szczerbanik, Vaughan, Warner, the committee during the conduct of this Wells, Woodgate Tellers: Pitt, Livingstone inquiry. I move that the report be printed. Resolved in the negative. Ordered to be printed. PERSONAL EXPLANATION Legislative Assembly 6479 3 December 1993 Hon. R. J. GIBBS (Bundamba— Minister provided a $10,500 grant to assist with the for Tourism, Sport and Racing) (10.16 a.m.), floodlighting of its oval. by leave: On 30 November, the Leader of the Liberal Party asked a question in this House, which stated— PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC WORKS “I direct my first question to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Racing. In Report light of a grant of $200,000 by the Ms SPENCE (Mount Gravatt) Federal Sports Minister Ros Kelly to the (10.18 a.m.): I table the following report from Mount Gravatt Workers Club, I ask: has the Parliamentary Committee of Public Works: the Queensland Government approved Preliminary Report of an Inquiry into Health any grants to the Mount Gravatt Workers Facilities in Far North Queensland. I move that Club or the Mount Gravatt Australian the report be printed. Rules Club for the development of a Ordered to be printed. clubhouse?” Ms SPENCE: The Public Works I replied— Committee is in the course of conducting an “In short, there have been no inquiry into the provision of primary health care grants”— facilities at various locations in far-north I repeat “no grants”— Queensland. While that inquiry is by no means complete, the committee has become “from my department to either of the concerned at several matters. First, there sporting organisations that the member appear to be numerous buildings in the has mentioned.” Aboriginal communities which are sound and There has been no grant to either sporting have an obvious further useful life, but which organisation for the development of a are being earmarked for demolition or clubhouse. There has been—— removal. Second, there appears to be little Mrs SHELDON: I rise to a point of order. intent on the part of the departments and Mr Speaker, I would like your ruling on this, authorities involved to seek alternative sites for because I am not quite sure exactly how this the existing buildings. Third, considerable should be debated. criticism has been voiced to the committee about the level of consultation which occurred Mr SPEAKER: Order! What is the within the communities.