Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 1988 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Petitions 27 September 1988 739 TUESDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 1988 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. L. W. Powell, Isis) read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. ASSENT TO BILL Assent to the Public Officers' Superannuation Benefits Recovery Bill reported by Mr Speaker. PAPERS PRINTED DURING RECESS Mr SPEAKER: I have to report that the following papers were ordered to be printed and circulated during the recess— Report of the Commissioner of Land Tax 1985-86 Report of the Commissioner of Land Tax 1986-87. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to draw to your attention the presence of, and extend a welcome to, two senators from the State of Alaska in the United States, Senator Kamp and Senator Kelly. Honourable members: Hear, hear! PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Increase in Number of State School Teachers From Mr Littleproud (33 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will take action to increase the number of teachers in State schools in line with agreed class sizes. Toll-roads on Sunshine Coast From Mr Burns (303 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland wUl take action to ensure that all public roads on the Sunshine Coast are kept free of toll payment. Introduction of Poker Machines From Mr Simpson (18 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will take action to introduce poker machines. Licensed Sporting Clubs From Mr Simpson (69 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland wUl review the restrictions on trading hours, fund-raising and other activities in licensed sporting clubs. Petitions received. 740 27 September 1988 Days Allotted to Supply RAILWAY PROPOSAL Ebenezer/Jeebropilly Mines Spur Line Hon. I. J. GIBBS (Albert—Minister for Transport) (10.05 a.m.): I lay on the table plan, section and book of reference for the proposed rail spur to the Ebenezer/Jeebropilly mines, together with the report of the Commissioner for Railways thereon, and I move that the report be printed. Whereupon the documents were laid on the table and the report was ordered to be printed. PAPERS The foUowing papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports— Department of Geographic Information for the year ended 30 June 1988 Report and Financial Statement of the Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board for the year ended 30 June 1987 Port of Brisbane Authority for the year ended 30 June 1988 Department of Local Govemment for the year ended 30 June 1988. The foUowing papers were laid on the table— Orders in Council— Rural Training Schools Act 1965-1984 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Marine Parks Act 1982-1988 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1975-1984 River Improvement Tmst Act 1940-1985 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Water Act 1926-1987 Harbours Act 1955-1987 The Supreme Court Act of 1921 Regulations under— Expo '88 Act 1984-1987 Builders' Registration and Home-owners' Protection Act 1979-1987 Fauna Conservation Act 1974-1985 Irrigation Act 1922-1986 Reports— Disaster Appeals Tmst Fund Committee for the year ended 30 June 1988 Queensland Law Reform Commission for the year ended 30 June 1988 Seventh Report of the Police Complaints Tribunal Central Queensland Racing Association for the year ended 30 June 1988 Rockhampton Jockey Club for the year ended 30 June 1988. DAYS ALLOTTED TO SUPPLY Sessional Order Hon. B. D. AUSTIN (Nicklin—Leader of the House) (10.08 a.m.), by leave, without notice: I move— "That for this session, unless otherwise ordered, and notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing Orders or the Sessional Orders— (1) Not more than 15 days shall be allotted for consideration of the Estimates, the Statement of Unforeseen Expenditure to be Appropriated, the Vote on Account and the Resolutions of Supply. Ministerial Statement 27 September 1988 741 (2) On the days so aUotted, a single day shall comprise that period from one hour after the commencement of the sitting day or, if on a Tuesday, after a discussion on Matters of Public Interest and until four hours of debate have elapsed; at the discretion of the Leader of the House double days may apply to the debate, in which case each double day shall comprise eight hours debate. A double day shall begin one hour after the commencement of the sitting day or, if on a Tuesday, after a discussion on Matters of Public Interest. Each period of four hours shaU be accounted an aUotted day and each period of eight hours shall be accounted as two allotted days under the provisions of Standing Order No. 307. (3) At the termination of the period so aUowed for each Estimate the Chairman shall put every question necessary to decide the Vote under consideration and shall then proceed to put the question for the balance of the Estimates for that department, and all other Estimates for that aUotted day or days, all such questions to be decided without amendment or debate: Provided that, if the discussion of the Estimates of a Minister's department or departments, as the case may be, be concluded before the expiry of the allotted day or days so allowed, the period remaining shall be allocated to the discussion of the Estimates to be next brought before the Committee. (4) That aU other provisions of Standing Order No. 307 shaU, mutatis mutandis, continue to apply." Motion agreed to. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Proposed Rationalisation of Uneconomic Rail Operations Hon. I. J. GIBBS (Albert—Minister for Transport) (10.10 a.m.), by leave: In recent days, proposed changes to rationalise uneconomic rail operations throu^out Queensland have been made public by members of the State Opposition and the trade union movement. I make the point that the proposals were mshed to the media by the ALP and the unions, not by my office or Queensland Railways. This irresponsible action has short-circuited plans to ensure all affected employees were informed of the rationahsation moves personaUy by the department before announcing them publicly. In their haste to grab headlines, the ALP and its union colleagues have misinformed and alarmed the public, including those rail employees they purport to represent. The railway unions make loud noises about the need to be told of proposed changes before they are announced by me or the Commissioner for Railways. But once they are given this courtesy and privilege, they are the first to go screaming to the media. There is no logic or reasoning, just an ill-conceived yeaming to bag the Minister and the Railway Department. This smoke-screen of sensationahsm aims to cloud the real issues. Those issues are: to be commercial, to eliminate gross inefficiencies and to ensure workers are gainfully employed. It is the Government's responsibility to face economic realities. The rationalisation phase is part of Queensland Railways' ongoing program to match its resources with the traffic task at hand. In many cases, services for rail customers will be improved with door-to-door delivery of freight by road transporters and the introduction of faster and more flexible bus services for commuters. Area supervisors and local agents will ensure business is continued at unattended stations which have low levels of freight and passengers. The service will continue but will cost the tax-payers less. No rail employee wUl be sacked as a result of this rationalisation. The Railway Department has made this commitment to its employees and the unions. But it wiU not 742 27 September 1988 Ministerial Statement have employees not gainfully employed. The public will not accept that, nor will the employees themselves. There is nothing more soul-destroying than having nothing to do at work. The unions should recognise this, but they seem to be more preoccupied with headline-grabbing than looking after the long-term interests of their members. There has been no attempt at secrecy and deception in respect of the rail rationalisation. The Govemment has nothing to hide and has provided all honourable members with all the details. I can assure all honourable members that the Railway Department will continue to review its operations as part of the ongoing rationalisation program which started some five years ago. To date, the Railway Department has enjoyed the co-operation of employees and, for that matter, the union movement. But its good working relationship with the unions will be jeopardised if repeats of this latest charade occur. Everyone must realise that this rationalisation is a necessary process which is being followed by other railway systems. Indeed, the State Rail Authority of New South Wales is expected to eliminate 2 500 jobs a year for at least the next two years. Unfortunately, a decade of Labor mle in New South Wales allowed the railways to accumulate a debt mnning into billions of dollars. Large staff reductions have also occurred in New Zealand Railways, where the work-force was reduced from 22 000 to 12 500—and in the same manner as Queensland— without sackings. Queensland now has the proud record of having the only railway in Australia to consistently record operating profits. This allows Queensland Railways to continue essential services for the public, particularly to remote areas, without an overwhelming burden on the public purse. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Commonwealth Government's Industrial Relations BiU Hon. V. P. LESTER (Peak Downs—Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Affairs) (10.15 a.m.), by leave: I rise to inform honourable members of the inadequacies of the Commonwealth Govemment's Industrial Relations Bill, which has been passed by the House of Representatives and is now before the Senate.