20 May 2004 Legislative Assembly 1291 THURSDAY, 20 MAY 2004

Legislative Assembly Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R.K. Hollis, Redcliffe) read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m.

PRIVILEGE

Member for Darling Downs Hon. R.E. SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton—ALP) (Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing) (9.31 a.m.): I rise on a matter of privilege. The shadow spokesperson for public works, housing and racing, Mr Hopper, has recently penned letters to a variety of regional newspapers. I table a copy of one of these from the Sunshine Coast Daily on Monday, 17 May. The honourable member states that I have decided that 'we cannot afford to keep the Beattie Labor government's election promises despite them having been made just a few months ago'. This is a deliberate falsehood. It has no semblance of truth whatsoever and represents an attempt by the inadequate shadow minister to make himself relevant. I have already indicated in this House and outside that all building promises made at the last election have been costed and will be delivered. That was the case at the election and it is the case now. Queenslanders deserve proper policy debate from the opposition, not this sort of puerile and grubby performance.

PRIVILEGE

Attorney-General Mr SPRINGBORG (Southern Downs—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) (9.32 a.m.): Mr Speaker— Mr Hopper interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I point out to the member for Darling Downs that his leader is on his feet. Mr SPRINGBORG: I rise on a matter of privilege. We are not prepared to sit back and let the Premier mislead the people of Queensland. The allegations regarding the Attorney-General have not been fully investigated as asserted— Mr Fouras interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will hear the point of privilege. Mr SPRINGBORG: The allegations regarding the Attorney-General have not been fully investigated as asserted by the Premier and we ask the Speaker to refer the Premier's misleading assertions to the Members' Ethics and Parliamentary Privileges Committee. Yesterday in this House the Premier claimed that the Crime and Misconduct Commission had fully investigated all allegations arising from the Attorney-General's conduct at a staff Christmas party organised by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The CMC has advised us otherwise. The CMC did investigate whether or not the Attorney-General had threatened reprisals if the alleged victim complained. The CMC did not—I repeat did not—investigate the actual conduct of the Attorney-General and whether or not he had harassed a member of the DPP staff. I will quote from the CMC's advice to us. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I think we are really getting out of the realms of a point of privilege. The member is starting to debate it. Mr SPRINGBORG: With due respect, there is no personal attack on anyone in this as we saw from the Minister for Public Works. We have seen the Premier stand up in this place and respond to media articles which are on the periphery of anything which is being debated in here. I am pointing out where there are contradictions. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am very happy to listen to a reasonable length point of privilege. The member is really starting to debate the issue. Mr SPRINGBORG: We have had five-minute points of privilege from the Premier. 1292 Ministerial Statement 20 May 2004

Mr SPEAKER: Points of privilege relate to where it affects the member. I cannot see where it is affecting the member at this stage. Mr SPRINGBORG: The point of privilege affects the integrity of this House and relates to answers that have been given in this place. The CMC's advice to us on 15 March this year stated— When conducting their inquiries, Agency officers were concerned to establish whether the Agency had the necessary jurisdiction. In the circumstances of this case, the Agency would only have jurisdiction if there was any evidence (or even information) that there was any criminal behaviour on the part of the Attorney-General. This is the part that I want the Speaker to hear. It stated— They were not concerned, nor should they have been, whether the Attorney-General's conduct may have been in breach of any of the non-criminal provisions of the Anti-Discrimination Act. I repeat that the CMC did not concern itself with whether the Attorney-General's conduct may have breached the Anti-Discrimination Act. The opposition has been very responsible and very restrained in its handling of this issue. We have not detailed the allegations against the Attorney-General. We have not tabled the documents which contain those allegations. In fact, given the nature of the documents in our possession, we have been extremely circumspect. But the opposition is not prepared to sit back and let the Premier mislead the House. The Attorney-General's conduct at the staff Christmas party has not been fully investigated—not by the CMC, not by the Premier and not by anyone. The CMC did not interview any of the witnesses at the party; it did not interview any of the people in whom the alleged victim confided; it did not even interview the Director of Public Prosecutions who actually referred these allegations to the then Director- General of Justice. It did not even interview the Attorney-General. It interviewed only a junior staffer who was clearly worried about reprisals. These matters have not been fully investigated. We will be writing to the Speaker asking him to refer this matter and the Premier's comments and contradictions to the Members' Ethics and Parliamentary Privileges Committee. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I was going to ask the Leader of the Opposition to do that.

PRIVILEGE

Minister for Health Mr MESSENGER (Burnett—NPA) (9.36 a.m.): Yesterday in this House the Minister for Health attempted to cast a slur on my character. Yesterday in this House the Minister for Health accused me of threatening a community leader, Mr Viv Chase, the Chairman of the Bundaberg and District Health Council, and his family during a phone conversation. This is a gross and devious distortion of the truth and I categorically and unreservedly deny threatening Mr Chase or his family. The only thing I am guilty of is working for a better health system for my constituents.

PAPERS

MINISTERIAL PAPER TABLED BY THE CLERK The following ministerial paper was tabled by The Clerk— Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (Mr Welford)— • Response from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (Mr Welford) to an E-Petition sponsored by Mr Roberts from 129 petitioners regarding lowering the voting age to either 16 or 17 MINISTERIAL PAPER The following ministerial paper was tabled— Minister for State Development and Innovation (Mr McGrady)- Report on recent visit to Japan, Korea and China—18 to 27 April 2004

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Kogan Creek Power Station Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.38 a.m.): Today I am pleased to announce a significant development in the continued growth of Queensland as the energy hub of Australia. The government has granted approval to government owned corporation CS Energy to proceed with development of the Kogan Creek power station near Chinchilla. The state government, through CS Energy, will spend $1.1 billion to develop the Kogan Creek base load power station. It will create 1,000 jobs during construction and 120 permanent jobs when fully operational. This is great news for Queensland, the shires of the Darling Downs and Chinchilla in particular. 20 May 2004 Ministerial Statement 1293

The power station will be constructed by a consortium of Siemens/Hitachi over a 39-month period under a fixed-price contract with CS Energy for commercial operation in September 2007. The development of the Kogan Creek power project sees both a strong stand-alone commercial project being delivered and long-term security in terms of low-priced electricity supply for Queensland. Queensland is the growth state and requires new energy infrastructure to cater for that impressive growth. Population gains as well as the continued investment by industry will increase demand for electricity in Queensland. We are preparing for that demand.

The state government has recognised the need to cater for this growth and the commercial and economic benefits this project will bring. Reliable, low-cost electricity is fundamental to Queensland's continuing international competitiveness as a destination for major industrial developments. In terms of local benefits, at least 40 per cent of the value of the project will be carried out by Australian contractors. The consortium looking after construction will offer opportunities to Queensland and Australian manufacturers to supply components to the project. CS Energy is experienced with construction and construction staff on its sites. Using the Callide C Power Station in Biloela as an example, CS Energy expects a sharp rise in the numbers in Chinchilla due to the construction work force. Over the three years of the Callide C project, workers were well assimilated into the local community and they received strong support.

A Chinchilla Community Benefits Trust has been established under the project for the purpose of developing and upgrading community infrastructure to support the local region. CS Energy has committed to the upgrade of Banana Bridge Road and various facilities at the Brigalow State School to offset the impact of increased traffic. When complete, the Kogan Creek power station will be one of the lowest cost black coal-fired power stations in the national electricity market. At 750 megawatts, it will also be the largest individual generating unit in Australia and is forecast to provide seven per cent of Queensland's demand when commissioned.

The Kogan Creek project will be located within proximity to the Queensland-New South Wales interconnector and will compete for market share in both states. Development of the power station will include development of the adjacent Kogan Creek coalmine, forecast to produce 2.8 million tonnes of coal per annum. The ready supply of low cost, good quality steaming coal from the Kogan Creek mine is one factor which will make Kogan Creek one of the lowest cost producers in the national electricity market. Kogan Creek will utilise advanced supercritical technology, resulting in significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to existing power stations. The power station has been designed to use dry cooling technology which results in 90 per cent less water consumption than conventional generators. Water requirements will be met from underground artesian basins and ensure that no pressure is placed on the fragile Condamine River system. Equally importantly in Queensland, this water self-sufficiency effectively drought proofs the plant, ensuring secure electricity supplies through even the most difficult conditions.

The Kogan Creek project has been a long time in the making. In March 2000 the government issued a generation authority for a proposed 750 megawatt coal-fired Kogan Creek power project. In June 2000 CS Energy acquired a 40 per cent interest in the project and has held a 100 per cent interest since April 2002 when it acquired the remaining 60 per cent interest held by Mirant Australia when Mirant exited its Australian businesses. CS Energy also acquired the Kogan Creek coal deposit at that time. The Kogan Creek licence was the last coal-fired generation licence issued under the Queensland Energy Policy—A Cleaner Energy Strategy which states that no further generating licences for new coal-fired power stations will be issued by the state unless there is a clear and demonstrated need.

The energy policy was developed incorporating the Kogan Creek project, and I make that clear to everybody. Queensland is right to claim one of the best electricity systems in the country. Queensland has shown the way with new investment and low wholesale electricity prices. That is good for industry and consumers and good for jobs. Including the latest $1.1 billion Kogan Creek power station, Queensland has invested a total of $4.7 billion into new electricity generation since the national electricity market began in 1998. In fact, Queensland's investment accounts for around three-quarters of the $6.3 billion in new generation investment in the national electricity market—NEM—over this time. It is another reason why people and industry keep coming to Queensland. This a very significant announcement for the state. I want to thank the Energy Minister, Stephen Robertson. I want to thank the Treasurer, Terry Mackenroth, and other ministers for working very closely together to deliver this on behalf of my government. This is not just the Smart State; we are building a long-term vision for the future of Queensland. Frankly, this is what Queenslanders want. They do not want the politics of muckraking and all those sorts of things. This is what they want for Queensland. 1294 Ministerial Statement 20 May 2004

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Riverside Precinct, Hamilton Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.44 a.m.): Today is indeed a great day for this state. While we have just announced a $1.1 billion project in Chinchilla, I am now going to detail a new urban renewal project at Hamilton. Later this morning Transport Minister, Paul Lucas, and I will join Port of Brisbane executives on site to unveil this exciting project. The project will open up 2.5 kilometres of industrial riverfront to the people of Brisbane. The riverside precinct between the Royal Queensland Golf Club and the proposed Portside Wharf Cruise Terminal includes 55 hectares of Port of Brisbane Corporation owned land. A master plan encompassing some 80 hectares will be developed for the progressive renewal of this land over the next 10 to 15 years. All landowners within the master plan area will have the choice to be involved in the master planning process, which will help determine the best use of the site. It is hoped that by the end of the year a draft master plan will be ready for public consultation which will enable people to look at ways to increase public access to waterfront land that in the past has been inaccessible. This is a wonderful opportunity to give the people of Brisbane access to one of the last remaining areas of riverfront land close to the CBD, and I know that the member for Clayfield will be delighted as is the Minister for Transport, and I thank him for the work that he has been doing on this. One of the things that makes Brisbane so liveable is our river, and there are many ways in which we can incorporate it into our recreational activities. The master plan will seek input on the inclusion of river walks, public parkland and cycle ways for the site, along with residential, retail and commercial uses. An estimated 18 per cent of green space is currently planned for the site. The release of the Hamilton land by the Port of Brisbane Corporation is due to its long-term plan to relocate Hamilton based port operations to Fisherman Islands over the next 10 to 15 years. The port has set up a division called the North Shore Development Group to oversee the master planning process, the infrastructure development and, ultimately, the redevelopment of the precinct. The master plan will require approval under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 as well as shareholding ministers' approval because the site was strategic port land. Major infrastructure to enable the renewal of this site into a properly planned and integrated residential community will be funded by the Port of Brisbane Corporation. However, the corporation will not actually be developing any individual sites. The North Shore Development Group will work with the Brisbane City Council, the Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Transport, other state government departments and agencies, the community, industry and other stakeholders in the development of the master plan. The draft master plan will be exhibited for public comment for a period of 30 business days in late 2004 or early 2005. Relocation of port operations from the Hamilton site to Fisherman Islands commencing in mid to late 2005 is making the redevelopment of the Hamilton site possible. Moving port operations to Fisherman Islands is part of the Port of Brisbane Corporation's long-term strategy to facilitate growth and economic efficiencies. Agreements are now in place with key operators to progressively relocate their port facilities to Fisherman Islands. The redevelopment of this site will underwrite the infrastructure required to accommodate these activities and provide for their future expansion. The Port of Brisbane injects $770 million into Queensland's economy each year and generated $19.4 billion in international trade for 2002-03. This renewal project will ensure port growth continues which will increase trade and revenues to the state while providing significant new public recreational areas and vibrant sustainable communities. Indeed, both of these announcements are significant for the future of this state. This shows a government that is getting on with the job, and we will not be diverted by the muckraking from the opposition.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Crime and Misconduct Commission, Chairperson Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.48 a.m.): Heading an organisation like the Crime and Misconduct Commission is a demanding job. The CMC Chairperson, Brendan Butler SC, has had something of a marathon term in the post. He became chair of the Criminal Justice Commission, the forerunner to the CMC, in December 1998 and took the helm of the CMC when it began on 1 January 2002 after amalgamation of the CJC and the Queensland Crime Commission. In both positions, Mr Butler has acted with the highest integrity and independence. Mr Butler's term expires on 31 December 2004. He has formally advised me that he does not intend to seek reappointment. In accordance with the Crime and Misconduct Act 2001, the government will advertise nationally for suitably qualified people to be considered for the position. Advertisements inviting expressions of interest will be placed in the Weekend Australian and the Courier-Mail on 5 June 20 May 2004 Ministerial Statement 1295 and 12 June. For time reasons, I seek leave to incorporate the rest of my ministerial statement in Hansard so that all of the details of that process are on the record. Leave granted. It is a requirement of the Act that the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee be consulted and give bipartisan support to the proposed nominee. The proposed nominee will then be recommended to the Governor in Council for approval. The full-time chair must preside at all meetings of the Commission he or she attends. The Chair is also the Chief Executive Officer of the CMC and is the accountable officer under the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977. Among other things, the chair is responsible for the administration and performance of the CMC. The successful applicant will need to be a person who has served as, or is qualified for appointment as: a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland; or the Supreme Court of another State (or Territory); or the High Court; or the Federal Court. The following people are not eligible for appointment: • People who have been convicted of an indictable offence • People affected by bankruptcy action • Anyone holding a judicial appointment • A Member of Parliament or the Executive Council • The Parliamentary Commissioner • The public interest monitor or deputy public interest monitor • The Director of Public Prosecutions • Members of the police service • People who have been a member of the police service within the 5 years before the time at which qualification for appointment arises • public servants • Ministerial staff • local government councillors • local government employees.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Alcohol Management Plans Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.50 a.m.): The government is set to begin the first formal reviews of alcohol management plans in 17 remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The plans were implemented following Justice Tony Fitzgerald's Cape York Justice Study in 2001, which found extreme alcohol dependence was eroding community life and tragically harming children. For the children, daily life can be scarred by violence, sickness and a lack of learning opportunities. The government has worked with the community justice groups to come up with the most appropriate measures for each community. The early statistics show that the alcohol management plans are reclaiming the future for children in remote communities. The statistics in my ministerial statement clearly highlight that these plans are working. We will review them, but we are committed to them. I seek leave to incorporate the rest of my ministerial statement in Hansard, including the details of the success of those plans. Leave granted. Where community health data is available—in Aurukun, Doomadgee, Lockhart River, Mornington Island, Pormpuraaw and Wujal Wujal—there has been a 50% reduction in alcohol-related presentations, a 48% reduction in alcohol-related new injury presentations; and a 54% reduction in presentations as a result of assault. Across the communities of Aurukun, Doomadgee, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mornington Island, Napranum, Pormpuraaw, Woorabinda, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah, there has been a 10.9% reduction in monthly average alcohol related offenders, and a 14.8% reduction in monthly average offenders for offences against the person. We have a long-term commitment, in partnership with the communities, to continue hammering away at the scourge of alcohol and violence. We promised a review of these plans after each plan had been in place for 12 months. This is too important for guesswork—so the reviews will be based on solid and dependable figures which take into account every fluctuating factor across the course of a year. The Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy is about to begin the reviews according to the following schedule: • June-July, 2004—Aurukun, Napranum and Doomadgee • Oct-Nov, 2004—Woorabinda, Wujal Wujal and Lockhart River • Late Nov-Dec, 2004—Mornington Island, Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw 1296 Ministerial Statement 20 May 2004

• Feb-March, 2005—Yarrabah, Mapoon and Hope Vale • April-May, 2005—Northern Peninsula Area communities of Bamaga, Injinoo, Seisia, New Mapoon and Umagico • May-June, 2005—Palm Island and Cherbourg. The first community to be reviewed will be Aurukun. Colin Dillon—a widely-respected former police inspector who was appointed a year ago to advise community justice groups on implementing the alcohol management plans—will assist in the process. The reviews will look at how successful the plans have been in reducing alcohol-related crime and violence and improving the well-being of community members. They will include interviews with community members, and an analysis of data—including data from hospitals, schools, the police, and alcohol expenditure estimates. There will also be an analysis of queries to the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy call-centre and website that give information about the plans. We want to find out how these plans are impacting on the lives of people who work and live in the communities, so that if necessary we can make the plans more effective in giving the children a safe, healthy future.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Parliamentary Secretaries, Allowances Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.51 a.m.): When my government was re-elected in February I decided to review allowances paid to parliamentary secretaries to resolve some of the inequities. I am now recommending to the Governor in Council that a new rate apply to all parliamentary secretaries. The figure has been arrived at by adding up all the allowances of all six parliamentary secretaries and dividing the total by six. That means that taxpayers will not be paying one cent more for the services of the parliamentary secretaries. In fact, they will be paying 48c a year less. Because of our accountability and openness, I seek leave to incorporate those details in Hansard. Leave granted. Those inequities meant a Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier was paid an allowance of $25,565 a year, a Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier was paid an allowance of $20,452 a year and a Parliamentary Secretary to another Minister was paid an allowance of $12,782.50 a year. While my role and the Deputy Premier's role are more complex and demanding than other Ministers', this doesn't necessarily hold true for the Parliamentary Secretaries. Initially in February the allowance was changed so that all Parliamentary Secretaries received the lowest rate while we continued to review the situation. I am now recommending to the Governor in Council that a new rate apply for all Parliamentary Secretaries. It will be $18,321.50 a year, which is an average of what was paid before February. This figure has been arrived at by adding up all the allowances of all six secretaries and dividing the total by six. It means that taxpayers will not be paying one cent more for the services of the Parliamentary Secretaries. In fact, they'll be paying 48 cents a year less.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Smart State Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.51 a.m.): Often there are assessments about how well the Smart State is working. I would like to draw the attention of anybody who doubts my government's Smart State policies to the proceedings of the New South Wales Committee on State Development in the New South Wales Legislative Council. The committee has given us an excellent endorsement. In the debate on its final report on science and its commercialisation in New South Wales, Queensland was widely seen as leading the way in research and commercialisation and, therefore, new jobs. For instance, Patricia Forsythe MLC said— Time and again, Queensland was pointed out as being the state doing the most to foster scientific research and to underpin its industries in their endeavours in relation to research and development. She also said— The committee is of the opinion that it is being addressed perhaps most successfully in Queensland. Queensland has taken a positive and proactive approach within a portfolio that is well focused on the benefits for the state. I want to thank Ms Forsythe. But that is not all. Melinda Pavey MLC said— It was a continuing theme of the committee's investigations that Queensland is being the smartest of all states in its embracing, encouraging, funding and driving of technology. Congratulations to Premier Beattie; he is doing a fine job. 20 May 2004 Ministerial Statement 1297

I should advise the House that Ms Forsythe is a Liberal member of the upper house and that Melinda Pavey is a National Party member of the upper house. I table a copy of that report for all members to read—as I know they will—and I seek leave to incorporate the rest of my ministerial statement in Hansard. Leave granted. 'If the findings of the State Development Committee can generate in the New South Wales Government the same level of interest in this very important area as is apparent in Queensland, then members of the committee will have done a good job.' The report itself makes many favourable references to Queensland, showing that others could learn from Smart State initiatives. It includes references to our science education and commercialisation strategies, and Science in Parliament. It says the Committee travelled to Brisbane in September 2003 to meet with representatives of the Departments of State Development and Innovation and Information Economy, and 'the Committee was able to understand the processes that the Queensland Government has considered and implemented to best support and promote science commercialisation in that state.' For instance the report heard from Professor Peter Booth, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor at UTS that Queensland Government support of companies seeking access to Federally-funded research initiatives in the past few years has directed research grants to Queensland (p45). The report also says: 'Evidence to the Committee has been strongly supportive of the approach that some other States have taken. As part of its Smart State vision, the Queensland Government is implementing a number of strategies to address the decline in the number of students pursuing careers in science and technology.' (P50)

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Trade Mission Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.53 a.m.): The government continues to embrace with gusto the challenges of growing exports, encouraging new and traditional industries and creating more jobs and economic growth. To do this we must maintain and strengthen existing trade relations and continually seek out new markets. Next week I will be the first Queensland Premier to step onto Brazilian soil. It is part of a strategy that I have determined for 2004 to increase our exports. For completeness and accountability, I seek leave to incorporate in Hansard a ministerial statement that sets out a lot of the details of my trip, the business delegates who will be accompanying me, and some of the destinations and times that I will be visiting, together with, for the information of the House, a Smart State pack that I will distribute to encourage trade, investment jobs and economic growth in Queensland. It includes information in Spanish and Portuguese plus a pocketbook guide to the Smart State, a CD-ROM, an edition of Catalyst and information on light metals, mineral processing, manufacturing and resources. Mr SPEAKER: You did not want that in Hansard as well. Mr BEATTIE: No. Mr SPEAKER: I thought that I would make sure. Leave granted. Mr BEATTIE: Although the House would be well informed if I did. Mr Speaker, I do not want anyone to ever suggest that I do not report fully on these trade delegations. Brazil, one of three nations I will visit, along with Chile and the United States, has great potential as a partner for Queensland. This is not least because of the synergies between our sugar industries, and the things we can learn from Brazil about value- adding. The upward spiral in crude oil prices underscores the importance of value-adding in the sugar industry, because many products derived from sugar are excellent replacements for oil-based products. The anecdotal estimated cost of production of ethanol from molasses in Queensland is around 55 cents per litre. New technologies—which are encouraged by our new sugar legislation—could drive down ethanol production costs. But Brazil already exports ethanol tankers at around 26 cents per litre. Clearly Brazilians can teach us something about ethanol production. Plastics are also derived from crude oil, and sugar can be used to make biodegradable plastics. Furfural is a sugar-based solvent that is an alternative to crude oil-based compounds, having a flashpoint of 80 degrees Centigrade (similar to the flashpoint of kerosene). So my mission to Brazil will be extremely timely, as the logic of producing sugar-based alternatives to crude oil-derivatives has never been stronger. And—more than ever—our sugar industry is appreciating the big picture potential of value-adding. It is no accident that the delegation accompanying me to Brazil will include a number of sugar industry and agribusiness identities. They include: Mr Jim Hesp, the Chairman of Directors of the Mulgrave Central Mill; Mr Mark Hocken, the General Manager of Isis Central Sugar Mill; Mr Douglas Howard, the Managing Director of CQ Seeds; Mr Robert Lyon, Australian Vice President of 1298 Ministerial Statement 20 May 2004

Mechanical Harvesters Association of Australia; Mr Grant Maclean, the General Manager of Bundaberg Sugar; and Mr Campbell Olsen, the President of Agrichem. My sugar-oriented engagements in Brazil are scheduled to include: • a meeting with representatives of Unica (Sao Paulo's Sugar Cane Agro Industry Union), Mr Antonio de Padua Rodrigues, Director, and Mr Alfred Szwarc, ethanol consultant. • a meeting with the Acting Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Dr Amauri Dimarzio, and • an agribusiness and sugar industry reception. Boosting Queensland's sugar industry is a crucial aim of the three nation mission—but it is by no means the only goal. Whilst in Brazil I will also focus on mining—including value-adding—and science. In Chile I will hold a number of meetings with government and industry representatives about mining and investment, and will officially open the South American regional headquarters of a major Queensland exporter. In the United States, for BIO2004 in San Francisco—my fifth consecutive BIO—the focus will be the virtually unlimited potential of biotechnology in Queensland. I plan to tour major research facilities, meet academic experts and senior bio industry representatives. While on the West Coast, I also intend to meet top-level film and television industry reps. Mr Speaker, one of the highlights of my trade and investment missions is travelling with innovative, entrepreneurial non- government delegates who relish the opportunity to build global networks. To date, this trade and investment mission includes more than 80 people of such character. I incorporate a list of most of the delegates and an indicative outline of my program. Delegation—Chile Media Mr Sean Parnell, State Political Correspondent, The Courier-Mail Business Mr Mark Nolan, Director, Hawker Britton Professor Peter Gresshoff, Director, ARC Centre for Excellence for Integrated Legume Research, University of Queensland Mr Gary Poole, President, Mincom Latin America Professor Gideon Chitombo, Mining Research Manager Julius Kruttschitt Mining Research Centre, University of Queensland Emeritus Professor Ted Brown AC, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland Mr Richard Fraser, Senior Consultant, Rylson Group Mr Campbell Olsen, President, Agrichem Mr Robert Lyon, Australian Vice President, Mechanical Harvesters Association of Australia Delegation—Brazil Media Mr Sean Parnell, State Political Correspondent, The Courier-Mail Business delegation Mr Mark Nolan, Director, Hawker Britton Professor Peter Gresshoff, Director, ARC Centre for Excellence for Integrated Legume Research, University of Queensland Mr Gary Poole (Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia only), President, Mincom Latin America Mr Gary Lee, General Manager, Marketing, Macarthur Coal Dr Paulo Vasconcelos, Head of Earth Sciences, University of Queensland Mr Campbell Olsen, President, Agrichem Sugar delegation Mr Bob McCarthy, Deputy Director-General, Industry Development and Investment Division, Department of State Development and Innovation Mr Grant Maclean, General Manager, Bundaberg Sugar Ltd Mr Eddie Westcott, Chairman of Directors, Mackay Sugar Co-operative Association Pty Ltd Mr Jim Hesp, Chairman of Directors, The Mulgrave Central Mill Company Ltd Mr Robert Lyon, Australian Vice President, Mechanical Harvesters Association of Australia, (Also State President, Caneharvesters) Mr Martin Jones, General Manager CSR Ethanol Division Mr Mark Hochen, General Manager, Isis Central Sugar Mill Company Ltd, Agri-business delegation Mr Morgan Gronold, Mission Manager, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Mr Tony Abbott, Managing Director, Cedar Creek Company, (Also representing Aleis International Pty Ltd) 20 May 2004 Ministerial Statement 1299

Mr Bruce Ballantyne, Managing Director, CQ Seeds Mr Douglas Howard, Managing Director, CQ Seeds Delegation—United States of America—San Francisco Media Mr Sean Parnell, State Political Correspondent, The Courier-Mail Business delegates Mr Mark Nolan, Director, Hawker Britton Professor Peter Gresshoff, Director, ARC Centre for Excellence for Integrated Legume Research, University of Queensland Professor Lesley Johnson, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Griffith University Ms Adrienne Ward, Director, Fresco Consulting Mr Joshua Kennedy-White, Government Relations Manager, Accenture Australia Ltd Mr Darren Eade, Director, Ramshead Holdings Pty Ltd Professor David Siddle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Queensland Professor Paul Greenfield, Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Queensland Delegation—United States of America—Los Angeles Media Mr Sean Parnell, State Political Correspondent, The Courier-Mail Business delegates Mr Mark Nolan, Director, Hawker Britton Ms Adrienne Ward, Director, Fresco Consulting Mr Joshua Kennedy-White, Government Relations Manager, Accenture Australia Ltd Mr Darren Eade, Director, Ramshead Holdings Pty Ltd Queensland BIO Delegates 2004 Mr Michael Aldridge, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Peplin Biotech Mr Peter Allen, Partner, Allens Arthur Robinson Professor Peter Andrews, Queensland Chief Scientist, Department of State Development and Innovation Dr Victor Argaet, Partner, Davies Colison Cave Dr Jim Aylward, Executive Director (Research), Peplin Biotech Mr Phil Baker, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, Peplin Biotech Dr Stuart Behncken, Manager, Commercial Development, Uniquest Pty Ltd Dr Ashley Bowen, General Manager, Commercialisation and Finance, IMBcom Pty Ltd Ms Margaret Brown, Minter Ellison Mr Andrew Cecil, Manager, Commercial Development, Uniquest Pty Ltd Dr Chris Clark, Commercial Development Officer, Alchemia Pty Ltd Dr Peter Coaldrake, Vice Chancellor, Queensland University of Technology Ms Sam Cobb, Senior Development Officer, IMBcom Pty Ltd Mr Tony Conaghan, Chief Executive Officer, Phillips Fox Professor James Dale, Director, Science Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Mr Kris Dyszynski, VP, Business Development, Alchemia Pty Ltd Dr Tony Evans, Xenome Dr Neil Finlayson, Director, Office for Commercialisation, Griffith University Prof Paul Greenfield, Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Queensland Mr Andrew Greenwood, Minter Ellison Professor Peter Gresshoff, Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research Dr Mark Harvey, Group Manager, Life Sciences, Uniquest Pty Ltd Mr Kevin Healey, Medica Holdings Ltd Mr David Henderson, Managing Director, Uniquest Pty Ltd Dr Carrie Hillyard, Partner, CM Capital Investments Dr Cherell Hirst, Peplin Biotech Professor Wayne Hooper, Chief Executive Officer, Q-Pharm Mr Terry Hurst, Manager, Business Services, Q-Pharm Dr Peter Isdale, Chief Executive Officer, IMBcom Pty Ltd Professor Lesley Johnson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor- Research, Griffith University Mr Andrew Loch, Chief Executive Officer, Glykoz Pty Ltd 1300 Ministerial Statement 20 May 2004

Mr Garth Macdonald, Managing Director, Imaginot Pty Ltd Dr John McKinley, Benitec Ms Beryl Morris, Chief Executive Officer, Vaccine Solutions Pty Ltd Mr Mark Morrison, Investment Manager, CM Capital Investments Pty Ltd Mr Euan Murdoch, Director, Herron Pty Ltd Mr Russell Neal, Internal Operations Manager, Clinical Network Services Dr Steve Ralph, School of Health Science Dr Ken Reed, Benitec Dr Peter Riddles, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, IMBCom Pty Ltd Mr Steven Robinson, Protagonist Dr Darren Schliebs, Vice President, Business Development, Progen Industries Limited Professor Arun Sharma, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Queensland University of Technology Professor David Siddle, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), University of Queensland Dr Patrick Silvey, Associate Director (Corporate Finance), PricewaterhouseCoopers Dr Mark Smythe, Protagonist Pty Ltd Mr Michael Staley, Chief Operating Officer, Queensland Institute of Medical Research Mr Bradley Thomas, Associate, Innovation Law Mr Michael Thurn, Xenome Mr Matt Trau, Nanomics Biosystems Mr David Usasz, Partner (Corporate Finance), PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor Mark von Itzstein, Institute for Glycomics Mr Tony Webber, Chief Executive Officer, Clinical Network Services Dr Jane Wilson, Chairperson, IMBcom Pty Ltd Ms Sarah Meibusch, Business Development, Progen Mr Peter Gray, Director, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology Mr Ken Finney, Partner, Cullen & Co Mr Neill Colledge, Head of Research, QIC Professor Michael Good, Director, QIMR Mr Lawrence Gozlan, Biotechnology Analyst, QIC Ms Katherine Radford, Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Biocapital Fund Mr Steven Wilson, Executive Chairman, Wilson HTM Investments Professor Ian Gardner, Chief Executive Officer, CRC for Diagnostics Mr Paul Barrett, Business Development, CRC for Diagnostics Dr Tracie Ramsdale, Chief Executive Officer, Alchemia Dr Peter Devine, Regional Director, Uniseed (University of Queensland) Mr Christopher Neal, Chief Financial Officer, Alchemia Professor Graeme George, Dean, Health Sciences, Queensland University of Technology Mr Malcolm McBratney, Partner, McCullough Robertson Dr Mark Egerton, Patent Attorney, Fisher Adams Kelly Ms Jane Andrews, Chief Operating Officer, Implicit Bioscience Professor Mark Pearcy, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology Premier's Trade and Investment Mission to Chile, Brazil and the United States, focusing on mining, sugar and biotechnology. May 26—(evening) Chile—Santiago May 27—Chile—Santiago May 28—Chile—Santiago May 29—Travel (evening) Brazil—Rio De Janeiro May 30—(Sunday) Brazil—Rio De Janeiro May 31—Brazil—Belo Horizonte June 1—Brazil—Brasilia June 2—Brazil—Sao Paulo June 3—Brazil—Sao Paulo June 4—(afternoon) USA—San Francisco June 5—USA—San Francisco—BIO June 6—USA—San Francisco—BIO June 7—USA—San Francisco—BIO June 8—USA—Los Angeles 20 May 2004 Ministerial Statement 1301

I also incorporate for the information of the House a Smart State pack I will distribute to encourage trade, investment, jobs and economic growth in Queensland. It includes information in Spanish and Portuguese, plus: • A pocket book guide to the Smart State • A CD ROM • An edition of Catalyst • Information on light metals; minerals processing; manufacturing; and resources.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Freedom of Information Requests Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.54 a.m.): Finally I have one other matter that I want to draw to the attention of the House. Today I will continue to demonstrate that this is the most open and accountable government in Queensland's history. Earlier this year a bottle of wine was found on a government plane at Lockhart River. This resulted in much media attention and requests for documents under freedom of information legislation. I table for everyone's information the 40 folios marked A that were made available to the Courier-Mail under its freedom of information request. I also table the 65 folios marked B to which the opposition was granted full access under its freedom of information request and six folios to which it was granted partial access, which translates to 73 actual pages. But the opposition's request went far beyond the normal search through filing cabinets. The opposition requested that for this FOI search the hard drive of my chief of staff's computer should be searched for emails which had been deleted. As anyone who uses the email system knows, deleting an email is not a crime; it is good housekeeping and has to be done to ensure that your email system does not clog up to the point where it will not send messages. I am advised that it is highly unusual in the FOI process to request a search of the email trash bin archived on a backup tape of a backup server, which is what happened in this case. It is the equivalent of rummaging through someone's dustbin and really is typical of how low this opposition has sunk. This was not an FOI search for a targeted document. This was just a trawl at taxpayers' expense to see if anything juicy turned up. The public has a right to know that the opposition has wasted $1,785 of taxpayers' money for computer experts to trawl through the computer's rubbish bin searching for documents relating to a bottle of wine that cost less than $10. I will table all the documents found in the bin in order to demonstrate to taxpayers how the opposition is wasting their money. What we have are 32 folios in FOI terms which amounts to 37 actual pages. I table an email dated 8.30 a.m., 5 March 2004, from Ms Teresa Mullan to Rob Whiddon, my chief of staff, containing an attachment, which is a letter regarding the Lockhart River incident. That is document 1. I table an email dated 9.17 a.m., 5 March 2004, from Ms Teresa Mullan to Rob Whiddon, which contains what appears to be exactly the same letter as in document 1. There is document 2. I table a three-line email dated 4 March 2004 from Cathy Newman, the Office of the Premier, to Rob Whiddon regarding the number of phone calls received in relation to the issue. This is document 3. I table a three-line email dated 4 March 2004 from Mike Goodman, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, to Rob Whiddon regarding a letter of termination for Teresa Mullan. That is document 4. I table an email dated 4 March 2004 from Mikhal Mitchell in the Ministerial Services Branch of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to Rob Whiddon providing the period of Teresa Mullan's service with Minister Judy Spence. That is document 5. This email contains an email dated 4 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Mikhal Mitchell requesting details of Teresa Mullan's service with Ms Spence. I table an email dated 3 March 2004 from Uschi Schreiber, Deputy Director-General, Policy, to Rob Whiddon and Leo Keliher, Director-General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, forwarding an email from Helen Ringrose, Director-General of the Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development, to Uschi Schreiber, which also contained a memo dated 3 March 2004 to the Police Commissioner. That is document 6. I table a two-line email dated 5 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Fiona Kennedy and Adrian Gane, Office of the Premier, regarding media releases issued by Minister Judy Spence. That is document 7. I table a nine-word email dated 5 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Mike Goodman, Ministerial Services Branch, regarding Teresa Mullan's government car and mobile phone. That is document 8. I table a two-line email dated 5 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Richard Cleal seeking the results of two telephone calls. That is document 9. I table a 12-word email dated 5 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Sue Harper, Office of the Premier, asking Minister Liddy Clark to visit the Premier. That is document 10. I wonder if the taxpayers are happy that they have paid about $48 in order for the opposition to learn that the Premier wanted to see Liddy Clark on 5 March? I table an email dated 4 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Mikhal Mitchell requesting information regarding information about a payout for Teresa Mullan. That is document 11. I table a 16-word email 1302 Ministerial Statement 20 May 2004 dated 3 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Sue Harper, Office of the Premier, saying that Vicki Nicholls had arranged a meeting with Minister Liddy Clark and Dr Warren Hoey, Director-General, Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy. That is document 12. How do taxpayers feel about $48 of their money being spent by the opposition in order to learn that this meeting had been arranged? I table an email dated 12 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Hedley Thomas, from the Courier-Mail, declining an interview, which contains an email of the same date from Hedley Thomas requesting an interview. That is document 13. The opposition spent $48 of taxpayers' money on buying a document which shows that a journalist asked my chief of staff for an interview. I table an email dated 12 March from Rob Whiddon to Fiona Kennedy, Steve Keating, Steve Bishop and Steve Rous, Office of the Premier, forwarding the two emails contained in document 13. That is document 14. That is $48 more of taxpayers' money wasted by the opposition on exactly the same information. I table an email dated 11 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Vicki Nicholls, Office of the Premier, asking for a phone number. That is document 15. An email costs virtually nothing. Directory Inquiries is a little more expensive. The search for this email by the opposition cost taxpayers $48. I table an email dated 10 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Vicki Nicholls regarding a letter to the chair of the Crime and Misconduct Commission. That is document 16. I table a 13-word email dated 10 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Sue Harper, Office of the Premier, to say that Mike Goodman was sitting in the boardroom awaiting the Premier. That is document 17. How many taxpayers are going to believe that they got good value from the opposition for spending $48 of their money on buying that 13- word document? I table an email dated 8 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Vicki Nicholls containing a letter to Brendan Butler. That is document 18. I table an email dated 8 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Brendon Strong, Office of the Premier, requesting a transcript of a Teresa Mullan radio interview. That is document 19. I table an email dated 7 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Mike Goodman asking for a copy of Teresa Mullan's state government work history. That is document 20. I table an email dated 7 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Steve Keating, Office of the Premier, containing a letter to the chairperson of the Crime and Misconduct Commission. That is document 21. I table an email dated 7 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Vicki Nicholls containing an email of the same date from Steve Keating to Rob Whiddon with an attachment, which contained an email from Rob Whiddon to Steve Keating which contained the same letter as contained in document 21. That is document 22. There are lots of words, but it is not worth the taxpayers' $48 that the opposition spent on buying them. I table an email dated 5 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to staff of the Office of the Premier saying that Matthew Carter had been appointed as acting senior policy advisor to Minister Liddy Clark. That is document 23. We were telling people this news for nothing, but the opposition has spent $48 of taxpayers' money on this message. I table an email dated 5 March from Rob Whiddon to Steve Bishop and other staff in the Office of the Premier containing an email from Mike Goodman to Rob Whiddon about Teresa Mullan's car and phone. That is document 24. I table an email dated 5 March 2004 from Rob Whiddon to Bruce Cousar, Office of the Premier, containing an email of the same date from Mike Goodman to Rob Whiddon giving an answer to an email of the same date from Rob Whiddon to Mike Goodman about Teresa Mullan's car and phone. That is document 25. I table an email dated 5 March from Rob Whiddon to Richard Cleal and other staff in the Office of the Premier containing the email of the same date from Mike Goodman to Rob Whiddon giving an answer to an email of the same date from Rob Whiddon to Mike Goodman about Teresa Mullan's car and phone. That is document 26. It is outrageous that the opposition has spent $1,785 of taxpayers' money on a trawling expedition through the rubbish bin of a computer. I hope that the media will report how taxpayers' money has been wasted. As I said, we are the most open and accountable government Queensland has ever had. When freedom of information is used wisely and positively I have no objection at all. Hunting through computer waste bins shows how low this opposition has stooped. I believe it is in the taxpayers' interest that their money should not be wasted in this way. The transcript of the police interview with Jason O'Brien has already been tabled by the honourable member. Today I table a copy of the transcript of the police interview with the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, Liddy Clark. Liddy has requested that I table this for the information of all members as part of our openness. We have now made public everything we can on this issue. My hope is that the opposition will now start concentrating on the issues that matter to Queenslanders—education and health. My hope is that the opposition will get out of the gutter and try to join us in our positive politics. This week we have seen the most disgraceful and despicable abuse of privilege I have ever seen in this parliament. This opposition will wreck this parliament and FOI for cheap political expediency. We 20 May 2004 Ministerial Statement 1303 will stand by the institutions, but we will not support the opposition while it behaves in a morally corrupt way. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Before calling the employment minister, I welcome to the public gallery the former Premier of Victoria, Joan Kirner. I inform honourable members that a memorandum issued today under my signature unfortunately has the wrong date on it. The date should be today's date, 20 May. The memorandum relates to a local film industry project which I believe all members of this parliament will support.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Manufacturing Industry Hon. T.A. BARTON (Waterford—ALP) (Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations) (10.05 a.m.): The manufacturing industry is vital to Queensland's future growth and prosperity and the principal driver of investment, innovation, productivity growth and technological change. In April last year the government launched Making Queensland's Future: A Manufacturing Development Plan—a comprehensive strategy under the Smart State World Class Manufacturing project, to strengthen and consolidate a sustainable and profitable Queensland manufacturing sector. The plan is the shared vision of the Manufacturing Leaders Group, consisting of industry, unions, academia and Queensland government agencies, and is based on extensive consultation with the state's manufacturing community. The Department of Employment and Training is playing an integral role in this vision, working collaboratively with the key stakeholders and implementing a range of new and innovative training and employment strategies. Through its manufacturing industries initiative, the department and TAFE Queensland institutes will implement programs to attract quality new entrants into apprenticeships and traineeships in skill-short areas and upskill and reskill existing workers. A key element of this initiative is the development of targeted marketing materials to inform students, parents and teachers about the manufacturing industry. Today I am very pleased to table the first in a series of marketing materials—a suite of high- quality brochures produced by the department. The brochures provide up-to-date and relevant information for young school leavers about apprenticeships and traineeships, job opportunities, career pathways and options for further training in the manufacturing industry. Each brochure focuses on one of the manufacturing subsectors identified in Making Queensland's Future, and each features case studies of apprentices or other employees with positive experiences of their industry and the contribution of training and skills development. These excellent marketing tools will be distributed to visitors to the Careers and Employment Expo and the WorldSkills Australia competition, which will be held over three days next week at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The expo is the largest of its kind in Australia and is expected to attract more than 40,000 people—primarily students, teachers and parents. It is a way to capitalise on an opportunity to showcase careers in manufacturing, and the department will also have a joint stand at the expo in partnership with the Department of State Development and Innovation and the Australian Industry Group. Throughout the event, young apprentices will be on hand to talk to students about careers and training in manufacturing. The Beattie government is committed to attracting and developing a leading edge, highly skilled manufacturing work force. We want to sell to increasing numbers of young Queenslanders the idea that gaining a trade qualification and acquiring diverse skills through training is a passport to a potentially successful and lucrative career in manufacturing.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Manufacturing Industry Hon. T. McGRADY (Mount Isa—ALP) (Minister for State Development and Innovation) (10.08 a.m.): Yesterday I travelled to Melbourne to attend a joint meeting of state and territory ministers responsible for manufacturing. At this meeting we focused on the future of the manufacturing industry. During the Howard government years, export growth for advanced manufactured goods has dramatically fallen—from 14.5 per cent in 1996-97 to 5.3 per cent last financial year. Despite being invited, the federal minister, Ian Macfarlane, did not turn up. Nor did he send any representative from his department. Business expenditure on research and development has fallen. Australia is now ranked 19 out of 29 OECD countries in terms of this expenditure. Overall, the Commonwealth will actually cut its 1304 Ministerial Statement 20 May 2004 commitment to science and innovation in 2006-07 by almost seven per cent. We witnessed some of that cutback with funds withdrawn from CRCs here in Queensland. The federal government needs to dramatically step up its support for industry research and development, local content and export growth. The Queensland government is doing its part, allocating over $2 billion towards science, research and innovation since 1998, and even our critics acknowledge that Queensland leads the way in terms of support for manufacturing. When we released our $26 million world-class manufacturing development plan Making Queensland's Future, it was the first time ever in this state that the manufacturing industry was given the recognition it deserved. On top of this, earlier this year we released the $8 million manufacturing excellence policy. In other words, we are helping the manufacturing industry get smart. We are doing this with a collaborative approach involving the unions as well as the employers through the Manufacturing Leaders Group, which my colleague has just referred to. This contrasts with the approach of the federal government, which did not even bother attending this important meeting.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

BoatSafe Hon. P.T. LUCAS (Lytton—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (10.10 a.m.): I want to inform the House of the steps the Beattie government is taking to improve safety on the water for our 480,000 boaties. This afternoon I will be attending the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, where I will be formally launching BoatSafe. This is the new assessment scheme for recreational boat licences in Queensland. The BoatSafe program will require boaties to complete one standard practical course. BoatSafe is about providing a consistent assessment standard across Queensland for all recreational boating licence applicants. In the past, people have been able to sit a practical test or an approved training provider course. This has led to different levels of competence and safety awareness among boaties. Under BoatSafe, everyone will need to demonstrate their competency to operate recreational vessels through a practical exam. BoatSafe will start on 1 July but there will be a 12-month introductory period where people will still be able to go through the previous licence option. During this time there will be three licence options—a licence test by an authorised officer, which is the old system, the existing approved training provider course or the BoatSafe course. As of 1July 2005, BoatSafe will be the only option. BoatSafe will ensure that all applicants must have competency based training and assessment as the primary means to qualify for a boat licence. Maritime Safety Queensland has consulted widely and has broad community and boating industry support. BoatSafe training providers will be able to consider applicants' prior and alternative boating qualifications, which could count towards their obtaining a recreational boat licence. BoatSafe will also ensure boaties' trainers meet more rigorous training, assessment and integrity standards. They will need to meet management standards, and Maritime Safety Queensland will closely monitor and audit the provision of BoatSafe training and assessment. Getting out on Queensland's waterways can sometimes be just as dangerous as driving a car. In the past five years there have been 31 fatalities and 113 serious injuries on Queensland waterways involving recreational boats. Human error has been identified as contributing to more than 40 per cent of serious incidents and to 70 per cent of incidents in general. Let us not forget that recreational boating is all about fun, but it also has to be safe. Queensland's current 480,000 licensed recreational shipmasters will not need to reapply. However, I would encourage them to consider doing a refresher safety course periodically. The BoatSafe course will cost around $125. It is a bit more expensive than the current practical test option, but it is a small price to pay for potentially saving your life or the life of someone else. As it is, 45 per cent of new boaties choose training courses instead of just sitting a practical test, and this is increasing by five per cent each year. Also, many training schemes are offered through our schools. Even at $125, Queensland still has the cheapest recreational boat licences in Australia, and with the introduction of BoatSafe we will also have the toughest.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Import Risk Assessment Process Hon. H. PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries) (10.13 a.m.): The handling of the applications to increase imports of pig meat, Filipino bananas and New Zealand apples by the federal government's Biosecurity Australia has damaged the import risk assessment or IRA as it is commonly called. A Senate committee recommended that pig meat imports be overturned, 20 May 2004 Ministerial Statement 1305 citing serious flaws. The revised draft IRA for apples proposes to turn on its head an 83-year-old prohibition on New Zealand apples. Biosecurity Australia has withdrawn the revised draft banana IRA after identifying errors in it. A corrected version has not yet been released. The banana IRA has shown a number of serious flaws in BA's administration of the assessment process. There have been implications by BA and others, including the opposition, that all members of the IRA panels, such as scientists from the Queensland and New South Wales departments, agreed to and signed off on the revised draft IRA. This is false. But it has not stopped people claiming that in some way the Queensland and New South Wales governments support the recommendation on bananas. These false claims have undermined the entire IRA process. Yesterday I sought a strong statement from all ministers to refute these claims but more importantly to seek to restore credibility in the process. I table the statement from the communique, and I seek leave to incorporate that statement in Hansard. Leave granted. Import Risk Analyses The Primary Industries Ministerial Council reaffirmed its endorsement of Australia's science based Import Risk Assessment (IRA) process. Ministers supported the independence and professionalism of scientists involved in the IRA process. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of this scientific independence in the biosecurity process. Ministers noted that scientists involved in the IRA process are independent and are not representing their jurisdictions. Council also agreed that scientists, in preparing their draft and final reports, should have the opportunity to incorporate their various views. Ministers also noted that under WTO guidelines only scientific aspects are to be considered in the IRA process. Ministers stated however that Australia must sustain its strong appropriate level of protection. Ministers also noted the importance of protecting regional pest and disease freedom. Mr PALASZCZUK: Undermining the IRA process makes it vulnerable to criticism within Australia and World Trade Organisation challenge from overseas. I made two further points at the meeting. Firstly, in the case of the banana IRA, the independent IRA panel member David Peasley told the Senate inquiry that trade 'permeated risk analysis panel discussions'. The federal government cannot permit this to be the case. Secondly, the assessment of risk must be based on the sum of the 'likelihood' and 'consequence' of disease entry. The IRA process examines 'likelihood' but there needs to be greater attention to 'consequence'. With future IRA processes I believe there also needs to be a dual but separate assessment of the socioeconomic impacts. This would result in a more comprehensive risk analysis. For instance, this socioeconomic analysis could consider whether the Australian industry has any grounds to apply safeguard measures. It will also mean that if the Commonwealth decides to change an existing import decision it must take full responsibility for the socioeconomic consequences of that decision. During my absence from parliament the Premier was asked about pig meat imports. I wholeheartedly endorse the Premier's comments. The disposal of waste associated with these imports is a major concern to Queensland and a major concern to the industry. We have made representations to the federal government on this issue, as the Premier rightly informed the House yesterday.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Queensland Resources Week Hon. S. ROBERTSON (Stretton—ALP) (Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy) (10.17 a.m.): Our land, water, vegetation and mineral resources are among our most precious assets. They support economic stability and growth in our agricultural, industrial, mining and tourism sectors, they form the basis of our unique natural heritage and they underpin the enviable quality of life we enjoy as Queenslanders. Taking care of those resources is the responsibility of every Queenslander. Next week is Queensland Resources Week, and this year's theme 'Our Resources, Our Future, Our State: Get Involved'—reflects the importance of all sections of the community joining together to look after our natural heritage. In particular, the week will focus on the role played by our young people in natural resource management. Children are the future natural resource managers of this state, and we can help prepare them for that future by encouraging them to get involved now. Only last week Susan Johnstone, the CEO of the Queensland Resources Council, was talking about the drop in the number of young people taking mining courses at Queensland's universities and how we need to work harder to attract more young people to the resources sector—a call expanded on in today's features section of the Courier-Mail which I recommend all members read. I endorse Ms Johnstone's call—and not just for the mining sector. We need our young people to be informed, active natural resource managers both in professional roles and to join the invaluable army of volunteers who spend their afternoons and weekends and other precious free time in natural resource management activities. Tomorrow I will officially launch Queensland Resources Week at Calamvale Community College, and at the same time Ms Johnstone and I will release a secondary education kit titled 'The Science of 1306 Ministerial Statement 20 May 2004

Mining'. The kit, organised around the Queensland science syllabus, will give secondary science students the opportunity to explore earth science in the context of mining activities in Queensland, increasing their awareness of the mining industry and its importance to our everyday lives. It will help teachers inform students about the connections between mining, energy and the environment, the concept of sustainable development, and increase awareness of the innovations and technology used in the industry. Last year I announced that grants worth a total of $100,000 would be available for community awareness activities as part of Queensland Resources Week. That grant scheme is funding a total of 39 activities throughout Queensland—from Bulimba to the bush. I am pleased to say that young people have been involved in a large number of grant activities from making chocolate dragons at Mount Tyson to a pantomime at Bunya and a multimedia kit on human interactions with the environment produced by students at Yeppoon High School. I encourage all honourable members to join their local communities to 'get involved' in the wide variety of activities going on during Queensland Resources Week.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Child Care Funding Hon. M.F. REYNOLDS (Townsville—ALP) (Minister for Child Safety) (10.19 a.m.): The state government knows foster care is not the answer to every vulnerable child's needs. Some young people need an alternative, and the Department of Child Safety is helping make that a reality. I am encouraging non-government organisations across the state to apply for a share of $13.2 million in alternative care funding before submissions close in a few weeks. The new funding will boost care for troubled children and young people whose needs are so extreme or unusual that they did not fit into conventional foster families. It will help provide family-based care for children with complex to extreme needs, and non-family based care for children with moderate to extreme needs. The new funding is part of a total package worth $58.5 million over three years to increase the number of alternative care places for Queensland's young people in need. The Department of Child Safety's alternative care funding will rise to $33.6 million in 2006-07. The $13.2 million is available to organisations keen to participate in the collaborative delivery of specific alternative care services for young Queenslanders, and I am looking forward to receiving a number of submissions. The state government has already negotiated with existing care service providers in the high need areas of Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan to increase options for placement and support for young people who would otherwise be supported through placement and support packages. These negotiations have resulted in five dedicated placements for children and young people with complex needs in the Ipswich Logan area. Approval has also been given for $150,000 for 12 months to continue a dedicated kinship placement service in the Brisbane City region. Information sessions to inform the non-government sector about the funding have been held around the state in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Caboolture and Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Logan, Toowoomba and south-west, Wide Bay and Burnett, Rockhampton, Mackay and Whitsunday, Townsville and Cairns. Again I encourage organisations to take advantage of this funding and lodge a submission with my department by 5 p.m. on 11 June. Successful applicants will be notified progressively from July this year.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Youth Crime Hon. F.W. PITT (Mulgrave—ALP) (Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors) (10.22 a.m.): The issue of youth crime is one that we must address as a government and as a community. That is why the Beattie government will allocate $360,000 across Queensland for community-based youth crime prevention initiatives. This one-off funding is tied to the Queensland Crime Prevention Strategy. This government believes that it is local people who best know the issues within their communities. That is why the harnessing of local knowledge is central to the Crime Prevention Strategy. It is about local people driving local projects that address local issues. This latest youth crime prevention funding will strengthen the ability of communities to plan and develop their own responses. The projects funded will seek to engage young people in addressing factors that contribute to offending. Priority will be given to projects of up to $25,000 that target 10- to 17-year-olds. There must be a clear and proven link between the project and resulting changes to the behaviour of young offenders. Submissions are particularly encouraged that respond to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres 20 May 2004 Budget Estimates 2004-05 1307

Strait Islander young people. This group is overrepresented in the youth justice system. There are a number of strategies that have been proven to help prevent youth crime; for example, activities that increase the social and personal development of young people or recreation and leisure activities at times when young people are most at risk of offending. Community events which promote involvement of family have also been proven to be effective. Projects could encompass programs that help young people develop skills and strategies that address violent or antisocial behaviour. Peer education, leadership and cultural education programs have also been effective strategies. Information packages are available by phoning the Department of Communities or by visiting its web site. Funding submissions will close on 2 July. I encourage all honourable members to consider community-based projects within their areas. For some young people these local, grassroots initiatives may mean the difference between a life of crime and making a positive, meaningful contribution to the communities in which they live.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Marketplace Performance Hon. M.M. KEECH (Albert—ALP) (Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development) (10.26 a.m.): The Beattie government is creating a Smart State dynamic marketplace that works for both businesses and consumers and benefits all Queenslanders. It is important that we have a marketplace which delivers fair outcomes for all. To achieve that the Office of Fair Trading will continue to implement its consumer protection strategies and further establish its reputation as a valued regulator. One of the key functions is to build greater understanding in government, business and community of the importance of a fair marketplace to consumer and business confidence. The role of Fair Trading in the marketplace extends far beyond that of consumer protection alone. At the end of the day, consumer confidence is vital to business success and economic performance. Queensland will continue to set the agenda on fair trading issues. As chairperson of the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs I am keen to work with the federal government and state and territory colleagues on a range of issues of national significance. Issues such as product safety, unfair contract terms and the need for regulation of property investment seminar spruikers and finance brokers do not stop at state borders. What is an issue in Queensland is also an issue around the rest of Australia. Therefore, it does not do businesses or consumers any favours having different regulations for each state and territory. The cost, the uncertainty and the complexity of it all needs to be addressed. There is a real need for a cooperative approach. All of us, from the federal government down, must work collaboratively to benefit consumers and businesses. We have to strike that happy medium of regulation, education and delivering an outcome that is in everyone's best interests. Sometimes the Office of Fair Trading may be criticised by businesses for over-regulation, sometimes by consumers for being too soft. It is a very fine balancing act. Businesspeople despise traders whose bad behaviour tarnishes their hard-won reputations. Consumers certainly have a right to expect ethical conduct from traders and to be treated fairly in the marketplace. What everyone in business has to remember is that consumer confidence means more business and that means more jobs for Queenslanders. Consumers have every right to have confidence in traders in the marketplace. That is what the Office of Fair Trading is trying to achieve with education of consumers and traders. The very best way to get the best results is to establish a partnership with those with whom you work. Traders, consumers and government share many common objectives. The only way we can improve marketplace performance and create a fairer marketplace is if we all work together to achieve those ends.

BUDGET ESTIMATES 2004-05 Hon. A.M. BLIGH (South Brisbane—ALP) (Leader of the House) (10.27 a.m.), by leave: I move— That the sessional orders for the 2004 estimates committee process circulated to members in the chamber today be adopted— 2004 ESTIMATES COMMITTEES PROCESS Appropriation (Parliament) Bill and Appropriation Bill 1. That notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing Rules and Orders and Sessional Orders— (1) the Budget Estimates for the 2004-2005 financial year for the purpose of debate in the Legislative Assembly shall be in the form of an Appropriation Bill and an Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; (2) the Appropriation Bills be introduced on Tuesday, 15 June 2004 and, following the Minister's second reading speech on each Bill, the second reading debate on the Appropriation Bills be resumed on Thursday, 17 June 2004; and 1308 Budget Estimates 2004-05 20 May 2004

(3) the Appropriation Bills be treated as cognate Bills for their following stages— (a) one question being put in regard to the second reading; (b) the consideration of the Bills together in Committee of the Whole House; (c) one question being put for the Committee's report stage; and (d) one question being put for the third reading and titles. Appointment of Committees 2. The following estimates committees are appointed— • Estimates Committee A • Estimates Committee B • Estimates Committee C • Estimates Committee D • Estimates Committee E • Estimates Committee F • Estimates Committee G Role of Committees 3.(1) The proposed expenditures stated in the Appropriation Bill and Appropriation (Parliament) Bill are referred to the estimates committees immediately after each of the Bills has been read a second time. (2) Estimates Committees A to C are to examine and report by no later than Monday 16 August 2004 on the proposed expenditures for the organisational units allocated to them. (3) Estimates Committees D to G are to examine and report by no later than Tuesday 17 August 2004 on the proposed expenditures for the organisational units allocated to them. Estimates Committee A 4.(1)The following organisational units are allocated to Estimates Committee A— • Office of the Governor • Legislative Assembly • Queensland Audit Office • Ombudsman • Crime and Misconduct Commission • Commissioner for Children and Young People • Public Service Commissioner (2) Organisational units within the portfolios of the following Ministers are also allocated to Estimates Committee A— • Premier and Minister for Trade • Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Sport • Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing Estimates Committee B 5. Organisational units within the portfolios of the following Ministers are allocated to Estimates Committee B— • Minister for Child Safety • Attorney-General and Minister for Justice • Minister for Police and Corrective Services Estimates Committee C 6. Organisational units within the portfolios of the following Ministers are allocated to Estimates Committee C— • Minister for Education and the Arts • Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relation Estimates Committee D 7. Organisational units within the portfolios of the following Ministers are allocated to Estimates Committee D— • Minister for Transport and Main Roads • Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy • Minister for Local Government, Planning and Women Estimates Committee E 8. Organisational units within the portfolios of the following Ministers are allocated to Estimates Committee E— • Minister for Health • Minister for Emergency Services • Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors Estimates Committee F 9. Organisational units within the portfolios of the following Ministers are allocated to Estimates Committee F— • Minister for State Development and Innovation • Minister for Environment • Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development 20 May 2004 Budget Estimates 2004-05 1309

Estimates Committee G 10. Organisational units within the portfolios of the following Ministers are allocated to Estimates Committee G— • Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy • Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Government Owned Corporations 11.(1) A reference to the organisational units within the portfolio of a Minister is deemed to include Statutory Authorities and Government Owned Corporations reporting to the Minister. (2) In respect of Government Owned Corporations, a member may ask any question which the committee determines will assist it in its examination of the relevant Appropriation Bill or otherwise assist the committee to determine whether public funds are being efficiently spent or appropriate public guarantees are being provided. Membership of estimates committees 12.(1) Each estimates committee shall consist of seven members of whom four are to be nominated by the Leader of the House and three by the Leader of the Opposition. For the purpose of these Sessional Orders, those members nominated by the Leader of the House are called Government members and those members nominated by the Leader of the Opposition are called non-Government members. (2) The chair of each committee is to be a member nominated by the Leader of the House. (3) The committee is to elect a deputy chair, who is to be a member nominated by the Leader of the Opposition. Dates for Hearings 13.The estimates committees are to meet to hear evidence in accordance with the following schedule— • Estimates Committee A—Tuesday 13 July 2004 • Estimates Committee B—Wednesday 14 July 2004 • Estimates Committee C—Thursday 15 July 2004 • Estimates Committee D—Tuesday 20 July 2004 • Estimates Committee E—Wednesday 21 July 2004 • Estimates Committee F—Thursday 22 July 2004 • Estimates Committee G—Friday 23 July 2004 Committee Membership 14. Members be appointed to estimates committees as follows— • Estimates Committee A- Ms Nolan (Chair), Hon Mrs Cunningham, Mr Hopper, Ms Male, Mr McArdle, Mr Springborg and Mr Wallace • Estimates Committee B- Mrs Attwood (Chair), Mr English, Mr Foley, Mr Fraser, Mr Johnson, Ms Menkens and Mrs Scott • Estimates Committee C- Mr Wilson (Chair), Mrs Croft, Mr Langbroek, Mr Messenger, Mr Rowell, Ms Stone and Hon Wells • Estimates Committee D- Mr Poole (Chair), Ms Barry, Mr Malone, Mr O'Brien, Miss Simpson, Mrs Smith and Mr Wellington • Estimates Committee E- Mr McNamara (Chair), Mr Copeland, Mrs E Cunningham, Mr Fenlon, Dr Flegg, Mr Lawlor and Mr Lee • Estimates Committee F- Ms Jarratt (Chair), Mr Choi, Mr Finn, Mr Hobbs, Ms Molloy, Mr Rickuss and Mrs Stuckey • Estimates Committee G- Mr Mulherin (Chair), Mr Hoolihan, Mr Horan, Mrs Pratt, Mr Seeney, Mr Shine and Mrs Sullivan. Illness or inability to attend 15.(1) In the case of illness or inability to attend by a member of an estimates committee, where the member is a Government member, the Leader of the House may appoint another member to attend that committee and where the member is a non- Government member, the Leader of the Opposition may appoint another member to attend that committee. (2) Where a member is appointed in accordance with (1), that member has all the rights of the member replaced. (3) Where, in accordance with (1) above, the member of the committee who is replaced is the chair, the Leader of the House may nominate another member to be chair. When estimates committees may meet 16.(1) Estimates committees may meet whether the House is sitting or adjourned. (2) Where a committee meets while the House is sitting, the meeting of the committee must take place within the parliamentary precinct. (3) Estimates committees may only hold hearings and take evidence on the dates allocated by order of the House. Open hearings 17. Hearings of an estimates committee are open to the public unless the committee otherwise orders. 1310 Budget Estimates 2004-05 20 May 2004

Presiding member 18.(1) The chair of an estimates committee presides at all committee proceedings at which the chair is present. (2) If the chair is not present at a committee proceeding and the Leader of the House has not nominated another person to be chair, the committee's deputy chair presides. (3) If both the chair and deputy chair of a committee are not present at a committee proceeding, the committee member chosen by the committee members present at the proceeding presides. Quorum and voting at proceedings 19. At a proceeding of an estimates committee: (a) four committee members constitute a quorum; (b) each committee member present has a vote on each question to be decided and, if the votes are equal, the presiding member also has a casting vote; and (c) a question is decided by a majority of the votes of the committee members present and voting. Sub-committees 20. Estimates committees may not appoint sub-committees. Opening hearing procedure 21.(1) In an estimates committee hearing: (a) the presiding member is to call on the estimates of the proposed expenditure referred to the committee and declare the proposed expenditure open for examination; and (b) the presiding member is to put the question 'That the proposed expenditure be agreed to'. General hearing procedure—organisational units other than the Legislative Assembly 22. In an estimates committee hearing about proposed expenditure for an organisational unit other than the Legislative Assembly: (a) the responsible Minister is to be present at all times and may have advisers present to assist the Minister; (b) the Minister may make an opening statement not exceeding five minutes duration. (c) a committee member may ask the Minister questions; (d) a member who is not a member of the estimates committee may, with the committee's leave, ask the Minister questions; (e) advisers may answer questions referred to them by the Minister; and (f) a member may ask any question which is relevant to the examination of the Appropriation being considered. General hearing procedure—Legislative Assembly 23. In an estimates committee hearing about proposed expenditure for the Legislative Assembly: (a) the Speaker is to be present at all times and may have advisers present to assist the Speaker; (b) the Speaker may make an opening statement not exceeding five minutes duration. (c) a committee member may ask the Speaker questions; (d) a member who is not a committee member may, with the committee's leave, ask the Speaker questions; (e) advisers may answer questions referred to them by the Speaker; and (f) a member may ask any question which the committee determines will assist it in its examination of the Appropriation (Parliament) Bill. Notice of examination in detail 24(1) An estimates committee may advise a Minister or the Speaker prior to the hearing of its intention to examine a proposed expenditure in detail. (2) In response to notice in accordance with (1), the Minister or the Speaker should ensure that appropriate advisers are available to assist the Minister or the Speaker to answer committee questions. (3) Despite anything in this chapter, it is a matter for the Minister or the Speaker to determine the advisers that attend the hearing. Time for questions and answers in a hearing 25. In an estimates committee hearing: (a) questions must be no longer than one minute; (b) unless the member asking the question otherwise agrees, answers must be no longer than three minutes; (c) where a member agrees to an extension of time for an answer in accordance with (b), further extensions of time must be agreed to by the presiding member after every interval of two minutes has elapsed; (d) the presiding member is to ensure the fair allocation of time available for questions and answers and ensure that at least half the time available for questions and answers in respect of each organisational unit is allocated to non- Government members; and (e) any time expended when an estimates committee deliberates in private is to be equally apportioned between Government and non-Government members. Questions on notice prior to the hearings 26.(1) Members of an estimates committee may, at a reasonable time prior to public hearings, put a combined total of twenty questions on notice to each Minister and to the Speaker. (2) Of the questions referred to in (1), at least ten questions are to be allocated to non-Government members. (3) The Minister or the Speaker shall provide answers to the questions referred to in (1), by 10.00 am on the day before the committee's hearing day. (4) The chair shall ensure that the questions referred to in (1), do not place unreasonably onerous research requirements on an organisational unit and are not unnecessarily complex. 20 May 2004 Budget Estimates 2004-05 1311

(5) Each question referred to in (1), is not to contain sub-parts or to, in effect, ask more than one question. (6) The Minister or the Speaker may refuse to answer questions which place unreasonable research requirements on their portfolios or are unnecessarily complex. (7) All answers to questions on notice shall be in writing unless the committee otherwise allows. Questions taken on notice at the hearing and additional information 27.(1) A Minister or the Speaker may, at their discretion, inform an estimates committee at the hearing that an answer to a question, or part of a question, asked of them at the hearing will be taken on notice and provided later to the committee. (2) A Minister or the Speaker may, at their discretion, also give the committee additional information about an answer given by them or on their behalf. (3) The answer or additional information: (a) is to be written; (b) is to be given by a time decided by the committee, or if no time has been decided by the committee, within 48 hours after the close of the committee's hearing; (c) is taken to be part of the proceedings of Parliament; (d) may be included in a volume of additional information to be laid on the Table of the House by the committee; and (e) may be authorised for publication by the committee prior to the material being tabled in the House. (4) A Minister or the Speaker may decline to answer a question in which case the committee may report that fact in its report. Availability of Hansard and tabled documents 28.(1) The Chief Reporter is authorised to release the Hansard of an estimates committee hearing as it becomes available, subject to any other express direction of the committee. (2) A Minister or the Speaker or any witness may only table a document at an estimates committee hearing with the leave of the committee. (3) Any document tabled at the hearing, by leave of the committee, is deemed to be authorised for release by the estimates committee unless the committee expressly orders otherwise. Power of the chair to order withdrawal of a disorderly member 29.(1) At an estimates committee hearing, the presiding member may, after a warning, order any member whose conduct in their opinion continues to be grossly disorderly or disruptive to withdraw for a stated period. (2) A member ordered to withdraw in accordance with (1), shall immediately withdraw for the stated period. Committee hearing—sitting times 30.(1) Estimates committee hearings are to be held between 8.30 am and 7.30 pm on the day or days allocated. (2) An estimates committee shall hold no more than a total of nine hours of hearings. Estimates committee must report 31.(1) An estimates committee must make a report at the end of its deliberations. (2) However, an estimates committee that considers proposed expenditure contained in more than one Appropriation Bill must make a separate report in respect of each Appropriation Bill. (3) Reports by all estimates committees may be bound and published in one or more volumes. Content of report 32.(1) An estimates committee's report must state whether the proposed expenditures referred to it are agreed to. (2) A reservation or dissenting report by a committee member may be added to the committee's report after it is adopted by the committee. (3) A reservation or dissenting report must be provided to the Research Director within 24 hours after the committee's report is adopted or prior to the date that the committee's report is required to be tabled, whatever is the earliest. Effect of failure to report 33. If an estimates committee does not report on all of the proposed expenditures referred to it, the committee is taken to have agreed to the proposed expenditure that it does not report on. Tabling and consideration of reports—Appropriation Bill 34.(1) The chair of each estimates committee must lay their committee's report on the proposed expenditures stated in the Appropriation Bill on the Table of the House together with the minutes of their committee's meetings and any other additional information which the committee agrees to table. (2) To remove any doubt, it is declared that the chair of each estimates committee is deemed to have satisfied the requirements of (1) if they present the committee's report, minutes and any other additional information with the Clerk when the House is not sitting in accordance with Standing Order 201 and the report is deemed to have been tabled on the date it is presented to the Clerk. (3) The report is to be received by the Legislative Assembly without debate and its consideration deferred until the consideration of the Bill in Committee of the Whole House. (4) One whole sitting day must elapse between the committee's report being tabled and its consideration in Committee of the Whole House. (5) The Committee of the Whole House must complete the consideration of the reports by no later than Thursday, 19 August 2004. Tabling and consideration of report—Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 35.(1) The chair of Estimates Committee A must lay the committee's report on the proposed expenditures stated in the Appropriation (Parliament) Bill on the Table of the House. 1312 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE 20 May 2004

(2) To remove any doubt, it is declared that the chair of Estimates Committee A is deemed to have satisfied the requirements of (1) if the chair presents the committee's report, minutes and any other additional information with the Clerk when the House is not sitting in accordance with Standing Order 201 and the report is deemed to have been tabled on the date it is presented to the Clerk. (3) The report is to be received by the Legislative Assembly without debate and its consideration deferred until the consideration of the Bill in Committee of the Whole House. (4) One whole sitting day must elapse between the committee's report being tabled and its consideration in Committee of the Whole House. (5) The Committee of the Whole House must complete the consideration of the report by no later than Thursday 19 August 2004. Effect of consideration in Committee of the Whole House 36. Consideration of an estimates committee's report in Committee of the Whole House is taken to be consideration of the provisions of the Appropriation Bills so far as the provisions authorise the proposed expenditures referred to the estimates committee. Procedure in Committee of the Whole House 37. In Committee of the Whole House, for each estimates committee: (a) the Chairman of Committees must put the question "That the report of be adopted"; (b) a member may speak for no longer than five minutes on the question; (c) in reply to the debate, each responsible Minister may speak for no longer than five minutes; and (d) the debate is to continue for no longer than one hour. Receipt of material by nominated officers of the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition 38. Unless a committee otherwise expressly orders, or a Minister or the Speaker has requested confidentiality, its Research Director is authorised to release copies of the following documents as they become available to an officer from the offices of the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition (nominated by them) or the office of a committee member: (a) the committee's pre-hearing questions on notice; (b) questions taken on notice by Ministers or the Speaker during its hearing; (c) responses from Ministers or the Speaker to the committee's pre-hearing questions on notice and questions taken on notice during its hearing; and (d) additional information provided by Ministers or the Speaker to supplement answers given by them, or on their behalf, at the committee's hearing. Application of Standing Rules and Orders and practice 39.(1) The Standing Rules and Orders, Sessional Orders, other orders and practice of the Legislative Assembly also apply to estimates committees and to Committee of the Whole House acting under these orders. (2) However, if there is an inconsistency on some matter, these orders prevail. Mr LINGARD: This is quite an extensive document. The opposition has concerns about section 26(c) where a minister only has to provide answers to written questions at 10 o'clock on the day before. That is a serious concern. We also have concerns with 22(b) where the minister is to make an opening statement of five minutes. There has always been a controversy about whether it be three minutes or whatever. Mr Mackenroth: You are not allowed a debate on these standing orders. I will second the motion. Mr LINGARD: Thank you. We do have concerns about 22(b). I would like to move an amendment to 22(c) where it says 'a committee member may ask the minister questions'. We do believe it would be a courtesy by the government if it said 'commencing with non-government members'. I move the following amendment to sections 22(c) and 23(c)— Add after 22(c) and 23(c) the words 'commencing with non-government members'. Ms BLIGH: I thank the honourable member for his contribution to the debate. I am not convinced that the issues that he raised concerns about are of a serious enough nature to warrant further action but I do support the amendment that he proposes. I accept the amendment. It requires only that one comes first, but everybody is guaranteed equal time. Amendment agreed to. Motion, as amended, agreed to.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Report Mr LIVINGSTONE (Ipswich West—ALP) (10.29 a.m.): I lay upon the table of the House the Public Works Committee report No. 84 on its inquiry into the new government office building at 33 Charlotte Street, Brisbane. I thank my fellow committee members for their assistance and support. I also thank the committee staff for their assistance. I commend the report to the House. 20 May 2004 Questions Without Notice 1313

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Ministerial Motor Vehicles Mr SPRINGBORG (10.30 a.m.): My question without notice is directed to the Premier. The Premier has now tabled 293 documents in relation to ministerial motor vehicles and accidents which have occurred in them since 2001. He has already admitted that his office held 635 documents on accidents in these vehicles and electorate vehicles. Does that mean that the remaining 342 documents that the Premier is refusing to release all relate to accidents involving ministerial electorate vehicles like the one Merri Rose gave to her son to drive full time, including on interstate trips with his mates to watch the football? As the Premier confirmed yesterday that the cabinet exemption has never prevented release of these documents, what is he covering up by refusing to release the remaining documents? Will he now release those documents? Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable member for his question. Let us start at the beginning. I do not accept—and I am not going to go through and debate every aspect of it—the assertions in the question asked by the Leader of the Opposition, nor the detail in it. Let us be really clear so that the record is straight and I cannot be verballed or misrepresented on some future occasion. Let me say very clearly that I do not accept the factual assertions in the question. I have released now in this parliament every document relating to ministerial vehicles. Let me say to the people of Queensland that I have released every document relating to ministerial vehicles and I have also released some documents in relation to private vehicles. No government in the history of Queensland has done that—none. What we clearly have here is an abuse of the FOI process by the opposition. The abuse of the FOI laws is being done as a way to play gutter politics. Let us be really clear about this: this is not FOI. FOI was designed to make governments accountable, which we are. The opposition is abusing the process. It goes through muckraking exercises. I demonstrated in this House this morning—by the tabling all of the emails from my chief of staff's bin—the expense to taxpayers. The taxpayers of Queensland need to understand that these gutter tactics from the opposition where we are going through the wastepaper bin of my chief of staff are costing them money. It is costing them hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dollars. That money would be better spent on education and health. Let me make it clear that my government will remain focused on things— Mr Springborg interjected. Mr BEATTIE: No, don't try to masquerade behind any level of accountability. The members opposite are in the gutter. What we have seen in the matter of privilege taken this morning by the Leader of the Opposition, who had so much innuendo in what he said—I heard exactly what he said—is nothing more than grubby, cheap politics. Let me tell members a little story. Last night I attended an official dinner with a number of leaders of Queensland. At that dinner I had an opportunity to talk about Queensland. Every person I spoke to was incredibly critical of the gutter tactics of the Leader of the Opposition. The Leader of the Opposition is fooling no-one. His tactics are simple. He comes in here and tries to wreck the parliament, he tries to abuse FOI, and if the CMC does not deliver what he wants then he seeks to undermine the CMC. The opposition is nothing more than morally corrupt. The people of Queensland know that the members opposite are morally corrupt. Mr Springborg: Slippery, dodgy. Mr BEATTIE: Mr Speaker, I find that offensive and ask that it be withdrawn. Mr SPRINGBORG: I withdraw it, but I also find what he said earlier offensive. Maybe some people are less pretentious. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will now ask a question.

Alcohol Management Plan, Bamaga Mr SPRINGBORG: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Education. The minister would be aware that this morning there are reports that four teachers in Bamaga are under investigation by police for allegedly breaching the alcohol management plan. The minister would also be aware that the Premier of Queensland has set one of the most dangerous precedents in this state whereby public servants who lie, conceal and withhold information from police during its investigations into alcohol breaches do not receive any form of disciplinary action whatsoever. Will the minister inform the House what warning she has sent to these teachers about the sort of disciplinary action she and her department will take against them should they refuse to fully cooperate with police? 1314 Questions Without Notice 20 May 2004

Ms BLIGH: I thank the honourable member for the question. I am aware of the case that he refers to. I first of all say that all teachers who work in Cape York communities that are subject to alcohol management plans and all teachers who are transferred into those communities are provided with a comprehensive induction program which ensures that they are aware of the provisions of those alcohol restrictions and of their requirement as residents of those communities and as teachers to comply with all of the conditions of the alcohol management plans. I take the opportunity today to say how very important it is that teachers who are important role models to children, who should be respected members of their community, comply with both the letter and the spirit of the alcohol management plans. It is not easy for people who are in very remote and difficult placements. To date, I would like to applaud the Queensland Teachers Union for its support of these provisions and for its recognition of how important it is that its members comply with those conditions. In relation to the case to which the member refers, he was at least honest when he said that this is now the subject of a very comprehensive police investigation into a matter that is very serious. The matter being investigated does not relate to these four teachers but they are giving evidence in the investigation. The police have asked that Education Queensland not pursue the matters in relation to the alcohol issues until such time as its investigation into the other criminal matters has been completed. Education Queensland officers have removed those four teachers from that community and they will take every step required to get to the bottom of the matter after the police have investigated the criminal matters that they are pursuing. Education Queensland officers are working closely with Queensland police in relation to this case, and I have every confidence that the Queensland Police Service and the senior officers of Education Queensland will take both the criminal matter and the possibility of alcohol breaches very, very seriously. South Bank Mr REEVES: Before asking a question of the Premier, I welcome to the gallery my cousin from Rockhampton, Kane Hardy, who has had a tough couple of weeks looking after his mother at the RBH. Thankfully, with our great hospital system she is on the road to recovery. My question without notice is directed to the Premier. South Bank has become a major international tourism attraction and leisure destination for Queenslanders. What can the Premier tell the House about plans for the huge empty block of land known as the Mazda site that lies between South Bank and West End? Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable member for his question. Six months ago I announced that the state government had given the go-ahead for the South Bank Corporation to develop a 1.8 hectare site on Brisbane's South Bank. South Bank Corporation called for expressions of interest for the huge site, which is bounded by Melbourne, Russell, Merivale and Cordelia streets. The competition to become the preferred developer has been hotly contested in a two-stage process under a preferred master plan devised by the corporation. SW1, a consortium of national development company Austcorp and local developers Property Solutions Group and Urban Plus, plans to build a $200 million development comprising about 200 apartments, two commercial towers and a retail precinct on the site. Before starting the marketing process, South Bank Corporation undertook an extensive community consultation program with those in the immediate vicinity and key stakeholders, including the Brisbane City Council. These views were incorporated into the designs of the site. Because residential development is not part of the approved development plan for this site, the corporation will have to consult further with the Brisbane City Council and disclose the proposed amendments to its approved development plan for further comment. We want the development of this block to harmonise with what we have already achieved and to connect South Bank with the local West End community. This land gives us a wonderful opportunity to continue the high quality of development that has taken place in and around the old Expo site, which for decades beforehand was run down and a blot on the city. Thanks to the vision of the Queensland government and the South Bank Corporation, South Bank is now a vibrant area which adds tremendously to Brisbane's attractiveness and diversity. Architectural diversity will be a feature of the development, with master architects Cox Rayner overseeing a team of four architectural firms including M3architecture, John Mainwaring and Associates, Hayson Architects and Innovarchi. Negotiations to sell the land to the consortium are expected to be completed by early August. The corporation expects to start work on the site by mid-2005. One other matter I want to raise is that I am pleased to advise the House that a few minutes ago a large subadult whale entangled in shark control equipment off Currumbin has been released. I want to congratulate the officers of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries for their efforts to release the whale in difficult circumstances. I have been discussing it with the minister. We have specially trained, well equipped and dedicated officers on the Gold and Sunshine coasts to undertake marine 20 May 2004 Questions Without Notice 1315 mammal rescues. No-one wants to see whales or other marine mammals become entangled in shark nets. However, the shark nets and drum lines are in place off 87 of Queensland's beaches for a reason, and that is to protect swimmers from sharks. The government will not reduce the level of protection for swimmers. However, we have commenced a research study to reduce the risk for marine animals, and Henry Palaszczuk, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, will keep the House informed. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Before calling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, I welcome to the public gallery students and teachers of Chapel Hill State School in the electorate of Moggill. Welcome.

AMC Light Metals Project, Auditor-General's Report Mr SEENEY: My question without notice is to the Treasurer. In April I asked the Treasurer to advise this parliament of the total loss to Queensland taxpayers from his government's investment in the failed AMC project. He said, and I quote his 14-word answer in its entirety— The Auditor-General will be reporting to the parliament fully on AMC in May. Treasurer, the Auditor-General in his report tabled this week was unable to provide the figure for the total loss of taxpayers' money and expressed concern about a number of issues surrounding his government's involvement in the AMC project, including his reluctance to provide key information. The report states— Further audit review has been protracted because of the extended time for the provision of key information by the Department of State Development and Treasury. Did the Treasurer deliberately mislead the parliament in April in his response to my previous questions, or does he believe that he does not have to answer questions in this parliament and he does not have to inform Queensland taxpayers of how much of their money he has lost in his mismanagement? Mr MACKENROTH: No, I do not believe that I misled parliament when I answered that question. Yes, the member is right: I said that the Auditor-General would be reporting fully. I have a copy of his report, which was tabled this week, and I think that he has given a fairly full account on it. But I think the member needs to go to the end of it where he says that there will be a further report to the parliament— that is, he will be reporting on the results of this audit in a future report to parliament. He has actually outlined what he has been able to do— Mr Seeney interjected. Mr MACKENROTH: No, he has not once in the full report that he has given questioned the information that we have provided to him. Mr Seeney: You won't give it to him. Mr MACKENROTH: He did not say that. What he said was that it took some time to get it. If the member had read further, he also would have seen that he actually explained why. The member did not choose to do that. He did say in his report that up to 30 June 2003 there had been collective losses of $73 million. That has been stated quite clearly. If the member was probably able, he could go to the next page and pick up the distribution per security of 3.2c per share and multiply that and come up with a figure which is about what it is going to be when the final report is done. Let us wait until all of the accounts— Mr Seeney: What's that? Mr MACKENROTH: Let us wait until all of the accounts are audited and are tabled in this parliament. We are not hiding nor are we walking away from anything. This government supported AMC because we wanted to get that project up and running to create jobs in a new industry. We are really disappointed that that did not happen, but I do not believe that as a government we should be criticised for having a go.

Australia TradeCoast Mr TERRY SULLIVAN: My question is directed to the Premier. Premier, in 1999 the state government, the Brisbane City Council, the Port of Brisbane Corporation and the Brisbane Airport Corporation formed an equal partnership to create Australia TradeCoast at the mouth of the Brisbane River. Will the Premier tell the House how the Australia TradeCoast is progressing? Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable member, because this is a matter of great pride for the state government. This came out of a partnership between the state government and the Brisbane City Council when Jim Soorley was Lord Mayor. We should all congratulate the Australia TradeCoast for winning an international award at a Chicago real estate summit for its economic development and its leadership. A government member interjected. 1316 Questions Without Notice 20 May 2004

Mr BEATTIE: Absolutely. One of the reasons for the award was attracting major new corporate facilities and jobs, which is what Jim Soorley and I set out to achieve when we did it with the support of a number of people, including Tom Barton. Creating new jobs and being able to win against the best in the world is very much part of the Smart State strategy, so I congratulate Australia TradeCoast for winning the international 2004 Economic Development Leadership and Accomplishment Award given by CoreNet Global, a major international association of corporate real estate and site selection executives. This is a tribute to what can be achieved when government and private organisations come together to work towards a shared vision. Australia TradeCoast has utilised this strong partnership in its efforts to become the premier location for international business and trade in the Asia Pacific, and it is paying off. The Smart State is working. World business is recognising Queensland as an extremely attractive place to do business, proving once again that we are Australia's Smart State. Australia TradeCoast is a partnership, as the member quite rightly said, between the Queensland government, the Brisbane City Council, the Port of Brisbane Corporation and the Brisbane Airport Corporation. The four partners work together on marketing Australia TradeCoast, facilitating investment in the area and planning a coordinated approach to development. Speakers at the event included former United States Vice-President Al Gore and former US Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. Australia TradeCoast was launched in 1999 as both a brand and a global business and logistics hub, and I table for the information of the House the original news release I put out announcing it together with some of its recent achievements off its web site. As I said, Australia's TradeCoast was launched in 1999. It is a trade and industry development strategy for the ports region in Brisbane on a scale not undertaken anywhere else in Australia before and is one of the largest projects of its kind in the world. While I am on my feet, I am also pleased to advise the House that the governing body of the Asia- Pacific Broadcasting Union, the ABU, has approved the first stage of Queensland's initiative to create a major awards based television event for film and television in the Asia-Pacific region. The Administrative Council of the ABU at its 18 May meeting in Osaka ratified a memorandum of understanding—an MOU—that I signed in February on behalf of Queensland Events. Members may recall that the MOU provided for a feasibility study to be undertaken by Queensland Events in collaboration with the ABU, one of the world's largest broadcasting organisations. The event involves awards for excellence in film and television in the Asia Pacific, the world's largest market. Significantly, this event will acknowledge creative diversity as expressed in some of the world's finest film and television programs made in this vast region. I table the rest of those facts for the information of the House. Queensland Racing Board; Mr W. Ludwig Mr HOPPER: My question is to the Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing. I refer to the question I asked the minister on Tuesday that he refused to answer regarding a CMC inquiry into the behaviour of a member of the Board of Queensland Racing. As he has now revealed to the media but not the parliament that this report has been with his department since last month, can he now advise this House whether he has deemed it necessary to refer this report on to any other ministers due to the person in question being a member of other state government boards? Mr SCHWARTEN: This is a great privilege for the honourable member, because yesterday he sat over there very downcast. He looked like a kid who had just had his pushbike run over. So I am delighted that he got his way today. You could have done the Pride of Erin on his bottom lip it was stuck out that far yesterday. Mr HOPPER: I rise to a point of order. I am sick of the personal abuse that I have had from this minister. I find those comments offensive and ask that they be withdrawn. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The minister will withdraw those comments. Mr SCHWARTEN: I withdraw those comments. Mr SPEAKER: The minister will return to the question. Mr SCHWARTEN: In relation to the matter raised the other day that was supposedly so secret, it was, in fact, a question that was asked of my predecessor on 8 June last year by the member for Toowoomba South. It was actually a mirror question. The matter raised has been with the CMC prior to my becoming a minister. The matter has been canvassed in this parliament. The CMC chose to report back to me in a confidential manner. I did not believe that I was in a position to make that public until the CMC chose to. All this week we have seen in this parliament two things go out the window: fairness and due process. To my colleague here, there were personal attacks on him and he was not obliged due process and fairness. I am not going to do that to this person. I will not use this parliament as an opportunity to pillory people and take away their rights. I will deal with this matter as it should be dealt with and I will refer the matter back to this parliament in a full and comprehensive report when it is finalised. 20 May 2004 Questions Without Notice 1317

Unlike members opposite, I take seriously my responsibility as a minister in this parliament. The matters raised are most serious and the people concerned have the right to a fair go. They have legal rights which they can exercise and I will not trammel over their rights the way in which that lot over there want me to. It is little wonder that nine out of 10 Queenslanders want nothing to do with those people. This morning I was talking to an old friend of mine from the National Party who voted Labor for the first time and voted for the member for Keppel. He said that, because of the way those opposite are behaving, he is going to continue to do that. This parliament is owed an answer. Manufacturers, Ipswich Region Ms NOLAN: My question is to the Minister for State Development and Innovation. Can he explain to the House what is being done to help manufacturers in the Ipswich region grow? Mr McGRADY: I thank the member for that question and indeed place on record the tremendous amount of work that she is doing to help manufacturers in her electorate. I am pleased to say that things are certainly looking good for the Ipswich manufacturers and I believe that the government deserves thanks for the support that we are giving them. We are now really starting to see some results. We have set up a western corridor manufacturing industry pipeline to help businesses to achieve their potential in the Ipswich area. This pipeline provides networking, mentoring, training opportunities and management skills development. Indeed it educates businesses about government assistance programs such as the Queensland Industry Development Scheme. Since 1998 the Beattie government has approved 38 QIDS grants for the Ipswich region totalling just under $1 million—in fact, to be accurate, $930,000. The good news is that the funding is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs in the Ipswich area. Recently I heard of an excellent example of just how effective this pipeline is. John Watts of John Watts Sewing has been selling sewing machines from his store for over 16 years. Eighteen months ago he developed an innovative machine that is designed specifically for quilting. Thanks to the state government's support, Mr Watts' annual turnover has gone from $230,000 to over $1 million in just 12 months. And now, thanks to a $46,000 QIDS grant, Mr Watts will soon be exporting his machine world wide. That is what it is all about: exporting. This is certainly clear proof that the government's manufacturing strategies are working to help regional Queenslanders. As I said earlier on this morning, is it not a pity that the federal government does not pay as much attention to the manufacturing industry as the Queensland government does. Aldoga Aluminium Smelter Mr QUINN: My question is directed to the Minister for State Development. I refer to a media release of 27 April by Aldoga Aluminium Smelters Pty Ltd which states— The Queensland delegation to China, headed by Minister Tony McGrady, was welcomed by the Aldoga Aluminium Smelter consortium partners in Beijing today. Mr McGrady met with the Chinese Nonferrous Corporation partners in the Aldoga Aluminium Smelter project. The president of NFC, Mr Zhang Jian, thanked the Minister and the Beattie government for its support of the Aldoga smelter project. I ask: in light of the minister's statement to this House on 11 May during the debate on the Aurukun Associates Agreement Repeal Bill, how does he explain the discrepancies between Aldoga's version of events and his? Further, how does the minister explain the photograph of him and the Aldoga partners in China that appeared in the Port Curtis Post on 5 May? Mr McGRADY: I thank the Leader of the Liberal Party for the question, because it allows me to respond to the allegations that have been made on two occasions in this House under parliamentary privilege by the member for Moggill. Let me emphasise once again that I had never, ever, ever met with Aldoga except for a 60-second meeting following a dinner in Beijing for Mark Vaile along with 230 other people—hardly a private meeting. At that meeting, in common with many, many other people, I was asked would I stand for a photograph and I was also requested by about a dozen other people. That is the first thing. The second thing is that when I returned to Queensland and after my statement in the parliament, I then was requested to have a meeting with Aldoga. This was a secret meeting and I did not want too many people to know that the meeting was going to take place. So prior to the meeting, my office rang the Gladstone Observer, the Courier-Mail, the Australian, the Australian Financial Review and ABC radio and said, 'We want to inform you that the minister is going to have a meeting with Aldoga this afternoon at 3 o'clock.' I want to repeat that the Sherlock Holmes of the Queensland parliament—I think that he may have taken over Dr Watson's position; he is not only the member for Moggill but also he is the detective in this place—is running down the wrong track, because everything that I have said in this parliament, which is on record in Hansard, is 100 per cent true. So he can play all his games, he can make all the allegations that he wants, but he will not stop me from travelling the world to try to get jobs for the people of this state. That is what the role of the Minister for State Development and Innovation is all about. 1318 Questions Without Notice 20 May 2004

They can try as much as they like to rubbish me and undermine the people in Gladstone and other places who are searching for work, but they are proving once again that they do not quite understand processes and they will never, ever, ever catch me out lying to this parliament or anywhere else. I have made my decision perfectly clear. I met with Aldoga for approximately 60 seconds in Beijing, along with 230 other people. I had photographs taken that night with many other people. I reiterate that I met with Aldoga last week in that 'secret' meeting, which my staff told almost the whole of the media was going to take place.

Reading Voucher Mr FENLON: My question is addressed to the Minister for Education and the Arts. There has been widespread outrage from Queensland parents about the federal government's $700 vote-buying exercise being denied to their children struggling with reading. Has the minister been able to find out if there is any evidence to back up the claim that the voucher will even help students and, if so, why the federal government is discriminating against Queensland children? Ms BLIGH: I thank the honourable member for the question and for his interest in education, unlike the federal minister. I was able to confirm to the parliament yesterday that the federal Minister for Education, Dr Brendan Nelson, has confirmed that Queensland children will be denied access to a new $700 benefit to assist those who are struggling with literacy. As I said yesterday, the proposal by the Commonwealth is frankly unfair, mean spirited, nasty and an unwarranted attack on our most needy children, on their families and on the schools and teachers who work with those children. Why is this proposal being pursued by the Commonwealth? Allegedly because Queensland is deficient in reporting to parents on the national benchmark tests. I utterly reject the suggestion by the Commonwealth that Queensland is failing to provide adequate information to parents. Queensland has one of the most rigorous literacy programs in the country, as everybody in this House knows. For more than a decade our children have been subject to a comprehensive assessment in year 2. Members can ask any year 2 teacher how comprehensive and rigorous that process is. Children are identified if they have a literacy problem and resources start to flow for them from that point. Children are further identified as a result of the year 3 tests. Every parent of a year 3 child knows that they get a four-page report outlining the needs of their child. What we see here today from the Commonwealth is nothing more than pig-headedness. It is a triumph of ideology over education and, frankly, a triumph of politics over the interests of children. I utterly reject the Commonwealth's accusations, but for the sake of the argument let us just assume that it is 100 per cent right and that the Queensland government has been remiss. Let us just assume that for one minute. Why would it punish our children? Why would it go down the path of punishing children for the sake of an argument it is having with the state government? It is an unbelievable policy position. We will not tolerate our children being treated in this way, which we regard to be both disgraceful and shabby. As more questions are being asked about this program, it is not only the unfairness of it that is catching the attention of people across the country but also the workability of the proposed scheme. Even if Queensland children were given access to it, there would be a $700 tuition credit given and the parent would then have to go and find the tutor. There are some very serious questions. I would ask members of this House who represent rural, remote and regional Queenslanders to ask themselves: how will a parent in remote parts of electorates such as Gregory or Cook access private tuition for their children? Would it not be better for those funds to be going to their schools, which are already working with those children in literacy programs? How parents will know how to access tutors who have satisfied blue card requirements and qualifications is another matter of concern.

Nambour Court House Mr WELLINGTON: My question is addressed to the Attorney-General. For over 40 years the Nambour Court House has provided an essential service to the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Unfortunately, a magistrate visits only one day a month and for a second day every second month. Accordingly, many matters which should be dealt with at Nambour are referred elsewhere for determination. My constituents believe that it is time that additional resources were provided to Nambour Court House, and I ask: will the Attorney-General raise this matter with the Chief Magistrate and investigate providing additional resources for the upgrade of court recording and associated equipment at the Nambour Court House? Mr WELFORD: I thank the honourable member for his question and am particularly grateful that there are at least some members of the parliament who are interested in the justice system and the government's implementation of policy. 20 May 2004 Questions Without Notice 1319

I can assure the honourable member that I will take a close interest in the future timetabling of resources and magistrates' time at the Nambour Court House. As he indicates, the sittings at the Nambour Court House are ultimately a matter for the Chief Magistrate, with whom I will raise the issues that have been raised in this place today. As I understand it, a magistrate sits at Nambour on the last Thursday of each month to hear both civil and criminal matters. Every second month on a Wednesday there is a special civil sitting to hear matters such as small debts and similar small claims matters. Major trials of civil and criminal matters are dealt with at the Maroochydore Court House, which of course is a more modern courthouse with three District Court rooms. Major trials are not conducted at the Nambour Court House obviously because, as the member indicated, there are no formal recording facilities there. However, depending on the workload and the source of the matters that arise—civil or criminal—that might be more appropriately dealt with at the Nambour Court House, it is something the Chief Magistrate can take into account in seeing whether there is justification for additional resources being allocated for the facilities that are required to run the more major trials at Nambour. I am happy to take on board the issues that the member has raised. I should of course point out that Maroochydore is only 20 minutes away. While most small and preliminary proceedings can be dealt with at Nambour, it is only a short distance away for the major trials to be held in the more modern facilities at Maroochydore. Nevertheless, it is food for thought and I am happy to raise it with the Chief Magistrate.

Marine Stingers Mr O'BRIEN: My question is addressed to the Minister for Emergency Services. The minister would be aware that box jellyfish are a serious problem on north Queensland's beautiful beaches such as Clifton Beach in my electorate. Can the minister advise the House of any initiatives that may assist the Queensland Ambulance Service in quickly treating box jellyfish stings? Mr CUMMINS: I thank the member for his question. The north Queensland members on this side of the House have continually raised the issue with me. It is a timely question given recent reminders from north Queensland lifeguards about the continuing danger of marine stingers to unwary swimmers in their waters. A young woman was recently stung by an unidentified marine stinger at Alma Bay, and lifeguards have reminded swimmers to swim in enclosures and to wear protective clothing, particularly for the remainder of the stinger season. As with most stings, prevention is better than cure, and I encourage swimmers to take heed of these safety warnings. Despite precautions, some swimmers are still stung. In these cases it is vital that the QAS is able to respond as quickly as possible. Over the past summer paramedics at Mission Beach trialled a new purpose-built refrigerator installed in their ambulance that has allowed them to carry box jellyfish antivenene at all times. Without refrigeration, box jellyfish antivenene has a very limited shelf life and has to be stored at ambulance stations rather than out on the job with the ambos. The trial was a success. Having the antivenene at their fingertips is helping paramedics to take patient care to new heights. Due to the success of the trial, 17 Cairns based ambulances will have the refrigerators installed over the next few months. As well as this, a roll-out plan is now being devised for them to be fitted in ambulances in coastal areas prone to box jellyfish activity. Although all new ambulances are fitted with refrigerators as standard, the challenge for the QAS is to develop a way to retrofit the remaining vehicles. The difficulty was finding a unit to install in these vehicles that could keep the antivenene at the desired temperature while not overloading the electrical systems on board the ambulance. Box jellyfish antivenene ideally has a storage temperature of between four and six degrees. It requires a lot of energy for a vehicle running on battery power to maintain a refrigerator at such low levels. In yet another Smart State success story, the QAS was able to work closely with Queensland based refrigerator manufacturer Explorer Fridge Freezer to develop a suitable unit. This is another example of our government's commitment to ensuring that our paramedics are as well resourced as possible and able to respond to the needs of Queenslanders with not just world-class prehospital clinical care but also world leading care. The fact that all Queenslanders are now covered by community ambulance cover no matter where they go in Australia is one of the greatest achievements of the Beattie government—something we can all be very proud of. In this three-year term of government we will recruit at least another 240 extra paramedics over three years, on top of the 110 we have recruited this year. That is an additional $35.9 million commitment. Time expired.

Crime and Misconduct Commission, Confidential Reports to Ministers Mr HORAN: My question is directed to the Premier. The Minister for Racing today told the parliament that he has received confidential reports from the CMC about an inquiry into a matter which 1320 Questions Without Notice 20 May 2004 the minister described as serious. How widespread is this practice of confidential reports to ministers from the CMC during the course of investigations? Mr BEATTIE: I think the appropriate person to answer that question is the head of the CMC. Clearly, if the CMC have a process of notifying appropriate ministers, then that is a process that they— Mr Schwarten: They didn't put a media release out on it. Mr BEATTIE: Sorry, what did they do? Mr Schwarten: They sent it personally to me; they didn't put a media release out to advise the world. Mr BEATTIE: No. We know that the opposition has a strategy here to try to undermine the CMC. The facts of life are that the CMC has appropriate requirements of notification in circumstances if it involves the behaviour of an individual within the portfolio of the minister. What is the big deal about that? Do those opposite expect the CMC, if it has reached a determination or a matter is to be pursued, not to notify the parties concerned? The CMC has the most open process that any independent organisation could possibly have, and the Leader of the Opposition knows this because every time the CMC deals with any matter he has raised, he is notified, or, if I have raised it and he is involved, then he gets notified. That is as I understand it. Most of the time the Leader of the Opposition is leaking the information to the press, so he would be only too well aware of how it works. I do not understand the basis of the member's question in terms of what is right or wrong with it. The reality is that, if the CMC has made a determination in relation to an individual within the responsibility of the minister, why would it not notify the minister? Mr Seeney: Why wouldn't the minister tell the parliament? Mr BEATTIE: Mr Speaker— Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question has been asked. Mr Seeney: The Premier said he didn't understand the question. I am helping him out. Mr BEATTIE: I think we are getting into the theatre of the absurd here. The fact is that the CMC, an independent body, has an obligation to notify parties and to notify ministers when action is to be taken. Mr Schwarten interjected. Mr BEATTIE: As the minister interjected, people have rights. The minister has already said that he is handling the matter and he has indicated that at the appropriate time he will advise the House. What more can you ask? These things have to follow due process. We no longer trample over people's individual rights and it is important that parliament accepts due process. Principles and standards are important and, when it comes to these sorts of matters, natural justice and those sorts of issues have to be followed appropriately, otherwise—as was found out by the CJC, the forerunner of the CMC, in relation to the poker machine manufacturer—these matters can be challenged in the courts. That particular report was challenged in the courts. The CMC has a process here which would apply whether those opposite were in government or we were in government. There is no fancy science here. I urge the opposition to stop trying to character assassinate the CMC now. When is the opposition going to get out of the gutter? Sunshine Coast, Transport Infrastructure Ms MOLLOY: My question is directed to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. As the minister would know, the Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest growing areas in Queensland, with over 300,000 people living in the region. Could the minister explain to the House what the state government is going to do with regard to transport infrastructure? Mr LUCAS: First of all, I will explain to the House why so many people are moving to the Sunshine Coast. One of the reasons is that it is one of the best parts of the world and a wonderful place that combines lifestyle with the ability to do Smart State business. Another reason is that it has the sort of representation you get from the member for Noosa—top-quality representation, fearless, ferocious and vigorous in the interests of her constituents. It is always a pleasure to deal with the member for Noosa. Since 1996 traffic volumes on the Sunshine Motorway have increased significantly. Some two- lane sections are now dealing with 34,000-plus vehicles per day. The Beattie government recognises the importance of this vital north-south link. It is also a major tourist road. We are committed to this and we will be spending $120-plus million to upgrade sections of the motorway over the next four years to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety. We are also doing a Sunshine Motorway 2003 study which is a 30-year plan to ensure that motorway infrastructure keeps pace with the Sunshine Coast's rapid growth. A new interchange for Kawana Way between Nicklin Way and the Sunshine Motorway link is scheduled to open in late May. 20 May 2004 Questions Without Notice 1321

A government member: Friday week. Mr LUCAS: Friday week, as the minister indicates. Also, under the current five-year Roads Implementation Program, there are a number of approved Sunshine Motorway projects such as $35 million to duplicate five kilometres of the motorway from Sippy Downs to Kawana Way and for a new interchange to improve access to Sippy Downs and Buderim, and $20 million to duplicate a 3.8 kilometre section between Mooloolaba Road and Maroochydore Road. Work is under way and due to be finished in 2005. An extra $35 million is provided under the Smart State Building Fund to improve areas between the Mooloolaba and Maroochydore interchanges, with a connection to the Maroochydore southern access road. We also have a further $35 million to complete the Pacific Paradise interchange—a connecting access road to David Low Way at Pacific Paradise—by June 2008. With the enormous growth we are experiencing on the Sunshine Coast, there are still many challenges for us on the Sunshine Motorway—for example, duplicating the Maroochy River bridge and road connections between Maroochydore and Pacific Paradise. The indicative preliminary planning estimate for this is about $110 million. The timing for this will be considered in the development of future RIPs subject to other priorities for available road funds. These Sunshine Motorway upgrades that I have discussed are complementary to our longer term planning. We have spent $191 million on state and local government roads on the Sunshine Coast in the last five years and over the next five years we will be spending $383 million—a 100 per cent increase. That is not to mention the commitment we have to public transport on the Sunshine Coast. We have TransLink from 1 July—Noosa to Coolangatta and west to Helidon, integrated ticketing; very big wins for people on the Sunshine Coast—and we have the CAMCOS corridor that we are in the process of preserving and acquiring, which will mean big public transport gains ultimately for rail as well. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Before calling the member for Surfers Paradise, could I welcome to the public gallery students and teachers from Pullenvale State School in the electorate of Moggill. State Budget, Abolition of TAFE Fees Mr LANGBROEK: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Employment and Training. I refer the minister to a statement made by Mark Latham on the 7.30 Report on 13 May in which he was questioned about his policy to abolish TAFE fees for all secondary students. Given that Mr Latham claimed that he had the agreement of all state governments, I ask: will this government be introducing this policy in the upcoming state budget and what is the cost to the TAFE system of this policy? Mr BARTON: I am absolutely thrilled to get this question, but I think we should look at some fundamental issues first. The Treasurer will make an announcement in here in three and a bit weeks time about precisely what is in the state budget. I am fairly confident that there will be some great news for young people who want to do TAFE courses and who want to do other training courses around the state as a result of that budget. But we will all have to wait until Tuesday, 15 June when the Treasurer will reveal all to all of us, including the member and all of the interested people out there, just what great news we have for young people and older people who want to upgrade their skills right around Queensland—whether it is through our TAFE system, through the whole 85 campuses of our 15 TAFE institutes, or whether it is funding that goes to private providers to deliver training. Let me make some comment about Mark Latham's statement last Thursday night. That is certainly picking up the vision. It is very welcome by me as the Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations and I know by my colleague the Minister for Education and by the Premier and everybody who sits on the government benches in this parliament. That is one of the most central and important things that a future Labor government can do. It dovetails perfectly, as I put out in press releases last Friday welcoming Mark Latham's statement—I am amazed the member did not read them—with the education and training reforms for the future agenda that this government is putting into place. We certainly are challenged. Last week I got a letter from the Minister for Education, Brendan Nelson, who had written to me some six or seven weeks earlier telling me that he was giving our TAFE funding for Queensland a $15 million-something haircut. Then he wrote to me last week and advised me that he was sorry to disadvantage me and hoped it did not upset me but he had made an error in his calculations and he was actually giving Queensland a $20.7 million haircut or cut in funding for TAFE training for Queenslanders. The very fact that Mark Latham is adopting the vision, is talking about paying through the federal agencies for training for young people who are school based apprentices through TAFE colleges while they are doing school based apprenticeships or other forms of training while at high school, is incredibly welcome. I look forward to the day when Mark Latham is the Prime Minister and we can put that into place, because what we are getting from the current federal government is nothing but cutbacks— cutbacks in the opportunity for young people and other people in Australia, and particularly in Queensland, to receive training. I thank the member for the question. 1322 Questions Without Notice 20 May 2004

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Fire Management Dr LESLEY CLARK (Barron River—ALP) My question without notice is to the Minister for the Environment. Can the minister please update the House on the Environmental Protection Agency's success in managing fires in the national park estates, particularly in far-north Queensland? Mr MICKEL: I thank the honourable member for her question and her continuing interest in environmental matters. The question gives me the chance to praise the officers in my department for the professional approach they have adopted. I want to refer the House to one particular incident that occurred in far-north Queensland on 24 November last year. A wildfire started on a property adjacent to the Undarra Volcanic National Park and the Forty Mile Scrub National Park near Mount Surprise. By the end of that week approximately 1,300 square kilometres of national park and neighbouring grazing lands had been burnt. The combined resources of community members, rural fire brigades and national park rangers were used to bring that wildfire under control. After the fire a number of allegations were made by a small group of volunteer rural firefighters and graziers about poor communication and a lack of hazard reduction in the Mount Surprise area. As a result emergency service officers commenced a full investigation into the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding it. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service was publicly praised by a number of graziers for its efforts in managing fire within the park estate. The investigation confirmed the professionalism of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in relation to fire management. The investigation recommended that the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service continue its community approach to fire management. The investigation also recommended that consideration be given to including land-holders and brigades affected by the fire in the annual QPWS fire management meeting at Undarra. This totally repudiates any suggestion that the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service was not fulfilling its role when it comes to fire management in the region. QPWS rangers have played an active role in the community based approach and in resolving many of the issues raised in the investigation into the fire. There was an agreement to adopt a services community whole-of-landscape approach to achieving effective fire management in the district. This involves community input into the fire management plan for the parks. The professional approach is important when you consider that in the fire season from March 2003 to February 2004 QPWS staff responded to 154 wildfires on and adjoining its estate. The fires affected 192,5000 hectares of the state and of these fires 45 per cent are known to have started off the QPWS estate. My staff will continue to work closely with the Hon. Minister for Emergency Services, workers and other agencies including, and I stress, local government. Joint exercises between agencies provide valuable experience to handle emergencies. There is also considerable— Time expired. Dental Services, Kingaroy Mrs PRATT: My question was to the Minister for Health, but I will direct it to the Premier since the Minister for Health is not here. Recently a pensioner fronted to the Kingaroy Public Hospital dental clinic and was informed that there was a four-year waiting list due to the two dentists having recently departed and he was told to very soon return in the emergency period. He did so and it was found that he had an abscess and two teeth were removed. He was issued no medication. Two days later he returned to the hospital with severe pain and a swollen face and was advised to go to a private practitioner. Being Sunday he refused. Eventually the nurse handed him some medication and allegedly informed him that it was authorised by a doctor. The pensioner reacted badly to the medication, which was corrected the next day by a private practitioner. I ask: is it common practice for doctors in public hospitals to prescribe medication without ascertaining the patient's history and, to alleviate the current situation in Kingaroy, when will the dental staff be replaced? Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable member for the question. I am not a practising medical professional, as the member would know, although I have to say in recent days there are a number of people I would love to operate on. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to work out who would be on the list. A government member interjected. Mr BEATTIE: The other doctor is somewhere else, working in a meaningful way for the education of nurses in this state. I would not have thought it was normal practice, to be perfectly honest, and I think we need to be clear about that. There are some privacy issues here, as the member would understand, in relation to the individual's case, but if there is some waivering of that I am sure that we can get the minister to give the member a detailed answer. I will do that. I do want to say in general terms that Queensland is the only Australian state, which the member would be aware of, which funds full free public dental services. I can recall when I was health minister— 20 May 2004 Child Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 1323

Mr Mickel: So can I. Mr BEATTIE: I have got to say, things have improved for both of us. I can assure the member I will never go back and nor will he. Mr Mackenroth interjected. Mr BEATTIE: Do members think he can become the chief of staff to the new Minister for Health— I will think about that—or his senior adviser? I can remember having this argument with the Commonwealth at the time. The reality is that the Commonwealth does not fund these dental services. We are the only state that does fund dental services. The government will, and I promised this if I recall correctly in the election campaign, commit an extra $10 million over three years to deliver at least 18,000 additional procedures. The minister is in the process of administering that program. There have been a number of areas where waiting lists are, frankly, too long. I accept that. That is one of the reasons why we allocated that $10 million in the election campaign and those extra 18,000 procedures. That is also another reason why we allocated $110 million, if I recall correctly, to reduce waiting lists in our hospitals generally. Can I suggest that the member do this: I notice under sessional order 69(2) that if an answer to a question requires too much detail a minister may request the member to place the question on notice. I urge the member to do that. I will ask the Minister for Health to give the member a more fulsome response in terms of that individual case.

Federal Budget Mrs CARRYN SULLIVAN: My question without notice is to the Minister for Local Government, Planning and Women. I refer the minister to last week's federal budget, and I ask: can the minister please advise the House whether this is a good budget for Queensland women? Ms BOYLE: The answer to the question is, no, it is not a good budget for women. The big gift in the federal government's budget, of course, is tax handouts for those who earn over $52,000 a year. The fact is that only 9.2 per cent of women earn over $52,000 a year. It has, as a budget, been recognised by even conservative voters as a panicky and paltry attempt to pander to families in an election year. John Howard has demonstrated how out of touch he is with women's issues, with family issues. His comments on A Current Affair recently were insulting. His refusal to face the financial inequity that is facing many women in this country is a shame upon him and upon his Treasurer. Kylie, a young single girl with no children of about 20 years of age, asked the Prime Minister what was in the budget for her. What he said was that Kylie might soon earn $52,000 and that she should work harder and get there sooner and then she might appreciate the changes that he had made for her. This is so out of touch. Average women's full-time earnings are $43,550 a year, but when one takes into account part-time earnings, average women's earnings are $30,000 a year—a long way from the Prime Minister's and the Treasurer's $52,000 a year threshold for tax cuts. By contrast, yesterday I saw Mark Latham face a public meeting of some 250 people. They were queued up at the microphones to express their concerns to him. The topics that they touched on included parenting, troubled youth, the rising cost of living for pensioners faced with bigger medical bills and the collapse of bulk-billing, the problems with the funding of public housing, high rents and the lack of affordable housing. Mr Latham listened and understood, unlike our Prime Minister. I bring to the attention of the House that virtually no woman who is a hairdresser, farmhand, receptionist, shop assistant, factory worker or office clerk is going to get a tax cut from this budget. Peter Costello gets a tax cut of $42 a week. He fancies that he is the greatest Treasurer of all. I say to him, 'Get off your high horse, Mr Treasurer. You are the controller of the country's purse strings. Fix the economic disadvantage, the inequity that is the key factor blocking the progress of women in this country today.' Mr SPEAKER: Order! The time for questions has expired.

CHILD SAFETY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (11.30 a.m.), by leave, without notice: I move— That leave be granted to bring in a bill for an act to amend particular acts to increase child safety, and for other purposes. Motion agreed to.

First Reading Bill and explanatory notes presented and bill, on the motion of Mr Beattie, read a first time. 1324 Child Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 20 May 2004

Second Reading Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (11.31 a.m.): I move— That the bill be now read a second time. Reforming the child protection system is a key priority for the government. Today we take an important step that reinforces Queensland children's protection from neglect, abuse and exploitation. In January 2004, the Crime and Misconduct Commission released its report Protecting children: an inquiry into abuse of children in foster care. I immediately committed the government to implementing all 110 CMC recommendations. We moved quickly to establish the Child Protection Implementation Unit headed by Peter Forster who has a long and distinguished record of public administration and one of competence and fearless implementation. The unit consulted widely and advised the government of the best way to implement the CMC recommendations. Peter Forster delivered his blueprint on 22 March 2004. It recommended that legislative reform be introduced in three stages, with the first stage to be introduced by May. The Child Safety Legislation Amendment Bill represents stage one of the legislative reform package as outlined in that blueprint. It is a significant step that implements 11 recommendations of the CMC report. The bill reorders the principles in the Child Protection Act 1999 to ensure that welfare and the best interests of the child are paramount. It also adds a new principle that children should be kept informed of matters affecting them. This is all about making the child safety system more child focused. This bill will enable the Child Safety Department to respond to notifications made before a child is born, where the child may be in need of protection after he or she is born. This acts on recommendations of the Ombudsman's 'Baby Kate' report. The bill introduces significant new measures in relation to child deaths. The bill provides a legislative requirement for the Department of Child Safety to conduct a child death case review, in circumstances where a child may have come to the department's attention and has died within three years after that contact. These reviews have previously been undertaken administratively. Legislating for them will make the process more rigorous and transparent. We need to be clear, the departmental review is not about the causes and circumstances of the death itself. It is about the appropriateness of departmental actions in relation to the child, and whether there was effective communication between the department and other agencies. It is about improving departmental responses, in an effort to inform best practice in the protection of vulnerable children in the future. If mistakes are made then we must learn from them—and do our best to ensure mistakes are not repeated. The bill also establishes the new Child Death Case Review Committee. This independent committee will provide a critical, external accountability mechanism that will oversight the child death case reviews undertaken by the Department of Child Safety. It will be chaired by the Children's Commissioner and members of the committee will have appropriate broad-ranging expertise. The role of the committee will be to review the departmental case reviews. It will make recommendations to the Department of Child Safety about its policies and procedures relating to the delivery of services to children and families, and will monitor the department's response to these recommendations. Let me assure the House from my many and lengthy discussions with the Minister for Child Safety I know that he will take personal responsibility and will implement those recommendations. He has worked hand in hand with me, along with our cabinet colleagues, in preparing this bill. The committee will also be able to recommend whether any disciplinary action should be taken against officers of the Department of Child Safety. The bill also expands the jurisdiction of the coroner to investigate the deaths not only of children subject to orders but also those children in a placement with a parent or guardian's consent. Additionally, the bill provides for the creation of a register of child deaths and a child death research function. This allows the Children's Commissioner to review causes and patterns of all child deaths and to conduct broader research on issues related to child deaths. These functions are supported by amendments to the Coroners Act 2003 and the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2003, which will facilitate the provision of information from the state coroner and Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to the Children's Commissioner. Importantly, this bill creates a watchdog with a lot more teeth, by giving the Commissioner for Children and Young People the new and additional role of Child Guardian. As members may recall, I informed the House last week that Dr Robin Sullivan will continue as Commissioner for Children and Young People for the next three years. She has considerable experience in this role since 1999 and has the expertise and respect of all members of this House. She is ideal to continue in that role. Because of her knowledge and experience she will be able to get the results that we want, together with a commitment to this from every minister in this government—in particular Mike Reynolds, the Minister for Child Safety. The bill extends the statutory office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People to become the office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. We have 20 May 2004 Child Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 1325 put it in the title so it is clear and everyone understands exactly the role and responsibilities that the commissioner has. With the new role of Child Guardian, the Children's Commissioner will have new functions and stronger powers to monitor, audit and review a range of agencies which provide services to children in the child safety system. The Children's Commissioner, who, as we all know, is within my departmental responsibility as Premier, will be empowered to require relevant agencies to provide such information as she may need to monitor, audit or review its child protection operations. The Children's Commissioner will also be empowered to require these agencies to provide regular and ongoing information about its systems, policies and practices, in order that the commissioner may maintain constant vigilance over the quality of services that agencies are providing to children in the child safety system. In this first stage, the Children's Commissioner will focus her monitoring activity on those agencies that provide services to those children most at risk. They are: the Department of Child Safety; the Department of Communities in its statutory child protection role; and the licensed care services that provide placement and support services to children in out-of-home care. This will include children in foster care. We will consult further with the community sector to ensure we cover any other relevant non-government agencies. Later this year we will legislatively extend the monitoring scheme to cover other government agencies which provide services to these children such as the departments of Health, Education, Housing and Police. In the meantime, I have a commitment from my ministers to the provision and exchange of information to assist, as far as is legislatively possible, the Children's Commission in its monitoring work. I should inform the House that, on the suggestion of the Minister for Child Safety, I convened a meeting of the relevant ministers and there was a clear understanding that this will happen. We have met, discussed it and it will happen. In addition, the Children's Commissioner's ability to investigate complaints about children in need of protection will be expanded to all children who come to the attention of the Department of Child Safety, not only those under formal order or subject to statutory intervention as is currently the case. That means that every child about whom a notification has been made to the department will now be covered. As members will appreciate, this will be a significant new workload for the Children's Commission. Therefore, a new statutory office of Assistant Commissioner will be created to be responsible to the Children's Commissioner for the performance of these monitoring functions and new resources have been provided to the commission to carry out this work. Not only are we giving the commissioner the jurisdictional power or legislative power to carry out this work; we are resourcing it appropriately as well. The bill significantly expands the community visitor program administered by the Children's Commissioner to cover children in the alternative care system, including foster care. Community visitors currently visit children in residential facilities, detention centres and mental health services. Their role is to build a trusting relationship with vulnerable children and keep an eye on how they are treated and advocate for their needs. If the child discloses a problem, the community visitor can provide immediate assistance and can report back to the Children's Commissioner, who may decide further investigation and action are needed. The bill extends the community visitor program to enable visits to children in the care of an approved foster carer, or other carer, whether the child is in the custody or guardianship of the Department of Child Safety or placed in out-of-home care under a voluntary agreement. The expansion of this important program means that this group of children can be reached and provides the Children's Commissioner with invaluable on-the-ground workers who can give first-hand information about the state of service delivery to children in the child safety system. This bill also significantly expands the jurisdiction of the Children Services Tribunal to enable the tribunal to review a range of decisions made by the Department of Child Safety. Currently, the Children's Commissioner can only apply to the tribunal where the application is made on behalf of a child and with the approval of the president of the Children Services Tribunal. The bill empowers the Children's Commissioner, in her role as child guardian, to seek a review of a range of decisions by the Department of Child Safety, including— • a decision by the department to take action or not take action after forming a reasonable suspicion that a child is in need of protection; • a decision about the placement of a child who is in the custody or guardianship of the department; or • a decision to remove a child from a carer's care. This provides a crucial check and balance process to ensure that, if the Children's Commissioner is dissatisfied with a decision made by the Department of Child Safety about a child that she is unable to resolve with the department, she can apply to the tribunal for a review of that decision. That is fundamentally important to making everybody accountable in delivering the best possible child care system we can have. This is not a closed system. It is open. It is transparent, and there are reviewable mechanisms which will guarantee that the child is put first. 1326 Address-in-Reply 20 May 2004

Finally, I want departments to focus and report on the services that they provide to these vulnerable children. Therefore, new positions of child safety directors will be created administratively within relevant government agencies to coordinate and report on their child protection activities. These child safety directors will have responsibility for ensuring annual reporting—annual reporting, for the first time—by all government departments which deliver services relevant to child protection. The reports will be provided to the Minister for Child Safety, who will amalgamate them and table them in parliament. We obviously need a minister to carry out that work, and Mike Reynolds, the Minister for Child Safety, will have that responsibility. This is about whole-of-government responsibility and accountability for an improved child safety system. I want to emphasise that this is only the first stage of the legislative reform process. The hard work has begun, and we will follow through with stages 2 and 3. Stages 2 and 3 of the legislative reform process will include legislation to improve the case planning practices of the Department of Child Safety, regulating for a wider range of out-of-home placements for children, providing for effective exchange of information between agencies, and strengthening the important role of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect teams. This area has been, as we all know in this House, a very contentious one in recent times. My government is the first government that has tackled this problem head-on. We have allocated additional resources, the most significant ever allocated in the history of Queensland, to this very important area. We have brought in new laws and new practices to put children first, and our responsibility will be to put children and their welfare first. I want to make it clearly understood that the government has not run away from the criticism. There has been appropriate criticism of government—my government—and previous governments in this area of child protection. But rather than simply shy away from that criticism, we have responded to the appropriate and sensible criticisms and we have come forward with positive solutions to deal with them. There is one final thing that I want to say in relation to this bill, and I think it is important that it be said. These mechanisms guarantee that government will play the most positive and constructive role it can to protect our children. But there is another area that needs to be addressed, and we need to say it very frankly: all members of the community have a moral and social responsibility to protect our children. Government cannot do it alone. The cases of child abuse—and some of the most distressing cases that we have seen in recent times—will alarm every member of this parliament on all sides of politics, and I discussed one of these cases in general terms. It has been well reported in the media recently by the minister. Any parent who has raised children or any person—whether they have children or not—would be distressed by these cases of senseless abuse. We have to accept or get to a stage of acceptance in the community that not only is domestic violence unacceptable in any circumstances but the abuse of children is simply not acceptable at any time, any place, anywhere. I just say to the whole community: if you have people in your family who are involved in child abuse, you have a moral obligation to report that to the police. I know that one of the very good things that has come out of the recent debate is that we have had an unprecedented number of members of the community who have come forward to the department. I have to say that an alarming number of people have come forward. They have come forward because, for the first time, they feel comfortable enough to come forward and they know that the government is serious about doing something. Yesterday Mike Reynolds and I had a relatively short but very productive meeting with Hetty Johnston. Hetty Johnston made this point to the minister and I yesterday where she said that part of the difficulty in all of this is that there is a natural suspicion of government and government agencies going back a long period of time. I think she is spot on. I think she is right. I think, in a general sense, I have faithfully represented what she said. Therefore, what we have to do is to continue to lift this lid so that where children are being abused or family members know of abuse they feel they have not only an obligation to come forward but they know with good faith that when they do come forward something will be done about it. I commend the bill to the House. Debate, on motion of Mr Seeney, adjourned.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY Resumed from 19 May (see p. 1251). Hon. E.A. CLARK (Clayfield—ALP) (Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy) (11.49 a.m.): I would like to pay my respects to the traditional owners of this land where we gather in this extraordinarily magnificent building and the elders, past and present. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the great honour the voters of the electorate of Clayfield have bestowed on me in returning me as their elected representative for this, the 51st Parliament of Queensland. I am proud to accept this honour and will work tirelessly to represent all members of this diverse electorate. In such a marginal seat I am acutely aware that my representation must reflect the needs of all voters from all 20 May 2004 Address-in-Reply 1327 walks of life. I have always and will always continue to respect the diversity of my electorate and represent all without fear or favour. In accepting the ministry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, I have been doubly honoured and I state here, proudly and publicly, that I will work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Queensland to achieve positive outcomes in rural, remote and urban communities. I do not state this lightly and I know that the road ahead will be difficult and challenging. But as I have learned in the past few months, that road also has a lot of hope and there are many people of goodwill working towards the common goals of self-determination, empowerment of indigenous communities and celebration of the unique cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. My second term did not begin as I had imagined it would. Some in this House have enjoyed my distress and revelled in the media-fed madness that has taken away from the real issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Mr Speaker, there have been times when I have questioned what I am doing here, but let me assure you and the rest of the House that I am here to stay. My friends and supporters have never let me lose track of the big picture, have never doubted my integrity and have not let me wallow in self-pity. Every member of this House knows the journey here depends on the support and goodwill of many volunteers, party members, family and friends. I would like to pay tribute to the band of hardworking, dedicated and selfless people who supported and worked on my campaign. They know who they are and I thank them with all my heart. My campaign director extraordinaire, Mr Stephen Keim, Denise and their family have always stood by my side and led the charge to victory. To my dear, dear friend Jeffrey, who arrived from Sydney to manage much of the campaign and gave so much more and to Bernard, my soul mate, my partner, my rock, thank you. To my family: mum, dad, Kay, Stephen and their families, thank you—oh, and cousin Kev. To Jane and Lana, my electorate staff during the campaign, I have no adequate words to thank them for their contribution. By working full time running the electorate office, fronting up to volunteer at street stalls, doorknocking, letterboxing, manning polling booths, coordinating volunteers and fundraising, I am indebted to them and their families for the time and support and friendship that they gave me so freely. To Cathy and Jack for their unyielding support, I thank them. Cathy now fronts the Clayfield electorate office, ably assisted by the fabulous Emma. I know that my constituents are safe in their hands. Two very special people who provided much inspiration for this campaign were Joe and Marion Zago. Joe and Marion lived in Allen St, Hamilton, for many years and were tireless workers in many election campaigns. They are true Labor believers. I thank them for their love and support and their inspiration that made us all work a little bit harder. To the lovely Clair and our hardworking Bernie, I say thank you. Pat and Veronica, who are always reliable and who are always there when needed, for their wisdom and experience I say thank you. It was fabulous to have Bernice around. To the whole team, we ran a fantastic race and I could not have got here without each and every one of them. But elections do not just happen. The work done by the returning officers and the ECQ is phenomenal. I would like to pay tribute to Mr Col Miflin and his staff, the returning officer for the Clayfield electorate for many years, who has served as a fair and impartial officer with great integrity. The Clayfield electorate is full of amazing people and I have been honoured to spend time with many of them. The spirit of my electorate is perhaps best embodied by the many and varied community groups and organisations who work tirelessly to benefit others. I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the work of these groups and organisations. They are too numerous to name individually, but as an example there is the Nundah Community Support Group, which manages the Nundah Community Centre, the Nundah Community Legal Service and the Northside Alliance Against Domestic Violence. They list among their objectives to contribute to the relief of poverty, sickness and other misfortune and to the promotion of the wellbeing of individuals, groups or communities who are disadvantaged and vulnerable either socially, physically, intellectually or emotionally. What more can I say? There is also the Wooloowin Community Centre, which is in its 21st year of operation. It is active in meeting the increasing needs of the community, is creative in stretching limited resources and is ably led by committed staff and volunteers. The Pinkenba Community Association, which is the evolution of BRATS, is continuing to represent the issues and concerns of one of the electorate's most special areas. We will fight the building of the detention centre. I love you Pinkenba! Many welfare organisations also make a huge contribution to the residents in the electorate of Clayfield—and all of our electorates. Most struggle with limited resources and all of us in this House know the importance of advocating for those groups and supporting their efforts to provide relevant and timely services to those most in need. One of the unique programs in my electorate is the Alina Families Program, which is affiliated with Anglicare. The Alina Families Program works alongside families where one or both parents describe themselves as being slower at learning or as having difficulty understanding things straightaway. In recognising that these families can face many barriers in their lives, Alina staff work closely with them for as long as the family wants to address these barriers. I am totally in awe of the work of the Community Living Association and the Nundah Working Co-op, whose constituency are people with learning difficulties and intellectual disabilities. The work that they achieve is phenomenal. They are leaders in social tendering, and I acknowledge the Department of Transport 1328 Address-in-Reply 20 May 2004 and Main Roads for affording the co-op a contract. These sorts of partnerships are vital in moving forward and understanding the need for people to move from welfare to sustainable employment. I look forward to continued partnerships with government. Community and welfare workers are often the unsung heroes in our electorates and I salute them. I also want to salute the Emergency Services workers of the Clayfield electorate, the Police Service and the other Public Service officers who work so cooperatively with their elected representatives to ensure that the community is well looked after. I have been privileged to meet and work with many officers of the Queensland government and our Emergency Services during my first term in office. Their dedication to their duties and to the community makes my job easier, and I want them to know they are valued and supported. I make special reference to the Hendra police officers who walk, bike and ride the beat in the Clayfield electorate. Inspector Flanagan is a fearless leader and a man of great integrity. I thank Senior Sergeant Chris Rutherford—and said he would not leave us—for his assistance, good humour and dedication to getting the job done. I wish him well in his new posting and am delighted to welcome Senior Sergeant Tony Graham to the station. I acknowledge in the House today the presence of Minister Tony McGrady, who was the Police Minister in the last term of the government. His support of the Hendra police officers in my electorate was well noted and I thank him very much for that. I would also like to pay tribute to the wonderful schools in my electorate. I have just spent time, as we all have, with the schools in our electorates for Anzac Day. I was with the Pinkenba, Hamilton, Hendra and Eagle Junction state schools to commemorate Anzac Day. As always, I was impressed with these great kids and their teachers, as I am with the kids and teachers of the other 12 schools in the Clayfield electorate. I am also an honorary member of the Wooloowin Recorder Band, which is a position that I hold very dear. The secondary schools in the electorate are fantastic, and I acknowledge and congratulate the principals and teaching staff at Clayfield College, St Margaret's, St Rita's, Kedron State High School and Hendra Secondary College. Those who know me know I am a great footy fan—go the Lions—but since serving in the Clayfield electorate my eyes have been opened to a much wider sporting world and to a community that has a great passion for diverse sporting pursuits. Just outside my electorate—in fact, in the Stafford electorate—is the Kedron all-women AFL team. Go girls! They are fantastic. I am the patron and soon to be the water girl. They are fabulous. I have also become quite an accomplished lawn bowler thanks to the welcome, encouragement and support that I have had from the many bowls clubs in the electorate. But by golly it hurts your thighs! As we all know, these clubs provide an amazing service to our community. They provide an affordable and fun sport for all ages. They are important and accessible social as well as sporting gathering points. They have also become skilled marketers, negotiators and realists in securing their futures through amalgamations, fundraisers and recruitment drives. May I take this opportunity to congratulate the Clayfield Bowls Club on their recent merger with the Pine Rivers Memorial Bowls Club. Change is never easy and I wish the merger every success. Racing, as we all know, is an important industry in Queensland. Clayfield is home to two important racetracks and everything that goes with it. We have Doomben and Ascot as well as Albion Park Paceway. These facilities provide enormous employment opportunities in the electorate. There are hard discussions to be had and hard decisions to be made about shaping the future of this important industry. I look forward to participating in the ongoing dialogue, as always. An issue that continues to be at the forefront for the people in Wooloowin is the old Leckie Road corridor. I want to assure the residents that I will continue my advocacy on this issue on their behalf with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. No mention of Clayfield would be complete without the arts. This is of course something I am passionate about. The arts and culture are alive and vibrant both in Clayfield and amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. I firmly believe that artistic achievement has played a crucial role in our development. It is a path to more than entertainment. It can lead to a greater understanding, a deeper fulfilment and even a confrontation of our deepest fears and prejudices. Arts, entertainment and culture can embody the spirit of celebration, and, when the time of celebration is over, arts, entertainment and culture can become a reminder of that precious time. As well as serving my electorate, I now have the privilege of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to improve their lives and celebrate their contribution to our state. Already as minister I have travelled to many areas of this great state. I have been to the cape, to the Torres Strait, to Townsville, to Palm Island, to Mount Isa—I love the gulf region—to Toowoomba and to Zillmere, Inala and Brisbane. I have listened to and heard the views and concerns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote and regional areas as well as in our urban areas. I have discussed the alcohol management plans, homelessness, substance abuse and other vital issues, and I have had the honour of hearing stories about the past and viewing extraordinarily beautiful artworks and artefacts. Mr McGrady: A hug from Janie. 20 May 2004 Address-in-Reply 1329

Ms LIDDY CLARK: I take that interjection and I receive the hug. That is wonderful—Janie Karkadoo from Doomadgee. I am pleased now to have the opportunity to recognise the same unity and richness of spirit I find in the Clayfield electorate in the portfolio of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy. This is a wonderful opportunity for me and a new way forward. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr O'Brien): Order! Before calling the member for Mansfield, I acknowledge the presence in the public gallery of students from Our Lady of Lourdes, Sunnybank in the electorate of Mount Gravatt. Mr REEVES (Mansfield—ALP) (12.02 p.m.): I rise to contribute to the address-in-reply. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land upon which parliament stands and which the Mansfield electorate covers. I would also like to dedicate this speech to my very close cousin, Maree Thinee. Just over 15 days ago Maree was rushed to the Royal Brisbane Hospital's intensive care unit after, at the age of 50, suffering a massive stroke at her home in Rockhampton. Maree has battled over the last two weeks. On a number of occasions we said our goodbyes to her. The doctors and nurses, who have been outstanding, were baffled at what caused the stroke and the subsequent complications. However, this Tuesday lunchtime I believe I witnessed a person who has been through a modern-day miracle. She was sitting up in bed having a chat with me. While she has a long way to go in the recovery and rehabilitation process, she now has a chance because of her fighting qualities. Maree is a fighter in more ways than one. This is no more evident than in what she has been through over the past couple of weeks. Maree, with the love and support of her family and friends, particularly her son, Kane, will recover. It is great that my favourite cousin will hopefully be able to come to the regional parliament next year in Rockhampton, her home town—or 'Rockvegas', as she likes to call it. On 13 June 1998 I had little idea what the future held in store for me, the newly elected Labor member for Mansfield. Little did I know that nearly six years later I would have been returned to represent the electorate of Mansfield at two successive elections. More importantly, six years ago I had no idea that a beautiful wife, a wonderful baby daughter and another child on the way would be part of my life. In this chamber some things never change while other things change drastically. I will always listen, act and get results for the people of the electorate of Mansfield. Their trust and faith in me over the past six years motivates me to work hard for them and the people of Queensland. I am greatly honoured to represent the people of the area in which I was born and bred and am now raising a family. To have this honour while having my beautiful wife, Megan, and my gorgeous baby daughter, Brianna, to come home to is more than I could ever imagine. I am truly a lucky man. I am still the same man who entered this chamber with the thinnest of majorities—a mere 83 votes. I still believe in what I did back then. I am rarely short of a word, but I have changed because I am speechless when it comes to describing how the love and support I receive from Megan and Brianna has changed my life. I would not be giving this feeling justice if I tried to explain it. The great result of the Australian Labor Party in Queensland on 7 February was due to many factors. Across the state, sound policy, inspired leadership and exceptional candidates were surely the catalyst for our win. In my little corner of Queensland, the Phil Reeves 2004 team were fantastic. I am thankful for the countless number of volunteers in the ALP who supported me. Volunteers are the lifeblood of Australia's greatest political party, the Australian Labor Party. It is truly an inspiration seeing that there are people in our community willing to give up their time, whether it be to staff street stalls, fold and stuff envelopes, put signs in their yards, drop leaflets into letterboxes, give out how-to-vote cards on election day or sit on street corners with big signs featuring my ugly mug. I know that I would not be here today if it were not for the ALP members' and supporters' hard work, support and commitment to the Labor movement. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise some outstanding members of the Labor team in Mansfield. I particularly thank my electorate officer, Steve Gay, and my assistant electorate officers, Sarah Harvey and Ravi Chandra, for their commitment, hard work and loyalty prior to and during the election campaign. Unfortunately, Ravi was overseas with the United Nations Youth Association during the election campaign, but I want to acknowledge his contribution to our office. I would like to commend them for their selflessness and for their commitment to me and the Labor Party. Sarah's ability to look after the finest details, particularly constituent matters, is outstanding, and I thank her for it. Steve, barring a brief stint in the UK, was my electorate officer from 2000 until recently. Since the 2004 election, he now works for the Hon. Mike Reynolds, Minister for Child Safety. I would like to thank Steve for his support and patience over the many years he has worked for me. Many times he has worked long into the night to ensure that Labor remained the people's choice in Mansfield. No doubt Minister Reynolds is aware that his office now has another exceptional staff member who will make inroads in establishing the identity and work ethic of his newly created department. I am confident that the minister's department will also be heading in the right direction. 1330 Address-in-Reply 20 May 2004

My campaign director, Richard Alcorn, was the man behind the wheel for the campaign, and I thank him for his tireless efforts to ensure Labor got the upper hand in the Mansfield electorate. Local ALP presidents Keith Brinnin and Peter Wood were always there for me, and I thank them for their efforts as well as their ability to rally the troops, ensuring many hands on deck for the campaign. Labor members from the Mansfield and Garden City branches and throughout Brisbane and the members of the Missos, the ALHMWU, were there when the hard work needed to be done. I need to make special mention of Linda Holliday, James Henley, Keith Mackenzie, Michelle McAuliffe and Shirley and Len Fallows. I also thank all of the branch members who were there to assist. I also thank Thomas Gribben for his contribution to my campaign. To the many volunteers, both family and friends, who helped during the campaign: I am indebted to you for all your faith in me and your everlasting friendship. You have helped me become who I am today, and I hope to one day be able to give to you what you have given to me. I specifically want to thank my good friend, the real John Howard, for once again heeding the call and coming down from Blackbutt for the campaign. His assistance, help and calming influence were vital ingredients for our success. To our special friends, particularly Mark Eaves, Reuben Carlos and Joanne Perry, or as Brianna would say 'Jo-Jo', thanks heaps for not only helping out but also being our friends who keep me real. To each and every member of my family: I cannot thank you enough for always being there for me—from when I was waddling around as a little nipper in my own nappies to now as a father who changes my daughter's nappies. To my dad and big brother Kevin, who both still live in the home I was born and raised in: thanks for always being there. To my brother Tony, sisters Donna and Anne and their families: thanks for your advice. It was sometimes very frank, but thanks for the advice and assistance. I would not be able to achieve what I have without this support. To my extended family, Megan's mum, Rita Bingham, sister Simone and Anissa and her partner, Mick Trevitt: thanks for not only accepting me as part of your family. The effort you have put into my success is something I cannot underestimate. I met Megan through her father, Bob, who was a great Labor Party branch member before his death. I dedicated my victory on 7 February to him and my mum. Bob assisted me greatly in getting elected in 1998. While his passing saddened us all, it did have a silver lining. It restarted a friendship with the woman I love, who became my wife. In 2002 my life changed quite drastically. My baby daughter Brianna was born in September and she became the centre of our world. Sadly, however, my mother passed away in 2002 and also before my daughter had the pleasure of meeting her. I have often said that the reason we won the seat in 1998 was the number of people who knew and admired my mum and dad, and because I was their child they decided to give me a go. If there were more people like my parents, this world would be a better place. While I and everyone in my family miss my mum every day, I am glad she is finally in a place where everyone is as beautiful as she was. I hope I have made her proud. In 1998 the support of 83 additional voters helped me to beat the Liberal candidate. In 2001 the support of 4,060 additional voters helped me to beat the same Liberal candidate. In 2004 the support of another 4,112 additional voters helped me to beat another Liberal candidate. I cannot and do not take all the credit for these results. The leadership the Beattie Labor government has provided for our great state is the major reason why I and every other Labor member remains in this chamber. I am proud to be an active member and contributor to the Beattie Labor team. I am extremely proud to be part of a state government that has delivered so much for the community and the residents of the Mansfield electorate. I believe no other government in the history of the state of Queensland has provided more to the residents of the Mansfield electorate than the Beattie Labor government. While there are many more initiatives that Mansfield residents can expect to be delivered within the next few years, I think now might be a good time to acknowledge and recognise just how well the Beattie Labor government has provided for the Mansfield electorate in the areas of education, health, job creation and training, police and transport. One thing that has not changed since I was first elected in 1998 is my passionate belief in the importance of a strong community and the valuable role that community groups play in our community. Since 1998 it has been my privilege to work with many and varied community groups in my electorate, and here and now I would like to thank each and every one of them for all the work they have done and continue to do. The people involved are a varied bunch but what they have in common is a desire to help people and make a contribution to their community and they are selfless in that pursuit. I thank them. I am pleased that the Beattie Labor government recognises the contributions of these groups. Since coming to office, the Beattie government has provided over $600,000 to local sporting and community groups in the Mansfield electorate as well as funding the almost completed youth recreation centre in Upper Mount Gravatt to the tune of almost $650,000. Gough Whitlam was a pioneer in reforming education in Australia. He said that the reforms of his government raised the community's expectation about the role of government in securing the best possible future for our children. The Beattie Labor government has built upon this legacy by providing 20 May 2004 Address-in-Reply 1331 more funds towards education than any other government in Queensland history. In the Mansfield electorate this government has contributed nearly $100 million in operational funding for local state schools, with a further $500,000 towards upgrading computers in the state schools. I am proud of the relationship I have with the 13 schools, both government and non-government, in my local area. One of the highlights of representing the electorate of Mansfield is the opportunities I have to meet the many amazing young people in my local area. If the students of the Mansfield electorate are anything to go by, the generation that will succeed us as the leaders of the state will be well equipped to keep Queensland moving in the right direction. Schools in the Mansfield electorate boast a wide range of high achievers—from future scientists to current Olympians. The schools in the Mansfield electorate have a culture of success. The Beattie Labor government has recognised and rewarded this culture of success in these Smart State schools. During my first two terms as the member for Mansfield, every single school in my electorate received additional state government funding of some form. Mansfield State High School received $700,000 for refurbishment under the Secondary Schools Renewals Program and this government has made a $400,000 per annum commitment to funding after-hours care in the electorate. Extra classrooms have been provided at Mansfield High School, Mansfield State School and Mount Petrie State School to give their students better facilities and cater for growth. Rochedale South State School has had a new activity centre built, while Mount Gravatt East and Wishart State School have benefited even further from the Beattie Labor government's commitment to education with covered activity centres for the students. Schools in the Mansfield electorate will continue to benefit from the Beattie Labor government. The Beattie government's Mansfield plan has much in store for the schools in the Mansfield electorate. Under the Wire our Schools for the Future program, Mansfield, Rochedale, Rochedale South and Wishart state schools will receive funding to upgrade their electricity infrastructure. Furthermore, funding has been allocated for new and upgraded facilities at the Brisbane Adventist College and the Christian Outreach College. The Beattie government's commitment to education is unprecedented. In this state $775 million will be spent on new and improved facilities, and 800 extra teachers will be employed, including 300 more teachers and 180 teacher aides, to reduce class sizes in the middle years. Mr Deputy Speaker, I am sure you will agree with me that quality, affordable and accessible health care is important for the community and even more so with the attacks on Medicare by the Howard government. Access to quality, affordable health care should be the right of every Queenslander and every Australian, not the privilege that Mr Abbott and Mr Howard believe it to be. I am pleased to say that the Beattie Labor government shares my view. That is why the new community health centre has been established at Upper Mount Gravatt providing quality, affordable health care to the people of the Mansfield electorate and surrounds. The centre is a great success, and I know this for a fact. My office is in the same building and I see many patrons of the health centre come and go. In fact, many patrons come into my office thinking it is the health centre. The Beattie government continues to deliver on its commitment to quality health care, delivering 500 extra nurses per year for Queensland, including our local hospitals—the PA, the QEII, the Redlands and the Logan hospitals. Under the Mansfield plan, $1.5 million per annum will be provided to establish a new cardiac team in the PA Hospital. The Beattie government's $110 million commitment to slashing elective surgery waiting lists over the next three and a half years coupled with the additional $3 million for extra dental treatment in high needs areas will keep Queenslanders feeling healthy. Surely Queensland is much more than a Smart State; it is the healthy state as well. The Beattie government has delivered $2 billion in spending on roads over the past three years and remains committed to improving traffic and road infrastructure in the Mansfield electorate. I am proud that I am a local member of parliament who travels on the very roads and catches the public transport of concern to the residents of my electorate. I have lived in my electorate, and experience and understand the everyday traffic problems experienced by local residents, unlike perhaps my federal counterpart in Moreton and his lack of action. Rather than just talk about positive change, I am proud that the Beattie Labor government listens, acts and gets results for the residents of the Mansfield electorate. Rather than whine and complain about the recommendations of the Brisbane Urban Corridor Study, the Beattie government has funded and implemented its obligations which were recommended by the study. But historically this should come as no surprise to those familiar with traffic problems concerning the Brisbane urban corridor. I am proud to be a strong voice in the Beattie Labor government that has called for the removal of the dangerous goods route along the Brisbane urban corridor. I am proud to be the voice that represents the people of the Mansfield electorate in the Beattie Labor government, and I am proud of the fact that this voice is heard and acted upon with the dangerous goods route being removed from that corridor. I will continue to fight for the residents of the Mansfield electorate and keep the Howard government accountable for its promises to implement the findings of the Brisbane urban corridor. The Beattie Labor government has also delivered on public transport and residents of the Mansfield 1332 Address-in-Reply 20 May 2004 electorate have benefited from a world-class public transport system. It might come as a surprise to people in the House that I am the No. 1 paying ticket holder of the South East Busway! The $350 million South East Busway is going from strength to strength, evidenced by the skyrocketing patronage levels. Nevertheless, I have no doubt that the busway will keep getting better and better, with the potential to become Australia's best public transportation network if it is not already. The busway's popularity is so immense that in the space of an hour between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. the hundreds and hundreds of existing car park spaces get snapped up by eager commuters. The Beattie Labor government has made a commitment to provide 300 extra car park spaces for the Eight Mile Plains Busway, which will be appreciated by many busway patrons. The Beattie government has also delivered on transport for those in our community who need a little extra assistance, providing $10 million per year for the Taxi Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities or $120 million per year for the School Transport Assistance Scheme to help more than 140,000 Queensland school students get to primary, secondary or special education facilities. It is not just in health, education and transport that the Beattie Labor government has delivered for the people of Queensland and the residents of the Mansfield electorate. In public housing, Labor delivered for Mansfield with $8 million for new public housing construction and housing assistance, including $1 million for upgrades to existing public housing development. In 2001 the Beattie Labor government promised improved policing and community safety along with 800 extra police. We exceeded that and delivered 900 extra police on the beat which resulted in a reduction in crime. I thank the former Minister for Police, now the Minister for State Development, for that. We delivered in the Mansfield electorate, too, with the new Garden City police beat shopfront as well as the new Rochedale South police beat. With the Beattie Labor government's strong economic leadership Queensland has led the nation in jobs growth. Peter Beattie's promise of jobs, jobs, jobs has been delivered with the lowest unemployment in over 21 years. We have heard a lot in the last week or so from the Howard government about families, but have we ever had a less family-friendly government than the Howard government? If they are not destroying public education, they are ripping apart Medicare. My advice to Mr Howard is to take a good look at the Beattie Labor government and learn a few lessons about how to properly look after families. The Beattie Labor government understands the challenges facing families and families will also be essential to its vision for Queensland. The Beattie Labor government has delivered increased funding for respite and support services, extra funds for child care workers along with new standards for child-care centres and has increased funding for disability services and for establishing a new Department of Child Safety. This government will keep on delivering for families. In closing, I recall that my campaign slogan in 1998 was 'A local through and through'. I recall that in my first speech in this place I said I was not your traditional politician with a wife and two and a half kids. I am on my way to becoming a traditional one, but I am proud to say that my slogan, 'A local through and through', remains as true today as it was then. I am proud to be raising a family in the area in which I was raised and I would like to state again it is a privilege and an honour to represent the people of the Mansfield electorate where I have lived my entire life. I thank the Peter Beattie Labor government for its contribution to the Mansfield electorate. I look forward to working hard for the next three years for the people of the Mansfield electorate. I will let them be the judge of my performance. Hon. T. McGRADY (Mount Isa—ALP) (Minister for State Development and Innovation) (12.21 p.m.): I am pleased to be able to participate in this address-in-reply. I have lived in Mount Isa since the early sixties. I love that city and I certainly love the whole of the north-west. At the last election I was returned for the sixth time. Last year I celebrated 30 years in elected public life. I have never, ever tried to kid myself about the reason I am in this place; it is because at the back of my name I have three letters—ALP. Often some people believe that they come here because of the personal charms and charisma which they themselves have. Let me tell members something: every one of us on this side of the parliament are here because we are part of a progressive government; but above all else, we are here because we are Labor Party candidates. I have seen people stand in seats where previously they have had 60 per cent of the vote; when they stand as Independents they end up getting 250 votes. The lesson is there: never, ever, ever try to kid yourself that you are here because of the charisma you have as a person; you are here because you are part of the Labor family. As I said, this is the sixth term in which I have the honour of representing the people of the north- west. My electorate goes from Mornington Island in the north, right down to Winton, which is Waltzing Matilda country, and across to Julia Creek. During the last election campaign a young journalist from one of the regional papers rang me up to ask me what the issue was in my electorate. There is no one issue in an electorate the size of mine because what the people in Mornington Island feel is an issue, the people in Mount Isa or maybe Winton do not necessarily agree is an issue. My electorate is a massive area of almost 400,000 square kilometres, with about four sets of traffic lights, and as such is a diverse electorate with many, many problems. 20 May 2004 Address-in-Reply 1333

Since the advent of Labor governments in this place, millions and millions of dollars have been ploughed into my electorate. Under the National Party we got nothing—we got nothing at all. All the National Party did was blackmail the people of my electorate into voting for it and if they did not vote for the National Party Bjelke-Petersen said, 'You won't get a cent.' We got practically nothing from the National Party and yet if you come into my electorate today you see so much beautification, so many projects and the whole place is booming. The place is booming because of the lead which this Labor government has taken when working with the council and working with other people. Dr Lesley Clark: And a great member for Mount Isa. Mr McGRADY: A great Labor member for Mount Isa. On occasions such as this we get the opportunity to thank people and there are many, many people who I would like to thank. In particular I would like to thank Paul Hyde, who was the president of the local branch of the ALP in Mount Isa. Obviously I thank my electorate staff I have had over the years, but there is one person I want to devote this speech to today and that is to one of my great friends for the past 25 years, Roy Harris. Roy Harris has been the Australian Workers Union organiser in Mount Isa for many, many years. Roy has held all positions in the Australian Labor Party. Sadly, just after the last election, Roy passed away. Tomorrow in Mount Isa there will be a memorial service for Roy where I will be able to publicly relive his life. It is people like Roy who make the Labor Party what it is. Roy never, ever sought the glory or the limelight. He was always there to counsel you when you asked for it; he was never, ever one to dominate conversations. He served his members and he served our party. As we walk out of the church tomorrow the recording I'm a Union Man will be playing and I am sure as Roy looks down on the service he will glance back at those years and the way that he has improved the life of his members on the Mount Isa mineral fields. There are two issues I want to raise today. The first issue is one of my little babies, and that is a boarding facility in Mount Isa. I had a dream—I sound like Martin Luther King—that young kids who live in rural communities, whether it be Aboriginal communities or small outback communities, who did not have the benefits of education that my kids had should be allowed to come to a boarding school in Mount Isa and go through primary education, high school and university. Last year my dream came true, because we have established a boarding facility in the city. These young kids can leave the Doomadgees, the Burketowns, the Mornington Islands and their families and they can come to a boarding school. It is not only Aboriginal kids; it is kids who live in the outback. About 70 per cent of Aboriginals are from outback communities. On the first day that the facility opened the principal was so excited because every one of those kids made their own beds without even being asked and, without making too little of this, some of those kids have never slept in a bed in a bedroom before. That is what this government is doing for my kids in the gulf country. That is something which I will carry with me to my grave. If this government had not been in office that would not have happened. The second point I want to raise today is that recently we opened a renal unit in Mount Isa. So what? All the hospitals around here have renal units, but we never did. When people had kidney problems they actually had to sell up their homes and go across to Townsville or the Burdekin or Brisbane to go on to a dialysis machine because they had to be on it three or four times a day. People left their jobs, left their homes, left their family, left their friends. Today in Mount Isa we have a renal unit where people from all around the electorate can come to receive treatment. For people in a big city like this that may not mean too much, but to my people it means now they can get the treatment which they could not get before. A number of my close friends have actually died because they could not get this treatment. I wanted to use these few minutes today to express my appreciation for the work of my community and the work of the Labor government in this state. Last, but by no means least, I express to my wife my thanks, my appreciation and my love. I can sometimes be away from home five days a week. My wife is the local member. Last week my wife travelled from Mount Isa to Winton to attend a senior citizens lunch. She came back and went to a meeting. That night she went to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of two of our constituents. Some members of parliament do not even do that. I recognise that I am blessed with a wife who is 100 per cent devoted to the people of my electorate. Ms Nelson-Carr: And does not get paid for it. Mr McGRADY: And does not get paid for it. I also thank my colleagues from three-quarters of the House. I could not stand here in my position as a minister of the Crown without the support of my colleagues in the parliamentary Labor Party. I thank all those members who have supported me as a minister, but, probably more importantly, following the recent election those who supported me when we selected our ministry. I could go on and talk about many things that are happening in my electorate, but I will not. I place on record my thanks and appreciation to those people and, above all, to this Labor government for helping me bring benefits to the people whom I represent. Ms MALE (Glass House—ALP) (12.31 p.m.): It is a great pleasure to speak in the address-in- reply debate this afternoon. I am very proud and honoured to be able to represent the people of Glass House for another term. Since my first election in 2001, indeed since I was preselected in May 1999, I 1334 Address-in-Reply 20 May 2004 have focused on providing open lines of communication between the community and the government, and believe I have been successful in this. I must say that the residents of the area make my job easy in this respect. There is never any fear about approaching me to discuss issues affecting their lives, whether it be school matters, road issues or more personal problems. I thank them for trusting me with their concerns, for involving me in their celebrations and for making me a part of their community. There are a large number of thankyous that I would like to make. As we all know, getting elected, performing well during the term and getting re-elected is a team effort. First and foremost, I thank my family for all their support. My wonderful husband, Bill, is with me every day supporting, providing advice, researching and he looks after our children and our home and he keeps me grounded. My two beautiful girls, Jordan and Jetta, put up with their mother being away a lot of the time but are always happy to see me and have me in their lives. For those who know my girls they are getting bigger. Jordan is nearly eight and is in grade 3 and Jetta is six and is in grade 1. They both love school and are my biggest supporters. In fact, they often tell me that no-one can be the member for Glass House except me. To my mum and dad, thankyou. They are always there looking after the girls, helping around the house, folding and stuffing, cooking, providing good advice and guidance. I could not do everything I do without my mum and dad. I love them both very much. Mrs Carryn Sullivan: And they live in the electorate of Pumicestone. Ms MALE: They certainly do. My two staff, Linda and Jo, are much more than staff. They are a well-oiled machine that keeps my electorate office moving. They are the first point of contact for a lot of my electors and they care about what they do. They work above and beyond the call of duty. I thank my campaign manager, Stephen Beckett, who gets it all moving and organises all of the behind-the-scenes work. Stephen has been a marvellous help over the past five years and two elections and has all the qualities needed to make an excellent representative himself. I wish him well in the upcoming federal election where he is standing as Labor's federal candidate for the seat of Longman. Stephen will work long and hard for the residents of Longman to make sure that they have a voice that is heard. The branch members from both Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast hinterland branches of the ALP provided so much help and support from doing street stalls to letterbox drops, staffing the booths, scrutineering and talking up Labor policies. I thank them all for their help and support. I say to all the staff of the Labor Party state office, Cameron Milner, Milton Dick, Anthony Chisholm, Stella Rey and everyone else, that I could not do it without them. I thank the wider Labor family for allowing me the privilege of representing Labor at the last two elections. I thank Peter Beattie, Terry Mackenroth and my parliamentary colleagues for their support, assistance and advice. A big thankyou to John Mickel—his support and advice is always invaluable. The Emily's List team and supporters provided invaluable assistance as always and I thank them. There are many other individuals who are not affiliated with the Labor Party and who have helped me personally. I thank them all very much. It is this community support and belief in me that makes me want to keep on working for the residents of the Glass House electorate. Thankyou to Alan from Maleny for putting his faith in me against all odds—he does not know how inspirational that is; I will not let him down. The re-election of the Beattie Labor government for a third term brings with it a large responsibility to ensure that the reforms we have commenced continue. The most important reform is that of the old family services department. The Beattie Labor government will improve the child protection system by implementing the recommendations of the Crime and Misconduct Commission inquiry into the abuse of children in foster care. With the establishment of the new child safety ministry, headed by the Hon. Mike Reynolds, we will see a change in culture within the department and an injection of funds that will assist those workers on the front line to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. The systemic problems within the old department will require everyone involved to focus on change and focus on providing the best child protection system in Australia. I was very pleased that the new Minister for Child Safety made Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast one of his early stops in his tour of Queensland. He talked to workers, foster-parents and non- government organisations about his plans for reform and the part they will be asked to play. Mike Reynolds presented the information sessions himself and answered all questions put to him in an honest and easy to understand manner. He and his staff are to be commended for the work done so far and for their dedication and commitment to the children of this state. Coming from a geographically large electorate, I know that roads and transport will always play a large part in people's lives. There were many achievements in the past three years which are all celebrated. There have been many improvements to the actual road network on Glasshouse Mountains Road, including the long-awaited upgrades to the Beerburrum and Landsborough intersection, not to mention the speed rationalisations from 100 to 80 kilometres per hour through all of the town intersections. 20 May 2004 Address-in-Reply 1335

We saw the opening of stage 1 of the Caboolture northern bypass and planning is well under way for stage 2. I am looking forward to the commencement of that work. The upgrade of Peachester Road and the provision of culvert crossings and pathways in conjunction with Caloundra City Council is well under way. Residents are looking forward to the early completion of this work and the many safety benefits that will flow from having a dangerous section of road upgraded to such a high standard. I am also pleased to report that work is under way for the upgrade to the icebox section of the Landsborough-Maleny Road and that it is progressing in a timely manner. I think we are all looking forward to its completion mid next year. So far, the delays to motorists have been kept to a minimum, with special provisions made for traffic control for the busiest weekends, such as the recent Wood Expo and the upcoming Maleny Show. I will continue to highlight the road issue to the new Minister for Main Roads as residents have told me that road upgrades are important to them. I will be looking for more work to be done on the Maleny-Kenilworth stretch—especially sealing road shoulders and widening on the crests of the many hills. There is still more work that needs to be done on Glasshouse Mountains Road, and speed considerations and clear signage are important to residents and tourists alike. I am keen to see the Caboolture-Landsborough rail upgrade study progressed with sensible and practical solutions being offered to the community for the duplication of the line. Time lines for the duplication need to be progressed as passenger services are at capacity and our only hope for additional services is for the extra line to be installed. Obviously CAMCOS cannot be progressed until the Caboolture-Landsborough line is improved. I know that all of the local councils are keen to see this infrastructure brought on line. I am also looking forward to an upgrade of the Beerwah and Landsborough railway stations. These are two vital stops on the line that have suffered from poor facilities in the past. The rail staff does an excellent job in difficult surroundings and it would be fair to say that they have been very patient with the process to date. Rail safety has been considered and we now have regularly patrolling security staff and police through our train network. This is to be commended. I want it on record that I still feel that additional staff at our current stations is important, as it would enable them to stay open longer, thus providing a better sense of security for travelling rail patrons. Two of my stations—Beerburrum and Elimbah—have not been staffed for years. Whilst the travelling population at these stations is small, I consider it would increase markedly if the stations had Queensland Rail staff working there. Rail transport is obviously important and services the north-south travel needs of local residents. I am keen to see the east-west transport links being serviced in a better way by better bus services. Queensland Rail, through its TransLink service, has provided a much-needed and well-utilised east- west bus connection. It links rail services with bus services that travel from Landsborough Railway Station to Maroochydore, stopping at the Sunshine Coast University on the way. Towns like Maleny, Mooloolah, Peachester and Wamuran are not serviced well enough by the existing public transport regimes and I would like to see Queensland Transport, the councils and the community work together to find innovative solutions to providing transport services to smaller communities. I have 23 schools in my electorate, and they are all working hard to provide top-quality educational opportunities for their students. I, like many other parents, am looking forward to seeing the preparatory year of schooling introduced. As a society, we look to providing opportunities for our young people to succeed, and the excellent grounding in basic social, motor and educational skills will stand our youngsters in good stead. I know that parents and administrators alike are keen to see the roll out of capital works to support the prep year, and we want to ensure that this does not jeopardise the ongoing building work required for the continuing growth in our schools. The ETRF reforms are proceeding at a great pace with the advent of our local district youth achievement plans being trialled and implemented. Many exciting new opportunities will exist for partnerships to be created with businesses, schools and the wider community, and this will be of benefit to our 15- to 17-year-olds. I am looking forward to seeing further action on alternative education support, as this is the group of youngsters who are, as the government has highlighted, needing additional support to achieve their potentials. The Sunshine Coast flexischool and the Maleny flexischool have been struggling through with no guarantee of funding or additional assistance, and we all recognise that this needs to change. Beerwah State High School has been doing amazing work with its middle schooling initiative and, having seen the results of increased literacy, numeracy and participation, I would recommend that other high schools come and visit Beerwah to see the work that is being done with years 8 and 9. I have publicly praised the dedicated teachers who have redesigned their curriculum, teaching styles and workplace practices to ensure a continuity of learning and caring for their young charges. With a support administration team, I am seeing results at Beerwah State High School that I did not believe would be possible. Congratulations! It is this type of innovation that needs to be rewarded and copied. Building our communities and giving them the support and encouragement they need to address local issues is vital. Many of my communities have decided that they have the time, skills and 1336 Address-in-Reply 20 May 2004 commitment to do just that. There are many programs operating within the Glass House electorate across many areas such as health, recreation, education and others that provide residents with many opportunities. A good example of residents supporting each other is clearly seen in our neighbourhood centres. Caboolture, Glasshouse, Landsborough and Maleny all have active executives and volunteers who utilise government funding to provide services. The dedication of the paid workers and volunteers should be recognised and celebrated. Counselling, budgeting, support for new mothers, computer classes, educational opportunities and many other services are provided out of these neighbourhood centres. I am pleased to be part of a government that supports these types of community partnerships. I am also pleased to inform the House that the Mooloolah Valley Community Association is also taking up the challenge to provide a centre for local residents and is currently negotiating with Education Queensland to lease the old Mooloolah Special School. It has plans to refurbish the old school and provide many services, companionship and recreational opportunities to members of the Mooloolah community. I am very proud of the NVCA and look forward to the official opening of this new centre, hopefully later this year. I have spoken in this House about the importance of properly directed funding for government departments in the Police, Health and Housing ministries. We have seen significant funding injections in these departments over the past five years, and I look forward to the priorities of the Caboolture and Glasshouse areas being considered high on the list of the ministers. In Health we have already seen a commitment to provide an additional $1 million for extra services for medical patients at Caboolture Hospital. This will be directed to treating an increasing number of patients with conditions such as angina, chest pains and respiratory ailments. This is on top of the additional $110 million the Beattie Labor government has committed to reducing elective surgery waiting times across Queensland, with an emphasis on hip and joint replacements, eye operations and other general surgery. Additional funding has been provided to concentrate on cardiac services across the state, and I am pleased that the nursing recruitment program will be extended. I spoke last week in the House about our excellent Police Service, and I will be continuing to work to ensure that adequate funding and accommodation options are provided for them. The Beattie Labor government's focus on jobs has meant that we now have the lowest unemployment rate in Queensland since the early 1980s. Our focus as a government remains on strong economic management, securing new employment opportunities, developing business and industry, and driving economic growth and innovation. We will continue to work to ensure that every Queenslander who wants a job can get a job. I am pleased that the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative will be extended for a further three years at an additional cost of $275 million. This will mean more jobs programs in our local area and, in turn, this will mean more jobs. I take this opportunity to remind my constituents that I am always ready to take on board their concerns and represent them fully to government ministers. I will continue my program of bringing government ministers to meet local residents so that they can have a direct line to the decision makers of the Beattie Labor government. This brings me to the election campaign and how it was conducted. My main opponent was the National Party candidate, who lived so far outside the electorate that he had to commute 20 minutes before he even entered the boundaries. But that did not stop him from referring to himself as a Caboolture businessman in the hope that people would think he lived locally. In fact, since he lived at Mango Hill, he was closer to the Brisbane CBD than he was to Maleny and Conondale, the north- western towns of the Glass House electorate. As Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg actually had a say in preselections—and putting aside his disastrous choices of candidates in Maryborough and Whitsunday—the Opposition Leader must have been suffering from heat exhaustion after one of his many runs when he agreed to the selection of the Glass House National Party candidate. The Glass House candidate rewarded Mr Springborg's faith by displaying some appalling behaviour before and during the election campaign. Even some National Party branch members confided in me that they were shocked and dismayed at the tactics used by their candidate. His whole election strategy, apart from telling many untruths and spreading incorrect information, seemed to be based purely on a massive illegal sign campaign. I do not believe that he attended many, if any, community meetings and there were no reports of him doorknocking anywhere. In fact, he left it until 12 days before the election to have his first mobile office—something I have been doing for over four years. However, people could see him everywhere, because he put up his signs at every conceivable spot—on main roads, on council land, on road reserves and in council gardens. There must have been over 60 signs put up in the first week of the campaign and all totally illegal. In fact, the only place he did not put up an illegal sign was at the council owned cemetery. Then there were his illegal trailers plastered with election signage, including pictures of the Opposition Leader. Then there were the billboards—definitely outside both the Caboolture and Caloundra councils signage rules about size and placement. Each candidate was sent the council rules when the election was called, so no-one could have been confused. The power to police the Main Roads regulations was devolved to local authorities, and I must say that as sign enforcement bodies both the Caboolture and Caloundra councils were absolute jokes. 20 May 2004 Address-in-Reply 1337

Despite several complaints from me and from members of the public, the councils were very tardy in enforcing not only Main Roads laws but their own by-laws. The sign enforcement regime is a complete mess. Either councils have to be forced to properly monitor sign regulations by legislating to fine councils if they do not enforce their by-laws correctly, or maybe we need to take it completely out of their hands. The Electoral Commission of Queensland could be given the powers and funding to enforce sign laws and could employ temporary sign enforcement officers for the duration of the election campaign. That way there would be some uniformity to the laws and it would be governed by an independent body. I just thought I would mention that my husband is still waiting for an apology from either the National Party candidate or his campaign director for the abusive and accusatory phone call. Members might wonder why I am making such a big deal out of illegal signage, but it goes to the heart of the principles of our laws. If candidates are willing to blatantly break laws if they believe it will give them some temporary electoral advantage, what other laws are they willing to break? I ensured that all of my signs were strictly within the council by-laws at all times, despite some supporters encouraging me to place signs on road reserves because they believed the National Party was getting away with blue murder, and it was. As I explained to them, if I did that it would belittle the whole electoral process and make a mockery of all state laws and all regulations. During the election campaign the Opposition Leader, Lawrence Springborg, put a great deal of political capital into honesty, integrity and positive politics. He said that he wanted a personal say in the selection of each and every candidate. If the calibre of the Glass House National Party candidate is anything to go by, then Mr Springborg's ideals have seriously gone off the rails. The election campaign is just a small part of the electoral cycle, as I said earlier. But it is a very important one, and I would encourage members on the other side of the House to really think carefully about how they portray themselves. I was appalled at the behaviour—not just the signage part of it but the other behaviour—that I saw during the campaign, particularly from the National Party candidate. The Greens candidate always behaved in a very honest manner. She was available to the people to talk to. She ran a very clean and well-considered campaign putting forward the policies of the Greens, and that was lovely to see. It is just a pity that we did not see that from the other side of the House. I am committed to the role of being the member for Glass House. I am truly honoured by the faith that the people have put in me, and I will continue to work very hard as their representative. As I also said earlier, I am freely available to talk to any of my constituents at any time about their issues. I think it is very important for politicians to be available and to be open and accountable and honest in all of their dealings. It is how I portray myself. It is how I behave each and every day that I am the member for Glass House and will continue to do hopefully well into the future, but, as we know, that rests with the people when they cast their vote at election time. It is a great honour and a privilege to be standing here today to speak in the address-in-reply. I commend that address to the House. Mr TERRY SULLIVAN (Stafford—ALP) (12.49 p.m.) At the outset I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land where we meet as a parliament and the land that is now covered by the Stafford electorate. I am proud to be the state member for Stafford; I am proud to be a member of the Labor Party and a member of Peter Beattie's Labor government. I thank the constituents of Stafford who, through a 66.3 per cent two-party preferred result, chose me as a member of Peter Beattie's team to be their elected representative. As I start my 14th year in parliament—my 7th term—I thank the voters of Nundah in 1991, Chermside in 1992, 1995, 1998, and then Stafford in 2001 and 2004 for their support. I believe that each member of parliament has to work hard to earn the trust of their constituents, of their community groups, and of those who call upon them in their electorate offices. I have tried to work hard for these groups and will continue to do so. There is a great deal more that I want to see done within the electorate and for the people within my electorate. Some of those plans for the coming years I will outline later in this address-in-reply. At the outset, I thank some of those who assisted me in recent times to return to this place, which is a very privileged position. I thank Stirling Hinchliffe, my campaign manager over many years, for his expertise and his guidance and I thank the whole campaign team. I thank my family members. One of the advantages of being the last of eight children is that there are lots of brothers, sisters, cousins and in-laws who are prepared to come out on polling day to help. I thank them for their work during the whole campaign. As other members of the Australian Labor Party have done, I thank those dedicated and committed branch workers who every year, every election, support their party member. A range of other supporters who are not necessarily linked to the party also helped me get to where I am through their financial contributions, their advice and their assistance. Most of all, I thank Trish, Katie, James, Dan, Dom and Paddy for their love and support over the whole 14 years. Close family members pay a tremendous price for me to be able to do this job, as does every family member of all members of parliament, and I want to acknowledge publicly my debt to them. I represent a marginal seat. I have to work very hard to represent a seat that has a margin of a 66.3 per cent two-party preferred vote. My support can easily slip away. People say, 'You're in a safe seat.' In a sense, it may be; in another sense, it is not. The gentrification of the area, the loss of the traditional Labor vote and the changing nature of jobs means that there are people who are not rusted 1338 Address-in-Reply 20 May 2004 on to any party—people who will judge whoever is standing on what that party will do for them. A huge number of votes are up for grabs. I ask all members to bear with me while I comment on one aspect of the figures in Stafford, because it may give an indication of what is happening, certainly in the inner urban areas. I had as my major opponent a Liberal who was an 18-year-old—a young man who actually went to school with my children. I sponsored him for the youth parliament a couple of years ago and he repaid my interest by standing for the Liberal Party. Basically, he had no resources and very little infrastructure. Yet young Christopher got about 33 per cent of the vote for the Liberal Party. I would suggest that with no resources, basically no campaigning, and no infrastructure, for a party to get 33 per cent of the vote shows that that is the core of their vote. Perhaps the core Labor Party vote in the area is a bit higher— maybe 35 per cent to 40 per cent. But that still leaves 30 per cent of the electorate who are swinging voters. Therefore, a 16 per cent margin is nothing when we know that one-third of the vote is a swinging vote that is not rusted on to any party—perhaps swinging to the Greens or to an Independent as a means of protest—and is certainly not a secure vote for the incumbent party. I now move to a range of facilities that are within the area that I am proud to represent. I welcome the Premier's announcement of the $77 million expansion for general hospital services to the Prince Charles Hospital. One of the members opposite, Mike Horan, should hang his head in shame because when he was the Health Minister in the mid-1990s, he destroyed a program that was developed under the metropolitan hospitals plan which was designed to move services to where people were living. Services were moved to the south to Logan, to the east to Redlands and some to the PA Hospital. But he did a deal with the medical mafia at Herston at the time and he prevented general medical services moving from Herston to the Prince Charles Hospital at Chermside. One of the largest gatherings of returned service personnel live in that area. That area has one of the oldest populations not only in Queensland but also in Australia—people who access general health services more frequently than others. The member for Toowoomba South, as Health Minister, prevented those services from moving to the Chermside area. Because of the building program at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, it was difficult for the former minister to immediately move out facilities to the area. But in recent times, population growth and a growth of services has meant that this $77 million expansion for general medical services can start to occur. I welcome the new district manager, Gloria Wallace, and thank her fellow district executive personnel, Dr Michael Cleary and Cheryl Burns, for their expertise in helping guide what services should be provided in the area. I want to thank the outgoing property services manager, John Wylie, who is now the district manager in Mount Isa. I wish him every success in his new venture. The Prince Charles Hospital is one of Australia's best cardiothoracic facilities. In fact, it has such a well-renowned reputation that American cardiologists fly out here to have their cardiothoracic services done. Prince Charles Hospital was also the site of Australia's first triple organ transplant in July last year under Dr Keith McNeil. We also have from Papworth Hospital in England Dr John Dunning who has joined Dr Keith McNeil to form a team that is world renowned in transplant surgery. But it is all the staff at the Prince Charles Hospital who play a role in its success—all nursing and allied health staff. As well, the catering, laundry, administration, grounds, cleaning and security staff recognise that excellence is the only standard that they work to. An essential aspect of the very identity of the Prince Charles Hospital is this culture of excellence among all who work at the Prince Charles Hospital. I want to thank all of those people. I also want to pay tribute to the management and staff of the Holy Spirit Northside Hospital, which is colocated within the Prince Charles Hospital grounds. I congratulate them on their excellent services to private health patients. Through their leadership and working with Queensland Health, they have brought about the most successful colocation of private-public health facilities in Queensland. I look forward to the continuing cooperative working together of these two great hospitals. I also want to thank members of the district health council for their contribution to developing policy and advice on the provision of health services to the Prince Charles Hospital health district. Under the chairmanship of Ted Howard, who is a very competent and inclusive chairman, we have all members of the council contributing to the decision-making process and they involve and welcome Queensland Health staff providing information and advice to the council. Another major facility that provides services to literally thousands of people in the Stafford electorate is the Chermside and District Senior Citizens Centre, commonly called Burnie Brae. Under the presidency of Al Fielding and the directorship of Kevin Rouse, the staff and volunteers provide a range of services through Home Assist/Home Secure, through working with the Kedron-Wavell RSL sub-branch, through the Chats program, and through a variety of activities at the centre that reaches out to many people living in the northern suburbs. I want to say to Al Fielding and to his wife, Gwen, who is suffering health problems at the moment that our thoughts and prayers are with her at the moment. The Mercy Centre at Wooloowin has long been a centre for community activity. In the bad old days when a young woman who was pregnant and not married was cast out of the family, the Sisters of Mercy picked up those people, looked after them and helped them. There have been criticisms of what 20 May 2004 Address-in-Reply 1339 happened with the nuns, but can I say that when we compare it with what the government did then— what family services was doing at the time—and when we look at what individual families did to those young women, I think that we should be far less critical of what occurred in places like the Mercy Centre. How can we blame someone who has picked up an unmarried mother to help her and yet not say something about the family who excluded her simply because she was pregnant and not married? I think that some people are far too ready to blame the institutions and do not look to the cause. We have people today who criticise the Department of Families and criticise the new Department of Child Safety. But why are those children being picked up? Why are those children needing care? Basically, the answer is that the people who gave birth to them, the people who are supposed to be their greatest protectors—their parents—have failed them. Mr English interjected. Mr TERRY SULLIVAN: I accept that interjection from the member for Redlands. They have betrayed their children because they have not provided the care that a family should. Sitting suspended from 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. Mr TERRY SULLIVAN: Schools play a vital role in all our electorates, no more so than in my own electorate. One of the difficulties we have is that many of the schools in the inner urban areas and in the regional centres are quite old. For their time they were the best that the government could provide, but 70- or 80-year old buildings—particularly wooden ones—have expensive maintenance and upkeep needs and it is costly to bring them into the modern age. It is difficult for our government to provide that upgrade to every single school. Before the coalition tries to take any comfort from my statements, it must realise that in the 30 years it was in government it did absolutely nothing for schools, particularly for schools in the south-east corner and in Labor electorates. We know what happened under the coalition regime. It actually provided services to National Party members' seats and deliberately did not provide to Labor seats. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition can smirk all he likes and try to interject, but he knows that it is true. It is only Labor governments, under Wayne Goss and Peter Beattie, that have given education top priority. Under the leadership of the Education Minister, Anna Bligh, the prep year trials are progressing well and all schools will have the universally offered prep year by 2007. The cost of this will be significant, but we must regard this expenditure not as a cost but as an investment in our children's future. There is a significant problem with the grounds of the Stafford State School, which totally surround the Stafford Dental Clinic. I thank the ministers for Education, Health and Transport and their staff for working on this extremely difficult problem. While there will be an agreed upon solution, it will be very expensive. I am optimistic that a satisfying solution and satisfactory time frame will be agreed upon very shortly. I also want to see Kedron State School get a proper admin block, for which it has been waiting for some time. Somerset Hills State School is very grateful that it received the student set-down area in the recent funding regime. It is now much safer for parents to drop off their children at the school. Both Stafford Heights and Wavell Heights state schools are badly in need of an assembly area. The concrete undercrofts of old wooden schools are not the proper places for whole school populations to assemble. While it is difficult to provide those in a couple of years, I thank the minister for her regime of providing these new services throughout the state. Planning and growth throughout the south-east corner are major problems. The increases in population in the outer northern suburbs are placing pressure on roads through Stafford—Gympie, Webster and Appleby roads and Maundrell Terrace carrying the north-south traffic, and Rode, Hamilton and Stafford roads carrying the east-west traffic. We need coordinated links and we need long-term planning. I look forward to the coordination that the Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Terry Mackenroth, will be providing to the new unit that has been set up to look at long-term planning throughout Queensland, particularly the south-east corner. One of the situations that causes problems is when people are moving into an area and want to buy a home. When they contact Main Roads to see whether they will be affected, they can be told that their house will not be affected by traffic planning. That could mean that next door or close by a major corridor has been set aside. With the modern technology and mapping regimes we have, it may be possible to provide a map of the area—say, half a kilometre or a kilometre radius—which shows the traffic regimes planned. I thank former ministers who set aside road corridors in areas such as Kalinga, Wooloowin and Stafford. A problem may arise when people who have moved into an area in recent years do not know that it is a road corridor. Then when the government of the time—it will be some years down the track— wishes to convert that to the corridor people could object and say, 'We have had this as parkland or as an open space for 40 years. We do not want it as a road corridor.' So there is a real difficulty with governments doing the right thing by carrying out long-term planning and then coming to realise that 1340 Geothermal Exploration Bill 20 May 2004 usage. Notifying the constituents every three to four years about those corridors may be one way of overcoming that. One example of the growth is the proposed further expansion of Westfield Chermside. The first stage of expansion of the old Myer drive-in shopping centre provided a major boost to employment and retail opportunities in Brisbane's inner northern suburbs. But there are two sides to every story, and certain problems have accompanied this stunning retail success, the most noticeable being the increase in traffic congestion around the Gympie Road-Hamilton Road area. At certain times Hamilton Road approaches gridlock, and much still needs to be done to ensure a successful outcome for residents, motorists and traders. The proposed further expansion of Westfield, with about another 50,000 square metres of additional shopping area, will impact significantly on traffic and amenity in the area. Consequently, there are discussions under way regarding various aspects of the Westfield development. I support the expansion of any business in Stafford, or in fact in Queensland, but this expansion has to take into account the impact on others. The proposed Westfield expansion will also impact significantly on a number of significant community facilities—the Kedron-Wavell Services Club complex, which includes the club; the world-class hockey facilities; the Brisbane City Council Library and swimming pool; and the Chermside Historical Precinct. This precinct involves the Kedron-Wavell RSL sub-branch under the direction of Jim Whalan, the Mylne Bay memorial and research centre, with Pat O'Keeffe driving the development; and the Chermside and District Historical Society under president Bev Isdale. These are major community needs that are being met by community facilities. The expansion of Westfield must take these needs into account. I call upon all players in this issue, whether they be government, commercial or not-for-profit, to ensure that the community facilities are not sacrificed to accommodate growth just in one area. I am confident that with goodwill and commonsense an acceptable solution can be found. I also support the other retail outlets in my electorate—not only the large Lutwyche Centro and Stafford City complexes but also the small businesses, those along the main roads, particularly Gympie Road and Stafford Road, and the small centres such as the Wilgarning Street, Corrie Street and Backford Street shops. All of these need our support. We have to make sure that, as much as possible, all of them are given a fair go. I thank particularly the Minister for Housing, Robert Schwarten, for the work he has done in the Stafford electorate. The Henry Street seniors units and units which are designed to take people with a significant disability are at the point of being handed over. These are one of many units being built by the minister to accommodate the ageing population within the Stafford area. I welcome any public housing that the minister would like to provide in my electorate. The demand is high. I thank him very much for what he is doing. The large block at 818 Rode Road has been a significant issue for some time. I will be discussing with the minister what the plans for the department may be. The new Liberal Lord Mayor of Brisbane made certain promises through the new Liberal councillor for the area. They said that they would want to do certain things with that land. I am sure there will be negotiations between the minister and the city council as to the future of that area. I support the Minister for Housing totally in his concept of providing public housing and I thank him for the work he has done. I also want to pay tribute to the many community groups, such as Coolibah Family Support, Womenspace and Chisholm, Neighbours of Huxtable Park, a number of Neighbourhood Watches and the churches, who provide such great social services in the community. The Premier and the Treasurer have set an excellent framework for Queensland's development in providing services, particularly health, education and family services. The provision of the new Department of Child Safety will tackle what is a very difficult problem within our society—a problem which previous governments have ignored but which this government, with good policy, is addressing. I support the motion before the House. Motion—That the address-in-reply be adopted—agreed to. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr O'Brien): Honourable members, the address-in-reply will be presented to Her Excellency the Governor at Government House at a time and date to be advised.

GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION BILL

Second Reading Resumed from 20 April (see p. 173). Mr SEENEY (Callide—NPA) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (2.10 p.m.): I am pleased to make a contribution on behalf of the opposition to the consideration of the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004. The opposition will be lending its support to the passage of this bill through the House because it addresses an area that has significant potential for the state of Queensland and significant potential for 20 May 2004 Geothermal Exploration Bill 1341

Australia as a whole and indeed the world if the technology involved in this industry can be perfected and turned into an economical source of reliable energy. The bill is designed to provide a framework for geothermal exploration in our state. The minister in introducing this bill made the point fairly strongly, I thought, that this is only interim legislation to allow exploration to proceed. There will undoubtedly be a need for more legislation to be considered by this House to put in place a comprehensive framework to deal with the production of thermal energy if the exploration activities which are made possible under this legislation are as successful as we would all hope they would be. It is undoubtedly to the benefit of all Queenslanders if those exploration activities are successful and allow an industry to eventually develop that will, in turn, allow our hot rock reserves to be tapped for the energy that they hold and that energy used to produce electricity in Queensland on a widespread scale. Geothermal energy is a renewable resource obviously originating deep within the earth's crust. At a depth of around five kilometres from the earth's surface, the temperature of the rock material in some parts of Queensland increases to above 200 degrees Celsius. As the explanatory notes to this bill set out, if water already exists in or can be injected into rocks at that depth, this heated water can potentially then be extracted and the heat energy recovered to be used in the production of electricity or for other industrial purposes. The geothermal energy stored beneath the earth's surface is naturally responsible for volcanoes, earthquakes, hot springs and hot mud springs. This energy is commercially exploited in more than 14 countries for the generation of electricity and in other places for space and water heating. There are four main types of resources that occur around the world. They are hydrothermal, which involves using hot water; hot dry rock resources, which is hot dry rock with heat energy trapped within it—and this is the area that this particular legislation is designed to allow the exploration of—geopressured resources; and magma or molten rock. In Australia the known potential sources of geothermal energy are hydrothermal reservoirs such as exist in the Great Artesian Basin area and which have been tapped to a small extent on an individual property basis or an individual township basis at different times over the last 150 years. They were very small attempts to use the pressure in those hydrothermal reservoirs to produce electricity and to use the heat energy in the water. Hot dry rock resources are also attracting the attention of explorers in an increasing way. This piece of legislation aims to put in place a regulatory regime to allow that exploration to continue and to proceed. Most hydrothermal reservoirs consist mainly of hot water, and the technology to use these reservoirs has been developed and is being used in other parts of the world. In Iceland, for example, hot water is brought to the surface through a bore and then sent through insulated pipes into homes and radiator panels which provide heat to people's homes. Over 80 per cent of the homes in Iceland are heated this way. In the city of Portland in Victoria hot water from under the ground is used to heat the city's swimming pool as well as a number of buildings. In Birdsville in south-west Queensland the town's bore is over a kilometre deep and penetrates deep into the area of hot rocks. Heat energy from the bore is used to generate enough electricity for about half of the houses in the town, and it is the only source of reliable energy for a town that is as isolated as Birdsville. In Queensland one of the few low-temperature geothermal power stations in the world is already providing power for the town of Birdsville. The plant derives its energy from the near boiling water taken from the Great Artesian Basin that also provides a water supply for the town. While Birdsville's geothermal power station converts only about six per cent of the heat energy in the water extracted from the Great Artesian Basin, that water being less than some 100 degrees Celsius, the station converts only about six per cent of that to electrical output. This compares favourably with geothermal power stations in other countries that use heat sources as hot as 250 degrees Celsius. In its fact sheet on geothermal energy, the Environmental Protection Agency says that hot dry rock is a heated geological formation consisting of dry, impermeable rock—a different formation to the water-bearing formations of the Great Artesian Basin. Unlike those hydrothermal resources, the fractures and faults required to conduct water to the surface or to store water in quantities are not present. Therefore, water must be pumped into the rock at high pressure to create an artificial underground reservoir or fractures so that steam and hot water can then be extracted. It is believed that the Eromanga Basin in south-west Queensland has more than 80 per cent of Australia's hot dry rock resources. A Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy fact sheet on geothermal energy claims that initial estimates indicate that the hot dry rock resources in the Eromanga Basin could potentially meet all of Australia's needs for many hundreds of years. Leading geothermal exploration company Geodynamics claims that one cubic kilometre of hot granite rock at 250 degrees Centigrade has a stored energy equivalent of 40 million barrels of oil. The challenge is to extract a significant portion of that stored heat energy in a way that will allow us to use it. Geodynamics notes that hot dry rock geothermal energy relies on existing technologies and engineering processes such as drilling and hydraulic fracturing which are techniques already 1342 Geothermal Exploration Bill 20 May 2004 established and widely used by the oil and gas industry, and used widely in the Eromanga Basin and other areas in Queensland. Further, hot dry rock geothermal energy is environmentally clean and does not produce greenhouse gases. In that regard, it is as environmentally friendly as solar energy, and many attempts have been made over a long period of time to economically use solar energy in large quantities. Hot dry rock energy stored in places like the Eromanga Basin represents a great opportunity to develop a renewable energy source that does not produce any of the omissions or pollution that have come to cause so much concern. Standard geothermal power stations convert the extracted heat into electricity. The technology required to develop an efficient hot dry rocks geothermal power plant has come about as a result of over $500 million being spent on research and development world wide. But the development of a geothermal energy industry will also need continued support from governments at all levels, and it will require a regime to be put in place to ensure that geothermal exploration can occur and that investment can occur in this industry to produce the results that will provide benefits to us all. Currently, exploration and possible development of geothermal resources is not covered by the Mineral Resources Act 1989, and this legislation essentially deals with the first component—exploration—with legislation relating to the development of geothermal resources still to come. Both New South Wales and South Australia have adapted their mineral legislation to enable the granting of hot dry rocks geothermal exploration licences. Subsequently, Geodynamics has secured two hot dry rock geothermal tenements in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and two in the Cooper Basin in South Australia. The company had previously submitted an application for south-west Queensland but it could not be processed under Queensland's existing regime. So this legislation today is essentially playing catch-up to allow that exploration to continue as it has continued in those other states. Australia's first geothermal well, the Habanero No. 1, is being drilled by Geodynamics in South Australia's Cooper Basin near Moomba. In its third quarter activities reported to the Australian Stock Exchange, the company noted that its drilling activities are well under way and the initial results are above expectations. The managing director told the Australian newspaper in August last year that the Cooper Basin alone could— ... produce 17 times the total energy of all Australia's known oil reserves. We are certainly talking about large amounts of energy. While the recovery of that amount of energy may well be optimistic at this stage, it certainly gives an indication of the size of the resource that exists in south-west Queensland if that resource can be properly exploited. CSIRO believes that generating clean electricity using hot rock geothermal power is a promising option as well and is working with Geodynamics through a service agreement. It is important to note though that the results of the exploration under way in South Australia right now will determine what interest there will be in similar exploration of Queensland's geothermal potential. But it is important that this parliament puts in place the regulatory regime to allow that exploration to take place. Positive results will certainly be a boost for Queensland given the fact that, as the minister stated in his second reading speech, Queensland is believed to have more geothermal material than any other state. This bill seeks to put in place a regime to allow that potential to be realised or at least to be properly explored. This bill is broadly consistent with other existing resource exploration legislation. It sets out that the state owns and controls all the geothermal energy in Queensland and it gives the state government the right to regulate geothermal exploration. The bill provides for a system of geothermal exploration permits that can be granted by a process of competitive tender. It outlines how the minister can decide tenders and determine rights under geothermal exploration permits. Tenders must include a proposed work program that identifies objectives for each year of the permit, how these objectives will be achieved and the cost estimates of achieving these objectives. Under the proposed specific objectives the permit holder must carry out efficient and responsible geothermal exploration and enhance knowledge of the state's geothermal resources. I certainly support that approach. It is to the benefit of all Queenslanders that these resources be explored in a timely manner and an exploration permit which ensures that happens has been set out in the bill and it is one that this House should support. The basis of this as explained in the explanatory notes is to ensure that the exploration carried out is aimed at achieving outcomes. There is provision for affected persons, which are people such as land-holders, local governments, native title bodies or another entity holding a mining interest in the land, to have the right to make a submission to the minister in relation to that tender process. Clause 37 of the bill creates certain restricted rights of access to private land for geothermal explorers, which are similar to what is provided to mineral and petroleum explorers. Importantly, there are some 11 clauses that act as checks and balances to these access rights and those clauses are designed to minimise and control land use conflict and other issues arising from this access to private land. That is welcome in this legislation because there is always potential for conflict between entities 20 May 2004 Geothermal Exploration Bill 1343 that hold overlaying rights of access to particular pieces of land across the state. It is an area that is always challenging to regulate. However, I think that the 11 clauses that make up part of this bill closely reflect the situation with the Mineral Resources Act and are heading in the right direction so far as achieving a proper regulation of that land use. There is also a section of the bill dealing with amendments to permits, deferrals, cancellations, surrenders and transfers. There is a section relating to embargoed and restricted land outlining how exploration is dealt with under these circumstances. The bill also contains an appeals mechanism which will be established to give appellants the right to have a decision reviewed by the Land and Resources Tribunal. It also contains a provision for the keeping of a geothermal exploration permits register. It is somewhat difficult to grasp the enormous potential for renewable energy if the economical development of these geothermal resources can proceed. The significance of the figures that are involved are very difficult to fully grasp. What we are considering today in the parliament is the first step to allow the exploration of that resource to proceed so that the whole industry can get a better understanding of how that resource may be used well and to the benefit of all Queenslanders. The resource exists in a very remote area in the Eromanga Basin in south-west Queensland and, of course, there is going to be a problem with transmission costs for any energy that can be produced from that geothermal resource, but it will provide some opportunities for people in south-west Queensland and in those remote areas of south-west Queensland who have for many years had real difficulties accessing the electricity grid system. I think that is one of the things that my colleague the member for Gregory will speak about in his contribution to this debate. As well as providing opportunities for jobs and economic development for those shires in south-west Queensland, it will provide some real opportunities for people who have had to live without the benefits of mains electricity. They will hopefully get access to an energy source which will see them enjoy the benefits that so many of the rest of us who are able to access the Queensland electricity grid take for granted. It is, as I noted earlier, a very environmentally friendly energy supply and in that regard alone it warrants every investigation and every encouragement that we as a legislator can provide to it. Anything that we as a parliament can put in place to allow the potential of such an environmentally friendly energy source to be fully explored we should certainly be encouraging. I feel sure that every member of this House would support and encourage moves in that direction. I understand, as should every member of the House and all Queenslanders, that this is only the first step. It is interim legislation, and more comprehensive legislation dealing with the complex issues surrounding the production of geothermal energy will need to be introduced in the future. The National Party in opposition will certainly be supporting this legislation today and we will be lending our support to the development of this industry in whatever way we can. We would certainly be urging the government, not that it requires all that much urging, to provide whatever support is necessary to the entities who will seek to explore and develop this geothermal resource. We certainly look forward to the development of this industry and we look forward to some positive results from the exploration that this bill makes possible and anticipate the introduction of further legislation to make the exploitation of that resource a reality for the benefit of all Queenslanders. I certainly commend the bill to the House. Mr WALLACE (Thuringowa—ALP) (2.27 p.m.): It is with pleasure that I rise to support the Geothermal Exploration Bill. I will not speak for long because, as the member for Callide has just said, it is a very sensible bill which I think deserves the support of the whole House. Many people in my electorate of Thuringowa work in energy-intensive industries that may well benefit from this piece of legislation. Just to the north of my electorate boundary is the world-class Yabulu nickel refinery. Recently, locals were thrilled to learn that Yabulu's owners, BHP Billiton, had agreed to nearly double the plant's capacity over the coming years. Not only will this provide many more jobs for Thuringowa residents; it will guarantee the operation's future for many years to come. Indeed, the Beattie government with its cleaner energy policy is constructing a multimillion-dollar gas-fired power station adjacent to the Yabulu site. Coal seam methane gas will be piped from the Bowen Basin up to Yabulu where it will be turned into energy for an energy hungry north. The nickel refinery and other industrial users will also be able to tap into this wonderful and clean resource—clean just like geothermal energy which is trapped in rocks right across Queensland. In Thuringowa and Townsville we love energy. Apart from the Yabulu refinery which I just mentioned, my region is home to the Xstrata copper refinery, Sun Metals' zinc refinery and a multitude of industrial and domestic users. I am keen to support this bill as it may well offer future energy to the twin cities. I well remember travelling out to Mount Isa from Home Hill, as my family did every Easter, to visit our relatives. I can recall the hot bore water that came out of the artesian basin and my dad saying at the time that surely there was some way to tap into all that energy under our feet. Another childhood memory was our family trip to New Zealand, and Roturua in particular, where geothermal energy has been used for hundreds of years by the Maori people to cook their food. That was in 1977. At that time, I believe electricity was already being extracted for use by the city. 1344 Geothermal Exploration Bill 20 May 2004

This bill is to be welcomed as it gives certainty to industry, which it needs to invest in exploration as well as the framework to get the industry up and running as soon as possible. In these times where global warming is such a problem, this will help fight the effects of greenhouse. I am sure that everyone in this place agrees that we are lucky to live in the state of Queensland. We are a rich state in more ways than one. Our environment, primary and secondary industries are world class. The wonderful people who live in Queensland are perhaps our greatest resource. Hopefully, in 10 years times we will look back on this bill as underpinning the unlocking of another wonderful Queensland resource, geothermal energy. I congratulate the minister and his staff for all their hard work in getting this bill together. I commend the bill to the House. Hon. K.W. HAYWARD (Kallangur—ALP) (2.30 p.m.): I rise to participate in the debate on the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004. I would like to explain how the bill mitigates the effects of geothermal exploration on other land users. Before geothermal exploration can start in Queensland, we need to give explorers access to prospective ground. This bill will provide the necessary access, similar to that already provided to mineral and petroleum explorers under other legislation. At the same time, it is recognised that this access will affect other land-holders and users with interests in land. Accordingly, a considerable proportion of the bill is dedicated to the mitigation of negative impacts. This bill gives potentially affected parties a right to be heard and to provide comment before any tenure is granted. These parties include the land-holder, petroleum or mineral production tenure holders, local governments and—I think importantly—native title bodies. This right to comment is made possible by the bill's innovative tender release process. The minister is obliged to consider these public submissions when deciding whether to grant geothermal tenure and in setting tenure conditions. However, it is important to note that the granting of a geothermal tenure does not equate to an interest in land tenure. This ensures that the geothermal exploration permit holder's rights do not override the rights of the land-holder. Similarly, the bill does not limit the power to grant a tenement under the Mineral Resources Act 1989 and the Petroleum Act 1923 over a geothermal exploration permit. Mineral and petroleum exploration activities cannot be carried out, however, if activity affects pre- existing geothermal exploration. The reverse also applies. The bill prevents geothermal exploration from disrupting pre-existing mineral or petroleum exploration or development. Once a tenure is granted, the holder's right of access is not unrestricted; rather, it is subject to a number of checks and balances to minimise any impact on others. Certain land referred to in the bill as restricted land can only be entered with prior written consent. This consent may be subject to reasonable conditions. These provisions are intended to safeguard the interests of land-holders, native title bodies and mining and petroleum production tenure holders by enabling them to control access in the vicinity of buildings, important infrastructure and sites of cultural significance. Access consent can be given only by either the holder or custodian of the relevant interest in the land or following due process by the Land and Resources Tribunal in certain circumstances. The bill also requires a notice of entry to be issued to affected land-holders prior to any entry on any land, although there are minor exceptions related to dedicated roads and emergencies. This requirement will ensure land-holders and native title bodies are kept informed of the planned exploration activity on the land and that they are given sufficient notice so that they can plan accordingly. The bill prohibits the holder of a geothermal exploration permit from unreasonably obstructing another party's legal access to land. Generally speaking, of course, access can only be obstructed for health and safety reasons and certainly not operational reasons. The bill imposes a duty of care on geothermal explorers to cause as little inconvenience and to do as little damage as possible when entering land. This provision highlights the explorer's obligation under the bill to be sensitive to the rights and property of others. Should an explorer cause any damage to the land or to items or improvements on the land, the bill requires the explorer to either replace or restore them or to compensate the owner for the damage or loss. Compensation can be agreed between the parties or determined by a proceeding brought before the Land and Resources Tribunal. Under the bill, the minister can direct a geothermal exploration permit holder to take action to address valid land-holder concerns or to close a geothermal bore found to be dangerous or a public nuisance. Due processes are extended to the permit holder, who has a right to be heard in regard to such ministerial directions. The bill aligns with the Commonwealth Native Title Act by extending to native title holders the same rights as ordinary title holders. Cultural heritage will be dealt with under Queensland cultural heritage legislation. The bill does not affect the operation of acts such as the Water Act 2000, the Vegetation Management Act 1999, the Environment Protection Act 1994 and the Land Act 1994. As such, if water is needed or vegetation needs to be cleared, the geothermal exploration permit holder must first obtain the appropriate approval, the same as anyone else. This is only fair. 20 May 2004 Geothermal Exploration Bill 1345

While geothermal exploration in Queensland would benefit the state, the rights of others must also be considered. I believe the Geothermal Exploration Bill does this fully. I commend the bill to the House. Mr RICKUSS (Lockyer—NPA) (2.37 p.m.): I rise to speak in the debate on the Geothermal Exploration Bill. It will be a wonderful resource for the state. Unfortunately, geothermal energy is stored in isolated areas. This is an environmentally friendly resource. Queensland needs some form of legislation to have some certainty for this technology. The energy should help some western rural areas. The Eromanga Basin equates to 40 million barrels of oil. We have a wonderful, pollution free resource out there worth billions of dollars. Unfortunately, it is very isolated. Some $500 million has been spent world wide so far on research into this technology. CSIRO is helping to develop this industry. The Cooper Basin, which has about 17 times Australia's oil reserves, is an enormous source of energy. The bill gives the minister important controlling interests in geothermal exploration. The bill states that the permit holder must cause as little inconvenience and damage as possible and notify any damage to the land-holders. This is appropriate. The bill empowers the minister to make or stop permit holders from acting inappropriately. There is also a compensation component in this bill. Geothermal energy is a wonderful renewable resource that must be developed. The only real drawback is the isolation of some of the big geothermal areas of the state. It will be a wonderful resource for local communities, but the transmission costs of this energy could be a major drawback. The cost to the population and industry would appear, at this stage, to be rather prohibitive. This is a wonderful environmentally friendly resource. Mr MULHERIN (Mackay—ALP) (2.39 p.m.): In rising to participate in the debate on the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004, I want to highlight this legislation's potential to stimulate development in Queensland's regions. Queensland possesses significant resources of geothermal energy, particularly in the form of hot dry rocks. Passing this bill will provide an important first step towards the development of this exciting source of clean alternative energy derived from the very ground beneath our feet. Based on current indications, between five per cent and 10 per cent of Queensland may be underlain by rocks at temperatures in excess of 200 degrees Celsius at depths of less than 5,000 metres. Many of these resources are located in the state's north and west and could be critical to the development of some of our most isolated regions. Although geothermal energy has a geological setting, it is not like other traditional geothermal resources such as minerals or petroleum. Geothermal energy is not a material substance. It has no volume or weight, cannot be stored or stockpiled, and is not readily transportable except over short distances. What this means is that this resource must be used near where it is located—in other words, in regional Queensland. This resource cannot be loaded onto a train or pipeline and shipped somewhere else. This will ensure that areas where the resource is located will benefit most. The potential benefits are substantial—jobs in exploration, jobs in construction, jobs in support industries, access to a new and potential vast energy source, and expansion of the state's power grid to access this new resource that will help give remote areas access to a cheaper and reliable electricity supply. The use of geothermal energy to generate electricity would also appear to be a viable alternative for both small-scale and potential baseload capacity. Queensland already has the nation's only operating geothermal power station at Birdsville in the state's south-west. This small 120 kilowatt plant provides a substantial proportion of the town's electricity needs. Potentially, baseload power stations with generating capacity in the order of hundreds of megawatts could also be based on this energy source. Geothermal energy power production can be tailored to the size of the potential market, particularly in remote areas. In addition to traditional tenure applicants, the bill allows local authorities to apply for geothermal exploration tenure. Local governments will be able to shape the use of their shire's resources for the benefit of their communities. Spin-off industries in the provision of goods and services are a real possibility. Specialised equipment and material will need to be produced and maintained. Currently, most of the specialised drill rods and casing used in geothermal exploration are manufactured in Eastern Europe. Given sufficient local demand, there is no reason why these items could not be manufactured in Australia as an import replacement industry or even export industry. I am pleased to note that the bill provides for the protection of the state's geothermal resources and authorisation of the existing low-level uses through regulations. These include such activities as the use of thermal springs at various localities for tourism, innovative use of hot bore water to provide domestic hot water, and small-scale remote area power generation such as that at Birdsville. Regulation of such low-level use is not the intent of this bill. Because geothermal exploration will generally target different rock strata to other resource explorers, such as for minerals or petroleum, these industries will generally be able to coexist harmoniously with little or no impact on each other. In the unlikely situation where this is not possible, the bill protects the reasonable interests of all parties and provides mechanisms to resolve disputes or provides compensation where and if necessary. Geothermal exploration development is a leading-edge technology in which Queensland now has an 1346 Geothermal Exploration Bill 20 May 2004 opportunity to be involved. Geothermal technology developed here could then be exported to the world in much the same way as technology developed by our world-class mining industry already is. Geothermal exploration will provide additional employment opportunities to rural and regional Queensland, both directly and in the industries that will be necessary to support it. Enabling access to this new and potentially vast energy source will help attract investment and development to rural and regional Queensland. Passage of this bill will, I believe, help provide a sound and sustainable foundation for continued regional development in Queensland, and what better foundation could there be than what is literally the bedrock of the state. I commend the bill to the House. Mr SHINE (Toowoomba North—ALP) (2.44 p.m.): As a member of the minister's backbench committee, it is indeed a pleasure to rise to speak on the Geothermal Exploration Bill in relation to this fascinating subject matter. I congratulate the minister and his departmental officers on the work that they have done in this novel area—novel to me at least—of energy production. The occasion in this House is an historic one in that this is legislation dealing with, for the first time, energy production of this nature. So it is therefore a great pleasure to be involved. I took the measure of trying to find out from the Queensland Parliamentary Library some information with respect to this topic, because my knowledge of it was necessarily minimal. I thank the Parliamentary Library for the information that it was able to supply to me. I was concerned about four topics—namely, to source information relating to where else in the world this type of energy has been accessed, the likely places in Queensland and indeed the rest of Australia where it could be harvested, an idea of the likely monetary return to the state government by way of royalty or tender fee, and information regarding what is paid elsewhere in the world by way of royalty or tender fee. In that regard, I had in mind there I suppose the fact that I am old enough to remember the minimal royalties that were paid by overseas companies to Queensland during the Joh Bjelke-Petersen era in the sixties and seventies, and we would hate to see that type of practice being repeated in history. As I said, I am grateful to the Parliamentary Library for the information that it has given me. Geothermal energy is heat sourced from beneath the surface of the earth, as we know. One type of geothermal energy is obtained from hot dry rock—abnormally hot geologic formations—in basement granites beneath sedimentary basins. Initial research indicates that Queensland has a number of suitable granite sites capable of supplying energy in the future. Exploration and development of geothermal energy is currently under way in South Australia and New South Wales. The company Geodynamics has tenure on two sites in South Australia in the Cooper Basin region and two in the Hunter Valley region in New South Wales. One of the Cooper Basin sites, Habanero, is currently under development. Incidentally, Geodynamics made an application for exploration in western Queensland. Of course, that application necessarily has to be deferred until legislation and regulations are passed and made pursuant to the legislation that we are dealing with today. According to a fact sheet issued by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Queensland contains potential resources of hot dry rocks in south-west Queensland beneath the Eromanga Basin. If one looks at the map that the department has included in its mines series facts document, it really does, on my reading of it, cover a very large proportion of Queensland—probably about a third of Queensland—which would be suitable for exploration mainly in the south-west but also as far north as Cape York. This type of exploration of course is not just restricted to Australia. According to the American based Geothermal Energy Association, geothermal energy currently provides electricity to people in more than 20 countries. Significant hydrothermal geothermal electricity and direct heat production occurs in the USA, the Philippines, New Zealand, Iceland, Mexico, Japan, Italy and Indonesia, which of course are all areas favoured by widespread volcanic activity, which is unlike Australia. Notwithstanding that we lack that volcanic activity, we have hot aquifers and areas of crustal heat that could be used for electricity generation. An example of waters in the Great Artesian Basin reaching high temperatures of 99 degrees Centigrade is, for example, at Birdsville, where a 150 kilowatt generating plant operates from the town bore. Whilst the plant has very low efficiency, it meets the baseload needs. As well as those 20 countries that I referred to before, a further 39 countries are estimated to have potentially large geothermal energy supplies. With respect to the question of the return to the state by way of tender fees, application fees for permits, ongoing rental fees or royalties, I have been informed that it is not expected in the short term that significant revenue for the state will be recovered, because it is still early days. Tenure fees on leased sub-blocks is initially expected to raise only about $42,000. This figure is calculated from an estimated six tenure applications—or could be less—paying a $35 rental figure, and this figure is not final at this stage, on approximately 200 sub-blocks of suitable land. Sub-blocks are approximately three kilometres square in size. The state will not receive significant revenue from the exploration or development phase of geothermal energy products. The important thing is that revenue is expected to eventually flow to the state once production has begun in the form of royalties for energy produced. 20 May 2004 Geothermal Exploration Bill 1347

Unfortunately, the Parliamentary Library was unable to provide any useful information with respect to the returns to governments in other parts of the world from permits or rental fees or royalties. So I am unable to throw any light on that in terms of this debate today. But clearly, the passing of this legislation will mark the first stage of a potentially very exciting industry, a very clean source of energy for future generations of Australians. Again I commend the minister and his department for the work that they have done in relation to this legislation. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Wallace): Order! Before calling the next speaker, I would like to advise the House that we have in the gallery students and teachers from the Capricornia School of Distance Education in the electorate of Rockhampton. Mr FRASER (Mount Coot-tha—ALP) (2.52 p.m.): I rise to speak in support of the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004. This bill seeks to unlock the enormous and enormously enticing reserves of clean energy that lie beneath us. According to Queensland's Office of Energy, beneath the earth's crust the geothermal energy potential amounts to 50,000 times the energy of all oil and gas resources in the world. Queensland may have over 90,000 cubic kilometres of such suitable rocks and the greenhouse implications are significant. Queensland is recognised as having the bulk of Australia's potential geothermal resources. If the developing technology stacks up, the indications are that Queensland could produce enormous quantities of energy from that source. One cubic kilometre of rock at a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius contains an energy potential approximating 40 million barrels of oil, or eight million tonnes of coal. Burning that amount of coal produces roughly 23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and roughly one million tonnes of ash. Obtaining the same energy from a hot rock geothermal source is virtually emissions free and produces no waste ash at all. This bill rightly forms a critical part of the Beattie government's cleaner energy policy to help reduce greenhouse gases by diversifying our energy mix. In more ways than one, we have not yet begun to scratch the surface when it comes to this energy resource. Already in fewer than 15 days of this parliamentary term we have confronted the challenge of greenhouse emissions from land clearing in the Vegetation Management Amendment Bill and set up a carbon trading framework in the Natural Resources Amendment Bill. Today, we seek to take another step towards slaying the dragon of greenhouse gas emissions by laying the groundwork for the use of an abundant and clean energy source beneath our feet. Yesterday in this parliament the State of the environment report was tabled by the Minister for the Environment. A reading of that report provides every justification for this legislation. Our environment faces the build-up of population pressures and the consequent call upon our finite resources from, among other things, the expansion and urbanisation in the south-east corner. With technological advancement and urbanisation, our energy consumption has grown significantly and demand is projected to grow. This presents key challenges to us as legislators—challenges that must be met today for the prospects of tomorrow. Making geothermal energy part of the solution to meeting future electricity demand makes sense. Geothermal energy has a major advantage over solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy in that power output can be maintained continuously over extended periods. This ensures maximum use of in-store capacity and consistent supply and means that the electricity generated is available when needed, not just when conditions are right. As was explained at the introduction of this bill, the whole energy capacity of our natural gas reserves could be contained in just 120 square metres of hot rock. The potential energy dividend from our entire rich black coal reserves could be contained in an area slightly larger than the Beaudesert shire. The awesome capacity for this form of energy production to provide energy that is efficient and sustainable demands that we pass this bill. The production of geothermal energy is also very water efficient. Geothermal energy is extracted by circulating significant volumes of water through the hot rock and then pumping the heated water to the surface. This water is then re-injected in what is largely a closed circuit. The quality of this circulation water is largely unimportant to the process. Water three times as salty as sea water can be used. The geothermal energy industry will thus not have to compete with other water users for good-quality water but can use water that no-one else wants. The geothermal industry could, in fact, be used as a means of usefully employing saline waste water that is currently produced as a by-product by other industries. Once established, the harnessing of this energy reserve utilises a water cycle that is effectively closed. There are no greenhouse gas emissions and no waste material generated, making this energy resource very attractive on environmental grounds. Of course, although the net dividend to our environment from the utilisation of geothermal energy is plainly evident, it must be acknowledged that the exploration for and development of this resource may not be without environmental impacts of its own. These are recognised and have been addressed in the bill as appropriate. Limitations have been placed in the bill to exclude geothermal exploration from the state's national parks and from offshore areas, including the Great Barrier Reef. These laws also provide that areas within proposed national parks are placed in an embargoed land category under geothermal tenure to protect them from active exploration until such time as their final status is determined. Protection of the environment is vitally important and is achieved through the 1348 Geothermal Exploration Bill 20 May 2004

Environmental Protection Act. Under the bill, the holder of a geothermal exploration permit cannot undertake any activity unless it is authorised; thus, environmentally relevant activities can be undertaken only where these activities are authorised under the Environmental Protection Act. This bill also gives the minister a discretionary power to require the tenderer for a geothermal exploration permit to obtain an environmental authority before a grant of geothermal exploration permit where this is considered necessary. Cultural heritage matters will also largely be dealt with as laws dealing with those matters are provided under Queensland's cultural heritage legislation. It should be noted that identified cultural heritage sites are further protected under this bill by their designation as restricted land that cannot be entered without the consent of either the recognised custodian or the Land and Resources Tribunal. Natural features such as hot springs are also protected through regulations and a head of power contained in the bill to suspend or terminate exploration where such features are threatened. This legislation provides for the legal ability for exploration of geothermal energy reserves. We are on the cusp of an industry that will provide for clean and abundant energy delivered with significant benefits to our overall emission rates of greenhouse gases and providing an economic dividend to many rural and regional areas. As the minister advised in his second reading speech, the production framework will be the subject of further legislation to come before this House. But the potential for economic benefit in many communities in the south-west of the state is easily grasped. Moreover, these jobs and enterprises cannot be relocated or exported. In all respects they are jobs that are anchored into Queensland's bedrock. Already in Birdsville, geothermal energy production sustains for the most part the base load energy needs of this community. This legislation opens the door to take Birdsville to the world. Other jurisdictions in Australia have realised the potential of geothermal energy production and this legislation will ensure Queensland's unique potential can be explored and subsequently realised. As we debate this legislation today, it is worth considering the broad horizon of today's global challenges. While the myopic and the meek cloak themselves with the armoury of democracy to justify their quest to liberate the world's oil supplies, in this place today we have the opportunity to take our own steps to secure our energy supplies into the future. Our manner promotes an acknowledgement of the finite capacity of our environment to sustain our existence. It does not include bloodshed or greed nor employ the cloak of principles worthier than our claims. We might today reflect on the glorious workings of our own democracy, allowing us to take these steps towards securing energy supplies into the future, and in a reflective moment we might wonder about the methods of those who claim democracy is on their side in their own quests. I commend the bill to the House. Mr CHOI (Capalaba—ALP) (3.00 p.m.): It gives me great pleasure today to rise in support of the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004. The electorate of Capalaba is the commercial and financial hub of the Redlands. It has the beautiful bayside and a very good environment. I say in the first instance that there are no mines, let alone hot rocks. The biggest exploration in my electorate would be kids playing in parks, digging up their sand dunes. I have a personal interest in this particular bill. I wish my honourable colleagues in this House to realise that, without the contribution of engineers—of which I am one—there would be no exploration let alone a geothermal exploration bill. In speaking on the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004 I would like to address the matter of what we are actually dealing with—geothermal energy—a little more fully. Geothermal energy is essentially heat. This heat has been transferred to rocks in the Earth's crust from the underlying mantle or has been generated internally by low-level radioactive decay of minerals within the rocks. Distribution of this heat in the Earth's crust is not uniform. The heat is concentrated in hot spots, with rock temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Celsius at a depth of less than 5,000 metres. To place this resource potential in context, a lot of my colleagues have already mentioned that one cubic kilometre of rock at 250 degrees Celsius has the stored energy equivalent of 40 million barrels of oil. With oil prices at $US30 to $US40 a barrel, that equates to $US12 billion to $US14 billion per cubic kilometre of energy stored in the rock. This geothermal energy can be accessed in one of three ways. The heat carrying capacity of water is, however, critical in each of those instances. The traditional approach has been to directly tap steam and hot water emerging from the ground in volcanically active areas. This method has been used since prehistoric times to provide domestic heating and hot water for cooking and cleaning. Electricity generation from this source dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. The hot wet rock approach used naturally occurring hot underground water in aquifers that have been accessed through deep bores. Generally this water is primarily extracted for stock watering, domestic or irrigation purposes. Queenslanders in the state's west have also conveniently used it as a source of domestic hot water for quite some time. Recent developments in heat exchange technology have meant that in some locations this bore water can also be used to generate electricity. For example in Birdsville, near-boiling bore water from the town's water supply is first passed through a heat exchanger. This smart innovation not only helps to cool the water to a drinkable temperature but also generates much of the town's electricity. 20 May 2004 Geothermal Exploration Bill 1349

The hot dry rocks approach is a more recent development. This approach creates artificial geothermal systems by first drilling into and fracturing hot dry rocks at depth and then pumping water into them. These rocks are typically, but not always, granites that are buried several kilometres below the surface. Heated water is then extracted from these artificial aquifers and passed through heat exchangers before being pumped back into the aquifer to repeat the process. The extracted heat boils special liquids in the heat exchangers, and these liquids turn the turbines. Once cooled, these liquids are returned to the heat exchanger to similarly repeat the process again. The first generation of electricity from a traditional geothermal power source took place in Italy in 1904—almost 100 years ago to the day. Since then, traditional geothermal electricity has grown worldwide to about 8,000 megawatts. Geothermal power is generated in over 20 countries, including the Philippines, Italy, France, Indonesia and Japan. Interest in using hot dry rocks to generate power was first investigated in the United States in the early seventies. Since then, more than $US500 million has been spent globally on researching this potential resource. Many of the earlier attempts failed, due mainly to poor understanding of the geology. This resulted in the creation of vertical rather than horizontal fractures in the artificial aquifer, with resultant water and heat loss into the surrounding rocks, which is clearly not acceptable. Recent achievements in France have, however, successfully demonstrated the potential of this approach. Current thinking suggests that Queensland contains significant resources of such hot dry rocks under favourable geological conditions. We also have significant potential arising from hot bore water in the numerous aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin. Increasing interest and efforts are consequently now being shown in the potential development and exportation of geothermal energy in Queensland and Australia. Current geothermal exploration near Innamincka in South Australia is investigating a similar geological setting to the Queensland resources. Initial results appear to be favourable, with strong horizontal development of the artificial aquifer being achieved. Planning is now under way for the drilling of the recovery hole to test the process further. Recent developments and improvements in heat exchanger technologies have also significantly improved the efficiency of such plants. Use of binary and low vaporisation temperature fluids now enable this heat exchanger to extract more energy and from cooler water. Developments of this nature have enabled the Birdsville plant to expand capacity from a nominal 20 kilowatts to almost 150 kilowatts over the last few years. Geothermal energy may also present certain and perhaps surprising spin-offs for Queensland. The Smart State can certainly take advantage of this. Heat may not be the only thing to come up with the hot water. Indications are that this water, particularly from deeper sources, may also contain quantities of helium and other gases and minerals in solution. The helium alone represents a possible import replacement industry if found in sufficient quantities. The Geothermal Exploration Bill provides the necessary first step for this state to become involved in leading-edge technology in an exciting new world—new energy to replace the old. It also provides access to sustainable resources for the benefit of all Queenslanders. A major function of this bill is the proposed provision of a form of tenure—the geothermal exploration permit—that would give the holder the right to explore for geothermal material over land included within the geothermal exploration permit for which access has been allowed. The holder will also have the right to carry out activities associated with such exploration. As geothermal exploration permits are intended only as an interim measure to encourage active exploration, no provision will be made under this bill for the renewal of geothermal exploration permits. Such provisions are planned for the complex exploration and production regime to follow in the future. One hundred years after the first geothermal electricity generation in Italy, now it is Queensland's turn. I fully commend the bill to the House. Mr JOHNSON (Gregory—NPA) (3.08 p.m.): I rise to speak to the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004. I will make reference to the part of Queensland containing the area in question. No doubt the minister referred to it in his second reading speech, as have many members here. I refer to the area from Longreach to Birdsville, Marree and back into Innamincka and the Eromanga Basin. This is a unique part of Queensland. At the outset I pay tribute to a gentleman in Longreach who has dedicated so much time to this interesting topic over a number of years. That is none other than Vince Moore from the minister's own Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy in Longreach. Vince Moore has shown interest in this for about 30 years. I do not know how many times Vince has taken up the topic with me in Longreach or has been to see me about it. It is great to see the minister and the government bringing this legislation into the House. It is an exciting piece of legislation. It is exciting to think that somebody like Vince, who has shown so much dedication and put so much hard work into it, will see these outcomes. Going back a couple of years when the drought was pretty bad in western Queensland, we had a project formed in Longreach—it was initiated right throughout Australia—called Outback Revival. The 1350 Geothermal Exploration Bill 20 May 2004 technology subcommittee group was formed and it approached council, state governments, state development and federal governments. Vince Moore was a part of that group. One thing we have to recognise is that the prefeasibility report or the SMEC report was one of the things that was pivotal in making this a reality today. This hot rock concept may not generate too many jobs for people in western Queensland but it will generate a lot of power over a period of time if we get it right the first time. I know this legislation is about the exploration itself but importantly it is about taking people with it as it goes. Vince Moore has been instrumental in making certain that councils are beneficiaries of this and they can get money as it progresses down the line. We have seen it happen on numerous occasions where big mining companies and other companies have taken advantage of natural resources in this country. They go out there and reap the harvest but do not put too much back in. At the end of the day there are always roads to be built or something else has to be done, and it is always the public utilities or the infrastructure of those shires where we do not have many people who are the ones who have to find the dollars to again repair the problem. I believe this is a great opportunity for Australia to be put on the map with the Kyoto agreement. While we talk about trading carbon credits, I believe this will be one case where we can show the environmentalists of the world that we are fair dinkum. This will not be at the expense of the coal industry. We are not in the business of closing the coal industry down. It is a very unique industry on our international trading stage and it is an industry that we want to keep viable and make certain that that wealth continues to be generated. We know it is going through a trying time at the moment because of a shortage of water but hopefully we will see that replenished and see the activities not degenerated in any way. Countries like China are becoming very industrialised and are needing our coal, as are other countries around the world. I believe this is where we can get a lot of those carbon credits exchanged and I believe it can put us at the forefront of the environment and show that we are fair dinkum about it. The minister addressed the hot rock concept in his second reading speech. While I say it is unique to Australia in many ways, it is something that we have to get right the first time. I have already mentioned the hard yards that Vince Moore has put in in the lead-up to this. This is exciting not only for Queensland but also for Australia to think that this area of Queensland and South Australia could probably generate all of Australia's power needs for the next 500 to 700 years if we do it right. When you think about that, just think about using steam, water or heat to generate power. It is certainly clean to the environment. It is advantageous to the environment, and I think that is what we are about today. Birdsville uses hot water to heat the liquid which turns into gas which drives the turbine at the powerhouse. This is another unique system where we are seeing heat again used to drive turbines to generate power. While there are two diesel sets in Birdsville that operate at about 300 kVa capacity each, gas is another alternative. When the technology is right, we can use the drawing board in a lot of cases for better things to come. I hope the minister, the government of Queensland and future governments of Queensland recognise the resource wealth generated from that part of Queensland. We talk about hot rocks, oil, gas and coal in the Surat and Bowen basins, but at the same time many people in those areas do not have a lot of comforts of life. Many stations out there do not even have power. They generate their own power. Places like Bellara, for example, have a magnificent power plant, and the minister has been there. It is gas operated and generated through to Mount Isa. It is about trying to harness these resources and making sure that everybody gets a fair go as a result of these resources. This is an exciting project. I applaud the government for bringing this legislation in here, but at the same time I believe it will be a template for clean fuel in the future. I have to put on the record today that I applaud the hard work and the tireless effort that Vince Moore has put in. No doubt the minister knows the hard yards and the determination that Vince has shown with this project in question. It is great to see that the fruits of his endeavours are starting to come through. I know we have a long way to go, but it is a start and I believe a start in the right direction. It gives me great pleasure to support this piece of legislation. Ms NELSON-CARR (Mundingburra—ALP) (3.16 p.m.): I also rise to support the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004. It is really great to be in this House getting bipartisan support for a bill that will provide a lot of wealth for us down the track. Queensland is one of the world's top destinations for mineral and coal exploration and we are the world's largest sea-borne exporter of coal and we supply large amounts of the world's aluminium, copper and zinc. But potential for Queensland's reserves of geothermal energy have been largely unrecognised because Queensland has no legislative framework under which this activity can take place. We are also living on top of rocks that are over 200 degrees Celsius. Legislation allowing mining companies to explore for a new geothermal energy source in Queensland will allow us to begin developing an exciting source of renewable energy which is very timely since the federal government seems hell-bent on taking money away from research into renewable energy. We do have an existing operational geothermal power plant at Birdsville, as a number of members have said, where bore water is the heat source. So we are no stranger to this form 20 May 2004 Geothermal Exploration Bill 1351 of energy. However, research suggests that Queensland has more geothermal material than any other state or territory. In fact, if what we are planning to do works, Queensland could produce enormous quantities of virtually emission-free energy from steam created when water passes through the hot rocks. I found it very interesting that one cubic kilometre of rock at a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius contains about as much energy as 40 million barrels of oil. That is sure going to be good news down the track. This initiative is good news for green energy. It is good news for economic and jobs growth. As has been said, we could become the hot rock capital of Australia. This is everything to do with the Smart State riding high on the crest of a new industry. Townsville, as the member for Thuringowa said earlier, is an industrial hub, with expansions in a number of industries including Sun Metals, Yabulu nickel, Xstrata copper, and we have a number of new industries that will be cropping up in the future at the forthcoming industrial site. Therefore, energy is of huge significance to our region. I am sure they will all be watching this space with great interest. This sort of exploration will attract significant new research investment while stimulating long-term industry development and jobs growth. We will also be leaders in this cutting edge technology. David Arnold, from the Remote Area Planning and Development Board, says that huge quantities of the resource stretch from Longreach to Marree in South Australia and the prefeasibility studies have shown that we are certainly sitting on top of probably the major resource in the world in these pockets. The Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004 establishes an interim legal framework under which exploration of geothermal resources may commence and the provisions of the bill will deal with both the exploration and the production of geothermal energy. Congratulations to the minister and I commend the bill to the House. Dr LESLEY CLARK (Barron River—ALP) (3.20 p.m.): The Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004 is aimed at providing a timely, effective and efficient regime to allow for the commencement of geothermal exploration in Queensland. To achieve the policy objectives of the bill the state will assert control of all geothermal energy within Queensland and assert the state's right to regulate geothermal exploration. The bill also provides a form of tenure, the geothermal exploration permit, and a regulatory structure to support it so as to allow geothermal exploration to commence. These tenures will be made available by the state through competitive tender with the successful tenders required to achieve specified objectives for each year of the permit. The bill extends native title holders the same rights as the other holders of ordinary land title in compliance with the requirements of the Native Title Act 1993. However, as geothermal exploration does not fall within the definition of mining under the Commonwealth act, the right to negotiate provisions do not apply. How significant is this geothermal resource? Queensland is believed to have more geothermal material than any other state, with five to 10 per cent of the state underlain by rocks heated to more than 200 degrees Celsius less than 5,000 metres deep. If water already exists or can be injected into these rocks this heat has the potential to be extracted and used to produce electricity or for other industrial purposes. One cubic kilometre of rock at a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius contains about as much energy as four million barrels of oil. That is more than the combined energy content of Queensland's identified oil and condensate resources. In fact, energy equivalent to Queensland's entire estimated natural gas resources, some 27,500 petajules, could be contained in less than 120 cubic metres of hot rock. An energy equivalent to our immense and rich black coal reserves, all 32.7 billion tonnes, could be contained in an area only slightly larger than Beaudesert shire. It is estimated that Queensland has at least 90,000 cubic metres of hot rocks. It is certainly food for thought. Enabling geothermal exploration then presents a number of potential benefits to the state. These include access to a new and potentially vast energy source, attracting significant exploration and research investment, and placing the state at the forefront of a new technology, as members have said in this debate. Geothermal energy is also virtually emissions free and therefore greenhouse friendly. I would like to take this opportunity to draw to the attention of all members of the House the Queensland Greenhouse Strategy that was released just recently. This is a whole-of-government strategy that is very detailed and comprehensive. As Queensland is a high-emission state, it is important that Queensland takes responsibility for reducing its emissions and sequestering greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. An approach that includes actions across all sectors not only protects the environment highly valued by all Queenslanders but also seeks to be equitable and robust through actions that will position Queensland for economic and social resilience by fostering sustainable industries. The Queensland government is already working towards smart greenhouse solutions on a number of fronts, including programs aimed at promoting low emissions technology, greater use of alternative fuel sources such as gas, eco-industrial estates, more efficient use of energy, water and waste in the built environment, research into rumen ecology to reduce emissions from livestock, and improved management of vegetation such as we have seen with the introduction of the Vegetation Management Act into this House. 1352 Geothermal Exploration Bill 20 May 2004

The section in the strategy devoted to energy indicates the significance of this sector if Queensland is to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In 1999 electricity generation in Queensland produced 35.3 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, which represented about 26 per cent of Queensland's total net emissions. Emissions associated with electricity generation are expected to grow strongly over the next decade, with 53 megatonnes anticipated by 2012-13 as a result of strong population growth and electricity demand. In 2002-03, 88 per cent of electricity was produced from coal as a consequence of the fact that Queensland has abundant high-quality and low-cost coal supplies. The percentage of electricity provided by gas-fired power stations which have lower C02 emissions will increase when the Townsville gas-fired power station comes on stream in 2005 and will contribute to the target set for electricity retailers of 13 per cent of power sold to be provided from gas-fired generation. Despite the potential of geothermal power, the percentage of electricity generated from this and other renewable resources is realistically likely to remain relatively low for a long time to come given that renewal resources currently account for only 4.6 per cent of Queensland's power. In reality, then, coal will continue to be a major energy source in Queensland due to its abundance, low cost and sustainability for use in baseload power stations to meet Queensland's rapidly growing demand. Consequently, Queensland generators have already taken the lead in Australia in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by adopting supercritical technology in the most recent power station developments. These include the new coal-fired plant at Millmerran, Tarong North and Callide C. The move in technology from subcritical to supercritical and gas-fired plants has seen significant improvements in greenhouse gas emissions. Through support for the Cooperative Research Centre for Coal in Sustainable Development, the Queensland government has been working with industry to enable more informed choices on fuel and operating practice and to facilitate technological advances in new thermal coal combustion technologies. The Queensland government is keen to build upon these and other Australian research efforts to enhance Queensland's knowledge, skills and capabilities in low emission technology. To this end, the Queensland government recently announced the establishment of the Centre for Low Emission Technology. This centre, located at Pullenvale, is an $80 million joint venture between the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO, and the Queensland government. The University of Queensland, Tarong Energy, Stanwell, CS Energy and Xstrata have also indicated in principle support with possible contributions of $2 million each year over four years, bringing the total funding to an expected $28 million. The centre facilitates research, development and demonstration of clean coal technologies, coal gasification and carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies, some of which have the potential to significantly reduce and sequester greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of coal in electricity generation. The centre also looks to improve the environmental performance of existing coal- fired generation and examine the commercial potential for cogeneration with renewable energy resources such as sugarcane bagasse. I commend that centre and look forward to seeing the results of its work. Notwithstanding the reality of Queensland's reliance on coal-fired power stations, I do urge the mining industry and power companies to take up the challenge of geothermal power because renewable energy resources indeed represent the only future for power generation on our planet when our finite resources of fossil fuels are finally exhausted. I commend the bill to the House. Mr HOBBS (Warrego—NPA) (3.27 p.m.): I am pleased to speak to the Geothermal Exploration Bill before the House today. As previous speakers have said, it is a wonderful opportunity to look at a new method of energy. It is not really a new method of energy; it is one that has been around for quite a while, but it is one that we have not seen on a large scale in Queensland. I grew up with hot bore water and when you are living out in those areas it is a part of life. Mr Robertson: You have always been in hot water. Mr HOBBS: I have been in hot water ever since; that's right. Basically most of the artesian water is very hot and, in fact, a lot of the smaller towns particularly do not have hot water systems; they use the hot water from the bores. In many instances you have got to have cooling tanks because the water is just too hot. They often have coils of polythene pipes rolled up under their houses or just tanks or 44- gallon drums to actually cool the water down. That is interesting. I did see recently at Chinchilla a Russian system of burning coal which is not exactly the same. They had a coal bed down low, obviously too deep to mine, and they were able to light it by a secret method that they used and then they were able to get gas out the other end of it. That was quite a unique way of generating energy. That project has since closed down. It certainly was very interesting to look at. There was not a lot of infrastructure there—just a couple of holes and an air compressor. Obviously they had their own method of starting the fire and then controlling it. That was an innovative way of generating energy. I was interested when reading the legislation to see that it seeks to create certain restricted rights of access to private land. That is in the mining act. We have to make sure that down the track we take into consideration the needs of these private land-holders. One of the biggest problems years ago when a lot of exploration was going on was conflict between mining companies and land-holders. Once they 20 May 2004 Geothermal Exploration Bill 1353 get to the production stage there is more conflict. Take, for example, Injune where there is quite a lot of conflict now because of the large numbers of people involved in the gas industry there. We are getting a lot of complaints due to more traffic and so much activity in the area. A lot of water is extracted from the gas and that creates problems, particularly when the water is not of high quality and very saline. We have to make sure in this bill that we consider all aspects of access. It is all well and good to have restricted access, but, at the end of the day, we have to have some respect for those people who live there. Generally speaking, if people are treated fairly they will reciprocate. Under this bill geothermal exploration is not defined as mining at this stage. I presume it will later on when we get into the full phase. It will be interesting to see how that is managed. I certainly believe we have access to some of the largest areas of hot rocks in Australia. It is certainly a very interesting concept. A hot bore runs in Thargomindah. Thargomindah had hydropower before Brisbane had power. They have still got the old plant. It is not in use. It is now just a tourist attraction because they could not run enough power from it. It used to work years ago and it ran off the bore and hot water would come out. It was run as a hydro system rather than energy from the heat itself. This is not new in a lot of ways. We are interested to see how it goes. As the member for Gregory pointed out, most of his area is covered by hot rocks. Birdsville has been using this method for a while. It seems to be a quite efficient method of generating electricity in that area. We look forward to the progress of this exploration. No doubt we will be looking at other legislation related to this. We have to see how the exploration goes and then put in place administrative arrangements to make sure that the people get sufficient access to the land plus have respect for the people who are living in those areas. Ms JARRATT (Whitsunday—ALP) (3.33 p.m.): It is with great pleasure that I rise to speak in the debate on the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004. I have been looking forward to the introduction of this bill. It is quite an exciting topic. We know that geothermal energy is not new, but it is the latest buzz word around the traps. I can remember in primary school social studies classes when we had the globe that had been pulled apart, almost like x-ray vision, and in the centre was the molten core. I have strong memories of how the molten core came out through volcanos and fissures in the earth's crust. It is good that I did social studies and had such a good teacher all those years ago because it has given me a really good basis for understanding geothermal energy. I also know a little bit about this topic after a visit to Marree in New South Wales when I was slightly younger. Out there they have the hot water bores. They pond the artesian bores into a pool and one has to step very carefully into this beautifully hot pool of artesian water. It is quite an experience. Mr Robertson: Did they have geothermal energy back then? Ms JARRATT: I do not know about the energy by we certainly had the geothermally heated water. I think I can say that. I am not sure whether that is technically correct. Members will probably realise as I go through my speech that I am not technically tutored on this. I am excited about the prospects that it brings. I also had the pleasure of going to Rotorua in New Zealand a couple of years ago. They have geothermal energy. The geyser came spouting up into the air there. The smell of sulphur is quite memorable in Rotorua. It is an amazing natural phenomena. We know that hydrothermal energy is created by capturing and converting the energy from steam into electricity, but sadly Australia does not have the type of subterranean structures conducive to the production of hydrothermal energy but we do have hot dry rocks. The occurrence of hot rocks at relatively shallow depths can be manipulated through a process of fracturing and the introduction of water to artificially produce super-heated water and steam. I know that work is already under way in South Australia into how we can harness the energy from this type of process. It has created enough interest to excite potential exploration in Queensland. Hence this bill in this place today. As some of my colleagues have mentioned, geothermal energy is an exciting and important form of energy. For me there is one particular reason for that. It is clean energy. If we can harness and use this energy to input into our electricity grid it is going to go a long way towards helping us meet our greenhouse gas emission targets. I think Queensland is leading the nation at the moment in terms of the responsibility we have taken to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions—with the tree clearing legislation, the Vegetation Management Bill that went through not so long ago and now with the potential this bill begins to create. It will go a long way towards meeting those targets. It potentially might supplement the use of coal and gas as our primary source of energy creation. This is really important because energy use is the dominant source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. It contributes 55 per cent of the nation's total emissions. While we are not likely to find a short- term solution to the growing consumption of energy in this country, it would be fantastic if the energy can be created without carbon emissions or without having to rely on nuclear technology. I acknowledge that this is interim legislation. The minister acknowledged that in this second reading speech. It is interim legislation to allow geothermal exploration to go ahead while we work 1354 Geothermal Exploration Bill 20 May 2004 towards a comprehensive framework to deal with the production of geothermal energy. The bill sets up a form of tenure through a geothermal exploration permit and a regulatory structure to support the exploration process. The exploration permit will be made available under a competitive tendering process. I suspect strongly that these permits will be pursued with some vigour. It is a very exciting time. While I think this is a great new form of energy I believe we should not get our hopes up and set our expectations too high. We are in the early days of exploring and harnessing this form of energy. There is a long way to go before geothermal energy will be economically viable in this country. It is a step in the right direction and this bill is an important piece of the jigsaw that may one day lead us to clean green energy. I congratulate the minister and his departmental staff for bringing this legislation before the House today. I also say how good it is to see the opposition supporting this bill. It is important for lots of different reasons. Mr Cummins interjected. Ms JARRATT: Yes, I suspect the minister is right. We have long suspected that those members on the opposition benches have small green hearts, and I think today we have just a little bit of evidence of that. We thank them for their support of this bill. I commend the bill to the House. Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone—Ind) (3.40 p.m.): I rise to speak to the Geothermal Exploration Bill and, as other speakers in this debate have said, look at it very optimistically as a form of energy not relying on fossil fuel. We learnt about the history of artesian bores and hot water, as the previous speaker said, at school. The American Indians were using hot springs many years ago as a source of warmth and bathing and used the minerals as a source of healing. They have understood the options that are available in terms of geothermal energy. Indeed, there is information to indicate that in America in particular—I have not looked at its use in other countries—it has been used positively for quite a number of years. A 3,000 square foot house was built in America using geothermal heat and its electricity bill was only $60 a month. That was quite spectacular considering the climatic area in which the house was located. Geothermal heat and energy are an enormously underused power resource that is clean. They emit little or no greenhouse gases. They are reliable. The availability of the system has been calculated at 95 per cent and is locally grown—that is, while we can use this as a source of energy in the future, we will be less reliant on overseas fuel sources. It can range from shallow ground to hot water and rocks several miles below the earth's surface and even farther down to the extremely hot molten rock magma. Earth's heat energy can be used directly or can be converted into electricity. The three most used types of power plants in operation today—not in Australia but overseas—are the dry steam plants, which directly use geothermal steam to turn turbines; the flash steam plants, which pull deep high pressure hot water into lower pressure tanks and use the resulting flashed steam to drive turbines; and binary cycle plants, which pass moderately hot geothermal water by a secondary fluid with a much lower boiling point than water which causes the secondary fluid to flash to vapour which then drives the turbines. There are new technologies currently being developed that will allow for even more efficient use of this energy source. So it is the beginning of what I believe is a very exciting time. There has been quite a bit of concern expressed by Greenpeace in my electorate in relation to the oil shale industry and particularly in terms of the greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse gas load from the plant at the moment is very high. These new opportunities becoming available for development perhaps in the medium term are exciting not just for us but for our children and a legacy of better and cleaner energy for the future. There is only one other issue that I want to raise, and the member for Warrego raised the issue of access. There are just a couple of points that I want to put on the record. There have always been instances where mining and exploration permits have been awarded to people who come on to private property or leasehold property, particularly when that property is used for grazing. Regularly there are instances of conflict between the permit holder and the owner or operator of that property. Those issues include those indicated by the member for Warrego—that is, land use issues. The other area of constant grief that landowners face is that when those people access their property for non-horticultural or grazing purposes—mining purposes and exploration purposes—they are often either uneducated or do not want to know about obligations in relation to noxious weeds and simple things like shutting gates and cutting fences, allowing stock to wander and perhaps get infected with diseases that they do not have on their properties. It is really important that hand in glove with the issuing of these exploration permits there is information given in great detail in terms of the obligations of those exploration permit holders to do the right thing by the landowners whose property they will access. This bill gives access rights to those permit holders. However, hand in glove with that has to be a responsibility on the part of those permit holders to wash down vehicles properly, not spread noxious weeds, to ensure that things like gates are shut after them and fences are not cut down just to suit the convenience of the permit holder and their workers. It is an exciting time. The previous speaker said that this is just the beginning of it, but I believe that it is the beginning of something that can provide us with a very positive and clean future. 20 May 2004 Geothermal Exploration Bill 1355

Hon. S. ROBERTSON (Stretton—ALP) (Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy) (3.45 p.m.), in reply: First of all, I thank the opposition for its support of this bill—that is greatly appreciated—and thank all members who participated in this debate. I should acknowledge in particular the contribution by the member for Gregory insofar as he highlighted the contribution of one of my departmental officers, Vince Moore. I am not too sure if I have met Vince, but from what the member for Gregory was saying he has been plugging away at this for some 30 years. I place on the record my appreciation for the work and dedication that he has demonstrated to this issue over so many years. I guess he joins a long list of officers in my department whom I have come across over the last number of years and who are just absolute gems. They have been working away on issues for many years, and at some stage in their careers they see their work come to light. In Vince's case, today is, in some respects, Vince's day. I just want to record those comments, and I know that the member for Gregory in particular would join with me in that. Queensland has a wide and plentiful range of natural resources ranging from vast mineral deposits to the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. It is this House's responsibility to ensure the stewardship of these resources is undertaken responsibly and sustainably for the benefit of all Queenslanders. It is towards this end that the Geothermal Exploration Bill 2004 is now before the House. Queensland has potentially vast reserves of hot dry rock geothermal energy that emerging technology may now be in a position to tap. Since the early 1970s, over $US500 million has been spent globally researching the viability of creating artificial hot dry rock geothermal systems by fracturing hot rocks at depth and pumping water into them. Advances in this technology have now resulted in the current promising trials for commercial electricity generation in France, Germany and South Australia. The potential implications for this resource are huge. I think, as the member for Barron River indicated, a single cubic kilometre of rock at a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius has the stored energy equivalent of roughly 40 million barrels of oil. Unlike the oil, however, this energy is essentially emissions and pollution free. Current thinking suggests that between five per cent and 10 per cent of Queensland is potentially underlain by suitably hot rocks at accessible depths. To place this potential in context, this is a potential industry resource 30 times the size of Queensland's immense identified black coal resources. As a number of speakers, particularly from the government side, have mentioned—members such as the member for Thuringowa and the member for Kallangur—currently there is no legislative framework to enable responsible exploration and development of this resource. Passage of the bill will remedy this situation and provide a timely, effective and efficient regime to allow for the commencement of geothermal exploration in Queensland. Queensland is already the only Australian state with a functioning geothermal power station. Birdsville in the state's far south-west uses hot bore water from the town water supply in an innovative system that generates much of the town's electricity needs. Providing wider access to geothermal energy will also enable Queensland to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation. The indications are that geothermal energy may be cost competitive with natural gas, which is only marginally less CO2 intensive than coal for baseload electrical generation. Thus this bill forms part of the Beattie government's cleaner energy policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enabling further diversification of our energy mix. Broadly, the bill asserts the state's ownership of all geothermal energy within Queensland and provides a form of tenure—the geothermal exploration permit—through which this resource can be responsibly located and quantified. The bill also provides the administrative framework to enable the efficient regulation of that activity. Although the bill asserts state ownership and control of geothermal energy, this should not and must not be seen as the resumption of anyone's rights. The state has never alienated its right to geothermal energy and the bill merely states and confirms this status quo. In conjunction with the assertion of ownership, the bill also claims the right to regulate geothermal exploration. These provisions parallel the existing arrangements with other resources such as those for minerals and petroleum. Existing uses of geothermal energy for tourism, domestic hot water and low-level remote area power generation are to be preserved and protected. I know that is particularly important for the member for Warrego and the member Gregory who both mentioned that issue in their contributions. The geothermal exploration permit under which geothermal exploration can take place will be made available through a competitive tender process and successful tenderers will be required to achieve specified objectives for each year of the permit. This objective based exploration model is favoured over one based on expenditure for the simple reason that it better achieves the objectives of this legislation. The tender process also extends an opportunity for other affected parties such as land-holders, native title parties and other resource tenure holders to be heard prior to the grant of any tenure. The bill creates certain restricted rights of access to private land for exploration purposes. However, numerous checks and balances have been included to minimise and control any negative effects. Examples include the need to obtain prior consent to access land in the vicinity of homes and other infrastructure, a duty of care, notification requirements, and access to compensation. All administrative decisions made under the bill that affect existing rights will be subject to appeal rights on 1356 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 20 May 2004 the merits. This appeal right will not extend to decisions regarding the grant of new rights. The applicant in these instances will still have a right to state their case and be heard, but a negative outcome in these instances will result in no change of actual rights and, as such, would not infringe fundamental legislative principles. The bill aligns with the Commonwealth's Native Title Act 1993 by extending to native title holders the same rights as ordinary title holders. Cultural heritage issues will be dealt with as provided under existing Queensland cultural heritage legislation. The power to grant a tenement under the Mineral Resources Act 1989 and the Petroleum Act 1923 over a geothermal exploration permit is not limited under the bill. However, mineral and petroleum exploration activity cannot be carried out if the activity affects the carrying out of pre-existing geothermal exploration under a geothermal exploration permit. Similarly, geothermal exploration will be prevented from disrupting pre-existing mineral or petroleum exploration development currently in progress. The bill does not affect the operation of acts such as the Water Act 2000, the Vegetation Management Act 1999, the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and the Land Act 1994. As such, if water is needed or vegetation needs to be cleared, the geothermal exploration permit holder must first obtain the appropriate approval. As a non-mining activity, health and safety issues will be regulated under the Workplace Health and Safety Act. If expertise held by this department needs to be called on, that can be effected through the memorandum of understanding that exists between the Department of Industrial Relations and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. This bill has not reinvented the wheel where this has not been necessary. Where appropriate, provisions in the existing Mineral Resources Act 1989 and the proposed Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Bill have been adopted. However, it should be pointed out that the Geothermal Exploration Bill is intended only as an interim measure pending the introduction of a full geothermal exploration and development regime. As such, the bill does not make provisions for renewals or extensions of time for geothermal exploration permits granted under the provisions. Similarly, there is no provision made for a right to apply for production tenure. These provisions will have to be made in the transitional arrangements in the full production and exploration regime to be considered by this House at a later date. Queensland has vast resources of clean and environmentally friendly energy. This legislation will provide the opportunity to develop that resource. Therefore, this bill is a vital step to enable the commencement of what the member for Whitsunday appropriately described as an exciting industry of the future in Queensland. It is an industry that is not only environmentally responsible but also has the potential to provide significant economic and social benefits to the state through the investment of millions of dollars in exploration and research, access to a vast, clean alternative energy source, and through regional development and new job opportunities. Once again, I thank the opposition for its support and, in particular, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and all the other members for their contributions. I commend the bill to the House. Motion agreed to.

Committee Clauses 1 to 164, as read, agreed to. Bill reported, without amendment.

NATURE CONSERVATION AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading Resumed from 20 April (see p. 175). Mr RICKUSS (Lockyer—NPA) (3.57 p.m.): I am pleased to speak to the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 2004. I would like to thank the minister and his advisers, Ross McLeod and Sara Williams, for their briefing on the bill. The opposition supports the bill. The minister advised in his second reading speech that some consultation had taken place. However, I have a bit of a concern about some of the consultation. There does not appear to be any consultation with the Local Government Association and, as this legislation has been an election promise since 1998, there was definitely time to undertake some consultation with the Local Government Association. I am also disappointed that the minister has not had any consultation with indigenous groups. I have spoken to the Aboriginal consultative committee and that committee is disappointed not to have been consulted. The committee realises that the change in categories is only minor, but feels that, as Aborigines are the first custodians of the land and custodians of large areas of the state, it should have had the opportunity to comment on these changes. 20 May 2004 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 1357

It makes sense to bring the ID system partially into line with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature red list of threatened species has a list of nine categories: extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, least concern, data deficient and not evaluated. I see that the existing legislation has only five categories. Although I presume that the minister did not want to make this amending legislation more complex, I believe that the categories that have been left out of this legislation, extinct and data deficient, could have been included. I feel that these two categories would not make the Nature Conservation Act anymore complex. 'Extinct' is self-explanatory and 'data deficient' would cover some of the areas where not enough research has been done to actually categorise some of the species. Surely this would be better than putting a species into the wrong category. I agree that the new category of 'near threatened' is one of the most important categories. This category will ensure a briefing watch is kept on those species in the category. Hopefully this will help keep species out of the 'vulnerable' and 'endangered' categories. I wonder whether we will create confusion by retaining the 'rare' category. I do not really understand why this category could not have been subsumed by 'vulnerable'. There are 843 species to be fully assessed and moved to 'vulnerable', 'near threatened' or whatever category is appropriate. This category will be kept going for another five years. Maybe that category could have been abolished or subsumed by 'vulnerable' and species moved as appropriate, after the surveys of the 843 species had been completed. I ask the minister whether the department feels it will be able to reassess the 843 species in the five years. It seems a fairly big task. Replacement of the 'common' category is a logical change. Misinterpretation of the 'common' category has led to some angst in the community. This change will help the community to understand this category better. Under proposed new section 76, wildlife may be prescribed as extinct in the wild. The IUCN categorises a species as extinct in the wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population well outside the past range, et cetera. Proposed sections 77 and 78 also differ from the IUCN categories, but they are only minor. In relation to proposed section 78A, I am still not sure that rare wildlife should be left. I ask again: will the review of the 800 species be done in the five years? I support the bill. Mrs CARRYN SULLIVAN (Pumicestone—ALP) (4.01 p.m.): I am delighted to rise to speak on the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill today and congratulate Minister John Mickel on his elevation to the frontbench. As a member of the environment committee for the second term and as a passionate environmentalist, I shall be looking forward to bringing many matters of environmental significance to the minister for his attention and assistance. The bill, introduced by the minister on 20 April, seeks to make the hierarchy of categories of protected wildlife in the Nature Conservation Act 1992 more logical and consistent with those used by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which is the most widely accepted jurisdiction for classifying the conservation status of wildlife and is also utilised by the federal government. The main aim of the IUCN system is to provide a detailed, objective framework for the classification of species according to their extinction risk. The Beattie state government made a commitment to introduce extra categories of protected wildlife to the NCA consistent with those recognised by the IUCN, and this bill will meet that commitment. A category entitled 'near threatened' will be established. It will replace the existing 'rare' category over time and will allow the government to act quicker, before the wildlife become vulnerable to extinction. The category 'common' will become 'uncommon' and 'presumed extinct' will change to 'extinct in the wild'. The criteria for the categories will be revised so that they are consistent with the IUCN criteria based on three factors; namely, size of the population, areas of distribution and rate of decline. In Australia we have lost 22 major species in the past 200 years. This is a track record we should not be proud of. But we can all help to stop anymore threatened species from becoming extinct. I would like to share with members of the House the unique event I witnessed yesterday which has prompted me to do more. For the first time in Queensland, Dreamworld, in partnership with Nestle Peters and BP, presented Worlds of Wildlife, an endangered species education program, with the lovable bilby as the star attraction, to a group of schoolchildren at the Pacific Pines primary school. It was a great school to launch the program, as it fitted in with the unit of work the children were studying called 'What's in our backyard and beyond'. It allowed the children to come face to face with one of the most threatened mammal species, the bilby. One of the children's mothers, Mrs Narelle Grieve, said that her daughter Ashlee was so excited about a real live bilby coming to her school that she could talk of nothing else for a week. All the children were truly fascinated with the hands-on education program. My compliments go to the wildlife education officer, Suzi Greenway, who allowed the children to become acquainted with wildlife such as the blue-tongue lizard, spotted python, tawny frogmouth, sugar glider and of course two bilbies. She was ably supported by Dreamworld staff including Lyndal Dennis, public relations and communications officer; Kevin Bradley, general manager of life sciences; Larissa Dunlop and 1358 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 20 May 2004

Dominique Burgess, education executives; photographer Kylie McNamara; and Frank Manthey from the Save the Bilby Fund. A number of other guests were invited by Principal Kathy Edwards to witness the launching of this significant event. They included Neil Turner and Daryl Ruhle representing Nestle Peters; Robert Poole, the state member for Gaven—I wish to thank him for the invitation; and Senator Joseph Ludwig. They were all glowing in their reports of the program. Senator Ludwig brought attention to the plight of the bilby in a speech in federal parliament in 1999. He stressed that the small group of people raising funds to save the bilby needed help and urged all federal members to dig deep and donate to this worthwhile cause. Through the senator's efforts, the Queensland branch of the Australian Workers Union contributed $500 to the Save the Bilby Fund. The bilby is a threatened native species. It is a member of a group of ground-dwelling marsupials known as bandicoots. It is roughly the size of a rabbit, has distinctive large hairless ears, a black and white crested tail and is nocturnal. Its diet consists of plants, seeds, fruits and bulbs, as well as fungi, insects and spiders. Bilbies were once found throughout Queensland, but numbers have dwindled to about 500 in the wild, and they are now confined to the arid south-western corner. It was here in 1995 that Frank Manthey and Peter McRae, both Queensland National Parks and Wildlife officers, developed a love of bilbies. Peter, who is also a zoologist, began breeding bilbies to release back into the wild. Peter and Frank are affectionately known as the 'Bilby Brothers' and have spent years raising awareness and funds to save this wonderful creature. Both men have gone to extraordinary lengths to build a fence enclosing 25 square kilometres of one of Queensland's most remote and beautiful national parks, Currawinya, in an effort to increase the number of bilbies in the wild. Peter and Frank are totally dedicated to saving the bilby. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate them on their mighty efforts and thank them for inspiring me to help them. I will be sending information to all relevant groups in my electorate and talking with the principals, urging them to consider inviting the team from Dreamworld's mobile education unit to demonstrate their educational awareness program. Sponsor Nestle Peters has already offered its support. In closing, I would urge all members of the House to do four things. The first is to borrow my video entitled The Bilby Brothers, which will give them a wonderful insight into how they are trying to save the bilby. The second is to buy Darrell Lee bilby chocolates at Easter for their family and friends, as the company donates a percentage of the profits to the Save the Bilby Fund. Maybe members could hold a colouring-in competition at Easter time, as I have done in the past in my electorate. The third thing members can do is send a donation of $20 to the Save the Bilby Fund, as I have done, to purchase one of the remaining 4,000 panels in the fence at Currawinya National Park. Money can be sent to the fund care of PO Box 149, Charleville, Queensland 4470. The fourth thing they can do is consider Frank Manthey's request to support a National Bilby Day on the second Sunday in September of each year. I have already flagged my support for this with the Minister for the Environment, the Hon. John Mickel. I hope to enlist his support to help ensure the survival of our unique and beautiful fauna for future generations. I commend the bill to the House. Mr ENGLISH (Redlands—ALP) (4.10 p.m.): I rise on behalf of all the koalas of the Redlands and the wildlife up and down the length and breadth of this great state of ours, and I thank the honourable Minister for the Environment, John Mickel, for bringing this important piece of legislation before the House. This legislation and the change in categories will allow the government to improve and finetune its response in relation to population levels of all the animals across Queensland. The five current categories are presumed extinct, endangered, vulnerable, rare or common. The five proposed categories will be extinct in the wild, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened and least concern. What we can see in the change to these definitions is a shift in emphasis. The current five emphasise a population in crisis. The five new categories shift the emphasis and provide greater finetuning earlier, when we first pick up that a population is endangered. It allows the government to introduce measures to try to save it before it is beyond salvation. I would like to commend the minister for bringing this legislation before the House. It brings this government into line with the federal government and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature conventions in relation to categorisation. I would like to pick up on a theme mentioned by the member for Pumicestone, and that is I would like to also urge members to do what they can to support the bilby. I have bought a number of panels in the bilby fence, and I encourage all members of the House to do so. What the minister has done today by introducing this bill into the House is a great thing for Queensland wildlife, and I commend him and his department for it. Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone—Ind) (4.11 p.m.): I am pleased to rise to speak to the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill. We have some outstanding and unique wildlife that characterises our country. People overseas know the kangaroo and the koala without any hesitation and they have become trademarks of our nation. Not only because of those animals but also because of the diversity of our fauna, we have a responsibility to act responsibly towards them. Mr Shine interjected. Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM: Not so responsibly to them. 20 May 2004 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 1359

We have a gentleman in my electorate who has been breeding golden-shouldered parrots and he has written on a regular basis to the previous Minister for the Environment in order to have some of the constraints in relation to the golden-shouldered parrot loosened. He had a real problem over the last few years in terms of departmental requirements for registering, logging and following the growth in numbers of golden-shouldered parrots. What some departmental people or people within the information gathering area wanted to do could not physically occur because of the make-up and the build of the golden-shouldered parrot. In order to endeavour to keep track of the parrots to ensure that the domestically bred parrots were not released into the wild, there were suggestions of DNA testing and microchipping. As it turned out, attempts to microchip the parrots proved unsuccessful. The parrots died. I am raising this issue only because the system used to keep track of these species, whether it is in the wild or in captivity, needs to be appropriate to the species temperament and to the species build. This gentleman is a really responsible person. He has been trying to get the process altered. I do not think he has been successful to date. Any information he gave me to give to the ministers was always well researched and authoritative. On that basis, I believe he is a person well worth talking to in terms of appropriate tagging, chipping and DNA testing of the various species as we are trying to keep track of birds and animals and whether they are prolific or reducing in number. This bill, as I said, is welcome. I believe the vast majority of Queenslanders want to see the diversity of our animals and birds retained. They want to see that for generations to come there will be those animals to enjoy both in the wild and in captivity where that is appropriate. I wish the minister every success as these changes are implemented. Rather than take time during the committee stage, I will raise a point with regard to the first clause now. The first clause says that native wildlife may be prescribed as extinct in the wild if thorough searches have been conducted for the wildlife and the wildlife has not been seen in the wild over a period that is appropriate for the life cycle or form of the wildlife. The next clause goes on to say that native wildlife can be prescribed as endangered whether or not there have been thorough searches. The explanatory notes are very good in relation to that clause. It seemed quite contradictory when I first read it. It seemed to mean that on the basis of no information it would be okay to put an endangered tag on certain species. The explanatory notes I think did a good job in explaining that thorough searches which are costly and time consuming have to be done in priority and if there is some concern about a particular species it can be listed as endangered with the attending protections and controls to allow for the protection of that species, I assume, until more information can be gathered or until its numbers can be properly logged and perhaps the designation altered. I think it is a responsible treatment of what I believe is a wonderful diversity of wildlife in the state and in the nation. I commend the officers for the work they have done and look forward to the bill's passage. Mr LEE (Indooroopilly—ALP) (4.16 p.m.): I am delighted to rise in the House in support of the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 2004. Can I say how pleased I am at the elevation of the member for Logan to the position of Environment Minister in Queensland. I know the esteem in which he is held in this place and I know he will be a great Environment Minister. This is a government that I think has an absolutely wonderful record when it comes to delivering for the environment, particularly in the area of nature conservation. I think this bill is pretty straightforward in that it simply makes some changes to the hierarchical categories of protected wildlife in the Nature Conservation Act. It is a bill that is as a result of an election commitment and I am very pleased to support it. This government has an excellent record in this area. This government also has a very good record in the area of protecting animals from cruelty. I want to address one issue that I think is worth some mention. I notice that recently the duck and quail advisory committee recommended a duck and quail shooting season for 2004 which I think is quite sad. I think the practice of shooting ducks and quails for fun is absolutely barbaric in this day and age, and I would question why someone would want to do that. I am concerned that we have, on the one hand, excellent legislation in this state—namely, the Animal Care and Protection Act—but at the same time we have provisions that allow for people to shoot defenceless birds for fun. I think that is quite concerning. I think it sends a very unhelpful message to the community about how animals should be treated. It is worth noting that ducks are incredibly social creatures. They live in very complex social communities. Frequently they form pair bonds that can last for a lifetime. I understand that of the six game species of duck in Queensland—the Pacific black duck, the grey teal, the hardhead, the Australian wood duck, the wandering whistle duck and the plumed whistle duck—and also the two game quail species, the stubble quail and the brand quail, all of these bar the hardhead form monogamous bonds for life, and the loss or the threatened loss or wounding of a partner is extremely distressing for these animals. When ducks are hunted the animals experience stress for their own safety and they experience confusion and anxiety for their partner's safety. I feel that there is a genuine case to eliminate the mental abuse and torment to these animals as a result of shooting them for fun. I believe that the act of duck hunting must be absolutely terrifying for these poor animals. 1360 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 20 May 2004

The shooting of ducks is usually done with a shotgun and I am told it fires a cluster of shots as distinct from a rifle which fires a single bullet. I understand that when a shotgun is fired the shots will form an irregular pattern which increases in diameter proportional to its distance from the gun, giving hunters more opportunity to strike and wound a moving target. It is believed that a duck needs to be struck by three to eight pellets for a relatively quick death. The alternative is that they are wounded and that they may die slowly in significant amounts of pain. Wounding rates, I understand, for duck shooters are incredibly high. It was stated a number of years ago that around 20,000 ducks in Queensland were wounded or maimed. It is also worth noting that duck shooting in the past has caused significant environmental damage in Queensland with the use of lead shot, although I understand that has been phased out. With these words, I am delighted to support this bill. Ms STONE (Springwood—ALP) (4.20 p.m.): I rise with pleasure to speak on this bill, but firstly I want to congratulate the member for Logan on his ministerial role. The people of Logan are very excited for him and we are very proud in Logan City to have a minister—well done. In particular, I note that this bill will not affect the recent reclassification of the koala population in the south-east Queensland bioregion as vulnerable. Having Daisy Hill in my electorate, which has one of the largest habitats of koalas in south-east Queensland, I am very pleased to see that this bill will not affect the vulnerable classification of the koala. I would like to take this opportunity to inform the House that recently Chatswood Hills State School launched 'Crikey! Koalas!', its environmental theme for 2004. 'Crikey! Koalas!' is a koala protection project involving more than 600 school students from preschool to year 7. Students will undertake a series of koala awareness activities that include a photography competition, collecting aluminium cans from the bushland, designing badges and report writing. The badge I am proudly wearing today is one of the winning designs and will be proudly worn by students, staff, parents and visitors. I congratulate stage 1 winner Kiandra Are from the wombat classroom, stage 2 winner Tim Hanson from the Burleigh classroom and stage 3 winner Daniel O'Toole from the Stradbroke classroom who designed these wonderful badges that will be seen throughout our community. Students and members of the community will also participate in the annual koalathon, a sponsored walk from the school to Daisy Hill State Forest and Springwood Conservation Park, and this is always held on National Save the Koala Day which is 30 July. Since 1986 Chatswood Hills State School students have undertaken an environmental project each year, and special mention must go to Wendy Thurlow, a teacher who deserves special praise for all the hard work and imagination she has put into coordinating this year's project. Chatswood Hills State School has established a national and international reputation for being an environmental education leader. In 2000 Chatswood Hills State School were the state winners in the Readers Digest Environmental Awards and were state and regional winners in the Comalco Green and Healthy Schools Competition. In 2001 they were once again the regional winners in the Comalco Green and Healthy Schools Competition and won the Young Legends Award. In 2003 the school received the United Nations Environmental Education Award. The school has 10 distinct garden areas, which include a colour garden, scent garden, line garden, shape garden, texture garden, Aboriginal food and use garden, rainforest area, habitat area, growing garden, shade house and the koala corridor plantation. These gardens enable the integration of environmental education across the curriculum—another basis from which the school has developed environmental learning programs. In 1995 300 blue gums were planted in one area of the school and these are now being harvested by the Daisy Hill Koala Centre and orphaned joey carers. Caring for the environment is a high priority for students at Chatswood Hills State School. Our future is in good hands with these dedicated students and thanks must go to Chatswood Hills State School for continuing to care for the welfare of koalas in our community. This bill is all about the introduction of the five IUCN categories to the Nature Conservation Act. They include extinct in the wild, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened and least concern. The near threatened will enable us to be more proactive in identifying the species' decline early and act before wildlife becomes vulnerable to extinction. That is why this bill is so important. I commend the bill to the House. Dr LESLEY CLARK (Barron River—ALP) (4.24 p.m.): I am pleased to rise to support the debate for the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill. As with other members, I would like to congratulate the minister on his elevation. I look forward to next week when the minister makes his first visit to far-north Queensland, where he will be meeting with a whole range of people and coming to grips with some of the many issues that we have in far-north Queensland. It is a pleasure to support this particular piece of legislation because it was an election commitment to introduce additional categories of protected wildlife to the Nature Conservation Act consistent with those recognised by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This bill will also facilitate managing wildlife in Queensland by providing a consistent, explicit, objective framework for the classification of species according to their extinction risk. There was considerable consultation 20 May 2004 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 1361 carried out in the preparation of this bill and there is great support for it. I am pleased to see the opposition also providing support. As a result of that consultation, the following IUCN wildlife categories are being proposed for the Nature Conservation Act: extinct in the wild, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened and least concern. These categories are based on population size, extent of distribution and rate of change in population size. There has been mention of only five of the nine IUCN wildlife categories that have been proposed for this bill and the minister will take up and explain that further, but we believe that it would have made it unnecessarily complex and would not provide any additional advantage to the conservation or management of wildlife in Queensland. I would like to particularly mention the new conservation category of near threatened because I think that is of particular importance. I think quite often we can wait until it is too late, until something is almost extinct, before we put sufficient resources into it. It makes sense to act when we identify a species as near threatened to prevent it moving further along the extinction route. There is no doubt that is a much better kind of management for wildlife, and it is good to see that category included in the bill. It is intended to retain the rare category which is our own for the time being, although it is inconsistent with IUCN categories, because it will take us time to reassess the 843 species currently listed as rare and assign them to one of the other categories. I would like to make particular mention in my contribution to the debate of an animal that there is no doubt is endangered. It is listed as endangered in both Queensland and the Commonwealth. That is the cassowary, an icon species for far-north Queensland and one that until recently was on the emblem of the Wet Tropics Management Authority. It has been changed and I just want to assure members that it has not been changed because the Wet Tropics Management Authority did not think it was important or endangered. It was found through research that Japanese tourists thought it was a turkey of some sort. They were quite bewildered about what this animal was. It really was not a species that conveyed the importance of protecting our endangered species. They have moved to something more clearly identifiable across all cultures, and that is a green tree frog. The cassowary is very vulnerable. There are only, it is suggested, something like 1,500 of those animals left in the wild and possibly less. We do know that the major threat is habitat destruction, although cars and dogs do a fair amount of damage as well. There was, back in 2001, a recovery plan produced for the cassowary that went from 2001 to 2005 and at that stage it was identified that only 22 per cent of the remaining habitat had no conservation protection. There is no doubt that, since that time, more has probably been lost. On the plus side, we have protected a lot more of its habitat with the Vegetation Management Act. I was pleased to see an election commitment of this government was an additional $5 million for buying back critical habitat in the Daintree. I hope the federal government will meet its obligations and match that amount. Five million dollars will come from the levy funds raised with people going across the Daintree River. Mr O'Brien interjected. Dr LESLEY CLARK: As the member for Cook knows, that is a very important area and he is working very hard to ensure that there are excellent conservation outcomes in the Daintree. The Australian Rainforest Foundation is also involved there. It is involved in buying back parcels of land, amalgamating those, putting conservation protection across them and then selling them so as to retain many of the blocks Quaid subdivided back in 1980s. The one hectare blocks were totally inappropriate in a magnificent place like the Daintree. I mention the wonderful conservation organisations and groups that are particularly focused on cassowary conservation. Enviro Care is based in the Kuranda region. It has been doing wonderful work revegetating a cassowary corridor on the tablelands. TREAT, Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands, does magnificent rehabilitation work. Mission Beach is where the largest number of cassowaries still remain. C4 does incredible conservation and education work. I want to commend it for what it does. In the Daintree there is another group called Cassowary Care which is also doing excellent work. We understand that we have to work with voluntary organisations on the ground that are compassionate and committed and doing wonderful work. In terms of research, great work is being done by the rainforest CRC which, as we know, is under threat. I was pleased to read in the Cairns Post this morning that there is some suggestion that those two CRCs—the reef and rainforest CRCs—might be amalgamated and retained. It is just as well, because the federal government is making a terrible mistake by not funding those CRCs. I am sure that all members in this House would agree that that is something that needs funding. As I have mentioned, the Wet Tropics Management Authority does excellent work in terms of education—particularly education in schools. It has kits for primary schoolchildren whereby we can actually put the effort into educating children as to how important it is to preserve and protect species such as the cassowary. 1362 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 20 May 2004

The Department of Main Roads has done its part in far-north Queensland, particularly in the Mission Beach area where people are travelling along the roads quite quickly. With the size of the signs that we now have on the main roads into Mission Beach, nobody could be under any doubt of the need to slow down. An opposition member interjected. Dr LESLEY CLARK: They are in the endangered category. It took a little while for the Commonwealth to list them as endangered. Now both the Commonwealth and Queensland have them listed as endangered. We are consistent in our approach and recognise the importance of cassowary protection. Sadly, they are no longer close to Cairns. There was one in Mount Whitfield Conservation Park a few years ago, but dogs were responsible, I am afraid, for finishing that one off. There have been suggestions of sightings, but no-one is really sure. We certainly would like to think there are cassowaries there. Certainly they are within my electorate in the Kuranda area. The Black Mountain Road is an area where we have many cassowaries. Cars and bikes are an issue in terms of the speed they go along Black Mountain Road. I notice that the recovery plan is due to be reviewed in July of this year. I think obviously that does give us another opportunity to re-evaluate how successful our strategies have been up to this point in time. It is proposed that there will be another recovery plan that will be finalised by December of this year. I look forward to the consultation that will be involved in that and formulating another recovery plan because obviously there is still more work that needs to be done. The cassowary is a species that we cannot let go. We cannot obviously ever allow this species to become extinct. It would be a travesty to lose such an icon of the Wet Tropics. Obviously, I want to encourage everybody, wherever they are in far-north Queensland, to do their part to preserve this wonderful species. I commend the bill to the House. Dr FLEGG (Moggill—Lib) (4.34 p.m.): I rise to speak in the debate on the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 2004. I would like to say at the outset that the Liberal Party will be supporting the bill and its commitment to environmental issues that affect all Queenslanders. There has been a lot of congratulations for the minister, so I hope he is not getting a swelled head. We know that he has been pretty busy with the midnight meetings and we know that all the time spent running the Liberal Party would take its toll! One has got to have a pretty close look at the bill and make sure that, in his overworked state, he has managed to get it right. There are a couple of minor things that we will be drawing attention to in the bill, but the general thrust of it we are happy to support. The Nature Conservation Act 1992 classifies wildlife under five categories—presumed extinct, endangered, vulnerable, rare or common. As the minister explained in his second reading speech, the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 2004 will include five of the nine International Union for the Conservation of Nature categories. These are: 'extinct in the wild', 'endangered', 'vulnerable', 'near threatened' and 'least concern'. I gave them the chance but they did not take it. A government member interjected. Dr FLEGG: Too late! They cannot come in that late. The protection of our environment, our natural resources and wildlife is of the utmost importance for today and future generations. Mr Lawlor interjected. Dr FLEGG: Too late; the member missed it. I have consulted with a number of environmental groups in my area and a number of the state groups. There are a few things that have not been taken into consideration. One is the consideration of including a category for 'critically endangered'. Mr Mickel interjected. Dr FLEGG: I told the member he is too late. The Queensland Conservation Council has explained that there is a need for a sixth category which I have referred to as critically endangered', which would be positioned between the 'extinct in the wild' and 'endangered' categories to cater for wildlife that is on the verge of extinction. An example of this is the northern hairy-nosed wombat where numbers of the species are down to around 100. They do not fit into the 'extinct in the wild' or the 'endangered' category. The northern hairy-nosed wombat is likely to be extinct if the threat to the species continues. Mrs Carryn Sullivan interjected. Dr FLEGG: That is why we need the 'critically endangered' category. The inclusion of the 'critically endangered' category would have brought this situation to the forefront to reinforce the environmental needs of some of these species. There is a distinct gap between these two categories that should have been considered by the government. Another example of a critically endangered species is the yellow chat bird situated in the Rockhampton area where numbers are down to around 50, which is of grave concern to the 20 May 2004 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 1363

Queensland Conservation Council in its dedication to the preservation of wildlife and the natural environment of Queensland. The loss of habitat, encroachment of development and environmental change could continue to threaten these species. The federal government agrees that there is a need to have a 'critically endangered' category. A government member interjected. Dr FLEGG: I was going to let them off, but I will read this. The state government's inconsistencies in regard to these classifications of categories are evident. The Minister for the Environment assured us in his second reading speech that no species will change conservation status directly because of the bill. Whilst he was running and advising the Liberal Party, maybe the minister should have realised that he missed a whole category of wildlife. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature mission statement is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to preserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. Would it have been more appropriate to take a lead more closely from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as one of the world's leading organisations for the environment and guidance on conservation, knowledge, policy and advice? The IUCN system of classification for the conservation status of wildlife is one of the most widely accepted in the world. I would suggest that the minister address this issue and make comment on it in his summing up if he wishes. If there is an inconsistency with the omission of a critically endangered category, one must ask whether the new change in terminology from 'common' to 'least concern' and 'presumed extinct' to 'extinct in the wild' is appropriate. I noted the minister's comments in his second reading speech about dropping the expression 'common' because he felt that he would be under pressure to recategorise some parts of wildlife. This seemed a bit inconsistent, because there are some species that will even increase in number because of the activities of man. I did not think that dropping 'common' was appropriate, because the reality is that some species are not particularly impacted by what is happening. Environmentally sustainable habitat for Australian wildlife is one of the keys to ensuring that endangered species can move from the endangered category to the 'near threatened' or even 'of least concern' categories. I am a strong advocate of preserving the natural environment and sustainable ecologically sound communities where the flora and fauna habitat can be maintained without too much interruption from development. In my electorate of Moggill—we have got to Moggill now, and I still have 14 minutes to do Moggill—residents have moved into the area because they are looking for a semirural environment to live in where there is a unique balance between the environment and communities. The local environmental groups lobby to ensure that this preservation of native habitat is fulfilled. I want to acknowledge the hard work of these groups in my area—the Moggill Creek Catchment Group, the Moggill Koala Hospital, REPA, the Hut Environmental and Community Association, the Pullen Pullen Catchment Group, the Cubberla Creek Group and the Wilderness Society. The recent announcement by the federal government should be applauded with regard to the increase in federal funding for the environment—a rise to record levels for the 2004-05 year. This commitment to environmental issues by the federal government has shown the way for the preservation of our world renowned environment. Federal Minister for Environment and Heritage, David Kemp, in a recent media release stated that— ... a whole-of-government approach to sustainability is essential—that's why we've nominated a sustainable environment as one of our key strategic priorities, and made an environmentally sustainable Australia one of our four national research priorities. One of the most significant initiatives to come out of the federal commitment to the environment is the continuation of the Envirofund, which is the key local component of the Natural Heritage Trust—the largest environmental rescue effort delivered by any Australian government. Senator Ian Macdonald, the federal Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, explained— Community groups can apply for grants from a few hundred dollars up to $30,000 to carry out on-ground actions to target local problems such as water quality, destruction of native vegetation, salinity and coastal erosion. This program will ensure the ecological sustainability of ecosystems for the environment and Australian wildlife. In conclusion, I want to reiterate the commitment of the parliamentary Liberal Party to the environment and sustainable environmental management practices across Queensland. I know that the minister takes his responsibilities to the environment very seriously, and it is only with these small reservations that I am happy to say the Liberals will be supporting the bill. Mr CHOI (Capalaba—ALP) (4.43 p.m.): I rise in support of the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 2004. In doing so, I echo the sentiments expressed by the honourable members for Pumicestone and Redlands in congratulating the member for Logan, the Hon. John Mickel, on his elevation to the ministry. When Minister Mickel was a backbencher, he had two passions in life: the first was to look after the welfare of the Liberal Party, as we all heard, and the second was to look after the environment. I can still recall the time he spent with me drinking green tea and eating vegetarian sushi rolls talking about the importance of the environment to Queensland and how important it is to get a balance of development and the environment in the state of Queensland. I rest in the comfort of knowing that now 1364 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 20 May 2004 the environment of Queensland is in very good hands, as I am sure that Minister Mickel will ensure the survival of species both in terms of the environment and also the Liberal Party. The policy objective of this bill is to make the hierarchy of categories of protected wildlife in the Nature Conservation Act 1992 more consistent with those used by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the IUCN. I want to inform the House that the IUCN is a very unique union. Its members come from some 140 countries, including over 70 states, 100 government agencies and over 750-plus NGOs. More than 10,000 internationally recognised scientists and experts from more than 180 countries volunteer their services to assist global commissions. Its 1,000 staff members in offices around the world are working on some 500 projects at any one given time. One of the priorities which I admire of the IUCN is to build recognition of the many ways that the livelihood of the poor depends on the sustainable management of natural resources. Through its projects, the IUCN works to apply sound ecosystem management to demonstrate ways of providing sustainable livelihoods for those directly dependent on natural resources. The IUCN has been engaging and restoring ecosystems and regenerating people's lives, economies and societies all around the world. These amendments to the Nature Conservation Act demonstrate that the Beattie Labor government is committed to nature conservation in this state, which was an election promise made in 1998. The changes proposed today will provide a consistent way of describing the degree of threats that our wildlife face. They are important not only because the categories are consistent with each other but because they are consistent with the way wildlife is categorised both at a Commonwealth and international level. It simply provides a better perspective on the true status of Queensland wildlife. In my electorate of Capalaba, as I am sure it is in the case of many electorates, wildlife preservation is a significant issue. I want to take this opportunity to talk about a very significant wildlife conservation initiative by the Redland Shire Council in my electorate of Capalaba, the Redlands IndigiScapes Centre. The Redlands IndigiScapes Centre at Capalaba is a key educational and botanical facility for displaying and interpreting the Redlands' indigenous plant communities. It breaks new ground in displaying local native plants in suburban sized display gardens and encourages the use of plants in nursery production and gardening. The Redland Shire Council launched the 14.5 hectare site of Australia's first environmental centre for indigenous plants in October 1999 and since then over $1.5 million has been committed to the centre. The information centre and demonstration gardens were opened in February 2002. Displays, workshops and events are regular features at the centre, and there are several kilometres of walking trails through bushland and suburban sized demonstrations. The botanical garden section of IndigiScapes features a coastal garden, a formal garden, a wildlife-attracting garden, a grey gum garden, a water-wise rainforest garden, a wetland garden, and a creek vegetation garden. Visitors, whether they are home gardeners or landscapers, can learn how to use local plants in their own clients' gardens. In turn, this will help the nursery and landscape industry to introduce local native plants into mainstream garden design. I also want to congratulate the staff of the Redlands IndigiScapes Centre for doing wonderful work in maintaining the flora and fauna of our electorate. The issues of development and preserving the environment have been major ones for most of our electorates. As our population grows, we need to have access to land for social sustainable uses such as primary industries and housing. But on the other hand we must also balance that need against the need to preserve wildlife habitat. There is no easy solution and no easy answer. We need a well- informed approach to solve this problem. As I said before, I rest in the comfort of knowing that this ministry, headed by the Hon. John Mickel, will attempt to deliver a balanced solution to maintain growth as well as the nature conservation of our state. I commend this bill. Mr McARDLE (Caloundra—Lib) (4.49 p.m.): I rise to speak to the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill. This bill amends the Nature Conservation Act 1992, bringing its terminology into line with that used by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The IUCN web site discusses at some length the role that it plays in conserving nature and states— The World Conservation Union through its Species Survival Commission has for four decades been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties and even selected subpopulations on a global scale in order to highlight TAXA threatened with extinction and therefore promote their conservation. The organisation continues to provide a comprehensive approach to evaluating the conservation status of animal species via its red data books and red lists. The goals of the red list program are to identify and document those species most in need of conservation attention if global extinction rates are to be reduced and provide a global index of the state of degeneration of biodiversity. The web site goes on to detail that, to achieve these goals, the program's objectives are to assess in the long term the status of a selected species, to establish a baseline from which to monitor the status of species, to provide a global context for the establishment of conservation priorities at the local level, and to monitor on a continuing basis the status of a selection of species that covers all the major ecosystems of the world. The protection of wildlife itself goes hand in hand with ensuring that their environment is maintained. It was pleasing to see the federal government allocate in its recent budget $20 million to the 20 May 2004 Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 1365

Envirofund, which is a component of the Natural Heritage Trust. This trust holds funds to be used to address local natural resource management problems. The fund allows groups and individuals to obtain grants of up to $30,000 to address local problems or concerns. The Envirofund has been functioning since 2002-03 and has provided $49.9 million to 3,314 projects across all states and territories. Importantly, projects that the Envirofund deals with include reversing land degradation, improving water quality and the environmental condition of our river systems and wetlands. Critically, these projects lead to maintaining those species that, under the new hierarchy, are deemed to be endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, rare and of least concern. It is with much regret that we have lost many species since first settlement in this country. The Sunshine Coast is no different from other areas in Queensland in that there are species and habitats that are under threat. In fact, the Golden Beach Primary School at Caloundra maintains a frog habitat of considerable size. One of the species that it maintains, the Wallum froglet, is declared vulnerable under the current scheme. Other frogs sharing this habitat are the graceful tree, the green tree, the dwarf tree, the stripe marsh, the rocket and the burrowing frogs. The Pelican Waters overpass, which joins the Nicklin Way roundabout, is currently being constructed, yet its completion is delayed as a consequence of a rare species of frog having been discovered in the vicinity. I do not object to that— although at times such delays can be frustrating—because it is an example of a construction project being delayed for such reasons in today's modern times whereas years ago it would not have occurred. That is a major step forward for our society. It is the existence of various species and their habitats that has provided the incentive for many of our conservation groups to form. Certainly, there are well-known conservation organisations in Queensland. In Caloundra, there are a number of smaller local associations that provide invaluable service to nature on a daily basis. Without meaning to limit them, they include the Currimundi Lake Catchment Care Group, the Friends of Currimundi Lake, the Friends of Two Way Lake, and the Wilderness Society. These groups focus on small areas to maximise their effect and, in essence, provide the community to allow like-minded people to meet and discuss environmental issues that affect them and the community, provide a lobby group to all levels of government, provide a community monitoring organisation for all levels of government, provide mutual incentive and a work force to undertake those tasks that are needed to maintain a habitat, and also to keep the balance between nature and development in its correct proportion. These groups and others do marvellous work throughout the community. In the past, I have spoken of the need for the state government to return the Tripcony-Hibiscus Caravan Park to the people of Caloundra as a matter of urgency. I again renew my request. The location of the caravan park makes it ideal for green space to allow the natural habitat of the area to recover after many years of development. This will be a major tourist attraction on so many levels. Again I ask the Minister for Local Government to consider seriously that matter being expedited. An opposition member: What category would you put the caravan park in? Mr McARDLE: Clearly endangered by development. As I stated earlier, the federal government has allocated $20 million to the Envirofund to assist small community organisations. I commend the bill to the House, and conclude by saying that it is especially pleasing to see that, where we have started, our children will continue to lead. Mr FRASER (Mount Coot-tha—ALP) (4.55 p.m.): I rise to support the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill. This bill provides amendments to the classification of species so that it will more accurately reflect the real state of wildlife in Queensland. It proposes a consistent framework for describing the level of threat posed to our native animal species. That is a logical step to take, because it brings our classification system into line with those being used at a Commonwealth and international level. The amendments bring the taxonomy of species into broad alignment with the classifications used by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The amendments proposed by this bill are technical. However, their effect is to enhance the protection of the plant and animal species that comprise our rich biodiversity. The implementation of a new conservation category of near threatened will provide the administrative framework that will enable us to intervene and act before wildlife becomes vulnerable to extinction. It should be noted that the classification of no species will be diminished, promoted or altered by these amendments alone. For instance, the recent upgrade and the reclassification of the koala in the south-east bioregion to regionally vulnerable will not be changed, for that category is both an existing category and a category aligned with the IUCN classification. Over time, existing classifications will be recalibrated into the new categories provided in this bill according to established statutory processes set out in the parent act. It is prudent to note that the category of rare is retained while the species within this category are reassessed according to the new classifications. Previously I have described the good folk of my electorate as a discerning crew. If I knocked on the doors on one side of the street I would find many people who appreciate the need to confront the issues that surround our environment and long-term sustainability. Many people in my electorate are 1366 Adjournment 20 May 2004 rightly concerned about the preservation of our natural environment. They are concerned not just about whether Ithaca Creek is restored or local green space is preserved. By definition, those concerned about the state of our environment know that broader regional, national and global issues are inextricably linked. I might make mention, in the context of Ithaca Creek, of the Red Hill Bushcare Group, of which I am a member. I am looking forward to joining that group on 6 June—the first Sunday of the month—to once again wade through Ithaca Creek and assist that group's work to restore a vital local waterway in partnership with the Brisbane City Council. Yesterday, my good friend the Minister for the Environment, John Mickel, tabled the State of the Environment Report 2003. As that report detailed, the main threat to biodiversity in Queensland is the loss, fragmentation, alteration and degradation of native habitat, along with introduced plant and animal species. That report also notes the increase in protected areas over recent years—a further credit to the Labor government. This legislation is part of a folio of bills that has been passed by this House in the short time of the 51st Parliament. We have seen the passage of landmark tree-clearing legislation that will preserve wildlife habitat and reduce greenhouse gases, and we have implemented a carbon trading scheme in the fervent hope that we will soon have a federal government with the capacity and the decency to comprehend the challenges before us and have the gumption to meet them. Indeed, earlier today we passed the Geothermal Exploration Bill, which provides us with the prospect of abundant and clean energy production with limited greenhouse gas emission. This bill demonstrates the Beattie Labor government's environmental credentials and our commitment to nature conservation. It is worth noting that actions always speak louder than words. Recently it might have become very trendy to subscribe in electoral terms to sustainable development and to the environment as a crusade, but what matters is runs on the board and what matters is what you do when you are in government. I commend the bill to the House. Debate, on motion of Mr Fraser, adjourned.

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT Hon. R.J. MICKEL (Logan—ALP) (Minister for the Environment) (5.00 p.m.): I move— That the House, at its rising, do adjourn until 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 15 June 2004. Motion agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT Hon. R.J. MICKEL (Logan—ALP) (Minister for the Environment) (5.00 p.m.): I move— That the House do now adjourn. Bundaberg District Health Council Mr MESSENGER (Burnett—NPA) (5.00 p.m.): I would like to address some of the furphies and piffle that the Minister for Health tried to peddle in this House yesterday regarding Mr Chase and the Bundaberg District Health Council. Mr MICKEL: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I am not sure that the word 'piffle' is parliamentary. Could you seek advice on that? Mr MESSENGER: I withdraw. Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Jarratt): It has been withdrawn. Mr MESSENGER: I am quite happy to confirm for the House that I did indeed have an animated telephone conversation with Mr Viv Chase, but at no time during the conversation did I in any way threaten Mr Chase, his family or his colleagues. I would like to give the House some details of the conversation with Mr Chase as I recall it. It occurred last week, on Thursday, 13 May. I was amazed to learn that Mr Chase, as chair of the Bundaberg District Health Council, had not been told by the Health Minister about the serious allegations raised in the House two days earlier, on Tuesday, 11 May—allegations of assaults, staff bullying, maladministration and possible criminal behaviour on the part of senior management. Mr Chase admitted to me during our conversation that he was ignorant. His Health Minister, who supposedly has so much respect for Mr Chase's council, had not told him about the serious allegations which had transpired earlier in the House. I also found out that the minister forgot to inform Mr Chase about the two-hour meeting I had with the Director-General of Health on Tuesday afternoon at which I claimed whistleblower status for the three Bundaberg mental health nurses. Mr Chase was ignorant again. He did not have a clue. 20 May 2004 Adjournment 1367

The honourable Health Minister also kept him in the dark about the independent evaluation from Dr Mark Waters, the CEO of Wesley Hospital, which was carried out last Monday and Tuesday in Mr Chase's hospital. Mr ENGLISH: Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I believe that the Whistleblowers Protection Act actually creates the offence of identifying whistleblowers. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Fouras): Order! There is no point of order. Mr MESSENGER: I can confirm that I did use the term 'blowtorch' during our conversation, but the aim of that metaphorical expression was directed at the Minister for Health, his government colleagues and the issue, not at Mr Chase, his family members or his colleagues. To suggest otherwise is devious and cowardly and smacks of political desperation. The Health Minister's referral of this matter to the Speaker for further referral to the Members' Ethics and Parliamentary Privileges Committee is nothing more than a shonky political tactic designed to try to silence me. The Health Minister, Mr Chase and others will have to get used to hearing a bit of passion in the delivery of my message. I have had far too many talented— Time expired.

Schools, Mount Coot-tha Electorate Mr FRASER (Mount Coot-tha—ALP) (5.03 p.m.): As this is State Education Week, I take this opportunity to mention the tremendous contributions made by the state schools in my electorate. As is the case with many other inner-city areas, many of the schools in the Mount Coot-tha electorate are older than our nation. Their contribution as educational facilities deserves recognition. It is an enduring contribution sized not just in terms of the number of students taught but also in the citizens fashioned in their classrooms. A visit to the Red Hill Special School will leave you stunned. The dedication of the staff at this school is awe inspiring. These educators are providing tutelage to children with complex individual needs. Their principal, Terri Lipscomb, leads a staff at an educational facility where the number of specialised medical procedures completed on any given day exceeds the number of students. On Tuesday the school held an open day to demonstrate to the broader public the unique educational effort undertaken at their school on a daily basis. Nearby is the Petrie Terrace State School, which yesterday hosted the well-known Brisbane poet Rupert McCall as part of the Principal for a Day program being conducted during this State Education Week. Today's Petrie Terrace State School sits on the original site destroyed by fire many years ago. The school community has a definite focus on its grounds and facilities this year, and high on its list is the need to improve the toilets. I support the principal, Theresa Sheehan, and the school community in this regard. Down the road is Milton State School, which last week hosted Her Excellency the Governor at the unveiling of stage A of its mosaic at the school assembly area. Milton recently celebrated 115 years of providing quality learning. The Milton State School community also has the refurbishment of its toilets at the top of its wish list, and I have made strong representations to the Minister for Education on this matter. The principal, Alan Brooks, leads a staff dedicated to the school, which has a long and proud history in our community. Across the way is Rainworth State School, with Glenda Bell as principal. Rainworth proudly wears its arts focus on its sleeve. Indeed it recently hosted an artist in residence. Last year the school won statewide recognition for its arts achievements. Rainworth State School will soon benefit from the Beattie Labor government's Smart State Building Fund with the construction of a $100,000 new art space. Towards Mount Coot-tha itself is Bardon State School, tucked away in a bushland environment just minutes from the CBD. Last week Bardon State School again led the way with the Bardon Young Writers Workshop, which featured author James Moloney. Principal George Tyler told me on Tuesday night that James was so enamoured with his week that he is keen to attend again. Congratulations to all of the schools that joined together to participate in this endeavour again this year. Toowong State School is nestled amongst the tin and timber homes of Toowong. This week has seen Toowong State School showing its wares at Toowong Village. Principal John Collins has been participating in an open forum of state school principals to carry the message on public education. At Ithaca Creek State School, Wendy Neal is charge as Ithaca enters its 104th year. As part of State Education Week it has had an open day, with parents attending class. In a few short hours I know that Wendy, along with other principals from my electorate, will be heading to the north side to attend a performance of students as part of the celebration of public education. A highlight will surely be the performance of students from Ithaca Creek and Milton state schools in the Wild Cats Jazz Band. 1368 Adjournment 20 May 2004

Time does not allow me to mention fully all the good work that goes on in the schools in my electorate. I commend them for their efforts and the dedication of the teachers and staff. I went to state schools, and there I learned many of the values I hold today. I commend the schools in my electorate for their efforts in creating the citizens of tomorrow. Time expired.

Gladstone Maritime History Society Inc. Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone—Ind) (5.06 p.m.): I rise to pay tribute to the group of volunteers who form and run the Gladstone Maritime History Society Inc., which was opened in 1999. They operate the Gladstone Maritime Museum. The committee is chaired by Stephen Mills who, up until this last election, was a councillor on Gladstone City Council. He has been dedicated to the maritime history of Gladstone for many years. He is accompanied by a committee and volunteers who run the museum, completely on a voluntary basis. They do a brilliant job. They operate from a building on Auckland Point. There is a bit of a convoluted access path to the building; however, the society members work tirelessly to ensure the success of the museum and the actual accumulation of history at the museum. As an important port in Queensland and in Australia, it is entirely appropriate that a maritime history museum is established and continued in Gladstone. I again congratulate all of the members for their tireless efforts. The exhibitions range from local historically significant items and local items of notoriety. One of these is a bathtub that was sailed across some very rough seas. The museum is open to the public and enhances locals' and visitors' experiences as they come to Gladstone. The space is well and truly full at the moment, with some exhibitions outside, such as miniature lighthouses. There will have to be extensions to the exhibition space, either on the Auckland Point site or elsewhere. Funding is a constant challenge to them. I congratulate them for their dedication to what is an important link to our past and future. In terms of maritime history, it was disappointing to hear recently that the HMAS Gladstone may be lost to Queensland when it is decommissioned. I know that former member of parliament Bill Flynn passionately pursued the retention of that vessel in Queensland for historical purposes. It appears that the opportunity may be lost to us because other people are showing interest in the vessel and apparently the Queensland government has not. I believe that the Premier was the one who was taking some action in relation to that vessel. I would certainly urge the Premier to reconsider and lodge an expression of interest for that vessel for historical purposes. Maritime history in Queensland is important as Australia is an island. Early transport relied heavily on our sea. It is important that future generations understand the important link, then and now, of sea travel. Much raw material—bauxite from Weipa—is brought to Gladstone on vessels, so it is an important element of our history.

Unfair Dismissal Laws Mr WILSON (Ferny Grove—ALP) (5.09 p.m.): Recently the Senate defeated the Howard government's latest attempt to weaken protection for working Australians against unfair dismissal. The Workplace Relations Amendment (Termination of Employment) Bill (No. 2) 2002 would have taken over the unfair dismissal laws of Queensland and other states against the wishes of the states. It is estimated that under the federal bill up to 85 per cent of all reinstatement applications would have had to be filed in the Federal Industrial Commission. In the financial year 2002-03, there was a total of 2,058 applications in Queensland for reinstatement on the grounds of wrongful dismissal—80 per cent filed in the Queensland commission and 20 per cent in the federal commission. The federal bill would have reversed this. Had the bill then been successful, the 414 Queensland applications that were filed in the federal commission would have jumped dramatically to about 1,749. As a result, about 1,335 workers who sought justice in the Queensland Industrial Commission would have been forced into the hostile federal commission. These workers would have been worse off. The federal Treasurer has revealed that the long-term agenda is to abolish unfair dismissal laws altogether. Meanwhile, the Howard strategy is to radically cut the chances of a worker being successfully reinstated through arbitration. While the odds of a worker succeeding in arbitration before the Queensland Industrial Commission are tough—about two in five, that is, about 42 per cent—workers before the federal commission have only half the chances of those in the state commission, about one in five or 22 per cent. The bill would have decimated the Queensland commission's reinstatement jurisdiction and significantly undermined the commission's long-term viability. I again call upon the National and Liberal parties in this House to stand up for Queensland workers by getting their mates—the Howard government—to abandon its attempts, relentless attempts, in fact, to abolish the state's unfair dismissal laws. 20 May 2004 Adjournment 1369

Pirate's Playground, Clifton Mr COPELAND (Cunningham—NPA) (5.12 p.m.): I had the great honour on Saturday of officially opening the Pirate's Playground at Treasure Island, organised by the Clifton Community Child Care Association. Clifton is unbelievably lucky. For a reasonably small country town, the facility at Treasure Island is a magnificent facility. It is a reasonably new facility. Construction finished only a few years ago, but it only came about because of the dedication and many years of long hard work by a small group of volunteers and the cooperation of all levels of government in our area. It is great to see what can happen when the three levels of government cooperate because it can culminate in the fantastic facility that we have at Clifton. The Mayor of Clifton, Ian Jones, said on Saturday that simply by having that facility there the growth rates predicted for Clifton have increased because it adds to the lifestyle opportunities in that town. As many members would know, the new playgrounds that are now being built around the place make the old monkey bars and seesaws look fairly obsolete. Pirate's Playground is a fantastic addition to that facility. It was only made possible because of the grant they were able to get through the Community Benefit Fund. There are many debates about the merits of gambling, but one of the positives that comes from it is the amount of money that goes back into the community. It is only a very small percentage of what is raised through gambling, but the amounts of money that go back to small organisations make it possible for facilities to be built that otherwise would not be able to be built. In this case, for example, the management committee raised $2,000 and it was matched with just under $30,000 from the Community Benefit Fund. That is an awful lot of chook raffles that have to be run to raise that amount of money. If they did not get it from the fund, then it simply would not have been possible. I congratulate the director, Robyn Cameron, Colleen Kratzmann, the now president of the management committee, Madeline McPherson, the chair of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, who is from Toowoomba and who was in attendance, the mayor, Ian Jones, who was also in attendance, and all the families and children who were able to play on that facility for the first time. There are over 100 families who use this centre. As I said, it is a brilliant centre. The new playground is specifically for out of school care for older children but also for children who are there between the hours of nine to three when the out of school care children are at school. It is a fantastic facility. It is completely community based and community run. The Clifton Shire Council has made an ongoing commitment to the facility. It has made land available for this playground to be built and it really adds to the amenity of the Clifton town. Caboolture Community Campus Ms MALE (Glass House—ALP) (5.15 p.m.): I would like to speak tonight about an issue in my electorate that has received selective press coverage, and I would like the opportunity of clarifying a few matters. I speak of the future of the Caboolture Community Campus—a three-way partnership between QUT, Brisbane North Institute of TAFE and the Caboolture Shire Council. For the past several years the three organisations have been working towards establishing a combined facility which would enable local residents to access both university courses and TAFE courses from a central CBD site. Indeed, since February 2002, the Caboolture Community Campus has been operating from temporary premises in council's King Street building—and paying full commercial rates. At the end of April, Caboolture Shire Council suddenly announced it was withdrawing from the agreement and was attempting to have QUT's places allocated to another mystery university, with the help of Mal Brough and Brendan Nelson. At no stage did council communicate its plans to either QUT or TAFE or Education Queensland or the Department of Employment and Training—very unusual. To date, the Beattie Labor government has contributed a significant sum of money to assist in the redevelopment of the CBD and the establishment of the Caboolture Community Campus. The government also has over $4 million set aside to assist in the construction of the new CBD site as well as over $2 million set aside through Department of Local Government and Planning for site planning and library upgrade. I believe that Caboolture Shire Council and Mal Brough have acted in a rash and unprofessional manner and in so doing have jeopardised the revitalisation of the CBD. Let me make it quite clear: the Caboolture TAFE and QUT are committed to continuing the excellent partnership they have forged to provide a high-quality educational environment and top-quality courses to students of the Caboolture area. Extensions to the Tallon Street campus is the obvious choice for facilitating the further development of this partnership. QUT and TAFE will continue to support those students who have already commenced their courses and ensure that their quality of educational opportunity is considered and sustained. What has not been made clear in the reporting to date is that Caboolture Shire Council has reneged on the plans that have been made to date. Last year I attended the launch of the CBD site plans for the new campus. This launch was organised by the shire council and was held in the council building. Less than one month later the 1370 Adjournment 20 May 2004 council reneged on the amount of land that would be made available to the new Caboolture Community Campus and would not guarantee access to the land for future expansion to facilitate the educational opportunities available to local residents. There have been further backdowns by the council on issues that had previously been agreed, but its request several years after the new facilities were built that QUT and TAFE then pay the Caboolture Shire Council rent—that is, that TAFE and QUT pay council rent for facilities that TAFE and QUT paid to build—is absolutely outrageous. How is that for double-dipping by council? I am not sure what is behind this absolutely ludicrous course of action that council has embarked upon. Council, with Mal Brough's assistance, has jeopardised the revitalisation of the CBD. It has jeopardised many years of hard work in establishing a campus with a world-class university. But, more importantly, council has jeopardised the educational opportunities available to people of the shire. I have never seen such short-sightedness before. If I was a CBD business that had either set up or expanded on the council's promises, I would be very, very angry indeed. I want to reassure the House that QUT and Brisbane North Institute of TAFE are committed to the people of Caboolture. This partnership will continue and top-quality courses will continue to be offered to the people of Caboolture.

Caloundra Road Mr McARDLE (Caloundra—Lib) (5.18 p.m.): I rise to speak about a major road adjoining the Bruce Highway to Caloundra—Caloundra Road. It extends some 8.23 kilometres in length to the Nicklin Way roundabout yet there are only four lanes for about one-half of that distance. From the Bruce Highway to Pierce Avenue, it continues to be two lanes. It was reported in the Department of Main Roads 2003 traffic census that Caloundra Road carried a daily average of 29,500 vehicles from the Bruce Highway to Pierce Avenue with a six per cent per annum growth. This year 31,270 vehicles will use that portion of Caloundra Road. The real concern is that the Beattie government's Roads Implementation Program in 1998 showed that the duplication would be completed by the end of June 2003 at a cost of $26 million whilst the latest plans shows a cost of $51.5 million with no scheduled completion date. The cost has almost doubled. This government has lost $26 million which could have been spent on the Caloundra Hospital, public transport on the coast or to bring CAMCOS closer to realisation than 2015. Caloundra Road is the major arterial road which continues to draw traffic from significant growth, both residential and commercial. Add to that the population and popularity of the Sunshine Coast as a lifestyle destination and the introduction of the multimodal corridor; significant urgent works must be undertaken to upgrade this road. To do otherwise is a dereliction of this government's responsibility to ensure that the infrastructure in this state is kept up to a satisfactory standard. In fact, the history of this government in relation to infrastructure in regard to roads is appalling, with the recent report of Professor Allan Layton outlining the need for an additional $1.35 billion to be spent each year in addition to that which has already been spent on gross public fixed capital outlays. The Minister for Transport and Main Roads was asked a question in the House this morning by the member for Noosa about the Sunshine Coast and what the state government is going to do with regard to transport infrastructure. The minister in his reply had a prime opportunity to deal with the issue of Caloundra Road; in fact, he stated in his reply that he would be spending $383 million over the next five years. The minister did not refer to Caloundra Road directly or indirectly. This is an appalling situation and highlights this government's attitude to the people of Caloundra.

Traffic Problems, Gold Coast Mr LAWLOR (Southport—ALP) (5.21 p.m.): Can I say how amused I was when listening to the new member for Moggill last Thursday when he was speaking on the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Bill. Amongst other things he referred to— ... the lack of interest and the inactivity of the present state government in addressing even in a planning sense the major problems that confront and frustrate urban residents in our state. Later on he referred to— ... years of neglect of transport infrastructure. I was amused because one of the most irresponsible transport decisions in Queensland history was made by the coalition government in 1966, a glaring example of lack of planning and foresight, and that was the decision to rip up the Gold Coast rail line. The decision was made by a Liberal transport minister, Sir Gordon Chalk, and the rail line was ripped up with such indecent haste that a locomotive was left at Coolangatta and had to be dismantled and transported to Brisbane by road. Then the National-Liberal government in typical white-shoe brigade fashion proceeded to flog off the land corridor mainly to their mates. It took a Beattie Labor government 30 years to reinstate this service and at great 20 May 2004 Adjournment 1371 expense because of the resumptions that were required. During the term of this government we will duplicate that service at a cost of $247 million. Another reason that the Gold Coast suffers from such horrendous traffic problems can be traced to another decision by the coalition government in the early 1970s. A ring-road system had been designed for the Gold Coast in the late 1960s and the land resumptions were progressing, but the resumptions included some of Sir Bruce Small's land at Benowa. When he was elected to this state parliament in 1972 he used his influence to have that project shelved. The resumed land was then disposed of and a unique opportunity to plan for the transport needs of a rapidly growing Gold Coast was lost forever. Every resident of and visitor to the Gold Coast is now paying for the Liberal and National parties' lack of foresight and lack of courage to make a tough decision. It is also interesting that the two people at the centre of these decisions were knights of the realm. But, of course, in those heady days of the coalition—the robber baron days—if you were far enough up the political food chain you could get a knighthood for yourself. If you were not far enough up the political food chain you could buy one by making a substantial donation to the National and/or the Liberal Party. Ergon Energy, Dalby Mr HOPPER (Darling Downs—NPA) (5.23 p.m.): I would like to speak on the demise of Ergon Energy in Dalby. In February 1999 Minister McGrady addressed staff at the Dalby office about the formation of Ergon Energy and in July 1999, when questioned by staff about the head office being in Brisbane and prospects for local staff, the minister stated that he did not envisage anymore than 30-odd staff being required in Brisbane and the current staff would continue in their roles at Dalby. Approximately 590 Ergon Energy staff are based in Brisbane. At the time of the creation of Ergon there were in excess of 110 staff employed at the office on the corner of Marble and Drayton Streets, Dalby. Ergon chose to site its new single call centre at Rockhampton, thus effectively ceasing the current roles of the call centre staff at Dalby. As at March 2004 there are only 36 staff left at the Dalby office; 20 moved to Toowoomba, 17 moved to Brisbane, five moved to Rockhampton and 32 resigned or have taken redundancies. While those staff have not been forced to relocate, some moved because it suited their personal circumstances, and Ergon management allowed some staff to relocate because those staff members could see no future in Dalby for their career prospects even though they would have preferred to stay. Conservative estimates are that $5 million to $6 million has left the town of Dalby and the community due to the staff reductions. This does not include the income that their spouses, partners or children may also have been earning. The four floors in the Dalby office are now predominantly empty and locating the remaining staff all on the one floor is being considered. Meanwhile the Toowoomba office of Ergon is overcrowded to the point where the company is leasing more office space to accommodate the staff, while the building is three-quarters empty in Dalby. In the Dalby Herald on 22 February 1999 Mr McGrady was quoted as saying that he promised that the head office at Dalby would not become an empty shell and that normal functions would continue. The normal functions are continuing elsewhere in Queensland, predominantly Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville—not at Dalby. With only 36 staff left, and that number falling, it is certainly beginning to take on the appearance of an empty shell. Just another broken Beattie Labor government promise. Death of Mr P.M. Land Mr McNAMARA (Hervey Bay—ALP) (5.26 p.m.): It is with great sadness that I rise to inform the House of the recent passing of Patrick Maurice Land, known to all and sundry as Paddy. Paddy passed away on 10 May aged 80. He was a stalwart of the Hervey Bay branch of the ALP, as is his wife Marian, and I offer to her my deepest sympathies on the loss of her beloved Paddy. Paddy Land was born in Cunnamulla, the youngest of eight children. Paddy's grandfather, Edward Martin Land, was the ALP member for Balonne in this place for over 22 years from 1904 to 1927. From his grandfather Paddy inherited a great passion for politics in general and the ALP in particular. Paddy was a Labor man through and through. He worked as a party member on innumerable campaigns, first in Cunnamulla where he grew up and later worked for the council, and then subsequently in Hervey Bay where he and Marion later retired. Paddy worked on all five of Bill Nunn's campaigns in Hervey Bay between 1986 and 1995 and on both of mine, with a total of five wins from the last seven state elections in Hervey Bay, which is a pretty fair strike rate. He was a great support to me, welcoming me into the local ALP when I arrived in the early nineties, and I will never forget him for it. He was, as I mentioned at his thanksgiving service last Friday in Hervey Bay, an absolute straight shooter. Paddy was a thoroughly decent man who always spoke his mind and he was usually right. Many people have the view that political parties are made up exclusively of slick operators, spin doctors and number crunchers. That is not true. If they are lucky, and I believe the ALP is, then political parties are in fact made up of people like Paddy Land: honest, compassionate people who want to see a fair go 1372 Adjournment 20 May 2004 for workers and their families in a safe and happy community. On 7 June 2003 the ALP administrative committee awarded Paddy Land the highest honour which my party can bestow: life membership. Coincidentally, Marian was also honoured at the same time with a long service certificate for 26 years of service to the ALP. Paddy was the father of four children: Trish, Marty, Daniel and Nerida, and four grandchildren: Jerimy, Jesse, Sebby and Oska. At the thanksgiving service last Friday there were many tears, but many smiles, too. Paddy always had an enigmatic smile, a bit of a Mona Lisa, and a twinkle in his eye. He was wise and fun to be around at the same time. The love he left behind was tangible and although he will be greatly missed and mourned by his family and friends he will also be loved and remembered in the hearts of all who knew him. As Thomas Campbell once wrote— To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. Vale Paddy Land. Motion agreed to. The House adjourned at 5.28 p.m.

K. A. TYNDALL, ACTING GOVERNMENT PRINTER, QUEENSLAND—2004