Legislative Assembly Hansard 1981
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 22 OCTOBER 1981 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 2886 22 Odober 1981 Fees paid by Crown to PubUc Rdations and Advertising Agencies THURSDAY, 22 OCTOBER 1981 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. S. J. MuUer, Fassifern) read prayers and took the chah at H a.m. FEES PAID BY CROWN TO PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ADVERTISING AGENCIES Return to Order The following paper was laid on the table:— Return to an Order made by the House on 5 August last, on the motion of Dr Lockwood, showing aU payments made by the Government to public relations agencies or consultants and advertising agencies or consultants during the 1980-81 financial year, stating the names of the redpients and the amounts received separately. Questions Upon Notice 22 October 1981 2887 PAPERS The foUowing papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed:— Reports— Department •of Mapping and Surveying for 1980-81 Air Pollution CouncU for 1980-81 Department of Harbours and Marine for the year ended 30 June 1981 PETITION The Clerk-Assistant announced the receipt of the following petition:— Education Funding From Mr Powell (11 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland wiU restore education funding to the 1975-76 level, that Is, 25.6 per cent of the State Budget. Pethion recdved. QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE Questions submitted on notice by members were answered as follows:— 1 & 2. Fire-damaged School Buildings; Sprinkler Systems and Insurance Mr Akers asked the Minister for Works and Housing— With reference to fires which severely damaged buildings at Strathpine State School and Pine Rivers and Nashville High Schools in 1980 and 1981— (1) What is the department's priority for replacing or repairing each building? (2) What is the estimated cost in regard to each incident including furniture and temporary accommodation? (3) What has been the total cost of replacing or repairing fire-damaged schools in each of the last three financial years? (4) What is the estimated extra cost of instaUing a simple sprinkler system in new current standard-design class-room blocks during constraction? (5) Why are such systems, which would have saved the relatively new Strathpine block, not installed in new buUdings as normal procedure? Answer:— (1) Demolition of fire-damaged sections to eliminate dangerous circumstances is the first priority. Provision of sufficient accommodation for the school's current needs is then considered, and if additional accommodation is required, supply of demountable buildings Is normally arranged as they can be relocated most quickly. Technical officers of the Works Department then evaluate the needs of the school and prepare a scheme which is submitted to the Education Department for its consideration. Where replacement accommodation is required, it is generally of such proportion that it would require inclusion on a loan program, and its inclusion would be dependent on the priority it was allocated by the Education Department. This would then be considered in the light of available funds. (2) Strathpine State School—DemoUtlon, $10,500, temporary accommodation, $24,447, fumiture, $11,400; Pine Rivers State High School—DemoUtion, $7,500; Nashville State High School—DemoUtion, $11,625, furniture, $1,417. (3) Repairs and/or replacement value of work carried out— $ 1978-79 .. 268,793 1979-80 .. ,. .- 128,240 1980-81 403,703 (4) The overaU cost estimate for the InstaUation of sprinkler systems in Stage 1 of a PS 78 primary school Is $55,000 and $64,000 for Stage 1 of a HS 78 high school. iSfl 22 October 1981 Questions Upon Notice Maintenance costs and alarm system rental costs and call-out attendance costs would attract budget costs of $300 per annum per school site for Telecom line rental and fire brigade charges and $2,400 per annum for maintenance and service costs. (5) The provision of sprinkler systeiris to schools is not a mandatory requirement under the Building Act or Fire Act. Having regard to vandaUsm, it must be acknowledged that sprinkler systems vrith exposed glass bulbs or thermal elements represent a most vulnerable target and, as such, might be proven too ineffective and cause cost losses through water damage. Fire hydrants are installed in schoolgrounds so that adequate facilities are available to the fire brigade for fire-fighting purposes. Mr Akers asked the Minister for Education— With reference to recent fires in State schools in Queensland and the long delay in repair or replacement of those buUdings, will he give consideration to instituting a self-insurance program to provide a fund for immediate replacement of fire damaged class-rooms, especially in growing schools such as Strathpine? Answer:— The matter of either insurance or replacement funding for school buildings destroyed by fire is a question of Government rather than departmental policy. Continuing consideration is given to this matter, but the Umitation of capital funds available for the many needs in the schools sector makes it difficult to set aside funds against possible fires rather than to commit them to needed school buildings. The Works Department has an enviable record in providing both temporary and permanent replacements for school buildings destroyed by fire. Delays can be caused by the desirability of upgrading rather than simply replacing a buUding destroyed by fire. In some cases, buildings destroyed may be surplus to the minimum needs of the school and their replacement may not have a top priority. 3. Heatley State School Dr Scott-Young asked the Minister for Works and Housing— What plans are in existence for new buildings for the Heatley primary school, with particular reference to the presently inadequate library? Answer:— Documentation is in hand for the upgrading of Ubrary and admmistration accommodation at the Heatley State School. When plans have been completed, consideration will be given to this project in the light of funds avaUable at that time. 4., Offer of Bribe to Police Officer During Interview Mr Hooper asked the Minister for Local Government, Main Roads and Police— (1) During an interview between Detective Senior Constable First Class Fancourt, then of the Licensing Branch, now sergeant at Anakie, and Luciano Scognamglio, also known as Scoglamino, concerning a gaming offence, was a bribe offered to Fancourt? (2) Was Scognamglio's offer to Fancourt tape-recorded by Fancourt, and during this conservation did Scognamglio state that when two senior police officers "got to the top they would look after him"? (3) Was Scognamglio charged and what was the result? (4) Was there a tape-recording of the conversation between Fancourt and Scoglamino, and did the conversation outline the relationship between Scognamglio and these two senior police officers and, if so, what are their names? Answer:— (1) Yes. In December 1974, when K. W. Fancourt was attached to the Licensmg Branch as a plain clothes constable 1/C, he interviewed Scognamglio and was allegedly offered bribes. Fancourt resigned from the Queensland Police Force on 25 September 1976. Questions Upon Notice 22 October 1981 2889 (2) The interviews were tape-recorded. The statements prepared by Fancourt from the tapes do not contain this conversation. (3) Yes. A nolle prosequi was entered by the Crown when the matters came before the District Court on 25 March 1977. (4) See (2). 5. Prior Information of Raids by Licensing Branch Police Mr Hooper asked the Minister for Local Government, Main Roads and PoUce— (1) Has Assistant Police Commissioner Robert Brian Hayes issued an instruction to the oificer-hi-charge of the Licensing Branch that when police are going to raid massage parlors, gambling dens, illegal casinos and SP bookmakers' premises, he is previously to be advised of (a) the name of the premises and (b) the approximate time the raid was to be made, so that his permission has to be given before the raid is carried out? (2) Apart from Assistant Commissioner Hayes, the officer-in-oharge of the Licensing Branch and the officers designated to carry out the raid, (a) what other members of the Queensland Police Force are given this information and (b) as it obvious that massage parlors, gambling dens, iUegal casinos and, according to the latest TAB report, SP bookies are still flourishing in Queensland, is he aware that many members of the Queensland Police Force, dedicated to stamping out these activities, are becoming most dissatisfied that they appear to be receiving patronage in high places? Answer:— (1) No such instruction has been issued by Assistant Commissioner Hayes, any assistant commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner or the Commissioner. The Licensing Branch has not come under Assistant Commissioner Hayes's portfolio for approximately dght months. (2) (a) Prior advice of raids is n'Ot required by or given to any assistant commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner or the Commissioner. Raids are the sole responsibility of the officer-in-charge of the Licensing Branch, Brisbane, and permission is not required from any more senior p>olice officer. The only other officers who are given this information are the members of the Licensing Branch who have a need to know. (b) No, and I completely rejed this part of the question. 6. Issuing of Summonses by Licensing Branch; Mrs E. M. Earwacker, JP Mr Hooper asked the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General— (1) How many summonses have been witnessed by Mrs Evelyn M. Earwacker, JP, of Jane Street, West End, for the year ended 30 June and ^so for the period 30 June to 30 September? (2)