Hansard 1 November 1995
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Legislative Assembly 775 1 November 1995 WEDNESDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 1995 Reports of the Office of Local Government Commissioner— Local Government Boundaries Review: Cloncurry/Mount Isa City, Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) Waggamba Shire/Tara Shire read prayers and took the chair at 2.30 p.m. Copies of references, dated 24 October 1995, to the Local Government Commissioner in relation to the following PETITIONS areas— The Clerk announced the receipt of the City of Caloundra and Shire of following petitions— Caboolture City of Caloundra and Shire of Maroochy Touting, Surfers Paradise Shire of Cooloola and Shire of From Mr Baumann (337 signatories) Noosa requesting that legislation be enacted to Shire of Maroochy and Shire of prohibit the proliferation of touting outside Noosa businesses in the heart of Surfers Paradise. (c) Minister for Transport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Economic and Trade Development (Mr Elder)— Imported Pork Queensland Department of Transport— From Mr Gibbs (204 signatories) Annual Report for 1994-95 requesting the introduction of labelling laws to (d) Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, increase public awareness of local and Minister for Industrial Relations and imported pork or alternatively the introduction Minister for the Arts (Mr Foley)— of a tariff making imported and locally Electoral Commission of Queensland— produced pig meat the same price. Annual Report for 1994-95 (e) Minister for Business, Industry and Police Resources, Dalby Regional Development (Mr Hayward)— From Mr Littleproud (1,044 signatories) Queensland Small Business Corporation— requesting that the House take immediate Annual Report for 1994-95 action to restore police staffing numbers at the (f) Minister for Lands (Mr McElligott)— Dalby Police Station. Department of Lands—Annual Report for 1994-95 (incorporating the Annual Report of the Rural Lands Protection Board for Port Hinchinbrook 1994-95). From Mr Robertson (602 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ensure that Port Hinchinbrook is developed as advised in the Valentine report i.e. 100 beds Overseas Visit or less. Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich—Minister Petitions received. for Education) (2.35 p.m.), by leave: In reporting today to the Parliament on my recent visit to PNG, I can advise the House that it was PAPERS undertaken against the backdrop of a significant amount of work completed by my The following papers were laid on the department in recent years in forging a healthy table— education relationship with our nearest (a) Treasurer (Mr De Lacy)— neighbour. Annual Reports for 1994-95— For Queensland, the education of PNG Government Superannuation Office students is an important part of our bilateral Queensland Government relationship, both in terms of its economic Superannuation Schemes significance and the role the personal relationships and loyalties developed at school (b) Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning, Minister for Rural can play in the future. The objectives of my Communities and Minister for Provision of visit were to consolidate Queensland's already Infrastructure for Aboriginal and Torres solid position as the premier overseas Strait Islander Communities destination for PNG secondary students; to (Mr Mackenroth)— further promote Australia as an education 1 November 1995 776 Legislative Assembly partner for Papua New Guinea through members of Parliament is essential for a supporting the Austrade Education Training successful and mutually beneficial relationship Mission; and to augment ministerial and senior to continue to be developed. I recommend to official contacts with PNG education authorities members of both sides of this House the with a view to identifying further opportunities benefits of acquainting themselves with a visit for cooperation, including possible activities to Papua New Guinea should the opportunity funded under development cooperation arise. arrangements. I have pleasure in tabling this report and a With more than $288m in exports program of my visit to Papua New Guinea. annually from Queensland to Papua New Guinea, representing some 30 percent of the total trade between Australia and PNG, that MINISTERIAL STATEMENT country is now our second-largest market in Challinor Centre; Claims by Member Oceania after New Zealand. Indeed, in for Beaudesert subsequent discussions with Sir Julius Chan, the Prime Minister was able to indicate that his Hon. M. R. WOODGATE own education in Queensland was very (Kurwongbah—Minister for Family and important in establishing and furthering strong Community Services and Minister Assisting the personal friendships and ties between Premier on the Status of Women) (2.38 p.m.), Queensland and Papua New Guinea. From by leave: I wish to bring to the attention of the my perspective, it was also encouraging to House a matter that is of grave concern to me. note that his Government placed a high Yesterday, the member for Beaudesert made priority on the provision of educational services a number of incorrect statements to the House in the country. I will table details of my regarding the operations of the Challinor program, which included meetings with the Centre and the future of senior staff of my Prime Minister, the Minister for Education, department. Honourable Joseph Onguglo, and other The member for Beaudesert has clearly officials and provincial representatives. demonstrated—not on one but two A focal point of my visit was the activities occasions—his preference for fantasy over of the Australian Trade Commission's— fact. What he did in this House was not the act Austrade—education and training road show. of a responsible member trying to serve the The road show visited some five major centres interests of the community; it was the act of a in PNG over a one-week period and is a man trying to incite fear by using the most marvellous exposition of what Australia can vulnerable people in our society: people with offer to students in terms of the delivery of intellectual disabilities. As usual, the member's high-quality education and training services. I claims were total nonsense, but I will not suggest Queensland has the most to gain dismiss his allegations as not worth worrying from such a mobile endorsement of Australian about. Indeed, his accusations are very much education. Specifically, Queensland providers, worth worrying about. His claims are namely, the Queensland Department of dangerous, because they seek to incite fear in Education, Queensland University of the very people we should be assisting. He Technology, University of Southern seeks to twist the truth in the nastiest possible Queensland, James Cook University, Slade way for purely political ends. Worst of all, he School, St Theresa's College and TAFE seeks to use people with intellectual disabilities (Queensland) International each took as pawns in his own political game. advantage of the opportunity to provide an I turn to fantasy No. 1. The member for exhibit at the show. Each has a solid Beaudesert gave notice of a motion in this reputation in the market of delivering high- House yesterday morning claiming that quality education and training services. I Challinor Centre staff had locked out centre encourage other educational institutions to residents from an administration block follow their lead and become participants in because of concerns that residents of future road shows. The gamut of institutions Challinor Centre may spread disease within taking part this year will, I am sure, testify to the administration block. Let me provide the the value of such a promotion as this. facts. Within Challinor Centre there are two From my discussions with Ministers, administration blocks: one for each of the two provincial representatives and officials in PNG, areas of management within the centre. One new bilateral opportunities have become of the administration blocks is a secure evident. As with our relationship with our other building. The other block, which is called the international neighbours, we have agreed that clinic block, has not been a secure building in regular contact between Ministers, officials and the past. It should be emphasised that the Legislative Assembly 777 1 November 1995 clinic block is only an administration block; courage of his convictions to face me on the there are only offices, and it does not house floor of the Parliament, because he knows he any residents. The lack of security allowed any is wrong and that I can show he is wrong. person at any time during the day to walk into the building and access computers and files. Recently, the centre introduced a security trial. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE This is not a lockout of residents. Residents Workers Compensation Fund can visit the administration block at any Mr BORBIDGE (2.47 p.m.): I ask the reasonable time, but arrangements have to be Minister for Employment and Training: will she made first so they can enter through the new table the actuarial assessment to back her security. claim that the workers' compensation package The memo, which the member for announced today will return the scheme to a Beaudesert claims he tabled yesterday, fully-funded position in five years? supports his accusation of a lockout. We must Mrs EDMOND: I will be bringing a have been reading from different memos, package of measures into this House, because the memo tabled yesterday clearly including legislation that will show exactly what states the arrangements which are in place to we will be doing. allow staff and residents access to the building. Mr BORBIDGE: I rise to a point of order. My question related specifically to the The member for Beaudesert was not actuarial statement. content with one fantasy yesterday. He then went on to attack senior staff of my Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of department. He claimed that two senior staff order. I cannot direct Ministers as to how they were sacked over the weekend. Nothing could should answer questions. be further from the truth.