16 Sep 1998 Ministerial Statement 2209

WEDNESDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 1998 Queenslanders. These bodies play a vital role in the administration of the State and the delivery of services to Queenslanders. They help set direction, maintain excellence and Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) ensure accountability for a range of read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. Government operations and public enterprises. The Government's use of a central register will enhance accessibility to OMBUDSMAN Government decision making. It will broaden Report the range of Queenslanders appointed to Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have to report that boards and statutory positions. It is one thing today I received from the Ombudsman a for people to volunteer to serve on such report entitled Rate Recovery Practices of bodies, but it is crucial that we do our best to Local Governments in Queensland. I table the give them a detailed explanation of what is said report. required of them. This week my Government has approved PAPERS publication of a guide for members of Government boards, committees and statutory STATUTORY INSTRUMENT AND REPORT authorities. The new guide has undergone The following statutory instrument and report extensive consultation. It consolidates into one were tabled by The Clerk— book, for the first time in Queensland, information relevant to the operation of Judges (Salaries and Allowances) Act 1967 and Government boards, committees and statutory Statutory Instruments Act 1992— authorities. The guide will assist Government Judges Salaries and Allowances Tribunal board members in the informed and effective Determination (No. 1) 1998 performance of their duties. It will assist the Eighteenth Report by the Salaries and Government in pursuing accountability and Allowances Tribunal dated 19 May 1998. fiscal responsibility in respect of decisions made by Government bodies. The guide is available for purchase at MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Goprint at nominal cost and will be subject to Statutory Authorities and Boards annual review to ensure its continued Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— relevance and utility. What we are doing is ALP) (Premier) (9.31 a.m.), by leave: I wish to giving more power to the people. advise members about two important Government initiatives to open up Government MINISTERIAL STATEMENT to more and more people and to enhance accountability by statutory authorities, Crime Prevention Task Force committees and other Government bodies. I Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— am talking about real people ALP) (Premier) (9.34 a.m.), by leave: This power—government of the people by the Government is demonstrating that it is tough people. Cabinet has approved implementation on crime and tough on the causes of crime. A of a central register of nominees to high-powered crime prevention task force Government bodies so that people can under my personal supervision will drive a nominate themselves to serve on Government $47m Crime Prevention Strategy. As a bodies. Advertisements for expressions of community, crime costs us more than $2 billion interest for the register appeared in major a year and a lot of hurt, anguish, heartbreak weekend editions of all metropolitan and and misery. That is why this task force has regional newspapers in Queensland. been established. It will work closely with the I urge members of all parties to assist with relevant Ministers and police. the success of this initiative by encouraging Crime prevention is far better than trying constituents to lodge their details with the to deal with the damaging effects of crime. It is register. There are more than 400 Queensland far better to prevent cancer than to try to cut it Government boards and statutory authorities out after it has developed. We will provide an involved in a broad range of Government extra 317 police this year, with an extra 10 decision making. Individually and collectively police shopfronts and an extra 10 police beats, these bodies have considerable decision- some of which the Minister for Police has making power which impacts upon the already announced. We promised juvenile economic and social wellbeing of all crime prevention and early intervention 2210 Ministerial Statement 16 Sep 1998 programs. We will be spending $3m a year on before offenders are sentenced. I table a copy the positive parenting program. We promised of an article which appeared in the Courier-Mail to combat violence against women, to set up on 7 July 1998 which highlighted possible meaningful drug and alcohol strategies and to problems in this area. Of course, where there assist organisations that look after victims of are disputes over material facts relevant to crime. We have provided $4m to reduce sentence, these have to be resolved by the alcohol and drug related crime and an extra calling of evidence and attendant cross- $1m to victims' associations. examination. We had set aside $35m for this Crime This may include the evidence of a victim, Prevention Strategy. We have now set aside particularly where the fact in issue is grave and an extra $12m for the Urban Renewal the consequences for sentencing of an Program. This will make a total of $47m. offender are serious. The decision of the court The task force will include nine other means that the prosecution may have to prove departments, the Criminal Justice Commission, in court the validity of a victim's impact the Victims of Crime Association and youth statement beyond reasonable doubt, whereas and business community representatives. Only previously factual issues such as those in directors-general or deputy directors-general victim impact statements could be decided on will sit on the task force which will report to the balance of probabilities, subject to the Cabinet on progress every six months. proviso that the requisite degree of probability is commensurate with the importance and This year alone the Government will gravity of the issue and the consequences. spend $27m on our Urban Renewal Program, This is known as the Briginshaw test. which aims to improve lifestyle and neighbourhood pride and slash the crime rate A person who has been bashed or raped in problem areas across the State. At does not deserve to suffer further trauma Riverview, near Ipswich, calls to police dropped through his or her association with the criminal by an astonishing 60% after the Labor justice system. The Queensland Labor Government introduced an urban renewal Government will address this issue through program. This is part of our strategy about community consultation. Consideration is being tough on crime and tough on the being given to amending section 15 of the causes of crime. Penalties and Sentences Act and section 109(3) of the Juvenile Justice Act to change the standard of proof for disputed matters on MINISTERIAL STATEMENT sentence back to its state prior to the Court of Fact Finding on Sentence Appeal decision. In Victoria, sections 95a to 95e of the Sentencing Act make it clear that a Hon. M. J. FOLEY (Yeronga—ALP) person who has made a victim impact (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and statement may be required to give evidence Minister for The Arts) (9.37 a.m.), by leave: I and be cross-examined, while the offender take this opportunity to outline to the House may call witnesses in rebuttal. another initiative that the Queensland Labor Government is taking to bring about a culture Mr Justice Charles of the Victorian Court change in the criminal justice system—to shift of Appeal said— its focus back onto the victims of crime while "The evident purpose of the 1994 respecting the traditional rights of accused legislation was to give victims of crime an persons. Already I have released discussion opportunity to place before the courts papers on reforms to stalking laws and to the their own statement of the impact a crime Criminal Offence Victims Act as part of this has had upon them and their families process. and, in doing so, both to involve victims in Today I have pleasure in tabling a the workings of the criminal justice system discussion paper entitled Fact Finding on and to ensure that judges are educated Sentence and I encourage Queenslanders to as to the consequences of the crimes with read the document and make a submission to which they are concerned in sentencing. my department by 26 October. Part of the It would be quite destructive of the discussion paper deals with victim impact purpose of these statements if their statements and it is about this aspect of the reception in evidence were surrounded paper that I wish to speak today. and confined by the sorts of procedural A recent decision by the Queensland rules applicable to the treatment of Court of Appeal has increased the likelihood of witness statements in commercial cases. victims of crimes facing cross-examination in The reception of victim impact court about their victim impact statements statements must, it seems to me, be 16 Sep 1998 Ministerial Statement 2211

approached by sentencing judges with a During construction, this project will degree of flexibility; subject, of course, to employ up to 1,100 people and when it is the overriding concern that, in justice to operational it will support 40 permanent jobs. the offender, the judge must be alert to Coal for the project will come from the nearby avoid placing reliance on inadmissible Callide coalfields and will require a $30m matter." upgrade of the field's mining infrastructure. The point of reforms in this area in This is also good news for the region. The Queensland legislation is to make the criminal development of this low-cost power station is justice system work better for victims without expected to place downward pressure on prejudicing the traditional rights of accused electricity pool prices. Again, this will be persons. The recent survey undertaken by the particularly good news for industrial and Australian Institute of Judicial Administration commercial electricity customers. The project revealed a public perception of courts as will be complementary to the Chevron project, hostile and intimidating. Reform in this area and both projects will be able to proceed to the may help to improve that perception, ultimate benefit of the people of this State. particularly for victims of crime. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Railway Workshops, Redbank Callide C Power Station Hon. S. D. BREDHAUER (Cook—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Minister for Main Hon. T. McGRADY (Mount Isa—ALP) Roads) (9.43 a.m.), by leave: In our first (Minister for Mines and Energy and Minister Budget, the Labor Government has committed Assisting the Deputy Premier on Regional to outlays of $732.1m for the Queensland—— Development) (9.41 a.m.), by leave: Over the past weeks the Government has been Mr BORBIDGE: I rise to a point of order. I reviewing contracts for the proposed Callide C seek your ruling, Mr Speaker. I did not raise project. We have consistently said that our this when the Premier referred to certain Government would honour contracts for that matters in the Budget. Now the Minister for project, but we needed to examine the Transport is referring to certain matters within contracts to ensure that maximum potential the Budget. That is, of course, before the benefit was derived for the State. House and subject to debate starting tomorrow. It has always been very clear in the I am pleased to advise the House that the rules and practice of this place that, when review of the contracts has been finalised and legislation is before the Parliament—and the the Callide C project will proceed. The plant Budget is before the Parliament—ministerial should be constructed and operating in time to statements—— provide new base load generation capacity when it is required in the period 2001-2003. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I accept the The $800m project will be undertaken by a member's point of order. The Minister will joint venture between CS Energy and Shell refrain from mentioning the Budget. Coal and will involve the construction of two Mr BREDHAUER: I am pleased to 420-megawatt coal-fired generators. The first announce yet another important initiative set is planned to start operation in May 2001, towards enhancing job security for Queensland with the second coming on line in December Rail employees. Redbank workers are now set 2001. Callide C will use advanced cycle units to take advantage of a proposed seven-year which will be 10% more efficient than program to complete the re-engineering and conventional coal-fired plant. It will produce overhaul of 88 suburban electric train sets. The less emissions, including greenhouse gases, works performed on the electric train fleet will than conventional plants. In fact, it will be the ensure the continued reliability and most efficient coal-fired plant in Australia. The performance of services on the Citytrain project is also commercially attractive in terms network. This work will provide security of of delivering significant savings in the cost of employment for 50 current staff at Redbank coal for the existing Callide B station. As well, workshops. By ensuring the quality and the Callide expansion will provide a major reliability of train services through timely economic stimulus and extensive employment maintenance of rolling stock, the Labor opportunities to the region. Development of Government is delivering on its target of this new energy infrastructure is vital to the providing a public transport system in south- continued economic development of east Queensland that will cater for the needs Queensland and is particularly important for of this rapidly growing region into the next the people of central and north Queensland. century. The Labor Government is committed 2212 Ministerial Statement 16 Sep 1998 to providing meaningful, secure employment train. This extra work at Townsville has allowed for Queensland workers. This Government will Queensland Rail to convert 30 fixed-term work together with Queensland Rail to employees at the workshops to permanent strengthen employment opportunities for staff employment. Overall more than 300 fixed-term working in specialist industrial sites such as the Queensland Rail employees have been made Redbank workshops. permanent under the Beattie Labor The work undertaken at Redbank Government. provides a vital stimulus to employment and This Government has placed jobs and economic growth in the region, offering the jobs security as its highest priority and we are Queensland economy the potential to earn delivering. We will continue to seek millions of dollars of export income each year. opportunities to convert more fixed-term Redbank has recently completed a $55m positions to permanent positions in investment program. This program has Queensland Rail throughout the State and in revolutionised the capacity of the workshop particular at the Townsville workshops, in an and equipped it to world standards. An endeavour to provide job security for both outcome of the investment is a need to skilled and unskilled workers. The continued support the new facility with modern work expansion in the role of Townsville workshops systems, processes and approaches. heralds the recognition by the Beattie Labor Several major initiatives undertaken to Government of the potential of the facilities for accommodate these systems include: job future investment and economic growth in the redesign; establishment of a new streamlined region. The creation of permanent organisational structure; work practice re- employment in regional Queensland is key to engineering; and development of integrated this Government's employment initiatives, as is support systems. These initiatives were our commitment to increase apprentice and undertaken to create processes to support the trainee positions as part of the Government's new technology and to establish appropriate Breaking the Unemployment Cycle package. and modern work practices. A consultative Queensland Rail is leading the way with its process involving workplace task teams is recruitment of apprentices increasing the steering the change process. The benefits of intake from 80 to 150 apprentices and 100 these processes are evidenced in the trainees. The Beattie Labor Government is commitment to change and the success of the pleased to announce these initiatives which program. The investment program has injected begin to deliver on our promise of increased modern technology into the workplace job security for Queensland workers and local requiring new skills and approaches to work. At business. Redbank we seek to promote career advancement opportunities, along with MINISTERIAL STATEMENT enhanced career paths and opportunities for training and skill development. What we as a Anti-bullying Program Government are promoting are quality jobs Hon. D. M. WELLS (Murrumba—ALP) providing good incomes for Queenslanders. (Minister for Education) (9.49 a.m.), by leave: The project will bring the total investment Irrespective of its size, its location or the program in retrofitting, re-engineering and socioeconomic levels of families, bullying in overhauls of electric trains at the Redbank some form or other occurs in almost every workshops to $90m. school where students play, work and learn Mr Hamill: How much? together. In fact, bullying occurs in every situation where humans of all ages and Mr BREDHAUER: $90m. The new works interests interact. Bullying—the systematic are expected to commence from December intimidation of others by coercion or 1998 and build up over the following six threats—has no place in our schools. In July, I months, in conjunction with the planned announced the establishment of an anti- transfer of Traveltrain functions to Townsville. bullying task force. Since then the task force The refurbishment of Traveltrain airconditioned has begun to tackle the problem of bullying carriages will now be undertaken by staff at through a three-pronged approach. The three Townsville workshops, also creating security of parts of that program are— employment for 50 employees. The transfer of this function from Redbank to Townsville will 1. sharing successful anti-bullying take advantage of the fine craftsmanship and strategies; carriage building skills of the Townsville 2. providing resource materials to workers, who are currently employed to work school staff and community on the Great South Pacific Express heritage members; 16 Sep 1998 Ministerial Statement 2213

3. ensuring that all schools have in MINISTERIAL STATEMENT place their own anti-bullying Primary Industries programs. Hon. H. PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) Let me address the first point. A series of (Minister for Primary Industries) (9.52 a.m.), by workable solutions has been gathered and leave: I am a firm believer in the need for truth documented, and will be published through in labelling. It is critical that consumers know Education Queensland's Intranet and the exactly where products are produced and Internet. These strategies will also be manufactured. It is critical that consumers publicised through the department's know what they get for their money. In the newsletter, Education Views, which reaches all case of the previous coalition Government's 1,300 State schools and has a distribution of inappropriate and taxpayer-funded slogan, almost 50,000 every fortnight. To date over "Getting on with the job", the label did not stick 150 primary, secondary and special schools to the office of the Minister for Primary have provided an outline of the strategies they Industries. The coalition riding instructions for use to minimise bullying. At the recent anti- Primary Industries was very much "If in doubt, bullying conference run by QUT, Dr Philip lay about". Slee—perhaps Australia's foremost expert on I knew the coalition was deferring most the matter—called for a national register of matters of legislative reviews to the bottom anti-bullying strategies. Dr Slee told me that he drawer and the too-hard basket. But it was saw the Queensland initiative as a first step to only when this Government assumed office that objective. I have responded by instructing that I could assess just how quiet things had my department to prepare a paper for the next been in the Primary Industries Minister's office. Education Ministers Council, outlining the Indeed, all was quiet on the western front. Queensland initiatives towards a national When I assumed office, I was directed to a register. place fondly known as the back paddock. What I saw there was despondency, The second point I made was in regard to mistreatment and negligence. The previous providing school staff with resource materials. Government had a poor record on primary A professional development package including industries legislative reviews. I spent some videotapes and manuals will be distributed in time up in the back paddock, reassuring, September to all schools. This package is offering sustenance. Some of these intended for use with students, parents, abandoned reviews were just happy to see a teachers, principals and administrators, non- human being again. What did I find up there? teaching staff, and other members of the What did I find in the back paddock? There school community. It is designed to help raise was the dairy industry review, which was awareness about bullying and develop an allowed to drag on and on under the coalition. understanding of its nature. That in turn will We have finally got the report and I formed a guide preventive responses to these issues. It working group to examine the supply is also intended to make students and others management arrangements. This working affected by bullying more aware of safety group will report back by the end of the month. issues. The third point is with regard to making Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am finding it very sure all schools have in place anti-bullying difficult to hear the Minister's statement. I am programs. Schools are required to review their sure that members at the back would like to behaviour management practices during 1998. hear that statement. Could we please have a I have requested that in undertaking this work little bit more decorum in the House? The special attention be paid to anti-bullying Minister will resume his statement. strategies. Mr PALASZCZUK: I thank you very much, I am committed to achieving a cultural Mr Speaker. change in our schools. Bullying behaviour is Also up there in the back paddock was extremely damaging both for the perpetrator the Stock Act. When it was in office, the and the victim. It can leave permanent and previous Government took the Stock Act quite severe emotional scars that affect people virtually nowhere. Then there was the animal throughout their lives. The campaign to stop welfare Act. It had been sitting in the too-hard bullying must become inextricably linked with basket for about a year under the coalition. managing student behaviour. It must become What about the new native wildlife farming an issue that school communities can work on Act? The policy framework for it was completed together to ensure our students become three years ago, but it was put into a deep active, informed, and responsible citizens of sleep under the coalition. The review of the the future. Farm Produce Marketing Act was scheduled to 2214 Ministerial Statement 16 Sep 1998 start last financial year. That did not happen. Authority—a $118m crisis. I have studied this Then there are the crucial amendments to the independent report over the last few regulations under the Meat Industry Act, which weeks—studied it with amazement. I now put the coalition stopped in its tracks. While the before the House the history and reasons for coalition allowed the review of the Brisbane this crisis. Markets to be completed, it did not make any Firstly, let me say that I was amazed at decisions. That report was "noted" and the incompetence, irresponsibility and released and left at that. ineptness of the former Government, and in Mr Schwarten: Can it get any worse than particular the former Minister, in managing the that? fire service—or rather, mismanaging the Mr PALASZCZUK: It does get worse. service. The honourable members of this Yesterday in this place, the member for Crows House all know how much the member for Nest who is interjecting at this moment Southport likes a long, hearty lunch. His time in attempted to criticise the Beattie Government office as a Minister was no different. for its handling of the report titled Meat Mr VEIVERS: I rise to a point of order. I Industry at the Crossroads. It is just another find those words absolutely terrible and issue that the Borbidge Government dropped disrespectful. I ask for them to be withdrawn. into the too-hard basket and left behind for the Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of incoming Government to fix up. The member order. for Crows Nest asked, "What has the Government done about it?" I will inform the Mrs ROSE: I will withdraw. House. Of the 22 recommendations contained In regard to the financial position of the in the report, the Borbidge Government took fire service, the independent report says— only half a dozen seriously. Mr Speaker, have a guess where they left the rest stranded—in "... a continuation of the QFRA's the back paddock! operations on the current basis will lead to reduced operating effectiveness and The Beattie Government is taking the insolvency. As a consequence, funds of whole report seriously—all 22 approximately $20m per year are recommendations. In fact, the Department of required." Primary Industries, the Department of State Development, Premier's Department and It states further— Treasury are jointly looking at a submission to "... the capital of the organisation is being Cabinet that will seriously consider the whole of eroded as funds are used for recurrent this report as part of a broad approach to a expenditure." range of issues confronting the industry. Unlike Honourable members, if the Fire and Rescue the previous Premier, this Government is Authority was a company, the appointment of getting on with the job, the whole job, in the Veivers' receivers would be imminent. interests of Queensland and Queenslanders. The National Party has had three spokesmen The independent report details the on Primary Industries in the space of six immediate reasons for the financial crisis. months. What primary producers want is a There are three main reasons for the Minister with commitment and not an excuse. disastrous state of the finances. The report They want a Minister who does not just talk says— about getting on with the job but actually gets "The Coalition government had in there and does it. Mr Speaker and made a pre-election promise (in 1995) to honourable members—you are looking at him! appoint an additional 135 firefighters. It appears the QFRA began appointing additional staff, thereby honouring the MINISTERIAL STATEMENT commitment made by the government, Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority without ensuring funding availability." Hon. M. ROSE (Currumbin—ALP) Irresponsibility! Complete irresponsibility! The (Minister for Emergency Services) (9.57 a.m.), second reason for the crisis in the fund, and I by leave: Three weeks ago I brought to the quote again—— attention of this House the plight of Mr BORBIDGE: The Minister is misleading Queensland's fire service. I outlined to the House. Funding was allocated at the honourable members the enormity of the Cabinet Budget Committee. crisis, as revealed by the independent PricewaterhouseCoopers audit of the finances Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Mr BORBIDGE: The Minister—— 16 Sep 1998 Sitting Days and Hours 2215

Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. "raises a number of governance issues in The Leader of the Opposition will resume his respect of QFRA board operations ... seat. Despite there being a number of reports Mr BORBIDGE: They would not have highlighting serious liquidity risks due to access to the Cabinet Budget Committee lack of revenue capacity to meet costs, records. there is little evidence to suggest that action has been taken to rectify the major Mr SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Leader of financial issues relating to revenue and the Opposition to resume his seat. costs." Mr Borbidge: It is wrong. This is damning—absolutely damning. Mr SPEAKER: Order! What the independent report says is that the Mrs ROSE: The second reason for the board was running around expending money crisis in the fund is as follows— that it did not have. The coalition Government and the Nero of Southport fiddled away while "Firefighters were granted new pretending that the fire service was increments, a doubling of penalty rates for independent. What a mess! What a recipe for public holidays, two EPA increases of 4% disaster! Who was in charge? and 3% and the 38 hour week." Dr WATSON: Mr Speaker, in accordance And was funding forthcoming to pay for these with your previous rulings that members must new conditions? The report—an independent refer to other members by their correct titles, I report—says no. And finally we have the Fire would have thought that the reference that the Service restructure—the Staib review. The Minister just made was inappropriate. PricewaterhouseCoopers report also details this sorry saga of inept management. I Mr SPEAKER: Which reference are you quote— speaking of? Dr WATSON: The "Nero of Southport". "As a result of the Staib report in 1996, the Queensland Fire Service Mr SPEAKER: Yes, I will ask the Minister underwent significant restructuring. New to rephrase that. positions, reclassification of positions and Mrs ROSE: The member for Southport. new structures were established as a Who was looking after the interests of the result of the report. No additional funding people of Queensland? No-one! Absolutely was received in relation to implementation no-one! As with so many other areas of public of the recommendations." policy, the former coalition Government failed The litany of mismanagement is here for the people of Queensland. all to see. The report goes deeper. It outlines I am going to fix the problem. The people the fundamental reason for the failure in of this State deserve a Fire and Rescue management. That failure is a direct result of Authority that operates on a financially secure the legislation introduced by the previous and stable footing, and I will see that they get Government to establish both the Queensland nothing less. Fire and Rescue Authority and the Queensland Ambulance Service as quasi- independent statutory authorities with SITTING DAYS AND HOURS governing boards. And what has been the Sessional Order result? $118m worth of debt in the fire service! Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth— The report goes to the heart of the ALP) (Minister for Communication and matter. It says— Information and Minister for Local "Corporate governance shortfalls Government, Planning, Regional and Rural exist"— Communities) (10.04 a.m.), by leave: I move— and— "(a) That notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing and "Questions arise about the relevance Sessional Orders, for this day's sitting of a board structure for the strategic and for tomorrow, Thursday 17 management of a service delivery agency September 1998, the House may such as the QFRA." continue to meet past 7.30pm. The structural flaw inherent in the system is Private Members' motions will be plain for all to see. The report goes on— debated between 6 and 7pm. "This"— The House can then break for dinner that is, the deterioration of the fund— and resume its sitting at 8.30pm. 2216 Public Works Committee 16 Sep 1998

Government Business will take tabled. That press release claimed that the precedence for the remainder of the telephone hotline that I was part of days' sittings except for a 30-minute announcing undermined the Crimestoppers adjournment debate this evening program. and a 30-minute grievance debate This morning, I spoke to David Muir and on Thursday evening." he advised me that he withdrew that press I further move— release on the same day that it was issued, 9 September. He did so because it was factually "(b) That pursuant to Standing Order No. 26, the House will meet for the incorrect. He did so because the number I dispatch of business, in addition to announced was an existing line set up by the the days agreed to pursuant to the police to report suspected criminal activity. I Sessional Order of 30 July 1998, at announced the line jointly with Detective 9.30am on Friday, 18 September Inspector Richard Nikola and with the full 1998 on which day the routine of support of the Gold Coast's six chambers of business shall be as follows— commerce and the mayor. I stress again that it was launched with the detective (i) 9.30 am to 10.30 am— inspector—and I table that for the information Prayers of the House—and was an existing phone line. Messages from the Governor I further stress that the press release issued by David Muir, which the Minister Matters of Privilege quoted from, was withdrawn. I trust the Speakers Statements Minister will correct himself and remove himself from any attempts to try to politicise the fight Motions of Condolence against drug trafficking and drug use. Finally, Petitions any reasonable person should be prepared to Statutory Instruments accept any genuine offer to help in the fight against those who are prepared to be Ministerial Papers accessories to the death of our young. Ministerial Statements Ministerial Notices of Motion PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE Any other Government Business Report Personal Explanations Mr ROBERTS (Nudgee—ALP) Reports (10.07 a.m.): I lay upon the table the Public Works Committee report on its inquiry into the Question Time construction of Stage 5 of the Queensland (ii) 10.30 am to Adjournment of the Cultural Centre. The committee has based its House— report on submissions and evidence received by the former Public Works Committee under Government Business." the chairmanship of the member for Gympie, Motion agreed to. Mr Stephan. Given the limited involvement of the current committee in this inquiry, we have chosen not to make any recommendation in PERSONAL EXPLANATION accordance with our powers under section 24 Anti-drug Initiative; Schoolies Week of the Parliamentary Committees Act. Mr GRICE (Broadwater—NPA) The committee supports the construction (10.05 a.m.), by leave: Yesterday the Minister of Stage 5 of the cultural centre. However, the for Police and Corrective Services made committee has made some comment with outrageous allegations that I had somehow respect to a proposal to construct another jeopardised a comprehensive campaign to purpose-built drama theatre within the cultural combat drugs on the Gold Coast in the lead- centre complex. The committee believes that up to Schoolies Week. The Minister suggested this decision should be reviewed. that I had launched my own "dob in a druggie" I thank everyone who has assisted with hotline one day before Crimestoppers was to this inquiry, particularly those who have made announce its hotline of a different number. submissions and appeared before the The Minister alleged that I had jeopardised committee. I also thank my fellow committee police operations and he proceeded to quote members, members of the former committee from a press release issued by David Muir, the and our staff for their support and assistance. I former chair of Crimestoppers, which he commend the report to the House. 16 Sep 1998 Private Members' Statements 2217

PARLIAMENTARY CRIMINAL JUSTICE Coast Daily. The newspaper states, "... he COMMITTEE understood that the Coalition's budget pledges Criminal Justice Commission Publications were not fully funded or realistic." Mr Wellington's attack on the coalition must be Mr LUCAS (Lytton—ALP) (10.08 a.m.): I replied to, because it is not only wrong but is lay upon the table of the House the Criminal also grossly unfair. Justice Commission publication titled Policing and the Community in Brisbane. I also lay I am very disappointed in the member for upon the table of the House the following Nicklin, Peter Wellington, because he refused publications which the Criminal Justice a briefing from Queensland Treasury on the Commission played a significant part in coalition's Budget when it was offered by the producing. The first is Police for the Future—A coalition. However, he accepted a briefing from Review of Recruitment and Selection for the the Labor Party's own accounting firm. It is Queensland Police Service, which is a joint now history that he then sided with the Labor report between the Police Education Advisory Party to give it Government. If the member for Council and the CJC; and the second is Nicklin had bothered to do the fair and Clustering Evaluation Summary Report, which honourable thing and had received that full is a joint report between the Queensland and independent briefing from Queensland Police Service and the CJC. Treasury on the coalition's Budget—a Budget that he now criticises—he would have more These publications are not reports of the credibility today; he could be more truly viewed commission for the purposes of section 26 of as an Independent. the Criminal Justice Act. The parliamentary committee stresses that it has in no way The coalition's Budget delivered more to conducted an inquiry into the matters which the Sunshine Coast and to Nicklin, and it was are the subjects of these publications. fully funded. As I have said, I am very However, the committee is tabling these disappointed that the member for Nicklin has, documents as it believes that it is in the spirit without question, chosen to believe Labor of the Criminal Justice Act that all non- Party lies. When the Beattie Cabinet came to confidential publications by the CJC, or which Nambour the other week, it promised big have significantly involved the CJC, be tabled things and put out lots of press releases. in the Parliament. However, there is an air of disappointment in its wake because the Sunshine Coast, particularly Nambour, has been short-changed. NOTICE OF MOTION Censure of Minister for Health Dads Caring for Kids Miss SIMPSON (Maroochydore—NPA) (10.09 a.m.): I give notice that I will move— Mrs LAVARCH (Kurwongbah—ALP) (10.12 a.m.): From 31 August to 4 September, "That this House censures the Australia celebrated Adult Learners' Week. Minister for Health for breaking an election This is a national celebration and promotion of promise to retain all existing specialist adult learning, aimed at capturing the services at the Maryborough Base imagination of and encouraging more Hospital, including a fully maintained, Australians to participate in adult learning. standÐalone intensive care unit, high risk obstetrics and high risk paediatrics." In Queensland the promotion of adult learning is sponsored jointly by the Australian National Training Authority and the PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Department of Employment, Training and Member for Nicklin Industrial Relations. Part of Adult Learners' Miss SIMPSON (Maroochydore—NPA) Week is the presentation of State awards in (10.10 a.m.): I register my disappointment at four categories: outstanding learner, some statements made by the member for outstanding tutor, outstanding provider and Nicklin, Peter Wellington, in his defence of the outstanding program. Today I will make Beattie Labor Government when the Beattie particular mention of the outstanding program Labor Government announced a major winner, Dads Caring for Kids. I congratulate downgrade of capital works on the Sunshine the program coordinator, David Horstman, for Coast. Millions of dollars have been ripped out his success in winning this prestigious award. of the Sunshine Coast by the Labor Party, but This program operates out of the Pine today the member for Nicklin, most Rivers neighbourhood centre, which is located disappointingly, chose to defend the Labor in my electorate, but it serves all of the Party by attacking the coalition in the Sunshine Brisbane area. It is a unique program, being 2218 Private Members' Statements 16 Sep 1998 the only program in Australia that conducts Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines. They came regular training courses for fathers. The from a cross-section of industry sectors program is aimed at increasing fathers' including service, manufacturing, import and knowledge and teaching them more parenting export, engineering, construction, banking and skills, especially when they experience finance, and retail and wholesale. Instead of difficulties with their children. The course runs carping and trying to score divisive political for 10 weeks, one night per week. Its success points, the Minister should acknowledge the can be measured by those who complete the success of the department's investment in entire course. Sixteen men were enrolled in Queensland's future and of AsiaWeek as a the first course and all 16 finished. The vehicle of international business promotion. program's success can also be measured by As part of the arrangement with the number of agencies who refer clients to it, AsiaWeek, the department received 500 run- including Relationships Australia and the ons of the Queensland supplement. It seems Department of Families, Youth and to me and I noted with interest that, according Community Care, as well as the private legal to the Courier-Mail of 28 August, the Premier profession. made use of those on his recent Asia visit. I The need for such a program was commend the Premier. Leaders who take identified by well-known and respected local sensible measures to promote their State community worker Betty Blake. She realised deserve to be congratulated, not criticised. that there was a lack of training courses for fathers. Taking her idea to the Pine Rivers I understand that AsiaWeek plans to Welfare Association and the Pine Rivers publish a 1998 Queensland supplement, its Community Health Service, she received third such annual promotion of our State. I enthusiastic support. The program is now recommend the project to both the jointly funded and supported by those two Government and the private sector. services. I congratulate Betty Blake for her vision and both of those services for their Queensland Visit by Glenda Jackson support. I know that they are all delighted that the program has received the recognition it Ms STRUTHERS (Archerfield—ALP) well deserves. I also congratulate the other (10.16 a.m.): I am sure that many members of award winners. this House have been entertained by Glenda Jackson in the movies A Touch of Class and Time expired. Elizabeth R, as well as her other great films. Glenda Jackson has taken on a new career. In AsiaWeek Magazine 1992 she was elected to the British Parliament. Glenda Jackson now holds the Mr SANTORO (Clayfield—LP) position of Under Secretary of State for (10.14 a.m.): On 26 August the Minister for Transport. Employment, Training and Industrial Relations made a scurrilous attack on the effectiveness This week Glenda Jackson visited the of the international news magazine, Queensland Parliament. She was in Brisbane AsiaWeek, in promoting Queensland. If he to promote Emily's List, a Labor women's had done his homework he would have been initiative to gain greater representation of in possession of the following facts: the women in local, State and Federal Department of Training and Industrial Governments. Yesterday the very witty Relations took part most successfully in the Attorney-General Matt Foley said that one Queensland supplement—the second such does not have to be a Mel Gibson to know annual supplement—published in AsiaWeek what a lethal weapon the GST is. One does on 5 December 1997. The department's not have to be a Glenda Jackson to know $15,200 investment helped secure six pages what a touch of class women bring to our of positive, factual reporting on Queensland. Parliament. The supplement, which internationally Whilst some gains have been made, positioned Queensland as a great place in women are still substantially under-represented which to do business, was distributed to half a in legislative assemblies throughout the world. million influential readers throughout Asia. Some assemblies believe that they are doing Through AsiaWeek's reader response well if they have an average of one woman to program, the department's advertisement every ten men. Many assemblies have even attracted 114 solid business leads, fewer women members. There are 11 women representing 55.3% of the total 206 responses on this side of the Chamber and five on the to the supplement. Those responses came other side. That is an improvement on past from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong years, but it is a mere 16 out of 89 members. 16 Sep 1998 Private Members' Statements 2219

I am honoured to be one of this and the Kooralbyn Resort for providing Government's new women in Parliament. assistance and accommodation. I also There is no doubt that there is an abundance recognise these people: Julie Nichols, Greg of eminently qualified women in our McIntosh, Grant Nichols, Alan Moss, Kevin community, but why do our Parliaments Taylor, Scott Lee, Pete Bambach, Kim remain under-represented by women? I do not Hardwick, Tim Stevens, Richard Pym, Gavin have sufficient time to canvass all of the Deloro, Steven Hickson, Terry Wafer, Orla reasons for this, but I want to say that political Bannon, John Stuart, Gavin Norsworthy, David parties will continue to overlook the value of Redfern and Dee Bowring. women in Parliament at their peril. It makes Time expired. both good political sense and it is fair to have more women as elected representatives in our Parliaments. As Labor Leader, Peter Beattie Aunty Ruth Hegarty has been very supportive of Labor women candidates. He played a key role in the current Mr SULLIVAN (Chermside—ALP) increase to 11 women members. (10.19 a.m.): Many of us would not know who David Unaipon is, yet some of us see an Time expired. image of him occasionally; his face is depicted on the front of the $50 note. Australian 16-Way Formation Skydiving Opposition members: Table it. Team Mr SULLIVAN: The next time Mick Mr LINGARD (Beaudesert—NPA) Veivers does a quick shout, we will see on a (10.18 a.m.): On Monday of this week, I had $50 note that David Unaipon states that he the delightful job of presenting to the may claim to be the first but not the last of his Australian skydiving team a world achievement race to write about his race's history. He was record, which is one of two world records that not and he is not. Last night I was privileged to this team has achieved over the last two attend a ceremony at which Aunty Ruth weeks. At present, the Australian skydiving Hegarty was awarded the David Unaipon team is at Kooralbyn on a three-week training award for her autobiography "Is that you, course. Ruthie?" which many members will already Mr Palaszczuk: Was Charlie Doyle there? know is the prize winning manuscript telling of how when she was four years old, in line with Mr LINGARD: Yes. Charlie Doyle sends the mission policy of the day, she was sent to his regards to the member. He says that the live in the dormitory of the Cherbourg member did not put him down on the list for mission—separated from her mother, her the meal that the member took him to. family, her identity and her home. As she said From 29 September to 5 October, the last night at the Nundah Community Centre skydiving team will be competing in Spain and and in the magnificent ceremony in the city we wish them all the very best. At a time when square earlier this year, the relationship with most emphasis is on the Commonwealth her mother and family has been very difficult, Games and the American tennis, it is even 70 years on. unfortunate that a team such as this is not It is a tribute to Aunty Ruth Hegarty that receiving the recognition that it deserves. The her life story will be published next year. It is a team of 20 people has to pay for its training, touching story. Many members have already the facilities at Kooralbyn, the trip to Spain heard her speak. I congratulate the Nundah and, of course, its costs in Spain. Community Centre and in particular the To watch a team of 16 skydivers is quite Nundah Reconciliation Group, which organised intriguing. Sixteen people must come out of a the function. Politicians from all sides of the plane at 14,000 feet and then, before they get political spectrum attended, and apologies to a height where they have to open their were sent by others who could not attend. parachutes, they form designs by linking arms There was great community support for her. or legs. At present, the team of 16 people We wish her well in her future writings and we perform 9 patterns before they get to a height thank her for bringing to life a part of history where they have to open their parachutes. So which up to this stage we have ignored. physical is the contact that they have to wear helmets and, of course, they have to have their own cameraman who follows them down Townsville Railway Workshops to record the actual link-ups. Mr JOHNSON (Gregory—NPA) I join with everybody in thanking Brad (10.21 a.m.): This morning in this Chamber we Turner from the Kooralbyn Skydiving Centre heard the Minister for Transport speak about 2220 Private Members' Statements 16 Sep 1998 the coalition's transport policy and the success Public Sector Managers, Cairns Electorate of the Ipswich railway workshops. However, this Ms BOYLE (Cairns—ALP) (10.24 a.m.): In morning he failed to tell the House about the recent years it has been the fashion to revere mass walk-out by workshop employees at private sector management skills and Townsville yesterday and again this morning practices—a fashion engendered by some after a meeting of shop stewards. I wish to academics, bureaucrats and politicians, quote from a document titled Regional though more of the latter group from the Economic Development Strategy—Campaign conservative parties. In contrast, many private Queensland Labor that was launched in sector managers, only too well aware of less Townsville before the election this year by the than perfect management practices in the Premier and the Deputy Premier of this State. private sector, have recognised that there are It states— essential differences between the public and "The additional workshop activity will private sectors and that management allow an expansion of the permanent expertise, though different, exists in both workforce in Townsville workshops and we sectors. Today I wish to inform the House of will immediately consult with Queensland the recognition of highly skilled public sector Rail and the Unions to ensure that the 77 managers in Cairns. fixed term workers in the South Yards will Recently, the Australian Institute of be a part of this permanent workforce Management held the inaugural Far North expansion." Queensland Management Excellence Awards. This Minister has walked away from that Labor I extend my sincere compliments to the FNQ policy. Again, we have seen them turn their branch of the AIM for this initiative, which backs on the employees in the Townsville culminated in a glamorous awards evening railway workshops. attended by 180 people. My congratulations Mr BREDHAUER: I rise to a point of order. go to all finalists and winners in the five award The assertion by the member for Gregory is categories. However, in particular I salute the incorrect. We have already made 30 of those five public sector managers in this classy line- workshop employees permanent. up—Glenda Jose, a finalist, from the Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE; Kristine Mr JOHNSON: There is no point of order. Garrett, also from the Tropical North Mr BREDHAUER: I find the remarks Queensland Institute, the winner in the front- offensive and I ask that they be withdrawn. line manager of the year category; Maurice Mr SPEAKER: Order! Downing, Department of State Development, and Joanne Pyne, Tropical North Queensland Mr JOHNSON: Mr Speaker, the truth of Institute of TAFE, both finalists in the manager the matter is that these are contract staff. The of the year category; and Santo Cutuli, Main member knows that they are contract staff. He Roads Department, the winner of the innovator has not honoured his obligation. of the year category. I am pleased to give Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for public recognition to these managers as Gregory! individuals, to their teams and to their Mr BREDHAUER: Mr Speaker, I found the expertise, commitment and contribution to the remarks that I had walked away from our public sector in Cairns and the region. election commitments offensive. I ask that they be withdrawn. Freedom of Speech Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Mr NELSON (Tablelands—ONP) Gregory will withdraw those words. (10.25 a.m.): I wish to read the following Mr JOHNSON: No, I will not withdraw, statement— because the situation is that they have sold "I have fought against white out the unions in Townsville, and the Minister domination, and I have fought against knows it. black domination. I have cherished the Mr SPEAKER: Order! Yesterday I ruled ideal of a democratic and free society in that if words are found to be offensive and which all persons live together in harmony they are clearly stated, the member who said and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal them must withdraw. I ask the member to which I hope to live for and to achieve. withdraw those words. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I Mr JOHNSON: I withdraw. However, I can am prepared to die." tell the Minister that the blokes at the I wonder whether anyone in the Chamber can Townsville workshop will know about this. tell me who said that. 16 Sep 1998 Questions Without Notice 2221

Mr Lucas: Was that Pauline Hanson's opened. The new ambulance station is sure to video? make a difference with respect to the difficult Mr NELSON: No, it was not the member job of ambulance officers by improving the for Oxley; it was made in 1964 by Nelson standard of their work environment. This Mandela from the dock during the Rivonia initiative improves their morale, which is treason trial. I must say that that statement consequently reflected in their standard of rings true here today. In Australia today we work. Therefore, the community as a whole see anti-democratic forces of division rallying benefits significantly from this new against One Nation to stop our fight against development. the destruction of freedom of speech. I have I take this opportunity also to thank the had enough of the "racist" tag. It is not true. LAC, which has worked tirelessly for its local None of the 11 MPs in One Nation could be community for decades. The Redlands accused of being racist. I say to this House: it community has also benefited from the recent is a damning indictment on the assumption of appointment of two paramedics to the nearby innocence until proven guilty—that Capalaba Ambulance Station. The large aged fundamental of democracy—that I have to population in the Redlands means that a high stand here and say this. number of strokes, cardiac and other chest On another point—in one breath the ALP complaints are received. Often in these accuses One Nation of not having any policies. circumstances every minute counts and the Yesterday we heard the Deputy Premier bleat specialised skills of paramedics at the scene about One Nation's policies and his perception can mean the difference between life and of them. I repeat my challenge of yesterday: if death. In other circumstances, such as drug One Nation has a policy of racism, table it. I overdoses and allergic reactions, time is also a certainly am not aware of one and I would crucial factor in the effective treatment of never support it if there were one. I can safely patients. With the two paramedics on site at say the same for all the 11 members from One Capalaba, response times are now effectively Nation. Finally, I say to members: suffocate, reduced and on-site treatment and label and deride One Nation at your peril. administration of drugs is more readily available to residents in the Cleveland I would like to add to the Premier's community. The ambulance officers working statements yesterday: the people of with paramedics are also reporting—— Queensland have had enough of not being heard. Some 438,000 Queenslanders asked Time expired. to be heard at the State election and I ask to Mr SPEAKER: Order! The time for private be heard here today. With reference to members' statements has expired. equality and democracy, I repeat the words of Nelson Mandela: it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Time expired. Beattie Minority Government Mr BORBIDGE (10.30 a.m.): I refer the Premier to his statement that he will not do a Cleveland Ambulance Station deal with One Nation in a risky three-way Mr BRISKEY (Cleveland—ALP) arrangement to desperately cling to power, (10.28 a.m.): Recently I had the great pleasure and I ask: will he accept their votes to remain of welcoming the Minister for Emergency in office? Will he accept confidence and Services, the Honourable Merri Rose, to my Supply from One Nation? Yes or no? electorate to officially open the new Cleveland Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable Ambulance Station. I take this opportunity to Leader of the Opposition for this question. I thank the Minister also for her work in seeing thought I gave a comprehensive answer the implementation of the free ambulance yesterday, only to find that some of the media service for 850,000 pensioners, seniors and went around and picked up the briefing that their dependants, which will benefit my the Opposition Leader and his little running electorate to a great extent because of its dogs got involved in. The bottom line is very large population of elderly residents. simple. I will make it very clear, even to the The recent opening of the new Cleveland extent that the Leader of the Opposition can Ambulance Station was a victory for the understand it. I made it clear prior to the people of my electorate and for the Labor election that there would be no deals with One Government. The funding for this new station Nation. I made it clear after the election, when was allocated in the 1995 Labor Budget. I was there was some doubt as to who would form extremely happy to see this new station Government, that we would do no deals with 2222 Questions Without Notice 16 Sep 1998

One Nation. I make it clear today: there will be Mr Borbidge: Answer the question. How no deals with One Nation—end of story. Even did they get it? the Leader of the Opposition can understand Mr BEATTIE: Do those opposite want to that. hear the answer? I am happy to answer these This is an attempt by the Opposition to try questions in the way that I indicated my to destabilise the Government in the eyes of Government would do. I just ask for some the community. That attempt will fail. The courtesy and the opportunity to do so. I made Opposition's sideshows or some of the other it very clear that I have authorised no such sideshows that are around the place do not access. On the information I have, I have matter. We will not be deterred from the absolutely no basis on which to pursue any mission we have set about achieving, that is, matter that the Opposition Leader has raised to deliver jobs and stability to this State. here today. However, if he has any material Even those opposite will not put me in a that relates to any public servant in this State, I bad mood. I met Glenda Jackson yesterday. invite him to provide that material to me. I will What a powerful woman in politics. Having met make certain that any such matters are with that person, nothing the Leader of the properly and fully investigated. I have no Opposition can say today will destabilise me knowledge of what the Leader of the from being in a good mood. Look how well Opposition is raising here. I did not see the Australia is performing in sport. Pat Rafter has Four Corners program. I have not authorised won the US Open. There are many any such access. Commonwealth Games gold medals rolling in. There has been no access authorised by Look at the way every one of those great me. I have no detail of the material the Queensland athletes is performing on behalf Opposition Leader is referring to. He has not of this State. Nothing those opposite can do raised it with me previously. If he has material will put me in a bad mood when Queensland is relating to alleged inappropriate behaviour by doing so well. anyone—he knows the standards of my This is an attempt to try to destabilise us. Government—I will make certain that it is fully This morning, 650 business people came to and properly investigated. I invite him to see hear the Treasurer and me talk about our me some time today to provide me with the Budget. They gave a thumbs up to our material. If he provides me with material by 5 Budget. Not only that, they said to us, "That is o'clock this afternoon—the detail to which he the sort of Government Queensland needs." A has referred—I will make certain that it is lot of them said to me, "It is a great shame we properly investigated. haven't had this sort of leadership for the last Having answered that question, I go back two and a half years." to the half-smart remark the Leader of the Opposition made prior to asking it. That comment could be considered to be actually Senator N. Bolkus part of the question. I made it absolutely clear Mr BORBIDGE: I will give credit where in relation to the issue of Supply that there will credit is due: the Premier is a better actor than be no deals with One Nation. The Leader of Glenda Jackson. I note that the Premier has the Opposition should not come in here and indicated that he will not refuse Supply or try to be half clever. He can get his staff to go confidence from One Nation. I ask the out and do the spin doctoring, like he did with Premier: was he aware of or did he authorise ABC TV last night. The bottom line is that I will access to legal documents the property of the rely on Supply—— State of Queensland by a staff member of Mr Borbidge interjected. Senator Nick Bolkus as part of that senator's Mr SPEAKER: Order! attempts to undermine the position of High Court Judge Ian Callinan? Is he aware that Mr BEATTIE: Manners are something the such actions could constitute official Leader of the Opposition will have to learn. I misconduct under the provisions of the will rely on support from the 44 members on Criminal Justice Act, which he administers? I this side of the House and the Independent refer the Premier to Senator Bolkus' admission member for Nicklin, and the Independent on the Four Corners program on Monday member for Gladstone where she supports us. night. That is the basis of Supply. There is no threat to this Government's survival. It is stable. Mr BEATTIE: I do not know about the There is no threat to the numerical balance of latest conspiracy theory that the Leader of the this Parliament or of this Government. That is Opposition has dredged up here. The bottom only an attempt to undermine stability, and it line is: I authorised no such access. will not work. 16 Sep 1998 Questions Without Notice 2223

National Rugby League Mr Justice Callinan Mr SULLIVAN: I refer the Premier to this Mr SPRINGBORG: My question is Saturday's preliminary National Rugby League directed to the Honourable the Premier. Does final in Brisbane between Brisbane and the the Premier continue to have full confidence Sydney City Roosters, and I ask: what steps and support in High Court Justice Ian Callinan, are being taken by the State Government to QC? ensure that Brisbane continues to host football Mr BEATTIE: Some of these questions finals? are really deep and meaningful and they really Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable are getting to the core. What is that question member for Chermside for an excellent supposed to mean? Justice Callinan was question. Queensland won the first State of appointed as a High Court judge. If the Origin series. We have produced some of the honourable member is going to be an effective greats of Rugby League—for example, Wally shadow Minister, he has to do a little research. Lewis, who is the greatest footballer ever to be The honourable member will recall that when produced in this State, with due apologies to Justice Callinan was appointed and was the members for Bundamba and Southport. criticised by some of my Federal colleagues, I Queensland has produced the greatest said that I supported his appointment. footballer Australia has seen. Look at some of The honourable member has made a fool the other stars we have produced—Pat Rafter, of himself because he has come in here and Susie O'Neill, Geoff Heugill, Samantha Riley he has tried to divide me from Senator Bolkus and Grant Hackett. and the Federal party. The honourable member's problem is this: I am already on the In relation to the football finals, a little time public record as having said that I supported ago I had some discussions in Townsville with the appointment of Justice Callinan. Does the National Rugby League Chief Executive, Neil honourable member know why? Because I Whittaker. I indicated to Neil Whittaker, as I will think there should be more Queensland again later today when I meet with him after judges on the High Court! question time, that it is about time we had a Rugby League grand final in Queensland. As I supported the appointment of Justice far as I am concerned, we have been waiting Callinan and I will continue to support too long for a grand final. Queenslanders being appointed to the High Court. I am disappointed to find the Opposition We have the semifinals this weekend, undermining the appointment of a where the Broncos will play the Sydney City Queenslander to the High Court, because that Roosters. As I will be putting to Mr Whittaker is exactly what the honourable member has later on this morning, it is about time we set out to do. Let me make it clear that my hosted the grand final. There is one way that Government stands in favour of more Queenslanders can assist in making certain Queenslanders being appointed to the High that there is a grand final in this State, and Court. I am disappointed that the Opposition that is by turning up in force at ANZ Stadium spokesman is opposed to extra on Saturday afternoon. Today, I urge all Queenslanders being appointed to the High Queenslanders to turn up in force for the Court. The honourable member owes an Broncos match against the Sydney City apology not only to the learned High Court Roosters. I will be there. The way that we can judge but to all Queenslanders because he guarantee an opportunity for a grand final in would sell out this State and try to undermine Queensland is by making certain that we have a High Court judge by bringing him into this a sell-out crowd on Saturday. If there is a sell- Parliament in this way. out crowd on Saturday we enhance our At a time when we have unemployment opportunities to demand that the next grand and all sorts of difficulties in this State, which final be held in Queensland. I hope that after my Government is tackling head on and Saturday, when the Sydney City Roosters resolving, what do we have from the have lost a few feathers and have returned Opposition? We have some petty political south, those who are in charge of Rugby game about the High Court! I would have League in this country understand that not thought that the Opposition would be more only do we produce some of the best talent in interested in jobs and a positive future for this Australia, but we deserve a fair go to be given State. In conclusion, I repeat that my a grand final in this State. That will be my Government and I will continue to support message to Mr Whittaker a little later on this more Queenslanders being appointed to the morning. High Court. 2224 Questions Without Notice 16 Sep 1998

Goods and Services Tax; Unemployment about payroll tax because those opposite Mr PURCELL: My question is directed to support payroll tax going from 5% to 15%. the Premier. I refer to the Federal coalition's proposal to slug every Australian with a 10% Maryborough Base Hospital goods and services tax. I also refer to the State Government's strategy to slash the Mr HORAN: I direct my question to the Queensland unemployment rate to 5% in five Premier. I refer him to discussions he has had years. I ask: what impact would a GST have with a Maryborough mother who has a child on the jobs target and could the Premier give with a complex congenital heart disease. This us a comment on these bumper stickers that mother has spoken with the Premier about his are appearing on every car in Queensland? Health Minister's planned downgrade of the Maryborough Base Hospital and, in particular, Mr BEATTIE: I have done some detailed the closure of the paediatric unit. This closure work on the GST and I think it is important that will result in Maryborough children being I share this with the people of Queensland. As placed in hospital wards with adults. Following we all know, the GST will do nothing to bring the Premier's discussions, this mother is still down unemployment; if anything, it will push concerned that he only gave a commitment to more people out of work. That is a situation keep almost all services. She would like to that the Opposition supports. know if the Premier's Health Minister will bring A GST will increase the costs of interstate back the equipment which was taken from the tourists travelling to Queensland and staying Maryborough Hospital on Tuesday and here. It will make the tyranny of distance even Wednesday nights via the back entrance using greater. There are 125,000 Queenslanders linen vans. This mother is also desperate that relying on the tourism sector for their jobs. the stand-alone paediatric unit is maintained at John Howard wants to attack their job security the Maryborough Base Hospital. Given that because he cannot make an exception to this the people of Maryborough no longer trust the all-encompassing tax. Premier's Government due to his Health A GST is a tax on value added goods and Minister's broken promises, how can this services produced in this country. The more mother be sure that her child will continue to value a company adds to its input, the more receive the best care possible? GST it pays, even if the company does not Mr BEATTIE: Am I delighted to take this make a profit. At a time when everyone agrees question! This question comes from the former that we should be promoting value adding in Minister who, in fact, cut in half the our industries, the coalition wants to punish recommendation from his own department to those who add more value by taxing them properly fund the Maryborough Hospital and, more. How can a tax on value adding be good as a result, intensive care and all similar for jobs? Value added or value adding is services were put at risk. Yesterday, I tabled in essentially two things: the cost of labour inputs this House a document that conclusively and the cost of capital inputs. The cost of proved that the recommendation from the labour inputs is already taxed by payroll tax. Health Department involved over $6m for the John Howard's GST does not replace payroll provision of services at the Maryborough tax; it is loaded on top of it. This is the point. Hospital. Instead of $6m-plus, the honourable The Business Coalition for Tax Reform, which member recommended $3.5m. I have to say is made up of all the key industry groups, said that this honourable member has a hide in July this year that to introduce a GST thicker than leather because he comes in without removing payroll tax would "result in here, having presided over the demise of the double taxation and additional compliance Maryborough Base Hospital, and has the hide costs". to ask this Government such a question when So what do we have? John Howard's GST we saved what he set out to destroy. proposal effectively increases the rate of Let me come back to the lady concerned. payroll tax from 5% to 15%. Every time the I did speak to a lady on Sunday, and I assume Government or I talk to employer groups we it is the same lady—I cannot recall. I spoke to find that these groups raise the issue of payroll a large number of people in Maryborough on tax and the effect it will have on jobs. In effect, Sunday. I did speak to a lady in relation to her what Mr Howard is doing is taking payroll tax child. If it is the same lady—and I am from 5% to 15%. How can a 15% payroll tax assuming that for the purposes of this be good for jobs? In the GST we have a tax answer—I assured her of the future services on a tax on jobs. That is the effect of payroll that her child would be able to receive. I also tax. Let us never again hear anything from the assured her that there would be ongoing Opposition—including the shadow Treasurer— consultation with her. If I recall correctly, I gave 16 Sep 1998 Questions Without Notice 2225 her a contact number where she can be cut to a stand-by arrangement, whereby provided with information. She will be technical experts were required to stay at continually briefed in relation to her child. home and be available for duty at short notice. No equipment has been removed from Now Telstra is refusing to pay the allowance the Maryborough Base Hospital. Any that has been paid for those people who had suggestions to the contrary are a nonsense. to stay at home, and the network of people What happened was that, in terms of the prepared to do this work is simply shrinking. redevelopment, certain beds were removed, all Just a few technicians cover vast areas of the of which have been returned. I point out to the State on a goodwill basis for 75% of the time. Deputy Leader of the Opposition that, when In July, Telstra closed the Brisbane after- that work actually starts, the beds and the hours service, which specialised in meeting furniture will have to be taken out. I can urgent repairs, and 170 Queensland imagine what the member's house would look technicians faced the sack. So when there is a like if he was going to have part of it breakdown nowadays, it is often not fixed for refurbished. He would let in the builders, and hours or days. Thousands of people have they would ruin the good quilts, all the furniture suffered a loss of their telephone services in and everything else. When work is undertaken this way, including the whole of Queensland in a hospital, some of the equipment has to be north of Kingaroy, the Brisbane CBD, the inner removed so that that work can be done. When suburbs south of the Brisbane River and the work is done, the equipment goes back. Blackall. Birdsville and Ravenshoe were As I said to the honourable member for completely isolated for nearly 24 hours. Parts Maryborough, who was there on Sunday, and of Mackay—which is why the honourable as I have said to the people of Maryborough, member asked this question—and we will deliver on the commitments I gave on Goondiwindi had no services for several hours Sunday with the Health Minister. Those as well. Queenslanders should appreciate that, commitments will be delivered. I remind the if Mr Howard wins Government, this situation is former Minister, the honourable member for more likely to get worse than better. The Toowoomba South, that he was the one who pressure for bigger profits is likely to lead to short-changed that hospital. My Government even further job cuts and fewer services. has fully funded it. I would be delighted to One of the things that I find extraordinary answer any more questions that the member about this Telstra debate is that members of wants to ask about the Maryborough Base the National Party have simply rolled over and Hospital. allowed the Liberals to dominate the debate. When are members of the National Party going to stand up for country people and start Telstra Jobs and Services worrying about their services? And they Mr MULHERIN: I refer the Premier to the wonder why One Nation has 11 members in dramatic effects on jobs and services as here. It is because members of the National Telecom became Telstra and shares were sold Party do not represent country people in to the public, with jobs being lost and services relation to Telstra. They do nothing to fight for suffering, and I ask: what is likely to happen to services. They have not argued their case. Telstra jobs and services if John Howard and They have just rolled over. As a Government, the coalition win the Federal election? we are going to fight to preserve Telstra and its services. The Leader of the Opposition has Mr BEATTIE: The honourable member for been silent when it comes to Telstra. Mackay has been a fighter for services in his region for many years. I know that he is Time expired. serious about this issue. I hope that he will pass on the Government's congratulations to Maryborough Base Hospital Geoffrey Heugill when he returns from the Commonwealth Games. What a fine athlete! Miss SIMPSON: I refer the Minister for He has the best wishes of this Government Health to the fact that the architects, engineers and, I am sure, all members of Parliament. and consultants have already completed the necessary plans for the $17m redevelopment There is a risk that, if the Federal coalition of the Maryborough Base Hospital. These wins Government and sells off Telstra, even plans, which have been on display at the more jobs and services may go, and the areas hospital and in the local newspaper, include: to be worst affected will be the regions. When 120 beds, total redevelopment of in-patient Telstra was Telecom Australia, it had shift areas, new operating theatres, redevelopment workers always available to answer of intensive care, a new mental health unit, emergencies—just like firemen. Then that was redevelopment of Blocks A and B, new allied 2226 Questions Without Notice 16 Sep 1998 health facilities, upgrade of engineering upgraded, I will listen to them and I will services and construction of a new kitchen perform; I will do exactly what they want. But in block. I also refer the Minister to an initial the meantime, Queensland Health has $3.5m construction contract which has already standards to maintain. We have to meet been let to Sommer and Staff Constructions accreditation. That means doing detailed Pty Ltd, and I ask: why has the Minister analysis with the architects, the engineers, the chosen to review the planning that has already staff and other people who know an awful lot been completed on the Maryborough Base more than the member for Maroochydore to Hospital redevelopment, and how can the determine whether there will be a new, modern people of Maryborough be sure that the $17m hospital or whether there will be a promised by the coalition will be fully spent, refurbishment of the old hospital, determined given the Minister's track record of broken by what the people want and what their health promises? needs are. Mrs EDMOND: I thank the member for her question, because this allows me to clear Comalco Alumina Refinery, Gladstone; up some of the misinformation that she has Chevron Gas Pipeline been spreading. We are reviewing that planning because the staff concerned Ms BOYLE: I ask the Minister for State overwhelmingly told us on Thursday night and Development and Minister for Trade: can he on the weekend that they do not want new inform the House of the state of negotiations theatres; they do not want a new over the proposed Comalco alumina refinery at development, they want the old hospital. They Gladstone and the gas pipeline between New said that they want it refurbished. It is a poor Guinea and Gladstone? politician who does not listen to the people out Mr ELDER: I thank the member for her there. It just shows how out of touch members question. She is one member who has a keen opposite are. interest in the success of this project because Honourable members interjected. of the benefits it will bring to her region and to north Queensland. I know that members Mr SPEAKER: Order! The House will opposite find it a bit baffling that we are come to order. actually trying to get this project and that they Mrs EDMOND: My apologies, Mr did not. Speaker. But really, these members are A memorandum of understanding was supposed to be representing the people. The signed the other day between Chevron and people of Maryborough said to us, "We don't Comalco. That brings both projects a little believe that we need new theatres. We don't closer together. It brings both projects closer to believe that we need a new ICU. We don't fruition. That is an exciting development in believe that we need new paediatric services. relation to this particular project. It will also We don't believe that we need new mental provide significant money in terms of health services." They said that it was all a investment—billions of dollars in investment— load of rubbish. I do not believe that. I have to and thousands of jobs in both projects: the say that I have some concerns. That is why, at refinery and the gas pipeline. The spin-offs— this very moment, the Director-General of the multiplier effects—will be significant. For Health has been meeting up there with the the first time, we will have an environmentally architects and engineers and the staff friendly form of energy source. This will provide concerned. The staff say that they do not want value adding opportunities for Cairns, new theatres. They ask, "Why do we need Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, new theatres?" My understanding, from the Bundaberg and anywhere else along those advice that I have been given, is that they lines, and anywhere that they can tap into simply cannot refurbish the theatres because subsidiary gas pipelines. of the way they were built in the past. They will have to rip out the entire theatres to put in the I would have thought that this project airconditioning, the gases and the other should have had universal support; but it has modern things that go into modern hospitals. not. From day one, it has been smear after That is what I want to give to the people of smear from the Opposition in relation to the Maryborough. I do not want them to have a Chevron gas pipeline. It started with the former second-rate hospital. I want them to have Premier undermining the project by saying modern facilities. That is why we are doing this. "You'll never get Comalco to sign." It has continued with the member for Western If the people of Maryborough say Downs, the former Environment Minister. He categorically that they want the second-rate supported it in Government, but now—when facilities and that they do not want the hospital he knows that it has significant greenhouse 16 Sep 1998 Questions Without Notice 2227 gas benefits—he says, "It won't do much for ruling. That is now the practice. I made that my electorate; there's nothing in it for me." ruling yesterday, and members are aware of it. Yesterday in this House, my shadow Minister, Mr BORBIDGE: I rise to a point of order. I the member for Toowoomba South, who is take it from your ruling that, if we are abused supposed to be representing this State and by a member of the Government and we take driving business opportunities, asked, "What exception to that personal abuse, to get that are you doing to promote a PNG gas project?" personal abuse withdrawn we have to repeat Does the honourable member have no idea the personal abuse. that the spin-off from this project will be similar to that in Western Australia when the north- Mr SPEAKER: Order! You have to state west gas shelf project was developed? The clearly the words that you found offensive. former Minister for Environment is knocking the Mr BORBIDGE: That has never been the project. The member for Toowoomba South is practice in this place. knocking it. The member for Wide Bay, the Mr SPEAKER: Order! They are rulings of Federal Minister, said, "It will do nothing for us this House that were made by previous either." He is a member of the Federal Speakers. If the Leader of the Opposition had Government. This smear campaign does listened yesterday—— nothing to help the project. What are the allegations? Yesterday the allegations were Mr BORBIDGE: Mr Speaker, with that this was some sort of socialist plot. respect—— Mr LITTLEPROUD: I rise to a point of Mr SPEAKER: Order! If the Leader of the order. The Minister has misquoted me. I was Opposition had listened to the statement seeking fair treatment for—— yesterday, he would realise that I quoted several rulings from different Speakers on this Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of matter. The matter is this: the words must be order. clearly stated that a member finds offensive. Mr LITTLEPROUD: I was misquoted and I There is no argument about it. I ask the found it offensive. Leader of the Opposition to resume his seat. Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of Mr BORBIDGE: That is a dramatic order. The member will resume his seat. change to rulings from the Chair. Mr LITTLEPROUD: I ask that it be Mr SPEAKER: Order! It is no change. I withdrawn. I find it offensive. ask the Leader of the Opposition to resume his seat. Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. Mr LITTLEPROUD: I found it offensive Maryborough Base Hospital and I ask for it to be withdrawn. Dr KINGSTON: Before I ask the Premier Mr SPEAKER: Order! What did you find my question, may I reassure him and the to be offensive? House that he did speak to the lady about whom concern was expressed. He did Mr LITTLEPROUD: I found it offensive undertake to stay in touch with her. I heard that I was accused of knocking the Chevron that statement. Last week on ABC radio, Alan gas pipeline. I was pointing out that I wanted Holmes, a senior official of the Maryborough equity for any project in my part of Labor Party, said that the perceived Queensland. downgrading of the Maryborough Base Mr SPEAKER: Order! What were the Hospital was retribution for electing a One actual words? Nation candidate. I ask: is this the Premier's Mr LITTLEPROUD: I find it offensive. policy, or was Alan Holmes expressing electoral frustration with an unauthorised Mr ELDER: Mr Speaker, with deference to statement? you, I will withdraw. I will table the member for Western Downs' statements in the Parliament Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable tomorrow. member for Maryborough for his question. I ask him if he would be kind enough to provide Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier me with the lady's name and contact number. has withdrawn, but there was a clear ruling yesterday that, if an honourable member is to Mr Horan: It's in your office. rise on a point of order in respect of words, the Mr BEATTIE: Does the member mind? I member should clearly state the words. The am trying to do the right thing by this person. member was not clearly stating the words that I wonder whether the honourable member were to be withdrawn. That is why I made that would ensure that I am given the name and 2228 Questions Without Notice 16 Sep 1998 phone number. If the lady still has concerns, I Mr ELDER: I have returned recently from will make certain that the Minister and I talk overseas where I was talking to our trading with her—or the Minister at the very least—and partners, as has the Premier. In relation to reassure her about the medical treatment that their policies, the first or second question that her child will receive. they ask is always, "What's the attitude of Mr Horan interjected. Queenslanders now that you have One Nation members in the Parliament with their racist Mr BEATTIE: I am trying to do the decent attitudes?" thing. The member should give it a break. Mr NELSON: I rise to a point of order. I Mr Horan interjected. find the remark that One Nation is racist Mr SPEAKER: Order! offensive. I ask that it be withdrawn. Mr BEATTIE: Mr Speaker, thank you very Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of much. Whingeing and moaning will not do the order. If the member heard my ruling member any good in the electorate. yesterday, when a party or a number of people As to the question in relation to One are affected, there is no point of order. It has Nation—I have not seen the comments to to be individually addressed. which the member referred in relation to Alan Mr NELSON: I rise to a point of order. On Holmes. I assure the member of one thing: behalf of 438,000 Queenslanders I find the when my Government took office I said that remark that my party is racist offensive. I ask we would be a Government for all that it be withdrawn. Queenslanders, and we will. We will not Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will discriminate against any electorate, regardless resume his seat. There is no point of order. of the nature of the representative who was Mr ELDER: For the benefit of the member elected by the people. In relation to for Tablelands, I point out that I know Viagra Maryborough, the people of Maryborough will has been on the market for only a week, but it be treated with courtesy and respect, as they is amazing how noticeably taller he has grown should be. Although I have very strong since he has been on it. differences with One Nation in relation to policy—and One Nation is aware of that—the Mr NELSON: I find that remark to be people elected them as representatives in this personally offensive. I ask for it to be Parliament. While they are members of this withdrawn. Parliament, they will be treated with respect Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier and courtesy as members of this Westminster will withdraw that remark. system. They will be treated fairly by my Mr ELDER: I will withdraw it. He must be Government, because the people have voted standing on his toes. for them. We can argue elsewhere about Mr SPEAKER: Order! The House will policy. We can argue in the community about come to order. The Deputy Premier—— it. We can argue in here about policy. However, if One Nation members are Mr ELDER: If they want a debate on representing their constituents genuinely, they policy in relation to their attitudes, I will give will be treated with respect. Whatever they put them one. It is in Pauline Hanson's policy forward on behalf of their constituents will be document "Immigration, Population and Social treated seriously and acted upon. Cohesion", which states— "70% of our immigration program is from Asian countries. Consequently One Nation's Immigration Policy Australia will be 27% Asian within 25 Ms STRUTHERS: I ask: can the Minister years, and as migrants congregate in our for State Development and Trade outline the major cities, the effect of Asianisation will perceptions overseas of One Nation's be more concentrated there. This will lead immigration policy and the effects it is having to the bizarre situation of largely Asian on Queensland's trade performance? cities on our coasts that will be culturally Mr Cooper interjected. and racially different from the traditional ... nature of the rest of the country." Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for On page 10 it continues— Crows Nest! "The government's"— Ms STRUTHERS: I repeat my question: can the Minister outline the perceptions That is, the previous Government— overseas of One Nation's immigration policy "unspoken justification for immigration and the effects it is having on Queensland's and the result of the policy will lead to the trade performance? Asianisation of Australia." 16 Sep 1998 Questions Without Notice 2229

The policies are there. If One Nation members increasing the presence of inspectors in mining do not believe it—and I accept that some operations, and I ask the Minister for Mines members of One Nation abhor racism—they and Energy: can he inform the House if mine should correct the record. It is their policy. If inspections will continue to be carried out on a they do not believe in their policy, they should routine basis or will different methods be correct the record so that the perception that is introduced? a reality in South-East Asia and in the minds of our other trading partners is corrected. If One Mr McGRADY: I thank the member for Nation members do not believe those words, Fitzroy for his question. He plays a very they have a responsibility to correct the record. valuable role in my caucus committee. Last It is their policy. night he said to me, "Minister, tomorrow in the Chamber the members of this House will bathe Time expired. in the glory of Pat Rafter." An honourable member: Why? Regional Hospitals Dr PRENZLER: I ask the Minister for Mr McGRADY: Why? I would walk over Health: now that she has been absolutely hot coals to support my leader. However, on defeated at the hands of the people of this occasion I have to inform the House that I Maryborough, will she now take control of her am most disappointed because, although he departmental bureaucrats and initiate has given accolades to people who come from investigations into the downgrading of regional Mackay, he has not recognised the fact that hospitals throughout Queensland, including Mr Rafter comes from Mount Isa, as did Greg hospitals at Boonah, Gympie, Gin Gin, Norman. That just shows members what the Mareeba, Atherton and many others, always mining industry is made of. without consultation and usually by a creeping A Government member: People who play stealth, or do the people of Queensland sport. always have to resort to public demonstrations to gain any justice in this State? Mr McGRADY: People who play sport all Mrs EDMOND: The first answer to that the time—people who go overseas to question is that, to my knowledge, there is no represent this State and this nation at the downgrading of regional hospitals anywhere in highest levels. Coming back to a more Queensland by stealth or by any other means. serious matter, the question asked by the Previously, the member asked me a question member for Fitzroy is very important. We used about this matter. I told him about it and there to have a situation in the mining industry in is a detailed brief coming to him about it. At which mine management would know the time that time, he was concerned about the lack of at which the inspectors would come around to a doctor in Boonah. The problem was that that do their inspections and, in many cases, the doctor was ill. That doctor had been ill for place would be clean and tidy. Now, when some months and, therefore, could not be inspectors go to mining sites, sometimes they replaced. He has now resigned. will inform management that they are coming Mr Johnson interjected. and other times they will arrive unannounced. Mrs EDMOND: He could not be replaced The mining industry does not work bank because he was ill. For heaven's sake, hours—it does not work from nine to five—it members opposite are not going to ask me to works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I sack someone because he is sick, are they? believe that it is important that this new regime What sort of criterion is that for being that we have set up where inspectors will call sacked—because a chap is sick? at any time of the day or night, any day of the I understand that that doctor has now week, to make inspections of mining resigned due to ill health. As a result, we are operations will certainly advance safety in this now advertising to fill that position. We are also very important industry. I commend the adding private rooms to the hospital so that member for Fitzroy for the question, because it that doctor can fulfil the role of a private GP in is an important issue. I certainly hope that the the area. I would not see that as a downgrade message gets out to all mines in Queensland of that hospital. that the mines inspectorate will be working 24 hours a day.

Mines Inspectorate Mr Hamill: Game, set and march. Mr PEARCE: I understand that the mines Mr McGRADY: Game set and match. I inspectorate is being upgraded with a view to rest my case. 2230 Questions Without Notice 16 Sep 1998

Maryborough Base Hospital misinformation, the people will react, too. I tell Mr SEENEY: I refer the Minister for Health the member that the people of Maryborough to the extraordinary display of community now know the truth. They now know how they anger and solidarity in Maryborough where have been misled. They now know how they 2,000 people rallied in response to her blatant have been used for cheap political point attempt to break a pre-election commitment to scoring. maintain essential services at the Maryborough Base Hospital, and I ask: how Drugs in Prisons many other communities will have to mobilise to fight for the retention of their essential Mr FENLON: I refer the Minister for Police health services in a similar fashion to the and Corrective Services to comments by the people of Maryborough when she decides, as honourable member for Broadwater on 4RK in she did in Maryborough's case, to blatantly Rockhampton on 7 September 1998. The and dishonestly break her pre-election honourable member was asked, "What is your commitments? understanding of what treatment exists in prisons at the moment for drugs?" He said, Mrs EDMOND: The honourable member "Well, I think very little. I think there's been little is delusional. I was not breaking any of my pre- pilot programs here and there, but never election commitments; I was actually fulfilling anything of major consequence." I ask: could them in keeping Maryborough Base Hospital a the Minister please advise the House what major regional hospital and expanding service action the Government is taking to curtail the delivery. I would like to get on with developing problem of drugs in the Queensland prison a modern, flexible hospital that meets system? community needs and health standards in Mr BARTON: I thank the member for the Queensland. question. I was astounded to hear just how Let us talk about what people were little the Opposition spokesman on prisons reacting to. I found that one of the most knew about what was occurring in relation to touching things about going up to combating drugs in prison, including while his Maryborough on Sunday and to my own Government was in power until 12 weeks office—and I thank the anonymous person ago. Since then, this Government has been who sent a huge bunch of flowers apologising addressing both the treatment of inmates with on behalf of the people of Maryborough—were drug problems and the very important task of the number of calls that I had and the number stopping drugs from entering Queensland's of people, as the Premier witnessed, along prisons. with many other hundreds of people and the Within a month of Labor coming to office, member for Maryborough, who personally the general manager's drug task force was came up to me and apologised. They said that established. It is very early days yet, but its they felt used and dirty because they had initiatives include an ongoing media campaign been so misled. They felt that they had been to educate prison visitors and constant used for political purposes. They had been told communication between general managers that the hospital was going to be closed, which and the police Proactive Intelligence Unit, was untrue. They were told the same about which addresses the problem of drugs in the paediatric services. One woman came up prisons. All drug infringements are now and hugged me and kissed me. She said, "I reported to the media, with over 70 reports am so pleased that you came back so that I having been given since Labor came to can apologise to you personally." At the Government. Video messages in waiting meeting the previous Thursday night, she had rooms now warn visitors about bringing drugs asked how dare I shut the paediatric services into prisons, and a drugs hotline has been after 5 o'clock, which was untrue. It was always established for visitors to report suspicious untrue information spread by members incidents. opposite who have not a clue what they are talking about. As well, the current programs to address the drug problem in prisons include a core I was happy to provide them with a copy substance abuse educational program, the of the first press release that said all of those Ending Offending program for Aboriginal things and the other press releases that inmates, a substance abuse program for detailed all of the extra jobs and all of the extra preventing and managing relapse issues, a services that were going there. The people of health and medical program in relation to Maryborough were reacting angrily to drugs and a comprehensive health and misinformation. If the member who asked the medical database on all prisoners. We have question goes around spreading compulsory testing for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B 16 Sep 1998 Questions Without Notice 2231 and syphilis. There is Alcoholics Anonymous to knew where he came from. I acknowledge on address alcohol abuse in prison as well as the public record the contribution that Mount Narcotics Anonymous and Gamblers Isa has made to the sporting genius of this Anonymous to address abuse in that regard. country. We have much more in the Budget that I Moving on to the honourable member's could talk about later on. question—I have made it clear that the boards During July and August, we had that are performing and providing leadership in successes in combating the drugs problem in the areas in which they operate will remain. prisons. They included 192 drug-related That has been the case for the South Bank incidents being detected in Queensland's board and a range of other boards. A number prison system and 14 outside supplies being of members of the boards to which the intercepted in those two months alone. As a honourable member referred have resigned. result, 36 people were arrested and charged. Mr Borbidge: They were asked to leave. Each time the problem raises its head, we will act as we are acting now, because we are Mr BEATTIE: They were not sacked; they being very successful in stopping drugs in resigned. There is a very important and prisons. Already, the urine analysis sampling significant difference. Let us make sure that that is being carried out in some prisons is everyone in the House understands it. showing a dramatic downturn in the amount of When it comes to tourism and drugs being detected, which indicates that we organisations such as the QTTC and the are being successful. Queensland Events Corporation, Queensland This Government will continue to support will have the best. There must be no doubt in programs that deny drugs to prisoners. That anybody's mind that we will have the best. was not the case prior to the Labor Party Tourism is the second biggest industry in this coming to Government. This Government is State. It employs 125,000 people and we will spending more money on and putting more have the best boards to deliver jobs, events time and energy into addressing the problem and opportunities for young Queenslanders. I of drugs in prisons than any other Government have discussed this matter with my Cabinet in the State's history, and it has been more colleagues and the Minister concerned. We will successful. deliver when it comes to tourism and jobs. As I said, tourism is the State's second biggest industry; a lot of jobs will be found within the Statutory Authorities and Boards, Sackings tourism industry. That is why we have moved Mr HEALY: I refer the Premier to the and those people have resigned. ministerial statement that he made this I am appalled that the Opposition, and morning. I refer him also to a memo that was particularly the Leader of the Opposition and sent to all Ministers on 31 July and that was the Opposition spokesman for Tourism, have miraculously leaked to the Courier-Mail. In that been silent when it comes to defending the memo, the Premier nobly claimed that it was tourism industry against the GST. Where have not the new Labor administration's policy to they been? They have been missing in action! sack existing boards or other major bodies. I The Leader of the Opposition represents the ask: does the Premier believe that the Gold Coast. Is that not a tourism destination? sackings of the boards of the Queensland Of course it is! Is it not strange that a Labor Tourist and Travel Corporation, the Greyhound Government is fighting to preserve jobs in the Racing Authority, the TAB, the Queensland electorate of the Leader of the Opposition? Events Corporation and WorkCover Queensland were conducive to his memo? I Today I invite the Opposition spokesman further ask: what impact does the Premier for Tourism to defend the tourism industry and think his directives have on his Ministers and oppose the GST. He should stand up for the what was the urgency in sacking those boards tourism industry. He should not come in here before the Premier made his other noble with his half-smart questions. He should get announcement that he would establish a out and make a difference. He should join us register of people interested in positions on in fighting to preserve Queensland's jobs. He boards? must fight for tourism, the State's second biggest industry. While the Opposition wants to Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable desert tourism, I say to all Queenslanders who member for his question. Before answering, I work in the tourism industry that if they apologise to my humble colleague the continue to support us, we will look after their member for Mount Isa for not mentioning that jobs and their future. Pat Rafter comes from Mount Isa. As Pat Rafter is such a star, I assumed that everyone Time expired. 2232 Questions Without Notice 16 Sep 1998

Goods and Services Tax Roads to confirm that the staff of the Ms NELSON-CARR: I ask the Honourable Townsville South railway yards are on strike Minister for Education to inform the House of because of the Minister's failure to implement the impact that the Federal Government's pre-election promises for 77 fixed-term goods and services tax will have on the contracts. Secondly, will the Minister confirm education system and the implications of the that his failure to deliver on the promised GST on parents with children at school? expansion of permanent positions in the Townsville South railway yards, as detailed on Mr WELLS: The impact of the GST on page 11 of the Regional Economic education would be very dramatic. The claims Development Strategy, is now causing serious that education would be exempted from the disruption to rail work in north Queensland? GST apply only to tuition fees, but can honourable members guess what is not Mr BREDHAUER: The answer to the charged in State schools? Tuition fees! member for Gregory is: no. I am aware that Consequently, the impact of the GST would the staff of the Townsville South railway yards apply in every other area that is covered by the are on strike. They took 24-hour strike action school system. Apparently, school tuckshops yesterday. They met again today. would have to pay a GST. According to my Within a month of coming to Government, department, even lamington drives are likely to Queensland Rail and I moved quickly to gain be covered. more secure employment for fixed-term Even the Opposition cannot disagree with contract employees. We made 305 contract this: parents would have to pay more for rail employees permanent, including 30 from school uniforms, school bags, textbooks, the Townsville South railway yards. The other stationery, tuckshop food, bus and train fees, day when I was in Townsville, the Government educational camps and excursions to announced the allocation of the Traveltrain museums and theatres. Parents would also carriage work to the Townsville yards, thus have to pay a GST on novels, Internet use securing employment for 50 workers. I gave an and sporting equipment. indication that we were seeking to allocate additional work to the Townsville workshops Mr Beattie: Even the shoes that they walk and that, when that occurred, we would be to school in. seeking to make more contract employees Mr WELLS: As the Premier says, even permanent. the shoes that they walk to school in will be Mr Johnson: Do you know that they are covered by a GST. If a GST were to be applied on strike? to such things as textbooks and school books, Australia would join the ranks of only four other Mr BREDHAUER: I have recognised that countries, including Bulgaria and Lesotho, that they are on strike. I understand the concerns impose taxes on knowledge and information in that they have about the remainder of the the form of books, periodicals and contract employees. newspapers. Mr Johnson interjected. The current GST proposal includes the Mr BREDHAUER: I also understand the same crazy ideas that were contained in the concern that they have about trying to secure previous one. According to financial expert permanent—— Austin Donnelly, under a GST parents would Mr Johnson interjected. have to pay approximately $180 extra to send their children to school from Year 7 to Year 10. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for P & C associations would be badly affected, as Gregory will allow the Minister to answer the they would be subjected to a GST on their question. fundraising activities. The burden on schools of Mr BREDHAUER: I also understand the having to administer the tax would be concern they have about trying to find enormous. The effect of the GST on schools permanent employment for unskilled workers and on the parents of the children attending as well as skilled workers. I have had schools would be enormous and adverse. The negotiations and discussions with Queensland GST would be a tax on knowledge, it would be Rail to try to improve the number of fixed-term a tax on education and it would be a tax on employees who are made permanent and to learning. try to improve the blend of skilled and unskilled workers who may get access to that permanent employment. I give the workers at Townsville South Railway Yards the Townsville South yards a commitment that Mr JOHNSON: I ask the Honourable I will continue to work with Queensland Rail Minister for Transport and Minister for Main and with other relevant Ministers to find 16 Sep 1998 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2233 solutions to making more of those fixed-term Mr JOHNSON: I take offence at that employees permanent and to look at the comment. The Treasurer is the last person in blend of skilled and unskilled workers. this place who should be saying anything Mr SPEAKER: Order! The time for about transport matters. We know his record in questions has expired. this State over the five or six years that he was the Minister. Mr Veivers: When he was the Transport TRANSPORT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT Minister, how many did he dismiss? BILL Mr JOHNSON: In Queensland Rail? Second Reading Mr Veivers: Yes. Resumed from 15 September (see p. 2198). Mr JOHNSON: The figure was 8,000. Mr JOHNSON (Gregory—NPA) Mr HAMILL: I rise to a point of order. The (11.30 a.m.), continuing: Once again it gives honourable member is misleading the House. me pleasure to speak to the Transport His claim that I dismissed 8,000 workers from Legislation Amendment Bill. Before I Queensland Rail is not only untrue; I find it adjourned the debate yesterday, I was personally offensive and I ask that it be speaking about the Briztram concept, which withdrawn. was a very important part of the infrastructure Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Reeves): program of the former Government. The Order! There is no point of order. current Labor Government has lost sight of the Mr HAMILL: I rise to a point of order. The importance of that network in addressing the allegation made by the honourable member public transport needs of greater Brisbane. that I as Transport Minister dismissed 8,000 Talk about resurrecting this Government's Queensland Rail workers is not only untrue, I initiative: yesterday we saw that the find it personally offensive and I ask for it to be Government has changed only the cover on withdrawn in accordance with the Standing the Budget document that we presented Orders of the House. before losing office in July. In relation to the Mr JOHNSON: Mr Deputy Speaker, if the Briztram concept—and I am pleased the Minister finds that offensive, I will withdraw it Minister is in the Chamber—Government and give him another line. I return to the members said that we were going to put in interjection from the member for Southport. place antiquated nineteenth century During the Treasurer's stewardship of technology. It is not 19th century technology; it Transport, he was the architect of the anarchy is technology that would have taken us into that resulted in 8,000 people losing their jobs the 21st century. I am aware that officers in in Queensland Rail. the Departments of Transport and Main Roads know that. Mr Hamill: How? One of my main concerns is that the Lord Mr JOHNSON: Some of them were Mayor has been quick to propose that the pushed into corners where they had no future. Federation funding made available for the Mr Hamill: No, they didn't. Briztram project should now be diverted to the Mr JOHNSON: Yes, they did. I have City/Valley bypass. During my term as Minister, another 26 minutes in which to deal with this I supported the proposed City/Valley bypass point. Honourable members can travel around and I worked very closely with the Brisbane this State and see the anarchy that the City Council on it, especially with its Treasurer of this State left behind when he spokesperson on transport, Maureen Hayes. It was the Minister for Transport. That applies not is a shame that Maureen Hayes is not the only to railways but every other transport mode Lord Mayoress of the City of Brisbane, and issue in this State. because she shows more commonsense in respect of transport matters than does the Mr Hamill interjected. current Lord Mayor. Mr JOHNSON: The Treasurer should sit Mr Hamill: Why do you want her to be back and listen for a moment. Today one of the mayoress? the main issues we are addressing relates to the public transport provisions in the Transport Mr JOHNSON: It is a shame that she is Legislation Amendment Bill. When I was the not the Lord Mayor or whatever the member Minister for Transport and Main Roads, our wants to call her. Government was committed to looking after Mr Hamill: That's typical. You don't see a the arteries feeding Brisbane and other cities role for women in public life. in the State. The Lord Mayor of this city should 2234 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 become aware of the bottlenecks in Brisbane I implore the Minister for Transport to that are his responsibility and work closely with intervene in this process before it is too late the current Minister and the Government to and to ensure that the route chosen has little address those problems. This is not just about or no impact on the Victoria Park parklands. his own backyard; it is about the wider picture. Mr Robertson: It's a shame you appear Yesterday I stated that the Integrated to care more about that than the people of Regional Transport Plan is a document that all Underwood in my electorate and what you are local authorities in this part of Queensland doing with the Pacific Highway. should work on with the Government of the day. As the Minister rightly said yesterday, that Mr JOHNSON: The member for plan can be reviewed every year. It is a Sunnybank knows full well what we did with the flexible, living, working document that is Pacific Motorway. Labor procrastinated over a published for the betterment of the people of policy, because it never had the guts to deliver south-east Queensland. I wish that the Lord it. That was to its detriment. We delivered on a Mayor would work with Government to put it in policy and the people applauded us for it and place. My colleague the member for Clayfield put us into power for it. is not in the Chamber at the moment. Mr Robertson interjected. Mr Hamill: Highly unusual. Mr JOHNSON: I will take interjections from Mr JOHNSON: He will be back in a the member for Sunnybank all day, because minute. The Premier of this State has stated he is a negative member. That is why he is that I said the State Government would fund sitting back there. Some of the newer the City/Valley bypass. I have never given that members are closer to the front of the House commitment. I have never said that. However, because of their ability and intellect. He is we will work very closely with the Brisbane City being pushed further towards the back of the Council—and I have spoken with Maureen Chamber. Hayes on numerous occasions—to address I know that members representing that bottleneck. The City/Valley bypass is a electorates along the Pacific Motorway major project that is deserving of State confronted a lot of hardship when we had to support, in particular because of the benefits it make the decision. There were resumptions may bring to public transport, which is the that caused dislocation to people's lives. major problem that we are trying to address with this piece of legislation. Mr Mickel interjected. I point out again that the Briztram project Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Reeves): would have taken a lot of people out of their Order! I remind members that if they are going motor vehicles in the Brisbane CBD and the to interject they should do so from their correct Valley. It would have allowed them to utilise seats. public transport to travel to university or to Mr JOHNSON: That is one thing that the work. It is paramount that that concept is IRTP does cover. It is about proper and progressed as soon as is humanly possible. In professional planning. As I said yesterday, it is common with many others, I am concerned at about not dislocating people's lives, the model and route being proposed for the businesses or asset bases. It is about letting City/Valley bypass. There has been some them have their say and it is about local attempt to suggest that the route will utilise the government working with State and Federal Queensland Rail right of way from Normanby Government so that we can make this part of to the Royal Brisbane Hospital. However, the Queensland better. route that appears predestined involves the In the Budget statements yesterday I Victoria Park precinct, with its trees, open noticed reference to integrated regional space and historical sites. transport plans for other areas of the State. I I notice that the Minister for Environment salute the Minister for that. This is absolutely is in the Chamber. I know that environmental paramount in his own electorate of Cook, issues are close to his heart. The Minister for which takes in part of the northern beaches Environment should make certain that we do and part of Cairns city—one of the developing not lose the parkland in question. We have to areas of the State. It is also important for uphold those environmental standards. It is Townsville, Rockhampton and Bundaberg. paramount that we preserve those parklands Certainly they are areas in relation to which we for future generations. have to ensure the planning is right. I hope Mr Welford: Where's that coming from? that the Minister continues in that vein. Mr JOHNSON: I am talking about Victoria I would have thought that the Minister Park. may have learned from his Labor 16 Sep 1998 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2235 predecessors about the provision of road generations of this State. I think we are all infrastructure. I suggest that he listen to what about making absolutely certain that things are the objectors have to say about the Valley done properly now so that in 10, 20 or 30 bypass. If he does that, I think he will find that years' time somebody else will not have to there are routes which would gain greater deal with the headaches and hardship we public acceptance. I urge the Minister to have have been confronted with. full and proper consultation. We had proposed amendments to the I ask the Minister to ensure that the Lord Public Transport Act to address the situation Mayor keeps to his side of the road funding which has arisen in Cairns, in particular where bargain and begins to address some of the mini-buses are being used as a de facto taxi other major traffic issues of this city before company. I am surprised that the member for things deteriorate any further. We know that Cook has not taken this opportunity to address there are bottlenecks and we know that if we that situation, which is causing considerable did work together we could sort out a lot of concern to taxi drivers and owners in Cairns. those issues. I say to the Lord Mayor: work Mr Bredhauer: We promised that we will with the Government on the matter. review the legislation. At the moment I am concerned that all Mr JOHNSON: Good. The failure of the the other State construction projects are Minister to act in this situation is seriously achieving is getting public and private transport jeopardising—— to the traffic jams more quickly. We did our bit when we were in Government. I know now that Mr BREDHAUER: Mr Speaker, I rise to a Labor has adopted our Budget. It will carry on point of order. I find the remarks suggesting and do its share, because that is what our that I have failed to act in this situation untrue Budget statements provide for. and offensive and I ask that they be I note that the Brisbane City Council is at withdrawn. I have met with taxi drivers in Cairns long last going to address the problems on on a number of occasions and I have given Waterworks Road to see whether it can at them an assurance, and have stated publicly, least be made two lanes each way. That that we are reviewing that legislation. certainly will be very beneficial for people who Mr JOHNSON: If the Minister finds that live along and at the end of that artery. I also comment offensive, I withdraw. I am pleased suggest that Milton Road become a priority so that he has had that consultation, because a that traffic is not confronted with on-road lot of people are suffering hardship. I certainly parking, as that also inhibits the movement of welcome that and I know that they will also. traffic along that corridor. I note that the Minister is proposing to In situations like this, I honestly believe introduce car pooling as a means of providing that the Minister and his policy committee subsidised transport for children in remote should be taking full responsibility for ensuring areas of the State. Naturally I welcome this that its policy is implemented. There should initiative, but I note that the draft Transport not be somebody else in the department or Legislation Amendment Bill I had prepared somewhere down the line telling the addressed some of the legal concerns about Government what the policy should be. I car pooling. That is something I believe we all respect the work of and input from have to look closely at. As the Minister departmental officers but, at the end of the represents a very large, geographically isolated day, if a Government is elected on policy then and remote electorate, he will understand fully that policy should be implemented. I am not what that is all about. Now that these being critical of the public servants in this provisions have been deleted from this Bill, I State, but the fact of the matter is that it is trust that the Minister has taken advice to about policy and it is about election promises. ensure that these matters have been covered Today, in both a question and in a private appropriately. member's statement, I made reference to the I would be remiss in not making reference Minister's election strategy in relation to to the Pacific Motorway details in the Gold Townsville workshop. Coast Bulletin. What a great policy the former I believe that a lot of common ground can coalition Government put in place in relation to be found in relation to public transport and the Pacific Motorway! I heard what the Minister other transport infrastructure in this part of said yesterday in his ministerial statement to Queensland. I just hope that commonsense the House. No doubt he applauds that project prevails as we go about trying to get the job and is working closely now with the engineers, done properly and in a fashion that will be planners and other people involved, and no beneficial for all and sundry and for future doubt the motorway is progressing 2236 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 satisfactorily. I pay tribute to the great work railway. The existing legislation also prescribes that project manager Bob Higgins has done. a regime for the accreditation of railway He was thrown in the deep end, I suppose you managers and railway operators to provide could say, and he has done a very admirable that the safety of the rail network is assured. and professional job. This Bill will ensure that the leasing and Mr Connor: First class. rail safety accreditation processes will be better Mr JOHNSON: I do not think anyone has integrated to ensure that a workable process is denied that. In the early days, during the in place for the development of rail projects. resumptions and so on, Bob Higgins certainly The passage of the Bill will also clarify issues of did a very admirable job—in working with Rust timing with respect to the accreditation PPK and other people associated with that process, the leasing process and the project, and in bringing about an outcome that construction process and it will remove any was going to be beneficial to the people uncertainty associated with the existing whose lives were dislocated. In conclusion, I legislation. say to the Minister and to the Government: I know that one of my colleagues to follow whilst most of this legislation was compiled by will speak on the Brisbane Airport rail link. This me as Minister, the Opposition does support is a project that is very close to his heart. We the legislation. know that the improved process will benefit a Mr SULLIVAN (Chermside—ALP) range of projects throughout the State. (11.48 a.m.): I rise to support the Transport Possibly the first and largest will be the Legislation Amendment Bill, currently before Brisbane Airport rail link. This proposed rail link the House. This is one of the great majority of integrates with the existing Queensland Rail Bills that has bipartisan support. It is network south of the Eagle Junction Railway unfortunate that there is a perception in the Station and will service both the international community that those on opposite sides of the and domestic air terminals. House disagree most of the time. That I know of the proposed route. I also know perception has arisen because frequently it is that there has been some concern expressed only the disagreements and the clashes of in the local area. I live close to the area and I policy which are reported in the papers. Here is know that people who use Kalinga Park and an example of both sides of the Chamber that section of Sandgate Road along Schulz agreeing on legislation. Canal near Toombul Shoppingtown have We all know that because certain Acts expressed concerns in regard to this project. I have lapsed we have to pass retrospective believe that those concerns are being legislation. Five critical Acts and nearly a dozen addressed. I will listen with interest to what the important regulations and by-laws preserved member for Clayfield has to say on this matter. under the previous Act ceased to exist at While there are concerns that need to be midnight on 30 June 1998. We know that we addressed, I believe that the rail link will be have to pass this legislation. As a result of the beneficial, provided that patronage can be lapse of the previous legislation, we have lost retained at a viable level. The aim of the laws which regulate the carriage of dangerous project is to enhance the public transport goods, and the registration and control of options to the airport and bestow considerable motor vehicles, boat harbours, the Gold Coast benefits on airport users. waterways and houseboats on waterways. It is Although the plan has not been finalised, important that this legislation pass through the the project for the expansion of Brisbane House. Amongst other things, the Transport Airport is under way. We know that over the Legislation Amendment Bill contains next 25 years there will be many more amendments which clarify the existing thousands of jobs involved in the processes for the development of new rail redevelopment of the airport. There are major corridors. This will improve the existing process problems with noise associated with the and assist in facilitating desirable rail airport. Environmental factors have to be developments in the State. Again, this balanced against the economic gains that the measure is supported by both sides of the redevelopment of the airport will bring. The rail House. link to the airport is not only concerned with The existing Transport Infrastructure Act passengers using the airport; it is also vital to 1994 provides for the leasing of land to railway the thousands of people who will be working at managers. This enables the State to retain a the airport site and in the surrounding strategic overview of the network while allowing economic development area. the railway managers and operators to have The project is a private sector BOOT the day-to-day management and control of the project. The proponents will build, own and 16 Sep 1998 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2237 operate the rail link and transfer it back to the chairmanship of John Goss. The committee State Government after the 35-year lease produced a report which had the total support agreement expires. The Airtrain project will be of all members and said that we believed that one of the first projects to benefit from the the introduction of speed cameras would amendments to the Transport Infrastructure reduce the road toll. That decision took a lot of Act. The amendments contained in this Bill will the politics out of the matter. further enhance the State's ability to facilitate One understands that former Minister the provision of new rail infrastructure in the Johnson and former shadow Minister Elder State. and other people must play the political game, I have been pleased to have received but when there is bipartisan support from the briefings from the current Minister and the Committee a lot of the heat is taken out of the previous Minister, and I thank them for that. issue. When former Minister Johnson This project will affect the northern suburbs introduced speed cameras there was very little close to my electorate and close to where I flak from around the State. The reason for that live. This Bill brings about other changes. was that all members knew that there was I wish to express my thanks to many of support for this measure on both sides of the the officials from the Department of Transport House. As a result, Queenslanders are alive today who would otherwise have been killed in and Main Roads who have been extremely car accidents. helpful over a number of years. I have received briefings and been provided with Mr Johnson: Or maimed. information by these officers. I notice that Mr Mr SULLIVAN: Or maimed, thank you. Paul Blake is in the Chamber today advising Often, the cost to the community is more the Minister. As Deputy Chairman of the Select substantial when a person survives a serious Committee on Travelsafe I have had car accident. A person who is rendered considerable contact with Paul and officers paraplegic as a result of a serious car accident from his section of the department. Obviously, can over their lifetime cost compulsory third Travelsafe has very close links with the party insurance a couple of million dollars. If Department of Transport and Main Roads and the accident had not occurred that money with Queensland Rail. I thank Paul and the could have been put into other services officers of his section for their assistance. throughout the State. It is very easy for the Courier-Mail and the We have heard mention of the City/Valley rest of the media to splash across the front bypass. Those of us who travel through the pages of the newspaper and television northern suburbs of Brisbane know that screens the broken bodies and crashed something is drastically needed to be done vehicles which are the result of road accidents around the area of Gilchrist Avenue, Bowen and point to where things are going wrong. But Bridge Road and the Royal Brisbane Hospital. it is very hard to go to a suburban or regional We know that the increase in the population in household, knock on the door and say to the the south-east corner of the State cannot mums and dads who answer, "Do you know continue without major changes occurring to that your 22-year-old son is alive because road our public and private transport infrastructure. safety has improved?" or, "Do you know that The Busways project is a significant step. your 27-year-old daughter is alive today I am disappointed that the Federal because of steps that have been introduced in coalition withdrew funds from that project. The a bipartisan way by members of this former coalition State Government directed all Parliament and through the work of the Land its Busways money into busways to the south Safety Division of the department?" Because of Brisbane linking up with the Pacific those things cannot be said, people do not Motorway. We might end up with an eight-lane see the beneficial effect of the improvements super highway to the Gold Coast which allows in road safety. Today, we have 75 fewer the former Premier, and now Leader of the deaths on Queensland roads compared with Opposition, to get to Parliament House from the same time last year. Surfers Paradise more quickly, but I want to Some people say, "What sort of work do see that the north side of Brisbane receives its parliamentary committees do? They are fairly fair share of that money. In the next few years impotent." Well, are they? I would like to take we need a bus route along Highway 1 through the example of the introduction of speed Chermside, terminating at the Carseldine cameras. This issue was looked at by the campus of QUT. Unfortunately, because of Travelsafe Committee under former Chairman Federal Government and former State Len Ardill who was passionate about road Government cutbacks that project has now safety. The inquiry was continued under the been put on the long finger. 2238 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

It is important that public transport issues "... areas in your electorate have been be addressed in a bipartisan way. The existing shown to have inappropriate current road infrastructure in the inner city will not be speed limits. In order to maintain able to support the increased population and consistency the changes shown in the the increased use of private vehicles. We must attached listing are to be implemented." attack this problem in a better way so that There was no consultation with the local public transport is a more viable option. I community or me. The letter continues— support the Bill. "At this stage, Main Roads is Mr CONNOR (Nerang—LP) (12 p.m.): I arranging to undertake these changes wish to raise an issue in relation to safety on a later this year." road in my electorate. This road has been The schedule that was attached to that described as a killer road, both in the media letter referred to Nerang-Broadbeach Road at and by local residents. I refer to Nerang- Carrara. The existing speed limit was 60 km/h. Broadbeach Road. I believe that this should I might add that that speed limit was instigated be an issue of particular interest to the Minister by the previous Labor Minister, David Hamill. for Main Roads and certainly to the That road's speed limit was to be increased to constituents of the Carrara area. 70 km/h between Alabaster Drive and Hoy I refer to a letter by the Minister's Labor Street. It would be remiss of me not to predecessor, David Hamill. The letter, dated 21 mention the other stretch of road on which it is August—and I intend to table all these proposed to increase the speed limit from documents—was addressed to me and 60 km/h to 80 km/h. It is also on Nerang- referred to a letter that I sent to him on 21 July Broadbeach Road and it has a similar safety 1992. The letter states— record, and that is abysmal. Nerang- Broadbeach Road has the worst safety record "The speed limit between Carrara of any road in the Gold Coast region and, as I Shopping Village and the Ross Street understand it, it has the worst safety record of intersection has been reduced from 80 to any road of its size in Queensland. The other 60 kilometres per hour." section of Nerang-Broadbeach Road That referred to Nerang-Broadbeach Road. Mr mentioned in that schedule was between Hamill went on to say that he was also Lawrence Drive and Chisholm Road, which is initiating additional undertakings, such as basically just a further extension of the road guideposts, pavement markers, curve warning towards Nerang, but it is still partially in Carrara. signs and directional hazard markers. This That was the fait accompli that was put to occurred following a series of very severe me on 9 September by Main Roads District accidents, many of which involved fatalities. Director John Worrall. I intend to send a letter One in particular involved a pedestrian. Mr to Mr Worrall, and I am tabling the letter in the Hamill talked of deficiencies in the road and House today. That letter demonstrates my mentioned that particular accident. It is rare total lack of confidence in his ability and his that I have an opportunity to commend Labor understanding of the local road structure, Ministers in this House, but in this particular especially Nerang-Broadbeach Road. That case I have to stress just how important this letter, which I will be tabling and sending, was to the electorate and how appropriate and refers to the "Increased Speed Limit Nerang commendable that particular action was on the Broadbeach Road". In it, I state— part of Minister Hamill. "The utter ignorance of the issues I received a letter dated 9 September this associated with the proposal to increase year, signed by John Worrall, the District speed limits on the Nerang Broadbeach Director of Main Roads. I am sure that the Road smacks of incompetence." Minister would be particularly interested in the I also say— fact that the letter relates to a review of speed "... it would affect the families who live limits on that particular section of road. with the memories of those who have This, I might add, was after a specific died on this stretch of road." direction by the previous Labor Minister in I have gone to the extremes of writing this relation to safety on that stretch of road that letter. I have never, ever written a letter of this the speed limit should be downgraded from type to a public servant before. I have never 80 km/h to 60 km/h specifically as a result of been involved in a situation like this in which serious injuries and deaths. The letter from safety issues are of paramount importance. Main Roads District Director John Worrall, However, I believe that it is important to put on dated 9 September, states— the record how often many of the people who 16 Sep 1998 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2239 live along Nerang-Broadbeach Road have important. Once one has had to assist dozens been forced out of their beds at night and of dead and injured people following accidents been faced with having to drag dead, bleeding on that short stretch of road, it becomes and injured people from car wrecks over and ingrained in one's mind just how important over again, sometimes one night after safety issues are. another. The article that I was referring to earlier, It beggars belief that someone in the "Goss, Hamill Face Carrara's Wrath", states— position of Main Roads District Director could "Angry Carrara residents have be so ignorant about the safety of that section slammed State Transport Minister David of road. When I pointed out to him that the Hamill at a roadside meeting, accusing previous Labor Minister had specifically, him of doing nothing to tackle the through ministerial direction, downgraded the problem of the 'killer' Nerang-Broadbeach speed limit on that section of road, he was road. unaware that that had occurred. The district director maintains that the internal consultation More than 200 residents met on process was undertaken with other safety Saturday at the spot where a pedestrian organisations, the police and the RACQ. Mr was killed in July, voicing their concerns Worrall has the responsibility for main roads. and urging the State Government to He has access to all the ministerial files in declare the road an official blackspot." relation to that section of road. He has access I commended the Transport Minister at that to all the necessary data. Surely he should be time for acting very quickly in relation to this aware of the safety issues relating to that road matter. It was not just a matter of downgrading and the fact that the previous Minister had to the speed limit: that particular stretch of road intervene. had a series of curves and S-bends; it was I will be tabling just a few of the press poorly lit; the bitumen was not wide enough; it articles that appeared at that time. I have was not marked on the sides. David Hamill, the myriad additional clippings that show the horror then Minister for Transport, went about and the reaction of the local community to this ensuring not just the downgrading of the issue. For instance, I table one article dated 15 speed limit but he also substantially upgraded September 1992 which outlines how the local the lighting in the area, improved the line community took it upon themselves to incite markings, substantially improved the side civil disobedience to blockade Nerang- markings and initiated the positioning of a set Broadbeach Road. The police were obviously of traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing to similarly concerned about the safety of that assist the children from Emmanuel College road, because they actually allowed the road who regularly cross the road before and after to be blockaded. I have a photo, which I will be school and also the children from other tabling, showing the police stopping the traffic schools further east of that section of the to allow the locals to blockade the road. That Nerang-Broadbeach road who alight from was how deeply the local community felt about buses there. this issue. The article to which I refer was In that area, there are approximately 500 headed "United call to improve deadly stretch". houses and three caravan/mobile home parks. I wish that David Hamill was in the Chamber Literally thousands of residents live along that today so that he would be able to relate to the small stretch of road, all of whom have direct new Minister the safety issues associated with entry onto a major thoroughfare with access that road. As I said, I commend him greatly, into the Gold Coast. Previously, the speed limit because he initiated the reduction in the on that road was 80 km/h. People were taking speed limit on that section of road. their life into their hands when they walked out I refer also to another article dated 14 the front door of their homes. A perfect September 1992 headed "Goss, Hamill Face demonstration of that was the death of a Carrara's Wrath". This article was written in the pedestrian in July 1992 who, as I understand lead-up to that civil disobedience. It should be it, was simply walking along the side of the put on record that many hundreds of people road to catch a bus. That gives honourable were involved, and they were not a radical members an indication of how critical safety group who had little regard for the law; they matters are in relation to that stretch of road. were mums and dads, local senior citizens and Since those initiatives were put in place, the local youth of that area. Many of those there have been only a couple of very severe residents are quite prominent citizens who felt accidents causing deaths. Dozens of fatalities that it was such an important issue that they occurred there over many years; however, in were prepared to go out there and blockade a the last six or seven years we have had only a road. Those people felt that it was that couple of fatalities. On that basis, I table the 2240 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 relevant documents. I commend the then jobs will be created by the establishment of Labor Minister for his actions in relation to that industry on that site. That is to be welcomed. stretch of road. I also implore the current We need to give the development of that site Minister to uphold his previous Minister's support in respect of that matter. undertakings and maintain the speed limit at I will detail a few more facts about 60 km/h to maintain the safety of the local patronage levels. When I met with Mr Roger residents. DuBlet, who was involved in this project from Mr ROBERTS (Nudgee—ALP) the early days, it was suggested to me that (12.13 p.m.): I will make a few comments patronage levels would be in the vicinity of about the proposal to construct a rail link from approximately 18%. The Airport Rail Link Initial the airport onto the Queensland Rail system. Advice Statement published in February 1997 At the outset I say that I am not opposed to states that patronage levels would be in the improving public transport access or transport vicinity of 10%, rising by approximately 4% per access in general to our airport. That is long annum for 10 years to a level of a little over overdue. I have made comments to that effect 15%. In the draft master plan for the Brisbane and supported the rail link proposal when it airport, which was produced by BARL, was originally announced. However, I have patronage levels were estimated to be about some lingering scepticism about the proposed 10%. The figures from a range of different figures that back up this particular proposal, sources vary over a couple of years from 10% specifically relating to the patronage levels. I to 18%. I took the time to look at a document acknowledge that this is a project that has the that was produced for Queensland Transport support of the Government. However, I feel a in February 1995, which addressed the issue need to outline those concerns in this place. I of rail patronage levels for the Brisbane airport. am happy to have my concerns proved wrong. It contained patronage levels for comparable I hope that this project proves to be successful airports in other parts of the world, in particular and becomes an important part of the in the United States. The results show that at transport access system within this city. Atlanta's airport the rail mode share of people As I did in a submission that I made to going to and from the airport was 9.3%. The the impact assessment study and draft figures continue down to Philadelphia's airport, environmental impact statement on the airport which had a rail mode share of 3.9%. I am rail link, I need to raise some matters on behalf extremely hopeful that the projections outlined of my constituents. In the proposal, the by the proponents of this project stack up. Brisbane Airport Rail Link organisation, BARL, However, I think that those figures indicate that suggested that the patronage levels would be there is a varying range of support depending in the vicinity of approximately 12% of people on the circumstances of particular cities. visiting the airport. That contains a mix of The other issue that impacts on the use casual visitors to the site—people who are of the rail link is the existence of a major road seeing people off on trips and network in close proximity to the airport, which passengers—plus workers who will work on the services quite adequately both the north side site. My scepticism goes particularly to the and south side of Brisbane. I am referring to levels of patronage by people who are the Gateway Motorway. The Gateway Arterial categorised as casual visitors, particularly Road would be the route of choice for a large domestic passengers. I believe that, in the number of people who currently visit the airport international market, there may be quite a site. It is easily accessed by buses, which, to significant use; however, I am not convinced of my knowledge, have not been greatly used as the figures that have been put up for the an alternative means of transport to the domestic market. airport. That is a mode of transport that can be I will make a brief comment about the use developed significantly above the levels that by workers. As has been pointed out by the have been tried in the past. I do understand member for Chermside, there is a quite that the Brisbane City Council did trial a service significant development planned for the airport from the Eagle Junction Railway Station to the site. There has been some controversy about airport. My understanding is that that is not a proposed parallel runway. I have had my say continuing at this stage. I believe that bus about that previously. I want to say something transport to and from the airport is one aspect about the proposed commercial and industrial that has not been fully developed. development for that site, which is quite Ultimately, the question will be: what significant and will bring significant benefits to mode of transport will people choose? The rail the north side economy, particularly link is fixed in terms of where it goes. It cannot businesses in my electorate, and for the rest of deviate from the route that Queensland Rail south-east Queensland. Many thousands of has provided and that which the rail link 16 Sep 1998 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2241 organisation will provide. However, other particularly as the trains come from the airport modes of transport—private car and bus— returning to the city. Again, I believe that provide a great deal of flexibility. In my view, appropriate design measures could be taken many people will choose to use their private to lessen that impact. cars as an alternative to using a rail link. As I The impact assessment study also makes said at the outset, I hope that I am proved the claim that the proposed rail route supports wrong because there is a lot of private money little habitat of ecological value. A number of being spent on this project. I am sure that, my local constituents have disputed that. ultimately, it will not go ahead unless the There are areas along Schulz Canal that have proponents believe that the figures stack up. become quite popular fishing spots. If one has At this stage, I am not convinced that aspects, the patience and the time, one can catch especially the impact that it will have on the bream and mud crabs there, particularly in the Gateway Motorway and the potential for a vicinity of Hedley Avenue, for those who are more effective use of bus transport to that site, looking for the site. I think those issues need have been analysed fully by the proponents. to be taken into account. Those areas are I also need to raise some issues with popular places that local people use and if respect to the impact of this proposal on there is to be any impact on those recreational behalf of my constituents. The main impact places, then that should be considered by the that has been raised with me has been the people who are constructing the rail line. potential for noise impact on those The other issue that I raise is not related communities on the northern side of Schulz to the Airtrain Citylink proposal but it follows Canal. I notice that on the southern side, from an issue that was raised by the member which is located in the electorate of the for Nerang, and that is speed limits on a member for Clayfield, a noise barrier has been particular portion of Sandgate Road in my erected along the Gateway connector between electorate. While the Minister is in the Sandgate Road and Nudgee Road. Of course, Chamber, I take this opportunity to expand on that will assist not only with road noise but also this matter. On several occasions I have raised with any noise impacts from the rail link. this issue with the department, both under this However, people in my electorate on the Minister and the former Minister. It relates to northern side, particularly along Walkers Way, the speed limit outside Boondall State School will not have that protection. In the design of on Sandgate Road, which is currently set at the rail link, which is an elevated platform that 70 km/h. Since being elected, I have argued the rails will be affixed to, there is no provision consistently that that speed limit is too high on for any form of noise attenuation, particularly that main road. Departmental records indicate on the northern side. I have written in my that, about 12 months ago, one report submission that that is a design matter that assessed the average speed past that school should be taken into account by the people at 78 km/h. I suspect that the speed is a little who are building it, and I intend to raise that higher, given the nature of the road about matter again. I have not received a response which I am speaking. That speed is much too to the request that I made in relation to that fast. I have stood at that intersection with small matter. children. Although I accept that it is signalised, Other issues that have been raised relate the speed at which the traffic passes only a to the visual impact. I know that it is difficult matter of a metre away from where young with a structure of this size to eliminate all of children are standing is excessive. I will the visual impact. However, I think that there consistently maintain the proposition with the are opportunities along the Schulz Canal side department—and, hopefully, the Minister will for the visual impact to be minimised because listen as well—that in the vicinity of that school there is parkland, which is currently managed the speed needs to be dropped to at least 60 by the Brisbane City Council, and walkways km/h. that are used by a lot of people for bike riding, One argument that has been put to me walking dogs and so on. I hope that the by the department is that it does not install proponents intend to address that matter in school zone signs on busy main thoroughfares their discussions with the Brisbane City such as Sandgate Road. About a week after I Council. received that letter, I was travelling along the The other concern that has been raised Nicklin Way on the Sunshine Coast, which in with me, particularly by people living on the many respects is basically identical in design Walkers Way side of the site, is the night-time and traffic volume to Sandgate Road, and lo operation of the trains. These trains will have and behold there opposite a school situated very powerful headlights and a number of adjacent to the Nicklin Way, which is a dual homes will be directly in the line of light, carriageway, was a school zone sign reducing 2242 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 the speed from 70 km/h down to 60 km/h. are likely to be mostly affected should be as Again, I draw that matter to the attention of extensive as possible. the Minister. The school community and I I have sought to receive briefings from the strongly believe that there needs to be a Minister's senior officers. On 4 September, I school zone sign installed outside Boondall wrote to the Minister and most respectfully but State School dropping the speed limit to at very strongly recommended that he ask his least 60 km/h. Hopefully one day, in the relevant senior planning officers within the interests of the safety of the children who use Department of Main Roads to take very careful that intersection, we will be able to achieve note of the concerns that I expressed on that. behalf of my constituents in a fairly extensive Mr SANTORO (Clayfield—LP) speech that I made in this place some time (12.26 p.m.): I appreciate very much this ago. I also asked if the Minister would be kind opportunity to make a contribution in this enough to arrange for me to be briefed by the debate because it provides me with a chance relevant project manager within his department to raise several transport issues that are of and for regular subsequent briefings so that as concern to my constituents. Obviously, these the local member of Parliament I could be kept issues are related to road and rail. The first abreast of concerns. issue that I would like to raise directly with the Mr Bredhauer: It is not our project; it is a Minister—and I have corresponded with him city council project. about this matter and I will refer to Mr SANTORO: I appreciate that the correspondence later on—is the issue of the Minister does not have lead agency role in City/Valley bypass. I reiterate the concerns of relation to that project. my constituents in relation to this proposed bypass. Right from the outset, I stress that I Mr Bredhauer: No, it's not that we do believe that the people who have made have lead agency role. It's not our project; it's representations to me are very reasonable the city council's project . people. They are in favour of progress and Mr SANTORO: I do not want this series of would like to see transport solutions advanced interjections to develop into a smart or picky to difficult transport problems. However, they exchange. The Minister knows that unless the have told me, and I believe also, that the Brisbane City Council receives the cooperation process that has been followed by the of and various approvals from the department, Brisbane City Council in relation to this project the project will not happen. I also respectfully is not a very good one. suggest to the Minister that if the project is to proceed, it will require funding from the State As I have stated previously in this place Government. It is now way past the embryonic and outside, the first that my constituents stage and, although it is a project of the city knew of this project was when they received an council, the Department of Transport and Main initial flyer from the Brisbane City Council Roads is very much involved in the process. I consultants. Basically, in that flyer the know that because, prior to the change of consultants said, "Look, this is it. You have two Government, the then Minister arranged an options that the city council is putting before initial and very extensive briefing, which you for your consideration. You should let us indicated clearly to me that the department know which one you support, as residents and was very heavily involved in consulting with the as business people within the way of the Brisbane City Council. Obviously, we in this proposed route or in the vicinity of the place and the department have some proposed route." Obviously, this flyer influence on the way that the Brisbane City generated much alarm and many people Council progresses that particular project. Of made contact with me. All of the concerns that course, one of the reasons that we have a lot I have expressed in this place previously in of influence is the necessity for funding. The relation to this matter still stand very much so. city council is not capable of providing all of the When it comes to this project, the funding for the project. As I have stated community is not going to go away. They are previously, there are only two ways that the city agitating and organising in relation to it. I council can complete the project: either by intend to support them in a constructive raising rates and funding it from the manner in terms of helping them achieve ratepayers' base from which it draws funds or representative clout before the Minister in this by getting funds from other authorities, place. I believe it is terribly important that, with including the Federal and the State infrastructure of the size that is being Governments. discussed and considered in relation to this I inform the Minister that on Sunday I City/Valley bypass, consultation with those who attended a rally at Victoria Park. I support the 16 Sep 1998 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2243 statements that were made by the honourable apparently, approximately five offers have member for Gregory, who said that every care been made for those properties. My must be taken to preserve the pristine quality constituents became concerned when the of that park, which is very much a lung for the signs were taken down. When I asked City of Brisbane. Not many cities in the world departmental officers about that, they have such extensive parks in the middle of the informed me that the offers were now before city. It provides many recreational and the Minister and that he had to decide whether environmental amenities for the citizens of or not those properties were to be disposed of, Brisbane and I support totally the remarks obviously at the highest price offered. On 4 made by the shadow Minister for Transport. August I asked the Minister whether he would On Sunday in Victoria Park, one of the expedite his decision and thereby provide leaders of the action group approached me some assurance to my constituents that the and asked me whether or not the previous sale of the land is going ahead. We appreciate Minister for Transport and Main Roads had that the process must not occur with made a funding commitment to that particular unreasonable haste because we do not want project. I mention this in a constructive to flood the local market with the 60 or so manner. She mentioned to me that the properties in question. Nevertheless, my Premier had stated that the former Minister for constituents require the Minister to take some Transport had made a funding commitment. I action. The sale of those properties will told her that I did not believe that that was the certainly reaffirm the new Government's case because, as a local member who would attitude towards the decision of the previous be affected by such a commitment, I would Government to sell those properties. I ask the have been consulted and I would have heard Minister to be kind enough to address that discussion of the commitment in Cabinet. issue in his reply. Given the absence of any consultation or Briefly, I wish to commend the process discussion in Cabinet, I checked with the that is under way to resolve the problem of the shadow Minister, the then Minister. He Nundah bottleneck. An enormous amount of informed me that no funding guarantee had good liaison and consultation is occurring been given as allegedly stated by the Premier, between the Minister's department and the member for Brisbane Central. I place that constituents, whether they be residents, alleged statement by the Premier on the business owners or other interest groups such record. Perhaps the Minister can give some as local schools. I commend the department indication of where his Government stands in and particularly the senior officers who are terms of funding, given that the record clearly involved in the project for the way that they are shows that the Goss Labor Government progressing the solution to a problem that has committed approximately $35m to the project dogged that part of Brisbane for such a long when it was floated several years ago by the time. While recognising the efforts of then Transport Minister. Again I say to the departmental officers, I would say that with all Minister that I intend to be constructive in the of the issues that I have raised and that I way that I make representations about this intend to raise during the time remaining, issue. Everybody in Brisbane would agree that when the Goss Government was in power, the problems of traffic congestion and the when the coalition was in power and since the carriage of dangerous goods through the change of Government the staff of the Valley and the inner city need to be Department of Transport and Main Roads addressed. However, the interests of my have acted very courteously and constituents and others need to be addressed professionally. I appreciate their willingness to seriously. I ask the Minister to help me, in a work in a bipartisan manner to provide bipartisan manner, to look after their concerns. feedback to resolve specific issues that are of Another major issue is the Leckie Road concern to individuals and interest groups connection. The Minister may be aware that within my electorate. on 4 August in this place I raised the issue of I listened with great interest to the the disposal of land owned by the Department contributions of the honourable members for of Transport and Main Roads and other Chermside and Nudgee, and what they had to Government-owned land in what is say about the airport rail link. It has strong euphemistically described as the Leckie Road public support. I have supported it ever since connection. Of course the Minister will becoming aware of the existence of the appreciate that, at my urging and as a result of transport corridor that has been preserved by an election promise that the coalition made, successive Governments. Any rail link to the the previous Minister decided to sell the Leckie airport should be constructed along the Road connection. For-sale signs went up and, transport corridor that already runs along the 2244 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 very busy east-west arterial road that links There will also be other advantages. For most of Brisbane to the airport. That transport example, the project will reduce the number of corridor has been preserved for a very good road trips to and from the airport and lead to reason: traffic-wise it was already a very busy many other road user benefits, such as area and was relatively removed from heavily infrastructure cost savings, reduced populated residential areas. congestion, less pollution and fewer accidents. The honourable member for Nudgee All of those beneficial impacts have been mentioned within the impact assessment mentioned that a noise barrier has already study. There will be greater patronage for been erected along that transport corridor. I Queensland Rail. That in itself will bring about assure him that the erection of that noise benefits through the financial returns that will barrier had nothing to do with the way in which accrue to the Government. the rail link issue was being progressed. It was erected after I received representations from I understand that much research has constituents and I in turn made been conducted into the visual quality of the representations on their behalf in relation to environment and any impact as a result of the their concerns about people travelling in cars construction of the rail link. Any sensitive areas along that road who were throwing various have been and will continue to be identified. objects over what was then a very low rail and The study has identified visual impacts on, for example, parklands and residential areas into people's backyards. That was placing where the track is within view. I have looked at residents, in particular the young children who the results of the impact study. Again, that play in those backyards, at grave risk. It was as impact study found that in relation to the a result of those representations that Main hydrology of the Schulz Canal no deviations or Roads agreed to erect that barrier. I place on modifications of existing waterways are either record that, on behalf of my constituents, I am necessary or proposed. Over the past 20 or 30 grateful for the very speedy resolution of that years there have been enormous changes to dangerous situation. that waterway as a result of dredging and I support the rail link to the airport being alterations. Very little of its original hydrology constructed along the Schulz Canal remains. I suspect that these days hydrological transportation corridor as opposed to along the considerations are not much of a concern for Eagle Junction-Pinkenba branch rail line. Any that area. further rail traffic along that branch line would In relation to flora and fauna, prior to the pass right through very densely populated development of the airport and the associated areas of my electorate. The branch line was extensive clearing activities, the area of the never really meant to provide a link to the BARL route between the existing north coast airport, as shown by the decision of successive rail line near Toombul and the domestic and Governments to preserve a transport corridor international terminals was largely dominated along the Schulz Canal route. by wetlands and would have contained a wide range of native species. However, those native The project will provide many benefits not species have disappeared from that area and, only for those arriving at and departing from again, the BARL is likely to have minimal the airport. Obviously, airport workers also will ecological or water quality significance. benefit from that facility, as will those meeting Similarly, air quality will not be impacted and farewelling people at the airport. Anybody significantly by the proposed project. I have else who has reason to travel towards the been informed that works to mitigate the airport, for example, for tourist and recreation impacts on ground water, particularly during reasons, will also benefit. The member for the construction phase of the project, will be Nudgee mentioned the utilisation of this undertaken. facility. I am told that approximately 12% of all I wish to make two final points about the trips to and from the airport will be conducted rail link. I have been assured that the impact on that rail link if and when it comes about. I on Kalinga Park will be absolutely minimal. I hope that the project proves economically have been assured about that from day one, viable for the private sector consortium, and I will keep a very vigilant eye on that. because a rail link to the airport is an overdue There are some other issues in relation to a facility. Brisbane is one of the few major cities couple of resumptions that are in the process in the world that does not have a rail link from of being resolved. I undertake to continue to the airport to the centre of the city and make representations on behalf of my beyond. This is a very positive move and one constituents in relation to their concerns. I that has been supported by Governments of strongly support the project. It should receive all political colours. bipartisan support. I hope that it comes to 16 Sep 1998 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2245 fruition, because it will be a great infrastructure member knows has a responsibility to acquisition for the City of Brisbane and negotiate those CSOs with Queensland Rail. I something that will assist Brisbane recognise the right of the workers there to take tremendously in its development in the year the action that they have. I have a 2000 and beyond. commitment to working through the issue to try Hon. S. D. BREDHAUER (Cook—ALP) to make as many of the contract employees (Minister for Transport and Minister for Main permanent as I possibly can. I have also Roads) (12.46 p.m.), in reply: I wish to raise a discussed with Queensland Rail the prospect number of issues, but I will not take too long in of making some of the semiskilled workers summing up the debate on the Bill. In fairness permanent. That creates other issues for us to Opposition speakers, most of the that we have to work through. I reiterate my contributions they made were not related to commitment to work through those issues with the Bill specifically, although they were the employees there. important contributions in relation to transport I understand employees' concerns about issues and issues affecting their electorates. I future job security as the Great South Pacific recognise that they have made those Express project winds down towards the end of contributions on behalf of their constituencies. this year. I also understand the concern The member for Gregory raised a couple generally about fixed-term contract employees of issues during his contribution. An issue that being put on renewing contracts, as has he has now raised three times today is that of happened in the past. I am trying to work the Townsville railway workshops. As I was through those issues. It just takes a little time. attempting to say this morning in answer to the We have been in Government for only three question from the honourable member—and I months. In that time, 30 at the Townsville was having difficulty in getting the answer out South yards have been made permanent. I because he was interjecting—I recognise that have given a commitment that we will work on there is concern at the Townsville workshops more being made permanent, but those relating to the number of fixed-term contract issues need to be worked out in the wider employees there. I recognise the commitment context of the implications. Any decision to that was given by us prior to the election. The transfer work to Townsville has implications for assertion by the member that I or the our other workshops around Queensland, and Government have walked away from that I need to consider the implications for the commitment is untrue. We have secured wider Queensland Rail work force as well as additional work for Townsville through the my commitment to the Townsville workers. upgrading of the Traveltrain carriages, which I The document that the member for announced up there about four weeks ago. Gregory selectively quoted indicated that we That project provides secure work for 50 would make those 77 fixed-term contract employees of QR at the Townsville workshops. employees permanent as part of a process. It As part of that process we were able to make is part of the north Queensland regional policy 30 fixed-term contract employees at the launch. I acknowledge it. I am not trying to workshops permanent. I gave them an walk away from it, but if the member reads the indication on that occasion—and I have said whole page that someone from Townsville has so subsequently and reiterated it today—that sent down to him he will see that it states that we are looking for additional work so that we we made a commitment to a significant capital can make more of them permanent. One of expenditure of $20m on railway workshop the key issues is that the 30 workers who were facilities in Townsville, which I am working previously made permanent were skilled through. But it is not going to occur in this workers. A range of semiskilled workers are on Budget. fixed-term contracts, and none of them was That document also states that in that made permanent last time. I am conscious of process we would seek to make the Townsville the concerns they have raised. I am trying to workshops the hub for engineering work for work through those issues with Queensland whole of Government and that we would try to Rail. address the issue of the 77 fixed-term contract The former Minister knows that any employees in the context of the upgrade and additional work provided to the Townsville the additional $20m for the relocation of the workshops has community service obligation Townsville South yards. Basically, those other implications. Yesterday, when I first became processes cannot occur in the short term. We aware of the dispute, I had preliminary are working on them, but they are not going to discussions with both the Premier and the occur in the short term. They are going to take Treasurer in respect of those issues. I have some time to work through, but I give the talked to my director-general, who as the commitment that I will endeavour to make as 2246 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 many of these people permanent as possible one of the reasons we have the amendments and look at the blend of skilled and unskilled before the House today. workers who get that permanency. A range of other issues which do not These are difficult issues. I have to work relate to the Bill were raised by honourable through the CSOs, and these positions have members. The member for Nudgee talked to be properly funded. It would be irresponsible about speed limits outside the Boondall State of me to stand up here and say that the School, the member for Nerang talked about semiskilled workers will get permanent speed limits on a particular road and the employment or that all 77 of them will get member for Clayfield talked about Leckie permanent employment until such time as I Road. I am quite happy to address those have worked through those financial issues in an appropriate context. I do not think implications with the relevant parties. I am it is appropriate for me to respond to them committed to addressing their ongoing here now, because they are not specifically concerns. related to the Bill. I will provide honourable The member for Gregory raised issues members with responses to the issues they related to the South East Transit Project and raised. light rail that are not in this transport Generally speaking, I thank the amendment legislation. We have actually Opposition for its support. I thank the taken those matters out so that we can review members of my committee, who have helped them. A number of other transport legislation me work through the Bill, and I particularly amendment Bills are going through the thank the members for Chermside and process of preparing an authority to introduce Nudgee for their positive contributions. I note and that sort of thing. Much of that will be the concerns of the member for Nudgee about picked up subsequently. the patronage of the new service. That is an issue. However, clearly we need to foster The City/Valley bypass was raised by a greater use of public transport, whether it be number of members. I reiterate what I said to transport that we provide through Queensland the member for Clayfield: it is a city council Rail, or transport that we subsidise through project. We do have an involvement there, as various bus networks or through projects such the former Minister knows. We have made no as this. Sometimes we do need to be funding commitment to the City/Valley bypass ambitious in setting ourselves targets for at this point in time, although we have been increased public transport use. I thank the asked by the Lord Mayor to consider it. That is member for Gregory for his support for the Bill. something that is under consideration. I am aware of the concerns that have been raised Motion agreed to. by some of the community and interest groups, but there is an environmental impact Committee assessment process under way. That is in the public domain at present and that is where Hon. S. D. BREDHAUER (Cook—ALP) most of those issues should properly be (Minister for Transport and Minister for Main addressed at this time. Roads) in charge of the Bill. I thank the member for Chermside for his Clause 1, as read, agreed to. contribution and for his support for the Bill. He Clause 2— talked about the railway corridors and the Mr BREDHAUER (12.56 p.m.): I move the BARL project. He and the member for Nudgee following amendment— also talked about noise impacts and a range of other things. Noise amelioration issues "At page 4, line 9, 'and 22(4)'— would apply equally to the BARL project and omit, insert— Queensland Rail. I would expect that, if there ', 19A, 19B, 22(4), 23, and 24'." is evidence of excessive noise as the project gets under way, we would address those Amendment agreed to. issues in the appropriate way, as would Clause 2, as amended, agreed to. Queensland Rail. Clauses 3 to 19, as read, agreed to. The BARL project is a fully privately Insertion of new clause— funded project. The Government has no Mr BREDHAUER (12.57 p.m.): I move the financial stake in the project. However, we do following amendment— need to ensure that safety and other issues relating to Queensland Rail operating corridors "At page 10, after line 15— apply equally to third-party operators. That is insert— 16 Sep 1998 Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2247

'Amendment of ch 3 (Road user operating under it in Queensland performance and compliance) achieve the relevant purpose '19A. Chapter 3, part 1— prescribed under section 15(2); or omit, insert— (ii) for an interstate scheme—the approval under a corresponding law 'PART 1—ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE to this chapter is amended, 'Alternative ways of complying with Act suspended or cancelled.'.'." '15.(1) A person who operates a vehicle Members will be aware that Queensland (an "operator") may apply to the chief has led Australia in developing alternative executive for approval of a scheme (an compliance programs to improve the "alternative compliance scheme") for an performance and safety of road transport. In alternative way to comply with a provision particular, Queensland has developed a of this Act that is prescribed under a fatigue management program for heavy regulation. vehicle drivers. At the end of October, '(2) The regulation must prescribe the Queensland will implement the national driving purpose of the prescribed provision. hours scheme which, among other things, fully recognises Queensland's fatigue management '(3) An application for approval of an program as a national program. alternative compliance scheme must be in writing. During the drafting of regulations for the national scheme, it was discovered that the '(4) The chief executive may approve an legislation contained in the Transport alternative compliance scheme only if Operations (Road Use Management) Act satisfied it provides an effective way of enabling the approval of alternative demonstrating the operator's vehicles, or compliance programs was ambiguous in its drivers operating under it in Queensland, effect. This amendment clarifies this important achieve the prescribed purpose. law in relation to the alternative compliance '(5) The chief executive may approve the programs and will enable the continuation of scheme by written notice to the operator. these schemes, which are both important to '(6) The approval may be given on Queensland and have attracted national and conditions stated in it and operates for the international attention as a modern way to period stated in it. manage these critical safety issues. '(7) The prescribed provision does not Mr JOHNSON: I salute the Minister for apply to the operator's vehicles or drivers this very fruitful, very positive and responsible as provided under the scheme while— addition to the clause, the alternative compliance scheme. People such as Gary (a) an approval is in force for the Mahon and Paul Blake played a very operator; and responsible role in bringing about some these (b) the operator complies with the changes. I worked with these gentlemen when scheme, including the conditions of I was the Minister. its approval. Bearing in mind my family relationship '(8) In this section— with transport, when I was Minister I was "interstate scheme" means a scheme accused of putting in place some sort of an approved as an alternative compliance alternative compliance which would be scheme under a corresponding law to this beneficial to them. I must say that at the time I part. was totally divorced from it and had no say in the matter at all. I know that some members of "scheme" includes an interstate scheme.'. the unions pointed the bone at me. I say to 'Amendment of s 18 (Grounds for the Minister that this is a very responsible amending suspending or cancelling alternative compliance scheme that he has approvals) brought here today and it is one that the '19B. Section 18(d)— Opposition supports totally. Whilst it is a matter for the director-general and the executive of omit, insert— Queensland Transport to enact, it is very '(d) for an approval of an alternative responsible and we support it totally. compliance scheme— Amendment agreed to. (i) the scheme is not, or is no longer, an New clause 19A, as read, agreed to. effective way of demonstrating the operator's vehicles or drivers Clauses 20 to 22, as read, agreed to. 2248 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

Insertion of new clause— election for private members' Bills to be Mr BREDHAUER (1.01 p.m.): I move— debated is being fulfilled. It is in prime time; it is not in the wee hours of the morning. "At page 13, after line 5— Let me move to the substance of the Bill. insert— In my view, this private member"s Bill is 'Amendment of sch 2A (Reviewable nothing more than a politically motivated stunt. decisions) The fact is that in his Bill the Leader of the '23. Schedule 2A, from '15' to Opposition is opposing a clause which every 'Magistrates' (2nd mention)— State in Australia uses in its contracts with directors-general. His attack is not based on omit, insert— sound, long-term principles. It is not based on '15 Approving alternative compliance the long-term improvement of Queensland. It scheme Magistrates'. is not based on the need for Queensland to 'Amendment of sch 3 (Dictionary) fall in line with other States. It is not even based on Queensland finding an innovation '24.(1) Schedule 3, definitions "interstate which other States will follow. It is based only scheme" and "operator"— on short-term political gain for the Leader of omit. the Opposition. It is a spoiler role. '(2) Schedule 3— It will put Queensland at a huge insert— disadvantage in trying to attract the best ' "interstate scheme" see section 15(8). administrators because, while every other State will be able to offer a five-year contract, "operator" see section 15(1).'.'." we will be able to offer only three. What This is a subsequent amendment to the everyone has to appreciate is that directors- previous one so that we can make the relevant general of each one of these Government definitional changes. May I take this departments run billion-dollar budgets. What opportunity to thank those of my departmental we need is the best people in the land to head officers who have made a major contribution to those departments because, while ministerial putting this Bill together. The work they have responsibility is important and ministerial undertaken is appreciated and it has responsibility is where the buck stops, the day- contributed to a significant improvement in the to-day administration on direction from the transport legislation of Queensland. Minister is carried out by the director-general. If we do not get the best, we do a great Amendment agreed to. disservice to the people of Queensland and New clause 23, as read, agreed to. we do a great disservice to service provision in Bill reported, with amendments. this State. I ask all members of this Parliament to Third Reading think very carefully before they vote on this Bill. I am not talking about doing something in this Bill, on motion of Mr Bredhauer, by leave, Bill that is exceptional, I am talking about read a third time. bringing Queensland in line with the other Sitting suspended from 1.02 p.m. to States. I will come back to this a bit later but I 2.30 p.m. might say that the five-year term in these contracts is provided for in legislation introduced by the Leader of the Opposition. PUBLIC SERVICE AMENDMENT BILL What the Leader of the Opposition is doing is Second Reading amending his own legislation. In other words, it Resumed from 6 August (see p. 1706). was good enough to have it in Government but it is not good enough in Opposition. Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— ALP) (Premier) (2.30 p.m.): In response to the The plan by the Leader of the Opposition Public Service Amendment Bill it is important is to take a level playing field and turn it so that that I indicate to the House that I am advised Queensland is playing uphill and into the wind by the Clerk that this is one of the first times against the rest of Australia. Let us be very that an Opposition member's Bill has been clear about this: this Bill is anti-Queensland. It debated this way in Parliament. I might make is against the State's interests. the point that this is part of the new open and Inquiries made by the Office of the Public accountable Parliament that we promised. It is Service of all other public service jurisdictions important that it is acknowledged during this within Australia have shown that a five-year debate that the commitment I gave prior to the contract is the norm for CEO contractual terms 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2249 of employment. I invite honourable members Surfers Paradise carte blanche to sack to think about this for a minute. If we are independent office holders such as the competing for the best person in Australia to Director of Public Prosecutions and allowed the run, say, the Health Department or the Government to place public servants on Education Department we are going to find contract with no minimum wages or leave that the other Australian States will be more entitlements. That 1996 Bill allowed a attractive to work for than Queensland misconduct tribunal to be instantly sacked with because the other Australian States will be a click of the fingers. able to offer a longer term contract—five More than 200 independent years—as opposed to the term of the contract commissioners, tribunals and statutory boards which is proposed in this legislation. were placed in this untenable position. Led by This is not about politics; it is about good the Labor Opposition and the media, there administration. If we want the best we have to was a huge outcry against the member for be able to compete with the other Australian Surfers Paradise and his disgraceful Bill. The States. This Bill puts us in a position where we Criminal Justice Commission earned his wrath have one hand tied behind our backs. These by pointing out that the Bill involved "some five-year contracts are not just a sudden fad grave risks for the criminal justice system". The which will soon change. This has been the Australian Council of Trade Unions pointed out accepted, sensible and logical standard since that not only was the Bill full of flaws but that the arrival of contract-based employment for no union or public sector employee had sight CEOs about 20 years ago. This standard is not of the Bill until it was tabled in Parliament. something recent. The Queensland Bar Association joined in The rationale for the use of five-year the fray. The parliamentary counsel, who was terms for CEO appointments is as follows. The directed to draft the legislation, was so first point is that they put Queensland on the unhappy with it that he resigned. The Director same footing as all other public service of Public Prosecutions was so unhappy with jurisdictions. In other words, we can compete the legislation that he took the unusual step of to get the best to run our departments. The going public about his dissatisfaction. The second point is that they advance the public former National Crime Authority head, Tom interest by allowing more strategic and longer Sherman, was unhappy with the legislation term planning and visioning for public because, he said, it had a lack of rationality. administration beyond the three-year term of The Council for Civil Liberties national office of a Government. Let us be very clear president, Terry O'Gorman, said categorically about this. Quite often Governments do not go that the legislation would open the door for the three years. In fact, rarely do Governments go return of corruption. three years. What the Leader of the The result was that the member for Opposition is doing is limiting the contract to Surfers Paradise, the then Premier, was forced less than three years, making us less into yet another backdown to take the Bill back competitive with the rest of Australia to attract to the drawing board. So the coalition had a the best. Thirdly, five-year contracts improve further month in which to hone the Bill and iron Queensland's ability to attract and retain high- out each and every one of the faults. The quality CEOs from other jurisdictions and pertinent point is that no-one complained organisations in both the public and the private about the fact that directors-general could be sector. appointed for up to five years. So what we had Let us not forget that the Leader of the was a comprehensive public debate about that Opposition is the very same person who 1996 Public Service Bill, but nowhere in that introduced the Public Service Act in late debate was there criticism of the fact that 1996—the very Act which he now seeks to directors-general could be appointed for up to amend only two years later. The law that five years. No-one raised any concerns about allows five-year contracts was introduced into that. Despite having an extra month in which this Parliament by the former Premier, the now to go through the Bill with a fine toothcomb, Leader of the Opposition. the coalition deliberately retained the clause giving directors-general terms of up to five Let me discuss the Public Service Act years. Other clauses were changed; this one which was introduced by the now Leader of survived. Why? Because terms of up to five the Opposition in 1996. That Bill introduced by years made sense then in the mind of the the member for Surfers Paradise was so Leader of the Opposition, the then Premier! flawed that it attracted enormous criticism and And if they made sense then, they make debate. Some members will recall that debate. sense now. I repeat: the five-year contracts That original 1996 Bill gave the member for that I have signed with most of the directors- 2250 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 general have been done on the basis of this about. I will come back to the detail in a Act, which was put in place through this minute. Parliament by the then Premier, the now If this Government continues to perform in Leader of the Opposition. the way in which it has done in its first 12 If the motivation for this private member's weeks and I am sworn in as Premier after the Bill were sincere, the policy that the Opposition next general election, the contracts of all chief is now endeavouring to introduce would executives appointed by my Government already have been included in the legislation. during the current term are still automatically Why was this not done when the then Premier, terminated. Members would be aware that the now Leader of the Opposition, was running chief executive contracts of employment have this State with his party? That is a very good always contained provisions whereby either question. Why is it that the Leader of the party may give notice terminating the Opposition has had this sudden change of employment by the giving of one month's heart? Why is it that the policy about which the notice. Such a provision should remain in chief Opposition feels so strongly that it would executives' contracts. If any future introduce a private member's Bill is not already Government, for whatever reason, forms an promulgated as part of the Public Service Act? opinion that it cannot work with a particular It is because the Leader of the Opposition is chief executive, there remains a mechanism playing politics, and he is seeking to with appropriate checks and balances to destabilise the Government—a Government protect the interests of both the individual that legitimately went to the people with this executive and the Government. That is fair. election commitment. Let us be very clear This is how the issue is dealt with in both the about this. I went to the people of Queensland private sector and the public sector, but the with this commitment. It is not a surprise. We Leader of the Opposition wants to revert to the have a mandate for it. I will come to the detail draconian powers of his original, flawed Bill to of that in a minute. I went to the people with give the Government complete power over the this clear election commitment. professionals it hires to manage Government Let me move on. Members will recall that agencies. As I stated before, I would have I made a ministerial statement to this House hoped that we might have reached a stage of on 5 August highlighting the approach of this maturity whereby such terminations by the Government to the management of the Public Crown, based purely on arbitrary whims or Service. During that statement, I made the perceived political beliefs, were a thing of the point that I wanted to see the development of past. However, there need to be mechanisms a more mature, bipartisan approach to senior in contracts which allow termination by either managers of the Queensland Public Service. party for any number of other reasons and to This is a very crucial point to the legitimacy of provide appropriate balance by including a what I am doing. I urge this House to consider scale of codified severance benefits which a shared understanding and a longer term protect the interests of both parties to the view with respect to public interest, instead of contract. partisan interests with their short-term political Let me put this issue in perspective. It has approach. In other words, let us have a new been stated Labor Party policy for some time culture in terms of Government and the Public that chief executives of Government Service. Let us stop sacking people as soon departments under a Beattie Labor as Governments change. Let us develop a Government would be appointed for five years. culture of merit and a culture of excellence in This is not a policy that has developed since the Public Service. Yet at the first available we came to office—quite unlike the opportunity, the Leader of the Opposition opportunistic change in policy position now comes in here and adopts a partisan, political being adopted by the Leader of the and adversarial approach which not even he Opposition since his removal from office. One could see the merits of when he resided on of the earliest policy documents in this regard this side of the Chamber in the chair which I was in Labor's New Directions statement titled now occupy. He is asking this House to pass A Policy Framework for the Queensland Public an amendment which will automatically Service released in April 1997. I say to all terminate the appointment of any chief members of the House: I released our policy executive made after 26 June this year on the titled A Policy Framework for the Queensland day upon which any person is sworn in as Public Service in 1997. The election was not Premier after a general election. In other held until 13 June 1998. To me, that is more words, what he wants to do is retrospectively than adequate notice of the policy of the change the contracts of all the directors- incoming Government—a policy that was general that I have issued. That is what this is available in the public arena for full scrutiny 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2251 over a year before the election and was It is important that we do not make the subject to debate in the lead-up to the election same mistakes of the past. Let us not return to campaign. I went into the election this year the uncertainty and the political bludgeoning. It promising five-year contracts, because I does not matter which side of politics did what believe that they are necessary for good in the past; surely we can start again to get a government. I say to all honourable members: better Public Service arrangement. Let us surely a party that receives a mandate for an return some certainty to the appointment of election commitment should be entitled, on chief executives. Let us develop this new matters such as this, to be able to deliver that culture in the Public Service. How else will we election commitment if it has received a attract professional, bipartisan career public mandate to govern. servants? For the record, I still remind honourable The Bill also deserves to be rejected members of some other points that I made in because it breaches fundamental legislative the ministerial statement to which I referred principles, as pointed out by the Scrutiny of earlier. Shorter term contracts destroy the Legislation Committee's Alert Digest of 25 concept of a career Public Service. They August. Members who have an open mind inevitably politicise the senior Public Service. should read that digest, because, firstly, this Top professional nonpartisan executives will Bill undermines the terms and conditions of not be attracted to a State which changes its existing and soon-to-be-appointed chief senior managers whenever the political wind executives. If the Leader of the Opposition has changes; we would end up with second-rate his way, contracts are to be overridden by people running the departments, which would Parliament. This is very dangerous territory. mean less service to people across the State. I Secondly, the Bill has retrospective say to all those people in regional application to cover any appointment made Queensland: if you want good services, you since my Government came to office on 26 have to have good DGs. If you get second- June 1998. Again, the retrospective element best, you will get second-best services. of the Bill shows that it is based on a vindictive political approach that has nothing to do with This policy accords fully with the provisions good government or the long-term interests of of the Public Service Act 1996, as introduced this State. Thirdly, the Bill is so obscurely by the Borbidge/Sheldon Government, namely drafted that the rights and liberties of the section 53(4)(a), which allows for chief affected parties to the contract are quite executive appointments for up to five years. uncertain. In conclusion, this Bill is a piece of This is a section that the Leader of the opportunism masquerading as some sort of Opposition would have us believe should now principle. This House should reject the Bill in its be amended to reflect his new-found entirety. It is ill conceived, hasty and motivated opportunistic political philosophy. This by a vindictive form of politics that we are trying Parliament has an opportunity to draw a line in very hard to put behind us. If the member for the sand. It has an opportunity to say that Surfers Paradise continues to attack enough is enough on the politicisation of Queensland's best interests in this way, he will senior public servants' positions. not be holding his current position at the end Prior to the last election, I received a of three years. What he is doing today is not in delegation from a number of significant the interests of the State. Queensland businesspeople who came to talk As I said before, the Public Service to me about the Queensland Public Service. Amendment Bill has been the subject of an They were concerned that there would be assessment by the Scrutiny of Legislation more bloodshed after the election campaign. I Committee on 25 August 1998. The Alert indicated to them that, firstly, that was not my Digest states— intention. Secondly, I indicated to them that I "The committee recommends that was about developing a new culture. I talked the Leader of the Opposition amend the about the need for five-year terms. I talked bill so as to remove its retrospective about the need for getting the best. I talked component." about the need for establishing a Public The Leader of the Opposition has an Service so that we got the hands of politics out obligation to explain to the people of of it, so that we got the sort of Public Service Queensland why he wants this Bill to be that could serve this community. That is what retrospective to 26 June, the date the full the business community wanted. I thought Government was sworn in. Why does he want that there was going to be some bipartisan that to be the case? One of the committees of commitment to that view. this Parliament has said the operation of the 2252 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 legislation should not be retrospective. The Government, there was no witch-hunt of the bottom line is that, on behalf of my Public Service. In rough terms, we retain one Government, I have signed a significant third of the CEOs. For example, Tom Fenwick number of contracts. All the possible contracts remains; Bruce Wilson remains; Dr Robert for directors-general have already been Stable remains; Jim O'Sullivan remains; Ron signed. Some jobs have been advertised Boyle remains; David Williams, who came from promising five-year contracts, which is the the Queensland Events Corporation, remains; norm. Why does the legislation need to be Kevin Yearbury, a director-general appointed retrospective? Any Premier in my position under the previous Government by the then would have moved as quickly as he or she Premier, has been retained in his position. possibly could to make certain that the Public Almost one third of the CEO positions were Service was in place. The former Premier and retained. We retained people of whom we had Leader of the Opposition did the same thing. I some criticism. Did Wendy Armstrong get the have done the same thing, with a term sack? No, she did not. Wendy Armstrong has provided for five years in accordance with the a job in my Government, because I am not legislation that the member for Surfers about being vindictive. Did Meredith Jackson Paradise introduced when he was Premier. To get the sack? No, Meredith Jackson did not introduce a private member's Bill in the way get the sack. I have maintained those people that this has been done is designed to be in the Public Service and allowed them to mischievous. I will say that again: this is make a contribution. In terms of those designed to be mischievous. It is designed to individuals, there was absolutely no undermine stable government. Anyone who vindictiveness from my Government. votes for this Bill is voting for instability. They Through this legislation the Leader of the will be trying to undermine a sound principle Opposition is pursuing a spoiler role. Let us that my Government has pursued. consider some of the details of the legislation. In recommendation 5.20 of the Alert The Leader of the Opposition's Bill proposes to Digest, the Scrutiny of Legislation Committee limit contracts for departmental chief also states— executives to the term of office of a Premier. "The committee requests that the All chief executive contracts would be deemed Leader of the Opposition consider to expire following a general election. The clarifying the range of situations to which second-reading speech also states an the bill is intended to apply." intention to reduce compensation for termination of contracts, but it is silent on how There is a significant degree of uncertainty. compensation would be reduced. How can Recommendations 5.25, 5.26 and 5.27 members possibly vote on a Bill when it is state— silent on a key issue like that? That indicates "The absence of explanatory notes that this is a sloppy piece of drafting and a can render the committee's task of sloppy Bill that should be withdrawn. scrutinising bills more difficult. Let us consider the legal aspects. There Accordingly, the committee again are two breaches of fundamental legislative draws to the attention of Parliament to the principles relating to retrospectivity. desirability of statutory amendments Amendments are to apply from 26 June 1998. along the lines of those previously An inconsistency with natural justice excludes proposed, extending the obligation to current show-cause provisions for the produce explanatory notes to all bills. executive. These elements are core to the proposal and cannot be amended without The issue of the provision of facilities changing the Bill's intent. As to the policy on for the drafting of such explanatory notes CEO contracts—the intent of the Bill is in relation to private members' bills would inconsistent with the Government's stated of course also need to be addressed." policy as expressed and outlined in the policy My interpretation of those statements is that document of April 1997 and as expressed by this legislation was put together in indecent me to Parliament on 5 August where five-year haste to bring about a political objective and chief executive contracts were specifically not an objective in the interests of addressed and supported. It is also the policy Queensland. of all other States and the Commonwealth. Let us consider what happened. When Financially, the perceived impact of the we took over, there were a number of Bill is to reduce payments resulting from contracts that had expired. As a result of the termination payouts. Those savings are not expiration of those contracts, I have issued a easily identified, as much depends on when number of new contracts. Under my elections occur and how many terms have 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2253 been served. Treasury research shows that the servants for the duration of a period that it impact of executive turnover on an deems appropriate under a piece of legislation organisation is up to 1.4 times the annual introduced by the former Government. They salary. More regular turnover of chief are totally different circumstances, and anyone executives therefore leads to higher indirect who argues differently is simply pursuing a costs. Good financial and staff management political argument for mischievous reasons. It leans towards reducing turnover. From a is simply an unarguable fact. reverse view, adequate compensation The issue is very clear: the Labor Party, provisions for the early termination of contracts the party that I lead, went to the electorate may also be seen as initial incentive, therefore with a clear commitment. It sought a mandate useful in attracting adequate staff. from the community on a number of matters. The key issue in opposing this Bill is that it One of them was our reforms of the Public legitimates political appointments. Let us be Service. Nobody can say that they were clear: this Bill is all about politicising the Public surprised or that they did not know about that. Service. This will undermine the ability to No-one can say that that was not a mandate attract and hold high-quality executives, to from the people of Queensland. Firstly, we maintain the professional impartiality of the have a mandate for these five-year contracts. Public Service and to ensure that strong Secondly, the five-year contracts were leadership is provided in the medium and long provided for in a piece of legislation introduced term. Queensland is better served by able by the Leader of the Opposition when he was administrators than by political appointees or the Premier. If it is good enough for the political hacks. The Public Service wants Leader of the Opposition to put that in his stability and certainty. This Bill encourages legislation, why is it not good enough for this turnover of senior management and instability. Government to implement it? If the then It assumes an adversarial approach to Premier did not think that was worth while, why governing instead of trying to develop a did he have it in his legislation? Why did his shared bipartisan approach to better legislation allow for five-year contracts? government. Because when he was Premier he accepted A little earlier when I was talking about that there is merit in having five-year contracts. contracts being terminated or contracts These are the hurdles in this debate that the expiring when Labor took Government, the Leader of the Opposition cannot get over. Leader of the Opposition interjected. As I have Mr Borbidge: We didn't appoint one CEO said in this House on a previous occasion, the on a five-year contract. Leader of the Opposition, the then Premier, Mr BEATTIE: Yes, and I explained a little came to office in extraordinary circumstances. earlier why—because of the unusual He came to office by virtue of a by-election circumstances by which the coalition came to part-way through the term of a Government power. However, the Leader of the Opposition elected in July 1995 and the subsequent has not answered the question: why did his decision by the honourable member for legislation allow for five-year contracts? That Gladstone to support the coalition. Had the was in his legislation. Goss Government not lost that by-election in February 1996, there would not have been a Mr Borbidge interjected. change of Government. That is not arguable. Mr BEATTIE: That does not matter. Why As a result of the fact that after seven months did the previous Government's legislation allow of the Goss Government a new Government for five-year contracts? was formed, a number of contracts were issued by the then Premier. Not all of them Mr Borbidge interjected. were for the term of the Government; the Mr BEATTIE: Then why have it in the Premier had inherited some contracts and I legislation for five years? understand that some were of a different Mr Borbidge: You supported it. nature—the Leader of the Opposition can explain that to the Parliament. However, those Mr BEATTIE: The Leader of the contracts were largely for the term of that Opposition cannot answer that question, Government. Why? Because of the because he made it law. extraordinary circumstance of the change of Mr Borbidge: The practice was there. Government part-way through a term of Mr BEATTIE: That does not matter. It is Government. the previous Government's law. If the Leader That is a scenario totally different from a of the Opposition did not want five-year newly elected Government, which is the Labor contracts, why did he put it in his legislation? Government, having the right to appoint public Why did he make it the law? 2254 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

Mr Borbidge: Because you argued that signed five-year contracts. So what is this minority Governments should not appoint for about? This is not only about playing politics five years. but also about trying to destabilise a Mr BEATTIE: The coalition came to office legitimately elected Government. part-way through the term of the Goss One of the key roles in the public sector is Government. That is why the Leader of the a director-general and one of the key roles that Opposition, when he was Premier, was in a any Premier or any Government plays is to get different position, and he knows it. The Leader the Public Service operating, which I have of the Opposition has not been able to answer done. All members need to have in their minds the question. If there is something so offensive very clearly—and indeed if this Bill is passed, about having five-year terms which through on their consciences—that we have signed this Bill he argues that there is, why did he put contracts. I will say that again because I want it in his own Bill? All those members who are everyone in this House to know this, as it is my thinking about how to vote on this matter style to be transparent and open. We have should ask themselves that question. If what I signed contracts with each one of the did by giving directors-general five-year directors-general whom we have appointed. In contracts was so terrible, why did the Leader of other words, this legislation, by being the Opposition and then Premier provide for retrospective, would destabilise the Public that in his law? I am doing this under his law. Service. That will affect all service delivery. This is not my law; this is the law of Mr These people have taken appointments at my Borbidge, the Leader of the Opposition. How invitation based on a public mandate that I can he now say that the Bill that he introduced was given by the people of this State. This should be now amended so I cannot do what legislation simply destabilises the Public he legally said could be done? If members Service. It affects the good running and good want to talk about hypocrisy, they would see government of this State. It should be very that it does not get any better than that. I want clear in the minds of all members that any to say this again, because it is a very relevant member who votes for this legislation is voting point: Labor received a mandate from the for instability, is voting for uncertainty and is people of this State for these five-year voting for a contribution to instability at a time contracts. when we need leadership and we need I have to say that I am appalled to find stability. that the Leader of the Opposition wants to As the Premier of this State, I am saying make this legislation retrospective. He wants to that it is not unreasonable to ask this try to destabilise the Public Service. It is not Parliament to give my Government stability unreasonable for me to do what I have done. I and certainty and be supported on a matter went to the people with the commitment. As I relating to contracts of directors-general so that said to members, the commitment was out in my directors-general and my Ministers can get the community for 14 months or 15 months on with the job. If this Bill is passed today, it will before the election. As soon as the election cause uncertainty and instability and will affect was over, as it is the prerogative of the the ability of those directors-general to get on Premier, and as the former Premier did, we with their jobs because a contract that they went through the process of appointing entered into in good faith, which I signed in directors-general, which we had to do because good faith, is now being partly torn up. Why people's contracts had expired. I went through would not some of these people be upset? that five-year contract process. It is absolutely I ask the Leader of the Opposition: if he transparent. had had problems with my five-year term So why should a Government have to go proposal, why did he not raise it during the into a Parliament and defend itself against a election campaign? We were on a public destabilisation by the Opposition, which is platform where we debated issues. The playing a spoiler role? There is no moral, legal, Leader of the Opposition and I travelled the ethical or other justification for what the Leader length and breadth of this State. We met each of the Opposition is doing. Let the record show other in weird and wonderful places. The clearly that it does not matter how the Leader Leader of the Opposition and I campaigned of the Opposition tries to paint this—— very hard. Mr Schwarten: Dress this up. An honourable member interjected. Mr BEATTIE: It does not matter how the Mr BEATTIE: No, I pay tribute to the Leader of the Opposition tries to dress this up, Leader of the Opposition. He campaigned very the bottom line is that we had a mandate and, hard. We both did. We both ran a very in accordance with that mandate, I have effective, hardworking campaign and he was a 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2255 very formidable opponent. Today, I contractual terms of appointment. acknowledge that on the public record. Moreover, this has been the norm since The Leader of the Opposition knows as the advent of contract-based employment well as I do that during that robust campaign of CEOs some 20 years ago. he and I raised every possible issue—we Again I will dwell on that. I cannot understand thought of some, others thought of a few and why the Leader of the Opposition wants to put from time to time we had to throw in a few out us at a disadvantage. He knows that the of left field—but not once did the Leader of the Commonwealth and all the other States have Opposition raise the issue of five-year terms. It five-year terms. Queensland will not be able to could not have been on top of my list. Why did attract the best. It does not matter who we are the Leader of the Opposition not initiate a talking about: we cannot attract the best if all public debate about this? I started the public we can offer—— debate. I released it publicly. I do not Mr Borbidge: You didn't advertise it. remember the extent of the media coverage of it, but it was significant in terms of an issue like Mr BEATTIE: Does the honourable this, which is never going to be front-page member not read the paper? We are news. If I recall correctly, it appeared in the advertising right now. In my ministerial Courier-Mail and it was widely debated in the statement I explained to the Leader of the public sector itself. Opposition that those who had been—— In conclusion, I shall go through the key Mr Borbidge: You have signed contracts. points— Mr BEATTIE: That is right. I have 1. It has been stated Labor Party policy appointed a number. As I explained in my for some time that chief executives of ministerial statement, those who had departments under my Government previously been appointed on merit selection would be appointed for five years. That were eligible for appointment again, and I policy position has been restated appointed them. frequently. Mr Borbidge: Without advertising. 2. One of the earliest policy statements in Mr BEATTIE: Because they had this regard was at page 1 of the New previously gone through that system and they Directions statement policy framework for were appointed under merit selection. the Queensland Public Service. That Mr Borbidge: Three years ago. document was released in April 1997. That is transparent and open—no Mr BEATTIE: That is right. Positions were surprises there. advertised where a merit selection process had not occurred and that is happening now. 3. This arrangement accords fully with the provisions of the Public Service Act 1996, Mr Borbidge: It is a rort. which was introduced by the Mr BEATTIE: Nonsense. I repeat that in Borbidge/Sheldon coalition Government. this country five-year contracts have been the Section 53(4)(a) of the Public Service Act norm for 20 years. I shall continue— provides that the contract between the 6. The rationale for adopting the use of chief executive and the Premier must five-year terms for CEO appointments is: it "state a term of appointment of not longer puts Queensland on the same footing as than five years." Those are the actual all other public sector jurisdictions; it words of the Act of the Leader of the advances the public interest by allowing Opposition, Mr Borbidge. more strategic and longer term planning 4. The decision by the previous Premier to and visioning for public administration offer shorter term appointments to some beyond the three-year term of office of a of his Government's CEO's was a Government; and it improves discretionary matter within the scope of Queensland's ability to attract and retain the legislation and came about because high-quality CEOs from other jurisdictions, of the political circumstances of the time, both public and private. that is, the Government had come in six I think that the case for opposing this Bill and a half or seven months after the is overwhelming, it is strong, it is forceful and it general election. is honest. I say to all members of Parliament 5. Inquiries made by the Office of the that if they support the Bill of the Leader of the Public Service of all other public sector Opposition, they support turning back the clock jurisdictions within Australia have shown to the past. They support a piece of legislation that a five-year term is the norm for CEO that is anti-Queensland and that will mean that 2256 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 we are denied the best possible people to run They want them to find the high ground. I our Government departments. That is what would have thought that the Leader of the this Bill means. Opposition and I could have worked together If what I am doing is such a terrible thing, to develop a new culture in the Public Service why does every other State in Australia do it to promote excellence and merit selection, as regardless of their political persuasions? Why opposed to denigrating political exercises. do Jeff Kennett and Dean Brown do it? Why Mr Borbidge: No selection. You signed does the Leader of the Opposition's mate from contracts without selection. Western Australia do it? Why do the other Mr BEATTIE: No, I have explained all Australian States do this and yet, for some that. It has been done on merit selection. The reason, the Leader of the Opposition thinks it Leader of the Opposition understands that. is wrong? This is not a party political thing. Not only the Labor Party does this; as I understand It is funny: in the years of the Goss it, it is what John Howard does. What is wrong Government when I was the Minister for with John Howard? He is a mate of the Leader Health, I appointed one director-general, Dr of the Opposition. Robert Stable. Who did the coalition Government keep? Dr Robert Stable. Mr Schwarten: Plenty wrong with him. Mr Sullivan: And who did you pick again? Mr BEATTIE: There is plenty wrong with Mr BEATTIE: Yes, we kept him. And John Howard, but on this issue what is wrong why? Because he is a professional and he got with him? The Leader of the Opposition there on merit. That is the calibre of the people supports him and wants him to continue to be whom I appoint. The former Government kept Prime Minister, yet John Howard agrees with the only DG I appointed because he is very me. This is extraordinary. The Liberal Premier good. In my view, this is the sort of thing that of Western Australia agrees with me, the will damage the Opposition, and it should Liberal Premier of South Australia agrees with damage the Opposition because people are me, the Liberal Premier of Victoria agrees with sick and tired of the politics and the pettiness. me and the Liberal Prime Minister of Australia They are sick and tired of politicians trying to agrees with me. We want to be a bit careful destroy stable Government, which is what the about which side we are on. However, I must Opposition is attempting to do today. Let there say that Bob Carr, the Premier of New South be no doubt in the mind of anybody in this Wales, and Jim Bacon, the Premier of State: this is an attempt by the Opposition to Tasmania, also agree with me. destabilise my Government in the interests of This is not about my side of the politics, not in the interests of the people of Parliament playing party politics. This is about Queensland. good government, good management and I say to all members of this Parliament, getting the best to deliver the best to all parts whether they be National Party, Liberal Party, of the State. Yet all that the Leader of the One Nation Party or Independents: a Opposition does is to play a spoiler role Government is entitled to govern, particularly because he sees this as a means of trying to when it has gone to the people and sought a undermine the Government and create mandate. All I seek is the opportunity to instability. He knows that every one of the govern stably in the interests of the people of directors-general that I have signed contracts Queensland. With this legislation, the only way with will feel unhappy if this Parliament limits that that can be done is to defeat this piece of their terms to the term of the Parliament political nonsense. instead of five years, as stated in the contracts that I have signed. It is mischievous. It is not Mr HORAN (Toowoomba South—NPA) about good government or the Opposition (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (3.19 p.m.): working with the Government to try to give us Interestingly, this is the first private member's good government and good administration. Bill to be debated. The only reason we are doing so is that the Premier was forced to Mr Schwarten: It is undermining the allow private member's Bills to be debated, Government. because he is clinging to minority Government Mr BEATTIE: It is about undermining and by his fingernails. The Premier said that this is destabilising; it is about very base politics. an historic moment. However, those of us who have been in Opposition before would Mr Schwarten: The people are sick of it. remember the six years of the previous Labor Mr BEATTIE: The people of Queensland Government, when it did not matter how many and indeed, I suspect, the people of Australia private members' Bills or Notices of Motion we are sick of it. They want politicians to lead. brought in—— 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2257

Ms Spence: I don't think that's true. We When we came to Government in February did allow some. 1996 we kept on some people. Mr HORAN: The only private member's Mr Borbidge: He talks about Rob Stable. Bill that that Government ever allowed to be He didn't mention the fact that he knifed Frank debated was that from the honourable Peach, whom they appointed. member for Yeronga. It never allowed any of Mr HORAN: That is right. ours. That just goes to show how politically motivated this Government is. This debate is If anyone should perform and show just a means of survival in that this was one of leadership that is way above the benchmark, it the inducements offered to the member for should be the directors-general or CEOs. Why Nicklin to gain his support. It is just about would we want to have these people on a five- politics. This was forced on the Government. year contract when, if they prove to be There is no way in the wide world that if this unsuccessful or political hacks, they have to be Government had a majority and not a minority paid out for some two years of their contract? we would be debating this Bill today. This Government made a decision on those directors-general that it wanted to keep, as we The Premier has said much about this did when we came to Government. The being a politically motivated stunt. He does not genesis of directors-general being changed or like our argument that this is about reappointed was the Goss Government's accountability and the use of taxpayers' coming to power in 1989, when we saw the money. The Premier would like to think that if disgraceful sacking of people right across-the- his Government appointed someone who board. Senior public servants were placed in turned out to be less than successful or a the Gulag at Kelvin Grove. It was like a failure and this minority Government did not concentration camp, with a bare desk, a last any longer than six months, a year or 18 wooden chair and no phone. Sometimes they months—or even if it went its term of three were lucky even if they had a window. There years—that person would still be paid out was not even a pencil in the drawer. Basically, hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars. the Government tried to force them to resign We are dealing with a minority Government so that they would not have to be paid out. that for a number of reasons could fall at any That is when all this business of changing time. We know that that is the case; we were a CEOs started. minority Government for almost two and a quarter years. However, we survived those two However, we realise that when new and a quarter years and did a great job for the Governments come in changes are made in State. the very important positions of directors- general. The Government of the day wants The central issue in this debate is the those people that it considers to be the best accountability and honesty of this Government for the job. In some cases—and we have seen with respect to its employment arrangements it with the Labor Government coming to for the highest paid chief executive officers power—they want to make appointments that who manage and run our departments—some could only be described as political. The 18 of them. For example, if this minority Government may have made a judgment and Government were to fall at Christmas time, we felt that it did not like our directors-general would be looking at some four and a half years because it thought they were too close to us. of payments. In relation to the average That is a problem that we are seeing in changeover rate of CEOs, the Premier spoke modern politics. The Government even sacked about keeping on a third of CEOs or directors- a director-general who had 35 years of long, general. We could face a payout figure of loyal and outstanding service in the Public anywhere in the order of $2.5m per year for Service. four and a half years—$10m or $12m. That $10m or $12m, at about 20 or 30 employees Mr Schwarten: Who was he? per million dollars, would provide hundreds of Mr HORAN: The Government sacked the jobs. Should we not be spending taxpayers' director-general of the Department of Justice. money on providing jobs rather than paying He had a long track record of service—over 35 out huge redundancy payments to those years. Gone! In his place the Government has people whom the incoming Government appointed someone who is being flown up and regards as being either not up to scratch or as down every week from Melbourne at political appointees? The Premier has spoken enormous cost to the taxpayer. If the a great deal about the number of directors- Government were to change, that person general he has kept on. Any sensible and would have to be paid a redundancy for the smart Government would keep people on. four or five years left of the contract. 2258 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

This politicisation of the Queensland Mr Schwarten: He said we sacked them. Public Service all started under the Goss Labor Mr HORAN: Of course they did. Government, when we saw the Gulag, which was probably one of the cruellest political acts Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Reeves): that we ever saw perpetrated on Queensland Order! The Minister for Public Housing! employees and the Public Service. Let us stop Mr HORAN: Thank you for your hearing all this talk from the Premier, with his protection, Mr Deputy Speaker. arms akimbo, about how open and honest he is in running Government. Let us not have any The difference between our side and the more of that talk. Government side is that we are about honesty, accountability and the taxpayers' money. I This debate is about the standards that have spoken about the Director-General of we all expect from our directors-general. If that Justice. The current director-general was standard is not met, why should Queensland signed up late in the term of the Goss Labor taxpayers fork out millions and millions of Government in November 1995, when the dollars when a minority Government changes Goss Labor Government was well and truly or even if the Government goes its full term aware of what was likely to happen in and then changes? This is about having Mundingburra. If my memory serves me right, directors-general who perform and who it signed him up in great haste at the last represent the good old-fashioned traditions of minute before the court decision came down. being loyal and serving the Government of the Therefore, when we came to Government in day straight down the line. If we are to adopt February 1996 and that person was not five-year contracts, a political appointee can suitable there was a massive payout. He is think, "I'll go hell for leather for my mates. If at now back again on another five-year contract. the end of a year the minority Government is all over, I'll be paid for four years and I can Mr Borbidge: They signed up Ross Rolfe retire and go to the beach." That is an on a five-year term the day before the absolute waste of taxpayers' money. Mundingburra by-election. When we came to power in February Mr HORAN: That is right. If we want an 1996 there were a number of political example of moral corruption, we need go no appointees and there were others who simply further than that. The Public Service did not meet the standards that we as a Amendment Bill is designed to limit the coalition Government required. However, we appointment of Public Service chief executives handled the changes with decency and we did to the term of a Government. Is that not fair so within the rules. We made those changes enough? They are the highest paid people in without the threats that accompanied the Goss the Public Service. Is it not fair enough that Government's approach when it politicised the they be judged on performance? They get a Public Service back in 1989-90. good and appropriate salary whilst they are in The breathtaking arrogance of the Beattie these positions. They hold down very Labor Government has to be seen to be responsible jobs. If at the end of their time believed. When we were a minority they have not performed to expectations, why Government, I remember reading in the press should they get a taxpayer-funded casket of about our having a hit list. It went on and on. two, three or four years' payout? For example, if someone departed or went to These people should be appointed on New South Wales to work for the Carr three-year contracts. When we were in Government because that was the sort of Government we appointed them to three-year Government that he or she wanted to work for, contracts. They should be rewarded well—in all sorts of stories surfaced about a hit list. But line with the departmental budget they are what happens when the Labor Party comes to responsible for, in line with the number of staff Government and there are sackings right they are responsible for, and in line with the across-the-board? It is portrayed as some responsibilities of the department that they are beautiful, lovely, psychedelic, esoteric there to acquit. These people certainly should experience. not be precluded from selection for Mr Schwarten: We didn't sack anyone. subsequent contracts. That is the point of this Their contracts ran out. matter. If a director-general proves to be successful and even-handed, delivering the Mr HORAN: There was no hit list; this policies of the Government of the day in a fair, Government just got rid of them all. unbiased and professional way, then certainly Mr Borbidge: Why? Because they had that person should get every single three-year contracts, not five. consideration for reappointment. That has 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2259 happened at the past two changes of those which expire on change of Government. government." The new Beattie appointments have been Labor was ready to kick them out the minute made without the advertisement of some there was a change in Government. It went positions. They have been made without a on— merit selection process. They have been made "Impartiality will be returned to the with significantly higher pay rates and they public service from the position of Deputy have been made for five-year terms—a period Director-General down." which exceeds the maximum possible term of this 49th Parliament by at least two years. So obviously Labor did not want to have impartiality up at the top. Premier Beattie's This is a very sensible measure of reform. policy contained the threat that a Labor It recognises the need for excellence and the Government would appoint directors-general need for directors-general to achieve for five years, but in the Public Service standards and to receive renewed contracts on magazine Sector Wide in September 1996 he the basis of their achievements, success and said this about chief executives— professionalism. It recognises the mix of "The decision of the Borbidge American and British practice that now exists in Government to make CEO contracts only Queensland for the upper echelons of the 'for the term of the government' is Public Service. It deals with the reality we have welcome. had here in Queensland since the Goss Government came to power in 1989. That But does it go far enough? reality has to be worked with. It can only be of ... such appointees should leave office benefit. immediately upon a change of This Public Service Amendment Bill is government—and without a big payout designed to codify that benefit and to give from long-suffering taxpayers." political direction at the very top of the Public Another Beattie backflip! Mr Beattie Service so that the Government of the day can contributed to Sector Wide in June 1998, in efficiently and effectively implement its policy the midst of the election campaign. He said and so that sound, non-partisan administration that he was open and accountable and told below that level can be in place so that the people what his policy was so that Queenslanders can get the best possible everybody knew what he was going to an service. I think it is important for the absolute election on. In Sector Wide he says to the professionalism, protection, loyalty and public servants of Queensland— dedication of our Public Service that we have "I am committed to job stability for all non-partisan leadership—simply driving a Public Servants, other than those such as department for the benefit of Queenslanders, Directors-General on short-term contracts implementing the policy of the Government of which expire with the Government of the the day and ensuring that the department is day." part of an absolutely non-political Public Service that we can all be proud of. We can What did he mean? Did he mean five-year then give to them in return the loyalty that they contracts or just changing directors-general provide to the Government and to with short-term contracts every time there is a Queenslanders. change of Government? The Beattie minority Government has no If this is an example of the Beattie mandate to consider itself as governing with a minority Labor Government's commitment to majority of 10, as we so often hear. This is a honesty and openness in public administration Government that secured less than 40% of the and Government, then the people really have vote of Queenslanders. It is a true minority been duped by the political fixers who inhabit Government in every sense of the word. the ALP. Today we have seen the Premier People did not vote for a Labor minority. They stand up and once again put on the theatrical performance, arms akimbo, and state that this did not vote for Labor at all! Labor's New is about open and accountable government. Directions statement issued on 18 April 1998 But this is about rewarding the Labor mates. has this to say about the role of public This is about putting in place a system servants— whereby if a director-general on $200,000 a "Labor will restore the professional year turns out to be a failure, turns out to be career public service and will guarantee the sort of director-general that Queenslanders job security to public servants, other than do not want to have, there will be a massive those on short-term contracts such as payout of taxpayers' money to that person 2260 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 when this minority Government falls, or when it Queensland, we have to be accountable. The loses power at the end of its three-year term. average man or woman in the street does not That is not what happens to ordinary want to see someone who has been a failure people. Average people get a job; if they get four years' payout, at $200,000 a year, as perform they retain that job and if they do not a hand-out from the Labor Party. perform they lose the job. Why should it be Mr BEANLAND (Indooroopilly—LP) any different for chief executives or directors- (3.40 p.m.): I rise in relation to the Public general on $200,000 a year? We should have Service Amendment Bill because it concerns incentives for directors-general to work in another broken Labor promise. This legislation Queensland and prove that they are is about keeping Labor honest. It is about professional so that the next Government accountability for taxpayers' dollars. The says, "That bloke is a beauty. He was straight Premier says that he has a mandate for five- down the middle. He had a professional year contracts. That is a complete load of department. There was no bias of political nonsense and it is dishonest and untrue to say interference in that department. It was straight such a thing. down the line on policies. That is the sort of For the information of honourable person that we want to keep." That is the members I table a copy of an article entitled standard of professionalism we should be "Leaders' messages for PS" contained in the aiming for in Queensland and that is why the June 1998 edition of Sector Wide, the passage of this amendment Bill is so Queensland public sector employees' important. magazine. The article sets out clearly the I appeal to all members of this Labor Party's position in relation to the Public Parliament, particularly the Independent Service. When it suits him, the Premier has a members, to talk about honesty and conveniently short memory. This article accountability and think about the millions of states— dollars of payout that will made when there is a "I am committed to job stability for all change of Government. Just think how many Public Servants, other than those such as jobs we could provide with that money to Directors-General on short-term contracts good, ordinary, decent Queenslanders who which expire with the Government of the would be successful at their work and who are day." crying out for a job. This is about performance, honesty and accuracy. This article makes clear what the then Leader of the Opposition was on about. This is a The Premier made much in talking about message to all public servants in Queensland. the other States. I like to think that we in the It is not hidden away in some secret Labor coalition are prepared to back Queenslanders. Party policy document. This is a document that He seems to think that Queensland has to go went out to the public servants of Queensland along with every other State in Australia, that in June 1998. It is no good the Premier saying, we cannot stand on our own feet and set our "I sent out some policy document some time own standards, that we cannot have our own earlier than that to the public servants of this honest and accountable system of State. I released that message in April 1997." government, that we have to go along with The message that went out to the public these systems whereby people who do not servants of Queensland was that which is measure up, who do not meet the mark, win contained in this magazine. It is there in black lotto and get paid out for two, three, four or and white. That is what public servants read five years. We want a Queensland system. and that is what they pointed out to me. The Queensland has always been a bit Premier is being dishonest. I will repeat what different. Because we had a National/Liberal the article says because it is worth while coalition Government for 32 years, a tradition hearing again— of sound financial management was "I am committed to job stability for all established in Queensland. We stood alone in Public Servants, other than those such as that regard while all the rest of the States went Directors-General on short-term contracts their own way. Honourable members saw what which expire with the Government of the happened in Victoria and South Australia day." under Labor. They collapsed and became rust Nothing can be more straightforward than that buckets. Let us have some decent statement. It is a public document. Why was Queensland legislation. the Premier not prepared to come out and tell I recommend this Bill to the House. If we the public what he was really thinking? are to regain the respect of the people of Mr Beattie: We did. 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2261

Mr BEANLAND: You did not. You misled State's public servants. During the debate the them. You were untrue. In the Public Service Premier became so desperate that he started document— referring to Queensland places as being weird Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. and wonderful. In opposing this legislation the The words used by the member are untrue Government is coming up with arguments and I ask that they be withdrawn. purely in an endeavour to get the member for Nicklin on side. The Government's survival Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Reeves): depends upon the member for Nicklin's Order! What words are you referring to? support. That is what this is all about. Mr BEATTIE: I find those allegations that Mr Beattie: I have just read this. You I was untrue to be untrue. can't even read this properly. Mr BEANLAND: According to the Deputy Mr BEANLAND: It is quite clear—— Speaker you are supposed to tell me the exact words. Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. I have just taken the trouble to read this. What I Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The word was referring to was what the former "untrue". Government did. The member is being grossly Mr BEANLAND: I withdraw the word dishonest. "untrue" and say that he misled the public Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Reeves): servants of Queensland. I have already tabled Order! There is no point of order. the article contained in the magazine of June 1998. I did not write this article, but certainly Mr BEANLAND: I will repeat it for the someone called Peter Beattie—whoever he benefit of the Premier. The Premier is the might be—wrote it. I believe he may have dishonest person. He has been caught out been Leader of the Opposition and he wrote telling the people an untruth. the article that appeared in the Sector Wide Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. magazine. That is what the public servants That is not true. This article clearly refers to believed and that is what they went to the polls what the then Government was doing whilst in on. office, not my policies. What the member said We can go back a little further. The is untrue and I ask that it be withdrawn. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Borbidge, and member is exposed because he cannot read the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the English. member for Toowoomba South, have pointed Mr BEANLAND: I will withdraw whatever out that in September 1996 Mr Beattie was on the Premier wants me to withdraw, but I will record as saying this in the Sector Wide read this out again because it is quite clear. magazine— Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. "The decision of the Borbidge Read the whole context of the article. It refers Government to make CEO contracts only to your contracts, not my policies. Read the 'for the term of government' is welcome." whole document, not selective parts. The article goes on to say— Mr BEANLAND: The Premier is squirming. "... such appointees should leave office Let us go back to what this document says. immediately upon a change of The Premier can squirm, wriggle and weasel government—and without a big payout as much as he likes. This is his document, not from long-suffering taxpayers." that of the Leader of the Opposition. On the We have the Premier twice making these same page of this article Mr Borbidge puts his statements. We have it in September 1996 position. I will repeat what Mr Beattie said. and it also appears in the Sector Wide Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Reeves): magazine in June 1998. This is the election Order! The member will refer to other members issue. We find it in this magazine that is put by their correct title. out for public servants. That is exactly what the Mr BEANLAND: It is just that the Premier Premier told the public servants of occupies several positions in this particular Queensland. Let the truth be shown. The matter. When the Premier was Leader of the Labor Party's mandate concerns what is Opposition— contained in the Sector Wide magazine, and nothing else. Today we have heard nothing Mr Borbidge: Which is different to his but hypocrisy and double standards. The position now. Premier has talked about style and various Mr BEANLAND: That is quite so. This other things. The style of this Government is article appears under the Premier's name. He deceit. The Premier is involved in deceiving the said— 2262 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

"I am committed to job stability for all Mr BEANLAND: That is exactly right. They Public Servants, other than those such as were put on notice. Before the Government Directors-General on short-term contracts got the confidence of the House, it was signing which expire with the Government of the those public servants' contracts. In these day." circumstances, the Government was given It cannot be much clearer than that. It is very clear notice. The Premier cries foul, but he straightforward. It is in line with what the and those public servants who were being Premier believed at that time. signed up for those contracts knew exactly what the situation was. It was spelt out well Mr Borbidge: Not the Borbidge beforehand by the Leader of the Opposition. Government. So there is nothing new in this at all. We have Mr BEANLAND: No, not the Borbidge seen a bit of play-acting and a theatrical Government; it does not say that. It is exactly performance from the Premier, which he is in line with what the Premier said in the good at. But that is not the truth of the September 1996 edition of Sector Wide. I can situation. This is just an opportunistic moment understand the Premier's concern because it for the Premier to try to make a point in worked all right for a while but the Government relation to this matter. has now been caught out. This Government It is worth while keeping in mind that this has taken a politically motivated position in Bill is all about restoring some stability to the relation to this legislation. When the Public Service, which has been destroyed by Opposition endeavours to keep the this minority Labor Government. When the Government honest the Government resorts to former National/Liberal coalition all sorts of exercises in order to stop the truth Borbidge/Sheldon Government came to office, from coming out. there was a great deal of instability within the The Government has no mandate for five- Public Service. The Public Service was in year contracts. The Premier might not like that, disarray, but stability was restored. Large but it is true. In fact, if one is going to talk numbers of public servants were in acting about his mandate—he received only 38% of positions for years on end. That was very the vote. So he has no mandate for any debilitating for the people in those positions. legislation whatsoever. The situation is that he Some units of the Public Service did not even went to the people of Queensland saying that know whether they were going to exist from he supports short-term contracts which expire one day to the next because there was so with the Government of the day. That is what much instability within the Public Service he has a mandate for, if he has a mandate for generally because people were not appointed anything in this place, not for anything else. to permanent positions. The sooner the Premier faces up to that, the When the Goss Government came to better off public servants will be. They know office in 1989, there was a bloodbath. Now, what the Premier's views are on this matter. with the coming to office of the Beattie minority This is a disgraceful situation. The Labor Government, we have seen another Government has now failed to honour its bloodbath and another purge of public election commitment on this issue. This Bill servants. Career public servants of 35 years' from the Leader of the Opposition endeavours standing have been given the sack. Those to get the Government to honour its election people included the deputy director-general of commitment. The Leader of the Opposition, a department. Then a parliamentary Mr Borbidge, released a press statement prior draftsman, a public trustee and then a director- to the now Premier making the appointments general of a department were given the sack. of the current range of senior public servants. Mr Borbidge: They couldn't even apply In that statement, Mr Borbidge made it for their jobs, because their jobs were filled by perfectly clear that he would be introducing a Labor mates. private member's Bill to this effect. His statement, which was released in early August, Mr BEANLAND: I was just coming to that. explained that he would be introducing a Those people could not reapply for their jobs private member's Bill to spell it out clearly. He because they were not advertised. We then put on notice the Government and those heard the weak argument from the Premier directors-general who were signing up. that they were advertised a long time ago and that, because those people occupied a Mr Borbidge: Before they had the position some time prior to this, on merit, they confidence of the House. They shouldn't have could have those positions yet again. What a been signing contracts before they had the fallacious argument that is. We will remember confidence of the House. that argument in the future, when the Premier 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2263 tries some more of these silly proposals that Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. have no credibility whatsoever. But that is the The member is trying to bring the House into sort of silly nonsense one expects from day to disrepute. I have asked for the comment to be day from this Government and this Premier. withdrawn. Under Standing Orders, I am Those people were loyal public servants to this entitled to that withdrawal. State, not to any particular party or Mr BORBIDGE: I rise to a point of order. Government. Those good, loyal public What the Premier says he said is not what he servants did not even have an opportunity to said in the article. The member for reapply for their jobs, because that was denied Indooroopilly has stated what the Premier said them by this Labor Government. So much for in the article. the merit system! What a farce it is. Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. The amendments put forward by the Leader of the Opposition in this Bill endeavour Mr BORBIDGE: It is too late now to to ensure that there is accountability on the rewrite it—— part of the Government and the Public Service Mr BEATTIE: The Leader of the generally and, importantly, so that the Opposition is abusing his privilege in this taxpayers are not faced with huge payouts, as House. occurred in the past. The member for Mr BORBIDGE:—when he has been Toowoomba South mentioned a five-year caught out telling untruths. contract that was signed the day before the Mundingburra by-election. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! What were the words that offended the Premier? Mr Borbidge: Ross Rolfe. Mr BEATTIE: That I misled the people of Mr BEANLAND: Mr Rolfe, was it? Queensland. The document is very clear. I am Mr Borbidge: Guess who's back. referring to the fact that I would not be Mr BEANLAND: I am sure that Mr Rolfe is extending their contracts. back—no doubt under a merit system in some Mr BEANLAND: Mr Deputy Speaker, that department. There is no doubt that he did not is not a point of order; it is a debating point. have to go through the advertising process. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Mr Borbidge: I wonder whether he paid Premier has asked for those words to be back any of his payout. withdrawn. Mr BEANLAND: That is another issue: Mr BEANLAND: I withdraw those words, whether he paid that back. I challenge the but I will read this section into Hansard for the Premier—since he is so good at this—to read edification of the Parliament. It states— his own statement, because it is there in black and white. He has misled the public of "I am committed to job stability for all Queensland in relation to this matter—— Public Servants, other than those such as Directors-General on short-term contracts Mr BEATTIE: Mr Deputy Speaker—— which expire with the Government of the Mr BEANLAND:—and no amount of day." taking points of order—— Mr Borbidge: Not the Borbidge Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. Government. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Reeves): Mr BEANLAND: There is no mention of Order! The Premier has risen on a point of any other Government. order. Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. In Mr BEATTIE: This document says that I other words, I was not going to renew the guarantee people security in their positions contracts of those people. other than those whose contracts would expire Mr BEANLAND: It says "with the under members opposite. That is exactly what it says. I ask for the comment that I misled the Government of the day". That is quite clear. House to be withdrawn. I find it offensive. Mr Borbidge: Not the Borbidge Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Government. Premier has sought a withdrawal. Mr BEANLAND: There is no mention of Mr BEANLAND: Mr Deputy Speaker, that the Borbidge Government. I will make a copy is not what the document says. The Premier is available to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, as well misleading the House. I will read to the House as to Hansard. what it says. Honourable members interjected. 2264 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Members As early as October 1997 the Premier had who wish to interject should do so from their let the cat out of the bag by announcing that correct seats. there would be a purge of coalition CEOs and Mr BEANLAND: It must be a problem that special treatment for Labor CEOs. I believe the Premier has: he writes these statements, that the honourable member for Indooroopilly puts them in Sector Wide—the Queensland has clearly demonstrated that point in his public sector employees magazine—then contribution to this debate. In an article in the comes into this Chamber and tries to deny Courier-Mail of 27 October 1997, headed quite words that are in that magazine. The prophetically "Top PS jobs face purge under magazine speaks for itself. The Government is Labor", the Premier is quoted as saying the not putting into place contracts which will following— expire at the end of the term of this "I want a smooth transition to Government; they clearly are fixed-term government and we cannot attract the contracts for five years. nation's most talented people when they The term of this Government could end in fear that they will be sacked by an two or three days' time or in six months' time. It incoming government." may not last as long as the former Let me just pause here and make one Borbidge/Sheldon Government did. Who comment before going on. What absolute knows? It may serve its full term. But those are hypocrisy! In other words, it is quite all right for matters for the future. The fact is that this Labor to sack and destroy the professional commitment in Sector Wide magazine has not careers of chief executives appointed by a been honoured. That is the point that I am coalition Government—as the honourable making today. It is important to keep in mind member for Indooroopilly just proved—but any that this magazine went out to the public of Labor appointee should be given special Queensland and the public servants of this treatment. great and vast State of ours. This Parliament needs to be made aware of what this Labor This "mates rates" approach was a Government's election commitment was to the hallmark of the dying days of the Goss public servants of this State. Government. One only has to recall the appointment of Ross Rolfe, now the chief Mr SANTORO (Clayfield—LP) (3.59 p.m.): executive of the Department of State In rising to support the Bill, it must be said that, Development, as Director-General of the in the short time it has been in office, the Department of Environment and Heritage just Beattie Government has done more to rip days before the Mundingburra by-election to apart the post-Fitzgerald reforms to the Public appreciate the sort of shallow way in which Service than all of the actions of each and Labor operates. In fact, if one were to go back every Government of every political persuasion and look at the contracts of quite a few of the since 1989. Anybody reading Hansard or any chief executives of departments in the last of the numerous newspaper reports since year of the Goss Government, one would see 1996 would recall that the Premier, when how their contract terms were extended quite Opposition Leader, complained long and loud deliberately in the event that the Government about the alleged inability of a minority changed. These Labor mates were looked Government to appoint chief executives for after, and one only has to consider the longer than the term of the Government. In contractual arrangements of Bob Marshman, the Public Service magazine, Sector Wide, of who is again the Director-General of the September 1996, he said— Department of Employment, Training and "As with CEOs, such appointees Industrial Relations, to see how Labor should leave office immediately upon a operates to protect its baggage carriers. Time change of government—and without a big and time again, Labor has misused the levers payout from long suffering taxpayers." of power to look after its mates, and yet it has On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of the unmitigated hypocrisy to come in here and long-suffering taxpayers, one has to ask: why claim that it is lilywhite because its has this Government abandoned this policy appointments are world class and require quite and instead is appointing its chief executives different treatment. for a five-year term? Honourable members That leads me to the core of Labor's might recall that the Premier, both before and problems. I hope that the honourable member after the election, attempted to justify this for Nicklin—wherever he is—is listening very backflip on the basis that a longer term is closely to this, because I am sure that the needed to attract the highest quality hardworking people of Nicklin would be very applicants. interested. Section 24 of the Public Service Act 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2265 sets out the basic principles of Public Service approach have the various Public Service employment. The very first principle is "basing agencies throughout Australia over the years selection decisions on merit". Honourable been able to select the best and brightest. members would no doubt be reassured to Only by this procedure are nepotism and know that the last of the principles is "avoiding favouritism avoided and seen to be avoided by nepotism and patronage". Section 78 then the public. Only by this procedure are specifically requires that the selection of an appointees in a position to deal fearlessly with eligible person for appointment as a public the Government of the day and their clients. servant be—and I hope the Premier is taking Having been selected on merit and merit this in—"based on merit alone". So, from alone, those persons can approach their tasks beginning to end, the Public Service Act, which with a degree of independence. In fact, only governs the appointment of all persons to by this approach can the public be satisfied Public Service positions, including chief that chief executives are able to comply with executives, requires appointment decisions to one of the basic obligations imposed on them be based on merit alone and that patronage by the Public Service Act. and nepotism be avoided. I am sure that the Pursuant to section 30, each and every Premier's ethics adviser could give him some chief executive must act independently, further advice on the implications of this. impartially and fairly when dealing with The Premier and his Attorney-General rise individual public servants and cannot be in the Chamber at regular intervals and quote subject to ministerial direction. In other words, at length from the Fitzgerald report. It may an independent chief executive would ensure interest the House if I also refer to that that the Government of the day was not in a document, because some of Commissioner position to persecute or unfairly treat a Fitzgerald's observations have particular particular public servant. Of course, under this relevance to the subject matter of this Bill. At Government, no-one can be confident that this page 131, when commenting on the bunch of Labor second-raters can—far less requirement to advertise Public Service will—act independently and in the interests of vacancies, he made the following comments— the broader community. I will soon outline just "... There does not appear to be any why that is the case. What we have witnessed reason ... why all vacancies"— since this Government took office is an absolute travesty of justice and the reverse of and I stress "all vacancies"— everything that Fitzgerald recommended and "should not be advertised." the clear and compelling requirements of the Public Service Act. Later in his report he dealt with special appointments. In that section, his terminology The Public Service Commissioner has included chief executives. He set out model recently issued two replacement directives on appointment procedures for such positions. I the appointment and employment conditions will quote just two of those— of Senior Executive Service officers, which includes, of course, chief executives. The first "extraneous considerations, including of these is Directive 8 of 1998, which requires personal and political associations or departments to advertise vacancies in the donations should not be regarded. The Gazette, with the notification period being not appointment should be based on less than two weeks. This directive is almost professional selection and recruitment identical to the one issued by the previous processes where merit is the underlying Public Service Commissioner, Kevin Wolff, criterion for appointment; except that it now exempts from the appropriate qualifications for requirement to advertise chief executive appointment should be formulated and vacancies and that of the Public Service publicly notified; and advertised where Commissioner himself. appropriate ..." Mr Borbidge: So much for accountability. It is quite clear that Commissioner Mr SANTORO: Yes, so much for Fitzgerald envisaged that appropriate merit accountability. selection processes would apply to the appointment of chief executives. This would Mr Borbidge: According to Mr Beattie, it's include, as a minimum, public notification of a taken the politics out of it. vacancy and selection after the adoption and Mr SANTORO: I do not think that anyone circulation of relevant selection criteria and would agree that that has taken the politics out interviews by a properly constituted and of it. I will touch on that apparent conflict of independent selection committee. Only by this duty and interest shortly. 2266 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

The second directive, No. 9 of 1998, O'Donnell had been appointed Director- issued on 24 July, compounds the error and General of the Department of Equity and Fair allows the Premier of this State to dispense Trading for a five-year term. In that same with appointing a selection committee to Gazette, it was announced that one Jane consider the appointment of chief executives. Kathleen Macdonnell was appointed as Just in case honourable members have any Director-General of the Department of Justice doubts, I will read from paragraph 5.5, which and Attorney General, also for a five-year term. says— In both cases, these positions were not "Unless the Premier otherwise publicly advertised. In both cases, the determines, in the case of offices of Chief requirements of merit selection were thrown Executive or Public Service away. Commissioner, a selection committee is to I do not want to be harsh, but nobody be established for all SES vacancies." could say that either of those persons are So it is the Premier who, by his own world-class appointments. I will start with Marg determination, can dispense even with a O'Donnell. Up until 1996, she held a relatively selection committee. On this point, he needs junior position in the Department of Justice. to answer some serious ethical questions. She was responsible for alternative dispute resolution, and it may be said that she did that As if that were not enough, as from 3 job quite well. The Premier may know that in August new pay scales were issued for chief 1994 she applied for the position of executives. That was done despite the fact Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and did that all members of the Senior Executive not get within a bull's roar of getting it. The Service received a 2% pay increase from 1 Premier can confirm that his mate, Ross September last year and then a further 4% Willims, chaired the selection committee that wage increase which commenced on 1 July. rejected her. Yet this person, who was never a The magnitude of those pay increases is chief executive and who was a relatively junior amazing. bureaucrat, has been appointed to a top job Honourable members need to consider without even competing with others. It is a this: when the chief executives whom this disgrace and is a typical example of the Government sacked left office on 30 June, the perverse nepotism that Labor practices. Why maximum superannuable salary was did the Premier exempt this position from the $148,798. That was paid to only CEO 3 DGs, requirement of a selection panel? Ms the chief executives of, for example, the O'Donnell has never been a chief executive in Premier's Department and the Treasury. Most Queensland and the argument that the were paid on the CEO 2 scale. At that date, Premier has attempted to use in the past that the amount was $126,854. In a little over a these people have already gone through a month, the maximum amount paid to CEO 3 merit and equity process clearly does not apply chief executives has risen from $148,798 to to her. $190,00 and for CEO 2 chief executives from As for Jane Macdonnell, she had been a $126,854 to $165,000. In other words, these chief executive for only three months when the persons appointed to a five-year term, without Government changed in 1996. She may well the vacancies being advertised, without a prove to be an excellent chief executive, but selection committee and without any why should she be given an inside run and semblance of merit and equity, are receiving other suitably qualified applicants be denied payments of up to $40,000 more than their the right to compete for this position? predecessors. At a time when the private sector faces enormous challenges with the The same applies to Ross Rolfe of the Asian economic crisis and the Russian State Development Department. He is another economic meltdown, it is obscene that this person who was plucked from obscurity by Government is throwing taxpayers' money Labor and who has had almost no experience around like this. as a director-general, yet he has been appointed without having to apply or compete. Mr Borbidge: You need only apply on a His only significant experience with need-to-know basis. infrastructure projects is with Chevron Gas. Of Mr SANTORO: I take that interjection from course, that presents potential conflict of duty the Leader of the Opposition and agree with and interest problems, which the Government him. Week by week, the fruits of this has not yet addressed to the satisfaction of disgraceful episode unfold in the Government the Opposition or, indeed, the public at large. Gazette. For example, in the Gazette of 14 Therefore, in these circumstances I argue that August, it was announced that one Margaret this Bill is needed and appropriate. 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2267

The Scrutiny of Legislation Committee The Premier of this State has thrown all was critical of the Bill's retrospective operation. principles out the window. He should hang his The Bill has to be retrospective, otherwise it head in shame for the way in which he has would not catch the very persons who have gone about ruthlessly sacking the chief not gone through a proper merit and equity executives who were appointed by the selection process and who have been previous Government and replacing them with rewarded by massive pay increases. If these his cronies. I say to the Premier: if these persons had competed on the open market, I people are so good and are the best on offer, would concede that the retrospective operation why has he shielded them from a fair and of the legislation could be seen by some open selection process? In the absence of independent observers to have an element of such a process, these people do not deserve unfairness. However, when the whole selection five-year terms. Their careers should start and process for those persons is rotten to the core, conclude with this Government. No future how could any reasonable or sensible person Government should be compelled to retain argue that those people could have any them lest the taxpayers have to fork out reasonable expectation that they should hold money for redundancy payments. The on to the fruits of this farcical and totally flawed suggestion that only by offering a five-year process? term will the best and brightest apply is comical Mr Borbidge: The private member's Bill when one considers that the best and was also advised to the Government prior to brightest were not even given a chance to the appointments being made. apply. There is one other matter that I want to Mr SANTORO: I take that interjection from mention in passing and before concluding. the honourable the Leader of the Opposition Section 35 of the Public Service Act requires and agree with the fairness of the process that the Public Service Commissioner to perform he has adopted in terms of this private his or her functions— member's Bill giving the Government every chance, every bit of notice, not to proceed with "Impartially, fairly and in the public the folly that its selection processes that I have interest." described represent. Pursuant to section 33, the commissioner is Some people could even suggest that also required to promote the principles of this selection process is so rotten, so smacking Public Service employment, including the of nepotism that it approaches corruption. All I merit-based selection of candidates. Is it not will say is that it stinks and any person just a little ironic that a man who is required by benefiting from it would know in his or her law to do that exempted himself from the heart that he or she did not deserve to benefit requirement that his own position and that of from this gross abuse of process. his Labor acting chief executive mates be advertised or be subject to an independent I say to the member for Nicklin that if he selection process? Dr Brian Head may have supports the Government on this issue, he is many academic virtues, but one virtue that he sending a clear signal that merit and equity does not seem to have is a backbone. His mean nothing and that the double dippers disgraceful connivance with the Premier on who Labor is bringing back should be given a subverting the requirement for merit-based further golden handshake if the Government selection will forever stand as a black mark changes. The member for Nicklin will also send against his name and that of the Office of the a clear signal to this side of the House that any Public Service under Labor. Government in power in the future can dispense with impunity the need to advertise In conclusion, I suggest that this chief executive positions, can appoint chief Government has done more to tarnish the executives without a selection committee and ethical underpinnings of the Queensland can further compound the error by giving them Public Service than any other Government in massive pay increases at the public's expense. recent history. It is indeed a sad day when The member for Nicklin is also sending a clear Labor pork-barrelling is elevated to the highest signal that the terms upon which he said he positions of the bureaucracy and made even had agreed to support the Government are worse by an outrageous pay increase. now no longer operative. Is that the message If the member for Nicklin is really that the member for Nicklin wants to send to concerned about ethics in Government, about his electorate and to the Queensland probity and about protecting the public purse, community as a whole? Why should the long- he will support this Bill. No doubt, any other suffering taxpayers have to subsidise Labor's course will be seen by the public, including the backroom deals? constituents of the honourable member for 2268 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

Nicklin, as a green light by him for Labor to the sacking of the Deputy Director-General of pork-barrel, to look after its mates and to the Department of Training and Industrial thumb its nose at ethics and honesty in Relations, Susanne Knowles, have been the Government and in the Public Service. subject of much negative comment.The thrust Mr SPRINGBORG (Warwick—NPA) of the comments is that quite a few non- (4.17 p.m.): I have much pleasure in political public servants have been the subject supporting this Bill because, if it is enacted, it of ALP paybacks. If not for the CJC, I am sure will prevent a great injustice that the Beattie that Frank Peach, the ex-Director-General of Labor Government is attempting to foist on the Education, would also have joined the list of people of Queensland and the Queensland sacrificial lambs. Public Service. These days, it is an unfortunate The ALP is clearly trying to send an fact of life that chief executive appointments ominous message to public servants: if you are seen to be unique and that the persons work too hard and do your job too well for a holding such appointments have a tenure that coalition Government, you will be sacked by an is more tenuous than that of other public incoming Labor administration. That is the sort servants. The wholesale purge of chief of bullyboy message that by their actions the executives that the Beattie Labor Government Premier and his cohorts are sending out. perpetrated immediately upon taking office The need for this Bill would not be so highlights that fact. great if, when appointing people to top When the Government changed in positions in the Public Service, Labor had Queensland in both 1989 and 1996, there recruited the best and brightest in Australia. All were significant changes at the top of the honourable members will remember the bureaucracy. Clearly, a chief executive and a Premier's oft-repeated claim that the coalition Minister have a special relationship and it must appointed a collection of has-beens to top jobs be accepted that it is reasonable that a and that, in contrast, Labor would go to any Minister be in a position to have a person lengths to attract to Queensland the very best advising him or her and running the professional talent on offer. It is just a few department in whom the Minister has trust and months down the track and we can all see confidence. Likewise, and on a larger scale, it what a farce Labor promises are. is only fair that an incoming Government be in What was the first thing that this a position to choose the key senior Government did when it grabbed the reins of administrators as the fate of any Government power? It issued, with the compliments of the is largely dependent upon the competence of Public Service Commissioner, two replacement these people and their capacity and directives for the appointment of senior willingness to work with the Government. executive officers and the employment conditions of those officers. The first of those Having said that, I think that it is always replacement directives specifically exempts open to comment upon decisions that an from the requirement to advertise vacancies in incoming Government makes in sacking the Gazette the positions of chief executives certain chief executives. For example, I found and the Public Service Commissioner. The it amazing that the Beattie Government sacked Tom Tolhurst, the Director-General of second builds on the first by giving the Premier the Department of Environment, and Roly the discretion to dispense with a selection Nieper, the Director-General of Primary panel for chief executive appointments. Then, Industries. Both of those gentlemen were just to add a little more icing to Labor's longstanding, apolitical public servants who nepotism cake, just one month after they performed their duties with competence and received a 4% wage increase, this professionalism. The professional execution of Government issued a new pay scale for chief those officers was unnecessary, hurtful and executives, giving them increases of more reflected very badly on the Government in than $30,000 a year. On 1 July the maximum general and the Premier in particular. pay for a chief executive was increased from $148,800 to $155,000. To make sure that Also, the clear breach of the Premier's Labor's appointees were well and truly looked pre-election commitment not to sack anybody after, on 3 August this was increased to below the level of director-general was very $190,000. In some cases Labor-appointed disappointing. The sacking of the Deputy chief executives are now being paid $40,000 Director-General of the Department of Premier more than coalition chief executives who were and Cabinet, John Sosso, a public servant of disposed of on 30 June this year. Under Kim almost 15 years' standing, and his Beazley's tax package, a person earning more replacement with three deputy directors- than $40,000 is regarded as being well off. I general in a much-reduced department, and wonder how the battlers who are struggling to 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2269 make ends meet and who are facing the daily Government survives, having regard to the trauma of trying to educate and feed their incompetent way that it is performing, there is children would react if they knew that this so- every chance that it will be thrown out by the called party of the battlers is giving out electors. That becomes more and more $40,000 pay increases to its cronies. evident and more and more likely every day. In Of course, the Premier has been true to those circumstances, an incoming coalition his word: to my knowledge, until now only two Government should not be burdened by this director-general vacancies have been bunch of second-rate administrators advising it advertised, one for Public Works and Housing or working for it. On the other hand, it would be and one for Main Roads. The rest have been a travesty of justice if the long-suffering filled without advertising and without selection taxpayers of Queensland had to pay out the panels. Some of the people appointed to contracts. those positions are tried and true failures. Glyn When the coalition assumed Government Davis, the Director-General of the Department in 1996, it specifically limited the term of its of the Premier and Cabinet, headed the Office chief executives to the term of the of Cabinet with lacklustre results. Brian Head, Government. In doing so, it ensured that this who ran the Public Sector Management Government could have a free hand in picking Commission without leaving any footprints in its chief executives and that the taxpayers the sand, is back again in the Office of the would not be burdened by massive payouts. I Public Service. The best that can be said have to say that some of the chief executives about them is that they are harmless; the paid a very high personal price for this policy. worst is that they are academics with next to In fact, I feel very sorry for some whose no administrative skills. Even worse is the treatment by Labor has been harsh and return of Bob Marshman to the Department of unnecessarily hurtful. Those officers have Employment, Training and Industrial Relations. shouldered and paid for the high ethical His only claim to fame is his loyalty to Labor. standards set by the previous Government. If it was good enough for a minority coalition Then we have the novices such as Ross Government, then it is equally correct for a Rolfe from State Development and Jane minority Labor Government, especially one Macdonnell from Justice. Both were chief that claims that it is going to set new standards executives for less than three months under of ethical conduct in Government. Labor. Indeed, Rolfe worked in a totally different department. Could anybody really say I note that the Scrutiny of Legislation that those people are world beaters or that Committee is critical that the Bill has a they are the best and brightest? I certainly retrospective element. The committee think not. Without meaning to be cruel, Marg considered whether the Bill would have an O'Donnell from the Department of Equity and adverse effect on the rights and liberties of the Fair Trading is an even bigger embarrassment. chief executives who had executed contracts In 1996 she left Queensland as a relatively that will be affected by the Bill. It considered junior officer of the Justice Department. She whether those individuals had legitimate has never been a chief executive and yet she expectations prior to the Bill coming into effect. has been appointed without even having to It also dealt with the possible personal compete for her job. It is a bit rich for her to detriment that certain chief executives may head Equity and Fair Trading when her own experience, having resigned previous appointment was clearly inequitable and would employment and relocated to Queensland. breach the fair trading laws if practised in the With all due respect to the committee, I private sector. That is a pretty unimpressive suggest that the Bill would be a total failure if it group of people who got their jobs without the did not apply retrospectively. Anybody who necessity of competition and were rewarded by gets a public sector job with a remuneration five-year terms and massive pay increases. package value in excess of $200,000 without Mr Robertson: What competency testing competing for it and without even being have you had? screened by a selection committee would know full well that the job had not been Mr SPRINGBORG: I have the chance to obtained fairly, as certainly has been the case be competency tested by my electorate every with what we are dealing with today. None of three years. This minority Government is those people should have any expectation holding onto the reins of power grimly, but it is that the Queensland taxpayers should be certainly not beyond the realms of possibility compelled to abide by the overly generous that it will fall within the next three years. In the terms of contracts that they obtained through fickle modern political era in which we live, the back door without the principles of merit nobody knows what might happen. Even if the selection applying. The way that those 2270 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 contracts were obtained is unprecedented in How ironic that the Premier has his own ethics post-Fitzgerald Queensland. It would be adviser and yet has seen fit to throw one of morally wrong to allow those people to obtain the most important and basic ethical principles a benefit from this sordid episode in our underpinning Public Service employment—and State's history. With all due respect to the by that I mean merit-based selection of committee, I think that it got this one wrong. It staff—out the back door! I am also less than has not looked at the need for retrospectivity impressed with the new Public Service for or from the wider public interest point of Commissioner, Dr Head. view. Instead, it has focused its attention on Mr Robertson: Pick someone you like. the interests of chief executives who have benefited from these morally flawed Mr SPRINGBORG: The member is not a documents. bad bloke. We have had a fair bit of cheerful interaction in the time that we have been in The Bill is intended to send a clear the Parliament together. It is fair to say that if a message that if one wants to appoint people problem needs to be addressed, that is what without any consideration of merit, those we, as an Opposition, should do. It would be a appointments can be classified as political and dereliction of duty if we did not bring these can be dealt with accordingly. Why should the matters to the attention of the people of taxpayers be burdened with enormous Queensland and seek to redress this most payouts to Labor's mates—mates who got unfair situation through appropriate private their jobs without competing on the open members' legislation, as we are doing today. market and mates who received massive pay We saw the Public Service increases? Commissioner—and at that stage he was only Right now, Australia and much of the acting in the position—actually issuing world is going through a very worrying time, employment directives exempting his position largely brought about by global economic from the requirement of being advertised and forces over which we in Government have little from the need for a selection panel. This would control but for which, I must say, we often get have to be one of the most stunning examples the blame. This is a time of uncertainty and of conflict of interest that we could find. Yet struggle. This is a time when many individuals this man is supposed to be doing the job of and families are suffering and are unsure of the Public Service Commissioner, who is their economic futures, both individually and required by law to promote the principles of collectively. All Australian Governments should Public Service employment that I just be sending out the right signals to the mentioned. community. There should be a signal that we For the information of honourable are listening to the community's concerns and members, I point out that he is required by have its interests at the centre of our section 35 of the Act to carry out his duties endeavours. Yet at a time of public anger, independently, fairly and in the public interest. cynicism and confusion, this Government has It is hard not to come to the conclusion that in decided to look after its mates and has sent issuing the employment directives I have been out a signal that will only add to the discussing it could be suggested that he was community's contempt for the political process. acting neither independently, fairly nor in the This Bill is intended to send the right public interest. The actions of the Premier and signal out to the community. It is intended to his Government in appointing chief executives assure people that appointees who get their without advertising and without selection jobs not on merit but through the back door will panels for five-year terms and with massive not be allowed to get a massive golden pay increases were wrong, and the taxpayer handshake as they leave. It is intended to should not have to pick up the tab. For these send a signal to the whole of the Queensland reasons, I support the Bill. Public Service that the coalition takes seriously Mr NELSON (Tablelands—ONP) the requirement set out clearly in section 24 of (4.32 p.m.): Today I rise to support the the Public Service Act that one of the key member for Surfers Paradise in relation to the principles of Public Service employment is Public Service Amendment Bill. I believe that basing selection decisions on merit. The the term of employment of chief executives Premier should read section 24, because it must recognise that in most cases that term is enshrines in law the requirement that nepotism inexorably linked to the term of the relevant and patronage in employment decisions be Minister. It is an absurdity to postulate that a avoided. The Premier is responsible for department head can be or should be administering that Act, and yet he has been apolitical. Indeed, a department head must responsible for undermining its effectiveness. have the political confidence of his Minister to 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2271 interpret and implement the Minister's The Public Service Amendment Bill is all philosophies and policy direction accurately. about ensuring that the appointment of Public It may well be—and this is reality; let us Service chief executives is restricted to the face it—that the appointee may be adaptable term of the Premier, and that is because the enough to support a Government of either Premier's consent is required for their persuasion. In fact, these days there seems to appointment. The purpose of this Bill is to be very little difference between the allow the Government of the day to govern philosophies of Labor and the coalition. without hindrance and to govern with the aid of the chief executives in whom it has However, there must be the flexibility to confidence. replace the appointee if necessary—and I emphasise: only if necessary. This flexibility When this minority Government scraped must be paramount in the employment into power, the Premier promised new contract and must not expose the public purse standards. The Premier spoke at length about to a massive termination settlement. I politicians being among the least trusted recognise the need to attract the best possible people in the community. The Premier spoke expertise. I also acknowledge that the about how he—the so-called champion of potentially short tenure of the appointment honesty and propriety—would set a new may be a distinct disincentive, as it is in this standard. But for all of the Premier's noble House. It may well be necessary to make observations, he failed to realise that this was appropriate allowance for the relative lack of one of his backflips and a reneging on a stated policy. That is part of the problem that security of employment. This may be by way of has led to the reputations of all MLAs being an increased salary package, and I am of the stained. firm opinion that this is a more honest, accountable and transparent method of In September 1996 in the Sector Wide achieving that outcome. magazine of the Public Service the Premier, then as Opposition Leader, applauded the It is indeed a grossly inefficient system coalition Government for tying the contracts of that employs someone for five years when it is Public Service CEOs to the term of the known full well that the contract is most likely to Government. The Premier welcomed this be terminated in a little more than half that decision and said that— term. I believe that, as the appointment is to all intents and purposes for the term of the "... such appointees should leave office Government, the contract should reflect that immediately upon a change of government—and without a big pay-out situation. I believe the Bill will result in a system from long suffering taxpayers". that will be more streamlined and cleansed of unnecessary and complicated termination Where do the Premier and his Government procedures, and that it will be more now stand? He has reneged. He has gone transparent, logical and acceptable to the back on his word. In other words, he has done taxpayers of Queensland. a backflip. My one concern is the fact that the Bill He has appointed CEOs with contracts of seeks to make the change retrospective—an five years, far outlasting the term of this aspect that I, and I suspect the majority of my Government if it manages to struggle through colleagues, cannot support. I believe that the the full term of three years. He has abused his principle of this Bill is very important and the position of trust and the good faith that was removal of the retrospectivity would make for set in concrete by the now Leader of the Opposition. When Rob Borbidge became good legislation. I support the Public Service Premier, he was noble enough to know that it Amendment Bill 1998, but flag my intention to would be unfair for a new Government of a amend it in the Committee stage to remove different political persuasion simply to have to the retrospectivity aspects. inherit CEOs whom it may not necessarily Mr MALONE (Mirani—NPA) (4.35 p.m.): I want. He also knew that it would be unfair for rise to speak in favour of the Public Service the taxpayers of this State to have to fork out Amendment Bill and, in doing so, congratulate millions of dollars to terminate contracts. the Leader of the Opposition on putting it Recognising that any Government could forward. It is a travesty and a tragedy that the be guaranteed only one term at best, he Leader of the Opposition has to take this ensured that the contracts of CEOs were tied action at all, just as it is a tragedy that the to his term of office. The same degree of Government does not have a semblance of integrity cannot be claimed by Premier Beattie. integrity when it comes to honouring its Not only has he ditched the integrity displayed promises. by his predecessor as Premier; he has also 2272 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 ditched the comments made to the Public Goss years, but non-political appointees, Service journal. He has ditched his career public servants with real ability and commitment to Queensland's thousands of impartiality, were retained in their CEO public servants. When the Premier spoke of positions. jobs, jobs, jobs, he was not talking about Simply put, CEOs are now essentially protecting the jobs of and providing work for political appointments. That is the reality in mums, dads and their children; instead he was 1998. They are appointed with the consent of talking about the few public servants who are already on packages way beyond the the Premier. The era of knowing that a CEO $100,000 mark. His first priority was to appoint has been a dedicated, non-political, career those CEOs for five-year terms, contrary to public servant was wiped out in many what he said was good policy only two years departments when the Goss Government took ago. office. It was a tragedy, but the damage has been done and we must now work to ensure It is interesting, too, that these contracts that the Public Service is not stifled by CEOs were awarded only to CEOs who had been who do not have the confidence of the given salary increases of up to 20%, or Minister of the day. That is a reality that was $30,000 a year. No wonder the Premier gave recognised by the coalition Government. That them five years' job security. is a reality that is again being recognised here In the case of the Department of today by this private member's Bill. Emergency Services, proven performer John Yesterday I heard the member for Nicklin Hocking was asked by the Beattie Government speak about the cost to taxpayers of to leave. Only yesterday the Attorney-General politicians' superannuation funds. I hope that claimed that his former director-general was he applies those same concerns when he asks unceremoniously dumped by the incoming himself whether it is fair for taxpayers to have coalition. It seems twisted logic, therefore, that to pay out enormous termination payments to he also chose to dump the director-general bureaucrats whose appointments were political appointed by Mr Beanland. Apparently that and whose appointments could have been was okay and not unceremonious at all. linked to the term of the Premier they served. The new director-general of the Indeed, I trust that all 89 members will choose Department of Emergency Services is not a to spare the taxpayer. I trust that all 89 person I know well and I have no thoughts members will support this Bill and entrench the either way on his capabilities. He may turn out integrity and honesty the Opposition Leader to be an excellent person with impeccable has already demonstrated. Equally, I trust that judgment. However, the incoming Minister of the Premier will remember the long-suffering any department must have the right to taxpayers he spoke about in the Public Service determine his or her own CEOs—more so if journal. that CEO is a political appointment of a Government now removed from office. Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Dr Clark): Equally, the Minister should be able to do so Order! I call the member for Maryborough. I without subjecting Queensland taxpayers to remind the House that this is the member's having to provide enormous payouts. inaugural speech and he therefore deserves the full courtesy of the House. When it comes to integrity, this Government is a failure. When it comes to the Dr KINGSTON (Maryborough—ONP) proper treatment of public servants, this (4.44 p.m.): Madam Deputy Speaker, firstly, Government is a failure. When it comes to a may I congratulate the Speaker on his election proper regard for taxpayers' funds, this to office. Because of my respect and concern Government is a failure. for the Speaker, I have measured sound levels at three sites. The respective decibel levels The private member's Bill presented by were 45 in a company boardroom, 50 in a the Leader of the Opposition is all about party room and frequently over 75 in this realities. Not since the Goss Government hallowed Chamber. Science tells us that terminated the contracts of career public speech is easily misunderstood when the level servants in 1989 and 1990 has the community is over 60. There is danger of hearing been convinced that all CEOs are non-political. impairment from noise levels above 80. Thus, I Indeed, the appointment of many was overtly suggest that decorum is the healthy way to go. political during the Goss term. The action of the then Labor Government established a new I congratulate all members, newly elected playing field amongst CEOs. The incoming and re-elected. I look forward to working with coalition obviously could not be expected to all members in a constructive manner for the keep on board the political appointees of the benefit of all Queenslanders. 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2273

There are people I wish to thank. I first when extremist groups run rampant. It is ironic thank the voters of the Maryborough that the schoolchildren who were encouraged electorate for placing their faith and trust in to demonstrate outside this building against me. I hereby undertake to pursue their perceived racism frightened Joy, an Asian. In individual and collective interests to the best of her experience, when a mob makes that much my ability. I also thank all the people, many of noise there are injuries. whom I had not known before, who worked so I would like to tell the House a little about generously to see that I was elected, Laos and life there as Joy knew it. This may particularly John Francis. Thirdly, I thank my explain why the majority of Asian immigrants wife, who is a Lao national, an Asian who has work so hard to become responsible, self- suffered compound misfortunes—firstly, to supporting members of the Australian marry me and, secondly, to learn that I was community. going to stand for One Nation, that party of racists according to some of the media. Joy and I met while I was working with the Unfortunately, some colleagues on the left of Lao Government trying to assist the people of this House appear to have been convinced. Or Laos to progress towards a better future by hopefully they are only grandstanding formulating their national five-year plan. I also politically, establishing their personal footprint owned and operated a private college which on this Parliament. grew very quickly and now has 800 students within a communist country. Our early life Within the rapidly developing science of together was busy and it has stayed that way, environmental economics, the term "footprint" especially lately. is used to define the quantity of resources a Under the Lao communist centralised community consumes. If politically motivated words concerning the racist qualities of One economy the production of food for the Nation members are considered a resource, Government and its employees was the then I suggest that it has been overutilised. It responsibility of State-owned enterprises, is time to get on with what we were all sent many or most of which failed to achieve their here to do: working together efficiently and production targets. With great respect, and effectively in the interests of our constituents with no thoughts of comparison, as I look and our State. around I record that there were few men of girth in the Lao Government. I dedicate this, my first speech in this The Communist Party, which still holds House, to my wife and to my electorate of ultimate power in Laos, stated in a 1989 report Maryborough. I am intensely proud of them that it had achieved many successes and a both. I reiterate my intention to work for their few mistakes but it had discovered that the combined futures. way to true communism was through My wife's name is Pahninh. Her nickname capitalism. Thus I became one of a team to is Joy, which in the Lao language means develop Government policies and strategies to "thin". I tell the honourable member for achieve revival through the encouragement of Southport that Joy weighs 35 kilos—maybe 38 capitalism and very, very carefully screened wringing wet. Joy had the intestinal fortitude, foreign investment. which in her case is obviously not proportional I hasten to add that the peasant farmers, to girth, to accept my electoral decision; to who make up over 80% of the Lao population, stand with me publicly, despite her natural have never ceased practising capitalism within shyness; to host the media interviewers who their internalised subsistence economy. But, invaded our lives—and here I must pause to as in all nations, private enterprise cannot say that those who took the time to meet us flourish unless the Government creates the on equal terms were very courteous and some environment in which it can operate have become good friends, and I thank them securely—a fact our Australian Government for that—to suffer the pain of rejection from seems to be forgetting. four previously dear but intolerant friends; and to be proud and a little nervous to be a Lao At this stage I have to pay sincere tribute Australian involved in a movement which has to the majority of the current Lao Government the interests of all Australian people at heart. officers, many of whom are now listed Given Joy's history, what I sought of her when amongst my best friends. I have never seen I decided to run for election was a huge ask people so dedicated to the recovery of their and I can only thank her for her faith in me country despite past atrocities, despite and yet again admire her courage. decimated and scattered families, and despite being paid salaries which are insufficient to Joy's experience in Laos has given her an allow them to support their own families. I now appreciation of what can happen to a country regard Laos as my second home. What I say 2274 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 today I say out of concern. I have a great and her ability to love, her ability to trust, her ability lasting regard for the Lao people. But what to be a true and tolerant friend, her delightful happened in Laos should be a warning to us. sense of humour and her eagerness—in fact The Lao people were unhappy with the state compulsion—to work. She currently operates of their nation. There were only 30,000 an expanding business and, heaven forbid, members of the Communist Party when they she wants to start another. took control of the Lao community of four Through you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I million people. Recent economic and warn all members of this House that should environmental profiles of certain countries do you visit us—and you are welcome to do not recommend the communist economic so—please do not sit still in Joy's garden. doctrine. Should you do that, you will be uprooted and Joy was born at the wrong time to be born trashed. Some of my favourite plants have in Laos. She has endured over 20 years of hesitated and perished. I would not wish that internal revolution and war. She went from on members of this House. Joy remains proud being a middle class aspiring medical student to be Lao—as she should—but she is proud to a peasant farmer/political refugee hiding in and grateful to be Australian. She sees a the mountainous jungles. She carried 200 working future for our family in this great litres of water over four kilometres daily to country. But she and I have some concerns ferment coffee to eke out a subsistence living about the pathways down which our country for her family. appears to be travelling. During the Vietnam war—a war in which I would like to speak about the Laos was not officially involved—four million Maryborough electorate. Firstly, I want to say tons of bombs were dropped on Laos—one that my Asian wife and my Aboriginal secretary ton of bombs per resident. Worse, these have always been totally accepted and treated bombs were usually full of "bombies"—anti- with respect and courtesy. They are, as they personnel weapons—just enough to blow a should be, just two Australians working within limb off. I have worked in villages where every the Maryborough community. resident is an amputee—all being trained to Secondly, I wish to record my gratitude to make prostheses for other unfortunates. I can some true Australians. Not long after returning assure honourable members that that is a very home, when I was unwillingly in this city in sobering experience. I was asked to visit one hospital following some overly enthusiastic area where the villagers became ill after tractor driving, our neighbours at that entering a particular area of jungle. I found time—professional fishermen and farmers— textbook symptoms of mustard gas exposure. cared for Joy and our daughter, Anouson, as In other villages I found symptoms of even though they were their own family. They did more serious agents. not think about it; they just did it. Such Joy's father was an officer in the French behaviour is natural to them. I ask: is army—an undesirable CV during a revolution Maryborough different from other Queensland of independence. Instructed by their father, rural electorates? No, I do not think so. Again I Joy's brothers paid dearly to escape to ask: is this the type of reassurance that the Thailand and thence to the United State of Premier delivered in Hong Kong? My America. That left Joy—the whole 35 kilos of experience in 12 Asian and Pacific countries her—to support her aging and demoralised has taught me that Asians develop trust in parents, her chronically sick sister, her niece, individuals from their actions, not rhetoric. Only and eventually her own two children. Joy from trust does trade develop. worked as a secretary, she worked in a foreign- I would like to concentrate on owned garment sweatshop on piecework and Maryborough, the multiskilled electorate which she worked as a trader. Eventually she settled I am so proud to represent. I would like to into private enterprise, weaving traditional dwell on the history of Maryborough but time is fabrics. By weaving 12 hours a day, seven inadequate. Why history? Because history is days a week, she and her extended family the warp and the weft of the fabric of the survived. future community. It is the crucible in which the Now that I have the chance to answer, durability of community foundations are uninterrupted, the question asked by a forged. Let me assure honourable members zealous reporter concerning whether Joy can that the Maryborough electorate may be a little be a successful Australian, I emphatically say battered, having been disadvantaged by an yes. Why? Because Joy has survived more apparently uncaring Government—until last hardship and more responsibility than anyone I weekend when the Premier listened to know. She has maintained her independence, Maryborough and I thank him for that—but the 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2275 foundations are still solid and the community multinationals on the lonely level playing field. fabric is still strong. Our problems with the As a result, we see our multiskilled residents unacceptable behaviour which appear to be underutilised. endemic in Australia are small by comparison. I would briefly like to mention only a few of Maryborough's history was such that the Maryborough's current successes. Firstly, I resulting home-made fabric was closely woven refer to Walkers, which is the third-biggest on solid foundations of quality timber, steel, employer in the Maryborough electorate, with clay and primary production. The strength of 400 to 600 skilled employees. Walkers started the Wide Bay district still is its diversity and its in 1868. It built the first Australian steam-driven extraordinary variety of skilled artisans. locomotive in 1873. It went on to build more In 1842, Andrew Petrie and Henry Stuart steam locos than any other works in the Russell found the Mary River and recognised Commonwealth. Later, it built diesel electric that it had the potential to be the second port and diesel hydraulics. Currently, Walkers and so badly needed in Queensland. Pastoral Adtrans have manufactured the first narrow- development was already taking place in the gauge tilt train in the southern hemisphere. hinterland. In June 1847, George Furber With a can-do attitude, they have built advertised in the Moreton Bay Courier that he sugarmills, cast one-piece propellers for the US was about to establish a wool store on the Navy and recently built the CNC-controlled south bank of the Mary River. His schooner gantry miller. Up to 50% of their production is Sister soon departed with 65 bales of wool. exported, currently to 19 countries. What is happening in the Maryborough The timber industry started in 1861 with electorate today? Diversification and a plethora the formation of the union sawmill. The piles of home-grown skills remain the strength and used to build the East End docks in London potential of the Maryborough electorate, but came from Fraser Island, and they are still there is now evidence of a growing lack of there. Hyne & Son started in 1882. Now it has confidence. We have the highest deposits in 35 operations along the east coast and 800 savings accounts in Australia. I repeat: the role employees. Its Tuan pine mill is the most of Government is to create the environment in modern in the Pacific rim. Its laminating plant which private enterprise can have confidence. produced the 100-metre-long beams for the Such an environment will entice those saved year 2000 Olympic dome. Its current trials with dollars to flow into productive businesses. This eucalyptus plantings indicate beneficial Government's perceived threat to downgrade economic and environmental impacts. the base hospital may have been the unifying W. Olds & Sons is the company which, for force needed to raise my fellow citizens' me, crystallises the strength and the problem passions for success. of the Maryborough electorate. It has 16 Through you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I permanent employees and 16 shareholders. invite members to examine the current policies They are very innovative, but very, very of the Dutch Government. It has realised that modest when talking about their future economic growth and an increase in achievements. They have many patents. They employment will flow from small business. It is make special rotating hospital beds, stirrups actively encouraging Dutch small business with and headlight fixtures for Queensland and effective strategies. I also invite members to national rail locos. If a metal product is hard to read Ivana Bottini's article titled Europe's make, ask Olds. Economic Lesson, which appeared in the Maryborough has a designer who designs Courier-Mail on 2 December 1997. She and makes ocean-going yachts in panels; a reported that— world-renowned sail maker; a low-energy "Governments in Europe interfere, portable refrigerator exporter; a simple slipway intervene and regulate; there is a very with a compound turnover of over $1m; a clear sense that Governments have a unique aluminium boat exporter; a drug huge positive role to play in the regulation education group with the most authoritative and promotion of the economy." web site; and so on. I could continue, but I think I have made my point. She continued— The Maryborough electorate is multiskilled "... that the EC has seen the most and innovative. For this reason, I was successful case of controlled long term delighted to hear of the appointment of the economic growth in the world." Deputy Premier as the Minister for State In the meantime, businesses in my electorate Development and Minister for Trade. I assure are told that they have to become yet more the Minister that the Maryborough electorate is efficient to face increasing opposition from well equipped to become his first epicentre of 2276 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998 rural community development. We have the Government members that he or she is foundations, we have the skilled personnel impartial? At the moment, they have the and we have the will. All we need is the advantage of potentially being in their economic environment, and this Government positions during the terms of several political has the opportunity to create that. I say to the parties in Government. Minister: give us, the people of Maryborough, It is fair to say—as the Premier the encouraging signals, and our heavy stated—that when the Public Service Act was industries, our light industries, our passed in this House in 1996, it contained a canefarmers, our graziers and all our clause that stated that the maximum tenure— diversified industries will work like hell to help not necessarily the mandatory tenure—for a you achieve your electoral promises. Thank chief executive officer was five years. The you. Premier said that if the motivation for this Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone—IND) private member's Bill was sincere, the policy (5.02 p.m.): It is with some misgivings that I that the Opposition is now endeavouring to rise to speak to the Public Service Amendment introduce would already have been included in Bill because, to me, the quandary is the issue legislation. Given the close proximity to that of the value of the principles of five-year debate, it is a fair question to ask. Two years contracts and the theory of political neutrality ago, five years was an appropriate term for versus the political realities. Since 1989 in CEOs. Members on both sides agreed with particular, there has been a significant change that. I have not consulted the Hansard record, in chief executives whenever there has been a but I cannot recall a great debate about the change of Government. Chief executive five-year tenure, so I would be interested to positions appear to have been very stable until hear from the Leader of the Opposition as to 1989. I suppose that is borne out by the fact why the change is necessary now. that the Government was, as well. However, In a press release to the Courier-Mail, the according to the statistics that I could Premier said that some of the DGs appointed find—and these are not conclusive; they are by the Borbidge/Sheldon Government were as good as I could get in the time available—in nothing more than a Dad's Army. I understood 1989, 16 chief executive positions changed. In that statement to mean that they were 1996, at the change of Government—I have reappointed; that they had previously been had two figures given to me: one was 13 and directors-general or had held senior positions the other was 16. In 1998, 12 chief executives in a previous coalition Government. The changed. I have to acknowledge that, in 1998, Premier went on to say— those positions were not changed because contracts were terminated; they changed "But fortunately for us, almost all of because contracts matured, that is, under the the director-general contracts expire in previous Government the maturity date June next year—at about the time an coincided with the election. election is most likely to be fought." In his response to the debate on the So in that statement it was acknowledged that second reading, the Premier said that the the previous Government did target the tenure rationale for the use of five-year terms for CEO of its director-general appointments to coincide appointments is that they put Queensland on with the election. It also indicated that the then the same footing as all other public sector Leader of the Opposition, the current Premier, jurisdictions; they advance the public interest had looked at the people in those positions by allowing more strategic and longer term and was certainly going to review their planning and visioning for public administration positions—and, as it turned out, with a view beyond the three-year term of office of a not to reappointing them. I would be interested Government; and they improve Queensland's to know how many of the current directors- ability to attract and retain high-quality CEOs general who were appointed in June of this from other jurisdictions and organisations, both year have previously worked for the ALP public and private. Yet history over the past 10 Government. years flies in the face of those values. Comments were made about a Public The member for Toowoomba South said Service Commissioner's discussion paper on that if the three-year contracts are law, a good merit protection for senior executives. Some DG will be reappointed on the basis of an concern has been expressed that, should the impartial and sound record. I ask the sponsor Bill be passed, it will introduce a regime that is of this Bill, the Leader of the Opposition: if the neither fair nor equitable; it does not reflect three-year period does become part of consistency across Australia. I ask a question, Queensland law, how will a DG appointed at though, and it will be difficult because I should the change of Government prove to non- be posing this to the Premier. Whether or not 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2277 this Bill is passed, it does not preclude that contracts were specifically made to mature at merit protection discussion paper continuing. the time the election occurred. I have a And if the objective results of that discussion concern—and it should be directed to the paper can clearly show changes—whether it Premier—arising from the comments by the be to tenure or to anything else in the Public member for Warwick. He pointed out that there Service—there is no preclusion to that being has been a significant change effected by a brought before the House for consideration. directive under the hand of the Premier, but I acknowledge and thank the Premier for activated by the Public Service Commissioner, the information and the briefing that I was able that allows for appointments to CEO positions to receive quite recently on the Public Service and the Public Service Commissioner position Amendment Bill. I appreciated the perspective to be made without the normal advertising and that was offered. I will refer now to some of the merit-process adherence. points that were raised. It has been said that Mr Borbidge: Directive 8/98. the five-year contract period is consistent across Australia. I think it was the member for Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM: Perhaps there Toowoomba South who replied by saying that will be more information to come, but that is a Queensland does not have to do everything in concern. We have argued today and in the the same manner as everywhere else. past that employment must be merit based However, consistency is a good thing unless and that it must be transparent. Part of that there is a valid reason for that not to occur. transparency was open advertising and an interview panel. All of that process was to The other issue that was raised with me ensure a merit-based appointment. Through related to the impact of this legislation on the one action that can be overturned by the public sector. It was said that the key reason to directive that states that, although that is the oppose the Bill is that it legitimises political procedure, for a number of CEO positions and appointments. That is a concern. the Public Service Commissioner, that process Theoretically—and it is theoretically—Public can be laid aside and a direct appointment Service appointments, right across the can be made by the Premier. That flies in the echelons of the Public Service, are non- face of much of the argument that has been political. They are neutral appointments. That put today against this Bill being enacted, that would be wonderful if it were true and if it were is, that transparency, openness and borne out in history. We have a dichotomy of accountability in the employment process are what is right in theory and what is borne out in essential. I would be interested to receive practice. The comment was made that it will some more information on that. undermine the ability to attract and hold high- quality executives to maintain the One Nation members have foreshadowed professionalism and impartiality of the Public an amendment to remove retrospectivity. Service and to ensure that strong leadership is Although I can understand the Leader of the provided in the medium and long term. Again, Opposition's inclusion of retrospectivity in the that is a very good sentiment and it is Bill, there is always a problem with expressed well. However, history shows that it retrospectivity. It will reflect on the current is not adhered to. We have had significant Premier's contracts that have been made with turnover. In every change of Government, over the current directors-general. I have a great half of the chief executive officers have had deal of sympathy for the removal of the contracts terminated, their employment retrospectivity part of the Bill. terminated or their contract has matured and I was also concerned about something they have been replaced. that occurred at the Mundingburra election. It Another point that was raised is that the is my understanding that it was not a by- Public Service wants stability and certainty. I election. The original election was voided by have no doubt about that. It was said that the the decision of the Court of Disputed Returns Bill encourages turnover of senior and the election in early 1996 was effectively management and encourages instability. I the legal election for Mundingburra. Many agree; however, I cannot get past the fact statements were made about the fact that that, historically, a significant number of some contracts were renegotiated or renewed directors-general are changed at a change of just prior to that election being held. I was Government—whether it is through the much- seeking a protection to ensure that, if the vaunted Gulag system, a clean-cut cessation three-year term of contract were implemented, of contract in which a payment is made to the there was not a loophole for whoever was in director-general who is terminated and a new Government to renew those contracts just prior appointment is made or, as in this most recent to an election, thus avoiding the review clause. change of Government, the directors-general's My advice was that section 53(4)(f) covers that. 2278 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

I am not 100% convinced that it does. That provisions of the Public Service Act, they will clause states that a contract may be realise that it is up to five years; it can be one, terminated by one month's notice by the two, three, four or five years. Premier. I wanted to ensure that, should a Because we were a minority Government, contract be renegotiated just prior to an in my view that added weight to the ethics of election, that contract would be viewed as a appointing chief executive officers only for the fresh contract and, therefore, subject to review term of the Government. I dispute the by an incoming Government. rationale put forward by the Premier that In an ideal world where CEO and somehow his minority Government is different directors-general appointments were made from my minority Government. I accept and and filled by people who had full impartiality we welcome the advice of the honourable would not be debating this issue. My quandary member for Gladstone when she confirmed is the idealistic and theoretical position versus that the Mundingburra by-election voided the political reality. I would be interested in the earlier vote in Mundingburra and was Leader of the Opposition's comment as to subsequently the completion of the 1995 whether he foresaw that, if this Bill were election. For the Premier to somehow say that passed, it would automatically see the end of my mandate was less than his is absolutely impartial directors-general. I believe that a wrong. number of DGs have been returned when a Government of a different party has been Quite correctly, when the Premier was elected. I would be interested to see whether Leader of the Opposition he accepted and the Leader of the Opposition has considered supported the appointment of chief executive the possibility that this Bill will completely officers for the term of the Parliament—for the remove the opportunity for impartial directors- life of the Government. He was on the public general to be retained. Part of that answer will record as doing so. In that regard, the be in his response to how directors-general honourable member for Indooroopilly referred appointed at the change of Government would to certain documents that go right up to the show their impartiality, because there have date of the election. Therefore, I was surprised been some DGs who have held their positions that subsequently it became an issue in the for quite some time. There are not many, but Premier's mind. there are a couple. Part of his answer will be in There has been some discussion about his response to whether they will be able to the retrospective elements of this legislation. I maintain that impartial status given that, accept the validity of that particular criticism. whereas the five-year tenure did give some However, I believe that, in this case, it is cross-party contact, the three-year warranted for the following reasons. Soon after term—election to election—ensures that there he became Premier, when he was still is none. I will be interested in the Leader of the caretaker Premier, before he had faced this Opposition's response. It is a difficult Bill. I will House and secured confidence, the be listening to the response from the honourable member for Brisbane Central Opposition Leader. I can understand the stated that he would be appointing chief sentiments behind the Bill being introduced. executive officers for a period of up to five Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers years. Almost immediately, I indicated that if Paradise—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) that was the intent of the then caretaker (5.18 p.m.), in reply: I thank honourable Premier, I would be bringing a private members for their contribution to this debate. I member's Bill to this place. So the caretaker think it has been a good, valuable debate. I Premier yet to confront the Parliament, yet to will seek to address some of the concerns that receive a vote of confidence, who should not have been raised by a number of honourable have been entering into contracts anyway, members. If this legislation is passed today, it because his legitimacy had not been will be an example of the Parliament confirmed by this place, knew that if he went reasserting itself over the Executive. A number down this particular track then this particular of issues have been raised today that I would private member's Bill or something very similar like to deal with in the time available to me. to it would be introduced into the Parliament. Contrary to the assertion of the Premier, it What happened was very significant. We was the practice of the previous Government, had a close election. The member for Nicklin which he subsequently conceded, to appoint indicated his support for a Government led by directors-general and CEOs only for the term the member for Brisbane Central. The of the Government. We have heard a lot Parliament had not met. Confidence had not during this debate today about the five-year been expressed. In the meantime, we had a term. If honourable members read the situation in which the honourable member for 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2279

Brisbane Central started to change the rules in meeting the contractual obligations in respect respect of appointments to senior positions of the termination of those appointments. within the Public Service. Firstly, the Premier I really do take offence at the suggestion introduced and has subsequently introduced— of the honourable member for Brisbane and I have the dates of the Public Service Central, the Premier, that his minority directives; this particular one is 21 July—a new Government should have a different set of set of rules that do away with the requirement rules from my minority Government. to advertise these jobs. So we had the situation whereby, because of a variation in Mr Beanland interjected. the directive or a new directive issued by the Mr BORBIDGE: The members opposite new Premier, jobs did not have to be received 38% of the vote compared to the advertised. Secondly, the member for coalition receiving 54%. Brisbane Central, the Premier, varied the rules Mr Braddy: You didn't get 54% of the in relation to those appointments allowing the primary vote. Compare eggs with eggs. Premier to make appointments without reference to a selection panel. So we had a Mr BORBIDGE: Our mandate was 54% situation in which the best possible applicants compared to 38%. I am making the point that who the Premier said he wanted need not for the member for Brisbane Central to say apply. In fact, in large part the positions for that his minority Government is different from chief executive officers in this Government my minority Government is absolute were on a need-to-know basis. So we had nonsense. As the member for Gladstone people being recalled and appointed without pointed out correctly, and honourable any advertisements and without any selection members opposite never acknowledged, the on merit. Presumably, if they were in the club, end of the 1995 election campaign was the that was okay. That is why I would argue that valid and proper and second vote in the in this instance the retrospectivity in this Bill is Mundingburra by-election. justifiable. I raise these concerns because we have I hope that the members of the Scrutiny been down this track before. In terms of Public of Legislation Committee would also take note Service appointments, we have seen what of those very substantial departures from and Labor Governments have done. At present, those very new directives in respect of the the Director-General of the Department of administration of the Public Service. I make Justice, who previously was the director- the observation that if the Bill passes its general under Labor, on a weekly basis is second reading and the honourable member commuting back and forth between Melbourne for Tablelands wishes to proceed with his and Brisbane. Did that particular director- amendment, I would prefer that the general subject herself to public retrospectivity clause remained for that advertisements in order to attain the position? purpose. However, if it does not and at least Did she have to go through an appointment from now on in respect of these particular on merit selection process? She did not! It is appointments we have conformity with the that absolute abandonment of accountability legislation, then that is something that I most that this private member's Bill seeks to certainly can live with. address. In respect of some of the other matters The day before the Mundingburra by- that were raised, we have uncertain political election, Mr Ross Rolfe was appointed as times and with all the goodwill in the world— Director-General of the Department of and there is not always goodwill in this Environment, when everyone knew that the place—minority Governments can come and Government could effectively fall within a go. It is possible—who knows—that the Beattie couple of weeks. What happened? minority Government may not last the two and Subsequently, the Government changed and a quarter years that the Borbidge/Sheldon the incoming administration was stuck with a minority Government lasted. Under the new five-year contract. We did not want the directives and the new rules and the variations services of Mr Rolfe, so we honoured our to practice, if not the legislation embarked contractual commitments and Mr Rolfe was upon by the member for Brisbane Central, if paid out. there were to be a change of Government we I would like to know if the Director-General could have a situation in which a new of the Department of Justice and the Director- Government is confronted with a number of General of the Department of State long-term Public Service appointments with Development have refunded to the taxpayers which it felt uncomfortable and the subsequent of Queensland one cent of what we paid them cost to the taxpayers of Queensland in when we became the Government post 2280 Public Service Amendment Bill 16 Sep 1998

Mundingburra in respect of the positions that "I am committed to job stability for all they now fill, which were not advertised and to Public Servants, other than those such as which were not appointed by virtue of merit Directors-General on short-term contracts through a selection process. That is exactly the which expire with the Government of the sort of abuse that this private member's Bill day." seeks to address. He did not say "the Borbidge Government" or I ask members to take the case of Marg "the coalition Government", but "the O'Donnell, the Director-General of the Government of the day". Is it not interesting Department of Equity and Fair Trading. She that he says that it was always his policy to went from Queensland to Victoria and back have five-year terms, but in the run-up to the again. Guess what? She is now the director- 13 June election, in his messages to the general. Was that position advertised? Was Public Service as quoted in Sector Wide, no there a selection process? Was there mention was made of five-year terms. Instead, appointment on merit? No, and she had not the then Leader of the Opposition made a been director-general previously. Again, that is cleverly crafted little commitment by saying— the sort of abuse, lack of ethics and political "I am committed to job stability for all cronyism that the Bill seeks to address. Public Servants, other than those such as The honourable member for Warwick Directors-General on short-term contracts gave what I thought was a fundamental which expire with the Government of the example of why this legislation is required. He day." spoke about how the acting Public Service The honourable member for Gladstone Commissioner issued a directive which asked how an incoming Government knows exempted his own position from being whether public servants are impartial, it can advertised and appointed on merit. If that is work with them and they are competent. In not a conflict of interest and is not close to at regard to that point, when the coalition least a moral breach of the Public Service Act, Government came to office post I simply do not know what is. Mundingburra—and this is off the top of my A trend has developed under this minority head—the directors-general or the CEOs that Government whereby directors-general are we reappointed included the Commissioner for being appointed without advertisement of the Police; Dr Rob Stable, the Director-General of positions, without a merit selection process the Department of Health, who was appointed taking place and at a significantly higher pay. by the previous Health Minister and now Under the minority Labor Government, Premier; Tom Fenwick, who stayed on in the directors-general are paid between $35,000 DNR; Tommy Tolhurst, who stayed on in the and $45,000 more than directors-general of Department of Environment; Frank Peach, the previous coalition administration. who stayed on in the Department of Education—his was another Labor The honourable member for Brisbane appointment that Labor subsequently axed; Central, the Premier, had a lot to say in an and Bruce Wilson, who stayed on in the attempt to justify his various backflips in regard Department of Transport. to this legislation. However, he cannot deny that in September 1996 in Sector Wide, the I can tell the honourable member that in Public Service journal, he said— day-to-day dealings over a period of time, a shadow Minister or Leader of the Opposition "The decision of the Borbidge does get to know the CEOs and directors- Government to make CEO contracts only general. One is in a pretty good position to 'for the term of the government' is gain a reasonable understanding of the welcome." directors-general and one can develop He went on to say— confidence in their ability and capacity to do the job. At the end of the day, one makes a "... such appointees should leave office value judgment on that. I also make the point immediately upon a change of that of those directors-general whom the government—and without a big payout coalition kept on after coming to Government from long-suffering taxpayers." post Mundingburra, Tom Tolhurst of the The Premier was right and that is what the Bill Department of Environment, a long-term that he is now opposing seeks to do. As the Queensland public servant, was disposed of honourable member for Indooroopilly pointed by the Labor Government. Frank Peach was out, in the election edition of Sector Wide the also a Labor Party appointee. Today I was then Leader of the Opposition, the current greatly disappointed to see Frank Peach, a Premier, said— public servant of very high standing, who was 16 Sep 1998 Public Service Amendment Bill 2281 removed as Director-General of the the then Leader of the Opposition, appointed Department of Education, being subjected to chief executive officers only for the duration of verbal abuse through the interjections of the the Government. The then Leader of the Minister for Public Works and Minister for Opposition supported that; in Government, he Housing. The interjections of the Minister for does not. That was good enough for me as Public Works and Minister for Housing about Premier and for my minority Government, but Frank Peach were an absolute disgrace. If the we see a different set of rules from the Leader of the House does not want to member for Brisbane Central now that he has embarrass the Government, he should leave a minority Government. Where are the ethics, the Minister for Public Works and Minister for the political consistency and the political Housing off the speakers' roster, because his standards that he espouses in that line of criticism of and his venom towards Frank thought? Peach, a public servant whom Labor appointed as Director-General of the In regard to my introduction of the Public Department of Education and whom we Service Bill into this place, the honourable retained, was absolutely appalling. member for Gladstone said, "It was five years then, why is it three now?" I reiterate that the Of course, the Treasurer and others said Public Service Bill does provide for that if Dr McTaggart—or any of those people— appointments of up to five years. They can be wants to, he can reapply for his position after one, two, three, four or five-year appointments. his contract has expired. However, most of In practice, not in small part because of the those people could not do that because the concerns of the Parliament and the new positions were filled without a selection Opposition, because we were a minority committee meeting, they were not filled on Government we accepted that it would be merit and they were not even advertised, prudent and wise not to go for five-year which makes the whole process an absolute appointments. All I am asking for with respect mockery. Again, I emphasise that the Bill to this piece of legislation is that the same provides an opportunity for the Parliament to practices established under the Borbidge reassert its authority over the Executive. minority Government apply to the Beattie At the end of the day, I do not argue with minority Government. I thank honourable a Government which, to use the Premier's members for their contribution. I hope that I terminology, chooses whom it wants to be have covered a number of the concerns raised CEOs or directors-general. However, there is a by honourable members during the course of process to go through. One does not forgo the debate, which I think was a particularly advertising; one does not abandon selection helpful and constructive one. I commend the committees; one does not bring back one's Bill to the House. mates who were subject to six-figure payouts Question—That the Bill be read a second just two and a half years previously. One does time—put; and the House divided— it correctly and properly. If there is a change of Government, one should respect the right of AYES, 44—Beanland, Black, Borbidge, Connor, the incoming administration to appoint its Cooper, E. A. Cunningham, Dalgleish, Davidson, directors-general, but one expects some basic Elliott, Feldman, Gamin, Goss, Grice, Healy, Hobbs, Horan, Johnson, Kingston, Knuth, Laming, Lester, rules to be followed in regard to that particular Lingard, Littleproud, Malone, Mitchell, Nelson, Paff, process. Pratt, Prenzler, Quinn, Rappolt, Rowell, Santoro, The member for Gladstone asked me to Seeney, Sheldon, Simpson, Slack, Springborg, confirm that, if this Bill is passed, it will not Stephan, Turner, Veivers, Watson. Tellers: Baumann, Hegarty mean the end of impartial directors-general. I do not believe that it would. I think that is NOES, 44—Attwood, Barton, Beattie, Bligh, Boyle, indicated by the fact that when we came to Braddy, Bredhauer, Briskey, Clark, J. I. Cunningham, Government in February 1996, as I mentioned D'Arcy, Edmond, Elder, Fenlon, Foley, Fouras, Gibbs, earlier, we reappointed a significant number of Hamill, Hayward, Lavarch, Lucas, Mackenroth, the directors-general who were appointed by McGrady, Mickel, Mulherin, Musgrove, Nelson-Carr, the previous Labor Government. It is important Nuttall, Palaszczuk, Pearce, Reeves, Reynolds, Roberts, Robertson, Rose, Schwarten, Spence, that an incoming Government has that Struthers, Welford, Wellington, Wells, Wilson. flexibility. Tellers: Sullivan, Purcell I understand the dilemma between the The numbers being equal, Mr Speaker ideal and the pragmatic operations of the cast his vote with the Noes. Government of the day. All I am saying is that the previous Government, with the support of Resolved in the negative. 2282 Mr Speaker's Ruling 16 Sep 1998

MR SPEAKER'S RULING speaking to me— Motion of Dissent "... put it up. I repeat what I said Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers yesterday: your behaviour"— Paradise—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) and, Mr Speaker, the Premier was looking at (5.48 p.m.): I move— me, and the TV coverage that night places "That Mr Speaker's ruling that the that beyond doubt— Premier not be required to withdraw "... your behaviour"— comments directed at the Leader of the the Premier said, pointing to me, and realising Opposition and Opposition Members be what he had said— dissented from in accordance with Standing Orders 119 and 120." "the Opposition's behaviour here is supporting the child molesters and the Mr Speaker, can I say at the outset that I abusers." take this motion very seriously. I make the point that, should this dissent motion be That is what the Premier said. I rose to a carried tonight, it in no way reflects upon your point of order. I mentioned the words "your ability in the chair. behaviour". You said, Mr Speaker, "Order! He said 'the Opposition's' behaviour." The Opposition members: Ha, ha! Hansard record clearly shows that the Premier Mr BORBIDGE: I will explain what has said "your behaviour". He then went on to say, happened. We disagree with the ruling of the "The Opposition's behaviour here is supporting Speaker on this issue. This is not a censure or the child molesters and the abusers." As I said no confidence motion. On this occasion, in correctly, which the Hansard record and I respect of one of the very many rulings that believe the TV coverage confirm, the Premier you have given in this place, we are exercising said "you" first—"your behaviour"—and our right under the Standing Orders to dissent pointed at me, and then referred to "the from it. Opposition". Mr Speaker, you would be aware of Mr Fouras: Rubbish. Standing Orders 119 and 120. Standing Order Mr BORBIDGE: It is not rubbish. If I point 119 states— to you and say, "Your behaviour in this place "A Member shall not use makes you a bit of a dimwit", I am referring to unbecoming or offensive words in you and you are entitled to take exception. reference to another Member of the Mr SPEAKER: Order! Will the Leader of House." the Opposition address the Chair? Standing Order 120 states— Mr BORBIDGE: That is exactly what the "A Member shall not digress from the Premier said about me, except that he subject-matter under discussion, or accused me of supporting the child molesters comment upon expressions used by and the abusers. So much for the new another Member in a previous Debate of standards of parliamentary debate the Premier the same Session; and all imputations of promised. improper motives, and all personal Mr Speaker, we in this Parliament have reflections, shall be deemed highly operated for a long time under Standing disorderly." Orders 119 and 120. Indeed, yesterday, in In this House on 27 August 1998 the current your comments in this place relating to Premier threw out his standards of withdrawal of personal reflections, you referred parliamentary behaviour. In my view, what the to a ruling of 10 November 1988, where member for Brisbane Central did on that Temporary Chairman Burreket ruled— occasion was the most shameful example of "When an Honourable Member is personal abuse that I have seen in this asked to withdraw offensive words, under Parliament for a long, long time. The Premier Standing Orders he must withdraw them." said— Then you referred to a ruling of 9 November "I am answering your question. The 1990 by Speaker Fouras, when he reinforced process that was gone through to the rule by stating— examine this man's credibility and suitability for appointment was thorough, "If a Member requests remarks to be and you have not found one matter in the withdrawn, the Honourable Member has last two days that detracts from his no other choice than to withdraw them." appointment—not one. If you have Mr Speaker, you also indicated that, when material"— raising these matters, members should 16 Sep 1998 Censure of Minister for Health 2283 indicate the remarks that they found to be I reiterate: I think the parliamentary record offensive. With respect, I did that. I certainly is clear. Mr Speaker, I know when someone is did that to the best of my recollection. In terms speaking to me—just as you know when I am of the Hansard record and the television speaking to you, just as the Treasurer knows coverage of that night, there could be no when I am directing comments to him, and just doubt on the part of any fair-minded person as the Premier knows when I am directing that, in regard to that tirade of personal abuse, comments to him. People know when they are in the first instance it was being directed to me. being spoken to, and there is no doubt From time to time we call each other all whatsoever that the Premier's venom, vitriol sorts of names in this place and we do so in and appalling lack of parliamentary standards the heat of the moment, but to accuse were directed to me in regard to this particular someone of supporting the child molesters issue. When it was pointed out, he did not and the abusers is in my view about as low as have the common decency or courtesy to it goes. This came from the Premier, the withdraw the remark. Under Mr Beattie's Leader of the Labor Party, who promised the Government, members can accuse others of people of Queensland new standards. He said being child molesters. that Parliament would be better, that there Time expired. would not be name calling, that there would Mr HORAN (Toowoomba South—NPA) not be insults. What happened? The heat (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (5.59 p.m.): comes on and the Premier loses his control I second the motion. and indulges in this particular and very venomous piece of verbal haranguing which I Debate, on motion of Mr Horan, think any member of this House, if they were adjourned. subjected to it, would take offence at. Mr Speaker, I accept the problems and CENSURE OF MINISTER FOR HEALTH the difficulties of being in the Chair—that you may not have been looking, that you may not Miss SIMPSON (Maroochydore—NPA) have been concentrating at the time, that you (6 p.m.): I move— may have been distracted. That is why I say "That this House censures the that this motion is not in any way intended to Minister for Health for breaking an election be critical of your role or your performance as promise to retain all existing specialist Speaker in this place. You have given services at the Maryborough Base probably dozens of rulings. I think it is fair to Hospital including a fully maintained say that we on this side of the House might stand-alone intensive care unit, high-risk mutter from time to time, but generally we are obstetrics and high-risk paediatrics." pleased with the job you are doing. I am The Beattie Labor Government's decision prepared to accept that on this particular to downgrade the Maryborough Base Hospital occasion in good faith there was an error of is the greatest act of political treachery ever judgment on your part, but I believe that the witnessed in Queensland politics. The Labor Hansard record that subsequently appeared, Party went to the recent State election and in particular the TV coverage of that night, proclaiming a policy of maintaining the places my objections and my concerns beyond Maryborough Hospital as a major regional reasonable doubt. hospital. The Deputy Premier, Mr Elder, said in Speakers have always erred on the side the Fraser Coast Chronicle in July 1997 that he of caution in regard to these matters. If there had told the district health council chairman in has been a bit of doubt, confusion or Maryborough "not to move one piece of uncertainty, generally the Chair has said, "On equipment, transfer one staff member, balance, would you withdraw that particular downgrade one service or remove any remark? The honourable member finds it to be resource from the hospital." offensive." If the Premier had said just that the In Opposition, Mr Beattie, Mr Elder and Opposition's behaviour here is supporting the Mrs Edmond promised on many occasions to child molesters and the abusers, that would maintain all existing services at the have been in itself disgraceful, unjustifiable Maryborough Base Hospital. They have and an absolute mockery of his commitment broken those promises and that is why the to improving the standards of this place, but people of Maryborough are so angry. Mr Elder he did not say that. He said "your behaviour", also told the people of Maryborough in July very clearly speaking to me in regard to this 1997 that they would have to fight "tooth and issue. This followed some earlier verbal abuse nail" to keep their hospital at its present level. from the Premier in respect of this matter. They did have to fight tooth and nail. They had 2284 Censure of Minister for Health 16 Sep 1998 to fight tooth and nail to stop the Labor Party much from the Premier about the need for from downgrading their hospital! integrity in politics so that people can once The Labor Party's gross political treachery again trust politicians. in Maryborough prompted the local branch of The decision by the Health Minister to the Labor Party to call for an urgent meeting downgrade the Maryborough Base Hospital is with the Premier. The local branch president a betrayal of local Maryborough and district said that branch members were "dismayed residents. It is the breaking of a clear election and disappointed" over the loss of the promise. Despite Mr Beattie's monumental intensive care unit and the high-risk birthing weekend backflip, the people of Maryborough facilities. The local branch of the Labor Party still do not believe the Health Minister or the believes that local and State bureaucrats are Labor Government. running the health agenda in their region. One Maryborough mother who met with What a startling admission from the Labor Mr Beattie to discuss the closure of the Party! Even the Maryborough branch of the paediatric unit at the hospital is still concerned Labor Party knows that Mrs Edmond, the about care provided for her young child, who Health Minister, is not running the show. In has a complex congenital heart disease. This fact, the current Health Minister could not even mother raised concerns that on Tuesday and run a bath. Mrs Edmond was forced to attend Wednesday evening of last week wards at the a public meeting last week, only to offend hospital were closed and equipment was more than 1,500 local Maryborough residents removed via the back entrance in linen vans who attended. Claims by the Health Minister while Mrs Edmond met with residents in and the Premier that this issue has been another part of the hospital grounds and politically motivated are completely false and repeatedly told them that they were the victims represent a disgraceful attack on the residents of a mischievous campaign of misinformation of Maryborough. by local politicians. In an unprecedented move, the four local This Maryborough mother said that the Lions Clubs wrote to the Premier saying— so-called upgrade announced by the Health "As you are no doubt aware, Lions Minister consisted of the closure of the Clubs are in no way politically motivated, intensive care unit and the 24-hour accident nor are any of its members allowed to and emergency facilities, the amalgamation of engage in any activities of this nature. We paediatric beds into general medical and are involved in the community in which we surgical wards and the removal of serve, and are obliged to take an active approximately 70% of all obstetric cases to the interest in the civic, cultural, social and newly built Hervey Bay Hospital. moral welfare of our community. Because When the Opposition raised this mother's of the current fiasco taking place at the concerns in Parliament today the Premier Maryborough Base Hospital we wish to implied that she was lying. The Health Minister, render our strongest disapproval of your and now the Premier, owe this local resident Government's action in this regard. an apology. This mother is genuinely Members of the Lions Club of this concerned that the Labor Government wants region attended the meeting with your to place children in adult surgical and medical Minister on Thursday, 10 September at wards. She has discussed her concerns with the Maryborough City Hall to try to the Premier and obviously, in view of the fact ascertain what exactly the Government that she has written to the Premier after their was doing or intended on doing to the meeting, she is still concerned. Mr Beattie has Maryborough Base Hospital. This meeting again this morning refused to give a guarantee turned out to be an insult to the people of that the paediatric unit at the Maryborough this region. The questions that were Base Hospital will remain open. asked of your Minister were mainly If the Health Minister had been willing to answered by a public servant and the say sorry—to admit that she had got it general consensus of opinion was that wrong—and to apologise to the people of the Minister was quite ill-informed of the Maryborough for breaking an election promise importance that this hospital renders to she would not have faced as much anger as our community. Promises are given and she did in Maryborough last week. She would promises are broken, untruths abound not have continued to cause the very fear that and hospital staff are treated in a very still motivated about 1,000 residents to march unprofessional manner." in the streets of Maryborough this week after At the heart of this issue is the keeping of a Mr Beattie had made his announcement of promise made to the people. We have heard the Government's backflip. The people of 16 Sep 1998 Censure of Minister for Health 2285

Maryborough are still extremely worried Minister berated the residents of Maryborough. because they do not trust this Labor The town undertaker got up and had his say Government. about what he thought of the Minister's However, not only can the Minister not treatment of the town. Doctors and nurses also humble herself to admit that she was wrong got up and rebutted what the Minister was and that it was a mistake to break an election trying to say from the podium. promise, but incredibly she is still maintaining Time expired. that she was not downgrading the hospital Mr HORAN (Toowoomba South—NPA) services despite all the very obvious evidence. (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (6.10 p.m.): I have a copy of the hospital's I second the motion. Tonight's debate is all memorandum which very clearly says that about politicians delivering on their election acute patients were to bypass Maryborough promises. If ever we have seen a monumental for Hervey Bay under the Minister's Health and disgraceful stabbing in the back of a policy. This memorandum was issued on 9 community, it is what the Health Minister has September 1998— done to the people of Maryborough. Just a "It needs to be realised that surgical couple of months after taking Government, and anaesthetic support is not available she went up there and downgraded their on an emergent basis and patients with hospital. She downgraded their intensive care acute surgical illness"—— services, their accident and emergency services and their paediatric services. She Mrs Edmond: Be honest—for three days. ripped out the heart and soul of a decent Miss SIMPSON: Be honest, you have community which, for decades, has had a been caught out. I will keep quoting from this base hospital that provided intensive care memorandum— services. "It needs to be realised that surgical The Minister made promises before the and anaesthetic support is not available election, as did all her compatriots. Then she on an emergent basis and patients with did this to the people of Maryborough. It is no acute surgical illness or impending wonder that people are becoming cynical of respiratory failure should not be admitted politicians. I ask the member for Nicklin: how to this service area. These patients should would he like this to happen to Nambour? He be stabilised, incubated if required and probably got the money that was switched transferred to Hervey Bay Hospital. In from Maryborough to Nambour when that addition, patients requiring temporary Cabinet meeting was held there. How would pacemaker insertion and cardiac patients he like this to happen to Nambour? Will he requiring intensive care support should be have the decency and the character to vote transferred to Hervey Bay Hospital. tonight on behalf of the people of Patients with sepsis and/or Maryborough? The people of Maryborough haemodynamic instability should be are no different from the people of Nambour, transferred to Hervey Bay Hospital." Bundaberg or Hervey Bay. They have had intensive care services at their hospitals, and There was nothing in the memo about it being they want to keep those services because they temporary. The Minister is seeking to mislead are absolutely essential to them. the House again. There is no doubt that people do not trust you. Mrs Edmond is still When the new Hervey Bay Hospital was berating Maryborough residents— built, funded and staffed, it was never meant to be done at the expense of the people of Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will Maryborough. But that is what the Labor Party address the Minister by her title. did, and that is what it did during its previous Miss SIMPSON: The Minister for Health is term, when it built the Logan Hospital. It ripped still berating Maryborough residents and the heart and soul out of the QE II Hospital. It saying that they got it wrong—it was not her. It downgraded that hospital from 160 beds to is this lack of repentance and care for the nine some time before we took over people that is continuing to worry the people of Government. We fixed that. The only way that Maryborough. Many other communities are the Maryborough Hospital was ever going to now worried about how the bureaucrats are keep all its services was if a coalition going to walk all over this Minister. How can we Government was re-elected. Sadly, that did trust a Minister who will not listen to the people not happen. If it had, the people of and who will not own up to her mistakes and Maryborough would never have had to face admit that she has broken an election the trauma and distress that they have been promise? I was present on the night that the through. 2286 Censure of Minister for Health 16 Sep 1998

This Labor Government is still intent on Hon. W. M. EDMOND (Mount Coot-tha— bashing the people of Maryborough. The ALP) (Minister for Health) (6.15 p.m.): I move— coalition put in place the $17m redevelopment "That all words after 'House' be of that hospital. We lifted the funding from deleted and replaced by: 'note the $6m to $17m so that the people of Minister for Health's intention to maintain Maryborough could have a good, decent and all existing specialist services at the modern hospital, just like other regional cities Maryborough Base Hospital, including a of similar size along the coast. Now the Labor fully maintained stand-alone intensive Government is talking about refurbishing. In care unit, high risk obstetrics and high risk fact, it is not simply talking about it; this paediatrics and expand the range of Government is going to drop the number of health services provided in the beds from 120 to 80. I ask members to bear in Maryborough community." mind that those 80 beds include about 19 or 20 beds for mental health patients—additional Initially, before I answer some of the beds which we promised—and additional units rantings and ravings from those opposite, I for palliative care. So how many beds will be should like to update the House on progress left in that hospital for people who are sick, today on the Maryborough Hospital's people who are having babies or people who redevelopment and the delivery of services to need operations? the people of Maryborough. Further progress has been made overnight in meetings This has been a treacherous act. Are we between Queensland Health Director-General going to reward a Health Minister for Dr Robert Stable, hospital staff and medicos incompetence and broken promises? Or is this and the architectural and engineering teams. the new era of Parliament? If a party goes to Talks focused on the operating theatres, the an election promising, "We are going to keep intensive care unit and the paediatric ward. your 120 beds. We are going to keep your Following the talks last night and today, intensive care. We are going to keep your Queensland Health planners are looking paediatric services, your high-risk birthing and urgently at the option of new ground-floor your obstetrics. We are going to keep all of operating theatres. Systems are being that, which you have had for decades", is it not finalised, including more flexible staffing fair enough that it should deliver on those arrangements and more efficient use of promises? The Health Minister should not be hospital beds to help staff maintain their skills going up there a few weeks later saying, "It's and maintain the high levels of patient care at gone. We are changing it." both the Maryborough and Hervey Bay I say to the member for Nicklin in Hospitals. Further, a senior medical particular: what would he do and how would he administrator from Queensland Health, Dr vote if this Health Minister went to Nambour Stephen Ayre, will be in the Fraser Coast and did to Nambour what the Health Minister district on Friday to continue working with did to the people of Maryborough? Are we health service staff and local health about having a decent Parliament? Are we professionals. Dr Ayre, who is currently the about having Ministers with character who will Deputy Medical Superintendent at the Royal stand up for the people? Or are we about Brisbane Hospital, was assigned earlier this having Ministers who swan around and throw week. Dr Ayre's role will be to work with the around promises before an election and then region's medical staff to ensure quality and turn the tables on those people as soon as standards are maintained across the district. they get into office? That is what this debate is He will assess how existing medical services about. can be maintained and improved at the Maryborough and Hervey Bay Hospitals. The people of Maryborough reflect the Let me say how pleased I am at the people of Queensland—hardworking people whose town and community have relied for progress being made and the fact that the years on shipbuilding contracts and so forth. redevelopment is getting back on track. That They have always prided themselves on their has always been my aim: to deliver the people hospital. The Minister has been a disgrace to of Maryborough a modern, flexible hospital, in the Queensland Government. She has been a keeping with my election commitment to retain disgrace to the people of Maryborough. With Maryborough as a major regional hospital. My this broken promise, she is one of the worst commitment was not to put the redevelopment Ministers ever seen in a long regime of failed, on the backburner, as the previous Minister dud Health Ministers. did, and to forget about the redevelopment and the people of Maryborough. I believe that Time expired. the people of Maryborough needed action. My 16 Sep 1998 Censure of Minister for Health 2287 plans were for a redevelopment creating 80 by the Minister for Health. On this issue, new jobs during construction. It was to provide unfortunately, we have seen some of the a new building, incorporating two new, modern grossest hypocrisy displayed in this House by operating theatres; a recovery area; a post- members opposite, including the member for operative lounge; allied health facilities; an Toowoomba and the member for admissions area; and a pharmacy. Phase 3 of Maroochydore. Let us consider what was the redevelopment, which did not exist under proposed for the Maryborough Hospital from the previous Health Minister, and which he the word go. The current Minister proposed would not even consider, would allow for that, after absolutely no action for two years by expansion if future growth increases demand. the former National Party Minister, this Every Queensland Health permanent Government would get on with the $17m employee who wanted a job would have one, redevelopment of the Maryborough Hospital. and will still have one. The colleagues of the member who moved In relation to accident and emergency, this motion should recognise that, for two what did we propose? No change! There was years, nothing was done. It had been talked never any suggestion of it being changed. The about for two years. As there was no action, Maryborough Hospital always was to have, staff were becoming unsettled. When the and will still have, 24-hour accident and current Minister was in Maryborough, staff emergency services. It was never even asked her to make a decision and to get on proposed to change that. In relation to with the redevelopment. The previous coalition highway accidents, the helicopter retrieval Government froze the development, as was service will continue to handle major accidents, their wont. Just before the election, they as it does now. Maryborough will handle some quickly bulldozed the car park to pretend that patients and transfer others, as occurs now. In something was happening. They have built relation to the special care nursery, no change more hospital car parks than they have built was ever anticipated. In relation to paediatrics, hospital facilities up to this stage. It is amazing Maryborough kids will still be able to be that those responsible for the betrayal of treated, and always were going to be able to Queenslanders for their lack of handling of the be treated, in the Maryborough Hospital, health system during their time in office are the despite the lies spread by those opposite. The ones now claiming betrayal of the people of Maryborough Hospital will continue to perform Maryborough. What a hide! Unfortunately, this the same range of surgical specialties. The is what we have come to expect from the range of specialists will be maintained. shallow, short-sighted and simplistic members Pathology remains. The kitchen remains. opposite who can see only as far as the next Administrative support remains. All of the election. This cheap political point scoring and support services that the member said were trying to scapegoat others for their going will remain. To suggest that these incompetence shows cowardice and their own services were being reduced was nothing more breast beating. than a misleading fabrication. However, there were areas of concern. Unfortunately, what we are seeing is the pathetic, juvenile and irresponsible behaviour We were concerned about ventilated demonstrated by the Opposition spokesperson patients and whether we could maintain the for Health, the member for Maroochydore. The expertise with very small numbers—something member is responsible for taking politics in like a dozen Maryborough patients per Queensland to an all-time low. Her statements year—when clinical experts say that the in Maryborough advocating the running out of hospital staff need 50 or 100 of those patients town of honest, hardworking and committed a year to maintain their skills. Queensland local people are abhorrent. Threatening Health and I were concerned that the ICU staff suggestions like that do nothing for the handle that minimum number. I also sensible and rational discussion of the issues considered moving the very small number of or the exploration of an appropriate response. high-risk births to Hervey Bay because we were It is deliberately inflammatory. It encourages unable to guarantee after-hours specialist the vilification of locals who have a services. That is why we were considering that. constitutional right of freedom of association. It We now have that agreement. That is encourages—and did encourage— something that the previous Health Minister harassment. That sort of behaviour is totally could never get. unacceptable. The member for Maroochydore Time expired. should be ashamed of herself. I do not know Mr SULLIVAN (Chermside—ALP) of what she was thinking in plumbing those (6.19 p.m.): I second the amendment moved depths of political opportunism. 2288 Censure of Minister for Health 16 Sep 1998

As if it were not enough that she took proud members of the Maryborough such a stand in the first place, she continues community. to pursue an agenda that supports and Time expired. encourages antagonistic behaviour in this House by repeating her comments yesterday. Mr SEENEY (Callide—NPA) (6.24 p.m.): Worse still, the member, egged on by her Other speakers preceding me in this debate colleagues and other shameless political have dealt with the specifics of the situation at novices, continued to peddle misinformation the Maryborough Hospital. For me, this is which she knows to be wrong. Earlier, the matter of simple honesty—or, particularly, an Minister challenged her to table the full memo, issue of dishonesty on the part of the Minister the top of which was cut off to distort the for Health. There can be little doubt in message. She has not had the honesty to say anyone's mind that in Opposition the present what was in that complete memo. Her actions Government gave a clear pre-election have spread fear in the Maryborough commitment to the people of Maryborough to community. It is unfortunate that some maintain their health services to a level that members opposite have swallowed that was guaranteed them by the then Minister, misinformation. It is a shame that some Mike Horan. That pre-election commitment members opposite were not here over the past was clear and cannot be denied; neither can it two years to have heard some of the be denied that the Minister's intention last shameless statements made by the former week was to break that commitment in a very Health Minister, which, by the coalition's own blatant and arrogantly dishonest way. I will documentation, were shown to be untrue. quote from a statement made by the Mayor of Through repetition, the lies have become the Maryborough, Alan Brown, a very well truth. When will this campaign end? respected local government leader. That statement was reported in the Fraser Coast Mr Seeney interjected. Chronicle on 12 September. The article Mr SULLIVAN: I have been asked states— whether I have visited Maryborough. Yes, " 'Attempts by the Minister to muddy twice I went to the South Burnett and the waters with statistics and so called Maryborough area and spoke to physicians agreements on services are a waste of and health staff—— time. It's quite simple' Mayor Brown says. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for 'All I want is for them to honour the Chermside will address the Chair. commitment they gave before the election.' " Mr SULLIVAN: I may assure the members that, yes, I have visited the area and I believe that Mayor Brown summed up what spoken to health workers and staff in that area people all over this State and all over this on at least two occasions. Over seven years, I nation want: they want politicians from have sat down with health planners in this whatever party to honour, after they are State. I have come to recognise that some of elected, the commitments that they give prior the things that the former Health Minister and to the election. They will no longer accept that current shadow Minister are saying are these commitments can be avoided by absolutely untrue. It is that sort of opportunistic muddying the waters, being clever with words political grab for headlines that is unfortunately and twisting their meanings. They will no spreading misinformation and bringing others longer accept it. All of us as politicians need to into disrepute. It is the sort of activities pursued be aware of that. All of us need to be honest. by shameless people in and associated with The Minister for Health and this Labor the Wide Bay region that demean this House. Government have not been honest with the people of Maryborough. They have not been Mr Horan interjected. honest with the issue of the Maryborough Mr SULLIVAN: The member for Hospital. To their credit, the people of that Toowoomba South has again betrayed what I area refuse to accept that dishonesty. They have said. It is his actions that have brought have forced the Minister and the Premier to some of the people in the area into disrepute. abandon their original dishonest intent. He has fed them lies. He knows they are lies. We in this House tonight have an Unfortunately, they have believed him. opportunity to show that we are in touch with As promised, the Maryborough Hospital the people whom we represent, that we will no will be a major regional hospital under the longer accept the type of dishonesty that the Labor Government. It will provide a wider Minister tried to perpetrate, albeit range of services. It will be a source of pride to unsuccessfully. Because of the determination the local members and the citizens who are of the people of Maryborough and district, she 16 Sep 1998 Censure of Minister for Health 2289 failed in her dishonest intent. There is very little always been guaranteed by this Minister and point in standing up here tonight and making by this Government. Let us put aside the more promises that no-one will trust her to hysteria and look at the facts. Queensland keep, given that immediately after the election Health has a number of expert clinical advisory her intent was to break the promises that she panels, made up of representatives of the had given. medicine, nursing and related professions, The Independent members of this House, which have been established to pursue who, realistically, will decide the fate of this planning and the definition of services in censure motion, have talked much about specialised areas such as cancer services, improving standards and lifting the reputation advanced kidney disease and emergency of politicians. They have an opportunity tonight services. The recommendations of these to show to the people of Queensland that their panels are taken into consideration when delineating the various levels of care, either words are more than just shallow rhetoric. The primary, secondary or tertiary, to be provided member for Nicklin in particular has a chance at Queensland hospitals. to show to the people of Queensland just how fair dinkum he is about some of the things that Such a specialist advisory panel has been he has said. How fair dinkum is he about some established for intensive care services. This of the things that he has made much of? panel works with the Australian and New Tonight we will see just how fair dinkum the Zealand College of Anaesthetists, which has member for Nicklin is about improving the published a set of minimum standards for standards of honesty in Government in intensive care units to determine their Queensland. Tonight we will see just how fair applicability in the various hospitals in dinkum the member for Nicklin is about Queensland, such as in the Fraser Coast improving the standing of politicians in the district. These standards include such community. Tonight we will see how fair important issues as the level of training of staff dinkum he is about acceptable levels of needed to work in intensive care units and the honesty and integrity in Government. This number of patients treated in the units of opportunity should not be forfeited to some various levels of complexity. These numbers silly amendment that the Health Minister has are needed to maintain the critical mass of moved. The Minister for Health should be staff and backup equipment and resources to censured, and censured strongly by this ensure clinical efficiency. That means quality House, for trying to perpetrate this dishonesty, medical care—the sort of quality that those just as she was censured by the people of opposite would want for themselves and their Maryborough and district. This House should families and for their constituents and their make it clear that, were it ever so in the past, families. To date, all of those matters have this type of dishonesty is no longer acceptable been taken into consideration when decisions to the people of Queensland. By carrying this have been made in relation to intensive care censure motion tonight, we can make that and other hospital services in the Maryborough very, very clear. We can indulge in a little bit of and Hervey Bay districts. self-regulation. We can make it clear that this An intensive care unit—an ICU—is an type of dishonesty is not acceptable from any especially staffed and equipped, separate and political party, from any Minister, anywhere. self-contained section of a hospital for the Time expired. management of patients with life-threatening or potentially life-threatening conditions. Such Mrs LAVARCH (Kurwongbah—ALP) conditions should be compatible with recovery (6.29 p.m.): I oppose the motion that was and have the potential for an acceptable moved by the honourable member for future quality of life. An ICU provides special Maroochydore and I support the amendment expertise and facilities for the support of vital that was moved by the Honourable Minister. functions and utilises the skills of medical, The last thing we should be considering is nursing and other staff experienced in the censuring the Minister. We should all be management of these problems. celebrating and commending her for her open and honest approach to the Health Levels of intensive care range from Level 2 to Level 6. Level 2 can be just a recovery portfolio—a most refreshing change. area for post-operative patients or a high- This Labor Government is about dependency area for general ward patients. delivering quality health services to people no Level 6 provides the highest level of care, matter where they live. That is what this whole including complex multisystem life support for issue has been about. I refer to intensive care, an indefinite period. A Level 6 unit should which is one of the key services that is at the have more than 350 mechanically ventilated heart of this issue and a service that has patients per annum. 2290 Censure of Minister for Health 16 Sep 1998

I refer members to an article in Tuesday's proposition was put to the people of Courier-Mail which referred to a report from this Maryborough following some years of panel about intensive care services. This 18- evidence that the local administration—the member independent committee of experts local bureaucrats—were eroding the has recommended that intensive care services Maryborough Base Hospital in favour of the at Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay new hospital at Hervey Bay. be rationalised. Why? According to the In the meantime, the Hervey Bay Hospital Courier-Mail source, it was "clearly ridiculous" was perceived by the public to be providing a and "not realistic" for three small intensive care low level of service. Both the member for units to operate in the region. The Courier- Hervey Bay and I have received numerous Mail's source said that "by joining forces" the complaints. For example, a young boy was region could have a superior intensive care presented at Hervey Bay Hospital at 5 past 5 unit with a full-time specialist within a year. The with a broken femur. He could not be treated report highlights the Fraser Coast as the most by the highly paid specialist at Hervey Bay. At obvious area in need of rationalisation. 7 p.m. he was moved to Maryborough and at This report, nearing completion, was not 10 p.m. he was operated on by a private initiated by Minister Edmond but former specialist/VMO. Such events are not Minister Horan. Was he planning to take the uncommon. panel's advice? This panel includes most of the senior specialist intensivists and Last Wednesday night I convened and representatives from senior intensive care chaired a meeting between the Director- nursing circles. This advice is consistent with General of Health and the majority of the key the medical and technical advice that this medical staff. At that meeting, the staff made Government received and initially followed. it clear that in their opinion, with the limited amount of money available for the However, the people of Maryborough refurbishment of the Maryborough Base spoke and we listened. This Government will Hospital, it made more sense not to bulldoze not be taking the panel's advice. Tonight, the the theatres but to rehabilitate them and Minister has advised us that, thanks to the maintain other vital services. They were highly ongoing talks with staff, their unions and influenced in this decision by their mistrust of Queensland Health, the safety and quality Queensland Health, but, I stress, not standards are being addressed. In fact, the necessarily of the director-general himself—he staff are ready to work across the district to is present in this room—who listened very maintain their skills and the level of patient carefully to what was said. He earned the care that the people of Maryborough and respect of the staff for his actions. However, Hervey Bay deserve. The Minister has advised the predominant fear was that the theatres that the staff have agreed to more flexible would be destroyed, never to be built again. I working arrangements. add that, from memory, one of the existing Time expired. three theatres was built in 1981. It is certainly Dr KINGSTON (Maryborough—ONP) not old. The library has already been removed. (6.35 p.m.): This morning the Minister for The mistrust generated in Maryborough Health said that the people of Maryborough has resulted from a long series of statements wanted a second-rate hospital rather than the that have been shown to be incorrect. One first-class hospital that she and her such unfortunate event, followed by deception, bureaucrats were offering. That is untrue. For concerned my 90-year-old mother. Several six years now, the redevelopment and future weeks ago, she broke the head of her femur. of the Maryborough Base Hospital has been The orthopaedic VMO, Jim Khursandi, was on subjected to continued uncertainty. Staff and holidays. The Hervey Bay specialist, whose the public have been stressed and insecure. contract obliges him to cover both hospitals, Only two to three years ago, in their own time was unavailable for five days. When I at their own expense, the staff members made suggested that this hardly resembled a substantial inputs into a comprehensive plan professional service and that Hippocrates must for the rehabilitation of the Maryborough Base be rolling in his grave, the Hervey Bay Hospital. This plan—which at that time was specialist became available to operate at St agreed to—now appears to have disappeared. Stephens, the private hospital in Maryborough, What was offered to Maryborough initially within two days. by this Minister was almost a cottage hospital I was told that a special concession had with limited facilities, particularly out of hours. been made to provide a service for my mother. That ignored the central position of However, I ask: what if the injured lady had Maryborough in the Wide Bay district. This been somebody not likely to lodge an official 16 Sep 1998 Censure of Minister for Health 2291 protest? Would she have been left for five medicine, radiology and pathology, pharmacy, days? I now know that that specialist has a accident and emergency, specialist outpatient theatre list organised at St Stephens for later clinics, ICU and CCU, renal, rehabilitation, this month. He has the right of private practice chemotherapy, specialist outpatients clinics written into his contract, and I have a copy of and general outpatient clinics and outreach that contract. I am told that he has operated clinics including speech pathology, dietetics, privately at Hervey Bay, Roma and some other social work, physiotherapy, occupational locations. therapy and dental services. When the Minister, the deputy director I wish to inform honourable members of and the local CEO were explaining my the background to some of these issues. One mother's situation to me, they told me that the of the priorities of the Government has been to fact that they could not provide orthopaedic guarantee after-hours services for the people cover was due to the fact that Jim Khursandi of the Maryborough district. It has been very had given them insufficient notice of going on difficult to have private specialists in holidays. As they said—— Maryborough take up VMO appointments at Hervey Bay. Therefore, it was necessary to Time expired. recruit a full-time specialist at Hervey Bay. Mr REEVES (Mansfield—ALP) When VMOs or full-time specialists in (6.40 p.m.): In rising to support the Maryborough or Hervey Bay take leave or are amendment, I wish to highlight the new otherwise absent, there is no locum. There is services to be provided to the people of only partial coverage at one or other site, for Maryborough. As part of the Labor example in paediatrics and internal medicine. Government's health initiatives for the people This happened in July of this year when of Maryborough, three child health nurses and the VMO at Maryborough took leave. The two school nurses will be provided. Their district was unable to arrange a locum to cover appointments are evidence of the the situation and partial coverage was Government's commitment to early arranged from Hervey Bay with a 24-hour intervention and prevention in focusing on telephone backup. The Minister has already community health care. Maryborough will also advised us that following intensive negotiations receive a teleradiology service, which will allow with staff and local health professionals, X-rays to be taken in Maryborough and read in Queensland Health was able to reach an Brisbane. Other new services will be provided agreement for medicos to provide 24-hour by one paediatric occupational therapist, one specialist coverage for patients. The issues of paediatric physiotherapist, one behavioural clinical standards and the on-call ability of psychologist, two alcohol and drug workers specialists at the two sites of Maryborough and and enhanced palliative care community Hervey Bay will be addressed by a review to be services. carried out by Dr Stephen Ayre, the Deputy An Opposition member interjected. Medical Superintendent at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Mr REEVES: I am here to stay. Early in I also point out the inherent difficulties in the new year, a new 14-bed in-patient mental health unit will be provided and an expansion providing coverage to an area such as this. of community mental health services will The Fraser Coast District Health Service covers include an additional two adult mental health over 7,500 square miles and is some 270 workers and three child and youth mental kilometres north of Brisbane. At the 1996 health workers. Action is currently under way to census, the population of the district was recruit a psychiatrist. Advertisements for new 73,640, which comprised 40,500 in the Hervey positions are to be placed in the local media Bay local government area and a total of on Saturday, in the Courier-Mail next Thursday 33,140 in the local government areas of and in the Australian on Saturday week. Those Maryborough, Tiaro and Woocoo. The advertisements will be for two child and youth Department of Local Government and psychologists, one child and youth social Planning forecasts a population increase for worker and an adult psychologist. Hervey Bay of up to 53% by the year 2006, compared to only 14% for Maryborough, Tiaro Commencement of services will be a and Woocoo. By 2011, the Hervey Bay priority for the district. The new services will be population is expected to grow by 81%, provided on top of an extensive range of compared to 21% in Maryborough, Tiaro and services already provided in the Woocoo. By 2011, the population of Hervey Maryborough/Hervey Bay district, including Bay is expected to be 73,250. That is general surgery, limited urology, orthopaedics, approaching double that of Maryborough and intensive care, coronary care, internal surrounding areas, which will be 39,880. 2292 Censure of Minister for Health 16 Sep 1998

Mr SLACK (Burnett—NPA) (6.45 p.m.): election, gave a commitment to the people of Much of what Government members have Maryborough. By amending the censure said so far is completely irrelevant to the motion, the Government is asking the House debate. It is not a matter of whether the Health to condone the actions of the Minister and the Minister believes that what she is doing in Government in relation to a commitment that Maryborough is in the best interests of the they gave prior to the election, which is what health of the people of Maryborough. It is not this debate is all about. It is not about whether about what the Health Department believes is the Health Department or the Minister believes in the interests of the health of the people of that what they proposed was in the best Maryborough. It is not about the Government's interests of the people of Maryborough; it is good record, as the member for Mansfield has about whether a commitment was given and spoken to the Parliament about when he cited whether that commitment was reneged on. the proposals of the Health Department. Any other contribution by Government This censure motion is about whether, members is completely irrelevant to the debate prior to the last election, the Minister and her that is before the House. Government misled the people of Miss Simpson: She should say "sorry". Maryborough. It is about analysing the Mr SLACK: As the shadow Minister said, situation prior to the last election and she should say "sorry". The member for determining whether the Government gave a Kurwongbah mentioned the recommendation commitment to maintain what the coalition had by a committee of Brisbane specialists that promised the people of Maryborough. If the there be only one intensive care unit shared Minister gave that commitment, she deserves between Bundaberg, Maryborough and to be censured by the motion that has been Hervey Bay. From statements made by the moved against her in this Parliament. At the Health Minister, I understand that she has end of the day, if the Minister and the given her support to that report. I represent the Government gave a commitment to honour people of Burnett and a Government member what the then Government had promised the represents the people of Bundaberg. In people of Maryborough and if they have relation to the support units at the Bundaberg broken that commitment, the House deserves Hospital, the comments of the Minister should to censure the Minister. If we are not prepared spell out "danger" in red letters to the people to censure the Minister, we are effectively of Bundaberg and the people of Burnett. If the turning a blind eye to the fact that the Minister Minister is prepared to follow through on those and the Government misled the people of recommendations, where do Bundaberg and Maryborough prior to the election. Burnett stand in relation to the commitment of To support the view that the Minister and the Health Minister and the Government to the Government have misled the people of health services? Maryborough, it is quite clear from the Budget Mrs Edmond: What about the Minister's papers that were presented in May by the then recommendations? coalition Government that $8.3m was allocated for the ongoing redevelopment of Mr SLACK: I am not talking about the the Maryborough Base Hospital and for the Minister's recommendations; that is completely completion of the new mental health facility, irrelevant. We are talking about what this kitchen, mortuary and so on. Yesterday, in his Government proposes to do—— Budget papers the Treasurer quoted a figure Time expired. of $5.4m. Is that an example of the Labor Mr MICKEL (Logan—ALP) (6.49 p.m.): Party honouring the commitment that it gave The one difference between the electorate of prior to the last election to maintain spending Burnett and the electorate of Bundaberg is on the Maryborough Hospital? Quite clearly, it that Bundaberg has an outstanding member. I is not. That is what this debate is all about. turn now to the real issue tonight. Similar to a Mrs Edmond interjected. dentist having to go over someone else's bad Mr SLACK: The Minister can interject all work, we have had to go over the bad work left she likes to try to defend the position that she to us by the member for Toowoomba South. adopted prior to the election, when she misled We have had to clean up the mess he left us. the people of Maryborough. If members do We have had to clean up a situation not believe that those people were misled, whereby the Health Department, the they need only look at all of these press bureaucrats as he called them, were advising reports. There are not just one or two of them. him that they needed $6m extra to run the The member for Maroochydore quoted the Maryborough and Hervey Bay Hospitals. And, Deputy Premier and others who, prior to the of course, he said, "We should ignore the 16 Sep 1998 Censure of Minister for Health 2293 bureaucrats' advice." He did; he gave them since. Then, of course, we saw One Nation only half the money they needed. They crying a few crocodile tears about the hospital. received only $3m extra when they needed What is its revenue answer for the hospitals? A $6m. He ignored the advice. No wonder they 2% flat tax, which would put up the cost of could not run the hospital. No wonder they call medicine and hospital equipment! The only him "Half Price Mike". Rather than blaming the party not offering a GST in the coming election Minister, we now see that the person is the Labor Party. A flat tax would tear $50m committed to ripping the heart out of the out of Government revenue. Let us not talk Maryborough and Hervey Bay Hospitals is the about hospitals. member for Toowoomba South. Time and Mr Seeney interjected. again the member for Toowoomba South assured people in Maryborough that all of the Mr MICKEL: Listen, digger, the only services would remain. How could they remain hospital waiting list you are on is the one for when they were getting half the amount of the front bench. You will not have to wait too money they needed? long for that, either; there is no talent to beat. You would not have public hospitals under To have moved this motion, the your system. Opposition must have more front than the Myer Centre. The member for Maroochydore Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for has been given a hospital pass. Has she not Logan will address the member by his correct noticed how happy the member for title. Toowoomba South has been lately? When I Mr MICKEL: Sorry, Mr Speaker. The saw him wandering around the place smiling at House should support the amendment and everybody I thought, "Why is this guy so ignore this attempt by the Opposition to happy? He used to be a Minister. Why is he so escape the full blame for its culpability in happy?" Then I worked it out: he realises what Maryborough. he has done. He is aware of the mess that he Mr Borbidge interjected. left for us to clean up. That is why he is happy. He knows that the Labor Party has to come in Mr MICKEL: I congratulate the Leader of here again and clean up the mess he left us. the Opposition on his interjection. He has been And what a mess it is! He has left us over the only Premier this century to lose $58m in unfunded commitments. Government after one term, and he did it in two and a half years. I will give members an example that is close to my electorate. Do members Time expired. remember the proposed community health Mr JOHNSON (Gregory—NPA) centre for Jimboomba? There is not even a (6.54 p.m.): This evening there is one thing plan for it, let alone a dollar for it! We saw that I wish to say: as the member for exactly the same routine in Maryborough. He Maryborough said earlier, the people of did not give them any money. We know all Maryborough have been waiting for something about him. I have crawled over every to happen at the Maryborough Hospital for six document. The unfunded commitments years. The Minister was in Government then. amount to $58m. He is so happy because he How many capital works programs did she has been relieved totally of the responsibility. deliberate on and roll over year after year? Then, of course, there is the health capital Michael Horan was the bloke who delivered. works tax—the Horan hospital tax—that he Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will was going to impose. As every capital works refer to other members by their proper title. project was progressing, the former Minister for Mr JOHNSON: In the 1998-99 Budget, he Health, the member for Toowoomba South, was going to allocate $17m. This Minister was ripping money out of recurrent mentioned a figure of $6m. The only reason funding—$100m in two years. Last year we the Minister revised that amount is that the asked a question about this matter and we Premier went up there last Sunday night to bail were told that over the next three years he was her out of trouble. If the Minister had any going to tear $144m in recurrent funding out of credibility at all—— the hospital system. Did he tell them that? What sort of hospital system could he run with Mrs EDMOND: I rise to a point of order. that? The member is confused between capital and recurrent funding. I advise him that there is a Mr Dalgleish interjected. difference. Mr MICKEL: The member was born Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of stupid and he has been going backwards ever order. 2294 Mr Speaker's Ruling 16 Sep 1998

Mr JOHNSON: The Premier went up there Mr Speaker, tonight we are about making last Sunday night to bail the Minister out of sure that you provide us with the correct ruling. trouble. The Minister has no credibility at all. This can be compared with a footy match. The She should take a leaf out of Michael Horan's referee of a football match does not see book and lead from the front. everything. He does not see all the cheap Time expired. shots. Sometimes it takes the video to pick up the cheap shots that occur in back play. Question—That Mrs Edmond's amendment be agreed to—put; and the The Premier just could not cop what was House divided— happening that day. He was exposed for what the Labor Party was endeavouring to do in AYES, 44—Attwood, Barton, Beattie, Bligh, Boyle, appointing this particular assistant Braddy, Bredhauer, Briskey, Clark, E. A. Cunningham, J. I. Cunningham, D'Arcy, Edmond, commissioner to the inquiry. I think it is a Elder, Fenlon, Foley, Fouras, Gibbs, Hamill, Hayward, disgrace to the Labor Government that, I Lavarch, Lucas, Mackenroth, McGrady, Mickel, believe, Mrs Forde was not advised that this Mulherin, Musgrove, Nelson-Carr, Nuttall, particular person was to be appointed as Palaszczuk, Pearce, Reeves, Reynolds, Roberts, assistant commissioner. Robertson, Rose, Schwarten, Struthers, Welford, Mr Beattie: How do you know that? Wellington, Wells, Wilson. Tellers: Sullivan, Purcell NOES, 43—Beanland, Black, Borbidge, Connor, Mr HORAN: I understand. I remember Cooper, Dalgleish, Davidson, Elliott, Feldman, Gamin, saying in a debate later that week that what Goss, Grice, Healy, Hobbs, Horan, Johnson, the Labor Party wanted was a tunnel of Kingston, Knuth, Laming, Lester, Lingard, information into this particular inquiry and that Littleproud, Malone, Mitchell, Nelson, Paff, Pratt, this was quite disrespectful to the absolute Prenzler, Quinn, Rappolt, Rowell, Santoro, Seeney, integrity of the commissioners appointed to Sheldon, Simpson, Slack, Springborg, Stephan, that inquiry. During question time the Premier Turner, Veivers, Watson. Tellers: Baumann, Hegarty accused the Opposition Leader of Resolved in the affirmative. "protecting"—— Motion, as amended, agreed to. Mr Beattie interjected. Sitting suspended from 7.02 p.m. to Mr HORAN: The Premier said "your 8.30 p.m. behaviour". Then he added, "The Opposition's behaviour"—he knew that he had got it wrong; he knew that he was in strife—"here is MR SPEAKER'S RULING supporting the child molesters and the Motion of Dissent abusers." I do not think that in normal Resumed from p. 2283. circumstances any of us on this side of the House would jump up and ask for an apology Mr HORAN (Toowoomba South—NPA) or for a retraction of those particular (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (8.30 p.m.), comments, but when the Premier went on to continuing: Having seconded the motion say, "The Opposition's behaviour here is moved by the Opposition Leader, I reiterate supporting the child molesters and the what he said. Mr Speaker, this motion of abusers", it became a very serious matter. dissent is about correcting a decision which we believe was made by you having not heard all The Premier was accusing the Opposition that was said in the particular interchange that Leader of supporting the child molesters and occurred. the abusers. I do not think a more serious This incident occurred during question accusation could be made in this House. I do time, while we were discussing the not think anybody in this House, whether they appointment of Mr Hans Heilpern as an be on the Government or the Opposition side, assistant commissioner to the child abuse would stand for that sort of a taunt or inquiry. It was quite a heated exchange, but it accusation. It absolutely lowers the tone of this is quite clear, particularly from the Hansard House. Here we see the Premier, day after record, that what was said by the Premier was day, theatrically talking about open and "your behaviour", and he pointed and accountable government and about not indicated the Opposition Leader. It was quite standing for lower standards, but the first thing obvious that he had put his feet in the he does when there is a bit of pressure on, molasses and so he added, "The Opposition's when the blow torch is applied to the belly, is behaviour here is supporting the child come out with this accusation and comment. molesters and the abusers." He knew that he I do not think there would be one person was on the sticky paper and he tried to get off in this House who would not object to a it. comment like the one made by the Premier. 16 Sep 1998 Mr Speaker's Ruling 2295

We on this side of the House wanted to made by the Premier. We look forward to a ensure that this important and sensitive inquiry very objective and clear decision on this got off on the right foot and that everything particular matter tonight. about it was absolutely correct and had 100% Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— integrity, yet this sort of accusation, nonsense ALP) (Premier) (8.40 p.m.): I am opposed to and lowering of public standards was thrown at this dissent motion. I have to say that in the us. time I have been here I have heard some Mr Speaker, this is not a censure motion; humbug and I have heard some pretence. this is a dissent from your ruling. We recognise However, I have to say that I have never heard that in the hurly-burly of that particular morning so much nonsense as we have had in this there was a lot of hubbub and noise. We can debate. The interesting thing is that the current understand that it would be pretty easy to not Opposition cannot cop it. When we were in pick up particular words being said in a heated Opposition for the last two and a half years we exchange, but there is no doubt whatsoever sat there, and how many dissent motions did that that day the Premier said "your behaviour" we move against Neil Turner? The bottom line and pointed at the Opposition Leader. That is is: none! the point the Opposition Leader raises. He This is a continuation of the track record wanted that reference, which he found that we saw from this Opposition when it was insulting, untrue and unparliamentary, in Opposition last time. At every opportunity scrapped from the record. The Premier refused those opposite moved dissent motions against to do that. Jim Fouras when he was Speaker, and they No doubt the Premier had a bit of a burr will do it again. We were prepared to give the under the saddle. He did not like what was Speaker from the National Party, Neil Turner, a being debated that particular morning. He fair go. We do not find the same tolerance realised that he had put in place an inquiry into from Mr Borbidge, the Leader of the child abuse to which he had appointed an Opposition, and his team. Those opposite are assistant commissioner who was a Labor not prepared to do it because they want to mate. I have no doubt whatsoever that he disrupt Parliament. wanted a tunnel of information to that inquiry The Opposition wants to use every so that he could maintain the maximum opportunity to bring this Parliament into amount of management and know what was disrepute. Yes, we have tried to lift the happening for his own benefit. I have standards, but it takes two to tango. The absolutely no doubt about that whatsoever. Opposition seeks to denigrate our efforts at That he would try to turn that around by every opportunity. making the accusations he made that day is disgraceful. What I find extraordinary is this: the Opposition came in here and it had a mission. Mr Speaker, all we seek tonight is the That mission was to try to undermine the correct interpretation of what happened. As Forde inquiry. That mission was to try to the Opposition Leader has said, we believe denigrate one of the deputy commissioners, that you have been fair to both sides of this Hans Heilpern. The Forde inquiry is the first House. We believe that the incident that inquiry that has been established into child occurred that particular day could easily have abuse—an inquiry that will have a real look into not been heard by you. We say that quite child abuse—for decades in this State. In fact, sincerely. We have no doubt that, had you if I recall correctly, it is probably the first major heard and been well aware of the Premier's inquiry we have had into child abuse. actions—saying "your behaviour" and pointing The Opposition's agenda was very clear. to the Premier and following up with those Those opposite came in here to denigrate the other comments—your ruling may have been process of that inquiry. What happened? I different. responded in a very direct way. Of course I will Mr Fouras: You're getting a bit repetitive, respond in a direct way when it comes to Mike. defending a full independent inquiry into child Mr HORAN: I can keep on going for abuse. I will defend any inquiry that is another three minutes. I have heard the designed to get to the bottom of child abuse. I honourable member for Ashgrove be fairly want to make certain that that inquiry has repetitive at times. All we seek tonight is a every opportunity to pursue child abuse. correct adjudication of this matter. We know The One Nation members came in here what has been reported in Hansard, we have and raised a number of matters in relation to seen on the television what actually occurred various issues. During that debate I said to the and we physically saw the accusation being members of the One Nation Party that the 2296 Mr Speaker's Ruling 16 Sep 1998

Forde inquiry would be an independent inquiry Those opposite asked, "What about the that would get to the bottom of the general television replay?" When did those opposite claims—not in terms of the shredded see the television replay? They saw the documents—of child abuse at John Oxley. I television replay after they had been in the said that that inquiry would have that latitude House and after they had moved their motion and that purpose. That was clearly my of dissent. What a lot of nonsense. The agenda. I made clear to the House, as I did to bottom line is that I was referring to the One Nation, what the agenda was. Opposition, and the Leader of the Opposition I was not going to take it very lightly when knows it. the National Party and the Liberal Party came It is said that I supposedly pointed a in here to try to undermine the inquiry which finger. I clearly recall what I did. I went like that. my Government had established in good faith It does not matter about the indication. to deliver the outcomes that all members on Mr Borbidge interjected. this side of the House wanted and, dare I say, Mr BEATTIE: The Leader of the that the One Nation members wanted in Opposition says I went like that. It does not relation to John Oxley. Of course I was going matter. If you point your finger, you have to to feel strongly about it. start somewhere. You have to start there or Let us look at what happened in the heat there. If I go like that and I refer to the of the exchange, as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, presumably that means everybody National Party referred to it. Let us read the full unless there is something loaded in my finger context. This is what Hansard shows for 27 that the Leader of the Opposition knows August 1998. It says— something about that I do not. "Mr BEATTIE: We are the only This is an absolute nonsense. The word Government to have established a proper of the record says, "The Opposition's inquiry. The Leader of the Opposition was behaviour here is supporting the child in Cabinet when the National Party sought molesters and the abusers." The case is black to establish that flawed inquiry in 1989. and white. It is shut. There is no argument about it. The truth is this: this man has been under attack from the Opposition for two Let me just speak to you, Mr Speaker, days. They are yet to provide one shred about another matter. Mr Borbidge, the of evidence. The process that was gone Leader of the Opposition, can be sensitive through to examine this—— about these matters. Later on the same day the Leader of the Opposition rose to a point of Dr Watson: Did you know about the order. He said— allegations?" "I rise to a point of order. I refer to I had been talking about the Opposition. the comments made by the Premier Right? I had an interjection from Dr Watson, yesterday in which he said, 'Here today and I then went on to say this— those opposite are supporting the "I am answering your question. The abusers. They are covering up for the process that was gone through to paedophiles. They are covering up for the examine the man's credibility and abusers.' They were the words." suitability for appointment was thorough, I go back to another misinterpretation by the and you have not found one matter in the Leader of the Opposition. On page 1197 of last two days that detracts from his Hansard on 27 August 1998—those opposite appointment—not one. If you have the can check this for themselves—I said— material, then put it up." "This is the most dishonest This is in reply to the interjection from Dr performance from any Opposition in a Watson. I went on— generation." "I repeat what I said yesterday: your Mr Borbidge said— behaviour"— "Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order." and then I made it clear— Listen to this— "the Opposition's behaviour here is supporting the child molesters and the "I am getting used to being abusers." subjected to personal abuse by the Premier, according to his brave new The Opposition's behaviour! It is clear— standards in Parliament. I find those absolutely clear. It is game, set and match. remarks offensive and ask that they be 16 Sep 1998 Mr Speaker's Ruling 2297

withdrawn. He referred to me as being I could not agree with Sir Gordon Chalk more. dishonest." If we are going to have a Parliament for the Hansard shows that I said— next three years that runs with some degree of dignity, Mr Speaker, you have to be prepared "This is the most dishonest to follow the Standing Orders. When the performance from any Opposition in a Opposition comes in here on an assassination generation." bid on an inquiry into child abuse I will take a It is there in black and white. It does not refer firm stand, all right. When I talk about the to the Leader of the Opposition as an Opposition I will talk about those opposite individual at all. I got up and said this— directly, but I will not breach Standing Orders. "I was referring to the Opposition as Hon. J. P. ELDER (Capalaba—ALP) being dishonest." (Deputy Premier and Minister for State Mr Borbidge said— Development and Minister for Trade) (8.50 p.m.): I rise to speak against the motion. "He said 'the Opposition Leader'." What we are seeing tonight in this place is It is shown in Hansard in black and white. It is what people see as the worst of not my fault if there is some difficulty in hearing Parliament—what they think out there in the on the other side of the Chamber. community about the political process: cheap I have had a look at Standing Order 119 point scoring, debated at some length, with and Standing Order 120 and I do not intend to little outcome at the end of the day. waste any time on those. Neither of them is Shakespeare put it best: plenty of sound and relevant to this dissent motion. They do not fury, signifying nothing. At the end of the day, even hit the surface. There is no relevance the public will not be any wiser, there will not whatsoever. be one more job created in Queensland, and the dignity of this place will not be enhanced, Let us come back to the point. It is but nobody will be any the wiser. important that the Speaker's ruling is respected and adhered to. This is taken so The simple fact is—and it has just been seriously in the House of Commons that it is articulated clearly by the Premier—that even taken as read that the Speaker is always right. under the Standing Orders, the Speaker's In the House of Commons there is no ruling to which the Leader of the Opposition allowance for dissent motions to Speakers' has raised an objection was patently correct. rulings. Nor is there in Canada. In 1986 a The Speaker was correct in his interpretation of Privileges Committee of the House of the Standing Orders and the way in which he Representatives recommended abolition of ruled. The efforts by the member for Surfers dissent motions to Speakers' rulings. But this Paradise to climb on that high moral pedestal has not been carried out. are simply transparent. We saw this for years when he sat in Opposition on that side of the There has been only one other example House. The member for Surfers Paradise is of a similar attempt like this in this Parliament very transparent. in relation to Standing Order 120. I have to say with some embarrassment that it was moved When the Premier made his comment by the Labor Party in 1973. Do honourable about the member for Surfers Paradise, the members know what happened? The Labor member protested. But as the Premier has just Party lost. Do members know why Labor lost? outlined, he clearly was talking about the Because the arguments I am putting to the Opposition. He clearly meant the people who House today are almost identical to what the were out there attacking the people who were Liberal Party and the National Party put in running the inquiry into child abuse. That is 1973. It was a Labor Party stunt in 1973. It what he was referring to. The Leader of the happens to be a National/Liberal Party stunt in Opposition was jeopardising that inquiry, and 1998. the Premier pointed that out. He was attacking the people who were actually doing the inquiry In the debate on dissent the Acting and, therefore, jeopardising the inquiry. At the Premier Sir Gordon Chalk said this— end of the day, this gave some comfort to "The point at issue is the authority of those who sought to have nothing exposed by the Chair and your absolute right to make that inquiry. That is what the Leader of the decisions without fear or favour and Opposition was doing, and that is how the devoid of political humbug which, quite Premier put it to the House. One has only to candidly, in my opinion, seems to be read the Hansard record of what was said to creeping into this Chamber more and realise that it is quite clear what the Premier more." meant. 2298 Mr Speaker's Ruling 16 Sep 1998

I stand right by the Premier and right by resolve any of the problems that exist, and it the Speaker's interpretation. The Premier will not resolve any impasse. I appeal to those meant that, by attacking those people, the members at the back of the Chamber, many Leader of the Opposition was jeopardising and of whom were elected—— undermining the inquiry, which is what he set One Nation Party members interjected. out to do on that particular day in the Parliament. This is merely a bit of transparent Mr ELDER: I hear the chuckles. Many of tap dancing in this Parliament by the Leader of those members say that they were elected on the Opposition, the member for Surfers a platform—— Paradise. Time and time again he has been Mr Nelson: Are you asking for support transparent. At the end of the day, he was out from One Nation? to get a good run in the media, and he went to some effort to get it. The practical effect is Mr ELDER: In this case, no. We have patently clear. What the Premier outlined on never sought its support. What I am saying is that day was quite simple: by attacking the simply this: One Nation members were elected inquiry and the composition of the inquiry, the on a so-called platform of cleaning up the Leader of the Opposition gave comfort to Parliament. It will be interesting to see whether those whom the inquiry seeks to expose. That they have the courage of their convictions. is what it was about. He gave comfort to those Mr Nelson: Support you and betray the people, and the Premier outlined that. And people of Tablelands? that hurt the Leader of the Opposition, Mr ELDER: No. I am not looking for because his plan was exposed. It hurt support from One Nation members. I do not because, finally, apart from getting his run in want their support and would not seek their the media, it put him on the back foot because support. After 20 years of studying Parliament it was true. He was out there undermining the and understanding Parliament, the member inquiry. would know that the debate—— The Leader of the Opposition should stop being such a giant sensitive plant. He should Mr Nelson interjected. do some decent work in the Parliament. The Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier Premier was patently not accusing the Leader will continue. of the Opposition of some sort of impropriety Mr ELDER: After the member's 20 years or activity. He was not accusing the Leader of of learning so much about Parliament and the Opposition personally of indulging in any of being across what goes on in Parliament, I am the sorts of activities into which the inquiry was not seeking his support, because this is not a looking, so he should not be such a giant debate about support for the Labor Party. If sensitive plant. Or in this new age, I suppose the member had been awake, he would know that I should call him a medium-sized sensitive that this is a debate about supporting the person and get it politically correct, because Speaker of this Parliament. This debate is the member always tries to get things politically about cleaning up the Parliament and correct. Obviously, the Premier was not calling supporting the Speaker's ruling. the Leader of the Opposition a child molester. The Leader of the Opposition is much like the Mr Nelson interjected. schoolkids with whom I grew up at Inala. He is Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for just telling tales. It was a good day for telling Tablelands! tales in the Parliament and getting the run in the media that he wanted. Mr ELDER: Mr Speaker, I have to say in all honesty that there is a member who lets his Members on this side of the House ego get in the way of his ego. There is a strongly support the Speaker's ruling because member who has no idea what this debate is it is right. I am worried about whether or not we about. I appeal to his leader: this is not a are going to see more of this sort of thing. Is debate about supporting the Opposition or the this going to be a continuous roadshow? I Government; this is about supporting the ruling have to say that members on this side of the of the Speaker. House had far more respect for Speaker Turner than members opposite have shown Mr Borbidge: Careful. He's been studying already for Speaker Hollis. Again, our position this for 20 years. in Opposition was clearly outlined by the Mr ELDER: I know, and that is what Premier. We strongly support the Speaker's worries me. When someone has been ruling. This debate will not enhance the dignity studying that hard for 20 years, it says a lot of this place one iota. As I said, it will not about the education system under the create one more job in this State, it will not Bjelke-Petersen Government. 16 Sep 1998 Mr Speaker's Ruling 2299

I realise that there is a temptation to vote whether or not the motion of dissent was on any measure that would effectively censure appropriate but whether or not the answer to the Government. That is the temptation: to the question asked on 27 August was censure the Government. But this debate is appropriate. That is not the issue. What was about frivolous complaints being raised during central to the question, what were the motives the business of the House—— of the Opposition at that time and what the Mr Nelson: Frivolous? Premier was trying to do are not relevant to this debate on the motion of dissent. Mr ELDER:—frivolous motions against Speaker's rulings when, under the Standing There are three issues that ought to be Orders, they are patently correct. considered in this motion. The first relates to the interpretation of the Standing Orders. I will Mr Borbidge interjected. return to that in a moment. The second issue Mr ELDER: The Leader of the Opposition is the standards of behaviour that are is trying to justify this position by having a weird acceptable in this place. The third issue that combination of what is said in Hansard and ought to be addressed is respect for each and some body language to prove his point. What every member of this place in our interactions that means from now on is that if I am going to on a day-to-day basis. Let me address the first make a contribution in this House, I will have to question. Was it an appropriate interpretation make it with my arms folded. This is absurd. In of the Standing Orders by the Speaker? In a fact, it is an indictment on the position that I narrow sense, it was totally incorrect. We can believe the Opposition is going to take over turn to Hansard of 27 August. I will quote it the next few years in this Parliament. This is precisely. The Premier said— one debate that the Leader of the Opposition "I repeat what I said yesterday: your should not have brought on, because it did not behaviour"— justify the position that he took. and the Hansard record shows a break Dr WATSON (Moggill—LP) (Leader of the through the use of a dash. The Leader of the Liberal Party) (8.59 p.m.): I rise to support the Opposition was right, because at the time, the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition Premier, in his usual way, waved his two and supported by the Deputy Leader of the fingers and said "your behaviour". Then he Opposition. I rarely rise in a debate such as realised that "your behaviour" was not what he this. The last time was when the member for had wanted to say. As the Deputy Leader of Ashgrove was in the chair in 1991. Rising and the Opposition said, he had got his foot on the supporting a motion of dissent from the sticky paper. He then gestured broadly and Speaker's ruling is not something that I do said— lightly. "... the Opposition's behaviour here is Mr Palaszczuk interjected. supporting the child molesters and the Dr WATSON: I did not move that against abusers." the member in 1993 at all. This is a serious The Leader of the Opposition took a point of motion. It involves not simply what happened order. He requested the Speaker to rule that on that day but also the standards in this the Premier should withdraw the comments. place. In some respects I am disappointed The Speaker said— because, as I look around the Chamber, I do not see the member for Nicklin here, the "Order! He said 'the Opposition's' member who said that he wanted to see the behaviour. There is no point of order." standards raised in this place. He wanted so In fact, that is incorrect, because the first much for those standards to be raised that he statement was "your behaviour". In a strictly stipulated it in a letter of agreement between technical sense, the Speaker was incorrect. I himself and the Premier in relation to his am not arguing that he was directly incorrect. I support of the Government. One would have would not suggest that, because a lot of things thought that the first time such a motion was were going on at that time; however, in a strict moved the member for Nicklin, whose primary sense, what the Speaker said was technically concern is the raising of parliamentary incorrect. In a sense, that is the narrow, standards, ought to have been here to listen technical interpretation of what this motion of to the debate; he might have learnt dissent is about. something. In a broader sense, the question is: was I have listened to what the Premier and the behaviour of the Premier on that particular the Deputy Premier have said. They started to day acceptable in today's climate? I recall that, debate the original issue raised in the question when I was in the Federal Parliament, the then asked by the Premier. They did not debate Treasurer and later Prime Minister had as his 2300 Mr Speaker's Ruling 16 Sep 1998 favourite word "scumbag". He repeated it time earn that title of "honourable" by behaving in and time again. Simply because he may not an honourable fashion. We do that firstly by have used it in terms of a particular individual respecting one another. We use rhetoric that is at a particular time—although he tended to do appropriate to the circumstances. When we that from time to time—the whole issue of the address one another, we should address one word "scumbag" and the litany of other things another in a civil and appropriate fashion. The that he said was not about his behaviour first step towards earning and restoring respect towards a particular individual; it was about his in this place is to respect one another. I will behaviour in the Parliament towards all end with a quote from Shakespeare. I saw the members of the Opposition. I am sure that in Attorney-General and Minister for Justice—— the privacy of the caucus room he referred to Mr Hamill: As long as it's not Lady some of his own colleagues in the same Macbeth. fashion. Is that acceptable behaviour? Is it acceptable to come into this place and accuse Dr WATSON: No, it is from King Lear. I people, either individually or as a group, of studied King Lear in Senior. King Lear said— protecting child molesters and child abusers? "Mend your speech a little, Is that the kind of behaviour that we expect? Is Lest it may mar your fortunes." that the kind of rhetoric that we say is an acceptable standard in this place? I would Each and every one of us can learn something suggest to honourable members that it is not. from that. That is what this debate is about. Even if the motion is lost tonight, I hope that it Mr Elder: How many times did you call us will be the beginning of a higher standard of a liar when you were in Government? behaviour on the part of all of us, including the Dr WATSON: I do not believe that I ever Premier and everyone else on the other side called the member a liar. I have not called any of the Parliament. member a liar. Honourable members can Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich—ALP) check the Hansard record to find out about my (Treasurer) (9.09 p.m.): I am pleased to follow behaviour. They can check Hansard to see the honourable member for Moggill in this whether I have ever said anything like that. debate. Although we are taking different points The question has to be asked: is that of view in this debate, I assure the honourable acceptable behaviour? Is it acceptable to call member for Moggill that I respect his position people child molesters and child abusers and and, what is more, I will respect him in the then try to hide it by saying, "No, it was the morning. However, I do not respect the very Opposition", and using broad gestures across narrow and technical argument that the the Chamber? That is the question that has to honourable member has tried to run. be answered. That is clearly unacceptable This is a stunt. The member for Moggill behaviour. That ought to be pressed home in finished his speech by quoting from King Lear. this case. That demonstrated the little theatrical piece we Thirdly, this debate is really about respect. have had before us this evening—the little bit During the last election there was a lot of talk of theatre that the honourable Leader of the that politicians had lost the respect of the Opposition has been indulging in in relation to people. We all need to try to work very hard to this whole issue. The issue is Mr Speaker's win back that respect. How can we expect ruling of 27 August. In essence, Mr Speaker's people to respect us if we do not first respect ruling was that a remark made generally could one another? I find it ironic that, in a letter to not be objected to by an individual member. Mr Wellington, the member for Nicklin, That is a very consistent ruling that has a set outlining the terms of the agreement for the of precedents stretching far back. Even the member for Nicklin to support the Beattie honourable Leader of the Opposition Government, the Premier said— acknowledges that point. "Independent members deserve to What is the Leader of the Opposition be treated with courtesy and respect." bleating about? He is trying to construct an Surely all members of this House deserve to argument that the particular circumstances in be treated with courtesy and respect. All which the remark was delivered made it not a members of this House, from the Premier general remark but an individual remark. I refer down, ought to be concerned with raising the to the alleged offending statement in which standards in this place. It is a convention in Premier said, inter alia— this place, as has been pointed out by others "I repeat what I said yesterday: your in other debates, to call members behaviour—the Opposition's behaviour "honourable". It is important for all of us to here is supporting the child molesters and earn that title. As honourable members, we the abusers." 16 Sep 1998 Mr Speaker's Ruling 2301

Mr Borbidge: That's not quite correct. cheap headline out of question time and draw Mr HAMILL: That is what the Hansard respect away from the Chair. records. In all fairness, recourse might be had Time expired. to the earlier remarks referred to by the Hon. J. FOURAS (Ashgrove—ALP) Premier. The Leader of the Opposition referred (9.14 p.m.): I am pleased to join in this debate. to some comments that the Premier made the In moving this dissent motion, the Leader of previous day, 26 August 1998. Page 1903 of the Opposition argued that he was exercising Hansard states— his right to dissent from a ruling and that he "Here today those opposite are was not expressing a lack of confidence in Mr supporting the abusers. They are covering Speaker. He went on to stress that he had not up for the paedophiles. They are covering intended in any way to be critical of Mr up for the abusers. That is what they are Speaker. However, he then went on to say doing. They are trying to undermine the that an error of judgment was the issue. What inquiry." absolute nonsense! At that point the Leader of the Opposition rose Having heard today a statement from Mr and objected in the same way that he is Speaker indicating his interpretation of objecting to the Premier's remarks of 27 Standing Orders 119 and 120, I would have August wherein he claimed that this was a thought that a decent Opposition Leader personal affront to him as an individual and to would have withdrawn the motion. The each and every member sitting opposite. That Opposition did not have to persist with the is the problem. motion because, clearly, we had a clarification Mr Speaker, I believe that you have as to how Standing Orders 119 and 120 were brought great dignity to the office of the going to be used in the light of rulings given by Speaker. I know that one of the rulings you various Speakers in the history of this hold dear relates to your comments about the Parliament. Today, nobody disagreed with Mr manner in which honourable members ought Speaker's ruling. to address each other in the House. This exercise is nothing more than a Yesterday, Mr Speaker reminded all media stunt. It is nothing more than an honourable members of this. He drew all attempt by the Leader of the Opposition to honourable members' attention to the fact that attract the media's attention and to get some honourable members do not call each other mileage out of it. When I visited the House of "you" or "your" when referring to an individual Commons, I was told that members of and when referring to another member of this Parliament never, ever thought about House should refer to that member as the dissenting from Mr Speaker's rulings. The "honourable member for Surfers Paradise", or members said to me, "Even if he was wrong, the "honourable member for Gregory", or to Mr Speaker must have had a reason for doing whomsoever we are referring. so." The problem out of all of this is the The Leader of the Opposition said that Mr delusion of grandeur of the Leader of the Speaker made an error in judgment as to Opposition. It would appear that every time a whether the Premier pointed there or whether comment is made that the Opposition is "such he pointed there. What a joke! I refer to what and such", it becomes a matter of personal happened when I was the Speaker. The affront to the Leader of the Opposition. We Opposition moved dissent motion after dissent have the poor man's "Sun King". The motion when I was Speaker. Those motions honourable member for Surfers Paradise is the were always media driven, or driven to indicate poor man's Louis XIV, who said, "L'etat c'est that the then Opposition was not receiving a moi"—"I am the State. Everything about the fair go. I found eight such motions in Hansard. State refers to me." In this case, the poor One was about whether I called the Liberal man's Louis XIV opposite says, "I am the Party second or the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. I am the whole Opposition. You Opposition second. That was a dissent motion! refer to the Opposition, I take it upon my What a joke! shoulders. I am affronted, I am affronted." The second one was in relation to I suggest that this whole motion is an Standing Order 68, which states that a affront to this House, it is an affront to Mr member can ask a question of a Speaker and it deserves the contempt of all chairman—and in this case the chairman was members of the House. This is nothing but a the chairman of the PCJC—as to whether he is stunt. It does not deserve respect. I suggest going to look into a matter or if he is going to that this is just a petty example whereby the report on a matter. The Opposition wanted to Opposition is seeking to stir up strife for a interpret that Standing Order to mean that it 2302 Mr Speaker's Ruling 16 Sep 1998 could ask questions about the CJC. What a she should table them. The documents had to joke! be in her hands. Clearly, I am saying that this The third one was when the Opposition mob opposite use—— attempted to deny Mr Wells, the then Mr SPEAKER: Order! The "Opposition Attorney-General, the right to make a parties". statement in the House about why the special Mr FOURAS: The Opposition parties use prosecutor was not going to continue with the dissent motions as media stunts and to score Joh case. Again, the Opposition tried to abuse political points. They are not interested in the the parliamentary process. Because some dignity and integrity of this Parliament. They members of the Opposition were then expelled are not interested at all in helping us run a from the House, the Opposition moved better Parliament. They are interested only in another dissent motion. getting some mileage out of dissent motions. The fourth one was that second-reading debates should not be relevant. The The Leader of the Opposition said that he Opposition actually argued in this House that did not want to criticise Mr Speaker, but then he went on to speak about an error in we should have debates about Bills, but that judgment. The Leader of the Opposition says they do not have to be relevant! that he wants this Parliament to function The fifth one was a motion to support the properly, but he is a hypocrite. The Leader of editing out by Table Office staff of offensive the Opposition should ask himself why he language in a motion moved by the member persisted with this motion after the statement for Southport. I did not do it; the Table Office made today by Speaker Hollis. Clearly, edited the language from the motion because Speaker Hollis said how we could govern with it was offensive. The Opposition then moved a Standing Orders 119 and 120. There is no dissent motion from my ruling because I was argument about that. He referred to censuring the Parliament! precedents and he gave perfect rulings. Now The sixth motion of dissent related to an what do we have? We have this mob over objection to ruling out of order questions here wanting to play politics with the Speaker. related to a Bill currently before the House. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The "Opposition Since the term of this Government, every day parties". in this Chamber Mr Borbidge has been rising to say, "Mr Speaker, that matter is before the Mr JOHNSON: I rise to a point of order. House, the member cannot talk about it." Yet Mr Speaker, we have been listening all day to the Leader of the Opposition moved a dissent your ruling. If the honourable member for motion because I made such a ruling! Ashgrove is referring to us, he is going against your ruling. I ask him to withdraw. The seventh dissent motion related to me, as Speaker, not paying due regard to Mr SPEAKER: I was just in the process of Standing Order 70. This is beautiful one. asking the member for Ashgrove again to refer Standing Order 70 states that, in answer to a properly to the people opposite as "members question, Ministers should not debate the of the Opposition parties". matter and their answers should be relevant Mr FOURAS: I am pleased to adhere to and concise. How many times did Government your ruling, Mr Speaker, and I apologise. I members, when they were in Opposition, say, have no problem with that at all. "Mr Speaker, I refer to Standing Order 70. The Mr SPEAKER: Order! The time for this Minister is going on for hours."? If the debate has expired. members of the Opposition looked at the statistics, they would realise that, when they Question—That the motion be agreed were in Government, Ministers took much to—put; and the House divided— longer to answer questions than the Ministers AYES, 39—Beanland, Black, Borbidge, Connor, of this Government ever have. Yet, when Cooper, E. A. Cunningham, Davidson, Elliott, Gamin, Labor was in Opposition did it ever move a Goss, Grice, Healy, Hobbs, Horan, Johnson, dissent motion against Speaker Turner's Kingston, Knuth, Laming, Lester, Lingard, ruling? Never! Yet the Opposition moved a Littleproud, Malone, Mitchell, Nelson, Pratt, Prenzler, dissent motion against my ruling, stating that I Quinn, Rowell, Santoro, Seeney, Sheldon, Simpson, was not adhering to Standing Order 70! Slack, Springborg, Stephan, Veivers, Watson. Tellers: Baumann, Hegarty The eighth dissent motion refers to the NOES, 49—Attwood, Barton, Beattie, Bligh, Boyle, tabling of the Heiner documents. Minister Braddy, Bredhauer, Briskey, Clark, J. I. Cunningham, Warner had referred to something from the Dalgleish, D'Arcy, Edmond, Elder, Feldman, Fenlon, Heiner documents. She did not have them Foley, Fouras, Gibbs, Hamill, Hayward, Lavarch, with her. However, the Opposition said that Lucas, Mackenroth, McGrady, Mickel, Mulherin, 16 Sep 1998 Adjournment 2303

Musgrove, Nelson-Carr, Nuttall, Paff, Palaszczuk, $140,000 worth of prizes, which included new Pearce, Rappolt, Reeves, Reynolds, Roberts, cars, holiday packages, computer packages Robertson, Rose, Schwarten, Spence, Struthers, and much more, including a thoroughbred Turner, Welford, Wellington, Wells, Wilson. Tellers: racing package. Most importantly, in just two Sullivan, Purcell years the competition has helped to raise Resolved in the negative. more than $100,000 for those two worthwhile charitable organisations. ADJOURNMENT This year on Saturday, 10 October, the Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth— competition will again be based at ALP) (Leader of the House) (9.25 p.m.): I Toowoomba's Clifford Park Racecourse, with move— both gold and silver teams competing there and also, for the first time, at several other "That the House do now adjourn." racecourses and venues throughout the State. As well as the prize packages that may be Police Blue Hearts Awards; Bonanza Tipping won, each team will compete for a perpetual Competition trophy, the Commissioner's Shield. On behalf of the board I thank the Queensland Police Mr HEALY (Toowoomba North—NPA) Commissioner, Mr Jim O'Sullivan, for his (9.27 p.m.): Over the last two years, a very ongoing support of this concept. worthwhile and successful promotion has occurred as part of the annual Statewide I also mention that since its inception my Queensland Police Blue Heart Awards. These parliamentary colleagues the member for awards have seen policemen and women Toowoomba South, the member for Crows entering a fundraising competition to raise Nest, the member for Cunningham and the money to support two very worthwhile causes, member for Warwick have joined me in Community Supporting Police and the National participating in this competition as a silver Heart Foundation. sponsor. We have not won too much over the years, but I have a funny feeling that this year Community Supporting Police is a our luck is about to change. This may be an community-oriented organisation that is aimed ideal opportunity to remind other members of at enhancing relations between the community the House that it would certainly be and police through welfare, education and advantageous to the cause if they too research. As part of its support for police and considered participating in the competition if their families, CSP operates Rosalie House in one is being conducted in or around their Brisbane and Woody Point Cottage at electorates. The weekend's activities also Redcliffe, which provide free accommodation include a sportsman's dinner, a celebrity for police and their families in emergency breakfast and tours of some of the Darling situations. As most members are aware, the Downs' more famous thoroughbred studs. National Heart Foundation is a non-profit organisation that works to reduce premature As I mentioned earlier, the Police Blue deaths and improve heart health for Heart Awards is a Statewide activity that is Queenslanders. managed by its own board. It was brought In 1996, Inspector Garry Wells of the about as a consequence of relations between southern police region came up with a concept the Commissioner of Police, a community to assist entrants in the awards. As someone group known as Community Supporting Police Inc., and the National Heart Foundation. The who enjoys the sport of kings, Inspector Wells Queensland Police Service entered into a initiated the Bonanza Tipping Competition to partnership with the Heart Foundation and assist entrants from the southern region. The developed this fundraising and community- competition works this way: companies are invited to donate $5,000 as a gold sponsor or based event. This year's event is expected to $1,000 as a silver sponsor and enter a four- raise in excess of $200,000. person team. Teams are then invited to This concept deserves bipartisan support Toowoomba's Clifford Park Racecourse with and again I suggest to members from Cairns, the task of attempting to correctly select the Townsville, Rockhampton, Gladstone, the first four placegetters in each race at Sunshine Coast and here in Brisbane—where Toowoomba on the day. Points are awarded the satellite competitions are being held—to for each correct selection and bonus points are get in contact with their regional police awarded for things such as quinellas and headquarters and offer as much assistance as trifectas. At the end of the day, the team with possible. It is hoped that in time the the highest points wins. Last year, a total of 67 fundraising award and ambassador award will gold and silver teams competed for over carry the status and recognition in the 2304 Adjournment 16 Sep 1998

Australian community similar to that of the 1990s, the district population was 65,000 and Miss Australia competition and other worthy growing very quickly. The service started in awards. Along the way, strategic partners TAB 1994 as a demonstration project, when special Queensland, Sky Channel, Apple Computers, funding was made available by the Telstra, Saatchi and Saatchi, and Ernst and Commonwealth Government as part of the Young are assisting in making this vision a National Mental Health Reform Strategy. That reality. funding has now expired and has been taken The Police Blue Heart Awards themselves over by the State. encourage police and police employees to join Because this was a new service, it has with the community in a partnership which been able to take on innovative programs to allows individuals to demonstrate their skills improve the quality of life of people who are and abilities in a positive sense, as well as suffering mental health problems. It has helping a wonderful charitable cause. worked strenuously within the community to address the stigma associated with mental illness within the Caboolture and Redcliffe Caboolture and District Mental Health community. The service has achieved that Service outcome in the context of a rapidly growing Hon. K. W. HAYWARD (Kallangur—ALP) population, which is now in excess of 100,000 (9.32 p.m.): Tonight it is a pleasure to highlight people. Its success can also be attributed to to the Parliament the achievements and the great efforts of the staff of that service. contribution to the Caboolture and Redcliffe One innovative program offered by the region of the Caboolture and District Mental service is the Connections Program, which Health Service. Importantly, this service is part aims to improve the quality of life of people of the strong fabric of the Caboolture and suffering mental health problems and provide Redcliffe area. them with some human contact. For example, The service was the result of two reports. it provides people with assistance with cooking, The John Holt report, which came out in the cleaning, shopping and even meeting people. very early 1990s, ranked mental health It gives people the opportunity to re-enter services in Australia. That report ranked society. It helps people to look for work and Queensland's services last and, within even helps with other problems, such as Queensland, the Sunshine Coast region's dealing with landlords or Government service received the lowest ranking. That was agencies. The project aims to stop the one of the factors leading to the formation of revolving door whereby people may not need the Caboolture and District Mental Health to go to hospital but end up finding Service. The second and probably more well- themselves there because they have problems known report was the Burdekin report, which with cooking, cleaning, shopping and so on. basically concluded that mental health services This program keeps people out of hospital by were substandard throughout Australia but providing services and dealing with issues that particularly so in Queensland. many of us take for granted. We have a problem in our community in The mental health service has received a that a general stigma is attached to the issue great deal of recognition in that it has received of mental health and to people who four national awards. It was the recipient of the experience mental health problems. It is worth Australian Hospitals Community Outreach noting that it is estimated that 5% of people Award gold medallion in 1995. It received a experience mental health problems within their silver medallion in 1996 for comprehensive lifetime. It is probably a reflection of the area based services. societal problem associated with mental health Time expired. issues that 50% of people with mental health problems do not go near psychiatric services. In other words, about two and a half people Wamuran State School out of every 100 simply do not access Mr FELDMAN (Caboolture—ONP) (Leader psychiatric services even when they are of the One Nation Party) (9.37 p.m.): Tonight I available. Of course, it is an even bigger wish to draw the attention of the House to the problem when they are not available. deplorable situation at the Wamuran State In relation to the context in which the School. Wamuran is a nice little country town service started, as I said, the main report was just outside Caboolture on the D'Aguilar the Burdekin report and, as a response to the Highway leading to Woodford. The school is Burdekin report and what it highlighted, the located in the middle of the town, right on the Caboolture service was created. In the early highway. The town is famous for its 16 Sep 1998 Adjournment 2305 pineapples, bananas and fruit and vegetable buildings. Huge road tractors, quarry trucks crops. However, education is very important to and petrol tankers roar past the school all day the region, and that is why I wish to raise this long. Teachers find themselves drowned out matter tonight for the information of the by the noise. Teaching is suspended for a Minister. short time because students just cannot hear The school is located on a property which what is being said. Road noise is not is insufficient for the needs of that school. For conducive to good learning. Students just some time the school authorities have told the cannot hear what the teachers are saying. local parents that the school was going to be This is also an unsafe site. There is relocated to a more suitable location, where potential for serious accidents, for real disaster. sufficient land would be available for the What would the department think if one of development that that school needs. At the these large trucks actually missed the bend moment it is on a 2.5 hectare location. It has and ran into the school ground? There would pretty ratty facilities, with portable and be only one agency to blame—the demountable accommodation and only one department, which has dragged its feet in permanent building located on that block—the providing reasonable accommodation and original building for the school. safety for this school. There are road safety Now, after years of being told that the factors. location was temporary and that the school There are grave workplace health and would be relocated to a more reasonable site, safety issues. There is also insufficient space the parents have been shocked to learn that to play sport, especially for the juniors at the this may no longer be the case, that the school. Indeed, the oval can accommodate present location may now be considered only a 200-yard running circle. All areas of the permanent. I will tell members some of the school are steeply sloped and have dirt that is problems about this site, which may be the eroding. This in an area where there is a lot of permanent location. After weighing up these land available nearby. This split site, this problems, surely reasonable and rational mountain site, is just not the place to go. Land people will conclude that the original site is not has been made available. A site for the the rational way to go. This decision is being relocation was gazetted in 1993. There is just based purely on rational economic thought no excuse now for this school not being alone, without any consideration of all of the relocated to that site. social consequences. The community in general must be Members should consider some of the assured that this Government really cares shortcomings of the location. The building size about its people and is prepared to act quickly is too small to accommodate a modern school on the long, unresolved grievances of the and the rising numbers of students—now Wamuran community. Above all, the lives and some 350. There is a depressing lack of wet the physical health of those concerned must areas. There is no plumbing to the modular come first. buildings that have been provided, which must I do not think I have seen a worse give rise to accusations of Third World situation of long-term Government bungling standards. There are definitely no covered and incompetence as there is here. These walkways, despite the fact that the department children deserve the best accommodation they is continually warning children about the can get, and I urge the Minister to move dangers of skin cancer and the risk presented quickly to address and resolve this shocking by the hot sun in summer. problem facing the Wamuran community. A total of 77% of all classes are held in These children deserve that school. temporary buildings. The buildings and site are Time expired. estimated as unsuitable for advanced technology and future planning. There are very real difficulties in placing optical fibre cabling to One Nation Party these modular buildings, and this immediately Mr MUSGROVE (Springwood—ALP) puts the school way behind other schools in (9.42 p.m.): This morning the member for the area of learning. These are just some of Tablelands responded quite vigorously to an the acknowledged problems facing the answer given by the Deputy Premier to a buildings. question about racism tags being attached to The problems facing the site itself are the One Nation Party. The member for massive and shocking and must be resolved Tablelands seemed quite hurt and quite without delay. Few schools are confronted with precious when it was suggested that the public a major traffic problem within yards of the perception of his party was one of a racist 2306 Adjournment 16 Sep 1998 party or, indeed, that a reasonable person, "I believe we are in danger of being given One Nation's publicly stated policies, swamped by Asians. Between 1984 and could possibly conceive of it as racist. 1995, 40 per cent of all migrants coming Mr Feldman: That is correct. It cannot to this country were of Asian origin. They possibly be seen as racist. have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate." Mr MUSGROVE: I thank the member for Caboolture for his interjection. I will give the I can only presume that these are reasons for House some reasons that it can be seen as the so-called non-discriminatory immigration racist. For starters, I refer to the document policy. In the West Australian of 2 May 1997, tabled this morning by the Deputy Premier: the Federal One Nation Leader stated— Pauline Hanson's One Nation policy "I am not Asian, I don't want to document, Immigration, Population and Social become Asian, I do not want to be part of Cohesion. Asia." Mr Feldman: A well-constructed She went on— document. "If they are not prepared to stand Mr MUSGROVE: It is a well-constructed beside us and be one of us then I would document indeed. It has many numbered be prepared to take them to the airport, points, one of which is principle seven. It put them on a plane and wave them states— goodbye." "Our migrant intake will be non- Her views are not restricted to the many good discriminatory on condition that the Australians who are of Asian descent or origin. numbers do not significantly alter the Aboriginals, the indigenous Australians, also ethnic and cultural make up of the come in for a good belt under One Nation's country." policy platforms and public statements. That is I think we all know what that means. That why it would be reasonable for an ordinary means that if you are Anglo you are in, and if person to assume that yours is a racist party. you are not you are out. Quite clearly, that is a Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Reeves): race-based immigration policy. Migrant intake Order! I remind the member to address his is predicated on the basis that it will not alter remarks through the Chair. the make-up of the Australian community. Mr MUSGROVE: I quote The Truth by Quite clearly, that is a race-based immigration Pauline Hanson—a wonderful document. I policy. have read it. One Nation members cannot Mr Sullivan: That says that race is a complain that they are being misquoted, criterion. because I have it here. In relation to Mr MUSGROVE: I thank the member for indigenous Australians it states— Chermside. Race is a criterion, so how could "The genocide claim is nonsense ... the policy possibly be non-discriminatory? I many Aborigines benefited from being turn to the Bulletin of 22 October 1996. In it taken from their families. the One Nation Leader, the member for Oxley, ... stated— In our opinion, the real 'genocide' "My fear is that if we keep going the which is occurring in Australia today is the way we're going, as my mother has said dispossession of the majority of Anglo- for many years, the yellow race will rule Australians. In our cities girls as young as the world ..." 14 sell sex for as little as $10 to buy drugs She went on to say, "It's very frightening." Are from Asian gangs ... " these not words of someone with racially That is what One Nation, which claims to be a motivated intentions? Would it not be party not based on race—— reasonable for an ordinary member of the community to assume—— Mr Feldman interjected. Mr Feldman: Will you table that? Mr MUSGROVE: Please understand, I am not calling the member for Caboolture a Mr MUSGROVE: Those documents are racist. tabled. The member for Caboolture can look at them in his own time. These examples are Mr Feldman interjected. indicative; they are by no means exhaustive. I Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The turn to the One Nation Leader's maiden member for Caboolture! speech. In it she stated— Mr Feldman interjected. 16 Sep 1998 Adjournment 2307

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! takeaway bottle shop. It is going into Time expired. Indooroopilly Shoppingtown— Mr Palaszczuk: What is the location? Mr BEANLAND: To answer the Minister's Restaurant Licence, Indooroopilly question, it fronts Station Road. It is going into Shoppingtown the old council library on that level where one Mr BEANLAND (Indooroopilly—LP) walks in off Station Road. I only found out (9.47 p.m.): I rise in this Adjournment debate about this application some days ago. to raise the very serious issue of an application Obviously I am greatly concerned about the for a 500-seat restaurant proposed for matter because of the effect that it will have on Indooroopilly Shoppingtown. I do this to place the residents of the area. It will also have an on the record my very strong objection to this effect on local clubs. We have Australian Rules application for what is a very large clubs, the Taringa Rovers soccer club and a establishment. number of bowls clubs. All these clubs have I am not necessarily opposed to a poker machines but, between them, they restaurant going into Indooroopilly would have fewer than 45 poker machines. Shoppingtown, but I am strenuously opposed The Sherwood Services Club at Sherwood is a to the licence that this restaurant is large operation and probably has 100 poker endeavouring to obtain. I understand that the machines and it certainly will be affected. application by Pullenvale Estates Pty Ltd is to Apart from that, we have a number of operate not only a restaurant but also 45 liquor outlets in the area. We have adequate poker machines, a bottle shop, entertainment takeaways, bottle shops and clubs. We also stage, Keno, PubTAB and so on. This have some hotels where people can go and operation would front Station Road, have a drink or a meal and gamble at the Indooroopilly. Not only would it operate until same time. Why this place needs a PubTAB I midnight four nights a week, it would operate do not know. As most members are aware, I until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday am not against having a bet, but this is nights. At least, that is what is contained in the ridiculous. There are TAB facilities up the road, application. This will have huge ramifications down the road, across the street and for those living in the area, for the suburb itself wherever. We certainly do not need another and also for clubs in the area. I will say PubTAB. something about that in a moment. This is a major application under the guise I understand that the application is for a of a restaurant. I do not know what the general or hotel licence. It is for a fully licensed advertising requirements are these days, but I hotel or tavern. The proposal might be put up ask the Minister for Local Government to have under the name of a restaurant, but my a look at this. The local residents certainly were understanding is that this is a general licence not advised of this application. I personally was that one would get for a hotel or a tavern. It is not advised about it because I would have hardly a restaurant proposal. I have made jumped on the issue immediately. submissions both to the Minister for Tourism, One can appreciate that at 2 o'clock in Sport and Racing and to the Treasurer about the morning intoxicated people would roll out this application. I appeal to those two Ministers of the premises. The building will have a stage to give careful consideration to this application. for full entertainment and a gambling area. I believe it should be rejected on a number of Patrons will be able to get takeaways from the grounds. I also ask that the Brisbane City bottle shop. Station Road is a busy area Council look further into this issue, although I containing a lot of cinemas and coffee shops. understand that it has in fact approved the It has links with the railway station. There are proposal. also a number of retail outlets. I can see a lot I think it is quite mischievous that an of social disturbances occurring in the area. application has been made for a restaurant Time expired. licence when in fact a fully licensed tavern is proposed for Indooroopilly Shoppingtown. The application is not a limited application. Of Mr R. Cassimaty course, no-one is against a restaurant. People Mr WILSON (Ferny Grove—ALP) build restaurants of different sizes at different (9.52 p.m.): I take the opportunity in this places. This is an application for a general Adjournment debate to pay tribute to a local licence, but it is a gambling and entertainment living treasure of the electorate of Ferny Grove. centre. As I say, it has 45 poker machines. It is I speak of Mr Bob Cassimaty. On Sunday, 13 also going to have Keno, PubTAB and a September, Bob Cassimaty's general store at 2308 Adjournment 16 Sep 1998

1310 Samford Road, Ferny Grove, closed for has always been that the customer comes first the last time. Many people throughout the and he always endeavoured to get in any north-western suburbs and across Brisbane will items that were asked for, regardless of the know Bob personally, or know him by his fact that he made no money on the sale. outstanding reputation. As Bob said at a small In the early days the shop was really in celebration function on Sunday, he is partly "the bush" and serviced all the local farmers pleased to be retiring and partly sad as well. All with grain, feed, hay, horseshoes and all their Australians would agree that, at the age of 78 shopping requirements. Bob also used to do and a half, Bob is well and truly deserving of deliveries to the whole area and credit was retirement. always available when times were tough. A On 11 May 1957, Bob Cassimaty and his couple of years ago, Lord Mayor Jim Soorley, wife Betty—who unfortunately passed away Councillor Ann Bennison and close to 300 some time ago—opened their general store on guests—including Michael Lavarch, former Samford Road. After nearly 42 years of faithful Commonwealth Attorney-General—attended and selfless service to the community, Bob the opening of the Bob Cassimaty Picnic has now closed his business. His health has Ground at Samford Road, Ferny Grove, not been the best of late and this has finally named in honour of Bob for all his years' forced him to sell. service to the community. This is really the end of an era. Bob had This is the end not only of one of the last become an institution, not only in the northern true general stores but also of a level of old- suburbs but also throughout Brisbane. There fashioned service that the supermarkets and are very few Brisbanites who have not at some chain stores just do not supply. At the small time passed through Ferny Grove and stopped celebration last Sunday, a few family and in at Bob's shop near the BP service station friends attended Bob's general store without and the Ferny Grove Railway Station. Local warning him. It was a privilege to join with Ann schools, clubs and charities have all benefited Bennison and the Honourable Glen Milliner, from his generous support over the years. former longstanding member for Ferny Grove, to publicly acknowledge what a fine and Bob's must have been one of the longest exemplary Australian Bob Cassimaty is; to say operating general stores in Brisbane. Bob was thanks to Bob for being such a valued friend in born in Australia to Greek and English the local community. immigrant parents on 8 March 1920. His parents, Anthony and Ruby Cassimaty, came Channel 7 filmed the occasion and I hope to Australia from Kythera, Greece and that many more people will get to know about Manchester, England respectively at the ages Bob. Channel 9 did a section on Bob for of 15 and 12 years. Bob and his family are an Brisbane Extra some weeks ago. Bob is a very excellent example of the value and strength of modest and humble man and does not seek our multicultural society. the limelight. However, this is an important moment in the history of our local community. Bob is an old "digger" who fought in the We often give great recognition to the high- Solomon Islands and New Guinea during flyers, the celebrities, the stars and the World War II, and in true fashion he has never bigshots in our society. We should raise up sought recognition—nor expected it—for his more of our local living treasures such as Bob war duty or the years of helping the local Cassimaty and give them the same community. He remains an active member of recognition and acknowledgment. the Gaythorne RSL. I am indebted to Bob's two sons, Michael Both Bob's parents have passed away. and Tony, for much of the information that He has six children aged 30 to 48 and 14 formed the basis of this speech. I am sure that grandchildren, with one more on the way. Bob all members of Parliament will join me in and his father ran a lunch shop in the old wishing Bob all the best and good health in his T & G Arcade in the city in the post-war years retirement. called the Crystal Inn. The old cigarette rack used in that shop was still being used in Bob's Motion agreed to. general store until last Sunday. His philosophy The House adjourned at 9.57 p.m.