528 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Thursday,28 February, 1991

Mr Speaker (The Hon. Kevin RichardRozzoli) took the chair at 10.30 a.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer.

COMMITTEE ON THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN Message Mr Speaker reported the receipt of the following messagefrom the Legislative Council: Mr Speaker

The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following Resolution: (1) That, in accordance with section 31A of the Ombudsman Act 1974, a Joint Committee, known as the Committee on the Office of the Ombudsman, be appointed. (2) That, in accordance with section 31C (1) (a) of the Ombudsman Act 1974, MI Dyer, Mr Gay and Mr Mutch be appointed to serve on such Committee as the Members of the Legislative Council.

The Legislative Council requests that the Legislative Assembly inform the Legislative Council of the names of the Members of the Legislative Assembly appointed to serve on the Committee.

Legislative Council JOHNJOHNSON 27 Febmaly 1991 President

PETITIONS Aboriginal Land Rights Act Petitions praying that because of the many benefits brought by the Aboriginal Land Rights Act to the Koori people and to the wider community, the House will support the retention of the Act as amendedand the three-tier land councilstructure, received from Mr Markham and Mr Mills.

Offences Against Children Petition praying that an investigation be made concerningclaims that child sex offendersare being acquitted,and sentences of convicted childsex offenders bereviewed to see whether they should be substantially increased,received from Mr Rumble.

Chullora High-Temperature Incinerators Petition praying that the House reject the proposal to construct two high-temperature incineratorsat 75 Anzac Street,Chullora, received fromMr Shedden. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 529

Port Kembla Sewage Petitions praying that the House will not proceed with the proposal to divert Port Kembla effluent to the Shellharbour sewage treatment plant, received from Mr Harrisonand Mr Rumble.

Albion Park Rail Pedestrian Crossing Petition praying that a pedestrian crossing be established on Tongarra Road, Albion Park Rail, in the vicinity of the Albion Park Rail Public School, received from Mr Rumble.

Albion Park Rescue Helicopter Service Petition praying that the House ensure that the rescue and emergency helicopter service stationed at Albion Park and serving the communities of the South Coast be retained at its present level of service, received from Mr Harrison.

Swimming Pools Petition praying that because the Swimming Pools Act has failed to achieve its objectives, the House amend the Act by revoking the requirements in respect of fencing swimming pools and deleting section 13 of the Act, received from Miss Fraser.

Rockdale-Banksia Traffic Petition praying that the House reject the proposals of the Roads and Traffic Authority for Rockdale and Banksia, received from Mr Unsworth.

Pacific Highway Roadworks Petition praying that the House request the Minister for Roads to honour the promise to complete work on the Swansea S-bends by 1991, received from Mr Welsh.

Rockdale Police Station Petition praying that full police services be maintained at Rockdale police station, received from Mr Unsworth.

Mount Druitt Drugs Petition praying that the Government take action to ensure that Mount Druitt is free of drug peddling, received from Mr Gibson.

Royal Agricultural Society Showground Petition praying that the House will prevent the sale by the Government of foreshore and public parklands, including the Royal Agricultural Society Showground, the E. S. Marks Athletic Field and part of Moore Park, and that residents be included on their administrative bodies, received from Ms Moore. 530 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

WoolloomoolooFinger Wharf Petition praying that public money not be wasted demolishing the structurally sound finger wharf and establishing a walkway on the western side of Woolloomooloo Bay but instead that basic renovations be carried out on the wharf and an integrated multimedia arts centre be established,received from Ms Moore.

Edgeworth Sewage TreatmentWorks Petition praying that the House expedite that part of the planned upgrade of the Edgeworth sewage treatment works that will result in the eradication of the odour it creates, received from Mr Mills.

COMMITTEEON THE INDEPENDENTCOMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION Second Report Mr KERR (Cronulla) [10.38]: I bring up and lay upon the table of the House the second report of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption on the committee's inquiryinto commission procedures and the rights of witnesses together with the minutes of evidence taken before the committee. Ordered to be printed. Mr KERR: I seek leave to make a statementin connection with the report. Leave granted. This is the final report of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption on its inqui~yinto commissionprocedures and the rights of witnesses. It is the culmination of 12 months' work by the committee on the rights of witnesses appearing before the Independent Commission Against Corruption. On 1st March last, I tabled in the House a report on witnesses prepared for the committee by the Independent CommissionAgainst Corruption. This report setout the provisions ofthe lndependent Commission Against Corruption Act dealing with witnesses. A few months later I tabled in the House correspondencebetween the committee and the commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Mr Ian Temby, Q.C., which contained furtherinformation about the Independent Commission Against Corruption's powers over and protection afforded to witnesses. This information, together with the earlier report on witnesses, effectively providedthe committee with the Independent Commission Against Corruption's own yardstick, by which its treatment of witnesses could be measured. The committee was then in a position to review the exercise by the commission of its functions relating to witnesses against an objective standard. In August 1990 the committee announcedthe terms of reference of its inquiry into commissionprocedures andthe rights ofwitnesses andit released a discussionpaper prepared by the Hon. Athol Moffitt, Q.C., C.M.G. In November I tabled the committee's first report on this inquiry. That report dealt with the general question of public hearings versus private hearings and the question of damage to reputations. It contained recommendations for an amendment to the Independent Commission 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 531

Against Corruption Act and changes to procedures at ICAC hearings. The second and final report that I have tabled today deals withoutstanding issues in relation to ICAC hearings, ICAC investigations and a number of miscellaneous issues which arose in evidence taken before the committee. In some instances the committee has found that concerns raised were without foundation. In other areas the committee has found that further inquiry is required before firm recommendations can be made. These include the contempt powers of the commission and the problem of the cost of legal representation before the ICAC. In regard to legal representation, one option mentioned in the committee's report is the concept of having a duty solicitor to advise witnesses of their rights before they appear at ICAC hearings. However, the committee has identified some areas in which it believes there are procedural problemsand has recommended a number of procedural changes. The committee has recommended that, as far as possible, hearings should be the end process of ICAC inquiries, and that consideration shouldbe given to putting allegations to affected persons before a matter reaches the public hearing stage. The committee has also recommended that persons making statements to the ICAC should be provided with copies of their statements except in the most exceptional circumstances. The committee has also made recommendationsfor procedural changes relating to the naming of persons in ICAC reports and the treatment of property which is seized during an investigation. During this inquiry the committee received assistance from anumber of highly qualified persons. I have alreadymentioned the Hon. AtholMoffitt. It should be noted also that, following the completion of his report on the Walsh Bay inquiry, the Hon. Michael Helsham, Q.C., approached the committee to offer his assistance. Subsequently, he provided a wealth of invaluable material and met with committee members on a number of occasions. The committee will continueto fulfil, in an ongoing way, its monitoring and review function in relation to the ICAC. It should be noted that, in addition to this inquiry, during the past 12months the committeehas held two public hearings with Mr Temby, met with relevant agency heads and tabled reports which outlined these meetings. Now that the Committee has completed this extensive review of the ICAC's treatment of witnesses, it is up to the ICAC, after making procedural changes where necessary, to get on with its important job, with the full support it deserves. I commend the report to the House.

QUESTIONSWITHOUT NOTICE

COAL RIGHTS COMPENSATIONRECIPIENT MrJACK TASSEIW; Mr PICKARD: Yesterday the honourable member for East Hills asked me a question about a coal compensation matter relating to Mr Tassell. As to the latter part of the question, I believe that the honourable member had a slight aberration of his normal honourable practice of dealing with issues. I am amazed that he should have raised this issue,and a personal attackon a member ofthepublic, particularly this person who in fact- 532 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Riverstoneto order. Mr PICKARD: This person is subject to the normal attitudeof the Labor Party. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections. Mr PICKARD: When someone standsup for justice and rights they continue to pillory them and crush them as they did with many people in that area. I have inquired into this matter and should like to inform the House that recently the Coal Compensation Boardpaid approximately$6.5 million in compensation for coalrights to Mr Jack Tassell's family company.The compensationwas processed alongwith other claims in Ellalong colliery holdings. Nospecial prioritywas given to Mr Tassell. More than $135 million in compensation is being paid to those people who were unjustly robbed by you- [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Illawarrato order. Mr PICKARD: More than 600 claimants have received payment in full. Mr Tassell was paid compensation at the rate of 90c per tonne, the same rate as is paid to other claimants. In the colliery holding Mr Tassell has not sought compensationat the rate of 82c per tonne from this Government-never. Rather than the land not being mined, let me say that coal is currently being extracted fromMr Tassell's area, despite what the person told the member for East Hills. The Government has no interest in what Mr Tassell--or anybodyelse-has paid for his land. [Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member forKiama to order. Mr PICKARD: Our responsibility isto determine the title, the current value of the coal and then to determine the correct compensationand pay it. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Burragorangto order. Mr PICKARD: That is what we did for Mr Tasselland 600 other people. I assure the honourable member for East Hillsthat in my role in the determinationof this claim I have had nothing else to do with it than to sign the document when itwas put to me by- [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr PICKARD: Opposition members do not understand. Everybody who is seeking compensation musthave the signature of the Minister. I sometimes receive hundreds in one day to sign. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 533

DIREXTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONSMANY APPEAL Mr CARR: My question without noticeis directed to the Attorney General. [Interruption] Mr CARR: Predictable, but important. Did the High Court criticise the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for inadequately preparing its case on the Many appeal, both to theHigh Court and to the Court of Criminal Appeal? Doesthe Attorney Generalrecall, in December, rejecting totallythe very idea of appeal? Did the Attorney General appeal only after the opinion of a Queen's Counsel was obtained by the Opposition? Inview of yet another bungled trial, will the Attorney General now resign? [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER. Order! I call the honourable member for Hurstville to order. Mr DOWD: The Director of Public Prosecutions, appointed under the appropriate statute, is not subject to the control either of this Government or of the previous Government that appointed him. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Ashfield to order. Mr DOWD: I will deal with the honourable member's dirty hands in a minute. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Minister for Environment to order. Mr DOWD: In pursuance of the power given to me under his Act, I consulted with him prior to the lodgment of the appeal that went to the High Court. In my view, the grounds of appeal were sound. I had hoped that the High Court, in dealing with the matter, would have given some assistance to the Government in discussing the reasons about whether it would or would not allow the appeal. The High Court did not give reasons. The court did not, as often it does not with special leave applications, grant leave, except to give grounds for refusing special leave and to indicate that that was a majority decision. When I held a press conferencelast year my view was that the decision was not likely to be successfully appealed. As it happened, my view was correct. However, the ground upon which the Director of PublicProsecutionsbrought his appeal was in my view a sound basis for appeal and is a matter that is being taken into account in the review of the law being carried out by the criminal law review division of my department, a review that I instituted. I discussed this matter with the Premier who considered correctly, as did other members of the Government, that the extent of the sentencereduction in this case in relation to the seriousnessof the offence,was too great. We believe that there must be some change in the law that was examined by the High Court on appeal and which will continue to be examined, with a view to making sure that when a court discounts a sentence it takes into account the enormity of the original crime. It is important that members look at the facts of the case and not only at the glosses that have been put on them. The appeal to the High Court was against a decision of the court. The court applied the law announced clearly in 1912in the United Kingdom, but which was already in place before then. The appeal was against the 534 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 decision of the court to apply the common law. It must be remembered-I ask honourable members to listen particularly to this-that this offenceoccurred withintwo months of Many's release. Further, he was not released by a court, he was not released under the common law; he was released by the Government of the day exercising its executive power to release him because of the circumstances of his assisting a prison superintendentwho was to be subject to an attempt on his life. Mr Whelan: Rubbish!

Mr DOWD: The honourable member for Ashfield said "Rubbish". The fact is that it does not suit his case for these facts to come out. I am not saying whether that decision was right or wrong. I merely want to reveal the hypocrisy of the former member of that Government. The Deputy Leader of the Oppositionasked why we did not appeal. I hasten to add that the Coalition was not in government in 1986. Most of the people who were in government at that time later lost their seats. Some of the present members of the Opposition were in government then. If anyone were to appeal-though I do not know how one appeals against an executive decision of a government-he should have done so. This case was subject to a discount of one-third given by the court, when the sentencing judge imposed a term of 20 years with a non-parole period. When the Sentencing Act was introduced--one would have hoped members on the Opposition side would have read that legislation, which the Opposition supported in its passage through this Parliament-we replaced the system under which the remissions were so great that sentences were laughableand under which the actual time spent in prison was only a relatively small part of the original sentence. With the support of the Opposition, that system was changed.

Part of the change included transitional provisions coveringpeople who were in prison at the time of the change. All members should have read that legislation but, judging from the remarks made by the honourable member for Ashfield in the media, I am satisfied that he did not. Under the transitional provisions of the Sentencing Act, there is an automatic crediting provision-in this case of seven years and two months. When thecourt dealt with the matter it considered a shortened sentence of 12 years and some months. The cumulative effect of the decision of the Court of Appeal applying the existing law during the time that Labor was in office was a discount that was far too great in my view, given the circumstances of this particularlyhorrendous crime. It must be remembered that the discount-supported by the Opposition-has an accumulative effect which is, in my view, too great. Therefore the Government is examining the law with a view to ensuring that the Court of Criminal Appeal takes into account the enormity of a particular crime. It is important that we deal with the facts which the court took into account in its consideration of the appeal against the decision of the judge who gave the 20 years, subject to the discount. The fact is that Many gave information on a series of different cases. At no stage did Many seek to trade that information for some benefit to him. That is part of the unaminous decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal. It is not a matter of the Government's opinion; it is not my opinion. It is the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal, which honourable members opposite ought to learn to respect. The fact is that the findings of the Court of Criminal Appeal were that in four circumstances Many assisted-

[Interruption] 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 535

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Riverstone to order for the second time. Mr DOWD: -without, as it were, trading the information for a benefit. Whatever Many's motives were is of no concern to the Parliament.

[Interruption] Mr SPEXKER: Order! I call the honourable memberfor Ashfield to order for the second time.

[Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Waverley to order. Mr DOWD: We do not knowwhat his motives were. The policy of the law, which is no different whoever has been in power, is simply that there is a system whereby information or assistance given to the prison system and to the courts is taken into account in sentencing, asare matters of contrition,a plea of guilty, and so on. A whole range of matters is taken into account. Many was not given a discount by the Court of Criminal Appeal for trading information. First, Many revealed a plot to kill a witness in the Kalajzich murder case. What that means is that without that information there would not have been aconviction in that case. Second, he gave informationrelating to Tom Domican's involvement in a plot to kill another person. Third, he provided informationrelating to Domican's involvementin the shootingof ChristopherFlannery. Fourth, he gaveinformationin relation to another murder. Mr Newman: That makes it all all right, does it?

Mr DOWI): Of course it does not make it all all right concerning thisparticular victim who, I must say to her immense credit, understandsand concedes that there has to be a system of giving information.

[Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Cabramatta to order.

Mr DOWD: But, we ought to remember that of the 5,000 people who are in the prison system some 1,000 or so-and it is very difficult to obtain the precise information-are convictedand incarcerated becauseof the system of giving discounts on sentencefor providing information. That is the simplefact of the law. It is that police workon the basis of getting information;the prison system works on the basis of getting information. So,this was an application of the law. I believe in this particular casethat the court, in applying the law, ought to have taken into account the circumstances. There is no criticism of the judges in their application of the law, except that the Governmentbelieves theyerred in giving too great a discount and that is why the appeal was lodged. The High Court has made its decision under the principles of special leave. That is the decision of that court. It is now for the Legislature to act and, having had the proceedings terminated yesterday, the Government will now prepare legislation appropriatelyto give greater weight to the particular circumstancesof the case and not the matter of the discount. 536 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

The principle of giving discounts for assistance given and for information provided to the police is part of the system of every legal systemand every criminal justice system in the world. It is an absolute hypocrisy on the part of the honourable member for Ashfield to go on with this nonsense about, "we would do this, and we are sorry for this". It is a former Labor government that allowed the release of Many by executive action. It is a law which the Government will change to prevent this type of matter happening again. I hope we will have the support of the Opposition. Let us not have any hypocrisy from honourable members opposite. The only other matter is that there has been an application lodged under the Victims' Compensation Tribunal. It was lodged out of time, but has been allowed. The waiving of the time has been granted. The application was lodged on 15th February and will be dealt with expeditiously.

OPPOSITION'S STATE RAILAUTHORITY PROMISES COSTING Mr MORRIS: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Transport, Minister Assisting the Premier, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer. Have investigations been made to determine the cost of Opposition promises in regard to the railways? If so, what is that estimated cost and what projected effect would implementation of the promises have on State Rail's finances? Mr BAIRD: I compliment the honourable member for Blue Mountains for his understanding of questions related to transport throughout this State and for what he is doing to improve transport services in the Blue Mountains,which was more than was ever done by his predecessor. The honourable member for Blue Mountains is an outstanding member. [Intemption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Kogarah to order. Mr BAIRD: In the 1970s Lee Majors was thrown up as the Six Million Dollar Man. The 1990s has thrown up Bionic Bob as the Four Billion Dollar Man. In a desperate attempt tobuy votes the Opposition plans to spend $3,860 million, at a cost to the taxpayers.

[IntemptwnJ

Mr SPINIER:Order! I call the honourablemember for Londonderry to order. Mr BAIRD: We have heard about the great lies perpetrated and we have "Bob Carr Cares" throughout a document- [Intemption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Mulgoa to order. Mr BAIRD: It is the document of the honourable member for Kogarah. It starts with western Sydney and the new rail links, the so-called transport policy of western Sydney. New cross suburban lines would be constructed from Punchbowl to Hurstville and Parramatta to Epping with a new station interchange- [Intemptwn] 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 537

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Kogarah to order for the second time.

Mr BAIRD: It further states that Merrylands, Harris Park and Wiley Park will be constructed as part of the implementation of the Jacana study at a total cost of $1,100 million. We also have Bob Carr- [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is too much audible interjection in the Chamber. Question time will proceed much more effectively if honourable members cease to interject. Mr BAIRD: The Australian Labor Party transport policy for the Hunter region. Of course we have the promise that the Opposition will maintain the Broadmeadow to Newcastle line and keep Newcastle station open. We all know the contribution the honourable member for Kogarah has made-the underground rail link from Broadmeadow to Newcastle at a cost of $1.2 billion. Then we have in the proposal- [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for McKell to order. Mr BAIRD: Settle down, Sandy. You are not going to win your seat. We all know that Dawn is going to make it, so settle down. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Cronulla to order. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Broken Hill to order. Mr BAIRD: Page 2 of the document states that the Opposition has plans to revamp the Newcastle suburban network involving use of existing rolling-stock and new Tangara carriages. What we have is the introduction of Tangaras on the network which means the electrification of the network with the cost ranging between $80 million and $600 million to electrify the line from Broadmeadow to Maitland. Mr Cieary: It is already electrified, you dill. Mr BAIRD: All this information is in the document produced by the honourable member for Kogarah. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Wentworthville to order. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much interjection from memberson the Opposition sideof the House. Members of the Opposition have ample opportunity to raise this subject-matter in their contributions to the Address-in-Reply debate. They 538 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

are certainly not making any contribution to the deliberation of the Parliament by their interjections. As have all members who are given the call, the Minister has the right to be heard in silence. Mr BAIRD: Then there is the fulfilling and sweeping promise to restore the outmoded North Coast sleeper and motorail services, as well as XPT services to Armidale and Canberra. That would amount to a capital cost of $102 million, plus an operating bill of $23 million each year. It would add three hours to journey times from Sydney to destinations north. A Labor government will also restore train services to Armidale. The Opposition has ignored the announcements made by the Government about the new Explorer trains to Armidale and services to Queanbeyan and Canberra. With regard to station staffing, Labor's western Sydney policy, which is set out in this document, will man all stations 24 hours a day and will provide platform surveillance. Mr Langton: On a point of order. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will hear the point of order of the honourable member for Kogarah in silence. Mr Langton: Obviously the Minister is reading selective parts of the Opposition's policy. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have asked members to allow me to hear the point of order of the honourable member for Kogarah in silence. I do not appreciate the interjections that are emanating from members on the Government side of the House. They are preventing me from deliberatingon the point of order. Mr Langton: To ensure accuracy,the Minister should be asked to table the entire document so that it may be incorporated in Hansard. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Kogarah knows full well that no point of order is involved. Mr BAIRD: I am happy to present this document. If there is one thing I have noticed about the honourable member for Kogarah,it is that he knows nothing about railways. We thought he may need a primer, so we have introduced Thomas the Tank Engine as his starting point. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members may consider that these matters are matters of some humour or mirth, which may be the motivation for their unruly and unacceptable behaviour. On many occasions I have instructed members that if the House is to proceed in an orderly manner to ensure that maximum value is gained from question time and other debates, it is necessary for debate to proceed in silence. I warn members on the Government side of the House that they are likely to incur my wrath if they continueto interject. It is difficult to identify individual membersunder such unruly circumstances, and therefore individual members may find themselves unfairly called. However, I will not hesitate to call members to order if that is necessary. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 539

Mr BAIRD: The honourable member for Kogarah has informedthe Illawarra CommutersAssociation that a Labor government would not proceed with further staff savings at State Rail, but he failed to say that that would cost an additional$280 million a year. The Opposition proposes to resume work on the Maldon to Dombarton line. With regard to proposals to be implemented by State Rail, such a project would beat the end of the list, yet a Labor governmentwould resume that work at an estimatedcost of $184 million. The honourable member for Kogarah has promised alsoto extend the South Coast electrificationto Kiama. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Kiama to order for the second time. Mr BAIRD: That scheme would cost a cool $70 million. He promised also to replace most Nightridebus services with two-cartrains. That would meanspending$8.5 million ayear, despite the fact that patronagehas almost doubledas a result of replacing late night train services withbus services. This commitmentis in additionto his promise to overturn the tollway decisions. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Wallsend to order. Mr BAIRD: That promise will cost $500 million. [Intemption] Ms SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Blacktown to order. Mr BAIRD: The Minister for Health has informed the House already that the Opposition,if elected to government, hasno capital works proposals for health, though it has many criticisms. Now we know why. It plans to spend $4 billion on new transport initiatives. Quite irresponsibly the Oppositionplans to take money from taxpayersand pensioners to put in place its grandiose schemes. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Mulgoa to order for the second time. Mr BAIRD: That is an irresponsible decision in the present economicclimate, which has been brought about by the mates of the Opposition who are in government in Canberra. The Opposition is returning to the Unsworth era of promises, promises, promises, without having regard to the cost to taxpayers and pensioners. It plans to implementits grandioseschemes because it is desperate. The electoratewill see through those promises. The Opposition is lacking in policies. Its promises are unreal and lack substance. This Government knows how to manage effectively.

PRISONERINFORMANT SENTENCES Mr VVHELAN: I direct a question without noticeto the Attorney General. How many prisoners convicted of serious, violent offences, and are now police informers, have received sentencereductions under the administrationof this Government? What 540 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 action has the Attorney taken to tighten guidelines for sentence reductions taking into consideration suchissues as victims' safety, the likelihood of prisoners reoffending, and the practice of granting reductions to informants who have previously perjured themselves-like Mr Many? [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Miranda to order. Mr DOWD: It is sad that the Opposition should have someone as its shadow attorney general who does not know even the most elementary principles about the application of common law and statute law. The guidelines issued to a court are, first, those annunciated by the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeal, and precedents. Second, they are provided by way of statute. Obviously the honourable member for Ashfield did not understand the answer I gave to an earlier question. Mr Anderson: Neither did anyone else. Mr DOWD: The honourable member for Liverpool last week asked that the Government interferein a particular prosecution-to have it withdrawn. What he was asking was that the Executive Government shouldwithdraw a criminal prosecution that is in the hands of either the police or the Director of Public Prosecutions. He, among other things, was a police Minister before he left us and came back [Intenuptwn] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Liverpool to order. Mr DOWD: The attitude of the Opposition is that the executive Government should override the courts as the law. In this State the law is clear with regard to common law and statute law. I have said that we are going to examine matters with a view to changing that law. The question asked by the honourable member demonstrates an abysmal lack of understanding of how the law operates. It is sad that the Opposition has had to stoop to such a level to have someoneof the calibreof the honourablemember for Ashfield as its spokesman on legal matters. I could imagine no other person less able to deal with such matters. There must be several members on the Opposition side of the House who have a little moreability than he has.

TOLLWAYSFOR WESTERN SYDNEY

Mr MATHESON: I direct a question without notice to the Deputy Premier, Minister for Public Works, and Minister for Roads. [Intenuption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Londonderry to order. Mr MATHESON: Is the Deputy Premier awareof plans by the previous Labor Government tobuild two tollways in western Sydney? If so, whatever happened to those plans, and is it now proposed to go ahead with similar tollways to improve traffic flow in western Sydney? 28 February,1991 ASSEMBLY 541

MrW. T. J. MURRAY: I thankthe honourablemember for his question.Ishould have thought that the Leader of the Oppositionwould welcomeme back. After all, it was he who gave a guaranteeto the press galleryprior to Christmasthat I would not be here, so, thankyou, Bob. [Intemption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr W. T. J. MURRAY: I am almostas returned as the honourablemember for Liverpool. This question demonstratesthe concernof the honourablemember for Penrith aboutroad matters, especiallyas they affect the western areasof Sydney. I am pleasedto be able to informthe Houseabout the many positive benefitsthat theF4 and F5 tollwayswill have for the peopleof New SouthWales, particularlythose wholive in western Sydney. It was with sheer astonishment thatI read comments from Labor members, includingthe Leaderofthe Opposition, that Laborwouldabandon the tollway concept. It is amazingthat Oppositionmembers find fault withthe Government's plan for tollwaysfor the F4 and F5 freeways. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourablemember for Granvilleto order. MrW. T. J. MURRAY:It was a Laborgovernment that gave enthusiasticsupport for massiveprivate enterprisetollway projects. Todayin the publicgallery are students from Bexley Public School. It is the people from suburbssuch as Bexleywho will gain benefit from unclogging of their suburbs asa result of freeway extensions. Are the memoriesof Oppositionmembers so convenientlyshort that they have forgotten that in May 1987Premier Unsworth and the Minister for Roads,LaurieBrereton, announced the Government's intentionto promotetwo private enterprisetollway projects,that is, theF5 Freeway from Alexandria to Glenfield,and anentirely new tollwaysystem parallel to the PacificHighwaynorth of Newcastle? On 16thMay, 1987,an articlethat appeared in theDaily Telegmph made it clear whenit reported the Premieras saying: The State Government is planning a radical user-pays scheme of road and rail development projects being built and financed by private enterprise business, the F5 expressway from Alexandria to Glenfield and the new tollway system parallel to the Pacific Highway north of Newcastle. It was the former Premier ofNew South Waleswho madethat statement.

MrSPEAKER: Order! Thereis too much audibleconversation in the Chamber and too much interjection. Mr W. T. J. MUKIIAY:Not only is the former Premiernow beingdenounced by his frontbench,but the hypocrisy continuesat an unbelievable rate. Do Opposition members notrecall how PremierUnsworth announcedthe Statedevelopment strategy which calledfor moreprivate sectorinvolvement in big business,such as tollways? The strategywas given a name-SID, shared infrastructure development. wasIt a policy of the former Government and representeda radical departure from Labor's totally negative approach to involvementwith the private sectorand theuser-pays principle, but the Unsworth Governmentbravely embraced the concept. Premier Unsworth announcedthat the Pacific Highwaytollway system wouldcomplete a tollway network 542 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 connectingthe existinggovernment-built Newcastle and Wollongongtollways, and the proposed F5 Freewaythrough the western suburbsof Sydney. Mr Unsworth saidthat theF5 linking Alexandriaand Glenfield wouldbe financedby taxes and tolls onvehicles carryingcontainers. That suggestioncame fromthe same Government that earlier had scrapped the comprehensive planof the former coalition Governmentfor a freeway network for Sydney. Had that plan been implementedit would haveaverted many of theproblems that confrontus today.

I need not remind the Houseof the previous Government'sabysmal record on roadsand how roadsin this Statewereallowed to fall into disrepair. Inotewith absolute amazementthe statements madeby the Leaderof the Oppositionand the honourable member for Kogarah,the shadowminister for roads, thatLabor would scrap the tolls on the F4 Freeway and on the F5 Freeway. We have had the Ministerfor Transport pointingout that he was the Four Billion Dollar man. I will add anotherone to it-he nowbecomes the Five BillionDollar man. If thetollways are abolished the Government will be up for another$500 millionfor each of them- Mr Langton: Over 25 years. MrW. T. J. MURRAY: Now we have a genius on the contractualobligations of the State whohas comeup with the bright ideathat a contractcan be written out over 25 years becausehe wants to renegeon it. What a farce! What a typical operationof a failed, miserableLabor government. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Thereis too much interjection. Mr W. T. J, MURRAY: The fact that the shadow minister forroads says he will take money from the special roads budget for western Sydney creates a great dealof conjecture inthe minds of the peopleof New South Wales. If he takes $1 billion from that, God help the rest of New South Wales. The Houseshould be informedthat this coalition Government recently announced a record $800 million road improvement program for western Sydncy over a five-year period-not 25 years. The Government made this program possibleby vastly improved managementpolicies, and by returning fuel tax money to road improvement.The fuel tax of 3.53~a litre- [Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourablemember for Wentworthvilleto order. Mr W. T. J. MURRAY: -with the acceptanceof every Labor member,was put into DarlingHarbour. TheLabor Governmenttaxed the motoristsfor its own glossy projects. The Greiner-MurrayGovernment initiated the 3 x 3 programand $80 million of that programhas been provided forthewest ofsydney, for theextension of Silverwater Road and for the reconstructionof WallgroveRoad. [Intemption] Mr SPEAIKER: Order! I call the honourablemember for Liverpoolto order for the secondtime. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 543

Mr W T. J. MURRAY: Those and other projects will be funded from that program. [Interruplion] Mr SPEAmR: Order! I call the honourablemember for Bankstownto order. Mr W. T. J. MURRAY: It appearsthat those members of the Labor Party who representwestern Sydneyelectorates have no interest in this. Theydo not want to hear what is happeningout there. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourablemember forCabramatta toorder for the second time. Mr W. T. J. MURRAY: Some of the other major projectsplanned for the west of Sydney over the next five years include the completionof the widening ofPennant Hills Road from Pearce's Corner to Mahers Road; theconstruction of the Cumberland Highway from Wentworthville-and the honourable member mightbe interested in that-to Liverpool. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourablemember for Wentworthvilleto order for the third time. Mr W. T. J. MURRnY: An extensive trafficsafety and management program, including blackspot and congestion elimination,with specialemphasis on the needs of pedestrians and bicycle riders, is being developed. The Governmentis now committed to provide $230 million forthe F4 tollway to construct the missing link betweenMays Hill and Prospect. That includes the addition of two lanes to the heavily congested sectionbetween James Ruse Drive andMarlborough Road. The$295 million F5 tollway between Moorebank andBeverly Hills has advancedthe project by more thana decade. It is estimatedthat theF5 will cut travellingtime by one-thirdin peak periods.Motorists will be able to enjoy 48kilometres of freewayfrom Strathfield toLapstone when the F4 missing link is completed in February 1993. These projects will ease congestion and, more importantly, improveroad safety. Criticsof the toll road must remember that motorists have a simplechoice: they can usethe toll roads and save time andcar running costs; or they can choose not to pay the toll and use alternativeroutes thatare readily available to them. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr W. T. J. MURRAY: I wonder how long ParramattaRoad has been there. It will be there in the future. Whatis to prevent motorists from usingit? The economic benefits to the western suburbs of Sydney through increased employment must be highlighted,particularly inthe light ofthe recession, whichis hurting all of us. I know that Oppositionmembers have no interest in this, but 800 jobs willbe generatedby the construction of the F4 and F5 freeways. [Interruption] 544 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Blacktown to order for the second time.

MrW. T. J. MURRAY: Thosejobs are expected to provide indirect employment for another 4,000 people. In conclusion, the people of Sydney's west are getting a twenty-first century standard road system rather than the antiquated, hotchpotchof projects put forward by the former Government. They will get it as planned now and before the twenty-first century.

AITORNEYGENERAL AND Mr TIM BKISTOW Mrs GRUSOVIN: My question without noticeis addressed to the Attorney General, representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Was the notorious- [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mrs GRUSOVIN: Was the notorious criminal and standover man,Tim Bristow, who sought to see you in relation to the Mr Bubbles case, interviewed by police concerninghis involvement in the duplication and distribution of pornographic videos in the Narrabeen-Warriewoodarea? Mr DOWD: On behalf of the Minister for Police, obviously I do not know what happens in police operations. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr DOWD: That is obviously a matter for police operations. The Minister for Police would not have knowledgeof the matter either. The honourable member does not seem to understand that the police operate under law and not under the direction of the Minister for Police. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr DOWD: They laugh as though they think it is right for a Ministerto in some way interfere with the workings of the police. The fact is they operate under the statutes and under the common law. They do not report to the Minister for Police, nor should they; nor did they under previous administrations or under previous commissioners. The answer is, I do not know, and I will not ask the honourable Minister for Police because he ought not to know either. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr DOWD: If there were any offence committed, then revelation of an investigation does not help a conviction occurring. It must be remembered that this honourable member, in relation to another case involving children and allegations of sexual molestation, had a member of her staff interview one of those children and had 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 545 the transcript taken for 106 pages-106 pages of interview of a child in respect of whom a criminal allegation had been made of sexual interference. Ron Hicks, the former employee of the honourable member for Heffron, working for her, had this child interviewed by that person. That is a disgrace and an outrage, and for somebody- [Intemption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Monaro to order.

Mr DOWD: For somebody who posesas someone trying to protect children but in fact is merely exploiting the issue, for any membcr of Parliament, any citizen to interfere with a potential criminal prosecution- [Intemption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr DOWD: To interfere with a potential criminal prosecutionis an absolute disgrace-an absolute disgrace. It is hard to imagine anything more irresponsible by a member of Parliament than to have her staff talk to actual witnesses. Because if in fact there is to be a prosecution, that obviously taints the evidence, inhibits the possibility of a prosecution. In any event, if there is no prosecution to take place, can you imagine anything more appalling than to have the staff of a member of Parliament interview that child about matters when there are serious allegations? [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Gosford to order. Mr DOVII): Members of this Opposition-and let the public be quite clear-in every question have in fact made it quite clear that they will interfere in the proper processes of the law, they will interfere in police investigations, they will exposepolice investigations,theywill expose criminal proceedings,for cheap political gain,and I hope that the public understands- [Intemption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourablemembcr for Ryde to order. [Intemption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Heffron to order. Mr DOWD: -how absolutely disgraceful this member is in this particular question.

ELECTRICITYTHEFT

Mr RIXON: I address my question without noticeto the Minister for Minerals and Energy. Has the Minister seen today's media reports about the theft of electricity, and if so, what action is the Governmenttaking to tackle this problem? [Intemption] 546 ASSEMBLY 28 February,1991

Mr SPIEAKER: Order! I have now an impressivelist of members whohave been called to order. I warn all members that I would like the remaining short period of question timeto be carried out in silence. All memberswho have been calledto order so far are deemed to be on three calls. If they attract my attentionagain they will be required to leave the Chamberimmediately. Mr PICKARD: The honourable memberhas asked a questionabout a serious issue whichhas led alreadyto one death. If the problem could be dealt with, other tragedies may be avoided. For some time undercover investigations havebeen undertakenby ProspectElectricity and SydneyElectricity into thefts of electricity, which is a major crimein this State at this time. More important,it endangersthe lives of peopleas a resultof irresponsibleactions of criminal elementswithin thiscity and State. I havearranged for theElectricity Council alsoto undertakeinvestigations into this very dangerouspractice. Thematter first came to my attention 12 months agowhen a person who had just moved into a house on the Central Coastpurchased from somebody else was electrocuted whendealing with a broken fusein a fuse box. Themeter to the house had beendoctored, leaving fuse wires livewhen themain switchwas turnedoff. Anybody who condonesthat sort of practice which endangersthe lives of people ought to be condemned. Investigationsinto this matter were launched immediately and a number of people fromthe Central Coast areaeventually were charged with stealingelectricity. They should have been charged with much more. ProspectElectricity haslaunched a number of investigationsinto the extremely dangerous practice and is conducting training courses for meterreaders to detect electricity thefts.Every meter readeris endangeringhis life when he goes to read a meter in the course of the duties the State places upon him. This is one of the lowest tricks people could play in order to gain a few dollars. Mr Walsh: Speakto the altar. Mr PICKARD: I will alter the honourablemember. Inaddition, police are working closely with the county councilson this matter. This dishonest practice is costing the Stateand thecommunity millions of dollarsof revenueeach year. Also, it is an extremelydangerous practice. [Interruption]

Mr PICKARD: I will say itagain, becauseit should be said frequentlyand often that such peopleare endangering humanlife and should be condemnedby all the force of the law. Every citizen who knows of such a practice and the people carrying it out shouldreport that matterto the policeand thecountycouncil immediately they become aware of it. Othenvisethey themselveswill be supportingwhat could be a criminal actionand endangeringthe lives of others. My main concernin all thisis thatwe should speak loudly about this safety issue whichis putting at risk the lives of inspectorswho go to read the meters and anyone whobuys sucha home. Peopledoctoring electricity suppliesto steal powerput their own lives at risk. This is a dangerous,criminal actand I ask anyone who is aware of incidentswhere electricityis being stolen to report that matter to the local councilor to the police. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 547

ORDER OF BUSINESS Suspension of Standing Orders Motion by Mr Dowd agreed to: Thatso much of thestanding ordersbe suspendedaswould preclude such interruptions of the orderof the day for theresumption of the debateon the Addressin Reply to permit considerationof Governmentbusiness notices of motionsNos 1.2and 12.

SPECIALADJOURNMENT Motion by Mr Dowd agreed to: That, unlessotherwise ordered, thisHouse at its risingthis day doadjourn untilTuesday, 12th March,1991, at 2.15p.m.

OMBUDSMAN(AMENDMENT) BILL Bill introduced and read a first time.

Second Reading

Mr DOWD (Lane Cove), Attorney General,on behalf of Mr Greiner [11.33]: I move: Thatthis bill be now read a secondtime. The purpose of this bill is to include the positions of deputy ombudsmanand assistant ombudsmen as statutory positions in the senior executive service. The amendments, which are supported by the Ombudsman, will ensure the continued effective operation of the office by giving the Ombudsman greater control over appointments to its senior positions. Though appointments to these positions will still be made under the OmbudsmanAct, the provisions of part 2Aof thePublic Sector ManagementAct, which applied to chief executive officersand senior executive officers inthe public sector, will apply to the employment of the deputy ombudsmanand assistant ombudsmen. Their employmentwill be governed by contracts of employmentwhich will set out their duties, performancecriteria and remunerationpackages. The bill provides for the Ombudsman to appoint these officers, rather than the Governor, as is currently the case. In addition, the power of removing an executive officer from an executive position at any time, which is vested in the Governor under the senior executive service legislation,will be vested in the Ombudsman with respect to these positions. This will ensure that the independence of the office will be maintained. The bill also retains the current provision of the Ombudsman Act which enables these officers to be removed from officeat any time by the Governor upon the address of both Houses of Parliament. This is considered a necessary safeguard. In the absence of such a provision only the Ombudsman would have power to remove these officers. The bill is supported by the Ombudsmanand his senior officers and is a sensible measure which will enhance theaccountability and independenceof the Ombudsman's Office. I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Amery. 548 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

GROWTH CENTRES (DEVELOPMENTCORPORATIONS) AMENDMENT BILL Bill introduced and read a first time.

Second Reading Mr PEACOCKE (Dubbo), Minister for Business and ConsumerAffairs [11.36]: I move: That this bill be now reada secondtime. The main purpose of the bill is to amend the Growth Centres (Development Corporations) Act 1974 in order to dissolve the Bathurst-Orange Development Corporation andthe Macarthur Development Corporationand to remove the statutory growth centre designation of both the Bathurst-Orange and the Campbelltown-Camden-Appinareas. It is the Government's view that both corporations have now outlived the purposes for which they were established. This should not come as a surprise to anyone. The phase down of the Bathurst-Orange Development Corporation on a plan controlled basis, having been announced on 7th June, 1989, the phasing down of the Macarthur Development Corporation was announced on 18th May, 1990. The growth centres at Macarthur and Bathurst-Orange were originally established having regard to United Kingdom "new town" models where it was always expected that the statutory development corporation,as the name suggests, would operate only during the initial evolutionaryor developmental stagesof the new town. I understand that the average life-if I can use that expression-of the British new town development corporationswas of the order of 25 years. However, the so-called third generation British new town development corporations, which were established between 1967 and 1970, had an average life of approximately 20 years. The third generation British new town development corporationswere established in respect of existing towns and, to this extent, they are conceptually similar to the Macarthur and Bathurst-Orange development corporations.Our proposal to dissolve and wind up these development corporations afterapproximately 17years' existenceis not dissimilar from the British experience. It is also interesting to observe that in 1974, during parliamentary debate on the principal Act,it was clearly intended that the development corporationswould operate for a finite, though not predetermined,period. As part of the Government's action to wind down Bathurst-Orange Development Corporation,it granted financial assistance to each of the three local councils to enhance their role in encouraging private sector development and enthusiasm in the region. The Governmentalso ensured that the phase down of activity was done in an orderly manner, thusavoiding undue effects on land values in respect of regions and extending to the staff of the corporationsan adequateopportunity to adjust to the changes. Both areashave benefited,in varyingways and to different degrees, from the extensive planning, land consolidationand development that has occurred since 1974 as a direct result of the activities of the two development corporations. However, the stage has been reached in both areas where direct public sector involvement,as contemplated in the growth centres legislation, is no longer appropriate or necessary. In essence, both organisations have become providers ofdeveloped commercialand industrial land in theirrespcctive areas. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 549

As part of successive governments' endeavours to encourage and facilitate decentraIisation and industrial development throughout the State, the same role has been carried on for many years by the Ministerial Corporation for Industry, a statutory body under the StateDevelopmentand Industries Assistance Act. Thebill provides that the remaining assets of the two development corporations be vested in the Ministerial Corporation for Industry and dealt with under the provisions of the State Development and Industries Assistance Act. After existing land stocksare sold it is intended that this statutory body will be concerned only with the provision of strategic sites for industry, leaving the provision of industrial sites generally to the private sector and to local government. A large industrial subdivision by the Macarthur Development Corporation is under way at present at Smeaton Grange, southwestof Campbelltown. Significant development fundingwill be required to complete this project during the next three to four years. That funding will be provided from remaining assets of the Macarthur Development Corporation.

The bill provides for the Treasurer to consult with the Minister administering the State Development and Industries Assistance Act to determine which funds previously in the development corporations are in excess of requirements. Those surplus funds then can be transferred from the Industries Assistance Fund to the Consolidated Fund. The bill provides also for the repeal of the Growth Centres (Land Acquisition) Act 1974. There is not seen to be any need to retain this legislation, which provides for a special means of valuation of growth centre lands. Additional provisions of the bill will make minor or consequential amendments to the Growth Centres (Development Corporations) Act1974, the Albury-Wodonga Development Act 1974, the Public Authorities (Financial Arrangements)Act 1987and the State Development and Industries Assistance Act 1966.

It is pleasing to note that the Macarthur DevelopmentCorporation could finish its existence with a healthy net surplus, whilst the Bathurst-Orange Development Corporation accounts could show close to a break-even position. These outcomes do not take into account the writing off of certain loan interest charges by the State and Commonwealth governments. The benefits provided by the two development corporationshave thus been established without a net drain on taxpayers' funds. Indeed, Macarthur could produce a significant profit for the State when current development works are completed and the industrial estates are sold. On behalf of the Government I thank all former employees of both of the development corporations for their dedication, which has greatly assisted the corporations to achieve their objectives. Finally, I formally thank Mr Gordon Amedee, the outgoing chairman, and his fellow Bathurst-Orange Development Corporation board members for their valuable contribution since December 1988in phasing down the activities of the BODC.

Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Irwin.

MURRAY-DARLINGBASIN (AMENDMENT) BILL

Bill introduced and read a first time. 550 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

Second Reading

Mr CAUSLIX (Clarence), Chief Secretary, and Minister for Water Resources [11.45]: I move:

That this bill benow read a second time.

The purpose of this bill is to permit the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council to make resolutions without having to convene a meeting for that purpose. The council is a policy and oversighting body of Ministers for the Murray-Darling Basin,on which the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian governmentsare represented. The bill has been introduced to overcome a difficulty which has recently been experienced by the Murray-Darling BasinMinisterial Council. It will ratify a minor but important amendment tothe Murray-DarlingBasin Agreement, which isthe formal agreement between this Government and the governments of the Commonwealth, Victoria and South Australia forjointly managing the Murray River. The council is the co-ordinatingbody of Ministerswhich has been established to oversee areas of common interest to the four governments in the field of natural resource management,and to come to agreement on common policy directions across the Murray-Darling Basin.

Unfortunately the River Murray Waters Agreement, which established the council, does not allow for formal decisions or approvals unless a quorum is physically meeting in one place-a fact that was confirmed by advice from the New South Wales Crown Solicitor's office. It seems certain that it was never the deliberate intention of the agreement to prevent such out-of-session approvals,which are regularly allowedby other ministerial and similar bodies. It was simply an oversight. Nevertheless, a significant problem has arisen because the agreement also requires that the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, the administrative organisation under the agreement, must obtain approval of the ministerial council for expenditure in excess of $1 million. Because the council meets only once or twice a year, and the commission is undertaking some major construction works on behalf of the governments, administrative difficulties have arisen in trying to keep the work program on target. On one occasion it was necessary to convene a special meeting of Ministers from the four governments in order to prevent a contract approvalfrom being delayed until the next meeting of the council.

Regular approvals will continue to be required for the commission's ongoing construction program. The major program in the next few years will include a series of schemes to intercept salt carried by ground water which would otherwise enter the Murray River and increasesalinity levels. Two major schemes are presently under way: one at Woolpunda in South Australia at an estimated capital cost of $12.2 million, and a second at Mallee Cliffs near Wentworth in New South Wales, which is now at an advanced stage of planning. These schemes are part of the salinity and drainage strategy that was developed on behalf of the ministerial council and has been agreed to by New South Wales and the other governments involved. The Housewill have heard in recent years about the increasingly severe problems being caused by the spreading salinisation and waterlogging of productive land, thereby posing a major threat to the productivity of the southern pan of the basin. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 551

Today's production losses from these causes in major irrigation areas are estimated to be $65 million a year. The cost of current river salinity levels to urban industrial and agricultural waterusers is about $37 million a year. Unless we intervene, the area affected by high water-tables could increase by 500,000 hectares, with the cost of lost production increasing to $95 million a year by theyear 2015. Costs to water users would increase to $57 million a year by the same year. The council soon recognised the pressing needto develop a co-ordinatedplan to slow down and, if possible, reverse these destructive trends, but the problem was that much of the work for reducing land salinisation, such asimproved drainage schemes, would lead to increases in salinity in the Murray River. The solutionwas found in the salinity and drainagestrategy that was adopted by the council in 1989. Under this strategy, works to reduce river salinity are being fundedby all the governments,regardless oflocation. In return,New South Wales and Victoria can undertake land management measures and works that may add somewhat to the salinity levels in the river, but the overall salinity levelwill be kept down.

The council has developed also a broad natural resource management strategy for the basin, which was funded for the first time in 1989-90. It involves funding in the order of $50 million during the first three years for programs that promote better management of natural resources,and allows private and communitygroups in the basin to participate. The Commonwealth Governmenthas agreed to contributesubstantial funding for those programs,which are being implemented in the States. The strategy is still in its infancy, but the results should soon start to become evident. Important research is also being carried out, particularly into the bchaviour of ground water, which has such avital influenceon land and water quality and the underlying causes of changes to these resources. I hope we will see the ministerial council, supported by the commission, being a major influence in the basin in sponsoring investigations and research into natural resources-research which is vital to understanding what is happening and how it can be tackled. These strategies are only possible through the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, which establishes the framework for co-operative decisions and action. The agreement, however, requires updating from time to time, and the bill will improve the practical working of the ministerial arrangements.

On 4th October, 1990, the heads of the contracting governmentsexecuted an amending agreement to insert a new clause in the agreement, which will overcome the administrative difficulty with decisionsof the council. The new clause simply provides machinery for the council to approve a resolution at any time by circulating the text of a proposal to Ministers, using facsimileor other types of transmission,and for Ministers to approve the resolution by a similar process. Thiswill allow for speedierbusiness and for those times when unforeseen circumstances require ministerial approvalat short notice. The bill approves the amending agreement enteredinto on 4th October, 1990, and amends the Murray-Darling Basin Act as a consequence of the making of that agreement. I commendthe bill.

Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Amery. 552 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

GOVERNOR'SSPEECIk ADDRESS IN REPLY Fourth Day's Debate Debate resumed from 27th February.

Mr SCHULTZ (Burrinjuck) [11.52]: As are many of my parliamentary colleagues, I am honoured tospeak in reply to the Speech madeby His ExcellencyRear Admiral Peter Sinclair, AO., Governor of New South Wales. Recently His Excellency and Mrs Sinclair visited the Burrinjuck electorate. The Governor has demonstratedto the people of rural New South Wales that not only is he a person involved in rural New South Wales, being a breeder of livestock, but also he has a very close and personal affinity with rural New South Wales and is sympatheticto the problems associated with rural areas. His Excellency,in his Speech to the New South Wales Parliament on the occasion ofthe FourthSession of the Forty-ninth Parliamenton 20th February, outlined the continuing commitmentof the Greiner-Murray Governmentto the responsible economic managementof the New South Wales taxpayers' resources. In his Speech His Excellency said: For its part, the New South Wales economy has so far escaped thesevere market downturnwhich is being experienced in other States.

This relatively stable position can, to a large extent, be attributed to prudent management which the New South Wales Government has actively pursued in the public sector and the economy as a whole.

His Ejrcellencysays this in a climate of recession created by the Hawke-KeatingFederal Labor Government's inability to responsibly manage Australia's economy. He says this against a backdrop of shocking performancesby State Labor governments in Victoria, SouthAustralia, WesternAustralia and Tasmania. Any wonder thevotersof New South Wales are grateful for the hard decisions made by the Greiner Governmentin its first two years of office. Voters in New South Wales are content in the knowledge that the Greiner Government is not involved in murky deals which,combined with the tradition of old fashioned, out-of-date high-taxing Labor budgets, have placed an enormous combined debt of $5 billion onto the shoulders of taxpayers in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Any wonder the slogan, "Don't let Bob Carr do to New South Wales what John Cain and Joan Kirner have done to Victoria"is looking more and more attractive. Despite the difficulty in swimmingagainst an ever-increasingrecession tide, the New South Wales Government continuesto freestyle its way to a stable and sound economy. This professional applicationby the coach of the team, the Premier, the Hon. Nick Greiner, is being acknowledged by the enthusiastic media spectators who are publicly acclaiming the impressive records being set every year against what many punters describe as difficult financialobstacles-a gold medal performanceindeed. The Governor in his Speech touched on a number of achievements which reminded me of how important it is to adhere to the disciplined guidelines laid down by the Greiner Government if we are to remain the only creditable economicachievers in this country. Referencewas made to reforms to industrial relations,such as the enterprise bargaining legislationwhichwas introduced last year and of the Government's intent to reintroduce double elements of industrial relations reforms, such as voluntary unionism and secondary boycotts. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 553

The Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Further Education, Training andEmployment, the Hon. John Fahey, is a shining example to every member in this House, leading the way with his total commitment and dedication to his role as an elected member. The Minister made history when he became the first Minister from the lower House to embark on what can onlybe described as a marathon debate in the upper House in a valiant endeavourto convince the Democratsto vote for his industrial relations legislation. While I mention the Democrats, I should like to read the editorial from the Daily TelegraphMirror of Thursday, 22nd November, 1990. This is pertinent to letting the public know what they are dealing with when they are dealing with the Democrats. The article states: The Democrats, whohold the balance of power in the Chamber, risk wrecking a legislative program whichis crucialto the Government's plans to reshape theNew South Wales economy. The article continues: They are doingso with all of the mightand authority of havingwon the supportof 2.6 per cent of voters at the1988 State election.

The Governmentcame to powerwitha backingof 57 per cent

Minor parties and independents havean important partto play in expandingpolitical options and in keeping watchover the major parties. The article concludes: But when they continuallysabotage the preference ofthe majority theybecome a bloody nuisance.

TheDemocrats in the NSW Parliament arein dangerof falling into the nuisancecategoty. History will show common sense was ignored because of the dogmatic, inflexible approach of the Democrats who refused to acknowledge the significant contribution this legislation would have on an antiquated, inflexible, industrial relations system. Nevertheless, the Government, through the Minister, will have further opportunityto implement elementsof its industrial relations reformsby the introductionin this session of the Parliament of separate bills dealing with voluntary unionism and secondary boycotts. These smaller legislative packageswill test the mettle of these minor parties, which will be exposed publiclyon their resistance to change that offers the individual freedom of choice and, more important,freedom of association. His Excellency reminded the Parliament of the fulfilment of the Government's commitment to increase the number of police in New South Wales by 1,600 members during its first term in office. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services,the Hon. Ted Pickering, as part of this initiative,has strengthened the police force in rural New South Wales. In the Burrinjuck electorate police stations at Young, Junee and Tumut have at long last had increases to the point where they are now at patrol strength. I remind the House that prior to 1988 the Tumut police station had a strength of nine officers in total. As with many other police stations in rural New South Wales, Tumut police station was certainly undermanned. The Government gave a commitment that it would bring them up to the strength required. The former Labor Government spoke about this matter for five or six years prior to this Governmentcoming to office in 1988. One must remind the public of the dedication of police officerswho over the years have given their time, unselfishly with unpaidovertime, at no cost to the State. Thoseofficers have had the supportof their wives, who fortunatelylast year receivedrecognition from 554 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1993 theMinisterwhenhegranteda payment to them for their support. Tumut policestation, which now has patrol status, has had its complement of officers increased by six. Similarly, the Young police station has had its strength increased to 18 officers from its 12 officers in 1988. Those increases were longoverdue. The Minister for Corrective Services, the Hon. Michael Yabsley, has, to the satisfaction of all citizens who believe in proper punishment for those whocommit crimes against society, made sensible and practical changes to the prison system, which under the previous administrationwas nothing short of shameful. Referencewas made to the new 300-cell correctional institutionat Lithgow, one of a number of new prisons constructed to ease congestion in the system. The historically significant, privately designed, built and managed 600-inmateprison to be built at Junee will be the catalyst for an era of new generation correctional institutionsin New SouthWales and Australia. The impact this prisonwill have on the community will be considerable. It will assist in stimulating the economy of the town and surrounding district duringits construction period and thereafteron an annual basis. Junee, like many railway towns in rural New South Wales, hasgone through a rationalisation and voluntary redundancy exercisethat has affected the livelihoods of many of its residents. I am pleased that the Government has decidedto construct the 600-inmate prisonat Junee becausejobs will be created and the gradual decline the town has experienced over the past decade will cease. In the vicinity of $12 million will be injected into the economy of Junse and the district, and many businesses willbe able stay afloat during the recession we are now experiencing. As a result of the prison being built at Junee, essential services in the region will have to be expanded. That matter has been discussed alreadyby the Minister for Corrective Services with the local council. Sewerageand other services will have to undergo an enhancement programto cope with increasing demands.

The Junee council in its wisdom has undertaken to increase its housing stockby making more land available for house construction. Junee's population will increase because it follows naturally that when the prison is completed experienced officers will be employed to manage the institution. Thatwill impact on the population of the local high school and on the provision of servicesin the district. The position, so far as the retention of such services, will thereby be strengthened. It is always difficult for governments to maintain the level of services in townships that have a declining population. In line with the private sector building and managing this institution,it is hoped that the private sector will instigate a prison industry to complementthe natural resources of the southwestern region. My parliamentary colleaguethe honourable member for Monaro, in his contribution to the debate, referred to providing assistance to the wool industry. The Minister for Corrective Services has had discussions with Junee council about this matter. What better way to provide assistancethan for the successful tenderer forthe gaol at Junee to consider seriously the provision of a woollen mill within the system as part of a prison industry.

Education has received a significant boost in my electorate. At the moment at Young a joint technical and further education and high school developmentis going ahead. A technology high school will be built at Young at a cost of $7.5 million. In Gundagai in excess of $4 million has been spent on capital works to upgrade the local high school. For the first time Gundagaiwill be the beneficiary of a multipurpose centre that may be used by all members of the community. I commend the former Ministerfor 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 555

Education, the Hon. Terry Metherell, and the present Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs, the Hon. Virginia Chadwick, for their foresight in continuing to make funds available to Gundagai high school. Junee high school, because of an expected increase in population as a result of the building of the new correctional institution in the town, is undergoing major capital works at a cost in excess of $2 million. The education changes made by the Government are bearing fruit. Most schools and indeed the parents of schoolchildren are relishing their roles in school councils-an initiative introduced by the Government. Unfortunately, the changes have been marred by continual industrial disputation brought about by the New South Wales Teachers Federation which, by its arrogance, has continued to disrupt the education system. With its tactic of misinformation, even to the membership of the federation, senior executives of the Teachers Federation have demonstrated that they are neither capable of telling the truth nor interested in the impact that this mindless strike action is having on the majority of professional teachers who are genuinely endeavouring to assist schools in their efforts to get on with educating students. What a deplorable situation. The Teachers Federation is blatantly engaging in confrontation with the New South Wales Industrial Commission in a manner similar to action taken in the past by the Builders Labourers Federation. It is a shameful situation when the President of the New South Wales Industrial Commission is forced into a position of accusing the federation of deliberately misleading its membership about the true state of the federation's discussions with the Government. The unfortunate result of this irresponsible behaviour by the federation is that it is becoming difficult for the public to lift its impression of the teaching profession to a level that will restore the dignity and status it used to enjoy. Headlines such as, "Teachers peddle lessons in arrogance" and "Teachers face high noon", must make truly professional teachers wonder how they can cope with a negative public exposure, which they obviously can do without.

I wish now to refer to the $1.7 billion the Government has allocated, through the Roads and Traffic Authority, for the improvement and construction of State roads. I am sure all honourable members are able to identify easily specific road projects in their electorates. The reality is, however, that this funding, which has increased each year the Greiner-Murray Government has been in office, is having a significant impact on the improvement and upgrading of roads, many of which had come to the end of their economic lives. Roads, many of which have experienced flood saturation damage as a result of an excessively wet year, nccd a massive injection of Federal road funding if they are to bc brought up to a standard that will demonstrate to the motorist that a realistic portion of Federal fuel tax is being returned to maintain State roads. It is not good enough that of the 26c taken by the Federal Government for each litre of petrol sold only 3c is returned for the maintenance of roads in Australia. The Governor, in his Speech, said: The Government will continue to pursue road safety initiatives aimed at further reducing the State's road toll, which in 1990 reached its lowest level since 1957. Initiatives in this area include the -banningof radar deteciion and jamming devices, an extensive social awareness campaign,increased penalties for speeding, and the development of a longtenn road safety strategy to the year 2000.

It is interesting to note that two years ago, like many of my colleagues on this side of the House and some members of the Opposition, I began to highlight problems in my electorate associated with speeding motorists, and the difficulties police experience ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 controlling speeding motorists who usethe devices, which have now been banned by the Government, to avoid detection. I noted also, and probably more particularly, the difficulties police encountered on such roads as the Hume Highway, which for many years has been notoriousbecause of the number of motorists who have been either killed or maimed on it. Those initiatives, together with the camouflage operations of the Police Service, have resulted in a marked decrease in the speeds of heavy vehicles using the Hume Highway. I have been advised by many of my constituents of the benefits of that action, as I am sure many of my parliamentary colleagues have been also. Time and again my constituents tellme that for the first time for many years they are able to travel on the roads without fear of being run off the road by irresponsible maniacs driving heavy, dangerous machines. The health system has received a commitment of $4.3 billion for its rebuilding and upgrading in the 1990-91year. An additional $70 million has been allocated by the Government to fund new and extended health services. The Governor in his Speech made the following comment when referring to health: A comprehensive range of strategies for rural health services is being developed in New South Wales to permit greater access by country people to high quality medical care. The New South Wales Department of Health issued a document entitled, "Rural Health-Meeting the Challengesn. This is a classic example of what the Government is doing for rural people. In the introduction to the document the Minister for Health and Minister for Arts said: As part of the Government's new ten year Resource Allocation Plan, all country Regions will receive health funding in tine with their population. By 1998199all Regions will receive more funds in real terms than they do at present. Country people have the right to the same high quality medical care as people in city centres. For this reason, we will continue to build up the specialist services offered by Base and District hospitals across rural New South Wales. This means that more services will be offered in areas which are closer to the homes of patients and their families. I commend the Minister and the Government for that initiative, for acknowledgingthat rural people have a right to the same services as their metropolitan counterparts. Despite this initiative,the Labor Party misinformation machine is telling lies and giving misinformation. The people of this great State cannot trust the Labor Party-it has absolutely no honour. The people of this State will be amazed at the statements made by the Labor Party. The Labor Party will not announce publicly the costs of its promises. But people are aware that were a Labor government allowed to come to office at the next election-God forbid-New South Wales would be saddled with the same problems that have been experienced in other Labor States; that is, the irresponsible management of the Labor Party machine. Let me elaborate on that. On 21st February, in response to a question in this House, the Premier referred to the performance of the Labor States and said: Royal commissions are being held in every Labor State now. There is a Labor royal commission into a Labor government in Western Australia; a Labor royal commission into a Labor government in South Australia; a Labor royal commission into a Labor government in Victoria and, lo and behold, there is a royal commission into something or other in Tasmania. That speaks volumes about the way in which the Labor Party has mismanagedtaxpayers' resources for decades. Do not think that the general public will fall for the trap that was set during the 1988 election campaign. The voting public is intelligent. Mr Yeadon: That is why you will go. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 557

Mr SCHULTZ: Do not bet on it. I will be here next time. There is nothing that the Labor Party could put against me that would beat me in my electorate. The voters will use common sense, forwhich I give them credit. Theyknow the only way this State can provide a future for theirchildren is to allow the Greiner Governmentto continue the responsible managementpractices it has introduced and to get on with the job of supplying that future for the children of this State. I have no doubt that at the next Federal election the Labor Party will be tipped out and once again a coalition governmentwill be elected to pull the country out of the mire. Having saidthat, I repeat what I have said publicly and what I will continue to say: this will all depend on the way in which politicians of all political persuasions conduct themselves. My colleague the honourable member for Castlereagh referredto this in his contribution to the Address-in-Reply debate. We have to stop thinking about the system, about how long we can stay in it and how much money we canget out of it. We have to concentrate on addressing the reasons for our being here. We are here representing peoplein the best interests of the State and, at the Federal level, politicians are elected to represent the best interests of the country. That has not happened for five decades or more in this country becausepoliticians of all political persuasions have selfishlythought only about the matters to which I have referred. When we start to think about our children and the generationsto follow them, we may be able to turn this State and this country round to a position where those young people can enjoy the good times that we had as young people in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. I believe that should be the objective of all politicians. For far too long we have abused this country and taken it for granted. Let us stop the stupidity that goes on in this House every day. As a relatively new member of this place I find the behaviour deplorable. Is it any wonder that schoolchildrenin the public galleries leavethe Chamber wondering what the hell they were doing here, after seeing behaviour such as that displayed by members. There is absolutely no dedication by politicians in this House to the future of our children. This is a very important matter. I know that many membersof this House and of the upper House have a dedication and desire to assist future generations. Goodnessknows, the world has enough problems without our contributing to them by the way in which we continuallyabuse the resources of this country. We must remember that to get this State and country back on the rails we must dowhat we can to assist rural people. Becauseof high interest rates and because of the economicmismanagementof the Federal Government,many good people on the land and in small business will lose their livelihood. That will have a devastating impact on rural towns in New South Wales. More and more people will be put out of work. It is incumbent on us as responsiblepoliticians inthis House to do all we can to assist those who are in dire economic strife.

I have referred to the visit of the Governor, His Excellency Peter Sinclair, and Mrs Sinclair to the electorate of Burrinjuck. New South Wales is fortunate indeed to have a couple of the calibre of the Governor and his wife, to whom the people can look for leadership qualities. The Government couldnot have chosen a more dignified and respected person for Governor, a gentlemanwith vast knowledge of the problems of rural New South Wales and its people. I have covered many of the matters contained in the Governor's Speechdelivered at the opening of this session of Parliament. Ihope I have been able to put forward constructive criticisms and views on the direction in which this State should be heading and what we as parliamentarians shouldbe doing. ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

We need to lift our game and get on with the job of making things a bit easier for the generations that will follow. In all honesty honourable members cannot even contemplatethe problems facing young people who have to pay off homes and pay high interest on loans. When I was married in 1962 I borrowed noney to pay off my home at a rate of 3 per cent. In those days the interest rate on first mortgageswas about 5 per cent. Nevertheless,people argue that present interest rates are relatively the same. I would rather have been buying a house in the 1960s at the rate of interest applicable then than be borrowing $100,000 todayat present interestrates. I thank the Housefor the opportunityto speak in this debate.

Mr MARTIN (Port Stephens)[12.22]: In my contributionto this debateI should say first and foremost that this is the first opportunity I have had to convey my condolences to Suzie Martin on the sad passing of Sir David Martin who was a popular and capable Governorof this State. At the same time I extend to Peter Ross Sinclair, the new Governor,the good wishes of my electorate. Ihope thathe can do his unenviable job in a fine way. My electoratewisheshim well, In that regard I hope that his permanent residence will be located in my new electorate and that I will not have to make representations on his behalf to the Government to sort out any problems that might arise in the Tea Gardens area. I shall now briefly address some issues relevant to my electorate before proceeding to speak about broad issues relating to fisheries management, which is causing concern to the people of New South Wales. In addressingthe issues that affect my electorate I should point out to the Government the problems that are being encountered. I hope that the relevant Ministerwill be able to address the issues and get on with doing what is right for the people of my electorate. The first issue to which I refer is the Stockton ferry. That matter has been gnawing at the people of the Hunter region for some time. The issue is fraught with cheap political games and is causing great concernto the people of the region. Stockton is an isolated part of my electorate. It is part of suburban Newcastle, served by ferry services, though it has a bridge, but it involves a long journey through Newcastle to get to Stockton. That bridge was opened in 1972. In 1986the former Federal Minister for Transport, the Hon.Peter Morris, told people in my electorate and in the Hunter Valley that two ferries would be built under the bicentennial roads programto serve the area. Two catamaran ferries were built,the ShortZand and the Hunter, and have been in use ever since. Those catamaran design ferries with seatingcapacity for 200 passengers were built to withstand the surge that comes through the heads at the mouth of the Hunter River when northeasterlywinds are blowing and in the winter time when the westerly winds are blowing. It was found that conventional displacementtype hulls were unsuitable. In August last year I was approached by my constituents and asked to raise the matterwith theNewSouth Wales Minister for Transportbecause heintended to replace one of those ferries with a small wooden ferry. That proposal was unacceptable to the eopk of Stockton, the Federal Governmentwhich had made the money available, and to my constituents as a whole. The matter then became something of a politicai game between the Minister for Transport and the member for Newcastle. Despite my deputationbeing refused, on the same day a deputationwas granted to the member for Newcastle, who is a pseudo Liberal in this Parliament, anda decision was made which involved gains for the member for Newcastle. Unfortunately,the whole thing has come 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 559 unstuck. The little games that were played uncovered an uncomfortablescene which in itself has disadvantagedthe people of Stockton. The office of the member for Newcastle issued press statements to say that the ferries would remain. The Minister then announced on the radio station that the ferries would remain until a replacement was found. It should be on the public record that in July last year approacheswere made to buy a replacement ferry from a private operator who was running that ferry in the Hawkesbury region. The vessel isthe Marinda 11, a 55-seat ferry that will be used to replace a 200-seat ferry. The Marinda II has a top deck, with a vertical ladder that aged persons would haveto climb. Up to 140 schoolchildren travelin one ferry each day, and the workers travel to and from Newcastle on that sameferry. Theproposed replacement ferry is unacceptable. It is interesting to note that the member for Newcastle changed histune the day the electoralboundaries were announced and was not quite assupportive as he had been of the Minister for Transport. This is documented in his press release of 17thDecember. I call upon the Governmentto address the issue, stop playing around,get on with it and serve the people of the Port Stephens electorate,especially those in Stockton. As one traverses the electorate,close to Stockton is the starting point of the Nelson Bay Road. I was elected as a member of this Parliament on 19th March 1988, by 90 votes. At a subsequent by-election on 5th November 1988I was successful by a margin of 7,404 votes. At both of those elections my opponent, a good friend of the Premier, promised that he would not onlyupgrade that road but also rebuild it completely. Late last year I made a private member's statement about this matter when the gallery was filled with people who had brought down a petition containing13,000 names. The Premier sat in the ministerial chair,hung his head and said hewas not going to deliver. The Opposition adds that to one of the broken promises that will be prominent in the election campaign. The Premier's abilityto convince people of my electorate leaves a lot to be desired. He can fly up there in a helicopter to play a game of tennis, but will not travel on the road. That irks the people of my electorate. I hope the message getshome to him clearly that people in the Port Stephens electoratehave had enough and will not take any more. At the next election I hope the people will endorse my actions and condemn the Premier for promising and not delivering. The Port Stephens road has as many cars on it each day as does the Pacific Highway, through to Karuah. In five years there have been 14 deaths on that road. It has had about 50 more serious accidents thanthe Pacific Highway in the same period for the stretch between Karuah andHexham, a very similar distance. It is important for the Government to address this question of road funding. If the whole Federal budget went towards road fundingin this State it probably wouldnot be enough. We mustshare those limited resources fairly between the areas of greatest need. I do not think honourable members, irrespectiveof the side of this Chamber on which they sit, would really complain if this process was followed. Obviously, we want the best for our electorates. But we must hahe a fair formula. We have a large number of vehicles on the road and a great numberof deaths are occurring. Those problems must be addressed. In the not too distant future 1 look forward to working with the Roads and Traffic Authority and other people in making that road safer. Another road of major onccrn which fits into that category is Main Road 518, which goes from Williamtown to the Pacific Highway and ends about 15 kilometres north of Raymond Terrace. A third of this road ncarest the Pacific Highway is of gravel 560 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 construction. Thisgravel road goes as far as Medowie,is a fast growingarea and deserves some relief. Houses in that area fill with dust from heavy traffic on that road, which is a death trap. This problem must be addressed. The $386,000that was allocated under the 3 x 3 road funding programwill cover 700 metres of road. That is not good enough. I urge the Government to address that issue. I turn now to deal with the Raymond Terrace bypass. There are eight members of Parliament with electorates to the north of my electorate, as far north as the Queensland border. I am sure all honourable members would appreciate that the problems of the whole Pacific Highway must be addressed:the blackspots must be fixed, irrespectiveof where they occur. We must work positively towards ensuringthe Pacific Highwayis a first-classroad, a safe road on which motorists will be happy to travel both day and night. When the expressway to Hexham is finished in 1993the first town people will come to, when travellingnorth on the Pacific Highway, will be Raymond Terrace. The Roads and Traffic Authority has not been assuredof second-yearor third-year fundingto carry out this work. It must be given that funding and the road must be given priority. For 20 years the people living along that road have been promised that this bypass would be constructed.

I will deal now with industrial relations issues. Sadly,Carrington Slipwayswent into receivershipon 19th Decemberbecause ofan overcapacityin shipyards. Carrington Slipwaysexpended 10times more than anticipated on the frigate contract. Amajor loss was the P and 0 line icebreaker and also the minesweeper contract. Thiswas claimed by the Laverick family which in the past has done a good job in running that shipyard. At the moment a consortium is being formed to take over that shipyard. But one sad, underlying factor, about which I am concerned, must be addressed. I call on the Industrial RelationsMinister to lookseriously at what will happen to the36 apprentices in those yards. About 27 of those 36 apprentices are in trouble and are not able to be placed in otherpositions. It isvital for theseyoung people to finish their apprenticeships and to obtain the skills that we will so desperately need in the months andyears ahead. They must be given an opportunity to complete their second and third years of apprenticeship. If members of the Opposition were in government we would be addressing that issue and we would be makinga special effort to place those apprentices. It is vital for this Governmentto address this issue quickly. It will be sad for those people if the Government does not, andit will be a loss to this nation.

I deal now with that part of the Governor's Speech relating to the environment. Honourable members would probably realise that in March 1988 every light polein my electoratedisplayed blue and white signs,some of which are still displayed, whichstated, "Sewer without a levy. Vote National. Vote Liberal". My constituents, who then believed my Liberal opponent, are now paying an environmentallevy of nearly $70 per property to fund the Hunter fringe area seweragescheme--another broken promise. This Government must be given credit for some things. It has gone ahead with the Hunter fringe area sewerage scheme,which is progressingwell. The schemeon Tomaree peninsula for the bulk of residential areas will be completed by 1992. The sad part is that there is a three-year delay for the secondary treatment scheme to come on line. Treated primary sewagewill be pumped into the water off Port Stephens. On a number of occasions I have writtento the Minister and raised this matter but I have been told that it cannot be expedited. I warn the Government thatthis will become a major issue 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 561 in my electorate. The Government should be awareof that problem and it should be aware of the fact that the public will not accept the pollution of the beautiful waters of Port Stephens.

JSaruah, which is in my electorate and which has about 1,200 voters, is on the Hunter fringe area sewerage scheme which is not due to commence until 1995. I have raised this matter in private members' statements and at other times. In my latest communication to the Minister I was told that if I wanted to discuss it with officers in the Hunter District Water Board and make suggestions, he would consider those suggestions. Yesterday I told the Minister that we would be quite happy to run this State. I know that people from Londonderry and from the western suburbs would be quite happy for the Opposition to make these decisions, but we want to do so from the other side of the House. For the record, I am quite prepared to expedite the Karuah sewerage scheme at the expense of dragging out the program on Tilligerry peninsula-the Tanilba-Lemon Tree Passage area. Even if it took as long as another six months to complete that scheme, which would bring Karuah on line, I am sure my whole electoratewould appreciate it.

Further sewage disposal schemesare being implementedin the Myall Lakes area. After the next election oneof the lakes and the Myall River will fall within my electorate. My former colleaguethe Hon. Laurie Brereton, whenhe was Minister for Public Works, approvedof the use of a barge for the collection of sewageand refuse in the Myall Lakes district. Laurie Brereton had vision. The things he did for recreational boatingwere for the benefit of the people. In those days the Governmentwas building boat ramps and providing facilities forrecreational boating. Recreational boating was made a lot safer. One of the lakes in the Myall Lakes district hasno tidal flushing. TheGovernment must address the disposal of sewage issue in the Myall Lakes district,which deserves a very good service. I am glad that the honourablemember for Myall Lakes hasjust come into the Chamber. He will agree with me that the sewage disposal servicein the Myall Lakes district is essential. The National Parksand Wildlife Servicehas put up only one site on which to dispose of sewage. Present punt facilities must remain until such time as a cheaper and betterservice can be provided.

There are grave doubts in the area as to whether that can happen. As politicians we must haveopen minds and the Governmentadministration mustbe convinced that a better and cheaper service can be provided. The Government must remember that there is no tidal flushing in the top lakes, but the sewage and nasty chemicals from portaloos and similar chemical toilets that are disposed of in the lakes or in the National Park will do more harm than could be imagined. Therefore it is vital that this issue be addressed,and I shall call on the Minister to do what he can. The sad part is the division of responsibility. Under the previous Labor administration the Minister for Public Works administered the Maritime Services Board. However, the functions havebeen split up now and three Ministers are involved:the Minister forEnvironment looksafter the national parks, the Maritime Services Board administers the waterways, and the Departmentof PublicWorks administersthevehicle known as thepoo punt. Thewhole issue becomes clouded because each administration says that this is not its problem. Therefore, I call on the Governmentas a whole to address the issue. 562 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

I turn to policing, which is a serious matter. In my electorate I have six police stations, three large stations and three small. The police station at Raymond Terrace was to be the next 24-hour police station created in northern New South Wales. However, because of cheap political point-scoring the Minister has decided that Singletonwill have the next 24-hour station. I ask the Governmentwhy Singleton was chosen, when the numbers and the statistics point toRaymond Terracepolice station, located on the Pacific Highwayand serving a far largernumber of people, having a higher priority. Why was Raymond Terrace relegated to second place in favour of Singleton? It is vital that the Government address that issue. Questions have been asked in this House about police facilities. On 8th August, 1988, a police boat was sunk at Nelson Bay. The insurance money for that boat was put into a cosy little arrangement inthe Police Department and not used for a replacement boat. At Tea Gardens, in the electorate of Myall Lakes, a police boat has not been used for 15 months. It is sitting on a trailer there. Despite questions having been asked about it and despite repeated representations from members from both sides of the House, that boat has not been fixed. That is appalling.

I shall now address a broad issue,the administration of fisheries in New South Wales. That administration is a shambles. It is in a disgusting mess,brought about by this Government's administration, andhelped on its way by its relocation to Orange. If it were not serious, it would be the greatest joke the Parliament has ever heard, to relocate the fisheries administration at Orange, when 95 per cent of fishing activity occurs on the coast. This is very sad, because many dedicated and fine staff are leaving the administration rather than moving to Orange, because there is no future for a fisheries administrationat Orange. Iam glad to say that Labor's policy document states that fisheries administration will remain on the coast. This Minister will be damned if he does and damnedif he does not address this issue, because for two years he has been crowing about relocating the administration at Orange. He knows that move will not work and that he will have to leave certain peopleon the coast, or that he will turn into the ostrich that he is so well depicted as in cartoons relating to oyster farmers.

I shall highlight a few instances of fisheries administration in which this Government has a very sad record. One is the administration of the oyster industry; the second is the management of the newly acquired east coast trawl management. The oyster industryis on its knees,with bankrupt oyster farmers left, right and centre. It has been helped into ruination by this Government.The Government has had three years to address the problem, but it has had its head in the sand. When it came to making a decision, the Minister imposed a selectivetax of $80 a bag on the Port Stephens oyster farmers to market a product that is growing wild on their leases. One must seriously question what is inside that man's head. He is either getting the worst possible advice or he is burying his head in the sand and is totally out of touch with reality. Inmy maiden speech in this House on 24th August, 1988, I said, and I shall repeat, that the oyster farmers of Port Stephens should be allowed to sell their oysters unencumbered and should be prevented from spreadingGigus oysters. The oyster farmers of New South Wales acknowledge that. The only farmers who do not support that are those who seek to gain a commercial advantage. The Minister sat on his hands for two and a half years and presided over the destructionof the oyster industry in New South Wales. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 563

Mark my words: when the former Labor Governmentwas in office a production peak of 140,000 bags a year was achieved. This year's production is down to half that amount, and it will go lower and lower. This Governmentmust get off its backside, it must stop being an economic rationalist, it must really address the problems of this industry and it must work towards oyster farmers having some sort of economicfuture. I refer also to the management of the east coast trawl fisheryof New South Wales. The area three nautical miles offshore has transferred from Commonwealth administration. The oftshore constitutional settlement was signed in either late January or early February. It was delayed for someyears by this State's administration becauseit did not have an east coast trawl management plan in place. I look with little joy at what the Minister is presiding over, the ruination and the gestapo tactics that the Government has adopted against the traditional based people who support this Government. The administrationhas its head in the sand. On 15th October, 1987,therewas a press release from the shadow ministry which said, in the second paragraph: Mr Armstrong said the Min~sterfor Fisheries, Mr Haiiam, had made the dec~sionw~thout fully consulting profess~onalfishermen. The release continued with a lot of rhetoric, and members on the Government sideof the House should read it. The last paragraphs states: The interests of professional and amateur fishermen can be best served by full consultation on a local basis before making critical management decisions, Mr Armstrong said. That is what this Governmenthas failed to do. Its fisheries administration is in tatters and is in an appalling mess. This Government, and particularly this Minister, who is totally out of his depth, have presided over that. I shall point out why. In 1988 the Electoral Commission conductedan election to appoint six representativesof fishermen to represent their interests in the management of the trawl fishery from north of Barrenjoeyto the Queensland border. Those fishermen openly assert that the Minister instructed them that if they discussed the matter with their own constituencies they would be liable to prosecution. They were referred to the decision of Mr Justice Street in the case of Bennetts v. Board of Fire Contmissionersof New South Wales and others in the Equity Court. They were threatenedwith court action andgaol if they discussed the matter with their own constituenciesand I show honourable members the copy of that decision. In December 1990 the department released a plan that said, "You will sign this document and state thatyou agree with it and you are prepared to abide by the harsh penalties in it by 31st January 1991 otherwise you will not be able to participatein that fishery". I shall now point out some of the half-witted decisions,and letters that have come to me. Honourable members should remember that I have spent 17% years working in that organisation. Thesehave been written either by total incompetents or they are coming out of the Minister's office. Mr Webster: That is very nice. Mr MARTIN: I am glad that the Minister has said that is very nice because I shall refer to the letter the Minister wrote to me on 19thFebruary. The Minister fell right in it. I will send a copy of that letter to every fisherman in New South Wales which will demonstrate the incompetence of the Government's administration. It was said that a delegation of fishermen, duly elected at Ballina on 19th December, was not representative of the industiy. However, 179 out of 306 said that they did not have any confidencein the ECTMACcommittee. The whole thing is a shamblesand a disgrace. 564 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

Time restrictions preventme from elaboratingon this aspect, but I look forward in the not too distant futureto uncovering some of the crooked practices that are involved that may even need to go to the Independent Commission AgainstCorruption. I thank the House for the opportunity to raise some of these issues. The Government has had a slight taste of what is to come on fisheries administration. Thisis just the tip of the iceberg. I look forward to bringing out the truth for the people of New South Wales, whether or not they vote for the Labor Party, but fairness and equity must prevail. That is something inwhich this Government doesnot believe.

Madam DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member's time for speaking has expired. Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Turner. [Madam Deputy-Speakerleft the chair at 1252p.m. The House resumed at 2.15p.m.l

COMMITTEEON THE OFFICEOF THE OMBUDSMAN Motion by Mr Dowd agreed to: Thatin accordancewith section 31C (1) (b) of theOmbudsman Act1974 the following members of the LegislativeAssembly be and arehereby appointed to serveon the Committee onthe Officeof theOmbudsman-Mr PeterThomas Andewon, Mr JohnEdward Hatton, Mr Malcolm JohnKen, Mr PatrickCad Scully,Mr Andrew Arnold Tink, and MrJohn Harcourt Turner.

Message Message sent to the Legislative Council advising it of the resolution and that in accordancewith section31F (2) of the OmbudsmanAct 1974the Clerkof theLegislative Assembly has fixed Thursday, 28th February, 1991, at 5 p.m. in Legislative Assembly Committee Room No. 1043as the time and place for the first meeting.

GOVERNOR'SSPEECH: ADDRESS-IN-REPLY Fourth Day's Debate Debate resumed from an earlier hour. Mr TURNER (Myall Lakes) [2.19]: It is with great delight that I speak in this Address in Reply to the Governor's Speech. His Excellency, Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair, has done a magnificent job since he attained his position after the untimely death of his predecessor and friend. His Ejtcellency resides in the electorate of Myall Lakes, and I know that he enjoys a lifestyle that all those wholive in the beautiful Myall Lakes region enjoy. At the outset of my contribution Iwish to pay tribute to two of my National Party colleagues. I do not know whether the honourable member for Castlereaghwill bewith us after the next Stateelection; he has not told me yet. However, it seems that as a result of the recent redistribution his seat will be abolished. The honourable member for Tamworth has informed me that he will not be seeking re-election. I shall miss both gentlemen in the ranks of the National Party and the Parliament. They each played a vital role in giving confidence to many of the inexperienced32 new memberswho entered Parliamentfollowing the last Stateelection. If we did not have elder statesmen in the party of the calibre of Roger and Noel, the newer members would be left out on a limb. It is obvious from the contributionof the 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 565 honourable member for Castlereagh last evening that he could teach many honourable members much about how to debate in the Parliament. I wish them well and look forward to the benefit of their guidance until they leave us. The redistribution of electoral boundaries is a fait accompli, although the outcome has yet to be decided. Madam Deputy-Speaker,it appears that I shall inherit some of the territory that you have looked after so well for so long. Regrettably I shall losesomeofthe magnificent parts ofmy electorate, suchas the area near Stroud,through to Dungog, Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens. I am sure that those areas will be retained by the coalition in the seat of Maitland. I amsure also that those parts that will come within the boundary of the electorate of Port Stephenswill be retained by the coalition. I shall retain Gloucester, Tuncurry,Foster, Nowendoc and Bulladelah regions. I look forward to the challenges I will face representing my electorate. It will be a challenge because at the moment Australia is in the grip of a deep recession, of the magnitude of the Great Depression of the 1930s. As members of this StateParliamentwe have a responsibility to ensure that hope and guidance is given to the people of New South Wales so that they may fight their way out of this recession that has been brought about by the policies of the Federal Labor Government. Of the 15 recognised economic indicators,New South Wales is leading the way in 13. It is leading the way out of the gloom of this Labor-inspired recession. New South Wales has the lowest unemployment of any State in Australia, irrespective of the suggestionsby the doomsday seekers that the coalition's rationalisation policy in rail services and education will create massive unemployment. Infact the opposite has been the case. That New South Wales has the lowest unemployment rate of any other State is a sure sign that the Greiner-Murray Government has got it right; that its economicpolicies are creating employment;and jobs arebeing generated at a rapid rate. Job opportunitiesin Victoria are diminishing,whereas in New SouthWales there are surpluses. Irrespectiveof the difficulttimes in whichwe live, and the hard decisions that have had to be taken, the Government has maintained funding in real terms to health, law enforcement, and education. Iwill deallater with those mattersas they affect my electorate. The Government has placed the emphasis where it is needed and is creatingjobs. Other States have not fared so well. Western Australia is broke. It led the charge down the drain. Then there was Victoria, and now Tasmania is in tatterswith the green accord shot to pieces. It is only a matter of time before Mr Field is in all sorts of bother both politically and economically because his islandState has stagnated under the cosy arrangement it had of an accord. How often do we hear mention of accords with the Labor Party? Those accords come unstuck, and that is to the detrimentof the people of Australia. The latest in the sorry tragedy of Labor Statesis South Australia, which has gone down the tube. One has only to compare New South Wales with other States to see that the Greiner-Murray Government has got it right, is going ahead and creatingjobs, and providing economic stability for the State so that we can move out of the recession. The Governor, in his Speech to this Parliament,spoke aboutindustrial relations. He mentioned also enterpriseagreements; and I am pleased that enterprise agreements are here to stay. They are the way to go. Safeguards are provided for the workers, and there is no question about that. The Opposition raised ballyhoo about workers on the shop floor being discriminated against.That is not right. In fact,the workers are happy 566 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

with the system. What sticks in the craw is voluntary unionism. Only 40per cent of people in the work force are members of unions. If the majority of workers are not in unions, why should there be compulsory unionism for certain workers? It is impossible to get through to members oppositeand to members of the upper House that it is high time we had voluntary unionism. With only 40 per cent of the work force involved,why should preferential treatmentbe given to a union member overan equally skilled or better skilled person who is not a union member? That is wrong and defies logic.

Another matter mentioned by the Governor related to technical and further education. The outstanding success of the TAFE colleges can be attributed to the former Minister for Education,Dr Metherell, and now to the Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Further Education, Training and Employment, Mr Fahey. I am pleased with the TAFE operations within my electorate. As you would know, Madam Deputy-Speaker, the TAFE college at Taree overlaps my electorate and your electorate. Recently I had the privilege of inspecting that establishment with the principal. It is a magnificent, purpose-built structure. One feels a sense of enthusiasm and dedication from all involved, from the principal, the staff and the students. Dot Hennesseytook on the challenge at the Tuncurry-ForsterTAFE-we have to be careful not to refer to it as the Forster-Tuncurry TAFE because people are temperamental about that-and the courses have been rearranged to suit community needs. In the Myall Lakes electorate 30 per cent of the population are over 60 years of age. The TAFE college is providing courses to assist those people. The area has a problem with literacy and numeracy and TAFE has taken up the challenge andprovided a successful course. My electorate has some magnificent watenvays. The very name of Myall Lakes conjures up the feeling of romance. There is a vital tourist industryin the area. TMEcourses have been tailored to meet the demands of the hospitality industry. A new course has just been introduced dealingwith issues peculiar to the motel trade. That is a pathfinding course,the first of its type in New South Wales. TAFE courses are pro-active and promoted actively. The days of hiding a light under a bushel aregone. During enrolment week the Forster-Tuncurry college now puts a sign on the Forster-Tuncurrybridge extolling the virtues of TAFE and inviting people to enrol. I am fortunate that in my electorate law and justice does not present a large problem. Though we have some problems over peak periods, suchas Christmas, with an undesirable element in the electorate,by and large the Myall Lakes electorate is a good electorate to represent. I am concerned about the provision of the Forster police station and I will continue to press that issue. For a number of years we have been promised a policestation but regrettably it has been removed from the last two capital works programs. Iservewarning to the Minister for Policeand Emergency Servicesthat if it is not included in the capital works program in the next budget, there will be quite a deal of active lobbying by me. I will have to say to the Minister that he would need a good explanationwhy we do not have this much needed facility. The police strength in the Forster-Tuncurry areahas increased 100 per cent in the three years I have been the local member. Therefore, this facility must be provided. I should make mentionalso of the Nowendoc police station and the help that I have been given by the honourable member for Tamworth. When the Greiner-Murray Government was elected to office, the Opposition indulged in some scaremongering and said that the Governmentwould close one-man police stations in the bush. That 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 567 has not happened. The Governmenthas maintained its recordof services to the bush. The honourable member for Tamworth,Mr Park, took me to my first deputation as a member of Parliament, and that was to the Minister for Policeand EmergencyServices. Mr Park made it very clear that we would not compromise on issues such as the Nowendoc police station, that the National Party stood firm on providing servicesto the country. It is thanks to the honourablemember for Tamworth that the Nowendoc police station was retained. That station has a very dedicated and enthusiasticpolice officer serving an area which, second only to Broken Hill, is the largest patrol in New South Wales. The country cop has an enormous job to do. He does not simply act as a policeman in the area but must provide the social structure andlookafter theday-to-day traumas associated with country living. I pay special tribute to all the police who work in the Myall Lakes electorate. Insome instances they have a terrible job to do because of the horrific accidentsthat occur on the highway. They must attend those accidents and often have lonely stretches of road to patrol. They do their work well and with enthusiasm. The Governor's Speech mentioned the Independent Commission Against Corruption. I am a member of the Joint Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Under thechairmanship of Malcolm Kerr the committee has been an outstanding success and worked well with the commissioner. Thework done by the committee, including the report tabled in the House today, will assist the smooth running of the commission and stampingout corruption in our society. I acknowledge that in the beginning there were teething problemsand a Mexican stand-offbetween the committeeand the commissioner. They have beenovercome and the constructive role of the committee and its reports have been accepted by the commissionerby and large. That will assist people to have a better understanding of the role of the commission. There is concern that in some instances people's reputations have been unduly impugned. Now that the role of the commission isbetter understood people realise that no stigma is attached to their appearingbefore ICAC. The Leader of the National Party has assisted ICAC to bring to light corrupt practices. Madam Deputy-Speaker,you and I have the privilege of sharing the health facilities of the Manning Base Hospital. That hospital is well run, and works quietlyand professionally within its budgetto provide services that are as good as any in country regions. Recently an enhancement programto cost $750,000 was announced. On his visits to the electorate the Minister has made announcementsabout other programs. Undoubtedly there are problems. The hospital does not have an oncology unit. Our constituents must travel to Newcastle or on occasions to Sydney to receive oncology services. Admittedly that is not good enough and must be rectified. I understand that those services will be available at that hospital soon. One can understand the trauma associated with oldpeople travelling along the Pacific Highwayto Newcastle to receive oncology treatment. Thisyear the Governmentwill be spending about $94 million on the hospital. Nevertheless, the oncology servicesare a must. I know that you, Madam Deputy-Speaker, will continue to work, as I will, to ensure that those services are provided. People from the electorate also have to travel to Newcastle from Taree, Forster, Gloucester and Bulahdelah to obtain renal services. Those people travel to Newcastle three days a week. That puts a tremendous strainon ambulance services. I believe that between the two of us we can sort out that problem, save a considerableamount of money 568 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

and make life a little more comfortable for those who have to undergo the trauma of travelling to Newcastle three days a week. Gloucester hospital is another success story. As a result of intervention by the Minister for Health and Minister for Arts, Peter Collins, the Gloucester hospital has attached to it a retirement home. When the coalition parties cameto government one of their policies was to use hospital areas for other services. There is no point in having an enormous area of land with a hospital plonked on it and having other services located elsewhere, whenthose services could be provided in conjunction with hospital facilities. The community of Gloucester decided to approach the Commonwealth Government with a request for the provision of a hostel. I am pleased to say that the Commonwealth Government agreed to do that, but would not allow it to be located on the hospital site, despite the fact that the site already boasted a hospital and a retirement home. Common sense has prevailed and the hostel will now be constructed near the hospital. In an effort to get that project rolling the Minister for Health has given the hostel accommodationgroup a loan to assist in getting that facility functioning. Under the Family and Community Services portfolio of Robert Webster a retirement home task force has been set up through the Home Care Service, which will consider what canbe done to narrow the gap between Commonwealth funding andthe total cost of the hostel. During a visit to the electorate this week by the Minister meaningful discussions were held with the hostel board, which consists primarily of members of the hospital board. No promises were made but the question of funding will be examined. The Government is moving with the times. It realises that the State must assist in the provision of aged services. The Government is accepting its responsibilities. Gloucester is looking pretty good. Bulahdelah hospital in my electorate has been well treated by the Minister. A hostel is being provided asan adjunct to that hospital. Credit should be given where it is due; the Federal Government is making funds available for that project.

Undoubtedly the Forster-Tuncurry region requires a public hospital. That region is experiencing the fastest growth in population in New South Wales. By the year 2000 it will have a larger population than Taree. The Forster-Tuncurry area has a high aged population; also many young people are moving into the area. I shall continue to pursue theMinister until Iget a firm commitment that the hospital will becomea reality. To give credit again where it is due, the Minister is examining the proposal and studies are proceeding. I know that one day we will win and have that hospital constructedthere. The Cape Hawke CommunityHospital was established and funded by the community and is an excellent community hospital. Nevertheless, the region needs a public hospital. Finally I shall deal with health issues mentioned in the Governor's Speech. It should be said clearly that I oppose the proposal to amalgamate health boards in country areas. Country hospitals mustbe able to retain their identities through local hospital boards. Rural hospital boards should not be subject to amalgamations. That proposal will not work and has been rejected by the people. There are 44 schools in my electorate. I am sure that some of my Liberal Party colleagues with city electorates would not like to exchange with me. That number of schools keeps one fairly busy. Many of them are small schools, some with only one teacher. Those teachers are to be congratulated for their dedication in running the schools. One does not hear about industrial disputes at those small schools, where the 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 569 principals do the bookwork, are the counsellors for the pupils, and teach composite classes often including children from kindergartento sixth class. Theydo their job and I say to them: well done. To teachers generally I say: well done. No doubt teachers have a tremendousjob to do in the community. Regrettablyin my electoratea nest of teachers still does not want to play the game. The old buddy systemwas a good one. Teachers took kids out on excursions, to sportingcompetitions, and had a buddy who wouldcome in and cover for them. Regrettablyat the Forster high school the teachers will not adopt that system. Those who suffer are the kids. They cannot attend the knock-out sporting competitions now. The farcical situation pertains whereby letters are being sent to sporting groups and parentsare asking them to fund a casual teacher, all for the sakeof teachers who remain at school sitting in the common room. Teachers are available to take the classes but they will not do so. I do not want to be unduly critical of teachers because by and large they do a good job, but there must be some give and take in that situation, for the benefit of the children in our society.

I am pleased to note also that the planned new high school is being built at Forster. I am not so pleased to say that it is being built to accommodate 1,000 pupils but when it opens in 1992 demountable buildings will have to be used because 1,300 children will be enrolled. I implore the department, through the property branch, to realise that it is not practical to build schools to accommodate 1,000 when 1,300are to be enrolled. They should be built to fit community needs. On the plus side, already land has been set aside at Tuncurryfor the constructionof a school. In additiona new primary school is to be located at Forster, on a site which has provision for the construction of another primary school. It seems that a school will be built at Black Head and thatwill take much of the pressure from Tuncurry primary school. That demonstratesthat the region is growing, and a number of schools are being constructed to meet the needs of the community. Basically global budgeting has been welcomed by the community. I am aware of several instances whereschools have benefited greatly from globalbudgeting arrangements, increased budgeting and the flexibility to use it.

Transport is a big issue in my electorate. About 130 kilometres of the Pacific Highway run through my electorate but I will have a little less once the redistribution comes into effect. Regrettably, I probably have the worst piece of the Pacific Highway in New South Wales-the O'Sullivans Gap section down to Taree. But at least this Government is doing something about it. Globally, an amount of $1.7 billion was allocated in this year's budget for road funding which is an increase of about 12.1 per cent on last year's funding-a record increase on the previous Government's funding. This Governmentbelieves that roads are vital. We take for granted that 800 or 900 people will die on the roads in New South Wales. Imagine howthe peace groups would scream and yell if 800 of our lads were killed inthe Gulf. I do not think we can take this for granted any longer. This Government is upgrading these roads. In my electorate $20.9 million will be spent on roads this financial year,an increase of about 67 per cent on last year's funding. An amount of $7.5 million will be spent on upgrading the Pacific Highway-areas such as that at Rainbow Flat which we recently opened. That part of the PacificHighway,which is a dual carriageway,will assist people greatly. An important announcement in the transport area is the provision of a dual carriageway around the notorious section O'Sullivans Gap and Wootton bends. The road, which will go to the 570 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 east of the present road, will be about 23 kilometres long. It will have a spur road to the lake area which will be good for tourism and of great assistance to people in the community. The mid North Coast transport study is under way. This will combine all transport groups in the communityto ensure that we get the best value for our transport dollar. I would like to see the provision of an airstrip, in Tuncurry. I realise that, for various reasons, it is difficult to provide an airstrip but I will still pursue this matter. Call it a fantasy, if you like, but we should be looking at a hovercraft service to operate along the New South Wales coast. Sydney has one of the best harbours in the world which attracts many tourists. We have waterways all along our coast. Perhaps we can look at implementing a hovercraft systemeither for tourists or for travel. In the area of the environment we have to look seriously at the problems in the Myall Lakes district. The honourable member for Port Stephens touched on the sewage problems in his electorate. I do not remember when I last agreed with the honourable member for Port Stephens because he usually does not say much that I can agree with. Mr Mills: Why do you live in his electorate? Mr TURNER: I do not know. The sewage barge to which the honourable member referred is a problem. It is not being sufficiently usedby the yachtingor boating fraternity. Last year, 104,000 litres of sewage were pumped from the lakes. That is minuscule compared with whatis there. The rest of the sewage is going into the rivers and waterways. I am not totally convinced-and I have made representations to the three Ministers involved-that on-shore sewerage facilities are the answer. We would probably need facilities right round the lakes, which may not be desirable, and perhaps we could have a combination of on-shore and off-shore facilitiesin some areas. I hope to be able to talk to the responsible Ministers as I know they will take on board what I say. Honourable members should bear in mind that people have been boating on the lake for 100years, but this barge has been operating for only four years. What happened before that? Let us not take a step backwards. In the next few days a coastal and rivers seminar will be held in the Myall Lakes electorate. Recently we had a seminar in Sydney, which was great, but those sorts of seminars should be taken to the people so that they can see what the Government is doing. This Government has a responsible attitude to matters concerning coastal areas and rivers. Next week, people in the Myall Lakes electorate will be able to ask us any questions. This Government has nothing to hide in its coastal and rivers policy. I have nine local government areas either wholly or partly in my electorate. Though I enjoy a good relationship with the people representing those areas Iwill be pleased when the new boundaries are adopted as I will then have only four local governmentareas, which will make it easier. I enjoy my role as chairman of the local government and planning committee. I believe that the Minister for Local Government and Minister for Planning is doing a magnificent job. Everyone will be pleasantly surprised when the rewriting of the Local Government Actis completed. It will give autonomy to councils and introduce accountability. I believe it will be a landmark piece of legislation. The ridiculous National Parks Association wants to ban fishing in the Myall Lakes National Park. Ido not know where that association gets its information from; obviously it does not bother to make too many inquiries as it says it wants to protect the 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 571 breeding grounds of the famous Myall Lake prawns. There are at least 15shots a night on the river. This year we have had record prawn catches. Over the last 40years prawn catches have been fairly consistent. Irrespectiveof that, 400,000 kilos of prawn were caught in Nelson Bay and off-shorefrom Nelson Bay this year, unaffectedby the 15shots and everything else. So where people from this association gettheir information is beyond me. I inform them here and now that there will be no banning of commercial or recreational fishing in the Myall Lakes National Park. Iwould like those peopleto visit the area between now and Easter and try to tell a few people fishing off the beach that it is their intention to have fishing banned. They mightnot get a wet line but they would get somethingelse pretty wet. The HomeFund program will provide 16,900 loans, whichrepresents $1.5 billion this year. This program is being administered by the Minister for Housing, the Hon. J. J. Schipp. The Minister will be visiting Tuncurry next week to officially open the HomeFund scheme. This schemewill assist young homebuyers and the elderly in my electorate who retired there on fixed incomes or pensions. It willenable them to get a loan to upgrade their homes. The scheme covers both ends of the spectrum. The name Myall Lakes conjuresup images of sporting and tourism. Everyoneknows where Myall Lakes is. It is the most beautiful spot in New South Wales. People recognise quickly and easily that they can go there andhave oneof the best times of theirlives. Iam worried about the prawn festival at Hawks Nest-Tea Gardens because these idiots from the NationalParks Associationwill attempt to ensure that there areno prawns for the prawn festival. Where are we going in the electorate? Tourism obviously is a big money spinner. We must boost tourismnot only in the Great Lakes shire but also in Gloucester shire, the magnificent Barrington Tops, and Dungog. Myall Lakes is one of the few electorates in New South Wales where people can beon the snow line in the morning and surfing on the beach in the afternoon. Those honourablemembers who want to visit the area will be more than welcome. People in the area are a pretty friendly mob. We believe that tourism is the answer to boosting the economy and we are pushing it fairly hard. Small businessesare being nurtured by the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, the Hon. G. B. P. Peacocke, and we thank him for the help he has given under his new decentralisation program.

Madam DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member has exhausted his time for speaking.

Mr MILLS (Wallsend) [2.49]: I extend my congratulations and good wishes to GovernorPeter Sinclairon his first openingSpeech to the New South Wales Parliament. Isupport theremarksthat have been madeabout the untimelylosslast year ofour former Governor, David Martin. Governor Sinclair and I have at least one thing in common. We followed much lovedand respected predecessors. I extend to Governor Sinclair my best wishes in his publiccareer and for the important post he holds. Last year in the Address-in-Replydebate I referred at length to the earthquake in the Newcastle and Hunter region in December 1989. It is important that I now acquaint the House with what has happened since. The people of the Hunter have made a successful start on the road to recovery. It may be 10 years before there is a full recovery, but we expect that most of the recovery will be achieved within three or four years. One of the major impacts of the earthquake has been that several hundred small businesses have disappeared fromthe inner suburbs of Newcastle. Somehave re-establishedin the outer 572 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

suburbs; the remainder have taken up mainly part-time operations. Someworkers are unemployed; many have retired. It has changed the lives of a lot of people. The streetscape of inner Newcastle has changed quite considerably since the propped up damaged buildings were found during the past three or four months to be too expensive to repair. Some surprising views of harbour and ocean have suddenly appeared, and they are often much appreciated. One example is: when driving east down King Street where once the York Wing of Royal Newcastle Hospital stood one can now see the ocean. People are enjoying that. I trust that in the planning and recovery process that generous and pleasant vista will be retained.

There have been inevitable disagreements and, quite frankly, disappointment that buildings ofarchitectural meritor historical significance havegone to rubble. There is not much money available from either the private or the public sectors for the preservation of some of our outstanding older buildings. That shows the weakness of our commitmentas a wholesociety-I am not being partisan political in thismatter-to preserve our urban heritage. Private repairs under insurance will continue for many years. Similarly in the public sector repairs will continue for many years. In my electorateonly now are several schools having repairs commenced. Newcastle TAFE college was badly damaged. Halfthe buildings are under repair now, and the other half will have to wait their turn. By and large the insurance industryhas been co-operative and sensitive. There have been insurance disputes,and they will continue to be the sourceof major headaches for people in the months and perhapsyears ahead. However, on average the insurance companiesaffiliated with the InsuranceCouncil of Australia have been more sympatheticto the needs of people in crisis and more accepting of the spirit rather than the letter of the contracts than have the insurancecompanies that were not affiliated with the Insurance Councilof Australia. The companies that have been unsympathetic to their clients, that have been reluctant to pay, or that dictated reduced levels of repair have mostly receivedbad press publicity,and they deserve the bad name that they have acquired from that sort of shoddy treatment of their clients.

Last week I wrote to the Premier and Treasurermaking representationson behalf of the Newcastle city council and the Lord Mayor, Alderman John McNaughton. The council is seeking payment of financial assistancein accordance with the framework aligned with the natural disaster relief arrangements. A formal commitmentis sought from the New South Wales Government and from the Federal Government in equal sums to recoup taxpayers' money alreadypaid by the Newcastle city council for council commitmentsto maintain the recovery process,and for a demonstrationof the promised support by the Premier and the Prime Minister. The Lord Mayor's submissionwas made under section 7 of the New South Wales Appropriation Act 1990and under item 7.8 of the Consolidated Fund estimates for this financial year. It is worthy of note that Newcastledid not receive a national disaster declarationfollowing the earthquake. The submission accords alsowith the special cost sharing arrangements agreed to by the Premier and the Prime Minister.

Eligible measures for which the council seeks funding includerestoration and replacement of essential public assetsand acts of relief and restoration to alleviate distress and damage. The submission seeksfrom the New South Wales Government $3.08 million in the present financial year, $3.04 million in 1991-92,$430,000 in 1992-93, and $200,000in 1993-94. Identical sums are sought from the Federal Government. The 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 573 total claim from the Newcastle city council under the national disaster relief arrangement is $13.45 million over four years. I urge the immediateconcurrence by the Premier and Treasurer of New South Wales with these arrangements so that the recovery process may proceed. The Minister for Environment in recent months has had the guts to steal a Labor Party policy. The Governor said in his Speech that the Minister will establish an environmental protection agency. Frankly, we are flattered that the Minister should acknowledge one of our good ideas. Speaking of the environmental protection agency, the Governor said: Itwill be established andwill commenceoperations later this year.The agency will bringtogether variouselements of existing government activity and new initiativesso that amore rational andeffective approach is instituted towards co-ordinating the regulation,enforcement and researchon environmental improvement.

A problem has emerged in the Wallsend electorate which relates to almost every single word of that part of the Governor's Speech. Itis what I would call a stinker of a problem, one that urgently needs the attention of an environmental protection agency. In the meantime, it will have to receive the attention of other agencies of the Minister for Environment, the Hunter Water Board and the State Pollution Control Commission. From time to time for many years now, foul odours have emanated from the Edgeworth sewage treatment works. The nearest house to the works is a little under 200 metres away, and about 200 houses are located within 400-metresof the plant, to the north and to the west. About 1,000 houses are located within a kilometre of the works. It is interesting that in the environmental impact statement for the Lake Macquarie sewerage scheme that was released in 1989 we were told that State Pollution Control Commission guidelines for new sewage treatment works that insisted on a 400-metre buffer around such works would be implemented to ensure that odours were dissipated. At Edgeworth many homes are within what is now recommended as the buffer. The main gas that emanates is hydrogen sulphide, although there may be others. Most people know how unpleasant rotten egg gas is. It is worse in hot, still weather. It permeates everything. It prevents sleep, it causes stress and distress, especiallyamong the sick. Frankly, people become physically sick from that gas. They cannot get away from the stink, even in their own houses; they cannot ask their friends around for a barbecue. The main problem is that the Boolaroo line coming into the works is becoming septic. It is not known what goes into that line that is causing the trouble. The smell is so bad that I should like to quote what a resident told the NewcastleHerald on 16th February. She said: When a southerly gentle breeze was blowing the airsmelled like a stinking fish tank. If you bottledit you could sendit to Iraq and it would fix evetything there.

To compound the problem, nightsoil and septic tank effluent from the western unsewered side ofLake Macquarieis dumped in council trenchesabout 200 metres south of the sewage treatment works, directly across Cockle Creek. If ever there was an ideal situation in recent years for a game of pass the buck between the Hunter Water Board and the Lake Macquarie city council whenever there was a foul odour, that was it. In 1989the Lake Macquarie sewerage schemewas announced. It was to involve upgrading the Edgeworth sewagetreatment works. Down the track it would eliminatethe nightsoil problem from across the creek. The work was scheduled for 1995-96. In late 1989 I arranged a tour of inspection with local community representatives.Wevisited a tertiary treatment process operating. The only real concern apart from odour was a high level 574 ASSEMBLY 28 February,1993

of phosphorusin the effluent, whichcomes mainly from dishwashingdetergent. These days the effluentdoes not go into LakeMacquarie, whereit has hithertocaused a lotof unpleasantand high weed growth. It is now pumped into the Rhonda mine, to attempt to put out a firethat has been burning fora long time. Theodour problem at the sewage treatmentworks is causedby the receivalstation being open to the atmosphere.It was to be enclosedin theupgrading, and we were assuredthat that would solvethe problem, and that occasional outbreaks would be brought quickly under control with in-line treatment. This changed in July last year whenthe State Pollution ControlCommission, apparentlyconcerned about leaching of pollutantsfrom the council pits acrossthe creek, wanted alternativeaction from the council. It was arranged that theeffluent from the council pits would be pumped acrossthe creek and through the sewage treatment. works-an apparent logical step but it marked the outbreak of very severe odour problems at greater frequency than before. In the first week of February the odour become almost continuous. Itwas too much for localpeople tobear and they went public about it. The only monitoring that was being done was the whiff test by the employees. Unfortunately, this timethey didnot notice. I guess they had been working there too long. When it was treated in the usual way the odours werenot removed. Despite the best intentionby Water Boardofficers, the controlsystems havenot been adequate. Thereshould be continuous monitoringusing automatic detectors to enable early rectificationmeasures. It is not justice for my constituentsin Edgeworthto have to wait five or six years for asolution. On their behalf I have askedthe HunterWater Board to expedite that part of the upgrading that would enclose the receival station. That request is being considered.

Iseekalso,if it was not already included inthe plans for the upgrading,that odour controlunits befitted to the Edgeworth sewagetreatment works similar tothose I saw last Sundayat theBunvoodBeachsewage treatment works on the enclosedpump station and primary filterhouse. TheWater Board sent a letter to all the Edgeworth households indicatingthat urgent stepswere now being takento trial biological dosageand perhaps peroxideand oxygen injection to provide short-termrelief. I complimentthe officers of theWater Board, PaulBroad the chairman, BrettGibbs, and BrucePetersen on trying to providerelief oncethe scale of the problemwas known. I have apetition which Ishall presentto the Clerksignedby almost900 citizensfrom within akilometre of theworks. Quitea few were shoppersat the nearby shopping centre, EdgeworthOasis, and a few were visitorsto a prominentlocal tourist attraction,the Lake MacquarieLive Steam Co-operativeSociety. It has one of the top four track layouts inAustralia formodel steamengines and attractsmany people. It is damagingto New SouthWales and to the localitythat tourists are being drivenaway by the pong.

Having regard to the matters outlinedin the Governor's SpeechI must inform theHouse ofthe needs of my constituents andhow they should be funded. This yearwe were hit with an extra levy of $31 per householdin the Hunterregion. Frankly,if some of that moneywere spentin the Edgewortharea the local peoplewould consider itwell spent. However, wecome to afurthermatter that theGovernor probably includedunder the team of prudentfinancial management. This yearthe Governmentremoved a$10 milliondividend from the Hunter Water Board. Thestench might offendthe nose, but, 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 575 frankly, that $10 million dividend offendsthe spirit of people in the Hunter. So long as that stench remains, I do not think the Government shouldbe ripping off $10 million from the HunterWater Board in the guise of its economicmanagement policy. It is not justified and we want it back. We already pay more for water than anyone elsewherein New South Wales under our full user-pays scheme. The State Pollution Control Commission mustalso play a role prior to the environmental protection agency's being formed. I was told that they would come out on a bad day and measure concentrations of offending gases but the residents have since been told otherwise. I am seeking the Minister's intervention for the provision of funds to enable rapid works to commence to rectify this problem. I seek also the co-operationof all the agencies of the Minister for Environment;they should get cracking. I turn to schooleducation. The Governor's Speechrelerred to the consolidation after two rounds of major reform. That reform has had an impact on schools in Wallsend. In the past year the number of formal composite classes in the 16 primary schools in my electorate has shown a 28 per cent increase. Staffare complaining to me about the reduced flexibility in student-teacher ratios. As was said by the honourable member for Myall Lakes, I compliment the teachers on their professionalism and their ability, whichwill ensure that children in composite classes do not suffer educationally. It already happens in small bush schools. The progress of children in the increased composite classes in city schools will depend on the professionalism and ability of the teachers. I 2m certain that large increases in composite classes are the result of a reduction in teacher numbers under the former Minister for School Education, Dr Metherell. That is a clear difference betweenLiberal and Labor policies in New South Wales. Labor will restore teacher numbers andwill improve the status of teachers when it is again on the Treasury benches.

A recent comment fromthe new Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs is worth noting. Someweeks ago shesaid it is inevitable that schoolswill become businesses. That is another difference between the Liberal Party and the Labor Party on education. That matter would not come to the top of the pile. The Oppositionwould put educational outcomesat the top of the pile in education. The Liberal Government boasted that funds resulting from fewer teachers would be allocated for extra maintenance. I have listened tosomeof the contributionsof other honourablemembers to the Address-in-Reply debate and contributions to the Budget debate last year. A number of Government members were claiming that large sums of money were being spent on maintenance. In the Wallsend electorate,with the exception of two primary schools that were treated on the cyclic maintenanceprogram, all other schools are still waiting for the promise to tackle maintenance. The honourable member for Pittwater knows, from the late submission I made on the capital fund requirementsfor next year, that that is still the case. Moneyneeds to be spent on maintenance inmany of the schools in the Wallsend electorate. Cardiff, Glendale and West Wallsend high schools are still waiting for urgently needed repairs, as are Warners Bay, Garden Suburb, Cardiff, Edgeworth, Glendale East, Minmi, Wallsend South and Barnsley primary schools. Several schools are most concerned that the global budgeting system increasesstaff workload and changes the role of principal from educational leader to a business manager. 576 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

Salaries are of great concern to teachers in the Wallsend electorate. The industrial relations recordof the Liberal Government inschools is shameful. Last year a minority of teachers received some justice. It is grossly unjust that the remainder are still waiting. The high-sounding objectives on this matter in the Governor's Speech missed the main point. The training of staff in computer programs for global budgeting and staffing has been inadequate in a number of schools in my electorate and last Christmas led to a number of unnecessary staff resignations. Nextmonth two schools in the Wallsend electorate, Cardiff and Edgeworth,will be celebrating their centenaries and committees will be working hard to ensure fine celebrations. For honourable members withlong memories, until 1955 Edgeworth was known as Young Wallsend. I have talked to some members of the committee whoknew the school when it was called Young Wallsend. They have told me great stories about how the late George Booth, the then local member, went to great lengths to achieve various improvementsfor the school. Glendale Public Schoolin the Wallsend electorate closed last December. The buildings are being moved to Edgeworth HeightsPublic Schoolwhere they are being refurbished to replace demountables. This is a commendable recycling of education resources in the Hunter region, and I look fonvard to the improvements at the Edgeworth Heights school. The Glendale site has been included in the asset sales program of the Government. In the local community that sale is regarded as a tragic loss of a public resource in the middle of an educational complex where there is a technical and further education college, a high school and a catholic school. That is a waste. I wonder whether the school siteat Glendalewill join other metropolitanschool sites that have been under discussion for the past two years. The Governor's Speech referred to an objective of a leaner and more effective public sector. If one wishes to know about the popularity in the Hunterregion of the Greiner Government,one should talk to the locals about the sell-off of the Elcom mines. It is seen as robbery. There could not be a more wrong decision by this Government thanthe sell-off of the Elcom coal mines. Those mines are profitable. Their sale denies the objective. I remind the Government that 500 jobs will be lost if Elcon mines are sold off, Last year, a cynical exercise was conducted to deny power station supply contracts to two Elcom mines, which will result in their closure. The replacement contractswere awarded to a private mine situated 100 kilometres away in the Upper Hunter region. No considerationwas given when that decision was made to thedifficulties involved with transport and the double handling of coal at lower Hunter power stations. I wonder whether the poor taxpayer will have to pick up the tab for that, thus making the remaining public sectorportion of Elcom seem inefficient. Isit any wonder that public sector workers in the coal industry are angry? That constitutes yet another clear difference between the policies of Liberal and Labor with regard to Elcom mines. A Labor government would maintain those mines in public ownership. It would corporatise to achieve efficiency;maintain employmentopportunities and training for a skilled work force; and, in particular, husband coal resources in the public interest so that they would not be wasted by a piecemeal approach based on short-term profitability objectives. Privatisation of rail locomotive ownershipand maintenancein the Hunter region presents a threat to a further 650 public sector jobs. Why does the Government's program, outlined in the Governor's Speech, not express any concern for job 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 577 opportunities? In the Hunter coal and wheat freight haulage accountsfor about 80 per cent of the income of State Rail with regard to freight haulage in New South Wales. What kind of economic management is it that allows for a transference of such operations to the private sector that will have the effect of reducing the ability of the State Rail Authority to reduce its deficit? It is rotten management. The State Rail Authority proposes to lease 80 new locomotives to replace the existing ageingstock and proposes to engage private contractorsto carry out necessary maintenance. The Cardiff and Broadmeadow rail maintenance centreswill close. That would mean the loss of 650 jobs, and the loss of opportunities for youth to obtain employment and workers to gain skills training. This is another clear difference between the policies of Liberal and Labor. A Labor governmentwould own the locomotives and have maintenancecarried out by public sector workers in State Rail maintenance centres. Jobs wouldbe saved. There was no good news for the Wallsend electorate in that part of the Governor's Speech that dealtwith housing. Not one unit of public housing forrental was constructed last year or has been constructed this year. There are 7,000 on the waiting list for public housing in the Hunter region. Only 20 HomeFund houses for low-income earners will be constructed this year in the Wallsend electorate. Yet the Department of Housing had a $300 million surplus over a two-year period. The incidence of poverty and homelessness criesout for urgent action by the Government to provide publichousing. The Governor referred to "prudent economic management" but in the real world my constituentssee only ever increasinggovernment charges. At the top of the list of complaints that I receive from my constituentsis the rip-off in motor vehicle registrationfees.

People are screamingabout the increases they are faced with-two increases in the past year. For example, in August 1988 it cost $371 to register a Holden utility. In 1989 the fee was increased to $506. In 1990 it was $598 and in January 1991the registration fee amounted to $607. The third party component of that chargeincreased from $221 in 1988 to $397 at present. Ten years ago it cost one of my constituents$167 to register his old 4-tonne truck. Today it costs him $883 to register that same l&year-oldvehicle. The fee has increased at a rate higher than the inflation rate. How can a person on fixed superannuation plan for such outrageousincreases? The Premier is keeping the 12 private insurance companieshappy. I calculate that weare all paying $70 too much this year to fund the third party component. When that is calculated out to take account of the number of insurance policies in New South Wales, it amounts to a $200 million rip-off. I am waiting for the election gift of a reduction in the third party component of motor vehicle registration. I caution the electorate to bear in mind the rip-off of the past year or two when that gift is announced.

Other government charges have increased withinmy electorate. The Hunter Water Board has introduced a $31 environmental levy. The Hunter Valley Conservation Trust levy has increased in the Ironbark Creek catchment region from,in my case, $4 to $16, which is typical of the amount paid by my constituents. That is a start for catchment management in the urban environment but Federal and State governments must providemuch more assistance for urban flood mitigation works. I have lobbied both governments in this regard. We are too far behind. The Kellman inquiry into the Joint Coal Board is proceeding. The New SouthWales Coal Association has provided me with an extensive submissionseeking the board's abolition. However, 578 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

not all members of that association agree with that proposition. Ibelieve that it is the policy of the Government also that the board should be abolished. I hope that the inquirywillrecommend the continuationofthe Joint Coal Board, to enableit to proceed with its work with regard to occupational healthand safety and resource management. I hope also that the role of the board is expanded to enable it to supervise technical research and developmentin Australia to assure the future of the coal industry with regard to the generation of wealth and jobs. Having regard to the greenhouse debate, coal needsa broader horizon. An organisationsuch as the Joint Coal Board couldtake the lead in carrying out research to maintain the future profitability ofthe coal industry. Other coal producing areas in Queensland and Victoria should be included also in the board's set up. Last week, the Hunter Economic Development Council launched its economic development strategy. The Minister was present at that launch. Some of its strategy objectives are most worthy. They include Williamtown airport, the port of Newcastle, the Technology Business Park, the reviialisation of the Newcastle central business district, infrastructure planning, the reduction of infrastructure cross-subsidisation, local government, deregulation,business management-culture change, regional image and marketing, increased educationstatus, and peakco-ordinating government bodies in the Hunter region. I was disappointed, after interviewing representatives of that council, to learn that an emphasis on research and developmentwas not included in that strategy. What is required in the Hunter is a body like the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation to give further impetus to research and development. I compare the lack of emphasis on research and development in that strategy with the reference in the annual reportlast year of the Scienceand Technology Council of New South Wales. That report referred to an increased emphasis on the relevanceofpublicly-funded research to economic developmentand the need for greater interaction with the private sector. I believe the New South Wales Science and Technology Council has got it right.

The year before last New South Wales spent $16.65 per capita on government research and development compared withthe Australian average of $22.85. New South Wales must improvein that regard. However, for that to happen, emphasis on research and development must be included in the various development strategies forthe region. I recommend that the Hunter Economic Development Councilliaise with the Science and Technology Council. With regardto health the John HunterHospital was opened recently near my electorate, but lack of necessary startup funds has led to confusion about the roles of other hospitals. There is also turmoil being experienced during the changeover period. I realise that was to be expected, and I am doing all I can to assist patients. I express concern alsoabout the loss of jobs in the laundry and cooking areas of health services. The local area health service has a commitmentto maintain full-time jobs, but the result will be that skilled and non-permanent jobs will be lost. I acknowledge that the Minister for Health is paying attention to the crisis that exists in mental health services in the Hunter region. There are industrial problems,and I have received manycomplaints about patient care. The matters have beeninvestigated in the Hughson report.

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Wotton): Order! The honourable member's time for speaking has expired. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 579

Mr LONGLEY (Pittwater) [3.19]: I make this speech in reply to the Governor's Speech openingthis session of Parliament with a deep appreciation of the importance of this coming year and decade to the people of New South Wales as Australia faces a prolonged period of recession brought about by the Federal LaborGovernment. This speech marksmy fifth year ofservice as a member of this House, as I have had the honour of representingthe people of Pittwater since1986. In the context of the importance of both the times and of this speech to me personally, I thought it fitting to give the House a somewhat broader perspective of the general progress of our Government,based on some of the benchmarks for good government laid down in my first speech on 30th September, 1986. For the rest of my time in this House and, indeed, for the rest of my life, it will always be a source of great satisfaction and pride to me that I have been able to participate, only two years after first being elected, as a member of one of the most successful reforming governments in this State's history and, indeed, in Australia's history. Having lived in the electorate of Pittwater forvirtually all my life, coming from a familyso proudly involved with the area, and having always held the view that Pittwater is one of the greatest and best places in the world to live, I have been privileged to represent and serve the people of Pittwater. However, the timing of matters is always beyond the control of the individual and I was fortunate indeed that my election as a member coincided with the beginning of the end of the Labor dynasty in New South Wales and the beginning of what will be a long and well-respected period of coalition government.

In the past three years the Greiner Governmenthas begun with firm conviction and absolute dedication the onerous task of repairing the damage done by 12 years of Labor mismanagement andneglect, restoring and revitalising the economy, the public sector and the basic institutions of our public life to a standard that is deserved and expected by the people of this great State, and, indeed, providing the example which demonstrates our leadership in Australia today. As the results and benefits of our reforms are becoming more and more evident, few could argue with the success of our first three years in office. The key to this program of reform and recovery and the building block ofour future security and prosperity has been to commence repairingthe economy, to get debt under control and to reform the State's finances and management-a colourless task in the eyes of the great cosmetic showmen of State politics, such as Neville Wran, but a job that has proved beyond doubt to be the very essence of good State management and of good State government.

As I said in my first speech to this House five years ago, when speaking on the Budget, there are four main areas of dangerous deficiency,and I outlined them: first, lack of disclosure; second, the economic scenario and the lack of recognised implications; third, administrativeefficiency; and, fourth, debt. In each of these four areas this Government has made significant achievements, and the results speak for themselves. New South Wales now has the lowest rate of unemployment in Australia and the lowest rate of inflation in Australia. This is the only government, including the Federal Government,to have reduced the number of bureaucrats andto have held the line on government expenditure. Every other government in Australia has failed,and so the national economyand the economyof every other Stateis in a shambles. Indeed, New South Wales is the only State sustaining Australiatoday. In that first speech I said 580 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 that the most disturbing aspect of the Labor Government's disastrous economic management was debt. Let me remind the House of my words on that occasion, that is, the 1986 budget debate, when I said: Of all the featuresof this Budget, this aspectof publicdebtmust be considered themost serious, the most deleteriousto our future prosperity and themost inadequately handled. . .

The Government ison a treadmill thatis running faster and fasterbut theyrefuse to get off or even slow down. Quite apart from the escalation of borrowings, the lack of disclosure and, indeed, the knowledge about the accurate level of debt, the most disturbing aspect about the previous Government was the prevailing attitude that debt was not important, and that bread and circuses, and quick spending funded by reckless borrowing, was what State politics was about. The legacy of the Wran bread and circus years, of ignoring the problem and hoping it would go away, was exposed dramatically by the Curran Commission of Audit when this Government came to office. The shocking state of the finances and mismanagement of the railways and of statutory authorities suchas Elcom and the Maritime Services Board, the bankrupt6 of the bus and ferry services, the bloated and inefficient departments, the incredible cost blowouts and escalated borrowings were there for all to see-a sad stoqindeed. Thankfullythose days are gone and I point to the success our Government has had in only three years of reducing debt, while at the same time being able to redirect funds to areas of priority need, spending record amounts in real terms on essential services of law and order, public transport, health, education, as well as on the vital jobs of cleaning up our beaches and waterways and protecting our environment. The achievement in reducing debt was the underpinning success in that story. Net debt in 1987 was 23 per cent of gross State product. In 1990 it was 15 per cent. In 1987 foreign currency exposure was $3,000 million. In 1990 it was $55 million. That achievement underpins all the other successes of this Government. The greatest legacy of the Premier,Mr Greiner, to the people of New South Wales will be that he has proved for all time that issues of good management and financial prudence-issues considered too boring or too difficult for the previous Government to worry about--can directly affect the lives and living standards of the people. These issues are at the heart of what Aristotle laid down as the purpose of politics when he wrote, "A state's purpose is not merely to provide a living but to make a life that is good". That is from The Politics,3, ix. By positioning New South Wales as the leading State in Australia during this time of recession, by keeping public and business confidence in our economic ability strong, and by containing tax and charge increases to the lowest level in Australia of all the States, the Greiner program has shown how the protection of living standards is linked directly to the simple but very real matters of economic management. Five years ago, in my first speech to this Parliament, I told the House that the principles of basic prudence in financial management and coherent strategy and competence have wide-ranging effectson people's lives. Now, five years later, as New South Wales outperforms every other State during a Federal recession, that assertion has been proved beyond doubt. It proves that these things underlie the principle that by putting people first you must manage better, as the State's motto now says. As reflected by the opinion polls, the people of New South Wales are thankful that they voted this Government intooffice three years ago. They know that had Labor remained 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 581 in office and continued to govern with its lack of regard for economicmanagement and its total reliance on borrowings, we would be well and truly down the drain, as are other States, and facing a future of turmoil and uncertainty. I am pleased to say that the Governor's Speechshows that New South Wales is right on track as we enter this crucial year and this decade. This Governmentis not wavering one inch from the program laid down by the Premier at the beginning of the term, and reaffirmed confidently nowat the beginning of the fourth year, as the best prescription to keep New South Wales as the leading State. In the Governor's Speech whatissue is highlighted on page 1 as the first priority of the four fundamental objectives for the year? Reduced State debt. The other three issues reaffirm the continuation of the same economic and financial program that has been so successfulso far-a leaner and more effective public service; a balanced budget; and a re-ordering of spending priorities to emphasisebasic servicessuch as health, law enforcement and education. It is this program-focused, as I have said, on repairing the deficiencies, whichI outlined in my first speech, of the Labor Government's economic management-that has enabled New South Wales, as the Governorsaid, to "escapethe severe market downturnwhich is being experienced in other States". It is this program that is securing our future, keeping New South Wales as an AAA State, with business and market confidence high as debt comes down and efficiency-indeed, excellence-spreading like wildfire through the public service. The infrastructureand essential services that were decaying under Labor are being rebuilt and renewed.

The Governor's Speech highlights the Government's ability to apply funds to both the essential services upon which our lives depend now, and even more important, the vital areas that will determine the legacy that will be left to our children and their families, such as protecting the environment, cleaning the beaches and waterways, building saferandbetter roads and giving thevast growth areas of the State theresources they need. In my first speech I spoke of the unique natural environmentof the region I represent that is not only vitally important to the people who choose to live there for that very reason, but indeed is a priceless treasure for the State. Members will understand why it is especially gratifying to me that the Government has been so successful in creating conditions thatallow these environmental issues to be properly addressed. Pittwaterindeed has a unique natural environment,which is appreciated by the residents. Their consciousness of the environment in the electorate of Pittwater is of paramount importance. In 1980 I was intimately involved ina public protest against a Labor Party scheme to allow sand miningat the mouth of the Hawkesbury Riveroff Palm Beach. That protest finally was successful and the former Labor Government withdrew the proposal because it would have been extremely detrimental to all of the beaches in the Pittwater electorate.

Residents' consciousness of the environment was sparked again whenconcerns about overdevelopment werebeing raised repeatedly. Time and againthe former Labor Government overrode local decisions and disregarded local input. The records will show clearly that the coalition Government has exercised its overridingpowers far less than the previous Labor Government did, and has instituted specific mechanismsto ensure local input plays a far more important role. As I said in 1986, there is conflict between local desires and legitimateState and national needs. What is essential and urgent now, however,is a substantial reweighting of the decision process towards local 582 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

input. The Government has taken significant steps towards dealing with the genuine conflictsbetsveen Stateand nationalneeds and local desires. But thereis still a longway to go. I was impressed that the Governor in his Speech said that the Governmentwas committed to leading edge initiatives in these conflict resolutions, becauseit is only as we progress in trying to resolve these exceptionally difficult economic versus environmental issues that the nation will be able to progress in a way that is beneficial to all in the community whilst preserving our critical environment. That is of vital importanceto the electorate of Pittwater. Undoubtedly now the most important environmentalissue in Pittwater, and indeed probablyin all of Sydney, is sewage pollution on the beaches. In my first speech I said that the outfalls would not solve the problem. I said further that secondary treatment or better was necessary. Today the outfalls are in place and there has been an improvement, but fundamentally it is an improvement in appearance only. The problem stillexists. But this Governmentis committed to secondary treatment or better and this Government has committed the funding to finance this improvedlevel of treatment so that once and for all the sewage pollution problemson our beaches can be solved. Funding was always the problem. Former Labor governments were never prepared to commit funding. That funding, planning and implementation are happening now. That is a singular and great achievementby this Government. One of the major problemsof beach pollution in Pittwater was that 4,000 homes were noteven connected to the sewerage system. Those dwellings had the old septic systems, which would leak into thesoil and then leach on to the beaches, causingsevere pollution. The Government committed$65 million to a four-year programto correct the problem and connect those homes to the sewerage systemso that level of pollution would no longer affect our beaches. Today the program is on target and at the completion of that four-year program,in mid-1992for most of the electorate, andmid-1993 for TerreyHills, those homes will be connected to the system. That effluent will go to a full secondary treatment plant.

That pollution problem has been solvedtwice over. First, it does not leach from the old septics on to the beaches, and, second, it is treated to the necessary level. That project will not stop there. A third matter affectingbeach pollution is storm water runoff. That difficulty was not even recognised by the former Labor government; the coalition Government has been the first to recognise it as a problem. Only now have governments come to grips with the difficulty. The New South Wales Government has instituted a monitoring program. WhaleBeach pollution is being monitored. Options for solving the problem are being investigated. That difficult problem must be solved if beach pollution is to be conquered. Many other environmental issues affect my electorate. Soona national park is to be proclaimed that will dedicate many hundreds of hectares to be preserved as our national heritage. Iwas instrumentally involved in preventing the expansion of Kimbriki tip, which would havedestroyed 140 hectares of untouched bushland. The dedication of that national park will be a great legacy for future generations,especially as it is in an area that is so precious and close to a city the size of Sydney.

The people of Pittwater are concerned not only with local environmental issues, but also with thestate, national and global issuesof ozonedepletion andthe greenhouse effect. This Government again has been taking the lead in tackling these issues. In 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 583 regard to pollution generally, the establishmentof the environmentalprotection agency will be a significant step forward. Environmental issues are of concern within the electorate of Pittwateras are thefull range of issues that affect the population. Another of the Government's achievementshas been the construction of the Avalon ambulance station, which will be opened within the next month. That station should have been built years ago. People's lives have been put at risk because of inadequateresponse times by the ambulance service, resulting from the lack of a station at Avalon. The constructionof the ambulance station is one of the greatest achievements for Pittwater. The Avalon police station has been upgraded and the number of police increased. The station is now manned seven daysa week. Manning of the water police station has been increased significantlyto enable better policing of the beautiful Pittwaterwaterway.

An amount of $4.5 million will be spent on upgrading Mona Vale Road. Traffic lights will be installed at intersections, where needed. I could go through the list and detail achievement after achievement in the Pittwater electorate. I cannot overemphasise the successes of this Government. Briefly, I have detailed the State's economic situationand I have looked at a number of issues affecting Pittwater. This Government is not just concerned with past and present achievements; it is also concerned with the future of this State. This Government is not content to sit on its laurels. It has in mind the future perspectives and directions of this State and it has in mind what it must do. I see the future directions this Government must take as being threefold. First, microeconomic reformin both the public and private sectors must be relentlessly pursued. The international community is becoming increasingly competitive economically. If Australia is to survive, we must have microeconomicreform. Second,we must resolve Federal and State financial relations. No singleissue will have a bigger impact on the management and finances of State and Federal governments in the coming decade. Federal and State financial relations must be resolved in the best possible way so that we can lay the foundations for a sound, secureand prosperous future. Third,we must have environmental and economicdispute resolution. As I said earlier, it is imperative for this matter to be resolved much more efficientlyand amicably than it has been. We must develop mechanismsso that environmentaland economic disputes can be resolved before they cost both sides involved and the community dearly. I am proud to have been able to play a real part in the important process of fixing up the mess left by the previous Government and, at the same time, achieving a range of important initiatives that I have been fighting for in the Pittwater area, even before entering Parliament. Only a Government member with a voice in the Government-the heart of the decision-makingprocess-could have achieved this. I believe strongly that as the State has progressed significantlyunder Mr Greiner's premiership so has Pittwater progressed and benefited in areas that had been neglected.

Ms ALLAN (Wentworthville) [3.44]: 1 offer my congratulations to His Excellency,Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair, Governor of New South Wales, for his Speech on the opening of the fourth session of the forty-ninth Parliament. I had the pleasure of welcoming both the Governor and his wife to my electorate on Australia Day. He celebrated that day, in part, at the Holroyd Youth Tattoo after receiving and accepting an invitation from the Holroyd city council. Mr Acting-Speaker,I congratulateyou on the remarks you made last night. I am sure I convey the congratulations of a former ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 member of this House-the former member for Granvilleand present Federalmember for Reid. When I first became a memberof this House he intimated to me the extent to which he enjoyed hearing you speak in the House. I also congratulatemy colleague and friend the honourable member for Macquarie Fields on his maiden speech. He has already had a distinguishedcareer in local government in this State, particularly in southwestern Sydney. I believe he will continue that distinguished career in State Parliament.

I would like to speak of a number of matters arising out of the Governor's Address last week that relate to my electorateof Wentworthville. The first matter I have chosen is flooding. I elevated that matter as it is still the most important matter in my electorate. The Governor cameto social prominence because of the role he played in the rescue effortsfor the peopleof Nyngan and thus would certainlybe aware of people's anxiety when they are flooded. That anxiety is still obvious in my electorate despitethe fact that over the past six months we have had a dry spell. During that time we have not had the same degree of crisis that we have had on several occasions since August 1986 when we experienced disastrous floodingof Toongabbie Creekand the upper reaches of the ParramattaRiver. When it rains many constituents stillfear that their homes and their lives will be placed at risk by flooding.

I thought it worth while to comparewhat the Stateand Federal governmentsare doing to mitigate flooding. In the course of my political life as the member for Wentworthville the State Government has established the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust which, to the year ending June 1990, has spent $649,652 of a drainage levy imposed on residents. In so far as the local media are concerned the trust has been very busy. It has published two introductory leaflets and distributed them widely to households. Apart from the expenditure on thoseintroductory leaflets it has spent five times as much on its administrationas it has on the design and construction of work to lessen the flooding risk in my electorate. At present most of the trust's money is being spent on consultantswho are studying all the local floodingproblems of my constituents so that they can inform them of the causes. Unfortunately, that is of little comfort to my constituents. Despite the fact that significant works havebeen funded over the past few years, particularly by the Federal Governmentand with contributionsby State and local government,we have only touched the surface of the flooding problemsthat have to be addressed in my area. I believe the State Governmentwill have to put much more money into this aspect, for hitherto its contributionhas been quitesmall. Unfortunately, that applies also to the Federal Government. Only a small proportion of the respective budgets of State, Federal and local government has been spent in this way. Unless a great deal of money is spent we will not address these problems.

One thing that occurred in the past week has typified the lack of financial commitmentto resolving this issueof flooding in western Sydney and my area. The State Government is pursuing a very confused policy. I refer to the decision of the Deputy Premier, Ministerfor Public Works, and Ministerfor Roads to withdraw a development application for the demolition and reconstruction of Lennox Bridge at Parramatta. Lennox Bridge is of cultural and historical significance to Parramatta. I was pleased today to read in the Questions and Answers paper a response to a question that I submitted to the Minister for Planning. He agreed with my assessment that this bridge is of immense culturalsignificance. He said that Lennox Bridge has been identified by 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 585 the Australian HeritageCommission, in advice to him, as a bridgeof exceptionalcultural significance to the city of Parramatta and New South Wales. In fact, the Heritage Commission advised the Minister that Parramatta city council should give the highest priority to conserving the complete structurein its present location withoutthe need for further alteration to its significant fabric. I welcome that response from the Minister for Local Government and Minister for Planning about the cultural significance of Lennox Bridge. However, I should have liked to think that the Deputy Premier would have consulted the Minister for Planning when he made the decision last week to ensure the survival of Lennox Bridge in its present form; but I have grave doubts about that. It seems that the Deputy Premiernot only probably has not spoken to the Minister for Planning about this matter, but certainly has not spokento the Minister for Water Resources. Thisweek in the House I asked the latter Minister to what extent did the Deputy Premier consult him about the survival or continuation of Lennox Bridge. Hereplied, "I do not recall anything passing between us". Then unfortunately he went on to talk about the very grave floodingrisk from Lennox Bridge to the people of Parramatta andto the Parramatta centralbusiness district. This week we have had three statements by three different Ministers who, I hope, all have a vital interest in Parramatta andin the future and continuation of this significant cultural structure in Parramatta. The Minister for Planning extolledthe cultural and heritage valuesof the bridge. The Deputy Premier did not say much at all but he did act; on this occasion he has been a man of action rather than ofwords. Finally, although the Minister for Water Resources has been left out of the picture almost entirely, he is still very concerned about the flooding risk to Parramatta.

The confused picture that has emerged this week tellsme essentially that we are not quite surewhat will happen with Lennox Bridge in the longer term. I appreciate that the whole issue is of immense political significance, particularlyto the honourable member for Parramatta, who at the last State election had a margin of only 223 votes and would be particularly interested for that reason. Because of the confused messages now coming from the State Government, I do not think the honourable member for Parramatta will be able to persuade the Parramattacommunity, whoarevery concerned about the future of the bridge, that it will survive permanently. I believe also that it is no good for the State Governmentto propose only a part solution to floodingproblems. The fact that the Government has decided to retain the bridge, at least at this stage, without proposing a package of proposals to alleviate the flood risk to the central business district and to the constituents who live downstream from where floodingis likely to occur, suggests that this problem will not be resolved. I would recommend that in the next few months the Governmentshould address thisissue more seriously.

The Governor, quite rightly, identified transport as a matter of priority in this term of the Parliament. I am pleased that this afternoon the Minister for Transport is present to hear this debate. Today and earlier in the week we heard much about the future of road funding for vital roadworks in western and southwestern Sydney. My electorate hasthe honour of being traversed by a large part of the missing link of the F4 Freeway. My constituency is very concerned about the commitmentreinforced today by the Deputy Premier and Minister for Roads that the people of western Sydney will have to pay for improved roadworkson either the F4 Freeway or the F5 Freeway. I was very disturbed today to hear the Deputy Premier say that the people had a clear choice 586 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 about the use of the new freewayswhen the toll is applied: they will have the choice of using the new roads and paying for that privilege, or of using existing roads without having to pay. Unfortunatelythat is not a realistic choice formost of my constituents, who have the bad luck, I supposeI could callit, so far as the Deputy Premieris concerned, to live on either side of the new roadworks. It is not good enough for the Government to assumethat the existingroad network will be suitable forcommuters whodo not want to pay a toll but want to use local roads as an alternative. There is no real alternative. The local roads in my electorate and in the areas of western Sydney from Parramatta to Penrith are choked already. We do not want more traffic on those roads because of people not being able to afford to pay a toll.

For that reason, the Parramatta city council and the Holroyd city council have come out strongly in opposition to the proposal to apply a toll on the F4 Freeway. It is pleasing that the Deputy Premier will visit Parramatta on 5th March and talk to Parramatta city council about this matter. However, I am disappointed that he has chosen not to talk to the good citizens, and particularly my good friend the mayor of Holroyd, Alderman Bob Downing, about the same problem. I can assure the Deputy Premier that the local government areas of Holroyd and Parramatta are vigorously opposed to the application of this toll. Other road issues concern my electorate. We desperately need funding for a number of major local roads and arterial roads that at present are being ignored by this Government, despite thegrandiose promises of the Government about thework it is doing. That work is not visible in my electorate;there are no signs advertising the 3 x 3 expenditure from the fuel levy being spent on roads in my electorate. I am sure that if the Ministers visited western Sydney they would be hard-pressed to count on their fingers the number of those signs there. In Janualy I was interested to read in the Daily Telegraph Mirror that at last the Government was considering building a few pedestrian overbridges in my electorate. However, the suggestion is that those bridges will be funded by the private sector,which would jump at the chance to advertise on the bridges. Presumably there will be the McDonald's overbridge at Hart Drive, Wentworthville, a bridge that has been promised by this Government andby the previous Government for many years. It is desperately needed to avoid the number of fatalities that occur when young people, particularly children, try to cross a six-laneroad.

I refer alsoto thenumerous public transport needs in my electorate. A particular matter of concern at present to people in my electorate and surrounding electoratesis the rumour abounding about the closure of railway stations such as Pendle Hill and Toongabbie. It is important that we put to rest what I hope is an unfounded rumour. The Minister for Transport, with great alacrity, issueda local press release accusing me of seeking to raise and generate this rumour. This issue was, as usual, brought to my attention by my constituents,who unfortunately have heard rumours from a number of sources, including the media and personnel within the State Rail Authority, that there are proposals to close Pendle Hill and Toongabbierailway stations. Already my office has been inundated with petitions from residents and commuterswho are concerned about these proposals. I didnot dismiss the rumour out of hand when I first heard it.

Mr Baird: On a point of order. The Address-in-Replydebate provides an avenue for comment on matters of substance in the Governor's Speech. The honourable member for Wentworthvilleis canvassing issuesthat I have advised her are clearly and %February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 587 totally untrue. Ihave said that there are no plans to close any of the railway stations in her area. All the rumours are coming from her. Iask that she be directed to return to address the overall substanceof the Governor's Speech,rather than the rumours that she is trying to peddle falsely in her electorate. Ms Allan: On the point of order. I hesitate to waste time on this point, but the Governor said at page one of his Speech that the top priority of the Governmentwill be to maintain andto extend the financial and managementgains of the past three years. The Governor emphasised that expenditure restraint remainscrucial. Obviouslythere have been enormouscuts already in the operationsof the StateRail Authority. Ibelieve that I am raising a matter of genuine concern when I referto the possible closure of two railway stations in my electorate. Mr ACTING-SPEAKER(Mr Wotton): Order! I uphold the point of order. I ask the member to return to the substance of the Governor's Speech. Ms ALLAN: The Minister's sensitivity alarms me considerably. Another important area of concern to my constituency is the environment. I shall deal with a couple of issues relating to the physical environment and the urban environment. Inote that the honourable member for Parramatta last night referred to another matter that relates to the Minister for Transport, Minister Assisting the Premier, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer. Iam pleased to have this opportunityto obtain instantfeedback from the Minister on these major political issues which affect the electorates of Parramatta and Wentworthville. Honourable members were told last night by the honourable member for Parramatta that the Minister for Transport has a passionate interest in establishing aSydney to Parramatta ferry service. If the Minister is successful in establishing a ferryservice to Parramatta, it will be a service that will re-establish a ferry servicethere which operated between 1789and 1928. Any government that is able to achieve that must be recorded in the history books for that achievement. I was concerned about the comments made by the honourable member for Parramatta that there would not be any environmental problems associated with this ferry. The Department of Planning and Parramatta city council have raisedconcerns. Mr Baird: On a point of order. Again the honourable member for Wentworthvillewishes to raise matters which more appropriatelyshould be dealtwith in grievance debates or in private members' statements. It is inappropriate, ina response to the Governor's Speech,to be going into the details of matters of local interest. I am happy to see the honourable member about the matter, but certainly it is outside what should be debated here. Ms Allan: On the point of order. I have spent the last week listening carefully to a number of speeches from my colleagues on both sides of the House concerning the Governor's Speech. Theymay not have had the misfortune of having the very sensitive Minister for Transport sitting at the table to waste their time. On very few occasions have I heard pointsof order being taken in debate about matters which now offend this ultrasensitive Minister for Transport. Obviously he has something to hide if he is not prepared to have these issues raised. Mr ACTING-SPEAKER:The honourable member for Wentworthvilleis really only skirting around the statementsmade last night by the honourable member for Parramatta, though I do not have those remarks beforeme. Debate should be confined 588 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 to those matters containedin the Governor's Speech and to omissions fromthe Speech, provided those omissions relate to subjects that could be properly included. The honourable member for Wentworthvilleis basically in order. I ask her to return to the scope of the Governor's Speech.

Ms AWLAN: I listened in silence while the honourable member for Parramatta made a long statement about theParramatta ferry. Obviously the Minister was not then present in the Chamber. I commend it to the Minister as good reading; it gives him a pat on the back. Unfortunately, the honourable member for Parramattaglossed over the genuine environmentalobjections being raised to the ferry service. I raise several of theseobjections because my constituentsand also peoplefrom Parramattawith whom I have had dealings- Mr Baird: The ferry does not go that far. Ms AWLAN: -though they support the ferry service want the opportunity to look at alternatives- [Intemption] Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Wotton): Order! I ask the Minister to cease interjecting. Iwould ask the member for Wentworthville to come back to the matter at hand. Ms ALLAN: My constituents would like the opportunity to travel by ferry between Parramatta and Sydney. It would be a welcome relief from the several hour trips they oftenexperience on the road network. Real problems are associated withthe ferry proposal. One proposal from the environmental impact statement is that a large amount of materialwill have to be dredged from the river. The proposed disposalpoint for the dredged material will be Homebush Bay. Given the amount of energy which is now going to be applied to secure the Olympic Games at the site at Homebush Bay, I ask the Government how it will be able to reconcile the use of that area as the deposit ground for the dredged material from the Parramatta River. The EIS suggests that somehowor other it will be treated by a series of settlement ponds and then pumped to HomebushBay. Little detailis contained in the environmentalimpact statement about that matter. The officers of the Parramatta city council have raised the matter in their chief town planner's report to the council. The Governmentmust addressthat question not only for the future of Parramatta River but for the whole viability of the Olympic Games proposal. Anotherimportant issue raised is the extent to which the historicgasworksbridge at Macarthur Street, Parramatta,could be undermined by the various rock cutting activities that will occur if the dredging works are to proceed. In fact the chief town planners have stated that it is too dangerous to adopt a wait and see attitude with the bridges and further investigations into the constructionand stability of the bridges and the weir should be conducted. They are not satisfied with the environmental impact statement. This issueofunderminingthestructure of the gasworks bridgeand the James Ruse Drive bridge could jeopardise the whole project.The honourable member for Parramatta alsotouched on the important environmentalissue of the erosion that will occur to the banks of the river. The honourable member for Parramatta dismissed those objections lightly. Though the environmental impactstatement deals with the issue of 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 589 the wave action from the ferry itself and concludes that that will only have a negligible impact,it ignores the obvious point that as a result of the dredging required forthe ferry service other craft will be able to use the river to a far greater extent than at present. The town planners have raised a number of concerns about that likelihood. First, who will police the speed limits and the no wake zones for those particular craft? Already Ryde council has lodgedan objection with the Governmentabout the unnecessary bank erosion from the operation of the Meadowbank ferry service.

Experience on the Lane Cove River suggests that increased pleasure craft use makes it more likely that bank erosion will occur. It is not good enough for the State Government to ignore the problem if all the good work carried out over recent years to encourage mangrove rehabilitation and wildlife along the Parramatta River will be removed or destroyed by the ferry. These issues must be addressed by the State Government when it considers the submissions resulting from the environmental impact statement. Let us not gloss over the problems but look for solutions. Another important environmental issue is that of Parramatta Park. Though many people in the Chamber do not live in this area of western Sydney,if they do visit they will see that one of the few recreational areas is Parramatta Park. Unfortunately it has not received funding from this Government sinceJune 1989. I was disappointed that this issue has not been raised following the Governor's Speech. Under the previous Government and for the first year of office of this Government Parramatta Parkreceived $400,000per year towards reconstructionand rehabilitation works.

No good reason exists why the State Governmentshould not be prepared to fund important works in Parramatta Park andimprove the oval and amenity of that park. It is a chief source of recreation for residents of Parramatta and peopleas far west as Blacktown. There is plenty of money available forthe Government to allocate to ParramattaPark; it is just not being spent. The Governmenthad not spent$2.4 million in its public reserves management sectionof the budget at the end of June 1990. The Government toppedthat up last year with another $1.1 million, so it has a total of $3.5 million availableto spend in that area,yet no money has been spent on Parramatta Park since June 1989. As has often been pointed out, this is an election year. It is hoped that the Government will see fit to allocate funds to that area. I do not wish to conclude without mentioningsome of the urban environmentalissues in my area. At present my area is subject to a vast amount ofresidential consolidationin the form of walk-up flats, town houses and villas. The stage has been reached wheremy esteemed colleagueon Holroyd city council, Peter Herlinger, said this week in the local paper that three ofthe suburbs in my electorate are fast becoming ghettos for the unemployed and other disadvantaged groups.

Despite the performances by the Minister for Housing during question time daily,we are not experiencingservicedelivery in public housing estatesor public housing accommodation. I welcomethe amount of public housing that is being provided inmy electorate, but I do not welcome the fact that the essential infrastructure of public housing is not being provided. InHolroyd there is a lack of communityservices. Within the boundary of Parramatta city council many drainage services are not being provided. Recently the Minister for Housing wroteto one of my constituentsabout the fullscale flooding of the Toongabbiehousing estateat Harris Road,Wentworthville. Headvised that the flooding problemwas a complex one that may take sometime to resolve. If that 590 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991 is not a cop-out by the Minister for Housingon his commitment to solve that specific problem, I do not know what is. The inadequateprovision ofinfrastructure andsupport from the Department of Housing to the many public housing unit and villa complexes results in tensions arising between already developed and new areas. I have received a number of complaints from residents in Mahoney Street, Wentworthville. They are frightened for their future healthand welfare. They criticisethe Departmentof Housing for not providing even a decentgarbage removal infrastructure at the many villas and townhouses that are being constructed. In February thisyear Mrs Elizabeth Cameron wrote to me stating that she had received no assistance from the department in having removed garbage that had been sitting around a public housing developmentfor two weeks. I and my constituentswant urban consolidation.Unlike some northerncouncils and councils in the eastern suburbs and Pittwater, we are happy to have urban consolidation. But we also want the infrastructure that is essential for effective urban consolidation. I refer to community services as well as important physical services that must be provided. The next few months will be interesting because ofthe impending State election. This is no time for ultrasensitivity on the part of Ministers such as the Minister for Transport. It is a time for getting on with the job to makesure that transport services to western Sydneyare not reduced so that other areas throughout theState may be pork-barrelled. With regardto the proposal to close Pendle Hill andWentworthville railwaystations we require anunequivocal commitment, not the type of insensitivityand immaturity that has been evident today and during question time- Mr ACTING-SPEAKER(Mr Wotton): Order! The honourable member's time for speaking has expired. Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Glachan.

PRINTINGCOMMITTEE First Report Mr Small, as Chairman, brought up the First Report from the Printing Committee.

House adjourned at 4.15 p.m.

QUESTIONS UPONNOTICE The following questions upon notice and answers were circulated in Questions and Answers:

LIVERPOOLPOLICE STATION AND COURTHOUSELEGIONELLA TESTS Mr Anderson asked the Minister for Health and Minister for Arts- (1) When was legionella bacteriafirst discovered in the air-conditioningsystems of the Liverpool Courthouseand Police Station? 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 591

(2) When was staff first informed of the presence of the bacteria? (3) What steps have been taken to ensure the safety of workers and.visitors in these and any other buildings in the electorate of Liverpool? Answer- (1) I have been advised by the Department of Health that Chief Inspector Brereton, Officer-in-Charge at Liverpool Police Station, contacted the Public Health Services Branch, Western Metropolitan Office, on 5 June 1989 to arrange an inspection of the cooling tower and air-conditioning system at the Liverpool Police Station and Courthouse. This inspection was made by a health surveyor on 6 June 1989 and a water sample was obtained from the cooling tower located on the premises and submitted to the Government Analytical Laboratories for microbiological analysis the same day. On 19 June 1989 the Government Analytical Laboratories advised that legionella bacteria had been discovered in the water sample collected on 6 June 1989. At present there is no quick method available to determine the presence of the legionella bacteria. It takes approximately 10 days to incubate and confirm the presence of the bacteria. The Government Analytical Laboratories are, however, currently working on developing a faster method for identifying this bacteria. (2) Chief Inspector Brereton, Officer-in-Charge at Liverpool Police Station, was informed of the presence of legionella bacteria in the water sample collected on 6 June 1989 by a health surveyor on 19 June 1989. (3) In response to the identification of legionella bacteria within the cooling tower at the Liverpool Police Station and Courthouse, the Public Works Department has contracted to carry out a considerable amount of remedial work to the cooling tower and air-conditioning system at the premises. The contract includes routine monthly inspections of the cooling tower with maintenance being carried out at 3-monthly intervals to prevent the multiplication of legionella bacteria to unacceptable levels. These works should render the Liverpool Police Station and Courthouse safe for use by staff and the general public. With reference to the safety of other buildings within the City of Liverpool, it is advised that the Liverpool City Council has completed a survey to identify all cooling towers located within its boundaries.

PUBLICSECTOR MOTOR VEHICLEPURCHASES Mr Primrose asked the Minister for Environment- (1) What number of vehicles used by administrations under your authority were purchased in: (a) 1988/89? (b) July 1989 to date? 592 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

(2) For each period, from which dealers: (a) Metropolitan? (b) Country? Answer- Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedication of staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved.

PUBLIC SECTOR MOTOR VEHICLE PURCHASES Mr Primrose asked the Minister for Environment- (1) What number and types of motor vehicles have been provided to senior officers of administrations under your authority since July 1989? (2) At what cost? Answer- Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedication of staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations iivolved.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT EMPLOYMENTVACANCIES Mr Primrose asked the Minister for Environment- (1) What are the vacancy rates within administrations under your authority? (2) (a) In what sections are the greatest vacancy rates? (b) What are the rates? Answer- (1) and (2) Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedication of staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved.

CAMDEN ELECTORATE PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK Mr Primrose asked the Minister for Housing- (1) Are there any plans under consideration to increase the Department of Housing stock of residences in the electorate of Camden? (2) If so: (a) Where? (b) How many? (c) What type of residences? (d) When? 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 593

Answer- (1) Yes. (2) (a) Narellan. (b) 20. (c) Detached dwellings. (d) Forecast completion early 1991.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT NEWSLETTER Ms Allan asked the Minister for Environment- (1) Where were each edition of the newsletters "State of the Environment" printed? (2) How many copies were printed for each edition? (3) How were they distributed? (4) Who pays for the distribution of the newsletters? (5) What has been the total cost of distribution of these newsletters to date? (6) If the documents were printed outside a Government Department, did the contract go to tender? (7) What is the allocation in 1989190 for printing for the Ministry of the Environment in total, and for his Ministerial Office, in particular? Answer- Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedication of staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved.

NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE Ms Allan asked the Minister for Environment- (1) How many staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service have beenappointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES)? (2) (a) How many of these SE3 staff are men? (b) What is the additional cost for the salary packages of these SES staff? Answer- (1) and (2) Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedication of staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved. 594 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

WATER BOARD SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE Ms Allan asked the Minister for Environment- (1) How many staff of the Water Board have been appointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES)? (2) (a) How many of these SES staff are men? (b) What is the additional cost for the salary packages of these SES staff? Answer- (1) and (2) Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedicationof staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved.

ILLAWARRA ELECTORATEPUBLIC HOUSING MAINTENANCE Mr Rumble asked the Minister for Housing- (1) What was the allocation within the Department of Housing for maintenance and repairs to public housing in the electorate of Illawarra in 1988189? (2) What was the actual expenditure in 1988/89? (3) What was the allocation in 1989/90? Answer- (1) The Department of Housing does not allocate budgetary funds by electorate. Theelectorate of Illawarra falls within the Department of Housing's Illawarraand South East region. This region was allocated $6,501,000 for maintenance and $4,400,000 for capital improvements in 1988189. (2) Maintenance Capital Improvements Expenditure was below allocation due to a number of factors including: (a) the carry over effectsof decisions taken in 1987188 to avoid overspending; (b) the difficulty in engaging qualified contractors due to "boom" conditions in the housing industry; and (c) a shortage of technical staff, who had been attracted to the private sector, causing a backlog in the processing of orders and contracts. (3) Maintenance $4,676,000 Capital Improvements $3,723,000

WATER BOARD ILLAWARRA CAPITAL WORKS Mr Rumble asked the Minister for Environment- 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 595

With regard to the Illawarra Water Board Capital Works Programme in 1989P0,what are the full details of the ongoing programme of the Board in the Illawarra with regard to the- (1) Continuation of beach protection works? (2) Sewerage servicesto existing urban lots? (3) Water and/or sewerage to urban consolidationand new release lots? Answer- (1) to (3) There is no such body as the Illawarra Water Board administered by me.

WATER BOARD ILLAWARRc\.LAND DISPOSAL Mr Rumble asked the Minister for Environment- (1) Has the Illawarra Water Board identified any property or land that it wishes to dispose of? (2) If so: (a) What is its location?

@) What will be the method of disposal? (c) What is the time scale for the disposal of any properly owned by the Illawarra Water Board? Answer- (1) to (3) There is no such body as the Illawarra Water Board administeredby me.

LAKEMBAELECTORATE PUBLIC HOUSING MAINTENANCE Mr Davoren asked the Minister for Housing- (1) What was the allocation within the Department of Housing for maintenance and repairs to public housing in the electorate of Lakemba during 1988/89? (2) What was the actual expenditure? (3) What was the allocation in that area for 1989190? Answer- (1) The Department of Housing does not allocate budgetary funds by electorate. The electorate of Lakemba falls within the Department of Housing's Southern Metropolitan region which was allocated $12,368,000for maintenance and $10,871,000 for capital improvements in 1988189. (2) Maintenance $11,025,000 Capital Improvements $9,210,000 596 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

Expenditure was below allocation due to a number of factors including: (a) the carry over effects of decisionstaken in 1987188 to avoid overspending; (b) the difficulty in engaging qualified contractors due to "boom" conditions in the housing industry; and (c) a shortage of technical staff, who had been attracted to the private sector, causing a backlog in the processing of orders and contracts. (3) Maintenance $11,700,000 Capital Improvements $8,500,000

ELECTRICITY METER TEST CHARGES Ms Allan asked the Minister for Environment- Has the fee payable by consumers for a test of their electricity meter been increased by 100per cent from 1 April 1990? Answer- (1) If this question is addressed to the correct Minister, it mightbe able to be answered.

WATER BOARD SEWAGE SLUDGE TESTING Ms Allan asked the Minister for Environment- (1) Is Water Board sewage sludge sent to Arngrow or Australian Native Landscapes being sterilised to kill any pathogens beforedespatch? (2) Is this sewage sludge being tested to identify the amount of heavy metals or other toxins before despatch? (3) (a) If so, what specific testing is done? (b) What is the purpose of each test? (4) Is the testing on all sludge or just samples? (5) Is the sludge retained by the Water Board until the results of the testingareknown? (6) If not, why not? (7) If there is no testing, why not? (8) How much sewage sludge is being sent to Amgrow for processing per week? (9) How much sewage sludge is being sent to Australian Native Landscapes for processing each week? Answer- Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedicationof staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 597

BUNGONIA GORGE MINE BLASTING POLLUTION Ms Allan asked the Minister for Environment- (1) Has the StatePollution Control Commission investigated possiblepollution caused from mine blasting at Bungonia Gorge? (2) If not, why not? (3) If so, what was the outcome of these investigations? (4) Will the SPCC prosecute any company or individual which it considers may be responsible for pollutionin the form of mine tailings,sludge or blast shatter, at Bungonia Gorge, under the Environmental Offences and Penalties Act? (5) If not, why not? Answer- (1) to (5) The Department of Minerals and Energy is leading an interdepartmental committee working to remedy the failure of the former ALP government to require a proper and integrated approach to the impact of this mine on its surroundingarea. That work is expected to be finalised later this year.

KOGARAH ELECTORATE PUBLIC HOUSING MAINTENANCE Mr Langton asked the Minister for Housing- (1) What was the allocation within the Department of Housing for maintenance and repairs to public housing in the electorate of Kogarah in 1988/89? (2) What was the actual expenditure in 1988/89? (3) What was the allocation in 1989/90? Answer- (1) The Department of Housing does not allocate budgetary funds by electorate. The electorate of Kogarah falls within the Department of Housing's Southern Metropolitan region. This region was allocated $12,368,000 for maintenance and $10,871,000 for capital improvementsin 1988189. (2) Maintenance $11,025,000 Capital Improvements $9,210,000 Expenditurewas below allocation due to a number of factors including: (a) the carry over effects of decisions taken in 1987188 to avoid overspending;

@) the difficulty in engaging qualifiedcontractors due to "boom" conditions in the housing industry; and (c) a shortage of technical staff, who had been attracted to the private sector, causing a backlog in the processing of orders and contracts. 598 ASSEMBLY 28 Februay,, 1991

(3) Maintenance $11,700,000 Capital Improvements $8,500,000

PUBLIC SECTORCHEMICAL USE Mr Primrose askedthe Premier, Treasurer and Minister forEthnic Affairs- The Deputy Premier,Minister for Public Worksand Minister for Roads- The Minister for Health and Minister for Arts- The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs- The Attorney General- The Minister for Housing- The Minister for Environment- The Minister for Tourism and Minister for Lands andForests- The Attorney General, representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services- The Minister for Tourism and Minister for Lands and Forests, representing the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Racingand Assistant Minister for Transport- The Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Further Education, Training and Employment, representingthe Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs- The Minister for Transport, Minister Assisting the Premier, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer- The Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs- The Minister for Minerals and Energy- The Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister forFurther Education, Training and Employment- The Chief Secretary, and Minister for Water Resources- The Minister for Local Government and Ministerfor Planning- The Minister for CorrectiveServices, and Assistant Minister forRoads- The Minister forFamily and CommunityServices, and Minister for Administrative Services- The Minister for Transport,Minister Assisting the Premier, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer, representing the Minister for State Development- What are the reasons that administrations underyour authority do not have a readily accessible list of all chemicals being used by them that have been banned from use in other countries? 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 599

Answer- This answer is given on behalf of all Ministers. State Government administrations are obliged to comply with all relevant State and Federal laws governing handling of hazardous chemicals. There is no legal requirement for them to maintain lists of chemicals, whichmay be banned in some other country.

WATER BOARD METER TESTS Ms Allan asked the Minister for Environment- How many requests has the Water Board received from ratepayers,since 31 January 1990, to have water meters checked for accurate readings? Answer- (1) and (2) Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedicationof staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved.

CONTINUOUS POSITIW AIRWAY PRESSURE MACHINES Dr Refshauge asked the Minister for Health and Minister for Arts- (1) Is the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines a recognised treatment for sleep apnoea? (2) Do some major hospitals purchase CPAPmachines for loan to patients? (3) Are those machines only available forloan to patients who live within those Area Health Service boundaries? (4) Are people who live in rural New South Wales denied the use of CPAP machines unless they pay for them? (5) Is the cost of buying a CPAP machineapproximately $1,300? Answer- (1) The use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines is a recognised treatment for patientswith moderateto severe obstructive sleepapnoea who have failed to obtain relief from other non-invasivetherapies andfor whom surgeryis the only other therapy available. (2) The three major public sector Sleep Disorder Units have purchased CPAP machines for loan to sleep apnoea patients. (3) No. These are made available to patients on the basis of need, regardless ofthe Area Health Service or Regional Health Service in which their place of residence is located. (4) No. People in rural and city areas have equal access to sleep apnoea machines. Anyone who cannotafford to purchase their own is able to obtain one on loan from the prescribingSleep Disorder Unit. (5) The cost of CPAP machines is currently $1,295. 600 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

LONDONDERRY TIPENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTSTUDY Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Environment- (1) Will he grant an environmental impact study in relation to the Regional Waste Depot at Londonderry following the Premier's announcement on radio 2GB on 7 August? (2) If not, why not? Answer- (1) to (2) An Environmental ImpactStudy has been lodged with Penrith City Council.

MILLERS POINT PUBLIC BUS SERVICES Ms Nori asked the Minister for Transport, MinisterAssisting the Premier, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer- (1) Do the bus Routes 339 and 343, designated "The Rocks", not go through or terminate at "The Rocks"? (2) Will he change the designation of the buses to "Millers Point"? (3) If not, why not? Answer- (1) Yes. Both services terminate at Millers Point. (2) Yes. The State Transit Authority is in the process of obtaining quotes for the alteration of existing destination rollers or the purchase of new destination rollers to include Millers Point.

NATIONAL PARKSAND WILDLIFE SERVICE HELICOPTERS Ms Allan asked the Minister for Environment- (1) How many helicopters are presently used by the National Parks and Wildlife Service for service requirements? (2) What functions do helicopters perform for the Service? (3) What research has been done on the impact of helicopters on wildlife in national parks and wilderness areas? (4) How will he monitor the impact of helicopter usage on New South Wales national parks? Answer- (1) to (4) One helicopter is owned and operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service primarily for firefighting and search and rescue purposes. It also has significant roles in remote area materials transportation and in feral animal control. Other helicopters are chartered from time to time primarily for fire fighting. The first purchase 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 601 of a National Parks and Wildlife Service helicopter was made in 1970 and the former ALP government endorsed this equipmentbeing needed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

SMITHFIELDELECTORATE PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK Mr Scully asked the Minister for Housing- (1) What is the total number of Department of Housing residences in the electorate of Smithfield? (2) What is the breakdown of these residences into unitslflats, 1,2,3,4and 5-bedroom houses? (3) (a) What construction is being carried out by the Department of Housing in the electorate of Smithfield? (b) Where is the construction being carried out? (c) When will the current construction work be completed? (d) (i) After completion of this work what will be the total number of Department of Housing residences in the electorate? (ii) What will be the breakdown into units/flats, 1,2,3,4and 5-bedroom houses? (4) (a) How many applications for housing are there in the electorate of Smithfield? (b) How many adults and children do these applications represent? (5) What is the waiting time for new applicants for housing from the Department of Housing? Answer-

(2) Bedsitterlflat 6 1 1-bedroom general NIL 2-bedroom general 116 3-bedroom general 437 4-bedroom general 68 5-bedroom general 1 6-bedroom general 1 General housing is a Department of Housing administrative term which incorporates townhouses, villas and cottages. (3) (a) One project, comprising 5 units, under the General Housing Programme. (b) 5 Wilmott Street, Bossley Park. (c) Forecast completion: March,1991. 602 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

(d) (i) 689. (ii) See (2) 3 bedroom general 442 (4) (a) The Department of Housing does not register applications for housing by electorate. The Smithfield electorate falls within the Department's Allocation Zone of Fairfield. As at 26 January 1991,2,680applicants are on the waiting list from this zone. (b) The Department's computer system is programmed to extract the number of applicants only, not the total household complement. (5) Waiting times for the Allocation Zone of Fairfield as at 26 January 1991: Lone Pensioner and Couples December 1982 1-bedroom apartment December 1986 2-bedroom apartment February 1988 2-bedroom general July 1987 3-bedroom apartment May 1988 3-bedroom general March 1987 4-bedroom general May 1986

HOSPITALAND CLINICALWASTE DISPOSAL Ms Allan asked the Minister for Health and Minister for Arts- (1) What instructions has the Department of Health issued to medical practitioners concerning the disposal of hazardous clinical waste through local practices? (2) How is the Department of Health presently monitoring the safe disposal of clinical waste through: (a) Public hospitals? (b) Private hospitals? (c) Private medical practices? Answer- (1) I have been advised by the Department of Health that specific adviceon disposal of hazardous waste associated with the AIDS virus has been provided to all general practitioners in the AIDS Manual, a comprehensive reference tool on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The Department of Health recognises the need to provide general advice to medical practitioners on safe disposal of clinical waste and a programme designed to provide information and increase awareness amongst all professionals creating hazardous clinical waste is currently under way. (2) The regulation and monitoring of disposal of hazardous waste produced by hospitals, health institutions and laboratoriesis undertaken by the Waste Management Authority. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 603

(a) In relation to Public Hospitals, the Department has issued instructionson procedures to be followed in safe handling and disposal of contaminated waste. Responsibility for monitoring compliance with these procedures rests with individual institutions. In addition, the Waste Management Authority is monitoring public hospitalsas part of the formal licensing requirements being implementedby the Authority. (b) Under Schedule 1 of the Private Hospitals Regulation 1990 compliance with Department of Health requirements for the handling and disposal of contaminated waste is a condition of the licence to operate as a private hospital.

The private hospitals inspectorate officers regularly monitor compliance as part of the annual review of the licensing process. In addition separate visits occur in response to any specific matters that may arise during the year. (c) There is no formal monitoring of disposal of clinical waste by private medical practitioners. I am advised that Environmental Health Officers respond to enquiries and complaints, inspect premises and advise on safe procedures.

Given heightened awareness and increasinglystringent regulation of waste disposal methods, I have asked the Department of Health to discuss with the Waste Management Authority, the State Pollution Control Commission and the forthcoming Environmental Protection Agency to review methods of clinical waste disposalby registered health professionals working in private practice.

ALEXANDRIAPUBLIC BUS SERVICES Ms Nori asked the Minister for Transport, Minister Assistingthe Premier, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer- (1) Are residents in the Alexandria area prevented from usingUrban Transit Authority services 309 and 455 in the evenings, due to overcrowding? (2) Will he introduce additional services to ensure that residents, who have no option but to use public transport, are not stranded at night? Answer- (1) Loading checks indicate that althoughservices are well patronised, accommodation is still available on most occasions. (2) No. On 3 December 1990, State Transit introduced a new Route 355 (formerly Route 455) timetable on weekdays between Bondi Junction Interchange and Newtown. Surveys conducted prior to introduction of this time table determined that patronage was insufficient to warrant late night running. Route 309 (city to Botany), which leaves the city up until 12.20 a.m. everyday except Friday when the last run leaves at 1.10 a.m., provides the necessary late night service. 604 ASSEMBLY 28 February,1991

JOHN HUNTER HOSPITALNURSE RECRUITMENT Mr Price askedthe Minister for Health andMinister for Arts- (1) What isthe status of nursingstaff recruiting forthe JohnHunter Hospital at Rankin Park? (2) Is thestandardof applicant adequateto satisfythe medical requirements asspecified in the newspapers? (3) (a) Canall existingnursingstaff expect to betransfered within theirfield of expertise, unit by unit (as a unit originally proposed forrelocation), to John Hunter Hospital? (b) If not, why not? (4) (a) Will recent and future graduates of the School of Nursing at Newcastle University reasonably expectto find employmentat John Hunter Hospital? (b) If so, at what grade? (c) If not, why not?

(1) Nurse recruitingfor the John HunterHospital is proceedingas plannedat this date and is in keepingwith the staged openingof beds. (2) Yes. (3) All existingrecruited staff who have "expressedinterest" have been located in their field of specialitywithin the new structuresof the John HunterHospital. Enrollednurses, who havebasic broadbased nursing skills,are currently beingrelocated throughoutthe Hunterarea accordingto need. (4) Recentand futuregraduates of the Facultyof Nursing, Universityof Newcastle,can reasonably expectto find employmentin the Hunter Area Health Servicein keeping with the reorganisationand Strategic Planning Programme. Thenew GraduateStructured Programme has commencedat theJohn Hunnr Hospital and 30 recentgraduates have been appointed.

RIVERSTONEWATER SUPPLY

Mr Amery asked the Minister forEnvironment- (1) What progressis being madeto upgradethe water supplycapacity for the township of Riverstone? (2) What is the total amountallocated for water supplyprojects in Riverstonefor the currentfinancial year? 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 605

Answer- (1) and (2) Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedicationof staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved.

ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE PRODUCTS LABELLING Ms Allan asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs- (1) What progress is presently being made by the department towards implementing a national programmeof environmentallyfriendly labelling ofconsumer products? (2) How many complaints have been received by the department to the year ending 30 June 1990 concerning false advertisingof environmentallyfriendly products? Answer- (1) At the last meeting of the Standard Committeeof Consumer Affairs Ministers (SCOCAM), Ministersnoted the potential of misleadingenvironmental productclaims to become a major consumer protection issue and agreed to establish a working party to: assess the extent and consequencesfor consumers of such claims; develop co-operative measuresto achieve compliancewith Fair Trading Acts and the Trade Practices Act in this area; consult with other government agencies to ensure that measures taken in this area are in the interestof consumers; liaise and co-ordinatewith the Australian and New Zealand Environment Council in relation to environmental marketing. The Working Party has recently been constituted and New South Wales is taking an active role in its activities. The Working Partyexpects to submit a report to SCOCAM by mid-1991. (2) Business and Consumer Affairs National Consumer Complaints StatisticsSystem does not identify specificcomplaints about misleading environmental product claims. Steps are being taken to provide such a capability in the future.

LENNOX BRIDGE,PARRAMATTA Ms Allan asked the Minister for Local Governmentand Minister for Planning- (1) Has the Heritage Council investigated the heritage value of Lennox Bridge at Parramatta? (2) If so, what were the results of this investigation? (3) Has the Heritage Council recommended to him that Lennox Bridge should be preserved? (4) If not, why not? 606 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

Answer- (1) Yes. (2) The Heritage Council advised Parramatta City Council that the Lennox Bridge is of exceptional cultural significance to the City of Parramatta and New South Wales. They further advised Parramatta City Council that the highest priority should be given to exploring all possible ways of conse~ngthe structure completein its present location and without need for further alteration to its significant fabric. (3) No. (4) The Heritage Council advisedme in June 1990 that conservation controlshad been introduced in the Parramatta Local Environmental Plan 1989(City Centre) and Lennox Bridge was scheduled as a heritage item under the Heritage Act is considered necessary at this stage.

ILLAWARRA ELECTORATEHEAD INJURY CARE PROGRAM Mr Markham asked the Minister for Health and Minister for Arts- (1) What progress has he made in implementing a programmeto establish respite care facilities in the Illawarra for head injured persons and their carers? (2) (a) If so, when will this programme commence? (b) How much will be spent on this service? Answer- (1) In recent years,various organisations representing a numberof health practitioner groups have advocated the introduction of statutory regulation for their occupations. In 1990, the Department of Health issued a "Discussion Paper on the Statutory Regulation ofHealth Practitioner Groups"which canvassed the desirability ofextending registration to currently unregistered groups. The Department is currently assessing responses to the Discussion Paper including submissions concerning the registration of speech pathologists based on a number of criteria. (2) (a) and (b) Approval to the registration of any currently unregistered health practitioner groupswill depend on the outcome of the assessment process.

STATE RAIL AUTHORITY MACDONALDTOWNWORKS Ms Nori asked the Minister for Transport, Minister Assisting the Premier, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer- (1) Why did trucks dumping gravel at an SRA depot adjacent to Macdonaldtown Railway Station do so all night on 13September 1990? (2) Why do trucks dumping gravel at an SRA depot adjacent to Macdonaldtown Railway Station using the Burren Street access do so outside of normal work hours? (3) Will he put an end to this practice? 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 607

(4) Why does the SRA choose to dump gravel by road and not by rail at the depot adjacent to Macdonaldtown Railway Station using the Burren Street access? (5) What plans does the SRA have for the land adjacent to Macdonaldtown Railway Station currently being used as a gravel dump? (6) Are there plans to erect a building on the site? (7) Why did the SRA choose 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on 10 September 1990 and again on 9 November 1990, to unload heavy machines at the corner of Albert and Burren Streets, Erskineville? (8) When will this practice cease? (9) Why has the SRAturned the area south of MacdonaldtownRailway Station intoa rubbish dump? (10) Is he aware that this practice is creating health problems (such as verminand asthma) in the neighbourhood? (11) Why does the SRArefuse to negotiate and consult the residents of Burren Street, Erskineville,regarding SRA activities affectingtheir precinct? (12) Will he ensure that theSRA meets with the residents? (13) Will the SRAcompensate the residents of Burren Street,Erskineville, for damage created by trucks doing SRAwork? Answer- (1) It was necessary to utilise the area at Macdonaldtown allnight on 13 September 1990, as spoil from ongoing track work was being stored at this location. (2) Trucks delivertrack material bothduring normalworking hours and outside normal working hours to ensure all materials are available and in readiness to undertake or continue planned track upgrading work. (3) To minimise inconvenience toresidents, an alternativeaccess to SRAland has been provided at the northern end of Burren Street, opposite Albert Street. (4) Some track material can only be delivered by road to suit the suppliers. Moreover, there is no rail access to the area from adjacent main lines. (5) The long-term plan of the SRAis to utilise this land for the day stabling of suburban carriages. (6) No. (7) It was necessary to unload heavy machinery at this time to service ongoing track upgrading work. (8) There will always be a need for the SRA to arrange delivery of equipment and material at these times to various locationsto ensure railway facilities are maintained. (9) This area is being utilised as a storage site for material used in conjunctionwith track maintenance. 608 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

(10) There has been no vermin observed or reported in this area. SRA is not in a position to comment about neighbourhood asthma. (11) SRA representatives have had meetings with the residents' spokesperson, Mr Arthur Simpson. Letter box drops are also conducted to keep residents informed of planned track activities. (12) See (11) above. (13) South Sydney Council is responsible for maintaining Burren Street which is a public thoroughfare for general use.

ILLAWARRA ELECTORATE SCHOOL BUS OVERCROWDING Mr Rumble asked the Minister for Transport, Minister Assisting the Premier, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer- To what extent is there overcrowding on school buses in the Illawarra area? Answer- Regulations made under the Passenger Transport Act 1990continue a policy established by former governmentswhereby three children under the age of 12 are counted as two adults in determining the number of passengers that are authorised to be carried on bus services. This policy is also followed in a number of other States. Road safety statistics indicate that school bus travel is by far one of the safest means of transportation available. In addition, if bus operators were required to provide seating for all passengers in all situations, they would forced to make a huge and unrealistic financial commitment. Any complaints relating to overloading on school bus services are investigated by the Department of Transport and if substantiated the operators concerned are directed to introduce additional services or to rearrange their operations to rectify the problem. The honourable member is invited to provide any information that he may receive on possible overloading of school buses for investigation by the Department of Transport.

ILLAWARRA EXCESS WATER CHARGES Mr McManus asked the Minister for Environment- (1) How many properties within the Illawarra Water Board region have receivedexcess water accounts in 1988and 1990? (2) What amount of revenue was collected during these periods? Answer- Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedication of staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 609

LANGTON DRUG REHABILITATION CLINIC Mr E. T. Page asked the Minister for Health andMinister for Arts- (1) Has a residential facility at 208 Hastings Parade, Bondi Beach, been used for many years by Langton Clinic for its clients? (2) Are these premises currently being sold? (3) What arrangements are being made for alternative residential premises? (4) Will these be available prior to the closing of the Hastings Parade facility? (5) If not, why not? Answer- (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) A replacement property has been purchased at 493-495 South Dowling Street, Surry Hills. Contracts have been exchanged, settlement will take place on or before 3 April 1991. (4) and (5) An agreement has been reached with the purchaser of 208 Hastings Parade which will allow the Langton Centre to continueoccupation of the property for a period of 12weeks to 29 April 1991. The replacement propertywill therefore, be available for approximately 3 weeks prior to closing the Hastings Parade facility. This time will be used to make the necessary alterations.

MACQUARIEFIELDS ELECTORATE WATER CHARGES Mr Knowles asked the Minister for Environment- (1) How many households in the electorate of Macquarie Fields paid Water Board charges for excess water: (a) In 1988? (b) In 1989? (c) To date in 1990? (2) How much additional revenuewas raised by the Water Board through excess water charges: (a) In 1988? (b) In 1989? (c) To date in 1990? Answer- Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedication of staff time which is not warranted within the priorities of the organisations involved. 610 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

WDTAX ON CROWN LAMD LEASES Ms Read asked the Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Ethnic Affairs- (1) What Sydney CBD buildings are on land leased from the Crown? (2) What land tax was paid on each of those buildings in: (a) 1988? (b) 1989? (c) 1990? (3) If any lessee did not pay an amount in land tax, why not? (4) If each of those buildings had paid full land tax as applicable to normal commercial/residentia1properties, what revenuewould have been raised? (5) What steps are being taken to ensure all commercial/residential Crown lessees pay the appropriate land tax?

The secrecy provisions of the Land Tax Management Act prevent any person from disclosing information obtained inconnection with the administration or execution of the Act except in specified circumstances, suchas with the consent of the person from whom the information was obtained, or in connection with the administration of the Act. I am therefore unable to provide the specific information sought about individual lessees of CBD buildings. However, the legal position is that lessees of Crown land became liable for land tax from the 1988 land tax year, but only in respect of leases entered into renewed on or after 1 January 1987.The amendments tothe Act extending liabilitywerefirst made in late 1985 by the previous Government. Priorto those amendments, leases in perpetuity were the only one attracting land tax.

The reason for phasing in land tax in this way, instead of simply imposing it on all lessees, was to allow the additional tax impost to be taken into account when lease payments were being negotiated. Without this phasing in, existing lessees would have been required to pay an additional impostwhich they would not have allowed for. This would have placed them at a competitive disadvantage and possibly affected their financial viability.

MINISTERIAL USE OF PRIVATESECTOR HELICOPTERS

Mr Anderson asked the Minister for Environment- (1) Since March 1988, have you been conveyed, on official business, by a helicopter operated by any person or organisation other than a Government department,authority or instrumentality? 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 611

(2) If so: (a) What was the date of any such conveyance?

@) The destination? (c) The cost of the trip?

(d) By whom were such costs paid? Answer- Collation of material to provide an answer to the question would require considerable dedication of staff time which is not warranted withinthe priorities of the organisations involved.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PLUMPTON DEVELOPMENT Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Housing- When will he arrangefor officersof Landcom to respond to my personal representations on behalf of Miss Leonie Murphy of Sorensen Crescent, Blackett, regarding future use of a property in the Bellingham Estate,Lot B, Simms Road, Plumpton? Answer- The reply was issued on 19November 1990.

HUNTER REGION HOSPITALSCLINICAL WASTE DISPOSAL Mr Mills asked the Minister for Health and Minister for Arts- (1) Does all hospitalwaste intended for incineration now go to Sydneyfollowing closure of the Mater Hospital incinerator? (2) What is the cost to each Hunter area hospital for: (a) Transport to Sydney?

@) Incineration in Sydney? (3) What are the plans for a new incinerator in the Hunter region? Answer- (1) to (3) In February 1990 the Hunter Area Health Board resolved to enter into an agreement with Brambles Holdings Limited forthe disposal of contaminated wastes. Part of the Brambles proposal required the construction of an incinerator within the Newcastle/LowerHunter area. Brambles havebeen unable to obtain council approvalfor such a project. Consequently, the Area Health Service has decided to seek a short-term contract for the disposal of its waste. Tenders for the contract were called on 14 Janualy 1991. 612 ASSEMBLY 28February, 1991

STATE RAILAUTHORITY ERSKINEVILLE ACCESS GATE Ms Nori asked the Minister for Transport,Minister Assisting the Premier, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer- (1) Will he remove the State Rail Authority access gate at the southern end of Burren Street, Erskineville and restrict access to the gate at the northern end of the street? (2) Will he ensure the gate at the northern end will only operate during normalbusiness hours? Answer- (1) The access gate at the southern end of Burren Street, Erskineville, has been closed off and will not now be utilised. Access to the new gate at the northern end will not be restricted. (2) The gate at the northern end will operate both during and outside normal business hours.

SMITHFIELDELECTORATE PUBIJC HOUSING REVIEWAPPEALS Mr Scully asked the Minister for Housing- (1) How many applicants for housing assistance have successfullyappealed to the Housing Review Committee in respect of reject offers of housing? (2) How many of these appeals are by applicants who reside in the electorate of Smithfield? Answer- As at 12 February 1991- (1) 23.

INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONAGAINST CORRUPTIONAND NATIONAL PARKS LEASES Mr Photios asked the Minister for Environment- (1) Did the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Mr Ian Temby, Q.C., write to him following the debate in the Legislative Assemblyon the National Parks and Wildlife (Leases) Amendment Bill? (2) If so: (a) In what terms? (b) What was your response? 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 613

Answer- (1) and (2) Following debate in the Legislative Assemblyon the National Parks and Wildlife (Leases) Amendment Act 1990, Mr Ian Temby, Q.C., Commissioner of the Independent CommissionAgainst Corruption wroteto me raising several issues. In my reply to Mr Temby, I undertook to make his letter and my response availablepublicly and to place them on the Parliamentary record. Copiesof the correspondenceand the various attachmentscited by me in my reply were madeavailable to the New South Wales Parliamentary Press Gallery as indicated in my reply to the Commissioner.This took place on 2 January 1991. The text of the accompanying pressrelease was: "EnvironmentMinister Tim Moore today released correspondence concerningthe role of the Independent Commission AgainstCorruption in considering whether or not headleases should be entered into at the Perisher/Smiggin Holes and Guthega precincts in Kosciusko National Park pursuantto recent amendmentsto the National Parks andWildlife Act. Mr Moore said that Mr Temby had been concerned that the position with respect to ICAC and the supervision of headleasediscussions had been misunderstoodwith respect to discussionswhich were to take place about the possibility of a headlease over the Guthega precinct in Kosciusko National Park. Mr Moore said that Mr Temby's concerns were set out in subsequent correspondence exchanged between Mr Temby and the Director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Bill Gillooly. Mr Moore said that he had apologised to Mr Temby for the advice to Mr Moore having been unclear in this regard. Mr Moore indicated that concerns had also been raised with Mr Temby by the Member for the South Coast, John Hatton, concerning issues arising out of the same proposal. Mr Moore said that he had decided to release all the relevant correspondence so that these issues could be completelyon the public record." Set out below are the Terms of Mr Temby's letter to me and my reply- Mr Temby's letter to myself: "I have recently had drawn to my attention the Hansard proof for 29 November-page 198. You are therequoted as sayingthat in relation to Perisher-Smigginsand Guthega there were discussions between the National Parksand Wildlife Service and this Commission and "The ICAC had advised, as I said at the time (of) issuing of the Ski 2000 document, that it accepts there is no possible alternative to the existing principal operators in either of those areas." Unfortunately the information you gave to the Parliament was based upon a misapprehension of the situation, and incorrect. 614 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

No advice has ever been given concerning Guthega. So far as Perisher-Smiggins is concerned, we havenever gone beyond sayingthat if Murray Publishers hold the strategic positionindicated by information conveyed to us, the position may be so unusual as tojustify direct negotiationsrather than followingthe generally desirable course of calling public tenders. That is of course consistent withour role as advisers; it is for others, principally yourself, to make the appropriate decisions. We have been approached by Mr Hatton, M.P., who has sought clarification, copy letter enclosed. The NPWS has informedus that it does not object to our releasing the relevant correspondencewhich is certainly a way in which our role could be made clear. It seems best that before any action is taken,you begiven an opportunityto rectify the position." My response to Mr Temby: "I acknowledgereceipt of your letter of 18 December 1990 concerningthe process for supervision of possible headleases for the PerisherISmiggin Holes and Guthega areas in Kosciusko National Park. The statement made by me in the Parliament, andthe inclusion the Legislative AssemblySecond Reading Debate on "framework"legislation to permit headleasing reflected the advice to me at the time the remarks were made. I note your specific concern with respect to Guthega and entirely understand your reluctance to be involved with the supervision of any possible negotiations which might occur for the precinct involvingDainford. I apologise to you if my conveying to the Parliament the position as I was appraised of it caused you any embarrassment and I did not intend that this should occur. I will take steps, when the Parliament reconvenes in February for its new session, to place that correction formally on the Hansard record. The legislation introduced by me, recently, only permits the granting of a headlease at either of the locations. It does not, in fact, grant such a lease. I am concerned to ensure that any discussions with the Murray Publishing Group which take place on the basis of advice to me (which has also been conveyed to you) (that there is no other viable head tenant because of the dominant position of Murray Publishingin the PerisherISmigginsprecinct) should occurin a fashion that ensures that the owners of the fee simple-the citizens of New South Wales---only have a headlease entered into on their behalf by me if it is environmentally,ethically and economically desirable for this to occur. I also outlined to the Parliament the environmental reasons (separation of "gamekeeper" from "poacher") which I believed made the establishment of a headlease desirable.The ethical supervisionof the process with respect to this precinct is the reason why your organisation was approached to be involved. Obviously, I am unable to comment on the economic aspect of this until after those discussions have reached some form of conclusion and I am then in a position to determinewhether or not a headlease should beentered into. 28 February, 1991 ASSEMBLY 615

As you will also be aware, the National Parks and Wildlife Servicealso released, some time ago, a discussion document entitled "Ski 2000" dealing with a broad range of skiing related park management issues. One of the issues canvassed in that document was the question of headleases for the PerisherJSmiggin Holes and Guthega precincts. I have instructed the Director of the National Parksand Wildlife Service to make available to the member of your staff involved in the committeesupervising the PerisherJSmigginHoles discussions with the Murray Publishing Group all submissions relatingto headlease issues. I attach, for your information, a copy of my memorandum to Mr Gillooly on this matter. I would now like to address, briefly, the issues raised by Mr John Hatton, M.P., Member forthe South Coast, in his letter to you of 30 November last. Mr Hatton has a significant concern which appears to arise from his assumption that my remarks about there only being, on the advice available to me, one viable head tenant for Perisher/SmigginHoles automatically ledto the assumption that there was, in the long term, only oneviable head tenant for thewholeof the commercial operations located within the Kosciusko NationalPark. This is not the intention of the legislation nor is it, as I understand the position, even remotely contemplated. I am of the view that Mr Hatton may have misunderstood the terms of my remarks in this regard which were intended to (and I thought did) address only the possibility of entering into a head tenancy arrangement which aggregated the some 150 leases in the PerisherJSmigginHoles area. I have written to Mr Hatton advising him of your letter to me and my reply and providing him withcopies of this correspondenceand of the followingadditional documents: (i) Letter from the Acting Director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to the Assistant Director-Generalof the Cabinet Office dated 21 September 1990; (ii) Letter from the Acting Director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to yourself dated 21 September 1990 (together with its 6 page attachment (National Parks and Wildlife Service reference P.9265 MPB)); (iii) Your letter of 26 October 1990 to the Director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service; (iv) Letter from the Directorof the National Parks and Wildlife Serviceto you dated 30 October 1990; (v) Your letter of 31 October 1990 to the Director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service; (vi) Letter from the Director of the National Parksand Wildlife Serviceto you dated 28 November 1990; (vii) Your letter of 4 December 1990 to the Director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service; (viii) Letter from the Director of the National Parks andWildlife Serviceto you dated 5 December 1990; and 616 ASSEMBLY 28 February, 1991

(ix) Your letter of 8 December 1990to the Director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I am arranging for this material to be couriered to Mr Hatton's electorate office for his information. As I am departing for a short overseas visit on Ministerial business, I am also arranging for all this material to be "boxed" to the New South Wales Parliamentary Press Gallery on Wednesday, 2 January 1991, so that all of this material is "on the public record". I am delaying doing this until Wednesday, 2 January 1991, to ensure that the material is, in fact, in Mr Hatton's possession by the time that the more general release takes place. I attach a copy of the Press Release being distributed with the material." Acopy of this correspondencewas also made available, at that time, to Mr John Hatton, M.P., Member forthe South Coast, who had also written to Mr Temby on this legislation. Copies of the detailed documents advertedto in my reply have not been incorporated in Hansard because of their length. Copies of them are, however, availablefor inspection in the Parliamentary Library as a set has been lodged with the Parliamentary Librarian. On 9 January 1991, Mr Temby wrote to me acknowledging receipt of my letter of 28 December 1991in the following terms: "Thank you for your letter dated 28 December concerning the Kosciusko National Park. Iwould have replied before now, but did not get back from leave until Monday of this week. If I might say so, your letter and the steps recently taken are thorough, proper and principled. I am sure you will understand that the Commission must be assiduous to ensure that it does not have attributed to it advice which it has not given. We will continue to be available to give appropriate advice, when sought, both to you and to the National Parks and Wildlife Service."

WASTEINCINERATOR LICENSING Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Environment- What action has the State Pollution Control Commission taken in response to my representations on the subject of the licensing of a commercial high temperature incinerator? Answer- (1) and (2) I referred a variety of matters on this matter, including his representations, to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.