Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly WEDNESDAY, 2 AUGUST 1972 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 14 Election of Speaker [2 AUGUST 1972} Governor's Opening Speech WEDNESDAY, 2 AUGUST 1972 Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. W. H. Lonergan, Flinders) read prayers and took the chair at 1.57 p.m. in the late Legislative Council Chamber. PRESENTATION OF MR. SPEAKER Mr. SPEAKER: I have to report that yesterday I presented myself to His Excellency the Governor as the member chosen to fill the high and honourable office of Speaker of this House, and that His Excellency was pleased to congratulate me upon my election. GOVERNOR'S OPENING SPEECH At 2 p.m. His Excellency the Governor came in state to Parliament House, was announced by the Sergeant-at-Arms, received by Mr. Speaker, and accompanied to the dais. Honourable members being seated, His Excellency read the following Opening Speech:- "HoNOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLA TIVE ASSEMBLY : "You have been summoned to this First Session of the Fortieth Parliament of Queensland to consider business of import ance to the people of our State. Governor's Opening Speech [2 AUGUST 1972] Governor's Opening Speech 15 "This being a new Parliament, I offer my "Approximately 988,000 acres of sheep congratulations to all new members and a lands are programmed for disposition as welcome back to those who served this State additional areas, and about 75,000 acres of in the previous Parliament. cattle lands which have reverted to the "To me this is a very special occasion as Crown will be made available for competition it is the first time I have been privileged to in the near future. A further 1,000,000 acres be here as your Governor. are intended for utilisation as blocks for new "It is four months since I arrived in this settlement. Applications will be invited for chamber to be sworn-in as Her Majesty's the development of five blocks in North representative. During that period, my wife Queensland suitable for cattle fattening and and I have travelled widely throughout agriculture, with areas totalling approxi Queensland and it has been most gratifying mately 4,000 acres. to be so warmly welcomed wherever we have been. "Development of the Crown Estate will continue together with the reclamation "As a result, we both feel at home in scheme at East Mackay. It is possible that Queensland, and I look forward to serving the Queen in this State and contributing, I work will commence on another reclamation hope, to its future welfare and development. project at Shute Harbour designed to provide parking space and amenities for the many "My Government ended the last financial tourists who visit the neighbouring islands. year with a surplus in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $2 · 7 million. "The cut of plantation timber is expected "That result was achieved only with to reach 60 million superficial feet; softwood special assistance of $9 million from the planting will reach 200,000 acres; and Commonwealth Grants Commission; receipt development of recreational facilities within of $2·35 million from the Commonwealth State Forests in proximity to major centres at the February Premiers' Conference to of population will be expanded. cover rapidly rising State costs; Common "Fairbairn, Beardmore and Maroon dams wealth payments under the Financial Assist will be completed this financial year; Mon ance Grants formula increasing above duran Dam advanced; and irrigation works estimate by $3 · 5 million; and significant to serve the Gooburrum System, together improvement in the State's own revenues. with barrages on the Kolan and Burnett "In 1972-73 my Government intends to rivers, will be commenced. continue its standard of services generally and to introduce improvements to the fullest "Work will continue on distribution extent finances allow. A crucial factor systems to serve the Emerald Irrigation Area determining the State's financial ability will and the extension of the St. George Irrigation be the extent to which award costs and costs Area. Schemes to divert water available generally rise during the year. from Moogerah and Borumba dams will be commenced. "My Ministers advise that rural production for the financial year just ended is likely to "Commencement of Pike Creek Dam, gross an all-time record value of $800 estimated to cost $14 million, will proceed. million and that the 1972 sugar cane crop It will be financed by equal contributions is expected to be as high as 18,100,000 tons. from Queensland, New South Wales and the "However, the cost-price squeeze coupled Commonwealth. with export changes, particularly the pro "A dam and supply works, estimated to posed entry of Britain into the European cost $21 · 34 million, to provide urgently Economic Community, creates an urgent need needed additional water supplies for the for increased services in marketing and farm Mount Isa Mines and city complex, will be economics. commenced, and a Water Area and Water "Accordingly, in the year ahead the Board constituted to install and manage the Department of Primary Industries will distribution works. These works will be expand its marketing and farm economics jointly financed by Mount Isa Mines Limited, research over a wide range of industries. the Water Board and normal Government "Reconstruction of the rural section of the subsidy for the proportion attributable to State is operating at full capacity and the Board. Government assistance will be continued "Planning is nearing completion for large during the current financial year to farmers, dams at Advancetown and at Copperlode graziers and other primary producers con Falls to augment the Gold Coast and Cairns sidered to have the capacity to regain water supplies, and investigations and commercial viability with help. planning are in progress for a major dam "Provision is being made for 80 farm on the Boyne River to augment Gladstone's amalgamations under the Marginal Dairy water supply. Farms Reconstruction Scheme; a further 38 Fitzroy Basin brigalow blocks are yet to be "Total value of all minerals produced dealt with and these will be made available during 1971 was $338 · 3 million or 2 per progressively as predevelopment works, road cent. higher than the record established in construction and surveys are completed. 1970. 16 Governor's Opening Speech (2 AUGUST 1972] Governor's Opening Speech "With anticipated improvement in world "A new syllabus in Art will be introduced metal prices, growing market stability, and in primary and special schools and the increasing demand for coal, the industry mathematics programme will be revised to generally can be expected to continue to emphasize metric measures. New textbooks expand. for this programme will also be provided. "The Railway Department will purchase additional diesel locomotives and wagons; "Regional Library Advisers will be complete construction of new stations at appointed and an in-service education seminar Rockhampton, Bowen Hills and Northgate; will be held for staff from schools with further upgrade permanent way and signalling significant numbers of children. systems; reconstruct several major bridges and eliminate more timber bridges. "It is intended to establish during 1973 the first pre-schools under my Government's "Also planned are new quarters for train new policy for pre-school education. Plan men at Mackay, Gladstone and Winton; a ning for progressive extension of these new central amenities building at Mayne; facilities is receiving high priority. commencement of new locomotive workshops at Townsville; new marshalling yards at "New primary schools will be built at Toowoomba; new goods yard facilities at Carole Park, Strathpine West and Wondai; Acacia Ridge; improved siding accommoda a high school at Mossman; and major tion at Roma Street and installation of anti additions at Caloundra, Heatley, Moranbah pollution equipment at major diesel servicing and Town View (Mount Isa) State schools. depots and workshops. "An Opportunity School, just completed at "Further testing of radio control of loco Aitkenvale, Townsville, will open at the start motives in the running of long trains hauling of third term. New opportunity schools are minerals will be carried out and construction to be constructed at Mount Isa, Bu ndaberg, of the new 140-mile Greenvale line for the Ipswich West and Aspley. transport of nickel ore in North Queensland will continue. "The extensive building programme for Technical Colleges will continue. T his year "Erection of the new Railway Administra a new building for technician training will be tion Building as part of the major project completed at the South Brisbane T echnical for the development of air space over College, and two more blocks m the Mount Central Station will continue and also work at Brunswick Street Station, another major !sa College. project which includes provision of a new "Block release training for app rentices, station . successfully introduced in the Grap h ic Arts 'The Merivale Street bridge, which will trades in 1972, will be progressively extended link Brisbane's northside and southside to other trades. New courses will be pro suburban systems, is being designed and vided, especially for middle-level occ upations construction will follow. in management and commerce. "A Metropolitan Transport Authority will " It is anticipated that Stage li of th e Police be set up to provide a properly integrated, Academy, Oxley, and the new Courts of Law, efficient and economic system of public Townsville, will be well advanced, and the passenger transport. new Court House at Holland Park completed. "An expanding road construction pro "Stage I of the new Juvenile Training gramme, designed to provide not only the Prison at Woodford is expected to be ready basic new road needs of the State but also for occupation early in 1973. the upgrading of existing roads and rural highways for increasing traffic, and the "A tender has been accepted for Stage I building of additional Beef Roads, will of the 250-bed Aged Persons Nursing Home proceed.