Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

TUESDAY, 17 OCTOBER 1972

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

1020 New South Wales, &c., Bill [17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

TUESDAY, 17 OCTOBER 1972

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. W. H. Lonergan, Flinders) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m.

PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table:- Orders in Council under the Forestry Act 1959-1971. Regulations under the Traffic Act 1949- 1971. By-laws Nos. 1027 to 1030 under the Railways Act 1914-1971.

QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE LocAL OPTION PoLLS Mr. Tucker, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Justice,- ( 1 ) How many local option polls are to be conducted during the next few weeks and how is it decided who shall vote in a poll? (2) Are some electors entitled to vote in more than one poll and, if so, what is the maximum number in which some electors will be entitled to vote at the forthcoming polls? (3) What is the anticipated cost of con­ ducting these polls?

Answers:- (1) "(a) Six. (b) Any elector qualified to vote at a Parliamentary Election for the return of a Member of the Legislative Assembly and enrolled in respect of an address within the area defined by the Licensing Commission in accordance with the provisions of sections 48B (2) (b) or 49A (2) of the Liquor Act 1912-1971 is required to vote at a local option vote poll."

(2) "(a) Yes. (b) Three." (3) "$50,000."

HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMME ON ALCOHOLISM (a) Mr. Tucker, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Education,- Are certain moneys received each year from the Liquor Trust Fund for the educa­ tion of children and adults in regard to the dangers of alcohol? If so, how much was received last financial year, how many officers were involved in the education programme, what was the cost of their salaries and what schools and places were visited during the year? Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 1021

Answer:- to establish facilities in those areas and in "The Queensland Co-ordinating Com­ as many other areas, as proves possible mittee on Alcoholism receives each year, during the present financial year. As the through the Minister for Education and announcement I made yesterday indicates, Cultural Activities, finance for the educa­ our investigations have now revealed the tion of children and adults in regard to the practicability of providing facilities at 19 dangers of alcohol. The amount received specific schools. Investigations are yet to last financial year for the above mentioned be completed in the other 18 areas with a purposes was $45,000 from the Liquor view to determining specific locations. Trust Fund and $12,650 from the Con­ Since the 37 areas do not refer to specific solidated Revenue Fund. Nine officers were schools, but indicate broad and relatively involved in this education programme until undefined regions, to attempt to estimate October 31, 1971, including two clerical the likely pre-school populations of each staff. Thereafter seven officers including area, would be a pointless exercise. It is two clerical staff were employed. The the potential enrolment of a particular total salary cost involved was $43,727 and school that is of significance. If the State and non-State secondary schools in Honourable Member wishes to obtain an Toowoomba and in and around the metro­ estimate of the likely pre-school enrolment politan area to a radius of 40 to 60 miles of any of the 1,069 primary schools in were visited. The 96th Report of the the State, he may care to consult the Minister for Education and Cultural Teachers' Preference List published each Activities gives a more complete report on year by the Department of Education. This these educational activities." list will provide him with a basis for estimation." (b) Mr. Tucker, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Health,- (b) Mr. Sherrington, pursuant to notice, Does his Department receive certain asked The Minister for Education,- moneys each year from the Liquor Trust In view of his Answer to my Question Fund and, if so, what amount was received concerning pre-school primary education last financial year and how was it spent? in which he indicated that one of the Answer:- criteria used in establishing priorities for >the pilot scheme was the availability of "Each year a payment is received from excess classroom accommodation in the Liquor Acts Trust Fund for the pur­ schools, and as current trends indicate pose of assisting in a health programme in that the predominance of excess class­ relation to the problem of alcoholism. An rooms occurs in inner-city schools and amount of $45,000 was received in 1971-72 periphery school accommodation is unable and paid into the Health Department to keep pace with increasing enrolments, Standing Account. Expenditure from this is this the reason why the Woodridge­ account during 1971-72 was $52 236.61 Kingston area, with an estimated figure of comprising $48,568.68 for salari~s and at leas~t 200 children over each of the allowances of staff (two medical officers next three years who require pre-school one clinical supervisor, one psychologist: education, was excluded from ~the pilot two social workers, liaison officer and scheme? If not, why was it excluded in secretary), $1,714.51 for a new motor favour of areas such as Jindalee and vehicle, and $1,953.42 for other contingent Yeronga? expenditure towards the conduct of Alco­ holism Clinics at Wacol Rehabilitation Answer:- Centre and at Pavilion 4, Royal Brisbane " Provision of school accommodation in Hospital, as well as a proportion of admini­ the fast-growing Woodridge area is cer­ strative costs of the Queensland Co­ tainly a problem. There is neither surplus ordinating Committee on Alcoholism." existing accommodation available, nor is there sufficient room on the existing site to provide pre-school facilities immediately. PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION SCHEME We are in fact in the process of acquiring (a) Mr. Sherrington, pursuant to notice additional land to cater for the primary asked The Minister for Education,- ' school population. There are many practi­ What is the estimated number of children cal problems associated with the early requiring pre-school education at each of provision of pre-school education facilities the 37 areas included in the pilot scheme in Woodridge. The needs of the area are for pre-school education in primary nevertheless, fully recognised." schools? Answer:- FEASIBILITY STUDY, WOOD-CHIP INDUSTRY "The statement published in The Mr. Sherrington, pursuant to notice, asked Courier-Mail on September 30, indicated The Minister for Lands,- that the Department of Education is ( 1) With regard to current feasibility investigating the feasibility of providing studies into the establishment of wood­ pre-school education facilities in the 3 7 chip industries in ~the State on what areas listed and that we shall be attempting criteria are ~the studies based? 34 1022 Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1972} Questions Upon Notice

(2) Has any departmental study been (2) "Although Queensland registration undertaken into the impact which these labels do not contain information about the industries will make on the environment individual vehicles, any disadvantage does and, if not, will such a study be under­ not seem to have outweighed the consider­ taken before a final decision is made? able saving in cost in not having to insert details in all the labels issued. Nevertheless Answers:- the question is continuously under review, ( 1) "Current feasibility studies into the and if it is established that a change in economics of establishment of wood-chip procedure would be in the community plants within the State and the scope of interest, it would be made." these studies are in the hands of the several firms interested, although certain essentials have been laid down for any propositions put forward." PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION ON DRIVERS' LICENCES (2) "No particular study into environ­ Mr. Bromley, pursuant to notice, asked mental impact has been made by the The Minister for Transport,- Department of Forestry in advance of the receipt of propositions, acceptability of ( 1) Is he aware that in many coun­ species being one factor largely unknown. tries, Including America, a photograph Very careful examination of propositions of the holder of a driver's licence is will be necessary, and this will take into shown on the licence, together with the account the effect of operations on the other usual details? environment." (2) If so, will he introduce regula­ tions of a similar nature for use in Queens­ land in order to assist in quickly identifying MULGRAVE RIVER RAILWAY BRIDGE drivers involved in accidents and helping Mr. Ahern for Mr. Armstrong, pursuant police in the apprehension of bogus drivers to notice, asked The Minister for Trans­ who may have stolen the licence or the port,- vehicle being driven? As the railway bridge over the Mulgrave (3) If he does not Intend to introduce River is subject to flooding and is many such regulations, what is the reason and years old, when Is it proposed to replace does he have a better suggestion? it by a high-level structure and will it be built on the present site? Answer:- Answer:- ( 1 to 3) "Yes. But as the Honourable "Reconstruction of the railway bridge Member would know, drivers' licences in over Mulgrave River as a high level Queensland are issued for periods up to structure is proposed in four years' time. 10 years and photographic identification No detailed consideration has been given to would not always be of assistance, despite the actual location of the new bridge but his assertion that there are obvious merits preliminary examination indicates it will to be gained. For example, if the Honour­ be slightly downstream from the existing able Member would compare his present site." appearance with that of photographs taken when he first entered the House, he would appreciate that there would be some prob­ lem of identification in the long term. MOTOR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION Apart from this, any change in the existing STICKERS procedure for the issue of drivers' licences Mr. Bromley, pursuant to notice, asked would be a matter for consideration by The Minister for Mines,- the Government which would make its announcement at the appropriate time." ( 1) Will he introduce regulations of a mandatory nature for detailed descriptions of cars to be outlined on stickers which would be adhered to windscreens or PROSECUTIONS FOR POSSESSION OF quarter-glass windows in a similar fashion UNDERSIZED FISH to registration labels? Mr. Bromley, pursuant to notice, asked (2) If not, as the implementation of The Minister for Primary Industries,- this scheme may be one way to minimise the prevalence of the stealing of cars ( 1) How many people have been and would assist greatly in identification, booked since the introduction of the new what is ,the reason? boating patrol laws for having undersized fish in their possession? Answers:- (2) Of this number, how many fisher­ ( 1 ) "It would first need to be demon­ men, professional and otherwise, who were strated that the benefits to be derived from using illegal nets, have been charged and such a scheme would justify the cost." in what areas were they operating? Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 1023

Answers:- (2) Do State Health Department inspectors carry out separate checks of ( I) "No person has yet been booked for having undersized fish in his possession food outlets in these areas and report 'to since the new schedule of minimum legal the Director-General? sizes of fish came into force." (3) What action does his Department take to require local authorities to carry (2) "Nil." out the provisions of the Act? ( 4) How many Health DepaPtment inspectors are employed full time on food CATTLE DISEASE AMONG FARM WORKERS work in (a) Brisbane and (b) other AND 11EAT WoRKERS areas? Mr. Burns, pursuant to notice, asked The The Minister for Health,- (5) How many prosecutions were launched in 1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971- ( 1) Has his attention been drawn to 72 in relation to the sale of adulterated a report by Mr. R. J. Hoare, a veterinary food under section 104 and related sections officer with the New South Wales Depart­ of Division II of Part IV of the Health ment of Agriculture, which states that Act? some workers from farms and meatworks have been treated for severe bouts of Answers:- 'flu but have contracted instead a new cattle disease? ( 1) "This information is not available. Local authorities are charged with the (2) Can this disease be detected only implementation of regulations concerned by blood tests? with hygienic practices in the retail sale of food and do so without reference to this (3) Is the disease 08 of about fourteen Department." varieties of leptospira which is especially prevalent in Queensland? (2) "Yes. Regular surveys are carried out." ( 4) What action has been taken to pro­ (3) "All defects observed by Depart­ tect the health of farm and meat workers mental officers in the course of surveys of from this disease? retail food premises are drawn to the atten­ tion of the local authority concerned for Answers:- corrective action with the request that ( I) "Yes. The infection in New South advice be forwarded to the Director­ Wales cattle referred to by Mr. R. J. General of the outcome." Hoare is also present in cattle in Queens­ (4) "(a) In Brisbane and Headquarters land. The organism was isolated and area: One chief inspector; one senior identified in Queensland before it was inspector; nine inspectors; one technical recognised in other States." assistant; and three cadet inspectors. (b) (2) "Yes. Proof of infection is obtained Other areas: No officers are employed by testing a patient's blood serum during exclusively on food work. Officers who the acute and convalescent stages of the carry out food inspections in association disease." with other duties throughout their districts (3) "Yes. The disease is leptospirosis are located at-Toowoomba, two inspec­ and the particular organism Leptospira tors; Bundaberg, two inspectors; Rock­ hardjo. The particular organism is one of hampton, two inspectors; Townsville, three 20 varieties known to occur in Queensland. inspectors; Cairns, two inspectors; and Details of its incidence in this State were Mackay, one inspector and one cadet recorded in the Annual Reports of the inspector." Division of Laboratory of Microbiology (5)- and Pathology, Department of Health, for 1971, and will be published again in 1972." Adulterated Related ''Year Sections ( 4) "No specific protective measures are Food available. The disease is generally mild 1969-70 193 13 and self-limiting in man." 1970-71 149 30 1971-72 154 25,

POLICING OF FoOD REGULATIONS Mr. Burns, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Health,- INSECTICIDE RESIDUE IN MEAT ( 1) How many prosecutions were Mr. Burns, pursuant to notice, asked The launched by the Gold Coast, Townsvi!le, 1finister for Health,- Brisbane, Toowoomba, Cairns and Mackay ( 1 ) Wha,t tests are made to determine city councils in 1971-72 under the provi­ the levels of insecticide residue in meat sions of the Health Act concerning the from (a) abattoirs and (b) slaughter­ sale of safe and wholesome food? houses? 1024 Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

(2) What is the permitted maximum Answer:- insecticide residue level? (! and 2) "I am informed that on the Answer:- morning of Thursday, October 12, the University authorities after considering the (! and 2) "The supervision of abattoirs latest infmmation on the availability of and slaughter-houses does not come within the province of the Department of Health." petrol supplies decided that it would not be possible to hold the oral examinations in Senior German and French which had been scheduled to be held in many centres HosPITAL BED OccuPANCY outside Brisbane in the week commencing Mr. Melloy, pursuant to notice, asked The October 16. It was necessary for examiners Minister for Health,- to go by car to these various centres, and With reference to his Answer to my the examinations had been planned on this Question on October -12, will he give basis. To have used public transport would specific figures in relation to >the number have involved a major reconstruction of of occupied intermediate and private beds, the time table and this was not believed to respectively, in the towns referred to and be practicable. In reaching the decision to for Queensland? cancel these examinations, the chairman of Answer:- the Board of Secondary School Studies (the Director-General of Education, Mr. "Figures in relation to the number of A. E. Guymer) was consulted and he con­ occupied beds in intenpediate and in pri­ curred in the decision. The remaining oral vate wards separately at public hospitals examinations in German scheduled to be are not available from Departmental held in Brisbane on Thursday, October 12 records. The daily averages of occupied beds in non-public wards (intermediate and were cancelled, and the oral examinations private combined) of public hospitals in the in French, scheduled to be held in Brisbane areas referred to in my Answer to the this week will not be held, because of Honourable Member's Question on October the inability to proceed with examinations 12, 1972, for the 1971-72 financial year in country centres. So that students are are as follows:- examined on the basis of equality, no account will be taken of the oral examina­ DaiJy average tions which have already been held and City of occupied the written papers to be taken in November beds will be the sole examination in Senior German and French. In view of the short Brisbane 364·62 Southport 55·78 period of time before the commencement Toowoomba .. 136·15 of the Senior examinations on November Maryborough 92·66 Mackay .. ·93 8, and the uncertainty of petrol supplies it Rockhampton 51·21 did not seem possible to reschedule the oral Townsville 57·90 Cairns 82·41 examinations in French and German. The oral examinations in Senior Italian ( 120 The daily average occupancy of inter­ students) have been held and will count mediate and private ward beds in Queens­ for examination purposes. Oral examina­ land for 1971-72 was 1,205·60." tions for 45 students in Japanese (30 in Brisbane and 6 in Townsville) and for 18 Brisbane students in Russian will still be CANCELLATION OF ORAL EXAMINATIONS held. The students who have taken oral IN SENIOR FRENCH AND GERMAN examinations in Senior German will be given a result, but as already stated, it will (a) Mr. Chinchen, pursuant to notice, not count for the Senior examination." asked the Minister for Education,- As the Senior oral examinations for (b) Mr. Hanson, pursuant to notice, asked French and German have been cancelled because some students could not reach The Minister for Education,- the university as a result of the fuel strike (!) Is he aware that Senior students and as this examination carries 20 per taking German as a subject in this year:s cent. of the subject marks and the cancella­ examination have already completed their tion could effect final results and such oral tests a few days ago but that the oral important awards as Commonwealth French tests for Senior which are due in a Scholarships- few days have been cancelled, the reason ( 1) Will he arrange for these examina­ for the cancellation being given as the tions to be held? petrol shortage? (2) Will other language oral examina­ (2) Is he also aware that the already tions yet to be held take place? If so, completed German oral tests have been will this be fair to French and German cancelled and that students are now students unless they can be examined? required to sit again for these tests? Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 1025

( 3) As this is causing anxiety to teachers, EMISSION OF LEAD FROM MOTOR VEHICLE parents and students, will he investigate EXHAUSTS, BRISBANE this matter and try to obtain some common­ Mr. Yewdale, pursuant to notice, asked The sense solution to the problem? Minister for Health,- Answers:- ( 1 ) In view of the growing concern "I refer the Honourable Member to the over the question of the health risk general statement I have already made in associated with the emission of lead from reply to the Question by the Honourable car exhausts, will he clarify what the Member for Mount Gravatt. The addi­ Director of Air Pollution Control, Mr. tional information sought by him is as A. Gilpin, means by the statement that follows:- lead in the atmosphere in Brisbane is (1) "570 Brisbane students have sat about half the average readings for the for the Senior German oral examination; American cities studied? oral examinations in German in country centres have been cancelled." (2) How many lead assays were done in Brisbane? (2) "No students will be required to sit again for oral examinations in German." (3) Where and when were samples for these assays taken? (3) "The University is forwarding a statement on this matter to the schools ( 4) What range of values was obtained? affected." (5) How was an average value arrived at?

CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER ( 6) What is considered a safe or a WITH HERBICIDE "PARAQUAT", dangerous level? ROCKHAMPTON (7) Has there been any trend in values? Mr. Yewdale, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Health,- (8) Have the lead analyses been made public? ( 1 ) Did a patient recently die at the Princess Alexandra Hospital after admis­ sion for ingestion of water contaminated Answers:- by the herbicide "Paraquat"? (!) "The Director of Air Pollution Con­ trol in stating that 'lead in the atmosphere (2) Is he aware that the same herbi­ cide is being used for spraying hyacinth in Brisbane is about half the average in the Fitzroy River in an area immedi­ readings for the American cities studied' ately upstream from the barrage pondage was comparing findings in Brisbane with from which water is being used for huma~ those for Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and consumption by the citizens of Rock­ Cincinnati, on a central city basis." hampton? (2) "Ten." (3) What is the "LD 50" value for "Paraquat", what are its breakdown pn>­ (3) "Corner Creek and Queen Streets ducts and how much do the concentra­ during peak periods of traffic in May, tions compare with those of the drinking 1970." water in Rockhampton? ( 4) "0 · 5 to 3 · 3 micrograms per cubic Answers:- metre of air." (1) "Yes. A patient aged 34 years (5) "By determining the arithmetic obtained a quantity of 20 per cent. 'Para­ mean of the results." quat' solution in a soft-drink bottle from his place of work. The bottle was stored (6) "In a report published this year, in a refrigerator with soft drinks and he the United States National Academy of accidentally ingested approximately 30 m! Sciences, after reviewing all the evidence, of the solution." came to the conclusion that 'the concen­ (2) "Enquiries indicate that 'Paraquat' tration of lead in the air of cities poses no is not being used to spray hyacinth in the identifiable current threat to the general Fitzroy River. 'Diquat' is used for this population'." purpose." (7) "No information on trends is avail­ (3) "The LD 50 for 'Paraquat' is 30 able at the moment; samples are held mg/Kg. The breakdown products of 'Para­ which will enable the trend over a number quat' are-(1) Methyl Amine Hydro­ of years to be calculated." chloride. (2) N-Methyl Iso Nicotinic Acid. A check analysis of the Rock­ (8) "Yes. The results appeared in the hampton water supply in July failed to Annual Report of the Division of Air reveal any trace of either 'Paraquat' or Pollution Control for the year ended 'Diquat'." June 30, 1970," 1026 Questions Upon Notice (17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

UNIFORM, DISMISSED RAILWAY Answer:- EMPLOYEE (1 to 3) "The painting of the buildings Mr. Harris, pursuant to notice, asked The on the Lota line is scheduled to commence Minister for Transport,- in three weeks' time. The painting gang will be preceded by a carpentering gang ( 1 ) Was a man purported to be named in order that all necessary repairs can be Thomas or Reed employed by the Rail­ carried out ahead of the painters. The way Depa!'tment and stationed at Cannon lessee of the bookstall has already advised Hill railway station during 1971-72? If of the arrangements being made by him to so, what is his full name and in what repair the existing stall within the next two capacity was he employed? weeks." (2) Did he receive the regulation rail­ way uniform? If so, on what date was BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL POLICY ON it issued? BACHELOR-FLAT DEVELOPMENT (3) Did he also receive shirts, ties and Mr. Ahern for Mr. Lane, pursuant to other extras? notice, asked The Minister for Local Government,- ( 4) Is he still employed by the Rail­ way Department? If so, where and, ( 1) Has his attention been drawn to if not, when was he discharged, by whom a report of a meeting of the Establishment and for what reason? and Co-ordination Committee of the Bris­ bane City Council which was held on (5) If ,this man was issued with a September 11, at which a decision was uniform, has Mr. Kelso given instructions made on a recommendation to be pre­ that the uniform must be returned? sented to the B.C.C. meeting 'to be held on September 19, in respect to a new ( 6) Did this man agree to return 'the type of development in Brisbane described uniform or did he refuse on the grounds in the report as "one bedroom or bed that it is his property as he paid $55 sitter bachelor fiat type of development"? for it? (2) Has it now become a policy of the council to approve the erection of Answers:- muHi-unit dwellings at the rate of one ( 1) "One Ron Douglas Thomas was unit of this kind per perch of ground employed as a temporary porter at Cannon area, with a minimum number of units Hill from June 3, 1971, to June 13, 1972." of 48 on 48 perches and a maximum of (2) "No." 160 perches? (3) As this would represent a major (3) "No." and possibly undesirable change in plan­ (4) "No. He was dismissed from the ning policy, has the council advised his Department of this proposal? service on June 13, 1972, by the General Manager, Brisbane, for absenting himself ( 4) Will he give the House an assur­ ance that his officers will have this matter from duty from May 18, 1972, to June 2, investigated in the interests of balanced 1972, both dates inclusive." development in Brisbane? (5 and 6) "See Answers to (2) and (3)." Answers:­ (1) "Yes." (2) "I am not aware of the Brisbane WYNNUM CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION City Council's decision on the recom­ Mr. Harris, pursuant to notice, asked The mendation of the Establishment and Co­ Minister for Transport,- ordination Committee regarding bachelor ( 1) In what year was the Wynnum type fiat developments." Central railway station last painted? (3) "No." (2) Has he been advised of the con­ ( 4) "It appears that the Establishment and Co-ordination Committee's proposal is dition of this station, which is due mainly that the type of development referred to to the lack of maintenance? If so, will will be permissible only with the consent he have it inspected with a view to having of the council in the residential 'B' zone any necessary repairs carried out and the and that the council should prescribe a buildings repainted? policy governing such developments. The matter accordingly appears to be one ( 3) Is the lease site for the badly-broken within the discretion of the council and my and unsightly wooden bookstall on the Department would not be involved. I platform of this station still current? If so, would point out, however, under the City will he have the lessee either renovate the of Brisbane Town Planning Act 1964-1971, stall or replace it with a more suitable an application for the Council's consent for one? the use of land for bachelor type fiat Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 1027

development would have to be advertised RESEARCH GRANTS, GREAT BARRIER REEF for objections and interested persons would have a right of appeal to The Local Mr. R. Jones, pursuant to notice, asked The Government Court against the council's Minister for Primary Industries,- decision on the application. Officers of my (1) For what specific projects were Department have made a study of the grants approved by the Commonwealth, in ordinances relating to this type of develop­ conjunction with the Queensland Govern­ ment and should the Honourable Member ment, for research into crown-of-thorns so desire, I will be happy to discuss the starfish, for studies on coral regeneration matter further with him." and regrowth, population monitoring and testing control methods? EXCESS WATER CONTENT IN MILK (2) What amounts were allocated to Mr. Bousen, pursuant to notice, asked The (a) persons and (b) other organisations? Minister for Primary Industries,- ( 1) Has he seen a report in the Queens­ Mr. SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, as the list land Country Life of October 5 wherein contained in the answer is rather lengthy and it is stated that, during the last 12 months detailed, I propose to table it and suggest milk from 30 to 35 per cent. of milk that it be included in "Hansard". suppliers to factories carried excess water? Mr. Bromley: We don't always get these (2) Why does the milk contain excess answers included in "Hansard". water and what action will be taken to eliminate this excess? Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I think I should make it clear that the fact that a Minister (3) Does this water content decrease the seeks leave to have an answer printed in nutritional value of milk supplied to the consumer? "Hansard" does not necessarily mean that it will be so printed. Whether or not an Answers:­ answer is printed depends to a great extent on its length as well as its lay-out. (1) "Yes." (2) "Freezing point is one of the most Mr. BROMLEY: I rise to a point of order. constant properties of milk and variations Recently I asked a question of the Minister are generally caused by the entry of for Education and Cultural Activities, and in his reply he said that he would lay the ~xtra~eous water either accidentally or mtentwnally. Ltterature is available to information on the table. I asked your farmers a_dvisin~ on how to prevent entry permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the of water mto mtlk. Most processing plants Minister concerned to have the information have appropriate testing instruments to included in "Hansard". This request was detect abnormal freezing points. Where a granted, but it was not so included. definite policy is implemented by factories offendii;tg suppliers incur financial penalties Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I am fully aware dependmg on the severity of the incidence. of the matter to which the honourable mem­ Inspectors of the Department officially take ber refers. Even if I had approved of its raw and pasteurised milk samples for inclusion in "Hansard", I feel quite sure that official analyses where circumstances the Government Printing Office could not warrant and legal proceedings may be have set it up. The answer was very lengthy, instituted if standards are not met." covering 16 pages of foolscap typing, and it was set out in such a manner that I am (3) "Yes. The degree to which the nutritional value of milk is decreased will certain it could not have been included in depend on quantity of extraneous water." "Hansard".

REVIEW OF TERMINATION OF TENANCIES Answer:- AcT (! and 2) "The following grants from Mr. Hughes, pursuant to notice asked The the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Research Minister for Justice,- ' Trust Fund were approved by the Com­ ( 1) Has his attention been drawn to monwealth and Queensland Governments certain anomalies in the Termination of for the year 1972 under the project super­ Tenancies Act which are causing hardship? visors as shown-James Cook University­ Mr. R. A. Kenchington, $3,236- (2) Will he consider investigating the Plankton survey to investigate the larval effects of this Act with a view to amending ecology of Acanthaster planci in relation it where it is found to be necessary? to general plankton dynamics. Dr. J. S. Lucas, $6,831-The larval biology of Answers:- Acanthaster planci and food requirements of young juveniles. Dr. I. R. Price, $1,837 ( 1) "There are no complaints of recent origin." -The role of algae on biotic reefs sub­ jected to predation by Acanthaster. (2) "Yes." Queensland Department of Primary Indus- 1028 Questions Upon Notice [17 OcTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

tries-Mr. N. M. Haysom, $37,725- feet; and Wuruma Dam, 157,000 acre Recolonisation and regrowth of corals on feet. However, annual assured supplies reefs affected by Acanthaster. Acanthaster made available by schemes, not storage population monitoring. Hydrographic capacities, are the important characteristics monitoring in areas affected by Acan­ when comparing costs. The additional thaster. Trial of Professor Suyehiro's assured supplies that would be made Acanthaster control method. Tests of available by the three storages are-Three other control measures. Macquarie Moon Creek, 9,900 acre feet; Glebe Weir, University-Dr. M. E. H. Howden, $3,500 8,900 acre feet; and Wuruma Dam, -Chemistry of toxins in Acanthaster 27,000 acre feet." planci. University of Queensland-Dr. J. S. Jell, $1,370-Microstructure and growth of the skeleton of reef corals. Professor SECURITY FOR LOANS BY T.A.B. J. F. Sprent, $6,774-An investigation of Mr. Hanlon, pursuant to notice, asked The parasites and parasitism in relation to Treasurer,- Acantlzaster planci. University of Sydney -Dr. P. F. Sale, $5,160-The nature of With reference to the permission that stability in reef communities. Western may be given by him by Order in Australian Museum-Dr. B. R. Wilson, Council under the Racing and Betting Act $3,790-A community study of a Western to dispense with the necessity for any Australian coral reef which carries a large security being given by persons or classes population of Acantlzaster." of persons to whom the T.A.B. may lend money, has his permission been obtained by the Board in this regard for any sums NEw OFFICE AccOMMODATION, MAIN lent by it and, if so, to which persons or ROADS DEPARTMENT, CAIRNS class of persons and for what sums? Mr. R . .Tones, pursuant to notice, asked The Answer:- Minister for Mines,- "The Board submits for my approval Further to his Answer to my Question details of all its investments on an unse­ on September 3, 1969, concerning the cured basis. The details of these transac­ securing of a site and the provision of new tions are, of course, purely a matter office accommodation for the Main Roads between the Board and the parties con­ Department, Cairns, has the site now been cerned. I have previously made it clear secured, is it located in Abbott Street in this House that I am not prepared and what further progress has been made to make public details of any such finan­ in the planning and construction of the cial dealings by the Board." new building?

Answer:- VARIATION OF TOTALISATOR TAX, " A site in Abbott Street for a new INTERSTATE BETTING district office of the Main Roads Depart­ ment has been secured. The Department Mr. Hanlon, pursuant to notice, asked The of Works has the planning in hand which Treasurer,- is at the stage of preparing preliminary ( 1) With regard to section 71B (3) sketch plans." (a) of the Racing and Betting Act relative to the power of authority to bet with persons outside Queensland, has his CANIA DAM, GLEBE WEIR AND WURUMA approval been given under that section DAM for an arrangement or agreement for a lesser amount or rate of totalisator tax Mr. Ahern for Mr. Hartwig, pursuant to than is prescribed in the Act to be payable notice, asked The Minister for Conserva­ tion,- by persons in Queensland? ( 1) What is the estimated cost of the (2) If so, (a) what lesser amount or proposed Cania Dam and the associated rate has been approved, with whom have smaller dams on Three Moon Creek? such arrangements been made and in what circumstances, (b) what has been (2) What was the cost of the Glebe the aggregate of bets made pursuant to Weir and the Wuruma Dam? approval under the section and (c) what (3) What is the approximate storage percentage of the aggregate of such bets capacity in acre-feet of each of the dams? has been approved as payable as com­ mission to the persons or authority with Answers:- whom any arrangement has been made? ( 1) "$6,380,000." (2) "Glebe Weir, $1,499,542; and Answers:­ Wuruma Dam, $5,459,216." (1) "Yes." (3) "Storage capacities of the ~hree (2) "In 1968 following correspondence structures are-Three Moon Creek Dam, with the Premier of New South Wales I 120,000 acre feet; Glebe Weir, 14,000 acre approved arrangements which have since Questions Upon Notice [1 7 OcTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 1029

been in operation between the New South VANDALISM AND THEFT IN STATE Wales T.A.B. and the Queensland T.A.B. SCHOOLS whereby investments with the North Coast Region Branches of the New South Wales Mr. P. Wood, pursuant to notice, asked The Board are transmitted to the Queensland Minister for Education,- Board on certain mid-week meetings in ( 1) What was the loss incurred in State Queensland. As I stated in answer to schools by (a) damage by vandalism and a Question on September 19, 1972, I (b) theft, for the last year for which take the view that the financial arrange­ figures are available? ments between the T.A.B. Authorities of Queensland and New South Wales are (2) What action does his Department matters of a confidential nature." intend to take to reduce the incidence of vandalism and theft? (3) Will his Department take action to T.A.B. PAYMENTS TO RACING CLUBS expedite the replacement of school equip­ Mr. Hanlon, pursuant to notice, asked The ment which is damaged or stolen? Treasurer,- With reference to the Orders in Council Answers:- under the Racing and Betting Act whereby (1) "No precise figures are available a racing club authorised under the Act on the total cost of vandalism as such in to operate a totalisator may require the schools throughout Queensland. Principals Totalisator Administration Board to pay are often unable ·to assess costs and the to it the amount deemed to have been Department of Works is, of course, often paid by the Board into the totalisator on engaged in a variety of repairs, all of any event, less (a) commission payable which could not be assessed separately. to the Board on the moneys deemed to In 1971-72 the cost to my Department of have been paid by the Board into the thefts and destruction of equipment was totalisator on the events and (b) the $38,485." amounts of any dividends payable to the investors with the Board on the event, (i) (2) "My Department has been examin­ what amount was deemed payable by the ing a number of schemes, one of which T.A.B. to racing clubs in that regard in involves the marking of school equipment the year ended June 30, 1972, and (ii) in a way •that will make erasures most to what extent was it reduced by the difficult. When I am in a position to amounts in (a) and (b) respectively? do so, I will announce details of the scheme. As well, the Director-General Answer:- of Education has conferred with the Com­ missioner of Police and other proposals "The information sought by the Hon­ ourable Member is not readily available. were discussed. The most immediate However, if there are any specific points result has been that police radio patrol involved in his question that he would cars are paying particular attention 1o like to discuss with me, I would be schools at night and in vacation periods." happy to do so." (3) "My Department makes every effort to replace stolen equipment or equipment damaged beyond repair as soon CHILD REFERRALS TO PRE-SCHOOL FOR as possible to ensure there is minimum THE DEAF disruption to school programs." Mr. Cory, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Education,- ALLOWANCES AND BOND RELEASES, When a child is found to have defective TEACHER-SCHOLARSHIP HOLDERS hearing, does the Acoustic Laboratory auto­ matically refer the child to the Pre-School Mr. P. Wood, pursuant to notice, asked The for the Deaf, irrespective of any possible Minister for Education,- additional handicaps? If so, on what or by whose authority is this done? ( 1) How many mature-age allowances are paid to teacher-scholarship holders? Answer:- (2) What age must an applicant be to be eligible for a mature-age allowance and "While the activities of the Common­ does a scholarship-holder become eligible wealth Acoustic Laboratory are not a when he reaches the prescribed age? State Government responsibility, I under­ stand that children found to have defec­ ( 3) If a scholarship-holder does not tive hearing are not automatically referred become eligible when he reaches the to the Pre-School for the Deaf. In all mature-age level, what is the reason? cases referral to a wide range of other agencies is discussed with the parents prior ( 4) How many teacher-scholarship to any action being taken." holders receive a marriage allowance? 1030 Questions Upon Notice (17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

(5) How many teacher-scholarship EFFECT ON WHEAT PRICES OF RAIL holders have been released from their bond FREIGHT REDUCTIONS in each of the past three years and how many scholarship-holders have been called Mr. Blake, pursuant to notice, asked The on to meet their bonds in the same period? Minister for Primary Industries,- ( 1) Is he aware that the prices paid for Answers:- faitr average quality bulk stock-feed wheat, ex depots such as Brookstead, are calcu­ (1) "112." lated at prices applying for wheat for­ warded on rail at Brisbane and Gladstone, (2) "An applicant for a teacher less the freight not incurred because the scholarship must have reached the age of wheat has not yet been forwarded? 23 years by January 1 of the year in which the scholarship is first awarded to (2) Is he aware that this principle has qualify for mature age allowance. If resulted in the price of wheat, ex Brook­ he attains the age of 23 during the course stead to customers, rising by 1 · 87 cents of the scholarship he does not auto­ per bushel since the reduction of grain rail matically qualify for mature age allow­ freights announced in June? ance." (3) Was it intended that freight reduc­ (3) "Scholarship holders are aware of tions would result in clearer wheat to the conditions when they accept the consumers and, if not, what action is scholarship. The whole question of contemplated to remedy the situation? scholarship allowances is under review and recommendations for change will be made Answers:- as soon as the extent to which the Com­ ( 1) "Yes. Under the wheat stabilisa­ monwealth is prepared to come into this tion legislation the selling price of fair field is known." average quality wheat is fixed free on rails ( 4) "Forty-eight scholarship holders at a port of export." under the age of 23 years when first (2) "Yes. The reduction in grain awarded a teacher scholarship are in freights has increased the price of wheat receipt of marriage allowance." ex State Board country depots. In the (5) "No scholarship holders have been case of the Brookstead depot this increase released from their bonds except on either amounted to 1 · 85 cents per bushel." medical grounds, failure to complete course (3) "As most of the wheat produced requirements or unsuitability for teaching. in Queensland is exported, the freight In the past three years the numbers of reductions have been of substantial benefit teacher scholarship holders who have to most wheat growers. The anomaly that been required to meet their contractual has occurred is currently being investi­ liabilities are: 1970, 97; 1971, 97; and gated." 1972, 65 to date."

EARNINGS AND PROFIT, QUEENSLAND CAPITAL-WORKS PROGRAMMES, TEACHERS' GOVERNMENT TOURIST BUREAU COLLEGES Mr. D'Arcy, pursuant to notice, asked The Mr. P. Wood, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Tourism,- Minister for Education,- ( 1 ) What was the total income earned What are the details of the capital-works by the Queensland Government Tourist programmes for each of the Queensland Bureau through commissions obtained teachers' colleges, including those at colleges from the sale of tourism in the financial of advanced education, for the present year? year 1971-72 from all its offices throughout Australia? Answer:- (2) What was the total value of the "Capital works estimated to cost business written through the Bureau's $2,034,051.00 will be carried out at offices throughout Australia? Teachers' Colleges in 1972-73. At Colleges (3) What percentage of its sales of of Advanced Education, teacher education tourism for Queensland was directed facilities are part of other capital projects towards the Gold Coast region? of the colleges. I table for the informa­ ( 4) What was the value of the sales tion of the Honourable Member details written from the branches of the Tourist of projects at Teachers' Colleges and Col­ Bureau in the Gold Coast City area? leges of Advanced Education." (5) What was the total profit obtained Paper.-Whereupon Sir Alan Fletcher from the Queensland Government Tourist laid upon the Table of the House the Bureau over and above its total operating details referred to. expenses? Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 1031

Answers:- Beenleigh and to the Gold Coast that there ( 1 ) "Commission earnings by the is selective starvation of many garages from Queensland Government Tourist Bureau lack of petrol- during the financial year ended June 30, ( 1) Will he investigate these accusations 1972 were $462,355.06." with a view to assuring the House that certain big fuel distributors are not taking (2) "Total over-the-counter collections advantage of the petrol shortage to send by all branches for the same period­ certain garages broke with a view to later $6,553,961.81." possible take-overs? ( 3) "Figures are not readily available (2) Will he take the necessary steps to which would disclose this information end ensure that no single company or refinery the time and expense involved in extlracting can hold the State to ransom by either (a) this information could not be justified." having organisations ready to get alterna­ tive supplies or (b) setting up a third ( 4) "Over-the-counter collections- refinery? Surfers Paradise, $186,856.25; and Coolan­ gatta, $91,054.27." ( 3) Will he assure the House that this situation will not arise in a time of (5) "The Bureau does not operate at national emergency such as war time? a :profit. It is mainly a promotional organisation." Answer:- ( 1 to 3) "As I indicated in reply to an earlier question in this House, the present NON-PAYMENT OF SuB-CONTRACTORS BY position in regard to the availability of HUB CONSTRUCTIONS, MOLENDINAR supplies of petJroleum products in Queens­ INDUSTRIAL ESTATE PROJECT land is the direct consequence of the recent Mr. D'Arcy, pursuant to notice, asked The national strike by maintenance men in the Minister for Development,- oil industry. The subsequent mechanical difficulties experienced by the Ampol With reference to his Answer to my Refinery and the further strike 'at the afore­ Question on October 12 regarding the non­ mentioned refinery contributed to the payment of sub-contractors by Hub Con­ situation. The Government has worked and structions, Molendinar Industrial Estate is continuing to work in the closest liaison Project- with the Queensland Oil Industry Rationali­ ( 1) Who signed the declarations which sation Supply Committee to ensure that his Department accepted and which, available supplies of petroleum products according to his Answer, were false? are being allocated to the best advantage in all areas of the State. The distribution (2) What action can his Department is being made on a fair and equitable basis. take against this person or company? I would remind the Honourable Member (3) Does his Department ever investi­ the two refineries located in Queensland gate the declarations when there is some were established as a direct result of the question of the company's bona fides? favourable investment climate created by the present Government." Answers:- ( 1) "The statutory declamtions were POP FESTIVAL, MACLEAY ISLAND signed by Mr. M. F. Hubert on behalf of Mr. Baldwin, pursuant to notice, asked The Hub Constructions Pty. Ltd." Minister for Works,- (2) "The legal aspects of the matter In view of the fact that I have received would need to be considered if the statu­ further disturbing information from resi­ tory declarations can be shown to be false." dents of Macleay Island and further to my letters of 11th instant to him and to the ( 3) "If the Department of Commercial Minister for Justice- and Industrial Development had reasonable suspicion as to the bona fides of any ( 1) Has one member of the company, statutory declaration, the matter would be reportedly a Mr. R. McGee, ever been investigated. I would add Hub Construc­ convicted of any criminal offences? If so, tions Pty. Ltd. has acted as contractor for what kind of offences and where and when the Department on a number of occasions were they committed? without previous complaint." (2) Who are the other members of the company and have any of them had any criminal convictions? DISTRIBUTION OF PETROL SUPPLIES, OIL (3) Has a police permit already been INDUSTRY DISPUTE issued in relation to the proposed pop Mr. D'Arcy, pursuant to notice, asked The festival and, if so, by whom and when? Minister for Development,- ( 4) Is he and the Minister for Justice In view of the numerous complaints aware that no approach for objections or which I have received from dozens of approval by any Macleay Island resident or garages from Brisbane to the Coast, to organisation has been made by either the 1032 Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

police or the reported company concerned Answers:­ and will he have such an approach made (1) "No." at once? (5) Have any of his officers approached (2) "No. The suggestions the Honour­ the State health and other relevant authori­ able Member is seeking to convey are ties to ascertain whether it is possible to false." remove all health and accommodation (3) "It is all very well for the Honour­ hazards that will arise to all concerned able Member to attempt to give the following a four-day influx of more than impression that he is concerned for the 10,000 people who are expected, as reported welfare of the community. Actions speak in The Courier-Mail of October 12? louder than words and as we are well Answers:- aware the A.L.P., both at Federal and State levels, made no outward efforts to ( 1) "There is no record of any criminal use the channels at its disposal to get the convictions recorded against Robert Leslie men back to work. A.L.P. Members were McGee, an organiser of the festival." obviously indifferent to the hardships being (2) "The other members of the com­ imposed on the community. I can only pany at this stage are John Maher, his regard the Honourable Member's Question wife Judi,th Maher of Hamilton Street, as a 'red-herring' in an attempt to divert Red1and Bay, and Keith John Brennan of attention away from the A.L.P.'s embar­ Haigh Street, Edithvale, Victoria. They rassment at this stage of an election are not !fecorded as having been criminally campaign." convicted. At the present time it is not known what other persons are likely to be financially involved." PUBLICATION, "JUSTICE FOR EVERYONE" (3) "There is no provision for the issue .of a permit by the Police Department for Mr. Wright, pursuant to notice, asked The the conduct of such ,a function." Minister for Justice,- (4) "On October 11, 1972 two members ( 1) How many booklets entitled "Justice of the Plrogress Association called at the for Everyone," which were published by Office of the Commissioner of Police and the Department of Justice of Queensland, tendered a petition signed by 41 residents have been (a) printed and (b) distributed of Macleay Island protesting against the in Queensland? festival being allowed to take place. In (2) What was the total cost of (a) the addition, on October 15, 1972 an Inspector publication and (b) the distribution of this of Police was approached at Redland Bay booklet? by the Macleay Island Progress Associa­ tion and a strong protest was lfegistered (3) How many booklets were distributed regarding the pop festival being held." in the Nundah Electorate (a) prior to and (5) "No. Present indications do not (b) after the recent State General Election? indicate that such an ,approach is called ( 4) Who paid for the cost of having for by the Police Department." the booklets distributed in the Nundah Electorate? A.W.U. LOG OF CLAIMS ON AMPOL PTY. (5) What was (a) the publication cost LTD.; ALLEGED THREATS AGAINST and (b) the distribution cost? EMPLOYEES Mr. Baldwin, pursuant to notice, asked The (6) On what basis was distribution made Premier,- in other parts of the State? ( 1) With reference to a report in The (7) As parts of this booklet are already Courier-Mail of October 13 referring to a out of date, is it intended to revise and statement made by an employer relative to reprint this publication? the log of claims lodged by the Australian Workers' Union with Ampol Pty. Ltd., is he aware that members of the staff of that Answer:- company have threatened certain employees (1 to 7) "Will the Honourable Member with dismissal at future planned lockouts please have this Question placed on the (forced strikes or stand-downs), unless they Notice Paper for tomorrow." withdraw support from the log of claims? ( 2) Is he a ware that the series of lock­ outs is planned to continue until the Com­ ISSUE OF FAILURE-TO-VOTE NOTICES; monwealth election? STAFF, ELECTORAL OFFICE ( 3) Will he, with the Minister for Development, investigate the complaints Mr. Wright, pursuant to notice, asked The with a view to assuring farmers and busi­ Minister for Justice,- nessmen that their jobs will not be endan­ ( 1) How many "please explain" notices gered in an attempt by the Liberal Party have been sent to electors in Queensland shareholders in Ampol to retain control for allegedly not having voted in the recent over the Commonwealth Government? State General Election? Questions Upon Notice [17 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice 1033

(2) As numerous electors who have require a very considerable amount of received such notices have complained to clerical work by officers of my Department Members of Parliament that they did in and of the Commonwealth Department of fact vote, why has such a shocking state Education and Science. I can only hope of inefficiency arisen in the State Electoral that he intends to put the information to Office? some good use and would warn him again of the dangers of making unjustified com­ (3) How many electors involved have parisons from such data." already advised that office that they did vote? COMPARATIVE CosTS, DEMOUNTABLE AND ( 4) What is the present staff of the office PERMANENT SCHOOL CLASSROOMS of the Principal Electoral Officer? Mr. N. F. Jones, pursuant to notice, asked (5) What increases in staff have been The Minister for Works,- made (a) before the recent redistribution (1) What is the total cost of construc­ (b) and since the redistribution? tion of (a) the 356 demountable buildings housing 712 classrooms in Queensland and Answers:- (b) the 118 demountable buildings housing (!) "A total of 61,702 notices to 236 classrooms in the metropolitan area? electors who appear to have failed to vote (2) What was (a) the average cost of at the General Election held on May 27, on-site construction of permanent class­ 1972, have been prepared and despatched." rooms in Queensland and (b) the average cost of on-site construction of permanent (2) "These notices were prepared from classrooms in the metropolitan area, in information contained in a non-voters' roll 1971-72? furnished by the returning officer for each of the Electoral Districts in Queensland." Answers:- (!) "(a) $2,345,000, on the basis of ( 3) "As replies to these notices are required to be completed and returned by $6,589 average cost of a two classroom electors not later than October 31, 1972, demountable building as against $8,544,000 no action has been taken to assess the for permanent classroom construction. (b) number received to date." $708,000, on the basis of $6,000 average cost of a two classroom demountable build­ ( 4) "The present staff employed in the ing as against $2,626,000 for permanent State Electoral Office consists of 54." classroom construction." (2) "(a) $12,000 per permanent class­ ( 5) "The permanent staff of 29 was room. (b) $11,000 per permanent class­ gradually increased for re-distribution of room." electoral boundaries by the employment of casual temporary staff during the period from April, 1971 to December, 1971, to ADDITIONS, EVERTON PARK STATE SCHOOL a total staff of 55. This number was Mr. N. F. Jones, pursuant to notice, asked gradually reduced to the normal require­ The Minister for Works,- ment of 29 in June, 1972. Thirty-one ~asual temporary assistants were engaged What planning has been carried out for m July, 1972, to deal with-(a) issue of the provision of a new library block and non-voter notices; (b) Local option polls; an additional permanent classroom at the and (c) Brisbane City Council ward Everton Park State School? changes." Answer:- "Existing classroom accommodation at ENROLMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS, the Everton Park State School will cater SECONDARY SCHOOLS satisfactorily for the enrolment anticipated for the commencement of the 1973 school Mr. B. Wood, pursuant to notice, asked The year. Forward planning is in hand for a Minister for Education,- new library block and additional per­ Will he provide a list of all State high manent classroom accommodation for con­ schools and secondary departments and sideration in the light of funds which may private secondary schools in Queensland, become available for educational pur­ together with the 1971 enrolments for poses." Grades 10 and 12 and the number of technical, secondary, advanced education NEW ScHOOL, OXFORD PARK and university scholarships granted to each school for 1972? Mr. N. F. Jones, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Education,- Answer:- Does his Department intend making a "The information requested by the recommendation for the provision of a Honourable Member will be provided in new school on the reserve situated between due course. It will, as I pointed out when Cribb Street and Chessom Street, Oxford he asked the same question last year, Park? 1034 Questions Without Notice [17 OcTOBER 1972] Questions Without Notice

Answer:- areas in terms of educational priority and "My Department does not recommend the accessibility of existing kindergarten the establishment of a primary school on facilities? this site at the present time. The reserve is being retained, however, against possible Sir ALAN FLETCHER: I can only say need for a school in the future." that I deny the assumptions on which the question is based. There is no reason in the world why I should defend each individual INTAKE OF CADETS, POLICE FORCE decision, because, with half a dozen criteria ACADEMY and the need to satisfy each of them, it would never be possible to satisfy every dis­ Mr. Newton, pursuant to notice, asked The satisfied customer relative to where pre­ Minister for Works,- school centres are or are not provided. In relation to the number of young Mr. P. WOOD: I ask the Minister a people to be admitted to the Police Force further question: Is it not a fact that the Academy in 1973 for training as police sites announced today have been chosen on cadets- the sole criterion of the availability of land (1) Does the number to be admitted in existing primary schools-that that is the include young women as well as young only criterion, disregarding every other one men? mentioned? (2) What educational qualifications will Sir ALAN FLETCHER: No. be required for such appointments? (3) In what month in 1973 will these Mr. P. WOOD: I ask this further question: young people commence training at the In answer to an earlier question of mine, the academy? Minister said that, in regard to the priority of enrolment and which children would be Answers:- enrolled ahead of others where there was an over-demand, the likely policy-and "likely" (1) "Yes." was the word he used-would be that those children who lived closest to the pre-school ( 2) "At least 18 points in best five centre would be enrolled first. Would he Junior subjects with a minimum of 4 points now advise whether this is firm policy, or if in English, or equivalent standard from some other priority of enrolment is to some educational system other than operate? Queensland's system." Sir ALAN FLETCHER: Obviously this (3) "January, 1973." matter is still in the discussion stage. One of the criteria will be the distance that a child lives from the school. Another one, CONVICTION OF ANDREW THOMAS J ONES, I should think, would be the age of the child. TOOWOOMBA I should think it would be reasonable to Mr. R. Jones, pursuant to notice, asked The give a child aged 4t years priority over one Minister for Justice,- who had just turned four years of age. But this is a matter that is still under discussion Further to his Answer to my Question and is being considered in a practical way without notice on October 11 concerning the conviction of Andrew Thomas Jones, by us, as well as the people concerned. which was reported in The Courier-Mail Mr. AIKENS: On a point of order, Mr. of September 21, is he now in a position Speaker, is it to become the prac~ice of to advise whether this person is the same honourable members to make Gnevance Andrew Thomas Jones who was the former Day speeches on questions without notice, Liberal Member of Parliament for Ade­ thus depriving others of the opportunity to laide? If not, will he initiate immediate submit questions? enquiries and report the findings to this House? Mr. SPEAKER: Order! There is no valid point of order. Answer:- "Will the Honourable Member please UNIFORM, DISMISSED RAILWAY EMPLOYEE have this Question placed on the Notice Mr. HARRIS: I direct a question to the Paper for tomorrow." Minister for Transport. Further to the question that I asked him earlier this morning QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE on this subject, is he aware that Mr. Thomas received Railway Department property, EsTABLISHMENT OF PRE-SCHOOL CENTRES namely, shirts, trousers and collars? I have those garments here and I will table them, Mr. P. WOOD: I ask the Minister for thus substantiating the authenticity of my Education: With regard to pre-school previous question. centres, why has his department disregarded the criteria that were announced in this Mr. K. W. HOOPER: I am not aware of House on 12 October for the establishment this situation. I shall certainly have the of such centres, namely, the needs of various matter further investigated. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1035

SUPl>LY close observation and were anxious to see COMMITTEE-FINANCIAL STATEMENT­ our reactions on various matters. I believe RESUMPTION Ol' DEBATE this attention was paid to us because, although Federal parties and individual State (The Acting Chairman of Committees, Mr. Ministers have visited Japan during the past W. D. Hewitt, Chatsworth, in the chair) two years, ours has been the only State dele­ Debate resumed from 12 October (see p. gation to do so. 991) on Sir Gordon Chalk's motion~ I pay a tribute to the personnel of the "That there be granted to Her Majesty, for the service of the year 1972-73, a sum Australian Embassy in Japan. They did a not exceeding $62,748 to defray Salaries­ remarkably good job in organising our tour His Excellency the Governor." carefully and ensuring that it was compre­ hensive. We visited many places which, Mr. MELLOY (Nudgee) (12.3 p.m.): The without this co-operation from the Embassy, Budget is notable for what is does not pro­ we would not have been able to. vide rather than for what it does. In saying that, I refer particularly to statements made At the moment, both Western Australia by Government members during the election and South Australia have representatives in campaign, namely, that the Government Japan. The Minister for Mines and Main would provide for perimeter hospitals, a Roads has said that he intends to visit Japan school dental nursing service and the electrifi­ because of a possible reduction in our coal cation of railways in the metropolitan area. exports to that country. A fear exists that The Budget contains no provision whatever New South Wales might encroach on our for any of these things. It could well be coal markets in Japan. If Queensland had called a "holding" Budget because it does not had a State trade representative in Japan, this envisage any new, special projects. More possibility might not have arisen. The export schools and hospitals are to be constructed of coal is essential to Queensland's economy, in some areas, but they will merely meet and the Government must give urgent con­ existing needs. To illustrate my point, I sideration to establishing State trade repre­ might say that if, at the end of 1960, we sentatives in the Far East, particularly in were providing 100 schools to cater for Japan and Hong Kong. 100,000 children, it is now intended to pro­ In my opinion, increased opportunities vide 200 schools for 200,000 children. should be provided for members of this The Government is merely coping with Parliament to visit South-east Asia. I do not situations as they arise. There is no pro­ mean opportunities for three or four members vision in the Budget for other than run-of­ each year to visit Japan; I mean oppor­ the-mill projects that any Government would tunities for all members of this Parliament have provided for in similar circumstances. to visit that area at some time or another. It is certainly not an imaginative Budget, and during the next three years, Opposition I think the Japanese were anxious to learn members will really be able to criticise the attitude of Australians, and Queenslanders Queensland's lack of progress. in particular, to their people. They listened to The Budget contains no provision for the us intently every time we made contact with development of this State. Queensland can them. We found them to be very progressive no longer rely on its wool industry, and its and alert, and particularly interested in what wheat industry is not worth as much now as is happening in Australia. We felt that they it was previously. It seems that we will con­ were watching us closely. We found them tinue to rely on the development of mineral to be very courteous, apparently very indus­ resources by overseas interests, instead of trious, and, so far as we could see, very developing them ourselves. I shall have efficient. more to say on this subject later in my speech. It concerns me that there is not in this I should like to comment on the recent country a sufficient realisation of the signifi­ parliamentary delegation to Japan and the cance of Japan in Australian affairs. This is South-east area, of which I was fortunate to another reason for ensuring that more mem­ be a member. One pleasing feature of the bers of this Parliament are enabled to visit trip was the good relationship that existed the South-east Asian area. The attitude of among all members of the delegation. This many honourable members to Queensland's was very encouraging. Political affiliations position in the economy of South-east Asia were completely submerged. I compliment is rather disturbing. In this matter, I think the Minister for Health in this regard because, that we are somewhat narrow-minded and to a large degree, this was due to his attitude. parochial. By that, I mean that I do not think He treated all members of the delegation we expand our minds enough in this Parlia­ equally and without preference. It was for ment. We spend hours arguing and debating this reason that we were able to do such a such things as whether Jack Stanaway writes good job for Queensland. Tommy Burns's speeches, the Trades Hall On the trip, we were accorded full recog­ influence, the constitution of the Brisbane City nition at all levels, I believe that we left a Council, the Premier's aeroplane, and points very favourable impression of the Queens­ of order. Whilst they are undoubtedly matters land Parliament. I felt that the Japanese of importance at their own level, we do not delegates had the Queensland delegates under seem to get above that level. 1036 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial S:atement)

We have to expand our minds to a greater one of the best financial investments the degree for the development of Queensland. State could make, because those members There are, close to the north of this State, would then be much better educated in hundreds of millions of people who are foreign affairs. manifestly of increasing importance in this Speaking of the trip generally, I am part of the world, and we ourselves need to sure that every member of the delegation have a clear picture of what is going on in benefited greatly from it. We saw things those countries. There is no doubt that the that gave u~ cause for thought. people to the north of Australia have much to contribute to this country, and we have Sir Gordon Chalk: What were they? to be astute enough to be able to control the contribution they can make. One of the Mr. MELLOY: For example, we saw things that struck me about them was their tremendously large parking areas under interest in tbeir work at all levels. It appeared parks and under streets. Honourable mem­ to us that, irrespective of the level at which bers opposite should not criticise Clem we met people, they were all trying to excel J ones for putting a car park under King in their jobs. The hotel lift-boy was trying George Square, because similar car parks to be the best lift-boy in the hotel; similarly, have been very successful in overseas countries. the waiter was trying to be the best waiter. I think that this attitude has largely been One matter that I wish to deal with parti­ responsible for Japan's rapid rise. particu­ cularly in this debate-the fluoridation of larly in the industrial field. reticulated water supplies-is arousing intense interest in the community at present. We must adopt a similar philosophy. We The dental profession is now conducting should try to establish ourselves as the best a campaign, encouraging people to write Parliament in Australia. In this regard, the to their members of Parliament seeking Premier will have to "pull up his socks". He their assistance and asking the State to will have to forget his ambition to be the interfere in the matter of the introduction best "Corn. hater" in the House, and set about becoming the best Premier in Australia. I of fluoride to reticulated water supplies. do not think there is enough time left to This is a matter on which many people Queensland, and indeed Australia, to waste it become very aroused emotionally, and in on personal side issues. We cannot continue all parties in this Chamber one would find with the philosophy that "near enough is good some members in favour of fluoridation enough". There has to be a greater awareness and others opposed to it. Personally, I in Queensland of where this State is going am strongly in favour of it. I believe in the economic world, and we must be that it would provide a very good answer prepared to send members overseas so that to the problem of dental caries that now this Parliament is at all times aware of what besets the community. Although the Aust­ is going on in other parts of the world. ralian Labor Party has not any written policy on the question, it is one that should With the severing of so many ties between receive careful consideration. I hope the Great Britain and Australia, and with the day will come when fluoridation of water withdrawal of the United States of America supplies will be accepted. from so many spheres of influence, Aust­ ralia has suddenly found great virtue in Mr. Murray: Have you used your influ­ proclaiming that it is part of the South East ence with the Brisbane City Council on this Asian bloc. In my opinion, Australians are question? Is it not a fact that it is doing this with their tongues in their cheeks. entirely a matter for decision by the local Although they say that Australia is part authority? of Asia, they will not admit that Asia is part of Australia. That is not a very Mr. MELLOY: That is quite true. wise attitude to take; it just is not possible Mr. Murray: It has the authority and to have it that way. The intrusion of Asia can proceed-- into Australia's affairs is inevitable. It is like a flood coming down a river: if The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! I it can be directed and controlled, it may will allow the honourable member for be used for our benefit; but if we ignore Clayfield to ask a question, but he must it and try to build a fence round ourselves, make it brief. we will be overwhelmed. Mr. Murray: Is that not a fact? I believe that this country will have to reconsider its attitude to overseas affairs Mr. MELLOY: It is true that local and set about preparing its economic frame­ authorities control the introduction of work to meet rapidly changing circumstances fluoride to their own water supply systems. in the future. Young members of this However, I think it should be laid down Parliament can be prepared for the future as a matter of policy by the State Depart­ by being sent out to rub shoulders with ment of Health. The introduction of the rest of the world, but that must be done fluoridation should be encouraged and very quickly because time is in fact slipping supported wherever possible. away for both Queensland and Australia. Mr. Tooth: That is the policy of the In my opinion, such a move would be State Health Department. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1037

Mr. MELLOY: I am pleased to receive Mr. MELLOY: If the Minister estab­ that assurance from the Minister, but there lished those community health centres, it should be legislation of some sort to would not take any time before they became encourage and hasten the introdution of perimeter hospitals. Once their worth was fluoridated water supplies. I will probably established, the worth of the hospitals them­ be "hauled over the coals" by some of my selves would be established. colleagues for making such a statement, Mr. Tooth: The honourable member but that is my personal opinion. I think would doubtless be interested to know that it is essential. the recent development of a major hospital Mr. R. E'. Moore: They will cut your in the centre of Cardiff is designed to head off. eliminate, within a short time, 27 peripheral and near-country hospitals which are small Mr. MELLOY: It is too late to cut my and inefficient. head off. Mr. MELLOY: I do not think the Mini­ While VISiting Tasmania last year, I ster can relate the circumstances in Cardiff had the opportunity to examine the teeth and surrounding areas to the wide spaces of children from fluoridated as well as of Queensland. There is definitely a different non-fluoridated areas. The difference set-up in England from what applies in between them was really amazing. Those Queensland. In England there are not the from fluoridated areas had mouths almost travel problems that would apply in Queens­ free of dental caries, whereas -the mouths land, even in suburban areas. of those from non-fluoridated areas were in a shocking state. The dentists who I instance the difficulties that are being accompanied the children-there were about experienced by patients at suburban medical 40 children in each group-assured me that clinics. Four or five doctors decide to that was the situation throughout Tasmania. set up a clinic in a suburb, and the situation I believe that it is essential for Queensland in the waiting rooms of those clinics almost to take a more positive stand on fluoridation. parallels the one that exists in the out­ patients' departments at the general hospitals. I wish to deal now with several matters It is not uncommon for patients to have that I referred to earlier as not being to wait two or three hours before receiving mentioned in the Budget. First of all, I attention. In those surgeries the public is should like to raise the subject of perimeter not getting the G.P. service to which it is hospitals. The Minister for Health returned entitled. from overseas with certain views on this subject. I think he favours the introduction A similar situation exists in relation to of that type of hospital. I am sure he visits by doctors to patients' homes, in respect knows they would provide a service that of which a serious situation is developing. cannot be provided efficiently under our Calls to doctors to visit the homes of sick present system. Although there is no pro­ people who need treatment and cannot visit vision for it in the Budget, I hope an early a doctor's surgery are constantly increasing. move will be made in this direction. Quite often when a request is made to a doctor to visit a home, the person who tele­ When Dr. Knyvett returned from over­ phones is told to get the patient out of bed seas, he came back with the same idea and and transport him or her to the surgery, supported the principle of perimeter, or that the doctor cannot afford the time to community, hospitals. There is little point make any home visits. This is a serious in outlaying excessive expenditure on large situation. No ill person likes to be got out hospitals in the centre of major cities only of bed and taken from the warmth of his to have them cluttered up with people home to a doctor's surgery, particularly in who have runny noses and sore toes. The winter-time. Aged and ill pensioners should purpose of the base hospitals should be .to not be required to visit a surgery or a clinic; provide sophisticated treatment and facilities they are entitled to have a doctor visit them and majory surgery that would not be avail­ in their homes. able in the perimeter or community hos­ pitals, which are needed to provide a I think we will eventually reach the stage convenient service for the run-of-the-mill of having to establish a compulsory roster patient and his relatives. of doctors at suburban clinics for the pro­ vision of home medical services. No doubt Mr. Tooth: The honourable member is in this suggestion will be greeted with some error in thinking that I support the idea of derision and alarm by the medical profession. perimeter hospitals. What I am in favour At this stage, I do not think doctors want to of-and I have had a committee examining become involved in compulsory service of the matter for two years-is the establish­ any kind. But I think it will come. A person ment of community health centres in peri­ is entitled to be able to ring a doctor or a pheral areas-which is a totally different clinic and, in certain circumstances, have a thing. doctor visit a patient in his home. Mr. MELLOY: It is the same thing in A statement was made recently by Dr. different words. Arnold, who I think is president of the General Practitioners' Association in New Mr. Tooth: It is quite a different thing. South Wales, to the effect that in the next 1038 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

few years general practitioners will have to make any provision for such a programme. erect around themselves a barrier of fees to Besides lessening air pollution, electrification protect them from patients. This is a shocking would greatly reduce the tremendous con­ statement. Dr. Arnold is advocating that, in gestion that exists on metropolitan roads. an endeavour to reduce the treatment doctors Although last year certain decisions were give their patients, they should increase their arrived at in this matter, no apparent moves fees to such an extent that patients will not have been made towards the electrification be able to avail themselves of general prac­ of Brisbane railways. This matter should titioner treatment. If that is Dr. Arnold's receive top priority. attitude, I think it will have to be looked I turn now to the Royal Flying Doctor at very closely. It is something this country Service. In the Estimates for the Depart­ cannot afford. If medical services are to be ment of Aboriginal and Island Affairs no priced out of the reach of the ordinary provision whatever is made for financial people, it is time the Government stepped in assistance to this wonderful service. I and took charge of the medical profession, at realise that the Government provides, in least to the extent of seeing that these services one instance, $150,000 and, in another, are made available at a reasonable cost. $80,000 to the service, but those sums are Earlier in the year a statement was made insufficient. that the Government intended to provide The Royal Flying Doctor Service does school dental auxiliaries. This scheme should a tremendous job throughout the Outback. have been proceeded with at a much faster I realise, of course, that it is not a govern­ rate. Provision is made in this year's Budget mental organisation; nevertheless, it is for 21 dentists in our school dental services. eligible for grants and subsidies from both This has been the number provided for over the Commonwealth and the State. As more the last 10 years. Despite increases in enrol­ than 50 per cent of the patients treated by ments in our schools and the deterioration the service are Aborigines, surely that in the dental health of our young people, we department should make some contribution are not increasing the number of school towards its upkeep. If it were not for the dental inspectors. wonderful service rendered by the Flying Doctor, disease and ill health among Abori­ By promising to introduce legislation to gines would be far more widespread than provide for dental auxiliaries, the Minister at present. This service does a great deal has recognised what I think is the solution in preventing malnutrition and general ill of this problem, but the auxiliaries should health among our coloured people, and for be able to carry out treatment, as well as this service it does not receive one cent inspections, of school-children's teeth. from the department by way of a financial Because of the importance of dental health contribution. in the community, this should have been one of the first pieces of legislation to be brought I shall conclude by referring to the State down this session. As I pointed out last Electoral Office. This morning the Minister year, 70 per cent of the young men in one said that there are 54 employees in the National Service intake were found to be office, of whom 27 are temporary appointees. dentally unfit. These are young, 20-year-old They are pushed into every corner in that men, and the state of their dental health is office. Even for the permanent staff of 27, undoubtedly the result of a lack of dental the office is far too overcrowded to enable attention in early life. them to carry out their duties efficiently. As the number of enrolments and transfers The Minister should indicate just what he increases year by year, the burden imposed intends to do about this matter. It was part on the staff becomes heavier. of the Government's election platform that These employees simply are not able to such a scheme would be introduced, and it should be done without delay. In answer to cope with their task. At the present time a question that was asked last year, the they are forced to carry the added burden Minister said his department had set up a of preparing the new municipal rolls as well committee to investigate this matter, so I think as those for the local option polls that are he should tell us when we can expect to see shortly to be held. some action. Naturally it will be expensive to They have a tremendous task to perform set up a training school for dental nurses, but in this field. I admit that they have been this cost could be met partly by Common­ greatly assisted by the installation of a com­ wealth grants that are available to the State puter in the Treasury Building, which takes for advanced education purposes. I am sure a lot of detailed work off their hands. How­ these include dental nursing. After all, Tas­ ever, there is insufficient staff in the Electoral mania receives financial assistance from the Office to carry out the necessary ground Commonwealth towards the establishment work, although the staff are working effic­ and upkeep of its dental nursing school, so I iently. In the last State election we were think Queensland should seek similar Com­ confronted with many instances of inability monwealth assistance. of the electoral officers, because of shortage I have referred on previous occasions to of staff, to cope with new enrolments and the electrification of Brisbane's suburban the redistribution. In my electorate all the railways. Once again the Budget does not residents living at one end of a certain street Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1039 were put on the roll for an adjoining elec­ one we have here-to criticise a Budget that torate, while those at the other end of the provides for a tremendous increase in street, who actually were in the Wavell elec­ expenditure in so many important areas, par­ torate, were placed on the Nudgee roll. ticularly education and health, at no addi­ Altogether, about 160 people were involved. tional cost to the taxpayer. In fact, some That is shocking. The trouble stems simply State charges have been reduced. from the fact that the whole of the enrol­ I do not think anyone can deny that the ment procedure was handled in the State Treasurer would have been unable to bring Electoral Office. In such circumstances there down such a forward-looking, progressive should be more field officers to carry out Budget unless the economy was in good investigations relative to the boundaries of shape-the best of any State in the Common­ new electorates to ensure that people are wealth-and unless Queensland had received enrolled for the correct electorates. financial assistance from the Commonwealth As a result of what happened at the last Grants Commission. Since Queensland first election, confusion arose at various booths. approached the Grants Commission last year, I am sure that every honourable member it has received almost $20,000,000 in non­ has been rung by constituents over the past repayable grants. This is additional to the few weeks complaining about the receipt of normal rebates and grants allocated at the a letter from the Electoral Office intimating Premiers' Conference. It includes some that they had failed to vote although they $10,000,000 for the current financial year. had in fact voted. In some instances a This is an indication of the co-operation that husband has received a letter stating that he exists between State and Federal members of failed to vote, whereas in fact he attended a the Government parties in this country. polling booth with his wife and both had I should like to pay tribute to a Queens­ voted. In many cases the trouble arose land member of the Federal Parliament who because insufficient time was available in played a major role in proposing this which to train booth officers responsible for approach to the Commonwealth Grants Com­ marking off names on the roll. Many hap­ mission. I refer to the Honourable Kevin penings at the last election indicated that Cairns, who is Federal Minister for Housing there was complete chaos, and the Govern­ and member for Lilley, which embraces part ment should ensure that there is no repetition of my electorate. The electorate is very well of them. served by this Federal member of Parlia­ I intend to reserve my comments on the ment. On 17 February this year an article Health Department till we debate the Health appeared in the "Telegraph". It was headed, Estimates. I repeat that the Budget is merely "A Triumph for Cairns". Mr. Max Hawkins, a "holding" Budget, without any ambitious a respected Canberra columnist, paid a trib­ new projects. It is designed merely to main­ ute to Kevin Cairns's efforts in obtaining tain existing facilities provided by the Gov­ assistance from the Grants Commission. He ernment. said- Mr. LANE (Merthyr) (12.38 p.m.): For a "Queenslanders should be thankful for number of reasons I support the Budget intro­ Mr. Cairns's persistence in this matter for duced by my party leader, the Honourable Sir without the extra finance there would inev­ Gordon Chalk, on 28 September. Specific­ itably be fresh State taxation imposts." ally, it provides for an increase of almost Mr. Hughes: He has been a champion of 19 per cent. in Government expenditure com­ Queensland for years. pared with that in the last financial year, and it does so at no additional cost to Queens­ Mr. LANE: He certainly has. land taxpayers. To me, that makes good sense, and is surely indicative of successful Mr. Hawkins went on to commend the financial management of the affairs of strong advocacy of the Federal Minister for Queensland by the Country-Liberal Party Housing and member for Lilley, Mr. Kevin Government. Cairns, over a period of six years for an approach to the Grants Commission by the A little later I will deal with a number of Queensland Government. The Budget other favourable aspects in the Budget, but, brought down by the Treasurer completely initially, I think it is well to examine con­ justifies what Mr. Hawkins had to say. Let tributions made so far by Opposition members there be no doubt whatsoever that the people in this debate. Two things should be said of Queensland, as well as this Government, about their efforts. The first is that they are are indebted to the Honourable Kevin Cairns typical, because the Labor Party for years for his genuine interest in the welfare of has been a great "knocker" of progress and Queensland since he was first elected to the development in Queensland. This stems Federal Parliament in 1963. from their obsession with doctrinaire, social­ ist philosophies which stifle investment and Unlike some other people, particularly the progress. The second is that Opposition leading spokesmen for the Labor Party in speeches have been totally lacking in sub­ the Federal Parlia~p.ent, Mr. Kevin Cairns stance and constructive criticism. I suppose believes in the federal system. He also Opposition members can hardly be blamed believes that the States have rights and respon­ for that. After all, it is somewhat difficult sibilities. I well recall that, some two years for any Opposition-let alone the pathetic ago, Kevin Cairns and one or two of his 1040 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

colleagues were the only members of Federal half that of the other Labor States of South Parliament to support the rights of the States Australia and Tasmania. In Queensland, when a former Prime Minister was trying to New South Wales and Victoria, the unem­ push through Federal Parliament the Terri­ ployment rate is less than 2 per cent, whereas, torial Seas Bill. in the three Labor States, it is more than That Bill would have reduced the powers 2 per cent. I would be interested to hear of the States and was opposed by every State some contributions from Opposition members Government-Liberal, Country Party and on the subject of unemployment in the three Labor Party alike. Yet it was supported by Labor States of the Commonwealth, because the Labor Party in the Federal Parliament. in those States it happens to be the highest If it had not been for the courageous stand in Australia. that Kevin Cairns and a few of his colleagues I think the Treasurer, and the Government, were prepared to take in the interests of deserve a major share of the credit for preserving State rights, the Bill wou!d the fact that Queensland has a very low undoubtedly have been passed by the Federal level of unemployment. Credit must also Parliament. He was not alone, but his sup­ be given to the Commonwealth Government porters could have been counted on the and private enterprise under which the State fingers of one hand. In my opinion, which has progressed. I have even read that there was shared and publicly expressed by the are simply not enough applicants to fill the former State Minister for Justice, Dr. jobs available in Queensland. When I was Delamothe, this State should be indebted to passing Brett's timber yard a week or so Kevin Cairns for what he did then as much ago, I noticed that a new sign had been as it should be for what he has done to help erected at the gates calling for men to fill this State make an approach to the Grants job vacancies at that place of employment. Commission. Mr. Davis: Where is that? In his article, Mr. Hawkins referred to the fact that the Federal Minister for Housing Mr. LANE: It is out on the fringe of and member for Lilley had been advocating the honourable member's electorate. a Queensland approach to the Grants Com­ Sir Gordon Chalk: He's never there. mission since 1965. In June 1970 he wrote a special article setting out a strong case for Mr. LANE: As the Treasurer quite rightly a Queensland approach to the commission. points out, he is never there. The honourable Barely a month later the then Prime Minister member for Brisbane is too busy running invited Queensland to approach the Grants up the hill to the Trades Hall to get his Commission for financial assistance. An weekly instructions from Arch Bevis, who approach was made last year and, as a result, dictates most of what he says in this this State has gained an extra $19,000,000 in Chamber, to keep in touch with what is the form of non-repayable grants. happening in his electorate. Mr. Marginson: You are taking the credit I return to the employment position in from your leader. this State. At Brett's timber yard there were vacanc·ies in three fields of ·employment. Mr. LANE: I believe that credit should There were jobs for tradesmen; there was be given where credit is due. Let there be a job for a semi-skilled worker; and there no doubt that full credit should be given to were vacancies for unskilled workers. The my colleague in Federal Parliament, Mr. sign was still in evidence when I passed the Cairns, for his genuine interest in the financial timber yard a few days ago, and probably welfare of Queensland, which he displays all it is still there. Apparently there are no the time, in contrast to some members of the men to fill these jobs. I invite the honour­ Opposition who seem to discover it only at able member for Brisbane to journey to election-time. It is a pity that the same that section of his electorate and have a cannot be said for the shadow Minister for look at that sign-that is, if he still knows Health in the Federal Parliament, Mr. the way! If this is not indicative of a Hayden, who is set on destroying Queens­ healthy and buoyant economy, I do not land's free hospital system and reducing know what is. Queensland to the level of other States, par­ The Budget provides for an increase of ticularly South Australia. more than 25 per cent in expenditure on Mr. K. J. Hooper: It is the most pro­ education as compared with the allocation gressive State in the Commonwealth. last financial year. In fact, education expendi­ ture, which is something that the Opposition Mr. LANE: On the contrary, Queensland is always complaining about because they is the most progressive State in the Com­ have so many retired school-teachers on monwealth. their side, represents one-third of the State's It is surely beyond coincidence that the total expenditure from Consolidated Revenue. unemployment rate is the highest in the Mr. Marginson: You are an ex-policeman. three States with Labor Governments and lowest in the three States with non-Labor Mr. LANE: As the honourable member Governments. In Queensland, the employ­ for Wolston says, I was formerly a policeman. ment rate is 1 per cent, which is almost one­ I am, in fact, the first ex-policeman to be third that of Western Australia and less than elected to this Pariiament, and the first to Supply (17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1041 be elected to any Parliament in Australia, attended the opening of a new hospital at with the exception of the three Left-wing Julia Creek, in the electorate of the Speaker gentlemen-Dr. Cairns, Mr. Bert J ames, and of this Assembly. I doubt whether the Mr. Bill Hayden-in the Federal Parliament. Opposition would have supported the con­ They all sit on the Left-wing of the political struction of that hospital, because they are spectrum, and they are infamous throughout not interested in Queensland as a whole. Australia for their weird and wonderful They fall down badly on matters such as socialist views. I am glad to be able to decentralisation and the need to populate show that not all members of law-enforce­ the more remote areas of the State. I ment bodies are tarred with the one brush. spent some time in that part of the State I return to my submissions on the Budget. many years ago and came to realise that When the Labor Party was last in power, all of our people, wherever they live in the education accounted for less than a quarter State, must have free hospital facilities of the State's expenditure. similar to those available in the capital city of the State. I will always be an advocate The Budget also provides for expenditure for benefits and protection for the people of more than $87,000,000 on the public of the West. hospital system of Queensland. Compared with last year's allocation, that is an increase No doubt the Opposition will claim that of approximately $14,000,000, or almost 19 nothing has been done for hospitals in per cent. Surely this gives the lie to claims Brisbane. One has only to read the Treas­ by the Federal Opposition Leader and Mr. urer's Financial Statement to see that such Hayden, the shadow Health Minister in the a claim is totally false. The Royal Brisbane Federal Parliament, that Queensland's free­ Hospital has been almost completely rede­ hospital system is doomed unless a Federal veloped and is now second to none in Aus· Labor Government is elected. That is typical tralia. What is more important, the people of the "big lie" tactics employed by the of Brisbane can use it for nothing-at least, Labor Party during Federal election cam­ for as long as there is a non-Labor Govern· paigns. In the manner of the Nazi propa­ ment in Queensland and in the Common­ ganda of Hitler's Germany, they frequently wealth Parliament. tell lies in the belief that the people of The proposal of Mr. Hayden to destroy Brisbane, and, indeed, the rest of Australia, the free hospital scheme is one of the will fall for them. Of course, the real most sinful, socialistic suggestions that I "joke" about it is that if a Labor Government have heard, and I hope that, before 2 is elected in the Federal area, Queensland's December, each and every Queenslander free hospital system will be finished, because becomes aware of the ramifications of it all Queenslanders will be compelled to pay and knows just what he or she will be a compulsory and escalating health tax voting for in supporting the Australian simply to get the service that they now Labor Party. Of course, what Mr. Whitlam receive for nothing. Under Mr. Hayden's is saying is that Queensland cannot have proposal, a man earning $100 a week gross a free hospital system unless other States would pay an additional $1.35 of his wages have a similar system. That is why Queens­ to keep the free hospital system he has landers are to be taxed by a Labor Govern­ now. ment for the service they now receive free. Mr. Sherrington: You want to go to the Mr. Low: Why does Whitlam talk such Princess Alexandra Hospital and see the a lot of nonsense? service that they get there-waiting for hours Opposition Members interjected. for a prescr·iption. The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! Mr. LANE: It is only natural, as a Federal election is approaching, that the Mr. LANE: Most of what Mr. Whitlam honourable member for Salisbury would wish says is very shallow, and it takes only a to drown out this facet of A.L.P. policy. brief examination of it to reveal what it is. The honourable member also seems to be talking out of the back of his head; at least The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! A that is the only part of him that I ever see. number of honourable members are tres­ Labor's Federal health policy is madness, and passing on the tolerance of the Chair. I it is disloyalty by Mr. Bill Hayden to the ask the Chamber to come to order. State of Queensland. I suggest that the Mr. Bromley: I am not one of them. honourable member for Salisbury also shows disloyalty by supporting the Federal A.L.P. The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! The health policy. honourable member for South Brisbane will Country-Liberal Governments have not come to order. only maintained the free hospital system Mr. LANE: As Queenslanders, we should in Queensland but have modernised and be proud of our free hospital system and expanded it, and much of the credit for advocate at all times that it be maintained. that must go to the Minister for Health, who is now in the Chamber. Recently I As I said, Mr. Whitlam's proposal is that had an opportunity to see at first hand Queensland cannot have a free hospital sys­ what a wonderful job he is doing, when I tem unless the other States have a similar 1042 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

system. That is why Queenslanders are the Liberal and Country Parties, as being to be taxed by a Labor Government for one of the best in the history of the the service they now receive free. That Commonwealth. is only one of the reasons why I believe I now wish to address myself to a number that the people of Queensland and the of other matters that I believe are of people of Australia will reject the policy very real importance because they affect of the Australian Labor Party at the Federal the economy of this State, and must be election to be held in a few weeks. taken into consideration when framing a One thing is perfectly clear-that Queens­ Budget. There are many things in the land's free hospital system can survive only day-to-day activities of the people of this under Liberal-Country Party Governments, State and of those in power that set the both here and in Canberra. Surely this fact stage for the Treasurer's Budget presenta­ must put to rest for all time the old Labor tion. Of course, he must "tailor" his Party bogy that the Liberals will destroy Budget to suit the local economic circum­ the free hospital system. It is a bogy that stances, some of which are affected by the has been used in every State election since people in the Trades Hall. I hope that 1957, and now the Labor Party machine the Opposition members who represent the is trying desperately to use it in a Federal Trades Hall in this Chamber-they are election, also, as part of its "big lie" propa­ known to us all-will listen to what I have ganda tactics. The passage of time alone to say, because, by the time I have finished, has proved beyond doubt that it is a lie. their masters at the top of Edward Street and at the A.C.T.U. headquarters in The tragedy is that if Mr. Whitlam wins Melbourne will have plenty to answer for. in the coming Federal election, it will be the Labor Party, the party which claims Mr. Davis: Why havn't you got a library the credit for establishing free hospitals in at Merthyr? Queensland, which will end this State's free Mr. R. E. Moore: Because of the rotten hospital system. Of course, that was the way your mob play politics. old Labor Party, not the current Trades Hall-oriented Labor Party, which is rep­ Mr. LANE: If the honourable member resented so well in this Chamber by spokes­ for Windsor doesn't mind, I will answer men for the various union bosses. The the interjections I accept. The reason we honourable member for Brisbane, who has do not have a library in Merthyr is that been seeking to interject, is one of those we have a Labor administration in the spokesmen. Brisbane City Council which has used the library as an item of blackmail at each That brings me to a comparison between and every council election. It has con­ the Budgets of the various States. Last tinually held the provision of a library over week the Western Australian Budget was the heads of the electors in an effort to introduced. The Press called it a "stay-put" bludgeon them into voting for an A.L.P. Budget, which is in sharp contrast to the candidate in the council election. This has Press reaction to the Queensland Budget. been done deliberately. The promise has Here we have an "achievement" Budget. been put out in print and has been made In Western Australia some taxes were verbally off the stump. It has been put increased, and the proposed increase in forward repeatedly, to the detriment of the expenditure on health and education is aged and retired people of New Farm who miserable in comparison with what is pro­ are entitled to a library. This is a clear posed in Queensland. In Tasmania new indication of the attitude and the treatment taxes were imposed and hospital charges we can expect at any level of government were increased sharply. The same thing by a Labor administration. The same sort happened in South Australia, the State which of thing would happen if this State ever Whitlam regards as the model on which fell into the hands of a Labor administration. the rest of Australia should be based. If that is the best he can do, then God help Mr. Bromley: Don't you like the Labor Queensland if his centralis! policies are Party? ever introduced in Canberra! Mr. LANE': Not as at present controlled. On the other hand, the Budgets of the I had a little affection for it years ago three non-Labor States have been variously in the old Labor days-the same sentimental described as "progressive", "forward-look­ affection that many good working people ing" and "imaginative". There were no in Queensland had for the old Labor move­ increases in taxes or charges in Queensland, ment. I do not have any liking for it Victoria or New South Wales, yet those today because it bears no similarity to the they produced were expansionary and true Labor Party of years ago. welfare-promoting Budgets. Those three States have one thing in common: the people Mr. Bromley: We do not dislike you; have had the good sense to keep the Labor we just hate you. Party off the Treasuary benches. Mr. LANE: I wish the honourable mem­ And the Federal Budget introduced in ber for South Brisbane would learn good August was widely described, even by manners and let me get on with my speech. journalists who are normally unfriendly to [Sitting suspended from I to 2.15 p.m.J Supply [17 OcTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1043

Mr. LANE: I was about to say something one. As an advocate for the lower-paid about the activities of the Trades Hall in worker, Bob Hawke is a fraud. When he Queensland and the A.C.T.U. interstate, became president of the A.C.T.U. he which activities have a definite effect on the promised that one of his major efforts would economy of this State and against the back­ be to get a new deal for the minimum-wage ground of which the Treasurer must formu­ earners of this country. late a Budget to organise the business of That was a worthy objective and one that the State for the coming 12 months. Before I, for one, would wholeheartedly support. I finish, no doubt the hot line from here But let us have a look at his record in to the Trades Hall will be running at full ,this regard. As long ago as May 1969, even pressure and more than a few panic buttons before Hawke became its president, the will be pressed. Firstly, I want to speak A.C.T.U., of which he was then research about the activities of the Australian Council officer, grandly revealed plans for a massive of Trade Unions and the State branch of national survey of consumer finances to that council, the Trades and Labor Council support a claim for a new deal for the of Queensland, which is headed by a man minimum-wage earners of this country. When well known to the honourable members for Hawke became president, he set this down Mackay, Belyando, Baroona and, of course, as one of his objectives-in fact, as a prime the honourable member for Port Curtis. Let target. It is worth noting that at that time there be no doubt whatever that, in 1969, the he said little, if anything, about the entry Trades and Labor Council of Queensland of the A.C.T.U. into the field of big business and its affiliated unions played a crucial role and so-called capitalism. in ensuring the election of Robert J,ames Lee Hawke as president of the Australian Council Within a few months of his election as of Trade Unions and that the Left Wing president, Mr. Hawke embarked on his now had a safe majority on the interstate execu­ infamous programme of direct trade-union tive of the A.C.T.U., the all-powerful involvement in political affairs and, subse­ executive of the council. quently, his entry into commercial and business ventures. It is patently obvious that Let there also be no doubt that the all this was done at the expense of the Trades and Labor Council, headed by the wage-earners of this country. More .time and State president of the party to which members effort, as well as money, was devoted to of the Opposition belong, has played a lead­ grandiose schemes designed to increase the ing part in the programme of capitalistic power and prestige of Hawke himself, and expansion as well as planned industrial unrest less time, effort and money to the real needs which has marked the term of Mr. Hawke as of the workers, whom the A.C.T.U. is president of the A.C.T.U. Furthermore, I supposed to represent. have not the slightest doubt that when he fulfils his intentions to enter Federal Parlia­ At this stage it might be interesting if ment, as he said last week he would do next I outlined the published aims and objectives year, the honourable member for Lytton, as of the A.C.T.U. A book entitled "Indus­ well as Mr. Egerton, will be there cheering trial Relations in Australia", by Raymond on the sidelines. O'Dea, refers to the aims of the A.C.T.U. at page 147 in these words- One might well ask why Mr. Hawke said "(!) The socialisation of industry, that last week that he would enter politics in a is, production distribution, and exchange; year or so, whereas previously he had been "(2) the utilisation of the resources of uncommitted on the question. I think the Australia for the benefit of the people­ answer is twofold: firstly, his record as ensuring full employment with rising president of the A.C.T.U. is a particularly standards of living, real security and full poor one; and secondly, on his own admis­ cultural opportunities for all." sion, the only position more powerful than that of president of the A.C.T.U. is that of Government members find no fault with the Prime Minister of Australia. second of those objectives. The first, how­ ever, is nothing more than a political one. When Hawke does make his move, Whit­ lam will be "on the skids" just as quickly All members of trade unions affiliated with and assuredly as the Leader of the Opposition the A.C.T.U. should be made aware of the in this place will be when the honourable fact that an affiliation fee-a tribute-is member for Lytton and his team decide that paid to the A.C.T.U., whose first objective "it's time"-and my information is that time is the socialisation of industry. is running out fast for the Leader of the The means to be used to achieve these Opposition, or, should I say, the honourable aims are stated as being- member for Bulimba. "(a) The closer organisation of the workers by the transformation of the Aus­ As Mr. Hawke has now let the cat out tralian Trade Union Movement from a of the bag and demonstrated his desire to make an early entry into the Federal Parlia­ craft to an industrial basis; ment, it is well for us to examine his record "(b) The grouping of unions in their as president of the A.C.T.U. Unfortunately, respective industries; in terms of the industrial interests of the "(c) The amalgamation of unions with workers whose unions are affiliated with the a view to the establishment of one union A.C.T.U., his record has been a very poor in each industry; 1044 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

"(d) The consolidation of the Australian and shockingly presented-so much so, that Labor Movement, with the object of Mr. Justice Moore felt compelled to issue unified control, administration and action; what amounted to a public repudiation of "(e) Centralised control of industrial the A.C.T.U. in the National Wage Case disputes; judgment. "(f) Educational propaganda; and One would have thought that this alone "(g) Political action to secure satisfac- would be sufficient to stir the A.C.T.U. out tory working-class legislation." of its complacency-but not so. When the time came for the presentation of the 1971 The majority of those aims are simply poli­ National Wage Case application, the same tical, and are sometimes forgotten and over­ Mr. Willis informed the Arbitration Com­ looked by the public. I would not seek to mission that the A.C.T.U. was prepared to condemn the A.C.T.U. for trying to achieve proceed with the total wage claim, but not these aims, provided that every member of with the minimum wage claim, which it the community who is interested in industrial wanted deferred, for four months, until affairs is made aware of them. February o{ this year. Naturally, the If anyone thinks this is no more than Arbitration Commission ruled that both cases an anti-trade union smear, let me relate the must be heard together. Because of the facts regarding the activities of the A.C.T.U. ineptitude and inefficiency of the A.C.T.U., and the working men and women of Aus­ millions of workers were denied any wage tralia. Earlier I referred to this massive increase in 1971. survey, designed to lead towards and obtain One would have thought that this warning a "new deal" for low-income earners, and by the Arbitration Commission in 1970 would the minimum-wage earner in particular. In have stirred the A.C.T.U. from its lethargic his first speech as A.C.T.U. president, Hawke attitude, but just 12 months later it still promised that he and the A.C.T.U. would had not prepared its minimum wage case. get a new deal for minimum-wage earners, The five or six-month delay ·in the hearing and get it without delay. of the National Wage Case-it was finally At the time of the 1970 National Wage dealt with in May of this year-probably Case, the A.C.T.U. presented a case for cost the Australian workers $100,000,000, a substantial increase in the minimum wage. simply because the A.C.T.U. was too busy This was the great follow-up from the building up its commercial enterprise and grandiose scheme first announced in 1969, engaging in political strikes to deal with and restated by Hawke when he assumed the low-income earners of this country and the presidency at the beginning of 1970. their problems. I propose to quote from the judgment handed down by Mr. Justice Moore in the National Mr. Newton: Here is the story! Wage Case on 14 December 1970. The Mr. LANE: As the honourable member case for the workers was presented by Mr. for Belmont so rightly points out, here is Hawke's successor as research officer-and the story. If he listens intently, he will find his protege-a Mr. Ralph Willis. Mr. Willis out what happened-and so will his col­ presented his case for a national wage leagues. increase, and a special case for an increase in the minimum wage. This delay prompted Mr. Tom Dougherty, general secretary of the Australian Workers' This is what Mr. Justice Moore-a man Union, to accuse the Left-wing unions and who is widely and highly respected-said Mr. Hawke publicly of selling out the interests when he handed down his judgment- of the workers so that they could engage "Our decision about the minimum wage in other activities. He properly pointed for adult males has caused us great con­ out that the Arbitration Commission had cern. We find it hard to see how future given the A.C.T.U. fair warning in 1970 that benches can continue to give him"- it would have to come before it armed with more ammunition when it presented that is, the minimum-wage earner- the 1971 wage case. He went on to say "special treatment in the absence of more that it seemed ludicrous that Mr. Hawke, information such as the actual living the A.C.T.U. president, was overseas organis­ standards of people on or near the mini­ ing finance for workers' banks and the like, mum wage, how many there are, how while the A.C.T.U. could be making what many would be affected by any future amounted to a $100,000,000 gift to the claim, and what effect the introduction employers. of a minimum wage has had generally in industry." Mr. Dougherty went on to say- What a shocking and total condemnation "The Left-wing faction of the A.C.T.U., by a highly respected jurist of the applica­ instead of devoting itself to bread-and­ tion by the A.C.T.U. for a new deal for butter issues, involves itself in political minimum-wage earners. The A.C.T.U., on wrangles and demarcation disputes which its own admission, gave itself more than cost the workers millions of dollars." 18 months to prepare the case for the He went on to instance the involvement great "new deal", and look what happened! of the A.C.T.U. in the demonstrations against It was poorly and inadequately prepared, the Springbok footballers, which is something Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1045 that the honourable member for Everton as a champion of the low-income earner, ~ob knows all about. So much for Mr. Dough­ Hawke is a fraud. He and the Left-Wing­ erty's blast. controlled A.C.T.U. officers have been neglecting the legitimate industrial interests Mr. Aikens: They are right down in the gutter. of working people in favour of their own personal political ambitions. They have been Mr. LANE: That is true. using the industrial machinery of the Labor movement for their own ends. Bob Hawke One would have thought that with a is a ruthless opportunist who has no real year's warning from the Arbitration Com­ concern for the average working man. mission, followed by a five-month extension at its own request, the A.C.T.U. would have While Willis and Hawke were fumbling been able to come up with a massive and and bumbling over the National Wage Case well-prepared case to help minimum-wage and the needs of low-income earners they earners by May of this year-fully three were certainly not too slow at feathering years after it was originally promised. their own nests politically and establishing Such was not to be the case. Let us the A.C.T.U. as a big-business enterprise, not look at what Mr. Justice Moore said in for the benefit of the workers but simply for 1972, in the delayed case-delayed because the glorification and edification of Hawke and the A.C.T.U. needed more time. In the his cohorts on .the A.C.T.U. interstate execu­ National Wage Case judgment, handed down tive-and that includes Jack Egerton, the on 5 May this year, he said- Queensland State president of the Australian Labor Party. As well as Mr. Hawke's direct "As to the minimum wage in 1970, the involvement in the political arena, he has also commission was obviously in difficulty in been attempting to broaden his personal assessing an appropriate amount as it image by involvement in business enterprises. had little information before it on the The first of these was when, after several problems of the low wage earner, the overseas trips, he proudly announced that the average cost of liv,ing or the numbers A.C.T.U. was to acquire Bourkes, a Mel­ involved. On the present occasion con­ bourne department store. siderably more information was placed before us, but it still fell far short of Mr. Hawke's plan was to build a financial providing reliable answers to the many empire over which he would have absolute questions arising from the assessment of control; a financial empire .that would pro­ such a figure." vide the money to such sections, and to such personalities, of the A.L.P. as he chose­ I invite trade-union officials sitt-ing on the money for campaigning, money for tr:a':'el, Opposition benches to answer some of these money for perks, money for entertammg allegations when they speak. The comments under one guise or another, and money to by Mr. Justice Moore, following the two lavish on the Press and the opinion-moulders inadequate submissions by the A.C.T.U., are of this nation in order to build up his own in black and white, and can be referred to personal image and improve his own personal by them. I challenge Opposition members political prestige. He would then control not to refute them. only the industrial wing of the Labor move­ On the second occasion we have a ment numerically but also the purse-strings responsible judge-the man who solved the of the A.L.P. at a national level. Some national oil industry strike-saying that once Opposition members are happy that this is again the A.C.T.U. had fallen down on so because they happen to be members of that its job when it came to presenting a case group and part of that control. They have a on behalf of the low-income earners of comfortable little berth. They are part of this country. With three years to prepare it; they are part of the stew. it, 18 months' warning that it was inadequate, A combination of this business involve­ a five-month extension of time, and still a ment and industrial strength has given Mr. poor case, -is it any wonder that the Hawke Hawke and the A.C.T.U. the necessary base protege, the man who prepared the case from which to blackmail private enterprise. -Mr. Ralph Willis-has run away from One example of this was his attempt to shake his responsibilities to the workers by seeking, the living daylights out of .the other Mel­ and ensuring that he obtained, Labor endorse­ bourne department stores and manufacturers ment for the safe seat of Gellibrand in the by forcing them into a price-cutting campaign forthcoming Federal election? For the sake that would bring tremendous kudos to him­ of the people 'in that electorate, I hope self at a national level. he can do a better job as a member of Initially he had some moderate success, Parliament than he has done as an advocate for the Australian workers. Similarly, is but it was not for the benefit of the people. it any wonder that Hawke himself is now They do not come into it. I am sure we all talking about entering Federal politics next remember the spectacle, on national tele­ year? He, too, has a lot to answer for. vision, of the manager of the Dunlop group of companies having to knuckle under and So much for the party .that professes to grovel at Mr. Hawke's feet publicly. It was be concerned about poverty, the problems enough to make any decent Australian sick. and needs of the people, and the workers who are on low incomes. As I said before, Mr. Davis: I thought it was good. 1046 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

Mr. LANE: The honourable member for What has happened is that many trade Brisbane would think it was glorious. Any­ unions have boycotted Bourke's, the one who is knuckling under to the Trades A.C.T.U. store. In point of fact, the Hall officials would think so, in the terms of A.C.T.U. published a list of unions that the honourable member for Brisbane, because support Bourke's-a list that is reminiscent he happens to be one of them. And when he of Mr. Egerton's infamous little black book is not doing it in his own right, he is a -and on it were the names of only 38 tool of one of them. unions. I am told reliably that there are some 79 unions affiliated with the Victorian Mr. DAVIS: I rise to a point of order. Trades Hall. In other words, more than The remarks of the honourable member for half the unions in Victoria are not support­ Merthyr are offensive to me. I am not a ing the A.C.T.U.'s so-called magnificent tool of anyone-not like the D.LP. member project-the one that was so important that over there. a National Wage Case had to be delayed and the lower-income earners penalised. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr. Wharton): Order! I ask the honourable Let us have a look at some of the unions member for Merthyr to withdraw the state­ that are not supporting Bourke's, the great ment that is objected to. dream of the A.C.T.U. president. They include the biggest union in the country­ Mr. LANE: I do not recollect the honour­ the Australian Metal Workers' Union-as able member for Brisbane asking for a well as such well-known and powerful unions withdrawal. as the Meat Industry Employees' Union, the Federated Iron Workers' Association, The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! the Electrical Trades Union, the Printing The honourable member for Brisbane asks Union, the Transport Workers' Union, and that the honourable member for Merthyr the Waterside Workers' Federation. The withdraw the statement about his being a list of non-supporters also includes the Clerks' tool of somebody. I ask the honourable Union and the Shop Assistants' Union, membeT for Merthyr to withdraw those many of whose members are employed by words. Bourke's store. One might well ask why the legitimate Mr. LANE: Very well, Mr. Wharton. I industrial interests of the wage-earners of withdraw the allegation that the honourable this country should be sacrificed, or at least member for Brisbane is a tool. He does, relegated to a position of minor importance, however, carry messages here from Arch when the majority of unions, including most Bevis, who is one of the big "wheels" in of the major unions, are not even supporting the A.L.P. and the Trades Hall in this the A.C.T.U. enterprise for which they were city, and he does his bidding on every occasion that he is required to do so. sacrificed. But that is not all to be told about Mr. DAVIS: I take another point of Bourke's and the A.C.T.U. venture. I order. The remark that I am a tool of am informed that the store has not made any person is completely offensive to me, anywhere near the profit it was supposed and I want the N.C.C. person who made to, and it has caused little more than a it to withdraw it. minor ripple in Melbourne retailing. Certain­ ly it has not affected the big stores, because The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! its prices are too high. One could go on There is no substance in the point of order. talking about Mr. Hawke's plans to open up The honourable member for Merthyr has more shops in Victoria and other States and already withdrawn his statement. to enter the fields of insurance, banking, travel and so on, but the important point Mr. Aikens: If he is not a tool, you is that his entry into the business world can say he is a fool, you know. has proved to be an unmitigated failure­ a really poor effort. It is no wonder ,that Mr. LANE: The point is well made by he, too, is now talking about entering the honourable member for Townsville politics within a year. South. Members-and, I hope, all Australians­ The manager of the Dunlop company had will have noted with interest the report to grovel at Mr. Hawke's feet, not under that appeared in the newspapers last week the threat of fair competition from Bourke's of Mr. Hawke's stated intention concerning store but under threat of industrial blackmail his transition into the Federal Parliament. and black bans. Mr. Hawke had made Special note should be made of the absolute his point publicly, and he had contributed arrogance of this man when making the what he wanted to his personal image, announcement. Speaking at a Rotary Club because it was in his long-term, personal, meeting in Victoria, Mr. Hawke said that political ambitions to do so. He had he might move into politics before the extracted all the personal publicity he could Federal elections due in 1975. He said, out of this occasion. Since then we have "What position I would have, I don't know. seen little involvement on his part, and I hope they won't make me Whip, for Bourke's store has been a damp squib. instance. I hope there would be a slightly Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1047 more important position than that." Speak­ say quite clearly that he was elected to ing at a later Press conference, Mr. Hawke represent the Labor Party in this place­ said that it would not make much sense not the 12,000 people in Lytton, but the his going into Federal Parliament as a back­ Labor Party, that is, the Q.C.E., the Trades bencher. He added, "I am saying that Hall-stacked conventions, and that power­ modestly." drunk group (which includes Mr. Hawke), Commenting on the leadership, Mr. the Federal Executive of the present Aus­ Hawke conceded that at this stage Mr. tralian Labor Party. Mr. Hawke and Mr. Whitlam seemed assured of that position, Burns have similar ambitions, their tactics but added, "But if I went into politics I are identical, and their joint success is would aspire to leadership." What absolute ensured by the fact that between them they arrogance! He pays regard neither to the control the Australian Labor Party machine. electors in some unknown electorate for I would be pleased to hear from some of which he may stand nor to the existing the decent members on the opposite side Labor members with years of service in the of the Chamber as to when this "stew" took Federal House. Both groups of people place, when this joint agreement was made will, apparently, recognise his great worth, at national and State level that both of and election at either level would be merely them should succeed to the leadership of a foregone conclusion-or so he infers. the party in these respective places, because that obviously is their intention. I am This, in my opinion, closely parallels the sorry to say that the Australian Labor Party situation that exists in the Queensland machine is in the hands of political oppor­ Parliament. In this Assembly, too, we have tunists, supported by Left-wing union a senior member of the Labor Party strength. Traditional Labor voters would machine-in fact, the most senior of all­ be well advised, as a Federal election in the person of the Federal President and approaches, to take heed of what I say. honourable member for Lytton, Mr. Tom Burns, who has recently come to this place While I am on the subject, I should through a stacked Labor-in-Politics Con­ like to delve a little deeper into a new and vention held earlier this year. Already he is alarming phenomenon, the involvement of flexing his muscles for the leadership of industrial unions and their affiliate bodies the parliamentary wing of the Labor Party in the field of business enterprise. in Queensland, apparently with no regard Mr. Marginson: You hate unionists, don't for those more senior and more experienced you? members of the Labor Party in this Chamber. Mr. LANE: For the information of the honourable member for Wolston, I point Mr. Aikens: And more responsible. out that I joined a trade union at the age Mr. LANE: And certainly, in many of 16 years. Within weeks of doing so instances, more responsible. Apparently I attended a mass rally of members of that his election in Lytton was a mere formality, union held at the Trades Hall, Brisbane, as would be Mr. Hawke's election in some when my colleagues and I contemplated yet unnamed seat. going out on strike. Probably all honourable members saw Mr. Aikens: And you paid for your ticket, the report in "The Courier-Mail" of 23 which is more than some other people have September this year of a secret meeting of done. a section of the Labor Opposition in this Mr. LANE: Yes, I paid for my ticket, Chamber. In commenting on that dinner, and I did so regularly until I entered this which was attended by the Federal President Chamber, when, according to the rules, of the A.L.P. and several other members I was unable to continue. I was always on the opposite side of the Chamber-- proud to be a member of a union. Mr. Aikens: Was that the one they "took To get back to the local scene, I should the knock" on the caterers for? like to speak about the State branch of the Mr. LANE: Yes, that is the one for A.C.T.U., namely, the Trades and Labor which, as the honourable member for Council of Queensland, the president of Townsville South says, they "took the which, of course, is also the president of the knock" on the caterers. Australian Labor Party. In Queensland that body recently started up a Trade Union Build­ When asked to comment on this matter, ing Society, which, of course, is duly regis­ the honourable member for Lytton said, tered under the Building Societies Act. Oste­ "I cannot see any threat to Mr. Houston's sibly it was to assist people to build their leadership at present." That was the com­ own homes. From advertisements on the ment he made after that special secret Labor-controlled radio station, one would dinner convened by a ginger group of hon­ gain the very definite impression that the ourable members opposite, a few of whom purpose of that society was to make home­ are now looking a little bit sick because ownership possible for people who were elig­ they are not in this power group. ible to join the society. Unfortunately, as I remember seeing the honourable member the Building Societies Act presently provides, for Lytton on a Brisbane television pro­ there is no requirement on societies to lend gramme some weeks ago and hearing him their funds totally for home-building. I 1048 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972} (Financial Statement)

understand that was the case under the The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! Co-operative Housing Societies Act. The I order the honourable member for Belmont Government should very seriously consider to leave the Chamber under Standing Order the possibility of employing additional 123A. inspectors in the office of the Inspector of Whereupon the honourable member for Corporate Affairs, because much work will Belmont withdrew from the Chamber. need to be done by such officers to ensure that the funds held by the new trade-union Honourable Members interjected. building society are used in the interests of home owners. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! When the Committee comes to order, I will Mr. Newton: You're a real "knocker" now. call on the honourable member for Merthyr to continue with his speech. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr. Wharton): Order! Mr. LANE: I hope that when the honour­ Mr. Newton interjected. able member for Belmont returns to this place-- The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! Honourable Members interjected. Mr. Newton: Have a look at their bal- ance sheets. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the honourable member for Merthyr to Mr. LANE: I would like to see the bal- continue his speech without bothering about ance sheets produced. the honourable member who has just left the Chamber. Time is passing and, if the Mr. Newton interjected. honourable member wants to complete his The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! speech, he should get on with it. And I ask him to address his remarks to the Chair, Mr. LANE: I challenge the honourable or resume his seat. member to table the balance sheets in this place. Mr. LANE: It is obviously Opposition tactics to stop me saying what I intend to say The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! here today about the fact that the funds of The honourable member for Merthyr will the workers at all levels-from the national resume his seat. There is no need for the down to the State level-are in questionable honourable member for Belmont to carry hands. The closest scrutiny and supervision on interjecting in that manner. is necessary by inspectors from the Office of Corporate Affairs. I urge the Government Honourable Members interjected. to increase the staff of that office so that the The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! bodies I have referred to can be adequately Nor is there any need for other honourable policed. members to help him. I ask the honourable Mr. Baldwin interjected. member for Merthyr to continue his speech. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! Mr. LANE: I challenge him to produce the balance sheets. Mr. LANE: To speak specifically about some funds-- Mr. Newton interjected. Mr. Baldwin interjected. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! I warn the honourable member for Belmont The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! under Standing Order 123A. I warn the honourable member for Redlands under Standing Order 123A. Mr. LANE: That is not the only group Mr. Baldwin: I was just asking questions. controlled by gentlemen from the Trades Hall which needs some supervision by the The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! Inspector of Corporate Affairs. We have those The honourable member will not ask them other bodies, the Union Credit Union Society in that fashion. Limited and the Union Co-operative Society Limited, which were founded and managed Mr. LANE: I was about to say something for some time by Senator Georges, a Labor about the Union Credit Union Society Lim­ senator. I would suggest that there is misuse ited and the Union Co-operative Society of funds going on in that place at this time. Limited, both of which restrict membership to members of the Australian Labor Party or Opposition Members interjected. unions affiliated with the A.L.P. The books and, indeed, the management of those con­ Mr. LANE: There is such a thing as a cerns need the closest scrutiny. There have provident fund. been occasions when their funds have not Opposition Members interjected. been used in the best interest of the members -the low-income earners-who are entitled The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! to be members of these societies. I can remember one infamous occasion, which the Mr. Newton interjected. honourable member for Redlands would Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1049 remember well because he had something to Mr. AIKENS (Townsville South) (2.53 do with this, when one of these credit unions p.m.): I rise at this stage in a very lent $1,000 to the Foco Club to establish serious mood to inform honourable members that dive where drugs were peddled and of the powers they possess as parlia­ counter-culture first got into gear at the mentarians and also to accuse them, as Trades Hall. It lent $1,000 to get this show I will later on in detail, of not having the off the ground, and I have the balance sheet guts to exercise any of those powers. First of the Foco Club here, which I can produce of all, let me tell them that this is a if honorable members wish it. sovereign, supreme Parliament, with absolute power to pass any legislation or do anything Mr. BALDWIN: I rise to a point of at all except with regard to matters that order. That organisation was not even are contained in the Federal Constitution­ set up at the time the Foco Club was in which is very limited-and to a couple of existence. The honourable member is Imperial statutes such as the Navigation trying to mislead the Committee. Act. The TEMPORARY CHAffiMAN (Mr. In the McCawley case, which was heard Wharton): Order! The honourable member before the Privy Council, the Earl of Birkenhead ruled that the Queensland Par­ has made his point. liament was the master of its own destiny. Mr. LANE: That is simply not true, We are indeed masters of our own destiny because it was set up and had been going with, as I said, absolute powers limited for many years. I am talking about the only by the couple of mat~ers that I credit union society, not the building society. mentioned. If the honourable member for Redlands This Parliament has no power to expel would wake up to himself, he would realise any of its members, although a member that what I say is true. can forfeit his seat in certain eventualities. For instance, he can forfeit his seat if he On that same occasion the Trades and does not at least walk through the Chamber Labor Council also lent these people the once a year when the House is sitting; sum of $839.35 to set up the same show. if he takes an oath or makes a declaration That might be further information for the or acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience honourable member for Redlands. or adherence to any foreign prince or power; These two bodies-the Trades Union if he does anything that would create the Building Society and the Trades Hall Credit impression that he is supporting a foreign Union as they are commonly known to prince or power; if he becomes bankrupt the public-deserve the closest scrutiny. or an insolvent debtor within the meaning of the laws in force relating to bankrupts or Another area of business activity over insolvent debtors; if he shall become a which a cloud of mystery and secrecy hangs public contractor or defaulter; or if he be was the intended purchase by some persons attainted of treason or be convicted of unknown of the Pineapple Hotel at Main felony or any infamous crime. For any Street, Kangaroo Point, and the Manhatten of those reasons, a member's seat in this Hotel in Stanley Street, South Brisbane. Assembly shall thereby become vacant. It was announced in the Press earlier this Other than by forfeiting his seat in Parlia­ year that a sale had been made of the ment as I have set out, no member of Pineapple Hotel in Main Street, Kangaroo Parliament can be expelled. Point, for $410,000. The auctioneers were Whilst it is true that the powers of this A. V. Postle & Co. On that occasion Parliament are absolutely unlimited and, if "The Courier-Mail" acknowledged the fact exercised properly, cannot be challenged in that it was rumoured in trade union any court, it is at the same time true circles that this property had been purchased that, unfortunately, this Parliament has dele­ by the Trades and Labor Council. In fact, gated many of its powers to certain instru­ it was bought by a firm of solicitors. mentalities. I do not intend to mention There are some other matters I could all of those bodies, but as one example mention but for the fact that the subject I cite the university, to which this Parliament is sub judice. This prevents me from going has cravenly delegated some of its powers too deeply into the sale or purchase but by granting it autonomy. On every occasion I say here and now that the trade unionists that the Minister for Education is asked a who pay dues to the Trades Hall unions question about the university, he unctuously are entitled to know what happens to their rubs his hands with invisible soap, puts on his famous lugubrious expression, and funds and how much the unions to which says, "I cannot interfere; the university has they pay their fees were involved in this complete autonomy." sale. They are entitled to know whether Jack Egerton was involved in the purchase The Minister thrives on insults and lies and whether it is a fact that Bob Hawke from the university, and seems to· derive flew to Queensland on a secret mission to some glory from the fact that the university arrange the purchase for the A.C.T.U. does lie to him. He reminds me of an old lady who used to live a few doors from (Time expired.) my home when I was a boy. As was the 1050 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) custom in those days, each Friday night sicken every decent member of this Assembly. her husband used to come home and belt However, there are some spineless weaklings the daylights out of her. When she was in this Chamber who would claim, "My asked whether she thought her husband ought goodness me, we cannot criticise the judiciary. to knock off belting her on Friday nights, We would get into terrible trouble if we she replied, "I would rather have him belt did." Not only can we criticise the judiciary me than come into the house and say in this Parliament; we can also remove nothing, slump on the bed, and go to sleep." judges from office by a motion of this Obviously the Minister for Education would Parliament. In fact, District Court judges rather have the university lie to him and can be sacked simply by Order in Council. rub his nose in the dirt than ignore him. I will now point out the powers we have Although Parliament has given complete outside this Parliament to criticise the autonomy to the university, that is no excuse judiciary. I shall quote from a speech made for allowing the university to carry on as as recently as 1959 by Viscount Kilmuir it has been. I do not know of any instru­ when he was the Lord High Chancellor of mentality in this State--or, indeed, in Aus­ England and thus the titular head of the tralia-that stinks in the nostrils of the judiciary and the legal fraternity of the people worse than the university. It stinks British Commonwealth of Nations. This is as a result not of the actions of everyone what he said- at the university-among the academics and "And I think that it is helpful to every­ students there are some decent people, and one to remember in this connection the a little bit of the university fabric is worth wise words of Lord Atkin with regard to retaining-but of the operations and actions criticism of the judiciary: of a small number of what I shall term 'But whether the authority or position "rotten apples in the barrel". No power of an individual Judge, or the due on earth will make the university authorities administration of justice is concerned, clean out those rotten apples, because many no wrong is committed by any member persons on the controlling body of the of the public who exercises the ordinary university are themselves rotten apples. And right of criticising, in good faith, in no power on earth will make the Minister private or public, the public act done for Education introduce legislation to curb in the seat of justice. the university's autonomy. Although this 'The path of criticism is a public Parliament can introduce such legislation, it way; the wrong-headed are permitted to does not have the guts to do so. err therein; provided that members of As the first step towards cleaning up the the public abstain from imputing university, this Parliament should remove the improper motives to those taking part Minister for Education from office. We in the administration of justice, and are know very well that the Premier is not likely genuinely exercising a right of criticism, to do so, but in accordance with our lop­ and not acting in malice or attempting sided Standing Orders-if I have time I shall to impair the administration of justice, deal with them later on-four honourable they are immune. members can signify to me by raising their 'Justice is not a cloistered virtue; she hands that they will support a private mem­ must be allowed to suffer the scrutiny ber's motion in my name to remove the and respectful, even though outspoken, Minister from office, and, if four honourable comments of ordinary men.' " members so signify, tomorrow I shall lay suoh a motion on the table. Are there any takers? It is true that this Parliament has a Standing Are any honourable members who are listen­ Order which says that a judge himself-not ing to me willing to raise their hands and the acts he does in the seat of justice­ say, "I will support Torn Aikens in his cannot be criticised in this Parliament except motion to remove the Minister for Education on a substantive motion. Before it was from office."? necessary to get four supporters, I moved such a substantive motion in this Assembly. The remarks that I have made about the That was before the Labor Party of the day, university apply equally to other instru­ in a negation of democracy and with the rnentalities under the control of this Parlia­ full support of the Liberal and Country ment. To them, too, this Parliament has Parties of the day, altered the Standing cravenly given away some of its powers. Order to make it necessary to have four Recently honourable members have spoken supporters declare their support of any such about the judiciary. I know that a large motion. I think the motion I moved was number of street-corner solicitors and bush framed in these terms- barristers whisper here and there and succeed "That the circumstances under which in getting a lot of gullible and credulous Alan James Mansfield was appointed to people-even amongst honourable members the position of Senior Puisne Judge of -to listen to them. They tell us that this Queensland be debated and determined by Parliament is subservient to the judiciary. this Assembly." What a monstrous suggestion that is. What a fair-sized cat that was amongst the Recently, reference was made in this chickens. Had it eventuated, the debate on Chamber to the judges' law. I shaH cite that motion would probably have been one one aspect of the judges' law that will of the most putridly illuminating of all time. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1051

But as it embarrassed both the Government the child died as a result of the raping, and the Opposition, it was allowed to remain then the verdict should be manslaughter, not on the Business Paper till the end of the murder." This is because judges' law says session, when it was automatically "wiped." that death by raping is not murder. Neither In the "internum", as the late "Nugget" it is. Yet it could be murder if this Parliament Jesson would say, the Labor Government, had the guts to write one simple sentence with the full concurrence of the Liberal and into the relevant section of the Criminal Country Parties, brought down the amend­ Code providing that death resulting from ment to the Standing Orders that I have rape shall constitute murder. mentioned. But this Parliament will not do that In dealing with the powers that the because, if it did, every honourable member judiciary has taken unto itself-1 ask hon­ would fall out with the legal vultures who ourable members to listen closely to this­ sit on the various political party trees and foul I point out that quite recently in Queensland the ground beneath with their excreta. The a monster named Manson murdered a little Liberal Party would fall out with the legal girl-a little mite, two years of age, who vultures in that party. The Country Party had been left in his custody by her mother. would fall out with the legal vultures in He raped and murdered the little girl and that party. The Minister for Education buried her body in the bush some miles would quail every time he saw his dear away, and then reported her as lost. He bosom friend, Mr. Justice Waiter Campbell. made all sorts of allegations against those And the Labor Party would recoil in horror who might have taken her away. Some at any such suggestion. days later, when the child's body was in a Fancy the Labor Party doing anything to bad state of putrefaction, he told the police upset the lawyers when it has, in the person where her body was hidden and directed of Mr. Whitlam, a lawyer as its Federal them to the place. The police recovered leader, and, in the person of Senator Murphy, the body but, because of the state of putre­ a lawyer who is leader of the A.L.P. in faction that it had reached, no doctor could the Senate, as well as the Gardiners, the pinpoint the cause of death. Had something Wyvills and all the other lawyers who occupy else not happened, it is quite possible that prominent positions here in that party! Those Manson could have gone into the witness­ honourable members are not concerned box and sworn that the child had died a with little children dying as the result of natural death and that he had merely taken rape. They are not concerned with anybody. her body away and hidden it. They are only concerned with keeping sweet Recently, Manson went on trial before with the legal vultures in their various the Supreme Court in Townsville. He did political parties. so with the full financial support of this Mr. Burns interjected. Government. The Crown Law Office paid the whole of his costs, including solicitor's Mr. AIKENS: It is a shocking statement, fees and barrister's fees. There is no need and it is true. In fact, it is monstrously for me to say that Mr. Robert Greenwood shocking because it is true. Honourable was the barrister employed by the Crown members have not the guts to take on the to present Manson's defence, and he used legal vu1tures in their parties. every shady, snide and dirty legal trick to get Manson off the hook. With Mr. Justice Of course, Manson will appeal to the Court Kneipp on the bench, some people thought of Criminal Appeal. Why shouldn't he? It he might get him off the hook. I do not will cost him nothing. The taxpayers will know whether Mr. Justice Kneipp was provide all the necessary money to brief influenced by some remarks that I made the best barrister in an effort to get him about him recently, but he allowed the case off the hook. If I were required to, I could to go to the jury on both charges-murder name three judges who, if they constituted and manslaughter. Because of the decom­ the Court of Criminal Appeal, would posed state of the child's body, the doctors undoubtedly let Manson off on a bond or could not say what caused her death. How­ place him on probation. It is possible for ever, they could say without hesitation-and a person found guilty of manslaughter to they did-that she had been savagely be so treated. But he cannot be treated in raped-a little mite, two years old. that way if he is found guilty of murder. The barrister's job is to get his client off As I say, despite the tearful pleas of the hook or to plead for the lightest possible Mr. Greenwood, who was stuffing his pockets sentence for his client if he is found guilty. with the taxpayers' money, the case went That is why Manson was found guilty of to the jury. manslaughter and not murder. This is About half past 8 that night, the jury sent according to judges' law. a note to Mr. Justice Kneipp to this effect: An Opposition Member interjected. "We think that this little child died as a result of the raping and we think that Mr. AIKENS: I will do that. If the Manson raped her. In that case, what should honourable member wants me to, I shall move our verdict be?" Mr. Justice Kneipp, strictly a motion tomorrow that the relevant section in accordance with judges' law, sent a note of the Criminal Code be amended to provide to them to this effect: "If you think that that where death occurs as the result of 1052 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) rape, such death shall be regarded as murder. was the only one who stood by him. If any Are there four honourable members who doubt ever arises of Parliament's powers to wili support me? Will they raise their hands? suspend a member without pay, I feel sure The honourable member for Townsville has the Treasurer will move an amendment to raised his hand. Are there any more? The the Standing Orders to clear up the situation. honourable member for RedJ.ands and the honourable member for Mackay have raised There was a time, too, when a Labor their hands. I require only one more, but Government decided to exempt churches no other honourable member has the guts from the payment of local-authority rates on to risk offending the legal vultures in his land used for church purposes. The legisla­ party or falling out with the judiciary. tion went through the House, and the Too­ I will move such a motion tomorrow if woomba City Council appealed against it. one more honourable member will support The Full Court upheld the appeal, and ruled me. The amendment to the Criminal Code that Parliament had not acted correctly. A that I would move would tak·e away from second Bill was passed through the House, the judges the right to determine what should and again the Toowoomba City Council be manslaughter and what should be murder appealed against it. Again the Full Court in such monstrous cases as this one. said that Parliament had not acted correctly in putting the Bill on the Statute Book. A As I said, I would wager that three judges third Bill was then introduced and put I could name, if they constituted the Court through the House. That Bill was apparently of Criminal Appeal, would let Manson off. correct, and churches now do not have to This is another rotten aspect of our law. pay local-authority rates on land used for This is the only State in Australia where church purposes. Although there is quite a lot of skulduggery in the Standing Orders, Supreme Court judges who are actually in at least they are our orders and we have to se·rvice also constitute the Court of Criminal stand by them. Appeal. Every other State has a separate Court of Criminal Appeal. In Queensland, I now want to deal with a matter that was the judges rotate. A judge could sentence very correctly raised the other day by the a man today and then, tomorrow, be a honourable member for Clayfield. He member of the Court of Criminal Appeal referred to the matter of sub judice, and the deciding whether a similar sentence imposed way in which the whisperers of the legal by another judge was correct. profession and the judges have been telling us what we can and cannot do when a case The Parliament has tremendous powers under the Constitution, the Standing Orders, is before the court. "Sub judice" simply and various other documents. We must means "under a court". The pronunciation exercise those powers in accordance with our has even been changed over the years, but ideas, not the judges' ideas. Recently I was we can pronounce it however we like because speaking with a Q.C. who said, "You are we do not know how the Romans pronounced quite wrong about the Queensland Parliament it. It simply means that the matter is under having power over the judiciary. Don't you a court-under justice. remember the occasion when 'Bombshell' Barnes sued the Queensland Parliament for But there is no such term as it applies to the £348 that was taken from him for the this Parliament. This Parliament is not period of his suspension without pay? The bound by any laws of sub judice. Nothing is Full Court ruled that he had to be paid, sub judice to us. We are in complete control of the courts and also of our own affairs. because the Queensland Parliament had no However, we 'have got into the habit, as .the power to do what it did." I replied, "You judges and lawyers want us to, of saymg, ought to be disbarred for making such a "This matter is sub judice." That term does stupid statement. The Full Court did not not apply here. If a question involvin,g sub rule that way at all. It cannot rule that we judice is raised, Mr. Speaker or the Chmrman do not have power to suspend a member of Committees should say, "As a matter of without pay if we want to. All that the Full decency I do not think this subject should Court ruled, and all that it can rule because be raised in the Chamber because I under­ its only job is to interpret the laws as we stand that it is to go before the court." That make them, is that Parliament had not acted is all that Mr. Speaker or the Chairman of in accordance with its own rules in suspend­ Committees need say. If the House does ing 'Bombshell' Barnes without pay." not agree with that ruling, it can take the matter out of the hands of Mr. Speaker or Incidentally, the unfortunate "Bombshell" the Chairman of Committees by moving that Barnes was persecuted every day that he was the ruling be disagreed with. in this Parliament-and that persecution was carried out by the Labor Party, with the Mr. Murray: That is if a date has been full concurrence, support and accord of the set down for trial, or a notice of motion Liberal and Country Parties. Frequently I filed. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972} (Financial Statement) 1053

Mr. AIKENS: It would not matter. I any citizen to the extent of sending him to take no notice of what lawyers tell me. I gaol for six months or fining him $1,000, or have studied this matter over the years, and both-Parliament; no judge, no nothing. I have spoken to men who know the law. In my time in this Assembly, I have They are the men now sitting at the table, seen a man in the same category as a and it is a pity they cannot stand up and Supreme Court judge, with the same righ~s inform members of the true position. How­ and privileges, brought to the Bar of this ever, they will tell members if they are Chamber and dismissed from office. We asked. This Parliament could discuss and could do that to all our Supreme Court debate at length a matter that was actually judges and, as far as I am concerned, the being tried if it wanted to. Parliament is sooner we do it to a few of them, the above all courts. The idea that Parliament better it will be for justice in this State. is subservient to courts and judges, and their moth-eaten rules and regulations, is absol­ Honourable members also heard the Min­ utely preposterous. Parliament is the only ister for Justice recently speak about his law-making authority in the State. The doubts on the protection given to members in sooner we understand that, the better. this Chamber. I had made a speech, as hon­ ourable members will recall, on the motion Now there is the question of how this •o elect a Speaker. In it, I made certain Parliament can rule itself. In this Chamber, ~emarks about a member of the judiciary. on the Labor Party side, there is a very Naturally, the judiciary ran to the Minister brilliant man, the honourable member for for Justice and all the "legal eagles" ran Baroona, and until the Labor Party gets to the Minister for Justice, and said, "Aikens him back on the front bench and elects was not protected when he made_ that SP_eec~ him leader, it has not a bolter's chance of because Parliament was not m sessiOn. winning an election. I shall now tell hon­ What a stupid statement to make! ourable members what power this Parlia­ Let us recall the position. Members had ment has or has not, even over its own assembled here; the Clerk of Parliament members. On one occasion-actually, I had read the return of writs and announced think it has happened on two occasions, the election of every member present; and but this was the first occasion-Parliament members had gone to the rostrum, taken met in extraordinary session to elect a the oath gone back to the table and signed senator to an extraordinary Senate vacancy. the roll t~ make them members of Parliament, I announced that, as usual, I would not and had then taken their seats as members vote for anybody to go into the Senate of this Parliament. We then went about because I consider it an excresence of a the first business of Parliament, which was legislature and a waste of the taxpayers' money. the election of a Speaker. As I said to a The honourable member for Baroona stood Q.C. the other day, "Ye~ y~~ say t~at up in the Chamber and read from our Parliament was not in sesswn? He said, own Standing Orders that a member must "Well I never thought of that. You were." vote on a motion to elect a senator to an That 'is the way they try to put it over extraordinary vacancy. All the members and throw a scar·e into people. of the A.L.P. laughed-you could see their ears flapping like those of African elephants Let me say this to the Minister for -and said, "We have you over a barrel Justice: if he is in any doubt-1 am not this time, Tom." I said, "We will see." in any doubt-that absolute protection is afforded to every member of this Assembly When the time came to elect "Nobby" when Parliament is in session and that mem­ Whiteside, I think it was-he is just the bers sitting in this Parliament are onl_Y type of fellow the A.L.P. would put into under the direction and the control of this the Senate-and the division bells began Parliament, then he should move an amend­ to ring, I walked out of the Chamber. This ment to dear up his mind on the matter. Parliament has no power to bring a member If he does not he is a ministerial dingo. back into the Chamber, and I walked out. He should do 'it; he should clear it up. The honourab1e member for Baroona will remember that; he enjoyed it. This Parlia­ Let me refer now to a statement made by ment can send a member out of the the poor old putative Leader of the OJ?posi­ Chamber; it cannot bring him back into tion, the honourable member for Buhmba, the Chamber. and that great bosom political pal of the honourable member for Lytton, Vilma Ward Mr. Hanlon: It says "every member -the "old trout". Incidentally, when I present". called her an "old trout", it was a bit of a compliment, because a ·trout is a fine Mr. AIKENS: Well, I saw that I was fighting fish; whereas a carp is a useless not present. I was present when the hon­ piscatorial ornament that swims round and ourable member read the Standing Order, round in a glass bowl, opening and shutting but as soon as the bells began ringing I its mouth, waiting for somebody to feed it. made sure that I was not present. I walked That is the difference between a carp and outside and sat on the V.I.P. seat. Parliament a trout. But when the question was raised can bring a member back only as far as the about the introduction and passage through Bar of the House, and it can then punish him. this Chamber of the City of Brisbane Act As a matter of fact, it can punish him or Amendment Bii!, the putative Leader of 35 1054 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1972] (Financial !:>tatement)

the Opposition and the "old trout", backed, they crawled, grovelled and genuflected duriD:g no doubt, by the honourable member for the election campaign in order to get their Lytton and "Guru" Egerton up at the Trades votes. Hall, said, "We are going to appeal to the On every conceivable occasion, instead of Governor and ask him not to assent to this voting and ,thinking on behalf of the people particular Bill." who sent them here, particularly when think­ ing and voting on Bills affecting little children, What arrant nonsense! The Governor has they think only in terms of the business and no power to refuse to assent to any Bill professional predators who fatten and batten passed by this Parliament in a constitutional and bleed white rthe people they are supposed way. All he can do, if he is in any doubt to represent. I represent the people, and I have about it, is refer the Bill to England for what always done it directly, and I have always is known as Royal Assent. Honourable mem­ reported to them directly. If I have been bers may not know it, but there are some wrong and if I have made my mistakes, at Bills passed by this Parliament which the least they have been honest mistakes. Nobody Governor cannot assent to even if he wanted has told me what to do. That is why I look to. He is debarred from doing so by our at every piece of legislation that is placed Constitution Act. Certain Bills passed by upon the table to see how it can be used this Parliament must go to England for Royal either for or against the people I represent. Assent. But when they go over for Royal If it can be used against them, I do not Assent, they do not go to Her Majesty-do support it at all. not let honourable members kid themselves about that-but to a committee that was Most Ministers stand up in the Chamber appointed at Whitehall in London many years like glorified puppets at the head of their ago. That committee even assents to the respective departments. Let us not forget Bills passed by the House of Commons and that a Supreme Court judge is only a glorified the House of Lords. civil servant. He can be dismissed as can a civil servant. I can remember the time when Bills that have been passed by this Parlia­ Sir William Payne was Chairman of the Land ment and either transmitted through the Administration Board. He had quite a good Governor or sent direct to England, go to Press. He was puffed and pampered and that committee. I get this information from flattered by the Press and told th~t. he 'Yas the Imperial Parliament only about three a strong man. The Land Adm1mstratwn weeks ago. The chairman of that committee Board is on exactly the same level as the at the present time is the Honourable Arthur Supreme Court. One day the then Minister Arbuthnot Spence-Cadwallader. Just what for Lands, Ted Walsh, stood up and told happens when the Queensland Government Sir William Payne where to get off and what sends over a list of recommendations for the he was going to do as Minister for Lands. New Year and Queen's Birthday honours? I God knows, Ted Walsh had many faults, and feel sure that the Treasurer will be happy to he may still have them for all I know, but know how he got his knighthood-he deserved at least he put up a fight for the dignity and it, of course. That recommendation did not go supremacy of this Parliament. The Press and anywhere near the Queen. She does not know everybody else got onto him like a pack of him from a crow, and does not want to howling dogs. They said, "How dare. an know him. It went to the Honourable Arthur ex-canecutter like Ted Walsh say these thmgs Arbuthnot Spence-Cadwallader, who very about a glorious, noble gentleman like Sir obligingly put the rubber stamp on it in William Payne?" Ted Walsh had the last Whitehall and sent it back. word. When Sir William Payne died and the tax people went through his estate, they found I am going to make an appeal to members that for years he had been a tax defaulter. of Parliament, but I know that I make it in vain. I know that my words can be written Whether Sir William Payne had been a tax in water just as they can be written in the defaulter or the noblest man that ever came pages of "Hansard". We were elected to this into this State does not really matter in this Parliament to represent the people who sent context· my point is that Ted Walsh at least us here. That is the view I take, anyway. fought ' to support the prestige a!ld the Unfortunately most honourable members do supremacy of this Parliament, somethmg that not do that. Most of them come here purely every member of this ParEam.ent h~s poured and simply to represent the party that down the drain-and I spare neither side. All endorsed them at the election. What sickens they are concerned about is, firstly, toadying me, and has sickened me for over a quarter and Iick-spittling to their party bosses and, of a century while I have been in this Parlia­ secondly, crawling and toadying . to the ment, is that members talk about injustices, various professions and .business mt~r~sts. anomalies and travesties in the corridors of Sometimes it makes me Sick. The Mmister Parliament House, in the Parliamentary for Justice was in Townsville the other day. Refreshment Room, in the bar and every­ He did not interest himself in the Manson where else, and pledge themselves by their case nor did he go a, ound to "Snob Hall" grandmother's soul that they will do some­ -and I will tell honourable membeis about thing to rectify them, but the moment they that later on-but he had a glorious dinner, pass the bar of the House and enter the wining and dining with the Law Society. Chamber they forget the people ,they were He will probably come back here and say, elected to represent, the people to whom "I think this should be done or that should Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1055

be done because the gentlemen of the Law should be very acceptable to the people Society told me it should be done." He of Queensland and a model for the other would not go into the matter and say, "Do States. the suggestions of the Law Society run counter to or parallel with what I consider Mr. Bromley: What do you think about should be done in the interests of th;: people?" probate and succession duties? They are forgotten. Mr. WHARTON: I shall deal with them Mr. Hughes: How do you know he does later on. The honourable member tries not make other inquiries? to be two jumps ahead, but he is always a week behind. Mr. AIKENS: I am judging him by his Sir Gordon Chalk: W-e-a-k, too. past actions and that is the best criterion I know on which to judge a man. If I Mr. WHARTON: Whenever the honourable judged the interjector by his past actions, member for South Brisbane deals with any he should be in the "Peter", so don't let matter, he does so w-e-a-k-1-y. him bore into this. Don't let him forget The Budget provides $250,000,000 for edu­ that Parliament can bring him to the Bar cation, $170,000,000 for capital works, and of the House and deal with him-and I so on. It makes provision fm the appoint­ think it's about bloody time it did. Don't ment of additional teachers, and also sets bore into this, my friend! I do not mind aside large sums of money for pre-school a little bit of flippant, irrelevant interjection, education. but when I am dealing with serious matters such as the supremacy of this Parliament, Mr. Jensen: That is ridiculous until the I am not going to put up with asinine, present schools receive money. The Gov­ juvenile, stupid interjections like that. ernment cannot even provide adequately for the present schools. I am judging the Minister for Justice on his past actions. I do hope that he Sir Gonion Chalk interjected. improves. As a man of great, overwhelming Mr. Jensen: There are 700 temporary Christian charity, I pray that he might classrooms now. Provide money to get rid improve, but if he does not I will take the of those, first. same attitude towards him as I do towards the Minister for Education and, if I may Mr. WHARTON: Later on I shall answer use the vulgar vernacular with you in the the interjections of the honourable member Chair, Mrs. Jordan, I will be up him like for Bundaberg. In the meantime, I am a rat up a rope. I think I should do it talking about pre-school education. The in the interests of the people I represent. scheme that is to be implemented by the I 3m not concerned with the legal fraternity, Government is a worth-while one. Many the judiciary, the university or any of these towns, such as Gin Gin, Gayndah and great, overwhelming institutions we have set Biggenden, already possess excellent pre­ up and granted autonomy to. school education facilities, and, if the children who attend those centres are taken from Let me end on this note: what this Par­ them and enrolled at State pre-school centres, li:Jment has given in the exercise of its the only result would be additional cost supreme authority, this Parliament can take to the State. I doubt whether the appoint­ away, and the sooner this Parliament takes ment of the additional teachers who will away some of the authority and autonomy be required would be warranted, because, that has been given to those people who have misused and prostituted it, the better as I say, already those children are provided it will be for the people of Queensland. with excellent pre-school facilities. We should make subsidies available to those centres and Mr. WHARTON (Burnett) (3.28 p.m.): In let them continue with their good work. rising to speak in this debate, I am a little However, in the cities, where such facilities uncertain where to start, having in mind the are not available, the Government's scheme Opposition contributions to which I have will be a very good one. listened-some very provocative, others very Mr. Davis: Don't you think it is only a educational, but few relevant to the Budget. gimmick? First of all, I congratulate the Treasurer. Mr. WHARTON: Not at all. I am pleased I believe this is the best Budget he has that the honourable member has asked that presented during the years I have been in question, because there is no greater gimmick Parliament. I share the pride of all Gov­ in this Chamber than he. I am forced to ernment members in it. It provides a listen to him on many occasions when I do record allocation of $1,357,000,000, not want to. $198,000,000 more than last year, including Mr. Bromley: Don't you think the Gov­ an increased expenditure from Consolidated ernment should provide some relaxation of Revenue of nearly $19,000,000. Another the rules to allow children of about 4il- years commendable feature of the Budget is that to attend primary schools? it contains no increase in taxes. It is a wonderful achievement to bring down a Mr. WHARTON: The honourable member Budget providing for increased expenditure for South Brisbane is making a very fine without taxing the people more heavily. It speech; but he is not helping me. The 1056 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

Government does not wish to split straws; a common interest in the matter. I have no it tries to give help to those persons who doubt that when we see the Minister some­ need it most. It is endeavouring to ensure thing worth while will be achieved. that our young children obtain the best in pre-school education, and, as I have said, Mr. Jensen interjected. its pre-school programme for the city is Mr. WHARTON: I agree with the hon­ worthy of commendation. ourable member. Quite a number of children Mr. Jensen: It is only an election promise. attend that school. I appreciate the facilities They have been held up for two years. that are provided and the high standard of education attained under the Government, The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mrs. which I hope can be provided for these Jordan): Order! There are too many inter­ children in my area. jections. Honourable members will allow I am somewhat disturbed about the 10.8 the honourable member for Burnett to make per cent increase in salaries and wages his speech in his own way. referred to by the Treasurer in his Financial Mr. WHARTON: Thank you, Mrs. Jordan. Statement. Much is said about the increase If I have not praised you in the past I in food prices, but they have risen by only certainly praise you now. ' half that percentage. That means more money in the workers' pockets which, no In reply to the honourable member for doubt, they deserve. I am concerned about Bundaberg, I point out to him that of our primary producers generally who, over course it was an election promise. All a number of years, have not received any political parties make election promises and additional recompense for what they pro­ plan their programmes in advance. The duce. Government has done that. It is now implementing a programme that it promised Mr. Davis: Without the city dwellers prior to the election. In fact, this morning's there would be no primary producers. "Courier-Mai,l" indicates that 12 or 13 schools Mr. WHARTON: I do not deny that. have been selected for the provision of pre­ We need the city dwellers, but I expect school education. them to pay a fair price for primary pro­ Mr. Jensen: Why don't you talk about the duce. As I have said repeatedly, we are all Radford scheme and the mess you have made interdependent. I should think that members of that? of the A.L.P. would say, "It costs so much to produce these things; we have received Mr. WHARTON: If some of us, including a 10 per cent increase in wages; therefore the honourable member for Bundaberg, had the primary producer should receive 10 per the opportunity of receiving education under cent more for what he produces." the Radford scheme, we might be better Mr. Bromley: They are getting it. scholars than we are. Mr. WHARTON: That is tommyrot. They I am aware of the problems that confront have not received any increases. Over the the honourable member for Bundaberg. There years, butter, tobacco, timber and sugar is certainly overcrowding of schools in his producers have not received an increase in electorate. Of course, the same can be home prices. said of schools in my electorate. For example, next year the Bundaberg State Mr. Davis: What happened in 1967? High School will have an enrolment of 1,600 pupils, and there will not be sufficient Mr. WHARTON: We must be ever mind­ room for them. ful of the plight of the primary producers otherwise they will all be living in the city Mr. Jensen: The classrooms are very poor, and no-one will be left in the country to too. produce food. Mr. WHARTON: Additional classrooms Mr. Jensen interjected. are needed. Mr. WHARTON: I am sure that the hon­ It is easy to say that something should be ourable member for Bundaberg will have done for Bundaberg, Burnett or another an opportunity to speak for a full hour in district, but we must look at the position this debate. If he does, I will be pleased over all. As the honourable member for to listen to him, but I should like him to Bundaberg will be a member of the deputa­ listen to me. tion to the Minister, I think we can leave Employment in Queensland has increased consideration of this matter till then and we by 3 per cent compared with the Common­ will be able to deal with it objectively wealth average of 1.1 per cent. I pay tribute rather than piecemeal in this Assembly. to the Commonwealth Government for mak­ Anything that is said by interjection will not ing funds available to local authorities help to get this sorely needed accommoda­ through the State Government, which have tion at the Bundaberg High School. Although helped greatly to relieve unemployment. the Kepnock High School is not in my elec­ Opportunity of employment is very torate, some children from my area are important to the people of the State. affected. The honourable member and I have Balanced progress is necessary so that Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1057

people may be fully employed and reason­ I have already mentioned many of the ably paid but, likewise, the producers should benefits provided in my area and I turn get a fair return for their product. now to the Bundaberg Irrigation Under­ taking. It is a great asset to the whole Primary producers' freight charges are so of that region. It does not matter whether high that they represent a large portion of it benefits Bundaberg, Isis, Gayndah, North !heir costs. If they cannot get a price Burnett or South Burnett, because they are Increase in one way, it might be possible for all in the Burnett region. It is a wonderful them to send their goods to market with region which is developing fast, and ,this the consumer paying the freight. That scheme will give impetus to its development. would go some way to restoring their rela­ tivity with workers who have received a 10 One problem is ,that we require more per cent increase in wages while producers funds to continue with this scheme. Some have received nothing. Inflation affects all jealous people claim that a good deal of of us. It is useless for producers to become money has already been spent on this more efficient if their savings are eaten up scheme. That is fair comment. The scheme by freight charges. Profitability is essential involves the expenditure of $47,000,000. if a business is to remain viable. It is of Stage I and Stage II were approved, and great concern to business people, manufac­ funds were made available to implement turers, and companies with large wage bills Stage I. However, almost all of the funds that, following a 10 per cent wage rise in have been spent. The Monduran Dam is the past year, they have not the opportunity, under construction. When it is complete for obvious reasons, to increase prices on and the barrages have been built, we will the consumer market. There is always con­ have a wonderful water storage, but no sumer resistance to price rises, and this con­ reticulation. Therefore we need additional cerns producers greatly in the marketing of funds to continue with the scheme. A their primary products. $1,000,000 housing scheme at Monduran Dam Site has been undertaken, but, if no I was surprised to hear the honourable more funds are available, those houses will member for Jsis and some other Opposition have to be shifted. Water will be stored members say so much against the Budget. there, but it will be of no use. After all, the Government has done a great To anybody who is jealous about funds deal for this State in every field and, in being allocated to this scheme, I say that what it has done, the Government has the scheme was approved on the basis adopted sound prin~iples. It did not say, that further consideration would be given for instance, that the electorate of Brisbane to land usage in the Gin Gin and Isis areas. is represented by a Labor member so that This consideration has been given and a nothing will be spent in that electorate. The feasibility test has been conducted. All Government has given a fair proportion to we need now is more money to complete every electorate, regardless of politics. the scheme. After that stage, money can be allocated to other schemes as it becomes The honourable member for Isis said that available. We should find the necessary we should be ashamed to be members of finance to complete this scheme, which will the Country Party and that he could not be of benefit to the whole Burnett region. suffer being asked to join it. As a matter of fact, he condemned it outright. I point An Opposition Member interjected. out to him that, if it were not for what the Country Party has provided in his Mr. WHARTON: I am not necessarily electorate, he would not be sitting in Parlia­ being parochial because, if the Burnett ment today. This Government has done region benefits, the whole State benefits. a great deal in both lsis and Bundaberg. I know that the honourable member for Mr. Davis: You said that last time. Bundaberg realises this. The Government Mr. WHARTON: I said it last time, and has done a Jot for cane farmers in providing I propose to say it again now. The Treas­ ~ood roads, a good harbour and a good Irrigation scheme. But it is the Government urer will listen to me, just as he listened and not the members representing those before, and he will probably reply to this areas that can take the credit. Yet the point along with many others. After all, honourable member for Bundaberg and the a debate such as this gives members an honourable member for Isis claim that the opportunity to raise various matters. We have Country Party is terrible. just heard a speech from the honourable member for Townsville South in which he Mr. Jensen: You are much better than referred to the privileges of members, and the Liberals. I will say that much for you. I am taking advantage of a couple of them. I compliment the Treasurer on what has Mr. WHARTON: I thank the honourable been done in granting concessions in probate member for Bundaberg for saying that. I and succession duty. They are worth while, r.epeat that I was surprised to hear Opposi­ and much appreciated. tiOn members condemn the Country Party ~hen it has done so much for every person Mr. Hanson: With the rises in land values, m Queensland. he was not over-generous. 1058 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1972) (Financial Statement)

Mr. WHARTON: I have dealt with this Mr. Tucker: There are only four of your point before, and I do not want to reiterate colleagues listening to you. all my points. I have constantly argued that the greatest relief in this field can come Mr. WHARTON: Never mind. The from the Commonwealth Government. The others have probably heard speeches from me more reductions the State Government makes, before and can take as read what I say. the larger the parcel that goes to the Federal They know it is common sense. Government. The whole field of probate Mr. Hodges: It is the quality that counts. and succession duty should be vacated by both Federal and State Governments. It is an Mr. WHARTON: I cannot think of better iniquitous tax, in that it is imposed on the quality than we have in ,the present Cabinet. estates of those who die. Perhaps I should I wish to refer briefly, on behalf of the not repeat what I hear said between mem­ people of my electorate, to a matter about bers, but I have heard the Treasurer say that which they are greatly concerned-the recent he does not follow all the arguments strike in the oil industry. I think it is a advanced against this tax on this side of the tragedy that a few people can hold to ransom Chamber. the public of this State. Unfortunately, the I have stated before that in matters of Australian Workers' Union, which I have probate and succession duty there is a dif­ always admired and which, I think, most ference between the landowner and the people accept as a union worth its salt, was businessman or company. In the case of a invohed in that strike, and I think it is company, a businessman takes his salary disgraceful that people can be penalised as from its operations and builds up his per­ they have been in the past few weeks and sonal estate. His company builds up its as some are still being penalised. assets and pays its taxes, and he takes his The Government approved of the establish­ slice as he goes along. There is a consid­ ment of two oil refineries in Brisbane that erable difference between him and the land­ were to serve the people of Queensland, and owner who puts all his assets into a piece that was a very wise move. However, if those of land, or acquires more land. I shall not refineries are not to be allowed to serve the go into the matter of land valuations, because purpose for which they were established, 1 have raised it previously. When the land­ further storages should be set up along the owner dies, all his assets are in a piece of coast of Queensland. Speaking parochially, land. This land as one block is an economic I suggest that Bundaberg, Gladstone and unit, but when it is divided among his Maryborough should be storage points, and children the individual blocks are not viable. that other storages should be established at To obtain his piece of land, a successor has points further north. to pay tax. This means that, when he gets his slice of the cake, it is without any icing. My own company at Gayndah has a stor­ This is one of the real problems for land­ age capacity of 35,000 gallons, but not more owners under probate and succession duty than 14,000 gallons has been stored there legislation. The successors do not receive at any time since World War H. Problems viable pieces of land. It is like saying, "Here have arisen in some instances because storage is something for you. Now give me so capacity that is available has not been used. much back." And to do that, the successor In my opinion, if necessary, supplies of often has to sell the land. petrol should be imported to fill the storages. It is shameful that the people of Queensland I appreciate the problems of the Treasurer should be held to ransom by industrial action in raising additional revenue, and I realise of the type that has been taken recently. that if it is not raised in one way, it has to be raised in another. Probate and succes­ Mr. Bromley: Do you advocate the build­ sion duty is a most unpopular tax, and the ing of another refinery? drive against it is increasing in intensity. In a political sense-and I know the Treas­ Mr. WHARTON: What is the use of urer has plenty of that-it must be conceded having another refinery if there is only to that, if the people do not want a certain tax, be more trouble? Of course we could have it is high time that we decided, consistent another refinery, but that would not assist to with a businesslike attitude to budgeting, to overcome problems such as the recent strike. go along with them. Storages must be available so that supplies of petrol cannot be turned on and off at the lVIr. Davis: You are talking rubbish. whim of the A.L.P. Mr. WHARTON: The honourable member Mr. Bromley: What are you turning on for Brisbane does not have to listen to me. and off in your pocket? In fact, I would be delighted if he would Mr. WHARTON: I wish I could turn the go to sleep. I have to listen to him when I honourable member on and off. No matter am in the chair, and now I have to listen to him when I am making a speech. I just how hard I try, I cannot do that. cannot take much more of it. The honour­ In other fields, of course, honourable able member does not have to listen to me. members have seen the meatworks at Hamil­ He could go outside. In fact, I am pleased ton stopped many times as a result of petty to see him going now. I shall talk to him strikes; an electricity strike almost took place outside later. today. In fact, when the State seems to be Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1059 making progress, the public are held to attract people to country areas and neglect ransom by relatively few people who will action to retain those who are already there, not accept arbitration and who try to do we achieve nothing. It is my ambition things in their own way. I hope that the to encourage people to remain in country Federal Government is returned to office areas and to add to their numbers. at the coming election and that it, in co-operation with the Government of Queens­ One great problem is freight. land, will by sound, sane administration Mr. P. Wood: Last time you spoke you further ;the progress of Queensland and had three listening to you; you have the Australia. same number again today. Another matter to which I wish to refer Mr. WHARTON: I always was lucky; l It briefly in this debate is decentralisation. was born lucky. is now on the lips of the Federal Govern­ ment; it has always been on the lips of Mr. P. Wood interjected. Country-Liberal Governments in Queensland. I commend the Government for providing in Mr. Frawley interjected. the Budget subsidies for the dairying industry, grants to show societies, and so on, to The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mrs. enable them to buy more land. Things such Jordan): Order! There is too much cross­ as that are appreciated. We must make it firing in the Chamber. worth while for people to stay in country areas. And there are many ways in which Mr. WHARTON: Thank you, Mrs. Jordan we can encourage others to go to country for your protection. I do not think I need areas. it, but I appreciate it just the same. Mr. Bromley: Do you realise that there TI1e problem with freight affect~ us ~1. are no Liberal members listening to you If industry is to become established m except the Treasurer, and he is half Country country areas, we need an equalisation of Party? freight costs. Recently I read a report of the Federal Minister for Shipping and Trans­ Mr. WHARTON: But for the inane inter­ port in which he pointed out that a great jection of the honourable member for South deal had been done by the Commonwealth Brisbane, I would not know he was here. Government for the railway system. The I have seen many honourable members railway system must serve the whole of listened to in silence, but that does not the Commonwealth. Transport is one of mean that much notice was taken of them. the big costs in country areas. But I have a very attentive Treasurer and I know that you, Mrs. Jordan, are very Mr. P. Wood: Hurry up, Claude. attentive. I am sure that other honourable members are interested in my remarks. I Mr. WHARTON: Let the honourable appreciate the interest of those who are member be patient. listening to me. If we are to help country areas we \Ve must hold the industries we already must do something about freights. It is have in rural areas. The dairying industry too big a problem for the State alone. We needs all the help it can get. That applies must join with the Federal Government and to the sugar industry and all our other give encouragement to people in country primary industries. They all play a great areas. part in decentralisation. An extension of The Budget is a good, progressive one. irrigation and water supply will provide The State Public Debt gives cause for some security for those who remain in country concern, but it is something that we are areas. We need small industries in rural stuck with. It increased by $69,000,000 areas. Everybody cannot live in Brisbane. last year. However, this is something I am not critical of anyone who wants to beyond the control of the Treasurer. I live in Brisbane. If he thinks it is better commend the Treasurer for what has been to live here, he is entitled to come here proposed in the Budget. I urge those who if he wants to. However, it is up to the can benefit from the Budget to make the Government to see that the population is best possible use of what it provides so that well spread throughout the State rather than our great State can continue to progress concentrated in the capital city. under the present Government. I trust that Mr. Bromiey: Do you think the Mayor we will be helped by the Federal Govern­ of the Gold Coast could do a bit more about ment with adequate reimbursements that will population down there? enable the State to progress still further. Mr. WHARTON: With respect, the Mr. F. P. MOORE (Mourilyan) (4 p.m.): authorities there are doing their bit to At the outset, may I congratulate my col­ increase population. North Coast tourist league who shares this bench with me on areas are expanding, as are tourist areas her elevation to, the chair and on the manner further no1ih. That is the kind of decen­ in which she is presiding today. I will not tralisation we should encourage. But we elaborate, as the honourable member for should also encourage people to remain in Isis did, about it being a historic occasion. country areas. If we only do things that I simply add my congratulations to his. 1060 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972) (Financial Statement)

Earlier today the Labor Party was chal­ the honourable member for Mourilyan to lenged to lay on the table of this Chamber withdraw it. a profit-and-loss account of the Trade Union Building Society. We all heard the snide Mr. F. P. MOORE: I withdraw the remark; and filthy remarks of the honourable member but I have been told by people oul!Side, for Merthyr. I have here a certified copy including another member of the National of the profit-and-loss account and the first Civil Council and the Liberal Party-the annual report of the Trade Union Building Federal member for Lilley-that he is. Society. I notice that the honourable member The Tuily District Citizens' Committee has for Merthyr is, conveniently, not here. I as its patron Mr. Duke Bonnet!, ~.H.R., also have here a report from the Chairman a Liberal member of the Federal Parliament. of Directors, Mr. John Egerton, which makes The Proserpine District Citizens' Committee the position quite clear to anyone concerned. has as its patron the Hon. R. E. Camm, I am willing to lay these documents on the M.L.A., Minister for Mines and Main Roads. table. I accept the challenge of the honour­ The point I want to make, loud and ~!ear, able member for Merthyr, and I wi11 elabo­ is that these people have been h(){}dwmked rate on the matter. However, the figures by this organisation. I shout it out, loud are here for anyone who wishes to see and clear that I am a Catholic and I them. honour that faith, but the National Civil Mr. R. E. Moore: Who did the auditing? Council is nothing more than a minority group of bigoted Catholics wh~ are controlled Mr. F. P. MOORE: We hear furl!her snide from Victoria by Santamana. He was remarks coming from the other side. For the founder of what is known as the the benefit of the honourable member who "Movement", and those honourable members wants to know who the auditors are, they who know their political history will recall are Brown, Patrick & Co., chartered account­ that the Movement collaborated with Dr. ants, and they signed this document on 6 Evatt in breaking the unity tickets that September. existed in Victoria. From there came the The challenge of the honourable member "groupers". for Merthyr has been accepted and his To illustrate the .type of statement that remarks disproved. Apparently he did not is made these days by the National Civic know !'hat these documents were available. Council, I shall read portion of a letter I did not intend to do this, but, because written by that body. At the head of the of the snide remarks of the honourable letter appears the following:- member for Merthyr, I must now refer to "National Office, 5 Riversdale Road, the other snide remarks and the underhand Hawthorn Victoria, 3122. Queensland actions of other people. I feel that the State Offi~e. 79 St. Paul's Terrace, Bris­ honourable member for Merthyr must be bane. Northern State Office, Lister House, associated with the organisation that I intend 31 Sturt Street, Townsville." to deal with. H is the National Civic Mr. Lane: Who was it addressed to? Council which, under the auspices of its organisers-in particular, Mr. Brian Mullins, Mr. F. P. MOORE: It is addressed to who travels throughout North Queensland­ one of my electors, who is a known Catholic has in some areas arranged district citizens' and has been led astray, but has realised committee dinners. what this organisation is doing. Mr. Bromley: Here is the honourable The letter says- member for Merthyr now. "Members of our organisation have Mr. F. P. MOORE: He can listen to always depended, in varying degrees, this. on spiritual guidance in their work. We now feel, however, that the present In Innisfail, the District Citizens' Com­ troubled and permissive times are placing mittee of the National Civic Council has a greater strain on members and also as il!S patron Mr. R. A. Armstrong, M.L.A. on leaders in the community, where one In Tully, on the occasion of the special would hope to see a greater display of dinner of the National Civic Council District wisdom." Citizens' Committee-- Mr. Lane: You are a bigot. I agree with that. However, in the following paragraph, the National Civic Council, which Mr. F. P. MOORE: I believe that the is the backbone of the Democratic Labor honourable member for Merthyr is a member Party, says this- of this organisation. "Apart from intensifying our personal Mr. LANE: I rise to a point of order. devotion to the Holy Spirit, it was agreed The statement by the honourable member at a recent National Conference that a for Mourilyan is untrue. I ask him to special Mass in honour of the Third withdraw it without qualification. Person of the Blessed Trinity be offered on Saturday before Pentecost Sunday, The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mrs. which happens to be 20th May. So that Jordan): Order! The honourable member for this will be done as widely as possible Merthyr objects to the remark and asks in the Townsville and Cairns dioceses I Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1061

would like to be in a position, as soon "D.LP. fears if A.LP. wins the election." as possible, to request every priest in I believe that the D.LP. should fear for both dioceses to offer such a Mass at itself. It is nothing but a bigoted party the request, and on behalf of, laity forcing its whims and wares on the people engaged in the social apostolate." of Australia, and putting the Liberal­ As I have said, I am a Catholic. Never­ Country Party into Government. An article theless, I believe in the statement by Cardinal dated 21 June 1972 reads, "D.L.P. heads Gilroy to the effect that no church has join Western Australian Liberals. Two the right to enter into politics. The church former leaders of the Democratic Labor should stay out of politics, and Santamaria Party in Western Australia have joined the should, likewise, keep his dirty, snide and Liberal Party." Why don't all D.L.P. mem· filthy remarks out of our political world. bers join the Liberal Party? Why doesn't Bob Santamaria become the active secretary Mr. Lane: Why are you bringing religion of the Liberal Party? in here? You are a bigot; that's what is I am sick and tired of the fact that in wrong with you. this Parliament, and also in the Federal Mr. F. P. MOORE: I am not a bigot. Parliament, the D.L.P., which is nothing In fact, I am the immediate past president, other than a bigoted religious group, is as well as the current vice-president, of associated with the reigning power. If Vince the Parents and Friends' Association at Gair can bring bigoted pressure to bear to St. Clare's Convent in Tully. ensure the return of the Federal Govern­ ment, I can only say, "God help Australia!" Mr. Lane: You are only using your Billy McMahon has made a big enough mess political position. of it as it is. Mr. F. P. MOORE: The honourable mem­ Honourable members have heard me speak ber for Merthyr only uses the D.L.P. and previously about the Innisfail State School. the snide National Civic Council for his We heard a final statement-- own ends. He comes into this Chamber and reads speeches prepared for him by Mr. Lane: Yes. We have heard you. Kevin Cairns. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mrs. Mr. LANE: I rise to a point of order. Jordan): Order! The honourable member for The statement by the honourable member Merthyr made his speech earlier in the day. that I use the National Civic Council for I ask him to be quiet now. my own ends is untrue, and I ask that it be withdrawn. Mr. F. P. MOORE: We heard the final statement from the Minister for Education The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mrs. that a new school would be provided. I Jordan): Order! The honourable member took up the challenge when the Treasurer for Merthyr has objected to the statement said to the honourable member for Sher­ by the honourable member for Mourilyan rington-- and asks that it be withdrawn. A Government Member: Sherrington? Hr. F. P. MOORE: If I do not withdraw Mr. F. P. MOORE: Well, the electorate it the honourable member will be up and should be called "Sherrington". Mr. Sher­ down like a yoyo and we will never stop rington will certainly hold Salisbury for the him. I withdraw the statement. rest of his life. The point I am trying to make is that The important point is that I took up the the people are being misled. The Liberal Treasurer's challenge, and I have been proved Party, as well as the honourable member to be correct. It is an insult to any member for Merthyr, is riding on the back of the who brings a matter to the notice of the D.L.P. The results in the recent State Chamber when he is not informed of the election and earlier Federal elections prove final result of his representations before the >that contention. There is no need for me information is given to the Press. to remma honourable members of the comments made last week-end by Santamaria In the past 15 years under this Country on his nation-wide television programme. He Party-dominated Government promises have said quite openly that the saie of wheat been made by the Country Party member to China is still a dangerous step to be for Mulgrave, and Country Party candidates taken by this country. He also said that who have stood against me and my pre­ the people of this country will be concerned decessor, about widening and renewing the about the sale of this wheat because it is Palmerston Highway. I think the Minister going to China's armed forces. I do not for Mines and Main Roads admitted, think our wheat farmers will worry about although not openly, that what I said about the sale of wheat to China. If Canada the Palmerston Highway prior to making a can sell wheat 'to China, why shouldn't we personal statement was correct. It is in a be able to compete? shocking condition. Last week-end I travelled up the highway and I saw that the Santamaria has made numerous state­ Minister had sent a grader up to clear the ments. I have here an article published by road shoulders. But, as I have said, in some the "Telegraph", in June last which reads, places the bitumen is only five to seven 1062 Supply [17 OcTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

feet wide. I said previously that my car North Queensland Labor candidates. The had been damaged to the extent of $1,000 honourable member for Burnett spoke on in a mishap on the highway, but only two behalf of primary producers, and so am I. weeks ago my family and I were involved I claim to be the only member of the in a head-on collision on a narrow section Australian Labor Party to be returned from of the road. Neither the other driver nor I a gerrymandered electorate in the country was to blame. The road is in such a shock­ zone. My electorate was gerrymandered in ing condition that the accident was inevit­ the redistribution to try to get rid of me, but able. My car is again off the road, and I I gained a bigger majority because I have have had to get another one. the problems of primary producers at heart. I am speaking now from practical experi­ I repeat that the Palmerston Highway is in ence. Although there have been a few a shocking condition, despite the grading of fatalities on this road over the past few the road shoulders. After only one inch of years, so far this year there have been none, rain, it has the most slippery surface of any simply because it is impossible to drive fast road in Queensland. And mine is the wettest on it. However, accidents do occur. Drivers area in Australia! of 20-ton milk-tankers have no alternative, I shall now deal with tourism in my elect­ when driving down the range, but to swing orate. I have referred previously to fish wide around the corners. Previously, the being washed ashore along 30 miles of the Millaa Millaa factory supplied only Innisfail, coastline in my area. I have here a copy but it now supplies all of North Queensland, of a letter from a senator to a Common­ Mt. Isa and Darwin. The large tankers wealth Minister seeking the reason for this. transporting the milk have to use the It is said that the reason is unknown. After Palmerston Highway. I raised this matter, the Minister for Primary Mr. Sherrington: It was built 40 years Industries reported to the honourable mem­ ago by relief workers. ber for Hinchinbrook, who does not open his mouth in this Chamber, and published Mr. F. P. MOORE: It was built by Labor in the Tully newspaper the reasons why the in 1935, in the days of the P.E.I. Department of Primary Industries considers Many of our unemployed today could be that the fish were washed up. put to work on this road. I am speaking I propose to quote some letters to the mainly of people who are receiving unem­ proprietor of the Tully Heads Caravan Park ployment benefits. Most of them are from people who had booked in there. ·'hippies". The first one reads- Mr. CampbeU: Are you sure of that? "Dear Sir, "It is with regret that we will not be Mr. F. P. MOORE: The Minister for staying the proposed month at your park. Development was in North Queensland the other day. The next time he visits there I "You are aware that the purpose of will take him to two colonies of these our visit was, in the main, the sport people. They are registering themselves as of fishing, and for the recent four days artists and are receiving unemployment and nights we have fished extensively benefits. I should like to see the Minister with friends without results. 'vVe are aware get employment as an artist in North Queens­ that the reason is the extensive netting land. If he visited the Social Services Depart­ across the entrance of the river and ment and the Commonwealth Employment vicinity of the river entrance. This we Office in my area, he would see the people have seen too often. It is sad that so who are receiving these benefits. few are allowed to spoil the area for so many people, not only the tourists but 1\lr. Campbell: Are you sure <:,f that? the local townspeople. Yours faithfully, Mr. F. P. MOORE: I am certain. W. N. Finkes, Mr. Campbell: I just wanted to know. Balwyn, Victoria." Here is another one- lVIr. F. P. MOORE: All right. "Owing to the absence of fish in the The Palmerston Highway will cause more surrounding waters, I would like a refund problems than enough. The Government is of the three weeks' rent paid in advance. not in a position to give any assistance to We realise you are not responsible for improve it. Innisfail is the main centre for the open netting of all the waters here, the Atherton Tableland. It always has been and regret we have to move on. I know and it always will be, even if traffic has to it is unjust that these people from other use the Gillies Highway, at greater cost. The countries are allowed to spoil our holiday Palmerston Highway should be widened and by closing the entrance to the river with improved. The Treasurer claims that this their mesh nets and I hope that something is an "achievement" Budget, but it will can be done to keep our holiday spots achieve nothing for my area. This work has free of these poachers. been promised for 15 years by the honour­ Yours with regret, able member for Mulgrave and Country H. 0. Walsh, Party candidates who have stood against Brisbane." Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972) (Financial Statement) 1063

Mr. Frawley: You organised them your­ tourist roads. But he will not do so. The self. Opposition shadow Minister for Tourism was in this area last year and he saw its Mr. F. P. MOORE: For your benefit, Mr. potential. The Gold Coast has nothing on Hewitt, and for the benefit of the ignoramus it for potential. It is overdeveloped. who interjected, these letters-- Mr. Small interjected. The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the honourable member to be more Mr. F. P. MOORE: The honourable temperate in his choice of language. Please member for Surfers Paradise has a lot of proceed. land to sell, and I hope he manages to dispose of it. I do not know where he !VIr. F. P. MOORE: You are supposed to will put the people after he has settled be an intelligent human being, Mr. Hewitt, them on all the land in the swamps. There and you would know that if a person is are no swamps or mud fiats in the area ignorant, he must be an ignoramus. to which I am referring. The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! The Mr. Sherrmg,ton: The honourable member honourable member will please proceed with for Cooroora said that the Gold Coast is his speech. only a shanty town. Mr. F. P. MOORE: From A. A. Lewis, Mr. F. P. MOORE: The honourable 65 Bruce Street, Coburg, 3058, Melbourne, member for Cooroora has made that state­ this letter was received by the proprietor ment on many occasions and, to some extent, of the Tully Heads Caravan Park- it is true. "Dear Sir, I wish to deal now with pre-school educa­ "It is with regret that we will not be tion. Being a politician, the Treasurer has staying the full week at your lovely park. often spoken about mathematics and the way "You are aware that the purpose of he juggles figures. As I said, he has "conned" the visit was mainly for the sport of and connived and deceived the State far fishing. We have fished extensively with­ too often. A total amount of $330,000 for out results, the reason being the extensive the establishment of pre-school education netting across the entrance of the river illustrates quite vividly ,that the Government and river itself, and along the beach front. was not really prepared for its introduction. "Is it a shame that so few can spoil Recently I read a report that the Minister this lovely spot for so many visitors to for Health in New South Wales-he is a your beautiful caravan park." Liberal, too-when confronted with anomalies in ,the health field in New South Wales, Mr. Frawley: They are all saying the stood up in Parliament and said, "I am same thing. dreadfully ashamed of the situation. I intend to do this, and this." What do we see in Mr. F. P. MOORE: I have photostat this Chamber? Ministers running round back­ copies of the original letters, and the honour­ v. ards and the Premier indulging in what is able member who interjects-and who, I commonly known as somersaulting. The believe, cannot help himself-can have a honourable member for Mansfield suggested look at them. the introduction of gymnastics, and I made These are things that are worrying North it quite clear then that I hoped he would Queenslanders. One hears much talk about make the Premier, Honourable J ohannes decentralisation. The proprietor of the Tully Bjelke-Petersen, the chief instructor. Heads Caravan Park invested his money in that area before electricity and telephone Mr. Brom!ey: I suggest that the Premier services reached it. He built up his park, should fly round and round in circles in and today it is a picture. The present situa­ the Government aeroplane till he disappears. tion is the result of uncontrolled fishing The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! I on the Far North Coast. What I have suggest that the honourable member for read are only three of the letters sent to South Brisbane should allow his colleague to the caravan park proprietor. \Vhat can he continue with his speech. do? Can he go out and stop this fishing? Of course not. Fisheries inspectors say Mr. F. P. MOORE: Syllabuses have that they police these areas. If that is so, changed over the years, as times have it is extraordinary that fish were washed up changed. I was involved in the change in along 30 miles of beach. If such a thing syllabuses for the chemistry, physics and happened in Brisbane or on the Gold Coast, mathematics courses, and I admit ,that the there would be a great whine in this Cham­ children tended to understand them more ber and an inspector would be sent to readily than they had before. But they could investigate. not obtain the full benefit of the new courses Mr. Sherrington: There is an inefficient when the Government was not ready for Minister, too. their introduction. For example, when the new chemistry course was introduced, schools Mr. F. P. MOORE: The Minister for other than the pilot schools did not have a Tourism has frequently been requested by chemistry textbook till August. Is that a me to declare the roads to these beaches "fair go"? 1064 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

What about pre-school education? Honour­ Mr. Sherrington: Would you say those able members have heard the evasive answers words describe the Minister? given by the Minister for Education to the honourable member for Toowoomba South Mr. F. P. MOORE: I do not like to be and to other members of the Opposition. He personal. "Torimba" deserves speaking does not know where he is going, and he about. I conclude by asking that the Gov­ should admit it and not try to evade the ernment investigate the possibility of doing issue. Let him come and say openly, "It something about this mill, either through a will take two or three years," instead of trust, a historical society, or something of saying, "I will make a statement in the very that nature. near future." Pre-school education will be an improvement, but the Government should Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG (Townsville) (4.33 not introduce it until it is ready. The p.m.): I rise to discuss the budget of a $330,000 provided in the Budget would not service with which I have been associated provide a kindergarten for a fowl yard. The for over 20 years. I must admit ·that if important point to remember is that we will I had those 20 years over again I would only get somewhere if the Minister is sincere repeat my association with that service, and forthright in answering questions. even though I realise that had I chosen another occupation my financial state would I should like to conclude by telling the be much stronger than it is today. From Committee that last Saturday and Sunday I that service I have derived considerable attended the Torimba Festival in Ravenshoe. pleasure, mainly because it offered me the "Torimba" stands for "Tourism and timber". facilities to treat people, and I have enjoyed Ravenshoe is a very small town that was treating people. added to my electorate in the recent redis­ tribution. The people there have made a The people of Queensland appreciate the concerted effort to attract tourists but, again, Queensland hospital services and fully they do not appear to have received as appreciate the work done by them. The much support as they should from the powers people of Townsville showed this when they that be. If the Palmerston Highway was favoured me with a solid 61.52 per cent completed, more tourists might visit of the votes at the last State election. Despite Ravenshoe. Having travelled over it at what was said in this Chamber during the Address-in-Reply debate, I did not need pre~ent, they never want to travel over it again. preferences to win. I know that a number of people who supported me were pr.eviously I must give the festival a little bit of Labor supporters, but they showed their publicity, because last week-end at Ravenshoe appreciation of my work and the State's I saw possibly the greatest display of work effort in the health services by voting solidly with timber that one could see anywhere in for the Government candidates, that is, Mr. the world. There was sculpture in timber, Kel Griffiths, the Country Party candidate, timberwork and old-style furniture. The hall and myself. containing the display was completely filled with varying types of woodwork. People who I am also aware that a number of previous are knowledgeable about timber said, "You Labor voters went over to the coalition wouldn't see a better display anywhere in the candidates because of the unwarranted, world." cowardly and despicable attack by the then honourable member for Townsville North, Mr. Campbell: How is the caravan park under privilege in this Chamber, on the making out? nurses at the Townsville General Hospital, when, purely in an effort to gain political Mr. F. P. MOORE: At this stage it is capital and to denigrate the hospitals ser­ quite good. I stayed there and I found vices, he falsely accused them of st·ealing it very reasonable. money from patients in the wards. The point I was coming to is that a timber mill in Ravenshoe has been bought out I consider that the Budget shows progress by Corney & Sons. They do not know in thought and detail. The total health what to do with it. Probably they will knock budget for this financial year is $89,807,658, it down. It was previously owned by of which $58,844,714 will go to hospitals Rosenfeld, Meixner and Co., and it was alone. Looking at past Budgets, one finds bought out by Placer Exploration. The that the total expenditure on health has mill was brought from Tasmania at the been progressively increasing ever since this start of the century. The local people Government took office. In 1962-63, believe that for historical purposes it should $31,791,092 was spent on health; in 1972-73, as I said previously, expenditure rose to be re~tored. It is possible •to travel through the mill on a line-the line is still there. $89,807,658. It is said that the engines that pull the Turning to hospitals, in 1962-63, trolleys around still work. That mill was $20,17 4,194 was expended on this service, transported from Tasmania to Port Douglas and this year the figure has risen sharply to and ·then (Wer the range to Ra¥enshoe. $58,844,714. No-one can say that this Consequently it is of historical importance coalition Gover.nment has not given deep and should be preserved. Tourism and thought to our health services or has not timber were chosen as the theme for the dug deeply into the funds of this State to festival. progressively improve our hospital system. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1065

The figures indicate that there has been Dealing with hospital accommodation, the careful budgeting and a close watch on Financial Statement shows that this year expenditure. In 1971-72 the Government $12,958,488 is to be spent on hospital build­ spent $52,708,950, after appropriating ings alone, and within the next 10 years $52,171,338. This shows very careful bud­ $100,000,000 will be spent. geting and showers great credit onto the Honourable members may remember an officers of this department. earlier statement that every five years capital At no time in the 20 years that I have cost is doubled. These days, with the high practised in Queensland have I seen evidence rate of increase in wages and costs, capital of any shortage of drugs. Some years ago a costs are doubled in only three years. rather fatal disease called tolurosis was found Sometimes it is claimed that even with in a patient in Townsville. If I remember good equipment and buildings, a hospital correctly, it was the first such case detected cannot give good service. This brings me to and isolated in Queensland, and no drug the point that no patient can be treated was available in Australia to treat it. properly unless adequate accommodation and The Director-General of Health was equipment are provided. On 26 September, approached by telephone, and the necessary when in Townsville, Mr. Whitlam claimed drug was sent from America by the first that the cost of hospitals in Queensland was available aircraft, with the result that the two-thirds that of hospitals in other States, patient is still alive. and that therefore they are only two-thirds as good. That statement was made by a Frequently I have needed instruments man who expects to lead this nation. If he urgently. On one occasion a small child succeeds, God help us! A man who reasons had his head completely covered with third­ in that manner will only lead his party degree burns. The necessary instrument for wandering through the wilderness-and the mesh grafting was provided within one week people of this country would be forced to of an application to the department. follow. On that very day, 26 September, From the one or two incidents I have cited, of the 484 beds available at the Townsville it is obvious that no-one can suggest that hospital, only 342 were occupied. Mr. this coalition government expects or wishes Whitlam should have asked Mr. Sweeney to destroy the free hospital system in Queens­ to check on the number of beds that were land as we know it today. This Government occupied. Mr. Whitlam's claim is a false has done nothing but improve it, and one one. does not improve a system by overspending I point out to Mr. Whitlam and, as well, on it. As we have seen a system is improved to the Leader of the Opposition in this only by careful budgeting and administration. Parliament that in Queensland the over-all availability of beds is 11.4 per 1,000 head of Anyone who wishes to improve a health population, whereas in the remainder of service should work on only one facet, which Australia the figure is 9.8; in Queensland, is consideration for the patient. In Queens­ the number of approved hospital beds is land, the patient is the main consideration. 7.5 per 1,000 head of population, whereas In order to give the correct service, one in the remainder of Australia the figure is must work on the patient as the basis. Then only 6; and in Queensland the number of follows correct drugs and equipment. One public beds represents 6.3 per 1,000 head of must make sure that useless equipment is population, whereas the rest of Australia has not acquired and allowed to lie idle. When only 4.9 per 1,000 head of population. I went to Vietnam I was handed the control The Financial Statement sets out a very of a hospital, and, being well trained in good scheme for arranging finance for Queensland hospital budgeting, with the aid church and charitable organisations. The Federal Labor Party's platform is the of the sister I took out an immediate invent­ elimination of private hospitals. It claims ory and budget. Much to our amazement, that "Big Brother" will look after the sick we discovered two instruments called resecto­ people in our community. It is morally scopes, which are usually used for elderly men wrong to deny these facilities to the public, to have pr;}state resections. What stupid and it is equally morally wrong to take things to have in Vietnam, where the average away from the charitable organisations and age of the servicemen is less than 42 years! religious orders the wonderful work they The people who ordered these instruments have been doing for many centuries, long came from Victoria and New South Wales, before the Labor Party was even thought of. where there is no check on hospital budget­ Nowhere will we find the high quality of ing. Anyone can ask for any instrument nursing that is found in hospitals and homes without consideration of costs. The result run by charitable organisations and religious is that costs have skyrocketed and those hos­ orders, where the women who act as super­ visors have dedicated their lives to the care pitals are bankrupt. They do not pay the of the sick. baker or the butcher. In Queensland The Leader of the Opposition said he tradesmen who serve hospitals are paid every believed in the free hospital system, and month and, in addition, we have instruments claimed that this State's hospital system was and beds. That is how things are run in breaking down. I should like him to show Queensland hospitals. me where it is breaking down. 1066 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

Mr. Sherrington: I will tell you. You board. I note that a Mr. Graham Thompson come and see me. has been appointed to the hospital in his area. He is an able surgeon and an extremely Dr. SCOIT-YOUNG: I would like to see hard-working, dedicated doctor. He has the honourable member for Salisbury. As a decided to spend the rest of his professional surgeon, I would make one good cut. days as a full-time surgeon, and I con­ The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! gratulate the board at the Gold Coast Hospital on appointing him. I am sure that the Dr. SCOIT-YOUNG: The question is honourable member for Albert will now get asked, "What has this coalition Government some action and planning. done for hospitals?" By "coalition Govern­ For the last 20 years I have cherished ment", I mean the representatives of the some ideas about our hospital system and anti-Labor vote in this State, including, as the distribution of medical skill. This is well as the Liberal and Country parties, the vital because Queensland is so vast and D.L.P. and any other party that wishes to transport is so complicated and, even with stand. The hospitals have been expanded. jets, expensive. Under certain wnditions When I joined this State's hospital service a patient can be transported free of charge an employee could be dismissed simply at by the Department of Health, but this does the whim of any chairman or medical not cover all the problems. I believe that officer, which was completely wrong. These the department should plan to decentralise days, employees are assured of security, they its specialist services. It should institute have the right of appeal against dismissal regional planning by establishing a country and they enjoy high wages and superannua­ hospital committee or commission which tion. In other words, a career structure would plan hospital design and the siting has been built into our hospital service. of hospitals on population studies, and con­ The staff of medical officers has been duct medical and surgical audits in hospitals. expanded, as has the consultant staff. In In so doing, it would ensure that hospitals most instances, patients who are admitted integrate with the rest of the State health to hospital have a choice of consultant staff. services. I believe that this scheme was This is a very good scheme, because a referred to some years ago by the honour­ patient may be referred to a consultant and able member for Wavell and that it received he may not like the way the consultant acclaim from the medical profession. This speaks to him and how he looks, or he may suggestion should be seriously considered, know something about his technique. But and, if possible, implemented. now, in all these hospitals, the patient has When it is remembered that the pivot a choice. At the Townsville General Hos­ around which our health service moves is pital the department has duplicated all the patient, we should ensure that he -?ets consultant services so that the patient has a eve,rything. It is useless to treat a pa!Jent choice, even if he is a public patient. with magnificent drugs, provide him with a very comfortable bed, hot and col_d Under the Budget, the hospital services showers and a beautiful, airy bedroom, If staff is to be increased by 1,124. Another there i; no consulting doctor with ability. wonderful improvement is the incremental­ pay system under which, after three years' This must be ensured. service, employees get an extra $8 a week. This committee could undertake a study An orderly at the Townsville General Hospital of manpower and requirements for all base who had served for many years at the areas so that there would be an adequate hospital told me that he was too old to number of consultant surgeons and physicians participate in a superannuation scheme, but in those areas. The growth must not be when he drew his pay he was pleased to haphazard. It must not be at ,the :whim of find thRt. for the first time in his life, a man with a high degree who might say, he would have money to bank. He considered "I want to specialise in urology", and then his salary satisfactory, and anyone else taking put pressure on certain people and be on a job in a Queensland hospital would also appointed to a hospital. Growth should be be satisfied. planned from a central area. Whenever a vacancy is advertised, the very best person The honourable member for Albert referred should be appointed. to a shortage of hospital beds in his area. The possession of a medical degree does He was inclined to criticise the department not make a doctor good. This, unfortunately, for this, but he should criticise the staff is a false belief. Many of my medical prac· responsible for running the hospital and titioners are like the straw man who went the hospital board rather than the depart­ to the Wizard of Oz asking for a brain. The ment. Obviously they have not done their wizard said, "I will not give you a brain. homework. No request of mine for additional I will give you a diploma. Many people beds was ever turned down by the department think that is just as good." It is not as good. or by a hospital board. Admittedly the A diploma does not make a man a good necessary planning may have taken some surgeon or a good physician. Many people years, because extensive planning is required. do not understand this. I have seen fellows I suggest to the honourable member for with higher degrees who are virtually licensed Albert that if he wants something done in killers. his area, he should apply pressure to the Mr. Bromley interjected. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1067

Dr. SCOIT-YOUNG: I am not interested with chronic renal disease could then be in degrees. I have good hands. dialysed, and arrangements could be made People should be appointed on ability, not for them to go to city hospitals such as because they or their fathers had friends in the Royal Brisbane or Princess Alexandra, the right places. That is the wrong way to where transplant surgery is carried out. appoint medical personnel to treat and look Whilst speaking of transplant surgery, after people, because they might end up I also consider ,that there are certain treating other honourable members or me. branches of surgery that should be carried Anybody who is sick should go to a good out only in Brisbane at the great teaching doctor. If a person has a sick horse, he gets a good veterinary surgeon. Nobody hospitals. I refer to transplant surgery, would put "bum" petrol in his motor-car. open cold neurosurgery, and deep radio­ therapy. Those types of surgery, with open­ Because of this I objected, some years ago, heart surgery, should be done only in the to the appointment of a medical officer, and large hospitals. There is no place for those the Act was amended. Section 5 is now 1mquitous. It says, "The Director-General surgical procedures outside a major teaching may approve for appointment a panel of complex. two or more of the applicants . . ." Another thing that I have noticed over Remember that the Director-General is the the yea~s is that relatively little thoracic only person who can appoint a consultant, a surgery 1s done outside Brisbane. This is 'uperintendent, a medical officer or a matron. because someone has been empire-building. However, his hands are somewhat tied in Carcinoma of the lung is increasing and, appointments at teaching hospitals. In that in browsing through the figures and returns case he is assisted by two people from the of the Townsville General Hospital, I note university senate and two people from the that the number of admissions for carcinoma governing body. But he and he alone can of the lung has not increased. This means make an appointment to a base hospital, that patients with this disease are not where any one of us might have to go. coming to the hospital, and are not being Mr. Melloy: Would you say that we have treated there. They are being sent South. some licensed killers in our hospitals now? The tuberculosis officer in some base hos­ pitals has be,en given the position of a Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG: I did not say any­ consulting chest physician. He does not thing of the sort. I said that I know of men consult with the local surgeons or physicians; with diplomas who could be licensed killers. he consults with those in Brisbane. His patients are then evacuated to Brisbane and I consider that all consultants of any treated here. Again I consider that that status should be appointed to hospitals by is wrong, as it disturbs the families con­ an advisory committee comprising represen­ cerned. There are perfectly efficient local tatives of the State committees of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, the Royal surgeons who can treat thoracic diseases. Australian College of Physicians, the College Another branch of surgery that should of Pathologists, the Royal College of General be established in all base hospitals is plastic Practitioners and the Royal College of surgery. Most plastic surgery carried out Gynaecologists and Obstetricians. in this State arises from the treatment of I shall now deal with added services at skin cancers that have proved difficult to these base hospitals. A patient should always treat by radiotherapy, or have become be given the right to be treated in his own recurrent after treatment by radiotherapy. home town or base area. Even with today's One sees some most shockingly mutilated methods, ,transportation is still a costly busi­ faces that have resulted from radiotherapy. ness. It causes a good deal of family dis­ I shaH give one instance of what I am harmony and upset if a man is uprooted saying. A patient came to see me, and and sent from his home town to Brisbane before I knew where he was he had been or Sydney for an operation. If he dies to see the Radium Institute. He was sent following the operation, there are added to Brisbane to have a plastic procedure problems. Many people--and this happened carried out on his lower lip. That was not to a member of my family-have had to go the treatment that he should have had; he to another State for an operation. This is should have had his jaw removed because he very upsetting. had a huge secondary tumour in the bone, which was completely and utterly neglected. Certain services, such as blood and peri­ The local practitioner knew the problem, but toneal dialysis in chronic renal disease, unfortunately the man in Brisbane did it as should be provided at our base hospi,tals. a routine job, most probably very upset Chronic renal disease is becoming more that the patient was sent to him. prevalent in Queensland. More thought is being given to it, and a considerable amount Mr. Davis: In other words, the Radium of attention has be.en focussed on it. In Institute was negligent. my opinion, Queensland is lagging behind the other States in this field. I consider Dr. SCOTT-YOUNG: I am not saying that dialysis equipment should be provided that the Radium Institute did not do a at all ba'Ye hospitals, and the local physicians good job. In fact, the Radium Institute and surgeons taught how to use it. People in this State is probably the most efficient 1068 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

radiotherapy unit in the world. It is care­ the next three years, and I shall be very fully organised and supervised, and it does interested to watch his progress in this a magnificent job. What I am discussing Chamber and see the changes that he is is the sending of patients to this city. able to bring about in the hospital service My last suggestion concerns the appoint­ in that period. ment of medical superintendents. Recently His criticism of high degrees has some there has been a trend to the appointment merit, and I agree that ability and intelli­ of medical administrators. Medical adminis­ gence are a far greater asset than degrees. trators have had their time. They were However, I think he may be going a little introduced gradually in other States, with bit too far in saying that the term "licensed the result that costs increased. There was killer" could aptly be applied to some much useless and expensive equipment doctors. I hope he is, anyway. He has been bought, put on the shelves, and never used, in the business, and I suppose he knows mainly because medical administrators were hospitals as well as I know the railways. not clinicians and did not have the backbone, I certainly would not use the privilege of which the honourable member for Townsville this Assembly to say things such as the South spoke about earlier, to stand up to honourable member for Townsville said this the clinicians. Instead, they would say, afternoon. I would make sure that other "Yes, we'll get you that", and it would be people knew about them during my 20 years bought on the recommendation of the clinic­ of service before I came here; I would not ians, put on the shelf, never used, and wait till I had the cover of parliamentary sometimes never paid for. privilege. Possibly he was skirting around I would say that Queensland had the best the area and making a veiled attack on one system in the old surgeon-superintendent of his medical colleagues-perhaps in this who was part of the hospital, who worked Chamber, perhaps somewhere else. His com­ in it, and knew how it ticked. I should ments have left me in a quandary, and I hate to see the day when he disappears. think that in time to come he will have If a physician is to be appointed, -make to qualify some of them. sure that he has four legs and four hands, In the latter part of his speech, the because physicians get around more slowly honourable member also displayed some than surgeons. Most medical administrators slight spleen in his remarks about surgeon want .to please everyone, but it is not possible versus physician. His approach to the subject to please everyone when life and death are indicated that he is rather a novice in the involved. political field. In any case, his performance In conclusion, I congratulate the Treasurer in this Chamber will be watched with interest, on bringing down such a good Budget. It and he can bet his bottom dollar that Mike shows clearly that the State is prosperous, Reynolds will be informed about his per­ and it also indicates to me that the Depart­ formance. ment of Health thinkc: deeply about the I believe that the Budget provides only people of this State and their health. stopgap measures for the relief of the few Mr. R. JONES (Cairns) (5.1 p.m.): I problems that it does acknowledge and quite enjoyed the speech of the honourable ignores completely certain important needs member for Townsville. Particularly poig­ of this State. It is promulgated principaiiy nant was his mispronunciation of the word to herakl the so-called money-spinning "coalition", which he pronounced "collation". achievements of the Treasurer. It has I think that is a very apt description of bypassed many election promises made last the mess on the other side of the Chamber, May. As to value for the money that is being spent, it is a very doubtful Budget and there are certainly a few bad tomatoes indeed. As to its being a Budget of good in it. house-keeping and management for the past The honourable member's praise of the year, and its declaration of the anticipated free hospital system was nothing short of manner of expenditures in the future, with laudatory, and I was very pleased to hear its list of priorities, it leaves a vacuum in it. However, one must question his sin­ what one would expect from this Govern­ cerity when one remembers that he recently ment, but it exemplifies what one has come saw fit to desert the system himself. In to know of this Government. It seems to addition, his misrepresentation of Labor's be a soulless document of mediocrity, and tells health policy does not enhance his credi­ with dour force that despite the prayers bility. It makes him a political animal, and of some Government members the drought I am afraid that that is the way in which continues or threatens to recur. he will be treated from now on. Mr. Sherrington: Do you know that the The honourable member said also that Budget of 1884 contained the same com­ he had cherished certain ideas in his mind ment? for 20 years, and he gave the committee a dissertation on what he thought should Mr. R. JONES: I would not doubt that be done. As a medical superintendent under at all, but the drought has not been men­ Country-liberal Governments during that tioned as frequently in this Budget as it has period, he was not able to have his sug­ been in the last two. The Government is gestions implemented. I wish him well in prophetic when, as a hardy annual, it refers Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972} (Financial Statement) 1069 to recurring drought. The inflationary situa­ inflation, would be nearer to $800,000,000. tion has been created and engendered by its Early in the year the Treasurer predicted a counterpart in Canberra and by itself. It deficit of $7,000,000. He eventually found emphasises the misrepresentation of itself and that he was $3,500,000 out in his estimate its counterpart in Canberra. If we cast our and, with a deficiency of $10,500,000 loom­ minds back we remember that these are the ing, he had to go cap in hand to the Grants very political parties-particularly the Commission to get him off the hook in an Menzies Government, during the Federal election year. election campaign in 1949-which said, "We'll be the people to put value back into Adverting to railway expenditures, the the pound. We will be the Government to expectations from railway services were give you value for your money." That was receipts of $123,000,000 and expenditure of the catchcry in those days. The catchcry $121,900,000. What was the result? This today seems to be, "The continued high Budget shows that receipts were $120,582,054 rate of increase in our wage structure." and expenditure $129,462,165, the result That is what the Government suggests is being a loss of $8,880,111. the reason for all the problems. Everything falls back onto the shoulders of the worker. The Queensland Government obviously does not know how to administer this The Treasurer says in his Financial State­ Department or cannot anticipate its receipts ment, "But this of course is a national prob­ and expenditure over a 12-month period. lem." That reminds one of the incompetent Perhaps preferential freight charges may have State member who, when someone says to something to do with this. This aspect, of him, "Can you help me on this?" says, course, was cited and slated by the Grants "No; that is a Federal matter." It is the Commission. In paragraph 16 of the report old story of referring it back, shifting the on the submission, the whole situation is load, giving it to somebody else to do, crystallised. It reads- passing the ball. The Treasurer is trying to do just that and, at the same time, hoodwink "Queensland submitted that it should the people of Queensland. He does not receive a favourable adjustment for its admit that the increase in wages for over above-standard level of rail freights of an three-quarters of the State's wage-earners amount at least sufficient to offset the results in stockpiling and compounding of estimated unfavourable adjustment of $9 · 7 taxation receipts in the Commonwealth million on account of below-standard coffers. As wages go up, the Commonwealth severitv of State taxation. Its estimate that Government has more money to play with. Queen~land's rates are 13 per cent above The more we earn, the more tax we pay, standard would imply a favourable adjust­ and the more income the Commonwealth ment of $14 million. In assessing the Government has. It must be remembered 'minimum' special grant of $10.5 million that income tax is assessed on taxation claimed for 1971-72 it had not taken into scales that were determined at a time when, account any favourable adjustment for by comparison with today, wages were railway charges." meagre. There we have set out in a public document The Treasurer's Financial Statement for everyone to see a statement of the in­ explains an improvement in receipts to competence of the Queensland Government $595,200,000, which exceeded the estimate in running its railway system. The people in by $30,900,000. Of course, that includes isolated areas of Queensland are saddled with the $9,000,000 advanced through the Com­ and now have to carry the resultant dis­ monwealth Grants Commission, the non­ abilities and, because of the incompetency of metropolitan unemployment grant of the Government, Queensland can no longer $5,400,000, and natural disaster relief pay­ stand on its own feet. Instead, we now ask ments of $3,200,000. for hand-outs or grants. Fifteen years ago To obtain the $9,000,000 from the Grants this course of action would never even have Commission, Queensland became a men­ been coilsidered, but now we go South with dicant State. In effect we have said, a brief and even then we cannot properly "Queensland has mismanaged its affairs and assess our case. its economy to such an extent that we are It is quite clear from the report of the now virtually bankrupt." That is the case Grants Commission that the Queensland case that was taken to the Commonwealth had not taken into account any favourable Government. In 1957 Queensland's total adjustment for railway charges. However, expenditure from Consolidated Revenue was this was not unexpected. On 10 November $17,000,000. The fact that it will total 1970 I asked the following question of the $679,000,000 this year is an indication of the Premier who was also Minister for State inflationary story of this Government. I Development- suppose these figures sound good, but the Government is conveniently forgetting that "Has the Commonwealth Government inflation over a period of time has increased indicated the form of assistance that will the sums involved. I suppose if one applied be extended to build new rail extensions as the ratio borne by the 1957 figure of recommended by the Wilbur Smith Trans­ $170,000,000 to the then total over-all port Survey and, if so, what would be the expenditure, the figure now, as a result of basis of the assistance?" 1070 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

The Premier's answer was, "No." Obviously "The city cannot take more cars and no consideration was being given to the car parks without stifling itself and without matter; it was not even being thought about. requiring more freeways at vast expense Following that, an article in 'The Courier­ crushing out the best of urban life." Mail" seemed to indicate the birth of a While the other States were moving in spark of realisation. It appeared on Wednes­ conjunction with one another, Queensland day, 19 May 1971, under the heading, "Move remained stagnant. to seek Federal Rail Aid," and read- On 14 September this year I asked the "The State Government is believed to be Minister for Transport whether at the meet­ considering an approach to the Common­ ing of the Australian Transport Advisory wealth for special financial aid to reduce Council held on 7 July the study undertaken rail freight rates." by the Bureau of Transport Economics on Following that I again questioned the urban transport and railways was under dis­ Minister for Transport on Commonwealth cussion and, if so, what recommendations assistance for extensions recommended in the were made or what decision was arrived at. Wilbur Smith Transport Survey. I asked The Minister replied that appropriate sub­ whether the State Government was now seek­ missions had been made to the Common­ ing Commonwealth assistance for the electri­ wealth for such assistance. fication of the north-side railway system, and Mr. K. W. Hooper: That is true, too. the Minister replied that he had no recollec­ tion of making a statement. Subsequently I Mr. R. JONES: It is, but very late. asked whether or not the Minister was pre­ pared to give some credit to the Opposition Mr. K. W. Hooper: Very late, my foot! for putting this idea in his mind, to which he It had been going on in the time of my gave a non-commital reply. predecessor. It is passing strange that in "The Sunday Mr. R. JONES: How far back? Australian" of 5 September 1971 it is reported that the train plan then hinged on Mr. K. W. Hooper: With Mr. Knox. Federal aid. The then Minister, Mr. Knox, Mr. R. JONES: He did not know anything said- about it in 1970. " Australian cities will have to build 14-lane highways if they do not receive Mr. K. W. Hooper: I am not talking about Federal aid for rapid urban transport 1970. systems. Mr. R. .JONES: I have been asking ques­ "Brisbane will need Federal cash if it tions as far back as that, trying to get is to develop an electric suburban train the Government on the line. Now I have it system. on the line. "Electric transport would not in itself be a 'magic solution'. Mr. K. W. Hooper: You have not got me me on the line. Representations have been "What is needed is a total concept of made. moving people, and that is why we are considering appointing a rapid transport Mr. R. JONES: I learned that by asking authority." a question on 14 September this year. I am quite aware of it now, but the Government Then followed questions on 9 and 22 Sep­ should have taken this action long ago. tember, in which I asked the Minister what forms of assistance were applied for, what On 13 October I asked the Treasurer- date was the submission made, and what was "What financial grants has Queensland the response of the Commonwealth Govern­ received from the Commonwealth in the ment. Of course, as usual, the Minister gave past five years for (a) railway permanent­ a negative reply. way improvement and/or rolling stock ... (c) special grants to the Railway Depart­ All this time, while the Queensland Gov­ ment to offset interest on capital loans?" ernment was trying to make up its mind on what it should do, the Perth underground To that question the Treasurer replied, in railway system was being negotiated. The both instances, "Nil". first interim stage was to cost $14,600,000, Meanwhile the Main Roads Department and it was hoped that work would commence was not inactive. It got $180,094,491 in in July this year and would be completed that five years. But the Railway Department by April 1976. is sitting pat under this Government. There On 24 August 1971 "The Cairns Poot" has been no activity; no-one is trying to do reported- anything to help. The Government is allow­ "To reassure Melbourne people that the ing it to run into the ground, as I will prove. underground railway scheme is really start­ On 8 July 1971 a meeting of the Aus­ ing, it has been announced that an engine­ tralian Transport Advisory Council was held ering consortium has been formed to design in Perth. Perhaps the Minister can pick up and supervise construction. the threads at this stage. That appears to "It is presently costed at $80,000,000 be the first occasion on which Queensland and will be completed in seven years. started to do anything about it. A question Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1071

which appears in Federal "Hansard" for And I cite this editorial from the "Railways 5 November 1971 discloses exactly what was of Australia Network" of June 1972- happening. It was put to the Minister for "Is help in sight? Australia is one of Shipping and Transport in these terms- the few countries in the western world "Did the Australian Transport Advisory where the railway systems do not receive Council meeting in Perth on 8th July 1971 parity with these bodies for capital works." determine that he and State Ministers for What is referred to are the four main modes Transport instruct their advisers to of transport, namely, road, rail, sea and air. urgently prepare a report on the investment The article continues- needs of urban public transport; if so, "Interest-free Commonwealth grants or what progress has been made, and will the subsidies have been made available report be tabled in the Parliament in due mainly for road, sea and air transport, course?" despite the fact that, in this country, a Senator Cotton, the then Federal Minister for clear-cut case exists for Government Shipping and Transport, replied- investment in railways rather than roads." "Commonwealth and State Transport And again- Ministers have instructed their advisers to "The Federal Bureau of Transport prepare urgently, with the assistance of Economics is now making some prelimin­ the Bureau of Transport Economics, a ary studies." report on the investment needs of urban public transport." The article concludes- "While it is true that there are several It is quite obvious that that is when Queens­ ways of influencing the railways financial land moved. structure-from increasing charges for Mr. K. W. Hooper interjected. railway services to closing the most unprofitable country services-none is as Mr. R. JONES: If the Minister wishes to necessary or as urgent as a programme of deny that, I should like him to do so. Commonwealth financial aid for the State railway systems." This information was elicited by a ques­ tion. I charge the Queensland Government, So the story starts to appear finally in the the responsible Minister at that time, and Press. On 30 June 1972 we had the follow­ his predecessor, with not trying to get out ing Press statement- of the morass into which the Treasurer had "Queensland and other States are relegated Queensland by discontinuing the expected next week to seek considerable quadruplication and electrification of the Federal financial aid for modernising cap­ railway system. But for the action of the ital city public transport systems, includ­ Treasurer, as Minister for Transport, we ing Brisbane's." would have been so far ahead of the other In "The Courier-Mail" of 5 October 1972, States that they would not have been able this appeared- to see our tail. But now we are further "Transport aid likely" behind because the other States have acted. Naturally they will get priority because their "The Federal Government is expected to schemes are under way. That does not worry announce special financial help for public transport systems, particularly railways." the Government but it certainly worries the people of Queensland. I am quite sure that On 12 October 1972 the Minister said that when this is brought to their attention they the aid, as promised, was welcomed. It is no will realise that this Government has adopted longer a myth. The stage has been reached a negative approach to the Railway Depart­ where we will at least be given some consid­ ment while other departments have been eration in the provision of developmental wallowing in a sufficiency of money, as I capital for railways. have already pointed out. Let me speculate on the form of approach that I consider is both warranted and expedi­ While this was happening, some Press tious for the upgrading of our railway sys­ statements were released about railways. tem. For some considerable time-probably One dated 13 June 1972-the eve of the 20, 30, or 40 years--experts, Governments, forthcoming Federal election-by Mr. and finally citizens have been hoodwinked Whitlam stated that the Commonwealth into blithely assuming that the car, the bus, should take over the railways. It indicated the truck and the aeroplane could perform the frustration in the Commonwealth sphere the work and functions of the railways, and about inactivity in this State. If that is that railways, to use an "in" term, would be not enough, I will read Mr. Whitlam's statement. He said- "non-U", would become outdated, and would gradually be allowed to run down. "The Premier of New South Wales Sir This has been happening in Queensland since Robert Askin, and the Premier of 'vic­ 1957. In fact, railways were being phased toria, Sir Henry Bolte, have already offered out in 1963 following the production of the to transfer their railways to the Common­ Ford, Bacon and Davis report, and some wealth". railway lines were being closed. Finally, the 1072 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

Government got the message when the hon­ expired. All these things increase the tensions ourable member for Cook, who was then the of life. In addition, there are ilie costs of honourable member for Tablelands, was petrol, oil, repairs, registration and insurance. elected to Parliament as a result of its policy on railways. He has proved himself to be Motor transport is costly for both Govern­ ments and the people. The most significant a good railwayman and parliamentarian. advantage of rail travel over travel by motor­ The Australian railway system is one of car is ,the remarkable safety of the railways. the major forms of transport in this country Human error and misjudgment, with con­ and can be economically overhauled and sequent death and injury, loom largely in updated to increase its capacity. This would the driving of motor-cars. During the make it better than any other form of trans­ development of the motor-car, speed has been port in Australia. Expensive highways and exaggerated as one of its main advantages. expressways, which cannot be amortised, are The paradox, on the obverse side of the being built. Larger fleets of trucks use the coin, is that motor transport is now grinding roads, the number of motor-cars increases, to a halt. and the result is greater congestion, which We in Australia should be able to look adds to atmospheric and environmental pol­ at the experience of other more densely lution. Even before the expressway system populated countries and draw our own con­ in Brisbane has been completed, the ordinary clusions from it. We should have learnt our citizen is becoming appalled at the results of lesson over the last 20 years, but we have the foolishness of shifting the burden of not. During that period, and before it, we transport from the railways to motor have been foolishly constructing highways. vehicles. Bullock tracks ran beside railway lines, so Mr. Davis: Seven hundred families will we developed highways parallel with those be affected by the proposed new freeway. lines. This is one of the things that brought about the demise of the railways. They are Mr. R. JONES: That is another factor in now being regenerated, but that certainly the metropolitan area. For rail transport, was a bad feature of past planning. We can the permanent ways are already there, ready condemn whoever we choose for that, but for upgrading. All that freeways have done it has been done. Most arterial roads now in the city is decrease the speed of transport run parallel to the main railway lines. by multiplication. Precious years, money, I believe that there is still hope in Aus­ and even petroleum have been wasted by the tralia if Governments grasp the nettle and emphasis placed on road transport. It could tackle this problem. The transport system also be said from the humanitarian point of today is not balanced. When it was balanced, view that the use of the private motor-car the railways were a national asset. I have has increased tensions. Everyone knows that heard honourable members on both sides if a person travels a short distance by motor­ of the Chamber say how much has been car, he is tense virtually all the time. On achieved in the field of decentralisation in the open road, car travel is tedious, this State. Should we not give credit to monotonous and dangerous, both psycho­ the people who planned the railways and logically through tension and physically made sure that they ran to the ports on through the possibility of accident. We are the coast? We should express our gratitude choking our cities with traffic, saturating our to them. The system is still in operation. parking areas, and denying ourselves the If it is upgraded, railway services in Queens­ space that we should have. In addition, land will be far in advance of those in other exhaust emissions are "smogging up" our Australian States. cities and towns. In my opinion, a very grave mistake was Finally, the people have reached the stage made in denying the railways the recognition of reassessment. I hope it is not even now too that was due to them, because, as honour­ late. Whilst tears are running from our able members have seen, the whole trans­ eyes as we are drooling over our mistakes port system has become unbalanced. and choking on exhaust fumes, I hope we Figures show that motor transport requires also weep a few tears physically, as well as heavy public assistance, and it is now psychologically, because of our foolishness obvious that a national railway system is over the years. In San Francisco, it cost needed. Such a system could perhaps have $750,000,000 to build a modern rapid trans­ been in existence years ago if people had port system. The sooner we embark on such been a little more honest and tolerant, and a project, the cheaper it will be. We deserted a little less parochial. the railways in short-sighted fashion, and subjected ourselves to the motor-car. We Mr. Davis: The Tories ran the country. became entranced with the motor-car; every­ body had to have one. All people had to Mr. R. JONES: In those days, I think, have the mobility of motor transport. In the Tories were running the country for the process, we have become pedestrians themselves instead of for the good of the from the parking lot to our destination. people. They shunted us into a dead-end Whilst driving, we have become nervous siding. We might have to back up a bit, wrecks. We are constantly checking to see but we will certainly be able to move for­ that our time on the parking meter has not ward quickly once we begin. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1073

I see a glimmer of light. Honourable Minister. But there are other things I want members know what the railways achieved to talk about. He will keep. We all have in war-time under a former Minister for a three-year term here, and the Minister Transport in this State, Mr. Jack Duggan. will keep. That should have proved the value of the Mr. Sherrington: In the event of a bomb railways to Queensland and to Australia, dropping on the oil refinery, all the members and a more intensive programme of of Cabinet would head for the nuclear air­ upgrading should have been undertaken after World War II. The railways should not raid shelter. have been allowed to stagnate. Mr. R. JONES: We do not have a In the recent industrial dispute, the closure nuclear air-raid shelter yet. There would be of the two oil refineries in Brisbane virtually a few bodies in the passageway if everyone brought Queensland to a halt. The position started rushing for it at once-if we had would be funny if it were not quite so one. It would need a very wide door, and serious. I ask honourable members to probably someone standing at the entrance imagine what would happen if supplies of with a gun. I know of a big cave in the imported fuel were cut off. If Queensland Chillagoe area where I would go. I would depended entirely on imports of fuel, it not come here because this would be an would be completely immobilised in the enemy's first t~rget. I do not fancy being event of a similar strike. In my opinion, that shot at. possibility has not been considered as care­ As I was saying before I was side-tracked, fully as it should have been. the railways should have been upgraded after Having recently come from the country, the war instead of being allowed to stagnate. I was able to view objectively what was Of course, we simply write off the wholesale going on in the city, and I saw it brought sacrifices on the roadways and expressways. almost to a halt. If a bomb were dropped We shrug off the road-toll figures and regard on the Ampol refinery, the result would be them as a necessary sacrifice in this techno­ the same. Everything would grind to a logical age. The West c;Jate ~ridge trage~y standstill, including the primary industries in Melbourne was a te!'nble disaster, but m to which the Minister for Primary Indus­ Queensland we kill as many people as that tries referred last week. In my opinion, every month on the roads. We have the the position should be studied carefully equivalent of a West Gate Bridge tragedy from the point of view of using the trans­ every month but nobody see:ns to ca~e. ~o port system in any future defence of Aus­ royal commissions are appomted to mqmre tralia. into it. That is the silly way we approach Mr. SuUivan: As you have acknowledged the subject. my presence in the Chamber, did I under­ We have become technological; we have stand you to say a while ago that there become motorised. We have all been oriented should not be main roads or highways to the monthly road toll. One person drives adjacent to railway lines? to work in a motor vehicle on his own. If things were properly organised, we would Mr. R. JONES: I think the Minister was all be travelling by public transport. The a little late in coming into the Chamber. way we have been oriented, I believe we have I was merely comparing the way that the been hoodwinked by the oil companies, the railways had been allowed to run down with tyre companies and others who are bleeding the way that roads had been improved. I us white and keeping us poor. Governments, said that equal attention should have been too, have oriented the travelling public. They given to the development of both roads and have toadied to the oil companies and built railways, not necessarily side by side, and roads. The railway system should have been that more funds should have been injected upgraded and we should be; commuting by into the railways. In fact, I quoted figures rail. We should now be usmg a fast, com­ to support my argument. If the Minister fortable, efficient electrified railway service reads the "Hansard" proof, he will come within the metropolitan area. round to my way of thinking and become an advocate for the railways. What is the solution to the road toll? We are now being told that the ultimate Mr. Sullivan: Don't you think the roads solution is the evolving of a completely should be there? crash-proof car. A person will put his Mr. R. JONES: I think the roads should seat belt on after encasing himself in a be there, but I believe that our priorities metal shell with bumper-bars all around it, should be reassessed. Australia has time and drive off at a fast rate. Of course, to do that; other countries may not. It the experts say that once the vehicle attains will cost them much more. the speed permitted by law, a person could still kill himself in a so-called crash-proof Mr. Sullivan: Do you think there should car. They have not yet been perfected to be a bitumen road from Dalby to Chinchilla the stage where they would be completely alongside the railway line? safe in a crash at the upper speed limits. Mr. R. JO~ES: I hope I can get to the It is time for re-assessment. It is time end of the pile of papers I have in front to look at transport within Australia. That of me. I have something here about the means more than just the making of a "fast 1074 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972) (Financial Statement) buck" by the oil companies and the tyre I now draw attention to page 20 of the companies. We have had ribbon develop­ Financial Statement, wherein the Treasurer ment around the coastline. mentions the proposed new technical college blocks, including one at Cairns. I thank the Mr. Sullivan interjected. Minister for Works for this. I recently questioned him about an article that appeared Mr. R. JONES: Statistics will prove what in the Brisbane "Telegraph" last Thursday I have said to be true. I am sympathetic stating that the Executive Council had towards the country areas that the Minister approved some expenditure on the Cairns is talking about. Unfortunately, with urban­ Technical College. I approached the Minister isation, this has happened. As to whether and he agreed that this expenditure would it is right or WTong, I am prepared to come be on the new boiler-makers' shop and onto the Minister's side. architectural design and on clearing the new site for the technical college in Cairns, bor­ Mr. Su!Hvan: What is wrong with you? dered by Wilkinson, Fernley and Eureka We have good roads in inland areas. Streets and comprising 18 acres. Geographic­ ally. this is the centre of Cairns and I am Mr. R. JONES: I know we have. If the very pleased indeed that the Minister has Minister allows me to develop my argument, decided-no doubt he influenced the I will tell him how this all dovetails. It Executive Council-to erect the technical col­ revolves around the diversification of a trans­ lege on this new site. port system and is designed to distribute its load over various carriers in order to meet During the election campaign, in "The various needs. The aeroplane is obviously Cairns Post" of 23 March 1972 it was stated a desirable addition to, although not a sub­ by the Country Party candidate for Cairns­ stitute for, the railways. For distances of "(a) That the Department of Education over 500 miles the jet plane has a tremendous and the Department of Works had pre­ advantage in speed over the motor-car and pared an over-all development plan; the railways. "(b) That the technical college was to Taking into account what I said before and be almost rebuilt; despite the serious drawbacks of air pollu­ "(c) That the plan allowed for gradual tion and congestion and the limited operation replacement of the three single-storey of vehicles such as aeroplanes and motor workshops; vehicles in bad weather, which very rarely "(d) That new buildings were to be affects the railway service, the jet plane by­ erected on the present site before the old passes what the railways term "roadside buildings were demolished; and stops" and leaves in-between regions isolated. This leads to stagnation and desolation, which "(e) That construction on the enlarged is the cause of people drifting towards the buildings would allow the college to coast. expand without further congestion on a relatively small site." Up to this point, Australia has not been developed in the proper way. Railways This candidate also said that the Minister satisfy one need and motor trucks another, for Education had told him that construction but all methods should be interwoven into of the new plumbing and boiler-makers' one balanced transport system. We should shops could start at the end of 1972, and be looking for co-operation rather than com­ that in the following year the building petition, and all forms of transport should be would be completed. I suggest that he has indispensable to and co-ordinate with one put his own connotations on this statement, another. Over a period of time we have but I did not take him to task as I could allowed duplication, and I charge those have. responsible for it with colossal blundering. Obviously the Minister had in mind what In transport, all types of carriers should be everybody in Cairns knew, namely, that this partners rather than rivals. My plea today new site was the obvious site. In the days of is to allow the railways to accept their right­ the Cairns State High School and Technical ful role rather than to treat them as a poor College these buildings were additions to the relation. complex, but in this technological age it is only natural that the new technical college Safety, convenience, comfort, frequency should be constructed on the newly proposed of service and a minimum wastage of site. I congratulate the Minister for Works energy, resources and land should be the aim and Housing, and this would be the first time in all forms of transport. But I think our I have done so. priorities in transport should be revised. There is a very strong case indeed for the Mr. Sullivan: Don't spoil it, now. upgrading of the railways before it is too late. In future, the railways will have to Mr. R. JONES: I do not want to spoil it, cater for the maximum demands, not the but it is still early in the session. Obviously mm1mum. I have perhaps spoken at too the Minister has seen my point of view, and, great a length on transport, but I feel these in spite of statements that have been made things have to be said by me as Labor's previously, he has accepted my statement as shadow Minister for Transport. correct. I compliment him for that. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1075

I now wish to draw attention to the Cairns Minister should have been able to make some Police Station. On page 21 of the Financial ground instead of falling into the wishy­ Statement it is not included among the list washy ways of politics. A hush came over of police station projects in Queensland, and the crowd when he introduced this note. naturally I am disappointed about that. Actually, he prefaced his remarks by saying, On Monday, 10 July-after the election- "I know this is distasteful, but ... ", and 1 was reported in "The Cairns Post" as away he went. follows:- The Federal member for Leichhardt ten­ " Mr. Jones said the present police build­ dered an apology for his absence. He was ings in Cairns were untenantable and were in Canberra at a meeting of the Federal like rabbit warrens. Government's Works Committee. His apology "'Verandahs are used as offices and was not recognised although those of State filing cabinets made up walls,' he said. members were. o( course, this is a Federal "'Amenities are meagre, and in the election year. The honourable member for summer the station is like an oven. By Mularave was there, and so was I, but we contrast, winter breezes sweep through were"' virtually relegated to sitting anywhere cracks and corridors at will.' we could among the crowd. People came to me and said, "I think you got a dirty de!'ll, "Mr. Jones said that the walls of the Jonesy." And I think I did. When a Mm­ building held a conglomeration of equip­ ister of the Crown visits a member's elec­ ment and the building was congested with torate he should at least recognise him and material which left 'standing room only'." invite' him onto the platform. Irrespective of The Minister visited Cairns, and on 12 July how broad political divisions may be, a mem­ he was reported in 'The Cairns Post" in ber is elected by the people of his electorate. these words- I have a pretty strong vote in the Cairns "'A new police station for Cairns was electorate-in fact, seven people out of 10 high on the priority list of works in the voted for me-and when a Minister rubbishes Police Department but was waiting on the me he does not gain anything. Perhaps the availability of money. Minister for Health will learn a lesson from "\Ve accept the need for the new station. what happened in Cairns. I will not suffer; The building is in the forward planning in fact, I will benefit. A Minister denigrates stage in anticipation of funds and it a local member when he acts in this way. I would be one of the first new stations to will say that some Ministers act in this way be built." and others do not. I realise that some J hope the Minister is using some of the Ministers very properly recognise a local Commonwealth grant that Queensland has member and do not denigrate him. After all, received. he is an elected member of this Legislature On the following day, 13 July, at a civic and he has a right to be at any meeting. reception the Minister stated- I emphasise that it is not the man who is "I do not deny that you need a new being recognised, but his position .. If me~­ station here, and you will get it. I have bers of Parliament are to be demgrated m never seen such a rabbit warren. When I this way, Ministers should realise tha~ ~hey went there this morning I saw a sergeant will "cop it sweet", too. If the Mtmst~r backing out of an office doorway. I asked wants to be a political animal and act m him what he was doing and he said, 'I this way, he will "cop" it when we become wanted to cough'." the Government. I make no apology for Last Saturday the Minister for Health what I say. I am not worried about what visited Cairns for the official opening of the happened; I merely raise this matter as new maternity and surgical block at the a typical example of what has been done. hospital. Its provision was a great step Mr. Kaus: It will be a long time before forward for Cairns. The people had been you are on this side of the Chamber. waiting expectantly for it for some time, and we were happy to welcome the Minister. Mr. R. JONES: I do not know about that, I am a temperate man and it is very rarely nor does the honourable member. Any that I feel moved to castigate any member political situation can change very quickly. of this Chamber. However, on this occasion Sometimes we do not know we are back­ I feel that I must castigate the Minister for sliding or when we are going ahead. If the Health. He was rather rude and ignorant in honourable member pays heed to an old his approach. It was in very bad taste that, trooper he will never relax; he will keep his at such a time and place, he should so nose to' the grindstone at all times. He could lower himself as to bring politics into it. very quickly be a member of Her Majesty's While he was on the platform he spoke Opposition. When that happens and the about what Mr. Whitlam had said on such­ honourable member for Mansfield comes to and-such an occasion. my area, I will recognise him if he. is st_ill i_n This was the opening ceremony for a this Assembly. I will even recogmse htm 1f building that the people of Cairns are very he is no longer a member because, as Govern­ proud of. It was an occasion when the ment members go, he is not a bad bloke. 1076 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

As I say, I felt that the Minister's actions Utah is spending $20,000,000 on the in Cairns were in bad taste. One man said Saraji spur line, which will become the to me that he thought the Minister was property of -the people. The whole State ignorant. Personally, I thought he went a will benefit from this project by way of little too far. freights, royalties, wages, and the many side (Time expired.) benefits that accrue from development of this nature. I mention in passing that the [Sitting suspended from 6 to 7.15 p.m.] increase of .8 per cent in coal freights this month represents $330,000 to the Railway Mr. NEWBERY (Mirani) (7.15 p.m.): It Department. gives me great pleasure to speak in this debate, and I take the opportunity of con­ New towns will spring up from this gratulating the Treasurer on the presentation development that has been encouraged by of a very fine Budget. His ability to do so the Government. There is tremendous expan­ indicates a good result last year, which was sion in the beautiful town of Moranbah in brought about by good administration by the the electorate of the honourable member for Country-Liberal Government in the develop­ Belyando. Already the population is about ment of this State. Large-scale development 2,000, with 600 children attending the school, produces a sound financial position. which has a high-school top. The new town of Dysart has already been A Govemment Member: And so do good planned and pegged out, and within 12 to 18 cane prices. months it is hoped to have it established to service the mine at Saraji. Later it will Mr. NEWBERY: Good cane prices and service the Norwich Park coal mine. Dysart, good coal prices. we understand, will house about 2,200 people, The $8,900,000 loss sustained in railway which will make it a town almost the size of freights would have been considerably greater Sarina. This development has been brought had it not been for the forward steps taken about by the encouragement of the Govern­ by this Government since it took office in ment over the last few years. the development of Queensland's mineral Wages in the Goonyella-Peak Downs part resources, which has produced the present of the project amount to about $120,000 a good financial situation. week, which is certainly not "peanuts". The The Utah projects in my electorate and average weekly wage to workers on the that of the honourable member for Belyando project is about $160. This illustrates, as the assist in the State's development and provide Government has been endeavouring to employment. It could be claimed that this impress upon the Opposition, that what is development is centralised, but that is not imoortant is not the amount received in the case. I refer to the expenditure of royalties but the final return. The return $100,000,000 on the Goonyella-Peak Downs in this case is $160 a week to the worker, project. A good deal of that money will be and a gross payment of $120,000 a week paid to workers, and the benefits will be to miners in the area. enjoyed not only throughout Queensland but There are 70 men working in the Sarina throughout Australia. area on the jetty at Hay Point loading coal into ships of up to 120,000 tons. By the Mr. Hinze: This is only because you have been talking about it for years. time the Saraji mine comes into production, it is expected that the weekly wages bill of Mr. NEWBERY: That is right. I have the Utah organisation will be about $188,000 been a member of the Mackay District to workers in this area. This amount of Development Bureau for 30 years, which money would provide a tremendous uplift has been pressing for this development, and to any area. Although a certain amount of now, with the support of this Government, it will probably reach Clermont, I feel that something is being done. In considering our the bulk of it will flow to Mackay and sound position today, my mind goes back to Sarina on the coast. the work done by the late Emie Evans. There has been tremendous development in the exploitation of the mineral resources Another project is being undertaken at of Queensland, and much of the credit for Saraji, \;here Utah is spending $77,000,000. that must go to the late Ernie Evans and It is anticipated that two years after Saraji the present Minister for Mines, Mr. Ron ·begins production the development of Camm. The export of minerals from this Norwich Park will begin. In addition, State is worth today almost $1,000 million $56,000,000 has been spent on the Goonyella­ a year, and this has contributed greatly to Hay Point railway line and the Peak Downs Queensland's financial position. The mineral railway line. They are in my electorate and States of Queensland and Western Australia the people there appreciate this development. which lagged behind the other States year~ Mr. Hinze: How are you able to get a ago, are now coming to the fore anad pro­ 140-mile line when I can't get an 80-mile ducing minerals for the benefit of the whole line to the Gold Coast? of Australia. I have estimated that by the end of 1972 Mr. NEWBERY: It is probably because the Utah organisation will have paid about of the minerals in this area. $13,000,000 in wages, and another $6,000,000 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1077 on incidental purchases, stores, fuel and oil, making every possible effort to obtain con­ and services. That is a considerable amount tracts and bring them into production. It of money to put into circulation. Good is hoped that they will be successful in the luck to those who are working in the mines near future in reaching agreement to export today. When there is full production at coal to Japan, and it is possible that they Goonyella, Peak Downs, Saraji, and Norwich are also seeking markets in Europe, as are Park, the salaries and wages bill per annum other companies. of the Utah organisation will be about Although Thiess Peabody Mitsui and Hail $42,000,000, and the cost to them of stores Creek Associates are hopeful of beginning and services will be in the vicinity of production soon, problems have arisen in $19,000,000. That is not "half a tomato", connection with the port and the railway. as the A.LP. claimed when the legislation The people of my area are greatly concerned was before the House several years ago. about the site of the port and also about Mr. Bird: The workers would never have the location of the railway line. They object got that if it had been a socialist project, strongly, of course, to the railway line would they? traversing cane fields. Their opposition could have been strengthened because a Mr. NEWBERY: No. They really feasibility survey team that Hail Creek appreciate it. I mix with quite a number Associates had in the area chose to survey of people engaged in the mining industry, a route for the proposed railway through and I assure the Committee that those in what I claim are the very best cane lands my area are really on top of the world. in the Mackay district-a heavily cultivated There are about 400 homes in Moranbah, area near Walkerston. The feasibility survey and miners who receive $160 a week in is of a route over the Eton Range, south wages are paying only $5 a week in rent. of the Eton-Walkerston road, just east of As I have said, Moranbah has a very WalkJerston, and then just west of the modern primary school, with a high-school Mackay Sugar Experiment Station. Nothing top. About 600 pupils now attend the could be worse than to take the line school, and I think that it must almost be through that particular area. TI1e cane­ overcrowded because the area is expanding growers and I have had the opportunity so quickly. In addition, the Utah company to discuss this problem with the Minister has built a really beautiful swimming pool for Mines and Main Roads. I can assure costing $180.000 for the people of the people up there that only over my Moranbah. That is real development, and dead body would the line go through that honourable members opposite, when they area, breaking up the cane farms and thus think back, must regret their vicious opposi­ making farming of the area almost tion when the Bill passed through this impossible. Chamber. I remember not only their If the company insists on going to Mackay opposition but also, in particular, an inter­ Harbour, I would suggest as I have suggested jection by the honourable member for previously, that it follow the old Newbury Belmont, "How about the sewerage?" I Junction-Victoria or North Eton railway line. wish he was present to hear me mention That was a branch line off the Netherdale­ that. Mackay line, which serviced the township of As time goes by, the railway will also Eton and the Eton MilL Of course, that line become the property of the Government and has now been lifted. As I say, if it insists on people of Queensland. It is a common going to Mackay Harbour, I would suggest carrier and has already carried a large that it follow the Newbury Junction line, and, consignment of sorghum from the Nebo on striking the Netherdale line, look east or area. west to locate a site that would cause the least Opposition Members interjected. possible interference with cane farms between Eungella Road and the river and between the Mr. NEWBERY: Who said it is not river and the North Coast road, and thence development? Some people contend that through the populous northern part of it is not big development. Of course it Mackay. is! One only needs to ask those who Of course, there are other sites for the work on the project how they feel about railway line. There could be a duplication of it to find out how much they appreciate the present line, but I am informed that, what the Government has done for the when the Utah project is fully developed and miners in the whole of the Utah complex. it is exporting 22,000,000 tons a year, the Of course, this is only the beginning. line will be fully engaged. If the line for Although the Utah project may have Hale Creek Associates goes to Mackay Har­ brought big development, other companies bour, it will be going through cane fields. are also knocking at the door. The Hail Whatever the route, it will go near cane Creek coal area 10 miles north-west of fields. This creates a dust problem. Every Nebo has proven reserves of almost 1,000 farmer up there knows what a dust probl­ million tons of good-quality coking coal. lem can mean to a cane field. Dust stunts The Thiess Peabody Mitsui mining site on the growth of cane, and cane which has dust "Riverside" Station, west of Goonyel!a, also on it will not burn. Coal dust on cane has large reserves, and I know that the two causes a dampening effect, so that the cane companies involved in these areas are will not burn. And dust spreads up to half 1078 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) a mile on each side of the railway line. the scene of a number of coal-loaders. Houses in the vicinity of the line would be Therefore, I urge the Government to take covered in coal dust. The dust along the a rational, long-sighted view and insist that, line now has to be seen to be believed. Those in the event of a second coal terminal being who say that there is no dust problem associ­ necessary, it be located in the Hay Point­ ated with a coal train should take a look Dudgeon Point area. Such a step might not along the line at Goonyella through the graz­ be popular in the short term but in the long ing properties and the few cane farms it term it must be seen to be wisely founded. interfered with on the coastal side. I urge the Government to keep away from If the line went to Mackay Harbour, it Mackay harbour and establish the Hay Point would cross many council roads, main roads, area as the dirty port in the Mackay region small roads, tram lines and the river and for coal export. finally through the northern section of Mackay, on the southern side of the main The Hay Point Utah complex is fully section of Slade Point, and then out to the committed and, as I mentioned previously, harbour. I am informed by some of the will eventually be exporting 22,000,000 tons drivers that the trains are losing not pounds of coal, but there is sufficient room for but tons of coal in the 142-mile haul as a many companies in the northern sector of result of wind erosion. the Hay Point area between Mt. Hector and Dudgeon Point. From now on, I feel that, Cane growers object strongly to the coal instead of allowing the coal companies to going through Mackay Harbour. Coal dust establish their own jetties, we should look will penetrate anything. One has only to at co-ordinating the efforts of the companies inspect the houses in the vicinity of a coal and building one large jetty. In the Dudgeon port to realise how the coal dust will pene­ Point-Mt. Hector area there is sufficient room trate. The growers are strongly opposed to for many companies and a proven site for coal-loading facilities being established at a jetty. Mackay Harbour. The North Mackay people have voiced their opinions strongly, Mr. Casey: The Mackay Harbour Board too, about the traversing of the North wanted to do this in the first place but you Mackay area by coal trains. knocked them. In a matter of four years the population of the Slade Point area will represent about Mr. NEWBERY: I did not. In this area, 11.5 per cent of the total population of the 13,000 ft. out there is a basin that would Mackay region, which is approximately not need dredging, as Hay Point did, to 60,000. These coal trains would be passing accommodate large ships. I think that the through the southern end of it. Government should take steps in this case to co-ordinate any future projects in one The Mackay Regional Study recently area with the one jetty. If the companies showed that a coal-loader at the Mackay want separate belts, they could be installed outer harbour would affect residential on the one jetty as Utah has done at Hay development and tourist activity because of Point. If necessary, six tiers of belts could be the environmental troubles that would be installed on the one jetty. It is estimated involved. In addition, a coal-loader by itself that the cost of a jetty to service this area would do little for regional income. would be approximately $10,000,000, so I Bearing in mind the crystal clear lessons suggest that the Government take steps to to be learned from the 1990 predictions in co-ordinate the financing of such a jetty on the Mackay Regional Study on the matter an extension deposit scheme such as that of basic work-force, it is clear that the tourist by which the railway was built from industry may not realise its full potential if Goonyella to Hay Point. great care is not ,exercised in the siting of a It might be claimed that the financial coal-loader at the Mackay harbour. There burden would be borne by the first company is, of course, an easy solution to this problem. or the first two companies. I suggest that In the Hay Point Port Authority area we they could put up the money and that, as are fortunate in having a number of sites other companies participated in the project other than Hay Point that would admirably by exporting coal from that area, the first serve the coal industry. I refer to the two companies could be relieved of their Dudgeon Point area just north of Mt. Hector responsibility on a proportionate basis. As where there are two suitable sites for a coal­ I have said, six companies could easily be loading pier. They are well away from accommodated in this area. Thousands of residential lands and could not possibly be acres of open country are available for a problem. stock-piling coal. The area at H~y Point Currently, there is great interest at all levels is fully occupied, whereas with proper in the matter of decentralisation and the planning the area at Mt. Hector-Dudgeon environment. It is surely clear that the com­ Point could be utilised to serve many com­ munity interest will be safeguarded by this panies. The surrounding country could be Government giving a positive lead in the used for the establishment of heavy industry, matter of siting coal-loaders and railway lines such as a steel mill. The siting of such a in the area. It is now far too late to canvass mill in the area would relieve the City of the idea that the beautiful coastline in the Mack:J.y of any pollution problem that would Mackay area can be indiscriminately made otherwise be caused. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1079

I know how the extension deposit scheme half of the 42 schools in my electorate had works, because I have seen it in operation no libraries, while the other half had in the electricity supply industry for some libraries of varying standards. I decided to time. It is worth mentioning that the late implement a Tom Newbery subsidy scheme Alec Hamilton, who was formerly a chair­ and today almost all of the school libraries man of the Mackay Harbour Board and was are well equipped. Indeed, the position is recognised as a man of vision, claimed that so good that many schools are asking to be coal and sugar simply do not mix and that, permitted to use the subsidy for other pur­ therefore, coal should not be exported poses. through Mackay Harbour. Naturally, the The scope of the remote-area allowance sugar industry shares his view. I can assure has been enlarged. Prior to the introduction honourable members that the 1600-odd cane­ of the Budget four and five-year-old children growers in my electorate are firmly of the were not eligible for assistance. The belief that the new coal port should be Treasurer has now seen fit to include them developed in the Hay Point Port Authority in the scheme. At the same time he has area. I urge the Government to keep the granted an additional $100 all round to the densely cultivated cane areas free of railway different age groups. Amounts of $260 will lines. be paid for children between the ages of To return to the Budget, I welcome the four and seven, $300 for those between increased expenditure on education. My eight and 10 years, and $550 for the 11 and electorate contains approximately 40 schools, 12-year-olds. This will be a tremendous help and they have been very well maintained by to the families who qualify. the Government. The educational aspect of the Budget that impressed me most of all is The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr. the St;:1te aid to non-State schools. The Dean): Order! There is too much audible Government is making a tremendous effort conversation in the Chamber. It is very dis­ by contributing $62 and $106 for each concerting. primary and secondary student respectively, and the Commonwealth Government's grant Mr. NEWBERY: An urgent need exists is of an ::qual amount. - for increasing the tax concession for remote­ area children from its present level to A Govemment Member: There wasn't any S1,000. This is a Federal matter, but I am State aid under Labor. constantly receiving complaints from country Mr. NEWBERY: That is right. Next year people who have to send their children away the financial aid to non-State schools will be to school. The oresent allowance is $350 increased by $1,950,000, making a total of but the cost to parents is well in excess of $7,500,000. As I said, under Labor no con­ $1,000. Assistance provided for families tribution ~:.t ali was made. who have to send their children away to school should be under constant review. I My electorate contains three convents, hope that the Treasurer does everything in at Sarina, Walkerston and Mirani. They his power to have this concession increased have an enrolment totalling 387 pupils, and because it will provide much-needed relief. from each of the Queensland and Common­ I understand that the wages of a male or wealth Govemments they will receive female private teacher in the country are $24,000. I have not seen the figures for the not allowable tax concessions. Mackay electorate, but I understand that approximately $130,000 is being provided to Another important benefit is the increase 'the Christian Brothers in Mackay. in the school-bus transport rates. This will For several years I have been trying to be welcomed by the schools and bus pro­ get clerk-typists and janitors for some prietors. The allowance was formerly a little schools in my electorate. The parents and low, which was evidenced by the type of teachers associated with many of the schools buses used by bus proprietors. The increase in my electorate are very proud of their of 2c per mile will assist bus owners not schools and schoolgrounds. They have been only to give a better service but also to awaiting the appointment of janitors more provide better buses. I have not been very eagerly than the appointment of clerk­ proud of some of the buses used and have typists. Under the budgetary provisions an even felt they could be dangerous. Of course, allowance of $150 is to be made for schools that does not apply to all of them and, over with up to 20 children, and $400 for schools the past few years, some owners have intro­ with 100 children or more. This is a tremend­ duced a better type of bus. ous step forward. The money is to be made Education has advanced tremendously not available to the schools without ties. The only in my electorate but throughout the parents and citizens' associations and the State, and I am proud to be a member of parents and friends' committees are delighted the Government that introduced a better by this gesture. education scheme. Prior to 1958, there was The increased library subsidy is commend­ not one high school in my electorate. In able. Till two years ago subsidy was pay­ fact, Labor did not even build one high able on a dollar-for-dollar basis. It is indeed school in the Mackay region, including the excellent that, after a reduction in subsidy, Mackay High School. Today, 850 students the Treasurer has seen fit to increase the in the Mirani electorate attend two high library subsidy. When I was elected in 1965, schools, one in Sarina and one in Mirani. 1080 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

In the Whitsunday electorate, three or four of water to the crop, and to the financial high schools have been built by this Govern­ returns, that the area would produce. Of ment. the farmers in this area, 85.5 per cent sup­ My electorate now has 32 bus services, port the scheme. costing $120,000, compared with one costing Opposition Members interjected. $1,080 under Labor. In addition, 120 children from the Mirani electorate attend Mr. NEWBERY: From the behaviour of the Mackay High School, so that, in all, 970 honourable members opposite, it is clear children in my electorate are receiving high­ that they do not want these farmers to school education. Assuming that it costs a obtain the benefits of the scheme. person $1,000 to send a child to a private high school, this Government is saving the Mr. Sherrington: Don't blame me. I parents something like $1,000,000 in giving vote Labor. secondary education to children in the Mr. Jensen: Who is the member for the Mirani electorate. area? Honourable Members interjected. Mr. NEWBERY: I am the member for The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr. the area. The scheme was estimated to Dean): Order! There is far too much cross­ cost $8,760,000, and it would water 13,645 firing in the Chamber. acres of existing assigned land. There would also be sufficient water for an addi­ Mr. NEWBERY: I can handle them, Mr. tional 7,790 acres. If this water was avail­ Dean. able, production would be stabilised, and This Government spends 33 per cent of its there would be an average increase of 17,000 total revenue on education, compared with tons of sugar over the production for the 24 per cent by a Labor Government. The last few years. Irrigation would stabilise education portfolio ranks third in the Cabinet the area, and, on average, increase revenue today, whereas it was well down the list by $1,500,000. under Labor. The allocation for education The scheme is planned basically to this year is 25 per cent more than it was last year. stabilise production and keep miller and growers viable. All that the miller and the I am glad that both the Premier and the growers are asking is that they be allowed Treasurer are in the Chamber because I to grow their peak of sugar. They do not shall now refer to the Eton irrigation scheme. want to take peak from other mills or About five years ago we pressed for the farmers as has been suggested. I believe that implementation of this scheme to irrigate it is better to stabilise an established industry sugar lands in the Eton mill area, and the than to develop a new one, and I repeat Government produced a very fine report on that the North Eton unit is worth assisting. it. There is no doubt that the Government The growers and miller of .the district are could implement this scheme, but it sought very concerned, and I regret the unsym­ financial assistance from the Federal Govern­ pathetic hearing that they were given by ment under the National Water Resources the Federal Government. Development Programme, as was done with the Bundaberg Irrigation Undertaking. How­ The growers are now in the middle of a ever, the request was rejected by the Federal very bad drought, and the prospects for Government. I am concerned over the com­ next year are, to say the least, grim. The plete disregard for these 191 cane-growers drought lasted four consecutive years in the and the sugar mill. They have made a great late I 960's, and the Government had to contribution to the economy of the Common­ give assistance in one year when Sir Francis wealth over many years. The area is a rich Nicklin was Premier. I plead with the one, and it produces good crops, intermingled Premier and the Government to do all in with bad crops caused by drought. The Eton their power to assist these unfortunate area is in a dry belt, and it has a porous growers. I claim that the Federal Govern­ type of land that suffers badly in droughts. ment does not fully appreciate their prob­ It is a good, rich area of a type that is very lems and their request. suitable for irrigation. It is a porous area, Mr. K. J. Hooper: That is poor represen­ and that type of land is the best of all for irrigation. That has been proved by the tation by the State member. crops produced there in a wet season. The Mr. NEWBERY: It is poor represe-ntation crop in the North Eton area is excellent by the Federal member. A fresh approach this year, but, with the drought conditions to the appropriate quarter in Canberra is now existing, it could be very poor next essential, because the problem is not fully year. This, of course, will mean disaster for understood there. I ask the Premier to treat 'the farmers in the area. this matter as extremely urgent. These The farmers have proved the worth of people have waited five years for assistance the land, and they need only water to of this type, and I believe that if the Com­ become 100 per cent stable. The Irrigation monwealth Government will not help them, and Water Supply Commission carried out the State Government should look at the a very thorough investigation and produced matter closely and endeavour to do some­ an excellent report which proved the worth thing to ensure that this mill area remains Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1081 productive and stable. It is playing an presented it would include something really important part in the sugar industry in this big for Ipswich, especially now that the State today. Government holds a seat in the city. Mr. Low: Tell us about .the Sarina sewer­ Sir Gordon Chalk: You haven't done too age scheme. badly since Ipswich put Lew Edwards ~­ What did the newspapers say about you m Mr. NEWBERY: When I was speaking Ipswich? That you had not done a thing in in this Chamber about two years ago, an six years. interjection was made by an honourable member opposite who had been advised by Mrs. JORDAN: Ipswich is a wake-up to an agent of the A.L.P. in Sarina that it did the Treasurer. not want sewerage in Sarina. As a matter of fact, the A.L.P. branch took a petition Honourable Members interjected. round objecting to sewerage. I persisted in The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! having sewerage installed, after three pre­ I will send someone out of the Chamber vious attempts had been made, and 85 per if honourable members do not behave them­ cent of the town now has sewerage and in selves. a matter of weeks the whole of Sarina will be sewered. With the tremendous amount Mrs. .JORDAN: I had hoped that Ipswich of development that has been encouraged might get a new railway station, and perhaps by the Government in the Sarina area it even electrification of the railways, in would have been very unsatisfactory to con­ celebration of the Government's having got tinue using the pan system that the A.L.P. a toehold in that city, even if only tempor­ wanted to retain. arily. I shall not recapitulate the story of the Ipswich Railway Station or the railway Mrs. JORDAN (Ipswich West) (8.1 p.m.): electrification lament in detail. I have told When I listened to the Treasurer bringing these stories so often in the last seven years, down the Budget a couple of weeks ago, I in Address-in-Reply as well as Budget debates, could not help recalling the flamboyant "nom that I think all honourable members are de plumes" that he gave to other Budgets, aware of them. such as "Push ahead" Budget and "March to progress" Budget. This time I looked in I suppose I should be pleased that the vain for such a name, and it seems that Government has admitted that there is a each three years-the year in which a Federal need for electrification of the railways, even election is held-the Budget is not given a if it is only an admission and only a "nom de plume". promise. I did hope that the proposed This year's Budget speech was the most setting-up of a metropolitan transport mundane and disappointing that I have authority would mean that something would listened to since I have been a member of be done about rail transport as well as this Assembly. other fields of transport, but even that did not eventuate. That is another Government Sir Gordon Chalk: I do not mind if you promise that was not kept. It was a hollow listen, but I object to your saying that when election promise-a damp squib. Transport you go to sleep. problems and traffic snarls are likely to be with us for some years yet if this Govern­ Mrs. JORDAN: I do not sleep in this Chamber. ment remains in office. Sir Gordon Chalk interjected. The honourable member for Ca.irns spoke in some detail earlier today about road traffic The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr. difficulties. He realises that there is a need Dean): Order! for improvement in transport in this State, particularly in the metropolitan area. When Mrs• .JORDAN: Apparently, as this is a the Commissioner for Railways, Mr. Lee, Federal election year, criticism of the Federal returned from overseas in 1969 after making Government, or, indeed, anything to upset a study tour on which he examined transport the Government vote, must be avoided in systems in some of the leading cities of the Queensland, so this is a very stay-put world, he said- Budget. "We can't just keep on building roads. As one looks through the Financial State­ Overseas they are discovering that as fast ment, it becomes obvious that, in framing it, as they build freeways they become filled the Treasurer had an eye on the coming with traffic. This way, Brisbane will Federal election and took into consideration become a tangle of freeways." the present very low stocks of the Federal Government throughout Australia. Brisbane is now a traffic jungle, particularly at peak hours. It is not only at peak I listened attentively to the Treasurer's periods that certain intersections are a night­ presentation of the Budget, but I listened in mare; that applies at some intersections at vain for anything to do with Ipswich. Many almost any time of the day. promises were made during the State election campaign, and various Ministers have visited Although the implementation of some of Ipswich time and time again since then. I the recommendations contained in the Wilbur had high hopes that when the Budget was Smith Report has given relief in some areas 1082 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

and has meant the provision of new free­ high interest rates. Trading banks have ways and one-way streets, nevertheless, new moved into this secondary banking field, problems have been created by what has and the amount of money owed-or, I been done. Certainly there is an urgent should say, lent-has vastly increased. It need for a metropolitan transport authority was $4,822,000,000 in 1971. Money is the and the sooner it is set up, the better. The dearest commodity of all. The rich get richer Government did enough promising about it as the poor get poorer as a result of paying during the election campaign, but there is these high interest rates. complete silence on it in the Budget. This brings me to a matter of great con­ I take umbrage at the third paragraph cern to me, namely, the decrease in the of the Treasurer's Financial Statement, which amount of payments from the Children's reads- Services Department since the recent increase " Another undesirable feature has been in the widows and deserted wives' pension. the continued high rate of increase in our This happens every time there is an increase wage structure." in Federal pensions. The Commonwealth What does the Treasurer think is desirable? gives and, almost immediately, the State Does he think the worker and his family takes away. The honourable member for should be on the breadline? Does he think Brisbane asked a question on this subject prices should go up and the workers' wages last week, and the Minister for Welfare Ser­ remain stationary? Does he think the worker vices tried to avoid having to reveal the facts should be happy to have his standard of by referring the honourable member to living reduced as the purchasing power of answers to previous questions asked here his wages decreases? To this Government over the years. However, he cannot dodge it is always the worker who is the cause the fact that because of the means test in of rising costs, and it is always the worker the Children's Services Department, the who is entirely responsible for inflation. How present higher Federal pension rate means ridiculous! that some recipients now get less than they did previously. Some women telephoned me In can never understand how some people, on the day they received their first adjusted even some low-income earners, fall for payments and told me that they got at least that argument. Of course, big business and, $1 less. One woman received $1.35 less, in the main, the daily Press, foster that another $1.75, and so on. outlook. That is their story, but it never ceases to amaze me when the workers Mr. Shernngton: I had one who was down swallow it. The Government blames the $9.50 because of the textbook allowance. worker for inflation and says it is caused Mrs. JORDAN: The allowance for school by wage increases. It plays that tune over books comes into it. I will have more to and over again at State level, and the Federal say on that point later. So far, I have not Government plays it at the Federal level. heard of anyone who lost as much as that, The realities of the situation are otherwise. but I can quite believe it. Indeed, I am told No wage-earner can increase his wages that 700 notices were sent out to these whenever he chooses. To get an increase, people notifying them of reductions in their he or his union has to make out a case payments from the Children's Services for an increase. Facts and figures have to Department because of the increase in the be put forward to show that the cost of Commonwealth pension. The result is that living has increased and also that productivity some of them are now worse off, yet the has increased. No increase is granted until intention of the Commonwealth Govern­ a case has been proved to the Industrial ment was to give them an increase. Commission and the Commission considers It is time some consideration was given to that there is a need for an increase and that this point by the State Government. It hap­ industry can afford it-unless of course it pens every time there is a pension increase, is negotiated with the employer. and it affects widows with children and The presentation of such a case is not deserted wives, who can least afford it. easy, and wage rises are not easily won. Indeed, some cases are extremely heart­ When they are won, they are always long breaking. Mothers are struggling to manage overdue. If that procedure were not followed, on these Children's Services payments, and the wage-earner would never get an increase. then they receive a setback such as this from No Government can expect wage-earners not the State Government. It is not only the to attempt to get wage increases, particularly lower payment that affects them. There is when prices are continually rising and the also the loss of allowances for school text­ Government does nothing about it. books. That is one of the tragedies of the I repeat, the Government does nothing to situation; they lose other benefits that help curb rising prices and thus nothing to curb them to carry on. The loss of the allowance inflation, which has increased at a high rate for school textbooks is a shocking blow in recent years-about 18.9 per cent over indeed. the last five years. The Government should Another thing that affects these people is look at the high interest rates charged in the increase in rentals for Housing Com­ the secondary banking system, which has mission homes. They have to pay higher evolved a system by which finance com­ rentals because the rebates on rentals of panies lend money on instalment credit, at Housing Commission homes occupied by Supply (17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1083 widows and deserted wives are affected. This needs and rights, the Federal Government is the final blow to these low-income people, simply fails to recognise the importance of making the economics of the family unit children in the community. Even local even worse. authorities realise this, and therefore are I ask the Government and the Minister stepping in to help wherever they can. concerned to look sympathetically into the situation that has arisen as a result of the In Ipswich, for example, the city council recent pension rise. To me it is a very has appointed a social worker, who has the urgent matter. It is pitiful to see these tremendous task of co-ordinating and publi­ women and heartbreaking to realise how cising the services that are available as well close they are to the poverty line when the as dealing with cases of urgent need. Local loss of $1, $1.35 or $1.75 a week--or what­ authorities now have the added burden of ever it may be--causes them so much con­ finding money for work that should rightly cern. be carried out by either the Federal or the State Government. If their work is to become I know that the number of deserted wives effective it will need to be subsidised heavily and mothers is increasing, and I have by the Federal Government, which probably noticed that in the Estimates for the coming will impose some other form of taxation on financial year quite a substantial increase in the ratepayers. However, I wish the Ipswich expenditure is budgeted for. The figure has City Council's social worker well and hope risen from $3,288,000 in 1971-72 to he will derive great satisfaction from his $4,701,400 for 1972-73. I also notice that work and, in spite of the lack of interest the provision for 1971-72 was overspent by shown by both the State and Federal Govern­ $435,500, which indicates the huge increase ments, will achieve worth-while results. that has been made in the call on the Department of Children's Services. Insufficient Government publicity is given to the assistance that is available to needy Whilst I am critical of the situation that people and the means by which they should has arisen as a result of pension increases, at apply for it. I have spoken frequently on the same time I commend the Director of this matter in this Chamber, and I am still Children's Services (Mr. Clark) and the greatly concerned about it. Many people are Deputy Director (Mr. McAllister) as well as trying to struggle along, relying on help from their staff on the wonderful work they are neighbours and relatives, completely unaware doing. They have also been helpful and of the assistance they could get from the co-operated with me a great deal. As depart­ department. mental heads, Mr. Clark and Mr. McAllister are required to implement Government policy. The Children's Services Department applies Their department is not an easy one to admin­ a means test, but who knows how it is ister; they have to face many complex prob­ assessed and what it is really all about? I lems and arrive at many difficult decisions. Of certainly do not, and I doubt very much if course, as their decisions affect the lives of any other honourable member does. I can a great number of unfortunate and needy only present to the department what I people, the allotment of priorities in their believe to be a very needy case and pray department would not be an easy task. There that some financial help will be forthcoming is no mental comfort to be derived from for the family concerned. In my opinion, dealing with an abandoned, a neglected or a needy family. Every one of us should be that is not good enough. greatly concerned about the welfare of unfor­ I have long been interested in pre-school tunate and needy members of our community. training as envisaged in the proposed pre­ In this year of hand-outs in the Federal school centres. I spoke in some detail about Budget, the needy family received no help this aspect of education during the Budget whatever by way of an increase in child debate last year. I am therefore pleased to endowment. The payment of 50c for the see that, over a three-year period, the Gov­ first child, which was granted in 1955, has ernment is to introduce pre-school training in remained unchanged for 22 years. As well, Queensland, and that, for a start, it is to be of course, the payment of $1 for the second introduced in 37 centres. I note that one child, which was granted in 1948, remains the such centre is to be established at Churchill, same. It is not necessary for me to remind in the Ipswich West electorate. Although a honourable members of the huge increases great deal of confusion still exi.sts in that that have occurred in the cost of living over planning has not yet been completed, and I the same period. Indeed, it is apparent that envisage many difficulties in implementing the the Federal Government has ignored the programme, nevertheless, I welcome the fact needs of married couples with children. What that one of the schools in my area is to have does either 50c or $1 buy these days? a pre-school section. I do not know why on Apparently, in the eyes of the Government earth the Churchill school was selected. It the value of children is decreasing at a is one of the smallest schools in the elector­ staggering rate. ate, and is situated in one of the least popu­ The Australian Labor Party abhors this lated areas. However, it is a start, and I attitude and deplores such poor treatment hope that other schools in the electorate of of the family unit, which, after all, is basic Ipswich West, as well as schools throughout to our Australian way of life. Instead of Queensland, get pre-school training centres paying greater attention to children's welfare, very quickly. 1084 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

We have a very good creche and kinder­ and are not precluded from starting school garten centre in Ipswich. It does an excellent if their fifth birthday is later than March, job, but unfortunately has a long waiting as is the case in some other States, including list. There are also a number of excellent Queensland. Even the Federal Minister child-minding centres, several of which for Education, Mr. Fraser, said recently maintain a very high standard. Until very that New South Wales appears to be doing recently one of them was run by a trained very badly in the field of pre-school kindergarten teacher. Mothers who were education. fortunate enough to get their children into I am hopeful that even though there is that centre were extremely pleased at the little experience in Queensland of teaching training they were given. However, it was in or running pre-school centres, this matter very costly and, as in the past, predomin­ will be given great emphasis and that our antly only the children of people in the children will not have to suffer a half-baked higher and middle-income groups could scheme. because pre-school education has afford to send their children there. Very been a strong plank in A.L.P. policy and few people in the lower-income group can is another of the A.L.P. shirts that this afford to send their children to pre-school Government has donned and is trying to centres or kindergartens, even though they wear. Nevertheless, I hope, for the future may have a strong desire to do so. well-being of our children, that this scheme The necessary planning to cater for the will be quickly and well organised and will four-year-olds in pre-school training is still be developed throughout all Queensland in the preparatory stage. Either yesterday schools. It has been proved in many or today I read in the Press that training countries that pre-school education is very will not be commenced at the beginning of desirable. the next school year and that the scheme Child-minding centres, of course, are a may not get under way until the end of different thing. Local authorities need to March or a little later. Some years ago the ensure, through their respective by-laws and Federal Government made extravagant prom­ regulations, that at least the health standards ises about kindergartens and child-minding and requirements are high and suitable. A centres. Indeed, such a promise was made by number of councils in Queensland have the Federal Government before the last elec­ already set these standards and, at the last tion, but that, too, was only an election prom­ report in 1971, the number was 28. There ise from which nothing came. may be others that I do not know about Help will be forthcoming in this field now that have set them up since then. Child­ that the Federal Government has agreed to minding centres also have an important role recognise teachers' colleges as being eligible to play in our community. for Commonwealth subsidy, as from 1 July Many mothers now work, not as a matter 1973. Kindergarten-teacher training will be of free choice or simply because they want covered and will be in line for subsidies .to work outside the home, but solely on the with those payable to other tertiary colleges grounds of the inadequacy of the family and universities. This help for teacher train­ income. Surveys conducted in Australia ing, particularly for pre-school teacher train­ show, as do similar surveys in other ing, is still in the discussion stages, as was countries, that more and more women are evidenced by the reply of the Federal Educa­ entering the work-force. If a mother takes tion Minister, Mr. Fraser, to a question a job, it does not necessarily mean that the asked by Mr. Gough Whitlam, when he children are precluded from love and care. said that discussions were still being held with It is the quality of mothering that counts the various State authorities by the chairman and, provided adequate arrangements are of the Australian Commission on Advanced made for the care of the children while Education, which had to report back to the the mother is at work, it is entirely her own Commonwealth not later than the end of decision. Many mothers take part-time work March 1973. So that support for teacher's while their children are at school. colleges is still a thing of the future and is Inevitably, some people criticise mothers subject to a supplementary programme. who work and the departure from the old­ The crucial years for the forming of time role of .a mother as a full-time home­ attitudes are the first five years of a child's maker. But, in all the surveys conducted life, and between the ages of three and in many countries, there is no evidence that five in particular. This is now a well- juvenile delinquency results from the single recognised fact. It is vitally important, factor of the mother's employment. There therefore, that children should be given is now a changing attitude in society and the advantage of pre-school training. I the last census shows that 13.3 3 per cent said last year, and I repeat, that only 8.11 of the Queensland work-force and 29.5 per cent of Queensland children between per cent of the total Australian work-force three and five years of age have been able consists of women. to attend pre-school centres. The Victorian Mr. Miller: You must be concerned about percentage is 28.3, the South Australian the children after school hours if they are is 15.44 and the Western Australian is 11.9. left on their own. It is difficult to work out the comparative percentage in New South Wales because Mrs. JORDAN: I am concerned about children in that State start school earlier, them. That is why I said, "provided there Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1085

is adequate provision for the care of the that I was not told the truth. It is shocking children." I have a lot to do with many if such rates are paid, and it is also shocking happenings in my area, and I have found that that in this day and age any woman would for economic reasons more and more take a job and accept such a small rate of women are taking employment-in the main, pay. part-time jobs. I have also found that Nowadays some men even expect their they are very concerned about the arrange­ wives to go out to work to help pay for the ments that working mothers make for their family home, the car, carpets or furniture. children. That is now an accepted part of our way of Mr. Lane: Don't you feel that their first life. responsibility is to their family? Mr. Marginson: Often that is the only 1\-Irs. JORDAN: That attitude belongs to way they can get those things. another era. Mothers can see their families Mrs. JORDAN: As the honourable mem­ as their first responsibility and still take jobs, ber for Wolston says, often that is the only even if they are only part-time jobs. Anyway, way families can obtain those things. Unless what is wrong with some of the dads doing both parties go to work after marriage, they a bit of child-minding, or some of the house­ have no hope nowadays, when costs are so work around the place? For too many years high, of obtaining a home. Who can blame it has been entirely the responsibility of the them? It is all very well to sit in this womenfolk to mind the children while the Chamber and criticise a woman for going fathers go off to sport or the pub. It is time out to work, but economic conditions make it fathers realized that they, too, are parents, virtually imperative that she should do so. and did something about looking after their children. The day has long gone when only I am very pleased that another opportunity one party to a marriage carried the responsi­ school is to be opened in the Ipswich West bility for the children. Dads now have an electorate, in the former manual-training equal responsibility with mums in looking centre building at West Ipswich. The oppor­ after the children. tunity school in Milford Street was formerly in my electorate, and I am still its patroness It is now a fact of life that many women want to work outside the home. It is also a and take a very close interest in it. It does a fact of life that many men want women to wonderful job for its students, but I know work outside the home. I have heard it that it has a very long waiting list. said, "I will get up an hour earlier and get Quite a number of children require such the washing-up and the housework done so schooling, and I believe that it was as a that you can take a job, Mum." I was very result of talks that I had with the department surprised the other day to hear one man, and with the Minister about the need for an who I thought was entirely against his wife extension of the present opportunity school, working, say to her, "I will get up an hour and the appreciation in Ipswich of the and a half earlier and help you get the kids wonderful job that the existing opportunity ready for school so that you can take a school does, that the decision was made to job to get a few extra bob for the home." set up another similar school. The original He lives near "Brassall Village", which is a suggestion was that there should be a separate home for old people. There is an entirely junior opportunity school. However, it was changed attitude in this country now. realised that this would cause difficulties, such as dividing families. Very often when An Honourable Member: Does she get one child in a family attends an opportunity equal pay? school, several other children from the same Mrs. JORDAN: I heard an interjection, family also attend. If the younger children "Does she get equal pay?" It is certainly had to go to one school and the older time she did get equal pay, or the rate for children to another, difficulties would arise the job. The use of women as a source of with transport, with parents and citizens' cheap labour should have gone down the associations, and so on. Make no mistake drain years ago. I recently received some about it, the parents and citizens' associa­ amazing information over the telephone con­ tions at opportunity schools do a marvellous cerning pay rates. I could scarcely believe job and are intensely interested in the needs it but I shall follow it through. I was told of the children who attend the schools. that there is an arrangement or an Act under Therefore, it was a sensible decision to set up which women working in the kitchen and an entirely autonomous second opportunity doing cleaning work in boarding schools are school in Ipswich to cater for the long list paid a paltry 50c an hour, while cleaners in of children who were waiting to attend such classrooms are paid $1.75 or $1.85 an hour. a school. If that is so, it is a shocking situation. I The head teacher at the existing oppor­ understand that this position is covered by tunity school, Mr. Petersen, and his staff do an Act of this Parliament passed at the a wonderful job, and it is always a pleasure beginning of the century. If that is so, it is to go to the school and see what is being one of the Acts that the Government should done and to attend school functions and see have a look at. My information came from the pride that the children take in doing one of the largest and oldest grammar schools their work and the things they have to do for in the State, and I have no reason to believe displays at the school. I am pleased, there- 36 1086 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) fore, that children will not miss out on Finally, I wish to have a few words to attending an opportunity school, as many of say about the difficulties associated with the them would have done with the existing two­ Amberley State School and the effect of air­ year waiting time. I remind honourable mem­ craft noise on the teaching of the pupils bers that some children could be prejudiced there. I started to mention this in my throughout their lives if they were denied the Address-in-Reply speech, but time beat me. chance of attending an opportunity school. I have since asked the Minister for Educa­ tion a question about it and his reply For some time Ipswich has been badly in indicated that a new school, a building of need of a full-time guidance officer. Not completely new design, incorporating total everyone can travel to Brisbane for the neces­ environmental control in the form of sound­ sary testing, and over the years that I have proofing and air-conditioning, would be built been in this Chamber I have asked for such on the present site. At last we know what an appointment to be made. It is pleasing to the future holds. see that a guidance officer will be appointed to Ipswich in 1973, even though I did read I hope the new building will not be long it in the local Press and have not been delayed, because conditions at the existing advised officially by the department. Since school have to be experienced to be believed. the Government won the Ipswich seat, it Because of the school's proximity to the Air has a one-track mind on advising what is to Force base, the noise of planes warming up, take place in Ipswich. taking off and landing often makes teaching quite impossible. When the children are in Mr. K. J. Hooper: They fiuked it, didn't the playground, the teachers have no hope they? of getting them into the school by the normal method of ringing the school bell. They have Mrs. JORDAN: They did fluke it, and it to round them up in the grounds. By letter, was because of decisions by the Labor Party I have requested that a siren or a Klaxon that they fiuked it. However, I will not go of some sort be provided for the purpose­ into that point in detail; it would be of no something very loud and piercing is avail if I did. required-but so far my request has been I seem to be dealing principally with ignored. matters concerning children and families, and This is a matter of urgency, and even the I wish to say a few words now about the provision of a new sound-proof school will needs of subnormal, spastic and handicapped not solve the problem of calling the children children. People who are concerned with into school. I ask the Minister for Education these associations and who are providing to look into this matter with a view to education and training for handicapped expediting the provision of a more suitable means of calling the children into school. children are finding it increasingly difficult to raise enough money to carry on their Almost all the pupils of the Amberley good work. Although the payment of a school are children of Air Force personnel. subsidy by the Government to provide Most of the civilian homes in the area have teaching services is an improvement, it is a been bought up by the Department of Air, mere drop in the bucket of the over-all cost. as have most of the surrounding farms, in The handicapped children need education the last two years. It is now almost com­ pletely an R.A.A.F. area. Despite that fact, just as much as non-handicapped children. when approaches were made to the Depart­ Many people believe that it should be the ment of Air it would not help with the responsibility of the Government to provide moving of ,the school or with sound-proofing, education for them, just as the Government etc. I took the matter up with Senator provides education for children who are not Drake-Brockman, and Mr. Bill Hayden, the handicapped. Federal member for Oxley, took it up with The question is often asked: why should the Department of Air, but that department children who are handicapped be discrimi­ dilly-dallied and, after almost 12 months, nated against? They already have a big decided not to "come to the party". There­ enough handicap. Surely it should not be fore, the State Government has to carry the incumbent on parents and friends to have to full responsibility for sound-proofing the resort to raffles and the like to raise money school, just as the Ipswich City Council and the Moreton Shire Council have to meet for buildings, furniture, etc. Surely it is an the full cost of the necessary roads. Yet injustice to discriminate against ,these the Commonwealth gets the lion's share of children, and it is not really honest to main­ tain that education is free and compulsory revenues from taxation. when the present situation exists for them. The wastage of money in various ways at Compulsory, yet the parents have to prO­ Amberley has to be seen to be believed. I vide it themselves! A line should not be would not know even half of it, although it drawn between the handicapped and the non­ is in my electorate. However, I see enough handicapped. The Government has a moral especially as it gets near the end of the obligation to these children, just as it has financial year. Allocations must be spent to to non-handicapped children. I hope the ensure an equal, or greater allocation the time is drawing near when such discrimina­ next year. But that is a Federal matter and tion will be a thing of the past. I will not go into it in detail. Supply (17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1087

Recently a noise-level warning was issued was necessary to set up the Nimmo Com­ by the Department of Air to the Ipswich mission. However, that commission was City Council and the Moreton Shire Council established and duly brought down its report regarding land development near the Amber­ in 1969, and in the three years that have Icy R.A.A.F. base. It would be a sensible elapsed since then most of its important move to prohibit any further land develop­ recommendations have been implemented. ment in the area, because there is to be Funds have been made available to improve considerable further development at the base the efficiency of their function, and the fee with the expenditure next year of a further structure throughout Australia has been $4,800,000. It therefore becomes very reorganised, in most instances with the important and urgent that something be done co-operation of medical practitioners. at the Amberley school to ensure that the Difficulties have arisen through interference children have a chance of being taught. My by Governments in adjudication of medical sympathies are certainly with the teachers, fees and this is relevant to the freedom of who have to work under such difficult con­ pra~tice of a professional group who, in the ditions, and with the pupils, who have to past, have always shown great responsibility try to hear the teachers and learn in such in these matters. adverse surroundings. Even though the department is planning for a sound-proof During the past three years, in New South school, I ask the Minister to try to make Wales, a dissenting group of medical p:ac­ some arrangement whereby the children can titioners led by Dr. Peter Arnold have ansen effectively be called into school. and it is their opinion that Government has no business whatsoever in the control of Dr. CRAWFORD (Wavell) (8.47 p.m.): medical fees. I have discussed this matter During the Budget debate we have listened with Dr. Arnold, and it is his personal to many members, with their various opinion that a doctor is sufficiently respon­ parochial interests, describing various aspects sible to do his own adjudicating in these of community life and expressing opinions matters and that, if subsequently the Govern­ relative to education, transport and quite a ment wished to accept some of the financial few other matters. As is natural in a debate responsibility for the reimbursement of the of this type, members take the opportunity patient, that is its affair. He believes that to analyse situations which are of particular there should not be any direct connection interest to them. And on this occasion we at all between the Government and the have before us a Budget which gives oppor­ doctor. tunity to do this in full measure because it His group of general practitioners have provides a very wide canvass of benefits been very active in the propagation of their which will be of great importance to the ideas. Over the past few days I have community both locally in Queensland and heard criticism of those ideas voiced in this generally throughout the nation. Chamber. In a country the size of Aus­ World-wide difficulty is being experienced, tralia it is extraordinarily difficult to provide at least in all the civilised countries from an adequate continuous and properly which we receive communications, in medical orientated general practitioner service. On and hospital practice. Because of this and several occasions I have referred to country the interest in the local situation in Aus­ centres where there is not only a shortage of tralia, I propose to discuss aspects of over­ doctors but also, in some instances, a com­ all health services as they pertain in the plete absence of doctors from the local Commonwealth and in the State and as they hospital and medical services. It may be are seen in other parts of the world. Subse­ possible to co-ordinate a supply of doctors quently I will try to integrate this with to country centres by having a pool available Budget provisions provided recently at both in a central area, but most professional State and Federal levels. people like to settle in and practise from At this stage I would say that the Com­ one area; therefore, the problem will con­ monwealth and State Budgets, as they affect tinue to arise in a country as large and as health matters, have both been documents of diverse as Australia. great importance to the community, and a On 10 October 1972 a summary of the great number of anomalies which previously Federal Liberal-Country Parties' health existed have been, or will be, corrected in scheme and the Labor Party's alternative the very near future. scheme was published in "The Financial Very many opinions have been expressed Review". This summary was given by a by political and medical sources about the gentleman who is both a doctor and the quality of medical and health services in Director of Health Service Research and Australia. The implementation of the Planning in the New South Wales Depart­ Nimmo Report in the last three years has ment of Health. Of course he is a health corrected many anomalous situations, and administrator, and the whole of his criticism consequently criticism which could have been is obtained from a volume entitled "Medical levelled at the Commonwealth Government Care in the Melting Pot". is no longer relevant. It was probably the It is true that, on the whole, doctors feel medical profession's fault in many ways that that politicians cannot really understand their the original excellent idea of voluntary problems, especially those major problems insurance deteriorated to the stage where it of co-ordinating practice and extremely long 1088 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972} (Financial Statement)

working hours. On previous occasions I Dr. CRAWFORD: That is true, although have said that in South Australia Mr. Don in many instances it is not desirable to send Dunstan's Government recently introduced them home. I was about to make the point a 55 to 85-hour working week for residents at that it is not merely a matter of providing the Adelaide hospitals and that that Govern­ a half-way house for those who are well in ~ent is prepared to pay fourth-year residents the generally accepted sense, but it is most m excess of $13,000 a year. It is important important for us to give very serious con­ to realise that in the modern context there sideration to providing half-way houses for is over-emphasis on hospital and institu­ those who are either mentally or physically tionalised care, and it may well be that if incapacitated. This type of assistance is vital we decentralised our care in some form in our community. Recently I was contacted there would not then be the necessity for by a lady from one of the societies for doctors to be congregated in hospitals as at handicapped persons. I suggested to her present. that, if they contemplated building residential T~ere is, however, very rapid growth in houses for people who needed their help. medical technology, and it will become they should build them in series, providing inc_reasingly necessary to provide very special first for those who can do nothing for them­ umts where the technological advances can selves, and then half-way houses for those be practised to their fullest. We could frag­ who could be gradually put back into the m~nt cm:e to a degree that would prevent community, either through the H.E.L.P. this, but m the modern context this cannot be industries or similar organisations. allowed to happen. We could also fail to Many observers point out in medical litera­ provide. the right type of care and, at the ture these days that a sophisticated modem same time, escalate our costs beyond any hospital can progress to the point where reasonable level. its staff members become so involved with The doctor to whom I have referred is the diagnosis and treatment of physical very strong on this po.int. He also warns disease processes that the patient never that the . risk of over-prescribing drugs and receives an assessment as a whole person. the carrymg out of unnecessary surgery which It is very true that advances in medical can . arise with doe;tors blinded by new science have not been matched anywhere medical technology IS one of very major in the world by parallel development in proportions. He emphasises that the chang­ organisation and applioation to the individual mg health patterns in Australia also fi

economic and effective use of all health­ The Canadians are accepting in principle care resources. To this end it was recom­ the committee's recommendation for a com­ mended that provincial governments must plete re-organisation of their health system immediately initiate a dialogue with the so that these systems may be efficiently and health professions. effectively dovetailed with the existing hos­ pital and other health services. Co-ordina­ This brings us once more to the point that tion will be necessary for our medical ser­ members of the medical profession, on the vices in Queensland, with a local hospital, whole, are the ones most able to adjudicate say, of 200 beds in an area. In Brisbane on matters of importance and priority. The this would apply to Wynnum, Inala, Sandgate, purpose of this dialogue would be to plan, etc. The major teaching hospital services budget, implement, co-ordinate and evaluate could then be used wholly as referral centres the system and, subsequently, once the for major illnesses. If the payment of per­ planning had been carried out, the Govern­ sonnel in the health centres did not allow for ment, in consultation with the medical pro­ private practice, the idea would not work in fession and the paramedical people, would its best sense. Doctors should be fully in then provide only the necessary services. If private practice with the voluntary insurance it is not carried out in this way, this organ­ scheme at present operating in Australia pro­ isation believes that the chaos it has already viding a major financial assistance to all noted in the country will continue. patients. A physiotherapist could be partly The report deals with health community salaried and partly in private practice. A centres, which are pertinent in our modern social worker attached to a centre would context, as follows:- probably have to be paid a whole salary by the centre or its administration. "Community health centres are increas­ ingly seen as an important means for slow­ If the centres were set up as extensions of ing the rate of increase in the cost of any governmental, central control system, health services and for more fully reflect­ they would not work efficiently and I remind ing the objectives, priorities and relation­ the Committee that Mr. Dunstan in South ships which society wishes to establish for Australia is gearing his doctor system to a health care in the future. 55 to 85-hour week. As long as sufficient medical practitioners are involved in a health "The committee sees a community centre and as long as they are satisfied with health centre as a facility, or intimately­ their conditions, they will work very long linked group of facilities, enabling individ­ hours without complaining, or normal hours uals and families to obtain 'initial and in a satisfactory state of affairs, and they continuing health care of high quality'. will arrange their own programmes them­ selves. The centre will also arrange, as it "Such care must be provided in an has done in many instances throughout the acceptable manner through a team of country, for out-of-hours calls to be taken health professionals and other personnel by a group, with co-operation between the working in an accessible and well-managed members and without rancour. This can be setting. The centre must form part of a carried out most easily if there are no non­ responsive and accountable health services medical personnel instructing doctors how to system. In turn, the health services must do their work. In this context, the matter be closely and effectively co-ordinated of money is much less important than con­ with the social and related services to help ditions of service. If a doctor in South Aus­ individuals, families and communities to tralia wishes to enter a hospital system, he deal with the many-sided problems of can make a very large sum of money with living." no office expenses, as Mr. Dunstan has In Australia, we are rapidly approaching the pointed out. time when we will have to institute some type I have also received a report recently from of health centres. I believe that these centres the Bristol Hospital Advisory Service in should be based on an approximate number England which deals with some of the dis­ of 12 doctors and that the co-ordination advantages of the services that have been throughout Australia of such centres should seen to develop in that area. The Hospital include physiotherapists and people expert in Advisory Service in Bristol has been in action nutrition, health education and social ser­ for two years, and at the end of its second vices, as well as those who are comparable year reports that there have been no sub­ to what used to be called a hospital almoner. stantial improvements in conditions in the The focus must not be on any particular hospitals visited compared with the previous doctor or any other person as a leader of a year. The director of the service also points team but on a team in which there is co-or­ out that changes, whether they be in attitudes, dination on all matters into an integrated ser­ organisation, or physical resources, take time vice for the best use of the patient. The to be felt, and that the large sums of money employment and discharge of any personnel now allocated to the geriatric and psychiatric in a centre must rest with the administration services have yet to be spent. This year the of that centre and the doctors and the para­ emphasis is on geriatric services, this being medical people who work there must not the area where the greatest concentration of be able to be vetoed or outvoted by any effort and resources is believed to be central, bureaucratic, controlling authority. required. 1090 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

The team that visited the geriatric hospitals the back wards. They felt that this situation and units found serious shortages of beds, of was being aggravated by the development medical and nursing staff, of occupational in some areas of psychiatric units in general therapists and physiotherapists, and of social hospitals which creamed off all the better and workers. They came to the conclusion that more easily treated patients. They also felt boards of governors and hospital manage­ that, if nothing was done, it would be only ment committees were not paying enough a matter of time before actual breakdowns attention to geriatrics, and that, even when in the service occurred. geriatric units had been planned for district general hospitals, the number of beds was I might mention in this context also that generally insufficient even for present needs. there has been in Sydney in recent years a More often, the geriatric department was complete revision of the functioning of Sydney separated from the acute services, and had to Hospital. In addition to saving over $500,000 make do with old buildings that had been a year in the cost of running the service, that skimpily upgraded and sometimes lacked such re-organisation has given job satisfaction to basics as bathrooms with doors wide enough the staff, and has provided a service which to take wheelchairs. One of the root causes is incomparably better than that provided of this situation was believed to be ignorance, elsewhere in Australia. and the report contends that there is a Another service provided overseas is the pressing need to present good quality geriatric Kaiser-Permanente service in the United services in every teaching hospital in the States of America. I have been searching country so that the next generation of medical for the details of this service for some time, students will view geriatrics with greater but they have only just come to hand. It enthusiasm. is one that has been mentioned on many I mention this report as a completely occasions by politicians representing a number separate report from that which went to of political parties-and recently it has been Sir Keith Joseph in London recently, in referred to particularly by members of the which the over-all conclusion was that Federal Labor Health Committee-because geriatric and psychiatric services throughout of its over-all efficiency and the way in the United Kingdom provided meal and which it could serve as a model for Australia. toilet facilities only. This type of service I point out first that that service is not is just not good enough, and should not the result of Government activity of any sort. be tolerated in any so-called civilised It has grown completely from a co-operative country. attitude between basic major industry in the A picture a little less black is painted in United States of America and the medical the report on hospitals for the mentally profession. It has accepted voluntary handicapped throughout England and Wales. insurance that covers all medical services All of these hospitals have now been visited provided by the organisation and, with an at least once by a team from the advisory efficiency geared to that particular system, service, and certain features have been identi­ has managed to provide an escalation of fied as indicators of a good service-for its services throughout the country. instance, the use of out-patient counselling, early assessment, short-term care, the integra­ The fundamental distinction between this tion at ward level of all the services offered, service and services in other parts of the and the co-operation of the staff providing world-as far as I know, this service has them. The report does not dwell on the bad not been developed outside the United States features in this situation, because they were of America-lies in the method of payment fully described in the previous year, but of doctors, nurses and others for their merely records that there still exist grossly services. Revenues are based upon coverage overcrowded wards with severe understaffing of the whole population served rather than and conditions that would not be tolerated upon reimbursement of fees for services to anywhere else in the National Health Service. users, and I think it is ,this particular aspect of the service that has appealed to members The results of one project undertaken by of the Federal Labor organisation who have the service make heartening reading. A team been looking for a model on which to base of three nurses worked with the staff on one some of their own ideas. However, I repeat unit in a hospital for a period of several that its organisation has been geared com­ months. Because they were enthusiastic pletely to the private services provided by people, staff morale and job satisfaction doctors and industry, with no Government increased enormously, and a number of prob­ interference. lems were successfully solved. This brings me again to the point that unless there is job The Kaiser model as originally set up­ satisfaction, particularly in medical, nursing I think it was started in about 1938, so it and paramedical personnel, there is not an has now been going for over 30 years-is efficient service. based on the concept that it must combine organisation, delivery and financing of both The teams in the United Kingdom that ambulatory and hospital services in one visited hospitals for the mentally ill were over-all system. As I mentioned earlier, it concerned about the increasing numbers of has a comprehensive insurance cover, and social rejects, in particular the frail, elderly, this is geared to attempting to achieve com­ confused or demented, who accumulated in pletely comprehensive care. In spite of the Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1091

fact that it has been functioning for over The type of joint management I have 30 years, it is not considered that the ideal been describing has evolved from a com­ situation has yet been reached in that respect. bination between the physicians, who are It has been accused in the United States both clinicians and administrators, and the of America by the radical Left of being in lay professionals from the fields of hospital collusion with ·the American Medical Associ­ administration, business, finance, law, ation to maintain a doctor shortage, and by economics, personnel and so on, into an the extreme Right-wing element in the United effective, co-operative, complex, medical­ States as being a Trojan horse seeking to care programme. It offers a method by destroy medicine and bring about a Federal which doctors and laymen can work compulsory health-care programme. How­ together closely without infringing on the ever, from a practical and factual point of physician's sense of professional integrity, view, it has involved the nation's largest and, because of this sense, without achiev­ integrated and regionalised system of private ing complete unification. physicians grouped together to practice on The committee itself which governs the a non-profit basis, and it has dropped the organisation comprises regional health plan term "sick" in favour of the term "health" managers, regional medical directors and in its name. The idea is-I suppose it is members of the central medical-care pro­ not unrelated to the old Chinese idea-that gramme staff. The committee makes recom­ people pay to be kept healthy rather than mendations to the health plan and hospitals pay a doctor when they are sick. boards of directors and the governing bodies It was started by the Kaiser Foundation of the Permanente Medical Groups. As it Health Plan and the Kaiser Foundation has evolved, the committee is the co-ordinat­ Hospitals and the Permanente Medical ing area for staff input into top-level Groups, and it has evolved to its present decision-making. For example, the com­ form over the years. Lay management is mittee debated the moves and made the involved specifically in a manner that is of recommendations which eventually resulted vital importance, because it is trained in the expansion of the plan into other areas particularly to understand medical problems of the United States and California in 1969. and to take advice from the medical This has been a very successful and satis­ personnel. According to the information I factory move. have received, the crux of the whole organi­ It is not dissimilar to the type of organisa­ sation is the relationship which exists between tion on a non-profit basis which churches the medical and the industrial management. throughout Australia arrange when they It is worth bearing in mind in that context are providing hospital and domiciliary ser­ that the industrial management contains some vices for the sick. It is a service which, of the best organisational brains in .the in Australia, is being increasingly recognised country. The effect of the organisation is to by Governments in Canberra and Queens­ recognise that medical care is three things: land at this time. a profession, a business and a social responsibility. The main point about the whole process in California in the Kaiser-Permanente sys­ Accepting all that, no-one can deny that tem is that Governments are completely patient care is the responsibility of doctors, uninvolved and that businessmen and doctors nor can the doctors deny that those trained in the area have shown a remarkable degree in corporate management, like the Kaiser­ of altruistic concern for the welfare of Permanente people, have something to add those people who come under their care. in the operation of medical systems. As It is particularly pertinent in the States the result of that they achieve well-defined when one sees throughout the rest of the but rather venturesome goals, and these in country an escalating cost system which is many respects have been attained. The so bad that even a minor illness is a matter whole is evolved to project a doctor-patient of grave concern to people, whether they relationship through marriage of medicine and management in the service of millions are insured or otherwise. of patients. Mr. Sherrington: Does this deal only with Mr. Sherrington interjected. industrial medicine? Dr. CRAWFORD: They live on very Dr. CRAWFORD: No, it gives complete well. and comprehensive care to everybody who M!'. Sherrington interjected. insures under the system. I can see why, for example, the honourable member's Dr. CRAWFORD: I knew the honourable people in Canberra are interested in it. The member would be trying to be helpful point they have missed, I believe, is that one way or another. because of doctors, industry and unions Mr. Sherrington: I just wanted you to co-operating and co-ordinating, without have one interjection recorded during your some person in control anywhere telling speech. them how to do it, they are using the best possible expertise which they can secure from Dr. CRAWFORD: The honourable mem­ their own experience, and putting it together ber apparently thinks that we should have on a non-profit basis for the care of the a little conversation at this stage. patient. 1092 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

The honourable member may ask how the run its affairs. From a doctor's point of personnel are paid. They are paid adequately, view-in fact from the point of view of of course. A committee of other doctors any professional person-and irrespective. of adjudicates on admission of a doctor to the money or anything else, we are n~ver gou:~g system. A young man would be accepted as to reach the situation where he will remam a partner on a provisional basis for from working with somebody else telling him three to six months and receive a junior what to do. salary. By the time he gets to this stage he is Mr. Melloy: They must have had some a fully trained and qualified doctor. After he coverage problems. has given satisfaotory service for two or three years, he will be accepted into the over-all Dr. CRAWFORD: They had some but by system as a complete partner. There is efficient business administration they coped about an 8 to 14 per cent drop-out in the with them. Various people all over the first year, but once doctors are accepted world have tried to copy them, but as they into the system there is only a 1 per cent have attempted to copy part and not all of change in medical personnel because they it it has not worked. It must be want to work in it. Once they decide they the complete scheme. They make this point want to work in this system, they stay there over and over again. I will give the hon­ and the whole of their medical livelihood is ourable member for Nudgee a copy of this carried by the organisation. if he wishes and he can read it for himself. It has been copied, in sections, all over It is not subsidised by Kaiser Aluminium, t~e although their expertise is used. It is a world but it will not work that way. It will situation in which the doctor's medical only work if the whole scheme is p~t livelihood is looked after. His superannua­ together and if sufficient people of good WI~l tion, long-service leave and everything else actually make it work as a whole. That IS is attended to by the organisation. As I the important point. said, at no stage has anybody outside the Mr. Melloy: Does the Government take organisation a finger in the pie or the right any part at Government level? to tell them what to do. I think this is vitally important. Dr. CRAWFORD: No. It can be helped by government, but ti:e loan of $100 at the bank we may are four laundries, or one for each of the have difficulty, but if we ask for $1,000,000, hospital services. This is plain inefficiency the bank says, "Come in; where can we send in that context. I did not know this until it for you?" a few weeks ago when I looked at this matter and received some expert advice. If Mr. Sherrington: I would like to find that in the near future a 300-bed intermediate bank. and private hospital is provided in the area Dr. CRAWFORD: I have not found it yet. and it includes a laundry, it would need This is only what I have been told. The to perform laundry work for other institu­ Treasurer can give you some idea where we tions, such as the Mater Hospital. It is can raise the money. not unimportant .to discuss an efficient laundry, because the provision of additional Sir Gordon Chalk: They should be able to services, such as nursing quarters, a laundry, find it with guaranteed interest. a boiler house and engineering works, will Dr. CRAWFORD: That is exactly the add in excess of $1,000,000 to the cost of point. construction of a 300-bed hospital. Accom­ modation would need to be provided for Mr. Sherrington: Why haven't I been given 100 nurses. a hospital at Woodridge? 1094 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

Dr. CRAWFORD: The Government can be fully equipped and stationed in a strategic build hospitals, roads or anything. This part of the city. The cost of the equipment scheme should, and will, encourage members in each ambulance, which I detaired in the of our community who care about health previous speech, would be approximately services to provide them, because the facilities $3,900. are available for non-profit organisations. I am sure that the honourable member for Mr. Sherrington: Where do you get these Nudgee would agree that we also need a organisations? dental health scheme. It is long overdue. It would need to be worked on a medical­ Dr. CRAWFORD: Any church organisa­ benefits scheme basis. However, I think all tion. I am concerned with the church organi­ honourable members will agree that it is sations. not possible for a person to insure himself against a certainty. Therefore, the scheme Mr. Sherrington: They are not big enough. of the dental practitioners in the A.D.A., Dr. CRAWFORD: They certainly are. The of which all members in this Chamber are honourable member should ask the Treasurer. feeling the result, is being geared to fluorida­ There are three major church organisations in tion. It is something we must cope with in this city which, right now, are providing inter­ the near future. If we had compulsory mediate and private-bed hospital services, and fluoridation of one part per million through­ they are prepared to expand their facilities. out Queensland, we would be able to per­ It is important for everyone to realise that suade the insuring authorities to introduce the Budget contains this provision; this is a a completely comprehensive dental health magnificent scheme that will enable these scheme. We would then not have every measures to be implemented. If it were not child, or every second child, in the com­ there, it would not be possible for these munity cluttering up our dental health ser­ organisations to provide the facilities. vice by having to have teeth cavities filled. Mr. Lane: It is a great incentive. Mr. Bromley: What is wrong with the Government making arrangements with local Dr. CRAWFORD: It is a tremendous in­ authorities to provide fluoride tablets to centive. those who want them? As far as other social services are con­ Dr. CRAWFORD: Because 50 per cent cerned, it should be noted that the Federal of parents either do not care or will not Budget provides for a home-service facility self-medicate their children. It is as simple by which those who are prepared to stay as that. home to attend to their sick or sick-aged can be reimbursed to the extent of $14 a week. Mr. Bromley: No matter how good you That represents tremendous help, and I are, you will never convince me that fluorine commend the Federal Treasurer for intro­ is any good for anybody over a certain ducing it. The Budget provision of extra aid age. for Blue Nurses, day hospitals and the expan­ Dr. CRAWFORD: The honourable member sion of social services for the elderly sick should ask the authorities about children's can only be commended. teeth. The only way to have children's It is also worth mentioning that, under the teeth functioning prope·rly is to put this Federal Budget, it is now possible for a minute amount of fluoride into the water. church or a non-profit organisation that has It would do no harm and would remove been in the habit of providing beds for the the necessity to have so many dental tech­ sick-aged and has not been granted a subsidy nicians and dental practitioners throughout in the past to receive a new bed provision the State. of two beds for one previously non-subsidised Mr. Bromley: If dentists performed their bed. If perchance-and this has happened proper task in practising preventive dentistry in our community-an organisation has built and the Government allowed qualified dental 150 beds for which it has received no Federal technicians-- subsidy, it can now build 300 with Federal money, at no cost to itself, as long as it pro­ The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! The vides the land. honourable member's interjection is for too I mentioned in my Address-in-Reply speech long. that coronary-care ambulances were needed Dr. CRAWFORD: As every honourable in our community, and I spelt out in some member knows, all local authorities have the detail how they could be provided. I men­ power and authority to do this. The dif­ tioned the service available in Perth, but ficulty is that, if any local authority grasps I omitted to point out that a pilot service the nettle and implements such a scheme, has been running from St. Vincent's Hospital there will be the usual hooey about the in Sydney. This hospital is very keen about dangers of fluoride. We do not want, in its service, and it has facilities and an every hamlet throughout the State, this type efficiency .record of which it is justly proud. of organisational attack on those who should I have checked on the amount necessary know, and I refer to our dental colleagues. to provide one of these ambulances. Unlike This Parliament must grasp the nettle and the Sydney people, I believe we should set introduce fluoridation throughout Queensland. up four ambulances, each of which should Mr. Sherrington interjected. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972) (Financial Statement) 1095

Mr. Lane interjected. what percentage increase of taxable income would be necessary to produce that addi­ The ACTING CHAIRMAN: Order! The tional amount. honourable members for Merthyr and Salis­ bury will cease cross-firing. It is a fact that the present over-all expenditure on health by the Commonwealth Dr. CRAWFORD: The fluoridation of all is $496,000,000, and the total expenditure, water in Queensland would reduce dental which is the Commonwealth expenditure plus caries, irrespective of what children eat. medical benefits expenditure, is $796,000,000. My next point is that it is necessary to It is a fact that large sums of money have establish in Brisbane a decompression cham­ to be spent on health. As I have pointed ber for divers. This is absolutely vital. It out by an analysis of the situation in other is just not good enough to find ourselves in parts of the world, nobody can practise a situation in which, as was found recently, medicine on the cheap and, as long as a gentleman who has received decorations efficiency is maintained and a correctly for bravery in his underwater activities had oriented service is obtained, that is all that to be flown, at sea level, to the naval hospital can be expected. at Balmoral in Sydney. I refer to Mr. Engwirda, who was suffering from the bends. Mr. Hayden's second point is that he This is just not good enough. intends to have doctors paid by billing a central authority, and 85 per cent of the bill Mr. Tucker: I asked for that about two will be paid by the central authority. There years ago in Townsville, and they could find is no argument at all that this is complete no good reason for it. control of finance from Canberra, and there­ Dr. CRAWFORD: I have not ascer- fore it is the inevitable yardstick of nation­ tained the cost of a decompression chamber. alisation. If moneys are to be controlled, I Perhaps it would be worth the honourable do not believe that doctors would be prepared member's while to find out. However, it is to accept that situation, as it would remove not a very large piece of equipment. I saw their professional autonomy completely. a similar piece of equipment, in which Mr. Burns: Why are they so different from oxygen is used for the treatment of certain ordinary workers? diseases, in Edinburgh, and it was not very expensive. I do not know the cost of a Dr. CRAWFORD: If they worked 35 decompression chamber, but it is something hours a week, three times the number of needed urgently in Brisbane now. doctors would be needed. Mr. Tucker: There was a man in the Royal Navy in England who offered his I have attempted to point out that intoler­ services when he was here. able conditions and quality of care have not been considered at any time by the Dr. CRAWFORD: Perhaps we could Federal Labor Party and, unless proper con­ encourage him to return. It is an extremely ditions of service are given to medical prac­ important matter, and this equipment should titioners, that care will deteriorate. That the be obtained without further ado. There removal of Queensland's free beds is a are various places where it could be estab­ smokescreen is only too evident when it is lished in Brisbane. One of them is the remembered that under the present system Repatriation Hospital at Greenslopes. It is 85 per cent of the population, namely, in a particularly suitable area, and has very insured patients in New South Wales and good facilities and probably the best over-all Victoria, have access to public beds for coronary and intensive-care unit in Queens­ which the charge of $105 a week is com­ land. It may be a matter of co-ordinating pletely refunded. In Western Australia also Commonwealth and State finance to establish there is a free public bed for an insured it there, but, in the light of the results that patient, with $140 completely refunded. it would achieve, I do not think it would be expensive. It is not good enough to have This point has not been made sufficiently to fly patients, at sea level, to Sydney if they vehemently, and it should be emphasised are suffering from the bends. over and over again. There is a free-bed system in Queensland, and it will be main­ I now wish to pass a few remarks con­ tained; there is a free-bed system for 85 per cerning over-all health services in Australia cent of the population of New South Wales, and the health scheme proposed by the Labor Victoria and Western Australia under our Party. The cost of 1.35 per cent on taxable present voluntary scheme. income, as put forward by Mr. Hayden, would mean the raising of $200,000,000 each Payment by a patient in Queensland for year. This would be subsidised by the a full medical benefits scheme, which is Government to the extent of an additional somewhere in the vicinity of $80, gives him $200,000,000, to make $400,000,000 in all. private-level treatment in private, intermediate The latest figures available, as outlined by or public beds throughout Australia. That the Federal shadow Minister for Health, sum, which gives full medical benefit cover show a cost of $591,000,000, and probably to Australians, is approximately one-quarter $640,000,000. If the latter figure is correct, of the amount paid compulsorily in the that is a good $240,000,000 above Mr. United Kingdom as a tax for a service that Hayden's present estimate. I do not know is far inferior to that provided in Australia, 1096 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) and I have referred, both tonight and in earlier speeches in this Chamber, to the great difficulties that are being experienced in the hospital service in the United Kingdom.

It is mandatory to assume that the Labor scheme for Australia will predictably escalate costs, as has the process in the United Kingdom, and will decrease efficiency. The over-all costs in Australia last year, as I said, were $796,800,000, with a Commonwealth expenditure of $496,200,000, as shown in the following circular table giving a breakdown of the costs:-

Pharmaceutical Benefits $173.3m. lup 8:'0)

Nursing Home Benefits $7l.Om. (up 42.ol

Commonwealth expenditure L.Y. $496.2m. Total .. $796 8m.

The population of the United Kingdom some extent by saying that medical adminis­ is approximately four times as large as tration and organisation should be paramount Australia's, and almost twice as much was in health matters, and that in his opinion spent in that country, proportionately, for a there should not be any outside interference service that gives no ready choice of doctor -by the Government, the Public Service, or or hospital and can mean up to 10 years' anyone else-and then, almost in the same waiting for non-urgent surgical cases. It is breath, that Parliament should grasp the interesting to note, also, that 5,000,000 nettle and insist that reticulated water sup­ Britons have insured themselves for health­ plies throughout Queensland are fluoridated. service care with private companies. This is Mr. Miller: That is a sensible approach. an indictment on the whole system, especially as it relates to its efficiency for patient care. Mr. O'DONNELL: I am not denying ,that it shows a great deal of common sense. l believe that Labor's proposals, with the However, if such a principle is applied in tremendous confusion existing among Mr this field, people in the engineering sphere will Whitlam, Mr. Hayden, Dr. Cass, and Mr. be asking that a similar principle be applied Dunstan, will predictably and inevitably lead to their activities. In fact, a similar situation to a similar situation in Australia. would arise in every profession, and I do (Time expired.) not know how the principle could be implemented. Members of Parliament would Mr. O'DONNELL (Belyando) (9.48 p.m.): have to be qualified before coming into this The honourable member for Wavell has just Chamber, because the various professions delivered a very interesting speech. I strongly would resent and reject any unqualified suspect that the Treasurer now has the bends opinion, direction or interference in their and needs decompressing. At first, he yawned administration. openly and eventually began smiling at a The honourable member for Wavell put stage when I thought that the honourable forward tonight rather an idealistic pro­ member for Wavell contradicted himself to gramme, and I cannot resist pointing out Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1097 that in many ways such a programme is those towns and moves among the people, completely opposed to our way of life. The one is astounded at the number of young whole world would be changed if the pro­ people there with families. There are gramme of health that the honourable children galore in them. This is where the member for Wavell has proposed tonight true test of decentralisation lies. In a few were implemented. years in those towns there will be many Dr. Crawford: Don't you believe in school-leavers. They will not be leaving reform? school in dribbles of 20's and 30's but every year 100 or 200 children in those centres will Mr. O'DONNELL: I do, but under our be leaving school. democratic way of life anybody can be These centres will never be able to absorb elected to Parliament and assist in framing more than perhaps 20 per cent of the school­ the laws of this State. That is democracy leavers. Therefore, the whole principle of at work. decentralisation is defeated in that the school­ Dr. Crawford: At this particular point, leavers will have to move east. I am very fluoridation is very important to people's concerned, because the Government's claim health. about decentralisation is not a valid one. We have to look at the establishment of those Mr. O'DONNELL: I realise that it is very towns with much more understanding and important. Years ago I proposed in this thought for the future. Chamber that there should be a State-wide This worries me, because I realise from recipe for drinking water. In other words, my own experience that people who Jive that we should endeavour to standardise the away from the large towns on the coast quality of water for human consumption have the company of their children, from throughout the length and breadth of the the time they reach the age of 1;2, only State. I did not get anywhere with that at school vacation time. They have had proposal. However, I could not resist mak­ to send their children away to school and ing these comments tonight. subsequently to work in jobs that are not This is a Budget debate, and my principal available locally. As a consequence, the interest in the Budget is not so much to play whole set-up contributes to the principle "ping pong" with the Treasurer over the of dividing families. Certainly we have figures he has presented or to argue the point high-school education available locally today with him in any respect. It is my purpose -this is a big asset-but it is only post­ to get as much for the electorate of Belyando poning the day of the children's departure. as I can. It has been my policy ever since I Until we succeed in developing our rural entered this Parliament to get as much as I centres, as opposed to provincial-city centres could for my electorate, and I am very happy and the metropolitan areas of Australia, to to say that I have been reasonably successful. provide avenues of employment for the Sir Gordon Chalk: You have been very majority of school-leavers, we are not truly successful. decentralising. In each of these towns-they are familiar Mr. O'DONNELL: Thank you. to many people who have gone to see The honourable member for Mirani them, because even from the tourist angle praised the Government for the mmmg both Blackwater and Moranbah are towns development in this State. He pointed out of interest-we see what to my mind is that towns had been established through a delayed plan rather than one thought out mining activities, and spoke about towns that to its ultimate before operations began. I are to be established. He advanced some of do not blame the company for this, because his own objections to the establishment of in the establishment of every town a certain the mining industry and the way it has been number of amenities must be provided for operating. the people. We are now starting to get off the ground These mining towns are essentially good, in Blackwater and Moranbah. We have had but I doubt whether they are serving the true a proposal for a 10-bed hospital at Black­ ideal of decentralisation. The subject of water and a 4-bed hospital at Moranbah. decentralisation features greatly in discus­ I know that Government members who are sions these days. On TV we are told about well aware of the needs of rural centres grandiose schemes to decentralise the cities will be thinking that both these proposals by the setting-up of urban satellite towns are ridiculous in view of what I said a within 30, 40 or 50 miles of the large capital few moments ago, namely, that Blackwater cities. That is all very well-I am not deny­ has a population in excess of 4,000 and ing that the motives are excellent-but what Moranbah a population of 2,500. Both is proposed under those schemes is vastly centres are teeming with young married different from saying that the establishment couples who have numerous young children. of Moranbah, Blackwater, Dysart and simi­ lar towns is true decentralisation. I have been fortunate in this matter. I intended to raise it in the House as a matter Certainly 4,000 people have been introduced of public interest but I approached the into the town of Blackwater and 2,500 people Minister for Health, who wrote to me saying into the town of Moranbah, but if one visits that both these proposals are being corn- 1098 Supply (17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statemellt) pletely reconsidered. This is very important Mr. O'DONNELL: I am illustrating where because, to my mind, it was a complete planning has broken down. In a township slap in the face for these people, who were of 4,500 people, these new buildings are supposed to be doing such a good job of essential. In any other town with an equal decentralisation, to be regarded as only population, such as Clermont, Emerald, worth a 10-bed hospital for a population Blackall or Barcaldine, these amenities are of 4,000 and a 4-bed hospital for a popula­ provided, and they need to be provided at tion of 2,500. I say this because these Blackwater. Included among them should towns are not close to other centres where be a building in which the clerk of the there are hospitals. Blackwater certainly court could carry out his work. has some proximity to Emerald. There The cost of all the buildings that I have is a bitumen road between the two centres; mentioned would be almost $2,000,000. however, the distance is 48 miles but in When it is remembered that these buildings neither of the new towns are there any hos­ need to be duplicated at Moranbah, it will pital facilities at the moment. be seen that the cost is almost $4,000,000. When these towns were planned, one Honourable members might ask: where will would have thought that one of the first the other $2,000,000 be expended? Naturally buildings to be provided would be a hos­ my answer will be, "On the Capricorn pital. That is why in speaking tonight I Highway, to bring it up to the desired want to stress the importance of forward standard." planning. Dysart has been referred to. I do not want the same situation to arise Mr. Sullivan: What about Collinsville and there or, for that matter, in any other those other places? centre that is about to undergo vast Mr. O'DONNELL: I shall refer to development. CollinsviUe. I haven't finished yet. The Treasurer has outlined his proposals Before I move away from the central for the next 12 months, and has also praised railway line, I want ,to speak about Emerald. his Government on its past achievements. There is a certain building in that town, 1 do not criticise him for that, because namely, the court-house, that has been on if I were Treasurer I would do the same. and off Budgets more times than a 10 year­ However, tonight I ask the Treasurer for a old hen has been on and off her nest. sum of not less than $6,000,000. The Emerald Court House is the greatest Sir Gordon Chalk: When? eyesore in this State, yet it houses public servants. Mr. O'DONNELL: As soon as I can get it. I shall tell the Committee why I want Mr. Sullivan: You have a very good office that sum. at Emerald for the Department of Primary Industries. At Blackwater a new high school will be in existence next year. However, although Mr. O'DONNELL: I am referring to the a new hospital is on the drawing board court-house, which is in one of the main it has not yet been provided. I hope streets of Emerald. The very attractive the new one will be much better than the Primary Industries building is virtually out of one originally suggested to the honourable sight, on the northern side of the town. member for Auburn when he represented the Unless a person was travelling along the former Mackenzie electorate. As well, the Gregory Highway he would not know it town of Blackwater requires a new railway existed. The court-house is right between, and station. The present one has to be seen facing, some of the most modern buildings to to be believed. It would be the worst be seen in any country town. It is a dis­ humpy in Queensland. graceful, unpainted, derelict building. I Mr. Frawley: Have you seen the one at repeat that it has been in and out of Caboolture? the Budget for years. If there were 10 dilapidated Government buildings in the Mr. O'DONNELL: I have. It is worse town I would say that the Government was than that. hard up, but for some unearthly reason the The new station should be resited on the Government continues to ignore this building. north side of the line, and should embody Something must be wrong with it; it must a goods shed. be full of lice for the Government not to be prepared to let any workers near it other Sir Gordon Chalk: Tell us what you than the public servants who work in it. want the rest of the $6,000,000 for. I can hardly wait. Sir Gordon Chalk: I just saw my banker, and he said that we haven't got $6,000,000 Mr. O'DONNELL: I have already said that the high school and extensions to th-e this year. primary school will cost almost $1,000,00(), Mr. O'DONNELL: It seems that the and I have just spoken about the railway Treasurer wants to make a joke of the station. Blackwater is also in urgent need $6,000,000, but this money should have been of a new police station. spent. In a plan designed to benefit com­ Mr. Low: You should write to Father munities, as far as possible the necessary Christmas. amenities should be provided in advance. Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1099

I was invited to refer to Collinsville. I for storage of equipment. These store­ ~ave here a letter that expresses briefly what rooms are already barely adequate for Is wrong with Collinsville. As a former school needs." member of the Education Department, I I am complaining because, after my election, appreciate that there are many schools in I applied for work to be done at the Scott­ Queensland, and endless demands on the ville State School, and within a few weeks purse. I do not object to the use of demount­ I was granted $29,000. ables, within reason or for a reasonable time but I point out that I inherited Collinsvill~ Sir Gordon Chalk interjected. after the redistribution this year. Before that, Collinsville was in an electorate repre­ Mr. O'DONNELL: I am being quite fair sented by a Cabinet Minister. I will describe about it. Why has this situation existed at some of the needs of the Collinsville State Collinsville for five years? This is of School, and I will give dates to indicate that importance to me. the needs have existed for a long time. Sir Gordon Chalk: Surely you are not The request from the Collinsville State condemning the Minister's representations in School Parents and Citizens' Association, those days? which is very upset, is as follows:- Mr. O'DONNELL: I am. "The provision of two new classrooms for the secondary department with shower Sir Gordon Chalk: He had to get in the and change room beneath. At present, line, the same as anybody else. part of the secondary school is housed in Mr. O'DONNELL: I know all about these two rooms away from the main secondary queues. If he did not have any say with the rooms, thus making supervision and Treasurer, who would, seeing he was the administration difficult. Also, these two Treasurer's deputy? rooms are temporary demountables which have been in use at this school for several Sir Gordon Chalk: That is right, but I years." treated him the same as I did anybody else. inquired as to what was meant by several Mr. O'DONNELL: I do not intend to years, and was told that it meant five years. engage in a dialogue with the Treasurer I repeat that this school was formerly in an until later. electorate represented by a Minister of the Crown, and point out that on no occasion I am concerned about demountables at did similar circumstances arise in the other schools as well. I appreciate that they electorate of Barcoo, which was represented must be used, but they should be used for by a member of the Opposition. Something the minimum period, thus causing a mini­ is wrong with somebody's representations. mum of inconvenience to teachers and students-or "pupils", as children in primary The request from the Parents and Citizens' schools are called. It is very important that Association continues- we keep abreast of modern trends in Govern­ "The proviSion of a new Manual ment buildings and that we set a standard Training and Homecraft block. The for all people, not for those in one town. existing accommodation is insufficient and Moranbah has one of the most modern inadequate and has been thus for several schools in Queensland. A standard has been years. A report by the inspector of set there. Will all new schools in my elec­ manual arts in 1969 (that is three years torate be of the same standard? ago) stated that the accommodation was limited and sub-standard, and he made a Mr. Sullivan: How long has Moranbah recommendation that a new unit be pro­ been in your electorate? vided. Storage in the Homecraft section is Mr. O'DONNELL: Moranbah was in my cramped and inadequate, and the room is electorate before it even became a town. not large enough to accommodate the largest classes comfortably. The Manual We must look after the health of our Training room has places for twenty-four people by quickly establishing hospitals to students and classes of up to thirty-two give them not only the security they desire students have had to be placed in this in the event of illness, but also the comfort room. of knowing that a hospital is available if "The provision of a new Science Block. required. I put that suggestion forward The existing science room has room for strongly because, in my experience of western sixteen students and there are classes of towns like Aramac, Muttaburra, Alpha and up to thirty-six students using the room­ Tambo, whenever a doctor leaves, the people an impossible situation for demonstration feel a loss which affects them immensely, lessons. There are no power points avail­ both mentally and physically. able for student use of electrical equip­ Mr. Frawley: They can go quite easily ment, and there are twelve outlets and from Tambo to Augathella. It is only three water taps and sinks for student use. down the road. "The provision of Janitor/Groundsman's room and female cleaners' room. At Mr. O'DONNELL: The honourable mem­ present these people are forced to use ber says it is only down the road to school store-rooms for their own use and Augathella from Tambo. That may be so, 1100 Supply [17 OCTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement)

but that does not comfort the person who into town only on Saturdays, and on Saturday lives in !~mbo. He says, "I am just as evenings they like to be able to see what good a citizen as the people in Augathella. has happened during the afternoon. They Why can't the doctor be hen!?" He pro­ bably would not care if there was not a may come to town during the week, or doctor at Augathella, but he wants a doctor they may have been shopping on Saturday in his own town. This is ~the attitude of and made their bets. They do not get the the people, and their need. radio services that are available to people in the cities. They cannot ring 1185 to For instance, people in my electorate have said to me, "You are siding with the Minister ascertain a race result. They would there­ for Main Roads on the building of the fore appreciate the placing of result slips road on the other side of the Drummond in the T.A.B. window. Range. You are not pushing the Drummond Sir Gordon Chalk: Do you only want it Range Road." I have pointed out to them for the particular race day or the race days the im~ortance of the road from Alpha to of a meeting, or do you want it for several Barcaldme because, if there is no doctor at days? Alpha, that is the road that the people will use to obtain medical help or go to hospital. Mr. O'DONNELL: I want it to carry These things are important to people in on till the next race meeting. I think that country areas, and this is where decen­ is fair enough. tralisation comes in. If the State is to be decentralised, there must be people living Sir Gordon Chalk: I agree that that is in happy, small communities because that reasonable. is where the want to live, with no problems facing them in living there. They need Mr. O'DONNELL: This is important to protection for the health of their children country people. and themselves, as well as 'education facilities There is also another facet of this matter and job opportunities for their children. that perhaps Mr. Cox does not realise. Recently the request came from Alpha, Perhaps the Treasurer does, as he has had "Why can't we have apprentices in the more experience. "When people do not railway workshops at Alpha?" see the results in the window, they do not There are people who are thinking that take it out on Mr. Cox or the Treasurer, but if they could make a breakthrough and on the people operating the T.A.B. That obtain apprenticeships for one or two lads is not fair if the person concerned has at this centre, there would be an introduction been instructed to keep the notices out of of local job opportunities. If the Govern­ the window. I do not think it would be ment thinks that in towns such as Black­ difficult to keep a progressive script during water and Moranbah it is truly obtaining the afternoon and place it in the window. decentralisation, it is mistaken. There is not true decentralisation till young people Slr Gordon Chalk: They have been are given opportunities to be absorbed into instructed to keep ,them up, but there has the community. been laxity in some directions. I cannot let this occasion pass without Mr. O'DONNELL: Some people are raising with the Treasurer the matter of meticulous. They have not failed to put the Totalisator Administration Board. The them up in years. On 1the other hand, others last time the Treasurer and I had a dialogue have never put them up, and I can assure the on this subject I came out of it rather well. Treasurer that they have incurred L':!e ire of There are now weights posted up for the local citizens. gallopers, handicaps for trotters, barrier posi­ tions, and so on. I want to return this 1\ll:r. Hanlon: T.A.B. agencies have an evening to the matter that I raised the increasing amount of work to do, and some­ other day in a question without notice times they are not provided with additional to the Treasurer concerning the placing of staff. Tha1t means that the people who work results in the windows of T.A.B. agencies. in them do not always have the time to do The Treasurer's predecessor, Sir Thomas everything they used to do. Hiley, granted me that request when I made it years ago. He certainly was slow Mr. O'DONNELL: The honourable in implementing it-he took about two years member for Baroona has a good point. -but still, he did it. I am not particularly However, in the agencies of which I have concerned about the Elizabeth Street agency; taken particular notice and where I have I merely mentioned it the other day because gone in to see what was going on, I should it was so obvious. I think it was because say that 1there was plenty of time to do new plate-glass windows had been installed. the things about which I am complaining. I think this is a service that can readily be Sir Gordon Chalk: It was because they given without inconveniencing anybody. I put new plate-glass windows in. am not saying that it would always be possible, particularly in the congested agencies Mr. O'DONNELL: That is right. Through­ in the cities, when there is trotting at night out the rural areas people are interested in addition to racing during the day. But in seeing these results. Some of them come in rural commun~ties there is usually time Supply [17 OcTOBER 1972] (Financial Statement) 1101 during the afternoon to compile progressive If it were possible, I should like to see reports on the results of races. I assume a break-up of the money that flows from that the Treasurer is on my side-- outside Brisbane into the T.A.B. in Brisbane and compare it with the money invested in Sir Gordon Chalk: I have already taken this city. I think the comparison would the matter up. be surprising. I would not expect the amount Mr. O'DONNELL: I thank the Treasurer. to be as large, but it would be considerable I appreciate his doing that. and would surely warrant more considera­ tion for investors in rural areas. Although it is probably a little late to remedy the situation, I still believe that It is astounding to me that commentators T.A.B. agencies do not provide sufficient seem to think that the Q.T.C. and the amenities for investors. If one goes into a B.A.T.C. are completely sacrosanct, and that busy T.A.B. agency, one finds it very diffi­ nothing can be done in case one patron cult to see the sheets because people stand is prevented from going to a racecourse in in front of rthem and use the ledge. I have Brisbane. The clubs are getting money suggested before-perhaps it could be done from people who never go to Eagle Farm, gradually-that the boards on which the Doomben or Albion Park. People in the sheets are placed should be raised at least rural areas who invest their money on the above head level so that they may be seen by everyone who goes in to invest. T.A.B. are making their contribution. Every person who makes a bet with the T.A.B. Strangely enough, the set-up a,t Collins­ has to pay a fee. Some people do not ville is better than I have seen in any other seem to realise that they do not bet on agency. In that agency there is a central the T.A.B. for nothing. A person could table divided by a perpendicular board, in walk in and out of a T.A.B. agency for addition to the usual boards. The people who go there know that details relating to nothing, but that is all. He has to pay certain races will be on one side of that something like 13;} per cent of his bet for board and that those relating to other races the privilege of betting. People out in will be on the other side. Things such the country, as well as the people in the as that are important, and I believe that metropolitan area, are paying that. Such more conveniences should be provided for comments by commentators are thoughtless, investors as time goes on. and are quite inconsiderate to a great num­ ber of people in country areas who are Finally on rthe T.A.B., I wish to speak about something that I resent. On Saturday contributing to the success of the racing mornings, one hears racing commentators game. constantly barracking for the race clubs and The electorate of Belyando is a product referring to the bookmakers' percentages and of the redistribution, and I again stress my the T.A.B. percentages that go rto race clubs, great disappointment at the elimination of particularly in the metropolitan area. But the historical Labor seat of Barcoo. Even they never give credit to the people in rural non-Labor people were shocked at its areas of Queensland who invest their money, elimination. The establishment of the all of which flows to Brisbane but only part electorate of Belyando just had to be, of which goes back to the rural communities. because it does not impinge on the Barcoo When anyone talks about the need for better River as did the former electorate of Barcoo. facilities to be provided by the T.A.B. or the If anyone wants a laugh about the redis­ provision of an earlier declaration of tribution he only has to look at the map dividends or the reduction of the 40-minute of the electorate as it is now constituted. closing time before races it is said, "You One of the main towns in the electorate, can't do tha,t, because you would be inter­ Collinsville, is 237 miles by road from the fering with the race clubs in Brisbane." next main town, Clermont. Both towns That is quite wrong. The facilities offered are in what is supposed to be a compara­ are not just for Brisbane. It is not only the tively closely settled electorate, as it is one citizens of Brisbane who are keeping horse­ that goes within 70 or 80 miles of the racing going. People from Weipa to Birds­ coast, and extends almost to the town of ville bet on Eagle Farm, Doomben and Moura. Albion Park race meetings, and in due course Mr. Frawley: How big is your electorate? a percentage of their money flows to the Q.T.C., the B.A.T.C. and the other clubs. Mr. 0'-DONNELL: I have no record of The commentators are completely thought­ the size of Belyando, but the figure for less and inconsiderate in their remarks. Barcoo was 43,000. If this one is not in Some commentators have suggested that excess of 50,000, my estimation is very bad. there should be special broadcasts in Bris­ Mr. Frawley: It is 36,000. bane, but they never give a thought to a broadcast for those who have a bet on Mr. O'DONNELL: I do not know what has the T.A.B. at Longreach, Aramac, Emerald happened, but if I want to go to Collins­ or Clern1ont. Everything must be done ville I must first fly to Bowen. I cannot fly to suit the people in the metropolitan area. to Jericho. To get there, I first have to 1102 Supply [18 OCTOBER 1972] Questions Upon Notice

fly to Blackall or Barcaldine. I can fly into Alpha on one day a week. The whole compactness of the electorate is completely ruined. I have to travel 50-odd miles from Bowen to get to Collinsville, which has no community of interest with any other part of my electorate. It is essentially bound up with the town of Bowen, on the coast. It is the hinterland to Bowen, which does most of its business with Collinsville. Hon­ ourable members may think that is wrong, but Collinsville is a healthy mining com­ munity and it spends well, with the result that Bowen's business is mainly done with Collinsville. People from Collinsville who want to visit the coast must go to Bowen. There is no relationship whatever between Collinsville and Clermont. Moranbah has been created, and again an anomaly has crept in. The interest of Moranbah people is not in Clermont but on the coast. Blackwater is somewhat similar, although a strange thing is happening there. People from Emerald are shopping at Black­ water because it has a supermarket. I think its name is "Save More". If I may again refer to decentralisation, although the townships of Blackwater and Moranbah have been created, they have not helped Emerald and Clermont. To a certain extent they have detracted from those towns. The electorate itself, for its specific loca­ tion, is one of the strangest one could imagine, and the only conclusion I can come to is that all the other electorates were fixed and then the Electoral Commission said-- Sir Gordon Chalk: "Give Hughie the rest." Mr. O'DONNELL: "Give Hughie the rest." I think that is how it worked out. The people are really excellent, but they are so divided by their location and their activities that no community of interest exists. They find difficulty in getting togethe·r, and to my mind it must have been a great joke for the gentlemen who carved up Queensland when they came to the end and said, "Ha, ha! Look at what we have done." I should say that this is one area that needs looking at as soon as the development at Dysart and some of the other proposed mining centres is undertaken. As soon as they are established, something should be done to set up an electorate that not only contains a community of interest and a facility for the people within it to become closely knit but also is easier for their member to service it. I have spoken at some length and, as it is getting late, I will leave it at that­ but I want my $6,000,000. Progress reported. The House adjourned at 10.35 p.m.