3272 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thursday 23 June 2011 __________ The Speaker (The Hon. Shelley Elizabeth Hancock) took the chair at 10.00 a.m. The Speaker read the Prayer and acknowledgement of country. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Routine of Business Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst—Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure NSW) [10.00 a.m.]: In the past few days, because of the high volume of Government Business, it has been necessary to move various Government bills through the House and to that end there has been a great deal of cooperation on both sides. I thank the Opposition for its cooperation— notwithstanding the fact that every now and then it had a little go at me, but that is all right. Last week I indicated that some private members' time would be reinstated to allow both Opposition and Government members to present their concerns to the Parliament. Accordingly I propose that the period between 12.15 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. today, time normally reserved for Government Business, will be allocated to private members' statements. I seek the leave of the House to permit the taking of private members' statements from 12.15 p.m. until 1.30 p.m. today. Leave granted. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Postponement of Business Notice of Motion (General Notices) No. 18 postponed on motion by Mr Richard Amery on behalf of Ms Carmel Tebbutt. PARLIAMENTARY, LOCAL COUNCIL AND PUBLIC SECTOR EXECUTIVES REMUNERATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2011 REGIONAL RELOCATION (HOME BUYERS GRANT) BILL 2011 Messages received from the Legislative Council returning the bills without amendment. STATUTE LAW (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 2011 Message received from the Legislative Council returning the bill with amendments. Consideration of Legislative Council's amendment set down as an order of the day for a later hour. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES Establishment and Membership The SPEAKER: I report the receipt of the following messages from the Legislative Council: (1) Committee on Children and Young People Madam SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution: 1. That under section 27 of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998, a joint committee known as the Committee on Children and Young People be appointed. 23 June 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 3273 2. That under section 29 (1) (a) of the Act, Mrs Melinda Pavey, Ms Jan Barham and Mr Greg Donnelly be appointed to serve on the committee as members of the Legislative Council. Legislative Council DON HARWIN 22 June 2011 President (2) Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption Madam SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution: 1. That under section 63 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, a joint committee known as the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption be appointed. 2. That under section 65 (1) (a) of the Act, Mr Niall Blair, Ms Lynda Voltz and Revd Mr Fred Nile be appointed to serve on the committee as members of the Legislative Council. Legislative Council DON HARWIN 22 June 2011 President (3) Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission Madam SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution: 1. That under section 64 of the Health Care Complaints Act 1993, a joint committee known as the Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission be appointed. 2. That under section 67 (1) (a) of the Act, Ms Catherine Cusack, Ms Helen Westwood and Mr Paul Green be appointed to serve on the committee as members of the Legislative Council. Legislative Council DON HARWIN 22 June 2011 President (4) Legislation Review Committee Madam SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution: 1. That under section 4 of the Legislation Review Act 1987, a joint committee known as the Legislation Review Committee be appointed. 2. That under section 5 (1) (a) of the Act, Dr Peter Phelps, Mr Shaoquett Moselmane and Mr David Shoebridge be appointed to serve on the committee as members of the Legislative Council. Legislative Council DON HARWIN 22 June 2011 President (5) Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters Madam SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution: 1. That this House agrees to the resolution in the Legislative Assembly's Message of Wednesday 22 June 2011 relating to the appointment of a Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. 2. That the representatives of the Legislative Council on the Joint Standing Committee be Mr Trevor Khan, Mr Peter Phelps, Mr Peter Primrose, Ms Amanda Fazio and Mr Robert Borsak. 3. That the time and place for the first meeting be Thursday 23 June 2011 at 1.00 p.m. in Room 1153. Legislative Council DON HARWIN 22 June 2011 President (6) Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety Madam SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution: 1. That this House agrees to the resolution in the Legislative Assembly's Message of Wednesday 22 June 2011 relating to the appointment of a Joint Standing Committee to inquire into and report on road safety in New South Wales. 3274 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 23 June 2011 2. That the representatives of the Legislative Council on the Joint Standing Committee be Mr Walt Secord, Mr Rick Colless and Ms Cate Faehrmann. 3. That the time and place for the first meeting be Thursday 23 June 2011 at 1.20 p.m. in Room 1153. Legislative Council DON HARWIN 22 June 2011 President (7) Joint Standing Committee on the Office of the Valuer-General Madam SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution: 1. That this House agrees to the resolution in the Legislative Assembly's message of Wednesday 22 June 2011 relating to the appointment of a Joint Standing Committee on the Office of the Valuer-General. 2. That the representatives of the Legislative Council on the Joint Standing Committee on the Office of the Valuer-General be Mr Scot MacDonald and Mr Eric Roozendaal. 3. That the time and place for the first meeting be Thursday 23 June 2011 at 1.40 p.m. in Room 1153. Legislative Council DON HARWIN 22 June 2011 President CARY STREET, TORONTO Debate resumed from 2 June 2011. Mr TIMOTHY OWEN (Newcastle) [10.07 a.m.]: I welcome the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Government to the motion moved by the member for Lake Macquarie and I thank him for raising this important issue. I am advised that the Roads and Traffic Authority has acquired properties along Cary Street, Toronto, over many years. The properties that the Roads and Traffic Authority has acquired have been purchased under hardship or voluntary sales. I understand that the authority has not been actively purchasing properties but has used the opportunities as they have arisen to reserve a future road corridor. The property acquisitions that have taken place will ensure that impact on property will be minimised when the duplication of Cary Street is required in the future. The remaining property that the Roads and Traffic Authority has not acquired would be acquired by the authority as part of the duplications when the project proceeds. I am advised that the property on Cary Street which is not owned by the Roads and Traffic Authority is currently not impeding the project in any way. The Roads and Traffic Authority has been developing options for the duplication of Main Road 217 between The Boulevarde and Bay Street, and I understand that options will be displayed for community comment in September. Following the public display, community submissions will be considered when finalising the selection of a preferred option. When a preferred option has been decided, the project will be considered for future funding in line with statewide priorities and needs. Current priorities for the road network in the Hunter region include construction of the $133 million, 1.8-kilometre section of the Newcastle inner-city bypass between Shortland and Sandgate, which is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2013; construction of the $1.7 billion, 40-kilometre Hunter Expressway between Seahampton and Branxton, which is also currently underway and is expected to be opened to traffic in 2013; planning for a number of intersection upgrades along the main route between the F3 freeway and Newcastle; and delivery of a new Thornton Bridge over the Great Northern rail line at Thornton. The New South Wales Government has also made a number of commitments to improve the road network in the Hunter region. These include funding commitments of $45 million to upgrade the New England Highway between the Maitland railway station roundabout and the Maitland Hospital roundabout; $40 million for the duplication of Nelson Bay Road between Bobs Farm and Anna Bay; $5 million to upgrade Lemon Tree Passage Road; $20 million to upgrade Main Road 301 between Raymond Terrace and Dungog; $20 million to upgrade Broke Road and McDonalds Road at Pokolbin; and $15 million towards the Pennant Street Bridge in Cardiff, together with additional funds from council and the Federal Government. The Roads and Traffic Authority will continue to develop the preferred option for the duplication of Main Road 217 between The Boulevarde and Bay Street for the longer term. Ms SONIA HORNERY (Wallsend) [10.10 a.m.]: It is always a delight to have a woman in the Chair.