VICfORIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) FIFTY-THIRD PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION Legislative Assembly Vol.432 Spring 1996 [From 16 October 1996 to 14 November 1996] By Authority: VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER The Governor His Excellency the Honourable RICHARD E. McGARVIE, AC The Lieutenant-Governor His Excellency the Honourable Sir JAMES AUGUSTINE GOBBO, AC The Ministry [AS FROM 3 APRIL 1996] Premier, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and Minister for the Arts ............... The Hon. J. G. Kennett, MP Deputy Premier, Minister for Agriculture and Resources ........................ The Hon. P. J. McNamara, MP Minister for Education ................... The Hon. P. A. Gude, MP Minister for Industry, Science and Technology. The Hon. M. A. Birrell, MLC Minister for Health, and Minister for Aged Care ................ The Hon. R. 1. Knowles, MLC Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and Minister for Corrections .... The Hon. W. D. McGrath, MP Minister for Finance, and Minister for Gaming ................. " The Hon. R. M. Hallam, MLC Treasurer, and Minister for Multimedia ..... The Hon. A. R. Stockdale, MP Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Tourism ................... The Hon. Louise Asher, MLC Minister for Transport .................... The Hon. A. J. Brown, MP Minister for Roads and Ports .............. The Hon. G. R. Craige, MLC Minister for Housing, and Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs ....... The Hon. A. M. Henderson, MP Minister for Tertiary Education and Training, and Minister assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs ........ The Hon. P. N. Honeywood, MP Minister for Planning and Local Government .......................... The Hon. R. R. C. Madellan, MP Minister for Youth and Community Services .............................. The Hon. D. V. Napthine, MP Minister for Sport, and Minister for Rural Development. .. The Hon. T. C. Reynolds, MP Minister for Conservation and Land Management ......................... The Hon. M. T. Tehan, MP Attorney-General, Minister for Fair Trading, and Minister for Women's Affairs ....... The Hon. J. L. M. Wade, MP Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet ..... The Hon. Rosemary Varty, MLC Members of the Legislative Assembly FIFTY-THIRD PARLIAMENT - FIRST SESSION Speaker: The Hon. S. J. Plowman Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees: Mr J. F. McGrath Temporary Chairmen of Committees: Mr Andrianopoulos, Mr Cole, Mr Cunningham, Mr Jasper, Mr McArthur, Mr Maughan, Mr Perrin, Mr Perton, Mrs Peuiich, Mr A. F. Plowman, Mr Richardson, and Mr Seitz. Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and Premier: The Hon. J. G. KEnnett Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party: The Hon. P. A. Gude Leader of the Parliamentary National Party and Deputy Premier: The Hon. P. J. McNamara Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary National Party: The Hon. W. D. McGrath Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition: Mr J. M. 8rumby Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition: Mr Demetri Dollis Member District P~ Member District Party Andrianopoulos, Alex Mill Park ALP McArthur, Stephen James Monbulk LP Andrighetto, Florian Narracan LP McCall, Ms Aridrea Lea Frankston LP Ashley, Gordon Wetzel Bayswater LP McGill, Mrs Denise Oakleigh LP Baker, !an MalcolmJohn SWlShine ALP McGrath, John Francis Warmcimbool NP Batchelor, Peter Thomastown ALP McGrath, William Desmond Wimmera NP Bracks, Stephen Phillip Williamstown ALP McLellan, Frederick Peter Frankston East LP Brown, A1in John Gippsland West LP Maclellan, Robert Roy Brwnb~ohn Mansfield Broadmeadows ALP Cameron Pakenham LP Burke, Leonie Therese Prahran LP McNamara, Patrick John Benalla NP Cameron, Robert Graham Bendigo West ALP ~;' Mrs Judith Campbell, Ms Christine Mary Pascoe Vale ALP Essendon ALP Carli, Carlo CobHlli ALP Ma~, Noel John Rodney NP Clark, Robert William Box LP Mi ef, Edward Joseph FIRSI'vale ALP Cole, Neil Donald Melbourne ALP Mildenhall, Bruce Alliin Footscral ALP Coleman, Charles Geoffrey Bennettswood LP Napthine, Or Denis Vincent Portlan LP Cooper, Robert Fitzgerald Momington LP Paiidazopoulos, John Dandenong ALP Cunningharn, Davi James Melton ALP Paterson, Alister Irvine South Barwon LP Dean, Or Robert Logan Berwick LP Perrin, David John Bulleen LP Dixon, Martin Francis Dromana LP Perton, Victor John Doncaster LP Dollis, Dernetri Richmond ALP Pescott, Roger Mitcham LP Dolele, Robert Keith Bennett Malvern LP Peulich, Mis Inga Bentleigh LP El er, Stephen Noel ~on LP Phillips, Wayne Eltham LP Elliott, Mis Lorraine Clare ooroolbark LP Plowman, Antony Fulton Benambra LP Finn, Bemard Thomas Plowman, Sidney James Evelyn LP Christoreer Tullamarine LP Reynolds, Thomas Carter Gisborne LP Garbutt, Sherryl Maree Bundoora ALP RiChardson, John Ingles Forest Hill LP Gillett, Ms Mary Jane Wembee ALP Rowe, Gary James Cranbourne LP Gude, Phillip Arclubald Hawthorn LP Ryan, Peter Julian ~r:dSouth NP Haermeyer, Andre Yan Yean ALP savage, Russell Irwin IND Hamilton, Keith Graeme Morwell ALP Seitz, Geo~e Keilor ALP Henderson, Mrs Ann M~ Geelong LP Shardey, rs Helen Jean Caulfield LP Honeywood, Phillip Ne . e Warrandyte LP Sheehan, Anthony John Northcote ALP Hulls, Rob Justin Niddrie ALP Smith, Emest Ross Glen Waverley LP Jas~ Kenneth Stephen Murray Valley NP Smith, !an Winton Polwarth LP Je . ,Geoffrey Paul Ballarat West LP Spry, Garry Howard Bellarine LP John, Michael Bendigo East LP st~all, Barry Edward Kennett, Je~ Gibb BurwOOd LP ector Swan Hill NP Kilgour, Do d Shepparton NP Stockdale, Alan Robert Brighton LP Koskj', Ms Lynne Janice Altona ALP Tehan, Mrs Marie Therese Seymour LP Langdon, Craig Anthony Thompson, Murray CUffe Ivanhoe ALP Hanillton Sandringham LP Lean, David Richard Carrurn LP Thwaites, Johnstone William AlbertPark ALP Leigh, Geo~ Graeme Mordialloc LP Traynor, Barry Edward BaIlarat East LP Leighton, Mi ael Andrew Preston ALP Treasure, David Lewis Gippsland East NP Lirn,Hong Clayton ALP Wade, Mrs Jan Louise Loney, Peter James Geelong North ALP MurraJnu, Kew LP Lctton, Hurtle Reginald, Wells, erley Arthur Wantima LP AM,JP Knox LP Wilson, Mrs Janet Tindale Calder Dandenong North ALP Heads of Parliamentary Departments Council- Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the Legislative Council: Mr A. V. Bray Assembly - Clerk of the Legislative Assembly: Mr P. J. Mithen Hansard - Chief Reporter: Mr Eric Woodward Library - Librarian: Mr B. J. Davidson House - Secretary: Mr W. F. McKelvie (To 15.10.96) Acting Secretary: Mr J. Norman (From 28.10.96) PETITIONS Wednesday, 16 October 1996 ASSE~LY 617 Wednesday, 16 October 1996 heard it - I have not seen Daily Hansard yet - and if I remember rightly, the honourable member for Niddrie said that if the bill passes through the Parliament and becomes law certain supermarkets and so on might be beneficiaries. That is a point of The SPEAKER (Hon. S. J. Plowman) took the chair view the honourable member put in debate but one at 10.03 a.m. and read the prayer. that has certainly to be tested. Mr Hulls - On a point of order, Mr Speaker, you The Chair is certainly not in a position to rule may be aware that last night there was vigorous whether or not that will be the case. If there were a debate in this house on a particular bill. The Deputy direct pecuniary benefit as a result of a vote - and I Speaker gave the house some advice on the matter. mean a direct pecuniary interest, not one which is As a result of the ruling by the Deputy Speaker last speculated on but one which could be clearly night no opposition members who had particular identified - the Parliament would be concerned at interests in a number of companies voted on the that pecuniary interest. In relation to the passing of legislation, on the basis that they believed there the bill through this house last night, and assuming would be a conflict of interest in their so doing. it passes through all its remaining stages, it is very hard for the Chair to see that there is a direct result, I seek your ruling on this matter, particularly in light as distinct from a speculated result, in the value of of the admission by the Attorney-General on radio any company in which a member has an interest. this morning that she has recently instructed her solicitors to set up a blind trust in which she will PETITIONS place her share portfolio, obviously because she is of the view that either there is a conflict of interest or a The Clerk - I have received the following petitions perceived conflict of interest in her holding certain for presentation to Parliament: shares and in having the Attorney-General portfolio. In light of this recent admission by the Shop trading hours Attorney-General, will you undertake to look into the matter with a view to establishing the validity of To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the the vote taken last night, particularly in light of the Legislative Assembly in Parliament assembled: fact that certain members on the government side of the house voted in the full knowledge that they had The humble petition of the citizens of the City of share portfolios that would increase in value as a Greater Oandenong and surrounds sheweth the result of the passing of the legislation? disastrous impact the extension of shop trading hours will have on small businesses in Victoria. The SPEAKER - Order! I heard the debate in my room, and I heard the Deputy Speaker rule on Your petitioners therefore pray that the members of the the matter. I heard him quote from page 354 of the Legislative Assembly reject the Shop Trading Reform 21st edition of May, which deals with votes on Bill which seeks to set up prOvision for 24-hour shop matters affected by pecuniary interest. The principal trading in this state. matter in relation to pecuniary interest on which the Deputy Speaker ruled was: And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. This interest must be a direct pecuniary interest, and By Mr Mica1lef (309 signatures) separately belonging to the persons whose votes were questioned ..