875 PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2006 SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTY-THIRD PARLIAMENT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 29 WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2006 The Questions and Answers Paper is published for each sitting day and will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on the previous sitting day and any new questions. Consequently the full text of any question will be printed only twice: when notice is given; and, when answered. 876 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2006 Publication of Questions Answer to be lodged by Q & A No. 18 (Including Question Nos 0803 to 0832) 31 October 2006 Q & A No. 19 (Including Question Nos 0833 to 0860) 01 November 2006 Q & A No. 20 (Including Question Nos 0861 to 0893) 02 November 2006 Q & A No. 21 (Including Question Nos 0894 to 0916) 21 November 2006 Q & A No. 22 (Including Question Nos 0917 to 0954) 22 November 2006 Q & A No. 23 (Including Question Nos 0955 to 0990) 23 November 2006 Q & A No. 24 (Including Question Nos 0991 to 1003) 24 November 2006 Q & A No. 25 (Including Question Nos 1004 to 1022) 28 November 2006 Q & A No. 26 (Including Question Nos 1023 to 1043) 29 November 2006 Q & A No. 27 (Including Question Nos 1044 to 1064) 30 November 2006 Q & A No. 28 (Including Question Nos 1065 to 1071) 01 December 2006 Q & A No. 29 (Including Question Nos 1072 to 1092) 19 December 2006 877 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2006 26 SEPTEMBER 2006 (Paper No. 18) *0804 PRIMARY EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT—Mr Greg Aplin asked the Minister for Education and Training— When will you implement the agreement for assistant principals in primary schools, whereby they receive the same release from face to face teaching as their secondary counterparts? Answer— There is no agreement for assistant principals in primary schools to receive the same release from face to face teaching as the roles of deputy principals and head teachers in secondary schools are different to the role of assistant principals in primary schools. Following negotiations with the NSW Teachers Federation, the Department implemented a new system of primary executive release to be phased in over three years commencing in Term 1 of 2004. The Government has recognised the work value of assistant principals and they will receive substantial salary increases above most other teachers during the life of the current award. *0805 SAFE-T-CAM DATA—Mr Greg Aplin asked the Minister for Water Utilities, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Regional Development, and Minister for the Illawarra representing the Minister for Roads— What progress has been made in: (a) Co-ordinating data obtained from the Safe-T-Cam network in New South Wales? (b) Integrating data from monitoring systems in other States in eastern Australia? Answer— I am advised: Data from the NSW Safe-T-Cam Network is gathered by the NSW Roads & Traffic Authority and used for a variety of enforcement and intelligence purposes. Safe-T-Cam forms part of a coordinated heavy vehicle enforcement program that consists of RTA inspectors, heavy vehicle checking stations, periodic vehicle inspections, Police and other agency enforcement. South Australia's Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) has implemented a network of Safe-T-Cam sites. The RTA and the DTEI working together have widened the surveillance network for the detection of heavy vehicle offences. *0806 SLIP LANE—Ms Gladys Berejiklian asked the Minister for Water Utilities, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Regional Development, and Minister for the Illawarra representing the Minister for Roads— In relation to the Lane Cove Tunnel project and Mowbray Road: (1) Why have you not informed the public that the third slip lane for people turning left at the intersection of Mowbray Road and Epping Road will be taken away? (2) Have you considered the impact this will have on traffic flow turning right into Epping Road, effectively only allowing one lane to do so? (3) Will you address community concern about this road change and direct the RTA to reinstate the slip lane? Answer— I am advised: Information is publicly available through the Select Committee on the Cross City Tunnel's Inquiry into the Lane Cove Tunnel. Matters were also discussed in evidence at the Inquiry's public hearings held in June 2006. Matters regarding surface road changes are being assessed by the Lane Cove Tunnel Integration Group on sound traffic management principles. The Integration Group brings the public sector and private operators together to manage the smooth transition of the Lane Cove Tunnel, expanded Gore Hill Freeway and new Falcon Street ramps into the existing road network. 878 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2006 Information regarding this project is also available on the RTA website at www.rta.nsw.gov.au and the Connector Motorways website www.connectormotorways.com.au. *0807 HOSPITAL WAITING LISTS—Mr Andrew Constance asked the Minister for Planning, Minister for Redfern Waterloo, Minister for Science and Medical Research, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) representing the Minister for Health— (1) How many people are on the "not ready for surgery" list at Batemans Bay, Moruya, Bega and Pambula Hospitals in 2005 and 2006? (2) What are the budget cuts in real terms at Batemans Bay, Moruya, Bega and Pambula Hospitals in 2006⁄2007? Answer— I am advised: (1) The "not ready for surgery" designation is made by the surgeon. This designation can be used for a variety of reasons, for example: • a co-morbidity exists which, until resolved, renders a patient unfit for the proposed treatment. • a patient is unable to accept a date for admission. As such, the number of patients designated as "not ready for surgery" fluctuates on a daily basis. (2) Area Health Services generally manage their financial accounts on a whole of Area basis for the hospitals under their control. As indicated in recent budget announcements, the NSW Government will invest $514.6 million in Greater Southern Area Health Service this financial year. That is $46.7 million more than last year, an increase of almost 10%. *0808 MENTAL HEALTH BEDS—Mrs Judy Hopwood asked the Minister for Planning, Minister for Redfern Waterloo, Minister for Science and Medical Research, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) representing the Minister for Health— (1) For the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 to date, what were the bed numbers at Hornsby Hospital for the following categories: (a) Beds general (excluding the mental health unit); (b) Beds mental health (Lindsay Madew Unit)? (2) On how many occasions have mental health patients been cared for in the general hospital (eg accident and emergency) when there were no mental health beds for the above years? (3) How many patients in total, suffering a mental health issue, were looked after in this fashion? Answer— I am advised: (1) I refer the member to the Area Health Services' Annual Reports and the Department of Health Annual Report. (2) and (3) The wording of the Honourable Member's question is ambiguous and any interpretation of the question would be subjective. I suggest the Honourable Member provide further clarification if a response to these issues is still required. *0809 EDUCATION CURRICULUM—Mrs Judy Hopwood asked the Minister for Education and Training— In relation to teaching primary school students about law and order, what projects, initiatives and teaching methods have been⁄are employed in educating children about the difference between right and wrong? Answer— Students are taught the difference between right and wrong across the curriculum and through the policies, procedures and relationships within their school community. They are taught the core values of public schools (integrity, excellence, respect, responsibility, cooperation, participation, care, fairness and democracy) and these are demonstrated across the school community. This builds on what their families teach them and helps students understand the difference between right and wrong behaviour and speech. Schools provide formal opportunities in the curriculum for students to learn about the rules and laws of our society and its protocols, customs and expectations about behaviour. Students participate in the development of class rules and school discipline codes where they establish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour. They are given a range of learning opportunities where they can apply the core values, school rules, laws and customs of our society to a range of different contexts. 879 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2006 Students are encouraged to exercise self discipline and to apply general rules using common sense in new and differing situations. Respect for others, respect for the property of others and respect for the organisational rules that govern the operation of schools also shapes their understanding of what is right and wrong behaviour. The Government's Respect and Responsibility Plan highlights the importance of these values for everyday living in the Australian community. In a similar way, schools adopt specific programs to address particular needs ensuring that students know right and wrong behaviour and speech. *0810 MENINGOCOCCAL IMMUNISATION—Mrs Judy Hopwood asked the Minister for Planning, Minister for Redfern Waterloo, Minister for Science and Medical Research,