19 May 2004 Legislative Assembly 1175 WEDNESDAY, 19 MAY 2004 Legislative Assembly Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R.K. Hollis, Redcliffe) read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. PRIVILEGE District Health Councils; Comments by Member for Burnett Hon. G.R. NUTTALL (Sandgate—ALP) (Minister for Health) (9.31 a.m.): I rise on a matter of privilege. I have disturbing information this morning about the conduct of a member of this House who has threatened a community volunteer who helps to run one of Queensland's independent district health councils. As most members would be aware, I have asked district health councils to take on a broader role this term in encouraging more Queenslanders to take an active role in the hospitals and health centres in their communities. This is about encouraging communities to have more ownership of their local health care services. Of their own accord, the chair of the Bundaberg District Health Council wrote to the editor of the Bundaberg News Mail last week on behalf of all district council members to refute constant and unsubstantiated claims by the member for Burnett, Mr Rob Messenger, that the Bundaberg Hospital was in crisis. The chairman, Mr Viv Chase, with the permission of members made public the phone numbers of every member of the council stating the council wished to take a proactive role in health care and would be happy to assist patients and local residents with any issue they maybe experiencing. On the same day, last Thursday, the member for Burnett, in what I can only describe as a cowardly and despicable act, phoned the council chairman and in a veiled threat against Mr Chase and his family called him an apologist for Queensland Health.The member for Burnett then went on to tell Mr Chase, and I quote from a letter from Mr Chase— I will now turn up the blowtorch and you will be included and I will contact all your members of Council to tell them the same. Government members: Shame! Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr NUTTALL: Queensland district health council members are volunteers. They are appointed under section 10 of the Health Services Act of 1991 and— Mr Seeney interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, order! Mr NUTTALL: They take on a demanding and sometimes difficult role to help to improve health care in Queensland. They are ordinary people representing their local communities who it seems have become easy targets for threats and harassment from this member of parliament. They have neither the resources nor the money to defend themselves against this disgraceful behaviour, behaviour that has the potential to reflect badly on all members of this parliament. Mr Speaker, because of the seriousness of these allegations I would ask you to consider referring this matter to the Members' Ethics and Parliamentary Privileges Committee. Opposition members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr Seeney interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, this is my final warning to you. Mr NUTTALL: Because of the seriousness of these allegations I would ask you to consider referring this matter to the Members' Ethics and Parliamentary Privileges Committee for its recommendation about possible disciplinary action, or referral to any other agency for investigation. PRIVILEGE ATSIC Construction, Rockhampton Hon. R.E. SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton—ALP) (Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing) (9.35 a.m.): I rise on a matter of privilege. The Leader of the Opposition has stated in today's Courier- Mail that I should reveal matters related to the problems I was informed about regarding ATSIC construction in Rockhampton. 1176 Ministerial Statement 19 May 2004 I am happy to advise this House that the matters were referred to the CMC, contrary to the assertion, and involved absenteeism, bullying, use of departmental equipment for private work, payment of staff when they were absent, lack of adequate supervision of apprentices and a general lack of accountability. These resulted in disciplinary actions which caused the departure of one employee and the demotion of another. As I stated, the CMC was involved in both these cases, and they were resolved by May 2003. An independent consultant carried out the investigation and the department took the necessary action. I offered yesterday to provide the opposition with a full briefing on this matter. I am pleased that they are going to take it up. It is a pity that the Leader of the Opposition could not wait for that courtesy to be extended. I also want to state that contrary to the assertion in the Courier-Mail today, there will be no scrapping of the $18 million program. This money will still be available for the construction of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander housing and the training of apprentices will simply be done in a different way. PETITION The following honourable member has lodged a paper petition for presentation— No Standing Zone, Currumbin Creek Road Mrs Stuckey from 611 petitioners requesting the House to urgently implement a no standing zone along the north side of Currumbin Creek Road to make entering and exiting the service station a less dangerous proposition. PAPER Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.37 a.m.): I table for the House and for all members the government's response to the Leader of the Opposition's whinges about the 100 days of achievement of my government. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Budget Accommodation Buildings Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.37 a.m.): In August 2003 I tabled lists of budget accommodation buildings that did not comply with the 1 July 2003 fire safety requirements. I was concerned that many boarding houses did not meet new fire safety standards introduced as part of the government's response to the tragic Childers backpackers hostel fire. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Childers community on the recent opening of the new backpackers' accommodation. Fire safety requires vigilance and I urge owners and operators of budget accommodation to continue making every effort to comply with fire safety requirements. Today I seek leave to table and have incorporated in Hansard a list of 149 of those buildings that were non-compliant and which were named in August 2003 and those, as at 11 May 2004, which are now complying with fire safety standards. The Department of Emergency Services has provided the information to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I gave an undertaking last September to table such a list to recognise that many owners have improved their standards. The Department of Emergency Services has reinspected all buildings on the original lists and provided this data to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I am advised that 94 per cent of buildings that were on the August 2003 list and which remain bound by all three Building and Other Legislation Amendment Acts, the BOLA standards, now comply. This is a big improvement but I remind building owners and operators that these laws are in place for a very good reason: to ensure the safety and well-being of hostel guests and staff. Also identified separately are 23 establishments built or upgraded since 1992 and which are compliant with fire safety requirements. These establishments must also comply with the building code of Australia and are not bound to meet all the standards that came into effect on 1 July 2003. Unless the owner produces a certificate of clarification, the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service classifies buildings as pre-1992 and are therefore required to meet fire safety regulations under the BOLA. The next date for increased fire safety measures is 1 July 2005. Budget accommodation owners and operators will need to meet these standards by the due date. Improved safety for residents will only be achieved if owners, local governments and government agencies each play their part. Owners need to inform themselves of the requirements and governments need to provide owners with assistance. I now seek to incorporate the list supplied by the Department of Emergency Services in Hansard for the interest of all members and the community. I also seek to incorporate an explanation of how the BOLA works and the difference between pre-1992 and post 1992. Leave granted. 19 May 2004 Ministerial Statement 1177 Buildings Tabled as Non-Compliant in August 2003; BOLA Buildings—Now Compliant as at 11 May 2004 = 14. Premises No. Street St Suburb P/C 1 139 GLADSTONE HIGHGATE HILL 139 GLADSTONE RD HIGHGATE HILL 4101 2 14 MORRIS HIGHGATE HILL 14 MORRIS ST HIGHGATE HILL 4101 3 15 BRUNSWICK FORTITUDE VALLEY 15 BRUNSWICK ST FORTITUDE VALLEY 4006 4 207 SIR FRED SCHONELL ST LUCIA 207 SIR FRED DVE ST LUCIA 4067 SCHONELL 5 21 DEMPSEY MOUNT ISA 21 DEMPSEY ST MOUNT ISA 4825 6 214 ARTHUR NEWSTEAD 214 ARTHUR ST NEWSTEAD 4006 7 23 OLD COLLEGE GATTON 23 OLD COLLEGE RD GATTON 4343 8 244 BOWEN NEW FARM 244 BOWEN TCE NEW FARM 4005 9 25 ABBOTSFORD BOWEN HILLS 25 ABBOTSFORD RD BOWEN HILLS 4006 10 256 BOWEN NEW FARM 256 BOWEN TCE NEW FARM 4005 11 290 KENT NEWSTEAD 290 KENT ST NEWSTEAD 4006 12 32 KENNIGO SPRING HILL 32 KENNIGO ST SPRING HILL 4000 13 36 ALFRED FORTITUDE VALLEY 36 ALFRED ST FORTITUDE VALLEY 4006 14 365 BOWEN NEW FARM 365 BOWEN TCE NEW FARM 4005 15 4 THOMSON EARLVILLE 4 THOMSON ST EARLVILLE 4870 16 42 ALFRED FORTITUDE VALLEY 42 ALFRED ST FORTITUDE VALLEY 4006 17 577 IPSWICH ANNERLEY 577 IPSWICH RD ANNERLEY 4103 18 59 AMELIA FORTITUDE VALLEY 59 AMELIA ST FORTITUDE VALLEY 4006 19 61 SYDNEY NEW FARM 61 SYDNEY ST NEW FARM 4005 20 611 BRUNSWICK NEW FARM 611 BRUNSWICK ST NEW