Legislative Assembly 2573 1 August 1990 NOTE: There could be differences between this document and the official printed Hansard, Vol. 315 WEDNESDAY, 1 AUGUST 1990 ———— Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) read prayers and took the chair at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Retention of Bread Industry Committee Act From Mr Hollis (15 signatories) praying that the existing Bread Industry Committee Act including penalty provisions be retained. A similar petition was received from Mr Hayward (85 signatories). The Avenue, Hermit Park; Purchase of Property by Corrective Services Commission From Mr Smith (161 signatories) praying that no action be taken on the proposal to purchase property in The Avenue, Hermit Park for a facility to rehabilitate prisoners. Declaration of Queensland as a Nuclear Free State From Ms Robson (420 signatories) praying that Queensland be declared a nuclear-free State and that other Governments in Australia be encouraged to adopt a similar policy. Licensing of Firearms From Mr Campbell (19 signatories) praying that a licensing system for firearms be not introduced until public debate and alternative courses of action are investigated. Similar petitions were received from Mr Mackenroth (72 signatories), Mr Beanland (309 signatories), Mr Hamill (121 signatories), Mr Hollis (239 signatories), Mr Perrett (317 signatories), Mr J.N. Goss (62 signatories) and Mr Schwarten (291 signatories). Public Inquiry into Local Government Funding From Mr Barber (202 signatories) praying for a public inquiry into the present system of raising funds for local government through rates based on land valuations. Daylight-saving From Mr Hobbs (174 signatories) praying that daylight-saving be not reintroduced in future years. Wallaman Falls Road From Mr Rowell (2 261 signatories) praying for the upgrading of the Wallaman Falls road to an all- weather standard. Bread Industry Price Control From Mr Campbell (1 296 signatories) praying for immediate approval of bread industry regulations to control prices. Outlawing of Sex Discrimination From Mr Hamill (180 signatories) praying for legislation to outlaw sex discrimination. Legislative Assembly 2574 1 August 1990 Homosexuality From Mr Gilmore (668 signatories) praying that homosexuality be not legalised. PAPERS The following paper was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Report of the Parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts of the Forty-sixth Parliament for the period 6 March 1990 to 30 June 1990. The following papers were laid on the table— Rules under the Parliamentary Service Act 1988-1990 Proclamations under— Racing and Betting Act 1980-1990 University of Central Queensland Act 1989 Griffith University and Gold Coast College of Advanced Education Amalgamation Act 1990 Regulations under— Racing and Betting Act 1980-1990 Liquor Act 1912-1989 Education Act 1964-1990 Orders in Council under— Electricity Act 1976-1989 Griffith University Act 1971-1990 Griffith University and Gold Coast College of Advanced Education Amalgamation Act 1990 Grammar Schools Act 1975-1989 Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1989 Statutes under— Griffith University Act 1971-1990 University of Central Queensland Act 1989 Reports for the year ended 31 December 1989— University of Queensland James Cook University of North Queensland Toowoomba Grammar School Rockhampton Girls' Grammar School Ipswich Girls' Grammar School Brisbane Grammar School Appendices to the annual report and financial statements of the University of Queensland for the year ended 31 December 1989. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Home Building Review Hon. T. J. BURNS (Lytton—Deputy Premier, Minister for Housing and Local Government) (2.36 p.m.), by leave: Honourable members will recall my answer to a question on 6 March this year regarding the home building review. During the parliamentary recess, I wrote to the honourable Leader of the Opposition and to the member for Toowong informing them of the review's progress and updating my earlier statements to the House. Legislative Assembly 2575 1 August 1990 For the information of honourable members, I now table a copy of that letter about the home building review. Whereupon the honourable member laid the document on the table. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Moura Mine Disaster Hon. K. H. VAUGHAN (Nudgee—Minister for Resource Industries) (2.37 p.m.), by leave: I rise to inform the House and the people of Queensland of a recent investigation into the Moura mine disaster. I wish to place on the public record the findings and recommendations of that inquiry and the Goss Government's swift action on those recommendations. I move to make this statement in the interests of the truth and for the information of this State's coal-miners, their families and friends and, indeed, all the people of Queensland. I have been deeply disturbed by the unfounded allegations of some form of cover-up. I emphatically deny any cover-up and assure the House that, on the contrary, I have made every endeavour to make the results of this investigation widely known. To that end, the opposition parties' spokesmen on Resource Industries—the member for Lockyer and the member for Moggill—were both given copies of the report and were briefed extensively by officers of my department, as have been the families of the Moura victims and representatives of coal-mining unions, industry and police. The report has also been supplied to overseas mining research centres and to any member of the public who has requested one. I suggest that that is a strange way to conduct a "cover- up". For the record, I will briefly outline the history of the investigation. As honourable members will recall, in July 1986, 12 miners were killed in an explosion in Moura No. 4 underground mine. In June 1987, a mining warden's inquiry found that the commonly used flame safety lamp was the most probable source of ignition for the explosion. However, the warden recommended ongoing research into the lamp and other possible causes. Consequently, the use of the lamp was banned. In 1988, three consultants—Dr Sally Leivesley, Dr Kon Romaniuk and Dr Tony Green—approached the then Government, saying they believed some evidence suggested another ignition source was likely. Not surprisingly, they sought to be hired to conduct further research. They were hired in a project team of six people, which also included a specialist mining consultant and a scientist at the Government's Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station, known as SIMTARS, with SIMTARS' director Peter Dent as project leader. A project review committee including police, union and industry representatives monitored the project. Each of the consultants and the SIMTARS scientist submitted a paper on his or her particular area of expertise. Overall findings and recommendations were written by one of the consultants and the SIMTARS scientist. The report was then examined by Professor David Rowlands, professor of mining engineering from the University of Queensland. Dr Rowlands commented that "there is obvious evidence of individuals promoting their favoured hypothesis". After six months of investigation, including overseas research, the overall conclusion was that no evidence had been produced to challenge the warden's inquiry finding about the lamp. The report also echoes the mining warden's qualification of the lamp finding, saying that it is still not possible to confirm or deny that the lamp definitely was the source. That may never be established beyond doubt, and the arguments about ignition sources could go on for ever. But there is one other very effective way of preventing explosions other than removing the source of ignition, and that is eliminating the fuel. In the case of underground coalmines, that fuel is flammable gas. Overseas experience has shown that a process called inertisation can neutralise those gases successfully. Legislative Assembly 2576 1 August 1990 That process has been recommended by this latest Moura investigation, and I can report to the House that I have already taken steps to implement that recommendation. A team is already working to adapt the current inertisation methods for use in Queensland's underground coalmines, and I expect implementation plans to be completed within six months. At this point, I must inform the House of the National Party's disregard for the safety of Queensland's coal-miners. Three years ago, the mining warden recommended that the Government examine this very process I have been speaking of. Despite the massive potential for eliminating dangerous situations, this process has never been pursued—at least, not until I took steps after receiving the latest report. The same crowd who have been hypocritically calling for yet another independent inquiry at the taxpayers' expense ignored this important recommendation for years until they were thrown from office. In comparison, the Goss Government has moved swiftly to protect the coal-miners of Queensland. Other safety recommendations made by the project team have also been implemented. The Government's research station is already at work on adapting mining machinery to prevent its setting gases alight. Training programs for mine-workers are being updated to advise them about the risks associated with this machinery. The report also recommended changes in the area of investigation techniques, starting with closer liaison between the chief inspector of coalmines, emergency services and other parties. The chief inspector has set up a standing committee of representatives from those areas, and that committee is at work on several projects, including how to collect photographic evidence after mine accidents and improvements in forensic facilities. As for the final recommendation on the direction of future research—I have already moved in that area. The report recommended that future research concentrate on prevention of accidents. Even before I had the report in my hands, an audit was under way at SIMTARS looking at research priorities. It is clear that this Government has moved decisively to protect the lives of Queensland's miners.