454 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Wednesday, 24 August, 1988 Mr Speaker (The Hon. Kevin Richard Rozzoli) took the chair at 2.15 p.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer. MEMBER FOR ROCKDALE Personal Explanation Mr Unsworth: I wish to make a personal explanation. Leave granted. Mr Unsworth: In today's Daily Telegraph appears an article under the headline "Unsworth in 'doubtful' deal row". The story goes on to say: Former Premier Barrie Unsworth was implicated in four "doubtful deals" which police might be asked to investigate, N.S.W. Administrative Services Minister Matt Singleton claimed yesterday. I vehemently deny that I have been involved in any so-called doubtful deals in respect of my previous administration as Premier and as a Minister of the Crown. I deplore the way in which the Daily Telegraph reported the Minister's remarks and request you, Mr Speaker, to direct the Minister to withdraw them as he is in contravention of Standing Order 15 1. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have no power to do that at this stage. I accept the personal explanation of the honourable member for Rockdale. PETITIONS The Clerk announced that the following petitions had been lodged for presentation: Totalizator Agency Board The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is alarm and concern following the introduction and promotion of the use of electronic transfer of funds for betting purposes at Totalizator Agency Board outlets. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: The your honourable House will direct the Totalizator Agency Board of New South Wales to cease immediately any promotion or advertising related to the use of electronic transfer of funds for betting purposes. Your petitioners strongly condemn the form of advertising which fosters and encourages impulse betting, and we call upon your honourable House to instruct the Government to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the expeditious cessation of the TAB'S promotional campaign and the termination of betting through the use of electronic transfer of funds. And your Petitioners. as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Park, received. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 455 Lottery Offices at Newcastle and Kotara The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully shewetb: That the closure of State Lotter~esbranches at Newcastle and Kotara would cause the loss of 18 jobs In an already depressed regron, a loss of revenue and an increase In the payment of commmlons. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will take all possible steps to ensure that the State Lotteries branches at Newcastle and Kotara are not closed. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Keegan, received. Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That Lawrence Hargrave Drive, the main south coast road between Coalcliff and Scarborough in the northern suburbs of the city of Wollongong, was closed on the 1st May. 1988, due to severe damage from slippage caused by heavy rain. This road serves as an integral and vital link for several thousand residents who live and work in the northern Illawarra region between Bulli and Helensburgh. The residents most affected by lack of access to pre-schools, schools, hospitals at Coledale and Bulk shops. businesses and other essential services, are those residing in the abovementioned areas. The residents of these areas are now forced to use the Princes Highway along the top of the Illawarra escarpment until it merges with the F6 Freeway at Bulli Tops. This is an extremely hazardous route during the winter months as it is frequently subject to dense fog and or icy and wet conditions. Adding to the hazard is the fact that the final, or first, stage of this detour is down, or up, the already infamous Bulli Pass. The parents of hundreds of pre-school and school-aged children are now forced to transport their children to and from school by this route. As a result of the road closure, train services are operating at maximum capacity. Local businesses are also suffering severe losses due to an almost complete removal of the tourist trade. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That honourable House will entreat the Premier, the Hon. Nicholas Greiner. and the Minister for Transport, the Hon. Bruce Baird, to place the repair and reopening of the aforesaid section of the road in a position of top priority in the State's road maintenance program and, second, will entreat the Minister for Transport, the Hon. Bruce Baird, to give a firm undertaking to these petitioners that the aforesaid section of road will be reopened within the period of four months from the date of closure, which was I st May, 1988, as was stated by a spokesperson for the Wollongong branch of the Department of Main Roads. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Greiner, received. Abortion The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That becuse of the tragic deaths of over 100 000 Australian unborn children each year, by unnatural means as well as unfortunate accidents, and the confusion over the legal status and rights of the unborn child as well as its God-given historic right to life: 456 ASSEMBLY 24 August, 1988 Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That the Parliament of New South Wales will fully support Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile's private member's bill entitled the Unborn Child Protection Bill, and will ensure its prompt adoption and implementation in New South Wales, in the interests of future generations of Australian children. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr J. D. Booth, received. - ' Wollongong Showground The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That the citizens of the city of Wollongong are flatly opposed to any proposal that would cause any part of Wollongong Showground to be leased, assigned or disposed of for the purpose of establishing an enterprise such as an international tourist hotel or convention centre, or some such other complex that would advantage private interests but which would deny the citizens the full use and benefit of this public amenity. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your Honourable House will take urgent steps to prevent the disposition or leasing of the abovementioned property. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Arkell, received. Technical and Further Education The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is concern at the proposed changes in technical and further education. The introduction of the $100 administrative charge for technical and further education students and the $263 charge for diploma and associate diploma courses will reduce access for many students. The abolition of "daylight equivalent" in colleges will force the transfer of qualified teachers to other colleges and will reduce the number of qualified teachers in those colleges from which they were transferred. The decreased preparation and marking time of teachers will reduce the quality of education. The dismantling of women's programs cannot be tolerated as this is denying access by women to courses that would enable them to enter or re-enter the work force. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will reassess its position and maintain the quality of education in technical and further education colleges and public schools by withdrawing the proposed changes. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Cruickshank, received. Education Policies The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is concern at the proposed changes in public education. The initiatives of the New South Wales Government in regard to public education will damage the quality of children's education. 24 August, 1988 ASSEMBLY 457 Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will reassess its position and will maintain the quality of education in public education by withdrawing the proposed changes. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Cruickshank, received. Hotel Trading Hours The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is concern about moves to extend hotel trading hours. Your Petitioners thcrefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will not permit the extension of hotel trading hours. And your Petitioners. as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Downy, received. Community Housing The Petition of the citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is concern at the increasing levels of homelessness and hardship in the State of New South Wales. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will maintain funding for all community housing programs, including the community tenancy scheme. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Downy, received. Inner City Accommodation The Petition of citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That there is increasing concern at rising levels of homelessness and hardship for people on low incomes in the inner city. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will urge the Government to act to preserve the continued supply of boarding-house accommodation in the inner city, and will urge the Government to protect against redevelopment the supply of boarding-house style of accommodation available in Hinders Street, and South Dowling Street, and in other nearby areas, and will urge the Government to act to increase the supply of low-cost rental accommodation in the inner city. particularly for those groups displaced by escalating local housing costs.