31 May 2001 Legislative Assembly 1353 THURSDAY, 31 MAY 2001 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Human Cloning Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.31 a.m.), by leave: The Prime Minister has confirmed that human cloning will be on the agenda of the COAG meeting to be held on 8 June in Canberra. I table a copy of the communique from his office. Rapid developments in medical and reproductive technology have opened up the potential for experimental work that could lead to cloning of human beings. The creation of duplicate humans through cloning techniques is not supported by the Queensland government. Cloning of human beings is contrary to the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights. Australia is a signatory to the declaration, which states— Practices which are contrary to human dignity, such as reproductive cloning of human beings, shall not be permitted. As well as being contrary to human dignity, cloning is unsafe. The first mammal that was cloned in 1997, Dolly the sheep, was the source of considerable interest. What many were not aware of at that time was the number of failed attempts which preceded Dolly. There were more than 270 failed attempts at cloning in order to produce one cloned sheep. This is not something we can allow to occur with human beings. The World Health Organisation has also affirmed that 'cloning for the replication of individuals is ethically unacceptable and contrary to human dignity and integrity. Cloning of humans is banned in a significant number of European nations, in the United Kingdom and in Japan. Immediately after recent congressional hearings in the United States, the intention to introduce legislation to ban cloning of human beings was announced. Earlier this month in Canada the Health Minister presented draft legislation to ban the cloning of humans. In December 1998 the Australian Health Ethics Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council produced a report titled Scientific, ethical and regulatory aspects relevant to human cloning. The recommendations of that report have been considered nationally, and health ministers in all states and territories have agreed to work toward a prohibition on cloning of human beings that is consistent across Australia. The cloning of humans has been prohibited for some time in three Australian states. Queensland will soon follow suit. I will be making our view known clearly at the COAG meeting. In the near future, cabinet will consider a proposal to prepare legislation to prohibit the cloning of human beings and attempts to clone humans. We will ensure that tough penalties are in place to deter anyone who might consider attempting to clone a human being. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Premier's Literary Awards Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.34 a.m.), by leave: The midnight oil is being burned in hundreds of homes around Queensland and the sound of keyboards being pounded can be heard across the state as authors polish their manuscripts in the hope of realising their dreams. They are preparing for Australia's richest literary competition, the $150,000 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards that I had the pleasure of launching at the State Library on Friday with my colleague the Minister for the Arts who, as we all know, is a very literary person. A highlight of the launch was a reading by internationally acclaimed Queensland actress Diane Cilento of an extract from David Malouf's famous novel Johnno, which is set in post-war Brisbane. Another feature of this year's awards is the inclusion of an additional prize of $15,000 for the best nonfiction book. The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards are about investing in the future of our state. This is the third year that they have been held. One of our most successful writers, Nick Earls, once said that any Queenslander who wanted a career as a writer had to take a boat trip to England. Not anymore. A career as a successful 1354 Ministerial Statement 31 May 2001 Queensland writer can begin with a mouse click onto the government's web site. Last year the awards attracted 565 entries from around Australia, including 233 entries from Queensland. This was a 30 per cent increase in entries over the first year of the awards. I expect to see even more entries this year, particularly as the extra category of best nonfiction book has been added this year. This boosts total prize money for the awards to $150,000, with $145,000 going to the authors of the eight winning categories, plus an extra $5,000 to ensure that a Queensland author's work is published. We did not do that initially, but we have decided to do it to ensure that the winner has an opportunity to have their work published. Mr Foley: It is a very important initiative, Mr Premier. Mr BEATTIE: The minister is absolutely right. The categories for writers to enter are: the best fiction book, $25,000; the best literary or media work advancing public debate, $25,000; the best manuscript from an emerging Queensland author, $20,000 and, better still, my department will provide an extra $5,000 to the University of Queensland Press to ensure that the manuscript is published; the best history book, $15,000; the best children's book, $15,000. Did the minister say that Kevin Lingard was going to enter? Mr Foley: I am encouraging him. Mr BEATTIE: I would be delighted. He should do it. The best stage drama will win $15,000—perhaps he could enter that category; the best film and television script, $15,000; and the new category of best nonfiction book, with a prize of $15,000. These awards are doing more than rewarding the talents of Australian writers; they are helping to establish the reputations of some very talented writers and Queensland's cultural reputation. I urge all Queensland authors to get behind these awards. I remind everyone in the House that we have enough American junk being published in Australia and, indeed, being shown on our TV screens. It is about time that we had more Australian material published. This is about giving Australian writers a go. While the awards are open to national competition, at one time the Minister for the Arts and I did consider whether we could legally restrict the competition to Queensland entrants only. Unfortunately, we discovered that under the constitution we could not—darn—under section 92, which relates to free interstate trade. Notwithstanding that, the awards do encourage Australian and Queensland writers, and it is something that we should all be very proud of. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT University of the Sunshine Coast Innovation Centre Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.37 a.m.), by leave: As members would be aware, two of my government's top priorities are jobs creation and cementing Queensland's place as the Smart State. Tomorrow I will officially open a Sunshine Coast project that will help us achieve both of those aims. The $7 million Innovation Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast is a great example of what can be achieved when state, federal and local governments, businesses and educational facilities work together. The centre will act as an incubator for new, high-tech enterprises, providing flexible space, networking opportunities, a growing range of support services and attractive cost and lease structures. Stage 1 will cater for 19 business enterprises, while stage 2 will be home to a total of 40 tenants. The Innovation Centre will speed up the development of those new high- tech businesses. This project is about making Queensland the Smart State. Just as importantly, it is about jobs. Once the new enterprises are clearly established, we will start to see the creation of new jobs. Those jobs will be sustainable, new millennium jobs that will take us into the future. The Innovation Centre will be the crucial link between new business enterprises, increased local economic activity and long-term job creation. It reflects the role regional universities can play as starting points for growth and development in regional centres. I commend our regional universities for their effort. I believe that they will continue to make a significant contribution. Queensland is truly the action state of Australia. There is much evidence of that. This year we are hosting the Goodwill Games—the biggest sporting event in the world. And we are hosting CHOGM, the biggest political event in the world. There are a lot of things happening in a number of areas, and I intend to deal with some of them, in particular those relating to the Centenary of Federation. 31 May 2001 Ministerial Statement 1355 Here in Queensland we have worked hard to ensure that the views and aspirations of all Queenslanders are included in our centenary celebrations. The celebration program for the Centenary of Federation embraces that principle. With that in mind, Centenary of Federation Queensland provided a grant of more than $98,000 to the State Library for a special exhibition, 'A gift of presence—the spirit of reconciliation'. The exhibition was curated by former ABC journalist and broadcaster Wayne Coolwell and consists of photographs, statements on reconciliation, a touring exhibition and an education web site. Tomorrow night I will join the Minister for the Arts, Matt Foley, to officially open the exhibition. This is National Reconciliation Week so it is a fitting time for the exhibition to begin.