1454 [COUNCIL]; Questions. without Notice The Hon. J. B. M. FULI.BR (Minister The following bill was returned from the for De.centralisation and Development and Legislative Council with amendments: ViCe-President of the Executive Council} Travd Agents: Bill [6.22],. in reply: Last week the honourable member, by way of a question along these INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE IN ELECTRICITY lines, suggested that l ask the Premier and GENERATING INDUSTRY: TABLING OF Treasurer to refer this matter to the Prime A DOCUMENT Minister, and I have done so. I will raise the matter with the Premier again in the Mr CHAFFEY: On a point of privilege. morning to see whether there has been any Since the House met last week a document reaction from Canberra. Perhaps because relating to the power industry dispute in of the postal strike the federal authorities this State was tabled or made availab~c to have not received any communication from members of the fedual Parliament. As the the Premier. If that is so, I will suggest House will apprecia~c. it is not competent that the Premier confer with the Prime Min­ for an honourable m~mber other than a ister by telephone on this matter. Minister to table docume11ts in this Parlia­ ment, but New So!:!th Wales essentially is Motion agreed to. concerned with the power restrictions new House adjourned at 6.24 p.m. neing appli.!d, and more particularly with. the blackouts that are now occurring. Mr SPEAKER: Orded What is the hon­ ourable member's point of privilege? In what way is the honourable member for 1fi.egislatiU.e J\sumhlg Tamworth or any other honourable member Tuesday, 2 October, 1973 being inhibited in the performance of his duties as a member of Parl;ament? Assent to Bills-Bills Returned-Privilege-Questions Mr CHAFFEY: It is not competent f01 a without Notice-Printing Committee-Registrar­ member of this House to tabl~ a document, General Bill (third reading)-Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Bill (third reading) but it is possible for the House to resolve -Australian Rights and Freedom-Strata Titles Bill (third reading)-Appropriation Bill (second that certain public documents be tabled, reading)-Adjoumment (Petrol Prices in Can­ aud then a Minister •1{ the Crown must table berra)-Printed Questions and Answers. them. The case l want to make out is that this House should have the privilege of Mr SPEAKER (THE HoN. Sm KEVIN having tabled here the official document that ELLIS) took the chair at 2.30 p.m. was tabled in Canberra. If the same type of question arose in another place and the Mr SPEAKER offered the Prayer. members there carried a motion that a docu­ ment be tabled, the document would have ASSENT TO BILLS to be tabled. Royal assent to the following bills Mr SPEAKER: Order! I do not think that reported: the honourable member for Tamworth can Cattle Compensation (Amendment) Bill possibly make out a case of privilege in Fruit-growing Reconstruction Agreement Bill Inflammable Liquid (Amendment) Bill the parliamentary sense in connection with Institute of Rural Studies Bill the matter he has raised. Local Government (Elections) Amendment Bill Supply Bill QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE BILLS RETURNED ELECTRICITY DISPUTE The following bill was returned from the Mr HILLS: The question I address to Legislative Council without amendment: the Premier and Treasurer relates to the Prevention of Oil Pollution of Navigable same topic as the matter raised by the hon­ Waters (Amendment) Bill ourable member for Tamworth. I ask the Questions witho~t Notice [2 Ocr,. 19-73] Questions without Notice 1455 Premier and Treasurer whether today Cab­ ELECTRICITY DISPUTE inet discussed the power dispute. Is it a Mr COLEMAN: My question without fact that a spokesman on behalf of the notice is directed to the Minister for Con­ Premier and Treasurer has informed the servation. Is the chairman of the Water news media that the decision of Cabinet will Conservation and Irrigation Commission a member of the Snowy Mountains Council, not be announced until after a joint meet­ which controls among other things the re­ ing of the parties tomorrow? As members lease of water for electricity generation in of the public are suffering from severe New South Wales? Is that gentleman one power restrictions will the Premier and of those responsible for the release of water Treasurer inform the Parliament of the deci­ for electricity generation from Blowering sion made by Cabinet on this important Dam? Is there any danger of flooding of matter? the Tumut River as was alleged by the federal Minister for Minerals and Energy by way of an excuse to reduce the amount Sir ROBERT ASKIN: It is true that this of electricity ayailable to the people of New morning Cabinet discussed the matter at South Wales? some considerable length. The Leader of the Opposition referred to a decision. It Mr FREUDEN STEIN: I expected was not so much a decision as a recom­ such a question because today the honour­ mendation to the Government parties. Hon­ able member for Riverina has been sending telegrams throughout the Riverina, particu­ ourable members should remember that larly in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, with serious problems affecting the whole requesting people in that area to protest community it is desirable for far-reaching about the release of water, in order to decisions of this nature to be made not by hinder power generation for this State. I the executive Government but by the elected should think that a federal Minister of the members of the Government consisting of Crown would display a greater sense of members of the Legislative Assembly in­ responsibility. As a man with experience cluding Ministers who sit on the Govern­ in this Parliament surely he would realize ment side. As they are in the majority in that those responsible in the Water Conser­ this House, they are the ones who have to vation and Irrigation Commission for con­ accept collective responsibility for decisions trolling the release of water from Blowering on important matters. After Government Dam would have a responsibility to irriga­ members have discussed the matter first tors in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area as thing tomorrow morning I shall be quite well as responsibility for ensuring that flood­ prepared to report to the Parliament on the ing does not occur in the Tumut River. Ob­ decision that has been reached, as is my viously the federal Minister for Minerals obligation. Government members who and Energy, the Hon. R. F. X. Connor, form the majority of the elected repre­ has sought assistance because he is in a sentatives of this Parliament should first hot spot. He is seeking to create dissidence have an opportunity to discuss this matter. and difficulties. I have seen a copy of a That is why the attitude of Cabinet has letter-- not yet been announced. It is proposed to refer it to the more than fifty members [Interruption] on the Government side of this House and, Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honour­ if those members concur in the view. held able member for Corrimal to order. by members of Cabinet, a statement will be made to the press and in the House-pro­ Mr FREUDEN STEIN: The letter is ad­ vided an honourable member asks a ques­ dressed to the Snowy Mountains Council tion without notice about the matter. upon which New South Wales has several 1456 Questions without Notice [ASSEMBLY] Questions without Notice responsible representatives including the now making appeals for protests within the chairman of the Water Conservation and Murrumbidgee area. I regret that this type Irrigation Commission. The letter reads: of activity should take place. However, the I write to confirm the direction I conveyed honourable member for Fuller can be to you by telephone at about 4 p.m. yesterday assured that the Water Conservation and to the effect that the Snowy Mountains Coun­ Irrigation Commission· will not release too cil should operate the permanent works of the Authority in a manner that does not run much water from the dam and place the counter to the intentions of the 35 Hour Week irrigation area in jeopardy. Nor will the Committee. Commission release more water than the river can carry and thus cause flooding. I do not think I need go any further than that with reading the letter. Mr HILLS: Why not read the lot? PRICE OF BRICKS Mr EINFELD: My question without Mr FREUDENSTEIN: Very well. The notice is directed to the Premier and Treas­ letter continues: urer. Has one of Australia's largest brick --unless, in so doing, the personnel associ­ manufacturers, Brickworks Limited, an­ ated with the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and/ or nounced a brick price rise of at least 16 the equipment and permanent works of the Authority, are endangered. per cent? Does this company supply more than 40 per cent of the Sydney market and I emphasize that there was not a flooding. will this price rise add several hundred dol­ Also, I think that emphasis must be made lars to the cost of building a home? Has that at no time was Mr Connor aware that Brickworks Limited revealed that its chair­ some flooding would occur. He was reliant man, Mr W. K. Dawes, is the buyer of upon the authority controlling the operation more than $4 million worth of leading shares of the dams in that area and he knew full on the Sydney stock exchange recently? well that no flooding would occur while ever Does the brick price rise add to homebuyers' the Water Conservation and Irrigation hardship in a soaring market for land and Commission and the Snowy Mountains homes, and is it unjustifiable in these cir­ Council were operating the particular works.