VICTORIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) FIFTIETH PARLIAMENT SPRING SESSION 1986 Legislati ve Council VOL. CCCLXXXIII [From September 16, 1986, to October 28, 1986J MELBOURNE: F. D. ATKINSON, GOVERNMENT PRINTER The Govemor His Excellency the Reverend OR JOHN OA VIS MCCAUGHEY The Lieutenant-Govemor The Honourable SIR JOHN McINTOSH YOUNG, KCMG The Ministry Premier The Hon. John Cain, MP Deputy Premier, and Minister for Industry, Technology and Resources The Hon. R. C. Fordham, MP Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs The Hon. E. H. Walker, MLC Minister for Health The Hon. O. R. White, MLC Mil)ister for Education The Hon. I. R. Cathie, MP Minister for Labour The Hon. S. M. Crabb, MP Minister for Community Services The Hon. C. J. Hog, MLC Treasurer The Hon. R. A. Jolly, MP A ttorney-General, and Minister for Planning and Environment .. The Hon. J. H. Kennan, MLC Minister for Conservation, Forests and Lands The Hon. J. E. Kirner, MLC Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Police and Emergency Services The Hon. C. R. T. Mathews, MP Minister for Water Resources, and Minister for Property and Services The Hon. A. McCutcheon, MP Minister for Transport The Hon. T. W. Roper, MP Minister for Local Government .. The Hon. J. L. Simmonds, MP Minister for Consumer Affairs, and Minister for Ethnic Affairs The Hon. P. C. Spyker, MP Minister for Sport and Recreation The Hon. N. B. Trezise, MP Minister for Public Works, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Labour The Hon. R. W. Walsh, MP Minister for Housing The Hon. F. N. Wilkes, MP Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet Or K. A. Coghill, MP MEMBER PROVINCE MEMBER PROVINCE Arnold,M.J. Templestowe Landeryou, W. A. Doutta Galla Baxter, W. R. North Eastern Lawson, Robert Higinbotham BirreH, M. A. East Yarra Long,R.J. Gippsland Chamberlain, B. A. Western Lyster, Mrs M. A. Chelsea Connard, G. P. Higinbotham McArthur, L. A. Nunawading Coxsedge, Mrs Joan Melbourne West McLean, Mrs Jean Boronia Crawford, G. R. JikaJika Macey, Reg Monash de Fegely, R. S. BaHarat Mackenzie, R. A. Geelong Dixon, Mrs J. L. Boronia Mier, B. W. Waverley Dunn, B. P. North Western Miles,J. G. Templestowe Evans, D. M. North Eastern Murphy, B. A. Gippsland Granter, F. J. Central Highlands Pullen, B. T. Melbourne Grimwade, F. S. Central Highlands Reid,N.B. Bendigo Guest, J. V. C. Monash Sandon, M. J. Chelsea Hallam, R. M. Western Sgro,G.A. Melbourne North Henshaw, D. E. Geelong Storey, Haddon, QC East Yarra Hogg, Mrs C. J. Melbourne North Van Buren, C. F. Eumemmerring Hunt,A. J. South Eastern Varty, Mrs Rosemary Nunawading Kennan, J. H. Thomastown Walker, E. H. Melbourne Kennedy, C. J. Waverley Ward,H.R. South Eastern Kirner, Mrs J. E. Melbourne West White, D. R. Doutta Galla Knowles, R. I. Ballarat Wright, K. I. M. North Western President: THE HON. R. A. MACKENZIE Chairman of Committees: THE. HON. G. A. SoRO Temporary Chairmen of Committees: The Honourables M. J. Arnold, Joan Cox sedge, D. E. Henshaw, Robert Lawson, R. J. Long, M. J. Sandon, and K.I. M. Wright. Leader of the Government: THE HON. E. H. WALKER Deputy Leader of the Government: THE HON. D. R. WHITE Leader of the Opposition: THEHoN.A.J. HUNT (0 ntil 21 October 1986) THE HON. B. A. CHAMBERLAIN (From 21 October 1986) Deputy Leader of the Opposition: THE HON. HADDON STOREY Leader ofthe National Party: THE HON. B. P. DUNN Deputy Leader of the National Party: TNE HON. W. R. BAXTER Heads of Parliamentary Departments Council-Clerk of the Parliaments and CJ'erk of the Legislative Council: Mr R. K. Evans Assembly-Clerk of the Legislative Assembly: Mr R. K. Boyes Hansard-ChiefReporter: Mr L. C. Johns Library-Librarian: Mr B. J. Davidson House-Secretary: Mr R. M. Duguid Joint Sitting ofParliament 16 September 1986 COUNCIL Tuesday, 16 September 1986 The PRESIDENT (the Hon. R. A. Mackenzie) took the chair at 3.3 p.m. and read the prayer. JOINT SITTING OF PARLIAMENT Senate vacancy The PRESIDENT-I have received the following message from His Excellency, the Deputy Governor: The Deputy Governor transmits to the Legislative Council a copy of a despatch which has been received from the Honourable the President of the Senate notifying that a vacancy has happened in the representation of the State of Victoria in the Senate ofthe Commonwealth of Australia. Your Excellency. Pursuant to the provisions of section 21 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution, I notify Your Excellency that a vacancy has happened in the representation of the State of Victoria through the resignation of Senator Donald Leslie Chipp on 18 August 1986. Yours faithfully Douglas McClelland I have also received a message from the Assembly: Mr President, The Legislative Assembly acquaint the Legislative Council that they have agreed to the following resolution: That this House meets the Legislative Council for the purpose of sitting and voting together to choose a person to hold the place in the Senate rendered vacant by the resignation of Senator Donald Leslie Chipp, and proposes that the place and time of such meeting be the Legislative Assembly Chamber on Wednesday, 17 September 1986 at 6.00 p.m. with which they desire the concurrence of the Legislative Council. C. T. EDMUNDS, Speaker The Hon. E. H. WALKER (Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs)-By leave, I move: That this House meet the Legislative Assembly for the purpose of sitting and voting together to choose a person to hold the place in the Senate rendered vacant by the resignation of Senator the Honourable Donald Leslie Chipp and, as proposed by the Legislative Assembly, the place and time of such meeting be the Legislative Assembly Chamber on Wednesday, 17 September 1986 at 6.00 p.m. The motion was agreed to. It was ordered that a message be sent to the Assembly acquainting it with the foregoing resolution. JOINT SITTING OF PARLIAMENT Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board The PRESIDENT-I have received the following letter from the Minister for Education: Dear Mr President, Section 7 of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board Act 1986 No 50/1986 sets the membership of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board and provides for the appointment of three members of the Parliament to the board-the members to be recommended for appointment by a joint sitting of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly conducted in accordance with the rules adopted for the purpose by the members present at the sitting. Session 1986-1 2 COUNCIL 16 September 1986 Questions without Notice I should be grateful if you could arrange for such a joint sitting to recommend members for appointment to the vacancies. Yours sincerely IAN CA THIE, Minister for Education I have also received the following message from the Assembly: Mr President, The Legislative Assembly acquaint the Legislative Council that they have agreed to the following resolution: That this House meets the Legislative Council for the purpose of sitting and voting together to choose three members ofthe Parliament of Victoria to be appointed to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board and proposes that the place and time of such meeting be the Legislative Assembly Chamt>er on Wednesday, 17 September 1986 at 6.00 p.m. with which they desire the concurrence of the Legislative Council. C. T. EDMUNDS, Speaker The Hon. E. H. WALKER (Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs)-By leave, I move: That this House meet the Legislative Assembly for the purpose of sitting and voting together to choose three members of the Parliament of Victoria to be recommended for appointment to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board and, as proposed by the Legislative Assembly, the place and time of such meeting be the Legislative Assembly Chamber on Wednesday, ) 7 September) 986 at 6.00 p.m. The motion was agreed to. It was ordered that a message be sent to the Legislative Assembly acquainting it with the foregoing resolution. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE THEFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS The Hon. M. A. BIRRELL (East Yarra Province)-The Minister for Health will be aware that an employee of the Royal Southern Memorial Hospital has been charged with theft of public funds and, much to the annoyance of the Hospital Employees Federation, disciplined by the hospital's management. Did the Minister's industrial relations adviser, Mr Mike Clarke, demand that the hospital and the police withdraw the charges against the employee? Why did the Minister agree to, and authorise Mr Clarke taking such improper action which was designed to pervert the course ofjustice? The Hon. D. R. WHITE (Minister for Health)-I am not aware of that case. I look forward to taking up the matter with the department. Responsible officers of the department are under the control of the chief general manager. I look forward to investigating the circumstances of that case and I shall provide a further response to the House at a later date. LLOYD RURAL ECONOMIC STUDY The Hon. B. P. DUNN (North Western Province)-I refer to the Lloyd rural economic study and the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs that there will be a three-month period for discussion on the report and its recommendations. On what basis did the Minister then proceed to reject the recommendations relating to the public authority dividend tax? Questions without Notice 16 September 1986 COUNCIL 3 If it is on a basis of conflict with Government policy, does this mean that all other recommendations where conflict arises will be deemed unacceptable to the Government? The Hon. E. H. WALKER (Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs)-It is normal procedure that this Government, having had a report prepared, at the release of that report make direct comment if it believes there is a recommendation in the report that should be answered directly.