22 Jun 2000 Legislative Assembly 1849 THURSDAY, 22 JUNE 2000 clear signals to industry, encouraging diversification of our energy sector towards a balanced energy mix. The past has been coal. The future, as Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) the policy spells out, must be coal, gas and read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. renewables. The Government is actively pursuing the development of gas-fired power stations across the State. Cabinet will soon be GLOBAL CHALLENGE in a position to consider options to develop Mr SPEAKER: Order! I remind all gas-fired generation facilities in Townsville. We honourable members of today's launch of the have also achieved good progress in seven-day global challenge in the former negotiations with AGL/Petronas to advance Legislative Council Chamber at 12.15 p.m. I construction of the Gladstone-Townsville join the Premier and the Leader of the section of the PNG gas pipeline. Opposition in encouraging all members to I am pleased to advise the House today support the challenge and take part in today's that our energy policy has brought another launch. gas-fired power station to fruition. Later today, Energy Minister Tony McGrady, Treasurer AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT David Hamill and I will announce Government approval for the construction of a $250m gas- Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I fired power station at Swanbank near Ipswich. have to report that today I received from the The 385 megawatt facility will expand the Auditor-General a report titled Audit Report existing Swanbank Power Station and form the No. 5 1999-2000 Results of Audits Performed core of a new industrial estate directly adjacent for 1998-99 as at 12 May 2000. I table the to the site. This development will attract new said report. industries to Ipswich and generate hundreds of new jobs while delivering a cleaner energy PETITION future for the region. Water (Allocation and Management) Bill As the Deputy Premier and I keep saying, From Mr Malone (200 petitioners) this is a can-do Government. Everyone else requesting the House to delay passage of the says that, too. CS Energy is the operator of Water (Allocation and Management) Bill until Swanbank and will engage in a strategic an assessment of the impacts that it will (a) alliance with Southern Energy Asia Pacific to increase the cost of water and undermine the build the new gas-fired station. Southern competitiveness of the Queensland sugar Energy is part of a major international energy industry; (b) allow for vesting of all water in the corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Crown through the control of overland flows; (c) participation of such a large international introduce further fees and allowances and red investor in this project is a huge vote of tape; (d) inflate the cost of water through confidence in the Queensland energy sector speculation and severely disadvantage high and the energy policy framework that this volume, low price commodity enterprises Government has developed. It is working. through providing for tradability of water Southern Energy also hold a licence for entitlements which do not attach to land are Kogan Creek Power Station, and as part of the investigated and not until industry is consulted alliance arrangements it will jointly determine as to these impacts. with CS Energy the time framework for the Petition received. development of the Kogan Creek project over the next 12 months. I am advised that demand for electricity may see the project on MINISTERIAL STATEMENT hold until 2007 or beyond. Cleaner Energy Strategy Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ALP) (Premier) (9.33 a.m.), by leave: On 24 European Trade Mission May, on behalf of the Cabinet, I released the Queensland Government's energy policy—the Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— first of its type in Queensland. Indeed, it is the ALP) (Premier) (9.36 a.m.), by leave: Next first energy policy in Australia to come to grips week I will be leading an eight-day trade with the sensitive environmental issues that will mission—excluding travelling time—to increasingly dominate this sector. Titled A Germany, Ireland and the UK to seek further Cleaner Energy Strategy, the policy provides opportunities for job creation in Queensland. I 1850 Legislative Assembly 22 Jun 2000 will be accompanied by Professor John Hay, make sure that we get it right and gain the Vice-Chancellor of the University of maximum benefit in terms of trade Queensland, and joined in London by John opportunities and tourist numbers. Dawson, the CEO of the Bank of Queensland, I will also be holding meetings with and David Thomas, a partner in Minter Ellison. Deutsche Bank and the director of the There are others who are considering joining Karlsruhe Synchrotron project. I am going to the trade visit. Ireland as well to meet key business and This is Queensland's year of exports, and Government leaders to see what we can learn I am determined to do everything that I can to from the country's economic miracle. Ireland increase exports and drive job creation. More was once the poor cousin of Europe. Now it is exports, of course, means more jobs. I am an economic powerhouse outpacing even confident that I will be able to make significant Germany's growth. There are great similarities announcements about major opportunities for between Ireland and Queensland. Ireland and Queensland as a result of my meetings in Queensland have almost identical populations. Europe. A major focus in Germany will be to Like Queensland, Ireland depended for ensure that Queensland is taking full decades on its agriculture. advantage of its position in the Australian Mr Schwarten: Plus there are a lot of Irish pavilion of the World Expo in Hanover. people here. Queensland has been the biggest supporter of the Australian pavilion and we are in a prime Mr BEATTIE: That is right. A lot of Irish position for huge exposure to an estimated 40 people have migrated to Queensland. That is million visitors. Members can appreciate the reflected on both sides of this House. Mike importance of this to tourism. Horan is nodding his head—he understands that—and Rob Schwarten is sitting behind me. The Borbidge Government committed $2.5m to the pavilion. We delivered on that Irish agriculture is now dwarfed by commitment. I acknowledge today, in my industry, which accounts for 39% of GDP, usual gracious way, the partnership between about 80% of exports and employs 28% of the the previous Government and the current labour force. Ireland's growth has been Government in delivering for Queensland. I averaging 8.5%. That is three times the say to the Leader of the Opposition that we European average—Germany, France, cannot be any more generous than that. Scandinavia and the UK included. Its per capita gross domestic product has grown from Mr Borbidge: Very noble. almost two-thirds of the European Union Mr BEATTIE: It is very noble. average in the 1980s to above the average Mr Elder: I reckon we got better value for now. money. The Irish Government puts its success Mr BEATTIE: Yes, we did work hard to down to social partnerships, openness to new get better value for the $2.5m, but we accept ideas, an emphasis on education and training that it was the Opposition's idea. We just and technological innovation—exactly the made their idea work. How is that? Is that a fair same themes we are pursing here. Ireland's compromise? education system ranks second in the world in terms of how it meets the needs of a Mr Borbidge interjected. competitive economy. Six out of 10 tertiary Mr BEATTIE: I acknowledge the students major in food sciences, generous remarks by the Leader of the engineering/science or business studies. The Opposition. I thank him for that. Government says the social partnerships have Expo offers us a major shop window for contributed to industrial peace, moderate our trade and tourism because the European wage increases, progressive tax reductions Union is Australia's largest trading partner with and sustained job growth. And it says that this combined two-way trade of more than $33 type of agreement has contributed hugely to billion and Germany is the world's third-largest the cost competitiveness of the modern Irish economy. That is why this Expo is so important economy. Exports now account for 75% of to our future, with changes in the coal industry national output—a figure not matched and all sorts of export opportunities for anywhere else in Europe. Queensland. We need to be there. All of this has had a dramatic effect on Queensland attracts more than 20,000 the unemployment rate. At the start of 1993, it German tourists every year. They support well was 15.7%. These figures are extraordinary. over 1,000 jobs in our tourism industry. Now it is 5.1%—despite an increase in the Queensland is on display at Expo for five overall labour force of 20%. The IMD 2000 months from 1 June to 31 October. I want to World Competitiveness rankings place Ireland 22 Jun 2000 Ministerial Statement 1851 at seventh in the world and the best country in I will meet with Cabinet Office Minister Mo the world for: real GDP growth; real growth in Mowlam regarding social policy developments. industrial production; balance of trade; I will meet with the Queen's private secretary, investment incentives; and management of Sir Robin Janvrin, regarding the Queen's visit public finances. to Queensland next year. I will meet also with Enterprise Ireland has been created by senior business and financial leaders to the Government as the country's enterprise discuss further trade opportunities.