VICTORIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) FIFTY-THIRD PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION Legislative Assembly Vol. 434 Autumn 1997 [From 18 March to 24 April 1997) By Authority: VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER INTERNET Hansard is available on the Internet http://www.vicnet.net.au/vicnet/vicgov /parl/parlia.html The Governor # His Excellency the Honourable RICHARD E. McGARVIE, AC ,.. His Excellency the Honourable Sir JAMES AUGUSTINE GOBBO, AC The Lieutenant-Governor # His Excellency the Honourable Sir JAMES AUGUSTINE GOBBO, AC ** Her Excellency Professor ADRIENNE E. CLARKE, AO The Ministry [FROM 6 JANUARY 1997] Premier, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and Minister for the Arts ..... '" ....... The Hon. J. G. Kennett, MP Deputy Premier, Minister for Agriculture and Resources ........................ The Hon. P. J. McNamara, MP Minister for Education ........... , ....... The Hon. P. A. Gude, MP Minister for Industry, Science and Teclmology ........................... The Hon. M. A. Birrell, MLC Minister for Health, and Minister for Aged Care ................. The Hon. R. I. Knowles, MLC Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and Minister for Corrections .... The Hon. W. D. McGrath, MP Minister for Finance, and Minister for Gaming. .. The Hon. R. M. Hallam, MLC Treasurer, and Minister for Multimedia ..... The Hon. A. R. Stock dale, MP Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Tourism ................... The Hon. Louise Asher, MLC Minister for Transport .................... The Hon. R. F. Cooper, MP Minister for Roads and Ports .............. The Hon. G. R. Craige, MLC Minister for Housing, and Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs ....... The Hon. A. M. Henderson, MP Minister for Tertiary Education and Training, and Minister assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs ........ The Hon. P. N. Honeywood, MP Minister for Planning and Local Government. .. The Hon. R. R. C. Maclellan, MP Minister for Youth and Community Services .............................. The Hon. D. V. Napthine, MP Minister for Sport, and Minister for Rural Development ......................... The Hon. T. C. Reynolds, MP Minister for Conservation and Land Management ......................... The Hon. M. T. Tehan, MP Attorney-General, Minister for Fair Trading, and Minister for Women's Affairs ....... The Hon. J. L. M. Wade, MP Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet . .. The Hon. Rosemary Varty, MLC # To 23 April 1997 • From 24 April 1997 .. From 14 May 1997 Members of the Legislative Assembly FIFTY-THIRD PARLIAMENT - FIRST SESSION Speaker: The Hon. S. J. PLOWMAN Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees: Mr J. F. McGRATH Temporary Chairmen of Committees: Mr Andrianopoulos, Mr Cole, Mr Cunningham, Mr Jasper, Mr McArthur, Mr Maughan, Mr Perrin, Mr Perton, Mrs Peulich, Mr A. F. Plowman, Mr Richardson, and Mr Seitz. Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and Premier: The Hon. J. G. KENNETf Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party: The Hon. P. A. GUDE Leader of the Parliamentary National Party and Deputy Premier: The Hon. P. J. McNAMARA Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary National Party: The Hon. W. D. McGRATH Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition: Mr J. M. BRUMBY Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition: Mr DEMETRI DOLUS to 23 December 1996 Mr JW. THW AITES from 23 December 1996 Member District Pa!!y Member District Party Andrianopoulos, Alex Mill Park ALP McArthur, Stephen James Monbulk LP Andrighetto, Florian Narracan LP McCall, Ms Andrea Lea Frankston LP Ashley, Gordon Wetzel Bayswater LP McGill, Mrs Denise Oakleigh LP Baker, !an Malcolm John SWlShine ALP McGrath, John Francis Wanncimbool NP Batchelor, Peter Thomastown ALP McGrath, William Desmond Wimmera NP Bracks, S~hen Phillip Williamstown ALP McLellan, Frederick Peter Frankston East LP *Brown, an John Gippsland West LP Maclellan, Robert Roy BrumbU0hn Mansfield Broadmeadows ALP Cameron Pakenham LP Burke, Leonie Therese Prahran LP McNamara, Patrick John Benalla NP Cameron, Robert Graham Bendigo West ALP Mad:, Mrs Judith Campbell, Ms Christine Mary Pascoe Vale ALP Ma .yn Essendon ALP Carli, Carlo COb'HB ALP Ma~han, Noel John Rodney NP Clark, Robert William Box· 1 LP Mic et, Edward Joseph ~ringvale ALP Cole, Neil Donald Melbourne ALP Mildenhall, Bruce Allan ootscrctY ALP Coleman, Charles Geoffrey Bennettswood LP Napthine, Dr Denis Vincent Portlan LP Cooper, Robert Fitz erald Mornington LP Pandazopoulos, John Dandenong ALP Cunningham, Davj8 james Melton ALP Paterson, Alister Irvine South Barwon LP #Davies, Susan Margaret Gippsland West IND Perrin, Davjd John Bulleen LP Dean, Dr Robert Logan Berwick LP Perton, Victor John Doncaster LP Dixon, Martin Francis Dromana LP Pescott, Roger Mitcham LP Dollis, Demetri Richmond ALP Peulich, Mrs Inga Bentleigh LP ~le, Robert Keith Bennett Malvern LP Phillips, Wayne Eltham LP El er, Stephen Noel ~on LP Plowman, Antony Fulton Benambra LP Elliott, Mi-s Lorraine Clare ooroolbark LP Plowman, Sidney James Evelyn LP Finn, Bernard Thomas Reynolds, Thomas Carter Gisborne LP Christo~er T ullamarine LP Richardson, John Ingles Forest Hill LP Garbutt, Sherryl Maree Bundoora ALP Rowe, Gary James Cranbourne LP Gillett, Ms Mary Jane Werribee ALP Ryan, Peter julian ~a=dSouth NP Gude, Phillip Archibald Hawthorn LP Selvage, Russelllrwin IND Haermeyer, Andre Yan Yean ALP Seitz,Geo~ Keilor ALP Hamilton, Keith Graeme Morwell ALP Shardey, Helen Jean Caulfield LP Henderson, Mrs Ann Maili: Geelong LP Sheehai1, Anthony John Northcote ALP Hon~ood, Phillip Nev· e Warrandyte LP Smith, Ernest Ross Glen Waverley LP Hulls, Rob Justin Niddrie ALP Smith, !an Winton Polwarth LP J~ Kenneth Stephen Murray Valley NP Spry, Ga.r:ry Howard Bellarine LP je . , Geoffrey Paul Ba1l.arcit West LP St~gall, Barry Edward John, MichaeI Bendigo East LP ector Swan Hill NP Kennett, Je~ Gibb BurwOOd LP Stockdale, A1an Robert Brighton LP Kil~,Don d Shepparton NP Tehan, Mrs Marie Therese Seymour LP Kos , Ms Lynne Janice Altona ALP Thompson, Murray Langdon, Craig Anthony Hanillton Sandringham LP Cuffe Ivanhoe ALP Thwaites, Johnstone William Albert Park ALP Lean, Davjd Richard Carrum LP Traynor, Barry Edward Ballarat East LP Leigh, GeoffreclaGraeme Mordialloc LP Treasure, David Lewis Gippsland East NP Leighton, Mi el Andrew Preston ALP Wade, Mrs Jan Louise Lim, Hong Clayton ALP MurraJnu, Kew LP Loney, Peter James Geelong North ALP Wells, . erley Arthur Wantima LP LCJ:ton, Hurtle Reginald, Wilson, Mrs Janet Tindale AM,JP Knox LP Calder Dandenong North ALP * Resigned 31 December 1996 # Elected 1 February 1997 Heads of Parliamentary Departments Council- Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the Legislative Council: Mr A. V. Bray Assembly - Clerk of the Legislative Assembly: Mr P. J. Mithen Hansard - Chief Reporter: Mr Eric Woodward Library - Librarian: Mr B. J. Davidson House - Secretary: Ms C. M. Haydon RESIGNATION OF MEMBER Tuesday, 18 March 1997 ASSEMBLY Tuesday, 18 March 1997 MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT Mr KENNETI (Premier) - Mr Speaker, I wish to advise the house that as a result of the letter you read out from the former honourable member for The SPEAKER (Hon. S. J. Plowman) took the chair Gippsland West I have appointed the Honourable at 2.06 p.m. and read the prayer. Robin Cooper as Minister for Transport. RESIGNATION OF MEMBER DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION The SPEAKER - Order! On 31 December 1996 I Mr BRUMBY (Leader of the Opposition) - received the following letter from the honourable Mr Speaker, I wish to advise the house that the member for Gippsland West: honourable member for Albert Park is the new deputy leader of the parliamentary Labor Party. As at the time of handing you this letter I hereby resign as member for Gippsland West. CONDOLENCES I do SO with a degree of regret as I have very much Charles James Murphy, Esq. enjoyed my near 18 years as a member of the Legislative Assembly; however, as you are aware I am Mr KENNETI (Premier) - I move: soon to take up the position of Agent-General based in London. That this house expresses its sincere sorrow at the death of Charles James Murphy, Esquire, and places on I am indeed proud and very honoured to have had the record its acknowledgment of the valuable services opportunity to serve as a member of the Victorian rendered by him to the Parliament and the people of Parliament and, in particular, I look back on my time as Victoria as member of the Legislative Assembly for the Leader of the Liberal Party and as a minister in the electoral district of Hawthom from 1952 to 1955. present government with considerable satisfaction. Charles James Murphy, who was a hardworking I have very much appreciated working with you and contributor to the Victorian community, passed our parliamentary colleagues and wish you and all away after a short illness on 6 January 1997, aged associated with the Parliament of Victoria sincere best 87 years. Mr Murphy will be remembered for his wishes for the future. In particular, would you please considerable service to the Hawthorn community pass on my gratitude to all the staff of the Parliament and for his contribution to the Victorian Parliament for the wonderful assistance and support I have during his three years as a member of this house. received from them over the years. Mr Murphy was born in 1909 and educated at I will miss being a member. However, I shall look Hawthorn Catholic Primary School and Xavier forward to returning from time to time to renew College. He commenced work as a commercial clerk acquaintances. with the Vacuum Oil Company and went on to establish the oil clerks branch of the Clerks Union My best wishes for the future. during the 1930s. Mr Murphy was a member of the Clerks Union branch council from 1944 to 1946. He NEW MEMBER was also a founding member of the Federated Clerks Union Industrial Group. The SPEAKER announced the election of Ms Susan Margaret Davies as member for the electoral Mr Murphy was a devout Catholic and a passionate district of Gippsland West in place of the anticommunist.