20 Mar 1997 Ministerial Statement 669 THURSDAY, 20 MARCH 1997 years. The commission found that, based on the policies, practices and planning assumptions current at the time, there is an in- built trend to a progressive deterioration of the Mr SPEAKER (Hon. N. J. Turner, Nicklin) general Government operating result which, if read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. unchecked, could reach a deficit of $2.7 billion by 2005-06. To prevent this potential trend PETITIONS eventuating, it is necessary each year, year The Clerk announced the receipt of the after year, to implement strong short-term following petitions— fiscal discipline. For example, the action that Banyo Police Station was necessary to balance the 1996-97 Budget was typical. But it is clearly not reasonable or From Mr Roberts (1,649 petitioners) sustainable for Queenslanders to bear tax requesting the House to immediately upgrade increases or cuts in services every year into the Banyo Police Station to a community the foreseeable future. Nor would it be policing project with increased resources and responsible for the Government to run deficit staff. operating Budgets or to strip capital from its Adoption Laws business undertakings for recurrent purposes. From Mr Stephan (91 petitioners) We have to seek viable long-term solutions, requesting the House to (a) repeal the such as those suggested by our Commission objection to release of information clause and of Audit. (b) repeal the objection to contact clause In Queensland, we should all be proud of thereby granting all pre-1991 adoptions the the fact that, over the long term—over many same rights as post-1991 adoptions. years—Queensland Governments have built up a strong balance sheet. Our State's net worth, as estimated by the Commission of K mart Site, Chermside Audit, is over $51 billion. This equates to From Mr T. B. Sullivan (170 $15,600 for each Queenslander. That is, in petitioners) requesting the House to abandon simple terms, each Queensland citizen has an the proposal to construct a fire station on the investment in the State's public schools, old K mart site at Chermside. roads, hospitals and so on of over $15,000. By comparison, in New South Wales the reported net worth per capita is about Freight Rail Line $11,400, and in Western Australia it is From Dr Watson (170 petitioners) estimated to be about $10,700. On the other requesting the House to reject the plan to hand, in Victoria it is estimated at about establish a freight rail line along the southern $1,400. That is a tenfold difference from the bypass and Gateway Arterial corridor because position in Queensland. of the considerable environmental and Mr Speaker, to fully appreciate amenity problems this would cause. Queensland's position, you may note that if Petitions received. Victoria were to have the objective of matching Queensland's net worth per capita then it would have to increase net worth by saving MINISTERIAL STATEMENT through running a persistent operating surplus. Long-term Budgetary Outlook If Victoria chose to match Queensland's Hon. J. M. SHELDON (Caloundra— current per capita net worth with, say, a poll Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for tax generating an annual target surplus of, The Arts) (9.33 a.m.), by leave: As usual, the say, $100 per Victorian, then it would need to 1997 State Budget is being framed in difficult continue to do this each year, year after year, financial circumstances. As honourable for well over 100 years. members are aware, a common criticism of The bad news for Queenslanders is that Governments is that they concentrate on our investment as Australian citizens in the short-term pressures and ignore the long-term Commonwealth Government is estimated to implications of their decisions. To help to be negative $4,100 per person. Not only that, address this problem, this Government set up it is getting worse. The Commonwealth should the Queensland Commission of Audit last not concentrate on seeking to improve its year, and, amongst other things, asked it to position at the expense of the States. Indeed, project the State's Budget position out 10 it is clearly time that the Commonwealth 670 Ministerial Statement 20 Mar 1997 should look to long-run reform by getting out businesses to help their older customers by of its duplication and interference in areas of offering discounts to people living on fixed State Government responsibility and working post-retirement incomes to help make an constructively to increase responsibility, active life more affordable. In return, accountability and flexibility by transferring businesses are recognised within the existing growth taxes to the States. community as good corporate citizens and This State, through its building up of such benefit through attracting increased numbers a strong net worth position, together with its of older customers and greater customer maintenance of low taxes over a very long loyalty. period of time, has proven that the policies of Until now, advertising through the Seniors State Governments can be responsible, Card Statewide Directory was the only way to disciplined and effective over the long term. It help the business community to reach this is time for the Commonwealth and the States older market. This is set to change. Soon, the as equal partners to review their expenditures Seniors Card, through my department's Office and revenues and to rationalise roles and of Ageing, will offer private and public responsibilities. This is becoming more widely companies the opportunity to sponsor some of recognised, and I am pleased to note the the resources and activities being developed strong and constructive suggestions in the to meet the needs of the mature age group. Courier-Mail's editorial of 12 March that— In the next 10 years, this group is expected to "Indeed, there is a compelling case have the fastest growth rate. In Queensland, for the Commonwealth to vacate the the number of people over 75 years will health and education portfolios and increase more than twice as fast as the total completely devolve the roles and population. This will result in a greater demand responsibilities." for information and services for older people from departments such as Families, Youth I agree with this and would go further: the and Community Care. Commonwealth must not only cease its wasteful duplication of State responsibilities To keep pace with this demand, the but must also devolve the accompanying Office of Ageing and Seniors Card will revenue powers. For example, the establish a sponsorship program which will Queensland Commission of Audit proposed enable new or expanded activities to be that the Commonwealth should vacate the undertaken at a minimised cost to taxpayers. fields of wholesale sales tax and petroleum All revenue obtained from sponsorship excise and allow the States to take up these arrangements will be used to support the work existing tax bases in exchange for an of the Office of Ageing and to fund increased equivalent reduction in Commonwealth grants. community-based initiatives. A sponsor will be The States are playing their part within the sought to enable the Seniors Card Statewide limits of current Commonwealth/State Directory to be mailed direct to all card holders arrangements. It is certainly high time and for the first time. This will provide real customer overdue for the Commonwealth to agree to a service benefits to the majority of older new Federal compact with the States. Queenslanders, increase the appeal of the Seniors Card and encourage greater usage, especially in regional areas. Increased liaison MINISTERIAL STATEMENT with private enterprise through sponsorships Seniors Card Sponsorship will promote more positive attitudes towards ageing in both the business sector and in the Hon. K. R. LINGARD (Beaudesert— community at large as business gears its Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care) (9.37 a.m.), by leave: As members products, services and advertising campaigns would be aware, the Seniors Card provides an to higher age groups. The Office of Ageing will opportunity for the Queensland Government encourage positive images of older people in and business sectors to work together to advertising—images that reflect the diverse life benefit the older members of our community. experiences of seniors as intelligent, active The Seniors Card Business Discounts Scheme and useful. Successful sponsorships will also provide a cost-efficient way to update the is a good example, with more than 1,300 Seniors Card mailing list and provide private business operators now offering opportunities for value-added benefits to discounts and special services to over 310,000 Seniors Card holders. Seniors Card holders throughout the State. As part of this scheme, the Seniors Card, which is In developing sponsorship plans, the administered by the Department of Families, department has had regard to legal advice, Youth and Community Care, encourages CJC sponsorship guidelines and the data 20 Mar 1997 Ministerial Statement 671 protection principles outlined by the Queensland has matched Victoria's annual Organisation for Economic Cooperation and investment growth of around 11%. Capital Development. In addition, consultations with investment in Queensland last year jumped $2 older people have been held and their billion on the previous year to $5.3 billion. suggestions have also been incorporated. All appropriate measures have been taken to Access Economics found that ensure that Seniors Card holders' privacy is Queensland is a national leader in project protected, that card holders are not subject to development. New projects were valued at an excessive amount of special offers and that $25.6 billion, an increase of 10% over the card holders have the opportunity to choose to previous period. NSW had an 11% decline, be excluded from these special offers at any and Victoria had a modest increase of just 3%.