Legislative Assembly 7523 21 May 1991 NOTE: There could be differences between this document and the official printed Hansard, Vol. 318 TUESDAY, 21 MAY 1991 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following Bills reported by Mr Speaker-- Superannuation (Miscellaneous Acts) Amendment Bill; Elections Amendment Bill; Electoral Districts Bill; Superannuation Trust Funds (Protection of Employee Entitlements) Acts Repeal Bill; Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation Act Amendment Bill; River Improvement Trust Act Amendment Bill; Queensland Industry Development Corporation Act and Another Act Amendment Bill; Pawnbrokers Fees Validation Bill; Rental Bond Act Amendment and Validation Bill; Forestry Act Amendment Bill; Brisbane Cricket Ground Act Amendment Bill; Sugar Industry Bill. PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY INTO AMBULANCE SERVICES Second Report Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to report that in accordance with the resolution of the Parliament agreed to on 29 November 1990 I have received the second report of the Parliamentary Select Committee of Inquiry into Ambulance Services and accompanying documents. ELECTORAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COMMISSION Report on Review of Office of Parliamentary Counsel Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to report that I have received from the Chairman of the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission the report on the review of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Ordered to be printed. REFERENDUM Return of Writ Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to inform the House of the return of the writ for a referendum to approve or not approve of a Bill to extend the maximum Legislative Assembly 7524 21 May 1991 term of future Parliaments from three years to four years. I table the writ for the information of honourable members. PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions-- Adoption Law Amendment From Mr Beanland (18 signatories) praying for the amendment of the Adoption of Children Act Amendment Act so that application may be made by a birth parent of an adopted person or an adult adoptee to have their records kept confidential and their file marked "not available". Nursing Representatives, Queensland Health Council From Mr McElligott (151 signatories) praying that the Parliament will ensure the creation of a chief nursing position at Band 1, a Division of Nursing and regional directors and provide a nursing representative at director level on the Queensland Health Council. Tobacco Levy Increase From Mr Ardill (88 signatories) praying that the tobacco levy be increased and that the proceeds be channelled into an independent foundation for health promotion, research and sponsorship of sport and the arts. State High School, Bohle/Deeragun From Mr McElligott (1 791 signatories) praying that a State high school be urgently built in the Bohle/Deeragun area. Proposed Highway, Mount Cotton From Mr Hamill (4 969 signatories) praying that construction of the proposed highway through the Mount Cotton area be not permitted but that the present Pacific Highway be upgraded instead. Pornography From Mr Beanland (1 291 signatories) praying that the Parliament will legislate against the spread of pornography. Petitions received. PAPERS The following Papers were laid on the table-- Orders in Council under-- South Bank Corporation Act 1989 Stamp Act 1894-1990 Indy Car Grand Prix Act 1990 Revenue Laws (Reciprocal Powers) Act 1988 Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1989 Superannuation (State Public Sector) Act 1990-1991 Brisbane and Area Water Board Act 1979-1990 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1990 Legislative Assembly 7525 21 May 1991 City of Brisbane (Flood Mitigation Works Approval) Act 1952-1990 Forestry Act 1959-1990 Water Resources Act 1989-1990 Co-operative and Other Societies Act 1967-1990 Supreme Court Act of 1921 Justices Act 1886-1990 Regulations under-- Animals Protection Act 1925-1991 Health Act 1937-1990 Mental Health Services Act 1974-1990 Bail Act 1980-1989 Criminal Law (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act 1986-1990 Fishing Industry Organization and Marketing Act 1982-1990 Meat Industry Act 1965-1989 Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act 1962-1991 Ordinances under the City of Brisbane Act 1924-1990 Reports-- Recent Population and Housing Trends in Queensland 1991 Queensland Grain Handling Authority for the year ended 30 September 1990 Reports for the year ended 31 December 1990-- Special Prosecutor Office of the Director of Prosecutions Proclamations under-- Superannuation (Miscellaneous Acts) Amendment Act 1991 Forestry Act 1959-1990 Rules under the Casino Control Act 1982 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Visit to North America and China by Deputy Premier Hon. T. J. BURNS (Lytton--Deputy Premier, Minister for Housing and Local Government) (10.07 a.m.), by leave: I table for the information of honourable members a report on my ministerial visit from 17 April to 5 May 1991 to Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco in North America and Beijing in the Peoples Republic of China. The three North American cities have addressed the problems of urban sprawl infrastructure and affordable housing in remarkably similar fashion through growth management legislation and by providing that commercial developments contribute towards infrastructure such as housing and transport, as well as setting aside 20 per cent of new projects for affordable housing. Other examples such as Fair Share, which requires all local authorities to take a fair share of affordable or public housing and the use of service clubs to help operate community, new, non-profit housing, will be given serious consideration in a Queensland context. I intend to discuss many of those matters with local government and housing groups. Honourable members who wish to discuss these matters and other items from the report in more detail should contact me personally or read copies of the documents that make up the attachments to the full report. I intend to suggest to fast-growing Queensland councils that they send senior councillors and mayors on an organised visit to North America to see these developments so that they can become personally aware of the Legislative Assembly 7526 21 May 1991 approach to growth management that has developed in recent years in a number of American States. I will be recommending that we continue to cement our strong personal ties with the Peoples Republic of China by the inclusion of China on itineraries of parliamentary delegations. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Rail Travel by Minister for Transport Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich--Minister for Transport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Economic and Trade Development) (10.09 a.m.), by leave: During the past 17 months, I have travelled extensively throughout Queensland in my capacity as Minister for Transport. I have frequently and proudly travelled by rail on such trips as it has enabled me to meet with local communities, local authorities, local members of Parliament from both sides of the House--including the member for Balonne--and those who are the backbone of Queensland Rail, those who work in QR. Contrary to the false, indeed scurrilous, assertions of the Leader of the Opposition, my recent rail trip to Barcaldine was wholly consistent with my commitment to rail and to meeting with those who live in Queensland's provincial and regional centres. It was totally in accordance with my responsibilities and those of others to the Government, the Parliament and the people of Queensland. Several issues arise out of the honourable member's claims, and I wish to deal with them in turn. Firstly, it has been claimed that the events in Barcaldine on 3 May and 4 May were solely for the Labor Party. Nothing could be further from the truth. The civic reception by the Shire Chairman, Councillor Norman, the pageant involving scores of the district's citizens, the opening of the Workers Heritage Centre--a project supported financially and in kind by local, State and Federal Governments, including the former National Party Government--were public events deserving support. Indeed, the Minister for Education had played a critical role in obtaining facilities for the centre. In this House on 20 February 1991, the member for Gregory stated-- "The heritage centre is a national project and is to be an educative and interpretive centre, which will be based around community involvement and activities. I trust that the Government can see merit in the project. It is paramount that the Government give immediate and ongoing grants to the centre. I urge the Government to support the venture." Mr Veivers interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Southport. Mr HAMILL: The member for Gregory is nodding in assent. He further stated-- "The centre will be unique in Australia as a place of living history--a museum, an art gallery, a park, an educational resource and a community cultural and research facility. At this point, I should say that we are not about promoting political parties." I further acknowledge the presence of the honourable member for Gregory at various functions at Barcaldine on that historic weekend, including his visit to the site of the strikers' camp---- Mr Veivers interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I warn the member for Southport under Standing Order 123A. Mr HAMILL: --where the member for Gregory was in the company of the Prime Minister, the Premier, the members for Yeronga and Greenslopes, other members of Parliament and members of the public. I also acknowledge his presence at the Department of Transport office function on the Friday afternoon when I announced extensions of customer services in both Barcaldine and Longreach. I can only presume from the Legislative Assembly 7527 21 May 1991 remarks attributed to the Leader of the Opposition that he believes Mr Johnson to be a closet member of the ALP. In truth, Mr Johnson's presence as a member of Parliament was entirely appropriate, whereas the Leader of the Opposition was conspicuous by his absence.