VICTORIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) FIFTY-SECOND PARLIAMENT AUTUMN SESSION 1994 Legislative Council VOL. 416 [From 29 March 1994 to 27 April 1994] By Authority: VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRISTER The Governor His Excellency the Honourable RICHARD E. McGARVIE The Lieutenant-Governor His Excellency the Honourable SIR JOHN McINTOSH YOUNG, AC, KCMG The Ministry [as from 9 november 1992] Premier, and Minister for Ethnic Affairs ...... The Hon. J.G. Kennett, MP Deputy Premier, Minister for Police and ...... The Hon. PJ. McNamara, MP Emergency Services, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Tourism Minister for Industry and Employment.. ...... The Hon. P.A. Gude, MP Minister for Roads and Ports ........................ The Hon. W.R. Baxter, MLC Minister for Conservation and Environment, The Hon. M.A. Birrell, MLC and Minister for Major Projects Minister for Public Transport ....................... The Hon. AJ. Brown, MP Minister for Natural Resources ..................... The Hon. C.G. Coleman, MP Minister for Regional Development, ............. Minister for Local Government The Hon. R.M. Hallam, MLC Minister for Education ................................. The Hon. D.K. Hayward, MP Minister for Small Business, and Minister.... The Hon. v.P. Heffeman, OAM, MP responsible for Youth Affairs Minister for Community Services, and ........ The Hon. Michael John, MP Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Housing, and Minister for ........ The Hon. R.I. Knowles, MP Aged Care Minister for Agriculture ............................... The Hon. W.D.McGrath, MP Minister for Planning .................................. ,. The Hon. R.R.e. Maclellan, MP Minister for Industry Services ...................... The Hon. Roger Pescott, MP Minister for Energy and Minerals, and ......... The Hon. SJ. Plowman, MP Minister Assisting the Treasurer on State Owned Enterprises Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing .... The Hon. re. Reynolds, MP Minister for Finance ..................................... The Hon. I. W. Smith, MP Treasurer...................................................... The Hon. A.R. Stockdale, MP Minister for Tertiary Education and ............. The Hon. Haddon Storey, QC, MLC Training, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Gaming Minister for Health ...................................... The Hon. M.T. Tehan, MP Attorney-General, Minister for Fair.............. The Hon. J .L.M. Wade, MP Trading, and Minister responsible for Women's Affairs Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet ......... The Hon. Rosemary Varty, MLC Members of the Legislative Council FIFITY-SECOND PARLIAMENT-FIRST SESSION President: The Hon. B.A. CHAMBERLAIN Chairman of Committees: The Hon. D. M. EVANS Temporary Chairman of Committees: The Honourables G. B. Ashman, G. H. Cox, J.v.e. Guest, P.R. Hall, D.E. Henshaw, R.S. Ives, and Licia Kokocinski. Leader of the Government: The Hon. M. A BIRRELL Deputy Leader of the Government: The Hon.HADDON STOREY, QC Leader of the National Party: The Hon. W. R. BAXTER Deputy Leader of the National Party: The Hon. R. M. HALLAM Leader of the Oppposition: The Hon. T.c. Theophanous Deputy Leader of the Opposition: The Hon. C.J. HOGG 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 J.G. Little, JP Hansard - Chief Reporter: Mr Eric Woodward Library - Librarian: Mr B.1. Davidson House - Secretary: Mr W.F. McKelvie Members of the Legislative Council Member Province Party Member Province Party Asher, Hon. Louise Monash LP Henshaw, Hon. David Geelong ALP Ashman, Hon. Gerald Barry Baronia LP Ernest,MBE Atkinson, Hon. Bruce Norman Koonung LP Hogg, Hon. Caroline lennifer Melbourne North ALP Baxter, Hon. William Robert North Eastern NP Ives, Hon. RobertStuart Eumemmerring ALP Best, Hon. Ronald Alexander North Western LP Knowles, Hon. Robert lan Ballarat LP Birrell, Hon. Mark Alexander EastYarra LP KoKocinski, Hon. Licia Melbourne West ALP Bishop, Hon. Barry Wilfred North Western NP Mc Lean, Hon. Brian William Waverley ALP Bowden, Hon. Ronald Henry South Eastern LP Mier, Hon. Brian William Waverley ALP Brideson, Hon. Andrew Waverley LP Nardella, Hon. Donato Antonio Melbourne North ALP Chamberlain, Hon. Bruce Anthony Western LP Power, Hon. Pat JikaJika ALP Connard, Hon. Geoffrey Phillip Higinbotham LP Pullen, Hon. Barry Thomas Melbourne ALP Cox, Hon. George Henry N\.Dl3wading LP Skeggs, Hon. Bruce Albert Edward Templestowe LP Craige, Hon. Geoffrey Ronald Central Highlands LP Smith, Hon. Kenneth Maurice South Eastern LP Davidson, Hon. Burwyn Eric Chelsea ALP Stoney, Hon. Eadley Graeme Central Highlands LP Davis, Hon. Phi lip Rivers Gippsland LP Storey, Hon. Haddon, QC EastYarra LP de Fegely, Hon. Richard Strachan Ballarat LP Strong, Hon. Christopher Arthur Higinbotham LP Evans, Hon. David Mylor North Eastern NP Theophanous, Hon Theo Charles JikaJika ALP Forwood, Hon. Bill Templestowe LP Varty, Hon. Rosemary Silvan LP *Gould, Hon. Monica Mary Chester Doutta Galla ALP Walpole, Hon. Douglas Thompson Melbourne ALP Hall, Hon. Peter Ronald Gippsland NP Wella, Hon. Ronald lames Herbert Eumemmerring LP Hallam, Hon. Roger Murray Western NP White, Hon. David Ronald DounaGalla LP Hartigan, Hon. William Geelong LP Wilding, Hon. Sue de Carteret Chelsea LP Anthony Neville *Elected 18.9.93 LEADERSHIP OF OPPOSITION Tuesday, 29 March 1994 COUNCIL Tuesday, 29 March 1994 Hon. M. A. BIRRELL (Minister for Conservation and Environment) - On behalf of my colleagues, I congratulate the Honourable Theo Theophanous on his election as Leader of the OppOSition in this house. I also congratulate the Honourable Caroline The PRESIDENT (Hon. B. A. Chamberlain) took Hogg on her re-election as Deputy Leader of the the chair at 2.34 p.m. and read the prayer. Opposition. The government warmly supports those appointments. LEADERSHIP OF OPPOSITION It has been suggested that some self-deprecation is Hon. T. C. THEOPHANOUS Oika Jika) - I required. As I understand it, an agreement has been inform the house that on 20 December last year my made across party lines that the best way for the colleagues elected me Leader of the Opposition in house to operate is for neither Mr Theophanous nor the upper house. I also inform the house that the me to make strategic decisions about sitting times. I Honourable Caroline Hogg remains the Deputy am prepared to honour the arrangement that the Leader of the Opposition. Honourable Robert Knowles, the Minister for HOUSing, will deal with the Honourable Caroline I take this opportunity to thank my predecessor, the Hogg on matters to do with the management of the Honourable David White, for the way he led the house. I welcome the election of Mr Theophanous Australian Labor Party in this house, both in and Mrs Hogg to their positions and look forward to government and in opposition. His leadership was a their serving in those capacities for a long time. great source of support for me and for other members of the ALP. I appreciated his ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (REPEAL) encouragement, his knowledge of the procedures of BILL the house and his capacity to tell his colleagues when they were doing well and when they were not. Introduction and first reading On occasions we forcefully disagreed - but that was also an important ingredient of his leadership Received from Assembly. style. Read first time on motion of Hon. HADDON David White has been preselected as the ALP STOREY (Minister for Tertiary Education and candidate for the lower house seat of Tullamarine, Training). which is now a safe Labor Party seat! I expect he will be around for a long time, giving guidance and EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING direction to the parliamentary Labor Party. I shall (AMENDMENT) BILL not highlight his many achievements in both government and opposition, but I thank him for his Introduction and first reading support. Received from Assembly. I thank my parliamentary colleagues for the confidence they have shown in me. I look forward to Read first time on motion of Hon. HADDON the challenge that that confidence implies. I also look STOREY (Minister for Tertiary Education and forward to working with the government both in the Training). running of the house and on constructive proposals that will benefit Victoria. Parliament is about AGENT-GENERAL'S BILL democracy, about the rights of members to pursue their concerns, air their views and obtain answers to Introduction and first reading their questions. Pursuing matters of concern is a heavy responsibility, but neither the opposition nor Received from Assembly. I, as its parliamentary leader, will shirk that responsibility. Read first time on motion of Hon. HADDON STOREY (Minister for Tertiary Education and When I was elected Leader of the Opposition in this Training). place the Premier described my appointment as frightening. I inform the house that he did not specify to whom it was frightening! ALBURY-WODONGA AGREEMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 2 COUNCIL Tuesday. 29 March 1994 ALBURY-WODONGA AGREEMENT PETROLEUM (AMENDMENT) BILL (AMENDMENT) BILL Introduction and first reading Introduction and first reading Received from Assembly. Received from Assembly. Read first time on motion of Hon. R. M. HALLAM Read first time on motion of Hon. R. M. HALLAM (Minister for Regional Development). (Minister for Regional Development). BORROWING AND INVESTMENT AUDIT BILL POWERS (FURTHER AMENDMENT) BILL Introduction and first reading Introduction and first reading Received from Assembly. Received from Assembly. Read first time for Hon.