VICTORIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) FIF'I'Y -THIRD PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION Legislative Assembly Vol. 437 Spring 1997 [From 11 November to 4 December 1997] Internet: http://www.viOlet.net.au/vicnet/vicgov /parl/parlia.html By Authority: VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER The Governor His Excellency the Honourable Sir JAMES AUGUSTINE GOBBO, AC The Lieutenant-Governor 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 Technology ........................... 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. Stockdale, 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 Members of the Legislative Assembly FIFTY-TIlIRD 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. McGRATII 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 J.W. 1HWAITES from 23 December 1996 Member District P!!!Y Member District P~ Andrianopoulos, Alex Mill Park ALP McArthur, Stephen James Monbulk LP Andrighetto, Florian Narracan LP McCall, Ms Arldrea Lea Frankston LP Ashley, Gordon Wetzel Bayswater LP McGill, Mrs Denise Oakleigh LP Baker, !an Malcolm John Sunshine ALP McGrath, John Francis Warrnamoool NP Batchelor, Peter Thomastown ALP McGrath, William Desmond Wimmera NP Bracks, Stz.hen Phillip Williamstown ALP McLellan, Frederick Peter Frankston East LP • Brown, an John Gippsland West LP Maclellan, Robert Roy Brumb~Ohn Mansfield Broadmeadows ALP Cameron Pakenharn LP Burke, Leonie Therese Prahran LP McNamara, Patrick John Benalla NP Cameron, Robert Graharn Bendigo West ALP ~~' Mrs Judith Carnpbell, Ms Christine Mary Pascoe Vale ALP Essendon ALP Carli, Carlo CObHfiI ALP Ma~, Noel John Rodney NP Clark, Robert William Box H LP Mi ef, Edward Joseph ~ringvale ALP Cole, Neil Donald Melbourne ALP Mildenhall, Bruce Al1in ootscray ALP Coleman, Charles Geoffrey Bennettswood LP Napthine, Or Denis Vincent Portland LP Cooper, Robert Fitzaerald Morrungton LP Pandazopoulos, John Dandenong ALP Cunnin~, Davi James Melton ALP Paterson, Alister Irvine South BarWon LP # Davies, Susan Margaret Gippsland West IND Perrin, David John Bulleen LP Dean, Or Robert Logan Berwick LP Perton, Victor John Doncaster LP Dixon, Martin Frands Dromana LP •• Pescott, Ro~r Mitcham LP Dollis, Demetri Richmond ALP Peulich, Mrs ga Bentleigh LP Do/ele, Robert Keith Bennett Malvern LP Phillips, Wayne Eltharn LP El er, Stephen Noel Ri LP Plowman, Antony Fulton Benambra LP Elliott, Mi5 Lorraine Clare ~~oolbark LP Plowman, Sidney James Evelyn LP Finn, Bemard Thomas ~olds, Thomas Carter Gisborne LP Christo~er T ullarnarine LP RiChardson, John Ingles Forest Hill LP Garbutt, Sherryl Maree Bundoora ALP Rowe, Gary James Cranbourne LP Gillett, Ms Mary Jane Wembee ALP Ryan, Peter Julian NP Gude, Phillip Archibald Hawthorn LP savage, Russelllrwin ~~a::::d South !NO Haermeyer, Andre Yan Yean ALP Seitz,Geo~ Keilor ALP Hamilton, Keith Graeme Morwell ALP Shardey, Helen Jean Caulfield LP Henderson, Mrs Ann ~ Geelong LP Sheehan, Anthony John Northcote ALP Hone~ood, Phillip Nevi e Warranayte LP Smith, Emest Ross Glen Waverley LP Hulls, Rob Justin Niddrie ALP Smith, !an Winton Polwarth LP Jas~ Kenneth Stephen Murray Valley NP Spry, Gar:ry Howard Bellarine LP Je . , Geoffrey Paul Ballarat West LP S~gall, Barry Edward John, Michael Bendigo East LP ector Swan Hill NP Kennett, Je~ Gibb Burwood LP Stockdale, Alan Robert Brighton LP I<i1~ur, Do d Shepparton NP Tehan, Mrs Marie Therese Seymour LP KoS }', Ms Lynne Janice Altona ALP Thompson, Murray Langaon, Craig Anthony Hanillton Sandringham LP Ctiffe Ivanhoe ALP Thwaites, Johnstone William Albert Park ALP Lean, David Richard Carrum LP Traynor, ~ Edward Ballarat East LP Leigh, Geoffr~ Graeme Mordialloc LP Treasure, David Lewis Gippsland East NP Leighton, Mi ael Andrew Preston ALP Wade, Mrs Jan Louise Lini, Hong Clayton ALP Murr Kew LP Loney, Peter James Geelong North ALP Wells,'Khwe rley Arthur Wantima LP L~ton, Hurtle Reginald, Wilson, Mrs Janet Tindale AM,JP Knox LP Calder Dandenong North ALP • Resigned 31 December 1996 •• Resigned 11 November 1997 # 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 (Acting): Ms C. J. Williams Library - Librarian: Mr B. J. Davidson Parliamentary Services - Secretary: Ms C. M. Haydon RESIGNATION OF MEMBER Tuesday, 11 November 1997 ASSEMBLY 929 Tuesday, 11 November 1997 Yours sincerely, Roger Pescott, M.P. Honourable members interjecting. The SPEAKER (Hon. S. J. Plowman) took the chair at 2.05 p.m. and read the prayer. Mr Thwaites - On a point of order, Mr Speaker, will you advise the house when an election will be RESIGNATION OF MEMBER called for the seat of Mitcham? The SPEAKER - Order! I advise the house that a The SPEAKER - Order! Following the normal vacancy has occurred with the resignation of Roger protocol, consideration will be given to the Pescott, the honourable member for Mitcham, who resignation and to an appropriate time for the has written to me as follows: by-election to be called. I have not given the matter any consideration, as the resignation letter has just Dear Mr Speaker, been received. I will give it due consideration in the normal way. I resign my seat in the Parliament as member for Mitcham, with effect from 2.00 p.m. today. Mr Bracks - On the point of order, Mr Speaker, can you advise the house of the sort of advice you I advise the house that his resignation was effective will be seeking in deciding on the timing of the immediately the Speaker received the letter, which by-election for the seat of Mitcham and whether you was hand delivered to me at approximately will take certain factors into account in -- 1.45 p.m. The letter continues: Honourable members interjecting. Prindpal among my reasons is the government's intention to alter the role and function of the The SPEAKER - Order! I will take advice from Auditor-General. Having watched the government's the Clerk, who normally advises me on these position unfold, I have been uncomfortable from the matters, and I will make a determination in due beginning. I expected commonsense to prevail. It has course. not. In my considered view, the government's proposals compromise the system of checks and balances which are at the core of our system of government. To me, they run fundamentally counter to QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE the public interest. I was elected by the people of Mitcham both as a Ambulance services: crews Liberal and as a member of this government If, after lengthy deliberation, I cannot support the Mr THWAITES (Albert Park) - I refer the government's legislation, my options resolve to one. It Premier to the Auditor-General's report that will be has been a long time since I have found the avenues for tabled today, to a previous report of the serious debate within the Liberal Party satisfactory. Yet Auditor-General into the ambulance service, and to I could not bring myself to vote with the Labor Party. the fact that the government has privatised Accordingly, I must surrender my seat in the non-emergency ambulance transport, selling the Parliament. service to companies which staff each ambulance with only one properly qualified ambulance officer