3935 PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2003-04 FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-THIRD PARLIAMENT ___________ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 112 WEDNESDAY 8 DECEMBER 2004 ___________ (The Questions and Answers Paper is published for each sitting day and will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on the previous sitting day and any new questions. Consequently the full text of any question will be printed only twice: when notice is given; and, when answered.) 3936 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 8 December 2004 Q. & A. No. 98 23 November 2004 (Including Question Nos 2895 to 2927) Q. & A. No. 99 24 November 2004 (Including Question Nos 2928 to 2972) Q. & A. No. 100 25 November 2004 (Including Question Nos 2973 to 3014) Q. & A. No. 101 30 November 2004 (Including Question Nos 3015 to 3045) Q. & A. No. 102 1 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3046 to 3082) Q. & A. No. 103 2 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3083 to 3125) Q. & A. No. 104 14 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3126 to 3157) Q. & A. No. 105 15 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3158 to 3176) Q. & A. No. 106 16 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3177 to 3214) Q. & A. No. 107 17 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3215 to 3225) Q. & A. No. 108 21 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3226 to 3255) Q. & A. No. 109 22 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3256 to 3292) Q. & A. No. 110 23 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3293 to 3335) Q. & A. No. 111 24 December 2004 (Including Question Nos 3336 to 3346) Q. & A. No. 112 11 January 2005 (Including Question Nos 3347 to 3374) 3937 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 8 December 2004 Notice of Question given on the date shown 19 OCTOBER 2004 (Paper No. 98) *2895 TEMORA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION—Mr Armstrong to Minister for Mineral Resources, representing the Minister for Primary Industries— (1) Following your announcement that the Temora Agriculture and Research Station will not be closed will you give a guarantee that all current positions will remain at the Temora Agricultural Research Station for the Budget year 2004-05? (2) Will you give a guarantee that the current positions will remain filled by existing staff or new appointees? (3) What funding was appropriated in the 2004-05 State Budget for the maintenance and running of the Temora Agricultural Research Station? (4) Will you guarantee those funds remain available to the Temora Agricultural Research Station for the 2004-05 financial year? (5) What was the total budget allocation for the Temora Agricultural Research Station for the 2003-04 financial year? (6) What is the total budget allocation for the Temora Agricultural Research Station for the 2004-05 financial year? (7) What research programs or trials are currently underway at the Temora Agricultural Research Station? (8) Were any research programs or trials terminated in the wake of your announcement the Temora Agricultural Research Station would be closed? (9) Has the Department of Primary Industries actively sought external funding to support research programs at the Temora Agricultural Research Station? (10) If so, name the funding sources and the nature of the research programs? (11) Have private enterprise companies approached the Department of Primary Industries to undertake research programs on their behalf on a commercial basis at the Temora Agricultural Research Station? (12) If so, identify the companies and the nature of the research programs? (13) Have NSW Government departments, Federal, Local or Inter-State governments or departments sought to have new research programs developed at the Temora Agricultural Research Station? (14) Have any other departmental programs been withdrawn? Answer— (1) See answer No. 8 in Question on Notice No. 2595. (2) See 1. (3) The Department’s 2004-2005 State Budget global appropriation does not determine the funding for Temora Agricultural Research Station. (4) Funds will remain available to the Temora Agricultural Research Station from the 2004-2005 global appropriation. (5) The total budget allocation for maintenance and running at Temora Agricultural Research Station for 2003-2004 was $72,753 excluding salaries. (6) A 2004-2005 budget allocation for Temora Agricultural Research Station has yet to be made. (7) See answer No. 9 in Question on Notice No. 2595. (8) No. (9) Yes. 3938 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 8 December 2004 (10) The DPI has repeatedly and unsuccessfully sought funding support through Grains Research and Development Corporation, Meat and Livestock Association and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. (11) No. (12) N/A. (13) Yes, but no funding has been forthcoming. (14) No. *2896 POLICE ACTION—BORAMBLA—Mr Armstrong to Minister for Police— (1) Do you acknowledge that NSW Police have taken appropriate action in response to a complaint about “undesirable and anti-social behaviour” at a camp held at Borambla by the Department of Sport and Recreation and attended by Police Citizens Youth Club members on 4 May 2003? (2) If so, would you detail the appropriate action that has been taken by NSW Police on this matter? Answer— NSW Police advise: The NSW Police Youth Clubs and Community Support Group Command Management Team conducted a full investigation into a camp held at Borambla. The outcome of the investigation was subsequently reported to the NSW Ombudsman who indicated his satisfaction with the action taken by NSW Police. *2897 ALLOCATION OF RACE MEETING—Mr Armstrong to Minister for Gaming and Racing— (1) In view of your previous statement that 12 to 14 starters is the minimum number in a race in order to satisfy the qualifications for a TAB race, what is your response to the fact that at the Canterbury TAB meeting on Wednesday 29 September 2004 five of the seven races had 9 or less starters? (2) Will you now consider the allocation of a TAB race meeting to the Grenfell Jockey Club? Answer— (1) See answer to Question No. 308(2) (2) The allocation of race meetings with TAB coverage, is a commercial matter for the controlling body of thoroughbred racing in this State, ie Racing NSW, in conjunction with TAB Limited. The Government has no involvement in the process. *2898 INTERNET SCAM—Ms Hodgkinson to Minister for Fair Trading, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Commerce— (1) Has the Office of Fair Trading issued any consumer warnings regarding the most recent internet scam where customers of financial institutions such as Citibank, Sun Trust Bank, CitiFinancial and Citizens Bank are asked to log on to a website that extracts their personal banking account details? (2) If so in what media and on what dates was this warning published? (3) Does the Office of Fair Trading have any ongoing programs to monitor and deter these scam emails? Answer— (1) to (3) The Office of Fair Trading and I regularly issue warnings in relation to internet scams. On the 6 March 2004 I issued an alert specifically regarding bank email scams. In addition, I have issued a further alert to the community regarding a variation of the Nigerian scam where consumers are sent an email request to provide their bank account and personal details. 3939 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 8 December 2004 The Office of Fair Trading continues to monitor marketplace trends across New South Wales, to detect all types of scams, including on-line scams, and where appropriate takes action against unscrupulous operators. The Office of Fair Trading is liaising with Commonwealth agencies, who have specific and unique powers in relation to international co-operation and the regulation of the telecommunications sector, regarding Internet-based scams. *2899 SCHOOL STUDENT ENROLMENTS IN THE ACT—Ms Hodgkinson to Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs— (1) How many primary age students, who are residents of the Murrumbateman area, are enrolled in schools in the ACT? (2) Has the number of primary age students from Murrumbateman enrolled in ACT schools increased over the past 5 years? Answer— (1) and (2) Data on NSW residents enrolled in ACT schools is not held by the NSW Department of Education and Training. *2901 INVESTIGATION INTO ABANDONED GIRL—GOSFORD HOSPITAL—Mr Debnam to Minister for Police— In relation to calls for public assistance to identify a young girl abandoned at Gosford Hospital: (1) Was a two year old girl left at Gosford Hospital at 17:45 on Wednesday 13 October? (2) Did Gosford Hospital notify Gosford Police on the evening of Wednesday 13 October and did police commence investigations to locate the two year old's relatives on the Wednesday evening? (3) When was your office advised of the police investigation and when was your office advised of the plan to launch a public appeal? (4) When was the Commissioner's Office advised of the police investigation and when were they advised of the plan to launch a public appeal? (5) When was the NSW Police Public Affairs/Media Unit advised of the police investigation and when were they advised of the plan to launch a public appeal? (6) Why wasn't a public appeal for information launched through the media on Thursday 14 October? (7) Were legal approvals for release of publicity photos and video finalized by 5pm Friday 15 October? (8) Why wasn't a public appeal for information launched through the media on Friday 15 October? (9) Who made the decision to delay the public appeal for information for three days? (10) Did anyone in NSW Police contact any media outlet prior to 5pm Friday 15 October and if so which outlets, which members of those media outlets and who was the NSW Police contact? (11) Will you investigate whether media management took precedence over the child's welfare? (12) Will you ask the Police Integrity Commission to investigate whether media management took precedence over the child's welfare? Answer— (1) to (12) NSW Police advise that the investigation of this matter was undertaken in accordance with standard operating procedures.