Legislative Assembly 7601 26 April 1994 TUESDAY, 26 APRIL 1994 to those directorships or shares. Question 12 is designed to capture any other substantial source—I repeat, "source"—of income not already declared in the register. Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) I therefore rule that there has not been any read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. breach of privilege by the Minister for Minerals and Energy in relation to his entry in the pecuniary interest register. PAPERS TABLED DURING RECESS Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, I have to advise the House that papers PETITIONS were tabled during the recess in accordance with The Clerk announced the receipt of the the details provided on the daily program following petitions— circulated to members in the Chamber— 15 April 1994— Parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts— Mosquito Breeding Report on Gold Coast Motor Events Co— From Mr Burns (3 170 signatories) praying Indy Car Grand Prix that the ponded areas in Lytton/Wynnum Report on the Standard of Preparation of Industrial Estate and Port of Brisbane land be Departmental Statements. filled or drained to eliminate the major health hazards created by mosquitoes breeding in these ponds. PRIVILEGE Minister for Minerals and Energy Great Sandy Region, Closures Mr SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, on Wednesday, 13 April, the Leader From Mr Nunn (67 signatories) praying that of the Opposition rose on a matter of privilege the Parliament of Queensland will ensure that and asked me to determine whether there had road, track, beach and airstrip closures proposed been a breach of privilege by a Minister who in the Great Sandy Region Draft Management accepts $2,000 and does not declare it in his Plan be not implemented. entry in the register of pecuniary interests. I Petitions received. undertook to give a ruling on this matter. In his register of pecuniary interest, Mr McGrady revealed that he is a director of the STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS Queensland Country Credit Union. This in itself In accordance with the schedule circulated demonstrates that he has not attempted to hide by the Clerk to members in the Chamber, the the fact that he does have an interest that could following documents were tabled— raise a potential conflict with his duty as a Chiropractors and Osteopaths Act— member and a Minister. His affirmative answer to Chiropractors and Osteopaths Amendment question 15 of the register further clarifies this. By-law (No. 1) 1994, No. 134 So with respect to the first issue, that is, has Mr McGrady declared his pecuniary interest in this Land Title Act— matter, the answer is, "Yes." Land Title Regulation 1994, No. 133 The second issue to be resolved is whether Proclamation—provisions of the Act that are not in force commence 24 April 1994, Mr McGrady was under an obligation to declare No. 132 under question 12 any substantial income with respect to his directorship. Question 12 actually Meat Industry Act— relates to substantial sources of income, not Meat Industry Regulation 1994, No. 130 substantial amounts of income. So Mr McGrady Nature Conservation Act— could have answered this question, "Director of Nature Conservation (Declaration of Nature the Queensland Country Credit Union." Refuges) Regulation 1994, No. 135 However, if Mr McGrady did this, it would not add Parliamentary Members’ Salaries Act— any information to that already declared. Parliamentary Members (Annual Rate of A number of other members from both sides Salary) Order (No. 1) 1994 of the House have declared directorships and/or Transport Infrastructure Act— shares in companies but have not made Proclamation—provisions of the Act that declarations under question 12, nor do I believe are not in force, other than (i) sections 86 there is any need for them to do so with respect and 87, (ii) Schedule 3, amendments to the 26 April 1994 7602 Legislative Assembly Harbours Act 1955, State Transport been conducted in Brisbane and regional (People-Movers) Act 1989 and Urban centres. Public Passenger Transport Act 1984, and (iii) Schedule 3, amendment 5 of the Today, a further step has been taken with Transport Infrastructure (Roads) Act 1991, the commencement of a toll-free training hot line commence 15 April 1994, No. 128 in Brisbane. By dialling 1800 065187, employers Transport Planning and Coordination Act— around the State will be able to obtain, for the cost of a local call, information and publications as Proclamation—provisions of the Act that are not in force commence 15 April 1994, well as arrange to have a field officer call out to No. 129 discuss structured training with them. Further, I Water Resources Act— will be writing to potential employers—particularly those in growth industries—outlining the Water Resources (Shire of Wondai) assistance provided to help them take on Regulation 1994, No. 131. apprentices and trainees. I am confident that Queensland employers PAPERS will be far sighted enough to see that investment The following papers were laid on the in training a young person today will pay off as table— they form the skills base Queensland needs to Minister for Primary Industries (Mr Casey)— meet the economic challenges of the future. Queensland Pork Producers’ Organisation—Annual Report for year QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE ended 31 December 1993 Use of Government Aircraft Director of Marketing—Annual Report for 1992-93 Mrs SHELDON: Before the Goss ALP Government response to Parliamentary Government was elected, the Premier ridiculed Committee of Public Accounts Report the previous Government's use of a Government No. 26 entitled "Report on the Financial aircraft. He promised the people of Queensland Management of the Department of Primary that he would not use such an aircraft. He Industries". promised the people of Queensland that "the boy from Inala" had no need for such MINISTERIAL STATEMENT conveniences. Clearly, he has been deceptive and blatantly dishonest. Report on Visit to Papua New Guinea I understand that the Premier will travel to Hon. G. N. SMITH (Townsville— Minister the electorate of Mirani today. Clearly, domestic for Lands) (10.05 a.m.), by leave: Earlier this travel is available. Why can he not be honest and year, I visited Papua New Guinea on behalf of the travel by domestic aircraft, as he promised the Queensland Government. I table a report on that people of Queensland? Could the Premier trip. please tell us why? Mr W. K. GOSS: There are a number of MINISTERIAL STATEMENT reasons why, but I think the most correct one is that I was wrong, and I said so. Queensland Apprenticeship and Traineeship System Opposition members interjected. Hon. M. J. FOLEY (Yeronga—Minister Mr W. K. GOSS: I do not know what for Employment, Training and Industrial Opposition members are grumbling about; they Relations) (10.06 a.m.), by leave: I wish to inform are always saying I am wrong. The truth is that honourable members on progress within the sometimes they are right and, as a Queensland apprenticeship and traineeship consequence, sometimes I am wrong, but most system since the proclamation of the Vocational of the time they are wrong and most of the time I Education, Employment and Training am right. Opposition members complain when I Amendment Act in January of this year. say I am right; they complain when I say I am wrong. I was wrong about the jet—— Firstly, a campaign strategy was put in place with a firm goal—6 500 new apprentices and Mrs Sheldon: Why aren't you going on trainees in the first six months of this year. If this domestic travel today? is achieved, it will represent a 5 per cent increase Mr W. K. GOSS: Because long before on the same period last year. The campaign the Mirani by-election came about, I accepted an began with a series of information seminars invitation—— around the State to inform employers of the Opposition members interjected. changes. Seventeen of these seminars have Legislative Assembly 7603 26 April 1994 Mr W. K. GOSS: I accepted an invitation Mr W. K. GOSS: I believe that this last year from the University of Central Government has a proud record in relation to Queensland to open the Asian Studies Centre in education. It is evidenced by the basic statistics Mackay. When they sent down the invitation for of dramatic increases in funding—record today, my secretary noted that it was a increases in funding—with record Education parliamentary day, and I said, "Well, I do not budgets in each successive Budget of this expect to be speaking after question time, but Government. The latest initiative of the tell them it must be scheduled so that I can Government is the Wiltshire report Back to attend question time." I said that because the Basics, which has been released and is now the Leader of the Opposition is always absolutely subject of a three-month public comment period. insistent that people such as myself be here for We believe that this will lead to further reform and question time so I can answer his probing improvement of the education system. That will questions. Imagine my shock and include the need to remedy a situation that I disappointment when I came in here, having believe occurred in the education of most of rescheduled the University of Central us—those of us who attended Queensland Queensland and the Mackay Asian Studies State schools—that is, the absence of adequate Centre so that I could leave after question time, teaching in respect of the history of Government to find that the Leader of the Opposition is not and civic affairs in this State. I believe that the present. To leave immediately after question need for this is evident, because even significant time, I have to take the plane.