VICTORIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) FIFTY -THIRD PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION Legislative Council Vol. 431 Spring 19% {From 8 October 1996 to 30 October 1996J By Authority: VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER The Governor His Excellency the Honourable RICHARD E. McGARVIE, AC The Lieutenant-Governor His Excellency the Honourable Sir JAMES AUGUSTINE GOBBO, AC The Ministry [AS FROM 3 APRIL 19961 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. A. J. Brown, 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 Council FIFTY-THIRD PARLIAMENT - FIRST SESSION President: The Hon. B. A. Clwnberlain Deputy President and Chairman of Committees: The Hon. P. R. Hall Temporary Chairmen of Committees: The Honourables G. B. Ashman, B. W. Bishop, Bill Forwood, Jean McLean, D. A. Nardella, B. T. Pullen, and C. A. Strong Leader of the Government: The Hon. M. A. Birrell Deputy Leader of the Government: The Hon. R. L Knowles Leader of the National Party: The Hon. W. R. Baxter Deputy Leader of the National Party: The Hon. R. M. Hallam Leader of the Opposition: The Hon. T. C. Theophanous Deputy Leader of the Opposition: The Hon. M. M. Gould Member District P~ Member District P~ Asher, Hon. Louise Monash LP Ka~ban~,Hon.Perer Ashman, Hon. Gerald Harry Koonung LP Argyris Monash LP Atkinson, Hon. Bruce NormanKoonung LP Knowles, Hon. Robert !an Ballarat LP BIDder, Hon. William Robert North Easrem NP Lucas, Hon. Neil Bedford Eumemmerring LP Best, Hon. Ronald Alexander North Western NP Luckins, Hon. Maree Therese Waverley LP Birrell, Hon. Mark Alexander East Yarra LP McLean, Hon. Jean Melbourne West ALP B~n. ~ Wilfred North Western NP Nardel1a, Hon. Donato Bo ,Hon. lair Antonio Melbourne North ALP Cameron Chelsea LP Nguyen, Hon. San~ Minh Melbourne West ALP Bowden, Hon. Ronald Henry South Easrem LP Powell, Hon. Elizcl eth Brideson, Hon. Andrew Jeanette North Easrem NP Ronald Waverley LP Power, Hon. Pat JikaJika ALP Chamberlain, Hon. Bruce Pullen, Hon. B::w Thomas Melbourne ALP Anthony Wesrem LP Ross, Hon. John illiam Cover, Hon. !an James Geelong LP Gameliel Higinbotham LP Craige, Hon. Geoffr~ Ronald Central Highlands LP Smith, Hon. Kenneth LP DaVlS, Hon. David clean East YarTa LP Maurice South Easrern Davis, Hon. Phili£ Rivers Gippsland LP Smith, Hon. Wendy Irene Silvan LP de Fegely, Hon. 'chard Stoney, Hon. Eadley Graeme Central Highlands LP StraChan Ballarat LP Str~urHon. Christopher Eren, Hon. Ta~ Ergun Doutta Galla ALP Higinbotham LP Forwood, Hon. Bill Templestowe LP Theo~hanOUS, Hon. Theo Furletti, Hon. Carlo Angelo Templestowe LP Chafes JikaJika ALP Gould, Hon. Monica Mary Doutta Galla ALP Varty, Hon. Rose= Silvan LP Hall, Hon. Peter Ronald Gippsland NP Walpole, Hon. Doug as Hallam, Hon. R~er Murray Wesrem NP ThomJ:n Melbourne ALP Hartiltan, Hon. illiam Wells, on. Ronald James An ony Neville Geelong LP Herbert Eumemmerring LP Hogg, Hon. Caroline Jennifer Melbourne North ALP Wilding, Hon. Sue deCarreret Chelsea LP 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 - Otief Reporter: Mr Eric Woodward Library - Librarian: Mr B. J. Davidson House - Secretary: Mr W. F. McKelvie (To 15.10.96) Acting Secretary: Mr J. Norman (From 28.10.96) ROY AL ASSENT Tuesday, 8 October 1996 COUNCIL Tuesday, 8 October 1996 MELBOURNE EXHIBITION CENTRE (AMENDMENT) BILL Introduction and first reading The PRESIDENT (Hon. B. A. Chamberlain) took Received from Assembly. the chair at 2.32 p.m. and read the prayer. Read first time on motion of Hon. M. A. BIRRELL ROYAL ASSENT (Minister for Industry, Science and Technology). Message read advising royal assent to: FORESTRY RIGHTS BILL 28 June Introduction and first reading Accident Compensation (Occupational Health Received from Assembly. and Safety) Act Read first time on motion of Hon. G. R. CRAIGE 2 July (Minister for Roads and Ports). Ballarat Lands (Lakeside Development) Act TRANSPORT (RAIL SAFETY) BILL Firearms (Prohibited Firearms) Act Introduction and first reading Forests <Wood Pulp Agreement) Act Received from Assembly. Gaming Acts (Amendment) Act Read first time on motion of Hon. G. R. CRAlGE (Minister for Roads and Ports). Gaming Machine Control (Community Support Fund) Act CHILDREN'S SERVICES BILL Health Acts (Amendment) Act Introduction and first reading Housing (Amendment) Act Received from Assembly. Melbourne City Link (Amendment) Act Read first time on motion of Hon. R. I. KNOWLES (Minister for Health). Miscellaneous Acts (Omnibus Amendments> Act LOCAL GOVERNMENT Police Regulation (Selection and Review) Act (AMENDMENT) BILL Public Sector Management and Parliamentary Introduction and first reading Officers (Amendment> Act Received from Assembly. Road Safety (Wheel Clamping) Act Read first time on motion of Hon. R. M. HALLAM Westpac and Bank of Melbourne (Challenge (Minister for Finance). Bank) Act LEGAL PRACTICE BILL 24 September Introduction and first reading Statute Law Revision (Marine) Act Received from Assembly. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 2 COUNCIL Tuesday, 8 October 1996 Read first time on motion of Hon. LOUISE ASHER will no longer have incremental reviews resulting in (Minister for Small Business). minor changes which do not meet public wishes or understandings of what a modern shop trading act is. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE The most recent criticisms of the government's initiatives, and the only criticisms apart from the expected criticisms of the relevant unions, have Shop trading hours come from the Master Grocers Association of Victoria. I do not begrudge the association having an Hon. T. C. THEOPHANOUS (Jika Jika) - I refer opinion. It was one of the groups consulted and able the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology to to express an opinion in favour of amending the law the commitments the government made prior to the to suit its self-interest, and although the government recent election to review the Shop Trading Act in did not act on that submission I welcome the consultation with all relevant groups with a view to association's input and understand its point of view. extending Sunday trading outside the central business district to the first Sunday of the month Hon. T. C. Theophanous - Was this before or only and to the Premier's comments along similar after the review? lines made before the election. Will the minister explain to the house why the government has Hon. M. A. BIRRELL - We met with the Master broken its pre-election promise -- Grocers Association before we made the announcement to ensure we had the point of view of Honourable members interjecting. an organisation that is part of the overall debate. I welcome the changes to the act and look forward to Hon. T. C. THEOPHANOUS - I have your the Labor Party outlining its position. We're going to policy here. I will read it out if you like! have you on toast! The PRESIDENT - Order! Mr Theophanous will Governor's export awards just ask his question. Hon. M. T. LUCKINS (Waverley) - Will the Hon. T. C. THEOPHANOUS - Why has the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology government broken its pre-election promise by inform the house of the outcome of last night's 1996 failing to have a proper review or to consult and by Governor of Victoria export awards? going beyond its commitment to extend shop trading to the first Sunday of each month? Hon. M. A. BIRRELL (Minister for Industry, Science and Technology) - It was my pleasure last Hon. M. A. BIRRELL (Minister for Industry, night, before going to an equally important function, Science and Technology) - Mr Theophanous starts to be with His Excellency the Governor at off a session in the way he finishes most sessions - Government House for the Victorian export awards. misquoting the truth and trying to mislead the The awards recognised the winners, achievers