Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 1968 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 1754 Supply [ASSEMBLY] Questions TUESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER, 1968 Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. D. E. Nicholson," Murrumba) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m. ISIS BY-ELECTION RETURN OF WRIT Mr. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that the writ issued by me on 14 October,. 1968, for the election of a member to serve in the Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Isis has been returned to me with a certificate endorsed thereon by the returning officer of the election, on 16 November, 1968, of J ames Robert Henry Blake, Esquire, to serve as such member. MEMBER SWORN Mr. Blake was introduced, took the oath of allegiance, and subscribed the roll. QUESTIONS NEGOTIATIONS ON CoNSTRUCTION OF GLADSTONE ALUMINIUM SMELTER Mr. Houston, pursuant to notice, asked The Premier,- ( 1) On what date and by what Minister were negotiations undertaken with the Pechiney Company of France regarding the building of an aluminium smelter at Gladstone? (2) Has any firm decision been made from the negotiations and when will the building project commence? Answers:- ( 1) "The Pechiney Company was repre­ sented on the French Economic Mission which visited Queensland from November 6 to 10, 1968. As a consequence, the Company's representative pal'ticipated in the general discussions which were held in the Premier's Department in regard to investment prospects in this State. He also attended the subsequent discussions, again of a general fact-finding nature, which were arranged by the Department of Industrial Development." (2) "No." CoNTRACT FOR EXPORT OF COAL FROM BLUFF lVIr. Houston, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Mines,- Did the contract proceed as announced by Cambria Collieries Pty. Ltd. on December 27, 1963, regarding a $5,000,00(} five-year supply to French steel­ works of coal from Bluff, Central Queens­ land? If so, how many tons of coal have been exported and for what financial return during each year since 1963? Answer:- "This contract did not proceed. The Cambria colliery ceased mining operations in May, 1966." Questions [26 NovEMBER] Questions 1755 ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR (2) Is it proposed to keep any steam PRISONERS' Am SOCIETY locomotives for historical purposes? If so, what class and number will be kept and Mr. Houston, pursuant to notice, asked under what conditions? The Minister for Justice,- Has he received any communication Answers:- from the Prisoners' Aid Society seeking (1) "Since January, 1968, 151 steam more financial assistance? If so, how much locomotives were condemned and written assistance has been or is contemplated as off the books. 142 steam locomotives have being approved and when will it be avail­ been cut up since January, 1968, and the .able? non-ferrous metals, the steel scrap and the cast iron have been sold by public Answer:- tender. The price received varies with the " A request by the North Queensland fluctuation of the metal market. To set out Prisoners' Aid Society for an increase in the detail sought by the Honourable Mem­ their financial assistance of $200 per year, ber would require considerable clerical made on June 18, 1968, was granted on work, the expenditure of which is not August 8, 1968, raising the assistance to considered justified." that Society to the sum of $1,400 per (2) An area has been set aside at the .annum. The South Queensland Prisoners' Redbank Railway Workshops for the Aid Society now receives the sum of $3,400 keeping of steam locomotives for historical per annum." purposes. It is proposed that the following locomotives be placed at this location:- TRAFFIC CHARGES BASED ON Locomotive BREATHALYSER TESTS Class No. Mr. Bennett, pursuant to notice, asked A.lO 6 The Minister for Transport,- B.15 444 ( 1) Since the introduction of the C.16 106 breathalyser, how many motorists have C.17 2 been charged with driving or being in C.l7 1000 charge of a motor vehicle under the AC.l6 221 influence of liquor and have been B.l8t 771 acquitted? BB.18J 1089 (2) How many motorists have been D.17 1051 convicted of having a · 1 per cent. blood­ C.19 700 alcohol content but less than ·15 per cent.? It is also proposed at this stage to place rail motor No. 14 fitted with a Panhard Answers:- engine at this location." ( 1) "Of the contested matters since the inception of the new legislation up to the ADDITIONAL LAND FOR HOUSING time the Question was asked, ten motorists COMMISSION, NORTH CAIRNS have been acquitted of an offence of Mr. R. Jones, pursuant to notice, asked either driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor The Minister for Lands,- >Or a drug. However, all such motorists ( 1) Has any plan been submitted for were convicted of the offence of having a acquisition and reclamation of lands to concentration of alcohol in their blood extend the Queensland Housing Com­ equal to or exceeding · 1 per cent. while mission estate, North Cairns? ·either driving or in charge of a motor (2) If not, when and for what purpose vehicle." was the application for resumption pro­ (2) "Of the contested matters since the posed? inception of the new legislation up to the (3) If so. why was the application time the Question was asked, one motorist rejected? having a concentration of more than · 1 per cent. and less than · 15 per cent. has Answer:- been convicted of an offence of being in (1 to 3) "No reclamation works are charge of a motor vehicle while under the presently being carried out by my Depart­ influence of liquor." ment in the vicinity of Section 223 (Cairns North) which, I presume, is the area referred to by the Honourable Member,, RETENTION OF STEAM LOCOMOTIVES FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES as the Queensland Housing Commission estate. Should the Honourable Member Mr. Houghton for Mr. Aikens, pursuant to be in a position to identify more specifically notice, asked The Minister for Transport,- the site or area under reference, I will be (!) Have any redundant steam loco­ pleased to make inquiries and inform him motives been sold? If so, how many, to of the position should the matter come whom, and for what purpose and price within my jurisdiction. Alternatively, if the were they sold? matter concerns purchase or acquisition of 1756 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions land by the Queensland Housing Com­ requirement that any person finding a fire mission, the matter could be referred to burning during the State of Fire Emergency the Minister for Works and Housing." must report such fire to the nearest police officer or fire warden in whom is vested the DISPOSAL OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT, responsibility to ensure that the Emergency NUDGEE AREA notice is observed. In Brisbane the office Mr. Melloy, pursuant to notice, asked The of fire warden is discharged by the fire Minister for Health,- brigade." ( 1) Will he have his Departmental officers investigate the creation of industrial effluent pondages in the vicinity of Serpen­ DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION FROM tine Road, Nudgee, wherein thousands of QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY TO NEWS gallons of effluent are discharged from road MEDIA tankers each week? Mr. Melloy, pursuant to notice, asked The ( 2) Will he have his officers assess the Minister for Education,- health hazard created by the pondages? ( 1) How are items concerning the ( 3) Will he also have investigated the administration of the Queensland University possible effect on nearby farmlands of the which are of public interest reported to distribution of the effluent by flood waters? Press, radio and television? ( 4) If the actual effluent is not dele­ (2) Is Professor Sir Fred Schonell the terious, will he have action taken to reduce person empowered to comment on adminis­ the obnoxious odour that emanates from trative matters in the University of the pondages? Queensland to Press, radio and television? If so, in the event of his being unavailable Answers:- through illness or other reasons, who is ( 1) "I am advised that tannery sludge empowered to make statements or answer and effluent from a Kedron tannery are the queries of Press, radio and television? deposited in pondages near Serpentine Road, Nudgee. The land concerned is the Answers:- property of the Commonwealth Govern­ The University advises that:- ment." ( 1) "Important items of public interest (2) "Investigations by officers of my concerning the administration of the Department have disclosed that no nuisance University are reported to the Press, radio or health hazard is caused by this practice and television at conferences arranged by provided the sludge is dry before other the Vice-Chancellor. Other matters are trade effluent is added." reported to the Press and radio by the (3) "Investigations have shown that the University's Public Relations Officer on dry sludge grows grass and it is considered instructions from the Vice-Chancellor." unlikely to have a detrimental effect on (2) "The Vice-Chancellor, Sir Fred nearby farm lands even if flooding Schonell, as the chief administrative officer occurred." of the University, is the person empowered ( 4) "I am advised that this disposal to comment to the Press, radio and tele­ site has been used since 1965 and no com­ vision personally on administrative matters plaints of obnoxious odour have been in the University of Queensland. In the made." event of the unavailability of the Vice­ Chancellor, the Deputy Vice~Chancellor, Professor L. J. H. Teakle, is empowered PROHIBITION OF HOUSEHOLD OPEN-TOP to make such statements or answer the INCINERATORS DURING FIRE BAN queries of the Press, radio and television." Mr. Melloy, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Lands,- Does the current ban on open fires apply IMPROVED ACCOMMODATION FOR to open-top type incinerators in house INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH yards in Brisbane suburbs? If so, whose Mr.