Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 1968 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 124 Appropriation Bill No. 1 [ASSEMBLY] Questions WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST, 1968 Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. D. E. Nicholson, Murrumba) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m. APPROPRIATION BILL No. Assent reported by Mr. Speaker. QUESTIONS STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING, THIESS PEABODY MITSUI COAL PTY. LTD. AND UTAH DEVELOPMENT LTD. Mr. Houston, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Justice,- Are the companies of Thiess Peabody Mitsui Coal Pty. Ltd., Utah Development Ltd. and Thiess Holdings listed on the Stock Exchange? If so, what is (a) the par value and (b) the current value per share in each company? Answer:- "The companies, Thiess Peabody Mitsui Coal Pty. Ltd. and Utah Development Ltd., are not listed on the Brisbane Stock Exchange. Thiess Holdings Limited is listed on the Brisbane Exchange. The value of any share varies from day to day on the Stock Exchange and a daily list of quotes and sales appears in both metro­ politan newspapers as well as on the Stock Exch<~.nge board." TONNAGES AND FREIGHT RATES, MOURA AND BLACKWATER COAL Mr. Houston, pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for Transport,- (!) Between February I, 1968, and July 31, 1968, what total tonnage of coal was hauled from (a) Moura to Gladstone and (b) Blackwater to Gladstone and at what charge per ton? (2) What is the basis of calculation of the current freight cost per ton? Answers:- (I) "(a) 1,251,793·95 tons. (b) 466,637 ·55 tons. The freight charged was in accordance with the Agreement entered into with the company." (2) "The Agreements entered into with Thiess Peabody Mitsui Coal Pty. Ltd. and Utah Development Company formed the basis of the freight calculations." CONVICTION OF THOMAS BERNHARD WADSTROM Mr. Houston, pursuant to notice, asked The Premier,- ( 1) Has his attention been drawn to the Press reports surrounding the conviction of Mr. Thomas Bernhard Wadstrom on a charge of having an unlicensed single-shot pistol? Questions (28 AUGUST] Questions 125 (2) If so, (a) who, and of what rank, for the care of the aged, including home was the police officer who laid the charge, nursing and home care services, and in and (h) did tbe officer have any authority which will be considered the need and of discretion, having regard to the circum­ the role of Senior Citizens' Clubs within stances as outlined in the Press and, if so, the community. \Vhen details are deter­ why was such discretion not exercised mined, appropriate announcements will be towards leniency? made." Answers:­ (1) "Yes." ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, ABORIGINAL RESERVES (2) "(a) Detective Senior Constable D. B. Buckley. (b) Yes. However, the Mr. Wallis-Smith, pursuant to notice, asked decision to prosecute Wadstrom was given The Minister for Lands,- by Detective Senior Constable Buckley's ( I) Has electricity been connected to superior officer, who was of the opinion all homes on Aboriginal reserves in areas that this was an appropriate case in which where there is a town supply? a prosecution should be undertaken." (2) What arrangements have been made for the payment of electricity charges? COMMONWEALTH DAIRY REHABILITATION ( 3) If residents find that such payments SCHEME cause hardship, will he consider special Mr. Wharton, pursuant to notice, asked provision for these people? The Minister for Primary Industries,- What progress has been made in the Answers:- negotiations between the Commonwealth (1) "No." and the State Government in the matter (2) "Accounts are rendered in accord­ of the proposed Commonwealth Dairy Rehabilitation Scheme? ance with by-laws of the supplying Authority." Answer:- (3) "In accordance with my Govern­ ment's policy, all cases of genuine hard­ " Agreement in principle has been ship receive sympathetic consideration." reached between the Commonwealth and the States on the broad proposals. We are presently awaiting a Commonwealth decision as to the means of implementing SITE FOR NEw ScHOOL, lRVINEBANK these proposals. The Commonwealth is Mr. Wallis-Smith, pursuant to notice, asked desirous of developing arrangements which The Minister for Education,- will be uniform as far as Commonwealth/ Further to my Questions on September State relations are concerned whilst at the 13, 1967, and March 21, 1968, has any same time enabling arrangements to obtain site been chosen for the new school at within each State which will fit in with Irvinebank? If so, when is it anticipated normal State practices in lending funds to that work will begin on the building of the producers. This decision is expected school and the teacher's residence? shortly." Answer:- "Yes. The new site wi'l consist of part SUBSIDY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS' \VELFARE of Recreation Reserve (R.53) and part of ASSOCIATIONS Town Reserve (R.91) Parish of lrvine­ Mr. Aikens, pursuant to notice, asked The bank. It is not possible at present to Premier,- indicate when a new school building and a Has the Government had consultations new residence will be constructed. This with the Federal Government with a view project will, however, continue to receive to arranging some form of subsidy or consideration from time to time, in relation assistance for Senior Citizens' Welfare to available funds." Associations or similar organisations, for the purpose of sharing the financial burden borne by those organisations in the pro­ KARUMBA \VATER SUPPLY vision of buildings and faciHties for the Mr. Wallis-Smith, pursuant to notice, asked recreation, handicrafts, hobbies and other The Minister for Local Government,- useful and humanitarian needs of our pioneers and, if so, will he inform the Further to my Question on April 4 House as fully as possible on the matter? relative to Karumba water supply and the fact that the underground supply is prac­ Answer:- tically useless,- "As announced in tbe Federal Budget, ( 1) Has any finality been reached as to the Commonwealth and the States are future adequate water supplies for entering into a co-ordinated programme Karumba? 126 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions (2) Has the possibility of water from Answers:- Walker's Creek been investigated? ( 1) "Yes. The information concerning ( 3) What was the cost of all operations the effect of light and heat on the chemi­ cals is well known. Dr. Wilson (the in obtaining water from the recently Government Medical Officer) is temporarily constructed bore? absent from Brisbane on official duties." Answers:- (2) "However, I am advised by Dr. It is not correct to say that the under­ Hildebrand, Assistant Government Medical ground supply from the artesian bore is Officer that the potassium dichromate crystal; which are yellow in colour used in "practically useless". This water is being the screening test at the roadside would used for laundry, ablutions and other turn to a green colour by a slow process purposes apart from drinking, cooking and if exposed to strong light, or to strong heat, final processing of prawns. This supply of or intense cold for several hours. All some 20,000 gallons per day has in fact policemen guard against these possibilities been largely instrumental in maintaining and examine the devices before the road­ activities at Karumba. Replies to the side test is made. Fmm the description in specific points raised are as follows:- the article to which the Honourable Member refers, it appears that the device ( 1) "No finality has been reached, how­ mentioned is not of the same manufacture ever, a report on providing supply from as those issued to all police stations and the Norman River has been prepared and police mobile units. I understand that presented to the Carpentaria Shire Council manufacturers of these devices issue by its Consulting Engineers and this instructions for the storage and handling report was submitted to the Department of of them. It is desirable that retailers and Local Government on August 5 and is purchasers follow these instructions." under consideration. The estimated cost of this scheme is $1,300,000." NURSING STAFF, PUBLIC HOSPITALS ( 2) "Yes-a preliminary inV'estigation Mr. Melloy, pursuant to notice, asked The has been made of the possibilty of using Minister for Health,- water from Walker's Creek but there are ( 1 ) How many student nurses were doubts about the practicability of adequate enrolled in hospitals under the direct con­ supply being obtained from this source and trol of the Department of Health as at in any case the cost of supply would also June 30, 1968? be very high." (2) What are the numbers in the respec­ ( 3) "The expenditure by the Irrigation tive years of training? Commission on the artesian bore to date (3) How many (a) matrons, (b) sisters, is $34,000. The Government has authorised (c) assistants-in-nursing and/ or nursing the Commissioner of Irrigation and Water aides are employed in the hospitals? Supply to provide pumping and other equipment on and adjacent to this bore ( 4) How many student nurses failed in to increase the supply available to 75,000 their examination at the end of each of gallons per day and to treat the water to the respective four years of the training remove iron content. This will not, how­ course? ever, reduce fluoride and the supply will (5) How many failures in each year still only be suitable for limited use as at were due to alleged insubordination, present. The estimated cost of this further incompatibility and/ or unsuitability? equipment is $19,000 and its delivery and installation is now in progress. The possi­ ( 6) How many appeals against results bility of further treatment of this supply and applications for re-assessment were to reduce fluoride content is also under there and how many were successful? investigation." (7) How many drop-outs and/or ~e~ig­ nations were there in each year of trammg and what were the main reasons? RELIABILITY OF BREATH-TESTING EQUIPMENT Answers:- Mr.