Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 25 OCTOBER 1973 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 1242 Questions Upon Notice [25 OCTOBER 1973] Questions Upon Notice THURSDAY, 25 OCTOBER 1973 be demolished. The area is required for railway purposes and a new siding is to be completed shortly within that area. If there is a proposal under local considera­ Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. W. H. Lonergan, tion, it has not been brought to my atten­ Flinders) read prayers and took the chair tion, nor am I aware of any proposals at 11 a.m. involving other authorities." ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following Bills reported by GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES TO LOCAL Mr. Speaker:- AUTHORITIES Criminal Code Amendment Bill; (a) Mr. Wright, pursuant to notice, asked Voluntary Aid in Emergency Bill; The Minister for Local Government,- Licensed Victuallers' Licenses (Validation ( 1) With reference to the recommenda­ of Removals) Bill; tions of the report on the financial position Supreme Court Library Act Amendment of local government in Queensland, pre· Bill; pared by Mr. R. D. Stuckey, what c ;n­ sideration has been given to the suggestion Fire Brigades Act Amendment Bill. that the State Government should create a local government assistance fund as has been done in New South Wales? PAPER The following paper was laid on the (2) Will he carry out a complete table:- review of the present basis and ratio of State Government grants and subsidies for Report of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment capital works, with the object of updating Stations for the year 1972-73. the payments to a more realistic level in the light of present-day costs? QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE (3) In view of the burden placed on local authorities due to the huge out­ ESTABLISHMENT OF PASSENGER-COACH standing sums owed to them in rates and DEPOT, ROCKHAMPTON charges, what remedial action does he Mr. Wright, pursuant to notice, asked The intend to take? Minister for Transport,- ( 1) Further to his Answer to my Ques­ Answers:- tion on October 17, concerning the inade­ quate facilities for passenger-coach services, ( 1) "The State Subsidy Scheme is con­ that the State Transport Acts do not extend tinually under review and is under review to the erection of a coach depot by his at the moment. Such review will include Department, has consideration been given consideration of alternatives such as the by the Commissioner or other depart­ Local Government Grants Commission as mental officers to the need for a depot in New South Wales. Mention could be in Rockhampton and have any of the sites made of the fact that State Officers are at named been investigated? present in Canberra participating (with (2) If a coach depot cannot be erected other State, Local Government and Com­ by his Department, will this project be monwealth Government representatives) in undertaken by another area of govern­ a Commonwealth Grants Commission ment? hearing on the subject of that Com­ (3) If the construction of the depot mission's role of inquiry into applications was undertaken by the Rockhampton City by local governing bodies for financial Council, what State assistance would be assistance." forthcoming? (2) "Such a review is constantly in progress as stated in ( 1). However, per­ Answer:- centage subsidies as used in the State ( 1 to 3) "The investigations made by scheme do in fact automatically assist in the Department of Transport have been in meeting rising costs. I would stress that relation to the facilities offered by the the amounts paid have increased over the respective licensed passenger coach services years as shown by the following figures- and none of the sites named by the Hon­ ourable Member have been investigated $ by that Department. As the Honourable 1966-67 12,588,191 Member is aware, the Archer Park Rail­ 1967-68 12,926,274 way Station is being utilised by bulk load­ 1968-69 15,014,219 ing contractors. The New Rockhampton 1969-70 14,895,805 railway station is not available for use as a coach depot, the whole of the area being 1970-71 15,585,389 required for the purpose for which it was 1971-72 16,599,617 constructed. The old railway station will 1972-73 18,778,393" Questions Upon Notice [25 OCTOBER 1973] Questions Upon Notice 1243 (3) "The collection of rates and charges the following figures for grants, subsidies levied by local authorities is a matter for a'id revenues (percentages have been added each local authority, and I do not propose as requested):- to take any action. The level of rate arrears is largely dependent upon the policies of (a) Total (b) Revenue each local authority and so far as the -- State Grants from Rates, Percentage and Charges, (a) of (b) effect of drought conditions are concerned, Subsidies Sales, etc. I am pleased to report substantial reduc­ tions in rate arrears in such representative $'000 $'000 1966-67 .. 16,232 110,909 14·6 areas as:- 1967-68 .. 17,112 124,717 13·7 1968-69 .. 18,836 137,162 13·7 Total Arrears 1969-70 .. 18,673 145,850 12·8 1-7-72 1-7-73 1970-71 .. 25,164 152,744 16·4 Balonne Shire $132,047 $77,768 Longreach Shire $132,170 $43,869 Statistics are not available for local authority revenues to provide figures to Richmond Shire $38,787 $.13,089 1973 as sought." Enough local authority financial statements for 1972-73 are not yet available to (2) "The last review of the Subsidy Scheme took place in 1969, and changes enable a comprehensive assessment of the in rates and subsidisable expenditure were present position to be made." made for the reason set out in the Answer to the first Question. However, the scheme is still the most favourable State Subsidy Scheme for local government." (b) Mr. B. Wood for Mr. Yewdale, pur­ suant to notice, asked The Minister for Local Government,- OUTSTANDING RATES AND CHARGES, ( l) In view of the criticism from cer­ LOCAL AUTHORITIES tain local government representatives that there has been a progressive withdrawal Mr. B. Wood for Mr. Yewdaie, pursuant of subsidy from the State Government to notice, asked The Minister for Local over recent years, what percentage of local Government,- government revenue in Queensland was What was the amount of rates and derived from State Government subsidies charges outstanding to local authorities in each of the years 1967 to 1973? for 1971-72 and 1972-73? (2) Has the reduction in subsidies from the State Government taken place for local Answer:- government works such as water supply, sewerage, roads, sea and river erosion and "The total of rates and charges out­ reclamation of land by refuse disposal and, standing to local authorities in Queensland if so, why has this policy been adopted at June 30, 1972, was $6,891,170. A total in view of the deteriorating financial is not yet available for June 30, 1973, as position of local authorities? many local authority financial statements for 1972-73 are not yet to hand." Answers:- ( 1) "This Question is inaccurate in that there has not been a progressive with­ AMENDMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH ACT drawal of subsidy by the State Govern­ Mr. Hughes, pursuant to notice, asked The ment. In fact the amount of subsidy made Minister for Health,- available to local authorities has been steadily increasing. However, rates of sub­ Further to anomalies in the Mental sidy, and subsidisable expenditure, have in Health Act which react against the rights a number of cases been adjusted from of citizens- time to time to keep the total within ( 1) What action is being taken to practicable limits for the State Budget. correct them? Also as the subsidies are largely capital works subsidies it would seem anomalous (2) When is it expected that legisla­ to express such subsidies as a percentage tion to amend the Act will be introduced of local government revenue, which in turn into Parliament? is capable of variable definition. However, to answer the Question on available Answer:- statistics, I refer to the publication of the Bureau of Census and Statistics dated (1 and 2) "Amendments to the Mental September 28, 1973, which gives an Health Acts, 1962 to 1964 have been pre­ analysis of local authority receipts and pared and it is anticipated that they will expenditures for all funds for a five year be introduced into Parliament in the near period to 1970-71. This publication shows future." 1244 Questions Upon Notice [25 OCTOBER 1973] Questions Upon Notice CONTRACTS FOR SUPPLY OF GOODS TO (2) Have other States attempted pro­ ABORIGINAL SETTLEMENTS grammes of special prevention not under­ Mr. B. Wood for Mr. Wallis-Smith, pur­ taken by Queensland? suant to notice, asked The Premier,- Answers:- What companies and individuals have contracts to supply goods to the coastal ( 1) "Officers of the Department of Aboriginal settlements? Primary Industries are watching very closely the locust position in Queensland. Answer:- Action being taken is expected to keep losses to crops and pastures at a low "Burns Philp & Co. Ltd.; Edmonton level." Bakery; Currajong Bakery; Estate F. C. Williams Butcheries Pty. Ltd.; Mr. Merv (2) "The problems being experienced Ross; Swift Meat Division, F. J. Walker with the Spur Throated Locust and the Ltd.; Tancred Brothers Pty. Ltd.; Dalby Migratory Locust do not occur in Southern Milling Co. Pty. Ltd.; N. B. Love (Qld) States. Controls for the Australian Plague Pty. Ltd." Locust in Queensland and New South Wales are based on similar methods but the administmtion of control differs." INADEQUACY OF PRISON SENTENCES; STAFFING, BUNDABERG POLICE STATION SOY BEAN INDUSTRY Mr.