Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 1982 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 2430 18 November 1982 Petitions THURSDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 1982 The House met at 11 a.m. ABSENCE OF MR SPEAKER The Clerk informed the House of the unavoidable absence of Mr Speaker, The Chairman of Committees, (Mr Miller, Ithaca) read prayers and took the chair as Acting Speaker, PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed:—• • Reports— Noise Abatement Authority of Queensland for 1982 Valuer^eneral for the year ended 30 June 1982 Diredor, Department of Children's Services, for the year ended 30 June 1982 Department of Forestry'fbr the year ended 30 June 1982. PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS Mr R,. J, GIBBS (Wotlston) (11,3 a.m.), by leave: In the House yesterday during the Matters of Public Interest debate, I made a number of remarks relative to the member for Stafford. I wish to make it very clear, and I would hope that the media publish it as a matter of public record, that the comments I made were in no way directed at the people who served in Vidnam. I have the utmost respect for those sent to Vietnam against their own wiU because thdr number happened to be drawn out in a professional lottery dealing with people's lives. I realise that many of those who served paid the supreme sacrifice and that, of those who returned;, many will carry physical afflictions for the rest of their lives-^a fad that I find to be most unacceptable and extremely sad in the light of the fact that Vietnam was described as a dirty, unwinnable war. I hold those men and women who serve in Australia's defence forces in the highest regard and pubUcly acknowledge the fine job they do. I reiterate that my comments yesterday were made with spedfic reference to the member for Stafford, owing to the warmongering views that he has presented to the Parliament on a number of occasions. Mr CASEY (Mackay) (11.4 a.m.), by leave: During the debate on matters of public interest in the House yesterday the member for Stafford made the allegation that the Standing Orders Committee did not achieve better results more quickly because I did not bother to turn up at medings and the meetings did not proceed for lack of a quorum. Let me set the record straight. Only one rneeting of the Standing Orders Committee lacked a quorum, the one called for Wednesday* 9 September 1981. I did not attend that meeting for the very, gopd reason that I was speaking in the Chamber at that time, as you would be well aware, Mr Acting Speaker. A further study of the first report of the Standing Orders Committee—^nd the member for Stafford, along with all other members of the House, would have a oopy*—shows that of the six meetings held, Mr Speaker attended all six, the Premier and I attended five and Dr Ediivards, Mr Gygar's own leader, attended only four. If the honourable ipember for Stafford wants to chastise anybody for non-attendance at meetings of the Standing Orders Committee; he should start with his own leader. It is rather unfortunate that the honourable member makes such wild aUegations in the House. Perhaps he is still floating along with euphoria on cloud nine after th® way he stabbed the honourable members for Windsor and Maiisfidd. PETITIONS , •. • -'t •' • The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitipnsT— Pedestrian Underpass, Bridgewater Street, Moriungside From Mr Burns (214 signatories) praying that the Parliament of (Jueensland will direct the Railway Department to construct a pedestrian underpass at Bridgewater Street, Morningside. Questions upon Notice 18 November 1982 2431 Upgrading of Boreen Point-Tewantin Road From Mr Simpson (1600 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will take urgent adion to upgrade the Boreen Point-Tewantin Road. Banning of Television and Radio Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages From Mr Hansen (32 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland |will legislate to ban the advertising of alcoholic beverages from television and radio. Petitions received. QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE Questions submitted on notice by members were answered as follows:— ; Wages Freeze, Queensland Public Service Mr Wright asked the Premier— Wkh reference to the Eraser/Anthony proposal for a 12-month wage freeze and the stated pubUc opposition by the Premier, the Minister for Commerce and Industry and the Minister for Justice and Attoraey-General— (1) Has the Queensland Government already effectively imposed such a wages freeze on the Public Service in this State? (2) (a) What were the salaries of all classifications I-l to 1-30, inclusive, as at 2 November 1981, (b) what are the salaries of all classifications I-l to 1-30, inclusive, at present and (c) what percentage increases have occurred in each case sincte 2 November 1981, when State public servants in Queensland received a wage increase of 9.5 per cent? (3) Did the percentage increase in the wage rates referred to in (2) vary from only 1.49 per cent to 4,61 per cent? (4) Did Queensland males, between August 1981 and August 1982, receive an increase in wages of 13,7 per cent and Queensland females an increase of 14.4 per cent? (5) As the purchasing power of public servants has been sharply reduced because of the increase in the cost of living of 11.3 per cent, is the Government prepared to direct the Public Service" Board to deal directly with the relevant PubUc Service unions regarding salary increases, to bring Public Service salaries back in line with Queensland community standards? (6) If not, can k be accepted that, while the Government says it is against any Federal wage freeze in the public sector, it has applied its own wages freeze policy? Answer:— (1) The Queensland Government has not imposed a wages freeze on the Public Service in this State. (2) (a & b) I table the relevant details for the information of the honourable member and I seek the leave of the House to have them incorporated in "Hansard" (Leave granted.) (c) The extent of increases in respect of classifications I-l to 1-30 represents an application of the decisions of the Industrial Commission to grant increases in the basic wage. (3) The basic wage increases applied to Public Service classifications I-l to 1-30 since 2 November 1981, reveal a range of increases from 4.59 per cent to 1,48 per cent, (4) The position with respect to weekly wage rates for Queensland males and females is in terms of material from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, (5) The poUcy of the Government is that major claims such as salary increases are matters for determination by the Industrial Commission. (6) See (1), Whereupon the honourable gentleman laid on the table the following document— 2432 18 November 1982 Questions Upon Notice m • . • • • • • . • . • , :-. , B xunu 3 C4 n s An Q •* r- Ov 00 ov en <n m ..H N m ToH 0 >ri ..-1 > S' ov <o vo t~- ON 00 oo. 00 f<Tr-^ ,6 t^ .—( m "T. 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