30 Oct 2001 Legislative Assembly 3095 TUESDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2001 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. ASSENT TO BILLS Government House Queensland 26 October 2001 The Honourable R. K. Hollis, MP Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Parliament House George Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 Dear Mr Speaker I hereby acquaint the Legislative Assembly that the following Bills, having been passed by the Legislative Assembly and having been presented for the Royal Assent, were assented to in the name of Her Majesty The Queen on 25 October 2001: "A Bill for an Act to amend legislation about primary industries" "A Bill for an Act to amend the Valuers Registration Act 1992" "A Bill for an Act to amend the Commonwealth Powers (Family Law—Children) Act 1990" "A Bill for an Act to amend the WorkCover Queensland Act 1996" "A Bill for an Act to promote the responsible care and use of animals and to protect animals from cruelty, and for other purposes" "A Bill for an Act to amend the Law Reform Act 1995" "A Bill for an Act to provide for regulating activities involving gene technology, and for other purposes". The Bills are hereby transmitted to the Legislative Assembly, to be numbered and forwarded to the proper Officer for enrolment, in the manner required by law. Yours sincerely (sgd) Peter Arnison Governor INFORMATION COMMISSIONER Annual Report Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to report that today I have received the annual report of the Queensland Information Commissioner for 2000-01 and I table the said report. INCORPORATION OF MATERIAL INTO HANSARD Mr SPEAKER: Order! Today I wish to make a few short remarks about the incorporation of material into Hansard. I am aware that the amount of material that has been incorporated in this parliament has increased significantly as compared to previous parliaments. Furthermore, I am aware that leave has been sought for the incorporation of material when the material has not, contrary to the established practice of the House, been viewed by me as Speaker and consent given prior to leave being sought. I have reviewed all rulings on the incorporation of material into Hansard in recent years. I have determined that the following rules apply and have advised all Deputy Speakers that these are to be applied. Firstly, members should be cognisant of the fact that the parliament is a forum for debate and Hansard is first and foremost a record of the debate that takes place in the House. There should be good reason for incorporating material into Hansard. Secondly, prior to seeking leave to incorporate material into Hansard a member should provide the material sought to be incorporated to the Speaker for consideration and the Speaker's consent obtained. Unsighted documents being incorporated have the potential to embarrass the House. Thirdly, in considering whether to permit the incorporation of material into Hansard, the primary factors that will be taken into account by me will be whether the material contains anything that is offensive or likely to breach the general rules of debate in the House, such as anything that is sub judice; whether the 3096 Papers 30 Oct 2001 material significantly enhances the arguments to be made in the debate; the length of the material; and the legibility and form of the material and resources likely to be expended in incorporating the material. Fourthly, generally the incorporation of material will not be permitted where the material is simply a member's speech that is likely to be too long for the allotted time. There appear to be exemptions to the general rules above that will continue to be recognised. For example, a minister, when introducing a bill, is permitted by standing orders to incorporate explanatory material into Hansard. I take this to also include portions of second reading speeches that are routinely published and circulated as part of the introduction process. I will provide the same courtesy to members introducing private members' bills so long as they provide the speech to me in advance. A minister can incorporate an answer to a question into the record. Finally, in order to preserve time in the morning session and allow time for private members' statements, I will, in limited circumstances, permit ministers to incorporate important and lengthy ministerial statements. For the benefit of members, I intend to circulate this ruling and the references to previous rulings to which I have had regard. There will be a number of rulings on the document I will circulate. COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION Annual General Meeting Mr SPEAKER: Order! I remind honourable members that the annual general meeting of the Queensland branch of the CPA will be held in the chamber at 1 p.m. today. PETITION Mr W. Van Oostveen Mrs Nita Cunningham from six petitioners, requesting the House to take note of the grievance of Mr William Van Oostveen not being able to obtain satisfaction to requests to obtain personal records about himself and take whatever action is necessary to ensure he receives the proper and just treatment within the process of the administration of Queensland government. PAPERS PAPERS TABLED DURING THE RECESS The Clerk informed the House that the following papers, received during the recess, were tabled on the dates indicated— 19 October 2001— Gold Coast Hospital Foundation—Annual Report 2000-2001 Sunshine Coast Health Services Foundation—Annual Report 2000-2001 Chiropractors and Osteopaths Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2000-2001 Dental Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2000-2001 Optometrists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2000-2001 Pharmacy Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2000-2001 Psychologists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2000-2001 Speech Pathologists Board—Annual Report 2000-2001 22 October 2001— Report by the Minister for Innovation and Information Economy under section 56A(4) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 Two reports by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice under section 56A(4) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 23 October 2001— Queensland Building Tribunal—Annual Report 2000-2001 Report by the Minister for Tourism and Racing and Minister for Fair Trading under section 56A(4) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 24 October 2001— Health Rights Commission—Annual Report 2000-2001 Dental Technicians and Dental Prosthetists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2000-2001 Occupational Therapists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2000-2001 Podiatrists Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2000-2001 Office of Health Practitioner Registration Boards—Annual Report 2000-2001 30 Oct 2001 Ministerial Statement 3097 25 October 2001— Legal, Constitutional and Administrative Review Committee Report No. 31—Review of the members' oath or affirmation of allegiance 26 October 2001— Queensland Law Society—Annual Report 2000-2001 Supreme Court—Annual Report 2000-2001 29 October 2001— Three reports by the Minister for Natural Resources and Minister for Mines under section 56A(4) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS The following statutory instruments, received during the recess, were tabled by The Clerk— Health Services Act 1991— Health Services Amendment Regulation (No. 5) 2001, No. 192 Transport Infrastructure Act 1994— Transport Infrastructure (State-Controlled Roads) Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2001, No. 193 Valuation of Land Act 1944— Valuation of Land Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2001, No. 194 Water Act 2000— Water Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2001, No. 195 Dental Act 1971— Dental Amendment By-law (No. 1) 2001, No. 196 WorkCover Queensland Act 1996— WorkCover Queensland Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2001, No. 197 MINISTERIAL PAPERS The following ministerial papers were tabled— (a) Premier and Minister for Trade (Mr Beattie)— Final government response to Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee Report No. 55— Three Yearly Review of the Criminal Justice Commission (b) Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Sport (Mr Mackenroth)— Statement of unforeseen expenditure 2000-2001 (c) Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (Mr Welford)— Electoral Commission of Queensland—Annual Report for 2000-01. PARLIAMENTARY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE Criminal Justice Commission Review Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.35 a.m.): I lay upon the table of the House the final government response to the Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee report No. 55, the three-yearly review of the Criminal Justice Commission, and note in passing that, with the amalgamation legislation for the CJC and Crime Commission, there have been significant developments since that time. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Comalco Alumina Refinery, Gladstone Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.36 a.m.), by leave: For years now—even decades—people have been promising to win the huge Comalco alumina refinery for Gladstone. My government promised, and we delivered. We have delivered a new era in the industrial development of this great state. On Friday I signed an agreement on behalf of the state government with Sam Walsh, the CEO of Comalco, which commits that company to building the $1.5 billion stage 1 of the refinery and to immediately begin investigations for stage 2. The State Development Minister, Tom Barton, has been working closely with me on this project, and Senator Nick Minchin, representing the federal government, witnessed those signatures. In December the first of 1,500 construction jobs will be created as earthworks get under way, with building due to commence early next year. Local Queensland firms will have the chance of winning up to 80 per cent of the supply contracts on offer. By the time first shipments of alumina go out in early 2005, more than 400 direct permanent jobs will have been created, and that is just 3098 Ministerial Statement 30 Oct 2001 the first stage. Comalco's plans for Gladstone include a further two stages of the alumina refinery totalling four million tonnes of annual production involving a total $4 billion investment with well over 1,000 permanent jobs in place.