Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 1985 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Privilege 26 November 1985 2701 TUESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 1985 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. H. Wamer, Toowoomba South) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m. PRIVILEGE Criticism of Mr Speaker; Referral to Select Committee of Privileges Mr WARBURTON (Sandgate—Leader of the Opposition) (11.1 a.m.): I rise on a matter of privilege. In doing so, I refer you, Mr Speaker, to Standing Order No. 46, which states— "An urgent Motion, directly conceming the privileges of the House, shall take precedence of other Motions as well as of Orders of the Day." Because of the public criticism of the Speaker of the Parliament by a member of the Govemment as a result of last Thursday's events in this House, it seems to me that a question of privilege arises. For a Govemment member to say publicly that the Speaker is unable to manage the job, and for that member to be publicly critical of the Speaker's performance is a matter of grave concem. As a result of those comments, the Speaker has been quoted as saying that he was aware that two Ministers were mnning round the House lobbying to have him replaced. Mr Speaker, the public attack on your position, together with your response, which implies that certain National Party Ministers are undermining your position, necessitates discussion and relevant responsible action by members in this place. I hope that it is not necessary to remind the Premier and Treasurer and aU other members that the Speaker holds the position because of the Parliament and not because of the National Party Govemment. It is unheard of that a leader of the Queensland Govemment should pubUcly criticise the performance of the Speaker, just as it is unheard of that a Speaker should publicly accuse Ministers of undermining his authority. Referring to the matter of privilege—the public comment of recent days has undoubtedly concemed the public and many members of ParUament, and it would be wrong if a blind eye were tumed to what has occurred. For my part, the public comment that has been made is damaging and destabilising. I therefore move— "That the public criticism of the Speaker's performance by the Premier, together with the Speaker's allegations that certain Ministers were undermining his position, be referred to the Select Committee of Privileges for consideration and report." Question—That the motion (Mr Warburton) be agreed to—put; and the House divided— 2702 26 November 1985 Petitions AYES, 30 NOES, 50 Braddy Wamer, A. M. Ahem Lane Bums Yewdale Alison Lee Campbell Austin Lester Casey Bailey Lickiss Comben Bjelke-Petersen Lingard D'Arcy Booth Littleproud De Lacy Borbidge McKechnie Eaton Cahill McPhie Fouras Chapman Menzel Gibbs, R. J. Clauson Miller Goss Cooper Muntz Hamill Elliott Newton Kruger FitzGerald Powell Mackenroth Gibbs, I. J. Randell McElligott Glasson Row McLean Gunn Simpson Milliner Gygar Stephan Palaszczuk Harper Stoneman Price Hartwig Tenni Scott Harvey Tumer Shaw Henderson Wharton Smith Hinze White Underwood Innes Vaughan Tellers: Jennings Tellers: Veivers Davis Katter Kaus Warburton Prest Knox Neal Resolved in the negative. CIRCULATION AND COST OF HANSARD Mr SPEAKER announced the receipt from the Chief Reporter, Pariiamentary Reporting Staff, of his report on the circulation and cost of Hansard for the session of 1984-85. PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Coronary Care Unit, Cairns Base Hospital From Mr De Lacy (303 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland wiU take action to overcome shortage of staff at the Coronary Care Unit at the Caims Base Hospital. Judges' Pensions Acts From Mr Bums (28 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will amend section 17 of Judges Pensions Acts 1957-1967. Griffith University Course in Family Relationships From Mr Wharton (24 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will establish an inquiry into the Griffith University course in family relationships. [Similar petitions were received from Mr Casey (22 signatories), Mr I. J. Gibbs (19 signatories), Mr De Lacy (18 signatories), Mr Burns (30 signatories), Mr Tenni (34 signatories), Mr Stephan (14 signatories), Mr Cooper (23 signatories) and Mr Neal (4 signatories).] Third-party Insurance Premiums From Mr Warburton (488 signatories) praying that the Parliament of Queensland will revoke recent increases in third-party insurance and ensure future increases are determined after public hearing. Petitions received. Ministerial Statements 26 November 1985 2703 PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Reports— Queensland Radium Institute for the year ended 30 June 1985 Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement for the year ended 30 June 1985 Department of Harbours and Marine for the year ended 30 June 1985 Mackay Harbour Board for the year ended 30 June 1985 Townsville Harbour Board for the year ended 30 June 1985 Registrar of Co-operative and Other Societies for the year ended 30 June 1985 Registrar of Co-operative Housing Societies for the year ended 30 June 1985. The following papers were laid on the table— Proclamation under the Liquor Act and Other Acts Amendment Act 1985 Orders in Council under— Land Act 1962-1985 Harbours Act 1955-1982 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982-1984 Canals Act 1958-1984 Liquor Act 1912-1985 Regulations under— Land Act 1962-1985 River Improvement Tmst Act 1940-1983 Irrigation Act 1922-1983 Auctioneers and Agents Act 1971-1985. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Greyhound Racing Control Board; Mr M. Mason Hon. R. J. HINZE (South Coast—Minister for Local Govemment, Main Roads and Racing) (11.15 a.m.), by leave: In recent days, statements have been made both in and outside the House that the greyhound industry is in turmoil because of the alleged actions or inactions of the Greyhound Racing Control Board of Queensland and, more specifically, the board secretary, Mr Max Mason. As is entirely proper in these matters, I referred those allegations to the board for a report. A number of documents have been fumished to me by the board, which has exhaustively and comprehensively investigated not only the allegations but also the backgrounds of some of the principal players in this orchestrated attack on the board's good name, reputation and integrity. I make the general observation that all too often there is a tendency to accept at face value allegations from people who are plausible enough to masquerade as either impartial witnesses to events, experts on those events, or both. Although it is often convenient, for political reasons, not to look too carefully at those making sensational accusations, it hardly reflects any credit on the media which finds it easier to accept sensation than question the pedlars of that sensation about their motives. I have reviewed the documents from the board and I am satisfied by the replies that the board has provided. 2704 26 November 1985 Ministerial Statements One of the more outrageous aUegations brought against Mr Mason was that of sexual harassment of some of the board's female employees. The documents provided to me by the board include statements by former female secretaries, which, in themselves, provide fascinating reading. For example, one former employee reports how she was tracked down in Melboume by one of the chief players in this campaign, Dr John Murray, and asked to provide a statutory declaration aUeging improper conduct against Mr Mason. That former employee refused and, in fact, has provided a letter cleariy stating the exact reverse. That letter, I believe, is powerful evidence against Dr Murray and gives a clear indication of the depths to which this campaign against Mr Mason and the board is prepared to sink. The documents show that there has been a deliberate and concerted attempt by a determined minority that is hell-bent on getting its own way to serve its own ends, whatever the broader consequences. I, as Minister for Racing, have full confidence in the abiUty of the board to discharge its functions, as far as both the Govemment and the industry are concemed. I seek leave to table documents and, in doing so, I draw to the attention of honourable members some of those documents. I refer to— (a) the report of the Greyhound Racing Control Board of Queensland, signed by every member thereof, into statements made in and outside this House; (b) a statement and statutory declarations by former and present female secretaries employed by the board whilst Mr Mason was secretary, clearly refuting the allegations of sexual harassment on Mr Mason's part; (c) the board's 1985 annual report incorporating an audit certificate signed by the Auditor-General of Queensland himself certifying to the correctness of the board's accounts and expenditure; (d) an analysis of computerised box draws conducted between 2 April 1985 and 13 November 1985; (e) full board reports on the aUeged ring-ins which show the honourable member for Wolston's allegations in this respect to be incorrect; (f) quotation and other documents from the company Wang Computer Pty Ltd, together with a report from Innes Blinco and Associates conceming the board's computer and the computerised box draws; (g) a summary of fines imposed of $500 or more for 1983-84 (12), 1984-85 (16) and 1985-86 to date (6); (h) the board's findings that the box draws for the heats and finals of the 1984 and 1985 Mount Isa Cups were carried out in accordance with properly established board procedures; and (i) the board's report that Mr Mason has been employed for an unintermpted term by six successive greyhound boards.