Legislative Assembly 916 29 March 1990 NOTE: There could be differences between this document and the official printed Hansard, Vol. 314 THURSDAY, 29 MARCH 1990 Mr SPEAKER (Hon. J. Fouras, Ashgrove) read prayers and took the chair at 10 a.m. BRIEFING ON AIDS AND AIDS CONTROL Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have to remind honourable members that a briefing on AIDS and AIDS control will be held today from 1.45 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. in the conference room on level 5 of the Parliamentary Annexe. PETITIONS The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Brisbane Limited Rail Service From Mr Hamill (1 722 signatories) praying that the Brisbane Limited train between Brisbane and Sydney be retained in its present form. Daylight-saving From Mr Stoneman (1 494 signatories) praying that daylight-saving be rejected permanently and for businesses to be encouraged to commence work one hour earlier. Petitions received. PAPERS The following paper was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed— Report of the Department of Mines for the year ended 30 June 1989. The following paper was laid on the table— Report of the Miners Pensions Tribunal for the period 1 July 1989 to 19 February 1990. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Brisbane City Council Rates Hon. T. J. BURNS (Lytton—Deputy Premier, Minister for Housing and Local Government) (10.02 a.m.), by leave: I draw honourable members' attention to an article in this morning's Courier-Mail headed "Rates move obstructed, says council". Let me set the record straight. Recently, the Brisbane Town Clerk wrote to my director-general seeking a meeting to discuss rate issues. The Deputy Mayor also wrote to me seeking a meeting. As usual, my department responded quickly and a meeting between senior officers was held on Monday. The council's officers advised that they had a legal opinion casting doubt on their ability to apply a minimum rate across the full range of classifications. My officers asked for a copy of the opinion and agreed to examine the issue as a matter of urgency. My director-general recommended to the Town Clerk and to me that it would be sensible to defer for a week the meeting that had been set down for today between myself and the Deputy Mayor to allow reasonable time to obtain Crown law advice on the points of law raised by the council. I object most strongly to Alderman Denman's suggestion that this was somehow unreasonable. Legislative Assembly 917 29 March 1990 On 14 December 1982, differential rating and minimum rating provisions were introduced into legislation for Brisbane. The Liberal Party has had control of the council since 1983—the past seven years. To accuse the Goss Labor Government of delaying tactics is flying in the face of those facts. After the last council election, this matter became an issue between the council and the Government. At that time it was the desire of the council that it be given authority to levy a very wide range of differential rates to the extent that the whole process would have completely destroyed any relevance to the application of the unimproved capital value approach to rating. Indeed, because the proposal by the Brisbane City Council at that time was found to be completely impractical and, in many ways, inequitable, it was rejected by that Government. My department will always examine issues and submissions made in respect of rating and problems confronted by specific local authorities—as it is prepared to do now. However, to claim any interference or deliberate obstruction on the part of this Government is absurd and, indeed, untruthful. Mr Denman's outburst raises more important philosophical issues about rating policy. He is quoted as saying that the council wants to change the rating system so that "it makes the people who are paying too much pay less, and those who are being subsidised by others pay more". He describes this approach as equitable. My officers asked if the council's proposal would limit steep increases for every category. Council officers confirmed that it would not stop steep increases for all categories and that it would only limit the increases for those at the top end in the most valuable properties. The Liberals clearly see equity as everybody paying the same regardless of their income or value of their property. This is the same approach which has led to the Lord Mayor's mentor, Margaret Thatcher, introducing the poll tax in Britain, which has caused riots and sent her popularity plummeting. I will not be a party to a Liberal plan to subsidise its rich supporters at the expense of the battling workers and pensioners. This Government will not approve a Sallyanne poll tax for all Brisbane citizens. It will also not sit back and allow the Brisbane City Council to pass onto the State Government the blame for the shambles of its administration of rates. The current review of the Local Government Act will allow an opportunity for reasoned debate about rates policy. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Road Toll Statistics Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich—Minister for Transport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Economic and Trade Development) (10.06 a.m.), by leave: Last week in this House, I tabled a report on the 1989 road toll. That report detailed a significant reduction in road fatalities. I now have details from the Department of Transport's Division of Road Safety for the first three months of this year. I am pleased to report that the promising trends of 1989 have continued into 1990. Until 27 March this year, 81 road deaths were recorded in Queensland—eight fewer fatalities than during the same period last year, which recorded the lowest toll since 1963. The statistics show that, between 1 January and 27 March, there was a 9 per cent drop in road deaths compared with the 1989 figure and a 27 per cent improvement on the average for the past four years. I am in possession of a table that compares road statistics since 1986. I seek leave to table it and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. Legislative Assembly 918 29 March 1990 Whereupon the honourable member laid on the table the following document— Road Crash Fatalities: Jan 01-Mar 27 Change from 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Previous Year Motor Drivers 48 37 46 35 30 - 5 Passengers 46 39 36 22 23 + 1 Motor Cyclists 21 17 15 8 7 - 1 Bicyclists 3 3 6 4 6 + 2 Pedestrians 11 12 13 20 15 - 5 __________________________________________________ TOTAL 129 108 116 89 81 - 8 Change in road toll - 21 + 8 - 27 - 8 % Change - 16% + 7% - 23% - 9% Mr HAMILL: The table explains in detail the improvements and the trends. Although those improvements are welcomed, the fight against road trauma is an ongoing battle that involves everyone in the community. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Queensland Branch of Victorian Association of Guide Dog Owners and Friends Association Hon. G. R. MILLINER (Everton—Minister for Justice and Corrective Services) (10.08 a.m.), by leave: In the light of certain matters raised during an investigation into the Victorian Association of the Guide Dog Owners and Friends Association and the subsequent laying of charges and the resulting investigations into the Queensland branch, the operations of the Lady Nell Seeing-eye Dog School at 10 Cronin Street, Annerley, will be restricted until such time as the court case in Victoria is determined. Until that time, funds raised in Queensland by the association must be applied to activities within the State, in line with section 19 of the Collections Act. Following the Victorian investigation, the Queensland branch was asked to show cause as to why it should be allowed to continue to operate as a charity here, particularly when many of the Victorian management committee members were also on the Queensland branch committee. The reply to that show cause indicated that grossly inaccurate information had been given to the Queensland Corporate Affairs Office about the number of dogs trained—in particular, the 800 dogs allegedly trained was reduced to the range of 150 to 250, although the charity was unsure of the exact totals. From 1982 to 1988, some $624,000 was transferred to Melbourne. During that time, only 11 dogs actually received training, and of those 11, only seven actually passed their training tests. Because there is very little return coming to Queensland in contrast to the high level of funds being sent to Victoria, the activities of the Queensland branch will be restricted until the Victorian court case is over. I stress that this incident has no connection whatsoever with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, which continues to work well within the guidelines for charities. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Flood Damage from Cyclone Ivor Hon. E. D. CASEY (Mackay—Minister for Primary Industries) (10.09 a.m.), by leave: Some concern has been expressed about the flood damage caused by the rain depression from cyclone Ivor. Natural disaster relief arrangements are provided by way Legislative Assembly 919 29 March 1990 of concessional loans to primary producers and small-business owners whose assets have been significantly damaged by a natural disaster and who are unable to obtain commercial finance but who nevertheless have sound prospects of long-term viability. Such natural disasters include droughts, floods, storms, cyclones, bushfires and earthquakes. Assistance is usually available in the form of concessional loans for essential family living expenses, carry- on requirements and the restoration of land, buildings, plant and machinery. Carry-on requirements may also include payment of rates and rent, purchases of fuel, seed and fertiliser.