10498 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Tuesday 31 August 2004 ______ Mr Speaker (The Hon. John Joseph Aquilina) took the chair at 2.15 p.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following bills reported: Water Management Amendment Bill State Water Corporation Bill Crimes Amendment (Child Neglect) Bill Compulsory Drug Treatment Correctional Centre Bill Fines Amendment Bill Local Government Amendment (Mayoral Elections) Bill Agricultural Livestock (Disease Control Funding) Amendment Bill Child Protection (Offenders Prohibition Orders) Bill Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Amendment Bill Crimes Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Bill Sydney Opera House Trust Amendment Bill Criminal Procedure Amendment (Sexual Offence Evidence) Bill Legal Profession Amendment Bill National Competition Policy Health and Other Amendments (Commonwealth Financial Penalties) Bill National Competition Policy Liquor Amendments (Commonwealth Financial Penalties) Bill Passenger Transport Amendment (Bus Reform) Bill Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill Liquor Amendment (Parliamentary Precincts) Bill Regional Development Bill Road Transport (General) Amendment (Licence Suspension) Bill Appropriation Bill Appropriation (Parliament) Bill Appropriation (Special Offices) Bill Crown Lands Legislation Amendment (Budget) Bill Sustainable Energy Development Repeal Bill Institute of Teachers Bill Residential Tenancies Amendment (Public Housing) Bill State Revenue Legislation Further Amendment Bill Courts Legislation Amendment Bill MINISTRY Mr BOB CARR: I advise the House that on 3 June 2004 the Hon. Anthony Bernard Kelly, MLC, was appointed Minister for Lands, on 1 July 2004 the Hon. Michael Costa, MLC, resigned as Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Forests), and on 5 August 2004 the Hon. Michael Costa, MLC, was appointed Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development. I further advise that the Minister for Primary Industries will be represented in this House by the Minister for Mineral Resources. BILLS RETURNED The following bills were returned from the Legislative Council without amendment: Liquor Amendment (Parliamentary Precincts) Bill Road Transport (General) Amendment (Licence Suspension) Bill Regional Development Bill Appropriation Bill Appropriation (Parliament) Bill Appropriation (Special Offices) Bill Crown Lands Legislation Amendment (Budget) Bill Sustainable Energy Development Repeal Bill Institute of Teachers Bill Residential Tenancies Amendment (Public Housing) Bill State Revenue Legislation Further Amendment Bill 31 August 2004 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10499 PRIVACY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION AMENDMENT BILL Withdrawal Mr SPEAKER: I report the receipt of the following message from the Legislative Council: MR SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day discharged the order of the day for the second reading of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Amendment Bill 2003. Legislative Council ERIC ROOZENDAAL 29 June 2004 Deputy-President JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS Mr SPEAKER: I report the receipt of the following message from the Legislative Council: MR SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution: 1. That this House agrees to the resolution in the Legislative Assembly's Message of 14 May 2004, relating to the appointment of a Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, with the following amendment, in which amendment the concurrence of the Legislative Assembly is requested: Paragraph (4) (a) and (b). Omit the subparagraphs, insert instead: (a) three Government members of the Legislative Assembly, and (b) four members of the Legislative Council, of whom: (i) one must be a Government member, (ii) two must be Opposition members, and (iii) one must be a crossbench member. 2. That the time and place of the first meeting of the Committee be 10.00 a.m. on Thursday 16 September 2004 in the Waratah Room. Legislative Council F. J. NILE 29 June 2004 Deputy-President Consideration of message deferred. PARLIAMENTARY ETHICS ADVISER Mr SPEAKER: I report the receipt of the following message from the Legislative Council: MR SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that having considered the Assembly's Message dated 12 March 2004, regarding the appointment of the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser, it has this day agreed to the following resolution: That the appointment of Mr Ian Dickson as Parliamentary Ethics Adviser, which was due to expire on 13 December 2003, be extended for a further eight month period from that date. Legislative Council ERIC ROOZENDAAL 29 June 2004 Deputy-President LEAVE OF ABSENCE Mr RICHARD TORBAY (Northern Tablelands) [2.19 p.m.]: I move: That leave of absence for the present session be granted to Anthony Michael McGrane, member for Dubbo, on the grounds of ill health. 10500 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 31 August 2004 Mr RICHARD TORBAY, by leave: For the benefit of members, I would like to update the House on Tony's progress since the shock news he received on his recent return from holidays only three weeks ago that he had been diagnosed with advanced cancer of the liver. Tony was originally informed that the tumour was inoperable and he received the worst possible diagnosis: that he faced a limited life expectancy of less than three months. I was speaking to Tony last night, and he was buoyed by the most recent results of a series of scans and tests and two exploratory surgery procedures that indicated major surgery is now an option with a genuine opportunity for long-term survival and quality of life. Tony has advised me that he will undertake the major surgery this Thursday at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Due to the location of the growth there is no alternative treatment that would provide an opportunity for recuperation and a return to a normal life. Tony has asked me to convey his heartfelt thanks to all: to the people in the Dubbo electorate who have been overwhelming in their support and prayers and to the many members of this Parliament, including the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition, who have conveyed their best wishes and support. Tony and I have been friends and colleagues for a long time, both as mayors and since joining this place in 1999. When I visited him recently in hospital he was keen, even from his bed, to convey to me and the member for Tamworth, who accompanied me, a list of jobs that needed to be done for "his people". That is typical of a man who, so far, has contributed almost 30 years to public life. Tony is facing a major fight for his life but the most recent diagnosis has provided a reason to be optimistic. I am sure, like me, all members want to see Tony back doing what he does best, that is, representing his communities. Mr BOB CARR (Maroubra—Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Citizenship) [2.22 p.m.], by leave: Agreeing to this motion comes with one proviso: the honourable member for Dubbo should be granted leave, but we want to see him back here on the crossbenches as soon as possible doing what he does so outstandingly, that is, representing the interests of country New South Wales in general and the interests of the great city of Dubbo in particular. Our friend and colleague has a serious illness, but he is in good hands at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, which is one of the nation's finest teaching hospitals. We wish him well in the surgery that he will undergo on Thursday. He goes into the operating theatre sustained by our heartfelt support because we all want Tony McGrane "cancer sufferer" to become Tony McGrane "cancer survivor". Mr JOHN BROGDEN (Pittwater—Leader of the Opposition) [2.24 p.m.], by leave: I join with all honourable members of this House and the people of New South Wales in wishing Tony McGrane the very best of luck. It is good to hear that the initial bad news has become much more positive. We wish him well during what will still be a difficult period involving major surgery. We hope he comes through it well. I am sure that his faith, which is very strong, will help him through this challenging time. Motion agreed to. POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSION Report Mr Speaker announced the receipt, pursuant to section 103 of the Police Integrity Commission Act 1996, of the report entitled "Report to Parliament—Operation Florida", Volumes 1 and 2, dated June 2004. Ordered to be printed. INSPECTOR OF THE POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSION Report Mr Speaker announced the receipt, pursuant to section 103 of the Police Integrity Commission Act 1996, of the annual report for the year ended 30 June 2004. Ordered to be printed. INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION Report Mr Speaker announced the receipt, pursuant to section 78 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, of the report entitled "Report on Investigation into Safety Certification and Training in the NSW Construction Industry", dated June 2004. Ordered to be printed. 31 August 2004 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 10501 AUDIT OFFICE Reports The Deputy Clerk announced the receipt, pursuant to section 63C of that Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, of the following performance audit reports of the Auditor-General: Fleet Management: Meeting Business Needs, dated June 2004 Transporting and Treating Emergency Patients: NSW Department of Health, Ambulance Service of NSW, dated July 2004 COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Report The Deputy Clerk announced the receipt, pursuant to section 4 of schedule 1 of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998, of the report entitled "Review of the Report of an Inquiry into the Best Means of Assisting Children and Young People with No-One to Turn To", dated July 2004. LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Report The Deputy Clerk announced the receipt, pursuant to section 10 of the Legislation Review Act 1987, of the report entitled "Legislation Review Digest No 10 of 2004", dated 30 August 2004. PETITIONS Bulk-billing and Medicare Petition opposing the proposed Federal changes to Medicare and supporting the Carr Government's plan to save bulk billing and protect Medicare, received from Mr John Bartlett.