4438 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Tuesday 21 November 2006 ______ Mr Speaker (The Hon. John Joseph Aquilina) took the chair at 2.15 p.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer. Mr SPEAKER: I acknowledge the Gadigal clan of the Eora nation and its elders and thank them for their custodianship of country. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Mr SPEAKER: I welcome to the public gallery His Excellency Mr Kabir, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, and Mrs Kabir, and Mr Anthony Khouri, the Consul-General of Bangladesh, who are guests of the honourable m embers for Macquarie Fields. FIRE BANS Ministerial Statement Mr MORRIS IEMMA (Lakemba—Premier, Minister for State Development, and Minister for Citizenship) [2.17 p.m.]: Total fire bans are again in place across most of the State today as firefighters battle a number of bushfires in the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley, Forbes, Oberon and the South Coast. Hot, dry and windy conditions have resulted in very high to extreme fire danger in many districts. Emergency declarations have been made for a number of the fires now burning. About 900 volunteer firefighters from the Rural Fire Service have been deployed, along with their colleagues from New South Wales Fire Brigades, Forests NSW and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I acknowledge the employers of all of our volunteers for their ongoing support in allowing them to leave their workplaces to protect the community. The most serious of the fires are those currently burning in the Blue Mountains, where firefighters have been battling two bushfires in the Grose Valley for the past nine days. These two fires have now joined and cover almost 7,000 hectares. The fire escaped its containment lines on the eastern flank last night, confirming firefighters' concerns that it will be more difficult to control in extreme weather conditions this week. About 400 firefighters are working on the mountains blaze today, with aerial support from about 15 water-bombing aircraft, including three air cranes. Firefighters have also been brought in from other districts to assist local brigades with five fires in the Wollemi and Goulburn River national parks in the Hunter Valley. A fire north of Lake Cowal, 40 kilometres south of Forbes, has burnt 2,200 hectares of private property. In addition, more than 100 Rural Fire Service firefighters and Forests NSW crews are working on a fire that has burnt out more than 200 hectares of private forest plantation and pasture land at Essington, north of Oberon. A fire ignited in Morton National Park on the State's South Coast on Sunday has also burnt out 65 hectares. We know we are facing a protracted and severe bushfire season. Our emergency service volunteers have a long summer ahead of them. I extend the thanks of the Government to them for their willingness to undertake difficult and dangerous work to help protect the community. Mr PETER DEBNAM (Vaucluse—Leader of the Opposition) [2.23 p.m.]: I join with the Premier in saying that all members of the Parliament acknowledge that this is going to be a very difficult summer so far as bushfires are concerned. We need to ensure not only that our bush fire fighters have the full support of all government resources, but also that they have the total backing of the Parliament and the community. I would say to everyone else: During this summer, please be careful. It is that careless cigarette butt thrown away that will start one of these bushfires that could lead to loss of life or property. Please be careful. We fully endorse the words of the Premier in backing our firefighters. PETITIONS Rural and Regional Police Resources Petition calling upon the Iemma Government to allocate more police resources to rural and regional communities throughout New South Wales, received from Mr Steve Cansdell. 21 November 2006 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 4439 Bus Services 326 and 327 Petition asking that the Government urgently reinstate the former timetables of bus services 326 and 327, received from Ms Clover Moore. Police Resources Petition requesting increased police resources for New South Wales, received from Mr Steven Pringle. Forster-Tuncurry Policing Petition requesting a permanent 24-hour police station at Forster-Tuncurry, received from Mr John Turner. Rouse Hill High School Construction Petition requesting funding for the immediate construction of the Rouse Hill High School, received from Mr Steven Pringle. Breast Screening Funding Petitions requesting funding to ensure access to breast screening services for women aged 40 to 79 years and to reverse falling participation rates, received from Mr Steve Cansdell and Mrs Judy Hopwood. Campbell Hospital, Coraki Petition opposing the closure of inpatient beds and the reduction in emergency department hours of Campbell Hospital, Coraki, received from Mr Steve Cansdell. Sunflower House, Wagga Wagga Petition requesting funding to facilitate the operation of Sunflower House, Wagga Wagga, received from Mr Daryl Maguire. Wollondilly Shire Health Facilities Petition requesting increased health facilities within Wollondilly shire, received from Ms Peta Seaton. Community-based Preschools Petition requesting increased funding to community-based preschools to maintain parity with preschools administered by the Department of Education and Training, received from Mr Malcolm Kerr. Sow Stall Ban Petition requesting the total ban of sow stalls, received from Ms Clover Moore. Rural Lands Protection Boards Funding Petition requesting funding for the rural lands protection boards, received from Mr Adrian Piccoli. Lake Mulwala Bridge Petition requesting funding for a new bridge over Lake Mulwala, received from Mr Greg Aplin. Grafton Bridge Petition requesting the construction of a new bridge over the Clarence River at Grafton, received from Mr Steve Cansdell. Inner City Bicycle Lanes Petition requesting dedicated bicycle facilities for the entire length of William Street, and on Craigend Street and Kings Cross Road, received from Ms Clover Moore. 4440 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 21 November 2006 Alcohol Wet Centres Petition requesting the establishment of wet centres in the inner city to provide a safe place for chronic drinkers, received from Ms Clover Moore. CSR Quarry, Hornsby Petition requesting a public inquiry into Hornsby Shire Council's acquisition of CSR Quarry in Hornsby, received from Mrs Judy Hopwood. Public Housing Petition requesting that the Government not sell any inner city public housing stock and that it increase funding for public housing maintenance, received from Ms Clover Moore. COMMITTEE ON THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN AND THE POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSION Reports Mr Paul Lynch, as Chairman, tabled the following reports dated November 2006: Report No. 12/53, entitled "Phase Two of an Inquiry into Section 10 (5) of the Police Integrity Commission Act 1996, Together With Transcript of Proceedings and Minutes." Report No. 15/53, entitled "Report on the Inquiry into Scrutiny of New South Wales Police Counter-Terrorism and Other Powers." Report No. 16/53, entitled "Ten Year Review of the Police Oversight System in New South Wales." Ordered to be printed. JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE OFFICE OF THE VALUER-GENERAL Report Mr Richard Torbay, on behalf of the Chairman, tabled the report No. 53/05, entitled "Report on the Fourth General Meeting with the Valuer-General, Together with Transcript of Proceedings and Minutes", dated November 2006. Ordered to be printed. LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Report Mr Allan Shearan, as Chairman, tabled the report entitled "Legislation Review Digest No. 17 of 2006", dated 21 November 2006, together with minutes extracts regarding "Legislation Review Digest No. 15 of 2006" and "Legislation Review Digest No. 16 of 2006." Report ordered to be printed. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE _________ MINISTERIAL CONDUCT COMPLAINT Mr PETER DEBNAM: My question is directed to the Premier. Will he confirm that a complaint was lodged with the Police Integrity Commission during meetings on 23 and 30 January this year about the misuse of ministerial power by the Attorney General in a former portfolio and whether assessment of the complaint was ongoing, or, if it was dismissed, will he tell us when? 21 November 2006 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 4441 Mr MORRIS IEMMA: There you have it! [Interruption] Take a deep breath and relax. Three weeks ago the problem was that nobody knew the Leader of the Opposition. Today people know him only too well. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Willoughby will cease calling out. Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The Leader of the Opposition is the one who has questions to answer. In this House last week he said a Minister was under investigation. That was then downgraded to "complaint". Then that was downgraded to "assessment". The Leader of the Opposition has shown in the past week that he has no integrity, no character and no courage. What he should have done just then was get up and apologise. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of The Nationals will cease calling out. Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The Leader of the Opposition should have got up, withdrawn his accusations and apologised. He is the only person in this State who is living in denial. He should show some character and some integrity and get up and apologise. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Coffs Harbour will cease calling out. Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was very clear. In fact, it is the second time in two weeks it has been asked. I do not think the Premier is in any doubt as to what the question is. I would ask you, in your capacity as the upholder of the standing orders in this House, to direct the Premier to answer the question. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Murrumbidgee is continuing to display his ignorance of the standing orders. I order him to resume his seat. Mr Adrian Piccoli: Relevance is a very fundamental standing order.