2005 08 09 WEEKLY...09 Aug 2005 Legislative Assembly 2139 TUESDAY, 9 AUGUST 2005 Legislative Assembly The House met at 9.30 am RESIGNATION OF MR SPEAKER The CLERK: Honourable members,

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Tuesday, 9 August 2005RESIGNATION OF MR SPEAKER ................................................................................................................................................ 2139ELECTION OF SPEAKER .............................................................................................................................................................. 2139PRESENTATION OF MR SPEAKER ............................................................................................................................................. 2151MOTION TO SUSPEND SITTING .................................................................................................................................................. 2151ORDER OF BUSINESS .................................................................................................................................................................. 2152ASSENT TO BILLS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2152PRESENTATION OF MR SPEAKER ............................................................................................................................................. 2152ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF REDCLIFFE ..................................................................................................................................... 2152

Resignation of Member ...................................................................................................................................................... 2152ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CHATSWORTH ................................................................................................................................ 2153

Resignation of Member ...................................................................................................................................................... 2153ELECTORAL DISTRICTS OF REDCLIFFE AND CHATSWORTH ............................................................................................... 2153

By-Election Dates ............................................................................................................................................................... 2153PANEL OF TEMPORARY SPEAKERS ......................................................................................................................................... 2154PETITIONS ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2155PAPERS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2155MINISTERIAL STATEMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 2160

Leader of the House ........................................................................................................................................................... 2160MINISTERIAL STATEMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 2161

Administrative Arrangements ............................................................................................................................................. 2161MINISTERIAL STATEMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 2162

Office of the Speaker .......................................................................................................................................................... 2162MINISTERIAL STATEMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 2162

Trade and Investment Mission: USA, Italy and Holy See ................................................................................................... 2162MINISTERIAL STATEMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 2163

Business Leader Forum Address ....................................................................................................................................... 2163MINISTERIAL STATEMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 2165

Coordinator-General ........................................................................................................................................................... 2165MINISTERIAL STATEMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 2166

Queensland Economy ........................................................................................................................................................ 2166

BY AUTHORITYL.J. OSMOND, CHIEF HANSARD REPORTER—2005

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/hansard/

Table of Contents — Tuesday, 9 August 2005

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2167South East Queensland Regional Plan ..............................................................................................................................2167

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2167Regional Jobs Growth ........................................................................................................................................................2167

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................21682005 Smart Awards ............................................................................................................................................................2168

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2169IBM Service Centre; Accenture Learning Content Development Centre ............................................................................2169

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2170Redcliffe Hospital ................................................................................................................................................................2170

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2171Forster Review ....................................................................................................................................................................2171

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2171Asbestos in Schools ...........................................................................................................................................................2171

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2172GST Funding Distribution ...................................................................................................................................................2172

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2173Electrical Safety ..................................................................................................................................................................2173

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2174Industrial Relations Reforms ...............................................................................................................................................2174

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2174Homelessness Referral Service ..........................................................................................................................................2174

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2175Sir David Longland Correctional Centre .............................................................................................................................2175

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2175Asbestos in Schools ...........................................................................................................................................................2175

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2176Forster Review ....................................................................................................................................................................2176

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2176Unauthorised Photographs on the Internet .........................................................................................................................2176

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2177Department of Emergency Services ...................................................................................................................................2177

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................................................2178Water Resources ................................................................................................................................................................2178

PETITION ........................................................................................................................................................................................2178Warrigal Road State School ...............................................................................................................................................2178

SCRUTINY OF LEGISLATION COMMITTEE ................................................................................................................................2178Report .................................................................................................................................................................................2178

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS ...........................................................................................................................................2178Beattie Labor Government ..................................................................................................................................................2178Hervey Bay, Direct Jet Flights .............................................................................................................................................2179Atherton Ambulance Station ...............................................................................................................................................2179Murrumba Electorate, Immigration Detention Centre .........................................................................................................2180

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE ...................................................................................................................................................2180Labor Forum Function ........................................................................................................................................................2180Office of the Speaker ..........................................................................................................................................................2180Liberal Party, Whistleblowing ..............................................................................................................................................2181Queensland Health, Staff Criminal History .........................................................................................................................2181Liberal Party, By-election Campaigns .................................................................................................................................2182Kalpowar Station, Cape York Peninsula .............................................................................................................................2182Work and Family Responsibilities, AIRC Decision ..............................................................................................................2183Townsville Hospital; Berg, Mr V ..........................................................................................................................................2183Tourism Industry; Industrial Relations Reforms ..................................................................................................................2184Charlton Girls of Sundale 2006 Calendar ...........................................................................................................................2185Redcliffe Hospital ................................................................................................................................................................2185Sugar Industry ....................................................................................................................................................................2185Uranium Policy ....................................................................................................................................................................2186Redcliffe Hospital ................................................................................................................................................................2186Regional Bridge Renewal Program .....................................................................................................................................2187Atherton Ambulance Station ...............................................................................................................................................2187Lady Bowen Complex .........................................................................................................................................................2188Small Business, Community Ambulance Cover ..................................................................................................................2188Alcohol Management Plans ................................................................................................................................................2189Asbestos in Schools ...........................................................................................................................................................2189Cairns Police Liaison Officer Community Patrol Program ..................................................................................................2190CareFlight ...........................................................................................................................................................................2190

Table of Contents — Tuesday, 9 August 2005

MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST ................................................................................................................................................ 2191Beattie Government Ministry .............................................................................................................................................. 2191Liberal Party, By-election Campaigns ................................................................................................................................ 2193Urban Planning ................................................................................................................................................................... 2193Overseas Trained Doctors; Patel, Dr J ............................................................................................................................... 2194Healthy Bones Week; Food Stakeholders Forum; Ipswich Hospital Foundation ............................................................... 2195Overseas Trained Doctors; Patel, Dr J ............................................................................................................................... 2196Townsville Music Industry .................................................................................................................................................. 2197Road Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................................. 2198Blueprint for the Bush ......................................................................................................................................................... 2199Wide Bay-Burnett Region ................................................................................................................................................... 2200Water Resources ................................................................................................................................................................ 2201

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AMENDMENT BILL ........................................................................................................................... 2202First Reading ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2202Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................................. 2202

RACING VENUES DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT BILL ............................................................................................................ 2205First Reading ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2205Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................................. 2205

PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL ....................................................................... 2206First Reading ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2206Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................................. 2206

VEXATIOUS PROCEEDINGS BILL ............................................................................................................................................... 2207First Reading ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2207Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................................. 2207

CORRECTIVE SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL ............................................................................................................................ 2208Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................................. 2208

QUEENSLAND COMPETITION AUTHORITY AMENDMENT BILL .............................................................................................. 2213First Reading ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2213Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................................. 2213

CORRECTIVE SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL ............................................................................................................................ 2214Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................................. 2214Consideration in Detail ....................................................................................................................................................... 2215Third Reading ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2215

HOUSING AND OTHER ACTS AMENDMENT BILL ..................................................................................................................... 2215Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................................. 2215Consideration in Detail ....................................................................................................................................................... 2227Third Reading ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2227

ADJOURNMENT ............................................................................................................................................................................ 2227Lockyer Electorate, Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................... 2228Korean War Commemoration ............................................................................................................................................. 2228Gympie Electorate, Making a Difference Program ............................................................................................................. 2229Smart Awards, Biolytix Technologies Pty Ltd ..................................................................................................................... 2229Gregory Electorate, Medical Services ................................................................................................................................ 2230Queensland Cancer Fund .................................................................................................................................................. 2230Department of Emergency Services ................................................................................................................................... 2231Voluntary Student Unionism ............................................................................................................................................... 2231Diversity and Inclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 2232Solander Lakes Bowls Club, Silver Jubilee ........................................................................................................................ 2233

09 Aug 2005 Legislative Assembly 2139

TUESDAY, 9 AUGUST 2005

Legislative Assembly

The House met at 9.30 am

RESIGNATION OF MR SPEAKERThe CLERK: Honourable members, I inform the House of the resignation of the Hon. Ray Hollis

as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly effective 21 July 2005 in a letter dated that date to HerExcellency the Governor, a copy of which will be incorporated in the official record of the House. GOVERNMENT HOUSE22 July 2005The Honourable D. Fouras, MPActing Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Parliament HouseGeorge StBRISBANE QLD 4000Dear Mr Acting SpeakerI hereby acquaint the Legislative Assembly with the letter of resignation of The Honourable R.K. Hollis, MP, Speaker of theLegislative Assembly.Yours sincerely(sgd)Governor

Parliament House BRISBANE Q 400021 July 2005Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC Governor of Queensland Government HouseGPO Box 434BRISBANE QLD 4001Your ExcellencyIt is with great regret that I tender my resignation from the position of Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and ask that youwithdraw my commission.I thank you for your courtesy and friendly manner in which you have received me, and wish you well for the future.Yours faithfully(sgd)RAY HOLLIS MP SpeakerQueensland Parliament

ELECTION OF SPEAKERThe Clerk having called upon the longest serving member, not being a minister, to preside—Hon. KR Lingard (Beaudesert—NPA) took the chair as the presiding member.The PRESIDING MEMBER: Honourable members, before calling for proposals for Speaker, I

draw the attention of honourable members to the standing orders, which provide that any memberpresent in the chamber may be nominated as Speaker. Every nomination shall be seconded. Anymember who has been nominated is required to indicate if they accept the nomination. When allnominations have been made, seconded and accepted, debate may ensue. Debate shall be relevant tothe question. Speeches shall not exceed five minutes for each member. I remind all honourablemembers that the provisions of the standing orders apply to this debate. I now call for nominations.

Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.32 am): I nominateMr Anthony McGrady for the position of Speaker. In doing so, I highlight to the House that TonyMcGrady has been the member for Mount Isa since December 1989. He has had a distinguished careeras a parliamentarian and minister. Most recently he was Minister for State Development and Innovation,a position to which he was appointed on 12 February 2004. He resigned from that position on 28 July

2140 Election of Speaker 09 Aug 2005

2005. The member for Mount Isa also served Queenslanders as the Minister for Police and CorrectiveServices and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Carpentaria Minerals Province from 22 February2001 to 12 February 2004. He served as the Minister for Mines and Energy and Minister Assisting theDeputy Premier on Regional Development from 29 June 1998 to 22 February 2001. He was the Ministerfor Minerals and Energy from 24 September 1992 to 19 February 1996. He was the Minister forResource Industries from 16 December 1991 to 24 September 1992. In other words, he has had a verylong and distinguished ministerial career.

But that is not all: he was chair of the Public Works Committee from 6 March 1990 to 17December 1991 and led a parliamentary trade delegation to Taiwan and the Philippines in 1992. He alsochaired caucus—and might I say did it very well—

Mr Palaszczuk: Did Sandra help him?Mr BEATTIE: No, Sandra did not help him chair caucus. Mr Presiding Member, can you do

something about him? He chaired caucus between December 1989 and December 1991 and wasshadow minister for minerals and energy and regional development from 27 February 1996 to 7 October1997.

I inform the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines that I now come to the fact that through allthis time he was supported by his very devoted wife, Sandra, to whom he is also devoted. I should saythat she is known locally as the member for Mount Isa. While he was regarded as a minister, she wasregarded as the member for Mount Isa. Everyone knows Sandra; she is somewhat of a legend.

Mr Schwarten interjected. Mr BEATTIE: She is known by a number of names, as the future Leader of the House said. Everyone knows that Mr McGrady has a very strong commitment to his community as well. We all

know that life as a parliamentarian, especially as a minister, can be particularly tough for representativesof expansive and remote electorates—this goes for those from both sides of the parliament; no doubtthe members for Gregory, Cook and a number of other far-flung electorates understand it is tough—because not only do you have the responsibility of being a minister but also you have to travel to gethere. Mr McGrady has done that well over a long period of time. The pressures are felt most acutely bymembers’ families.

As Minister for State Development and Innovation Mr McGrady had an especially punishinginternational travelling schedule. As we all know, exports are the bread and butter of that portfolio. AsMinister for State Development and Innovation he undertook four trade and investment missions: toChina, Japan and Korea; to the United States of America; to the United Kingdom and Spain; and to theUnited States. In June he accompanied me to Bio2005 in Philadelphia, USA and, of course, he led amission to Oregon to raise local awareness of the concerns in Australia about Jayant Patel.

Mr McGrady consulted his family before confirming with me that he would resign as minister andseek the position of Speaker. In an article published on 25 July 2005, he told the North West Star, one ofthe most legendary journals in the history of Queensland—at least Mr McGrady told me that and, hebeing a reliable source, I am sure that is true—Sandra spends so much time going to functions on her own on my behalf. It was a hard decision to make but I decided that in theinterests of my family and my electorate it was time I travelled less. As Speaker I will have access to all the ministers which meansI will have a better chance of fighting for my electorate and spending more time with the people who put me where I am today.

He said it was time for talented young blood to have a chance to join cabinet. I thank him for that.He expressed sadness about farewelling his ministerial staff, who were like family to him. Indeed, just ona very serious note, many members were aware of Tony’s distress—and the distress of many—at thetragic loss of one of his staff, Caroline Rosso, in the Boxing Day tsunami. Tony and Sandra gavecompassionate support to Caroline’s mother, brother, other members of family and friends, and I thinkthat is very much a measure of Tony McGrady.

As a regional member, Tony has a strong sense of the importance of parliament toQueenslanders regardless of where they live. Assuming he gets elected today—and It is a matter formembers, of course—I know that he will be enthusiastic about taking parliament out of Brisbane toRockhampton later this year, the second time this parliament has done that. On election, he will beSpeaker during our second regional sitting of parliament, as I said, in central Queensland in October.This is an event he will promote with relish. He has a strong regard for our institution of parliament andwill be a relentless ambassador for Queensland’s cradle of democracy.

In concluding my nomination I simply say—and I say this to you, Mr Lingard, as you are thelongest serving member in this House and a former Speaker: we all know the importance of havingsomeone in the chair who not only has considerable experience in this parliament but also understandsthe standing orders. Tony McGrady, as I have already indicated, was elected to this parliament at thesame time as a number of us, including me, on 2 December 1989. The Speaker needs to be someonewho understands the House and who has held senior positions but who also understands the standingorders and someone for whom I believe the members of this chamber will have respect.

09 Aug 2005 Election of Speaker 2141

I expect that there will be a ballot for this position, and that is fine. I think that is the way it shouldbe. The National Party will no doubt nominate a candidate and we will have a democratic process. Ihave no difficulty with any of that. If, in fact, that happens I welcome this institution going through ademocratic process, but I would hope that all members of the House will have due respect for thesuccessful candidate because one of the things that is important is that members of the community seethis House behave appropriately, with dignity and respect and get on with the business of representingthe community. That means not only conducting themselves in an accountable way through questiontime, but also doing it in a civilised way, doing it with courtesy and respect for one another. Oneconsistent thing that I hear when I am in the community is the fact that many people get upset withmembers of parliament and their behaviour. Therefore, while the election of this Speaker is a veryimportant role for members here, I would hope that all members would give courtesy and respect to thesuccessful candidate and that we work together to lift the standards of this parliament. I so nominateTony McGrady.

Hon. AM BLIGH (South Brisbane—ALP) (Deputy Premier, Minister for Finance and Minister forState Development, Trade and Innovation) (9.39 am): It is with a great deal of personal satisfaction thatI second the motion of the Premier endorsing his choice, the member for Mount Isa as the Queenslandparliament’s new Speaker. This is, in my view, the right decision, a very wise and prudent decision forthe parliament and for the state of Queensland. As you have heard outlined by the Premier, TonyMcGrady is a veteran parliamentarian and a very skilled and experienced legislator, with thedistinguished track record of representing the people of his own electorate in this parliament for some17 years.

He also possesses a unique depth of knowledge, having been the minister responsible for four ofthe government’s most important portfolios during his time on the front bench. I have sat at the cabinettable with the member for Mount Isa for the past seven years. One would be hard pressed to find aparliamentarian with a greater understanding of the processes of government or of this parliament. Hislevel of understanding and in turn his commitment is second to none. He possesses qualities that will bemore than beneficial as he moves into the Speaker’s chair.

In all that he does the member for Mount Isa is measured, fair and reasonable. But he is also notafraid to voice his authority when the tough decisions need to be made. One needs only to look at themember for Mount Isa’s CV to understand why he is the right person for the role and why his shift intothis role is in many ways a natural progression for him. His political career is now more than 30 years oldand it has its beginnings in local government. He served as a very effective and, I understand, go-aheadcouncillor with the Mount Isa City Council from 1973 to 1985 when he then assumed the role of thetown’s mayor.

Mr Presiding Member, it is clear that Tony McGrady has been chairing public and politicalmeetings for most of his adult life. He entered this parliament in 1989 as the member for Mount Isa andtwo years later became the Queensland minister for resource industries. A year later he took over themines and energy portfolio—a role critical and central to Queensland’s continued development andeconomic growth and a natural role for a member from our state’s north. He held that portfolio for fouryears.

When the Beattie government regained power in 1998, Mr McGrady moved back into the minesand energy portfolio for another three years before moving into another important role as Queensland’sminister for police and corrective services. Early last year Mr McGrady was made minister for statedevelopment and innovation—a role that I have now assumed after his resignation from cabinet.

This wealth of ministerial expertise has been complemented by several other roles that he hasplayed during his life in this parliament. Between the late 1980s and the early 1990s Mr McGrady actedas a Queensland parliamentary trade delegation leader, the chair of the Premier’s Northern and RuralTask Force, the Public Work Committee’s chairman and the parliamentary Labor Party caucus chair. Hehas also held positions as a Townsville Port Authority director and positions on the Mount Isa WaterBoard and the Mount Isa Group Apprenticeship and Training Scheme. It is a great curriculum vitae forthe role that we are considering here this morning, given his activities outside this parliament inorganisations such as the Mount Isa Water Board, his time in local government and then the committeeroles and ministerial roles he has played during his time in state politics.

I have to say that in the Speaker’s role Mr McGrady will be backed up and influenced by a verystrong Queensland woman. His wife, Sandra, is widely known in the community and highly respected.Tony and Sandra make a dynamic duo. Anybody who knows them knows that it is rare for him to speakin public without making some reference to his right-hand woman if he can find a way to do so. They area team in the truest sense of the word. In supporting the nomination of the Premier, I think I can fairlysay that in Tony McGrady we will be getting two for one this morning.

I believe that all members of parliament would agree that a parliamentarian with such extensiveexperience is very well equipped to take on the important and unique responsibilities of Speaker of theQueensland parliament. I am very pleased to commend the nomination of Mr Tony McGrady to thisHouse for that role. I look forward to working in a parliament over which he presides.


The PRESIDING MEMBER: Does the honourable member accept the nomination?Mr McGRADY: Mr Presiding Member, I accept the nomination. The PRESIDING MEMBER: Are there any other nominations? Mr SPRINGBORG (Southern Downs—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) (9.43 am): I move—

That George Edward Malone do take the position of Speaker in this parliament.

On behalf of the opposition and on behalf of the Nationals, I have the pleasure of nominatingMr George Edward Malone, otherwise affectionately known as Ted to us in this place and those in hiselectorate and beyond. Ted has been the member for Mirani since his election in a by-election in 1994.He has been successful at all times subsequent to that in being returned to the state House as themember for Mirani.

Ted is a person who is widely respected, Mr Presiding Member, not only in his electorate but alsoin many areas across this state and also nationally. In his past life he rose to the head of his particularindustry organisation. He is a person of enormous experience. That experience is not just confined tothis parliamentary chamber and the 11 years that he has been a member but also to the time before heentered this place when he was a very successful businessman, a very successful cane farmer and alsorose to the position of chairman of directors of the Australian Canefarmers Association. All of those areno mean feat. An element of experience not only in parliament but also outside of parliament issomething which all members of this place would expect and would cherish in their Speaker andsomething which members of the community at large would expect of their Speaker.

Ted is an extremely dignified person. Anyone who has witnessed his performance in thisparliament in the 11 years that he has been here would appreciate the level of dignity that he hasbrought to this place, whether it be through asking a question, participating in a debate or representingthis parliament in any one of a number of forums where he has been privileged to represent his fellowmembers. That level of dignity is extremely important.

Ted is a gentleman. He has always displayed himself as a gentleman. That is something whichwe would expect of a Speaker not only in this place but also outside the parliament. He is well respectedby his colleagues. He is well respected by members on the other side of the House. He is also wellrespected by those members who sit on the non-government side who do not make up the officialopposition. He is also well respected by parliamentary staff. What we would expect of any Speaker isthat they have the respect of all sides of this place and they have the respect and affection ofparliamentary staff. That is something which is extremely important. Ted has displayed by the way inwhich he has conducted himself during debates in this place and in asking questions that he is a fairperson. He is a person who is prepared to listen to a reasoned argument. He is a person who does notrespond with vitriol and emotion when it comes to balancing what is often the hoo-ha and emotion of thisparliament.

Ted has enormous electorate support. When one moves throughout not only his electorate butalso the area that surrounds his electorate one understands the respect that people have for TedMalone as a person. If they do not support him politically they respect him as a person. Not only do theyrespect him but they also respect his wife, Mary, very much. In moving the nomination of the member forMount Isa a moment ago, the Premier and the Deputy Premier mentioned the importance of having awife or a spouse who is supportive and a part of the team. Any of my colleagues would be aware andwould appreciate that when we go to Ted’s part of the world, Mary is there. Mary has that respect as welland they are seen as a very dynamic team. They are seen as people who are prepared to listen. Theyare seen as people who are in touch and compassionate to the needs of their particular region. That isextremely important for the role of the Speaker—not only for the person who is holding that high officebut also for their partner. Their capacity to be able to support them and their capacity to interact and theircapacity to listen to people and participate at that level is important. Mary is certainly very much in thatmould.

Ted has a sense of parliament. He has a respect for parliament. I have indicated so far that thatrespect of parliament is something which he has shown, demonstrated and appreciated in the 11 yearsthat he has been in this place. Ted also understands absolutely the view of the Nationals that we need tobe heading towards a more independent role for the Speaker in the Queensland parliament. We need tobe looking not only at the dissection or the removal of political involvement but also political participationby the person who is actually elected as Speaker in this place. That does not necessarily mean that theonly person who would be suitable for that position would be a person who is an Independent memberof parliament. The Speaker has to be independent in the way they conduct themselves in parliament. Ifwe look at the role of members of parliament, regardless of whether they were elected from a party or asan Independent, there is a level of political participation.

Ted understands absolutely that if he were to be successful today he would be subscribing to andpractically applying the Nationals’ policy of moving towards a United Kingdom model when it comes tothe position of Speaker and the role of Speaker in this parliament. For that reason I have absolutely nohesitation whatsoever in nominating Ted Malone, the member for Mirani. He is a person who can be


respected by all sides of this parliament, a person who would do a great job, a person who would be afair Speaker, a person who deserves the support of this parliament. I have absolute delight on behalf ofmy National colleagues in nominating Ted Malone for the position of Speaker.

The PRESIDING MEMBER: Is there a seconder?Mr SEENEY (Callide—NPA) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (9.50 am): Mr Presiding Member,

I certainly take much pleasure in seconding the nomination that has been made by the Leader of theOpposition for Mr Ted Malone to attain the high office of Speaker of this parliament. I want to reinforcesome of the comments that have been so ably made by the Leader of the Opposition in making thatnomination. Those members who listened to the nomination that the Leader of the Opposition madewould have noticed that the word that he used most was ‘respect’. The greatest thing that Ted Malonecan bring to this parliament is respect—respect for the parliament and all of its processes, respect forthe important role that this parliament plays in the life of Queensland and the assurance that thatimportant role will continue to be played by this parliament in the future.

If Ted Malone is successful in being elected as Speaker of this House, I do not think there wouldbe one member in this parliament who could help but pay him the due respect that is deserving of thatrole. He is a man who deserves respect not just from those of us who are his colleagues but from everymember in this House and everyone who has seen him exercise his duty as a member of thisparliament. He would bring to the chair of this House a long overdue sense of respect, something thathas been lacking or certainly been less than what it has been in the past. It is also important toappreciate the degree to which the parliamentary staff who are such an important part of the operationof this parliament need to be able to respect the person who is elected to the chair of this House in theimportant role of Speaker. Ted Malone is a person who can work well with the parliamentary staff andwho can ensure that there is the degree of cooperation and working together that is necessary for thisparliament to operate smoothly for the benefit of all of us who come here to represent the people whovote for us. It is important that this place operates smoothly and harmoniously and to ensure that thathappens we need a person in the chair of this parliament who can have the respect of the parliamentarystaff, and certainly Ted Malone can attain that. Ted has the capacity to fulfil this role. He would be anideal choice as Speaker of this parliament. I urge every member of this House to support the nominationthat has been made by the Leader of the Opposition.

The PRESIDING MEMBER: Does the honourable member accept the nomination?Mr MALONE: Mr Presiding Member, I accept the nomination.The PRESIDING MEMBER: Honourable members, are there any other nominations? If not, I will

now allow debate on the question.Mr SPRINGBORG (Southern Downs—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) (9.53 am):

Notwithstanding the fact that I have nominated on behalf of the Nationals Ted Malone, who we believe isthe best person to fulfil the role of Speaker in this parliament, there is without a doubt a degree ofinevitability, given the numbers in this place, as to who will emerge as the Speaker of this parliament in afew minutes time. Mr Presiding Member, there are a number of questions, however, which do need to beanswered by the government and do need to be answered by the government’s nominee, Mr McGrady,the member for Mount Isa, before we can have any confidence and before that vote should be taken. Inthe last 24 hours we have received information from sources within the Labor Party which certainlycontinues to cast aspersions and a pall over the whole issue of the departure and matters surroundingthe previous Speaker—certainly the issues regarding the cover-up and the issue of unansweredquestions.

The PRESIDING MEMBER: Order! It must be on the question.Mr SPRINGBORG: Mr Presiding Member, regarding the impending appointment of the member

for Mount Isa, I table a letter from Robert Needham, the Chairman of the CMC, regarding the sevenfunctions which were the subject of the CMC’s investigation and later of the DPP. As members will see,there were a number of functions to do with the seafarers association. One of those functions was to dowith Redcliffe clergy. Another function was to do with a Redcliffe councillors’ dinner. But, importantly,one was to do with a function organised by Labor Forum for food and drinks. The head of Labor Forum,as we all know, and the organiser is Mr McGrady himself. There are some questions which our Laborsources put to us which do need to be answered.

They include the fact that on 17 March 2004 this particular function did take place. Mr McGradyhimself was the coordinator for that particular function, and the information provided to us indicated thathe used his resources to organise that function. That function included not only Mr McGrady but alsoabout 20 people from the Labor Unity/AWA faction including Mr Hollis, Wayne Swan, Bill Ludwig, CraigEmerson, Dean Wells and also Paul Lucas.

Mr LUCAS: I rise to a point of order. I was not at that function. I ask the member to withdraw that.The PRESIDING MEMBER: I will ask for that. The honourable Leader of the Opposition must

withdraw.


Mr SPRINGBORG: Mr Presiding Member, if the member indicates that, then I withdraw. I simplymake the point that the information that we have coming from within the circles that provided us with thatletter raised concerns which need to be answered in this parliament today. Also, the informationprovided to us was that Mr McGrady had been interviewed by the CMC on this matter and providedcertain information—

Mr BEATTIE: I rise to a point of order. Mr Presiding Member, I just seek your guidance. I thoughtthe issues here actually related to the election. We are talking about the election of—

Mr Horan: Don’t you remember Tom Burns?The PRESIDING MEMBER: Order! There is no point of order. I have already said that it must

relate to the question. It must relate to the question of either the member for Mount Isa or the memberfor Mirani.

Mr SPRINGBORG: Mr Presiding Member, I simply make the point that these matters need to beclarified before we can have confidence in the capacity of the government’s preferred nominee to takethat position. These are matters which have been raised with us. I make that point again. If Mr McGradycan answer those particular matters with a degree of confidence and assurance, then we obviously atthe end of the time will have our particular concerns properly and appropriately addressed. The otherissue, as I was saying before the Premier rose, was that the information provided to us was thatMr McGrady did provide information to the CMC and some of that may have been adverse to Mr Hollis.

Also, a part of that letter, which no-one else has seen, refers to the involvement of the LaborParty’s candidate in Redcliffe, Lillian van Litsenburg, a councillor from the Redcliffe council on 7 May.Those are matters—

The PRESIDING MEMBER: Order! The member’s time has—Mr SCHWARTEN: I rise to a point of order, and my point of order is simply this: I fail to see, and I

respectfully ask for your guidance on this, what the candidate for Redcliffe has to do with the election ofMr Speaker here this morning.

The PRESIDING MEMBER: Order! The member’s time has expired. Does any other memberwish to speak?

Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.58 am): Mr PresidingMember, bearing in mind the wide-ranging debate that you have allowed on this, I assume that you willallow me the same courtesy. Let me be very clear about this. I had hoped that today’s debate would bea very positive one in that we could elect a new Speaker with some degree of respect and decorum.Indeed, I did not believe that we would end up with an attempted character assassination by the Leaderof the Opposition.

The reality is that every one of those issues that the Leader of the Opposition raised has beenfully and properly investigated. Of course, the Leader of the Opposition does not want there to be anyfinality to the DPP’s determination or that of the CMC. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that thesematters have been investigated fully. Queenslanders do not like alternatives such as him—he is thealternative premier—getting into the gutter.

I would have thought that today we could have lifted the standards of this place. We could haveelected a Speaker without getting into the gutter and playing dirty politics. We all know that we are goingto have two by-elections, but for once in our lives why could we not behave with some dignity and electa Speaker without getting into the gutter? This behaviour by the Leader of the Opposition does not doanything to enhance his reputation in the community; nor does it do anything to enhance the reputationof this parliament.

Opposition members interjected. Mr BEATTIE: The members opposite go on and complain about it, but let me be very clear: what

we saw today from their leader was him simply getting into the gutter in a personal attack. Had thesematters—

Mr Seeney: You should have asked the questions. Mr BEATTIE: All of these questions were pursued by the appropriate independent authorities. I

will stand here and defend Tony McGrady and I will do that with some enthusiasm. I say toQueenslanders today that what they see is an opposition that will do anything it can in terms of personalcharacter assassination to try to win two by-elections. This is absolutely crude politics at its worst. Hadthere been something new in this, there may have been a point and something would have been done.There is nothing new in it. It was all pursued by the DPP and the CMC, and the Leader of the Oppositionknows it.

We have an opposition that is going nowhere. It is slinging mud out of nastiness. At every attemptthe opposition tries to use this parliament as simply an opportunity to vent its spleen against someindividual. If you think this does you any good out in the electorate, you are wrong. It does not. You cansit there smirking all you like—

The PRESIDING MEMBER: Order! The Premier will speak through the chair.


Mr BEATTIE: Let me tell the member that personal character assassinations will do no good.Mr Presiding Member, I will stand here and defend the nominee as vigorously as I possibly can. As youknow, that is what I am entitled to do under the standing orders. I will do that vigorously.

Mr Springborg: You haven’t answered any questions, though.Mr BEATTIE: Every one of those questions has already been answered.Opposition members interjected. Mr BEATTIE: The problem with that lot is that they do not like the answers. When the CMC and

the DPP gives the answers, what do they do? They throw a bit more dirt, a bit more filth and a bit moremud. If the members opposite think that does them any good, I tell them that it does not. Today I say toQueenslanders: you choose between a man who has had a distinguished career as a minister and aman who has represented not just his electorate but all Queenslanders with distinction, and the mud wehave just seen thrown by the Leader of the Opposition. I say to the Leader of the Opposition: you oughtto be ashamed of yourself.

Mr SEENEY (Callide—NPA) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (10.02 am): Those of us whohave been in this parliament for a while can always tell when the Premier is in trouble. We get thisoveracted response that indicates all too well how sensitive an issue it is that the Leader of theOpposition has raised. The important thing to note about the Premier’s response is that in it he providedno answers to the questions that were raised by the Leader of the Opposition. He provided no answersto the questions that he himself should have asked the member for Mount Isa in considering hisnomination for the position of Speaker.

The questions are very legitimate ones to ask of somebody who is seeking to attain the high officeof Speaker of this House. The issues were certainly referred to the CMC. The CMC referred thoseissues to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director of Public Prosecutions said that there wasinsufficient evidence to sustain a successful prosecution in a court of law. But that is a very differentthing from the member for Mount Isa and all of the other people who were involved in that AWU factionand the functions that they booked up to the Speakers’s accounts being cleared of any wrongdoing.There is a difference between acting appropriately and honestly and the DPP determining whether thereis enough evidence to prosecute successfully in a court of law. Somebody who puts their hand up to sitin that chair needs to be able to say that they have acted at a level that is appropriate for the position,not just say, ‘They were not able to prosecute me for my actions.’

That is the position that this House finds itself in today. We have a member who has beenproposed to sit in that chair who can say, ‘They were not able to prosecute me. The DPP could not findenough evidence to prosecute me.’ But that does not mean that that is a sufficient level of honesty, asufficient level of probity and a sufficient level of respectful behaviour to attain that chair. I think thequestions that were asked by the Leader of the Opposition are very appropriate. They go right to thecore of why the previous Speaker had to resign and why this member should not be elected to theposition of Speaker.

There are some other issues that I want to raise in the short time that is available to me. Membersof this House would know that I have been the shadow minister to the member for Mount Isa in anumber of portfolios. In the past couple of weeks since it has been suggested that the member forMount Isa was going to be the Speaker of this House my fax machine has worked overtime—a bit likethe minister for energy used to say about his fax machine working overtime. It has had a fair work-out inthe past week or so. People within the Police Service, for which the member for Mount Isa used to bethe minister, people in the mining industry, for which the member for Mount Isa used to be the minister,and even a couple of people from State Development have sent me faxes urging me to do whatever Ican to ensure that we find somebody more appropriate to be the Speaker of this House because of theirexperiences when the member for Mount Isa was responsible for their part of the public administrationsystem. I will not go into the details of the things that I have been told; suffice is to say that sufficientconcern has been expressed by those people that this House should be wary of electing the member forMount Isa to the position of Speaker.

The other point that I think has been made obvious this morning is the lack of respect that hasbeen shown to this parliament and its processes. The member for Mount Isa presumed that, simplybecause he received the nod from the Labor Party factions, he is already the Speaker. I am told that hehas already taken possession of the Speaker’s office and has moved into the Speaker’s quarters—before this parliament has even had a chance to consider his nomination. We heard the Deputy Premierstand up and read a written speech that said that this House was considering a motion to endorse the—

Ms Bligh: I said ‘I endorse’. Mr SEENEY: The member said ‘endorse’ Mr McGrady as Speaker. It is not the job of this House

to endorse a decision that has been made by the Labor Party caucus. It is the job of this House to electa Speaker. Anyone who respects this House should not presume that they are automatically elected tothe position of Speaker just because they had the numbers to ensure that the factional deal fell in theirfavour.

Time expired.


Hon. AM BLIGH (South Brisbane—ALP) (Deputy Premier, Minister for Finance and Minister forState Development, Trade and Innovation) (10.07 am): What breathtaking hypocrisy we have seen fromthe Queensland National Party this morning! Not 20 minutes ago the Leader of the Opposition stood inthis parliament and nominated his own candidate, the member for Mirani, and then gave a speech, innominating that candidate, about the traditions of the Westminster parliament. The Leader of theOpposition gave a speech about how important it was that the Speaker of a parliament in theWestminster tradition should enjoy the bipartisan support of all members of the parliament. In almost thevery next breath, the very next opportunity he received to stand in this House, the Leader of theOpposition used that opportunity to mount a personal attack on the candidate being put forward by thisside of the House. How does that performance contribute to bipartisan support, to bipartisan respect forthe process that we are going through this morning? It does nothing.

Mr Springborg: He is not the Speaker yet. Ms BLIGH: It is absolutely disgraceful that the Leader of the Opposition would have used the

opportunity this morning to dredge up old allegations—old allegations about somebody else—to useagainst the member for Mount Isa. The allegations that the Leader of the Opposition raised wereconsidered by the DPP and those allegations have been dismissed. But let us be clear: they were notallegations about the member for Mount Isa—they were never allegations about the member for MountIsa—but the Leader of the Opposition thought that if he just threw a bit of mud over here then just a littlebit might attach. I suggest to the Leader of the Opposition that that has backfired. The only person whois going to come out of this process this morning with dirt on their hands and dirt on their face is him. It isdisgraceful.

Not only have those opposite come in here with the most disgraceful muckraking performance;their allegations are beyond any doubt a nonsense. They are calling out from their side of the Housethat questions should be asked about the integrity of the member for Mount Isa and that questionsshould be asked about his views about the appropriate consumption of alcohol. Of all of the members ofthis chamber that one might ask questions about appropriate consumption of alcohol, why on earth onewould start with the member for Mount Isa I cannot imagine. The member for Mount Isa’s views aboutthe appropriate and legitimate consumption of alcohol are certainly known to everybody on this side ofthe chamber. I can assure members that they are known by public servants up and down George Streetand they are known by the business community, but they appear to have escaped the notice of theNational Party entirely. I look forward to the member for Mount Isa having an opportunity to share thoseviews with the members of the National Party! Humour aside, I am very, very disappointed by theperformance of the Leader of the Opposition here this morning. It is absolutely unwarranted.

A government member interjected. Ms BLIGH: I take the interjection about the performance of the Leader of the Opposition’s deputy.

I do not even think it warrants my views. What we have seen here this morning is another example ofweak, weak, weak leadership from the National Party. It is absolute weakness. It takes some strength tocome in here and do the right thing. The National Party had the opportunity and it has completelywasted it.

I was very honoured this morning to have the chance to second the nomination of the member forMount Isa. I stand by that nomination and I say again that it was not only an absolutely disgracefulperformance by the Leader of the Opposition but also nothing more than idle nonsense.

Mr HOBBS (Warrego—NPA) (10.11 am): It is my very great pleasure today to support thenomination of Ted Malone. Ted Malone has been a great parliamentarian and will certainly continue thatrole if elected as Speaker. Mr Malone has been a member of parliament for 11 years. He came into thisHouse through a by-election. Throughout my political career I have heard nobody say a bad wordagainst Ted Malone. We just heard the Deputy Premier—

Mr Springborg: ‘Madam Asbestos’. Mr HOBBS: ‘Madam Asbestos’—saying that we need respect and that we need bipartisan

agreement. How can it be bipartisan agreement if we have to agree with the Labor Party? We do notalways agree with the Labor Party and the Labor Party does not always agree with us. It is reasonableto assume that two sides have to agree for there to be bipartisan agreement. We are not looking forslippery diversions. If taxpayers are paying for Labor Forum functions, we want to know about it.

Mr Springborg: That is right. Nobody told us about that. Mr HOBBS: Nobody told us about that before. I cannot support the Labor nomination for

Speaker. We have witnessed the debacle of the previous Speaker’s resignation. He breached theguidelines of this House, as everyone is clearly aware. We have been asked to support someone againwho I contend has breached the standing orders of this House. As recently as estimates this year thisoccurred.

Honourable members, the minister was asked to provide details of all grants and investmentschemes, programs and funds administered by his department over three years—the 2002-03, 2003-04and 2004-05 financial years. The Labor Party’s nominee for Speaker failed to provide all that detail. Irefer in particular to the Financing Innovation Growth Program, known as the FIG fund. Honourable


members ought to be aware that $77 million was provided in the previous year for these types of grantsto small business and $151 million will be provided this coming year for business grants. So we aretalking about a lot of taxpayers’ money. By not providing this detail, I contend that the minister hasbreached section 266(2) of the standing orders of this Legislative Assembly. I give notice that at the firstavailable opportunity I will be referring this matter to the privileges committee for investigation. Thisbreach is a contempt of parliament by deliberately misleading the estimates committee. I assuremembers across the House that I would have done this anyway, irrespective of whether or not thismember was nominated for Speaker.

It is a serious matter. The Premier has said on numerous occasions that the estimates process isthere for people to get information, and we want that information to come across. However, thatinformation did not come across. Why did it not come across? Because the minister did not provide it. Itis up to him or his department to find out why it was not provided. This is a very serious breach of thisLegislative Assembly’s standing orders. This minister has failed in his duty to provide that information tothe estimates committee and I do not see how we can support a nominee for Speaker when a situationlike that occurs. I say again that I support very, very strongly the nomination of Mr Ted Malone, who hasbeen a great member of parliament and a wonderful gentleman.

Hon. RE SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton—ALP) (Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing)(10.15 am): The document tabled by the Leader of the Opposition speaks volumes about the NationalParty’s lack of capacity for work. It is an old document, from 6 May 2005, which does not reinforce any ofthe dirt that the National Party has tried to tip on the member for Mount Isa. Unlike those opposite, I willnot stoop to that level because this is a debate about people and their merits. There are a lot of thingsthat people could say about Mr Malone as well. I have found Mr Malone to be a very decent humanbeing, but no doubt there would be other people who would have a different view in that regard. This isnot the time nor the place to talk about that.

The truth is that the previous speaker said that he would be persuaded by the argument one wayor the other. We all know that to be nonsense; that is not the case. He was always going to vote forMr Malone, so let us be done with that rubbish. The truth of the matter is that the Leader of theOpposition started it all when he said that there was not enough evidence to convict. That shows thedespicable understanding of those opposite about what the rule of law in this state says. People areeither innocent or they are guilty. That is the rule of law in this state. Let us be gone with that nonsensethat we have heard from the other side of the House.

Tony McGrady is one of the finest citizens that this parliament could ever have sit in the positionof Speaker. He is a person of enormous personal integrity. He is a person of enormous personalgenerosity. For people to suggest that Mr McGrady would somehow want to involve himself in slap-updinners and all the rest of it and not expect to pay his way is stupid, ignorant and, at the very worst,misleading this parliament. It is a nonsense.

Mr Springborg interjected.Mr SCHWARTEN: I did not interrupt any opposition members, thank you. The reality is that Tony

McGrady brings to this position a wide range of skills that have been honed through very broadexperiences. For example, he came to this country as an immigrant, making his way to Mount Isa inthose groundbreaking times, doing it tough, bringing mummy with him—and it is good to see you upthere in the gallery, ‘Mummy’. The reality is that those sorts of experiences are at home with him—thatcommonsense approach that he will now bring to this chair. He is a person of considerable fairness,which is something else required of this position. He does know right from wrong and he has provedover a long period of time that he will be straight down the middle in terms of how he perceives things.Everybody knows where Tony McGrady stands. Everybody who knows Tony McGrady—and if thoseopposite were honest they would acknowledge this fact—knows where they stand when it comes toTony McGrady.

I believe that one of the speakers whom those opposite previously put up, Mr Turner, was of asimilar ilk in that regard. He was a person who had knocked around a fair bit, like Mr McGrady has; aperson who knew fairness; a person who brought to the position a sense of humour, which Mr McGradyalso has; and a person who was consistent in his approach to this parliament. All of those features makehim a very capable person to take on this esteemed position. The reality is that it is a difficult positionthat is not made easier by people who will attempt to undermine the position of the Speaker.

I would say to anybody in this parliament: if you think that you can undermine the position of theSpeaker, if you think that you can disrupt the parliament—as these people are doing while I am trying totalk—then think again. Because one thing that I can guarantee that Mr McGrady will bring to thisposition is order. He will ensure that the maturity he will expect of people in this parliament is somethingthat we will benefit from. I have no hesitation in supporting the nomination of Mr McGrady. He is aperson who will very ably take on this very onerous position and bring with it a degree of dignity anddecency to this parliament, and I support the motion.


Mr HORAN (Toowoomba South—NPA) (10.21 am): I have great pleasure in speaking in supportof the nomination of Mr Ted Malone, the member for Mirani, for the position of Speaker. This is one ofthe most important positions in the whole parliament, and much of the fair functioning of this parliamentdepends upon the appointment of the Speaker.

Mr Malone is the sort of person that you need a number of in this parliament. He is a self-mademan who left school early and manually cut and loaded cane, and made money through the sweat of hisbrow to go out and buy himself a farm and establish his young family on that farm. He has sincedeveloped into a successful cane farmer, has been able to lead the industry as Chairman of theAustralian Cane Farmers Association and he has also developed a number of successful businessoperations.

As previous speakers have said, Mr Malone is an absolute gentleman, a straight down the middlesort of person, and he and his wife, Mary, would be ideal in providing hospitality at overseas functionsand local delegations, which is part of running this parliament properly. We need a person like this whois fair. We cannot have some of the problems and issues that we have had in the past, the sniggeringfrom the top and looking to only one side of the House. We rely on the Speaker of this House to provideus with that impartial, straight down the middle decision making so that this place can operate well.

I well remember under the previous speaker Mr Seeney, the member for Callide, being asked towithdraw a question that was absolutely, totally legitimate. As a result, he got thrown out of this House.He should never have been asked to withdraw that question. We need fairness in this chair. I believeMr Malone will be able to provide that fairness.

This election today has come about because of an incredible amount of machinations within theLabor Party. Firstly, we had the Speaker resign. He was a dead duck from the time that the firstallegations and representations were made to the CMC. Then we saw Mr Terry Mackenroth resign. Hewas probably one of the most capable ministers we have seen in this House. I had a lot of respect for hisability. I think he resigned because the Premier was pushing the new Labor darling, the member forSouth Brisbane. I think Terry said, ‘Well, you try her. You have a go. I will take a spell.’ She has failed thetest at the first hurdle. She could not even get appointed as Treasurer.

As we debate the election of the Speaker today, it is worth while reflecting that out of 63 membersof the Labor government in its third term of government they cannot find one person who is capable oftaking on Treasury. It is mind boggling.

The PRESIDING MEMBER: Order! The member will return to the question. Mr HORAN: As I was saying, this particular position carries a number of heavy responsibilities.

First of all, it is to make this place absolutely fair. If you have a good speaker in the chair who is fair, whois straight down the middle and who has the respect of both sides and treats both sides equally, thenthis place will work well and work far better.

Secondly, I believe it is a very heavy responsibility to allow the public access to this parliament inthe way of being able to go to their social functions for delegations, for overseas visitors and otherimportant delegations to the parliament. Most importantly, the Speaker has to look after the staff of thisplace. This parliament is a strange place in that at times it can be a very quiet place with no parliamentsitting. At other times it is hectic and going until 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning. There are incredibledemands put on staff here, particularly the Hansard staff, the security staff and the catering staff. Attimes of shifting and transferring of officers there is a lot of pressure on many of the other staff, and it isabsolutely essential that we get a speaker who is able to look after the staff and make the staff one ofthe top priorities.

Finally, the Speaker has to look after the members of parliament. To many members of parliamentthis place is their second home. There are ministers who come down on Sundays precabinet and stay inthat lonely abode up there where the only catering is the vending machine downstairs. There areshadow ministers and members of committees who come here and stay many nights on top of theresponsibilities here in parliament. For many people, this is virtually their second home. Whilst it is thelast responsibility after staff, the parliament and delegations, it is important for the Speaker to recognisethat there are a couple of things needed. I have great pleasure in endorsing Ted Malone.

Hon. PT LUCAS (Lytton—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (10.26 am): I have thegreatest respect for the member for Mount Isa, Tony McGrady, and his wife, Sandra—and for Ted andMary Malone, who are also people I know quite well and who are wonderful people. I will not advancethe candidacy of Tony McGrady by getting in the gutter about people opposite, because I and people onthis side of the House, unlike a number of members opposite, do not believe the way to advance thedignity, the standing and the decorum of this parliament is to get into the gutter with outrageous attacksupon other people, not even candidates.

I have tremendous respect as a parliamentarian for Tony McGrady. He is a person I knowextremely well; a person I have learnt a lot from in my nine years in this House; a person who has beena very good example not only as a minister but in particular as a local member of parliament. He hasmaturity, dignity and good humour, and he has all of those in spades.


I can remember first dealing with Tony when I was in opposition but going up to Mount Isa on anumber of occasions as part of my parliamentary duties and being treated to the legendary McGradyhospitality. No-one goes to Mount Isa and is not absolutely amazed by the way in which Tony andSandra and their family look after them when they get there. It does not matter where one comes from. Isee the member for Gregory nodding. He would have been subject to the legendary McGrady hospitalityand made to feel welcome. That is very much part of Tony’s and Sandra’s character.

I make this prediction: members of this House will also be very surprised by the way in whichTony looks after them and their spouses. I know that he has a very strong view on the two members ofparliament who very fortunately will have babies in the near future. His personal view in relation to that isa very strong one. That is the mark of the man.

I have travelled to Mount Isa with him, and I have observed the way that he conducted himselftowards his constituents. He was a great example to a young backbencher, as I then was. He would getin and work at functions. He did not go swanning around fetes; he got in there and cooked hamburgers.He got in there and did the dirty work. That is the sort of person he is. In fact, I can remember on oneoccasion when we were waiting for the jet at the Mount Isa airport and a constituent gave him a bag fullof pills. He was taking them to that person’s sick spouse. He was going to visit them in hospital—I thinkat the Holy Spirit—and he had a bag of pills to take down to them.

Mr Schwarten: He gave them some mangoes, too. Mr LUCAS: And he brought down some mangoes as well. He came to Australia and Mount Isa in

1963. I was one year of age in 1963. God knows what Mount Isa would have looked like in 1963 tosomeone who had come from Liverpool, but I imagine it was a pretty confronting and interesting place inthose days. He later came back and brought his beautiful young wife with him. I imagine she also wouldhave been confronted by what Mount Isa was like. There is no greater defender of the electorate ofMount Isa in this House, nor has there ever been or ever will be in the future, than Tony McGrady. He isan example to all of us. Why is that important as a Speaker? It is important because the Speaker of thisHouse is not just a Speaker for the south-east corner, is not just a Speaker for Brisbane, the Gold Coastor the Sunshine Coast; he is a Speaker for regional and rural Queensland to ensure their voice is heardand to ensure that people at that level—people at all levels—understand that the great diversity of thisstate is in its regional and rural economy. Tony McGrady is someone who brings to this very high officeof Speaker a very clear understanding of that.

Mr McGrady has always been someone, to my knowledge, who has valued and treasuredfriendships at all levels in the community, whether you are talking about the person who has fallen onvery hard times or someone who is at the very highest level of society. He judges them on theirindividual worth. As Speaker he will judge people not on their political party, not on whether they are thePremier, not on whether they are the most recently arrived backbencher, but on the inherent andintrinsic merit in relation to their arguments or, in the case of people in the community, as individuals.

In conclusion, what are the qualities that someone needs to be Speaker? They need to be tough.Mr McGrady has chaired meetings that I have been part of and he has sat me on my backside when hethought I was going on too long. He will not be afraid to do that as Speaker. He is fair. He was not bornwith a silver spoon in his mouth. He is someone who understands the value of work and the dignity of aperson. He has an excellent sense of humour. Humour is very important here because sometimes thelight hand of humour and irony and a gentle dig is far more effective than kicking someone out or takingthe heavy-handed approach.

Finally, he is a person of passion. He is a person of passion for his wife and family, he is a personof passion for the institutions of this parliament and he is a person of passion for this state—in particularfor his electorate, but all of the state and the wonderful things that make it such a great privilege to berepresentatives in the parliament. I ultimately say that those qualities are ones that should guarantee hisstrong support by this House.

Mr JOHNSON (Gregory—NPA) (10.31 am): Today it gives me great joy to be able to rise to speakto the nomination of Ted Malone by the Leader of the Opposition and seconded by the Deputy Leader ofthe Opposition as the new Speaker to preside over this parliament. The member for Mirani is a man withimpeccable credentials. We have heard this morning about the qualities of Ted Malone. A couple ofpeople on the other side have even made comment about the qualities of Ted Malone. We have heardnot only about Ted but also his wife Mary. They are a complete couple; they are a couple who havegiven great representation to the electorate of Mirani. He is a man who has shown fairness and decencyat all times as he goes about his business as a member of parliament. I have been with him in theelectorate of Mirani and I have seen the respect he has for his constituents on both sides of politics. Ithink it stands as a testament to the type of person we need to be the new Speaker of this parliament.The government has nominated the member for Mount Isa as Speaker. I have respect for all people inthis parliament, but at the same time I believe we need a Speaker who is going to show the fairness thatTed Malone can show.


If can I just reflect on the former Speaker, at times there was not fairness in what was put acrossin this House. There are people in this place today who have been tortured in relation to issues thathave happened in their past. In relation to the issue of taxpayer funded overseas trips, it might be okayfor the Premier to say that this is all in the past now, the CMC has approved it, there are no problemsthere anymore, but I can assure members that the people of Queensland are still talking about theretrospectivity of these—

The PRESIDING MEMBER: The member must come back to the question. Mr JOHNSON: I will come back to the question of the Speaker. It comes back to everyday

fairness. In this parliament we need fairness from the Speaker. I wish to say one other thing to membersof this parliament. I spend a lot of time up in the tower. I have a large electorate, as does the member forMount Isa, the member for Cook and the member for Warrego. We spend a lot of time here and we donot get home when we want to get home. We get to know the security staff—we get to know all the staffhere—and I have great respect and admiration for them. I classify those people as my friends and as myassociates. I believe that they have been unfairly treated in the past by the former Speaker. I say this towhoever assumes the role of Speaker today: I hope the people in this parliament, regardless of whetherthey are members or whether they are staff, will be treated with respect, treated as professionals in theircareer path and treated as a very integral part of the operation of the Queensland Parliament.

The PRESIDING MEMBER: Honourable members, a ballot will now be conducted. At 11.05 am,In accordance with the provisions of standing orders 40 and 41, a ballot was taken by the Clerk,

with the following result—Mr McGrady 60 Mr Malone 24Mr McGrady submitted himself to the pleasure of the House and, on being called, was conducted

to the chair by the mover and the seconder. Mr SPEAKER: Members, I am honoured to be chosen as the member to fill the high and

honourable office of Speaker of the Queensland parliament. I want to thank the Premier and the DeputyPremier for nominating and seconding me. I would also like to thank all members of the parliament forparticipating in this election.

I believe that all too often we take our democratic institutions for granted. As we sit in this historicbuilding today witnessing democracy in action, throughout the world people are dying for the right tobelong to democratic institutions such as this. People are losing their lives, people are being killed byterrorists and yet sometimes we become very blase about the democracy that we enjoy. On occasionssuch as this we should reflect on just how fortunate we are living as we do—enjoying our democratic lifeand enjoying the special lifestyle that our state offers.

Debate within the parliament should be robust, and in my opinion members are entitled to showpassion. In fact, I would certainly encourage that. I would prefer to see members speaking off the cuff—speaking from the heart—rather than reading prepared speeches. However, if members feelcomfortable about reading speeches, that is fine by me.

The most exciting and possibly the most important part of parliamentary proceedings is questiontime—when members of parliament have the opportunity to question ministers as to how theyadminister their portfolios and their departments as well as the reasons for the decisions that they andtheir departments make. I want to make my position perfectly clear regarding the conduct of questiontime. I believe that question time is an integral part of the democratic process and that every member ofparliament should be allowed to ask questions of the relevant ministers in silence and receive therespect that their position affords them. Likewise, I would be expecting from all members that, once thequestion has been asked, the minister is entitled to respond in the allocated time in silence. For my part,I will warn a member who in my opinion is not acting in the way he or she should. If they fail to acceptthat warning and continue to act in that way, I will ask the member to leave the chamber. It is myintention to be firm but fair in that regard.

I want to see this parliament truly work. With that in mind, yesterday I rang the Leader of theOpposition and invited him to nominate a temporary chair, which he has done. I am pleased to informthe House that the member for Cunningham and the member for Indooroopilly will be the two newtemporary chairs.

Like many members of this House, I have been blessed with the love and support of my wife andfamily. If it were not for my wife, I probably would not be in this place today. We do not always have theopportunity to express our thanks and appreciation to our family and friends, but I take this opportunityto do that.

In closing, I want to thank all members for their support. For my part, I will do what I can to ensurethat the dignity of this House prevails. I certainly will not stifle debate, but it must be conducted in adignified way. Members, I believe that together we can ensure that the Queensland parliament will beseen and regarded around the world as one of the great parliaments operating under the Westminstersystem. Thank you.

09 Aug 2005 Motion to Suspend Sitting 2151

Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (11.10 am): Mr Speaker, Icongratulate you on your election.

PRESENTATION OF MR SPEAKERHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (11.10 am): I would like to

inform honourable members that Her Excellency the Governor will receive the House for the purpose ofpresenting the Speaker to Her Excellency at Government House today at noon. Cars will leave theportico at 11.40 am.

MOTION TO SUSPEND SITTINGHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (11.10 am): I move—

That this House be now suspended until 2.30 pm.

Mr SPRINGBORG (Southern Downs—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) (11.11 am): Mr Speaker,it is appropriate that as the leader of the official opposition I stand and say a few words upon yourelection to the position of Speaker, as is the tradition of this place. Mr Speaker, we acknowledge yourelection to the position of Speaker, and I can assure you that we will provide you with the deference thatis due to the high office which you hold. There is no doubt that being the Speaker is extremelychallenging, very difficult and extremely interesting; nevertheless, it is the most important job that goeswith being a member of this parliament who rises to that high office. Mr Speaker, we look forward tobeing able to gauge your performance in that role and we hope that we will be able to say that ourrespect for you in that position will be able to grow in the time that you hold the role of Speaker of theQueensland parliament.

I would also like to acknowledge the Acting Speaker, Jim Fouras, who has held this role at varioustimes over the last couple of months for one reason or another. Mr Speaker, from the perspective of theopposition, if you are able to portray the role of Speaker in a similar way to Mr Fouras then there will beno doubt whatsoever that you will be able to gain our respect, and our respect will be relayed not onlypublicly but also, very importantly, in this place. When you are in that role you have to balance theinterests of ensuring decorum and dignity in the parliament with making sure that the parliament isconducted in a fair way—that the opposition has the opportunity to scrutinise and that the governmenthas the opportunity to relay the information which it wishes to relay to the parliament.

The concern, of course, of an opposition is that we sometimes believe—and I think with a fairdegree of justification in many cases—that rules are not necessarily applied consistently. All I would askof you, Mr Speaker, is that you apply those rules consistently, and we hope and believe that you shouldbe able to do that. If you do apply those rules consistently then you will certainly earn our respect. In thetime Mr Fouras held the position of Acting Speaker he certainly did that. We had members ejected fromthe parliament in that time but we could understand and respect the reason for that because of the fairway in which he conducted this parliament.

As you appropriately said, Mr Speaker, this House is a robust place. It is a House ofaccountability. It is a House of legislation. It is place where we must act with an element of passion.There is no doubt about that because we stand up for all constituencies throughout Queensland andthey can be quite divergent. Mr Speaker, I acknowledge and commend you for what you said about thedesire to drill down and have people display their heart and soul in this place by way of relying less onthe written word and more on what actually comes from them spontaneously. I think that is somethingwe have lost in this House to some extent. If you can encourage that, we will support you absolutely inthat.

Mr Speaker, as I have said previously, we respect the high office of Speaker. We will be doingwhat we can to constructively work with you, and we are hopeful that respect for you in the position ofSpeaker will be able to build during your tenure.

Mr QUINN (Robina—Lib) (11.14 am): Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Liberal Party, I congratulateyou on your election to the high and ancient office of Speaker. We look forward to you ruling in thischamber in a fair and impartial manner and improving the respect and dignity of the parliament. As mostpeople in this chamber would understand, for a long time the Liberal Party has been supportive ofmoves to improve the perception of the way in which this parliament operates in Queensland. As I saidbefore, we look forward to working with you to improve that respect and dignity in the future.

Motion agreed to.Sitting suspended from 11.15 am to 2.30 pm.Mr SPEAKER (Hon. T McGrady, Mount Isa) read prayers and took the chair at 2.30 pm.

2152 Electoral District of Redcliffe 09 Aug 2005

ORDER OF BUSINESSHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.30 pm), by leave,

without notice: I move—That the order of business for the remainder of this day’s sitting circulated in my name be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

ASSENT TO BILLSGOVERNMENT HOUSEQUEENSLAND14 June 2005The Honourable D. Fouras, MPActing Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Parliament HouseGeorge StreetBRISBANE QLD 4000I hereby acquaint the Legislative Assembly that the following Bill, having been passed by the Legislative Assembly and havingbeen presented for the Royal Assent, was assented to in the name of Her Majesty The Queen on the date shown:Date of Assent: 10 June 2005"A Bill for an Act to amend the Medical Practitioners Registration Act 2001"The Bill is hereby transmitted to the Legislative Assembly, to be numbered and forwarded to the proper Officer for enrolment, inthe manner required by law.Yours sincerely(sgd)Governor

14 June 2005The Honourable D. Fouras, MPActing Speaker of the Legislative AssemblyParliament HouseGeorge StreetBRISBANE QLD 4000I hereby acquaint the Legislative Assembly that the following Bill, having been passed by the Legislative Assembly and havingbeen presented for the Royal Assent, was assented to in the name of Her Majesty The Queen on the date shown: Date of Assent: 14 June 2005"A Bill for an Act to amend the Land Tax Act 1915" The Bill is hereby transmitted to the Legislative Assembly, to be numbered and forwarded to the proper Officer for enrolment, inthe manner required by law.Yours sincerelyGovernor

PRESENTATION OF MR SPEAKERMr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to report that today I presented myself to Her

Excellency the Governor as the member chosen to fill the high and honourable office of Speaker of theLegislative Assembly, and that Her Excellency was pleased to congratulate me on my election.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF REDCLIFFE

Resignation of MemberMr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to report that the Acting Speaker received a letter of

resignation from the Hon. RK Hollis, member for the electoral district of Redcliffe. I table the letter for theinformation of members.

09 Aug 2005 Electoral Districts of Redcliffe and Chatsworth 2153

ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CHATSWORTH

Resignation of MemberMr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to report that the Acting Speaker received a letter of

resignation from the Hon. TM Mackenroth, member for the electoral district of Chatsworth. I table theletter for the information of members.

ELECTORAL DISTRICTS OF REDCLIFFE AND CHATSWORTH

By-Election DatesMr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to inform the House that Her Excellency the

Governor has issued writs for the election of members to serve in the Legislative Assembly ofQueensland for the electoral districts of Redcliffe and Chatsworth. The dates in connection with theissue of the writs are as follows:

Issue of writs—26 July 2005; Cut-off day for electoral rolls—13 July 2005; Nomination day—2 August 2005; Polling day—20 August 2005; Return of writs—19 September 2005, the details of which will be incorporated in the record of

parliament. Department of the Premier and CabinetQueensland Government26 July 2005Mr N LaurieClerk of the ParliamentParliament House BRISBANE Q 4000Dear Mr LaurieAs you are aware, Mr Ray Hollis has resigned as the Member for Redcliffe in the Legislative Assembly, with his resignationeffective on 21 July 2005 and the Honourable Terence Mackenroth has resigned as the Member for Chatsworth effective on 25July 2005.The Governor in Council has today issued Writs to the Electoral Commission of Queensland for elections to be held for theElectoral Districts of Redcliffe and Chatsworth on Saturday, 20 August 2005.Enclosed for your information is a copy of the Writ issued by the Governor in Council. Yours sincerely(sgd)Dr Leo Keliher Director-General

STATE OF QUEENSLANDElectoral Act 1992Writ for ElectionElizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of theCommonwealth.To the Electoral Commission of Queensland I, Quentin Bryce, Governor—(i) direct that you proceed according to the law to an election of a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for the

Electoral District of Redcliffe;(ii) appoint—

Tuesday, the twenty-sixth day of July 2005 to be the day of issue of this Writ; Saturday, the thirtieth day of July 2005 to be the cut-off day for electoral rolls for the election;Tuesday, the second day of August 2005 to be the cut-off day for the nomination of candidates for the election;Saturday, the twentieth day of August 2005 to be the polling day; and Monday, the nineteenth day of September 2005 for the return of this Writ.

(sgd)Signed and sealed with the Public Seal of the State on 26 July 2005. By Command(sgd)RECORDED in the Register of Patents, No. 46, page 104, on 26 July 2005.(sgd)Clerk of the Executive Council

2154 Panel of Temporary Speakers 09 Aug 2005

Queensland GovernmentDepartment of the Premier and Cabinet25 July 2005Mr N J LaurieClerk of the Parliament Parliament House George Street BRISBANE QLD 4000Dear Mr LaurieI wish to confirm that on 25 July 2005, Her Excellency the Governor accepted the resignations of the Honourable Terence MichaelMackenroth as Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Sport and as an Executive Councillor.I also understand that Mr Mackenroth has also resigned to the Acting Speaker as a Member of the Legislative Assembly effectivefrom 25 July 2005.Notification of the Ministerial resignation will be published in an extraordinary Government Gazette dated 25 July 2005.Yours sincerely(sgd)Dr Leo Keliher Director-General

STATE OF QUEENSLANDElectoral Act 1992Writ for ElectionElizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of theCommonwealth.To the Electoral Commission of Queensland I, Quentin Bryce, Governor—(i) direct that you proceed according to the law to an election of a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for the

Electoral District of Chatsworth;(ii) appoint—

Tuesday, the twenty-sixth day of July 2005 to be the day of issue of this Writ; Saturday, the thirtieth day of July 2005 to be the cut-off day for electoral rolls for the election;Tuesday, the second day of August 2005 to be the cut-off day for the nomination of candidates for the election;Saturday, the twentieth day of August 2005 to be the polling day; and Monday, the nineteenth day of September 2005 for the return of this Writ.

(sgd)Signed and sealed with the Public Seal of the State on 26 July 2005. By Command(sgd)RECORDED in the Register of Patents, No. 46, page 105, on 26 July 2005.(sgd)Clerk of the Executive Council

PANEL OF TEMPORARY SPEAKERSMr SPEAKER: Honourable members, in accordance with the requirements of standing order 2, I

nominate the following members to form the panel of Temporary Speakers: Ms Peta-Kaye Croft, member for Broadwater; Mr John English, member for Redlands; Ms Jan Jarratt, member for Whitsunday; Ms Carolyn Male, member for Glass House;Mr Jason O’Brien, member for Cook; Mr Craig Wallace, member for Thuringowa; Mr Ronan Lee, member for Indooroopilly; and Mr Stuart Copeland, member for Cunningham.

09 Aug 2005 Papers 2155

PETITIONSThe following honourable members have lodged paper petitions for presentation—

Local Government Planning ApprovalsMr Cummins from 401 petitioners requesting the House to support the Minister for Local Government and Planning to review andalter the ‘Code Assessable’ requirements, by making all submissions for approval in this category notifiable to the public to ensureresidents have the opportunity to object to, or support, the application.

Police Patrols; Beenleigh-Redland Bay RoadMs Stone from 47 petitioners requesting the House to increase the number of police patrols in the residential area of theBeenleigh-Redland Bay Road service road between Reuben Street and California Creek Road Cornubia and adjoining streets;implement traffic calming solutions; conduct an education campaign for local youth on safe driving practices and install effectivetraffic noise barriers on Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road.

Asbestos, Shorncliffe State SchoolMr Nuttall from 239 petitioners requesting the House to have the demountable classrooms built with asbestos-containingmaterials at Shorncliffe State School removed and replaced with a new, double storey building to accommodate Year 1, 2 and 3classes and also incoming preparatory year students in 2007.

Tree Removal, CooktownMr O’Brien from 877 petitioners requesting the House to prevent the Justice Department from removing the ancient Mango andCurtain Fig trees from the Court House, Charlotte Street, Cooktown and seek other means available to manage these trees.

Child Protection (Recognition of Relative Carers) Amendment BillMr Wellington from 755 petitioners requesting the House to support the terms of the Private Members Bill "Child Protection(Recognition of Relative Carers) Amendment Bill" addressing the issue that grandparents, as relative carers, receive no fundingfor caring for their grandchildren.

Adult Entertainment, CMC ReportMr McArdle from 42 petitioners requesting the House to reject any recommendations within the Crime and MisconductCommission’s report entitled "Regulating Adult Entertainment: A review of the live adult entertainment industry in Queensland"which expands the scope of this industry through legalisation of illegal activities, including Recommendations 7, 12, 15, 18 and 26,and to endorse recommendations from the report which protect minors and the community through enhanced regulation,enforcement and penalties.

The following honourable members have sponsored e-petitions which are now closed and presented—

Prep Year, Teacher Aide HoursMr Langbroek from 103 petitioners requesting the House to double the amount of teacher aide hours for Prep Year such that theyare in line with the current requirements for pre-schools.

Local Government Planning Approvals, Redland Shire CouncilMr Choi from 172 petitioners requesting the House to overturn the decision made by Redland Shire Council on 26 April 2005 inrelation to 401 Redland Bay Road, Capalaba and commission a public inquiry, investigating the manner in which planningdecisions are being made, and in particular investigate any inappropriate influence by the development industry upon suchdecisions.

Mount Cotton QuarryMr English from 1,133 petitioners requesting the House to not approve the inclusion of the drafted new quarry operation knownas Key Resource Area 71 for Mt Cotton and to not approve any expansion of the existing Mt Cotton Quarry operation in the StateDevelopment Plan and to consider permanently preserving for the heritage of Queensland the 200 hectare property 195-203Gramzow Road, Mt Cotton.

Age of ConsentMr Finn from 740 petitioners requesting the House to take action immediately to establish a truly equal age of consent byremoving sections 208 and 209 of the Queensland Criminal Code Act 1899.

Jet Boats, Brisbane RiverMr Lee from 812 petitioners requesting the House to reject proposals to allow for commercial jet boat joy rides on the BrisbaneRiver.

Shingle Inn; Queensland Heritage RegisterMr Fraser from 409 petitioners requesting the House to review the removal of the Shingle Inn from the Queensland HeritageRegister; ensure that the Shingle Inn is reinstated in the Central Business District as originally as possible, as was agreed; andreinstate it on the Queensland Heritage Register ensuring that it remains protected in the future.

PAPERSPAPERS TABLED DURING THE RECESSThe Clerk informed the House that the following papers, received during the recess, were tabled on the dates indicated—14 June 2005—• Response from the Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women (Ms Boyle) to a paper petition

presented by Mr Lee from 2325 petitioners requesting the House to amend the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and ban thepractice of recreational duck and quail shooting in Queensland

2156 Papers 09 Aug 2005

15 June 2005—• Public Accounts Committee—Report No. 69—Review of the Report of the Strategic Review of the Queensland Audit

Office, June 2005• Islanders Board of Industry and Service Annual Report 2004-200517 June 2005—• Response from the Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women (Ms Boyle) to a paper petition

presented by Mr Wellington from 539 petitioners regarding horse riding continuance in Forest Reserves and a request toset aside existing fire trails and degraded tracks as Conservation Park Corridors

21 June 2005—• National Electricity (South Australia) (New National Electricity Law) Amendment Act 200527 June 2005—• Board of Architects of Queensland—Code of Practice and Explanatory Notes made by the Board of Architects of

Queensland on 23 November 2004• Registered Professional Engineers in Queensland—Code of Practice made by the Board of Professional Engineers of

Queensland on 24 March 200530 June 2005—• Auditor-General’s Report—No. 2 2005—Results of Audits Completed at 30 April 2005• Report of the Queensland Ombudsman—The Workplace Electrocution Project, June 2005• Response from the Minister for Transport and Main Roads (Mr Lucas) to an e-petition sponsored by Ms Boyle from 316

petitioners requesting the House to protect the Cairns Yacht Club, a historical site and heritage listed building• Response from the Minister for Health (Mr Nuttall) to two paper petitions presented by Ms Lee Long from 1966 and 533

petitioners requesting the House to improve maternity care service implementing the recommendations of the Report ofthe Review of Maternity Services in Queensland, re-birthing

5 July 2005—• Response from the Minister for Health (Mr Nuttall) to a paper petition presented by Mr Knuth from 329 petitioners

requesting the House to redress the chronic shortage of dental services in centres such as Richmond and Hughenden• Response from the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries (Mr Palaszczuk) to a paper petition presented by Mrs

Sullivan from 192 petitioners requesting a prohibition on commercial fishing in Deception Bay and the adjacent oceanbeach of Bribie Island, as far as Woorim

• Report by the Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Sport (Mr Mackenroth) on an overseas visit to Shanghai,China—June 2005

• 2005 Buick V8 Supercars Championship Series—China Round Program6 July 2005—• Response from the Minister for Police and Corrective Services (Ms Spence) to a paper petition presented by Mr Finn from

301 petitioners requesting the House to ensure local residents have access to 24 hour staffing at Moorooka Police Stationand an awareness campaign to inform local people of how to access the police

8 July 2005—• Legal, Constitutional and Administrative Review Committee—Voices and Votes—A Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into

Young People’s Engagement in Democracy in Queensland—July 2005, Discussion Paper• Legal, Constitutional and Administrative Review Committee—Voices and Votes—A Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into

Young People’s Engagement in Democracy in Queensland—July 2005, Response Form• Legal, Constitutional and Administrative Review Committee—Voices and Votes—A Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into

Young People’s Engagement in Democracy in Queensland—July 2005, Quick Poll• Letter, dated 7 July 2005, from the Premier and Minister for Trade (Mr Beattie) to the Clerk of the Parliament enclosing a

copy of a letter from the Commonwealth Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties listing proposed internationaltreaty actions tabled in the Commonwealth Parliament on 21 June 2005 and the National Interest Analyses for each of theproposed treaty actions listed

• Letter, dated 8 July 2005, from the Premier and Minister of Trade (Mr Beattie) to the Clerk of the Parliament indicating theapproval of, and attaching a request from the Deputy Speaker (Mr Fouras) seeking the Premier’s approval to attend the36th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference and the meeting of the Australian Regional Management Committee of theCommonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Apia—Samoa

11 July 2005—• South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-2026 and maps14 July 2005—• Response from the Minister for Transport and Main Roads (Mr Lucas) to a paper petition presented by Mr Rowell from 239

petitioners requesting that safety measures be investigated to allow fishing activity to continue from the Herbert RiverBridge at Halifax and to reduce the speed limit over the bridge

15 July 2005—• Response from the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines (Mr Robertson) to an e-petition sponsored by Mr Lee from

1383 petitioners requesting the House to ensure the long term protection of Queensland wild rivers• Response from the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines (Mr Robertson) to an e-petition sponsored by Mr O’Brien

from 189 petitioners requesting the House to amend the Wild Rivers Bill• Response from the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines (Mr Robertson) to a paper petition presented by Ms Roberts

from 20 petitioners requesting the House to intervene to prevent the pumping of vast quantities of potable bore water fromTraveston for non-rural use

09 Aug 2005 Papers 2157

• Response from the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines (Mr Robertson) to a paper petition presented by Mr Hobbsfrom 162 petitioners requesting the House not to impose taxes on licenced water bores and dams, and interim charges forwater harvesting

19 July 2005—• National Electricity (South Australia) Variation Regulations 2005• National Electricity Rules, Certified Initial Rules—July 2005 • Queensland local government comparative information 2003/04 (CD version only)22 July 2005—• Response from the Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women (Ms Boyle) to a paper petition

presented by Mr Fraser from 1283 petitioners regarding a request to review the removal of the Shingle Inn from theQueensland Heritage Register, and additionally request its reinstatement onto the Queensland Heritage Register andrelocation back into the CBD

• Report from the Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations (Mr Barton) on an overseas trip—QueenslandMinisterial Mission for Employment and Training to China, 18-25 June 2005

25 July 2005—• Response from the Minister for Transport and Main Roads (Mr Lucas) to a paper petition presented by Mr Knuth from 602

petitioners regarding the application and enforcement of new legislation in northern, central and western Queensland,which requires windows in parked vehicles to be fully closed

• Report from the Minister for State Development and Innovation (Mr McGrady) on an overseas trip—United States ofAmerica, 15-26 June 2005

• Report from the Premier and Minister for Trade (Mr Beattie) on an overseas trip—United States of America, Italy and TheHoly See, 14-25 June 2005 and additional material

• Report from Heather Beattie, accompanying the Premier’s Trade Mission to the USA and Italy, 14-25 June 200527 July 2005—• Response from the Minister for Police and Corrective Services (Ms Spence) to a paper petition presented by Mr

Langbroek from 353 petitioners requesting the House to establish a shop-front police station in Redland Bay28 July 2005—• Report by the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries (Mr Palaszczuk) pursuant to Section 56A(4) of the Statutory

Instruments Act 1992, regarding the Stock Identification Regulation 1985 and the Stock Regulation 19881 August 2005—• Response by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads (Mr Lucas) to a paper petition presented by Mr Pitt from 998

petitioners requesting a pedestrian crossing and traffic lights be constructed on Ernest Street, Innisfail2 August 2005—• Estimates Committee B—Report 2005• Estimates Committee B—Additional Information Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of 20055 August 2005—• Estimates Committee F—Report 2005• Estimates Committee F—Additional Information Volume 20058 August 2005—• Estimates Committee A—Report No. 1 2005• Estimates Committee A—Report No. 2 2005• Estimates Committee A—Additional Information Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of 2005• Response from the Premier and Treasurer (Mr Beattie) to a paper petition presented by Mr Langbroek from 1309

petitioners requesting the immediate abolishment of certain state taxes• Estimates Committee C—Report 2005• Estimates Committee C—Additional Information Volume 2005• Estimates Committee G—Report 2005• Estimates Committee G—Additional Information Volume 2005• Estimates Committee D—Report 2005• Estimates Committee D—Additional Information Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of 2005STATUTORY INSTRUMENTSThe following statutory instruments were tabled by the Clerk—Crime and Misconduct Act 2001—• Crime and Misconduct Regulation 2005, No 108Architects Act 2002, Professional Engineers Act 2002—• Public Works Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 109Legal Profession Act 2004—• Legal Profession (Barristers) Amendment Rule (No. 1) 2005, No. 110Nature Conservation Act 1992, State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999—• Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 111

2158 Papers 09 Aug 2005

Nature Conservation Act 1992—• Nature Conservation (Macropod) Conservation Plan 2005, No. 112Building Act 1975—• Standard Building Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 113Nature Conservation Act 1992—• Nature Conservation (Macropod Harvest Period) Notice 2005, No. 114Casino Control Act 1982, Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999, Gaming Machine Act 1991, Interactive Gambling (PlayerProtection) Act 1998, Keno Act 1996, Lotteries Act 1997, Wagering Act 1998—• Gambling Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 3) 2005, No. 115Agricultural College Act 2005—• Proclamation commencing remaining provisions, No. 116Hospitals Foundations Act 1982—• Hospitals Foundations Regulation 2005, No. 117Mineral Resources Act 1989—• Mineral Resources Amendment Regulation (No. 4) 2005, No. 118Aboriginal Land Act 1991—• Aboriginal Land Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 119Recreation Areas Management Act 1988—• Recreation Areas Management Amendment By-Law (No. 1) 2005, No. 120State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999, Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994—• Transport Operations (Marine Safety) and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 121 and

Explanatory Notes for No. 121Statutory Instruments Act 1992—• Statutory Instruments Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 122Duties Act 2001, Fuel Subsidy Act 1997, Land Tax Act 1915, Taxation Administration Act 2001—• Revenue Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 123Government Owned Corporations Act 1993—• Government Owned Corporations Amendment Regulation (No. 3) 2005, No. 124Contract Cleaning Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Act 2005—• Contract Cleaning Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Regulation 2005, No. 125 and Explanatory Notes and

Regulatory Impact Statement for No. 125Industrial Relations Act 1999—• Industrial Relations (Tribunals) Amendment Rule (No. 1) 2005, No. 126Housing Act 2003—• Housing Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 127Penalties and Sentences Act 1992—• Penalties and Sentences Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 128Supreme Court of Queensland Act 1991—• Supreme Court (Legal Practitioner Admission) Amendment Rule (No. 2) 2005, No. 129Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994—• Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Interim Standard 2005, No. 130Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995—• Transport Operations (Road Use Management-Vehicle Registration) Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 131Rural and Regional Adjustment Act 1994—• Rural and Regional Adjustment Amendment Regulation (No. 5) 2005, No. 132Rural and Regional Adjustment Act 1994—• Rural and Regional Adjustment Amendment Regulation (No. 6) 2005, No. 133Water Act 2000—• Water Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 134Associations Incorporation Act 1981, Bills of Sale and Other Instruments Act 1955, Body Corporate and Community ManagementAct 1997, Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980, Business Names Act 1962, Collections Act 1966, Commercial and ConsumerTribunal Act 2003, Cooperatives Act 1997, Funeral Benefit Business Act 1982, Introduction Agents Act 2001, Land Sales Act1984, Liens on Crops of Sugar Cane Act 1931, Liquor Act 1992, Motor Vehicles and Boats Securities Act 1986, Partnership Act1891, Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000, Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002, Retirement Villages Act 1999,Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003, Security Providers Act 1993, Tourism Services Act 2003, Trade MeasurementAdministration Act 1990, Travel Agents Act 1988, Wine Industry Act 1994—• Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development (Fees) Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 135Nature Conservation Act 1992—• Nature Conservation (Protected Plants) Amendment Conservation Plan (No. 1) 2005, No. 136

09 Aug 2005 Papers 2159

Nature Conservation Act 1992—• Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 137Environmental Protection Act 1994, Nature Conservation Act 1992, Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act1993—• Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 138Gas Supply Act 2003—• Gas Supply Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 139Building and Construction Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Act 1991—• Building and Construction Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 140 and

Explanatory Notes and Regulatory Impact Statement for No. 140Electrical Safety Act 2002—• Electrical Safety Amendment Regulation (No. 3) 2005, No. 141Health Act 1937, Health Services Act 1991, Occupational Therapists Registration Act 2001, Pharmacists Registration Act 2001—• Health Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 3) 2005, No. 142Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000—• Police Powers and Responsibilities Amendment Regulation (No. 3) 2005, No. 143Police and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2005—• Proclamation commencing remaining provisions, No. 144Legal Profession Act 2004—• Legal Profession Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 145Professional Standards Act 2004—• Proclamation commencing remaining provisions, No. 146Freedom of Information and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2005—• Proclamation commencing remaining provisions, No. 147Water and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2005—• Proclamation commencing certain provisions, No. 148Aboriginal Land Act 1991—• Aboriginal Land Amendment Regulation (No. 3) 2005, No. 149Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2004—• Proclamation commencing remaining provision, No. 150Nature Conservation Act 1992—• Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 151Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995, Environmental Protection Act 1994, Forestry Act 1959, Marine Parks Act 1982,Nature Conservation Act 1992, Queensland Heritage Act 1992, Recreation Areas Management Act 1988—• Environmental Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 152Integrated Planning Act 1997—• Integrated Planning Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 153Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977—• Financial Management Amendment Standard (No. 1) 2005, No. 154Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Act 2003—• Survey and Mapping Infrastructure (Survey Standards) Notice 2005, No. 155Commissions of Inquiry Act 1950, Health Rights Commission Act 1991—• Commissions of Inquiry (Bundaberg Hospital Inquiry-Evidence) Regulation 2005, No. 156Plant Protection Act 1989—• Plant Protection Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 157Land Sales Act 1984—• Land Sales Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 158Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000—• Property Agents and Motor Dealers Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 159Health Act 1937—• Health (Drugs and Poisons) Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 160Rural and Regional Adjustment Act 1994—• Rural and Regional Adjustment Amendment Regulation (No. 7) 2005, No. 161Environmental Protection Act 1994—• Environmental Protection Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 162Disaster Management Act 2003—• Disaster Management (Extension of Disaster Situation-Gold Coast) Regulation 2005, No. 163

2160 Ministerial Statement 09 Aug 2005

Education (General Provisions) Act 1989, Education (Overseas Students) Act 1996—• Education Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 164Fisheries Act 1994—• Fisheries Management Plans Amendment Management Plan (No. 2) 2005, No. 165Water Act 2000—• Water Resource (Fitzroy Basin) Amendment Plan (No. 1) 2005, No. 166 and Explanatory Notes for No. 166Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000—• Police Powers and Responsibilities Amendment Regulation (No. 4) 2005, No. 167Education (Teacher Registration) Act 1988—• Education (Teacher Registration) Amendment By-law (No. 2) 2005, No. 168Industrial Relations Act 1999—• Industrial Relations Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 169Food Act 1981, Health Act 1937, Health Services Act 1991, Pest Management Act 2001, Private Health Facilities Act 1999,Radiation Safety Act 1999—• Health Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 4) 2005, No. 170Racing Amendment Act 2005—• Proclamation commencing remaining provisions, No. 171Racing Act 2002—• Racing Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 172Public Trustee Act 1978—• Public Trustee Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2005, No. 173Nature Conservation Act 1992—• Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Amendment Regulation (No. 3) 2005, No. 174Public Service Act 1996—• Public Service Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2005, No. 175EXEMPT STATUTORY INSTRUMENTSThe following statutory instrument was tabled by the Clerk—• Biodiscovery Act 2004, Statutory Instruments Act 1992—

Compliance code for taking native biological material under a collection authorityCOMMITTEE REPORT TABLED BY THE CLERKThe following report was tabled by the Clerk—• Chair, Estimates Committee E (Mr Mulherin)—

Estimates Committee E—Report 2005Estimates Committee E—Additional Information Volume 2005

MEMBERS’ PAPERS TABLED BY THE CLERKThe following members’ papers were tabled by the Clerk—• Member for Ashgrove (Mr Fouras)—

Report on an overseas trip by the Acting Speaker (Mr Fouras)—Report on attendance at the 36th PresidingOfficers and Clerks Conference Apia, Samoa, 11—15 July 2005

• Member for Stafford (Mr Sullivan)—Report on an overseas trip by Mr Sullivan—Report to the Parliament on an Overseas Trade Mission to China byQueensland Government Backbenchers, 21 June—2 July 2005

• Member for Thuringowa (Mr Wallace)—Report on an overseas trip by Mr Wallace—Report to the Parliament on an Overseas Trade Mission to China byQueensland Government Backbenchers, 21 June—2 July 2005

• Member for Clayfield (Ms Clark)—Report on an overseas trip by Ms E Clark—17th Annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar, Cape Town,South Africa, 29 May—4 June 2005Report on an overseas trip by Ms E Clark—China, 21 June—2 July 2005

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Leader of the HouseHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.38 pm): I wish to advise

the House that arrangements have been made and the honourable Speaker informed that the Hon.Robert Evan Schwarten, Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing has been appointed as Leaderof the House.

09 Aug 2005 Ministerial Statement 2161


Administrative ArrangementsHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.38 pm): I wish to advise

the House of a number of administrative changes—firstly, changes in the ministry, appointment ofparliamentary secretaries and administrative arrangements. I wish to inform the House that on 25 July2005 Her Excellency the Governor accepted the resignation of the Hon. Terence Michael Mackenroth asDeputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Sport and as a member of the executive council. I alsoinform the House that on 28 July 2005 Her Excellency the Governor accepted a number of resignationsand made a number of appointments.

I lay upon the table of the House two copies of the relevant notifications from the QueenslandGovernment Gazette. I seek leave to have those details incorporated in Hansard for the information ofmembers.

Leave granted.I also inform the House that on 28 July 2005, Her Excellency the Governor—(a) Accepted the resignations of—

The Honourable PETER DOUGLAS BEATTIE, as Premier and Minister for Trade;The Honourable ANNA MARIA BLIGH, as Minister for Education and the Arts;The Honourable ANTHONY McGRADY, as Minister for State Development and Innovation;The Honourable GORDON RICHARD NUTTALL, as Minister for Health;The Honourable RODNEY JON WELFORD, as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice;The Honourable HENRY PALASZCZUK, as Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries;The Honourable STEPHEN ROBERTSON, as Minister for Natural Resources and Mines; andThe Honourable CHRISTOPHER PAUL CUMMINS, as Minister for Emergency Services;

and(b) Accepted the resignation of The Honourable ANTHONY McGRADY as a member of the Executive Council;and(c) Appointed—

The Honourable PETER DOUGLAS BEATTIE, to be Premier and Treasurer;The Honourable ANNA MARIA BLIGH, to be Deputy Premier and Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development,Trade and Innovation;The Honourable RODNEY JON WELFORD, to be Minister for Education and Minister for the Arts;The Honourable STEPHEN ROBERTSON, to be Minister for Health;The Honourable HENRY PALASZCZUK, to be Minister for Natural Resources and Mines;The Honourable CHRISTOPHER PAUL CUMMINS, to be Minister for Small Business, Information Technology Policy andMulticultural Affairs;The Honourable LINDA DENISE LAVARCH, to be Minister for Justice and Attorney-General; andThe Honourable PATRICK DOUGLAS PURCELL, to be Minister for Emergency Services;

and(d) Appointed—

The Honourable LINDA DENISE LAVARCH and The Honourable PATRICK DOUGLAS PURCELL, to be members of theExecutive Council.

I also inform the House that in accordance with the Constitution of Queensland 2001, Her Excellency the Governor, acting by andwith the advice of the Executive Council, appointed—-

Karen Lee Struthers MP to be Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations;Lindy Helena Nelson-Carr MP to be Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Treasurer in North Queensland and to theMinister for Transport and Main Roads;Neil Stuart Roberts MP to be Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Finance, Minister for StateDevelopment, Trade and Innovation;Kerry Gerard Shine MP to be Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniorsand Premier’s Advisor on Western Queensland; andAndrew Peter Fraser MP to be Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Treasurer.

Finally, I wish to inform the House that, in accordance with the Constitution of Queensland 2001, Her Excellency the Governor,acting by and with the advice of the Executive Council, approved Administrative Arrangements Order (No. 2) 2005.

I lay upon the table of the House a copy of the relevant notifications from the Queensland Government Gazette.



Office of the SpeakerHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.40 pm): In relation to

guidelines for the financial management of the Office of the Speaker, as members would be aware theCrime and Misconduct Commission’s report on its review of the guidelines for the financial managementof the Office of the Speaker made 28 recommendations. On 7 June 2005 I tabled the government’sresponse to the CMC recommendations, fully supporting 19 and partially supporting seven of therecommendations. As outlined to the House at the time, only two of the recommendations were notsupported by the government. The guidelines have now been updated to account for the CMC’srecommendations and I have approved them.

The new guidelines improve the transparency of expenses to the parliament and also clarify therole and responsibilities of the Office of the Speaker reporting arrangements, relationships anddelegations under the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977. Importantly, they have alsotightened up the areas of travel and entertainment and clarified the documentation and approvalsrequired before expenditure can be processed. The new guidelines also contain processes to ensurethat they remain up to date. In accordance with section 1.4 of the new guidelines for the financialmanagement of the Office of the Speaker, I now table them for the information of the House.


Trade and Investment Mission: USA, Italy and Holy SeeHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.40 pm): On 28 July I

tabled a report on my trade and investment mission to the USA, Italy and the Holy See. That was whenparliament was not in session. This was my seventh consecutive visit to BIO, and this year about 80Smart State biotechnology leaders attended, as members know. By way of accountability, I seek toincorporate the details of my ministerial statement in Hansard so that I have reported to the House onthat trip.

Leave granted.Accompanying me were the then Minister for State Development and Innovation, Tony McGrady, and the Chief Scientist,Professor Peter Andrews.Our announcements in Philadelphia included:

$5 million towards the University of Queensland’s Queensland Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Network;$20 million towards a University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital;$1.5 million towards an upgrade of Lizard Island Research Station;$3.5 million to Griffith University for the Queensland Compound Library at the Eskitis Institute for Cell and MolecularTherapies;$1.4 million for a $17 million tissue bank at the Wesley Research Institute;Five Queensland Clinical Research Scholarships at a total cost of $900,000;$150,000 to two scientists working on ways of repairing human bodies and one who is working on turning sugar cane intobiodegradable plastic;$15,000 for four postgraduate entrepreneurial groups to participate in the Young Achievement Australia BiotechnologyEntrepreneur Program;The purchase of a $500,000 mass spectrometer by Q-Pharm; The Queensland Clinical Trials Network Inc has become operational, with a government commitment of $5 million overfour years;An Entrepreneur in Residence program was launched by UniQuest;Microsoft will be the official sponsor of the Queensland Government’s $2.7 million ICT Learning Innovation Centre on theSunshine Coast;Accenture Learning announced it would establish its Australian headquarters and e-Learning content development centrein Queensland;A new alliance between the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience and a New Zealand companyaimed at protecting livestock from a crippling parasite; A partnership between the Queensland Government and two Queensland biotechnology companies, Alchemia and CNS,designed to raise the reputation of Queensland Smart State biotechnology in the United States;A decision by SAP to sponsor ten Ph.D students at the University of Queensland and the Queensland University ofTechnology;Cairns will be the first city outside North America to host the annual conference of the International Society for Stem CellResearch;The govt will establish the Smart State Council to provide strategic high level advice on Smart Queensland Policy;An international investment banking and funds management firm headquartered in Brisbane, Millhouse IAG, acquired aGerman Life Sciences fund;


Clemson University in South Carolina and the Queensland University of Technology have a collaboration agreement; andWollemi Australia has signed an agreement with the Smithsonian Institution to evaluate the pine’s performance forornamental purposes;

We also:Released the Queensland Biotechnology Strategic Plan 2005-2015 which outlines the Government’s plans to help theindustry achieve its aim of $4 billion a year by 2025, and to employ 16,000 Queenslanders by that year;Signed a biotech agreement with South Carolina; and Extended for 5 years our memorandum of understanding with the Smithsonian Institution.

I also visited New York and the Weill Medical College of Cornel University, where I discussed physician assistants.I publicised Queensland writing and other creative industries in New York.The then Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, the Honourable Stephen Robertson, joined me in New York for meetingsinvolving clean coal technology.I also promoted our film and television capabilities to the influential board of the Association of Film Commissioners International.I visited Boeing in Philadelphia to strengthen our relationship with Boeing.HOLY SEEI was delighted to be an official guest at the General Audience by the Pope in St Peter’s Square, and to meet briefly with HisHoliness Pope Benedict XVI.I am indebted to Australia’s Embassy to the Holy See and Embassy to Rome, especially Councillor Ted Knez, Cardinal GeorgePell, Father Tony Randazzo and the Honourable Con Sciacca for making arrangements for me to attend the Audience.ITALYQueensland has some 100,000 citizens of Italian extraction and Italy is now our 2nd largest trade partner in Europe.Our links with Italy are mainly focused on coal, cotton, fashion and consumer goods.I believe we should now concentrate on building regional ties—particularly with Lazio and Lombardy.I met the Presidents of these regions, and they were keen to develop formal relationships with Queensland.During my visit to Italy I also announced:

Queensland Company AI Scientific announced a multi-million dollar order from the Italian distributing company MedicalSystems;Union Switch and Signal Asia Pacific, a Queensland company which is part of a giant Italian conglomerate, announcednew jobs for Queensland as a result of major export contracts; A student exchange program between Griffith University and the University of Queensland with European Universities;and

Queensland property developer The Sunland Group is building a Palazzo Versace in Dubai.


Business Leader Forum AddressHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.41 pm): In terms of the

new structures of government, on 3 August I addressed, along with the Deputy Premier, a businessleaders forum and I set out how these new structures would work. I also distributed the economic growthpicture for Queensland, which I table for the House, and I seek to incorporate in Hansard my address tothose business leaders so that I can explain to new members the new structures of government.

Leave granted. 3 AUGUST BUSINESS LEADERS FORUMI have taken on the role of Treasurer to ensure that we deliver in 2 vital areas: health and infrastructure. I will focus on economic policy and budgetary matters, superannuation, and competition policy. I will retain responsibility for the Queensland Investment Corporation and the Queensland Treasury Corporation. I’ve also decided to bring the Coordinator-General back into my Department, answerable directly to me. I have asked the CEO of Stanwell Power Corporation, Ross Rolfe, a former Director-General of State Development, to take on therole for 12 months. I’ve also established an Economic and Infrastructure Action Committee to lead & guide economic development and infrastructuredelivery.I will head the committee along with the Deputy Premier, Anna Bligh, the Under-Treasurer, Gerard Bradley, my Director-General,Dr Leo Keliher, the Director-General of State Development, Paul Fennelly, and Ross Rolfe. Our economy remains the strongest in the country, with estimated growth of 4.25% in 2004-05 and similar growth expected in2005-06. In comparison, growth nationally is expected to be 2% in 2004-05 and 3% in 2005-06. The latest National Australia Bank business survey showed that Queensland’s Business Conditions Index has now outperformedthe national index for almost 4 years. Yesterday we found out that Queensland business has set a new record by increasing the value of exported goods by one-third toalmost $8 billion in the June quarter.


The value of our exports rose by 33.7% over the quarter. Coal continued to power ahead, with exports increasing by 87.7% to $3.4billion. There will be no change to the fiscal strategy we have pursued as a Government:

a competitive tax environment;maintaining an overall General Government surplus;sustainable borrowing for capital investment; and,ensuring we cover all our accruing and expected liabilities.

The current Budget position is strong. The projected 2004-05 surplus was estimated in the June Budget at $2.725 billion. The strong performance of equity markets in June is expected to boost the surplus to more than $3 billion.The Budget position for 2005-06 is sound with a projected surplus of $934 million.In framing the 2006-07 Budget, there will be major challenges:

continuing funding for the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program;continuing to meet other major capital works programs, and the associated operating costs of these works;meeting major policy commitments, particularly the Smart State Strategy;implementation of our tax cuts—$5 Billion over the next seven years, announced in the June Budget;adjusting for a possible reduction in Queensland’s share of GST revenue over time.

All of this is reflected in our tight forward estimates where our surplus declines to just over $200 million in 2008-09. People must understand that Health & infrastructure will be my top priorities as Treasurer.I will not, as Treasurer though, allow the State Budget to go into operating deficit.We have the Chairs of QIC & QTC with us today.QIC achieved investment earnings for 2004-05 of 18.5%.All the earnings from QIC, for our liabilities such as superannuation and long service leave, will be reinvested to provide a bufferagainst periods when the markets are not so strong. It is this strategy that is a key to our strong balance sheet.QIC consistently beats the industry benchmarks for performance and they are recognised as one of the best fund managers in theworld.The Government Superannuation Office plays a key role in ensuring QSuper and its 430,000 members are well placed to copewith retirement.QTC achieved total savings on customer borrowings of $33.1 million in 2004-05, another excellent year. This brought their totalsavings since 1991 to about $1.3 Billion in relation to funding and managing the public sector’s debt. This means lower taxes for all Queenslanders, not only for the State as QTC’s main client, but also all the Councils and the otherswho make up QTC’s 350 clients. We are tackling the growth challenge in South East Queensland through the South East Queensland Regional Plan and theInfrastructure Plan and Program. There are more than 230 projects required, worth around $55 billion.There is a lot of infrastructure work on the agenda for the next 12 months. Growth in the economies of China and India is placing a strong demand for our resources and industrial products.We announced in May we’re fast-tracking $2.1 Billion worth of infrastructure for our coal export industry, in addition to the $1.4Billion of coal infrastructure investments already committed by Govt-owned trading enterprises.Areas where Ross will be involved include:

implementation of the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan;the delivery of key transport and other public infrastructure for our coal and other minerals based exporters; water projects;approvals for major industrial projects such as the Boulder Steel and Swanbank Paper projects near Ipswich; Stage 2 ofthe Comalco Alumina Refinery; the Gladstone Pacific Nickel project and; the Queensland Coke and Energy project atStanwell near Rockhampton;the international expressions of interest process for the Aurukun bauxite project;land and infrastructure planning;major energy projects;Public Private Partnerships (PPPs); andTelecommunications, where I have asked Ross to have another look at options for accelerating the roll out of high speedbroad band communication particularly in key business centres in Queensland.

I want to close today by flagging an important issue for all Queenslanders—the criticism of the GST distribution process fromsouthern leaders is a grab for additional funds, at the expense of Queenslanders. The proposals recently offered by former Premier Carr would result in Queensland losing up to $1 billion per year.Any move away from the independent Commonwealth Grants Commission’s current processes will increase the standard of livingin New South Wales and Victoria, at the expense of the rest of Australia. The largest concentrations of wealth in Australia are in New South Wales and Victoria. Consequently those jurisdictions have thegreatest capacity to raise revenue. Returning GST to the State in which it was collected would create inequalities in the standard of living for residents in other states. Horizontal fiscal equalisation is there to provide each State Govt with the capacity to deliver a standard level of service to allAustralians, regardless of which state they live in.New South Wales and Victoria ignore the fact they benefit from individual assessments.


For example, Victoria receives $600 million a year in recognition of its lack of mineral resources, while Queensland losesover $300 million.

3 examples where the Grants Commission process rightly gives a benefit to Queensland:First, payroll tax where we gain $350 million, because our wages are around 6-7% lower than the national average.Secondly, we receive additional GST revenue of about $130 million due to our relatively low capacity to raise land tax.

The value of commercial and industrial land, per head of population, is 80% higher in New South Wales than inQueensland.

Thirdly, Queensland’s dispersed population is recognised with Queensland receiving an additional $140 million for that. Queensland delivers services to large population centres located far from the capital. Queensland maintains over 100 schools of less than 20 students. These schools are required to ensure students inremote areas, such as the islands of the Torres Strait, have access to educational opportunities.

The Commonwealth Grants Commission is currently examining ways to improve and simplify the methodology used fordistributing the GST. When all sources of Commonwealth funding are taken into account, including specific purpose payments, Queensland’s share offunding is estimated at 19.8%, only a fraction more than our 19.6% share of the national population. You don’t hear that from thesouthern critics.When the complete GST reform picture is considered, residents of NSW have gained by about $350 per capita in 2005-06.Queenslanders, on the other hand, have received the second lowest benefit on a per capita basis from the GST reforms, about$292. This is largely because Queensland did not impose a number of the state taxes which were required to be abolished, such asfinancial institutions duty and bed taxes. I urge Queensland business groups to get behind the Commonwealth Grant Commission and ensure Queensland continues toreceive its fair share of GST funding so that infrastructure and services can be delivered.


Coordinator-GeneralHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.41 pm): The

Coordinator-General is one of those structures of government that has been brought into the Premier’sdepartment. Just by way of information, in 1938 William Forgan Smith’s Labor government created thestatutory office of Coordinator-General, to encourage development and job opportunities in post-Depression Queensland.

The office was about putting Keynesian economics into action, aggressively administering aprogram of works and using public funds to pump-prime the economy. So that members are fullyinformed, I seek leave to incorporate in Hansard details of how the Coordinator-General will operate.

Leave granted.It boosted employment and provided vital community infrastructure, particularly in regional Queensland.The Coordinator-General was the constructing authority for some of our infrastructure icons, including:

University of QueenslandRiverside Expressway and South East FreewayCaptain Cook BridgeWivenhoe Dam Bribie Island Bridge Barron George & Tully Falls Hydroelectric Power StationsBurdekin River Bridge andthe first campus for James Cook University.

Today, circumstances are very different—Queensland’s economy needs no “pump priming”.Markets such as China have a huge appetite for our resources and industrial products, and this is projected to continue.At home, the Queensland Government is planning for ongoing rapid population growth.These circumstances prompted me to create a separate public service office of the Office of the Coordinator-General reportingdirectly to me.The charter for the Coordinator-General is to enhance cross-government coordination, and the office will maximise flexibility,responsiveness and championship of priority infrastructure and development projects. Machinery of government changes bring the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Treasury and the Coordinator-Generalunder one roof.The aim is to move ahead major projects in the shortest optimum timeframe, while meeting all statutory obligations. We saw an early example of this on Saturday, when the Minister for Main Roads and I released the Coordinator-General’s positiveevaluation of the environmental impact statement into the $1.6 billion Gateway Upgrade Project.This was the first decision from the new Coordinator-General, and it bodes well.He will revisit the Program of Works model to ensure Queensland reaps maximum benefit from today’s buoyant conditions. His core responsibilities under the new arrangements include:


Facilitating private sector investment in major resource projects;Coordinating the provision of project specific infrastructure;Coordinating the provision of State infrastructure to support export industries;Planning the long term requirements for economic infrastructure;Promoting public and private investment in infrastructure to protect the State’s competitive advantage; and Coordinating the activities of Government agencies delivering major State projects

A detailed list of the Coordinator-General’s tasks includes:Leading the State Infrastructure Plan into a new phase and providing the blueprint for the long- term provision ofinfrastructure; Coordinating coal infrastructure development so that it keeps pace with expected export growth;Water infrastructure development involving the delivery of key assets in regional Queensland;Approvals and infrastructure requirements of major industrial projects such as Boulder Steel, Swanbank Paper, GladstonePacific Nickel, and the Queensland Coke and Energy project;Land and infrastructure planning through continued development of industrial hubs such as the Gladstone StateDevelopment Area and the Townsville State Development Area;Significant involvement in energy policy and projects such as the PNG gas pipeline and a number of electricity generationproposals;Applying the government’s Public Private Partnership policy through the Value for Money Framework to identifyopportunities where a PPP solution can provide the best use of public resources. This is particularly important in thecurrent South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program; and

Advising government on skills and resource availability issues emanating from flourishing development.


Queensland EconomyHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.42 pm): Treasury’s latest

Queensland State Accounts and ABS data show Queensland is streets ahead of the rest of Australia interms of economic growth, jobs growth and population growth. Queensland’s gross state product in theMarch quarter 2005 grew by 0.7 per cent, compared with 0.3 per cent growth in the rest of Australia. Inannual terms, our growth of 3.5 per cent in the March quarter was more than three times the 1.1 percent recorded in the rest of Australia. I seek leave to incorporate more details in Hansard for theinformation of the House.

Leave granted.Household consumption and investment in housing and business investment continue to buttress economic growth—as doexports.The volume of Queensland exports of goods and services grew by 3.5 per cent over the year to the March quarter, compared with1.6 per cent growth in the rest of Australia.The 7.6 per cent growth in imports to Queensland over the year was well below the 10.5 per cent recorded in the rest of Australia. The latest ABS trade data show exceptional export growth has continued. The nominal value of Queensland’s overseas merchandise exports (net of non-monetary gold) in the June quarter 2005 rose by33.7 per cent in annual terms to $7.9 billion. This was a record for any three month period.It mainly reflected rapid growth in the value of crude minerals exports, which rose 72.1 per cent over the year. Other recent ABS data also highlight our sustained strong performance.Trend retail turnover in Queensland has increased in each of the last six months, rising by 0.4 per cent in June 2005. Trend housing approvals rose in each of the past four months—up by 2.8 per cent in June.Our jobs growth is brilliant.Queensland created 102,900 jobs in 2004-05, more than a third of all jobs created in Australia and well above our populationshare of 19 per cent. Queensland’s unemployment rate of 4.9 per cent in 2004-05 was the lowest in 30 years, and lower than the 5.3 per cent recordednationally. Remarkably, this was achieved despite the record high labour force participation rate of 65.8 per cent. Smart people from around the country and the globe are moving to Queensland because of our strong economic growth andemployment opportunities. Our annual population growth of 2 per cent in the December quarter 2004 was twice the rate of the rest of Australia.Our population grew by more than 75,000 people in 2004.Mr Speaker, Queensland businesses are smart and strategic, and the government will continue working with them to maintainQueensland’s status as a jobs factory and an economic engine room.



South East Queensland Regional PlanHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.42 pm): As part of the

changes of government I have accepted responsibility for infrastructure in the South East QueenslandRegional Plan and I just highlight to the House that the population of south-east Queensland by 2020 isexpected to be about 3.7 million. The planning that was started under the former deputy premier willcontinue in partnership with the minister for local government. I seek leave to incorporate details inHansard.

Leave granted.The population of South East Queensland is expected by 2026 to be about 3.7 million people. To put this into context, more than one-quarter of all population growth in Australia over the next 25 years is expected to occur inSouth East Queensland.People move here because of the region’s unique qualities. But it is these very qualities that would suffer from unmanaged growth. These qualities include our magnificent environment, ourbeautiful coastal regions and waterways, our strong economy, our love of open spaces and outdoor recreation. As Treasurer, I am now the Minister responsible for the Office of Urban Management and the South East Queensland RegionalPlan. As promised when we released the draft plan in October last year, more than 80 per cent of this region is now safe from futureurban development.This protection is now the law and I can assure anyone trying to change the Regional Plan or get around it that it’s too late. Andany future government that wants to erode our open space cannot do it without changing the regulations.Naturally, there are developments in South East Queensland that fall within this protected area that already have developmentapproval, or were lodged before the Regional Plan came into effect. The Regional Plan is not retrospective, but the Integrated Planning Act gives me powers to call-in development applications anddirect local authorities to amend planning schemes where necessary. Local government can also request third party advice on these applications from the Office of Urban Management. This advice is not mandatory, but it can support a council’s refusal of an application, highlight a possible call-in, or at least assistin amending it to produce better outcomes.However, we do not intend to be draconian. It was acknowledged when the draft Regional Plan came into effect on 27 October 2004 that a number of people who werepreparing subdivision applications were caught out by the immediate effect of the draft regulatory provisions. There is a provision in the final Regional Plan which enables me to grant an exemption where an application was in an advancedstate of readiness when the Draft Regional Plan was released. This exemption allows the application to be lodged with the local government. But this is clearly not a guarantee that theapplication will be approved. Such requests can only be lodged until September 30, 2005.


Regional Jobs GrowthHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.43 pm): By way of

reporting to the House on jobs growth in the regions, Queensland’s new jobs are flourishing where theyare most needed in the regions. I am happy to advise the House that, looking at the regionalbreakdown, our strategy for tackling unemployment across the whole of the state is working. I seekleave to incorporate details, including a graph, of how successful that has been.

Leave granted. Queensland’s new jobs are flourishing where they are needed most—in the regions.The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics regional labour force data show that spectacular jobs growth occurred throughout mostof Queensland in 2004-05.We created 54,000 jobs in regional Queensland.The star performer in growth rate was none other than Wide Bay-Burnett.Wide Bay-Burnett notched up 11.3% jobs growth in 2004-05, creating 10,100 jobs.This is the region experiencing unemployment levels of almost 15% when we came to government. Next in terms of jobs growth was North and West Moreton (9.4% or 14,200 jobs) and Mackay-Fitzroy-Central West (7.4% or12,600 jobs).The businesses and communities of these regions can stand tall.You have worked hard and smart to achieve these results.During the year, the number of unemployed people in Brisbane fell by 9000, and there were almost 13,000 fewer unemployedpeople throughout regional Queensland.The Darling Downs-South West recorded the lowest average unemployment rate, 3.5%.Queensland is the jobs capital of Australia and—brilliantly—it is no longer a truism that you need to go to a major city to find work.


That’s one reason why we are standing up for our industrial relations system. The Liberals want to wreck our system.The graph I referred to earlier titled Annual Employment and Unemployment Change by Region, Queensland, follows.

Table 1: Annual Employment and Unemployment Change by Region, Queensland12 month average to June 2005


2005 Smart AwardsHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.43 pm): I wish to report

on the 2005 Smart Awards. A Queensland company which is piloting the development of a newanticancer drug was the top winner in the 2005 Premier of Queensland’s Smart Awards, which Iannounced last Wednesday. I seek leave to incorporate details of those awards and the winners inHansard.

Leave granted.The fact that this year’s awards ceremony was attended by a record 800 people was a clear sign that this event has a high level ofacceptance and support in the Queensland business community.The winning company, Alchemia Limited, based at Brisbane Technology Park, Eight Mile Plains, was recognised for its innovativeapproach to therapeutic drug development.Since it began operations in 1995, Alchemia has continually adopted leading technologies and techniques to place it as one of theworld’s most innovative companies.The new technologies and new products being developed here in Queensland could solve some of the world’s most debilitatinghealth conditions.The Smart Awards attracted high calibre entrants from across small, medium and large Queensland industries, includingagribusiness, creative industries, manufacturing, mining or minerals processing, science and technology, and services.The winners and finalists in each of the categories deserve top marks for their innovation and dedication to doing things better andsmarter.Premier of Queensland’s Smart Awards 2005 Winners and FinalistsAgribusiness category (sponsored by CSIRO)

Winner: Botanical Food Company Pty Ltd (Palmwoods)Finalists: Allflex Australia Pty Ltd (Capalaba)Smart Salads Pty Ltd (Withcott)

Creative Industries category (sponsored by creative industries QUT)Winner: Cutting Edge (West End)Finalists: Furitechnics (West End)John Cox’s Creature Workshop (Nerang)

Manufacturing category (sponsored by Comalco)Winner: Roche Mining (MT) (Carrara)Finalists: Heat and Control Pty Ltd (Mt Gravatt)TSA Software Solutions Pty Ltd (Milton)

Persons % Jobs % Persons % % % point changeBrisbane 34,200 2.5 48,900 5.6 -9,000 -16.2 4.8 -1.2Brisbane City Inner Ring 8,200 2.4 17,700 7.9 -800 -6.3 4.7 -0.7Brisbane City Outer Ring 10,700 2.4 12,200 4.5 -2,500 -15.8 4.5 -1.0South and East BSD Balance 7,300 2.5 7,000 3.9 -4,700 -31.8 5.1 -2.4North and West BSD Balance 8,000 2.5 12,000 6.3 -1,100 -9.1 5.2 -0.8Balance of Queensland 41,100 2.5 54,000 5.5 -12,900 -19.1 5.0 -1.5South and East Moreton 9,200 2.6 8,000 3.8 -3,100 -23.1 4.5 -1.5North and West Moreton 7,000 2.6 14,200 9.4 -3,000 -25.6 5.0 -2.2Wide Bay-Burnett 4,900 2.5 10,100 11.3 -2,900 -26.9 7.3 -3.5Darling Downs-South West 4,800 2.5 -700 -0.6 -1,800 -28.6 3.5 -1.4Mackay-Fitzroy-Central West 6,500 2.4 12,600 7.4 -1,800 -15.7 5.0 -1.4Northern-North West 4,400 2.4 6,900 5.8 -200 -2.7 5.4 -0.4Far North 4,400 2.4 3,000 2.6 0 0.0 5.1 -0.1* Civilian population, persons aged 15 years and overSource: ABS Labour Force Survey, unpublished dataNote: BSD denotes the Brisbane Statistical Division

Unemployment RateStatistical Region Population Change Employment Growth Changes in Unemployment


Mining or Minerals Processing category (sponsored by AusIndustry)Winner: JKTech Pty Ltd (Indooroopilly)Finalists: BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) (Brisbane)Roche Mining (MT) (Carrara)

Rising Star category* (sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers)

Winner: BiolytixTM Technologies Pty Ltd (Maleny)Finalists: Standfast Enterprises Pty Ltd (Milton)Indigo Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd (Milton)

Science or Technology category (sponsored by Australian Institute for Commercialisation)Winner: Alchemia Limited (Eight Mile Plains)Finalists: Technofast Industries Pty Ltd (Richlands)2Clix Pty Ltd (Robina)

Services category (sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia)Winner: FFA PaySmart (Kedron)Finalists: GBI Consulting Pty Ltd (Coopers Plains)Battlefield Sports (Camp Hill)UniQuest Pty Limited (St Lucia)

Premier of Queensland’s Smart Award of the Year 2005 (sponsored by Qantas)Alchemia Limited (Eight Mile Plains)

Business support prizes have been provided by Achaeus.


IBM Service Centre; Accenture Learning Content Development CentreHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.44 pm): While other

things are happening in other areas like IT, I want to recognise the benefits of being in the Smart State.One of the world’s largest companies, IBM, has opened a centre here to service countries in the Asia-Pacific. In another clear sign that our Smart State Strategy is working, I had the pleasure last Thursdayof opening the Accenture Learning Content Development Centre in Brisbane. The economy is buzzinghere. I seek leave to incorporate details of that in Hansard along with an address by Kevin Dixon at thatopening which sets out what is happening in the Smart State.

Leave granted.Recognising the benefits of being in the Smart State, one of the world’s largest companies, IBM, has opened a centre here toservice countries in the Asia-Pacific region.I was pleased to do the official opening of the IBM Business Transformation Outsourcing Centre on July 4.The company intends that the local office will be particularly targeting the Japanese market from its new centre.IBM has a great deal of confidence in Queensland and in the potential for its Queensland office. They have advised me that thecentre has the scope to create as many as 1,000 jobs over the next ten years to meet expected client demand.That’s a fantastic forecast and we’re pleased to be part of the IBM success story.The opening of this office was one of the outcomes from meetings that I had in New York earlier this year with a number ofcompanies including IBM.Business Transformation Outsourcing is handing over one or more of a company’s business processes—for example, accountspayable, or a call centre—to a business partner who has greater scale or special expertise to handle it.The Chief Executive Officer of IBM Australia, Philip Bullock, said the opening of the office here was a vote of confidence.At the opening, Mr Bullock said the company chose Queensland because it has "a proactive and visionary State Government witha clear view of where technology and skills fit into its growth plans and how a company like IBM can support that growth."

In another clear sign that our Smart State strategy is working, I had the pleasure last Thursday of opening the Accenture LearningContent Development Centre in Brisbane.Accenture is a global consulting and outsourcing company, and one of the largest Information and Communications Technologytraining providers in the world.The Brisbane office is Accenture’s fifth Learning Content Development Centre around the world and it’s expected to create asmany as 100 jobs over the next three years.The company already had a presence here. In fact, Accenture has been providing management and ICT consultancy services inQueensland for more than 20 years.The company investigated various capital cities around Australia before deciding to locate its Learning Centre here and thedeciding factor was our Smart State policy and programs.I was very pleased at the opening to hear Kevin Dixon, the Managing Partner of the Queensland Office of Accenture say they hadmade a deliberate decision to stay in Brisbane because of the changes my government has introduced.Mr Dixon said, quote "What the current Government does is not pretend to provide artificial stimuli or means, but to actuallyprovide the environment for change and for development."And that is far more important to us than to get assigned a job here or there."


I am tabling a transcript of Mr Dixon’s speech and seek to have it incorporated in Hansard.Address byKevin J. DixonQueensland Office, Managing PartnerAccentureBrisbane Learning Centre Office Opening4th August, 2005We have had a presence in Brisbane for some 20 years now and I’ve had the pleasure to be part of Accenture for each ofthose 20 years in Brisbane and seen a number of changes.I would have to say that during that time there have been a number of occasions, as I’m sure most of our competitors havealso had, where we have questioned whether we should keep a presence in Queensland.Not always has the economy supported the work that we do and not always has the government of the day.Some of the organisations in Queensland recognise that we had a valuable part to play within the business andcommunity environments in Queensland.However, I would have to say also that you can take that we have a brand new office here and you can take the fact thatwe are siting Accenture Learning here, as a sign that we have made that jump to the conclusion now that Queensland issomewhere where we intend to have a long term presence.It might have taken us 20 years to get to that conclusion, but it is a conclusion we’ve come to.So what’s the difference? Well the difference quite frankly is that, I have had the opportunity to work quite closely, bothprofessionally and personally, with the Government of recent times.And what the current Government does is not pretend to provide artificial stimuli or means, but to actually provide theenvironment for change and for development.And that is far more important to us than to get assigned a job here or there just to keep everybody interested.The environment here now is one where we know we can serve the rest of Australia and the rest of the Asia Pacificimmediately, and then other parts of the world after that from Brisbane.And that’s a tremendous step forward because the environment and the enthusiasm support that.So with that, I thank you for coming and look forward to meeting you all.

Accenture will help boost our Information and Communications Technology exports. The new centre will service the Australian Taxation Office, Queensland Government departments, other State governments andoverseas clients including an Asian bank."Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company that works with its clients to helpthem improve their performance and efficiency.


Redcliffe HospitalHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.44 pm): Earlier today at

Redcliffe Hospital, with health minister Stephen Robertson, I announced almost $4 million in newfunding to relieve pressure on health care services in the Redcliffe and Caboolture districts. The reliefpackage includes: $2.6 million for a new team of 22 specialist health professionals to provide homesupport for elderly patients in need of care; $1 million for a new paediatrician and four special care cotsfor newborns—two at Caboolture Hospital and two at Redcliffe Hospital; and $120,000 for two newultrasound machines in the emergency departments of Redcliffe and Caboolture hospitals.

I thank CBRC for approving this. I indicated that this is one of the reasons why I assumed the roleof Treasurer and why the Minister for Health was on the CBRC. We are already seeing the results ofthat. That money was in fact applauded by the staff of the Redcliffe Hospital when the minister and Iattended. We are determined to improve health. Where addressed by the inquiries we intend to doeverything that we can to improve it and even where not addressed we will be doing our best to have thebest health system in the world. I seek leave to incorporate those details in Hansard.

Leave granted.The recent Health Systems Review Interim Report by Peter Forster showed that of 18 selected Queensland hospitals, Redcliffehad the highest occupancy rate at about 105% compared with the ideal figure of 85%.It is crucial for us to act immediately to relieve the pressure on the Redcliffe and Caboolture Health Services District. We will provide a new Home Based Acute Care Service to relieve pressure on the hospitals’ emergency departments caused byan increasing number of elderly patients requiring, in many cases, lower level care. More than 9,000 patients over the age of 65 were admitted to Redcliffe Hospital in the last year, with many of them identified aspatients who would benefit more from receiving supported care at home than an overnight stay in hospital.So we announced this Home Based Acute Care Service in either patients’ homes or in aged care facilities in the Redcliffe-Caboolture district.A new multidisciplinary team of 22 specialist health professionals including medical staff will allow us to respond more efficiently toassess and treat patients who require less intensive medical care—either when they present to an emergency department, orwhile at an aged care home in the district.

We estimate this will mean that 25 hospital beds will be freed at Redcliffe Hospital for use by patients who need to be in hospital.



Forster ReviewHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.45 pm): Last week

cabinet considered the interim report of the Forster review, and Minister Stephen Robertson and Iimmediately announced a package of initiatives totalling $20 million. The new initiatives in this packagewill be funded by what we already describe as a ‘Forster-Morris Fund’, which we have established toensure that money is available for the changes needed as a result of the two reports. I table for theinformation of the House an interim report from Peter Forster as I gave a commitment I would. Already,we have placed $10 million from Treasury and $5 million in unallocated funds from Queensland Healthinto this fund to pay for the immediate improvements outlined last week. Indeed, with additionalallocated funds the figure was over $20 million. They are: 20 additional trainee specialists (registrars) towork in areas including cardiology, paediatrics, surgery, cancer, radiology and emergency medicine. Thegovernment will this month begin recruiting the doctors. This will increase the ranks of registrars by 15per cent.

There will be $2 million extra for emergency, renal medicine and operating theatres in Bundaberg.The list goes on. I seek leave to incorporate in Hansard details of this $20 million-plus package.

Leave granted.11 extra hospital beds in South-East Qld, costing $10m. The extra beds will be: 7 at Royal Brisbane Hospital (3 intensive carebeds & 4 high dependency unit beds); 2 intensive care beds at The Prince Charles Hospital and 2 intensive care beds at SunshineCoast Hospital. An extra $2.1m for acute beds to help busy hospitals manage winter demand. This will fund 30 beds for three months at RoyalBrisbane Hospital; 16 beds for 2 months at Townsville, 16 beds for 2 months at Cairns and 8 beds for 2 months at Mackay.$1.7m for 19 additional nurses, allied health or Indigenous health workers who will focus on preventing chronic disease andkeeping people out of hospital.$2.16m for 6 multidisciplinary teams to help patients with chronic respiratory diseases and heart failure. A three-month project on training and career pathways for rural doctors, with the aim of keeping them in rural Queensland.A new training program for nursing home staff to upgrade their skills and help them give patients treatment they would otherwiseneed from a hospital. This $250,000 program will involve collaboration between Redcliffe-Caboolture & The Prince CharlesDistricts. At present an average of six nursing home patients are admitted to Redcliffe Hospital after hours each week.As well, the Government will give Queensland Health more flexibility than other departments in its recruitment techniques becausethe national and international shortages of health professionals make Queensland Health a special case.Within three months we will establish a database that enables districts to share information about doctors’ credentials.Cabinet has endorsed a team to continue working on a response to expected recommendations of the final report.

The Health Minister will also have something to say about our response to the Forster interim report this afternoon.


Asbestos in SchoolsHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (2.46 pm): The safety of

school students is a top priority for my government. It is for this reason we have a program to replaceschool roofs containing asbestos. But it is important to put this debate in context. Thousands of childrenand their families live in homes with asbestos roofs. No-one is suggesting that these people are inmortal danger and that all their roofs should be replaced immediately. I am advised that most housesbuilt before the mid-eighties contain asbestos somewhere in the house.

The official advice from Workplace Health and Safety is that there is no risk to health providedasbestos sheets are in good condition and left undisturbed. When Liberal leader Bob Quinn was theeducation minister for 2½ years it appears from his media releases that he did not regard asbestos assomething he should highlight. A search of his media releases on the web, which start from 7 August1997, does not reveal a single mention of asbestos. During his entire period as education minister heauthorised the replacement of just one asbestos roof in the electorate of Redcliffe and just one in theelectorate of Chatsworth. Yet now the Liberals are claiming it is an urgent safety issue.

We accept that there is a responsibility here; I am not denying that. This sudden focus onasbestos roofs is hypocritical. However, the Queensland government has started a $120 millionasbestos roof replacement program that brings forward the previous replacement program. This isbased on using school holiday periods to remove and replace roofs. The previous minister foreducation, Anna Bligh, initiated trials for weekend removal of asbestos at Wavell Heights State Schooland Wavell Heights High School to facilitate further acceleration. Education Queensland and theDepartment of Public Works under Robert Schwarten are looking at schools with spare classroomaccommodation. Students would be moved temporarily to enable asbestos roof removal, with full clean-up and testing to occur over a weekend. A new roof would then be installed in the following week.


Under this government, removing asbestos roofs as quickly as possible has been a priority andI am pleased to see the new Minister for Education building on the work started by Deputy Premier AnnaBligh. I have indicated to the minister that we will work closely together to advance this. We have toensure that contractors are appropriately qualified and licensed to our new workplace health and safetyrequirements. We will be talking to the industry about its capacity to help us accelerate our goals andensure that students and staff are not endangered by any procedure to bring this program forward. Wewill not jeopardise students’ safety with irresponsible and wild promises that cannot be delivered. Let meconclude by simply saying that we will do everything that we can to have the asbestos removed asquickly as possible.

There are two problems here. We cannot remove asbestos while children are in the classrooms.It is very simple. We cannot do that because we would endanger their lives. The other thing is that weneed to ensure that we have qualified people to do this. We do not have an unlimited number of thesepeople.

We need to get this right. We have allocated the money. We have said that we have a program todo this over a period of time. We will do this as quickly as is humanly possible. I give the commitment tothe House today that, in line with what has already been started, I will work with both ministers to ensurethat this is done as quickly as possible.


GST Funding DistributionHon. AM BLIGH (South Brisbane—ALP) (Deputy Premier, Minister for Finance and Minister for

State Development, Trade and Innovation) (2.50 pm): There has been continuing criticism of the GSTdistribution process from some southern leaders and commentators, which I hope no member of thisHouse will support. Make no mistake: the alternative proposals being put forward by New South Waleswould result in Queensland losing up to $1 billion per year. Clearly, our government is not going to standby and let that happen without a fight. I notice that the new Premier of New South Wales, Mr Iemma, isfollowing in Bob Carr’s footsteps by calling on the Commonwealth to give his state more of a share. Ican only caution Mr Iemma not to fall into the trap of a simplistic analysis of the GST distribution.

The current process gives Queensland its fair share through a system designed to be equitable.Any move away from the independent Commonwealth Grants Commission’s current processes willincrease the standard of living in New South Wales and Victoria at the expense of Queensland and therest of Australia. The largest concentrations of wealth in Australia are in New South Wales and Victoria.These are the two jurisdictions with the greatest capacity to raise revenue within their own boundaries.

Returning GST revenue to the state in which it was collected, as some southern critics havesuggested, would create inequalities. As Queensland’s budget papers rightly point out, this is similar toarguing that those who live on the north shore of Sydney Harbour should receive the highest welfarepayments from the Australian government as they pay higher amounts of income tax. Horizontal fiscalequalisation is there to provide each state government in this country with the capacity to deliver astandard level of service to all Australians, regardless of the state in which they live.

It is not only a question of equity but in practical terms it is simply not possible to return GSTrevenue on the basis of in which state it was collected. Those in New South Wales like to go on aboutthe percentage of GST revenue raised in New South Wales but they conveniently ignore the fact thattransactions incurred in Queensland are often remitted in head offices in other states and, therefore, forGST purposes, are counted as raised by that state.

New South Wales and Victoria often criticise the aggregate impact of the distribution process, butagain they conveniently ignore the fact that they both benefit from individual assessments. For example,New South Wales receives over $770 million a year in relation to wage costs while Queensland loses$470 million from this. Similarly, Victoria receives $600 million a year in recognition of its lack of mineralresources while Queensland loses over $300 million because of its abundance of natural resources,which, as exports, are GST free.

While it is clear that not everything goes our way, I will give just three examples of where theGrants Commission process rightly gives a benefit to Queensland. The first is payroll tax, where we gain$350 million because our wages are around six to seven per cent lower than the national average.Secondly, we receive additional GST revenue of around $130 million due to our relatively low capacityto raise land tax. The value of commercial and industrial land per head of population is 80 per centhigher in New South Wales than in Queensland. Thirdly, Queensland’s dispersed population isrecognised with Queensland receiving an additional $140 million for that. This is only fair becauseQueensland, for example, maintains over 100 schools with fewer than 20 students. These schools arerequired to ensure that students in Australia’s remote areas, such as the islands of the Torres Strait,have access to educational opportunities. No elected representative in any Australian parliament shouldhave an issue with that.


The Commonwealth Grants Commission is currently examining a number of ways to improve andsimplify their system. All states will have ample opportunity to work with the Grants Commission toimprove the methodology for distributing the GST. When all sources of Commonwealth funding aretaken into account, including specific purpose payments, Queensland’s share of funding is estimated at19.8 per cent. This is just a fraction above our 19.6 per cent share of the national population, but we donot hear about that from the southern critics.

When the complete GST reform picture is considered, residents of New South Wales have gainedby about $350 per capita in 2005-06. Queenslanders, on the other hand, have received the second-lowest benefit on a per capita basis from the GST reforms—about $292 per capita. This is largelybecause Queensland did not impose a number of the state taxes which were required to be abolished,such as financial institutions duty and bed taxes.

Finally, let me say that the support of New South Wales’s position by the Business Council ofAustralia in a recent article in the Australian should be a matter of concern to all Queensland business,as well as the broader community. Our government has consistently supported the determination of theindependent umpire, the Commonwealth Grants Commission. I would urge Queenslanders andQueensland business groups to get behind the Commonwealth Grants Commission and theQueensland government to ensure that Queensland continues to receive its fair share of taxationfunding.


Electrical SafetyHon. PT LUCAS (Lytton—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (2.55 pm): Main Roads

is conducting an electrical safety audit of road lighting on state controlled roads. The Beattiegovernment passed the Electrical Safety Act in 2002. It is designed to ensure that all domestic,commercial, industrial and government electrical installations are safe. The act sets some of the higheststandards for electrical safety in the world. Main Roads has a legal obligation to its workers and to thepublic to ensure its 17,000 street lights operate safely. To this end, Main Roads, as the responsibleauthority, conducts an ongoing maintenance program and periodic audits.

During an audit in the Cape York Peninsula and northern districts in June this year, a number ofdefects, some serious, were detected. This audit followed a periodic audit in April 2004 in the centraldistrict which, I am advised, did not identify any serious defects requiring notification to the ElectricalSafety Office. However, Main Roads determined that the matter should be the subject of broaderinvestigation. As a result of the Cape York Peninsula and northern district’s June audit, as I indicatedbefore, a number of defects, some serious, were identified.

I viewed these matters extremely seriously and wanted them addressed immediately. Immediateaction was taken. The Electrical Safety Office was notified. I am advised that there have been twooccasions where Main Roads employees have received minor shocks—one while performingmaintenance work and another while carrying out an inspection. Work began immediately to ensuresafety standards were not compromised.

I have spoken today with the Commissioner for Electrical Safety and advised him of the fullcooperation of my department in addressing any issues that arise, and in a manner to his satisfaction.Main Roads will ensure that all its workers comply fully with all requirements under the Electrical SafetyAct. All work is performed by qualified electricians. Clearly, in some instances, it would appear that thiswork did not meet required safety standards.

My department has fast-tracked a technical audit of road lighting across the state. If any majorissues are identified they are fixed on the spot by qualified electricians. These audits will be completedby the end of next month. Already, Main Roads has completed an audit of the Gold Coast district whichdid not identify any major safety concerns. Main Roads requires all new road lighting to meet the latestAustralian standards and to be fully compliant with the requirements of the state’s Electricity SafetyAct—the toughest in the country. In addition to the audits, an accelerated program of maintenance hasstarted.

This will ensure that all road lighting, irrespective of when it was first installed or the standards atthe time of installation, will, in accordance with the requirements of the Electrical Safety Office, meettoday’s stringent safety standards. I have been assured by Main Roads that all necessary steps arebeing taken to ensure that road lighting is electrically safe and sound.



Industrial Relations ReformsHon. TA BARTON (Waterford—ALP) (Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations)

(2.57 pm): The fears and concerns arising from the Howard government’s proposed changes to thenation’s industrial relations system are tangible and justified. What is disturbing is that after last Friday’smeeting with my state counterparts and the federal workplace relations minister, Kevin Andrews, thestates still do not have details of what the Howard government is proposing to take from the Australianwork force. One matter I can inform the House of is that neither I nor my state and territory colleagueswere able to extract any guarantee or assurance from Minister Andrews that workers would not beworse off from the proposed Howard legislative changes.

While the Prime Minister continues to make soothing remarks about entitlements such as longservice leave and holidays, the Australian work force is becoming increasingly suspicious and wary ofhow these changes will improve our lives. Those suspicions may be put to rest by the release of theHoward legislation but my fear, and the fear of many industry organisations and workers, is that theHoward legislation will be a seismic setback not only for workers but also for workers’ families.

Concerns have already been raised by industry groups including the National FarmersFederation, motor trades association groups, the restaurant and caterers association of Australia and,closer to home, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and the Tourism and Transport Forum.Further, the leaders of our churches are also voicing disquiet at the Howard government proposals,which they fear will impact on family life, by stating that minimum wages should not be pushed downfurther and the proposals seem to shift the differential of power in favour of employers, who can have apropensity to mistreat workers in the interest of business.

The National Farmers Federation has been particularly outspoken, telling Canberra that farmerswill not tolerate being forced to register their farms as corporate entities to accommodate the Howardgovernment changes. The NFF said that farmers would face extra costs through incorporating theirbusinesses and they would lose tax breaks. So it is not only the bloke and lass on the street who havesomething to fear in these proposals but the man and woman on the land as well.

Tourism is a very important industry to Queensland, and tourism industry groups have some realconcerns should workers cash in leave rather than take holidays. Queensland Tourism Industry Councilchief Daniel Gschwind was recently quoted as saying—We’re already struggling to get the dollars into the domestic industry and this will not help. It’s a bad move.

We agree that it is indeed a bad move. That is why later today I will move to make amendments tothe Industrial Relations Act to protect the conditions of Queensland workers. The Beattie government isworking to protect our workers’ interests. It may well lead to a High Court challenge to the proposedHoward legislation, but we need to see the black-letter law before making that decision.


Homelessness Referral ServiceHon. RE SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton—ALP) (Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing)

(3.00 pm): Earlier today I visited the Inner Brisbane Homelessness Information and Referral Service atNew Farm as part of National Homelessness Week. Our government has funded more than $450,000towards the set-up and operational expenses of this homelessness referral service. This funding is partof the Beattie government’s $235 million plan to address homelessness in Queensland. NationalHomelessness Week is held every year to remind us of the people who sleep rough and the impacts ithas on families and communities. It is also an opportunity to focus on how we can addresshomelessness in our community. The referral service is just one of the ways this government is tacklinghomelessness. It is a one-stop shop for homeless people needing information and referrals. The centredelivers outreach and advocacy services to help homeless people find the services that match theirneeds.

The New Farm Neighbourhood Centre with Brisbane Youth Service, Better Housing ProjectsAssociation, West End Community House, Wesley Mission and Inner Northern Community Housingservices the north side while an identical service will open for business in South Brisbane later this year.These new centres will make it easier for homeless people to get help by improvingcoordination amongst the groups that are funded to work with homeless people in the CBD, FortitudeValley and South Brisbane areas. The Department of Communities and the Department of Housing areworking together to fund and support these services, and I am pleased to acknowledge the personalsupport this program has received from my colleague the minister for communities, Warren Pitt.

In addition to this initiative, I would also like to announce today more than $117,000 in newfunding for the Joint Inner City Homelessness Response program that has just been approved.


Operated by Brisbane Youth Service and Micah Projects, this outreach service helps homeless peopleto access basics like showers, laundry facilities and medical attention. The Beattie government iscommitted to increasing assistance for homeless people. Despite the Howard government turning itsback on this issue, this government has doubled its funding for housing since I became minister.


Sir David Longland Correctional CentreHon. JC SPENCE (Mount Gravatt—ALP) (Minister for Police and Corrective Services) (3.03 pm):

During the past few weeks some major changes have been occurring at the Sir David LonglandCorrectional Centre at Wacol. Members would be aware of the government’s announcement in thebudget that we are spending $76 million to redevelop and expand the Sir David Longland centre toboost prisoner capacity from 342 cells to 558. Before these major redevelopment works start, staff andprisoners will be moved to new locations in the months leading up to the centre’s closure in mid-Januarynext year. I can inform the House that the most dangerous prisoners who were housed at Sir DavidLongland have already been successfully moved without incident. As of last Thursday, all five offendersin the maximum security unit at Sir David Longland were transferred to the Arthur Gorrie CorrectionalCentre. These types of transfers have required a high degree of coordination and extensive logisticalarrangements, with the utmost attention to safety and security.

In addition, the department has appointed two independent advisers to hear and respond toprisoner concerns and issues in relation to prisoner placements as a result of the interimdecommissioning of Sir David Longland. George Brand and Colin Dillon have been appointed for threemonths and started work at Sir David Longland yesterday. At all stages of these transfers, safety andsecurity of staff and the public have been paramount. Staff and prisoners will be transferredprogressively. I am advised that the first group of staff transfers to Maryborough and Woodford will takeplace next week.

Sir David Longland’s redevelopment is a major project. We need to redevelop the correctionalcentre as part of a project to boost prisoner capacity statewide. Queensland has witnessed a 142 percent increase in prisoner numbers since July 1993, and this is forecast to grow by a further 90 per centwithin the next decade. Starting early next year, the 84-cell B Block at Sir David Longland will bedemolished and a new 300-bed purpose-built unit will be constructed in its place. It will become thespecialist centre where all newly sentenced prisoners in the south-east corner will initially be housedand assessed for placement.

Construction will take 20 months. During construction, prisoners will be housed in vacant cells inother Queensland correctional centres. There will be no job losses as a result of the temporary closureof Sir David Longland during these construction works. For staff at Sir David Longland, their transfersare being handled on a case-by-case basis and the Department of Corrective Services has located aspecial project team at Sir David Longland to manage the process. Every staff member will beinterviewed by staff from the project team and an appeals process has been put in place if staff feel theyhave circumstances that have not been taken into account. A task force that includes union nominatedrepresentatives and departmental representatives meets once a week to discuss issues that ariseduring this process.

A statewide transfer process will determine the return of staff to Sir David Longland once thebuilding and refurbishment is completed. All department staff can apply for positions and all will beconsidered on the basis of merit. If staff need to relocate as a result of taking a position at anothercorrectional centre during the temporary closure of Sir David Longland, the department will pay thenormal relocation expenses. The department is also looking at ways it may be able to assist the familiesof inmates to see prisoners once they are relocated, such as offering video link services to families insome areas. This is all part of the $231 million three-year infrastructure program that will fund theplanning and construction of an extra 511 beds in state prisons. This is ensuring that we meet thepublic’s expectations for a safer Queensland.


Asbestos in SchoolsHon. RJ WELFORD (Everton—ALP) (Minister for Education and Minister for the Arts) (3.07 pm):

There has been considerable community interest in the issue of asbestos roofing in our schools. Asmembers would be aware, our government tackled this issue head on in the recent state budget with aninjection of $120 million to replace all state school roofs that contained asbestos materials—that is,more than 1,100 roofs. This initiative by my predecessor and now Deputy Premier showed tremendousresolve and foresight. There is nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of our children, andour government has acted when previous governments have sat on their hands.


In my new role as education minister, I intend to follow up the work of my predecessor and get onwith the roof replacement program. It is important that as much information is available as possible. Tothat end, I have asked my department, Education Queensland, to develop an area on its web site aboutthe asbestos roof replacement program, thereby providing comprehensive information for parents andanyone else who is interested. As members are aware, asbestos was a building material that wascommonly used for most of last century. It is present in many government buildings and, of course, inmany homes throughout Queensland, as the Premier said earlier today. Thankfully, the most dangerousasbestos materials were removed from schools in the mid-1990s following a statewide audit. Theremaining asbestos, mostly in the form of sheeting, does not pose a direct health risk unless disturbed.

I think it is fair to say that we would all feel safer if asbestos was not present, and to this end ourgovernment will be doing everything it can to remove the material from school roofs as quickly aspossible. There are of course logistical issues that limit the pace at which replacements can beundertaken. Obviously the work cannot be done when students are present, so this restricts theavailable time when the work can be performed. We need specialist labour for the difficult removal workand there is only a limited pool of people available to perform it. As the Premier has mentioned, I amlooking at ways to accelerate the program, such as undertaking additional replacement work onweekends. The opposition can play politics all it wants on this issue, but I can assure the House that weintend to focus on the safety of our children and get on with the job.


Forster ReviewHon. S ROBERTSON (Stretton—ALP) (Minister for Health) (3.09 pm): I rise today to give my

commitment to Queenslanders that I will do everything in my power as health minister to help restoretheir confidence in our public health system. I was heartened to read Mr Forster’s comments arisingfrom his interim report that, generally, our public health system is working well and that despite somedelays Queenslanders enjoy an excellent standard of medical care. Yes, there are serious deficienciesin the system that Mr Forster has identified in terms of patient demand and staffing numbers, the trainingand development of our clinical work force and the retention of that work force. These present significantchallenges to Queensland Health and the government.

The Premier and I have already announced over $23 million in initiatives to address some areasof immediate need to provide more hospital beds, more doctors, more nurses and more resourceswhere they are most needed. This, I emphasise, is an interim response.

Whilst we await the final reports and recommendations of the Forster review and the Morriscommission of inquiry, there is still more we can do. Firstly, we must be committed to doing everythingpossible to attract and retain expert clinical staff. Secondly, we need to ensure that our services are safeand of a high quality. There have been many initiatives commenced that aim to improve the quality andsafety of services. I have asked my department to prepare a summary of those initiatives so that we mayreport on how those initiatives will assure the community of the safety and quality of the health care theyreceive.

Finally, our people need to have the resources that are necessary to support them in caring forpatients. I give a commitment that I will work with the Premier and Treasurer to develop a program ofinvestments that will continue to upgrade and expand our health services and programs to meet thegrowing needs of our community. I also give a commitment to do everything possible to include thosewho provide the health services in this decision making. To that end, I have determined to establish aninterim clinical advisory council of senior clinicians from across Queensland to provide me with directadvice on the initiatives that we will need to take over the coming months.

There is a long journey ahead of us. There are no quick fixes and no miracle cures. Some of theproblems, particularly the shortage of doctors, cannot be fixed quickly. We need to work on the solutionstogether and I am committing myself today as health minister to giving 110 per cent effort to achievingpositive outcomes. In the meantime, I appeal to Queenslanders to maintain faith in their health systemas we work closely with the professionals in the system to provide the best care for patients we possiblycan.


Unauthorised Photographs on the InternetHon. LD LAVARCH (Kurwongbah—ALP) (Minister for Justice and Attorney-General) (3.12 pm):

Mr Speaker, may I congratulate you on your election to high office. The privacy challenges posed by theadvent of new technology such as mobile phones, digital cameras and the internet have become anissue for authorities around the world. There are real concerns in the community about the opportunities


these new technologies have created for people to take and distribute unauthorised photographs,particularly of children.

The issue of unauthorised photographs appearing on the internet was highlighted in 2002 whenphotographs of Victorian children appeared on voyeuristic web sites. These web sites containedphotographs of teenage schoolboys involved in a variety of sporting activities such as rowing andplaying football. The photos had been taken without consent. Later in 2002 concerns were again raisedin Victoria when photographs featuring a 16-year-old male surf-lifesaver were discovered on a sportsfetish web site. Again, the photographs had been taken without consent. More recently in Queenslandthe Courier-Mail reported the discovery of a web site containing hundreds of images of children,apparently taken surreptitiously at South Bank Parklands and other recreational sites. The photographsand the web sites were not indecent or unlawful and the police found no links from the site to anypornographic or paedophilic sites. The producer of the site shut it down following the media exposure.Despite this, there was understandable community outrage at the fact that these photos had been takensurreptitiously and had been exposed to the world via the internet.

I stress that where an image of a child is indecent or offensive, Queensland’s new childexploitation offences will prohibit the taking and distribution of the image. Any person caught taking ordistributing such an image will have committed a serious criminal offence and will be punishable underQueensland law. However, difficulties arise when an image is innocent and has been taken or usedwithout consent or authority.

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General has been considering the problem of unauthorisedbut otherwise innocent photographs of children being taken and then posted on the internet. At therecent July SCAG meeting, attorneys-general agreed to release for consultation a discussion paper onunauthorised photographs on the internet and ancillary privacy issues. The discussion paper seeks toidentify the issues, including privacy issues, associated with unauthorised publication of photographs onthe internet; discuss the adequacy of existing state and territory laws in their application to these issues;and identify legislative and non-legislative options to address these issues.

This is an issue of national importance. The cross-border nature of the internet dictates the needfor a uniform national response. The discussion paper will shortly be available on the Department ofJustice and Attorney-General’s web site, www.justice.qld.gov.au. As well, the department will be mailingout the paper to key stakeholders.

Submissions to the discussion paper close on 14 October 2005. I urge all concernedQueenslanders to express their views on this important issue. I am pleased to table this discussionpaper this afternoon for the information of all honourable members and encourage them to have a lookat it and circulate it in their electorates.


Department of Emergency ServicesHon. PD PURCELL (Bulimba—ALP) (Minister for Emergency Services) (3.15 pm): Mr Speaker, I

would like to thank my parliamentary caucus colleagues for electing me to this position. I also thank thePremier for his confidence in giving me such a marvellous ministry as Emergency Services. I would alsolike to thank my colleague and friend Chris Cummins for putting his hand up when asked by the Premierto move on to another portfolio. The member for Kawana has left the portfolio in very good shape. I amvery fortunate and I would like to reassure Queenslanders that the Queensland Fire and RescueService and Rural Fire Service are in good shape.

Since becoming minister I have met with the Fire Commissioner, Lee Johnson, on numerousoccasions and he assures me that the fire service is the best funded it has ever been. Our firies arebetter funded, better equipped and better trained than ever before.

One of my priorities as a minister will be to meet as many Emergency Services personnel andvolunteers as I possibly can and to listen to what they have to say. I have attended a number offunctions with firefighters and they tell me that morale is excellent throughout the service. I have alwaysmaintained a good working relationship with the local Emergency Services people in my electorate. Iadmire the work that the Department of Emergency Services does.

Mr Johnson: The whole of Queensland. Mr PURCELL: Like all Queenslanders do, as the member said. The three main arms of

Emergency Services are the Queensland Ambulance Service, the Queensland Fire and RescueService, and the Counter Disaster and Rescue Services. My department has about 8,000 full-time andpart-time staff and is also supported by more than 85,000 volunteers across Queensland. About 44,000of those volunteers are from the Rural Fire Service—and what a marvellous job they do in every cornerof the state. The Rural Fire Service has a proud history stretching over 50 years. The Beattie Laborgovernment is strongly committed to providing the best possible emergency services to allQueenslanders, wherever they live. This is coming about through record funding for the QueenslandFire and Rescue Service and the Rural Fire Service.

2178 Private Members’ Statements 09 Aug 2005

The budget for the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service is more than $300 million for thisfinancial year and of that about half—$150 million—will be spent on firefighters in rural Queensland. Thecommitment of the Beattie Labor government to rural areas is continuing and ongoing. I assuremembers that I will continue that commitment.


Water ResourcesHon. H PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Minister for Natural Resources and Mines) (3.18 pm): The

first two centuries of European settlement in Australia were dominated by an almost insatiable quest forland. But in our third century we confront an even more basic need: an insatiable thirst for water. We liveon the driest continent on earth. Droughts have always been a fact of life in Australia, particularly west ofthe Great Dividing Range, but we have become very innovative in how we manage droughts. By 2026we expect the population of south-east Queensland to grow to 3.7 million people. The population surgeis driven by a mixture of wonderful climate, great lifestyle and a booming economy that givesopportunities to all.

We need water to drink, we need water to support profitable primary industries and we needwater to lubricate our industrial development and growth. In recent years Queensland, including largeareas of the south-east, has been gripped by one of the worst droughts in recorded history. So not onlydo we have to meet the short-term water needs driven by the recent drought; we must also meet thelonger term issues of population growth and industry expansion. The Queensland government will meetthese challenges head on. We are already working closely with local authorities to reduce the use ofwater and to plan for the future. All options are on the table for consideration. We are building moredams. For example, the state government is committed to building a new weir on the Logan River. Weare also investigating the Wyaralong Dam on the Logan River and looking at other dam sites north ofBrisbane. But dams are not the only answer to our long-term water management needs. It is no goodhaving the world’s best dams if they are empty, so we must find other innovative ways to conserve waterand to reuse water.

Local authorities in south-east Queensland have put in place category 1 restrictions, and thereare many other things that ordinary Queenslanders can do to help save water. Simple things like fixingleaking taps, using dual-flush systems in toilets and taking a shorter time in the shower can providesignificant water savings. We have also set aside $2 million to work with local authorities, like the GoldCoast City Council, on desalination. There is enormous potential for recycling water for industrialpurposes. Whilst we are actively pursuing the water management needs of the south-east, we have notlost sight of the water needs in rural and regional Queensland. Much of the work done in south-eastQueensland will also have practical application in other parts of the state as they, too, come underincreasing pressure from the effects of population growth and water scarcity.

PETITION

Warrigal Road State SchoolHon. JC SPENCE (Mount Gravatt—ALP) (Minister for Police and Corrective Services) (3.21 pm):

I table a non-conforming petition, together with a number of letters signed by concerned parents andcitizens, petitioning for the reinstatement of the lollipop persons at the Warrigal Road State School.

SCRUTINY OF LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

ReportHon. KW HAYWARD (Kallangur—ALP) (3.21 pm): Mr Speaker, I lay upon the table of the House

the Scrutiny of Legislation Committee’s Alert Digest No. 8 of 2005.

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Beattie Labor GovernmentMr SPRINGBORG (Southern Downs—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) (3.22 pm): This

government continues to fail in the basics. Since the parliament rose after the budget there hascontinued to be major scandal in the areas of health, roads and asbestos in our state schools. If thegovernment cannot get the basics right in Queensland then the government does not deserve to be thegovernment.

09 Aug 2005 Private Members’ Statements 2179

We have continually heard from the Premier in recent months and in recent years about howQueensland has the best hospital system in Australia and in the world. Every other day now we areseeing another scandal emerge in our hospital system. We have heard the revelations that we havewaiting lists behind the waiting lists. We have heard specialists go before the Morris commission ofinquiry and say that people waiting for orthopaedic surgery can now expect to wait on the waiting list forup to 10 years. We have seen the problems of stone mastic asphalt on our roads—something which theMinister for Transport and Main Roads said that he was not aware of, notwithstanding the fact that it wason the front page of the Gympie Times some three years ago. We have seen the problems of asbestosin our state schools and denials from the former minister for education—otherwise known as ‘MadamAsbestos’—that there was not a problem. She said that there was not a problem with asbestos in ourschools and then she had to release some figures indicating that there was and then had to release laterfigures saying that the problem was worse than what she had been previously forced to admit.

This government has failed in the basics and it is continually failing in the basics. It is failing in ourschools with the asbestos danger; it is failing in our health system; it is failing in our roads. The Ministerfor Natural Resources and Mines stood up a moment ago, at his first outing, and had to admit that thisgovernment had failed in the area of the provision of water, which is a fundamental right that manyQueenslanders should expect. I simply say this to the government opposite: it has to get the basicsright. Queenslanders deserve far better than what it has been delivering. They do not want stunts. Theydo not want silly hats. They want schools that function without asbestos problems, they want a healthsystem that works and they want roads that work.

Time expired.

Hervey Bay, Direct Jet FlightsMr McNAMARA (Hervey Bay—ALP) (3.24 pm): Two Fridays ago Hervey Bay joined the jet age.

The commencement of direct jet flights from Sydney and Brisbane by Virgin Blue and Jetstar begins thenext stage of the tourism boom on the Fraser Coast that started with the development of the whale-watching industry just 17 years ago. I was delighted that the Premier was able to come to Hervey Bay towelcome the first jets to land. The Beattie government put $1.3 million into the airport expansion out of atotal project cost of $13 million. Air visitor numbers are expected to go from 30,000 per annum currentlyto 100,000 per annum next year.

I want to pay credit to the Hervey Bay City Council for having the vision to commit to this projectand, in particular, I would like to mention the critical role of the Hervey Bay City Council CEO, LeighBennett. It is impossible to overstate Mr Bennett’s influence in the planning, financing and completion ofthis project. Regretfully, I understand that Leigh yesterday announced his intention to retire from thecouncil towards the end of this year. While his loss will be keenly felt, the new Hervey Bay Airport will behis legacy from his time as CEO.

It has been said that the tourism industry is really an amalgam of three distinct parts—thetransport industry, the accommodation sector and then attractions, be they natural or built. Hervey Bayhas exceptional attractions in Fraser Island, the bay itself and the whales. Our accommodation sectorhas also grown and improved enormously in recent years and now our transport options have just gonesky high.

The Beattie’s government’s focus on growing the aviation industry by encouraging the arrival ofnew players such as Virgin air has now paid a huge dividend for Hervey Bay. I have no doubt that thearrival of those first jets a week and a bit ago will be looked on in years to come as the starting point ofHervey Bay’s inevitable transformation—not just of one of Australia’s icon tourism destinations but alsoof one of the Pacific Rim’s boom cities.

Atherton Ambulance StationMs LEE LONG (Tablelands—ONP) (3.26 pm): The Premier’s home town of Atherton has an

absolutely pitiful ambulance station. It has been ridden with white ants and vermin, its top floor iscondemned and water leaks down its internal walls past electrical cabling. It has flaking lead basedpaintwork, plumbing and drainage, creating slimy, cracked walls and other major faults, and it cannotcope with the size of its latest emergency response vehicle, which means that a $200,000-plusinvestment is left parked outside subject to harsh tropical weather conditions.

The Beattie government has promised and made budget allocations since 2001 for a new stationin Atherton. It was promised with funding listed in the 2001-02 budget, backed up by a press releasefrom the then emergency services minister, Mr Reynolds, on 19 June. It listed Atherton among 21stations to be replaced. On 3 June 2003 he again listed Atherton, citing it as delivering on ‘the Beattiegovernment’s election promise’, and included it in the 2003-04 budget. Yet again it was listed in the2004-05 budget with an estimated total cost of $1.5 million.

A series of departmental progress reports stated progressively that land had been purchased,road opening and easement applications had been made, a principal design consultant had been

2180 Questions Without Notice 09 Aug 2005

engaged, tenders were expected to be called in April 2005 and there was a construction start date oflate May-early June and completion dates in late 2005. These assurances were provided as recently asJanuary 2005. They were backed up by the Beattie government’s then emergency services minister, MrCummins, in this House on 9 March and again on 22 March 2005. He promised that ‘construction of thenew ambulance station will begin as soon as possible’. And the department indicated to communityrepresentatives that ‘the new station is scheduled for completion in late 2005’. Yet suddenly in the 2005-06 budget funding has vanished—promise after promise by minister after minister just plain worthless.

Time expired.

Murrumba Electorate, Immigration Detention CentreHon. DM WELLS (Murrumba—ALP) (3.28 pm): The people in Redcliffe and Deception Bay, as

well as many in Burpengary and Narangba, are deeply concerned at the proposal of the federal coalitiongovernment to establish an immigration detention centre at the Shaftesbury campus on Deception BayRoad. The first my constituents heard of this was when they heard it on the radio or read it in the paper.There was no consultation by the federal government—just a political ambush of my constituents.

It would have been really good if the federal coalition government had consulted before decidingto do it, because then my constituents would have been able to tell them that they did not want it. Butperhaps that is not what Senator Amanda Vanstone wanted to hear. Instead of consulting with thepeople who will be affected, she apparently asked the local federal Liberal members, Mal Brough andTeresa Gambaro. I am told that they were most obliging. The people of my constituency and region feeldifferently. I understand that petitions are circulating, including one sponsored by prominent local citizenLyn Hayes. I urge citizens to take the opportunity to send a message to the federal coalitiongovernment. Government by fait accompli was acceptable in the 19th century but not now. The federalgovernment is treating my constituents with contempt.

Time expired.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Labor Forum FunctionMr SPRINGBORG (3.30 pm): My question without notice is directed to the Premier. As the

Premier told the House this morning that revelations that taxpayers had funded a Labor Forum functionon 15 March 2004 were old news, will he now inform the House of, one, who organised this function;two, who attended it; three, how much it cost; and, four, whether he agrees that this is an appropriateuse of taxpayer funds?

Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable member for the question. My understanding is that all thatinformation was provided to the CMC. All that information would then have been provided to the DPPand it decided to proceed with it no further, and I regard the matter as closed.

Office of the SpeakerMr SPRINGBORG: It is another one in the eye for accountability. Mr BEATTIE: I take it that was the question. In terms of accountability—Mr SPRINGBORG: You are too smart by half. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Was that the second question, Leader of the Opposition? Mr SPRINGBORG: It is a lead-in to the second question, Mr Speaker. Mr SPEAKER: Well ask the question, please. Mr SPRINGBORG: My second question without notice is directed to the Premier. I refer to the

$13,798.74 in unauthorised overseas travel undertaken by the former Speaker for the financial year1998-99. Has the Premier retrospectively approved this travel and demanded a report on it? If not, willthe former Speaker be required to repay the taxpayer funds he used for that particular unauthorisedtravel?

Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable member for that question. What period did that cover?Which trip was that?

Mr Springborg: In 1998-99—about $13,000. Mr BEATTIE: But to where? Where did it go? Mr Springborg: It was listed as overseas travel. Mr BEATTIE: Yes, but where did it go?

09 Aug 2005 Questions Without Notice 2181

Mr Springborg: It was listed as overseas travel. If the Premier cannot read the report of theformer Speaker, who listed it as overseas travel—

Mr BEATTIE: Mr Speaker, I was simply seeking additional information to try to assist me inanswering the question. I tabled in the House recently all the material that had been provided to me bythe former Speaker in relation to overseas trips, and that information is now on the public record. In fact,it was detailed reporting. I think that report speaks for itself. I draw the House’s attention to the fact thatall these issues relating to travel and other matters were referred to the CMC following an internal audit.I have been advised by the CMC that it does not intend to proceed with this matter any further and nordo I.

Liberal Party, WhistleblowingMr TERRY SULLIVAN: My question is directed to the Premier. Is the Premier aware of any policy

by the Liberal Party on how it treats whistleblowers and whistleblowing? Does he have any examples ofhow the Liberals put these principles into practice?

Mr BEATTIE: That is a very good question. I noticed this morning in the Australian a story titled‘Libs axe rebel for “rodent” outburst’. As usual, the Liberals say one thing and do another. They haveargued that anybody who speaks out should be protected. Well, just ask whistleblower Russell Galt ifthe Liberals put that policy into practice. Yesterday they expelled Russell Galt. They threw him out of theLabor Party—out of the Liberal Party. Bearing in mind that he is a man of integrity who wanted truth inthe Liberal Party, maybe we will have him. It is a little bit like the Liberal Party’s industrial relations laws.What the Liberal Party does not want is anyone who has any differing views.

Opposition members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I made it perfectly clear this morning that I expect members to ask

questions in silence and I expect ministers to be able to answer in silence. I am going to start warningpeople.

Miss Simpson interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Member for Maroochydore, please have some respect for the chair. I warn

all members today that, once I name you, you will be out of this chamber quick smart. I demand silencewhen ministers or the Premier are answering a question.

Mr BEATTIE: I thank the honourable member for his question, because this is a case of Liberaldouble standards. They had a whistleblower, and they are always out there arguing they should protectwhistleblowers, but they threw him out of the party. He had some difference of opinion so they expelledhim.

Let us look at what he was expelled for. I will read from the Australian. This is what he said—My intention at all times was to seek intervention in Queensland at the highest level in order to remedy the clearly factional anddysfunctional activities at the time of the Queensland Liberal Party so as to ensure a democratic, inclusive, truthful and successfulLiberal Party.

So he was thrown out arguing for truth. This is the way their industrial relations laws will work aswell. If you tell the truth or you do not agree with somebody you get sacked. One thing I did find ofinterest was some research which I happen to have here involving the merger of the National Party andthe Liberal Party. It was carried out by Toby Ralph at the end of last year. They did some qualitativeresearch. People were asked what they thought of the merger. The question asked was, ‘Why are youagainst a merger?’ They said this: ‘Springborg and Quinn couldn’t galvanise a roofing nail let alone twopolitical parties.’ Another one said, ‘Two losers don’t make a winner.’ That was another reason. Thenthey said, ‘They have never worked together properly and couldn’t now.’ They also said, ‘They wouldscrew it up, and that would be for me and most others I reckon as well.’ I table that research for theinformation of the House.

Queensland Health, Staff Criminal HistoryMr COPELAND: My question is directed to the Minister for Health. I refer to the latest example of

unqualified medical professionals being employed by Queensland Health and to allegations that boguspsychiatrist Vincent Berg was a convicted paedophile and had been deported from the USA for stealingchurch ornaments. Given that these allegations have been referred to the police, will the minister pleaseinform the House what processes are in existence to check for any criminal history of medical staff?

Mr ROBERTSON: I thank the honourable member for the question. Upon becoming aware of thesituation with respect to Mr Berg in Townsville, including today’s revelations in the Australian alleging apast conviction for paedophilia, I have taken action to ensure that that article is brought to the attentionof the police commissioner for further investigation for obvious reasons. When the situation with Mr Bergbecame clear in Townsville, I asked my director-general to undertake an investigation of all medical staffin terms of their appointments through the Medical Board of Queensland, so those checks are underway.


With respect to the specific issue of checks of criminal history, that is something that I have notcontemplated to date. I will take that suggestion on board and perhaps speak to my colleague theminister for police as to how that may occur. Needless to say, we are all shocked about the revelationswith respect to Mr Berg in Townsville, but what has occurred is that the patient files of some 259 patientsthat Berg saw during his time in Townsville have been checked. In particular, with respect to today’sallegation in the Australian, we have conducted further checks into the number of patients under 18years of age who may have been seen by Berg.

I am informed that to date those checks have revealed that two patients under the age of 18 wereseen by Berg. I am also informed that on both occasions they were under the supervision of a third partyor another adult and no issues have been raised with respect to any inappropriate behaviour relevant tothe allegation of paedophilia. I thank the member for the question. In relation to the specific mattermentioned, as I said, that is something that I will discuss further with my colleague the minister forpolice.

Liberal Party, By-election CampaignsMr REEVES: My question without notice is to the Premier. Is the Premier aware of any other

issues where the Liberal Party is saying one thing, and will do something completely different? Mr BEATTIE: Mr Speaker, you bet I am. I understand that Bob Quinn is actually out campaigning

in Redcliffe but he is not campaigning too hard in Chatsworth. They tell me that Bruce Flegg will not goanywhere near Chatsworth. He will not go anywhere near Chatsworth, let me tell you, and can I say,guys, we understand why. We are with you two. Can I say that I am deeply concerned that the Liberalsare resolutely refusing to sign a pledge guaranteeing that no worker would be worse off under thefederal government’s IR reforms.

As we all know, Michael Caltabiano is the Liberals’ Queensland president—the expeller, the onewho throws out anyone who is a whistleblower. It is no wonder that they cannot guarantee that peoplewill not be worse off. Listen to this: under their proposals in regard to IR, employers would be able topush employees onto individual contracts that cut their take-home pay and do not include provisions forovertime, weekends, public holidays and shiftwork, penalty rates of pay as well as other basic awardstandards, and put employees in a position where some of them may have to trade off their four weeksannual leave. No wonder the community is unhappy about it. That is why we are saying that the peopleof Redcliffe and Chatsworth have got an opportunity to send a very clear message to the federalgovernment and the Liberals. What better person to send it against than the state president of theLiberal Party, Michael Caltabiano.

Many families rely on shift penalties to maintain their living standards and pay the mortgage.Frankly, the take-home pay of the thousands of Queensland employees working early mornings,evenings, nights, weekends and shiftwork is at risk. People who work in shops, pubs, clubs, factories,cleaning, security, transport, storage and health are all at risk—and that is just some of them. They areentitled to penalty rates, and they are entitled to it being guaranteed in their awards, but not if the LiberalParty has its say. Thousands of people working in small and medium businesses will lose protectionfrom unfair dismissal.

For the life of me I do not understand why the Liberal Party in this state does not stand up for thestate award system. We have the fairest state system in Australia. That is why we have got the lowestnumber of strikes in Australia; that is why we have got the highest productivity in Australia. Our statesystem enables early intervention to resolve disputes in the interests of everybody: employers,employees, government if we are part of it, GOCs—you name it.

We know that Michael Caltabiano and the Liberal Party stand very clearly for eroding those familyincome standards. Frankly, people cannot afford to vote Liberal because they will have their familyincome undermined. We know how enthusiastic you two are about Michael Caltabiano, and I can see ithere today. I look forward to campaigning in this by-election with you, Bob; standing side by sidecampaigning against Michael Caltabiano. That is what I look forward to, because you share my view.

Kalpowar Station, Cape York PeninsulaMr SEENEY: My question without notice is to the minister for natural resources. I refer to the

Vietnam veterans who are seeking to occupy a small portion of the former soldier settler block KalpowarStation on Cape York Peninsula. Will the minister give this parliament a categorical guarantee that hewill not use force to evict those Vietnam veterans from the small area of land they currently occupy forrecreation purposes?

Mr PALASZCZUK: At the outset, could I just say that the Queensland government has thegreatest respect for the contribution that our Vietnam veterans have made in the service of their country.Many of our service men and women returned from that awful conflict with physical and emotional scarsthat have stayed with them for all their lives.


Varying numbers of Vietnam War veterans continue to occupy part of the aggregation that theyrefer to as Pandanus Park, although official approval has not been given to them by the stategovernment. I understand that those veterans who spend the most time at Pandanus Park also enjoyvery cordial relationships with the local Aboriginal community. The department is currently innegotiations to determine the long-term tenure of the Kalpowar Aggregation and the occupation of partof the area by the Vietnam War veterans. There have been extensive negotiations between stateofficers from the Cape York Tenure Resolution Task Force and the Indigenous traditional owners andtheir representatives. The matter is being dealt with across agencies.

The Cape York Tenure Resolution Task Force continues to work towards formalising an in-principle agreement on the Kalpowar Aggregation and implementing the proposed tenure allocations.We are very mindful of the interests and needs of all stakeholders, including the Vietnam veterans, inthis process.

Could I say in conclusion that as minister I think honourable members on all sides know that Ialways try to arrive at an amicable solution to a problem that has arisen. At the end of the day, once aresolution has been reached in relation to the land tenure issues, I would like to see meaningful andsensible negotiations between the Indigenous people, the Vietnam veterans and the government toformalise the arrangements under which the Vietnam veterans would be able to occupy Pandanus Park.

We have to be very mindful of the fact that this is a very, very delicate issue and it has to betreated in a very delicate manner. Unfortunately, if everyone decided to do the same thing, we wouldhave squatters everywhere.

Work and Family Responsibilities, AIRC DecisionMr WILSON: My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations.

Can the minister inform the House of his views on the decision by the Australian Industrial RelationsCommission, the independent umpire, in the work and family test case?

Mr BARTON: I thank the member for the question. He always takes a great interest in workerswith family and parenting responsibilities. Certainly this government welcomes the decision of theAustralian Industrial Relations Commission in relation to work and family issues. The decision givesemployees the right to request an additional 12 months unpaid parental leave, return to work on a part-time basis until the child reaches school age and up to eight weeks simultaneous parental leave withtheir partner, and some other issues.

The commission’s decision has largely based access to the provisions on the proposals of thestates and territories. We certainly put submissions very much in line with that to the AIRC and thatapproach creates an employee right to request a change in working conditions and imposes a duty onthe employer to not unreasonably refuse the employee’s request.

The AIRC has indicated that these provisions will be subject to review at some stage in the future.They want to see what the experience of it is. They may in fact be improved. The Queenslandgovernment, as we all know, has introduced various initiatives to help Queenslanders achieve a betterwork and family balance, including participating in this very case with the other Labor states andterritories and also earlier this year in April amending the Industrial Relations Act 1999 to further helpfamilies balance their work and family lives.

I thank the members on the other side who also supported that bill at that time. The decision ofthe federal commission is likely to flow on to Queensland through an application to the QIRC. When thatoccurs this government will be making submissions in line with the submissions that we put to theAustralian Industrial Relations Commission. The decision is a demonstration of the important roleplayed by the commission as an independent umpire. It is fair, balanced and reasonable, taking intoaccount the views of all parties—the real role of the independent umpire in a fair industrial relationssystem. However, I am very concerned, as is this government, that this decision may also be short-lived,at least for employees under federal awards and agreements, because the federal government, as wehave seen from news clippings today and the news last night, is unwilling to make a commitment toimplement this decision in its fair pay and conditions standard, which only refers to a commitment toprovide for parental leave. So I say to all employees with parenting responsibilities: enjoy these benefitswhile you can because John Howard is coming to take them away.

Townsville Hospital; Berg, Mr VMr QUINN: My question is directed to the Premier. I refer the Premier to the briefings his former

health minister Wendy Edmond received about the bogus Mr Vincent Berg, who was working at theTownsville Hospital in 2001, and I ask: what steps has the Premier taken to ascertain from hisparliamentary secretary, who was the health minister’s parliamentary secretary between 2001 and 2004,exactly what she knew or was told by her senior minister and/or her department about this bogusdoctor?


Mr BEATTIE: As the member knows, we have set up two inquiries to look at the future of thehealth system to ensure that we streamline it and indeed make it the best in the world. The inquiryheaded by Tony Morris will take evidence in relation to Mr Berg. The inquiry is free ranging enough forcriticism to be directed at a number of people—the government, me or anyone else; who knows?—andwe are happy about that. It also does give an opportunity to address issues, particularly in relation topeople like Berg.

Today’s article in the Australian, to which I assume the member refers, has prompted renewedinterest in the circumstances regarding the employment of Vincent Berg as a psychiatrist at theTownsville Hospital in 2000. The article alleges that in 1987 Mr Berg was convicted of indecent dealingswith children in Russia and served nine months of a three-year sentence prior to immigrating toAustralia as a refugee in 1991.

I am advised that the Bundaberg Hospital Commission of Inquiry has requested the Australian toprovide the information on which it based this story to inform its deliberations. Obviously, this caseraises serious questions regarding the assessment process for persons seeking residency, citizenshipand subsequent employment in Australia.

As the member would be aware, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and IndigenousAffairs is responsible for conducting security, health and character checks on potential entrants toAustralia under the humanitarian visa program. It is my belief that if this checking process had beencomprehensive Mr Berg’s previous conviction would have been identified, resulting in his ineligibility toenter Australia in the first place.

The Australian also notes that Mr Berg successfully applied for Australian citizenship—that is, hebecame an Australian citizen. Who let him in? This should have triggered a second assessmentprocess. Without factual information from DIMIA on how it assessed Mr Berg’s visa application, it isdifficult to comment on his subsequent registration by the Medical Board of Queensland andemployment at the Townsville Hospital.

I make no excuses for the Medical Board, but to some extent it could have relied on theCommonwealth government’s clearance process in assessing Mr Berg’s application for registration.Along with the Leader of the Liberal Party, I am concerned about this. I look forward to writing a letterjointly with him to ask Amanda Vanstone to explain herself.

Tourism Industry; Industrial Relations ReformsMs JARRATT: My question is to the Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry

Development. Tourism is one of our largest industries and also one of the biggest employers ofQueenslanders. Minister, how will the federal government’s proposed industrial relations changes affectthe tens of thousands of Queenslanders working in tourism and hospitality?

Ms KEECH: I thank the member for her question and commend her for her enthusiasm not onlyfor the tourism industry but also for the working families in her electorate. The Beattie governmentvalues the workers of this state. On the other hand, under the federal government’s IR regime the morethan 150,000 Queenslanders employed in the tourism industry would rely on handouts from tourists toput food on their families’ tables, to clothe their children and to pay their bills. As the Premier and theMinister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations have indicated in this House today, the lastthing we want is an industrial relations system like that in the US, where workers depend on tips to keepthe wolves from their doors.

As the member for Whitsunday knows, Queensland is the best tourism destination in the entireworld. That is why we attracted 2.1 million international tourists last year. That is why we are on track toeven better that this year. Not only do we have the best tourism product in the world; we also have themost professional and innovative operators. We also have a very supportive state government.

The tourism industry shares my and the government’s concerns about the impact of the Howardgovernment’s IR legislation. The industry has attacked a key plank of the coalition’s proposal. It saysthat the option for workers to cash in their annual leave threatens the state’s domestic tourism sector.Tourism and Transport Forum chief Christopher Brown sounded a warning last week saying that theoption of cashing in holidays would cut the amount of holidays taken by workers. His concerns wereshared by the Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief, Daniel Gschwind, who described the plan asa bad move. The Beattie government agrees.

Our workers deserve two things—that is, to be paid decent wages and to be able to take anannual holiday. The Howard government is hell-bent on denying them both. Its plan will have a two-foldimpact—that is, it will impact on workers and impact on Queensland’s domestic tourism. Taking holidaysboosts the economy. More tourists simply means more jobs for Queenslanders. Well over 150,000Queenslanders are employed in the tourism and hospitality industries. Despite the Howardgovernment’s proposed legislation, the Beattie government will continue to support the sustainablegrowth of the tourism industry and the jobs which go with it.


Charlton Girls of Sundale 2006 CalendarMr WELLINGTON: My question is to the Premier. Last week I attended the launch of the Charlton

Girls of Sundale 2006 Calendar which features 12 nursing home residents aged 84 to 93 like Miss May,Ivy Hobson. Will the Premier receive and hang this autographed calendar in his office as a reminder ofthe extraordinary efforts that some of our senior citizens will make to assist in raising money for cancerresearch? I am taking a subscription of $15 for the calendar.

Mr BEATTIE: With an offer like that, how could I refuse? Government members interjected. Mr BEATTIE: It is historic for me to pay like that!Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is a gimmick by the Premier on my first day. Mr BEATTIE: I have been known to open my wallet since 1966. I am aware that the honourable

member for Nicklin is someone committed to not only supporting his local community but also raisingmoney for cancer. I have to say what a class act they all are. I have got a bargain because I can see thatit has been individually signed. What a class act. I say to the honourable member that I will hang thiswith pride in my office.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Nicklin has indicated that he would be more than happy toaccept a larger contribution.

Redcliffe HospitalMr WELLS: My question is to honourable Minister for Health. In light of the recent health system

review interim report by Peter Forster which identified Redcliffe Hospital as having the highest annualoccupancy rate amongst selected Queensland hospitals, can the minister inform the House of thereason for this high occupancy rate? What steps is the government taking to relieve pressure onRedcliffe Hospital’s services?

Mr ROBERTSON: I thank the honourable member for that question. The Forster interim reportidentified that the average annual occupancy rate for Redcliffe Hospital is about 105 per cent comparedwith the ideal occupancy rate of 85 per cent amongst selected Queensland hospitals. The major causefor this high demand on Redcliffe Hospital’s emergency department is an increasing number of elderlypatients requiring, in many cases, low-level care. More than 9,000 patients over the age of 65 wereadmitted to Redcliffe Hospital in 2004-05. Many have been identified as patients who would benefitmore from supported care in the home or an aged care facility than an overnight stay in hospital.

This situation is clearly not sustainable. That is why the Premier and I today announced almost$4 million worth of new initiatives to relieve pressure on our busiest hospitals in the Redcliffe-Caboolturehealth district. The package includes: $2.6 million for a new team of 22 specialist health professionals toprovide home support for elderly patients in need of care; just over $1 million for a new paediatrician andfour special care beds for newborns at Caboolture Hospital; and $120,000 for two new ultrasoundmachines in the emergency departments of Redcliffe and Caboolture hospitals.

The new home based acute care service will relieve pressure on the hospitals’ emergencydepartments caused by an increasing number of elderly patients requiring, in many cases, low-levelcare. A new multidisciplinary team of 22 specialist health professionals, including medical staff, will allowus to respond more efficiently to assess and treat patients who require less intensive medical care eitherwhen they present to an emergency department or while at an aged care home in the district.

We estimate that this will mean that 25 hospital beds will be freed up at Redcliffe Hospital for useby patients who need to be in hospital. The $2.6 million will also provide a new training program fornursing home staff to upgrade their skills and help them provide patients with care they would otherwiseneed from a hospital. This will help us avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital and provide qualitycare to these patients and their families where they prefer it—in homely surroundings.

We are also providing at a cost of some $1 million two medical staff, including a newpaediatrician, and four new special care neonatal beds at Caboolture Hospital. Caboolture serviceshave been under intense pressure from a 50 per cent increase in the number of births in the region overrecent years, and the first two of these special care cots will be in place this financial year. As Imentioned, a further $420,000 will be used to purchase two new portable ultrasound machines to helpalleviate waiting times in the Caboolture and Redcliffe emergency departments. In the case of a roadaccident, for example, patients will be able to be assessed for internal injuries much faster using thelatest technology hand-held ultrasound equipment.

Sugar IndustryMr HORAN: My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries. On this the

minister’s first day of parliament as the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, I ask him aquestion about his first cabinet meeting on Monday, 1 August. Why did the minister support the cabinetsubmission to dismantle the sugar industry’s single desk?


Mr NUTTALL: There are a couple of things. Firstly, I was not at the cabinet meeting because Iwas ill. However, it was a submission from my department and it is a serious issue and I take it veryseriously. Even if I was at the cabinet meeting, I would not discuss the deliberations of the cabinet. Butthe third thing is that, subsequent to the decision of the cabinet, industry put a proposal to governmentabout the new way in terms of single desk selling, and we have reached agreement with the industry ona way forward. After that cabinet meeting—that afternoon I understand—the Premier met with industryand an agreement was signed. So it is an agreement between the industry and the government on away forward—

An opposition member interjected.Mr NUTTALL: The honourable member says that the government sold the industry out. The

government reached agreement with the peak body which represents growers, so I cannot understandhow the honourable member can say that we sold them out when we consulted with and worked withthe industry on reaching this agreement.

Mr Palaszczuk interjected.NUTTALL: As the former minister has alluded to, it was a proposal brought forward by the peak

industry body. It is the way forward and we have mutual consent as to where we should be going.

Uranium PolicyMr HAYWARD: My question is to the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines. I refer him to an

article in the Australian newspaper of Friday, 5 August headlined ‘Howard seizes NT uranium’, and Iask: what impact, if any, will this decision have on Queensland?

Mr PALASZCZUK: I thank the honourable member for the question. Let me put it on the publicrecord that the Queensland government’s policy on uranium is very clear. There will be no uraniummining. There will be no processing and there will be no nuclear dumps in Queensland. Nothing that ishappening in the Northern Territory will change our government’s policy on uranium. Queensland willnot grant a mining lease for uranium mining, nor will Queensland permit the treatment or processing ofuranium in this state. We have an abundance of low-emission, high-quality coal. The coal industry is oneof the mainstays of the Queensland economy, and it will continue to be so into the foreseeable future.So we will continue to use, develop and promote cheap, clean coal technology.

Since Federation it has always been accepted and understood that state governments havejurisdiction over land based mining in this country, though the Commonwealth does have jurisdictionoffshore. Mining has always been a matter for state governments. The Commonwealth has a differentrelationship with the territory governments than it has with the states. It has decided to take control ofuranium mining in the Northern Territory under its power to approve mines under the self-governmentrules for the Territory. It is really disgraceful that the Commonwealth seems intent on overriding theviews of a properly elected Northern Territory government this way.

Queenslanders do not want uranium mining. I strongly endorse the views of the Premierexpressed in the Courier-Mail of 6 June this year that the smartest contribution Queensland could maketo reducing gas emissions—... is to devise clean coal technology which we can sell to the world ...Our coal is low in sulphur and low in ash content, and if we can master this clean coal technology ... we will be able to sell 300years supply of coal to the world, plus be able to sell the technology.

So when it comes to decisions about mining, particularly uranium mining, our advice to the federalgovernment is this: John Howard, butt out of Queensland’s business.

Redcliffe HospitalDr FLEGG: My question without notice is to the Minister for Health. I table for the minister a

standard letter from the Redcliffe Hospital telling an orthopaedic patient that she has been put on awaiting list to await an appointment. She must then wait to be seen at an outpatient clinic in order tofinally then be placed on the official waiting list for her operation. That is two secret waiting lists beforethis lady can even get on to an official waiting list. I ask the minister: will he overturn his predecessor’spolicy of unpublished secret waiting lists, and what advice does he as minister give this lady and otherpatients about how long they will actually wait?

Mr ROBERTSON: The one thing that I have learnt in the time that the honourable member forMoggill has been in this House is that any document that he presents needs to be thoroughly checked,and that is something which I will undertake to do before responding to him personally.


Regional Bridge Renewal ProgramMr HOOLIHAN: My question is to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. Could the minister

please inform the House about initiatives to upgrade the state’s bridges to cater for the introduction oftoday’s heavy vehicles, a sign of the state’s increasing economic prosperity and development?

Mr LUCAS: I thank the honourable member for the question. Queensland is negotiating with theCommonwealth government about extending our access for higher mass limit vehicles to Queensland’sroad network as part of the AusLink negotiations. I met Warren Truss, the new federal Minister forTransport and Regional Services, on 3 August. I had spoken to him on the phone previous to that and ofcourse in other capacities. We need to upgrade many older bridges to carry heavier vehicles. Thefederal government may, as part of the national network, upgrade a number of bridges on that network,but it has made no commitment to fund upgrades to major links on our 34,000 kilometres of statecontrolled roads.

Queensland cannot wait for the federal government in relation to that, and it is an issue that isvery important to primary producers. Higher mass limits mean more efficient carriage of goods whichmeans fewer trucks on the roads which means more efficient transport of produce and transportlogistics for our farmers. We cannot wait for the federal government. We are introducing the RegionalBridge Renewal Program. It will replace road bridges least able to carry the trucks of the future. Roadtrains and B-doubles have higher axle loads and are more efficient. Some bridges are 50 or 60 yearsold. Our growing Queensland economy means that structures in the past are not able to meet futureneeds. We will replace many timber bridges but also some older concrete and steel bridges.

Some $5 million in new funding will be available this financial year for the initial design andplanning work. In September I will announce our first list of bridges to be replaced, with ultimate programfunding finalised in the next budget. Ultimately, we will see over 100 highest priority bridges replacedunder this program. As I said, planning is to start immediately. But we are not content to replace olderbridges with newer bridges of like standards. The benefits of this program are improvements toapproaches, alignment and flooding immunity. If we are going to replace a bridge, we will make it on anew alignment. We will increase safety earlier. We will increase the efficiency of our road network andboost regional employment. So it is not a like-for-like replacement. We also need to involve the privatesector. It will be in place for several years to give industry the confidence to invest and gear up for thissignificant task.

I encourage industry to invest further in innovation and new technologies such as fibrecomposites. Main Roads is doing great work with the USQ and Wagners in Toowoomba. Thiscommitment is on top of existing initiatives. On average, replacement and maintenance costs are$10 million to $12 million each year to replace older structures and $18 million a year to maintain 2,794bridges, including 459 timber bridges.

In contrast, in 1997-98 the coalition’s spending on bridge replacement and rehabilitation was$16.5 million. In 2005-06, we will spend $40 million on these sorts of bridges. These are not the big-ticket items; these are the more moderate bridges in our rural and regional areas. Last year I announcedthe $88 million Accelerated Road Rehabilitation Program to replace 36 bridges in central and southernQueensland. Other major announcements are upgrades to the hospital bridge, the Forgan Smith Bridgeand some really big ones—upgrades to the Houghton Highway to Redcliffe and also the GatewayBridge.

The Queensland government is doing its bit. We want to work with the federal government tohelp fund the necessary upgrades of the bridges to ensure that they can take higher mass limit vehiclesfor better efficiency and logistics, particularly for our primary producers and people in rural and regionalQueensland.

Atherton Ambulance StationMs LEE LONG: My question is to the Premier and Treasurer. Since 2001 his government has

repeatedly promised and allocated funding for a new ambulance station at Atherton to replace the oldwhite ant eaten, vermin-infested, partly condemned old one that the Premier, as an old Atherton boy,would well remember. Land acquisitions, council approvals and plans have all been acquired ready forthe go-ahead, yet at this late stage the Premier’s government has simply wiped it off the books. I ask:will the Premier’s government live up to its repeated election and budget promises of the last five yearsand use the money that was allocated and promised to ensure that the people of Atherton get thesafe ambulance station that they deserve by the end of 2005?

Mr BEATTIE: I thank the member for Tablelands for her question. I acknowledge that the memberhas a particular interest in this matter. Indeed, if I recall correctly, she made a two-minute statementabout it this morning.

I am advised that the replacement of the Atherton Ambulance Station has been earmarked by theQueensland Ambulance Service for some time, but it has not proceeded due to competing operationalpriorities. I understand that the new Minister for Emergency Services, Pat Purcell, has asked the


department to review the capital works program to identify options to bring forward this work from itscurrent schedule. The department is due to report back to the minister, Pat Purcell, by the end of themonth on the overall position and the capacity of the 2005-06 capital works program.

If there is capacity in the capital program to bring forward this project, I assure the member thatthe minister will give it priority and he will discuss these matters with the member, as he is quite happy todo. When the minister receives the department’s advice, the minister will advise the honourable memberof the position of this particular project.

Can I say that I recognise the member’s interest, as I did at the beginning of my answer. I urge themember to keep in touch with the honourable minister, Pat Purcell, on this matter. Hopefully, with thatreadjustment, we can accommodate it. I urge the member to keep in touch with the minister and I thankher for the question.

Lady Bowen ComplexMs LIDDY CLARK: My question is to the Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing. Can the

minister update the House on the government’s plan to transform the Lady Bowen complex in Spring Hillinto a shelter for homeless people?

Mr SCHWARTEN: I thank the honourable member for her ongoing support for those people inher electorate who do not have the means to own their own homes. This project at what was the LadyBowen nurses quarters is an icon in Australia in terms of what it is providing. When this heritage listedsite, which is named after the wife of the first Governor of Queensland, is renovated it will provide 100units of accommodation for homeless people.

Mr SPEAKER: I ask the member for Callide to keep his voice down. Mr SCHWARTEN: Thank you, Mr Speaker, I am finding it hard enough to speak as it is without

noise from over there. This $30 million project will in its first stage offer 39 accommodation units which, through the

cooperation of the minister for communities, will provide support to homeless people, who face manychallenges and demands. The next stage of this project will provide longer term accommodation, andcommunity housing groups will provide the necessary support.

Last week was National Homelessness Week. Homelessness is a very complex issue. It is notjust about somebody needing a roof over their head. There are people who are living on our streets whodo not need to live there. This project will give homeless people, especially in inner Brisbane, theopportunity to get back into tenancies and back into the care of support agencies that are funded by thecommunity and the government so that they can return to being active citizens in our society. You arenothing if you do not have a home to go to at night. We understand that. Given the Howardgovernment’s continued assault upon the poor and the industrial relations stuff that it is talking aboutnow, I can see that more and more people will be banging on our door looking for support.

This is a unique project. A heritage listed facility will be converted, through the work of ourapprentices at Q-Build, to provide supported accommodation and other forms of longer termaccommodation to help guide homeless people back into active life. It is a very humble project. I do notexpect to catch any big lights from it. I say to the people who live in the project’s area to embrace it forwhat it is. This project is not about trying to increase the problems in that neighbourhood; it is abouttrying to solve them.

Small Business, Community Ambulance CoverMr HOBBS: My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Information Technology Policy and

Multicultural Affairs. I refer to his previous strong defence of the Beattie Labor government’s ambulancetax when he was the minister for emergency services. I notice that the minister is grinning. As theminister now represents small business owners across Queensland, does he still support his assertionthat it is fair for small business to be specifically targeted and slugged multiple times with Labor’sunfair ambulance tax or will he be representing their concerns to his government?

Mr CUMMINS: Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on your elevation to the chair. I would like tosincerely thank the member opposite for the question. Unlike the opposition, the highest priority of smallbusiness is not the ambulance levy.

Mr Hobbs: What are you going to do about it, though? That’s my point. Mr CUMMINS: I take the member’s interjection. I have just had lunch with representatives from

SAP Australia, Sun Microsystems, the Oracle Corporation, Fujitsu, Unisys, Mincom, Accenture, Data 3,GBST, Ice Media, Thoughtware, WebCentral, the Faculty of Information Technology at QUT, and thestate manager for Microsoft. They did not raise the community ambulance cover.

Mr Hobbs interjected.Mr SPEAKER: I warn the member for Warrego.


Mr CUMMINS: As a government we are looking at small business and information technologypolicy as a way to the future. We live in the 21st century. This mob over there is still in the 19th century.Information technology and small business will continue to be major players in the Queenslandeconomy creating jobs, jobs, and more jobs. We have a very good and vibrant business industry rightacross Queensland. Mr Speaker, as the former minister for state development you would well know theconfidence that both small and big business not only have in this government but also have in the greatstate of Queensland. They have not raised the issue with me.

As the new Minister for Emergency Services will well tell the member, the community ambulancecover underpins a record budget for the Queensland Ambulance Service, which in my honest opinionhas the best commissioner of any ambulance service anywhere in Australia. The QueenslandAmbulance Service relies heavily—to the tune of probably $100 million or more—on thecommunity ambulance cover.

I will be working with small business. Already it has addressed with me the inept roll-out by Telstraof broadband. While that mob opposite wants to sell Telstra, we want to deliver improvements to smallbusiness through improvements to the broadband network and encourage Telstra to do the right thing.

Small business people also speak about how they can get around what this mob oppositesupported, and that is the BAS. No-one will ever forgive the members opposite for increasingthe amount of paperwork so heavily on the mum-and-dad businesses right across Queensland whenthe federal government introduced the GST. Those opposite supported the GST.

Alcohol Management PlansMr O’BRIEN: My question is directed to the Minister for Energy and Minister for Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander Policy. I refer to the alcohol management plans and I ask: can the minister tell mewhat level of support these plans are receiving?

Mr MICKEL: I thank the member for Cook, who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in hisown community with alcohol management plans.

On 11 November 1999 the member for Gregory indicated that there was bipartisan support for thealcohol management plans. I am pleased to advise the House that the member for Gregory reaffirmedthat in the recent estimates hearings when he said that he, the member for Callide and the member forCharters Towers supported those alcohol management plans.

As I said, they are a difficult sell in some communities, but the unexpected support that theseplans received during the week deserves to be brought to the attention of the House. For example, onLateline on 21 July Peter Costello indicated that alcohol management programs can have success, andI welcome that. Then Tony Abbott said on 4 August—I certainly think that what has been happening in Cape York is to be applauded. Mr Abbott said that the alcohol management plans are working and should be an example to allIndigenous communities with alcohol abuse problems. So there we have it—federal and state support.So one can imagine my utter surprise and disillusionment when I noticed that the Leader of theOpposition said of the alcohol management plans that they were paternalistic, and he said that on theABC’s Far North. Not only has he voted for them; his opposition has also supported them in this House.He went on to say in the Cairns Post that they are ‘silly, unworkable laws’. So here we have anabandonment of leadership by the Leader of the Opposition.

It is a shame he did not read the second of the Fitzgerald reports, because if he had he wouldhave noticed in that report an interview with children. The interview was with 18 children and youngpeople from Pormpuraaw, Mapoon and Yarrabah. What did those children say in the summary? Theysaid that they were appalled with alcohol because they said it led to drinking and fighting. They said,‘Especially when adults are drinking, it’s not safe for kids to be around there because trouble starts andthe kids might get hurt.’ In other words, in the face of the overwhelming evidence from the Fitzgeraldreport on the impacts on women and children, when faced with one hostile question in the communitythe Leader of the Opposition abandoned any leadership. He does not have a backbone for this sort ofthing. He is a shiver looking for a backbone to go up when it comes to alcohol management plans. Themember is an unrepentant reactionary when it comes to these things, and it is time that the realleadership of the member for Gregory was imposed upon the opposition.

Time expired.

Asbestos in SchoolsMr MESSENGER: My question without notice is to the Minister for Education and Minister for the

Arts. I refer to the presence of asbestos in Queensland schools. Does the minister believe that the 10-year time frame for removal as set by his predecessor, ‘Madam Asbestos’, was too slow and hasendangered children’s lives?


Mr WELFORD: It does the honourable member no credit to refer to other members of the House,least of all ministers, in the way that he referred to the former minister for education and the arts. He hasinsulted himself and he ought to apologise for that kind of behaviour in the House, quite frankly.

Mr Messenger: You ought to apologise to the victims of Dr Patel. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Burnett, please! I warn you. Mr WELFORD: As the Premier and I have indicated today, our government’s first priority is the

safety of children. That is why we are prioritising those schools that have asbestos roofs that are in apoorer condition than other roofs and ensuring that those roofs are replaced as a matter of priority. Thestate budget allocated a significant budget for that program, and that budget is available for up to 10years if we need it. But, as I have made clear, our government will be moving to address this issue asquickly as we possibly can, with priority given to those schools that need it most.

Mr SPEAKER: Just before I call the next question, a minister previously referred to the oppositionas a ‘mob’. In future, please do not do that. Secondly, member for Burnett, refer to ministers by theircorrect title.

Cairns Police Liaison Officer Community Patrol ProgramDr LESLEY CLARK: My question without notice is to the Minister for Police and Corrective

Services. The Cairns Police Liaison Officer Community Patrol Program has started recently to addressthe problem of Indigenous homelessness. It has actually been going for a year. Could the ministerplease outline the success it has had and whether it will be continued?

Ms SPENCE: I thank the member for Barron River for the question and I acknowledge her longand ongoing interest in Indigenous issues, particularly homelessness issues in this NationalHomelessness Week. The Queensland Police Service has 125 police liaison officers throughout thestate and most of them are Indigenous. But Cairns is unique in that over a year ago it established acommunity patrol, which comprised two Indigenous PLOs who are tasked with keeping publicintoxication and homelessness to a minimum in Cairns and diverting these people away from the courtsand our prisons. I am very pleased to report that this program has been very successful. I have had a lotof feedback from members of parliament in that area, from people in the media and local governmentand also from local citizens who are very pleased that we have been able to make a real dent in theproblem of homelessness in Cairns, particularly the problem of Indigenous homelessness.

The PLOs have been working with their local Indigenous community and other local supportorganisations. They have been giving homeless Indigenous people information and helping them intoshelters. They have also had a program called Homelands Partnership, which helps Indigenous peoplereturn to their homelands and to their communities. In the last 12 months, 85 people have been givenassistance to return to their homelands.

We all know that the problems of homelessness are complicated. Often they are caused byalcohol. Often they are caused by family breakdown. Often they are caused by violence. The twoIndigenous PLOs who are working on this community patrol are case-managing each of the Indigenoushomeless people they come across in Cairns—helping them with their problems, helping them withsome solutions and thereby diverting them from the formal criminal justice system.

This program has been so successful that this year in the state budget we have decided toallocate money to extend the program to Townsville and Mount Isa. Not only will we expect the samekind of positive outcomes; we will also hope that this kind of program improves the relationship betweenIndigenous people and the local communities. It is a great initiative and it sums up all that police aredoing to make Cairns, in particular, a safer place.

CareFlightMr JOHNSON: My question is to the Minister for Health. Now that the government has given

CareFlight a $5 million contract with recurrent funding to airlift emergencies in rural and remote areas,what impact will this have on the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which has the professional capacity toprovide this mantel of safety and service to those areas?

Mr ROBERTSON: I thank the honourable member for the question. The simple answer is none.We made it quite clear at the announcement that this was about enhancing service. As the memberwould appreciate, the ability to use helicopters for the purposes of transport has benefits above thosethat can be achieved through the use of the King Air fleet that the Royal Flying Doctor Service has.Helicopters obviously have different ranges but they have different abilities to access difficult areaswhere airports or landing fields are not perhaps up to the standard that would be necessary for a KingAir to land. The announcement the Premier and I made at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital isabout enhancing services. I think the news for rural and regional Queensland is very positive in thatregard. This is very much about working in partnership with the flying doctors rather than competing withthem or in any way having a deleterious impact on the services that they currently provide.

09 Aug 2005 Matters of Public Interest 2191

Mr SPEAKER: Order! That brings question time to a conclusion. We now move on to matters ofpublic importance.

MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST

Beattie Government MinistryMr SPRINGBORG (Southern Downs—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) (4.30 pm): A greater

band of incompetents Queensland has never seen occupy ministerial leather in this state. We have justheard the minister for Indigenous policy again display his ignorance, as he does all the time. At no stagehas this side of the parliament nor I, as Leader of the Opposition, said that we are opposed in principleto alcohol management plans, and I defy him to show one place where we actually do that.

Mr MICKEL: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. He has to explain away why hesaid in the Cairns Post that they are silly, unworkable laws. No leadership; that is the point.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Male): Order! There is no point of order. Resume your seat.The Leader of the Opposition will direct his comments through the chair.

Mr SPRINGBORG: What the minister for Indigenous policy did not go on to say is that there areissues with these alcohol management plans that deserve to be properly looked at, because the daybefore I was in Mapoon the minister was there. The people in Mapoon were telling us about theproblem.

Mr MICKEL: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I was never in Mapoon. TheLeader of the Opposition is misleading the House.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. Resume your seat. Mr SPRINGBORG: Well, they said that they spoke to him in Mapoon. It is quite clear to us that

there are problems. I will give the House an example of what happened in Mapoon. Mr O’Brien interjected.Mr SPRINGBORG: We will hear what they had to say about you in a moment. Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I remind the Leader of the Opposition to direct his

comments through the chair. I will not have this place fall apart. We have someone on their feet who istalking about a matter of public importance. I expect that everyone else will listen in silence so that I canhear what the member has to say.

Mr SPRINGBORG: I will give the House an idea of the practical problems with the alcoholmanagement plans that have to be addressed, notwithstanding the issue of our principle support. Take,for example, the problem in Mapoon, where they are allowed to take one 24-can slab out of Weipa andback to Mapoon—a drive of more than an hour. They indicated to me when I was there that they sellthem principally in 30-can slabs. So what do they have to do? Take six of them out and throw them outthe window, or drink six of them on the way home?

The community justice group up there supports in principle these alcohol management plans. Ithas identified some problems. It is asking for those problems to be addressed, not because it is againstalcohol management plans in principle but because for the community to respect it, for it to workproperly, for it not to fall apart and for it to have a counterproductive outcome those issues have to beaddressed. The Nationals in this parliament support the process of community justice groups, and wesimply say to members opposite that they should be taking on board the issues and the suggestionswhich they make.

We have seen paternalism from this government—and not only with respect to these alcoholmanagement plans, which do need tinkering with or refining to make them better and to ensure thatcommunities have a greater amount of respect for them. We have also had a ministerial forum fly into acommunity such as Mapoon and dare to say that its highly successful community housing constructionprogram may not be able to continue because it is not the core business of councils. The government isgoing to give it to Public Works in Queensland or Q-Build. Q-Build does a pretty good job, but the firstthing it would do is double the price for those people in those particular communities. The minister isshowing his ignorance, as are those on the other side who say that it is not the council’s core business.They should go to the Diamantina shire, where were it not for the actions of the Diamantina ShireCouncil that particular community would not have housing, and it is the same for myriad othercommunities.

Mr Johnson: You wouldn’t have anything. Mr SPRINGBORG: They would not have any housing. It is the same for myriad other

communities. It is all right for white communities to do it but not for black communities. Do not tell methat it does not have an attitude of paternalism. It has. For those communities to have the empowermentthat they need and the capacity to work and stand on their own two feet, those opposite have to address

2192 Matters of Public Interest 09 Aug 2005

that. The minister gets up here with glib, cleverly rehearsed, in-the-mirror-like, Paul Keating one-liners,but he should look at the fundamental issues because it does him no service and he is much smarterthan that. We give him credit for at least having a go and having some intellect.

What about the other issues we saw in here this morning? The health minister stood in hereearlier and said that he does not do criminal history checks on former paedophiles from the Soviet Unionwho have been booted out of somewhere else, but in his previous manifestation as the minister fornatural resources he was happy enough to do criminal history checks on farmers with regard tovegetation management. He will not do criminal history checks on Iron Curtain country paedophiles, butgood old Queensland farmers and graziers undergo a criminal history check. It just goes to show whomthis government cares for and whom it does not care for and its priorities.

What a wonderful performance we saw in here a moment ago from the new minister for smallbusiness in Queensland. He has just been to lunch with a whole range of small businesses—likeMincom. Mincom is a great company—there is no doubt about it—but I am not sure it would beclassified as a small business. I am not sure if the ambulance levy is such a big issue for Mincom. Itprobably has umpteen hundreds or thousands of employees and is paying it once, but I can tell theHouse that real small businesses in our electorate that are paying the levy on multiple occasions havevery real issues with it. The first task of this minister’s director-general should have been to sit theminister down with a flow chart and to explain that small business equals, in many cases, mum-and-dadbusinesses with between four and 10 employees. Larger businesses equal the likes of Mincom, whichare very important, but he failed on his first outing. He does not understand the difference betweensmall-to-medium enterprises and larger enterprises that we have in Queensland. He is just learning, andI am sure that in the not-too-distant future he will be able to get a comprehensive brief on that. He willthen understand that this is still an issue for many small businesses throughout Queensland that arepaying the levy on multiple occasions.

The new Minister for Emergency Services is a great bloke but an accidental minister. He was notthe chosen person from Labor Unity. We had the Premier sitting down briefing the journos saying, ‘I willbe very happy if it is Andrew Fraser or Neil Roberts. They are the people we are expecting.’ He opensthe door and he says, ‘Who is this person?’ Mr Purcell says, ‘I am the new minister’ and the Premiersays, ‘Well, you weren’t supposed to be.’ But he is there and he is not a bad bloke. He stood here beforeand said that he had had a briefing from the commissioner of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Serviceand he has assured him that everything is hunky-dory.

Mr Seeney: As he would. Mr SPRINGBORG: The commissioner is not going to say, ‘It’s a big mess, Minister. We need

more money. We need this and we need that.’ Of course not. He has preened himself before he hascome in. He wants to impress the minister on the first outing and he has done it. The commissioner said,‘Minister, it is great; we have more firies than we have ever had’—not! I do not know if the minister readthe newspaper the week before which reported figures showing that we now have 130 fewer firefightersthan when this government came to power seven years ago. That is exactly the same number ofadditional people that we have in the Community Engagement Division. So we have 130 fewer firies butthe commissioner says to the minister that that is hunky-dory and the minister did not read thenewspaper so he is happy with the explanation.

The minister is also obviously blissfully unaware of the problems with rural firies acrossQueensland and the major controversies which have been exposed across the print media and acrossthe community in Queensland over the last month or so. Rural fire divisions in this state are in absolutecrisis. As soon as the minister walked out the door, the commissioner picked up the phone and said,‘We’ve got a live one here,’ and they certainly have—hook, line and sinker on day one. ‘We have toldthis minister that everything is hunky-dory and he believes it.’ In the meantime there are issues in theelectorate of Tablelands such as the ambulance station, which has been eaten by termites and whichhas fallen down. In the minister’s own electorate we have the problems of Terry Mackenroth’s previousinterference where he tried to move ambulance stations in and out and around about.

The lack of accountability of this government could be displayed no more clearly than by thePremier earlier. He stood in this place and tried to say that everything had been cleared by the CMC andthe DPP in relation to the issues of the former Speaker’s expenditure. That is not true at all. Why will thePremier not stand in this place and give a proper account of who was at the Labor Forum function, whatit cost and whether he believes taxpayers should be responsible for it? The other issue is that thePremier misled the parliament this morning when he said that the former Speaker has retrospectivelyreported to this parliament. He has reported for $17,000. Some $26,000 has been retrospectivelyapproved with no report—$13,000 in 1998-99 completely unaccounted for; no report whatsoever. ThePremier has to answer that because that is the sort of lack of accountability that Queenslanders areconcerned about.

Time expired.


Liberal Party, By-election CampaignsMr LAWLOR (Southport—ALP) (4.39 pm): I would like to speak today about a topic that is near

and dear to my heart—the Queensland Liberal Party, the party which claims to support whistleblowers.Of course, as we have heard from the Premier today and as we see in the article in the Australian today,that is not so—‘Libs axe rebel for “rodent” outburst’. It refers, of course, to Mr Galt. I will quote a fewparagraphs from this article in the Australian. I tabled a copy of this article, the 19-page defence ofMr Galt, in this House on 9 June.

He went public in an attempt to force Mr Howard into taking decisive action against the rampantfactionalism that had flared within the Queensland Liberals in recent years. He stated—My intention at all times was to seek intervention in Queensland at the highest level in order to remedy the clearly factional anddysfunctional activities, at the time, of the Queensland Liberal Party so as to ensure a democratic, inclusive, truthful andsuccessful Liberal Party. The three-member committee said it was not necessary to ‘determine the truth or otherwise’ of Mr Galt’s controversial allegations.Mr Galt blasted the disciplinary committee for failing to investigate a secret deal—which he alleges was signed off byMr Caltabiano—to pay $140,000 in legal fees so that he would drop a challenge to his failed pre-selection bid for the state seat ofMoggill.In his submission, Mr Galt claims that in October 2003, Mr Caltabiano persuaded him to drop a court action challenging his failedbid to stand for the outer Brisbane seat of Moggill by committing the party to pay for his legal fees. Mr Galt said Mr Caltabiano,who has repeatedly denied claims of the deal, paid the bills without the knowledge of executive party members. ‘No-one wanted toshine a bad light on Mr Caltabiano in public’, Mr Galt said. Mr Caltabiano yesterday declined to comment.

Members might recall, of course, that he is the candidate for Chatsworth. I can understand himdeclining to comment.

A government member: He will never be the member. Mr LAWLOR: He is the candidate for that seat in the by-election. I tabled this document on 9

June. The parties to this agreement are Russell Galt, the Liberal Party of Queensland and MichaelCaltabiano. The background of the document is as follows: Mr Galt was a candidate for preselection forthe Queensland state seat of Moggill. As a result of the plebiscite, there was a Supreme Court action.Then Mr Justice Moynihan made certain orders. Mr Galt appealed against the decision of JusticeMoynihan and lodged a notice of appeal.

At the request of the Liberal Party, Mr Galt has agreed to discontinue the appeal on the terms setout in this document. They include that the Liberal Party will pay Mr Galt his full indemnity fees and hisexpenses, limited to $140,000. The Liberal Party will pay all stamp duty associated with the agreement.

Clause 4 of this document states that Mr Caltabiano, in his statement, would emphasise the goodfaith and good standing of Mr Galt towards the Liberal Party and the way in which Mr Galt has dealt withthe dispute which has taken place. We can see how he has given effect to that. They have kicked himstraight out of the party. The document states—Mr Caltabiano represents, warrants and agrees that he has authority to execute this document on behalf of the Liberal Party.

Then, of course, there are the signatures. On behalf of the Liberal Party, it is signed by MichaelCaltabiano and witnessed by a JP by the name of Mrs Lynch. It is also signed by Michael Caltabiano onhis own behalf and, of course, witnessed by the JP, Mrs Lynch. There we have it. The point is that theLiberal Party claims that it supports whistleblowers but, of course, it does not. It is all right whilst they arecriticising others, but under no circumstances can anyone within the Liberal Party criticise the party.

Also, there is of course the issue of Mrs Margaret Krause being kicked out of the party for sixmonths. This demonstrates the duplicity of Mr Caltabiano, because not too long ago he wascomplaining about the Liberal Party in the Brisbane City Council. He complained that he was beingcensored. However, when an article was circulated—and it appeared at crikey.com—Mrs MargaretKrause was suspended for circulating that particular article. Michael Caltabiano complained aboutalleged censorship in the Brisbane City Council, yet a hardworking rank and file party member issuspended by the Liberal Party organisation in an attempt to censor all criticism.

Urban PlanningMs NOLAN (Ipswich—ALP) (4.44 pm): Australians are richer than we have ever been before. In

the last nine years, income in real terms has increased by 14 per cent. However, instead of being morefinancially secure, we are hocked to the eyeballs. Our debt-to-income ratio has increased from 56 percent to 125 per cent over the same period. This has been fuelled by a consumer crusade, of whichbigger houses and bigger cars are the most potent symbols.

All of this consumerism is not making us happier. Hugh Mackay points out that Australians areless engaged with the community and civil society and are more anxious than they have ever been. Asone of his respondents said, ‘You feel as if you are on a runaway train, speeding out of control.’ Anymeaningful analysis of marginal seats will show that this disconnect is not greatest in the bush, asNational Party members think; it is greatest on the outer suburbs and on the urban fringe.


One of the primary causes of the disconnect is the debacle that has passed for urban planningover the last 50 years. Drive in any direction from here and you will see the inner city fade into the outersuburbs and then into a patchwork of light industry and housing estates, all along overcrowded arterialroads. This is not the Australian dream. It is a social disaster.

Even standard sized blocks more than 10 kilometres from the city mean there is urban sprawl,where schools are too far away for kids to walk, where to go anywhere you need to take a car, wherethere is no community centre bar a Westfield and where, with the population below the critical density of15 dwellings per hectare, public transport can never be sustained.

While we all live in suburbs and take them for granted, they are in fact a very 20th centuryphenomenon, facilitated purely by cheap petrol and big highways. However, far-flung suburbs areenvironmental wastelands which use a lot of energy to heat and cool, take up a lot of space for noproductive purpose and require long commutes. Bizarrely, new suburbs always seem to have marketingnames that are a parody of what was there before they were bulldozed for a suburb, like Forest Lake,Chancellor Park or perhaps even Springfield.

While this kind of development might seem undesirable now, it will become absolutely unlivableas petrol prices continue to increase. We need to stop planning our communities along those lines. Weneed to adopt the principles of new urbanism, a planning concept developed in the United States in the1980s and 1990s. New urbanism is based on simple principles: walkability, where most things are withina 10-minute walk; connectivity, mixed use and diversity; mixed housing, preventing ghettos of the poorand boring monocultures of the rich; quality architecture; traditional neighbourhood structures withpublic spaces where people meet and get to know each other; increased density, which saves energyand cuts down on car use; smart transport, particularly trains; sustainability and building design. All ofthese things, put together, give genuine quality of life.

New urban communities can be built on greenfield sites or as in-fill. They mean that people canlive and work in the same community, that energy use is cut, that people get to know each other and thatexercise—the lack of which is currently our biggest public health problem—becomes part of the dailyroutine.

Before members start thinking that this is a trendy idea for the rich and famous, America’s firstnew urban community at Seaside in Florida originally sold blocks for $15,000 but they went up to about$2 million. Good design is smarter, not dearer, and in the end it pays. Moving towards new urbanismwould mean a big change in how we live. It would mean abandoning the idea that an airconditionedTuscan house in a gated community with a four-wheel drive and a huge mortgage is what we really wantin life. It would mean demanding railway lines, not roads, and being willing to shop locally. It would meanthat a housing estate without local jobs should never again be approved. It would mean that parentswould have to accept the undeniable fact that children are more likely to be abused by someone theyknow than they are by a stranger and that the big backyard is therefore not the only safe place forchildren to play.

With the sustainable housing policy in the regional plan, the state has set some groundwork fornew urbanism in south-east Queensland, but the game has a long way to go. The patchwork we nowhave has happened because planners have responded to developers, not the other way around. If wedo not see the possibilities that new urbanism creates, if we let developers set the agenda and if wesquib the hard calls—particularly if local government squibs the hard calls—on urban in-fill, then we willcondemn our children to live in poor, disconnected communities in the future.

Overseas Trained Doctors; Patel, Dr JMr COPELAND (Cunningham—NPA) (4.49 pm): Over the last number of years Queenslanders

have been subjected to a string of attempts by this government, this Premier and three health ministersto portray the Queensland health system as a rosy, good place in which to be treated. I feel for thosededicated staff who have been trying to do their best in delivering health services in Queensland.Everyone knows that there have been very real problems in Queensland Health. There have been veryreal problems in Queensland Health for years. We have tried to raise them time and time again, but wehave had nothing but cover-up, nothing but denial and nothing but a public relations spin from thisPremier and now three ministers.

It is worth going through the number of scandals that have erupted in Queensland Health,particularly since we last sat. Every day we get a revelation that appears to be more disturbing than theone before. We should go back to where it started to unravel—that is, the Bundaberg Hospital scandal.Jayant Patel was supported and promoted by the district manager and the director of medical services.The government would have kept those actions quiet and covered them up had they not been exposedin this parliament by the Nationals—that is, by the member for Burnett and me.

When whistleblower Toni Hoffman wrote to management at the Bundaberg Hospital it took somefour months for the Chief Health Officer, Dr Gerry FitzGerald, to involve himself in a fact-finding missionto Bundaberg. The CHO’s clinical audit was forwarded to the Medical Board of Queensland on 24


March, 48 hours after it had been raised in this parliament, with a covering letter by the Chief HealthOfficer who stated that he had ‘not been able to comment on Dr Patel’s surgical expertise but believedhis judgment was poor’.

Considering the findings of the clinical review team headed by Professor Woodruff whichrevealed alarming results that were quite contrary to the findings of Dr FitzGerald, it has to be askedwhether Dr FitzGerald’s ability to assess clinical standards is up to scratch. Now that Dr FitzGerald hasbeen appointed to the position of Deputy Director-General of Queensland Health and is ultimatelyresponsible for the standards of health care in the state’s public hospitals, what guarantees does thepublic have that he is capable of doing the job to which he has been appointed?

While on the subject of the clinical review conducted by Professor Woodruff, I point out that page3 of that review report stated in part that Dr Patel retrieved patients from dangerous situations caused byother practitioners. Who are those other practitioners, where are those practitioners now, have theretrieved patients been advised of their respective dangerous situations, or have those patients beenassessed to ascertain whether they have sustained long-term injury and deleterious effects?

The scandals continued. Members will recall the Hervey Bay orthopaedic scandal. Dr Peter Giblinand Dr John North conducted an investigation under the Health Act of orthopaedic health care in theFraser Coast region. The findings were scandalous and alarming. The government’s response typicallywas to hide the report. But fortunately for Wide Bay residents, the report was exposed by Tony MorrisQC.

Then we had the Townsville Hospital scandals with Vincent Berg, a bogus psychiatrist, who wasemployed at Townsville Hospital in 2000. The Australian revealed today that this same doctor wasconvicted in 1987 for indecent dealings with boys. Where are the checks in place? There was theblatant disregard of clinical audits and peer review by the opthalmology department at TownsvilleHospital, which we have spoken about before.

There was the issue of Vitomir Zepinic, another bogus psychiatrist, who worked at theToowoomba Hospital from April 2000 to March 2002. Had it not been for the Morris inquiry, these twoimposters at Townsville and Toowoomba would not have been revealed to the public because thisgovernment had in place a strategy to cover it up, to completely keep it from the Queensland public andto keep it from the patients who would have suffered at the hands of these two bogus psychiatrists.

However, the government had devised a contingency plan: the ministerial briefing notes that wereprepared for the former health minister Wendy Edmond should the opposition learn of the debacle.Where was the honesty in that? The parliament has provision for ministerial statements, mattersurgently arising as well as matters of public interest. Why did the minister not use the parliamentaryforum to expose the imposters and take the opportunity to put patients’ minds at rest and to have follow-up treatment? Because it is easier for this government to lie and to cover-up. The Beattie government’sministers for health—Edmond and Nuttall—have been exposed as masters of deceit.

We have the Rockhampton Base Hospital scandal concerning an emergency department report.Dr William Kelly was vilified and felt he had to resign and leave the country. In his evidence to the Morrisinquiry he revealed that he had become a marked man after telling the government that RockhamptonBase Hospital’s emergency department should be shut down. He was vilified even though the healthdepartment had a report some 12 months prior which outlined the same dangers that Dr Kelly raised.We have got overseas trained doctors being approved by the Medical Board of Queensland.

Time expired.

Healthy Bones Week; Food Stakeholders Forum; Ipswich Hospital FoundationMrs MILLER (Bundamba—ALP) (4.54 pm): To mark Healthy Bones Week, the West Moreton

Women’s Health Service held a free osteoporosis prevention workshop this morning. Healthy BonesWeek highlights this debilitating illness, its affects on our lives and the preventative measures we can alltake to proactively manage its onset. As a community, parents and grandparents, we need to instil in ourchildren and our younger generation the critical importance that calcium contributes to the strengtheningof bones. If we desire a healthy and active retirement with minimal bone breakages and minimalosteoporosis, we need to be proactive and take responsibility to reduce these risks as we age.

Clinical professionals held an interactive workshop between 9.30 and 12 noon this morning at theIpswich mall location of the health centre to provide information on important lifestyle factors, includingdiet and exercise, that contribute to the disease. This interactive workshop gave women the essentialinformation they need to pay more attention to the health of their bones, including a bone essential fooddemonstration. What we eat can contribute to the health of our bones. A healthy lifestyle and beingactive can be critical in keeping bones strong as the best defence against developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis affects one in two women over the age of 60 years. Although treatments areavailable, there is certainly currently no cure. The disease is largely preventable for many of the1.9 million Australian women inflicted. I would like to invite and encourage women of all ages to beaware of Healthy Bones Week and to participate in local activities intended to prevent osteoporosis.


Secondly, members of the food stakeholders forum met to discuss matters pertaining to the draftfood bill. Terry Sullivan MP, our Government Whip, continued as chair of the forum which was made upof representatives from the food and retailing industry, including those from the profit and not-for-profitsectors, as well as the Local Government Association. Over 30 people attended the last meeting andthe major stakeholders involved in the forum are now finalising matters to reach consensus prior to thebill’s introduction to parliament.

This interactive approach has focused on amending the bill that promotes our food industry,ensures the highest level of standards and regulations for business and also food safety for ourconsumers. The members of the forum, through their valued input to this draft legislation, have proveninstrumental in achieving an effective and workable outcome for our billion dollar food industry inQueensland. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the forum for their consistencyand their dedication in this process as well as the professional support by officers of Queensland Health.

Mr Terry Sullivan: Some of those members have been doing that work for up to seven years. Mrs MILLER: That is right. Some of those members have been very dedicated for seven years.

They are very glad that the process is nearly over. Finally, I would like to talk about the Ipswich Hospital Foundation. On Sunday, 31 July I had the

pleasure of officiating at the Ipswich Hospital Foundation half marathon. The events included a five-kilometre circuit between Limestone and Queens Park, a 10-kilometre circuit and a one- to two-kilometre children’s fun run.

I would like to thank the 100 volunteers at the event and also the major sponsor and in-kindsupporters. The major sponsors of the event were Wingate Properties, which donated $10,000; Boeing,which donated $5,000; the Grange Medical Service, which donated $1,000; and the Ipswich CityCouncil, which gave in-kind support and also the use of its parks.

I would particularly like to thank Mr Nev Byers of Mixwell who donated his truck with audio-visualequipment. Nev is a local legend in my community. He helps many community organisations, includingthe Goodna Rugby League Club. I would also like to thank the Queensland Ambulance Service and theQueensland Police Service and the SES volunteers who all provided their services free of charge.

The winners of the charitable event were Chris Reeves and Helen Stanton who won the halfmarathon. Everyone was a winner on the day, particularly the little children, some of them as young astwo years old, who completed the one-kilometre walk. How they did it I will never know.

I also want to thank Councillor Andrew Antonelli and Councillor Cheryl Bromage who gave outprizes on the day. This worthy event raised $30,000 for the Ipswich Hospital Foundation. The foundationwill provide medical and health research programs to encourage a healthy community in our Ipswichregion.

Overseas Trained Doctors; Patel, Dr JDr FLEGG (Moggill—Lib) (4.59 pm): Documents provided by the Premier to the Morris royal

commission prove in black and white that former Labor health minister Wendy Edmond was aware ofthe problem with bogus doctors as long ago as December 2002. What did the Premier’s hand-pickedhealth minister do once she became aware of these problems? We know she sought a briefing from herown department. The health department is not in the habit of refusing its minister’s requests for abriefing. Knowing what she knew, why did she not immediately bring forward amendments to theMedical Practitioners Registration Act 2001 to ensure that others could not rely on false qualificationsand misleading documents to obtain registration and work in Queensland public hospitals? Ifthese amendments had been acted on by the minister when she had this information back in 2002 whenthe Beattie government first became aware of the problems of bogus doctors and dishonest registration,the horrendous acts committed by Dr Patel could have been avoided. He would not have beenemployed in the first place.

This government knew in 2002 that there was a problem with dishonest registration anddishonest qualifications and bogus doctors in this state and it did absolutely nothing. It found itconvenient to shut up, to not tell the people of Queensland what information it had and to just allow it tokeep happening for its own political convenience. The end result we are seeing today in the Morris royalcommission is what happened in Bundaberg—a Queensland public hospital run by this government withdoctors employed by this government. Not even a Google search was done to check up on Dr Pateldespite the fact that it already knew there was a problem with bogus doctors, false documentation anddishonest registration of doctors within its public hospital system.

The tragedy of this failure is that lives could have been saved and horrendous injuries could havebeen avoided if this Labor government had fixed the problems with doctor registrations when they werefirst brought to the government’s attention back in December 2002. This delay is absolutely inexcusable.The Premier needs to come clean on what his then health minister, Wendy Edmond, knew and what shetold him and others about the problem of bogus doctors in Queensland public hospitals. The Premierneeds to tell the people of Queensland everything he knows and explain to Queenslanders why this


problem was not fixed straightaway when his government was made aware of it. He can no longer actsurprised—that his government did not know what was going on and now that it is aware it is going to fixit. It was aware of it back in 2002. It had the opportunity to fix it, and it failed the test. It did not have thepolitical will to do it.

The Premier needs to explain what steps he has taken to ascertain from his current parliamentarysecretary, who was the then health minister’s parliamentary secretary between 2001 and 2004, exactlywhat she knew about her minister’s information and her department’s information, in particular inrelation to the bogus doctor Vincent Berg, who was working in Townsville. It simply beggars belief for thePremier to suggest that his health minister, Wendy Edmond, would not even tell her own parliamentarysecretary about the bogus doctor Vincent Berg who had been working in the major hospital in herparliamentary secretary’s own city of Townsville.

The Premier has to tell Queensland what he knew. Queenslanders have a right to know why thisproblem was not fixed when the government became aware of it all of those years ago. Why doesn’tMr Beattie talk to his parliamentary secretary about what she was told? Why does he not want to get tothe bottom of the issue? Perhaps it is that he does not want to know, or is it just that he does not wantthe public of Queensland to know? There should have been immediate action and a comprehensivecheck of doctors working within this system when Wendy Edmond was first briefed about the problem ofbogus doctors.

Time expired.

Townsville Music IndustryMs NELSON-CARR (Mundingburra—ALP) (5.04 pm): Thank goodness I have something

positive to present to the chamber, and it is all about a love of classical music. Nurturing this andinspiring school students to learn to play musical instruments is a worthy undertaking of any school, andI am happy to say that there are some excellent music programs and talented young musicians atschools in Townsville. I cite as an outstanding example Pimlico State High School in my electorate andfour Pimlico students—Joseph Burnett who plays the tuba, Matthew McGeachin who plays thetrombone, Natalie Dajski who plays the clarinet and Sarah Carminati who plays the trumpet—whoparticipated in Education Queensland’s prestigious Musically Outstanding Students program, known asthe MOST program, during a 12-day residential camp in Brisbane in June.

Mr Terry Sullivan: It’s a fantastic program.Ms NELSON-CARR: It is. I am sure that my colleague Craig Wallace would join with me in

acknowledging Kirwan State High School students Joseph Crocker who plays the euphonium, KatyPrideaux who plays the bassoon, Michael Liu who plays the violin and Natasha Sue who plays the cello.They, along with the Pimlico four, are amongst 77 gifted music students from Queensland’s state highschools who were selected from video auditions to attend this year’s program. They grasped the goldenopportunity to mix with some of Australia’s most respected musicians including eminent conductors,composers, senior tertiary music lecturers and principal players from the Queensland Orchestra.

The program showcased the depth of musical talent in Queensland state high schools and theoutstanding success of Education Queensland’s instrumental music program, which involves more than50,000 year 4 to 12 students and is internationally recognised for its quality. MOST 2005 gave the eightPimlico and Kirwan students the chance to extend themselves and experience working in a professionalstandard ensemble. Along with the other selected students, they undertook ensemble rehearsals,tutorials with specialist instrument teachers, sectionals and chamber music and choral musicianshipsessions. No doubt many of Queensland’s talented young musicians aspire to reach the heightsachieved by the world’s best in their chosen music field, such as those who perform in Townsville’shighly acclaimed Festival of Chamber Music.

Townsville in July is the setting for a wonderful 10-day concert feast performed by a selection ofthe world’s finest musicians. The first event in 1991 set exceptional standards, as did subsequentevents, and last month’s festival was no exception. Not only is the Australian Festival of Chamber Musicwell supported locally; it draws large numbers of people to Townsville from Brisbane and elsewhere inQueensland, interstate and overseas. Dedicated music lovers return year after year. From the time ofthe first festival in 1991, audiences and music critics have acclaimed the depth and quality ofperformances in Townsville—a city that may once have been considered unlikely as a chamber musicsetting and a regular destination for distinguished Australians and overseas classical artists. The 15thfestival last month featured 25 Australian and international musicians of world renown performing theworks of legendary composers such as Sculthorpe, Dvorak, Mozart, Ravel and so on. They performed aseries of exhilarating shows.

I commend the Beattie government for ongoing financial backing of the festival, currently $60,000annually through the cultural infrastructure program. I also commend the festival’s corporate sponsorsand other supporters. Of course the festival has great appeal for adults, but there is always a significantrepresentation of young people attending the 18 or so concerts on offer, not to mention the festival’smasterclasses for gifted young musicians. The presence in Townsville of international standard recital


and recording artists is an incentive for north Queensland music students like the young people fromPimlico and Kirwan whom I referred to. With hard work, they and other Queenslanders like them mayone day achieve the successes enjoyed by those dazzling performers who descend on Townsville for 10memorable tropical winter days and nights.

It may be 11 months down the track, but even at this early stage there will be many peopleeagerly looking forward to the 16th Australian Festival of Chamber Music in July 2006. Even slightlyfurther away down the track—a full year away in fact—is the 2006 4TTT Palmer Street Jazz Festival. Itwill be the festival’s 10th anniversary. The 2005 festival in Townsville last weekend was a tremendoussuccess with about 90 hours of music, 15 bands, 10 high school bands and some of Australia’s leadingsolo jazz artists.

I am thrilled that the Queensland Events Regional Development Program gave a $15,000 grant tolast weekend’s festival. If crowd reaction is any guide, the money could not have been better spent. Theannual festival is a credit to Townsville’s community, radio station 4TTT and its dedicated volunteers. Icongratulate them and all of the performers on giving the city such a great musical feast. There wouldbe nowhere else in Australia where people could sit outside on the footpath in the middle of Augusteating Australia’s finest food and listening to Australia’s finest jazz.

Road InfrastructureMr MALONE (Mirani—NPA) (5.09 pm): I rise to speak about the growth in infrastructure in the

coalmining industry in central Queensland and some of the imposts that is putting on local people andlocal roads. As members would be well aware, the Queensland government receives each year in thevicinity of $1,400 million in royalties from the coal industry and revenue from the supply of freight fromthe coalmines to the ports. That is a substantial part of the coalmining infrastructure and also the returnsto government from coalmining in Queensland.

Quite a percentage of that revenue—I would suggest probably 70 per cent or 80 per cent of it—comes from central Queensland, basically through my electorate. The issue, which up until recently washighlighted almost daily in the media, has been the number of ships that are sitting off the biggest coalport in the world, the combination ports of the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal and the Hay Point ServicesTerminal. Currently the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal is leased by Babcock and Brown, which waspreviously known as Prime Infrastructure. Of course, BHP/BMA has the Hay Point terminal at Sarina.

It would appear that somewhere around about $1 billion will be spent on the port over the nextfew years to lift the port’s capacity to meet the markets that are being generated overseas. Obviously,that is just the start. On top of that is the requirement for possibly a third rail line from the coalmines tothe port. Anybody who knows that terrain would know that it would be a very substantial engineering featto do that.

These issues have been highlighted in the media. What has not been highlighted in the media isthe concern that the local residents and the other people who travel on those local roads have aboutthe amount of traffic that is generated by the increased capacity of the mining industry inland fromMackay. I have not taken a count lately, but probably seven or eight mines are due to start in the nextyear or so. Each one of those mines costs in the vicinity of $500 million to get under way. Of course, asthe capacity of those mines grows, the capacity of machinery that is required to operate the mines alsogrows.

Some years ago the state government in its wisdom—and I congratulate it for that—created theSouth Mackay industrial park. Major industry is set up in that park to remanufacture the haul truckbodies and the dragline buckets that are used in the mining industry. Most people would be aware thatboth of those items of equipment are up to seven metres or eight metres wide and could actually reach60 tonnes or 70 tonnes in weight. That equipment has to be transported to the mines from thosespecialised industries in South Mackay. In doing so, they have to traverse the roads that people andtheir kids use on a daily basis.

The heavy and oversized equipment was being transported along a route that came down theSouth Mackay industrial estate, down the highway, turning at Rosella and heading back towardsHomebush over the Sandy Creek Bridge. That is a very old bridge and even by rural communitiesstandards it is fairly decrepit. Just recently—probably in the past six months or so—a load limit wasplaced on that bridge, because obviously the bridge was not coping with the amount of traffic.Sometimes on a daily basis three to four of these major bits of equipment moved over that road.

The load limit was put in place on that bridge and obviously it then fell on Main Roads to findanother route on which these heavy pieces of equipment could travel. Main Roads established that thenew route would be possible up the Peak Downs Highway, possibly out onto Eungella Road, then downthrough a small town called Marian and across the Peak Downs Highway to Eton. Obviously, previouslyanother route was used that travelled through Walkerston. There was a huge outcry from the localpeople in regard to the use of that route. So now the route goes down through Marian. I have a couple ofphotographs that demonstrate the concern that I have. I am not sure that members can see them.

Time expired.


Blueprint for the BushMr SHINE (Toowoomba North—ALP) (5.14 pm): It is a great pleasure for me to rise in this place

for the first time as a parliamentary secretary. It is a pleasure because the subject matter of my speechis of central importance to both aspects of my duty as a parliamentary secretary to the Minister forCommunities, Disability Services and Seniors on the one hand and as special adviser to the Premier onwestern Queensland on the other. The subject matter is the concept, project or plan known as theBlueprint for the Bush.

In a sense it has come about over a comparatively short period. At about the time of theannouncement of the proposal to have a south-east Queensland infrastructure plan a call was made bythe then president of AgForce, Larry Acton, for the government to give serious consideration toAgForce’s proposal for a rural strategy. That call was reiterated by the current president, Peter Kenny,earlier this year and it was AgForce that framed a proposition that it wished to advocate in terms of ablueprint for the bush which would result in rural and regional Queensland becoming more sustainable.

I had the privilege of being present at Charleville when the Premier met with and offered AgForcethe blueprint during a community cabinet meeting on 13 February 2005. To a large extent it has comeabout and has progressed thus far because of the mutual respect of the principals of the partiesinvolved, that is, the President of AgForce, Peter Kenny, and the Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie.That foundation of respect has already led to significant changes in government policy with respect tovegetation management and in terms of rural leaseholdings.

As I said, although this blueprint has occurred over a short period, evidence of feelings ofdiscontent, distrust, anger—not just towards the government but to urban Australia generally—has beenreadily apparent for some time. Whilst it could be said that many country people have for generations—or at least since Hanrahan predicted ruination—felt that it was a ‘them versus us’ situation, I believe thatthe perception of urban disinterest in the bush has risen over the past generation or two. No longer domost city folk have cousins on the land. No longer do city children spend their holidays at relatives’farms. In fact, the vast majority of Australians no longer depend on primary production for their income.

If this disconnect had not occurred to me from my own background of being reared on a farm andthen operating a provincial and rural legal practice in Toowoomba and Chinchilla for many years, itcertainly has over the past 14 months or so as the regional Queensland councillor for the Darling Downsand south-west Queensland, serving with very talented and representative persons on the ministerialforum—people from Quilpie, Roma, Miles, Tara, Stanthorpe, Inglewood and Crows Nest—as well asfrom receiving wide feedback from open sessions in various forums at Warwick, Roma, St George,Mitchell and, of course, the community cabinet at Charleville. This disconnect manifests itself not only indistrust of the state government in some quarters but also the federal government as evidenced byprolonged dissatisfaction over, for example, exceptional circumstances arrangements, a lack of actionon the adoption of the favourable tax zoning and especially over the proposed sale of the remainder ofTelstra.

I sincerely hope and believe with reasonable cause that as a result of the creation of the blueprint,which will be a 10-year plan for the implementation of a wide range of measures, much will be done toresolve that disconnect between the city and the bush—a recognition, begrudgingly no doubt for sometime, that this government is indeed a government for all of Queensland in deed as well as in name andthat a difference, real and lasting, to rural Queensland will transpire. I think that in this process it will beof value to carry out an honest account of not only the deficiencies in government areas ofresponsibilities—and, for that matter, the other two levels of government as well—but also to list what is,in fact, already done for the bush; that is, to consider government initiatives over the various portfolios.For example, there has been the recent allocation of $359 million for special rural and regional roads,$88 million to place or replace timber bridges, $145 million for local authorities outside south-eastQueensland for water and sewerage infrastructure, and $691 million for power and mininginfrastructure, transport subsidies and energy subsidies. I am very pleased to see that the process isexamining themes in economic growth and development, primary industries, rural production,population shifts, natural resources management, regional planning and coordination, public and privateinfrastructure, rural services, social and cultural development, and identity.

This blueprint to be presented to cabinet in February 2006 will be a 10-year plan containingspecific strategies with specific outcomes in those areas to which I have just referred. The discussionpaper period has been extended to 14 October 2005. I encourage everyone to have their say—everyone, not just AgForce or principal industry groups but everyone including charitable, community,sporting, Indigenous, multicultural, education, health or any field that you can think of, everyoneincluding the local authorities. I also call on members of the National Party because of the privilege theyhave of representing many of the areas the subject of the blueprint. They have a heavy responsibility tosupport and encourage this AgForce and Department of Communities project, to give it a go—thislifeline for country Queensland’s future.


Wide Bay-Burnett RegionMrs PRATT (Nanango—Ind) (5.19 pm): One of the most common themes on which I often hear

the government speaking is how the many new residents migrating to Queensland should beencouraged to go out into regional and rural Queensland, the aim being to disperse the population awayfrom the already heavily populated coastal areas of the south-east corner, thereby lessening thedemands on already overtaxed city resources, primarily water and transport but ultimately embracing allthe government services. That is what I want to address today.

What occurs in reality by government is not conducive to the ideology espoused by government.There are 22 shires in the Wide Bay-Burnett region, ranging from Hervey Bay on the coast through toinland areas of Kingaroy and Nanango. The Wide Bay-Burnett currently represents four administrativeand five economic subregions, all very diverse in their particular regional needs and desired futureoutcomes. Wide Bay-Burnett encompasses coastal and inland councils and regions. I might as well betalking about two different planets as the infrastructure needs of each vary so much from the other.

The manner of disbursing funding of state government is deceptive and unfair to those shireslocated off the coast which, although are part of the region of Wide Bay-Burnett, receive very little butrecurrent funds. No-one begrudges the money to those high-populated councils on the coast whichreceive it if it is needed, but areas such as the South Burnett miss out and suffer because thegovernment only appears to see the coastal strip of Queensland and big business favour heavilypopulated areas in which to build major private infrastructure.

The Wide Bay-Burnett region is actively seeking to reinvent itself and recently conducted acompetition to find an alternative name for the region, with over 100 respondents. Of all the entries‘country coast’, as submitted by Lynelle Richardson, was the chosen one to be put to the people. Therehas been a lot of debate in the public arena about this—some for and some against. I have to askeveryone here in this room: if you were going to the country coast, where would you be going? Thename ‘country coast’, as many locals have said and written to the local media, could be equallyapplicable to anywhere on the entire Queensland coast and does not conjure up visions of the wondersof the Burnett region or Hervey Bay just as currently the Wide Bay-Burnett title does not appear to bringto the government’s mind the inland regions of the South Burnett when it comes to funding.

Kingaroy is certainly moving ahead in leaps in bounds to accommodate the government’sideology of ‘let’s get people out into regional and rural areas’, but Kingaroy cannot do it alone. It needsgovernment to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. In one breath government talks about encouragingpeople west but in the next breath it announces more than $1 million to build yet another bridge. Beforethat, there was the Goodwill Bridge, which went well over budget. Then there were the multimillionsexpended on Suncorp Stadium, and numerous other projects come to mind. These are fabulousfacilities and they serve the Brisbane community well, but one cannot tell me that these are not going toencourage more people to look at the convenience of living in Brisbane and forget rural and regionalalternatives. There is more to Queensland than the south-east corner, and expenditure intended forfacilities which will attract intending city settlers west needs to be directed outside of the south-eastcorner.

Many people across the state would love a fitting memorial to Sir Joh, who recently passed away.But the vast majority of them would prefer not a statue but a major multipurpose convention and sportingfacility built in Kingaroy which would attract international tournaments, conventions and other majorevents. Whether this be a memorial to Joh or simply recognition that the South Burnett has come of ageand needs such a facility is immaterial. There needs to be a fundamental change in government actionin the disbursement of funds to make inland areas more attractive to those who move from the southernstates or migrate from overseas.

To continue in the same vein year after year will see nothing but a continuation of coastalcongestion rather than inland settlement and a critical drain on resources. The minister for localgovernment should address this issue with cabinet and identify the government’s often raised concernof the south-east corner’s congestion with a view to ensuring that people locate in communities over theranges. There needs to be a change in thinking and a time frame to develop and implement strategiesand revitalise the region as a whole region and not preference one part over another. This has been thecase ever since 1998. I hope this government can understand the frustration in rural areas whenprojects like this billion-dollar bridge are announced. A convention centre in the South Burnett whichwould not cost anywhere near $1 billion would be of greater help to achieve the aims of government andenvironmentalists and is essential.

Kingaroy and the South Burnett for many reasons continue to buck the trend of a slowing housingmarket and are experiencing unprecedented growth. There are good reasons for promoting people frominterstate and immigrants to move to alternative areas such as the South Burnett, and no-one can saythat there is a more beautiful place in this state.


Water ResourcesMs STRUTHERS (Algester—ALP) (5.24 pm): Reverse osmosis, recycled water, dissimilation,

prevailed water—these are all of the terms that I heard on my recent ‘Sheilas to the Bush’ trip throughsouth-west Queensland. I hope ‘sheilas’ is not an unparliamentary term, but I say it quite fondly becausethree suburban female MPs, Bonny Barry, Cate Molloy from Noosa—she might not call herselfsuburban but she is a city girl—and I accepted an invitation from the former minister for naturalresources and mines, Stephen Robertson, to leave the comfort of our coastal electorates to head bushto see first-hand how south western Queensland communities are dealing with water shortages.

Water is an invaluable resource that we have all taken for granted in the past. Water conservationand management are now very serious business. We all feel for property owners and townsfolkdevastated by drought and these water issues are now very close to home for all of us in the suburbanareas as well where water restrictions are in place.

The suburban MPs had our first stop at a farm run being run by Wendy and Graham Erhart andthe team at Withcott Seedlings, Helidon, and witnessed how they are recycling water and managingtheir property and their business, their Smart Salads and others, very wisely. Full credit to them. Wethen went on to Toowoomba, where Mayor Di Thorley hosted a reception on Sunday evening withwomen from the Toowoomba community. We met with her members of the Toowoomba’s Water FuturesCommittee who gave us the very blunt news that Toowoomba will run out of water in two years if thecurrent drought persists. That was their prediction. The mayor described the committee’s bold watermanagement plan. Its key elements are community education to foster the wise use of water;compulsory use of rainwater tanks in new buildings; the controversial issue is the one that involves a$35 million upgrade of Wetalla Water Reclamation Plant, which will involve purifying to six-star qualityapproximately 6,500 megalitres per annum of three-star water sourced from the Wetalla plant. Putsimply, the mayor said, ‘That is recycling sewage.’ She is going to have a tough job convincing theToowoomba community of the merits of this, but it is a very important proposal that has to be given fullconsideration. Mayor Thorley’s popularity seems based on her no-nonsense approach. She may havelocal residents eating out of her hand on many issues, but the challenge now is: will they swallow thenew water treatment plan that she has? It is certainly very important that they come up with somethingvery creative and very quickly.

Alma Jahnke from Natural Resources in Toowoomba was our tour guide for the trip and shesuggested a good marketing tool to the mayor, and I thought it was very clever. Bonny Barry, Cate and Iall liked this one. Instead of talking bluntly about recycled sewage water, Alma came up with the ideathat it should be called preloved water. People might accept that a little better. We want to thank Almafor being on the road with us for a few days. She was certainly a great tour guide. We got lost once andluckily we came across a very faded little sign at a pub near Dirranbandi that said, ‘Free beer tomorrow.’I did not think many people would be coming back to that little isolated patch, but that was a great littlegimmick for that pub.

We then went on to Dalby where the Dalby town council is exploring the best science andtechnology on offer in water management. The council has very successfully set up a desalination plantthat is supplying 20 per cent to 30 per cent of Dalby’s annual demand. Full marks to the council. It isdoing a great job there and we enjoyed guzzling a glass of the Dalby water and found it very refreshing.The council is now looking to ways of treating coal seam water. So good on the council for beingcreative and looking at these options.

From Dalby, the bush adventurers set off to meet Mary Woods and some of her friends andcolleagues at Coorangy Station. Mary and her colleagues in the area, including Liz Wood and MichellePendergast who joined us at the property, have been cooperating on water and land managementissues for many years through the Border Rivers and Maranoa-Balonne committees. They are good,responsible people and they are taking good, responsible actions and full credit to them. They are greatleaders on water management for people in Queensland.

Next it was on to the vibrant, thriving town of Goondiwindi and what a great vibrant town that is.Councillor Sudholz and others were very hospitable and showed us around the town, and it was great tosee. Finally, it was off to Cubbie Station and then on to St George. What an amazing property CubbieStation is. It is both awesome yet disturbing; creative yet concerning. I have never seen anything like it.In my little patch in Algester I have some small vegetable farmers—the Zivec family and others—operating at Pallara. It is just mindblowing what is happening at Cubbie Station. It was a great trip and Ithank all those involved for their hospitality in the bush.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr O’Brien): Order! The time for matters of public importance hasended. It is now time for government business.

2202 Industrial Relations Amendment Bill 09 Aug 2005

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AMENDMENT BILL

First ReadingHon. TA BARTON (Waterford—ALP) (Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations)

(5.30 pm): I present a bill for an act to amend the Industrial Relations Act 1999. I present theexplanatory notes, and I move—That the bill be now read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Second ReadingHon. TA BARTON (Waterford—ALP) (Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations)

(5.30 pm): I move—That the bill be now read a second time.

On 26 May 2005 the Prime Minister announced the federal government’s plans to create anational industrial relations system which would be based on the corporations power in theCommonwealth Constitution. These proposals threaten to have adverse and far-reaching implicationsfor Queensland workers. If the proposals are implemented, Queensland’s state industrial relationssystem will be reduced in coverage from the current 70 per cent of employees to around 40 per cent ofemployees.

Employees caught in the federal system under these proposals could then see their current rightsand entitlements significantly reduced or simply taken away. The Prime Minister’s industrial relationsagenda includes: • an Australian Fair Pay Commission to set minimum rates of pay and award classification wages; • a reduction of federal award conditions by removing jury service, notice on termination, long

service leave and superannuation;• an Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard with five minimum employment conditions

covering annual leave, personal leave, parental leave, a maximum number of working hours andthe minimum pay rate;

• the five minimum conditions to replace the ‘no disadvantage’ test based on the award which iscurrently used as a benchmark for approving federal collective and individual agreements;

• the approval of collective and individual agreements upon lodgment with the Office of theEmployment Advocate instead of being checked against legal protections by an independenttribunal (AIRC);

• a task group to review awards and award classification structures, and report back within 12months, resulting in a further reduction of federal award conditions;

• replacing the main role of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) in setting wagesand conditions with a reduced role in dispute settlement and award simplification;

• exempting all businesses that employ up to 100 employees from unfair dismissal laws andincreasing probationary periods from three months to six months. Ninety-eight per cent of privatesector employees in Queensland work in businesses employing fewer than 100 employees.Employees in such businesses, where the business is incorporated, will have no recourse tounfair dismissal procedures.These are key entitlements that impact directly on the take-home pay and the living standards

and quality of life of thousands of workers in Queensland and their families. That is why, in response tothese proposals, the Premier announced on 1 June 2005 that Queensland would amend the IndustrialRelations Act to protect the conditions of Queensland workers.

The Premier’s proposals address two particular aspects of the federal government’s plans whichinclude:• removing four conditions from federal awards—superannuation, long service leave, jury service

leave, and notice of termination; and • allowing federal individual and collective agreements to be made and approved without reference

to current award conditions. Instead, agreements will only have to contain five minimumconditions of employment covering annual leave, personal leave, unpaid parental leave, themaximum number of ordinary working hours, and a minimum wage. The five minimum conditions provide for a much lower floor than the current laws for bargaining,

which means every other entitlement is up for grabs. Unless federal employees can bargain with theiremployer, they could be moved onto agreements and lose conditions including weekend penalty rates,public holiday pay, overtime, allowances, redundancy pay and shift loadings. As a government, we are

09 Aug 2005 Industrial Relations Amendment Bill 2203

determined to do all we can to protect Queensland employees from the harsh impact of theseproposals, and that is why we have introduced this legislation before the House today—the IndustrialRelations Amendment Bill 2005.

The Industrial Relations Act 1999 already provides a range of minimum entitlements for allemployees in Queensland, including federal employees where there is no federal act, award oragreement covering that particular matter. The Queensland act covers:• annual leave (four weeks per annum and five weeks for shift workers)• sick leave (eight days per annum)• parental leave • carer’s leave (up to five days of sick leave on full pay per annum to care for sick family members)• bereavement leave• long service leave• notice of termination• ordinary time hours of work and the times within which they are performed• penalty rates for working outside the ordinary time hours of work• public holidays• redundancy pay (to the extent that employees can apply to the QIRC for redundancy pay)• stand-down provisions• dispute-settling procedures • casual employment (to the extent that long-term casuals are defined).

The primary aim of these amendments is to provide protections for workers whose entitlementsare eroded or removed under the federal government’s proposals, but not to burden employers byinterfering with current arrangements under awards and agreements.

The minimum entitlements legislation will not add to the labour costs for Queensland employersas it will have:• no impact on current state or federal awards and agreements;• no impact on non-award employees;• no impact on new awards and agreements made or varied after the 1 September 2005 if they

address these entitlements.Only those employers who choose to make awards and agreements after the

Queensland amendments commence, and who do not address them in the agreements made with theiremployees, will face the cost of the legislated minimum entitlements in the Industrial Relations Act.

The bill provides for additional minimum protections which are derived from three sources:• community standards established by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC)

and the AIRC;• common standards in state and federal awards; and • current minimum entitlements in the Queensland Industrial Relations Act 1999.

I turn now to the provisions of the bill. The bill will provide the following entitlements based oncommission standards:• Casual loading of 23 per cent, which reflects the standard established by the QIRC as a general

ruling in April 2001.• Annual leave loading of 17.5 per cent loading on the amount paid for annual leave in line with the

test case decision by the QIRC in 1973. • Shiftwork loadings of 12.5 per cent of ordinary time wages for an afternoon shift and 15 per cent

of ordinary time wages for a night shift reflecting the general ruling by the QIRC. The definition ofafternoon shift and night shift will reflect current standards in Queensland awards.

• Redundancy pay standard established by the QIRC in 2003 will be incorporated into the acttogether with the continued exemption of small businesses with the equivalent of 15 full-timeemployees or less. The bill will provide the following entitlements, which have been identified from common

standards across state and federal awards: • Weekend penalty rates of 25 per cent, in addition to the ordinary hourly rate for work on Saturday,

and 50 per cent in addition to the ordinary hourly rate for work on Sunday.

2204 Industrial Relations Amendment Bill 09 Aug 2005

• Ordinary working week will be amended to introduce a 38-hour week for employees covered byawards and agreements made after 1 September 2005, a position that is even supported by thePrime Minister.

• Meal breaks will include a minimum unpaid meal break of 30 minutes after five hours’ work, inaddition to the existing provision for rest breaks of at least 10 minutes for each four hours ofworking time.

• Notice of termination will be retained under the existing provisions for notice periods byemployers to employees. Employees, other than casuals, will now be required to give a minimumnotice period of one week to employers.

• Jury service leave provisions will be incorporated into the act to provide that employers make upthe difference between the worker’s ordinary time earnings and the Queensland government dailyallowance for employees on jury service whose awards and agreements are made after the dateof commencement and where the award or agreement is silent on the matter. The bill will provide for the existing entitlements under the Queensland Industrial Relations Act

1999 to be extended to employees under federal awards and agreements.• Public holiday penalties will be extended to federal employees who work on a public holiday,

when it falls on a day when they are ordinarily required to work, and who will be entitled toordinary time for the public holiday, plus time and a half for any hours they work, with a minimumfour hours pay. In addition, employees who work outside their ordinary working hours on a publicholiday, including casual employees, will be entitled to double time and a half for the hours theywork, with a minimum of four hours pay.

• Loadings for working overtime will be amended to extend to federal workers the current overtimepayments for work in excess of ordinary time hours, although modified for a 38-hour week.Overtime rates will apply to time worked in excess of six days in any seven consecutive dayperiod; 38 hours in any consecutive six days; 7.6 hours per day; or before or after ordinary startand finish times. The rate of overtime is time and a half or double time if more than one shift isworked per day, unless awards and agreements provide alternative arrangements.The bill extends certain minimum protections in the IR Act to all employees (with only minor

exceptions). These minimum conditions relate to processes and rights rather than entitlements and willhave no impact on labour costs. They will encourage awards and agreements to provide forclassifications and skills based career paths so that wages will continue to be structured to support skillsdevelopment and a minimum trade rate is guaranteed to employees completing apprenticeships; andensure that outworkers in all industries receive comparable pay and conditions to workers on awardsand agreements who perform the same work at the employer’s premises.

The new bill provides a safety net—a safe haven, if you like—for those employees who will bemost affected by the federal proposals. Only those employers who choose to remove these allowableaward matters from new awards and agreements made after 1 September 2005, and who do notaddress them in the agreements made with their employees, will face the cost of the legislated minimumentitlements in the Queensland act.

Queensland can legislate in this way because the federal government does not have exclusivejurisdiction over industrial matters, and state laws can apply where they are not inconsistent with federallaws. This demonstrates the benefits of having both state and federal systems operating, where thestate system can help mitigate the excesses of the federal jurisdiction. We are aware that if the federalgovernment seeks to expressly exclude state laws providing these conditions, then the federal law willtake precedence, but that will be on the Commonwealth’s head. If they choose to go down that route, itwill be very clear exactly what conditions they are taking away from Queensland workers.

We have seen in recent months the signs of growing community concern over the impact of thefederal government’s proposed industrial relations changes. More and more, people are starting toquestion why the federal government wants to take us down this route where fundamental employmentconditions will be placed at risk, to the detriment of ordinary working Australians and their families. Thisis not the way to secure our future prosperity and standards of living.

A modern and flexible industrial relations system must be underpinned by basic principles offairness and equity—the right to a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, safe and fair working conditions,fair treatment in the workplace, and the right to seek recourse if these basic standards are not met. These standards provide the basic building blocks for a strong and prosperous economy because itstands to reason that workers perform better when they do not fear for their job, if their wages andconditions of employment are not under threat, and if they are treated fairly at work.

We know that Queensland is Australia’s engine room of growth. We have Australia’s lowestunemployment rate at 4.7 per cent compared to 5.0 per cent for Australia nationally, and 5.2 per cent inVictoria. We have experienced an historically low level of industrial disputation, with an averagequarterly strike rate to the year March 2005 standing at 4.3, less than half the Australian average of 10.2or Victoria, where John Howard’s model is already in place, at 8.2.

09 Aug 2005 Racing Venues Development Amendment Bill 2205

Queensland’s economic growth rate was more than double the national average last year withQueensland at 4.25 per cent, the national rate at two per cent and Victoria at 2.75 per cent. Queenslandrecorded strong trend annual jobs growth of 5.6 per cent in June, compared with a national growth rateof 3.6 per cent. Queensland’s annual rise in employment of 106,000 persons was substantially largerthan any other state and accounted for more than 30 per cent of national jobs growth.

Queensland’s performance shows up the lie of John Howard’s excuses for his proposals—that is,that we need his proposed industrial relations reforms to achieve high economic and jobs growth, lowunemployment and low levels of industrial disputes. We have demonstrated in Queensland that fair andstrong employment rights and protections are an integral part of a successful economy and not animpediment to it.

The bill that I have introduced today will help to ensure that Queensland employees continue tohave access to these entitlements in the wake of the federal government’s proposed industrial relationschanges. The Queensland government will not stand by and allow John Howard to destroyQueensland’s industrial relations system—the best in the country. We will act to protect the interests ofQueensland’s businesses and their employees and protect our capacity to maintain our strongeconomic performance and way of life. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate, on motion of Mr Malone, adjourned.

RACING VENUES DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT BILL

First ReadingHon. RE SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton—ALP) (Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing)

(5.49 pm): I present a bill for an act to amend the Racing Venues Development Act 1982. I present theexplanatory notes, and I move—That the bill be now read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Second ReadingHon. RE SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton—ALP) (Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing)

(5.49 pm): I move—That the bill be now read a second time.

The purpose of this bill is to amend the Racing Venues Development Act 1982, which currentlyenables the Governor in Council to appoint trustees to control land for establishing, extending ordeveloping identified land as a racing venue or for another purpose connected with racing decided bythe Governor in Council. The bill removes the requirement for any other purpose to be connected withracing and thereby gives the Governor in Council a broader discretion to approve the use of land for avariety of alternative purposes, including for purposes that are not directly connected with racing. I seekleave to have the rest of my speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted. The Government encourages the racing industry to utilise the massive amount of capital tied up in racecourses for other uses, tofacilitate racing venues to be self-funding. The Parklands Gold Coast Trust is presently the only trust established and constituted under the Racing Venues Development Act1982. Any amendments to the Act will, therefore, at this stage, affect only the Parklands Gold Coast Trust. It is not envisaged thatany other racing or non-racing venue will be established under the Act in the foreseeable future.The Parklands Gold Coast Trust was originally constituted on 19 January 1984 under the Land Act and was subject to a Deed ofGrant in Trust. The Deed of Grant in Trust required the land to be used only “for showground recreation and racecourse (pacewayand greyhound course) purposes.” Since the Parklands Gold Coast venue commenced operations, Parklands Gold Coast hasbeen developed by the trustees to include showground pavilions, an indoor sports centre, car park and food and beveragecanteens of a high standard. The venue is also used by intermittent users, including organisers of “The Big Day Out”, who use thegrounds for one-off events.The trustees have raised concerns with the Department of Public Works that some of the uses of land by third parties permitted bythe trustees are now inconsistent with the purposes of the trust and that the trustees’ actions in permitting these uses may be ultravires (without power of) their authority conferred by the Governor in Council under the Act. The trustees have advised that theseuses account for the majority of the Trust’s revenue and that the Trust would not be able to remain a self-funding entity if thirdparties were not permitted to use the land for these purposes.Historically, in excess of 70% of the total operating income of the Trust is derived from non-racing activities such as catering, carparking fees, ground and pavilion rental, indoor sports centre management fees and rent, advertising and show society rent. Theincome from these non-racing sources is used to fund racing facilities and subsidise racing operations at Parklands Gold Coast. The proposed amendments to the legislation are enabling amendments only and do not of themselves amend the uses of theland. The Governor in Council must decide to amend the uses of the land and/or impose any additional conditions.The purpose of the amendments is to enable the Governor in Council to exercise discretion in deciding on the proposed uses ofthe land and in doing so impose any additional conditions on the use of the land as may be relevant to the circumstances. At thetime the permitted uses of the land under the Act are being considered by the Governor in Council, the racing industry and other

2206 Plumbing and Drainage and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 09 Aug 2005

venue stakeholders (eg, the Gold Coast Show Society) will be consulted and the Governor in Council briefed with thestakeholders’ views to enable the Governor to make an informed decision on the uses of the land and the imposition of anyadditional conditions.I commend the Bill to the House.


PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL

First ReadingHon. D BOYLE (Cairns—ALP) (Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and

Women) (5.50 pm): I present a bill for an act to amend the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002, and forother purposes. I present the explanatory notes, and I move—That the bill be now read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Second ReadingHon. D BOYLE (Cairns—ALP) (Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and

Women) (5.50 pm): I move—That the bill be now read a second time.

Drought conditions across much of Queensland have prompted public interest in water recyclingand other options to save water. Increased Queensland residents have felt the impact of the currentdrought, even in coastal centres, and water restrictions have been introduced in many areas to reducewater consumption. Local governments, across the state, have responded to water supply issues doingmuch, at a local level, to educate people about water conservation and to provide incentives for theadoption of water efficient measures and technologies. Many councils have also implemented waterrecycling schemes and trialled innovative urban developments designed to optimise water capture andre-use.

The Queensland government is working with councils to support this work and to make sure thatQueensland’s legislative framework does not unduly restrict innovation in water management. ThePlumbing and Drainage and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2005 proposes a number oflegislative amendments that will provide local governments with greater flexibility in allowing grey wateruse. The bill will make it possible for local governments to approve grey water use for irrigation of homegardens in sewered areas. I seek leave to have the remainder of my speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted. In the first instance, the Bill amends the Water Act 2000 to remove an absolute prohibition on grey water use in sewered areas.The relevant provision in the Water Act 2000 currently requires that all grey water in sewered areas is discharged into the sewer.Removing this prohibition will mean that plumbing and drainage legislation can provide for more flexible management of greywater resources.At the same time, the Bill will amend the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 to provide for the use of grey water in sewered areas,for garden irrigation. It is proposed that amendments to the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 will allow local governments toapprove the installation of grey water use facilities for domestic residences in sewered areas, with a number of sensibleconstraints that will protect public safety and the environment.All grey water systems will require Council approval and Councils will be able to refuse approval for premises where land isconsidered unsuitable for grey water irrigation. Approved systems will need to comply with the Queensland Plumbing andWastewater Code. This will require that irrigation pipes are installed below surface level so that human contact is avoided. Kitchen grey water will be excluded from grey water systems because kitchen grease is likely to clog filters and pipes and nostorage of grey water will be allowed because stored grey water can cause odour problems. All grey water systems will need toretain a sewerage connection so that, in the event of blockage or excess grey water discharge, overflow is diverted to the sewer. Individual Councils will be able to decide whether or not they wish to receive applications for grey water systems. Some Councilsmay decide that resources are best invested in other options for water conservation and re-use such as water recycling schemes.In addition to grey water legislation, the Bill includes amendments to make the approval process for on-site sewerage workconsistent with approval processes for other plumbing and drainage work. On-site sewerage work was treated differently when itwas first incorporated into the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 because it had been administered under different legislation.The amendments in the Bill will improve integration and ensure that the same accountability standards apply to all work. Mr Speaker, this is one of a range of initiatives. The Bill also includes a number of amendments that will improve the ability of thePlumbers and Drainers Board to investigate complaints against plumbers and to enforce licensing provisions. The Plumbers and Drainers Board needs assistance from departmental officers, with suitable investigatory and disciplinarypowers, to effectively enforce Queensland’s licensing provisions for plumbers and drainers and investigate complaints.The Bill also includes a number of provisions that will allow departmental officers with appropriate delegations to issueinfringement notices on behalf of the Plumbers and Drainers Board, comparable with similar provisions for inspectors under theElectrical Safety Act 2002. I commend the Bill to the House.


09 Aug 2005 Vexatious Proceedings Bill 2207

VEXATIOUS PROCEEDINGS BILL

First ReadingHon. LD LAVARCH (Kurwongbah—ALP) (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) (5.52 pm): I

present a bill for an act to restrict vexatious proceedings. I present the explanatory notes, and I move—That the bill be now read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Second ReadingHon. LD LAVARCH (Kurwongbah—ALP) (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) (5.52 pm): I

move—That the bill be now read a second time.

The Vexatious Proceedings Bill is the culmination of a Queensland initiative to deter and curtailthe activities of vexatious litigants across Australia. Through the forum of the Standing Committee ofAttorneys-General, Queensland initiated the concept of a nationally consistent approach to deal withvexatious litigants. To achieve this, the model Vexatious Proceedings Bill was formulated as thelegislative basis to be used by each state and territory to control vexatious litigants according to its ownpolicy position. I am pleased to announce that Queensland is the first state to implement the model billas legislation. I seek leave to have the remainder of my speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted. Legislative consistency across Australia will ensure that vexatious litigants will not jump from state to state in pursuit of theircauses and will enable similar consequences to flow from one state to another.It is a fundamental provision of the justice system that every person has a right of access to court to remedy any infringement oftheir rights. Unfortunately, there are some litigants who use the court process to pursue individuals or causes that lack a reasonable basis. Such litigants repetitively pursue allegations or arguments that have previously been rejected by the courts, have little or no regardfor the courts’ practices and rulings and persistently abuse the court’s processes. These actions not only waste public resources and funds, and harass defendants who are forced to respond, they also underminethe justice system by taking up valuable court time that could be devoted to genuine litigants.To illustrate this point, I have gathered some examples of the types of arguments that have been repeatedly put forward byvexatious litigants in Queensland.In one instance, the claim was made that the Australian currency is not legal tender and therefore it is not possible to pay fines.Another was that certain Queensland and federal laws are invalid on the basis that they are inconsistent with the 1297 version ofthe Magna Carta and therefore these laws do not apply. Laws about vexatious litigants recognise that there are special circumstances where some individuals should be prevented frombringing legal actions. Such laws are in addition to the inherent powers of a court to deal with vexatious litigants.These laws generally enable an application to be made to a court for an order to prevent or restrict a vexatious litigant frombringing further actions. The bill contains new and updated provisions to prohibit or limit legal actions brought by vexatious litigants and persons acting inconcert with vexatious litigants.The Supreme Court of Queensland Act 1991 will be amended to ensure that court rules can be made under the bill. The processes in the bill are more efficient and fairer than the existing Vexatious Litigants Act 1981, which is to be repealed.The reforms in the bill reflect the importance of access to justice. The bill will improve the capacity of the courts to respond to parties who have genuine legal actions.Under the existing act, only certain office holders, such as the Crown Solicitor, the Attorney-General and the Registrar of theSupreme Court, can apply to court for such an order. The bill before the House also allows ordinary citizens who are forced into wrongful and detrimental litigation at the hands of avexatious litigant to apply to court for an appropriate order. To ensure that this is not misused, the leave of the court must first be obtained. This reform means that the processes under the act are accessible to all persons aggrieved by the actions of vexatious litigants.The bill provides the appropriate balance between the rights of a person to institute legal actions and the rights of others not to besubjected to, and harassed by, groundless legal actions. Recognising that serious consequences flow from vexatious litigant orders, safeguards are included in the bill.For example, the bill ensures a vexatious litigant can bring a legitimate legal action, such as a personal injuries action, with theleave of the court. Also, the conduct to be exhibited by a vexatious litigant before an order can be made is clearly defined in the bill. The Supreme Court can only make an order when it is satisfied the litigant has frequently instituted or conducted vexatiousproceedings in Australia. The bill clearly defines what constitutes a “vexatious proceeding”, including a proceeding that is an abuse of process, instituted orconducted to harass or annoy, to cause delay or detriment, or for another wrongful purpose, or instituted without reasonablegrounds.

2208 Corrective Services Amendment Bill 09 Aug 2005

The major improvement upon the existing act is that orders made and legal actions brought outside Queensland can be taken intoaccount by the supreme court in making its decision to restrict a person’s right to litigate. At present, only legal actions brought in Queensland can be considered by the court. This change has become necessary due to the ease of electronic communications.It is now easy for a litigant to bring similar actions in, or to continue their cause or crusade, through the courts of another state orterritory or to recruit another person to do so. The new process in leave to proceed actions ensures that a defendant does not incur unnecessary expense and is not harassedby proceedings that are not genuine.I commend the bill to the House.


CORRECTIVE SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL

Second ReadingResumed from 8 March (see p. 342). Mr JOHNSON (Gregory—NPA) (5.54 pm): At the outset, Mr Deputy Speaker O’Brien, could you

convey to the new Speaker, the member for Mount Isa, the Hon. Tony McGrady, my best wishes andthose of the people in the electorate of Gregory to him in his term as the Speaker of this House.

The National Party opposition will be supporting the Corrective Services Amendment Bill 2005.This is a unique piece of legislation. It is important in closing a loophole in the Corrective Services Actthat could have been exploited by a number of prisoners in our correctional facilities. It is intended toremove any doubt that, when a prisoner was released on parole and had it cancelled before 1 July2001, the time served on parole does not count towards time served as part of a prisoner’s sentence.

This loophole or lack of clarity in the act was tested by prisoners Psaila and Swan in theirapplications to the Supreme Court for a ruling in respect of their entitlement to street time—that is, thetime elapsed between the date of a prisoner’s release to parole and their return to custody prior to 1 July2001. For both of these prisoners their release to parole and cancellation of parole occurred under theCorrective Service Act 1988. Although already discussed by the minister in her second reading speech,it is important to again restate the changes that took place to the Corrective Services Act that lead to thisloophole being exploited. We know that some of those inside are smarter than some outside. Thissituation had to be addressed. As it is before this parliament today, it will be addressed.

Under the act of 1988, a prisoner released on parole needed to get to the end of theirimprisonment period without their parole being cancelled before they were to be finally discharged fromthe obligation of their imprisonment. If a prisoner’s parole was cancelled, the time that lapsed betweenthe date of release to parole and their subsequent return to custody or street time did not count towardstime served for the period of imprisonment and had to be served again before the prisoner was finallydischarged.

Following a review of the act, a provision was inserted which provides that prisoners who havehad their parole cancelled do not have to re-serve their street time. However, this change in thelegislation, as the minister said, was never intended to have retrospective effect in relation to parole thathad been cancelled under previous versions of the act. Mr Psaila’s parole was cancelled by acommunity corrections board in August 2000 for failure to report as a condition of his release. This wasunder the provisions of the 1988 act.

The prisoner remained at large for close to three years before he was arrested and bought backto detention in May 2003. This is an incredible lapse in time before the prisoner was returned to custodyfor breaking his parole. Had he been returned prior to the Corrective Services Act 2000 taking effect on1 July 2001 then this particular problem would not have arisen at that point in time. This resulting lapseenabled the prisoner to use the new provision of the Corrective Services Act. He argued that he becredited for his street time. The prisoner argued that this had left him in prison for 10 months too long.

Whilst the Nationals have reservations about retrospectivity applying to our laws, theretrospective application of amendments in this bill to parole cancellations under the previous act isnecessary to close this loophole. I understand, too, that the failure to do this could see up to 40prisoners with very similar circumstances challenging the legislation along the same lines. It has beensuggested that this could have resulted in the adjustment of a further 3,000 sentences. In addition toensuring this legislation is working as it should and is not open to being exploited—and in this case I amreferring to the length of time the prisoner in question was at large in the community before being againtaken into custody—it highlights the bungles in Corrective Services that have been presided over by theBeattie Labor government.

Under Minister McGrady and now the current minister, we continue to see these types of bunglesinvolving prisoners, the desire to cover up information that is critical to the running of the state’scorrectional centres and a government that is not able to roll out critical perimeter security and lightingprotection programs without long delays. Including these programs as well as underspends across othercapital works areas in the state’s correctional centres, a total of $10.9 million worth of capital works was

09 Aug 2005 Corrective Services Amendment Bill 2209

delayed in 2004-05. The Nationals have also revealed that existing prison officers are not receiving thetraining that they require, yet a correctional centre can afford to provide the cash for exercise equipmentfor executives as I raised in the budget estimates. There is a series of issues across corrective servicesthat the minister must address immediately if we are to avoid continued bungles that have plagued thedepartment under this government.

The other issue that I wish to raise—and I know the minister made a ministerial statement in theHouse today with regard to this issue—relates to the upgrades at Sir David Longland. There are manyconcerns held by prison officers and other staff as to their relocations and the dislocation to their livesand that of their families with regard to what the future holds. I hope that that is something that theminister makes a public announcement about, because these people are a very integral part of thesafety of our communities. The police do a very able and exemplary job in apprehending people who donot uphold the law and bringing them before the justice system. Ultimately, if those people have to servea prison sentence, the prison officers also do an exemplary job in ensuring that those people stay on theinside for the time allocated. It is very important that they work in an environment where they are happy,where they are getting outcomes and where they want to be. Although the redevelopment of Sir DavidLongland is an important part of the upgrade of that facility in order for that facility to cope into the future,the point I make is that those prison officers who work within the Public Service—and they are a part ofthe Public Service in this state—should be given the courtesy of this government trying to achieve anoutcome that will not be totally disruptive and dislocate their lives and their families lives.

Whilst talking about corrective services, I want to touch on another very important program thisevening of WORC camps and how well these programs are working in western Queensland—that is,western outreach centres. At the end of the day, they are playing a very important part in therehabilitation of prisoners regardless of whether they have committed a more serious crime or a lessserious crime. At least they are back in the community somewhat doing very good work—in my region itis exemplary work—and have made a difference to many communities. Former ministers on both sidesof the House have supported this concept. It is important that, whilst there have been some changes inthe arrangements for wardens and prisoners being away from their centre of location, we get this right.There have been a few anomalies in relation to the time spent away, and we should be looking more athaving some of these officers located in those centres to avoid dislocation and disruption to life in orderto allow them to operate as a family in an environment where they want to be.

However, the opposition supports this piece of legislation. As I said earlier, while there are peopleon the inside who are probably a bit smarter than some people on the outside, this is going to close thatloophole and make the system fairer. If people do get through this loophole, we could find governmentsbeing sued or put through the court process for time served in lieu of or overserving of time. That issomething that we certainly do not want to see happen. With that, I support the legislation and commendthe bill to the House.

Ms STONE (Springwood—ALP) (6.04 pm): I, too, would ask you, Madam Deputy Speaker Jarratt,to pass on my congratulations to the member for Mount Isa on his election to the high office of Speakerand also to his wife Sandra, because I know that they do work as a team and have always been veryhospitable to me whenever I have visited.

I am pleased to rise to support this bill for the reason that it adds clarity and certainty to street timefor prisoners who were released on parole and had their parole cancelled before 1 July 2001. If we lookat the minister’s introduction speech for this bill, it clearly demonstrates that this amendment reassuresthe community that prisoners serve the expected sentences the courts impose on them. Late last yeartwo prisoners challenged the Department of Corrective Services on the basis that they believed timeserved on parole under the Corrective Services Act 1988 should be considered as time served underthe 2000 act. In other words, the 2000 act currently provides that time on parole is considered timeserved whereas the 1988 act did not. The department argued that the new provisions in the 2000 act didnot apply to prisoners who were on parole, breached it and then had it cancelled under the 1988 act.

I have no doubt prison is not a pleasant place for some, and I am sure there must have beensome prisoners absolutely jumping for joy at the prospect of getting out unexpectedly early and thepossibility of maybe a financial windfall. However, the Supreme Court found in favour of the departmentin one case and on appeal in the other. Both cases gathered media attention. Articles had touted that abureaucratic bungle had been uncovered and the government was up for a significant amount of moneyfor false imprisonment along with calls to release hundreds of prisoners. As the Court of Appeal decisionhas shown, there was never any bureaucratic bungle and the department has been correctlyinterpreting the law. Although the Court of Appeal decision explicitly makes clear the intent of the 2000act, in litigation there always remains the possibility of cases which deal with slightly different facts.Prisoners and their legal representatives may continue to try to take novel arguments to the court to tryto change the legislation. Therefore, these amendments are necessary to explicitly clarify the intentionof the legislation consistent with the Chief Justice’s interpretation.

The Beattie Labor government believes that our laws should be dynamic and responsive tochanges of time and reflect the needs and views of our community. This government is tough oncriminals who infringe the rights of Queenslanders and threaten their safety whether at home, work orpublic places. There is a community expectation that if criminals are caught, charged and convicted they


be penalised and they serve the entirety of that penalty imposed by the courts, whatever it may be, andthis bill ensures that this community expectation is met.

I want to take this opportunity before I finish to thank the Loganholme station police officers for thehard work they have done to identify a suspect in respect of a large number of graffiti offences, propertydamage and assaults in the Daisy Hill-Shailer Park area that have occurred over recent weeks, and thisonly happened today. So I want to put on the record my thanks to those police officers because the actsthat have been going on in that community have angered and certainly upset many residents, and Iknow that they too thank those officers for that hard work and that their identification has beensuccessful in solving these crimes. With that, I commend the bill to the House.

Mr LANGBROEK (Surfers Paradise—Lib) (6.07 pm): Before speaking to the Corrective ServicesAmendment Bill, can I also congratulate the member for Mount Isa on his election by this parliament tothe role of Speaker.

I am very pleased to rise to speak on the Corrective Services Amendment Bill, a bill that cleansup an area of law that has come under some scrutiny over the last six months. Many here have heard ofthe case which has led to this legislative tightening. Psaila v the Department of Corrective Services, ofcourse, is the lead case that deals with the case of street time in the transition between the oldlegislation and the new legislation. In the first instance, it was held that Psalia was able to use his streettime as part of his sentence as the learned trial judge noted—The magistrate’s power to issue the warrant under s 189 depended upon the continued operation of the cancellation order ...At least in that way, the cancellation order had a continuing operation as at the commencement of the current Act. It was an orderin the nature of a continuing ‘authority’, at least because it authorised an application to a magistrate pursuant to s 189 of therepealed Act ...According to s 268(2) then, the cancellation order continued in force according to its terms, as if it had been made under s 150,with the changes necessary to make it consistent with the current Act and to adapt its operation to the Act’s provisions.This example indicates at least one reason why the parliament would have intended an order made under the repealed act for thecancellation of parole to have a continuing operation as if made under the current Act.

It is this very important point regarding the legislative intent that we are addressing today. Sooften these bills are placed before the House and the comments we make on them are used by decisionmakers to look at what was intended by the legislation. Obviously, in relation to this case it was not thatclear, so much so that Chief Justice de Jersey saw fit to draw a difference of opinion on the intention ofthe legislature in saying—If the legislature had intended to give all prisoners the benefit of ‘street time’ after 1 July 2001, it would have said so in clear andunambiguous terms. Such expression is entirely lacking. In my respectful view the learned Judge adopted a construction of s 268which, with relation to the circumstances of this case, was impermissibly broad.

That is what is being done today. Obviously, in the first instance when this bill was introduced intothe parliament the intention was not made clear enough. That is clear because there has been judicialdisagreement over the interpretation of the act and the transitional provisions in the act. We support thisbill to clear up this confusion in the original act.

Mrs ATTWOOD (Mount Ommaney—ALP) (6.10 pm): The electorate of Mount Ommaney bordersthe area of Wacol where a number of prisons are located. Over the years there has been significantcommunity concern about the number of prisons sited so close to the residential areas of River Hills andMiddle Park, and particularly within close proximity to school facilities. With prisons being built so closeto residential areas the fear of prison security and break-outs is a common topic of concern. In fact,during the Borbidge government the community banded together to form a protest group called CRAMPto lobby against yet another prison being constructed 500 metres from their homes. A decision wasmade later to relocate the prisons within an acceptable distance from the adjoining residential area.

We all accept that when prisoners serve the required time of imprisonment, they are releasedback into the community. In most cases they are less likely to reoffend. This bill clarifies the provisions ofthe Corrective Services Act 2000 in relation to street time—the time elapsed between a date of aprisoner’s release on parole and the return to custody for those prisoners who have breached parolebefore 1 July 2001. This bill amends the Corrective Services Act 2000 to remove any doubt that where aprisoner was released on parole and had the parole period been cancelled before 1 July 2001, then thetime served on parole does not count as time served for the prisoner’s sentence.

Previously, a prisoner released on parole needed to get to the other end of their imprisonmentperiod, without the parole being cancelled, before they could be finally discharged from the obligationsof the imprisonment. If a prisoner’s parole was cancelled then the time that had lapsed between the dateof release on parole and their return to custody—or street time—did not count as time served under theperiod of imprisonment and had to be served again before the prisoner could be finally discharged.

A policy decision was made that the Corrective Services Act 2000 would not require paroleeswhose parole had been cancelled after the date of commencement of the new act to re-serve streettime. The drafting of the parole and post-prison community based release cancellation provision of thenew act appeared to make clear that, where parole was cancelled under the new act, street timecounted and would not have to be served again. From the date of the act’s commencement street timewas credited where the parole was cancelled on or after 1 July 2001. No retrospective crediting was

09 Aug 2005 Corrective Services Amendment Bill 2211

intended as the government did not want to put the community at risk through the simultaneous releaseof hundreds of prisoners after recalculations of sentence time occurred.

Releasing prisoners from high- and medium-security prisons directly into the community without astaggered institutional release, supervision or prior engagement for residential placement, incomesupport or community support would have been likely to put the community at considerable risk. Thegradual prospective effect of the application of credited street time from 1 July 2001, as intended, is lesslikely to carry these risks. These issues are reflected in the position readily apparent from the provisionsof the new act—that credit for street time applies only for cancellations occurring on or after 1 July 2001.

As a member of corrections community advisory committees over many years, I am fully aware ofthe need to reassure the public that prisons are secure facilities and that the release of prisoners afterserving a sentence imposed by the courts does not pose a safety threat to their lives or to the lives oftheir loved ones. Under the Beattie government the security measures in prisons have been enhancedenormously with the incidence of attempted break-outs occurring less frequently. Work-to-releasecamps are proving a great benefit to rural communities and shire councils do their utmost to encourageWORC projects in their communities. We can reassure the community that the release en masse ofhundreds of prisoners and the payment of millions of dollars in compensation to them will not become areality as the media had previously speculated. This amendment removes any uncertainty that mayhave existed and seeks to remove any remaining scope for speculative challenge. I congratulate theminister on clarifying these issues of concern and I commend the bill to the House.

Mrs MENKENS (Burdekin—NPA) (6.15 pm): As I rise to support this Corrective ServicesAmendment Bill, I also offer congratulations to the member for Mount Isa on his election to Speaker ofthis House. I support the Corrective Services Amendment Bill 2005, which amends the CorrectiveServices Act 2000. We have already heard from the minister that this legislation will be enacted to closean existing loophole within the Corrective Services Act in relation to street time being counted towardstime served if parole is revoked. That the counting of this time was possible for some prisoners paroledprior to 1 July 2001 was an inadvertent consequence of the act and was certainly not intended. It isnecessary that this bill removes any doubt about the act’s interpretation and closes the existingloophole.

In common with the views of most people, the opposition is normally reticent to considerretrospective legislation because of its implications and the precedent that it may give for other moreonerous imposts on our lives. We are right to treat any retrospective legislation with suspicion, but thatdoes not mean that we have to dismiss it out of hand. The very basis of our parliament is the open andhonest debate in the best Westminster tradition of legislation that will have long-lasting effects on howQueenslanders run their daily lives. We would not be performing our duties nor honouring ourcommitments if we did not pay due homage to this tradition. There is no doubt that in making thislegislation retrospective we will indeed alter the prospects of some prisoners. However, there is also nodoubt that because of this retrospectivity we will be honouring the objectives of the original act at itsinception and confirming its intent.

We are all subject to the rightful laws of this state. As parliamentarians we have a duty to ensurethat legislation passed by this House is enforceable, workable and fair. By passing the CorrectiveServices Amendment Bill 2005 we can ensure that the Corrective Services Act will not be open tooperations outside its intent and that it is fair to all—the general public as well as the prisoners that itmay affect. The passing of this bill will ensure that prisoners who transgress their parole conditions andare reincarcerated will not be able to exploit or benefit from a legal loophole and will serve theappropriate terms of imprisonment. This bill will reassure the public that it is still possible, despite thebungles that this government has made in administering Corrective Services, for the judgments of thejudiciary to be enforced.

While I am discussing such matters, it would be remiss of me if I did not congratulate thegovernment on its recent budget allocation of $3.5 million for the Stuart women’s correctional centre,$3.2 million for the Townsville Correctional Centre and $300,000 for the additional security at theTownsville Correctional Centre. This will not only provide further growth but also will be a welcomeinjection of funds and provide a source of future employment for residents of the Burdekin electorate.

However, as the member for Burdekin, I ask that the same foresight and commitment be appliedin addressing the current crisis in faith and funds at the Townsville Hospital. Members are no doubtaware that this hospital not only caters for the Townsville residents but also, as a major regional facility,caters for the residents of the Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook and Whitsunday electorates,and further afield. To paraphrase Commissioner Tony Morris’s comments, its staff, nurses, doctors andadministrators present a model of how well a hospital can be run only if it has the support of itsdepartment instead of being treated just as a revenue stream.

If I may, I will pre-empt Mr Beattie’s remarkable propensity to speak for his ministers and passcomment on his usual remarks in any crisis: yes, you are responsible; no, we do not trust it and we knowthat you will not fix it. Unless the Premier has changed his well-worn script, I believe that covers hisinput. The three primary concerns of our constituents are health, law and order and education. To that


extent I am very proud to have the Townsville Correctional Centre in my electorate of Burdekin. I saluteand pay tribute to the staff at that centre—the many prison officers who work there—for the veryprofessional and often very difficult work that they do. They, as are so many other departmental staffunder this government, are working under very difficult conditions, with cost cutting and budgetaryconcerns being put well above support of staff and the importance of building staff morale. To illustratethis, I make mention of a media report in February 2005, which states—A security breach at Townsville Correctional Centre resulted in an inmate being left out of the high security section. The PrisonOfficers Association claimed the mistake was made by a casual worker—one of the hundreds hired to cut costs in Queenslandjails.Also in February 2005, a media report stated—A prison officer is attacked and receives facial injuries during the transfer of a remand prisoner from the detention unit to themedical unit after the prisoner allegedly threatened self-harm. This attack came just two weeks after the announcement of a$1.5 million upgrade in security systems at the Stuart Prison in Townsville.

I understand that correctional centres are very difficult areas to administer and will always be verydifficult areas to administer because of the very volatility of the inmates involved, and this is fraught withmany difficulties. This bill before the House tonight is an important piece of legislation, and I commendthe bill to the House.

Mr CHOI (Capalaba—ALP) (6.21 pm): I take this opportunity to rise in support of the CorrectiveServices Amendment Bill 2005, which amends the Corrective Services Act 2000. Theproposed amendments will add clarity and certainty to the provisions in the Corrective Services Actdealing with ‘street time’ or time on parole calculated as time served. There is not a lot to be argued overin the passing of this bill, in my opinion. The amendments are straightforward and are directed atrectifying and defining current uncertainties contained within the context of the 2005 Corrective ServicesAct.

The major issue requiring attention is the fact that the 2000 act currently provides that time onparole is considered time served, whereas the 1998 act did not. The legislative predecessors to theCorrective Services Act 2000 provided that street time was not to be counted when calculating timeserved. The change in the policy introduced by the 2000 act was never meant to have retrospectiveeffect in relation to parole that had been cancelled under the 1998 act or any previous act for that matter.

As members of this House we should all be aware of the recent media hype and the debaclenecessitating the evolvement of this amendment bill. I do not intend to go over the intricaciessurrounding the creation of this bill. Nonetheless, I will say that the bill’s creation was prompted byapplications made to the Supreme Court by two prisoners, Swan and Psaila, both claiming that theywere being held past their jail term. Both cases gathered tremendous media interest, more so for Psaila,where it was publicised that he had deciphered a bureaucratic bungle and the government was up forsignificant compensation for false imprisonment along with calls to release hundreds of other prisoners.

These disputes were on the basis that the new provisions in the Corrective Services Act 2000regarding time served on parole retrospectively applied to parole under the Corrective Services Act1998. While neither prisoners were successful in their legal bid, their attempts highlighted the needto amend the act to add clarity and certainty to the provisions that deal with street time and promptedthe government’s decision to make a swift amendment to the Corrective Services Act. As is always thisgovernment’s intention, the proposed amendments provide reassurance to the public by ensuring thatprisoners will serve their expected sentence—that is, the sentence befitting the crime and the one whichhas been determined by the courts. The amendment bill resolves all the uncertainties that have existedpreviously and removes any scope for future speculative challenge from prisoners regarding length oftime served.

The Beattie government is ensuring the legislation governing corrective services in Queenslandcontinues to meet the needs and expectations of the community. The corrective services legislation isvital to enforcing the effective and efficient management of prisoners and prison numbers. Thecorrective services legislation encompasses many other areas such as prisoner containment;community safety; offender rehabilitation and reintegration; safety of staff, visitors and prisoners; andstatutory roles and responsibilities. The government shows dedication to reviewing legislation directlyaffecting operational procedures of Queensland’s custodial correction centres to ensure thatmanagement practices across all prisons are consistent, effective and of the highest quality.

Honourable members, I relish the opportunity to emphasise that this government deservesrecognition and applause for handing down a record budget in 2004-05 of $1.094 billion—a $93 millionor 9.2 per cent increase on the 2003-04 budget—for Police and Corrective Services. The Department ofCorrective Services itself received an operating budget of $422 million. This represents a $25 millionincrease. The funding boost for the 2004-05 budget clearly demonstrates the minister’s and thegovernment’s commitment to enhancing community safety.

As evidenced by the proposed amendment bill, there will be no slackening off in our commitmentto Queensland’s being the Smart State. Queensland proudly sets the benchmark in Australia when itcomes to prisoner security and safety. This government is dedicated to ensuring legislation takesaccount of all changes in circumstances.

09 Aug 2005 Queensland Competition Authority Amendment Bill 2213

In conclusion, and in line with my efforts to remain brief, again I say that theproposed amendments are essential and an obvious necessity as they remove uncertainty and, mostsignificantly, they provide increased reassurance to the community that prisoners will serve theexpected sentences the courts impose on them. I commend the passing of this bill.

Mr KNUTH (Charters Towers—NPA) (6.26 pm): I support the Corrective Services Amendment Bill2005. The legislation is important in closing a loophole in the Corrective Services Act that could havebeen exploited by a number of prisoners in our correctional facilities. This bill amends the CorrectiveServices Act 2000 to remove any doubt that where a prisoner was released on parole and had itcancelled before 1 July 2001 then the time served on parole does not count as time served for theprisoner’s sentence.

I want to raise an important issue with regard to prison sentences with regard to juvenilecriminals. A large percentage of juveniles will commit crimes up until they reach the age of 15. However,that crime then decreases slightly at 16 and possibly more at 17 because they know they are about togo to the ‘big house’. I will give members an example. In November last year to March this year therehad been up to 223 offences committed in Charters Towers and I am led to believe that 68 offenderswere charged. I believe that this is an extremely high number, especially when one considers theextensive workload that was endured by the skeleton staff at the Charters Towers Police Station at thetime. I would like to thank the minister as we received four more staff and possibly there is another oneto come. So we have appreciated that.

Ms Spence: You’ll be able to catch a few more then.Mr KNUTH: Yes, that is right. The crime is starting to pick up. However, with a few more police it

has helped—it is an 18-man station; we might be up to 14 or 15 now—but there has been an increase incrime lately and the town is calling for something to be done. I just want to pass on that a lot of thesejuvenile criminals are trying to get into these detention centres. They are committing crime. It is knownas ‘Camp Cleveland’. It provides good food, games, new track shows and spending time there isregarded as a badge of honour amongst gangs. I believe that the Cleveland detention centre should bea deterrent for juvenile offenders. However, juveniles are prepared to steal, destroy and become apublic nuisance and inflict serious bodily harm on people to get into this place. I believe that that is a bigissue and needs to be addressed. It needs to be investigated.

Mr WALLACE: I rise to a point of order. The Cleveland Youth Detention Centre is actually underthe stewardship of the minister for communities.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Jarratt): Order! It is not a point of order. Resume your seat.Mr KNUTH: I thank the member for Thuringowa. I commend this bill to the House. Sitting suspended from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm.Debate, on motion of Ms Molloy, adjourned.

QUEENSLAND COMPETITION AUTHORITY AMENDMENT BILL

First ReadingHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (7.31 pm): I present a bill

for an act to amend the Queensland Competition Authority Act 1997. I present the explanatory notes,and I move—That the bill be now read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Second ReadingHon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (7.31 pm): I move—

That the bill be now read a second time.

In 1997, the Queensland Competition Authority Act 1997 (the Queensland Competition AuthorityAct) established the Queensland Competition Authority as Queensland’s state-based competitionregulator. The Queensland Competition Authority is charged with regulatory responsibility for:• the state’s monopoly prices oversight regime for government monopoly business activities;• the state’s third-party access regime; • the state’s competitive neutrality complaints mechanism; and• regulation of the gas and electricity distribution businesses.

The bill amends the Queensland Competition Authority Act by:


• amending the state’s third-party access regime to ensure access providers are given theappropriate rights and responsibilities when they are not the owners of monopoly infrastructurefacilities;

• establishing an additional monitoring and dispute resolution role for the Queensland CompetitionAuthority; and

• permitting the Queensland Competition Authority to share relevant information with the relevantQueensland departmental co-regulators.The first component of the bill amends the state’s third-party access regime framework to ensure

the state’s competition framework is keeping pace with the multitude of contractual relationships utilisedby modern business. The state’s third-party access regime establishes a legal right for competing firmsto share certain infrastructure services. This enhances competition and benefits Queenslandconsumers.

There are many potential situations where the owner of essential infrastructure may contract outthe operation of the infrastructure, including the right to provide access. An example is the government’slong-term lease of the Dalrymple Bay facility to a private firm. To ensure optimum future efficiency of thisfacility, it is important that the Queensland Competition Authority be able to directly enforce undertakingsagainst the long-term lessor. That is merely an example—the effect of the legislation is in no wayrestricted to Dalrymple Bay. However, given the enormous global demand for Queensland coal, and thegovernment’s determination to maximise the benefits to Queenslanders, it is a timely example.

Under arrangements where an infrastructure owner contracts out the operation of infrastructure,the bill ensures:• the state’s regulator is able to enforce access undertakings and manage access disputes directly

against access providers, when they are not the owners of facilities, without having to rely oncontractual provisions in agreements between an owner and an access provider;

• the Queensland Competition Authority has the discretion to initiate enforcement action againstthe entity that breaches an undertaking whether it is the owner, the access provider or both; and

• the Queensland Competition Authority can require ‘capacity expansions’ directly from accessproviders if they do not own the relevant facility. Accordingly, the proposed amendments will ensure certainty in the regulatory regime thereby

facilitating competition, efficient service delivery and investor confidence in the major sectors of theQueensland economy.

The second component of the bill amends the act to allow the Queensland Competition Authorityto use its skills and expertise to monitor compliance and resolve disputes about compliance with codesof conduct when requested by the government and a government owned business. To address marketpower, a ‘code of conduct’ may impose behavioural constraints on a business and may be used as analternative to heavy-handed price regulation. To give credibility to voluntary codes of conduct, thegovernment considered the Queensland Competition Authority would be best placed to perform the roleof an independent compliance monitor and dispute resolution arbiter.

Finally, the third component of the bill will allow the Queensland Competition Authority to sharecommercially confidential information, relating to the state’s regulated rail, energy and water entities,with the relevant departmental co-regulator without the need for first obtaining the relevant regulatedentity’s consent. This will ensure the state’s relevant regulators are able to share information in order tomake informed decisions. This will deliver the best regulatory outcome for industries and consumers.

Mr Speaker, I commend the bill to the House.Debate, on motion of Mr Johnson, adjourned.

CORRECTIVE SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL

Second ReadingResumed from p. 2213. Ms MOLLOY (Noosa—ALP) (7.34 pm): This bill clarifies provisions regarding street time—that is,

the amount of time between a prisoner’s release on parole and their return to custody upon reoffending.This legislation was brought about by the case of Psaila v Department of Corrective Services 2005.

Previous to this legislation, if a prisoner reoffended whilst on parole, they would be returned toprison but the amount of time that they had spent out of jail would be taken off their sentence. Now, withthis amendment, if a prisoner reoffends whilst on parole, they will not have their sentence shortened bythe amount of time they were out of jail.

I will provide an example. John had two years left of his sentence. He was let out on parole andthen, six months latter, he reoffended. Because he has reoffended, he still has two years left of his

09 Aug 2005 Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2215

sentence. The six months that he spent out of jail does not count. I commend the bill to the House andcongratulate the minister on the excellent work that she continues to do.

Hon. JC SPENCE (Mount Gravatt—ALP) (Minister for Police and Corrective Services) (7.36 pm),in reply: I thank members who participated for their contributions and support for this bill. The memberfor Gregory highlighted the significance of these changes and the fact that, if left unchanged, up to 40prisoners may have their sentences recalculated. The member for Gregory also understood the need forthe government not to be subject to claims by prisoners that they had been unlawfully detained beyondthe expiration of their sentences. That was also understood by the member for Springwood in herspeech.

However, when the member for Gregory spoke about bungles he failed to mention the riot at theWoodford Correctional Centre, the escape of Brendan Abbott and others, and the failure of the Hummerperimeter patrol vehicles. Those bungles were all the responsibility of the former National Partygovernment, and the member knows it.

The member for Mount Ommaney reminded the House of other mishandlings of the correctionsportfolio by the National Party government. She also highlighted her role in prisoner/communityconsultation committees. The member for Surfers Paradise indicated his detailed understanding of theCorrective Services Act, the intent of this amendment and the judicial decisions that led to it.

The member for Burdekin, who has the Townsville Correctional Centre in her electorate,congratulated the government on the allocation of money for upgrades at that prison. She alsoreminded the House of the need for this retrospective amendment to clarify the Corrective Services Actand honour the objectives of the original legislation.

The member for Capalaba again made a compelling case about how the government ismaintaining community safety and our commitment to continuing improvements in the Department ofCorrective Services. The member for Charters Towers spoke about his concerns about law and order,and about sentences that he has raised with me previously.

A number of members spoke about the work of staff. It is important to acknowledge the risk thatthose officers confront every day. In our prisons we have people who will say anything, do anything andtry anything to break out. The corrective services officers who work in prisons or supervise offenders inthe community play an important role in maintaining community safety. Finally, I thank the member forNoosa for her contribution, in which she revealed a very good understanding of the import of thislegislation.

The bill would not usually attract a great deal of interest given the relatively minor nature ofthe amendments and the fact that the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled in favour of the Department ofCorrective Services. However, to ensure that the intent of the legislation is clear, these relativelyminor amendments attract some significance, as in litigation there is always the possibility of caseswhich deal with slightly different facts. I commend this bill to the House.

Motion agreed to.

Consideration in DetailClauses 1 to 3, as read, agreed to.

Third ReadingBill read a third time.

HOUSING AND OTHER ACTS AMENDMENT BILL

Second ReadingResumed from 8 March (see p. 341).Mr HOPPER (Darling Downs—NPA) (7.40 pm): I rise in support of the Housing and Other Acts

Amendment Bill 2005. However, in lending support to the bill I will nevertheless bring to the minister’sattention areas of concern to the National Party opposition.

This bill amends the Housing Act 2003, which repealed the State Housing Act 1945 and dissolvedthe Queensland Housing Commission. Its objectives are considerable. They include the repeal of theCommonwealth and State Housing Agreement (Service Personnel) Act 1991, which governed thehandover arrangements of defence housing from the state to the Commonwealth Defence HousingAuthority. As these arrangements were finalised in 1993 to 1994, the act is no longer required.

Another objective is amendment of the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 tocorrect a drafting error to clarify what constitutes a building contract under part 4A of the QueenslandBuilding Services Authority Act 1991. The purpose of this amendment is clarification.

2216 Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 09 Aug 2005

I shall deal with the aspects of the Housing Act amendments in the first instance. According to theexplanatory notes, several issues have emerged since the commencement of the Housing Act 2003 on1 January 2004 which have led to the significant amendments contained in this bill.

The amendments will empower the chief executive to appoint an interim manager to fundedhousing services operated by local governments and Indigenous community councils in certain limitedcircumstances. This part will apply to all registered providers, including a local government, anAboriginal council, an island council and the Island Coordinating Council and, as a result, will enable thehousing department to intervene by appointing an interim manager where significant risks to tenantsand/or assets have been identified.

I note that the explanatory notes outline the consultative program with local government andIndigenous community councils in Queensland. However, there is no outline on whether the Indigenouscouncils are in agreement with the amendment. Perhaps the minister can provide further details as aresult of that consultation program? I know that the minister’s throat is troubling him tonight, so I amhappy to talk to him about that at another time.

Additional amendments will empower the chief executive to set multiple fixed and variableinterest rates for owner-occupier home loans which are established under the Housing Act. It willempower the chief executive, as the decision maker, with respect to interest rates for shared equity andcontracts of sale products. The chief executive will be able to offer one or more standard fixed orvariable interest rates for all owner-occupier home loans, including shared equity contracts andcontracts of sale entered into under the Housing Act 2003.

The bill deletes sections 113(4) and 113(4A) of the Housing Act, which provide for the cost ofalterations, improvements or enlargements made by the housing department to a property that is thesubject of a shared equity contract or a contract of sale to be added to the unpaid purchase moneywithout the agreement of the purchaser.

It amends section 95 of the Housing Act to ensure that purchasers under shared equity contractsand contracts of sale are not exempt from paying local government rates and validating rates which arelevied for land on which the owner was, for the whole or part of that period from 1 January 2004, apurchaser of the land under the act. I understand that there is no provision in the current act that deemsland which is the subject of new or renegotiated shared equity or instalment contracts entered into since1 January 2004 to be rateable under the Local Government Act 1993. Therefore, local governmentscannot recover rates directly from those home buyers or exercise the power of sale in the event of adefault. This is only commonsense.

The amendments will impose obligations retrospectively, including the validation of rates leviedfor land which is the subject of shared equity or instalment contracts which the owner was, for the wholeor part of the period from 1 January 2004, a purchaser of land under the Housing Act. In this regard, weexpress our collective concern over the retrospective obligations in relation to local government ratepayments, particularly when those retrospective obligations apply a penalty.

Perhaps the minister can inform the parliament how many purchasers and/or residents will beaffected by this amendment and where those residents or purchasers were located. Can the ministeradvise whether the government has consulted with the people affected, or will those people be ignorantof the fact until they each receive a demand for payment by the relevant local authority?

I return now to further amendments contained in the bill. These include the reinstatement of theright of holders of perpetual town leases to apply to have their leases deemed freehold leases. Underthe State Housing (Freeholding of Land) Act 1957, the holder of a perpetual town lease had the right toapply to have their lease deemed a freehold lease. Further, residential perpetual town lessees had theright to receive a concession on the freehold price based on rental payments by the lessee.

This amendment restores the power to provide concessions on the freehold price for residentialperpetual town leases and validate applications received and concessions provided for conversions tofreehold undertaken from 1 January 2004. This amendment reverses the inadvertent removal of therights of perpetual town leaseholders in the consequential amendments made by the Housing Act to theState Housing (Freeholding of Land Act) 1957 and restores the chief executive’s power to provideconcessions to residential perpetual town leaseholders, which were also inadvertently removed.

Unlike the retrospectivity of the section 95 amendment, the retrospective nature ofthis amendment can be justified on this occasion as it clearly provides a benefit to the clients and will notimpact negatively on the rights and liabilities of individuals. A penalty provision under section 81(5) willalso be applied to an existing requirement under section 81(3), which states that a person must certify adocument under their possession or control as a true copy unless they have a reasonable excuse.

Before turning to the amendments relating to the Building and Construction Industry PaymentsAct 2004, I draw the parliament’s attention to the rise of arrogance which is evident within theDepartment of Housing. This bureaucratic arrogance was not evident a couple of years ago. However, Iand others within the community have noticed this arrogance and have complained. Minister, thecommunity does not like to see government arrogance. The public should be treated with respect on alloccasions.


The number of complaints regarding the inaccessibility of public housing is constantly increasing.It is time for the minister to stop bleating and blaming the federal government and to recognise that hehas a political and social obligation to house needy Queenslanders.

Recent complaints have referred to a directive from the Department of Housing that a singleperson who applied for housing, no matter what their individual circumstances, will be deemed to beineligible for public housing if the department did not have one-bedroom accommodation in thecommunity where the applicant wished to gain accommodation.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr English): Order! The member will come back to the bill, please. Mr HOPPER: This absolutely relates to the bill. Where is that not relevant to the bill? Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The bill does not relate to people applying for public housing. Mr HOPPER: Obviously with this directive the most disadvantaged applicants are affected. They

are affected by what is contained in this bill. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Explain how? Mr HOPPER: I speak of the elderly, those with disabilities, young people who have to move away

from home, people relocating for employment, victims of domestic violence or relationship breakdownand the socially isolated. I am disappointed that under the current minister’s direction the Department ofHousing has become a major seller of real estate instead of a provider of accommodation for the needy.Why does the minister find it smart to disregard the needy? Why does he neglect his political and socialobligations? Let us look at the minister’s latest efforts in real estate sell-offs. In this current financialyear—

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I ask the member to come back to the bill or I will sit him down. Mr Schwarten: Good try.Mr HOPPER: They were the best two pages, too. I now turn to the amendment to the Building

and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 which, I might add, is in the bill. It seeks to correct thedrafting error to clarify what constitutes a building contract under part 4A of the Queensland BuildingServices Authority Act 1991. The proposed amendment seeks to clarify a couple of issues. If a partyenters into a mixed contract under building work and construction work that is not building work, theyhave entered into a building contract and the protection of the mechanisms of part 4 of the QueenslandBuilding Services Authority Act 1991 apply. However, if a party enters into a contract solely forconstruction work that is not building work—for example, electrical work—that is a building contract.Therefore, it is outside the protection mechanisms.

Once again, the explanatory notes refer to a consultation regime within the Queensland BuildingServices Board, but the regime does not include broader representatives in the consultation process. Iask the minister on this particular aspect to outline the results of consultation with the QueenslandBuilding Services Board and whether he or his department has received any concerns from otherindustry representatives. It is a rather important question to ask at this time, particularly when I havereceived so many complaints about the government’s inaction in reviewing the instruments establishedto manage and resolve issues arising within the building industry. I speak about the QueenslandBuilding Services Authority and the associated tribunal. The BSA appears to be established to servicethe government. It certainly does not present an effective service for the building industry or consumersalike.

I have called on the minister previously to take a serious look at the functions of the BuildingServices Authority and evaluate how effective the authority is. I once again call on the minister toundertake a serious review of the Building Services Authority. It is well overdue because it is no longereffectively serving consumers or builders. This bill and its many amendments have caused many issuesand many questions to be raised. I look forward to the minister’s responses provided those responsesmeet expectations. I will be happy to support the bill.

Ms STONE (Springwood—ALP) (7.53 pm): I rise to support the Housing and Other ActsAmendment Bill 2005. I will speak specifically about the interim manager provisions. A significantdevelopment under the Housing Act 2003 is the system for regulating registered providers. As at 1 July2004 there were 359 registered organisations funded by the Department of Housing to provide housingservices in Queensland. These included 71 local government organisations, 32 discrete Aboriginal andTorres Strait Island councils, two Aboriginal shire councils, the Island Coordinating Council and 253 not-for-profit associations or church based organisations.

The regulatory framework applies to registered providers to meet a set of prescribedrequirements. These prescribed requirements relate to financial administration, governance, servicedelivery, tenancy and property management. A registered provider who does not comply with theserequirements is in breach of their obligations under the act. The department can require registeredproviders to remedy a breach by taking corrective action. The corrective action required by theregistered provider is dependent on the severity of the breach including the risk to clients, tenants, fundsand the funded housing assets.


The Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005 addresses an inconsistency in the applicationof a provision that safeguards housing services provided by registered providers where significant risksto tenants and/or assets are identified. The bill extends the power to appoint an interim manager to localgovernments and Indigenous community councils. By extending this provision the state government willbe able to intervene where there are serious breaches by a local government or Indigenous communitycouncil of its obligations under the Housing Act 2003 or the specific parts of the Residential Tenancy Act1994.

Local governments and Indigenous community councils were exempted under the Housing Act2003 from these provisions. At the time it was thought provisions in the Local Government Act 1993, theCommunity Services (Aborigines) Act 1984 and the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984provided a suitable alternative response. It has subsequently been clarified that, while these actscontain provisions for the appointment of external administrators or financial controllers, they do notspecifically address concerns with the tenancy and property management of a registered provider.

The Department of Housing has consulted widely on the proposed amendments with localgovernments, Indigenous community councils, the peak bodies representing Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander councils, the Island Coordinating Council and the previous Aboriginal coordinating council, thepeak body representing community housing organisations, the Queensland Community HousingCoalition and the Local Government Association of Queensland. I understand that the consultationsindicated general support for extending the interim manager provision.

The interim manager power is a means of protecting the public interest. The provision enables thedepartment to appoint a person to temporarily take over a registered provider’s management of tenancyand properties for a maximum period of six months. At present, an interim manager may be appointedonly to funded not-for-profit registered providers of housing services. The interim manager’s role is toensure that the premises occupied by tenants of registered organisations are safe and that theallocation, rent assessment and collection processes result in the equitable and accountable use ofpublic resources. This power is to be used only where other available measures to address thesignificant risk to tenants or assets are not adequate.

Once appointed, an interim manager has only the registered provider’s powers relating to theprovision of a registered provider’s property and tenancy management functions. The extent of thesepowers may be limited by the instrument of appointment and by specific directions from the chiefexecutive. Any limitations and directions would be established in accordance with the circumstancesthat required the application of the provision. The extension of the interim manager provision to includelocal government and Indigenous community councils will ensure that all registered providers whichundertake tenancy and property management will be subject to the same provisions under the HousingAct and housing regulation.

Housing is one of the most important and fundamental needs in our society. Housing is one ofthose essentials that this government takes very seriously and is at the forefront of the government’sagenda. It is a shame that the same cannot be said for the Howard federal government. I heard theshadow minister babble on about the arrogance of public servants in the department. The onlyarrogance there is is the federal government ignoring its obligations to Australians who need housing.This government has a very proud record when it comes to public housing. This important amendmentwill enhance and protect the tenants and our housing assets in Queensland.

Mr LANGBROEK (Surfers Paradise—Lib) (7.58 pm): I am pleased to speak in the debate on theHousing and Other Acts Amendment Bill. In doing so, I give the minister the Liberal Party’s support forthis bill. Essentially, the Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill brings about a smooth transitionbetween the former housing acts and the Housing Act 2003 as well as amending those sections of theHousing Act that are incorrect or obsolete.

Some of the issues that are resolved as a result of this act are the regulation of organisationsfunded by the Department of Housing for housing services and improved transition of the State HousingAct 1945. This is very important and I have been on record many times saying that housing services arevitally important to a functioning society. To provide housing for those who need it, when they need it andin appropriate circumstances is essential. I will support any provision that will aid and abet this cause.More specifically, this will be done by giving the chief executive the opportunity to appoint an interimmanager to funded housing services that are operated by local governments. Admittedly, this will bedone only in limited circumstances. However, the mechanism is there and this improvement of thecapabilities of the Department of Housing is important for the department to be able to deliver theservices that are needed to be delivered in housing.

There are also important provisions in this bill empowering the chief executive to approve the saleof a house or land for a price less than the capital cost. This is the type of provision that must bewatched closely as it can be open to use in a way not intended by the framers of this legislation. Thereare safeguards in section 113 that protect the intentions of the framers. However, the need to watchactions with respect to the power granted to the chief executive under section 113 is still vitallyimportant. The bill also repeals the Commonwealth and State Housing Agreement (Service Personnel)


Act 1991. I find it interesting that an agreement that was finalised in 1993-94 is only being removed fromlegislation now. However, better late than never I suppose.

As I have said, this act has run its course dealing with the handover of defence housing to thestate government and there is no need for the act anymore and so, as such, the act has been repealed.The bill also makes a range of other amendments, the vast majority of which significantly aid the abilityof the department to fulfil its important role in Queensland. I commend the bill to the House.

Ms STRUTHERS (Algester—ALP) (8.00 pm): The Housing and Other Acts Amendment Billfurther streamlines the Department of Housing’s administrative arrangements. It also works to improveoutcomes for clients and those of state government funded housing service providers. I am thereforevery pleased to support its introduction into this House. It is very fitting that these reforms are takingplace during National Homelessness Week. This is a week that aims to raise awareness of the issues ofhomelessness. As the minister outlined earlier in the House today, there is a series of activities that heand his department have planned. I am very proud to be part of a government that has committed$124.4 million in extra recurrent funding and $115.1 million in capital funding in this year’s state budgetto build on existing responses to homelessness and to establish new and innovative housing responses.

In contrast, in real terms the Howard government has cut funding to housing assistance eversince it came into government in 1996. It is a mean-spirited government that does not even put housingon the radar. At the last election one of the critical issues was housing—and remains housing—for allAustralians, including many thousands of Queenslanders, but it is not an issue that gets attention. Thatis a sad reality of not only our federal politicians and our federal leadership but also the fact that themedia do not seem to give this issue attention. Certainly, pressure is needed on the federal governmentto make this an issue of national significance and to introduce measures of national significance that willreally improve the lives of many people.

These additional measures are needed in Queensland because we have been let down by thefederal government. I pay tribute to the minister for his strong advocacy. He certainly made it very loudand clear to the federal government that we cannot afford to have these cuts. We have certainly tried tofill the gaps, but it is a very difficult task. We also need funding for capital. We cannot rely on a federalgovernment rental assistance initiative, and really the central plank of its policy is rental assistance topeople in the private market. I know that the members opposite particularly from the regions want andneed housing in their regions, but how are they going to get it if we do not have the money to build? Howare we going to get it in our suburban areas if we do not have the capital money to build?

In suburbs in my area like Acacia Ridge the seniors feel like they have won the lotto when theymove into those housing units. They are small and compact but very comfortable for them. They arevery modern and new and they really feel that it is a great tribute to them that they have this comfortablehousing. They are not expensive to build, but if we do not get the capital funding from the federalgovernment we are hampered significantly. Members opposite, particularly those from the NationalParty in those regional areas, cry out for this sort of seniors housing and more in their areas, but theyhave to cry out loud and clear to their federal colleagues, because that is where we are being let down.

The peak body for housing in Queensland, Queensland Shelter, responded very favourably to ourbudget in relation to housing. Director Adrian Pisarski said—Homelessness is a multi-dimensional problem and this budget responds across government areas of responsibility in a welcomedeparture from leaving it to a sole agency.

Mr Pisarski said that the government’s measures will make a real difference to homeless peopleneeding immediate assistance. I congratulate Adrian Pisarski and Queensland Shelter on theirdetermination to make affordable housing a priority for all levels of government. The challenge ofhomelessness is an ongoing one for all of us. We are aware that there are enormous pressures acrossQueensland for people to access affordable and appropriate home ownership. It is therefore pleasingthat this bill includes amendments which will enable the department’s effective and flexibleadministration of its loans. It will also provide a greater level of choice to clients to tailor their repaymentsaccording to their financial circumstances.

Both this bill and the measures contained in this year’s budget show that we are a governmentwhich delivers for homeless Queenslanders. We are a government that, despite the lack of support fromthe federal government, is determined to make sure we do something to put a roof over the heads ofmany people in Queensland. Again in contrast, the Howard government is really making it difficult for alot of people. We are facing its control in the Senate. The Australian Council of Social Service estimatesthat at least 300,000 Australians—that is, 150,000 adults and 150,000 children—could be worse offthrough the welfare reform measures which the Howard government is seeking to introduce. That isattacking groups of people and individuals and families who are already struggling to put a roof overtheir heads. So it is not only about housing policy; it is about income support policy at the federal level. Itis very tragic that it is not getting the message, that it is not understanding that people cannot live on afew hundred dollars a week and that people cannot put a roof over their heads when that roof is costing60 per cent or more of their income.


The Howard government really needs to take seriously the issue of affordable housing, work withus at a state level, be serious about building more properties that are affordable and building more ofthose wonderful seniors units where the seniors move in and think they have won the lotto. We needmore of that support and more cooperation. We certainly do not need the mean-spirited way in which itis going about things at the moment. I encourage the minister to keep up his fight. He has taken the fighthard to Canberra. I urge members on the opposite side of the House that, if they want those seniorsunits and they want those public housing dwellings in their regional areas, they need to call out loud andclear to their federal colleagues, because we need their support and will be very determined to spendthat money wisely and well. However, there is not a lot we can do if we are not getting it.

Mr JOHNSON (Gregory—NPA) (8.06 pm): Mr Deputy Speaker Lee, congratulations on beingappointed to the panel of temporary chairmen. When I first came into this House, I was honoured to beable to be a party to being on the panel of temporary chairmen. I found it a great experience and I wishyou well.

In rising to speak to the Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005, I heard the previousspeaker talk about the importance of the federal government recognising the need for housing. I do notthink that anyone is more aware of the need for housing than I am. I heard the comments made herethis evening by the shadow minister for public works and housing, the member for Darling Downs. Thisis a piece of legislation that contains considerable change. One could say that it is a streamlining of theold legislation to bring it into modern day terms to give the chief executive those powers over theGovernor in Council, and that is a good move. But the important thing to remember with this legislationis that it is about trying to provide that housing.

I heard the member for Algester speak in this debate. We are confronted with many difficulties inQueensland at the current time. Let us look at the change in policy direction in relation to the timberindustry which we could have on our hands at any moment. There is a population explosion coming intothis state at the rate of 1,000 to 1,300 a week. That is certainly a tax on the infrastructure of any state, letalone a state like Queensland where the majority of those people want to settle in the south-east corner.It is a tax on water, it is a tax on electricity, on schools, hospitals, roads and all types of infrastructureand, ultimately, it is a tax on housing.

In this state we grow something like 800,000 cubic metres of timber a year but need a millioncubic metres of timber a year to address our needs. We have a real shortfall, and that is something thatother departments and other agencies in Queensland have to take stock of. It is all very well saying thatthe federal government has to come to the party. This government received $7.7 billion in GSTpayments from the feds this year. There was $1.3 billion in stamp duty and a total of $9 billion in twocollections. I would think that there must be some chaff somewhere that we can float back into housing.

It is a very important initiative. In the electorate that I represent there are a lot of people on lowincomes. I applaud the fact that, through this legislation, the chief executive can structure a loan to allowthose people to enter the housing market. I believe that is very important. We have to look at the needsof those people who want to own their own home but, because they are not on big dollars, cannot affordto own their own home. If this initiative lets them into the housing market, then it is a very, very goodinitiative.

This evening I want to refer to Indigenous housing. I am one of those privileged few who wereselected by the Premier to be a member of the Palm Island Select Committee to look at ways ofimproving the lot of people on Palm Island. The issue of housing has caused the committee a great dealof heartache. No doubt we will work through the issue, but at the end of the day this issue of housing isnot only applicable to the people of Palm Island but also applicable to many of the other Indigenouscommunities throughout Queensland. Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.It is a fitting time to bring to the attention of the parliament the importance of trying to improve the lot ofour Indigenous brothers and sisters. Today I heard a member say that after 217 years we need to look atwhere we are going and what we are doing.

I know that the minister is fairly passionate about the issue of housing. I believe that we have toput all of our ideas together to ensure that we give the people of this state the opportunity to purchasetheir own home regardless of where they live—whether it is in urban Brisbane, in outback Queensland,or in far-north Queensland. In this modern day and age we can give our people the opportunity to owntheir own homes. That gives them purpose and direction.

Reference has been made to the abuse of public housing. I have owned property that I haverented out in Toowoomba. I have had trouble with tenants. But I believe that if people owned their ownproperties we would see less stress on the taxpayers’ dollars. If we can offer people an opportunity toenter the housing market, regardless of the structure of their housing loans, we will see less damagedone to property because people would want to live in their properties. It would be great for theirchildren to say at school, ‘My mum and dad now own a home.’

I know that a lot of people in the suburbs of Brisbane and in some areas of my electorate willnever, ever have a hope in hell of owning a house. They pay rent and live in the old housing commissionestates. Members could go to Townsville—any of the larger cities of this state—to see these housing


commission estates. Regardless of whether we are in opposition or whether we are in government, wehave to put our minds together to make certain that we get outcomes on the issue of housing. It is allvery well for us to bag the federal government, but we have to look at our policies to ensure that we aregetting the best outcomes and doing the best thing for the people whom we represent, and that is givingthem purpose in life by putting them into their own homes.

It gives me pleasure to support this legislation. As a Queenslander, as an Australian, we reallyshould give people a sense of ownership. The Palm Island Select Committee has found that a lot ofpeople on Palm Island want that ownership. I believe that issue is not only applicable to Indigenouspeople but also applicable to all people who want to own property, whether that be their home orsomething else. I commend the bill to the House.

Mrs MILLER (Bundamba—ALP) (8.13 pm): On behalf of the good people of Bundamba I rise tospeak in support of the Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005. Prior to the commencement ofthe Housing Act 2003 on 1 January 2004 the Queensland Department of Housing operated under theState Housing Act 1945. The previous State Housing Act no longer reflected the contemporary activitiesof the Department of Housing and was limited in its ability to support new products.

The Housing Act 2003 provides a more contemporary and flexible approach to the administrationof the state’s housing programs. The objectives and guiding principles of the act support thegovernment’s commitments to improving the lives of individuals and families through the provision ofhousing and housing assistance. This is clearly evidenced in my electorate of Bundamba. The actenables the Department of Housing, on behalf of the state, to use funds or property to provide publichousing; make loans or investments; or borrow funds. It also allows the department to enter intopartnerships and joint ventures, provide grants and subsidies and conduct research as well as lease,buy and sell land and houses. The act clarifies the obligations for clients and organisations funded toprovide housing services. Where there is a breach of the obligations, the department has the ability totake appropriate action, including the gathering of information and, if necessary, the prosecution ofoffences.

Under the act clients and registered providers have the right to seek a review of significantdecisions. For example, registered providers can seek a review of a decision relating to theirregistration. Clients can seek a review of a decision relating to their eligibility for public housing and thetype and place of the public housing provided. The Housing Regulation 2003 contains the requirementsfor organisations funded to provide housing services. These are designed to protect tenants, clients,funds and housing assets by requiring organisations to meet prescribed requirements. The regulationalso outlines the fees charged for various types of loan products offered by the Department of Housing.

The objective of the Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005 is to streamline theDepartment of Housing’s administrative arrangements by resolving inconsistencies as well as clarifyingand making changes to a small number of legislative provisions. The bill also repeals provisions that areno longer required. These changes will further improve outcomes for clients and organisations funded toprovide housing services.

The bill extends the power to appoint an interim manager to funded local governments andIndigenous communities councils. This will enable the department to appoint a person to temporarilytake over the management of tenancies and properties where there are breaches of obligations underthe Housing Act or the Residential Tenancies Act by a funded local government or Indigenouscommunity council. These provisions already apply to not-for-profit funded organisations.

The bill supports the department’s effective and flexible administration of its contemporary loanproducts. It also amends some transitional provisions to ensure that no person in receipt of housingassistance is disadvantaged or treated differently following the repeal of the State Housing Act. Thisincludes reinstating the right of holders of residential perpetual town leases to convert their lease tofreehold, restoring the chief executive’s power to provide concessions on the freehold price andvalidating the concessions provided from the commencement of the Housing Act 2003 on 1 January2004.

The bill also ensures that all shared equity or instalment contracts are rateable land under theLocal Government Act 1993 irrespective of when the contract was entered into. The bill removesreferences to the obsolete Queensland Housing Trust and repeals the Commonwealth and StateHousing Agreement (Service Personnel) Act 1991 as these are no longer required. The bill also clarifiesthe definition of ‘building contract’ in part 4A of the Queensland Building Services Authority Act 1991.These amendments will improve the administration of housing and housing related programs inQueensland and they will assist the state to deliver on its commitment to improving the lives ofindividuals and families by providing access to secure, affordable and appropriate housing in diverse,cohesive and sustainable communities.

I would like to talk briefly about Community Renewal in a couple of areas in my electorate, andparticularly the Dinmore Murri Baptist Church. The Department of Housing has funded the renewal ofthe Dinmore Murri Baptist Church to the tune of nearly $200,000. Through that allocation, combined with$400,000 in funding from the Department of Employment and Training under the Breaking the


Unemployment Cycle, at the moment over 12 people are working on that program. The people areworking on a refurbished community meeting space and a renewed church area. The baptismal area willbe retained.

There are 12 job seekers employed in paid work on that project. They are learning constructionskills ranging from the removal of internal walls to building more walls. They are also landscaping andbuilding decks and wheelchair ramps. This project has been coordinated by Bridgeworks Personnel tohelp disadvantaged job seekers. This project is close to my heart because I went to Sunday school atthat particular church. I also went to vacation care there when I was in school.

Mr Horan: It didn’t do you much good.Mrs MILLER: It actually did me a lot of good, because I can tell the member that that particular

church laid the foundations for my Christian values and also the social justice values that are still in metoday. The member for Toowoomba South would well and truly know that.

Mr Shine: He used to skip Sunday school.Mrs MILLER: I say to the member for Toowoomba North that that is one of the reasons why I am

a state member representing the Labor Party. I also want to talk briefly about the GoodnaNeighbourhood House project, because Community Renewal has also funded that project. It is afantastic program of the Department of Housing. There has been nearly $500,000 put into that particularproject—combined moneys from Community Renewal and the department of employment’s Breakingthe Unemployment Cycle. This particular area was a derelict, grey, sad, old building and it wasvandalised. It was really a shell of a building. Now the grand old lady lives again. It is fully refurbishedand painted. It has a kitchen, offices and a back deck. The neighbourhood house activities include artsand crafts and training activities. I would particularly like to thank Luck, who is the coordinator of thecentre; Tom Boyle, who was the project manager; and Gerry Hullett, who was named Lion of the Yearfor his services in this particular area and other areas of the community. Both projects are special to mepersonally and also the house in Queen Street because it is the main thoroughfare to the IpswichMotorway, and it is great to see that house being brought back to life.

I would like to thank the minister for housing, particularly in relation to all the work that theDepartment of Housing has done in my community. The minister for housing is aware that I alwayscome to him asking for bucket loads of money for my particular community. I do not always succeed.The minister and I sometimes have to agree to disagree but our hearts are always in the right place. Welove our people, we love our community and we love our Labor heartland.

I also thank the minister for housing for purchasing three public houses in Springfield. Manytenants in my local area like to live in Springfield and they have asked me to pass on to the minister thatthey would like more houses bought in Springfield and Springfield Lakes because they want to have theopportunity to live and work in these growing areas.

I would like to defend the public servants who are doing a great job in the Department of Housing.The officers of the department in my view are completely professional, compassionate andunderstanding, particularly people like Geoff Schafferius, who was the Riverview manager many yearsago. He is a local legend. His job is currently being done by Margaret White. I also want to thankCommunity Renewal officers Jenny Jarman and Greg Cahill, our urban renewal teams led by HarveyKhabanda and his team of experts in housing design and also liveable communities. These publicservants are a credit to the minister and a credit to our government.

In conclusion, I would also like to say thank you to Ian Jennings from the BSA. Ian Jennings hasbeen wonderful in terms of his support to our community. Last week the BSA had a seminar in my localelectorate at Redbank Plains State High School. Over 40 people were in attendance. What I find greatabout members of the BSA is that they come out and they teach our people how to get involved withbuilding houses from contracts and finance right through to completion. I thank Ian and everyone in theDepartment of Housing for the wonderful work that they do.

Ms LEE LONG (Tablelands—ONP) (8.22 pm): The Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill2005 essentially clarifies a number of issues relating to the purchase of public housing by residents, therateability of such properties and some procedural issues that will result in more streamlinedadministration of public housing. There is a great lack of available public housing in my electorate and Ido not think this is unique. I am sure that members on all sides of this place regularly have constituentscoming to them looking for solutions to housing issues. Not only is there a lack of public housing; theprivate rental market at the moment is very tight also. The result is that we have people being forced intoalmost any accommodation they can get simply for the sake of having a roof over their heads and thoseof their children and families.

Just yesterday I had a woman ring me whose public housing burnt down several weeks ago andshe has had to move in with a relation. She had been in that public housing with her two children. Shealso had her daughter and her two children living with her in that same accommodation. Both familiesare now living with other relations and she rang me to say that it just does not work out in the long term.She has been on to emergency housing in Cairns and the list in Cairns is so long that it looks like itcould be years before she can get any public housing at all. The staff at the Department of Housing


have at all times been helpful and responsive but there are simply not enough houses available. Soanything which promises to improve the efficiency with which this vital yet limited resource can bemanaged is welcome.

I do have a concern with amendments to section 95 of the Housing Act 2003, contained in clause7 and relating to exemptions from rating. The amendments will make all land subject to shared equity orinstalment contracts entered into on or after 1 January last year subject to local government rates. Theminister might clarify whether councils will be entitled to seek backdated rates from 1 January 2004, asseems to be the case. Certainly, concerns are raised in the explanatory notes about possibleretrospectivity arguments relating to these amendments. I do not believe this matter is sufficientlyimportant that we need to breach yet another fundamental legislative principle. By all means makeproperty in these circumstances rateable from now on, but I do not believe it is sufficiently important tobackdate it. Of course, to do so will simply add to the burden of those people battling to buy their ownhome from public stocks. I conclude by urging the minister and this government to move urgently toaddress the pressing needs for public housing both on the tablelands and across the state.

Mr REEVES (Mansfield—ALP) (8.25 pm): It gives me great pleasure to rise to support theHousing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005. Public housing is very important within the electorate ofMansfield. Luckily in the recent budget we have been given an allocation of funds for urban renewal inRochedale South—it will go towards security, such as security screens, carports and a range of otherthings.

Mr Horan: Do you know where you are and what you are talking about? Mr REEVES: Yes, I know what I am talking about. I am talking about housing. The member might

not know about public housing, but I do. This funding is similar to what occurred about two or threeyears ago in the suburb of Mansfield. The Mansfield community spent $1 million on housing just offTones Road. A lot of houses were improved by carports, fencing and a range of other services. It reallyuplifted the area. There was a new housing area in that community. They are great tenants and it gavethem a sense of worth and a sense of pride in their local community.

Public housing is going to be more important in the future, even more so than it is now. We needthe federal government to pay its fair share of public housing funds. We all know about the waiting lists.We need those opposite to impress on the federal government that it needs to provide extra funding. Weall hear what Barnaby Joyce is talking about on a range of things. He should get some more funds forpublic housing for the length and breadth of Queensland because we need more public housing toreduce the waiting list. Affordable housing is a major problem. I support the bill.

Mr KNUTH (Charters Towers—NPA) (8.27 pm): I support the Housing and Other ActsAmendment Bill 2005. However, while lending support to the bill, I would like to bring to the attention ofthe minister the housing problems in Moranbah and in other areas. It seems like every time I am inparliament I talk about the lack of housing in the township of Moranbah, but I have to continue to do sountil a satisfactory solution is found. Considering the millions of dollars the government receives inroyalties and freight charges from mining activities around the town, there is very little given in return.

The town cannot cope with the rapid growth in the mining activity that has occurred. Miners areworking in Moranbah but their families are living in Mackay or other surrounding towns, living in dongas,because there is no accommodation in Moranbah for their families. Business cannot employapprentices because they cannot get accommodation. Companies are struggling to attract qualifiedprofessionals to Moranbah because of the distinct lack of suitable accommodation. Every economic andsocial activity in the town has been frustrated due to the lack of appropriate accommodation. Recently,the local shire council approved a 350-resident development, although I am led to believe that thegovernment does not support it. However, I would like to congratulate the council for its foresight. Thisdevelopment and its future scope will help to permanently relieve the intolerable social, environmentaland economic constraints being experienced by the people in the region and its key stakeholders. Thedemand for a development of this magnitude is extremely high.

The lack of accommodation is a matter of great concern for local churches and socialorganisations within the town. Moranbah has a mixed socioeconomic group. There are waiting lists of upto 40 people for private rentals and there are even waiting lists for the caravan parks. Currently, privaterentals are fetching up to $600 per week.

I am led to believe that the Department of Housing has been selling off public homes to fill thestate Treasury coffers. Premier Beattie has stated publicly that coal is black gold. That is fine, but why isthe department selling public homes in mining areas when it should be providing them? There are nodedicated housing department staff in Moranbah to assist people and to manage properties. Why arepublic housing issues in Moranbah dealt with by Department of Housing staff based in Mackay, whenMoranbah is suffering a housing crisis? We need a dedicated officer to work within the township.

I have been told of a lady who was renting a house that was sold, and she had nowhere to go.She found a Department of Housing home that had been vacant for four months but she could notcontact anyone within the department who could help her. She had to contact staff in Mackay, which is200 kilometres away—staff who would not have a clue what is going on in Moranbah.


Single parents who were renting homes that have been sold have no other choice but to leavetown or live in caravans parked in other people’s backyards. The government needs to set aside aprogram to provide units and housing for all sectors. It is about time that this government gave back tothe hand that feeds it. This is a big issue and it is appropriate to bring it before the House.

Mr CHOI (Capalaba—ALP) (8.31 pm): I thank the House for the opportunity to contribute to thedebate on this very important bill, the Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005. In my opinion, thecommencement of the Housing Act 2003 on 1 January 2004 represented the start of a modern era forgovernment delivery of housing and housing related services. The introduction of the Housing Act 2003had two main objectives: firstly, to improve the access of Queenslanders to safe, secure appropriate andaffordable housing and, secondly, to help build sustainable communities.

Several issues have emerged since the development of the Housing Act. Theproposed amendments to the act seek to improve the regulation of organisations funded by theDepartment of Housing to provide housing services, as well as the transition from the State Housing Act1945 to the Housing Act 2003. The amendments to the Housing Act will improve housing outcomes forthe department’s clients and those of funded service providers. As well, the amendments will provide forthe streamlining of operations relative to many current departmental administrative arrangements.Overall, the bill is largely about tidying up some loose ends and a little expansion and clarification inrelation to the Housing Act 2003.

I particularly wish to voice my support of the amendments that support and enhance theadministration of contemporary loan products. These amendments are of extreme benefit to clients whoare provided not only with a greater choice of loan type but, more importantly, also with the ability tobetter adapt loan repayments to suit individual financial circumstances. These amendments can only beviewed as being a positive step forward and a measure that builds upon the department’s alreadyestablished foundation of loan products and services that are readily accessible for qualifying membersof our communities.

The amendments also seek to improve many other technical issues, including section 81, whichclarifies that, should an authorised officer seek a document, the person providing it must certify that it isa true copy and a penalty will apply if they fail to do so. This penalty was not included in the original actand will serve to motivate people to act in a proper manner in their dealings with the Department ofHousing.

Last year, the Beattie Labor government delivered a record housing budget of $528 million, whichwas $200 million more than when the opposition was last in office. I am proud to be a team member of agovernment that, every single year, consistently delivers a budget increase for housing.

A very real fact is that the Howard government, in all its pursuits, is addicted to marketfundamentalism. In fact, it has destroyed the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement and pursues ananti-public housing agenda. Public housing needs urgent and significant investment from the federalgovernment. This will create more jobs and, at the same time, ease inequities.

John Howard and his government cannot justify their privatisation of public houses in this state.There is no rationale for the expenditure of the $3.8 billion that came into this state but went straight intothe pockets of private landlords. Rising interest rates further increase the problem as the state’s privatelandlords seek to recoup their higher loan repayments by increasing rental prices, and one cannotblame them for doing that.

In addition, the federal government’s rent assistance program has failed to keep pace withspiralling property prices. The dwindling proportion of support is a catalyst to Queensland’s increasingpublic housing waiting lists. Struggling Queenslanders are being forced to spend a greater share of theirlow income on rent. The federal government needs to lift its support and tie rental assistance to the realcost of housing.

It has always been the case that Liberal housing policies are wishy-washy and fanciful, andcontinually reduce funding in real terms for public housing in Queensland. Only a federal Laborgovernment will provide responsible leadership in regard to housing those in need. Only a nationalLabor government will create a housing minister and increase housing funding to public houses for thestates.

The proposed amendments are consistent with our Smart State initiatives and continue to providea legislative basis to further develop innovative products, services and programs to enhance socialhousing policies and programs in our state. This government has a successful and proven track recordof a commitment to exploring new options for delivering safe, secure, appropriate and affordablehousing to Queenslanders in need. I take this opportunity to thank the minister and his departmentalstaff, as well as staff from the BSA, for assisting the government with this legislation.

Mr WELLINGTON (Nicklin—Ind) (8.37 pm): I rise to participate in the debate on the Housing andOther Acts Amendment Bill. I certainly support this bill which, as other members have already identifiedthis evening, is intended to streamline the Department of Housing administration and to improve thedelivery of services to home owners and many people in public housing.


The bill also is about responding to changes to better assist more people to own their own homes,which is certainly a very desirable intent that no doubt we all support. The bill acknowledges thedifficulties that many people have in accessing affordable home ownership. I think the problem ofaffordable home ownership will continue for many years, especially in south-east Queensland which issuch a sought-after residential area.

On the issue of affordable housing, only last week I attended two functions in Nambour, both athouses that have been owned by the Endeavour Foundation, Dall House and Clark House. The currentEndeavour Foundation residents of Clark House have been moved to new accommodation in otherparts of the region. Dall House is only 10 years old. The responsibility for looking after its formerEndeavour Foundation clients has changed. Those clients will now be looked after by the CerebralPalsy League.

At this stage, I thank the parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Communities, DisabilityServices and Seniors and the Premier’s adviser on western Queensland, the member for ToowoombaNorth, Kerry Shine, for his letter to me in which he advised that Warren Pitt as minister for disabilityservices and Disability Services Queensland support our proposal that Dall House be acquired by theDepartment of Housing and then, on a public housing basis, provided back to the Cerebral PalsyLeague.

I understand that the matter is currently before the Minister for Public Works and Housing, theHon. Robert Schwarten. I take this opportunity to put on record my support for this proposal. I hope thatthe minister can look favourably on this request for public housing to take over responsibility for thisbuilding.

I have known of this building ever since it was first constructed. It is not only 10 years old but alsoin very good condition. Hopefully, an agreement will be reached between the department, theEndeavour Foundation and the Cerebral Palsy League to ensure that the residents who have lived inthis house ever since it was constructed will continue to do so.

I know that many other members want to speak on this bill and on other bills this evening so,without further ado, I commend the bill to the House.

Mr FRASER (Mount Coot-tha—ALP) (8.40 pm): I rise to support the legislation before the Housethis evening and to make a brief contribution.

This legislation provides for a number of amendments to the legislation governing the housingportfolio, including extending the ability to instal an interim manager to organisations which are givenpublic moneys to provide housing solutions to people. It extends that quite properly, in my view, to localgovernments and to Indigenous community councils which are in receipt of such moneys. It extends thatability not only to protect the public asset but also to ensure that tenants who are serviced by thoseorganisations are provided with safe and secure housing. That is certainly a prudent amendment, in myview.

A number of other amendments clarify the powers of the chief executive officer of the Departmentof Housing, including a number of clarifications and the provision of the ability for the CEO to realiseassets at a capital loss. I note that the member for Surfers Paradise commented on this aspect of the billin his contribution. While it is certainly not desirable that a transaction realises a capital loss for thedepartment, one can easily contemplate circumstances in which that is necessary. While undesirable, itcertainly should not be unlawful. With appropriate safeguards, that seems to me to be asensible amendment.

Another sensible amendment is the provision for different interest rates to be set for loan productswhich the Department of Housing provides to people. It is important to note that the Department ofHousing does not just provide public housing. The loan products are in fact part of a suite of housingservices that are provided by the Department of Housing.

Some comments were made earlier about the administration of the housing portfolio which Itotally refute. I know many people from the Department of Housing and, in fact, I have previously workedfor the present minister for housing. I know that their commitment and professionalism in dealing withvery difficult circumstances, both in the context of a property market that has made quantum leaps inrecent years and in the context of changing federal government commitment to housing support, meansthat these people are really providing a tremendous service.

Mr Hopper interjected. Mr FRASER: I take that interjection about the budget. It is certainly the case that in all this time

that the state government has been providing extra money for housing, in reality the GST was never,ever able to be—and was never contemplated to be—the sole source of revenue for state governments.If that were the case, then the federal government—which introduced it and which is still in power—would not still have a number of agreements across a number of portfolios under which it provides extramoney. The argument to the contrary is both simplistic and factually wrong. It is a matter about which Ihave waxed lyrical in this parliament many, many times and am happy to do so at length. However, I donot propose to occupy the time of the House tonight by reiterating those arguments ad nauseam.


In closing, I acknowledge the work of the staff of the Department of Housing. They do a sterlingjob, particularly the flexible way in which they approach the many challenges that I have outlined.

Presently, the Brisbane Housing Company is constructing a number of affordable units on aformer Energex substation site in Paddington—which I welcome. A couple of months ago an elderlygentleman wrote to me about a couple of housing properties being constructed in Bardon. He had heardsome of the people around the area saying that they were worried about the style of the buildings beingconstructed. However, he thought that what they were actually talking about was property values andthat I should be outraged by this. I was able to write back to him stating that I certainly was not worriedabout property values because I had just bought the house over the back fence from them. With that, Icommend the bill to the House.

Mrs ATTWOOD (Mount Ommaney—ALP) (8.44 pm): It is important that people looking for low-cost housing are assisted in the most effective and efficient way. There are long waiting lists for housingin the Mount Ommaney electorate. The popular spots are Sherwood, Corinda and Oxley, as access topublic transport, particularly rail, is always desirous. The housing units proposed for Oxley Road havebeen delayed because the builder, Iezzi Construction, went into liquidation. I know that there is greatanticipation that these will be completed as soon as practicably possible.

I compliment the minister on his determination to make affordable housing more and more of areality for those families who need it most. The Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005 reinstatesthe right of holders of residential perpetual town leases to convert their lease to freehold, restores thechief executive’s power to provide concessions on the freehold price and validates the 43 concessionsalready provided from 1 January 2004 when the Housing Act 2003 commenced.

First issued under the Workers Homes Act 1919 and then under the State Housing Act 1945,perpetual town leases are one of the state’s original housing products. Over 7,000 leases were issuedfrom 1924 to 1985 to provide access to affordable home ownership for low-income families. This wasachieved by combining leasehold tenure over state land with a loan for the purchase or construction of ahome.

From 1930, a legislative amendment to the Workers Homes Act gave lessees an enduring right toelect to freehold their property. This enabled lessees to achieve outright home ownership—house andland—by paying the state the purchase price for the leased state land. In 1984, state parliament passedan amendment to the State Housing (Freeholding of Land) Act 1957. This amendment introduced arental credit concession as an incentive for remaining residential lessees to convert the leaseholdinterest to freehold title.

In the transition from the State Housing Act 1945 to the Housing Act 2003, the Department ofHousing removed the application of rental credits for the conversion of a leasehold interest to freeholdtitle. However, to ensure that no lessee is disadvantaged, the Department of Housing has continued togive concessions for the conversion of leasehold interest to freehold title. However, there has been nolegislative basis, since the commencement of the Housing Act 2003, for granting these concessions.

Consequently, the Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005 restores the power to provideconcessions and validates concessions provided from 1 January 2004 when the act commenced. In theperiod 1 January 2004 until March 2005, 43 concessions were granted for the freeholding of leases byresidential lessees and as of March 2005, there were approximately 267 residential perpetual townleases remaining.

The bill reinstates the right to freehold and the previously existing incentive for residential lesseesto convert to freehold title. This will ensure that no lessee is disadvantaged or treated differentlyfollowing the repeal of the State Housing Act 1945. Within the true spirit of a Labor government,improving access to safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing has an important way of ensuringequity for all Queenslanders.

The Department of Housing is changing the way in which it deals with its customers. It is greatthat each client will receive an interview, upon application, so that their unique and individualcircumstances can be heard and considered from the start. This method should minimise the amount oftoing and froing with a client while determining their eligibility and their place on the priority list.

I congratulate the minister on these amendments, which streamline the delivery of thedepartment’s programs, and for his proactive involvement in all of the portfolios within his responsibility.I commend the bill to the House.

Ms MOLLOY (Noosa—ALP) (8.48 pm): I rise in the House this evening to speak on the Housingand Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005. The Department of Housing provides home loans to assisteligible Queenslanders who are experiencing difficulty in obtaining finance from the private sector toaccess and maintain home ownership. The Housing and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2005, byan amendment to the Housing Act 2003, will enable the Department of Housing to deliver greater choiceto home buyers and home loan applicants.

Under the Housing Act the chief executive of the Department of Housing may make loans and setinterest rates for loans in a way that the chief executive considers appropriate. Section 92 of the actprovides that the declared rates may include a standard fixed interest rate and a standard variable

09 Aug 2005 Adjournment 2227

interest rate. A change of wording is required to clarify that section 92 is not limited to only one standardinterest rate. However, the setting of any declared interest rates by the chief executive may beconsistent with the interest rate policy prescribed in the Housing Regulation 2003. By confirming theintention to provide one or more standard fixed and variable interest rates for all owner occupied homeloans, this bill positions the state government to respond more effectively to the diverse and changingneeds of home buyers and home loan applicants.

The bill provides the department with the flexibility to offer clients greater choice and the ability totailor their repayments according to their financial circumstances. The proposed amendment willempower the chief executive to offer several different standard fixed and variable interest rates fordifferent periods of time. For example, the department could offer a six per cent per annum fixed interestrate for a period of three years, a seven per cent per annum fixed interest rate for a period of five yearsand an eight per cent per annum fixed interest rate for a period of seven years.

The amendment also empowers the chief executive to set different variable rates for differentloan products which enables appropriate rates to be set for products targeted at particularlydisadvantaged members of the community. This amendment supports the Department of Housing’seffective and flexible administration of contemporary loan products.

I will focus a little on the Sunshine Coast and what this has meant for those on the SunshineCoast who have benefited from the terrific work that has been done by Minister Schwarten and hisdepartment. On the Sunshine Coast $19 million has been allocated for housing related services andnew housing. At Noosa we are thrilled to have $1.1 million allocated for the purchase of three dwellingsand $500,000 for the purchase of land for public housing. The Sunshine Coast is contending withskyrocketing rents related to the growth in the value of real estate in the area. Consequently, the needfor affordable housing is more than ever on the minds of the Department of Housing and Noosa councilwho are working together to create an affordable model conducive to Noosa.

The Noosa Shire Accommodation Service, operated by the Salvation Army, will also receivefunding to rent five residential dwellings. I would like to congratulate Carol Hilditch whose dedicationover the years has seen her rise from part-time bookkeeper to manager of this very worthwhile service.The Sunshine Coast Regional Housing Council has provided housing services to low-income residentsunder a mix of programs which include tenant advice and advocacy services. The council just receiveda cheque for $60,500 from the minister. I was able to represent the minister, along with myparliamentary colleague Carolyn Male. This money has been given to this council to develop a newstructure, enhancing their already valuable services to the Sunshine Coast.

The Noosa Youth Service recently received a grant to rent seven residential dwellings to providecrisis accommodation for our young people. This service was established in Noosa in 1987 and hasgrown to cater for the needs of the youth in the Maroochy, Caloundra and Cooloola shires. As well asproviding a range of supported accommodation options for our local youth it also conducts a youthsupport program, job placement, employment and training program and the Noosa community schoolspartnership.

All of these organisations play a vital role, helping people on the Sunshine Coast who mayotherwise find themselves homeless, particularly our young people. The Housing and Other ActsAmendment Bill 2005 will enhance the Beattie government’s already excellent record on providingaffordable housing for all Queenslanders. In the recent state budget the Beattie government allocated arecord $668 million for housing, more than doubling the overall housing budget since it was elected.That has to be applauded. I commend the bill to the House.

Hon. RE SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton—ALP) (Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing)(8.53 pm), in reply: I want to thank all honourable members for their contributions to the debate tonight.It is self-evident that people are aware of the bill, what it contains and its ramifications. I commend thebill to the House.

Motion agreed to.

Consideration in DetailClauses 1 to 20, as read, agreed to.

Third ReadingBill read a third time.

ADJOURNMENTHon. RE SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton—ALP) (Leader of the House) (8.55 pm):

That the House do now adjourn.

2228 Adjournment 09 Aug 2005

Lockyer Electorate, InfrastructureMr RICKUSS (Lockyer—NPA) (8.55 pm): I am extremely concerned by the lack of infrastructure

progress shown by this government in the Lockyer. We have the south-east Queensland urban plan, wewant people to live in the western corridor and we have continued steady growth. People in the Gatton,Laidley and Esk shires and the western part of Ipswich have been let down by this government. Not onlyis the state government procrastinating on the motorway, the Toowoomba Range crossing and therenewed water pipeline—all major projects; it cannot provide smaller infrastructure projects.

The Lockyer is in desperate need of a stand-alone Queensland Transport office. We have waitingtimes of up to 10 weeks for a truck licence and six weeks for a car licence in Laidley and Gatton. I havecontinually raised this issue with the relevant ministers. The police minister realises that the GattonPolice Station is overcrowded. The Queensland Transport office should be in a stand-alone facility. It isno use just toying around the edges and giving the staff extra time in Gatton to shorten the queues. TheLockyer area is continuing to grow and demand for a stand-alone Queensland Transport facility isurgently needed. If this were a private business it would be long gone—it would be out of business. Howthe minister can continually ignore the needs of the people of Queensland by not supplying the basicservice for people to get a licence, I do not know; it is poor government. Let us get the basics right andsolve the simple problems.

Another piece of simple infrastructure that should be implemented as soon as possible is theupgrading of the overpass on the Warrego Highway and Villas Road. This has been the scene of manybad accidents. The overpass has been in place for the UQ Gatton campus for a long time. With theincreased traffic flows on the Warrego Highway it is time for the upgrade to take place.

The federal government has funded the $18 million overpass at Plainland. The overpass atLawes is already in place. All this government has to do is carry out some minor access roadworks onboth sides of the highway so that this can be used. I urge the minister to be proactive and get some ofthe minor infrastructure in place. The Labor government cannot continually do nothing and expect thebuoyant economy to keep bouncing along. The government must at least assist the people ofQueensland who are trying to get the job done to have a go. The Premier has 700 staff and yet thepeople who want to have a go are facing delays due to the lack of staff and funding in regional areas.Let us get the basics right. Let us assist the people and not hinder them.

Korean War CommemorationMrs SMITH (Burleigh—ALP) (8.57 pm): Recently I was a guest of members of the Korean

Association at a luncheon to acknowledge Australian veterans of the Korean War. A Korean style lunchwas cooked and served by members of the association. This was followed by a concert of traditionaldancing and singing. It was a wonderful tribute to those Australians who served in Korea in what is oftena forgotten conflict.

The Korean War began on 25 June 1950 when North Korean forces launched an invasion ofSouth Korea. The bitter struggle that followed saw 21 countries, under the auspices of the UnitedNations, come to South Korea’s aid, while the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union sidedwith North Korea. I am ashamed at how little I knew about the sacrifices made by our Korean veteransand by the depth of Australia’s involvement in this terrible conflict. We continually applaud our veteransof other wars, and quite rightly, but rarely do we hear the stories of our troops in Korea.

The conditions under which those brave soldiers fought were terrible. Most of the year Korea isfreezing cold and soldiers suffered from this as well as disease and the difficulties inherent in fighting inthe civil war. The United Nations forces have become commonplace today, but it is interesting to notethat the Korean War was the first in which members of the United Nations joined together to repelaggression. Some 339 Australians lost their lives in the Korean War and 1,500 were injured. Over halfa million South Korean citizens and an unknown number of North Koreans were also killed. This was notan insignificant war. We need to remember our veterans who fought and give them the recognition theydeserve.

In all, 17,000 Australians served in Korea both during the war and in the ceasefire which followed.They served in the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy. Ispoke with some of the veterans at the luncheon, and they told me that they felt they had never receivedappropriate recognition for their efforts. It is very sad to think that Australians who have given so much inthe service of our nation could have cause to feel that their sacrifice, including the sacrifice of theircolleagues who had died, was being treated with ingratitude or indifference.

There are differing opinions about the validity of our involvement in both the Korean and Vietnamwars. Perhaps they were justified—perhaps not—but we must not hold that against our veterans. Wemust always be conscious of the plain fact that the dedication, courage and sacrifice of the Australianmen and women who have served in our forces in overseas countries such as Korea and Vietnam weremade for our country and in our country’s cause. It is an interesting irony that it is members of theKorean Association of the Gold Coast who take the time every year to acknowledge the efforts and


sacrifices of the veterans of this war. My special thanks go to Mr Raymond Kim, who organised theevent and who makes such an effort to recognise the Australian servicemen who fought and died in hishomeland. It is a fitting tribute to the possibilities of peace and hope.

Gympie Electorate, Making a Difference ProgramMiss ELISA ROBERTS (Gympie—Ind) (9.00 pm): The problem of drug abuse is not new nor

peculiar to my electorate. Drug abuse can touch people from all walks of life and families at all levels.Contrary to popular opinion, drug addiction does not just affect people from the lower ends of thesocioeconomic scale. I have witnessed the sadness, frustration, confusion, anger and sense ofhopelessness that family members experience as they face the effects of drug addiction on a loved one.I know people who are not only facing the devastating reality of drug addiction but also the feelings ofshame which are often associated with the addiction. Many people feel as though they have been badparents and that they have failed as parents in the eyes of the community.

According to the Drug Advisory Council of Australia, cannabis is no longer regarded as a softdrug and it has been found that the drug is a contributing factor in many cases of mental illness. At least75 per cent of people with psychotic disorders do not participate in the work force and approximately175,000 Australians with psychiatric disabilities draw a disability support pension. Whilst only aproportion of psychiatric illnesses are a result of chronic drug use, the proven links mean that for societyas a whole we must seriously address the whole drug issue, including why our youth are attracted todrugs in the first place, particularly when they are aware of the inherent dangers of doing so.

Over the last 12 months the coordinator of the federally funded Making a Difference program inGympie has assisted around 150 users and their families in order to fill the gap in services provided bythe state government. Unfortunately, the MAD program is facing its expiry date around the end ofSeptember. This will mean an end to local education sessions, parent support services, crucial peersupport and transport to Nambour Hospital to access the methadone program. The end of this programI fear will have a devastating effect upon those who have benefited from what the MAD program offeredand, in particular, upon the coordinator, Mari.

I am in no way trying to make excuses for drug abusers or deny that it is an insidious diseasewhich has no redeeming quality, but what I do want to do is offer those who are prepared to put an endto their addiction at least the opportunity to do so. I am aware that drug users are viewed by many withcontempt and given very little sympathy. Working to lessen the damaging effects of addiction uponsociety is not just about ‘dobbing in a druggie’. If only it were that simple. Like it or not, drug abuse doesexist and the best we can do for our communities is to assist those who are genuine in their desire to getclean and improve their lives. I am keen to meet with the new health minister in order to relay to him thereality of the drug situation in the Gympie electorate and the fact that access to vital services in this areais sadly lacking. Only yesterday Mari came into contact with two teenagers with chronic drug problems.Our youth are our future, and it is up to us as legislators to make sure that when they have strayed toofar off the path we will be there for them to find their way back.

Smart Awards, Biolytix Technologies Pty LtdMr NEIL ROBERTS (Nudgee—ALP) (9.03 pm): Last week I and the member for Glass House,

Carolyn Male, were in attendance at the Premier’s annual Smart Awards. It was a spectacular eveningwhere a host of Queensland companies that are committed to exploring new ways of working, creatingnew products and services and discovering new markets to conquer are recognised for their efforts andachievements. The Queensland Smart State Strategy is more than encouraging new-age industriessuch as biotechnology and ICT; it is also about encouraging the adoption of new technologies intoexisting industries.

It was particularly pleasing for the member for Glass House and me to join at the awards with ourconstituent company Biolytix Technologies Pty Ltd and its proprietor Dean Cameron and media officerJenny Allen. The company won the Queensland Premier’s Rising Star Smart Award for its developmentof an innovative waste treatment technology. Biolytix has also been recognised internationally, winningan international environmental technology award at the World Expo in Japan—the only waste treatmentsystem to do so. Biolytix Technologies is a fine example of the application of a new technology to solvean age-old problem. It has developed a chemical-free system to turn household waste water, includingkitchen, bathroom and laundry grey water, into irrigation water. The Biolytix waste treatment systemuses soil organisms and microbes to convert waste into humus which is used as a filter to cleanse thewaste water. The system can be installed to service a single home, clusters of homes or largerdevelopments.

It is interesting to note that in the United States around 44 per cent of all new sanitationinfrastructure is decentralised—that is, not directly connected into the mainstream waste treatmentsystems provided by local authorities or private providers. In Australia the figure is around five per cent.To some degree, the higher usage in the United States could be explained by the broader acceptance ofprivate provision of essential services but also a stronger propensity of consumers to choose direct


investment in energy-saving and more environmentally friendly waste treatment systems for theirhomes.

Biolytix has an excellent opportunity to expand its share of new sanitation infrastructure with thisnew product both in Australia and overseas. It has advanced the science of decentralised sanitation wellbeyond that used in the United States to the point where it can now replace conventional seweragecollection, treatment and dual reticulation at a very competitive price. In 2003 Biolytix received a smallgrant from the state government to demonstrate this new technology on Macleay Island. However,despite excellent results in the trial, the company is struggling to break into the large municipal market.The World Bank estimates that world wide more than $1.8 trillion will be spent on water and sanitationinfrastructure in the next two decades, and a large slice of this will be invested on decentralisedsanitation systems. Through the development of innovative waste management systems produced bycompanies such as Biolytix, Queensland is well placed to become a technology leader in this massiveand growing market.

Time expired.

Gregory Electorate, Medical ServicesMr JOHNSON (Gregory—NPA) (9.06 pm): There is one thing for certain that I can assure the

Queensland government is not negotiable in the Gregory electorate, and that is medical services in thatremote area. I asked a question of the Minister for Health today about the government’s objective withthe CareFlight service. It is providing $5 million per annum in recurrent funding. However, that moneycould go to the Royal Flying Doctor Service that very ably provides that service now. With the PeterForster inquiry and the Tony Morris QC inquiry at Bundaberg, issues are slowly but surely coming outevery day about the anomalies and the inadequacies in Queensland Health.

The former minister made a slip of the tongue some time ago when he said that some of thoseservices in western areas may have to be cut back, which would then make the people who live in thoseareas go elsewhere for those more important medical services. We have slowly but surely seenQueensland Health cut back some of those services. Places like Blackall, Barcaldine and nowSpringsure and Winton have become centres where mothers cannot give birth to infants. Only recentlyQueensland Health wanted to put a single certificate director of nursing into Barcaldine while at thesame time not catering for the prospect of that hospital becoming a maternity hospital again.

If we are going to get people to live in those places and give those people a quality of life, theremust be good medical services regardless of the cost. For example, the Diamantina shire itself is puttingsome $100,000 a year recurrent funding towards the cost of employing nursing staff at Bedourie andBirdsville. If that were to be put in place anywhere else in Queensland, there would be a hue and crywhere people would say that that is against what they stand for. Everybody else gets that service free,but not in the Diamantina shire. It has to put money towards it. I say to the new health minister that hehad better take this issue on board, because not only western Queensland but the whole of Queenslandhas had an absolute gutful of the winding back of these services and the taking away of specialistservices. We had better services 20 years ago than we have now, and every day we seem to losesomething else. In places such as Emerald, there are over 400 births a year. In Longreach there are 70or 80—up to 100—births a year. So far in Charleville there have been about 30 births. A lot of thosemothers have been sent to Toowoomba or somewhere else. That makes the figures look good forsomewhere else, but we want those maternity services in the west.

Time expired.

Queensland Cancer FundMr ENGLISH (Redlands—ALP) (9.09 pm): On Friday, 19 August we will celebrate Daffodil Day.

This is a fundraiser that is organised by the Queensland Cancer Fund. I am extremely proud to stand inthis House and represent an electorate such as Redlands, which has a community that is so engaged incharitable organisations. Tonight I would like to congratulate the Queensland Cancer Fund Redlandsbranch on the outstanding work that it undertakes throughout the year to raise funds for this worthycause. I would like to congratulate Rosemary Skelly and Pam Tranter and the other many members ofthe organisation. This year they have organised—and I have supported—Australia’s Biggest MorningTea.

I sought leave from parliament to attend the morning tea over on Lamb Island where I metCharmaine, a cancer survivor. She was strong enough to stand up in front of the audience assembledthere and tell us about her struggle with cancer. She said that having cancer was one of the best thingsthat happened to her. We were somewhat shocked by this. She outlined that on the day she receivedthe news that she had cancer all her attention became focused. She was able to identify and prioritisevery easily events in her life. On receiving the news, she was able to discard a lot of the irrelevanciesthat were going on in her life. She focused on the essentials: her family, her children and, of course,surviving her illness.


A couple of weekends ago I had, if you like, the misfortune to run five kilometres—or maybe crawlfive kilometres—in the annual Run for a Cure. The pain experienced by me during that five-kilometre runwas somewhat intense. However, it is nothing compared to the pain that many cancer sufferers andcancer survivors go through when undergoing their treatment.

We are now approaching Daffodil Day. We also have a great Nurse of the Year contestant in theRedlands. Later in the year we have the Relay for Life. The amount of effort that goes into organisingthese events is not to be underestimated. I congratulate all the people who contribute to theorganisation of these events.

I would like to inform the House that recently my mother has been diagnosed with cancer. I will besupporting her through her treatment and her battle with this disease. I look for the understanding of theHouse in this time. Recently we have seen the passing of the member for Cleveland’s father alsothrough lung cancer. This disease impacts on every one of us—members of this House as well asmembers of the wider community. I encourage every member of the House to support the QueenslandCancer Fund in its fundraising efforts.

Department of Emergency ServicesMr McARDLE (Caloundra—Lib) (9.12 pm): Today we heard the member for Bulimba, as the new

Minister for Emergency Services, deliver his first ministerial statement. He started by thanking themembers of the parliament who voted him into his position, but he was really thanking his factionalmates for tossing the Premier’s choice and putting him—the man they wanted—into that position.

The minister then went on to make the comment that he believed that things in his departmentwere absolutely rosy, that things were fine, that there were no problems. Clearly, the minister has notbeen talking to the paramedics and he has not been talking to the firies. If he had taken the time to talkto them and, more importantly, listened to what they were saying he would soon learn that things werenot fine within the department. He even made the point of stating that the morale in the department washigh. That flies in the face of the findings of the firefighters. They made it very clear only a matter of twoor three weeks ago that on their own survey morale among the firefighters is exceptionally low. Thatraises the question of whether there are two departments: one operating as advised by the minister’sdepartmental officers and the second department staffed and worked by the paramedics and thefirefighters.

One would have to wonder how the minister can get such a wrong impression when the evidencein the public arena from many people is completely the opposite. Of course, the minister has fallen intothe trap of listening to the department, of taking on board only the words and advice of the departmentalofficers. He has not listened to the men and women on the ground who work daily with peoplethroughout Queensland, who work to save the property and lives of people in this House and throughoutthis state.

There is no doubt that the department has been suffering since early 2004. There was great hopethat this minister may well take the department forward into the future. We certainly hope that the futureis not going to go pear shaped, but the minister needs to realise that he cannot continue to listen to thedepartmental officers alone. If he took on board the words and wisdom of those men and women whowork on the ground, if he brought them into the policy consideration process and then consulted withthem on a regular basis, he would find that he would have a smooth-running, efficient department.

I suggest to the minister that he put aside the words of the department, that he sit down with thesemen and women on a daily basis and use his own ingenuity and background as a union member tounderstand where these people are coming from.

Voluntary Student UnionismMr LEE (Indooroopilly—ALP) (9.15 pm): Michael is 17, he is from country New South Wales and

he is new to Brisbane. He is living away from home for the first time. He has no family in Queenslandand knows only a handful of people in his new city. He is studying for a Bachelor of Arts at the Universityof Queensland. Michael will undoubtedly rely upon his student union to help him find a share house nearthe university. He will look for part-time work with the help of the union’s employment service and he willrely heavily upon union funded clubs and societies to make friends and socialise now that he is living ina new city.

Michael’s story is not unusual. He is a typical university student. He will use some student unionservices sometimes and other services never. Michael hopes that he will never need assistance fromthe union with an academic appeal, but he knows that some students will. Michael hopes that he willnever need to call upon the union’s free legal advice service, but he knows that some students will. Likemost students, Michael will read the campus newspaper occasionally.


Without universal student union coverage, university students would not have ready access tofree on-campus services such as the University of Queensland union’s employment andaccommodation services or the Queensland University of Technology Student Guild’s child-carefacilities, or their excellent academic appeals assistance.

The federal government’s voluntary student unionism legislation will certainly spell the end of theGriffith University Student Representative Council’s excellent student magazine Gravity. I would like totake this opportunity to table a copy of the latest edition of Gravity, which is an edition opposingvoluntary student unionism.

Leave granted.Mr LEE: The Griffith University Student Representative Council is also known for its social

events. Tomorrow night spells possibly the end of its legendary boat cruises. A boat cruise, organised bythe SRC, is to be held tomorrow. If the voluntary student unionism legislation that the federalgovernment is proposing is enacted, it will be the last boat cruise. I think that is very sad.

Student unions play a significant, an often unnoticed, and certainly unrecognised role in the livesof university students. For this reason alone they deserve not to be destroyed. But aside from the simplereality that student unions provide for students’ material wellbeing while they are at university, studentunions are important to a student’s university experience for another important reason. Universities areplaces of higher learning where students learn not only to think about the nuts and bolts of their coursework but also to think deeply about the world in which we live. Most graduates will happily admit thatduring their student days they learned almost as much outside of their formal lectures as they did withinthem.

Student unions are integral to developing campus culture and are essential to on-campus life forstudents. We all know that the proponents of voluntary student unionism do not argue their case with apure heart. No thinking policy maker could plausibly argue the case against universal student unionism.

Time expired.

Diversity and InclusionMr HORAN (Toowoomba South—NPA) (9.18 pm): Tonight I want to speak about a wonderful

program that has been put in place in Toowoomba by Sharon Boyce and her friend Michael Furtadocalled Diversity and Inclusion. Sharon is quite a remarkable woman in that she is wheelchair bound andhas a number of disabilities. She is restricted by a collar on her neck and uses a number of other thingsto help her use her hands and arms. Despite that, Sharon has shown great courage and enterprise andhas done a number of things. Recently Sharon held an art show in Toowoomba. She has also done a lotof work in the area of education.

Tonight I want to speak about this program of Diversity and Inclusion which Sharon and Michaelhave put, through their own resources, into schools in Toowoomba—not only the government schoolsbut also the non-government schools—and in some of the schools in some of the other educationdistricts.

It is a program that teaches young people how to understand disabilities and how to accept, workand play with other students in the school who have disabilities. I think it is a very important program forthe proper integration, and for the successful and happy integration, of children with disabilities into ourschools. I have written to the education minister about it. I know there is a new education minister. I haveasked the new education minister to have a look at this system. They have had some good people fromour district education office talk to them, but I think they need proper support for this program, otherwisethey are not going to make enough money out of it to keep going. They are just so reasonable in whatthey charge people.

I would also like to put a message across to the new Minister for Justice and Attorney-Generalregarding the disability law project in Toowoomba. It has been undertaken by a young barrister, Mr DanToombs, who has been prepared to sacrifice much of his talent and time to provide assistance to thisproject. This project is reaching the end of its time. It is difficult and frightening for anybody to appear incourt or appear before legal people, let alone people with disabilities who are doing it for maybe the firsttime. It can be very disorienting and frightening. This project provides them with proper supportthroughout the whole process so that eventually the determination by the magistrate or judge can takeinto account the disabilities and the difficulties that these people have. Hopefully they will be providedwith a course of rehabilitation—there might be some punishment but preferably there will be a course ofrehabilitation—that can help them. Hopefully that will be because their case has been properlyexplained and they have had proper and sufficient legal representation because of the disability lawproject. I would like to see the Attorney-General continue with the funding for a further period.

Time expired.


Solander Lakes Bowls Club, Silver JubileeMrs CARRYN SULLIVAN (Pumicestone—ALP) (9.21 pm): It was a privilege to be invited to the

Solander Lakes Bowls Club earlier this year to join in its silver jubilee celebrations. For the past 25 yearsthe club has provided its patrons with an invaluable service. The following history has been kindlysupplied to me by founder Dawn Stanton. On Sunday, 25 March 1979 an inaugural meeting was held todecide if there was enough interest to form a ‘ladies only’ bowls club. The response was overwhelming,which resulted in the immediate formation of a club. A piece of land was leased at Banksia Beach fromthe local council and eventually permission was given to relocate a small building—affectionately knownas the ‘Hut’—which was donated by Keith and Shirley Renton, on the site. After months of hard work theclub constructed a cork all-weather green with advice from Ken and Tess Jameson, who hadexperienced cork greens in New Guinea.

The Solander Lakes Ladies Bowls Club was officially opened on 22 November 1980 by the thenPresident of the CDLBA, Toni Seicker, from the Woodford club. The Foundation President was DawnStanton, with Secretary Tess Jameson and Treasurer Marjorie Lemm. The men’s club was formed withFoundation President Arnold McCracken, Secretary Gordon Veith and Treasurer Albert Mudge. A newclubhouse to replace the ‘Hut’ got under way during the year Iris Reeves was president. There was amini opening of the club on 4 October 1987, when President Olive Griffiths was in the chair. From thenon things moved rapidly and the official opening took place on 15 May 1988, presided over byFoundation President Dawn Stanton. The opening was a very festive occasion, marred only by thesudden death of the club’s builder, Ted Baker, while on another job off the island.

The men’s club supported the women all the way, with work inside and outside the clubhouse,handled by Evan Griffiths and his willing team, including Graham Grien and Dennis Walsh. Credit mustalso go to the voluntary bar staff who satisfied many other volunteers. Eventually grass greens replacedthe original cork surface and the ladies made a name for themselves by winning the Fours Champion ofChampions of Queensland at Mackay in 1996 with Hilda Skelter subbing for Maureen Gittins, OliveGriffiths second, Joan Kluss third—who makes the best ginger fudge—and Dawn Stanton, the skip.

The dual patronesses, Viola Mitchell and Hope Richardson, and men’s patron, Les Mitchell,supported the club from its inception, and it was loyalty like this that helped progress the club to what itis today. In 1993 the administration was taken over by a board of management with ladies’ and men’scommittees to oversee the running of bowls. This operation, which has been highly successful, is stilloperating today, 12 years later. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the club members ontheir silver jubilee and wish the current ladies’ president, Elizabeth (Betty) Rudd; men’s president, RalphRiggall; club patron, Wally Love; and all the members of the committee and board the best for the futureand hope that there are many more occasions when they can get together to celebrate new milestonesand victories for the club.

Motion agreed to.The House adjourned at 9.25 pm.