The President took the chair at 2.30 p.m.

The President offered the Prayers.


Petition praying that the Premier fulfil his promise to ban the sending of stray dogs to laboratories within New South Wales, received from the Hon. R. S. L. Jones.

Petition praying that because of recognition of the right to life of the unborn child, the House support the Procurement of Miscarriage Limitation Bill, received from the Hon. J. R. Johnson.

Petition praying that because of the concern over the tragic deaths of unborn children and because of the confusion about the legal status and rights of the unborn child, the House support the Unborn Child Protection Bill, received from the Hon. Elaine Nile.

COASTAL PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) BILL (No. 2)

Bill introduced and read a first time.

The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER (Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy) [2.37]: Pursuant to sessional orders, I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Soon after coming to office in 1988 the Government took several initiatives to ensure that the New South Wales coast was properly planned and there was better co-ordination between public authorities with responsibilities for the coast. One of these
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initiatives was the decision to reconstitute the Coastal Council of New South Wales. In 1988 the Government made the decision to reconstitute the Coastal Council of New South Wales. The Coastal Council had functioned until 1985 when the then Minister, now the Leader of the Opposition, failed to reappoint that council. This Government's commitment to coastline management is greater than that evidenced by the previous Government. We recognise the great potential of the Coastal Council and therefore the need to amend the Coastal Protection Act to allow the council to function effectively. As an interim measure the New South Wales Coastal Committee was established in March 1989 under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act until the Coastal Protection Act could be amended.

Under the Government's coastal policy the reconstituted Coastal Council will take on responsibility for monitoring and implementing policy and ongoing policy review, which is currently vested with the New South Wales Coastal Committee. It is through the Coastal Committee-cum-Coastal Council that the Government will continue to overcome the fragmentation of responsibility of ad hoc decision-making that hampered coastal management in the past. The coastal policy contains some 70 strategic actions that government authorities are responsible for, and I am pleased to report that considerable progress has been achieved in their implementation, as evidenced by the Coastal Committee's first progress report. Reconstituting the Coastal Council is further evidence of this Government's continued commitment to preserving our coastline for the future. The membership of the new Coastal Council will be expanded from 10 to 15 to allow it to function more effectively. Local government will be represented by three members of councils on the coast who will be selected from a panel nominated by the Local Government and Shires Association. Local councils have a crucial role in planning and controlling the development, use and protection of the coast. This representation will ensure that local government has a forum in which coastal issues can be discussed with representatives of government departments and can contribute directly to provide advice to me as Minister for Planning.

The Coastal Council is also to have a representative of the Department of Local Government and Co-operatives as a further reflection of the important role local government plays in the planning and protection of the coast. The addition of a representative on the council from the State Pollution Control Commission, which is to become part of the Environment Protection Authority, is recognition of the increasing importance of the control and prevention of pollution on our coast and the need to consider this at an early stage in the planning and management of the coast. The proposed representation of the Tourism Commission recognises the attractiveness and importance of our coast for tourism and the contribution that tourism can make to the economy of New South Wales, if well planned to be sensitive to the coast's environmental attributes. The Government's willingness to take seriously natural environmental protection on the coast will be reflected in the addition of a representative of the Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales. This will mean that the views and knowledge of the many constituent bodies of the Nature Conservation Council can be made known to the Coastal Council during its
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deliberations. The seven representatives of government departments at present provided for in the Act will remain. These are now referred to as the Department of Planning, the Office of Fisheries, the Soil Conservation Service, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Public Works Department and the Department of Mineral Resources.

The appointment of an independent chairman who has expertise in coastal protection remains the same. The expanded representation on the Coastal Council will provide access to the conservation groups and the major public authorities involved in the setting of policy for the New South Wales coast. The proposed definition of the coastal zone will remove a relatively unwieldy and vague prescription and replace it with a definition that will ensure that the Coastal Council's deliberations are focused on the immediate coastal strip, which faces the greatest pressures. The coastal zone defines the council's area of operation. It will be the coastal waters of New South Wales, which extend three nautical miles from the coast, and one kilometre inland from the coastline and, for definitional reasons, any land or water between these areas. To provide the flexibility to allow the Coastal Council to consider other areas that are closely related to the coast or affect it, the bill provides for extensions to the coastal zone to be made. As Minister for Planning I will be empowered to adjust the western boundary of the coastal zone so that it conforms to the line of a road, railway, watercourse, watershed or other topographical feature, or an allotment boundary, that is close to either side of that western boundary. I will also be empowered, by order published in the Government Gazette, to extend this zone to include a specified area of waters contiguous with the landward side of that landward boundary and a specified area of land located within one kilometre of those waters.

The bill will amend the functions of the Coastal Council to ensure that its advice, reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning are directed towards policies that should be adopted by the Government and public authorities; the implementation of these policies and management of the coastal zone; and co-ordination of the activities and policies of the Government and public authorities. The council will be directed to achieve these functions through being a forum for the exchange of information between the Government, public authorities and community organisations; advising councils on the management, protection and use of the coast; and advising me, as Minister for Planning, and the Director of Planning on major development proposals.

The Coastal Council will be guided by the overall requirement of contributing to the attainment of the objectives of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. Part III of the Coastal Protection Act is administered by my colleague the Minister for Public Works. The present sections 38 and 39 provide for various controls over development on the coast to be made by the Governor and the Minister for Public Works. The bill will recast these two sections to simplify interpretation and remove duplication. The involvement of the Governor in applying controls that are basically the province of the Minister is to be reduced, consistent with current
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practice. The bill will also make a number of consequential amendments, and the opportunity has been taken to make some existing provisions consistent with current drafting practice. This measure is another example of the responsible and forward approach being taken by this Government towards the conservation of our precious coastline. The Coastal Council will assist the Government in the wise environmental management of our invaluable coastal resource. I commend the bill.

Debate adjourned on motion by the Hon. Delcia Kite.


Debate resumed from 25th September.

The Hon. DELCIA KITE [2.45]: I wish to address the most significant matters for which this Budget does nothing but should if the Greiner-Murray Government is concerned about the welfare, health and very survival of the citizens of this State. I refer to the destabilisation of the environment and the subsequent effects on our children and future generations, to say nothing of the tragic long-term reduction in the number of livestock and wildlife; the economic consequences of reduced yields from crippled crops; and the degradation of the land from which our primary products are produced. Honourable members are aware that several times this year Sydney recorded dangerous levels of record-breaking pollution. These readings, which were six times the average level, threatened the lives of those with respiratory illnesses and created a variety of ill effects leading to many experiencing breathing difficulties for the first time. The report of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization on the pilot study of the southwest region commissioned by the Government revealed that levels of some air pollutants were rising due mainly to the increase in the use of private vehicles, thus highlighting the need to address the problem of less polluting, safe, reliable, affordable and accessible forms of transport.

In this Budget the Government proposes to spend $8 million on air quality monitoring in the Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra areas. We may well then belatedly discover the sources of the problems. It is to be hoped that the air quality summit, by its stated move from pollution monitoring and control to pollution prevention, will ensure that the Cabinet subcommittee on urban development takes seriously the concerns of the communities in the Hawkesbury-Nepean area, the Campbelltown region, the developing Menai and West Menai area, and the Hunter and Illawarra areas. The action required to confront this massive problem must be taken now. Co-ordinated action by the Ministers responsible for all portfolios must be taken now. The necessary research into the safe disposal of toxic and hazardous waste must be expedited and appropriate alternatives to the present dangerous practices should be put in place long before the three-year to four-year period envisaged for
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the study. There is nothing wrong with long-term planning, but certain matters require immediate attention. The people of the western and northwestern areas of Sydney believe that the Greiner-Murray summit is merely the Government's way of depoliticising the problem, and they want immediate action to eliminate the problems they are experiencing now.

A safe, reliable and affordable public transport system will go a long way towards eliminating much of the air pollution caused by car emissions. Recently, the Leader of the Opposition in another place visited Canberra to seek funding for a bold plan to build new rail links in western and southern Sydney. These infrastructure proposals will help solve three problems facing this State - unemployment, the chronic transport problems in western Sydney and air pollution. Sydney needs a new transport system. Population and employment levels are increasing in the west but the railway network is focused on the Sydney central business district. Bus feeder services are needed for western Sydney stations and regional bus and light rail services for areas such as Rouse Hill, South Creek-Hoxton Park, St Marys-Penrith and South Macarthur-Campbelltown. The $90 million wasted on the Greiner white elephant, Eastern Creek, would have been better spent on a modern transport system for western Sydney. I know the people living there would have appreciated that more than the useless dollar-consuming racetrack described by Phillip Smiles, the member for North Shore in another place, as the black hole out of which the Greiner Government now finds it impossible to climb.

Rezoning for high density in northern, eastern, southern and inner western Sydney within a mile of existing railway stations would help and would be less costly than the proposed housing developments in western Sydney because the infrastructure is already in place. This would encourage people back to the public transport system and there would less air pollution and less stress on the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system from pollution. Western Sydney is already carrying an overburden of urban consolidation. What chance is there for a sensible development strategy for Sydney when we have on the one hand the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy, the Hon. R. J. Webster, encouraging urban consolidation and increased medium-density housing and on the other hand the Minister for Housing, Mr Schipp, promoting the urban sprawl on Sydney's fringe?

This Greiner Budget proposes to spend $600,000 on monitoring inland water quality, including significant special environmental program funding for work in the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system. That sum would not even touch the tip of the iceberg in addressing what needs to be done on the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system, let alone the rest of the rivers in this State, all needing urgent attention. The people in the Hawkesbury-Nepean area know what the problem is. All the monitoring in the world will not correct the problem. They want constructive action now. In the enlightening television program "River's End" the stark reality of the threat to the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system was dramatically portrayed. If Sydney experienced a period of prolonged drought, parts of that wonderful river system would flow with nothing more than waste water. If there is no rain to flush
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out the river, the concentration of pollutants will start to put an end to the biological food chain in the Hawkesbury-Nepean area. The pollution levels are so critical in parts of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system that the prawning, fishing and oyster business worth $1 million to $2 million a year is just another casualty of the rubbish, toxic waste and sewage that are crippling this once great river system.

This complex environment is described by medical practitioner Dr David Hughes as being subject to unpredictable natural forces, but he said that it is human forces that are changing this waterway. He said that in the past 10 years he had treated more than 700 people for various infections he believed were caught in the river and it was only a matter of time before swimmers died. He had treated 400 cases of skin infection, most from scratches and mosquito bites that became infected after the patient went swimming; 160 cases of ear infections; 10 cases of blood poisoning from infected scratches; 65 cases of diarrhoea and vomiting from swallowing river water or showering in caravan parks using river water; and 65 cases of eye infection - mostly of children who had been playing in moist sand near the river's edge. The managing director of the Water Board, Bob Wilson, said children could die from swimming in the polluted Hawkesbury-Nepean river this summer, particularly infants, who could swallow toxic blue algae floating on the water.

On 26th September it was reported in the Daily Telegraph Mirror that Darren Gay, a healthy 21-year-old man broke both his legs in a skiing accident on the Hawkesbury River. What started out as a carefree day became a nightmare when doctors were forced to amputate his right leg after it became riddled with gangrene. Darren's mother said doctors told her he almost died three times because the marine bugs which got into his body through the wound in his leg travelled up to his lungs and were exhausting all his oxygen. At one point he was on a life support system for four weeks after one lung collapsed. Doctors say high levels of pollution in the water contributed to the gangrenous infection and say the river is probably the culprit. Must we wait until somebody dies before this Greiner-Murray Government takes note and begins to redress this extremely serious problem?

It was recently reported in the newspapers that the Japanese have discovered a new method of cleaning up their polluted rivers. This Government should look into this tried and proven method that Japan is using to clean up 30 of its polluted rivers. Trees felled to thin out overpopulated forests are burnt to produce charcoal which is laid on river beds to become a home for pollution eating micro organisms. At Moriyama, 354 kilometres from Tokyo, the local government and an organisation of timber firms have cleared a local river using 500 kilograms of charcoal. Within six weeks the oxygen content in the sewage tainted river had more than doubled and less phosphorous and fewer non-biodegradable particles were present. The carbon dioxide released from the burning trees to make charcoal is environmentally destructive but we need to think of solutions that allow us to use natural resources most efficiently while harming the environment as little as possible. Charcoal used in the rivers can be reused in two or three years after it is washed, and it can also
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be buried to enrich the soil. Charcoal can therefore be recycled thereby promoting the efficient use of natural resources.

The whole question of urban development must be reviewed urgently. Land left in its natural state will absorb much of the moisture from the rain which falls on the city of Sydney each year, slowing down the process of flooding which has become so common in recent years. But when huge volumes of rain hit pavements, roads, concrete kerbs and bricks the water keeps flowing and flooding occurs more frequently. The impact on the river system is serious. Broken banks, erosion and high speed floodwaters are directly attributable to the application of catastrophic planning principles and sand mining, which have already affected the Hawkesbury-Nepean and Port Hacking rivers. Dr Hughes reminds us that Sydney has more floods than any other city in Australia, not because it gets more rain but because the natural environment has been changed so much. There is simply no escape route for the water, which leaves in its wake undissolved phosphates, sewage, industrial wastes, organochlorins and any other refuse which is prevalent from the waste creating industries and inappropriate housing areas.

It does not end there: let us be aware of what is going into the tributaries of these great river systems. Residents living in the vicinity of the Bargo River claim that to drink from its waters is to take in 80 times the permissible level of ammonia, 20 times the permissible level of phosphorous and 20,000 times the permissible level of faecal organisms. The stories revealed in "River's End" continue to expose the dangers to people's health, especially the health of the young people who inhabit the housing area in the vicinity of South Creek, where sewage effluent from the treatment works exceeds the desirable health standards and is matched only by the toxic industrial waste which caused thousands of fish to die. The contaminants present in the fish revealed following tests by Stanford Analytical Laboratories included four times the permissible level of mercury. Also present were traces of arsenic, lead, cadmium, DDT, hectochlore, alum and the banned pesticides chlordane and dieldrin.

Before this Government heads deliriously into developing new estates in areas such as those I have mentioned that are critically sensitive and vulnerable to environmental destruction it should have a long, hard look at what is happening. Sydney's outlying districts which are not yet sewered are subject to the practices of private contractors hired by contractors to dump sewage into holding ponds, usually located in bushland areas. Some of these ponds have concentrations of bacteria from human excreta up to 46,000 times greater than water quality guidelines allow. Under certain weather conditions overflow valves on these ponds are opened and the waste that is often still close to being raw sewage is released into the surrounding bushland or in some cases, such as at Maloney's Beach on the South Coast, directly on to the beach and into the ocean.

It is even more horrifying to learn that in the case of the ponds in the Nepean-Hawkesbury region the effluent could eventually find its way into our
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drinking water supply. It would already be in the drinking water of the people living at Windsor and Richmond and of others in the area who draw their water from the Hawkesbury river. Bob Wilson, a director of the Water Board, said that the 22,000 kilometre catchment area for Sydney's water is already polluted with high levels of domestic and industrial waste and raw sewage effluent. This Greiner Government will not adopt the necessary urban consolidation policy to ensure Sydney's sprawl does not continue at its present rate. On the "7.30 Report" the former Liberal member and now Independent member, the honourable member for Davidson, said:

This Government has embarked on a policy to expand Sydney by 300,000 in the Baulkham Hills area out to Rouse Hill. These individual pieces of land will cost the community over $60,000 each in public subsidy for roads, schools, drains and sewerage. That money will be pulled from less prosperous areas. It's going to be a disaster for the community development as a whole, for the environment's sake as well as community welfare.

This policy is the same as that of the 1950s when governments did not realise the damage they were doing to the environment through such developments. There is no excuse for this Greiner Government to continue pigheadedly with this development. Richmond on the western edge of Sydney is about to face a huge increase in population from planned development. A similar situation pertains to West Menai with its creeks that flow into the Georges River. There is considerable pressure to develop large areas at Helensburgh on the upper reaches of the pristine Port Hacking River, which flows through our most popular and oldest national park. The Opposition would like to see the four major housing estates planned for western Sydney - that is, Richmond, Rouse Hill near Blacktown, South Creek near Camden and MacArthur near Campbelltown - all scrapped until their impact on public health and the polluted Hawkesbury-Nepean rivers system is resolved. It is time for sensible forward planning. The questions I put on notice to the Minister for the Environment in November 1990 and to the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy in April 1990 concerning these development proposals remain unanswered. Also unanswered is the significant question of how the proposed Environmental Offences and Penalty Act will operate in the face of such dramatic urban expansion of greater Sydney, with an estimated additional 400,000 housing lots in the next 15 years, and a population of 4.5 million, all relying on the Hawkesbury-Nepean rivers catchment area for their drinking water.

Who will be responsible for imposing penalties for offences relating to pollution caused by increased activity in transport corridors and public utilities? Will we see a repeat of the Government's spurious psychological method that stoops to the level that now prevails in the State public service of relying on dob-ins to implement its strategies? That is not good enough. The population together with traffic congestion, air and water pollution is increasing and answers must be found before stress destroys our communities. In the Budget the Government has allocated $200,000 this year to the development of procedures for rehabilitating chemically contaminated lands under the environmentally hazardous materials legislation in
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accordance with an emerging national approach. A further $200,000 will be spent this year in administering the Unhealthy Building Lands Act. That is a joke; $400,000 would not be sufficient to clean up one of the many contaminated areas in this State. I can well imagine how this news will be accepted by people living near Lucas Heights Ansto radioactive waste burial grounds and toxic waste disposal tip, the Castlereagh toxic waste dump, the liquid aqueous waste treatment plant at Lidcombe, or any of the other contaminated areas in this State. Those people are waiting for some constructive action by the Greiner Government.

The report, which at last has been released, on the catastrophic accident in December 1989 at the Diversey plant identifies all of those problems and critical situations that I raised with the Minister in a series of questions at the time of the accident, which as yet are unanswered. On 28th October, almost two years after this critical event it was reported on the television program "Four Corners" that patients who had been referred to Westmead hospital could not be treated adequately because the nature of the chemicals was unknown. No attempt has been made to correlate the evidence from people exposed to the fallout who suffered medical problems at that time with the long-term results. The Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Further Education, Training and Employment may say that as the inquiry has been completed action will be taken to implement its recommendations, but the Budget allocation does not address these important issues. It does not address the total neglect of retrospective action to correct monumental town planning errors, which allowed the continued operation of chemical plants in residential areas. It does not address the costs of establishing a sound, reliable information system to provide promptly accurate details on the nature and storage of chemicals, or to enable appropriate immediate action to be taken in emergency and evacuation situations, or the monitoring of atmospheric and waterways pollution, industrial and citizens' protection with a clear line of responsibility that satisfies those most at risk.

Those of us who have continually raised these matters in this Chamber have been stereotyped as prophets of doom. It is a pity that the Government did not heed such prophecies because it is only by sheer good fortune that the accidents at Diversey, Boral, Port Botany and Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited have not been of Bopal proportions. Bandaid attention to inadequate legislation is superficial, time wasting and uneconomic. Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong and their environs are correctly named toxic cities. It is not appropriate to wait two years for inquiries to recommend the implementation of remedial legislation or regulations. Time has run out and priority of expenditure must be given to ensure that the 40 to 50 disasters that occurred in the past 12 months will never be repeated. It is easy to make local government the scapegoat and remove its planning powers, but honourable members know that the decisions of Botany council and Sutherland council to protect residents from further disasters on Botany Bay and at Lucas Heights have been overruled by this Government. Representatives of local government did not sit for nine months on the Boral inquiry. Safety standards outdated by 20 years - such as those at the Boral liquefied petroleum gas plant - did not fall into their line of responsibility.

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Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited was quick to feed the media the story that a chemical leak into the Hunter River occurred on a strike day. Regardless of whether it is a strike day or a weekend, there should always be security and supervision of such industries at all times. It is no wonder that workers are fearful of the current Industrial Relations Bill. That legislation will prevent them from taking the only action left to protect the public and their fellow workers. The spill which occurred on 23rd October at Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited because of a corroded pipeline was obviously the product of neglected maintenance over a long period of time. Some five days after the spill into the water table, and subsequently into the river, some concerns were expressed. That is not good enough. The relentless onslaught by the Greiner Government on the public sector and the work force generally would be better directed to increasing the strengths of the industrial relations, health and planning departments rather than diminishing them.

We are witnessing the folly of political principles that deprive the people of New South Wales of the professional expertise required to remedy such situations, which are exacerbated by remote management moguls, selected to rationalise government instrumentalities solely on financial grounds. There is no rationality in self-regulation. There is no cost benefit in accepting fines for serious misdemeanours by industry while allowing their continued operation in locations which endanger human life, seriously pollute our rivers, streams and harbours and ports and emit toxic and radioactive chemicals into the atmosphere. There is no rationality in the modes of transport which carry these chemicals on highways throughout New South Wales. Closer to the heart of the central Sydney district was perhaps the worst industrial spill incident, with the greatest potential for disaster to the entire city of Sydney yet encountered. I refer to the incident in Port Botany, where tonnes of flammable gaseous material covering an area of one kilometre in the bay were spilled.

The incident highlighted the anomalies that exist in the prosecution process. There is obviously no way that a third party can prosecute without ministerial approval. Even local government is unable to initiate its own prosecutions. Though it is argued that the State Pollution Control Commission should maintain exclusive control for the purpose of ensuring that prosecutions proceed and appropriate fines are imposed on and paid by offenders, on one occasion the commission gave evidence on behalf a polluter. Though the incident that occurred in the transfer of extremely hazardous gaseous material had the potential to cause enormous destruction, with disastrous ramifications for the safety of people in the region, there seems to have been no formal inquiry to assess the situation. An internal investigation of a technical nature by the Maritime Services Board does not satisfy members of the public of their future safety, nor does it give them any confidence that proper steps are being taken for their protection. The Minister must ensure that the environmental offences and penalties legislation does not become a mere revenue-enhancing mechanism. He must ensure also that he does not become the exclusive
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adjudicator between political, economic and business interests, leaving the public without rights of action or appeal in matters that threaten their very existence.

The Premier has announced with pride the success of his so-called voluntary redundancy scheme, which is supposed to cut the public sector to the extent that 12,500 jobs will be lost during the next two years. Already we have seen the results of the 1,000 jobs lost in the State Rail Authority. Rail services to country towns have been abandoned or limited to such an extent that the needs of the average commuter are not being met. At a time when attention worldwide is being given to the need to reduce pollution caused by motor vehicles and to attracting people back to the public transport system the Greiner-Murray Government pursues its relentless attack on the State rail system. Commuters in metropolitan Sydney are asking why money is being spent to build structures over station stairways when the safety of the system is being challenged by people living on the South Coast line, which requires urgent attention. Country people are asking why the Greiner-Murray Government spent a vast sum on the attractive restoration of Orange railway station while at the same time the Sydney to Orange service has been cut to one train a day. On one hand the Government claims to have an interest in employment and economic development in the city of Orange - a government department has been transferred to that rural centre - while on the other hand employment opportunities in the State Rail Authority, the Roads and Traffic Authority and in TAFE are diminishing. State government jobs introduced into the region at Orange will not compensate for the huge loss of work in Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo.


Cuts of 1.5 per cent in funding for hospitals in the western region of Sydney belie the Greiner Government's claim that the closure of public hospitals in inner Sydney and inner western Sydney is the result of the rationalisation of public health services. That serves only to further alienate and distress families, who are the victims of such short-sighted policies. Does the battler's unit, which is claimed by the Premier to have a humanitarian approach to the problems of unemployment, have any answers for the angry people of the Hunter region who saw their hospital board sacked because it would not close three hospitals that were financially supported by the public, including miners' unions, to care for the community? Has the battler's unit recommended to the Premier that cuts to public health and hospital services are completely unacceptable at a time when struggling families cannot meet the cost of private health care operators, who are being promoted and encouraged by the Government to claim the benefits of the public health system that have been developed and substantially funded by local communities? Battlers do not want second-rate health care at a time when public hospital beds and public health services are being offered to the private sector. I invite the Government to ask the people of Wilcannia or Broken Hill what they think about such a superficial view of the rationalisation of services. What private health entrepreneur will be willing to offer services to such areas? The Government just does not understand the ramifications of its financial planning. It is completely out of touch with the people.

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The loss of employment and services can be measured directly in terms of the increase in the outcomes of social deprivation such as theft, violence, family breakdown, and the loss of self-esteem. I doubt that the Premier's battler's unit is equipped to deal with the ramifications of this heartless Budget. One thing certain is that the Government is not equipped to do so, and for that the New South Wales electorate will reject it out of hand. The Greiner Government's heartlessness was typified in the sacking this year of the lower-salaried welfare workers who were employed by the Department of Housing to assess difficulties being encountered by welfare housing tenants. The Minister for Housing turns a blind eye now to the evictions of families, which occur regularly. The personal difficulties of such families are not considered. Such foolhardy economics and paltry, penny-pinching tactics have transferred the problems from one departmental responsibility to the more expensive remedial unit of community services. It is the Government that should be evicted, not the battlers. I wish to conclude by quoting Dr David Suzuki, the internationally-renowned professor of genetics at the University of British Columbia. He said:

No longer can we afford the luxury of avoiding reality: much of the planet is dying, and we are, all of us, the cause. Our explosive population growth, our voracious consumption of natural resources, our reckless polluting of the world have created an unprecedented threat to civilisation. Scientists tell us we have one decade - the next decade - to avert disaster, to salvage our children's future: that if we are to prevent massive famine, disease and war, we must radically transform society and our lives.

Dr Suzuki spoke those words in 1990. I hope that the Greiner Government will heed the warning, engage in some forward planning, and address the problem of the pollution of our water, air and land, all of which are necessary to our very survival.

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS [3.17]: Before proceeding to speak in support of the Budget I should like to welcome the new members of this House and congratulate those who have made their maiden speeches. The Hon. Patricia Forsythe, the Hon. Jan Burnswoods and the Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann all acquitted themselves well when presenting their first speeches in this illustrious Chamber. In this Budget, which has received wide acclaim, the Government is continuing its commitment to ethnic affairs and to people of non-English speaking backgrounds. In addition to continuing support for the Ethnic Affairs Commission and existing structural programs such as the ethnic affairs policy statements program - EAPS - the Government has identified specific expenditure for individual projects and aspects of existing programs that seek to ensure that the Government retains the ability to meet the needs of this large and significant group. The Ethnic Affairs Commission has a key role to play in ensuring the full participation of all persons in the social, cultural, political and economic life of the community, regardless of their cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

The Ethnic Affairs Commission, in performing that function, provides policy advice to the Government based on a program of consultation and liaison with ethnic
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communities and the community at large, and by monitoring departmental ethnic affairs policy statements. The commission also provides interpreting and translating services to the public and private sectors and to individuals, and it provides grants to ethnic community organisations for community development projects. In the 1991-92 year the Consolidated Fund budget appropriation to fund the commission's activities is $6.507 million. Additional funding amounting to $1.766 million is provided from revenues. In 1991-92, $1.22 million will be earned from user charges for interpreting and translating services, mainly for those provided to other government departments and agencies. The carry over of revenue earned from those activities in 1990-91 is $452,000 plus $94,000 from grants from other departments for specific projects. The total estimated cash expenditure for the commission in 1991-92, therefore, is $8.273 million. That figure, however, excludes $1.167 million for accrued and non-funded expenses.

By comparison in 1990-91 the Budget appropriation was $7.312 million with additional net supplementation of $263,000, a total appropriation of $7.575 million, while the commission's expenditure was $8.911 million. The difference of about $1.335 million was funded from revenues and the interpreting and translation services. Although the 1991-92 appropriation represents a reduction of $805,000 on the 1990-91 appropriation, this has little real impact on the activities of the commission. The reduction is due to a reduced allocation of $472,000 for grants to ethnic community groups, transfer of liability of $336,000 for certain costs such as superannuation, long service leave and computer loan repayments by the commission to the Crown, and a reduction in the allocation for the cost of interpreters and translators not covered by user charges of $120,000. The 1991-92 appropriation for grants to ethnic communities and organisations for welfare projects is $900,000. This year there is no allocation for cultural grants. In 1990-91 the appropriation for cultural and welfare grants was $1.366 million, which was further supplemented by $307,000. Expenditure on cultural grants was $98,000. However, after allowing for one-off and supplementary grants for previous years, the 1991-92 welfare grants program is essentially at the same level as in 1990-91.

On the credit side, it is anticipated that the reduction in the contribution towards the cost of interpreters and translators will be covered by revenue earned during the year. In addition, the 1991-92 appropriation includes provision for national wage increases of $108,000 and other cost increases of $112,000. The details of the 1991-92 Budget appropriation with estimated cash expenditures are as follows: employer-related expenses, $3.201 million, compared to $3.424 million last year; maintenance and working expenses, which cover travel, building maintenance, rentals and other running operational costs of the commission, $2.149 million, compared to $3.692 million; grants to ethnic communities for welfare projects static at $900,000, as in the previous year; the western Sydney area grants scheme, $20,000, compared to the previous allocation of $82,000, for grants for welfare projects to ethnic community organisations operating in Sydney's western area; and rental subsidies of $49,000, the same as for the previous year, to the Ethnic
Page 3711
Communities Council - a most important peak organisation that provides a forum for the articulation of ethnic community issues.

The contribution by the Government to the National Authority for the Accreditation of Translators and Interpreters is $126 million, a constant figure for this and previous years. These funds ensure that the key activities of the commission will be maintained in 1991-92. Monitoring of the departmental and agency EAPS program will remain central to ensuring that government services are accessible to people of non-English speaking background and that such services are provided equitably. During the year the Ethnic Affairs Commission plans a greater focus on the outcomes of the EAPS program, and guidelines are being developed to enhance service delivery and to tailor programs to client needs. The commission's liaison officers inform the commission and the Government about ethnic communities and the issues of concern to them. In 1991-92 they will continue to provide advice, information and consultation to ethnic organisations through visits, consultations and business seminars. Such seminars are pivotal to relating the needs of the ethnic communities to mainstream activities.

Immigration also will remain a high profile area with focus on closer co-operation between the Commonwealth and the State on immigration and settlement matters. I have had the honour of being able to represent the Premier at the meetings of immigration and ethnic affairs Ministers. The level of consciousness of the Federal Government has been enhanced and lifted with regard to exactly what the State governments, in particular New South Wales, are doing in relation to the resettlement of migrants to this State. In education the commission participates in the State Commonwealth Consultative Committee on Immigration Matters. The chairman of the commission, Mr Stepan Kerkyasharian, regularly attends meetings of officials of that committee. In education, in conjunction with the Department of School Education, the commission is planning a new antiracism initiative through the whole school project. Costs are shared between the Commonwealth and the State. In 1990-91 the commission provided $27,550 to assist the project, and a further $20,000 is scheduled for 1991-92. Other areas in which the commission will remain involved in 1991-92 include legal, health, community and welfare matters. Recognition of overseas qualifications will continue to be given high priority, as they should be. The commission will maintain its commitment to improving the operation and service delivery of the interpreting and translating service.

As greater emphasis is placed on cost recovery, the commission will need to review its cost structures and the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations. In addition, the commission will actively support the representation of people from non-English speaking backgrounds on appropriate boards and committees. A large number of specific activities and programs are carried out in all departments and agencies that address ethnic issues and assist people of non-English speaking background. If I could mention but a few, I am sure it will be informative to honourable members. The Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales has set aside $0.341 million for the implementation of ethnic affairs programs, including
Page 3712
interpreting services, ethnic affairs policy statement research, policy development, staff training and publication of multilingual pamphlets. The Motor Accidents Authority is planning a major advertising campaign to inform the general public of changes to the compulsory third party insurance scheme and changed vehicle registration procedures. The cost to assist people of non-English speaking background is estimated at $.18 million. New South Wales Lotteries is planning an expansion of its advertising campaign through the use of ethnic media and sponsorship of ethnic media programs. The amount of money involved is $0.13 million, plus $0.05 million for special promotions of such events as the Chinese New Year. The Hon. Helen Sham-Ho acknowledges the importance of that allocation. Carnivale, which I had the pleasure of launching this year on behalf of the Premier of New South Wales, will receive a $0.04 million sponsorship.

The Hon. Dr B. P. V. Pezzutti: And very worth while, too.

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: I note the comments of the Hon. Dr B. P. V. Pezzutti, who eulogises about the value of that great initiative of the Government - Carnivale. Another of the Government's front line departments, the Department of Health, has ethnic programs and initiatives that aim to address barriers that prevent the provision of a full range of culturally appropriate services to Australians of non-English speaking background. These programs are designed to bring the mainstream health services and activities of the department more into line with the needs of non-English speaking background Australians. At the time the Budget Papers were printed details of the 1991-92 budget allocations were not finalised. However, honourable members should note that the total expenditure on ethnic health issues in 1990-91 was $11.78 million. I inform honourable members that, as I understand it, the Department of Community Services will allocate $4.5 million in 1991-92 for the funding of services that target the needs of people of non-English speaking background. That will include ethnic community-welfare and family support services, supported accommodation services, home and community care for frail aged and young people with a disability, and youth projects. In addition, the Home Care Service employs more than 600 ethnic home care aides and 35 bilingual service co-ordinators. In 1990-91 the Home Care Service increased its service provision to households of non-English speaking background to 4,439 households - an increase from 8.7 per cent to 9.1 per cent of the total households serviced.

The estimated expenditure of the Department of Housing for 1991-92 is $0.481 million, comprising $0.25 million for interpreter services and $0.276 million for staff of the multicultural unit, plus Arabic, Vietnamese and Spanish positions, and payments through the community language allowance scheme to 76 staff covering 19 languages. The Skillmax program, which has been allocated $1.595 million, addresses the problems of skills wastage among migrants of any background other than English. That initiative was undertaken some years ago by the Government and has proved to be a most successful move to assist people of non-English speaking background. It targets migrants with overseas qualifications and experience and
Page 3713
provides English language courses to assist them to gain access to the local work force at levels commensurate with their skills and experience.

The Hon. Dr B. P. V. Pezzutti: How much was involved?

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: The amount of money involved was $1.595 million.

The Hon. Dr B. P. V. Pezzutti: That is respectable.

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: Yes. In 1991-92 the program will mount approximately 110 courses, which will provide for 1,450 students.

The Hon. Dr B. P. V. Pezzutti: It is good value for money.

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: Yes, it is indeed.

The Hon. Dr B. P. V. Pezzutti: It will provide a dividend every year thereafter.

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: I hope so. The New South Wales Adult Migrant English Service will receive further funding in 1991-92 under the Start to Life initiative to mount programs for young people with non-English speaking backgrounds. Expenditure for 1990-91 was $0.319 million. The Migrant Employment and Qualifications Board was established to address issues relating to migrant employment and the recognition of qualifications obtained overseas. The Government has provided $2.4 million for programs funded under the Skilful Strategy to assist migrant skills recognition, bridging training and employment. The New South Wales Department of Corrective Services estimates that $0.332 million will be spent on programs and initiatives for 1991-92 to provide for people with non-English speaking backgrounds. Honourable members would be interested to note that in the Police Service the inaugural Sir Maurice Byers fellowship was awarded to a criminologist and University of New South Wales lecturer, Dr Janet Chan, for her research proposal into understanding police decisions in dealing with ethnic minorities in New South Wales. The one-year fellowship is worth $50,000.

The Hon. Virginia Chadwick: That is commendable.

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: As the Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs says, that is a commendable initiative of the Greiner Government, and I am sure it will be most successful. Following the success of the civilian bilingual community liaison officers program at Cabramatta and Fairfield, two more Vietnamese speaking officers have been appointed - one at Bankstown and the other at Marrickville. The 000 emergency telephone link with the Telephone Interpreter Service was launched by the Premier at a recent function at police headquarters. I was privileged to be present at the function together with a number of other
Page 3714
parliamentary representatives and ethnic community leaders. That emergency telephone link is a vital initiative that will enable people who cannot speak well in English to convey immediately an urgent message to the police via an interpreter who is servicing the telephone link. The commissioners of police of Australasia and the southwest Pacific region have endorsed a recommendation to establish a national police ethnic advisory bureau. The interpreting and translation budget for 1991-92 is $0.26 million.


The Roads and Traffic Authority will spend an estimated $0.538 million on initiatives specifically targeting people with non-English speaking backgrounds. Of this amount $0.38 million has been allocated for advertising and major promotional activities and $0.14 million for interpreter and translation services. I am informed that the Department of School Education and Youth Affairs will provide $6.95 million to support ongoing activities in ethnic affairs. Specifically $1.1 million will be provided for the English as a second language education service, $1.9 million for the operation of the Saturday School of Community Languages, $3.9 million for the operation of 90 community language programs in schools and $0.05 million for the employment of interpreters. New initiatives in 1991-92 amount to $1.332 million. The Minister should take the appropriate credit for a number of those initiatives which include $0.06 million to support anti-racist education strategies in schools, $0.2 million for the teaching of languages in accordance with regional and community priorities, $0.175 million for the development of multilingual materials, $0.24 million for the establishment of 12 positions of community liaison officer, $0.14 million for education resource centres for the establishment of core collections of resources and support materials and $0.342 million for regional schools to support the ongoing implementation of multicultural perspectives in the curriculum.


The Office of Education and Youth Affairs has allocated grants totalling $0.402 million to fund ethnic schools. These community-based, non-profit making bodies conduct classes in community languages other than English outside school hours on a part-time basis. The Government has made a commitment to continue the present level of funding for the Start to Life initiative during 1991-92. An amount of $2.5 million has been allocated to the helping early leavers program, HELP, which is designed to provide educationally disadvantaged 15-year-old to 24-year-old young people with opportunities to gain basic literacy, numeracy and social skills. Community organisations will be funded to conduct HELP projects in their local areas. Data on the first 4,000 participants of the 6,000 enrolments thus far shows that 32 per cent were from non-English speaking backgrounds. An amount of $1.5 million is allocated to 20 circuit-breaker projects in 1991-92. That is an important program aimed at the employment of the young. The program is specifically designed to assist young people move from school to further education training and employment. The projects provide English and numeracy skills for the workplace, develop job-seeking skills, provide industry visits and placements and address self-esteem issues that are barriers to employment.

Page 3715
I wish to say a few words about the budget allocation to the arts and to highlight the increase in the overall budget for arts grants funded through the cultural arts program. This year's allocation will be $9.8 million, an increase from $9.3 million in 1990-91. That increase has occurred in a difficult economic climate. Most honourable members would know that the total amount of funding for the arts for 1991-92 is $136.49 million, whereas last year's total budget for the arts was $140.79 million. Recurrent funding for 1991-92 will be $113.4 million compared with the previous year's figure of $119.5 million. Honourable members will know that during this difficult financial year New South Wales will spend more per head on the recurrent costs of cultural activities - that is, $19.29 - more than the Commonwealth's allocation of $15.34 per head or the Victorian allocation of $16.78 per head. We should be proud that in this difficult economic climate we are still able to sustain the quality of life in terms of the arts by providing a level of funding that exceeds that of our Federal brethren and, indeed, the $16.78 per head allocation of the Victorian Government. Recently other States have announced their arts budgets, and the Minister has already indicated that the Victorian budget is $116 million. South Australia has allocated a somewhat smaller sum of $66.8 million, Queensland has allocated $64.4 million and Western Australia $50 million. Without going into great detail, I should like to mention some of the specific highlights of the arts budget for this State. I have mentioned already the cultural grants program and I should like to mention also the increase in the Government's funding of library grants from $14.14 million to $15.17 million.

The Hon. Dr B. P. V. Pezzutti: That is good. That is a commitment, is it not?

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: I note the comment of the Hon. Dr B. P. V. Pezzutti that it is a commitment. The State Library of New South Wales does a tremendous job in providing library services throughout New South Wales. The reality is that library services in many country towns enhance the cohesion of the social fabric in those towns, hamlets or villages where there are few other arts facilities. Furthermore, Australians have a great capacity for using libraries and reading, and it is terribly important that maximum funding is maintained in that area.

The Hon. R. D. Dyer: Australia has a very literate population.

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: It has indeed. That funding represents an increase of 25 per cent on the 1988 level.

The Hon. J. H. Jobling: Very good.

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: Yes. Spending has increased from $12.1 million in 1988 to $15.1 million this year. The Minister pointed out that the funding average jumped from $2.13 to $2.63 per head. Another initiative is indexation of the endowment to the Sydney Opera House. That endowment has been increased from $12.48 million to $12.6 million, in recognition of the pivotal focus of the
Page 3716
Sydney Opera House to the Sydney Olympic bid. The Government continues to honour its commitment to the maintenance of the Sydney Opera House, and this financial year $13.2 million will be provided as part of the 10-year program of maintenance. This financial year $4 million will also be provided for the commencement of repair work to the substructure of the wharf at Pier 4/5, Walsh Bay. Funding over five years for maintenance of the State's landmark cultural institutions - the State Library, the Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of New South Wales - has increased from $17 million to $26.7 million. I think honourable members would agree that that is money well spent. Many members present have enjoyed the facilities of those cultural flagships. I noted the presence of the Hon. J. H. Jobling at an important celebration relating to the Guggenheim exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.


The Hon. R. D. Dyer: It is very worrying that the museum is starting to charge an admission fee, is it not?


The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: That is part of an international trend. It is pleasing to confirm that the Government is continuing to support the New South Wales Film and Television Office. There had been suggestions that the Government was moving away from providing such support. Honourable members will recall that one of the first initiatives of the Government was to close down the Film Corporation and not direct so much in taxpayers' funds to film production. The Film and Television Office continues to do a very good job to the satisfaction of those interested in the arts. There has been much comment in the budget debate about the harshness confronting taxpayers in the present economic climate. Honourable members have pointed to various cuts that have been necessary to achieve a more sustainable budget. So I am pleased that in quality of life matters, in spite of the difficult climate, the Government has fostered a burgeoning renaissance in the arts and provided a better quality of life for the people of New South Wales.


The Hon. Virginia Chadwick: And attractive things like the Guggenheim exhibition.


The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: Indeed. Other initiatives currently before the Government I believe will endear the Government to the people. The provision of a second major gallery is under way. On 11th November the Premier of New South Wales, the Hon. Nick Greiner, will open the Museum of Contemporary Art in the Maritime Services Board building in George Street. The site is owned by the people of New South Wales and will be leased to the museum in fulfilment of the objects of the Dr John Power bequest. He was the grandson - on the maternal line - of Wardell, the architect for St Mary's Cathedral. Some 30 years after his important bequest we are able to announce the opening of the Museum of Contemporary Art. It will contain works from around the world in addition to those of Dr John Power.

Page 3717
The Hon. J. H. Jobling: It will fill a void now present with the other galleries.

The Hon. J. M. SAMIOS: Yes. That site will supplement the quality of life venues in that heritage area of Australia. It is another initiative in the sacred site of The Rocks. Moving from the Art Gallery to the Sydney Opera House one comes to the Sydney Theatre. Diagonally across is the Maritime Services Board building and around the point is Sydney Wharf, where splendid theatre can be enjoyed. There is a consortium of cultural flagships which provide excellence in the arts to the benefit of the people of New South Wales. I pay tribute to the Attorney General, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister for Arts for his bold initiative in deciding, together with the Premier and the Government of New South Wales, to make the Maritime Services Board building at The Rocks available for such a purpose. In closing, I congratulate the Government on presenting a very balanced budget which will greatly enhance the economic position of this state.

The Hon. R. D. DYER [3.58]: I participate on behalf of the Opposition in this budget estimates debate for 1991-92, which succeeds the financial year 1990-91.

The Hon. D. F. Moppett: An illuminating deduction.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: It is the only remark that I have sufficient time to make. However, I assure the honourable member I shall have more to say a little later.

The Hon. M. R. Egan: Will it be a better or worse year from a financial point of view?

The Hon. R. D. DYER: Unquestionably it will be a much worse financial year.

[Interruption]

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. R. D. Dyer has the call.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: One could well say that this might well be the last budget the Greiner Government will bring down.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Pursuant to sessional orders, business is interrupted for the taking of questions.



Page 3718
The Hon. M. R. EGAN: My question is directed to the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy and concerns the sale by his department of three properties at Blackwattle Bay, a matter I raised with the Minister yesterday. Has the Minister yet received the report which yesterday he said was being compiled for him? Is he yet in a position to advise the House on those issues?

The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER: The answer is no.


The Hon. M. R. EGAN: I ask the Minister a supplementary question. When will the Minister be in a position to advise the House and why is he not now in that position, given the fact that this matter was first brought to the attention of the public in the media on Sunday and I raised the matter also yesterday?

The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER: I have ordered a full investigation of this matter and when I am in a position to advise the honourable member I will do so.


The Hon. D. J. GAY: My question is directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Vice-President of the Executive Council. Yesterday in this House did the Hon. R. S. L. Jones ask the Minister a question about the Emerald Beach ocean outfall in which he said that an injunction had been issued in relation to building the outfall? Will the Minister say whether or not that is true?

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: Unfortunately what the honourable member suggests in his question is entirely true. Yesterday the Hon. R. S. L. Jones did ask questions on this subject. In one of his questions he asked:

As the matter is now before the Land and Environment Court an injunction has been issued in relation to the building of this ocean outfall will the Minister now negotiate with the police so as to not prevent residents boycotting what is an illegal operation?

They were his exact words. The Hon. R. S. L. Jones is quite wrong. No such injunction has been issued and it is quite plain that the honourable member has misled the House on this most important matter. The Hon. R. S. L. Jones cannot claim that his misleading of the House was merely a slip of the tongue, that he meant to say that an injunction had been "sought" and not "issued". In the latter part of his question obviously he believed that an injunction was in force when he said, again incorrectly, that the construction work there is illegal. When I was replying
Page 3719
to the honourable member's question, the Hon. Elisabeth Kirkby interjected and said, "the Land and Environment Court has made a decision. Surely that is good enough". The Hon. Elisabeth Kirkby, also, was quite wrong. No such decision has been made.

It is worth noting that shortly before the House rose yesterday the Hon. R. S. L. Jones acknowledged that he misled the House during question time when he said in the adjournment debate, "accordingly the Coffs Harbour environment centre is taking council to the Land and Environment Court this week". Yesterday afternoon the Hon. R. S. L. Jones said that an injunction had been issued - which was wrong - and later he admitted that he got it wrong when he said that the matter is to go to court this week. If I or any other Minister, shadow minister or any other responsible member made an inaccurate statement on such a significant matter and did not acknowledge our mistake and correct it, we would receive the wrath of the House, and properly so. Why does the Hon. R. S. L. Jones believe that he can get away with his mistakes? Does he think because he is well known for making wild and inaccurate statements that people have decided there is no point in taking him seriously? It may well be true that some honourable members and the public do have that view of him. Personally I do not. When the Australian Democrats come into this House and make statements they must take the same care to be accurate as any other member. When they make inaccurate statements they must acknowledge their mistakes. If they have been genuine mistakes, I am confident they will be forgiven. After all, all of us can and do make genuine mistakes. However, the Hon. R. S. L. Jones cannot trade on his position in a minority party and a reputation for making outlandish statements as some guarantee that he can get away with saying anything in this House.


The Hon. B. H. VAUGHAN: I direct my question without notice to the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy. Will the Minister confirm that the Liddell State Colliery sale has now been completed? What was the purchase price? On sale did the purchaser, Cumnock Coal, assume the mine's debt or did the State of New South Wales assume that debt?

The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER: The sale of the Liddell State Colliery is now complete, despite the continuing negativity of the mining union leaders, who are apparently more concerned with protecting their power base than protecting the jobs of their members and certainly the long-term interests of their members. Honourable members will be aware that on 11th July I announced that Cumnock Coal had been selected as the preferred tenderer for the sale of the mine. This decision was conditional on the outcome of litigation to prevent the sale, which had been launched by the mining unions. The Supreme Court rejected the union's action and formal arrangements to complete the sale are proceeding. However, delays did occur as a
Page 3720
direct result of two strikes: a one-day strike on 14th August and a second strike that ran from 5th September to 30th September.
On 25th September the Coal Industry Tribunal heard an application from the United Mineworkers Federation of Australia to vary the mining awards to provide payment of severance pay and retrenchment pay to employees, whether they continued working with Cumnock or not. The Electricity Commission naturally opposed this attempted variation and the tribunal subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely, after determining that the employees should resume work in accordance with their award. A fall on the long Longwall face immediately prior to the three-week stoppage has been stabilised and the face is now in a satisfactory condition. Elcom also worked to remedy a pre-existing heat problem in the mine, which was exacerbated by a fall during the stoppage, which blocked the main conveyer. The best interests of everyone, including the workers, has been served by the orderly completion of the sale. Obviously if Opposition members have any influence in the matter they should urge the unions to work constructively with the new owners. My understanding is that since the sale was completed the workers at the mine are working productively and I hope that this continues in the best interests of the workers and the new owners.


The Hon. B. H. VAUGHAN: I ask the Minister a supplementary question? On sale did the purchaser, Cumnock Coal, assume the mine's debt or did the State of New South Wales assume the debt?

The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER: I am not prepared at this time to release commercial negotiations that have occurred between Elcom and the new owners of the mine.


The Hon. R. S. L. JONES: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy. When the Minister used his powers under section 101 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act to approve the Sahben development on portions 312, 302 and 194 next to Cudgen Creek, south of Kingscliffe, what conditions were attached by him as the consent authority to protect State Environmental Planning Policy 14, wetland No. 44 and nearby wetland not yet covered by State Environmental Planning Policy 14? Will the Minister assure the House that State Environmental Planning Policy 14 wetland No. 44 and Cudgen Creek will not be damaged by this very significant development?

The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER: Depending on the week, I sign from 20 to 80 local environmental plans.


Page 3721
The Hon. R. S. L. Jones: Carelessly?
The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER: Certainly not. The honourable member should know that I take great care in signing the LEPs that I choose to sign. Many that are not signed are returned to the department or the council for further consideration.

[Interruption]

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Minister will address the Chair.

The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER: I will take the honourable member's question on notice and provide him with an answer in due course.


The Hon. R. S. L. JONES: I ask the Minister a supplementary question. Is the Minister telling the House that he has no recollection of having signed this particular document and has no idea whether or not what I have suggested is accurate, except for what he has said on the subject?

The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER: No.


The Hon. D. F. MOPPETT: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Vice-President of the Executive Council. Did the honourable member for Smithfield make a series of derogatory statements about the Police-Citizens Youth Club Movement in another place last week? Will the Minister advise the House whether there was any truth in these attacks?

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: Unfortunately it is true that the member for Smithfield in another place, when defending a constituent who is at present the subject of an investigation, made some highly derogatory remarks about the police-citizens youth club movement generally. It is extremely unfortunate that the member for Smithfield made these damaging allegations without even bothering to check whether they were fact. He merely adopted a series of unsupported vitriolic assertions made against the movement by his constituent. Though I acknowledge that Mr Scully is a very new member of Parliament, common sense and fair play should have led him to at least try to check the allegations with some responsible source rather than his merely accepting the unsupported word of an obviously disgruntled officer of the movement and then using parliamentary privilege to attack the movement. I shall not canvass the rights and wrongs of the particular matter, which is the subject of the investigation involving Mr Scully's constituent, but I cannot allow to pass some of the broad issues that were raised in another place by Mr Scully. Among other things, Mr Scully claimed that his constituent was being
Page 3722
discriminated against because of his ethnic extraction. I am advised by Chief Superintendent Carter, the branch commander, that nine of the 18 persons employed at the federation's head office are not Australian born and that their backgrounds are well known. If any further evidence is needed to demonstrate the movement's dedication to equal employment opportunities principles, it should be noted that the Police Service equal employment opportunity management plan sets the federation's female target at five and at present the movement has 18 female police officers, 15 of whom were recruited in the past 18 months.

The honourable member for Smithfield also supported his constituent's charge that the movement is run by a clique, the members of which, in Mr Scully's words, "seem to stay in the system year after year and look after each other and expel those who are regarded as outsiders". I advise the House that there is no such clique of mates pushing out others. None of the officers in metropolitan clubs of the federation are employed in the positions they held in August 1988. In addition, 45 police have been transferred from the federation to other duties, replaced by police officers who have no previous federation experience or alignments. Regular rotation of police personnel takes place to prevent the establishment of cliques and to enhance job satisfaction. In fact, the ministerial advisory committee that I appointed to overhaul the movement recommended that operational police from the federation rotate into other operational arms of the Police Service. Mr Scully also alleged that almost all senior and middle-rank officers use club vehicles for their own use. Chief Superintendent Carter has advised me that this is not so. The board of directors of the federation has approved the private use of vehicles for some head office personnel, but at the branch level the use of federation vehicles for private use is prohibited except in special circumstances.

Mr Scully then proceeded to launch a comprehensive attack on Chief Superintendent Carter. He accused him of a variety of rorts, including public relations jaunts, long lunches, and taking police officers around with federation money. This pretty contemptible stuff. The movement has 52 branches throughout the State. Until this Government came to office and brought the movement into the twentieth century it was in a fairly moribund state. Chief Superintendent Carter, through his vigorous approach to his job, has done fantastic work in revitalising the movement. He does not deserve this type of completely unjustified attack, which is based on the unsupported word of a disgruntled officer. Mr Scully should learn from his mistakes. I hope that he is big enough to apologise to Chief Superintendent Carter without delay, and that in future he uses better judgment before launching into attacks upon those who cannot defend themselves in this Parliament.


Reverend the Hon. F. J. NILE: I ask the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Vice-President of the Executive Council a question without notice. Is it a fact there is widespread concern in the New South Wales Police
Page 3723
Service about the heavy-handed activities of the internal police security unit, especially having regard to the recent tragic suicide of a former police prosecutor? What are the plans, if any, for the future operation of the IPSU? Will it continue? Will its operations be investigated? Will the Minister introduce a new code of conduct for investigators?

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: I do not agree that there is widespread concern within the Police Service about the activities of the IPSU. The IPSU was created by the previous Labor Government as a hard-hitting, proactive organisation designed to attack, and hopefully substantially eradicate, corruption in the Police Service. I can understand that some elements of the service would be extremely concerned about the activities of this unit. The police union, as an association, is completely opposed to its operation. I suppose it would be delighted to see an end to such an organisation. In the public interest it is unfortunate, in my view and in the view of the commissioner, that an internal police security unit is necessary and should continue to function. Recently, I informed the House that the incumbent commissioner has asked the service to conduct a comprehensive review of the operations of the IPSU. That matter is currently in hand. I am sure when the review is complete I will be able to burden the House with some of its findings.

I shall now deal with the more specific matters referred to by the honourable member that were reported in today's Sydney Morning Herald. They relate to the death of former Sergeant Condon. I thank Reverend the Hon. F. J. Nile for the opportunity to set the record straight. I read the article and I have received advice in relation to the matter from Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr Stirton. Given that the Coroner has yet to make a determination in the matter of the death of former Sergeant Condon I am sure honourable members will understand that I must be somewhat circumspect in what I can say to the House. From the outset I advise honourable members that contrary to the newspaper report there has not been any member of the internal police security unit removed from his post in relation to this matter. I refute that assertion. That claim is untrue and can only be seen as yet another attempt to discredit improperly a branch of the Police Service that has fought successfully to guard against corruption. It will continue to do so. For the information of honourable members, former Sergeant Condon was medically discharged from the New South Wales Police Service on 22nd March, 1990, suffering from a psychiatric disorder. Though earlier absences from duty - absences that occurred in 1987 and 1988 - had been classified by the commissioner as "work related" or "hurt on duty", his condition at the time of discharge was not regarded as being of that classification. Exercising his prerogative the former sergeant lodged an appeal against that decision to the Government and Related Employees Appeal Tribunal. On 26th August, however, his solicitors filed a notice of discontinuance in relation to those proceedings.

Be that as it may, when first advised of the appeal the commissioner in turn exercised his prerogative and elected to contest the action. Subsequently, in preparation of the defence of the matter by the Police Service, a request was made
Page 3724
by the service's legal service branch to the medical investigation unit - part of the internal police security branch - to conduct inquiries to determine the impact of the various stress factors known to be affecting the former sergeant, both work related and domestic in origin. I hasten to add that such an inquiry is a normal and reasonable response in the circumstances that prevailed. However, what might be regarded as unfortunate is the actual association of the medical investigation unit with the internal police security branch. Having regard to that association, the use of such units in inquiries of the type conducted in the Condon matter can obviously give a false impression of sinister overtones, and that is surely not the case. I have been advised by Acting Commissioner Stirton that this is an aspect for consideration in the review of the internal police security branch, which was directed by Commissioner Lauer.

As for the manner in which members of the medical investigation unit are said to have carried out their inquiries I can only say, in the first instance, that that is a matter for consideration by the Coroner. However, a copy of the letter written by the late sergeant to the Police Association of New South Wales was brought to the notice of the commissioner recently, who in turn asked Assistant Commissioner, Professional Responsibility, Mr Cole, to conduct preliminary inquiries. I am advised that is being done, and a report is to be made to the Ombudsman in terms of the Police Regulation (Allegations of Misconduct) Act. Whether that report will be accepted or whether further investigations will be required are obviously matters to be considered by the Ombudsman, Mr Landa, in the light of the determination to be made by the Coroner. However, it would be improper for me to speculate further on that aspect at this time.

Returning now to this morning's newspaper article, contrary to what has been suggested, former Sergeant Condon was not on sick report on the date of his discharge from the service. He was performing duty and in receipt of normal salary at that time. No hurt on duty payments were stopped as alleged in the newspaper. The fact of the matter is that upon being discharged - and discharged as a result of a non-work related illness - with less than the required 20 years service, Mr Condon was paid a gratuity equal to two years salary. That payment represented his full entitlement as provided by legislation. As I indicated earlier, the fact that the circumstances surrounding the untimely and tragic death of former Sergeant Condon are still before the Coroner prevents me from canvassing the matter in detail, at least at this stage. Nevertheless, I sincerely trust that the advice that I have been able to provide has been of assistance to the honourable member and to the House generally.


The Hon. R. D. DYER: I direct a question without notice to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Vice-President of the Executive Council. I preface my question by referring the Minister to the recent report of the Joint Select Committee Upon Gun Law Reform. Can the Minister indicate which main
Page 3725
recommendations of the committee have been endorsed by the Government? Will the Minister advise the House of details of the decisions taken at last week's meeting of Australian police Ministers in relation to national gun control measures? Are the decisions made by the police Ministers to be discussed at the forthcoming Special Premiers Conference and what agreement on guns does the Minister believe is likely at that conference?

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: I thank the honourable member for bringing before the House a most important matter that is and has been of enormous public interest. I can advise the House that virtually all of the recommendations of the joint select committee of the Parliament have been presented to the Cabinet by my office. I do not have the papers before me but it is my recollection that virtually all of the recommendations were adopted in principle by Cabinet. It is fair to say that one or two matters might require detailed evaluation of whether, practically, the spirit of the recommendation is capable of being implemented. The honourable member might be pleased to learn that the report essentially has been adopted by the Government. I have instructed my department to prepare the necessary regulations as a matter of urgency and to prepare a Cabinet minute covering those aspects of the recommendations that require legislation. I hope to have that Cabinet minute within days. That is a most successful outcome which I am sure the general community will recognise as an appropriate response to this significant and complex problem.

Having been armed with that support by the Cabinet, I proceeded to Canberra to the police Ministers council, where a series of recommendations were put together by Senator Tate. Essentially, those recommendations canvass many of the broad areas that had been canvassed by the select committee. It is fair to say that on the vast majority of matters the police Ministers ultimately were able to arrive at a commonality of approach on a broad spectrum of laws related to gun control. That represents an historic first. Some States of the Commonwealth literally have not burdened themselves with much gun law. At present Tasmania is virtually without gun law, and Queensland has little such law. It was most pleasing that States such as Queensland and Tasmania took what would be for those States gigantic steps in catching up with mainstream States such as Victoria and New South Wales, which are advanced -

The Hon. Ann Symonds: You were the one who had to catch up on gun law.

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: That is not true at all. I will deal with that in a moment. The police Ministers council achieved a most pleasing result. The only significant difference that existed between the States on gun law was on registration, about which Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania took a strong and sensitive view, in line with the view of the select committee in New South Wales, that registration is a waste of time, money, police resources, and achieves nothing. The public servants in those jurisdictions in the Commonwealth that have adopted registration - in particular in Victoria, which adopted registration of late - are
Page 3726
now prepared to admit that registration turned out to be a waste of money. Parliamentarians in those States, however, having committed themselves to registration, find it difficult to come back from a position already adopted. That was the only area of discord between the States. On all other matters there was significant conformity of view. Some matters of detail are now the subject of close examination by a police Ministers council, which includes a representative from each State. They are dealing with matters such as the definition of good reason so that there may be commonality on a threshold of access to particular firearms.


Commonality will be sought on the cost of licences. In New South Wales $50 is charged for a licence, in Victoria the cost is $15, though it is believed by many that the licence fee ought to be common across the country. That is something I can relate to, and that is another question that also will be examined. That council of officers, I hope, will conclude its deliberations in time to enable the Premiers Conference to endorse what the police Ministers have agreed in Melbourne. I do not have the precise detail of all the resolutions that were carried in Melbourne but I would be more than happy to make them available to all members, who ought to be apprised of them. I undertake before the day is out to have the actual resolutions that were passed in Melbourne transmitted to the office of each member.


Later,


The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: Earlier I offered to circulate to members the resolutions adopted by the Australian Police Ministers Council of 23rd October. Having thought about the matter I seek leave to have the document incorporated in Hansard.


Leave Granted. [See Addendum]


______


Addendum

AGENDA ITEM 1(A)

AUTOMATIC FIREARMS

Resolution

Council resolved to confirm the existing and longstanding prohibition on the importation and possession of fully automatic firearms other than for official purposes.

Page 3727

AGENDA ITEM 1(B)
MILITARY STYLE SEMI-AUTOMATICS

Resolution

Council resolved:

* that the existing provisions of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations be supplemented by the enactment of legislation in all jurisdictions to prohibit the sale of any firearm that is fitted with a folding or detachable stock, or that is a self-loading centre-fire rifle or carbine of a kind that is designed or adapted for military purposes or substantially duplicates those firearms; and

* that exceptions to the prohibition on imports for government or government authorised purposes be made on the basis of a Minister's certificate and that exceptions to prohibition on the sale be made on the basis of a Commissioner's certificate.

AGENDA ITEM 1(C)

SELF-LOADING CENTRE-FIRE RIFLES AND SELF-LOADING SHOTGUNS

Resolution

Council resolved:

* that the existing provisions of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations be adopted in all jurisdictions to prohibit the sale of all self-loading centre-fire rifles and self-loading shotguns which have a detachable magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds;

* that exceptions to the import prohibition for government or government authorised purposes be made on the basis of a Minister's certificate; and

* that exceptions to the prohibition on sale be made on the basis of a Commissioner's permit issued against strict criteria.

AGENDA ITEM 1(D)

HANDGUNS

Resolution

Council resolved to confirm the existing Australia-wide restriction on the importation and possession of handguns.

AGENDA ITEM 2(A)

LICENSING

Resolution

Council resolved that firearms licences:

Page 3728

* be issued only to residents of proven identity;

* be issued on the basis of appropriate qualification and training and a character check with the assistance of all jurisdictions;

* be endorsed with a description of the category of firearms(s) for which the holder is licensed;

* be issued for periods of no more than 6 years, noting that in Queensland and Tasmania a life time licence may be issued for the lowest category of firearms;

* preferably bear a photograph of the holder;

* be issued on the basis of a genuine reason for requiring a firearm including a particularly stringent test of need for the possession of handguns and centre-fire self-loading rifles and self-loading shotguns and that uniform national criteria to determine "genuine reason" be the subject of consultation out-of-session, with a view to settlement at the November meeting of Council; and

* be issued after a 28 days cooling off period.

AGENDA ITEM 2(B)

PERMIT TO PURCHASE

Resolution

No resolution passed (see resolution for item 2A - "28 day cooling off period" . . .

AGENDA ITEM 2(C)

REGISTRATION OF ALL FIREARMS

Resolution

Council resolved:

(a) to require that all firearms be registered in the licence holder's jurisdiction of residence, and that registries record the licence holder's name and address, and the serial number and type of firearms held (NSW, QLD and Tasmania dissented and indicated they would not be introducing legislation requiring registration); and

(b) to establish a national linkage of firearms registries or firearms sales records with capacity to interrogate relevant databases.

AGENDA ITEM 2(D)

AMMUNITION SALES, MAGAZINES AND SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

Resolution

Council resolved:

Page 3729

(a) to limit sales of ammunition and its components to collectors and licence holders, for the category of firearms endorsed on the licence;

(b) to ban, other than in the case of government or government authorised users, the possession and use of detachable magazines of more than 5 rounds capacity for centre-fire self-loading rifles and self-loading shot-guns; and

(c) to require the separate secure storage of firearms and ammunition and that minimum Australian standards be established.

AGENDA ITEM 2(E)

RECORDING OF SALES

Resolution

Council resolved to impose an obligation on business and private sellers and purchasers of firearms to ensure that purchasers are appropriately licensed.

AGENDA ITEM 2(F)

SUSPENSION OF LICENCES

Resolution

Council resolved:

(a) to require the suspension of relevant firearms licences, prohibit the issue or renewal of licences, and require the seizure of all firearms in the possession or control of a person against whom a protection order is in effect, or other violent offenders; and

(b) that police be granted a discretion to seize firearms temporarily where such action is warranted.

AGENDA ITEM 2(G)

RECIPROCAL RECOGNITION OF LICENCES

Resolution

Council resolved:

that, where firearms owners are travelling between jurisdictions to participate in competitions and authorised hunting, all jurisdictions will recognise on a reciprocal basis State or Territory firearms licences, and the conditions pertaining thereto, during the period of time that such licence holder is visiting another jurisdiction for the purposes of participating in a lawful competition or authorised hunting.

AGENDA ITEM 3(A)

NATIONAL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Page 3730

Resolution

Council resolved that the Commonwealth and all States and Territories would participate in a co-ordinated national public awareness campaign.

AGENDA ITEM 3(B)

AMNESTY ARRANGEMENTS

Resolution

Council resolved that all States and Territories would participate in amnesty arrangements to promote the surrender of firearms.

AGENDA ITEM 3(C)

COMPENSATION

Resolution

Council resolved that the question of uniform fees and charges for licences, and the question of possible compensation for the surrender of firearms be considered at the next meeting of Council on 22 November 1991.

AGENDA ITEM 4(A)

SALES FROM COMMONWEALTH SOURCES

Resolution

Council resolved:

* to note that the Commonwealth has banned the sale of automatic and self-loading firearms from the Small Arms Factory (SAF), Lithgow, other than to government authorities, and the domestic sale of Defence surplus self-loading firearms unless rendered irreversibly inoperable, and that the Commonwealth will now ban the private domestic sale from the SAF of components for manufacture and spare parts for these firearms, unless rendered irreversibly inoperable.

AGENDA ITEM 4(B)

DEFENCE RIFLE CLUBS

Resolution

Council resolved:

* to consider the matter further at the next meeting of APMC on 22 November 1991.

AGENDA ITEM 4(C)

MAIL AND COURIER SERVICES

Resolution

Page 3731

Council resolved:

* that it was not necessary at this time to propose bans on the carriage of firearms by mail or courier services as adequate controls will be provided by common firearms regulation in all jurisdictions.

AGENDA ITEM 5

AMENDMENT TO CUSTOMS (PROHIBITED IMPORTS) REGULATIONS - MOVIE PRODUCTIONS

Resolution

Council resolved to note the advice of the Chairman.

AGENDA ITEM 6

IMPORTATION OF DEACTIVATED FIREARMS BY COLLECTORS

Resolution

Council resolved:

* Noting the position of collectors, to consider amending the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations, to allow the importation of firearms which have been deactivated in such a manner that they cannot be reactivated.

AGENDA ITEM 7

OTHER BUSINESS

No draft resolution.

AGENDA ITEM 8

IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW ARRANGEMENTS

Resolution

Noting that each of the matters resolved at this Special Meeting are to be the subject of submission to the Special Premiers Conference in November 1991,

Council resolved:

* to recommend to Premiers that all necessary legislative and administrative change to implement these resolutions be completed by 1 July 1992.

Page 3732
The Hon. Dr B. P. V. PEZZUTTI: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Health and Community Services. Will the Minister inform the House about the operation of the Community Welfare Appeals Tribunal?

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: The Community Welfare Appeals Tribunal is important in that it can provide additional benefit to people who have problems with welfare programs that are administered by the department and can be dealt with independently rather than be a burden on a number of members. I should add that today is the first anniversary of the appointment by the Governor of the members of that tribunal. The Community Welfare Appeals Tribunal is not only able to hear matters which often involve a great deal of emotion in a relatively informal environment but it is also able to hear a wide range of appeals that were dealt with previously by the District Court or the Supreme Court or that may be taken to those courts. The tribunal hears appeals against decisions of the Director-General of the Department of Community Services and also decisions I make as Minister in relation to a number of areas. These areas are the licensing of child care arrangements, the employment of children, the care, custody and guardianship of wards or custody of affected persons detailed in section 112 of the Childrens (Care and Protection) Act, the licensing of residential and occupational centres for persons with disabilities under section 97 of the Disability Services and Guardianship Act, and also the release of adoption information.

In its first year of operation the tribunal received only 14 appeals, which related mainly to custody and guardianship matters. I am able to inform honourable members that five of those appeals were determined in favour of the department or the Minister; one resulted in the child being placed in the care of New Zealand authorities, with a view to the eventual restoration of the child to the parents; and one resulted in the restoration of the child to the care of the parent. Of the remaining seven appeals, three were withdrawn, one is yet to be determined pending the execution of a restoration plan under which the children will be restored to the parents, and three are yet to be determined. The Community Welfare Appeals Tribunal has been able to remove much of the stress from appeals from decisions not only of the department but also decisions relating to matters that I have to administer. It has been able to do that by providing a more informal environment for appeal, as opposed to the often intimidating atmosphere of a courtroom having regard to the nature of the matters that come before the tribunal. This independent forum is apparently working well, and members should advert to it.

[Interruption]

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: The Hon. Ann Symonds mentioned advertising. I can inform honourable members that when I became aware of the tribunal after taking over the ministry one of my first decisions was to require the department to endorse on every letter it sends to people where there could be an appeal to the tribunal from its decision advice that the tribunal is in existence, that there is a right of appeal to the tribunal from the decision and advice on how to pursue an appeal. I thought it was a matter of right that the public should know of
Page 3733
the review mechanisms that are in place, because the community generally is not aware of this type of tribunal.


The Hon. ELAINE NILE: Following the publication of an article in today's Sydney Morning Herald, I ask the Minister for Health and Community Services, representing the Minister for Justice, how many prisoners are supposed to be in New South Wales gaols on weekend detention? What is the percentage of prisoners turning up for weekend detention? What action will be taken to make prisoners carry out their due weekend detention?

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: I do not have complete details with me on this matter, but I remember seeing the article in the newspaper. The honourable member no doubt will recall that during a recent debate on weekend detention legislation I was able to debunk some of the myths surrounding weekend detention. Though a large number of people do not seem to report for detention, that number can be broken down into a number of categories. The categories include people who have returned to gaol after committing other offences but are still categorised in the figures as not turning up for weekend detention. I suppose such non-attendance is understandable if they are otherwise institutionalised. Other people may have been granted leave, often for domestic reasons. People who do not turn up on a particular date subsequently seek exemption. Others are being pursued by the authorities, and one might expect that they would not turn up for weekend detention. Then there are the debunkers.

The number of weekend detainees who do not turn up as a percentage of the total is quite small. Therefore, to suggest that the scheme is somehow failing because of that is not a correct representation of the position. Some time ago, from my recollection, the department was behind in issuing warrants to non-attendees. However, I understand that rapid action is being taken to issue warrants and have people who fail to attend without giving an explanation brought before the court for a review of their weekend detention order. There is no doubt that the scheme is generally proving a useful method of dealing with people who breach the laws of the land.


The Hon. A. B. MANSON: I direct my question without notice to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Vice-President of the Executive Council, representing the Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Ethnic Affairs. Why has a third Queen's Counsel been appointed to the building industry royal commission? Is it in order for Roger Gyles, Q.C., to go on a so-called fact finding mission to Japan and the United States of America? Will the credibility of the
Page 3734
commission, established to investigate rorts and rackets in the building industry, be undermined by the fact that Commissioner Gyles is going on this mission after having been paid a $1 million salary?

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: One could be excused for believing that honourable members opposite are not happy about the success of the royal commission into the building industry.

The Hon. I. M. Macdonald: It has been very successful.


The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: It is clear that it has uncovered a number of remarkable activities. I am aware, of course, that some significant investigations are being undertaken as a result of the inquiries of the royal commission. I am somewhat surprised that the Hon. A. B. Manson would use words such as so-called fact finding mission. It is clear that the Queen's Counsel is going overseas to have a careful look at the building industry in other countries, which I am sure will be of enormous benefit. The Hon. I. M. Macdonald, of course, would not have used the words so-called fact finding mission. He went on so many fact finding missions that he had to get a new American Express card. He wore the first one out through overuse.


The Hon. I. M. Macdonald: That is, unfortunately, untrue.


The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: The honourable member did not have to get a second American Express card?


The Hon. I. M. Macdonald: No. Unfortunately, I did not go on many fact finding trips.


The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: The honourable member was always well kitted out when he went overseas with his Minister. Honourable members know all about his trips overseas.


[Interruption]


The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. I. M. Macdonald is aware of my ruling about the use of first names.


The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: It is because I am so friendly that I trick him into it.


The Hon. I. M. Macdonald: The Hon. Ted Pickering.


Page 3735

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: Exactly. I am fascinated to learn from the honourable member that he has had more use from an American Express card in opposition than he had in government. I will pursue that matter with some vigour. The Opposition can be absolutely assured, and certainly the Hon. A. B. Manson can be assured, that the building industry royal commission is proceeding in an orderly fashion. It is producing excellent results and will do a great deal, in line with the industrial relations legislation passed last night in this House, to improve the efficacy of the building industry in this State.

The Hon. ELISABETH KIRKBY: I ask the Minister for Health and Community Services, representing the Minister for Housing, a question without notice. Why has New South Wales failed to take up the offer by the Commonwealth Minister for Housing to bring forward payments under the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement? Why will New South Wales not take up the offer to kick start the housing industry now instead of later when there is a greater likelihood of the Government crowding out private sector activity in housing when the economy recovers?

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: I am not aware of the failure of the State Government to take up payments that are available under the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement. The way in which my colleague the Minister for Housing has been able to develop new housing packages in order to ensure that people on low incomes are able to take up loans and purchase their own homes has been outstanding. I am aware that considerable negotiations have taken place between the State and Federal governments on housing funding. If my recollection is correct, some of the negotiations between the Premier and the Prime Minister related to the role of the States and the Commonwealth in various areas. If there is a delay in moneys being brought into the State, it may well be that that is related to those particular negotiations that seek to clarify the roles of the respective authorities in the delivery of services. As the Hon. Elisabeth Kirkby properly has pointed out, housing is an important area that has traditionally led economic recovery. Because New South Wales has led Australia in encouraging the provision of accommodation in this way, I can understand why the matter would be of concern to the Hon. Elisabeth Kirkby, and I will obtain an answer for her.


The Hon. HELEN SHAM-HO: My question is addressed to the Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs. Will the Minister advise the House whether any new Government initiatives have been taken to assist ethnic women.

The Hon. VIRGINIA CHADWICK: Most of the significant initiatives being taken to assist women of non-English speaking background are due directly to the enthusiasm, commitment and hard work of the Hon. Helen Sham-Ho. One such
Page 3736
recent initiative involved the establishment of a committee to advise the Government on issues affecting and of concern to women of non-English speaking background. The Government has broken new ground by establishing a committee of eight women of non-English speaking background whose role and responsibility will be to advise the Premier and me directly and, through us, all Ministers of the New South Wales Government about issues of particular concern to women of non-English speaking backgrounds. This is a most important committee. Speaking in my capacity as the Minister responsible for women's interests in New South Wales, I have to say that too often we have not paid particular regard of the special needs of women of non-English speaking backgrounds. Hopefully this committee will go some way towards redressing that imbalance. One of the major functions of the committee will be to engage in extensive consultation with women of non-English speaking background and, as a result of those consultations, to advise the Premier and me of matters arising therefrom. That in turn will lead to work on policy formulation as well as linking in with other government departments to implement and monitor policies in relation to women of non-English speaking background. As I have said, the committee comprises eight members. It will have its second meeting in the near future. I know honourable members will be interested in the names of the members of the committee, representing as they do a wide range of different ethnic backgrounds.

The first is Annette Rogers, who has a Dutch background. She is a counsellor working with non-English speaking women in organisations such as the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Smith Family at Parramatta as well as with family support services in Macquarie Fields. The second is Sennie Masian, who has a Filipino background. She has extensive community involvement with immigrant women's organisations, the ethnic media and community publications. The third is Teresa Croce-Benedetti, who has a Corsican-Italian background. She has extensive case work and community development experience in non-English speaking communities. The fourth is Dr Anna Vella, who has a Maltese background. She has extensive experience in women's health, a most important area, and also a great knowledge of issues affecting rural women. The fifth is Myriam Bahari, who has a Egyptian background. She has first-hand experience working with youth groups of non-English speaking backgrounds in the outer western suburbs of Sydney. The sixth is Tiang Lim, who has a Vietnamese background. She has extensive training and co-ordination experience in both education and employment. She has wide-ranging experience also with many Asian and other non-English speaking communities. The seventh is Josie Lacey, who is Jewish. She has extensive community involvement, is directly involved with the Ethnic Communities Council and is on the Jewish Board of Deputies. The eighth is Hend Saab, who has a Lebanese background and works in a welfare capacity with many community agencies and women's refuges. She is also a community language teacher. I think all honourable members will agree that that eight-person committee is composed of a group of women with a wide range of cultural backgrounds who represent women located throughout New South Wales. In conclusion I should like to say that the
Page 3737
committee is more than ably chaired by the Hon. Helen Sham-Ho, and the Government looks forward to receiving its considerations and recommendations.


The Hon. Dr MEREDITH BURGMANN: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Vice-President of the Executive Council, representing the Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Ethnic Affairs. Has the royal commission into the building industry already received a comprehensive written report on overseas practices compiled as a result of two extensive overseas trips by Professor Vernon Ireland which cost thousands of dollars? Why is a further fact-finding mission necessary, or was Professor Ireland's material found to be erroneous?

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: I am disappointed that the honourable doctor would ask such a churlish question. One gets the impression that if the Builders Labourers Federation had been invited to go on the trip, we would have heard nothing from honourable members opposite.

The Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann: The Minister knows no history at all. I opposed Gallagher, the Minister did not.

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: Settle down.

The Hon. I. M. Macdonald: The Minister will upset the Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann by saying that.

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: I realise that. That is why I said it. I am absolutely satisfied that Mr Gyles has conducted an excellent royal commission and continues to do so. I am certain that when he looks at the construction industry in places such as Japan and the United States of America, he will find things that will be of great long-term interest to New South Wales. I learned when I was involved in industry that when one travels overseas to study the experiences of foreign countries in a particular activity, be it engineering or policing or whatever, one always finds ideas worth bringing back to this country. Volunteer policing is one example. There is no point in our designing the wheel here when it has not only been designed but track tested overseas. I am sure Mr Gyles, Q.C., will bring back to this country many valuable experiences from his overseas trip which, of course, he will incorporate in his report. If I were the Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann, I would not ask a supplementary question.



Page 3738
The Hon. J. H. JOBLING: Mr President, my question without notice is directed to you. I refer to questions asked by my colleague the Hon. D. J. Gay on 21st February, 1989, 13th November, 1990, 14th November, 1990, 20th November, 1990, and 1st May, 1991, of your predecessor as President, the Hon. J. R. Johnson, and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services concerning research officers assigned to assist members of the Legislative Council being directed, or used by, or working in or for the office of the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. I refer also to the claims by Matthew Moore in the Sydney Morning Herald of Saturday, 28th September, alleging that the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council said that the five-member research team would be increased to seven and would spend much more of its time working for shadow ministers rather than tending to the needs of the members of the Legislative Council, out of whose vote it is funded. Is such a role within the guidelines and how will the research officers be funded in such a role? Further, in view of this information, Mr President, will you ascertain whether the answers given to the House by the then President, the Hon. J. R. Johnson, reflected the true situation and, if not, what was, and is now, the position relating to the employment and deployment of these Legislative Council staff?

The PRESIDENT: Order! The question is lengthy and complicated. However, the employment guidelines I have issued concerning the one on one staff currently allocated to members of the Legislative Council are specific and clear. I would expect that staff would be employed only in accordance with those guidelines. I have not had the opportunity to study the press article to which the honourable member referred. After I have done so I will give the other matters raised in the question careful consideration and answer definitively in due course.


The Hon. FRANCA ARENA: I ask the Minister for Health and Community Services whether it is a fact that the Rape Crisis Centre of New South Wales has been forced to cut its service from 24 hours a day to 13 hours a day because of the lack of funding? In view of the increase in violence against women and sexual assaults of all types, will the Minister review funding of all rape crisis centres to ensure that these much needed services are restored on a 24-hour basis?

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: I am not familiar with the position as outlined in respect of that service. Rape crisis centres are being funded by the Department of Health. A number of non-government organisations receive funding and provide an outstanding service. The honourable member can be assured that I shall look into the matter to see what can be done to expand the service and to provide funding so that such centres can operate on a 24-hour basis. The Department of Health provides 24-hour sexual assault services from hospitals, in addition to the services provided by non-government organisations. Those services
Page 3739
will continue to operate. The honourable member has raised an important issue, and I will get a response for her as quickly as possible.


The Hon. PATRICIA FORSYTHE: I direct a question to the Minister for Health and Community Services. Given the difficulty that many women face because of the lack of child care facilities, particularly workplace child care facilities, in returning to the work force with children, will the Minister inform the House whether the Government is taking any steps to remedy the position?

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: Having been a working mother, the honourable member would be interested in such programs.

The Hon. Virginia Chadwick: She still is.

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: Yes. A number of members would be similarly interested in the position.

The Hon. B. H. Vaughan: Including working fathers.

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: I was about to make that point. I am aware of the difficulty being faced by people, particularly women with children, wishing to return to the work force. The demands of modern society have made two-income families the norm rather than the exception, and 56 per cent of all families with dependent children have both parents in the work force. Twenty per cent of all women workers have children under five years. This is not to exclude the large number of single parents, male and female, who experience difficulty in participating in the work force while trying to maintain a family. With both parents in the work force, the availability of dependable child care facilities assumes a major role not only in providing proper support for the children but also in reducing the stress of concerned parents and the losses that businesses have to incur as a result sometimes of not retaining or attracting persons with much needed skills.

Honourable members will recall that it was this Government that first addressed the important issue of work-based child care shortly after coming to office. As part of the 1989-90 Budget the Minister responsible, Robert Webster, announced the $4 million innovative child care program which aimed to enhance the opportunities for women to participate in the work force. This project represents a new approach to child care that has not been explored elsewhere in Australia. The department established the joint venture with private industry project to support the development of employer child care. The primary purpose of the joint venture unit is to serve as a catalyst in setting up innovative child care projects which could be models for the creation of a more caring environment in the workplace. The
Page 3740
program will establish between three and eight demonstration projects throughout New South Wales.

An advisory committee was established to assist the successful establishment of the demonstration projects. As a result of the announcement of the program 42 inquiries were received. The department produced a brochure titled "Create a More Caring Company" and an information sheet which were widely distributed after a print campaign in March and April 1991. As part of this process the department, in co-operation with employer organisations, held information workshops. The brochure indicated points that employers must address in lodging expressions of interest for assistance under the project. The closing date for expressions of interest from employers was 30th April. A total of 14 formal expressions of interest were received. The joint venture with industry project is based upon a set of principles with regard to issues such as access, ability to demonstrate a concept, and commitment to addressing the needs of workers who must combine work and family life.

Following the closing date for expressions of interest from employers the project advisory committee considered the proposals received and recommended that 10 proposals be further considered. I am pleased to advise the House today that three companies have been selected to receive substantial assistance from the State and Federal governments to establish child care facilities as part of a pilot project under the joint venture with industry project. Bartter Enterprises of Griffith has been granted $480,000 as capital assistance for the establishment of an employer-supported 60-place long day care centre and vacation care program. This centre will be established on land to be provided by Bartter Enterprises to the project. That company is also to contribute $96,000 to the project. This centre will also provide work-based child care for other companies in the Yenda and Griffith areas. I am told that all 60 places most likely will be filled immediately. Supertex Industries of Goulburn will receive $345,000 as capital assistance for the establishment of an employer-supported 40-place long day care program.

The Hon. J. R. Johnson: That is within the Southern Highlands.

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: This centre will be established on land to be provided by the company, and the company is to contribute $20,000 to the project. There is a considerable shortage of long day care places in Goulburn. This centre will provide priority access to work-based needs as well as to the community. I am told that 30 of the 40 places will be filled immediately from within the company. It seems the Hon. J. R. Johnson is interested in the electorates in which the programs will be established. P and I Industries of Milperra will receive a capital assistance grant for the establishment of an employer supported eight place long day care centre. This is an innovative proposal as it will be located within the company's workplace at Milperra. The company will contribute to the project. I am told that three of the eight places will be filled immediately and that the
Page 3741
availability of the remaining five places would enable other single parents who want to return to the work force to do so.

The Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann: How many employees are there?

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: At Bartters there are several hundred.

The Hon. Franca Arena: And only eight places?

The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: No, there are eight places at Milperra. My recollection is that there are about 40 employees, 70 per cent of whom are women. The percentages are similar in the other areas. There are several hundred employees at Bartters and about 400 at Supertex. This project was independently analysed by a review committee. There were 14 applications. They were culled down to those that matched the criteria and were able to establish pilot programs. The establishment of the centres is intended as a demonstration to other employers to understand the potential benefits that would accrue to them if they adopted child care responsibilities. Benefits such as the possibility of introducing manufacturing shifts may result with the advent of adequate child care facilities for workers within the establishments. There will be an extensive evaluation of these demonstration models. The key rationale of the joint venture is that it will demonstrate conclusively to New South Wales employers that employer-supported child care is feasible and achievable. The evaluation process will be carried out over a two-year period and the program's directorate is currently developing evaluation criteria for the models funded under the project. I am hopeful that in the foreseeable future I will be able to announce further such projects.


Debate resumed from an earlier hour.

The Hon. R. D. DYER [5.1]: The Opposition supports the Police Service (Inspector General) Bill. This is a relatively simple piece of legislation, the object of which is to formalise the appointment of Mr Donald Keith Wilson to the position of Inspector General in the Police Service of New South Wales. Earlier this year when the Minister announced that the office of inspector general was to be established and Mr Wilson was to be appointed to that position, I asked the Minister in a question without notice whether legislation would be necessary to give effect to that office. The Minister answered in the negative. That answer still remains correct because the legislation before the House does not actually establish the office
Page 3742
of Inspector General. It merely deals with a difficulty regarding the actual appointment of Mr Wilson as Inspector General in the Police Service.

The appointment of persons to positions in the senior executive service of the Police Service is covered by the Police Service Act 1990. That statute provides for the appointment of a suitable person to a vacant position in the senior executive service of the Police Service without the vacancy being advertised, but only in circumstances where the person recommended for appointment is employed either as a police officer or an administrative officer in the Police Service. As honourable members will readily appreciate, the vacancy for that position was not advertised and Mr Wilson clearly was neither a police officer nor an administrative officer within the Police Service of New South Wales. Mr Wilson was a senior officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. An administrative difficulty needed to be dealt with in that the position was not advertised and Mr Wilson was not currently employed in either of the categories to which I referred.

Mr Wilson came to the notice of the Police Board in connection with applications made for appointment as Commissioner of Police to succeed Mr John Avery. Clearly the Police Board was impressed with Mr Wilson's background and capability. Following the appointment of the present Commissioner of Police, Mr Tony Lauer, I imagine the Police Board felt that as Mr Wilson was so outstanding he ought to be engaged to assist the Police Service in a senior capacity. The Police Board took the view that Mr Wilson would be suitable to fill the office of Inspector General of police in this State. The Opposition has confidence in Mr Wilson and believes he will serve ably and well as Inspector General of police. When the creation of the position of Inspector General was first mentioned by the Minister and the Government earlier this year, the Opposition had some misgivings as to what was contemplated, what the role of the Inspector General would be and how the role and functions of the Inspector General would dovetail in with other mechanisms and other senior officers of the Police Service.

At that stage the Opposition was uncertain as to how the Inspector General would relate to the commissioner. For that matter the Opposition was uncertain as to how the Inspector General would relate to the Police Board. In simple language it could be said that, in practice, the Inspector General will be the eyes and ears of the Police Board, which seems to me to be an appropriate way to characterise the way in which the Inspector General of police will function. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Wilson in September when both he, I and the honourable member for Cronulla, in his capacity as chairman of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption, attended a senior management forum of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Bowral. Mr Wilson is not only a very pleasant person but also a person of outstanding ability, who will serve the Police Service well.

I would add one caveat to the Opposition's attitude - not to Mr Wilson but to the creation of new structures within the Police Service. As a matter of general
Page 3743
principle the Opposition would prefer that an existing structure, office or board be made to work effectively rather than additional structures or offices created. I do not say that by way of criticism of Mr Wilson or his position. However, it is a consideration that the Opposition has in mind. There should not be an undue proliferation of new structures or new offices.

The Hon. E. P. Pickering: That is why I got rid of the Office of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - OMPES - but the honourable member disagreed.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I am trying to make a reasoned contribution to this debate and to indicate that the Opposition has a bipartisan agreement with the Minister regarding Mr Wilson's appointment. If the Minister wants to enlarge the debate into OMPES, that is another matter. The Opposition takes a different view of OMPES from the view the Minister takes. We took the view that OMPES was an independent source of advice to the Minister which could be invaluable. The Minister differs from that point of view and I understand his attitude in that regard. No matter what view might be taken of the efficacy of OMPES, as a matter of general principle the Opposition does want to make existing structures work properly and effectively before additional structures are put in place. The Inspector General of police is the eyes and ears of the Police Board. In effect he reinforces and assists the role of the Police Board. On that basis the Opposition supports the legislation. It supports the appointment of Mr Wilson as Inspector General of police within the Police Service. We wish him well in the discharge of his duties during the period of three years, from 29th July this year, to which he was appointed under this legislation.

Reverend the Hon. F. J. NILE [5.10]: I wish to put on record the support of Call to Australia for the Police Service (Inspector General) Bill. It is simple legislation but it has a significant impact on the Police Service. Mr Donald Keith Wilson, who has been appointed to the position of Inspector General of police, will, as time unfolds, perform a valuable service as an auditor, so to speak, of the activities of the Police Service, particularly its senior executive service, which is the most important part of the service in terms of the leadership it provides and the example it sets. Call to Australia commends the Government for this appointment and looks forward to productive results from the Inspector General.

The Hon. E. P. PICKERING (Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Vice-President of the Executive Council) [5.12], in reply: I thank honourable members for their contributions. I am satisfied that Inspector General Don Wilson will make a most valuable contribution to the Police Service. The Hon. R. D. Dyer was correct when he said that the role of Inspector General will continue to enhance the effectiveness of the Police Board, which has proved to be a valuable instrument in the structure of the Police Service. I acknowledge freely that when the coalition was in opposition it opposed the establishment of the Police Board. I acknowledge once again that we were wrong. Similarly, I am sure the Hon. R. D. Dyer will one
Page 3744
day stand in this Chamber and concede graciously that my disbanding of OMPES was equally justified. The legislation is administrative and procedural. I thank honourable members for their assistance in allowing the legislation to pass through this House. I commend the bill.

Motion agreed to.

Bill read a second time and passed through remaining stages.


Bill received and read a first time.

Suspension of certain standing orders agreed to.

Debate resumed from an earlier hour.

The Hon. R. D. DYER [5.18]: Immediately prior to question time I was able to make some well-chosen but brief remarks to introduce what I have to say about the budget estimates debate. I said that this may well be the last budget delivered by the Greiner Government. That comment met with a degree of disapproval from members on the Government side of the House. I approach this budget estimates debate with a slight sense of deja vu. I recall that last year, when I was speaking in the budget estimates debate, I commenced my remarks by holding aloft the document entitled "1990-91 NSW Budget Summary - A Triple-A State". One only has to leaf through the document to see that the legend "A Triple-A State" is emblazoned on every page. It appears on the cover and even on otherwise blank pages. I exhibit to the Leader of the House page 22, which has nothing on it but the legend and symbol "A Triple-A State". I notice to my surprise and consternation that this year the Greiner Government has not been moved to such enthusiasm by emblazoning "A triple-A State" across the Budget Papers. That might have had something to do with Moody's this week announcing that New South Wales has been placed on credit watch with a view to a possible downgrading of that rating.

The Hon. D. J. Gay: What was the reason - financial mismanagement or the instability caused by Labor?

The Hon. R. D. DYER: For a number of reasons, including the financial mismanagement of the Government.


Page 3745
The Hon. D. J. Gay: Where did Moody's say that? You are deliberately misleading the House.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I am doing no such thing. I am saying that a reason for the -

The Hon. D. J. Gay: You are deliberately misleading the House.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I am not misleading the House. I am entitled to address myself to the Budget in terms that I believe to be appropriate.

The Hon. D. J. Gay: But you know they are wrong.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I do not know any such thing. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, under the Greiner Government spending has increased by 35 per cent compared with an increase in revenue of 30 per cent and a consumer price index increase of only 23 per cent. That goes centrally to the problem.

The Hon. E. P. Pickering: What is the debt?

The Hon. R. D. DYER: The real net debt of this State is now $23,373 million. I make those introductory remarks to indicate that the Greiner Government has fallen strangely silent regarding emblazoning "A triple-A State" across the Budget Papers. Last year my complaint about the triple-A rating being placed all over the documents was simply that under the former Labor Government New South Wales had a triple-A rating and that there was nothing new about that. We now find that the Greiner Government, early in its second term, narrowly achieved, has to justify the retention of the triple-A rating. Next I wish to mention the Department of Community Services. Before I commenced speaking I heard the Minister say that he hoped I had something interesting to say about police.

The Hon. D. J. Gay: It has been an interesting speech so far but hardly accurate.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: That is an area about which I have to differ with the Hon. D. J. Gay. I will not be diverted further by the honourable member but will press on with what I want to say.

Reverend the Hon. F. J. Nile: You are making a political speech.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I would hardly think, with respect to what the Reverend the Hon. F. J. Nile has said, that it is entirely unknown for a member in this Chamber to make a political speech.

The Hon. E. P. Pickering: The odd political speech or two.

Page 3746

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I would have thought that members of this House were somewhat prone, as the Minister has said, to making the odd political speech or two.

The Hon. D. J. Gay: That puts your false comments in context.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: What better occasion to make a political speech than during a budget estimates debate, which goes to the basis of the administration of the State of New South Wales. Honourable members need not wring their hands at the thought that a member might make a few political comments during a speech on the Budget. I am mortified that the Minister for Police and Emergency Services is not interested in anything I say that does not deal with police matters. But on behalf of the Opposition I have a responsibility to address my current area of responsibility - community services.
The Hon. E. P. Pickering: You were good on police matters: you really did understand that portfolio.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I thank the Minister for that remark. I must say that I enjoyed my period in the police portfolio. I look back with fondness to that interlude. That experience - who knows - might not go astray.

The Hon. E. P. Pickering: You should ask for that portfolio when Labor gets back into government.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I might well ask for it.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: Do not hold your breath.

The Hon. E. P. Pickering: Ron is young enough to see a Labor Government in another 20 years.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I think that comment is possibly the most foolhardy remark I have heard for some time. The Greiner Government is hanging on to office by the skin of its teeth. Defections are occurring in another place. Independents are shifting from side to side like shifting sands. Yet the Minister says that I am young enough to see a Labor Government come to office. Indeed I am - and I might not be very much older when that happens. Following the recent election the Greiner Government found it necessary to change yet again the name of the department. Members should recall that under the former Labor Government the department was called the Department of Youth and Community Services. The Greiner Government, on attaining office, made a great hullabaloo about changing that name to the Department of Community Services, purely because the Federal Government was said to be anti-family and not cognisant of family needs. Immediately prior to the recent State election the Greiner Government issued a list of achievements, one of them being to change the name of the department from Youth and Community Services to Family and Community Services, that is from YACS to FACS.

Page 3747

Reverend the Hon. F. J. Nile: Surely that is to be preferred?

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I agree on this occasion with Reverend the Hon. F. J. Nile. I believe it was the correct emphasis to put the word family in the title of the department. Notwithstanding that prior to the election the Government had seen fit to claim credit for that, after the election the Government, for reasons best known to it alone, chose to change the name of the department to the Department of Community Services, or DOCS. The Opposition disagrees with that decision. In retrospect, we believe it was correct to call it the Department of Family and Community Services. The other regrettable aspect is that name changing, altering letterheads, signs, and so on, is not done without cost.

The Hon. R. S. L. Jones: Millions of dollars.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: It would not cost millions of dollars. The Opposition estimates that the cost of renaming the Department of Youth and Community Services as the Department of Family and Community Services cost about $150,000. A similar cost was incurred in changing the name of the Department of Family and Community Services to the Department of Community Services. The cost of making those changes is not huge in terms of the State budget, but the aggregated costs of the two changes would be about $250,000, which could well have been spent on a better objective. Many services within the Department of Community Services could have used $250,000 - services such as for homeless children, child care, foster care and other deserving sections of disability where funding is short and demands are great. That $250,000 ought to have been spent on such worthwhile objectives. I am concerned also at the dramatic fall in the rate of child abuse notifications. That drop might indicate less child abuse is occurring in the community. But I am concerned that a degree of confusion may have been engendered in the community about where child abuse ought to be notified, and for that reason an artificial drop might have occurred in the number of notifications. In 1987-88 notifications were made about abuse to 14,689 children; in 1988-89 there were 11,745 notifications; and in 1989-90 first notifications of children being abused had dropped to 9,443.

It is deplorable that anyone has to be reported, but, regrettably, we live in a society, where that is a reality and a fact of life. I am simply saying to the House that the confusion that may have occurred by virtue of the department changing its name could have led to a decrease in the extent of notifications. That is a regrettable fact indeed, given that children who ought to be receiving protection are possibly not receiving protection. The Opposition is concerned also about the loss of a further 600 staff through the restructuring of the Department of Community Services announced in August last year. The Opposition believes that has alarming implications for all the services for which the Department of Community Services has responsibility. In the Opposition's view the Government has made hollow promises that direct services to clients would not be affected as only managerial and administrative positions have been cut.

Page 3748

Peak welfare bodies such as the National Council of Social Service and the New South Wales Council for Intellectual Disability hold contrary views and believe that client services are likely to be reduced. Once again, as was the case with the previous restructure under this Government in 1989 when 400 positions were deleted, services to disadvantaged groups in our community will be slashed. The fact remains, even if the Government can be believed when it says that only administrative positions in the main are being deleted, that direct service workers will not have that backup and will have to spend part of their time - and I concede only part of their time - doing paperwork, answering the telephone and so on. That is time that they could otherwise expend on direct care of clients, and it is regrettable that in future they will not be able to spend the whole of their time caring for the intellectually disabled.
As recently as last Friday I visited Albury with a particular view to visiting the Woodstock Centre for the Developmentally Disabled. I was most favourably impressed by the programs at that centre and the efforts being made - successful in many cases - to modify the aggressive behaviour of some clients. But it is only through the dedication and commitment of the staff that that sort of program can be successful. I regret to say that morale in that institution, and in some others throughout the State that I could name, is not what it ought to be. A prime cause for that lowering of morale is the continual restructuring and deletion of administrative positions that is occurring. I fear that this is unduly interfering with the proper administration of the Department of Community Services, and I call on the Government to halt any further restructuring of programs because enough damage has been done. In particular, I very much regret - and so does the Opposition - that the Government failed to consult the peak bodies such as the New South Wales Council for Intellectual Disability, as it promised prior to the recently announced restructuring of the department.

Undertakings have been given by previous governments, including the former Labor Government, and extending to the present Greiner Government, to the effect that consultation would occur prior to any substantial changes to developmental disability services. In particular, the Greiner Government made a commitment at the time of transfer of services from the health portfolio to the community services portfolio in 1989 that the present structure for developmental disability services would remain and that no changes would occur without consultation. Recently, the Council for Intellectual Disability condemned the Department of Community Services and the Government for failing to consult over the recent restructure of the department. Despite the fact that services for people with an intellectual disability account for the largest part of the department's budget, the restructure, in effect, relegates the services to a secondary position.

The New South Wales Council for Intellectual Disability is most angry about the restructure and is particularly concerned and angry about the failure to consult. The rhetoric of the department and the Minister claiming that changes brought about by the restructure will not have a detrimental effect on the lives of people with an intellectual disability is false. Though the Minister has stated that no direct services
Page 3749
will be cut, the impact on intellectual disability services - for example, in the eastern suburbs of Sydney - has been acute. The span of control of the new positions is unworkable, with the management of group homes being tacked on to assistant area managers' jobs. Workers in direct services roles feel that these cuts have been made with no local analysis of workers' roles. The restructure will remove from within the Department of Community Services a specialist support structure known as the developmental disability service.

The new structure as implemented by the Minister will consist of a combined service that will remove totally the specialist part of the department, making all positions above those of direct grass roots workers generalist. Management positions in the Department of Community Services have been downgraded. Whereas district managers were responsible for staff supervision and the day-to-day management of their district centre, under the new system the assistant district managers have been retitled assistant managers, community services, and will have this responsibility. The assistant managers' workload in terms of supervising staff will be dramatically increased. In district centres, where there is only one assistant district manager, he or she will be responsible for disabled clients as well as child protection and substitute care clients. These are, in truth, distinct speciality areas, and assistant managers having expertise or a background in one area - for example, in the disability area - will not necessarily have the same level of expertise in the other areas of, for example, child protection or substitute care.

Staff at the grass roots level are concerned, therefore, about the implications if their supervisor is not experienced in the field in which the staff member is working. That may, in turn, affect the level of support a person receives from his supervisor. If field staff receive inadequate support, it may affect their work with their clients. Once again, it is the end user, the recipient of services, who suffers. Anyone with common sense can foresee that if clerical administration support positions are slashed in district centres to the extent that the government proposes, field staff will be required to fill the gap, taking away some of the time, as I mentioned a short time ago, that they can spend on direct services to clients. In many cases, or even in most cases, it is true that field staff already have inappropriately high case loads. The Government's claim that there will be no closure of district centres of the department is questionable.

The Opposition has information available that suggests that though district centres will not be shut down, some will be closed to the public. For example, though staff work at the Newtown district centre it will be closed to the public. The public's access to the department's services will be further reduced. That is worrying because district centres provide services to clients in a number of areas of direct public interest and use. For example, district centres provide services for disabled people and their families; protection of children; emergency assistance to families; support for families in crisis; support, monitoring and placement of State wards; payment and support of foster parents; spectacles to pensioners; and placement and follow-up of homeless young people. Honourable members will
Page 3750
appreciate that that is a wide range of activity and it is a matter of concern if other district offices are to close or if district offices are to remain open for limited purposes but nonetheless remain closed to direct public access.

I should like to say something about substitute care, an important area of the department's activities. Although I commend the department's and the Minister's policy of giving priority to foster care placement, as distinct from the institutional care of children, the support and in some instances the payment of foster parents has been drastically reduced. How can the Government in what is obviously a time of recession expect to increase its pool of foster parents with such little incentive? Some weeks ago in this House I referred to the case of Mrs Judith Kerrigan of Casula who is a foster carer of pre-adoptive babies. She has been engaged in that activity for about 25 to 30 years. She is performing a magnificent public service by caring for very young babies prior to their adoption placement. Notwithstanding the fact that she has devoted herself to that activity for such a lengthy period of time, she and others in similar positions have had their foster payment allowances reduced from $90 a week to a little over $60 a week. She has the right to vouch for individual payments but it will be understood that the last thing a person in that position has the time to do is become a mini accountant running around with vouchers claiming for individual cost items.

When one realises that the substitute care budget of the department for the past financial year was underspent, one wonders at the penny-pinching or cent-pinching motivation of the Minister and the Government in reducing such a trivial payment to save a few dollars. That is so particularly when one considers that these days adoptions are very uncommon and that the last year for which figures were available there were less than 100 adoptions in the whole State. I am not talking about megadollars; I am talking about a very small sum of money. Notwithstanding that, the Government has found the reduction of some foster care payments justifiable. The Government needs to do the opposite. On a bipartisan basis the Opposition agrees that the Government should seek to promote foster care rather than institutional care, but that will not work successfully unless foster parents have an incentive to foster children. Foster care will not work effectively, particularly if there is insufficient support for foster carers of difficult children, and some foster children are difficult to care for because of trauma they have suffered earlier in their lives.

The winding down of the Government's special residential facilities for children mirrors the fact that the Government has little commitment to State wards who are too emotionally disturbed to be placed in foster care. Institutional care for children has a residual role to play. Foster care is not the entire or only answer. The Government's counter-argument regarding institutional care is that it will contract out some institutional care to the non-government sector. The Opposition has grave concerns for those children who do not meet the criteria of the different agencies in the non-government sector. For example, the Children's Court makes a child a ward of the State only as a last resort, and it should be a last resort. Surely
Page 3751
the Government has the responsibility to ensure that these children who have already experienced trauma in their lives are provided with adequate care and an opportunity to develop lasting relationships. The Government appears to be turning its back on children who require short-term crisis placement. Such placements are required either because parents need respite care and request assistance or if it is not safe for the child to remain in the family home. These children sometimes need immediate care, be it at 2 a.m., 9 p.m. or any other hour of the day or night any day of the week.

The limited resources available to the child protection and family crisis service, the department's after hours service, are to be reduced. Only a small number of foster parents are willing to care for children after hours, and they are not always available. Often the service has to rely on departmental residential facilities to care for children, especially if more than two siblings require placement. However, under the recently announced restructure, residential facilities such as Montrose and Brougham will be closed. Although the Opposition supports the Government's attempts to maximise foster placements, we do not believe they are appropriate in every case. We say deliberately and sincerely that there is a residual role for some residential care.

I turn to the details of the organisation of the department. The seven regions in the State have been reduced to what are now called four divisions. Given the present poor level of planning, the effects of planning at the local, regional and central levels are particularly unclear. A reduction in resources will no doubt lead to further deterioration. The four divisions to which I have referred have been divided into 20 areas. The number of community program officers, commonly known as CPOs, has been reduced. In the new area offices, the CPO will be responsible for the funding, monitoring and support of 50 organisations. Each of these officers, who are at grade 4 to grade 7 levels, will be responsible for about $2.5 million worth of grants to community organisations. This is happening in a climate where the members of the National Council of Social Service complain already of lack of responsiveness from overworked community program officers. I add that the new CPOs will be generalists responsible for project funding and support for programs as diverse as home and community care, the support and accommodation assistance program and children's services.

Those comments bring me to the Home Care Service, in which there appears to have been a major upheaval. Home care basically involves paid staff entering a person's home and helping with daily household tasks or what is commonly called personal care such as the showering, bathing, dressing and so forth of an aged or disabled person. That is a valuable service indeed. It is valuable not only to the person to whom the service is delivered, but also to the State in that it keeps people out of institutional care - whether in nursing homes, aged care services, or hospitals - where the cost is obviously much greater.


Page 3752
The cost of the service to the recipient of the home care service has in the past been calculated according to the person's ability to pay. However, under this Government the practice has been changed: people already being serviced by home care are now being told they are no longer eligible for home care. Clients are given a list of people who have previously worked for home care and are told that they are available at a cost of $10 an hour. People with disabilities and some age pensioners are very anxious about what their future holds in regard to home care. It appears to the Opposition that the Government is moving to a brokerage system involving the privatisation of services of the department without any prior public debate. As with the matter I referred to at the beginning of my remarks, the Government promised to consult community groups on the pros and cons of the different brokerage models but to date this has failed to happen. The brokerage model of privatisation of services, if this is what the Government is going to move to, is diametrically opposed to the understanding of brokerage as a process of matching services to an individual's needs, which is the generally understood model - certainly for community workers.

The matching of services to individuals needs would not replace the need for funding services. In the Greiner Government's July economic statement funding for area assistance schemes was suspended but three weeks later funding was allegedly fully restored following what almost might be called a violent upsurge of community concern against the Government's decision. Under the area assistance scheme community groups are provided with what could be described as seed money to begin worthwhile projects which can subsequently be picked up on a permanent basis by relevant departments. According to a departmental briefing paper issued to members of the area assistance scheme funding committee in western Sydney the pickup supplementary funding is to cease.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: That is not true.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: That is the understanding of those people.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: Their understanding is incorrect, largely fuelled by people such as you who go around misleading them. Do you have evidence?

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I do not need the Minister to tell me what my duty as a member of Parliament is. It is a duty to raise matters of concern in the community. If the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy finds himself in Opposition, as he undoubtedly will in the near future, he will have to raise matters on behalf of groups in the community.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: But do not tell them fibs.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I am not telling a fib; I am relaying to the House concerns that are held in the community. My duty is to obtain answers. The Minister is giving a response.


Page 3753
The Hon. R. J. Webster: You can now relay back to them that you were misleading them.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I cannot relay any such thing. I can relay that I raised their concern in the House and that a particular response was given by the Minister. There is nothing wrong with my raising the matter and there is nothing wrong with the Minister's response.

The Hon. J. H. Jobling: That is a Freudian slip, is it not?

The Hon. R. D. DYER: No, it is not a Freudian slip.

The Hon. J. H. Jobling: You are saying he is right.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I am saying that there is nothing wrong with the Minister giving an assurance in the House to a concern raised by me. Surely that ought to be self-evident. The Minister has allayed my concern to some extent regarding the area assistance scheme. However, I maintain some concern regarding the housing estate workers program. Housing estate workers were to have lost their funding at the end of September this year. The fall-back position of the Government following another outcry in the community is that the housing estate workers program will be funded by the Department of Housing until the end of this current financial year. The Opposition believes that this has a hollow ring. Though it is a victory for the hundreds of residents and workers who campaigned and rallied to save the housing estate workers program, the various projects that I am referring to will have to apply to the Department of Community Services to be brought under the community services grants program in July of 1992. There is no guarantee that the community services grants program will fund the housing estate workers program given the current cutbacks being instituted by the Greiner Government, including within the Department of Community Services.


For example, my advice is that the Riverwood community centre lost its information officer and its co-ordinator in September. Riverwood is a very large housing estate with many thousands of public housing tenants. It is penny-wise and pound-foolish to cut out such positions because workers in such an environment save a lot of social dislocation which would otherwise occur and which would lead almost inevitably to vandalism, antisocial behaviour and other things which cost the State much more than the funding of the positions. Those community workers can set up programs to make the people there a genuine community and obviate the social alienation that might otherwise occur.


Another concern the Opposition has - I have raised this in the House with the Minister for Health and Community Services - is the impact of the cost flow-on from the decision earlier this year in the social and community services employees State award by the Industrial Commission on various community services throughout the
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State which are partly funded by the Department of Community Services. The Minister responded to me that the department, by means of its counsel appearing before the Industrial Commission, warned that there would be no automatic pickup of funding. I have no doubt that the Government, by means of counsel appearing before the Industrial Commission, made a statement to that effect. However, it remains true that the Industrial Commission saw fit to make an award for community services workers under which minimum rates are obliged to be paid. To the extent that those minimum rates are greater in many cases than rates that were previously paid, grave economic strain is being placed on various community bodies such as crisis centres, women's refuges and the like, and facilities for homeless youth. Many such organisations are going to part-time operation. In the past couple of days I have been advised that a facility for youth at Marrickville is likely to close on 11th November because of funding difficulties.
If I have the opportunity this evening at the human services estimates committee, I intend to raise that concern with the Minister for Health and Community Services. Though it is legitimate for the Government to say that it told the Industrial Commission that there would not be automatic pickup of funding, the Government has to live in the real world and to realise that if these services are to continue they have to pay according to the award laid down by the Industrial Commission. Unless the position is at least reviewed and supplementary funding is made available, many services will have to move to part-time operation or cease operation entirely, which will cause even greater hardship in the community than already exists in the economic recession.

I appeal to the Minister to give some consideration on a case-by-case basis to supplementary funding as applications are made to him and not to turn a deaf ear on an across-the-board basis to those funding applications. I have a grave concern about the underspending by the Department of Community Services, across a whole range of programs, including the supported accommodation assistance program, child care services and the disabilities area. A couple of weeks ago in this House the Minister took the opportunity to criticise me severely for making what he viewed as a mistake concerning a press release I issued in regard to underspending. To the extent that I mistook the effect of a particular column, there was a mistake of degree but there was not a mistake in principle. The plain fact is - and the Minister has not seen fit to acknowledge this - there has been quite massive underspending within the Department of Community Services despite the current recession and the hardships that that is causing to the community. I see that as an appropriate matter to ask the Minister about at the estimates committee this evening. The extent to which underspending has occurred in the various programs to which I have made reference is remarkable. The Opposition has major concerns regarding the shakeup made in the department in an administrative sense.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: The Leader of the Opposition was advocating the shakeup. He wants more.


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The Hon. R. D. DYER: I am talking about cuts within the Department of Community Services and had the Minister been present in the Chamber earlier, he would have heard what I had to say in that regard.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: Where do we save the money?

The Hon. R. D. DYER: The Government could save money in getting rid of some of its spurious advertising programs. It could save money by reducing the size of the senior executive service. It could certainly have saved money at Eastern Creek - $80 million. This Government has been a profligate and wasteful Government in those respects and in others to which I can refer.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: It cost more to pay the interest on Darling Harbour than it cost for the Eastern Creek Raceway.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: The Minister should not speak about Darling Harbour. Darling Harbour is one of the best used and most popular facilities in the city of Sydney. The Premier was more than delighted, I recall because I was there, to be present when Her Majesty the Queen opened Darling Harbour. I do not recall any critical comments being made by the Premier on that occasion about Darling Harbour. I heard what the Queen said and I heard what the Premier said. I should have thought that the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy would have been quite content to adopt a bipartisan attitude to Darling Harbour. Darling Harbour is not a white elephant. It is one of the most popular facilities which attracts tourists to this State. The last thing the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy should be doing is attacking Darling Harbour. The Greiner Government has been wasting money, even last week, placing spurious advertisements of a propaganda character, costing a lot of money on such issues as clean beaches, the industrial legislation or whatever. The place to promote industrial legislation is here in this House.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: The honourable member should wash out his mouth with soap.

The Hon. R. D. DYER: I should not wash out my mouth with soap at all. This Government learns nothing. It is wasting money hand over fist and the last thing the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy should be doing is shaking his head and pontificating about Darling Harbour. The Minister and the Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith should be most upset about the waste and extravagance that occurred at Eastern Creek. On that unhappy note I conclude my remarks on the Budget Estimates.

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY [6.5]: This Budget is an indication of the abysmal track record of management over which this Government has presided. The Budget is the result of years of mismanagement by this Government, years of posturing by the Premier about his fine record at Harvard and how he had the
Page 3756
capacity to provide New South Wales with the leadership and the financial expertise to ensure brilliant leadership in New South Wales. When announcing the election, which he had to have because he had lied to the people of New South Wales about the budget surplus as opposed to the budget deficit, the Premier said:

The key issues in this, as every election, are the leadership and management. The key questions for the people of New South Wales are: is the Government doing a good job, and will it do a better job in the future.

He said further:

Quite clearly the coalition is best equipped for the task, delivering sound, economic management into the 1990s. We are seeking a clear and powerful mandate to continue the work we began in 1988, but it remains far from finished.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: And we got the mandate.

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: No you did not. Why the Premier wanted to speak about leadership and management when announcing the 1991 election in that press release was because he had been fudging the figures for some time. He proudly strutted round the State, the nation and the world, telling everyone what a great financial manager he was, but this Budget clearly demonstrates that he was not a good financial manager, that the State is in absolute chaos. I remember the budget debate of 1988 when Government members, holding their copies of the Curran report told us all about the State's debt. What is the debt now? The Hon. D. J. Gay does not want to answer because it skyrocketed under the Government's administration by $9 billion. One of the recommendations in the Curran report was to reduce the level of taxation by $300 million a year. This was hawked round New South Wales as a great achievement of the Greiner Government's good financial management. In reality there has been no tax concession or reduction of $300 million a year. Instead, the Government has introduced new taxes to the tune of about $1 billion a year. That is the Government's economic, financial record. It is a disgrace and a sham.

During the election campaign the Premier said that he saw his real success as making State economic management relevant to the people. He certainly did that because on 25th May the electorate decided that the Liberal Party-National Party Government had misled New South Wales about financial management. It had not told the truth. The Premier had to have an election before the end of the financial year because of the abysmal state of the State's finances. When the Budget was delivered such commentators as Matthew Moore said, "The words sound all right but the numbers were bad. Bad enough to have forced Greiner to an early poll". The Premier did not have the intestinal fortitude to tell the people of New South Wales precisely what the figures were. With regard to the budget deficit the Premier said on 29th April: "Nothing has changed of recent moment. The Budget will be balanced this year and the Budget will be balanced next year". We all know what an enormous lie that was.

Page 3757

The Auditor-General made some interesting comments about the Government's record of financial administration and the sale of such buildings as the McKell Building. The Government has claimed that the sale of assets is in the financial interests of the State; it is good financial management. The Auditor-General informs us that the sale of the McKell Building realised $69.8 million gross. Of course, from that figure a number of amounts have to be deducted to ascertain the real benefit of the sale to the Consolidated Fund. An amount of $15.8 million for the refurbishment of the building has to be deducted. So too should the amount of $21.3 million for the cost of internal refurbishment for the Public Works Department, the fitting out costs, and the amount of $7.3 million paid in rent. Therefore, the total benefit to the Consolidated Fund in June 1992 will be $16.9 million. What a great achievement! The Auditor-General devoted quite a deal of comment to the sale of the McKell Building. The conclusion of any sound economic manager with regard to that sale must be that it was not a good deal, and that the Government should be roundly condemned. Its performance in this regard shows what an appalling economic manager it is.

I shall now address the complements of various ministerial staffs. The Minister for the Environment has managed to increase his staff complement from 13 in the last financial year to 18 this year. The Minister for the Environment no longer has responsibility for the Sydney Water Board and the Hunter Water Board. They have passed to the Minister for Housing. Honourable members know that time and again the Minister for the Environment has been done over in Cabinet. His explanation for a staff increase of five is that he is now the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly. Two staff members provide a service to the Minister in that regard. Why has he retained the three staff members who provided him with service when he had responsibility for the water boards to which I referred.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: The Minister for the Environment is the Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly.

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: Obviously the Minister has not been listening. If he wants to interject, he should maintain a thought process for my entire speech. If he continues to interject in that way, he will have egg on his face. He will look like a mug. Last week during hearings of the estimates committees the Minister for the Environment failed to explain why he should retain the services of the three staff members who filled the requirement with regard to the Sydney and Hunter water boards. The ministerial staff for the Minister for State Development and Minister for Tourism does not get a mention in the Budget Papers. That is hardly surprising. Honourable members know full well that Michael Yabsley is the re-election unit for the Liberal Party. We all know that he has ministerial staff, but he will not say how many. His staff are employed merely to ensure that the Liberal Party is re-elected at the imminent The Entrance by-election or the general election that may supersede that by-election. Only time will tell. The ministerial staff of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services does not rate a mention either. The Minister for State
Page 3758
Development and Minister for Tourism deserves to be roundly condemned with regard to the allocations that were made last year for payroll tax rebates, assistance associated with the decentralisation of secondary industry in country areas, and the regional business development scheme. Last year that scheme was provided with $5.7 million yet it managed to spend only $1.5 million. This year it will receive $5.8 million. Last year the amount for payroll tax rebates was $3.4 million yet only $2.3 million was spent.

A general criticism of the Budget Papers is that the estimates for 1990-91 and various line items for a variety of departments have been excluded. That is particularly so with regard to matters associated with family and community services. Continually the Government issues press releases announcing large increases in expenditure for such matters as the protection of children. This is done year after year. However, because departments underspend another press release is issued the following year stating that departments have received enormous increases. The shadow minister for family and community services referred to a number of instances where that has occurred. When the shadow minister issued a press release in that regard the Minister reacted in defensive fashion to overcome the embarrassment he suffered. I shall now deal with that great success story that the Government keeps talking about: the Eastern Creek Raceway.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: The jewel in the crown of western Sydney.

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: The jewel in the crown of western Sydney? Earlier when the Minister interjected on other members he said, "You should go and see all the people at Eastern Creek". Of course there are people there. Those who do not live in the area have only to drive around it to see what an absolute charade the Government is engaged in.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: Have you been out there?

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: Indeed I have.

The Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith: Did the honourable member go on to the track itself?

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: The Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith - the former sports Minister who is now sitting on the backbenches - is getting the blame for the mess at Eastern Creek. We all know that it was not his fault.

The Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith: I have broad shoulders.

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: That is good. He now sits on the backbench. We all know that the Premier was responsible for the monumental stuff-up at Eastern Creek. The Premier is responsible for the wastage of $90 million of taxpayers' funds at Eastern Creek. Such mismanagement will lead to the downgrading of the
Page 3759
credit rating of New South Wales. The Government is responsible for that absolute disgrace through its appalling mismanagement of this State and this has lead to agencies such as Moodys reviewing the fine credit rating inherited by the Government in 1988. The Government has completely destroyed the triple-A credit rating left to it by the former Unsworth Government. If our credit rating is reviewed and downgraded by Moodys, New South Wales and the taxpayers of this State will pay dearly in reduced services. The Government has never been concerned about good management and services; it has been more interested in mismanagement, waste and looking after its mates. Eastern Creek is a classic example -

The Hon. Patricia Forsythe: It is a classic example of giving something to the people of western Sydney.

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: Government Ministers have been making statements about closing hospital beds in some areas and opening them in western Sydney. Their statements have been shown to be incorrect. The Government has given nothing to the people of western Sydney and Newcastle, who soundly rejected the Government and its administration in the recent state election on 25th May. Government members such as Neil Pickard and David Hay gave incompetent and outrageous performances that have been described by the Government as fine contributions to its administration.

The Hon. Patricia Forsythe: What about Rex Jackson?

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: The Hon. Patricia Forsythe has made a fine interjection. Labor put its crooks in gaol: the Government never has. That is the difference between the former Labor Government and the present Government. Members opposite well recall the Askin Government.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: Who was convicted?

The Hon. Patricia Forsythe: You are going back to the dark ages.

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: Members opposite do not like talking about the dark ages of a former coalition party administration.

The Hon. Dr Marlene Goldsmith: Shame. Remember Rex Jackson.

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: The Hon. Dr Marlene Goldsmith is ashamed because she knows what I am saying is true. The honourable member may mention Rex Jackson but she should remember that the answer to her question is that it is the crooks of the coalition who are not in gaol, ours have been dealt with. Eastern Creek is a fiasco. The Government, by sacking public servants and reducing services across the board, is socialising its losses. The concept of privatising gains and ensuring that any Government enterprise achieving profits is privatised is all about socialising government losses. The Government should hang its head in shame
Page 3760
over its abysmal performance in running the State of New South Wales and in particular for the Eastern Creek fiasco. The Government has boasted also about its record on achieving increases in taxes and charges with the consumer price index but the record speaks for itself. Time and again the Government, in 1988 and 1989 and 1990 and 1991, broke its pledge and commitment to keep increases in taxes and charges within the consumer price index. In 1991 the Government increased the car weight tax by an average of 7 per cent. Last year the inflation rate for New South Wales was about 4.9 per cent and will be 3.5 per cent for the coming year. The Hunter District Water Board increased its sewerage levy to $69. From this month water usage charges for Sydney residents will increase by about 9.3 per cent. Electricity bills are up by about 5.2 per cent, hospital fees have been increased by about 5.2 per cent, and public transport fares reportedly are to rise by more than 5 per cent.

The Government has not kept its commitment and promise to ensure that the battlers of New South Wales are protected and that the lifestyle of people living in areas such as western Sydney and Newcastle are maintained and enhanced. The Government has attacked ordinary living standards and wasted money on mismanagement on a grand scale to ensure that consultants are kept well fed, happy and fat. The senior executive service has been given outrageous salaries and perks which the public of New South Wales believe are a disgrace. The record of the Government is one of absolute failure. The Government has demonstrated no commitment to economic management in any sense or form but rather has indulged in reckless management which has wasted billions of dollars -

The Hon. Dr Marlene Goldsmith: What about Victoria?

The Hon. P. F. O'GRADY: During the recent election campaign the Government said that if the people voted for Labor, New South Wales would end up with a government worst than that in Victoria. Members opposite forget that taxes in New South Wales are the highest in Australia. This State will have a billion dollar deficit each year for the next three financial years. That record of the Government's fine administration should cause all members opposite to hang their heads in shame. Before the election Government members went around New South Wales claiming that the Government offered a record of financial reform but they did not mention that the same Government arrogantly has destroyed the economic base of New South Wales and ensured that the taxpayers of this State are charged far more than in any other State in Australia.

Other examples of Government waste are the ministerial fit-outs for the Minister for Police and Emergency Services on three floors of the police headquarters. The Minister took the former commissioner's office, the commissioner went to level 18 and the board went to level 19 - all at a cost of $1.9 million. That is disgraceful at a time when the Government is closing schools and hospital beds and has destroyed the technical and further education system in New South Wales. I urge the people of New South Wales to pay close attention to what is contained in
Page 3761
the Budget because they know that the Government has been peddling a pack of lies, and has misled, misrepresented and mismanaged this State.

[The President left the chair at 6.30 p.m. The House resumed at 8.32 p.m.]

The Hon. Dr MARLENE GOLDSMITH [8.32]: In this budget debate I should like first, as my colleague the Hon. J. M. Samios did earlier today, to pay tribute to the new members of the House who have spoken already. The Hon. Patricia Forsythe, the Hon. Jan Burnswoods and the Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann have contributed to the debate already, and I am delighted to welcome them to the House and congratulate them on their exemplary maiden speeches. Perhaps I should be forgiven for a slight note of female chauvinism - though not wishing to cast aspersions on my many excellent male colleagues in this House - in noting that all of the maidens so far have been of the same gender as myself. It is a healthy sign of the increase in democratisation in New South Wales, and in this House in particular as a representative House for all the people of New South Wales, including the majority, who are female. Members of the Opposition have made some interesting comments in the budget debate. Not without some surprise have I listened to some of them. At this stage it is important to go back to basics and compare New South Wales with other States, because that gives the true comparison of how well our State is doing.

A comparison of interstate budgets for 1991-92 shows that New South Wales has a growth in current outlays per capita of 5.5 per cent. The five-State average is 6.5 per cent. The growth in total outlays per capita in New South Wales is 6.3 per cent, but that does not include the sale of GIO Australia, which will result in a lower growth of total outlays and a much smaller deficit. The five-State average is 6.7 per cent. The most telling figure for comparison purposes is the budget deficit per capita. I can do no better than compare New South Wales with Victoria. The New South Wales budget deficit per capita is $187; Victoria's is $335. Victoria is the sort of disaster one gets when socialist principles are implemented without paying attention to who will pay for them, when proper accounting principles are not adhered to and proper responsibility to the people is not exercised. Those are not just my words. Economic writers have compared the budgets of New South Wales and Victoria. Glenda Korporaal in the Age of 27th September wrote a story under the headline "NSW budget enough to make Victoria see red". She went on to compare the New South Wales budget with the Victorian budget.

The Victorian figures are fairly terrifying. What is happening in that southern State is of major concern. It is a major tragedy, not just for Victoria but for Australia, because the Victorian result drags down Australia's performance. For many months the unemployment rate was kept below 10 per cent by the splendid performance of New South Wales where the employment rate was so much better than in the other States. New South Wales resisted for a long time the recession that we had to have - to quote a former Treasurer, who gave it to us after years of telling us that we were not going to have a recession - but sooner or later it had to have an
Page 3762
impact on this State. Recently that impact was felt when the national unemployment figures increased to more than 10 per cent. Honourable members who have contributed to the debate have said some interesting things about other financial matters. As I recall, it was the Hon. P. F. O'Grady who referred to government charges and the reputation of New South Wales as a high taxing State. It is interesting to compare the increase in government charges between June 1990 and June 1991. They increased in Sydney by 4.5 per cent, in Melbourne by 9 per cent, in Brisbane by 6.2 per cent, in Adelaide by 6.7 per cent, in Perth by 8.4 per cent and in Hobart by 10.6 per cent - more than double the increase in New South Wales.

I am puzzled how the Hon. P. F. O'Grady could make such sweeping statements - and they were sweeping statements. He had absolutely no facts to back them up. He made wild generalisations and assertions that the facts do not support. I was most disappointed in the honourable member. I should have thought that he would give honourable members something more than wild generalisations, but that was all he was capable of. The Hon. R. D. Dyer spoke about Moody's credit rating for New South Wales. I was interested when the Hon. P. F. O'Grady did too. They talked about the State's triple-A credit rating as though it had lost it. But New South Wales still has a triple-A credit rating that is totally unquestioned by Standard and Poors. The credit rating is being examined by Moody's because of "concern over the large degree of political uncertainty confronting the present coalition government". I read that with interest.

What was meant by the phrase "political instability"? Did it mean that New South Wales was subjected to a general strike which could do nothing but adversely affect the economic climate of the State? In other words, is New South Wales about to have its triple-A credit rating threatened because of the irresponsible actions of the Labor Council last week? On the other hand, is the political instability perhaps a reflection of members of the Labor Party proclaiming for months and months that the sky is falling because the Government does not have an absolute majority in the lower House? Of course the coalition parties received 52.5 per cent of the vote, which in any other State would have been a substantial majority of seats. What is it that Moody's is concerned about? The phrase "political instability" can ultimately mean only one thing. Moody's concern is that New South Wales might end up with a Labor government. How right is Moody's to be concerned about that! If one is talking about political instability, what worse scenario could one imagine than a Labor government in New South Wales? I am confident that by the time the triple-A credit rating is finally reviewed Moody's will have been reassured about the permanency of the Greiner Government, that it will remain in office until 1995, and as a consequence New South Wales' triple-A credit rating will be safe and secure. The threat of a Labor government will certainly not materialise.

I was surprised that the Hon. R. D. Dyer and the Hon. P. F. O'Grady raised this subject. I would not have thought that as Labor members they would want to take credit for something that reflects so badly on them. They treated the matter irresponsibly because the triple-A credit rating means a great deal to this State. For
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one thing, it means that New South Wales has one of the healthiest economies in the world. Only five States in the United States of America have a triple-A credit rating. The Australian Government, a Labor Government, does not have a triple-A credit rating, but, of course, as it is a Labor Government, one would not expect that, and that is a tragedy for Australia.

The Hon. D. J. Gay: How much extra will it cost New South Wales in interest if Labor loses us the triple-A credit rating?

The Hon. Dr MARLENE GOLDSMITH: That is a good question, how much will it cost New South Wales in interest? The most important advantage of the triple-A credit rating is the fact that New South Wales can obtain the cheapest rate of interest on its borrowings. That is enormously important for this State, and it is important that the credit rating be maintained.

The Hon. Virginia Chadwick: The present Government is still carrying the burdens of the previous Labor Government.

The Hon. Dr MARLENE GOLDSMITH: Indeed, the Government is carrying those burdens. The Government is aware of the problem it inherited in 1988 and it has performed a herculean task. The Premier and Treasurer is to be congratulated for his splendid effort in reducing the State's debt during the past three years. While I am referring to the foibles of members of the Opposition, I remind honourable members that the Hon. P. F. O'Grady referred also to Eastern Creek. When Labor members of this Parliament raise the subject of Eastern Creek I become very angry. For years and years the most deprived area in New South Wales in terms of services has been western Sydney. It has been deprived for only one reason: because the Opposition when it was in Government took that area totally for granted. It gave western Sydney nothing. It assumed that the people of western Sydney would continue to vote Labor no matter how much their area was neglected. Its roads, hospitals and services of all kinds, particularly recreation services, have been neglected. I am proud to be a member of a government that is redressing that imbalance in services and that lack of support for western Sydney.

I should like to speak in some detail about Eastern Creek because many lies are being told about that development. It is an important development for western Sydney. The Eastern Creek Raceway is only one section of the western Sydney recreation area. The Opposition tries to make it appear to the people of New South Wales as though the Eastern Creek Raceway is the whole of the western Sydney recreation area. The raceway is only a small part of it. The total recreation area is an asset valued at about $112 million and covers 500 hectares. That figure includes the almost $70 million of public investment in the raceway. The investment includes land purchases, roads and services, track and associated facilities and the grandstand. The recreation area includes the raceway, two proposed international golf courses - one private and one public - as well as additional areas for recreational use and the potential for swimming, tennis, and other activities. There is substantial industrial
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land nearby for associated motor industry development. The long-term benefits of the recreation area will be recreational, social, financial and employment opportunities.

While I am speaking about the part of the recreation area that is the Eastern Creek Raceway, I remind honourable members that in spite of all the sneering of the Opposition and its attempts to downgrade the Eastern Creek Raceway and make it and the race a failure, the grand prix brought more than $12 million to New South Wales. The Opposition did not care about the benefits to the people of western Sydney. It did not care about the grand prix being a wonderful event for western Sydney. It is about time western Sydney had some wonderful events as the majority of the people in Sydney live there. They deserve this level of recreational facilities and only the Greiner Government has brought them to western Sydney. The raceway is booked for at least one major event each month well into 1992 and substantial bookings have been made for other events. Many things are happening at Eastern Creek and in the western Sydney recreation area of which the people of New South Wales can be proud. The long-neglected people of western Sydney deserve facilities of the quality of those at Eastern Creek and deserve the western Sydney recreation area, no matter how hard the Opposition has tried to make it a failure. As the deputy chairman of the transport advisory committee of the Minister for Transport, Bruce Baird, I am particularly proud of another exciting development in the inner western Sydney area. In the State Budget $13 million has been allocated for the Parramatta River ferry service. This new high-speed ferry service to Parramatta will consist of two revolutionary $2.2 million RiverCats which are being purchased to begin the ferry service to Parramatta by early next year. More than $7 million has been made available to build new wharves and dredge the river.

The Hon. J. R. Johnson: Excellent.

The Hon. Dr MARLENE GOLDSMITH: I am glad to hear the Hon. J. R. Johnson approve the Budget and the Government's initiatives in inner western Sydney.

The Hon. J. R. Johnson: I approve of anything that is beneficial to the State.

The Hon. Dr MARLENE GOLDSMITH: I am delighted to have that comment on the record also. The new ferry service will give the people of western Sydney an important transport choice. Ferries travel along the Parramatta River only as far as Meadowbank. A fleet of seven RiverCats will provide a ferry service further up the river into the heart of Parramatta and will also enhance inner harbour ferry services by replacing the Lady-class vessels. The first two RiverCats will offer a limited service to Parramatta initially, operating on a one-and-a-half-hour frequency. The vessels, which will seat 150 passengers, travel at about 22 knots and were specially designed to create minimum wake while travelling at high speed and so avoid river-bank damage. This is part of the State Government's commitment to
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providing the people of New South Wales with an efficient public transport system. It is part of the $1.7 billion allocation to transport in the 1991-92 State Budget. I particularly commend it as it is in my local area and will be a boon to the people of western and inner western Sydney.

Another area of particular interest to me is adult education. Adult and community education consists of organised programs, usually of short duration and of a non-credit nature, designed for people who have completed or discontinued formal studies. The Government is keen to ensure that this important area of further education continues to develop. I commend the Government for increasing the allocation of funds in this area by 25 per cent. Community-based education enrolments tripled in the 10 years between 1980 and 1990. So by a large margin this area is the fastest growing sector of education in this State. There are reasons for this growth: diversity, flexibility, openness, responsiveness to the community, and decentralisation. I congratulate all those involved in this area. I mention particularly the former Board of Adult Education. Its chairman, Dr Ellice Swinbourne, and the board members, John Wellings, John Lumley and Sam Thomas, made a major contribution to adult education. They have all now retired. There are new and exciting developments in adult education. We now have the Board of Adult and Community Education but the foundation laid by those in the field earlier will not be forgotten.

I commend the Minister for the increase in funding of 25 per cent. Because of the diverse nature of the needs and interests of people in the community it is not possible, nor is it desirable, to develop a single administrative structure or providing agency for adult and community education. The largest contribution to adult and community education in New South Wales comes from the community-based system operating directly under the purview of the Board of Adult and Community Education established on 1st July. The community-based system embraces metropolitan and rural evening and community colleges, community associations and a range of other smaller agencies which receive a financial contribution from the Government for their work. In recognised adult education centres which cater for special age groups or provide programs on specific subjects, and which comprise metropolitan leisure, learning and neighbourhood centres, colleges for seniors and health centres, enrolments in 1990 were approximately 90,000. And that is just one area of the adult education field; it does not include community adult education centres, evening colleges or the Workers Educational Association, which does a tremendous job in providing adult education.

Evening college enrolments are growing enormously. In 1990 the figure was 143,385. This area of education is exploding because it is meeting a real need in the community. People are pleased with it because it is responsive. In 1990-91 $3.25 million was allocated in the State Budget for adult and community education. The former Board of Adult Education was required to determine the priority areas of need and to ensure that they were adequately resourced. Currently the accredited providing agencies receive a base funding allocation to assist with the cost of
Page 3766
administrative infrastructure. In addition, funds are made available for specific programs that target priority groups such as Aborigines, the socially and economically disadvantaged, the disabled, and educational areas of special need, including literacy. The priorities for 1991-92 deserve mention. The new Board of Adult and Community Education is in the process of developing a strategic plan which will state the priorities of the board for the next three years, which will be set in the context of the functions of the board as stated in the Act. These include close liaison with technical and further education in the provision of adult and community education.

Another area particularly dear to my heart is quite small and might be passed over unnoticed by many members, particularly, I am sad to say, the many Opposition members who appear to have read the Budget documents hastily and superficially. I refer to a particular area of early childhood education, the parents as teachers program. The program is being piloted in 1991. It is an educational program designed in the United States of America and intended to stimulate the development of language, cognitive, social and motor skills in children through the use of everyday experience. A sum of $400,000 has been allocated for the pilot scheme in this budget year. I am grateful to the Premier for the inclusion of that program. He took the initiative in the area after he discovered the program when he was visiting the United States of America after members of Parliament - I, and later Guy Yeomans - had mentioned the program. As an educator I had found the program in the United States in 1988. I had read the research statistics on it and I realised that the program, and programs like it - particularly this one, which was so well researched - had the potential at last to change life for all the people we normally only stick Band-aids on after they have problems. Instead of our spending vast sums of money trying to repair the damage and suffering that occurs as a result of child abuse, failure at school and crime at great social cost - and personal cost for the individual - with this program people can be made successes in the system from earliest childhood. If they are successes in school, it is reasonable to assume that they will not end up in prison. Some 90 per cent of people in our gaols have problems with literacy and the majority are functionally illiterate.

This program has great potential. Educators are now realising that if we do not get it right in the first three years of life we are unlikely to get it right at all. This program is about educating parents to be their children's first and best teachers, to teach them the things that small children need to know - not complicated subjects, but how to relate to the world in a positive way. It is about helping parents to relate to their children in a positive way also. I will follow the progress of the pilot study with great interest. The pilot study is being conducted at three sites - at Manly, Sadleir near Liverpool, and Wagga Wagga in southwest New South Wales. The pilot study is being assessed carefully and I feel confident that ultimately it will result in this program being accessible to the parents of every new baby in New South Wales, which will make a huge difference to the future of New South Wales. Figures I have seen for the State of Minnesota estimate that for every dollar spent upfront in this area the State saves $8 down the line in areas such as the ones I have
Page 3767
just described. That does not take into account the huge social cost, suffering, pain and torment that pertain to such things as failure at school, child abuse and related problems. I am pleased to commend the program and, as I said, I will follow its progress with interest.

Another matter I wish to refer to, and for which the Budget should be commended, is that of gifted and talented students. The department has designed an initiative containing specific strategies to identify and provide for the development of talented and gifted students. The implementation planning encompasses a co-ordinated approach, linking schools, clusters and regions. It is important to target students who have difficulty in learning but the special and precious resources of those who have great potential and are fast learners, and who might otherwise be left sitting in a class basically wasting their time, must also be developed. All individuals are unique and the best education is the one that meets each individual's needs in the best possible way. That includes the gifted and talented. I am delighted with the inclusion of that item in the Budget.

I turn now to the subject of tobacco tax, which in 1991-92 will raise some $88 million and in a full year will raise $96 million. That is an important area of the Budget. At this point I hark back to the report of the Standing Committee on Social Issues on drug abuse among youth which was brought down in December 1990. The committee was provided with some substantial research data in this area. An American heart association study estimates that a 10 per cent price rise in tobacco produces a 4 per cent fall in consumption. Such a price rise not only increases revenue but also decreases tobacco consumption, which can only be good for the health of people in this State. An even more important point to make is that teenagers are more price sensitive than adults, both because they have a lower disposable income and their smoking habit is less established. Their price elasticity is such that a 10 per cent price increase produces a 14 per cent decrease in consumption per smoker. This may mean a smaller chance of young people becoming addicted to this pernicious drug.

The Hon. J. R. Johnson: I have never had an alcoholic drink in my life and not many honourable members can say that.

The Hon. Dr MARLENE GOLDSMITH: I was not talking about alcohol; I was talking about tobacco. I note the somewhat defensive response of the Hon. J. R. Johnson on this subject. I have the greatest sympathy for anyone who is addicted to nicotine because it is a perniciously addictive drug, as the committee discovered. Another finding of the American study is that an increase in price of 10 per cent leads to 12 per cent fewer children starting to smoke. These are exciting figures. I commend the Government for the inclusion of this tax in the Budget, not because it is a revenue-raising device, but because it is a pro-social health encouraging device.


Page 3768
The Hon. J. R. Johnson: On a point of order. Rule 2 of the Standing Orders and Sessional Orders of the Legislative Council and page 391 of May's Parliamentary Practice -

The DEPUTY-PRESIDENT (The Hon. D. J. Gay): Order! What is the point of order?

The Hon. J. R. Johnson: Members must not read any book or newspaper or letter in their place except in connection with the business of the debate. The Hon. J. M. Samios has been reading a glossy magazine which has been distracting the Hon. Dr Marlene Goldsmith.

The Hon. Dr Marlene Goldsmith: On the point of order. I have had my back to the Hon. J. M. Samios and I protest I have not been distracted in the slightest. I am aware that the document is not a glossy magazine, but rather a most important document relating to the exciting Guggenheim exhibition, which is an initiative of this Government. The Hon. J. M. Samios is chairman of the arts committee and has a particular interest and involvement in this area.

The DEPUTY-PRESIDENT : Order! No point of order is involved. Having that document is clearly within the scope of the honourable member's parliamentary duties.

The Hon. J. M. Samios: By way of clarification, the documents are press releases relating to the magnificent Guggenheim exhibition to which I referred in my contribution in the budget debate. The exhibition represents probably the greatest contribution to the visual arts in Sydney since the Art Gallery opened.

The Hon. Dr MARLENE GOLDSMITH: An interesting interlude. I commend the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing for implementing a program for participation in sport and recreation and excellence in sport. As the State patron for ballroom dancing I know just how important such initiatives are to the encouragement of the sport in New South Wales. I pay tribute also to the former sports Minister, the Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith, who recognised ballroom dancing as a sport. That recognition was much appreciated by the large ballroom dancing community. Those who have witnessed the sport will realise how athletic, physical and competitive it is. It has been proved that competitors of that activity expend as much energy as professional footballers expend in their sport. As a member of the Minister's sports advisory committee I am aware of the importance of such programs as I mentioned to sport in general.

In conclusion I wish to refer to the budget of the Parliament. An important development referred to in the Budget Papers is that every member of the Legislative Council has been provided with a personal staff member. Proper staff support has made an enormous difference to the capacity of this House to function at a professional level. I commend the President of the Legislative Council, the Hon. M.
Page 3769
F. Willis, for his achievement in this regard. That initiative has been provided from within the budget of the Parliament. No additional funds have been allocated from outside to cater for the needs of members of this Chamber. On that note I reiterate my support for and commendation of the Budget.

The Hon. A. B. MANSON [9.12]: If the deceptions of the Government's budgetary accounting is ignored, as the Auditor-General seems to suggest they should be, it is obvious that the State is facing an operating deficit of $650 million. So much for the $34 million surplus the Greiner Government promised taxpayers last year. But this is just the financial deficit. The Budget reveals far greater losses with which the State is faced. If the Greiner Government continues to have its way, we stand to lose all that we take for granted now: acceptable wages and conditions, basic social and community services, and any hope of responsible and accountable government. Last year when I spoke in the estimates debate I referred to priorities. In 1990, at the onset of the recession, we required a sound and compassionate prioritisation of public spending. The Greiner Government has failed us, and in May this year the electorate rebuked it savagely. The election result proved that there is no mandate for Greinerism, yet the Greiner Government continues to push for the introduction of industrial anarchy. The Premier and the Minister for Industrial Relations, with their industrial legislation, are seeking to attack wages and conditions.

Like all Liberal governments, past and present, the Greiner Government and its friends understand efficiency to mean individual profit. That adds nothing to the wealth of the nation or to the quality of life. To them productivity is merely a matter of reducing labour costs by attacking wages and conditions and unions that seek to protect such rights. The Greiner Government goes even further. It seeks to dismiss State workers to add to the pool of cheap and demoralised labour. At the same time it squanders millions of dollars on expensive yet non-productive consultants. I draw the attention of honourable members to one example of the Premier's willingness to shamelessly waste taxpayers' money. Hard on the heels of the $82.2 million Eastern Creek fiasco is the $20-million plus farce - the Royal Commission into Productivity in the Building Industry in New South Wales. No expense has been spared on that inquiry. Rental and building fit-out costs amount to $3.3 million - an unbelievable amount, given the glut of office space available to the Government. Total costs for the inquiry are expected to exceed $20 million. It would be naive to expect any less, given that the salary of Royal Commissioner Gyles alone is reported to be $4,500 a day. If one were to add to that amount the costs of a three-month extension, a second royal commissioner for half the year, and a third Queen's Counsel for more than a month, the costs become even more horrendous. At that price I should have thought that a unbiased commissioner could have been attracted. But no, the Premier saw fit to hire a property developer. Mr Gyles had been a major shareholder in Austus Properties Limited until public outcry compelled him to divest himself of his shares. Despite the enormous costs last year's Budget Papers made no specific reference to cost estimates for the commission, and there is only fine-print mention of cost estimates this year.

Page 3770

The Attorney General's report is marginally more helpful, but it notes expenditure this year of only $12.3 million - obviously a gross underestimate of the total costs. Presumably presentation of the cost estimates will be deferred until next year when the dust has settled. In contrast building workers and their unions have been dealt a crippling financial blow. It is estimated that their representation before the royal commission will cost $1.5 million to disprove the hundreds of malicious allegations concocted against them. The refusal to grant legal aid to the parties from the beginning of the inquiry is nothing less than a denial of natural justice. It is an absurdity if meaningful contributions are expected from such sources. In a last minute, insincere attempt at impartiality, the Government offered building unions a minor contribution - less than 10 per cent of their legal costs. Despite the fact that the royal commission has, through media attention, been drawn to the issues of collusive tendering and thuggery in the industry, its main focus has remained throughout on the policies and practices of unions and their members. Regardless of the explosive potential to cut construction costs by attacking such institutionalised rorts at the contractual level, which siphon hundreds of millions into the pockets of the wealthy, the commission has devoted less than 10 per cent of its time to this issue. Though it justified the extension of its life by undertaking to investigate further collusive tendering in civil engineering, the commission has failed to do so. Instead it has pursued more issues involving union activities.

But let us take a step back and ponder how and why this extravagant attack on building workers was ever allowed to be inflicted on the taxpayer, for the commission's relevance and necessity remain a mystery to all concerned. The appointment of the royal commission was not agitated for by employers, their representatives, unions, workers or the general public. I recall that public allegations of corruption, violence and intimidation led unions to call for an inquiry through the Ombudsman's office in 1990. This could have provided an ongoing consultative approach to such industry problems, saving millions of dollars. In fact, the Federal Minister for Industrial Relations pledged to jointly fund such an inquiry. This would have meant further cost savings to the State and, as it now appears, greater industry benefits. A royal commission is a most unlikely and inappropriate forum in which to consider industry productivity, with the spectres of criminality and secrecy hanging over the heads of participants. The commission has lost the good will and respect of those it has accused from a position of ignorance. It is the wrong approach to initiating reform in the industry and is a disgraceful waste of public money.

The architects of this inquiry have knowingly committed the people of New South Wales to pay for reform twice over. The building industry is a national industry with nationwide employers and national representation. It is currently undergoing national reforms, award restructuring and the like - changes which have resulted from consultation with relevant industry bodies over time. Compare this with the shallow, antagonistic, legalistic approach of the royal commission. Apart from the obvious waste it therefore represents, the royal commission could also seriously undermine current national reforms, leaving this State's building industry
Page 3771
on the back foot for a long time to come. So why has the Greiner Government put us through this? The answer lies well outside the building industry. This inquiry is nothing more than a vehicle for anti-union hype. We have here an engineered political stunt, a public relations exercise designed to give some spurious credibility to the Government's industrial relations coup. They have targeted a productive high-profile industry, with progressive, industrially responsible unions, and sought to turn it on its head.

The announcement of the commission followed a six-week media campaign against the industry and in particular the Building Workers Union. It followed a secret meeting between the notorious Troubleshooters body hire organisation, the failed builder R. J. Donovan, the National Farmers Federation and Paul Kelly, the principal adviser to the Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Further Education, Training and Employment. The outcome of that meeting, contained in minutes summonsed from the Minister's office, revealed the nature of the efficient building industry planned for New South Wales as dictated by far right-wing industrial terrorists. The Government's involvement with these entities is at best highly suspicious, given their irrelevance to the industry and their clear political motivations. Troubleshooters is in fact party to an agreement with the now defunct Builders Labourers Federation, which was deregistered in 1986 in this and other States largely as a result of its corrupt operations and the industrial anarchy it imposed on the construction industry. Ironically Robert Donovan, managing director of the now bankrupt Donovan Constructions, has failed to defend the charge made against him in the royal commission that he defrauded the Department of Housing - a government department. Is this the productivity that the royal commission will recommend to the building industry? Will this inquiry, like the Greiner Government, understand efficiency to mean profitability for the ruthless at the expense of the weak?

This royal commission is nothing but a witch hunt created in a pathetic attempt to justify the political agenda of the Liberal Party and its disreputable cohorts, namely, the introduction of industrial anarchy. After more than 25,000 pages of transcript commission lawyers and academics continue to parade their complete ignorance of the nature of the building industry and of the real issues that go towards productivity, such as safety, training and industry stability. For example, at page 10,268 of the transcript Commissioner Gyles is reported as asking a question of a foreman who refused to allow his workers to dismantle scaffolding in wet weather conditions. After protracted badgering of the witness, Gyles asked:

Was there any wet weather gear for workers on this site?

The witness replied:

No. You can't wear wet weather gear working on scaffold. Scaffolding gets wet, right, someone falls off, they get killed. It is logical, sensible and that is what you got to look at. You can't work on wet scaffold. Too many people died over that. I have had my accidents. I was out nine years from one and I'm not going to let my men get the same, so don't come up with these silly questions

Page 3772

For the last comment, Gyles was champing at the bit to charge the witness with contempt. The complete disregard by the royal commission for the safety of workers is almost as profound as that of the Government. The last report of the WorkCover Authority of New South Wales showed that in 1990, of 67 reported work-related fatalities, 24 were construction workers. Thirty-one per cent of all reported work related injuries occurred in the construction industry. Scaffolding in fact was cited as a major problem. Figures released by Worksafe Australia in May this year showed that workplace accidents are costing the nation more than $9 billion each year. This staggering economic and social burden caused Dr. Ted Emmett, the Chief Executive of Worksafe, to state, as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on 4th June:

There is no ignoring the fact that reduced productivity is directly attributable to unsound work safety practices.

Yet at page 2978 of the royal commission transcript Commissioner Gyles was reported as observing:

Fatalities or extremely serious injury are not worth while conducting an inquiry into - . . .

With such profound lack of sympathy from the commissioner for the safety of workers in one of the country's most dangerous industries, can those same workers be expected to pay any regard to the findings of the inquiry? Nor does the Government think much of the safety of worker, as evidenced by its complete disregard for occupational health and safety standards. Despite the overwhelming evidence emphasising the importance of occupational health and safety, Greiner and Fahey have financially crippled WorkCover, thereby preventing the effective policing of safety laws. WorkCover is charged with the responsibility of undertaking inspections and prosecutions under the three safety Acts: the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Construction Safety Act and the Factories Shops and Industries Act. From 1989 to 1990 the number of prosecutions under all three Acts decreased. The fall in prosecutions under the Construction Safety Act is truly remarkable, the number of prosecutions plummeting from 71 in 1989 to just 20 in 1990. How is it possible or permissible for more than 2,000 reported injuries and 24 reported deaths to occur in the construction industry and yet have only 20 prosecutions in the same year? It is left to unions to protect the safety of their members and contain the costs. As part of its $20 million price tag, the inquiry commissioned ABB Australia to survey the attitudes of 19,540 workers on 334 building sites.

Following receipt of the findings, Gyles called a closed media conference barring any parties other than journalists. Four press releases later we had proof of the commission's real aims and its role as a tool of the Government's anti-union push. The commission announced that the workers point to less union interference as a significant way to improve the industry. This is a baldfaced lie. The press releases misrepresent the actual findings. Only 11 per cent of workers believed union interference was a problem. In fact, 70 per cent said that unions did a good
Page 3773
job. Moreover, only 12 per cent of workers and managers saw union representation as a cause of industrial conflict, as opposed to 47 per cent who identified poor planning as the major problem. This is a disgraceful manipulation of the media and the true results of the survey. The survey was clearly conducted with the aims of Fahey and Greiner in mind, and again at the taxpayers' expense. For $20 million we also learned that from time to time Tim Bristow, Lennie McPherson and other disreputable thugs have heavied building workers, particularly union activists, although "60 Minutes" had already reported that finding in mid-1990 for nothing.

The commission has also partially investigated the practice of collusive tendering and the now infamous unsuccessful tenderer's fee, although Channel 9 had informed the public of that earlier on national television. The big employers and their representative organisations, the Master Builders Association and the Australian Federation of Construction Contractors, include these massive and unjustifiable fees in their tender prices. The winning tenderer pays out the losers from the additional portion. The so-called fees represent nothing but profit, without any production. The Executive Director of the New South Wales Master Builders Association, Ray Rocher, admitted to the commission that he recollects such practices from as far back as 1956, and presumably before. Such a fee added $3 million to the cost of the huge Metroplaza development in North Sydney. The position is probably worse in the public sector. The New South Wales Public Works Department estimates that these practices account for 4 per cent of its $700 million capital works budget, which is a huge burden for the taxpayer. So what has the royal commission done about it? It has spent 31 of 276-odd hearing days, or only 11 per cent of its time, and presumably money, investigating an issue that is plainly adding millions of dollars to the cost of most construction projects.

In July, Assistant Royal Commissioner Holland, Q.C., indicated that since 1986 more than 70 major construction companies have been involved in the practice. Perhaps this is a matter for the Independent Commission Against Corruption, for the royal commission does not seem sufficiently interested. By way of contrast, the commission has spent more than 200 hearing days - the vast majority of its time - looking into every aspect of union policy and the activities of union officers or members. In that time it has found, by admission, that one delegate accepted $100 dollar a week above his normal entitlement, which he used to pay for his phone and travel expenses - a truly ridiculous state of affairs. The building trades group of unions, and in particular the Building Workers Industrial Union, has been hounded on every aspect of its policies and practices. Nothing has been revealed that could not have been readily found in any union publications. This farce of an inquiry has discovered that unions aim to protect and improve the wages and conditions of their members, but that could have been read in the preface to any union's rules. Why spend $20 million to ascertain the obvious?

The commission especially badgered the Building Workers Industrial Union regarding its former unashamed practice of encouraging employers to make modest donations to charity. Many bosses when found to be in breach of an award - that is,
Page 3774
breaking the law - have opted to support worthy causes as a sign of good faith. This practice is applauded by the industry and the employers, as well as struggling welfare organisations. It marks a vast improvement on the old Builders Labourers Federation practice of walking off the job for two days, once known as the 48-hour homer. Instead of this, the dispute is settled and no production time is lost. The children's hospital, the Tranby aboriginal college, the Factory Youth Centre, the Salvation Army and many others recommend this approach thoroughly, not to mention their virtual reliance on it when Greiner and friends, in the midst of massive unemployment, can find only a paltry $10 million for the needy in this Budget. If the royal commission is supposed to be examining efficiency in the building industry, it should perhaps first take a look at itself. It has failed to report within a year, as was originally intended, and has failed to contain or accurately report its costs. Its findings to date show a remarkable lack of substance. It is ideal model for an industry seeking time, cost and qualitative reforms. However, this is yet another manifestation of the Government's current right-wing agenda. As one particularly astute writer to the Sydney Morning Herald put it, the Government simply privatises the gains and socialises the losses.

The Hon. I. M. Macdonald: That is the National Party.

The Hon. A. B. MANSON: The Liberal Party and the National Party are both tarred with the same brush. The Government attacks workers' wages and conditions; attacks the workers' only means of defence, the unions, and thereby reduces labour costs; privatises everything in sight and makes big profits at the expense of workers while contributing nothing to greater productivity or efficiency. Yet it is prepared to blow millions of dollars of public money in an effort to hoodwink the voters into believing it all makes sense. The Labor Party condemns this Budget.

The Hon. HELEN SHAM-HO [9.42]: Before I speak to the Budget for 1991-92, I should like to take this opportunity to welcome the new members who entered this House after the last election. I should also like to congratulate the Hon. Patricia Forsythe, the Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann and the Hon. Jan Burnswoods on their maiden speeches. The Government's Budget for 1991-92 shows the coalition's continued commitment to sensible economic management and the priority areas such as health, education and social welfare. Despite the recession brought on by the Federal Government, as referred to in the contribution of the Hon. Dr Marlene Goldsmith, New South Wales has been able to outperform other States in many key economic areas. A few moments ago the Hon. A. B. Manson referred in his contribution to massive unemployment in New South Wales. He ought to be ashamed of himself because not only is the unemployment rate in New South Wales below the national average, it is the lowest of all the States. As all honourable members know, the national unemployment rate is in excess of 11 per cent. In comparison, New South Wales has an unemployment rate of only 9.8 per cent.


Page 3775
It is noted at page 61 of Budget Paper No. 2 that consumer and business confidence in New South Wales has been appreciably higher than in the rest of Australia, due in part to the State's success in avoiding the worst of the financial collapses taking place elsewhere in Australia. A clear indication of this fact is that the level of debt in New South Wales is considerably lower than that of Victoria. The New South Wales deficit is $187 per capita compared with Victoria which has a deficit of $335 per capita. Furthermore, New South Wales has been able to protect the State's triple-A credit rating which is crucial to maintaining consumer and business confidence and reducing the cost of debt. In her contribution the Hon. Dr Marlene Goldsmith dealt in great detail with the protection of the New South Wales triple-A credit rating. In August Premier Greiner said:

The New South Wales Government took hard decisions in our first term and now we have far greater control to minimise the impact on families . . . In contrast, Labor governments across Australia are trying to avoid threatening bankruptcy by imposing a massive burden on their taxpayers.

The Greiner Government is aware that the recession has imposed difficulties on a broad cross-section of society. The Budget aims to reduce debt and waste without reducing services. I should like to quote from the editorial in the Australian of 25th September which stated:

Mr Greiner is a manager: his philosophy . . . is one of results - . . . His cost cutting has been directed at efficiency, reduction of debt . . . and freeing funds . . . for law enforcement, health and education.

I should now like to give some examples of the coalition's commitment to the people of this State. The first of these examples is further education and training. As all honourable members are aware, the provision of the necessary skills for the work force is crucial, especially in these times of recession. TAFE's aims are to help Australia to achieve the clever country status it needs to compete internationally. To achieve this objective, the system has undergone crucial restructuring to make the colleges more responsive to the needs of the public, as well as those of industry and the changing workplace. Of particular interest to me and no doubt many other honourable members are the needs of students with non-English speaking backgrounds and specifically women with non-English speaking backgrounds. A study produced for the Office of Multicultural Affairs noted that because they often lack marketable skills and the necessary language requirements or recognised qualifications, migrant women have traditionally been regarded as a cheap source of labour in Australia. As a result, these women are usually located in a narrow range of industries, especially manufacturing industries where migrant women make up 42 per cent of the female work force. For this reason further qualifications and multiskilling are needed to maximise the potential of this sector of the population.

TAFE has an important role to play in achieving this objective. At present 15.6 per cent of students commencing TAFE courses were born in non-English speaking countries. The Technical and Further Education Commission is committed
Page 3776
to providing high-quality vocational, preparatory and community education to our multicultural society. During 1990 more than 16,000 students enrolled in courses such as English for speakers of other languages, career education for women, English and clerical skills for migrants, and English for academic purposes. The provision of these courses is not enough. Last year, in my position as chairperson of the New South Wales co-ordinating committee on immigrant women's issues, I was involved in a study on access to TAFE for women with non-English speaking backgrounds. The report of the study made several recommendations about the barriers faced by these women, especially high administration fees. Since that time TAFE has made a number of crucial reforms in this area. The Outreach and Access programs and many specific women's programs are now exempt from charges. Importantly, the quotas on ESOL programs have also been removed. These changes give all members of our migrant community the chance to gain education, develop their English, enhance their skills and realise their career potential. It is crucial that people with non-English speaking backgrounds be educated and helped into the work force.

On 6th August the Sydney Morning Herald reported that at present Lebanese and Vietnamese workers have been hardest hit by the recession in the labour market. In the Lebanese community the unemployment figure is 23.2 per cent and in the Vietnamese community it is 18.9 per cent. Both of those figures are much higher than the unemployment levels for Australian-born workers and for the more established migrant groups. It is believed that these high rates of unemployment are due in part to a lack of educational qualifications and low levels of proficiency in the English language. All honourable members must agree that it is costly and undesirable for these people and their families to suffer because they lack the necessary education to enter the work force. However, TAFE is able to provide services for these people and the Greiner Government is committed to providing higher education and training in this State. At page 13 of Budget Paper No.1, the Premier is quoted as saying:

Employment and training programs of the Department of Industrial Relations, Employment, Training and Further Education are geared to developing job skills and training infrastructure, as well as providing employment generating packages based on community activities.

To this effect this year's Budget provides important funds to these projects. The mature workers program established in 1989-90 is designed to help mid-life and older persons re-enter the work force after retrenchment and periods of unemployment. Many of those who benefit are women. This year substantially more has been committed to the program. Furthermore, more than $4 million has been provided for the field services program. This program administers apprenticeship training and targets, among others, people with non-English speaking backgrounds. It recognises the need to promote and provide opportunities for these people to gain work experience and skills in non-traditional areas. The Migrant Employment and Training Schemes Board has been allocated $2.4 million. The
Page 3777
board was established in 1989 in order to develop, co-ordinate and promote information and counselling services, as well as training, retraining and employment programs for migrants. Honourable members may recall that I have spoken on this subject previously. The schemes also provide specialist migrant placement officers to counsel and assist with training and placement of unemployed migrants. As the Minister for Further Education, Training and Employment, the Hon. John Fahey, said, "Helping migrants into jobs or training will not only assist them in meeting their own career aspirations, it will also provide industry with valuable skills".

An equally exciting and important program for employment and training is the Skillmax program. This is fully funded by the State Government, which will provide $1,595,000 this year, and it will be run by the Adult Migrant Education Service. Skillmax is to assist immigrants with overseas qualifications in gaining positions commensurate with their skills. I have previously spoken about this program and wish to remind honourable members only that it services both unemployed and underemployed migrants with language training, work experience and job placement. The Worksearch unit in Skillmax helps fast track participants to employment. There is an emphasis on communication skills and developing interview techniques. Work experience may last up to three months and provides vital contact with local employers. Over the past year Skillmax has recorded many achievements. More than 1,400 skilled immigrants participated, well above the anticipated targets, and 91 courses were provided. Some 47 per cent of participants gained employment in their field of expertise and 24 per cent commenced further study. A new centre was opened at Parramatta and it has been enormously successful in placing participants with local businesses.

These are just some of the programs aimed at enabling migrants to participate fully in the work force and providing a better quality of life for them through education. The Technical and Further Education Commission in New South Wales and the Greiner Government both recognise the advantages of a system that provides for all members of the community. The New South Wales Government also realises the need for micreconomic reform in helping recovery from the recession, in providing employment and in enhancing the future prospects of this State. The coalition strongly believes in this respect that it is in the long-term interests of New South Wales and Australia for this country to become a major economic player in Asia. Despite Australia's proximity to that important economic region, we risk being left behind because our exports concentrate too heavily on primary products. However, New South Wales is well placed to take advantage of this potential market. The State economy is concentrated in construction, communications and services such as education, finance and tourism. These are the types of products required in the Asia-Pacific region.

Currently 60 per cent of New South Wales exports go to Asia, and New South Wales attracts one-third of all foreign investment. This State is thus strongly linked to the world's fastest growing economic region. One example of the Greiner Government encouraging development in this State is the tourism industry. Tourism
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employs 153,000 people in New South Wales, an area that grew 3.6 per cent annually during the 1980s. The industry earned $1.5 billion in foreign exchange during 1989-90 and is an integral part of the State economy. At present the number of Asian visitors to New South Wales is highly significant, accounting for 39.3 per cent of all visitors to New South Wales. It has been predicted that Korea has the potential to become "another Japan" and there is the possibility of attracting over one million Korean visitors in the next few years. New South Wales is positioned to receive the maximum numbers of the predicted influx. Korean Air currently runs direct flights from Seoul to Sydney and Qantas will be opening services on the same route in early November.

The New South Wales Tourism Commission is aware of the large and immediate economic opportunities that exist in the Asia-Pacific region. The commission, as part of its marketing strategy, is encouraging longer stays in Sydney and promoting New South Wales as a complete destination; especially in the Asian market through its offices in Singapore and Tokyo. This month another direct air link has been established between Taipei and Sydney. This will provide another opportunity for tourism as well as trade between the two cities. According to a report in the Australian Financial Review of 28th August the contribution of tourism to the economy is now so significant that the supporting infrastructure needs to be upgraded. This Government's Department of State Development is strongly supporting the tourist industry and ensuring capital works and investment reflect this by providing the necessary infrastructure.

The Sydney bid for the Olympics in the year 2000 will serve as a major catalyst in this field. A total of $60 million will be spent on construction of Olympic facilities at Homebush Bay in 1991-92. In conjunction with the Tourism Commission's special events body, this will help ensure a successful Olympic bid and provide ongoing tourist facilities for the next century. An example of the importance of special events is the Festival of Sydney. This year's festival is a finalist in the prestigious Australian tourism awards. Further, it has helped to ensure that January, once a low tourist period, is now a peak month. The Greiner Government funds the New South Wales Tourism Commission to the extent of $20 million a year. This indicates the commitment to the State's most important industry. Furthermore, substantial amounts are being spent on railway, road and airport infrastructure to ensure the continuing dominance of the New South Wales share of Australia's tourist business.

I believe that I have shown that this year's Budget is not only smart economic management but also an investment in the future of the State. Education, which remains the No. 1 budget outlay, is vital in enabling traditionally disadvantaged people, such as those of non-English speaking background, to become invigorating and vital members of the work force and society as a whole. This Government recognises the need to maintain economic management as well as to provide quality of life for the people of New South Wales. It is this that makes me proud not only
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of our Government's record but also of New South Wales itself. I commend the Government's Budget to the House.

The Hon. I. M. MACDONALD [10.0]: Tonight I have listened to what could only be described as the most pathetic, apologetic contribution by Government members for the Government's appalling economic record in the past year and a half. This is the Government that came to office on the basis that it was a so-called economic manager which would guide this State through its darkest days. But what has happened? The Government is about to lose the Moody's triple-A rating and is endeavouring to hide its $24 billion debt. The Budget has a deficit of more than $2 billion. Tonight honourable members saw a perfect example of how the Government is mismanaging the State when the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy and the Minister for the wrecking of State recreation areas were consorting in the corner of the Parliament determining to wreck the environment of this State. That is what this Government has brought to New South Wales.

The Hon. R. J. Webster: On a point of order. I take great exception to the user of the word "consorting". That word is regularly applied to criminals and neither the Minister for Conservation and Land Management nor I are criminals. I ask the honourable member to withdraw.

The Hon. I. M. Macdonald: On the point of order. Mr President, doubtless the word "consorting" is far broader than the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy would realise. He would know that the word "consort" in terms of imperial rule is the individual who looks after the interests of the Crown while the pretender reaches the age of majority. As a consequence, the whole concept of consorting has an important role for the Crown. The Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy is stunned by the veracity of my words and felt that he should take a frivolous point of order, but as I said the dictionary states -

The PRESIDENT: Order! I do not wish to hear any more on the point of order. No point of order is involved.

The Hon. I. M. MACDONALD: Clearly what we have seen tonight from two National Party Ministers as they carved up the State recreation areas and the planning and environment rules and regulations, is that despite the endeavours of the Minister for the Environment, the National Party of this State runs the environment degradation. In the past few days honourable members have heard the comments of the Hon. Jan Burnswoods in relation to the Look At Me Now ocean outfall. In the next two weeks the Standing Committee on State Development will examine that precise issue when it visits Coffs Harbour. The committee will see how those two Ministers, together with their able boss, the Deputy Premier - last year the object of the Gay-Bull conspiracy; this year the absolute manifestation of how the Gay-Bull conspiracy has gone off track - have set about carving up the State of New South Wales.


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Doubtless in this era where the National Party has taken over the environmental direction of this State the pathetic group of Liberal members opposite have lost all fight since Terry Metherell's road to Damascus three weeks ago, in which he left the Minister for the Environment standing as the last shining light of liberalism on the North Shore, a flickering light abandoned by the former Attorney General, and in the seat of Lane Cove the Minister for Health and Community Services, that shining light in this House of liberalism who could not win preselection against an unknown solicitor.

The Hon. J. H. Jobling: On a point of order. I can find very little in the Budget that has any reference to the Minister for Health and Community Services, the seat of Lane Cove or other members. I contend that the honourable member is digressing further than one normally does in the budget debate. I request that he be brought back to the Budget.

The PRESIDENT: Order! If one were to apply the rule of digression to the budget debate there would be no budget debate. No point of order is involved.

The Hon. I. M. MACDONALD: That shows once again how pathetic Government members have become. Through the auspices of the Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy or, indeed, their Whip, that Menzies lookalike from Muswellbrook, they cannot take a decent point of order. In effect it represents the total failure of this Government.

The Hon. D. J. Gay: On a point of order. The honourable member has cast aspersions on the Hon. J. H. Jobling. In a previous debate the honourable member asked that he not be referred to as a Lenin lookalike and that request was upheld. I ask that the same ruling be applied to the honourable member's comments regarding the Hon. J. H. Jobling as a Menzies lookalike.

The Hon. I. M. Macdonald: On the frivolous point of order. When I said I did not want to be referred to as a Lenin lookalike I stated that I had shaved off my beard five years ago and in no way did I look like John Lennon. However, I believe that John Lennon was a fine, philosophic individual.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I entreat honourable members to treat the budget debate with a little more seriousness than has been apparent in the past 10 minutes. I do not believe in this case there is a point of order.

The Hon. I. M. MACDONALD: There is no doubt that this Government is a government on the skids. No individual in this State would dispute that the Greiner-Murray Government, despite the endeavours of the Gay-Bull conspiracy, is on the skids. There is now a $24 million debt in this State, which is equivalent to every person in this State owing $4,000.


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The Hon. R. J. Webster: Only $24 million? There was a State debt of $26 billion when the Labor Party lost government.

The Hon. I. M. MACDONALD: The Minister has his debts mixed up. It is clear that the State's economy is going downhill rapidly. The Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith prides himself on being an economist. He is, after all, a non-member of the Gay-Bull conspiracy, which was responsible for the Government's involvement at Eastern Creek. I remind the Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith that government spending since 1988 under the Greiner Government has increased by 35 per cent. Revenue has increased by 30 per cent. The consumer price index has increased by only 23 per cent. I challenge the Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith to refute those figures. They were provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and released by the Government. This Government has increased expenditure far in excess of the consumer price index. Is it any wonder that the Government is going backwards at a rate of knots, with what even the Hon. J. H. Jobling would regard as a fast sail? There is no doubt that the Government will be out of office within a year. It has no power at the moment. It does not know from one day to the next what legislation will get through the Parliament.

Debate adjourned on motion by Hon. I. M. Macdonald.


The Hon. R. J. WEBSTER (Minister for Planning and Minister for Energy) [10.12]: I move:

That this House do now adjourn.

The Hon. R. S. L. JONES [10.12]: Following complaints of harassment by several staff members an independent review of Lismore council's environmental and services division was undertaken by an outside consultant, Mr Terry McPhee of Sydney. The review lambasted the executive manager of the division, Mr Phil Denniston, for his management style and stated:

Of course concern is the current mood and attitude, where there is a quite unhealthy lack of respect for the division manager, and generally morale is at a very low ebb.

The report referred to the stress of staff. Twelve months later four staff members have taken stress leave, three of whom are claiming WorkCover. The McPhee report was hushed up and never shown to the elected council by the town clerk, Mr Paul Muldoon. On 14th October at a special meeting of the occupational health
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and safety committee to discuss workers' compensation claims from three female staff members, the following main points were revealed:

1. They feel intimidated by the threatening manner of Phil Denniston.

2. They were fearful of him.

3. They have no confidence in his ability as a manager.

4. His actions/comments were in relation to their work was always negative, never any positive feed-back.

5. Assessment of their work was carried out initially without explanation by a person unqualified to do so.
6. As a result of his management style other areas within the department have experienced unwarranted levels of stress resulting in low morale throughout the Environment and Development Department.

Strike action by all salaried staff was averted only by the decision to remove the three women from the direct supervision of Mr Denniston. At this meeting Mr Muldoon was asked to explain. He said he was concerned about the situation and had spoken to Mr Denniston at various times about the problem. He also had discussions with the women and the union. The committee concluded:

After lengthy discussion with Mr Muldoon and the three women the committee is of the opinion that insufficient action has been taken by council to alleviate future incidences of stress within the Environmental and Development Services Department and recommends that council appoint an outside professional to investigate the working environment within the Environmental and Development Services Department which has resulted in unacceptable levels of stress within the department.

However, when the committee made a recommendation for an outside review it was unaware that a review had been conducted already 12 months previously by Mr Terry McPhee. Why has the town clerk, Mr Muldoon, failed to reveal the details of the McPhee report to the committee and the council? There are at least six documented cases of harassment by Mr Denniston. There are numerous other undocumented cases. There have been more than nine meetings between individual staff and the municipal employees representative. There has been much correspondence between the union and the town clerk, and a meeting has taken place between the town clerk and a senior union organiser. Why has the town clerk failed to take action to inform the elected aldermen?

Mr Denniston has violated many work practices including appointing staff without advertising or interview, the provision of salary increases, training opportunities and attendance at conferences for favoured staff, and the purchase of several personal computer systems, software and printers that are incompatible with each other and the council's mainframe. Important documents are not able to be accessed readily by all staff and problems have arisen with training by council staff
Page 3783
and the maintenance of systems. Training is provided to only selected staff, and it is carried out at considerable expense by an outside consultant. When Mr Denniston was employed with his $100,000-plus yearly salary package he had no tertiary degree nor any qualifications or necessary experience. He was a member of the Government team that whitewashed the report on the illegally-built and unsound five-storey edifice on the former Hotel Ryan site. It was well known that Mayor Harold Fredericks was gravely concerned about being damned in this report. Why did council decide to re-advertise the executive manager position after the presentation of the report? There seems no doubt that there is a link between the hiring of the unqualified Mr Denniston and the report on the Hotel Ryan.

Mr Denniston was brought in to rule over the chief town planner at the time, Mr Peter Reynders, who did not favour nod-and-wink-style development. Mr Reynders was to resign soon after because of the council's insistence on vested interest decision-making, rather than community-based decisions. As soon as he was hired in this region, which has the State's highest unemployment rate, his wife was employed by Mr David Brown, a well-known real estate agent and developer. On 4th December, 1990, council resolved, as stated in the mayoral minutes of the 20th November, 1990, meeting, to advertise for and employ a chief town planner to replace Mr Reynders. Eleven months later the town clerk failed to carry out this important resolution of council. I submit that Mr Denniston should resign or be dismissed and that Lismore City Council undertake immediately to replace him with a qualified town planner.


The Hon. ELISABETH KIRKBY [10.17]: I wish to read on to the record a letter I received from the Bolton Point-Marmong Point Progress Association. The letter, which is dated 26th October, is couched in these terms:

I have enclosed a copy of a press statement, from our association and the relevant paper reports with respect to a visit that had been arranged with Mr Causley. After taking time off work (by two of the delegates) and travelling to Sydney for this meeting Mr Causley refused to see the delegation. This meeting had been arranged some two months earlier and was, for our part, to discuss the problems that have arisen in this area with respect to damage to homes caused longwall mining.

The purpose of the meeting was to try and find some grounds for resolution or diminution of the conflicts and ill feelings that have arisen over the last 12 months, especially in light of the damage that has been caused by longwall 9.

This mining was subject to a rather lengthy inquiry by Mr J. Dey and based on his recommendations approval was given for mining to go ahead. However these recommendations have not been adhered to and decisions by the Mines Subsidence Board have created considerable conflict within the community. The Association has been dealing with this issue for over 4½ years and acts as spokesperson for most residents.

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The attitude of the Minister, I believe, is to completely disregard the community as being worth considering. This attitude was highlighted on Tuesday 22 October when he refused to meet with the delegates. Three of these delegates (Mr M. Morris-Chairman, Mr G. Hughes-Lake Macquarie City Council, Mr D. Howell-Community Representative) are members of his own committee that was set up to monitor the problems associated with the mining of longwalls in this area.

This treatment of the delegates by the Minister has escalated an already intolerable situation.

With this letter I am asking you to protest to the Government and use any means at your disposal to have the matter given the proper consideration by the Government that it deserves.
Should you require any further information on this matter feel free to write to the association at the above address and I will forward the necessary material to you.

The press release attached includes lengthy material about the problems faced by longwall mining in that area. The press release states:

The need for the meeting has arisen because of concerns about longwall mining under residential areas recently exacerbated by the mining of F.A.I's longwall 9 in the Marmong Point and Woodrising areas. Damage to 71 homes has been reported and there is growing dissatisfaction with the Mines Subsidence Boards rejections of claims and failure to adequately compensate for damage.

Mr. Causley's reply, as reported in the Newcastle Herald on Friday 25th October, 1991 is grossly incorrect. Members of the delegation who were present reject the assertion that Mr. Hunter was using "standover tactics". They also reject Mr. Causley's assertions that he was "inexperienced" or "spat the dummy". In fact, the delegation applauds Mr. Hunter for his support, his concern, and his tactfulness in dealing with this very difficult and embarrassing situation.

The refusal of the Minister to honour an arrangement to meet a delegation from an electorate, that happens to have elected a Labor Member of Parliament, has serious political implications and ramifications for Newcastle and the Hunter Region . . .

How can a Minister, who is elected to represent the people of N.S.W., deny these people, the democratic right of access?

Following the snubbing of the delegation last Tuesday, 22nd October, 1991, this Association believes that Mr. Causley should honour the commitment he made in the Newcastle Herald on Friday 25th October, to meet with a delegation immediately. The Association believes that Mr. Causley should visit the area, inspect the damage to homes, and discuss the problem with residents. Surely this is not too much to ask a Minister whose Government's slogan is purported to be "MANAGING BETTER BY PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST".

I trust that the Minister now will reconsider his decision, will meet with the delegation and will in fact -


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The PRESIDENT: Order! The honourable member has exhausted her time for speaking.


The Hon. DOROTHY ISAKSEN [10.22]: I wish to draw attention to a matter that has been dealt with by the Office of the Ombudsman as well as by the Police Service but has not been entirely resolved. John George Kozielecki, of 6 Apsley Crescent, Mumbil via Wellington, New South Wales had his wallet stolen in late 1989. The offender used Mr Kozielecki's driver's licence as identification when arrested on another matter. The name of John George Kozielecki was entered into the police computer along with a list of 28 criminal offences. In February John Kozielecki applied to join the Australian Army. After passing all tests and a medical examination Mr Kozielecki waited for an entry date. In June this year an army spokesman from Castlereagh Street phoned to tell him he was unacceptable as a recruit as he had a list of serious criminal charges pending. They had received the information in a report from the Ferguson Centre at Parramatta. Mr Kozielecki volunteered his fingerprints at Wellington police station, and they were taken and sent to Sydney, which verified he was innocent. Mr Kozielecki is now in the army.

A complaint was made to the Ombudsman about the whole episode and correspondence ensued between the Ombudsman and the Commissioner of Police. The outstanding complaint is that, even though it is acknowledged that Mr Kozielecki is the innocent victim, his name is still on police files with a list of criminal offences. An addendum has been added to the file stating that Mr Kozielecki in fact did not commit the crimes but that his identification was used by the offender. This is most unsatisfactory. It is claimed that it is not possible to remove his name from the computer. Mr Kozielecki has already suffered the embarrassment and humiliation of being considered a criminal, which almost cost him a career in the armed forces. As there is no doubt that he is innocent, why should a list of crimes be associated with his name? There is always the possibility that at a future date someone may have access to the record and not bother to read the addendum and once again he will be victimised. In recent weeks he has had a problem renewing his driver's licence because of offences committed by the person who illegally used his licence. I urge the Minister to do everything possible to ensure that the existing record is deleted to prevent future misunderstandings by police accessing the criminal records. John Kozielecki is 21 years old. Hopefully he has a long life ahead of him. It would be a great injustice if he had to continually justify his innocence because of an incorrect entry in the police computer.

Motion agreed to.