Full Day Hansard Transcript (Legislative Assembly, 18 September 2003, Corrected Copy)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Thursday 18 September 2003
______

Mr Speaker (The Hon. John Joseph Aquilina) took the chair at 10.00 a.m.

Mr Speaker offered the Prayer.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

General Business Notices of Motions (for Bills): Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders

Motion by Mr Scully agreed to:

AUDIT OFFICE

Report

Mt Speaker tabled, pursuant to the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, the Auditor General's performance audit report entitled "Waiting Times for Elective Surgery in Public Hospitals: NSW Department of Health", dated September 2003.

Ordered to be printed.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT (NO FORCED AMALGAMATIONS) BILL

Second Reading

Debate resumed from 4 September.

Mr FRASER (Coffs Harbour) [10.03 a.m.]: I put on record my thanks to the previous shadow Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Duncan Gay in the other place, and his staff for their assistance in this matter. The Hon. Duncan Gay prior to the last election had suggested legislation of this type because we could not get an answer from the then Minister for Local Government, Harry Woods, about the true agenda of the Labor Party in regard to forced amalgamations of councils. The Government has reneged on its promise of no forced amalgamations but it has done it in such a way that the Minister now claims that the proposed amalgamations in regional and rural New South Wales and in parts of Sydney are voluntary. The way he comes to this conclusion is that this year at the Local Government and Shires Associations conference he told, as did the Premier, the representatives of the local governments that they would need to put in submissions to him by 31 August to be passed on to the Boundaries Commission for structural reform. That structural reform was to include a moving of any boundaries that may be seen by some councils as needed, and also the dissolution of some councils or forced amalgamations.

I believe 148 submissions were received by the 31 August deadline, by holding this axe over local government's head. The Minister now says that these councils had made the submissions "voluntarily", and therefore these are not forced amalgamations but voluntary amalgamations and voluntary boundary adjustments. That is lies. It shows the true nature of this Government, the Minister and the Premier. In fact, the Premier told the Shires Association if they did not do it he would crack the whip. He would not confirm to this House what his term "cracking the whip" would mean. The Parliamentary Secretary, the honourable member for Tweed, laughs across the table. We will see how he supports his local government areas when a super council is approved for his area. We will see how his constituents regard his defence of their local government when he casts his vote on this legislation. They will let him know at the next State election what they think of him. He is only in by the skin of his teeth as it is. I feel sure that the Independent members of this Chamber will support this legislation because they too value the contribution of local government. I notice the honourable member for Northern Tablelands is here this morning. He is a past mayor and appreciates the value that local government provides to all communities.

The Opposition supports true voluntary amalgamations. In the Tamworth area, Tamworth, Parry and Nundle have basically formed an alliance and said, "We will, in the interest of ourselves and the community, set up talks and propose an amalgamation into a shire." For local reasons it is attractive to the councils and to the ratepayers in that area. For example, I suggest that in Clarence, where the Minister has clearly indicated that he wants one local council, it would create tremendous problems. I suggest that a large part of this is nothing more than politics being played by this Government. Clarence is an example. It has four councils and four mayors. One of those mayors is a member of the National Party but I would suggest that the other three are conservative people by nature.

If the Minister proposes one council for the Clarence those four mayors will probably stand as popularly elected mayors. Terry Flanagan, rural affairs adviser to the Minister, the same Minister who is proposing this, a man who has been given an office at Government expense in Grafton—I would like to know what the hell his job is up there because he does not seem to be doing much except supporting the Government's forced amalgamation—will stand as a Labor candidate for mayor. Because the conservative vote within that electorate could possibly be split four ways, a Labor Party Government employee who is employed by the Minister's office in consolation for getting his backside kicked in both the Federal and State elections, will probably come through as a "popularly elected" Labor Mayor—which he would not be as he would have less than 50 percent of the vote. He would become an apologist for this Government and its draconian legislation, which affects regional and rural New South Wales. All the legislation regarding forestry, planning policies, SEPP 71—you name it—that mayor would then get up and either say nothing or support the Government in its push to degrade and downgrade services and make life hard for people in regional and rural New South Wales.

There is a political agenda. The legislation I propose requires that the Boundaries Commission conduct a postal ballot of all people within any local government area that is proposed for merger, or dissolution, or have its boundaries changed by more than 10 per cent. That will give democracy an opportunity to work in New South Wales, and give the people of those areas an opportunity to express their opinion, by way of a postal ballot, to the Boundaries Commission. At the moment the Boundaries Commission consists of three people: Leo Kelly, from Blacktown; Edith Hall; and Col Sullivan, from Casino. Leo Kelly and Edith Hall are card-carrying officials of the Labor Party.

The honourable member for Heathcote laughs. He has been here only half the length of a cigarette and will not last to the end of it. Leo Kelly and Edith Hall will do what the Minister and the Premier want them to do. They will not act in the best interests of the people of New South Wales. The Minister clearly indicated in the Government Gazette that he had instructed the Boundaries Commission that it might not hold public inquiries regarding proposals for Yarralumla and other councils. The Hume Shire Council is running a "Hands off Hume" campaign, and when the Boundaries Commission visited that area it met with representatives of Albury City Council, in a motel. Rather than holding a public hearing at which it could hear from all the affected and disaffected councils and listen to all the concerns of the people, it met Albury council representatives clandestinely in a motel. To my knowledge the commission did not take any submissions from Hume council.

Hume Shire Council has worked extremely hard for its community. It is profitable and has more than 5,000 ratepayers—a number that the Minister claims is the minimum—and provides effective and efficient services for its constituency. Albury City Council has said that it needs more land and by following Rural Fire Service boundaries it will take over about two-thirds of the Hume shire. The remainder will be pushed into Corowa Shire Council. Hume has not been consulted. In fact, meetings have been held, with 1,700 people attending. The people in Hume are scared that the services currently provided to them by Hume council in an effective and efficient manner will be lost, because Albury council will be more city-centric, favouring the people of Albury. Therefore, the services that Hume has built up over many years will be ignored.

An example of that potential loss is the council-provided nursing home at Howlong. That nursing home services the Hume area and has the full and ongoing support of the Hume council. People are fearful that if and when they are usurped—basically taken over by Corowa and Albury—the home will not be a priority, because of the large population in Albury. The home will fall into disrepair and may close down. That home provides an excellent and much-needed service to the people of the area. During the last parliamentary adjournment I travelled extensively around New South Wales and visited many councils. I found that the Minister's proposals have set council against council. Councils that previously worked together, helping one another, sharing common interests, are now looking at one another as either predators or prey. Smaller councils feel that they are the prey; the bigger councils see themselves as predators.

I spoke to councillors in the Griffith area. They had indicated clearly to the Minister that they believed that the councils operated well both individually and co-operatively. They did not want amalgamations in any way, shape or form, but the Minister insisted. The Griffith area councils proposed two options: first, status quo; and, second, a council based on the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. I do not know whether that option went forward. The Griffith councillors went to their neighbours at Leeton and surrounding shires and discussed their proposal. The other shires suddenly saw Griffith City Council as a predatory council; yet Griffith council was floating a proposition only because the Minister insisted that it do so. If that proposal would go ahead, I suggest the Minister would see it as voluntary. Yet, neither Griffith nor its neighbours want that amalgamation. It is something they have been forced to do by the Premier and the Minister for Local Government.

It should be noted that the Minister for Local Government was once the general manager of Wellington Council; he is in trouble in his own bailiwick. I suggest he would not be welcome in Wellington at the moment, because there is a proposal by Dubbo City Council to take over Wellington. Dubbo and Wellington are two major centres and I know that the honourable member for Dubbo is a former mayor of Dubbo. He may not support Wellington being merged with or taken over by Dubbo council. They are two unique towns and the services they provide are unique to their areas. They do not believe that a central council in Dubbo can service the areas as well as it could, or should. Neighbours are now almost in a state of civil war.

During the week of the Drug Summit I was asked to address a public meeting at Murrurundi Shire Council, a small council serving only 2,500 ratepayers. It is a unique council. Muswellbrook Shire Council proposes a super council to incorporate Murrurundi. Quirindi Shire Council wants only half of Murrurundi—the high-rating area. Murrurundi council provides 43 jobs in the local community. In a population of 2,500 that is a large slice contributing to the economy. The proposal by either neighbouring shire would result in those 43 employees travelling 40 kilometres twice daily, to and from their place of employment. It would not take long for those employees to decide that it was uneconomic for them to travel that distance at a huge impost and cost to them. Therefore, they would move to the new shire base. That would take 43 jobs out of the local community. I suggest the severe effect would almost collapse the local economy. The businesses that relied on those 43 pay packets coming in each week, from the rates paid, would lose income and may have to scale down or close. The flow-on effect would be huge, because every dollar spent in the country community has a multiplier effect of 2.6. That loss of income from the local community would be absolutely disastrous.

I apologise to the schoolchildren in the gallery for what I am about to say. I am going to read out a sign that is hung on the highway. I would like them to understand that this is all about democracy, about their future and their standing in society. It is about their opportunity to have a say. This Government does not want them or their mums and dads to have a say about how their local government is run. Murrurundi shire has erected large banners either side of the town that states "Amalgamation? Bugger Off Bob! Save Murrurundi Shire". That call has been echoed across New South Wales. All the councils say that they have not been given an opportunity and they do not want the Government to force on them something about which they do not have an opportunity to comment.

The local communities have set up their councils, and every four years they have an opportunity to elect their representatives. They believe they have done that well. The many small councils—73 employees in Hume council; 61 employees in Culcairn council; 43 in Murrurundi council, and others—are fearful that those jobs will go. The Government realised this belatedly, after it proposed this so-called voluntary amalgamation and rushed legislation through the House to preserve for three years the jobs of the employees in those councils. The Government's reasoning for amalgamation or structural reform is to encourage local councils to be more efficient and to provide more economical delivery of services. One does not need to be a mathematical genius to work out that if all employees must be retained for three years, there can be no savings. The golden parachute for general managers, as claimed by the Government, will be paid as a one-off cost to councils, but those general managers must then be employed for the next three years, which will not be a cost saving.

The Government should have directed the Director-General of Local Government to assist councils that may be in financial distress by encouraging them to bargain collectively for goods and services. Over five years, at a cost of $110,00, the Eastern Riverina Regional Organisation of Councils has saved ratepayers $4.5 million by bulk tendering on bitumen and other services. The 13 councils in the region have collectively instigated a program to rid the community of supermarket plastic bags. Customers receive a calico grocery bag for every 20 plastic bags they collect. The cost of that wonderful initiative is a mere $16,500 but is of great benefit to the community and the environment. The participating councils have made this collective decision in the interests of the whole area as well as their own niche communities, which they represent so well.

However, even those communities have been under pressure from the Government to put forward proposals for amalgamation or boundary adjustment that would see the dissolution of some of the local councils in the area. That disgraceful proposal is not democracy but autocracy. In the past eight years the Government has forced many unfunded mandates on local councils. Unfunded mandates can comprise State Government policy on septic tanks, companion animals or State environmental planning that requires local government to implement and pay for the costs associated with the policy. In the past year there are dozens of examples where the State Government has forced unfunded mandates on local councils but the Government is not prepared to listen to the concerns of those councils.

One such significant case is the Country Town Water and Sewerage Program. When the Coalition was in government it allocated $100 million per year to councils for the provision of basic water and sewerage services to rural communities. This Government has cut that funding by half and now contributes only $50 million a year. People in larger metropolitan areas take for granted the provision of water and sewerage services, but the cost of those services in country areas has increased significantly. Local councils can no longer afford to provide the same efficient service because State Government funding has been insufficient. Instead, the Government should assist local councils in the provision of these basic services, as past Coalition governments have done.

The Government has then had the audacity to claim in this Parliament that those councils cannot meet their financial obligations and have run over budget. I suggest to the Minister and the Premier that the reason many councils have gone over budget is the unfunded mandates forced on them on a regular basis. All of the local councils in New South Wales, whether city or country councils, have had to employ extra staff to deal with unfunded mandates and other State Government legislation. Macksville Council on the North Coast has employed three employees whose sole jobs are to administer unfunded mandates from the State Government. The Government's actions have increased costs for local councils, while it has withdrawn funding for basic services. For the Government, which wasted $48 million on the Millennium trains, to suggest more effective and efficient local government is nothing short of sheer hypocrisy—the hypocrisy is quite breathtaking.

If this bill is passed it will do nothing more than reinforce Labour's pre-election promises of no forced amalgamations. If the Minister and the Premier are serious about structural reform they will support this bill. The bill merely requires the Department of Local Government to conduct a postal ballot of all residents in any area where there is a proposal for amalgamation, dissolution or boundary adjustments of more than 10 per cent. It is a simple and inexpensive request. It will allow communities to express an opinion on this matter, an opportunity not afforded to them by the Government. When I have travelled throughout New South Wales many people in rural communities have expressed their concerns about the Government's proposals. I draw to the attention of the House an article in today's Daily Telegraph under the heading "Hunters Hill fights takeover". The article stated:

Labor members should listen to their grassroots people because Jack Mundey is saying, "Hands off Ryde". The article continued:

These problems are not only being created in the bush but in Hunters Hill, Strathfield and Auburn. There is pure angst in Strathfield and Auburn councils over proposed amalgamations. Once again, the community has not been consulted. Labor members of council do not agree with the proposals but they are forced to keep their mouths shut otherwise they will lose endorsement. Labor members are merely division fighters; they are not allowed to have an opinion unless it agrees with the one put forward by the Minister and the Premier. Labor members should defend the democratic rights of their constituents by supporting the bill, but they will be told to vote against the bill. I am told that one Sydney Independent councillor was so upset with the amalgamation proposal of her council that she resigned. She later found out that another document had been prepared but she had not been given a copy of the corrected document.

Mr McLeay: Did she feel a bit silly?

Mr FRASER: Yes, she feels very silly. There is a constitutional crisis in that council because once a resignation is received, it must be accepted. If the amalgamations or boundary changes go ahead, local government elections will be delayed. However, this councillor, an elected representative, has resigned because of a misunderstanding arising from a process forced on that council. If the council elections are delayed for another 12 to 15 months, it will be necessary to hold a by-election to replace that councillor. The cost to the local council will be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, all because of the Government's policy of forced amalgamations. When we start to see things like that it makes us wonder whether there is democracy in this State. I refer also to the fiasco with regard to South Sydney City Council and the Sproats inquiry. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition in another place stated:

The structural reform was in the nature of a boundary change rather than an amalgamation. That meant that the Government did not have to undertake any community consultation at all. The then Minister claimed that all boxes had been ticked because an independent inquiry conducted earlier by Professor Kevin Sproats had taken public submissions in the course of the inquiry... into inner Sydney local government areas.

However, what eventually emerged as the Government's preferred option was not one of Sproat's main recommendations; it was different. It affected communities that should have been given an opportunity to have their say. The Government refused to allow them to do so. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition in another place also stated:

The whole issue was dragged through the courts as the two councils directly affected fought a fairly tough rearguard action to protect their areas. During that legal action a judgment in the Land and Environment Court in favour of South Sydney Council found that the Boundaries Commission—

the independent body that had two Labor Party members on it—

the body in which the Minister seems to have every confidence—

no wonder—

had not completed its work properly. The commission was found to have allocated the majority of its work of considering the inner-city proposal to two separate firms of consultants and then adopting and signing off on the completed consultancy documents... Not only was there no community consultation, but the commission that oversees boundary change processes was found to be distinctly lacking in its approach to consideration of boundary changes.

It topped and tailed an independent report and presented that report, but it did not match the Sproats inquiry that had been commissioned by the Government. What lunacy! That report will affect approximately 172 councils, but how many councils will be affected at the end of the day? We require a full democratic process—the process that is proposed in this bill. The bill will pass in the other House but it will cause a conundrum for the Government. Government members will vote against it in the Legislative Assembly, but it will be passed in the upper House. When it is passed by the upper House, where will that place Government members? What will they say to councils that have had forced amalgamations, boundary changes, and dissolutions that they do not want?

What will the honourable member for Monaro say in the debate on this bill? The honourable member for Monaro knows that another proposal—a rural lifestyle council submission—was submitted after the Minister's proposal was submitted to dissolve that council. I give credit to those councils. A total of nine submissions have been lodged. The proposal put forward by Yarrowlumla shire to create this rural lifestyle council is good. Council will make that offer to Queanbeyan shire—a Labor-led, inefficient and ineffective council that, 12 months ago, tried to sell off its local parks and gardens to balance its budgets. That council overspends and cannot manage its own affairs, yet the Minister is proposing to dissolve Yarrowlumla shire and give Queanbeyan shire a higher rate base, which I can only suggest is maladministration.

What is the position of the honourable member for Monaro on this issue? I want him to say whether he supports a Labor-led council in Queanbeyan or whether he supports residents in Yarrowlumla shire. It will be interesting to hear what he says. I do not believe that everyone in Queanbeyan necessarily wants to pick up the liabilities that attach to Yarrowlumla shire, for example, unsealed roads and roads that need upgrading. Members of the Labor Party will be faced with a bit of a conundrum.

Mr Torbay: Shame!

Mr FRASER: Shame, indeed. Constituents will hold Government members to account on this issue. The Government thought this would be a quiet and silent takeover of local government, but it has encountered the "Bugger off Bob!" campaign right across New South Wales. I have been talking to people and I know that that campaign will only gain momentum. I want an assurance from Government members—I know I will not receive it from the Premier—that people in areas in which councils will be amalgamated or dissolved will not have to endure rate increases. I want an assurance that there will be effectiveness and efficiency and that rates will remain the same. The Government cannot and will not give such an assurance.

I have talked to people in Cabonne and Blayney, which have been targeted by Orange council. Orange council has the highest rates of any rural council in New South Wales. If Orange council amalgamates with Cabonne and Blayney shires, its current rate structure will apply to people living in those areas. So we will see rate increases of 150 to 200 per cent in Yarrowlumla shire and we do not know what will be the rate increases in Cabonne and Blayney shires. However, we will not see a corresponding increase in services. At present, people in those shires are being serviced well and councils are operating profitably, efficiently and effectively. If the Government continues with its structural reform process of amalgamation, dissolutions and boundary adjustments, it must give an assurance to those residents that there will be no extra costs to them.

Over the past eight years this Government has forced many unfunded mandates onto people in regional and rural New South Wales and also in city areas. The only way in which councils in those areas can recover costs is by increasing charges and rates. People in those areas have already had their rates increased. Not one of those issues has been looked at by this Government. The people of Murrurundi shire congratulate the honourable member for Blacktown, who has just come into the Chamber, on his caucus room slogan suggestion. People in these council areas who will be forced to pay increased rates will have no guarantee that they will receive increased services and efficiencies.

I appeal to all honourable members to support this legislation. It will give them an opportunity to have their say and it will ensure that the Boundaries Commission conducts proper community consultation, carries out a poll, listens to the voices of people in these local government areas, and takes into account what people are saying and what they will continue to say. I have received submission after submission from people who are objecting to this Government's agenda. The correspondence I have received has resulted from the policies of the Minister and the Premier in the interests of local government politics. Councils should be left alone to do their job. Many people might say that their only involvement is in rates, roads and rubbish but, because of the unfunded mandates, it involves a little more than that these days. The cost to council is horrendous. On behalf of the people of New South Wales I commend this legislation to the House and I echo the words uttered by Murrurundi shire: "Bugger off Bob! No forced amalgamations."

Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Newell.

ROAD TRANSPORT EFFICIENCY BILL

Bill introduced and read a first time.

Second Reading

Mr TORBAY (Northern Tablelands) [10.39 a.m.]: I move:

I have enormous pleasure in introducing the Road Transport Efficiency Bill, which has been developed after careful consultation with my constituents, the country community, and my fellow Independents, who I am pleased to say are in the Chamber. The bill is driven by an underlying vision that we in this Parliament have an overriding obligation to do the best we can to make New South Wales a great place in which to live and work. The Road Transport Efficiency Bill is about trying to contribute to that goal. It provides a mechanism for the Minister for Roads, after consultation with councils where appropriate, to ensure that New South Wales joins almost every other State in Australia in providing a grain harvest truck loading scheme, livestock loading, and higher productivity trucks.

Importantly, the bill provides that approvals for all these operations can take place on designated routes and in designated areas. Every State in Australia, except New South Wales, has some form of grain harvest truck loading arrangement and livestock loading. Every State in Australia, except New South Wales, has a way of allowing higher productivity trucks to operate within the State, except for one or two exceptions negotiated by my colleague the honourable member for Dubbo. There must be a reason why New South Wales is the only State that cannot see its way clear in this area.

As a Parliament we owe it to our constituency and to the people of this State to look seriously at those questions and to work together to find a way forward. Of course, there are impediments, some of which are real, some are imaginary, and some, unfortunately, are seized upon to be used as negotiating currency. I will address those impediments in a moment. First, this bill has been introduced after receiving widespread support from people in country New South Wales. The rural trucking industry initiated a series of consultations known as country trucking caucuses. Indeed, many members would have attended those caucuses prior to the election. Country people involved in and around the trucking industry and its customers were all involved.

Two caucuses were held in my electorate, one in Armidale and one in Inverell, and I was very impressed. I met people who are genuinely grappling with these significant issues. The proposals in this bill were endorsed in those caucuses and in 20 other caucuses around the State. That is significant consultation. I am happy to point out that the New South Wales Farmers Association issued a media release after I presented it with a copy of the bill. I am happy to quote the media release.

Mr Morris: Excellent!

Mr TORBAY: I note that the honourable member for Charlestown is keen to hear this media release. The news release issued on Thursday 11 September stated:

It is not an unreasonable quest to bring New South Wales into line with other States. I think it is fairly reasonable. I congratulate the New South Wales Farmers Association on its leadership. The Government has been keen to quote the New South Wales Farmers Association when it brings forward measures that support farmers. I hope it sees the association as an objective player in this regard because it is supportive of this bill.

Mr Cansdell: Good National Party policy.

Mr TORBAY: The honourable member for Clarence says, "Good National Party policy". I tell him that yesterday the honourable member for Lismore raised a matter of public importance about this matter. I took the point of order that I would be introducing this bill today, and I asked whether the National Party would support it. The honourable member for Lismore did not know about the legislation, though it has been on the notice paper for a month. Indeed, the legislation was unveiled during a country trucking caucus meeting held in Parliament House, to which all members of Parliament were invited. I take the interjection of the honourable member for Clarence as a commitment that the National Party will support this bill. Indeed, I congratulate him on giving that undertaking on behalf of the Opposition. The industry has been grappling with these issues for 30 years. Successive governments have been saying plenty but doing very little to bring New South Wales into line—

Mr Gibson: With other States.

Mr TORBAY: —with other States. The honourable member for Blacktown is right to support that move, but I will not pursue interjections any further. I also give credit to the Shires Association of New South Wales because when these proposals were raised previously there was constant speculation as to whether local government would support them. A range of questions relating to infrastructure were constantly asked: Are the bridges able to cope? Where will the money come from to support these issues? At its annual conference this year, the Shires Association passed motion 80, which stated:

Clearly the Shires Association supports this bill. I believe there is a lot of goodwill. If local government, the Farmers Association, the communities involved and the Government can work together, there are ways forward to pursue the reasonable objective of having a set of guidelines that is consistent across the States. I think Henry Parkes, a former member for Tenterfield—

Mr Cansdell: Your predecessor.

Mr TORBAY: The honourable member for Clarence is right. I now represent that area. I support the concept of coming together as a nation. During the famous speech that Sir Henry Parkes made at the School of Arts building in Tenterfield he talked about ensuring that State boundaries do not get in the way of a good outcome for this country. That is exactly what has happened on this matter. I am sure Sir Henry would have supported this bill. The proposals put forward in this bill need more than just a debating response. Every other State in Australia has been proactive in ensuring that amendments are made to continue supporting what is a good outcome for everybody concerned.

Every other State in Australia has seen its way clear to improve the quality of life of people by negotiating good outcomes with all the players involved. And that is our responsibility in this place. I introduce this bill as the member representing an area that obviously has a strong interest in this matter. This bill is supported by my colleagues the honourable member for Port Macquarie, the honourable member for Tamworth, and the honourable member for Dubbo, who has already negotiated an outcome. Other members are keen to jump on board, and I hope that that momentum continues.

I have introduced this bill forward in an entirely non-partisan way. It is appropriate that we seek the support of both the Government and the Opposition—indeed, I was pleased to get that support from the Opposition earlier in the debate. The crossbenchers in this House have indicated their support. We seek a genuine examination of this bill on its merits. That is all we are seeking. I welcome the opportunity to consider amendments or suggestions to progress the bill. We need to remain focused on the issue, not the politics of the issue, which I think have plagued any good outcomes for more than three decades.

Mr Morris: No politics here!

Mr TORBAY: The honourable member for Charlestown points out that there are no politics here, and I agree that there should not be. The common features in all these proposals are that we allow trucks to carry a greater payload, subject to the installation of road-friendly suspension, a form of accreditation, and operating on the right roads in the right areas. It is conditional, and there are obligations on the industry which are appropriate. But we are seeking a way forward. We are not seeking to throw up our hands and say, "Yes, it is different in other States but we cannot do anything about it." The bill is also subject to approval by the relevant council where appropriate.

That is pretty conditional. The proposals outlined in this legislation introduce the need to consult, seek approvals, and upgrade infrastructure appropriately. We cannot be fairer than that. The proposals will reduce transport costs, thereby bringing truck and road transport into line with other transport alternatives and making them more productive. They will also reduce road-wear costs by providing for road-friendly suspension in vehicles. They will not compromise any of the infrastructure assets in New South Wales, especially bridges, as truck transport will be limited to appropriate weight-bearing bridges. We can solve many problems by listening to differing views and examining the issues on their merits. The stakeholders have told me they want real debate, not political stunts. That issue was referred to yesterday during consideration of the matter of public importance.

This legislation will improve safety because there will be fewer trucks on the road. It will improve relations between the trucking industry, regulators and the broader community and deliver a more efficient, safer industry that will operate within an accreditation framework, ensuring that the highest standards of road safety are achieved. Every other State in Australia has enacted similar road transport legislation in order to achieve those laudable aims. The bill's proposals have the potential to save New South Wales some $380 million a year, every year. They will attract industry and jobs back to inland and regional New South Wales—a concept that successive State governments have claimed to support over many years. The bill makes constructive proposals that are designed not to inflame political debate but to improve road transport substantially and bring it into line with other transport areas.

Bindaree Beef in Inverell in my electorate operates an abattoir in Queensland because transport costs in that State are significantly lower than in New South Wales. The company also operates a substantial business in Inverell—in fact, it is the most significant employer in the local area and very important to the social and economic fabric of the community. We must continue to support and reward large employers who are prepared to invest in regional and rural New South Wales, particularly in inland areas, where population drift has been a point of discussion for many years. By supporting this bill we will be supporting those industries and helping them to continue—subject to the conditions I have outlined—in rural and regional areas.

There are plenty of examples in every electorate of how lower costs and improved job opportunities would flow from lower transport costs. Net returns to primary producers are broadly equivalent to transport costs beyond the farm gate. A 10 per cent improvement in some transport costs would increase returns by about the same proportion. What more could this Parliament do for farmers than increase returns across the board by 10 per cent? Parliament has an obligation to the people of New South Wales to provide safe and efficient road transport as a platform for jobs and better lifestyles.

What are the arguments against this legislation? It would require the expenditure of $870 million on roads and bridges. The Federal Government will not come forward with such funding. However, this bill will require no additional funds because the use of road-friendly suspension systems will cause significantly less wear on New South Wales roads. We ask the Government to consider these proposals genuinely on their merit. Bridges throughout New South Wales have been, and are being, assessed to ascertain whether they can handle heavier trucks. I remind honourable members of the many conditions in the legislation that must be met in order to reflect community concerns. Most trucks meet the standard for vehicles in New South Wales, which permits access to roads at the common weight of 50 tonnes for a truck-and-trailer combination. My proposals would not change this requirement.

There are too many simple things that we seem unable to do for the road transport industry in this State. Let us begin with this bill, which would enable the Minister for Roads, and Minister for Housing to implement changes in New South Wales similar to those already in force in almost every other State of Australia—I think Tasmania is the exception. I strongly commend the bill to the House and I urge honourable members to join my Independent colleagues in supporting it.

We are seeking a genuine examination of the bill on its merits. I am keen to speak with Government and Opposition members to hear what they have to say about the substantial issues involved. The Minister has indicated that he is prepared to discuss the bill with me, and I am keen to accept his offer as I believe we can move forward, using the relevant information that I have presented to the House. The Minister has been a frequent visitor to the electorate of Northern Tablelands, where his funding announcements have been most welcome. Let us do something for road transport in New South Wales and bring it into line with the industry in other States. We must consider productivity issues and the massive flow-on effects for the people of New South Wales. The country trucking caucuses that I mentioned sought to involve every member of the House in their consultations. I am aware that local members have been approached and asked whether they will support the bill. We must ensure that industry does not relocate from New South Wales to other States and that our regional areas are not disadvantaged.

Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Newell.

DEFAMATION AMENDMENT (COSTS) BILL

Bill introduced and read a first time.

Second Reading

Mr BARR (Manly) [10.57 a.m.]: I move:

The Defamation Amendment (Costs) Bill takes a novel approach by focusing specifically on costs. It will prevent courts from being able to order costs against a defendant in defamation actions when the plaintiff has been awarded damages of less than $25,000. The bill follows on from the reforms to reduce legal costs in the Government's civil liability legislation, which Parliament passed last year. The bill will assist in clarifying Parliament's position in respect of Supreme Court Rules, section 52A, rule 33, which is not being enforced by the courts in defamation actions. This will address the concerns of Justice Simpson, as noted in Her Honour's recent decision in West & Anor. v Nationwide News Pty Ltd.

Defamation is an area of the law that is badly out of step with modern times and community values, and is in need of substantial reform. The law of defamation as it exists today had its origins in feudal times and in the concept of aristocratic honour. In those days noblemen who believed their honour had been harmed would challenge the accused party to a duel to settle their differences. In today's society, feudal honour has been replaced by the legal concept of reputation, and monetary damages has replaced the duel as the legally sanctioned remedy. While the law may have progressed, in that it no longer sanctions the use of violence to settle disputes, today the law of defamation is no less of the preserve of the aristocratic class than in feudal times.

The very high costs and risks associated with initiating defamation actions mean that normally only the very rich and powerful in our community can resort to the law to restore an injured reputation. The rough rule of thumb holds that in a case involving $10,000 in damages a party should expect to pay around $80,000 to $100,000 in costs. It is strange that given the high costs associated with defamation that there have been no recent attempts to address this issue. For example, last year's task force on defamation law reform did not mention costs in its report. I also note with interest that the more than 400-page report produced by the Irish Law Reform Commission on defamation law in the mid-1990s did not mention this aspect either.

Pursuant to sessional orders business interrupted.

YOUNG OFFENDERS AMENDMENT (REFORM OF CAUTIONING AND WARNING) BILL

Second Reading

Debate resumed from 4 September.

Mr STONER (Oxley—Leader of the National Party) [11.00 a.m.], in reply: When I last spoke in reply to debate on the Young Offenders Amendment (Reform of Cautioning and Warning) Bill on 4 September I was making the point that I had received correspondence from a councillor of the Broken Hill City Council about juvenile crime in that part of the State. I was quoting from a letter from that councillor wherein it was stated:

This letter came with petitions containing more than 2,300 signatures attached. That mirrors the experience from other parts of the State—for example, Dubbo, with 11,000 signatures on petitions; and Kempsey and the North Coast, with more than 7,000 signatures on petitions. Time and again youth lawlessness is an issue around the State, and it harks back to the Young Offenders Act. I have introduced this bill to tighten up that Act to deal with this issue. We repeatedly receive petitions and representations from constituents about youth lawlessness. In my second reading speech I spoke about similar concerns with respect to juvenile crime in the city, including in the Premier's electorate, Maroubra. The honourable member for Vaucluse raised the same concerns in his contribution to the debate.

Why is this problem so widespread throughout New South Wales? Why are police seemingly powerless to deal with this ever-increasing problem? The answer is Labor's ill-conceived Young Offenders Act 1997. It is a law which, in operation, does kids no favours by allowing them to get away with repeated crime. It also does our communities no favours, with law-abiding citizens living in fear and, in some cases, considering vigilante action. Labor now has a chance to listen to the concerns of the citizens of New South Wales and show it is prepared to drop party politics and support a bill that will go a long way towards curbing youth lawlessness. The Government has indicated that it opposes the bill. However, as I pointed out on 4 September, the grounds it has offered are spurious. The bill does not remove the option of discretion for police in dealing with young people. The bill will not result in any unequal treatment of Aboriginal youth.

All the issues raised by the honourable member for Tweed are specious. If the Government were fair dinkum about addressing this issue, which is important to many communities, it would support my private member's bill, the Young Offenders Amendment (Reform of Cautioning and Warning) Bill. This bill would give the police the powers they need. It would result in those young people being dealt with more seriously and more promptly. If they or their families were in need of some sort of assistance they would be identified earlier and receive assistance. They would be dealt with more seriously. I commend the bill to the House and, in doing so, I urge the Government to support it.

Question—That this bill be now read a second time—put.

The House divided.

Ayes, 31

Mr Aplin
Mr Armstrong
Ms Berejiklian
Mr Cansdell
Mr Constance
Mr Debnam
Mr Draper
Mr Fraser
Mrs Hancock
Mr Hartcher
Ms Hodgkinson

Mrs Hopwood
Mr Humpherson
Mr Kerr
Mr McGrane
Mr Merton
Mr O'Farrell
Mr Page
Mr Piccoli
Mr Pringle
Mr Roberts
Ms Seaton

Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Souris
Mr Stoner
Mr Tink
Mr Torbay
Mr J. H. Turner
Mr R. W. Turner

Tellers,
Mr George
Mr Maguire

Noes, 50

Ms Allan
Mr Amery
Ms Andrews
Mr Barr
Mr Bartlett
Ms Beamer
Mr Black
Mr Brown
Ms Burney
Miss Burton
Mr Campbell
Mr Collier
Mr Corrigan
Mr Crittenden
Ms D'Amore
Mr Debus
Ms Gadiel

Mr Gaudry
Mr Gibson
Mr Greene
Ms Hay
Mr Hickey
Mr Hunter
Ms Judge
Ms Keneally
Mr Knowles
Mr Lynch
Mr McLeay
Ms Meagher
Ms Megarrity
Mr Mills
Ms Moore
Mr Morris
Mr Newell

Mr Oakeshott
Mr Orkopoulos
Mrs Paluzzano
Mrs Perry
Mr Price
Ms Saliba
Mr Scully
Mr Shearan
Mr Stewart
Mr Tripodi
Mr Watkins
Mr West
Mr Whan
Mr Yeadon
Tellers,
Mr Ashton
Mr Martin

Pairs

Mr Richardson	Mr Iemma
Mrs Skinner	Mr McBride

Question resolved in the negative.

Motion negatived.

NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE AMENDMENT (QUARANTINE STATION) BILL

Second Reading

Debate resumed from 3 July.

Mr GAUDRY (Newcastle—Parliamentary Secretary) [11.18 a.m.]: This private member's bill, which was introduced by the honourable member for Manly, would extinguish any current lease enabling the adaptive reuse of an existing building or structure on the quarantine station site at North Head and prevent the Minister for the Environment from granting any new lease or license for two years. It is obvious that the honourable member for Manly is under a misapprehension about the proposed lease arrangement and its implications for the long-term conservation of North Head's natural and cultural heritage values. The Opposition has also conveniently forgotten that it, not the Government, commenced the entire leasing process. It did so when it was last in Government and none other than the honourable member for Gosford was the Minister for the Environment. In June 1993 the honourable member for Gosford called for expressions of interest from developers to lease the site. As reported in the Manly Daily, he said:

… this will be a boom to Australian tourism and the Manly area, and enable us to generate funds necessary to preserve this magnificent collection of buildings.

Extensive and exhaustive investigations have been undertaken to determine the most appropriate use of the site. Considerable effort has been made to involve the community in discussions about its future. Let me reiterate the reasons why the Government has pursued a lease arrangement for this site. Firstly, the station was run down when it was obtained from the Commonwealth Government in 1984. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has systematically attempted to address maintenance requirements. Secondly, the existing level of conservation and public use of the quarantine station is unsustainable. The Government is committed to redressing this situation. Thirdly, given the substantial costs associated with this ongoing task, a reasonable and sensible option is to lease the site. From the time of its acquisition, there was an expectation that this site would be leased for operation by an external organisation, on the basis that the proceeds of commercial usage would help defray maintenance costs. Extensive investigations have been undertaken to determine the most appropriate uses for this site.

Under the conditional agreement to lease, signed with Mawland Hotel Management Pty Ltd in 2000, the proposed uses consist of a visitor centre and museum, guided tours, a restaurant, accommodation, functions and conferences, and an environmental and cultural study centre. The quarantine station proposal has undergone an exhaustive tendering and environmental assessment process. Let me outline the key features of that process. In the late 1980s an expression of interest was called for private sector involvement in the site, at which time the first draft conservation plan was released for comment. Although this tendering process was discontinued in 1990, it resumed in 1993 with a second expression of interest.

In 1998 Mawland Hotel Developments was selected as the preferred tenderer. Also in 1998, after a period of public exhibition and comment, a plan of management was adopted for the Sydney Harbour national park. The plan of management envisaged private sector involvement in the adaptive reuse of some historic buildings to maximise public access and enhance conservation and management. The conditional agreement to lease was signed in 2000, subject to the outcome of an environmental impact statement and species impact statement. These were exhibited in 2001. An independent commission of inquiry was held under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 at the direction of the Minister for Planning. The inquiry released its report in July 2002 and it found:

Private sector lease involvement enables, in terms of public access and public interest, an immediate economic and environmentally sustainable approach to the conservation of the Quarantine Station.

The quarantine station proposal has now been approved by all determining authorities, subject to conditions. An amendment to the plan of management for the Sydney Harbour National Park has been prepared to allow the specific uses envisaged in the amended proposal within the quarantine station site. Public submissions on the draft amendment closed on 4 August 2003, and a report on these submissions is being prepared for consideration by the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council. Considerable effort has been made to involve the community in discussions about the future of this site, including the possibility of its future inclusion in a sanctuary for the whole of North Head.

In July 2002 the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service hosted a two-day community forum that explored possibilities for establishing a wildlife sanctuary for the entire North Head promontory. This concept was subsequently given further support by the Government's pre-election commitment to create a network of island wildlife sanctuaries and further to explore the North Head sanctuary proposal. Discussions are also occurring between the recently formed North Head Sanctuary Foundation, comprising representatives from the community and Manly Council, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Mr Lynch to identify the primary values of North Head and objectives for the area that will protect its natural and cultural heritage. The group has also been examining possible management strategies, policies and funding sources to achieve those objectives.

The objective of the bill to delay any action to lease the quarantine station is misguided and wrongly assumes that the current lease proposal prevents such inclusion of the site or is inconsistent with any future sanctuary proposal. That assumption rests on a narrow and outdated understanding of the sanctuary concept. In 1997 a contemporary definition of "sanctuary" was enshrined in conservation legislation when the Marine Parks Act defined a sanctuary as a zone in the designated marine park that provides the highest level of protection for biodiversity, habitat, ecological processes and natural and cultural features, and, consistent with that, to provide opportunities for education, recreation or other activities and scientific research. This definition acknowledges both the biophysical and sociocultural dimensions of an area and is premised upon an integrated landscape approach to conservation.

Nothing in the quarantine station proposal precludes the incorporation of the site from any future proposals based upon on integrated planning approach for the North Head promontory. To the contrary, the conditions of consent for the proposal explicitly require the co-proponents to contribute to any future initiatives focused on the development of an integrated planning approach for North Head. Further, the commission of inquiry into the proposed lease arrangements also recognised the merit of an integrated environmental and conservation planning approach to the whole of North Head. However, the commission did not see any reason to defer the quarantine station proposal "until an integrated plan is available and capable of implementation". For those reasons, the Government is unable to support the bill.

Mr HUMPHERSON (Davidson) [11.26 a.m.]: I took some interest in the North Head Quarantine Station issue previously as the shadow Minister for planning and the environment. We must have this debate in the context of North Head as part of Sydney Harbour and recognise that we are blessed with some terrific foreshores and beaches around the harbour. The quarantine station and North Head are a significant part of that area. Of course, development of the quarantine station occurred in the 1800s. Opposition members have made it clear for at least one or two years that we are concerned about any alienation of public land around Sydney Harbour, specifically North Head and the quarantine station. We are also concerned about any alienation that would prevent free public access to those areas and about the Government's proposal regarding long-term leasing, which will not only preclude access but also allow private use and is tantamount to the sale of that land in the sense that a long-term lease will give exclusive use to a particular lessee.

This bill, in concert with other proposals, aims to prevent the Government's proposal proceeding. I am not concerned about delaying or blocking the Government's proposal. It is deceitful of the Government to continue this play about the proposal being initiated by the Hon. Chris Hodge when he was Minister for the Environment prior to 1995. Expressions of interest were called for in an attempt to find out whether the private sector had any interest in entering into a partnership to manage the quarantine station and to examine what other uses could be integrated. It was an expressions-of-interest process, not a formal lease process. It involved public consultation, but it did not propose the long-term alienation of the site, which is the proposal supported by this Government.

Whether it is a 21-year, 30-year or 40-year lease, inevitably leases of that duration will be renewed. There is no possibility of any lease proposal being vetoed by the upper House. Part of the Coalition's policy proposal at the last election was that leases on designated public land, such as Callan Park and the quarantine station site, were to be no longer than 10 years and they could also be vetoed or blocked by either House of Parliament. The Coalition believed this to be an appropriate mechanism to ensure that the Government cannot proceed with lease proposals such as those relating to Callan Park and the quarantine station site.

The Government has a poor record in managing the quarantine station site. One arm of Government supports, quite appropriately, the protection of the fairy penguins that frequent the foreshore of the quarantine station site, but another arm of Government advocates primary access to a hotel and lease development through and around that same foreshore. The two are mutually exclusive. The Government cannot protect the critical habitat of the fairy penguins in Manly Cove and at the same time allow hundreds of thousands of people access to a hotel development through that same foreshore.

Pursuant to sessional orders business interrupted.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Postponement of Business

General Business Order of the Day (General Order) No. 1 called on, and postponed on motion by Mr Torbay.

ARMIDALE RAIL SERVICE

Debate resumed from 4 September.

Mr TORBAY (Northern Tablelands) [11.32 a.m.], in reply: It has been an interesting week. Someone said a week is a long time in politics. In rail services, it is a very long time. When I gave notice of this motion on 29 April I was flagging the concerns of my electorate about the maintenance of the rail service. The Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Minister for Transport Services, the honourable member for Bankstown, who led the debate on this matter for the Government, indicated in his contribution that the Government would vote against the motion, which read:

Why would the Government vote against a motion such as that? As it turns out, it will vote against the motion because of the Parry inquiry. No mention was made of the threat to the Armidale link when this matter was debated a little over a week ago. In fact, in his contribution the Parliamentary Secretary said:

referring to me—

It appears that the Parliamentary Secretary was almost acknowledging that the maintenance and reliability of the service had been a significant problem prior to February this year. However, the Parliamentary Secretary went on to say:

What great news it was for the people of Armidale to then learn from the Parry report that there is a real threat that they will lose the rail link between Armidale and Tamworth, which is the main line. In my contributions in this place about rail services I have drawn a great deal of attention to statistics that have not been given much airplay. By way of a notice of motion, I have informed the House that rail costs in the CityRail service have soared from $498 million in 1989 to $1,347 million this year. At the same time, country rail costs have fallen from $206 million to $149 million. I also note that passenger contributions through fares are currently running at 31 per cent for CityRail but country rail is doing better at 32 per cent.

I echo the comments of the former shadow Minister for Transport, Brian Langton, when the Armidale service was withdrawn 14 years ago. As the shadow Minister in the Labor Opposition at the time, he said that the then Coalition Government should not congratulate itself on returning the rail line; it should never have been taken away in the first place. That is still the strong view of the people in the New England and north-west regions, and I hope every country member regards the Parry report as a threat to the Government's obligation to provide appropriate rail services to the people of regional areas. It must be remembered that the Government made a pre-election commitment which is still part of Labor Party policy that there would be no reduction in country rail services. I hope the Government honours its commitment, because the comments of the Minister for Transport Services are very different. Armidale and the New England area will not take this lying down. I assure the Government that we will continue the battle for a reliable rail service.

The Parry report raised a number of issues. The inquiry received numerous submissions, and many more will be received. However, people may not be aware that much of State Rail's submission to the inquiry was lifted, word for word, and placed in the Parry inquiry. There has been an agenda to torpedo country rail services for a long time, and this is evidence of it. If the Government votes against this motion, which seeks to ensure reliable rail services to Armidale, it will pre-empt the Minister's comment that no decisions have been made. It is appalling that any government could vote against a motion that simply seeks to ensure a reliable rail service for a city that has a university community and many people who require the service.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

The House divided.

Ayes, 34

Mr Aplin
Mr Armstrong
Mr Barr
Ms Berejiklian
Mr Cansdell
Mr Constance
Mr Debnam
Mr Draper
Mr Fraser
Mrs Hancock
Mr Hartcher
Ms Hodgkinson

Mrs Hopwood
Mr Humpherson
Mr Kerr
Mr McGrane
Mr Merton
Ms Moore
Mr Oakeshott
Mr O'Farrell
Mr Page
Mr Piccoli
Mr Pringle
Mr Roberts

Ms Seaton
Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Souris
Mr Stoner
Mr Tink
Mr Torbay
Mr J. H. Turner
Mr R. W. Turner

Tellers,
Mr George
Mr Maguire

Noes, 48

Ms Allan
Mr Amery
Ms Andrews
Mr Bartlett
Ms Beamer
Mr Black
Mr Brown
Ms Burney
Miss Burton
Mr Campbell
Mr Collier
Mr Corrigan
Mr Crittenden
Ms D'Amore
Mr Debus
Ms Gadiel
Mr Gaudry

Mr Gibson
Mr Greene
Ms Hay
Mr Hickey
Mr Hunter
Ms Judge
Ms Keneally
Mr Knowles
Mr Lynch
Mr McLeay
Ms Meagher
Ms Megarrity
Mr Mills
Mr Morris
Mr Newell
Mr Orkopoulos
Mrs Paluzzano

Mr Pearce
Mrs Perry
Mr Price
Ms Saliba
Mr Scully
Mr Shearan
Mr Stewart
Mr Tripodi
Mr Watkins
Mr West
Mr Whan
Mr Yeadon

Tellers,
Mr Ashton
Mr Martin

Pairs

Mr Brogden	Mr Carr
Mr Richardson	Mr Iemma
Mrs Skinner	Mr McBride

Question resolved in the negative.

Motion negatived.

DEMOUNTABLE CLASSROOMS

Mr OAKESHOTT (Port Macquarie) [11.46 a.m.]: I move:

(1) acknowledges that the learning environment of a permanent classroom in regional New South Wales is a better learning environment than a demountable classroom.

(2) encourages a review of the ongoing reliance by the Department of Education and Training on demountable classrooms as a cost-efficient approach to education, which thereby relegates student learning in regional areas to a third-rung priority.

I have two reasons for moving this motion. The first is the growing reliance on demountables for the delivery of all forms of education, particularly in the high-growth areas such as the mid North Coast. The second is the growing reliance on demountables as permanent facilities in the school environment. During the election campaign some comments were made by the former Minister for Education and Training which were revealing of the Department of Education and Training's view of demountable classrooms. The department commented that demountables should be used only to deal with sudden enrolment changes and disasters such as school fires. In light of my previous comment about the growing reliance on demountables as permanent education facilities, that raises a question about the department's view of the purpose of demountables.

Along the coast of New South Wales, particularly on the mid North Coast, the population is increasing rapidly. That is not a trend: it is steady and consistent growth. In my electorate of Port Macquarie the growth rate is 4 per cent, one of the highest in Australia. That trend has continued for the past five to ten years and will continue indefinitely into the future. There are challenges in relation to the provision of services such as school facilities—a challenge not only for the broader community but also for the Government, particularly the Minister for Education and Training.

Over the six years that I have been the local member two new schools have been constructed to meet the demand created by the growing population on the mid North Coast. Tacking Point Public School and Camden Haven High School have 13 demountables between them. I am concerned that planning for new schools in high-growth areas such as the mid North Coast is non-existent, especially when new schools already have numerous demountable buildings. The department seems to believe that the level of growth will decrease after a couple of years and that pupil numbers will drop. However, people living on the mid North Coast, the North Coast and the South Coast all agree that the consistent high growth in those areas will continue.

The delivery of education in New South Wales now appears to involve a reliance on demountables as facilities for permanent education rather than merely to accommodate student enrolment changes. That has led to some ridiculous anomalies. For example, Moorland Public School, a small school, has a couple of demountables and there have been only minor variations in population. The community and the Department of Education and Training undertook some fundraising to provide wheelchair-friendly facilities to one of the demountable buildings to cater for a year 3 disabled student. However, there was a slight shift in population numbers and the demountable was removed. There now remains a ramp to nowhere sitting in the middle of the school. That is one example of the ridiculous anomalies that can result from the demountable program. I am sure all honourable members would be able to give similar examples of inconsistencies and flaws.

Laurieton Public School, which is in a high-growth area, has six demountables. Indeed, the library is in a demountable. In anyone's language, a library is a permanent facility at any school. With heavy rain, the librarian is forced to place buckets in strategic positions to protect the books from the water that trickles down the inside walls of the demountable. Many schools complain about the age of the demountables. Indeed, a teacher at Laurieton Public School has been teaching for 22 years but has never taught in a permanent building. I do not seek the removal of all demountables; I want a scheme to be in place that does not rely entirely on demountables as permanent classrooms.

In high-growth areas such as the mid North Coast new schools can achieve huge benefits from facilities that are slightly larger than necessary. I see no problem in having a couple of spare classrooms, which would be the worst-case scenario when building a new school. I ask the Government to support the motion to review the demountable classroom program. Perhaps the Public Accounts Committee, the Public Bodies Review Committee or the Standing Committee on Public Works could examine the efficiency of the demountable program and whether there are better ways to deal with the new phenomenon in growth areas of permanent reliance on demountables. Only a week before the election the Minister for Education and Training put out a media release about demountable classrooms that highlighted the difference between the thinking of the Department of Education and Training and what is happening on the ground in areas such as the mid North Coast. The media release stated:

Any member who represents a high-growth area would know that a third use for demountable classrooms is permanent education. There must be a better way to deliver education than by using demountables. Many parents are concerned that demountables do not provide a quality learning environment for their children. I hope that a review will be undertaken so that quality learning will be become the number one priority. The current arrangement appears to rely on the ease of delivery of demountables or on cost savings. As is evident from the material that appeared following the election, we all want quality in education. That will involve the delivery of more than permanent demountables for students on the mid North Coast and the North Coast. [Time expired.]

Mr GAUDRY (Newcastle—Parliamentary Secretary) [11.56 a.m.]: I thank the honourable member for Port Macquarie for raising these issues and welcome this opportunity to clarify the facts. First, it is important to acknowledge that New South Wales has a world-class education system. Spending on education and training is a record $8.7 billion, a 50 per cent increase on what was spent when Labor came to government in 1995. Our public schools lead the world in literacy, numeracy and science. Our world-class system will be supported by more than $1 billion in capital works expenditure during our third term of government.

Demountable classrooms are integral to the Government's commitment to providing quality education throughout the State. They are invaluable learning spaces; they are valued by the education community, parents, teachers and students. That is why the Government is committed to ensuring that all classrooms are maintained to an acceptable standard. As part of that commitment the Government is spending $50 million on our demountable replacement program. Under that program the oldest demountables and those in need of upgrading are being replaced by permanent classrooms. The program is ongoing and is operating across the State. In addition, the Government will spend $24 million on air cooling all demountable classrooms by 2005. That will be a significant benefit to schools in rural and regional New South Wales and will provide a better learning environment for students and teachers.

Demountable classrooms are specifically designed for schools across the State and their facilities are comparable to those in permanent classrooms. In fact, modern demountables can have better purpose-built facilities than some older-style classrooms. Demountable classrooms provide students with a far greater range of facilities, such as practical activities areas, and give students access to studying a greater range of subjects. Demountable classrooms provide teaching spaces that meet contemporary educational requirements. They allow us to respond to changes in population and to respond much faster and better than if we had to rely on constructing permanent buildings alone. Permanent facilities may not be required in the longer term, as demography in local areas can change significantly over reasonably short periods of time.

Demountables also allow us to meet emergency needs as a result of fires and natural disasters. This is an essential role for demountables that enables the department to be responsive to natural disasters. Demountables have been provided to St Ives High School following the recent fire that damaged the library and art work of Higher School Certificate students. They also meet needs arising from capital works or maintenance projects in schools. During refurbishment and upgrading of schools on a number of occasions it is necessary to provide demountable accommodation for the duration of construction.

It is also important that honourable members are aware that demountable buildings are used in schools in every system in every state of Australia. They are also used in many countries, for example, France, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. In the United States of America it is estimated that demountable buildings make up one-third of classroom buildings, including in the States of Kentucky, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida and California. Last year the American Institute of Architects estimated that about two million school students were educated in portable or demountable classrooms in California.

Demountables are also used in the non-government sector. They are used in Catholic and Anglican schools and in other independent non-government schools. Our commitment to quality public education is unprecedented. We will be spending $329 million over the next four years on reducing class sizes in the first three years of schools. Of this, $107 million will be spent on providing additional classrooms. Therefore, the Government rejects any assertion that students are not treated equitably across the State, and does not believe that a review is necessary. I thank the honourable member for Port Macquarie for his interest in education matters. As he has demonstrated today, he is a strong voice for students, parents and teachers in his electorate. However, in view of the many positive initiatives being undertaken with regard to our schools, the Government is unable to support his motion.

Mrs HANCOCK (South Coast) [12.01 p.m.]: It gives me great pleasure to lead for the Opposition in this debate, and to support the sentiments and principles generally conveyed in the motion moved by the honourable member for Port Macquarie. I imagine that Port Macquarie is probably no different from the electorates of South Coast, where I come from, or Bega—or, indeed, Ulladulla High School, where I taught for 25 years. The situation relating to demountable classrooms has deteriorated rapidly over the past eight years. I was amused by the comments of the Minister for Education and Training in a press release prior to the election that "demountable classrooms are used in sudden and unforeseen circumstances". That is absolutely laughable. It is simply not the case.

Some demountable classrooms have been in our schools for upwards of 10 years. Those are hardly sudden and unforeseen circumstances. The fact is that demountable classrooms have become permanent fixtures in many schools throughout the State, without any future plans for their replacement. It was obvious from the statewide teachers' walkout yesterday that an enormous number of issues are frustrating teachers throughout the State. Demountable classrooms are just one issue contributing to the level of frustration and to the very low morale of teachers.

The Coalition agrees with the comments by Professor Tony Vinson during his independent inquiry into public education. Professor Vinson commented to the effect that maintenance and refurbishment of schools in this State has been neglected and, indeed, poorly managed. He then said that research suggests that the quality of physical space affects self-esteem, peer and student-teacher interactions, parental involvement, discipline, attention, motivation, interpersonal relationships, et cetera. Professor Vinson's final important statement was that the quality of school buildings and their surrounds can also be a potent symbol of the regard or otherwise in which public education is believed to be held by governments and the community. So much for how highly this Government regards public education throughout New South Wales if we judge it by the level of demountable buildings in our schools! Professor Vinson received a number of submissions relating to an asset register and the necessity to establish such a register in our schools so that the Government can be held accountable not only for the state of the infrastructure in our schools but also for any future plans to replace some demountable buildings. The Coalition supported that, and will continue to push for an assets register via a bill that has been foreshadowed by the shadow Minister for Education and Training.

In addition, prior to the March election the Coalition announced that a Coalition government would abolish 1,000 demountable classrooms throughout New South Wales in its first term. Sadly, that did not occur. However, the Coalition obviously recognised that there was a real problem with demountable classrooms. And what about demountable classrooms? The honourable member for Newcastle seemed to suggest that demountable classrooms are an acceptable and appropriate environment for learning and teaching outcomes. Having 25 years experience of teaching in demountable classrooms, I can tell him that they are not an alternative to a permanent classroom.

If demountable classrooms are delivered at the beginning of a teaching year they are usually not connected to power and gas—that might take a few weeks. Then we realise that most of them leak, and they are usually closed because they are dangerous for our students. In summer—and I live in a coastal area—they are excruciatingly hot, even with fans. Sometimes in summer we must take the students outside under trees or wherever we can. Demountable classrooms are inappropriate. In winter they are ridiculously cold. Obviously members opposite have never taught in a demountable classroom; otherwise they would know that they are a noisy learning environment for a teacher trying to conduct group activities. Indeed, when I was teaching drama it was impossible to conduct a lesson in a demountable classroom. However, members opposite, including the honourable member for Newcastle, find them acceptable. I support the motion. [Time expired.]

Mr CONSTANCE (Bega) [12.06 p.m.]: I cannot believe that the Government will oppose a motion that acknowledges that a permanent classroom in regional New South Wales is a better learning environment than a demountable classroom. Neither can I believe that the Government will oppose a motion that encourages a review of the ongoing reliance by the Department of Education and Training on demountable classrooms as a cost-efficient approach to education, which thereby relegates student learning in regional areas to a third-rung priority.

What is wrong with members opposite? Time and time again the Labor Government has tried to cover over the number of demountables in our education system. The formative learning years of some 52,000 children are spent in uncomfortable, temporary structures. And the Government accepts and tolerates that. Members opposite might think that is an acceptable education policy. Let me tell the House what some parents and school communities are saying about demountable classrooms. I have a letter relating to Cobargo Public School.

Mr Gaudry: Have you been there?

Mr CONSTANCE: Yes, I went there last week. The letter states:

We have three demountable buildings, none of which have airconditioning or heating. Heating them is expensive and as a resident of the South Coast yourself I am sure you will appreciate how hot it can be in summer and cold in winter. They also have no verandas or covered areas, making them difficult to access in wet weather.

I also draw the Government's attention to the Vinson report, which says:

Why would the Government not agree with that? Our school communities are derelict; the school structures are run down. Demountables are uncomfortable to learn in. They leak during rainfall and are hot in summer. However, the Government today acknowledges that the learning environment of a permanent classroom in regional New South Wales is no better than the learning environment of a demountable classroom. Having visited a number of schools in my electorate, I have a number of concerns. They all stem from concerns raised by parents and citizens associations, teachers and principals about demountables. The Government says they are there in response to emergencies. We must have emergencies in every town in New South Wales!

Ulladulla High School has demountable toilets. The school was built 28 years ago for 650-odd students and now has 1,200 students and 11 demountables. The school buildings are a disgrace. It has an incredibly strong school community doing its best in an unacceptable environment. What is the Government doing about it? Zero! It will not put the school higher on the capital works schedule. It is happy to allow school students to learn and principals and teachers to work in this environment. That is unacceptable. One school in my electorate comprises 80 per cent of demountable buildings. Is that acceptable?

The populations in coastal areas of New South Wales are increasing. Tilba Public School wants an additional classroom. That is not unreasonable, given the circumstances facing school communities. The greatest concern for parents, and it affects the confidence of parents in the school system, is demountables. The honourable member for Newcastle is now leaving the Chamber. He is embarrassed and ashamed. He has now come back. The greatest concern of parents is demountables. School communities are being let down by the Government's approach to demountables and it is about time the necessary $150 million was injected into the school system to deal with demountables. [Time expired.]

Ms Judge: Point of order: The honourable member for Bega owes the honourable member for Newcastle an apology, at the very least. Unless I need a new pair of spectacles, the honourable member for Newcastle is sitting here in the Chamber.

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! There is no point of order.

Mr KERR (Cronulla) [12.11 p.m.]: It will be interesting when we come to a vote to see whether the honourable member for Strathfield is an apologist for this Government about demountables. Members of the Opposition who have spoken to this motion have shamed the Government, as it should be shamed. We are living in 2003. The Government talks about budget surpluses—all of which have been underpinned by the Howard Government—but it fails on basics. It is easy to have a surplus when it does not spend money on the essentials. How would the honourable member for Strathfield have felt, when she became mayor, if she had been given a demountable council office? She would have been shocked and appalled. Yet she is prepared to allow the children of this State to study in demountable classrooms. She would never have tolerated that as mayor. In the twenty-first century we have children on the South Coast and in the metropolitan area in demountable classrooms. The front page of the Sydney Morning Herald featured Burraneer Bay School, the school I attended quite some time ago.

Mr Black: Tell us how long ago.

Mr KERR: I am not going to reveal that. It is a State secret. Its toilets are in an appalling condition. It will be interesting to see whether the former teachers on the Government side will stand up for the children on this issue. I mentioned Burraneer Bay School, and Caringbah Public School is another that springs to mind in this regard. Those schools have very fine staff and very fine school leadership that overcome many of the physical learning environment handicaps their students have. I have made representations in relation to both those schools but I have failed to move a very stony-hearted Government. Today, no member of the Government has been prepared to argue with the Opposition about demountable classrooms.

Mr McGrane: What about the Independents?

Mr KERR: This motion has been put forward by an Independent. It is supported by the Opposition—in fact, given substance by the Opposition; I am the third speaker. The Opposition is here to help you.

Mr Constance: We are here to help everybody.

Mr KERR: Exactly, especially the State's kids. This is an important motion. There cannot be anything more fundamental than the responsibility of a State government to ensuring equality of opportunity in the learning environment and to ensuring that students are able to undertake their lessons—undertake preparation for their futures—in a comfortable environment. I was taught in demountable classrooms, and one might have expected that in the 1950s and 1960s. But that was last century—the last millennium, actually. One does not expect it in the present century. I know the effect of demountables in a Sydney summer, so I can well imagine their effect on the South Coast, in Broken Hill, or even in Dubbo, the crossroads of the State. No member of the Government—I think this is a record—is prepared to speak on this motion. Probably shire Labor will vote against children when it comes to a vote. [Time expired.]

Mr GEORGE (Lismore) [12.16 p.m.]: I place on record my support for this motion. Schools in the electorate of Lismore have a lot of demountables. The special education unit at Casino Public School has demountables, I have drawn that to the attention of the Minister and sought to have them updated. Another issue I want to place on record is the airconditioning of classrooms, which is a major problem in the north of the State. As members would know, sadly, the only time Casino is mentioned on the news is for its high temperatures. I encourage the Government to continue with the program to install airconditioning units in demountable classrooms. It will be some time before demountables are replaced, and they need to be airconditioned. I fully support the motion moved by the honourable member for Port Macquarie.

Mr OAKESHOTT (Port Macquarie) [12.18 p.m.], in reply: I thank all the Coalition members, both Liberals and Nationals, who spoke in this debate for their support of my motion. I note that this issue is not confined to the North Coast, as the honourable member for Cronulla, the honourable member for South Coast, and the honourable member for Bega also spoke to the motion. The issue affects areas right throughout New South Wales. I am surprised that the Government will not even support a review of this critical education issue. A previous speaker made the point that only yesterday 10,000 teachers were out the front of Parliament expressing their concern about not only teacher awards and conditions but also a range of issues facing the quality of public education in New South Wales.

Unbelievably, the Government will not acknowledge that a permanent classroom is a better learning environment than a demountable classroom. Under the leadership of the so-called education Premier, the Government says it is a believer in public education. Yet by its vote today it will say that demountable classrooms are as good as permanent facilities. That is an extraordinary position for the Government to take, particularly in light of its public comments prior to the last State election. I am very disappointed that the Government will not support my motion and will not take this opportunity to conduct a review to provide a better level of service. The purpose of my motion is to provide the best level of education in high-growth areas in the State, such as the North Coast.

It was obvious that the honourable member for Newcastle did not listen to my speech. For example, I acknowledged that there are sudden spikes in enrolments and that disasters happen. The demountable program was established to provide for those situations. But members on this side of the Chamber are making the point, which the Government seems reluctant to listen to, that demountable classrooms should not be used as a replacement for permanent facilities.

The demountable program in New South Wales is now providing a second-tier, second-rate level of education. I have moved this motion to highlight that situation, and I seek a review of the demountable program so that it focuses on providing for the rapid upward enrolment spikes and sudden disasters. The program was not established as a catch-all for permanent education, yet that is the way the program is used in high population growth areas, such as the mid-North Coast.

The Government will not review the current demountable program because it believes it is working well. The Government places its faith in demountable classrooms for the future delivery of education in regional areas. In practical terms, the Government is willing to accept that position. One teacher in my area who has been teaching for 22 years has never taught in a permanent classroom. That is disgraceful. It is an indictment on all of us that the focus is not on quality education.

The Government has been in office for eight years but it is not willing to review the program and provide a better model for the future. The Government wants to create an image that it is an education government. That image faces a death by a thousand cuts, with recent industrial action, yesterday's teachers strike, the matters before the Industrial Relations Commission, the Vinson recommendations, and its vote today on this motion. The Government's position is that the future delivery of education in regional areas will be demountable education. That is the message the Government sends today, and it will have to live with it.

Motion agreed to.

NATIONAL PARTY NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTION RESULTS

Mr BLACK (Murray-Darling) [12.25 p.m.]: On the Monday following the 1999 State election I was invited by ABC television to journey to Adelaide to comment on the election results in the seat of Murray-Darling. I said on the program, which was broadcast to Sydney, that it was like the Labor Party and the One Nation dog dining on the National Party carcass. On the Monday following this year's election on 22 March, I note in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald that the honourable member for Lachlan, describing the results of this year's election, said that the Nationals "must have an autopsy and examine the carcass". Therefore, I take pleasure in moving:

Sydney Morning Herald

Like Mr Acting-Speaker, the honourable member for Wallsend, I am a chartered chemist, and I am also a graduate geologist. Today I report that I have carried out an autopsy on the carcass and I would like to state the results. Looking at the generalities, the first thing I found is that the carcass was very low on water. In fact, the carcass was decidedly stringy. Looking at the carbohydrates, I noticed slow and reducing sugars. It was not very sweet at all. The carcass was low on starch, which is an interesting finding. When I look at the proteins, there were all the usual suspects, of course. But I have to report that most of the peptide leakages were in a shocking state. It was something you would expect to find in an autopsy on an Egyptian mummy.

I found that the carcass was extremely high in fats and oils and, I would have to say, I could smell a bit of butyric acid. During the last Parliament when we had a division in the House, the National Party Whip would have to take off one shoe to do his count, and we would get a wafting of butyric acid. It is not necessary for the National Party Whip to do so in this House because the National Party is now down to 12 members.

Mr George: Point of order: I ask that the honourable member for Murray-Darling be brought back to the substance of the debate. I take exception to his reference about the National Party Whip's ability to count. It has been shown often enough in this House that the whips on this side are far better counters than the whips on the Government side.

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! There is no substance to the point of order. The honourable member for Murray-Darling may continue.

Mr BLACK: As I said, the National Party in this House is now down to 12 members. So when there is a division, the National Party Whip counts six on one hand and six on the other, and he does not have to take off a shoe to add up the full roll call. Continuing with the autopsy, time precludes me from commenting too much on vitamins, but there was an absence of vitamin J. The Opposition members might like to work out why that is so.

Mr Constance: Point of order: I am struggling to see the relevance of protein counts to this motion. I would be interested to hear the results of an autopsy on Country Labor as opposed to one on the National Party. I ask that the member be directed to keeps his remarks relevant to the motion.

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! The honourable member for Bega is debating the motion. He may seek the call at a later stage to do that. Does the honourable member for Murray-Darling wish to respond to the point of order?

Mr BLACK: I would like to continue my speech, if I could.

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! The honourable member for Murray-Darling was talking about autopsies. At this stage the honourable member for Bega is out of order.

Mr BLACK: I commented on the complete absence of vitamin J, but then I made an extraordinary finding. When I came to minerals I found that the carcass was totally loaded up with Armstrongite, which is a very interesting mineral. It has been known to science for about 30 years. Its site locality is a frigid place in the Gobi desert. In fact, it comes specifically from TL:Khan-Bogdin massif of the Gobi desert in Mongolia. It is a high grade calcium zirconium silicate with the empirical formula CaZr[Si₆O₁₅].3H₂O. In an American sense it becomes CaZrSi₆O_15.3(H₂O) and what do we discover from that? It is a phyllosilicate. We have the six-membered ring back again!

Mr Constance: Point of order—

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! I have ruled on the earlier point of order taken by the honourable member for Bega. If this is merely an interruption, I will call the honourable member to order.

Mr Constance: I am struggling to cope with the relevance of what the honourable member for Murray-Darling is referring to.

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! I have already ruled that the remarks of the honourable member for Murray-Darling are relevant.

Mr Constance: I am struggling to see the relevance.

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! The honourable member for Murray-Darling may continue.

Mr BLACK: It is not only a phyllosilical concentrating on the six-membered rings, I note also that it is a biaxial, which is two axes of optical symmetry. When one considers that and what the National Party is about, it had six country seats, six coastal seats. It has been said that they are a bit schizophrenic. I can assure the House that this is not about sheep and goats, it is about what they say about their seats. I take these words from Goner the Stoner, stone man Stoner or Stoner the Goner in his keynote annual address to the National Party Conference on 16 June:

It is clear to all of us that the composition of our constituencies, whether country or coastal, is undergoing profound changes.

He continued:

Again, that is very much a schizophrenic view. We now have a National Party that has demonstrated two sides. The density of Armstrongite is about 2.17, which is about the same as quartz. It is surprising to note that it is not very dense at all. It has a hardness of about 4.5, which is between Fluorite and Apatite. One might say that it is not very hard at all. Armstrongite has an astonishing concentration in the jaw of the carcass. The fracture is brittle: it fractures just like glass. It has two cleavages, one perfect basal cleavage—in other words it splits all over the place. The honourable member for Lachlan is sitting opposite, but I do not see the honourable member for Barwon over there. The honourable member for Barwon comes along, gets all the votes together and stabs the honourable member for Lachlan in the back. He gets rid of him and puts in Gorgeous George.

What about Gorgeous George's results? He went into the 1999 election with 17 per cent of the vote, but came out with 13 per cent. He is just waiting until 2007 to see who gets back in the saddle because now we have Stoner the Goner and 13 seats have been reduced to 12. It is pretty good. There are splits all over the place. The honourable member for Lachlan is just waiting to see who is going to reclaim a particular seat. Armstrongite is a dirty brown, as honourable members could imagine. Its lustre is glassy and it leaves a dirty brown stain all over the place, as one might expect. The habit of Armstrongite is bladed or in another form it comes in little small steroids. When we think about what they might do with the carcass, if we go from the bottom up we have Murrumbidgee, Burrinjuck, Lachlan, Orange, Upper Hunter and Barwon.

The problem is that in examining the carcass it is quite clear that the carcass is in a desperate state of decay, which will be reflected in the Electoral Commissioner's decision to abolish the seat of Lachlan in the redistribution. That leaves the good member, the honourable member for Lachlan, in a perilous position. The real Leader of the National Party will stand for re-election without a seat. What does that mean? Move over, brother! Orange is possible if Russell Turner is moved aside. But it does not really matter because the Country Party will have only five country seats. Alternatively, he could take over Barwon. There is a problem. What will they do with my good friend up there, the former boss of the Shires Association, who also wants the seat?

But we have to find the honourable member for Lachlan a seat because when they talk about Phoenix rising from the ashes in this place it will be him. We have this incredible mineral Armstrongite that has been imported for the past 30 years. I hasten to add that a specimen is in the College Street museum, but they keep it in the fridge. It was a great pleasure to carry out the autopsy on the National Party carcass. It was a great pleasure to find this particular mineral, Armstrongite. I wish the honourable member for Lachlan every success in his future endeavours. I recognise, having had a good think about the carcass, it was Armstrongite. [Time expired.]

Mr ARMSTRONG (Lachlan) [12.35 p.m.]: Last week I visited one of the schools in my electorate of Lachlan. One of the questions from the children in year 6 was, "Does democracy really work? Are the parliaments of Australia democratic? Is the New South Wales Parliament democratic?" I said, "Yes, it is." It is demonstrable that it works because the people of New South Wales elect to the 93 seats members who are a reflection of themselves. It is a Chamber in which members represent every aspect of society—the wealthy, the poor, the educated and the illiterate. We have the introverts and the extroverts. We have those who come without any formal qualifications and others who come with a particular mission. The mix of people is much the same as one would find in the streets of Sydney or any country town. We reflect the broader society.

The honourable member for Murray-Darling, who moved the motion, is a classic. He represents, thank God, only a minority of broader society. He is an intellect, yes, but what an extraordinary persona! Thank God he is the only one of his kind in this place out of 93 and thank God so few of them are out there in society. But he is here and it is his democratic right to be here. He adds colour to this place, particularly late at night. It is a privilege to speak in this Chamber at any time. The mover of the motion canvassed a number of issues, the last of which was the forthcoming redistribution. The process is under way. Since the redistribution was first mooted just after the last election, he has been at great pains to try to protect his patch. I have some sympathy for him because his patch is the biggest electorate in New South Wales and covers the largest percentage of the State—almost one-third of the State's landmass.

The Government, quite wisely, has provided two electorate offices to the honourable member. But it is important to note that they have been provided not to the honourable member but to the constituents. The important people in the redistribution are not the members of Parliament—existing members or those who might wish to come here—but the constituents who are entitled to one vote one value, which was introduced some 25 years ago by former Labor Premier Neville Wran. Prior to that there was a tolerance factor for size and distance. Because of the magnitude of his electorate it is impossible for someone residing in the electorate of the honourable member for Murray-Darling to have the same access to his constituents as it is for the honourable member for Vaucluse, or any other member representing a Sydney seat.

For the honourable member for Murray-Darling to suggest that a greater land mass should be added to his seat—perhaps by carving up the seat of Lachlan or another seat—is folly. It would simply disfranchise the electors of western New South Wales, who desperately need representation. Only yesterday I received an email from the tourist operators in Bourke saying, "We are in trouble with our tourism management." Every day I receive letters from the registered clubs in my electorate saying, "What is happening? They're going to gut our clubs out." The small golf clubs and bowling clubs are going to disappear because the GST consideration is not being passed on to them. Every other day I receive emails regarding school buses in my electorate. School buses are vital to the education of the young people of the Western Division of New South Wales. Last week I met with school bus operators in Young—who will also meet with me this morning in Parliament House—who said they cannot continue to operate school bus services on the existing funding.

The bus operators also said that the Government had failed to acknowledge that it has not complied with the recommendations of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal with regard to such funding. The community expects certain bus services. For example, bus operators are frequently called upon to transport rugby league, rugby union and netball teams to adjoining towns—not just 10 or 15 kilometres down the road. In the Western Division teams might have to travel 200 or 300 kilometres for a weekend game. However, bus operators cannot provide such a service unless they receive a special dispensation for training and specially equipped buses, which adds a lot more capital value. Under the new regulations bus operators have to replace their buses frequently. The capital cost of a bus has increased by about 30 per cent over the last 10 years, yet the income has not increased proportionately. Understandably, the training standards required of drivers have also increased and the cost of hiring drivers has increased significantly.

The honourable member for Murray-Darling has an unbelievably enormous job to do. The clubs of his electorate say he is not doing it; the tourism people of Bourke say he is not doing it; and the school bus drivers in the Western Division say he is not doing it. And, of course, the councils say he is definitely not doing it. The honourable member for Murray-Darling was the Mayor of Broken Hill. He has been involved in local government for more years than any of us. The councils of his electorate are saying, "Peter Black, you have let us down. We put you in there in March this year because your party said that if you re-elect us and give us the numbers, we will not force amalgamations." We have them queuing up at the front. The bus drivers, the tourist operators in Bourke, the clubs—

Mr George: The teachers and the TAFE students.

Mr ARMSTRONG: The teachers and the TAFE students are also queuing up. Just this morning I shared a lift with TAFE teachers who told me that a student doing a clerk of works course or an engineering course at Brewarrina, Bourke or Walgett has to go to Dubbo or Newcastle to complete the course. In many cases women giving birth for the first time also have to go to Dubbo to have their babies. The honourable member for Murray-Darling has an enormous responsibility. To add further land mass to his electorate would be folly and irresponsible. Instead of making somewhat frivolous propositions in this place, the honourable member would be much better off addressing the issues in his own backyard, his own province, in honouring the responsibility that the electors in the seat gave him when he came to this place. The timber industry in the south of the seat of Murray-Darling voted very strongly against the sitting member. The industry, which employs more than 400 people, is in a desperate plight. The employees understand that their jobs are at stake, and that there will be a curtailment in respect of the sleeper industry.

The mining industry at Cobar, which has been unstable for many years, needs ongoing management and oversight, and that is a major responsibility for the local member. The honourable member for Murray-Darling should put as much time into looking after the mining industry as he puts into raising rather frivolous issues in this House. Broken Hill, with its beautiful buildings, is undoubtedly a lovely city. However, the people who live in that city made it that way. The mums and dads, their mothers and fathers, and the kids made it that way—not a politician, nor a government. Good, decent, honest people made Broken Hill what it is today. Over the years, through the Barrier Industrial Council and the mayors and the current mayor—hang on, apparently the current mayor does not like the honourable member for Murray-Darling. In fact, I do not think the mayor and the honourable member speak. I think the mayor has divorced himself from the honourable member. It is not a good relationship at all.

Mr Black: We don't have a mayor.

Mr ARMSTRONG: The mayor says they don't have a member either! I suggest that the honourable member for Murray-Darling has many problems in his own patch. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this debate. Whilst it might be seen to be somewhat light-hearted, I ask that those who are observing the debate take seriously the responsibilities that we as members of Parliament have, but particularly the responsibility that the honourable member for Murray-Darling has to look after his electorate. It is a big job, and it requires someone who is totally concentrated on the task and takes the matter seriously. There are massive problems in the west and they must be addressed now.

Mr ASHTON (East Hills) [12.45 p.m.]: I am happy to support my Country Labor colleague. As an historian I have studied quite a lot about the history of politics in Australia and New South Wales. When the National Party was called the Country Party it was a great old country party. I think even deep down in the city area a lot of people had a great fascination with country people and country issues. I recall that after Billy Hughes had been in about 10 or 12 different political parties he was asked why he had never joined the Country Party and he said, "A man has to draw the line somewhere." It seems that the electors in the bush have now drawn the line somewhere, and they certainly have not put the tick next to the National Party today. The contribution of the honourable member for Lachlan, the previous Leader of the National Party, was very good. Obviously, there is a case for him being brought back to lead the party. It would still remain a carcass, but it might be semi-comatose rather than dead.

It was extremely interesting that the honourable member for Lachlan—rather than some of the present-day leaders of the so-called National Party—fought in defence of that. However, the one thing he did not do in attacking my colleague the honourable member for Murray-Darling was address what he said in the Sydney Morning Herald, which was: "After the Coalition's devastating election result, the Nationals must have an autopsy and examine the carcass." The leadership of the party has now been replaced, but they have not got down to looking at what is going on in the country. What is going on in the country is that the Labor Government is delivering in country electorates, and country people are appreciative of that and they are turning to the Labor Party as their party of first choice. The Labor Party holds the seat of Tweed. I point out that the electorate of Tweed is surrounded by the Federal electorate of Richmond, which is held by a National Party member. Neville Newell holds the seat of Tweed, and will continue to do so. Labor also picked up the seat of Monaro at the last election. The former member for Monaro—

Mr George: What happened to Harry Woods's seat?

Mr ASHTON: I will come to that in a moment. The former member for Monaro—Buffalo Bill or Roy Rogers, a lovely bloke—made the mistake of interrupting the Premier delivering an off-the-cuff speech outside a shop in Queanbeyan. That was the most famous he became. He lost his seat, poor bloke. Bathurst is a seat that the Liberals and Nationals always think they are going to win. But they never win it because of the quality of Labor's candidates there. There are so many other seats that Labor has been very close to winning. Camden, for example, is just far enough out of Sydney to almost be called a country seat. The seat of Cessnock has been held by Independents and the Nationals in the past. The Nationals can say, "Maitland is not one of ours. We blame that one on the Libs," but Maitland is a seat the Nationals really have to win, but they have not been able to do so.

It is obvious that the National Party needs to have a bit of a look at itself. The honourable member for Murray-Darling has given the National Party many opportunities to examine what is going on, but it has not taken them up. Sitting opposite me in the Chamber are the honourable member for Tamworth, the honourable member for Dubbo, the honourable member for Northern Tablelands and a couple of other Independents. The Opposition needs to focus on those three seats to find out what is going wrong in those areas. They are living examples that the National Party is a carcass. Even though this motion was put on the business paper as far back as 29 April—

Mr George: Point of order: Earlier the honourable member for East Hills said that Neville Newell was the National Party member for Tweed, as will be shown in Hansard. I could not let the misapprehension that Neville Newell is a member of the National Party go on any longer. In addition, I would like the honourable member to comment on the electorate of Clarence.

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! The House will appreciate the correction made by the honourable member for Lismore.

Mr ASHTON: I am not sure that the record needed to be corrected. Neville Newell is obviously the Country Labor member for Tweed. I believe that I said his seat is surrounded by National Party territory. We will see how it reads in Hansard—rather nicely, I am sure. The main point is that at the moment National Party members need to be careful that their seats do not go the same way as the seats of Dubbo, Northern Tablelands and Tamworth. Country Labor membership is driving this Government forward— [Time expired.]

Mr NEWELL (Tweed—Parliamentary Secretary) [12.50 p.m.]: I support the motion moved by the honourable member for Murray-Darling. Much has been made of country representation and comments were made after the election, particularly by the honourable member for Lachlan. I noticed that during his contribution this afternoon he did not mention his phrases, "National Party carcass" and "need for an autopsy". He avoided doing that. Perhaps he is letting go of those comments and hoping that we will forget what he said about the dreadful result the National Party faced at the last State election and will face at future elections. I refer to National Party representation in the history of my electorate. I grew up in the area when the Federal representative for the seat of Richmond was a bloke called Doug Anthony. Back in those days a chap by the name of "Stepper" Stephens represented the State seat of Byron. I was well aware of the National Party representations.

Even then there were arguments about the impact that the then Government's policies were having on the dairy industry, I think under the premiership of Robert Askin. I can remember information being passed around the electorate about reports into the dairy industry that were supposed to be forthcoming—I think it was the Chaffey report, if I have got the name right. The dairy farms were so enamoured with the way the National Party—the Country Party at that time—was represented they had a large folder that had on the front of it, "The Chaffey Report on the Dairy Industry". It contained about six pages, but they were all blank. That was what they thought about their representation then. It has not changed. In 2001 and 2002 the State was being forced into the deregulation of the dairy industry. What was going on there? The Federal Government would not back us up. It threatened the dairy industry with withdrawal of any assistance with the changes and the deregulation. It threatened to withdraw all the money from the States and not give it to the dairy farmers if we did not agree to deregulation. As has been said, we were forced to agree to that with a gun at our heads. The dairy farmers recognised that John Anderson and the Federal Government were not prepared to back up their industry.

The rice industry is facing the same sort of situation. The Government has been supporting the rice industry and its vesting rights for a single desk seller for more than five years. It is about to go into another five-year agreement. It is recognised that that single desk arrangement is a benefit of about $20 million to $30 million to the rice industry in the Riverina. However, will the Federal National Party back us up? Will it stand up to the Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, and support us in maintaining that single desk seller? No, it will not. It will roll over and allow the Federal Government to penalise New South Wales with a severe reduction in payments. The State Government is prepared to look after the best interests of the rice industry and push that back.

Two days ago Boral made an announcement in my electorate regarding a major investment—about $19 million—to upgrade its depot and works in the town of Murwillumbah. This investment was a direct result of Country Labor representation and because of all the work the Premier and the Government had done on the regional forest assessment—the trade-off—giving Boral 20 years security in the timber industry. Boral was prepared to invest in the industry to that extent. Prior to the last Federal election the National Party candidate for Richmond, Larry Anthony, was quite happy to go out and tell the Greens that he would give them $5 million to put Wollumbin into the national parks. He issued a press release and did all those things. Larry got his seat back. Did the North Coast get the $5 million that he promised? No way! He tore up that agreement and welched on the deal. The State Government was left to do the work on its own. [Time expired.]

Mr McGRANE (Dubbo) [12.55 p.m.]: Rural representation and how the system is weighted so much against it was raised by the honourable member for Murray-Darling and addressed by the honourable member for Lachlan. The honourable member for Murray-Darling often states that he represents 43 per cent of New South Wales. According to population statistics, the electorate of the honourable member for Murray-Darling has had one of the greatest population losses, with a 9.8 per cent drop. The way the electoral system is gauged and how it is set by numbers means that with 93 seats in New South Wales the quota goes up. If the population in the electorate of Murray-Darling is down by 9 per cent there has to be a 15 per cent increase for the seat to exist as it is now based on Broken Hill. That is not logical. The honourable member for Murray-Darling now represents 43 per cent of New South Wales, and that is a difficult task because he does not have the transportation movements across his electorate. He has the landmass and no people.

We must have a different system. I applaud how the honourable member for Murray-Darling works. He is on the move all the time to get from one end of his electorate to the other, which extends from the Victorian border, to the Queensland border, to the South Australian border and to the Northern Territory border. It is a massive area, with limited transportation by air and road. According to the vote this morning, there might not be a rail system from Broken Hill to Sydney. It is a problem with the electoral system that every time there is a redistribution of boundaries there is one less country seat. The honourable member for Murray-Darling makes the point that every time that happens it is one less National Party seat, which in essence is what has happened. This time around there will be one less country seat. That makes it difficult for members representing country seats to do the right thing by their constituents because the Government and the constituents in Sydney have control.

One fewer country electorate means an extra electorate for the city. The population in the electorate of The Hills has increased by 19 per cent, so the balance is weighted towards the city and coastal areas. Sydney is experiencing a population increase of 1,000 per week, which means an extra electorate will have to be created to cover the increase, at the expense of country New South Wales. The present system contains an imbalance. There should be a loading system to provide the people in rural New South Wales with fair representation. The majority of budget allocations are directed to areas represented by the majority of members, which means it is difficult for rural members to make appropriate representations on behalf of their constituents.

Earlier it was claimed that the National Party should analyse its performance in the last election. I believe the Parliament should address the divide that exists between the country and the city by providing fairer representation across-the-board. It has been stated publicly that 93 per cent of the Australian population live between Adelaide and Cairns, within 40 kilometres of the coast. Therefore, 93 per cent of politicians live in those areas: that is where the power is and where the money is spent. We need a system that provides more equality so that country members can provide better representation for their constituents in this House.

Pursuant to sessional orders business interrupted.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Rescission of Resolution: Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders

Mr SCULLY (Smithfield—Minister for Roads, and Minister for Housing) [1.00 p.m.]: I move:

That this House rescinds the resolution of the House earlier this day on the motion of the honourable member for Port Macquarie on demountable classrooms.

The House divided.

Ayes, 48

Ms Allan
Mr Amery
Ms Andrews
Ms Beamer
Mr Black
Mr Brown
Ms Burney
Miss Burton
Mr Campbell
Mr Collier
Mr Corrigan
Mr Crittenden
Ms D'Amore
Mr Debus
Ms Gadiel
Mr Gaudry
Mr Gibson

Mr Greene
Ms Hay
Mr Hickey
Mr Hunter
Ms Judge
Ms Keneally
Mr Knowles
Mr Lynch
Mr McLeay
Ms Meagher
Ms Megarrity
Mr Mills
Mr Morris
Mr Newell
Ms Nori
Mr Orkopoulos
Mrs Paluzzano

Mr Pearce
Mrs Perry
Ms Saliba
Mr Sartor
Mr Scully
Mr Shearan
Mr Stewart
Mr Tripodi
Mr Watkins
Mr West
Mr Whan
Mr Yeadon

Tellers,
Mr Ashton
Mr Martin

Noes, 32

Mr Aplin
Mr Armstrong
Ms Berejiklian
Mr Brogden
Mr Cansdell
Mr Constance
Mr Draper
Mr Fraser
Mrs Hancock
Mr Hartcher
Ms Hodgkinson

Mrs Hopwood
Mr Humpherson
Mr Kerr
Mr McGrane
Mr Merton
Ms Moore
Mr Oakeshott
Mr O'Farrell
Mr Page
Mr Piccoli
Mr Pringle

Mr Roberts
Ms Seaton
Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Souris
Mr Tink
Mr Torbay
Mr J. H. Turner
Mr R. W. Turner
Tellers,
Mr George
Mr Maguire

Pairs

Mr Carr	Mr Debnam
Mr Iemma	Mr Richardson
Mr McBride	Mrs Skinner

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.

DEMOUNTABLE CLASSROOMS

Rescission of Resolution

Mr SCULLY (Smithfield—Minister for Roads, and Minister for Housing) [1.10 p.m.]: I move:

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Epping to order.

Mr Oakeshott: Point of order: The notice of motion that has been circulated does not mention "without debate".

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The motion for the suspension of standing and sessional orders included the words "without debate".

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

The House divided.

Ayes, 48

Ms Allan
Mr Amery
Ms Andrews
Ms Beamer
Mr Black
Mr Brown
Ms Burney
Miss Burton
Mr Campbell
Mr Collier
Mr Corrigan
Mr Crittenden
Ms D'Amore
Mr Debus
Ms Gadiel
Mr Gaudry
Mr Gibson

Mr Greene
Ms Hay
Mr Hickey
Mr Hunter
Ms Judge
Ms Keneally
Mr Knowles
Mr Lynch
Mr McLeay
Ms Meagher
Ms Megarrity
Mr Mills
Mr Morris
Mr Newell
Ms Nori
Mr Orkopoulos
Mrs Paluzzano

Mr Pearce
Mrs Perry
Ms Saliba
Mr Sartor
Mr Scully
Mr Shearan
Mr Stewart
Mr Tripodi
Mr Watkins
Mr West
Mr Whan
Mr Yeadon

Tellers,
Mr Ashton
Mr Martin

Noes, 32

Mr Aplin
Mr Armstrong
Ms Berejiklian
Mr Brogden
Mr Cansdell
Mr Constance
Mr Draper
Mr Fraser
Mrs Hancock
Mr Hartcher
Ms Hodgkinson

Mrs Hopwood
Mr Humpherson
Mr Kerr
Mr McGrane
Mr Merton
Ms Moore
Mr Oakeshott
Mr O'Farrell
Mr Page
Mr Piccoli
Mr Pringle

Mr Roberts
Ms Seaton
Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Souris
Mr Tink
Mr Torbay
Mr J. H. Turner
Mr R. W. Turner
Tellers,
Mr George
Mr Maguire

Pairs

Mr Carr	Mr Debnam
Mr Iemma	Mr Richardson
Mr McBride	Mrs Skinner

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.

[Mr Speaker left the chair at 1.15 p.m. The House resumed at 2.15 p.m.]

TRIBUTE TO MS MARY GERAETS

Ministerial Statement

Dr REFSHAUGE (Marrickville—Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) [2.15 p.m.]: Today I regret to inform the House of the death of Mary Geraets, a dedicated teacher from Elands on the North Coast who worked for 11 years at TAFE's North Coast Institute. Mary was greatly respected by her colleagues and students in TAFE. She was a tireless worker in the community and helped to train students not only in New South Wales but also in East Timor. Mary was working as a volunteer community liaison officer with Australian Volunteers International in East Timor when she died in a mountain climbing accident on 6 September this year. Mary had taken 12 months leave from her position as head teacher of communications at Taree TAFE to help improve educational opportunities for young people and the broader community in East Timor.

Mary worked with the people of Maliana and surrounding areas as part of a community water, sewerage and sanitation project. She provided practical training to local people in submission writing, keeping field diaries and developing work schedules. She taught English as well. Mary was learning the local East Timorese language, Tetum, so she could communicate more fully and easily with local people. The New South Wales Government is working closely with East Timor to provide a range of support in education. Since February we have had a Department of Education and Training officer working in East Timor. Recently the first two New South Wales teachers to take up six-month secondments teaching English began work. Only last month I had the pleasure of welcoming the first education delegation of principals and teachers from East Timor. We are making progress on a range of other areas that the East Timorese director-general of education has asked us to help with.

Australia's help in rebuilding the education system in East Timor extends beyond official government programs. It includes volunteers like Mary Geraets. Mary will be remembered by her colleagues for her great loyalty and dedication. Staff in the general education section at Taree TAFE have initiated an appeal in her memory. Money collected through the fund will be used to purchase materials needed to set up or maintain projects in East Timor in consultation with local people. Mary is survived by her partner, Hans, and her sons Tom, Nat and Sam, their father, Rod, and her granddaughter, Charlotte. On behalf of the New South Wales Parliament I extend condolences to them for their loss and pay tribute to Mary's contributions to the Australian and East Timorese communities.

Mr J. H. TURNER (Myall Lakes) [2.19 p.m.]: On behalf of the Opposition I join with the Government in passing on our condolences to Mary Geraets' family. Mary worked at Taree TAFE in my electorate and resided in the town of Elands, a little way from Taree, in the electorate of Port Macquarie. She was greatly respected by her co-workers at Taree TAFE. She unselfishly took time away from her job as head teacher to assist the people of East Timor. She is sorely missed by that community and I am sure she will be missed by the tiny village of Elands in the electorate of Port Macquarie.

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS

Mr SPEAKER: I acknowledge the presence in the public gallery of the Hon. Jim Elder, former Deputy Premier of Queensland, and the Hon. Wendy Machin, a former Minister in the New South Wales Parliament.

PETITIONS

Gaming Machine Tax

Petition supporting the increase in gaming machine taxes and welcoming the fact that all extra revenue will be spent on the health system, received from Ms D'Amore.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Petition requesting additional support for children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder in all educational settings in New South Wales government schools, received from Mr Maguire.

Mount Austin High School

Petition requesting funding for the installation of airconditioning in all learning spaces at Mount Austin High School, received from Mr Maguire.

Riverina TAFE Restructure

Petition opposing plans to restructure TAFE in the Riverina region, received from Mr Piccoli.

Murrumbidgee College of Agriculture

Petition opposing plans to cut full-time and part-time residential courses offered at Murrumbidgee College of Agriculture, received from Mr Piccoli.

Gaming Machine Tax

Petitions opposing the decision to increase poker machine tax, received from Mr O'Farrell and Mr Tink.

Cudgen Creek Seaway

Petitions requesting that the Cudgen Creek seaway at Kingscliff be cleared of silt, received from Mr Cansdell, Mr Fraser and Mr R. W. Turner.

Dunoon Dam

Petition requesting the fast-tracking of plans to build a dam at Dunoon, received from Mr George.

White City Site Rezoning Proposal

Petition praying that any rezoning of the White City site be opposed, received from Ms Moore.

National Accident Scheme

Petition praying that a national accident scheme be established to cover all injured patients, received from Mr Barr.

Bushfires and Hazard Reduction

Petition requesting an inquiry into the causes of bush fires and their relationship to the lack of hazard reduction, received from Ms Hodgkinson.

Lane Cove Rotary Athletics Field

Petition opposing the use of the Lane Cove Rotary Athletics Field as a car park, received from Ms Berejiklian.

Trunk Road 120 Upgrade

Petition requesting substantial upgrades to Trunk Road 120, known as the Megan Road, and installation of guardrails at Deep Creek and Bielsdown Creek, received from Mr Fraser.

Jingellic to Holbrook Road Upgrading

Petition requesting funding for the upgrading of the Jingellic to Holbrook road, received from Mr Maguire.

Manly JetCat Services

Petition seeking reversal of the proposal to cut the JetCat service to and from manly, received from Mr Barr.

Public Transport Fare Increases

Petition praying for opposition to the implementation of public transport fare increases, received from Mr Barr.

Redfern and Surry Hills Bus Services

Petition requesting improved bus services in Redfern and Surry Hills, received from Ms Moore.

Community-based Preschools

Petition requesting adjustment of funding to ensure viability of community-based preschools, received from Mr George.

Wagga Wagga Electorate Fruit Fly Control

Petition requesting funding for fruit fly control/eradication in Wagga Wagga, Lockhart, Holbrook and Tumbarumba, received from Mr Maguire.

Circus Animals

Petition praying that the House end the unnecessary suffering of wild animals and their use in circuses, received from Ms Moore.

Sow Stall Ban

Petition requesting the total ban of sow stalls, received from Ms Moore.

COMMITTEE ON THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN AND THE POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSION

Report

Mr Lynch, as Chairman, tabled the report entitled "Fifth General Meeting with the Inspector of the Police Integrity Commission", together with transcript of proceedings and minutes, dated September 2003.

Ordered to be printed.

MINISTRY

Mr CARR: I advise honourable members that during the absence of the Minister for Health today I will answer questions relating to his portfolio.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

_________

HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR WENTWORTHVILLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA (HOLDINGS)

Mr BROGDEN: My question without notice is directed to the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management. Why did she ask senior public servants a dozen questions about the Environmental Resources Management report on the Boral development at Greystanes in November 2001, but wait until May 2002, six months later, to declare to the parliamentary committee she chaired that she was a director of ERM?

Ms ALLAN: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. It relates to the disgraceful insinuation in today's Sydney Morning Herald that I have supported the redevelopment of the Boral quarry site in Greystanes because I am a non-executive director of the environmental company Environmental Resources Management [ERM]. When I became a non-executive director of ERM I was aware of the company's involvement with Boral. I went to great pains to ensure there would be no conflict of interest between my work as a non-executive director and my work on behalf of the constituents of Wentworthville. There were few clear guidelines available on the issue, so I—

Mr Brogden: Point of order: My point of order relates to relevance. The honourable member for Wentworthville—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I do not understand how the Leader of the Opposition could take a point of order relating to relevance, given that—

Mr Brogden: I wish to conclude my point of order. I do not know how you could possibly rule before I have finished.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The honourable member for Wentworthville has not spoken at sufficient length for the House to determine whether what she is saying is relevant to the question. I do not understand how the Leader of the Opposition could take a point of order on the basis of what the honourable member for Wentworthville has said so far. The honourable member for Wentworthville has the call.

Mr Mills: Point of order: My point of order relates to the photographer who presumably has your permission to be in the gallery. The Speaker's rules require that the photographer be only allowed to take close-up photographs—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting. I call the Leader of the Opposition to order.

Mr Mills: The photographer is only allowed to take close-up photographs of a person who is contributing to debate. During the Leader of the Opposition's point of order the photographer was aiming the camera at the honourable member for Wentworthville. I ask you to direct the photographer to abide by the Speaker's rules.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Wallsend has taken a point of order relating to the procedures of the House. Photographers who enter the public gallery do so with the permission of the Speaker and must abide by a clear set of rules and guidelines. Those rules are spelled out to photographers before they come into the Chamber and they are also given a copy of them. I expect photographers to abide by those rules. If they do not they will not be allowed to enter the Chamber.

Mr O'Farrell: Point of order: Mr Speaker, I point out to you that what we have just heard from the honourable member for Wallsend is only one side of the story. We have no evidence of what the photographer was doing. It is not appropriate for him to continue the Premier's tactics of incriminating the members of this place.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat.

Ms ALLAN: There were few clear guidelines available on the issue, so I undertook research to identify the benchmark world's best practice in relation to standards in public life.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Coffs Harbour to order.

Ms ALLAN: At that time the appropriate benchmark was that established in the first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life in the United Kingdom under the chairmanship of Lord Nolan, dated May 1995. I took guiding principles from the Nolan committee report to ensure that I avoided any conflict of interest in undertaking work with the company, which I subsequently joined as a non-executive director.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.

Ms ALLAN: Among those principles was the commitment that in circumstances where, as part of providing environmental management advice, the task involved arranging a meeting with a Minister or a government agency, no fee would be charged by me for either arranging the meeting or for the time spent in so arranging the meeting because that function, as the Premier has highlighted, is one normally associated with the duties of a member of Parliament.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time.

Ms ALLAN: Another important principle was not becoming involved in any issue that related to my own electorate. As the Boral redevelopment is probably the largest residential and commercial redevelopment to take place between Parramatta and Blacktown since the Second World War, I was not likely to ignore that issue. It is apparent that my Opposition critics on the issue apply their own standards, rather than my standards or Lord Nolan's standards. Members opposite can go back to the various references in Hansard to see for themselves.

Mr Brogden: Point of order: The honourable member for Wentworthville has now had ample time to answer my question, which refers to questions she asked as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management, but she has given no indication that she is likely to do so. She has failed to answer the simple question I have put to her about the questions she asked before she declared to the committee that she was a director of ERM.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. As I said to the Leader of the Opposition yesterday, the Chair has no authority to direct a Minister or a member how to answer a question.

Ms ALLAN: In conclusion, while I have supported the Carr Labor Government's initiatives at Greystanes I have continued to counsel the Government not to ignore council or local residents concerns about this issue. Unlike the Opposition, I have been scrupulous in overseeing the project.

[Interruption]

I will repeat this for the benefit of the Leader of the Opposition because he does not apply these standards. Unlike the Opposition, I have been scrupulous in overseeing a project that has general support in the local community.

BUSHFIRE HAZARD REDUCTION

Mr NEWELL: My question without notice is to the Premier. What is the latest information on the bushfire situation in New South Wales?

Mr CARR: Around 80 per cent of the State is in drought, and we are experiencing low humidity and strong winds.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time.

Mr CARR: In fact, the three-month forecast issued by the Bureau of Meteorology this week states there is a 70 per cent chance of above-average temperatures in October, November and December. Already, monthly maximum temperatures in Sydney have been up by as much as 1.9 degrees. Behind all that is clear scientific evidence that droughts have been getting more severe over the past half-century.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Upper Hunter to order.

Mr CARR: Temperatures in the current drought, for example, are three times above the average in the 1957 drought. So we face a hot, dry summer, which will be made more threatening by the reality of global warming. That is why the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have been conducting as much hazard reduction as possible during the cooler months. It has been complicated, ironically, by the general drought and rain patches in April, May, June and July, which made it too wet to burn off in much of the State. There was a window of opportunity during August and early September but now strong winds are forcing cancellations. Just last weekend nearly 40 planned burns were cancelled due to safety fears.

But even in a good year the experts tell us we can only expect 20 days of suitable weather for controlled burning. On the good days available this year we tried to get as much hazard reduction burning done as possible. But safe and strategic hazard reduction requires enormous resources and great care, a far cry from the quaint views of former National Party members of Parliament who said that hazard reduction burns could be effected with the colourful combination of a pony and a dozen matches. They were great days, and great observations.

I recently saw for myself just how much preparation goes into a hazard reduction burn. At Galston Gorge, near Hornsby, there was a fairly small burn covering 53 hectares to protect just 45 homes. But here are the resources it took: 278 hours of preparation by the emergency services, a clean-up program by local residents to remove rubbish and other combustible materials, 131 fire fighters, 31 tankers and bumpers, and a helicopter to drop incendiary devices. All that to protect a pocket of 45 homes; that is how resource-intensive a hazard reduction can be. And do not forget that there are only about 20 days a year when we can safely do it.

There has been meticulous preparation for what is expected to be another tough fire season. We can make the jobs of the emergency services personnel easier. Anyone who lives near bushland can prepare their homes to make fighting the inevitable bushfires easier. Another very difficult fire season is upon us, but our splendid emergency services are ready: never better funded, never better equipped, never better trained. Let us do all we can to make their job easier. How could I forget the former member for Monaro, who was such a gallant opponent on these issues, charging into the press conferences with Phil Koperberg trying to make his views felt. It had no effect whatsoever except to reinforce the magic Whan and his success at the last election.

HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR WENTWORTHVILLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA (HOLDINGS)

Mr STONER: My question is directed to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management. When she misled this House yesterday by claiming that she disclosed her Environmental Resources Management [ERM] directorship to the Select Committee on Salinity on 11 April 2002 when in fact it was 7 May 2002, did she do so because she spoke in support of Boral, an ERM client, in this House on 12 April 2002?

Ms ALLAN: I believe I have already covered that.

CRIMINAL COURT STATISTICS

Ms ANDREWS: My question without notice is addressed to the Attorney General. What is the Government's response to the release of data this morning by the Bureau of Crime Statistics?

Mr DEBUS: Today Dr Don Weatherburn, Director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research [BOCSAR], released the bureau's report on criminal court statistics for 2002. I believe that he and his team are to be congratulated on the rigour and the independence they bring to the analysis of crime statistics in an area which, before BOCSAR existed, was quite notoriously controversial. This agency is recognised internationally for the quality of its criminological research. Today's report deals with criminal cases finalised by New South Wales courts during 2002. It shows that our courts are dealing increasingly successfully with the challenges of a large and varied workload.

I remind the House that our courts hear literally hundreds of thousands of cases each year, and that in the past delays in bringing matters to finality were a key cause of concern. However, under the present heads of jurisdiction there has been a quiet revolution in our courts, with cases being dealt with more expeditiously than ever before. We have seen progressive reductions in court delays in the Local Court and the higher courts, in pending caseloads, in waiting times, in the delay between committal and outcome, and in the finalisation of proceedings. Interstate comparisons stand up very well. The Productivity Commission, for example, has shown dramatic improvements in our court system. The Local Court ranked second in Australia for the finalisation of trials within six months, and first for the finalisation of criminal non-appeal matters within six months. The latest report confirms that trend. Delays in the Supreme Court and District Court criminal jurisdictions have continued to decline. The figures show that the median delay between committal and trial finalisation when the accused was on bail fell by 15 per cent compared with the 2001 figures.

The BOCSAR report is further evidence that the Government's stringent bail laws are having an effect. In the Local Court the percentage of people refused bail has increased by 10.5 per cent. That is, approximately 800 additional people were refused bail in the Local Court last year. In the Supreme Court the percentage of people refused bail has increased from 40 per cent to 44 percent. BOCSAR also reports an increase in the number of offenders who received a prison sentence: 318 additional people in the Local Court and 147 additional people in the higher courts. Although the number of people appearing before the Local Court remained virtually unchanged between 2001 and 2002, the findings for Aboriginal offenders remain a matter of concern—a particular concern to me. The proportion of aboriginal people convicted and imprisoned increased to 16 percent. That underlines a continuing problem of overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system.

The most enduring and effective strategies to address the problem of overrepresentation will not be those that are simply imposed on Aboriginal communities. Rather, they will be strategies that raise the dignity, pride, and confidence of those communities to assist them to tackle their own problems of crime and substance abuse. I refer briefly to the success of the circle sentencing pilot, which is under way now in Nowra and Dubbo. A recent evaluation has shown that the presence of respected elders as part of a proceeding in a magistrates court has given Aboriginal communities a strong level of confidence in the sentencing process. Indeed, of 22 people who have so far been sentenced in the Nowra pilot, only one has reoffended. This is an astounding result in the context of the number of cases dealt with by the Local Court and the number of Aboriginal offenders appearing before it.

The Government has also introduced very important initiatives with respect to Aboriginal community justice patrols and the establishment of community justice units. In the near future I will tell the House more about those reforms. However, we cannot relent in our efforts to address the tragic overrepresentation of Aboriginals in our prisons. I conclude by congratulating Dr Weatherburn and his team on providing a very valuable snapshot of the work of the criminal courts during 2002. It is clear that legislative and administrative reform is producing a concrete change in our courts, and providing a dispassionate source of reliable data upon which to base the direction of future reform.

HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR WENTWORTHVILLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA (HOLDINGS)

Mr O'FARRELL: My question is directed to the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Natural Resources. What meetings has the Minister had with the honourable member for Wentworthville since she became a director of Environmental Resources Management Australia in August 2001? What was discussed and who attended?

Mr KNOWLES: I have had one meeting and attended two corporate functions with Environmental Resources Management Australia [ERM], all in my former capacity as Minister for Health, and the honourable member for Wentworthville attended the two functions. In November 2001 I attended a corporate function for ERM and Baxter Healthcare. My understanding is that Ros Kelly, also associated with ERM, hosted that event. In June 2002 I attended an ERM corporate function at the invitation of one my former staff members, who was at that time the National Director of Environment and Planning for ERM, and, as I said, the honourable member for Wentworthville was at that function. I can also advise the House that I have had a meeting with the representatives of the Sydney Adventist Hospital at Wahroonga, which, I understand, had employed ERM as consultants in relation to its proposition for future development of its hospital site. To the best of my knowledge the honourable member for Wentworthville had no relationship with that meeting.

RED CROSS BALI APPEAL

Ms KENEALLY: My question without notice is to the Minister for Gaming and Racing. What is the latest information on the Department of Gaming and Racing review of the Red Cross Bali appeal?

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Murrumbidgee to order.

Mr McBRIDE: There has been considerable interest in this appeal and I am sure the Premier will be particularly interested in the developments, given that the proceeds of his book What Australia Means To Me were donated to the Red Cross Bali appeal. This major issue has resulted in significant discussion and relates to the confidence of people who make donations to charities in New South Wales. The report concluded that the appeal funds were allocated in the following way: 69 per cent, or $10.2 million, was given to victims and their families; 24 per cent went to Bali; 3.5 per cent went towards a spray-on skin project and Darwin Hospital; and 3.5 per cent, or $500,000, was spent on administration. It is important to note that the report found no evidence of unlawful activity by the Australian Red Cross. However, it did find that the charity could have improved the way it communicated with the public about the distribution of the funds.

The report found that there was confusion, which could have been avoided if the Red Cross had done more to make its intentions clear. The report also found that it was not the responsibility of the Red Cross to provide funds for health-related, out-of-pocket expenses for victims; that is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. Although the report has cleared the Australian Red Cross of any unlawful activity, it has shown that there is room for improvement in future fundraising campaigns. The report recommended an investigation to determine the feasibility of a charitable fundraising prospectus, which would detail the purpose of an appeal—including the costs and allocation of funds—and a management plan for disaster appeals. This could include guidelines for the allocation of funds. It also recommended an investigation to determine the feasibility of a communication strategy for disaster appeals involving multiple agencies, which would ensure that victims are aware of what services are to be provided and by what agency, and an Internet-based reporting system that would cover the management of funds. This information would be available to the public.

There are lessons to be learned from this experience and I welcome the report's recommendations. An examination of the proposals will begin immediately. It is important that the great Australian tradition of giving is not affected as a result of the focus on this particular appeal. We all know that Australians are tremendously generous and it is vital that we continue to support a broad range of charities. As a Government we will take steps to ensure that the funds raised for a specific cause go to that cause.

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING

Mr BROGDEN: My question without notice is to the Premier. Why did the Premier ring a senior Fairfax executive last year and threaten to withdraw State Government advertising from that company following reporting by the Sydney Morning Herald on the amount of Government advertising during his term as Premier?

Mr CARR: The Government is interested, as always, in getting value for its advertising dollar. We spend money on classified advertisements recruiting nurses—more nurses are being recruited by this Government than ever before—and recruiting teachers, because we are implementing our election promise of bringing down class sizes, which means more teachers. As we spend so much on job advertising, we are entitled to insist on value for money.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Clarence to order.

Mr CARR: From time to time some bright spark says, "Why don't you put all the advertising on the net. Then you won't have to spend $20 million a year."

Mr Brogden: That is not what happened in the phone call.

Mr CARR: If I were the Leader of the Opposition, I would not draw attention to the last election because he did not cover himself in glory. He failed to win Manly, he went backwards in all of those seats and his vote was lower than Chikarovski's. The Government will continue to seek value for its well-invested advertising dollar. I thank the House for its attention.

Mr Brogden: Point of order: I know the Premier has to go overseas but he needs to answer the question first. Why did you ring and threaten Fairfax to pull the advertisements if they did not go soft on you?

Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat.

KURNELL SAND DUNES

Mr COLLIER: My question without notice is to the Minister Assisting the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning (Planning Administration)? What is the latest information on efforts to protect the Kurnell sand dunes?

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Baulkham Hills to order. I call the honourable member for Murrumbidgee to order for the second time.

Ms BEAMER: I know that the honourable member for Miranda has a keen interest in this issue and has followed it closely. The Cronulla sand dunes at Kurnell—

Mr Kerr: Cronulla sand dunes? It's the Kurnell sand dunes, sweetheart.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I place the honourable member for Cronulla on three calls to order.

Ms BEAMER: If you want to get sexist, this is not the place to do it. It is referred to as the Cronulla sand dunes, you sexist schmuck. Don't you "sweetheart" me!

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I do not know whether the honourable member for Cronulla heard me, but I placed him on three calls to order for that disgraceful interjection.

Mr Kerr: I would like to withdraw that remark. After what the Minister said, she is no longer my sweetheart.

Ms BEAMER: The Cronulla sand dunes at Kurnell and the surrounding coastal landscape—90 hectares—have been the subject of community concern and activity for more than 10 years.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Gosford to order.

Ms BEAMER: The bottom line is that the stripping of vegetation and sandmining over the years has meant that we were in danger of losing a coastal icon. The Cronulla sand dunes, so named because they can be clearly seen from Cronulla Beach some six kilometres away, have been showcased. The area was the site of legendary movie director Charles Chauvel's Forty Thousand Horsemen in 1940 and another great movie, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Gosford to order for the second time. I call the honourable member for Epping to order.

Ms BEAMER: The site is highly significant to the Aboriginal community, and the dunes still have great significance for the Aboriginal community of La Perouse on the other side of Port Botany. The dunes formed part of a massive and largely vegetated dune system. Following European settlement, dunes in the area were progressively stripped of trees, heath, and native grasses. In February this year, following many representations from the honourable member for Miranda, the Premier and the Deputy Premier announced the intention to list the Cronulla sand dunes on the State heritage register. That announcement began a process of assessment and community submissions. It is interesting that one of the most difficult parts of the assessment was locating and mapping the sand dunes because they are on the move. Scientists tell us that the dunes are moving north-west at a rate of between one metre and seven metres a year. That is a lot faster than members opposite move! However, the Heritage Council has overcome the problem and finally tracked down the dunes.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I remind the honourable member for Cronulla that he is on three calls to order.

Ms BEAMER: I am pleased to inform the House that I have now signed the authorisation to place the dunes on the Heritage Register, and not just the Cronulla sand dunes but 90 hectares which take in the neighbouring Lucas Reserve, Wanda Reserve and Wanda Beach. The only threat to the preservation of the sand dunes in the future will be the natural elements—that is, wind, rain and tide. I am pleased to inform the House that the owner of much of the dunes, Australand, has said that it is happy to undertake the stabilisation and revegetation work.

This is a terrific example of the local community, landowners and the New South Wales Heritage Office working together to achieve a good outcome, and I congratulate all those involved. As with any listing, the Heritage Council now becomes the consent authority for any developments or works affecting the heritage significance of the dunes. The New South Wales State Heritage Register was established in April 1999 and it now has more than 1,500 items listed: places, buildings, and environments of importance to the people of New South Wales that are preserved forevermore. From the Kurnell sand dunes to the Mount Penang Parklands, the Coal River precinct at Newcastle, St David's Church at Haberfield, Millers Point here in Sydney, and the Coolamon Store near Wagga Wagga, vital heritage landscapes with European and Aboriginal culture are being preserved and recognised. The Premier promised that this would happen, and now we have delivered.

NORTH HEAD QUARANTINE STATION

Mr BARR: My question without notice is addressed to the Minister for the Environment. Will the Government commission a new economic analysis of the proposal to lease the quarantine station at North Head, as recommended by the commission of inquiry, with regard to the change in circumstances that will result from the 240 additional consent conditions imposed on the co-proponents?

Mr DEBUS: I acknowledge the consistency of the stance adopted by the honourable member for Manly on the quarantine station issue, which must be contrasted with that of the North Shore Liberals, who apparently now oppose the leasing of the quarantine station. That is notwithstanding the fact that in June 1993 the honourable member for Gosford called for expressions of interest from developers to lease the site. He made a high-profile announcement suggesting that the redevelopment of the quarantine station at Manly would be a boon to the Australian tourism industry and the Manly area, and that it would enable the Government to generate the funds necessary to preserve what he called a magnificent collection of buildings. Although it has taken some time, I am implementing the original decision of the honourable member for Gosford.

[Interruption]

That makes the Leader of the Opposition laugh, for reasons that are beyond me. Following what has been a particularly exhaustive planning and approval process over the past 10 years, there are now two key statutory steps that are required to finalise a lease at the quarantine station. The first is to amend the Sydney Harbour National Park plan of management, the purpose of which is to specifically allow for the adaptive reuse of the quarantine station. Public exhibition of the amended plan of management closed in early August, and several hundred submissions were received. It is expected that the proposed amendment will be forwarded to the advisory council later this year and then shortly thereafter to me for final determination.

The second necessary statutory step is the advertising of the intent to issue a lease. I can inform the honourable member for Manly that that process is not far from being implemented; and the advertisement will go on public exhibition for 30 days to enable a process of public comment to occur. I remind honourable members that the quarantine station is a place of exceptional national and international heritage significance. It has considerable social, educational, and research value. Obviously, it is far too significant to be simply left in mothballs or, as is the case at present, enjoyed by only a few people, as most of it must remain closed and in mothballs.

Much of the quarantine station is in poor condition. Indeed, it was in poor condition when the site was placed under the management and control of the National Parks and Wildlife Service some decade or more ago, and it requires considerable work to ensure that it will be maintained successfully into the future. I remind honourable members that the proposal is to lease a part of the quarantine station for cultural tourism, accommodation and hospitality services. The entire aim is to allow a considerable increase in public access to this fascinating and historic site while at the same time generating the funds necessary to ensure that it can continue to be maintained. It would be a most substantial drain on the National Parks and Wildlife Service budget if it had to maintain these buildings without such an arrangement.

I must explain this to the members from the northern beaches, who have apparently lost all understanding of the strategy and philosophy adopted in relation to the quarantine station. The adaptive reuse and conservation of the existing buildings is not new. The principle is not a revolution. For instance, the Historic Houses Trust applies the same strategy and principle to almost every one of the dozen or so buildings that it administers. The same principle is applied to many of Sydney's most prominent heritage buildings. We look forward to the day when the quarantine station can assume its proper place on the tourists' itinerary of this great city.

PROPERTY LAW REFORM

Mr PEARCE: My question without notice is addressed to the Minister for Fair Trading. What has been the community response to the Government's new property laws, which include a fairer auction process?

Ms MEAGHER: As honourable members would be aware, the Government's property reforms came into effect on 1 September. The laws represented the biggest overhaul of the industry in more than 60 years. They aim to increase transparency in the auction process, raise the level of competence and ethical standards of agents, and improve consumer awareness of their rights when buying or selling property. I can report to the House that there has been a positive response to the new laws. "New auction system gets thumbs up" was how on 4 September the Australian Financial Review reported on one of the first auctions conducted under the new laws. The article stated:

The buyer of a Paddington property, Mr John Normyle, described the registration process as simpler and more transparent. On 3 September the Australian quoted L. J. Hooker chief auctioneer, Graeme Hennessy, as saying:

I think it's a good thing because it gives the method of marketing more credibility, integrity and transparency.

The Central Western Daily editorial of 1 September welcomed the reforms that require agents to justify the estimated selling price to both vendors and buyers. It said:

Industry players such as the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales [REI] have been instrumental in the implementation of these laws. The president, Chris Fitzpatrick, said there were long-term benefits for the industry in raising the standard and the perception within the community. I observed first-hand the laws in practice when attending an auction on 6 September at Malabar in Sydney's east. The vendor and successful buyer both expressed satisfaction with the new process. While the response has been encouraging, there is no room for complacency and the Government will continue to ensure the law's objectives are being met. Before the laws came into effect, the Office of Fair Trading conducted a number of seminars around the State attended by more than 1,200 real estate agents. We also established a hotline for consumers and agents that was available on Saturdays and late Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Since the hotline began in late August close to 1,400 calls have been fielded. Last year more than 16,000 residential auctions were held across New South Wales. Obviously, it would be impossible to have Office of Fair Trading [OFT] inspectors at every one of those auctions. But the implementation of these reforms has been a top priority for the OFT team. Inspections of property auctions, as conducted in the past, are unannounced and usually covert. As part of its compliance the Office of Fair Trading is also assisting vendors, buyers and agents comply with the new laws where inadvertent contraventions of the laws have been identified. I inform the House that in the first two weeks since the laws began our investigators have visited 110 auctions in Sydney as well as a number of auctions in regional New South Wales. They have issued 45 formal cautions to agents and auctioneers.

[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Lismore to order.

Ms MEAGHER: No, I will not detail them. They included cautions for failing to properly display the auction conditions and bidders not displaying identifying numbers each time they bid. However, I am advised that compliance has generally been high and complaints have been minor. I am advised that our investigators will be more active in the next fortnight, taking the total number of auctions visited in the first month to about 250. It is important to note that each of these auctions involves different agents and auctioneers. Some concern has been raised about the practice of dummy bidding. Over the years we have all heard about the practice of dummy bidders—that is relatives and friends of the vendor calling out bids in an attempt to increase the sale price. It is a frustrating practice that can cheat genuine buyers and even vendors out of a sale.

One of the main aims of the auction law is to give a clear deterrent to those who may practise dummy bidding. Auctioneers and real estate agents are liable for fines of up to $11,000 if they accept a bid from an unregistered bidder. Fines of up to $22,000 can be imposed on auctioneers, real estate agents and anyone involved in collusive practices such as dummy bidding. If people are determined to continue this unlawful practice the message is you could be caught and the penalties are severe. Likewise, agents and auctioneers face not only stiff fines but also the risk of losing their licence. This will be a permanent and public blight on their record—a risk I am sure they are not willing to take. These laws are a step in the right direction in providing a more transparent and fair process that protects consumers and, at the same time, improves the standards of the industry. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these reforms. Over time, if there is feedback, we will be happy to take that on board.

Questions without notice concluded.

CONSIDERATION OF URGENT MOTIONS

Regional Business Development Analysis Action Plan

Mr CAMPBELL (Keira—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Illawarra, and Minister for Small Business) [3.24 p.m.]: This motion is urgent and deserves priority because it clearly addresses issues of concern to regional New South Wales. I am sure that members of the National Party will want to debate it and support it. They would see it as important.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Murrumbidgee to order for the third time.

Mr CAMPBELL: I am sure members of the National Party will join with members of Country Labor and the Government in understanding that this is more urgent and more important than the political stunt attempted by the alternative motion. I encourage the House to ensure that there is a debate on this very important regional development matter this afternoon.

Government Advertising

Mr BROGDEN (Pittwater—Leader of the Opposition) [3.24 p.m.]: This motion is urgent because it adds to yesterday's revelation of a government run by a man who is more than willing, when it suits him, to use the authority of the office of Premier of New South Wales to intimidate media organisations in this State. Yesterday on radio station 2GB John Singleton was speaking with interviewer Philip Clark. Mr Singleton said:

We add to that revelation the following. Last year the Opposition revealed massive overexpenditure by this Government on media advertising. An article published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 29 July 2002 stated:

So irate was the Premier to read this in his Sydney Morning Herald that morning that he picked up the phone to a senior executive of the Fairfax organisation and said words to the effect, "If you don't want plenty of government advertising, fine, we will pull our advertising from the Sydney Morning Herald." That is a clear threat to a media organisation in this State, saying, "Shut up or we will pull our advertising from you and you will lose revenue." The Premier—not here in the Chamber, as he flies overseas at taxpayers' expense for two weeks—was clearly seeking to blackmail a news organisation of this State because he did not like the coverage he was getting. This is a matter of great significance to the State.

On two occasions prior to the election—one to the owner of 2GB radio and the other to a senior executive of John Fairfax Ltd—there were threats from the Premier to the effect, "You get into line and leave us alone or we will take you to the ICAC, we will go your licence or we pull our advertising and you will lose millions of dollars in revenue." We heard the Premier's pathetic excuse today. His words were that from time to time a bright spark in the Government decides to put up a plan to pull government advertising out of newspapers and put it on the Internet. What a fabric of lies! This Premier thinks nothing of picking up the phone when there is a bad front page and saying to a major news organisation, "Toe the line or lose your revenue from us."

Mr Whan: Point of order: The Leader of the Opposition is supposed to be establishing why his motion is urgent. Instead, he is arguing the case. In addition, he appears to be casting a number of reflections on a member of this House, which he should do by way of a substantive motion.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition should be aware that the standing orders provide that he must establish why his motion should have priority over the motion of which the Minister has given notice. I have allowed the Leader of the Opposition substantial latitude, but I now ask him to establish why his motion should have priority.

Mr BROGDEN: This motion is urgent because the revelations yesterday by Mr Singleton and today by me in the House of clear media intimidation need to be referred for further investigation. It is urgent because of this clearly corrupt and intimidatory action by the Premier. We will refer this matter to the ICAC for investigation.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Swansea will come to order.

Mr BROGDEN: The Premier is running overseas, but he leaves a mess—lies and a litany of corruption and intimidation against media organisations—behind in New South Wales.

Question—That the motion for urgent consideration of the honourable member for Keira be proceeded with—put.

The House divided.

Ayes, 51

Ms Allan
Mr Amery
Ms Andrews
Mr Bartlett
Ms Beamer
Mr Black
Mr Brown
Ms Burney
Miss Burton
Mr Campbell
Mr Collier
Mr Corrigan
Mr Crittenden
Ms D'Amore
Mr Debus
Ms Gadiel
Mr Gaudry
Mr Gibson

Mr Greene
Ms Hay
Mr Hickey
Mr Hunter
Ms Judge
Ms Keneally
Mr Knowles
Mr Lynch
Mr McBride
Mr McLeay
Ms Meagher
Ms Megarrity
Mr Mills
Mr Morris
Mr Newell
Ms Nori
Mr Orkopoulos
Mrs Paluzzano

Mr Pearce
Mrs Perry
Mr Price
Dr Refshauge
Ms Saliba
Mr Sartor
Mr Scully
Mr Shearan
Mr Stewart
Mr Tripodi
Mr Watkins
Mr Whan
Mr Yeadon

Tellers,
Mr Ashton
Mr Martin

Noes, 35

Mr Aplin
Mr Armstrong
Mr Barr
Ms Berejiklian
Mr Brogden
Mr Cansdell
Mr Constance
Mr Debnam
Mr Draper
Mr Fraser
Mrs Hancock
Mr Hartcher

Ms Hodgkinson
Mrs Hopwood
Mr Humpherson
Mr Kerr
Mr McGrane
Mr Merton
Ms Moore
Mr Oakeshott
Mr O'Farrell
Mr Page
Mr Piccoli
Mr Pringle

Mr Roberts
Ms Seaton
Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Souris
Mr Stoner
Mr Tink
Mr Torbay
Mr J. H. Turner
Mr R. W. Turner
Tellers,
Mr George
Mr Maguire

Pairs

Mr Carr	Mr Hazzard
Mr Iemma	Mr Richardson
Mr West	Mrs Skinner

Question resolved in the affirmative.

REGIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS ACTION PLAN

Urgent Motion

Mr CAMPBELL (Keira—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Illawarra, and Minister for Small Business) [3.38 p.m.]: I move:

That this House:

(1) calls on the Federal Government to respond to the recommendations of its regional business development analysis action plan; and

(2) urges the Federal Government to work co-operatively with the States and Territories on its implementation.

The New South Wales Government is committed to supporting regional communities. We want our regional areas to grow and thrive. Thriving regional businesses mean the creation of new jobs and greater security for local families. We continue to fund programs that encourage local economic growth in regional communities. The Carr Government is providing communities with the support they need to build a secure future, and we have been doing it without the support of the Federal Government since 1996. In July of that year the then Federal Coalition Minister for Regional Development, John Sharp, declared:

He further stated that when regional development overlaps with State and local government, there is no clear rationale or constitutional basis for Commonwealth involvement. Two years later, the Federal Government abandoned any pretence of responsibility for regional development. It refused to swear in the Minister for Regional Development, and there has been no Federal Minister for Regional Development for the past five years. However, in August 2001 it seemed as though there was light at the end of the tunnel. The Commonwealth announced an action plan to target sustainable regional business growth. Finally, we had some recognition from the Federal Government that it had failed to live up to its regional responsibilities. It recognised that more needed to be done. The plan included an independent panel to investigate impediments to regional business development and outlined a range of options. Even from the start, progress could be described only as at a snail's pace.

It was not until July 2002 that the panel of the regional business development and analysis action plan was announced. One year later the independent panel had presented its options to the Commonwealth, and we are still waiting for action. What has the Federal Government done? It seems that it has consigned the plan to the bin. Why else would we still be waiting for action—any action—from the Commonwealth? What should have created great optimism in regional communities has been consigned to the too-hard basket by the Federal Government. I, together with my fellow State and Territory ministerial colleagues, certainly welcomed the Commonwealth's action plan. We expected, and rightly so, that such an eminent panel would produce a worthy report. Although the plan is not perfect—some of it needs work—any regional development action plan from the Federal Government is a miracle in itself.

This is a great opportunity for the Commonwealth to show a commitment to regional development, and it is a chance for the Federal Government to work with States and Territories for the benefit of regional communities. Unfortunately, we have seen only tardiness by the Commonwealth in responding to the recommendations of this action plan. It has chosen inaction, which means that it has chosen to ignore regional communities in New South Wales. The Commonwealth shows that it clearly does not care about the future of our regional towns. What is the Federal National Party doing to ensure that regional communities get the support they need to continue to grow? Members of this House would be interested to know that the New South Wales Government is already carrying out many of the actions recommended in the plan. We are working hard to secure the future of our regional towns. We are making sure we continue to create opportunities for economic growth, and we will continue to do so. This is not an issue for political grandstanding. It is one that all parties should support because we are dealing with the future survival of regional communities.

In the absence of the Federal Government we are examining closely the recommendations of the panel about business, government, people and infrastructure. Among noteworthy recommendations from the panel is a specialist support service. The report identifies the importance of giving regional businesses access to hard-edged business management skills, knowledge of capital markets, information about technology, and mechanisms to promote networking and clustering between firms. In 1995 the then Labor Federal Government reached an agreement with New South Wales to provide an integrated approach to industry assistance based on an enterprise development program. The three-year agreement was terminated at the first opportunity by the Howard Government. The clear message from the action plan appears to be that the Howard Government was wrong, that these services are important and need Federal Government support.

Regional businesses are a great source of investment opportunities. That is why the Carr Government continues to match potential investors and regional businesses with regional investment tours, business investment forums and a specialist support services. The action plan recognises that business success is vital for regional wellbeing. It also recognises the importance of growing existing regional small businesses. The plan acknowledges that programs such as the New South Wales Government's support for clustering of businesses are critical to drive economic development. Small business is the backbone of our State's economy. New South Wales has more than 372,000 small businesses. In this State more than one million people work in small businesses. In fact, New South Wales has Australia's largest small business sector, and a strong growth in business numbers continues to underpin the New South Wales and regional economy. We support community development. With or without the Federal Government we continue to encourage regional businesses from the ground up.

But we would welcome a return to the co-operative approach to regional business development adopted by the previous Federal Government. In particular, the Howard Government should recognise its responsibility to match resources already provided by State governments. It must support the delivery of regional development services by State governments. We want to work with the Federal Government to support our regional communities. That is why I urge the Federal Government to get moving and respond to the recommendations of the action plan. We need more than rhetoric from the Federal Government; we need real Commonwealth investment in regional development and we need a partnership with State governments. This is the Commonwealth's plan, and action is what we need from the Federal Government. We need to work together to face the challenges of the future for regional centres and regional New South Wales, and we need to do it now.

Mr STONER (Oxley—Leader of the National Party) [3.46 p.m.]: The State Labor Government should forget about cheap political grandstanding and focus on job creation and development in rural and regional areas. We have heard much criticism but nothing in the way of a vision, nothing substantial about what is planned nor the commitment and the funding to go with such a plan. The public is sick of the New South Wales Labor Government attacking the Federal Government in a bid to deflect attention from its failings across country and coastal areas. We need only consider the predictable attack of the Minister for Regional Development on the Federal Government about various Federal issues during a recent Regional Development Ministerial Council meeting in Canberra.

The Minister should forget political grandstanding and start to focus on the many regional development issues that confront country and coastal New South Wales. Why does the Minister for Regional Development not spend some time convincing the Premier and the Treasurer of the need to address the exorbitant New South Wales payroll tax rate, workers compensation premiums and stamp duty rates? The burden of State taxes is killing employment in rural and regional New South Wales, and forcing businesses into other States. All these issues are within the Minister's sphere of influence, yet he is doing nothing to address these problems that are gripping businesses and development in country and coastal areas.

I cannot believe the Minister is attacking the Federal Government when New South Wales Labor has just announced the axing of 1,000 education jobs, which will impact heavily on country and coastal areas. Labor's gaming machine tax increases on clubs across New South Wales will impact on every club, big and small. This reduction in profits will flow through to the club industry's support for community groups, and will result in a reduction in jobs in rural and regional clubs. Just a few weeks ago when the Minister was questioned about that in this Chamber his response was that it was a matter for the Treasurer. The gaming machine tax will rip about $250 million out of rural and regional New South Wales—money that was being put back into those communities—and put it in the Treasurer's pocket. We will not see one cent of it come back, because that is the record of the Sydney-centric Labor Government on funding and the budget.

What about the Government's draconian legislation on environmental matters? For example, the Native Vegetation and Conservation Act has slashed farm incomes and property values. In the Moree Plains shire alone, the local economy has lost $20 million per annum and property values have dropped by 20 per cent according to University of New England study. Yet, clearly, the legislation is not helping the conservation of native vegetation. Only by working with land-holders, the great majority of whom are deeply conservation minded, will we achieve the change we want, and that is the preservation of the Australian bush while we have healthy regional economies. Yet farmers, who are the backbone of most regional economies, are struggling under 56 different pieces of environmental legislation.

What about the Parry report, which recommends the axing of CountryLink rail services and the slashing of school bus fare assistance? What about the planned closure of grain rail lines at Gwabegar, Tottenham, Boree Creek and other parts of inland New South Wales? These changes will have a devastating effect on rural economies. They will affect the movement of grain out of those areas to export markets, and will add to the burden of local government in ensuring the maintenance of road infrastructure. If the Minister were doing his job properly he would be speaking out, both in Cabinet and in public, about these issues, for which the State Government, not the Federal Government, is responsible. However, all we have is silence from the Minister and the Government, which is responsible for ripping thousands of jobs out of rural and regional areas since it came to power in 1995.

Since Labor's re-election in March this year it has revealed plans to rip hundreds of jobs out of country New South Wales. I refer to the position of the District Officer of Education, and jobs in TAFE and the Department of Agriculture, including the agricultural college at Yanco. The Government should cease the rhetoric and get on with the action. The Government's action in redevelopment is not positive; it is negative. The Minister has criticised the Federal Government on the issue. However, the action plan recently announced by Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson shows that the Federal Government, unlike the Carr Labor Government, has a vision and is taking some very positive steps.

The Federal Government's action plan seeks to improve access to finance for regional businesses; improve the flow of investment capital into regional Australia; establish a specific task force for long-term regional planning for business development and growth; assist regions seeking to maintain and promote their competitive advantage; address anomalies in the current zonal tax rebate scheme; attract skilled people to regional Australia; increase the commitment of skilled and unskilled workers to regional Australia, including research into the potential benefits of providing regionally based incentive payments; assist in fostering regional leadership through the establishment of a network for the development of leaders and potential leaders in regional communities; ensure an objective prioritisation of major infrastructure projects of national significance; overcome the chronic underinvestment in small regional infrastructure projects; assist regional small businesses to access funding by creating a small business financing program; formulate a single regional structure that allows each tier of government and business to work effectively in partnership; establish an independent national advisory group; and develop a regional infrastructure bond market.

Instead of criticising the Federal Government, the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues should get behind a plan that has a vision and work with the Federal Government in bringing about some positive action.

[Interruption]

The Minister says that that is what the motion says. I studied everything the Carr Government has done: environmental legislation, the axing of country rail services, and the axing of country jobs. The Minister can claim his Government will support the Federal Government, but when it comes to what the State Government is doing in its sphere of influence, the State of New South Wales, its actions are totally inconsistent with the motion. I suggest the Minister forget about politics and get on with the job. He should get out of his chauffeur-driven car, and visit country and coastal areas to see what he can do to bring down the barriers to regional development and job creation.

Unfortunately, the Minister and the Sydney-centric Carr Labor Government are yet to realise that regional development extends beyond the Sydney Basin. The Minister is neglecting his job so badly that even his union mates at the South Coast Labour Council have attacked him publicly for his lack of commitment to a container terminal proposal at Port Kembla! The Minister has a hide in moving this motion today: his Government's track record on regional development is appalling. The Minister ought to take a leaf out of the Federal Government's book and develop a vision for country and coastal New South Wales, and convince the Premier and the Treasurer to get behind it, to give people in country areas a fair go. All we want is a fair go for jobs, career opportunities, educational opportunities and infrastructure. If the Minister is going to work with the Federal Government, good on him, but his actions need to match his rhetoric.

Mr WHAN (Monaro) [3.55 p.m.]: The Leader of the National Party seems to have completely missed the point of this motion. As he mentioned, the motion refers to the Federal Government's regional business development analysis action plan. However, the Leader of the National Party presented it as if it were Federal Government policy. That is the whole point of this motion. The plan has been developed by an independent group, but we are still waiting for the Federal Government to tell us what measures it will implement from that plan, how it will implement them and what resources will be provided for them. During the contribution of the Leader of the National Party the Minister suggested that perhaps the Leader of the National Party was announcing John Anderson's policy. We should not be too surprised about that, because maybe John Anderson is in this week and maybe he is out—who knows? It is odd that the Leader of the National Party does not appear to know that the Federal Government has not endorsed the action plan. That is what the motion calls for.

The action plan puts forward many positive initiatives, which will work well and in hand with State Government initiatives that are already in place. The Carr Government is getting on with the job and working with communities across the State to encourage regional growth. Our approach is working, and the figures speak for themselves. More than 37,000 jobs have been created or retained in regional New South Wales, and more than $6 billion of investment has been injected into regional areas. Many of the recommendations in the Federal report were dovetailed with the sort of State Government programs that are already in place. Programs that are currently assisting regional development include the Women in Business Mentor Program, the Small Business Expansion Program, the Business Migrant Information and Referral Service, the Aboriginal Business Development Program, the Technology Diffusion Program, the High Growth Business Program, the Export Advisor Program, and the Biotechnology Business Program.

The Small Business Expansion Program gives established entrepreneurs support to grow their businesses with expert advice. The New South Wales Government has a network of 50 small business partners who provide free advice and low-cost training for people interested in starting a business or developing their small enterprise. The Women in Business Program provides tailored advice to women operating or owning businesses statewide. In addition, the New South Wales Government's Women in Business Mentor Program matches emerging operators with experienced women business owners. The Women in Business Regional Program combines workshops with group mentoring and networking. Successful pilot programs have been held in Griffith, Lismore and Batemans Bay.

The New South Wales Government's small business advisory centres and innovation advisory centres are community based. Business enterprise centres are found throughout regional areas and provide a terrific local service. My electorate has very good business enterprise centres based in Cooma and Queanbeyan, and they have provided assistance for many small businesses to get up and running. I congratulate those hardworking organisations on the terrific job they do around the State in supporting regional business. One of the most important issues affecting regional growth is the need for communities to attract skilled workers, and to ensure that professional people are retained in regional centres. I am pleased that the action plan that the Commonwealth Government is considering raises the issue of attracting skilled people to regional areas. For a long time Labor has spoken about the need to match skills with the demand for skills in regional New South Wales. We have seen nothing from the Howard Government along those lines, and we hope to see it reform its attitude.

The New South Wales Government has been supporting skills development in regional communities through initiatives such as the Country Lifestyles Program, which has been running for the past five years. The program aims to attract businesses and people to regional areas. It is the sort of program that helps to attract skilled labour to towns in which, through other New South Wales Government programs, we have been able to establish new businesses. For example, in the region I represent, such programs have raised $5 million for the commercial development of the Eden wharf. In addition, through assistance to the Bega Cheese factory, hundreds of jobs have been created in the Bega area, and some of those people live in my electorate.

So we have programs that help us to attract the labour and the business needed in regional New South Wales. A Federal discussion paper has been available for a couple of months, and that should be used as a leader for all States and Territories to get behind their regional communities. As the Minister has rightly pointed out, we are still waiting for the Commonwealth to get serious, respond to this plan, and tell us what sort of resources it will put behind it. Too often with the Federal Government we see words but no actions and no resources. [Time expired.]

Ms HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck) [4.00 p.m.]: I was moved and strongly motivated by what the Leader of the National Party said in his speech. I propose an amendment to the motion. I move:

That the motion be amended by the addition of the following paragraph:

(3) condemns the New South Wales Labor Government for its failure to support regional businesses by failing to maintain essential infrastructure such as regional roads and rail, schools, country hospitals, its lack of incentive for urban business to move to country New South Wales, and its failure to address WorkCover, payroll tax, stamp duty, workers compensation premiums and the New South Wales fire services levy.

It is important that the Government takes notice of the matters contained in the amendment. I support it wholeheartedly for all the reasons given by the Leader of the National Party in his eloquent speech. I was pleased to receive and read the report: it has some fantastic ideas. The panel spent 10 months putting the report together before it was tabled in July this year. The expert panel comprised five clever people: John Keniry, Aivars Blums, Edward Notter, Elspeth Radford and Sally Thomson. They all have great experience in these types of issues. They travelled broadly and met with many people. They accepted 197 submissions, visited 50 regional centres and spoke with finance providers. They went to whatever lengths necessary to find out exactly what is needed across the board in regional Australia.

I congratulate the Federal Government on commissioning this report. The Federal Coalition Government has a great commitment to regional Australia. There is no way in hell that a report such as this would have been commissioned by a Federal Labor government. It is important that reports such as this are commissioned. The report has been available for the past couple of months and there are a couple of things in it that relate to the amendment I have moved. Chapter 5 of the report points to infrastructure. It states:

Roads and railways across the State have deteriorated to such an abysmal level that country communities have been crying out about them for the past eight or nine years.

[Interruption]

If the honourable member for Monaro thinks the roads of Monaro are good, I suggest he takes a trip around his electorate because they are not—nor is the rail service into Queanbeyan. I suggest that the honourable member talks to commuters if he thinks the rail services are any good, because they are not.

Mr Whan: Have you caught a train to Queanbeyan?

Ms HODGKINSON: Absolutely. I caught the train last week to Yass.

Mr Whan: To Yass?

Ms HODGKINSON: If the honourable member for Monaro wants to talk about infrastructure I suggest that he gets out into his community. The Minister should do that too, because infrastructure is the backbone for regional small business in New South Wales: roads and the railways, access to ports, and the ability for tourists to get easily from point A to point B. Regional business is not doing well in New South Wales. What about public-private partnerships? Are they more likely or less likely to go ahead in regional Australia? Obviously, they are less likely to go ahead. The report states clearly that much of Australia's publicly funded infrastructure is in decline and needs urgent upgrading. There is a lack of comprehensive strategic planning and prioritisation and that means necessary infrastructure does not get constructed or maintained. The report goes on to state:

Basic infrastructure requirements are the responsibility of the State Government and it should pay attention to them. [Time expired.]

Ms HAY (Wollongong) [4.05 p.m.]: The Carr Government has made a firm commitment to our regional towns and community. We are determined that regional centres, like my home in the Illawarra, continue to grow. The regional business development analysis action plan has been two long years in the making. It should have been a great step forward for regional New South Wales with governments uniting for the benefit of local communities. Instead, through the Federal Government's lack of drive, it has become another half-hearted attempt to resolve issues facing these areas. After the two-year lapse the Federal Government needs to come clean about its intentions. Country communities across New South Wales have a right to know what the Federal Government plans to do. The Commonwealth needs to focus on doing things that will make a difference to regional communities. It needs to show leadership.

The Federal Government needs to get on with the job, and do things that will make a difference to regions and communities. It needs to consult closely with States and Territories. Sadly, this action plan demonstrates that the Federal Government lacks any leadership when it comes to regional communities. It simply does not care. This plan has merit. A good deal of effort went into its formation. The panel visited 50 regional centres nationally and those visits resulted in 197 submissions. If the money is to be well spent then it is up to the Commonwealth to make this happen. It needs to get on with a response right now because regional communities, like the people in the Illawarra, want the same things. They want their communities to have a rosy future. They want their children to find local jobs. They want to be innovative. They want local industries to grow up with world markets; they want to be part of the global market. They want the Federal Government to support their daily toil. The last thing we need is a Federal Government that is dodging the real issues.

The action plan makes recommendations about the role of regional development organisations. Here in New South Wales we know them as regional development boards. There are similar bodies in every State. Those boards play a vital role in providing strategic direction to their regions. They also have an important role to play in attracting regional development. A little over two weeks ago, the New South Wales Government announced that a major rejuvenation would take place within our State's boards. As well as appointing new members, the Government increased funding for the boards' day-to-day expenditure by 30 per cent.

Regional development boards are a vital link between regional communities and the State Government. Local members serve between two to four years. Many members choose to stay on for second terms. The boards provide a wealth of knowledge and advice to the New South Wales Government. They play an important role in planning for the future. Boards also promote local economic growth, develop local leadership and work with the New South Wales Government on regional issues.

Many other regional bodies also provide advice to the Carr Government. They include regional business enterprise centres and economic development officers, who work for local councils. Area consultative committees also provide timely advice to the New South Wales Government. The various bodies work well together and often form joint ventures. This co-operation is particularly important when bidding for projects. It is critical that the Commonwealth, in responding to the regional business development analysis action plan, gives a commitment to find solutions in consultation with States and Territories.

For example, the action plan suggests a more streamlined approach to local regional development bodies. In fact, it suggests a single regional body. That could mean abolishing a whole range of well-established groups. The action plan suggests that regions would be self-selecting and that the Commonwealth would link funding to the formation of these new bodies. What would happen to regions that do not wish to do this? Would future Commonwealth governments show a commitment to regional bodies supported by the current Government? Regional development boards are unique because of their ability to do things at the local level. Without any doubt this action plan simply highlights the obvious. [Time expired.]

Mr CAMPBELL (Keira—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Illawarra, and Minister for Small Business) [4.10 p.m.], in reply: It will come as no surprise to the House that the Government rejects the amendment out of hand. Neither the amendment nor the contributions of the Leader of the National Party and the honourable member for Burrinjuck added anything to the debate. However, I thank the honourable member for Monaro for his contribution. He outlined the operation of regional business and highlighted Government programs to support the growth of regional business and regional communities. Similarly, the honourable member for Wollongong outlined a structure for co-operation and the opportunity for people to work together under the umbrella of regional development boards. She also highlighted programs and policies put in place by the Government.

The honourable member for Burrinjuck moved an amendment. She then quoted great slabs of the report. That was the extent of her contribution. She ignored the fact that the motion is about infrastructure. In regional New South Wales some $2.9 billion is being spent on capital works and road maintenance outside urban areas under the 2003-04 State budget. That investment will sustain around 64,000 jobs in the State's economy. Approximately 42 per cent of the State's population lives outside Sydney and the budget provides them with approximately 50 per cent of the State's capital works and roads maintenance budget. The 26 per cent of people living outside Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and the Central Coast will receive almost 36 per cent or $2.9 billion of State spending to build public assets and to repair their roads. The Government has a real commitment to infrastructure in regional areas. The Leader of the National Party was predictable with his usual whingeing and whining. I note that the Liberal Party has not provided support for the motion; it is not interested in regional New South Wales.

Ms Hodgkinson: Point of order—

Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! If the honourable member for Burrinjuck wishes to point out that the Liberal member for Wagga Wagga is in the Chamber, she may do so, but it is not a point of order.

Ms Hodgkinson: And that he supports the amendment.

Mr CAMPBELL: The Liberal Party has made no contribution to this debate. I refer now to the Government's record on taxes, particularly for small business and regional areas. The Government has abolished the tax on loan refinancing, a move hailed by the State Chamber of Commerce as "a major victory for small business". The Government introduced indexing of the tax-free threshold for land tax and halved share transfer duty. It has also broadened exemptions from contracts and conveyancing duty for the transfer of rural property between siblings. Other key measures in tax reduction since 1999 include the abolition of debits tax, New South Wales being the first State to do so; the reduction of stamp duty on general insurance, including public liability insurance from 11.5 per cent to 5 per cent; and the reduction in the land tax rate from 1.85 per cent to 1.7 per cent. In addition, financial institutions duty and stamp duty on transfers of listed marketable securities have been abolished as part of national tax reform.

In relation to payroll tax, it is the fact that 94 per cent of all businesses in New South Wales do not pay any payroll tax whatsoever. Only 6 per cent of businesses in this State are subject to payroll tax. Therefore, it is not an issue for regional development in any way, shape or form. What is an issue for regional development is the fact that the Howard Government does not have a policy or plan to support regional development in Australia, particularly in New South Wales. It has belatedly come up with the regional business development analysis action plan. The report has been tabled and the honourable member for Burrinjuck has quoted slabs of it, but no action has been taken on that report.

That is why this motion calls on the Federal Government to respond to the recommendations of its own action plan and urges the Federal Government to work co-operatively with the States and Territories on its implementation. As the Minister for Regional Development in this State, I give an undertaking that the Government will work with the Federal Government to make some of these recommendations work. The report contains many important recommendations but the Federal Government must take action on them. The Opposition would do better to support this motion. [Time expired.]

Amendment negatived.

Motion agreed to.

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Mr Campbell agreed to:

Pursuant to sessional orders business interrupted.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

_________

DEATH OF MR KEVIN BARRY MORGAN, LLB, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Ms GADIEL (Parramatta) [4.15 p.m.]: It is with more than a tinge of regret that I rise to pay tribute to Kevin Barry Morgan. Kevin Morgan passed away on the Saturday before last at the age of 82 in Adelaide, where he was living at the time. He was a sergeant in the Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War and was the former State Labor member for Parramatta for one term between 1953 in 1956. I never had the pleasure of meeting Kevin Morgan, but everything that I have heard and read about him suggests that he was a man of tremendous character and unbending resolve, with an interest in the arts, law and sports—an all-rounder in every sense of the word.

On 9 March 1944, during his service in an anti-aircraft battery division, Kevin married a nurse, Alberta Mary Eccles, at Koitaki in Papua New Guinea. Kevin and Mary had four children: Janet, Christopher, Cecily and Maureen. Mary died suddenly on 5 November 1966. Kevin later married Sybil Hall, a retired Grace Bros retail manager, on 16 October 1986 at Belfield. Kevin's father, Charlie Morgan, was the Federal member for Reid between 1940-46 and 1949-58. Apart from being involved in the machinations of Albert Willis and Jack Lang in the New South Wales Labor Party in the 1940s, Charlie was involved as the accuser in the infamous Browne-Fitzpatrick privileges case that saw the House of Representatives for the first and only time exercise its power under section 49 of the Constitution to charge and gaol for contempt of the Parliament. The proprietor of the Bankstown Observer, Ray Fitzpatrick, and the editor, Frank Browne, were committed to 90 days gaol as a result of the action taken by the House of Representatives.

Kevin Morgan was far from a career parliamentarian, having studied law at the University of Sydney before practising as a solicitor in Parramatta for 20 years. Among other career highlights, Kevin served as a director of Parramatta District Hospital between 1954 and 1957; he was the Director of the Community Arts Program of the Australia Council from 1974 to 1978; he wrote a family history called Ancestors and Anecdotes; and he wrote a stage play, Friday the 13th May 1932, about the sacking of Jack Lang by Governor Sir Philip Game, which was performed at the New Theatre in 1978.

While Kevin enjoyed success in many career-focused endeavours, he also led a more than healthy social life. He enjoyed swimming, surfing, golf and football, and he was active in the leagues club movement and at Parramatta Bowling Club, as well as being the Captain and Vice-President of Oatlands Golf Club. My office was contacted by Eric and Noelene Stewart, who were friends of Kevin and Sybil. Indeed, it was through Noelene meeting Sybil at Grace Brothers, where they both worked, that they all became friends. Apart from informing me of Mr Morgan's passing, with permission from Janet, Kevin's eldest daughter, Eric and Noelene have kindly agreed to send a copy of his memoirs to Parramatta City Council's library.

I believe that it is important, in keeping with the tradition of the political party of which I am a member, that we never forget, and the generous donation of Kevin's life work to the local library will ensure that younger generations have the opportunity to discover how Parramatta was in a bygone era. Perusing Kevin's inaugural speech to the Legislative Assembly in 1953, one can see his commitment to and knowledge of Parramatta. He spoke of the work being undertaken by the Housing Commission, the need for more to be spent on hospital beds and schools, and the desire that the Commonwealth and States co-operate more on matters of finance with the objective of the betterment of the people. I found inspiration in words uttered by Kevin in 1953, and I am sure many other members on this side of the House will be able to sympathise. He said:

While Parramatta has undergone some tremendous changes since Kevin's time as a State member of Parliament, I hope that all of us as representatives of the people of this State can aspire to be as passionate and active in our representations as Kevin Morgan was. I express my sincere condolences to the Morgan family and their friends in their bereavement, which no doubt is doubly great with Mrs Sybil Morgan having passed away a few weeks prior to Kevin.

KENMORE HOSPITAL SITE SALE

Ms HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck) [4.20 p.m.]: September is a beautiful time of the year for Goulburn and the southern tablelands. Flowers are in bloom, business confidence is growing strongly, and the community is full of activity. However, recently the Government denied the people of Goulburn an answer to a question I raised in the House. On 24 June I asked the Premier why Australian Labor Party [ALP] members of Goulburn City Council, surplus to the mayor, were aware of the confidential details of the sale of the Kenmore Hospital site before they were made public by the Premier in March this year. The Premier replied that he would seek information and report back to the House. He has failed to do this.

By failing to answer this question, the Premier is treating the citizens of Goulburn, and indeed New South Wales, with contempt. The Kenmore Hospital site has some 40 buildings of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and has enormous heritage value. It was declared surplus to the requirements of the Department of Health in 2000 and handed over to the then Department of Public Works and Services for disposal. Tenders were called for in March 2001. As soon as that happened an iron curtain of secrecy dropped across any discussion about the future of the site.

Kenmore is an integral part of Goulburn's history, and the residents of Goulburn deserve to be consulted, and should have been consulted by the State Government. The lack of any information raised serious concerns in the Goulburn community about the probity of the tender process. A nine-member assessment panel, which included the Mayor of Goulburn, Max Hadlow, selected the preferred tenderer for Kenmore in February 2003. The process was so secretive that it was not until September this year that the Government divulged the names of the other eight members of the selection panel. Page three of the call for detailed proposals to purchase the Kenmore site from Asset Management Services of the Department of Public Works and Services stated:

On 27 September 2002 Councillor R. Lucas from Goulburn City Council was quoted in the Goulburn Post as having met one of the tenderers "almost 18 months ago" during the early stages of the tender process. Councillor Lucas also happens to be the President of the Goulburn branch of the Labor Party. He has been quoted in the media as referring one of the tenderers to another former Labor Minister, Rodney Cavalier, for advice about "the direction they should head".

I have not been privy to any comments made by Councillor Lucas about the Kenmore tender process, but they were enough to prompt Councillor Susan Harris to question Councillor Lucas in an open council meeting on 13 May 2003 about his knowledge of confidential details of one of the tenders. The Goulburn Post of 16 May 2003 reported that at the meeting Councillor Susan Harris on three occasions questioned Councillor Lucas as to how he knew details of the Kenmore sale that had not been released. Mayor Hadlow ruled this question out of order twice and refused to allow Councillor Lucas to answer. On the one occasion that Councillor Lucas did answer he said:

I don't see the relevance and why I should be subjected to questioning like this.

Mayor Hadlow was one of the candidates for ALP preselection for the electorate of Burrinjuck at the last State election and, as I said earlier, was a member of the tender selection panel. But even he appears not to have been fully informed as to what was happening as he was quoted in the Goulburn Post of 23 May 2003 as saying:

I have heard reports of other direct lobbying between Councillor Lucas, Rodney Cavalier, Minister Della Bosca and a person close to ALP Senator Stevens, but as I cannot verify them I will not mention them further. Another significant concern is the reported sale price of about $3 million, which has yet to be confirmed. If this is correct, the taxpayers of New South Wales have been dudded, with the successful tenderer being given what can only be described as "mates rates".

After the tender process had been completed I was informed that the losing tenderer had offered about twice the reported sale price. Local real estate agents have independently valued the site at a conservative $6 million. Yet the Labor Government has consistently refused to reveal the price paid for the site or the official valuation of the site by the State Valuers Office. With all this publicly available information, the Premier has still seen fit to refuse to answer my question without notice about why this knowledge was reportedly available to Labor members of Goulburn City Council, apart from the mayor. What is the Labor Party hiding in relation to this matter?

I will not detail the many allegations of corruption in this process that have been made to me by members of the Goulburn community. However, I will say that if it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. I shall conclude with a quote from the Goulburn Post of Wednesday 10 September 2003. In a letter to the editor, Mr Brian Baxter—sometimes I disagree with what Mr Baxter has to say—of Cathcart Street, Goulburn, said:

When reading the Goulburn Post I often scratch my head trying to understand Nev Burrows buying the Goulburn Bowling club (less than one acre) for $3 million when the Labor Government sold Kenmore (over 30 acres) for reportedly the same price. Also some editorials, Peto's and Ray Williams columns and letters to the editor, not to forget the rail and council amalgamation fiascos, require a good scratch.

[Time expired.]

BORAL TIMBER MURWILLUMBAH PLANT

Mr NEWELL (Tweed—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.25 p.m.]: On Friday 12 September Boral Timber announced that Murwillumbah would be the site for its new $19 million state-of-the-art engineered timber flooring plant. I pay tribute to Boral for its preparedness to invest in the township of Murwillumbah. I acknowledge the role the State Government played in getting that facility and encouraging Boral Timber to make its investment decision for the benefit of Murwillumbah. The new facility, based on European technology, will lead Boral's push into the further value-added use of scarce native hardwood resources. The plant will eventually produce about one million square metres of engineered flooring annually to supply the domestic market, which is currently served mainly by European and Asian imports of this type of product. The product also has substantial export potential.

Boral's existing processing plant at Murwillumbah, which employs about 30 people, is an ideal location to expand its position in the value-added hardwood timber industry. At the moment the plant produces solid flooring and some structural timbers which go mainly to the Gold Coast market but also to the local market. Obviously the Gold Coast and Brisbane areas would take the bulk of that product. The new site is close to sources of native hardwood and plantation softwood in northern New South Wales. It is in close proximity to major transport routes, and the significant level of infrastructure required to support the new engineered flooring plant is already in place at Murwillumbah. The Boral company, in making that decision, also approached Tweed Shire Council about whether a development application was needed. It was able to determine from David Broyd, the Planning Manager of Tweed Shire Council, that a development application would not be required as the existing user facility in place covered the work the company wanted to do in the future.

The future is great because the workforce will be expanded over the next 18 months to roughly 100. Unfortunately, in January, when the plant closes for reconstruction, 30-plus workers will be out of a job, but Boral is doing everything it can to have those workers transferred to other divisions within the Boral industry group. One or two workers have indicated they are happy to take a six-month break and come back to work in August, when the new plant is expected to open.

New South Wales TAFE will also be involved in training new staff—getting them up to speed on the new technology to be utilised in the plant. It is different from the solid timber flooring that comes out of the plant at the moment. The engineered flooring plant will consist of hardwood timber on top of particleboard material. That means that scarce native timber that is used in hardwood will go a lot further because a thinner plank can be glued on top of the particleboard as either a single plank or a multiplank product. This makes it much cheaper and more attractive, and it will extend the use of rare native timbers and improve the value-adding, which is something we all look for today.

I compliment Boral on the work it did in that regard. I also acknowledge the role of the State Government. The decision by Boral to extend the plant and invest $19 million in this new-generation engineered timber flooring plant is a direct result of the work done by the State Government under the regional forests assessment, the decisions made, and the 20-year assurances given to Boral. As a trade-off for that, the company is required to invest in the industry. It is a direct result of the good work of Bob Carr and the Labor Government prior to the last election. Putting areas such as Wollumbin and Whian Whian—icon forests—into national parks and giving the industry assurances for timber supply for the next 20 years enabled Boral to make this $19 million reinvestment decision and it is great news for Murwillumbah and the rest of the North Coast.

Miss BURTON (Kogarah—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.30 p.m.]: I congratulate the honourable member for Tweed on his hard work in the local area and on his support of local industry. Once again, this is a demonstration of the Government understanding, and being supportive of, industry in regional and rural areas. Boral will now invest heavily in Murwillumbah, and that will create jobs and ensure that there is local manufacturing in the State. I commend Boral and the council. This shows what happens when people are committed to a project, look after their communities, and work together. This is a great benefit for the people of Murwillumbah.

LAND TAX

Mr PAGE (Ballina—Deputy Leader of the National Party) [4.31 p.m.]: I wish to highlight a problem facing a 71-year-old constituent of mine from Byron Bay who has been placed in an untenable financial position because of the imposition of land tax on her family home. In 2000 Mrs Marjorie Way paid $3,300 in land tax. Last year she paid $19,000 in land tax. Mrs Way, on a fixed income, has to find some means to pay $19,000 in land tax. That is a disgrace. Do the Treasurer and the Premier of this State seriously expect a 71-year-old woman to go back to work—this is what she is faced with—in her son's business to try to generate the money to pay the land tax?

This is an outrageous and heartless approach by the Carr Government to elderly people in our State. On principle, I do not believe that anyone should pay land tax on their primary residence. This is Mrs Way's family home, and it has been for something like 18 years. Yet she finds herself, on a fixed income, in the position of having to pay $19,000 in land tax. This is not just for one year. She has to pay it every year! Next year it will probably be even more because of the escalation in land values.

Understandably, Mrs Way is very concerned about what is happening. Between July 2000 and July 2001 the value of her home rose by 186 per cent, which is a matter of grave concern. Where is this lady and others like her going to be in five years? The Government does not seem to understand that despite rising property values, residents faced with land tax assessments on their family homes are not necessarily in any better financial position to pay increasingly higher assessments. Mrs Way is on a post-retirement fixed income and has had no increase in income to match the increased value of her home. None of us would like to be faced with the prospect of spiralling land tax assessments on an annual basis.

Despite a lifetime of working and saving, Mrs Way may lose much of her retirement nest egg in her bid to raise the money to pay land tax on her principal place of residence. Mrs Way and her husband have worked hard all their lives and had no way of foreseeing the property price rises. Given this unpredictability, land tax on a resident's home is most unfair and, I believe, un-Australian. It taxes retired persons on fixed incomes because of the perceived increase in the value of their homes, yet it does not tax a wealthy person living in a less valuable home. In Mrs Way's case, it is a tax based on her home and bears no relationship to her ability to pay.

Mrs Way has three options: she pays the tax, makes a lengthy appeal through the New South Wales Land and Environment Court, or defers the payment until her death. The third option is a de facto death duty and is fundamentally unjust. Not many of us would want to choose between any of those options at an advanced age. The State ALP Government defends this tax and claims that services will be placed in jeopardy if revenue is reduced, yet New South Wales is the highest-taxing State in Australia. Since 1994-95, payroll tax collected has increased by 63.4 per cent, land tax collected has increased by 145.29 per cent, and duty collected from contracts and conveyances—that is stamp duty—has risen by almost 209 per cent. New South Wales land tax on a $300,000 property is $663 compared with $341 in Queensland and $229 in Victoria. On a $600,000 property, land tax in New South Wales is $5,797, compared with $3,199 in Queensland and $1,180 in Victoria.

Unfortunately, a whole group of other people are also impacted by land tax. They are the people I call the mum and dad investors. These are people who have bought a property to try to provide some sort of security for their old age, so they do not have to be a burden on the public purse. Yet, because of land tax, there is no attraction in their investments in real estate. I know of cases where people have to pay all the rent they earn on their property in land tax. It is outrageous that the Government continues not to review land tax. It is a most unfair tax, particularly in relation to people like Mrs Way. I call on the Government to review it immediately. [Time expired.]

ENGADINE PUBLIC SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

Mr McLEAY (Heathcote) [4.36 p.m.]: I would like to inform the House of the talents of children in the IO and IM classes at Engadine Public School. These students were invited to perform their play "Under the Waves" at the Sydney south regional competition, held at the Seymour Centre last night. They were selected on their outstanding performance at the 2003 Sydney South East Primary Drama Play Day at the St George auditorium at Kogarah. The play is a dramatic representation of a beautiful sea life environment destroyed by the disaster of an oil spill. The theme is "Save the World".

The students from Engadine Public School were the only special education classes to perform in the final, and the only school from the Sutherland shire to make it to the final. Last night they performed in one of the finals. I am reliably advised that their performance was nothing short of brilliant. All of the children played their part to perfection. Everything went right on the night, and all who attended were very proud of the children's performance. The children have grown from this experience. It has boosted their confidence and earned them respect from other students at their school. The play has also given these children new opportunities and a chance to express themselves theatrically. This has had a positive effect on the whole school, and has taught other children to show respect and kindness to those who are less fortunate.

I congratulate the dedicated teachers and community volunteers who worked hard to put the show together. Mrs Joy MacRae and Mrs Sharon Barry, the senior teachers of the special classes, have given their time every week since the beginning of the term, with the assistance of many dedicated community volunteers, to stage the play. The transportation of the students, helpers, costumes and props became a huge hurdle when they found they were to perform at the Seymour Centre. They needed to hire a bus to perform and rehearse at the centre. I wrote to the Minister for Community Services requesting $400 to hire a bus to transport the children and props to the Seymour Centre. On behalf of the students, staff and parents of Engadine Public School, I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for her assistance. In a letter Ms Mandy Shaw, the school principal, said:

To see the looks of delight on their faces as they performed was worth every bit of the countless hours spent in ensuring the props were just right, the costumes were just right and the children happy and excited.

Engadine Public School worked tirelessly with children who have learning difficulties. I was present when the teachers, volunteers, and children went to their full dress rehearsal on Monday. The children were very excited, their costumes were dynamic, and the props were large and bright. It was obvious that a great deal of work and effort had gone into getting everything ready. I am advised that further finals will be held tonight and the children will find out the results some time in the future. I commend the school and its teachers for the work they have done for these children, and I congratulate the students on their amazing efforts. Well done!

Miss BURTON (Kogarah—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.41 p.m.]: On behalf of the Government I congratulate the students of Engadine Public School. These types of projects are important for children to build their self-esteem and develop new skills. I thank the honourable member for Heathcote for bringing this matter to the attention of the House. He is an active local member and very supportive of his local schools. I am sure that Engadine Public School is appreciative of his efforts.

SYDNEY HARMONY BARBERSHOP SINGERS

Mr ROBERTS (Lane Cove) [4.41 p.m.]: It is with a great deal of pride and pleasure that I speak in this House as the patron of the Sydney Harmony barbershop singers organisation. This group of dedicated individuals from Sydney will attend the AAMBS National Convention for Barbershop Singers of Australia in Perth 2003. The chorus contest will be held on Saturday 11 October in the Burswood Theatre, Perth, from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. At this stage the draw has not been finalised, but I am sure the group will perform well and do us proud. Sydney Harmony consists of two senior quartets, Bifocal Minority and Quadrisonix, who will compete on the afternoon of Thursday 9 October, and three open quartets, Freefall, Your Shout, and Ignition, who will compete in the heats on Friday 10 October. Ten quartets will be chosen to compete in the finals, which are to be held on Saturday 11 October. It is hoped that at least Freefall will take out the gold medal in the final. I know they will perform very well and I wish them the best of luck.

The Sydney Harmony singers who will participate in the AAMBS national are Chris Abel, Vernon Asprey, Paul Barnes, Michael Beilby, Mario Bellizzi, Scott Caldwell, Chris Chai, Kingsley Chambers, Oliver Chambers, Kevin Channells, Stan Collett, Paul Connell, George Dalgleish, Les Daniels, Alan Earp, Eric Elder, John Elmgreen, David Enock who is my father-in-law, Graeme Farrar, Don Forrest, John Forrest, Mark Francis, Bob Fritz, Guy Gibson, John Gleeson, Quentin Goldfinch, Derek Gum, Mike Haile, Tom Hay, Bob Haynes, Matt Henderson, Tony Hoggard, Graham Horn, Richard Hughes, Anthony Hutapea, Lyall Johnstone, Richard Kaan, Alan Linklater, Bruce Magnusson, Gordon Mar, Peter Marcus, Max Marshall, Bill Maxwell, Chris Miley, Geoff Millard, Doug Moran, Vince O'Connor, David Ojerholm, Mark O'Neill, Richard Owens, John Parker, Ralph Parsons, Bill Purdue, Tony Rathbone, Don Reade, Jonathon Reed, Wayne Retallick, Steve Rowlatt, Max Russell, Trevor Russell, Mick Ryan, Duncan Sadleir, Jason Speck, Gary Stavrou, Tony Sykes, Jeffrey Tang, Sam Taylor, Keith Titmuss, Mark Virtue, Rob Walley, Max Ward, Roy Ward, Peter Warren, Ladd Wheeler, Kevin White, Colin Williams and Keith Wood.

The president of the organisation is Ladd Wheeler, the secretary is Mark Virtue, the treasurer is David Ojerholm and the vice-president is Vince O'Connor. Their fantastic musical director is Jim Catt, their coach Steve Ferrick does a wonderful job, and the choreography is done by Lisa Schouw. A total of 77 of these good New South Welshmen from Sydney will attend this conference. I wish them the best at the convention, and I look forward to following their good work to the end of this year when they head overseas to represent Australia at the international convention.

Miss BURTON (Kogarah—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.46 p.m.]: On behalf of the Government I join the honourable member for Lane Cove in wishing Sydney Harmony every success in the coming competition.

WENTWORTHVILLE PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE

Ms ALLAN (Wentworthville) [4.46 p.m.]: This evening I would like to talk about a marvellous event that is about to take place at Wentworthville shopping centre. The event has been devised by the Wentworthville Promotions Committee, an exciting new committee that has been formed within the business community of Wentworthville. I am delighted that the committee has held its last three meetings in my office at 47 Station Street, Wentworthville. This committee is an initiative of a real gentleman, Len Dean, who runs Leonard's Dry Cleaning at Wentworthville. Not only is Len a good drycleaner, he shows great commitment to promoting the Wentworthville shopping centre.

For the benefit of those members who do not know the area, Wentworthville lies between the major central business districts of Parramatta and Blacktown. Its smallish shopping centre has faced competition over the years from shopping complexes that have been established along the Great Western Highway and in Winston Hills. Wentworthville's shopping centre at the old railway station has struggled to maintain its momentum, but at the moment the centre is going well. I had difficulty getting a campaign office during the election campaign earlier this year because there were no vacant shops. That was a good indicator of the revitalisation of the shopping centre.

The promotions committee has come up with a unique idea. I cannot remember the last time we had a carnival-like event in Wentworthville. I have a faded memory of meeting the Hon. John Ryan at the "Back to Wenty" Santa parade many years ago. He was there looking after the interests of one of the former Opposition leaders in Western Sydney. He had two very small children with him and I think I had only one. So it was a long time ago. That was the last time the Wentworthville community got together in a commercial enterprise to revitalise Wentworthville shopping centre. Len's idea for a promotional campaign is that all the businesses in the shopping centre should place an odd item in their shop or shopfront. People who want to get involved in the competition will come to Wentworthville and look for the odd items. I have not worked out what odd item I will put in my shopfront, but it will not be a poster of the former Liberal candidate for Wentworthville or the current Leader of the Opposition. I must have something in my office that is not usually found in the office of the local Labor member. We are working on that at the moment.

In the meantime, more than 80 businesses have literally come to the party. They are offering prizes to shoppers who come into the area to scour the shops for these odd items that are in atypical places. The backbone of these types of projects is formed by a group of people. The initial meeting was held by the place manager of Holroyd City Council, Jenny Williams. At the last three meetings we have had in attendance Colleen Bernard from Phone A Gift Basket, whom I must congratulate for winning the Parramatta Advertiser award for the best small business in the Parramatta area. She works from her home in Wentworthville. Also in attendance were Charlie Daher from the BP service station, another award winner in the Parramatta Advertiser stakes, Michael Dixon from Chemsave Wentworthville and Ann Muir, Centre Manager of the mall.

Afefah Esber, from my office—who is the minute taker for the group—was present. Also present were Trevor Oldfield, President of the Wentworthville Leagues Club; Phil Moss, another former board member from Wentworthville Leagues Club who runs Phil Moss Optical; Nicole Price, representing the Commonwealth Bank; and Elaine Eames, representing Westpac. We also had representatives from both the Parramatta Advertiser and the Parramatta Sun. Renee Dandy, the Advertising Manager for the Parramatta Advertiser, is absolutely brilliant at not only getting ads together during election campaigns but she is particularly good at running promotional ads for the local business community.

This fun event will start in November and finish by early December so that it will not interfere with the crowds of people who are in the shops by Christmas. It will attract families, young people and older people into the shops at Wentworthville. We have lots of people in those categories in our community. I am looking forward to the event. I am more than happy to provide accommodation within my office for this group to meet. A subcommittee led by Phil Moss, who is an astute chairman, will run the local committee. Elizabeth from the St George bank has an account open for us. We are getting lots of support from the media and the advertising community, as well as local banking organisations and clubs. Best wishes, Len Dean. You had a bright idea. Let us make sure it works before Christmas.

Miss BURTON (Kogarah—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.51 p.m.]: I join with the honourable member for Wentworthville in congratulating Len Dean on such a wonderful initiative. I draw the attention of the House to the support of the honourable member for Wentworthville for local businesses. She has demonstrated her support for this project and small business. I hope it is a success. Small shopping precincts have been affected drastically by big shopping malls and one-stop shops. I wish them all the success in the world for this great, innovative idea. We are really heartened to hear that the event is supported by 80 other businesses, as the honourable member stated. It is fantastic. I wish them every success.

CHATSWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL 120TH ANNIVERSARY

Ms BEREJIKLIAN (Willoughby) [4.51 p.m.]: It is vitally important to acknowledge major community milestones. I congratulate formally the principal, students, teachers, parents and the entire school community of the Chatswood Public School on its 120th anniversary. I particularly congratulate the principal, Tim Dodds, his teaching staff, and all the parents and students who have participated in a range of functions and activities to celebrate this major milestone in the history of the school. Coincidentally, the school has held many activities in conjunction with or at the same time as activities associated with the Willoughby Spring Festival, which is celebrated during the entire month of September. Chatswood Public School was established in 1883, and it is currently located on the Pacific Highway at Chatswood. Tuesday 16 September was the major open day to celebrate the 120th anniversary.

Although the school started in 1883, the original site was purchased in 1895. Two acres of the site that had been used as an orchard were purchased from Messrs Alfred Browne and Fullers Trustees for the sum of �1,350. I understand that the original site of the school, then known as the Chatswood Superior School, was in Roseville. But the school had to be moved to its current site due to an overpopulation of snakes. The main open day involved the infants school, kindergarten to year 2, and years 3 to 6. The students participated in dance, games and activities from the past. I understand that a great day was had by all. The day culminated with a birthday cake, a song and the launch of a book entitled Chatswood Public School 1983-2003 the Continuing Story, which chronicles the history of the school for the past 20 years.

Chatswood Public School has pride of place in the local community. Parents participate in its management and organisation through an active parents and citizens committee system. Parents also assist in educational programs and as helpers in classrooms. The school, which has about 600 students, participates in a number of diverse activities. Some people might be surprised to learn that both the culture and academic achievements of its population are extremely diverse. Some 53 per cent of the current student population comes from a non-English-speaking background, and 48 different language groups are represented in the school. Citizenship is a major focus at Chatswood Public School.

A Student Representative Council is one of the main areas in which students are given leadership responsibilities in school governments. They are involved actively in planning, decision-making and implementation phases, which encourages their belief in their ability to further the education of all students. In November I will set aside a special day to congratulate student leaders from primary schools across the electorate, and I look forward to the participation of Chatswood Public School on that day. Chatswood Public School has mainstream classes, multiyear classes and opportunity classes for specially selected, gifted and talented students. In addition, the school provides classes for students with hearing difficulties and provides community language classes in Mandarin and Korean.

Sport, art and various cultural activities form an important part of the school. Approximately half of the school population performs in a music ensemble, and in excess of 200 students play an instrument, which is an outstanding achievement. Chess is also a valued program at Chatswood Public School. Last year the competition A team won the zone, regional and metropolitan games. I would not be game to play chess with any of the students from the school, given their expertise. Last year students were involved in an Aboriginal dance and traditional instrument workshop. I have often witnessed Chatswood Public School's artwork throughout the electorate in the foyers of prominent buildings and throughout the city of Willoughby. Chatswood Public School students certainly make their presence felt. The school is growing. It needs more permanent buildings and permanent classrooms, which is something I will pursue. Until then I congratulate the school on this important milestone.

Miss BURTON (Kogarah—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.56 p.m.]: The Government joins the honourable member for Willoughby in congratulating Chatswood Public School on its 120th anniversary. It is certainly a milestone. From what we have heard, it is a school with a long and proud history. The school certainly values public education and promotes a diverse range of children's talents. We wish the school well for its celebrations.

ROCK EISTEDDFOD CHALLENGE

Mr WHAN (Monaro) [4.57 p.m.]: Last Friday night I visited Sydney to attend the Rock Eisteddfod Premier Division Finals because Monaro High School from Cooma was participating. It was a terrific event. Monaro High School performed so well that it secured third spot for the premier division final, which is a terrific achievement for a country high school and one that everyone in the Cooma-Monaro area can be proud of. As the local representative in this place for the area I was very proud to be in the audience. I know that the Parliamentary Secretary, the honourable member for Kogarah, who is at the table, was also in the audience that night. She would have seen the final product that the students from Monaro High School offered. I was particularly proud of the fact that Monaro High School brought to the Rock Eisteddfod a performance that was very challenging. Artistically it was very good. The dancing was terrific. But they took on a subject that was a challenge to the way people thought. It was probably the only school of the 14 finalists that tackled a current controversial issue.

The performance depicted issues such as the children overboard incident, the plight of refugees and the way the media and our society portrays those people, who are in need of so much help but often do not receive it because of the attitude of some people towards them. The performance included depictions of the Twin Towers going down and boat people coming across to Australia to the tune of I'm Not Pretty Enough by Kasey Chambers. It was extremely moving. The rest of the performance highlighted the issues and made the audience think. Monaro High School's performance stunned the audience of about 8,000. After the performance one of the students said to me, "Do you think we got our message across?" I certainly believe that, through the medium of dance, they got their message across in a very effective and challenging way.

Their performance demonstrated the great talent of the people of Monaro. The school has regularly performed and enjoyed success at the Rock Eisteddfod; indeed, it is building up a great reputation. Undoubtedly, that is primarily due to the efforts of the students but it is also due to the efforts of a number of teachers at the school. Ian Greg has been the driving force behind a number of the performances of Monaro High School at the Rock Eisteddfod presentations, as he was this year. After this year's performance, although Ian was obviously very tired he was very proud of the people he had been involved with. Robyn Wall, David Brison and Mark Friend, all teachers from the school, were also heavily involved in this year's performance. Helen Linkenbagh, a local dance teacher, choreographed the performance. These people put many months of hard work into the performance.

The performance involved 100 Monaro High School students on stage and another 20 students in backstage work. It was my first experience of watching a Rock Eisteddfod, and I was extremely impressed by the effective way the sets were moved around. The backstage crew was rewarded for their efforts with the Victor Chang Award for Excellence. I congratulate the schools that won the joint first prize: Randwick boys and girls high schools and Bomaderry High School, which delivered terrific performances. However, in my totally unbiased opinion, Monaro High School was the best. The quality of the students' performance and the challenging nature of the message they sought to get across made all of us extremely proud. Every single person in the Monaro region can be proud of what this public high school has achieved.

Miss BURTON (Kogarah—Parliamentary Secretary) [5.02 p.m.]: I join the honourable member for Monaro in congratulating Monaro High School. I also attended the Rock Eisteddfod that evening and had the pleasure, together with Dr Brendan Nelson, of announcing the joint first prize winners. Of the 14 schools that participated, Monaro High School was just amazing. In the 1980s my school competed in the Rock Eisteddfod. We were runners-up in 1984 and we won in 1985. The standard of performances is just fantastic; these students are real professionals. You sit there watching them changing sets and costumes, and everything flows wonderfully. Their movements and theatrics really blend in with the music. It is a wonderful example of artistic quality.

The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge is a great initiative of the State and Federal departments of health in encouraging young children. It promotes a drug, alcohol and smoke-free environment and makes young people aware of the dangers to their health of those substances. I congratulate Monaro High School on its extremely moving performance. I also congratulate Bomaderry High School and Randwick girls and boys high schools on being joint winners. I think it would have been the toughest decision in the world to choose which was the better. I congratulate all the students who participated in the event. I thank the honourable member for Monaro for bringing the matter to the attention of the House.

A WOMAN'S WAR LAUNCH

POLLIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

ROYAL VOLUNTEER COASTAL PATROL, HAWKESBURY DIVISION

Mrs HOPWOOD (Hornsby) [5.04 p.m.]: I draw to the attention of the House a number of activities in my electorate. Barb Angell, a Brooklyn resident, has written an amazing book about the life of Wilma Oram Young. A Woman's War, which details the story of one of Australia's most remarkable women, was launched recently. I was honoured to be invited to attend the launch, and I enjoyed the speeches about Wilma Young as told by Dame Beryl Beaurepaire, AC, DBE, and others associated with Anzac House in Melbourne. I believe it is vitally important to support those who have worked hard in our community, and Barb Angell is one such person. I first met Barb through the Hornsby Art Society, and I have attended a number of exhibitions organised by her and the society's directors. Barb was educated in Melbourne, studied music, and worked as an actor and dancer both here and overseas. She has written extensively. In her book she depicts a brave Australian nurse who is captured by the Japanese during World War II and experiences a great deal before being liberated at the end of the war. The comradeship of Wilma Young's fellow prisoners helped her through many trials as a prisoner of war and was instrumental in her life after the war ended. Barb Angell has captured the essence of an extraordinary woman and is to be congratulated on the wonderful book she has written.

The annual Pollies for Small Business Week was recently held across New South Wales, during which time I visited businesses in my electorate. I very much enjoyed the week because it gave small business owners direct access to me as their local member and enabled me to better understand how a small business operates. I visited 21 local businesses and worked in them in one way or another. They were Thyme Square Caf� in Hornsby Mall, The Bush Telegraph Shop in Berowra, the Red Rose Florist in Berowra, Joseph Hot Bread in Berowra, Berowra Heights Post Office, Marketplace Video in Berowra, Infinity Hair Design in Berowra, Darcie's Cafe, Hourigans IGA Supermarket in Berowra, Berowra Chemist, Berowra Fruit World, Berowra Hardware, Paul Jones First National Real Estate in Berowra, Impress Promotions—a home-based business in Berowra—Cosmos Subs in Westfield Hornsby, Antonio's Hooked and Cooked in Hornsby Mall, Broady Automotive Repairs in Hornsby, Academy Office Supplies in Hornsby, Nova Kitchens and cabinet making in Hornsby, the IGA Shop in Waitara, and Asquith Leagues Club in Waitara, where I had the new experience of pulling beers. I congratulate all the participating businesses in my electorate who welcomed me on that day. I congratulate the Hornsby District Chamber of Commerce and Industry on its continual support and promotion of business in Hornsby.

I also remind members of my private member's statement about the need to provide funding for motors to enable the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol to do its work on the Hawkesbury River and other waterways. I am pleased that the Minister for Health has announced the allocation of one-off funding of $21,000 to provide motors for one of the vessels. The Minister's letter announcing the funding was sent to the honourable member for Peats, and I am a little disappointed that I was not also notified. Recently I met by accident the divisional commander, who told me that the patrol was pleased to receive the funding. A recent tragic boating accident on the Hawkesbury River showed the true value of the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol. The boat of the husband of an acquaintance of mine smashed into a pylon, and he was lost for a number of days before his body was sadly found. The tragedy illustrated the great efforts of the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, which was involved in the search for the man's body. The community, as well as the family, would like to thank the members of the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol for their efforts in that search.

PENRITH ELECTORATE EDUCATION WEEK ACTIVITIES

Mrs PALUZZANO (Penrith) [5.09 p.m.]: I inform the House about some of the activities that took place in and around Penrith during Education Week. During that week I visited a number of schools and spoke with many teachers, and I wish to highlight their contributions to education. Two schools in my electorate celebrated anniversaries during Education Week. St Joseph's primary school celebrated its fortieth birthday. On Wednesday 10 September I met with the school community and the principal, Allen Gatenby, at a mass at the school. Teachers and students marvelled at the changes in education in the past 40 years. In 1963 the kindergarten had 72 students. People spoke about the differences in the school between 1963 and 2003.

A number of awards were given out at the mass. The Mary MacKillop award was presented to three students: Junior Ah Cheung, Charlene Rahme and Ally Ellston. The school and the teachers nominated many others for the award, and six nominees can reapply for it. One of those nominees was Michael Hartley. He has performed well in his school life and in his sporting life. At the recent diocesan sports carnival he broke a State record for the under 10s. I commend Michael Hartley for his record.

Nepean High School celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a spring fair last Friday. I spoke to many parents and students from that school on Friday evening. I was shown how the principal, Elaine Talbert, and the teachers put together the spring fair. They had a great time celebrating the school's fortieth anniversary. On Friday I also visited Kingswood High School's multicultural day. Thirty-five nationalities are represented at the school. The day's activities included planting a harmony garden and dragon boat racing. There were multicultural food stalls, including Mexican and Italian food stalls. The Krispy Kreme food stall was the most popular with the students. On multicultural day the school is able to recognise the entitlement of the students and their families to cherish and preserve the heritage that they and their forebears brought with them from the lands of their birth and to share some of their experiences.

Another part of the day was the national dress parade. Students shared with the school their experiences about their arrival in Australia. I commend Manija Sadry, who was born in Afghanistan. She can remember her plight when changes took place in Afghanistan and her mother had to stop working because of the regime change. She had to change her way of dress and her family had to flee the country because of the turmoil it was in. She spent a number of years in Pakistan and she told the story of her journey to Australia and how it has affected her mother, in that she went from being a professional to someone who now stays at home. Living in Pakistan has caused the family to be split up. Manija has to communicate with some members of her family in English because some have gone to Germany and other countries and they do not understand Afghan. It was quite an experience that Manija shared with everyone at the school. I commend her for doing that.

During Education Week two other schools showed their talents at two different eisteddfods: Cranebrook High School was placed fifth at the Rock Eisteddfod and Mary MacKillop primary school was placed fourth at the Wakakirri Festival. I commend teachers Vicki Richmond and Rebecca Janson at Mary MacKillop primary school, and Sue Dawson at Cranebrook High School. I congratulate the educational community in Penrith. The commitment of teachers and parents to the children is that every child is very important in every school.

Miss BURTON (Kogarah—Parliamentary Secretary) [5.14 p.m.]: Education Week is a great opportunity for schools to get together and celebrate the importance of education and the different types of education offered across the State. As the honourable member for Penrith has outlined, it is a time to share experiences and to further enhance the educational facilities in the area. I congratulate St Joseph's primary school and Nepean High School on their fortieth anniversaries. I pay tribute to the honourable member for Penrith for her continued commitment to education and the schools in her local area.

GAMING MACHINE TAX

Mr PRINGLE (Hawkesbury) [5.15 p.m.]: Since the budget was announced, newspapers, radio, television and talkback shows have been full of commentaries about the impact of the increased poker machine tax. Many of my constituents have specifically asked me to raise this issue once again in the House. They have asked me to remind the Government that for more than 70 years clubs in New South Wales have provided a place for people to meet and to have meals and drinks at subsidised prices. Clubs provide affordable activities to a range of community groups. The Hawkesbury is on the edge of Sydney's urban fringe. In many parts of this area the club is the central part of local community life. The club provides a place for non-profit groups to meet and, importantly, it provides a focal point during times of crisis.

Some of the clubs in the Hawkesbury electorate include the Windsor RSL club, the Windsor Bowling Club, the Windsor Country Golf Club, the Pitt Town District Sports Club, the Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club, the North Richmond Panthers—known as Sporties—the Dural Country Club, the Galston Memorial Club, the Glenorie RSL, the Kurrajong Heights Bowling Club and the Kellyville Country Club. Clubs just outside my electorate but used by my constituents include the Richmond Golf Club and the Richmond club. Many causes are supported by the club movement. I remind the House of the efforts of the Dural Country Club, the Galston Club and the Glenorie RSL during the recent bushfires. They strongly supported our local community after those devastating fires. The clubs threw their doors open to local victims and supported them financially. Between them those three clubs raised more than $100,000, which was ploughed back into helping the victims of the fires.

Recently about 200 people from all walks of life attended a major public meeting at the Richmond club. Many people spoke against the gaming machines tax, including David Burtenshaw, the President of the Hawkesbury Sports Council; Hillary Griffith, the secretary of the Hawkesbury Cricket Club; Peter Mahboub, from Colo High School; Mayor Rex Stubbs; Kerry Barlett, the local Federal member, and Allan Shearan, my Labor colleague from Londonderry. All of them were very concerned about the impact of this tax on our local clubs. Representatives from the local clubs reminded us how important clubs are in providing assistance to the rural fire service, an important organisation as we face another difficult fire season. The clubs assist lots of sporting clubs; they keep the costs down so that sport is affordable for many young Australians. Sport is important to people's physical and emotional development.

The club representatives mentioned how important clubs are in providing sponsorship for local schools, particularly school leadership programs. They also mentioned the need for community transport, and buses for the aged, disabled and youth groups—all of which are provided by our local clubs. The clubs in Hawkesbury support the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Hawkesbury hospital—a unique private-public partnership. Clubs provide an important focus for our local community. I have visited most of the local clubs in my electorate and discussed these issues with them. We have discussed how the changes will affect the local community. Like many other members, I have received petitions. In fact, I have received more than 1,000 signatures on petitions from throughout the Hawkesbury electorate. My message to the Government is very strong: it is not too late to reverse the tax. The message that has come out of each of those community and club meetings has been: axe the tax, and axe it as soon as possible.

PACIFIC HIGHWAY UPGRADE

Mr OAKESHOTT (Port Macquarie) [5.20 p.m.]: I refer tonight to the most significant infrastructure project in regional New South Wales since the Snowy hydro scheme, that is, the Pacific Highway upgrade. This project is being undertaken with the support of both the State Government and Commonwealth Government under the 10-year agreement signed in 1996 to deliver a dual carriageway from Hexham to the Queensland border. The Pacific Highway has undergone significant improvement over the period of this agreement and new sections are still being opened. Indeed, we are only months away from the opening of the Taree to Coopernook link, a $59 million upgrade to provide a dual carriageway. The upgrade will remove dangerous black spots and improve travelling times. Along with the Yelgun to Chinderah and Raymond Terrace upgrades, this upgrade will provide greater access for people living on the mid North Coast to areas both north and south.

I pay tribute to the State Government and the Commonwealth Government for continuing work on the Pacific Highway to make it safer and to improve access for communities on the mid North Coast to metropolitan Sydney and Brisbane. However, I am concerned about what will happen to construction of this dual carriageway when the 10-year agreement finishes in 2006. Both governments appear to be focused on the 10-year funding arrangement rather than on delivery of the dual carriageway. At this time only about 50 per cent to 60 per cent of the work has been completed and by 2006 only 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the construction will have been completed. Leaving approximately 20 per cent of the project unfinished, with a single carriageway, will be dangerous, particularly with the number of B-doubles that travel on the Pacific Highway.

All communities along the highway north of Newcastle will be extremely concerned if the State and Federal governments walk away from the project. The Commonwealth Government has publicly focused on the 10-year funding and I ask that the focus shift to completion of the dual carriageway upgrade from Hexham to the Queensland border in line with the agreement of 1996. Therefore, I ask both the State Government and the Federal Government to recommit funding to complete the upgrade. To that end, I urge the Minister for Roads to reach an agreement with the Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services to ensure completion of the dual carriageway from Hexham to the Queensland border, as promised by both governments.

EAST HILLS GIRLS TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

Mr ASHTON (East Hills) [5.25 p.m.]: Last Friday I had the privilege of attending the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the East Hills Girls Technology High School, which opened in 1953. The Golden Jubilee ceremony was held at Revesby Workers Club. Also in attendance on the night were Daryl Melham, the Federal member for Banks, and Michael Hatton, the Federal member for Blaxland, the Mayor of Bankstown, Helen Westwood, and local councillors. Others present were Dennis Mackenzie, the former superintendent of the Bankstown district, and Commander Rod Leonarder, the new district superintendent. More important were the 600 people who attended the function. They included the principals and staff from the early days, as well as students, who are now in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and even in their 60s. It was a tremendous night and many excellent speeches were made.

The motto of the school is "Honor Ante Honores", which roughly means "Honour before awards". The school has always been a lighthouse school in the area in that it is the only girls school in the surrounding area; the boys high school commenced several years after East Hills Girls Technology High School was opened. Indeed, the school cannot cater to the number of girls who would like to attend. I congratulate Veronica Necyporuk, the principal, and her staff. I also pay tribute to the parents, volunteers and students, who made the night such a success.

There have been three projects to celebrate the school's Golden Jubilee. One was the creation of an alumni group of former students that will meet regularly to contribute to the school's continued growth and progress. The school also produced a publication entitled Nioka Rising, a detailed history of the school, naming each of the 9,000 students who have attended the school. It is a fantastic publication, with many photographs, and I give credit to those responsible for its production. Time does not permit me to mention everyone involved. I am a history nut and I stayed up late at night to thoroughly read the publication. It was wonderful to read about the contributions of former pupils whom I have met later in life in differing community roles.

I refer to one lady in particular who was often in trouble because she refused to wear her gloves when she came out of the school gate. One of the earlier school rules was that students must wear their gloves until they reached home. This same young lady was in trouble because boys would drive past and offer her a lift home. I know that because I married the young lady and I was the offending boy in the Volkswagen! In 1953 the rules of the school were strict. Girls could not chew gum on public transport or on the railway platform. They had to travel to and from school in the last three carriages of the train, the carriages nearest the Panania exit. Girls were not allowed on verandas on fine days; they were only allowed there on wet days.

Girls on playground duty had to go to each veranda, obtain brooms from prefects and sweep the verandas. Perfects were responsible for getting the member of staff on duty to supervise them putting away the brooms. If only we had some of those rules today in schools! Once again, I congratulate everyone involved in the function and the publication: the alumni, the principal, the parents and citizens association, and the organising committee. My great affiliation with schools will never die. All honourable members would agree that if they do not take an interest in their local schools they miss a wonderful political opportunity to be seen and heard. They also miss the opportunity to participate in their community. I congratulate East Hills Girls Technology High School on its Golden Jubilee.

ORANGE ELECTORATE HEALTH SERVICES

Mr R. W. TURNER (Orange) [5.30 p.m.]: It gives me no pleasure once again to criticise the health services in my electorate of Orange. Today I will highlight a couple of incidents, including one at Cowra District Hospital, which is again going through a rationalisation and amalgamation of wards. It used to be a magnificent hospital with four floors, but it now has only one floor with some administration on the ground level. An article in the Cowra Guardian of Monday 8 September stated:

there is no guarantee what will happen to bed numbers after the process is completed—

Today I received a phone call from a Rotarian who reminded me that about 15 years ago Cowra Rotary Club donated funds to purchase a humidicrib for Cowra hospital. The Rotary club was reminded last week of how bad things have become when the daughter of one Rotarian involved with the original donation of the humidicrib to Cowra hospital was going through the wonderful experience of having twins. After checking into Cowra hospital she found that the humidicrib was not working. It was not worth fixing. Basically, it had been put in a corner, never to be used again. And the hospital had no money to buy a new one.

The girl was forced to travel to Orange to have her twins. Fortunately, they have been born and they are both wonderfully healthy. The girl was born and raised in Cowra. She did not want to travel to Orange but was forced to so because the humidicrib that her father helped donate some 15 years before was out of action. This week the Cowra Rotary Club decided to donate up to $1,500 to replace the humidicrib. Sadly—and this shows the plight of Cowra hospital and the Mid Western Area Health Service—the Rotary club was advised to purchase the humidicrib and present it to the hospital. The club was told that if it simply donated the money to the hospital the whole thing would probably get lost and the money would be used to pay some of the hospital's debts.

That is one example of the state of health services and the financial plight of the hospitals in my electorate. Today I gave notice of a motion regarding an incident at Orange Base Hospital. The State Government—and I thank it for this—has given the hospital a grant to buy a BiPap machine which will provide non-invasive ventilation for patients instead of having a tube down their nose. The BiPap machine, which apparently bypasses the tube, is a great advancement. However, the company that is supplying the machine will not deliver the machine to Orange Base Hospital because the hospital or the Mid Western Area Health Service owes the company $20,000.

This is typical of many companies that supply services to Orange Base Hospital and other hospitals in my electorate. Many companies are refusing to service the hospitals until debts that are some months old have been paid. In the meantime people in the Central West, who should have access to better facilities, cannot access a better ventilator. So the company will not supply something for which the State Government has already approved funding. In addition, the nurses shortage is continuing. Orange Base Hospital has admitted that it is $5 million in debt, and that it owes up to $7 million to creditors. The hospital has cut services in a desperate attempt to relieve some of that debt. That means that specialist services have been cut, resulting in longer waiting lists or people being forced to travel to Sydney for operations that should be carried out at Orange Base Hospital.

ST CATHERINE LABOURE PRIMARY SCHOOL, GYMEA, SPEED CAMERA

Mr COLLIER (Miranda) [5.35 p.m.]: On Monday 25 February 2002 Jodie Hewes was killed while crossing the road with her mother on her way home from school. Mrs Kay Hewes wrote a letter to me, which began with these words:

In speaking publicly about the committee, Mrs Hewes told the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader on 3 May 2002:

The committee's mission statement published on 11 April 2002 is:

Along with the mayor, the Roads and Traffic Authority, local police and bus operators, I met with the committee on its school site at the intersection of President Avenue and Gymea Bay Road, Gymea. The committee produced an 18-point safety proposal. The proposal was "deemed by all (committee) members to be of the utmost importance in the effort to increase the standards of pedestrian safety around our school". Proposal 4.3 called for the installation of a fixed speed camera outside the school on President Avenue to "reduce speeding through the intersection of Gymea Bay Road and President Avenue". On 5 August 2002 the Minister for Roads, Carl Scully, announced that 10 speed cameras would be installed outside schools as part of a trial to slow drivers speeding in 40 kilometre an hour zones.

The 10 schools would be chosen on the basis of certain criteria, including traffic volumes of more than 20,000 cars a day, level of pedestrian activity and accident history. Some 31,700 cars pass St Catherine's school on President Avenue, Gymea, each day. The area has high pedestrian traffic. There have been 45 crashes at the intersection of President Avenue and Gymea Bay Road over a five-year period, not including the fatality involving Jodie. It is a difficult area to police. On behalf of Mrs Hewes and the school community, I applied to the Minister for Roads for a camera to be installed outside the school. The camera commenced operation on 10 February 2003.

Perhaps a private citizen might take the view that it is unusual for a member of Parliament to apply for a speed camera. However, in the circumstances I believe that every responsible member of this House would have done exactly the same as me. Sadly, that is not the view of the former New South Wales roads Minister and now Federal member for Cook, Bruce Baird. Last Monday in the Federal Parliament he personally attacked me for having had the camera installed. As a former roads Minister he should know better than anyone that 41 per cent of all fatalities on the roads involve speed and 20 per cent of fatalities involve pedestrians. Yet he attacked me for responding to the school community's concerns about speeding motorists.

Bruce Baird complained that 1,290 motorists were caught speeding past the school camera in a five-week period—that is 258 persons per week speeding past a school with 447 students—and that these motorists have been slugged with another tax. Bruce did not tell the Federal Parliament about the multiple 40 kilometres an hour warning signs and the presence of the speed camera on all four approaches to the school. Bruce Baird did not tell the Federal Parliament that for the first four months after the camera was turned on hundreds of speeding motorists were issued with warning letters rather than infringement notices. He did not say that the switch-on and the program were well publicised in the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader. What did Bruce say? He said:

If that were so no motorists would have been caught. But even after four months of the warning letters and publicity, 258 motorists a week still speed past the school, despite being given a chance to modify their behaviour, which of course they did not. The statistics show that the parents and the school's road safety committee were clearly justified in wanting the speed camera. The parents obviously knew something that their Federal member, Mr Bruce Baird, did not.

For Bruce Baird, a former roads Minister, to complain about motorists being fined for speeding past a school in circumstances that I have just outlined—circumstances where there are no excuses—is just plain irresponsible. His statements in the Federal Parliament are ill informed, callous, insensitive and show contempt for the staff, the parents and the 447 children who attend St Catherine Laboure Primary School, Gymea. He even complains that "1,250 of his constituents have been slugged with another tax". Here is some news for Bruce Baird: It is not a tax; it is a fine. Taxes are compulsory but speeding is not. Bruce should tell his mates in Canberra that all the revenue collected from the camera goes to spinal research. That may mean that one child one day will not spend the rest of his or her life confined to a wheelchair as a result of a motorist speeding past a school. As for me, the local member, I am not apologising for the camera. I will not be intimidated by the likes of Bruce Baird. I will not apologise for doing my job and representing my community to the best of my ability. My community is concerned about road safety. Road safety has always been a priority for me, and will continue to be so.

ALBURY ELECTORATE EDUCATION WEEK ACTIVITIES

Mr APLIN (Albury) [5.40 p.m.]: Last week schools throughout the electorate of Albury participated in Education Week with a wide range of activities. I was delighted to be part of some of them. But last month one school marked a particular celebration: 125 years of public education by Walbundrie Public School, whose principal is Lynne Johnston. There are 20 students at the school in two classes: a kindergarten to year 2 class and a class for years 3 to 6. The parents and citizens association president of Walbundrie Public School is Hamish Ellis. I was thrilled to participate in the days marking the school's 125 years of activity.

The Saturday was a family fun day in the public school grounds. More than 300 people participated. It started with a picnic lunch on chairs and blankets in the school grounds, and the parents and citizens association president, Hamish Ellis, officially welcomed people to the reunion. A book recording the history of the school and the area was launched. It is titled Riverina Crossroads and was launched by the historian John Winterbottom. We purchased a book and we are thrilled to be able to participate as readers in the history of the region. Throughout the afternoon there was a series of children's games and family games. That culminated in a soup and casserole tea in the Walbundrie Hall. The night consisted of a variety concert when staff, students and the community joined in. The hall was filled to capacity—it was standing room only—and a good time was had by all.

On Sunday 10 August an official function was launched by Lynne Johnston, the principal, at which the national anthem was played followed by a flag raising by Marcus Fulford, the school captain. Reverend Myrle Lancaster led an ecumenical church service, and the Acting District Superintendent, Judith James, delivered a speech on behalf of the Minister. I was fortunate enough to be invited and to be able to congratulate the school on its 125 years, along with the mayor of Culcairn Shire Council, Councillor Ellis Lindner, who did the same. We unveiled a plaque and buried a time capsule. Then the school's oldest past student and the present youngest students, being Lauren Lieschke and Victoria Ellis, cut the school cake to mark the 125th anniversary.

Following the farewell and a song by the school, the historic town walk was conducted. Everybody participated, with Leo Coyle offering some great insights into the history of Walbundrie. Part of that walk was compered by Max Webb from the progress association, and also participating from the co-op store was Max Newton. The co-op store is truly a co-operative store run by the community. If it were not for the community that store would have gone out of existence many years ago. The original store owner, Merv McIntosh, was present, as was the current operator of the store, Katie McMaster, a former student.

Last week I was fortunate enough to be present at the Albury District Education Awards Presentation. Judith James, the Acting District Superintendent, announced that the awards evening recognised the outstanding contributions to public education in the Albury district—contributions and achievements by students, teachers, school support staff and volunteers—and reflected the strong commitment that public schools have to regional and rural communities. Many awards were presented that night at the Springdale Heights Public School, the host school. It was great to see 24 schools from the Albury electorate represented in the Springdale Heights Public School hall that night. The Excellence in Student Achievement Award went to Alison Seidel from Billabong High School. The School Achievement Award went to Corowa High School, and the Excellent Service to Public Education Award went to Graham Smith from James Fallon High School and to parent representative Hilary Kennedy, also from James Fallon High School.

Also last week I attended Springdale Heights Public School to open the environmental garden, a garden full of native plants backed by murals of local birds: the magpie, the eastern rosella and the wedge-tailed eagle. The paintings were by year 6 students. Burrumbuttock artist Wendy Wiltshire was the artist in charge, along with a teacher, Mrs Louise Purss-Semple. It was fantastic to be met by Blaise Corey and Corey Kardol, the school captains, and to work with them in opening an environmental garden, along with Owen Dunlop, the principal of Burrumbuttock Public School, who is in charge of the sustainable schools environmental program for the area.

TRIBUTE TO MR JACK EDGAR SCOBLE, MBE, OAM

Mr McGRANE (Dubbo) [5.45 p.m.]: I bring to the House notice of the death on Wednesday 10 September of Jack Edgar Scoble of Parkes. Jack has been a household name in the Parkes area for more than 50 years. Jack was a man of his church and a man of the community. He was a humble and kind man, a man of high integrity and vision. Jack served many organisations during his 50 years as a citizen of Parkes. The most notable organisation would be the council. Jack was first elected to the Parkes Municipal Council in 1962 and again in 1966. He was elected unopposed as mayor. Jack served 13 years as mayor and was unopposed for all those years. At that time it was a record, but the incumbent mayor, Councillor Robert Wilson, has served a little longer than Jack.

Jack was involved in so many different community activities that time it will not allow me to go through every organisation that he was involved with. He started the Parkes and District Chamber of Commerce. He was actively involved in the school parents and citizens association as well as the Parkes Rotary Club from 1954 to 2001, when he was granted life membership. He also received the Paul Harris Fellowship. Jack set up the first industrial development and decentralisation committee of Parkes. He also set up the Parkes Tourist Council, which later became the Parkes Advancement Corporation. As I said, Jack was a man of great vision. In 1983 he and his partner sold their business, Scoble and Nash, and the next day that Jack was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. It was a mighty blow. He worked hard in his business and in the community. In his mid-sixties when he was set to retire he was told that he had the disease. Although Parkinson's disease does not result in death quickly, it certainly shortens one's life expectancy.

That was the beginning of a new era for Jack Scoble. He adapted to a different lifestyle. He was invited to join the Central West multidisciplinary Parkinson's disease research team, which covered 14 council areas. It was conducting a research survey that would take more than 10 years to complete. That was some 20 years ago. That research work has been completed. The research document that came out has been the focal point of many advancements in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Jack and the co-ordinators of that organisation have visited China and have hosted visitors from the United Kingdom. It was only because of Jack's great will to others that he stayed in that organisation until his death.

Jack was awarded the MBE for his work in local government and for services to the community. Only last year he was awarded the OAM. It was a great day for Jack when the Governor came to Parkes and presented Jack with his OAM in Parkes. It was a fantastic ceremony. The whole town was involved in activities, but the focal point of that day in Parkes was to honour Jack Scoble—a great person, a great leader of the community and a great Australian. We are all sad that Jack is no longer with us, but Jack has left his legacy to Parkes. On behalf of the electorate of Dubbo I convey my deepest sympathy to Jack's family.

Private members' statements noted.

The House adjourned at 5.50 p.m. until Friday 19 September 2003 at 10.00 a.m.
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