Full Day Hansard Transcript (Legislative Assembly, 10 May 2007, Corrected Copy)

The Speaker (The Hon. George Richard Torbay) took the chair at 10.00 a.m.

The Speaker read the Prayer and acknowledgement of country.

Motion by Mr John Aquilina agreed to:

That, at 11.30 a.m. at this sitting, the business before the House be interrupted to permit the presentation of an inaugural speech by the member for Goulburn.

Ms NOREEN HAY (Wollongong) [10.00 a.m.]: I move:

That this House:

(1) welcomes the official opening of the Wollongong Community Services Centre by the Minister for Community Services last week as part of the $85 million upgrade to local Department of Community Services offices across the State;

(2) commends the Government for its commitment to create 1,025 caseworker positions in Community Services, 750 of which have already been created and 64 of which will be in the Illawarra;

(3) congratulates the hardworking frontline Community Services staff for their pivotal work in protecting children in the Illawarra; and

(4) condemns the Opposition for its failure to state a clear policy on child protection in the 2007 election campaign.

Firstly, my congratulations, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

Ms NOREEN HAY: On Wednesday 2 May the Minister for Community Services, Mr Kevin Greene, officially opened the new Wollongong office of the Department of Community Services Centre in Coniston. The new office complex enables three services to be brought together under one roof for the first time in Wollongong. Previously, the Wollongong office of the Department of Community Services, the Illawarra Specialist Team and the Illawarra Network Office had been spread across several sites. Not only did this contribute to difficulties in communication across the teams, but the accommodation was not entirely functional for the types of services provided.

In spite of several attempts to find more suitable accommodation, it was not until 2006, when a newly constructed office in Bridge Street was completed, that departmental staff found a new home. The fitting out of the two floors to meet specific departmental needs cost $2.5 million. Community Services staff often perform work of a highly private and confidential nature. Another of the realities faced by front-line staff is that they must often deal with difficult and even confronting situations. A tailor-made work environment not only gives workers the space and amenities they need but also provides a far safer space where security is built in rather than added on. This level of security is invaluable, not only to staff but also to the many vulnerable clients who benefit from the work of the department.

The Wollongong office of the Department of Community Services has a large and dynamic team that provides a wide range of services. Services provided from the new centre include casework for children who have been harmed or who are at risk of harm, out-of-home care services, foster care support, psychology, legal support, court liaison, and business and administrative support. Through the centralised Community Services Helpline, around 250 child protection reports are received by the Wollongong team every month. The Wollongong Out-of-home Care Team also manages placements for more than 200 children who are currently unable to live in their own homes. Around 95 staff positions currently exist across the three teams that are co-located in the Bridge Street site. This is part of the Government's commitment to increase caseworker positions by more than 1,000, and it will increase by 24 caseworkers, and three caseworker managers at the Wollongong office alone—unprecedented in this type of community service delivery. Across the Illawarra, caseworker positions will increase by more than 60.

Hundreds of families in Wollongong rely on the compassionate and professional services provided by our Department of Community Services staff. These front-line workers help take care of the most vulnerable members of our community, and there is no way that we can adequately thank them for that. However, we all have to remember that protecting children at risk is not exclusively the work of a group of staff or an agency; we all have a responsibility to be vigilant and to act when we think a child might be at risk. The Community Services Helpline number is 132111. It is open 24 hours a day, all year round. Callers can remain anonymous, and all reports are taken seriously.

I commend Minister Greene for moving so quickly after attaining his new portfolio and coming down to Wollongong, meeting with those very dedicated staff, and opening this magnificent centre. I have travelled around the electorate and seen the kinds of conditions that those workers have had to operate under due to the number of people they deal with, and it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to see the opening of these new facilities and to know that the workers are happy. Obviously, given the work that they do, it is not easy to have a happy and relaxed attitude. Their new-found happiness is also a result of the increase in security, and feeling valued and recognised by this Government for the very dedicated and hard work that they undertake.

Ms KATRINA HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck) [10.05 a.m.]: Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on your recent election to this most august position, in which I wish you well.

The SPEAKER: Thank you very much.

Ms KATRINA HODGKINSON: I move:

That the motion be amended by leaving out paragraph (4).

I seek to delete paragraph (4) because it is simply not true. I was very pleased to see the new centre opened in Wollongong, because it is an area of need. In fact, something like 10 per cent of abuse is recorded as occurring in the southern region, of which Wollongong is part. That marks it as an area of significant need. As a person who enjoys travelling to Wollongong and surrounding regions on occasions, I am aware of the great need for the new centre.

However, I wish to point out a few disturbing facts about community services. The Auditor-General's report last year, Volume 5 of 2006, stated that the expenditure per notifications of abuse to the New South Wales Department of Community Services [DOCS] is the lowest in Australia with the exception of Tasmania. Members on both sides of this House recognise how important it is to stop child abuse, and to look after our children and babies in the very best way that we possibly can. So it is disturbing that expenditure per notification of child abuse to the Department of Community Services in New South Wales remains the lowest in the country, with the exception of Tasmania.

In Western Australia the expenditure per notification is $7,108; in New South Wales it is $1,388. The rate in New South Wales has progressively fallen, from $3,155 in 2001-02. Unfortunately, the Department of Community Services is spending less on investigating and finalising cases of abuse. Members on both sides of the House should be concerned about that. The Auditor-General's report states that only 43 per cent of notifications in New South Wales were actually the subject of investigation. Members should compare that with the figures in other States: 86 per cent in Western Australia and 98 per cent in Queensland. In New South Wales, not even half of the notifications are investigated. That tells me that we need to lift our act on this issue.

It is interesting to look at the figures on how many complaints were substantiated. Only 26.5 per cent of investigations in New South Wales were substantiated. I will not have time to go into the finer details given the short time available in this debate, but in Victoria 62 per cent of investigations were substantiated, in Queensland 48.9 per cent were substantiated, and in Western Australia 34.9 per cent were substantiated. In New South Wales some three-quarters of investigations were not substantiated or the investigations were not finalised.

In terms of foster care, about 3,500 children, from very young babies through to the age of 17, enter out-of-home care, about 63 per cent of them are placed in foster care, and about the same number exit the out-of-home care system each year. Those statistics show that we have a real problem in New South Wales, but the Labor Government, which has been in office for the past 12 years, has failed to deal with it. The Government is telling the system, "The voters voted for us time and time again. We know that this problem has been going on but we will not actually fix it." When Minister Meagher had control of the Department of Community Services she was lost in the system. I hope that the new Minister, in locating this centre in Wollongong, has recognised the importance of the department. It is a social justice issue. We cannot afford to let one child slip through the net. Recently there have been some dismal newspaper reports; and I will quote a few articles from the Daily Telegraph. An article by the brilliant journalist Maralyn Parker in the Daily Telegraph of 28 February stated:

The Department of Community Services process is so flawed that, if the notification via the help line by a principal—

that is, a school principal—

is not acted on immediately, it can drop off the list until the next notification (if there is one).

That is a tragedy. The article further stated:

Principals would like to see a return to local networking in which they knew case workers personally and had feedback.

They also want to see a proper audit of the intervention by DOCS.

If we are to save our children, if we are to give them good and productive adult lives, and look after them in the best possible way, that is commonsense. The article further stated:

The last audit was only on how long it took for someone to answer the phone, not on how long it took for someone to respond to the problem or what the outcome was for the child.

The member for Wollongong referred to the Department of Community Services helpline. Results cannot be based on how fast someone answers a phone; they must be based on the outcome for the child. An article by Bruce McDougall in the Daily Telegraph of 22 February 2007, with the headline, "Battered kids left to suffer: principals"—that headline condemns the current system—stated:

Thousands of children are turning up to school with injuries after suffering severe physical abuse at home—and primary principals have accused the State Government of failing to act.

A survey of 120 primary schools conducted by the Daily Telegraph revealed that about 1,400 notifications to the Department of Community Services were made in 2006 but action was taken in only 14 per cent of those cases. That is almost criminal. The article further stated:

Teachers are reporting students as young as five being assaulted—usually at home—and suffering injuries, including black eyes, lumps on the head, bruises, cigarette burns and belt marks.

In one case a child was belted so severely that one could still see the whip marks across his body and the stud marks left in his skin. Tragically, these assaults are occurring on our young people. I do not think members of this place would not take urgent action if they were confronted with something like that. We must send the message to the Minister for Community Services that caseworkers are vital. I take my hat off to caseworkers; they do an extremely hard job under very difficult circumstances. We need as many caseworkers as will fit the number of notifications coming into the system. All notifications in this State should be investigated, yet about 75 per cent of them are falling through the net. We must ask ourselves why. We must continue to remind the Minister that that is happening. It is simply not good enough. An article by Joe Hildebrand in the Daily Telegraph of 30 November 2006 stated:

The Department of Community Services failed to save the lives of 40 abused children last year—despite receiving almost 200 reports about abuse within families.

That figure—which has more than doubled in two years …

In all 117 children died from abuse or neglect last year, up from 104 …

Of those 69 had previously been reported to the Department of Community Services …

Disturbingly, three-quarters of these children were babies under a year old.

The number of babies killed through abuse also skyrocketed 70 per cent from 35 in 2004 to 60 last year.

I could continue ad infinitum on this issue. So much needs to be fixed within the Community Services portfolio. We have only limited time this morning to discuss the issue. Once again, I reinforce the importance of having front-line caseworkers and, most importantly, the funding necessary to enable them to do their job.

Ms NOREEN HAY (Wollongong) [10.15 a.m.], in reply: That was interesting. I remind members about the appalling record of members opposite in terms of community services. When last in office, the Coalition made it clear that the vital protections coordinated by the Department of Community Services were far from a priority. The Coalition slashed more than 1,000 protection positions, disbanded three police child mistreatment teams and closed 23 field offices around the State. And it did not end there. Members opposite dropped their community services policy two days out from the 2003 election, buried by the frenzied reporting on the Iraq war. And what a policy! A Coalition government would have cut $700 million from the budget and slashed 675 caseworkers from the system. Gone!

The Coalition's policy in this year's campaign was even worse: 20,000 public sector jobs to be cut. Axed! Gone! Imagine what a Coalition government would do to the Department of Community Services and the children and families whom members opposite claim to want to help and this Government seeks to protect. The Coalition made close to $30 billion worth of election promises this year, yet not one dollar in those promises was for child protection. The new shadow Minister for Community Services is off to a shaky start. She has delayed for a fortnight a briefing session with the department's director general which had been scheduled for this week. I cannot imagine what could be more important than child protection.

Ms Katrina Hodgkinson: Point of order: The member for Wollongong is not only introducing new material that has nothing to do with the motion being debated; she is also telling untruths about something she knows nothing about.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order.

Ms Katrina Hodgkinson: The member is not allowed to introduce new material.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! I have already ruled that that is not a point of order. If the member takes a valid point of order I will deal with it.

Ms NOREEN HAY: In the Nowra Guardian on 2 May the member for Burrinjuck revealed her job preference, saying, "The tourism portfolio is my favourite by far."

Mr Daryl Maguire: Point of Order: I refer you to Decisions from the Chair with regard to introducing new material. On pages 13 and 48 the introduction of new material is ruled to be inappropriate.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member's remarks are entirely appropriate in the context of the debate. The member for Wollongong has the call.

Ms NOREEN HAY: We have the choice of tourism versus child protection. The Government is serious about providing child protection and better standards, certainly in the community service centre in Wollongong. I am advised that the member for Burrinjuck was invited to meet with the Director General of the Department of Community Services this week, but apparently she was too busy. She will not have time to learn about her new portfolio until the end of the month, which is a terrible shame because if she knew something about child protection in New South Wales she would not have made the statements she made in this place today. The helpline is a single entry point for people who want to report child protection concerns to the Department of Community Services.

Ms Katrina Hodgkinson: Point of order: I ask that you call the member opposite into line. She is speaking about something that is irrelevant to the motion, and she is referring to something about which she knows nothing.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! I have considered the point of order.

Ms Katrina Hodgkinson: She is casting aspersions on my good name. I would ask that she withdraw those remarks.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.
Ms NOREEN HAY: Clearly, the person who does not know anything about the portfolio is the member for Burrinjuck. [Time expired.]

Question—That the words stand—put.

Division called for and, pursuant to standing orders, deferred.

Mr BARRY O'FARRELL (Ku-ring-gai—Leader of the Opposition) [10.22 a.m.]: I move:

(1) That this House appoint a joint standing committee, to be known as the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, with powers and functions as authorised by the Fifty-third Parliament and that the committee inquire into and report on the matter of political donations and campaign expenditure for state and local government elections in New South Wales;

(2) That the Committee take submissions from the public and consider reform options, including:

(i) restrictions on political donations;
(ii) caps on campaign expenditure;
(iii) improved reporting of third party donations to so-called Independent candidates,
(iv) banning soft money donations to local government campaigns from party head offices; and
(v) more timely reporting of donations and campaign expenditure following state and local government elections;

(3) That the Committee's review will apply to both the State and local government elections;

(4) That the Committee report by February 2008; and

(5) That the Government table a draft exposure bill in response to the Committee's report prior to the date of the local government elections due in 2008, and implement new measures by March 2009.

In politics perception is reality, and the perception across New South Wales is that something is crook with the electoral system, particularly for the past 12 years under this Government. The perception is that there is a link between political donations and decision making. If the motion is successful a committee will be established to review the State's electoral laws, and examine disclosure of donations and caps upon campaign expenditure. The motion is in two parts. The first part of the motion seeks to re-establish the Joint Select Committee on Electoral Matters, a joint committee of both Houses involving members of all parties that was established in the last Parliament—a significant feature of the last Parliament. It will be given the task of overseeing the electoral law and reviewing electoral outcomes. It seems more appropriate that an existing committee conduct the inquiry rather than a newly established committee.

The second part of the motion relates to areas that should be examined by the joint select committee. First and foremost should be whether any, or all, categories of donations should be banned. There is community disquiet about the connection between donations and decision making under this Labor Government. From time to time such disquiet exists in other jurisdictions as well. A review is long overdue. In 1981 this State led the way in introducing public funding for elections as well as, for the first time in any jurisdiction in Australia, disclosure requirements upon those who sought to make donations. From time to time in various quarters suggestions have been made about banning certain categories of donations. My view is that perhaps we should look at banning all donations and simply rely on public funding to run campaigns. They are the sorts of issues the inquiry should be able to examine and report back on.

My concern about banning specific categories of donations is whether such a ban could be effectively policed. In discussions with the member for Murrumbidgee in the last week or so he reminded me that in overseas jurisdictions campaign donors are required to attest that the money they are donating is money that comes from them and not from a third party. If a certain category of donation were banned, the industry or sector covered by the ban could funnel donations through other people. If we are to ban individual categories of donations we have to determine whether such bans could be effectively policed. I confess that I am a fan of studying what happens overseas that would limit the amounts that could be spent during election campaigns. We can come at this in two ways. We can seek to regulate donations, or we can seek to put caps on expenditure. If we have caps on expenditure there is no point in raising money. In New Zealand, for example, which imposes caps on expenditure, candidates for the national Parliament are restricted to spending a maximum of $20,000 per electorate, and parties are restricted to spending a maximum of $1,000,000.
If such a system were applied to this Parliament, a party contesting all 93 seats in this House, in addition to the $1 million it would be entitled to spend statewide, would spend a total of $2.86 million, which could be funded out of the existing public funding pool that applies across the Parliament of New South Wales. Placing a cap on campaign expenditure would ensure that campaigns returned to being decided on policy, programs and principles, and not on the size of someone's bank balance, whether in a marginal seat or across the State. In 2003 the Labor Party spent what was then a record amount of $12 million on a state campaign. It actually outstripped the 2001 federal campaign expenditure. In the last election an estimated $50 million was spent by the state Australian Labor Party [ALP], which, again, is likely to outstrip what Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party will spend federally in pursuit of their quest for office this year.

We argue that whether it relates to the disclosure of donations, rorts that may have arisen in relation to the disclosure of donations, the policing of the disclosure of donations and ensuring that all candidates properly declare and account for the donations they receive either in cash or in kind, or innovations as required in relation to caps on campaign expenditures, these things ought to be considered, and it is in the public interest that they be reviewed by such a committee. At the end of the day, that is all we are asking for. Although I would like reform and although the community would like reform, the motion simply asks the House to re-establish the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and, as one of its first inquiries, to examine this whole area. As the Leader of The Nationals will reflect upon, we would also like to ensure improved reporting on expenditures and donations, particularly in relation to third party candidates standing for election.

We have all experienced third party candidates who run reasonably professional campaigns, which as individual members of this House we know can cost tens of thousands of dollars. When the reporting period has concluded and third party candidates have been required to attest to what was expended we have seen a clear gap between what was declared and what occurred during the campaign. That also needs to be examined. We must ensure that local government campaigns cannot be funded surreptitiously through party head office, whichever political parties it is. We must do something about soft money donations. We must also ensure timely reporting of donations received both in state and local government elections. The member for Willoughby will not be surprised by the example I use. The Mayor of Willoughby's 2004 re-election campaign was funded, in part, by a St Patrick's Day fundraiser—330 people attended at $150 a head. Among the items listed for auction and sold that night was a Rolling Stones guitar for $7,500. The reality is that the Mayor of Willoughby City Council, Pat Reilly, will not be required to disclose who attended that function until after the 2008 local government elections, should he stand for election.

Pursuant to standing orders business interrupted.

[Deferred division]

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The House will now proceed with the division that was deferred this morning on the question: That the words stand.

The House divided.

Mr Amery Ms Andrews Mr Aquilina Ms Beamer Mr Borger Mr Brown Ms Burney Ms Burton Mr Campbell Mr Collier Mr Coombs Mr Corrigan Mr Costa Mr Daley Ms D'Amore Ms Firth Mr Gibson

Mr Greene Mr Harris Ms Hay Mr Hickey Ms Hornery Ms Judge Ms Keneally Mr Khoshaba Mr Koperberg Mr Lynch Mr McBride Dr McDonald Ms McKay Mr McLeay Ms McMahon Ms Meagher Ms Megarrity

Mr Morris Mrs Paluzzano Mr Pearce Mr Rees Mr Sartor Mr Shearan Ms Tebbutt Mr Terenzini Mr Tripodi Mr Watkins Mr West Mr Whan Tellers, Mr Ashton Mr Martin

Mr Aplin Mr Baumann Ms Berejiklian Mr Cansdell Mr Constance Mr Debnam Mr Draper Mrs Fardell Mr Fraser Mrs Hancock Mr Hartcher Mr Hazzard

Ms Hodgkinson Mrs Hopwood Mr Humphries Mr Kerr Mr Oakeshott Mr O'Dea Mr O'Farrell Mr Page Mr Piccoli Mr Piper Mr Provest Mr Richardson

Mr Roberts Mrs Skinner Mr Smith Mr Souris Mr Stoner Mr J.H. Turner Mr R.W. Turner Mr J. D. Williams Mr R. C. Williams Tellers, Mr George Mr Maguire

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment negatived.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

The House divided.

Mr Amery Ms Andrews Mr Aquilina Ms Beamer Mr Borger Mr Brown Ms Burney Ms Burton Mr Campbell Mr Collier Mr Coombs Mr Corrigan Mr Costa Mr Daley Ms D'Amore Ms Firth Mr Gibson

Mr Greene Mr Harris Ms Hay Mr Hickey Ms Hornery Ms Judge Ms Keneally Mr Khoshaba Mr Koperberg Mr Lynch Mr McBride Dr McDonald Ms McKay Mr McLeay Ms McMahon Ms Meagher Ms Megarrity

Mr Morris Mrs Paluzzano Mr Pearce Mrs Perry Mr Rees Mr Sartor Mr Shearan Ms Tebbutt Mr Terenzini Mr Tripodi Mr Watkins Mr West Mr Whan Tellers, Mr Ashton Mr Martin

Mr Aplin Mr Baird Mr Baumann Ms Berejiklian Mr Cansdell Mr Constance Mr Debnam Mr Draper Mrs Fardell Mr Fraser Mrs Hancock Mr Hartcher Mr Hazzard

Ms Hodgkinson Mrs Hopwood Mr Humphries Mr Kerr Mr Oakeshott Mr O'Dea Mr O'Farrell Mr Page Mr Piccoli Mr Piper Mr Provest Mr Richardson Mr Roberts

Mrs Skinner Mr Smith Mr Souris Mr Stokes Mr Stoner Mr J. H. Turner Mr R. W. Turner Mr J. D. Williams Mr R. C. Williams Tellers, Mr George Mr Maguire

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.
Debated resumed from an earlier hour.

Mr BARRY O'FARRELL (Ku-ring-gai—Leader of the Opposition) [10.45 a.m.]: In relation to the Mayor of Willoughby, Pat Reilly, it is unacceptable that a mayoral candidate for the 2004 council elections does not have to declare donations until after the 2008 council elections, if he is then a candidate, despite the fact that in the intervening period he, as mayor, will vote on a range of issues coming before council that may relate to people who attended his fundraiser on 17 March 2004. That is one of the reasons the Coalition is arguing that local government must be included in a review of State election laws, disclosure laws and political funding laws.

The motion is in line with the election commitments of the Liberal Party and The Nationals to conduct an inquiry were we to win government on 24 March. The fact that we did not win government does not mean that this issue does not deserve attention. Again I make the point that the motion calls for an inquiry and review into all these areas by a bipartisan committee of both Houses so that proposals can be put out for public discussion, and recommendations and changes can be made before the next local government and State elections. It is incumbent upon the Government, if it is to oppose this motion, to argue why such a review will not achieve the purpose we seek, that is, to restore public confidence in the electoral process of New South Wales and to address community disquiet about the apparent connection between donations and political decision-making, particularly over the past 12 years, at a time when the Government has increased its powers and those of its Ministers in many areas.

I repeat: decision-making in this State should not depend on the amount of money that is contributed to a political party, any more than winning an election should not depend on who has the biggest campaign budget. We need to get back to focusing on issues, programs and policies. This review will enable us to do so. For the Premier to argue that this matter should be deferred pending a national reform flies in the face of Neville Wran's reforms in 1981.

I will finish where I started: Twenty-six years ago the Government in this place introduced public funding for campaigns and disclosure laws for the first time in this country, both Federal and State. We did not wait for a Federal government to act then; we should not have to wait for a Federal government to act now. It is time for Premier Iemma to show leadership, to respond to community concerns, and to fix the problems of the State, starting at the top with our system of government and electoral processes. If Government members do not believe the community has concerns about this issue, they have not been talking to their electorates, reading newspapers, or listening to radio programs. It is an issue of concern that we should start this term determined to address. I seek the support of Government members.

Ms CHERIE BURTON (Kogarah) [10.48 a.m.]: It is typical of the Leader of the Opposition to put forward another half-hearted approach that will not fix the problem. Although he has elaborated extensively on his argument, he has failed to win the support of this side of the House because the Government fully supports the national reform of political donations, and not reform purely restricted to the involvement of any particular business. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister about this issue yesterday.

[Interruption]

Opposition members should listen to the Government's response. We listened to your feeble argument. As I said, the Premier wrote to the Prime Minister yesterday. In that letter the Premier asked the Prime Minister's director-general to convene a meeting of the States and Territories so that this issue can be quickly progressed. Changes coordinated at the Commonwealth level would be the only practical and effective way to proceed in this matter. Political donations are not confined to one jurisdiction. Potential donors could escape any new State law by simply approaching other State or Federal political parties and seek to have their donations channelled back into New South Wales. Therefore the Government does not support the motion. The Prime Minister should introduce national legislation on this matter. There is a Federal election later this year; is that what the Opposition is afraid of?

Mr ANDREW STONER (Oxley—Leader of The Nationals) [10.50 a.m.]: The motion goes to the heart of democracy in this State. The proof of the need for a review as proposed by the Leader of the Opposition can be found by examining the Australian Labor Party strategy for the recent State election. The strategy, as we all heard, was "More to do, but heading in the right direction". In other words, the Government could not rest on its track record. We have seen the bungles with the Cross City Tunnel, the Lane Cove Tunnel, trains, hospitals, poor planning and a trashed New South Wales economy. The Government was travelling very poorly in the polls, but the Labor Party head office strategists knew that its only chance was to convince the long-suffering public that, although it was not a very good government, the alternative—the Coalition—was probably worse.

Mr Kerry Hickey: And they did a pretty good job.

Mr ANDREW STONER: Yes, as the member said, they did a good job. How did they convince the long-suffering public? Through advertising, advertising, advertising; a blitzkrieg, the likes of which New South Wales has never seen, and a strategy that required massive funding. Of course, the New South Wales Labor Party, the devotees of the whatever-it-takes school of thought, had to shake massive dollars out of the pockets of corporations and unions—and shake it did. Labor shook approximately $16 million from developers, hoteliers, unions and others. However, after the election the public has woken up with a sore head and wondering why this incompetent Labor Government has been given another four years to ruin New South Wales and what may be the quid pro quo for those who donated so generously to the Australian Labor Party.

Already we are seeing some signs of quid pro quo in New South Wales, including in coastal areas such as Coffs Harbour, Tweed Heads and Port Macquarie, where Crown land reserves that are usually waterfront and available to the public are being flogged off to developers. We have also seen from the Labor Party legislation such as the biobanking bill which allows the trade-off of environmentally sensitive coastal land for development, not to mention Labor's mid North Coast growth strategy that proposes high-rise development in coastal centres such as Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Ballina. So the Labor Party gets enough money to buy its way back into power, and the North Coast, for example, gets Gold Coast style high rise.

That is not democracy. That is a disgrace. A cap on campaign expenditure, as proposed by the Leader of the Opposition, would militate against that sort of corruption of our democracy. One can look at other jurisdictions to see how that would be managed. The Leader of the Opposition spoke about New Zealand, which has a cap on campaign expenditure. Canada also has a cap on campaign expenditure. Rather than the Labor Party being able to shake the pockets of corporations and unions and coming up with $15 or $16 million for an advertising blitz to buy its way out of trouble, versus the Coalition with about $4 million and totally undergunned, there should be a cap to even up the situation. It would be good policy to listen to the will of the people. That is the democratic way; that is what we aspire to in this State.

The motion refers to third party donations to so-called Independent candidates. There is extensive evidence suggesting that the Australian Labor Party has been actively encouraging and even funding so-called Independent candidates running in seats with conservative voting patterns. In an article in the Sydney Morning Herald on 10 March 2007 Mike Neville, a Griffith councillor, said that late last year he met a senior Labor figure who offered to pay for his campaign as an Independent in the Nationals-held seat of Murrumbidgee. "I thought he was joking with me to start," Councillor Neville said. However, Tony Catanzariti, a Labor Party member of the Legislative Council, told Councillor Neville that he had connections and that the Labor Party was prepared to support another suitably qualified candidate.

Councillor Neville said, "I thought it was pretty shameful." The article referred also to the Pittwater by-election, where it emerged that Labor powerbrokers had unsuccessfully approached the then mayor, Patricia Giles, to stand against the Liberals. "I was offered the world to run as an Independent," said Ms Giles, who stood for the Christian Democratic Party. This need for a review is urgent.

Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst) [10.55 a.m.]: Clearly the time has come for the House to support a motion that establishes a committee that is crucial to the future of this Government, the Parliament and the State. There is absolutely no doubt that the average New South Wales resident is extremely concerned about the process of political donations, the source of those donations, the receipt of those donations, the expenditure of those donations, and the effect those donations may have on a proper decision by government. If the Government has any sense of morality and decency it cannot vote against the motion. Yet, what we heard from the Government was a very simple 1½-minute speech by the member for Kogarah, a former Minister relegated to the Government's Z team. She would have been instructed to say as little as possible and to oppose the motion.

One must query why the Government does not want a review, a public opportunity, for the New South Wales community to have its say about how the political donations should work in the context of the election process. Over the years donations have been put in place with allegations of improper influence. Unions have offered indirect assistance without ever disclosing details. During the last Federal election campaign I recall an involvement with Peter Macdonald and Tony Abbott when Peter Macdonald had members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union driving around in vans, erecting posters and doing other tasks, without any disclosure.

The motion simply says that it is time now, at the start of a further term of this Labor Government, to have a public review of campaign donations. It is not a preposterous request; in fact if one doorknocked Labor, Liberal, National or Independent electorates and asked the residents, "Do you think it is time for a review to make sure there are principles and standards applied to political donations?" I am sure the majority of people would answer, "Yes, it is time for a review." The problem we face is that this Government is keen to keep information hidden away, to have no disclosures. The truth is that in private conversation with most members of Parliament, including Labor members, each would say that he or she has some concern about the current process. Perhaps some members are more compromised than others by the donation process, but I believe that on both sides of Parliament there is a sense of wanting to do the right thing, and wanting to be seen to do the right thing.

If this Labor Government refuses today to allow this committee to be established, those private concerns would have been subjugated to Labor's greater good. That is, Labor wants to continue $5,000-a-head functions for the Premier and spend every brass razoo to keep itself in government. I would go one step further than my colleagues in referring to the issues this committee should look at. I would have it look at the issues of misleading and deceptive conduct. At the last election Labor conducted an appalling campaign of half-truths and straight-out lies. It attacked the former Leader of the Opposition and referred to negative, misleading and deceptive aspects that clearly had no basis in truth. At the very least we must look at caps on funding and at how we disclose those funds. However, at some point we should go one step further and try to ensure there is truth in political advertising in New South Wales. Under this Labor Government it is just lies, lies, lies. What this Government did at the last election campaign is indicative of the fact that it has no morality or decency. It is time that the Government supported a review. This is not a political agenda; it is about ensuring that the New South Wales community has its say on the future of political donations in this State.

Mr ANDREW FRASER (Coffs Harbour—Deputy Leader of The Nationals) [11.00 a.m.]: I support the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition and point out to the House that its intention is to reconstitute a joint committee of the upper House and the Legislative Assembly. We want to ensure that electoral funding is reviewed. Opposition members referred to a number of issues in this debate but I would like to concentrate on the improved reporting of third party donations to so-called Independent candidates. We know of at least three Independent candidates on the North Coast who were openly telling people that their campaign costs were in the six-figure area—anything between $80,000 and $100,000—but from where did that funding come?

As a candidate I know how tight money is on the North Coast. The socioeconomic situation of people in that area is not good but these candidates were able to flood the market with advertising. When I speak to local business people and ask where the money came from they tell me that they do not know. Very little money was available. We will not find out where that money came from until August or September this year. This motion requests the Government to look at electoral funding in New South Wales. We want a level playing field. The Leader of The Nationals said that the mayor who ran as an Independent supported the sale of prime foreshore land in Coffs Harbour. There was a great move against that proposal. In fact, at a public meeting 1,000 people voted unanimously not to support that proposal.

Page 5 of yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald reveals that moves are still afoot by the Government to capitalise on that land and to ensure it is sold off to developers. Government members might say, "So what!" but the Minister for Planning now has an opportunity to declare that project at Coffs Harbour a State significant project. How much money has been paid to this Government by way of electoral donations from developers to ensure that that development goes ahead? How much of a payback goes back to developers for donations made to the Labor Party during the last election campaign?

The Labor candidate in Coffs Harbour complained privately to me and to others that the Independent candidate was getting funding but that the Labor candidate was receiving next to nothing. They did not run advertisements on television but the Independents were running hundreds of advertisements, with their campaign estimated at costing between $80,000 and $100,000. Labor knew that the Independents were receiving that money via the back door. Denise McHugh, the Labor candidate in Tamworth, said publicly that she wanted to run to ensure that an Independent retained the seat and that Coalition members could not get it. Labor denied running a dead candidate in the seat of Manly. Daniel Pearce, the State's youngest candidate, admitted that he was standing in Manly to swing votes to the Independent candidate, David Barr, who was competing against a Liberal. Members saw what happened there; Michael Baird won the seat well. This Labor candidate said:

We're being realistic. I just want to increase my primary vote and give them to Barr.

So we have electoral intrigue in this State. The Labor Party, which is in power, charges attendees $5,000 a plate at any function if they want to speak to a Minister or to the Premier. Attendees at those functions are the big developers, people who will benefit from any declaration by the Minister for Planning that an investment in New South Wales is of State significance. Currently, I am compiling a list of public open space in New South Wales that is now under threat, such as the showground in Coffs Harbour. Only a week ago the trust was sacked. The Minister, in his press release, made reference to the fact that this is 20 hectares of land adjacent to the central business district.

Which Australian Labor Party mate will get an opportunity to do something there? Which Australian Labor Party mate will get an opportunity to develop Coffs Harbour foreshore? Which Australian Labor Party mate will get an opportunity to develop Westport in Port Macquarie? Which Australian Labor Party mate will get an opportunity to develop the land where the Jack Evans porpoise pool was located in the Tweed? This Government must be held accountable under electoral donations and all members should accept this motion.

Mr BARRY O'FARRELL (Ku-ring-gai—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) [11.05 a.m.], in reply: What a remarkable performance by Government members! As the member for Coffs Harbour said, Government members totally oppose this motion, which includes what I described earlier as one of the better decisions of this Parliament in the last term—the establishment of a permanent committee to examine matters relating to the conduct of elections and other matters. I am disappointed that one of the first votes we will have in this Chamber will be by those opposite to oppose a parliamentary committee that will ensure the electoral system operates effectively.

Even more extraordinary—and it demonstrates that she has lost her mojo since she lost the ministry—was the performance of the member for Kogarah, who managed to put up a defence that lasted all of 90 seconds. She managed to put in an effort of 90 seconds to address a significant issue that affects all communities across this State relating to possible linkages between donations and decision-making in this State. It was extraordinary that only one Labor member contributed to debate for 90 seconds. No other Labor member contributed to this debate. Even more remarkable was the response by the so-called leader of this State, who yesterday wrote to the Prime Minister seeking to flick off this matter to the Federal jurisdiction.

I state again that in 1981 we pioneered legislation in this Chamber. There is no reason why, in 2007, we should not pioneer changes in this area across the nation. There is no reason why we should not use this inquiry to ensure that there will be national change following the Federal election. However, there is no reason why we in this State should have to wait for national change in the meantime. Clearly, in any jurisdiction there is no appetite for these issues before an election campaign. The Premier knows that, which is why he flicked this off to Canberra. He knows that precisely nothing will be done. That is not good enough for the New South Wales electorate.

At the very least the electorate wants a review and, in my view, we need some reform in this area. This motion is about establishing whether all donations, or certain categories of donations, should be banned and, if that were applied, whether those bans could be enforced effectively. A committee could also review and establish whether campaign limits on expenditure by candidates and parties should be introduced. It would also establish whether there should be more timely reporting in relation to political expenditure and disclosure for both State and local governments, and it would seek to ensure that those matters are examined before the next local government and State elections.

What is revolutionary about looking at an issue that concerns people in the electorate? Clearly, there is nothing revolutionary about that. Those opposite could not mount a single case against it. They could not mount a case that went for longer than two minutes. It is a disgrace. It demonstrates that despite all the claims by the Premier that he is different from Bob Carr he is precisely the same. Bob Carr did nothing about this issue for 10 years. The current Premier did not mention it for the first 19 months of his premiership; he raised the issue only after the Opposition raised it this week; and he then tried to flick it off, Bob Carr-like, to Canberra.

The public must have confidence in our electoral system. The public must be protected from special interests, whether they are individuals, corporations or unions. At the end of the day this inquiry can examine those matters and seek to restore some public confidence in a system that basically ensures that those of us who serve here are able to get here. I have no idea what members of the Labor Party were on this morning. Clearly, they are out of touch with their communities and they are out of step with public opinion.

Their vote against this motion will send a strong signal to the people of New South Wales that special interests are alive in this State, and that the Premier of this State protects special interests. The sort of decision making that has raised concerns in this State over the past 12 years that links special interests and donations to favourable decisions will continue. We must address this issue in the first week of this Parliament. I am ashamed of Government members opposite who are about to vote down this motion.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

The House divided.

Mr Aplin Mr Baird Mr Baumann Ms Berejiklian Mr Cansdell Mr Constance Mr Debnam Mr Draper Mrs Fardell Mr Fraser Ms Goward Mrs Hancock Mr Hartcher

Mr Hazzard Ms Hodgkinson Mrs Hopwood Mr Humphries Mr Kerr Mr Oakeshott Mr O'Dea Mr O'Farrell Mr Page Mr Piccoli Mr Piper Mr Provest Mr Richardson

Mr Roberts Mrs Skinner Mr Smith Mr Souris Mr Stokes Mr Stoner Mr J. H. Turner Mr R. W. Turner Mr J. D. Williams Mr R. C. Williams Tellers, Mr George Mr Maguire

Mr Amery Ms Andrews Mr Aquilina Ms Beamer Mr Borger Mr Brown Ms Burney Ms Burton Mr Campbell Mr Collier Mr Coombs Mr Corrigan Mr Costa Mr Daley Ms D'Amore Ms Firth Ms Gadiel Mr Gibson

Mr Greene Mr Harris Ms Hay Mr Hickey Ms Hornery Ms Judge Ms Keneally Mr Khoshaba Mr Koperberg Mr Lynch Mr McBride Dr McDonald Ms McKay Mr McLeay Ms McMahon Ms Meagher Ms Megarrity Mr Morris

Mrs Paluzzano Mr Pearce Mrs Perry Mr Rees Mr Sartor Mr Shearan Mr Stewart Ms Tebbutt Mr Terenzini Mr Tripodi Mr Watkins Mr West Mr Whan Tellers, Mr Ashton Mr Martin

Question resolved in the negative.

Motion negatived.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [11.20 a.m.]: I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that the Federal Labor candidates for the Central Coast have backed the New South Wales Coalition's policy to construct the missing water link between Wyong and Mangrove Dam;
(2) notes that the local Liberal Federal members have publicly supported the State Opposition's policy to construct the missing water link between Wyong and Mangrove Dam;

(3) notes that local councils, engineers, community groups, chambers of commerce, and environment groups have all backed the New South Wales Coalition's policy; and

(4) calls on Central Coast Labor members of Parliament to explain why they continue to oppose the construction of the missing water link between Wyong and Mangrove Dam.

The night before last the Federal Budget was brought down. The Labor Party candidate for Robertson, Ms Belinda Neale, who is well known in this establishment and well known in Labor Party circles, has issued a press release, in which the ABC radio transcript—and I have it here if anybody wishes to see the document—speaks of "… the desperately needed pipeline from Mardi to Mangrove and other necessary infrastructure to secure water for the Central Coast". Ms Belinda Neale, whose very household is significant in Labor Party right-wing circles, supports and calls for the missing link.

Mr Craig Thomson, the Health Services Union General Secretary—also a big wheel in right-wing Labor Party circles—and the Labor Party candidate for Dobell, has also called for the construction of the missing link. We are not talking about the member for The Entrance when we speak about missing links. We are not talking about palaeontology or evolutionary development of homosapiens; we are talking about the water crisis on the Central Coast. I thank the member for Lismore for providing me with some Sydney water, but the Central Coast is now on level 4 water restrictions. It is inches away from going to level 5. It is facing the most serious water crisis in its history. Federal Labor candidates are calling for the construction of the link pipeline between Mangrove Dam and Wyong Dam, which is the crucial element missing to supply water to the Central Coast. It is the only way that the water flows from Wyong River can be tapped adequately.

This is why Belinda Neale and Craig Thomson, the General Secretary of the Health Services Union—always significant at the annual conference—have called for it as well. It is why on 1 May 2007 Ken Ticehurst, the Federal member for Dobell, called for it. It is why Jim Lloyd, the Federal member for Robertson and the Minister for Local Government, Roads and Territories, has called for it to be constructed. It is why Gosford City Council and Wyong Shire Council have called for it. It is why the chambers of commerce and the Liberal Party in New South Wales have called for it. Only one organisation, one group, one political party has opposed its construction. Is this a guessing competition? Would anybody like to tell me the people who oppose the construction of the necessary water link between Wyong and Mangrove dams? There is dead silence. Could it be our Greens friends, who want everybody to have their own rainwater tanks and windmills and who want to close down coalmining and abolish dams?

Mr Grant McBride: It could be the Greens.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: The member for The Entrance says it could be the Greens. He made a mighty attempt to get Green preferences before the last State election but was very unsuccessful. However, that will be a debate for another day. It is not the Greens but the Australian Labor Party–the workers' friends, the party of the trade union movement, the party that represents the little battlers and wants everybody to be well looked after—that does not want them to get water. The Labor Party wants the people of New South Wales to wait for latter-day salvation, the second coming, because the second coming to the Labor Party is the construction of a dam 15 years away. The Central Coast is on level 4 restrictions and is about to go to level 5.

There is a water crisis in the area and people have been told not to use a bucket outside their own home. They cannot even wash their car or water their gardens with a bucket, but the Labor Party says, "We have the solution. Wait 15 years and we will give you a dam." Their own candidates for Dobell and Robertson, the councils, the chambers of commerce and the people of the Central Coast all support the building of the pipeline. We promised funding of $80 million for it. It was a fundamental plank in our policy for the March 2007 State election and it was well received. More than 80 per cent of people support the building of it. Only one party opposes it.

The member for The Entrance now has the opportunity to do his mea culpa and say to the Parliament, "I was wrong." It also provides an opportunity to the member for Wyong, who was installed by national executive without a preselection ballot. There was also no preselection ballot for Robertson and Dobell; national executive appointed Belinda Neale and Craig Thompson. Members do not count in the Labor Party unless they are one of the big unions or one of the big groupies. That is all that counts. So much for democracy and party membership! People are walked over in the usual style and certain candidates are installed. This is the big chance for the member for Wyong and the member for Gosford, who now bears the name so proudly borne by me for 19 years in this House. The member for Gosford has great shoes to fill and this is her chance to fill them. We await the contribution of the member for Gosford as to her mea culpa and the explanation she will give because for at least three months she opposed the construction of the missing link. She should not pretend to support and endorse this motion when she issued literature throughout the electorate opposing the missing link. She now has the chance to stand beside her Federal members.

Ms Marie Andrews: Point of order: Mr Speaker—

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: Take a point of order and try to stop the flow of invective against you. You are always the victim, always self-effusive but you are never prepared to stand up for what you supposedly believe in.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Terrigal will resume his seat.

Ms Marie Andrews: My point of order is relevance. I draw the Speaker's attention to the remarks made by the member for Terrigal and deny that I ever put out any media releases opposing the missing link.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order, but I will listen carefully to the member for Terrigal.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: The member for Gosford came into the Parliament in 1995 and she still does not know how to take a point of order. How long does it take in the Labor Party to receive a basic education about the standing orders? Twelve years? The member for Gosford did issue literature because we saw it distributed, not by her.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Terrigal will direct his remarks through the Chair.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: I will, Mr Speaker. The member for Gosford did issue literature because they were distributed by trade unions on her behalf and attacked the Liberal candidate, Chris Holstein, over the missing link, but then she pretended that her fingerprints were not on it. Somehow thousands of dollars appeared to distribute literature in support of the member for Gosford but she had nothing to do with it.

Ms Marie Andrews: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Terrigal will resume his seat.

Ms Marie Andrews: Again I point out that I did not issue any literature that criticised not building the missing link, but I certainly did put out literature complimenting the State Government on the building of the Tillegra Dam.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: The member for Gosford has taken two points of order and both have been failures. The Tillegra Dam is her solution; it is what both the member for Gosford and the member for Wyong endorsed. You now have the chance to vote for this motion and to repudiate the previous stance, or will you not support your Federal Labor members. It is a nice dilemma for you. Will you tell Craig Thomson and Belinda Neale that you do not support them in calling for the missing link construction.

Ms Marie Andrews: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: Order! I suggest to the member for Terrigal that if he directed his remarks through the Chair fewer points of order may be taken during his contribution.

Ms Marie Andrews: Point of order: My point of order was to point out that a member for Terrigal was directing his remarks to me across the table and not to you as the Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Order! The point of order is upheld. The speaking time of the member for Terrigal has expired.

Pursuant to resolution business interrupted.
Ms PRU GOWARD (Goulburn) [11.30 a.m.] (Inaugural Speech): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to address the Legislative Assembly as the newly elected Liberal member for Goulburn. Goulburn is a sprawling electorate that takes in the northern villages of Colo Vale, Hilltop and Yerrinbool, through beautiful Southern Highlands towns like Bowral and Bundanoon, along the historic Hume Highway to the grand old town of Goulburn itself and southwards to Lake Bathurst and beyond. The history of New South Wales is told in this electorate: the struggle over the Blue Mountains and the subsequent development by our early explorers through the Southern Highlands, including Georgian Berrima. The railways and the fine wool industry are both significant chapters in the story of New South Wales and are both part of our local history. Goulburn, Australia's first inland city, boasts an architectural heritage equal to anywhere in Australia.

Goulburn is an electorate with not only a great past but great promise. Its nearness to the Hume Highway means it is part of an economic growth corridor—all the more reason to invest in its schools and its training colleges, in decent public transport and in water infrastructure. Not only do the people of Goulburn deserve decent public services, they would also be rewarded with further economic growth. This investment could go further: ten years of solid economic growth must surely mean it is now time to rekindle interest in the very fast train project, with all the benefits of decentralisation it would bring to our overcrowded metropolitan areas. I note my predecessor Peta Seaton had a similar view for this region 11 years ago—and nothing has changed.

The encouragement and commitment of the business community, with very strong chambers of commerce and men like Terry Oakes Ash and Charlie Johns, together with the mayor and deputy mayor of the Wingecarribee shire, continue to drive the Southern Highland region's growth, despite State indifference. It is an electorate with all the challenges facing regional New South Wales. It is an electorate where public schools are in dire need of upgrades and better staffing. Our teachers deserve better and our children deserve better than this. It is a place where public transport barely meets the needs of its citizens from Colo Vale to Goulburn and everywhere in between. Our youth, our elderly and the people of Goulburn deserve better than this.

The electorate of Goulburn is served by two major hospitals, Bowral and Goulburn, both run down with lengthening waiting lists and waiting times. Our doctors and nurses and the people of Goulburn deserve better than this. Water remains the electorate's most visceral issue. In the Southern Highlands, the Government's determination to take water from the Kangaloon aquifer to boost Sydney's poorly planned supply has many fearful for the loss of forest and productive farmland. Why is so much put at risk for so little, and at such a price? Our farmers deserve better than this.

In the city of Goulburn, the water problem is very different. Goulburn, to the chagrin of many of its inhabitants, has been promoted internationally as the town that ran out of water. This means no water for gardens, for cleaning up property and, until recent rain, it meant closed playing fields. Despite the best endeavours of the local council it has shaken business and investor confidence and the townsfolk have spent two summers watching their gardens die. But we are a stoic people, the people of Goulburn, and have stuck to the bargain. We have lived on level 5. It is time now for governments, State and Federal, to reward their fortitude by investing in an upgraded water management system so that the town never has to live like that again. The people of Goulburn do deserve this. When I began campaigning in Goulburn my knowledge of water management policy was thin, to say the least. I am especially indebted to the Goulburn Water Group, whose members were not natural allies of the Liberal Party, but who took me in nevertheless and educated me with care and patience, so great and pressing was the issue of water for us all. From door to door, the uniting cry throughout the electorate of Goulburn is to be treated like people in Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong—the N. S. W. of New South Wales.

My immediate predecessors have set a high standard. I would like to acknowledge Peta Seaton, who has now retired as member for the Southern Highlands, and Katrina Hodgkinson, who served the people of Goulburn and the Southern Tablelands with enormous distinction when those places were part of the electorate of Burrinjuck. Before them, John Fahey and Robert Webster were local members people still remember with gratitude and affection, and I am the grateful recipient of their legacy. I acknowledge the presence in the gallery today of Robert Webster, Leon Oberg from the Goulburn Post, and many other local people who have come from Goulburn and the Southern Highlands, not only because they have been part of my journey into politics but because they are committed to the great region in which we live.

I extend my thanks to Michael Yabsley, Geoff and Pam Mitchell, who have cared for, comforted and guided me, Ken Street, Roger Worner, David Knaggs, Jo Vink and those members of the Liberal Party who worked so hard during the campaign. To Martin Laverty, my campaign director, I owe a debt that will not be forgotten, and to my manager Geoff Kettle, who managed the logistics, the driving and the squabbles in the car on our many journeys with great aplomb, my grateful thanks. Margaret Emery, Sally Cooper and Fiona Nixon, who took me under their wings, thank you all. Suffice it to say I have been loved, encouraged, advised and indulged by many people in the galleries and occasionally, in the interests of keeping my spirits up, I am sure I have been lied to.

Mine has been a long and eventful journey to this Chamber, a slow and often uncertain journey over half a century. My parents, Gerald and Zipporah Goward, cannot be here today but are with me in spirit. I owe them a great deal. Their commitment to their family, their honouring of their parents, their own struggles against adversity were formidable examples to all of their children. My father was permanently disabled during World War II and my family struggled. My mother worked, in the face of great social disapproval, to support four children. My brother, Nicholas, my sister, Elizabeth, and the two eldest, my twin, Penelope, and I all attended public schools until I won a scholarship to Woodlands Church of England Girls Grammar School. I won a couple more scholarships and finally one to university to study arts and economics. From these beginnings to today, my family and my Christian faith have guided and supported me, disciplined and inspired me.

My own family has also joined me today. Bringing up children is never one way. Each of my daughters has taught me so much, shared so much and forgiven me so much; we have brought each other up. I thank each of them for making such an effort to be here. Katie has come from overseas, Penny has come with her new-born daughter, Adelaide, and Alice has come from work. My husband, David, who has taught me, guided and advised, worked hard on the campaign and loved me when it was not deserved, is also here, up from our farm. It is hard work on the farm, but this is nothing either of us ever shied away from. My first career was working in Dad's plumbing shop. There is nothing more humbling than serving the public and always being wrong.

I come to this place after more than half a lifetime's involvement in politics. It began at university and moved to reporting politics for the ABC. Later I joined the public service and, more recently, served as Australia's Sex and Age Discrimination Commissioner. It has all prepared me for politics—although nothing quite prepares us for politics—a fourth career in a lifetime, a final career in a lifetime. Journalism taught me to listen closely, question well and never lose sight of the public interest. The ABC nurtured and shaped me, exposed me to a vast range of issues and life experiences and prepared me for the life of an advocate. As a member of Parliament my fundamental task is now to listen to the community and carry its ideas and wishes into this place.

My days in the Commonwealth public service and as commissioner were a great privilege. I was taught public administration by wise masters and given the freedom to develop policy and advocate as commissioner. My work at the commission was guided by the great second commandment of Jesus, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." In particular my time as commissioner allowed me to serve Australian women and their families, to appreciate the complexities of inequality, the linkages with the public good and the importance of sound socioeconomic analysis in matters of human rights. It also showed me that to achieve change I had to be part of the political process; I could not remain an interested bystander.

The issues we face today, both immediate and future, are as complex as they are important, and, as such, we must address them with our hearts and with our minds, solving them through the prism of our intelligence and our life's experience. To serve the people of New South Wales, to advocate for them, to defend them and to give them hope, there is no better place to be than this, the mother of Australian Parliaments. With the State's economy languishing, State service delivery always in crisis, the State over-regulated and public disaffection with politics so high, there has never been a more important time to restore hope.

Those of us who enter this Chamber for the first time do so when democracy, in the broadest sense, is also under great challenge, not from the usual suspects—war, economic depression or civil unrest—but from the new certainties of the future. When we had only tea-leaves to predict changes in climate, demography or society over 20 or 30 years, democracy could function satisfactorily with three-year or four-year parliamentary terms. We knew so little about the future that it was barely possible to do more than govern from day to day or year to year. We might have built grand monuments to last for centuries, but we could not build policy to last for more than a decade. But now we have predictive modelling and science to forecast our future with greater confidence than ever before. Global warming is now possible to predict in 20 or 30 years hence. The degree of accuracy remains one of debate, but of the direction there is no doubt.

Governments facing three-year or four-year terms are loathe to invest in a solution now when costs are immediate and benefits apparent only years later. Similarly, long-term health issues can now be diagnosed decades in advance, yet governments fail to invest in prevention today. The long-term needs of the New South Wales workforce have been well documented, yet governments persistently underinvest in education today. Social problems such as mental illness, drug abuse and family breakdown have well-recognised causes and can be prevented, but at considerable immediate cost and with rewards evident only in the future. An emerging problem for democracy is the timetable—the timetables of politics and policy no longer align. The needs of the present must always outweigh those of the future. Once this accurately reflected the political cycle of election and re-election. However, for many of the challenges facing New South Wales this no longer holds true. There is a mismatch, and the first casualty of this mismatch has been the confidence of people in democracy itself.

There is increasing cynicism about the courage and determination of parliaments to deal urgently with what are seen to be the big questions, without any acknowledgement of the practical and political difficulties of putting the needs of those in 30 years before the needs of people today. The debate over the future of coalmining is a case in point: the threat of global warming tomorrow versus the reality of unemployment today. I am determined to be part of ensuring that this Parliament must, and will, get better at working with long-term problems over short-term political cycles, relying on strong and effective public consultation, embracing differences of opinion and improving cooperation between the major parties, who remain the only vehicles for policy change. [Extension of time agreed to.]

My recent experience of Independents, however high their calibre, is that a Parliament made up entirely of Independents is even less likely to tackle the long-term problems facing us. It behoves the major parties, whether in Government or Opposition, to demonstrate this to a jaded electorate and media. It is easy to take democracy for granted. It is invisible, which is both its virtue and its problem. Its invisibility means we can get on with our lives safe in the knowledge that we have a Government we have chosen. Unlike military dictatorships, socialist totalitarian states or religious dictatorships, democracy does not involve the oppression of private law-abiding citizens, obtrusive social controls or state-imposed fear. But because of its invisibility, its unobtrusiveness, its silence, we are wont to take democracy for granted. Once every three or four years we go along and vote, and then we forget it. But there is more to democracy than election day and parliamentary broadcasts.

We cannot have a well-functioning democracy without strong support for the rule of law, high standards of governance, and transparency in public decision making through a free and open media. People must understand how the invisible hand of democracy works and want that for themselves. Democracy is only ever as strong as people's belief in and involvement with it. We must, as a Parliament, ensure this happens. In a more everyday sense, people are more likely to obey laws when they understand their purpose and know the benefits of upholding them. People must also have confidence in the legal system—the police, the way the courts deal with offenders and victims, and also the lawmakers, that is, our parliamentarians. This does not happen unless the Parliament recognises the importance of debate and reveres its traditions, and takes pride in the struggles they have come to symbolise. I look forward, Mr. Speaker, to seeing the importance of parliamentary traditions and courtesies restored under your leadership.

High standards of public administration so that people can see that government is fair, impartial and effective are crucial to faith in democracy. They give certainty to citizens and confidence to commerce. Australian governments have always been tempted to respond to crises and scandals with regulation—always more regulation. But regulation, including business regulation, also impedes the workings of the State and the economy to the detriment of its citizens. As William Pitt the Younger once said, "The art of good government is to do very little very well", a maxim those on our side of politics take seriously. This is the task of political leadership in New South Wales: restoring public confidence in our great State, business confidence in our economy and faith in our institutions. There is pride to be restored, history to be honoured and a future to be forged. In New South Wales the task is before us. I am proud to be part of bringing hope, faith and trust to the people of the seat of Goulburn and to the State of New South Wales. I will serve the people of Goulburn with dedication and love. They deserve no less. Thank you.

Debate resumed from an earlier hour.

Mr GRANT MCBRIDE (The Entrance) [11.48 a.m.]: This is a remarkable debate. It is interesting to reflect on some of the statements made by the member for the new electorate of Terrigal. The motion moved by the member for Terrigal is inaccurate and unfounded. I will go into the detail of that later. In the last Parliament the member for Terrigal, formerly the member for Gosford, spoke only once on water issues that affected his electorate. On that one occasion in four years he spoke on a motion for urgent consideration moved by a member of the Government supporting the construction of the Tillegra Dam. H did not initiate the debate. He is a convert to the water debate. In his solitary speech on water in November 2006 he never called for the construction of the so-called missing link. He never mentioned it. The member for Terrigal makes a lot of noise to cover the complete lack of funding from the Commonwealth Government budget, which provided not one cent for the Central Coast.

But there's more! The New South Wales Government does not oppose construction of the missing link; we think it is a good idea. The modelling shows that it is very sound and will complement the construction of the Tillegra Dam. I am always bemused by the member for Terrigal's interest in the internal machinations of the Labor Party, so I will reflect on some of the internal machinations of the Liberal Party on the Central Coast. Why was it said among Liberal Party members, "Chris is retiring in the upcoming election"? I challenge the member for Terrigal to deny that that was said. Not only was that very strongly asserted, but a candidate had been approached years earlier. It has been suggested that an approach was made by the member for Terrigal to someone who had similar training and that the candidate was promised the new seat by the member for Terrigal. I challenge the member for Terrigal to deny that. What happened subsequently was a rebirth of the new Right, the hard Right, in the Liberal Party followed by a rebirth of Chris Hartcher, who suddenly decided that he wanted another term. He suddenly decided that there was a new opportunity for him as the member for Terrigal.

Mr Chris Hartcher: Point of order: The remarks of the member for The Entrance do not exactly fall within the framework of the debate, which is about the missing link. I ask you to call his attention to the motion before the House.

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! There is no point of order. The member for The Entrance has the call.

Mr GRANT MCBRIDE: The member for Terrigal does not deny it. If that is not an acknowledgment of the truth of the assertion I have made, nothing is. Clearly the member for Terrigal was going to do that: The new Right came along and that was a chance for him.

Mr Chris Hartcher: Point of order: The motion refers to the Central Coast's water supply. I ask you to call his attention to the motion and have him address it.

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! I am sure the member for The Entrance was getting to the subject matter of the debate.

Mr GRANT MCBRIDE: Of course. It is just that in practically every speech made by the member for Terrigal he refers to the machinations of the Labor Party, so I thought I would reflect on the machinations of the Liberal Party on the Central Coast. However, I will not further digress. I am eager to see the councils do something—anything—to secure a long-term water supply for their areas. My message to them is simple—get on with the job! The State Government has already contributed more than $500 million in present value towards the construction of water and sewerage infrastructure on the Central Coast. In today's dollars the State's contribution to the Mangrove Creek Dam alone is worth approximately $250 million. Given the size of the two councils' balance sheets and considering that they are regulated by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal [IPART], which enables them to seek a reopening of their price path, they are capable of getting on with the job of constructing the missing link. Those councils are the ones who failed to build a link from the Wyong River to Mangrove Creek Dam almost 30 years ago.

For the benefit of members who represent metropolitan electorates and electorates in the Illawarra, I mention that the two councils—Wyong Shire Council and Gosford City Council— own, operate and manage the water supply on the Central Coast. The Central Coast's water supply is not a State responsibility. Water rates paid by residents of the Central Coast go directly to the Gosford-Wyong Joint Water Authority, in the same way as water rates paid by residents of Sydney go to Sydney Water. On the Central Coast, the revenue is paid to the two councils who own, manage and operate the water authority. It is those councils who failed 30 years ago to build a link between the Wyong River and Mangrove Creek Dam.

The water supply project was planned 30 years ago. There was a great deal of debate about it. A former mayor of Gosford City Council, Dr Patricia Harrison, pointed out more than 15 years ago that the Joint Water Authority had not gone ahead with the missing link project. Even within those councils there has been recognition of the need to complement existing storage by harvesting water resources to secure a water supply on the Central Coast. During that 30-year period, the population has almost doubled. With 15 years of constantly declining dam levels, the question is why, between that time and now, the water authority failed to build the link. People should understand that the water authority comprises those two councils, not the State Government. I seek an extension of time.

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! The standing orders do not provide for an extension of time in this debate.

Mr GRANT MCBRIDE: An even more basic question is why, when faced with a long-term downward trend, the councils failed to do much at all to secure a long-term water supply. Despite dwindling dam levels, the councils did very little to secure water resources to meet their immediate needs other than impose some water restrictions. The member for Terrigal pointed out that water restrictions were the councils' response, and he decried that. The Government supports his view. We agree that the councils have done very little. The only response of the councils to the crisis has been to impose water restrictions.

Approximately four years ago the councils instigated a process referred to as Water Plan 2050. The preliminary working draft was put on public display only recently. The plan is obviously a long way from completion. The earliest that people on the Central Coast may expect the plan to be adopted is the middle of this year. I point out that the proposal is a plan, not a commitment to construct. No doubt plans are good, but action is far preferable. In the time that the councils have been conducting their talkfest, dam levels have halved. Why did it take the Iemma Government to step in with the Tillegra Dam plan, which includes an increased pipeline capacity to the Central Coast, to jerk the councils and the State Opposition into action?

Why do the councils continue to assert their independent ownership, management, collection of revenue and operation of the water supply, yet refuse to get on with the job? For a long time the councils have made it very clear that they are solely responsible for the water supply on the Central Coast. I point out that with responsibility comes the need for making decisions and taking action. The Joint Water Authority has been proved to be totally dysfunctional in terms of its management. It has demonstrated its inability to make decisions and progress any of the efforts made by the former Mayor of Gosford, Dr Patricia Harrison.

While the councils keep whining about how long Tillegra will take and how the missing link could be constructed more quickly, Hunter Water is buying land, tendering for designs, undertaking environmental assessments and getting on with the job of building a dam. If those two councils do not get on quickly with construction of the missing link, it is altogether possible that Tillegra will supply water before the link comes into effect. Tillegra Dam provides a short-term, medium-term, and long- term solution. Because the Tillegra Dam is going ahead, water will be supplied from the Hunter to the Central Coast. The State Government is getting the job done and will continue to do so in its efforts to look after the best interests of residents of the Central Coast. [Time expired.]

Mr MICHAEL RICHARDSON (Castle Hill) [11.58 a.m.]: The House has been treated to yet another tour de force from the member for The Entrance, but it lacked substance until the latter part. I was not surprised when he sought an extension of time, because he needed it. He had used up most of his time attacking the hardworking member for Terrigal. I remind the House that the member for Terrigal achieved a swing of 8 per cent in his favour during the most recent State election. That explains why there was certainly no move in the Liberal Party to replace him as its candidate for the electorate of Terrigal. The Labor Government has failed to address adequately the water supply problems experienced on the Central Coast. Prior to the recent election I paid a number of visits to the Central Coast to discuss the excellent options paper that had been put together by Wyong Shire Council and Gosford City Council. That options paper was prepared well in advance of the Government's announcement about Tillegra Dam, which, coincidentally, was on the day that Milton Orkopoulos was charged. I think that is right.

Mr Chris Hartcher: The day after.

Mr MICHAEL RICHARDSON: That announcement was on the day after Mr Orkopoulos was charged. Clearly it was designed to deflect attention from a most unsavoury episode in the life of the Labor Party. Tillegra Dam had been on the agenda for approximately 40 years, yet, suddenly, when there were adverse headlines about the then member for Swansea, what happened? The Government announced it would build Tillegra Dam and that that would be the solution for not only the Central Coast but also the Hunter. There was no mention that currently the Hunter dams are at 90 per cent capacity and that that area does not have the same problems as those experienced on the Central Coast. There was no mention that the proposal would take 10 years to come to fruition.
The Central Coast does not have 10 years to wait for water; it is currently on level four water restrictions. People on the Central Coast cannot wash their cars or water their gardens. What does the Government expect Central Coast residents to do for 10 years while waiting for a water supply? Maybe use sponges to mop up dew from the grass? That will not work, because there will not be any grass, there will be no lawns. Maybe residents will be expected to mop dew from the trees! That is not an adequate or appropriate long-term solution to the Central Coast water supply problems. Indeed, the construction of the missing link as proposed by the Coalition was not only an appropriate response but also a local solution to the Central Coast water supply problem—and it could have been delivered within three years, not 10 years. There would have been no need to wait for the development approval process, for the dam to be constructed, and for it to fill.

The Coalition's proposal is to deliver a reliable water supply to the people of the Central Coast within three years, a proposal embraced by the people of the Central Coast. Earlier we were talking about which political party opposed the link. It was not the Greens; the Greens supported the proposal because the water that was to be extracted from Wyong River to go to Mangrove Creek Dam would have been taken in times of flood. The proposal would not affect the quality of water flowing into Tuggerah Lakes. The Coalition's solution was environmentally sound, economically responsible and deliverable within a short time.

The member for The Entrance said that the Labor Party had not opposed the missing link. I have a copy of the "Heading in the right direction" document—although we are still waiting for that direction to be exposed on the Central Coast. The document contains a list of the Government's plans to secure water for the Central Coast. It does not mention the construction of the missing link. It does not mention the construction of a pipeline from Wyong River to Mangrove Creek Dam. Clearly, the focus of the Government is to build the $342 million Tillegra Dam and water grid package; that is what the document states, "to drought proof the Central Coast for the next 60 years". The trouble is, the Central Coast does not have 60 years to wait. The Central Coast needs action now. The Liberal-Nationals Coalition proposal will provide water in three years. That is why the member for Terrigal moved the motion, and I commend him for so doing.

Ms MARIE ANDREWS (Gosford) [12.03 p.m.]: I support the comments of my colleague the member for The Entrance. I acknowledge that the water shortage on the Central Coast is certainly due to the extreme drought conditions and point out that water supply is the biggest single issue currently facing the Central Coast. The Central Coast Joint Water Authority is owned and controlled by Gosford and Wyong councils. Unfortunately, both councils have failed the residents of the Central Coast over a long period by not building the missing link. Despite water being the responsibility of local government, the State Government is contributing significantly to help secure the region's water supply.

Work has already started on the construction of a $5 million water filtration plant on the Williams River in the Hunter Valley. That project will help supply additional water to the Central Coast. The Government has also reduced the environmental flows in Ourimbah Creek, allowing the joint water authority to draw an additional four million litres of water each day. The Government has also extended the highly successful Water Savings Fund to include the Central Coast, offering rebates to consumers. The State Labor Government has contributed funding to the $27 million Hunter connection pipeline, which is now delivering 27 megalitres of water to the Central Coast every day. Gosford and Wyong councils asked the State Government to amend legislation to allow both councils to set up a stand-alone Central Coast water corporation. The Government listened and changed the legislation, but now the councils will not implement the change; a change they wanted in the first place. There is an ongoing squabble between the two councils: one council wants the corporation and the other does not.

The State Government is committed to building Tillegra Dam and a water grid connecting the dam to the Central Coast, a project valued at $342 million. Therefore, it is quite wrong for the member for Terrigal to say that the Central Coast Labor members have done nothing about water. Certainly members have made representations to the Government and the Premier and the Ministers have listened. The State Government has committed more than $350 million to help secure water on the Central Coast, while the Howard Coalition Government has contributed only $10 million, despite a multibillion-dollar surplus. That is quite disgraceful, because nothing is more important than water; it is essential for people to live.

Out of a total water fund of $2 billion the Commonwealth Government has provided a measly $10 million to the Central Coast, or 0.5 per cent of available funding. The Federal member for Robertson, Jim Lloyd, and the Federal member for Dobell, Ken Ticehurst, have again failed to deliver for the Central Coast. As the member for Gosford I admit that there is more to do on the Central Coast to secure the water supply and that is why the Australian Government should now step up to the plate and assist both Gosford and Wyong councils with future initiatives. I again point out to the House, as I did when taking points of order earlier, that I did not put out any literature during the campaign opposing the building of the missing link. Members on this side of the House certainly support the building of the missing link and we call on both councils to do that without further delay.

I call on Wyong and Gosford councils to stop squabbling and to look after the people of the Central Coast, as they are supposed to do, by building the missing link without further delay. I call on the councils to put pressure on the Federal Government to provide funding for construction of that missing link. If the Federal Government can have a surplus of billions of dollars, certainly it can afford to give about $80 million to Central Coast councils to build the missing link. I point out that the Tillegra Dam will provide water for the Central Coast well into the future, for 50 years and beyond. It is okay to build dams, but dams have to have water to supply to residents. The proposed location for the Tillegra Dam is in an area of high rainfall. I compliment and commend the Premier and the Ministers for their commitment to the residents of the Central Coast to build Tillegra Dam, because that certainly will waterproof the Central Coast for many years to come.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [12.08 p.m.], in reply: I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of the Mayor of Gosford, Mr Laurie Maher. It is a great honour that he should join us on this occasion. I acknowledge also that we have heard from the member for The Entrance and the member for Gosford, and I thank them for their contributions. I note that the member for Wyong, who is present in the Chamber, has not deigned to contribute to this debate. The Labor Party policy for the Central Coast contains a lovely photograph of the Premier and the member for Gosford standing at a dam, but it does not contain a single word about the missing link. Everything is listed on page 13 of that policy, but it does not contain a single word about the missing link and it does not refer to the funding of a single dollar.

Labor members for the Central Coast who spoke today—the member for Gosford and the member for The Entrance—have not pledged a single dollar for the $80 million construction of the missing link. They placed the blame solely on Gosford and Wyong councils, and gave the Federal Government a parting kick on the way through. But there is nothing from the New South Wales Government. The Labor Government is responsible for the operation of water in this State. It passed the legislation for the Central Coast.

Ms Marie Andrews: Point of order: The statement by the member for Terrigal is incorrect. Members in this House should tell the truth. It has been stated several times in debate that the people responsible for the supply of water to residents on the Central Coast are Wyong and Gosford councils, and not the State Government.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Diane Beamer): Order! There is no point of order. The member for Terrigal has the call.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: Last year the Labor Government passed the Central Coast Water Corporation Bill. This Government is the responsible body, but it has washed its hands of the whole issue and placed the blame on Gosford and Wyong councils. It is not offering any assistance to Gosford and Wyong councils; it is simply saying that someone else should do its job. Before the last State election the Labor members who are in the Chamber distributed literature about water but, after the election, they have offered the Central Coast community nothing.

Ms Marie Andrews: Point of order: I again point out that I did not distribute literature opposing the building of the missing link nor, to my knowledge, did any other Labor member. The statement of the member for Terrigal is untrue and I want to correct the record in this place.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Diane Beamer): Order! That is not a point of order. The member for Gosford can only deal with the matter by way of substantive motion.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: So Labor Party members are offering nothing. They jump up and down, talk about water and blame the councils. In his contribution to debate the member for The Entrance blamed Wyong shire council, which for years was under the presidency of his good friend Tony Sheridan. Labor Party councillors or mayors who have sat on both Gosford and Wyong councils have had a chance, but they have done nothing. The Labor Party, which has been in government since 1995, has never sought to address the issue of water on the Central Coast, even though the drought has been continuing for more than six years. Six years on the crisis is continuing to escalate and the Federal candidates for Dobell and Robertson are calling for the urgent construction today of the missing link.
The Labor Government is still offering nothing. This is its chance to vote to endorse the policy of the Coalition, which was to assist financially and to build the missing link. We support Gosford and Wyong councils and, when in government, we are prepared to put up the money. We accept it as a State responsibility and we will ensure that Gosford and Wyong councils have the funds to build the missing link. The shrill hysterics of the member for The Entrance do nothing to disguise the fact that he has not contributed or supported the allocation of a single dollar to the construction of the missing link. The shrill denials of the member for Gosford go nowhere towards countering the fact that she had literature distributed on her behalf endorsing Labor policies for water, which did not support the missing link. She can deny it as much as she likes but she has been caught out.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

The House divided.

Mr Aplin Mr Baird Mr Baumann Ms Berejiklian Mr Cansdell Mr Constance Mr Debnam Mr Draper Mrs Fardell Mr Fraser Ms Goward Mrs Hancock Mr Hartcher

Mr Hazzard Ms Hodgkinson Mrs Hopwood Mr Humphries Mr Kerr Mr O'Dea Mr Page Mr Piccoli Mr Piper Mr Provest Mr Richardson Mr Roberts Mrs Skinner

Mr Smith Mr Souris Mr Stokes Mr Stoner Mr J. H. Turner Mr R. W. Turner Mr J. D. Williams Mr R. C. Williams Tellers, Mr George Mr Maguire

Mr Amery Ms Andrews Mr Aquilina Mr Borger Mr Brown Ms Burney Ms Burton Mr Campbell Mr Collier Mr Coombs Mr Corrigan Mr Costa Mr Daley Ms D'Amore Ms Firth Ms Gadiel Mr Gibson Mr Greene

Mr Harris Ms Hay Mr Hickey Ms Hornery Ms Judge Ms Keneally Mr Khoshaba Mr Koperberg Mr Lynch Mr McBride Dr McDonald Ms McKay Mr McLeay Ms McMahon Ms Meagher Ms Megarrity Mr Morris Mr Oakeshott

Mrs Paluzzano Mr Pearce Mrs Perry Mr Rees Mr Sartor Mr Shearan Mr Stewart Ms Tebbutt Mr Terenzini Mr Tripodi Mr Watkins Mr West Mr Whan Tellers, Mr Ashton Mr Martin

Question resolved in the negative.

Motion negatived.

Mr STEVE WHAN (Monaro—Parliamentary Secretary) [12.22 p.m.]: I move:

That this House:

(1) notes with alarm the impact climate change is likely to have on the environment and economy of Monaro, the Snowy Mountains and rural New South Wales;
(2) welcomes the commitment by the Government and Federal Opposition to implement real and achievable greenhouse gas reduction targets and to take action to introduce carbon trading; and

(3) notes that history will condemn the Federal Government and the New South Wales Nationals and Liberals for continuing to be dominated by climate change sceptics.

The climate change issue has grabbed the attention of people across Australia, but particularly those in rural and south-east New South Wales, where the impacts of climate change are likely to be felt most strongly. Indeed, climate change is already having an effect. This has resulted in a grassroots movement in the Monaro and Bega areas that is attempting to combat the effects of climate change and to force policymakers to address the issue properly. This is the second time that I have put a motion about climate change on the Notice Paper. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to debate my first motion in the previous Parliament but I am pleased that we have the opportunity to discuss climate change today.

Global warming is becoming a significant threat to both the environment and the economy of the south-east region. It will have an enormous effect on rural New South Wales through lower rainfall, more storm events and a range of other climate impacts. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, most of the warming observed over the past 50 years is attributable to human activities—mainly the burning of fossil fuels. The burning of coal, oil and natural gas, for example, has released vast quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, in the State's south-east we are beginning to see the impact of those activities. The New South Wales Government commissioned the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation [CSIRO] to identify the effects of climate change on the Murrumbidgee catchment, in particular. It found that climate change was expected to have an extremely significant impact in the region. The CSIRO predicted that by 2030 we will have warmer temperatures, which will increase by up to 6 degrees Celsius by 2070. A decline in rainfall is most likely by 2030, and by 2070 there is expected to be a potentially significant decline in rainfall.

The agricultural industries along the Murrumbidgee River will likely be affected. Agricultural industries in the Murrumbidgee catchment are worth in excess of $1.9 billion annually. They include a range of farming ventures, including grazing, fruit, vegetables, beef, poultry and the cultivation of various crops and softwood. It is most worrying that those diverse industries may be affected by the global warming predicted by the CSIRO. The current drought—which we hope will not last much longer—has caused significantly lower run-offs into dams in the Snowy system and throughout the region. That problem is likely to continue with global warming. The CSIRO predicts that flows in the Murrumbidgee may decrease by 9 per cent to 14 per cent by 2015, and by 16 per cent to 24 per cent by 2100. In the Cotter River and the Queanbeyan sub-catchments run-offs may drop by up to 20 per cent by 2030, and by 50 per cent by 2070.

In the Snowy Mountains—a region that contributes significantly to the State's economy—there is likely to be a reduction in the areas covered by snowfall and a reduction in the number of days when there is snow cover. It is likely that the snow line in the Snowy Mountains will rise, which will have a significant impact on the environment. If this occurs creatures such as the mountain pygmy possum are likely to become extinct, and several other species of native alpine flora and fauna will be threatened directly. Such environmental effects are significant enough but climate change will also impact adversely on expenditure and revenue in the region. For instance, the area's ski resorts generate revenue of $537 million annually for New South Wales. This has a direct impact on total gross State product, with indirect impacts totalling more than $624 million. The ski resorts create about 8,000 jobs in New South Wales. The Snowy River shire, which is home to most of the State's major ski fields, generates gross regional product of $290 million a year—or 46 per cent of the New South Wales total. The alpine resorts and the snow sports industry generate 51 per cent of total annual equivalent employment in the Snowy River shire. It is apparent that the resorts have a significant impact on the region, which is why our community is particularly concerned about climate change.

Matthew Nott was the driving force behind the formation of Clean Energy for Eternity in Bega. The group has become extremely popular, and a branch was established in Jindabyne following a public meeting, which I attended. At the meeting it was agreed unanimously that the Jindabyne group should adopt targets similar to those of the Bega group. The group is urging local councils to achieve 50 per cent energy reduction and 50 per cent renewable energy targets by 2020. To their great credit, the councils have accepted those targets and are trying to achieve them. That is an exciting development for the region. However, the councils' efforts must be backed by action at State and Federal levels. As my motion acknowledges, Labor is leading the action on climate change around the country. The State Labor governments have taken the lead on carbon trading. They issued a comprehensive paper indicating that carbon trading is possible, practical and should be adopted.
It is to his eternal discredit that John Howard refused to accept that and instead decided to further stall by referring the issue to yet another committee to ascertain whether carbon trading was feasible even though the work had been done already. New South Wales has set higher targets for renewable energy and emission reductions as part of the papers put forward on carbon trading. Kevin Rudd's policies adopt ambitious renewable energy targets and greenhouse gas reduction targets, which is necessary if we are to have action in this area. In his recent budget John Howard demonstrated more tokenism. He allocated higher rebates for solar energy—and I acknowledge that is important—but it is not a replacement for a proper greenhouse gas abatement policy.

Time and time again John Howard and his Ministers are shown to be greenhouse sceptics. They will not acknowledge the importance and economic benefit of taking action now because they are too short-sighted. Rather than take action now and show leadership they prefer to impose a massive bill on future generations. They prefer to pander to the interest groups who do not want change, even though the overwhelming majority of scientific opinion shows that global warning is happening and will have dire impacts. I do not pretend that there will be no cost in introducing carbon trading but the benefits far outweigh that cost. There will be a cost to Snowy Hydro to introduce carbon trading. It is likely to change the way that company operates and potentially could reduce the profits received from its operations. At present Snowy Hydro generates a lot of money from high-peak electricity by using base load power—essentially coal-fired power—to pump water back up the hill and run it back through the generators at peak load time.

There is no doubt that carbon trading and a higher carbon price will have an impact on that operation, but we must be willing to bear that cost. Overwhelmingly carbon trading and taking action on greenhouse will ensure that the environment is retained in reasonable condition for future generations and that they do not end up paying the massive costs that would accrue to this country and the world if we continue to take little action, as the Howard Government is doing. I am pleased to move this motion. It demonstrates to the people of Monaro that the Parliament is on side with them as grassroots activists in their efforts on climate change policy. It shows the people of rural New South Wales that we are concerned about taking action on the problems that they will face from climate change.

Mr MICHAEL RICHARDSON (Castle Hill) [12.32 p.m.]: I join with the member for Monaro in noting with alarm the impact that climate change is likely to have on the environment and economy of Monaro, the Snowy Mountains, and rural New South Wales. All members of this House are concerned about the potential impact that climate change and, indeed, the present drought are having on the environment and economy of Monaro, the Snowy Mountains and rural New South Wales.

Equally, the Opposition is concerned that the Government is not doing enough to try to resolve this problem. One of the greatest lies perpetrated by the Labor Party in this country in recent years is that somehow or other Australia can go it alone, that Australia exists within some gigantic glass bubble, that the climate within that bubble is affected by our activities inside that bubble and that if we were to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent within that bubble then all of a sudden the sea levels would stop rising, we would save Kakadu, and we would save the Great Barrier Reef from bleaching. Former Premier Bob Carr was a past master at trying to whip up hysteria over this issue.

This is a global problem. We are talking about climate change and global warming. Every country in the world has to pull its weight if we are to address the problem. Australia produces about 1.5 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and, indeed, if we were to stop producing greenhouse gas emissions tomorrow, it would not halt the rate of global warming. Obviously, we in this country have a duty to pull our weight and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions commensurate with what the rest of the world is doing. Currently what is happening down in the Snowy is a portent of things to come. I know that the CSIRO's projection is that the snow cover in the Snowy could reduce by up to 70 per cent. That will have major impacts on the economy of the region, as the drought is having currently, because the Snowy Hydro dams are now down to record lows.

An article in the Daily Telegraph of 23 April 2007 suggests that water levels in Lake Jindabyne will be too low to operate the hydroelectric turbines by later this month and that the second major water source, Lake Eucumbene, is likely to hit the minimum operating threshold by late July or early August. This has not happened since the scheme was completed in 1973. It is a matter of considerable concern, not merely to people in Monaro but obviously to farmers and irrigators downstream if there is no water available for them. Indeed, I have heard the Prime Minister talk about turning off the tap along the Murray-Darling in the near future if it does not rain.
I reiterate that all members of this House are concerned about the potential impact that climate change will have on the environment and economy of Monaro, the Snowy Mountains and rural New South Wales. The Coalition takes issue with paragraphs (2) and (3) of the motion. Therefore, I move:

That the motion be amended by leaving out paragraphs (2) and (3) with a view to inserting instead:

"(2) commends the New South Wales Liberal-Nationals Coalition for developing a climate change policy that will create a new renewable energy industry and hundreds of extra jobs for rural New South Wales."

That was our position leading up to the election and at the time we presented a very comprehensive climate change policy entitled "For Future Generations: Get NSW Back in Front". That policy included—and I think this is very important—legislating for a renewable energy target that would have to be met largely within New South Wales. The renewable energy target proposed by the Labor Government of 10 per cent by 2010 and 15 per cent by 2020 could be met from anywhere in Australia. That essentially means that the investment would go to Victoria and South Australia, States that actively welcome renewable energy industries, unlike New South Wales.

The Minister for Planning struts around the place talking about the number of wind farm development applications he has approved. The simple fact is that none of these projects will be viable without some sort of government subsidy. One need only talk to the wind industry to understand the truth of that statement. The Government proposes to tax New South Wales citizens to set up new industries in other States. That is not appropriate because rural New South Wales would benefit from the implementation of renewable energy industries and the hundreds of jobs that would be created.

One of the projects we announced—and I am sure even members opposite did not have their ears completely closed when this was announced—was a 73 megawatt solar power station to be built at Moree in north-western New South Wales. The solar energy power station is a real commitment by the Coalition to new and evolving technologies and could be expanded in increments up to 1,700 megawatts. Indeed, it was proposed to be a base load power station, the first in Australia. That is a serious attempt by the Coalition to change the way in which electricity is generated in this State. Compare that with what the Government is currently doing. Yesterday in this place the Premier announced that he would set up an inquiry into base load power generation in this State in the future.

We should be concerned about that, because something like 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in this State come from power generation, due to our heavy dependency on coal. Yet the Premier, appropriately enough, is setting up a smokescreen in what he proposes: have an inquiry, and have the inquiry give you the result you want. The result that the Premier and the Government want is a new coal-fired, base-load power station.

One of the schemes the Government has introduced is the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme, yet another scheme that has imposed additional cost on every electricity consumer in this State. However, the University of New South Wales estimates that more than 70 per cent of abatement claims under the scheme will be for pre-existing projects. Consequently, businesses and families have to pay extra for their electricity. The money they pay goes in windfall profits to companies and projects that were pre-existing. Greenhouse gas emissions will not actually be reduced, which is what needs to be done. This is not investing in new sources of power generation. The Government simply is providing windfall profits for pre-existing projects. Members on this side of the House know that is not the way to go. Developing a renewable energy industry and providing extra jobs in rural New South Wales is the way to go. I commend the amendment to the House.

Mr GERARD MARTIN (Bathurst) [12.42 p.m.]: I welcome the opportunity to join my colleague the member for Monaro in debating this important matter. I am a little perplexed that the Opposition member who led in this debate is a member who has just been defrocked and dethroned from the front bench. I am not quite sure who is the shadow spokesman on the environment. I am reminded it is the new member for Goulburn. I am surprised she is not in the Chamber and contributing to this debate.

The comments that the member for Castle Hill made about base-load power are wrong. The Premier did not say, "Coal, coal, coal!" He said, "Let's look at all the options." I represent the electorate of Bathurst, one of the major contributors to power generation in this State, with the two main power stations being in Wallerawang and Mount Piper. So I certainly would join the mayor of Lithgow and the Lithgow City Council to talk to the Premier about base-load capacity being expanded at Mount Piper power station, given the use of a whole range of technologies in relation to clean coal, because in the immediate future there is no alternative. But, as the Premier said, we have to look to other methods.
We on this side of the House are very cognisant of the fact that climate change is a problem. There is denial of that on the conservative side of politics. It has only been in recent months that the Prime Minister has been dragged, screaming, to the table. The State Government has led the way in carbon trading, embarrassing the Federal Government. It is interesting that the Prime Minister and the Coalition in this State criticise Labor governments for setting targets. Setting targets is a very reasonable approach to addressing the problem, because at least it gives something to aim for. Depending what happens along the track, adjustments can be made.

I share with the member for Monaro some cool climate country. The Oberon and the Black Springs areas of my electorate are at an altitude of about 1,300 metres, which is on the snow line. However, talk to anyone in Oberon and you will be told that it is a long time since we have had a decent snowfall. In fact, Lake Oberon, a major part of the State's water resource, at the moment is at its lowest level ever, at about 17 per cent. That has now become such a problem that Delta Electricity is looking at the possibility of having to scale back power production out of either Mount Piper or the Wallerawang power station. So the stark reality is that these problems are with us, and they have to be dealt with.

Though the Government, for its part, has taken a lead on these issues and is prepared to work on strategies, the Opposition in this State criticises the Government and other State Labor governments for putting their hand up, doing the hard work and getting the debate going. In recent times it has been Labor governments that have brought the Federal Government to the table on a number issues, one of those being the National Water Plan. Yesterday this House entertained a precedence motion, led by the member for Monaro, and dealt with the stupid Coalition proposal to transfer water from the Clarence system to south-east Queensland. To that, the Premier Mr Iemma said, "No, not ever, ever." There are other ways to deal with these issues.

The motion moved by the member for Monaro puts the issue on the table and attacks the problem in a way that could only be described as very sensible, realising that we have to take some action but that we also have to be aware of the impact of such measures on the economy and on jobs, particularly in regional New South Wales. No-one is more aware of those matters than I am, given the mix in my electorate. I commend the motion of the member for Monaro to the House.

Mr BARRY COLLIER (Miranda) [12.47 p.m.]: The member for Castle Hill, as he is now called, said we all have to do our bit. That is true, because climate change is one of the greatest problems facing mankind today. It is not just a problem in Monaro; it is a problem as well in Castle Hill and throughout the world. The hypocrisy in what the member said is that it seems everybody except the Federal Government has to do its bit. People in theatres, including Miranda, who watched An Inconvenient Truth were horrified as well as embarrassed that Australia is one of only two developed nations in the world that have not signed the Kyoto Protocol. The other is the United States of America.

The member for Castle Hill should be on his knees begging his leader Mr Howard to sign the Kyoto Protocol, because climate change is an international problem. He did not mention that. He always points the finger at the New South Wales Government instead of trying to get governments to work co-operatively. This Government has introduced a carbon trading scheme—I think the first State in Australia to do so—and has introduced greenhouse gas reduction targets. Rather than walking about this place talking about some mickey mouse policy, the member should have a look at the New South Wales Government policy. We lead the way in Australia in attacking greenhouse gas emissions and the problem of climate change. We have a Minister for Climate Change, appointed by the Premier. We recognise the importance of climate change; sadly, the member does not. If he did, he would be down in Canberra saying, "John, John, when are you going to sign Kyoto and stop being the embarrassment that you are?"

Mr STEVE WHAN (Monaro—Parliamentary Secretary) [12.50 p.m.], in reply: I thank the members representing the electorates of Bathurst and Miranda for their contributions. It is well recognised and appreciated that the Labor side of the House strongly supports taking action to tackle climate change and to ensure that Australia does not suffer from its adverse impacts. The member for Castle Hill had a bit of a bob each way, a bit like the John Howard approach. He started off by parroting the John Howard line: "Australia only puts out 1½ per cent of emissions." He went on to say, "The great lie is that we say, somehow, Australia can go it alone."

Australia is going it alone. It is the only country in the developed world, other than the United States of America, that has not signed up to the Kyoto Protocol. It is hugely embarrassing for every Australian that we are in that lonely position of doing what George Bush tells us to do. I am hopeful that Australia will have a Labor Government before the next presidential election in the United States of America, but if the Democrats win office and Australia is unlucky enough to have John Howard re-elected, he would be on his own entirely. We must act.

The member for Castle Hill was correct to refer to water levels in the Snowy Hydro dams. Last week when I was at Lake Eucumbene I drove to the Six Mile Bridge, which has emerged from under the water for the first time in 40, perhaps 50, years. It is spectacular, but it is also frightening. Lake Jindabyne is heading towards a minimum water operating level, which is a concern to everyone in the area. We hope these levels are due to the 10-year drought we are experiencing, and that there will be some recovery.

The Government rejects the amendment moved by the member for Castle Hill. Fancy asking us to commend the New South Wales Coalition for developing a climate change policy when, at the last State election, no-one knew such a policy existed. It was not mentioned once in the Monaro electorate. All we heard was a bizarre policy to pipe water away from the Murrumbidgee catchment into the Sydney catchment. I am advised that similar policies were considered for other parts of the State simply because the Leader of The Nationals was in town, saw a map with a river going in one direction and got the bright idea to send it in another direction. It was crazy stuff and certainly not part of a sensible climate change policy.

The member for Castle Hill again explained the Coalition's position, which is why we cannot agree to the amendment he moved. Whether it is the State or Federal Coalition, the policy seems to be about a few show projects so that they can say, "Aren't we great!" They constantly reject fundamental changes that will impact on global warming and greenhouse emissions in the long term. If a policy is going to impact on greenhouse emissions one has to have price signals. One cannot get away with it without some type of carbon credit regime or carbon taxation regime that reflects the price people pay for greenhouse emissions. In the area I represent and, I am sure, in areas represented by other members of the House, many people are taking up options from their electricity providers for green power.

Country Energy gives its customers the option of taking from 20 per cent up to 100 per cent green power for household use. My household has opted for 100 per cent green power. We would love to install solar panels. It will be great if the Federal Government keeps its promise to introduce rebates for the installation of those panels. I acknowledge that John Howard is a more strident critic of climate change than the member for Castle hill. John Howard continues to tell us, as did the member for Castle Hill today, "We're acknowledging this because the polls are telling us to acknowledge it," but his comments reveal that he remains deeply sceptical of climate change and that he does not want to act effectively to deal with the problem. Today we heard from the Coalition that, unfortunately, it buys some of John Howard's lines. I know that not everyone in the Coalition agrees with him, but it seems the majority do. That is why my motion should stand.

Question—That the words stand—put.

The House divided.

Mr Amery Ms Andrews Mr Aquilina Ms Beamer Mr Borger Mr Brown Ms Burton Mr Campbell Mr Collier Mr Coombs Mr Corrigan Mr Costa Mr Daley Ms D'Amore Ms Firth Ms Gadiel Mr Gibson Mr Greene

Mr Harris Ms Hay Mr Hickey Ms Hornery Ms Judge Ms Keneally Mr Khoshaba Mr Koperberg Mr Lynch Mr McBride Dr McDonald Ms McKay Mr McLeay Ms McMahon Ms Meagher Ms Megarrity Mr Morris Mr Oakeshott

Mrs Paluzzano Mr Pearce Mrs Perry Mr Piper Mr Rees Mr Sartor Mr Shearan Mr Stewart Ms Tebbutt Mr Terenzini Mr Tripodi Mr Watkins Mr West Mr Whan Tellers, Mr Ashton Mr Martin

Mr Aplin Mr Baird Mr Baumann Ms Berejiklian Mr Cansdell Mr Constance Mr Debnam Mr Draper Mrs Fardell Mr Fraser Ms Goward Mrs Hancock

Mr Hartcher Mr Hazzard Ms Hodgkinson Mrs Hopwood Mr Humphries Mr Kerr Mr O'Dea Mr Page Mr Piccoli Mr Provest Mr Richardson Mr Roberts

Mrs Skinner Mr Smith Mr Souris Mr Stokes Mr Stoner Mr J. H. Turner Mr R. W. Turner Mr J. D. Williams Mr R. C. Williams Tellers, Mr George Mr Maguire

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment negatived.

Motion agreed to.

[The Speaker (The Hon. George Richard Torbay) left the chair at 1.00 p.m. The House resumed at 2.15 p.m.]

General Business Notices of Motions (for Bills) given.

Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: I direct a question to the Premier. Now that he has admitted that his faithful servant, friend and valued adviser, Mark Aarons, left his office after his position was deleted as part of a restructuring, what was the cost of this convenient taxpayer-funded redundancy?

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: Who would have believed that one day into the parliamentary sittings, already the whispers—"Bring back Peter"—have started? Will the Opposition never learn? The question will not advance the cause of the people of New South Wales. The Leader of the Opposition continues where his predecessor left off. His predecessor finished the previous parliamentary session with his reputation in tatters. I refer the House to Mr Benson from the Daily Telegraph, who stated on 5 December 2006, "Mark this day as the day that Peter Debnam lost the election." That was when the former Leader of the Opposition launched his attack on a good and decent man, the former Attorney-General.

Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: I refer to Standing Order 129 and the many precedents of previous Speakers relating to relevance. The question was about protected disclosure and a redundancy that was offered to a public servant, not about the former Leader of the Opposition or anything else. If the standards of this Parliament are to be upheld, I ask you to bring the Premier back to answering the question.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has just begun his answer. I am listening carefully to him.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The question asked by the Leader of the Opposition is not about any matters of concern to the people of New South Wales. It is a continuation of smear, rumour and traducing people's reputations. Yesterday the Leader of the Opposition attempted to traduce Mr Aarons' reputation. He did not learn from yesterday's experience or the experience of the member for Vaucluse. He continues with that pattern today. Will the Opposition never learn? Until the Leader of the Opposition does learn, the Coalition will be confined to the Opposition benches for a very long time.
Ms SONIA HORNERY: My question is directed to the Premier. Will he update the House on the Government's latest efforts to boost police resources in New South Wales?

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: I am very pleased to accept the question from the member for Wallsend because it touches on a very important issue, keeping our communities safe, which is one of the most basic and critical services a government can provide. The Government has made a huge investment to deliver the biggest and best police force in the history of New South Wales while at the same time making great progress in tackling crime

Mr John Turner: Tell them that at Forster.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: As we now know from that interjection, members of the Opposition prefer to adopt the approach of criticising police, but the Government will always support the police and back them by providing the laws, powers and numbers they need to keep crime rates falling. Last year the Government announced that an additional 750 police officers would be trained for duty and available by January this year.

We have delivered on that promise, with 799 men and women graduating.

[Interruption]

The member for South Coast should remember that graduation. It was quite an event. It was not only about the 799 men and women who graduated that day.

[Interruption]

The member for East Hills is correct. They graduated without the support of both sides of Parliament. They had the support of the Government, the support of their families and the support of the people of New South Wales, but they did not have the support of the Opposition. That was a day of shame for the Opposition, but a great and proud day for those 799 men and women who graduated. That graduation brought the New South Wales Police Force authorised strength to a record 15,206. That record expansion means that police numbers have increased by nearly 2,300 officers, or almost 18 per cent over the past decade, while the State's population has grown by 11 per cent.

I note that the member for Myall Lakes has submitted a petition. Despite his criticisms the Government's commitment to deliver extra police officers to rural New South Wales remains as strong as ever. I inform the member for Myall Lakes that 5,100 officers are based in regional and rural New South Wales, in stark contrast to the 3,600 police in country areas when the Coalition was last in office. Tomorrow I will proudly welcome the next round of graduates from the Goulburn Police College when approximately 280 men and women will join the best and the biggest police force in this country. There are even more police to come with my Government's commitment to deliver another 750 police over the next five years. The Government has also amended the recruitment policies for the New South Wales Police Force to encourage experienced former police officers who want to resume a career in the force do so. Since March 2003 nearly 160 former police have returned to the job, and there are more in refresher training right now.

Under this Labor Government the New South Wales Police Force not only has continued to grow; it has received more resources and the extra powers it needs to continue to keep our communities safe. The force is having success. The latest Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures show that the New South Wales Police Force is doing a fantastic job, with crime down or stable in 16 out of 17 major categories. That is a direct result of the hard work of police, their professionalism, their commitment and their courage. I am pleased that the Leader of The Nationals acknowledges that by nodding his head. The police are using these record resources and powers to keep crime rates stable or falling. On behalf of the Government and the people of New South Wales, I pay tribute to them. We look forward to welcoming the graduates at Goulburn tomorrow as the latest step in our efforts to keep crime down.

I inform the House of another initiative. This morning the Minister for Police joined senior officers to announce a major effort targeting outlaw motorcycle clubs. The New South Wales Police Force gangs squad will spearhead the operation. Police resources will be mobilised in a massive operation to tackle motorcycle clubs head on. The gangs squad will join forces with the middle eastern organised crime squad and local commands. The operation, Operation Ranmore, will see police targeting gang clubhouses and motorcycle club events and patrolling pubs and nightclubs known to be frequented by motorcycle gang members. The operation is welcomed by the Government and the community. The police involved will be able to call upon new tough anti-gang measures that the Government has passed. We look forward to continuing to back the police with resources, powers and the support of the Government in their efforts to keep crime down and to tackle gangs.

Mr ANDREW STONER: My question is directed to the Premier. How many members of the Premier's personal staff were made redundant as part of the restructure that resulted in Mark Aarons' convenient redundancy? How many new staff have joined the Premier's office since in either existing or new roles?

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: No wonder the Leader of The Nationals is bailing out, on his way to Lyne as Mark Vaile bails out. Mark Vaile believes that the best thing he can do for the people of the North Coast, the greatest mark of his time in Federal Parliament, is to hand that seat over to the Leader of The Nationals in New South Wales, the member for Oxley. The clock is ticking. We are waiting for the member for Murrumbidgee, who is frequently interjecting and on his feet taking points of order, to make a move. He is training to take over the job of the Leader of The Nationals. The member for Murrumbidgee does not need to try so hard. He should take it easy on his leader and on the new Speaker. We know he is a contender, and we know that the member for Coffs Harbour is a contender for the leadership. What more evidence do we need of the reasons the Coalition lost the election?

Mr Chris Hartcher: What about George, good old George?

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: And bring back the Swamp Fox as well! Two months into the leadership of the member for Ku-ring-gai, and still the Leader of The Nationals has not been able to swear loyalty. When asked, "Do you like him, do you support him?", the best he has been able to do is to answer, "I work with Barry." That is code for: we are counting already. Bring back Pete!

Mr Andrew Stoner: Point of order: I am compelled to take a point of order relating to relevance because the people want a straight answer to a straight question. How many members of staff were made redundant, and how many new members of staff are there? It is easy.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The Leader of The Nationals was compelled to take that point of order, but it might be his last. As I said, the whispers "Bring Back Peter" have started—Peter Debnam that is, not Peter Collins.

Ms LYLEA McMAHON: My question is directed to the Minister for Police. Can the Minister update the House on the prosecution of the former deputy senior Crown prosecutor of the Director of Public Prosecutions?

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: As a fellow representative of residents of the Illawarra I look forward to working with the member for Shellharbour in this place and in our community. To answer the question we must first remind ourselves of the facts regarding the discovery of child pornography on Dr Power's computer. On 4 July, after returning from overseas, Dr Power took his personal computer into information technology technicians in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP]. Subsequently, a number of child pornography images were discovered. Shortly after, the then Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, now the member for Epping, was advised of the technician's discovery.

At 5.20 that afternoon Mr Smith called Dr Power at home and asked him to come to his office for a meeting. Mr Smith then told Dr Power that child pornography had been found on his computer and it was likely that he had committed a serious offence. Remarkably, despite having advised him of the discovery of evidence against him, Mr Smith then allowed Dr Power to go home. Following this, the New South Wales police executed search warrants at Dr Power's office and at his home, and seized a number of computer disks. What we now know is that they were not able to seize a drive F, which was in the computer when it crashed, as Dr Power was using it. But this drive was not in the computer when it was taken to the office to be serviced. The following comments are from the statement of facts agreed by the prosecutor and Mr Power and tendered to the court. I quote:

Although the hard drive containing drive F was not in the computer when it was booted up by the O-D-P-P technician on 4 July, and was not found during the execution of search warrants on his chambers or home, it has been possible to reconstruct much of what was contained on the missing hard drive.

It contained catalogued homosexual pornography, some of it with names strongly suggestive of it being child pornography.

The statement goes on to detail the names of those files, names that are too graphic and offensive for me to state in this place, but they tell a very disturbing story. Power has not responded to police requests to hand over the drive and police have not been able to find it during their searches. This drive, and any of the disturbing files that may have been contained on it, could not be considered by the court in sentencing Dr Power yesterday. That is because the member for Epping tipped off Dr Power before alerting New South Wales police.

Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order—

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: It is that course of action that may have allowed vital evidence to disappear.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Minister to resume his seat.

Mr Adrian Piccoli: It has been a longstanding tradition in this Parliament—and it accords with current standing orders—that any allegations against a member must be made by way of substantive motion. There is substantial precedent on that subject from many illustrious speakers before you. Clearly, the Minister is implying improper motives to the member for Epping. For the sake of this Parliament and for the sake of its standards, I ask you to stop him from doing that and to inform him that any allegation of that kind should be made by way of substantive motion.

Mr John Aquilina: To the point of order: The Minister for Police was asked a question about a matter relating to his portfolio. He is now quoting from police documents on a matter that is a matter of public record and, as such, his answer is totally in order.

Mr Barry O'Farrell: To the point of order: The Leader of the House was not listening, which is what he used to do when he was in the Chair. The Minister did not just quote from documents. If we are serious in this Chamber about lifting standards this is the first test of the House.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have heard a considerable amount of argument on the point of order. I will allow the Minister to continue. However, I remind him that the standing orders make it very clear that attacks on members should be undertaken by substantive motion. Given the complex nature of this issue and the processes that have been followed, I will listen carefully to the Minister's answer. The Minister for Police has the call.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: The action of anybody in tipping off a mate in a circumstance like this is action that may have allowed evidence to disappear. Further advice from the police ministry is:

Following the initial discovery of material on Dr Power's computer, police did not have the opportunity to access all of the material relating to the computer, including the "F" drive, for forensic examination.

There are indications that the "F" drive contained a large amount of pornographic material, some of which may have been child pornography.

However, without being able to examine that material it is not possible for police to prove the exact nature of the images and consequently charges in respect of that material cannot be laid.

The Chief Magistrate could not take drive F into account, even though he said it may have been inferred that drive F contained more pornography, and perhaps child pornography. The Chief Magistrate could not take drive F into account in sentencing because he could not classify or number the further instances of child pornography it might contain. The only reason he could not do that is that the F drive could not be found.

Mr George Souris: Two more minutes.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: I see that you are not worried, George, about this concept of child pornography. The Victorian prosecutor bringing this case has built—
Mr George Souris: Point of order: I cannot allow a remark of that nature to go unchallenged. I ask the Minister to withdraw it forthwith. How dare he!

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Upper Hunter has requested the Minister to withdraw the comment. Is the Minister prepared to withdraw the comment?

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: On the basis that the member has asked for the comment to be withdrawn, I withdraw it. Equally, he might now stop interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister will proceed.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: The Victorian prosecutor bringing this case has built and argued the strongest case possible against Dr Power on the basis of the evidence available to him. But the case did not include the unknown amounts of child pornography that may have been examined on the drive and that potentially were able to be removed as a result of Dr Power being tipped off by his friend the member for Epping.

Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: My point of order again relates to relevance. There are two precedents from your predecessors. When the Leader of the House was Speaker he said:

An attack on a member must be done by way of a substantive motion.

I refer you also to comments made by the former Attorney General, Bob Debus, about the use and abuse of parliamentary privilege. If we, as a Parliament, are to reach new standards I ask that that kind of allegation of illegal activity by a member of Parliament be done by way of substantive motion, otherwise the Minister can take 15 steps outside the Parliament and say it again.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have listened carefully to the comments of the Minister and to the points of order. I remind the Minister that comments attacking a member are out of order. I ask the Minister to proceed.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: How much more child pornography Dr Power had, what he did with it, and what further charges the police could have laid against him will now forever remain a mystery. The simple fact is that an officer from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions told Dr Power about the child pornography before he notified New South Wales police. That person's actions have put vital evidence at risk. That person deprived police of the opportunity to collect that evidence. New South Wales police responded with speed and efficiency to the report of pornography in Dr Power's possession. The drive could be anywhere. It may have been destroyed or passed on to someone else—the police have no way of knowing. The person responsible for that tip-off now needs to come clean and explain why he tipped off his friend before telling police. The Leader of the Opposition has said that he is satisfied with Mr Smith's action. The Leader of the Opposition surely cannot be saying that if he had been in Mr Smith's position he would have done the same thing.

Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: Mr Speaker, I apologise for continually taking the same point of order, but unless you stop the Minister, I will continue to take this point of order.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister clearly adjusted his comments following my last ruling. I have been listening very carefully for any unsubstantiated allegations.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Everyone knows that when they discover evidence of serious criminal activity their first call should be to the police, not the suspect. This allows the police to undertake surveillance and gather evidence.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will come to order. The Minister will proceed.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: If ever anyone should know better, it is the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of The Nationals will come to order. The member for Coffs Harbour will come to order.

Mr Chris Hartcher: Point of order: Mr Speaker, I acknowledge your earlier rulings. However, the Minister's most recent remarks amount to a direct allegation of a criminal offence. Concealing evidence or being complicit in the concealment of evidence is a crime at law. That is an improper motive. I ask you, therefore, to direct the Minister either to desist or to move a substantive motion in accordance with standing order 73.

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind the House of the standing orders in relation to attacks on other members. The Minister is clearly going through in chronological order the information that has been provided. I direct the Minister to stay within those boundaries. If he does not, I will rule him out of order.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Police could not charge Power over the material on drive F. The court could not take into account the material on drive F in sentencing Power. Power had a motive to destroy evidence, and the Office of the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions gave him that opportunity. The former holder of that office needs to explain why he put the protection of an alleged child porn suspect ahead of his duties to the community as a senior prosecutor.

Mr Chris Hartcher: Point of order: That is the allegation. You heard it.

The SPEAKER: Order! I uphold the point of order. I ask the Minister to desist from making such allegations.

Mr GREG SMITH: My question is directed to the Minister for Police. Given his Government's apparent concern regarding the handling of the Patrick Power case, has the New South Wales Commissioner of Police been similarly asked to account for the two-day delay between police being informed and the police then arresting Power and searching his house?

The SPEAKER: Order! The House will come to order.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: It is interesting to get a question of that nature. I am advised by New South Wales police that at about 6.00 p.m. on 4 July 2006 Patrick Power was informed by the then Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Greg Smith, of the discovery of child pornography on his computer and told that the matter would be referred to the police. Power was allowed to leave the office. I am also advised that Mr Smith then contacted Chief Superintendent Aust, chief of staff to the commissioner, who was on leave at the time. Aust then contacted his replacement and the matter was referred to the child protection and sex crimes squad.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister will resume his seat. I ask members to remember that the standing orders require question time to be held in an appropriate fashion. Hansard is having trouble hearing the Minister. It is appropriate that members hear the Minister. Members who seek the call, if they are in order, will be given the call. The Minister has the call.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Police were advised of this matter at about 6.00 p.m. on 4 July. The next day—Wednesday 5 July—search warrants were executed on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, where Power's computer had been held securely.

Dr Andrew McDonald: Mr Speaker—

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Macquarie Fields.

Mr Greg Smith: I ask a supplementary question.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have already called the member for Macquarie Fields. A supplementary question needs to be asked immediately. I ask the member for Epping to resume his seat.

Mr Greg Smith: Will I get another chance?

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Epping can certainly seek the call again.

Dr ANDREW McDONALD: My question is addressed to the Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer). Will the Minister update the House on the Government's success in reducing the incidence of smoking in the community and how it plans to make further gains?
Ms VERITY FIRTH: On 8 April 2007 I released figures showing the largest ever annual drop in the number of smokers in New South Wales, making our smoking rates amongst the lowest in the world. The percentage of people aged 16 and over who smoke "daily" or "occasionally" dropped from 20.1 per cent in 2005 to 17.7 per cent in 2006. This 2.4 percentage points decrease is simply unprecedented. It means that there are now an estimated 155,800 fewer smokers in New South Wales than there were in 2003. Most encouragingly, the smoking rate amongst teenagers is the lowest in 20 years. The 2005 Australian Secondary School Alcohol and Drug Survey reported that 8.4 per cent of New South Wales students aged between 12 and 17 had smoked recently. In 2002 the figure was 13.3 per cent. These trends among young people are particularly important because the research tells us that approximately 90 per cent of smokers begin using tobacco before the age of 20.

However, while significant progress has been achieved over the past decade, there is little room for complacency. Smoking continues to be the greatest cause of premature death in New South Wales. Each year in New South Wales there are more than 6,500 deaths and more than 55,000 hospital visits attributable to tobacco smoking. Smoking is the cause of one in five of all the State's cancer deaths, and smoking rates remain disproportionately high amongst low-income earners, the unemployed, people with a mental illness, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Nonetheless, the progress to date is a significant victory for the New South Wales Government's comprehensive tobacco action plan—a plan that aims to reduce the New South Wales smoking rates to 13 per cent by 2016.

There are three major elements to our action plan. First and foremost, there has been a massive investment in public health campaigns. Research shows, and the results from 2006 demonstrate, that mass media campaigns are one of the most effective means of encouraging quitting, especially when supported by backup services and resources for smokers, such as Quit Line. I am sure that all members of the House are aware of the current anti-tobacco advertisements running on television—they are particularly frank about the health impacts of tobacco addiction. In fact, our increased spending on public health campaigns contributed to a doubling in calls to the Quit Line in 2006. The effectiveness of these campaigns has been so impressive that they have been picked up by other States. In addition, the mouth cancer advertisement has been adapted and used in Singapore, and New York State is currently considering using the amputation advertisement.

These innovative, cut-through campaigns are set to continue. In the lead-up to World No Tobacco Day on 31 May the New South Wales Government will fund a new $1.1 million campaign, this time highlighting the link between smoking and stroke. Scheduled to go to air from Sunday 20 May, this compelling and emotive television commercial depicts the disastrous effects smoking can have on the lives of both smokers and their families. Called "The Voice Within", the advertisement shows a stroke victim completely paralysed and unable to speak are still able to think. The campaign will deliver a powerful message: smoking can lead to long and painful illness.

In addition to our ongoing investment in mass media campaigns, the New South Wales Government funds a number of targeted youth prevention programs such as "Smoking, Don't be a Sucker", a partnership between the Sydney Swans, NSW Health and the New South Wales Rock Eisteddfod Challenge. We are also raising awareness about the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, particularly for children and infants in confined spaces, such as the family home and the car. Commencing in 2001 NSW Health provided $2.4 million over four years to a public health campaign known as "Car and Home: Smoke Free Zone". This program has been highly successful. Between 2002 and 2005 there was a 55 per cent increase in smoke-free homes and a 41 per cent increase in smoke-free cars.

The second element of our action plan has been the allocation of additional funding to provide more treatment services and to improve the expertise of health professionals to help smokers wanting to quit. The third element of our action plan—and probably the most significant public health initiative undertaken by this Government designed to reduce community exposure to second-hand smoke—has been the introduction of the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000, which banned smoking in most enclosed public places in New South Wales. This legislation will ban smoking in indoor areas of pubs, clubs and other licensed venues from Monday 2 July 2007.

The New South Wales Government has put in place a comprehensive education campaign consisting of television, radio and print advertising to inform patrons, staff and the general community of these changes. A new wave of advertising will commence prior to the July total ban in order to inform the general public of the changes. To ensure that all proprietors understand the requirements of the Act, an information pack has also been sent to all licensed premises across New South Wales. A gradual, systematic approach to ensure the final goal of eliminating passive smoking from indoor public places is being put in place by this Government to ensure a satisfactory progression to venues becoming smoke-free. Interstate and international experience tells us that these types of laws do not undermine the profitability of the pub and club industry. For instance, Ireland's three-year-old smoke-free restaurant and bar laws have had little long-term impact on pub sales.

In conclusion, together the elements of the Government tobacco action plan are delivering huge dividends for the health of our community. Importantly, our successes to date will contribute to and help inform the New South Wales Government's ongoing efforts to reinforce the healthy lifestyle message, to drive down smoking rates, to discourage a future generation of potential smokers and to protect the wider community from second-hand smoke.

Mr GREG PIPER: My question is directed to the Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water. Following a recent amendment to clause 3A of the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 councils' waste levy charges have increased by 53.8 per cent, potentially costing Lake Macquarie City Council an extra $10.5 million over four years, and other councils similarly. Will the Minister review this amendment to target rogue landfill operators instead of penalising responsible councils?

Mr PHILIP KOPERBERG: I acknowledge the member's interest in such matters and congratulate him on his recent election. The waste levy is crucial in protecting and enhancing our environment. It is a direct economic incentive for industry and local communities to drive down the level of waste they send to landfill. Put simply, the more waste produced, the more they pay. Conversely, by reducing the waste level, they benefit financially from lower levies, and the revenue the levy generates allows us to invest in innovative programs that enhance our environment.

As members would be aware, in November 2005 the Iemma Government announced the biggest environmental investment package in New South Wales history—more than $430 million to tackle our most pressing environmental challenges in both city and country areas. Funding for the program under the City and Country Environment Restoration Program is underpinned by the waste environment levy. It includes the $105 million RiverBank Fund, the $80 million urban sustainability fund and $76 million for the New South Wales Environmental Trust fund. The Iemma Government is also allocating $30 million for new marine parks and an extra $37 million to help farmers adapt to the end of broad-scale landfill.

The previous waste levy improved recycling of construction and demolition waste but I am advised that it was not high enough. To encourage recycling in commercial sectors, which have lower waste disposal costs, an extra $6 per tonne annual increase in the waste levy, in addition to the previously scheduled changes and consumer price index increases, began on 1 July 2006 and will continue for the next five years. I am advised that our strategies to reduce waste and enhance the environment are paying dividends. Reporting on our waste strategy shows strong progress, including each person in Sydney sent 7.2 per cent less waste to landfill in 2004-05 than they did in the year 2000. That is a difference per person of 94 kilograms, a significant reduction.

Sydney recycled 49 per cent of its total waste in 2004-05 and the Hunter, Central Coast and the Illawarra recycled 50 per cent of their waste in 2004 compared with 47 per cent in 2002-03. The amount of recyclables collected at kerbside in Sydney increased from 125 kilograms per person in 2000 to 137 kilograms per person in 2004-05, and 283 kilograms are now recovered each year per household. Now 109 councils provide kerbside recycling, a 7 per cent increase since 2000. Sydney households recycle 94 kilograms of garden waste through collection systems provided by local government councils. These results are very encouraging and we will keep working hard with local communities and their councils to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Mrs KARYN PALUZZANO: My question is to the Minister for Water Utilities. What is the latest information on the Iemma Government's measures to ensure long-term security for Sydney's drinking water supply and related matters?

Mr Chris Hartcher: Point of order: Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to Standing Order 128 (3) (c), which states:

Questions should not ask for an announcement of government policy.

The question asked by the member is out of order. It asks for an announcement of government policy.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the member for Penrith to repeat the question.

Mrs KARYN PALUZZANO: My question without notice is to the Minister for Water Utilities. What is the latest information on the Iemma Government's measures to ensure the long-term security of Sydney's drinking water supply and related matters?

The SPEAKER: Order! The question is in order.

Mr NATHAN REES: I commend the member for her interest in this important matter. The best minds in the international scientific community and in the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation [CSIRO] are telling us that in Australia climate change likely will mean more severe weather, less predictability and more droughts of longer duration. Right across Australia we are entering a period of climate uncertainty that has not been faced before. The most recent advice to governments is that we appear to be heading towards a period of extended dry weather, possibly extending for 50 years.

This set of circumstances requires a fundamentally different approach to how we secure our water supplies, bearing in mind that Sydney is the most populated city in the driest continent. The challenges that we confront today are not just about this drought, or even the next drought. They are about how we deal with droughts that ultimately will confront our children and their children. That is why the New South Wales Government has committed to massive water recycling programs, storm water harvesting, expanded water-saving programs such as the rainwater tank rebates, and the establishment of a new water supply for Sydney.

Last week I visited Perth and inspected its plant, which is removing the salt from sea water and providing additional drinking water for the people of Perth. The experts in Perth provided us with a glimpse of the sorts of challenges that all Australian cities face now and will face into the future. Perth dams have not been full for 30 long years. It is nearly 10 years since our own dams were full. Think of it this way: by volume, our oceans hold 97.5 per cent of the water on the planet.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister will be heard in silence.

Mr NATHAN REES: Most of the remainder is frozen—not unlike your policy position—and unavailable for use.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister will make his comments through the Chair.

Mr NATHAN REES: That means that traditional ways of providing drinking water rely on a very tiny proportion—less than 1 per cent—of the total water available. In any other policy area this level of risk would never be contemplated. It would be the equivalent of having an economy that relies on a single industry, or teaching our kids only one subject throughout the whole of their schooling, or indeed having a superannuation fund that puts all its money into a single stock. Each of those propositions is absurd. Yet those risks have been embedded in the water planning of the last century: we dug big holes, then watched them fill and empty.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Coffs Harbour will remain silent.

Mr NATHAN REES: That is why the construction of a plant that takes sea water and turns it into drinking water is a responsible investment for our future. It means we can tap into the world's biggest dam and endless supply of water: the ocean. Over the coming months we will be announcing tenders for the pipeline construction and operation. The Opposition went to the election declaring to everyone that it was a referendum on water. That was fair enough. The Premier accepted the challenge. Having staked out the ground, they sat. And we waited and waited. But the Coalition lacked a cohesive plan, flip-flopping from one day to the next. The member for Vaucluse was ruling out desalination one day, and a couple of days later was announcing two possible sites. The Coalition's scare campaign had no effect. I acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the members for Miranda and Menai in putting our plan to the people of New South Wales—a plan backed by those electorates.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of The Nationals will remain silent.
Mr NATHAN REES: History shows, and the electoral returns confirm, that the people of New South Wales arrived at the view that we had a plan and the Coalition had a sham. It is back to the drawing board for the Opposition, who still has as its policy the one that it took to the election. It is still on its web site_I checked it before I came down to the Chamber. The new Leader of the Opposition has an important choice before him, and an opportunity: he can either saddle himself with back-of-envelope exercises such as those that masqueraded for policy at the election or he can develop his own. His Federal colleague Mr Turnbull had this to say to the Melbourne Age on 28 April—we would have liked it a little earlier, but nonetheless this is what he said:

As our weather becomes more unpredictable, we've got to have water options that are not climate dependent.

And, of course, desalination is one of them. Is the Leader of the Opposition going to back his Commonwealth colleague, or will he follow the lead of the member for Vaucluse and do nothing while our water supplies run dry?

Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: My question is to the Minister for Police. In view of community concerns, why did the New South Wales Police Force legal branch not elect to have the Patrick Power case dealt with in the District Court, where a maximum of five years for the offence with which he was charged could have been applicable, rather than have it heard in the Local Court, where the maximum penalty for the offence was restricted to two years?

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Child pornography, as are the perpetrators and protectors of it, is a crime beneath contempt. Those who seek to protect perpetrators of child pornography are equally beneath contempt. It is quite bizarre that the other side of this place is asking questions about this issue. Of course, if Power had not been tipped off, police would have had access to the F drive and would have potentially been able to lay more substantial charges.

Mr Barry O'Farrell: Point of order—

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: That is the issue: Power was tipped off by a mate—

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister will resume his seat.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: —and he was protected by a mate.

Mr Barry O'Farrell: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129. I suspect, to give the Minister credit, he misheard the question. My question related to inaction by the New South Wales Police Legal Branch, not action in relation to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Can I have an answer to my question—a two-day delay, no action by the Legal Branch, and have it heard in that jurisdiction where the penalty could have been two and a half times what was given?

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

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Mr Speaker, the issue here is that Power was tipped off.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Clarence will remain silent.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Power hid the F drive. Police laid the charges. An independent prosecutor was brought in from Victoria. Power has been found guilty of charges that were laid on the available evidence. There may well have been more evidence if Power was not tipped off by a mate, and if Power perhaps did not destroy evidence.

Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: I ask a supplementary question of the Minister for Police. Is the Minister telling the House that the New South Wales Police Force legal branch made no recommendation regarding the jurisdiction in which the charges would be heard?

Mr John Aquilina: Point of order: This is not a supplementary question. The Minister has answered the question. Clearly this is a separate question and should be ruled out of order.
The SPEAKER: Order! The question is in order.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: The issue remains this: an independent prosecutor was brought from Victoria to prosecute this issue. He used all of the available evidence to argue as strong a case as possible. There may well have been more evidence if Power had not been tipped off by his mate and had not destroyed evidence.

Question time concluded.

Mr GREG SMITH, by leave: I make a personal explanation pertaining to matters raised by the Minister for Police today in this House. On 4 July 2006 I was advised by the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP] personnel manager that child pornography had been discovered on Patrick Power's private personal computer hard drive during a downloading of that damaged computer in the information management and technology [IM&T] section of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions onto another computer by an officer of that branch. I arranged for my colleague Deputy Director Lou Lamprati, SC, and Senior Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC, to come to my office to discuss this matter. These were the two most senior people, other than me, in that office at that time. During this period I spoke to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicholas Cowdrey, several times by telephone. He was in Brisbane for a criminal law conference at which he was a guest speaker. The conference had been approved.

Subsequently, after speaking with the information, management and technology officer and requesting that he prepare an urgent report, I made several phone calls in the presence of all—Lampradi, Tedeschi and the personnel manager—to try to locate Patrick Power, who was not in the office at that stage. I finally contacted him on his mobile phone number. He was at home. He had arranged to go to the doctor, but I asked him to come in.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Bathurst will remain silent.

Mr GREG SMITH: He said he was going to the doctor, but I said, "It's an important matter. You should come into the office." A matter we wished to clarify was whether he would claim he had possession of this material for the purpose of a case in which he was briefed. Unfortunately, it is not unheard of for prosecutors to have such material in their possession for the purposes of evidence in prosecuting persons for child sexual assault offences. This needed to be clarified in the case of Dr Power, a Doctor of Laws and a Senior Counsel. Unless he had a credible explanation, we needed him to stand down because he was due to appear in appeal cases within days. We had no power to suspend him under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act or the Crown Prosecutors Act, an omission and problem that have not been rectified. Accordingly, it was agreed that if no credible explanation were given I would request him to stand down voluntarily. That would mean he would no longer be allowed to appear for the Department of Public Prosecutions unless cleared by a police investigation or an internal investigation.

In accordance with the proposals agreed to between Mr Cowdrey and me I told Dr Power that child pornography had been found on his computer and, as it was an offence to have such material in his possession without reasonable excuse, that I wanted him to agree to stand down voluntarily. I told him he did not have to comment on anything if he did not want to. I advised Dr Power that if he stood down he would remain on full pay pending the outcome of a police investigation. This is in accordance with the normal procedures operating in the public service and the Police Force.

After making some comments that raised a possible defence, details of which were referred to at paragraph 15 of the Chief Magistrate's remarks on sentence on 9 May 2007, Dr Power agreed there was a prima facie case and that he would stand down voluntarily. I also advised Dr Power that we would not hand back his personal computer, hard drive or copies of backup material because they would be required for the police investigation. At this stage all material had been moved onto a Department of Public Prosecutions computer because the motherboard of Dr Power's computer was damaged, which rendered it defective.

I further instructed Dr Power not to approach any of the information, management and technology people about this matter, or seek access to the material. After further discussion about arrangements to pass over personal and financial records he left the office and was spoken to by the personnel manager, who, I understand, asked Dr Power whether he wanted any counselling. At this stage I contacted the information, management and technology officer, and requested he come to my chambers with his report, which I had asked for, and the computer equipment. He was there within minutes. Shortly after he brought these items to my chambers they were stored in a secure place. After reading the officer's one-page statement I had a further brief conversation by telephone with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicholas Cowdrey, QC, and then with Detective Chief Superintendent Bernard Aust, the Chief of Staff of the New South Wales Commissioner of Police, whom I knew.

I informed Aust of the sequence of events: that I had informed Dr Power of what material had been located, it appeared he may have breached the Crimes Act by having possession of child pornography, he had voluntarily agreed to stand down on pay pending a police investigation, we had the suspect material secured in an alarmed area in a safe place, and that Dr Power had gone home. Records I have seen from the Department of Public Prosecutions indicate that he never returned to the building. His swipe card was cancelled the following morning.

Aust, who was on holidays at the time, undertook to arrange for the officer in charge of the Child Protection and Sex Crimes Squad to attend upon my office early the next morning to commence an investigation. I assured Aust that the computers containing the alleged child pornography would be secured overnight in an alarmed room, and that the building was also alarmed. I also assured him that Dr Power was under suspension and that he would not be granted access to the computer or its contents.

At this stage I considered the matter had been handed over to police for investigation. About 9.25 a.m. on 5 July 2006 I received a phone call from Detective Superintendent Helen Begg, the officer in charge of the Child Protection and Sex Crimes Squad, who told me that she was in the vicinity of our office building. Shortly thereafter she attended my office, where the suspect material was handed over to her investigating unit.

The timing of searches and other investigations thereafter are a matter for police. Three search warrants were executed. One was executed on our office. There was no need for that because we would have given the material to the police. We showed it to them. However, they did that for formality. A second search warrant was executed the following night on Dr Power's chambers, which had been sealed. Late the following afternoon Dr Power was arrested at his home and was taken back to the police station. I understand that a third search warrant was executed at his home in his presence. There was no tip-off by me. I was acting as a manager has to act to ensure that an allegation of impropriety that had been brought to the office—

[Interruption]

I will not go into those matters. However, I will inform the House that I have senior counsel's advice about defamation proceedings against two Ministers of the Government. I have not commenced those proceedings at this stage. The proceedings relate to matters that are not covered by parliamentary privilege. This is a very serious matter. The independence of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has been undermined. The use by the Minister for Police of the day, Mr Scully, of information about a case that his office was prosecuting breaches the guidelines.

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind the member for Epping that he is making a personal explanation. Clearly he is raising matters that will cause debate.

Mr GREG SMITH: I was never told by any police officer that I should have rung the police first. Nor was I—

[Interruption]

The SPEAKER: Order! I urge the member for Epping to conclude his personal explanation.

Mr GREG SMITH: I assure the House that I do not understand why, if police had been informed at, say, 4.30 or five o'clock that afternoon they would have acted any more quickly than they did in the circumstances when they were told shortly after six o'clock.

Ms REBA MEAGHER (Cabramatta—Minister for Health) [3.19 p.m.]: This week we pay tribute to the tireless work of thousands of nurses who play a vital role in our health system and mark International Nurses Day on Saturday 12 May. In New South Wales we have a record 42,000 nurses providing support and care to more than 1.4 million patients who are admitted to our public hospitals each year. Nurses are the public face of our health system and provide the support and care that help to make our patients' experiences easier. They work in our hospitals, health care centres, disability services and in the community across the State. They are an indispensable force at the heart of our health care teams. No-one pretends that nursing is an easy job. Nurses have to deal with difficult emotional and physically draining work on a daily basis.

This year the theme of International Nurses Day is "Quality workplaces equals quality patient care". The Iemma Government is proud of our nurses and is working hard to provide them with the workplaces and conditions they need to get the job done and provide better patient care. Nurses in New South Wales enjoy the highest rates of pay in the country. By July 2007 nurses wages will have increased by 47 per cent since December 1999. The Government has increased maternity leave, introduced more flexible rostering, and invested significantly in nursing scholarships and professional development. We have also acted to protect our nurses from the ravages of John Howard's extreme WorkChoices legislation.

We must be doing something right because the number of nurses working in our public health services has increased from 34,000 in January 2002 to almost 42,000 currently. Unlike members opposite, we will not sack 20,000 public sector workers and force our nurses to answer the phones, manage rosters and handle patients. In March the Premier announced a four-year, almost $190 million plan to continue supporting our nurses. Our plans include making nurses in schools available to all high school students, recruiting 2,500 nurses and creating 80 clinical nurse educator positions. The Iemma Government is proud to be working with our nurses to improve health care in the community. I look forward to working with our nurses and their advocates in the New South Wales Nurses Association to further improve the conditions of nurses in this State.

International Nurses Day is an important opportunity to recognise the invaluable contributions of our nurses. I place on the record the Government's gratitude, and the gratitude of everybody in the community, for the invaluable contribution they make. I wish nurses all the best for this coming Saturday, International Nurses Day.

Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER (North Shore—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) [3.22 p.m.]: I wish nurses a happy International Nurses Day and assure them of how much the Coalition respects and admires the work they do in our hospitals. I found the Minister's claim of Government support for nurses absolutely extraordinary, because day after day I receive complaints from nurses who work in the hospitals system about the loss of services and support, and the inadequacy of resources that prevents them from treating patients as they would wish to treat them. Nurses tell me about the cut in the numbers of beds and equipment that is not being replaced. Nurses complain that they have to top and tail sheets because there is not enough money to provide clean sheets and that their patients' families have to bring pillows and blankets to the hospital.

There are approximately 100,000 nurses in New South Wales. Fewer than a third of them choose to work in our public hospitals system. The Minister claims there are currently 42,000 nurses working in our public hospitals, but that figure includes nurses who work for agencies. Because of the sleight of hand of this Government, agency nurses have been included on the public payroll, but they are not actually employed by New South Wales Health.

I ask nurses who contact me on a regular basis to continue to do so. The Coalition will continue to advocate on their behalf. The Coalition believes that nurses are the backbone of the hospital system. I am the daughter of a nurse and I respect very much the importance of the role they play, alongside doctors, allied health professionals and others in the hospital system, in doing the right thing by patients. I wish only that the Government would follow through and redeem its hollow promises. Nurses have had their career opportunities restricted as a result of a loss of management positions in many major hospitals. If the Minister is really serious about supporting nurses, she should ensure that the Government restores promotional positions that were cut during the restructuring imposed upon New South Wales Health by the current Premier, Morris Iemma, when he was the Minister for Health.

Petition requesting legislative change to remove the power of Ministers to override decisions of local government, received from Mr Greg Piper.
Petition requesting the removal of the $10 booking fee on pensioner travel vouchers, received from Mr Steve Cansdell.

Petition requesting adequate commuter parking facilities at Hornsby and Berowra railway stations, received from Mrs Judy Hopwood.

Petition requesting improved access to Hawkesbury River railway station, received from Mrs Judy Hopwood.

Petition praying that the Government urgently improve bus service 311 to make it more frequent and more reliable, received from Ms Clover Moore.

Petition requesting the retention of the CountryLink rail service from Murwillumbah to Casino, received from Mr Donald Page.

Petition opposing the decision that requires New South Wales residents to pay for ambulance services in Queensland and South Australia, received from Mr Steve Cansdell.

Petition requesting that the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Wollongong Hospital be operated for the benefit of in-patients and outpatients, received from Ms Noreen Hay.

Petition requesting funding for breast screening to allow access for women aged 40 to 79 years, received from Mrs Judy Hopwood.

Petition praying that the House support the establishment of a satellite renal dialysis service in Tumut, received from Mr Daryl Maguire.

Petition requesting funding to facilitate the operation of Sunflower House, Wagga Wagga, received from Mr Daryl Maguire.

Petition calling upon the Iemma Government to allocate more police resources to rural and regional communities throughout New South Wales, received from Mr Steve Cansdell.

Petition requesting an increased number of police to address understaffing in the Tumut police patrol, resulting in Batlow police being unable to adequately service the community, received from Mr Daryl Maguire.

Petition requesting a permanent 24-hour police station at Forster-Tuncurry, received from Mr John Turner.
Petition requesting funding for a new bridge over Lake Mulwala, received from Mr Greg Aplin.

Petition requesting the construction of a new bridge over the Clarence River at Grafton, received from Mr Steve Cansdell.

Petition requesting the building of cycleways in the Forster-Tuncurry area, received from Mr John Turner.

Petition requesting a review of the draft code of practice for private native forestry, received from Mr Steve Cansdell.

Petition requesting legislation banning the sale of cat and dog meat for human or animal consumption, received from Ms Clover Moore.

Petition requesting that the Department of Housing coordinate the removal within 24 hours of graffiti on its property being reported to the department's contact centre and monitor known graffiti hot spots to ensure immediate removal, received from Ms Clover Moore.

Petition requesting a public inquiry into Hornsby Shire Council's acquisition of the CSR Quarry in Hornsby, received from Mrs Judy Hopwood.

Mr ANDREW STONER (Oxley—Leader of The Nationals) [3.27 p.m.]: My motion deserves to be debated because no issue is more central to the success of our Government than accountability. The Westminster system of Parliament hinges on the effect of a separation of powers so that the Executive arm of government is held accountable for its actions. Today's Question Time proved once again that the Premier, Morris Iemma, and his Labor Government hold the concept of public accountability in sheer contempt. My motion deserves priority for debate because no-one in New South Wales believes that it was merely a strange coincidence when Mark Aarons, Mr Iemma's faithful servant, was made redundant from his job within the Premier's office within days of having made a protected disclosure relating to a serious domestic violence allegation.

No-one believes that it was a strange coincidence that on the exact Saturday that the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Mark Aarons had embarrassed the Premier politically, Mark Aarons voluntarily went into the office and wrote a letter relating to redundancy. What would the Premier have us believe? The question that needs to be answered by the Premier is this: If the protected disclosure was completely independent of Mark Aarons' redundancy, why did Mr Aarons specifically refer to it in his letter? This debate is a matter of high priority because even Labor sources have confirmed that by making a protected disclosure Mark Aarons made his position on Morris Iemma's personal staff untenable. Morris Iemma responded with the same solution he applies to every crisis. He used taxpayers' money to make it go away—in this case, a golden handshake in the form of a redundancy payment.
How much taxpayers' money was involved is not known, because today the Premier refused to answer a question about that. Today the Premier also tried to squirm his way out of another accountability issue, this time in relation to the prosecution of the former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Patrick Power. Rather than answer the questions, the Premier released his attack dog, the Minister for Police, on the member for Epping in one of the most disgraceful abuses of parliamentary privilege this place has ever seen. Although the Premier is willing to use this House and his Government to smear the member for Epping, he refuses to address the real substance of the issue: why it took the New South Wales Police Force two full days before they searched Patrick Power's house? Why did the independent prosecutor choose to bring the matter before the Local Court rather than the District Court?

Mr Gerard Martin: Point of order: It appears to me that the Leader of The Nationals is arguing the substantive part of his motion rather than the reasons why it should be accorded priority.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have heard enough. I will allow the Leader of The Nationals to continue.

Mr ANDREW STONER: My motion goes to the heart of accountability, or the lack thereof, in this place. The Minister for Police dodges questions but uses parliamentary privilege to try to smear the member for Epping rather than be accountable, as Ministers in this place should be. My motion deserves priority because less than two months into a new term of government, Premier Iemma has already begun reneging on his election promises. Premier Iemma promised better services, not cuts. Already he has cut coronary care beds in both Tweed Heads and Westmead hospitals.

Before the election he promised a widening of The Spit Bridge, but shortly after, guess what? It is too expensive! Premier Iemma would like New South Wales to believe in strange coincidences, this time that he had no knowledge that the cost of The Spit Bridge widening had blown out. Premier Iemma promised also that his charter of budget honesty would ensure that his policies were fully costed. It seems that that is yet another broken promise, because the figure the Government gave the public before the election was less than half the real cost.

Mr Andrew Fraser: So he has lied.

Mr ANDREW STONER: Yes, he lied, despite the chief executive officer of the Roads and Traffic Authority advising his close political confidant and colleague the Minister for Roads, and despite the fact that under his legislation the cost of that election promise would have been ticked off by the Premier, after the true cost was made known.

Mr PAUL McLEAY (Heathcote) [3.32 p.m.]: My matter should be accorded priority because it strikes at the heart of every hardworking family in New South Wales. Families depend on jobs and they do not want to travel long distances to work. Families want liveable communities with open spaces and parklands. Families want to know that their children will have a bright future. When it comes time to choose a government, families want to know who will support the economy and work hard to attract investment that leads to employment. In March the choice was stark. My motion refers to the threat of the former Leader of the Opposition, the member for Vaucluse, to freeze jobs growth in East Darling Harbour, now known as Barangaroo.

Prior to the recent election, the member for Terrigal, who was then the member for Gosford, talked about the single biggest economic driver in the Illawarra region. He said he wanted to abandon plans for growth of the port in that area. Two days before the Liberal candidate was to be preselected he withdrew his nomination and went running. The Liberals were left stranded and isolated in the Illawarra. The poll results across the Illawarra reflected, unfortunately, the judgment of the member for Terrigal when it comes to planning and growth for the regions. The Government calls on the new Leader of the Opposition, Barry O'Farrell, to come clean on whether he supports or condemns his predecessor's approach to planning, security for employment, and security for people who want to work close to their homes.

Question—That the motion of the member for Oxley be accorded priority—put.

The House divided.

Mr Aplin Mr Baird Mr Baumann Ms Berejiklian Mr Cansdell Mr Constance Mr Debnam Mr Draper Mrs Fardell Mr Fraser Ms Goward Mrs Hancock Mr Hartcher

Mr Hazzard Ms Hodgkinson Mrs Hopwood Mr Humphries Mr Kerr Mr Oakeshott Mr O'Dea Mr O'Farrell Mr Page Mr Piccoli Mr Piper Mr Provest Mr Richardson

Mr Roberts Mrs Skinner Mr Smith Mr Souris Mr Stokes Mr Stoner Mr J. H. Turner Mr R. W. Turner Mr J. D. Williams Mr R. C. Williams Tellers, Mr George Mr Maguire

Mr Amery Ms Andrews Mr Aquilina Ms Beamer Mr Borger Mr Brown Ms Burney Ms Burton Mr Campbell Mr Collier Mr Coombs Mr Corrigan Mr Costa Mr Daley Ms D'Amore Ms Firth Ms Gadiel

Mr Gibson Mr Greene Mr Harris Ms Hay Mr Hickey Ms Hornery Ms Judge Ms Keneally Mr Khoshaba Mr Koperberg Mr Lynch Mr McBride Dr McDonald Ms McKay Mr McLeay Ms McMahon Ms Meagher

Ms Megarrity Mr Morris Mrs Paluzzano Mr Pearce Mrs Perry Mr Rees Mr Sartor Mr Shearan Mr Stewart Ms Tebbutt Mr Terenzini Mr Tripodi Mr Watkins Mr West Tellers, Mr Ashton Mr Martin

Question resolved in the negative.

Question—That the motion of the member for Heathcote be accorded priority—put.

The House divided.

Mr Amery Ms Andrews Mr Aquilina Ms Beamer Mr Borger Mr Brown Ms Burney Ms Burton Mr Campbell Mr Collier Mr Coombs Mr Corrigan Mr Costa Mr Daley Ms D'Amore Ms Firth Ms Gadiel

Mr Gibson Mr Greene Mr Harris Ms Hay Mr Hickey Ms Hornery Ms Judge Ms Keneally Mr Khoshaba Mr Koperberg Mr Lynch Mr McBride Dr McDonald Ms McKay Mr McLeay Ms McMahon Ms Meagher

Ms Megarrity Mr Morris Mrs Paluzzano Mr Pearce Mrs Perry Mr Rees Mr Sartor Mr Shearan Mr Stewart Ms Tebbutt Mr Terenzini Mr Tripodi Mr Watkins Mr West Tellers, Mr Ashton Mr Martin

Mr Aplin Mr Baird Mr Baumann Ms Berejiklian Mr Cansdell Mr Constance Mr Debnam Mr Draper Mrs Fardell Mr Fraser Ms Goward Mrs Hancock Mr Hartcher

Mr Hazzard Ms Hodgkinson Mrs Hopwood Mr Humphries Mr Kerr Mr Oakeshott Mr O'Dea Mr O'Farrell Mr Page Mr Piccoli Mr Piper Mr Provest Mr Richardson

Mr Roberts Mrs Skinner Mr Smith Mr Souris Mr Stokes Mr Stoner Mr J. H. Turner Mr R. W. Turner Mr J. D. Williams Mr R. C. Williams Tellers, Mr George Mr Maguire

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Mr PAUL McLEAY (Heathcote) [3.49 p.m.]: I move:

That this House:

(1) notes the Opposition's failure to produce a planning policy for the election or any commitment to support jobs and economic growth in New South Wales;

(2) condemns former Liberal leader Peter Debnam's threat to freeze growth in the Sydney CBD;

(3) also condemns the attack by his Liberal colleague the member for Terrigal on jobs in Wollongong; and

(4) calls on the new Opposition leader, Barry O'Farrell, to come clean on whether he supports or condemns his predecessor's approach to planning in New South Wales.

This matter is urgent because the people of New South Wales need to know whether the new Leader of the Opposition is serious about jobs. They need to know whether he is serious about sustainable growth in our cities. The basis of every family's prosperity and hopes for the future is a good job, and a vital contributor to the work-life balance is a short commute. We need liveable communities with open spaces that are child friendly. That is why the Government has spelt out in our Metropolitan Strategy our commitment to creating jobs close to home. But in March the Opposition had no plans for liveable communities and no plans for good jobs. In March the choice was stark: on one hand, there was the Iemma Government, which is driving growth and creating better lifestyle opportunities, and, on the other, there was the member for Vaucluse, who threatened to freeze growth in Sydney and starve investment out of the central business district [CBD].

Sydney is the heart of economic activity for the whole country, and it needs to grow. Yet on 9 February this year the member for Vaucluse announced his plans to stall growth in Sydney. He said that he would preserve the East Darling Harbour area as an empty dock and a bit of grass, even though the container trade there has slowed to a trickle. This plan was based on the contention that the central business district was full—or, to use his words, "at saturation point." The trouble was that no-one agreed with him. Patricia Forsythe from the Sydney Chamber of Commerce said that the Opposition was "out of sync" with business. Ken Morrison from the Property Council said the plan was "dangerous" and would cost jobs. People who pay attention to the economic needs of Sydney know that there is unmet demand for high-quality office space. The latest market office report shows that commercial vacancy rates in the central business district are at a 4½-year low. So the Coalition changed tack and said that it would review the decision instead. So, as often occurred under the leadership of the member for Vaucluse, the Liberals lurched from a bad plan to no plan at all. On the one hand, the Coalition released a document on housing, which declared:

… whether we want to buy or rent we deserve choice in where we live and how we live.

But, on the other hand, the Coalition threatened to sabotage the biggest urban renewal project in the city for more than a century. The then member for Gosford, now the member for Terrigal, promised that the Opposition would release a planning policy before the election. On 1 March he assured a New South Wales Urban Task Force forum:

We do have a plan for NSW and we will be announcing that.

Ms Kristina Keneally: And we're still waiting.

Mr PAUL McLEAY: Yes, we are still waiting. In fact, we still do not know the Opposition's policy for planning and sustainable growth in New South Wales. Today the new Leader of the Opposition should place his plans on the record. He should tell the public that he supports economic growth and sustainable urban development, and he should acknowledge the balance achieved in the plans for Barangaroo. Half that site is set aside for parkland, which is equivalent in area to 17 football fields, and half is set aside to secure manageable increases in density and growth for the nation's economic centre. Sydney is congested. The only way that we can grow our community and our prosperity manageably is to increase densities as intelligently as we can. Urban congestion is adding to economic costs, stealing time from families and causing pollution. [Quorum called for.]

[The bells having been rung and a quorum having formed, debate resumed.]

But we cannot stop the world and get off. We need to accommodate our population growth in liveable, sustainable urban environments—environments that support public transport and walking options, and that deliver quality lifestyles and child-friendly grounds close to jobs. Under the Metropolitan Strategy most of our growth will be in-fill growth to limit sprawl. Massive dispersion makes infrastructure more expensive to deliver, extends travel and delivery times and keeps parents and kids apart. In our city of cities we will create many hubs, but Sydney city will remain the centre of the nation's growth. It will remain the place where the bulk of investment has already been sunk. We must extract the most we can from that investment by developing the remaining space within the city for economically responsible activities. An empty dock is a waste of this valuable space.

We need smart live, work and play options like Barangaroo, which will be a desirable location for world-class companies to locate and a desirable location for workers from all over the world and around the country to live. This development will support the cultural and recreational transformation of the central business district. A thriving urban metropolis needs a vibrant residential community. Sydney needs people on its streets, in its shops and cafes, and strolling its reclaimed harbour foreshore land. It needs developments like Barangaroo, a project that will contribute to Sydney's long-term future as a global city. The people of New South Wales deserve to know whether the Opposition will work with the Government, not against us, to achieve this for our community.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I call the member for Terrigal, one of the Terrigals.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [3.57 p.m.]: Mr Deputy-Speaker, as a troglodyte, you will know a lot about the Terrigals, but we will not go there. I move:

That the motion be amended by leaving out all words after "That this House" with a view to inserting instead:

"(1) condemns the Government's failure to develop planning policies that ensure appropriate levels of development in New South Wales;

(2) calls on the Government to address concerns that land and housing developers now find Victoria and Queensland more attractive for developing land packages than New South Wales;

(3) condemns the Government's proposals to overdevelop the Sydney CBD; and

(4) calls upon the Public Accounts Committee to investigate the Government's lack of planning policy."

I thank the member for Heathcote for moving his motion. I had hoped to see him in the ministry. He has my support, but apparently when I communicated my view to the Premier it did not carry much weight. I will try again the next time there is a ministerial vacancy.

The New South Wales Coalition announced a number of planning policies before the New South Wales State election in March. The then Leader of the Opposition and I announced those policies. We announced on several occasions a program to increase the amount of housing available in north-west and south-west Sydney by reviewing State government levies and by ensuring that the private sector was involved in the provision of infrastructure, especially in relation to Sydney Water. We announced a program to ensure that there was upgraded public transport, especially on the northern beaches of Sydney.

We also announced a program to ensure that Sydney Harbour remained a working harbour and that the thrust of development continued to be shared between Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay, with involvement from Port Kembla and Newcastle. At every level we were concerned to ensure that jobs were created and housing opportunities were available at an affordable level. We drew attention to the fact that housing development was at a 30-year low, and that continues to be the case. As the former Leader of the Opposition pointed out on a number of occasions, Adelaide had more housing approvals than metropolitan Sydney. My successor as shadow Minister for Planning, the excellent member for Wakehurst, pointed out that developers are leaving New South Wales and going to Queensland and Victoria because those States do not have the high level of infrastructure tax that New South Wales has, and they do not prevent the private sector from being involved in the provision of infrastructure.

The member for Wakehurst pointed out that State Government taxes and charges are adding between $100,000 and $160,000 to every block of land now available for housing in this State. Every homeowner who wants to buy a home in New South Wales first must pay the Premier's tax of between $100,000 and $160,000. No wonder housing has become unaffordable. As the former Leader of the Opposition has pointed out repeatedly, we stand for two things: jobs and housing. We ran a policy in planning that was designed to invigorate the private sector, to renew it and to ensure that people have employment and affordable housing opportunities.

We are proud to continue that tradition. We have an ongoing commitment to provide jobs and affordable housing. The new shadow Minister for Planning is already working on the development of those policies, which will be announced in due course. The State Government has sought to rewrite history in the most Stalinist manner—and only the member for Wollongong, who used to be in the Left but who is now in the Right, would recall how Stalin used to rewrite history. He would sit down, get the newspapers of the past, rewrite them and reissue them. Members of the Right have nothing to do with that. They are above that sort of business.

Ms Noreen Hay: Do you reckon?

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: The member for Wollongong is in the Right now, of course. She is prepared to say that the Right will rewrite history? Sadly, this debate is an attempt to rewrite history by the member for Heathcote. I would have thought they would have taught him better at St Patricks, but clearly they did not. We went to the election with the range of policies that I have summarised and we are proud to stand by them. More important, we are looking to provide jobs and we are looking at the future of this State. Where are the jobs? Why does this State have the highest unemployment and the most unaffordable housing in Australia? Seven cities in the world rate as having unaffordable housing. There are six in the United States and one in Australia—Sydney! People in Sydney cannot get a job or a house, especially those in the lower income section of the community.

The Labor Party used to champion the battlers. Historically, it was the party of the battlers but it is now the party of snouts in the trough. Members opposite are lined up, waiting for the car, the extra salary and staff. I do not know why the member for Wollongong missed out, and it will not be long before Santa Claus calls at the door of the member for Shellharbour to bring her a gift. The member for Heathcote is Chair of the Public Accounts Committee but the member for Camden got nothing, even though he was formerly mayor of Camden, a man with a distinguished record in local government. However, I strongly suspect that he will become chair of a committee. The member for Wollongong will also be given a chairmanship, and I hope it is a good one, although it will not be as good as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. There is a new rule that Public Accounts Committee members can only travel in New South Wales. I am not sure the member for Heathcote was told about the new rule, which we support. We support trips to Moree and Broken Hill.

I acknowledge the fact that the Minister for Planning has presided over planning policies in this State that have resulted in a slowdown in economic growth, job development and affordable housing. I invite members of this House to step outside and look at the skyline. They will not see a single crane on Sydney's skyline. If members travel to Brisbane or the Gold Coast in the State of Premier Beattie, whom the Premier described as his colleague, they will see cranes on the skyline. They will see cranes in Melbourne, but Sydney has none because the planning policies of this State have made development unaffordable.

Ms Kristina Keneally: Rubbish!
Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: The Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services, who gave a good performance on Stateline the other night, says, "Rubbish!" She should show me the cranes on the skyline, the investment, and introduce me to the major corporations. Every major corporation in Sydney is now talking about moving to Queensland or Victoria, where there is certainty in planning laws, lower State Government taxes and charges, more government support for development infrastructure and more allowance for infrastructure to be provided by the private sector. That is what is happening in other States. This State continues to drag the chain at the bottom of the economic development ladder, and that can be laid right at the foot of this Government.

Ms Kristina Keneally: Point of order: The member for Terrigal is complaining that there are no cranes. I invite him to come to Redfern Waterloo where we have 2,000 jobs with Channel 7, Pacific Publishing and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation [ANSTO], which is constructing a building at the Australian Technology Park [ATP]. That is private investment providing jobs to the city of Sydney.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The member for Terrigal has noted the Minister's comments.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: I acknowledge the contribution made by the Minister to Stateline and point out that this State is going backwards thanks to Labor.

Ms NOREEN HAY (Wollongong) [4.07 p.m.]: I speak on this urgent matter because we still do not have straight answers from the Opposition on its planning policy. Obviously the confused statements by the last speaker substantiate that the Opposition has no clear policy. It is time for the new Coalition leader to take a stand, to show that he shares the Government's vision for a dynamic and diverse State economy and to repudiate the Coalition's split-flop approach to jobs and investment. We have heard already about the Barangaroo debacle, but the Coalition's attack on jobs continued down the coast to Wollongong and caused a stir. Every time the member for Terrigal spoke he caused a stir. Anyone with knowledge of the Illawarra understands that it is a thriving business hub. As the capital of the region, Wollongong has a proud history as a place of opportunity for hardworking families, and the epicentre of this economic activity is the port.

[Interruption]

How would the member for South Coast know? She does not even visit the area. She should stay out of my electorate. The port is the beating heart of business, innovation and international trade. That is why in 2005 the Premier announced an infrastructure plan with a capital investment of $110 million to transform Port Kembla into Australia's leading car import centre. Building new cargo facilities and a third berth will secure 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, allowing Port Kembla to handle more than 375,000 motor vehicles a year, plus increased container and general cargo, delivering an estimated $200 million annual boost to the Illawarra's economy. The transfer of car trade from East Darling Harbour and Glebe Island was a key part of the plan. So imagine the concern, the outrage, when in February the Opposition said this plan was "simply crazy economics". That is, a plan to secure 1,000 jobs was labelled as "crazy".

The member for Terrigal, Chris Hartcher, told ABC Illawarra on 9 February that the plans "do not make sense". He made it clear the Coalition would scrap the idea if elected—and the car trade would go elsewhere! Within days, on 13 March, his comments had caused such a fuss that he was forced into a backflip. His colleague the member for Goulburn, Ms Pru Goward—Poor Pru! Where is she?—had to step in to clarify the matter. Still the member for Terrigal refused to admit he got it wrong. He attempted a quick step by saying it was up to car companies if they wanted to move to Port Kembla.

The Liberal merry-go-round of planning policy was still spinning, and the Opposition was hopping off and on as it pleased. The Iemma Government strongly believes in the importance of regional economies. The Opposition clearly does not. Will the Leader of the Opposition finally support local jobs for families in the Illawarra? While we wait for answer, we are getting on with the job of delivering a better future for the region. We made good progress on plans to revitalise the Wollongong City Centre and provide for sustainable growth. We delivered a vision for the city, supporting 10,000 new jobs and 6,000 new residents by 2031. And we delivered a 25-year strategy for the Illawarra region, with planning for sustainable growth in local jobs and housing, protecting sensitive environmental areas such as wetlands and the Illawarra escarpment, and securing a more diverse Illawarra economy and community. The Illawarra Mercury editorial of 11 August last year said our plan had "given the city its wings" and added:

All those involved—at a state and local level—can take a bow.

The Opposition would have clipped the city's wings. It would have removed the keystone of the region's prosperity—a prosperous Port Kembla. Families in the Illawarra deserve to hear the truth from the Leader of the Opposition. Will he support a bright future for the next generation in the Illawarra? Or will he allow rash Coalition policies to shake business confidence in the region? I would urge the Coalition to work with the New South Wales Government for the benefit of this mighty regional economy and the people of the Illawarra. A further burden was added by the recent Federal budget when, despite a surplus of approximately $15 billion, not one cent was added to funding for upgrading of the Pacific Highway—and there was no call from the member for South Coast, Mrs Shelley Hancock, for money for that Pacific Highway upgrade. Opposition members applaud everything done by their Federal colleagues, yet get nothing from the Federal Government for the South Coast.

Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst) [4.12 p.m.]: The Opposition opposes this Government motion. It is a dopey motion from a dopey Government. Certainly the Opposition had put out major planning policies for discussion before the election. Among those were proposals for improved transport to the north-west sector to facilitate that development. We had proposals for the south-west sector, where the current Government has failed to ensure adequate water in order to allow that development to proceed. What really concerns the Opposition is that the Iemma Government is charging so much that it is driving major companies from New South Wales into other States. On Tuesday this week A V Jennings reported to its shareholders:

The Company intends to increase its inventory turnover and reinvestment in less aggressively taxed States. These include Victoria and Queensland in particular, where 57% of the Company's developable land inventory is now located.

In New South Wales, the State taxes on an average property in Sydney's south-west are $44,993; in Sydney's north-west they are $80,031. Compare those with the Gold Coast, where State taxes on an average properly are $15,876, and with Victoria, where that State's taxes are only $22,702. The New South Wales Government is driving development interstate, making it harder for new home owners to be able to buy. The Iemma Government is a disaster when it comes to state environmental planning policy [SEPP] 5 development. We are now on the fourth review of the state environmental planning policy 5 Senior Living policy. In fact, the member for Pittwater, Mr Rob Stokes, wrote to the Minister some months ago and offered advice on certain changes to state environmental planning policy 5. On 23 April the Minister responded to the member, intimating that very shortly it would have a policy out for review. That policy was put out for review in December 2005, and we are still waiting for a response. Meanwhile, state environmental planning policy 5 developments are billowing out all round Sydney. Quite simply put, this Government's policy plans are lousy. Frank Sartor's policy planning as Minister is lousy. The Government needs to rethink its entire planning strategy for New South Wales.

Pursuant to standing orders business interrupted and motion lapsed.

General Business Notices of Motions (General Notices) given.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN (Willoughby) [4.25 p.m.]: No-one in the House would disagree that health is a major issue in the community, particularly in the Willoughby electorate. In the last couple of months I have received a number of representations from constituents concerned about ancillary services at Royal North Shore Hospital that have been disrupted because of development at the site. A doctor from the hospital wrote an anonymous letter to the North Shore Times detailing his concerns about car parking facilities at the hospital. Many in the community share his concerns. The temporary car parking facilities are inadequate to cope with the number of staff at the hospital and the number of people using its services. The letter states, in part:

I am a doctor in the emergency department, and pay $28 directly from my salary a month for the pleasure of parking at work. It will therefore come as no surprise that I am disgusted by the two $77 fines I received in the last two months.

Although I pay for parking, there is no guarantee that I'll even find a place anywhere in the hospital grounds.
On occasion, I can trawl "staff parking" for more than half an hour without success, and then, when I am forced to leave my car in a zone at the wrong time or "not within white lines" I am penalised. The complete disaster that is the North Shore parking deserves a Triage Category 1—i.e. critical.

This is a serious matter. People need to access hospital facilities in emergency and stressful situations, and staff need to access facilities to carry out their responsibilities. I ask the Minister for Health to examine these concerns, and ensure that access to temporary and permanent car parking facilities is satisfactory to staff, patients and the community.

I refer also to hydrotherapy services at the hospital. Some areas of the hospital site are currently undergoing redevelopment. Many constituents have contacted me because the site has no hydrotherapy pool. As all members know, hydrotherapy can be important tool in the recovery process. But there is no guarantee that on completion of redevelopment the Royal North Shore Hospital, a major health facility in the State, will have a hydrotherapy pool. I have written to the Minister for Health on behalf of my constituents on a number of occasions. I am concerned about the most recent response from the former Parliamentary Secretary for Health because it does not guarantee a hydrotherapy pool on the hospital site. The response, received on 20 February, states, in part:

I am advised by … Chief Executive, Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Service, that the RNSH hydrotherapy pool is located in an area identified for future development …

While it is too early to speculate on the location or configuration of hydrotherapy services in the future, Dr Christley assures me that the Area Health Service is committed to the continuing provision of hydrotherapy services in the local area.

The response confirms that my constituents are right to be concerned: hydrotherapy services cannot be guaranteed in the future development of the Royal North Shore Hospital. The response refers specifically to the local area. The Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Service covers a huge area up to Gosford on the Central Coast. Lack of hydrotherapy services is a major concern for constituents not only in the Willoughby electorate, but also throughout the lower North Shore area. It is an ironic situation, given that the State Government removed mental health services from Chatswood because, as we were told and continue to be told, it is better to consolidate health services at the hospital site. If that is the case why is the Government now removing hydrotherapy services from the site?

It seems the Government has a political response to whatever issue is at hand, rather than a plan to ensure that mental health services and hydrotherapy services are retained within proximity to patients in desperate need of those services. Unfortunately, the State Government is acting close to form by providing a political response to basic services and concerns that constituents have every right to raise. I call on the State Government to retain mental health services in Chatswood, ensure that hydrotherapy services are retained at the Royal North Shore Hospital site and improve car parking facilities at the hospital.

Mrs KARYN PALUZZANO (Penrith) [4.30 p.m.]: I congratulate you, Mr Acting-Speaker, on your appointment. As a former teacher prior to being elected to this House as the member for Penrith, I am able to state that innovative education is a very proud tradition in Western Sydney. In 2006, in collaboration with the Centre for Learning Innovation, the Western Sydney region implemented the connected classrooms trial. The Connected Classrooms Program involves classes of students from two or more schools who receive teaching and learning through live interaction, the use of videoconferencing equipment and shared interactive whiteboards across a wide Department of Education and Training network.

A combination of individual mainstream technologies create a motivating Connected Classrooms learning environment that is more powerful than the sum of the individual technology components. Students do not engage in virtual classrooms but, rather, they participate in one extended connected classroom. Students at all sites are able to see and interact with materials and simultaneously engage in shared brainstorming, discussions and active learning with their peers and a shared teacher. The focus is not on passive delivery of content but on student participation and engagement in learning. It should be noted that the teaching and learning is conducted in real time and is live. Whatever is written on the interactive whiteboard at one school can be seen in real time at the other schools. I was fortunate to experience this innovative approach twice prior to the commencement of Parliament—once accompanying the former Minister for Education and Training and on another occasion accompanying the Premier—and we were able to participate in a connected classroom. We spoke to the students and participated in the interactive lessons. The experience was quite empowering.
I congratulate the school education director of Penrith Valley, Francesca Molluso, the connected classes project officer, Michelle Wood, the regional director, Lindsay Wasson, and the 22 teachers involved in the original trial. The seven participating schools are Colyton, Cranebrook, Evans, Jamison, Nepean, Plumpton high schools and St Marys Senior High School. I commend the principal of the Colyton High School, Bob Hindmarsh, the former principal of the Cranebrook High School, Keith Miles, the principal of Evans High School, Karen Bryant, the principle of Jamison High School, Graham Hodgkins, the principal of Nepean High School, Tony Baldacchino, the principal of Plumpton High School, Eric Jamieson, and the principal of St Marys High School, Kris Beasley. Due to the success of the trial, the Western Sydney education region has moved to embed the program into school practice. This year physics, extension history and extension mathematics for year 11 students are offered.

Cranebrook and Plumpton high schools have continued to videoconference lessons for year 12 information processes and technology classes. The focus will be on the development of interactive lessons to demonstrate higher order thinking and the use of technology in engaging students in a collaborative learning environment. That was the lesson that the Premier and I participated in. A year 11 physics class has been established between Colyton and Nepean high schools to meet the needs of small candidature groups in each school and expand the curriculum offered to students. I pause to note that I attended the Nepean High School as a student. It is good to know that a school with a small number of candidates for a particular subject can provide instruction and interaction in that subject in conjunction with other schools.

Extension history lessons are being developed between St Marys Senior High School and Jamison High School to deliver an enriched learning environment for students in small candidature courses. I participated in that lesson with the former Minister for Education and Training at Jamison school and we were interacting and speaking with students at St Marys Senior High School. Links between Plumpton and Evans high schools are being developed to increase student numbers in extension mathematics and provide a broad learning environment for talented mathematics students. Teachers are motivated to re-examine their teaching practices in the light of new technologies and are able to adopt new pedagogical approaches. The Western Sydney education region is innovative. The participating teachers receive training in the use of the Connected Classrooms technologies, mentoring in the classroom and collegial support across subject networks.

It was pleasing that during our visit to the Cranebrook High School on 16 March the Premier announced the rollout of interactive whiteboards across all schools in New South Wales. As the member for Penrith, I look forward to participating in the rollout of Connected Classrooms in the all the schools in the Penrith electorate and throughout Western Sydney. It is great to see an innovation from Western Sydney being rolled out across the State. Students and teachers in remote, regional and urban areas will be able to be connected to one another in a network. This is especially advantageous for high schools where there may be a number of students wanting to undertake a subject that is not offered at the school because there are insufficient students to form a cohort. Connected Classrooms will enable students from one school to combine with students from other schools to increase their knowledge and participate in the subjects they are required to study for the Higher School Certificate. I commend all those involved in the Connected Classrooms Program.

Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina) [4.35 p.m.]: An issue of great concern within the Ballina electorate is the New South Wales Iemma Government's disregard for the far North Coast's need of infrastructure, and services in particular. At the 24 March poll, the people of the Ballina electorate, and indeed the people of the North Coast, sent this Labor Government a clear message. That message was, "Lift your game—and do it quickly!" Labor lost the seat of Tweed to The Nationals Geoff Provost, and in all North Coast electorates there was a significant swing away from Labor to The Nationals. There was a 5.1 per cent swing to The Nationals in Ballina, a 7.1 per cent swing to The Nationals in Tweed, a 2.3 per cent swing to The Nationals in Lismore, a 5.6 per cent swing to The Nationals in Coffs Harbour and a 6.5 per cent swing to The Nationals in Clarence. Despite these results, the New South Wales Labor Government continues to ignore the needs of the North Coast.

Importantly the New South Wales Government has failed to appoint a Minister for the North Coast. This Labor Government has a Minister for the Illawarra, a Minister for the Hunter, a Minister for the Central Coast, a Minister for Redfern-Waterloo and a Minister for Western Sydney, yet the North Coast continues to be overlooked. The North Coast has experienced rapid population increases over many years. As a result the area has specific needs. The region needs someone at the Cabinet table who understands those needs. The New South Wales Coalition's election policy was to appoint a Minister for the North Coast to give our area the attention it deserves. Accordingly the shadow Cabinet includes a shadow Minister for the North Coast, and I was appointed to that role. However, despite the obvious need for Cabinet representation, the Labor Government continues to ignore the North Coast. For example, issues that deserve urgent government attention in Ballina are the need for both an Alstonville and Byron Bay bypass.

In the case of the Alstonville bypass, this Government's record is disgraceful. Unfortunately, under the New South Wales Labor Government, this important project has been overlooked and delayed repeatedly. The former Premier, Mr Carr, promised in writing in 2003 that his Government would commence construction of the Alstonville bypass that year and that it would be completed by the end of 2006. He stated in March 2003 and again in June of the same year that construction funding was available from the Roads and Traffic Authority's forward capital works program. Within six months after winning the 2003 election, the Labor Government reneged on its written promise. Now we hear Labor blaming the Federal Government's AusLink Program but I point out that that program was not implemented until 2005, which is well after Labor broke its written commitment that was given in March 2003.

In 2007, no money has been allocated for construction of the Alstonville bypass. At this stage only planning and land acquisition have occurred. In contrast to that, the Liberal-Nationals Coalition election policy was to fast-track the construction of the Alstonville bypass and construction would have commenced this year. With the re-election of the Labor Government, I call on the Premier and the Minister for Roads to pay attention to the needs of the Alstonville community and commence construction on the Alstonville bypass. Last February I participated in a 24-hour traffic count of vehicles passing through the main street of Alstonville—a town that has been waiting for the much-needed bypass for almost 10 years. The traffic count showed that more than 17,000 vehicles pass through the main street of Alstonville each day. The count eclipsed the 2004 figure of 14,143 vehicles per day and clearly demonstrates that the need for the bypass is increasing.

Byron Bay is another town in the Ballina electorate that is in desperate need of a bypass. As all residents and visitors to Byron Bay know, the main street is highly congested on most days but even more so during school holidays and at times during the year when the town hosts various festivals. The problem is not new and it is getting worse, especially as more Queenslanders flock to Byron Bay now that the road between south-east Queensland and my electorate has been almost completely upgraded to dual carriageways. While the Byron bypass is primarily a local government responsibility, the State Labor Government has refused to allow a second crossing of the rail line, which is needed to enable the bypass to be constructed. Permission to construct another rail crossing must be granted, especially as no trains are running along the line—thanks to this Government. Given the Byron Shire Council's seeming inability to fund the bypass, I believe it is incumbent upon the State Government to provide funds totalling approximately $5 million to enable construction to occur. Byron Bay is a tourism icon for regional New South Wales and the State Government has a responsibility to help manage traffic congestion as a result of Byron Bay's popularity.

In contrast, prior to the recent election the New South Wales Coalition allocated funding for the bypass project and obtained a commitment from the shadow Minister for Transport that a Coalition Government would allow a second crossing of the rail line near the old Norco building to enable a bypass to be built. The current Labor Government has refused to provide this second crossing even though it took away the only train left on that line. Frankly, we need a second crossing even when trains return to the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line—which I am now sure will only ever happen under a Coalition Government.

Upon the re-election of the Labor Government, Byron Bay, like Alstonville, is without the prospect of a bypass in the near future. For safety reasons and to reduce congestion it is imperative that the New South Wales Labor Government commence construction of both the Alstonville and the Byron Bay bypasses this year. I call on the Government to start heeding the needs of the people of the Ballina electorate and the North Coast and address our infrastructure needs immediately. Appointing a Minister for the North Coast would be a good start. I have written to the Premier requesting he agree to this initiative, but have not yet had the courtesy of a reply.

Mr MATTHEW MORRIS (Charlestown) [4.40 p.m.]: I bring the House up to date on the current status of the proposed expansion of Charlestown Square and the status of public lands as part of the proposal. Since I last spoke on this issue the centre owner, General Property Trust [GPT], has lodged its development application for the expansion of the shopping centre and the relocation of Charlestown Bowling Club and various other elements of its proposal. Currently one key issue of concern is the proposal to rezone Ferris Oval, which Lake Macquarie City Council is coordinating with the rezoning and reclassification process. The public hearing for the rezoning of Ferris Oval is scheduled for 22 May and is expected to attract significant public interest, and I would expect significant public opposition.
The Charlestown community faces a proposal to double the shopping centre's size, but that is not a primary concern. However, it is proposed that the local sportsground—the public parkland known as Ferris Oval—is to be sold to GPT to facilitate the relocation of the local bowling club, which would allow the expansion of the shopping centre. Ferris Oval has serviced the Charlestown community for more than 100 years and has played an important public role, a role that has been publicly recognised through various planning instruments, the last being the council's local environment plan of March 2004. Although cynics would say that Ferris Oval is not overly used, and it is not in top condition, the fundamental purpose of that land is to provide an opportunity for various types of recreation, to be part of the green open space servicing the Charlestown community.

The reality is that important green space could be upgraded to service the community in a more significant way if the minds are willing and the custodian of the land, Lake Macquarie Council, desires it. Clearly the Charlestown community is undersupplied with usable, quality, green open space. Any professional recreation planner, on assessing the land, would have to agree that, given the forecast increase of 3,000 residents, Charlestown is currently disadvantaged and certainly will be in the long term. The council signed an agreement to sell the land even prior to a development application being lodged and has also committed the ratepayers to fund the purchase of several private properties across the road to offset the loss of Ferris Oval.

As a good corporate citizen GPT should, at the very least, foot the bill for those acquisitions. I ask the council: Why is that not the case? The story gets worse as it has now come to light that GPT wants to remove another public land parcel, Rotary Park, for upgrades of intersections with the Pacific Highway. This will result in the removal of the Miners' Memorial, located in that park. The story goes further: the council now wants an additional 10 metres of Charlestown Oval, which adjoins Ferris Oval, to increase the width of council's proposed Carl Close road construction. Finally, Attunga Park, which is adjacent to Charlestown Public School, is under consideration for the relocation of Charlestown tennis courts. This will have a massive detrimental impact on the school students who regularly utilise that park.

Interestingly, the council is not prepared to give the school a lease on Attunga Park for any longer than a month at a time, just in case the tennis courts go there. The overall project for Charlestown has the potential to offer significant public benefit with a large increase in economic growth and jobs. However, the cost to the community in public lands and trade-offs is of great concern. It appears that the proposal by GPT is simply about commercial return rather than a sensible, balanced outcome respecting the public interest in Charlestown community's public assets. Even the handling of the proposal to date is questionable, given the secret meetings, the binding agreements signed between the council and GPT, the commencement of rezonings, road closures, the purchase of a private home by council, and the spending of significant council funds, all before a development application was lodged.

The question is: How can the council, given its extensive expenditure to date and agreements being signed off, now make an independent assessment of the various development applications that have only recently been lodged? I will oppose the rezoning, simply on the basis that Ferris Oval is an important part of the open space and energy of Charlestown and has never been earmarked for anything other than a public park and sportsground. [Time expired.]

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK (South Coast) [4.45 p.m.]: Mr Acting-Speaker, congratulations on your well-deserved promotion. It is lovely to see you in the chair.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Thank you.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK: This evening I will describe the circumstances of just one of the casualties of the Batemans Marine Park legislation and indicate that there are indeed more of these stories to come, emerging during and after an excessively hasty consultation period with respect to the announcement and gazettal of the marine park; many say it was rushed through by the former Minister for the Environment to appease the Greens and to secure, once again, Greens preferences in the electorates of Bega and South Coast. The casualty of the Batemans Marine Park to which I refer today is Mr Shane Puglisi, a commercial fisherman operating a professional sports fishing business from Ulladulla Harbour and offering fishing and surfing charters, amongst other activities.

Mr Puglisi has been operating his business since August 2004 and has invested significantly in that business, building a reputation for his fishing charters combined with surfing around the areas of Brush Island and O'Hara Island. Mr Puglisi's Black Label surfing and fishing charters are a unique venture as they involve the combination of fishing and surfing in the only area suitable for both. Overnight trips are offered wherein clients charter Mr Puglisi's boat for fishing in the evening and at night, and for surfing during the day. The vessel is moored in order that both activities can be undertaken. Some clients may choose to fish, others may choose to surf, and Mr Puglisi is able to monitor both activities and therefore the safety of his clients.

However, the precise area that Mr Puglisi has utilised to build his business and contribute to the important tourism sector of the South Coast has been declared a sanctuary zone and, of course, fishing is now banned in that area. Mr Puglisi is the only charter boat operator to offer surfing and fishing packages in the Batemans Marine Park, but he relies on the fishing component of his charters to attract his clientele. Under those changes Mr Puglisi is losing business and has had many of his charter trips cancelled, as he can no longer offer both fishing and surfing as advertised in his promotional material. Mr Puglisi cannot use any other area, as he travels to quiet, secluded areas accessible only by boat where the surfing and fishing are good. He believed that in essence his business was an ecotourism business and a viable alternative to commercial fishing and he decided to invest in this area for his future and the future wellbeing of his family.

Although other commercial enterprises have been offered limited compensation, it seems that this Government overlooked the situation in which Mr Puglisi now finds himself and to date has ignored his requests for compensation. Due to the hasty consultation period, Mr Puglisi is now facing the ruin of his business and his family's financial demise. I met with Mr Puglisi before Christmas and have since met also with a number of local commercial fishermen who claim they were completely misled during the consultation period and were give the very false impressions that they would be adequately compensated and that there would be areas within the Batemans Marine Park for the continuation of their businesses if that was their choice. Of course, no commercial trawling is permitted at all in the park and the oldest fishing families in the Ulladulla region are facing financial ruin.

The Minister needs to answer a number of questions on a number of matters relating to the way in which many of the local fishermen have been treated throughout a deeply flawed consultation process. He needs to explain especially why he allowed the former Minister for the Environment to simply railroad the process and ignore the plight of legitimate business operators, many of whom are third and fourth generation Italian families who are iconic and highly respected figures within the Ulladulla community. This evening I call on the Premier, whose Italian heritage should perhaps lead to a personal interest in the Ulladulla fishing families, to intervene and ensure that our fishing communities are protected, compensated and allowed to exit the industry with dignity, if they choose. In many instances this has not been allowed to occur. Last night my colleague the member for Bega alluded to a number of these stories and we will continue to highlight them. Mr Shane Puglisi's story is unique because of the uniqueness of his business. It is an example of how this Government has simply refused to recognise or listen to a unique situation and compensate charter businesses that have also been affected by the gazettal of the Batemans Marine Park.

I also call on the Minister for Tourism, the member for Kiama, to enter into discussions with the Premier to resolve the issues that I have described today. He would be well aware of some of the controversy regarding the Ulladulla fishermen close to his electorate. He knows all too well the importance of tourism to the South Coast area. The Minister for Tourism should also enter into discussions not only on behalf of his constituents who are affected but also on behalf of constituents in New South Wales up and down the coast who have been detrimentally affected by the gazettal of the Batemans Marine Park.

Mr MICHAEL DALEY (Maroubra—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.50 p.m.]: Mr Acting-Speaker, I, too, congratulate you on your appointment to the Chair.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Thank you.

Mr MICHAEL DALEY: Tonight I speak once more about the Malabar Headland. Since my election to this place this is the third occasion on which I have spoken about it. I referred to it in my inaugural speech and last year I delivered a private member's statement on the subject. Malabar Headland comprises 177 hectares of headland between Malabar and Maroubra beaches in my electorate. Since 1907 it has been used as a rifle range. Ironically, those military style activities and the fact that people were prohibited from entering the headland led to many aspects of the headland being so well preserved today.

In 1998 John Fahey, the Commonwealth finance Minister and a former New South Wales Premier, announced that $9 million had been set aside in the Commonwealth Federation Fund to relocate shooters, to provide open space on the headland, and to hand that land over to the people of New South Wales and the people in my electorate. Former Premier Bob Carr announced that a site had been located in Cessnock for the relocation of shooters, as they require a 900-metre range for the Queen's shoot. However, since that time nothing has happened on the headland. The Commonwealth Government has still not asked shooters to leave and the place is falling into rack and ruin.

Malabar Headland is recognised as an area of national significance. The eastern and western sections of the headland are listed on the register of the national estate. In 2001 the Australian Council of National Trusts listed the headland as one of 32 endangered places in Australia. It is home to the eastern suburbs banksia, which has been declared an endangered species under both Commonwealth and State legislation. It contains 73 hectares of high-quality remnant coastal bushland and supports at least 283 endemic native plant species and 177 bird species. It contains Aboriginal engravings, middens, burial sites from the Dharug-speaking Aboriginals, and significant World War II coastal defence historical sites, including forts, gun emplacements, underground defence facilities and a sunken munitions railway. All these items are abandoned and ruinous.

In 1997 Randwick council resolved to ask the Minister for Planning and the State Government to prepare a local environmental plan [LEP] to have the zoning of the headland, which is currently private open space and residential, rezoned to public open space and a national park. In 1998 the Australian Government Solicitor, on behalf of the Commonwealth, formally objected to the completion of a local environmental plan and currently it has not been completed. The Commonwealth has still not handed over the site and it will not allow the site to be rezoned.

Recently I was privileged to chair a community forum organised by the federal member for Kingsford Smith, the Hon. Peter Garrett, which was attended by about 60 local people, all unanimous in their desire to see the headland handed over to the people of New South Wales. I thank the Friends of Malabar Headland and their President, Peter Ryan, and some of his merry band of people who do bush regeneration, often on a voluntary basis—people like the Vazeys, Alan Hall, Don Kerr and others. I thank them all for their interest in and work at that site. That forum unanimously passed the following resolution:

1. Reaffirms the commitment of the local community to the preservation and conservation of the Commonwealth-owned land within the Malabar headland.

2. Calls upon the Commonwealth Government to complete Part 2 of the Facilities Management Plan currently underway.

3. Calls upon the Commonwealth Government to:

a. Honour its commitment to the relocation of shooting activities currently conducted on the Malabar Headland;

b. Confirms that $9 million allocated from the Federation Fund in 1998 is still available to be utilised as previously announced by Finance Minister John Fahey for the relocation of the shooters and the provision of open space on the Malabar Headland;

c. Recommence discussions with the NSW Government without delay to bring about the relocation of shooting activities currently conducted on the Malabar Headland; and

d. Immediately ensure the return of Malabar Headland to the people of NSW for its use as National Park and public open space.

4. Calls upon Randwick City Council to re-investigate rezoning of the western portion—currently zoned 2B residential—to National Park.

Not too many places within the Sydney Basin are more unique and beautiful than the Malabar Headland. We need it to be handed over to the people of this State.

Mr RUSSELL TURNER (Orange) [4.55 p.m.]: Mr Acting-Speaker, I too congratulate you on your appointment to the chair.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Thank you.

Mr RUSSELL TURNER: Tonight I refer to medical facilities in Gulgong, which, as part of my new electorate, is some 20 minutes out of Mudgee. I look forward to representing both those areas and all the small villages surrounding them. Today I refer specifically to the medical facilities in Mudgee. The hospital, like a lot of hospitals in New South Wales, is very run down. Medical facilities in Gulgong are also run down. Prior to the election I was lobbied strongly on the need for a multipurpose health service in Gulgong and I support the development of one of those facilities.

Prior to the election I met with the general practitioners in Gulgong, Dr Glenys Caterson and Dr Robyn Williams, who talked about the pressures on their practices and the difficulties they were experiencing in getting general practitioners into smaller country towns. Despite all that, over the past few days it came as a bit of a surprise to me when I heard that Dr Caterson had announced she would be withdrawing her services from Gulgong and that her surgery would be closed as early as next week. I also understand, although this has not yet been confirmed, that Dr Williams, who comes from Orange two or three days a week, will also be withdrawing her services, which is an absolute tragedy for the people of Gulgong, especially the elderly and those in the surrounding districts of Goolma and Golan who rely on those services.

Some of those people will be able to travel to Mudgee but that will have a flow-on effect. Instead of travelling to Gulgong, people will travel to Mudgee or elsewhere and do their shopping there rather than supporting the retail sector in Gulgong, which is one of the downsides of this surgery closing. The crisis in Gulgong and Mudgee is also being experienced in Molong. The hospital at Molong is run down and there is reference to the provision of a multipurpose health centre. On other occasions in this House I have referred to Cudal Hospital, which was closed by this Government. The Government promised that that hospital would be rebuilt in stages. Stage one has been completed but stage two, which is to house the much-promised nursing home beds, has not yet commenced. What will happen to the medical facilities in Gulgong? What will happen to visiting medical officer rights in Gulgong hospital? Who will replace Dr Caterson and Dr Williams at Gulgong District Hospital?

Gulgong Hospital is a very important facility. Gulgong is growing slowly. It is quite lively at present, with the coalmines at Ulan expanding and the prospect of new coalmines opening in the district. Student numbers at the local school are increasing. There is an air of optimism locally that Gulgong is moving ahead slowly. But, because Gulgong is located only 20 minutes from Mudgee, people tend not to spend money locally. As I said earlier, people now have another reason not to support local retailers. Because they will be forced to travel to Mudgee, perhaps to Dunedoo or even to Dubbo to access medical services, they will spend their money there. I call on the new Minister for Health to do everything in her power to find replacements for Dr Caterson and Dr Williams so that the residents of Gulgong and the entire district continue to receive adequate health services. I ask the Minister to address this matter urgently as the surgery is due to close next week. I have written to her about the situation and I hope I receive a prompt response.

Ms TANYA GADIEL (Parramatta—Parliamentary Secretary) [5.00 p.m.]: This is my first private member's statement since being elected for the second time as the member for Parramatta. I am humbled by the support of my community, which saw me elected with an increased margin. I thank my community for its support and also the Labor Party branch members who worked so hard to get me re-elected. They are truly the stars of Parramatta. I acknowledge the debate that is occurring in the media today about alleged sexism in this place—the bear pit—as a result of the comments made by the newly elected member for Goulburn. Perhaps she has been misquoted, and I have no intention of attacking her views. However, I want to place on record my views on the subject.

For my part, this is the least sexist environment I have ever worked in and I believe it is unfortunate that members of this place have been smeared with the sexist tag. I have had two children since being elected to this place, and the support I have received from colleagues on both sides of the House has been incredible. I know that the majority of people regard politicians as less than perfect, but I have met some really decent and hardworking people in this place. When I made my inaugural speech four years ago I referred to a debate that occurred in Parliament more than 100 years ago about women being elected to Parliament. In the upper House Samuel Charles argued his case by asserting:

It is unnatural ... if a woman is married, her first duty is to try to make her husband and home happy ... and if she does her duty she will have no time for politics.

I think it is safe to say that most people would view this statement as sexist. I certainly do. But, as I mentioned, that was said more than 100 years ago and society's perceptions have changed—or have they? Three days prior to the recent State election I received an email which stated:

I would like to know—Why should I vote for YOU? Not why should I vote for NSW Labor but why should I vote for YOU?
The way I see it, you were elected in 2003 under false pretences as you were pregnant during that election campaign and did not declare this to the people in your electorate. I realise the reason for this is that it would have affected your chance of success but, as a mother of 2 pre-schoolers and a small business owner, I cannot see how it is possible to provide adequate care for 2 young children and represent the people in your electorate properly (and please don't give me the standard line about having a lot of support). Obviously, as a working mother and a professional, I do not have a problem with working mothers but I do believe it is impossible to be a good mother and a good parliamentarian at the same time—both of these jobs require 100% dedication.

That email was sent to me by a 37-year-old woman from the Parramatta electorate. I have decided not to name the writer as my purpose in revealing her thoughts is not to humiliate her but to demonstrate that sexism is alive and well in society. I am still shocked by the contents of this email, and I must confess that for a few days I was worried that maybe the Parramatta community really thought that about me. Of course there will be people who agree with her sentiments, but I believe they are in the minority. My re-election demonstrates that the people of Parramatta think I am doing a good job and have decided to let me continue doing it. I am happy to report that my two babies are growing into lovely, intelligent and confident little girls and as yet—touch wood—are showing no damage as a result of my full-time work. My family, my husband and my children, are the loves of my life. I have to say that most people to whom I have shown the email are horrified. Most people do not think it matters whether politicians have babies, but obviously some do.

As women, we seem to be damned if we do have kids and damned if we do not. We saw this two weeks ago when Senator Bill Heffernan referred to Julia Gillard as "deliberately barren" and therefore incapable of running this country. He was howled down, and duly apologised for his remarks. I think it is a shame that the media are focusing on whether the bear pit is a sexist place in which to work, because the fact is that it is not. The reality is that the world is still a sexist place. We have come a long way but we have still got a hell of a long way to go. As politicians we have an obligation to lead the way, and women politicians need to show that it is possible to be a good politician and a good mum. The next generation of young women, including my own two daughters, is counting on us.

Mr MICHAEL RICHARDSON (Castle Hill) [5.05 p.m.]: I speak tonight on behalf of Mr Abdul Chowdhury of West Pennant Hills and his son, Ahmedul. Ahmedul is a severely intellectually disabled man of 29. His vocabulary is extremely limited and he finds it difficult to form words. His father has been able to obtain a place for him at David Morgan Enterprises in Rydalmere, where Ahmedul works five days a week and for which he receives the princely sum of $143 a fortnight. Mr Chowdhury drops Ahmedul at work in the morning but Ahmedul has obtained a measure of independence by making his own way home in the afternoon by catching the train to Strathfield and then changing trains to go to Beecroft.

Last year Ahmedul was sent a penalty notice for travelling without a ticket. When Mr Chowdhury made inquiries about this he was told there were in fact five infringement notices dating back to 1999. Coupled with the State Debt Recovery Office enforcement cost of $250, the notices totalled $1,150. This represents just under one-third of Ahmedul's wages for the year. Ahmedul has never wilfully or consciously sought to evade paying his fare. His father gives him the money for a ticket each day but unfortunately he sometimes forgets to buy a ticket, or when he is asked for his ticket he simply does not understand what is being asked of him and so fails to present it. One of the fines was for not having a valid ticket between Rydalmere and Telopea, which suggests he got on the wrong train. Mr Chowdhury has written several times to the State Debt Recovery Office on behalf of his son. The latest letter included an assessment by Dr T. Ramanathan, who stated:

Ahmedul is severely intellectually impaired. He travels to and from the sheltered workshop by train. He sometimes does not realise that he has to purchase a ticket to travel in the train. At other times he has the ticket but does not produce it when requested because he cannot comprehend the demand.

So what was the response from the State Debt Recovery Office? Was it a sympathetic letter to a father trying to do his very best for a son who cannot make his own representations or an apology for causing Mr Chowdhury so much trouble? Not a bit of it. Instead the latest missive from the State Debt Recovery Office, dated 20 April 2007, simply says:

I am unable to recommend the write-off/waiver of Ahmedul's fines at this stage.

It then goes on to detail methods by which Ahmedul can pay off the fines, including performing community service work! Let me put this into perspective for the House: Ahmedul is severely disabled. He has a mental age of five or six. He works in a sheltered workshop and the workshop pays him $143 a fortnight. The fines represent one-third of his wages for the year. What sort of community service did the State Debt Recovery Office have in mind? And what would be the purpose of the performance of this community service? We cannot punish Ahmedul—he does not understand that he has done anything wrong. He thinks the fines are reward certificates for achievement.

This matter goes well beyond waiving the fines, which ought to be a given. Both CityRail and State Debt Recovery Office staff need to learn how to treat people with disabilities. How, given Ahmedul's obvious intellectual disability, could CityRail's enforcement officers have issued the fines? I have met Ahmedul. He is a very quiet young man who answers questions monosyllabically and often unintelligibly. Even the notoriously unempathetic CityRail enforcers should be able to pick up that he is not trying one on, that he does not have attitude, and that he genuinely does not understand what is being put to him. Then there is the State Debt Recovery Office. I guess it is carrying out the bidding of its master, Michael Costa. This Government is obviously so strapped for cash that it is prepared to strip one-third of a disabled person's salary from him for an offence that he could not have formed the intention of committing. The latest letter from the State Debt Recovery Office states:

The write-off of penalties is only done in exceptional circumstances and relies on the applicant showing that he/she cannot pay the fines either now or in the future.

It is possible for Ahmedul to pay off the fines. The State Debt Recovery Office could garnishee his meagre wages, perhaps by stripping $22 a week from him for the next 12 months. The trouble is that Ahmedul will not understand what is happening or why he is being punished, which surely constitutes a denial of natural justice. I have written to Mr Costa requesting that the fines be waived. I hope he will view this as a moral imperative.

There is then the issue of what the Chowdhurys should do in the future. Abdul Chowdhury is currently collecting his son from Rydalmere as well as dropping him off, but it is important that Ahmedul go back to using the trains, that he regain his independence. I have suggested that Mr Chowdhury buy a three-month or six-month Flexipass for Ahmedul. However, even this measure may not prevent him being issued with fines in the future, as he may fail to present it on request. The real solution is for CityRail's enforcement officers to be trained in relating to people with an intellectual disability. One can tell very quickly that Ahmedul is not a normal person and that one needs to use a degree of discretion and understanding in dealing with him, and with people like him. Finally, the rules of the State Debt Recovery Office need overhauling to ensure that when a case like Ahmedul Chowdhury's is referred to it, a flag comes up saying, "This isn't right. These fines should never have been issued."

Ms JODI McKAY (Newcastle) [5.10 p.m.]: Today I welcome to my electorate PBL Media, which last week acquired a position in the Newcastle media market with the purchase of NBN Television. Through its Nine Network, PBL Media has vast experience of running capital city television stations and operating high-quality newsrooms. I believe the people of Newcastle should look forward to the same standards at their local station. Newcastle is at the heart of one of Australia's largest media markets. NBN dominates the ratings in its broadcast area in a manner unparalleled in Australia. The station has long recognised that it must be in tune with its audience and that it has responsibilities to the communities it serves.

I mentioned in my inaugural speech in this place that my involvement with medical research started with a telethon which raised $3 million for children's cancer. Over the last 15 years or so NBN Telethons have raised more than $15 million for local charities while galvanising the local community. I am referring to northern New South Wales. NBN has not stinted in its support of local charitable projects, local education or local sport. I know that the Nine Network has always played a role in the communities where it operates beyond the function of airing programs. It produces a variety of programs and has, in every market, treated news and current affairs as vital.

Newcastle warrants nothing less. I see no reason why programs should not be produced in Newcastle, including news and current affairs. I trust that the people of my electorate can look forward to services of capital-city quality with the strong local flavour that is a hallmark of the Nine Network's capital-city stations. Our media market is awash with change. The merger of Rural Press and Fairfax means a radical realignment in the Hunter region. Fairfax has owned Newcastle's daily, the Herald, and the weekly Post Group. Rural Press has owned most of the other papers in the region, at Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone, Dungog, and even my home town of Gloucester. It has also owned the Newcastle Star group.

The papers in the Rural Press group have had strong mastheads and strong local editors. Again, I trust that the new ownership will build on those traditions. I realise that most of the titles formerly owned by Rural Press are published beyond my electorate of Newcastle, but the local newspaper is what gives a community its flavour. A good editor keeps a paper in tune with what the community wants to know about and what the community thinks. It would be a sad thing if everybody in the Hunter had only one source of news, one editorial leader, and one letters page to express a view. Part of the richness of the region is its diversity—of land, people, interests and opinion. It is important for media owners who participate in regional markets like the Hunter to understand the responsibility they have, not just to their shareholders but also to the good people of the communities in which they operate. If they meet those responsibilities, though, the same communities will repay their effort. I am sure that the new media owners in my electorate of Newcastle understand that principle. In that spirit, I look forward to a range of media voices being sustained and the high standards of our local outlets being raised higher.

Ms VIRGINIA JUDGE (Strathfield—Parliamentary Secretary) [5.14 p.m.]: I commend the hard work and commitment of the New South Wales Jewish community to foster dialogue and harmony between different faiths. On 28 March 2007 I had the great pleasure of attending the interfaith passover dinner at Sydney Town Hall organised by the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies. Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar and on the first two days of passover, known as Yom Tov, a sacred meal called the Seder is held. During the Seder the story of the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt is retold.

During the course of the evening four special toasts are offered to acknowledge the gift of freedom and to remind all present that freedom must be valued and guarded. In fact, so important is this theme that the entire festival is also known as the Festival of Freedom. The Festival of Freedom is not just an occasion to celebrate the liberation of Jewish people in biblical times but also an occasion to reflect on the importance of freedom in our own times, not just the freedom and security of Israel but the freedom of conscience and expression that all of us are entitled to enjoy as a fundamental human right. The message of the interfaith passover dinner reads:

Remembering our slavery is intended to teach us to be kind to the oppressed and the needy.

Remembering the liberation of our people each year teaches us not to take freedom for granted, but to appreciate the freedom we enjoy.

This statement is relevant not just to the Jewish community but to the community as a whole, especially at this time of international tension and unease. Events such as the interfaith passover dinner should be applauded because they foster the mutual respect, dialogue and understanding that is the only way for a diverse community like New South Wales to hold together. Coming together and talking with respect and dignity is the ultimate solution to conflict. It may sound wishy-washy, trite or clichéd but it is the only true way to peace. One need only see last night's television footage of Ian Paisley, Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams sitting down together to realise that those 15 long years of negotiation and discussion, with all the wrong turns, false hopes and misunderstandings along the way, are still the best and only way to peace.

So when the Jewish community hosts a gathering of Aboriginal, Buddhist, Baha'i, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Zoroastrian fellow citizens, it is not simply a gesture. It is a concrete step to understanding because as long as we are talking we are not fighting, and the more we understand each other the less we will mistrust each other. The Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Board of Deputies, Vic Alhadeff, who is in the public gallery this afternoon, said:

This is the first time an interfaith event of this nature has been held in Sydney on such a massive scale.

The event would not have been possible without the commitment of the Community Relations Commission, the Jewish Communal Appeal, the city of Sydney and, of course, the hard work of the Jewish Board of Deputies. Above all, this event happened because 250 ordinary Australians from every possible background stood up, each and every one of them, to be counted. They went to our great city town hall in George Street to say unambiguously: Our common humanity, our identity as Australians and our commitment to a shared future are bigger and more important than the things which divide us. With these shared ideals in mind, I once again commend the Jewish community for this very generous initiative and encourage all members to attend the 2008 parliamentary passover dinner, which the Jewish Board of Deputies is planning.

[Business interrupted.]

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL, by leave: Earlier today in response to a question on the Patrick Power issue I inadvertently said that evidence in this matter had been destroyed. In the heat of the parliamentary debate it is obvious that I should have said "may have been destroyed". I provide this clarifying supplementary answer in the interests of maintaining the integrity of the parliamentary record and the processes of the House.

[Business resumed.]

Ms LINDA BURNEY (Canterbury—Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Youth, and Minister for Volunteering) [5.19 p.m.]: I congratulate the member for Strathfield on her fine message of peace, collaboration and working together. I acknowledge the guest in the gallery today and the fine work of the Jewish Board of Deputies. Recently I had the opportunity to attend the Jewish Museum at Darlinghurst. It is a place that everyone should visit, because it tells us about history, struggle and identity—concepts the member for Strathfield has dealt with in the House this evening.

Mr STEVE CANSDELL (Clarence) [5.20 p.m.]: Today I raise concerns about palliative care funding by the North Coast Area Health Service and the Government. First I will relate a short story from yesterday's Clarence Valley Review written by Josh McMahon. It is about a lady who, with her husband and two children, moved to the Clarence Valley in December last year, looking for a change to help them cope with extraordinary difficulties:

Robyn's husband Glenn was in remission after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, but still suffered depression after being forced to abandon the painting business. About a year after her husband's cancer was found, Robyn's mum was diagnosed as having lung cancer, which soon spread to her brain.

Despite being seen by others as a "strong person", Robyn said she struggled with the personality changes in her mum as the cancer affected her brain. [Her mum] had become paranoid, delusional, and her behaviour erratic.

Robyn called Clarence Valley Palliative Care, and that's when volunteer nurse Joanna began her visits.

At first, Robyn's mother was not too keen about an outsider coming in to help out, but when she was getting her feet massaged and toenails clipped and so on, she started to feel good about herself and accepted this nursing. In fact, she relied very heavily on it. The editorial further states:

Joanna's visits also enabled Robyn to take a break from being a full-time carer, and the special equipment provided made care in the home much easier. But the greatest gift Joanna was able to give was to grant Beverley's final dying wish …

That was to go to the Tamworth Country Music Festival. When Robyn's mum came home from Tamworth she said she had done what she wanted to and was quite happy. She went into hospital the next day and died soon after. Robyn said that she could not have survived those last few months without the help provided by palliative care. In the last few years the Clarence Valley has been most fortunate to have a very successful palliative care program. The program, under the auspices of Clarence Valley Community Programs, involves a palliative care program manager working in conjunction with the oncology unit, community nurses and specifically trained palliative care volunteers. The role of the volunteers, which is to provide emotional and practical support to the patient, has been found to be of the utmost benefit.

The program has approximately 100 patients at any one time on its register, with approximately 50 per cent of patients requiring constant attention involving community nurses and trained palliative care volunteers. At present there are 29 volunteers. The program is providing ongoing, quality home-based support for patients and their carers. If it were not for the palliative care that patients receive in their homes, approximately half of terminally ill patients would be in hospitals or in nursing homes. The cost to the State Government of 25 patients in hospital, where the latest bed costs exceed $800 per day, would be well in excess of $7 million annually. Deduct from this amount the cost of the community nurses, which is approximately $1 million, and the State saves about $6 million annually.
So the palliative care program in the Clarence Valley saves the State Government millions of dollars a year. In comparison, the program people need $100,000 to keep the program operating. The palliative care program operated by Clarence Valley Community Programs has struggled to survive on $86,000 of community-based funding over two years. Now this urgently needed program faces imminent closure due to its financial crisis. Clarence Valley Community Programs are involved in the training and co-ordination of volunteers who provide palliative care for an ever-increasing number of patients in need of most essential care and support as they approach death.

Whilst the goodwill of community members in volunteering their services is highly commendable, the absence of financial support from the Government and the North Coast Area Health Service means that this care program will cease to exist in the very near future. Co-ordinating the work of the volunteers has produced a problem that Clarence Valley Community Programs could not have envisaged when it initiated the program on the recommendations of the North Coast Area Health Service. The role of the co-ordinator in matching volunteers and patients, counselling volunteers and receiving and analysing reports has become a full-time job. The program's success to date has been essentially dependent upon two prime factors: outstanding administrative assistance provided by Clarence Valley Community Programs and the contribution of volunteers.

Up until now a staff member of Clarence Valley Community Programs has overseen the program. This has been a critical factor in ensuring the program's success. Consequently, the burgeoning responsibilities associated with day-to-day administration of the program and its training and placement of volunteers have stretched beyond the financial capacity of both Clarence Valley Community Programs and the community. This Parliament, with conscience and compassion, must encourage the Government and the North Coast Area Health Service to fully fund this program, to preserve the dignity of these dying people, while saving the Government a lot of money.

Mrs JUDY HOPWOOD (Hornsby) [5.25 p.m.]: Mr Acting-Speaker, I congratulate you on your appointment to that position.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Thank you.

Mrs JUDY HOPWOOD: This evening I wish to speak about emergency services in the electorate of Hornsby, specifically in relation to the extremely serious bushfire that started in the Mount Kuring-gai area on 21 January this year. I was in my electorate office, diligently working away that afternoon, when I heard the 5 o'clock news on which this fire outbreak was reported. Obviously, the emergency services had sprung into action at that point. Emergency services personnel from many places across the metropolitan area came to Mount Kuring-gai and worked hard and co-operatively to fight this vicious fire in conditions of high temperatures and gusting winds.

The Mount Kuring-gai Rural Fire Service was absolutely exemplary in the assistance it provided from the headquarters in Hornsby Heights. Across the area immediately affected, those who were not in the line of the fire but were nonetheless close by were given very good information about the progress of the fire and where emergency services personnel were up to in their battle, initially round the Mount Kuring-gai area and then, as the fire front progressed, up to the Berowra area. After the event a fire facts sheet was produced. I congratulate all emergency services people involved. I mention again the Kuring-gai Rural Fire Service in respect of a day organised at Mount Kuring-gai Public School a few weeks after the fire as well as a recent evening at its headquarters in Mount Colah, where local residents could view footage of the fire and share the experiences of that very serious event. Congratulations, Scott Jones. I read from the Rural Fire Service fire facts sheet about the Sunday 21 January fire, which burnt an area of 965 hectares.

The fire started in bushland near the intersection of Beaumont Road and the Pacific Highway at Mount Kuring-gai. The cause of the fire is unknown, but it was being investigated by the New South Wales Police Force and New South Wales Rural Fire Service fire investigators. As a result of the fire activity, the fire front crossed both the Pacific Highway and the F3 Freeway into the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, resulting in the closure of all roads and rail within the vicinity. This decision was made for the safety of both the general public and the firefighters.

Throughout the duration of the fire a large number of personnel were deployed in a variety of roles, including firefighting, incident management, communications and road and rail management. These personnel came from the following agencies: the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, New South Wales Fire Brigades, the New South Wales Police Force, the New South Wales Ambulance Service, the State Emergency Service, RailCorp, EnergyAustralia, Telstra, the Roads and Traffic Authority, Hornsby Shire Council and Ku-ring-gai Council.

Up to eight firefighting boats assisted in the firefighting operations. Members of both the Rural Fire Service and the National Parks and Wildlife Service worked along Cowan Water and Cockle Creek. The firefighting activities were supported by up to 10 helicopters, including two air cranes that have the capacity to carry up to 9,000 litres per load, which is equivalent to the amount of water carried by 35 trucks. All aircraft retreated to Rofe Park at Hornsby Heights when not involved in the firefighting operation. Asquith Golf Club gave the firefighting aircraft use of its dams located within the golf course to assist in water-bombing activities. I again congratulate all personnel involved on their handling of the extreme emergency on 21 January and subsequent days, and the mopping up. I toured the area after the fire front had gone through. Late on Sunday evening I visited Mount Kuring-gai, which was a hive of back-burning activity. The Ambulance Service and caterers were available to meet all the needs of the emergency services personnel. The obvious traffic blockages caused a lot of inconvenience, but we all breathed a sigh of relief when the fire was over.

Ms LINDA BURNEY (Canterbury—Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Youth, and Minister for Volunteering) [5.30 p.m.]: I congratulate you, Mr Acting-Speaker, on your new responsibilities.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Matthew Morris): Thank you.

Ms LINDA BURNEY: I draw to the attention of the House the health of the Cooks River, which runs through the Canterbury electorate. The people of Canterbury are passionate about this very long river that runs through a number of local council areas. Canterbury is one of the prime local council areas through which it runs. During the period prior to the election it became obvious to me that the main issue about which the people of Canterbury were concerned and about which they coalesced was the Cooks River and its foreshores. People in this Chamber who know the Cooks River would be aware that it is not all that pretty. It is one of the most polluted rivers in Australia. I have even heard it said that it is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. However, having visited many parts of Asia I find that difficult to believe. Tanneries and other industries that create enormous problems for waterways have been located on the foreshores of the Cooks River for more than 150 years.

The Cooks River and its foreshores are well used by people in the Canterbury electorate. On any day from daylight through to dusk many people walk while their children ride bikes, walk their dogs and play golf. The Cooks River has an historical industrial hangover. In February the Cooks River Valley Association, to which I pay tribute tonight, held a Cooks River forum that was attended by more than 300 people. I received a letter from Amanda Barker, President of the Cooks River Valley Association, thanking me, as the local member, for my ongoing support of the river and its foreshores. At the forum I strongly supported increased community involvement, and responsibility in the care and management of the Cooks River and its environs.

The Iemma Government has announced a four-year $4.25 million plan to restore the health of the Cooks River and to build on the considerable amount of clean-up work that has been undertaken to date. The funding comprises $2 million from the Urban Sustainability Program. That funding goes hand in hand with councils in the Cooks River catchment. Marrickville Council, the lead council, is doing a fantastic job. Other councils are also involved. Councils will use New South Wales Government funding to implement a number of new projects and programs to improve water quality in the Cooks River by reducing stormwater pollution. Another $250,000 will be provided to Marrickville Council to implement a new stormwater harvesting and reuse project. Not only will this help to reduce the stormwater pollution in the Cooks River, but it will also save valuable drinking water.

A new $2 million fund will be created as part of the Iemma Government $20 million Urban Waterways—Priority Catchments Program. Over the next four years councils in the Cooks River catchment, including Canterbury, will be able to prepare funding bids on how to use this money. Projects will be funded only if it can be demonstrated that they will result in water quality improvements in the Cooks River. The Sydney Catchment Management Authority plays a vital role in protecting both the health and integrity of the Cooks River. Catchment management authorities across New South Wales play a pivotal role in protecting our landscapes and waterways.
Water quality is one of the fundamental aspects of the good river health. Ecological processes that sustain native fish populations, vegetation, wetlands and birdlife depend on it. Similarly, many of our users depend on water quality that is suitable for irrigation, watering stock, drinking, fishing and recreation, and to meet cultural and spiritual needs. The constituents of the Canterbury electorate hold the Cooks River in great affection. Everyone in Canterbury, including members of the Cooks River Valley Association, is committed to the betterment of this important waterway.

Mr GREG APLIN (Albury) [5.35 p.m.]: Last November the Premier proudly announced the locations of the first health one-stop shops at six locations across the state, including Corowa in the electorate of Albury. These centres aim to bring together private practice general practitioners [GPs], community health workers, and allied health and other medical professionals employed by the New South Wales Government in a one-stop shop for local families. The Greater Southern Area Health Service advised that existing space at the Corowa Hospital would be refurbished and an extension to the adjacent Corowa Medical Centre would be constructed to provide a direct link between HealthOne New South Wales and the hospital. We were informed that detailed planning was to be initiated very shortly, with construction expected to be completed by March 2008.

The new initiative to develop a HealthOne centre at Corowa was greeted with great enthusiasm by the whole Corowa community and supported wholeheartedly by the Corowa Medical Centre general practitioners for two main reasons. First, there is considerable interest in providing a new co-ordinated and integrated approach to health, which would provide the opportunity to focus on early intervention, health promotion, mental health and management of chronic and complex diseases. Having community health on the same site would enable the medical centre to target those over 75 years old with health assessments, thereby reducing the number of avoidable hospital admissions. The concept would provide a team approach to delivering a range of services such as counsellors, mental health workers and psychologists. In early childhood services, immunisations, antenatal classes and midwife classes could be provided.

Second, there is an urgent need to increase the size of the existing medical centre to cater for increasing demands. There is a need for more consulting rooms, particularly in view of the increased commitment to undergraduate teaching through the locally run rural medical schools, and the ongoing involvement with general practitioner registrar training through the Bogong Regional Training Network. Currently, the medical centre has eight consulting rooms for 11 doctors, and the directors wish to expand to 14 rooms with a further four procedure rooms. Apart from general practitioners, a number of allied health providers are already working within the medical practice, and thus it is short of space. With funding assistance from the Federal Government, Melbourne University is planning to set up hubs—one at Corowa—whereby medical students will be embedded in practices for 12 months. To facilitate establishment of these centres of excellence the university will assist in the setting up of consulting and training rooms. It is clear that a successful outcome would help attract doctors to regional areas.

The Corowa Medical Centre has already drawn up plans to extend the existing building either upwards or outwards, and funding has been procured. The only reason directors have not proceeded at this time is their support for HealthOne. However, to date there has been very little progress and a lack of active support from both New South Wales Health and the local area health service. Time lines for the project pass with ongoing delays and excuses. Project development committee meetings are held by teleconference, with much time spent discussing basic terms of reference and the composition of an ever-growing committee. There is clearly a need for a local project manager who can liaise with both the medical centre and the hospital site manager. Another frustrating issue is the sale of Karinya, a large vacated nursing home on the other side of the hospital.

The area health service had agreed to sell the land to the Corowa shire and commit the proceeds from the sale to HealthOne. This would have provided the opportunity to extend and enhance the health precinct, a great advantage for the whole project. Procrastination in decision making may well result in council withdrawing its offer, and the concept of the health precinct may well be jeopardised. Ongoing delays are threatening the commitment of the medical centre to the Northern Victorian Education Network, whereby Melbourne and Monash universities would provide considerable funding to have fifth-year medical students based at rural practices for 12 months as an ongoing program. The inability to provide space for students will put these funding and rural training opportunities at risk.

The most important issue is the urgent need to increase the size of the medical centre. Detailed planning needs to begin immediately if there is to be any hope of meeting the desired deadline of March 2008. Let this not develop into another Corowa nurses' home fiasco. It has been said that this substantial three-storey building adjacent to the medical centre and Corowa Hospital was destined for Cowra but ended up at Corowa. That is actually not true. With a foundation stone laid in April 1951, two floors of the building served as nurses' quarters, but the third floor was never used.

From 1976 the building was used by the community as a day care centre but for the best part of 15 years it has lain idle, incurring maintenance costs but serving no purpose. Here is another opportunity to find space for parking or community health facilities in the health precinct. I urge the Government to act quickly on this matter to ensure that the impetus is not lost, that the Corowa shire is offered the opportunity to purchase Karinya, and that the energy and enthusiasm that has driven this very significant project does not flicker and die in a fog of frustration and disillusionment.

Mr ALAN ASHTON (East Hills) [5.40 p.m.]: Mr Acting-Speaker, I also congratulate you on your appointment to high office.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Matthew Morris): Thank you.

Mr ALAN ASHTON: In drawing to the attention of the House the issue of security fences in government schools in the East Hills electorate, I place on the record my appreciation of the Government's creation and continuation of the schools security fencing program in New South Wales. I am sure the program is supported by all 93 members of the lower House on behalf of their electorates as well as upper House representatives. Under the program, funding has been provided over the past few years for Diplomat security fencing for a number of schools in the East Hills electorate. Those schools are the East Hills Boys Technology High School, the East Hills Girls Technology High School, Picnic Point High School, Condell Park High School, East Hills Public School, Panania North Public School, Panania Public School, Padstow Park Public School, Tower Street Public School and the Caroline Chisholm Special School.

Prior to the election, the Government also made a commitment to Condell Park Public School, the Milperra Public School, the Padstow Heights Public School and the Padstow North Public School. Those schools will receive their fences in the short term. That was guaranteed by the Government before the election and funding is available, so it will happen. However, three schools in my electorate_the Revesby South Public School, the Revesby Public School and the Picnic Point Public School_require fences,. The security fencing program is arranged on a priority listing that is based on, but not confined to, the incidence of vandalism, physical damage to property and the potential or real threat of harm to teachers, office staff and other people at the school—most importantly, of course, the students. Each of the three schools I have mentioned has experienced serious episodes of vandalism, graffiti and break-ins over the past few months and some incidents have occurred as recently as the past few weeks.

One of those schools has established a very cogent case for priority in the next allocation of funding for the construction of security fences. The Revesby South Public School is situated on a large site. As many members know, the schools in my electorate are approximately 50 years old. They were constructed during the baby boom period and large sites are not inexpensive to fence. For many years the parents and friends community group of the Revesby South Public School have had a school watch committee. Originally the group comprised 30 volunteers who were mainly adult men and they patrolled the premises at night on a roster basis. Men would literally stay up at night and check that the school was not damaged or vandalised in any way and ensured that no harm came to people who were on the premises. Although the incidence of graffiti and vandalism reduced at the school, the provision of fences at other schools may have led to a decline in the number of volunteers.

Some people associated with the Revesby South Public School are under the impression that the school has been disadvantaged in the priority allocation process because the parents and friends community group has tried to look after the school. That is certainly a matter that I will take up with the Minister because those people have gone out of their way to form a group of proactive volunteers. Originally the group comprised 30 volunteers but that number has dwindled to approximately 12. The parents and friends community group wrote to me setting out concerns that the school had been taken off the priority list because of the group's good work. I assure people associated with the school that the school would not have been taken off the priority list or any other list for that reason. In any event, I assure the House and all those associated with the Revesby South Public School, especially the principal, Robyn Rankin, who is doing excellent work at that school and is supported by great staff, that their school will be fenced.
I have always encouraged schools in my electorate to keep the department and me very well informed about anything that happens, particularly events involving vandalism, violence, vagrancy, or any evidence that is found of bad behaviour, parties or fires being set. I have made it very clear that I want to know about those types of events, preferably through the parents and friends community group, but irrespective I will take up the issues with the Department of Education and Training. I am sure all members of this House, particularly the Acting-Speaker, Mr Morris, acknowledge that as soon as two or three schools are provided with fences, all the other schools can establish a case for fencing. That is indeed true, and this Government will get on with the job.

Mr PETER DRAPER (Tamworth) [5.45 p.m.], by leave: Today I draw to the attention of the House the extremely important issue of water provision in my local area. Next Monday, 14 May, the city of Tamworth and its immediate surrounds will move to level 5 water restrictions, affecting around 40,000 local residents. Chaffey Dam falling below 15 per cent of its capacity will trigger this latest escalation in restrictions to reduce water consumption. The Tamworth Regional Council, the local water authority, imposed level 4 water restrictions on 29 February this year when Chaffey Dam fell to 20 per cent. In an alarmingly rapid decline, it has taken just 79 days for the water levels to drop a further 5 per cent. Should consumption stay at current levels, less than eight months supply of water for Tamworth remains in this storage. Even with the reserve water supply in Dungowan Dam being taken into account, less than 12 months water supply is left.

For several years now, the Chaffey Dam Reference Panel, which is chaired by Tamworth Regional Council's deputy mayor, Phil Betts, has undertaken a detailed study into water provision for Tamworth residents, businesses and irrigators. The panel comprises members of council, government agencies, Namoi Water plus irrigators and local residents. The panel recommended that the beneficiaries of an increase in capacity should contribute funding to increase the storage of Chaffey Dam from 64 gigalitres to just over 100 gigalitres. They recommended the New South Wales Government should contribute $4.697 million and the Federal Government should contribute $6.545 million. The Tamworth Regional Council and irrigators would contribute the balance of the $14 million project.

The State Government has agreed to provide its share, but the Federal Government has walked away from country people during the worst drought in living memory by refusing to contribute to the project. To walk away from a major community such as Tamworth when the Federal coffers are bulging with another $10-billion-plus surplus shows a distinct contempt for country people. On occasions in recent months it has rained in Tamworth, but as is the case in many communities across the state, the rain has not fallen in the catchment. The Tamworth Regional Council has acted to reduce demand on the diminishing supply. Apart from escalating water restrictions, the council has asked local businesses, industry and public instrumentalities including schools, hospitals and government departments to identify areas where water could be saved and implement reductions in water usage of up to 20 per cent of their 2005-06 actual consumption.

I believe there are significant quantities of water to be saved in schools, in particular. I must question the scarcity of water tanks at public schools across the region. Given the large roof area of public schools, surely there must be an opportunity to store rainwater to be used in the toilets. The Government could make an immediate impact by providing funds to install and plumb tanks into all local schools, as indicated in its plan to combat climate change. Tamworth would be an excellent starting point for the program, given the seriousness of our water shortage. Unfortunately, I recently received reports of school toilets automatically flushing all through the recent school holiday period, but I sincerely hope the reports are not accurate.

The Tamworth Regional Council recently adopted a policy of providing ratepayers with up to $500 to offset installation costs for rainwater tanks. During the election campaign the Government's climate change plan was warmly received across country New South Wales. Under the plan, $100 million was to be provided for rebates of up to $3,000 per household to enable homes to become more energy and water efficient. This included up to $1,500 for a rainwater tank plumbed into a toilet and/or washing machine, $1,200 for a solar hot water system, up to $300 to convert from electric hot water to gas and up to $300 to install energy efficient home insulation. All of these initiatives are sensible, much-welcomed and will make a difference, especially in country communities such as Tamworth where we are facing the very real prospect of running out of water.

I am aware that local residents contact the Minister's office requesting details on how to apply for the rebates so they can order a tank and do their bit to reduce the city's reliance on water from Chaffey Dam, but they have been unsuccessful. I also have tried to obtain that information and, despite promises that I will receive advice on the process and procedure, I am still waiting. Many country residents have lived with this ongoing drought since 2001. Despite the occasional rainfall that offers a brief respite, the water storages around Tamworth have been in constant and consistent decline. Tamworth people are willing to be part of the solution but they need assistance from the Government, as promised in its plan to combat climate change.

I welcome the recent funding assistance provided to Tamworth Regional Council by the Government to investigate alternative water supplies such as the old Peel Street wells, and I have been advised that initial investigations show that the wells could be used to supplement supply, but would not be able to meet full demand, even under stringent restrictions. It is time for proactive action from all tiers of government. Chaffey Dam must be upgraded and enhanced, so when it eventually rains we can store almost double the current capacity. All government facilities across the district should be fitted with water tanks for use in toilets, on gardens and sporting facilities, and the Government must make the climate change rebates available to residents who want to do their bit in cutting demand for town water. Action is needed now, before we run out of water completely.

Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie) [5.50 p.m.], by leave: Mr Acting-Speaker, I congratulate you on your appointment to that position.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Matthew Morris): Thank you.

Mr GREG PIPER: Wyee is a southern village of Lake Macquarie city. It is ideally located close to the lake, adjacent to the F3 and it has a railway station on the main northern rail line. Currently there are about 300 homes in Wyee and some 1,500 residents. Wyee was first settled more than 130 years ago. Next to Wyee village there are another 199 lots in a paper subdivision known as Wyee West, which has several dwellings though most are not authorised. The locational benefits of Wyee have led to it being nominated as an urban release area for 2,000 dwellings in the Government's Lower Hunter Regional Strategy. Yet Wyee and Wyee West are unsewered and that provision has not been included in associated references for infrastructure within that strategy.

Being unsewered, Wyee residents have to put up with overflowing septic tanks whenever it rains. Residents are subject to the vagaries of individual on-site sewage treatment devices that require individual vigilance to maintain optimal operating performance. The problem is, of course, that with so many systems located on suburban-size lots in close proximity, system breakdowns are inevitable. Over many years those breakdowns have resulted in many complaints about overflowing and foul-smelling septic systems and effluent escaping into gutters and natural drainage systems. A further burden for the residents of Wyee is the annual cost of maintaining septic pump outs, sludge removal, local council inspections, certifications and maintenance.

The pump out cost alone for a domestic residence in Lake Macquarie is $2,340. Due to the high cost, unaffordability and social inequity of this true cost, Lake Macquarie City Council has decided to offset those costs by subsidising each affected property $1,238 from its General Fund, a total cost to ratepayers of over $450,000. The council has taken this unusual step of subsidising domestic effluent charges because as the majority of Lake Macquarie has become sewered, the unit cost to individual septic tank owners has risen dramatically. Lake Macquarie City Council has been concerned to ensure the residents of Wyee, as well as the handful of other septic tank users in the city, are able to access an affordable effluent service.

The residents of Wyee have waged campaigns over a number of years in an effort to secure sewerage for the village. Lake Macquarie City Council has supported the residents through many channels including this Parliament, the Hunter Water Corporation, private developers and its own resources in the hope of achieving a sewerage service for Wyee—to this time without success. The Hunter Water Corporation is currently implementing a priority sewer program for its service area. That program will see the rural villages of Kitchener, Millfield, Ellalong and Lochinvar sewered by the end of 2009. Wyee should be amongst the villages within the Hunter Water Corporation's service area to be receiving a reticulated sewerage system, particularly as Hunter Water has consistently provided substantial annual dividends to the State Government.

The Government currently subsidises the Hunter Water Corporation by approximately $3,000 per residential lot for new services to these so-called backlog areas. The actual cost of providing sewerage to those already developed villages is in the vicinity of $30,000 per lot. I hope that this House will find a way to bring contemporary, minimal, environmental health facilities such as a reticulated sewerage system to the people of Wyee much sooner than it looks will be achieved without Government help.
Mr PAUL PEARCE (Coogee) [5.55 p.m.], by leave: I advise the House of the proceedings in a by-election campaign currently underway in the Waverley ward of Waverley Council. The by-election was occasioned by the former Liberal Councillor, Richard Davidson, having to resign from council. Having served on council with Richard for more than a decade, notwithstanding our different political viewpoints, I always found him to be a dedicated ward councillor and I feel it was unfortunate that circumstances led to his resignation from council. However, what occurred as a result of the by-election is fascinating. The Liberal Party has nominated one David Ridyard. According to his pamphlet recently distributed, he has a legal and nursing background. It also states that he is employed by an unnamed charity and has a passion to deliver social programs to the less fortunate. Fine sentiments indeed.

However, in the same document, cited with approbation, are efforts by the Liberal Party to oppose the sale of the Ocean Street car park site. The House deserves to know the facts on this. First, the site was not open space as claimed—it was an asphalt-covered car park. Second, the site was not sold, but rather was part of a joint venture between Waverley Council and the Office of Community Housing to be redeveloped for 26 units of public housing especially targeting aged citizens. Several of the units are purpose designed for complete accessibility by persons with mobility disabilities. The public parking itself has been reinstated in the basement. I would have thought a perfect example of the type social program that Mr Ridyard would have favoured_but apparently not! In the same document the mindless criticism of the current council's transport policies are repeated. Yet according to Mr Ridyard, he favours more effective public transport.

However, his would-be Liberal colleagues have consistently opposed the transport plan designed to facilitate public transport, bicycle riding and safer walking options in Waverley, because it adversely impacts on the supposed rights of car owners to park wherever and whenever they wish. The word "hypocrisy" springs to mind. But it does not stop there! The Liberal campaign team is so on the ball that it rushed around on the weekend and erected some hundred or so posters. Apart from insensitively attaching them to the traffic lights designed to provide a safe passage across a major road for children attending Bronte Public School and obscuring the "Walk" sign, the people forgot to have them appropriately authorised. So a hundred or so posters have had to come down. But it gets better!

The Liberals have a sympathetic Independent—one Marena Gankin. She has recently distributed a very expensively produced pamphlet in similar font and layout to the Liberal's pamphlet, only she forgot to authorise it appropriately as well. So I understand that there is some pulping underway. Maybe she followed the same advice as the designer of the Liberal's poster. Interestingly the Liberal's achievements as stated on the pamphlet do not mention their existing councillors' voting patterns on development applications. I would encourage residents to look at the minutes of the Development Control Committee of council. Mind you, the tapes are better—one can get the full flavour of their views. If the Waverley Liberals cannot be honest with the electorate as to what they would do if they ever win office, if they cannot even get their campaign material right, they are not suitable or capable of representing the residents of Waverley ward.

Private members' statements noted.