RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

31 Oct 2012 Questions Without Notice 2265
to and recommended on by the implementation committee. The very reason why we have moved to put
in place an implementation committee is to advise the Queensland government on the best way to
recommence this industry in Queensland. The terms of reference that have been released and are on
the website for everyone to see clearly indicate that the issues that we want the implementation
committee to advise the Queensland government on are issues in relation to best practice
environmental standards, best practice workplace health and safety standards, address issues such as
transportation, address issues such as the way we will move the product from one place to another,
advise us on opportunities that we have for the export of the product and whether that can be done in a
safe fashion and what facilities will be required.
That is the whole purpose of the implementation committee. It will respond in March next year to
the Resources Cabinet Committee and we will advise the cabinet about a safe way, an orderly way, a
sustainable way for the recommencement of the uranium mining industry in Queensland. That is the
whole purpose of what we have done in terms of the appointment of the implementation committee.
That is lost on the extreme green movement. That is lost on those members opposite from the
Queensland Labor Party, and they are struggling for relevance in this debate because they are
hopelessly divided amongst themselves. They have never been able to come to a decision about
uranium mining in Queensland. We had 20 years of indecision under Labor in this state. We have a new
government in Queensland and we are determined to establish a diversified resources sector.
(Time expired)
Local Government
Mr HOPPER: My question is to the Minister for Local Government. The minister has previously
told the House that he intended to visit all 73 councils in Queensland. Could the minister please advise
the House of the progress of this commitment and any benefits for local government?
Mr CRISAFULLI: I thank the honourable member for Condamine for the question because it
gives me a great deal of pride to say that I have achieved that goal and I have met with all 73 councils,
but on more than a dozen of those occasions I did so standing beside people like the member for
Condamine, like the member for Gregory, like the member for Warrego who have been mighty
representatives for many councils in their regions that have been through hell. The purpose of the visit
was twofold. The first was to rebuild trust and the second was to work on how we can change the Local
Government Act to clearly put mayors and councillors back in charge after a decade of being under the
pump from those opposite.
But there was another point to the exercise, and it clearly showed that this government
understands that Queensland is more than just postcode 4000. Today I want to share with the House
some of the highlights and some of the stories about resilience and determination that typifies local
government in this state—stories like in Croydon where the CEO is also the local undertaker; in
Cloncurry where the mayor picks up the child-care worker to take her to work at the council owned
facility; in Thargomindah where the dynamic Bulloo Shire Council was having trouble hiring a nurse so it
built a property for the nurse and then when it was struggling to get a teacher it built a facility for a school
and then when the education department offered 0.5 of a teacher it stumped up the cash for the extra
half. The Diamantina Shire Council has not just built a levy to protect the town; it has used it to create
additional land for its people.
They do more with less because they do not have a choice. The community is their total focus.
There is no room for party politics or petty politics and they do it despite a lack of support from other
levels of government, and I give the House a classic example: in Cunnamulla the Paroo Shire Council
just wanted one hectare of a 20,000-hectare town common to extend its cemetery and was given the
royal run-around for 4½ years.
Mr Newman: Who by? Who by?
Mr CRISAFULLI: By DERM, that is who by! Then there is the story in the proud little town of
Boulia where the council just wanted to create a wash-down bay and has been unable to secure land to
erect a power pole despite the interest of the traditional owners to do just that. The future of the local
government department is about doing just this—cracking down bureaucracy at whatever level and
enabling local councils to again control their own destiny. I will be conducting a series of workshops right
across this state starting from early next year in which we will be giving councils the opportunity to put
forward their case. Why? Because we believe in them. Why? Because we feel that if we can partner
with local government they will be a partner in building a four-pillar economy for this state.
Wolston Park Health Facility, Security
Mrs SCOTT: My question without notice is to the Minister for Health. I refer to media reports of
two escapes from Wolston Park health facility this year, and I ask: will the minister guarantee that
security and staffing levels at the facility have not been affected by the minister’s cuts to Health jobs and
services?