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2312 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 31 Oct 2012 my calculations show that the non-government members, comprising one-quarter of the committee, asked approximately double the number of questions asked by members of the government, and the majority of the non-government questions were asked by members of the Labor Party. So on that basis I do not think the member for South Brisbane’s contention of unfair treatment has any basis or credibility. Several of the issues which were investigated by the committee are of particular relevance to the Maryborough electorate. Maryborough is the headquarters for Hyne timber, which is the second largest timber-milling company in Australia. In addition, there are numbers of small timber millers and the supporting industries for the logging and carting of the timber. To Maryborough, the timber industry is highly significant. It was therefore pleasing to be advised by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry that the LNP government is working on a timber industry plan. The focus of the timber industry plan is to deal with current challenges and to develop a long-term plan to ensure the sustainability and viability of the timber industry. Nationally the timber industry is struggling with such issues as a high Australian dollar and low demand for timber product. The minister also advised that the department is currently working to reopen previously logged state forest that had been locked up by the former government. These forests had been sustainably logged for very extensive periods of time, yet timber is still available. I commend the timber industry plan and other supporting programs, including the First Home Owner Construction Grant and the removal of red tape in the Sustainable Planning Act and the appropriation of funding to support these programs. Agricultural primary production is one of the four pillars of the economy that the LNP is working to increase. Under the previous Labor government our robust state forests had been locked up to productive activities such as beekeeping and grazing and timber harvesting, as mentioned. In addition, activities such as quarrying and recreational uses can be carried out in an environmentally sustainable way while adding value to the economy. I have had both beekeepers and graziers approach me seeking to again access state forest to support their industries. As pointed out by Minister McVeigh, state forest areas of high conservation value will be maintained by the LNP government. One other area addressed by the committee related to the commitment by the LNP government to support grassroots environmental activities with a program called Everyone’s Environment grants. The Maryborough electorate has a number of very active environmental groups with a major focus on the Mary River and surrounding catchments. These groups include the Tiaro and District Landcare Group, the Greater Mary Association and the Burnett Mary Regional Group and they continue to work to stabilise the banks of the Mary River, to remove pests and weeds, to establish a koala corridor and to carry out research on the very unique Mary River turtle. The support of government grants of $3 million in this first year and $12 million over a three-year period shows just how committed this LNP government is to caring for the environment and to supporting the volunteers who carry out this valuable work. I know that at least one application has been made for a grant under this program and I am hoping that of the 200-plus applications received it will be one of the successful applicants. While the matters I have addressed are only a small portion of the matters considered by the committee, I believe it shows that the appropriation legislation as presented by the LNP government achieves the aims of fiscal responsibility while working to grow the economy and at the same time looking after the environment. I commend the bills to the House. Mrs MILLER (Bundamba—ALP) (8.50 pm): I rise to speak to the estimates committee report in relation to Natural Resources and Mines because I am the shadow minister for mines on behalf of the Australian Labor Party in this parliament. I want to talk briefly about a couple of issues, one of which relates to untreated water in mines going into the river systems, an issue which has been flagged in numerous media reports throughout Queensland, and also the fact that many people, particularly those in Central Queensland, believe that a deal was done between this government and the mining companies with regard to discharging water into waterways in relation to royalties. It was very sad that the minister dodged all of these questions in this regard. In fact, in August this year the Rockhampton Regional Council raised the issue in relation to untreated water in mines. It is a very serious issue. It is a very serious issue for mining companies, it is a very serious issue for the environment movement and it is a very serious issue for local councils as well. It is my view that we were treated with absolute contempt during that estimates committee hearing. Mr Powell interjected. Mrs MILLER: I take the interjection from the environment minister. All we had on that day was ping-pong: it was ping-pong between the Minister for Mines and the Minister for Environment. That was what it was. It was ministerial ping-pong between you and neither of you took any responsibility. Neither of you took any responsibility at all. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Ruthenberg): Order! Member for Bundamba, please address your comments through the chair. Mrs MILLER: Thank you very much, and I think the same should go for them. In relation to— Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Bundamba—
31 Oct 2012 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 2313 Mrs MILLER: Yes? Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:—is that a reflection on the chair? Mrs MILLER: No, it is not. There would be no-one in this parliament more dedicated to mine safety than me. My great-grandfather was killed in an Ipswich coalmine. It is something that my family has lived with forever in terms of mine safety. My father himself was trapped down coalmines in Ipswich several times. We have had friends, uncles, grandfathers and many people who suffered from mining injuries down those mines in Ipswich. It is something that is very close to my heart and it is close to my family’s heart. I am very pleased that the minister has put mine safety at the front of the agenda of this government. It is something that we always must have at the front of coalmining in particular and it is something that the CFMEU Mining and Energy Division puts significant resources towards as well. I am also very proud to have SIMTARS, the Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station, located in my electorate. Harrow and the boys do an absolutely wonderful job trying to keep not only the coalmines throughout Queensland safe but also coalmines throughout the world safe. Something that really should be acknowledged by all governments throughout Australia is the contribution that SIMTARS makes around the world to coalmining safety. In fact, a lot of the technology that has been developed at SIMTARS is exported around the world because it is actually so good. The Commissioner for Mine Safety and Harrow and all of the boys and girls at SIMTARS do an absolutely fantastic job. Mr Cripps: We went through it in detail. Mrs MILLER: Yes, we did and I just want to put on record our support for SIMTARS and say that we would always want to see that the number of public servants who work at SIMTARS remain. The Commissioner for Mine Safety also spoke in relation to smoking down mines. I think he mentioned one case about that. We must always be forever vigilant in relation to mine safety. It is my clear view that we can never go back to the disasters that occurred throughout history, including one in Ipswich. The particular one in Ipswich that I certainly remember was the Box Flat mining disaster and several other incidents that occurred where people were blown up. In fact, many people in this parliament wonder why I get so worked up about mine safety, but I tell you what: you never, ever forget when your father is trapped down a coalmine and he has written a message in chalk to his family saying goodbye until the boys dig him out. I commend this report to the House. Hon. AC POWELL (Glass House—LNP) (Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection) (8.55 pm): I, too, rise to address report No. 11 of the Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee as it pertains to the 2012-13 budget estimates. From the outset I acknowledge the chair, Ian Rickuss, the member for Lockyer, all of the committee members and particularly the committee staff. Again, I draw particular attention to Rob Hansen as the committee research director. I had wanted to spend this time talking about a number of things. I wanted to speak about how this government continues to remain committed to strong environmental regulation that supports long-term sustainable economic growth in this state. I had wanted to talk about how this budget shows that you can be fiscally prudent, that you can be pro environment and—heaven forbid—that you can also be pro business and that these elements are not mutually exclusive. I had wanted to talk about how my department has looked at better ways to do its business through streamlining and reform, how we have looked at ways to do more with less and to engage and utilise our very talented people to focus on positive environmental outcomes rather than short-sighted environmental policies to garner Greens preferences. Rather, I am compelled to focus on the dissenting report made by the member for South Brisbane and some of the comments just made by the member for Bundamba because they are pure farcical fiction. There is nothing in this dissenting report that can be in any way based on anything that was actually discussed at the estimates hearing itself. The member for Gympie recently spoke about the opposition’s inability or failure to grasp simple concepts, and I am again drawn to the dissenting report to demonstrate just how true that is. The member for South Brisbane raises under the subheading ‘Protecting the Great Barrier Reef—no one’s responsible’ the imputation that this government is not interested in protecting the Great Barrier Reef. No-one is responsible? Let me say that there are at least three, if not four, ministers in this cabinet in the Newman LNP government who have a very important role in ensuring that the Great Barrier Reef—that huge tourist boon for our great state, not to mention the wonderful environmental and natural asset that it is—continues to be protected. I have a role as the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection. My colleague the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines has a role. Why? He is the Minister for Natural Resources. He works with the natural resource management groups in each of the bioregions around the state. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has a responsibility. Why? He is responsible for fish habitats and fisheries. Mr Elmes: He’s not! Mr POWELL: He is, member for Noosa. Heaven forbid, we also have a Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts. Why? She is the minister for science. The scientists responsible for monitoring water quality in the Great Barrier Reef catchment sit within that minister’s portfolio.
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PROOF ISSN 1322-0330 RECORD OF PROC
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Table of Contents — Wednesday, 31
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31 Oct 2012 Legislative Assembly 22
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31 Oct 2012 Privilege 2251 Madam SP
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31 Oct 2012 Tabled Papers 2253 Surv
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